Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blending Heuristicswith a Population-Based Approach : A \ Memetic " Algorithmfor the Traveling Salesman ProblemPablo

Very recently many researchers, with backgrounds in parallel computing, started to develop hybrids of traditional genetic algorithms. The main departure from standard genetic algorithms is that these new methods incorporate speciic heuristics for the problem at hand (drawing on a tradition which has roots outside the genetic framework) and which we apply within a stochastic game that exerts a selective pressure. The heuristics are used for periods of individual optimization, that is when agents do not interact. New computational results for the Traveling Salesman Problem will be presented in this paper. The approach is prepared to include Tabu Search techniques, introducing a new crossover operator (which is called Random Respectful Corner Recombination) and a special pair of a topology and set of rules for the interaction between agents. The approach has a natural parallelism and a feature called superlinear speed-up will also be discussed.
Alhambra: a system for creating, enforcing, and testing browser security policies

Alhambra is a browser-based system designed to enforce and test web browser security policies. At the core of Alhambra is a policy-enhanced browser supporting fine-grain security policies that restrict web page contents and execution. Alhambra requires no server-side modifications or additions to the web application. Policies can restrict the construction of the document as well as the execution of JavaScript using access control rules and a taint-tracking engine. Using the Alhambra browser, we present two security policies that we have built using our architecture, both designed to prevent cross-site scripting. The first policy uses a taint-tracking engine to prevent cross-site scripting attacks that exploit bugs in the client-side of the web applications. The second one uses browsing history to create policies that restrict the contents of documents and prevent the inclusion of malicious content. Using Alhambra we analyze the impact of policies on the compatibility of web pages. To test compatibility, Alhambra supports revisiting user-generated browsing sessions and comparing multiple security policies in parallel to quickly and automatically evaluate security policies. To compare security policies for identical pages we have also developed useful comparison metrics that quantify differences between identical pages executed with different security policies. Not only do we show that our policies are effective with minimal compatibility cost, we also demonstrate that Alhambra can enforce strong security policies and provide quantitative evaluation of the differences introduced by security policies.
3D motion sensing of any object without prior knowledge

We propose a novel three-dimensional motion sensing method using lasers. Recently, object motion information is being used in various applications, and the types of targets that can be sensed continue to diversify. Nevertheless, conventional motion sensing systems have low universality because they require some devices to be mounted on the target, such as accelerometers and gyro sensors, or because they are based on cameras, which limits the types of targets that can be detected. Our method solves this problem and enables noncontact, high-speed, deterministic measurement of the velocity of a moving target without any prior knowledge about the target shape and texture, and can be applied to any unconstrained, unspecified target. These distinctive features are achieved by using a system consisting of a laser range finder, a laser Doppler velocimeter, and a beam controller, in addition to a robust 3D motion calculation method. The motion of the target is recovered from fragmentary physical information, such as the distance and speed of the target at the laser irradiation points. From the acquired laser information, our method can provide a numerically stable solution based on the generalized weighted Tikhonov regularization. Using this technique and a prototype system that we developed, we also demonstrated a number of applications, including motion capture, video game control, and 3D shape integration with everyday objects.
Who speaks up at work? Dispositional influences on employees' voice behavior

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the five‐factor model of personality (FFM) and employees' voice behavior in Greece.Design/methodology/approach – Employees' personality characteristics were assessed along with their voice behavior towards their supervisor and the top management of their company. Data were collected from a cross‐sectional sample of 334 professionals.Findings – The findings demonstrate the relationship between personality and voice behavior towards the immediate supervisor, but not towards the top management of the company, and show that conscientiousness and emotional stability are the strongest predictors of employees' voice behavior.Research limitations/implications – The results of the study should be interpreted with caution, since they are based on self‐report measures. However, the findings suggest that two personality dimensions (emotional stability and conscientiousness) are significantly related with employees' voice behavior towards their.
The mobile phone and socialization: the consequences of mobile phone use in transitions from family to school life of U.S. college students

OF THE DISSERTATION The mobile phone and socialization: The consequences of mobile phone use in transitions from family to school life of U.S. college students by YI-FAN CHEN Dissertation Director: James E. Katz, Ph.D. Research on the consequences of information and communication technology (ICT) use finds that ICTs, such as the mobile phone (e.g., Ling, 2004), the Internet (e.g., Katz & Rice, 2002), and the television (e.g., Bandura, 1967), increase people’s socialization skills. Scholars (e.g., Ling, 2004) have explored how younger teens use the mobile phone to create their external social networks from home. Yet while there have been many studies of younger teens, a gap remains in understanding how older teens (in this case, college students) use the mobile phone as a tool for continuing socialization relative to their friends and family. This study seeks to understand how mobile phone use fits in to the relationship between student and parent and especially if mobile phone use might increase college students’ dependency on (or other forms of involvement with) their parents. The data to inform this analysis are derived from three focus group interviews (that included a total of 40 undergraduate students), surveys (that included a total of 514 undergraduate students), and eight in-depth interviews.
A novel neuroprosthetic interface with the peripheral nervous system using artificially engineered axonal tracts

Abstract Objective: We have previously described a technique developed in our laboratory to create transplantable living axon tracts of several centimeters in length. In this paper, we describe how these engineered neural tissue constructs can be used to create a novel neuroelectrical interface with the regenerating peripheral nervous system, to potentially enable afferent and efferent communications with prosthetic devices. Methods: Using continuous mechanical tension, we have generated axon tracts of up to 10 cm in length, spanning two populations of neurons in vitro. We have now adapted this stretch-growth paradigm to include a mechanically compliant multi-electrode array that is attached to one of the neuron populations. Once the desired axon length has been reached, the neuroelectrode construct is completely embedded in a supportive hydrogel matrix and affixed to the transected sciatic nerve. Results: Building upon our previous work with peripheral nerve repair, we have designed our neural interface to ensure transplant stability and firm attachment to the electrode array substrate. Discussion: Our preliminary findings indicate that the interface not only maintains its orientation, but also is conducive to host nerve ingrowth. Our ongoing analysis seeks to characterize transplanted neuronal survival, synaptic integration, and functional connectivity. This research provides an opportunity to evaluate an entirely new approach in restoring motor and sensory functions of patients with peripheral nerve damage.
Dimensions Affecting Consumers ’ Continued Usage and Frequency of Usage of Internet Banking : Empirical Evidence from India

— The goal of this study was to investigate the factors affecting consumers' continued usage and frequency of usage of internet banking in the Indian context. A survey research methodology was used to gather quantitative data from a cross-sectional mall intercept survey in Delhi comprising a sample of 372 internet banking users. The survey comprised technology, channel, social, and value and usage dimensions represented as scale items. After testing the data for normality and goodness of fit assumptions, exploratory factor analysis was performed for factor identification. Scale items were checked further for their reliabilities. The final factors identified were employed in hierarchical multiple regression and hierarchical logistic regression analyses to test the proposed framework, while controlling for the demographic characteristics. Several major substantive findings emerged from the present study. Value dimensions significantly and positively influenced consumers' continued usage as well as frequency of usage of internet banking. Channel dimensions identified as perceived safety and perceived specialty factor labels demonstrated a significant impact on consumers' usage of internet banking on a continual basis. With regard to consumers' frequency of usage the measure of perceived safety was found to be significant and perceived specialty to be non-significant. Among the influence exerted by the technology dimensions, measures identified as attraction to usability and attraction to trial ability were found to exert significant and positive influence on consumers' continued usage and frequency of usage of internet banking. Social dimensions were found to be non-significantly associated with consumers' continued usage and frequency of usage of internet banking. This study provides important implications for effective banking channel management and formulation strategies apart from identifying the relative importance of the various factors asserted from the customers perspective. I. INTRODUCTION The advent of the internet, rapid technological evolutions, globalization, financial deregulations, liberalization and consolidation of the financial markets has encouraged many businesses to change their traditional modes of operations (Mia et al., 2007). Businesses are also utilizing technological advancements in order to make their services more accessible to consumers (Reid 2008). One such business entity is the retail banking sector that has been using a wider array of information systems over years (Wresch and Fraser 2006). The retail banking industry realized that relying exclusively on the traditional modes of competition, such as on price factors, is difficult in order to increase
In the Eyes of the Beholders: Female Choice and Avian Predation Risk Associated with an Exaggerated Male Butterfly Color

Color ornaments are often viewed as products of countervailing sexual and natural selection, because more colorful, more attractive individuals may also be more conspicuous to predators. However, while evidence for such countervailing selection exists for vertebrate color ornaments (e.g., Trinidadian guppies), similar studies have yet to be reported in invertebrates. Indeed, evidence for female mate choice based on extant variation in male coloration is limited in invertebrates, and researchers have not explicitly asked whether more attractive males are also more conspicuous to predators. Here we provide evidence that more chromatic male cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae) are more attractive to females but should also be more conspicuous to predators. Female P. rapae preferentially mate with more chromatic males when choosing from populations of males with naturally occurring or commensurate, experimentally induced color variation. Mathematical models of female color vision confirm that females should be able to discriminate color differences between prospective mates. Further, chromatic and luminance contrast scores from female visual system models better predicted male mating success than did measures of male color derived more directly from color spectra. Last, models of avian color vision suggest that preferred males should be more conspicuous to known avian predators.
Beyond the Socket: NUMA-Aware GPUs

GPUs achieve high throughput and power efficiency by employing many small single instruction multiple thread (SIMT) cores. To minimize scheduling logic and performance variance they utilize a uniform memory system and leverage strong data parallelism exposed via the programming model. With Moore’s law slowing, for GPUs to continue scaling performance (which largely depends on SIMT core count) they are likely to embrace multi-socket designs where transistors are more readily available. However when moving to such designs, maintaining the illusion of a uniform memory system is increasingly difficult. In this work we investigate multi-socket non-uniform memory access (NUMA) GPU designs and show that significant changes are needed to both the GPU interconnect and cache architectures to achieve performance scalability. We show that application phase effects can be exploited allowing GPU sockets to dynamically optimize their individual interconnect and cache policies, minimizing the impact of NUMA effects. Our NUMA-aware GPU outperforms a single GPU by $1.5 \times, 2.3 \times$, and $3.2 \times$ while achieving 89%, 84%, and 76% of theoretical application scalability in 2, 4, and 8 sockets designs respectively. Implementable today, NUMA-aware multi-socket GPUs may be a promising candidate for scaling GPU performance beyond a single socket.CCS CONCEPTS• Computing methodologies → Graphics processors; • Computer systems organization → Single instruction, multiple data;
Assessing SRL Frameworks with Automatic Training Data Expansion

We present the first experiment-based study that explicitly contrasts the three major semantic role labeling frameworks. As a prerequisite, we create a dataset labeled with parallel FrameNet-, PropBank-, and VerbNet-style labels for German. We train a state-of-the-art SRL tool for German for the different annotation styles and provide a comparative analysis across frameworks. We further explore the behavior of the frameworks with automatic training data generation. VerbNet provides larger semantic expressivity than PropBank, and we find that its generalization capacity approaches PropBank in SRL training, but it benefits less from training data expansion than the sparse-data affected FrameNet.
Framework for Computation Offloading in Mobile Cloud Computing

The inherently limited processing power and battery lifetime of mobile phones hinder the possible execution of computationally intensive applications like content-based video analysis or 3D modeling. Offloading of computationally intensive application parts from the mobile platform into a remote cloud infrastructure or nearby idle computers addresses this problem. This paper presents our Mobile Augmentation Cloud Services (MACS) middleware which enables adaptive extension of Android application execution from a mobile client into the cloud. Applications are developed by using the standard Android development pattern. The middleware does the heavy lifting of adaptive application partitioning, resource monitoring and computation offloading. These elastic mobile applications can run as usual mobile application, but they can also use remote computing resources transparently. Two prototype applications using the MACS middleware demonstrate the benefits of the approach. The evaluation shows that applications, which involve costly computations, can benefit from offloading with around 95% energy savings and significant performance gains compared to local execution only.
Neurotrophins and Proneurotrophins: Focus on Synaptic Activity and Plasticity in the Brain

Neurotrophins have been intensively studied and have multiple roles in the brain. Neurotrophins are first synthetized as proneurotrophins and then cleaved intracellularly and extracellularly. Increasing evidences demonstrate that proneurotrophins and mature neurotrophins exerts opposing role in the central nervous system. In the present review, we explore the role of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), and neurotrophin 4 (NT4) and their respective proform in cellular processes related to learning and memory. We focused on their roles in synaptic activity and plasticity in the brain with an emphasis on long-term potentiation, long-term depression, and basal synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and the temporal lobe area. We also discuss new findings on the role of the Val66Met polymorphism on the BDNF propeptide on synaptic activity.
A Comparative Study of Work Family Conflict among Employees in Relation to Demographic Factors, Personal Factors and Work Related Factors

The question of how to strike a balance between work and life is attracting increasing attention at both the national and international level (Crompton & Lyonette, 2006.) This research article studies the work-family conflict among the employees working in private institutions are incorporated. By using the primary data, investigators tend to find out the extent of demographic factors (age, gender, marital status & education), work related factors (work load stress, job security, & schedule flexibility) and personal factors (life satisfaction, familial support &work-family balance) influence on work-family conflict. Descriptive & ANOVA with post hoc test was adopted for analyzing the differences in all dimensions of work family conflict (work load stress, job security, schedule flexibility, life satisfaction familial support and work family balance) and work family conflict itself on the basis of age, sex, education and marital status. Multiple regression analysis with backward method was done to predict the value of all independent variables (dimensions of work family conflict) for the dependent variable (work family conflict). From the discussions of the result and findings it was observed that out of all independent factors job security, schedule flexibility and work family balance are the most important factors for the present study.
Synchrony expression analysis of human-human interaction using wearable sensors

Human-human interactions are widely existed in many fields. In this paper we describe how to analyze and assess the interactional synchrony between two humans by using body sensor networks (BSNs). Utilizing acceleration data collected from inertial sensors, the synchrony between two people's movements both from time domain and frequency domain is conducted to get a better understanding of the coordination during two people's interaction. An experiment of two people walking side-by-side was performed and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
New class of Son‐of‐sevenless (Sos) alleles highlights the complexities of Sos function

The guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Son‐of‐sevenless (Sos) encodes a complex multidomain protein best known for its role in activating the small GTPase RAS in response to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) stimulation. Much less well understood is SOS's role in modulating RAC activity via a separate GEF domain. In the course of a genetic modifier screen designed to investigate the complexities of RTK/RAS signal transduction, a complementation group of 11 alleles was isolated and mapped to the Sos locus. Molecular characterization of these alleles indicates that they specifically affect individual domains of the protein. One of these alleles, SosM98, which contains a single amino acid substitution in the RacGEF motif, functions as a dominant negative in vivo to downregulate RTK signaling. These alleles provide new tools for future investigations of SOS‐mediated activation of both RAS and RAC and how these dual roles are coordinated and coregulated during development. genesis 39:263–272, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modeling Usage: Techniques and Tools

Usage modeling seeks to provide end users with a usable - that is, effective, efficient, and satisfactory - interactive product. In a usage-centered development process, users must understand what they need to perform their work tasks. Various techniques exist for collecting and documenting what is understood about the user and future system usage. From the wealth of techniques, we've chosen three because they directly describe human-computer interaction, are widely used, and represent rather generic techniques integrated in mainstream (for example, object- oriented or agile) software development. In this paper, we present these techniques in widely used formats. The range of possible (formal) representations - such as diagrams or in formal languages that support these techniques in the later stages of development.
Noise model of a reverse‐biased cold‐FET applied to the characterization of its ENR

This paper presents a broadband‐noise circuit model for a “cold”‐FET (Vds = 0 V) with a reverse‐biased gate. The noise model includes two intrinsic uncorrelated noise‐current sources whose spectral densities are determined from measurement of the device's S parameters and noise powers. The model is used to characterize the device's excess noise ratio (ENR) for application to full receiver‐noise calibration. Experimental results up to 40 GHz are given. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 326–330, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11370
The ASSR: clinical application in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired infants and adults, comparison with the click-evoked ABR and pure-tone audiometry

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical application of the ASSR (GSI Audera). It was completed in two parts: Study 1. Correlation between the ASSR-based threshold estimations and the conventional pure-tone thresholds in adults; and Study 2. Correlation between the average of the 2–4 kHz ASSR-based threshold estimations and c-ABR thresholds in children.The ASSRs were recorded in awake adults and sleeping infants with a range of hearing loss at CFs of 0.5 to 4 kHz and MFs between 46 and 95 Hz. The results show that in hearing-impaired adults (thresholds > 40 dBHL) good correlations can be observed between the behavioural thresholds and the ASSR-based threshold estimations. For the normal- to near-normal-hearing adults, a significant correspondence exists between the ASSR-based threshold estimations and FPTA. In children, strong correlations were found between the c-ABR and the 2–4 kHz ASSR-based threshold estimation average. These studies illustrate that the GSI Audera ASSR can accurately predict the behavioural audiogram in hearing-impaired subjects. In subjects with normal hearing the individual ASSR-based threshold estimations scatter too much. Instead the average of the ASSR-based threshold estimations corresponds well with the FPTA.
Quasi-Y-Source Boost DC–DC Converter

In this letter, a new topology called “quasi-Y-source dc-dc converter” is presented. It inherits all the advantages of the original Y-source converter. In addition, the new topology draws a continuous current from the source, which is definitely more appropriate for most renewable sources. It also has dc-current-blocking capacitors, which will definitely help to prevent the coupled inductor core from saturation. Experimental testing has proven the validity of the proposed network and its application as a high boost dc-dc converter.