Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of local memory for efficient Java execution

Java has become a popular choice for implementing various applications that run on mobile and hand-held devices. Optimizing the energy consumption in mobile environments is of critical importance to prolong the battery life. In this paper, we propose an object allocation strategy to reduce the energy consumption of Java applications. This object allocation strategy uses a part of the on-chip memory resources as a local memory to achieve better performance than a cache only architecture. The object allocation strategy has been implemented using an annotation based approach and shown to be effective in improving performance and reducing the memory system energy using the SPECJvm98 benchmarks.
Limitations on design principles for public key protocols

Recent papers have taken a new look at cryptographic protocols from the perspective of proposing design principles. For years, the main approach to cryptographic protocols has been logical, and a number of papers have examined the limitations of those logics. This paper takes a similar cautionary look at the design principle approach. Limitations and exceptions are offered on some of the previously given basic design principals. The focus is primarily on public key protocols, especially on the order of signature and encryption, but other principles are discussed as well. Apparently secure protocols that fail to meet principles are presented. Also presented are new attacks on protocols as well as previously claimed attacks which are not.
On the Impact of Link Scheduling on End-to-End Delays in Large Networks

We seek to provide an analytical answer whether the impact of link scheduling algorithms on end-to-end delays diminishes on long network paths. The answer is provided through a detailed multi-hop delay analysis, which is applicable to a broad class of scheduling algorithms, and which can account for statistical multiplexing. The analysis is enabled by two contributions: (1) We derive a function that can characterize the available bandwidth at a buffered link for various scheduling algorithms. This characterization is sharp enough to provide necessary and sufficient conditions for satisfying worst-case delay bounds at a single link; (2) We obtain end-to-end delay bounds by solving an optimization problem, in which the service received on a multi-hop path is subsumed into a single function. Since our analysis captures the properties of a broad group of schedulers in a single parameter, it can provide insight how the choice of scheduling algorithms impacts end-to-end delay bounds. An important finding of this paper is that schedulers may exhibit noticeable performance differences which persist in a network setting with long paths.
Self-diffusion and impurity diffusion of fcc metals using the five-frequency model and the Embedded Atom Method

The activation energies for self-diffusion of transition metals (Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt) have been calculated with the Embedded Atom Method (EAM); the results agree well with available experimental data for both mono-vacancy and di-vacancy mechanisms. The EAM was also used to calculate activation energies for vacancy migration near dilute impurities. These energies determine the atomic jump frequencies of the classic “five-frequency formula,” which yields the diffusion rates of impurities by a mono-vacancy mechanism. These calculations were found to agree fairly well with experiment and with Neumann and Hirschwald's “T_ m ” model.
Regulating Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chains through Modern Control Theory

Modeling and control of supply chain management (SCM) systems are still problematic today even though we have relatively powerful methods and IT tools available at our disposal. The complexity and the multi-disciplinary nature of the problem attracted the attention of many researchers from various different disciplines. It is possible to classify the available approaches to supply chain management as ad-hocacy, what-if-simulation, control theory, filter theory, and operations research theory. The studies that are based on control theoretic approach are limited to what is known as classical control theory; the modeling and control study presented in this work is based on the so called modern control theory. As far as the authors know, this is the first study of its kind. Through the use of modern control theory, the limitations that are imposed by its classical counterpart can be overcome, providing the opportunity to extend the modeling and control work to non-linear, time-varying, stochastic, adaptive, and large-scale systems, effectively. In the present study, a supply chain system is modeled through state-space techniques; the model is linear, discrete-time, and stochastic. The model is then analyzed to study the stability, controllability, and observability properties of the system, which are vitally important in control system design. Finally, a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller is designed with the aim of regulating the bullwhip effect in the system. The initial analyses suggest that the controller structure developed is well equipped to regulate the bullwhip effect in a supply chain system effectively.
Probabilistic Bayesian network classifier for face recognition in video sequences

The inherent properties of video sequences allow for representation of data in both spatial and temporal dimensions. Using conventional image-based methods for face recognition in video is often an ineffective approach as the essential spatio-temporal properties are not fully harnessed. This paper proposes a probabilistic Bayesian network classifier to accomplish effective recognition of faces in video sequences. In our model, we introduce a joint probability function that encodes the causal dependencies between video frames, selected exemplars or representative images of a video, and subject classes. This enables both the temporal continuity between video frames and also the spatial relationships between exemplars and their respective exemplar-set classes to be captured. To simplify the tedious estimation of densities, the proposed method also utilizes probabilistic similarity scores that are computationally inexpensive. Good recognition rates were achieved by our proposed method in comprehensive experiments conducted on two standard face video datasets.
Repellent voids for improving geographical routing efficiency in wireless sensor networks

The geographical routing suffers from communication voids in wireless sensor networks WSNs. Thus, several void-handling techniques are proposed in the literature, but they are limited in case of critical applications. In this paper, we propose an efficient approach handling both open and closed voids by using three complementary mechanisms. The first mechanism orients each packet that arrives on the network boundary toward the network middle by using the shortest path leading to the sink. The second mechanism is used by a node located on the boundary of a closed void to orient the received packets in optimal paths toward the sink. The third mechanism uses repellent forces generated by each closed void to repulse the packets from its boundary. To discharge the boundary nodes, our approach defines an announcement zone around each closed void and uses a two-hop forwarding mode in each boundary node. Our proposals achieved good performance.
Optimizing spatial filter pairs for EEG classification based on phase-synchronization

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) aim at translating brain signals, typically ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG), into commands for external devices. Spatial filters are powerful tools for EEG classification, able to reduce spatial blurring effects. In particular, optimal spatial filters have been designed to classify EEG signals based on band power features. Unfortunately, there are other relevant EEG features for which no optimal spatial filter exists. This is the case for Phase Locking Value (PLV) features, which measure the synchronization between 2 EEG channels. Therefore, this paper proposes to create such a pair of optimal spatial filters for PLV-features. To do so, we optimized a functional measuring the discriminability of PLV-features based on a genetic algorithm. An evaluation of our algorithm on a motor imagery EEG data set showed that using optimized spatial filters led to higher classification performances, and that combining the resulting PLV features with traditional methods boosts the overall BCI performances.
Parallax Panoramagrams Made with a Large Diameter Lens

Parallax panoramagrams-pictures showing stereoscopic relief through a wide range of distances and angles of observation-have here" tofore been made by anyone of several kinds of camera, in which the object, the photographic lens, the opaque line grating and the sensitive plate are given a relative motion during the progress of the exposure. Details of these cameras, and of the characteristics of the pictures made by them may be obtained by reference to an earlier publication.1 In all cases, whether separation of the grating and plate is depended on to cause the development of the panoramic strips by parallax, or a relative motion is given to plate and grating, a common characteristic is the motion of the lens with respect to the object, whereby different points of view are successively projected upon the grating and plate. This note is for the purpose of describing a method in which the moving
An electronically controlled current-mode triangular/square wave generator employing MO-CFTAs

A new current-mode triangular/square wave generator based on MO-CFTAs (Multiple output current follower transconductance amplifiers) is presented in this paper. The circuit description is very simple, its construction consists of 2 MO-CFTAs and 1 grounded capacitor without any external resistor. The output frequency and triangular/square wave amplitudes can be electronically/independently tuned via corresponding input bias currents. With mentioned features, it is very suitable to realize in a monolithic chip. The PSpice simulation results are depicted, and agree well with the theoretical anticipation. The maximum power consumption is approximately 1.48mW at ±1.5V power supply.
Singapore Rainfall Behavior: Chaotic?

The possibility of making short-term prediction of rainfall is studied by investigating the existence of chaotic behavior in the rainfall data series. The minimum number of variables essential and the number of variables sufficient to model the dynamics of the rainfall process are identified. The behavior of rainfall over different record lengths is studied. The effects of the data size and the delay time on the correlation dimension estimate are also analyzed. Daily rainfall data of different record lengths from each of six stations in Singapore are analyzed. The correlation dimension method, the inverse approach of the nonlinear prediction method, and the method of surrogate data (to detect nonlinearity) are used in the analysis. The results indicate that the rainfall data exhibit nonlinear behavior and possibly low-dimensional chaos, which imply that short-term prediction based on nonlinear dynamics might be possible. The minimum number of variables essential is identified as 3 and the number of variab.
Thermally Identified Subgroups of Marginal Zone Neurons Project to Distinct Regions of the Ventral Posterior Lateral Nucleus in Rats

Spinal marginal zone (MZ) neurons play a crucial role in the transmission of nociceptive and thermoreceptive information to the brain. The precise areas to which physiologically characterized MZ neurons project in the ventral posterior lateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus have not been clearly established. Here, we examine this projection in rats using the method of antidromic activation to map the axon terminals of neurons recorded from the MZ. Thirty-three neurons were antidromically activated using pulses of ≤30 μA in the contralateral VPL. In every case, the most rostral point from which the MZ neuron could be antidromically activated was surrounded by stimulating tracks in which large-amplitude current pulses failed to activate the examined neuron, indicating the termination of the spinothalamic tract (STT) axon. Each of 30 examined neurons responded to noxious but not innocuous mechanical stimuli applied to their cutaneous receptive fields, which ranged in size from two digits to the entire limb. Of 17 thermally tested neurons, 16 responded to innocuous or noxious thermal stimuli. Among STT neurons that responded to thermal stimuli, 50% responded to innocuous cooling as well as noxious heat and cold, 31% responded to noxious heat and cold, and 19% responded only to noxious heat. Axons from cells responsive to innocuous cooling terminated in the core region of VPL, significantly dorsal and medial relative to other thermally responsive subgroups. In rats, thermally responsive subgroups of MZ neurons project directly to distinct regions of VPL.
A study of the effects of pavement ageing on binder deterioration

This paper discusses the ageing of asphalt binder of long-term pavement performance (LTPP) sites in Southeast Queensland. The effects of pavement age on binder deterioration were examined by performing ‘Shell’ sliding plate micro-viscometer laboratory tests in accordance with Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2341.5: 1997. The tests were carried out on bituminous core samples obtained from the LTPP sites to determine the apparent viscosity of the asphalt binder. A binder deterioration model (BDM) was developed by establishing a relationship between the apparent viscosities of the binder with pavement age. The apparent viscosity data generated using the BDM were compared with that computed using the bitumen hardening model developed by Oliver (2003). The two models show a consistent trend in the binder deterioration, and the results were analysed statistically using regression analysis, Root Mean Square Error and t-test methods. The t-test shows that the data generated by the BDM have no significant deviation from the prediction by Oliver's model.
Structure unanimity based multiple description subband coding

A new multiple description coding approach is presented in this paper. In this approach, each significant wavelet coefficient is decomposed into two coefficients. One is made from the bits in the odd positions, whereas, the other is made from the bits in the even positions. These two types of coefficients are then grouped into two sub-signals. Two descriptions of coded data are formed from these sub-signals and transmitted over different channels. Similar to the polyphase transform and selective quantization multiple description coding algorithm (PTSQ), main descriptions and protecting data for the other description are separately coded. Since two sub-signals share the same hierarchical tree structure, only coefficient values in the redundancy parts need to be coded, and coding efficiency is improved. Experimental results have shown that the performance of the proposed scheme is better than that of PTSQ.
Lux-Flood Basicity of Mixed La2O3-Alkali Molten Carbonates Determined by Analysis of their Oxygen Solubility Properties

The Lux-Flood basicity of La2O3-containing alkali molten carbonate mixtures has been quantitatively estimated by a gas solubility method based on the use of acidic gaseous O2 for the titration of the oxide concentration in the melt. The amount of gaseous oxygen dissolved in the melt in form of peroxide ion has been taken as a quantitative probe for the carbonate basicity. Results demonstrate that addition of a 0.5 mol % of La2O3 to alkali carbonates is able to dramatically increase the melt basicity and that the degree of this basicity change mostly depends on the melt composition in terms of the average cation size of the alkali carbonate mixture. Plausible dissolution paths of La2O3 in molten carbonates under both acidic and basic regimes are also discussed.
Multiuser detection in multibeam satellite systems: Theoretical analysis and practical schemes

The application of multiuser detection has been recently suggested as an effective solution to maximize the achievable rates in multibeam satellite systems. While the possibility of significant theoretical gains has already been proved, the question remains whether these gains can be achieved by practical schemes. In this work, we analyze the performance of coded schemes in two different transmission scenarios. We show that classical single-user codes are not suitable for multiuser applications, and we propose two ways to improve the performance, based on the redesign of the code and of the bit mapping.
Synergistic and Antagonistic Action of Phytochrome (Phy) A and PhyB during Seedling De-Etiolation in Arabidopsis thaliana

It has been reported that Arabidopsis phytochrome (phy) A and phyB are crucial photoreceptors that display synergistic and antagonistic action during seedling de-etiolation in multiple light signaling pathways. However, the functional relationship between phyA and phyB is not fully understood under different kinds of light and in response to different intensities of such light. In this work, we compared hypocotyl elongation of the phyA-211 phyB-9 double mutant with the wild type, the phyA-211 and phyB-9 single mutants under different intensities of far-red (FR), red (R), blue (B) and white (W) light. We confirmed that phyA and phyB synergistically promote seedling de-etiolation in B-, B plus R-, W- and high R-light conditions. The correlation of endogenous ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) protein levels with the trend of hypocotyl elongation of all lines indicate that both phyA and phyB promote seedling photomorphogenesis in a synergistic manner in high-irradiance white light. Gene expression analyses of RBCS members and HY5 suggest that phyB and phyA act antagonistically on seedling development under FR light.
Microwave Carbo-thermal Reduction for Recycling of Cr from Cr-containing Steel Making Wastes

In this study, Cr-containing steel making slag and pickling sludge were reduced with graphite by microwave (MW) heating. The reduced metal (alloy) particles were obtained and their compositions were determined. Pure Cr2O3 was reduced at lower temperature than expected from thermodynamics.Fundamental studies on MW heating of Cr2O3 were performed using a multi-mode and a single mode MW applicators in order to investigate the enhanced reaction kinetics. It was demonstrated that heating of Cr2O3 requires incubation period before onset of the sudden temperature rise. Cr2O3 was preferentially heated in the electric (E-) field of MW and metal pieces were formed.It was pointed out that the MW heated specimen had inhomogeneous temperature distribution, the temperature could be measured at the localized region and/or it is an average of the temperature distribution in a miro-scale. The reduction might have occurred in the high temperature region, preferentially. In order to account for generation of the inhomogeneous distributions, two possibilities are considered. First, as the enhanced heating behavior in E-field, dielectric heating mechanism of Cr2O3 is likely, and its permittivity (loss factor) has large temperature dependence. Therefore, small initial temperature fluctuation was amplified to become the local temperature difference (hot spot). Second, occurrence of local arcing enhanced the kinetics and formation of metal pieces.
Molecular Heterogeneity of Ehrlichia chaffeensis Isolates Determined by Sequence Analysis of the 28-Kilodalton Outer Membrane Protein Genes and Other Regions of the Genome

ABSTRACT Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a tick-transmitted rickettsial agent, is responsible for human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME). In this study, we genetically mapped 10 isolates obtained from HME patients. Sequence analysis of the 28-kDa outer membrane protein (OMP) multigene locus spanning 6 of the 22 tandemly arranged genes identified three distinct genetic groups with shared homology among isolates within each group. Isolates in Groups I and III contained six genes each, while Group II isolates had a gene deletion. There were two regions on the locus where novel gene deletion or insertion mutations occurred, resulting in the net loss of one gene in Group II isolates. Numerous nucleotide differences among genes in isolates of each group also were detected. The shared homology among isolates in each group for the 28-kDa OMP locus suggests the derivation of clonal lineages. Transcription and translation analysis of the locus revealed differences in the expressed genes of different group isolates. Analysis of the 120-kDa OMP gene and variable-length PCR target gene showed size variations resulting from loss or gain of long, direct repeats within the protein coding sequences. To our knowledge this is the first study that looked at several regions of the genome simultaneously, and we provide the first evidence of heterogeneity resulting from gene deletion and insertion mutations in the E. chaffeensis genome. Diversity in different genomic regions could be the result of a selection process or of independently evolved genes.
Optimal Management Strategy of a Battery-Based Storage System to Improve Renewable Energy Integration in Distribution Networks

The paper proposes the modeling and the optimal management of a hot-temperature (sodium nickel chloride) battery system coupled with wind generators connected to a medium voltage grid. A discrete-time model of the storage device reproducing the battery main dynamics (i.e., state of charge, temperature, current, protection, and limitation systems) has been developed. The model has been validated through some experimental tests. An optimal management strategy has been implemented based on a forward dynamic programming algorithm, specifically developed to exploit the energy price arbitrage along the optimization time horizon (“generation shifting”). Taking advantage of this strategy wind generation performances can be enhanced and adapted to load demand, obtaining an increased economic gain measured by the difference between the economic revenue obtained with and without the proposed generation shifting policy.
Neural sensor-based navigation of wheeled mobile robot in unknown environment

In presented paper a new approach to a collisionfree trajectory generating for a wheeled mobile robot with Adaptive Critic Designs and Fuzzy Logic algorithm, is proposed. The presented discrete hierarchical control system consists of a trajectory generating algorithm based on a reactive navigation of the wheeled mobile robot in an unknown 2D environment with static obstacles, and a tracking control system. A strategy of reactive navigation is developed including two main behaviours: an obstacle avoiding behaviour and a goal-seeking behaviour, realised in a form of Adaptive Critic Design algorithms. These simple, individual behaviours are combined by the fuzzy combiner of behaviours that determines influence of the individual behaviours on the trajectory generation process, according to the environment conditions. The tracking control system is composed of two Dual-Heuristic Dynamic Programming algorithms, the supervisory term and the PD controller. Verification of the proposed control algorithm was realised using the mobile robot Pioneer 2-DX, equipped with one laser and eight sonar range finders, that provides object detection.