Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A fast 2‐transistor current‐mode AMOLED pixel

Abstract— Active‐matrix OLEDs are thinner and potentially more energy efficient than AMLCDs; however, most current AMOLED pixel designs are also excessively complicated. This paper compares the operating principles and performance of the four basic types of OLED pixels: converter pixels, system compensation pixels, compensated pixels, and current‐mode pixels. A new current‐mode pixel is described that is fast, provides excellent compensation for processing variations, and yet retains the simplicity and manufacturing advantages of the simplest 2‐transistor OLED pixels. Like other current‐mode pixels, this sequential current mirror pixel provides excellent compensation for variations in TFT Vt, TFT mobility, and non‐uniformities in the OLED itself. However, unlike other current‐mode pixels that are too slow for use in large displays, this sequential current mirror pixel can operate with a voltage precharge in a superlinear mode to reduce data line settling delays to less than 3 μsec. Like the simplest uncompensated pixels, the compensated sequential current mirror pixel requires only two TFTs, a single data line, and a single select line.
Podcasting: Just the Basics

Abstract Envision a world where people can choose any topic they wish to learn more about and, using the Internet, select sites that will regularly deliver information on that topic to a computer. Maybe they want to find out more about differentiated learning or how to speak Spanish. Maybe they want to give their students additional opportunities to learn the content of a course. Podcasts contain information on almost any topic, delivered via the Internet in audio or video form. They allow learners to access information at anytime from anywhere, with no constraints—just the free flow of information. As a result, a revolution is taking place in education, leading to new ways of teaching and learning. This article helps readers gain a basic understanding of podcasting. It provides a definition of podcasting, describes how the technology works, how to locate podcasts, and how they are being used by teachers.
How to make "complex" software customizable

KidSim and Puppeteer are two authoring tools that allow non-programmers to create and customize interactive educational simulations. KidSim and Puppeteer illustrate the effectiveness of task specific authoring tools as an approach to making complex software that is customizable. In this paper, a brief description of these two task specific tools is provided, and then enabling technology for building task specific tools is discussed. <<ETX>>
Modeling learner variability in CALL

This article describes challenges and benefits of modeling learner variability in Computer-Assisted Language Learning. We discuss the learner model of E-Tutor, a learner model that addresses learner variability by focusing on certain aspects and/or features of the learner's interlanguage. Moreover, we introduce the concept of phrase descriptors, the means by which the student model of E-Tutor captures very detailed linguistic information on the learner's performance and progress. Finally, we provide longitudinal data that emphasize the importance of monitoring fine-grained information and underline the dynamism and non-linearity of the SLA process, as also described by Dynamic Systems Theory (DST).
An experimental study of the possible bandwidth compression of visual image signals

It is a fact that the eyes are used far less often than the ears in telecommunication systems. The obvious reason for this is that an adequate signal can usually be obtained in aural communication channels with relatively little data, but in contrast the eyes are considered to require a very great deal of data in order to receive an adequate signal. There may be very many industrial applications of a visual communication system if only the data could be greatly reduced for such channels, so that adequate pictures of various kinds might be transmitted and received in relatively narrow bandwidths. Again, the criteria by which we judge these two kinds of channel are very different; we regularly make use of aural channels which are highly distorted and noisy, whereas we frequently judge vision channels, facsimile, etc., at very high levels of quality, presumably because we are conditioned by the needs of domestic television. This paper, together with an accompanying paper by Kubba, describes experiments upon the possibilities of automatic data reduction or bandwidth compression of visual channels, for both black and white diagrams and for half-tone pictures, using electronic equipment and accepting realistic noise levels.
Change Detection and Tracking Using Pyramid Transform Techniques

An automated, or "smart", surveillance system must be sensitive to small object motion wherever it may occur within a large field of view. The system must also be capable of distinguishing changes of interest from other image activity or noise. Yet the data processing capabilities of practical systems is often quite limited. To achieve these performance objectives at a low data rate, a pyramid based image preprocessor has been constructed that can compute frequency tuned "change energy" measures in real time. A microprocessor then examines a relatively small set of these measures and follows a foveal search strategy to isolate moving objects for tracking or for more detailed analysis.
A method for large scale introduction of wind power generation using PSO under frequency

Recently, environmental problems have prompted the prevalence of renewable energy sources such as wind power. In addition, safety concerns about nuclear power plants in Japan have also increased the adoption of renewable energy technology. In this paper, we use a nonlinear load frequency control model to propose a method for optimal allocation and distribution of wind power to improve the amount of renewable energy in the power grid. Furthermore, when we introduce the wind power under system frequency constraints, we use particle swarm optimization (PSO) and frequency sensitivity to make this proposed method more realistic. Then, to verify the validity of the proposed method, we perform a numerical simulation using a 9-machine 20-bus system.
Reliable information storage in memories designed from unreliable components

This is the first of two papers which consider the theoretical capabilities of computing systems designed from unreliable components. This paper discusses the capabilities of memories; the second paper discusses the capabilities of entire computing systems. Both present existence theorems analogous to the existence theorems of information theory. The fundamental result of information theory is that communication channels have a capacity, C, such that for all information rates less than C, arbitrarily reliable communication can be achieved. In analogy with this result, it is shown that each type of memory has an information storage capacity, C, such that for all memory redundancies greater than 1/C arbitrarily reliable information storage can be achieved. Since memory components malfunction in many different ways, two representative models for component malfunctions are considered. The first is based on the assumption that malfunctions of a particular component are statistically independent from one use to another. The second is based on the assumption that components fail permanently but that bad components are periodically replaced with good ones. In both cases, malfunctions in different components are assumed to be independent. For both models it is shown that there exist memories, constructed entirely from unreliable components of the assumed type, which have nonzero information storage capacities.
Scientometric investigation of global carbon nanotubes research

On the basis of Web of Science database, through scientometrics, quantitative and qualitative research was conducted on carbon nanotubes literature produced globally. A total of 64,376 publications and 1,770,339 citations were received to these publications during 1992–2012. It was found that the number of published articles was higher in Peoples Republic of China, USA, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, England, India, etc. The highest number of publications 10,375 (16.12%) was published in 2012. The highest number of citations 165,515 (9.35%) was received in 2005. The highest average citations per publication 498.25 was in 1992. The highest growth rate (387.50%) was observed in 1993. Overall Collaboration Coefficient (CR) was very high.
A Promising Practicum Pilot - Exploring Associate Teachers' Access and Interactions with a Web-based Learning Tool

This paper explores how a small group of associate teachers (i.e., the classroom teachers who host, supervise, and mentor teacher candidates during practicum placements) accessed and interacted with the Associate Teacher Learning Tool (ATLT), a web-based learning tool created specifically for this new group of users. The ATLT is grounded in web-based learning and discipline-specific research and conceptualized within a framework of reflective practice and constructivist learning theory. The ATLT was created specifically for associate teachers, as an affordable and flexible alternative method of providing support for these critical community members who partner with the Faculty of Education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), a university in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Through analysis of associate teachers’ usage patterns and emerging themes via the ATLT’s internal tracking system, the findings of this work revealed that although associate teachers accessed and interacted with the ATLT in diverse ways, several commonalities emerged. The findings of this exploratory work suggest that continued and expanded implementation and research of using a web-based form of learning that is grounded within a body of research, is warranted.
PRACTICAL DIGITAL COMPLEX SAMPLING SCHEME

Complex sampling is often employed to digitise a bandpass signal which is received at a high centre frequency and has to be processed further using baseband techniques. A practical scheme for complex digital sampling is developed where at each stage of processing the sampling rate is kept to a value not exceeding twice the highest frequency component contained in the baseband signal thus enabling it to minimise the workload for the digital signal processor.
Chemical Lithography by Surface‐Induced Photoreaction of Nitro Compounds

Searching for systems of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) that can be used as templates for chemical lithography, we found that nitro groups on aromatic SAMs are selectively converted on Ag to amino groups by irradiation with a visible laser. 4‐nitrobenzenethiol on Ag was thus converted to 4‐aminobenzenethiol by irradiating it with an Ar+ laser. This was evident from surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) as well as from a coupling reaction forming amide bonds. The surface‐induced photoreaction allowed us to prepare patterned binary monolayers on Ag that showed different chemical reactivities. Using the binary monolayers as a lithographic template, we induced site‐specific chemical reactions, such as the selective growth of biominerals on either the nitro‐ or amine‐terminated regions by adjusting the crystal‐growth conditions. We also demonstrated that patterned, amine‐terminated monolayers can be fabricated even on gold by using silver nanoparticles as photoreducing catalysts.
Document Re-ranking Based on Automatically Acquired Key Terms in Chinese Information Retrieval

For Information Retrieval, users are more concerned about the precision of top ranking documents in most practical situations. In this paper, we propose a method to improve the precision of top N ranking documents by reordering the retrieved documents from the initial retrieval. To reorder documents, we first automatically extract Global Key Terms from document set, then use extracted Global Key Terms to identify Local Key Terms in a single document or query topic, finally we make use of Local Key Terms in query and documents to reorder the initial ranking documents. The experiment with NTCIR3 CLIR dataset shows that an average 10%-11% improvement and 2%-5% improvement in precision can be achieved at top 10 and 100 ranking documents level respectively.
Recurrent Neural Networks with Nonlinear Synapses for Solving Optimization Problems

Artificial neural network models typically assume that the synapses are linear. This assumption is not well founded in biological fact, but serves to simplify the analysis and design of artificial neural networks for a variety of tasks, including learning and optimization. In this paper we consider a new form of pulse coupled neural network, where synaptic action is comprised of two components: a nonlinear action which depends on both pre-synaptic and post-synaptic activity levels, and a linear component which is associated with the post-synaptic circuitry alone. We show that interestingly, networks comprising such neurons can be used to efficiently solve difficult optimization problems. Such tasks may arise in the processing of signals in the auditory and visual pathway, but the proposed approach can be used for other applications as well. The assumption of a nonlinear synapse leads to analog neural networks for optimization, which are compact in terms of the number of neurons and interconnections required for a task, in comparison with traditional approaches. It also motivates the design of all-digital neural networks for the same applications. These can be realized in a simple manner on inexpensive programmable digital hardware.
Energy-Efficient Secure Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

In view of the problems of limited energy of the nodes and threat to routing security in wireless sensor networks, Energy-efficient Secure Routing Protocol (ESRP), an energy-efficient secure routing protocol for wireless sensor networks, is proposed. According to the structured topology of hexagonal mesh, hops at different directions are calculated on the optimal route for transmitting data packets in ESRP. With the help of characters of hops, the nodes can rapidly find a route among multiple optimal routes by the policy of the twice probability routing selection. Data breach is prevented by data encryption and data security is realized by one-way hash key chain and symmetric key authentication. Analysis and simulation results show that ESRP has better performance on security and saving energy.
Gesture Recognition Based on Motion Inertial Sensors for Ubiquitous Interactive Game Contents

Abstract As the ubiquitous computing paradigm that is predicted for the future is brought closer by technological advances, the need for new interaction techniques also arises in entertainment contents, mediated spaces, and sentient computer systems. The purpose of this study is to propose the method to recognize gestures based on inertia sensors which recognize the motions of the user by comparing the recognized motions with the pre-defined motions for game content production. Additionally, this method provides users with various data entry methods by making them wear small controllers with three-axis accelerator sensors. Users can proceed with the experiential game by moving according to the action list printed on the screen and the accuracy and timing of their motions. If they use multiple small wireless controllers together wearing them on the major parts of the body (hands and feet) and utilize the proposed methods, the game will be more interesting.
A highly sensitive and low‐noise IR photosensor based on a‐SiGe as a sensing and noise filter: Toward large‐sized touch‐screen LCD panels

Abstract— The a‐SiGe TFT photosensor for embedded touch‐screen panels (TSPs) was characterized by comparison with an a‐Si sensor. The photoresponse of an a‐SiGe sensor at a 850‐nm wavelength was much higher than that of a‐Si, indicating that a‐SiGe is a strong candidate material for an IR sensor. In order to increase the signal‐to‐noise ratio, the incident visible light was filtered by incorporating a bandpass‐filter layer. An a‐SiGe IR‐sensor‐embedded LCD panel was successfully demonstrated, showing an excellent multitouch property independent of ambient‐light conditions. This technology can be widely used in multifunctional TSPs.
CALL teacher professional growth through lesson study practice: an investigation into EFL teachers' perceptions

Despite the abundance of research on the potential of lesson study for promoting teachers' professional growth through practice and collaboration, little is known on how language teachers perceive this strategy for their computer assisted language learning (CALL) professional development. In an attempt to contribute to this research base, this article shares the findings of a case study on five English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' perception of the impact of lesson study on their professional growth. Participants' responses to interview questions along with their reflection journals were analyzed adopting constant comparison method. The findings indicated that participants appreciated the teaching practice and peer observation for promoting their knowledge of technology, technological pedagogical knowledge, knowledge of technological glitches, and their confidence in teaching with technology. It was also observed that teachers preferred peer critique to positive feedback for improving the quality of their lesson plans. The results could provide CALL teacher educators and program designers insights into benefits and challenges of engaging EFL teachers in lesson study during CALL teacher education.
GPU-accelerated inverse lithography technique

The aim of this paper is to explore the use of the Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) for mask design using inverse lithography technique (ILT). We extend a newly proposed ILT algorithm called cost-function-reduction method (CFRM) to general partial-coherence image systems. To release heavy computational cost in this algorithm such as intensity computation, the algorithm is modified for GPU implementation. The scalability of the GPU implementation is demonstrated using different sizes of matrix in incoherence image system and partial-coherence image system. The total GPU optimization time for a 25μm×25μm mask in partial-coherence image model is about 8.2 second. About 15X performance increase have been achieved than that of an algorithm solely implemented on a high-end CPU. The maximum mask size is limited by GPU card memory.
Development of Millimeter-Wave Communication Modem for Mobile Wireless Backhaul in Mobile Hotspot Network

The current cellular communications are optimized for low mobility users, meaning that their performance is degraded at high speed. Therefore, passengers in a high-speed train experience very poor radio link quality due to the significantly large number of simultaneous handovers. In addition, wireless data traffic is expanding exponentially in trains, subways and buses due to the widespread use of smartphones and mobile devices. To solve the inherent problem of cellular communication networks and meet the growing traffic demand, this paper proposes the mobile hotspot network of a millimeter-wave communication system as a mobile wireless backhaul. This paper describes the physical layer design of uplink and downlink in the proposed system, and the performances of uplink and downlink are evaluated under Rician fading channel conditions. The implemented baseband prototype of the proposed millimeter-wave communication modem is presented. This system can provide a Gbps data rate service in high-speed trains carrying hundreds of wireless Internet users.
Representing fluxes in the atmospheric planetary boundary layer above heterogeneous surfaces

A numerical atmospheric model is used to evaluate the impact of landscape heterogeneities created by various topographical features and land-surface sensible heat flux on turbulent and mesoscale heat and momentum fluxes in the atmospheric planetary boundary layer (PBL). These simulations emphasize the importance of land-surface heterogeneity on the PBL and the need to provide high resolution data sets of land-surface characteristics for atmospheric models. Probably, remote sensing is the only realistic method to obtain these data sets. <<ETX>>
An Application of Measurement Methods to Improve the Quantitative Nature of Pilot Rating Scales

Although various forms of pilot rating scales have been widely used, they have at the same time been criticized increasingly for supposed deficiencies. Thus, contemporary scale problems include wording ambiguity, the dual mission character of some scales, and a lack of information about the quantitative character of the scale continuum. In an attempt to quantize rating scales, a semantic experiment was conducted that allowed psychological measurement techniques to be applied to scale the wording used in rating scales. The results of the application of the method of successive intervals indicate that contemporary scale data can be averaged directly with little error if a reliable estimate of the mean is available. However, the number of samples necessary to obtain a reliable estimate depends on the rating itself, and increases as the rating becomes worse, so that the design of an experiment would need to depend on the outcome of the same experiment. The problem could be avoided by constructing a scale based on the successive interval scale values, where variability along the scale is constant.
International Journal of Engineering

In this paper, the immune controller is used to control the paralleled DC-DC converters. A PID controller is first applied and its coefficient is optimized using an intelligent (PSO) algorithm. Immune controller is then added to PID controller and an immune PID controller is formed. Two methods have been suggested to determine non-linear behavior of immune controller. In the first method, an exponential function is suggested and its unknown coefficient is optimized using PSO algorithm. In the second method, fuzzy logic has been used. Performance of the proposed control methods in the presence of various disturbances is investigated over a sample paralleled DC-DC converter and the effectiveness of the applied immune controller is verified with the comparison of simulation results. The results show that the improvement of system performance with immune PID controller by two suppression function in comparison with the PID controller.
The Epidemiology of Suicide and Attempted Suicide among Young Australians

Objective: This paper summarises a report to the NHMRC the objectives of which were to review research into the epidemiology of youth suicide in Australia and identify gaps in research. Method: Literature searches were conducted. A limited amount of new data analysis was included to shed light on reliability issues of official Australian suicide data. Results: The review examined suicide data systems, including issues to do with coroners, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and alternative systems. The epidemiological areas reviewed included: all ages, youth, age and gender, geographical, socioeconomic, marital, indigenous, migrants, suicides in custody and gay and lesbian suicides. Conclusion: While much is known about the epidemiology of youth suicide, much remains to be clarified. Study of indigenous issues is perhaps the most neglected area; study of family issues may be potentially be the most productive.