Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balancing of Heterogeneity and Interoperability in E-Business Networks: The Role of Standards and Protocols

To reach this interoperability visibility and common understanding must be ensured on all levels of the interoperability pyramid. This includes common agreements about the visions, political and legal restrictions, clear descriptions about the collaboration scenarios, included business processes and-rules, the type and roles of the Documents, a common understandable vocabulary, etc. To do this in an effective and automatable manner, ICT based concepts, frameworks and models have to be defined, that have to be known and understood, accepted and that have to provide additional e-benefits for all participating partners. In addition, ICT systems, tools and other instruments must be compliant with all the restrictions defined by the interoperability pyramid and they have to support the work properly and efficient, and last but not least they have to ensure trust and minimize e-business risks. Nowadays, many profitable and well working individual solutions on the market may be found. But there still is a gap for more general and well working interoperability solutions. This article shows the state of the Art in Research and Practice in building, managing and maintaining E-Business solutions under the focus to enhance interoperability based on standards, protocols and other helpful concepts, instruments and examples. To provide better understanding for non-specialists, also, the authors systemize the complex and interdisciplinary content and offer additional helpful explanations.
Trajectory tracking control of bimodal piecewise affine systems

This paper deals with a trajectory tracking problem of a class of bimodal piecewise affine systems, which have rarely been discussed so far. This would be very challenging because of the discontinuous changes of their vector fields. First, we introduce an error variable and an error system as a generalization of the tracking error and its system. As an error variable, a function switched by the mode of a piecewise affine system is adopted to overcome an inherent difficulty in trajectory tracking of piecewise affine systems. Next, we design a tracking controller which stabilizes the error system using a Lyapunov-like function, which can be applied to systems including state jumps. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Feature Integration across Parts in Visual Search

In the present study, participants searched for a conjunction of color and orientation either from the same part of an object (same-part display), or from different parts of an object (different-part display). While no difference was found between the two display conditions in single feature searches, conjunction search in the same-part display was significantly faster than that in the different-part display. This same-part advantage applies to both the inner part as well as the outer part of an object. These results suggest that features are more readily integrated if they are from the same part of an object than if they are from different parts of an object. The formation of object part representations thus influences how features are integrated and encoded during visual information processing.
Cortically coupled computer vision with Emotiv headset using distractor variables

Visual search tasks can take long amounts of time and the more complicated the image is the longer it takes to find a target. Therefore, it is of interest to come up with a system that can augment a searcher's vision, in relation to speed, enabling the searcher to find the target faster than through normal means. Audition and vision are important for both communicative and informational purposes and therefore neurological signatures related to such abilities can greater increase cognitive infocommunicative devices. The P300 neurological response is a well known event-related potential that identifies the recognition of a target in such a search task. Clinical electroencephalogram (EEG) technology has previously been used to detect the P300 signature in response to target recognition during a Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP). Following the oddball paradigm, this study uses the 14-electrode Emotiv EPOC to detect the P300 in eight subjects performing a novel Where's Waldo target recognition task with the success criterion to optimize their completion time. In this paradigm, the number of targets and distractors are varied following a geometric distribution in order to have the participants engage in the task throughout the session. Although the Emotiv EPOC is crude in comparison to other EEG systems such as those with 256 electrodes, our results show better search times compared to baseline, and thus proves the feasibility of augmented vision even with such a limited system.
The SoftPHY abstraction: from packets to symbols in wireless network design

At ever-increasing rates, we are using wireless systems to communicate with others and retrieve content of interest to us. Current wireless technologies such as WiFi or Zigbee use forward error correction to drive bit error rates down when there are few interfering transmissions. However, as more of us use wireless networks to retrieve increasingly rich content, interference increases in unpredictable ways. This results in errored bits, degraded throughput, and eventually, an unusable network. We observe that this is the result of higher layers working at the packet granularity, whereas they would benefit from a shift in perspective from whole packets to individual symbols. From real-world experiments on a 31-node testbed of Zigbee and software-defined radios, we find that often, not all of the bits in corrupted packets share fate. Thus, today's wireless protocols retransmit packets where only a small number of the constituent bits in a packet are in error, wasting network resources. In this dissertation, we will describe a physical layer that passes information about its confidence in each decoded symbol up to higher layers. These SoftPHY hints have many applications, one of which, more efficient link-layer retransmissions, we will describe in detail. PP-ARQ is a link-layer reliable retransmission protocol that allows a receiver to compactly encode a request for retransmission of only the bits in a packet that are likely in error. Our experimental results show that PP-ARQ increases aggregate network throughput by a factor of approximately 2× under various conditions. Finally, we will place our contributions in the context of related work and discuss other uses of SoftPHY throughout the wireless networking stack. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
On-chip supply power measurement and waveform reconstruction in a 28nm FD-SOI processor SoC

A compact system for on-chip supply current wave-form reconstruction and power estimation is presented. The system, comprising a programmable current load, a sampling comparator and processing logic, is implemented in a 28nm FD-SOI system-on-chip (SoC) to monitor the supply of a digital processor generated by a switched-capacitor DC-DC converter. The monitoring system is able to reconstruct the rippling supply waveform and extract core power consumption with a low area overhead (0.3% of the die area). Two different techniques yield either 2.5% accuracy with a 28 ms sample time or 5% accuracy with a 1 μs sample time, providing valuable information for on-chip power management strategies.
Multiple putative oncogenes at the chromosome 20q amplicon contribute to colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression

Objective: This study aimed to identify the oncogenes at 20q involved in colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression by measuring the effect of 20q gain on mRNA expression of genes in this amplicon. Methods: Segmentation of DNA copy number changes on 20q was performed by array CGH (comparative genomic hybridisation) in 34 non-progressed colorectal adenomas, 41 progressed adenomas (ie, adenomas that present a focus of cancer) and 33 adenocarcinomas. Moreover, a robust analysis of altered expression of genes in these segments was performed by microarray analysis in 37 adenomas and 31 adenocarcinomas. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. Results: The genes C20orf24, AURKA, RNPC1, TH1L, ADRM1, C20orf20 and TCFL5, mapping at 20q, were significantly overexpressed in carcinomas compared with adenomas as a consequence of copy number gain of 20q. Conclusion: This approach revealed C20orf24, AURKA, RNPC1, TH1L, ADRM1, C20orf20 and TCFL5 genes to be important in chromosomal instability-related adenoma to carcinoma progression. These genes therefore may serve as highly specific biomarkers for colorectal cancer with potential clinical applications.
The minor groove-binding agent ELB-21 forms multiple interstrand and intrastrand covalent cross-links with duplex DNA and displays potent bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objectives The antistaphylococcal pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer ELB-21 forms multiple adducts with duplex DNA through covalent interactions with appropriately spaced guanine residues; it is now known to form interstrand and intrastrand adducts with oligonucleotide sequences of variable length. We determined the DNA sequence preferences of ELB-21 in relation to its capacity to exert a bactericidal effect by damaging DNA. Methods Formation of adducts by ELB-21 and 12- to 14-mer DNA duplexes was investigated using ion-pair reversed phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Drug-induced changes in gene expression were measured in prophage-free Staphylococcus aureus RN4220 by microarray analysis. Results ELB-21 preferentially formed intrastrand adducts with guanines separated by three nucleotide base pairs. Interstrand and intrastrand adducts were formed with duplexes both longer and shorter than the preferred target sequences. ELB-21 elicited rapid bactericidal effects against prophage-carrying and prophage-free S. aureus strains; cell lysis occurred following activation and release of resident prophages. Killing appeared to be due to irreparable damage to bacterial DNA and susceptibility to ELB-21 was governed by the capacity of staphylococci to repair DNA lesions through induction of the SOS DNA damage response mediated by the RecA-LexA pathway. Conclusions The data support the contention that ELB-21 arrests DNA replication, eliciting formation of ssDNA-RecA filaments that inactivate LexA, the SOS repressor, and phage repressors such as Cl, resulting in activation of the DNA damage response and de-repression of resident prophages. Above the MIC threshold, DNA repair is ineffective.
Biases and labeling in iterative pragmatic reasoning

This paper presents a series of reference game experiments (Frank and Goodman, 2012) and fits the results to a number of Bayesian computational models in order to explore the role of linguistic and perceptual bias in iterative pragmatic reasoning. We first discuss the modeling choices made by Franke and Jäger (2016) and others who have used similar frameworks to model reference game tasks. We introduce a space of different plausible Bayesian models based on this work, and compare models’ fit to new experimental data to replicate the basic findings of Franke and Jäger (2016) regarding the strong role for perceptual salience (e.g., the primacy of color over shape as a differentiating property for possible referents) and linguistic category (e.g., a preference for nouns over adjectives) in pragmatic reference resolution. We then uncover an additional possible effect of what we call labeling, whereby a hearer may simply ignore non-salient, non-differentiating semantic properties, in a manner similar to how an incremental algorithm (Reiter and Dale, 1992) might ignore certain semantic properties when generating referring expressions.
Spousal influence in Singaporean family purchase decision‐making process: A cross‐cultural comparison

Purpose – Although considerable consumer research has focused on family purchase decision‐making in families in Western countries, only limited attention has been paid to family purchase decision‐making within Eastern cultures. This study was designed to explore for the possible differences and similarities in spousal influences in different cultural environments by comparing Singaporean family purchase decision‐making process to that of US families.Design/methodology/approach – Quota sampling was adopted to generate primary data for the examination of Singaporean spousal influence in family purchase decision‐making; data previously reported on US spousal families was used to compare with the primary data collected in Singapore.Findings – Differences in marital values between Singaporean husbands and wives were found to be associated with differences in perceived patterns of influence throughout the family decision‐making process. The findings indicate that family purchase decision‐making is a culture‐spe.
MPEG‐4 facial animation in video analysis and synthesis

MPEG‐4 supports the definition, encoding, transmission, and animation of 3‐D head and body models. These features can be used for a variety of different applications ranging from low bit‐rate video coding to character and avatar animation. In this article, an entire system for the analysis of facial expressions from image sequences and their synthesis is presented. New methods for the estimation of MPEG‐4 facial animation parameters as well as scene illumination are proposed. Experiments for different applications demonstrate the potential of using facial animation techniques in video analysis and synthesis. A model‐based codec is presented that is able to encode head‐and‐shoulder video sequences at bit‐rates of about 1 kbit/s. Besides the low bit‐rate, many enhancements and scene modifications can be easily applied, like scene lighting changes or cloning of expressions for character animation. But also for the encoding of arbitrary sequences, 3‐D knowledge can help to increase the coding efficiency. With our model‐aided codec, bit‐rate reductions of up to 45% at the same quality can be achieved in comparison to standard hybrid video codecs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 13, 245–256, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10072
A Study Protocol for Testing the Effectiveness of User-Generated Content in Reducing Excessive Consumption

Excessive consumption is on the rise, as is apparent in growing financial debt and global greenhouse gas emissions. Voluntary simplicity, a lifestyle choice of reduced consumption and sustainable consumer behavior, provides a potential solution for excessive consumers. However, voluntary simplicity is unpopular, difficult to adopt, and under researched. The outlined research project will test a method of promoting voluntary simplicity via user-generated content, thus mimicking an existing social media trend (Minimalism) in an empirical research design. The project will test (a) whether the Minimalism trend could benefit consumers interested in reducing their consumption, and (b) whether self-transcendence (i.e., biospheric) and self-enhancement (i.e., egoistic and hedonic) values and goals have a similar impact in promoting voluntary simplicity. A one-week intervention program will test the efficacy of watching user-generated voluntary simplicity videos in reducing non-essential consumption. Each of the two intervention conditions will present participants with similar tutorial videos on consumption reduction (e.g., decluttering, donating), while priming the relevant values and goals (self-transcendence or self-enhancement). These interventions will be compared to a control condition, involving no user-generated content. Participants will undergo baseline and post-intervention evaluations of: voluntary simplicity attitudes and behaviors, buying and shopping behaviors, values and goals in reducing consumption, and life satisfaction. Experience sampling will monitor affective state during the intervention. We provide a detailed stepwise procedure, materials, and equipment necessary for executing this intervention. The outlined research design is expected to contribute to the limited literature on voluntary simplicity, online behavioral change interventions, and the use of social marketing principles in consumer interventions.
The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process

Preface.1 Introduction: the research process.2 Positivism: the march of science.3 Constructionism: the making of meaning.4 Interpretivism: for and against culture.5 Interpretivism: the way of hermeneutics.6 Critical inquiry: the Marxist heritage.7 Critical inquiry: contemporary critics and contemporary critique.8 Feminism: re-visioning the man-made world.9 Postmodernism: crisis of confidence or moment of truth? 10 Conclusion.Notes. Bibliography.Index
Gamma Oscillations in a Nonlinear Regime: A Minimal Model Approach Using Heterogeneous Integrate-and-Fire Networks

Fast oscillations and in particular gamma-band oscillation (2080 Hz) are commonly observed during brain function and are at the center of several neural processing theories. In many cases, mathematical analysis of fast oscillations in neural networks has been focused on the transition between irregular and oscillatory firing viewed as an instability of the asynchronous activity. But in fact, brain slice experiments as well as detailed simulations of biological neural networks have produced a large corpus of results concerning the properties of fully developed oscillations that are far from this transition point. We propose here a mathematical approach to deal with nonlinear oscillations in a network of heterogeneous or noisy integrate-and-fire neurons connected by strong inhibition. This approach involves limited mathematical complexity and gives a good sense of the oscillation mechanism, making it an interesting tool to understand fast rhythmic activity in simulated or biological neural networks. A surprising result of our approach is that under some conditions, a change of the strength of inhibition only weakly influences the period of the oscillation. This is in contrast to standard theoretical and experimental models of interneuron network gamma oscillations (ING), where frequency tightly depends on inhibition strength, but it is similar to observations made in some in vitro preparations in the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb and in some detailed network models. This result is explained by the phenomenon of suppression that is known to occur in strongly coupled oscillating inhibitory networks but had not yet been related to the behavior of oscillation frequency.
An Investigation of Executive Functioning’s Association with Social Aptitude

Executive functioning (EF) is a construct that lacks clear definition in the psychological literature, but it is generally considered central to cognitive development and maturity. Recent comprehensive theories of EF suggest that the self-regulatory abilities associated with the EF system are associated with social competence and ability in humans; however, little empirical data stands to support this connection. Online surveys were collected from undergraduate participants at Appalachian State University to gather information on EF ability and social aptitude. The purpose was to determine if there was a relationship between self-reported EF ability and social skills and characteristics. Significant relationships between EF variables and social skills variables were found in five of six regression models and overall variance explained ranged from 4% to 23%. While these results lend support to an EF and social functioning connection, the relationship appears to be more complex than initially thought.
Performance Analysis of Turbo coded HSDPA systems

In this paper, we study the performance benefits of turbo coded HSDPA system. This paper provide an overview of high speed data packet access (HSDPA) and focus on the business values that such a highly-efficient access technology would bring to wireless operators, including higher capacity and newer services. In this paper each frame is encoded using a turbo code and channel coding is done by turbo codes is the best method for transmitting information with fewer errors and lower signal power. Turbo coding includes two main modules in it, one being turbo encoder made up of recursive systematic code encoders and second turbo decoder where Log Map algorithm is implemented. HSDPA increases the downlink data rate within a cell to a theoretical maximum of 14Mbps, with 2Mbps on the uplink. The changes that HSDPA enables include better quality and more reliable, more robust data services. In other words, while realistic data rates may only be a few Mbps, the actual quality and number of users achieved will improve significantly.
Challenges and Opportunities for Robot-Mediated Neurorehabilitation

Robot-mediated neurorehabilitation is a rapidly advancing field that seeks to use advances in robotics, virtual realities, and haptic interfaces, coupled with theories in neuroscience and rehabilitation to define new methods for treating neurological injuries such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury. The field is nascent and much work is needed to identify efficient hardware, software, and control system designs alongside the most effective methods for delivering treatment in home and hospital settings. This paper identifies the need for robots in neurorehabilitation and identifies important goals that will allow this field to advance
Sketch- and constraint-based design of B-spline surfaces

This paper describes a sketch- and constraint-based approach to editing of free-form curves and surfaces. We present a simple touch-and-replace technique to edit 2D and 3D curves. We introduce auxiliary surfaces that allow for a reliable interpretation of users' pen-strokes in 3D and we present a new method for sketch-and constraint-based surface sculpting.
Hypermobility among Egyptian children: prevalence and features.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and possible associated features of hypermobility among Egyptian children in a prospective study. METHODS Nine hundred ninety-seven healthy children from 4 different educational areas for primary and presecondary schools were screened for the presence of hypermobility. A hypermobility score was used to denote the degree of laxity. Sites and possible clinical associations of hypermobility were determined. RESULTS The presence of hypermobility was 16. 1% among Egyptian children. Hypermobility was more frequent among girls (18%). than boys (14.4%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Age was inversely correlated with the frequency of hypermobility (r = 4). 967, p < 0.001) and degree of joint laxity (r = -0.789, p < 0.01). Hypermobility was most prevalent in fingers (96.9%) and least prevalent in knee joints (3.1%). Hypermobility was statistically more frequent in nondominant than dominant fingers (p < 0.002). Arthralgia, high palate, flat feet, Raynaud's phenomenon, and easy bruising were more common among the hypermobility group. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that hypermobility is not uncommon among Egyptian children. Increased awareness of the condition is needed among pediatricians and other concerned physicians.