Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STRATUS: a questionnaire for strategic usability assessment

Strategic usability is widely recognized as a challenge, as moving from scattered to strategic usability requires organizations to operate significant changes. The current solutions are hardly accessible and complicated to implement. STRATUS is a questionnaire for cost-effectively assessing strategic usability. A companion model enables to easily analyze and describe the current state of strategic usability according to five dimensions and related indicators. A pilot STRATUS survey compared the responses between novices and experts in usability. It highlighted dependencies between experience and usability awareness, as well as positive correlations between the presence of usability staff and strategical use of usability. The questionnaire needs now to be validated by means of a longitudinal study. Another promising track towards its validation consists in further investigating the causations between the dimensions of strategic usability.
A novel noise-free pixels based impulse noise filtering

Generally, impulse noise filtering schemes consider all pixels within a large neighborhood. However, the estimate from all pixels within the neighborhood may not be accurate. Moreover, large window may remove edges and fine details. In contrast to this approach, we propose iterative impulse noise removal scheme that emphasizes on few noise-free pixels within a small neighborhood. This iterative process continues until all noisy pixels are replaced with the estimated values. To estimate the optimal value of noisy pixel, we developed genetic programming (GP) based estimator using noise-free pixels. The estimator is constituent of useful local pixels information. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme is capable of removing impulse noise effectively while preserving the fine details. Especially, our approach has shown effectiveness against high impulse noise density.
Real-Time Auto Stylized Sand Art Drawing

We propose a new method for auto stylized sand art drawing. Our system is built on top of our sand drawing system which is mixed with a particle system and a height map. An image is input and the patterns of the image is analyzed. The contours of the image are computed and they are converted into strokes. In sand art drawing, artists can use multiple fingers to draw the strokes which are symmetric or parallel at the same time. Our system detects such strokes and groups them according to geometric rules. After analyzing the image and collecting a set of strokes, we enter the drawing stage. In the drawing stage, our system automatically performs sand spilling, drawing strokes, leaking, erosion, pinch spilling and pinch erosion.
On the effect of forwarding table size on SDN network utilization

Software Defined Networks (SDNs) are becoming the leading technology behind many traffic engineering solutions, both for backbone and data-center networks, since it allows a central controller to globally plan the path of the flows according to the operator's objective. Nevertheless, networking devices' forwarding table is a limited and expensive resource (e.g., TCAM-based switches) which should thus be considered upon configuring the network. In this paper, we concentrate on satisfying global network objectives, such as maximum flow, in environments where the size of the forwarding table in network devices is limited. We formulate this problem as an (NP-hard) optimization problem and present approximation algorithms for it. We show through extensive simulations that practical use of our algorithms (both in Data Center and backbone scenarios) result in a significant reduction (factor 3) in forwarding table size, while having a small effect on the global objective (maximum flow).
Using Parallel Computation to Improve Independent Metropolis–Hastings Based Estimation

In this article, we consider the implications of the fact that parallel raw-power can be exploited by a generic Metropolis–Hastings algorithm if the proposed values are independent from the current value of the Markov chain. In particular, we present improvements to the independent Metropolis–Hastings algorithm that significantly decrease the variance of any estimator derived from the MCMC output, at a null computing cost since those improvements are based on a fixed number of target density evaluations that can be produced in parallel. The techniques developed in this article do not jeopardize the Markovian convergence properties of the algorithm, since they are based on the Rao–Blackwell principles of Gelfand and Smith (1990), already exploited in the work of Casella and Robert (1996), Atchadé and Perron (2005), and Douc and Robert (2011). We illustrate those improvements both on a toy normal example and on a classical probit regression model, but stress the fact that they are applicable in any case where the independent Metropolis–Hastings is applicable. The code used in this article is available as supplementary material.
Improving robot plans for information gathering tasks through execution monitoring

Recent advances in navigation and control of robots has increasingly led to systems where the actions are deterministic and the challenge is to collect information about the world using noisy sensors. Examples include search and rescue, Mars rover planning and robotic monitoring tasks. However, theoretical results show that in general these problems are as hard as solving partially observable Markov decision problems (POMDPs). We propose an approach where we build plans assuming both the actions and the observations are reliable, then monitor the execution of the plan and use a value of information calculation to add information gathering actions on-line. We describe two variants: one using a classical contingency planner to generate the initial plan, and the other using a Markov decision problem planner. We show how in both cases the addition of execution monitoring can considerably improve overall performance with lower computational cost than solving the original POMDP.
Goal Directed Adaptive Behavior in Second-Order NeuralNetworks : Leaning and Evolving in the MAXSON architectureFrederick

The paper presents a neural network architecture (MAXSON) based on second-order connections that can learn a multiple goal approach/avoid task using reinforcement from the environment. The paper shows that MAXSON can learn certain spatial navigation tasks much faster than traditional Q-learning, as well as learn goal directed behavior, increasing the agent's chances of long-term survival. The paper also shows that portions of the learning rules can be evolved using genetic algorithms. 1 Problem Agents that reside in complex environments need to be able to meet their survival goals, often when several of these goals simultaneously have high priority. When the environment is dynamic, or when the agents cannot be pre-programmed to meet these goals, they must learn to meet them. This paper presents MAXSON, a exible neural architecture that: learns faster than traditional reinforcement learning approaches, generates and applies the reinforcement in a neurally plausible manner, and can balance the requirements of multiple simultaneous goals. The paper also describes two genetic algorithm experiments: 1) evolving the value of constants in the learning rules of the algorithm, and 2) evolving portions of the learning rules themselves. Mike-I'm having a little trouble with the motivation for this. WHY are we evolving them? 1.1 Environment and Task In order to evaluate an agent control architecture, it needs both an environment and a task. The environment includes the agent's body (sensors, eeectors, and any physiological mechanisms) as well as the external world. The task allows for a metric to measure the relative success of the control architecture. In this paper, an agent lives in a two-dimensional, continuous environment, where the objects in the environment are food, water, and poison. To survive, the agent needs to eat the food, drink the water, and avoid the poison. The agent receives goal input in the form of hunger, thirst, and pain 1. Each goal input is a single value between 0 and 1. As an agent's store of food and water goes down, its hunger and thirst rises. When the agent eats a poison, its pain input rises. To detect external objects, the agent has a primitive visual system for object detection. The agent can see in a 180 degree eld in front of it. Vision is broken up into four input sensors for each type of object the agent can see. Since the world contains three types of external objects, the agent has twelve visual sensors. …
Increasing Dominance - The Role of Advertising, Pricing and Product Design

Despite the empirical relevance of advertising strategies in concentrated markets, the economics literature is largely silent on the effect of persuasive advertising strategies on pricing, market structure and increasing (or decreasing) dominance. In a simple model of persuasive advertising and pricing with differentiated goods, we analyze the interdependencies between ex-ante asymmetries in consumer appeal, advertising and prices. Products with larger initial appeal to consumers will be advertised more heavily but priced at a higher level - that is, advertising and price discounts are strategic substitutes for products with asymmetric initial appeal. We find that the escalating effect of advertising dominates the moderating effect of pricing so that post-competition market shares are more asymmetric than pre-competition differences in consumer appeal. We further find that collusive advertising (but competitive pricing) generates the same market outcomes, and that network effects lead to even more extreme market outcomes, both directly and via the effect on advertising.
The effects of socialization on beginning science teachers' pedagogical decision making and science instruction

Teaching induction and mentoring programs are often promoted as ways to improve teacher effectiveness and reduce attrition by suppo rting beginning teachers. However, new teachers’ establishment and engagement in support r ela ionships may vary depending on alignment of supports to new teachers’ pedagogical understanding. The purpose of this threeyear longitudinal qualitative study was to follow a cohort of Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) graduates from a research-based secondary science t eacher education program (TEP) during their TEP and first two years of teaching to explore how they engaged in relationships intended to support effective research-based science instructio n (RBSI) during their TEP and first two years of teaching. Moreover, this study sought to underst and the influences which exist, if any, between beginning science teachers’ pedagogical con siderations, teaching practices, and socialization experiences during their TEP and firs t two years of teaching. The findings from this study support the contention that beginning science teachers effectively educated to make research-based science teaching decisions and pract ices will do so if they are supported through collegial relationships with cohort members and adv ocacy from superordinates. Equally important, this study supports the contention that teachers leaving their TEP with little understanding of RBSI are unlikely to develop such nderstanding and implement such practices during their first two years of teaching. Contrary to the common conception that experienced teachers and administrators make for effective more -knowledgeable RBSI mentors, the beginning science teachers in this study encountere d superordinates who threatened, sabotaged, and imposed sanctions in response to participants’ at empts to implement practices congruent with RBSI.
An efficient analytical solution to thwart DDoS attacks in public domain

In this paper, an analytical model for DDoS attacks detection is proposed, in which propagation of abrupt traffic changes inside public domain is monitored to detect a wide range of DDoS attacks. Although, various statistical measures can be used to construct profile of the traffic normally seen in the network to identify anomalies whenever traffic goes out of profile, we have selected volume and flow measure. Consideration of varying tolerance factors make proposed detection system scalable to the varying network conditions and attack loads in real time. NS-2 network simulator on Linux platform is used as simulation testbed. Simulation results show that our proposed solution gives a drastic improvement in terms of detection rate and false positive rate. However, the mammoth volume generated by DDoS attacks pose the biggest challenge in terms of memory and computational overheads as far as monitoring and analysis of traffic at single point connecting victim is concerned. To address this problem, a distributed cooperative technique is proposed that distributes memory and computational overheads to all edge routers for detecting a wide range of DDoS attacks at early stage.
Technical Brief: A Gesture-based Tool for Sterile Browsing of Radiology Images

The use of doctor-computer interaction devices in the operation room (OR) requires new modalities that support medical imaging manipulation while allowing doctors' hands to remain sterile, supporting their focus of attention, and providing fast response times. This paper presents "Gestix," a vision-based hand gesture capture and recognition system that interprets in real-time the user's gestures for navigation and manipulation of images in an electronic medical record (EMR) database. Navigation and other gestures are translated to commands based on their temporal trajectories, through video capture. "Gestix" was tested during a brain biopsy procedure. In the in vivo experiment, this interface prevented the surgeon's focus shift and change of location while achieving a rapid intuitive reaction and easy interaction. Data from two usability tests provide insights and implications regarding human-computer interaction based on nonverbal conversational modalities.
AN SQL interface for Common Lisp

Access to persistent database storage from Common Lisp applications is an increasingly frequent requirement. This paper discusses a software module that allows a Common Lisp program to access a relational database management system. Database queries are expressed as SQL statements. In Common Lisp, the SQL query is represented as a string, which allows sequence functions to be used to construct the query. Through a foreign function interface, the SQL query is passed from Lisp to a C component. The C component contains embedded database statements to utilize the dynamic SQL facility provided by the database management system. The database result table is returned to Lisp. Functions are provided to convert the returned data into a list of structures. Each structure corresponds to one row in the database result table. Structure accessor functions allow each individual attribute (field) in the structure representation of a row in the result table to be obtained.
ANALYTIC AND COMBINATORIAL NUMBER THEORY II ( Lecture Notes )

These are lecture notes for the summer semester 2010 of the course Analytic and combinatorial number theory (NDMI045, Analytická a kombinatorická teoriě císel) which I have been teaching on the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University in Prague. In the second booklet (the first one, [22], was for summer semester 2008) we learn the theorems due to Thue (finiteness of solution set of Thue equation), Dirichlet (infinitude of primes in arithmetic progression) and Gel'fond and Schneider (transcendence of α β for algebraic α and β).
Corporate Governance: A Critical Comparison among International Theories, Codes of Best Practices, and Empirical Research

As strong role played by the financial g lobalized market, several countries have adopted rules and principles (best practice codes) to be shared among all co mpanies, in order to provide tools to solve governance problems, regulate relations among managers and shareholders. This paper seeks to investigate American, English, German, Japanese and Italian codes of conduct. Literature agrees that corporate governance archetypes are those Anglo-Saxon and German -Japanese; on the other hand the Italian model represents an interesting case study. These three models are based on different international theories (Agency, Stakeholder, Resource Dependence, and Stewardship). Scholars maintain that the Agency theory is the most valid of the theories, with respect to the existence of international convergence processes. Thus, the objective of the paper is twofold. First of all, we want to understand which international theory has been adopted by Anglo-Saxon, German-Japanese, and Italian codes. Secondly, we wish to verify whether empirical research confirms principle efficacy contained in codes of corporate governance. From a co mparat ive study among international theories and rules it would emerge that variables contained in the codes would be better explained and regulated under Agency approach. It should be noted, however, that each country - in spite of the convergence processes towards a single standard of rules - is affected by their social, and economic background. Finally, we could argue that empirical studies do not often explain critical success factors in the same way of codes although both are the result of best practices.
Genetic Variability of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) 5’ Untranslated Region in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients Treated with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin

Association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies and treatment outcome among patients with chronic hepatitis C has been the subject of many studies. However, these studies focused mainly on viral variable regions (E1 and E2) and usually did not include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. The aim of the present study was to analyze heterogeneity of the 5'untranslated region (5'UTR) in HCV/HIV coinfected patients treated with interferon and ribavirin. The HCV 5’UTR was amplified from serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples in 37 HCV/HIV coinfected patients treated for chronic hepatitis C. Samples were collected right before treatment, and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 20, 24, 36, 44, 48, 60, and 72 weeks. Heterogeneity of the 5'UTR was analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP), cloning and sequencing. Sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 46% of analyzed HCV/HIV co-infected patients. Stable SSCP band pattern was observed in 22 patients (62.9%) and SVR rate among these patients was 23%. Decline in the number of bands and/or shift in band positions were found in 6 patients (17.1%), 5 (83%) of whom achieved SVR (p=0.009). A novel viral genotype was identified in all but one of these patients. In 5 of these 6 patients a new genotype was dominant. 5'UTR heterogeneity may correlate with interferon and ribavirin treatment outcome. In the analyzed group of HCV/HIV coinfected patients, viral quasispecies stability during treatment favored viral persistence, whereas decrease in the number of variants and/or emergence of new variants was associated with SVR. Among injection drug users (IDU) patients, a new genotype may become dominant during treatment, probably due to the presence of mixed infections with various strains, which have different susceptibility to treatment.
NavProfiler for Multimedia Personalization in IPTV

School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Institute of New Media and Communication, Seoul National University {nalinchakooo, sbahk}@netlab.snu. ac.kr Abstract User Profile forms the basis of personalized content recommendation in Recommender Systems. These systems value userprofile as a true representative for the user's interests. However, current methods used to construct user-profile on user’s implicit behavior are limited. In this paper, we propose a mechanism to capture and evaluate user’s navigational and content browsing pattern such as on IPTV content, and integrate extracted information into user-profile. The method enriches userprofile vector for accurate similarity evaluation among IPTV peers. We explain the design of profile agent, NavProfiler, which captures meta-data from user’s selected content, accurate viewing time and cache references. We extract the interests automatically without prior training. Our approach expands the vector components of the user-profile for better comparison and quality recommendations.
Security aspects of inter-access system mobility between 3GPP and non-3GPP networks

World leading telecom technology manufacturers and network operators have initiated a joint initiative aimed at driving forward the realization of the next generation of high performance mobile broadband networks based on 3GPP LTE/SAE specifications [1]. The motivation of 3GPP LTE/SAE was when it became clear that the future telecommunication systems was clearly IP with everything (the ldquoall-IPrdquo network, AIPN [2]), and that access to the 3GPP network would ultimately be not only via UTRAN or GERAN but by WiFi, WiMAX, or even wired technologies [3]. In this paper, we propose security mechanisms for secure fast handover during Inter-RAT handover, particularly handover between 3GPP and non-3GPP networks. This paper highlights the possibility and mechanism for security context transfer during Inter-RAT handover between 3GPP and trusted non-3GPP networks and also a pre-authentication mechanism for handover between 3GPP and untrusted non-3GPP networks.
Revised formulas for summarizing retinal vessel diameters

Background/Purpose. Recent findings suggest that an objective assessment of retinal vessel caliber from fundus photographs provide information about the association of microvascular characteristics with macrovascular disease. Current methods used to quantify retinal vessel caliber, introduced by Parr and Hubbard, are not independent of scale and are affected by the number of vessels. To improve upon these methods we introduce revised formulas for quantifying vessel caliber. Methods. Revised formulas were estimated using retinal vessel measurements from 44 young adults free of hypertension and diabetes. Comparisons between the two methods were done using digitized photographs from 4926 participants at the baseline examination of the Beaver Dam Eye Study (BDES), an ongoing population-based cohort study initiated in 1987. Individual arterioles and venules were measured using semi-automated computer software from which summary measures were calculated. Results. Correlation coefficients between the Parr-Hubbard and revised formulas were high (Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.94 to 0.98). Both arteriolar and venular caliber significantly increased with an increasing number of vessels measured using the Parr-Hubbard formulas (p < 0.001), which in turn affected the relationship to mean arterial blood pressure. To the contrary, the revised formulas were not affected by the number of measured vessels (p > 0.50). Conclusions. We describe revised formulas for summarizing retinal vessel diameters measured from fundus photographs to be used in future studies and analyses. The revised formulas correlate highly with the previously used Parr-Hubbard formulas, but offer the advantages of being more robust against variability in the number of vessels observed, being independent of image scale, and being easier to implement.