Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of masses of the central black holes in NGC 524 and 2549 using laser guide star adaptive optics

We present observations of early-type galaxies NGC 524 and 2549 with laser guide star adaptive optics (LGS AO) obtained at GEMINI North telescope using the Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) integral field unit (IFU) in the K band. The purpose of these observations is to determine high spatial resolution stellar kinematics within the nuclei of these galaxies and, in combination with previously obtained large-scale observations with the SAURON IFU, to determine the masses (M.) of the supermassive black holes (SMBH). The targeted galaxies were chosen to have central light profiles showing a core (NGC 524) and a cusp (NGC 2549), to probe the feasibility of using the galaxy centre as the natural guide source required for LGS AO. We employ an innovative technique where the focus compensation due to the changing distance to the sodium layer is made 'open loop', allowing the extended galaxy nucleus to be used only for tip-tilt correction. The data have spatial resolution of 0.23 and 0.17 arcsec full-width at half maximum (FWHM), where at least ∼40 per cent of flux comes within 0.2, showing that high quality LGS AO observations of these objects are possible. The achieved signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ∼ 50) is sufficiently high to reliably determine the shape of the line-of-sight velocity distribution. We construct axisymmetric three-integral dynamical models which are constrained with both the NIFS and SAURON data. The best-fitting models yield M. = (8.3 +2.7 -1.3 ) × 10 8 M ⊙ and (M / L) I = 5.8 ± 0.4 for NGC 524 and M. = (1.4 +0.2 -1.3 ) × 10 7 M ⊙ and (M/L) R = 4.7 ± 0.2 for NGC 2549 (all errors are at the 3σ level). We demonstrate that the wide-field SAURON data play a crucial role in the M/L determination increasing the accuracy of M/L by a factor of at least 5, and constraining the upper limits on black hole masses. The NIFS data are crucial in constraining the lower limits of M. and in combination with the large-scale data reducing the uncertainty by a factor of 2 or more. We find that the orbital structure of NGC 524 shows significant tangential anisotropy, while at larger radii both galaxies are consistent with having almost perfectly oblate velocity ellipsoids. Tangential anisotropy in NGC 524 coincides with the size of SMBH sphere of influence and the core region in the light profile. This agrees with predictions from numerical simulations where core profiles are the result of SMBH binaries evacuating the centre nuclear regions following a galaxy merger. However, being a disc dominated fast rotating galaxy, NGC 524 has probably undergone through a more complex evolution. We test the accuracy to which M. can be measured using seeings obtained from typical LGS AO observations, and conclude that for a typical conditions and M. the expected uncertainty is of the order of 50 per cent.
Stochastic error rate estimation for adaptive speed control with field delay testing

This paper proposes a stochastic framework for error rate estimation that models adaptive speed control as a continuous-time Markov process and derives its transition rates using developed similarity database. The proposed framework is implemented for adaptive speed control systems based on timing error prediction and scan-test. Experimental results show that the proposed framework enabled 12 orders of magnitude faster MTTF estimation than ordinary logic simulation. The accuracy of MTTF estimation under random delay fluctuation is clarified through a comparison with logic simulation. The proposed estimation can contribute to design and validation of adaptive speed control systems with field delay testing.
Why Do Chinese Users Use Pirated Software: An Integrative Perspective?

From an integrative perspective, this study examines the effects of various factors on software users' piracy behavioral intention. The results indicate that piracy behavioral intention of different groups of users is influenced by different factors in China. Common users' piratical behavior intention is subjected to subjective norm, while that of professional users is affected by perceived behavioral control, and Firm users are mostly influenced by both punishment factors and perceived behavior control. It also finds that the intention of these three groups is influenced by attitude, but does not respond to the price of the legal software, which suggests Chinese users would never care about the price of legal software. The study provides useful information to resolve software piracy in China.
Mediating dual ecologies

In this paper we investigated systems for supporting remote collaboration using mobile robots as communication media. It is argued that the use of a remote-controlled robot as a device to support communication involves two distinct ecologies: an ecology at the remote (instructor's) site and an ecology at the operator's (robot) site. In designing a robot as a viable communication medium, it is essential to consider how these ecologies can be mediated and supported. In this paper, we propose design guidelines to overcome the problems inherent in dual ecologies, and describe the development of a robot named GestureMan-3 based on these guidelines. Our experiments with GestureMan-3 showed that the system supports sequential aspects of the organization of communication.
Proteomics Analysis of the DF-1 Chicken Fibroblasts Infected with Avian Reovirus Strain S1133

Background Avian reovirus (ARV) is a member of the Orthoreovirus genus in the Reoviridae family. It is the etiological agent of several diseases, among which viral arthritis and malabsorption syndrome are the most commercially important, causing considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. Although a small but increasing number of reports have characterized some aspects of ARV infection, global changes in protein expression in ARV-infected host cells have not been examined. The current study used a proteomics approach to obtain a comprehensive view of changes in protein levels in host cells upon infection by ARV. Methodology and Principal Findings The proteomics profiles of DF-1 chicken fibroblast cells infected with ARV strain S1133 were analyzed by two-dimensional differential-image gel electrophoresis. The majority of protein expression changes (≥1.5 fold, p<0.05) occurred at 72 h post-infection. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry identified 51 proteins with differential expression levels, including 25 that were upregulated during ARV infection and 26 that were downregulated. These proteins were divided into eight groups according to biological function: signal transduction, stress response, RNA processing, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and cytoskeleton organization. They were further examined by immunoblotting to validate the observed alterations in protein expression. Conclusion/Significance This is the first report of a time-course proteomic analysis of ARV-infected host cells. Notably, all identified proteins involved in signal transduction, RNA processing, and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway were downregulated in infected cells, whereas proteins involved in DNA synthesis, apoptosis, and energy production pathways were upregulated. In addition, other differentially expressed proteins were linked with the cytoskeleton, metabolism, redox regulation, and stress response. These proteomics data provide valuable information about host cell responses to ARV infection and will facilitate further studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying ARV pathogenesis.
Research in concurrent software testing: a systematic review

The current increased demand for distributed applications in domains such as web services and cloud computing has significantly increased interest in concurrent programming. This demand in turn has resulted in new testing methodologies for such systems, which take account of the challenges necessary to test these applications. This paper presents a systematic review of the published research related to concurrent testing approaches, bug classification and testing tools. A systematic review is a process of collection, assessment and interpretation of the published papers related to a specific search question, designed to provide a background for further research. The results include information about the research relationships and research teams that are working in the different areas of concurrent programs testing.
11.3 Gbps CMOS SONET Compliant Transceiver for Both RZ and NRZ Applications

In this paper, an 11.3 Gbps CMOS SONET compliant transceiver designed to work in both RZ and NRZ data formats is presented. Using a configurable high-speed transmit path utilizing an AND gate and a duty cycle adjustment circuit, the transmitter can switch output format between RZ and NRZ. The TX driver exhibits 17 ps rise/fall times, 0.25 psrms RJ, and 2 pspp DJ. In RZ mode, TX output duty cycle can be adjusted within 40-60% range. To improve input sensitivity in both RZ and NRZ reception, the receiver incorporates a limiting amplifier with a distributed threshold adjustment circuit. It achieves 5 mVpp-diff RX input sensitivity with 0.54 UI high-frequency jitter tolerance. An adaptation scheme based on nested linear search is implemented to control the distributed threshold adjustment circuit. While demonstrating the integration of RZ/NRZ functionality into a single-chip solution using 65 nm CMOS technology, the transceiver core occupies 1.36 mm2 and consumes 214 mW.
MANET Extensions to Interactive Statistical Graphics for Missing Values

Dealing with missing values is inconvenient in many ways. Although every statistician has to admit that the structure of missing values can be very meaningful for the interpretation of data, neither statistical software nor statistical theory can deal with missing values in a convincing way. Interactive Statistical Graphics offer a possibility of getting more insight into the structure of missing values. This is done by a natural integration of missing values with well known statistical graphics in the package MANET. MANET also offers some new interactive graphs including mosaicplots, weighted histograms and weighted barcharts, as well as generalised brushing, together with extensive interactive features. Easy to use, object-oriented applications overtax the user with management of all the windows. The context sensitive windowmanagement in MANET enables the user to handle many more plots, and thus many more views of the data, in a smooth way.
The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management Internal Group Dynamics, Team Characteristics, and Team Effectiveness a Preliminary Study of Virtual Teams International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, Editors Editorial Advisory Board Internal Group Dynamics

The advances in ICT and also the advent of the Internet have changed the way we work in the new millenium. Virtual teamworking has already been practised extensively in the West but in the case of Malaysia, a developing country is still struggling to get a strong foothold. In lieu of the above this study looks at the impact of internal group dynamics, team characteristics on the effectiveness of a virtual team among manufacturing companies in the northern region of Malaysia. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 152 virtual teams from the multinational firms operating in Penang. The findings showed that team characteristics do not impact internal group dynamics or team effectiveness; while internal group dynamics correlates positively with virtual team effectiveness. Among the dimensions, it was found that team member relations correlates positively with both team performance and team member satisfaction, while team leadership was found to correlates positively with team member satisfaction. Thus it can be concluded that it is important for managers to maintain proper composition and characteristics of the virtual team, while concentrate more effort on the team member relations and team leadership to promote better team dynamics, Communications among team members need to be handled with care. Exessive communication using the wrong means, such as electronic communications, may have negative effects and causes dissatisfaction among team members. At the same time, increasingly, the conventional co-located (face-to-face) teams will endeavor to improve its performance and effectiveness by imitating some of the technologies and the characteristics of virtual team.
LINEAR breakthrough project: Large-scale implementation of smart grid technologies in distribution grids

The LINEAR project (Local Intelligent Networks and Energy Active Regions) focuses on the introduction and implementation of innovative smart-grid technologies in the Flanders region, and aims at a breakthrough in the further development and deployment of these solutions. It consists of a research component and a large-scale residential pilot, both focusing on active demand-side management of domestic loads. This paper describes the unique approach, the main objectives and the current status of this project. Selected business cases and target applications are discussed in detail.
Non-invasive imaging based on sparse representation

In this paper, we propose a method based on sparse representation to accelerate the scanning technique to perform non-invasive imaging through scattering layers. The scanning time is proportional to the size of the collected integrated intensity pattern and it usually takes tens of hours to finish the collecting process. To speed up the scanning technique, only a much smaller integrated intensity pattern is collected. A training set of integrated intensity pattern pairs with sizes corresponding to the necessary integrated intensity pattern that makes the scanning technique work well and the much smaller one is constructed. And a pair of dictionaries is trained from the constructed set exploiting the K-SVD algorithm. Based on sparse representation, the necessary integrated intensity pattern can be recovered from the much smaller one using the trained dictionaries, thus realizing non-invasive imaging successfully. Experimental results show that our method can successfully make the scanning time reduced by 8/9 without deteriorating the imaging quality of the scanning technique.
Predictive Control of an Indirect Matrix Converter

This paper presents the implementation of a predictive control scheme for an indirect matrix converter. The control scheme selects the switching state that minimizes the reactive power and the error in the output currents according to their reference values. This is accomplished by using a prediction horizon of one sample time and a very intuitive control law. Experimental results with a 6.8-kVA indirect matrix converter prototype are provided in order to validate the proposed control scheme. The converter uses standard digital signal processor operating at a sampling frequency of 20 mus. It is shown that the idea of controlling this converter topology with a predictive approach can be implemented simply and input currents with unity power factor and a total harmonic distortion lower than 5% can be obtained.
PAD: privacy-area aware, dummy-based location privacy in mobile services

Location privacy in mobile services has the potential to become a serious concern for service providers and users. Existing privacy protection techniques that use k-anonymity convert an original query into an anonymous query that contains the locations of multiple users. Such techniques, however, generally fail in offering guaranteed large privacy regions at reasonable query processing costs. In this paper, we propose the PAD approach that is capable of offering privacy-region guarantees. To achieve this, PAD uses so-called dummy locations that are deliberately generated according to either a virtual grid or circle. These cover a user's actual location, and their spatial extents are controlled by the generation algorithms. The PAD approach only requires a lightweight server-side front-end in order for it to be integrated into an existing client/server mobile service system. In addition, query results are organized according to a compact format on the server, which not only reduces communication cost, but also facilitates the result refinement on the client side. An empirical study shows that our proposal is effective in terms of offering location privacy, and efficient in terms of computation and communication costs.
Colorectal cancer mortality: effectiveness of biennial screening for fecal occult blood.

BACKGROUND In 1993, a randomized controlled trial in Minnesota showed, after 13 years of follow-up, that annual fecal occult blood testing was effective in reducing colorectal cancer mortality by at least 33%. Biennial screening (i.e., every 2 years) resulted in only a 6% mortality reduction. Two European trials (in England and in Denmark) subsequently showed statistically significant 15% and 18% mortality reductions with biennial screening. Herein, we provide updated results-through 18 years of follow-up--from the Minnesota trial that address the apparent inconsistent findings among the trials regarding biennial screening. METHODS From 1976 through 1977, a total of 46551 study subjects, aged 50-80 years, were recruited and randomly assigned to an annual screen, a biennial screen, or a control group. A screen consisted of six guaiac-impregnated fecal occult blood tests (Hemoccult) prepared in pairs from each of three consecutive fecal samples. Participants with at least one of the six tests that were positive were invited for a diagnostic examination that included colonoscopy. All participants were followed annually to ascertain incident colorectal cancers and deaths. RESULTS The numbers of deaths from all causes were similar among the three study groups. Cumulative 18-year colorectal cancer mortality was 33% lower in the annual group than in the control group (rate ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51-0.83). The biennial group had a 21% lower colorectal cancer mortality rate than the control group (rate ratio, 0.79; 95% CI = 0.62-0.97). A marked reduction was also noted in the incidence of Dukes' stage D cancers in both screened groups in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSION The results from this study, together with the other two published randomized trials of fecal occult blood screening, are consistent in demonstrating a substantial, statistically significant reduction in colorectal cancer mortality from biennial screening.
Theoretical Basis, Laboratory Evidence, and Clinical Research of Chemical Surgery of the Cornea: Cross-Linking

Corneal cross-linking (CXL) is increasingly performed in ophthalmology with high success rates for progressive keratoconus and other types of ectasia. Despite being an established procedure, some molecular and clinical aspects still require additional studies. This review presents a critical analysis of some established topics and others that are still controversial. In addition, this review examines new technologies and techniques (transepithelial and ultrafast CXL), uses of corneal CXL including natural products and biomolecules as CXL promoters, and evidence for in vitro and in vivo indirect effectiveness.
A Kernel Fuzzy Classifier with KFCMC and GA

A kernel fuzzy classifier with KFCMC and GA is proposed in this paper. For such classifier, firstly, the original sample space is mapped into a high dimensional feature space by selecting appropriate kernel function. Then in the feature space, training samples are divided into some clusters by proposed KFCMC algorithm. For each created cluster, a fuzzy rule is defined. Some parameters of fuzzy classifier are selected by GAs. The proposed constructing classifier method is detailedly introduced, and the experiment results and the comparison results with the similar approach are provided. Experiment results show the proposed fuzzy classifier has very high classification accuracy and has the better applied values.
Flexible Manufacturing Systems Scheduling: A Systematic Review

Flexible manufacturing system, the word is simple to understand but indeed difficult to achieve. Many firms failed to achieve flexible manufacturing system, become history and firms who effectively achieved it, have pioneered themselves in manufacturing industry. The ultimate need to flexible manufacturing system arises from very basic rule of environment, nothing is permanent. The changing needs, choices, priorities and preferences of business or its stakeholder dynamic behaviour forces firms to be flexible enough to deliver what is required. A manufacturing company needs flexibility and system utilization for its high level of throughput. This review study emphasizes some of the major contributions to the flexible manufacturing system and recent development in the field. The study enfolds major components of flexible manufacturing system namely automatic guided vehicles (AGV), Scheduling, artificial neural network and simulation modeling.
WeightedFair BandwidthAllocation for Adaptive Flows

In this paper, we proposea gateway algorithm supporting both weighted fair nessand queuemanagement . Though some algorithms are proposedfor fair ness with queue management in the literatur e, they do not concern about the flow weight. Our proposed algorithm classifiesan incoming packet into a flow and drops it stochastically according to the queue length and the fair bandwidth share of the flow that the packet belongsto. Simulation experiments show that our proposal is fair as much as other competiti ve fair queueing algorithms and also successful in queue management .
Towards using embedded magnetic field sensor for around mobile device 3D interaction

We present a new technique based on using embedded compass (magnetic) sensor for efficient use of 3D space around a mobile device for interaction with the device. Around Device Interaction (ADI) enables extending interaction space of small mobile and tangible devices beyond their physical boundary. Our proposed method is based on using compass (magnetic field) sensor integrated in new mobile devices (e.g. iPhone 3GS, G1/2 Android). In this method, a properly shaped permanent magnet (e.g. a rod, pen or a ring) is used for interaction. The user makes coarse gestures in 3D space around the device using the magnet. Movement of the magnet affects magnetic field sensed by the compass sensor integrated in the device. The temporal pattern of the gesture is then used as a basis for sending different interaction commands to the mobile device. The proposed method does not impose changes in hardware and physical specifications of the mobile device, and unlike optical methods is not limited by occlusion problems. Therefore, it allows for efficient use of 3D space around device, including back of device. Zooming, turning pages, accepting/rejecting calls, clicking items, controlling a music player, and mobile game interaction are some example use cases. Initial evaluation of our algorithm using a prototype application developed for iPhone shows convincing gesture classification results.