Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ZVZCS single-stage PFC AC-to-DC half-bridge converter

A zero-voltage- and zero-current-switched single-stage AC-to-DC half-bridge converter with high power factor is presented to reduce the switching losses and to achieve sinusoidal, unity power factor input currents. The single-stage approach, which combines a boost converter used as power-factor correction with a half-bridge converter used as DC-to-DC conversion into one power stage, has a simple structure and low cost. At the same time, the switching losses could be considerably reduced, because the switches of the proposed converter are designed to be turned on at zero voltage and off at zero current. Detailed analysis and experimental results are presented on the proposed converter, which is operated at constant switching frequency and in discontinuous conduction mode.
ContactMap: Organizing communication in a social desktop

Modern work is a highly social process, offering many cues for people to organize communication and access information. Shared physical workplaces provide natural support for tasks such as (a) <i>social reminding</i> about communication commitments and keeping track of collaborators and friends, and (b) <i>social data mining</i> of local expertise for advice and information. However, many people now collaborate remotely using tools such as email and voicemail. Our field studies show that these tools do not provide the social cues needed for group work processes. In part, this is because the tools are organized around <i>messages</i>, rather than <i>people</i>. In response to this problem, we created ContactMap, a system that makes <i>people</i> the primary unit of interaction. ContactMap provides a structured social desktop representation of users' important contacts that directly supports social reminding and social data mining. We conducted an empirical evaluation of ContactMap, comparing it with traditional email systems, on tasks suggested by our fieldwork. Users performed better with ContactMap and preferred ContactMap for the majority of these tasks. We discuss future enhancements of our system and the implications of these results for future communication interfaces and for theories of mediated communication.
Statistical language modeling with prosodic boundaries and its use for continuous speech recognition

A new statistical language modeling was proposed where word n-gram was counted separately for the cases crossing and not crossing accent phrase boundaries. Since such counting requires a large speech corpus, which hardly can be prepared, part-of-speech (POS) n-gram was ﬁrst counted for a small-sized speech corpus for the two cases instead, and then the result is applied to word n-gram counts of a large text corpus to divide them accordingly. Thus, the two types of word n-gram model can be obtained. Using ATR continuous speech corpus by two speakers, perplexity reduction from the baseline model to the proposed model was calculated for the word bi-gram. When accent phrase boundary information of the speech corpus was used, the reduction reached 11%, and when boundaries were extracted using our formerly developed method based on mora-F 0 transition modeling, it still exceeded 8%. The reduction around 5% was still observed for sentences not included for the calculation of POS bi-gram and using boundaries automatically extracted from another speaker’s speech. The obtained bi-gram was applied to continuous speech recognition, resulted in a two-percentage improvement of word accuracy from when the baseline model was used.
Characteristics of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Korea: Comparison with EUROKIDS Data

Background/Aims Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing worldwide. The characteristics of pediatric-onset IBD have mainly been reported in Western countries. We investigated the clinical characteristics of pediatric IBD in Korea and compared these with the data from the 5-year European multicenter study of children with new-onset IBD (EUROKIDS registry). Methods Children who were diagnosed with IBD between July 1987 and January 2012 were investigated at five Korean university hospitals. Their clinical characteristics were retrospectively evaluated by medical record review. The results were compared with the EUROKIDS data. Results A total of 30 children with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 33 children with ulcerative colitis (UC) were enrolled. In comparison with the EUROKIDS group, Korean pediatric IBD patients showed a male predominance (86.7% vs 59.2%, p=0.002 in CD; 75.8% vs 50%, p=0.003 in UC). Korean pediatric CD patients had a higher prevalence of terminal ileal disease (36.7% vs 16.3%, p=0.004) and perianal disease (33.3% vs 8.2%, p<0.001) than patients in the EUROKIDS group. Korean pediatric UC patients had a higher prevalence of proctitis than patients in the EUROKIDS group. Conclusions Our results suggest that the characteristics of Korean pediatric IBD patients and European pediatric IBD patients may be different.
Deaf, Dumb, and Chatting Robots, Enabling Distributed Computation and Fault-Tolerance Among Stigmergic Robot

We investigate ways for the exchange of information (explicit communication) among deaf and dumb mobile robots scattered in the plane. We introduce the use of movement-signals (analogously to flight signals and bees waggle) as a mean to transfer messages, enabling the use of distributed algorithms among the robots. We propose one-to-one deterministic movement protocols that implement explicit communication. We first present protocols for synchronous robots. We begin with a very simple coding protocol for two robots. Based on on this protocol, we provide one-to-one communication for any system of n ≥ 2 robots equipped with observable IDs that agree on a common direction (sense of direction). We then propose two solutions enabling one-to-one communication among anonymous robots. Since the robots are devoid of observable IDs, both protocols build recognition mechanisms using the (weak) capabilities offered to the robots. The first protocol assumes that the robots agree on a common direction and a common handedness (chirality), while the second protocol assumes chirality only. Next, we show how the movements of robots can provide implicit acknowledgments in asynchronous systems. We use this result to design asynchronous one-to-one communication with two robots only. Finally, we combine this solution with the schemes developed in synchronous settings to fit the general case of asynchronous one-to-one communication among any number of robots. Our protocols enable the use of distributing algorithms based on message exchanges among swarms of Stigmergic robots. Furthermore, they provides robots equipped with means of communication to overcome faults of their communication device.
Topological constraints in nucleic acid hybridization kinetics

A theoretical examination of kinetic mechanisms for forming knots and links in nucleic acid structures suggests that molecules involving base pairs between loops are likely to become topologically trapped in persistent frustrated states through the mechanism of ‘helix-driven wrapping’. Augmentation of the state space to include both secondary structure and topology in describing the free energy landscape illustrates the potential for topological effects to influence the kinetics and function of nucleic acid strands. An experimental study of metastable complementary ‘kissing hairpins’ demonstrates that the topological constraint of zero linking number between the loops effectively prevents conversion to the minimum free energy helical state. Introduction of short catalyst strands that break the topological constraint causes rapid conversion to full duplex.
Pile Dwellings, Changing Lake Conditions and Sediment Deposition: Preliminary soil micromorphology study of cultural deposits from underwater sites at Lake Luokesas, Molėtai Region, Lithuania

Abstract A pilot study of targeted soil micromorphology samples from Lake Luokesas in Lithuania suggests that at least one of the lake's prehistoric pile dwelling settlements was initially constructed over open water in lake marl, indicating a raised structure. Following this, a sequence of peat layers found between, within and over later cultural deposits suggests at least localised drying out, lowering of water levels, and/or raising of the local lakebed through cultural deposits and sand accumulation. It is suggested that these local events may have been an important factor in initial on-site peat formation, which could be possible without envisaging an overall drop in lake water levels. However, ongoing work on the sites may show larger-scale alterations, and it is clear that lake levels did rise at the end of the cultural and peat sequence.
Bandwidth-aware Peer-to-Peer 3D streaming

Peer-to-Peer streaming support for 3D content (i.e., P2P 3D streaming) has recently been proposed to provide affordable and real-time virtual environment (VE) content delivery. However, the generally limited client upload bandwidth requires maximal bandwidth utilization for effective streaming. This paper proposes Bandwidth-Aware Peer Selection (BAPS), a peer selection strategy that improves the bandwidth utilization for 3D streaming. BAPS avoids request contention and peer overloading as object and user densities increase, thus improving both bandwidth utilization and system scalability. We compare BAPS with strategies that select from only peers within the area of interest (AOI) as data sources and do not consider bandwidth capacity. Our evaluation shows that BAPS achieves better performance in general, and maintains a stable minimal quality of service (QoS) for streaming, which is important for commercial applications.
Converging flow tracer tests in fissured limestone

As part of an investigation into the dual porosity behaviour of fractured limestone aquifers, a sequence of converging flow tracer tests was devised and conducted at an extensively investigated experimental site in a major aquifer in the UK. The tests were designed specifically to produce detailed, high-resolution information about the tails of the breakthrough curves typically observed in this kind of aquifer and test. A set of mutually compatible, low detection limit tracers was identified through laboratory investigations. Two tests were carried out over distances of 20 m and 40 m along each of the two radii towards an abstraction borehole where tracer concentration was monitored. Simple dual porosity models were calibrated using the data from one test on each radius. Blind validations of these models were undertaken by attempting to predict the outcome of the second test on each radius, producing one success and one significant failure.
Racial discrimination and metabolic control in women with type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE We investigated whether self-reported racial discrimination was associated with insulin resistance (IR) and glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) in women with type 2 diabetes in the United States, after controlling for covariates. METHODS Seventy-seven Black and White women with type 2 diabetes completed the Experiences of Discrimination Scale, which assesses self-reported lifetime frequency of racially motivated discrimination. Participants provided fasting blood samples for assessment of glucose and insulin for determination of IR and A1c. Covariates included age, education, waist circumference, diabetes distress, and stressful life events. RESULTS In unadjusted regression analysis discrimination was significantly associated with IR. There was a trend for a race by discrimination interaction, with a weaker effect for Blacks than Whites. Follow up analysis showed that discrimination was significantly associated with IR in both Blacks and Whites, even after adjustment, as was waist circumference. In unadjusted regression analysis, discrimination was significantly associated with A1c. There was a significant race by discrimination interaction. Follow up analysis showed that discrimination was not significantly associated with A1c among Blacks, but was among Whites, even after adjustment, as was diabetes distress and insulin use. CONCLUSIONS Racial discrimination is associated with insulin resistance in Black and White women with diabetes, and with A1c in White women with diabetes.
Calibration of time domain reflectometry for water content measurement using a composite dielectric approach

Time domain reflectometry (TDR) has been developed to an operational level for the measurement of soil water content during the past decade. Because it is able to provide fast, precise and nondestructive in situ measurements, it has become an alternative to the neutron scattering method, in particular for monitoring water content under field conditions. One of the major disadvantages of the neutron scattering technique is that, due to the relatively high sensitivity of the signal to factors other than water content, site-specific calibration is usually required. In this paper a calibration curve for the TDR method is presented which is not restricted to specific soil conditions. The calibration is based on the dielectric mixing model of Dobson et al. (1985). Measurements of volumetric water content and dielectric number at eleven different field sites representing a wide range of soil types were used to determine the parameter of the model by weighted nonlinear regression. The uncertainty (root mean square error) of water content values calculated with the optimized calibration curve was estimated not to exceed 0.013 cm3/cm3. This value is comparable to the precision of the thermogravimetric method. From a sensitivity analysis it was determined that the temperature dependence of the TDR signal may have to be corrected to obtain optimum accuracy.
Complexity of Reasoning

We present lower bounds on the computational complexity of satisfiability and subsumption in several Description Logics. We interpret these lower bounds as coming from different "source, of complexity", which we isolate one by one. We consider both reasoning with simple concept expressions and reasoning with an underlying TBox. We discuss also complexity of instance checking in simple ABoxes. We have tried to enhance clarity and ease of presentation, sometimes sacrificing exhaustiveness for lack of space.
Dense-disparity estimation from feature correspondences

Stereoscopic disparity plays an important role in the processing and compression of 3D imagery. For example, dense disparity fields are used to reconstruct intermediate images. Although for small camera baselines dense disparity can be reliably estimated using gradient-based methods, this is not the case for large baselines due to the violation of underlying assumptions. Block matching algorithms work better but they are likely to get trapped in a local minimum due to the increased search space. An appropriate method to estimate large disparities is by using feature points. However, since feature points are unique, they are also sparse. In this paper, we propose a disparity estimation method that combines the reliability of feature-based correspondence methods with the resolution of dense approaches. In the first step we find feature points in the left and right images using Harris operator. In the second step, we select those feature points that allow one-to-one left-right correspondence based on a cross-correlation measure. In the third step, we use the computed correspondence points to control the computation of dense disparity via regularized block matching that minimizes matching and disparity smoothness errors. The approach has been tested on several large-baseline stereo pairs with encouraging initial results.
DNA pooling analysis of ADHD and genes regulating vesicle release of neurotransmitters

ADHD is one of the most prevalent, and heritable behavioural disorders in childhood. Genetic associations have been reported with polymorphic variants within or near to dopamine pathway genes. Recently snap‐25 has also shown association with ADHD in several datasets. We therefore investigated other genes that produce proteins that interact with SNAP‐25 in the mechanism of vesicular release of neurotransmitters at the synapse. A total of 106 SNPs were screened for minor allele frequency greater than 5% and 61 SNPs selected for analysis in DNA pools made up from an ADHD clinical sample of DSM‐IV combined type probands (n = 180) and a control sample of 90 males and 90 females. Initial screening identified several SNPs that showed allele frequency differences of 5% or more. One SNP in the synaptophysin gene showed suggestive evidence of association following case‐control and TDT analysis and warrants further investigation. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The TALP–UPC Spanish–English WMT Biomedical Task: Bilingual Embeddings and Char-based Neural Language Model Rescoring in a Phrase-based System

This paper describes the TALP–UPC system in the Spanish–English WMT 2016 biomedical shared task. Our system is a standard phrase-based system enhanced with vocabulary expansion using bilingual word embeddings and a characterbased neural language model with rescoring. The former focuses on resolving outof- vocabulary words, while the latter enhances the fluency of the system. The two modules progressively improve the final translation as measured by a combination of several lexical metrics.
Statistical Real-time Model for Performance Prediction of Ship Detection from Microsatellite Electro-Optical Imagers

For locating maritime vessels longer than 45 meters, such vessels are required to set up an Automatic Identification System (AIS) used by vessel traffic services. However, when a boat is shutting down its AIS, there are no means to detect it in open sea. In this paper, we use Electro-Optical (EO) imagers for noncooperative vessel detection when the AIS is not operational. As compared to radar sensors, EO sensors have lower cost, lower payload, and better computational processing load. EO sensors are mounted on LEO microsatellites. We propose a real-time statistical methodology to estimate sensor Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. It does not require the computation of the entire image received at the sensor. We then illustrate the use of this methodology to design a simple simulator that can help sensor manufacturers in optimizing the design of EO sensors for maritime applications.
Laser Guide Star only adaptive optics : the development of tools and algorithms for the determination of Laser Guide Star tip-tilt

Adaptive Optics (AO) is a technology which corrects for the effects of the atmosphere and so improves the optical quality of ground based astronomical observations. The bright “guide stars” required for correction are not available across the entire sky, so Laser Guide Stars (LGSs) are created. A Natural Guide Star (NGS) is still required to correct for tip-tilt as the LGS encounters turbulence on the uplink path resulting in unpredictable “jitter”, hence limiting corrected sky coverage. In this thesis an original method is proposed and investigated that promises to improve the correction performance for tomographic AO systems using only LGSs, and no NGS, by retrieving the LGS uplink tip-tilt. To investigate the viability of this method, two unique tools have been developed. A new AO simulation has been written in the Python programming language which has been designed to facilitate the rapid development of new AO concepts. It features realistic LGS simulation, ideal to test the method of LGS uplink tip-tilt retrieval. The Durham Real-Time Adaptive Optics Generalised Optical Nexus (DRAGON) is a laboratory AO test bench nearing completion, which features multiple LGS and NGS Wavefront Sensors (WFSs) intended to further improve tomographic AO. A novel method of LGS emulation has been designed, which re-creates focus anisoplanatism, elongation and uplink turbulence. Once complete, DRAGON will be the ideal test bench for further development of LGS uplink tip-tilt retrieval. Performance estimates from simulation of the LGS uplink tip-tilt retrieval method are presented. Performance is improved over tomographic LGS AO systems which do not correct for tip-tilt, giving a modest improvement in image quality over the entire night sky. Correction performance is found to be dependent on the atmospheric turbulence profile. If combined with ground layer adaptive optics, higher correction performance with a very high sky coverage may be achieved.
Multi-word Entity Classification in a Highly Multilingual Environment

This paper describes an approach for the classification of millions of existing multi-word entities (MWEntities), such as organisation or event names, into thirteen category types, based only on the tokens they contain. In order to classify our very large in-house collection of multilingual MWEntities into an application-oriented set of entity categories, we trained and tested distantly-supervised classifiers in 43 languages based on MWEntities extracted from BabelNet. The best-performing classifier was the multi-class SVM using a TF.IDF-weighted data representation. Interestingly, one unique classifier trained on a mix of all languages consistently performed better than classifiers trained for individual languages, reaching an averaged F1-value of 88.8%. In this paper, we present the training and test data, including a human evaluation of its accuracy, describe the methods used to train the classifiers, and discuss the results.
Service Interactions in CSCE Service Composition Environment

This paper presented a Kahn Process Network (KPN) based service composition environment called CSCE which can establish interactions among computational service nodes. KPN is a model of computation and commonly used for describing a set of cooperative processes that communicate with each other using FIFO buffered channel. KPN has several advantages which make it adequate to model service interactions: 1) parallelism and communication mechanism in KPNs, which enable distributed service interactions on internet, 2) KPNs are compositional, which corresponds to the possibility to build bigger behaviors from small ones, 3) KPN can be executed, which ensures a executable service interaction environment for actual application. In order to describe service interactions in CSCE, we provide four kinds of service interaction events which enrich KPN operations. Finally we present an application case to show how to describe service interactions in CSCE.
Biomedical Ontologies and Text Mining for Biomedicine and Healthcare: A Survey

In this survey paper, we discuss biomedical ontologies and major text mining techniques applied to biomedicine and healthcare. Biomedical ontologies such as UMLS are currently being adopted in text mining approaches because they provide domain knowledge for text mining approaches. In addition, biomedical ontologies enable us to resolve many linguistic problems when text mining approaches handle biomedical literature. As the first example of text mining, document clustering is surveyed. Because a document set is normally multiple-topic, text mining approaches use document clustering as a preprocessing step to group similar documents. Additionally, document clustering is able to inform the biomedical literature searches required for the practice of evidence-based medicine. We introduce Swanson's UnDiscovered Public Knowledge (UDPK) model to generate biomedical hypotheses from biomedical literature such as MEDLINE by discovering novel connections among logically-related biomedical concepts. Another important area of text mining is document classification. Document classification is a valuable tool for biomedical tasks that involve large amounts of text. We survey well-known classification techniques in biomedicine. As the last example of text mining in biomedicine and healthcare, we survey information extraction. Information extraction is the process of scanning text for information relevant to some interest, including extracting entities, relations, and events. We also address techniques and issues of evaluating text mining applications in biomedicine and healthcare.