Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast JND-Based Video Carving With GPU Acceleration for Real-Time Video Retargeting

A recently developed image resizing technique, seam carving, has been proved to be a useful tool for content-adaptive spatially nonuniform image resizing with the purpose of optimal display on a screen of reduced resolution or different aspect ratio. In this paper, we present a fast algorithm for real-time content-aware video retargeting based on the improved seam carving method proposed in this paper. The proposed algorithm is designed to be highly parallelizable and suitable for running on a multicore architecture. First, two novel operators, i.e., seam update and seam split, are introduced to analyze an image for detecting the local and global seams with minimum costs very efficiently. With these operators, parallel processing can be achieved to determine multiple seams simultaneously. In addition, the saliency measure is extended with a just-noticeable-distortion model which makes the resized video more consistent with human perception. We demonstrate the efficiency of the above new components with a graphics processing unit (GPU) implementation. In addition, the proposed fast seam carving algorithm is extended for video retargeting. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper based on the seam carving method to achieve real-time video retargeting on a GPU. Experimental results on video sequences of various characteristics are demonstrated to show the superior performance of the proposed algorithm in comparison with the existing content-adaptive image/video resizing methods.
Investigating the Monetary Policy of Central Banks with Assessment Indicators

This paper proposes a new approach to use qualitative information for investigating central banks' monetary policy strategy. Quantitative assessment indicators which are generated from a central bank's public statement with the balance statistic method are used to estimate Taylor-type rules. This procedure allows to directly capture a policymaker's assessment of macroeconomic variables which are relevant for the decision making process. As an application of the proposed method, a novel real time data set consisting of assessment indicators for the Bundesbank is generated to re-investigate its monetary policy. The analysis provides evidence that (i) the Bundesbank was a flexible monetary targeter and (ii) that the proposed indicator variables contain information beyond that of standard macroeconomic variables used in monetary policy analysis.
On-line bayesian context change detection in web service systems

In real-life situations characteristics of Web service systems evolve in time. Therefore, change detection techniques become substantial elements of adaptive procedures for Web service systems management, such as resource allocation and anomaly detection methods. In this paper, we propose an on-line change detector which uses the Bayesian inference. We define two models which describe situations with one change and no change within data. Next we apply Bayesian model comparison for change detection. In order to obtain analytical expressions of model evidences used in the model comparison we provide a coherent framework of change detection which focuses on an approximation of the Bayes factor. The proposed solution, contrary to state-of-the-art methods, works in an on-line fashion and the algorithm's computational complexity is proportional to the constant size of the shifting window. Low computational complexity of the change detector enables its application in complex computer networks. At the end of the research paper, the quality of the proposed algorithm is examined using simulated Web service system.
Reaction Paper Data-driven Outbreak Detection in Social Networks

Recently, the process of how ideas and influence propagate through a social network has drawn extensive research efforts. It lies in the core of understanding the diffusion of news, fashions and innovations, it also plays important roles in marketing strategies, virus and pollution control. This reaction paper focuses on: (i) summarization of literatures in influence maximization and outbreak detection, (ii) discussion of pros and cons of existing models and algorithms, and (iii) proposal of what we will research in our projects.
A fuzzy hypothesis test based model for customer satisfaction measurement (Case study in PARS KHODRO CO)

The article proposes a model for customer satisfaction measuring, which is adapted to use in automobile industries. The proposed methodology evaluates the satisfaction level of a set of customers in different aspect of customer focus based on hypothesis values. It permits to evaluate the validity of a service/manufacturing operation from the point of view of consumers. The main advantages of this method are fully considered the qualitative form of customers' judgments through fuzzy theory and evaluate customers' satisfaction in different aspect of customer focus. This model also allows fully evaluates by analysis of all possible hypothesis cases. In the end, we implement our model in KHODRO CO. in IRAN and show the results. This research does asking the opinions of the experts through a number of questionnaires related to the L90 auto customers of PARS KHODRO CO. in 5 fields. Customer's satisfaction of L90 auto in above fields attains among 81 hypotheses and concludes the following result: ”Product quality is good, financial problems is good, Total quality of services is good and Guarantee is medium then customer satisfaction is good”. Finally, future research directions are provided.
A Theory of Charitable Fund-Raising with Costly Solicitations

We present a theory of charitable fund-raising in which it is costly to solicit donors. We fully characterize the optimal solicitation strategy that maximizes donations net of fundraising costs. The optimal strategy dictates that the fund-raiser target only those individuals whose equilibrium contributions exceed their solicitation costs. We show that as the income inequality increases, so does the level of the public good, despite a non-monotonic fund-raising effort. This implies that costly fund-raising can provide a novel explanation for the non-neutrality of income redistributions and government grants often found in empirical studies. We also show that in large economies, only the "most willing" donors are solicited; and the average donation converges to the solicitation cost of these donors, which is strictly positive.
New wavelet features for image indexing and retrieval

Image descriptors encode the images in the database as feature vectors. Feature vectors play main role in content based image retrieval. This paper proposes a new feature vector based on wavelets. Most of the natural images have short span high frequencies and low frequencies extending for larger span. Hence, the design of our feature vector is such that it provides higher spatial localization and lower frequency resolution at higher frequencies and the reverse for lower frequencies. The energy of the frequency content of the image at various sub-bands and different spatial resolution (higher for higher frequency bands) is stored as feature vector. Thus, the given feature vector encodes high frequency information as well. The superiority of the proposed algorithm over some traditional algorithms is substantiated with results.
Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: Translating Experimental Neuroscience into Clinical Practice

Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on King's Research Portal is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Post-Print version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version for pagination, volume/issue, and date of publication details. And where the final published version is provided on the Research Portal, if citing you are again advised to check the publisher's website for any subsequent corrections.
Methods for Analytical Understanding of Agent-Based Modeling of Complex Systems

Von Neuman's work on universal machines and the hardware development have allowed the simulation of dynamical systems through a large set of interacting agents. This is a bottom-up approach which tries to derive global properties of a complex system through local interaction rules and agent behaviour. Traditionally, such systems are modeled and simulated through top-down methods based on differential equations. Agent-Based Modeling has the advantage of simplicity and low computational cost. However, unlike differential equations, there is no standard way to express agent behaviour. Besides, it is not clear how to analytically predict the results obtained by the simulation. In this paper we survey some of these methods. For expressing agent behaviour formal methods, like Stochastic Process Algebras have been used. Such approach is useful if the global properties of interest can be expressed as a function of stochastic time series. However, if space variables must be considered, we shall change the focus. In this case, multiscale techniques, based on Chapman-Enskog expansion, was used to establish the connection between the microscopic dynamics and the macroscopic observables. Also, we use data mining techniques,like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to study agent systems like Cellular Automata. With the help of these tools we will discuss a simple society model, a Lattice Gas Automaton for fluid modeling, and knowledge discovery in CA databases. Besides, we show the capabilities of the NetLogo, a software for agent simulation of complex system and show our experience about.
A behavioural and electrophysiological investigation of cognitive and executive dysfunction in older adults with Williams syndrome

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare developmental disorder accompanied by mild–moderate learning difficulties. The literature focusing on older adults with WS is limited, thus the thesis examined cognitive and executive dysfunction in adults with WS aged 35+ years, adopting behavioural and electrophysiological methodologies. Claims of premature cognitive ageing, investigated with paired-associates paradigms to measure associative memory ability (Chapter 2), were not supported, rather they highlighted atypicalities capitalising on semantic memory and implementing spontaneous semantic encoding strategies. Further investigation of semantic memory (Levels of Processing paradigm, Chapter 3) showed better recall for ‘deep’ encoded items; however, effect sizes identified atypical access to semantic memory. Importantly, both studies were characterised with greater false alarms and reaction time for rejecting new items, indicative of poor error monitoring, and deficits in executive processes of inhibitory control and attention in WS. Chapter 4 adopted The Sustained Attention to Response Task which is highly sensitive to inhibition and attentional lapse. The WS group showed inhibitory deficits failing to withhold a response, and problems re-engaging attentional control after making an error. Chapters 5 and 6 investigated the neural mechanisms underpinning attentional / inhibitory deficits, employing the Oddball paradigm (ERP), and analysis of the alpha and beta frequency bands during resting states (EEG). The WS group showed a) compromised early monitoring of perceptual input, and inefficient task irrelevant stimulus evaluation, and b) low EEG alpha power indicative of reduced inhibitory control, atypical topographical distributions, and low variability; the latter is associated with poorer behavioural performance. Overall, the thesis has demonstrated how cognitive deficits observed in older adults with WS are grounded in atypicalities in the executive processes of attention and inhibition. It has added to theoretical understanding by advancing our knowledge of both the behavioural and eletrophysiological profiles in older adults with WS, and which sub-serve these atypicalities.
Using score-informed constraints for NMF-based source separation

Techniques based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) can be used to efficiently decompose a magnitude spectrogram into a set of template (column) vectors and activation (row) vectors. To better control this decomposition, NMF has been extended using prior knowledge and parametric models. In this paper, we present such an extended approach that uses additional score information to guide the decomposition process. Here, opposed to previous methods, our main idea is to impose constraints on both the template as well as the activation side. We show that using such double constraints results in musically meaningful decompositions similar to parametric approaches, while being computationally less demanding and easier to implement. Furthermore, additional onset constraints can be incorporated in a straightforward manner without sacrificing robustness. We evaluate our approach in the context of separating note groups (e. g. the left or right hand) from monaural piano recordings.
Power4 focuses on memory bandwidth

Not content to wrap sheet metal around Intel microprocessors for its future server business, IBM is developing a processor it hopes will fend off the IA-64 juggernaut. Speaking at this week’s Microprocessor Forum, chief architect Jim Kahle described IBM’s monster 170-million-transistor Power4 chip, which boasts two 64-bit 1-GHz five-issue superscalar cores, a triple-level cache hierarchy, a 10-GByte/s main-memory interface, and a 45-GByte/s multiprocessor interface, as Figure 1 shows. Kahle said that IBM will see first silicon on Power4 in 1Q00, and systems will begin shipping in 2H01.
Visual topography of area TEO in the macaque

Previous studies have mapped the visuotopic organization of visual areas from V1 through V4 in the occipital cortex and of area TE in the temporal cortex, but the cortex in between, at the occipito‐temporal junction, has remained relatively unexplored. To determine the visuotopic organization of this region, receptive fields were mapped at 1,200 visually responsive sites on 370 penetrations in the ventral occipital and temporal cortex of five macaques. We identified a new visual area, roughly corresponding to cytoarchitectonic area TEO, located between the ventral portion of V4 and area TE. Receptive fields in TEO are intermediate in size between those in V4 and TE and have a coarse visuotopic organization. Collectively, receptive fields in TEO appear to cover nearly the entire contralateral visual field. The foveal and parafoveal representation of TEO is located laterally on the convexity of the inferior temporal gyrus, and the peripheral field is represented medially on the ventral surface of the hemisphere, within and medial to the occipitotemporal sulcus. Beyond the medial border of TEO, within cyteoarchitectonic area TF, is another visually responsive region, which we have termed VTF; this region may also have some crude visual topography. Bands of constant eccentricity in TEO appear to be continuous with those in V2, V3v, and V4. The upper field representation in TEO is located adjacent to that in ventral V4, with a representation of the horizontal meridian forming the boundary between the two areas. The lower field representation in TEO is located just anterior to the upper field but is smaller. In contrast to the orderly representation of eccentricity in TEO, we found little consistent representation of polar angle, other than the separation of upper and lower fields. The results of injecting anatomical tracers in two animals suggest that TEO is an important link in the pathway that relays visual information from VI to the inferior temporal cortex. TEO is thus likely to play an important role in pattern perception.
TCP/IP analysis and optimization over a precommercial live UMTS network

3G wireless networks such as UMTS are currently providing wide area Internet access. However, the Internet protocols exhibit a suboptimal performance in such scenarios. In this paper we first characterize a live UMTS link from the IP level. We identify critical features such as high latency, delay spikes, high packet loss probability and connectivity gaps, specially when the user moves between cells. Next, we test a set of TCP configurations, demonstrating that TCP performance can be optimized over UMTS by the usage of adequate end-to-end mechanisms and parameter values.
Reach for A*: Efficient Point-to-Point Shortest Path Algorithms

We study the point-to-point shortest path problem in a setting where preprocessing is allowed. We improve the reach-based approach of Gutman [17] in several ways. In particular, we introduce a bidirectional version of the algorithm that uses implicit lower bounds and we add shortcut arcs to reduce vertex reaches. Our modifications greatly improve both preprocessing and query times. The resulting algorithm is as fast as the best previous method, due to Sanders and Schultes [28]. However, our algorithm is simpler and combines in a natural way with A* search, which yields significantly better query times.
AEI-2004-067 ROM 2 F-04 / 09 LAPTH-1061 / 04 A three-loop test of the dilatation operator in N = 4 SYM

We compute the three-loop anomalous dimension of the BMN operators with charges J = 0 (the Konishi multiplet) and J = 1 in the N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory. We employ a method which effectively reduces the calculation to two loops. Instead of using the superconformal primary states, we consider the ratio of the two-point functions of suitable descendants of the corresponding multiplets. Our results unambiguously select the form of the N = 4 SYM dilatation operator which is compatible with BMN scaling. Thus, we provide evidence for BMN scaling at three loops. UMR 5108 associée à l’Université de Savoie
Mutual Information Analysis : A Universal Differential Side-Channel Attack

In this paper, we develop an information theoretic differential side-channel attack. An embedded device containing a secret key is modeled as a black box with a leakage function whose output is captured by an adversary through the noisy measurement of a physical observable e.g. the power consumed by the device. We assume only that the measured values depend somehow on the leakage and thus on the word being processed by the device. Without any knowledge on the particular dependency, this fact is exploited to mount a side-channel attack. We build a distinguisher which uses the Mutual Information between the observed and the leaked values as a statistical test. The Mutual Information is maximal when the hypothetical key guessed by the attacker equals the key in the device. Our approach is confirmed by experimental results. We perform power analysis on an embedded device using our Mutual Information based distinguisher and show that the correct key is clearly distinguishable. Finally, our approach allows to compute a good estimate of the minimal number of traces required to perform a successful attack and gives an upper bound on the information leakage in a single observation.
Self Syntactico-Semantic Enrichment of LMF Normalized Dictionaries

The main challenge of this paper is the syntactico-semantic enrichment of LMF normalized dictionaries. To meet this challenge, we propose an approach based on the content of these dictionaries, namely the “Context” fields and the syntactic and semantic knowledge. The proposed approach is composed of three phases. The first one deals with the data set concerning the syntactic arguments of the “Context” fields. The second consists in connect semantic arguments to the syntactic ones. The last phase links syntactic and semantic arguments. In order to evaluate the proposed approach, we have applied it to an available Arabic normalized dictionary. The results are encouraging with respect to the measurement evaluation.
Energy Analysis of Cofiring Food Waste with Coal for Electricity Generation System

Cofiring food waste with coal for electricity generation has not only reduce fossil fuel costs, but can lower the greenhouse gases (GHGs), NOx and SOx emissions. However, there are some pitfalls to impact on its commercialization and sustainable development. The emergy analysis theory provides a new idea quantitatively analyzing the relationship between the natural environment, socio-economic systems and the cofring food waste with coal for electricity generation system. In this paper, as the case of a 140 MW cofiring food waste with coal system in Southern China, the emergy analysis of the cofring food waste with coal for electricity generation system was conducted and its emergy sustainability indices were established. The results showed that the competitiveness of cofiring system was no advantage to the single coal-based power system, but its pressure to the environment is obviously smaller. The cofiring food waste with coal electricity generation system has more sustainable performance than the other fossil power plants.
Tagging the Signatures of Domestication in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) by Means of Pooled DNA Samples

Background and Aims The main aim of this study was to use an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)-based, large-scale screening of the whole genome of Phaseolus vulgaris to determine the effects of selection on the structure of the genetic diversity in wild and domesticated populations. Methods Using pooled DNA samples, seven each of wild and domesticated populations of P. vulgaris were studied using 2506 AFLP markers (on average, one every 250 kb). About 10 % of the markers were also analysed on individual genotypes and were used to infer allelic frequencies empirically from bulk data. In both data sets, tests were made to determine the departure from neutral expectation for each marker using an FST-based method. Key Results The most important outcome is that a large fraction of the genome of the common bean (16 %; P < 0·01) appears to have been subjected to effects of selection during domestication. Markers obtained in individual genotypes were also mapped and classified according to their proximities to known genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of the domestication syndrome. Most of the markers that were found to be potentially under the effects of selection were located in the proximity of previously mapped genes and QTLs related to the domestication syndrome. Conclusions Overall, the results indicate that in P. vulgaris a large portion of the genome appears to have been subjected to the effects of selection, probably because of linkage to the loci selected during domestication. As most of the markers that are under the effects of selection are linked to known loci related to the domestication syndrome, it is concluded that population genomics approaches are very efficient in detecting QTLs. A method based on bulk DNA samples is presented that is effective in pre-screening for a large number of markers to determine selection signatures.
Kingdom of the Knights: evaluation of a seamlessly augmented toy environment for playful learning

Ubiquitous technologies offer new opportunities for digitally augmenting children's toys and play experiences. A key question is how augmented toy environments affect children's playful learning, and whether this differs from non-augmented play environments. This paper presents preliminary results of a user study we conducted to evaluate an augmented toy environment that we built --- the Augmented Knights Castle --- in terms of fun and storytelling, particularly when compared with an identical, non-augmented version. All sessions were observed, video-recorded and further feedback was elicited through small group interviews and questionnaires. Findings suggest ways in which digitally augmented play environments promote different kinds of activity from an equivalent non-augmented play environment.