Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic SEP Analysis of Two-Way Relaying Networks With Distributed Alamouti Codes

Asymptotic symbol error probability (SEP) performance with an optimal maximum likelihood (ML) receiver and square quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellations is investigated for two-way amplify-and-forward (AF) half-duplex relaying networks employing distributed Alamouti space-time block codes (DASTCs) recently proposed by Duong By developing a novel strategy to particularly deal with some specific Gaussian integrals, two asymptotic SEP formulas are derived for both fixed- and variable-gain AF protocols. These analytic results reveal that, when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is large, the diversity gain for the variable-gain AF is 2, whereas the diversity gain function for the fixed-gain AF is proportional to SNR-2 ln SNR.
Fast and Intuitive Clustering of Web Documents

Conventional document retrieval systems (e.g., Alta Vista) return long lists of ranked documents in response to user queries. Recently, document clustering has been put forth as an alternative method of organizing retrieval results (Cutting et al. 1992). A person browsing the clusters can discover patterns that could be overlooked in the traditional presentation. This paper describes two novel clustering methods that intersect the documents in a cluster to determine the set of words (or phrases) shared by all the documents in the cluster. We report on experiments that evaluate these intersection-based clustering methods on collections of snippets returned from Web search engines. First, we show that word-intersection clustering produces superior clusters and does so faster than standard techniques. Second, we show that our O(n log n) time phrase-intersection clustering method produces comparable clusters and does so more than two orders of magnitude faster than all methods tested.
University spin-offs and their environment

Using nine university-level variables (including publications, patents, and spin-offs) and ten regional indicators, I show that the regional economy clearly differentiates Italian universities according to four distinct types, corresponding to four productivity levels. The typology stemming from multiple correspondence analysis suggests that a fertile context is important to successful universities; however, where the environment is extremely rich, individuals seem to strongly self-select at the beginning of their careers, thus dividing entrepreneurs from professors; hence university activities in these regions are lower. A categorical regression specifically exploring success in university spin-off creation tends to reject that publications and spin-offs are substitutes, and confirms several US findings, albeit in a significantly different environment.
TARGET CELL SELECTION SCHEME USING LMS ALGORITHM FOR LOAD ESTIMATION OF NEIGHBORING ENBS IN 3 GPP LTE SYSTEM

Handover failure probability is one of the important factors to determine the handover performance in cellular radio system such as the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE). To minimize the handover failure probability, the Hybird target cell selection (TCS) scheme considering both the received signal strength (RSS) and load information of neighboring evolved Node Bs (eNBs) based on X2 interface in 3GPP LTE system has been introduced. However, the amount of cell load in serving and neighboring eNBs can be drastically changed over time due to the handover operation, so the Hybrid TCS scheme should consider the cell load change between the serving and neighboring eNBs in the handover procedure for handover preparation. This paper proposes a modified Hybrid TCS scheme based on the least mean square (LMS) algorithm for estimating the load status of the neighboring eNBs in order to mitigate the handover failure probability. The proposed TCS scheme chooses the target eNB with minimum load based on the LMS algorithm and providing higher RSS. Experiment results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed scheme and its advantages over the conventional schemes in terms of handover failure probability.
Identification of Individual Neurons Reflecting Short- and Long-Term Visual Memory in an Arthropodo

Ideally, learning-related changes should be investigated while they occur in vivo, but physical accessibility and stability limit intracellular studies. Experiments with insects and crabs demonstrate their remarkable capacity to learn and memorize visual features. However, the location and physiology of individual neurons underlying these processes is unknown. A recently developed crab preparation allows stable intracellular recordings from the optic ganglia to be performed in the intact animal during learning. In the crab Chasmagnathus, a visual danger stimulus (VDS) elicits animal escape, which declines after a few stimulus presentations. The long-lasting retention of this decrement is mediated by an association between contextual cues of the training site and the VDS, therefore, called context-signal memory (CSM). CSM is achieved only by spaced training. Massed training, on the contrary, produces a decline of the escape response that is short lasting and, because it is context independent, is called signal memory (SM). Here, we show that movement detector neurons (MDNs) from the lobula (third optic ganglion) of the crab modify their response to the VDS during visual learning. These modifications strikingly correlate with the rate of acquisition and with the duration of retention of both CSM and SM. Long-term CSM is detectable from the response of the neuron 1 d after training. In contrast to MDNs, identified neurons from the medulla (second optic ganglion) show no changes. Our results indicate that visual memory in the crab, and possibly other arthropods, including insects, is accounted for by functional changes occurring in neurons originating in the optic lobes.
Resource allocation in hard real-time avionic systems. Scheduling and routing problems

Le domaine avionique a ete transforme par l'apparition des architectures modulaires integrees (IMA). Celles-ci definissent un support d'execution et de communication standard et mutualise afin de reduire la complexite de l'architecture physique. Cependant, du fait du partage des ressources, cette demarche introduit une plus grande complexite lors de la conception et de l'integration des applications ce qui implique d'assister les concepteurs avec des outils dedies. La presente these contribue a cet effort en se focalisant sur deux problemes d'allocation de ressources : i) le probleme de l'ordonnancement multiprocesseur de tâches strictement periodiques et ii) le probleme du routage des messages echanges entre les fonctions avioniques. Le premier probleme a ete formalise sous la forme d'un programme lineaire en nombres entiers afin de garantir un potentiel maximum d'evolution sur les durees d'executions des traitements. L'inefficacite d'une approche exacte pour des instances de grande taille, nous a conduit a developper une heuristique originale s'inspirant de la theorie des jeux couplee avec un algorithme multi-start. Le routage est formalise sous la forme d'un probleme d'optimisation sur la charge maximum des liens. Deux propositions sont faites pour le resoudre, l'une, exacte, est basee sur une formulation nœud-lien, et la seconde est une heuristique a deux niveaux base sur une formulation lien-chemin. Mots-Cles en francais : ordonnancement temps-reel, optimisation, systemes avioniques, architectures modulaires integrees, tâches strictement periodique, theorie de jeux, routage des liens virtuels
Shame in Physician–Patient Interactions: Patient Perspectives

This study estimated the extent to which shame is elicited in physician–patient interactions and examined the emotional and behavioral reactions of patients to such interactions. A large adult sample (N = 915) reported on their shame-provoking experiences in interactions with physicians through an anonymous survey. Half of all respondents (n = 456) recalled one or more interactions with a physician that left them feeling ashamed, with significantly more women (59%) than men (39%) reporting this. Forty-five percent of those reporting such experiences stated they terminated treatment with, avoided, or lied to their physician to avoid experiencing further shame. However, 33% believed the shame-provoking interaction provoked useful behavioral changes, and 46% were, on balance, grateful to the physician. Women, relative to men, reported that the interaction led to more negative emotional and behavioral consequences. The type of health issue involved in the interaction also was associated with differential outcomes. Thus, it appears that inducing shame in medical contexts is widespread and may well have both positive and negative effects.
Response to 'Comments on Factors that Impact the Implementation of a Systems Development Methodology'

This correspondence is a response to ? Comments on Factors that Impact Implementing a System Development Methodology,? by Yadav et al. [24]. We are gratified to see that researchers are closely examining our work. However, we must take issue with the theoretical and methodological issues raised by Yadav et al. [24]. Simply put, the issues raised do not adversely affect our study, its theoretical foundation, its research methodology, its statistical methodology, or its results.
Sol-Gel Derived Hydroxylapatite Coatings for Biomedical Applications

Abstract This paper presents the preliminary findings of a novel coating technique for the deposition of hydroxylapatite coatings on ceramic substrates. Through the use of sol-gel methods crystalline coatings of hydroxylapatite on substrates of vycor glass, polycrystal line alumina and single crystal magnesia have been successfully produced. The production of sol-gel solutions, coatings and their analysis was examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Results thus far indicate that high quality hydroxylapatite coatings can be produced on ceramic substrates, with coatings deposited in this manner offering a number of benefits over other coating methods.
Coffee maker patterns and the design of energy feedback artefacts

Smart electricity meters and home displays are being installed in people's homes with the assumption that households will make the necessary efforts to reduce their electricity consumption. However, present solutions do not sufficiently account for the social implications of design. There is a potential for greater savings if we can better understand how such designs affect behaviour. In this paper, we describe our design of an energy awareness artefact - the Energy AWARE Clock - and discuss it in relation to behavioural processes in the home. A user study is carried out to study the deployment of the prototype in real domestic contexts for three months. Results indicate that the Energy AWARE Clock played a significant role in drawing households' attention to their electricity use. It became a natural part of the household and conceptions of electricity became naturalized into informants' everyday language.
Temperature and rate dependent finite strain behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene terephthalate)-glycol above the glass transition temperature

Poly(ethylene tereplithalate) is widely used for consumer products such as drawn fibers, stretched films, and soda bottles. Much of its commercial success lies in the fact that it crystallizes at large strains during warm deformation processing. The imparted crystallinity increases its stiffness and strength, improves its dimensional stability, and increases its density. The crystallization process and the stress-strain behavior above the glass transition depend strongly on temperature, strain rate, strain magnitude, and strain state. A robust constitutive model to accurately account for this stress-strain behavior in the processing regime is highly desirable in order to predict and computationally design warm deformation processes to achieve desired end product geometries and properties. This thesis aims to better understand the material behavior above the glass transition temperature in the processing regime. It examines the strain rate, strain state, and temperature dependent mechanical behavior of two polymers: PET and PETG, an amorphous non-crystallizing copolymer of PET, in order to isolate the effects of crystallization on the stress-strain behavior. Experiments over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates were performed in uniaxial and plane strain compression. A constitutive model of the observed rate and temperature dependent stress-strain behavior was then developed. The model represents the material's resistance to deformation with two parallel elements: an intermolecular resistance to flow and a resistance due to molecular network interactions. The model predicts the temperature and rate dependence of many stress-strain features of PET and PETG very well, including the initial modulus, flow stress, initial hardening modulus, and dramatic strain hardening. The modeling results indicate that the large strain hardening behavior of both materials can only be captured by including a critical orientation parameter to halt the molecular relaxation process once the network achieves a spe3 cific level of molecular orientation. This suggests that much of the strain hardening in PET is due to molecular orientation and not to strain-induced crystallization. An example blow molding process is simulated to demonstrate the industrial applicability of the proposed model. Thesis Supervisor: Mary C. Boyce Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Dipole antenna radiation characteristics influenced by shoulder and head effects

This paper presents effects of the shoulder on the radiation characteristics of a half wavelength dipole antenna located near the human head. The wire-grid method was used in the analysis. The calculated results were confirmed by experiments using a homogeneous human phantom. The wire-grid analysis also yielded radiation efficiency and mean effective gain characteristic results in a multiple radio wave environment regarding antenna polarization and antenna-head distance.
Effect of N-Phenyl-p-Phenylenediamine Modified Vegetable Oils on Properties of ENR/PP Thermoplastic Vulcanizates: A Comparative Study

This research focuses on feasibility study of using n-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine modified vegetable oils as processing oil in the blend formulation of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) /polypropylene (PP) thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). Effect of n-phenyl-p-phenylene-diamine modified vegetable oils on tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of the ENR/PP TPVs was investigated. For a comparison purpose, vegetable oils, epoxidized vegetable oils, and white oil were selected and also used in our experiment. Results show that all types of oils used in this study did not give the TPVs with significantly different values of tensile strength. The TPVs with petrochemical based white oil obviously provided the best elongation at break and tension set. However, by using n-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine modified palm oil (pA-m-EPO) the ENR/PP TPVs showed superior elastomeric properties (higher storage modulus together with lower tension set, tan δ and complex viscosity) than those of other TPVs. This means that the pA-m-EPO performed good compatibility with the TPV and had good distribution in the ENR molecules.
Preparation of Porous Mullite Ceramics Using Fly Ash Cenosphere as a Pore‐Forming Agent by Gelcasting Process

Porous mullite ceramics were fabricated from an industrial grade mullite powder by gelcasting process using fly ash cenospheres (FAC) as a pore-forming agent. The influence of content of FAC and sintering temperature on the density and strength was evaluated. The microstructure showed that FAC can act as a sintering aid and a pore-forming agent. When the sintering temperature at 1200°C, porous mullite ceramics with a relatively high porosity (48.1–72.2%), low density (0.84–1.64 g/cm3), low thermal conductivity (0.16–0.22 W/m · K), and high compressive strength (6.21–14.70 MPa) have been obtained.
An hybrid image processing approach to liptracking independent of head orientation

This paper examines the influence of head orientation in liptracking. There are two main conclusions: First, lip gesture analysis and head movement correction should be processed independently. Second, the measurement of articulatory parameters may be corrupted by head movement if it is performed directly at the pixel level. We thus propose an innovative technique of liptracking which relies on a "3D active contour" model of the lips controlled by articulatory parameters. The 3D model is projected onto the image of a speaking face through a camera model, thus allowing spatial re-orientation of the head. Liptracking is then performed by automatic adjustment of the control parameters, independently of head orientation. The final objective of our study is to apply a pixel-based method to detect head orientation. Nevertheless, we consider that head motion and lip gestures are detected by different processes, whether cognitive (by humans) or computational (by machines). Due to this, we decided to first develop and evaluate orientation-free liptracking through a non video-based head motion detection technique which is here presented.
Electrical properties of back-gated n-layer graphene films

We present results of room temperature studies of the electrical characteristics of back-gated ultrathin graphite films prepared by mechanical transfer of thin sections of Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) to a Si/SiO2 substrate. The films studied were quite thin, exhibiting only a few graphene layers (n). Films with thickness in the range 1 < n < 20 were studied, where n has been deduced by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) z-scans. The n value deduced by AFM z-scan data was correlated with the n value deduced by Raman scattering data. We discuss at some length, the issue of whether or not Raman scattering can provide a standalone measure of n. Electrical contacts were made to a few of the low n (n = 1,2,3) graphene films. Most graphene films exhibited a nearly symmetric resistance (R) anomaly vs. gate voltage (VG) in the range 25 < VG < 110 V; some films exhibited as much as a factor of ~50 decrease in R (relative to the maximum R) with changing VG. An interesting low bias shoulder on the negative side of the resistance peak anomaly was also observed. The devices were fabricated with a lithography free process.
Using EM algorithm as a new method for Synchronization and channel estimation of MIMO-OFDM systems

In this paper, a new algorithm has introduced the most estimation similarity, channel coefficients fading and moving the carrier frequency in MIMO-OFDM systems. The purpose of this paper provides an algorithm to synchronize and estimate channel coefficients which has low computational complexity. The proposed algorithm using the process sequence containing the training symbols, carrier frequency offset and channel coefficients fading, estimate in two consecutive stages. Consequently, low computational complexity and having easy implementation. Moreover, the algorithm can be used in a variety of STC-OFDM systems.
Dropout Inference in Bayesian Neural Networks with Alpha-divergences

To obtain uncertainty estimates with real-world Bayesian deep learning models, practical inference approximations are needed. Dropout variational inference (VI) for example has been used for machine vision and medical applications, but VI can severely underestimates model uncertainty. Alpha-divergences are alternative divergences to VI's KL objective, which are able to avoid VI's uncertainty underestimation. But these are hard to use in practice: existing techniques can only use Gaussian approximating distributions, and require existing models to be changed radically, thus are of limited use for practitioners. We propose a reparametrisation of the alpha-divergence objectives, deriving a simple inference technique which, together with dropout, can be easily implemented with existing models by simply changing the loss of the model. We demonstrate improved uncertainty estimates and accuracy compared to VI in dropout networks. We study our model's epistemic uncertainty far away from the data using adversarial images, showing that these can be distinguished from non-adversarial images by examining our model's uncertainty.
Voronoi diagrams based on convex distance functions

We present an “expanding waves” view of Voronoi diagrams that allows such diagrams to be defined for very general metrics and for distance measures that do not qualify as metrics. If a pebble is dropped into a still pond, circular waves move out from the point of impact. If n pebbles are dropped simultaneously, the places where wave fronts meet define the Voronoi diagram on the n points of impact. The Voronoi diagram for any normed metric, including the Lp metrics, can be obtained by changing the shape of the wave front from a circle to the shape of the “circle” in that metric. (For example, the “circle” in the L1 metric is diamond shaped.) For any convex wave shape there is a corresponding convex distance function. If the shape is not symmetric about its center (a triangle, for example) then the resulting distance function is not a metric, although it can still be used to define a Voronoi diagram. Like Voronoi diagrams based on the Euclidean metric, the Voronoi diagrams based on other normed metrics can be used to solve various closest-point problems (all-nearest-neighbors, minimum spanning trees, etc.). Some of these problems also make sense under convex distance functions which are not metrics. In particular, the “largest empty circle” problem becomes the “largest empty convex shape” problem, and “motion planning for a disc” becomes “motion planning for a convex shape”. These problems can both be solved quickly given the Voronoi diagram. We present an asymptotically optimal algorithm for computing Voronoi diagrams based on convex distance functions.
Channel and Pin Assignment for Three Dimensional Packaging Routing

Three dimensional packaging is becoming a popular concept because of the numerous advantages it has to offer over the existing conventional technologies such as PCB and MCM. System on Packages (SOP) is an example of three dimensional packaging. In this paper, we present the channel and pin assignment algorithms for 3D packaging routing. There exist multiple floorplan, routing, and pin distribution layers in SOP. The purpose of SOP channel assignment is to finish the connection between a pair of floorplan and pin distribution layers. We perform SOP pin assignment in case the pin location of some blocks in floorplan layer is not known. Our related experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm.