Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive global illumination in dynamic participating media using selective photon tracing

Global illumination in dynamic participating media is expensive, but in many applications interactivity is required. We use selective photon tracing to compute global illumination, which enables us to update mostly those photon paths that are affected by changes in the media. We enhance this technique by eliminating the need of shooting corrective photons, which leads to a significant speed-up. Also, we adaptively control spatial traced photon density in those regions in which photon-media intersection is more likely. This enables better control of local reconstruction of global illumination. Using our technique we achieve interactive speeds on a simple desktop PC.
Diversity in Organizations: A Critical Examination

1. Introduction 2. The Critical Diversity Perspective 3. Does Diversity Pay? Beyond the Business Case for Diversity 4. Achieving Workplace Diversity 5. Training for Business Success: How Diversity Training Improves Productivity, Performance, and Fair Promotions 6. Gendered Jobs and Opportunities 7. Continuing Racial and Ethnic Discrimination 8. Is Affirmative Action Still Needed? 9. Wealth and Class Diversity 10. Addressing Homophobia and Heterosexism 11. Diversity Success on Campus 12. Building Political Support for Diversity Programs 13. Accountability in Diversity and Inclusion Strategies 14. Critical Diversity: Where We Are Headed
Business processes for Web Services: Principles and applications

The Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL4WS or BPEL for short) is an XML-based language for defining business processes that provides an interoperable, portable language for both abstract and executable processes and that was designed from the beginning to operate in the heterogeneity and dynamism that is commonplace in information technology today. BPEL builds on the layers of flexibility provided by the Web Services stack, and especially by XML. In this paper, we provide a brief introduction to BPEL with emphasis on architectural drivers and basic concepts. Then we survey ongoing BPEL work in several application areas: adding quality of service to BPEL, extending BPEL to activities involving humans, BPEL for grid computing, and BPEL for autonomic computing.
The Einstein Toolkit: a community computational infrastructure for relativistic astrophysics

We describe the Einstein Toolkit, a community-driven, freely accessible computational infrastructure intended for use in numerical relativity, relativistic astrophysics, and other applications. The toolkit, developed by a collaboration involving researchers from multiple institutions around the world, combines a core set of components needed to simulate astrophysical objects such as black holes, compact objects, and collapsing stars, as well as a full suite of analysis tools. The Einstein Toolkit is currently based on the Cactus framework for high-performance computing and the Carpet adaptive mesh refinement driver. It implements spacetime evolution via the BSSN evolution system and general relativistic hydrodynamics in a finite-volume discretization. The toolkit is under continuous development and contains many new code components that have been publicly released for the first time and are described in this paper. We discuss the motivation behind the release of the toolkit, the philosophy underlying its development, and the goals of the project. A summary of the implemented numerical techniques is included, as are results of numerical test covering a variety of sample astrophysical problems.
Market Liquidity and Trader Welfare in Multiple Dealer Markets: Evidence from Dual Trading Restrictions

Abstract In the context of dual trading restrictions, we examine whether aggregate liquidity measures are appropriate indicators of trader welfare in multiple dealer markets. Consistent with our theoretical results, we show empirically that dual trading restrictions did not affect market liquidity significantly, but dual traders of above average skills may have quit brokerage and switched to trading exclusively for their own accounts following restrictions. Further, customers of these dual traders had lower trading costs in the period before restrictions relative to the trading costs of all customers after restrictions.
WMAP and the generalized Chaplygin gas

We compare the WMAP temperature power spectrum and SNIa data to models with a generalized Chaplygin gas as dark energy. The generalized Chaplygin gas is a component with an exotic equation of state, pX = −A/ραX (a polytropic gas with negative constant and exponent). Our main result is that, restricting to a flat universe and to adiabatic pressure perturbations for the generalized Chaplygin gas, the constraints at 95% CL to the present equation of state wX = pX/ρX and to the parameter α are −1 ≤ wX < −0.8, 0 ≤ α < 0.2, respectively. Moreover, we show that a Chaplygin gas (α = 1) is ruled out as a candidate for dark energy by our analysis at more than the 99.99% CL. A generalized Chaplygin gas appears much less likely as a unified dark matter candidate (ΩCDM = 0) than as a dark energy model, although its χ2 is only two sigma away from the expected value.
Useful Excess Capacity? An Empirical Study of U.S. Oil & Gas Drilling

Modern microeconomic theory offers several possible explanations for why firms may persistently carry costly excess capacity. Excess capacity may be precautionary or speculative, an artifact of uncertain demand. It may also stem from efforts by the firm to avoid cost nonconvexities, such as from labor hiring and firing costs. Finally, excess capacity may have strategic value, as a preemptive strike on rivals and/or enforcement mechanism for tacit collusion. We use firm-level and market aggregate panel data for the major U.S. oil & gas (land) drilling markets, from 1999 to 2008, to investigate empirically each of these motives for persistent excess capacity. Our analysis suggests “labor hoarding” as the main motive underlying much of the persistent excess capacity at the market level. But for larger firms, especially in markets where they have leadership, the precautionary/speculative motive seems just as important. We also find some evidence consistent with the strategic use of excess capacity by such firms. We consider the welfare implications of our results and possible consequences of further consolidation in the U.S. oil & gas (land) drilling industry. ∗309 Converse Hall, Amherst, MA, 01002 E-mail: jishii@amherst.edu. The author thanks Mingzi Shao, Tracy Huang, and Rohan Mazumdar for excellent research assistance, RigData and Ryan Kellogg for data assistance, and seminar participants at 2009 Camp Energy (UCEI) and UMass Resource Economics for valuable comments. Part of the paper was written while the author was visiting the School of Management and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University; the author thanks both institutions for their hospitality
Glutamate regulates retinal progenitors cells proliferation during development

The precise coordination of cell cycle exit and cell fate specification is essential for generating the correct proportion of retinal cell types during development. The decision to exit the cell cycle is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic cues. There is growing evidence that neurotransmitters can regulate cell proliferation and cell fate specification during the early stages of CNS development prior to the formation of synaptic connections. We found that the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate regulates retinal progenitor cell proliferation during embryonic development of the mouse. AMPA/kainate and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors are expressed in embryonic retinal progenitor cells. Addition of exogenous glutamate leads to a dose‐dependent decrease in cell proliferation without inducing cell death or activating the p53 pathway. Activation of AMPA/kainate receptors induced retinal progenitor cells to prematurely exit the cell cycle. Using a replication‐incompetent retrovirus to follow the clonal expansion of individual retinal progenitor cells, it was observed that blockade of AMPA/kainate receptors increased the proportion of large clones, showing that modulation of endogenous glutamatergic activity can have long‐term consequences on retinal cell proliferation. Real time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot analyses demonstrated that glutamate does not alter the levels of the mRNA and proteins that regulate the G1/S‐phase transition. Instead, the activity of the Cdk2 kinase is reduced in the presence of glutamate. These data indicate that glutamate regulates retinal progenitor cell proliferation by post‐translational modulation of cyclin/Cdk2 kinase activity.
Quantum squeezing and correlation of self-induced transparency solitons

A general quantum theory of self-induced transparency SIT solitons is developed with nonlinear quantum effects of atoms taken into account. The quantization starts from the coarse-grain-averaged light-atom interaction Hamiltonian by which the quantum effects of ensemble atoms are modeled. The calculation of quantum properties is performed by the backpropagation method, which takes into account the contribution of the field continuum parts and the atomic fluctuations. The detectable squeezing ratio with a general homodyne local oscillator can be simulated for practical experimental realizations. Schemes for generating quantum correlation through SIT soliton interaction are also proposed and analyzed.
Stop Making Sense: Designing Sensor-based Interactions to Facilitate Exploration and Reflection

Current sensing-based interactions have a number of inherent usability problems. The coupling between users' actions and system feedback can be unclear, resulting in the users not knowing what causes a system response or how to make something happen. One reason why such confusion arises is that sensor technology is often unfairly compared with graphical user interfaces, where highly constrained and precise user-interactions (e.g. a key press) are replaced with much less constrained and imprecise user-interactions. This is not a good use of sensor technology. An alternative approach is to consider activities for which sensor-based interactions are more suited, and where inherent uncertainty can be put to good use. These include aesthetic and creative applications, involving reflection, exploration and discovery. To this end, we present a conceptual framework intended to inform and inspire the design of sensor-based interactions. We illustrate its applicability by describing a series of novel sensor-based interactions that we designed to instill a playful learning experience in young children. 1. INTRODUCTION Sensor technologies, such as motion, pressure, location and proximity sensors are increasingly being used as input devices to computer systems. However, many of these are proving to be a less than optimal way of interacting. Part of the reason is that sensor technologies have been used to replace user interfaces of existing applications. A mundane example is the replacement of physical switches and handles, that for centuries have been used to support everyday tasks, like turning lights or taps on or off. Motivated by recent trends towards improving hygiene and energy saving, highly visible physical controls are increasingly being replaced in public places by invisible sensors, removing the need for human hands ever to have to turn things on or off. Within the research community, sensor technology has largely been used to investigate how 'context-aware' information can be given to people on various kinds of mobile devices; delivering assumed-to-be relevant information to the user, at assumed-to-be appropriate times (e.g. Shilit et al, 1994; Marmasse and Schmandt, 2000). Again, a main benefit of doing this is to create a lightweight 'hands-free' user-interaction, replacing the cognitive overhead typically associated with having to type in or select options from menus to find desired information. Instead, certain forms of information are designed to pop up at certain times on a computer screen (usually a PDA or presented via audio), based on the user's location in an environment. A main motivation behind …
Virtual training environments to improve train driver's crisis decision making

This paper reports on a current research project in which virtual reality simulators are being investigated as a means of simulating hazardous Rail work conditions in order to allow train drivers to practice decision-making under stress. When working under high stress conditions train drivers need to move beyond procedural responses into a response activated through their own problem-solving and decision-making skills. This study focuses on the use of stress inoculation training which aims to build driver’s confidence in the use of new decision-making skills by being repeatedly required to respond to hazardous driving conditions. In particular, the study makes use of a train cab driving simulator to reproduce potentially stress inducing real-world scenarios. Initial pilot research has been undertaken in which drivers have experienced the training simulation and subsequently completed surveys on the level of immersion experienced. Concurrently drivers have also participated in a velocity perception experiment designed to objectively measure the fidelity of the virtual training environment. Baseline data, against which decision-making skills post training will be measured, is being gathered via cognitive task analysis designed to identify primary decision requirements for specific rail events. While considerable efforts have been invested in improving Virtual Reality technology, little is known about how to best use this technology for training personnel to respond to workplace conditions in the Rail Industry. To enable the best use of simulators for training in the Rail context the project aims to identify those factors within virtual reality that support required learning outcomes and use this information to design training simulations that reliably and safely train staff in required workplace accident response skills.
Fine Registration of 3 D Point Clouds with ICP Using an RGB-D Camera

-We address the problem of accurate and efficient alignment of 3D point clouds captured by an RGB-D (Kinect-style) camera from different viewpoints. Our approach introduces a new cost function for the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm that balances the significance of structural and photometric features with dynamically adjusted weights to improve the error minimization process. We also enhance the algorithm with a novel outlier rejection method, which relies on adaptive thresholding at each ICP iteration, using both the structural information of the object and the spatial distances of sparse SIFT feature pairs. The effectiveness of our proposed approach is demonstrated in challenging scenarios, involving objects lacking structural features, and significant camera view and lighting changes. We obtained superior registration accuracy than related previous methods while requiring low computational processing.
Efficient Algorithms for Routing and Centralized Scheduling for IEEE 802.16 Mesh Networks

IEEE 802.16 systems provide broadband wireless access to subscriber stations (SSs). An 802.16 wireless system can operate in mesh mode, where SSs form a multihop network to the base station. The centralized scheduling mechanism defined in the standard provides contention-free and resource-guarantee transmission services in mesh mode. However, the corresponding algorithm to this scheduling service is quite primitive. In this paper, we propose routing and centralized scheduling algorithms that construct a routing tree from a given mesh topology and do an efficient channel minislot allocation, respectively. The simulation results show the superiority of our proposed algorithms over others.
Encyclopedia of Wars

Places wars in their historical context. The first reference work of its kind, "Encyclopedia of Wars" describes not only the military aspect of wars - the causes of conflict, an enumeration of battles, and a summary of the outcome(s) - but also the social and political context in which the wars occurred. This provides readers and researchers with the important facts as well as the historical background for each war. From the Crusades to the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War, this three-volume encyclopedia covers every major war, rebellion, and revolution from 3,500 BCE to the present. Its valuable content is in an accessible format. In three comprehensive volumes and approximately 2,000 A-to-Z entries, this definitive resource provides more thorough, complete coverage than any other encyclopedia. Each entry provides an at-a-glance look at the war in question and a narrative discussion of the war, examining its social context, major battles and events, and broader significance in cultural and historical terms. Suggestions for further reading follow each entry, and a general bibliography of major texts on war is included in the final volume. Numerous cross-references, 60 maps, and a chronology make this attractive and informative encyclopedia highly accessible.
On the Design of Planar Printed Dipole Array Antennas

In this paper, we propose a new design procedure for printed dipole array antennas. Applications of these arrays are devoted to wireless communication systems, mainly base stations and beam steerable antennas. All the designs have been developed at the frequency of 3 GHz. This structure is chosen in order to enhance the gain and minimize the backside radiations of an antenna array with a very simple feeding.
Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography for Evaluation of Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: Use or Overuse

BACKGROUND The use of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) has been increased during the last decade. OBJECTIVES We studied the adherence to current diagnostic recommendations for evaluation of pulmonary embolism in a teaching hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. PATIENTS AND METHODS The registered medical records (Wells scores and serum D-dimer level) of all patients whose CTPA was performed with suspicion of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) were studied retrospectively. Modified Wells score of each patient was determined without being aware of the CTPA results. The patients were categorized to those with a high (likely) clinical probability (score > 4) and low (unlikely) clinical probability (score≤ 4) of PTE. RESULTS During a 6-month period, 82 patients who underwent CTPA were included. The prevalence of PTE was 62.2% in the group of subjects with a likely clinical risk. In 45 (54.8%) of those patients whose CTPA was requested, the PTE was unlikely based on modified Wells criteria. In the clinically unlikely group, serum D-dimer assay was done in 15 out of 45 (33.3%), while it was inappropriately checked in 10 out of 37 (27.0%) with a clinically likely risk. General adherence rate to diagnostic algorithm of PTE was 43.9%. CONCLUSION There is still excessive unjustified concern of PTE in less trained physicians leading to excessive diagnostic work-up. Loyalty to the existing guideline for management of suspected PTE in educational hospitals and supervision of attending physicians could prevent overuse of CTPA.
Clinical significance of galectin-7 in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

The present study reports the role of galectin-7 (Gal-7) expression in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and its correlation with clinicopathological variables. Gal-7 expression was immunohistochemically detected in the paraffin-embedded sections of 20 normal vulvar biopsy samples and 50 VSCC specimens. Expression was also detected in 10 normal vulvar biopsy samples and 10 VSCC specimens by western blotting. In addition, the methylation status of the promoter of the Gal-7 gene was determined in 30 VSCC specimens and 20 samples of normal vulvar tissue by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Gal-7 expression was found to be significantly downregulated in the VSCC tissues compared with the normal vulvar tissues (P<0.05). Downregulation of Gal-7 was correlated with advanced clinical stage, poor tumor differentiation and regional lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Furthermore, methylation of the Gal-7 gene promoter was significantly reduced in the vulvar normal tissues compared with the VSCC tissues (P=0.023), while increased Gal-7 promoter methylation was correlated with advanced clinical stage, poor tumor differentiation and regional lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). There was no association between patient age and Gal-7 promoter methylation. Together, these results suggested that Gal-7 has a negative impact in patients with VSCC, with malignant potential correlating with Gal-7 promoter methylation.
Ensemble Model of Intelligent Paradigms for Stock Market Forecasting

The use of intelligent systems for stock market predictions has been widely established. This paper introduces a ensemble model of SVM and ANNs for the prediction of three stock indices. The performance of this model is then compared with support vector machine model and an artificial neural network respectively. Empirical results reveal that the ensemble result obtain the best results.
Q Fever and Pneumonia in an Area with a High Livestock Density: A Large Population-Based Study

Concerns about public health risks of intensive animal production in the Netherlands continue to rise, in particular related to outbreaks of infectious diseases. The aim was to investigate associations between the presence of farm animals around the home address and Q fever and pneumonia. Electronic medical record data for the year 2009 of all patients of 27 general practitioners (GPs) in a region with a high density of animal farms were used. Density of farm animals around the home address was calculated using a Geographic Information System. During the study period, a large Q fever outbreak occurred in this region. Associations between farm exposure variables and pneumonia or ‘other infectious disease’, the diagnosis code used by GPs for registration of Q fever, were analyzed in 22,406 children (0–17 y) and 70,142 adults (18–70 y), and adjusted for age and sex. In adults, clear exposure-response relationships between the number of goats within 5 km of the home address and pneumonia and ‘other infectious disease’ were observed. The association with ‘other infectious disease’ was particularly strong, with an OR [95%CI] of 12.03 [8.79–16.46] for the fourth quartile (>17,190 goats) compared with the first quartile (<2,251 goats). The presence of poultry within 1 km was associated with an increased incidence of pneumonia among adults (OR [95%CI] 1.25 [1.06–1.47]). A high density of goats in a densely populated region was associated with human Q fever. The use of GP records combined with individual exposure estimates using a Geographic Information System is a powerful approach to assess environmental health risks.