Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Query-Based Approach for Addressing Summarizability Issues in XOLAP

The business intelligence and decision-support systems used in many application domains casually rely on data warehouses, which are decision-oriented data repositories modeled as multidimensional (MD) structures. MD structures help navigate data through hierarchical levels of detail. In many real-world situations, hierarchies in MD models are complex, which causes data aggregation issues, collectively known as the summarizability problem. This problem leads to incorrect analyses and critically affects decision making. To enforce summarizability, existing approaches alter either MD models or data, and must be applied a priori, on a case-by-case basis, by an expert. To alter neither models nor data, a few query-time approaches have been proposed recently, but they only detect summarizability issues without solving them. Thus, we propose in this paper a novel approach that automatically detects and processes summarizability issues at query time, without requiring any particular expertise from the user. Moreover, while most existing approaches are based on the relational model, our approach focus on an XML MD model, since XML data is customarily used to represent business data and its format better copes with complex hierarchies than the relational model. Finally, our experiments show that our method is likely to scale better than a reference approach for addressing the summarizability problem in the MD context.
Goal-oriented requirements engineering: a guided tour

Goals capture, at different levels of abstraction, the various objectives the system under consideration should achieve. Goal-oriented requirements engineering is concerned with the use of goals for eliciting, elaborating, structuring, specifying, analyzing, negotiating, documenting, and modifying requirements. This area has received increasing attention. The paper reviews various research efforts undertaken along this line of research. The arguments in favor of goal orientation are first briefly discussed. The paper then compares the main approaches to goal modeling, goal specification and goal-based reasoning in the many activities of the requirements engineering process. To make the discussion more concrete, a real case study is used to suggest what a goal-oriented requirements engineering method may look like. Experience, with such approaches and tool support are briefly discussed as well.
DRAM Scheduling Policy for GPGPU Architectures Based on a Potential Function

GPGPU architectures (applications) have several different characteristics compared to traditional CPU architectures (applications): highly multithreaded architectures and SIMD-execution behavior are the two important characteristics of GPGPU computing. In this paper, we propose a potential function that models the DRAM behavior in GPGPU architectures and a DRAM scheduling policy Î±-SJF policy to minimize the potential function. The scheduling policy essentially chooses between SJF and FR-FCFS at run-time based on the number of requests from each thread and whether the thread has a row buffer hit.
Reliable Quantification of Inorganic Contamination by TXRF

The European Integrated Activity of Excellence and Networking for nanoand Micro-Electronics Analysis (ANNA), www.ANNA-i3.net, has addressed the further development and assessment of methodologies for the detection of low concentration inorganic contaminants on and in silicon as well as for novel materials. The comparison of various analytical techniques available to the ANNA partners helped to identify the degree of comparableness of results revealed at different installations. The assessment of improved methodologies as well as the reliability of quantification and calibration procedures of specific analytical techniques such as Total-Reflection X-ray Fluorescence (TXRF) analysis has been of particular interest.
Self-assembly of Laminin Isoforms*

The α, β, and γ subunits of basement membrane laminins can combine into different heterotrimeric molecules with either three full short arms (e.g. laminins-1–4), or molecules containing one (laminins-6–9) or more (laminin-5) short arm truncations. Laminin-1 (α1β1γ1), self-assembles through a calcium-dependent thermal gelation requiring binding interactions between N-terminal short arm domains, forming a meshwork polymer thought to contribute to basement membrane architecture (Yurchenco, P. D., and Cheng, Y. S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 17286–17299). However, it has been unclear whether other isoforms share this property, and if so, which ones. To begin to address this, we evaluated laminin-2 (α2β1γ1), laminin-4 (α2β2γ1), laminin-5 (α3Aβ3γ2), and laminin-6 (α3Aβ1γ1). The first two isoforms were found to self-aggregate in a concentration- and temperature-dependent manner and a close self-assembly relationship among laminins-1, -2, and -4 were demonstrated by: (a) polymerization of all three proteins was inhibited by EDTA and laminin-1 short arm fragments, (b) polymerization of laminin-1 was inhibited by fragments of laminins-2 and -4, (c) laminin-2 and, to a lesser degree, laminin-4, even well below their own critical concentration, co-aggregated with laminin-1, evidence for co-polymerization. Laminin-5, on the other hand, neither polymerized nor co-polymerized with laminin-1. Laminin-6 failed to co-aggregate with laminin-1 at all concentrations evaluated, evidence for a lack of a related self-assembly activity. The data support the hypothesis that all three short arms are required for self-assembly and suggest that the short arm domain structure of laminin isoforms affect their architecture-forming properties in basement membranes.
Nonlinear predictive control of an omnidirectional robot dribbling a rolling ball

This paper focuses on the dribbling control problem of an omnidirectional mobile robot and a rolling ball in the RoboCup middle size domain. Because the ball easily slides away from the robot when the ball moves along a curve, dribbling control is more challenging than the normal mobile robot motion control problem. Based on an introduced reference point with respect to the robot body and a sophisticated planning method of robot pose, the nonlinear predictive control is used to steer the robot to follow the planned poses so as to prevent the ball from leaving the robot. Real-world experiments showed that nonlinear predictive control is capable of solving the pose following problem in a real-time application.
A Study on the Planar Rectification of Self-Calibrated Stereo Images

In this paper, we study a planar rectification technique [1] that takes perspective projection matrices obtained by selfcalibration [2]. The self-calibration takes a nonlinear estimation called the Levenberg-Marquardt method on constraints imposed by the fundamental matrix [3] to estimate the projection matrices. The rectification technique determines new perspective projection matrices by solving four 4 3× linear homogeneous systems obtained from rectifying plane constraints. This paper shows experimental results obtained by applying the technique to controlled stereo data and real stereo images. We make the comparison based on the average vertical coordinate difference of the rectified stereo image pair. Keywords; Camera calibration, epipole, fundamental matrix, self-calibration, rectification
Quantitative Analysis of Outer Retinal Tubulation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration From Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Histology

Purpose To assess outer retinal tubulation (ORT) morphology from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) volumes and donor eye histology, analyze ORT reflectivity, and estimate the number of cones surviving in ORT. Methods In SD-OCT volumes from nine patients with advanced AMD, ORT was analyzed en face and in B-scans. The hyperreflective ORT border in cross-section was delineated and surface area calculated. Reflectivity was compared between ORT types (Closed, Open, Forming, and Branching). A flatmount retina from a donor with neovascular AMD was labeled to visualize the external limiting membrane that delimits ORT and allow measurements of cross-sectional cone area, center-to-center cone spacing, and cone density. The number of cones surviving in ORT was estimated. Results By en face SD-OCT, ORT varies in complexity and shape. Outer retinal tubulation networks almost always contain Closed cross-sections. Spectral-domain OCT volumes containing almost exclusively Closed ORTs showed no significant direction-dependent differences in hyperreflective ORT border intensity. The surface areas of partial ORT assessed by SD-OCT volumes ranged from 0.16 to 1.76 mm2. From the flatmount retina, the average cross-sectional area of cone inner segments was 49.1 ± 7.9 μm2. The average cone spacing was 7.5 ± 0.6 μm. Outer retinal tubulation cone density was 20,351 cones/mm2. The estimated number of cones in ORT in a macula ranged from 26,399 to 186,833 cones, which is 6% to 44% of the cones present in a healthy macula. Conclusions These first estimates for cone density and number of cones surviving in ORT suggest that ORT formation considerably distorts the photoreceptor mosaic. Results provide additional insight into the reflectivity characteristics and number of ORT cones observable in living patients by SD-OCT, as cones persist and disease progresses.
Non-commercial Research and Educational Use including without Limitation Use in Instruction at Your Institution, Sending It to Specific Colleagues That You Know, and Providing a Copy to Your Institution's Administrator. All Other Uses, Reproduction and Distribution, including without Limitation Comm

Mapping tools are needed to document the location and extent of Phragmites australis, a tall grass that invades coastal marshes throughout North America, displacing native plant species and degrading wetland habitat. Mapping Phragmites is particularly challenging in the freshwater Great Lakes coastal wetlands due to dynamic lake levels and vegetation diversity. We tested the applicability of Hyperion hyperspectral satellite imagery for mapping Phragmites in wetlands of the west coast of Green Bay in Wisconsin, U.S.A. A reference spectrum created using Hyperion data from several pure Phragmites stands within the image was used with a Spectral Correlation Mapper (SCM) algorithm to create a raster map with values ranging from 0 to 1, where 0 represented the greatest similarity between the reference spectrum and the image spectrum and 1 the least similarity. The final two-class thematic classification predicted monodominant Phragmites covering 3.4% of the study area. Most of this was concentrated in long linear features parallel to the Green Bay shoreline, particularly in areas that had been under water only six years earlier when lake levels were 66 cm higher. An error matrix using spring 2005 field validation points (n = 129) showed good overall accuracy—81.4%. The small size and linear arrangement of Phragmites stands was less than optimal relative to the sensor resolution, and Hyperion's 30 m resolution captured few if any pure pixels. Contemporary Phragmites maps prepared with Hyperion imagery would provide wetland managers with a tool that they currently lack, which could aid attempts to stem the spread of this invasive species.
Re-projective vs. projective camera calibration: effects on 3D-reconstruction

The camera mapping can be seen in two ways. The classic approach is to emphasize the projective nature of the camera. But also every point in the image plane determines a viewing ray by its re-projection. Both mappings can be described by the same set of parameters. In fact the re-projective camera mapping can be seen as the inversion of the projective camera mapping. In this article we compare two error functions for a camera calibration. The projective error function measures the distance of the projected prototype to the observed points in the image plane. The re-projective error function measures the distance of the prototype to the reprojected rays which are determined by the observed points. We present calibration algorithms for both error functions and compare them with regard to the 3D-reconstruction problem.
The development of an upper limb stroke rehabilitation robot: identification of clinical practices and design requirements through a survey of therapists

Purpose. Timely and adequate rehabilitation after a stroke is crucial to maximising recovery. A way of increasing treatment access could be through robots, which would aid therapists in providing post-stroke rehabilitation. This research sought to discover the needs and preferences of therapists with respect to a robot that focuses on upper limb rehabilitation. Understanding requirements for devices could help to increase integration into clinical practice. Methods. An international online survey was distributed through professional organisations and e-mail list services to therapists. The survey contained 85 items covering topics such as therapist background and treatment approach, rehabilitation aims and robotic rehabilitation device attributes. Results. Data were analysed for 233 respondents, most of whom were physiotherapists and occupational therapists from Australia, Canada and USA. Top attributes included: facilitating a variety of arm movements, being usable while seated, giving biofeedback to clients, having virtual activities specific to daily living, being useful in-home and having resistance adjustable to client needs. In addition, the device should cost under 6000 USD. Conclusions. Findings from this survey provide guidance for technology developers regarding therapists' specifications for a robotic device for upper limb rehabilitation. In addition, findings offer a better understanding of how acceptance of such devices may be facilitated.
Progesterone influences cytoplasmic maturation in porcine oocytes developing in vitro

Progesterone (P4), an ovarian steroid hormone, is an important regulator of female reproduction. In this study, we explored the influence of progesterone on porcine oocyte nuclear maturation and cytoplasmic maturation and development in vitro. We found that the presence of P4 during oocyte maturation did not inhibit polar body extrusions but significantly increased glutathione and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels relative to that in control groups. The incidence of parthenogenetically activated oocytes that could develop to the blastocyst stage was higher (p < 0.05) when oocytes were exposed to P4 as compared to that in the controls. Cell numbers were increased in the P4-treated groups. Further, the P4-specific inhibitor mifepristone (RU486) prevented porcine oocyte maturation, as represented by the reduced incidence (p < 0.05) of oocyte first polar body extrusions. RU486 affected maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity and maternal mRNA polyadenylation status. In general, these data show that P4 influences the cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes, at least partially, by decreasing their polyadenylation, thereby altering maternal gene expression.
Is sick absence related to commuting travel time? - Swedish Evidence Based on the Generalized Propensity Score Estimator

This paper focuses on the effects of commuting time on sickness insurance utilization by applying a generalized propensity score estimator to a large sample of Swedish employees. We analyse the effect of commuting time both on the probability of using sickness insurance at all and on the probability that an individual on sick leave is on so-called partial sick leave rather than being completely absent from work. Insurance utilization is in both cases defined as being ill for more than 14 days. The results indicate, in general, that individuals do not use sickness insurance because of their commuting time. However, commuting time seems to increase the risk of being on sick leave among females with relatively low annual wage earnings. The results indicate, furthermore, a relatively weak and negative relationship between the probability of being on partial sick leave and commuting time in the group of individuals who have utilized sickness insurance. The latter result applies to both men and women.
Progress in the Svet-3 space greenhouse project: Temperature measurements; thermoelectric sensor calibration apparatus

The presented work is a part of the Bulgarian “Svet-3 Space Greenhouse” project for development of a plant growth facility with adaptive environmental control and automatic optimization of plant growth conditions during the experiment. The paper discusses the performance analysis, development and testing of a laboratory calibration and check calibration thermoelectric apparatus for preparing sensors for precise temperature measurements of plant environment. The apparatus uses an insulated chamber that accommodates a temperature-stabilized aluminum plate holding both the sensors to be calibrated and the feedback one. A thermoelectric module with heatsink-fan assembly is mounted outside the chamber and in thermal contact with the plate. The apparatus uses a standard Peltier module of TEC1-12703 type, an analogue PID control system and miniature stable thermistors of 10 kΩ at 20°C for feedback temperature control. The insulated chamber provides access for an external high-precision thermometer to monitor permanently the plate temperature. The operational characteristic of the apparatus is measured and the standard deviations of the steady state temperature for each set point are calculated. The results are depicted graphically and discussed.
A kinetic model linking protein conformational motions, interflavin electron transfer and electron flux through a dual‐flavin enzyme – simulating the reductase activity of the endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase flavoprotein domains

NADPH‐dependent dual‐flavin enzymes provide electrons in many redox reactions, although the mechanism responsible for regulating their electron flux remains unclear. We recently proposed a four‐state kinetic model that links the electron flux through a dual‐flavin enzyme to its rates of interflavin electron transfer and FMN domain conformational motion [Stuehr DJ et al. (2009)[ 6 ] FEBS J276, 3959–3974]. In the present study, we ran computer simulations of the kinetic model to determine whether it could fit the experimentally‐determined, pre‐steady‐state and steady‐state traces of electron flux through the neuronal and endothelial NO synthase flavoproteins (reductase domains of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, respectively) to cytochrome c. We found that the kinetic model accurately fitted the experimental data. The simulations gave estimates for the ensemble rates of interflavin electron transfer and FMN domain conformational motion in the reductase domains of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, provided the minimum rate boundary values, and predicted the concentrations of the four enzyme species that cycle during catalysis. The findings of the present study suggest that the rates of interflavin electron transfer and FMN domain conformational motion are counterbalanced such that both processes may limit electron flux through the enzymes. Such counterbalancing would allow a robust electron flux at the same time as keeping the rates of interflavin electron transfer and FMN domain conformational motion set at relatively slow levels.
Practical prediction and prefetch for faster access to applications on mobile phones

Mobile phones have evolved from communication devices to indispensable accessories with access to real-time content. The increasing reliance on dynamic content comes at the cost of increased latency to pull the content from the Internet before the user can start using it. While prior work has explored parts of this problem, they ignore the bandwidth costs of prefetching, incur significant training overhead, need several sensors to be turned on, and do not consider practical systems issues that arise from the limited background processing capability supported by mobile operating systems. In this paper, we make app prefetch practical on mobile phones. Our contributions are two-fold. First, we design an app prediction algorithm, APPM, that requires no prior training, adapts to usage dynamics, predicts not only which app will be used next but also when it will be used, and provides high accuracy without requiring additional sensor context. Second, we perform parallel prefetch on screen unlock, a mechanism that leverages the benefits of prediction while operating within the constraints of mobile operating systems. Our experiments are conducted on long-term traces, live deployments on the Android Play Market, and user studies, and show that we outperform prior approaches to predicting app usage, while also providing practical ways to prefetch application content on mobile phones.
Path planning for a mobile robot in a rough terrain environment

The robust control of a mobile robot in a rough terrain environment is a challenging endeavour, since any reliance on favourable surface or environmental conditions will inevitably lead to task failure. This paper presents the preliminary development of a unified navigation system used to control a nonholonomic mobile robot in an a priori unknown outdoor domain. Accurate, high-resolution environmental data was gathered from a scanning laser rangefinder (ladar), which constitutes the robot's exteroceptive perception system. Using this data, a 3D tessellated environmental model was created that generically captures terrain traversability. By adapting the rapidly-exploring random tree approach to the tessellated model, an efficient kinodynamic path planning algorithm was devised that enables point-to-point trajectory traversal. This path planning strategy was found to be a computationally efficient method of producing robust and versatile path plans.
Optimization of ethanol production by yeasts from lignocellulosic feedstocks

This thesis, "Optimization of ethanol production by yeasts from lignocellulosic feedstocks," is hereby approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. iii Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to express my extreme gratitude and appreciation to the people who have generously contributed to my success as a graduate student. I will forever be indebted to Dr. Susan Bagley who graciously and patiently served as my advisor. Dr. Bagley provided me with excellent academic and professional opportunities as well as guidance and support throughout my time at MTU. She is directly responsible of me being able to achieve the things I have as a graduate student. I greatly appreciate the advice and support of my Graduate Committee. Dr. David Shonnard and Dr. Rupali Datta brought an interdisciplinary approach to my education. Their broad range of knowledge and backgrounds of fields outside of microbiology only strengthen my education. Wisconsin for so generously providing MTU with Pichia stipitis CBS 6054. I would like to thank General Motors for so generously funding the project. Morinelly for their technical support and guidance. iv Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends that who were always there for me regardless of the situation or need. My deepest thanks go out to my parents, Rick and Cindy Gleason, and husband, Nathan Groves, for their never ending encouragement and guidance. I would also like to mention that I could not have done this without the help from my best friends: Thanks to all my MTU friends that made my time here one I will never forget.