Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Animated electronic books

Unlike traditional books which are passive, the Electronic Book lends itself to dynamic user interactions and is active. Multimedia technology enhances Electronic Books with video, sound, and animation in addition to text. Present generation authoring tools such as Authorware which are used to create multimedia electronic books, are designed as intraframe systems and are limited in their animation capabilities. Our authoring tool design supported by a knowledge base is interframe based which makes animation more realistic. The paper describes animation algorithms developed for such tools. The animation method uses stop points for interpolation and the technique used is a combination of bitblit and real time animation. The software design is object oriented which gives our approach more flexibility.
A temperature dependent correction to the model for microwave excess emissivity of the ocean due to surface winds

Coincident measurement of ocean surface windspeed, temperature, and microwave emissivity reveal a clear dependence of the slope of the emissivity versus windspeed on the temperature. Water at higher temperatures has a greater increase in emissivity per unit wind speed. This temperature dependence is a residual result of the dependence of the specular ocean surface emissivity on temperature. As the temperature increases, specular microwave emissivity decreases. Since wind roughening and foam increase the emissivity, the increase with respect to the specular baseline is proportionately larger at higher temperatures.
Using Digest to implement the pathway participation method for detecting inﬂuential system structure

This article brieﬂy deﬁnes and describes the pathway participation metric (PPM), a mathematical calculation that can help to identify the linkages between the structure and behavior of a dynamic system. PPM has been implemented in an experimental piece of software called Digest, which we then present. Digest is not a simulation language, but rather a companion to any commercial system dynamics package, which accepts a text version of a simulation model and performs post formulation analysis of the model. Digest detects and displays which feedback loops are most inﬂuential in explaining a selected pattern of behavior in a model. Output from a sample Digest run is presented and described. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LOCATION UPDATION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT GEOGRAPHIC ROUTING IN MANET

Routing in mobile ad-hoc networks with a large numb er of nodes or with high mobility is a very difficu lt task and energy conservation is very important for mobile devices. In geographic routing each node require information about neighbors to forward data packets. Earlier periodic updations ar e used for location updation but it consumes much a mount of node energy and bandwidth utilized for unnecessary updation where t here is no changes in the location information. In this paper adaptive position update used with less energy consumption and utiliz e the bandwidth for location updation only when the re is a change in the network. The GPSR protocol used for packet forwardi ng in both greedy forwarding and perimeter forwardi ng. This adaptive updation utilize only less amount of node energy th an other beaconing scheme.
The Application of Visualization Technology in Advancement Degree of Difficulty Computing Process

In order to avoid the subjectivity and limitation of advancement degree of difficulty evaluating method based on lists, a visualizing method which applies the visualization technology in advancement degree of difficulty computing process is proposed. This method takes the improved technology readiness level assessing result of the technology to be assessed as the input of the visualizing process, and visualizes the readiness status of the technology to a two-dimension coordinate graph. The area which denotes the advancement degree of difficulty of the technology developing from one readiness level to a higher readiness level is shown in the coordinate graph. A computing formula is established to get the advancement degree of difficulty of the technology. The experimental results show that the proposed visualizing method can get the difficulty degree of the technology developing from one readiness level to another readiness level objectively and accurately.
Global organizations and e‐learning: Leveraging adult learning in different cultures

This article examines a number of issues regarding the leveraged use of global training within multinational organizations. Given a common purpose and using technology that may minimize cultural differences, is it possible for these organizations to overcome some of the cultural barriers to adult learning? In examining this concept, this article discusses issues of cultural differences, adult cognition, technology, developing global courseware, and measuring its impact.
An analog VLSI massively parallel module for low-level cortical processing in machine vision

A new approach to analog VLSI implementations of algorithms for visual cortical processing is presented. Specifically, we introduce a massively parallel architecture, organized as a planar resistive network with voltage controlled current generators locally connected to model interaction schemata responsible for specific sensitivities in cortical neurons. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by designing and simulating 24/spl times/24 node analog modules implementing Gabor-like oriented receptive fields, that can be used in machine vision real time systems to evidence texture differences.
Discriminative features and classification methods for accurate classification

Automated classification and tracking approaches suffer from the high-dimensionality of the data and information space, which frequently rely upon both discriminative feature selection and efficient, accurate supervised classification strategies. Feature selection strategies have the benefit of representing the data in a modified reduced space to improve the efficacy of data mining, machine learning, and computer vision approaches. We have developed feature-selection methods involving feature ranking and assimilation to discover reduced feature sets that produce accurate results in classification for automated classifiers with significant specificity and sensitivity. We have tested a wide range of spatial, texture, and wavelet-based feature sets for electro-optical (EO) aerial imagery and infrared (IR) land-based image sequences on several machine-learning algorithms for classification for performance evaluation and comparison. A detailed experimental evaluation is provided for the classification efficacy of the features and classifiers on the particular data sets, and is accompanied by a discussion of the particular success or failure. In the second section, we detail our novel feature set that combines moment and edge descriptors and produces high, robust accuracy when evaluated for classification. Our method leverages information previously calculated in the detection stage, which includes wavelet decomposition and texture statistics. We demonstrate the results of our feature set implementation and discuss methods for creating classifier decision rules to choose a particular classification algorithm dependent on certain operating conditions or data types adaptively.
Simulation of Land Development through the Integration of Cellular Automata and Multicriteria Evaluation

Cellular automata (CA) simulation has become a popular method of exploring the behaviour of all kinds of self-organising systems. The city may clearly be viewed as such a system but one with a particularly complex set of transition rules. Many natural processes such as the spread of fire or vegetation can be modelled by a simple set of local rules. Insofar as the development of a piece of land depends on the neighbourhood situation as well as on the characteristics of a site, urban evolution can be treated in much the same way, with transition rules translating the evaluation of the location into a land conversion outcome. If this modelling paradigm is to be used to gain insight into real-world urban development processes, there is a need to discover ways of capturing the richness of land conversion behaviour in the simplifying mechanisms of CA. Our paper contributes to this research agenda by integrating multicriteria evaluation (MCE) into a CA simulation in order to define nondeterministic, multidimensional, and multilevel transition rules. An analytical hierarchy process is used to implement MCE-derived transition rules. The integrated MCE – CA model may be used in a gaming mode to explore how urban form evolves under different development regimes caricatured by the set of multicriteria weights. We use it to test loosely hypotheses about the nature of the regimes that have governed the expansion of a fast-growing southern Chinese city.
Research of Parallel Processing Technology Based on Multi-Core

In this paper, five kinds of typical multi-core processers are compared from thread, cache, inter-core interconnect and etc. Two kinds of multi-core programming environments and some new programming languages are introduced. Thread-level speculation (TLS) and transactional memory (TM) are introduced to solve the problem of parallelization of sequential program. TLS automatically analyze and speculate the part of sequential process which can be parallel implement, and then automatically generate parallel code. TM systems provide an efficient and easy mechanism for parallel programming on multi-core processors. Typical TM likes TCC, UTM, LogTM, LogTM-SE and SigTM are introduced. Combined the TLS and TM can more effectively improve the sequential program running on the multi-core processors. Typical extended TM systems to support TLS likes TCC, TTM, PTT and STMlite are introduced.
OZONE Temporal Constraint Propagator.

Abstract : This report describes the temporal constraint propagator of the OZONE framework for planning and scheduling applications. The role of the propagator is to maintain temporal consistency in networks of activities, enforcing temporal constraints and limiting the search needed when generating a schedule. Unlike some other time bound propagators based on various shortest path algorithms, this one is based on the well-known AC-3 are consistency algorithm by A.K. Mackworth. In addition to documenting the constraint propagation architecture of OZONE and the functional requirements of the propagator, as well as describing the actual propagation algorithm, this report serves as a programmers reference to the functional interface to the propagator. It also gives has notes about the internal design of the system and documents the most important internal functions.
An Expert System for Computer-Assisted Composition

Computers offer opportunities for style imitation (Hiller and Isaacson 1959; Winograd 1968; Lidov and Gabura 1973) and afford novel solutions to problems in music composition. They have been successfully used in automated music (Hiller and Isaacson 1959), algorithmic composition (Fry 1984), and as stochastic probability generators (Xenakis 1971), to name a few. Artificial intelligence systems have created serious interest for music analysis (Roads 1985a) and composition (Cope 1987). "Experiments in music intelligence" (EMI) was begun (1984) as an interactive partner for the author. Initially viewed as an analysis tool for generating extensive lists of motivic patterns, it quickly grew into an imitative projector of possible next intervals of given phrases. From these early programs grew a large set of functions that allowed for style dictionaries and syntax rule applications. Rather than avoiding the author's own biases, the system developed explicitly around them. These included projections of linguistic parselike networks for phrase structures, intensely rigorous motive replications, and a proclivity for analyzing music by intervals rather than by pitch.
Inspectable learner reports for web-based language learning

In this paper we present the Report Manager of our Web-based tutoring system for German – an interface to a persistent learner report that students can inspect and manipulate. The learner report collects and retains information on the learner’s progress and performance that is saved between visits. It also provides access to a journaling system that records prior inputs along with detailed error analysis, and a bookmarking system that tracks exercise completion. Finally, results can be printed or emailed to an instructor. In the Fall semester 2003, we conducted a study with 87 learners of German to investigate how their study habits are affected by an inspectable learner report. Our study indicates that students reviewed their learner profiles frequently – 33 times on average over the course of a semester – and that 70% of the students repeated exercises after having inspected their learner profile. So, while detailed user profiles and performance tracking are invaluable tools for CALL researchers, our study suggests that students also utilize and are influenced by the information.
Personalized feedback based on a drink-pouring exercise may improve knowledge of, and adherence to, government guidelines for alcohol consumption.

BACKGROUND Although most people are aware of government guidelines for alcohol consumption, few have accurate knowledge of these and fewer still use these guidelines to monitor their drinking. Most people also lack accurate knowledge of the alcohol content of the drinks they consume. The aim of the study reported here was to examine whether or not personalized feedback on alcohol consumption based on performance in a drink-pouring task and self-reported alcohol intake would improve university students' knowledge of alcohol consumption guidelines and reduce their alcohol intake. METHODS A quasi-randomized control trial with a 2-month follow-up was conducted with 200 students aged 18 to 37 in the south of England. Participants were allocated to a "pour + feedback" group that completed a drink-pouring task and received personalized feedback, a "pour only" group that completed the drink-pouring task but did not receive feedback, and a control group. RESULTS At follow-up, participants in the "pour + feedback" group had significantly better knowledge of government guidelines, and significantly lower weekly alcohol intake when compared to the "control" and "pour only" groups. CONCLUSIONS Further refinement of the drink-pouring intervention and feedback is reported in this paper, and assessment of their impact in various populations may lead to better understanding of which elements of personalized feedback have the greatest influence on young people's alcohol use.
Fast Display Algorithm of Large Map File Based on Memory Mapping File Technique

This paper presents a Fast display Algorithm of large Map File based on memory mapping file technique, designing for reducing the number of pointer moves and the data in memory scheduling ,The algorithm uses a memory-mapped file access operation of a large-scale map file to resolve the problem of traditional file processing methods, which can not read more than 2G map image file; combined image pyramid technology to apply different resolutions depending on the display requirements map image, in order to achieve the purpose of roaming quickly. The experiment and analysis results show that the algorithm is able to achieve the best resolution real-time roaming of large-scale digital map.
Coherent processor for real-time inspection of technical surfaces

The number of applications in product inspection is already large and grows rapidly. Fabrication processes run at high speeds, and demands on accuracy and quality are rising. Today, electronic vision system often do not provide enough processing performance to satisfy real-time requirements of industrial applications. This motivates the development of hybrid vision systems which, by utilization of parallel optical filtering, have enough processing power to become applicable in automated product inspection. We have developed a programmable optical processor which is designed to extract defects on technical surfaces by means of optical image analysis. The processor is capable of analyzing video image sequences in real-time using liquid-crystal spatial light modulator technology. Structural defects are visually enhanced by an adaptive wavelet filtering method. We have implemented a demonstrator device and showed its operation by an example of practical relevance. The experiments confirm that optical image processing is an attractive way to do quality control in real-time.
Kernel functions for graph classification

Graphs are information-rich structures, but their complexity makes them difficult to analyze. Given their broad and powerful representation capacity, the classification of graphs has become an intense area of research. Many established classifiers represent objects with vectors of explicit features. When the number of features grows, however, these vector representations suffer from typical problems of high dimensionality such as overfitting and high computation time. This work instead focuses on using kernel functions to map graphs into implicity defined spaces that avoid the difficulties of vector representations. The introduction of kernel classifiers has kindled great interest in kernel functions for graph data. By using kernels the problem of graph classification changes from finding a good classifier to finding a good kernel function. This work explores several novel uses of kernel functions for graph classification. The first technique is the use of structure based features to add structural information to the kernel function. A strength of this approach is the ability to identify specific structure features that contribute significantly to the classification process. Discriminative structures can then be passed off to domain-specific researchers for additional analysis. The next approach is the use of wavelet functions to represent graph topology as simple real-valued features. This approach achieves order-of-magnitude decreases in kernel computation time by eliminating costly topological comparisons, while retaining competitive classification accuracy. Finally, this work examines the use of even simpler graph representations and their utility for classification. The models produced from the kernel functions presented here yield excellent performance with respect to both efficiency and accuracy, as demonstrated in a variety of experimental studies.
Structured writing at twenty‐five

This article is a historical and theoretical summary of structured writing. The approach describes the major innnovations of the approach including: (1) the invention and description of the information block as a new kind of modular approach to writing, (2) the precise specification of different kinds of information blocks for specific purposes, (3) the invention of a content analysis approach of seven major information types that cluster different information blocks to guide question asking and ensure completeness analysis, (4) the invention and description of an intermediate organizational unit of writing, the information map, that permits easy and natural topic clustering vital to efficient retrieval of information, (5) the development of a comprehensive and systematic set of criteria for labeling blocks and maps, (6) the systematic specification of where graphics should be used and where text would be better, (7) the development of easy-to-scan formats that exactly fit with the analysis methodology and categories to aided learning and reference. Each of these topics are developed by the originator of structured writing with an aim toward emphasizing their specific contribution to a comprehensive performance-based approach to structured writing.
Quality of nursing care perceived by patients and their nurses: an application of the critical incident technique. Part 1

Summary • The aims of the study were to identify indicators of quality of nursing care from the perceptions of patients and nurses, and to determine the congruence between patients’ and nurses’ perceptions. • The paper is presented in two parts. Part 1 includes the background and methods to the study and the findings from the comparison of patients’ and nurses’ perceptions. Part 2 describes the perceptions of patients and nurses, and the conclusions drawn from the study as a whole. • Patients and nurses in hospital wards were interviewed using the critical incident technique.
Fast watershed algorithms: analysis and extensions

Watershed transformation is used in morphological image segmentation. This transformation could be considered as a topographic region growing method. Recently, fast watershed algorithms have been proposed for general purpose computers. They are based on immersion simulations of the image surface, which is considered as a topographic relief. In such a model, the greylevel values of pixels stand for altitude values on the relief. In this paper, the operation of the present fast watershed algorithms is analyzed and a new extension is proposed. Drawbacks of the present algorithms are pointed out, studied, and illustrated with test images. These problems lead, in several cases, to a loss of information about image details and structures or even to unprocessed areas in the image. The new watershed algorithm overcomes these deficiencies and preserves more information about image details. The new algorithm is based on a split-and-merge scheme. It constantly monitors the presence of isolated areas during the immersion simulation, considering them as new catchment basins. Application of the split-and-merge watershed algorithm to marker-based image segmentation is discussed.
Energy-balancing passivity-based control

Ortega et al. have defined a class of Hamiltonian systems such that the application of passivity-based control (PBC) yields a closed-loop energy which is equal to the difference between the stored and the supplied energies. We call this special class of PBC energy-balancing (EB). We show how EB-PBC can be extended to general nonlinear passive systems. Further we identify the physical obstacle that hampers the utilization of EB-PBC in applications other than mechanical systems. In particular, we show that EB-PBC is stymied by the presence of unbounded energy dissipation.
GRACE TECHNICAL REPORTS Bidirectionalizing Structural Recursion on Graphs

The bidirectional transformation problem has been attracting more and more attention in the programming language community. Despite many promising results about bidirectional transformation on linear strings or tree-like data structures, it remains as an open problem whether it is possible to design a language that can support practical development of bidirectional transformations on graphs. In this paper, we propose the first language-based (linguistic) solution towards solving this challenging problem. We approach this problem by giving a well-behaved bidirectional semantics for structural recursion (on graphs), the most essential construct in UnCAL which is the underlying graph algebra for the known UnQL graph query language. In particular, we carefully refine the existing forward evaluation of structural recursion so that it can produce useful trace information for later backward evaluation, and extending the bulk semantics of structural recursion from forward evaluation to backward evaluation. We have formally proved the well-behavedness of our bidirectional semantics, fully implemented bidirectional transformation engine for UnQL, and confirmed the effectiveness of our approach through many non-trivial examples including typical transformation in database and software engineering.
Rate-driven key frame selection using temporal variation of visual content

A simple and fast method to select the assigned number of key frames in a video shot is presented. The algorithm selects the key frames so that the temporal variation of visual content within a video shot is equally distributed to each key frame. Simulation results on a real video sequence are shown to be in agreement with the human visual perception.