Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1 Relaxation Oscillators with Time Delay Coupling

We study networks of relaxation oscillators coupled with time delay synapses. A pair of oscillators is analyzed and shown to attain loosely synchronous solutions for a wide range of initial conditions and time delays. Simulations of one and two dimensional oscillator networks indicate that locally coupled oscillators are also loosely synchronous. Desynchronous solutions are possible when system parameters are varied. To characterize loosely synchronous networks, we introduce a measure of synchrony, the maximum time difference between any two oscillators. In locally excitatory globally inhibitory oscillator networks with time delays, we find that desynchronous solutions for different groups of oscillators are maintained, and the number of groups that can be segregated is related to the maximum time difference within each group. To examine the maximum time difference, we display its histograms for oscillator networks in one and two dimensions. Also, a range of initial conditions is given so that the maximum time difference is contained as the system evolves. available at ftp.cis. ohio-state.edu/pub/tech-report/1996/TR47-DIR The Ohio State University CIS-Technical Report #47, 1996
A New Auction Based Approach to Efficient P2P Live Streaming

P2P live media streaming systems have proliferated and become indispensable vehicles for Internet based entertainment applications. However, it is also well known that scalability of such systems is limited by the lack of proper incentive mechanisms. Specifically, it is notoriously hard to efficiently allocate upload bandwidth at each peer so as to maximize overall system performance. In this paper, we propose a new auction based mechanism for optimizing the allocation of upload bandwidth at each peer. One of the distinctive features in our approach is that peers use real"goods" (i.e., their own bandwidth resources) for payments, instead of relying on some fictitious currency. Essentially, peers use a barter mechanism in the payment step in the auction. Simulation results indicate that our proposed auction approach consistently outperforms existing practical approaches (e.g., tit for tat) in terms of average incoming stream rate, average playback delay, and control packets ratio.
A subspace based approach to the design, implementation and validation of algorithms for active vibration isolation control

This thesis deals with the design of controllers generating the anti-forces by applying techniques that are commonly used in the field of signal processing. The control approaches - that are model-based - are both adaptive and fixed gain and feedforward and feedback oriented. The control approaches are validated using two experimental vibration isolation setups: a single reference single actuator single error sensor (SR-SISO) setup and a single reference input multiple actuator input multiple error sensor output (SR-MIMO) setup.
Adaptive IMC using fuzzy neural networks for the control on non linear systems

This paper introduces the use of FasBack neuro-fuzzy system for the identification and control of non linear MIMO plants within IMC scheme. FasBack presents fast stable learning guided by matching and error minimisation, and presents good MIMO identification performance. Emphasis is made on the on-line adaptive capability of FasBack that can be used to develop adaptive IMC strategies, which are of interest in the cases of badly learned dynamics or plant parameters varying with time. Results for the control of a theoretical non linear MIMO plant from the literature reveal satisfactory performance for static model and controller, while performance is improved if adaptation is enabled. In addition, the control of a simulated penicillin plant is studied under several realistic conditions, in which adaptation shows to improve performance.
Driving performance in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, interstitial lung disease and healthy controls: a crossover intervention study

Introduction Cognitive deficits in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been described and hypoxaemia has been addressed as a possible cause. Cognitive functions in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are not well studied. These patients are taking part in everyday traffic, but little is known regarding their driving performance. This study was conducted to determine the driving performance in patients with COPD and ILD, respectively compared to healthy controls using a driving simulator. Additionally, the effect of oxygen supply was addressed. Methods 16 patients with COPD (8 receivers and 8 non-receivers of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT)), 8 patients with ILD (consisting of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias) and 8 healthy controls were tested in a driving simulator. Each test lasted 45 min. In the oxygen intervention part of the study the patients were randomised to receive oxygen therapy in the first or second test and acted as their own controls. Results Patients with COPD had significantly impaired driving performance when comparing SD from the centre of the road and number of off-road events to controls. Patients with COPD receiving LTOT performed significantly worse than those not receiving LTOT when comparing SD and worse than the patients with ILD when comparing SD and off-road events. Patients with ILD performed similarly to controls (SD: LTOT 2.39*; no LTOT 0.69*; ILD 0.37; controls 0.36; *p<0.05. Off-road: LTOT 226.67*; no LTOT 78.92*; ILD 40.00; controls 25.78; *p<0.05). Oxygen therapy had no effect on driving performance. Conclusions Patients with ILD performed similarly to controls in the driving simulator, whereas patients with COPD showed decreased driving performance, especially those receiving LTOT. Doctors should be aware of this when renewing the driving license of patients with COPD. Oxygen therapy showed no effect on driving performance. Trial registration number NCT02125916
Relationship between Reviews at App Store and the Categories for Software

The purpose of this study is making clear factors of what affects the contents of software reviews posted by customers at electronic commerce (e-Commerce) websites. Frequent referring to such reviews helps people to buy something. However, it is considered difficult to judge the quality of contents with reviews completely, because conditions for each software, such as, published data, categories, prices, are not equal. The result of this study has revealed that review styles are different with software categories, so that this paper concludes that consumers should pay attention to the bias of the reviews. Hereafter, it will be useful to investigate how to read reviews for not only consumers but also sellers, who want to know a value of software as well.
A contour code feature based segmentation for handwriting recognition

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel contourcode feature in conjunction with a rule basedsegmentation for cursive handwriting recognition. Aheuristic segmentation algorithm is initially used to oversegment each word. Then the prospective segmentationpoints are passed through the rule-based module todiscard the incorrect segmentation points and include anymissing segmentation points. The proposed rule-basedmodule validates every segmentation points againstclosed area, average character size, left character anddensity. During the left char validation, a contour codefeature is extracted and checked weather the left of theprospective segmentation point is a character or rubbish(non-char). The neural network used for this validationwas trained on character and non-character database.Following the segmentation, the contour between correctsegmentation points is passed through the featureextraction module that extracts the contour code, afterwhich another trained neural network is used forclassification. The recognized characters are groupedinto words and passed to a variable length lexicon thatretrieves words that has highest confidence value.
Clonidine as an Adjuvant to Local Anesthetics for Peripheral Nerve and Plexus Blocks: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

The effect of adding clonidine to local anesthetics for nerve or plexus blocks remains unclear. The authors searched for randomized placebo-controlled trials testing the impact of adding clonidine to local anesthetics for peripheral single-injection nerve or plexus blocks in adults undergoing any surgery (except eye) without general anesthesia. Twenty trials (1,054 patients, 573 received clonidine) published 1992–2006 tested plexus (14 brachial, 1 cervical) and nerve blocks (2 sciatic/femoral, 1 midhumeral, 1 ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric, 1 ankle). Clonidine doses ranged from 30 to 300 μg; most patients received 150 μg. Clonidine prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia (weighted mean difference 122 min; 95% confidence interval [CI] 74–169), sensory block (weighted mean difference 74 min; 95% CI 37–111), and motor block (weighted mean difference 141 min; 95% CI 82–199). In a subgroup of patients receiving an axillary plexus block, these effects were independent of whether clonidine was added to an intermediate or a long-acting local anesthetic. Clonidine increased the risk of arterial hypotension (odds ratio 3.61; 95% CI 1.52–8.55; number-needed-to-harm 11), orthostatic hypotension or fainting (odds ratio 5.07; 95% CI 1.20–21.4; number-needed-to-harm 10), bradycardia (odds ratio 3.09; 95% CI 1.10–8.64; number-needed-to-harm 13), and sedation (odds ratio 2.28; 95% CI 1.15–4.51; number-needed-to-harm 5). There was a lack of evidence of dose-responsiveness for beneficial or harmful effects. Clonidine added to intermediate or long-acting local anesthetics for single-shot peripheral nerve or plexus blocks prolongs duration of analgesia and motor block by about 2 h. The increased risk of hypotension, fainting, and sedation may limit its usefulness. Dose-responsiveness remains unclear.
Macroscopic and microscopic studies of the nests and the stages involved in the nesting process of Centris muralis Burmeister (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Centridini) bee in the adobe walls, in La Rioja, Argentina

Centris (Wagenknechtia) muralis Burmeister is one of the most common bee species distributed in the xeric region of Argentina. This work describes macro-and micromorphological aspects of the nesting architecture and the stages involved in the process of nesting of C. muralis bee, in the adobe walls of Capayán ruins and recent earthen constructions in Udpinango and Villa Castelli, La Rioja, Argentina. In addition, we discuss the possible factors that may explain the high density of nests observed in the adobe walls of Capayán ruins. These constructions are settled in the northern area of the Monte desert. Our analysis showed that the nest cell walls are strengthened and waterproofed probably by the admixture of organic material to the adobe matrix. Light microscopy of thin sections of the vacated cells showed the inner layers of organic material corresponding to the cocoon, and the outer layer of 0.7 mm thick corresponding to the cell walls consisting mainly of silt and clay, fine sand grains in low rate and absence of grains of sand medium and large. The cell wall was not different in its granulometry from that in the adobe brick, thus suggesting that the cell wall was constructed probably by cementing the particles with bee secretion. The scanning micrographs showed that the cell walls and non-nesting zones exhibited abundant clay crystals in the grain distribution. Pollen from Larrea sp. was observed in high proportions in the nest contents of C. muralis in the Capayán adobe walls.
Can Job Search Assistance Improve the Labour Market Integration for Refugees? Evidence from a Field Experiment

Ethiopia has experienced a growth acceleration over the past decade on the back of an economic strategy emphasizing public infrastructure investment and supported by heterodox macro-financial policies. To analyze the country’s growth performance during 2000–13, the paper employs a neoclassical cross-country System Generalized Method of Moments regression model. The analysis finds that accelerated growth was driven by public infrastructure investment and restrained government consumption, and supported by a conducive external environment. Macroeconomic challenges arising from declining private credit, real currency overvaluation, and relatively high inflation held back some growth. The model accurately predicts Ethiopia’s growth over the period of analysis and is robust to country-specific parameter heterogeneity and alternative infrastructure variables. Looking ahead, model simulations under alternative policy scenarios are indicative that growth may decelerate in the coming decade, making it challenging for Ethiopia to attain its middle-income country target by 2025. Although simulated growth rates do not vary much by policy scenario, the paper discusses some of the emerging risks associated with a continued reliance on the current infrastructure financing model and potential future adjustments.
Gas Density and X-Ray Surface Brightness Profiles of Clusters of Galaxies from Dark Matter Halo Potentials: Beyond the Isothermal β-Model

We describe a theoretical framework to compute the cluster gas distribution in hydrostatic equilibrium embedded in a class of spherical dark matter halo potentials. Unlike the conventional isothermal β-model, the present method provides a physical basis to directly probe the shape of the dark matter halo from the observed X-ray surface brightness and temperature profiles of clusters of galaxies. Specifically, we examine the extent to which the resulting gas density and X-ray surface brightness profiles are sensitive to the inner slope of the dark matter halo density and other more realistic effects, including the self-gravity of the gas and the polytropic equation of state. We also discuss a practical strategy to apply the present methodology to the actual cluster profiles from future X-ray observations.
Real-Time Metagenomics

In the last few years a new technology called metagenomics has revolutionized biology. This technique allows biologists to sequence the DNA (genetic makeup) of all the organisms in an environment. The Real-Time Metagenomics project provides biologists with a variety of tools to annotate metagenomes using web 2.0 technology, including web services (RTMg.web), Google’s Android cell phone operating system (RTMg.mob), and all OpenSocial-based social network sites (RTMg.os). This technology allows biologists to perform useful, fast, and easy bioinformatics services on metagenomic data. In fact, annotations of DNA sequences are performed within minutes; something that used to take hours or days.
Adult attachment style and cortisol responses across the day in older adults

The association between cortisol and adult attachment style, an important indicator of social relationships, has been relatively unexplored. Previous research has examined adult attachment and acute cortisol responses to stress in the laboratory, but less is known about cortisol levels in everyday life. The present study examined adult romantic attachment style and cortisol responses across the day. Salivary cortisol was collected at six time points during the course of the day in 1,807 healthy men and women from a subsample of the Whitehall II cohort. Significant associations were found between attachment on cortisol across the day and slope of cortisol decline. The lowest cortisol output was associated with fearful attachment, with preoccupied attachment having the highest levels and a flatter cortisol profile. The results tentatively support the proposition that attachment style may contribute to HPA dysregulation.
Persistent motor system abnormalities in formerly concussed athletes.

CONTEXT The known detrimental effects of sport concussions on motor system function include balance problems, slowed motor execution, and abnormal motor cortex excitability. OBJECTIVE To assess whether these concussion-related alterations of motor system function are still evident in collegiate football players who sustained concussions but returned to competition more than 9 months before testing. DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING University laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A group of 21 active, university-level football players who had experienced concussions was compared with 15 university football players who had not sustained concussions. INTERVENTION(S) A force platform was used to assess center-of-pressure (COP) displacement and COP oscillation regularity (approximate entropy) as measures of postural stability in the upright position. A rapid alternating-movement task was also used to assess motor execution speed. Transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor cortex was used to measure long-interval intracortical inhibition and the cortical silent period, presumably reflecting y-aminobutyric acid subtype B receptor-mediated intracortical inhibition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) COP displacement and oscillation regularity, motor execution speed, long-interval intracortical inhibition, cortical silent period. RESULTS Relative to controls, previously concussed athletes showed persistently lower COP oscillation randomness, normal performance on a rapid alternating-movement task, and more M1 intracortical inhibition that was related to the number of previous concussions. CONCLUSIONS Sport concussions were associated with pervasive changes in postural control and more M1 intracortical inhibition, providing neurophysiologic and behavioral evidence of lasting, subclinical changes in motor system integrity in concussed athletes.
Productivity Growth and the Future of the U.S. Saving Rate

Over the last half century, the saving rate in the United States exhibited significant medium- run variations. In this paper, I examine whether a general equilibrium model that allows for shifts in the rate of total factor productivity growth rate can account for these variations. The model matches the medium-run variations in the U.S. saving rate, and establishes a link between episodes of productivity slowdowns or accelerations and the saving rate—two concepts that have often been treated in isolation. I also use population projections and productivity forecasts to chart the future of the U.S. saving rate. Finally, I consider an extended version of the model, which treats housing as an input into the production of non-market goods, and explore the quantitative influence of housing on the consumption–income ratio.
Learning WordNet-Based Classification Rules

A new classification p aradigm, which automatically acquires WordNet-Based rules from a corpus, is presented. The a pproach is applied to d eveloping an autonomous s oftware a gent t hat can recognize e motions which are e xpressed in n atural l anguage during an interactive human-computer environment. Such an agent could adapt t o a user’s emotional state a nd d ynamically adjust it s interaction etiquette. Hierarchical concepts of WordNet’s noun and verb h ypernymy are the basic building blocks of the c lassification rules. A greedy learning algorithm automatically determines which hierarchical concepts are best suited for each rule. A corpus of 5000 emotional sentences has been compiled from 502 test subjects and serves as input to the system.
A Survey on Security Models, Techniques, and Tools for the Internet of Things

The Internet of things (IoT) connects a large number of smart objects that are seamlessly integrated into the information network to provide integrated services in all fields of human activity. Since IoT is vulnerable to various attacks, security and privacy are the key issues for IoT applications. In the past few years, IoT has presented a strong focus of research and different approaches have been recently proposed to address security and privacy. This paper reviews the research progress of IoT by analyzing the security requirements and presenting the different approaches and mechanisms used in IoT to ensure privacy, data protection and security.
Physical Activity Targeted at Maximal Lipid Oxidation: A Meta-Analysis

Exercise is recognized as a part of the management of obesity and diabetes. Various protocols of exercise are proposed for the management of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. One of the strategies proposed by several authors is low intensity endurance training targeted at the level of maximal oxidation. Large series using this technique are lacking. Addressing this issue, we performed a meta-analysis of the studies on anthropometric measurements. From a database of 433 articles, 15 were selected, including 279 subjects with 6 different populations. Studies duration ranged from 2 months to 12 months. Concerning weight loss, in the intervention versus control analysis, five studies with 185 participants were included with a significant effect size favors exercise (P = 0.02) without significant heterogeneity (I 2 = 0.0%, P = 0.83). Further randomized controlled trials for comparing it with other exercise protocols and defining its dose effectiveness on large samples are needed.
Speak4IT: Multimodal interaction in the wild

Speak4itSM is a consumer-oriented mobile search application that leverages multimodal input and output to allow users to search for and act on local business information. In addition to specifying queries by voice (e.g., “bike repair shops near the Golden Gate Bridge”) users can combine speech and gesture. For example, “gas stations” + &#60;route drawn on display> will return the gas stations along the specified route traced on the display. We provide interactive demonstrations of Speak4it on both the iPhone and iPad platforms and explain the underlying multimodal architecture and challenges of supporting true multimodal interaction in a deployed mobile service.
On Evaluation of Image Auto-Annotation Methods

Image auto-annotation problem grows more and more popular among the literature. There are many approaches presented, but also many ways to measure the quality of those methods. This paper discusses various quality measures for the image auto-annotation problem. We focus on comparing them and discussing their important features. Experiments and achieved results are presented for a number of auto-annotation methods
AN INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS FOR EFFICIENCY EVALUATION UNDER UNCERTAINTY: CASE OF A FINANCE AND CREDIT INSTITUTION

Performance evaluation is a challenging issue for managers. Data envelopment analysis is a non parametric and linear programming based approach to appraise the relative efficiency of a set of congruent units. One of the shortcomings of classic data envelopment model is their crispness of data. In this paper, a data envelopment model is extended in which inputs and outputs are ambiguous and are expressed in the form of intuitionistic fuzzy sets. The proposed method is extended based on a weighted aggregation operator which is defined for intuitionistic fuzzy data. This model applied the advantages of intuitionistic fuzzy data in capturing the uncertainty. The main advantages of the proposed method are its simplicity and consistency with classic models. The proposed method is applied in a real instance and its results are examined.