Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimodal Interface Agents and the Architecture of Psychosocial Dialogue Skills

Multimodal interaction between people is generally effortless and effective. We exchange glances, take turns speaking and make facial expressions to achieve the goals of the dialogue. Bringing such an interaction style to computers would constitute a relatively new kind of interface that relies on social convention and psychosocial dialogue skills. The proposed work deals with supporting such “full-duplex” relationship between human and machine. I propose a computational architecture where psychosocial competence is modeled as a closely integrated system of layered functional analysis and reactive-reflective behaviors. Multimodal output is generated in two phases, an issuance phase and an execution phase. This architecture will be used in a prototype interface, based on the metaphor of face-to-face communication, to control a graphical agent capable of speech and gesture. The agent’s role will be to support and sustain dialogue with the user. Results of this work are hoped to shed light on the potential limitations and possibilities of interfaces based on the face-to-face metaphor, and to be of use in psychological research on human communication. This proposal reviews literature from three relevant areas—psychology, artificial intelligence, and interface design—and describes the proposed approach.
Design of Linear Dispersion Codes for MIMO Broadband Wireless Access Systems

Linear Dispersion Codes (LDCs) are capable of achieving a good trade-off between link throughput and link robustness in Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) broadband wireless access systems. This is thanks to their efficient spreading of data across both time and space domains. This paper proposes a novel LDC design method utilising the unitary matrix theory along with a Genetic Algorithm (GA). The proposed design framework can produce LDCs attaining higher data rates and better error protection than various well-known MIMO schemes, such as the Alamouti space-time code and Spatial Multiplexing (SM).
Folk Models of Home Computer Security

Home computer systems are vulnerable because many users do not exactly know how to protect them. Even though there is a huge computer security industry which provides many security solutions, users still remain vulnerable. It is neither the user’s nor the software’s fault, more a combination of both: users who are not able to correctly use the security software. In order to make security software more usable and hence computers more secure, we re-ran the study by Wash about “Folk Models of Home Computer Security”. As a result we discovered 11 ”models” whereas eight of them are similar to the original ones and three have not been mentioned before. Those models can be devided into models for various kinds of viruses and models related to different types of hackers. In this paper we describe each folk model and illustrate how users think about computer security. Finally we give a short overview about security advices recommended by security experts in relation to the folk models. ACM Classification
A case study in system integration using the Build approach

An approach to software system integration used at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) is described and compared with established approaches to system integration. The approach presented here is evolutionary in nature: system functions are integrated and demonstrated to the customer in a series of successive system increments referred to as “Builds”. The order of integration is essentially top-down with vertical slicing, i.e., functional capabilities are demonstrated to the customer only when both high-level control functions and underlying low-level services have been integrated. This paper presents the first reported detailed case study of the application of the Build approach to the development of an actual system.
A Health QA with Enhanced User Interfaces

Health related Question Answering (QA) systems have proven to be useful to patients. However, most of the QA systems focus on improving system performance against a standard set of questions, but neglect the problem of designing effective user interfaces. We build a health QA with enhanced user interface which includes three formats – single answer, list of fragments and combination of fragments. At the same time, we add entities into the re-ranking of the candidate answers and result display to help patients better understand the relationship between question and answer. The experiment proves the effectiveness of our method.
Domain-specific tailoring of code smells: an empirical study

Code smells refer to commonly occurring patterns in source code that indicate poor programming practices or code decay. Detecting code smells helps developers find design problems that can cause trouble in future maintenance. Detection rules for code smells, based on software metrics, have been proposed, but they do not take domain-specific characteristics into consideration. In this study we investigate whether such generic heuristics can be tailored to include domain-specific factors. Input into these domain-specific heuristics comes from an iterative empirical field study in a software maintenance project. The results yield valuable insight into code smell detection.
RFP: When RPC is Faster than Server-Bypass with RDMA

Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) has been widely deployed in modern data centers. However, existing usages of RDMA lead to a dilemma between performance and redesign cost. They either directly replace socket-based send/receive primitives with the corresponding RDMA counterpart (server-reply), which only achieves moderate performance improvement; or push performance further by using one-sided RDMA operations to totally bypass the server (server-bypass), at the cost of redesigning the software. In this paper, we introduce two interesting observations about RDMA. First, RDMA has asymmetric performance characteristics, which can be used to improve server-reply's performance. Second, the performance of server-bypass is not as good as expected in many cases, because more rounds of RDMA may be needed if the server is totally bypassed. We therefore introduce a new RDMA paradigm called Remote Fetching Paradigm (RFP). Although RFP requires users to set several parameters to achieve the best performance, it supports the legacy RPC interfaces and hence avoids the need of redesigning application-specific data structures. Moreover, with proper parameters, it can achieve even higher IOPS than that of the previous paradigms. We have designed and implemented an in-memory key-value store based on RFP to evaluate its effectiveness. Experimental results show that RFP improves performance by 1.6×~4× compared with both server-reply and server-bypass paradigms.
Conversation Emotional Modeling in Social Networks

Over the last years, the advent of social networks has changed the way of human communication giving users the ability to express their thoughts and opinions. In this paper, we present a work on analyzing human communication and interaction in Twitter. The aim is to get indicative factors about user's behavior as well as public stance and attitude towards various events around the globe. The methodology initially analyzes users' tweets and determines their emotional content based on Ekman emotional scale. Then, user's characteristics and behavior in Twitter are analyzed and their influence in the network is calculated. Based on tweets emotional content as well as user's influence, the conversation emotional graphs are developed to model and represent user's emotional interactions. Furthermore, we introduce a prediction method using machine learning techniques in order to discover the changes of topic emotional content during users' discussion.
What Might Explain Today’s Conflicting Narratives on Global Inequality?

How unequal is the world today? Is global income inequality falling—or is it rising, as one often hears? The chapter reviews the arguments and evidence. A number of concerns about the underlying data are identified, with biases going in both directions. Conceptual issues further cloud the picture. The claim that global inequality has been falling since 1990 can be defended for a subset of the admissible parameter values, but only a subset. Global inequality is found to be rising if one or more of the following conditions holds: (i) one attaches a high ethical weight to the poorest; (ii) one has a strong ethical aversion to ‘high-end inequality’; (iii) one takes a nationalistic perspective, emphasizing relative deprivation within countries; or (iv) one sees inequality as absolute rather than relative. Popular debates on this topic would benefit from greater clarity on the concepts used, and greater awareness of data limitations.
Markov Decision Process for sonobuoy transmission scheduling

Assumed here is a multi-static sonar system consisting of a distributed field of emitter and receiver sonobuoys within a defined search area. The field is deployed to search for and estimate the location, heading, and speed of underwater targets within the search area. We describe a method for optimizing, over a long time horizon, choice of transmission locations, and of waveforms from a small waveform library to detect and estimate the states of multiple targets. The method used is based on Markov Decision Processes as a structure to describe the overall scheduling problem. The key innovations are in simplifications of the state space used in seeking the optimal schedule, which enable a computationally feasible algorithm.
A Structured Sparse Plus Structured Low-Rank Framework for Subspace Clustering and Completion

Recent advances in a low-rank matrix completion have enabled the exact recovery of incomplete data drawn from a low-dimensional subspace of a high-dimensional observation space. However, in many applications, the data are drawn from multiple low-dimensional subspaces without knowing which point belongs to which subspace. In such cases, using a single low-dimensional subspace to complete the data may lead to erroneous results, because the complete data matrix need not be low rank. In this paper, we propose a structured sparse plus structured low-rank (S3LR) optimization framework for clustering and completing data drawn from a union of low-dimensional subspaces. The proposed S3LR framework exploits the fact that each point in a union of subspaces can be expressed as a sparse linear combination of all other points and that the matrix of the points within each subspace is low rank. This framework leads to a nonconvex optimization problem, which we solve efficiently by using a combination of a linearized alternating direction method of multipliers and spectral clustering. In addition, we discuss the conditions that guarantee the exact matrix completion in a union of subspaces. Experiments on synthetic data, motion segmentation data, and cancer gene data validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Routing in 802.11-Based Wireless Mesh Networks

IEEE 802.11 has become the standard for home and enterprise deployment of wireless local area networks (LANs). Routing governs the flow of packets through the WMN. While shortest path routing minimizes the amount of network bandwidth used to transfer packets, it does not consider important factors such as link errors, link criticality, or channel diversity during path selection. Intelligent selection of paths based on these factors can not only improve the quality of path chosen for current stream of packets, but also potentially enable network to admit more packet load in future. In this paper, we discuss several representative routing techniques proposed in the literature. We do not discuss the various options for routing protocols themselves; usually one of the well-known routing protocols developed for ad hoc networks will suffice. Instead, we focus on the various techniques developed to discover and utilize high-quality routes.
Controllable assembly of silver nanoparticles induced by femtosecond laser direct writing

Abstract We report controllable assembly of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for patterning of silver microstructures. The assembly is induced by femtosecond laser direct writing (FsLDW). A tightly focused femtosecond laser beam is capable of trapping and driving Ag NPs to form desired micropatterns with a high resolution of ∼190 nm. Taking advantage of the ‘direct writing’ feature, three microelectrodes have been integrated with a microfluidic chip; two silver-based microdevices including a microheater and a catalytic reactor have been fabricated inside a microfluidic channel for chip functionalization. The FsLDW-induced programmable assembly of Ag NPs may open up a new way to the designable patterning of silver microstructures toward flexible fabrication and integration of functional devices.
Formal Verification of Timed VHDL Programs

The verification of timed digital circuits is an important issue. These circuits are composed by logical gates, each of them being associated with propagation delays. The analysis of such circuits is necessary to identify critical path and adjust the clock period of the circuit or to determine the stability period of input/ouput signals. These circuits are represented by a functional model described in VHDL and a timing model associating propagation delays to each functional block. This model is translated into timed automata formalism upon which classical simulation or model checking verification can be performed. This method rises two problems: 1) Propagation delays associated to a gate depend on the transistor assembly and the manufacturer's technology. How do we associate propagation delays to a logical gate ? 2) How to automatically translate a VHDL functional description, combined with propagation delays, into timed automata ? This paper addresses these two problems. It presents a method automating the verification of VHDL descriptions, augmented with interval bounded propagation delays, obtained by electrical simulation of the transistor model of the gates.
HSDD: A hybrid sampling strategy for class imbalance in defect prediction data sets

Class imbalance is a common problem in defect prediction data sets. In order to cope with this problem, over-sampling and under sampling methods are employed. However, these methods are designed for instance based alteration and not specialized for feature space. Also there is not any distinctive approach to cope with class imbalance in defect prediction data sets. We develop HSDD (hybrid sampling for defect data sets) to solve this problem. HSDD comprises not only derivation of low-level metrics, but also reduction processes of repeated data points. The method was evaluated on industrial and open source project data sets by using Bayes, naive Bayes, random forest, and J48 in terms of g-mean and training time. Obtained results show that HSDD produces promising training performance especially in large-scale data sets.
Fixed Full Arches Supported by Tapered Implants with Knife-Edge Thread Design and Nanostructured, Calcium-Incorporated Surface: A Short-Term Prospective Clinical Study

Purpose. To evaluate implant survival, peri-implant bone loss, and complications affecting fixed full-arch (FFA) restorations supported by implants with a knife-edge thread design and nanostructured, calcium-incorporated surface. Methods. Between January 2013 and December 2015, all patients referred for implant-supported FFA restorations were considered for enrollment in this study. All patients received implants with a knife-edge thread design and nanostructured calcium-incorporated surface (Anyridge®, Megagen, South Korea) were restored with FFA restorations and enrolled in a recall program. The final outcomes were implant survival, peri-implant bone loss, biologic/prosthetic complications, and “complication-free” survival of restorations. Results. Twenty-four patients were selected. Overall, 215 implants were inserted (130 maxilla, 85 mandible), 144 in extraction sockets and 71 in healed ridges. Thirty-six FFAs were delivered (21 maxilla, 15 mandible): 27 were immediately loaded and 9 were conventionally loaded. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 3 years. Two fixtures failed, yielding an implant survival rate of 95.9% (patient-based). A few complications were registered, for a “complication-free” survival of restorations of 88.9%. Conclusions. FFA restorations supported by implants with a knife-edge thread design and nanostructured, calcium-incorporated surface are successful in the short term, with high survival and low complication rates; long-term studies are needed to confirm these outcomes.
Model Selection Strategies for Author Disambiguation

Author disambiguation is a prerequisite for utilizing bibliographic metadata in citation analysis. Automatic disambiguation algorithms mostly rely on cluster-based disambiguation strategies for identifying unique authors given their names and publications. However, most approaches rely on knowing the correct number of unique authors a-priori, which is rarely the case in real world settings. In this publication we analyse cluster-based disambiguation strategies and develop a model selection method to estimate the number of distinct authors based on co-authorship networks. We show that, given clean textual features, the developed model selection method provides accurate guesses of the number of unique authors.
Optimal Incentive Structure in Cattle Feeding Contracts Under Alternative Fed Cattle Pricing Methods

Developing a multitask principal-agent model, this paper theoretically analyzes the incentive provisions in the existing cattle feeding contracts under alternative fed cattle pricing methods. Comparative statics from the theoretical model are evaluated by simulation experiments. Feedlot and carcass performance of a large set of feeder steers are simulated employing a dynamic and deterministic bio-physical growth model adapted from the animal science literature. The cattle feeder and the owner's stochastic costs and returns under alternative production technologies and market conditions are then calculated by combining cattle performance data with historical price data. The main finding of this study is that the yardage fee contract is optimal for the cattle owner when the fed cattle are to be priced on the grid and the cost of gain contract is optimal when the cattle are to be marketed according to the live or dressed weight pricing methods.
"A guiding light" : illuminating the path for French immersion teacher identity exploration

Aladin, Katija. 2018. “A Guiding Light”: Illuminating the Path for French Immersion Teacher Identity Exploration in Alberta, Canada. University of Jyväskylä. Department of Education and Psychology. This study aims to explore the phenomenon of teacher identity and more specifically second language teacher identity. The purpose of this research is to provide French immersion teachers in Alberta, Canada, a platform to share their stories and unique perspectives. This qualitative study was conducted in Alberta with in-service French immersion teachers. The data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and the data was analysed using a dialogic narrative analysis approach. The narratives of each participant were/have been categorized into three sections: the social nature of identity, the discontinuity of identity and the multiplicity of identity. Each category offers a comparison of the similarities and differences between each participant that acknowledges the individuality of the teachers, as well as the French immersion community in which they belong. The enriching stories and perspectives provide insight into the challenging yet rewarding life of French immersion teachers. The findings from the study offer a tool and resource in French immersion decision making processes in the development of immersion programs as well as highlights the necessity for teacher identity exploration.
A 0.13-µm CMOS wireless reflector for phase sweep cooperative diversity

A 4-GHz 1.2-V all-analog wireless reflector acting as a cooperative diversity repeater is built in 0.13-μm CMOS technology. Interfaced with a dipole antenna, the circuit achieves 22.3-dB gain for a low power consumption equal to 120 μW. By applying slow phase sweeping at the reflector node, diversity gain is achieved and the coverage area of an indoor wireless network is increased by a factor of 2.5.
BabelNet meets Lexicography : the Case of an Automatically-built Multilingual Encyclopedic Dictionary

In this paper we provide a first study of the lexicographic quality of BabelNet, a very large automatically-created multilingual encyclopedic dictionary. BabelNet 2.0, available online at http://babelnet. org, covers 50 languages and provides both lexicographic and encyclopedic knowledge for all the open-class parts of speech. It is obtained from the automatic integration of several language resources, namely: WordNet, Open Multilingual WordNet, Wikipedia and OmegaWiki. Here we present a first analysis of the dictionary entries in terms of their coverage of English and Italian word tokens in a large corpus and in comparison to existing, well-established dictionaries, namely the Oxford Dictionary of English and the Treccani Italian dictionary. We observe that BabelNet contains most meanings of the frequent words under analysis and provides additional, often domain-specific meanings and their textual definitions unavailable in traditional dictionaries, as well as encyclopaedic coverage for those words.
MLS meshless method for elastic wave band structures calculation of one dimensional phononic crystal

The meshless method based on the MLS (Moving Least Square) is applied on the calculation of elastic wave band structures of the phononic crystal. Comparing with the finite element method, the domain of interest is scattered by a set of nodes instead of the complex mesh. So, it is computationally easy to add or remove points from a pre-existing set of nodes. In this paper, we apply the meshless method in the computation of the elastic wave band gap of one dimensional phononic crystal. By comparing our results obtained from the meshless method with the LM (Lumped Mass) method, it is found that two results are basically agreement. Thus, the meshless method is a promising tool for computing phononic band gaps. But, some details such as choosing a shapefunction should be considered more deeply.
Hybrid power saving technique for wireless sensor networks

In wireless communication, idle listening, receiving and transmitting are the main source of consumption of energy. This paper gives an overview of several techniques used for wireless networks. We incorporated PSM and PC to gain the advantage of PSM (reduce idle listening) and PC (reduce receiving and transmitting power) and implemented them in the IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol. The results show that the new hybrid technique saves more power than PSM and PC individually.
Horvitz-Thompson estimation with randomized response and nonresponse

We consider the nonstandard situation where the randomized response theory is applied in a nonresponse set-up. The customary Horvitz-Thompson estimator for the population total of a sensitive variable is adjusted to take into account missing data, true response and randomized response, and the expression of its variance and the corresponding estimator provided. Finally, a numerical study is carried out to investigate how the estimation process can be affected by scrambled responses and how possible improvements in respondent cooperation can compensate for certain levels of nonresponse.