Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A memory versus compression ratio trade-off in PPM via compressed context modeling

Since its introduction prediction-by-partial-matching (PPM) has always been a de facto gold standard in lossless text compression, where many variants improving the compression ratio and speed have been proposed. However, reducing the high space requirement of PPM schemes did not gain that much attention. This study focuses on reducing the memory consumption of PPM via the recently proposed compressed context modeling (CCM) that uses the compressed representations of contexts in the statistical model. Differently from the classical context definition as the string of the preceding characters at a particular position, CCM considers context as the amount of preceding information that is actually the bit-stream composed by compressing the previous symbols. We observe that by using the CCM, the data structures, particularly the context trees, can be implemented in smaller space, and present a trade–off between the compression ratio and the space requirement. The experiments conducted showed that this trade–off is especially beneficial in low orders with a ≈ 20–25 percent gain in memory by a sacrifice of up to ≈ 7 percent loss in compression ratio.
Path planning as a service PPaaS: Cloud-based robotic path planning

Cloud computing framework can provide promising solutions for service robots to overcome various challenges in unstructured environments. In this paper, we present the design and implementation details of a novel cloud-based system architecture for robotic path planning. The proposed system, called Path Planning as a Service (PPaaS), is based on a three-layered architectural design: cloud server layer, cloud engine layer, and client robot layer. The cloud server layer is implemented with Hadoop Distributed File System. It contains a path plan database, which stores the solution paths that can be shared among robots. The cloud engine layer, which is the core of the architecture, utilizes Rapyuta cloud engine to create configurable containers for different robotic platforms. It also provides an on-demand path planning software in the cloud, which computes the optimal paths for robots to reach the goal positions. A load balancer is suggested to manage the container allocation in machines and coordinate local/cloud computation load balancing. The client robot layer is formed by a set of physical robots that employ PPaaS in the cloud. The communication framework of the entire system is based on Robot Operating System (ROS) platform, despite that robot clients do not necessarily run ROS. We have extended the proposed system for a case study of people tracking and following by multiple robots. We have also experimentally verified the feasibility and effectiveness of solving the shortest path problem via parallel processing in the cloud. The technical implementation details as well as the challenges of the proposed cloud robotics system are presented in the paper.
Experimenting adaptive services in sea-cloud innovation environment

Most of existing network testbeds can only support the experimentation of L2~L4 forwarding protocols, leaving the evaluation of L4~L7 applications still a tremendous challenge. This paper pioneers to present the design of sea-cloud innovation environment (SCIE) based on the software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) paradigms to support adaptive service-oriented experimentation, where the virtualized network functions (VNFs) can be implemented or de-implemented dynamically on network devices according to on-demand requirements. The experimentation is running to form an adaptive chain of network functions, which can be achieved by the protocol oblivious forwarding (POF) via user-defined fields and generic flow instruction set to forward the data to appropriate devices with VNFs. In SCIE, we demonstrate the experimentation of DPI service with on-demand requirement of security check.
Using a translation-invariant neural network to diagnose heart arrhythmia

The use of a neural network to classify ECG signals directly, without parametrization, is discussed. The input to such a network must be translation-invariant, since the distinctive features of the ECG may appear anywhere in the input window. The input must also be insensitive to the episode-to-episode and patient-to-patient variability in the rhythm pattern. A simple transformation of the ECG time-series input that meets both criteria is considered. A set of internally recorded, transcardiac ECG signals obtained from 54 patients was used to train and test the network. For each type of rhythm presented to the network, the network could output normal sinus rhythm (NSR), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF) (for networks trained to discriminate between VT and VF), or ambiguous (AMB). <<ETX>>
Impact of content storage and retrieval mechanisms on the performance of Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Networks

Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Networking (VDTN) is a disruptive network architecture based on the concept of delay tolerant networks (DTNs). VDTNs handle non-real time applications using vehicles to carry bundles, relaying them only when a proper contact opportunity occurs. Therefore, the network performance is directly affected by the storage capacity and message retrieving of intermediate nodes. This paper proposes a suitable content storage and retrieval (CSR) mechanism for VDTN networks. This CSR solution adds additional information on control labels of the setup message associated to the corresponding data bundle (aggregated traffic) that defines and applies caching and forwarding restrictions on network traffic (data bundles). Furthermore, this work presents a performance analysis and evaluation of CSR mechanisms over a VDTN application scenario, using a VDTN testbed. This work presents the comparison of the network behavior and performance using two DTN routing protocols, Epidemic and Spray and Wait, with and without CSR mechanisms. Results show that CSR mechanisms improve the performance of VDTN networks significantly.
Same Contract, Different Day? An Analysis of Teacher Bargaining Agreements in Louisville since 1979

Background/Context Recent political efforts to minimize the influence of teacher unions have called new attention to collective bargaining in American education. Such attention has only heightened a longstanding controversy within the realms of both research and practice. A renewed scholarly literature has systematically considered the relationship between teacher unionization and educational outcomes. The current paper provides additional context for such work by considering teacher contracts over time. Purpose/Objective/Research Question In this study we examine the ways in which the collective bargaining agreements in a large, Midwestern American school district have changed during more than 30 years of policymaking. Research Design The paper presents an historical content analysis/case study of every contract in Louisville, Kentucky since 1979. We focus on several areas of current interest to researchers studying teacher quality. These include salary schedules, transfer and assignment policies, teacher evaluation, dismissal, and working conditions. To fix our analysis within a theoretical framework, we consider an interpretation of our evidence suggested by the perspective of New Institutionalism. Conclusions/Recommendations We show that these contracts have changed very little in more than three decades, and most key provisions are identical. The time period we examine covers important educational reforms at the state and federal levels, as well as a number of popular movements such as efforts to reduce class size and enhance teacher quality through new evaluation schemes and tenure reform. If confirmed in other districts, our evidence would suggest limited potential for policy change to be reflected in individual bargaining agreements.
N-Way Conferencing with Packet Video

Abstract : Packet switching technology promises to allow improvement of video quality by efficiently supporting variable-rate video coding. Its inherent multiplexing of multiple streams also allows more efficient multi-destination delivery for N-way conferencing. However, most commercial video codecs are designed to work with circuits, not packets, in part because these benefits are accompanied by some problems. This paper describes a packet video system implementation in which commercial codecs were adapted to exploit the benefits of packet switching while addressing the problems as follows: 1) clock synchronization was obviated by asynchronous operation; 2) delay was reduced by bandwidth reservation and fast packet forwarding; and 3) packet loss was reduced by bandwidth reservation and forward error correction. An overview of the system is followed by sections addressing each of the problems and benefits, plus future directions for expansion of the system.
The development of facial motoneurones in the mouse--neuronal death and the innervation of the facial muscles.

The relationship between neuronal death and the formation of patterned connections was studied in the facial neuromuscular system of foetal, neonatal, and adult mice. The facial neuromuscular system was selected because two large, widely separated, facial muscles (the nasolabial and posterior auricular muscles) are innervated by clearly separated parts of the facial motor nucleus in the adult mouse. The number of motorneurones in the facial nucleus was counted in Nissl-stained sections at different stages of development. Over 6400 neurones were present in the facial nucleus at day 17 p.c. (post-coitum). After day 17 p.c. the number of neurones fell rapidly and only 2000 cells remain in the adult nucleus. This represents a loss of 68%, most of which occurs between days 18 and 20 p.c. Neurones with pyknotic nuclei are seen on day 17 p.c. and are most numerous on day 18 p.c. This leads us to believe that the fall in neurone numbers is due to cell death. Indirect evidence provided by acetylcholinesterase histochemistry (time of earliest reaction in the facial muscles) and horseradish peroxide (HRP) tracing studies (time of earliest transport) indicate that facial motorneurone axons innervate the facial musculature before the period of cell death: diffuse acetylcholinesterase activity first appeared in the auricular muscles at day 15 p.c. and in the nasolabial muscles at day 17 p.c. ; retrograde transport of HRP from the auricular and nasolabial muscles to the facial nucleus cannot be reliably demonstrated before day 17 p.c. We assessed the topography of early facial neuromuscular innervation by making HRP injections into nasolabial and posterior auricular muscles of embryonic and neonatal mice. Injections of HRP at day 17 p.c. (the day before cell loss commenced) showed that the nasolabial muscle and posterior auricular muscles were innervated by the same subnuclei of the facial nucleus as in the adult--except that there was a small number (1-5%) of labelled cells located in parts of the nucleus not consistent with the adult innervation pattern. These data indicate that, except for a small number of neurones, topographically organized connections in the facial neuromuscular system are established before the period of cell death. We conclude that motoneurone cell death does not play a major role in the establishment of topographically organized connections in this system.
Role-based refactoring of crosscutting concerns

Improving the structure of code can help developers work with a software system more efficiently and more consistently. To aid developers in re-structuring the implementation of crosscutting concerns using aspect-oriented programming, we introduce a role-based refactoring approach and tool. Crosscutting concerns (CCCs) are described in terms of abstract roles, and instructions for refactoring crosscutting concerns are written in terms of those roles. To apply a refactoring, a developer maps a subset of the roles to concrete program elements; a tool can then help complete the mapping of roles to the existing program. Refactoring instructors are then applied to manipulate and modularize the concrete elements corresponding to the crosscutting concern. Evaluation of the prototype tool on a graphical editing framework suggests that the approach helps planning and executing complex CCC refactorings.
Glutathione: new roles in redox signaling for an old antioxidant

The physiological roles played by the tripeptide glutathione have greatly advanced over the past decades superimposing the research on free radicals, oxidative stress and, more recently, redox signaling. In particular, GSH is involved in nutrient metabolism, antioxidant defense, and regulation of cellular metabolic functions ranging from gene expression, DNA and protein synthesis to signal transduction, cell proliferation and apoptosis. This review will be focused on the role of GSH in cell signaling by analysing the more recent advancements about its capability to modulate nitroxidative stress, autophagy, and viral infection.
Predicting Motion Behavior Under Contact Uncertainty

Performing complex assembly task with robots requires fine-motion planners able to cope with uncertainty and contact motions, which is a difficult issue. This report proposes a method to predict the behavior of motions under contact uncertainty in order to check the feasibility of paths generated by gross-motion planning algorithms from a nominal model of environment. This pragmatical approach enables the extension of the gross-motion planning techniques to constrained-motion planning problems, ensuring the feasibility of the task despite the uncertainty. The approach has been implemented for assembly task in the plane with three degrees of freedom.
A 3D video scanner for face performance capture

This paper presents a 3D video scanner design for human face performance capture by active illumination stereo vision, combining a computational stereo algorithm with pattern projection to add texture to the scene. The scanner uses monochromatic video cameras to capture stereo images - a solution to obtain colour information was found by using a third web-camera and knowledge of the camera geometry to synthesise colour texture maps. Experimental results successfully demonstrate a proof of concept for an entirely computer vision based approach. The generated 3D video data being rendered and displayed using a standard graphics API yields highly realistic 3D face animation.
Optimal content caching for epidemic routing in Delay Tolerant Networks

Delay Tolerant Networks allow communication services under highly mobile and intermittent connectivity. DTNs can overcome the problem of high mobility and disconnections based on the store-carry and forward principle and releasing many copies of the same message. In this paper we model the message's propagation in epidemic routing and we derive the optimal duration that a node can holds a message for forwarding it to other relays.
GPU Parallel Programming for Real-time Stereoscopic Video Generation

In this paper, we propose a fast depth image based rendering method to generate a virtual view image in real-time using a graphic processor unit (GPU) for a 3D broadcasting system. Simple and efficient hole filling method is performed to reduce complexity and prevent hole filling error. Also, we designed a vertical parallel structure for a forward mapping process to take advantage of the single instruction multiple threads structure of GPU. Additionally, we utilize high speed GPU memories to boost computation speed. As a result, we can generate virtual view images 15 times faster than a CPU-based processing.
Challenges in Model Checking of Fault-tolerant Designs in TLA+

Although, historically, fault tolerance is connected to safetycritical systems, there has been an increasing interest in fault tolerance in mainstream application such as the cloud. There is a need for formal specification and verification of industrial fault-tolerant designs, since they integrate, in a non-trivial way, the ideas from distributed algorithms, whose correctness is usually based on very subtle mathematical arguments. More and more fault-tolerant designs are formally specified in TLA. Based on our experience in model checking of fault-tolerant distributed algorithms, we propose a research agenda towards model checking of fault-tolerant designs in TLA.
Designing and evaluating the mobile experience through iterative field studies

This experience report describes using iterative field studies to design and evaluate the mobile experience of soundtransit.org. One study aimed to evaluate the design of paper prototypes early in the design process and another study was conducted to test the implementation of an interactive prototype. In this report, we share our experience to provide readers with lessons that can be applied to conducting their own mobile field studies. Finally, we describe some of the broader impacts that have resulted from this work.
A conceptual framework of students with visual impairments on website accessibility acceptance

Website accessibility is a key determinant of people with disabilities' acceptance. It is the key of making websites accessible to all, which covers all disabilities who affect access to the web. Web users including students with visual impairments can conveniently undertake a number of tasks that would be difficult or impossible, but many web applications are not accessible to them. Therefore, inaccessible online materials will lead students with visual impairments to fewer opportunities to learn and improve their learning outcomes. Based on many researches, it was found that the acceptance of website accessibility of students with visual impairments included web accessibility and vision impairment level. The purpose of this paper is to build a model based on Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions have positive effects on usage intention and acceptance behavior of website accessibility. This proposed model provides more understanding of the factors that could influence user acceptance in website accessibility. It also presents hypotheses and develops a structural equation model for further empirical study.
Zeta functions and chaos

The zeta functions of Riemann, Selberg and Ruelle are brie‡y introduced along with some others. The Ihara zeta function of a …nite graph is our main topic. We consider two determinant formulas for the Ihara zeta, the Riemann hypothesis, and connections with random matrix theory and quantum chaos.
Comparison of Machine Learning Techniques for Vehicle Classification Using Road Side Sensors

The main contribution of this paper is a comparison of different machine learning algorithms for vehicle classification according to the "Nordic system for intelligent classification of vehicles" standard using measurements of road surface vibrations and magnetic field disturbances caused by vehicles. The algorithms considered are logistic regression, neural networks, and support vector machines. They are evaluated on a large dataset, consisting of 3074 samples and hence, a good estimate of the actual classification rate is obtained. The results show that for the considered classification problem logistic regression is the best choice with an overall classification rate of 93.4%.
Seven faces of information literacy

The Seven faces of information literacy examines the varying experience of information literacy amongst higher educators and proposes a relational model of information literacy as an alternative to the behavioural model that dominates information literacy education and research. The metaphor of an information literacy wheel is used to examine problems associated with the behavioural model and to propose the adoption of a relational approach. Details of an empirical study into information users' conceptions of information literacy follows. The study was conducted to form an initial hub for the relational information literacy wheel - a detailed picture of the different ways in which information literacy is experienced amongst a group of experienced information users - in this case higher educators. The resulting conceptions, represented by 'categories' describing them, provide a picture of the phenomenon of information literacy. This picture becomes the centerpiece of the relational information literacy wheel in the same way that lists of attributes are central to the behavioural model.
FPGA implementation of parallel turbo-decoders

Wireless communication penetrates more and more areas of our everyday lives. Turbo-codes provide good forward-error correction to improve the data transfer reliability. They are used in current standards and future system designers considers them promising candidates. Dedicated hardware, however, is too expensive to use in a new and still rapidly changing system; due to the nonrecurring engineering and mask costs. In this paper, we therefore present a scalable turbo-decoder architecture targeted towards FPGA implementation for low-volume devices. It allows to optimally exploit the given hardware resources on FPGA to match the desired system throughput. Our design is ported to the Xilinx Virtex-II family. On the Virtex-II 3000, we achieve a maximum throughput of 26 Mbit/s at 84 MHz with a latency of 185 /spl mu/s.
Surveillance for Incident HIV Infection: New Technology and New Opportunities

&NA;Although surveillance for HIV infection has traditionally focused on the incidence of AIDS and the prevalence of HIV, new diagnostic technologies that allow the estimation of incident HIV infection have become available. Number and distribution of new cases of HIV infection, rather than old cases, are the data most relevant to guide rational application of HIV prevention programs. Historically, incident HIV infection has been measured in longitudinal cohort studies, diagnosed clinically or since 1993 by detection of seroconverting patients (during the window period before appearance of HIV antibody) who are viremic as measured by p24 antigen or RNAPCR. The sensitive‐less sensitive EIA test (or serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion [STAHRS]) has now made the serologic diagnosis of incident HIV infection in individual patients as well as the estimation of HIV incidence in populations possible. Examples of the public health application of this are studies of HIV incidence in anonymous test site attendees, sexually transmitted disease clinic patients, and in‐treatment injection drug users in San Francisco. These sorts of studies allow us not only to measure incidence cross‐sectionally but also facilitate surveillance for HIV subtypes and primary antiretroviral resistance, targeting early antiretroviral therapy and partner notification, and understanding who is “failing” prevention. Having an HIV surveillance system that focuses on incident rather than prevalent infection should be our long‐term goal.
Autaptic Connections and Synaptic Depression Constrain and Promote Gamma Oscillations

Computational models of gamma oscillations have helped increase our understanding of the mechanisms that shape these 40–80 Hz cortical rhythms. Evidence suggests that interneurons known as basket cells are responsible for the generation of gamma oscillations. However, current models of gamma oscillations lack the dynamic short term synaptic plasticity seen at basket cell-basket cell synapses as well as the large autaptic synapses basket cells are known to express. Hence, I sought to extend the Wang-Buzsáki model of gamma oscillations to include these features. I found that autapses increased the synchrony of basket cell membrane potentials across the network during neocortical gamma oscillations as well as allowed the network to oscillate over a broader range of depolarizing drive. I also found that including realistic synaptic depression filtered the output of the network. Depression restricted the network to oscillate in the 60–80 Hz range rather than the 40–120 Hz range seen in the standard model. This work shows the importance of including accurate synapses in any future model of gamma oscillations.