Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The statistics of weak lensing at small angular scales: probability distribution function

Weak gravitational lensing surveys have the potential to probe mass density fluctuation in the Universe directly. Recent studies have shown that it is possible to model the statistics of the convergence field at small angular scales by modelling the statistics of the underlying density field in the highly non-linear regime. We propose a new method to model the complete probability distribution function of the convergence field as a function of smoothing angle and source redshift. The model relies on a hierarchical ansatz for the behaviour of higher order correlations of the density field. We compare our results with ray-tracing simulations and find very good agreement over a range of smoothing angles. Whereas the density probability distribution function is not sensitive to the cosmological model, the probability distribution function for the convergence can be used to constrain both the power spectrum and cosmological parameters.
Octagonal formation of ultrasonic array sensors for fall detection

Elderly and patients with abnormalities in the control of body movement need automatic alarm with privacy protection when they fall. this paper proposes octagonal formation of ultrasonic array sensors for fall detection system in a smart room. In the method, octagonal array is designed to install ultrasonic sensors on a wall and roof. Signals of ultrasonic reflected from object in the room are processed to recognize fall. In experiments, the proposed method is proved 94% accuracy in fall detection.
Industrial wireless communication protocol WIA-PA and its interoperation with Foundation Fieldbus

Wireless communication technologies can bring great benefits to industry plants. But because of the unreliability of wireless channel and wide use of wired Fieldbus, hybrid with Fieldbus is one of the main application manners of industrial wireless communication today. With different protocols, wireless devices can not communicate with wired Fieldbus devices directly and interoperation can not be implemented when they are hybrid. WIA-PA is the new Chinese industrial wireless communication standard. Its protocol is introduced and the interoperation mechanism between WIA-PA and Foundation Fieldbus is studied. The protocol conversion gateway translates device and automatic object information, process data and other messages to fulfill interoperation. The communication relations and services are also converted to guarantee real-time forwarding. The analysis shows the protocol conversion can provide interoperation between WIA-PA and Foundation Fieldbus devices and satisfy the performance requirements of automation systems.
Striped tape arrays

How data striping ideas apply to arrays of magnetic tape drives is being investigated. Data striping increases throughput and reduces response time for large accesses to a storage system. Striped magnetic tape systems are particularly appealing because many inexpensive magnetic tape drives have low bandwidth. Striping may offer dramatic performance improvements for these systems. Several important issues in designing striped tape systems are considered: the choice of tape drives and robots, whether to stripe within or between robots, and the choice of the best scheme for distributing data on cartridges. One of the most troublesome problems in striped-tape arrays is the synchronization of transfers across tape drives. Another issue is how improved devices will affect the desirability of striping in the future. The results of simulations comparing the performance of striped-tape systems to nonstriped systems are presented. <<ETX>>
ASC Report No . 22 / 2008 Numerical Solutions of singular Two Point BVPs

An algorithm is described for the efficient numerical solution of singular two-point boundary value problems. The algorithm is based on collocation at Gauss points, is applied directly to second order equations and uses a transformation of the independent variable to obtain extra smoothness if needed. Numerical comparisons between a code based on this approach and codes based on other options which have previously been thought of as possible alternatives such as collocation at Lobatto points or reduction to a first order system, are made and the efficiency of the new approach is clearly demonstrated by numerical results.
Multisensor Vehicle Tracking with the Probability Hypothesis Density Filter

In this contribution we apply the probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter algorithm for joint tracking of an unknown varying number of targets to automotive environment sensing systems. We use data from a vision and a lidar sensor as well as the vehicle ESP system. After deriving a method to parametrise the algorithm systematically from detection performance statistics we proof the applicability of the method for automotive tracking based on real sensor data
On the Real Option Value of Scientific Uncertainty for Public Policies

In this paper scientific uncertainty is defined as the impossibility to choose the correct stochastic process for the value of a public policy. The real option value of waiting under scientific uncertainty is derived using the difference between the geometric Brownian motion and the mean reverting process by applying contingent claim analysis. The results are compared with those generated by either using a geometric Brownian motion or a mean-reverting process only. The results show that scientific uncertainty is less important than one would expect at first hand. The small effect of scientific uncertainty adds confidence to the use of a geometric Brownian motion for the kind of public policy decisions discussed in this paper. The paper contributes to the suggestion made by scientists to analyze the sensitivity public policy valuations, provides insights about the magnitude of error that can be made by choosing the wrong process, provides a solution to the problem and highlights the implication for public policy decision making.
Evidence for horizontal gene transfer between Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydia phage

Chlamydia-infecting bacteriophages, members of the Microviridae family, specifically the Gokushovirinae subfamily, are small (4.5–5 kb) single-stranded circles with 8–10 open-reading frames similar to E. coli phage φX174. Using sequence information found in GenBank, we examined related genes in Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydia-infecting bacteriophages. The 5 completely sequenced C. pneumoniae strains contain a gene orthologous to a phage gene annotated as the putative replication initiation protein (PRIP, also called VP4), which is not found in any other members of the Chlamydiaceae family sequenced to date. The C. pneumoniae strain infecting koalas, LPCoLN, in addition contains another region orthologous to phage sequences derived from the minor capsid protein gene, VP3. Phylogenetically, the phage PRIP sequences are more diverse than the bacterial PRIP sequences; nevertheless, the bacterial sequences and the phage sequences each cluster together in their own clade. Finally, we found evidence for another Microviridae phage-related gene, the major capsid protein gene, VP1 in a number of other bacterial species and 2 eukaryotes, the woodland strawberry and a nematode. Thus, we find considerable evidence for DNA sequences related to genes found in bacteriophages of the Microviridae family not only in a variety of prokaryotic but also eukaryotic species.
Multi-path and Multi-source QOS Control Algorithm for Maximizing the System Lifetime of Query-Based WSN

In this paper, we develop multi-path and multi-source quality of service (QoS) control algorithms based on hop-by-hop data delivery utilizing “source” and “path” redundancy, with the goal to satisfy application QoS requirements while prolonging the lifetime of the sensor system. We discover that there exists optimal “source” and “path” redundancy under which the lifetime of the system is maximized while satisfying application QoS requirements.
Finite-state models, event logics and statistics in speech recognition

This paper presents a constraint–based approach to speech recognition which combines aspects of event logic with efficient processing strategies. Although stochastic approaches are currently at the forefront of speech–recognition applications, it has now been recognized that linguistic structure is required in order to deal with the problem of recognizing new words. The computational linguistic approach presented here offers solutions to the problems of how to process words which have not been heard before, and how to develop fine–grained knowledge representation and processing techniques for linguistic units smaller than the word. Furthermore, it is investigated how statistical data can be integrated into the phonological constraint model in order to minimize the discrepancy between expectations defined in the top–down constraints and the actual data.
Pricing of Cognitive Radio Rights to Maintain the Risk-Reward of Primary User Spectrum Investment

Cognitive Radio (CR) has been recently proposed as a method of alleviating the shortage of radio spectrum, by increasing the efficiency of spectrum use. However, as large portions of spectrum remain under long-term licenses, the economic welfare of the primary license holders must be taken into account, when considering methods of spectrum access that may degrade license holder Quality-of-Service (QoS) and therefore revenue. Several price discovery methods have been proposed to find the fee that license holders should charge for cognitive access to their spectrum. This paper examines the spectrum licenses themselves as an investment class. By performing a reward-to-variability (Sharpe Ratio) analysis of the spectrum license under different levels of CR activity, a floor price for CR access is derived such that the quality of the license holder's spectrum investment from a Sharpe Ratio point of view is not degraded. An example scenario is provided to illustrate this pricing mechanism, and simulation results illustrate its effectiveness in maintaining the quality of the license holder's spectrum investment.
Aid and Growth Accelerations: An Alternative Approach to Assessing the Effectiveness of Aid

It continues to be heavily disputed whether foreign aid promotes economic growth in developing countries. In most cross-country regressions, aid is considered effective only if it shifts recipient countries to a significantly higher and sustainable growth path. We apply an alternative approach which is less demanding, based on the concept of temporary growth accelerations suggested by Hausmann, Pritchett and Rodrik. In assessing what can reasonably be expected from the donors' modest aid efforts, we do not only employ aggregate aid data but we also differentiate between major aid categories, including grants, loans and so-called short-impact aid. It turns out that aid flows have a small but significantly positive effect on the conditional probability of growth accelerations. This result holds across different estimation methods. Short-impact aid is found to be more effective in this respect, while we reject the view that grants are superior to loans. To the contrary, we find a stronger effect of loans. Furthermore, aid has become more effective during the second half of our sample. Typically, however, the significance of results crucially depends on the criteria applied to identify growth accelerations.
Nutritional Supplement of Hatchery Eggshell Membrane Improves Poultry Performance and Provides Resistance against Endotoxin Stress

Eggshells are significant part of hatchery waste which consist of calcium carbonate crust, membranes, and proteins and peptides of embryonic origins along with other entrapped contaminants including microbes. We hypothesized that using this product as a nutritional additive in poultry diet may confer better immunity to the chickens in the paradigm of mammalian milk that enhances immunity. Therefore, we investigated the effect of hatchery eggshell membranes (HESM) as a short term feed supplement on growth performance and immunity of chickens under bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged condition. Three studies were conducted to find the effect of HESM supplement on post hatch chickens. In the first study, the chickens were fed either a control diet or diets containing 0.5% whey protein or HESM as supplement and evaluated at 5 weeks of age using growth, hematology, clinical chemistry, plasma immunoglobulins, and corticosterone as variables. The second and third studies were done to compare the effects of LPS on control and HESM fed birds at 5 weeks of age following at 4 and 24 h of treatment where the HESM was also sterilized with ethanol to deplete bacterial factors. HESM supplement caused weight gain in 2 experiments and decreased blood corticosterone concentrations. While LPS caused a significant loss in body weight at 24 h following its administration, the HESM supplemented birds showed significantly less body weight loss compared with the control fed birds. The WBC, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, and the levels of IgG were low in chickens fed diets with HESM supplement compared with control diet group. LPS challenge increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine gene IL-6 but the HESM fed birds showed its effect curtailed, also, which also, favored the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory genes compared with control diet fed chickens. Post hatch supplementation of HESM appears to improve performance, modulate immunity, and increase resistance of chickens to endotoxin.
Avoidance of Singular Point in Integer Orthonormal Transform for Lossless Coding

In this correspondence, the singular point (SP) problem peculiar to an integer orthonormal transform is discussed, and compatibility of the integer transform with the corresponding real-valued transform is improved. To avoid the SP problem, we introduce two-point permutations of order and sign of signals. Since it satisfies the commutative law, it becomes possible to reduce computational cost to find the best combination of the permutations which minimizes errors due to rounding of signals inside the integer transform.
Knot Optimization for Biharmonic B-splines on Manifold Triangle Meshes

Biharmonic B-splines, proposed by Feng and Warren, are an elegant generalization of univariate B-splines to planar and curved domains with fully irregular knot configuration. Despite the theoretic breakthrough, certain technical difficulties are imperative, including the necessity of Voronoi tessellation, the lack of analytical formulation of bases on general manifolds, expensive basis re-computation during knot refinement/removal, being applicable for simple domains only (e.g., such as euclidean planes, spherical and cylindrical domains, and tori). To ameliorate, this paper articulates a new biharmonic B-spline computing paradigm with a simple formulation. We prove that biharmonic B-splines have an equivalent representation, which is solely based on a linear combination of Green’s functions of the bi-Laplacian operator. Consequently, without explicitly computing their bases, biharmonic B-splines can bypass the Voronoi partitioning and the discretization of bi-Laplacian, enable the computational utilities on any compact 2-manifold. The new representation also facilitates optimization-driven knot selection for constructing biharmonic B-splines on manifold triangle meshes. We develop algorithms for spline evaluation, data interpolation and hierarchical data decomposition. Our results demonstrate that biharmonic B-splines, as a new type of spline functions with theoretic and application appeal, afford progressive update of fully irregular knots, free of singularity, without the need of explicit parameterization, making it ideal for a host of graphics tasks on manifolds.
Ocular amyloid deposition in familial amyloidosis, Finnish: an analysis of native and variant gelsolin in Meretoja's syndrome.

PURPOSE To analyze the deposition of amyloid and its precursors in eyes of patients with familial amyloidosis, Finnish (FAF; Meretoja's syndrome), a hereditary systemic amyloidosis. METHODS Autopsy eyes from three patients with FAF and ten control eyes were studied by Congo red staining and with antibodies to the nonmutated part of gelsolin (GS-2C4), the mutated gelsolin Asn-187 fragment (AGel), and amyloid-P component (AP). RESULTS Congo red and antisera to AP and AGel bound to amyloid deposits in the cornea and conjunctiva, the sclera, the perineurium of ciliary nerves, the walls of ciliary vessels, the optic nerve sheaths, the stroma of the ciliary body, and along the choriocapillaris. mAb GS-2C4 bound weakly and focally to most deposits and strongly around the choriocapillaris. It labeled the corneal epithelium and endothelium, keratocytes, scleral fibroblasts, trabecular and lens epithelial cells, the ciliary muscle and epithelium, the iris sphincter and dilator, and stromal cells of the conjunctiva and uveal tract. CONCLUSIONS Local production, especially in the cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, and ciliary muscle, and systemic deposition, particularly in blood vessles and in the sclera, may contribute to amyloid deposits in FAF. To explain the complex pattern of deposition, microenvironmental factors such as lamellar architecture of the cornea and sclera, altered processing of gelsolin, or blood-tissue barriers must be invoked. In addition to corneal lattice dystrophy type II, the observed deposits help to explain glaucoma in patients with FAF.
Application of FAHP Approach to Assess Service Quality

In order to remain competitive in developing markets, improving the service quality is a key strategy for firms. As service satisfaction of dealers directly impacts production sales, firms are especially concerned with increasing and maintaining the service quality, as well as identifying why service satisfaction decline. This paper proposed an approach within the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) framework with specific service quality dimensions based on SERVQUAL approach for tackling the imprecision and uncertainty of service satisfaction during service process, where fuzzy triangular numbers are used to de note the decision-makers' judgments. Finally, through collect data to judge the result by FAHP, considerable value for the firms to improve its' service quality could be obtained.
Achieving MAC-Layer Fairness in CSMA/CA Networks

We demonstrate that CSMA/CA networks, including IEEE 802.11 networks, exhibit severe fairness problem in many scenarios, where some hosts obtain most of the channel's bandwidth while others starve. Most existing solutions require nodes to overhear transmissions made by contending nodes and, based on the overheard information, adjust local rates to achieve fairness among all contending links. Their underlying assumption is that transmissions made by contending nodes can be overheard. However, this assumption holds only when the transmission range is equal to the interference range, which is not true in reality. As our study reveals, the overhearing-based solutions, as well as several nonoverhearing AIMD solutions, cannot achieve MAC-layer fairness in various settings. We propose a new rate control protocol, called Proportional Increase Synchronized multiplicative Decrease (PISD). Without relying on overhearing, it provides fairness in CSMA/CA networks, particularly IEEE 802.11 networks, by using only local information and performing localized operations. It combines several novel rate control mechanisms, including synchronized multiplicative decrease, proportional increase, and background transmission. We prove that PISD converges and achieves (weighted) fairness. We further introduce Queue Spreading (QS) to achieve MAC-layer fairness when there are multiple contention groups, in which case PISD will fail.
Local Search for Red-Blue Median and its Generalizations

In this paper, we consider the following red-blue median problem which is a generalization of the well-studied k-median problem. The input consists of a set of red facilities, a set of blue facilities, and a set of clients in a metric space and two integers kr, kb ≥ 0. The problem is to open at most kr red facilities and at most kb blue facilities and minimize the sum of distances of clients to their respective closest open facilities. We show, somewhat surprisingly, that the following simple local search algorithm yields a constant factor approximation for this problem. Start by opening any kr red and kb blue facilities. While possible, decrease the cost of the solution by closing a pair of red and blue facilities and opening a pair of red and blue facilities. We also show that the same algorithm yields a constant factor approximation for the prize-collecting version of the red-blue median problem as well.
PRICE TIME SERIES LONG MEMORY ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION STUDY

The R/S test has been extensively used in testing t he long memory of financial time series, but little attentions have been paid on its validity. The pape r sets the chemical raw materials styrene price tim series as an example, to test the stable of the price seri s. It indicates that we should give prudent explan atio for the R/S test, and then establish the ARFIMA model t o determine the data generation process with fracta l characteristics. Thus the fractal theory can be use d to describe the price time series and provide the oretical support for the price time series forecasting.
Learning Communities als Infrastruktur Lebenslangen Lernens

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Warping as a modelling tool for CSG/implicit models

Freeform deformations are useful for describing a class of complex motions within an animation system. Such deformations have been described using a generalization of parametric surfaces and their application to modeling is well documented. We present a method that can be applied to implicit surfaces which are defined as an iso surface around a set of skeletal elements. The resulting surface is approximated by a polygon mesh. Shape distortions, such as "squash and stretch" are applied automatically to models in motion by warping the space in which the models exist. A model will change its shape as the function defining the warped space can change over time or the model will deform as it moves through the warped space. Our system also treats groups of skeletal implicit primitives as CSG primitives. Warping can also be applied to these primitives. Different warp functions, for example bend, taper and twist can be applied locally or globally, the contribution from each primitive is calculated using a set of warp functions associated with that primitive. The interesting shapes, and possibly nonlinear motion obtained from space warping, would be difficult to reproduce using other techniques.
A Wrapper Method for Cost-Sensitive Learning via Stratification

Many machine learning applications require classifiers that minimize an asymmetric loss function rather than the raw misclassification rate. We introduce a wrapper method for data stratification to incorporate arbitrary cost matrices into learning algorithms. One way to implement stratification for C4.5 decision tree learners is to manipulate the weights assigned to the examples from different classes. For 2-class problems, this works for any cost matrix with zero values on the diagonal, but in general, fork > 2 classes, it is not sufficient. Nonetheless, we ask what is the set of class weights that best approximates an arbitrary k k cost matrix. We test and compare the new wrapper method against several heuristic methods. The results show that the best method is the wrapper method that directly optimizes the loss using a hold-out data set.