Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EMDF - A Broadcast Scheduling Policy for Wireless Multi-hop Networks with Interference Constraint

Wireless interference is a key issue affecting network performance. In this paper, we address the broadcast scheduling problem in wireless multi-hop networks with interference. We propose a policy called EMDF (evolved minimum degree first) which assigns different transmission slots for nodes within a three-hop neighborhood to effectively decrease the conflicts caused by both hidden terminal problem and wireless interference. EMDF can increase high throughput and high slot reuse. Meanwhile, the policy can obtain a minimum slot number for transmission. Based on the EMDF, this paper also discusses the scheduling problem when a new node joins the network. We evaluate network throughput and slots utilization of the policy by comparison with other existing algorithms in simulation. The result shows that EMDF outperforms others.
Correction of misalignment errors in stereoscopic PIV systems

The main purpose of the present work is to correct errors occurring in a stereoscopic PIV system and caused by misalignments between the calibration plane and the measurement plane. The experimental measurements have been conducted using an angular stereoscopic system with Scheimpflug conditions and a PIV-calibration pattern has been mounted on stages which can translate in three dimensions and rotate around the vertical axis. In order to correct the errors in perspective, a calibration of the cameras has been done by setting the PIV-calibration pattern in different z-positions and utilizing different mapping functions of the physical plane coordinates (x, y, z); afterwards, a cross-correlation of the images recorded by the two cameras at the same instant has been used to calculate the disparity map and to obtain the equation of the measurement plane, i.e. an estimated value of the misalignment; finally, a reconstruction of the three-dimensional displacement field has been made: in this reconstruction the image has been de-warped inside the iterative deformation PIV process, in order to reduce the loss of image quality. A displacement field has been simulated to show the efficiency of the correction of misalignment errors. A correction of the formulae generally used in literature to estimate the viewing angles permits to obtain better results even for out of plane displacements.
Progress in simulation of a thermal probe: modelling the probe to sample conductance

This paper describes the latest developments in the simulation of a thermal probe apparatus, building on earlier work as reported by de Wilde et al. (2007). The work focuses on researching the role of the probe to sample conductance H. Results obtained with the existing model are proven to be inconclusive, and necessitate the change to flexible general engineering finite element software.
Quadfinder: server for identification and analysis of quadruplex-forming motifs in nucleotide sequences

G-quadruplex secondary structures, which play a structural role in repetitive DNA such as telomeres, may also play a functional role at other genomic locations as targetable regulatory elements which control gene expression. The recent interest in application of quadruplexes in biological systems prompted us to develop a tool for the identification and analysis of quadruplex-forming nucleotide sequences especially in the RNA. Here we present Quadfinder, an online server for prediction and bioinformatics of uni-molecular quadruplex-forming nucleotide sequences. The server is designed to be user-friendly and needs minimal intervention by the user, while providing flexibility of defining the variants of the motif. The server is freely available at URL .
Faltering from ethnography to design

The aim of this paper is to explore some, ways of linking ethnographic studies of work in context with the design of CSCW systems. It uses examples from an interdisciplinary collaborative project on air traffic control. Ethnographic methods are introduced, and applied to identifying the social organization of this cooperative work, and the use of instruments within it. On this basis some metaphors for the electronic representation of current manual practices are presented, and their possibilities and limitations are discussed.
“En Español Esa Palabra No Tiene Ningún Sentido:” A Cross-Case Analysis of Three Mexican American Dual Language Teachers’ Language Ideologies and Instructional Differences

ABSTRACT This study profiles three Mexican American, dual language teachers in a qualitative cross-case analysis and asks (a) How do dual language teachers’ linguistic backgrounds influence their language ideologies? ; (b) How are language ideologies evidenced in teachers’ instructional practices? Participants could be perceived as homogenous Mexican American women but had diverse linguistic backgrounds and ideologies. They include one native Spanish speaker born and educated in Mexico, one native Spanish speaker who was born in Mexico and attended high school in the United States, and one first-generation Mexican American teacher who was recovering Spanish as a heritage language. Interviews and classroom observations from a California school with a dual language strand were the primary sources of data. Findings show that the teachers’ varied linguistic backgrounds influenced their language ideologies, and their language ideologies were apparent in distinct language development instructional practices. Teachers’ surface-level homogeneity masked varied ideologies that influenced their instructional decisions in complex and sometimes problematic ways. Implications include the need for greater focus on language ideologies in teacher preparation and policy changes to support bilingual teacher development.
Simulated Annealing based Wireless Sensor Network Localization with Flip Ambiguity Mitigation

Accurate self-localization capability is highly desirable in wireless sensor networks. A major problem in wireless sensor network localization is the flip ambiguity, which introduces large errors in the location estimates. In this paper, we propose a two phase simulated annealing based localization (SAL) algorithm to address the issue. Simulated annealing (SA) is a technique for combinatorial optimization problems and it is robust against being trapped into local minima. In the first phase of our algorithm, simulated annealing is used to obtain an accurate estimate of location. Then a second phase of optimization is performed only on those nodes that are likely to have flip ambiguity problem. Based on the neighborhood information of nodes, those nodes likely to have affected by flip ambiguity are identified and moved to the correct position. The proposed scheme is tested using simulation on a sensor network of 200 nodes whose distance measurements are corrupted by Gaussian noise. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme gives accurate and consistent location estimates of the nodes and mitigate errors due to flip ambiguities
When Does Strategic Debt Service Matter ? 1 Viral

Recent work has suggested that strategic underperformance of debt-service obligations by equity holders can resolve the gap between observed yield spreads and those generated by Merton [38]– style models. We show that this is not quite correct. The value of the option to underperform on debt-service obligations depends on two other optionalities available to equity holders, namely, the option to carry cash reserves within the firm and the option to raise new external financing. We disentangle the effects of the three factors, and characterize the impact of each in isolation as well as their interaction. We find, among other things, that while strategic behavior can increase spreads significantly under some conditions, its impact is negligible in others, and in some cases it even leads to a decline in equilibrium spreads. We show that this last apparently paradoxical result is a consequence of an interaction of optionalities that results in a trade-off between strategic and liquidity-driven defaults. JEL Classification: G13, G35, G33 When Does Strategic Debt-Service Matter? 1
The study on network topology discovery algorithm based on SNMP protocol and ICMP protocol

The network topology visualization technology can be researched from the following several aspects: (1) Study adaptability of network topology discovery. It needs a kind of algorithm which can quickly detect the network topology of a completely unknown structural network. (2) Multiple effect integration of Visualization technology. The current network topology management system usually only use a single visual tools to visualization data. As Web technology development and graphics processing technology development, AIR technology and the 3D technology is more and more widely used. If they can be used into the network topology visualization design and implementation, Visualization effect will reach a new high level. (3) The integration of network topology visualization technology and network management. Although the point of network topology visualization is visualization, it should include more modern network management functions, in order to truly realize the value of the technology research.
Markov Modelling of Fingerprinting Systems for Collision Analysis

Multimedia fingerprinting, also known as robust or perceptual hashing, aims at representing multimedia signals through compact and perceptually significant descriptors (hash values). In this paper, we examine the probability of collision of a certain general class of robust hashing systems that, in its binary alphabet version, encompasses a number of existing robust audio hashing algorithms. Our analysis relies on modelling the fingerprint (hash) symbols by means of Markov chains, which is generally realistic due to the hash synchronization properties usually required in multimedia identification. We provide theoretical expressions of performance, and show that the use of -ary alphabets is advantageous with respect to binary alphabets. We show how these general expressions explain the performance of Philips fingerprinting, whose probability of collision had only been previously estimated through heuristics.
Stock market prediction using hybrid approach

The objective of this paper is to construct a model to predict stock value movement using the opinion mining and clustering method to predict National Stock Exchange (NSE). We have used domain specific approach to predict the stocks from each domain we have taken some stock with maximum capitalization. Proposed Method is Not at all like past methodologies where the general states of mind or sentiments are considered, sentiments of the particular subjects of the organization or sector are fused into the stock prediction model. Topics and related opinion of shareholders are automatically extracted from the writings in a message board by utilizing our proposed strategy alongside isolating clusters of comparable sort of stocks from others using clustering algorithms. Proposed methodology will give us two output set i.e. one from sentiment analysis and another from clustering based prediction with respect to some specialized parameters of stock exchange. By examining both the results an efficient prediction is produced. In this paper stocks with maximum capitalization within all the important sectors are taken into consideration for empirical analysis.
Texting While Walking Induces Gait Pattern Alterations in Healthy Older Adults

The use of a mobile phone for texting purposes results in distracted walking which may lead to injuries. In particular, texting while walking has been shown to induce significant alterations in gait patterns. This study aimed to assess whether changes in the main spatio-temporal parameters of gait when simultaneously engaged in texting on a smartphone and walking are different in older adults relative to young and middle- aged individuals. A total of 57 participants divided in three groups (19 older adults aged over 65, 19 young aged 20-40 and 19 middle-aged aged 41-64) were tested in two conditions: walking, and walking while texting on a smartphone. Spatio-temporal parameters of gait were assessed using a wearable accelerometer located on the lower back. The results show that texting induced similar reduction of gait speed, stride length and cadence in all groups. Slight (although significant) alterations of stance, swing and double support phases duration were found only for middle-aged participants. Such findings suggest that modifications of gait patterns due to texting seem unaffected by age, probably due to different perceptions of the cognitive complexity of the task and differential prioritization of its motor and cognitive aspects.
The Multiphase Nature of the Intracluster Medium of Some Clusters of Galaxies

The discovery of EUV and soft X-ray excess emission in clusters of galaxies (the cluster soft excess phenomenon) challenged the notion of the hot (~107-108 K) gas as the only dominant thermal component of the intracluster medium (ICM). The spatial analysis of ROSAT PSPC keV images presented here reveals compelling evidence for substantial amounts of cold gas (H I) in the ICM of the Coma and Virgo Clusters. This finding bolsters the original interpretation of the soft excess as emission from a "warm" (~106 K) gas and points to the scenario of a multiphase ICM where the hot component coexists with gases at subvirial temperatures (the "warm" and "cold" phases).
245 GHz SiGe Transmitter Array for Gas Spectroscopy

A 245 GHz transmitter (TX) array with an integrated antenna-array for a gas spectroscopy system has been realized, which consists of a push-push VCO with a 1/64 frequency divider, power amplifiers, frequency doublers, and on-chip antennas with localized backside etching. The TX-frequency is tunable in the range from 238 GHz to 252 GHz. The TX-array is fabricated in 0.13 μm SiGe:C BiCMOS technology with fT/fmax of 300GHz/500GHz. Its estimated output power is 7 dBm at 245 GHz, and the EIRP reaches 18 dBm at 245 GHz. The 245 GHz spectroscopy system includes a TX and a receiver in SiGe. The sensitivity of this spectroscopy system is demonstrated by the high-resolution absorption spectrum of methanol and will be increased further by this TX-array.
A Genome-Wide Survey for Arabidopsis Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor Kinases Implicated in Plant Immunity

Receptor-like kinases (RLK) are among the largest gene families encoded by plant genomes. Common structural features of plant RLKs are an extracellular ligand binding domain, a membrane spanning domain, and an intracellular protein kinase domain. The largest subfamily of plant RLKs is characterized by extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR-RLK) structures that are known biochemical modules for mediating ligand binding and protein–protein interactions. In the frame of the Arabidopsis Functional Genomics Network initiative of the German Research Foundation (DFG) we have conducted a comprehensive survey for and functional characterization of LRR-RLKs potentially implicated in Arabidopsis thaliana immunity to microbial infection. Arabidopsis gene expression patterns suggested an important role of this class of proteins in biotic stress adaptation. Detailed biochemical and physiological characterization of the brassinosteroid insensitive 1-associated receptor kinase 1 (BAK1) revealed brassinolide-independent roles of this protein in plant immunity, in addition to its well-established function in plant development. The LRR-RLK BAK1 has further been shown to form heteromeric complexes with various other LRR-RLKs in a ligand-dependent manner, suggesting a role as adapter or co-receptor in plant receptor complexes. Here, we review the current status of BAK1 and BAK1-interacting LRR-RLKs in plant immunity.
OTA based 200 GΩ resistance on 700 μm2 in 180 nm CMOS for neuromorphic applications

AbstractGenerating an exponential decay function with a time constant on the order of hundreds of milliseconds is amainstay for neuromorphic circuits. Usually, either subthreshold circuits or RC-decays based on transcon-ductance ampliﬁers are used. In the latter case, transconductances in the 10 pS range are needed. However,state-of-the-art low-transconductance ampliﬁers still require too much circuit area to be applicable in neu-romorphic circuits where >100 of these time constant circuits may be required on a single chip. We presenta silicon veriﬁed operational transconductance ampliﬁer that achieves a g m of 5 pS in only 700 µm 2 , a factorof 10-100 less area than current examples. This allows a high-density integration of time constant circuitsin target appliations such as synaptic learning or as driving circuit for neuromorphic memristor arrays.1. IntroductionNeuromorphic circuits that operate in real timehaveto exhibit the sametimescale asbiologicalneu-rons [1]. This means a circuit has to generate multi-ple exponential decay functions with time constantsof up to hundreds of milliseconds, employed e.g. asthe membrane time constant, presynaptic adapta-tion or postsynaptic current trace [2]. In the form of the gm-C conﬁguration [3], Op-erational Transconductance Ampliﬁers (OTA) arewidely used to produce exponential decay func-tions. To achieve time constants in the aboverange,large capacitances and low transconductances areneeded. Circuit area limits capacitances to ≤1 pF,requiring transconductances on the order of 10 pS[4, 5]. While somepapershavereportedsuchlowvalues,their large circuit area implementations prohibit anintegration of multiple instances of these OTAs for
Every team makes mistakes, in large action spaces

Voting is applied to better estimate an optimal answer to complex problems in many domains. We recently presented a novel benefit of voting, that has not been observed before: we can use the voting patterns to assess the performance of a team and predict whether it will be successful or not in problem-solving. Our prediction technique is completely domain independent, and it can be executed at any time during problem solving. In this paper we present a novel result about our technique: we show that the prediction quality increases with the size of the action space. We present a theoretical explanation for such phenomenon, and experiments in Computer Go with a variety of board sizes.
Securing Cloud Data in the New Attacker Model

The world just witnessed the surge of a new and powerful attacker, which was able to coerce operators and acquire the necessary keys to break the privacy of users. Once the encryption key is exposed, the only viable measure to preserve data confidentiality is to limit the adversary’s access to the ciphertext. This may be achieved, for example, using multi-cloud storage systems. These systems spread data across multiple servers in different administrative domains, to cater for availability and fault tolerance. If the adversary can only compromise a subset of these domains, multi-cloud storage systems may prevent the adversary from accessing the entire ciphertext. However, if data is encrypted using existing encryption schemes, spreading the ciphertext on multiple servers does not entirely solve the problem since an adversary which has the encryption key, can still compromise single servers and decrypt the ciphertext stored therein. In this paper, we leverage multi-cloud storage systems to provide data confidentiality against an adversary which has access to the encryption key, and can compromise a large fraction of the storage servers. For this purpose, we first introduce a novel security definition that captures data confidentiality in the new adversarial model. We then propose Bastion, a primitive that is secure according to our definition and, therefore, guarantees data confidentiality even when the encryption key is exposed, as long as the adversary cannot compromise all storage servers. We analyze the security ofBastion, and we evaluate its performance by means of a prototype implementation. Our results show that Bastion incurs less than 5% overhead compared to existing semantically secure encryption modes. We also discuss practical insights with respect to the integration of Bastion in commercial multi-cloud storage systems.
“Slaying Ghosts in the Room”: Identity Contingencies, Teacher Licensure Testing Events, and African American Preservice Teachers

Background In 41 states, students must pass the “basic skills” portion of their licensure exam before they can be admitted into a teacher education program. Because African American test takers are roughly half as likely to pass basic skills exams on their first attempt compared to White test takers, this portion of the licensure exam is a key gatekeeper to the field and directly shapes the racial diversity of the profession. Researchers generally frame this problem in one of two opposing ways: (a) by locating the cause in skill and knowledge deficiencies of test takers or (b) by locating the cause in the cultural bias of standardized test instruments. This study looks beyond these two polarized views to conceptualize the licensure exam as a testing event that includes a nexus of cognitive and affective processes beyond the specific skills the test is designed to measure. Focus of Study The study examined the subjective and social psychological ways African American test takers experience teacher licensure testing events. This study was guided by the following research questions: (a) How do African American preservice teachers experience the licensure testing event? (b) How does race become a salient aspect of the testing event experience for African American preservice teachers? The study drew from the social psychological constructs of identity contingencies and situational cues to analyze students’ experiences in the testing event. Setting and Participants Participants in this study were 22 African American preservice teachers attending a predominantly and historically Black institution in the northeastern United States. Each of the participants took the paper format basic skills exam in either the spring 2009 or spring 2010 national administration. Research Design Drawing from culturally sensitive research practice, this study used a qualitative case study research design to explore test takers’ experiences in the testing event. Findings/Conclusions Findings illustrate how the licensure testing event can become a racialized experience for some participants through (a) interactions with test proctors and site administrators before and during examinations and (b) actions of other test takers that inadvertently signaled racial stereotypes about test preparation, intelligence, and character. Racialized experiences for participants were not based upon any specific test questions or content. Findings are discussed in light of previous research to suggest that these experiences have the capacity to produce a host of cognitive and affective states that undermine performance.
A Comparison of Two Novel Algorithms for Clustering Web Documents

In this paper we investigate the clustering of web document collections using two variants of the popular kmeans clustering algorithm. The first variant is the global k-means method, which computes “good” initial cluster centers deterministically rather than relying on random initialization. The second variant allows for the use of graphs as fundamental representations of data items instead of the simpler vector model. We perform experiments comparing global k-means with random initialization using both the graph-based and the vectorbased representations. Experiments are carried out on two web document collections and performance is evaluated using two clustering performance measures.