Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ON LATTICE PATH COUNTING BY MAJOR AND DESCENTS

A formula for counting lattice paths in the plane from µ = (µ1,µ2) to � = (�1,�2) which do not cross the lines y = x + d and y = x + c, where c,d 2 Z and d > c, by descents and major index is given. The proof, which is purely combinatorial, uses a bijection on certain two-rowed tableaux. As application, formulas for the joint distribution of Kolmogorov-Smirnov and run statistics are derived.
Utilization of terrain elevation map in SLAM for unmanned aircraft

An approach to vision-based navigation system for autonomous navigation of unmanned aircraft with use of terrain elevation map is addressed. We considered simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm to be the system to which the digital terrain elevation data (DTED) is merged. The proposed algorithm acquires range measurement by line-of-sight (LOS) intersection and provides it to the SLAM algorithm. Simulation study verifies that the proposed method can estimate absolute position of unmanned aircraft even for the case that the features are not on the surface of the DTED. The uses of DTED makes the SLAM algorithm more feasible for airborne applications.
Human-computer interaction and the older adult: an example using user research and personas

This paper reports on the outcomes of the first phase of the eCAALYX project -- an European project which aim is to develop a complete solution that improves the quality of life of the older adult with chronic conditions by monitoring his health and by improving the communication with his caretakers. Specifically, the authors are responsible for creating a TV user interface for older adults with chronic conditions. The work described followed a multi-disciplinary approach strongly influenced by Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) methodologies. The main contributions of this paper are two-fold and materialize into i) a user research study that covers aspects such as perception, cognition, mental and psychosocial changes that occur with age and ii) an example-based description of the process of creating personas. John, the diabetic persona, is the example provided that abstracts the process followed to generate the remaining personas in the project.
Blended learning approach with web 2.0 tools

Online web based learning shifts new platform of web so called Web 2.0 applications are rapidly accelerating market with new challenges and opportunities these implicate as well as in education. This paper investigates technology acceptance of web 2.0 tools in blended learning class setting. The work describes here thoughts in investigation the acceptability and potential use of web 2.0 as an aid to learning. Academic writing skills are subject of experimental class in University. Adoptions of web 2.0 tools are studied in aspect of blended learning setting, where is impact of blended learning approach on combination of online and face-to-face learning activities. The extension of the UTAUT model is used as a research framework to evaluate the acceptability of web 2.0 applications in Teaching and Learning.
On the Design of Energy-efficient Routing Protocols in Underwater Networks

Research in underwater acoustic networks has grown rapidly with the desire to monitor the large portion of the world covered by oceans. Fundamental differences between underwater acoustic propagation and terrestrial radio propagation call for new criteria for the design of networking protocols. In this paper, we focus on one of these fundamental differences, namely the dependence of usable bandwidth on transmission distance. The main contribution of this work is an in-depth analysis of the impacts of this unique relationship. Furthermore, the relationship between the energy consumptions of acoustic modems in various modes (i.e., transmit, receive, and idle) is different than that of their terrestrial radio counterparts, which also impacts the design of energy-efficient protocols. We present novel insights that are useful in guiding both protocol design and network deployment. We design an energy-efficient routing protocol for underwater sensor networks based on the insights gained in our analysis. This protocol is tested in a number of relevant network scenarios, and shown to significantly outperform greedy minimum link energy protocols, and to provide near optimal total path energy consumption. Finally, we implemented the underwater acoustic channel model in ns2 and used it to analyze the impact of multiple flows on our routing protocol's performance.
Psychoses à l ’ adolescence , les neurosciences améliorent-elles la prédiction ? Adolescent psychosis , can neuroscience improve prediction ?

MOTS CLÉS Psychose ; Schizophrénie ; Neurosciences ; Adolescence ; Prédiction ; Pronostic Résumé Les neurosciences en pleine expansion ont suscité beaucoup d’espoirs dans le champ des psychoses à l’adolescence, notamment dans une perspective prédictive et préventive. Alors que la clinique des psychoses débutant à l’adolescence se heurte à une hétérogénéité symptomatique et évolutive, le pronostic plutôt sombre d’une évolution chronique justifie les recherches entreprises : les marqueurs de vulnérabilité à la schizophrénie d’une part, et les endophénotypes spécifiques d’autre part, prennent une importance grandissante. Les progrès considérables dans la connaissance du génome humain montrent que le déterminisme génétique dans les pathologies psychiatriques courantes s’avère complexe, avec des effets modérés et laisse ainsi une place importante aux interactions entre gènes et environnement. Le chemin à parcourir, du gène à l’expression phénotypique d’une psychose, est long et sinueux, susceptible d’être l’objet de nombreuses influences à des niveaux variables et aux effets variés. Les études génétiques, neurobiologiques, neurophysiologiques, neuropsychologiques et d’imagerie cérébrale contribuent à identifier des endophénotypes qui permettent d’établir des repères informatifs tout au long de ce chemin sinueux. Les endophénotypes pourraient permettre de redéfinir les catégories nosologiques et de mieux comprendre la physiopathologie de la schizophrénie. Les études prospectives et rétrospectives, à grande échelle, permettent d’identifier des facteurs de risque qui sont compatibles avec l’hypothèse neurodéveloppementale de la schizophrénie. Cependant, la valeur prédictive des différents marqueurs ou facteurs de risque identifiés, est encore insuffisante à l’heure actuelle pour envisager une détection précoce fiable et une prévention possible de la schizophrénie. Toutefois, de nouveaux développements prometteurs se poursuivent, avec en toile de fond une probable révolution nosographique à venir, basée sur un changement de paradigme. Les tentatives d’isoler, à partir de caractéristiques cliniques homogènes, des bases génétiques et biologiques communes éclairant la
Syntactic Priming in Immediate Recall of Sentences

Abstract In two previous papers (Lombardi & Potter, 1992; Potter & Lombardi, 1990) we reported evidence that immediate recall of a sentence requires regeneration from the message level, rather than from a verbatim representation. However, participants tended to reproduce the surface syntax even when there were two meaning-equivalent surface structures available (e.g., for dative verbs, “gave the letter to her mother,” “gave her mother the letter”). In three experiments we tested the hypothesis that this verbatim bias is the result of syntactic priming (Bock, 1986). In Experiment 1 single sentences were recalled; the prime sentence preceded the target dative sentence. In Experiments 2 and 3 two-clause sentences were recalled; the second clause served as a prime that had been perceived but not yet recalled when the first clause was produced, or vice versa. When the prime sentence or clause was a dative that mismatched the surface structure of the target there was an increase in changes to the alternate (primed) structure in recall of the target, compared with control primes. These results support the hypothesis that simply perceiving a sentence is enough to prime its surface syntactic structure, contributing to verbatim recall.
ELECTRONIC BANKING SERVICES IN ECONOMY BASED ON KNOWLEDGE

The term "electronic banking" or "ebanking" covers both computer and telephone banking. Using computer banking, a charity’s computer either dials directly into its bank's computer or gains access to the bank’s computer over the internet. Using telephone banking, the charity controls its bank accounts by giving the bank instructions over the telephone. Both computer and telephone banking involve the use of passwords which give access to the charity’s accounts.Technological innovation and competition among existing banking organizations have allowed a wider array of banking products and services to become accessible and delivered through the Internet. The rapid development of e-banking capabilities carries risks as well as benefits. The bankers are to recognize, address and manage banking institutions in a prudent manner according to the fundamental characteristics and challenges of e-banking services.
Does Optimal Hedge Exist for General Basis Risk

Existing hedging literature neglects the possibility that the optimal solution may be a stochastic one. By removing such assumption and assuming a general basis risk specification, closed-form solutions of optimal hedge are derived under expected utility framework for either futures only case or the one both futures and options are used. The solutions obtained simplify existing models and include many known results as special cases.
The probability of extinction of a dynamic epidemic model

We consider the spread of an epidemic through a population divided into n sub-populations, in which individuals move between populations according to a Markov transition matrix Σ and infectives can only make infectious contacts with members of their current population. Expressions for the basic reproduction number, R0, and the probability of extinction of the epidemic are derived. It is shown that in contrast to contact distribution models, the distribution of the infectious period effects both the basic reproduction number and the probability of extinction of the epidemic in the limit as the total population size N → ∞. The interactions between the infectious period distribution and the transition matrix Σ mean that it is not possible to draw general conclusions about the effects on R0 and the probability of extinction. However, it is shown that for n = 2, the basic reproduction number, R0, is maximised by a constant length infectious period and is decreasing in ς, the speed of movement between the two populations.
Confinement-induced enhancement of diffusiophoretic forces on self-propellers

We study the effect of spatial confinement on the strength of propulsive diffusiophoretic forces acting on a particle that generates density gradients by exploiting the chemical free energy of its environment. Using a recently proposed simple model of a self-propelling device driven by chemical reactions taking place on some parts of its surface, we demonstrate that the force significantly increases in the presence of confining walls. We also show that such effects become even more pronounced in two-dimensional systems.
LMI-based distributed H∞ control of dynamically coupled large segmented telescope mirrors

Segmented mirrors are to be used in the next generation of ground-based optical telescopes to increase the size of the primary mirror. A larger primary mirror enables the collection of more light, which results in higher image resolutions. The main reason behind the choice of segmented mirrors over monolithic mirrors is to reduce manufacturing, transportation, and maintenance costs of the overall system. Although segmented mirrors are cost-effective, they bring new challenges to the telescope control problem. The objective of keeping the mirror segments, which are dynamically coupled through a common support structure, aligned requires cooperation among individual segment controllers to maintain a smooth overall mirror surface. The vast number of inputs and outputs makes the computations for the centralized control schemes intractable. This paper investigates the linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based distributed H∞ control of dynamically coupled segmented telescope mirrors. First, a distributed model of a candidate dynamically coupled system is obtained via finite element analysis (FEA). Then, a distributed controller is designed by using the LMI approach. Closed-loop simulations of a 492-segment system (in line with the Thirty Meter Telescope model) with the synthesized controller are run, and it is shown that the LMI-based distributed H∞ controller can satisfy the stringent imaging performance requirements.
The Law and Economics of Scaled Equity Market Regulation

Expanding securities-law requirements, along with declining IPOs, have spurred a number of initiatives aimed at providing regulatory relief for smaller and younger firms. But the rhetoric of policymakers defending such efforts is superficial and the academic debate surrounding the issues at stake is desultory. To clear the haze, this Article applies a law-and-economics framework to the question of whether small and young firms should be subject to reduced regulatory scrutiny. An inquiry into the marginal benefits and marginal costs of regulating these groups relative to those of regulating their larger and more mature counterparts reveals whether there are likely to be regulations that provide net benefits when applied to larger firms, but not smaller ones, or older firms, but not younger ones. If such discrepancies exist, regulations for smaller and younger firms should be eased to account for them. In applying this framework, I find support for establishing a lower tier of regulation for smaller companies, but I also find that the case for similar treatment based on age is uncertain. Beyond that, this Article provides a critique of recent regulatory-scaling efforts and guidelines for potential future reforms.
Regulation of Cellular Differentiation in Filamentous Cyanobacteria in Free-Living and Plant-Associated Symbiotic Growth States

SUMMARY Certain filamentous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria generate signals that direct their own multicellular development. They also respond to signals from plants that initiate or modulate differentiation, leading to the establishment of a symbiotic association. An objective of this review is to describe the mechanisms by which free-living cyanobacteria regulate their development and then to consider how plants may exploit cyanobacterial physiology to achieve stable symbioses. Cyanobacteria that are capable of forming plant symbioses can differentiate into motile filaments called hormogonia and into specialized nitrogen-fixing cells called heterocysts. Plant signals exert both positive and negative regulatory control on hormogonium differentiation. Heterocyst differentiation is a highly regulated process, resulting in a regularly spaced pattern of heterocysts in the filament. The evidence is most consistent with the pattern arising in two stages. First, nitrogen limitation triggers a nonrandomly spaced cluster of cells (perhaps at a critical stage of their cell cycle) to initiate differentiation. Interactions between an inhibitory peptide exported by the differentiating cells and an activator protein within them causes one cell within each cluster to fully differentiate, yielding a single mature heterocyst. In symbiosis with plants, heterocyst frequencies are increased 3- to 10-fold because, we propose, either differentation is initiated at an increased number of sites or resolution of differentiating clusters is incomplete. The physiology of symbiotically associated cyanobacteria raises the prospect that heterocyst differentiation proceeds independently of the nitrogen status of a cell and depends instead on signals produced by the plant partner.
Access Control in a World of Software Diversity

We describe a new design for authentication and access control. In this design, principals embody a flexible notion of authentication. They are compound principals that reflect the identities of the programs that have executed, even those of login programs. These identities are based on a naming tree. Our access control lists are patterns that recognize principals. We show how this design supports a variety of access control scenarios.
An Inexpensive and Robust GPS/INS Attitude System for Automobiles

Many of the sophisticated control systems of modern automobiles require measurements of the vehicle’s attitude. Commercial GPS attitude systems are the method of choice for measuring attitude in many aircraft and farm vehicle applications, but are not commonly used on automobiles. The prohibitive aspects of commercial GPS attitude systems on a car include their relatively high cost and significant loss of integrity and signal availability in urban road environments. This paper gives an overview of current research involving the development of an inexpensive and robust GPS-INS attitude system for automobiles. The prototype system is built from relatively low-cost GPS receivers and automotive-grade INS components. The robustness of the GPS-attitude solution has been greatly enhanced by a combination of methods, including INS-aided integer searches and verification, noisy measurement identification, and exploiting multiple-baseline redundancy. This system also has the unique ability to determine attitude (yaw, pitch, and roll) with only one satellite, which significantly increases GPS attitude availability in urban environments. In numerous road tests, the system has demonstrated degree-level accuracy and GPS yaw measurement availability about 95% of the time, even in urban areas. The system also shows a high level of robustness in adverse conditions for GPS signals (foliage, buildings), and compares favorably to other GPS attitude systems in such environments.
Novel HEMT Models with Improved Higher-Order Derivatives and Extracting Their Parameters Using Multibias S-Parameters

Novel two HEMT models are suggested in the paper with improved accuracy of higher-order derivatives, which is very important for modeling radio-frequency devices as mixers, etc. The proposed modifications of the models are based on empirical relations for the transconductance dependence on gate-source voltage. Moreover, a way is suggested how to extract the model parameters of various nonlinear HEMT models from a measured multibias s-parameter data set. The proposed extraction procedure is based on a three-step identification procedure that uses robust optimization methods. Finally, various HEMT models -- including the proposed ones -- are compared in terms of the root-mean-square error of DC characteristics and multibias s-parameters.
An Iterative Refinement Technique for Side Information Generation in DVC

Distributed video coding (DVC) is an increasingly popular approach among the researchers in video coding during past few years due to its attractive and promising features. In DVC, the majority of the computational complexity has been shifted from encoder to the decoder in comparison to its conventional counterparts, including MPEG and H.26 x enabling a dramatically low cost encoder implementation. Side information generation, carried out at the decoder, is a major function in the DVC coding algorithm and plays a key-role in determining the performance of the codec. In this paper, a novel iterative refinement technique is proposed for the side information generation process. Simulation results of the proposed technique depict a consistent improvement in performance in comparison to the state-of-the-art in pixel domain DVC.
Semiconductor nanowires self-assembled from colloidal CdTe nanocrystal building blocks: optical properties and application perspectives

Solution-based self-assembly of quasi-one-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures (nanowires) from quasi-zero-dimensional (quantum dots) colloidal nanocrystal building blocks has proven itself as a powerful and flexible preparation technique. Polycrystalline CdTe nanowires self-assembled from light-emitting thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals are the focus of this Feature Article. These nanowires represent an interesting model system for quantum dot solids, where electronic coupling between the individual nanocrystals can be optically accessed and controlled. We provide a literature-based summary of the formation mechanism and the morphology-related aspects of self-assembled CdTe nanowires, and highlight several fundamental and application-related optical properties of these nanostructures. These include fundamental aspects of polarization anisotropies in photoluminescence excitation and emission, the electronic coupling between individual semiconductor nanocrystals constituting the nanowires, and more applied, waveguiding properties of CdTe nanowire bundles and anti-Stokes photoluminescence in a prototypical structure of co-axial nanowires. The optical properties of self-assembled CdTe nanowires considered here render them potential candidates for photonic nano-scale devices.
The Action Potential in the Smooth Muscle of the Guinea Pig Taenia Coli and Ureter Studied by the Double Sucrose-Gap Method

The configuration of the electrotonic potential and the action potential observed by the double sucrose-gap method was similar to that observed with a microelectrode inserted into a cell in the center pool between the gaps. In the taenia and the ureter, the evoked spike was larger in low Na or in Na-free (sucrose substitute) solution than in normal solution. However, the plateau component in the ureter was suppressed in the absence of Na. In Ca-free solution containing Mg (3–5 mM) and Na (137 mM), the membrane potential and membrane resistance were normal, but no spike could be elicited in both the taenia and ureter. Replacement of Ca with Sr did not affect the spike in the taenia, nor the spike component of the ureter but prolonged the plateau component. The prolonged plateau disappeared on removal of Na, while repetitive spikes could still be evoked. It was concluded that the spike activity in the taenia and in the ureter of the guinea pig is due to Ca entry, that the plateau component in the ureter is due to an increase in the Na conductance of the membrane, and that both mechanisms, for the spike and for the plateau, are separately controlled by Ca bound in the membrane.
Sufficient Dimension Reduction via Inverse Regression

A family of dimension-reduction methods, the inverse regression (IR) family, is developed by minimizing a quadratic objective function. An optimal member of this family, the inverse regression estimator (IRE), is proposed, along with inference methods and a computational algorithm. The IRE has at least three desirable properties: (1) Its estimated basis of the central dimension reduction subspace is asymptotically efficient, (2) its test statistic for dimension has an asymptotic chi-squared distribution, and (3) it provides a chi-squared test of the conditional independence hypothesis that the response is independent of a selected subset of predictors given the remaining predictors. Current methods like sliced inverse regression belong to a suboptimal class of the IR family. Comparisons of these methods are reported through simulation studies. The approach developed here also allows a relatively straightforward derivation of the asymptotic null distribution of the test statistic for dimension used in sliced average variance estimation.