Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MacZ - a QoS MAC Layer for Ambient Intelligence Systems

Transfer and positioning apparatus including a vertically adjustable table, a workpiece introducing belt adapted to slidably move an underlying workpiece into a first location on the table. At the first location, the workpiece is engaged by fingers which depress the table to disengage the workpiece from the belt and subsequently move the workpiece across the table to a second location while changing the direction and orientation of the workpiece. At the second station, the fingers are elevated, allowing an elevation of the table and an engagement of the workpiece with a second belt which in turn slides the workpiece from the table to a second station.
Optimizing distributed XML queries through localization and pruning

Distributing data collections by fragmenting them is an effective way of improving the scalability of relational database systems. The unique characteristics of XML data present challenges that require different distribution techniques to achieve scalability. In this paper, we propose solutions to two of the problems encountered in distributed query processing and optimization on XML data, namely localization and pruning. Localization takes a fragmentation-unaware query plan and converts it to a distributed query plan that can be executed at the individual sites that hold XML data fragments in a distributed system. We then show how the resulting distributed query plan can be pruned so that only those sites are accessed that can contribute to the query result. We demonstrate that our techniques can be integrated into a real-life XML database system and that they significantly improve the performance of distributed query execution.
Finding Faults Quickly in Formal Models using Random Search

As software grows more complex, automatic verification tools become increasingly important. Unfortunately many systems are large enough that complete verification requires a lot of time and memory, if it is possible at all. In our preliminary studies, random search, although not a complete technique, was able to find most faults significantly faster and with less memory than would be required for full verification. Here we present an experiment in which random search was used to find faults in fault-seeded models of a large commercial flight guidance system. To assess the performance of random search we compared it to a full verification done by the model checker NuSMV. The random search results were surprisingly complete, finding nearly 90% of the faults reported by NuSMV—and these results were generated faster and using less memory. We suggest that random search be used in conjunction with verification tools, perhaps as a fast debugging tool during model development, or even as an alternative model checking strategy on models for which the time and memory requirements would make full verification impossible.
Einfluss der Wolkenbedeckung und atmosphärischen Dämpfung von verschiedenen Wellenlängen im MIR auf die Verfügbarkeit optischer Bodenstationen

Optische Freiraumubertragung ist eine auserst effiziente Moglichkeit, hohe Datenraten mit kleinen Antennen und geringem Leistungsaufwand uber weite Strecken zu ubertragen. Die Einsatzgebiete reichen dabei von Verbindungen zwischen Satelliten, uber Up- und Down- Links zwischen einer Bodenstation und einem Satelliten bis zu inneratmospharischen Links. Bei atmospharischen Down-Links stellen Wolken ein groses Problem dar, da bei dessen Auftreten die Ubertragung wegen zu hoher Dampfung meistens unterbrochen wird. Berechnungen der Mie-Streuung mit mehreren Wolkenmodellen zeigen, dass die Verwendung von verschiedenen Wellenlangen im MIR zwischen 10 μm und 12 μm eine Verbesserung bezuglich der Wolkendampfung bringt. Bei Auswahl einer Wellenlange in diesem Spektralbereich muss auf die atmospharische Dampfung geachtet werden, da im MIR viele starke Absorptionslinien existieren. Deren Einfluss wird mit der Simulationssoftware GENLN2 und LibRadtran berechnet. Um das Problem der Wolkendampfung zu umgehen, werden mit raumlich hoch aufgelosten Satellitenbildern des Wolkenbedeckungsgrades gunstige Standorte fur Bodenstationen bestimmt, welche gute Verfugbarkeiten besitzen. Zur Erhohung dieser wird das Verfahren der Bodenstationsdiversitat angewandt und das dabei auftretende Problem der statistischen Abhangigkeit der Wetterzellen gezeigt.
Integrating neural networks with influence diagrams for multiple sensor diagnostic systems

The objective of this research is to develop an adaptive architecture for the fusion of sensory information for diagnostic reasoning. The system architecture envisioned uses influence diagrams to provide a symbolic representation of the manufacturing or process system model. The independence encoded in influence diagrams is utilized in defining the structure of the neural networks to reduce the system complexity. Neural networks are then used as a learning mechanism for estimating and updating conditional probabilities from a set of training data. To this end, we have designed two types of probabilistic neural networks: probabilistic Hamming nets (PHNs) for discrete variables and self-organizing probabilistic neural networks (SOPNNs) for continuous variables. A PHN is basically a modified Hamming net which implements pattern matching in the first layer and estimates conditional probabilities in the second layer. This model uses a Bayesian learning rule to update the weights of networks. A SOPNN is a neural network with a fixed-size self-organizing net for clustering and a modified Specht's model for estimating the probability density functions (PDFs). The idea is to represent similar training patterns in the same cluster by its centroid and then use these centroids for PDF estimation. Several sets of simulated and real sensor data were employed to test the effectiveness of the proposed models. The results were analyzed and compared with those obtained by the conjunctoid, Specht's model and the polynomial Adaline (Padaline) neural models as well as Bayesian learning rules. The effectiveness of the integrated network for reducing the system complexity both in representation and in inference is also demonstrated. Based on the results of this study, our proposed architecture has the following advantages: (1) The structure of the neural networks is well defined and less complex. (2) Our neural models (PHNs and SOPNNs) are of fixed-size. (3) Both models are very general, not limited to pre-specified parametric or unimodal distributions. (4) The SOPNN is self-organized. (5) The learning is one-pass and incremental. (6) Training and performance are very fast. (7) Partial data are better utilized. (8) Subjective information can be easily incorporated. (9) The integrated network can be flexibly reconfigured to respond to on-line requests. Since our models do not employ the time-consuming backpropagation and simulated annealing algorithms, this integrated network appears more promising for real-time applications.
Monitor placement for network attack attribution using information theory metrics

A hand-written graphic form inputting apparatus by which a plurality of hand-written graphic forms can be inputted efficiently is disclosed. When a hand-written graphic form inputted from a graphic form inputting device is recognized so as to produce graphic form candidates and the graphic form candidates thus produced are stored into a graphic form candidate buffer, a graphic form relation determination device determines the correlation between the inputted graphic form inputted and the graphic form candidates. The graphic form determination device determines a most likely graphic form candidate from among the graphic form candidates in accordance with a result of a determination from the graphic form relation determination device. A graphic form position determination device determines the size of the graphic form to be displayed on a display device in accordance with a result of the determination from the graphic form relation determination device and a graphic form position determination device determines the orientation of the graphic form to be displayed on a display device in accordance with a result of the determination from the graphic form relation determination device.
Assessing Level of Difficulty in Web Search Questions

This article focuses on assessing the level of difficulty of search questions for Web searching, looking at variations in judgments by type of questions and the reasons underlying these judgments. It analyzes the decisions and reasoning of fifty-four experienced Web searchers on sixteen search questions of four types: closed/predictable source, closed/unpredictable source, open/predictable source, and open/unpredictable source. The research uses a mixed mode of analysis--quantitative on the first research question and qualitative on the second. Participants consider closed/predictable source questions easy, open/unpredictable source questions difficult. Raters of individual questions agree strongly on ratings of most questions. Reasoning indicates that participants consider, besides the question variables addressed specifically, six (searchability, clarity, familiarity/currency, public knowledge, simplicity, and specificity) and eleven (searchability problems, diffusion of information, noise, breadth, lack of clarity, postsearch processing, overload, unspecified "feeling," likelihood of being on the Web, unfamiliarity, and complexity) additional reasons for ease and difficulty, respectively.
Técnicas de Speech Enhancement considerando estadísticas de orden superior

Las prestaciones de muchos sistemas de procesado de vozse degradan rápidamente en aplicaciones reales ante lapresencia de ruido. Para solucionar este problema lastécnicas de speech enhancement pretenden reducir esteruido realzando la señal de voz degradada. Se hanconsiderado las técnicas basadas en un filtrado dewiener. Tradicionalmente, estas técnicas han mostradounas prestaciones superiores a otras metodologías, comopor ejemplo la sustracción espectral, sin embargo, estastécnicas de filtrado de wiener hacen uso de lasestadísticas de segundo orden (función auto correlación)y, en consecuencia, presentan una elevada sensibilidad alruido. Una aportación importante de este trabajo consisteen la incorporación de las estadísticas de orden superioral proceso de estimación de la voz a partir de la señal de voz ruidosa.
Multi-Scale Cursor: Optimizing Mouse Interaction for Large Personal Workspaces

As increasingly large displays are integrated into personal workspaces, mouse-based interaction becomes more problematic. Users must repeatedly “clutch” the mouse for long distance movements [61]. The visibility of the cursor is also problematic in large screens, since the percentage of the screen space that the cursor takes from the whole display gets smaller. We test multi-scale approaches to mouse interaction that utilize dynamic speed and size techniques to grow the cursor larger and faster for long movements. Using Fitts’ Law methods, we experimentally compare different implementations to optimize the mouse design for large displays and to test how they scale to large displays. We also compare them to techniques that integrate absolute pointing with head tracking. Results indicate that with some implementation level modifications the mouse device can scale well up to even a 100 megapixel display with lower mean movement times as compared to integrating absolute pointing techniques to mouse input while maintaining fast performance of the typical mouse configuration on small screens for short distance movements. Designs that have multiple acceleration levels and 4x maximum acceleration reduced average number of clutching to less than one per task in a 100 megapixel display. Dynamic size cursors statistically improve pointing performance. Results also indicated that dynamic speed transitions should be as smooth as possible without steps of more than 2x increase in speed.
Infrastructure urbaine, planification et controverse : le projet différé d'un contournement routier au sud d'Angers

La realisation d’une infrastructure autoroutiere au sud d’Angers, dernier maillon du contournement de l’agglomeration, est inscrite a l’agenda local depuis plus de trente ans sans parvenir a voir le jour. L’analyse porte sur l’histoire de ce projet au regard de la contestation dont il a ete l’objet. Elle met en evidence l’evolution de la justification et du trace du contournement projete, des conditions de son portage politique et institutionnel, ainsi que des modalites d’action et de l’argumentation contre sa realisation, en montrant comment ces differents aspects sont lies. Le cas de cette infrastructure sans cesse differee illustre la difficulte a mettre en œuvre des projets constitutifs de la planification d’agglomeration dont les cadres d’action et les registres de justification sont en renouvellement continu.
Models for persistence in lazy functional programming systems

Research into providing support for long term data in lazy functional programming systems is presented in this thesis. The motivation for this work has been to reap the benefits of integrating lazy functional programming languages and persistence. The benefits are • the programmer need not write code to support long term data since this is provided as part of the programming system • persistent data can be used in a type safe way since the programming language type system applies to data with the whole range of persistence • the benefits of lazy evaluation are extended to the full lifetime of a data value. Whilst data is reachable, any evaluation performed on the data persists. A data value changes monotonically from an unevaluated state towards a completely evaluated state over time. • interactive data intensive applications such as functional databases can be developed. These benefits are realised by the development of models for persistence in lazy functional programming systems. Two models are proposed which make persistence available to the functional programmer. The first, persistent modules, allows values named in modules to be stored in persistent storage for later reuse. The second model, stream persistence allows dynamic, interactive access to persistent storage. These models are supported by a system architecture which incorporates a persistent abstract machine, PCASE, integrated with a persistent object store. The resulting persistent lazy functional programming system, Staple, is used in prototyping and functional database modelling experiments.
Types and verification for infinite state systems

Server-like or non-terminating programs are central to modern computing. It is a common requirement for these programs that they always be available to produce a behaviour. One method of showing such availability is by endowing a type-theory with constraints that demonstrate that a program will always produce some behaviour or halt. Such a constraint is often called productivity. We introduce a type theory which can be used to type-check a polymorphic functional programming language similar to a fragment of the Haskell programming language. This allows placing constraints on program terms such that they will not type-check unless they are productive. We show that using program transformation techniques, one can restructure some programs which are not provably productive in our type theory into programs which are manifestly productive. This allows greater programmer flexibility in the specification of such programs. We have demonstrated a mechanisation of some of these important results in the proof-assistant Coq. We have also written a program transformation system for this term-language in the programming language Haskell.
Auteur et image d’auteur en analyse du discours

Le developpement recent, dans le champ de l’analyse du discours, d’une reflexion sur « l’auteur » et « l’image d’auteur » met en cause les distinctions traditionnelles : l’auteur n’est ni l’enonciateur du texte, ni une personne en chair et en os, qui releve du contexte. Quant a « l’image d’auteur », elle n’appartient ni au producteur du texte ni au public ; elle est le produit d’une interaction entre des intervenants heterogenes. Tout d’abord, on s’efforce de clarifier le terme « auteur », qui peut avoir un fonctionnement relationnel (« l’auteur de ce tract ») et un fonctionnement referentiel (« un auteur important »). On distingue trois dimensions dans la notion d’auteur : 1) l’instance qui repond d’un texte : « auteur-repondant », 2) « l’auteur-acteur », qui, organisant son existence autour de l’activite de production de textes, 3) l’auteur correlat d’une œuvre, d’un opus : l’« auteur-auctor », qui est susceptible d’avoir une « image d’auteur ». On cherche ensuite a definir a quelles conditions une entite peut acceder au statut d’« auctor ». L’existence d’une nom propre ne suffit pas. Divers cas sont etudies : les hommes politiques, qui ne redigent pas eux-memes leurs discours, les marques commerciales, les agences de publicite, les etres collectifs (partis politiques, groupes d’artistes…). Enfin on aborde les problemes pose par le developpement d’Internet : l’auteur d’un blog peut-il pretendre au statut d’« auctor » ? Sur Internet le statut d’« auctor » apparait menace par la proliferation des producteurs et des textes, par la disparition des mediateurs et par l’instabilite des textes. Cette reflexion est illustree par l’etude de deux blogs : celui d’une caissiere d’hypermarche qui est devenue celebre grâce a son blog et celui d’une blogueuse inconnue nommee « Julie ». Dans la phrase de transition actuelle entre le regime traditionnel ou dominait l’imprime et un regime « numerique » en transformation perpetuelle, on doit se demander si Internet va ou non creer de nouvelles formes d’auctorialite.
KACST Arabic Text Classification Project: Overview and Preliminary Results

Electronically formatted Arabic free-texts can be found in abundance these days on the World Wide Web, often linked to commercial enterprises and/or government organizations. Vast tracts of knowledge and relations lie hidden within these texts, knowledge that can be exploited once the correct intelligent tools have been identified and applied. For example, text mining may help with text classification and categorization. Text classification aims to automatically assign text to a predefined category based on identifiable linguistic features. Such a process has different useful applications including, but not restricted to, E-Mail spam detection, web pages content filtering, and automatic message routing. In this paper an overview of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Arabic Text Classification Project will be illustrated along with some preliminary results. This project will contribute to the better understanding and elaboration of Arabic text classification techniques.
Towards a quantitative evaluation of simultaneous localization and mapping methods

The Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) function is one of the keys that will make the robots fully autonomous. This function is well-studied in the literature; however no way to compare two SLAM functions quantitatively has been yet accepted by the community. We address this issue by defining standard interfaces, metrics, tools and methods in order to compare SLAM techniques that use LIDAR and wheel encoders. We apply robot software architecture HNG to compare sample algorithms (DP SLAM and FastSLAM) with different parameters and on real and simulated data that assess the algorithms according to pre-defined criteria. We discuss the limits of our approach.
The e-Framework for Education and Research: An Overview

The invention provides an improved key actuated lock of the type including a front plate having a keyhole; a bolt with two stumps and two sets of pivoted levers of different lengths for each set provided with stump-receiving slots so that the slots in each set can be aligned by a key to receive a respective stump. The improvement is that the levers and stumps are so arranged that the stump received in the shorter of the sets of levers is masked by the other set of levers when viewed from the front plate thereby making the lock more difficult to pick or drill open.
Programming Neural Networks in Java

Programming Neural Networks in Java will show the intermediate to advanced Java programmer how to create neural networks. This book attempts to teach neural network programming through two mechanisms. First the reader is shown how to create a reusable neural network package that could be used in any Java program. Second, this reusable neural network package is applied to several real world problems that are commonly faced by IS programmers. This book covers such topics as Kohonen neural networks, multi layer neural networks, training, back propagation, and many other topics.
Collection Understanding Through Streaming Collage

Collection understanding shifts the traditional focus of retrieval in large collections from locating specific artifacts to gaining a comprehensive view of the collection. Visualization tools are critical to the process of efficient collection understanding. By presenting simple visual interfaces and intuitive ways of interacting with a collection, users come to understand the essence of the collection by focusing on the artifacts. This paper discusses the use of streaming collage to enhance image collection understanding.
Lolita: Genealogy of a Cover Girl

At the publication of Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita (1958), the author insisted that a girl never appear on the cover. This discourse analysis of 185 Lolita book covers, most of which feature a girl, considers the genealogy of “Lolita” in relation to representation, myth, and tacit knowledge construction. How does the content and context of the narrative function to promote and propel erotic girl imagery and reiterate blameworthiness of the girl as seducer? Using visual discourse analysis (Rose, 2001) to analyze book cover representations, findings suggest cultural understandings of “Lolita” are connected to mythic signifiers and popular culture notions of girlhood gone bad. Also described and analyzed, a recent book cover contest that asks designers to create a Lolita book cover that does not use a girl. This study encourages art educators and their students to question how culture perpetuates myth, and more specifically, why.
A Guide to Econometrics, 5th Edition

A Guide to Econometrics has established itself as a preferred text for teachers and students throughout the world. It provides an overview of the subject and an intuitive feel for its concepts and techniques without the notation and technical detail that characterize most econometrics textbooks. The fifth edition has two major additions, a chapter on panel data and an innovative chapter on applied econometrics. Existing chapters have been revised and updated extensively, particularly the specification chapter (to coordinate with the applied econometrics chapter), the qualitative dependent variables chapter (to better explain the difference between multinomial and conditional logit), the limited dependent variables chapter (to provide a better interpretation of Tobit estimation), and the time series chapter (to incorporate the vector autoregression discussion from the simultaneous equations chapter and to explain more fully estimation of vector error correction models). Several new exercises have been added, some of which form new sections on bootstrapping and on applied econometrics.