Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Stochastic MIMO Model for Far-End Crosstalk in VDSL Cable Binders

Future digital subscriber line (DSL) systems are supposed to achieve higher data rates by using interference cancellation techniques. Since far-end crosstalk (FEXT) is the major impairment in DSL systems based on frequency division duplexing, mitigation of this interference can increase the signal-to- interference-and-noise ratio, and therefore significantly boost the data rate. For simulation and evaluation of FEXT cancellation algorithms, more accurate modelling of the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) crosstalk channels is needed. Until now, DSL standards usually rely on the 99% worst case modelling of crosstalk power-sum for the lines in a binder. This paper proposes a parametric stochastic FEXT model based on the sum-of-sinusoids approach for the pair-to-pair crosstalk among multiple lines in a binder, which shows a more realistic behaviour than the worst case models.
An investigation on predictors of e-learning adoption among Malaysian e-learners

Many higher learning institutions in Malaysia have implemented e-learning because of its effectiveness as a learning approach. However, studies have shown that there are still low adoption rate among e-learners in Malaysia. This study explored factors which influence e-learners in adopting e-learning system in their learning process. The strategy of inquiry is quantitative and the instrument for the data collection is the questionnaire. A total of 165 e-learners from a public institution of higher learning responded to the survey. Findings identified three significant negative correlations between personality traits of extroversion, agreeableness and emotional stability with the adoption of e-learning. High conscientious and openness have a positive correlation on adoption. This study has identified that self-evaluation strategies, comprehension monitoring strategies, self regulation strategies and resources management strategies have a significant positive correlation on the adoption of e-learning in the learning process. Courseware accessibility and design also has significant positive relationship with adoption in e-learning. This study contributes towards new knowledge in the e-learning through the development of an e-learning adoption model. Practical contribution includes insights into the factors and causes deterring e-learner from adopting e-learning in their learning process.
Costly steroids: egg testosterone modulates nestling metabolic rate in the zebra finch

The transfer of non-genetic resources from mother to the offspring often has considerable consequences for offspring performance. In birds, maternally derived hormones are known to influence a variety of morphological, physiological and behavioural traits in the chick. So far, the range of these hormonal effects involves benefits in terms of enhanced growth and competitive ability as well as costs in terms of immunosuppression. However, since yolk hormones can enhance growth and begging activity, high levels of these hormones may also involve energetic costs. Here, we show experimentally that elevated levels of prenatal testosterone increase resting metabolic rate in nestling zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Surprisingly, however, elevation of prenatal testosterone did not result in higher growth rates and, thus, differences in resting metabolism do not seem to be linked to nestling growth. We conclude that apart from immunosuppressive effects, high levels of egg steroids may also entail costs in terms of increased energy expenditure.
An Experimental Analysis of IEEE 802 . 11 a / b / g Cards in Ad-hoc Mode †

† The work described in this paper is based on result s of IST FP6 Integrated Project DAIDALOS. DAIDALOS receives research funding from the European Communi ty's Sixth Framework Programme. Apart from this, the European Commission has no responsibility for the content of this paper. The information in this document is pr ovided as is and no guarantee or warranty is given that the information is fit for any particular purpose. The user thereo f uses the information at its sole risk and liabili ty. AbstractThis article presents experimental results of cooperation between wireless IEEE 802.11a/b/g cards coming from different vendors, working in ad-hoc mode. The throughput efficiency of each of the cards was anal ysed in two different configuration scenarios consisting of two or three cards working together. Emphasis was put on the mul tirate adaptation abilities of the cards, which utilize such modulation techniques as DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK, and OFDM. The achieved results, presented in the form of figures, show that cards manufactured by independent vendors perform differently. Therefore, choosing the optimum configuration, according to the user’s requirements, is possible.
Responder Identification in Clinical Trials

The thesis gives an overview of the techniques used up to now for responder identification and it proposes a new method for systematic search for responders. The responder identification method consists of the following three steps: 1. Identification of prognostic factors (e.g. via Cox-PH model on the standard treatment arm) 2. Identification of patients in the new treatment arm, who's survival is badly estimated by the prognostic model (e.g. via search for outliers in the deviance or martingale residuals) 3. Identification of predictive factors, which describe common features of the patients with residual outliers, namely the positive and negative responders (e.g. via regression tree or bump hunting analysis, or via the suggested stabilized bump hunting procedure) The method is evaluated with a simulation study and applied on the EMIAT data se
Formative Research Activities To Provide Web‐Based Nutrition Education to Adults in the Upper Rio Grande Valley

The Internet is a promising new tool for disseminating cancer prevention information. Barriers to full implementation include disparities in access and skill and availability of information relevant at the local level. A nutrition education Web site to promote fruit and vegetable intake is being produced for a tri-ethnic adult population in Colorado and New Mexico. Development is guided by findings from formative research including focus groups with local residents, a survey on computer and Internet use with 200 adults in 1998, an assessment of public access computer sites, and in-depth discussion with local community computer skills trainers.
Refining Industrial Scale Systems in Circus

Circus is a new notation that may be used to specify both data and be- haviour aspects of a system, and has an associated refinement calculus. Although a few case studies are already available in the literature, the industrial fire control sys- tem presented in this paper is, as far as we know, the largest case study on the Circus refinement strategy. We describe the refinement and present some new laws that were needed. Our case study makes extensive use of mutual recursion; a simplified notation for specifying such systems and proving their refinements is proposed here.
Achieving a single compute device image in OpenCL for multiple GPUs

In this paper, we propose an OpenCL framework that combines multiple GPUs and treats them as a single compute device. Providing a single virtual compute device image to the user makes an OpenCL application written for a single GPU portable to the platform that has multiple GPU devices. It also makes the application exploit full computing power of the multiple GPU devices and the total amount of GPU memories available in the platform. Our OpenCL framework automatically distributes at run-time the OpenCL kernel written for a single GPU into multiple CUDA kernels that execute on the multiple GPU devices. It applies a run-time memory access range analysis to the kernel by performing a sampling run and identifies an optimal workload distribution for the kernel. To achieve a single compute device image, the runtime maintains virtual device memory that is allocated in the main memory. The OpenCL runtime treats the memory as if it were the memory of a single GPU device and keeps it consistent to the memories of the multiple GPU devices. Our OpenCL-C-to-C translator generates the sampling code from the OpenCL kernel code and OpenCL-C-to-CUDA-C translator generates the CUDA kernel code for the distributed OpenCL kernel. We show the effectiveness of our OpenCL framework by implementing the OpenCL runtime and two source-to-source translators. We evaluate its performance with a system that contains 8 GPUs using 11 OpenCL benchmark applications.
Privacy requirements implemented with a JavaCard

Privacy is extremely important in healthcare systems. Unfortunately, most of the solutions already deployed are developed empirically. After discussing some of such existing solutions, this paper describes an analytic and generic approach to protect personal data by anonymization. This approach is then applied to some representative scenarios. The architecture and its implementation with a JavaCard are finally presented. Our analysis, solution and implementation are generic enough to be adapted to various collaborative systems that process sensitive data such as e-commerce, e-government, social applications, etc
Students as Agents of Change

One of the essential challenges facing South Africans in building a democratic society is to move from redress through reconciliation to deeper transformational change. How one deepens surface structure by imagination and vision to ensure meaningful and enduring change is the focus of this article. The pressing need in higher education for a substantive discussion about the role of universities in nation-building and in developing citizenship in the visual arts must be expanded to make research relevant, inclusive and collaborative. The author considers the question of what an ‘African’ research and paradigm for the arts would mean and how the University of Johannesburg's visual arts students' participation in three examples of alternative spaces – Phumani Paper, Artist Proof Studio and a rural site in HaMakuya, Limpopo Province – has created enabling environments for students to see themselves as change agents and as navigators towards a democratic society.
Nanoscale Low Crosstalk Photonic Crystal Integrated Sensor Array

We theoretically investigate a flexible design of building nanoscale photonic crystal (PhC) integrated sensor array with low crosstalk. The proposed device consists of array of side-coupled PhC resonant cavities with high Q-factors over 2 ×103. The extinction ratio of well-defined single resonance exceeds 30 dB. Each resonant cavity has different resonant wavelengths and independently shifts its resonance in response to the refractive index variations. With three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D-FDTD) method, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed sensor array is desirable to perform monolithically integrated sensing and multiplexed detection. Particularly, the design method here makes it possible to effectively enhance sensor array integration density and simultaneously restrain crosstalk between each other adjacent sensors. The refractive index sensitivity of 100 nm/RIU and the crosstalk lower than -4 dB are observed, respectively. Both the specific result and the general idea are promising in future optical multiplexed sensing and nanophotonic integration.
Multi-Document Summarization with Subjectivity Analysis at DUC 2005

In this paper, we present our team TUT/NII results at DUC 2005 and additional experiments on improving multi-document summarization. Summarization systems have typically focused on the factual aspect of information needs. Subjectivity analysis is another essential aspect for better understanding of information needs. Our approach is based on sentence extraction, weighted by sentence type annotation, and combined with polarity term frequencies. We selected 10 topics related to subjectivity with analysis of “narratives”, and investigated improvements of ROUGE (RecallOriented Understudy for Gisting Evaluation) and BE (Basic Elements) scores with our approach. In addition, the factual aspect of information needs was also investigated.
A cross cultural validation of perceptions and use of social network service: An exploratory study

The rapid developments Social Network Service (SNS) have offered opportunities to re-visit many seminal theoretical assumptions of technology usage within socio-technical environment. Online social network is a rapidly growing field that imposes new questions to the existing IS research paradigm. It is argued that information systems research must necessarily evolve in response to the emerging trends (Lyytinen and King, 2004). Specifically, one stream of research has been heavily lacking is SNS usage prediction (Hargittai, 2007). In SNS, the form of social network is realized by computing networks where the individual assumes an identity of an avatar. People are merging their activities of work and living thus blurring the borders among their social contexts (Beck and Wade, 2006). Such new trends have become more sophisticated due to the increasingly robust data network capacity and pervasive availability of communication technology. At present, research in SNS is still in its early stage; hence the need to develop knowledge of virtual world dynamics has become impending. SNS essentially provides various service channels to facilitate social network interactions. These channels are highly correlated with their respective service contexts, among which differences are obvious and important. Cultural factors have been crucial for context oriented studies in both IS and sociology fields. For instance, the global nature of the Internet raises questions about the robustness of trust effects across cultures (Jarvenpaa et al., 1999). In SNS, not only trust but also privacy has become a tremendous caveat for service providers. Investigating the combination effects of privacy and trust in a cross-cultural study may lead to important theoretical discoveries and meaningful managerial implications. This study contributes to knowledge by empirically testing established theoretical models of IS acceptance, trust, social and cultural research. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used in order to present a comprehensive analysis of SNS perception and use in different cultural settings. Particularly, the study finds critical differences exist within the process of trust formulation between American and Chinese SNS users.
Native Client: A Sandbox for Portable, Untrusted x86 Native Code

This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation of Native Client, a sandbox for untrusted x86 native code. Native Client aims to give browser-based applications the computational performance of native applications without compromising safety. Native Client uses software fault isolation and a secure runtime to direct system interaction and side effects through interfaces managed by Native Client. Native Client provides operating system portability for binary code while supporting performance-oriented features generally absent from web application programming environments, such as thread support, instruction set extensions such as SSE, and use of compiler intrinsics and hand-coded assembler. We combine these properties in an open architecture that encourages community review and 3rd-party tools.
Exact Algorithms for Multi-Constrained QoS Routing

(cid:151) The modern network service of (cid:2)nding a feasible or an optimal path subject to multiple constraints on performance metrics such as delay, jitter, loss probability, etc. gives rise to the multi-path constrained (MCP) or multi-constrained optimal-path (MCOP) QoS routing problems, which are NP -complete. In this paper, these problems are solved through exact algorithms. Even though exact algorithms may not be used in practical applications, they are necessitous for evaluating the quality of other heuristics. The proposed exact algorithms are based the linear Lagrange relaxation technique, i.e., an aggregate weight is constructed (cid:2)rst and then a loopless K -shortest-path algorithm is employed to (cid:2)nd a feasible or an optimal solution. Simulation results indicate that as long as there exists at least one feasible path, the proposed algorithms can very ef(cid:2)ciently (cid:2)nd a solution when the network is of a moderate size (e.g., (cid:20) 200 nodes).
Effects of physical activity on exercise tests and respiratory function

Background: Exercise is an important component of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic lung disease. Objective: To explore the role of physical activity in maintaining cardiac and respiratory function in healthy people. Methods: Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a maximal treadmill test (MTT), and respiratory function was tested by spirometry. The cross sectional study included data from 24 536 healthy persons who were examined at the Cooper Clinic between 1971 and 1995; the longitudinal study included data from 5707 healthy persons who had an initial visit between 1971 and 1995 and a subsequent visit during the next five years. All participants were aged 25–55 years and completed a cardiorespiratory test and a medical questionnaire. Results: In the cross sectional study, after controlling for covariates, being active and not being a recent smoker were associated with better cardiorespiratory fitness and respiratory function in both men and women. In the follow up study, persons who remained or became active had better MTT than persons who remained or became sedentary. Men who remained active had higher forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) than the other groups. Smoking was related to lower cardiorespiratory fitness and respiratory function. Conclusions: Physical activity and non-smoking or smoking cessation is associated with maintenance of cardiorespiratory fitness. Change in physical activity habits is associated with change in cardiorespiratory fitness, but respiratory function contributed little to this association during a five year follow up.
A FLAT HIGH-FREQUENCY SCANNING MICROMIRROR

We present the Staggered Torsional Electrostatic Combdrive (STEC) fabrication process that creates thick mirrors with hightorque actuators, thereby allowing high-speed optical scanning with large angular deflections. We have demonstrated a 550 μmdiameter mirror capable of scanning an optical angle of 24.9° at its 34 kHz resonant frequency with less than 30 nm static and dynamic deformation. The optical resolution is 350 pixels – very near the diffraction-limited resolution of 355 pixels with 655 nm wavelength light.
Distinguishing high‐performing European executives

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to add to the empirical literature related to the validity and practical utility of emotional, social, and cognitive competencies in the workplace. Second, using data from two different European samples, to demonstrate the methods for validating competency models for applied use. Third, to discuss the impact of role demands and culture on the manifestation of competencies most predictive of performance.Design/methodology/approach – The basic design used in both studies is to compare data from outstanding performers against data from typical or average performers in order to determine competencies which predict performance. The data presented here are based on operant assessment of competencies using critical incident interviews, which are then systematically coded using thematic analysis to yield behavioural evidence of specific competencies.Findings – The results indicate that, while some competencies such as achievement orientation and team leader.
INTERDEPENDANCE ET TRANSFORMATION DES REPRESENTATIONS SOCIALES EN RESEAUX (Interdependence and transformation of social representations in network)

Resume L’idee que les representations sociales fonctionnent en reseau n’est pas vraiment nouvelle en psychologie sociale. Entendues comme une forme de pensee sociale fortement ancree dans l'univers ideologique des societes, les representations sociales partagent entre elles, non seulement les aspects de leur contenu, mais de leur organisation interne. L’interdependance mutuelle constitue actuellement l'une des pistes theoriques et methodologiques des plus prometteuses dans le domaine de la psychologie sociale. Dans cet article, en plus de la presentation de plusieurs travaux qui vont dans ce sens, nous illustrons cette realite psychosociale avec des resultats empiriques issus de l’analyse de presse ecrite sur deux objets: les droits de l’homme et la migration. Ainsi, la theorie de la representation sociale se situe dans le domaine de la psychologie sociale et politique. Mots-cles: Representations sociales, Interdependance, Droits de l'homme, Immigration. Abstract The conception that social representations operate in network, is not new for social psychology. Understood as a form of social thought firmly anchored in the ideological universe of societies, social representations shared not only aspects of their content but also their internal organization. A mutual interdependence or involvement is one of the theoretical and methodological sign evidenced in this theoretical field of social psychology. This article, in addition of the submission of several papers on the same matter, illustrates this psychological reality with empirical results conducted through the analysis of press material about two objects of representation: human rights and migration. Social representation theory is placed in the field of social politics psychology. Keywords: Social Representations, Interdependence, Human Rights, Human Migration. Resumen La idea que las representaciones sociales funcionan en red, no es nueva en psicologia social. Entendidas como una forma de pensamiento social fuertemente ancladas en el universo ideologico de las sociedades, las representaciones sociales comparten entre ellas no solo aspectos de su contenido, sino de su organizacion interna. Una interdependencia o mutua afectacion, constituye actualmente una de las pistas teoricas y metodologicas que se vislumbra dentro de este campo teorico de la psicologia social. En este articulo ademas de la presentacion de diversos trabajos que van en este sentido, ilustramos esta realidad psicosocial con los resultados empiricos realizado a traves del analisis de material de prensa sobre dos objetos de representacion: los derechos humanos y la migracion. De esta manera, la teoria de representacion social se situa en el campo de la psicologia social politica. Palabras claves: Representaciones Sociales, Interdependencia, Derechos Humanos, Migracion.