Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ABuGET: Measuring the Non-Cooperative Available Bandwidth

Although several available bandwidth measurement tools exist, they usually require access at both ends of the measured path. In this paper, we present ABuGET, a single-ended tool for available bandwidth estimation against non-cooperative hosts. Comparing to other single-ended tools based ONE-DELAY mostly, Our measurement tool focus on utilizing ITPR (the improved PTR) algorithm to realize and exploiting TCP protocol options to initiate probing traffic. We describe the design of ABuGET. The comparison of ABuGET to Pathload (the most popular tool measuring the available bandwidth) used in simulation environments showed that our tool can provide better quality of measurements in non-cooperative environments.
Development of 2D artificial life system using network-type assembly language

To unlock the full potential of evolution in digital media, we have developed a 2D artificial life system using network-type assembly language and investigated the evolvability of the developed system by computer experiments. In this paper, the structure and features of the developed system are addressed and especially the effects of drastic change of environment by introducing costs of instructions to the system are studied. The experimental results show that the network-type system keeps more stable diversity than the linear-type system. This indicates the possibility that the network-type system has more potential of evolution than the linear-type system.
Cumulative light curves of gamma-ray bursts and relaxation systems

The cumulative light curves of a large sample of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) were obtained by summing the BATSE counts. The smoothed profiles are much simpler than the complex and erratic running light curves that are normally used. For most GRBs the slope of the cumulative light curve ( S ) is approximately constant over a large fraction of the burst. The bursts are modelled as relaxation systems that continuously accumulate energy in the reservoir and discontinuously release it. The slope is a measure of the cumulative power output of the central engine. A plot of S versus peak flux in 64 ms ($P_{64\, {\rm ms}}$) shows a very good correlation over a wide range for both long and short GRBs. No relationship was found between S and the GRBs with known redshift. The standard slope ($S^{\prime}$), which is representative of the power output per unit time, is correlated separately with $P_{64\, {\rm ms}}$ for both sub-classes indicating more powerful outbursts for the short GRBs. $S^{\prime}$ is also anticorrelated with GRB duration. These results imply that GRBs are powered by accretion into a black hole.
HYBRID ZIGBEE-RFID NETWORKS WITH HIGHEST ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Zigbee is the standard of choice in wireless personal area ne tworks with low power consumption, such as, for example, sensor and control wireless networks. Since nodes may be positioned in non-easily accessible plac s, a high energy efficiency is required in order to maximize the network lifet ime and minimize the maintenance costs. A simple and straightforward soluti on to maximize the network lifetime consists in turning off all nodes which are not needed, e.g., when the node spatial density is higher than that required to sa isfy the sensing requirements. We propose an innovative radio-switched Zigbee network, where remote sensor nodes are selectively turned off. More p recisely, the radio control is based on the use of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology, leading to a hybrid Zigbee/RFID architecture. In other wo ds, we consider two logically overlapped networks, RFID and Zigbee. The RFI D network turns on/off the nodes of the Zigbee network through a power-off al gorithm, referred to asdeep sleep algorithm, designed to equalize the residual energy in each Zigbee node. In fact, the RFID controller (i.e., the reader) cyc li ally switches off the Zigbee nodes with low amounts of residual energy. By buil ding upon the proposed RFID-controlled Zigbee networks, we focus on appl ications which require a minimumlocal spatial density of observations. This is of interest, for instance, in distributed monitoring applications, where o n needs to monitor the largest possible area in a homogeneous way. In this case, we i ntroduce avirtual spatial grid over the monitored region, and we apply the deep sleep algori thm cell by cell of the grid, requiring that at most one node per ce ll is active at a time. The proposed hybrid Zigbee/RFID networks are analyzed thro ugh Opnet-based simulations.
Mismatch Corrections for Electro-Optic Sampling Systems

We develop and apply frequency-domain mismatch corrections to a temporal electro-optic sampling system. We use these corrections to characterize the magnitude and phase of electrical sources that are physically far removed from the point at which the electro-optic sampling system measures voltage waveforms. We demonstrate the technique by determining the power spectrum of a photoreceiver¿s optical impulse response.
Action Spaces – A Metaphorical Concept to Support Navigation and Interaction in 3D User Interfaces

Abstract There is the obvious necessity of navigational support in virtual environments. Besideexploratory virtual worlds a new class of three-dimensional applications is evolving, where3 D objects are manipulated as documents within a three-dimensional interface. With this kindof applications the task of the spatial arrangement and integration of 3 D interface elementsbecomes evident. Due to the increasing complexity of three-dimensional software theseelements must be grouped in a certain way. This paper therefore suggests a metaphoricalapproach called action spaces to structure three-dimensional user interfaces. To switchbetween different action spaces navigational support is needed. The idea of task-centerednavigation between predefined viewpoints is introduced. The approach is illustrated byexamples. Various metaphors for the realization of this approach are explained and classified. Keywords 3D User Interface, Virtual Reality, Desktop VR, 3D Graphics, Virtual Environment, 3DWidgets, Metaphors, Navigation.
3092-CH-06.qxd 7/4/03 12:52 PM Page 110 6 Portraits of the Self

self manages to be wholly familiar and frustratingly elusive at the same time. At first blush, it appears that, if I know anything at all, then I know that I am a self-aware being, an 'I' that not only thinks, as Descartes famously asserted, but that also senses, feels, desires, intends, and acts. Yet, establishing exactly what this 'I' is, and how it manages to do what it does, is an excellent way to pass an otherwise interminable journey on British Rail. Indeed, so slippery has the self seemed to some that they have concluded it is merely a grammatical fiction or a cultural artifact (Gergen, 1991; Wittgenstein, 1959). An insub-stantial self of this sort could never be the object of scientific scrutiny: it could only be an empty construct for linguists to parse or for postmod-ernists to critique. Social psychologists who study the self reject such deflationary interpretations, however. They start from the full-blooded assumption that the self is that, although it may contain an element of sub-jectivity liable to awe and mystify (Nagel, 1974; Tallis, 1999), it nonetheless lends itself to objective empirical investigation. This being the case, we define the self as the totality of interrelated yet distinct psychological phenomena that either underlie, causally interact with, or depend upon reflexive consciousness. The merit of this inclusive, if somewhat wordy, definition is that it does not describe the self as some arcane unity about which nothing further can be said. Rather, it describes the self as a set of properties and processes, each of which can be conceptually defined and empirically indexed. This opens the door to scientific progress: social psychologists can seek greater insight into the nature of selfhood by studying particular manifestations of the self, as well as their correlates, causes, and consequences. They can come up with testable theories that link self-related phenomena to one another and to phenomena beyond the self. Two brief refinements of this definition are nonetheless in order. First, the properties and processes that collectively compose the self are themselves fairly complex. Although more primitive aspects of mental functioning may distantly affect or be affected by reflexive consciousness, the psychology of the self is typically pitched at a molar rather than at a molecular level of analysis. Second, the self operates predominantly within the social world. This means that the psychological phenomena that fall under its umbrella typically arise in interaction …
Oral electromyography activation patterns for speech are similar in preschoolers who do and do not stutter.

PURPOSE In this study, the authors determined whether basic patterns of muscle activation for speech were similar in preschool children who stutter and in their fluent peers. METHOD Right and left lower lip muscle activity were recorded during conversational speech and sentence repetition in 64 preschool children diagnosed as stuttering (CWS) and in 40 children who do not stutter (CWNS). Measures of electromyography (EMG) amplitude, right-left asymmetry, and bilateral coordination were computed for fluent speech. The potential presence of tremor-like oscillations during disfluencies of CWS was assessed, and EMG amplitudes of fluent and disfluent speech were compared in CWS. RESULTS Across both speaking tasks, lip muscle activation was similar in CWS and CWNS in overall amplitude, bilateral synchrony, and degree of right-left asymmetry. EMG amplitude was reduced during disfluent compared with fluent conversational speech of CWS, and there was no evidence of tremor in the disfluencies of CWS. CONCLUSION These results support the assertion that stuttering in young children arises not from basic features of muscle contraction but rather from the command signals that control the timing and amplitude of muscle activity. The results indicate that no frank abnormality is present in muscle activation patterns in preschoolers who stutter.
Synthetic ground truth dataset to detect shadows cast by static objects in outdoors

In this paper, we propose a precise synthetic ground truth dataset to study the problem of detection of the shadows cast by static objects in outdoor environments during extended periods of time (days). For our dataset, we have created a virtual scenario using a rendering software. To increase the realism of the simulated environment, we have defined the scenario in a precise geographical location. In our dataset the sun is by far the main illumination source. The sun position during the simulation time takes into consideration factors related to the geographical location, such as the latitude, longitude, elevation above sea level, and precise image capturing day and time. In our simulation the camera remains fixed. The dataset consists of seven days of simulation, from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Images are captured every 10 seconds. The shadows' ground truth is automatically computed by the rendering software.
Political Advertising and Voters’ Choice of Candidates in the 2015 General Elections in Kogi State: Evidence from an Experiment

During the 2015 General elections in Nigeria, political parties and their candidates sponsored different political advertisements through different media like radio, television, newspaper, magazine, bill boards, posters, among several others. The general motivation behind such political moves was to woo voters and record electoral victory. However, the extent to which this has translated to electoral fortunes is uncertain. In this study, experimental approach, mock ballot paper and focus group discussion were used as instruments of data collection. Two hypotheses guided the study and were tested with the use of t-test. The current study found no statistical significant relationship between the two variables (Political advertising and voting behaviour). The researcher recommends, among others, that political actors should focus less on political advertising but pay more attention on performance as a way of gaining the trust of the electorate.Keywords: Candidate, Political advertising and voters.
Determinant spreading associated with clinical response in dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for malignant melanoma.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicity and immunological effects of three different doses and two routes of administration of autologous dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with the MART-1(27-35) immunodominant epitope. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Eighteen HLA-A*0201-positive subjects with stage III-IV melanoma received three biweekly i.v. or intradermal injections of ex vivo generated myeloid DCs pulsed with MART-1(27-35) epitope. Repeated blood samples were processed to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells for immunological analysis using IFN-gamma ELISPOT, MHC class I tetramer, intracellular cytokine staining, and microcytotoxicity assays. RESULTS The frequency of MART-1/Melan-A (MART-1) antigen-specific T cells in peripheral blood increased in all dose levels as assessed by ELISPOT and MHC class I tetramer assays, but without a clear dose-response effect. The intradermal route generated stronger MART-1 immunity compared with the i.v. route. MART-1-specific immunity did not correlate with clinical outcome in any of the four immunological assays used. However, analysis of determinant spreading to other melanoma antigens was noted in the only subject with complete response to this single-epitope immunization. CONCLUSIONS Intradermal immunization with MART-1 peptide-pulsed DCs results in an increase in circulating IFN-gamma-producing, antigen-specific T cells. The frequency of these cells did not correlate with response. In contrast, spreading of immune reactivity to other melanoma antigens was only evident in a subject with a complete response, suggesting that determinant spreading may be an important factor of clinical response to this form of immunotherapy.
Building successful long child-robot interactions in a learning context

The CoWriter activity involves a child in a rich and complex interaction where he has to teach handwriting to a robot. The robot must convince the child it needs his help and it actually learns from his lessons. To keep the child engaged, the robot must learn at the right rate, not too fast otherwise the kid will have no opportunity for improving his skills and not too slow otherwise he may loose trust in his ability to improve the robot' skills. We tested this approach in real pedagogic/therapeutic contexts with children in difficulty over repeated long sessions (40-60 min). Through 3 different case studies, we explored and refined experimental designs and algorithms in order for the robot to adapt to the troubles of each child and to promote their motivation and self-confidence. We report positive observations, suggesting commitment of children to help the robot, and their comprehension that they were good enough to be teachers, overcoming their initial low confidence with handwriting.
Automatic Relocalisation for a Single-Camera Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping System

We describe a fast method to relocalise a monocular visual SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping) system after tracking failure. The monocular SLAM system stores the 3D locations of visual landmarks, together with a local image patch. When the system becomes lost, candidate matches are obtained using correlation, then the pose of the camera is solved via an efficient implementation of RANSAC using a three-point-pose algorithm. We demonstrate the usefulness of this method within visual SLAM: (i) we show tracking can reliably resume after tracking failure due to occlusions, motion blur or unmodelled rapid motions; (ii) we show how the method can be used as an adjunct for a proposal distribution in a particle filter framework; (iii) during successful tracking we use idle cycles to test if the current map overlaps with a previously-built map, and we provide a solution to aligning the two maps by splicing the camera trajectories in a consistent and optimal way.
Minimalist Parsing of Subjects Displaced from Embedded Clauses in Free Word Order Languages

In Sayeed and Szpakowicz (2004), we proposed a parser inspired by some aspects of the Minimalist Program. This incremental parser was designed specifically to handle discontinuous constituency phenomena for NPs in Latin. We take a look at the application of this parser to a specific kind of apparent island violation in Latin involving the extraction of constituents, including subjects, from tensed embedded clauses. We make use of ideas about the left periphery from Rizzi (1997) to modify our parser in order to handle apparently violated subject islands and similar phenomena.
A Critique of the Remote Procedure Call Paradigm

The remote procedure call paradigm is widely used in distributed operating systems. It is conceptually simple to use and straightforward to implement. Nevertheless, experience has shown that it also has some subtle, but less pleasant aspects. In this paper we discuss problems with RPC in the areas of conceptual problems with the model itself, technical problems with implementing it, problems caused by client and server crashes, problems caused by heterogeneous systems, and performance problems. The paper concludes with a discussion and analysis of the problems and proposed solutions.
Electrophysiological evidence of early functional damage in glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

PURPOSE The quantification of early retinal ganglion cell damage in ocular hypertension and glaucoma. METHODS Thirty subjects under treatment for open-angle glaucoma, 23 subjects with ocular hypertension, and 28 healthy subjects in a control group were investigated by monocular pattern electroretinogram (ERG), L&M (long and medium wavelength) cone ERG, and S (short wavelength)-cone ERG. The diagnosis of glaucoma was based on masked assessment of digital stereoscopic optic nerve head images by three glaucoma specialists. The optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer was assessed by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS All types of ERG had reduced mean amplitudes in ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma groups compared with the control group. In the ocular hypertension group, the N95 and the L&M-pathway photopic negative response (PhNR) were significantly attenuated (by 19% and 18% compared with the control group, respectively; by 30% and 22%, respectively, in the open-angle glaucoma group compared with the control group). In the subjects with open-angle glaucoma, the pattern ERG P50-N95 was found to be the most sensitive electrophysiological test, and the cup-disc area ratio, when examined by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, was the most sensitive imaging parameter. Modest but not statistically significant correlations were found between the imaging and electrophysiologic parameters. CONCLUSIONS With disc appearance used for the classification of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, significant electrophysiological losses were found in both conditions. The modest correlation between the structural and electrophysiological measures suggests that these assess different aspects of the pathologic process; electrophysiology can be used to quantify retinal ganglion cell dysfunction that occurs before cell death.
On the Feasibility of Cellular Resource Reuse for Device-to-Device Communication under 3GPP Network Constraints

One of the major features to be developed in 3GPP Release 12 is direct Device-to-Device (aka D2D) communication, as a support for so-called 3GPP Proximity Services (or ProSe). The main advantage of using D2D communication in 3GPP networks is the provision of higher data rates and radio resource usage rates, thanks to the proximity of communicating users. This paper reports a feasibility study of cellular-D2D reuse of radio resource, i.e. simultaneous use for cellular and D2D links, in the context of an LTE network. Based on real constraints from recent 3GPP standardization activities, the paper investigates the conditions for such an allocation scheme to serve the expected Quality of Service (QoS) on both links. In this paper interference constraints are identified along with a possible associated LTE system design (i.e. LTE network and User Equipments), including Message Sequence Charts (MSCs) and related protocols. Finally, results from simulation are shown and analyzed to draw measurable conclusions expressed in terms of probability of reuse.
Framing the Taxation-Democratization Link: An Automated Content Analysis of Cross-National Newspaper Data

Taxpaying constitutes a major opportunity for citizens to relate to their governments. Although it is true that paying taxes is a responsibility, it also entitles citizens to claim control over government spending, which may facilitate a greater democratization of a country’s political regime. Consistent with this reasoning, a growing body of scholarship has documented a positive relationship between the size of tax revenues extracted by the state and the adherence of the country’s regime to democratic values. What has been left underexplored is the role in this relationship of the media, a commonly available and relied-upon source of information about taxpaying for the public. This study offers a first contribution in this direction, by exploring the relationship between the nature of the political regime and the rhetorical construction of the concept of a taxpayer in the national press. Based on an automated content analysis of articles (N=24,969) published by ninety-two newspapers and news agencies in fifty-one countries using a set of pretrained and validated machine-learning algorithms, the study demonstrates that the less democratic a state is, the more likely it is for the national press to frame a taxpayer as a subordinate in a hierarchical relationship with the state, by discussing taxpaying in tax collection, rather than public spending, terms. The study furthers a more nuanced understanding of the place of the media in the taxation-democratization link and demonstrates the applicability of the supervised machine-learning approach to classifying frames in large cross-national samples of newspaper data.
Runtime verification of service-oriented systems: a well-rounded survey

Dynamic nature of Service-Oriented Systems SOSs has made conventional verification techniques such as testing, model checking and theorem proving ineffective. As a result, many studies have been dedicated to verification of SOS. In this survey, we first discuss why the conventional verification techniques are not effectively applicable to SOSs and then stress the necessity of the runtime verification as a dynamic approach that formally checks the system behaviour at runtime. To provide a deep comparison between existing studies and to draw a clear road map for the future studies, we introduce the salient characteristics of the runtime verification in SOSs. In addition, we survey a significant number of various studies in the literature by categorising them in five broad categories: logic and calculus oriented approaches, workflow monitoring, state-based conformity assessment, aspect-oriented verification, and SLA-driven compliance. Then, we deal with the comparison between the defined categories and finally discuss open problems.