Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence that indirect inhibition of saccade initiation improves saccade acuracy

Saccadic eye-movements to a visual target are less accurate if there are distracters close to its location (local distracters). The addition of more distracters, remote from the target location (remote distracters), invokes an involuntary increase in the response latency of the saccade and attenuates the effect of local distracters on accuracy. This may be due to the target and distracters directly competing (direct route) or to the remote distracters acting to impair the ability to disengage from fixation (indirect route). To distinguish between these, we examined the development of saccade competition by recording saccade latency and accuracy responses made to a target and local distracter compared with those made with an addition of a remote distracter. The direct route would predict that the remote distracter impacts on the developing competition between target and local distracter, while the indirect route would predict no change as the accuracy benefit here derives from accessing the same competitive process but at a later stage. We found that the presence of the remote distracter did not change the pattern of accuracy improvement. This suggests that the remote distracter was acting along an indirect route that inhibits disengagement from fixation, slows saccade initiation, and enables more accurate saccades to be made.
Transmit Antenna Selection for Linear Dispersion Codes Based on Linear Receiver

In an effort to utilize the advantage of using multiple antennas, transmit antenna selection for linear dispersion codes (LDC-TAS) is proposed in this paper. We present three criteria: maximum channel gain, maximum capacity and max-min post-SNR, for selecting the optimal transmit antennas when linear, coherent receiver is used over a slowly varying channel. Simulation results suggest that the max-min post-SNR criterion outperforms the other selection methods in a variety of modulation modes, such as QPSK, 8PSK and 16QAM. Compared with BLAST-TAS, under the same spectral efficiency, LDC-TAS shows significant diversity advantage. In low SNR environment, LDC-TAS is still better than STBC-TAS
Towards optimal resource allocation for differentiated multimedia services in cloud computing environment

Cloud-based multimedia services have been widely used in recent years. As the growing scale, users often have quite diverse quality of service (QoS) expectations. A key challenge for differentiated services is how to optimally allocate cloud resources to satisfy different users. In this paper, we study resource allocation problems for differentiated multimedia services. We first propose a queueing model to characterize differentiated services in cloud. Based on the model, we optimize cloud resources in the first-come first-served (FCFS) scenario and priority scenario. In each scenario, we formulate and solve the optimal resource allocation problem to minimize resource cost under response time constraints. We conduct extensive simulations with practical parameters of Amazon EC2. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed resource allocation schemes can optimally configure resources to provide satisfactory services at the minimal resource cost.
Targeted DoS on android: how to disable android in 10 seconds or less

we present the implementation and impact of a wide-range of novel targeted Denial of Service (DoS) attacks on Android devices that are persistent across all recent Android platform versions. The DoS attacks can be selectively focused on denying access to device resources including microphone and camera, preventing the installation of applications, making the device unresponsive, targeting and terminating other running applications and processes, and causing a reboot cycle. To make matters worse, the attacks can be launched through regular apps that do not require a rooted device or any permissions with the exception of the attacks on the microphone and camera resources that require simple access rights. We propose and demonstrate defenses against each of these attacks showing that the security and reliability flaws identified require changes in the underlying Android source code to address them.
TagMe: An Easy-to-Use Toolkit for Turning the Personal Environment into an Extended Communications Interface

In this paper we present a wearable device in the form of a bracelet that turns everyday objects into interactive physical gameplay. We combine physical exploration and interactive entertainment by providing real-time audio and light feedback without the need to be in front of a screen. In contrast with today's computer, video and smartphone games, our system has the potential to enhance children's physical, social and outdoor play. We designed a set of playful applications that seamlessly integrate technology with outdoor game play, music, sports and social interactions.
Implementation and Analysis of Spectrum Sensing Algorithms for SIMO Links

Cognitive radio is an autonomous transceiver that is continuously sensing the ongoing communication in its environment, it then starts the communication whenever it is appropriate. Therefore, cognitive radio helps improving the spectrum utilization of the overall communication system. However, without suitable spectrum sensing techniques, cognitive radio would fail. Hence, in this thesis we investigate and implement various spectrum sensing algorithms via software defined radio for both single antenna and multiple antenna cases. The main communication scheme that we are using is OFDM. Moreover, both computer simulations and real-world measurements, have also been done for comparison and analysis of the detector’s performance. The detectors we are using are based on correlation function of the received signal and generalized likelihood ratio test with its eigenvalue. The results from the simulations and measurements are then represented as probability of missed detection curves for different signal to noise ratios. Our results show that the performance of the generalized likelihood ratio test based detectors are at least 2 dB better than the correlation based detector in our measurement. Moreover, our simulations show that they are able to outperform the correlation function detector by more than 6 dB. Although, generalized likelihood ratio test based detectors seem to be better than the correlation function based detector, it requires more computational power which may limit its practical use.
Nanoscale Evaluation of Moisture Damage in Polymer Modified Asphalts

The moisture damage in polymer modified asphalts has been studied for decades, yet the effects of chemical functional groups on moisture sensitivity are not known. In this study, a nanoscale experiment is conducted to measure these effects in terms of adhesive/cohesive forces using an atomic force microscopy (AFM). A base asphalt binder and two polymers such as styrene-butadiene (SB) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalts are used to prepare an AFM sample on glass substrates. The AFM samples are conditioned under dry and wet conditions. In the AFM, these samples are probed by silicon nitrite ( Si3 N4 ) , carboxyl ( —COOH ) , methyl ( — CH3 ) , and hydroxyl ( —OH ) functionalized AFM tips and nanoscale pull-off or adhesion/cohesion forces between asphalt and tip molecules are measured. Based on the ratio of wet to dry adhesion/cohesion forces, it is shown that the polymer modification makes binders less susceptible to moisture damage. Among the four tips, the —COOH tip shows almost no differ.
Band gap engineering of hydrogenated amorphous carbon thin films for solar cell application

In this work, self bias variation, nitrogen introduction and oxygen plasma (OP) treatment approaches have been used for tailoring the band gap of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) thin films. The band gap of a-C:H and modified a- C:H films is varied in the range from 1.25 eV to 3.45 eV, which is found to be nearly equal to the full solar spectrum (1 eV- 3.5 eV). Hence, such a-C:H and modified a-C:H films are found to be potential candidate for the development of full spectrum solar cells. Besides this, computer aided simulation with considering variable band gap a-C:H and modified a- C:H films as window layer for amorphous silicon p-i-n solar cells is also performed by AFORS-HET software and maximum efficiency as ~14 % is realized. Since a-C:H is hard material, hence a-C:H and modified a-C:H films as window layer may avoid the use of additional hard and protective coating particularly in n-i-p configuration.
Effects of Embodiment and Gestures on Social Interaction in Drumming Games with a Humanoid Robot

We present results from an empirical study investigating the effect of embodiment and minimal gestures in an interactive drumming game consisting of an autonomous child-sized humanoid robot (KASPAR) playing with child participants. In this study, each participant played three games with a humanoid robot that played a drum whilst simultaneously making (or not making) head gestures. The three games included the participant interacting with the real robot (physical embodiment condition), interacting with a hidden robot when only the sound of the robot is heard (disembodiment condition; note that the term 'disembodiment' is used in this paper specifically to refer to an experimental condition where a physical robot produces the sound cues, but is not visible to the participants), or interacting with a real-time image of the robot (virtual embodiment condition). We used a mixed design where repeated measures were used to evaluate embodiment effects and independent-groups measures were used to study the gestures effects. Data from the implementation of a human–robot interaction experiment with 66 children are presented, and statistically analyzed in terms of participants' subjective experiences and drumming performance of the human–robot pair. The subjective experiences showed significant differences for the different embodiment conditions when gestures were used in terms of enjoyment of the game, and perceived intelligence and appearance of the robot. The drumming performance also differed significantly within the embodiment conditions and the presence of gestures increased these differences significantly. The presence of a physical, embodied robot enabled more interaction, better drumming and turn-taking, as well as enjoyment of the interaction, especially when the robot used gestures.
Computed-tomography or Magnetic Resonance based 3D model synchronization with real-time ultrasound data

This paper describes a method of augmenting real-time ultrasound imagery with accurate 3D models computed earlier from sources richer in data - Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance (MR) images. The 3D models are built for a number of phases of motion, therefore a collection of CT / MR scans needs to be taken or techniques such as Cine-MRI can be used. The ultrasound data is processed on-line and the phase of organ motion is estimated at each frame. That information is used to pick a nearest-match 3D model. In this paper we will examine the heart and its motion during its systole-diastole cycle as an example.
Genomic Analysis of Mouse Retinal Development

The vertebrate retina is comprised of seven major cell types that are generated in overlapping but well-defined intervals. To identify genes that might regulate retinal development, gene expression in the developing retina was profiled at multiple time points using serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). The expression patterns of 1,051 genes that showed developmentally dynamic expression by SAGE were investigated using in situ hybridization. A molecular atlas of gene expression in the developing and mature retina was thereby constructed, along with a taxonomic classification of developmental gene expression patterns. Genes were identified that label both temporal and spatial subsets of mitotic progenitor cells. For each developing and mature major retinal cell type, genes selectively expressed in that cell type were identified. The gene expression profiles of retinal Müller glia and mitotic progenitor cells were found to be highly similar, suggesting that Müller glia might serve to produce multiple retinal cell types under the right conditions. In addition, multiple transcripts that were evolutionarily conserved that did not appear to encode open reading frames of more than 100 amino acids in length (“noncoding RNAs”) were found to be dynamically and specifically expressed in developing and mature retinal cell types. Finally, many photoreceptor-enriched genes that mapped to chromosomal intervals containing retinal disease genes were identified. These data serve as a starting point for functional investigations of the roles of these genes in retinal development and physiology.
Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence Proceedings 2000 Value-directed Belief State Approximation for Pomdps

We consider the problem belief-state monitoring for the purposes of implementing a policy for a partially-observable Markov decision process (POMDP), specifically how one might approxi­ mate the belief state. Other schemes for belief­ state approximation (e.g., based on minimizing a measure such as KL-divergence between the true and estimated state) are not necessarily appropri­ ate for POMDPs. Instead we propose a frame­ work for analyzing value-directed approximation schemes, where approximation quality is deter­ mined by the expected error in utility rather than by the error in the belief state itself. We propose heuristic methods for finding good projection schemes for belief state estimation-exhibiting anytime characteristics-given a POMDP value function. We also describe several algorithms for constructing bounds on the error in decision qual­ ity (expected utility) associated with acting in ac­ cordance with a given belief state approximation. 1 Introduction Considerable attention has been devoted to partially­ observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) [15, 17] as a model for decision-theoretic planning. Their general­ ity allows one to seamlessly model sensor and action uncer­ tainty, uncertainty in the state of knowledge, and multiple objectives [1, 4]. Despite their attractiveness as a concep­ tual model, POMDPs are intractable and have found prac­ tical applicability in only limited special cases. Much research in AI has been directed at exploiting cer­ tain types of problem structure to enable value functions for POMDPs to be computed more effectively. These primar­ ily consist of methods that use the basic, explicit state-based representation of planning problems [5]. There has, how­ ever, been work on the use of factored representations that resemble classical AI representations, and algorithms for solving POMDPs that exploit this structure [2, 8]. Repre­ sentations such as dynamic Bayes nets (DBNs) [7] are used to represent actions and structured representations of value functions are produced. Such models are important because they allow one to deal (potentially) with problems involving a large number of states (exponential in the number of vari­ ables) without explicitly manipulating states, instead rea­ soning directly with the factored representation. Unfortunately, such representations do not automatically translate into effective policy implementation: given a POMDP value function, one must still maintain a belief state (or distribution over system states) online in order to implement the policy implicit in the value function. Belief state maintenance, in the worst case, has complexity equal to the size of the state space (exponential in the number of variables), …
Improved dual network simplex

This paper improves the number of pivot steps required for the dual network simplex algorithm. We develop a simplified version of Orlin’s strongly polynomial minimum-cost flow algorithm [lo], and show how to convert it to a dual network simplex. Our pivoting strategy leads to an O(m2 logn) bound1 on the number of pivots, which is better by a factor of m compared to the previously best pivoting strategy due to Orlin [B].
Assessing the impact of social grants on household welfare using morning after simulation and PSM approach

Despite having relatively well-developed social security system, poverty levels in rural parts of South Africa remains very high. This study employs a cross-sectional households’ survey data conducted in Hlokozi village (located in one of the poorest provinces in South Africa – Kwazulu Natal Province) and propensity score matching technique (which accounts for non-random selection of households) to investigate the impact of social grants on rural household welfare. The results reveal that social grants have a significant and positive impact on rural household welfare. Specifically, the nearest neighbour matching estimates suggest that the causal effect for social grants on household welfare is the region of about R 5830. Consistent with the nearest neighbouring method, the results obtained using Kernel matching method shows that social grants are significant in improving rural household welfare. Our finding seem to lend credence to the conclusion of previous studies that social grants (conditional or unconditional) help in the way of lifting households out of poverty and improve their welfare. Thus rural areas (traditional rural areas) should continue to be a chief focus of poverty alleviation efforts in South Africa.
Three-Dimensional Isometric Strength of Neck Muscles in Humans

Study Design. Three-dimensional moments were measured experimentally during maximum voluntary contractions of neck muscles in humans. Objectives. To characterize the maximum moments with attention paid to subject size and gender, to calculate moments at different locations in the neck, and to quantify the relative magnitudes of extension, flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation moments. Summary of Background Data. Few studies of neck strength have measured moments in directions other than extension, and it is difficult to compare results among studies because moments often are resolved at different locations in the cervical spine. Further, it is not clear how subject size, gender, and neck geometry relate to variations in the moment-generating capacity of neck muscles. Methods. Maximum moments were measured in 11 men and 5 women with an average age of 31 years (range, 20–42 years). Anatomic landmarks were digitized to resolve moments at different locations in the cervical spine. Results. When moments were resolved about axes through the midpoint of the line between the C7 spinous process and the sternal notch, the maximum moments were as follows: extension (men, 52 ± 11 Nm; women, 21 ± 12 Nm), flexion (men, 30 ± 5 Nm; women, 15 ± 4 Nm), lateral bending (men, 36 ± 8 Nm; women, 16 ± 8 Nm), and axial rotation (men 15 ± 4; women, 6 ± 3) Nm). The magnitudes of extension, flexion, and lateral bending moments decreased linearly with vertical distance from the lower cervical spine to the mastoid process. Conclusions. Moments in three dimensions were quantified with regard to subject size and location along the cervical spine. These data are needed to characterize neck strength for biomechanical analysis of normal and pathologic conditions.
Improvement of Learning Performance of Neural Network Using Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is that new neurons are generated in the human brain. The new neurons create new network. The neurogenesis causes the improvement of memory, learning, thinking ability, and so on. We consider that the neurogenesis can be applied to an artificial neural network. In this study, we propose the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) with neurogenesis and apply to pattern learning. In the RNN with neurogenesis, some neurons are replaced with regenerated neurons. We compare the learning performance of the RNN with neurogenesis with the conventional RNN.
Enhanced Light Transmission through Subwavelength Holes

The transmission of light through a hole was thought to be very weak when all of the lateral dimensions of the hole were much smaller than the wavelength of the light.The discovery of enhanced transmission has changed this view, raising fundamental questions and leading to many practical applications ranging from photonics to chemical sensing. A key feature of the transmission process is the activation of surface plasmons. In this article, we review the present understanding of this phenomenon and illustrate its potential through several examples of applications in different fields.
On the Cramér-Rao bound for the constrained and unconstrained complex parameters

We derive a complex form of the unconstrained and constrained Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRB) of composite real parameters formed by stacking the real and imaginary part of the complex parameters. The derived complex constrained and unconstrained CRB is easy to calculate and possesses similar structure as in the real parameter case but with the real covariance, Jacobian and the Fisher information matrix replaced by complex matrices with analogous interpretations. The advantage of the complex CRB is that it is oftentimes easier to calculate than its real form. It is highlighted that a statistic that attains a bound on the complex covariance matrix alone do not necessarily attain the CRB since complex covariance matrix does not provide a full second-order description of a complex statistic since also the pseudo-covariance matrix is needed. Our derivations also lead to some new insights and theory that are similar to real CRB theory.
Perinatal Sulfur Dioxide Exposure Alters Brainstem Parasympathetic Control of Heart Rate

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an air pollutant that induces adverse cardiorespiratory health effects, including MI and tachycardia, and impedes neonatal development. We developed an animal model enabling characterization of in vivo alterations in heart rate (HR) and cellular changes in brainstem neurons that control HR after perinatal SO2 exposure. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to 5 ppm SO2 for 1 h daily throughout gestation and 6 days postnatal (P6). ECGs were recorded from pups at P5 to examine changes in basal HR elicited by perinatal SO2 exposure. In vitro studies used whole‐cell patch‐clamp electrophysiology to examine changes in transmission to cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs) within the nucleus ambiguus upon SO2 exposure using a preparation retaining fictive inspiratory activity. SO2 exposure increased HR, indicative of a loss of parasympathetic drive. Neither spontaneous nor inspiratory‐related GABAergic or glycinergic transmission to CVNs was altered by SO2 exposure, however glutamatergic transmission was decreased by 50%. This diminished excitatory transmission was TTX‐sensitive, indicating SO2 exposure impairs the activity of preceding glutamatergic neurons that synapse upon CVNs. Diminished glutamatergic, but unaltered inhibitory transmission to CVNs provides a mechanism for the observed SO2‐induced tachycardia via a loss of brainstem parasympathetic activity to the heart.
Photonics of Heterogeneous Dielectric Nanostructures

Over last 20 years great scientific attention has been paid to nanostructures and nanocompo‐ sites based on nanoparticles of semiconductor materials (1eV<Egap<3eV) since they exhibit a wide range of nonlinear properties and can be used in various applied fields [1-5]. However, the history of active investigation of dielectric nanostructures’ properties started only recently [6-8]. These structures are the heterogeneous medium formed by liquid or solid dielectric ma‐ trices (e.g., polymer glasses and oils) and nanoparticles of dielectrics (Al2O3, SiO2, MgO, etc.).