Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Real-Time Vision Based System for Recognition of Static Dactyls of Albanian Alphabet

The aim of the paper is to present a realtime vision based system that is able to recognize static dactyls of Albanian alphabet. We use Kinect device, as an image receiving technology. It has simplified the process of vision based object recognition, especially for segmentation phase. Different from hardware based methods, our approach does not require that signers wear extra objects like data gloves. Two pre-processing techniques, including border extraction and image normalization have been applied in the segmented images. Fourier transform is applied in the resultant images which generates 15 Fourier coefficients representing uniquely that gesture. Classification is based on a similarity distance measure like Euclidian distance. Gesture with the lowest distance is considered as a match. Our system achieved an accuracy of 72.32% and is able to process 68 frames per second.
High-Speed Query Processing over High-Speed Networks

Modern database clusters entail two levels of networks: connecting CPUs and NUMA regions inside a single server in the small and multiple servers in the large. The huge performance gap between these two types of networks used to slow down distributed query processing to such an extent that a cluster of machines actually performed worse than a single many-core server. The increased main-memory capacity of the cluster remained the sole benefit of such a scale-out. The economic viability of high-speed interconnects such as InfiniBand has narrowed this performance gap considerably. However, InfiniBand's higher network bandwidth alone does not improve query performance as expected when the distributed query engine is left unchanged. The scalability of distributed query processing is impaired by TCP overheads, switch contention due to uncoordinated communication, and load imbalances resulting from the inflexibility of the classic exchange operator model. This paper presents the blueprint for a distributed query engine that addresses these problems by considering both levels of networks holistically. It consists of two parts: First, hybrid parallelism that distinguishes local and distributed parallelism for better scalability in both the number of cores as well as servers. Second, a novel communication multiplexer tailored for analytical database workloads using remote direct memory access (RDMA) and low-latency network scheduling for high-speed communication with almost no CPU overhead. An extensive evaluation within the HyPer database system using the TPC-H benchmark shows that our holistic approach indeed enables high-speed query processing over high-speed networks.
IRIT, GeoComp, and LIUPPA at the TREC 2013 Contextual Suggestion Track

In this paper we give an overview of the participation of the IRIT, GeoComp, and LIUPPA labs in the TREC 2013 Contextual Suggestion Track. Our framework combines existing geo-tools or services (e.g., Google Places, Yahoo! BOSS Geo Services, PostGIS, Gisgraphy, GeoNames) and ranks results according to features such as context-place distance, place popularity, and user preferences. We participated in the Open Web and ClueWeb12 sub-tracks with runs IRIT.OpenWeb and IRIT.ClueWeb.
Storage Fit Learning with Unlabeled Data

By using abundant unlabeled data, semi-supervised learning approaches have been found useful in various tasks. Existing approaches, however, neglect the fact that the storage available for the learning process is different under different situations, and thus, the learning approaches should be flexible subject to the storage budget limit. In this paper, we focus on graph-based semi-supervised learning and propose two storage fit learning approaches which can adjust their behaviors to different storage budgets. Specifically, we utilize techniques of low-rank matrix approximation to find a low-rank approximator of the similarity matrix to meet the storage budget. The first approach is based on stochastic optimization, which is an iterative approach that converges to the optimal low-rank approximator globally. The second approach is based on Nyström method, which can find a good low-rank approximator efficiently and is suitable for real-time applications. Experiments show that the proposed methods can fit adaptively different storage budgets and obtain good performances in different scenarios.
Evaluating the Effect of Decompression Surgery on Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow and Intracranial Compliance in Patients with Chiari Malformation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Flow Studies

OBJECTIVE:To quantify the effect of decompression surgery on craniocervical junction hydrodynamics and on global intracranial compliance (ICC) in patients with Chiari I malformation by use of magnetic resonance measurements of cerebrospinal fluid and blood flow. Studying the effect of decompression surgery may improve our understanding of the pathophysiological characteristics of Chiari I malformation and aid in identifying patients who will benefit from the procedure. METHODS:Twelve patients were studied with a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner before and after decompression surgery. Cine phase contrast magnetic resonance images were used to quantify maximum cord displacement, maximum systolic cerebrospinal fluid velocity and volumetric flow rate, and overall ICC. ICC was derived by use of a previously reported method that measures small changes in intracranial volume and pressure that occur naturally with each cardiac cycle. RESULTS:After surgery, changes were documented both in the local hydrodynamic parameters and in ICC. However, only the change in ICC, an average increase of more than 60%, was statistically significant. Increased ICC, which was associated with improved outcome, was measured in 10 of the 12 patients, no significant change was documented in 1 patient, and decreased ICC was measured in 1 patient whose symptoms persisted after surgery. CONCLUSION:An increase in the overall compliance of the intracranial compartment is the most significant and consistent change measured after decompression surgery. Changes in cord displacement, cerebrospinal fluid velocities, and flow in the craniospinal junction were less consistent and less affected by the operation. Thus, ICC may play an important role in the outcome of decompression surgery related to improving symptoms and restoring normal neurological hydrodynamics in patients with Chiari I malformations.
Flexible theta sequence compression mediated via phase precessing interneurons

Encoding of behavioral episodes as spike sequences during hippocampal theta oscillations provides a neural substrate for computations on events extended across time and space. However, the mechanisms underlying the numerous and diverse experimentally observed properties of theta sequences remain poorly understood. Here we account for theta sequences using a novel model constrained by the septo-hippocampal circuitry. We show that when spontaneously active interneurons integrate spatial signals and theta frequency pacemaker inputs, they generate phase precessing action potentials that can coordinate theta sequences in place cell populations. We reveal novel constraints on sequence generation, predict cellular properties and neural dynamics that characterize sequence compression, identify circuit organization principles for high capacity sequential representation, and show that theta sequences can be used as substrates for association of conditioned stimuli with recent and upcoming events. Our results suggest mechanisms for flexible sequence compression that are suited to associative learning across an animal’s lifespan. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.20349. 001
Accelerating eigenvector and pseudospectra computation using blocked multi-shift triangular solves

Multi-shift triangular solves are basic linear algebra calculations with applications in eigenvector and pseudospectra computation. We propose blocked algorithms that efficiently exploit Level 3 BLAS to perform multi-shift triangular solves and safe multi-shift triangular solves. Numerical experiments indicate that computing triangular eigenvectors with a safe multi-shift triangular solve achieves speedups by a factor of 60 relative to LAPACK. This algorithm accelerates the calculation of general eigenvectors threefold. When using multi-shift triangular solves to compute pseudospectra, we report ninefold speedups relative to EigTool.
Development of specific receptors for N-formylated chemotactic peptides in a human monocyte cell line stimulated with lymphokines

A human monocyte-like cell line, U937, when grown in continuous culture, does not secrete lysosomal enzymes or migrate towards chemotactic factors. When the cells are stimulated by lymphokines, however, they develop the ability both to migrate directionally and to secrete enzymes in response to several types of chemoattractants. The development, by stimulated cells, of chemotactic and secretory responses to one class of chemoattractants, the N- formylated peptides, is accompanied by the appearance on the cells of specific binding sites for these substances. Using tritiated N-formyl- methionyl-leueyl-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-[(3)H]Phe) as a ligand, it was determined that unstimulated U937 cells possess no detectable binding sites. However, after stimulation with lymphocyte culture supernates for 24, 48, and 72 h, they developed 4,505 (+/-) 1,138, 22,150(+/-) 4,030, and 37,200 (+/-) 8,000 sites/cell, respectively. The dissociation constants for the interaction of fMet-Leu-[SH]Phe with the binding sites were approximately the same regardless of stimulation time and ranged between 15 and 30 nM. The binding of fMet-Leu-[(3)H]Phe by stimulated U937 cells was rapid and readily reversed by the addition of a large excess of unlabeled peptide. The affinity of a series of N-formylated peptides for binding to U937 cells exactly reflected the potency of the peptides in inducing lysosomal enzyme secretion and chemotaxis. The availability of a continuous human monocytic cell line that can be induced to express receptors for N-formylated peptides will provide a useful tool not only for the characterization of such receptors but also for the delineation of regulatory mechanisms involved in cellular differentiation and the chemotactic response.
A three-phase active power filter based on park transformation

This essay deals with an improved active power filter based on the generalized instantaneous reactive power theory, of which the instruction current is calculated simply; which also will not be affected by voltage distortion and can be applied to unbalanced load current. The whole structure of electrical circuit is simple and has a good economy performance for this active power filter which only has three group switchers in three-phase four-wire system. This active power filter is prone to applied in industry for its low switching frequency and losses. Then proposing a control method can arbitrary regulate the power-factor of active power filter. Consequently, producing an active power filter possess the function of static via generators. The simulation results show it has a good dynamic and static performance, can compensates harmonic and reactive current of system effectively, increasing power-factor and transmission efficiency of power transmission lines.
Fission Product Impact Reduction Via Protracted In-Core Retention in Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Transmutation Scenarios

Fission Product Impact Reduction via Protracted In-core Retention in Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Transmutation Scenarios. (May 2010) Ayodeji Babatunde Alajo, B.Sc., University of Ibadan; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Pavel V. Tsvetkov The closure of the nuclear fuel cycle is a topic of interest in the sustainability context of nuclear energy. The implication of such closure includes considerations of nuclear waste management. This originates from the fact that a closed fuel cycle requires recycling of useful materials from spent nuclear fuel and discarding of non-usable streams of the spent fuel, which are predominantly the fission products. The fission products represent the near-term concerns associated with final geological repositories for the waste stream. Long-lived fission products also contribute to the long-term concerns associated with such repository. In addition, an ultimately closed nuclear fuel cycle in which all actinides from spent nuclear fuels are incinerated will result in fission products being the only source of radiotoxicity. Hence, it is desired to develop a transmutation strategy that will achieve reduction in the inventory and radiological parameters of significant fission products within a reasonably short time. In this dissertation, a transmutation strategy involving the use of the VHTR is developed. A set of specialized metrics is developed and applied to evaluate performance characteristics. The transmutation strategy considers six major fission products: 90 Sr, 93 Zr, 99 Tc, 129 I, 135 Cs and 137 Cs. In this approach, the unique core features of VHTRs operating in equilibrium fuel cycle mode of 405 effective full power days are used for
Library Information System Auditing: Monitoring and Evaluating the Software in Academic Institution

The information system auditing is conducted to evaluate the readiness level of organization in managing information technology (IT). This research is conducted in library of Petra Christian University, Indonesia. In this academic institution, the library has already used IS to accommodate in its business processes. Library has done the observation to measure library users' satisfaction toward library service. In this previous observation, it has been found that the library software is not satisfied the students, lecturers and staffs as the users in providing information. Furthermore, the initial observation had found out that a lot of misinformation because human errors have often occurred in inputting data and monitoring and evaluating of library software performance has not been. Best practice is given using CMMI standard which is obtained by mapping IT processes of COBIT. Results of audit that has been conducted provide the current maturity level is level 2-managed which means the performed process have ensured that requirements are managed and executed in accordance with policy. Organization has understood the importance of managing IT in helping business processes. System development procedure has been documented. System is a form of elaboration formalization of existing activities and made it easier for users to learn to control quickly.
Human face identification via comparative soft biometrics

Soft biometrics enable the identification of subjects based on semantic descriptions collected from eye-witnesses allowing people to search in surveillance databases. Although research has recently shown an increased interest in soft biometrics, not much of the work have used crowdsourcing, and it did not investigate the impact of feature selection on identification. In this paper, we introduce a new set of facial soft biometrics and labels with a novel description for the eyebrow region. Also, we examine the use of crowdsourcing for labelling the comparative facial soft biometrics and assess its impact on the identification. Moreover, we explore the impact of feature selection with our biometric measures and evaluate the effect of label scale compression. Experiments based on the Southampton biometric tunnel database demonstrate a 100% rank-1 identification rate using 20 features only.
Growth of Iron(III)-Reducing Bacteria on Clay Minerals as the Sole Electron Acceptor and Comparison of Growth Yields on a Variety of Oxidized Iron Forms

ABSTRACT Smectite clay minerals are abundant in soils and sediments worldwide and are typically rich in Fe. While recent investigations have shown that the structural Fe(III) bound in clay minerals is reduced by microorganisms, previous studies have not tested growth with clay minerals as the sole electron acceptor. Here we have demonstrated that a pure culture of Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 as well as enrichment cultures of Fe(III)-reducing bacteria from rice paddy soil and subsurface sediments are capable of conserving energy for growth with the structural Fe(III) bound in smectite clay as the sole electron acceptor. Pure cultures of S. oneidensis were used for more detailed growth rate and yield experiments on various solid- and soluble-phase electron acceptors [smectite, Fe(III) oxyhydroxide FeOOH, Fe(III) citrate, and oxygen] in the same minimal medium. Growth was assessed as direct cell counts or as an increase in cell carbon (measured as particulate organic carbon). Cell counts showed that similar growth of S. oneidensis (108 cells ml−1) occurred with smectitic Fe(III) and on other Fe forms [amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide, and Fe citrate] or oxygen as the electron acceptor. In contrast, cell yields of S. oneidensis measured as the increase in cell carbon were similar on all Fe forms tested while yields on oxygen were five times higher, in agreement with thermodynamic predictions. Over a range of particle loadings (0.5 to 4 g liter−1), the increase in cell number was highly correlated to the amount of structural Fe in smectite reduced. From phylogenetic analysis of the complete 16S rRNA gene sequences, a predominance of clones retrieved from the clay mineral-reducing enrichment cultures were most closely related to the low-G+C gram-positive members of the Bacteria (Clostridium and Desulfitobacterium) and the δ-Proteobacteria (members of the Geobacteraceae). Results indicate that growth with smectitic Fe(III) is similar in magnitude to that with Fe(III) oxide minerals and is dependent upon the mineral surface area available. Iron(III) bound in clay minerals should be considered an important electron acceptor supporting the growth of bacteria in soils or sedimentary environments.
Statistical and Machine Learning Techniques in Compiler Design

Matthew T. Jacob, Y.N. Srikant, and Kapil Vaswani Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India mjt@csa.iisc. ernet.in srikant@csa.iisc. ernet.in kapil@csa.iisc. ernet.in 8.
Participatory Bluetooth Scans Serving as Urban Crowd Probes

We describe a system that leverages users voluntarily having their smartphones scan the environment for discoverable Bluetooth devices to analyze crowd conditions in urban environments. Our method goes beyond mere counting of discoverable devices toward a set of more complex, robust features. We also show how to extend the analysis from crowd density to crowd flow direction. We evaluate our methods on a data set consisting of nearly 200 000 discoveries from nearly 1000 scanning devices recorded during a three day city-wide festival in Zurich. The data set also includes as ground truth 23 million global positioning system location points from nearly 30 000 users.
ESTprep: Preprocessing CDNA Sequence Reads

MOTIVATION High accuracy of data always governs the large-scale gene discovery projects. The data should not only be trustworthy but should be correctly annotated for various features it contains. Sequence errors are inherent in single-pass sequences such as ESTs obtained from automated sequencing. These errors further complicate the automated identification of EST-related sequencing. A tool is required to prepare the data prior to advanced annotation processing and submission to public databases. RESULTS This paper describes ESTprep, a program designed to preprocess expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences. It identifies the location of features present in ESTs and allows the sequence to pass only if it meets various quality criteria. Use of ESTprep has resulted in substantial improvement in accurate EST feature identification and fidelity of results submitted to GenBank. AVAILABILITY The program is freely available for download from http://genome.uiowa. edu/pubsoft/software.html
Enhancing scholarly use of digital libraries: A comparative survey and review of bibliographic metadata ontologies

The HathiTrust Research Center (HTRC) is engaged in the development of tools that will give scholars the ability to analyze the HathiTrust digital library's 14 million volume corpus. A cornerstone of the HTRC's digital infrastructure is the workset - a kind of scholar-built research collection intended for use with the HTRC's analytics platform. Because more than 66% of the digital corpus is subject to copyright restrictions, scholarly users remain dependent upon the descriptive accounts provided by traditional metadata records in order to identify and gather together bibliographic resources for analysis. This paper compares the MADSRDF/MODSRDF, Bibframe, schema.org, BIBO, and FaBiO ontologies by assessing their suitability for employment by the HTRC to meet scholars' needs. These include distinguishing among multiple versions of the same work; representing the complex historical and physical relationships among those versions; and identifying and providing access to finer grained bibliographic entities, e.g., poems, chapters, sections, and even smaller segments of content.
Efficient Complex Sphere Decoding Framework for Linear Dispersion Space-Time Block Codes

Golden code is one of linear dispersion space-time block codes (LD-STBC), which has full rate, full diversity with better performance than other codes. sphere decoding (SD) algorithm can achieve near ML performance with moderate complexity. We propose the complex sphere decoding algorithm based on Schnorr-Euchner strategy (SE-CSD) needing no initial radius and it is implemented without a nodelist enjoying more complexity savings than general complex sphere decoding (CSD) algorithm over the range of SNRs. Combining golden code with low complexity SE-CSD can obtain perfect performance than other solutions.
A TREC Along the Spam Track with SpamBayes

This paper describes the SpamBayes submissions made to the Spam Track of the 2005 Text Retrieval Conference (TREC). SpamBayes is briefly introduced, but the paper focuses more on how the submissions differ from the standard installation. Unlike in the majority of earlier publications evaluating the effectiveness of SpamBayes, the fundamental ‘unsure’ range is discussed, and the method of removing the range is outlined. Finally, an analysis of the results of the running the four submissions through the Spam Track ‘jig’ with the three private corpora and one public corpus is made. 1 SpamBayes SpamBayes [1] was born on August 19th 2002, soon after publication of A Plan for Spam [2]; Tim Peters and others involved with the Python development community developed code based on Graham’s ideas, with the initial aim of filtering python.org mailing-list traffic, although this quickly progressed to also filtering personal email streams (today, although most python.org mailing lists do use SpamBayes, the overwhelmingly most common use of SpamBayes is for personal email filtering). Although the project initially started with Graham’s original combining scheme, it currently uses the chi-squared combining scheme developed by Robinson.
Two-layer thermal barrier coating for high temperature components

A simple two-layer plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coating system was developed which has the potential for protecting high temperature air-cooled gas turbine components. Of the initially examined coatings, the most promising system is an Ni-16Cr-6Al-0.6Y (in wt%) bond coating (about 0.005 to 0.010 cm thick) and a ZrO2-12Y2O3 (in wt%) thermal barrier coating (about 0.025 to 0.064 cm thick). This thermal barrier substantially lowered the metal temperature of the air-cooled airfoil. The coating withstood 3200 cycles (80 s at 1280 C surface temperature) and 275 cycles (1 hr at 1490 C surface temperature) without cracking or spalling. No separation of the thermal barrier from the bond coating or the bond coating from the substrate was observed.