Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Spectrum Balancing in Multi-User xDSL Systems With On/Off Power Loading

Optimal spectrum balancing (OSB) is a centralized algorithm that optimally allocates transmit power over frequencies in a multi-user DSL environment where crosstalk is a major factor limiting performance. By using a dual decomposition, OSB decouples the spectrum management problem over frequencies. This results in per-tone optimization problems that are solved with an exhaustive search. This exhaustive search, however, has an exponential complexity in the number of users. For scenarios with several users this often becomes computationally intractable. In this paper, this complexity is reduced by limiting the possible power loadings on each tone to on/off loading with an adjustable on-level. This leads to a simple OSB algorithm with manageable complexity, simple flat transmit spectra and only minor performance degradation
Role of Nuclear Factor-&kgr;B Activation in Metalloproteinase-1, -3, and -9 Secretion by Human Macrophages In Vitro and Rabbit Foam Cells Produced In Vivo

Metalloproteinase secretion by macrophages is believed to play a key role in the matrix degradation that underlies atherosclerotic plaque instability and aneurysm formation. We studied the hypothesis that nuclear factor-&kgr;B (NF-&kgr;B), a transcription factor, is necessary for metalloproteinase secretion and, hence, is a target for pharmacological intervention. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of the inhibitory NF-&kgr;B subunit, I-&kgr; B&agr;, was achieved into human monocyte-derived macrophages in vitro and into foam cells produced in vivo in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Human macrophages and rabbit foam cells secreted matrix-degrading metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 without further stimulation, and this was not inhibited by I-&kgr;B&agr; (11±16% and 8±10%, respectively;P > 0.05). MMP-1 secretion from human macrophages increased in response to recombinant human CD40 ligand and was inhibited 92±5% by I-&kgr;B&agr; (n=3, P <0.05). Rabbit foam cells secreted MMP-1 and -3 without further stimulation, and this was inhibited 83±12% and 69±11%, respectively, by I-&kgr;B&agr; (n=6 or 7, P <0.001). I-&kgr;B&agr; did not significantly affect the expression or activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 or -2. Overexpression of I-&kgr;B&agr; inhibited collagenolytic and &bgr;-caseinolytic activity by 42±2% and 41±7%, respectively (n=3, P <0.05). Secretion of MMP-1 and MMP-3 from macrophages stimulated in vitro or in vivo depends on the activation of NF-&kgr;B. Because the inhibition of NF-&kgr;B reduces proteolytic activity, it appears to be an attractive pharmacological target in unstable atheromas.
Interest Points as a Focus Measure in Multi-Spectral Imaging

A novel multi-spectral focus measure that is based on algorithms for interest point detection, particularly on the FAST (Features from Accelerated Segment Test), Fast Hessian and Harris-Laplace detector, is described in this paper. The proposed measure methods are compared with commonly used focus measure techniques like energy of image gradient, sum-modified Laplacian, Tenenbaum’s algorithm or spatial frequency when testing their reliability and performance. The measures have been tested on a newly created database containing 420 images acquired in visible, near-infrared and thermal spectrum (7 objects in each spectrum). Algorithms based on the interest point detectors proved to be good focus measures satisfying all the requirements described in the paper, especially in thermal spectrum. It is shown that these algorithms outperformed all commonly used methods in thermal spectrum and therefore can serve as a new and more accurate focus measure.
Visualization and Security for Video Sharing and Transfer over Networks

In this paper, issues and challenges on digital media, with a focus on video, content management and protection for sharing on the Internet are discussed. High speed wired and wireless networks have helped to facilitate and speedup video transmission and streaming. Hence, the amount of video sharing on the Internet has dramatically increased. This paper will discuss current and future trends of digital video sharing. Also covered are some of the challenges regarding content management and protection. Some of the state-of-the-art for video indexing and search to support media sharing is discussed. Latest results of the authors' current work involving video sharing is also presented.
A 0.38THz fully integrated transceiver utilizing quadrature push-push circuitry

The first fully integrated transceiver operating at 0.38THz has been demonstrated in 0. 13µm SiGe BiCMOS with ƒT=230GHz. Quadrature push-push circuitry using transformer-coupled stages and Coplanar Strip (CPS) lines are used to realize a terahertz (THz) subharmonic mixer, a quadrature generator, and a quadrupler from a strong fundamental LO quadrature signal generated at the W-band. The measured Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) is −13dBm and the noise figure (NF) is 35dB, while dissipating a power of 364mW.
Coordination of AAL-Activities-a socio-technical Challenge

Assistive systems for elderly people represent technical devices which are embedded into a technical infrastructure as well as into organizational procedures. The interplay of these components requires the design and coordination of a complex socio-technical system. Research and methodologies of socio-technical design can be transferred to the introduction of AAL-solutions. The design can be guided by drafting the process of sequenced activities being started by certain events or conditions which indicate the relevance of technical support. Those activities, such as care taking, emergency handling, providing social contact etc., include the collaboration of several roles, e.g. service providers, medical experts, relatives, neighbours etc. They have to be identified and their rights and duties must be specified as well as their competencies for dealing with the technical systems. Planning and modelling the socio-technical process includes the decision who will configure the technical-solution, who will maintain it and who will use it. Especially the degree of autonomy of the user to be supported has to be specified and is a matter of ethical considerations – e.g. who will be allowed to establish audioor video-connections. The process design also supports the decision about the necessary level of service agreement, the need and frequency of technical maintenance, and the intensity of external human support which has to be combined with the technical solution. The planning of maintenance has to include needs for adaptation that occur when people learn to use of the technology more efficiently or when the physical or mental conditions of the supported person change. Taking all these factors (such as activities, services, roles, exchanged information, conditions) and their interplay into account is decisive for the acceptance of technical assistance. Biomed Tech 2014; 59 (s1) © 2014 by Walter de Gruyter • Berlin • Boston. DOI 10.1515/bmt-2014-5006 S439 Unauthenticated Download Date | 4/4/17 1:41 AM AAL in the curriculum of health technology degree program Qualification at the interface between comfort and medical care in the home environment Prof. Dr. Kurt Becker, Prof. Dr. Elmar Erkens APOLLON Hochschule der Gesundheitswirtschaft GmbH, Bremen, kurt.becker@apollon-hochschule.de APOLLON Hochschule der Gesundheitswirtschaft GmbH, Bremen, elmar.erkens@apollon-hochschule.de
Learning to calibrate: Reinforcement learning for guided calibration of visual–inertial rigs

We present a new approach to assisted intrinsic and extrinsic calibration with an observability-aware visual–inertial calibration system that guides the user through the calibration procedure by suggesting easy-to-perform motions that render the calibration parameters observable. This is done by identifying which subset of the parameter space is rendered observable with a rank-revealing decomposition of the Fisher information matrix, modeling calibration as a Markov decision process and using reinforcement learning to establish which discrete sequence of motions optimizes for the regression of the desired parameters. The goal is to address the assumption common to most calibration solutions: that sufficiently informative motions are provided by the operator. We do not make use of a process model and instead leverage an experience-based approach that is broadly applicable to any platform in the context of simultaneous localization and mapping. This is a step in the direction of long-term autonomy and “power-on-and-go” robotic systems, making repeatable and reliable calibration accessible to the non-expert operator.
ANALISIS KINERJA EKSPOR NON MIGAS INDONESIA KE UNI EROPA

Penelitian ini berisi tentang analisis kinerja ekspor non migas Indonesia ke Uni Eropa dan menganalisa beberapa faktor yang dipertimbangkan mempengaruhi kinerja ekspor non migas Indonesia, antara lain tingkat pendapatan, nilai tukar riil dan tingkat daya saing (comparative advantage). Model yang digunakan untuk estimasi dalam penelitian ini adalah adopsi dari penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Yue dan Hua (2002) yang menggunakan pendekatan indeks daya saing (Revealed Comparative Advantage) dan faktor-faktor lain yang mempengaruhi ekspor China (real exchange rate, pendapatan riil negara produsen, dan pendapatan riil partner dagang). Penelitian ini menggunakan data panel dengan deret waktu 7 tahun (2000-2006) dan unit cross section 7 negara Uni Eropa (UE) yaitu Belanda, Jerman, Inggris, Belgia, Italia, Spanyol dan Perancis. Dalam analisis data panel, pemilihan model estimasi yang efisien dilakukan melalui uji spesifikasi F-test untuk mengetahui adanya efek individu, kemudian uji Hausmann untuk menentukan Fixed Effect Model (FEM) atau Random Effect Model (REM) dan penelitian yang efisien untuk analisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kinerja ekspor non migas Indonesia ke UE adalah Fixed Effect Model. Hasil estimasi menunjukkan bahwa variabel pendapatan riil partner dagang (GDPP), daya saing komoditi manufaktur (RCAI) dan daya saing komoditi pertambangan (RCAT) berpengaruh positif terhadap kinerja ekspor non migas Indonesia ke UE, sementara variabel nilai tukar riil (RER) dan daya saing komoditi pertanian (RCAP) berpengaruh secara negatif terhadap kinerja ekspor non migas Indonesia ke UE. Penelitian ini menyarankan stakeholders ekspor non migas Indonesia agar dapat meningkatkan produktivitas untuk menghasilkan produk-produk yang efisien dan meningkatan kualitas dan promosi merek lokal. Kata Kunci: Kinerja ekspor, Revealed Comparative Advantage, Ekspor Non Migas, Uni Eropa, Data Panel, Fixed Effect Model
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Noncoding Regions of Rad51C Do Not Change the Risk of Unselected Breast Cancer but They Modulate the Level of Oxidative Stress and the DNA Damage Characteristics: A Case-Control Study

Deleterious and missense mutations of RAD51C have recently been suggested to modulate the individual susceptibility to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and unselected ovarian cancer, but not unselected breast cancer (BrC). We enrolled 132 unselected BrC females and 189 cancer-free female subjects to investigate whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in non-coding regions of RAD51C modulate the risk of BrC, and whether they affect the level of oxidative stress and the extent/characteristics of DNA damage. Neither SNPs nor reconstructed haplotypes were found to significantly affect the unselected BrC risk. Contrary to this, carriers of rs12946522, rs16943176, rs12946397 and rs17222691 rare-alleles were found to present significantly increased level of blood plasma TBARS compared to respective wild-type homozygotes (p<0.05). Furthermore, these carriers showed significantly decreased fraction of oxidatively generated DNA damage (34% of total damaged DNA) in favor of DNA strand breakage, with no effect on total DNA damage, unlike respective wild-types, among which more evenly distributed proportions between oxidatively damaged DNA (48% of total DNA damage) and DNA strand breakage was found (p<0.0005 for the difference). Such effects were found among both the BrC cases and healthy subjects, indicating that they cannot be assumed as causal factors contributing to BrC development.
Morphology and microstructure of magnetite and ilmenite inclusions in plagioclase from Adirondack anorthositic gneiss

Abstract It is well known that oriented iron and titanium oxide inclusions occur in pyroxenes and plagioclase of anorthosites and granulites, and they are attributed to exsolution at subsolidus conditions. The oxides occur as needles or platelets. In this study, we determine the morphology of oxide needles as well as their orientation in plagioclase (An 30-35) in anorthosite gneiss from the Adirondack mountains (New York). The investigation was done with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in a scanning electron microscope, as well as Laue diffraction with a microfocus synchrotron X‑ray beam at the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley. It was observed that the needle direction is [110] in magnetite and [101̅0] in ilmenite. The needle direction is consistently parallel to [001] of plagioclase. Furthermore, (111) of magnetite and (0001) of ilmenite are sub-parallel to (1̅20) and (120) of plagioclase. We note that for directions [110] in the magnetite structure and [101̅0] in ilmenite, O atoms are close-packed, and (111) and (0001) are close-packed planes, correspondingly. In plagioclase, [001] is a direction with open channels as well as approximate alignment of Si tetrahedral edges, thus providing nucleation sites with a coincidence lattice relationship. (120) and (1̅20) in this triclinic mineral are planes with approximate tetrahedral sides so that the relationship is structurally plausible. From Laue diffraction, we can determine that the magnetite needle axis is subject to an extensional stress, most likely attained during cooling of the inclusions within the plagioclase host.
A study of alternative methods for the symbolic calculation of elliptic integrals

This presentation describes the study of several candidate methods for the symbolic integration of a class of irrational expressions R(x,y), where y2 is a polynomial in x and R is a rational function of x and y. Three of these methods came from classical investigations of Legendre, Jacobi, and Weierstrass whereas one came from recent investigations of Carlson. The present paper may be considered a progress report on preliminary algorithmic study and some efforts of implementation on MACSYMA. In this presentation, we describe the study of several candidate methods for the symbolic integration of a class of irrational expressions R(x,y), where y2 is a polynomial in x and R is a rational function of x and y. We shall also summarize some efforts of implementation on MACSYMA.
The lives of asexual individuals outside of sexual and romantic relationships: education, occupation, religion and community

ABSTRACT Twenty-seven U.S. and Canadian participants who answered a call for interviews about asexual identity were asked about non-sexual aspects of their lives, including education, occupation, community and religion. Many participants indicated that being asexual was not a factor in school or college. Others mentioned advantages such as having more time for studies and fewer distractions, and disadvantages such as feeling lonely, left out or anxious. For some participants, asexuality was not an issue in the work setting, often because it is not visible or not asked about. Others worked in settings with supportive co-workers, had more time for work or were not distracted by office romances. Half the participants were part of thriving social networks, although about one-third indicated that their community was very small and many were introverts. Three-quarters of the sample identified as atheists or followed spiritual traditions that were not directly associated with mainstream religions. They also brought up the lack of asexual role models in the media. Participants reflected on how asexual identity interfaced with societal roles and the results are discussed in light of the foregrounding of sex and relationships in North America.
A communication-based model for describing patients’ journeys in hospital accident and emergency departments

A patient’s journey refers to the series of events experienced by a patient in the process of receiving care. Most of the existing descriptions presuppose medical knowledge and may not capture a patient’s experience because patients are often not well-informed on the medical aspects of care. This paper proposes a communication-based model to describe journeys as series of socio-semiotic activities, which were identified by linguistic analysis of authentic patient–practitioner communication. The model offers new granularity in characterizing the communicative unfolding of journeys, which reflects the participants’ roles and informational responsibilities. Practitioners’ communicative workload is largely concerned with information rather than actions or procedures, with doctors doing most of the communicative work. This study unpacks the communicative complexity within what would be considered as single steps from the medical point of view with a new sense of length of journeys in terms of communicative load instead of time. The study reported in this paper was conducted in the Cantonese context, which serves as the basis of follow-up studies to correlate patients’ experience described with the proposed model and the patients’ levels of satisfaction and adherence, and to compare patients’ journeys from different parts of the world described by the same model.
An Adaptive Digital Control Technique for Improved Performance of Grid Connected Inverters

Grid connected voltage source inverters may be controlled in the stationary reference frame by means of the infinite impulse response (IIR) P+Resonat regulator. This regulator is able to correctly track fixed frequency sinusoidal references, but does not perform well if the frequency of the electric grid voltage is varied. In order to avoid the lack of precision to track variable frequency sinusoidal references, an adaptive IIR filter structure is proposed which offers good tracking properties even if the frequency of the grid voltage varies. This filter adapts its coefficients in real time and is inherently stable no matter the adaptation process, thus overcoming one of the most important drawbacks of the IIR filter structure. Furthermore, this structure is perfectly suited to be programmed in fixed point digital signal processors (DSPs) because of some important numeric properties, i.e., it has a high mapping precision and a low round-off accumulation, and it avoids quantization limit cycle oscillations. The proposed adaptive controller has been tested by means of the TI TMS320F2812 DSP. The obtained experimental results show up that this controller allows the correct tracking of a sinusoidal reference, even if this reference is time variant.
Macroeconomic Risk Factors in Australian Commercial Real Estate, Listed Property Trust and Property Sector Stock Returns: A Comparative Analysis Using Garch-M

This paper employs a Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroske‐dasticity in Mean (GARCH‐M) model to consider the effect of macroeconomic factors on Australian property returns over the period 1985 to 2002. Three direct (office, retail and industrial property) and two indirect (listed property trust and property stock) returns are included in the analysis, along with market returns, short, medium and long‐term interest rates, expected and unexpected inflation, construction activity and industrial employment and production. In general, macroeconomic factors are found to be significant risk factors in Australian commercial property returns. However, the results also indicate that forecast accuracy in these models is higher for direct office, listed property trust and property stock returns and that the persistence of volatility shocks varies across the different markets, with volatility half lives of between five and seven months for direct retail and industrial property, two and three months for direct office property and less than two months with both forms of indirect property investment.
Transition from Kinetic theory to macroscopic fluid equations: A problem for domain decomposition and a source for new algorithms

Abstract In the paper we give a survey on the transition from kinetic theory to macroscopic fluid equations, where the macroscopic equations are defined as asymptotic limits of a kinetic equation. This relation can be used to derive computationally efficient domain decomposition schemes for the simulation of rarefied gas flows close to the continuum limit. Moreover, we present some basic ideas for the derivation of kinetic induced numerical schemes for macroscopic equations, namely kinetic schemes for general conservation laws as well as Lattice—Boltzmann methods for the incompressible Navier—Stokes equations.
SIS Mixer for 385-500 GHz with On-Chip LO injection

We present the design and first experimental results of a 385-500 GHz fixed-tuned double sideband (DSB) receiver based on a superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) junction mixer with on-chip LO injection circuitry. At high frequency, branch waveguide couplers are difficult to manufacture with required accuracy as the branches (slots) become extremely narrow. In order to solve this problem, we propose a coupler integrated onto the mixer chip and fabricated together with the SIS junction and the tuning circuitry. The on-chip LO directional coupler is made of superconducting lines with slot lines in the ground plane. Thus, the coupler is integrated into conventional SIS junction fabrication steps, benefiting from the processing accuracy better than 0.5 μm by using optical lithography only. Furthermore, the mixer design includes a novel component, an ellipse termination for the idle LO port, made of thin-film resistive material. This termination gives very broadband performance using a compact area. Moreover, it is very tolerant to the sheet resistivity of the film, geometry and does not require any physical grounding [1]. The mixer is to be used at the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) telescope in Chile [2].
Safe and Sound Network Coding for Wireless Video Streaming

Nowadays, viewing video has become simplified using video transmission over a network. Using video streaming, Web user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream of data and is played as it arrives. When a video has to be multicast this streaming causes traffic at the intermediate nodes. Thus network coding is used to combine different information flows into a single stream. The algebraic mixing of different packets using random linear network coding increases the throughput and robustness of streaming services over wireless networks. Network coding scheme is used to provide users with various levels of quality and thus providing different levels of confidentiality. Using the algebraic structure of network coding, hierarchical fidelity levels, robustness against wireless packet loss and efficient security can be achieved. The encryption operations are limited to a critical set of network coding coefficients. These coefficients are then rearranged in the packet header and transmitted. The proposed system is analyzed in terms of security and the simulation results are provided. In this system the multi-layered encoded video file is sent to the receiver by multi-streaming. The receiver can see the decoded recombined original video. KeywordsNetwork coding, video streaming, layered encoding.