Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A restarted Lanczos approximation to functions of a symmetric matrix

In this paper the error term in the 'first' method of Eiermann & Ernst (2006, SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 44, 2481-2504) for restarting the Lanczos approximation of the matrix-vector product f (A)b, where A ∈ ℝ n×n is symmetric, is re-derived and expressed as an explicit partial fraction expansion of the divided differences. The partial fraction representation makes the new variant slightly more stable (albeit still unstable) than the former method because it requires fewer finite-difference evaluations. We then present an error bound for the restarted Lanczos approximation of f (A)b for symmetric positive-definite A when f is in a particular class of completely monotone functions and illustrate for some important matrix function applications the usefulness of these bounds for terminating the restart process once the desired accuracy in the matrix function approximation has been achieved. Finally, in an attempt to overcome the inherent instability of our restart procedure, we propose a simple heuristic that identifies when to halt the iterations.
The Impact of Change in the Kibbutz on Risk- Taking of Entrepreneurs

In the last decade the Israeli Kibbutz movement underwent crucial changes as to its level of cooperation. More than half of the Kibbutzim have changed towards a less cooperative system now characterized by increasing individualism. Since the process of organizational change occurred during a defined period of time, Kibbutzim can be considered a laboratory for investigating the changes in risk-taking. Thus, it is the aim of our paper to investigate the relation between the levels of inequality in Kibbutz organizations and its impact on their risk-taking propensity regarding new venture creation. We investigated 58 Kibbutzim; 36 underwent organizational change processes towards increasing individualism between the years 1997 to 2004, whereas the remaining 22 continued the traditional collective-oriented style. The comparison of differential-oriented Kibbutzim and collective-oriented ones in 2004 shows a difference of distribution of operational risk level between the two organizational cultures. We found higher degree of risk-taking in more collective-oriented organizational cultures.
Assolo, a New Method for Available Bandwidth Estimation

End-to-end available bandwidth estimation is very important for bandwidth dependent applications, quality of service verification and traffic engineering. Although several techniques and tools have been developed in the past, producing reliable estimations in real-time still remains challenging -- it is necessary to ensure that the measurement process is accurate, non-intrusive and robust to non-deterministic delays or traffic bursts. This paper presents ASSOLO, a new active probing tool for estimating available bandwidth based on the concept of ``self-induced congestion''. ASSOLO features a new probing traffic profile called \textsc{reach} (Reflected ExponentiAl Chirp), which tests a wide range of rates being more accurate in the center of the probing interval. Moreover, the tool runs inside a real-time operating system and uses some de-noising techniques to improve the measurement process. Experimental results show that ASSOLO outperforms pathChirp, a state-of-the-art measurement tool, estimating available bandwidth with greater accuracy and stability.
Scribble query: fluid touch brushing for multivariate data visualization

The wide availability of touch-enabled devices is a unique opportunity for visualization research to invent novel techniques to fluently explore, analyse, and understand complex and large-scale data. In this paper, we introduce Scribble Query, a novel interaction technique for fluid freehand scribbling (casual drawing) on touch-enabled devices to support interactive querying in data visualizations. Inspired by the low-entry yet rich interaction of touch drawing applications, a Scribble Query can be created with a single touch stroke yet have the expressiveness of multiple brushes (a conventionally used interaction technique). We have applied the Scribble Query interaction technique in a multivariate visualization tool, deployed the tool with domain experts from five different domains, and conducted deployment studies with these domain experts on their utilization of multivariate visualization with Scribble Query. The studies suggest that Scribble Query has a low entry barrier facilitating easy adoption, casual and infrequent usage, and in one case, enabled live dissemination of findings by the domain expert to managers in the organization.
Kinematic Optimization of a Redundantly Actuated Parallel Mechanism for Maximizing Stiffness and Workspace Using

We present an optimization procedure that uses the Taguchi method to maximize the mean stiffness and workspace of a redundantly actuated parallel mechanism at the same time. The Taguchi method is used to separate the more influential and controllable variables from the less influential ones among kinematic parameters in workspace analysis and stiffness analysis. In the first stage of optimization, the number of experimental variables is reduced by the response analysis. Quasi-optimal kinematic parameter group is obtained in the second stage of optimization after the response analysis. As a validation of the suggested procedure, the kinematic parameters of a planar 2-DOF parallel manipulator are optimized, which optimization procedure is used to investigate the optimal kinematic parameter groups between the length of the link and the stiffness. DOI: 10.1115/1.4002268
Design of Doherty Power Amplifiers for Handset Applications

In this paper, we analyze the power drive of a Doherty power amplifier (PA), and introduce a technique for proper input dividing without a coupler. For the proper Doherty operation, we place a phase compensation circuit at the input of the carrier amplifier. We also propose an output matching of Doherty PA to reduce the number of matching components, and to match the output impedances to enhance efficiency and linearity in consideration of the uneven input drive. The PA circuit is fabricated using a 2-μm InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor process and combined for Doherty operation using merged lumped components. For the IEEE 802.16e m-WiMAX signal, which has a 9.54-dB crest factor and 8.75-MHz bandwidth, the PA has an error vector magnitude of 3% and a power-added efficiency of 40.2% at an output power of 26 dBm.
A Genetic Algorithm with Tabu List and Sharing Scheme for Optimal Design of Electrical Machines

This paper presents a new genetic algorithm with tabu list and sharing scheme for optimizing the design of electrical machines. The design problem was formulated as a multimodal function optimization problem. All the obtained solutions are divided into clusters before being judged by a trained neural network to decide which solution is optimal. From the results of examples, as well as comparisons with classical genetic algorithms (GAs) with sharing scheme, we can see that the proposed GA reveals the intrinsic solution region distribution more distinctly, therefore having more possibility to nd out the global optimal solution for design of electrical machines.
Inline bandwidth measurements: Implementation difficulties and their solutions

We have proposed the concept of inline network measurement, which involves the concept of "plugging'' unactive bandwidth measurement into an active TCP connection. Mechanisms using this method have the advantage of requiring no extra traffic for measuring available bandwidth, whereas other active measurement tools cannot fundamentally avoid adding probing traffic onto the network. However, when the inline network measurement algorithms are implemented in general-purpose computers, some problems arise, such as the clock resolution of the kernel system, interrupt coalescence (IC) deployed in network interface cards, and the behavior of TCP receiver. In the present paper, we explain these difficulties and describe our current solutions. Furthermore, we implement the measurement algorithms and the solutions against those problems in a Free BSD 4.10 kernel system, and present some results on experimental networks. The experimentally obtained results are used to verify the solutions and to confirm the effectiveness of our concept, inline network measurement, on actual networks. We also compare the performance of the packet interval-based approaches and packet-burst interval-based approaches, and demonstrate that using packet-burst for the measurement in high-speed networks is quite effective.
On Systematic Testing for Execution-Time Analysis

Given a program and a time deadline, does the program finish before the deadline when executed on a given platform? With the requirement to produce a test case when such a violation can occur, we refer to this problem as the worst-case execution-time testing (WCETT) problem. In this paper, we present an approach for solving the WCETT problem for loop-free programs by timing the execution of a program on a small number of carefully calculated inputs. We then create a sequence of integer linear programs the solutions of which encode the best timing model consistent with the measurements. By solving the programs we can find the worst-case input as well as estimate execution time of any other input. Our solution is more accurate than previous approaches and, unlikely previous work, by increasing the number of measurements we can produce WCETT bounds up to any desired accuracy. Timing of a program depends on the properties of the platform it executes on. We further show how our approach can be used to quantify the timing repeatability of the underlying platform.
Activity-based costing and warm fuzzies: costing, presentation and framing influences on decision-making. a business optimization simulation

(ABSTRACT) Activity-Based Costing is presented in accounting text books as a costing system that can be used to make valuable managerial decisions. Accounting journals regularly report the successful implementations and benefits of activity-based costing systems for particular businesses. Little experimental or empirical evidence exists, however, that has demonstrated the benefits of activity-based costing under controlled conditions. Similarly, although case studies report conditions that may or may not favor activity-based costing decision making, controlled studies that measure the actual influence of those conditions on the usefulness of activity-based costing information are few. This study looked at the decision usefulness of activity-based costing information under controlled, laboratory settings. An interactive computer simulation tested the ability of 48 accounting majors to optimize profits with and without activity-based costing information and tested to see if presentation format or decision framing would influence their outcomes. The research showed that the activity-based costing information resulted in significantly better profitability decisions and required no additional time. Presentation in graphic (bar charts) or numeric (tabular reports) format did not influence profitability decisions but the graphs took longer for analysis and decision making. Decision framing influences were shown to beneficially affect profitability decisions but did not require additional time. Decision framing was especially helpful with the non-activity based costing information; it had no significant effect on activity-based costing performance. iii This work is dedicated to Lynne. We met and fell in love in 1966. iv PREFACE Once upon a time in a land called Brooklyn a man named Isaac Asimov was born. He grew up and wrote more books than anyone in the world. He said that writing a dissertation should be fun. Kurt Vonnegut recently remarked at a talk at USC Aiken that the funniest thing he ever said was during a memorial service for Isaac. Kurt has said and written much during his career. Some fun, some not. He said that writing should be interesting. My father said that my dissertation should be whatever I wanted it to be. He was like that. Lynne, my wife and mate, said that my dissertation should be-" DONE. " With that quadraphonic bastion of support and inspiration {hey Lynnie you're not in bad company here} I began. And, look and see, here it is: The Book! Was it fun? Is it interesting? Is it what I wanted? Well we're a bit tired right now. Let's just say for now that …
A capacity analysis of MIMO OFDMA for 4G cellular system design

Orthogonal frequency division multiple access is a promising candidate for multiple access. It was originally proposed for cable TV (CATV) networks in Europe. Recently it has been considered in IEEE-802.16 Wireless Metropolitan Area Network. [2] OFDMA possess finer granularity in resource allocation. If we get channel state information at the transmitter, (CSIT); We can say that OFDMA possess higher system capacity in a single cell environment. In single cell environment, interference is white but in multicellular systems, the intercell interference must be considered and that is colored. Colored intercell interferences arise in a multicarrier system due to various reasons such as frequency selective channels, bursty transmission or non-uniform subcarrier power allocation. The absence or the imperfection of the interference knowledge will cause outage, despite CSIT. In this case, the Ergodic capacity is no longer sufficient to compare the performance of the systems. Instead, the system goodput is more meaningful for performance evaluation. In addition to intercell interference pattern, the transmit power spectrum also affects suitability of the multiple access system for multi-cell system applications. It has become very much necessary to investigate performance of various multiple access systems in a multi-cell scenario for traffics of data such as voice and packets with high data rate. Industry needs to get precise and useful insights for effective B3G or 4G cellular system designs.
The Economic Effects of the Tax Reform Act of 1986

The Tax Reform Act of 1986 constituted the most sweeping postwar change in the U.S. federal income tax. This paper considers what the Act accomplished and its implications for future tax policy. After a review of the Act itself, and why it happened, we consider the evidence of the Act's impact on economic activity and how this evidence squares with initial predictions. Where appropriate, we draw out how consideration of the impact of TRA86 has contributed to the development of the methodology of economic analysis. We conclude with an overall evaluation of the Act.
Aggregate Savings in the Presence of Private and Social Insurance

In the presence of uncertain lifetimes, social security has the characteristics of an annuity: a consumer pays a tax when young in exchange for receiving a social security benefit if he survives to be old. If consumers have identical ex ante mortality probabilities, then a fully funded social security system would offer a rate of return equal to the actuarially fair rate available on competitively supplied private annuities. In this case fully funded social security would be a redundant asset and would have no effect on consumption or national saving. In this paper, consumers have different (publicly known) ex antemortality probabilities and consequently can buy actuarially fair private annuities offering different rates of return. If the social security system does not discriminate on the basis of ex ante mortality probabilities, then the introduction of social security induces a redistribution of income from consumers with a high probability of dying young to consumers with a low probability of dying young. Under homothetic utility this redistribution reduces aggregate bequests and aggregate consumption of young consumers in the steady state; the steady state national capital stock can either increase or decrease. If consumers display at least as much risk a version as the logarithmic utility function, then average steady state welfare is increased by the introduction of fully funded social security.
Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in Posterolateral Spinal Fusion: What's the Right Dose?

Study Design Single center retrospective cohort analysis. Purpose The goal was to evaluate the influence of varying amount of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) per level on fusion rates and complications in posterolateral spinal fusions. Overview of Literature rhBMP-2 has been utilized for lumbar posterolateral fusions for many years. Initial rhBMP-2 recommendations were 20 mg/level of fusion. Dose and concentration per level in current studies vary from 4.2 to 40 mg and 1.5 to 2.0 mg/mL, respectively. Variable fusion and complication rates have been reported. Methods Patients (n=1,610) undergoing instrumented lumbar spinal fusion (2003–2009) with utilization of rhBMP-2 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient demographics, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, number of levels, associated interbody fusion, and types of bone void filler were analyzed. Fusions rates and nonunions were subdivided into number of levels and amount of rhBMP-2 used per level. Results Patients (n=559) were evaluated with 58.5% females having an average age of 63 years, BMI of 31 kg/m2. Number of levels fused ranged from 1 to 8. rhBMP-2 averaged 7.3 mg/level (range, 1.5–24 mg/level) based upon length of collagen sponge in relation to length of fusion levels. Patients with non-union formation had lower rhBMP-2 dose per level (p=0.016). A significant difference in non-union rate was found between patients undergoing fusion with <6 mg/level compared to those with >6 mg/level (9.1% vs. 2.4%, χ2=0.012). No significant differences were noted between 6–11.9 mg/level and ≥12 mg/level. No threshold was found for seroma formation or bone overgrowth. Conclusions Previous recommendation of 20 mg/level of rhBMP-2 is more than what is required for predictable fusion rates of 98%. No dose related increase of infection, seroma formation, and bone overgrowth has been found. In order to provide variable dosing and cost reduction, industry generated rhBMP-2 kit size should be optimized.
Aggressiveness of human melanoma xenograft models is promoted by aneuploidy-driven gene expression deregulation

Melanoma is a devastating skin cancer characterized by distinct biological subtypes. Besides frequent mutations in growth- and survival-promoting genes like BRAF and NRAS, melanomas additionally harbor complex non-random genomic alterations. Using an integrative approach, we have analysed genomic and gene expression changes in human melanoma cell lines (N=32) derived from primary tumors and various metastatic sites and investigated the relation to local growth aggressiveness as xenografts in immuno-compromised mice (N=22). Although the vast majority (>90%) of melanoma models harbored mutations in either BRAF or NRAS, significant differences in subcutaneous growth aggressiveness became obvious. Unsupervised clustering revealed that genomic alterations rather than gene expression data reflected this aggressive phenotype, while no association with histology, stage or metastatic site of the original melanoma was found. Genomic clustering allowed separation of melanoma models into two subgroups with differing local growth aggressiveness in vivo. Regarding genes expressed at significantly altered levels between these subgroups, a surprising correlation with the respective gene doses (>85% accordance) was found. Genes deregulated at the DNA and mRNA level included well-known cancer genes partly already linked to melanoma (RAS genes, PTEN, AURKA, MAPK inhibitors Sprouty/Spred), but also novel candidates like SIPA1 (a Rap1GAP). Pathway mining further supported deregulation of Rap1 signaling in the aggressive subgroup e.g. by additional repression of two Rap1GEFs. Accordingly, siRNA-mediated down-regulation of SIPA1 exerted significant effects on clonogenicity, adherence and migration in aggressive melanoma models. Together our data suggest that an aneuploidy-driven gene expression deregulation drives local aggressiveness in human melanoma.
Background Subtraction Algorithm Based Human Motion Detection

- Recent research in computer vision has increasingly focused on building systems for observing humans and understanding their look, activities, and behavior providing advanced interfaces for interacting with humans, and creating sensible models of humans for various purposes. In order for any of these systems to function, they require methods for detecting people from a given input image or a video. Visual analysis of human motion is currently one of the most active research topics in computer vision. In which the moving human body detection is the most important part of the human body motion analysis, the purpose is to detect the moving human body from the background image in video sequences, and for the follow-up treatment such as the target classification, the human body tracking and behavior understanding, its effective detection plays a very important role. Human motion analysis concerns the detection, tracking and recognition of people behaviors, from image sequences involving humans.According to the result of moving object detection research on video sequences. This paper presents a new algorithm for detecting moving objects from a static background scene to detect moving object based on background subtraction. We set up a reliable background updating model based on statistical. After that, morphological filtering is initiated to remove the noise and solve the background interruption difficulty. At last, contour projection analysis is combined with the shape analysis to remove the effect of shadow; the moving human bodies are accurately and reliably detected. The experiment results show that the proposed method runs rapidly, exactly and fits for the concurrent detection.
Competitive learning, Simulated annealing and genetic algorithms for the separation of sources.

This paper presents a new adaptive procedure for the linear and non-linear separation of signals with nonuniform, symmetrical probability distributions, based on both simulated annealing (SA) and competitive learning (CL) methods by means of a neural network, considering the properties of the vectorial spaces of sources and mixtures, and using a multiple linearization in the mixture space. Also, the paper proposes the fusion of two important paradigms, Genetic Algorithms and the Blind Separation of Sources in Nonlinear Mixtures (GABSS). Although the topic of BSS, by means of various techniques, including ICA, PCA, and neural networks, has been amply discussed in the literature, to date the possibility of using genetic algorithms has not been seriously explored. However, in Nonlinear Mixtures, optimization of the system parameters and, especially, the search for invertible functions is very difficult due to the existence of many local minima. From experimental results, this paper demonstrates the possible benefits offered by GAs in combination with BSS, such as robustness against local minima, the parallel search for various solutions, and a high degree of flexibility in the evaluation function.The main characteristics of the method are its simplicity and the rapid convergence experimentally validated by the separation of many kinds of signals, such as speech or biomedical data. KEY WORDS: Independent Component Analysis, Separation of sources, Simulated annealing, Genetic algorithms, Neural networks.