Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust surface registration using salient anatomical features in image-guided liver surgery

A successful surface based image-to-physical space registration in image-guided liver surgery (IGLS) is critical to provide reliable guidance information and pertinent surface displacement data for use in deformation correction algorithms. The current protocol used to perform the image-to-physical space registration involves an initial pose estimation provided by a point based registration of anatomical landmarks identifiable in both the preoperative tomograms and the intraoperative presentation. The surface based registration is then performed via a traditional iterative closest point algorithm between the preoperative liver surface, segmented from the tomographic image set, and an intra-operatively acquired point cloud of the liver surface provided by a laser range scanner. Using the aforementioned method, the registration accuracy in IGLS can be compromised by poor initial pose estimation as well as tissue deformation due to the liver mobilization and packing procedure performed prior to tumor resection. In order to increase the robustness of the current surface-based registration method used in IGLS, we propose the incorporation of salient anatomical features, identifiable in both the preoperative image sets and intra-operative liver surface data, to aid in the initial pose estimation and play a more significant role in the surface based registration via a novel weighting scheme. The proposed surface registration method will be compared with the traditional technique using both phantom and clinically acquired data. Additionally, robustness studies will be performed to demonstrate the ability of the proposed method to converge to reasonable solutions even under conditions of large deformation and poor initial alignment.
New Tests of the New-Keynesian Phillips Curve

Is the observed correlation between current and lagged inflation a function of backward-looking inflation expectations, or do the lags in inflation regressions merely proxy for rational forward-looking expectations, as in the new-Keynesian Phillips curve? Recent research has attempted to answer this question by using instrumental variables techniques to estimate "hybrid" specifications for inflation that allow for effects of lagged and future inflation. We show that these tests of forward-looking behavior have very low power against alternative, but non-nested, backward-looking specifications, and demonstrate that results previously interpreted as evidence for the new-Keynesian model are also consistent with a backward-looking Phillips curve. We develop alternative, more powerful tests, which find a very limited role for forward-looking expectations.
Exploiting structure for intelligent Web search

Together with the rapidly growing amount of online data, we register an immense need for intelligent search engines that access a restricted amount of data as found in intranets or other limited domains. These sorts of search engine must go beyond simple keyword indexing/matching, but they also have to be easily adaptable to new domains without huge costs. The paper presents a mechanism that addresses both of these points: first of all, the internal document structure is being used to extract concepts which impose a directory-like structure on the documents, similar to those found in classified directories. Furthermore, this is done in an efficient way which is largely language independent and does not make assumptions about the document structure.
Novel scheme for labeling XML trees based on bits-masking and logical matching

The eXtensible Mark-up Language rapidly has become a very powerful standard for the data exchange. Labeling schemes have been introduced to optimize data retrieval and query processing on XML database documents. This is done by providing labels that hold information about XML tree nodes. In this paper we introduce a novel labeling scheme XDAS whose labeling technique is inspired by IP addressing and subnetting technique used in computer networks. This technique is used when dividing a network into several sub-networks. Each sub-network is assigned a subnet mask that helps in identifying the parent network. So, this labeling scheme treats XML documents as a network with sub-networks and assigns labels for XML tree nodes using the masking technique. Experimental results show that XDAS, when compared to Dewey and Range labeling schemes, provides an efficient label size, disk space required to store labels and matching time required to identify relationships between nodes.
Nucleosynthesis in the Early Galaxy

Recent observations of r-process-enriched metal-poor star abundances reveal a nonuniform abundance pattern for elements Z ⩽ 47. Based on noncorrelation trends between elemental abundances as a function of Eu richness in a large sample of metal-poor stars, it is shown that the mixing of a consistent and robust light element primary process (LEPP) and the r-process pattern found in r-II metal-poor stars explains such apparent nonuniformity. Furthermore, we derive the abundance pattern of the LEPP from observation and show that it is consistent with a missing component in the solar abundances when using a recent s-process model. As the astrophysical site of the LEPP is not known, we explore the possibility of a neutron-capture process within a site-independent approach. It is suggested that scenarios with neutron densities nn ⩽ 1013 cm−3 or in the range nn ⩾ 1024 cm−3 best explain the observations.
The dual control model: The role of sexual inhibition and excitation in sexual arousal and behavior.

Psychophysiological studies of sexuality have largely, if not completely, ignored issues of individual variability in responsiveness. Most of the research published in this area involves the comparison of subject groups, experimental conditions, or treatments. The few attempts to evaluate individual variability have been restricted to the measurement of sexual attitudes and behavioral tendencies. Erotophobia-erotophilia is a well-known example (Fisher, Byrne, White, & Kelley, 1988). This construct is measured with the Sexual Opinion Survey (SOS), a questionnaire that assesses affective and evaluative (attitudinal) responses to different types of sexual activity or stimuli. Until recently, no models or measures existed that focus specifically on individual differences in sexual response. The Kinsey Institute’s “Dual Control Model” postulates that sexual arousal and associated behaviors depend on the balance between sexual excitation and inhibition. It is an example of a state-trait model, although most research so far has focused on the trait dimension of the model. The model proposes that the weighing of excitatory and inhibitory processes determines whether or not a sexual response occurs within an individual in a given situation, and at the same time it assumes individual variability in the propensity for these processes. The model was developed in an attempt to synthesize existing research findings in the area of male sexual dysfunction, to contribute to this research by underscoring the relevance of exploring individual differences, and to stimulate new research, in this and other areas of sexual response and behavior. In this paper, we will present the model’s background, discuss findings from several lines of research, reflect on the model’s strengths and weaknesses, and consider directions for future research. Background
Task-Dependent Individual Differences in Prefrontal Connectivity

Recent advances in neuroimaging have permitted testing of hypotheses regarding the neural bases of individual differences, but this burgeoning literature has been characterized by inconsistent results. To test the hypothesis that differences in task demands could contribute to between-study variability in brain-behavior relationships, we had participants perform 2 tasks that varied in the extent of cognitive involvement. We examined connectivity between brain regions during a low-demand vigilance task and a higher-demand digit–symbol visual search task using Granger causality analysis (GCA). Our results showed 1) Significant differences in numbers of frontoparietal connections between low- and high-demand tasks 2) that GCA can detect activity changes that correspond with task-demand changes, and 3) faster participants showed more vigilance-related activity than slower participants, but less visual-search activity. These results suggest that relatively low-demand cognitive performance depends on spontaneous bidirectionally fluctuating network activity, whereas high-demand performance depends on a limited, unidirectional network. The nature of brain-behavior relationships may vary depending on the extent of cognitive demand. High-demand network activity may reflect the extent to which individuals require top-down executive guidance of behavior for successful task performance. Low-demand network activity may reflect task- and performance monitoring that minimizes executive requirements for guidance of behavior.
The Acquisition, Transfer, and Depreciation of Knowledge in Service Organizations: Productivity in Franchises

The paper examines the acquisition, depreciation and transfer of knowledge acquired through learning by doing in service organizations. The analysis is based on weekly data collected over a one and a half year period from 36 pizza stores located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The 36 stores, which are franchised from the same corporation, are owned by 10 different franchisees. We find evidence of learning in these service organizations: as the organizations gain experience in production, the unit cost of production declines significantly. Knowledge acquired through learning by doing is found to depreciate rapidly in these organizations. Knowledge acquired through learning by doing is found to depreciate rapidly in these organizations. Knowledge is found to transfer across stores owned by the same franchisee but not across stores owned by different franchisees. Theoretical and practical implications of the work are discussed.
Radio Frequency Interference Excision Using Spectral‐Domain Statistics

A radio frequency interference (RFI) excision algorithm based on spectral kurtosis, a spectral variant of time‐domain kurtosis, is proposed and implemented in software. The algorithm works by providing a robust estimator for Gaussian noise that, when violated, indicates the presence of non‐Gaussian RFI. A theoretical formalism is used that unifies the well‐known time‐domain kurtosis estimator with past work related to spectral kurtosis, and leads naturally to a single expression encompassing both. The algorithm accumulates the first two powers of M power spectral density (PSD) estimates, obtained via Fourier transform, to form a spectral kurtosis (SK) estimator whose expected statistical variance is used to define an RFI detection threshold. The performance of the algorithm is theoretically evaluated for different time‐domain RFI characteristics and signal‐to‐noise ratios η. The theoretical performance of the algorithm for intermittent RFI (RFI present in R out of M PSD estimates) is evaluated and shown to depend greatly on the duty cycle, d = R/M. The algorithm is most effective for d = 1/(4 + η), but cannot distinguish RFI from Gaussian noise at any η when d = 0.5. The expected efficiency and robustness of the algorithm are tested using data from the newly designed FASR Subsystem Testbed radio interferometer operating at the Owens Valley Solar Array. The ability of the algorithm to discriminate RFI against the temporally and spectrally complex radio emission produced during solar radio bursts is demonstrated.
10 bit 2/5GHz dual band digitally-controlled LC-oscillator in 0.18 um CMOS Process

This paper presents a design methodology and verification of a 2/5 GHz dual band digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO). The presented DCO employed two spiral inductors and a switching transistor between them to operate at two bands of frequency. The switch is controlled by a digital signal so that shifting from one band of frequency to another to control the operation of spiral inductors needs no analog voltage signal. The proposed circuit is implemented in 0.18 um CMOS technology and tested. The measured phase noise was −120.5 dBc/Hz and −113.9 dBc/Hz (both @ 1 MHz offset) at carrier frequency of 2.7 GHz and 4.1 GHz, respectively.
Structured LDPC Codes over Integer Residue Rings

This paper presents a new class of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes over represented by regular, structured Tanner graphs. These graphs are constructed using Latin squares defined over a multiplicative group of a Galois ring, rather than a finite field. Our approach yields codes for a wide range of code rates and more importantly, codes whose minimum pseudocodeword weights equal their minimum Hamming distances. Simulation studies show that these structured codes, when transmitted using matched signal sets over an additive-white-Gaussian-noise channel, can outperform their random counterparts of similar length and rate.
Translating specifications from nominal logic to CIC with the theory of contexts

We study the relation between Nominal Logic and the Theory of Contexts, two approaches for specifying and reasoning about datatypes with binders. We consider a natural-deduction style proof system for intuitionistic nominal logic, called NINL, inspired by a sequent proof system recently proposed by J. Cheney. We present a translation of terms, formulas and judgments of NINL, into terms and propositions of CIC, via a weak HOAS encoding. It turns out that the (translation of the) axioms and rules of NINL are derivable in CIC extended with the Theory of Contexts (CIC/ToC), and that in the latter we can prove also sequents which are not derivable in NINL. Thus, CIC/ToC can be seen as a strict extension of NINL.
A torsion correction to the RR 4-form fieldstrength

The shifted quantization condition of the M-theory 4-form G4 is well-known. The most naive generalization to type-IIA string theory fails, an orientifold fourplane counterexample was found by Hori in [1]. In this note we use D2-brane anomaly cancellation to find the corresponding shifted quantitization condition in IIA. Our analysis is consistent with the known O4-plane tensions if we include a torsion correction to the usual construction of G4 from C3, B and G2. The resulting Bianchi identities enforce that RR fluxes lift to K-theory classes.
A Decimation-in-Frequency Fast-Fourier Transform for the Symmetric Group

A Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) changes the basis of a group algebra from the standard basis to a Fourier basis. An efficient application of a DFT is called a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). This research pertains to a particular type of FFT called Decimation in Frequency (DIF). An efficient DIF has been established for commutative algebra; however, a successful analogue for non-commutative algebra has not been derived. However, we currently have a promising DIF algorithm for CSn called Orrison-DIF (ODIF). In this paper, I will formally introduce the ODIF and establish a bound on the operation count of the algorithm.
A pervasive gesture-driven augmented reality prototype using wireless sensor body area networks

This paper describes the prototype implementation of a pervasive, wearable augmented reality (AR) system based on a full body-motion-capture system using low-power wireless sensors. The system uses body motion to visualize and interact with virtual objects populating AR settings. Body motion is used to implement a whole body gesture-driven interface to manipulate the virtual objects. Gestures are mapped to correspondent behaviors for virtual objects, such as controlling the playback and volume of virtual audio players or displaying a virtual object's metadata.
Segmentation of Child-Directed Speech : A Statistical Approach

This paper describes how distinctive features that classify peech sounds emerge from statistical analysis of Russian child-dir ected speech. The analysis is based on transcriptional represe ntation of individual speech sounds. From the analysis of bigram distribution major natural classes such as consonants and vowels furt her subdivided into non-palatalized versus palatalized consonants an d front versus non-front vowels can be computed. The results in the form of a probabilistic FSA exhibit strong associations bet we n the uncovered subclasses of consonants and vowels that are s upported by traditional linguistic analysis .
The K&C PALSAR Mosaic of the African Continent: Processing Issues and First Thematic Results

The Japan Space Exploration Agency Kyoto and Carbon (K&C) Initiative seeks to demonstrate the potential of the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Arrayed L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data for addressing regional applications relating to climate change, carbon cycle science, and environmental conservation. This paper outlines the generation of a regional dual-polarization (HH and HV) mosaic for the entire African continent at spatial resolution on the order of 100 m. The main computational and radar science issues undertaken to generate a seamless mosaic with good radiometric and geometric accuracy are summarized. Preliminary investigations into the thematic information provided by the K&C Africa mosaic and comparisons with the JERS-1 SAR mosaic generated as part of the Global Rain Forest Mapping Project are reported, with emphasis placed on characterizing and detecting change in forests and savannas.
Role of defects and impurities in doping of GaN

We have calculated formation energies and position of the defect levels for all native defects and for a variety of donor and acceptor impurities employing first-principles total-energy calculations. An analysis of the numerical results gives direct insight into defect concentrations and impurity solubility with respect to growth parameters (temperature, chemical potentials) and into the mechanisms limiting the doping levels in GaN. We show how compensation and passivation by native defects or impurities, solubility issues, and incorporation of dopants on other sites influence the acceptor doping levels.
On non-commutative twisting in étale and motivic cohomology

Cet article confirme une consequence de la conjecture principale de la theorie d'Iwasawa non abelienne. On demontre que, sous une condition technique, les groupes de cohomologie etale H 1 (O K [1/S], H i (X,Q P (j))), ou X → Spec O K [1/S] est un schema projectif lisse, sont engendres par des unites tordues compatible par rapport aux normes dans une tour de corps de nombres associes a H i (X,Z p (j)). On etablit un resultat similaire pour la cohomologie motivique a coefficients finis en utilisant la conjecture de Bloch-Kato.
A study of the correlation between high-frequency noise and phase noise in low-noise silicon-based transistors

The evidence of a predominant contribution of the transistor high-frequency noise in residual phase-noise data is demonstrated. This behavior is observed in devices in which the low-frequency noise contribution has been carefully minimized through an optimized bias network, and at offsets frequency above 10 kHz. The phase-noise behavior is then described through nonlinear noise-figure measurements. These results open the way to phase-noise minimization, with a different approach from the one used in most circuit design tools.
The group data access control method in content centric network

Usage of the Internet for content delivery is increasing. Content Delivery Network is proposed for efficient content delivery in an IP network. However, there are some issues, including over load to content servers, and so on. Content Centric Network attracts attention as a new generation network, which can solve these issues. However, in Content Centric Network anyone who knows the content ID would get the contents, therefore, it is difficult to deliver content only to permitted person. To solve this problem, we propose the group data access control method. The proposed method is evaluated confidentiality, integrity and availability, and performance. The proposed method is also evaluated its action by emulation program.
A factor 1/2 approximation algorithm for a class of two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programs

We introduce the two-stage stochastic maximum-weight matching problem and demonstrate that this problem is NP-complete. We give a factor 12 approximation algorithm and prove its correctness. We also provide a tight example to show the bound given by the algorithm is exactly 12 . Computational results on some two-stage stochastic bipartite matching instances indicate that the performance of the approximation algorithm appears to be substantially better than its worst-case performance.
The Business of State Capture and the Rise of Authoritarianism in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

This paper will discuss the rise of authoritarian tendencies in the political systems of Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. In all four countries, certain parties and political elites have become entrenched in the political system, and have been able to enhance their grip on power, often beyond, and in some cases through, constitutional frameworks. It will discuss how forms of state capture have enabled political elites to position themselves in a situation in which they not only control the political decisionmaking institutions, but also exercise excessive influence on the economic and social systems of these systems in transitional states. By extending their networks of patronage, limiting political access for opponents, and holding strong control over media and the judiciary, these elites have been able to develop semi-authoritarian systems, which utilise democratic elections to confirm their long-term dominance, veiling them in a veneer of legitimacy. This rise of electoral authoritarianism – and in turn illiberal democracy – is not only linked to the political actions of certain parties and elites, but also results from the political, social and economic changes that the countries under investigation have faced in recent years. What is more, the so-called transformative power of EU integration has failed to hinder or deter the rise of these new authoritarian regimes. The paper will progress in three main steps: In the first part, a theoretical framework will be introduced, by focusing on theories of democratization and authoritarian back-sliding. In the second part, the four countries under investigation will be discussed in more detail, to highlight why there has been an increase in authoritarian practices across these four countries. This section will also discuss how these authoritarian tendencies play out in practice and how they have been undermining the consolidation of liberal democracy. Finally, in the conclusion it will be discussed what the European Union (EU) and other actors could do in order to support those forces that focus on democratic governance in these countries, and make the accession process truly transformative.
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BOUNDARY CONDITION FOR THE HEAT CONDUCTION EQUATION OF FRACTIONAL ORDER

This paper describes reconstruction of the heat transfer coefficient occurring in the boundary condition of the third kind for the time fractional heat conduction equation. Fractional derivative with respect to time, occurring in considered equation, is defined as the Caputo derivative. Additional information for the considered inverse problem is given by the temperature measurements at selected points of the domain. The direct problem is solved by using the implicit finite difference method. To minimize functional defining the error of approximate solution the Nelder-Mead algorithm is used. The paper presents results of computational examples to illustrate the accuracy and stability of the presented algorithm.