Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DEUCE : a test-bed for evaluating ESL competence criteria

This paper describes work in progress to apply a Web-based facility for evaluating differing criteria for English language competence. The proposed system, Discriminated Evaluation of User's Competence with English (DEUCE), addresses the problem of determining the efficacy of individual criteria for competence in English as a Second Language (ESL). We describe the rationale, design and application of DEUCE and outline its potential as a discriminator for ESL competence criteria and as a basis for low cost mass ESL competence testing.
Statistical trajectory models for phonetic recognition

The main goal of this work is to develop an alternative methodology for acoustic{ phonetic modelling of speech sounds. The approach utilizes a segment{based framework to capture the dynamical behavior and statistical dependencies of the acoustic attributes used to represent the speech waveform. Temporal behavior is modelled explicitly by creating dynamic tracks of the acoustic attributes used to represent the waveform, and by estimating the spatio{temporal correlation structure of the resulting errors. The tracks serve as templates from which synthetic segments of the acoustic attributes are generated. Scoring of an hypothesized phonetic segment is then based on the error between the measured acoustic attributes and the synthetic segments generated for each phonetic model. Phonetic contextual in uences are accounted for in two ways. First, context{ dependent biphone tracks are created for each phonetic model. These tracks are then merged as needed to generate triphone tracks. The error statistics are pooled over all the contexts for each phonetic model. This allows for the creation of a large number of contextual models (e.g., 2,500) without compromising the robustness of the statistical parameter estimates. The resulting triphone coverage is over 99.5%. The second method of accounting for context involves creating tracks of the transitions between phones. By clustering these tracks, complete models are constructed of over 200 \canonical" transitions. The transition models help in two ways. First, the transition scores are incorporated into the scoring framework to help determine the phonetic identity of the two phones involved. Secondly, they are used to determine likely segment boundaries within an utterance. This reduces the search space during phonetic recognition. Phonetic classi cation experiments are performed which demonstrate the importance of the temporal correlation information in the speech signal. A complete phonetic recognition system, incorporating all the di erent model elements, is described. Both context{independent and context{dependent recognition experiments are performed using the timit acoustic{phonetic corpus. The measured phonetic accuracy is virtually identical to the best reported result achieved with hidden Markov models, the most successful speech recognizers developed to this date. Thesis Supervisor: Dr. James Glass Title: Research Scientist, Laboratory for Computer Science `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe. { Lewis Carroll
A fuzzy based approach for fitness approximation in multi-objective evolutionary algorithms

Evolutionary Algorithm provides a framework that is largely applicable to particular problems including multiobjective optimization problems, basically for the ease of their implementation and their capability to perform efficient parallel search. Indeed, in some cases, expensive multiobjective optimization evaluations might be a challenge to restrict the number of explicit fitness evaluations in multiobjective evolutionary algorithms. Accordingly, this article presents a novel approach that tackles this problem so as to not only decrease the number of fitness evaluations but also to improve the performance. During evolution, our proposed approach selects fit individuals based on the knowledge acquired throughout the search, and performs explicit fitness evaluations on these individuals. A comprehensive comparative analysis of a wide range of well-established test problems, selected from both traditional and state-of-the-art benchmarks, has been presented. Afterward, the effectiveness of the obtained results is compared with some of the state-of-the-art methods using two well-known metricsi.e. Hypervolume and Inverted Generational Distance (IGD). The experiments of our implemented approach is performed to illustrate that our proposal seems to be promising and would prove more efficient than other approaches in terms of both the performance and the computational cost.
The Inspection of Tube Fitting Systems in use for Drinking Water Supply by Means of Neutron Imaging Methods

Metallic fittings as the connection between tube ends are heavily applied in domestic, public and industrial buildings where drinking water is distributed. Given by the manufacturing and joining process, there are spaces left between the fitting and the tube, which either can stay empty or filled with residual water amounts over time. We looked for an efficient non-destructive method which allows measuring the filling of the system as well as the subsequent water exchange in order to evaluate new designs. It was tried with the help of neutron imaging techniques to detect and to visualise the amounts of such residual water under different conditions in respect to the applied external pressure. Neutrons are preferable for such kind of investigations because they can easily penetrate the metallic structure, while detecting small water amounts with high sensitivity. Due to the performance of the used digital detection system, it was possible to enhance the contrast and the image quality by using a referencing procedure. The successfully performed investigations at the neutron radiography facility NEUTRA at PSI can now be compared with model calculations based on dedicated diffusion approximations.
On-line object tracking with semi-supervised boosting based particle filter

There are two key issues for the particle filtering based object tracking: the proposed distribution <i>p</i>(<i>X</i><sup><i>i</i></sup><sub><i>t</i></sub>|<i>X</i><sup>i<i>i</i></sup><sub>i<i>t-I</i></sub>) and the likelihood <i>p</i>(<i>z</i><sub><i>t</i></sub>|<i>X</i><sup><i>i</i></sup><sub><i>t</i></sub>) between the prediction and the actual observation. The kernel color histogram based particle filter (CHPF) has achieved very good tracking performance with respect to partial occlusion, rotation and scale variations. However, it would easily lose an object when the object has similar appearance as the background or when the illumination changes. To address these problems, in this paper we introduce the Semi-Supervised On-line Boosting algorithm (SSOB) and connect the confidence of SSOB with the observation model of particle filter. This new method, Semi-Supervised Boosting On-line Object Tracking based Particle Filter (SBPF), can better distinguish objects from the background. It also has faster while more robust adaptation to the change of objects' appearance and the environment illumination condition. The core to the enhanced characteristics is implementing the likelihood as the Semi-Supervised On-line Boosting operator. Extensive experiments show the superior performance of this novel method under aforementioned difficult scenarios.
Novel Transmission Schemes for Multicell Downlink MC/DS-CDMA Systems Employing Time- and Frequency-Domain Spreading

This contribution investigates the achievable error performance of transmitter preprocessing in the downlink multicell multicarrier direct-sequence code-division multiple-access (MMC/DS-CDMA) systems employing both time (T)-domain and frequency (F)-domain spreading. Three types of multiuser transmitter preprocessing (MUTP) schemes are studied and compared, when assuming communications over frequency-selective Rayleigh fading channels. The first one is a single-cell minimum mean-square error MUTP (SMMSE-MUTP1), which only aims at suppressing the intracell interference (IntraCI). The second one is also a single-cell MMSE-MUTP (SMMSE-MUTP2), which tries to suppress both the IntraCI and intercell interference (InterCI). The final one is the multicell cooperative MMSE-MUTP (CMMSE-MUTP), which exploits the multicell diversity (or macro-diversity) for interference suppression and performance enhancement. Furthermore, power-allocation in these schemes is considered. Our studies show that the CMMSE-MUTP is capable of achieving the best error performance among the three schemes considered. However, it demands an extremely high complexity, as it requires information exchange among the base-stations (BSs) with the aid of a backhaul system. By contrast, when the number of mobile terminals (MTs) supported by each cell is not very high, the SMMSE-MUTP2, which does not require any intercell cooperation, can effectively mitigate both the IntraCI and the InterCI.
Mathematical model for wide range gaze tracking system based on corneal reflections and pupil using stereo cameras

In this paper, we propose a mathematical model for a wide range gaze tracking system based on corneal reflections and pupil using calibrated stereo cameras and light sources. We demonstrate a general calculation method for estimating the optical axis of the eye for a combination of non-coaxial and coaxial configurations of many cameras and light sources. Gaze estimation is possible only when light is reflected from the spherical surface of the cornea. Moreover, we provide a method for calculating the eye rotation range where gaze tracking can be achieved, which is useful for positioning cameras and light sources in real world applications.
Distributed framework for real-time multimedia object communication

We highlight major technical requirements for designing and developing future distributed multimedia information systems using Internet technology. The key requirements of this system are to allow users to access and search and to communicate multimedia documents consisting of text, audio, video and images. We emphasize the role of object-oriented technology for information management and real-time communication protocols to guarantee QoS. We present a reference architecture for a Web-based real-time distributed multimedia system which integrates enabling technologies including real-time streaming, multimedia indexing and searching and distributed object management.
Large stable pulse solutions in reaction-diffusion equations

In this paper we study the existence and stability of asymp- totically large stationary multi-pulse solutions in a family of singularly perturbed reaction-diVusion equations. This family includes the gen- eralized Gierer-Meinhardt equation. The existence of N-pulse homo- clinic orbits (N 1) is established by the methods of geometric singular perturbation theory. A theory, called the NLEP (=NonLocal Eigenvalue Problem) approach, is developed, by which the stability of these patterns can be studied explicitly. This theory is based on the ideas developed in our earlier work on the Gray-Scott model. It is known that the Evans function of the linear eigenvalue problem associated to the stability of the pattern can be decomposed into the product of a slow and a fast transmission function. The NLEP approach determines explicit leading order approximations of these transmission functions. It is shown that the zero/pole cancellation in the decomposition of the Evans function, called the NLEP paradox, is a phenomenon that occurs naturally in sin- gularly perturbed eigenvalue problems. It follows that the zeroes of the Evans function, and thus the spectrum of the stability problem, can be studied by the slow transmission function. The key ingredient of the analysis of this expression is a transformation of the associated nonlocal eigenvalue problem into an inhomogeneous hypergeometric diVerential equation. By this transformation it is possible to determine both the number and the position of all elements in the discrete spectrum of the linear eigenvalue problem. The method is applied to a special case that corresponds to the classical model proposed by Gierer and Meinhardt. It is shown that the one-pulse pattern can gain (or lose) stability through a Hopf bifurcation at a certain valueHopf of the main parameter. The NLEP approach not only yields a leading order approximation ofHopf , but it also shows that there is another bifurcation value,edge, at which a new (stable) eigenvalue bifurcates from the edge of the essential spec- trum. Finally, it is shown that theN-pulse patterns are always unstable whenN 2.
User experience and acceptance of a mixed reality system in a naturalistic setting - a case study

This poster presents a qualitative user study investigating user experience and acceptance of an MR application designed to give instructions on how to start up a diathermy apparatus. The study was conducted in a naturalistic setting on site at a hospital with actual users and their equipment. The analysis of the results has indicated that although there are several ergonomic issues to be solved, the acceptance of an MR system in this user group is high. As a result of the study, the MR system has been redesigned to better fit the ergonomic needs of this user group.
Identifying P 2 P Heavy-Hitters from Network-Flow Data

One major new and often not welcome source of Internet traffic is P2P filesharing traffic. Banning P2P usage is not always possible or enforcible, especially in a university environment. A more restrained approach allows P2P usage, but limits the available bandwidth. This approach fails when users start to use non-default ports for the client software. The PeerTracker algorithm, presented in this paper, allows detection of running P2P clients from NetFlow data in near real-time. The algorithm is especially suitable to identify clients that generate large amounts of traffic. A prototype system based on the PeerTracker algorithm is currently used by the network operations staff at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. We present measurements done on a medium sized Internet backbone and discuss accuracy issues, as well as possibilities and results from validation of the detection algorithm by direct polling in real-time.
Cognitive Developmental Pattern Recognition : Learning to learn DRAFT NOT FOR PUBLICATION

It can be very difficult to create software systems which capture the knowledge of an expert. It is an expensive and laborious process that often results in a suboptimal solution. This article proposes an approach which is different from ’manual’ knowledge construction. The described system is relevant and usable for the end user, from the beginning of its development. It is continuously being trained by the experts while they are using it. This paper shows an example and explains how the computer learns from the experts. In order to provide a general mechanism, the principle of learning to learn is proposed and applied to the problem of handwriting recognition. The study pays attention to the development of the hypotheses that the developing system uses as it adapts to feedback it receives from its own actions on itself, on objects, on the users of the system and the reflection on this feedback. The ultimate goal is the creation of a system that learns to ’google’ through handwritten documents, starting from scratch with a pile of raw images.
Large-Scale Knowledge Graph Identification Using PSL

Building a web-scale knowledge graph, which captures information about entities and the relationships between them, represents a formidable challenge. While many largescale information extraction systems operate on web corpora, the candidate facts they produce are noisy and incomplete. To remove noise and infer missing information in the knowledge graph, we propose knowledge graph identification: a process of jointly reasoning about the structure of the knowledge graph, utilizing extraction confidences and leveraging ontological information. Scalability is often a challenge when building models in domains with rich structure, but we use probabilistic soft logic (PSL), a recentlyintroduced probabilistic modeling framework which easily scales to millions of facts. In practice, our method performs joint inference on a real-world dataset containing over 1M facts and 80K ontological constraints in 12 hours and produces a high-precision set of facts for inclusion into a knowledge graph.
An Improved Algorithm for Multiclass Text Categorization with Support Vector Machine

Automated text categorization is attractive because it frees organizations from the need of manually organizing document bases. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is an efficient technique for text categorization. Computing kernel matrix is the key in text categorization with SVM. When the kind of texts is large, the matrix of texts will become sparse. If we compute the kernel matrix directly, it will waste much time and memory space. To save time, the paper explored the hash function in the process of computing the kernel matrix. Then we propose an improved algorithm for multiclass text categorization. The paper also gives the good property of the improved algorithm from the theoretical and experimental aspects. We compared the improved algorithm with the original algorithm. Experiment shows that the improved algorithm can save much computational time.
Social influences on food caching 123 Tahiti The age and sex composition of the willow tit study flocks sad the habitat type * of the flock toiitoite * Birds Adult Adult Yearling Yearling Habitat Flock

We studied the food hoarding behavior of willow tits (Pcrrut montanus), a scatter-hoarding passerine wintering in dominancestructured flocks. We examined social influences on microhabitat selection and spatial cache distribution at temporary feeders. Dominant adult males stored food closer to die feeder and at a greater rate than did subordinate*. When alone, the birds stored food closer to the feeder than when accompanied by conspedfics. Conifers were preferred over deciduous trees as cache trees. The subordinate? cached more in die outer parts of branches than dominants. There were no significant differences in die relative or absolute heights of die caches, nor in the vertical or horizontal hoarding niche breadths between dominants and subordinates. We experimentally removed die dominants from die flock for 90 min and recorded the behavior of die remaining subordinates immediately after die removal. The removal resulted in a decrease in die hoarding distance of die remaining birds, indicating that die presence of dominants directly affected die behavior of subordinates and suggesting that kleptoparasitism by dominants may be prevented by rarhing farther away. With die dominants removed, die subordinates cached at a greater rate than before die removal. The decrease in die hoarding distance and increase in die hoarding rate were die only significant effects of die experiment, perhaps suggesting that, during a short absence of dominants, die subordinates do not benefit from changing dieir caching microhabitat They might be excluded from those new, possibly safer, microhabitats after die dominant bird rejoins die flock.
Control of a Single Phase Inverter Using Fuzzy Logic

This paper describes the inverter regulation using single input fuzzy PI controller (SIFPIC). The controller is a simplification of the conventional fuzzy PI controller that results in a one-dimensional rule table and piecewise linear control surface. The employment of a look-up table to construct the control surface provides faster computation time without compromising the performance. For verification purposes, a single-phase inverter prototype is constructed and the proposed control algorithm is implemented using dSPACE DS1104. The experimental results show that the SIFPIC performance is comparable to the conventional fuzzy PI controller, but with a much reduced computation time.
Procedural Generation of Sokoban Levels

We describe an algorithm for the procedural generation of levels for the popular Japanese puzzle game Sokoban. The algorithm takes a few parameters and builds a random instance of the puzzle that is guaranteed to be solvable. Although our algorithm and its implementation runs in exponential time, we present experimental evidence that it is sufficiently fast for offline use on a current generation PC when used to generate levels of size and complexity similar to those human-designed levels currently available online.
A reevaluation of achromatic spatio-temporal vision: Nonoriented filters are monocular, they adapt, and can be used for decision making at high flicker speeds

Masking, adaptation, and summation paradigms have been used to investigate the characteristics of early spatio-temporal vision. Each has been taken to provide evidence for (i) oriented and (ii) nonoriented spatial-filtering mechanisms. However, subsequent findings suggest that the evidence for nonoriented mechanisms has been misinterpreted: those experiments might have revealed the characteristics of suppression (eg, gain control), not excitation, or merely the isotropic subunits of the oriented detecting mechanisms. To shed light on this, we used all three paradigms to focus on the ‘high-speed’ corner of spatio-temporal vision (low spatial frequency, high temporal frequency), where cross-oriented achromatic effects are greatest. We used flickering Gabor patches as targets and a 2IFC procedure for monocular, binocular, and dichoptic stimulus presentations. To account for our results, we devised a simple model involving an isotropic monocular filter-stage feeding orientation-tuned binocular filters. Both filter stages are adaptable, and their outputs are available to the decision stage following nonlinear contrast transduction. However, the monocular isotropic filters (i) adapt only to high-speed stimuli—consistent with a magnocellular subcortical substrate—and (ii) benefit decision making only for high-speed stimuli (ie, isotropic monocular outputs are available only for high-speed stimuli). According to this model, the visual processes revealed by masking, adaptation, and summation are related but not identical.
Highly compliant transparent electrodes

Adaptive optical devices based on electric field induced deformation of dielectric elastomers require transparent and highly compliant electrodes to conform to large shape changes. Electrical, optical, and actuation properties of acrylic elastomer electrodes fabricated with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) have been evaluated. Based on these properties, a figure of merit is introduced for evaluating the overall performance of deformable transparent electrodes. This clearly indicates that SWCNTs outperform AgNWs. Under optimal conditions, optical transparency as high as 91% at 190% maximum actuation strain is readily achievable using SWCNT electrodes.
The Small-Cap Alpha Myth

Investment lore has it that there is more opportunity to earn abnormal profits from small–capitalization stocks than large–capitalization stocks–that the small–cap market is less efficient. The authors find no evidence that active small–cap managers add value consistently. They demonstrate three common performance evaluation errors that contribute to what they call the small–cap myth. They also discuss securities analysts' neglect of small stocks as well as the higher cost of researching and trading them. Whatever the differential in market inefficiency between large and small might be, the authors conclude it is not sufficient to justify the average manager's higher cost of researching and trading smaller stocks.