Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balanced Parallel Sort on Hypercube Multiprocessors

A parallel sorting algorithm for sorting n elements evenly distributed over 2/sup d/ p nodes of a d-dimensional hypercube is presented. The average running time of the algorithm is O((n log n)/p+p log 2n). The algorithm maintains a perfect load balance in the nodes by determining the (kn/p)th elements (k1,. . ., (p-1)) of the final sorted list in advance. These p-1 keys are used to partition the sorted sublists in each node to redistribute data to the nodes to be merged in parallel. The nodes finish the sort with an equal number of elements (n/p) regardless of the data distribution. A parallel selection algorithm for determining the balanced partition keys in O(p log2n) time is presented. The speed of the sorting algorithm is further enhanced by the distance-d communication capability of the iPSC/2 hypercube computer and a novel conflict-free routing algorithm. Experimental results on a 16-node hypercube computer show that the sorting algorithm is competitive with the previous algorithms and faster for skewed data distributions. >
Two Phase Flow Simulation With Lattice Boltzmann Method: Application to Wave Breaking

A new Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is developed to efficiently simulate multiphase flows with high density ratios, in order to study complex air-sea interaction problems, such as wind wave breaking and related sea-spray generation. In this method, which builds and improves on the method proposed earlier by [1], the motion of (diffusive) interfaces between fluids is modeled by solving the convective Cahn-Hilliard equation with the LBM. As in the latter work, we eliminate instabilities resulting from high density ratios by solving an additional Poisson equation for the fluid pressure. The resulting numerical scheme is computationally demanding since this equation must be solved over the entire computational domain, which motivates implementing the method on the massively parallel environment offered by General Purpose Graphical Processing Units (GPGPU), via the nVIDIA CUDA framework. In this paper, we present the equations and numerical methods for the method and the initial validation of the resulting multiphase-LBM for standard benchmark problems such as Poiseuille flow, a rising bubble, and Rayleigh-Taylor instability for two-fluid systems. A good agreement with the reference solutions is achieved in all cases. Finally, the method is applied to simulating an ocean breaking wave in a space periodic domain. In all the presented applications, it is observed that the GPGPU implementation leads to speed-ups of about two orders of magnitude in comparison to a single-core CPU implementation. Although the method is only currently implemented in a two-dimensional (2D) framework, its extension to three-dimensions (3D) should be straightforward, but the need for the efficient GPGPU implementation will become even more drastic in 3D.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A Bayesian network viewon linear and nonlinear acoustic echo cancellation

In this contribution, we provide a new derivation of the normalized least mean square (NLMS) algorithm from a machine learning perspective. By applying the inference rules of Bayesian networks to a linear observation model, the NLMS can be shown to arise as a modification of the Kalman filter equations. Based on a nonlinear observation model, we exemplify the benefit of the Bayesian point of view by employing the technique of particle filtering to realize a tractable algorithm for nonlinear acoustic echo cancellation. Experiments carried out on real smartphone recordings reveal the remarkable performance of the new approach.
Performance Evaluation of Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing Protocol in Ad Hoc Networks

Several geographic routing protocols using location information have already been proposed for ad hoc networks in order to improve performance of ad hoc routing protocols. Here we can mention the case of Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR) protocol. GPSR makes greedy forwarding decisions using merely information about a router’s immediate neighbors in the network topology. In case a packet reaches a region where greedy forwarding is impossible, the algorithm recovers by routing around the perimeter of the region. This paper presents the performance evaluation of GPSR protocol for its qualities of scaling and its good performance even at high mobility. We simulated the protocol by using the Hierarchical Location Service (HLS) which is purely geographical in its strategy for selecting and updating the location servers. The performance evaluation is based mainly on three network metrics: Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), Traffic Overhead (TOH) and End to End Delay (EED). We have focused on the variation effects of a network parameters set such as: the number of mobile nodes, the network load, speed nodes and inter-beacon interval.
Death ideation in suicidal patients.

In a 3 X 2 X 2 factorial design with repeated measures on the last factor, a suicide attempt, suicide ideation, and nonsuicidal control group of Veterans Administration neuropsychiatric patients, equally divided into psychotic and neurotic subgroups, containing IS Ss each, viewed 2 classes of slides—unpleasant slides and death slides. Measures of viewing time, rated tension, and rated liking were obtained. Partial confirmation was obtained for the hypothesis that psychotic patients would show less threat to death slides than the neurotic patients. The hypothesis that suicidal patients would show more avoidance, tension, and dislike for the death slides than the control patients was not supported. In addition, the hypothesis that the suicide attempt group would show less avoidance, tension, and dislike than the suicide ideation group was not supported. Discussion centered around the hypothesized roles of psychological distance from death, cognitive style, and the stimulus properties of death.
Mapping Web Pages by Internet Protocol (IP) addresses: Analyzing Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Web Search Engine Results

Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are frequently used as a method of locating web users by researchers in several different fields. However, there are competing reports concerning the accuracy of those locations, and little research has been done in manually comparing the IP geolocation da- tabases and web page geographic information. This paper categorized web page from the Yahoo search engine into twelve categories, ranging from "Blog" and "News" to "Education" and "Governmental". Then we manually compared the mailing or street address of the web page's content creator with the geolocation results by the given IP address. We introduced a carto- graphic design method by creating kernel density maps for visualizing the information landscape of web pages associated with specific keywords.
Processamento Temporal Auditivo em Idosos

Objective: to evaluate auditory temporal processing in elderly and to establish a comparison with the results obtained in the reference values set for adults. Methods: Tests DPS, PPS and GIN were administered to 30 elderly individuals, 23 women and 7 men aged between 60 to 84 year. Results: Statistical analysis did not show any significant difference between the three tests and variables ear and gender. It Older age resulted in a statistically significant lower number of correct answers to DPS tests and a lower percentage of correct answers in GIN test, as well as increase in GIN threshold. The average results obtained in the elderly population were TFP-47.21%; TPD-56.45%; GIN-threshold 8.07ms; GIN-percentage of correct answers -44.44%. Conclusion: compared to the results expected for young adults, the scores obtained by the elderly were lower than the reference values in all the tests.
Tutorial report: Understanding spatial thought through language use

The tutorial “Understanding spatial thought through language use” took place at the International Spatial Cognition Conference on August 31, 2012 at Kloster Seeon in Germany. This report outlines the main rationale for the tutorial along with central contributions by its participants, who considerably enhanced the success of the tutorial by sharing and discussing their own research experiences with respect to the analysis of language in spatial cognition contexts. The tutorial’s website is http: knirb.net/TutorialSC2012.html.
RouteGuard: A Trust-Based Scheme for Guarding Routing in Structured Peer-to-Peer Overlays

In a structured peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay, nodes are typically required to route messages for each other. Most structured P2P overlays assume that all nodes in the overlay are altruists, which are voluntary to contribute their resources for the routing. However, as the overlays grow larger, they may include many self-interested nodes, which are unwilling to take part in the routing. As a result of the self-interested nodes, the quality of communication provided by the overlays may degrade seriously. In this paper, we propose a trust-based scheme, RouteGuard, to guard the routing in structured P2P overlays. The scheme is able to help nodes identify and avoid selfish-interested nodes in the process of routing. It also provides incentives for nodes to encourage the participation in routing. Experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of our scheme in guarding peer-to-peer routing.
IEEE 802.15.4 based hybrid MAC protocol for hybrid monitoring WSNs

This paper presents an improved wireless MAC protocol that enables IEEE 802.15. 4 based WSNs to provide an energy-efficient, reliable, and delay-limited data transmission for hybrid monitoring applications. The proposed protocol is implemented in ns-2, and its performance is evaluated in terms of energy consumption, delay, and reliability in data transmission. Extensive simulations verify the improved performance of the proposed protocol in hybrid monitoring applications.
Numerical Sensitivity of Linear Matrix Inequalities Using Shift and Delta Operators

The numerical sensitivity of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) arising from discrete-time control with short sampling periods is analyzed using shift and delta operators. The delta operator avoids cancellation problems for short sampling periods, and it includes a system scaling proportional to the inverse of the sampling period. The numerical sensitivity of both these mechanisms is investigated analytically, and verified by numerical examples. The conclusion is that the scaling procedure is (somewhat surprisingly) much more essential for shorter sampling periods than avoiding the cancellation problem.
Binocular contrast discrimination needs monocular multiplicative noise

The effects of signal and noise on contrast discrimination are difficult to separate because of a singularity in the signal-detection-theory model of two-alternative forced-choice contrast discrimination (Katkov, Tsodyks, & Sagi, 2006). In this article, we show that it is possible to eliminate the singularity by combining that model with a binocular combination model to fit monocular, dichoptic, and binocular contrast discrimination. We performed three experiments using identical stimuli to measure the perceived phase, perceived contrast, and contrast discrimination of a cyclopean sine wave. In the absence of a fixation point, we found a binocular advantage in contrast discrimination both at low contrasts (<4%), consistent with previous studies, and at high contrasts (≥34%), which has not been previously reported. However, control experiments showed no binocular advantage at high contrasts in the presence of a fixation point or for observers without accommodation. We evaluated two putative contrast-discrimination mechanisms: a nonlinear contrast transducer and multiplicative noise (MN). A binocular combination model (the DSKL model; Ding, Klein, & Levi, 2013b) was first fitted to both the perceived-phase and the perceived-contrast data sets, then combined with either the nonlinear contrast transducer or the MN mechanism to fit the contrast-discrimination data. We found that the best model combined the DSKL model with early MN. Model simulations showed that, after going through interocular suppression, the uncorrelated noise in the two eyes became anticorrelated, resulting in less binocular noise and therefore a binocular advantage in the discrimination task. Combining a nonlinear contrast transducer or MN with a binocular combination model (DSKL) provides a powerful method for evaluating the two putative contrast-discrimination mechanisms.
Decentralized Mobile Sensor Navigation for Hole Healing Policy in Wireless Hybrid Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a method to deal with holes healing problems in wireless hybrid sensor networks. With recent advances in mobile platforms, hybrid sensor networks including static and mobile sensors are becoming very popular technology. In this paper, we investigate the coverage hole healing efficiency and propose a method to improve the efficiency. Specifically, mobile sensors can dynamically move to the un-coverage areas, improving both the coverage rate and the quality of service in WSN applications. During the process of mobile sensors moving, obstacles may exist in the environment. In order to reach the anticipated destination effectively, mobile sensors need to find an obstacle-free path for movement. To do this, we proposed an obstacle-free and geographic-free decentralized dispatch scheme (OGDD) to select and navigate the mobile sensors to participate the healing work. Experimental results reveal that the proposed scheme can be efficiently executed.
Metabolic Engineering of Potato Carotenoid Content through Tuber-Specific Overexpression of a Bacterial Mini-Pathway

Background Since the creation of “Golden Rice”, biofortification of plant-derived foods is a promising strategy for the alleviation of nutritional deficiencies. Potato is the most important staple food for mankind after the cereals rice, wheat and maize, and is extremely poor in provitamin A carotenoids. Methodology We transformed potato with a mini-pathway of bacterial origin, driving the synthesis of beta-carotene (Provitamin A) from geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Three genes, encoding phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (CrtI) and lycopene beta-cyclase (CrtY) from Erwinia, under tuber-specific or constitutive promoter control, were used. 86 independent transgenic lines, containing six different promoter/gene combinations, were produced and analyzed. Extensive regulatory effects on the expression of endogenous genes for carotenoid biosynthesis are observed in transgenic lines. Constitutive expression of the CrtY and/or CrtI genes interferes with the establishment of transgenosis and with the accumulation of leaf carotenoids. Expression of all three genes, under tuber-specific promoter control, results in tubers with a deep yellow (“golden”) phenotype without any adverse leaf phenotypes. In these tubers, carotenoids increase approx. 20-fold, to 114 mcg/g dry weight and beta-carotene 3600-fold, to 47 mcg/g dry weight. Conclusions This is the highest carotenoid and beta-carotene content reported for biofortified potato as well as for any of the four major staple foods (the next best event being “Golden Rice 2”, with 31 mcg/g dry weight beta-carotene). Assuming a beta-carotene to retinol conversion of 6∶1, this is sufficient to provide 50% of the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin A with 250 gms (fresh weight) of “golden” potatoes.
Relativistic calculations of the charge-transfer probabilities and cross sections for low-energy collisions of H-like ions with bare nuclei

A method for solving the time-dependent two-center Dirac equation is developed. The time-dependent Dirac wave function is represented as a sum of atomiclike Dirac-Sturm orbitals, localized at the ions. The atomic orbitals are generated by solving numerically the one-center Dirac and Dirac-Sturm equations by means of a finite-difference approach with the Coulomb potential taken as the sum of the exact reference-nucleus potential and of the other nucleus within the monopole approximation. An original procedure for calculating the two-center integrals with these orbitals is proposed. As a first test of the approach developed here, calculations of the charge-transfer and ionization cross sections for the H(1s)-proton collisions at proton energies from 1 to 100 keV are performed. The obtained results are compared with related experimental and other theoretical data. To investigate the role of the relativistic effects, the charge-transfer cross sections in collisions of Ne{sup 9+}(1s)-Ne{sup 10+} (at energies from 0.1 to 10 MeV/u) and U{sup 91+}(1s)-U{sup 92+} (at energies from 6 to 10 MeV/u) are calculated for both relativistic and nonrelativistic cases.
Master-Slave Synchronization of Lur'e Systems with Time-Delay

In this paper time-delay effects on the master–slave synchronization scheme are investigated. Sufficient conditions for master–slave synchronization of Lur'e systems are presented for a known time-delay in the master and slave systems. A delay-dependent synchronization criterion is given based upon a new Lyapunov–Krasovskii function. The derived criterion is a sufficient condition for global asymptotic stability of the error system, expressed by means of a matrix inequality. The feedback matrix follows from solving a nonlinear optimization problem. The method is illustrated for the synchronization of Chua's circuits, 5-scroll attractors and hyperchaotic attractors.
A New Similarity Measure with Deformation Detection of Visual Salient Regions for Image Retargeting

Measurement of image similarity is a fundamental issue in both image processing and computer vision and is very important for image retargeting applications, which have drawn much attention in recent years. In this paper, we propose a new similarity measure with deformation detection of visual salient regions for image retargeting. According to the fact that the human visual system is sensitive to content changes as well as visual effect variations, the proposed approach combines content similarity and visual effect similarity. Firstly, a content correspondence between original and retargeted images is established, which aims to assess their content similarity. Secondly, deformation detection of visual salient regions between two images is conducted to measure their visual effect similarity. Real images have been used to test the proposed method and very good results have been achieved, validating it.
Alzheimer‐related protein APL‐1 modulates lifespan through heterochronic gene regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age‐associated disease. Mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) may be causative or protective of AD. The presence of two functionally redundant APP‐like genes (APLP1/2) has made it difficult to unravel the biological function of APP during aging. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains a single APP family member, apl‐1. Here, we assessed the function of APL‐1 on C. elegans’ lifespan and found tissue‐specific effects on lifespan by overexpression of APL‐1. Overexpression of APL‐1 in neurons causes lifespan reduction, whereas overexpression of APL‐1 in the hypodermis causes lifespan extension by repressing the function of the heterochronic transcription factor LIN‐14 to preserve youthfulness. APL‐1 lifespan extension also requires signaling through the FOXO transcription factor DAF‐16, heat‐shock factor HSF‐1, and vitamin D‐like nuclear hormone receptor DAF‐12. We propose that reinforcing APL‐1 expression in the hypodermis preserves the regulation of heterochronic lin‐14 gene network to improve maintenance of somatic tissues via DAF‐16/FOXO and HSF‐1 to promote healthy aging. Our work reveals a mechanistic link of how a conserved APP‐related protein modulates aging.
High Stakes in High Technology: High‐Tech Market Values as Options

In science-based industries, world-class scientists drive the most successful firms. These scientists are more likely to follow high-stakes, high-returns R&D strategies instead of more predictable incremental strategies. We develop an options pricing model in which the probability of stock-price jumps increases with knowledge capital. GMM estimates show the probability of stock-price jumps increases with three measures of knowledge capital intensity, two of which can be reasonably estimated contemporaneously. The model explains most variation in biotech firm market values. Firms with two standard deviations more knowledge capital are valued 10--50% more than firms with mean values of all variables. (JEL G12, O31, M40) Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Trading on Coincidences

This paper develops a model showing why traders might use coincidences to identify promising investment opportunities that are worth investigating further. The model predicts that, if both National Semiconductor and Sequans Communications realize top-10 returns (i.e., the semiconductor industry displays a coincidence), then the rest of the industry will have positive abnormal returns in the following month. The data confirm this prediction. Industries with a coincidence in the previous quarter have abnormal returns of 2.02% even after excluding the coincident firms. Industries with one top-10 return and one 11:20 return do not display this pattern. The results are robust to including controls for firm-specific momentum, industry-specific momentum, and within industry cross-autocorrelation. The findings also generalize to looking at geography-based top-10 coincidences.
Functionally Stable and Phylogenetically Diverse Microbial Enrichments from Microbial Fuel Cells during Wastewater Treatment

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that exploit microorganisms as biocatalysts to recover energy from organic matter in the form of electricity. One of the goals of MFC research is to develop the technology for cost-effective wastewater treatment. However, before practical MFC applications are implemented it is important to gain fundamental knowledge about long-term system performance, reproducibility, and the formation and maintenance of functionally-stable microbial communities. Here we report findings from a MFC operated for over 300 days using only primary clarifier effluent collected from a municipal wastewater treatment plant as the microbial resource and substrate. The system was operated in a repeat-batch mode, where the reactor solution was replaced once every two weeks with new primary effluent that consisted of different microbial and chemical compositions with every batch exchange. The turbidity of the primary clarifier effluent solution notably decreased, and 97% of biological oxygen demand (BOD) was removed after an 8–13 day residence time for each batch cycle. On average, the limiting current density was 1000 mA/m2, the maximum power density was 13 mW/m2, and coulombic efficiency was 25%. Interestingly, the electrochemical performance and BOD removal rates were very reproducible throughout MFC operation regardless of the sample variability associated with each wastewater exchange. While MFC performance was very reproducible, the phylogenetic analyses of anode-associated electricity-generating biofilms showed that the microbial populations temporally fluctuated and maintained a high biodiversity throughout the year-long experiment. These results suggest that MFC communities are both self-selecting and self-optimizing, thereby able to develop and maintain functional stability regardless of fluctuations in carbon source(s) and regular introduction of microbial competitors. These results contribute significantly toward the practical application of MFC systems for long-term wastewater treatment as well as demonstrating MFC technology as a useful device to enrich for functionally stable microbial populations.