Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Budgeting and Governing

Aaron Wildavsky's greatest concern, as expressed in his writings, is how people manage to live together. This concern may at first appear to have little to do with the study of budgeting, but for Wildavsky budgeting made living together possible. Indeed, as he argues here, if you cannot budget, you cannot govern. "Budgeting and Governing "gathers in one place a mass of material that otherwise would be lost in a wilderness of journals and edited volumes. With few exceptions, Wildavsky chose the articles in this collection. They are organized largely chronologically so that the reader can trace the progression of his thought which moved from studies of the American federal government, through comparative work, and on to placing budgeting within a broader theory of political culture. Wildavsky wrote about budgeting because in his words, "when a process involves power, authority, culture, consensus, and conflict, it captures a great deal of national political life. " Wildavsky was interested in budgeting because of what it could tell us about the classic questions of- politics: who gets what, how, and why? His earlier analyses focus narrowly on budgeting personnel and agency actors in answering these questions, while in his later work the contending actors become sub-cultural types. To Wildavsky politics was about finding terms for living together in spite of ideological differences. Budgetary incrementalism helped to manage this otherwise unmanageable task. He thought synoptic budgeting and all related reforms would increase disagreement and raise the stakes, and so were unwise. Analysis had to serve politics, not try to displace it.
Antihyperglycemic Effects of Short Term Resveratrol Supplementation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of resveratrol in lowering blood glucose in the presence of standard antidiabetic treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes, in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded parallel clinical trial. A total of 66 subjects with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to intervention group which was supplemented with resveratrol at a dose 1 g/day for 45 days and control group which received placebo tablets. Body weight, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c, insulin, homeostatic assessments for insulin resistance, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and markers of liver and kidney damage were measured at baseline and after 45 days of resveratrol or placebo supplementation. Resveratrol treatment significantly decreased systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c, insulin, and insulin resistance, while HDL was significantly increased, when compared to their baseline levels. On the other hand, the placebo group had slightly increased fasting glucose and LDL when compared to their baseline levels. Liver and kidney function markers were unchanged in the intervention group. Overall, this study showed that resveratrol supplementation exerted strong antidiabetic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Morphine-6-Glucuronide: Morphine's Successor for Postoperative Pain Relief?

In searching for an analgesic with fewer side effects than morphine, examination of morphine's active metabolite, morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), suggests that M6G is possibly such a drug. In contrast to morphine, M6G is not metabolized but excreted via the kidneys and exhibits enterohepatic cycling, as it is a substrate for multidrug resistance transporter proteins in the liver and intestines. M6G exhibits a delay in its analgesic effect (blood-effect site equilibration half-life 4–8 h), which is partly related to slow passage through the blood-brain barrier and distribution within the brain compartment. In humans, M6G's potency is just half of that of morphine. In clinical studies, M6G is well tolerated and produces adequate and long lasting postoperative analgesia. At analgesic doses, M6G causes similar reduction of the ventilatory response to CO2 as an equianalgesic dose of morphine but significantly less depression of the hypoxic ventilatory response. Preliminary data indicate that M6G is associated less than morphine with nausea and vomiting, causing 50% and 75% less nausea in postoperative and experimental settings, respectively. Although the data from the literature are very promising, we believe that more studies are necessary before we may conclude that M6G is superior to morphine for postoperative analgesia.
Implementing a Commercial-Strength Parallel Hybrid Movie Recommendation Engine

AMORE is a hybrid recommendation system that provides movie recommendations for a major triple-play services provider in Greece. Combined with our own implementations of several user-, item-, and content-based recommendation algorithms, AMORE significantly outperforms other state-of-the-art implementations both in solution quality and response time. AMORE currently serves daily recommendation requests for all active subscribers of the provider's video-on-demand services and has contributed to an increase of rental profits and customer retention.
Non-commercial Research and Educational Use including without Limitation Use in Instruction at Your Institution, Sending It to Specific Colleagues That You Know, and Providing a Copy to Your Institution's Administrator. All Other Uses, Reproduction and Distribution, including without Limitation Comm

Seasonal changes in monomethylmercury production in sediments may increase its uptake by benthic invertebrates and other organisms in the food web. Abstract Surface sediments (0e2 cm) were collected at 40 sites along the Tagus Estuary in July and December 2004. The sediments were analysed for total mercury, monomethylmercury (MMHg) and interpretative parameters (e.g. redox potential, pH, C org). No significant differences in total Hg, pH, Al, Fe, Mn and C org were found between sediments collected in the two periods, but MMHg concentrations were higher in July. On average sediments were warmer and more reducing in summer. On the basis of these results, an increase of 7 kg of MMHg (þ37%) in surface sediments of the Tagus Estuary was estimated. Presumably higher temperatures in summer promote the increase of microbial activity and higher methyl-ation rates. The alterations observed in this study point to the potential importance of seasonal changes in MMHg production at surface sediments with eventual changes in the MMHg uptake by benthic invertebrates and other organisms in the food web.
The Elevator Dispatching Problem

In this paper, we formulate the elevator dispatching problem as a stochastic bilevel optimization problem, where a group of elevators serves a set of transportation requests. In the upper level, the requests are assigned to the elevators. In the lower level, the route for each elevator is solved separately. The lower level problem predicts the optimal system state for a finite planning horizon according to stochastic demand. The demand affects the cost of traveling, capacity constraints, and the upper level payoff function. To solve the problem in real time, we use a genetic algorithm to optimize the upper level assignments. In the lower level optimization, we use the certainty equivalent control scheme, where stochastic quantities are replaced by their expected values. Extensive numerical simulations carried out in this paper, together with commercial installations, verify the applicability of our new on-line optimization algorithm.
A Reconstruction Method for Circular Interlaced-Source-Detector-Array CT

This paper presents a helical interlaced-source-detector-array (HISDA) CT approach for superior temporal resolution. A Feldkamp-type algorithm is first proposed for HISDA CT reconstruction. Then, schemes for recovering missing projection data are studied. The performance of HISDA CT is evaluated in the numerical simulation, which is better than the previously proposed circular interlaced-source-detector-array (CISDA) CT in terms of accuracy and uniformity.
An improvement of flat approach on hierarchical text classification using top-level pruning classifiers

Hierarchical classification has been becoming a popular research topic nowadays, particularly on the web as text categorization. For a large web corpus, there can be a hierarchy with hundreds of thousands of topics, so it is common to handle this task using a flat classification approach, inducing a binary classifier only for the leaf-node classes. However, it always suffers from such low prediction accuracy due to an imbalanced issue in the training data. In this paper, we propose two novel strategies: (i) “Top-Level Pruning” to narrow down the candidate classes, and (ii) “Exclusive Top-Level Training Policy” to build more effective classifiers by utilizing the top-level data. The experiments on the Wikipedia dataset show that our system outperforms the traditional flat approach unanimously on all hierarchical classification metrics.
Robust Rationalizability Under Almost Common Certainty of Payoffs

An action is robustly rationalizable if it is rationalizable for every type who has almost common certainty of payoffs. We illustrate by means of an example that an action may not be robustly rationalizable even if it is weakly dominant, and argue that robust rationalizability is a very stringent refinement of rationalizability. Nonetheless, we show that every strictly rationalizable action is robustly rationalizable. We also investigate how permissive robust rationalizability becomes if we require that players be fully certain of their own payoffs.
A pairwise subspace projection method for multi-class linear dimension reduction

Linear feature extraction is commonly applied in an all-at- once way, meaning that a single trasformation is used for all the data regardless of the classes. Very good results can be achieved with this ap- proach when the classication problem involves just a few classes. Nev- ertheless, when the number of classes grows is often dicult to nd a low dimensional subspace while preserving the error rates, due to overlapping between the dierent populations. In this paper we propose an alterna- tive method based on a collection of transformations, each involving two of the classes in the problem. Each transformation in the collection is estimated using an approximation to the information discriminant anal- ysis, which is found to be equivalent to sucient dimension reduction for heteroscedastic Gaussian data. A regularized version of the objective function is also introduced, allowing for simultaneous variable selection. In this way, each reduction implies only a subset of the original variables. A probabilistic model is build by means of a simple latent variable, so that classication is carried out using standard Bayes decision rule. Sev- eral real data sets are used to compare the performance of the proposed method against similar approaches based on ensembles of binary classi- ers.
Unsupervised change-detection methods for remote-sensing images

An unsupervised change detection problem can be viewed as a classification problem with only two classes corresponding to the change and no-change areas, respectively. Thanks to its simplicity, im- age differencing is a widely used approach to change detection. It is based on the idea of generating a difference image that represents the modulus of the spectral change vector associated with each pixel in the study area. To separate the ''change'' and ''no-change'' classes in the difference image, a simple thresholding-based procedure can be ap- plied. However, the selection of the best threshold value is not a trivial problem. We investigate and compare several simple thresholding meth- ods. The combination of the expectation-maximization algorithm with a thresholding method is also performed for the purpose of achieving a better estimate of the optimal threshold value. As an experimental inves- tigation, a study area damaged by a forest fire is considered. Two Land- sat TM images of the area acquired before and after the event are uti- lized to detect the burnt zones and to assess and compare the mentioned unsupervised change-detection methods. © 2002 Society of
Implementing FT-CORBA with Portable Interceptors: Lessons Learned

In this paper, we present the design of Open EDEN, an implementation of the FT-CORBA specification based on the use of a group communication framework, called EDEN. The design of Open EDEN was driven by the desire to use only portable techniques (mainly portable interceptors) to integrate the EDEN framework within a CORBA platform. We discuss the main difficulties we encountered and we draw some conclusions about the adequacy of this choice.
Evaluating Inquiry Learning Through Recognition-Based Tasks

The Rashi inquiry learning environment for human biology was evaluated using a new instrument for assessing gains in scientific inquiry skills. The instrument was designed to be sensitive to the small pre-post skill gains that are hypothesized for short learning interventions. It is also designed to be scored with less effort than the verbal protocol analysis methods most often used to asses higher order skills. To achieve these ends the instrument is “item-based”, “recognition-based” and “difference-based. ” We describe our assessment design method and results of its first use.
THE EVOLUTION OF MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

The diversity of organismic form has evolved nonuniformly during the history of life. Quantitative morphological studies reveal profound changes in evolutionary rates corresponding with the generation of morphological disparity at low taxonomic diversity during the early radiation of many clades. These studies have also given insight into the relative importance of genomic and ecological factors in macroevolution, the selectivity of extinction, and other issues. Important progress has been made in the development of morphological spaces that can accommodate highly disparate forms, although this area still needs more attention. Other future directions include the relationship between morphological and ecological diversification, geographic patterns in morphological diversity, and the role of morphological disparity as a causal factor in macroevolution.
Design and Implementation of Terminal Sliding Mode Control Method for PMSM Speed Regulation System

This paper investigates the speed regulation problem of permanent magnet synchronous motor servo system based on terminal sliding mode control method. By introducing a non-singular terminal sliding mode manifold, a novel terminal sliding mode controller is designed for the speed loop. This controller can make the states not only reach the manifold in finite time, but also converge to the equilibrium point in finite time. Thus, the controller could make the motor speed reach the reference value in finite time, obtaining a faster convergence and a better tracking precision. Meanwhile, considering the large chattering phenomenon caused by high switching gains, a composite terminal sliding mode control method based on disturbance observer is proposed to reduce chattering. Through disturbance estimation for feed-forward compensation, the composite terminal sliding mode controller may take a smaller value for the switching gain without sacrificing disturbance rejection performance. Matlab simulation and TMS320F2808 DSP experimental results are provided to show the superiority of the proposed methods.
Robotic system for humanitarian demining

This research aims to build a practical mobile robotic system to be used in actual humanitarian demining tasks. The basic system consists of a manipulator mounted on top of a mobile platform. For the purpose of building a practical and versatile mobile platform, the authors have already developed a 4-wheel autonomous buggy system called "Gryphon", as discussed in previous works. This paper addresses the development of an energy-efficient weight-compensated manipulator, which is composed of a 5-node parallel linkage. The manipulator was especially designed for antipersonnel mine detection and removal tasks. The weight-compensation concept and the principle of operation are discussed in detail, and the validity and usefulness of the manipulator, as well as of the whole robotic system, are demonstrated by real experiments.
Implementation of Vedic Multiplier for Digital Signal Processing

Digital signal processors (DSPs) are very important in various engineering disciplines. Fast multiplication is very important in DSPs for convolution, Fourier transforms, etc. A fast method for multiplication based on ancient Indian Vedic mathematics is proposed in this paper. The whole of Vedic mathematics is based on 16 sutras (word formulae) and manifests a unified structure of mathematics. Among the various methods of multiplication in Vedic mathematics, Urdhava tiryakbhyam is discussed in detail. Urdhava tiryakbhyam is the general multiplication formula applicable to all cases of multiplication. The coding is done in VHDL (very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language) and synthesis is done using Xilinx ISE series. The combinational delay obtained after the synthesis is compared with normal multiplier. Further, this Vedic multiplier is used in matrix multiplication. This Vedic multiplier can bring great improvement in the DSP performance.
Making an immersive projection environment with our living room

Immersive projection technologies surrounding users with large and high quality images are fundamental elements in our near-future information society. However, such large projection systems are frequently based on large implementation and high-cost components like a special projector and screen. This situation limits users receiving the benefits with those technologies. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a technique for changing our living room into an immersive projection environment. The surrounding images are projected with simple projection units with a convex mirror and projectors. The projected images are properly corrected in order to reduce geometric and luminance distortions. Pseudo wide viewangle images generated with standard-sized images also leverage the projection environment effectively as our accessible entertainment space. This paper describes each technique of those, and shows some results.
Pharyngeal airway wall mechanics using tagged magnetic resonance imaging during medial hypoglossal nerve stimulation in rats

To better understand pharyngeal airway mechanics as it relates to the pathogenesis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea, we have developed a novel application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with non‐invasive tissue tagging to measure pharyngeal wall tissue motion during active dilatation of the airway. Eleven anaesthetized Sprague‐Dawley rats were surgically prepared with platinum electrodes for bilateral stimulation of the medial branch of the hypoglossus nerve that supplies motor output to the protrudor and intrinsic tongue muscles. Images of the pharyngeal airway were acquired before and during stimulation using a gated multislice, spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) imaging protocol in a 4.7 T magnet. The tag pulses, applied before stimulation, created a grid pattern of magnetically imbedded dark lines that revealed tissue motion in images acquired during stimulation. Stimulation significantly increased cross‐sectional area, and anteroposterior and lateral dimensions in the oropharyngeal and velopharyngeal airways when results were averaged across the rostral, mid‐ and caudal pharynx (P < 0.001). Customized software for tissue motion‐tracking and finite element‐analysis showed that changes in airway size were associated with ventral displacement of tissues in the ventral pharyngeal wall in the rostral, mid‐ and caudal pharyngeal regions (P < 0.0032) and ventral displacement of the lateral walls in the mid‐ and caudal regions (P < 0.0001). In addition, principal maximum stretch was significantly increased in the lateral walls (P < 0.023) in a ventral–lateral direction in the mid‐ and caudal pharyngeal regions and principal maximum compression (perpendicular to stretch) was significantly increased in the ventral walls in all regions (P < 0.0001). Stimulation did not cause lateral displacement of the lateral pharyngeal walls at any level. The results reveal that the increase in pharyngeal airway size resulting from stimulation of the medial branch of the hypoglossal nerve is predominantly due to ventral displacement of the ventral and lateral pharyngeal walls.
Coset construction of AdS particle dynamics

We analyze dynamics of the AdS$_{N+1}$ particle realized on the coset SO$(2,N)/$SO$(1,N)$. Hamiltonian reduction provides the physical phase space in terms of the coadjoint orbit obtained by boosting a timelike element of ${\frak so}(2,N)$. We show equivalence of this approach to geometric quantization and to the SO$(N)$ covariant oscillator description, for which the boost generators entail a complicated operator ordering. As an alternative scheme, we introduce dual oscillator variables and derive their algebra at the classical and the quantum level. This simplifies the calculations of the commutators for the boost generators and leads to unitary irreducible representations of ${\frak so}(2,N)$ for all admissible values of the mass parameter. We furthermore discuss an SO$(N)$ covariant supersymmetric extensions of the oscillator quantization, with its realization for superparticles in AdS$_2$ and AdS$_3$ given by recent works.
Multi-Document Summarization using Automatic Key-Phrase Extraction

The development of a multi-document summarizer using automatic key-phrase extraction has been described. This summarizer has two main parts; first part is automatic extraction of Key-phrases from the documents and second part is automatic generation of a multidocument summary based on the extracted key-phrases. The CRF based Automatic Keyphrase extraction system has been used here. A document graph-based topic/query focused automatic multi-document summarizer is used for summarization where extracted keyphrases are used as topic. The summarizer has been tested on the standard TAC 2008 test data sets of the Update Summarization Track. Evaluation using the ROUGE-1.5. 5 tool has resulted in ROUGE-2 and ROUGE‐SU-4 scores of 0.10548 and 0.13582 respectively.
Stable matchings for resource allocation in wireless networks

In this paper, we apply and extend the theory of one-to-one and many-to-one matching markets to the resource allocation in wireless communications. We develop a general framework to find stable matchings of users and resources based on the channel and context aware preference lists of users and resources. The score-based, maximum throughput, and proportional fair scheduler do not lead necessarily to a stable matching. We apply the user and resource proposing deferred acceptance algorithm in order to find stable matchings and to identify their properties. If the preference lists of users and resources are strict and based on the same information, e.g., the channel state, the stable matching is always unique. The optimality properties of stable matchings are characterized. The framework is illustrated by an example ad-hoc communications scenario.
An Investigation of Object-Oriented and Code-Size Metrics as Dead Code Predictors

In case of biological organisms, death is unambiguous. It is not the same in software engineering, where death assumes a different meaning. For example, this term can be used to indicate source code that can be removed being it unnecessary for a given software system. In this paper, the early achievements of an empirical investigation on software metrics as predictors for dead code methods in object-oriented (OO) source code have been presented. OO design metrics and traditional code-size metrics have been considered. Data on one open source software system implemented in Java have been collected. The results suggest that five of these metrics can be used as indicators for dead code methods in OO software systems.