Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Screen content image quality assessment using edge model

Since the human visual system (HVS) is highly sensitive to edges, a novel image quality assessment (IQA) metric for assessing screen content images (SCIs) is proposed in this paper. The turnkey novelty lies in the use of an existing parametric edge model to extract two types of salient attributes - namely, edge contrast and edge width, for the distorted SCI under assessment and its original SCI, respectively. The extracted information is subject to conduct similarity measurements on each attribute, independently. The obtained similarity scores are then combined using our proposed edge-width pooling strategy to generate the final IQA score. Hopefully, this score is consistent with the judgment made by the HVS. Experimental results have shown that the proposed IQA metric produces higher consistency with that of the HVS on the evaluation of the image quality of the distorted SCI than that of other state-of-the-art IQA metrics.
Designing inexact systems efficiently using elimination heuristics

There are a wide variety of applications that are able to tolerate small errors in the values of the outputs, provided they are within the application-specific thresholds. For such applications, there have been many efforts to study the tradeoff involved in the accuracy of the output and the energy/area requirement. However, most of the efforts have been at the level of individual components. In this article, we present a design flow to study the inexactness at the level of system and provide heuristics to quickly explore the design-space under given inexactness and area/energy constraints. The approach is applied to various digital signal processing filters and an ECG application of QRS detection. In both cases, orders of magnitude speed-ups are obtained in the design-flow process. Area savings of 21.61% and power savings of 22.79% were observed for a low-pass filter having a relative error of just 8E-5%.
An FSM-Based Automatic Detection in AODV for Ad Hoc Network

Ad Hoc network is brittle and vulnerable because of its special characteristics: dynamic topology, multi-hop wireless communication, and restricted resources. Attacks emerge endlessly aiming at the routing protocols and the network. First, we analyze the security goals and threats in the paper. And then a neighbor sensor election method, a competition mechanism, is described. Neighbor sensors cooperate to detect the attacks in AODV. Finally, we propose an FSM-based intrusion detection diagram for AODV to present current routing states and detecting attacks states. KeywordsMobile Ad Hoc network; Finite State Machine; IDS; network Security
Accelerating the Computation of Canonical Forms for 3D Nonrigid Objects using Multidimensional Scaling

The analysis of 3D nonrigid objects usually involves the need to deal with a large number of degrees of freedom. When trying to match two such objects, one approach is to map the surfaces into a domain in which the matching process is simple to execute. Limiting the discussion to almost isometric mappings, which describe most natural deformations in nature, one could resort to Canonical forms. Such forms translate the surface's intrinsic geometry into an extrinsic one in a Euclidean space, thus eliminating the effect of deformations at the expense of (hopefully) minor embedding errors. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) is a dimensionality reduction technique that can be used to compute canonical forms of 3D-objects, by first evaluating the pairwise geodesic distances between surface points, and then embedding the distances in a lower dimensional Euclidean space. The native computational and space complexities involved in describing such inter-geodesic distances is quadratic in the number of surface points, a property that could be prohibiting in various scenarios. We present an acceleration framework for multidimensional scaling, by accurately approximating the pairwise distance maps. We show how the proposed Nystrom Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) framework can be used to compute canonical forms in quasi-linear time and linear space complexities in the number of data points. It allows us to efficiently deal with high resolution structures without giving up the embedding accuracy.
Field Galaxy Evolution Since Z 1 from a Sample of QSO Absorption-Selected Galaxies

We present some of the results of a large survey aimed at establishing the properties of galaxies selected by their having produced detectable Mg~II $\lambda\lambda 2796$, 2803 absorption in the spectra of background QSOs. The present sample covers the redshift range $0.2 \le z \le 1.0 $, with $\langle z \rangle = 0.65$. From an extensive program of optical and near-IR imaging and optical spectroscopy, we find that the galaxies appear to be similar to normal galaxies at the present epoch, ranging from late--type spiral galaxies to those whose spectra and colors resemble present--day ellipticals. Contrary to some faint field galaxy samples selected using different criteria, over the redshift range observed we find no evidence for significant evolution in rest--frame $B-K$ color, space density, or (rest--frame $B$ or $K$) luminosity. The ``average'' Mg~II absorbing galaxy appears to be consistent with a normal 0.7$L_B^{\ast}$ Sb galaxy having a roughly constant star formation rate since $z \sim 1$, although galaxies spanning a range of a factor of $\sim 70$ in luminosity are found in the absorber sample. The diffuse gas cross-section selection imposed by studies of this kind appears to be biased {\it against} the relatively underluminous, blue galaxies which apparently dominate the number counts at faint magnitudes. However, essentially all ``normal'' field galaxies, independent of spectroscopic type, appear to be potential QSO absorbers.
Playful security: A computer game for secure wireless device pairing

The secure “pairing” of wireless devices based on out-of-band communication is an established research direction. Unfortunately, this approach is prone to human errors that lead to man-in-the-middle attacks. To address this and to better motivate users, this paper proposes the use of computer games for pairing. Games make the pairing process enjoyable and engaging, thus improving its usability and security. The technical contribution of this work is a new pairing system called “Alice Says. ” This is a game that achieves pairing and is based on the memory game Simon. We also discuss the design and implementation of Alice Says. On a broader note, this paper also points to other security problems that are currently lacking optimal solutions and suggests how games and entertainment can be applied to improve them.
Communicating Technical Knowledge

Firms reduce the marginal cost of communicating technical knowledge by “formalizing” it in standards, dominant designs or other ways. But this only pays when new technology is sufficiently developed. In a simple model with endogenous communication costs, two equilibria emerge. With formalized knowledge, new technologies replace old and patents increase innovation. But without formalization, new technologies coexist with old, patents decrease innovation, and inventors might freely exchange knowledge. This affects policy and can explain why some innovation is highly localized despite global production and why some nations that innovate with mature technologies have difficulty moving to the innovation frontier.
Dual sensor filtering for robust tracking of head-mounted displays

We present a low-cost solution for yaw drift in head-mounted display systems that performs better than current commercial solutions and provides a wide capture area for pose tracking. Our method applies an extended Kalman filter to combine marker tracking data from an overhead camera with onboard head-mounted display accelerometer readings. To achieve low latency, we accelerate marker tracking with color blob localisation and perform this computation on the camera server, which only transmits essential pose data over WiFi for an unencumbered virtual reality system.
Threshold based MEG data classification for healthy and epileptic subjects

The most commonly used clinical tool for initial diagnosis of epilepsy is electroencephalogram (EEG). Recent advances in magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology provide a new source of information to analyze brain activities. In order to determine whether or not particular subjects' brain signals exhibit epileptic activities, epileptologists often spend considerable amount of time to review MEG recordings. This paper proposes a new algorithm for automatic classification of MEG data into two classes: data that belongs to healthy subjects and data that belongs to epileptic subjects. The classifier makes use of energy values of Delta and Theta bands. The effectiveness of proposed classifier has been tested using real MEG data obtained from 35 healthy subjects and 35 epileptic patients. Results obtained from the classifier show that the proposed classifier can be used as a tool in the initial diagnosis phase of epilepsy.
COST-EFFECTIVE GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR FE-FORMULATION FOR SOFT TISSUES' DEFORMATION

Accurate prediction of the behavior of soft bodies' deformation is a demanding task, since it involves geometrical and material nonlinearities as well as variable boundary conditions, i.e. contact problems. This paper represents the first step in handling the issue by proposing development of cost-effective 3D finite element for analyzing geometrical-only nonlinear deformations. The proposed geometrically nonlinear formulation is of the updated Lagrange type and can relatively easily be extended so as to account for other nonlinear aspects (material nonlinearities, contact). It also represents a good compromise between the numerical effort and achieved accuracy. A set of examples, starting from very simple ones and going toward more complex ones, is given to demonstrate the application of developed element and formulation.
A three-dimensional spatial model for the interpretation of image data

We present a means of generating and understanding relative spatial positions in a natural three-dimensional scene, in terms of six spatial prepositions, left, right, in-front, behind, above, and below, using real stereo images. Our model has two layers. First, a symbolic spatial description of the scene independent of reference frames is computed. Then, in the second layer, the meaning of each of the six prepositions is deened with respect to the current reference frame, based on the description from the rst layer. The meaning deenitions of the prepositions in the given model can be used in two ways. They allow the system to judge the degree of fullllment of each of the six prepositions between two 3-D objects according to a graduated scale; and given the 3-D object description of one object, the admissible 2-D image region of the other object can be inferred. keywords: 3-D spatial modeling, image interpretation, generation and understanding of qualitative knowledge, generation of spatial prepositions from images, spatial prepositions for object localization.
Systemic risk in the Danish interbank netting system

Central banks have become increasingly worried about systemic risks to the financial market and infrastructure stemming from payment systems. Failure to settle by a participant in a netting system can potentially jeopardize the settlement of other participants. The fear of a systemic crisis has been one of the primary motivations for the introduction of Real Time Gross Settlement systems around the world. This paper provides an assessment of the systemic risk inherent in the Danish interbank netting system. In accordance with similar empirical studies conducted in other European countries, the risk is found to be low.
Directional Signals in the Prefrontal Cortex and in Area MT during a Working Memory for Visual Motion Task

Neurons in the middle temporal visual area (MT) have been implicated in the perception of visual motion, whereas prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons have been linked to temporary storage of sensory signals, attentional and executive control of behavior. Using a task that placed demands on both sets of neurons, we investigated their contribution to working memory for visual motion. Monkeys compared the direction of two moving random-dot stimuli, sample and test, separated by a brief memory delay. Neurons in both areas showed robust direction-selective activity during all phases of the task. During the sample, ∼60% of task-related PFC neurons were direction selective, and this selectivity emerged 40 ms later than in MT. Unlike MT, the PFC responses to sample did not correlate with behavioral choices, but their selectivity was modulated by task demands and diminished on error trials. Reliable directional signals were found in both areas during the memory delay, but these signals were transient rather than sustained by neurons of either area. Responses to the test in both areas were modulated by the remembered sample direction, decreasing when the test direction matched the sample. This decrease arose in the PFC 100 ms later than in MT and was predictive of the forthcoming decision. Our data suggest that neurons in the two regions are functionally connected and make unique contributions to different task components. PFC neurons reflect task-related information about visual motion and represent decisions that may be based, in part, on the comparison in MT between the remembered sample and test.
The Unique GGA Clathrin Adaptor of Drosophila melanogaster Is Not Essential

The Golgi-localized, γ-ear-containing, ARF binding proteins (GGAs) are a highly conserved family of monomeric clathrin adaptor proteins implicated in clathrin-mediated protein sorting between the trans-Golgi network and endosomes. GGA RNAi knockdowns in Drosophila have resulted in conflicting data concerning whether the Drosophila GGA (dGGA) is essential. The goal of this study was to define the null phenotype for the unique Drosophila GGA. We describe two independently derived dGGA mutations. Neither allele expresses detectable dGGA protein. Homozygous and hemizygous flies with each allele are viable and fertile. In contrast to a previous report using RNAi knockdown, GGA mutant flies show no evidence of age-dependent retinal degeneration or cathepsin missorting. Our results demonstrate that several of the previous RNAi knockdown phenotypes were the result of off-target effects. However, GGA null flies are hypersensitive to dietary chloroquine and to starvation, implicating GGA in lysosomal function and autophagy.
Testing the temporal behavior of real-time software modules using extended evolutionary algorithms

Many industrial products are based on the use of embedded computer systems. Usually, these systems have to fulfill real–time requirements, and correct system functionality depends on their logical correctness as well as on their temporal correctness. Therefore, the developed systems have to be thoroughly tested in order to detect existing deficiencies in temporal behavior, as well as to strengthen the confidence in temporal correctness. Existing test methods are not specialized in the examination of temporal correctness. For this reason, new test methods are required which concentrate on determining whether the system violates its specified timing constraints. Normally, a violation means that outputs are produced too early, or their computation takes too long. The task of the tester therefore is to find the input situations with the longest or shortest execution times, in order to check whether they produce a temporal error. It is virtually impossible to find such inputs by analyzing and testing the temporal behavior of complex systems manually. However, if the search for such inputs is interpreted as a problem of optimization, evolutionary computation can be used to find the inputs with the longest or shortest execution times. We have developed and examined a new approach for testing temporal behaviour which is based on the use of evolutionary algorithms, namely evolutionary testing [2]. Our work investigates the effectiveness of Evolutionary Algorithms to validate the temporal correctness of embedded systems by establishing the maximum and minimum execution times. Here we present results from one application field: a motor control system (table 1). It contains several modules which have to fulfill timing constraints. These modules were tested on the target processor later used in the vehicles. The execution times were measured by means of hardware timers. The results of evolutionary testing were compared to the maximum execution times determined by the developers with systematic testing. These values are shown in the column labeled developer test. Table 1: Maximum execution times of motor control software modules determined by evolutionary and systematic testing max. exec. time in µs module name evolutionary testing
The Bond/Old-Bond Spread

This paper studies the spread between the newly issued 30 year Treasury bond and the old 30 year bond. The spread follows a systematic pattern over the auction cycle: it begins high at an auction date, and converges toward zero by the next auction date. I document the profits on establishing a long old bond/ short new bond convergence trade and rolling this over every auction cycle, over a period from 6/95 to 11/99. Despite the systematic convergence, the average profits are close to zero, and profits covary with the stock market in a manner resembling a short put option position. The difference in repo market financing rates between the two bonds is an important component of the costs in carrying the position. I then ask what economic factors account for the level and time variation in the spread. Using the spread between commercial paper and T-Bills to identify changes in investor preference for liquid assets, I establish that aggregate factors affecting liquidity preference plays an important role in the variation of the bond/old-bond spread. The evidence also establishes that new bonds are imperfect substitutes for other bonds, and therefore changes in the supply of new bonds, such as in recent Treasury buybacks, will have important effects on bond market spreads.
Decline in Kelp in West Europe and Climate

Kelp ecosystems form widespread underwater forests playing a major role in structuring the biodiversity at a regional scale. Some seaweeds such as Laminaria digitata are also economically important, being exploited for their alginate and iodine content. Although some studies have shown that kelp ecosystems are regressing and that multiple causes are likely to be at the origin of the disappearance of certain populations, the extent to which global climate change may play a role remains speculative. Here we show that many populations of L. digitata along European coasts are on the verge of local extinction due to a climate-caused increase in sea temperature. By modeling the spatial distribution of the seaweed, we evaluate the possible implications of global climate change for the geographical patterns of the species using temperature data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). Projections of the future range of L. digitata throughout the 21st century show large shifts in the suitable habitat of the kelp and a northward retreat of the southern limit of its current geographic distribution from France to Danish coasts and the southern regions of the United Kingdom. However, these projections depend on the intensity of warming. A medium to high warming is expected to lead to the extirpation of the species as early as the first half of the 21st century and there is high confidence that regional extinction will spread northwards by the end of this century. These changes are likely to cause the decline of species whose life cycle is closely dependent upon L. digitata and lead to the establishment of new ecosystems with lower ecological and economic values.
Influence of dental metallic artifact from multislice CT in the assessment of simulated mandibular lesions

Objective This study evaluated the influence of metallic dental artifacts on the accuracy of simulated mandibular lesion detection by using multislice technology. Material and Methods Fifteen macerated mandibles were used. Perforations were done simulating bone lesions and the mandibles were subjected to axial 16 rows multislice CT images using 0.5 mm of slice thickness with 0.3 mm interval of reconstruction. Metallic dental restorations were done and the mandibles were subjected again to CT in the same protocol. The images were analyzed to detect simulated lesions in the mandibles, verifying the loci number and if there was any cortical perforation exposing medullar bone. The analysis was performed by two independent examiners using e-film software. Results The samples without artifacts presented better results compared to the gold standard (dried mandible with perforations). In the samples without artifacts, all cortical perforation were identified and 46 loci were detected (of 51) in loci number analysis. Among the samples with artifacts, 12 lesions out of 14 were recognized regarding medullar invasion, and 40 out of 51 concerning loci number. The sensitivity in samples without artifacts was 90% and 100% regarding loci number and medullar invasion, respectively. In samples with artifacts, these values dropped to 78% and 86%, respectively. The presence of metallic restorations affected the sensitivity values of the method, but the difference was not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion Although there were differences in the results of samples with and without artifacts, the presence of metallic restoration did not lead to misinterpretation of the final diagnosis. However, the validity of multislice CT imaging in this study was established for detection of simulated mandibular bone lesions.
Prioritizing linear equality and inequality systems: Application to local motion planning for redundant robots

We present a novel method for prioritizing both linear equality and inequality systems and provide one algorithm for its resolution. This algorithm can be summarized as a sequence of optimal resolutions for each linear system following their priority order. We propose an optimality criterion that is adapted to linear inequality systems and characterize the resulting optimal sets at every priority level. We have successfully applied our method to plan local motions for the humanoid robot HPR-2. We will demonstrate the validity of the method using an original scenario where linear inequality constraints are solved at lower priority than equality constraints.