Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RPC-PET: A New Very High Resolution PET Technology

In this paper, we present experimental and simulated results from a first prototype of a positron emission tomography (PET) system based on the resistive plate chamber (RPC) technology-a gaseous particle detector developed for high energy physics. The prototype is aimed at validating the expectations, derived from simulations, of a system with submillimeter spatial image resolution and no parallax error, which may be useful for the imaging of small animals. By imaging a point-like 22Na source in the transaxial plane, an intrinsic spatial resolution of 0.52 mm FWHM was demonstrated for a system diameter of 60 mm, validating positron range simulations by other authors. A corresponding image spatial resolution of 0.51 mm FWHM was obtained using the standard algorithm of filtered backprojection (FBP) and 0.31 mm FWHM after reconstruction by an ML-EM type algorithm. An optimized complete system was simulated to evaluate sensitivity and system count rate performance for the imaging of mice, suggesting a sensitivity up to 2.1% at the center of the field of view and a peak noise equivalent count rate (NECR) up to 320 Kcps for a total activity of 88 MBq in the phantom
Degrees of Freedom Region of the MIMO  $X$ Channel

We provide achievability as well as converse results for the degrees of freedom region of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) X channel, i.e., a system with two transmitters, two receivers, each equipped with multiple antennas, where independent messages need to be conveyed over fixed channels from each transmitter to each receiver. The inner and outer bounds on the degrees of freedom region are tight whenever integer degrees of freedom are optimal for each message. With M = 1 antennas at each node, we find that the total (sum rate) degrees of freedom are bounded above and below as 1 les eta*x les 4/3. If M > 1 and channel matrices are nondegenerate then the precise degrees of freedom eta*x = (4/3)M. Thus, the MIMO X channel has noninteger degrees of freedom when M is not a multiple of 3. Simple zero forcing without dirty paper encoding or successive decoding, suffices to achieve the (4/3)M degrees of freedom. If the channels vary with time/frequency then the channel with single antennas (M = 1) at all nodes has exactly 4/3 degrees of freedom. The key idea for the achievability of the degrees of freedom is interference alignment-i.e., signal spaces are aligned at receivers where they constitute interference while they are separable at receivers where they are desired. We also explore the increase in degrees of freedom when some of the messages are made available to a transmitter or receiver in the manner of cognitive radio.
Comparison of Sequence Similarity Measures for Distant Evolutionary Relationships

Sequence similarity algorithms are used to reconstruct increasing large evolutionary trees involving increasingly distant evolutionary relationships. This paper proposes two sequence similarity algorithms, called the Greedy Tiling and the Random Tiling algorithms, that are both based on the idea of tiling one sequence by parts of another sequence. Experimental comparisons show that the new algorithms are better at detecting distant evolutionary relationships than the Needleman-Wunsch sequence similar-
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol. XXXIV-5/W10 International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol. XXXIV-5/W10 3D MODELING OF BOCCACCIO’S HOMETOWN THROUGHT A MULTISENSOR SURVEY

This 3D modeling experience lies in the more general framework of large scale cartography aimed at conservation of an historical city center. The study has been applied to the ancient nucleus of “Certaldo Alto”, a medieval village in Tuscany famous as Boccaccio’s birthplace. The data acquisition project exploited the synergy of topography, photogrammetry and 3D scanning for generating a cartography at 1:500 scale. The model was built starting from a common aerophotogrammetric survey, suitable for generating a traditional cartographic representation. Instead of dropping the height information, it was employed for building a texturized 3D model, suitable for visualization and virtual visit of the site. Preliminarily to the 3D model creation a critical analysis of the data obtained by photogrammetry has been carried out and different objects have been assigned to different layers. 3D polylines have been then extruded from the vertexes of each building for generating the external walls. Similarly roofs surfaces have been identifi ed. All the elements not deductible by photogrammetry, as stairs, porches and overhangs, have been modeled through the integration of a topographic survey. The altimetry of the area has been obtained from an aerophotogrammety generated DTM. The model texturization with digital photographs allowed to add visual reality to the model. The fi nal passage to formats for animation (.avi) or interactive exploration (.wrl), allowed fi nally to dynamically present the town survey.
Recovery of Neuromuscular Function After Cardiac Surgery: Pancuronium Versus Rocuronium

The use of pancuronium in fast-track cardiac surgical patients may be associated with delays in clinical recovery. Our objective in this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of residual neuromuscular blockade after cardiac surgery in patients randomized to receive either pancuronium (0.08–0.1 mg/kg) or rocuronium (0.6–0.8 mg/kg). Eighty-two patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized to a pancuronium (n = 41) or rocuronium (n = 41) group. Intraoperative and postoperative management was standardized. In the intensive care unit, train-of-four (TOF) ratios were measured each hour until weaning off ventilatory support was initiated. Neuromuscular blockade was not reversed. After tracheal extubation, patients were examined for signs and symptoms of residual paresis. When weaning of ventilatory support was initiated, significant neuromuscular blockade was present in the pancuronium subjects (TOF ratio: median, 0.14; range, 0.00–1.11) compared with the rocuronium subjects (TOF ratio: median, 0.99; range, 0.87–1.21) (P < 0.05). Patients in the rocuronium group were more likely to be free of signs and symptoms of residual paresis than patients in the pancuronium group. Our findings suggest that the use of longer-acting muscle relaxants in cardiac surgical patients is associated not only with impaired neuromuscular recovery, but also with signs and symptoms of residual muscle weakness in the early postoperative period.
Synthesis of parallel prefix adders considering switching activities

This paper addresses parallel prefix adder synthesis which targets minimization of the total switching activities under bitwise timing constraints. This problem is treated as synthesis of prefix graphs which represent global structures of parallel prefix adders at technology-independent level. An approach for timing-driven area minimization has been proposed which first finds the exact minimum solution on a specific subset of prefix graphs by dynamic programming, then restructures the result for further reduction by removing restriction on the subset. This approach can be applied for switching cost minimization almost directly, though it is not so effective as area minimization in some cases. In this paper, a heuristic is proposed which estimates the effect of the restructuring phase and improve cost calculation for some specific cases. Through various kinds of experiments, conditions where this approach can be executed effectively is also discussed.
Application of unspecified sequences in symbolic summation

We consider symbolic sums which contain subexpressions representing unspecified sequences. Existing symbolic summation technology is extended to sums of this kind. We show how this can be applied in the systematic search for general summation identities. Both, results about the non-existence of identities of a certain form, and examples of general families of identities which we have discovered automatically are included in the paper.
On the Relationship between Material Removal and Interfacial Properties at Particulate Abrasive Machining Process

In this paper, the relationship between the material removal rate and the interfacial mechanical properties at particle-surface contact situation, which can be seen in an abrasive machining process using micro/nano-sized particles, was discussed. Friction and stiffnesses were measured experimentally on an atomic force microscope (AFM) by using colloidal probes which have a silica colloid particle in place of tip to simulate a particle-flat surface contact in an abrasive machining process. From the experimental investigation and theoretical contact analysis, the interfacial contact properties such as lateral stiffness of contact, friction, the material removal rate were presented with respect to some of material surfaces and the relationship between the properties as well.
A semantic model for flash retrieval using co-occurrence analysis

Flash is experiencing a breathtaking growth and has become one of the prevailing media formats on the Web. Our goal is to exploit the enormous Flash resources by developing a model of content-based Flash retrieval. Towards this end, we introduce a novel approach for discovering semantic relationships among the co-occurrence patterns of elements in Flash movies. The proposed approach includes a three-layered structure to index the Flash movie, a query expansion procedure to improve the recall performance, and a relevance ranking procedure utilizing link analysis to improve the precision performance of Flash retrieval. Experiments show the potential of leveraging co-occurrence analysis of elements in the context of scenes for improving the performance of Flash retrieval.
SPATIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LINKING WATERSHED LAND COVER TO ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN STREAMS

Watershed land cover is widely used as a predictor of stream-ecosystem condition. However, numerous spatial factors can confound the interpretation of correlative analyses between land cover and stream indicators, particularly at broad spatial scales. We used a stream-monitoring data set collected from the Coastal Plain of Maryland, USA to address analytical challenges presented by (1) collinearity of land-cover class percentages, (2) spatial autocorrelation of land cover and stream data, (3) intercorrelations among and spatial autocorrelation within abiotic intermediaries that link land cover to stream biota, and (4) spatial arrangement of land cover within watersheds. We focused on two commonly measured stream indicators, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3–N) and macroinvertebrate assemblages, to evaluate how different spatial considerations may influence results. Partial correlation analysis of land-cover percentages revealed that simple correlations described relationships that could not be separated from the effe.
The self-stress of dislocations and the shape of extended nodes

Abstract A definition of the self-stress of a dislocation is proposed which is closely related to the more usual notion of a line tension. The definition enables a numerical calculation to be made of the shape of extended nodes in dislocation networks, and such a calculation leads to revised values of the stacking-fault energies of alloys. It is found that (to within the scatter usual in these measurements) the values of stacking-fault energy deduced by Howie and Swann (1961) must be multiplied by 2·3.
Buspirone Counteracts MK-801-Induced Schizophrenia-Like Phenotypes through Dopamine D3 Receptor Blockade

Background: Several efforts have been made to develop effective antipsychotic drugs. Currently, available antipsychotics are effective on positive symptoms, less on negative symptoms, but not on cognitive impairment, a clinically relevant dimension of schizophrenia. Drug repurposing offers great advantages over the long-lasting, risky and expensive, de novo drug discovery strategy. To our knowledge, the possible antipsychotic properties of buspirone, an azapirone anxiolytic drug marketed in 1986 as serotonin 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) partial agonist, have not been extensively investigated despite its intriguing pharmacodynamic profile, which includes dopamine D3 (D3R) and D4 receptor (D4R) antagonist activity. Multiple lines of evidence point to D3R as a valid therapeutic target for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that buspirone, behaving as dopamine D3R antagonist, may have antipsychotic-like activity. Materials and Methods: Effects of acute administration of buspirone was assessed on a wide-range of schizophrenia-relevant abnormalities induced by a single administration of the non-competitive NMDAR antagonist MK-801, in both wild-type mice (WT) and D3R-null mutant mice (D3R-/-). Results: Buspirone (3 mg⋅kg-1, i.p.) was devoid of cataleptogenic activity in itself, but resulted effective in counteracting disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI), hyperlocomotion and deficit of temporal order recognition memory (TOR) induced by MK-801 (0.1 mg⋅kg-1, i.p.) in WT mice. Conversely, in D3R-/- mice, buspirone was ineffective in preventing MK-801-induced TOR deficit and it was only partially effective in blocking MK-801-stimulated hyperlocomotion. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate, for the first time, that buspirone, might be a potential therapeutic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia. In particular, buspirone, through its D3R antagonist activity, may be a useful tool for improving the treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia that still represents an unmet need of this disease.
Spatial correlation models for total co-channel interference and carrier-to-interference ratio in mobile cellular systems

Shadow fading, an inevitable phenomenon caused by obstructions in the propagation path, will cause large variations in the received signal strength for mobile radio environments. The spatial correlation of the shadowing effects is exponentially decayed by the increase in distance between any two separate positions. Variations in the shadowing effects are generally modeled as a Gaussian-Markov stochastic process. In this work, two Gaussian-Markov stochastic models have been proposed to characterize the spatial correlation properties and the variations in the total co-channel interference (CCI) as well as in the carrier-to-interference ratio (CIR) for downlink channels in mobile cellular systems. The numerical and simulation results show that these two models precisely characterize the spatial correlation properties of total CCI and CIR; good accuracy is guaranteed for different propagation environments, and the estimation errors for the standard deviations of the variations are limited to about 0.2 dB. The proposed models can be applied to the applications, such as the design of handoff schemes, link performance prediction, link adaptation control, and performance simulations
Volume 4 AIED Workshop on Simulated Learners Workshop Co-Chairs :

The needs of special education populations require specific support to scaffold learning. The design and use of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) has the potential to meet these needs. Difficulty in the development of these systems lies in their validation due to the ethics associated in studying learners from this population as well as the difficulty associated with accessing members of this learner group. This paper explores the use of simulated learners as a potential avenue for validating ITS designed for a special education population. The needs of special education learners are discussed. Potential avenues for employing simulated learners and simulated learning environments to test ITS, instructional materials, and instructional methods are presented. Lastly, the expansion of an educational game designed to develop emotion recognition skills in children with autism spectrum disorder is used to illustrate how simulated learning environments can be used to support the learning of these students.
A Multi Level Approach to Autonomic Business Process

As a result of new business demands and technological advances processes are becoming increasingly complex and heterogeneous. This calls for business processes that must be managed in an autonomic manner in response to changes in its environmental context. However, a key challenge is to provide variability, understandability and scalability in modeling increasingly complex business processes. In our work we rely on explicit representation of environment variability through context-awareness and quality attributes in order to properly represent autonomic features in Business Process Models. We outline a process that helps to define the modularity of the Business Process Models, indicating where the system needs to be instrumented. A meta-model with the concepts used is presented. This novel approach provides four well-defined levels of abstraction: Communicational Level, Technological Level, Operational Level and Service Level. A real example is used to illustrate our proposal.
MPI and Non-MPI Simulations for Epitaxial Surface Growth

Usually, theories of surface growth are based on the study of global processes without taking in account the local behaviour of atoms. We have implemented two Monte-Carlo simulations. In this work we present these two simulations. Both makes use of local principles of thermodynamic for atomic deposition, relaxation and diffusion of a growing surface, and are based on a simple model that allows us to simulate the growing process of a surface of a certain material. The first one is a quasi-static model whereas the second recreates the atomic interaction. The obtained results agree with those that use global theories and with experimental results of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM)
Using Language to Drive the Perceptual Grouping of Local Image Features

We address the problem of learning both the semantics (names) and the visual features (SIFT collections) of objects appearing in a training set of unstructured, captioned images of cluttered scenes. Prior work in applying machine translation models to learn the associations between image features and caption nouns has assumed a one-toone correspondence between features and nouns. However, each training image may contain thousands of SIFT features belonging to multiple objects. Our challenge is two-fold: 1) grouping the SIFT features into meaningful collections, and 2) learning the object names associated with those collections. Since better collections tend to have stronger associations with object names, we offer an integrated solution that uses the caption words to drive the feature grouping process. The result is a more general model acquisition framework that does not assume words correspond to individual features and does not require training images with isolated objects or unambiguous labels. The model that is learned performs well at labeling cluttered scenes in a set of test images.
Google Books N-gram Corpus used as a Grammar Checker

In this research we explore the possibility of using a large n-gram corpus (Google Books) to derive lexical transition probabilities from the frequency of word n-grams and then use them to check and suggest corrections in a target text without the need for grammar rules. We conduct several experiments in Spanish, although our conclusions also reach other languages since the procedure is corpus-driven. The paper reports on experiments involving different types of grammar errors, which are conducted to test different grammar-checking procedures, namely, spotting possible errors, deciding between different lexical possibilities and filling-in the blanks in a text.
3-Element Sectorial Fermi Tapered Slot Antenna with Sin-Corrugation

A low cost 3-element sectorial fermi taper slot antenna configuration with sin-corrugation is designed at 28GHz. The elements can be illuminated individually based on the direction of the transmitter. In the proposed antenna structure each element produces a high gain of 15dB, a wide impedance bandwidth, a side-lobe levels less than -12.5dB, and an overall line of sight beam-width of +45 degrees. Given the properties of the antenna configuration, suitable applications for this structure would be 5G applications.
Weaver: A High-Performance, Transactional Graph Database Based on Refinable Timestamps

Graph databases have become a common infrastructure component. Yet existing systems either operate on offline snapshots, provide weak consistency guarantees, or use expensive concurrency control techniques that limit performance. In this paper, we introduce a new distributed graph database, called Weaver, which enables efficient, transactional graph analyses as well as strictly serializable ACID transactions on dynamic graphs. The key insight that allows Weaver to combine strict serializability with horizontal scalability and high performance is a novel request ordering mechanism called refinable timestamps. This technique couples coarse-grained vector timestamps with a fine-grained timeline oracle to pay the overhead of strong consistency only when needed. Experiments show that Weaver enables a Bitcoin blockchain explorer that is 8x faster than Blockchain.info, and achieves 10.9x higher throughput than the Titan graph database on social network workloads and 4x lower latency than GraphLab on offline graph traversal workloads.
VirE2: A Unique ssDNA-Compacting Molecular Machine

The translocation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) across membranes of two cells is a fundamental biological process occurring in both bacterial conjugation and Agrobacterium pathogenesis. Whereas bacterial conjugation spreads antibiotic resistance, Agrobacterium facilitates efficient interkingdom transfer of ssDNA from its cytoplasm to the host plant cell nucleus. These processes rely on the Type IV secretion system (T4SS), an active multiprotein channel spanning the bacterial inner and outer membranes. T4SSs export specific proteins, among them relaxases, which covalently bind to the 5' end of the translocated ssDNA and mediate ssDNA export. In Agrobacterium tumefaciens, another exported protein—VirE2—enhances ssDNA transfer efficiency 2000-fold. VirE2 binds cooperatively to the transferred ssDNA (T-DNA) and forms a compact helical structure, mediating T-DNA import into the host cell nucleus. We demonstrated—using single-molecule techniques—that by cooperatively binding to ssDNA, VirE2 proteins act as a powerful molecular machine. VirE2 actively pulls ssDNA and is capable of working against 50-pN loads without the need for external energy sources. Combining biochemical and cell biology data, we suggest that, in vivo, VirE2 binding to ssDNA allows an efficient import and pulling of ssDNA into the host. These findings provide a new insight into the ssDNA translocation mechanism from the recipient cell perspective. Efficient translocation only relies on the presence of ssDNA binding proteins in the recipient cell that compacts ssDNA upon binding. This facilitated transfer could hence be a more general ssDNA import mechanism also occurring in bacterial conjugation and DNA uptake processes.
Design of a servomanipulator with tendon transmission

This paper describes a master-slave servomanipulator with a tendon transmission, which was designed to overcome the limited workspace of the conventional mechanical master-slave manipulators. The tendon transmission greatly reduces the weight and friction, and it also allows us to realize a zero-backlash reduction. However, it causes a motion coupling problem due to an unwanted motion interference at the joints. In this work, we solve this problem through a novel motion decoupling mechanism.