Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Halo-model signatures from 380 000 Sloan Digital Sky Survey luminous red galaxies with photometric redshifts

We analyse the small-scale clustering in 'MegaZ-LRG', a large photometric redshift catalogue of luminous red galaxies extracted from the imaging data set of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. MegaZ-LRG, presented in a companion paper, spans the redshift range 0.4 < z < 0.7 with an rms redshift error sigma(z) approximate to 0.03(1 + z), covering 5914 deg(2) to map out a total cosmic volume 2.5 h(-3) Gpc(3). In this study we use 380 000 photometric redshifts to measure significant deviations from the canonical power-law fit to the angular correlation function in a series of narrow redshift slices, in which we construct volume-limited samples. These deviations are direct signatures of the manner in which these galaxies populate the underlying network of dark matter haloes. We cleanly delineate the separate contributions of the 'one-halo' and 'two-halo' clustering terms and fit our measurements by parametrizing the halo occupation distribution N(M) of the galaxies. Our results are successfully fitted by a 'central' galaxy contribution with a 'soft' transition from zero to one galaxy, combined with a power-law 'satellite' galaxy component, the slope of which is a strong function of galaxy luminosity. The large majority of galaxies are classified as central objects of their host dark matter haloes rather than satellites in more massive systems. The effective halo mass of MegaZ-LRG galaxies lies in the range log(10)(M-eff/h(-1) M-circle dot) = 13.61-13.80 (increasing with redshift assuming large-scale normalization sigma(8) = 0.8) for corresponding number densities in the range n(g) = 5.03 - 0.56 x 10(4) h(-3) Mpc(-3). Our results confirm the usefulness of the halo model for gaining physical insight into the patterns of galaxy clustering.
Virtual Cockpit : An Alternative Augmented Reality User Interface

This paper presents an approach for a hierarchical graphical user interface in an Augmented Reality environment, which allows fast and intuitive navigation even when dealing with complex layouts. This project enhances the “Studierstube” library by providing a head-fixed 3dimensional menu hierarchy as an alternative to the personal interaction panel. Although providing a natural haptic feedback we have experienced different limitations in terms of usability and flexibility by using this personal interaction panel for application control and navigation. This paper shows a concept work for a different user interface called Virtual Cockpit providing a complete 3dimensional experience. Moreover, a methodology for dealing with complex interaction layouts by introducing a smart tree structure is also discussed.
A new mains voltage observer for PMSM drives fed by matrix converters

This paper presents a new Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) algorithm with sensorless mains voltage detection, which has been applied to a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) driven by a Matrix Converter (MC). Unlike classical MC modulation methods, FCS-MPC allows direct control of the MC input currents. The mains voltage sensors elimination allows to increase the reliability of the system. The performance of the proposed work has been verified by simulation studies and experimental results.
Exact Secrecy Throughput of MANETs with Guard Zone

Different from previous works that mainly focus on deriving the scaling results for secrecy throughput of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), this paper studies the exact secrecy throughput of a cell-partitioned MANET with group-based scheduling to eliminate interference from simultaneous transmissions. The concept of secrecy guard zone is introduced to allow each transmitter detect the existence of eavesdroppers in a region around itself. To ensure the transmission security, an on-off transmission scheme is adopted, where the transmission will be conducted (on) if no eavesdroppers exist in the secrecy guard zone around the transmitter, otherwise the transmission will be suspended (off). To derive the exact secrecy throughput, we first compute the probability that a transmission can be securely conducted between a given active cell and the cells in the transmission range of this cell (i.e., coverage cells) and also the probability that a source-destination transmission can be securely conducted between the active cell and its coverage cells. With the help of these two probabilities, we then derive the exact secrecy throughput as well as the upper bound on the delay of the concerned MANET. Finally, extensive simulation and numerical results are provided to corroborate our theoretical analysis and also to illustrate the performances of secrecy throughput and delay.
Rational Basis for Optimizing Short and Long-term Hepatitis B Virus Prophylaxis Post Liver Transplantation: Role of Hepatitis B Immune Globulin

Abstract Antiviral therapy using newer nucleos(t)ide analogues with lower resistance rates, such as entecavir or tenofovir, suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, improve liver function in patients with compensated or decompensated cirrhosis, and delay or obviate the need for liver transplantation in some patients. After liver transplantation, the combination of long-term antiviral and low-dose hepatitis B Immune globulin (HBIG) can effectively prevent HBV recurrence in greater than 90% of transplant recipients. Some forms of HBV prophylaxis need to be continued indefinitely after transplantation but, in patients with a low-risk of HBV recurrence (i.e., HBV DNA levels undetectable before transplantation), it is possible to discontinue HBIG and maintain only long-term nucleos(t)ide analogue(s) therapy. A more cautious approach is necessary for those patients with high pretransplant HBV DNA levels, those with limited antiviral options if HBV recurrence occurs (i.e., HIV or hepatitis D virus coinfection, preexisting drug resistance), those with a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence, and those at risk of noncompliance with antiviral therapy. In this group, HBIG-free prophylaxis cannot be recommended.
The Speech Performance Observation Scale for Youth (SPOSY): Assessing Social Performance Characteristics Related to Social Anxiety

This study describes the development of the SPOSY, an observation scale for speech performance of socially anxious youth. The scale was designed as a research tool to address specific behaviors that are readily noticed by non-expert others and might explain why socially anxious youth are rejected by peers. In Phase 1 of the study, items for the scale were generated based on “free” observations by naive observers. In Phase 2, the psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated using a sample of 218 speakers aged between 9 and 16 years. PCA with oblimin rotation yielded three reliable and stable factors, Expressiveness, Lack of confidence, and Agitation. Expressiveness was negatively related to Lack of confidence. Importantly, socially anxious youth were rated as less expressive and confident but not as more agitated in their behavior as compared to non- socially anxious youth. Low expressiveness seems related to safety behaviors and may play a significant role in peer rejection.
Analytical Modeling and Reduction of Direct Tunneling Current during Behavioral Synthesis of Nanometer CMOS Circuits

Gate oxide direct tunneling current is the major component of static power dissipation of a CMOS circuit for low-end technology, where the gate dielectric (SiO 2) thickness is very low. This paper presents a novel direct tunneling current reduction method during behavioral synthesis of nanometer CMOS circuits. We provide analytical models to calculate the direct tunneling current and the propagation delay of behavioral level components. We then characterize those components for various gate oxide thicknesses. We also provide an algorithm for behavioral scheduling for minimizing the overall tunneling current dissipation of datapath circuits. The algorithm explores dual oxide thickness option for reducing direct tunneling current. We have carried out extensive experiments for various behavioral level benchmarks under various resource constraints and observed significant reductions in tunneling current.
VLSI design and system level verification for the Mini-Disc

In this paper, a new method for the design of complex multimedia ASIC is introduced. Using this design method, VLSI with embedded software and high-speed emulators can be developed concurrently. The method has proven to be effective through actual design of VLSI for audio compression and decompression in a Mini-Disc system.
Epidemia: Variable Consistency for Transactional Cloud Databases

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Modelling Corporate Bonds Considerations for Stochastic Modelling

Many of the newly issued corporate bonds are finding their way into insurance and pension fund asset portfolios. Modelling these bonds is tricky. Historic return distributions are well behaved and the observed credit spreads exceed all estimates of historic default probabilities. As a result, corporate bonds may appear anomalously attractive. We show that some of the more widely used models of corporate bonds have some major weaknesses from a theoretical perspective and in particular fail to explain this apparent anomaly convincingly. However, our analysis of the economics of corporate debt early in the paper suggests that credit spreads are option premiums and thus have option-like characteristics. This leads to the Merton Model as a means of capturing these characteristics. The model reveals that the apparent anomaly in credit spreads is another facet of well known apparent anomalies in option prices under the standard Black Scholes Model (such as the existence of skews and smiles in implied volatility). The latter anomalies are not generally regarded as exploitable in asset allocation studies. Armed with the insights from this model, suitable for heavy duty application in pricing contingent claims based on default, we return to the simpler problem of modelling corporate bond portfolios. We suggest that complexity in these models inevitable, given that a rebalancing investment process must be modelled and that there is a fundamental arbitrariness in the relevant grade categories on which the process is based. Having considered these issues we suggest that, despite its sledge-hammer appearance the Merton Model provides a solid foundation for alternative approaches to modelling such portfolios that ensures consistency and reduces the risk of anomalies. In particular we reconcile well-known approximations in terms of special cases of this model.
On the Feasibility of Precoded Single User MIMO for LTE-A Uplink

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently specifying the system requirements for Long Term Evolution - Advanced (LTE-A), having as a target peak data rates of 1 Gbit/s in local areas and 100 Mbit/s in wide areas. To meet these ambitious requirements for the uplink, multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna techniques are expected to be deployed. In this paper, several channel-aware MIMO precoding techniques are presented. Specifically, precoded single user spatial multiplexing for both Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiplexing (SCFDM) is studied, and its feasibility in a LTE-A uplink system is discussed. Particular emphasis is given to the limited feedback precoding, where a codebook generation method based on the Lloyd algorithm is proposed. Results show that, when full channel knowledge is available at both the transmitter and the receiver, precoding leads to a spectral efficiency gain up to 4 dB over open loop transmission; furthermore, OFDM slightly outperforms SC-FDM because of its higher robustness to the noise. Limited feedback precoding has been shown to be effective and consistently robust to the subcarrier grouping in a urban micro scenario. However, the performance is severely degraded in the blind precoding case, where transmitter and receiver compute the precoding matrix independently, due to the high sensitivity to the delay. Finally, the precoding operation over the SCFDM signal is shown to increase its Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR), thus reducing its advantage with respect to OFDM.
LMA based emotional motion representation using RGB-D camera

In this paper, emotional motion representation is proposed for Human Robot Interaction: HRI. The proposed representation is based on “Laban Movement Analysis: LMA” and trajectories of 3-dimensional whole body joint positions using an RGB-D camera such as a “Microsoft Kinect”. The experimental results show that the proposed method distinguishes two types of human emotional motion well.
Dynamic multi-dimensional PSO with indirect encoding for proportional fair constrained resource allocation

Dynamic particle swarm optimization (PSO) problems are generally characterized by the exhaustively examined issues of the changing location of optima, the changing fitness of optima, and measurement noise/errors. However, the challenging issue of continuously changing problem dimensionality has not been similarly examined. Given that in anytime dynamic resource allocation it is necessary to maintain a high quality solution, we argue that, rather than restarting the PSO algorithm, a more appropriate approach is to design an algorithm that robustly handles changing problem dimensionality. Specifically, we propose an indirect particle encoding scheme specifically designed for a dynamic multi-dimensional PSO algorithm for proportional fair constrained resource allocation. This PSO algorithm is implemented for the proportional fair allocation of power and users to channels within a simulation of an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) wireless network with mobile users switching cells as they traverse the simulation environment. The proposed PSO algorithm is evaluated using simulations, which demonstrate the ability of the proposed indirect encoding scheme to maximize the overall proportional fair optimization goal, without unfairly penalizing the individual components of the solution related to newly introduced problem dimensions.
Effect of non-stationarities on multifractal analysis

Multifractal analysis is concerned with the local scaling behavior of fractal processes such as those found in computer networks. Central to multifractal theory is the structure function tau(q) which links the power-law behavior of the moments of the process with its singularities through the multifractal formalism. Modern computer network traffic often contains non-stationarities such as shifts in the mean, periodicities, discontinuities, and polynomial trends due to human behavior and network protocols. In this paper, we determine the effect of these non-stationarities on the estimation of tau(q). Toward this end, numerical experiments were performed on the canonical multifractal process - the binomial cascade, which has been widely used to model wide area network traffic. Several time domain and wavelet domain estimators are evaluated in terms of their accuracy and robustness towards non-stationarities. It is found that time domain estimators are sensitive to non-stationarities whereas wavelet domain estimators are robust to all the non-stationarities considered at the expense of less accuracy
Receiver spatial diversity propagation path-loss model for an indoor environment at 2.4 GHz

This article presents receiver spatial diversity propagation path-loss model obtained from line-of-site (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) real-field measurements in an indoor environment at 2.4 GHz. The performance of spatial receiver diversity is presented in the form of path-loss exponent reduction which allows us to demonstrate the improvements in the link quality when coherent and noncoherent equal gain combining (EGC) techniques are applied on the received powers. Using our measurement data, we propose spatial diversity propagation path-loss model which accounts for the effects of the number of receiving antennas in the path-loss equation. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first time in the literature that diversity antenna has been incorporated into path-loss equations.
Self-Assembly in Mixtures of Polymers and Small Associating Molecules

The interaction between a flexible polymer in a good solvent and smaller associating solute molecules such as amphiphiles (surfactants) is considered theoretically. Attractive correlations, induced in the polymer because of the interaction, compete with intrachain repulsion and eventually drive a joint self-assembly of the two species, accompanied by partial collapse of the chain. Results of the analysis are found to be in good agreement with experiments on the onset of self-assembly in diverse polymer−surfactant systems. The threshold concentration for self-assembly in the mixed system (critical aggregation concentration, cac) is always lower than the one in the polymer-free solution (critical micelle concentration, cmc). Several self-assembly regimes are distinguished, depending on the effective interaction between the two species. For strong interaction, corresponding experimentally to oppositely charged species, the cac is much lower than the cmc. It increases with ionic strength and depends only weak.
Image fusion of Ikonos pan and multispectral images for classification of the urban environment

The paper compares different data fusion techniques in order to choose an appropriate technique for accurate urban mapping. Availability of high spatial resolution Ikonos and Quickbird imagery has made accurate mapping of urban areas more feasible. Though Ikonos multispectral images have a good spatial resolution of 4 m, it is often desirable to have an increased spatial resolution for a more accurate mapping. Ikonos panchromatic and multispectral images of the City of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada were fused to obtain 1-m multispectral images. This paper evaluates the results of the IHS (Intensity-Hue-Saturation), PCA (Principal Component Analysis), wavelet addition and wavelet substitution, and ARSIS (“Amélioration de la Résolution Spatiale par Injection of Structures”) methods both visually and statistically. A maximum likelihood classification (MLC) was carried out on the original 4-m as well as on the fused 1-m multispectral images. The classified maps obtained are analyzed visually and also compared using classification accuracies.
eXtended cumulated gain measures for the evaluation of content-oriented XML retrieval

We propose and evaluate a family of measures, the eXtended Cumulated Gain (XCG) measures, for the evaluation of content-oriented XML retrieval approaches. Our aim is to provide an evaluation framework that allows the consideration of dependency among XML document components. In particular, two aspects of dependency are considered: (1) near-misses, which are document components that are structurally related to relevant components, such as a neighboring paragraph or container section, and (2) overlap, which regards the situation wherein the same text fragment is referenced multiple times, for example, when a paragraph and its container section are both retrieved. A further consideration is that the measures should be flexible enough so that different models of user behavior may be instantiated within. Both system- and user-oriented aspects are investigated and both recall and precision-like qualities are measured. We evaluate the reliability of the proposed measures based on the INEX 2004 test collection. For example, the effects of assessment variation and topic set size on evaluation stability are investigated, and the upper and lower bounds of expected error rates are established. The evaluation demonstrates that the XCG measures are stable and reliable, and in particular, that the novel measures of effort-precision and gain-recall (ep/gr) show comparable behavior to established IR measures like precision and recall.
A robust W-MUSIC algorithm for GPR target detection in the presence of noise

When applied to ground penetrating radar (GPR), the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm is an important frequency estimation method as it can detect very closely spaced targets, particularly when one of the target responses is substantially lower than another. The MUSIC algorithm however must be seeded with the number of targets to find and will indicate that number of targets regardless of the number of targets actually present. In the presence of relatively low levels of noise the MUSIC algorithm is prone to reporting the position of false targets in preference to weaker genuine target responses. In this paper a superimposed MUSIC technique is proposed to suppress false targets. A novel windowed FFT MUSIC (W-MUSIC) algorithm is examined using a linear sweep frequency in noise. It is seen to give a clear indication of targets in the presence of modest noise that prevents MUSIC from working.
Speaker recognition experiments on the NTIMIT database

In this paper, we compare three speaker recognition systems results (i.e. GMM, AHSM, ARVM) on the TIMIT and NTIMIT databases. In order to improve the results on the NTIMIT database, we present two more sophisticated systems: the first one is based on ARMAVector model, the second one is based on the utilisation of several AR-Vector models per speaker. We investigate the ability to recognize speaker using phonetic segments labels. We test the cooperation of several AR-Vector models, each one being learned on a distinct phonetic cluster. For this cooperation, we develop a segmental and an analytic approaches.
Evaluation of Teacher Ratings to Improve Child Language Screenings in Speech-Language Pathology

viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE . 6 Studies of Teacher Ratings . 6 Measures of Convergent Validity . 15 The Diagnostic Evaluation of Language VariationScreener (DELV-ST) . 16 The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Learning Skills (DIBELS) Next. 18 The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test . 21 Measures of Predictive Validity . 25 The Diagnostic Evaluation of Language VariationNorm Referenced (DELV-NR) . 25 Purpose of the Current Study . 26 Research Questions . 27 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS . 28 Participants . 28 The Classroom Teachers. 28 The Child Participants . 29 Teacher Ratings . 33 Tools Used to Evaluate Convergent Validity of Teacher Ratings . 35 Tools Used to Evaluate Predictive Validity of Teacher Ratings . 37 Procedures . 38 Reliability . 38 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS . 39 Convergent Validity of Teacher Ratings . 39 Predictive Validity of Teacher Ratings: The DELV-NR . 50 Combining Screeners to Improve Diagnostic Sensitivity and Specificity . 53