Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unobtrusive vital signs monitoring with range-controlled radar

Researchers at General Electric have developed a prototype demonstration system that can identify motion and measure breathing and heart rate in periods without general body motions using a range-controlled radar device, similar to motion detectors available in home security systems. With continuous monitoring of the activity and physical vital signs, warning criteria can be used to identify potential crises augmenting existing observational systems without requiring the observed individual to wear or attach any special devices. This has potential applications in correctional facilities to complement observation for inmates at risk of suicide. It has healthcare applications where attaching traditional vital sign monitoring equipment is difficult such as for neonatal or burn patients.
SarsaLandmark: an algorithm for learning in POMDPs with landmarks

Reinforcement learning algorithms that use eligibility traces, such as Sarsa(λ), have been empirically shown to be effective in learning good estimated-state-based policies in partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs). Nevertheless, one can construct counterexamples, problems in which Sarsa(λ < 1) fails to find a good policy even though one exists. Despite this, these algorithms remain of great interest because alternative approaches to learning in POMDPs based on approximating belief-states do not scale. In this paper we present SarsaLandmark, an algorithm for learning in POMDPs with "landmark" states (most man-made and many natural environments have landmarks). SarsaLandmark simultaneously preserves the advantages offered by eligibility traces and fixes the cause of the failure of Sarsa(λ) on the motivating counterexamples. We present a theoretical analysis of SarsaLandmark for the policy evaluation problem and present empirical results on a few learning control problems.
Bit line coupling memory tests for single-cell fails in SRAMs

Due to the decreasing dimensions of manufactured devices, the effect of bit line capacitive coupling on the behavior of faulty memory cells cannot be ignored. Neighboring cells influence the faulty behavior of defective cells through coupling. This paper analyzes and validates this behavior theoretically and through electrical simulations. The paper evaluates the impact of bit line coupling in SRAMs on cell faulty behavior and identifies necessary conditions to induce worst-case coupling effects. We present a test that guarantees detecting all single-cell static faults in the presence of capacitive coupling and worst-case neighborhood data for any possible open defect.
Genetic Disruption of Calcineurin Improves Skeletal Muscle Pathology and Cardiac Disease in a Mouse Model of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy*

Calcineurin (Cn) is a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase that regulates differentiation-specific gene expression in diverse tissues, including the control of fiber-type switching in skeletal muscle. Recent studies have implicated Cn signaling in diminishing skeletal muscle pathogenesis associated with muscle injury or disease-related muscle degeneration. For example, use of the Cn inhibitor cyclosporine A has been shown to delay muscle regeneration following toxin-induced injury and inhibit regeneration in the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In contrast, transgenic expression of an activated mutant of Cn in skeletal muscle was shown to increase utrophin expression and reduce overall disease pathology in mdx mice. Here we examine the effect of altered Cn activation in the context of the δ-sarcoglycan-null (scgd-/-) mouse model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. In contrast to results discussed in mdx mice, genetic deletion of a loxP-targeted calcineurin B1 (CnB1) gene using a skeletal muscle-specific cre allele in the scgd-/- background substantially reduced skeletal muscle degeneration and histopathology compared with the scgd-/- genotype alone. A similar regression in scgd-dependent disease manifestation was also observed in calcineurin Aβ (CnAβ) gene-targeted mice in both skeletal muscle and heart. Conversely, increased Cn expression using a muscle-specific transgene increased cardiac fibrosis, decreased cardiac ventricular shortening, and increased muscle fiber loss in the quadriceps. Our results suggest that inhibition of Cn may benefit select types of muscular dystrophy.
Stochastic Relational Models for Large-scale Dyadic Data using MCMC

Stochastic relational models (SRMs) [15] provide a rich family of choices for learning and predicting dyadic data between two sets of entities. The models generalize matrix factorization to a supervised learning problem that utilizes attributes of entities in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. Previously variational Bayes inference was applied for SRMs, which is, however, not scalable when the size of either entity set grows to tens of thousands. In this paper, we introduce a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm for equivalent models of SRMs in order to scale the computation to very large dyadic data sets. Both superior scalability and predictive accuracy are demonstrated on a collaborative filtering problem, which involves tens of thousands users and half million items.
Work in progress Featherweight Concurrency in a Portable Assembly Language

What abstractions should a reusable code generator provide to make it easy for a language implementor to compile a highly concurrent language? The implementation of concurrency is typically tightly interwoven with the code generator and run-time system of the high-level language. Our contribution is to tease out the tricky low-level concurrency mechanisms and to package them in an elegant way, so they can be reused by many front ends.
Searching for repeated video sequences

In this paper, we propose a new method to search different instances of a video sequence inside a long video and/or video collection. The proposed method is robust to view point and illumination changes which may occur since the sequences are captured in different times with different cameras, and to the differences in the order and the number of frames in the sequences which may occur due to editing. The algorithm does not require any query to be given for searching, and finds all repeating video sequences inside a long video in a fully automatic way. First, the frames in a video are ranked according to their similarity on the distribution of salient points and colour values. Then, a tree based approach is used to seek for the repetitions of a video sequence if there is any. Results are provided on a full length feature movie, Run Lola Run and on commercials of TRECVID 2004 news video corpus.
Analysing the Effect of Out-of-Domain Data on SMT Systems

In statistical machine translation (SMT), it is known that performance declines when the training data is in a different domain from the test data. Nevertheless, it is frequently necessary to supplement scarce in-domain training data with out-of-domain data. In this paper, we first try to relate the effect of the out-of-domain data on translation performance to measures of corpus similarity, then we separately analyse the effect of adding the out-of-domain data at different parts of the training pipeline (alignment, phrase extraction, and phrase scoring). Through experiments in 2 domains and 8 language pairs it is shown that the out-of-domain data improves coverage and translation of rare words, but may degrade the translation quality for more common words.
Expression of the Insulin-responsive Glucose Transporter GLUT4 in Adipocytes Is Dependent on Liver X Receptor α*

The insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 plays a crucial role in insulin-mediated facilitated glucose uptake into adipose tissue and muscle, and impaired expression of GLUT4 has been linked to obesity and diabetes. In this study, we demonstrate that liver X receptors (LXRs) regulate the expression of GLUT4 through direct interaction with a conserved LXR response element in the GLUT4 promoter. The expression of GLUT4 in WAT is induced by a potent LXR agonist in wild type, LXRα-/-, and LXRβ-/- mice but not in LXRα-/-β-/- mice, demonstrating that both LXRs are able to mediate ligand activated transcription of the GLUT4 gene. However, basal and insulin stimulated expression of GLUT4 in epididymal WAT is reduced only in mice carrying ablation of the LXRα isoform. The expression of GLUT4 is furthermore correlated to the induction of LXRα during mouse and human adipocyte differentiation. LXRβ is thus apparently not able to rescue basal expression of GLUT4 in the absence of LXRα. We have previously demonstrated that LXRα is down-regulated in animal models of obesity and diabetes, thus revealing a striking correlation between GLUT4 and LXRα expression in insulin-resistant conditions. This suggests that the LXRα isoform has a unique role in adipose expression of GLUT4 and suggests that alteration of adipose tissue expression of LXRα might be a novel tool to normalize the expression of a gene that is dysregulated in diabetic and insulin-resistant conditions.
CS 270 Project : Graph Partitioning to Optimize Searching

There are many domains where tools to help humans understand complex conceptual networks are useful. For instance, a programmer faced with the task of interfacing with a large software library would find invaluable tools for navigating the connections between components, helping him learn how to use them. It is natural to represent collections of object-oriented software with class graphs, where each node represents one class and edges between nodes indicate that one inherits from another, one has a method returning an instance of another, and other similar relationships.
Harmonics-to-noise ratio and psychophysical measurement of the degree of hoarseness.

The degree of hoarseness can be evaluated by judging the extent to which noise replaces the harmonic structure in the spectrogram . The relationship between these two components was quantified as the harmonics-to-noise (H/N) ratio. Eighty-seven phonatory samples (sustained vowel /a/), ranging from nearly normal to severely hoarse, were analyzed. The H/N ratio, the spectrographic classification, and cycle-to-cycle pitch perturbations (jitter) each showed a significant correlation with the psychophysical measurement of the degree of hoarseness (r = .809, .805, and .712, respectively; p less than .001). The analysis also revealed that the correlations of the psychophysical measurement of the degree of hoarseness with the first two parameters were significantly higher than that with jitter (p less than .05). Moreover, the spectrographic classification is subjective, and its scale is discrete and coarse. Therefore, the H/N ratio seems to be the most applicable in the clinic as a quantitative index of the degree of hoarseness.
Waken: reverse engineering usage information and interface structure from software videos

We present Waken, an application-independent system that recognizes UI components and activities from screen captured videos, without any prior knowledge of that application. Waken can identify the cursors, icons, menus, and tooltips that an application contains, and when those items are used. Waken uses frame differencing to identify occurrences of behaviors that are common across graphical user interfaces. Candidate templates are built, and then other occurrences of those templates are identified using a multi-phase algorithm. An evaluation demonstrates that the system can successfully reconstruct many aspects of a UI without any prior application-dependant knowledge. To showcase the design opportunities that are introduced by having this additional meta-data, we present the Waken Video Player, which allows users to directly interact with UI components that are displayed in the video.
An AMBA hierarchical shared bus architecture design space exploration method considering pipeline, burst and split transaction

Recently, a design space exploration problem has been raised with an attempt to reduce time and resources for designing an optimal system-on-a-chip (SoC). This research proposes a design space exploration method considering the architectures containing an AMBA shared bus. The AMBA standard bus specification widely used in many SoC industries as an efficient on-chip interconnect. The proposed method explores the architecture candidates containing AMBA shared buses and their parameters. It also estimates the execution time and the area of each architecture. The first experiment has indicated that the area estimation result is different from the logic synthesis result by less than 1 %. The second experiment has demonstrated that the proposed method found 7 Pareto solutions among over 4 billion architectures in the design space in 19 hours.
Harmonization of pre-analytical quality indicators

Quality indicators (QIs) measure the extent to which set targets are attained and provide a quantitative basis for achieving improvement in care and, in particular, laboratory services. A body of evidence collected in recent years has demonstrated that most errors fall outside the analytical phase, while the pre- and post-analytical steps have been found to be more vulnerable to the risk of error. However, the current lack of attention to extra-laboratory factors and related QIs prevent clinical laboratories from effectively improving total quality and reducing errors. Errors in the pre-analytical phase, which account for 50% to 75% of all laboratory errors, have long been included in the ‘identification and sample problems’ category. However, according to the International Standard for medical laboratory accreditation and a patient-centered view, some additional QIs are needed. In particular, there is a need to measure the appropriateness of all test request and request forms, as well as the quality of sample transportation. The QIs model developed by a working group of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) is a valuable starting point for promoting the harmonization of available QIs, but further efforts should be made to achieve a consensus on the road map for harmonization.
The Use of Multiple Methods to Validate Immunocytochemical Stains 1 2

Immunocytochemistry is a versatile, useful tool that can be used to confirm the location of known sites of storage or binding of antigens, and to make exciting new discoveries, such as the detection of unusual combinations of antigens at a particular storage or binding site. When unusual combinations of antigens are found by immunocytochemical techniques, physiologists are challenged to explain the biological significance of the discovery and histochemists are challenged to validate the unusual staining pattern. Validation of an immunocytochemical stain involves a simple series of tests (1). Buffer, normal sera, or another antiserum are substituted for the primary antiserum to establish that a stain is dependent on a complete series of reactants, which are added in sequence. These method controls should then be extended to tests of the enzyme reaction (if immunoenzyme methods are used) or tests for endogenous biotin (if avidin-biotin systems are employed). Validation also involves tests of the specificity of the antiserum for the antigen in question (1). For these tests, the antiserum is preabsorbed with the antigen before staining. Similar tests are conducted with antigens that contain related sequences or antigenic sites. Such tests are sometimes unreliable because of antigen impurity, the failure of the antigen to neutralize antibody activity completely, or the presence of any tissue binding sites for the antigens. The last two problems can be avoided if antigens that are attached to beads are used (solid-phase immunoabsorption tests). A radioimmunoassay (RIA) may serve as an adjunct test for specificity but cannot be considered a conclusive test by itself because it may not detect cross-reactive antibodies (13,20). An RIA is designed to test only those antibodies that react with the labeled (iodinated or tritiated) antigen.
A neuronal network model linking subjective reports and objective physiological data during conscious perception

The subjective experience of perceiving visual stimuli is accompanied by objective neuronal activity patterns such as sustained activity in primary visual area (V1), amplification of perceptual processing, correlation across distant regions, joint parietal, frontal, and cingulate activation, γ-band oscillations, and P300 waveform. We describe a neuronal network model that aims at explaining how those physiological parameters may cohere with conscious reports. The model proposes that the step of conscious perception, referred to as access awareness, is related to the entry of processed visual stimuli into a global brain state that links distant areas including the prefrontal cortex through reciprocal connections, and thus makes perceptual information reportable by multiple means. We use the model to simulate a classical psychological paradigm: the attentional blink. In addition to reproducing the main objective and subjective features of this paradigm, the model predicts an unique property of nonlinear transition from nonconscious processing to subjective perception. This all-or-none dynamics of conscious perception was verified behaviorally in human subjects.
A stoichiometric perspective of the effect of herbivore dung on ecosystem functioning

Abstract Ungulate herbivores play a prominent role in maintaining the tree–grass balance in African savannas. Their top‐down role through selective feeding on either trees or grasses is well studied, but their bottom‐up role through deposition of nutrients in dung and urine has been overlooked. Here, we propose a novel concept of savanna ecosystem functioning in which the balance between trees and grasses is maintained through stoichiometric differences in dung of herbivores that feed on them. We describe a framework in which N2‐fixing trees and grasses, as well as ungulate browsing and grazing herbivores, occupy opposite positions in an interconnected cycle of processes. The framework makes the testable assumption that the differences in dung N:P ratio among browsers and grazers are large enough to influence competitive interactions between N2‐fixing trees and grasses. Other key elements of our concept are supported with field data from a Kenyan savanna.
Performance evaluation of a high speed segmented rotor axial flux switched reluctance traction motor

This paper deals with the performance evaluation of a high speed axial flux switched reluctance motor for automotive traction applications. The motor makes use of a novel axial flux segmented rotor topology. The main aim of the design is to push the continuous power density as high as possible. The high speed nature of the design and the resulting high electrical frequency, as well as the machine being operated in deep saturation, leads to significant losses. These losses manifest in significant thermal challenges. It is very important that the performance of the motor is adequately predicted in order to optimise the design. Simulated results as well as preliminary performance results are shown.
Using ICT tools to manage knowledge: a student perspective in determining the quality of education

Within the e-learning context of a university, technology has the potential to facilitate the knowledge interaction between the source (instructor) and the recipient (students). From a literature review, it can be concluded that prior studies have not explored the types of channels that encourage knowledge transfer in this environment. For example, how explicit knowledge travels through the e-learning environment and goes through interaction processes and is received and acquired is largely unknown. According to Alavi & Leidner (2001), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can help speed up the processes of transferring knowledge from those who have knowledge to those seeking knowledge. Within the university context, technologies such as email, Internet, IRC chat, bulletin boards and tools such as WebCT and BlackBoard have the potential to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and act as a link between source and recipient. Effective knowledge transfer has to consider effective knowledge acquisition, which are therefore inexplicably linked. Nonaka's spiral model addresses knowledge acquisition through spiraling processes in which an individual would be able to convert tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge and vice versa. According to Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995) there are four types of interaction, which give way to the conversion of one form of knowledge into another, namely tacit-to-tacit, tacit-to-explicit, explicit-to-tacit and explicit-to-explicit. In an academic environment, this can be studied as the source, either transferring tacit or explicit knowledge, and similarly as the recipient, receiving knowledge either in tacit or explicit form. Nonaka & Takeuchi (1995) also refer to this as the SECI model, where SECI stands for Socialisation, Externalisation, Combination and Internalisation. This 'Research in Progress' reports the outcomes of a study undertaken to understand how and to what extent knowledge spiraling processes and accompanying characteristics of SECI can be ICT-enabled to contribute towards the studying and learning processes for university education. A survey instrument was developed for this purpose and it is currently undergoing peer-review and other customary validity and reliability tests. Once the instrument is validated, it will be administered on about 50 tertiary students. It is hoped that the results obtained from this survey will be reported in the QIK 2005 conference.
Micro/nanoscale differential wear and corrosion of multiphase materials /

ii ABSTRACT Wear of multiphase materials at the micro/nanoscale is important in devices such as magnetic tape and disk drives, where the thin-film read-write heads are multiphase. Differential wear, which is caused by differences in wear resistance among the head's phases, causes thin-film poles to recede from the head's bearing surface; this phenomenon is called pole tip recession (PTR). It is a problem because it increases spacing between the poles and medium, resulting in lower write density. Here, PTR in tape heads is studied to understand micro/nanoscale differential wear. Test results suggest that three-body abrasion, which leads to primarily plastic wear, is the operative wear mode. Most of the three-body abrasive particles originate from the tape surface; the alumina head-cleaning agents (HCAs) in the tape, which function as load bearing particles at the interface, are the primary abrasives. Some particles originate from the head substrate. PTR can be reduced by: lowering tape tension, choosing a substrate that is harder than the tape's HCAs, choosing a pole material that is as close as possible to the hardness of the substrate, and lowering the thickness of the head's thin-film region to a value as low as possible. Material hardness matching, i.e. choosing the substrate and pole materials such that their hardness values are close to equal, will not reduce PTR if a iii substrate is chosen that is less hard than the HCAs. Covering the head with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating reduces PTR in the short term. An analytical model that accounts for the observed wear is presented. The model shows that each of the following leads to higher differential wear: increasing the thickness of three-body particles, increasing tension, decreasing thin-film hardness, and increasing the thin-film wear coefficient. An increase in thin-film wear coefficient can be caused by an increase in thin-film thickness or an increase in the number of particles at the interface. Battelle Class II and elevated temperature & humidity tests have been conducted to study corrosion of tapes and heads. The addition of DLC coatings increases the corrosion resistance of heads; the coating inhibits contact between environmental pollutants and the metal surfaces. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS