Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local feature histograms for object recognition from range images

In this paper, we explore the use of local feature histograms for view-based recognition of free-form objects from range images. Our approach uses a set of local features that are easy to calculate and robust to partial occlusions. By combining them in a multidimensional histogram, we can obtain highly discriminative classifiers without having to solve a segmentation problem. The system achieves above 91% recognition accuracy on a database of almost 2000 full-sphere views of 30 free-form objects, with only minimal space requirements. In addition, since it only requires the calculation of very simple features, it is extremely fast and can achieve real-time recognition performance.
Oligopoly and financial structure revisited

In this paper we employ a two stage Cournot duopoly model where firms can obtain outside funds only to finance production plans payouts to shareholders are not allowed. Debt, equity and capacity are chosen in the first stage and output is chosen in the second stage. In contrast to the existing literature in this area, we show firms always choose zero debt in equilibrium. The two important implications of our analysis are (a) while there are linkages between financial structure and product market decisions, these linkages have no real effect on the choice of optimal capital structure of a firm, and (b) the standard results in this area are not robust to model specifications.
Limiting Logical Violations in Ontology Alignnment Through Negotiation

Ontology alignment (also called ontology matching) is the process of identifying correspondences between entities in different, possibly heterogeneous, ontologies. Traditional ontology alignment techniques rely on the full disclosure of the ontological models; however, within open and opportunistic environments, such approaches may not always be pragmatic or even acceptable (due to privacy concerns). Several studies have focussed on collaborative, decentralised approaches to ontology alignment, where agents negotiate the acceptability of single correspondences acquired from past encounters, or try to ascertain novel correspondences on the fly. However, such approaches can lead to logical violations that may undermine their utility. In this paper, we extend a dialogical approach to correspondence negotiation, whereby agents not only exchange details of possible correspondences, but also identify potential violations to the consistency and conservativity principles. We present a formal model of the dialogue, and show how agents can repair logical violations during the dialogue by invoking a correspondence repair, thus negotiating and exchanging repair plans. We illustrate this opportunistic alignment mechanism with an example and we empirically show that allowing agents to strategically reject or weaken correspondences when these cause violations does not degrade the effectiveness of the alignment computed, whilst reducing the number of residual violations.
A framework for strategic decision-making based on a hybrid decision support tools

The performance of a contracting company is closely linked with the quality of the decisions at the strategic level. However, the increasing complexity of organizations’ internal and external environments and the unstructured nature of decisions at the strategic level make the decision making a very complicated task. The number of influential variables is so large and their effects are so varied that any attempt to encapsulate them in a rational manner can indeed hinder the decision making process. To this end, this research explores the advantages of decision support tools and the benefit these tools can yield for the strategic management. Some of these tools are deterministic and structured: they rely on straightforward calculation or optimisation techniques. The solution to the unstructured problems, however, has relied on heuristic approaches and judgement of the decision-maker. While deterministic problems have to a large extent been addressed and appropriate models and algorithm have been developed for them, the unstructured problems have remained relatively unattended and the research works in this area tend to focus on single issues. This paper conceptualizes an umbrella framework using a “Viable Systems Diagnosis” VSD Model and a "Decision Framework", within which strategic decision making research applicable to construction can be coordinated and developed, thus avoiding wasteful duplication and gaps in knowledge. To this end, the research highlights the relevance and potential use of artificial intelligent techniques in assisting the managers with unstructured decisions. Further, it is argued that a strategic decision support system should assume an integrated structure, as many decision nodes, within the overall decision making structure, share common attributes and the inter-connection amongst these decision nodes has a complex structure. Therefore, the object oriented approach will provide an efficient structure for the development of the overall framework.
A qualitative study of satisfaction of IT academics with transnational education

As Australian universities’ involvement in Transnational Education (TNE) continues to grow, little thought is given to the role of the academic. It is important that academics are engaged positively with TNE in order to mitigate some of the risks associated with TNE. A study of IT academics has shown that while they are less satisfied with TNE than their normal teaching role, they still show a marginal degree of satisfaction with TNE teaching. This paper reports on a qualitative study aimed at exploring and explaining the factors associated with academic satisfaction and TNE in terms of the Job Characteristics Model (Hackman and Oldham 1976). It suggests there is a fine balance between being satisfied and not; the aspects of TNE that are seen to be associated with a higher degree of academic satisfaction (e.g., face-to-face interaction with students, collegial relationships and interactions with TNE teaching staff) need to be encouraged and facilitated through university procedures and policies. On the other hand, those aspects of TNE that cause dissatisfaction (e.g., extra administrative load) need to be understood, managed and mitigated where possible.
A Decompositional Approach to Executing Quality Data Model Algorithms on the i2b2 Platform

The Quality Data Model (QDM) is an established standard for representing electronic clinical quality measures on electronic health record (EHR) repositories. The Informatics for Integrated Biology and the Bedside (i2b2) is a widely used platform for implementing clinical data repositories. However, translation from QDM to i2b2 is challenging, since QDM allows for complex queries beyond the capability of single i2b2 messages. We have developed an approach to decompose complex QDM algorithms into workflows of single i2b2 messages, and execute them on the KNIME data analytics platform. Each workflow operation module is composed of parameter lists, a template for the i2b2 message, an mechanism to create parameter updates, and a web service call to i2b2. The communication between workflow modules relies on passing keys ofi2b2 result sets. As a demonstration of validity, we describe the implementation and execution of a type 2 diabetes mellitus phenotype algorithm against an i2b2 data repository.
Benefits and Barriers of University Industry Collaborations from a Researcher's Perspective - Development of Formative Scales and Cluster Analysis

This article extends previous empirical research on the benefits and barriers for researchers in the field of Information Systems (IS) to engage in University-Industry Collaboration (UIC), a term that is used to describe the active engagement of a company or government agency in a joint research project with academics. The objectives and motivations of UIC have been discussed widely and controversially in the literature. We were particularly interested in the perceived benefits and barriers that influence an individual researcher to engage (or not engage) in a joint research project. An in-depth literature analysis showed that a very small number of research articles contain empirical data and that there are serious methodological issues. In order to address these issues, we collected primary data from 328 IS researchers with experience in UIC and conducted an explorative study. We developed parsimonious formative measures for the benefits and barriers of UIC and we found that academic and economic benefits positively influence the intention to conduct UIC in the future, while economic barriers negatively influence the intention to engage in UIC. A cluster analysis found five clusters (groups of researchers) that differ in their perception of benefits and barriers and the future intention to conduct UIC. However, the majority of the researchers have a very high intention to conduct UIC in the future.
Translation initiation factor eIF3 promotes programmed stop codon readthrough

Programmed stop codon readthrough is a post-transcription regulatory mechanism specifically increasing proteome diversity by creating a pool of C-terminally extended proteins. During this process, the stop codon is decoded as a sense codon by a near-cognate tRNA, which programs the ribosome to continue elongation. The efficiency of competition for the stop codon between release factors (eRFs) and near-cognate tRNAs is largely dependent on its nucleotide context; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this process is unknown. Here, we show that it is the translation initiation (not termination) factor, namely eIF3, which critically promotes programmed readthrough on all three stop codons. In order to do so, eIF3 must associate with pre-termination complexes where it interferes with the eRF1 decoding of the third/wobble position of the stop codon set in the unfavorable termination context, thus allowing incorporation of near-cognate tRNAs with a mismatch at the same position. We clearly demonstrate that efficient readthrough is enabled by near-cognate tRNAs with a mismatch only at the third/wobble position. Importantly, the eIF3 role in programmed readthrough is conserved between yeast and humans.
A Survey on Testing Network Applications and Protocols

Testing for protocol security has recently attracted increasing interest from both solution vendors in network industry and research communities. Security protocols have been playing an important role in the critical distributed systems such as E-Commerce and military infrastructure. Most security protocols use cryptography to achieve data transmission, authentication and key distribution in a hostile environment It is to a large extent unknown whether and how the traditional protocol functional testing approach could be extended to meet these new challenges. In parallel, software security and reliability testing problems have been addressed by researchers using predominantly white-box approaches, in which the source code of the system under test is available for analysis. These works are not directly applicable to the task of testing for protocol security since the source code is usually not available and testing has to be done using black-box techniques. Thus, our focus in this thesis is exclusively on black-box testing. Existing solutions for testing security related features rely largely on human insights or expert knowledge of the target protocol and therefore cannot easily be generalized or automated. This is due both to the lack of theoretical foundation and to lack of powerful tool support.
AUCTIONS WITH ADAPTIVE ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT AGENTS

While there is an extremely active theoretical literature on auctions, little is known about the actual behavior of bidders in real auctions. This is partly due to the scientist's inability to observe the values or strategies of bidders. When values are induced using experiments, subjects are often unable to formulate Nash equilibrium bids. Rather than using human subjects, this paper examines the ability of agents to learn bidding strategies by using artificially intelligent agents who learn adaptively. We examine first-price common-value auctions, and first-and second-price auctions with both affiliated and independent private-values. We find that there are many striking parallels between the artificial agents and humans. Since we can observe both the values and the strategies of the artificial agents, we are able to conjecture about . the behavior of humans in the different auction environments. With this model of adaptive learning, we are able to understand many of the "bidder errors" 9bserved in experiments. We suggest several new hypotheses about bidding behavior, and about the various auction institutions.
Home Production of Dual Earner Couples and Consumption During Retirement

To study the role of home production in life-cycle behavior, this paper creates a theoretical model in which both spouses in a couple allocate their time between market and home work. It then derives a pair of regression equations for estimating the parameters of the model, and it carries out the estimation using panel data on household net worth and lifetime earnings from the Health and Retirement Study and pseudo-panel data on household consumption expenditures from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. We estimate that the value of forgone home production is roughly 10-15 cents for every dollar that a married man earns, but 30-35 cents per dollar of married women’s market earnings. Our findings imply male labor supply elasticities that are very near zero and female elasticities in the range of 0.50. Our model predicts a substantial decline in measured consumption expenditure at a household’s retirement, and it shows that Euler-equation models of consumption behavior should include terms reflecting home production.
Pixel Area Based Target Distance Estimating and Corresponding Target Hitting Force Calculating Autonomous Robot Using Single Video Device

Precision in practical life plays an important role in smooth functioning of all the developed integrated systems. Moving towards the intelligent robotics, accuracy of the results and simplicity of the design proves the efficiency and the applicability of proposed models and algorithms applied. This developed robot works on a much simpler algorithm to estimate the distance of an object by using one camera. This is achieved by calculating the pixel area of the target object (pole in this case) using MATLAB® and hits the target object by Pulse Width Modulation, according to the distance. The precise pulse width is obtained by the graphs plotted on practical data through multiple input/output values.
Notice of RetractionAerodynamic noise prediction using grey model

In this paper, two methods are described to predict the aerodynamic noise induced by flow around a cylinder using the linear model GM (1, 1) and the nonlinear model Verhult based on grey system theory. The grey prediction initial data is from large eddy simulation and acoustic analogy. The prediction results using the model GM(1, 1) are respectively compared to the numerical simulation results and experiment data. The errors are less than 0.92% and 5.53% in the later. The prediction results based on the nonlinear model Verhulst are respectively compared to the numerical simulation results and experiment data. The errors are less than 0.61% and 4.54% respectively. It is shown that two methods using the grey models have good forecasting accuracy and excellent applicability to predict the noise induced by flow around a cylinder.
Abstract Number 015-0462 Abstract Title Core and overlapping knowledge, cross-functional integration, and process performance: An empirical study of the buyer-product engineer dyad

Number 015-0462 Abstract Title Core and overlapping knowledge, cross-functional integration, and process performance: An empirical study of the buyer-product engineer dyad Authors David C. Hall Clemson University Department of Management G07 Sirrine Hall Clemson, SC 29634 dchall@clemson.edu 864-656-3775 Scott C. Ellis Clemson University Department of Management 123D Sirrine Hall Clemson, SC 29634 ellis9@clemson.edu 864-656-6321 POMS 21st Annual Conference Vancouver, Canada May 7 to May 10, 2010
Document Image Analysis by Probabilistic Network and Circuit Diagram Extraction

The paper presents a hierarchical object recognition system for document processing. It is based on a spatial tree structure representation and Bayesian framework. The image components are built up from lower level image components stored in a library. The tree representations of the objects are assembled from these components. A probabilistic framework is used in order to get robust behaviour. The method is able to convert general circuit diagrams to their components and store them in a hierarchical datastructure. The paper presents simulation for extracting the components of sample circuit diagrams. Povzetek: Predstavljen je sistem za prepoznavanje objektov pri obdelavi dokumentov.
The Fundamental Planes of E+A galaxies and GALEX UV-excess early-type galaxies: revealing their intimate connection

Strong Balmer absorption lines and the lack of Hα and [O ii] emission lines signify that E+A galaxies are post-starburst systems. Recent studies suggest that E+As may undergo the transition from the ‘blue cloud’ to the ‘red sequence’ and eventually migrate to red-sequence early-type galaxies. An observational validation of this scenario is to identify the intervening galaxy population between E+As and the red sequence. Motivated by recent findings with Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) that an unexpectedly large fraction of early-type galaxies exhibit ultraviolet (UV) excess (i.e. blue UV – optical colours) as a sign of recent star formation (RSF), we investigate the possible connection of the UV-excess galaxies to E+As. In particular, we examine the Fundamental Plane (FP) scaling relations of the currently largest sample of ∼1000 E+As selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and ∼20 000 morphologically selected SDSS early-type galaxies with GALEX UV data. The FP parameters, combined with stellar population indicators, reveal a certain group of UV-excess early types that bridge between E+As and quiescent red galaxies. The newly identified galaxies are the post-starburst systems characterized by UV-excess but no Hα emission. This is essentially a conceptual generalization of ‘E+A’, in that the Balmer absorption line in the ‘E+A’ definition is replaced with UV – optical colours that are far more sensitive to RSF than the Balmer lines. We refer to these UV-excess galaxies as ‘E+a’ galaxies (named after ‘E+A’), which stand for elliptical (‘E’) galaxies with a minority of A-type (‘a’) young stars. The species are either (1) galaxies that experienced starbursts weaker than those observed in E+As (1 ∼ 10 per cent of E+As, ‘mild E+As’) or (2) the products of passively evolved E+As after quenching star formation quite a while ago (∼1 Gyr, ‘old E+As’). We suggest that the latter type of E+a galaxies (i.e. old ‘E+As’) represents the most recent arrival to the red sequence in the final phase of the E+A to red early-type transition.
Design of post-wall waveguides with metal and dielectric posts

Post-wall waveguides can fulfill the requirements for low-loss transmission lines and components in the interconnection between antenna and front-end electronics. In this paper we present a model based on an element-by-element method for simulating wave propagation in metallic and dielectric post-wall waveguides. We demonstrate that both types of waveguides support wave propagation and we show that undesired resonances can limit the range of operation.
Hhex Is Necessary for the Hepatic Differentiation of Mouse ES Cells and Acts via Vegf Signaling

Elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation of stem cells to hepatic cells is critical for both understanding normal developmental processes as well as for optimizing the generation of functional hepatic cells for therapy. We performed in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with a null mutation in the homeobox gene Hhex and show that Hhex-/- mESCs fail to differentiate from definitive endoderm (Sox17+/Foxa2+) to hepatic endoderm (Alb+/Dlk+). In addition, hepatic culture elicited a >7-fold increase in Vegfa mRNA expression in Hhex-/- cells compared to Hhex+/+ cells. Furthermore, we identified VEGFR2+/ALB+/CD34- in early Hhex+/+ hepatic cultures. These cells were absent in Hhex-/- cultures. Finally, through manipulation of Hhex and Vegfa expression, gain and loss of expression experiments revealed that Hhex shares an inverse relationship with the activity of the Vegf signaling pathway in supporting hepatic differentiation. In summary, our results suggest that Hhex represses Vegf signaling during hepatic differentiation of mouse ESCs allowing for cell-type autonomous regulation of Vegfr2 activity independent of endothelial cells.
Fast, accurate reaching movements with a visual-to-auditory sensory substitution device.

PURPOSE Visual sensory substitution devices (SSDs) use sound or touch to convey information that is normally perceived by vision. The primary focus of prior research using SSDs was the perceptual components of learning to use SSDs and their neural correlates. However, sensorimotor integration is critical in the effort to make SSDs relevant for everyday tasks, like grabbing a cup of coffee efficiently. The purpose of this study was to test the use of a novel visual-to-auditory SSD to guide a fast reaching movement. METHODS Using sound, the SSD device relays location, shape and color information. Participants were asked to make fast reaching movements to targets presented by the SSD. RESULTS After only a short practice session, blindfolded sighted participants performed fast and accurate movements to presented targets, which did not differ significantly from movements performed with visual feedback in terms of movement time, peak speed, and path length. A small but significant difference was found between the endpoint accuracy of movements under the two feedback conditions; remarkably, in both cases the average error was smaller than 0.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS Our findings combine with previous brain-imaging studies to support a theory of a modality-independent representation of spatial information. Task-specificity, rather than modality-specificity, of brain functions is crucially important for the rehabilitative use of SSDs in the blind and the visually impaired. We present the first direct comparison between movement trajectories performed with an SSD and ones performed under visual guidance. The accuracy level reached in this study demonstrates the potential applicability of using the visual-to-auditory SSD for performance of daily tasks which require fast, accurate reaching movements, and indicates a potential for rehabilitative use of the device.