Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multi-mode, multi-band spectrum sensor for cognitive radios embedded to a mobile phone

Localized spectrum sensing is an alternate for database centric approaches to solve secondary use of spectrum in cognitive radios. This can be carried out by using collaborative spectrum sensing where larger amount of small devices is utilized for local spectrum sensing. This paper describes an mobile device scale implementation of multi-mode, multi-band spectrum sensor for cognitive radio. Cyclostationary feature detector algorithm is utilized to detect digital television (DVB-T/H) on UHF band and IEEE802.11a/g on 2.4/5 GHz (ISM/WLAN) bands. A miniaturized spectrum sensing device encounters physical challenges; like limited size and battery capacity, but provides opportunities to establish a dense network and fast response to dynamic chances in signal conditions.
Guaranteed cost bounds for robust stability and performance analysis of discrete-time systems

In this paper we derive new guaranteed cost bounds for robust stability and performance with real structured uncertainty for discrete-time systems. In particular, we obtain a shifted bounded real bound, a linear bound, a shifted linear bound, an inverse bound, a shifted inverse bound, and a shifted Popov bound. Several examples are used to compare these new bounds.
Issues in Supporting Interoperable Query Processing with Multiple Heterogeneous Information Servers 1

This project has three goals. First, we support interoperable query processing among multiple heterogeneous sources. Heterogeneity arises due to the existence of diierent data models, schema and query languages. For an initial query posed w.r. t. a schema and query language, we produce mediated (transformed) queries w.r. t. other schema/query languages. The second goal is to modify traditional query optimization techniques so that they may be applied in a heterogeneous environment, to produce optimized mediated queries. Finally, we develop a sound theory for information mediation. We identify criteria for the correct speciication of the mediation knowledge base, criteria to determine when a mediated query is correct, and when a mediated answer is consistent.
Adaptable Groupware

This paper presents a model of adaptable groupware that is motivated by developments in Cognitive Science. Adaptation of the system is tied to the behavior of users in managing the representation of common ground during the course of their joint activity. Our insight is that the explicit representations built by users to coordinate their behavior for a given problem are objects that the user will want to re-use in future problem solving sessions and over time some of these will become conventions of behavior that improve the performance of the participants in coordinating their behavior.
Palmprint recognition using DWT, DCT and PCA techniques

Palmprint recognition is physiological biometric method used for recognition of person. It consists of various features like texture, statistical, line, point, geometry features which are used separately or by the combination of two or more features for quick and correct recognition purpose. The proposed method Palmprint Recognition using DWT and DCT with PCA technique (PRDDP) is simple and effective methodology for palmprint recognition. In it preprocessing used for palmprint image alignment, to resize the palmprint image and to enhance contrast of palmprint image by using histogram equalization. DCT and DWT used to generate features and that features are extracted by using PCA. And the extracted features, from database images and test images, are match by using ED.
Compensation of packet loss for a network-based rehabilitation system

In this paper, a network-based rehabilitation system is proposed to increase mobility of a rehabilitation system and to enable tele-rehabilitation. Control algorithms and rehabilitation strategies distributed at the central location (physical therapist) and the local site (patient) communicate over wireless network to realize a network-based rehabilitation system. To deal with possible packet losses over wireless network, a modified linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller and a disturbance observer (DOB) are applied. The performance of the proposed system and control algorithms is verified by simulation and experiment with an actual knee rehabilitation system. The simulation and experiment results show that the network-based rehabilitation system with the proposed control schemes can generate the desired assistive torque accurately in presence of packet losses.
Broadcast encryption with short keys and transmissions

Broadcast Encryption allows a broadcaster to broadcast an encrypted message so that only a dynamically changing designated group of users can decrypt it. The stateless setting considers the case where the private key at each user is never updated. A central open problem in this area is to design a stateless scheme where both the size of transmission header which encapsulates the session key and the size of private key at each user are small and independent of the number of users (all/privileged/revoked users). We propose schemes that meet this requirement by providing a tradeoff between security against collusion and non-secret storage size. The proposed schemes are based upon new notions of one-way accumulators which are of independent interest.
A Reduced Differential Model of the Electrical Activity of Cardiac Purkinje Fibres

A reduced order differential model of cardiac Purkinje fibres action potential, with only eight state variables, is presented. Its structure, derived from basic physical principles can be used for the main other cardiac cell types, a useful property for some model-based signal or image processing applications. The electrical activity of cardiac Purkinje fibres is reconstructed using particular values of the parameters. This model of the membrane excitation mechanism and intracellular calcium dynamics describes the principal ionic current underlying autorhythmicity; calcium uptake and release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum; effects of the binding of calcium on myoplasmic proteins which affect the Nernst potential of calcium, and then the membrane potential. The model allows realistic modelling of cardiac Purkinje fibres action potential, total ionic current, CICR dependence on intracellular calcium concentrations. Simulations illustrate the role of the inward sodium current as the dominant mechanism underlying pacemaker depolarization during spontaneous activity
Kinodynamic Motion Planning 1 Kinodynamic Motion Planning 5

Kinodynamic planning attempts to solve a robot motion problem subject to simultaneous kinematic and dynamics constraints. In the general problem, given a robot system, we must nd a minimal-time trajectory that goes from a start position and velocity to a goal position and velocity while avoiding obstacles by a safety margin and respecting constraints on velocity and acceleration. We consider the simpliied case of a point mass under Newtonian mechanics, together with velocity and acceleration bounds. The point must be own from a start to a goal, amidst polyhedral obstacles in 2D or 3D. While exact solutions to this problem are not known, we provide the rst provably good approximation algorithm, and show that it runs in polynomial time. Abstract: Kinodynamic planning attempts to solve a robot motion problem subject to simultaneous kinematic and dynamics constraints. In the general problem, given a robot system, we must nd a minimal-time trajectory that goes from a start position and velocity to a goal position and velocity while avoiding obstacles by a safety margin and respecting constraints on velocity and acceleration. We consider the simpliied case of a point mass under Newtonian mechanics, together with velocity and acceleration bounds. The point must be own from a start to a goal, amidst polyhedral obstacles in 2D or 3D. While exact solutions to this problem are not known, we provide the rst provably good approximation algorithm, and show that it runs in polynomial time.
The Relationship Between Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Platelet Activity as Measured by Mean Platelet Volume

OBJECTIVE The association between platelet activity, diabetes, and glucometabolic control is uncertain. We aim to investigate mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet size and platelet activity, with the prevalence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and degree of glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This is a retrospective analysis of 13,021 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004. Prevalence of diabetes was defined as nonfasting glucose >200 mg/dL, fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or treatment with hypoglycemic agents. Presence of metabolic syndrome was determined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Odds ratios and 95% CIs were estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS MPV was significantly higher in subjects with diabetes (8.20 vs. 8.06 femtoliter [fL], P < 0.01) but not in subjects with metabolic syndrome (8.09 vs. 8.07 fL, P = 0.24). For the metabolic syndrome components, MPV was significantly higher in abdominal obesity (P = 0.03) and low HDL (P = 0.04), and not different in high blood pressure (P = 0.07), abnormal glucose metabolism (P = 0.71), or hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.46). There was a significant correlation between MPV and glucose (P < 0.0001) and between MPV and hemoglobin A1c (P < 0.0001) in subjects with diabetes. These correlations were no longer significant in those without diabetes. The adjusted odds of diabetes rose with increasing MPV levels and were most pronounced in subjects with MPV levels exceeding the 90th percentile (≥9.31 fL). The association between MPV and diabetes was most apparent in those with the poorest glucose control. CONCLUSIONS Mean platelet volume is strongly and independently associated with the presence and severity of diabetes.
Reassessment of the In Vivo Functions of DNA Polymerase I and RNase H in Bacterial Cell Growth

ABSTRACT A major factor in removing RNA primers during the processing of Okazaki fragments is DNA polymerase I (Pol I). Pol I is thought to remove the RNA primers and to fill the resulting gaps simultaneously. RNase H, encoded by rnh genes, is another factor in removing the RNA primers, and there is disagreement with respect to the essentiality of both the polA and rnh genes. In a previous study, we looked for the synthetic lethality of paralogs in Bacillus subtilis and detected several essential doublet paralogs, including the polA ypcP pair. YpcP consists of only the 5′-3′ exonuclease domain. In the current study, we first confirmed that the polA genes of both Escherichia coli and B. subtilis could be completely deleted. We found that the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity encoded by either polA or ypcP xni was required for the growth of B. subtilis and E. coli. Also, the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity of Pol I was indispensable in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. These results suggest that a 5′-3′ exonuclease activity is essential in these organisms. Our success in constructing a B. subtilis strain that lacked all RNase H genes indicates that the enzymatic activity is dispensable, at least in the wild type. Increasing the 5′-3′ exonuclease activity partially compensated for a defective phenotype of an RNase H-deficient mutant, suggesting cooperative functions for the two enzyme systems. Our search for the distribution of the 5′-3′ exonuclease domain among 250 bacterial genomes resulted in the finding that all eubacteria, but not archaea, possess this domain.
A 40-Gb/s Transimpedance Amplifier in 0.18-$\mu$m CMOS Technology

A 40-Gb/s transimpedance amplifier (TIA) is realized in 0.18-mum CMOS technology. From the measured S-parameters, a transimpedance gain of 51 dBOmega and a 3-dB bandwidth up to 30.5 GHz were observed. A bandwidth enhancement technique, pi-type inductor peaking (PIP), is proposed to achieve a bandwidth enhancement ratio (BWER) of 3.31. In addition, the PIP topology used at the input stage decreases the noise current as the operation frequency increases. Under a 1.8 V supply voltage, the TIA consumes 60.1 mW with a chip area of 1.17 X 0.46 mm2. The proposed CMOS TIA presents a gain-bandwidth product per DC power figure of merit (GBP/Pde) of 180.1 GHzOmega/mW.
International Migration, Transfers of Norms and Home Country Fertility

This paper examines the relationship between international migration and source country fertility. The impact of international migration on source country fertility may have a number of causes, including a transfer of destination countries' fertility norms and an incentive to acquire more education. We provide a rigorous test of the diffusion of fertility norms using original and detailed data on migration. Our results provide evidence of a strong transfer of fertility norms from migrants to their country of origin.
Representing Knowledge about Changes in Data Warehouse Structures

Already Ovid claimed that everything is in flux and we see continuing metamorphoses. Knowledge about changes is essential for Knowledge management in particular for the correct interpretation of data stemming from different periods. Data Warehouses are increasingly deployed in public administrations to provide analytical data for decision making, for monitoring or for revisions. Changes in transaction data are recorded in data warehouses and sophisticated tools allow to analyze these data along time and other dimensions. But changes in master data and in structures cannot be represented in current data warehouse systems impeding their use in dynamic areas and leading to erroneous query results. For an example: if the definition of "unemployment rate" changes, then the figures cannot be compared to those of previous years. Trend calculations on basis of the available data is irrelevant or severely misleading. We propose a temporal data warehouse architecture named COMET to represent structural changes and permit correct analysis of data over periods with changing structures.
Systematic Evaluation of the Teaching Qualities of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty: Reliability and Validity of the SETQ Tools

Background The importance of effective clinical teaching for the quality of future patient care is globally understood. Due to recent changes in graduate medical education, new tools are needed to provide faculty with reliable and individualized feedback on their teaching qualities. This study validates two instruments underlying the System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) aimed at measuring and improving the teaching qualities of obstetrics and gynecology faculty. Methods and Findings This cross-sectional multi-center questionnaire study was set in seven general teaching hospitals and two academic medical centers in the Netherlands. Seventy-seven residents and 114 faculty were invited to complete the SETQ instruments in the duration of one month from September 2008 to September 2009. To assess reliability and validity of the instruments, we used exploratory factor analysis, inter-item correlation, reliability coefficient alpha and inter-scale correlations. We also compared composite scales from factor analysis to global ratings. Finally, the number of residents' evaluations needed per faculty for reliable assessments was calculated. A total of 613 evaluations were completed by 66 residents (85.7% response rate). 99 faculty (86.8% response rate) participated in self-evaluation. Factor analysis yielded five scales with high reliability (Cronbach's alpha for residents' and faculty): learning climate (0.86 and 0.75), professional attitude (0.89 and 0.81), communication of learning goals (0.89 and 0.82), evaluation of residents (0.87 and 0.79) and feedback (0.87 and 0.86). Item-total, inter-scale and scale-global rating correlation coefficients were significant (P<0.01). Four to six residents' evaluations are needed per faculty (reliability coefficient 0.60–0.80). Conclusions Both SETQ instruments were found reliable and valid for evaluating teaching qualities of obstetrics and gynecology faculty. Future research should examine improvement of teaching qualities when using SETQ.
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of an Endophytic Pseudomonas viridiflava Strain with Herbicidal Properties against Its Host, the Weed Lepidium draba L.

ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Pseudomonas viridiflava strain CDRTc14 a pectinolytic bacterium showing herbicidal activity, isolated from the root of Lepidium draba L. growing as a weed in an Austrian vineyard. The availability of this genome sequence allows us to investigate the genetic basis of plant–microbe interactions.
ACTIVE SEMI-SUPERVISED CLUSTERING FOR IMAGE DATABASE CATEGORIZATION

Clustering algorithms are increasingly employed for the ca tegorization of image databases, in order to provide users with database overviews and make their access more effective. By including information provided by the user, the categorization process can produce results that come close r to user’s expectations. To make such a semi-supervised categorization approach acceptable for the user, this informa tion must be of a very simple nature and the amount of information the user is required to provide should be minimized. For a semi-supervised fuzzy clustering algorithm we developed, Pairwise-Constrained Competitive Agglomeration, we put forward here a criterion for the activeselection of constraints. We show that this selection criterion allow s a significant reduction in the number of pairwise constraint s required, making the resulting algorithm an attractive alt rnative in the categorization of image databases.
Theory of Mind and Cognitive Function in Adults with Alström or Usher Syndrome

Objective Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to impute mental states to one's self and others. ToM was investigated in adults with Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2) or Alström syndrome (AS). Both syndromes cause deafblindness, but differ with regard to onset and degree of sensory loss. Individuals with AS, furthermore, display additional physical diseases. Comparisons were made with individuals with typical hearing and vision. Methods Thirteen people with USH2, 12 people with AS, and 33 people with typical hearing and vision performed tests of working memory capacity and verbal ability. ToM was tested via Happé's Strange Stories, assessing ability to understand the emotions and actions of story characters. The test also included matched physical stories to evaluate understanding of the logical outcomes associated with everyday situations. Results Significant differences were identified in problem solving regarding physical conditions, with higher scores for the typical hearing and vision group, H(2) = 22.91, p < 0.01. The two groups with deafblindness also demonstrated poorer ToM than the typical hearing and vision group, H(2) = 21.61, p < 0.01, and the USH2 group outperformed the AS group, U(34), z = 2.42, p = 0.016. Intra-group variability was related to working memory capacity, verbal ability, visual status, and to a minor extent auditory capacity. The prevalence of the additional physical diseases was not related to ToM performance. Conclusions Limited access to information due to visual loss may have reduced the degree of social experience, thereby negatively affecting the development of ToM. That working memory capacity and verbal ability displayed an impact implies that hearing also contributes to ToM development. Differences between the two groups might be a function of genetic conditions, in which the gene causing USH2 only affects the ears and the eyes, whereas AS has a multisystemic pathology. Implications for practitioners Advice and support technology should emphasize ease of communication and boost the development of the communication required to develop ToM.
The Impact of the IRS on Voluntary Tax Compliance: Preliminary Empirical Results

For many years, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has believed that its activities promote better income tax compliance in the general population—both through deterrence and taxpayer service—but we had never been able to quantify this impact, or even verify that it exists. Two recent research studies at the IRS, however, have produced estimates of at least some of these effects, providing an empirical basis for choosing the best combination of major IRS activities to improve the voluntary filing and reporting compliance of taxpayers. The first study was an econometric analysis of data aggregated by state and by year, which included variables for seven IRS activities in addition to a wide variety of tax policy, opportunity, and economic/demographic determinants of voluntary compliance. Five of the IRS activities were found to have a statistically significant impact on compliance, including audits and criminal investigations. The second study was more qualitative, eliciting the consensus judgment of senior IRS operations executives as to the relative magnitudes of the indirect effects of a much broader range of IRS activities. Together, the results of these studies will help IRS to allocate its resources so as to promote greater voluntary compliance. More research is planned to provide an even stronger empirical foundation for optimal resource allocation. † NHQ Office of Research, Internal Revenue Service. The opinions and conclusions presented in this paper are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Internal Revenue Service. The Impact of the IRS on Voluntary Tax Compliance: Preliminary Empirical Results