Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Living in isolation – population structure, reproduction, and genetic variation of the endangered plant species Dianthus gratianopolitanus (Cheddar pink)

The endangered plant species Dianthus gratianopolitanus exhibits a highly fragmented distribution range comprising many isolated populations. Based upon this pattern of distribution, we selected a study region in Switzerland with a lower magnitude of isolation (Swiss Jura) and another study region in Germany with a higher degree of isolation (Franconian Jura). In each region, we chose ten populations to analyze population structure, reproduction, and genetic variation in a comparative approach. Therefore, we determined population density, cushion size, and cushion density to analyze population structure, investigated reproductive traits, including number of flowers, capsules, and germination rate, and analyzed amplified fragment length polymorphisms to study genetic variation. Population and cushion density were credibly higher in German than in Swiss populations, whereas reproductive traits and genetic variation within populations were similar in both study regions. However, genetic variation among populations and isolation by distance were stronger in Germany than in Switzerland. Generally, cushion size and density as well as flower and capsule production increased with population size and density, whereas genetic variation decreased with population density. In contrast to our assumptions, we observed denser populations and cushions in the region with the higher magnitude of isolation, whereas reproductive traits and genetic variation within populations were comparable in both regions. This corroborates the assumption that stronger isolation must not necessarily result in the loss of fitness and genetic variation. Furthermore, it supports our conclusion that the protection of strongly isolated populations contributes essentially to the conservation of a species' full evolutionary potential.
Statistical visual-dynamic model for hand-eye coordination

This paper introduces a new statistical method for combining vision and robot dynamics to generate trajectories to intercept a moving object. Previous methods only use information from the kinematics without considering the forces needed to move along the trajectory. Using robot dynamics allows extra measures, such as energy efficiency, to be optimised alongside maximising the likelihood of intercepting the target. We derive a statistical model for a vision system and a Lagrangian dynamical model of a robotic arm, showing how to relate joint torques to the vision. The method is tested by applying it to the problem of catching a simulated moving object.
Economics for Dummies

Introduction. Part I: Economics: The Science of How People Deal with Scarcity. Chapter 1: What Does Economics Study? And Why Should You Care? Chapter 2: Cake or Ice Cream? Tracking Consumer Choices. Chapter 3: Producing the Right Stuff in the Right Way to Maximise Human Happiness. Part II: Macroeconomics: The Science of Economic Growth and Stability. Chapter 4: Measuring the Macroeconomy: How Economists Keep Track of Everything. Chapter 5: Inflation Frustration: Why More Money Isn't Always a Good Thing. Chapter 6: Understanding Why Recessions Happen. Chapter 7: Fighting Recessions with Monetary and Fiscal Policy. Part III: Microeconomics: The Science of Consumer and Firm Behaviour. Chapter 8: Supply and Demand Made Easy. Chapter 9: Getting to Know Homo Economicus, the Utility-Maximising Consumer. Chapter 10: The Core of Capitalism: The Profit-Maximising Firm. Chapter 11: Why Economists Love Free Markets and Competition. Chapter 12: Monopolies: How Badly Would You Behave If You Had No Competition? Chapter 13: Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition: Middle Grounds. Chapter 14: Property Rights and Wrongs. Chapter 15: Market Failure: Asymmetric Information and Public Goods. Part IV: The Part of Tens. Chapter 16: Ten (Or So) Famous Economists. Chapter 17: Ten Seductive Economic Fallacies. Chapter 18: Ten Economic Ideas to Hold Dear. Appendix: Glossary. Index.
An Activation-Based Behavior Control Architecture for Walking Machines

The high complexity of the mechanical system and the challenging task of walking itself makes the task of designing the control for legged robots a difficult one. Even if the implementation of parts of the desired functionality, such as posture control or basic swing/stance movement, can be solved by the use of classical engineering approaches, the control of the overall system tends to be very inflexible. In this paper we introduce a new method to combine aspects of classical robot control and behavior-based control. Inspired by the activation patterns in the brain and the spinal cord of animals, we propose a behavior network architecture using special signals such as activity or target rating to influence and coordinate the behaviors. We describe the general concept of a single behavior as well as their interaction within the network. This architecture is tested on the four-legged walking machine, BISAM, and experimental results are presented.
Mobile sensor networks for modelling environmental pollutant distribution

This article proposes to deploy a group of mobile sensor agents to cover a polluted region so that they are able to retrieve the pollutant distribution. The deployed mobile sensor agents are capable of making point observation in the natural environment. There are two approaches to modelling the pollutant distribution proposed in this article. One is a model-based approach where the sensor agents sample environmental pollutant, build up an environmental pollutant model and move towards the region where high density pollutant exists. The modelling technique used is a distributed support vector regression and the motion control technique used is a distributed locational optimising algorithm (centroidal Voronoi tessellation). The other is a model-free approach where the sensor agents sample environmental pollutant and directly move towards the region where high density pollutant exists without building up a model. The motion control technique used is a bacteria chemotaxis behaviour. By combining this behaviour with a flocking behaviour, it is possible to form a spatial distribution matched to the underlying pollutant distribution. Both approaches are simulated and tested with a group of real robots.
Joint control of tendon-driven mechanisms with branching tendons

This paper proposes a joint control method for tendon-driven mechanisms (TDMs) with branching tendons, in which multiple tendons are connected at a point, and which are often found in musculoskeletal systems. TDMs usually require the same number of tendons as actuators, which are one of the heaviest components in a robotic system. The utilization of branching tendons is useful for reducing the number of actuators needed when making lightweight robotic mechanisms, such as prosthetic hands. However, the under-actuation of branching tendons makes it difficult to accurately control the joint motion of TDMs. Therefore, TDMs with branching tendons have been used only for simple adaptive grasping mechanisms. In this paper, we derive the tendon kinematics of TDMs with branching tendons and design a joint PD controller for the mechanisms. We demonstrate the stability of the control system using Lyapunov's direct method. We show that the bias force setting, which does not appear in conventional TDMs, is important in the realization of accurate control in TDMs with branching tendons. Simulations were performed to evaluate the proposed method.
Automatic estimation of point-spread-function for deconvoluting out-of-focus optical coherence tomographic images using information entropy-based approach

This paper proposes an automatic point spread function (PSF) estimation method to de-blur out-of-focus optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. The method utilizes Richardson-Lucy deconvolution algorithm to deconvolve noisy defocused images with a family of Gaussian PSFs with different beam spot sizes. Then, the best beam spot size is automatically estimated based on the discontinuity of information entropy of recovered images. Therefore, it is not required a prior knowledge of the parameters or PSF of OCT system for de-convoluting image. The model does not account for the diffraction and the coherent scattering of light by the sample. A series of experiments are performed on digital phantoms, a custom-built phantom doped with microspheres, fresh onion as well as the human fingertip in vivo to show the performance of the proposed method. The method may also be useful in combining with other deconvolution algorithms for PSF estimation and image recovery.
Efficient reversible steganographic embedding by the integration of reduplicated EMD and image interpolation

In 2006, Zhang and Wang proposed the Exploiting Modification Direction method (EMD) technique, which has good embedding capacity (about 1.16bpp) and high image quality (about 52dB) in irreversible data hiding field. Later other scholars have continued making improvements on EMD to increase data embedding capacity. However, these methods do not possess reversibility. Therefore, this paper exploits an extension of EMD integrated with image interpolation to make images reversible, and at the same time the high embedding capacity and acceptable image quality are also retained.
Meta-Modeling Communication and Interaction inside MASs with Ontologies

The need of a unifying meta-model for Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) in general, and for the interaction and communication aspects involved in MASs in particular, has rapidly grown in the last three years, as demonstrated by many recent papers and events. The main idea behind meta-modeling is that different Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) methodologies and tools may turn out to be useful for engineering different aspects of the MAS, but no single methodology is good for everything. Taking advantage of reusable “components” or “fragments” of existing AOSE methodologies, and integrating them according to a common meta-model, is becoming a widely accepted approach. This paper describes the communication and interaction portion of a “MAS metamodel ontology”, developed taking six different AOSE methodologies and related meta-models into account. The ontology, designed following well-established criteria and implemented using the tool Protégé, is aimed at helping the MAS designer in finding the right method fragment to do the right thing, by answering queries such as “What is a communicative act, and which methodologies use it? ”, “What is a message according to the methodology XYZ? ”, “Which AOSE methodologies take Agent Interaction Protocols into account? ”.
Performance Analysis of Restoration Schemes in Survivable WDM Mesh Networks

Recent development in optical networking employing wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) fulfills the high bandwidth demand applications. Failure of such networks, leads to enormous data and revenue loss. Design a low cost survivable WDM network is always an interesting and difficult process. In this paper we present link-path model for capacity allocation and calculate blocking probability in survivable WDM networks. We consider both path restoration and link restoration schemes, and compare their performance in practical networks. We found that path restoration scheme consumes less network resource compared to link restoration scheme, where as, blocking probability reduces rapidly when we increase the number of wavelengths. Multi-commodity maximum flow (MCMF) method is used in the modeling. Shortest path algorithm is considered for generating the different paths between the source-destination pairs. Index Terma—Blocking Probability, Restoration, Working Capacity, Spare Capacity, Survivability, WDM Networks.
The Ricardian Tradition and Local Property Taxation

Contemporary neoclassical property tax incidence theory sees its historical antecedents in Alfred Marshall and H. G. Brown. Its origins can, however, be traced back to David Ricardo via the single tax movement. The classical Ricardian theory of local tax incidence has been misinterpreted by twentieth century economists: Ricardo's analysis of the Poor Rate is wholly consistent with modern theory. The logical consistency of the Harberger model of property tax incidence is questioned and a Kaleckian theory of incidence is presented. Results are shown under both competitive and noncompetitive market structures. The model suggests forward shifting of local business rates of 10 to 20 percent. Copyright 1988 by Oxford University Press.
Prototype Java front end in RML/CoSy

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced or translated in any way, without prior written consent of the JOSES Consortium. The members of the JOSES Consortium are ACE Associated Compiler Experts bv, Ericsson Utvecklings AB, Linköping University, Philips Consumer Electronics, Delft University of Technology, University of Karlsruhe, and University of Saarland. Every care has been taken in manufacturing the supplied product and its documentation. The JOSES Consortium will neither assume responsibility for any damages caused by the use of its products, nor accept warranty or update claims, unless stated explicitly otherwise in a special agreement. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Efficient implementation of voice processing module with CVSD source coding for tactical wireless systems

Wireless communication systems beyond 3G are characterized by variety of applications which have the requirement of simultaneous transmission/reception of low data rate voice and high data rate video streaming content. Wireless applications such as live video chat requires more bandwidth for transmitting/receiving with high quality. The civilian/COTS cellular wireless systems are very promising and prospective communications systems, but they have several drawbacks from military point of view. Increase in communication range and data security are the major. To increase the range increasing receiver sensitivity is very important. Furthermore, to accommodate uninterrupted voice channel in parallel to video transmission reducing the bandwidth occupancy of voice channel is crucial. To reduce the bandwidth occupancy, several source coding techniques exists. CVSD is one of the best source coding technique for reducing the occupied bandwidth as well as improving receiver sensitivity at baseband level. In this paper, hardware efficient voice communication module with bandwidth efficient CVSD source coding is implemented on FPGA. This module has been integrated in wireless LAN as an additional feature for voice calls without disturbing the video/ data transfer. Improvement in receiver sensitivity for voice channel by using this technique has been observed.
Data Center Cost Optimization Via Workload Modulation Under Real-World Electricity Pricing

We formulate optimization problems to study how data centers might modulate their power demands for cost-effective operation taking into account three key complex features exhibited by real-world electricity pricing schemes: (i) time-varying prices (e.g., time-of-day pricing, spot pricing, or higher energy prices during coincident peaks) and (ii) separate charge for peak power consumption. Our focus is on demand modulation at the granularity of an entire data center or a large part of it. For computational tractability reasons, we work with a fluid model for power demands which we imagine can be modulated using two abstract knobs of demand dropping and demand delaying (each with its associated penalties or costs). Given many data center workloads and electric prices can be effectively predicted using statistical modeling techniques, we devise a stochastic dynamic program (SDP) that can leverage such predictive models. Since the SDP can be computationally infeasible in many real platforms, we devise approximations for it. We also devise fully online algorithms that might be useful for scenarios with poor power demand or utility price predictability. For one of our online algorithms, we prove a competitive ratio of 2-1/n. Finally, using empirical evaluation with both real-world and synthetic power demands and real-world prices, we demonstrate the efficacy of our techniques. As two salient empirically-gained insights: (i) demand delaying is more effective than demand dropping regarding to peak shaving (e.g., 10.74% cost saving with only delaying vs. 1.45% with only dropping for Google workload) and (ii) workloads tend to have different cost saving potential under various electricity tariffs (e.g., 16.97% cost saving under peak-based tariff vs. 1.55% under time-varying pricing tariff for Facebook workload).
A General Benchmark Model for Stochastic Jump Sizes

Abstract Under few technical assumptions and allowing for the absence of an equivalent martingale measure, we show how to price and hedge in a sequence of incomplete markets driven by Wiener noise and a marked point process. We investigate the structure of market prices of risk as markets become approximately complete and consider the limits of traded securities, characterizing explicitly the growth optimal portfolio and investigating arbitrage and diversification in such markets.
Optimizing speech naturalness in voice user interface design: A weakly-supervised approach

Speech-enabled applications are gradually finding their way into the lives of today's society. One major concern that is likely to increase the acceptability and popularity of these products is how natural the products sound. This paper therefore concentrates on improving speech naturalness in voice user interface (VUI) designs. The reason for this is to enhance communication, as users will be interacting with a more human (natural) sounding system. Full implementation of a tone language synthesizer, using the Hidden Markov Model approach is presented. Results obtained from this implementation sounds promising with improved intelligibility and well-spoken utterances. The system is currently undergoing rigorous refinements to ensure adaptability and robustness of the design. We are optimistic that this paper shall expand our science and technology horizons and prepare us, the developing world for an in-depth research into the field of speech technologies that will certainly re-direct our livelihood.
Are Accruals Profits Illusory to Informed Traders ? ∗

We find that accruals mispricing is more pronounced for stocks with higher level of probability of informed trading (PIN). We interpret it as the evidence of informed traders using their proprietary information on accruals quality to trade against average investors. The informed traders’ arbitrage generates an annualized size and book-to-market adjusted abnormal return of 19.81% over the 1993-2002 period. Using three different methods to estimate the transaction costs and the impact of various market frictions on the accruals strategy, we find that informed traders make an abnormal return of 6.5%–17.53% after trading costs. Our findings are robust to testing methods, asset pricing models used, and various ways of controlling for trading costs. They suggest that the persistence of accruals anomaly might be driven by the non-diversifiable information risk rather than higher trading costs of extreme accruals stocks. We also design a strategy for uninformed traders to mimick informed traders’ behavior, and find that it generates profits equivalent to those obtained by the informed traders. JEL Classification: G1, M4
On educational attainment in transition economies

The paper examines various indicators of educational attainment in transition countries. Both quantity indicators, such as average years of schooling, percentage of no schooling, and adult literacy rates, and quality indicators, such as pupil-teacher ratios, dropout rates, and repetition rates are taken into account. These indicators are compared among transition countries and developed and developing countries. In addition, developed transition countries are compared to less developed transition countries.
Antibacterial Activity of Nanocomposites of Copper and Cellulose

The design of cheap and safe antibacterial materials for widespread use has been a challenge in materials science. The use of copper nanostructures combined with abundant biopolymers such as cellulose offers a potential approach to achieve such materials though this has been less investigated as compared to other composites. Here, nanocomposites comprising copper nanofillers in cellulose matrices have been prepared by in situ and ex situ methods. Two cellulose matrices (vegetable and bacterial) were investigated together with morphological distinct copper particulates (nanoparticles and nanowires). A study on the antibacterial activity of these nanocomposites was carried out for Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as pathogen microorganisms. The results showed that the chemical nature and morphology of the nanofillers have great effect on the antibacterial activity, with an increase in the antibacterial activity with increasing copper content in the composites. The cellulosic matrices also show an effect on the antibacterial efficiency of the nanocomposites, with vegetal cellulose fibers acting as the most effective substrate. Regarding the results obtained, we anticipate the development of new approaches to prepare cellulose/copper based nanocomposites thereby producing a wide range of interesting antibacterial materials with potential use in diverse applications such as packaging or paper coatings.
A simple sensor management criterion for radar beam control based on the CB-MeMBer filter

The cardinality balanced multi-target multi- Bernoulli (CB-MeMBer) filter has received a lot of attention as a good approximation to the ideal multi-target filter. Consequently, several schemes have been proposed in order to perform sensor management when a CB-MeMBer filter is used. Most of these criteria are computationally very expensive due to the nature of the CB-MeMBer filter and the integration over the measurement space that is necessary for hedging against all possible measurement realizations. In this paper we present a simple sensor management criterion that has trivial computational complexity and performs at least as well as the other sensor management schemes that can be found in the literature. We demonstrate the behavior of our proposed criterion in a radar beam-pointing problem where several targets are tracked.
Shoc2/Sur8 Protein Regulates Neurite Outgrowth

The Shoc2 protein has been implicated in the positive regulation of the Ras-ERK pathway by increasing the functional binding interaction between Ras and Raf, leading to increased ERK activity. Here we found that Shoc2 overexpression induced sustained ERK phosphorylation, notably in the case of EGF stimulation, and Shoc2 knockdown inhibited ERK activation. We demonstrate that ectopic overexpression of human Shoc2 in PC12 cells significantly promotes neurite extension in the presence of EGF, a stimulus that induces proliferation rather than differentiation in these cells. Finally, Shoc2 depletion reduces both NGF-induced neurite outgrowth and ERK activation in PC12 cells. Our data indicate that Shoc2 is essential to modulate the Ras-ERK signaling outcome in cell differentiation processes involved in neurite outgrowth.