Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3D wave field reconstruction from intensity-only data: Variational inverse imaging techniques

We present a variational approach to obtain a reconstruction of module and phase of a 3D wave field from intensity-only measurements on two or more sensor planes at different axial positions. The objective functional consists of a data fidelity term and a regularizer. The fidelity term corresponds to the likelihood function derived for the Gaussian noisy observations of the wave field intensities (powers). The wave field reconstruction is framed as a constrained nonlinear optimization with respect to a 2D object wave field and is based on the augmented Lagrangian technique. The main goal is to design an algorithm which is more efficient and accurate than the conventional ones such as the well-known Gerchberg-Saxton algorithms and their multiple modifications. As a further development we discuss a variational approach using a transform domain prior on phase and module of the 2D object wave field.
A batch of PNUTS: experiences connecting cloud batch and serving systems

Cloud data management systems are growing in prominence, particularly at large Internet companies like Google, Yahoo! , and Amazon, which prize them for their scalability and elasticity. Each of these systems trades off between low-latency serving performance and batch processing throughput. In this paper, we discuss our experience running batch-oriented Hadoop on top of Yahoo's serving-oriented PNUTS system instead of the standard HDFS file system. Though PNUTS is optimized for and primarily used for serving, a number of applications at Yahoo! must run batch-oriented jobs that read or write data that is stored in PNUTS. Combining these systems reveals several key areas where the fundamental properties of each system are mismatched. We discuss our approaches to accommodating these mismatches, by either bending the batch and serving abstractions, or inventing new ones. Batch systems like Hadoop provide coarse task-level recovery, while serving systems like PNUTS provide finer record or transaction-level recovery. We combine both types to log record-level errors, while detecting and recovering from large-scale errors. Batch systems optimize for read and write throughput of large requests, while serving systems use indexing to provide low latency access to individual records. To improve latency-insensitive write throughput to PNUTS, we introduce a batch write path. The systems provide conflicting consistency models, and we discuss techniques to isolate them from one another.
A mobile robot platform based on spring loaded casters for physical interaction

As the number of mobile robot applications increases, research related to physical contact between humans and robots is becoming an important issues in the service robot domain. In this paper, a mobile robot platform based on spring loaded casters is proposed as solution to problems in the service robot domain. A simple dynamic equation in two dimensions was computed and the dynamic characteristics according to variation of the elastic coefficient were analyzed. In order to detect force from a human, a linear equation was formulated by regression of the driving data. With the estimated force, an impedance model is applied to the controller for compliance. Through this process, it is shown that the proposed mobile robot platform is capable of a compliant reaction to external force through of its posture, similar to unstable mobile platform, though the mobile platform has the static stability.
Under Consideration for Publication in J. Functional Programming Modular Lazy Search for Constraint Satisfaction Problems

We describe a uniied, lazy, declarative framework for solving constraint satisfaction problems , an important subclass of combinatorial search problems. These problems are both practically signiicant and computationally hard. Finding solutions involves combining good general-purpose search algorithms with problem-speciic heuristics. Conventional imperative algorithms are usually implemented and presented monolithically, which makes them hard to understand and reuse, even though new algorithms often are combinations of simpler ones. Lazy functional languages, such as Haskell, encourage modular structuring of search algorithms by separating the generation and testing of potential solutions into distinct functions communicating through an explicit, lazy intermediate data structure. But only relatively simple search algorithms have been treated this way in the past. Our framework uses a generic generation and pruning algorithm parameterized by a labeling function that annotates search trees with connict sets. We show that many advanced imperative search algorithms, including connict-directed backjumping, backmarking, minimal forward checking, and fail-rst dynamic variable ordering, can be obtained by suitable instantiation of the labeling function. More importantly, arbitrary combinations of these algorithms can be built by simply composing their labeling functions. Our modular algorithms are as eecient as the monolithic imperative algorithms in the sense that they make the same number of consistency checks, and most of our algorithms are within a constant factor of their imperative counterparts in runtime and space usage. We believe our framework is especially well-suited for experimenting to nd good combinations of algorithms for speciic problems.
Mitochondrial portrait of the Cabo Verde archipelago: the Senegambian outpost of Atlantic slave trade

In order to study the matrilineal genetic composition in Cabo Verde (Republic of Cape Verde), an archipelago that used to serve as a Portuguese entrepôt of the Atlantic slave trade, we have analysed a total of 292 mtDNAs sampled from the seven inhabitated islands for the hypervariable segment I (HVS‐I) and some characteristic RFLPs of the coding regions. The different settlement history of the northwestern group of the islands is well reflected in the mtDNA pool. The total Cabo Verde sample clearly displays the characteristic mitochondrial features of the Atlantic fringe of western Africa and testifies to almost no mitochondrial input from the Portuguese colonizers.
The female register: an empirical study of Lakoff's hypotheses

Sociolinguists (e.g. Swacker 1975) and anthropologists (e.g. Hall 1959) are increasingly aware of the fact that sex, like social class or subcultural group, is a variable which strongly affects speech (Thorne & Henley 1975). While sexexclusive differentiation (i.e. separate male and female languages) now appears to be an almost nonexistent phenomenon, sex-preferred differentiation seems to be widespread across a number of languages and language families (Bodine 1975). In particular, recent studies indicate that syntax (Labov 1966), intonation (Brend 1972), and pronunciation(Trudgill 1972) in spoken English all vary as a function of the sex of the speaker.
A flexible model for retrieval of SGML documents

In traditional information retrieval (IR) systems, a document as a whole is the target for a query. With increasing interests in structured documents like SGML documents, there is a growing need to build an LR system that can retrieve parts of documents, which satisfy not only content-based but also structure-based requirements. In this paper, we describe an inference-net-based approach to this problem. The model is capable of retrieving elements at any level in a principled way, satisfying certain containment constraints in a quety. Moreover, lvhile the model is general enough to reproduce the ranking strategy adopted by conventional document retrieval systems by making use of document and collection level statistics such as TF and IDF, its flexibility allows for incorporation of a variety of pragmatic and semantic information associated with document structures. We implemented the model and ran a series of experiments to show that, in addition to the added functionality, the use of the structural information embedded in SGML documents can improve the effectiveness of document retrieval, compared to the case where no such information is used. We also show that giving a pragmatic preference to a certain element tape of the SGML documents can enhance retrieval effectiveness.
A mixed-paradigm component architecture for implementing web-based game servers

Abstract Games are a well-suited testbed for the development and evaluation of concepts and tools in artificial intelligence (AI). In our paper we outline the architecture of a web-based game server that was developed to support the teaching of artificial intelligence at the university level as well as research in the domain of AI and rule-based language development. The server combines a Prolog-based declarative approach with Java-based server technologies. The architecture consists of multiple, strictly separated components. Declarative components comprise the gameindependent core engine as well as game-dependent logic and visualization descriptions. General operations (e.g. user management, load balancing, match maintenance etc.) and rendering of the visualization descriptions with actual GUI techniques are implemented imperatively. External interfaces are provided to integrate remote developers and learners to facilitate usage beyond the borders of a single university.
Industrially synthesized single-walled carbon nanotubes: compositional data for users, environmental risk assessments, and source apportionment

Commercially available single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) contain large percentages of metal and carbonaceous impurities. These fractions influence the SWCNT physical properties and performance, yet their chemical compositions are not well defined. This lack of information also precludes accurate environmental risk assessments for specific SWCNT stocks, which emerging local legislation requires of nanomaterial manufacturers. To address these needs, we measured the elemental, molecular, and stable carbon isotope compositions of commercially available SWCNTs. As expected, catalytic metals occurred at per cent levels (1.3–29%), but purified materials also contained unexpected metals (e.g., Cu, Pb at 0.1–0.3 ppt). Nitrogen contents (up to 0.48%) were typically greater in arc-produced SWCNTs than in those derived from chemical vapor deposition. Toluene-extractable materials contributed less than 5% of the total mass of the SWCNTs. Internal standard losses during dichloromethane extractions suggested that metals are available for reductive dehalogenation reactions, ultimately resulting in the degradation of aromatic internal standards. The carbon isotope content of the extracted material suggested that SWCNTs acquired much of their carbonaceous contamination from their storage environment. Some of the SWCNTs, themselves, were highly depleted in 13C relative to petroleum-derived chemicals. The distinct carbon isotopic signatures and unique metal ‘fingerprints’ may be useful as environmental tracers allowing assessment of SWCNT sources to the environment.
The virtual dental home: a critique

The Virtual Dental Home is a concept of the Pacific Center for Special Care of the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. It is designed to improve access to dental care for underserved populations, specifically children and institutionalized adults. This article describes the development and implementation of the Virtual Dental Home, subsequently critiquing the concept. The criteria for a dental home are not met by the program. It is the equivalent of a traditional public oral health prevention and screening program, with the additional dimension of allowing dental hygienists and assistants to place interim glass ionomer restorations in dental cavities. The critique questions the need to insert a "cloud" dentist into the process. The routine utilization of radiographs is also challenged. The VDH not only lacks the attributes of a dental home, it has not been shown to be as efficient and effective as traditional programs staffed by dental hygienists and dental therapists. The article concludes by describing how programs utilizing dental therapists could address the deficiencies of the Virtual Dental Home, effectively improving access to oral health care for underserved populations.
Unlearning to learn: Investigating the lived experience of learning English

What is the journey of acquiring language? What is the journey of sharing it? These are the questions that compelled the hermeneutic phenomenological investigation (Gadamer, 1960/2004; van Manen, 1997) that led to this paper. Guided by the voice of Heidegger (1954/2008), I discovered the necessity of "un-learning to learn" in order to hear the voices of the elementary English learners who were at the heart of my study. Phenomenology, with its emphasis on lived experience, led me to a re-examination of my own language learning experiences as a point of connection to my participants. Through conversations and visits with elementary English learners, I sought to discover their experiences of learning English in a United States public school and to uncover insights with pedagogical and methodological implications. Through my phenomenological journey, I came to question my previously held conceptions of English learning and teaching. I have been transformed by this study through an un-learning of what I thought I knew and I am now working to re-learn what it means to teach.
Theories of Group Development and Categories for Interaction Analysis

Although some interest in the stages of group development can be traced in the writings of behavioral scientists in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s (see Coyle, 1930), the first studies which caught the attention of a number of group observers, leaders, and therapists were the works of Bales (1950) and Bion in 1948-1951 (see Bion, 1961). Their work, along with that of about fifty others, was summarized by Tuckman (1965) in the first major review of studies of group development. He reviewed studies drawn from four somewhat distinct fields: therapy groups, training groups (i.e., educational groups conducted with a nondirective leader in
Quality assessment of gene selection in microarray data

In microarray data, gene selection can make data analysis efficient and biological interpretations of the selected genes can be very useful. However, microarray data have typically several thousands of genes but only tens of samples, referred to as a small sample-size problem. In this paper, we discuss some problems on gene selection that can occur owing to a small sample size: whether gene selection relying on the extremely small number of samples is reliable and meaningful. Experimental comparisons of well-known three gene selection methods show that classification performances can be very sensitive to training samples and preprocessing steps. We also measure consistency in gene ranking under the changes of training samples or different selection criteria.
Sense of Power Among Older People in Iran

Power is a resource for living that is present in all individuals, and has a positively uplifting effect on one's quality of life. In a grounded theory approach, we searched for factors influencing the sense of power, which exist in elders' interactions in their environment. These factors were awareness of personal changes, coping, role taking, perceived satisfaction, independence, and being in control. Self-management was at the core of all these factors. Educational interventions by health care professionals based on the elders' needs for empowerment comprise a major part of wellness approaches.
A Structure-Based Concept of Genocidal Intent

The concept of genocidal intent developed in this article starts with an analysis of the structural particularities of the crime of genocide whose specific intent refers not only to the consequence(s) of personal conduct, but also to those of collective undertaking. The proposal submitted suggests understanding intent to destroy a protected group as such as a particular kind of specific intent: formally as intention to achieve a consequence which goes beyond the result that constitutes the actus reus. Materially, the proposed degree of intent refers to a two-fold approach which is based on a volitional ( intent ) and/or a cognitive ( certain knowledge ) element. Every element may be decisive depending on the mental state of the accused: either by virtue of the underlying purpose or by virtue of a certainty standard. While the consequences of the perpetrator's own conduct must be virtually certain, the adequate threshold for the occurrence of the (intended) overall action's result is practical certainty. In practice, such level(s) may be proven by exactly the same kind of circumstantial evidence current case law has relied on.
Relationships among Athletic Identity, Coping Skills, Social Support, and the Psychological Impact of Injury in Recreational Participants

Abstract The purpose of the present investigation was to examine athletic identity, coping skills, and social support as moderators of mood disturbance and physical self-esteem with the occurrence of injury in recreational participants. Thirty participants, who sustained an injury that prohibited physical activity for at least 6 weeks, completed a battery of questionnaires including measures of social support (Sarason, Levine, Basham, & Sarason, 1983), coping skills (Smith, Smoll, & Ptacek, 1990), athletic identity (Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993), mood state (McNair, Lorr, & Droppleman, 1971), and physical self-esteem (Fox & Corbin, 1989). Results from multiple regression analysis revealed that individuals' satisfaction with their social support network was significantly related to mood disturbance with increased satisfaction leading to lower levels of mood disturbance. No other relationships were significant. Results are discussed within the context of cognitive appraisal models of adjustment in order to better understand the injury process.
A three-phase 9-level inverter with reduced switching devices for different PWM techniques

Multilevel inverter is a power electronic device and that is become more popular over the years in high-power high-voltage applications. Multilevel inverters have unique structure which makes it possible to reach high voltages with less harmonic content and lower EMI. The harmonic content of the output voltage waveform decreases as the number of output voltage increases. This paper proposes a 9-level multi-level inverter with Reversing Voltage topology. This proposed multilevel inverter topology here is implemented in single-phase and three-phase with different pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques, which requires less number of components, and gate drive circuit as compared to other multilevel inverters. A multicarrier PWM technique is used for multilevel inverter topology to generate 9-level output phase voltage. Finally simulation results of a 9-level multi-level inverter topology are carried out using MATLAB/Simulink R2013a software version.
Applied Neuropsychology of Attention. Theory, Diagnosis and Rehabilitation.

Part I: Theory. M. Leclercq, Theoretical Aspects of the Main Components and Functions of Attention. P. Zimmermann, M. Leclercq, Neuropsychological Aspects of Attentional Functions and Disturbances. Part II: Assessment and Diagnostics. M. Leclercq, G. Deloche, M. Rousseaux, Attentional Complaints Evoked by Traumatic Brain Injured and Stroke Patients: Frequency and Importance. P. Zimmermann, B. Fimm, A Test Battery for Attentional Performances. P. Zoccolotti, B. Caracciolo, Psychometric Characteristics of Attention Tests in Neuropsychological Practice. A. Cantagallo, Neuropsychological Assessment With Non Computerised Tasks of Attention Disorders: Impairment and Disability. M. Van der Linden, F. Collette, Attention and Normal Aging. W.H. Brouwer, Attention and Driving: A Cognitive Neuropsychological Approach. Part III: Pathologies of Attention. M. Leclercq, P. Azouvi, Attention After Traumatic Brain Injury. M. Rousseaux, B. Fimm, A. Cantagallo, Attention Disorders in Cerebrovascular Diseases. F. Collette, M. Van der Linden, Attention Disorders in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Part IV: Rehabilitation. M. Leclercq, W. Sturm, Rehabilitation of Attention Disorders: A Literature Review. W. Sturm, B. Fimm, A. Cantagallo, N. Cremel, P. North, A. Passadori, L. Pizzamiglio, M. Rousseaux, P. Zimmermann, G. Deloche, M. Leclercq, Computerized Training of Specific Attention Deficits in Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injured Patients: A Multicentric Efficacy Study.
Predicting Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination and Pap Smear Screening Intentions Among Young Singaporean Women Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

We used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to analyze the role of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control as predictors of intentions to obtain Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations or a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear in a sample of young Singaporean women. A further aim was to evaluate knowledge of cervical cancer and preventive measures as a possible additional predictor of intentions. A purpose-designed TPB and knowledge questionnaire was completed by 206 women aged 18 to 26 years living in Singapore. Descriptive analyses and structural equation modeling revealed subjective norm as the best predictor, while perceived behavioral control had moderate predictive power. Attitude and knowledge were not significant predictors of intentions. The findings suggest the importance of focusing on subjective norms, rather than factual knowledge, in educational and awareness campaigns that encourage HPV vaccination and Pap smear screening in Singapore.
Modeling with a subspace constraint on inverse covariance matrices

We consider a family of Gaussian mixture models for use in HMM based speech recognition system. These “SPAM” models have state independent choices of subspaces to which the precision (inverse covariance) matrices and means are restricted to belong. They provide a ﬂexible tool for robust, compact, and fast acoustic modeling. The focus of this paper is on the case where the means are unconstrained. The models in the case already generalize the recently introduced EMLLT models, which themselves interpolate between MLLT and full covariance models. We describe an algo-rithm to train both the state-dependent and state-independent parameters. Results are reported on one speech recognition task. The SPAM models are seen to yield signiﬁcant improvements in accuracy over EMLLT models with comparable model size and run-time speed. We ﬁnd a (cid:0)(cid:1)(cid:2) relative reduction in error rate over an MLLT model can be obtained while decreasing the acoustic modeling time by (cid:3)(cid:1)(cid:2) .
DogmatiX tracks down duplicates in XML

Duplicate detection is the problem of detecting different entries in a data source representing the same real-world entity. While research abounds in the realm of duplicate detection in relational data, there is yet little work for duplicates in other, more complex data models, such as XML. In this paper, we present a generalized framework for duplicate detection, dividing the problem into three components: candidate definition defining which objects are to be compared, duplicate definition defining when two duplicate candidates are in fact duplicates, and duplicate detection specifying how to efficiently find those duplicates.Using this framework, we propose an XML duplicate detection method, DogmatiX, which compares XML elements based not only on their direct data values, but also on the similarity of their parents, children, structure, etc. We propose heuristics to determine which of these to choose, as well as a similarity measure specifically geared towards the XML data model. An evaluation of our algorithm using several heuristics validates our approach.