Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complex question answering: minimizing the gaps and beyond

Current Question Answering (QA) systems have been significantly advanced in demonstrating finer abilities to answer simple factoid and list questions. Such questions are easier to process as they require small snippets of texts as the answers. However, there is a category of questions that represents a more complex information need, which cannot be satisfied easily by simply extracting a single entity or a single sentence. For example, the question: "How was Japan affected by the earthquake? " suggests that the inquirer is looking for information in the context of a wider perspective. We call these "complex questions" and focus on the task of answering them with the intention to minimize the existing gaps in the literature. The major limitation of the available search and QA systems is that they lack a way of measuring whether a user is satisfied with the information provided. This was our motivation to propose a reinforcement learning formulation to the complex question answering problem. Next, we presented an integer linear programming formulation where sentence compression models were applied for the query-focused multi-document summarization task in order to investigate if sentence compression improves the overall performance. Both compression and summarization were considered as global optimization problems. We also investigated the impact of syntactic and semantic information in a graph-based random walk method for answering complex questions. Decomposing a complex question into a series of simple questions and then reusing the techniques developed for answering simple questions is an effective means of answering complex questions. We proposed a supervised approach for automatically learning good decompositions of complex questions in this work. A complex question often asks about a topic of user's interest. Therefore, the problem of complex question decomposition closely relates to the problem of topic to question generation. We addressed this challenge and proposed a topic to question generation approach to enhance the scope of our problem domain.
A 7 DOF pneumatic muscle actuator (pMA) powered exoskeleton

The development of haptic systems for VR and telepresence has been identified as a key feature in the progression from observation of the environment to interaction. Arm masters and exoskeletons have formed an important user interface for the provision of such facilities, with these devices requiring a subtle combination of complex mechanical, electrical and kinematic structures with user requirements of low mass, portability, comfort, flexibility and safety. The actuation system is often identified as a focus of this design blending process. This work considers the design, construction and testing of a light weight comfortable high power 7 degree of freedom force feedback exoskeleton. This is achieved through the use, modeling and control of pneumatic muscle actuators (pMA) that provide lightweight, low cost, flexible, portable, comfortable and inherently safe input/feedback/control operation. Models of operation in a virtual environment are developed and demonstrated, with experimental results to illustrate the effectiveness of the device in replicating contact forces and creating a sensation of virtual presence.
Pub/Sub-based Sensor virtualization framework for Cloud environment

The interaction between wireless sensors such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud is a new paradigm of communication virtualization to overcome resource and efficiency restriction. Cloud computing provides unlimited platform, resources, services and also covers almost every area of computing. On the other hand, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) has gained attention for their potential supports and attractive solutions such as IoT, environment monitoring, healthcare, military, critical infrastructure monitoring, home and industrial automation, transportation, business, etc. Besides, our virtual groups and social networks are in main role of information sharing. However, this sensor network lacks resource, storage capacity and computational power along with extensibility, fault-tolerance, reliability and openness. These data are not available to community groups or cloud environment for general purpose research or utilization yet. If we reduce the gap between real and virtual world by adding this WSN driven data to cloud environment and virtual communities, then it can gain a remarkable attention from all over, along with giving us the benefit in various sectors. We have proposed a Pub/Sub-based sensor virtualization framework Cloud environment. This integration provides resource, service, and storage with sensor driven data to the community. We have virtualized physical sensors as virtual sensors on cloud computing, while this middleware and virtual sensors are provisioned automatically to end users whenever they required. Our architecture provides service to end users without being concerned about its implementation details. Furthermore, we have proposed an efficient content-based event matching algorithm to analyze subscriptions and to publish proper contents in a cost-effective manner. We have evaluated our algorithm which shows better performance while comparing to that of previously proposed algorithms.
VLSI digital signal processing education

Research in the field of VLSI digital signal processing (DSP) involves study of algorithms and architectures for VLSI implementation of signal and image processing algorithms, theory of architectures and design methodologies, and computer aided design of VLSI DSP systems which can meet the area-speed-power demands of applications using available technologies. The objective in design and implementation of VLSI DSP systems is to reduce the area and power while meeting the speed requirements of the real-time applications. Although about one and a half decades old, this field is still in its youth. The challenges in meeting the speed-power demands of new applications leads to innovations in theory of architectures. At the same time use of old techniques in new applications allows us to further generalize and extend known principles. Because of these continuing advances and because of lack of text books in this field, it remains difficult to educate practicing engineers and graduate students in this field. This paper presents can overview of two ten-week quarter courses offered at the University of Minnesota to train graduate students in this field. <<ETX>>
Time domain based algorithm for detection of ventricular fibrillation

The algorithm presented is based on the methods of percent of time above or below thresholds (PTABT), variability of threshold crossing intervals (TCI) and peak similarity in autocorrelation function (ACF). The algorithm offers a way to identify the ventricular fibrillation (VFib) and nonVFib rhythms with several features of electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm and achieves a high sensitivity and specificity.
LOAD BALANCING ALGORITHM REVIEW's IN CLOUD ENVIRONMENT

The vast requirements of infrastructure and resources in IT environment supported by a new trend of technology is called Cloud Computing. The major vital feature of cloud computing environment is Load Balancing. By stipulation of resources to cloud user's basis on the demand to make sure the efficient load balancing for resource exploitation. Cloud users prioritization based on scheduling criteria in load balancing. The services will be provide in the user level. The cloud user submit their bigger tasks and the task will perform by servers and then cloud user get back the result. Cloud Computing environment have a several issues and challenges there are security ,availability, scalability ,resource allocation etc., Availability will be increased while increasing the load balancing in task on cloud. Load Balancing Techniques are need to augment the performance of the intact Cloud Environment. Using different Load balancing algorithms the cloud nodes will get the load. These algorithms defined to distribute the load between nodes. Satisfaction of users and reliability is a major achievement in cloud using load balancing. This paper concentrates and compares the various load balancing techniques in the cloud.
A new method for joint cancellation of clock and carrier frequency offsets in OFDM receivers over frequency selective channels

A new estimator is presented which enables a baseband digital compensation of carrier and clock frequency offsets in OFDM systems. The estimator is obtained by applying the joint maximum likelihood criterion to one or several frequency domain symbols, with a model that explicitly takes into account the channel frequency selectivity. Under certain assumptions a linearization can be applied, leading to an analytical expression of the estimator. Otherwise, two-dimensional optimization is required. Several versions of the estimator are presented according to whether the modulation is PSR or QAM, differential or coherent. The performance improvement is evaluated in two contexts: digital audio broadcasting and wireless local area networks (HIPERLAN/2-like systems). In the context of vehicular DAB, the influence of Doppler is emphasized. In HIPERLAN/2, simulations show that a significant gain (up to 1 dB) can be achieved with the new method compared to basic linear least squares estimators, enabling an all-digital compensation of frequency offsets with negligible degradation of the BER performance.
A Fast and Low-power VLSI Architecture for Half-pixel Motion Estimation Using Two-step Search Algorithm for HDTV Application

Abstract The present article proposes a high-performance architecture for the Two-Step Search algorithm, which is used in half-pixel motion estimation. As motion estimation calls for intense computation on a large number of pixels stored in memory, frequent memory access is involved in this operation. In the present article, an architecture, which is based on an intelligent memory configuration to contain the required large memory bandwidth, has been proposed for implementing the Two-Step Search algorithm for variable block sizes as recommended by H.264 standard. The present architecture has been compared with a reported architecture. It has been found that the proposed architecture can process up to 33% more number of High Definition Tele-Vision frames (of size 1280×720) and also consumes 5% less power by sacrificing only about 1.6% of the total chip area.
I Don't Know What It Is, but I Know It When I Hear It: Speaking Proficiency and the ACTFL OPI

and Concrete Language Measures that Predict Holistic Ratings . 104 Regression Assumptions – Linearity . 104 Regression Assumptions – Independence . 107 Regression Assumptions – Normality . 107 Regression Assumptions – Homogeneity of Variance (Homoscedasticity) . 109 Regression Results . 109 Vocabulary Measures that Predict Holistic Ratings – Breadth . 110 Regression Assumptions – Linearity . 110 Regression Assumptions – Independence . 113 Regression Assumptions – Normality . 114 Regression Assumptions – Homogeneity of Variance (Homoscedasticity) . 115 Regression Results . 115 Vocabulary Measures that Predict Holistic Ratings – Precision . 116 Regression Assumptions – Linearity . 116 Regression Assumptions – Independence . 118 Regression Assumptions – Normality . 119 Regression Assumptions – Homogeneity of Variance (Homoscedasticity) . 120 Regression Results . 120
Nonlinear backstepping control of an electrohydraulic material testing system

While the theory of backstepping control design for nonlinear systems has existed for about a decade, there are still very few successful implementation results of this scheme. This paper presents the design and experimental results of nonlinear backstepping control for an electrohydraulic material testing fixture. Dynamic displacement tracking control for a nonlinear elastomer specimen is considered. It is shown by experimental comparisons that superior tracking control performance can be achieved by the backstepping design approach when the specimen nonlinearity is accurately modeled. Additionally, the difficulties of implementing the backstepping controller, such as design parameter tuning, transient response, and input saturation issues, are discussed. Heuristic experiences to these issues are presented as well.
A prospective biopsychosocial study of the persistent post-concussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury.

Abstract This study examined multiple biopsychosocial factors relating to post-concussion symptom (PCS) reporting in patients with mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), including structural (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and microstructural neuroimaging (diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]). Patients with mTBIs completed several questionnaires and cognitive testing at approximately one month (n=126) and one year (n=103) post-injury. At approximately three weeks post-injury, DTI was undertaken using a Siemens 3T scanner in a subgroup (n=71). Measures of fractional anisotropy were calculated for 16 regions of interest (ROIs) and measures of apparent diffusion coefficient were calculated for 10 ROIs. Patients were compared with healthy control subjects. Using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) PCS criteria and mild or greater symptom reporting, 59% of the mTBI sample met criteria at one month and 38% met criteria at one year. However, 31% of the healthy c.
A NEW PRACTICAL RECEIVER FOR A DECODE-AND-FORWARD COOPERATIVE CDMA SYSTEMS BASED ON A BLIND Î»-COMBINER

This paper develops a practical receiver suggested for cooperative systems using decode-and-forward transmission and compares it to the theoretical sub-optimum ‚-MRC receiver model. The proposed receiver model adopts a channel blind ‚-combiner and employs a practical estimation of the combiner's weight ‚ that changes adaptively for each received bit. The ‚ estimation process relies on a dynamic-blind calculation performed on the incoming bit stream using an approximate formula. The accuracy of the estimated values of ‚ against the numerical (optimum) values is verifled by comparing their efiects on the performance curves. Next, the performance of the proposed receiver is evaluated against the sub-optimum receiver using the closed-form performance equations then verifled using an actual implementation of the decode-and-forward cooperative algorithm. The use of the proposed receiver is shown to have reliable performance under difierent channel assignments and provides adaptivity to channel variations without complexity or exaggerated signal processing.
Endoscopic Resection for Benign Parotid Tumor Through a Cosmetic Retroauricular Incision with Water Sac Establishing Operative Space: A New Approach.

PURPOSE To develop a new approach of endoscopic resection for benign parotid tumor through a cosmetic retroauricular incision with a water sac establishing the operative space. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-eight patients with benign parotid superficial lobe tumor were randomly assigned to an endoscopic (29 patients) or a conventional (29 patients) surgery group. The maximum diameter of the tumors was 6 cm. The subjective satisfaction scores with the incision scar, incision length, operative bleeding volume, postoperative complications, and recurrence rate were compared between the groups. RESULTS All operations were successfully performed. The endoscopic incision length (4.3±0.5 cm), bleeding volume (26.6±10.4 mL), and incidence of temporary facial paresis (6.9%) differed from the conventional surgery group (P<.05). The scars were almost invisible behind the ear. The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.9±0.7 in the endoscopic surgery group and 6.7±1.8 in the conventional surgery group (P<.05). Otherwise, Frey's syndrome and salivary fistula incidences were 3.4% (1/29) and 3.4% (1/29), respectively, in the endoscopic surgery group, which was not significantly different from the conventional surgery group (P>.05). No tumor recurrence was found during the 3-72 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic resection through a cosmetic retroauricular incision with a water sac establishing operative space is a feasible method for treatment of benign parotid superficial lobe tumor. Its main advantages are that the small and concealed operative scars improved the cosmetic results, and it provided a novel method for establishing the operation working space that could reduce the operative trauma.
MPTCP is not pareto-optimal: performance issues and a possible solution

MPTCP has been proposed recently as a mechanism for supporting transparently multiple connections to the application layer. It is under discussion at the IETF. We show, however, that the current MPTCP suffers from two problems: (P1) Upgrading some TCP users to MPTCP can reduce the throughput of others without any benefit to the upgraded users, which is a symptom of not being Pareto-optimal; and (P2) MPTCP users could be excessively aggressive towards TCP users. We attribute these problems to the linked-increases algorithm (LIA) of MPTCP and, more specifically, to an excessive amount of traffic transmitted over congested paths. The design of LIA forces a tradeoff between optimal resource pooling and responsiveness. We revisit the problem and show that it is possible to provide these two properties simultaneously. We implement the resulting algorithm, called opportunistic linked increases algorithm (OLIA), in the Linux kernel, and we study its performance over our testbed, by simulations and by theoretical analysis. We prove that OLIA is Pareto-optimal and satisfies the design goals of MPTCP. Hence it can avoid the problems P1 and P2. Our measurements and simulations indicate that MPTCP with OLIA is as responsive and non-flappy as MPTCP with LIA, and that it solves problems P1 and P2.
The moving object segmentation approach to vehicle extraction

In this study, we propose a moving object segmentation approach based on an efficient and real-time color background extraction. We use the statistical algorithm to obtain the color background and moving objects information efficiently. Then we perform the run-length algorithm to compensate the segmented objects and update the background real-time. The variation of the illuminative condition is also considered in our work. Several experimental results are illustrated to show the advantage of the proposed work on processing time and the segmented result.
Direct stability analysis of electric power systems using energy functions: theory, applications, and perspective

Stability analysis programs are a primary tool used by power system planning and operating engineers to predict the response of the system to various disturbances. Important conclusions and decisions are made based on the results of stability studies. This paper presents a theoretical foundation of direct methods for both network-reduction and network-preserving power system models. In addition to an overview, new results are offered. A systematic procedure of constructing energy functions for both network-reduction and network-preserving power system models is proposed. An advanced method, called the BCU method, of computing the controlling unstable equilibrium point is presented along with its theoretical foundation. Numerical solution algorithms capable of supporting online applications of direct methods are provided. Practical demonstrations of using direct methods and the BCU method for online transient stability assessments on two power systems are described. Further possible improvements, enhancements and other applications of direct methods are outlined.
Interpreting CDISC ADaM IG through Users Interpretation

It is now almost three years CDISC ADaM is an official standard the pharmaceutical industries should consider in their processes and “eventually” for submission. However the learning curve has not yet reached the peak (like for SDTM? ) and therefore, also because of the nature of ADaM, companies may have applied different interpretation. The aim of this paper is to have a systematic review of what has been published so far (CDISC, PharmaSUG, PhUSE, Forums, etc) and to evaluate how the different organizations have implemented and interpreted ADaM. Papers/slides have been identified and selected through a search on the web (e.g. Lex Jansen website indexing most of SAS proceedings). The key ‘learning’ from the most interesting “interpretation” will be discussed. The paper will also identify existing gray area; examples are but not limited to: - How to map clinical domains not yet covered - Complexity of data structure of developed ADaM datasets. E.g rules for creating derived records - Use of ADaM principles toward the ‘one-proc-away’ principle.
An intelligent Intrusion Detection System for ad hoc networks

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are necessary to provide security to ad hoc networks. It helps to detect and prevent Denial of Service (DoS) attacks and hence will reduce power consumption occurring during the transmission of message. Data preprocessing plays a major role in Intrusion Detection System (IDS), since it provides the optimal and valuable dataset to the Intrusion Detection System. In this paper, we propose a new intrusion detection system having an attribute selection algorithm, classifier and architecture for the proposed system. The attribute selection method is used for removing the redundant attributes which are used in decision making on intrusions. In addition, we used an enhanced C4.5 classification algorithm that was developed by extending the existing C4.5 algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed approach provides higher detection rates and reduces false alarm rate. This system has been tested using KDD'99 Cup data set.
Multi-criterion satisfactory optimization method for designing IIR digital filters

This paper proposes a novel method called multi-criterion satisfactory optimization method (MCSOM) to design infinite impulse response (IIR) filters. The core of the method is that multiple criteria can be adjusted conveniently, according to different requirements of different designers for performances of pass bands, stop bands and transition bands of IIR digital filters. The method can be employed directly in frequency domain. By designing performance specification satisfaction rate functions and synthesis satisfactory rate function of IIR digital filters, satisfactory optimization model is constructed. The model is characterized by considering satisfactory design of performance specifications and optimization of parameters of IIR digital filters, simultaneously. Furthermore, a new quantum genetic algorithm (NQGA) is also proposed to search automatically satisfactory solution in IIR digital filter design in this paper. Rapid convergence and good global search capability characterized the performance of NQGA. The effectiveness, applicability and flexibility of MCSOM based on NQGA are demonstrated by experimental results on the lowpass and bandpass IIR digital filters design. The results show that the introduced method is superior to Yule-Walker method and the method in Li Jianhua and Yin Fuliang (1996).