Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mobile Emulab: A Robotic Wireless and Sensor Network Testbed

Simulation has been the dominant research method- ology in wireless and sensor networking. When mobility is added, real-world experimentation is especially rare. However, it is becoming clear that simulation models do not sufficiently capture radio and sensor irregularity in a complex, real-world environment, especially indoors. Unfortunately, the high labor and equipment costs of truly mobile experimental infrastructure present high barriers to such experimentation. We describe our experience in creating a testbed to lower those barriers. We have extended the Emulab network testbed software to provide the first remotely-accessible mobile wireless and sensor testbed. Robots carry motes and single board computers through a fixed indoor field of sensor-equipped motes, all running the user's selected software. In real-time, interactively or driven by a script, remote users can position the robots, control all the computers and network interfaces, run arbitrary programs, and log data. Our mobile testbed provides simple path planning, a vision-based tracking system accurate to 1 cm, live maps, and webcams. Precise positioning and automation allow quick and painless evaluation of location and mobility effects on wireless protocols, location algorithms, and sensor-driven applications. The system is robust enough that it is deployed for public use. We present the design and implementation of our mobile testbed, evaluate key aspects of its performance, and describe a few experiments demonstrating its generality and power.
Off-lineWriter Identification Using Gaussian Mixture Models

Writer identification is the task of determining the author of a sample handwriting from a set of writers. In this paper, we propose Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) to address the task of off-line, text independent writer identification of text lines. The resulting system is compared to a system that uses a hidden Markov model (HMM) based approach. While the GMM based system is conceptually much simpler and faster to train than the HMM based system, it achieves a significantly higher writer identification rate of 98.46% on a data set of 4,103 text lines coming from 100 writers
Scalable architecture and query optimization fortransaction-time DBs with evolving schemas

The problem of archiving and querying the history of a database is made more complex by the fact that, along with the database content, the database schema also evolves with time. Indeed, archival quality can only be guaranteed by storing past database contents using the schema versions under which they were originally created. This causes major usability and scalability problems in preservation, retrieval and querying of databases with intense evolution histories, i.e., hundreds of schema versions. This scenario is common in web information systems and scientific databases that frequently accumulate that many versions in just a few years. Our system, Archival Information Management System (AIMS), solves this usability issue by letting users write queries against a chosen schema version and then performing for the users the rewriting and execution of queries on all appropriate schema versions. AIMS achieves scalability by using (i) an advanced storage strategy based on relational technology and attribute-level-timestamping of the history of the database content, (ii) suitable temporal indexing and clustering techniques, and (iii) novel temporal query optimizations. In particular, with AIMS we introduce a novel technique called CoalNesT that achieves unprecedented performance when temporal coalescing tuples fragmented by schema changes. Extensive experiments show that the performance and scalability thus achieved greatly exceeds those obtained by previous approaches. The AIMS technology is easily deployed by plugging into existing DBMS replication technologies, leading to very low overhead; moreover, by decoupling logical and physical layers provides multiple query interfaces, from the basic archive&query features considered in the upcoming SQL standards, to the much richer temporal XML/XQuery capabilities proposed by researchers.
Distributed beamforming for information transfer in sensor networks

Energy efficient transfer of data from sensors is a fundamental problem in sensor networks. We propose a distributed beamforming approach to this problem, with a cluster of sensors emulating a centralized antenna array. While it is well-known that beamforming can provide large performance gains, such gains presuppose not only accurate knowledge of the channel, but also time and phase synchronization at the transmitter. We propose explicit methods for achieving such synchronization in a distributed fashion, and analyze the effects of various sources of coordination error on the attained performance. We find that, as long as the error in range measurements or placement of the sensor nodes is within a fraction of a carrier wavelength, the proposed distributed beamforming strategies achieve most of the gains available from a centralized beamformer.
Smartphones: User Engagement Motivations Effect on their Value, Satisfaction, and Future Engagement Intention

The growth of mobile technology mediated environments is accelerated by its accessibility and easy usage of mobile technology tools, such as smartphones and tablets. User friendly and intuitive features drive user value and satisfaction. These features motivate and drive further engagement. Smartphones allow users to control when, where, and how they engage in chosen activities that serve their needs, saving time, completing a task (utilitarian), entertain them (hedonic), or connect with others (social). This study investigates, proposes, and tests an engagement motivation model to explain smartphone users’ motivations, and their value, satisfaction, and overall continued engagement intention. Findings indicate users’ engagement motivations do influence their value, satisfaction and overall engagement intention.
Scalable Data Access in Peer-to-Peer Systems Using Unbalanced Search Trees

With the appearance of Peer-to-Peer information systems the interest in scalable and decentralized data access structures is attracting increasingly interest. We propose to that end P-Grid, a scalable data access structure resulting from the distribution of a binary prefix tree. When adapting the P-Grid structure to skewed data distributions one obtains unbalanced search trees. The key result of this paper shows that unbalanced trees do not harm as long as communication is considered as the critical cost and the access structures are constructed properly. Besides proving this result we propose the necessary distributed, randomized algorithms that allow to construct the P-Grid in a self-organized manner such that the tree structure dynamically adapts to the data distribution and the aforementioned result is applicable.
Did Very Massive Stars Preenrich and Reionize the Universe?

Recent studies of heavy r-process elements in low-[Fe/H] halo stars have suggested that an initial population of metal-free very massive stars (VMSs) may be required to provide early Fe enrichment without coproducing heavy r nuclei. We find similar abundance trends in α-elements (which should be copiously produced by VMSs) but not in other elements such as carbon (which should not), in agreement with this hypothesis. We then combine the corresponding level of prompt initial enrichment with models of VMS nucleosynthetic yields and spectra to estimate the corresponding ionizing fluxes. The result suggests that there may have been enough VMS activity to reionize the universe. The unusually hard spectrum of VMSs would imply a different reionization history from canonical models. He II could have been reionized at high redshift only to recombine as a subsequent generation of stars formed with a "normal" initial mass function.
MineFleet®: an overview of a widely adopted distributed vehicle performance data mining system

This paper describes the MineFleet distributed vehicle performance data mining system designed for commercial fleets. MineFleet analyzes high throughput data streams onboard the vehicle, generates the analytics, sends those to the remote server over the wide-area wireless networks and offers them to the fleet managers using stand-alone and web-based user-interface. The paper describes the overall architecture of the system, business needs, and shares experience from successful large-scale commercial deployments. MineFleet is probably one of the first commercially successful distributed data stream mining systems. This patented technology has been adopted, productized, and commercially offered by many large companies in the mobile resource management and GPS fleet tracking industry. This paper offers an overview of the system and offers a detailed analysis of what made it work.
An Improved Intrusion Detection Technique based on two Strategies Using Decision Tree and Neural Network

In this paper we enhance the notion of anomaly detection and use both neural network (NN) and decision tree (DT) for intrusion detection. While DTs are highly successful in detecting known attacks, NNs are more interesting to detect new attacks. In our method we proposed a new approach to design the system using both DT and combination of unsupervised and supervised NN for Intrusion Detection System (IDS). By applying DT known attacks would be recognized with a quick execution time. Unknown attacks would be detected by applying the unsupervised NN based on hybrid of Self Organizing Map (SOM) for clustering attacks into smaller categories and supervised NN based on Backpropagation for detailed clustering.
Measures of Morphological Complexity of Gray Matter on Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Control Age Grouping

Current brain-age prediction methods using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) attempt to estimate the physiological brain age via some kind of machine learning of chronological brain age data to perform the classification task. Such a predictive approach imposes greater risk of either over-estimate or under-estimate, mainly due to limited training data. A new conceptual framework for more reliable MRI-based brain-age prediction is by systematic brain-age grouping via the implementation of the phylogenetic tree reconstruction and measures of information complexity. Experimental results carried out on a public MRI database suggest the feasibility of the proposed concept.
Multi-Resolution Modeling of Power Electronics Circuits Using Model-Order Reduction Techniques

Highly detailed models of power-electronic converter circuits can be slow to simulate due to the wide disparity in transient time scales. This paper presents a framework for multi-resolution simulation of switching converter circuits by providing an appropriate amount of detail based on the time scale and phenomenon being considered. In this approach, a detailed full-order model that accounts for the higher-order effects of components, parasitics, switching nonlinearity (e.g., saturated inductors), switching event detection, etc., is constructed first. Efficient order-reduction techniques are then used to extract several lower order models for the desired resolution of the simulation. The simulation resolution can be adjusted as needed even during a simulation run time. The state continuity across different resolutions and switching events is ensured using appropriate similarity transforms. The proposed high-fidelity model of converter is verified with hardware measurement and is used to verify different simulation resolutions. The proposed methodology is demonstrated to achieve orders of magnitudes improvement in simulation speed.
Fabrication of flat Luneburg lens using functional additive manufacturing

Summary form only given. The Luneburg Lens offers an exciting and elegant solution to beam scanning and multiple beam forming that can be used to implement low resolution radar systems and high directivity wireless communications. Traditionally, these lenses have been created by aligning discrete layers of materials with varying effective permittivity to emulate the Luneburg dielectric distribution given by: er = es(2 - (r/R)2). To realize this graded permittivity distribution experimentally can be quite challenging. Traditional methods include subtractive manufacturing, which utilizes a computer numerically controlled (CNC) drill or milling machine to produce an array of voids within a homogenous dielectric material (Sato K. and Hiroshi U., Electronics and Communications in Japan, 85, 1-12). Spatially varying the local volume fraction of the voids results in an effective permittivity distribution. While subtractive methods achieve reasonably good electromagnetic performance, the resulting part is often too fragile for many practical applications. Other designs have employed metamaterials and transformational electromagnetics to reproduce the properties of the Luneburg lens. This approach, while quite interesting, often results in a narrow frequency band of operation. In this presentation we will describe an alternative fabrication methodology based on functional additive manufacturing. Commercial additive manufacturing systems or 3D printers create three dimensional (3D) structures by patterning consecutive layers of base material. Unfortunately, these current additive manufacturing techniques are limited in their base materials and not well suited for creating electromagnetically functionalized structures with graded EM properties. Recently our group has built a custom printer for realizing rigid substrates with embedded three dimensionally varying graded dielectrics (Roper D. et. al, Smart Materials and Structures, accepted for publication). Our system employs an ultrasonic powder deposition system (S. Yang and J. Evans, Powder Technology, 129, 55-60, 2004) designed to pattern high dielectric powders onto a low loss dielectric substrate. The powder dispenser acts like an ink jet printer head for dry powders. The powders - which could be high dielectric powders, magnetic powders, conductive powders or polymer powders - are injected under computer control onto a structurally reinforced substrate. To produce a 3D distribution of dielectric properties, multiple layers are patterned, aligned, stacked and post-processed (i.e. cured in an autoclave). The final sample is a solid structure with integrated 3D graded dielectric properties. With this system, we designed, fabricated and experimentally characterized a Luneburg Lens within a structurally rigid composite. In this presentation we will provide the design and characterization of our graded dielectric printer as well as the construction and analysis of the Luneburg Lens.
A-kinase Anchoring Protein 79/150 Recruits Protein Kinase C to Phosphorylate Roundabout Receptors*

Background: A-kinase anchoring proteins position signaling enzymes to control neuronal phosphorylation events. Results: Biochemical and cellular approaches confirm that the AKAP79/150 signaling complex interfaces with the cytoplasmic tail of Roundabout (Robo) receptors. Conclusion: AKAP79/150-associated protein kinase C facilitates the phosphorylation of Ser-1330 on the Robo3.1 isoform. Significance: Kinase anchoring is a mechanism to control the phosphorylation of Robo3.1 within macromolecular assemblies. Anchoring proteins direct protein kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases toward selected substrates to control the efficacy, context, and duration of neuronal phosphorylation events. The A-kinase anchoring protein AKAP79/150 interacts with protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin) to modulate second messenger signaling events. In a mass spectrometry-based screen for additional AKAP79/150 binding partners, we have identified the Roundabout axonal guidance receptor Robo2 and its ligands Slit2 and Slit3. Biochemical and cellular approaches confirm that a linear sequence located in the cytoplasmic tail of Robo2 (residues 991–1070) interfaces directly with sites on the anchoring protein. Parallel studies show that AKAP79/150 interacts with the Robo3 receptor in a similar manner. Immunofluorescent staining detects overlapping expression patterns for murine AKAP150, Robo2, and Robo3 in a variety of brain regions, including hippocampal region CA1 and the islands of Calleja. In vitro kinase assays, peptide spot array mapping, and proximity ligation assay staining approaches establish that human AKAP79-anchored PKC selectively phosphorylates the Robo3.1 receptor subtype on serine 1330. These findings imply that anchored PKC locally modulates the phosphorylation status of Robo3.1 in brain regions governing learning and memory and reward.
Controlling high bandwidth aggregates in the network

The current Internet infrastructure has very few built-in protection mechanisms, and is therefore vulnerable to attacks and failures. In particular, recent events have illustrated the Internet's vulnerability to both denial of service (DoS) attacks and flash crowds in which one or more links in the network (or servers at the edge of the network) become severely congested. In both DoS attacks and flash crowds the congestion is due neither to a single flow, nor to a general increase in traffic, but to a well-defined subset of the traffic --- an aggregate. This paper proposes mechanisms for detecting and controlling such high bandwidth aggregates. Our design involves both a local mechanism for detecting and controlling an aggregate at a single router, and a cooperative pushback mechanism in which a router can ask upstream routers to control an aggregate. While certainly not a panacea, these mechanisms could provide some needed relief from flash crowds and flooding-style DoS attacks. The presentation in this paper is a first step towards a more rigorous evaluation of these mechanisms.
A moving algorithm for non-uniform deployment in mobile sensor networks

Previous research indicated that uniform deployment was not the most efficient way for saving energy in wireless sensor networks. The location nearer to a sink should have more sensors deployed. This paper describes a moving algorithm for achieving the non-uniform deployment (MAND). With MAND, mobile sensors can move to appropriate locations to prolong the system lifetime. With two refinements on MAND (called EMAND), not only the coverage of the network is maintained, but the lifetime can be improved enormously. Simulation results show that EMAND performs well in the environment with more sensing events.
GENERATION OF CHEMOTACTIC ACTIVITY IN RABBIT SERUM BY PLASMINOGEN-STREPTOKINASE MIXTURES

The addition of plasminogen and streptokinase to rabbit serum results in appearance of chemotactic activity which is relatively heat-labile and dialyzable. Generation of this activity requires heat-labile factors in serum, but not the sixth component of complement. The optimal mole ratio for generation of chemotactic activity is 1:1 to 1:3 for plasminogen to streptokinase. Neither material alone is sufficient to generate the activity in fresh serum. Generation of chemotactic activity can be blocked by the presence of ε-aminocaproic acid. This plasmin-generated chemotactic factor sediments slowly in a sucrose density gradient during ultracentrifugation. The addition of plasminogen and streptokinase to rabbit serum containing the preformed chemotactic factor (activated trimolecular complex of C'5, C'6, C'7) causes destruction of the chemotactic factor and loss of hemolytic activity of the sixth component of complement. The same mole ratio of reactants for optimal expression of the phenomenon holds as for plasmin generation of chemotactic activity in untreated serum.
An Empirical Analysis of Intel Thread Checker for Detecting Races in OpenMP Programs

Races in OpenMP programs must be detected because they may cause unintended nondeterministic results of programs. The Intel thread checker can detect the races occurred in an execution of OpenMP program, but it has not been analyzed on the limitation of its power for race detection in OpenMP programs. This paper empirically analyzes the functionality and performance of thread checker using a set of multithreaded synthetic programs. We have found that thread checker can not verify the existence of races in an execution of OpenMP program, and show that the ratio of the required time for race detection is dependent on the number of total accesses to shared variables in parallel section programs, but not in parallel loop programs.
DeepFeat: A Bottom Up and Top Down Saliency Model Based on Deep Features of Convolutional Neural Nets

A deep feature based saliency model (DeepFeat) is developed to leverage the understanding of the prediction of human fixations. Traditional saliency models often predict the human visual attention relying on few level image cues. Although such models predict fixations on a variety of image complexities, their approaches are limited to the incorporated features. In this study, we aim to provide an intuitive interpretation of convolu- tional neural network deep features by combining low and high level visual factors. We exploit four evaluation metrics to evaluate the correspondence between the proposed framework and the ground-truth fixations. The key findings of the results demon- strate that the DeepFeat algorithm, incorporation of bottom up and top down saliency maps, outperforms the individual bottom up and top down approach. Moreover, in comparison to nine 9 state-of-the-art saliency models, our proposed DeepFeat model achieves satisfactory performance based on all four evaluation metrics.
Effect of Acute and Chronic Vanadate Administration on Sugar Transport in Rat Jejunum

Abstract Vanadate is known to have an insulin-like action which stimulates sugar transport in some systems like adipocytes and muscle cells, but in other systems it inhibits sugar transport by decreasing the activity of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase. To evaluate whether these two opposing actions may influence sugar transport across the intestine, we studied the effects of acute and chronic vanadate administration on the uptake of glucose, galactose, and 3-O-methylglucose in isolated rat intestinal cells. The sugar uptake measurements were also coupled by determinations of rubidium-86 uptake as a measure of the activity of the Na-K pump. Both acute and chronic vanadate administration reduced rubidium uptake by the cells but the reduction did not uniformly influence the uptakes of the three sugars in question which were stimulated by the acute exposure of the cells to vanadate. Glucose uptake was also stimulated by chronic vanadate administration, but the uptakes of galactose and 3-O-methylglucose were respectively unaffected or inhibited by chronic vanadate. The findings suggest that the effect of vanadate on sugar transport is dependent on the net difference between two actions of vanadate: (i) stimulation of a receptor site (possibly an insulin receptor site) in the intestinal cell membrane and (ii) inhibition of the Na-K pump. During acute vanadate exposure, the stimulation of the receptor site was very likely a dominant feature which overwhelms the inhibition of the pump. Chronic exposure to vanadate led, on the other hand, to only a limited degree of stimulation of the receptor site and the inhibition of the Na-K pump became evident in the uptake measurements of galactose and 3-O-methylglucose. Glucose uptake, however, was stimulated by chronic vanadate ingestion due, very likely, to an increase in the metabolism of this sugar which occurred only with prolonged exposure of the rat intestine to vanadate.