Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust subspace technique for joint angle/Doppler estimation in /spl alpha/-stable clutter using phased fractional lower-order moments

We consider the problem of joint angle and Doppler estimation for space-time adaptive processing (STAP) airborne radar in non Gaussian clutter modeled as a complex symmetric alpha stable (SaS) process. We introduce a new robust MUSIC algorithm named PFLOM-MUSIC which is obtained using a new class of covariance matrix estimate based on the phased fractional lower-order moment(PFLOM). Such matrix and the subspaces spanned by its eigenvectors serve as a basis for a high-resolution angle/Doppler estimation method. The performance of the PFLOM-MUSIC is examined by comparing the estimation results with those of the sign covariance matrix estimate SCM-MUSIC (T. Liu and J. M. Mendel, Aug. 2001). Extensive Simulations demonstrate that our proposed algorithm outperforms the previously reported estimators
Terrain reasoning for human locomotion

We describe a real-time model of terrain traversal by simulated human agents. Agent navigation includes a variety of simulated sensors, terrain reasoning with behavioral constraints, and detailed simulation of a variety of locomotion techniques. The path through the terrain is incrementally computed by a behavioral reasoning system configuring a behavioral feedback network. A number of sensors acquire information on object range, passageways, obstacles, terrain type, exposure to hostile agents, and so on. The behavioral reasoner weighs this information along with collision avoidance, cost, danger minimization, locomotion types, and other behaviors available to the agent and incrementally attempts to reach a goal location. Since the system is reactive, it can respond to moving obstacles, changing terrain, or unexpected events due to hostile agents or the effects of limited perception. A motor-level component provides general locomotion, including curved path walking and running that work in real-time with human figures. <<ETX>>
How to Influence Physicians to Use Electronic Medical Records (EMR)? Social Influence Tactics and Their Effects on EMR Implementation Effectiveness

Theoretical and practical knowledge of the important role of social influence tactics as a managerial tool used by system implementers to persuade individuals to make use of an information system (IS) is very limited. I integrate elements from the theory of interpersonal influence and leadership with the theory of attitude change and innovation implementation to investigate the role of various leadership tactics that could be used in IS implementations to persuade physicians to use EMR in large hospitals. I define three types of behavioral responses to IS implementations: compliance, commitment and resistance. I show how different leadership tactics could be used during IS implementations in order to impact behavioral change (foster compliant or committed use) and avoid resistance. I propose hypotheses to investigate direct and interaction effects of these tactics on EMR implementation effectiveness. This research contributes to the IS field by “doing IT research that matters. ”
Analysis and optimization of fault-tolerant task scheduling on multiprocessor embedded systems

Reliability is a major requirement for most safety-related systems. To meet this requirement, fault-tolerant techniques such as hardware replication and software re-execution are often utilized. In this paper, we tackle the problem of analysis and optimization of fault-tolerant task scheduling for multiprocessor embedded systems. A set of existing fault-and process-models are adopted and a Binary Tree Analysis (BTA) is proposed to compute the system-level reliability in the presence of software/hardware redundancy. The BTA is integrated into a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm via a two-step encoding to perform reliability-aware design optimization. The optimization results contain the mapping of tasks to processing elements, the exact task and message schedule and the fault-tolerance policy assignment. Based on the observation that permanent faults need to be considered together with transient faults to achieve optimal system design, we propose a virtual mapping technique to take both types of faults into account. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first approach in fault-tolerant task scheduling that considers permanent and transient faults in a unified manner. The effectiveness of our approach is illustrated using several case studies.
Fast nonlinear model predictive control of gasoline engines

Nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) has proven successful in many applications, especially in chemical and process engineering where sampling times are usually in the order of seconds or minutes. Combustion engines show highly nonlinear behaviour and require sampling times of few milliseconds which poses a challenging control problem. We aim at tracking a desired torque profile of a gasoline engine without increasing the emissions, using the throttle and the exhaust gas recirculation valve as manipulated variables. In our simulations, it was possible to reduce the torque error considerably compared to controls taken from an optimal static map. Employing Bock's direct multiple shooting method and the so-called real-time iteration scheme the average runtime needed for one re-optimisation was reduced to below 10 ms. These preliminary results show that NMPC might soon become a viable technique for demanding control problems within the automotive area
From Theory to Technology: Rules versus Exemplars

How is scientific knowledge used, adapted and extended in deriving real-world systems and technological devices? This paper aims at developing a general model of "applying science" based on the Exemplar-Based Explanation (EBE) model. EBE embodies the view that a real-world system is derived not by solving theoretical laws for specific boundary conditions but by constructing the system out of previously derived systems that function as exemplars. I will discuss a number of artifacts from hydraulics and language technology, and develop an instantiation of EBE which generalizes over different disciplines. I argue that engineering practice is highly cumulative: new systems are almost literally built upon and constructed out of previous systems resulting into increasingly complex wholes.
Rotor fault diagnosis of wound rotor induction machine for wind energy conversion system under time-varying conditions based on optimized wavelet transform analysis

The aim of this paper is to present a new diagnosis technique for the detection of rotor electrical faults in three-phase wound rotor induction machines (WRIMs). In this application the rotor windings are supplied by a static converter for the control of active and reactive power flows from the generator to the electrical grid. The proposed diagnosis technique is based on the combined use of wavelet analysis and a preprocessing of the analyzed rotor voltages under time-varying conditions. Thus, the time evolution of the fault components can be effectively analyzed. A diagnostic index, periodically calculated, is introduced to estimate the rotor fault degree over time. Experimental results show the validity of the proposed technique, leading to an effective diagnosis procedure for rotor electrical faults in WRIMs.
AN EFFICIENT APPROACH FOR KEYWORD SELECTION ; IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY OF WEB CONTENTS BY GENERAL SEARCH ENGINES

General search engines often provide low precise results even for detailed queries. So there is a vital need to elicit useful information like keywords for search engines to provide acceptable results for user’s search queries. Although many methods have been proposed to show how to extract keywords automatically, all attempt to get a better recall, precision and other criteria which describe how the method has done its job as an author. This paper presents a new automatic keyword extraction method which improves accessibility of web content by search engines. The proposed method defines some coefficients determining features efficiency and tries to optimize them by using a genetic algorithm. Furthermore, it evaluates candidate
The meaning of forgiveness in a specific situational and cultural context: persons living with HIV / AIDS in India.

It is clear that the interpersonal as well as the intrapsychic dynamics of forgiveness will vary according to ones culture as well as ones life situation (age gender socioeconomic status health status marital and family status etc.). The main goal of this chapter is to explore the meaning of forgiveness in a specific cultural context-India and in a specific health status situation-being infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). A secondary purpose is to describe the conceptual foundations for developing an assessment methodology that would be appropriate applicable and valid for health status situations and cross-cultural contexts. (excerpt)
Evolution of young brown dwarf disks in the mid-infrared

We have imaged two bona-fide brown dwarfs with TReCS/GEMINI-S and find mid-infrared excess emission that can be explained by optically thick dust disk models. In the case of the young ( ≈ 2 Myr) Cha H α 1 we measure fluxes at 10.4 μ m and 12.3 μ m that are fully consistent with a standard flared disk model and prominent silicate emission. For the ≈ 10 Myr old brown dwarf 2MASS1207-3932 located in the TW Hydrae association we find excess emission at 8.7 μ m and 10.4 μ m with respect to the photosphere, and confirm disk accretion as a likely cause of its strong activity. Disks around brown dwarfs likely last at least as long as their low-mass stellar counterparts in the T-Tauri phase. Grain growth, dust settling, and evolution of the geometry of brown dwarf disks may appear on a timescale of 10 Myr and can be witnessed by observations in the mid-infrared.
Creative Thinking and Reflective Teaching in Prospective Teachers

Reflective thinking skills are vital for the modern education in schools. Five important reflective thinking skills are identified so far in the scientific literature: Observation, communication, judgment, decision making, and team working. Additionally, creative thinking is becoming more and more regarded as a necessary part of the educational process. In this chapter, an attempt is made to clarify what a sample of prospective teachers in Greece believe about reflective teaching, while at the same time their knowledge and attitudes towards creative thinking are examined. Results indicated that respondents were not fully informed during their formal university education about creative thinking and reflective teaching, while they also lacked hands-on experience and relevant skills. Future research should further focus on cross-cultural differences regarding creative thinking attitudes and reflective teaching in prospective and professional in-service teachers.
Image Point Motion when Zooming and FocusingS

A method for modeling the image point motion as function of the degree of zoom and focus is described and evaluated. The method requires that the camera can be translated towards a frontoparallel grid of calibration marks. The evaluation shows that, for a translation span of 2 meters, a zoom range from 10 to 96 millimeter, and for focus settings between 1 meter and innnity, the average prediction error for the zoom camera available is about 0.45 pixel.
Effect of Managers’ Organizational Justice Understanding on the Level of Employees’ Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction

The study, which is frequently discussed organizational attitude and behaviours in the literature, direct and indirect effects of organizational justice, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction, are studied through a holistic model. But this study is varied from other studies as carrying out Defense Industry. It is aimed to have all effects on the variables by choosing structural equations modeling. Research problem is whether job satisfaction of employees working in Defense Industry has an impact by organizational justice and organizational commitment. Data collected by surveys are analysed via SPSS and AMOS programs and some recommendations are made to manager and employees in both sector and general. When results are evaluated in the general sense, for the employees, who work in Defend Industry, the organizational justice affects job satisfaction partly. As a result, it is concluded that organizational justice partially affects job satisfaction, and the organizational commitment plays a mediator role in the relations.
Stream warehousing with DataDepot

We describe DataDepot, a tool for generating warehouses from streaming data feeds, such as network-traffic traces, router alerts, financial tickers, transaction logs, and so on. DataDepot is a streaming data warehouse designed to automate the ingestion of streaming data from a wide variety of sources and to maintain complex materialized views over these sources. As a streaming warehouse, DataDepot is similar to Data Stream Management Systems (DSMSs) with its emphasis on temporal data, best-effort consistency, and real-time response. However, as a data warehouse, DataDepot is designed to store tens to hundreds of terabytes of historical data, allow time windows measured in years or decades, and allow both real-time queries on recent data and deep analyses on historical data. In this paper we discuss the DataDepot architecture, with an emphasis on several of its novel and critical features. DataDepot is currently being used for five very large warehousing projects within AT&T; one of these warehouses ingests 500 Mbytes per minute (and is growing). We use these installations to illustrate streaming warehouse use and behavior, and design choices made in developing DataDepot. We conclude with a discussion of DataDepot applications and the efficacy of some optimizations.
Causal connectives and perspective markers in Chinese: The encoding and processing of subjectivity in discourse

Language users need to interpret others’ subjective opinions in communication. In causal relations, subjectivity is defined as the involvement of a speaker who is responsible for the causal reasoning. Subjectivity can be expressed by various linguistic cues such as perspective markers (e.g. I think, it is said) and modal verbs (e.g. may, must). Some connectives encode subjectivity as well – the Chinese connective kejian ‘so/therefore’ and the Dutch connective dus ‘so’ indicate that a causal relation is based on the subjective reasoning of the speaker. These linguistic cues function as instructions for comprehenders in on-line language processing. This dissertation explores the use of linguistic markers expressing subjectivity in discourse and how these markers influence the representation and processing of discourse. Three different methods were applied to Mandarin Chinese: a collocational analysis, an on-line reading study and a visual world paradigm eye-tracking study. The results show that linguistic cues such as perspective markers and modal verbs are used in combination with connectives to express subjectivity in causal relations. In on-line reading, these linguistic cues function as processing instructions to readers – helping them track the source of information and interpret subjectivity. Moreover, this process is highly incremental. An eye-tracking study using the visual world paradigm provided evidence about how subjectivity influences processing: the processing of subjectivity involves activating the source of information in the mental representation of the linguistic input. Combining these three methods has proved to be a fruitful way of gaining more insight into the phenomenon of subjectivity.
INTERALIGN: interactive alignment editor for distantly related protein sequences

SUMMARY Improving and ascertaining the quality of a multiple sequence alignment is a very challenging step in protein sequence analysis. This is particularly the case when dealing with sequences in the 'twilight zone', i.e. sharing < 30% identity. Here we describe INTERALIGN, a dedicated user-friendly alignment editor including a view of secondary structures and a synchronized display of carbon alpha traces of corresponding protein structures. Profile alignment, using CLUSTALW, is implemented to improve the alignment of a sequence of unknown structure with the visually optimized structural alignment as compared with a standard multiple sequence alignment. Tree-based ordering further helps in identifying the structure closest to a given sequence.
Phosphotyrosine Mapping in Bcr/Abl Oncoprotein Using Phosphotyrosine-specific Immonium Ion Scanning*

Bcr/Abl is a fusion oncoprotein that is of paramount importance in chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. The tyrosine-phosphorylated fraction of the p185 form of Bcr/Abl was isolated by immunoprecipitation with an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody and SDS-PAGE. The tryptic digest of the gel-separated protein was prefractionated on POROS R2/OLIGO R3 microcolumns and subjected to phosphotyrosine mapping by precursor ion scanning in positive ion mode utilizing the immonium ion of phosphotyrosine, also called phosphotyrosine-specific immonium ion scanning, on a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer. In total, nine different phosphorylated tyrosine residues were unambiguously localized in 12 different precursor ions. These phosphorylation sites correspond to three previously described phosphotyrosine residues and six novel tyrosine phosphorylation sites, and most of them were not predicted by the phosphorylation motif prediction programs ProSite, NetPhos, or ScanSite. This study shows the power of phosphotyrosine-specific immonium ion scanning for sensitive phosphotyrosine mapping when limited amounts of samples are available.
Use of Item analysis to improve quality of Multiple Choice Questions in II MBBS

Item analysis helps in assessing the quality of the multiple choice items and of the test as a whole. To analyze the quality of MCQs & to determine internal consistency reliability of test. To evaluate perception of teachers towards item analysis. In a cross-sectional study, total 40 items from Microbiology First Continuous Evaluation Test of 83 students of 2 nd year M.B. B.S. were analysed. Item & test analysis was done by calculating Difficulty index (DIF I), Discrimination index (DI), Distractor effectiveness (DE), Point Bi-serial correlation (PBS) and Cronbach’s Alpha. Feedback of faculties was collected on a 5 point Likert scale. Difficulty index of 12(30%) & 18(45%) items were in the ideal (50-60%) & acceptable range (30-70%) respectively, 7(17.5%) items were easy (>70%) and 3(7.5%) items were difficult ( 0.36), 7(17.5%) items was good (0.25-0.35), 1(2.5%) item was acceptable (0.20-0.24) and 15(37.5%) items was poor (= 0.15). Cronbach’s Alpha improved from 0.702 to 0.794 on removal of 15 items with poor DI. Most of the faculties found item analysis useful to improve quality of MCQs. Majority of the items had acceptable level of difficulty & discrimination index. Most of distractors were functional. Item analysis helped in revising items with poor discrimination index and thus improved the quality of items & a test as a whole. Keywords: Item Analysis, MCQs
Gene Therapy of Arthritis with TCR Isolated from the Inflamed Paw1

In recent years, the treatment of autoimmune diseases has been significantly advanced by the use of biological agents. However, some biologics are accompanied with severe side effects, including tuberculosis and other types of infection. There is thus a critical need for nonsystemic and lesion-specific methods of delivering these therapeutic agents. We attempted to treat a mouse model of arthritis by using T cells that expressed a regulatory molecule and were specifically directed to the inflamed paw. To this end, we first identified the TCR αβ genes accumulating in the inflamed paw of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) by a combination of single-strand chain polymorphism analysis of TCR and single-cell sorting. We identified an expanded clone B47 which is autoreactive but is not specific to type II collagen. In vivo, TCR genes from B47-transduced T cells accumulated in the inflamed paw. Injection of cells cotransduced with the B47 and soluble TNFRIg genes resulted in a significant suppression of CIA. The suppression was correlated with the amount of TNFRIg transcripts in the hind paw, not with the serum concentrations of TNFRIg. Moreover, T cells cotransduced with the B47 and intracellular Foxp3 genes significantly suppressed CIA with reductions in TNF-α, IL-17A, and IL-1β expression and bone destruction. T cells cotransduced with B47 and Foxp3 genes also suppressed the progression of established CIA. Therefore, immunosuppressive therapy with autoreactive TCR is a promising therapeutic strategy for arthritis whether the TCRs are used to deliver either soluble or intracellular suppressive molecules.
SIFT-based low complexity keypoint extraction and its real-time hardware implementation for full-HD video

Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) has lately attracted attention in computer vision as a robust keypoint detection algorithm which is invariant for scale, rotation and illumination change. However, its computational complexity is too high to apply practical real-time applications. This paper proposes a low complexity keypoint extraction algorithm based on SIFT descriptor and utilization of the database, and its real-time hardware implementation for Full-HD resolution video. The proposed algorithm computes SIFT descriptor on the keypoint obtained by corner detection and selects a scale from the database. It is possible to parallelize the keypoint detection and descriptor computation modules in the hardware. These modules do not depend on each other in the proposed algorithm in contrast with SIFT that computes a scale. The processing time of descriptor computation in this hardware is independent of the number of keypoints because its descriptor generation is pipelining structure of pixel. Evaluation results show that the proposed algorithm on software is 12 times faster than SIFT. Moreover, the proposed hardware on FPGA is 427 times faster than SIFT and 61 times faster than the proposed algorithm on software. The proposed hardware performs keypoint extraction and matching at 60 fps for Full-HD video.
Distributed event-triggered control with network delays and packet losses

This paper presents a distributed event-based control approach to cope with communication delays and packet losses affecting a networked dynamical system consisting of N linear time-invariant coupled systems. Two communication protocols are proposed to deal with these communication effects. It is shown that both protocols preserve the system stability in the sense that the state of every subsystem converges to a small region around the origin if the delay and the number of packet losses are bounded. Analytical expressions for the delay bound and the maximum number of consecutive packet losses are derived. Simulations illustrate the results.