Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ON DESIGN PREFERENCE ELICITATION WITH CROWD IMPLICIT FEEDBACK

We define preference elicitation as an interaction, consisting of a sequence of computer queries and human implicit feedback (binary choices), from which the user’s most preferred design can be elicited. The difficulty of this problem is that, while a humancomputer interaction must be short to be effective, query algorithms usually require lengthy interactions to perform well. We address this problem in two steps. A black-box optimization approach is introduced: The query algorithm retrieves and updates a user preference model during the interaction and creates the next query containing designs that are both likely to be preferred and different from existing ones. Next, a heuristic based on accumulated elicitations from previous users is employed to shorten the current elicitation by querying preferred designs from previous users (the “crowd”) who share similar preferences to the current one.
Measurement of the Probability Distribution of Total Transmission in Random Waveguides

Measurements have been made of the probability distribution of total transmission of microwave radiation in waveguides filled with randomly positioned scatterers which would have values of the dimensionless conductance g near unity. The distributions are markedly non-Gaussian and have exponential tails. The measured distributions are accurately described by diagrammatic and random matrix calculations carried out for nonabsorbing samples in the limit g >> 1 when g is expressed in terms of the variance of the distribution, which equals the degree of long-range intensity correlation across the output face of the sample.
Identification of novel genes that regulate androgen receptor signaling and growth of androgen-deprived prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer progression to castration refractory disease is associated with anomalous transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor (AR) in an androgen-depleted milieu. To identify novel gene products whose downregulation transactivates AR in prostate cancer cells, we performed a screen of enzymatically-generated shRNA lenti-libraries selecting for transduced LNCaP cells with elevated expression of a fluorescent reporter gene under the control of an AR-responsive promoter. The shRNAs present in selected populations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing to identify target genes. Highly enriched gene targets were then validated with siRNAs against selected genes, testing first for increased expression of luciferase from an AR-responsive promoter and then for altered expression of endogenous androgen-regulated genes in LNCaP cells. We identified 20 human genes whose silencing affected the expression of exogenous and endogenous androgen-responsive genes in prostate cancer cells grown in androgen-depleted medium. Knockdown of four of these genes upregulated the expression of endogenous AR targets and siRNAs targeting two of these genes (IGSF8 and RTN1) enabled androgen-independent proliferation of androgen-dependent cells. The effects of IGSF8 appear to be mediated through its interaction with a tetraspanin protein, CD9, previously implicated in prostate cancer progression. Remarkably, homozygous deletions of IGSF8 are found almost exclusively in prostate cancers but not in other cancer types. Our study shows that androgen independence can be achieved through the inhibition of specific genes and reveals a novel set of genes that regulate AR signaling in prostate cancers.
Determinants of sexual behavior in the Dominican Republic: the explanatory quality of the theory of planned behavior and the prototype willingmess model

Background. The estimated HIV/ AIDS prevalence in the Dominican Republic is 3.2% of the population between 15-49 years; with unprotected heterosexual intercourse identified as primary mode of transmission. Many Dominicans are sexually active at an early age, have multiple partners and do not use condoms consistent. Gender inequalities put young girls and women at increased risk for HIV infection. Research. This cross-sectional study examines the explanatory quality of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) concerning intention to use condoms, willingness to have protected sex, willingness to have unprotected sex and actual consistency condom use (separated based on gender). The relation of these constructs to stigmatization is examined. Method. A survey is conducted in the Dominican Republic using a multi-item questionnaire. In total data of 90 participants are analyzed (M=23.8 years; male=52, female=38). Conclusion. The TPB represents better explanatory quality concerning consistent condom use than the PWM, while the unsafe sex constructs still display more added value than the safe sex constructs. Stigmatization appears to be an important psychosocial cultural variable. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Generalized Concept Overlay for Semantic Multi-Modal Analysis of Audio-visual Content

In this work, the problem of performing multi-modal analysis of audio-visual streams by effectively combining the results of multiple uni-modal analysis techniques is addressed. A non-learning-based approach is proposed to this end, that takes into account the potential variability of the different uni-modal analysis techniques in terms of the decomposition of the audio-visual stream that they adopt, the concepts of an ontology that they consider, the varying semantic importance of each modality, and other factors. Preliminary results from the application of the proposed approach to broadcast News content reveal its effectiveness.
XNetMon: A Network Monitor for Securing Virtual Networks

Isolation and performance are critical issues for virtual networking. In this paper, we consider the use of Xen virtualization platform for building software-based virtual routers. We propose a network monitor for Xen to increase the isolation and the performance on packet forwarding. The network monitor controls the use of shared resources and punishes misbehaving virtual routers, guaranteeing an isolated operation of the virtual networks. In order to secure the shared data plane, we propose a secure communication protocol that provides mutual authentication, protection against replay attacks, and privacy between the virtual routers and the administrative domain. The results obtained with the developed prototype show that our proposal guarantees availability of the virtual-network control and packet forwarding services and also provides a fair resource sharing.
A transfer learning method for PLDA-based speaker verification

Currently, the state-of-the-art speaker verification system is based on i-vector and PLDA. However, PLDA requires tens of thousands of development data from many speakers. This makes it difficult to learn the PLDA parameters for a domain with scarce data. In this paper, we propose an effective transfer learning method based on Bayesian joint probability in which Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence between the source domain and the target domain is added as a regularization factor. This hypothesis could utilize the development data of source domain to help find a better optimal solution of PLDA parameters for the target domain. Experimental results based on the NIST SRE and Switchboard corpus demonstrate that our proposed method could produce the largest gain of performance compared with the traditional PLDA and the other adaptation approach.
Scholarship and practice: the contribution of ethnographic research methods to bridging the gap

Information systems research methods need to contribute to the scholarly requirements of the field of knowledge but also need to develop the potential to contribute to the practical requirements of practitioners′ knowledge. This leads to possible conflicts in choosing research methods. Argues that the changing world of the IS practitioner is reflected in the changing world of the IS researcher and that qualitative approaches to IS research help to bridge the gap between the two domains of knowledge. Illustrates how this gap may be bridged through discussing the ethnographic research method. Concludes by assessing the contributions and limitations of this method to IS research and practice.
Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance and Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy Patients Treated with Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: Predictors and Clinically Correlated Evidence of Neuroplasticity

Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is characterized by unilateral upper limb impairment and patients often compensate by performing most tasks with their unaffected arm. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) directly combats this learned non-use by casting the unaffected arm and forcing the patient to repetitively practice skills with the hemiplegic limb. Subjects with hemiplegic cerebral palsy were recruited from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Thames Valley Children’s Centre and McMaster Children’s Hospital. MRI acquisitions and clinical evaluations were collected at baseline, 1 and 6-months later. The case group participated in a CIMT camp after baseline evaluations and was compared to an untreated control group. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) acquisitions quantify global network organization and neural integrity, respectively, and found alterations in multiple resting state network connectivity patterns and significantly different fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity in the affected corticospinal tract. Asymmetric baseline sensorimotor network organization was predictive of a positive and continuous functional response to CIMT. Clinically correlated network reorganization provides further evidence of neuroplastic mechanisms related to CIMT.
Forward-Looking Ground-Penetrating Radar via a Linear Inverse Scattering Approach

An inverse scattering approach has been designed to process data gathered by means of forward-looking ground-penetrating radar systems. Such an inverse approach exploits a linear model of the scattering phenomenon and is able to account for the half-space 2-D geometry. In this frame, a theoretical study on the achievable reconstruction capabilities is provided with the aim to estimate the range and cross-range resolution limits and gain indications about the issue of how to design the measurement configuration. Finally, numerical and experimental examples are provided to assess the effectiveness of the approach.
A distributed QoS routing architecture for scalable video streaming over multi-domain OpenFlow networks

This paper proposes a new Quality of Service (QoS) optimized routing architecture for video streaming over large-scale multi-domain OpenFlow networks managed by a distributed control plane, where each controller performs optimal routing within its domain and shares summarized intra-domain routing data with other controllers to reduce problem dimensionality for calculating inter-domain routing. We apply the proposed architecture to streaming of scalable (layered) videos, where the base layer routes are dynamically optimized to fulfill a required QoS level, while enhancement layers follow traditional shortest path. We show that the proposed solution approaches the expensive non-scalable globally optimal solution (single controller for the whole network) in terms of received video quality under various congestion scenarios.
A Conserved Mechanism for Bni 1-and mDia 1-induced Actin Assembly and Dual Regulation of Bni 1 by Bud 6 and Profilin

*Department of Biology and The Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454; ‡Departments of Pediatric Oncology, The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Pediatric Hematology, The Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; and §Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, and Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
On the placement of management and control functionality in software defined networks

In order to support reactive and adaptive operations, Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-based management and control frameworks call for decentralized solutions. A key challenge to consider when deploying such solutions is to decide on the degree of distribution of the management and control functionality. In this paper, we develop an approach to determine the allocation of management and control entities by designing two algorithms to compute their placement. The algorithms rely on a set of input parameters which can be tuned to take into account the requirements of both the network infrastructure and the management applications to execute in the network. We evaluate the influence of these parameters on the configuration of the resulting management and control planes based on real network topologies and provide guidelines regarding the settings of the proposed algorithms.
LaneLoc: Lane marking based localization using highly accurate maps

Precise and robust localization in real-world traffic scenarios is a new challenge arising in the context of autonomous driving and future driver assistance systems. The required precision is in the range of a few centimeters. In urban areas this precision cannot be achieved by standard global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). Our novel approach achieves this requirement using a stereo camera system and a highly accurate map containing curbs and road markings. The maps are created beforehand using an extended sensor setup. GNSS position is used for initialization only and is not required during the localization process. In the paper we present the localization process and provide an evaluation on a test track under known conditions as well as a long term evaluation on approximately 50 km of rural roads, where a precision in centimeter-range is achieved.
Self-optimized collaborative data communication in wireless sensor networks

Collaborative data communication is one of the efficient approaches in wireless sensor networks (WSN) in terms of life-time, reliability and quality of service (QoS) enhancement. In this paper, we propose a new self-optimized collaborative algorithm which minimizes the energy consumption by decreasing the number of collaborative nodes and at the same time guarantees the demanded quality. To do this, we focus on the fact that during the collaboration, a receiver node aggregates the signals of the collaborative nodes separately. The major task of this node is the time adjustment of the collaborative nodes to receive their signals synchroneously. The proposed algorithm performs an extra process to sort the aggregated signals based on their bit error rate (BER) as the quality and select the minimum number of the nodes with higher rank for collaboration. It is because the low quality signals have negative effect on the collaboration performance, as confirmed experimentally. The new algorithm gains higher level of energy storage balance without increasing of the inter-node communications or computational load by modification of the node selection metric. It also guarantees the demanded QoS through modification of the collaboration based on the signal quality at the destination which results in higher reliability. Based on the proposed algorithm, sensor nodes can gain the optimum efficiency during collaborative data communication without external management resources. The algorithm is applicable in various scenarios and network structures.
Design guidelines of vertical surrounding gate (VSG) MOSFETs for future ULSI circuit applications

This paper discusses the device design of vertical surrounding gate (VSG) MOSFETs. Poisson's equation is solved using a Laplace reduction technique and Bessel functions to predict the device characteristics. The concept of inverse natural/characteristic length (/spl gamma/) and critical length (L/sub critical/) is developed, which serves as a tool for device optimization for improved performance. Results thus obtained are in close proximity with published data available in the literature.
ON PERFECT SIMULATION

Perfect simulation refers to the art of converting suitable Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms into algorithms which return exact draws from the target distribution, instead of long-time approximations. The theoretical concepts underlying perfect simulation have a long history, but they were first drawn together to form a practical simulation technique in the groundbreaking paper of Propp and Wilson [ 78], which showed (for example) how to obtain exact draws from (for example) the critical Ising model. These lecture notes are organized around four main themes of perfect simulation: the original or classic Coupling From The Past algorithm ( CFTP); variations which exploit regeneration ideas such as small-set or split-chain constructions from Markov chain theory (small-set CFTP); generalizations of CFTP which deal with non-monotonic and non-uniformly ergodic examples (dominatedCFTP); and finally some theoretical complements. singapore.tex : W2k-2.19 (July 16, 2004)
Genetic advantageous predisposition of angiotensin converting enzyme id polymorphism in Tunisian athletes.

BACKGROUND ID polymorphism of the gene coding for the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) represents a determining factor in physical and athletic performance in the context of genetic conditioning of sports predisposition. The aim of this study was to show the potential importance of genetic factors in relation to the athletic status in Tunisian athletes. METHODS The ACE genotypes were established using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for 282 Tunisian athletes (endurance: N.=149 - power: N.=133), and 211 sedentary volunteers. RESULTS No significant difference was found in the ACE genotype distribution between athletes (36% DD, 49% ID, 15% II) and controls (CTR) (39% DD, 46% ID, 15% II; P=0.72). In contrast, a high significant difference between endurance and power groups were noted in genotype and alleles (χ2=10.32, P=0.0057; χ2=4,752, P=0.029, respectively). The elite endurance-athletes (N.=72) possess some inherent genetic advantage predisposing them to superior athletic performances compared to CTR for ACE alleles (χ2=3.51, P=0.06). In addition endurance trained athletes were also significantly different from CTR for ACE genotype (χ2=6.05, P=0.04). Furthermore, a significant difference have been found between elite power-athletes (N.=59) and CTR for ACE alleles (χ2=3.79, P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tunisian athletes exhibit insertion (I) and deletion (D) alleles of the ACE polymorphism associated with a high level of human endurance and power performance, respectively. This genetic background plays an important role in sporting potential and causes some individuals to be better adapted to specific physical training. This should be considered in athlete development to identify which sporting specialties should be trained for Tunisian talent promotion.
EEG-based analysis of auditory stimulus in a brain-computer interface

This research is related to Neuroscience research fields that study sounds which affect the state of mind of a person. The main focus of this research is to create a system that observes the effects of the auditory stimulus including binaural beats and relaxing music by analyzing the Electroencephalogram (EEG) readings of the participants. EEG is mostly used for recording electrical brain wave signal readings. In addition, the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is used to decipher the EEG brain spectrum readings and distinguish between the different EEG bands including Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma. There are 40 participants (20 males, 20 females) around the age group 31 - 70 yrs. in this research. The EEG recorded from the participants using the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is analyzed using a statistic-based Paired T-test to find the significant difference of each stimulus with each group that separate by age of participants.
Dream Incorporation of a Sentinel Life Event and Its Relation to Waking Adaptation

Over the years, particularly since the publication of Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams (1), the question of dream function has been a matter of lively debate. Do dreams have inherent emotional meaning or is the perception of meaning added through a process of association following what are initially, random sensory stimuli arising from brain stem activation? Further, if there is meaning do dreams serve a unique function in the integration or assimilation of affectively aroused information into the solutions embodied in existing memory systems (2)? Or, on the contrary, is the suppression of dreams following horrendous emotional experiences the better part of valor, especially when there are no pre-existing solutions available (3)? These opposing viewpoints have often proved to be long on assertion and short on supporting data. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the questions of dream meaning and function following a number of brain imaging studies of normal human subjects while they are in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. The areas of the brain that are reported to be most active, and those that are most deactivated during REM, in contrast to those turned on and turned off while the subject is awake or in Non-REM sleep, suggest that dreams are an Dream Incorporation of a Sentinel Life Event and Its Relation to Waking Adaptation
Design of a phase shifter with improved bandwidth using embedded series-shunt switches

A phase shifter with improved bandwidth using embedded series-shunt switches is presented. The FET switches become part of phase shifting filter elements as well as series-shunt switches. This improves the bandwidth of phase shifter because of having intrinsic characteristics of a high-pass and low-pass phase shifter. A phase shifter using resonated FET circuit is analyzed and compared. The conditions of circuit elements are derived in analytic form, which are used to obtain broadband phase characteristic. Two types of a Ku band 90/spl deg/ phase shifter are designed. The proposed phase shifter exhibits more broadband phase characteristic than the resonated FET topology. The proposed approach enables to realize a compact phase shifter with broadband performance.
A yield improvement methodology using pre- and post-silicon statistical clock scheduling

In deep sub-micron technologies, process variations can cause significant path delay and clock skew uncertainties thereby lead to timing failure and yield loss. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive clock scheduling methodology that improves timing and yield through both pre-silicon clock scheduling and post-silicon clock tuning. First, an optimal clock scheduling algorithm has been developed to allocate the slack for each path according to its timing uncertainty. To balance the skew that can be caused by process variations, programmable delay elements are inserted at the clock inputs of a small set of flip-flops on the timing critical paths. A delay-fault testing scheme combined with linear programming is used to identify and eliminate timing violations in the manufactured chips. Experimental results show that our methodology achieves substantial yield improvement over a traditional clock scheduling algorithm in many of the ISCAS89 benchmark circuits, and obtain an average yield improvement of 13.6%.