Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling Big Data Systems by Extending the Palladio Component Model

The growing availability of big data has induced new storing and processing techniques implemented in big data systems such as Apache Hadoop or Apache Spark. With increased implementations of these systems in organizations, simultaneously, the requirements regarding performance qualities such as response time, throughput, and resource utilization increase to create added value. Guaranteeing these performance requirements as well as eﬃciently planning needed capacities in advance is an enormous challenge. Performance models such as the Palladio component model (PCM) allow for addressing such problems. Therefore, we propose a meta-model extension for PCM to be able to model typical characteristics of big data systems. The extension consists of two parts. First, the meta-model is extended to support parallel computing by forking an operation multiple times on a computer cluster as intended by the single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) architecture. Second, modeling of computer clusters is integrated into the meta-model so operations can be properly scheduled on contained computing nodes.
Effective pattern discovery by cleaning patterns with pattern co-occurrence matrix and PDCS deploying approach

Text mining is a discovery of interesting knowledge in text documents. Exact and accurate knowledge in the text documents needed for the user to find what they require. Many data mining methods are used to mine useful patterns from text documents. However, using and updating these discovered patterns is still an open research issue. Many term based methods are suggested, but a disadvantage with these methods is that they suffer from the problem of synonymy and polysemy. To overcome these disadvantages pattern mining methods are recommended. Pattern mining methods are not proven to be better than term based methods because of low frequency and pattern misinterpretation problem. Here an effective pattern discovery technique is given which applies a pattern co-occurrence matrix to clean close sequential patterns. Process of pattern deploying is applied with the co-occurrence weight and absolute support (PDCS) as deploying approach to overcome pattern misinterpretation problems and pattern evolving to overcome low frequency problem. It also applies a pattern co-occurrence matrix to clean close sequential patterns. This improves performance by using and updating discovered patterns and finding interesting and relevant information.
All-multiplicity amplitudes with massive scalars

We compute two infinite series of tree-level amplitudes with a massive-scalar pair and an arbitrary number of gluons. We provide results for amplitudes where all gluons have identical helicity, and amplitudes with one gluon of opposite helicity. These amplitudes are useful for unitarity-based one-loop calculations in nonsupersymmetric gauge theories generally, and QCD, in particular.
Fast Determinantal Point Process Sampling with Application to Clustering

Determinantal Point Process (DPP) has gained much popularity for modeling sets of diverse items. The gist of DPP is that the probability of choosing a particular set of items is proportional to the determinant of a positive definite matrix that defines the similarity of those items. However, computing the determinant requires time cubic in the number of items, and is hence impractical for large sets. In this paper, we address this problem by constructing a rapidly mixing Markov chain, from which we can acquire a sample from the given DPP in sub-cubic time. In addition, we show that this framework can be extended to sampling from cardinality-constrained DPPs. As an application, we show how our sampling algorithm can be used to provide a fast heuristic for determining the number of clusters, resulting in better clustering.
The Miracle of Microfinance? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation

Microcredit has spread extremely rapidly since its beginnings in the late 1970s, but whether and how much is helps the poor is the subject of intense debate. This paper reports on the …rst randomized evaluation of the impact of introducing microcredit in a new market. Half of 104 slums in Hyderabad, India were randomly selected for opening of an MFI branch while the remainder were not. We show that the intervention increased total MFI borrow.
Evolving interface design for robot search tasks

This paper describes two steps in the evolution of human‐robot interaction designs developed by the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) and the Idaho National Laboratory to support urban search and rescue tasks. Usability tests were conducted to compare the two interfaces, one of which emphasized three‐dimensional mapping while the other design emphasized the video feed. We found that participants desired a combination of the interface design approaches. As a result, the UML system was changed to augment its heavy emphasis on video with a map view of the area immediately around the robot. The changes were tested in a follow‐up user study and the results from that experiment suggest that performance, as measured by the number of collisions with objects in the environment and time on task, is better with the new interaction techniques. Throughout the paper, we describe how we applied human‐computer interaction principles and techniques to benefit the evolution of the human‐robot interaction designs. While the design work is situated in the urban search and rescue domain, the results can be generalized to domains that involve other search or monitoring tasks using remotely located robots. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fault management in event-driven wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as a new monitoring and control solution for a variety of applications. Although the behavior of a WSN is characterized by the type of its application, a common element exist: faults are a normal fact, not isolated events as in traditional networks. Thus, in order to guarantee the network quality of service it is essential for the WSN to be able to detect failures and perform something akin to healing, recovering from events that might cause some of its parts to malfunction. In this work we propose and evaluate a failure detection scheme using a management architecture for WSNs, called MANNA. We take a deep look at its fault management capabilities supposing the existence of an event-driven WSN. This is a challenging and attractive kind of WSN and we show how the use of automatic management services defined by MANNA can provide self-configuration, self-diagnostic, and self-healing (some of the self-managing capabilities). We also show that the management solution promote the resources productivity without incurring a high cost to the network.
Induction of RET Dependent and Independent Pro-Inflammatory Programs in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Hirschsprung Patients

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by the absence of enteric ganglia in the distal intestinal tract. While classified as a multigenic disorder, the altered function of the RET tyrosine kinase receptor is responsible for the majority of the pathogenesis of HSCR. Recent evidence demonstrate a strong association between RET and the homeostasis of immune system. Here, we utilize a unique cohort of fifty HSCR patients to fully characterize the expression of RET receptor on both innate (monocytes and Natural Killer lymphocytes) and adaptive (B and T lymphocytes) human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to explore the role of RET signaling in the immune system. We show that the increased expression of RET receptor on immune cell subsets from HSCR individuals correlates with the presence of loss-of-function RET mutations. Moreover, we demonstrate that the engagement of RET on PBMCs induces the modulation of several inflammatory genes. In particular, RET stimulation with glial-cell line derived neurotrophic factor family (GDNF) and glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol membrane anchored co-receptor α1 (GFRα1) trigger the up-modulation of genes encoding either for chemokines (CCL20, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL7, CXCL1) and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8) and the down-regulation of chemokine/cytokine receptors (CCR2 and IL8-Rα). Although at different levels, the modulation of these “RET-dependent genes” occurs in both healthy donors and HSCR patients. We also describe another set of genes that, independently from RET stimulation, are differently regulated in healthy donors versus HSCR patients. Among these “RET-independent genes”, there are CSF-1R, IL1-R1, IL1-R2 and TGFβ-1, whose levels of transcripts were lower in HSCR patients compared to healthy donors, thus suggesting aberrancies of inflammatory responses at mucosal level. Overall our results demonstrate that immune system actively participates in the physiopathology of HSCR disease by modulating inflammatory programs that are either dependent or independent from RET signaling.
The Recursive Multi-Frame Planar Parallax Algorithm

This paper presents a method for obtaining accurate dense elevation and appearance models of terrain using a single camera on-board an aerial platform. Applications of this method include geographical information systems, robot path planning, immersion and visualization, and surveying for scientific purposes such as watershed analysis. When given geo-registered images, the method can compute terrain maps on-line in real time. This algorithm, called the recursive multi-frame planar parallax algorithm, is a recursive extension of Irani et al.'s multi-frame planar parallax framework and in theory, with perfectly registered imagery, it will produce range data with error expected to increase between linearly and with the square root of the range, depending on image properties and whether other constants such as framerate and vehicle velocity are held constant. This is an improvement over stereo systems whose expected errors are proportional to the square of the range. We show experimental evidence on synthetic imagery and on a real video sequence taken in an experiment for autonomous helicopter landing.
Dopamine–Adenosine Interactions in the Striatum and the Globus Pallidus: Inhibition of Striatopallidal Neurons through Either D2 or A2A Receptors Enhances D1Receptor-Mediated Effects on c-fos Expression

D1 receptors located on striatonigral neurons and D2 receptors located, together with A2Areceptors, on striatopallidal neurons are known to interact functionally. Using in situ hybridization, we examined the effects of D1 and D2 agonists and of an A2A antagonist on c-fos mRNA in identified striatal neurons and in globus pallidus. The full D1agonist, SKF 82958 (1 mg/kg), induced a homogenous increase ofc-fos mRNA in the striatum. This increase occurred to a similar extent in D1 and D2 receptor-containing striatal neurons. Conversely, the D2 agonist, quinelorane (2 mg/kg), decreased c-fos mRNA in these populations but increased it in globus pallidus. The adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, SCH 58261 (5 mg/kg), also decreased c-fosmRNA in D2 receptor-containing neurons in striatum but did not affect pallidal c-fos mRNA. Concomitant administration of either D1 plus D2 agonists or D1 agonist plus A2A antagonist caused a potentiation of c-fos mRNA in striatal neurons expressing the D1 receptor and in globus pallidus. However, only the combination of D1 and D2 agonists modified the c-fos mRNA expression to a “patchy” distribution. Our data show that (1) c-fos expression can be activated through D1 and inhibitedthrough A2A or D2 receptors in both striatal output pathways in normal rats, and (2) D2 receptor stimulation as well as A2A receptor blockade can interact with D1 receptor activation to potentiatec-fos expression in the striatum and the globus pallidus. The data also suggest that the topological alteration ofc-fos expression after coadministration of D1 and D2 agonists involves D2receptors located on interneurons or presynaptically on dopaminergic nerve terminals.
Analysis and design for torsion in reinforced and prestressed concrete beams

This paper presents a simplified method for the design and analysis of non-prestressed, partially prestressed, and fully prestressed concrete beams subjected to pure torsion. The proposed model relates the torsional strength to the concrete compressive strength and to the amounts of transverse and longitudinal reinforcement. To check the adequacy of this simple method, the calculated strength and mode of failure are checked against the experimental results of 17 prestressed concrete 66 reinforced concrete beam tests available in the literature, and very good agreement is found. The simplicity of the method is illustrated by two examples, one for design and another for analysis.
A wireless embedded sensor architecture for system-level optimization

Emerging low power, embedded, wireless sensor devices are useful for wide range of applications, yet have very limited processing, storage, and especially energy resources. Thus, a key design challenge is to support application-specific optimizations in a highly flexible manner. Power consumption and capabilities of the radio communication layer are the dominant factors in overall system performance. This paper presents a wireless sensor node architecture to achieve high communication bandwidth with the flexibility to efficiently implement novel communication protocols. The architecture is instantiated in an operational design using commercial microcontroller and radio technology. Its ability to optimize system performance by using unconventional protocols is demonstrated by four case studies involving power management, synchronization, localization, and wake-up.
Compositional Syntax From Cultural Transmission

A growing body of work demonstrates that syntactic structure can evolve in populations of genetically identical agents. Traditional explanations for the emergence of syntactic structure employ an argument based on genetic evolution: Syntactic structure is specified by an innate language acquisition device (LAD). Knowledge of language is complex, yet the data available to the language learner are sparse. This incongruous situation, termed the poverty of the stimulus, is accounted for by placing much of the specification of language in the LAD. The assumption is that the characteristic structure of language is somehow coded genetically. The effect of language evolution on the cultural substrate, in the absence of genetic change, is not addressed by this explanation. We show that the poverty of the stimulus introduces a pressure for compositional language structure when we consider language evolution resulting from iterated observational learning. We use a mathematical model to map the space of parameters that result in compositional syntax. Our hypothesis is that compositional syntax cannot be explained by understanding the LAD alone: Compositionality is an emergent property of the dynamics resulting from sparse language exposure.
From TLM to FPGA: rapid prototyping with SystemC and transaction level modeling

We describe a communication-centric design methodology with SystemC that allows for efficient FPGA prototype generation of transaction level models (TLM). Using a framework comprising of well-defined communication protocols and synthesizable communication wrappers, the process of refining the TLM specification of a HW/SW system to its synthesizable implementation can be systematically automated. We look at how to map the TLM communication channels of both HW and SW components to virtually any target platform and illustrate our approach on refining an example HW/SW system from its TLM specification to a Virtex-II Pro FPGA implementation
A Novel High Efficiency and Linearity Power Amplifier with Over-Voltage Protection

This paper presents a power amplifier (PA) design to improve linearity by using a novel power cell compensating the main nonlinear sources from the power devices and to improve the overall efficiency by a dynamic DC biasing circuit. An over-voltage protection circuit to ease output mismatch induced problems is included in this PA design. As a case study, this power amplifier is implemented with InGaP/GaAs HBT operating at 1880 MHz. The CDMA standard is used to evaluate its linearity and efficiency. The P1dB is improved from 30 dBm to 32 dBm and the cumulated output current is much improved in a wide output power range. The ACPR and ALTR at 28 dBm output power level are improved by 5 dB and 12 dB with the novel PA respectively. The over-voltage protection circuit works well under output mismatch conditions.
Effect of fiber volume fraction on the energy absorption capacity of composite materials

In this investigation, the effect of fiber volume fraction on the energy absorption capacity of fiber-reinforced composite materials was studied using dynamic mechanical analysis measurements. Laminates were fabricated with and without vacuum bag using plain weave E-glass fabric and three types of polymer matrix: epoxy, polyester, and vinyl ester. The higher energy absorption displayed by samples processed under vacuum was related to the shorter distance between adjacent fibers which produces stresses of higher magnitude in the matrix, thus promoting higher energy dissipation. However, when the energy dissipation is divided by the material density, the higher material density of vacuum processed laminates offsets the effects of increased loss modulus at higher fiber volume fraction.
Maintaining Coherent Perceptual Information Using Anchoring

The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of maintaining coherent perceptual information in a mobile robotic system working over extended periods of time, interacting with a user and using multiple sensing modalities to gather information about the environment and specific objects. We present a system which is able to use spatial and olfactory sensors to patrol a corridor and execute user requested tasks. To cope with perceptual maintenance we present an extension of the anchoring framework capable of maintaining the correspondence between sensor data and the symbolic descriptions referring to objects. It is also capable of tracking and acquiring information from observations derived from sensor-data as well as information from a priori symbolic concepts. The general system is described and an experimental validation on a mobile robot is presented.
PARENTAL CONFLICT AND INTIMACY: DO OUR PERCEPTIONS INFLUENCE THE FORMATION OF PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS?

This study examined the possible relationship between perceptions of parental conflict and intimacy in same-sex friendships within a sample of college students (n = 85) at a small liberal arts college. The role of parental marital status in affecting intimacy was also investigated with the prediction that this variable would not have a significant influence upon intimacy. The potential effects of gender and presence of siblings were explored as well. In accordance with our predictions, the results of this study revealed a significant negative correlation between perceived parental conflict and intimacy. However, no significant difference was found for intimacy based upon parental marital status. Additionally, significant effects of gender and presence of siblings upon intimate ability were demonstrated. Implications of these findings for future research as well as possible mechanisms for intervention are discussed.
Preparation and Characterization of Polypropylene Nanocomposites Filled with Nano Calcium Phosphate

The synthesized nano calcium phosphate by matrix mediated growth and controlled technique was used as nanofiller in the preparation of polypropylene nanocomposites. Nanocomposites with different filler concentrations were prepared. The content of nano calcium phosphate was varied from 1 to 3 wt% in the preparation of PP nanocomposites. During preparation of nanocomposites shear rate was varied by means of increase in rpm, i.e., 60, 70, 80 and 90 with the help of Brabender Plastograph and the effect of shear rate was studied with respective to mechanical and thermal properties of composites. The comprehensive evaluation of the PP nanocomposites filled with nano calcium phosphate was done to observe the substantial improvement in the performance properties. The mechanical and thermal properties were determined by Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), respectively. The morphology of the fracture surfaces of the prepared PP nanocomposites filled with nano calcium phosphate was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
Fast and resolution independent line integral convolution

Line Integral Convolution (LIC) is a powerful technique for generating striking images and animations from vector data. Introduced in 1993, the method has rapidly found many application areas, ranging from computer arts to scientific visualization. Based upon locally filtering an input texture along a curved stream line segment in a vector field, it is able to depict directional information at high spatial resolutions. We present a new method for computing LIC images, which minimizes the total number of stream lines to be computed and thereby reduces computational costs by an order of magnitude compared to the original algorithm. Our methods utilizes fast, error-controlled numerical integrators. Decoupling the characteristic lengths in vector field grid, input texture and output image, it allows to compute filtered images at arbitrary resolution. This feature is of great significance in computer animation as well as in scientific visualization, where it can be used to explore vector data by smoothly enlarging structure of details. We also present methods for improved texture animation, employing constant filter kernels only. To obtain an optimal motion effect, spatial decay of correlation between intensities of distant pixels in the output image has to be controlled. This is achieved by blending different phase shifted box filter animations and by adaptively rescaling the contrast of the output frames.
Handwritten Gurmukhi Numeral Recognition using Zone- based Hybrid Feature Extraction Techniques

This paper presents an overview of Feature Extraction techniques for off-line recognition of isolated Gurumukhi numerals/characters. Selection of Feature Extraction method is probably the single most important factor in achieving high performance in pattern recognition. Our paper presents Zone based hybrid approach which is the combination of image centroid zone and zone centroid zone of numeral/character image. In image centroid zone character is divided into n equal zone and then image centroid and the average distance from character centroid to each zones/grid/boxes present in image is calculated. Similarly, in zone centroid zone character image is divided into n equal zones and centroid of each zones/boxes/grid and average distance from zone centroid to each pixel present in block/zone/grid is calculated. SVM for subsequent classifier and recognition purpose. Obtaining 99.73% recognition accuracy. General Terms Feature extraction method, Image centroid zone, zone centroid zone, support vector classifier (SVM)