Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic scattering by an inhomogeneous conducting or dielectric layer on a perfectly conducting plate

We consider a two-dimensional problem of scattering of a time harmonic electromagnetic plane wave by an inhomogeneous conducting or dielectric layer on a perfectly conducting plate. The magnetic permeability is assumed to be a fixed positive constant in the media. The material properties of the media are characterized completely by an index of refraction, which is a bounded measurable function in the layer and a positive constant above the layer corresponding to a homogeneous dielectric medium. In this paper, we only examine the TM (transverse magnetic) polarization case. A radiation condition is introduced and equivalence with a second kind, Lippmann-Schwinger-type integral equation is shown. With additional assumptions on the index of refraction in the layer, uniqueness of solution is proved. Existence of solution is then established by employing a form of Fredholm alternative using a general result on the solvability of integral equations on unbounded domains published earlier by Chandler-Wilde and Zhang. An approximate analytic solution for the case of a thin inhomogeneous layer is obtained from the integral equation formulation and is used to show that, if the index of refraction is appropriately chosen, the scattered field can grow with distance from the plate.
Autoplan: a self-processing network model for an extended blocks world planning environment

Self-processing network models (neural/connectionist models, marker-passing/message-passing networks, etc.) are currently undergoing intense investigation for a variety of information processing applications. These models are potentially very powerful in that they support a large amount of explicit parallel processing, and they cleanly integrate "high-level" and "low-level" information processing. However they are currently limited by a lack of understanding of how to apply them effectively in many application areas. This project is studying the formulation of self-processing network methods for dynamic, reactive planning. The long-term goal is to formulate robust, computationally-effective information processing methods for the distributed control of semiautonomous exploration systems, e.g., the Mars Rover. Our current research effort is focusing on hierarchical plan generation, execution and revision through local operations in an "extended blocks world" environment. This scenario involves many challenging features that would be encountered in a real planning and control environment: multiple simultaneous goals, parallel as well as sequential action execution, action sequencing determined not only by goals and their interactions but also by limited resources (e.g., three tasks, two acting agents), need to interpret unanticipated events and react appropriately through replanning, etc.
Designing single phase current-programmed-controlled rectifiers by harmonic currents

The grid current harmonics of a current-programmed-controlled (CPC) PFC rectifier strongly depends on the choice of switching frequency and switching inductance. This paper describes a new, simple and very fast method to calculate the grid current of a CPC controlled PFC converter. The method includes ramp compensation, different command current waveforms and the influence of the filter. One method shows how the product of the inductance and the switching frequency determines the maximum power level and complies with IEC-61000-3-2. Design examples illustrate the possibilities of the presented design tool. The method is compared with simulated values as well with measured values and the calculations match very well.
The Advertising Budget

The advertising budget is the sum allocated to communications activities in the financial year. Many of the methods used are historic and to a great extent a muddled business reality has been formalized and compartmentalized by researchers. The leading approaches are the judgmental (arbitrary and affordable), the objective and task, measurement (return on investment (ROI), incremental and quantitative models), percentage of sales (percentage last year, percentage anticipated, unit sales), and competitive (competitive absolute, competitive relative). Heuristic methods continue to be popular because they do not put a strain on decision making whereas algorithmic methods, such as the objective and task, can be highly contentious and discordant. Nevertheless there is a certain inherent logic to using heuristic methods as they enable an organization to avoid dysfunctional behavior and to continue to function whether or not the optimal allocation of resources has been made. Furthermore, they make perfect sense when combined with algorithmic methods. Keywords: advertising; budget; decision-making; organization; resources; ROI
PROBING THE INTERMEDIATE-AGE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS IN NGC 5128 FROM ULTRAVIOLET OBSERVATIONS

We explore the age distribution of the globular cluster (GC) system of the nearby elliptical galaxy NGC 5128 using ultraviolet (UV) photometry from GALEX observations, with UV–optical colors used as the age indicator. Most GCs in NGC 5128 follow the general trends of GCs in M31 and the Milky Way in the UV–optical color–color diagram, which indicates that the majority of GCs in NGC 5128 are old similar to the age range of old GCs in M31 and the Milky Way. A large fraction of spectroscopically identified intermediate-age GC (IAGC) candidates with ∼3–8 Gyr are not detected in the far-UV (FUV) passband. Considering the nature of intermediate-age populations being faint in the FUV passband, we suggest that many of the spectroscopically identified IAGCs may be truly intermediate in age. This is in contrast to the case of M31 where a large fraction of spectroscopically suggested IAGCs are detected in FUV and therefore may not be genuine IAGCs but rather older GCs with developed blue horizontal branch stars. Our UV photometry strengthens the results previously suggesting the presence of GC and stellar subpopulation with intermediate age in NGC 5128. The existence of IAGCs strongly indicates the occurrence of at least one more major star formation episode after a starburst at high redshift.
Bayesian Model Selection: An Application in Urban Economics

This paper examines the relationship between primacy and economic development for countries in Asia and the Americas. Varying explanations of primacy are found in demography, economic geography, political science, and sociology. To help sort out which of the theories are consistent with the data, a Bayesian procedure is used to determine the posterior probability with which each of the available variables are important determinants of urban primacy. “It is now generally acknowledged that econometric models are ‘false’ and that there is no hope, or pretense, that through them ‘truth’ will be found. ” Peter Kennedy (1998)
Comparative Study on the Grain Refinement of Al-Si Alloy Solidified under the Impact of Pulsed Electric Current and Travelling Magnetic Field

It is high of commercial importance to generate the grain refinement in alloys during solidification by means of electromagnetic fields. Two typical patterns of electromagnetic fields, pulsed electric currents (ECP) and traveling magnetic field (TMF), are frequently employed to produce the finer equiaxed grains in solidifying alloys. Various mechanisms were proposed to understand the grain refinement in alloys caused by ECP and TMF. In this paper, a comparative study is carried out in the same solidification regime to investigate the grain refinement of Al-7 wt. %Si alloy driven by ECP and TMF. Experimental results show that the application of ECP or TMF can cause the same grain refinement occurrence period, during which the refinement of primary Al continuously occurs. In addition, the related grain refinement mechanisms are reviewed and discussed, which shows the most likely one caused by ECP and TMF is the promoted dendrite fragmentation as the result of the ECP-induced or TMF-induced forced flow. It suggests that the same grain refinement process in alloys is provoked when ECP and TMF are applied in the same solidification regime, respectively.
A blind quantum source separation method based on mutual information for retrieving two qubits with cylindrical-symmetry heisenberg coupling

This paper concerns the blind quantum source separation (BQSS) field, that we introduced previously. More specifically, we investigate how to retrieve individual quantum states, after they were coupled according to the cylindrical-symmetry Heisenberg model and converted into classical data by means of measurements. The statistical method that we propose to perform this separation consists in minimizing the cost function defined as the mutual information of the outputs of our separating system, which is tailored to the considered nonlinear coupling model. This method is especially attractive because its cost function has no global spurious points, i.e. it has a single global minimum value, obtained when source separation is achieved (thanks to the ICA separability of the considered nonlinear global model). In this paper, we address all major aspects of this approach, including the definition of the considered separation criterion and of an associated optimization algorithm, and the derivations of the expressions of all the quantities involved in this algorithm.
Star Formation in NGC 2023, NGC 2024, and Southern L1630

We review star formation in the southern L1630 molecular cloud (also known as Orion B) as well as the relationship between the young stellar populations and the remnant molecular gas. We begin with an historical introduction to the region, and proceed to discuss recent developments in the study of NGC 2023, NGC 2024, and star formation associated with the Horsehead Nebula. Next we consider the distributed mode of star formation in the L1630 cloud, and conclude with a synthesis of star– forming activity in the region. By comparing and contrasting star formation in Orion B with that found in Orion A, one hopes to discern differences as a function of local initial conditions.
Real-Time fMRI Pattern Decoding and Neurofeedback Using FRIEND: An FSL-Integrated BCI Toolbox

The demonstration that humans can learn to modulate their own brain activity based on feedback of neurophysiological signals opened up exciting opportunities for fundamental and applied neuroscience. Although EEG-based neurofeedback has been long employed both in experimental and clinical investigation, functional MRI (fMRI)-based neurofeedback emerged as a promising method, given its superior spatial resolution and ability to gauge deep cortical and subcortical brain regions. In combination with improved computational approaches, such as pattern recognition analysis (e.g., Support Vector Machines, SVM), fMRI neurofeedback and brain decoding represent key innovations in the field of neuromodulation and functional plasticity. Expansion in this field and its applications critically depend on the existence of freely available, integrated and user-friendly tools for the neuroimaging research community. Here, we introduce FRIEND, a graphic-oriented user-friendly interface package for fMRI neurofeedback and real-time multivoxel pattern decoding. The package integrates routines for image preprocessing in real-time, ROI-based feedback (single-ROI BOLD level and functional connectivity) and brain decoding-based feedback using SVM. FRIEND delivers an intuitive graphic interface with flexible processing pipelines involving optimized procedures embedding widely validated packages, such as FSL and libSVM. In addition, a user-defined visual neurofeedback module allows users to easily design and run fMRI neurofeedback experiments using ROI-based or multivariate classification approaches. FRIEND is open-source and free for non-commercial use. Processing tutorials and extensive documentation are available.
Energy consumption trade-offs for XML compression on embedded devices

Wireless data transmission over sensor networks is known to consume a significant share of energy compared to data computation on the device itself. Thus data compression techniques have been used to reduce the data size at the cost of extra processing time on the device. This paper investigates the energy consumption trade-off of XML compression and data communication on embedded devices with low-bandwidth network.
From Social Insurance to Social Assistance

In attempting to establish a social security system that would function to smooth the transition from a planned to market economy, the government of China has, for most of the time in the past decades, focused its efforts on setting up social insurance programs in the urban areas. Along with the emergence of urban poverty since the mid 1990s, the emphasis of the government has shifted to means-tested social assistance programs as the major means to combat poverty and maintain social stability. However, with the absence of more equitable social and economic policies that can protect people against the many risks associated with a market economy, the role of social assistance is very limited.
Low Density Membranes Are Associated with RNA-binding Proteins and Thylakoids in the Chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Chloroplast subfractions were tested with a UV cross-linking assay for proteins that bind to the 5′ untranslated region of the chloroplast psbC mRNA of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. These analyses revealed that RNA-binding proteins of 30–32, 46, 47, 60, and 80 kD are associated with chloroplast membranes. The buoyant density and the acyl lipid composition of these membranes are compatible with their origin being the inner chloroplast envelope membrane. However, unlike previously characterized inner envelope membranes, these membranes are associated with thylakoids. One of the membrane-associated RNA-binding proteins appears to be RB47, which has been reported to be a specific activator of psbA mRNA translation. These results suggest that translation of chloroplast mRNAs encoding thylakoid proteins occurs at either a subfraction of the chloroplast inner envelope membrane or a previously uncharacterized intra-chloroplast compartment, which is physically associated with thylakoids.
How Much Is Said in a Tweet? A Multilingual, Information-theoretic Perspective

This paper describes a multilingual study on how much information is contained in a single post of microblog text from Twitter in 26 different languages. In order to answer this question in a quantitative fashion, we take an information-theoretic approach, using entropy as our criterion for quantifying “how much is said” in a tweet. Our results find that, as expected, languages with larger character sets such as Chinese and Japanese contain more information per character than other languages. However, we also find that, somewhat surprisingly, information per character does not have a strong correlation with information per microblog post, as authors of microblog posts in languages with more information per character do not necessarily use all of the space allotted to them. Finally, we examine the relative importance of a number of factors that contribute to whether a language has more or less information content in each character or post, and also compare the information content of microblog text with more traditional text from Wikipedia.
Guest Editors' Introduction: Special Issue on Efficient Management of SDN/NFV-Based Systems - Part I

In Part I of the special issue, the main reported research contributions were: efficient resource allocation and management of softwarized network functions, design of highperformance platforms to allow network function virtualization on commodity machines, and enabling efficient collaboration between providers in softwarized networks. From the twenty six submitted papers, four papers had been selected for Part I of the special issue. An additional set of four more papers have been accepted for this Part II, after a thorough revision by the authors to take into account the detailed comments from the reviewers. The four selected papers in Part II of the special address three very important topics for the efficient management of Software-Defined Networking/Virtualized Network Functions-based (SDN/NFV-based) telecommunication systems: (i) optimizations to flow-based software-defined networks to address the scalability and energy consolidation requirements, (ii) programming abstractions in wireless software-defined networks, and (iii) improved network virtualization to more efficiently support latency sensitive applications.
Identifying Trough of Recent Recession in Japan: An Application of Stochastic Business Indicator

In Japan, the Indexes of Business Conditions (CI) calculated by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan is employed for assessing business cycle. The CI consists of three components, such as leading, coincident, and lagging indexes. The CI is calculated by composing monthto-month percentage changes in multiple economic indicators. On contrary, in the U.S., for observing business condition, a stochastic business indicator is mainly employed. This study applies the latter U.S. approach to estimate a latent stochastic business indicator for Japanese economy according to Stock and Watson (1989,1990) using a state space model solved by Kalman filter. The estimated stochastic business indicator seems to fit quite well to existing Japanese official Indexes of Business Conditions. The estimated results appear to indicate that the trough month of the latest recession in Japan is March 2009.
Active System To Generate Views Of Facial Features With Selectable Resolution

In many applications concerning the analysis of a human face or of facial features, images with selectable resolutions are desirable. The (cid:12)rst step of our system is the detection of facial features. We present a parametric face model for localization and evaluate the model by an energy minimization process. To change the resolution selected by the user, we need a camera with a calibrated zooming unit. We present a method to calibrate the zoom unit of a camera with pan/tilt unit. The advantage of the approach is that the focal length can be related to the stepper motor setting without any calibration pattern or knowledge about the scene.
Joint zero-forcing and matched filter processing in an adaptive equalizer using the linearly-constrained least-mean square (LC-LMS) algorithm

Digital receivers often contain a cascade of two filters in the base-band signal-conditioning path. The first is a square-root raised-cosine Nyquist matched filter designed to maximize SNR and suppress out-of-band interference, while the other is a decision-directed (T/2)-spaced equalizer which removes the spectral distortion introduced by the channel. This paper presents an equalizer modified to permit a single filter to converge simultaneously to a (T/2)-spaced zero forcing equalizer and a matched filter.
A framework for incremental quality analysis of large software systems

To provide rapid feedback to engineers, software quality analysis must be incremental. However, most existing analyses are either not incremental, or limited to isolated quality characteristics. In practice, this prevents their integration into a uniform quality control approach. In this paper, we present a framework for the incremental and distributed computation of quality characteristics. It is fast enough for real-time analysis of large systems and provides a complete history of analysis results. An evaluation on several open source software systems demonstrates its scalability to large code bases under active development.
Program Templates: Expression Templates Applied to Program Evaluation

The C++ language features a two-layers execution model: computations can be done at compile-time and at execution-time. This corresponds to the static execution of metaprograms, and the dynamic execution of resulting programs. Thanks to recent evolutions in C++ template metaprogramming ([Veldhuizen(2002)], [Czarnecki and Eisenecker(2000)]), more and more tasks can be done at compilation time. In C++, a technique called Expression Templates described by [Veldhuizen(1995)] allows the exploitation of this two-layers execution model. This technique relies on transformations of simple arithmetic expressions at compile-time to increase the performances of the executable code. Moreover some evaluation can be done entirely statically with mechanisms such as constant propagation. This way, some computation usually done at execution-time is processed at compile-time. A program written in any language can also be expressed as an abstract syntax tree. Therefore, it is natural to wonder whether it is possible to extend the Expression Templates technique to a whole programming language. Expressing a full program with a C++ type reflecting its abstract syntax tree (AST) could thus be made possible. In this paper, this type is called the TAT (Tree As Type). A TAT is a representation of an AST using a C++ type formalism. Expressing a program with a TAT would allow us to adapt the Expression Templates evaluation method to a whole program and therefore to take advantage of the two-layers execution model of C++ (see [Haney and Crotinger(1999)]). The entire process of compiling and executing a program expressed as a TAT corresponds to its evaluation. To experiment this idea, we have to choose a programming language which is simple and which have few constructions. Nevertheless, this language must at least include types, functions, records, arrays and flow control constructions. Tiger, a language defined by [Appel(1997)], suits our needs: with only 40 rules in its EBNF grammar, it respects all our conditions. We use a front-end program which parses Tiger, and does the semantic analysis: type checking, scopes and bindings. The output of this front-end is a C++ program which declares a TAT. Our front-end is based on techniques explained by [Appel(1997)]. This front-end associated with the C++ static processor constitute a compilation chain. Indeed, the input of this chain is a textual Tiger program, and its output is an executable program.
Information flow between stock indices

Using transfer entropy, we observed the strength and direction of information flow between stock indices. We uncovered that the biggest source of information flow is America, while most receivers are in the Asia/Pacific region. According to the minimum spanning tree, the Standard and Poor's 500 Index (GSPC) is located at the focal point of the information source for world stock markets.
UNSUPERVISED SIMILAR IMAGE RETRIEVAL USING COMBINATION OF SHAPE-AND COLOR-BASED FEATURES

This study discusses unsupervised similar image retrieval, where two kinds of shape-based features, SIFT and HOG, and two kinds of color-based features, global and local color histograms(GCH, LCH), are investigated. We compare the retrieval performances of shapeand color-based features and combine them to improve the performance. In addition, term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) method is utilized for giving high weights to the feature vectors which occur less frequently in the collection of images. Latent semantic indexing (LSI) compresses the feature dimensionality. In the simulation, a five-category image set of 100 training images and 100 test images is employed from Caltech-101 database. According to the simulation results, the combination of HOG and LCH gave the most reliable performance, and TF-IDF method was not so effective for improving the performance.