Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical fiber-delay-line buffer management in output-buffered photonic packet switch to support service differentiation

We study optical fiber-delay-line buffer management schemes for supporting service differentiation with less complexity, with the objective of achieving ultra-high-speed packet forwarding in a photonic packet switch. We propose the vPBSO (Variable-length-packet-capable Partial Buffer Sharing with Overwriting) method, which is a prioritized buffer management scheme for providing DiffServ Assured Forwarding. This method can handle asynchronously arriving variable-length packets. vPBSO is based on a single queue, and its complexity is Oscr(p), where p is the number of priority classes. We show that vPBSO is effective when the arrival rate of higher priority packets is lower than that of lower priority packets, which is a likely situation in a prioritized system. vPBSO provides better performance than vPBS (an extension of partial buffer sharing) for high-priority packets, and the performance for low-priority packets is also better or at least almost the same. vPBSO provides service differentiation in the case of two or more priority classes in which the difference of packet loss probability in each class is made larger than one order of magnitude by appropriate tuning of thresholds
Can Nigerian horse owners effectively estimate body condition and cresty neck scores?

A horse’s body condition impacts every aspect of its life, including reproduction, performance, and health. Obesity and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) are common in Nigeria; hence, early identification of a horse’s obesity status by the owner is key to avoiding associated health issues such as EMS. Our study aimed to determine whether horse owners could effectively estimate their horses’ body condition scores (BCSs) and cresty neck scores (CNSs). A total of 50 adult sedentary West African Barb horses owned by 50 different people were enrolled in the study. Body condition scores (BCSs) and cresty neck scores (CNSs) were assessed on scales of 1–9 and 0–5, respectively, by an experienced veterinarian and owners. The latter had no veterinary background, received no prior education, and assessed their horses based on provided visual aids and descriptions. The BCS estimates of the experienced veterinarian and owners were slightly in agreement (k=0.209), while there was moderate agreement (k=0.547) between the CNS estimates of the experienced veterinarian and the owners. The proportion of obesity based on the experienced veterinarian’s estimation (32%) was higher than that of the owners (18%). The proportion of nuchal crest adiposity based on the experienced veterinarian’s (38%) estimation was slightly lower than that of the owners (42%). A larger proportion of the owners underestimated their horses’ BCSs and CNSs. We conclude that owners cannot effectively estimate their horses’ BCSs and CNSs. It is imperative that they are informed about the health issues associated with obesity and are taught how to effectively estimate BCS and CNS.
Experiences in software engineering courses using psychometrics with RAMSET

Lately Programming Psychology has opened up a vast area of study, where human, social and psychological factors of the programmer are studied in different computational areas. His behavior and how to relate with others are important aspects that influence performance of a developing team. In our daily work in education we have an obligation of shaping human resources to build a society with professionals participating in companies and corporations dedicated to industrial, social and economic development. Thus in searching for strategies to shape human resources and improve these group corporations we propose RAMSET a Role Assignment Methodology for Software Engineering Teams where we acknowledge the importance of relating personality with team roles, using sociometric techniques and psychometrics to aid in forming high performing teams for software development projects.
Effects of power quality limits on LV-network design

For the design of the LV-network, not only the requirements with respect to the loading of the cable play an important role, but also power quality aspects such as flicker and voltage variations should be taken into account. In this paper, various requirements with respect to adequate earthing, voltage variations, flicker and overloading are investigated and compared. As the current approach with respect to the assessment of these quantities is limited, more risk based asset management approaches have been evaluated in this study. By evaluating these requirements for both rural, sub-urban and urban conditions, the differences in the driving factors for the LV-network design become apparent for geographical customer distributions. This study showed among others that the optimisation of the fuse breaking capacity based on the number of connected customers can for instance greatly increase the possible length of a LV-feeder. Moreover, for a network structure consisting of a single line the impedance based requirements, i.e. flicker and safety, are driving. If a branched network structure is used, the requirements with respect to voltage variations and overloading become more important.
Deriving Verbal and Compositonal Lexical Aspect for NLP Applications

Verbal and compositional lexical aspect provide the underlying temporal structure of events. Knowledge of lexical aspect, e.g., (a)telicity, is therefore required for interpreting event sequences in discourse (Dowty, 1986; Moens and Steedman, 1988; Passoneau, 1988), interfacing to temporal databases (Androutsopoulos, 1996), processing temporal modifiers (Antonisse, 1994), describing allowable alternations and their semantic effects (Resnik, 1996; Tenny, 1994), and selecting tense and lexical items for natural language generation ((Dorr and Olsen, 1996; Klavans and Chodorow, 1992), cf. (Slobin and Bocaz, 1988)). We show that it is possible to represent lexical aspect---both verbal and compositional---on a large scale, using Lexical Conceptual Structure (LCS) representations of verbs in the classes cataloged by Levin (1993). We show how proper consideration of these universal pieces of verb meaning may be used to refine lexical representations and derive a range of meanings from combinations of LCS representations. A single algorithm may therefore be used to determine lexical aspect classes and features at both verbal and sentence levels. Finally, we illustrate how knowledge of lexical aspect facilitates the interpretation of events in NLP applications.
Impact of coronial investigations on manner and cause of death determinations in Australia, 2000-2007.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the changes in the understanding of the manner and cause of death occurring during the course of coronial investigations. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of deaths reported to coroners in Australia between 1 July 2000 and 31 December 2007, using the National Coroners Information System. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES (i) Manner of death (natural, external, unknown); (ii) intent classification (eg, unintentional injury, suicide, assault) among deaths with external causes; and, (iii) changes in the manner of death and intent classification between the presumption made at case notification and the coroner's final determination. RESULTS The coronial investigation changed the presumption about manner of death or intent classification in 5.2% (6222/120 452) of cases in which a presumption was made. Among deaths with a change in attribution from natural causes to external causes, unintentional falls (442/1891) and pharmaceutical poisoning (427/1891) each accounted for 23%. Among deaths with attribution changing from external causes to natural causes, the leading medical causes of death were cardiovascular compromise (551/842; 65%) and infection (124/842; 15%). Of deaths understood correctly at notification to be due to external causes, but the wrong external cause, 34% (206/600) were ultimately judged to be unintentional injuries, and 22% (133/600) were judged to be suicides. CONCLUSIONS Coronial investigations transform basic understanding of cause of death in only a small minority of cases. However, the benefits to families and society of accurate cause-of-death determinations in these difficult cases may be considerable.
Readability of scanned books in digital libraries

Displaying scanned book pages in a web browser is difficult, due to an array of characteristics of the common user's configuration that compound to yield text that is degraded and illegibly small. For books which contain only text, this can often be solved by using OCR or manual transcription to extract and present the text alone, or by magnifying the page and presenting it in a scrolling panel. Books with rich illustrations, especially children's picture books, present a greater challenge because their enjoyment is dependent on reading the text in the context of the full page with its illustrations. We have created two novel prototypes for solving this problem by magnifying just the text, without magnifying the entire page. We present the results of a user study of these techniques. Users found our prototypes to be more effective than the dominant interface type for reading this kind of material and, in some cases, even preferable to the physical book itself.
Size-resolved observations of refractory black carbon particles in cloud droplets at a marine boundary layer site

Abstract. Size-resolved observations of aerosol particles and cloud droplet residuals were studied at a marine boundary layer site (251 m a.m.s.l.) in La Jolla, San Diego, California, during 2012. A counterflow virtual impactor (CVI) was used as the inlet to sample cloud residuals while a total inlet was used to sample both cloud residuals and interstitial particles. Two cloud events totaling 10 h of in-cloud sampling were analyzed. Based on bulk aerosol particle concentrations, mass concentrations of refractory black carbon (rBC), and back trajectories, the two air masses sampled were classified as polluted marine air. Since the fraction of cloud droplets sampled by the CVI was less than 100%, the measured activated fractions of rBC should be considered as lower limits to the total fraction of rBC activated during the two cloud events. Size distributions of rBC and a coating analysis showed that sub-100 nm rBC cores with relatively thick coatings were incorporated into the cloud droplets (i.e., 95 nm rBC cores with median coating thicknesses of at least 65 nm were incorporated into the cloud droplets). Measurements also show that the coating volume fraction of rBC cores is relatively large for sub-100 nm rBC cores. For example, the median coating volume fraction of 95 nm rBC cores incorporated into cloud droplets was at least 0.9, a result that is consistent with κ-Kohler theory. Measurements of the total diameter of the rBC-containing particles (rBC core and coating) suggest that the total diameter of rBC-containing particles needed to be at least 165 nm to be incorporated into cloud droplets when the core rBC diameter is ≥ 85 nm. This result is consistent with previous work that has shown that particle diameter is important for activation of non-rBC particles. The activated fractions of rBC determined from the measurements ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 for core rBC diameters ranging from 70 to 220 nm. This type of data is useful for constraining models used for predicting rBC concentrations in the atmosphere.
The T cell chemokine receptor CCR7 is internalized on stimulation with ELC, but not with SLC

ELC and SLC are potent agonists for CCR7, a receptor of up‐most importance for the regulation of the homing and traffic of lymphocytes into and within secondary lymphoid tissues. We have studied the effects of both chemokines on receptor re‐distribution in T lymphocytes and other CCR7‐bearing cells by flow cytometry and by assessing receptor mediated functions. In this paper we show thatELC and SLC differ fundamentally in the ability to induce the internalization of their receptor. ELC induced a rapid time‐ and concentration‐dependent internalization of CCR7 and markedly decreasedthe ability of CCR7‐bearing cells to respond to a second stimulation. No receptor internalization, by contrast, was observed on stimulation with SLC. Receptors that were internalized on stimulationwith ELC were re‐expressed when the cells were washed. Re‐expression of receptors and consequent re‐activation of the cells was prevented in the presence of ELC, but was not affected in the presence of SLC. These findings could explain how T lymphocytes that enter lymphoid tissues in response to SLC produced by high‐endothelial venules can subsequently migrate in response to SLC and ELC expressed within the T cell areas.
Complete Genome Sequence of Chryseobacterium sp. Strain StRB126, an N-Acylhomoserine Lactone-Degrading Bacterium Isolated from Potato Root

ABSTRACT Chryseobacterium sp. strain StRB126 was isolated from a potato root and showed N-acylhomoserine lactone-degrading activity. Here, we present the complete 5,503,743-bp genome sequence of StRB126, which has a G+C content of 35.6% and carries 4,828 protein-coding genes, six rRNA operons, and 80 tRNA genes.
Clinically functioning gonadotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma

Summary Gonadotroph adenomas are the most common type of nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. However, functioning gonadotroph adenomas causing clinical manifestations are rare. We present the case of a 42-year-old man with an incidental finding of a pituitary gland mass. A pituitary MRI revealed a 3 cm macroadenoma, and laboratory investigations revealed elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and total testosterone levels. A diagnosis of functioning FSH-secreting pituitary adenoma was considered, with possible concomitant luteinizing hormone secretion, given the elevated testosterone, prompting further evaluation. Testicular ultrasound showed bilaterally enlarged testicles, and visual field testing revealed a monocular superior temporal defect. Transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenoma was the treatment of choice. Histopathology assessment confirmed the diagnosis of gonadotroph-secreting adenoma, with positive staining for FSH. Within the 12-week postoperative period, FSH and testosterone levels normalized, and the patient experienced significant improvement in vision, along with the resolution of macroorchidism. While functional gonadotroph adenomas are rare, patients can present with a wide range of symptoms that are often unnoticeable due to their slow development. Careful evaluation can help guide multidisciplinary management to achieve full remission. Learning points Endocrine evaluation is indicated in all cases of pituitary incidentalomas to determine functional status. Clinically functioning gonadotroph adenomas, while rare, pose a diagnostic challenge and require careful clinical evaluation. Transsphenoidal surgery is the mainstay of treatment of functioning gonadotroph adenomas, with the involvement of a multidisciplinary team to achieve desirable outcomes.
Monadic datalog over finite structures with bounded treewidth

Bounded treewidth and Monadic Second Order (MSO) logic have proved to be key concepts in establishing fixed-para-meter tractability results. Indeed, by Courcelle's Theorem we know: Any property of finite structures, which is expressible by an MSO sentence, can be decided in linear time (data complexity) if the structures have bounded treewidth. In principle, Courcelle's Theorem can be applied directly to construct concrete algorithms by transforming the MSO evaluation problem into a tree language recognition problem. The latter can then be solved via a finite tree automaton (FTA). However, this approach has turned out to be problematical, since even relatively simple MSO formulae may lead to a "state explosion" of the FTA. In this work we propose monadic datalog (i.e., data log where all intentional predicate symbols are unary) as an alternative method to tackle this class of fixed-parameter tractable problems. We show that if some property of finite structures is expressible in MSO then this property can also be expressed by means of a monadic datalog program over the structure plus the treedecomposition. Moreover, we show that the resulting fragment of datalogcan be evaluated in linear time (both w.r.t. the program size and w.r.t. the data size). This new approach is put to work by devising a new algorithm for the PRIMALITY problem (i.e., testing if some attribute in a relational schema is part of a key). We also report on experimental results with a prototype implementation.
The Cumulative Impact of Sexual Revictimization on Emotion Regulation Difficulties

The present study examined associations between child sexual abuse (CSA), adult sexual victimization, and emotion regulation difficulties in a sample of 168 incarcerated women. Approximately 50% of the participants reported CSA, 54% reported adult sexual victimization, and 38% reported sexual revictimization (i.e., CSA and adult victimization). Revictimized women reported significantly greater difficulties with several facets of emotion regulation when compared to singly victimized and nonvictimized women. Interestingly, singly victimized women did not demonstrate greater emotion regulation deficits when compared to nonvictims. Findings suggest that the negative impact of victimization experiences on adult emotion regulation abilities may be cumulative. Furthermore, they highlight the potential importance of assessing and targeting emotion regulation difficulties among child abuse and adult sexual victimization survivors.
Pervasive and Mobile Computing ( ) – Pervasive and Mobile Computing the Immersive Effect of Adaptive Architecture

This paper explores the role of immersion in the generation of specific interactive effects, within the context of the emerging research field of Adaptive Architecture. Drawing on an existing biofeedback-driven prototype that links a person's respiration to the form of their environment, the study presented here compared an immersive condition with a non-immersive condition to capture differences in participant experiences. The immersive condition afforded the majority of participants a relaxed, embodied experience, whereas the non-immersive condition left people unconnected. The study did not surface statistically significant differences in participants' physiological responses between the two conditions. The study findings contribute to the understanding of our relationship with adaptive environments , underpinned by pervasive computing technologies, as they emerge in the Arts and Architecture.
Soil Carbon Loss by Wind Erosion of Summer Fallow Fields in Washington's Dryland Wheat Region

Wind erosion of cropland negatively affects soil quality and productivity in the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer fallow (WW-SF) region of the inland Pacific Northwest United States. Loss of soil diminishes the finite resource base and concurrent loss of soil organic C affects the inherent physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. This study aimed to quantify soil organic C loss from windblown summer fallow soils. Creep and Big Spring Number Eight samplers were used to trap sediment above an eroding soil during major wind events over an 8-yr period. The C content of trapped sediment ranged from 6 to 11.6 g C per kg sediment. Enrichment ratios for C ranged from 0.6 to 1.9, indicating that the trapped sediment was generally enriched in C compared with the parent soil. Averaged across all sites and wind events, soil C loss from fields ranged from 0.4 to 18.5 kg C ha–1. The ongoing decline in soil organic C since the advent of dryland farming in the region 140 yr ago is most commonly attributed to degradation by microbes and oxidation. However, our data, combined with historic accounts of wind erosion in the WW-SF region, strongly suggest that loss of soil organic C may also be caused by wind erosion. Conservation tillage has proven an effective strategy for reducing wind erosion in the WW-SF region and thus farmers are encouraged to further adopt conservation tillage practices to retain soil C and thereby reduce the degradation of agricultural soils by wind erosion.
PREDIcT: Towards Predicting the Runtime of Large Scale Iterative Analytics

Machine learning algorithms are widely used today for analytical tasks such as data cleaning, data categorization, or data filtering. At the same time, the rise of social media motivates recent uptake in large scale graph processing. Both categories of algorithms are dominated by iterative subtasks, i.e., processing steps which are executed repetitively until a convergence condition is met. Optimizing cluster resource allocations among multiple workloads of iterative algorithms motivates the need for estimating their runtime, which in turn requires: i) predicting the number of iterations, and ii) predicting the processing time of each iteration. As both parameters depend on the characteristics of the dataset and on the convergence function, estimating their values before execution is difficult. This paper proposes PREDIcT, an experimental methodology for predicting the runtime of iterative algorithms. PREDIcT uses sample runs for capturing the algorithm's convergence trend and per-iteration key input features that are well correlated with the actual processing requirements of the complete input dataset. Using this combination of characteristics we predict the runtime of iterative algorithms, including algorithms with very different runtime patterns among subsequent iterations. Our experimental evaluation of multiple algorithms on scale-free graphs shows a relative prediction error of 10%-30% for predicting runtime, including algorithms with up to 100× runtime variability among consecutive iterations.
Design Flow on a Chip - An Evolvable HW/SW Platform

Partial dynamic reconfigurability of modern FPGAs holds the potential of realizing autonomous and highly flexible systems-on-chip (SoC). Current devices can be configured with several partial bitfiles and replace particular ones on demand. But these precompiled bitfiles seriously lack flexibility: they are hardly relocatable and not adjustable. In other words, they are tied to their original functional scope and location. This paper proposes an integration of the design flow onto the reconfigurable device itself to be capable of runtime reconfiguration and adaptation through modifications on the source code level. Thus, a network-on-chip (NoC) and a Linux operating system (OS) have been combined. The design flow is integrated into a feedback control system, which runs as an application under Linux. As a consequence, an evolvable platform emerges, which is capable of adapting autonomously to its dynamic environment and changing parameters
Access overlays: improving non-visual access to large touch screens for blind users

Many touch screens remain inaccessible to blind users, and those approaches to providing access that do exist offer minimal support for interacting with large touch screens or spatial data. In this paper, we introduce a set of three software-based access overlays intended to improve the accessibility of large touch screen interfaces, specifically interactive tabletops. Our access overlays are called edge projection, neighborhood browsing, and touch-and-speak. In a user study, 14 blind users compared access overlays to an implementation of Apple's VoiceOver screen reader. Our results show that two of our techniques were faster than VoiceOver, that participants correctly answered more questions about the screen's layout using our techniques, and that participants overwhelmingly preferred our techniques. We developed several applications demonstrating the use of access overlays, including an accessible map kiosk and an accessible board game.