Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time trajectory generation for three-times continuous trajectories

A method for generating Cn, n = {1, 2, 3} close to time optimal trajectories, is presented. Therby constraints within the first n+1 derivatives are considered. The trajectory generator is able to perform within a real-time environment. The algorithm makes use of the recursive structure of the problem. The method can be used in the interpretation of hand lever input signals, to generate smooth transition trajectories between the current reference values and the desired target velocity, which then can be used to generate feed forward control inputs.
Two Algorithms for Web Applications Assessment

The usage of web applications can be measured with the use of metrics. In a LMS, a typical web application, there are no appropriate metrics which would facilitate their qualitative and quantitative measurement. The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of existing techniques with a different way, in order to analyze the log file of a typical LMS and deduce useful conclusions. Three metrics for course usage measurement are used. It also describes two algorithms for course classification and suggestion actions. The metrics and the algorithms and were in Open eClass LMS tracking data of an academic institution. The results from 39 courses presented interest insights. Although the case study concerns a LMS it can also be applied to other web applications such as e-government, e-commerce, e-banking, blogs e.t. c.
Labour Market Flexibility and Regional Unemployment Rate Dynamics: Spain 1980-1995

This paper aims to shed light in the dynamics of Spanish regional unemployment rates and determine the driving forces of their disparities. The Spanish economy has one of the highest unemployment rates in the EU and is characterised by severe regional disparities. We apply the chain reaction theory of unemployment according to which the evolution of unemployment is driven by the interplay of lagged adjustment processes and the spillover effects within the labour market system. Our model includes nationwide as well as region-specific variables, and takes into account the limited labour and firm mobility in Spain. We show that the degree of labour market flexibility differs between high and low unemployment regions, and find that investment has a major influence on the unemployment trajectory. In addition, we find that in bad times high unemployment regions are hit more severely than low unemployment regions, while in good times high unemployment regions do not benefit as much as low unemployment regions.
Target Tracking Using Self-Adapting Mean Shift Algorithm

This paper presents a self-adapting algorithm based on Mean Shift model to track the target in video sequences. Firstly, two-dimensional histogram is used to represent the target instead of one-dimensional histogram, so as to better distinguish the target from background. Secondly, algorithm has been improved by adding self-adapting progress to remove errors caused by local maximum. Experiments on several video sequences showed that the proposed algorithm performs of high accuracy and good robustness to handle target tracking where background objects are similar to target, and can be applied on a real-time system.
Principals’ Views on Civic and Parental Participation in School Governance in Switzerland

Purpose: The study is focused on the question of how principals in Swiss compulsory schools evaluate civic and parental participation in education governance. Public management reforms in Switzerland have led to the implementation of semiautonomous school administration and the encouragement of professional leadership. Thus, the traditional role of school boards has come under scrutiny. Research Methods/Approach: Using the theoretical framework of actor-centered institutionalism, the study compares patterns of education policies in Swiss cantons and analyzes data of a principals’ survey by structural equation modelling. Findings: The views of principals concerning lay participation in school governance reveal a multifaceted picture. Principals affirm lay participation on the levels of the right to be informed, the right to be heard, and the right to volunteer; they regard with skepticism the authority of lay participants to make decisions. Implications for Research and Practice: Principals tend to insist on professional discretion and opt against the blurring of boundaries between schools and their social environment. This implies the self-justification of professional leadership. That such self-justification does not derive from a neutral perspective, but is an expression of stakeholder interests, has to be taken into account.
Low complexity approximate log-MAP detection for MIMO systems

In this paper we propose a novel low-complexity log-MAP space-time detection method, which can be regarded as an advanced extension of the complex sphere decoder (CSD). We demonstrate that as opposed to the previously published variants of the soft-output CSD, the proposed technique may be employed in the so-called "over-loaded" scenario, where the number of transmit antennas exceeds that of the receive antennas. The proposed method closely approaches the optimum performance of the Log-MAP detector even in heavily over-loaded scenarios, while the associated computational complexity is only moderately increased
Myusic: a Content-based Music Recommender System based on eVSM and Social Media

This paper presents Myusic, a platform that leverages social media to produce content-based music recommendations. The design of the platform is based on the insight that user preferences in music can be extracted by mining Facebook profiles, thus providing a novel and effective way to sift in large music databases and overcome the cold-start problem as well. The content-based recommendation model implemented in Myusic is eVSM [4], an enhanced version of the vector space model based on distributional models, Random Indexing and Quantum Negation. The effectiveness of the platform is evaluated through a preliminary user study performed on a sample of 50 persons. The results showed that 74% of users actually prefer recommendations computed by social mediabased profiles with respect to those computed by a simple heuristic based on the popularity of artists, and confirmed the usefulness of performing user studies because of the different outcomes they can provide with respect to offline experiments.
Study on Overburden's Destructive Rules Based on Similar Material Simulation

Analysis on the current research status, this article studies on the dynamic subsidence principles of overburden rock strata during coal mining based on similar material simulation test. Close ranged industrial photogram metric system was introduced to collect data. After coordinate transformation, matching and model amendment, dynamic subsidence curves which can be used to analyze the continuity characteristics of overburden subsidence, changes of boundary angle and displacement angle, volume transferring law from rock to surface, etc. were got. The result is useful in further study of the dynamic rule of overburden strata and enriches mining subsidence principles.
A user centric always best connected service business model for MVNOs

The most successful MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) model in practice today is the service provider model in which the MVNO appears to be a mobile network operator in its own right and sells comparable voice and data services to those of the underlying network operator. This model has been successful as the mobile operator and the MVNO can cooperate to create services that complement each other or will buy and host together platforms that the mobile operators will benefit from. In recent times, with the advent of new wireless access technologies IP data services to the mobile device are a reality and with this, new data based services have appeared which extend the reach of desktop and internet based applications down into the mobile device. This phenomenon of internet based services on the mobile device is likely to erode the existing user - network relationship, causing the user - network relationship to last for short time-scales of minutes to hours, as compared to the current contract of months to years. Consequently, MVNOs will have to rethink their business model and concentrate more on the development of data services which are independent and portable of the underlying access and transport network and gives their consumers the possibility of always being best connected to their data application.
Optimal Tuning of PI Speed Controller Using Nature Inspired Heuristics

This paper presents a comparative study of three popular, Evolutionary Algorithms (EA); Genetic Algorithms (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE) for optimal tuning of Proportional Integral (PI) speed controller in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) drives. A brief description of all the three algorithms and the definition of the problem are given.
Three quality professional documents to guide teachers for puberty, relationships and sexuality education

Abstract Quality school-based sexuality education is important for all children and adolescents. The global trend towards students’ earlier, longer, and technologically connected pubertal experience makes the timely provision of such education particularly significant. Quality international sexuality education documents are available for teachers developing curriculum-based frameworks and pastoral care programmes, and these variously include policy and structural guidance, equity standards, comprehensive content and pedagogical strategies. This paper aims to compare three such documents for their relevance in meeting the educational needs of students, and their usefulness for teachers and educators. The results show that these three documents, produced by global organisations for multi-national application, provide highly professional and sustainable responses to the dire need for improved sexuality education for all children and adolescents, in formats accessible to any curriculum planner or teacher. Inclusive and timely provision of any of these document frameworks would help enhance sexuality teaching and learning in contemporary primary and secondary schools, and they are highly recommended for use by teachers around the world.
Interconnection optimized path metric access scheme for k/n-rate Viterbi decoders

Path metric computation in Viterbi decoders is a crucial task where previously computed path metrics are used as input values. If an area-efficient decoder is preferred, mapping the Viterbi algorithm onto reduced computational resources becomes attractive. This implies a need for path metric storage and an interconnection network between parallel computation units and path metric memories. In this paper, an efficient access scheme for path metric computations is presented, which reduces the interconnection complexity. The scheme supports different code rates, number of states, and parallelism of the decoder. It utilizes an in-place update method resulting in minimum path metric memory usage. Further memory savings are achieved by merging several path metrics into one memory word, which reduces the number of memory modules. The interconnections have been simplified reducing the number of connection patterns with efficient scheduling of path metric computations. With certain design parameters, a simple hardwired interconnection network is achieved.
A Camera Engine for Computer Games: Managing the Trade‐Off Between Constraint Satisfaction and Frame Coherence

Many computer games treat the user in the “1st person” and bind the camera to his or her view. More sophistication in a game can be achieved by enabling the camera to leave the users' viewpoint. This, however, requires new methods for automatic, dynamic camera control. In this paper we present methods and tools for such camera control. We emphasize guiding camera control by constraints; however, optimal constraint satisfaction tends to lead to the camera jumping around too much. Thus, we pay particular attention to a trade‐off between constraint satisfaction and frame coherence. We present a new algorithm for dynamic consideration of the visibility of objects which are deemed to be important in a given game context.
Why Have we Neglected Vicarious Experiential Learning

The literature of experiential learning has failed, almost exclusively, to address the perspective of vicarious experiential learning in research schema or conceptual models. We have not found any ABSEL references, for example, that focus on the vicarious dimension as a research perspective or as a fully expressed conceptual framework. Therefore, we ask the question â€œWhy have we neglected vicarious experiential learning? â€ We address this question by reviewing the genesis of vicarious experiential learning from the literature of modeling and self-efficacy. We develop a model comparing vicarious experiential learning with direct experiential learning. The paper concludes with some explanations of the efficacy of vicarious experiential learning and methodological definitions of the concept.
SURFACE METAL-INSULATOR TRANSITION IN THE HUBBARD MODEL

The correlation-driven metal-insulator ~Mott! transition at a solid surface is studied within the Hubbard model for a semi-infinite lattice by means of the dynamical mean-field theory. The transition takes place at a unique critical strength of the interaction. Depending on the surface geometry, the interaction strength, and the wave vector, we find one-electron excitations in the coherent part of the surface-projected metallic spectrum, which are confined to two dimensions. @S0163-1829~99! 04904-8#
Effect of human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on cerebral ischemic volume‐controlled photothrombotic mouse model

Various animal models of stroke have been developed to simulate the human stroke with the development of the ischemic method facilitates preclinical stroke research. The photothrombotic ischemia model, based on the intravascular photochemical reaction, is widely used for in vivo studies. However, this study has limitations, which generated a relatively small‐sized infarction model on superficial cortex compared to that of the MCAO stroke model. In this study, the photothorombosis mouse model is adapted and the optimum conditions for generation of cell death and deficits with high reproducibility is determined. The extent of damage within the cortex was assessed by infarct volume and cellular/behavioral analyses. In this model, the neural cell death and inflammatory responses is detected; moreover, the degree of behavioral impairment is correlated with the brain infarct volume. Further, to enhance the understanding of neural repair, the effect of neural differentiation by transplantation of human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) is analyzed. The authors demonstrated that transplantation of BM‐MSCs promoted the neural differentiation and behavioral performance in their photothrombosis model. Therefore, this research was meaningful to provide a stable animal model of stroke with low variability. Moreover, this model will facilitate development of novel MSC‐based therapeutics for stroke.
Magnetic instability in a sheared azimuthal flow

We study the magneto-rotational instability of an incompressible flow which rotates with angular velocity (r )= a + b=r 2 where r is the radius and a and b are constants. We nd that an applied magnetic eld destabilises the flow, in agreement with the results of Rudiger & Zhang (2001). We extend the investigation in the region of parameter space which is Rayleigh stable. We also study the instability at values of magnetic Prandtl number which are much larger and smaller than Rudiger & Zhang. Large magnetic Prandtl numbers are motivated by their possible relevance in the central region of galaxies (Kulsrud & Anderson 1992). In this regime we nd that increasing the magnetic Prandtl number greatly enhances the instability; the stability boundary drops below the Rayleigh line and tends toward the solid body rotation line. Very small magnetic Prandtl numbers are motivated by the current MHD dynamo experiments performed using liquid sodium and gallium. Our nding in this regime conrms Rudiger & Zhang's conjecture that the linear magneto-rotational instability and the nonlinear hydrodynamical instability (Richard & Zahn 1999) take place at Reynolds numbers of the same order of magnitude.
Use of Airborne Multi-Spectral Imagery in Pest Management Systems

A multi-spectral imaging system for use on agricultural aircraft was developed and tested to provide images of fields and help farmers and crop consultants manage agricultural lands. The results of this research indicate that the airborne MS4100 multi-spectral imaging system has a great potential for use in areawide pest management systems, such as weed control or detection of insect damage. Multi-spectral image processing produces NIR, red, green, NR, NG, NDVI and NDNG indices or images, which can be used to evaluate biomass, crop health, biotypes, and pest infestations in agricultural fields. The classified images identify the ground land cover clusters by differentiating the variation of spectral signatures in the image. The results of the image classification can provide critical input to generate prescription data for precision application of crop production and protection materials.
A study on block equalization for OFDM systems with short Cyclic Prefix

In this paper, we propose a new Cyclic Prefix (CP) design for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with higher tranmission efficiency. The proposed signal design concatenates some OFDM symbols without guard interval and adds one CP per the concatenated symbols. Obviously, the proposed CP design results in severe inter-symbol-interference and inter-carrier-interference when we apply the conventional OFDM demodulation to the received signal. In order to combat them, we introduce the frequency domain equalization technique with the maximum ratio combining, zero forcing and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) filters. By computer simulations, we show that the proposed system with the MMSE filter owing to the diversity effect outperforms the conventional one.
Differential Evolution and Dynamic Differential Evolution for High Dimensional Function Optimization – An Empirical Scalability Study

— This paper empirically compares the performance and scalability of Differential Evolution (DE) and Dynamic Differential Evolution (DDE) variants for solving high dimensional unconstrained global optimization functions. Four functions with different modality and decomposability viz unimodal separable, unimodal nonseparable, multimodal separable and multimodal nonseparable were chosen. Fourteen variants of DE and DDE were implemented and tested on these four benchmark functions, for the dimensions of 30,100, 500 and 1000. The performance of the variants are well compared by their mean objective function value ( MOV ), probability of convergence ( P c ) and the success performance ( SP ). The analysis, done based on the results obtained for 100 runs for each variant-function-dimension combination, identifies the competitiveness and the scalability of the variants.
Semi-global output feedback stabilization for the nonlinear benchmark example

In this paper we prove that the nonlinear benchmark RTAC example is semi-globally stabilizable using output feedback when the angle of the proof mass and/or the translational position of the cart are considered as the output. The proposed result complements previous work which requires exact knowledge of the translational and/or angular velocities but achieves global stabilization.
The Band Collocation Problem: a Library of Problems and a Metaheuristic Approach

In this paper, we consider the Band Collocation Problem (BCP) which may find an application in telecommunication networks, to design an optimal packing of information flows on different wavelengths into groups for obtaining the highest available cost reduction using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology. We give a review of its mathematical models. The linear and nonlinear models have been implemented in GAMS (the General Algebraic Modeling System) and solved using the CPLEX and KNITRO solvers, respectively. Then, we introduce the BCP Library (BCPLib) including 1296 problem instances with different properties that can be accessed at http://www.izmir. edu.tr/bps. Finally, we improve a simulated annealing (SA) meta-heuristic to solve the BCP. The proposed algorithm is performed using two local search methods for several test instances of the BCPLib and compared with the solutions obtained by a genetic algorithm. Experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm improves the quality of solutions.
Seasonal Variation in 25(OH)D at Aberdeen (57°N) and Bone Health Indicators– Could Holidays in the Sun and Cod Liver Oil Supplements Alleviate Deficiency?

Vitamin D has been linked with many health outcomes. The aim of this longitudinal study, was to assess predictors of seasonal variation of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) (including use of supplements and holidays in sunny destinations) at a northerly latitude in the UK (57°N) in relation to bone health indicators. 365 healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 62.0 y (SD 1.4)) had 25(OH)D measurements by immunoassay, serum C-telopeptide (CTX), estimates of sunlight exposure (badges of polysulphone film), information regarding holidays in sunny destinations, and diet (from food diaries, including use of supplements such as cod liver oil (CLO)) at fixed 3-monthly intervals over 15 months (subject retention 88%) with an additional 25(OH)D assessment in spring 2008. Bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (LS) and dual hip was measured in autumn 2006 and spring 2007 (Lunar I-DXA). Deficiency prevalence (25(OH)D<25 nmol/L) was reduced in women who went on holiday to sunny destinations 3 months prior to their visit, compared to women who did not go on holidays [5.4% vs. 24.6% in Spring (p<0.001) and 3.8% vs. 25.6% in Winter (p = 0.001), respectively]. Similarly deficiency was lower amongst those who took CLO supplements compared to women that did not consume these supplements [2.0% vs. 23.7% in Spring (p = 0.001) and 4.5% vs. 24.8% in winter (p = 0.005), respectively]. There was no seasonal variation in CTX; 25(OH)D predicted a small proportion (1.8% variation) of LS BMD in spring 2007 [unstandardized β (SE): 0.039 (0.016), p = 0.017]. Seasonal variation of 25(OH)D had little effect on BMD and no effect on CTX. It appears that small increments in vitamin D (e.g. those that can be achieved by cod liver oil supplements of 5 µg/day) are sufficient to ensure that 25(OH)D is above 25 nmol/L for most people throughout the year. Similarly, holidays in sunny destinations show benefit.
Responses of Shallow Cumulus Convection to Large-Scale Temperature and Moisture Perturbations: A Comparison of Large-Eddy Simulations and a Convective Parameterization Based on Stochastically Entraining Parcels

AbstractResponses of shallow cumuli to large-scale temperature/moisture perturbations are examined through diagnostics of large-eddy simulations (LESs) of the undisturbed Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX) case and a stochastic parcel model. The perturbations are added instantaneously and allowed to evolve freely afterward. The parcel model reproduces most of the changes in the LES-simulated cloudy updraft statistics in response to the perturbations. Analyses of parcel histories show that a positive temperature perturbation forms a buoyancy barrier, which preferentially eliminates parcels that start with lower equivalent potential temperature or have experienced heavy entrainment. Besides the amount of entrainment, the height at which parcels entrain is also important in determining their fate. Parcels entraining at higher altitudes are more likely to overcome the buoyancy barrier than those entraining at lower altitudes. Stochastic entrainment is key for the parcel model to repr.