Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SpSJoin: Parallel Spatial Similarity Joins (Demo Paper)

A spatial similarity join of two geospatial datasets finds pairs of records that are simultaneously similar on spatial and textual attributes. Such join is useful for a variety of applications, like data cleansing, record linkage, duplications detection and geocoding enhancement. Efficient techniques exist for the individual joins on either spatial or textual attributes. However, the combined problem has received much less research attention. This paper presents the SpSJoin (Spatial Similarity join) system to fill in this need. SpSJoin is a platform that merges geospatial and text processing techniques for efficiently performing spatial similarity joins. The platform leverages parallel computing with MapReduce to tackle scalability issues in joining large datasets. The efficiency of the proposed techniques are experimentally validated with a join case for improving the geolocation of entities in a real geospatial dataset with referential entities of another dataset.
Study on How to Determine Repair Thickness of Damaged Layers for Porous Asphalt

Porous asphalt has been widely used as standard road surface for the nationwide toll motorways under NEXCO. However it is difficult to appropriately estimate structural condition only from outlook of its road surface, unlike dense asphalt pavements. In fact unfamiliar distresses suddenly and intermittently take place in servicing several years, such as partial plastic flow and particles of binder layer mix blowing up from its porosity. Before getting into these final life stages of porous asphalt, an efficient and non-destructive method that can accurately evaluate structurally damaged layers has been strongly needed. Because the sample cores are often fractured, the assumption of multi-layered elastic theory seems difficult to apply. Therefore deflection basin parameter rather than back-calculated layer modulus was applied as structurally distress index in this study. In order to clarify the relation between the deflection basin parameter and bituminous layers’ distress condition, cores were sampled from the FWD loading point and subjected to laboratory mechanistic tests. It was found that damaged and sound cores are distinguishable in a relation between bituminous cores’ thickness and a deflection basin index (D0-D900) divided by cores thickness. Because it was also found that decrease of this index goes with the increase of each layer’s mix strength, including resilient modulus and indirect tensile strength, it is speculated that the index can be used to appropriately determine repair thickness by setting mix criteria for identifying to replace with new materials. Finally the way of a repair design using the index is introduced.
Explainable Reinforcement Learning via Reward Decomposition

We study reward decomposition for explaining the decisions of reinforcement learning (RL) agents. The approach decomposes rewards into sums of semantically meaningful reward types, so that actions can be compared in terms of trade-offs among the types. In particular, we introduce the concept of minimum sufficient explanations for compactly explaining why one action is preferred over another in terms of the types. Many prior RL algorithms for decomposed rewards produced inconsistent decomposed values, which can be ill-suited to explanation. We exploit an off-policy variant of Qlearning that provably converges to an optimal policy and the correct decomposed action values. We illustrate the approach in a number of domains, showing its utility for explanations.
Orographic Enhancements in Precipitation : Construction of a Global Monthly Precipitation Climatology from Gauge Observations and Satellite Estimates

Accurate representation of the long-term mean precipitation is important for a number of applications including global change studies, climate model evaluations, and examinations of energy and water cycle. Over the past 20 years, several sets of long-term precipitation climatology have been constructed through objective analysis of gauge observations over global land areas (e.g. Legates and Willmott 1990; New et al. 1990; and Chen et al. 2002). While, these gauge-based climatologies present very similar spatial distribution patterns of precipitation, differences exist in smaller scale features and in magnitude, especially over mountainous areas (Chen et al. 2004). One problem common to all of these climatologies is the under-estimation of mean precipitation over mountainous areas (Nijsen et al. 2001). In general, gauge stations tend to be placed in areas with low elevation where less precipitation is observed than that over nearby mountainous regions. Orographic effects in precipitation must be included to improve the quantitative accuracy of the global land precipitation climatology.
Performance Comparison of Cross and Rectangular Quadrature Amplitude Modulation over Nakagami Fading Channels for Equal Energy Case

In this paper SEP (symbol error probability) performance of Cross and rectangular QAM is compared over Nakagami fading channels for EEC (Equal Energy Case). The SEP expressions are derived using MGF (moment generating function) approach and are composed of linear sum of integrals that have integrands that are exponential and trigonometric functions. SEP expressions of cross and rectangular QAM are considered for AWGN channel that only contains Q-functions. Equal Energy Case states that Euclidean distance „d‟ between symbols points of rectangular QAM, when reduced provides comparable average energy with that of cross QAM but still it would not affect the SEP performance of rectangular QAM. Cross QAM provides considerably better performance and can obtain gain of at least 1.1 dB over rectangular QAM, when SEP is less than 0.3 in Nakagami fading channels. The better performance is due to the cross shaped constellation structure of cross QAM.
Scalable and Efficient Comparison-based Search without Features

We consider the problem of finding a target object $t$ using pairwise comparisons, by asking an oracle questions of the form \emph{"Which object from the pair $(i,j)$ is more similar to $t$? "}. Objects live in a space of latent features, from which the oracle generates noisy answers. First, we consider the {\em non-blind} setting where these features are accessible. We propose a new Bayesian comparison-based search algorithm with noisy answers; it has low computational complexity yet is efficient in the number of queries. We provide theoretical guarantees, deriving the form of the optimal query and proving almost sure convergence to the target $t$. Second, we consider the \emph{blind} setting, where the object features are hidden from the search algorithm. In this setting, we combine our search method and a new distributional triplet embedding algorithm into one scalable learning framework called \textsc{Learn2Search}. We show that the query complexity of our approach on two real-world datasets is on par with the non-blind setting, which is not achievable using any of the current state-of-the-art embedding methods. Finally, we demonstrate the efficacy of our framework by conducting an experiment with users searching for movie actors.
Power Conditioning System Architecture for Remote Smart Sensor Applications

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are increasingly becoming more important in application areas such as environmental monitoring, access control, and automation. Current technology trends towards low power consumption, high speed, high resolution data conversion and noise-sensitive electronic components make the task of designing power supplies for WSNs challenging. This is particularly so when utilizing energy harvesting technologies rather than conventional energy sources to power sensor systems. Currently, available literature does not offer comprehensive treatment of power conditioning system design which takes into account all the properties and requirements of WSNs. This paper presents a high -level design of a power conditioning circuit, taking into account the unique requirements of WSNs. The approach taken was to analyze WSN requirements and investigate different power conditioning circuit topologies and design techniques necessary to meet these requirements. Furth er, all the proposed schemes and techniques are synthesized into a single power conditioning architecture.
RAWSEEDS: Robotics Advancement through Web-publishing of Sensorial and Elaborated Extensive Data Sets

The absence of standard benchmarks is an acknowledged problem in the field of robotics, and is doubly harmful to it. First, it prevents recognition of scientific and technical progress, thus discouraging research and development; second, it prevents new actors (and particularly companies) from entering the robotic sector, as heavy investments are needed to compensate for that absence. The need for benchmarking in advanced robotics embraces a wide range of topics, from, e.g., dexterous manipulation to, e.g., emotional interfaces with humans. The RAWSEEDS project will focus on sensor fusion, localization, mapping and SLAM in autonomous mobile robotics. The project will provide a comprehensive Benchmarking Toolkit, including high-quality multisensorial data sets, well defined Benchmarking Problems (BPs) based on the data sets, state-ofthe-art Benchmarking Solutions (BSs) in the form of algorithms, software, methodologies and instruments for the assessment of the BSs.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Tree Ring Chronology and Precipitation

Tree ring chronology data is known to reflect regional climate due to the strong impact of rainfall and temperature. Therefore, tree ring data can be used to reconstruct historical climate in order to understand how climate changed in the past and make prediction about the future behavior of the climate. For simplicity, this research only considers the influence of precipitation on tree ring growth within the New England area. A total of 94 measurement sites are used to record tree ring width over 881 years and corresponding precipitation data are given at some locations for 121 years. We developed a spatio-temporal model to describe the response of a tree growth to precipitation on an annual timescale and introduced the general hierarchical statistical framework from data, process and parameter models. To predict climate in the past, we considered an autoregressive process in time that accounts for temporal correlation of precipitation. Based on data collected at each observed location, geospatial Kriging allows us to predict reasonable precipitation at unobserved locations in a regional perspective.
PISCES: A Programmable, Protocol-Independent Software Switch

Hypervisors use software switches to steer packets to and from virtual machines (VMs). These switches frequently need upgrading and customization—to support new protocol headers or encapsulations for tunneling and overlays, to improve measurement and debugging features, and even to add middleboxlike functions. Software switches are typically based on a large body of code, including kernel code, and changing the switch is a formidable undertaking requiring domain mastery of network protocol design and developing, testing, and maintaining a large, complex codebase. Changing how a software switch forwards packets should not require intimate knowledge of its implementation. Instead, it should be possible to specify how packets are processed and forwarded in a high-level domainspecific language (DSL) such as P4, and compiled to run on a software switch. We present PISCES, a software switch derived from Open vSwitch (OVS), a hard-wired hypervisor switch, whose behavior is customized using P4. PISCES is not hard-wired to specific protocols; this independence makes it easy to add new features. We also show how the compiler can analyze the high-level specification to optimize forwarding performance. Our evaluation shows that PISCES performs comparably to OVS and that PISCES programs are about 40 times shorter than equivalent changes to OVS source code.
Injectable Hydrogel Combined with Nucleus Pulposus-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Degenerative Intervertebral Disc in Rats

Stem cell-based tissue engineering in treating intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is promising. An appropriate cell scaffold can maintain the viability and function of transplanted cells. Injectable hydrogel has the potential to be an appropriate cell scaffold as it can mimic the condition of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) of nucleus pulposus (NP) and provide binding sites for cells. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of injectable hydrogel-loaded NP-derived mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSC) for the treatment of IVD degeneration (IDD) in rats. In this study, we selected injectable 3D-RGD peptide-modified polysaccharide hydrogel as a cell transplantation scaffold. In vitro, the biocompatibility, microstructure, and induced differentiation effect on NPMSC of the hydrogel were studied. In vivo, the regenerative effect of hydrogel-loaded NPMSC on degenerated NP in a rat model was evaluated. The results showed that NPMSC was biocompatible and able to induce differentiation in hydrogel in vivo. The disc height index (almost 87%) and MRI index (3313.83 ± 227.79) of the hydrogel-loaded NPMSC group were significantly higher than those of other groups at 8 weeks after injection. Histological staining and immunofluorescence showed that the hydrogel-loaded NPMSC also partly restored the structure and ECM content of degenerated NP after 8 weeks. Moreover, the hydrogel could support long-term NPMSC survival and decrease cell apoptosis rate of the rat IVD. In conclusion, injectable hydrogel-loaded NPMSC transplantation can delay the level of IDD and promote the regeneration of the degenerative IVD in the rat model.
Effect of Hydrographic Variability on the Distribution of Microbial Communities in Taiwan Strait in Winter

This study investigated the spatial variation in the components of a microbial food web (viruses, picoplankton, nanoflagellates, and ciliates) in different hydrographic environments in the Taiwan Strait during winter. Water temperature and salinity varied spatially, with lower temperatures (15.3–22.8 °C) and salinities (32.2–33.4 psu) in the northern part of the Taiwan Strait, largely affected by runoff from the coast of China. Concentrations of nutrients and Chl a were significantly higher in the northern part than that in the southern part of the study area. Synechococcus spp. , nanoflagellate, and ciliate abundance also varied significantly, with the northern strait having higher abundances of these communities. In contrast, a higher abundance of bacteria was found in the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. The results of this study, which describes two different ecosystems in the Taiwan Strait, suggest that during winter, a “viral loop” might play an important role in controlling bacterial production in the southern part of the Taiwan Strait, while nanofalgellate grazing of picophytoplankton may contribute mainly to the flux of energy in the northern part.
Non-Locality of Equivariant Star Products on $T*(RP^n)$

Lecomte and Ovsienko constructed $SL_{n+1}(R)$-equivariant quantization maps $Q_\lambda$ for symbols of differential operators on $\lambda$-densities on $\RP^n$. We derive some formulas for the associated graded equivariant star products $star_\lambda$ on the symbol algebra $Pol(T*\RP^n)$. These give some measure of the failure of locality. Our main result expresses (for $n$ odd) the coefficients $C_p$ of $star_\lambda$ when $\lambda=\half$ in terms of some new $SL_{n+1}(C)$-invariant algebraic bidifferential operators $Z_p$ on $T*\CP^n$ and the operators $(E+\frac{n}{2}\pm s)^{-1}$ where $E$ is the fiberwise Euler vector field and $s\in\{1,2,. ,[\frac{p}{2}]\}$.
(1, k)-Swap Local Search for Maximum Clique Problem

Given simple undirected graph G = (V, E), the Maximum Clique Problem(MCP) is that of finding a maximum-cardinality subset Q of V such that any two vertices in Q are adjacent. We present a modified local search algorithm for this problem. Our algorithm build some maximal solution and can determine in polynomial time if a maximal solution can be improved by replacing a single vertex with k, k > 1, others. We test our algorithms on DIMACS[5], Sloane[15], BHOSLIB[1], Iovanella[8] and our random instances.
Family Shopping Recommendation System Using User Profile and Behavior Data

With the arrival of the big data era, recommendation system has been a hot technology for enterprises to streamline their sales. Recommendation algorithms for individual users have been extensively studied over the past decade. Most existing recommendation systems also focus on individual user recommendations, however in many daily activities, items are recommended to the groups not one person. As an effective means to solve the problem of group recommendation problem,we extend the single user recommendation to group recommendation. Specifically we propose a novel approach for family-based shopping recommendation system. We use the dataset from the real shopping mall consisting of shopping records table, client-profile table and family relationship table. Our algorithm integrates user behavior similarity and user profile similarity to build the user based collaborative filtering model. We evaluate our approach on a real-world shopping mall dataset.
Multiple levels in job demands-resources theory

This chapter uses the most recent version of Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) theory to explain how working conditions influence employees, and how employees influence their own working conditions. We show how employee self-undermining activates a loss cycle of job demands, strain, and negative behaviors over time, whereas employee job crafting activates a gain cycle of job resources, work engagement, and positive behaviors. Moreover, we argue that employee well-being and organizational behavior is a function of factors located at different levels (i.e. organization, team, individual level), which influence each other within and over time. We propose cross-level interaction effects of organization-level initiatives and leader/employee behaviors on team and individual well-being and performance. Although JD-R theory provides answers to many questions regarding employee well-being and performance, we discuss several issues that deserve research attention. The chapter closes with practical implications. We discuss how managers and supervisors can help employees to avoid health problems and flourish at work.
Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Utility of the Adherence Improving self-Management Strategy (AIMS) in HIV-Care: A Trial-Based Economic Evaluation

1 Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health & Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands 2 Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Center of Economic Evaluations, Utrecht, the Netherlands 3 Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 4 Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Healthcare, Heerlen, the Netherlands 5 Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 6 Department of Internal Medicine, Haga Teaching Hospital, the Hague, the Netherlands 7 Department of Internal Medicine, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 8 Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands 9 Department of Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands 10 Department of Internal Medicine, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, the Netherlands 11 Department of Internal Medicine, Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 12 University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Foresterhill, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Static Deadlock Detection in MPI Synchronization Communication

It is very common to use dynamic methods to detect deadlocks in MPI programs for the reason that static methods have some restrictions. To guarantee high reliability of some important MPI-based application software, a model of MPI synchronization communication is abstracted and a type of static method is devised to examine deadlocks in such modes. The model has three forms with different complexity: sequential model, single-loop model and nested-loop model. Sequential model is a base for all models. Single-loop model must be treated with a special type of equation group and nested-loop model extends the methods for the other two models. A standard Java-based software framework originated from these methods is constructed for determining whether MPI programs are free from synchronization communication deadlocks. Our practice shows the software framework is better than those tools using dynamic methods because it can dig out all synchronization communication deadlocks before an MPI-based program goes into running.
NOXOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND HUMAN LIFE ACTIVITY SAFETY: RISKS OF MODERN DANGERS

The purpose of the article: The purpose of the article is to theoretically substantiate the noxological approach to the definition of mechanisms to counter the risks of modern hazards. Materials and methods: The key ideas of the noxological approach in the framework of this study are environmental preservation and human life-activity safety. The research is based on the methodological principles and leading ideas of environmental protection and human life-activity safety, presented in the context of social ecology, the concept of sustainable development of environmental safety, in the environmental paradigm, in the co-evolutionary paradigm of environmental ethics. Results of the research: The authors attempt to create a theoretical model of noxological approach to countering the risks of modern hazards in environmental preservation and human life-activity safety. The systematization of the basic concepts of the noxological approach as an independent scientific direction is carried out; the regularities and sources of the hazards’ emergency are established; the taxonomy of hazards is determined; the prototype of the hazard passport is justified. Applications: This research can be used for universities, teachers, and students. Novelty/Originality: In this research, the model of noxological approach to environmental protection and human life activity safety: risks of modern dangers is presented in a comprehensive and complete manner.