Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Energy Efficient Algorithm for Object-Tracking Wireless Sensor Networks

{melbisht@my.bridgeport.edu, elleithy@bridgeport.edu} Abstract— In this paper we propose and simulate an energy efficient protocol for object-tracking over Wireless Sensor Networks. The proposed algorithm aims to use virtual clustering among the observation region to initiate duty-cycle across the border nodes and the nodes in the inside region. The mean idea is to keep the outer nodes active and the interior nodes sleep for energy saving until an object is detected by the outer nodes. Castalia 3.2 wireless sensor network simulator is used to simulate the proposed protocol. Results indicate that an improvement of 42% is achieved in terms of energy consumption. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that S-MAC protocol is a better choice in high load traffic applications in terms of energy consumption.
Universal, yet local: The religious factor in Chinese Muslims’ perception of world developmental hierarchy

Since its introduction in the late 19th century, developmental thinking has quickly diffused throughout Chinese society. Nowadays, Chinese people extensively employ the concept of development to understand different countries in hierarchical order. Using survey data collected in Gansu, China, we confirmed the nearly universal existence of such developmental worldviews. Overall, our respondents’ perceptions conformed to the United Nations’ developmental hierarchy based on the Human Development Index scores. However, local Muslims tended to deviate slightly more than other Chinese from the UN standard. This does not mean that Chinese Muslims were reluctant to adopt developmental thinking. In fact, in their eyes, developmental ideas have been prominently associated with Islam since the beginning of the 20th century. Our analysis shows that the observed Muslim–Han disparity is entirely due to Muslims’ higher evaluations of development in countries with strongly Islamic populations – in this case, Pakistan. Other than this religion-based disparity, Gansu Muslims and local Han Chinese do not differ in their perceptions of the world developmental hierarchy.
An automated method for realistic face simulation and facial landmark annotation and its application to active appearance models

Algorithms for facial landmark detection in real-world images require manually annotated training databases. However, the task of selecting or creating the images and annotating the data is extremely time-consuming, leaving researchers with the options of investing significant amounts of time for creating annotated images optimized for the given task or resigning from creating such hand-labeled databases and to use one of the few publicly available annotated datasets with potentially limited applicability to the given problem. To allow for an alternative, we introduce a method for automatically generating realistic synthetic face images and accompanying facial landmark annotations. The proposed approach extends the automation capabilities of a commercial face modeling tool and allows large-scale generation of faces that fulfill user-defined requirements. As an additional feature, full facial landmark annotations can be computed during the generation procedure, reducing the amount of manual work required to generate a full training set to a few interactions in a graphical user interface. We describe the generation procedure in detail and demonstrate that the simulated images can be used for advanced computer vision tasks, namely training of an active appearance model that allows the detection of facial landmarks in real-world photographs.
A combination of simple models by forward predictor selection for job recommendation

The present paper introduces a solution for the RecSys Challenge 2016. The principle of the proposed technique is to define various models capturing the specificity of the dataset and then to subsequently find the optimal combinations of these by considering different user categories. The approach follows a practical way for the fine-tuning of recommender algorithms, highlighting their components, training-and prediction time. Based on forward predictor selection, it can be shown that item-neighbor methods and the recommendation of already shown or interacted items have great potential in improving the offline accuracy. The best composition consists of 11 predictor instances that achieved the third place with 665,592 leaderboard score and 2,005,263 final score.
Applications of integrated sensing and processing in spectroscopic imaging and sensing

Integrated sensing and processing (ISP) encompasses the use of optical computing and adapted excitation signals to physically implement chemometric calculations in spectroscopic sensors for imaging. As data sets become larger and more complex with each emerging generation of hyperspectral imagers, the ‘pixel‐to‐pupil’ ratio increases at a rate faster than computing power can accommodate. In response to the need for faster and more efficient methods of processing, many analog solutions to the problem of high data dimensionality have emerged. The successful development of ISP has strong implications for military imaging, biosensing, spectroscopic imaging, and pharmaceutical process analytical technology (PAT). ISP developments in spectroscopy and PAT have emerged as alternatives to conventional Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), near‐infrared (NIR), IR, UV–visible, fluorescence, Raman, and acoustic‐resonance spectrometry (ARS). Flourishing applications of ISP have demonstrated predictive ability equivalent to conventional approaches for sample differentiation and analyte quantification, in only a fraction of the time required for traditional spectrometric measurements. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Benchmarking the dependability of Windows and Linux using PostMark/spl trade/ workloads

This paper presents a dependability benchmark for general-purpose operating systems and its application to six versions of Windows operating system and four versions of Linux operating system. The benchmark measures are: operating system robustness (as regards possible erroneous inputs provided by the application software to the operating system via the application programming interface), reaction and restart times in the presence of faults. The workload is PostMark, a file system performance benchmark for operating systems
Interactive effects of pests increase seed yield

Abstract Loss in seed yield and therefore decrease in plant fitness due to simultaneous attacks by multiple herbivores is not necessarily additive, as demonstrated in evolutionary studies on wild plants. However, it is not clear how this transfers to crop plants that grow in very different conditions compared to wild plants. Nevertheless, loss in crop seed yield caused by any single pest is most often studied in isolation although crop plants are attacked by many pests that can cause substantial yield losses. This is especially important for crops able to compensate and even overcompensate for the damage. We investigated the interactive impacts on crop yield of four insect pests attacking different plant parts at different times during the cropping season. In 15 oilseed rape fields in Sweden, we estimated the damage caused by seed and stem weevils, pollen beetles, and pod midges. Pest pressure varied drastically among fields with very low correlation among pests, allowing us to explore interactive impacts on yield from attacks by multiple species. The plant damage caused by each pest species individually had, as expected, either no, or a negative impact on seed yield and the strongest negative effect was caused by pollen beetles. However, seed yield increased when plant damage caused by both seed and stem weevils was high, presumably due to the joint plant compensatory reaction to insect attack leading to overcompensation. Hence, attacks by several pests can change the impact on yield of individual pest species. Economic thresholds based on single species, on which pest management decisions currently rely, may therefore result in economically suboptimal choices being made and unnecessary excessive use of insecticides.
Effects of 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and Rosiglitazone on Human Vδ2+ T Cells

Background Thiazolidinediones (TZD) class of drugs, and 15-deoxy-D12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) are immune regulators predicted to modulate human autoimmune disease. Their effects on γδ T cells, which are involved in animal model and human and animal autoimmune diseases, are unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings We characterized the activity of rosiglitazone (from the TZD class of drugs) and 15d-PGJ2 in human Vδ2 T cells. We found that 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone had different effects on Vδ2 T cell functions. Both 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone suppressed Vδ2 T cell proliferation in response to IPP and IL2. However, only 15d-PGJ2 suppressed functional responses including cytokine production, degranulation and cytotoxicity against tumor cells. The mechanism for 15d-PGJ2 effects on Vδ2 T cells acts through inhibiting Erk activation. In contrast, rosiglitazone did not affect Erk activation but the IL2 signaling pathway, which accounts for rosiglitazone suppression of IL2-dependent, Vδ2 T cell proliferation without affecting TCR-dependent functions. Rosiglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 are designed to be peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) ligands and PPARγ was expressed in Vδ2 T cell. Surprisingly, when PPARγ levels were lowered by specific siRNA, 15d-PGJ2 and rosiglitazone were still active, suggesting their target of action induces cellular proteins other than PPARγ. Conclusions/Significance The current findings expand our understanding of how the immune system is regulated by rosiglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 and will be important to evaluate these compounds as therapeutic agents in human autoimmune disease.
Localization and therapeutic potential of tritiated tetracycline in rodent tumors.

The reputed localization of tetracycline in human and animal tumors suggested that chemically stable, high-specific-activity tritiated tetracycline (TTC) might have antineoplastic therapeutic potential. Direct therapeutic effects were tested in two transplanted tumor lines in rats, and the localizing properties of TTC were measured in 30 transplanted tumor lines in rats and mice and in 23 spontaneous mammary tumors in rats. The therapeutic studies demonstrated that, while a significant reduction in the growth rates of transplanted tumors could be obtained through the administration of heavy doses of TTC, similar reductions were observed in the growth rates of tumors in animals receiving unlabeled tetracycline. In the localization studies the concentrations of TTC in normal tissues and tumors were compared and correlated with corresponding concentrations of [14C]-thymidine, a measure of proliferative activity. Significantly greater binding of TTC over normal tissue occurred only in areas that failed to incorporate [14C]thymidine. Rapidly proliferating areas of tumors, as measured by [14C]thymidine incorporation, bound tetracycline in concentrations similar to muscle and significantly lower than kidney. The lack of localization in viable tumor and the absence of a tritium effect in treated tumors argues strongly against the therapeutic value of TTC at least to the extent that the results on this broad spectrum of tumors can be generalized.
Stimulation Therapies and the Relevance of Fractal Dynamics to the Treatment of Diseases

This paper provides an overview of the conventional therapeutic stimulation methodologies and proposes a more effective stimulation approach based on a consideration of the inherently fractal nature of normal biological dynamics. There are varying forms of physiological stimulations including the use of electrical currents, electromagnetic fields, temperature change, ultrasound, light and so forth. These stimulation therapies can be categorized into three main modalities: electrical stimulation modalities, thermal modalities, and non-thermal modalities. Electrical stimulation modalities include therapeutic techniques where electrical current is directly applied to the body of treated subject. Direct application of electrical current to the brain also falls under this category. Thermal modalities consist of stimulations that induce temperature change on the body for therapeutic effects without the direct transfer of electrical current. Non-thermal modalities functions through energy transfer without directly applying electrical current and without the effects of temperature change. A fourth miscellaneous category for stimulation techniques consists of the stimulation effects of music along with physical stimulation as in massage therapy. Common to most of these therapeutic strategies is that the stimulation is delivered at certain fixed periods or frequencies. We introduce some rudiments of fractal dynamics, and the notions of self-similarity, scale-invariance, and long-range correlation or memory in the dynamics of a system. We present evidence that fractal dynamics is commonly observed in healthy physiological systems while unhealthy systems are shown to veer away from fractal dynamics towards periodic or random motion. This difference in dynamics can be observed in many biological signals such as in neural activity, heart rate variations, and breathing patterns. We propose that an optimal stimulation technique should thus be one that encourages an unhealthy, non-fractal pathological system towards a healthy, fractal dynamic. Given the ubiquity of fractality in healthy biological dynamics, we argue that a fractal pattern of stimulation is a more optimal approach to functional restoration than the widely used conventional periodic stimulation, which may further consolidate the existing pathological dynamics.
Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Physical Properties of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) has been widely used to treat cancer patients. It is unknown whether or not it can be applied safely during radiotherapy. The study aimed to investigate the direct effects of gamma radiation on physical properties of PICC. A total of 60 catheters were included in this study. Thirty PICCs were exposed to a radiation field, and another 30 PICCs received radiation in a 3-cm homogeneity water equivalent phantom and then were irradiated. Each group was divided into three subgroups: 10 PICCs were given conventional fractionation, 2 Gy per fraction, 5 fractions per week; 10 PICCs were continuously given hypofractionation, 10 Gy per fraction, for 6 weeks; and 10 PICCs were given mock radiation as controls. The physical properties of these catheters were analyzed after radiation. None of the PICCs leaked under 300-kPa airflow pressure lasting 15 seconds. Fracture force values and liquid velocity values of all PICCs were within the normal range. The liquid velocity values of the control groups were higher than the two groups that received radiation (P < 0.05), and there was no difference between the two irradiation groups (P > 0.05). There were no statistical differences among the conventional fractionation group, hypofractionation group, and control group when compared to the fracture force values in two parts (P > 0.05). The physical property of PICC is quite stable with a clinically relevant dose of gamma radiation. It is likely that PICC can be used safely in patients receiving radiotherapy, although further in vivo and clinical studies are required.
Histology Combined with Cytology by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration for the Diagnosis of Solid Pancreatic Mass and Intra-Abdominal Lymphadenopathy

Background/Aims Small core biopsy samples can occasionally be obtained with conventional endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA). Although most studies have focused on the cytological analysis of specimens, data regarding histological assessment is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine whether core biopsies by conventional EUS-FNA could increase the accuracy of EUS-guided sampling when combined with cytology in the absence of an on-site cytopathologist. Methods In the 95 consecutive patients (98 lesions) undergoing EUS-FNA of solid pancreatic masses and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy, tissue coils from the needle were harvested for histology, and residual tissue was examined by cytology. Results Adequate samples were obtained by EUS-FNA cytology, histology, and combined cytology-histology in 91.8%, 65.3%, and 94.8% of patients, respectively. From the pancreas (n=67), adequate samples for histology were obtained by EUS-FNA in 68.7% of cases, compared with 58.0% from non-pancreatic cases (n=31), respectively (p>0.05). The overall sensitivity and accuracy of EUS-FNA was 78.0% and 81.6% for cytology alone, 63.4% and 69.4% for histology alone, and 84.1% and 86.7% for combined cytology-histology, respectively. Conclusions Combined cytology and histology analysis for diagnosing pancreatic masses and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy may increase the diagnostic yield of conventional EUS-FNA without on-site cytology.
Multi-Camera-Based Object Handoff Using Decision-Level Fusion

Object handoff is the key technique of the multi-camera system. Since the feature extraction is not accurate and not integrated in the object handoff algorithm based on feature fusion, we propose an algorithm based on decision-level fusion. This algorithm can be described as: firstly, every feature of the object is defined as an evidence, whose basic belief assignment (BBA) is computed; secondly, the Dempster combination rule is used to fuse multiple evidence to get the final BBA; lastly, we can use decision rule to determine whether the current object is the same one with that in the identification framework, and also give the current object a unique identifier. After the three steps, the object handoff in the multi-camera system is finished. The simulation results show that this object handoff algorithm can achieve better performance.
Application of a Community of Practice to Improve Knowledge Sharing in Offshoring Relations

This paper presents the application of a community of practice, supported by a portal, to share knowledge in order to improve the offshore development practices of a global engineering company. The community of practice has been implemented in three steps: seduce, engage and sustain. For defining the goals of the CoP a combined approach has been used: top-down and bottom-up. Setting goals, having management commitment and informing employees about the community were not enough to develop a successful community. Therefore, an approach has been developed to identify high priority issues in six different knowledge areas. By identifying high priority issues and assigning moderators employees consider the community to be more important and therefore are prepared to participate in the community
Slips of Action and Sequential Decisions: A Cross-Validation Study of Tasks Assessing Habitual and Goal-Directed Action Control

Instrumental learning and decision-making rely on two parallel systems: a goal-directed and a habitual system. In the past decade, several paradigms have been developed to study these systems in animals and humans by means of e.g., overtraining, devaluation procedures and sequential decision-making. These different paradigms are thought to measure the same constructs, but cross-validation has rarely been investigated. In this study we compared two widely used paradigms that assess aspects of goal-directed and habitual behavior. We correlated parameters from a two-step sequential decision-making task that assesses model-based (MB) and model-free (MF) learning with a slips-of-action paradigm that assesses the ability to suppress cue-triggered, learnt responses when the outcome has been devalued and is therefore no longer desirable. MB control during the two-step task showed a very moderately positive correlation with goal-directed devaluation sensitivity, whereas MF control did not show any associations. Interestingly, parameter estimates of MB and goal-directed behavior in the two tasks were positively correlated with higher-order cognitive measures (e.g., visual short-term memory). These cognitive measures seemed to (at least partly) mediate the association between MB control during sequential decision-making and goal-directed behavior after instructed devaluation. This study provides moderate support for a common framework to describe the propensity towards goal-directed behavior as measured with two frequently used tasks. However, we have to caution that the amount of shared variance between the goal-directed and MB system in both tasks was rather low, suggesting that each task does also pick up distinct aspects of goal-directed behavior. Further investigation of the commonalities and differences between the MF and habit systems as measured with these, and other, tasks is needed. Also, a follow-up cross-validation on the neural systems driving these constructs across different paradigms would promote the definition and operationalization of measures of instrumental learning and decision-making in humans.
The 2007 outburst of the X-ray binary XTE J1856+053

Aims. On 28 February 2007 a new outburst of the previously known transient source XTE J1856+053 was detected with RXTE/ASM. We present here the results of an XMM-Newton (0.5–10.0 keV) Target of Opportunity observation performed on 14 March 2007, aimed at constraining the mass of the compact object in this X-ray binary and determining its main properties. Methods. The EPIC-pn camera was used in Timing mode and its spectrum fit together with the RGS data. IR observations with GROND at the 2.2 m telescope in La Silla provide further information on the system. Results. The X-ray light curve shows that both the 1996 and the 2007 outbursts had two peaks. The X-ray spectrum is well fit with a thermal accretion disk model, with kTin = 0.75(±0.01) keV and foreground absorption NH = 4.5(±0.1) × 10 22 cm −2 . The low disk temperature favours a black-hole as accreting object, with an estimated mass in the range 1.3–4.2 M� . From the IR upper limits we argue that XTE J1856+053 is a low mass X-ray binary. We estimate the orbital period of the system to be between 3 and 12 h.
Instance Based Lexical Entailment for Ontology Population

In this paper we propose an instance based method for lexical entailment and apply it to automatic ontology population from text. The approach is fully unsupervised and based on kernel methods. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique largely surpassing both the random and most frequent baselines and outperforming current state-of-the-art unsupervised approaches on a benchmark ontology available in the literature.
On the Difference of Horn Theories

In this paper, we consider computing the difference between two Horn theories. This problem may arise, for example, if we take care of a theory change in a knowledge base. In general, the difference of Horn theories is not Horn. Therefore, we consider Horn approximations of the difference in terms of Horn cores (i.e., weakest Horn theories included in the difference). We study the problem under the familiar representation of Horn theories by Horn CNFs, as well as under the recently proposed model-based representation in terms of the characteristic models. For all problems and representations, polynomial time algorithms or proofs of intractability for the propositional case are provided.