Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloud Computing in Case-Based Pedagogy: An Information Systems Success Perspective

Case-based pedagogy has evolved as an important tool for enhancing students’ analytical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as fostering the ability to make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. Due to the rapid development of technologies that allow collaboration and interaction despite geographic and temporal distances, educators are investigating the viability of emerging technologies such as cloud computing as platforms for case-based pedagogical techniques. This paper utilizes information systems (IS) success theory as the foundation of a study to examine case-based pedagogy in a cloud-computing environment. A three-week field experiment followed by a post-test survey is conducted in order to validate hypothesized relationships among cloud computing information quality, cloud computing system quality, cloud computing use, performance expectation in case-based pedagogy, and cloud computing critical mass. Results suggest that information quality has significant influence on not only use of cloud computing for case-based pedagogy, but also increases performance expectation and leads to critical mass. The findings of this study suggest that cloud computing is a viable platform for case-based pedagogy.
Bridging the Gap: One shot grasp synthesis approach

Optimal grasp synthesis has traditionally been solved in two steps: determining optimal grasping points according to a specific quality criterion and then determining how to shape the hand to produce these grasping points. Generating optimal grasps depends on the position of contact points as much as the configuration of the robot hand and it would hence be desirable to solve this in a single step. This paper takes advantage of new development in non-linear optimization and formulates the problem of grasp synthesis as a single constrained optimization problem, generating grasps that are at the same time feasible for the hand's kinematics and optimal according to a force related quality measure. The approach is validated on the 9 degrees of freedom hand of the iCub humanoid robot.
An Agent-Based Spatially Explicit Epidemiological Model in MASON

This paper outlines the design and implementation of an agent-based epidemiological simulation system. The system was implemented in the MASON toolkit, a set of Java-based agent-simulation libraries. This epidemiological simulation system is robust and extensible for multiple applications, including classroom demonstrations of many types of epidemics and detailed numerical experimentation on a particular disease. The application has been made available as an applet on the MASON web site, and as source code on the author's web site.
Deaths Ascribed to Non-Communicable Diseases among Rural Kenyan Adults Are Proportionately Increasing: Evidence from a Health and Demographic Surveillance System, 2003–2010

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) result in more deaths globally than other causes. Monitoring systems require strengthening to attribute the NCD burden and deaths in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Data from health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSS) can contribute towards this goal. Methods and Findings Between 2003 and 2010, 15,228 deaths in adults aged 15 years (y) and older were identified retrospectively using the HDSS census and verbal autopsy in rural western Kenya, attributed into broad categories using InterVA-4 computer algorithms; 37% were ascribed to NCDs, 60% to communicable diseases (CDs), 3% to injuries, and <1% maternal causes. Median age at death for NCDs was 66y and 71y for females and males, respectively, with 43% (39% male, 48% female) of NCD deaths occurring prematurely among adults aged below 65y. NCD deaths were mainly attributed to cancers (35%) and cardio-vascular diseases (CVDs; 29%). The proportionate mortality from NCDs rose from 35% in 2003 to 45% in 2010 (χ2 linear trend 93.4; p<0.001). While overall annual mortality rates (MRs) for NCDs fell, cancer-specific MRs rose from 200 to 262 per 100,000 population, mainly due to increasing deaths in adults aged 65y and older, and to respiratory neoplasms in all age groups. The substantial fall in CD MRs resulted in similar MRs for CDs and NCDs among all adult females by 2010. NCD MRs for adults aged 15y to <65y fell from 409 to 183 per 100,000 among females and from 517 to 283 per 100,000 population among males. NCD MRs were higher among males than females aged both below, and at or above, 65y. Conclusions NCDs constitute a significant proportion of deaths in rural western Kenya. Evidence of the increasing contribution of NCDs to overall mortality supports international recommendations to introduce or enhance prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment programmes in LMICs.
Temperature effects on energy optimization in sub-threshold circuit design

Sub-threshold circuits have emerged as a strong candidate for use in future energy-constrained applications. In a non-homogeneous design paradigm containing both sub-threshold and high power-density super-threshold blocks, it becomes imperative to examine the thermal effects on sub-threshold operation. In this paper, we investigate the thermal impact on sub-threshold current, delay and energy and develop analytical models of the same. Unlike super-threshold, the sub-threshold ION increases exponentially with temperature while the ION-to-IOFF ratio degrades by 0.52%°C. While delay decreases, energy increases with temperature due to relative increase in leakage power at the higher temperatures. Studies performed on noise-margins, current/delay variability and sub-Vth interconnects suggest that sub-Vth circuits can retain {power, delay, energy} optimality over a relatively high temperature range of 25¿75°C.
Quantitative microstructural characterization of transparent YAG ceramics via microscopic image analysis using stereological relations

The microstructure of transparent yttrium-aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics is characterized using different microstructural descriptors, with special focus on grain size numbers. Both linear and planar grain size numbers are used to describe the dependence of the average grain size on Yb dopant content (0-10 at.%), sintering additive (tetraethyl orthosilicate, TEOS) content (0.3-0.5 wt.%) and firing time. Although the two grain size numbers are very close for the materials studied (with ratios very close to unity, around 0.987 ± 0.109), these two numbers are principally independent and provide complementary microstructural information. Their relations to other microstructural descriptors (interface density, mean curvature integral density, mean chord length, Jeffries size) are discussed throughout the text. It is found that Yb doping of more than 3 at. % has a grain-growth-inhibiting effect (after sufficiently long firing times), but differences in the TEOS content between 0.3 and 0.5 wt. % do not have any sensible effect. The largest effect on the microstructure is exerted by the firing time (with prolonged firing times leading to grain growth), but with higher Yb doping the effect of firing time on the grain size becomes less pronounced: for YAG samples without Yb doping, increasing the firing time by a factor of 8 (from 2 h to 16 h), deceases the grain size number by 33.2-35.0 %, whereas with a Yb dopant content of 10 at. %, the corresponding decrease in the grain size number is only 8.7-10.0 %. These findings are fully corroborated using the other microstructural descriptors.
Perception of e-cigarette harm and its correlation with use among U.S. adolescents.

INTRODUCTION U.S. adolescents increasingly use e-cigarettes. The perceived harm of e-cigarettes has not been described, nor has the correlation between harm perception and e-cigarette use been assessed. This study examines correlates of e-cigarette harm perception and use of e-cigarettes in a national survey. METHODS We used cross-sectional nationally representative data from the 2012 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 24,658). Cross-tabulations and multivariate ordered probit and logistic regression models were employed to assess relative harm perception and e-cigarette use. RESULTS Half of U.S. adolescents had heard of e-cigarettes. Of these, 13.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.7-14.9) and 4.0% (95% CI = 3.4-4.7) reported ever or currently using e-cigarettes, respectively. Of those aware of e-cigarettes, 34.2% (95% CI = 32.8-35.6) believed e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes. Among those trying e-cigarettes, 71.8% (95% CI = 69.0-74.5) believed e-cigarettes were comparatively less harmful. Females and those ≥ 17 years old were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as more harmful relative to cigarettes, while on average Whites, users of other tobacco products, and those with family members who used tobacco were more likely to perceive e-cigarettes as comparatively safer. Among cigarette-naive e-cigarette users, use of other tobacco products and perceived harm reduction by e-cigarettes were, respectively, on average associated with 1.6 and 4.1 percentage-point increases in e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS Perception of e-cigarettes as less harmful than conventional cigarettes was associated with increased e-cigarette use, including among cigarette-naive e-cigarette users. These findings should prompt further scientific investigation and merit attention from regulators.
Computation of Entropy in Statistical Mechanics and Information Theory

We outline the most recent theory for the computation of the exponential growth rate of the number of configurations on a multidimensional grid. As a demonstration, we compute the monomerdimer constant for the plane lattice correct to 8 decimal digits. The exponential growth rate h (with respect to the natural logarithm) of the number of configurations on a multi-dimensional grid arises in the theory of various physical phenomena [22, 9, 6]. In physics e is viewed as the entropy (per atom) of the corresponding hard model, in mathematics h is called the topological entropy [10], and in information theory h (with respect to log2) is called the multi-dimensional capacity [24]. The one-dimensional case is easy, namely e is the spectral radius ρ(A) of the corresponding transfer matrix. There are very few 2-dimensional models where the value of h is known in closed form [7, 18, 19, 1]. In all other cases there are estimates based on (a) asymptotic expansions, e.g., [20, 12]; (b) Monte-Carlo methods, e.g., [15, 2]; (c) bounds, e.g., [14, 5, 4, 8, 21]. In what follows we give the complete up-to-date theory for computing h by lower and upper bounds. It refines the techniques described in [11] by using an automorphism subgroup of a certain graph. As a demonstration of these techniques, we compute the topological entropy of the monomerdimer system in a plane grid with 8-digit precision. We compare our results to the known results. ∗ email: friedlan@uic.edu † email: uripeled@uic.edu
The navigational feats of green sea turtles migrating from Ascension Island investigated by satellite telemetry

Previous tagging studies of the movements of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting at Ascension Island have shown that they shuttle between this remote target in the Atlantic Ocean and their feeding grounds on the Brazilian coast, a distance of 2300 km or more. Since a knowledge of sea turtle migration routes might allow inferences on the still unknown navigational mechanisms of marine animals, we tracked the postnesting migration of six green turtle females from Ascension Island to Brazil. Five of them reached the proximity of the easternmost stretch of the Brazilian coast, covering 1777 to 2342 km in 33 to 47 days. Their courses were impressively similar for the first 1000 km, with three turtles tracked over different dates following indistinguishable paths for the first 300 km. Only the sixth turtle made some relatively short trips in different directions around Ascension. The tracks show that turtles (i) are able to maintain straight courses over long distances in the open sea; (ii) may perform exploratory movements in different directions; (iii) appropriately correct their course during the journey according to external information; and (iv) initially keep the same direction as the west–south–westerly flowing current, possibly guided by chemical cues.
On the Oxidation Resistance of Nickel-Based Superalloys

In this paper, the factors influencing the oxidation resistance of superalloys are studied. A model is proposed by which the Al2O3-forming properties of a given composition can be estimated, based upon the thermodynamic and kinetic factors influencing scale growth. The numerical modelling is tested by experimental work on a number of compositional variants of the newly-developed SCA425+ superalloy, which contains appreciable quantities of Cr. The modelling is shown to be in broad agreement with experiment. The effects of Al, Cr and Si on the oxidation resistance of this class of alloy have been rationalised.
Which outcome measures should be used in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials? Clinical and quality-of-life measures' responsiveness to treatment in a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine the discriminant validity of the core set of outcome measures proposed by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Outcome Measures in Clinical Trials (OMERACT) conference committee to be used in clinical trials of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Utilizing data from a multicenter randomized double-blind clinical trial of low-dose cyclosporine and placebo in RA, we estimated the relative efficiency (RE) of measures to detect a treatment effect (relative to tender joint count, which was assigned a value of 1). Four pain measures (10-cm visual analog scale [VAS], 5-point categorical scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ] pain index, Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales [AIMS] pain score) and 3 quality-of-life measures (Problem Elicitation Technique [PET], HAQ, AIMS) were compared. RESULTS Physician and patient global measures were the most responsive instruments, although neither was statistically superior to tender joint count. Swollen joint count, grip strength, pain measured on a 10-cm VAS, and functional status as measured by the PET and HAQ were all of intermediate responsiveness. Morning stiffness, 5-point pain scale, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were the least responsive instruments. CONCLUSION This study provides further evidence to support the core set of outcome measures proposed by the ACR and OMERACT:
Towards a model-driven based security framework

In this paper, we propose a model-driven framework for security analysis. We present a security analysis process that begins from the design phase of the system architecture then allows performing several security analysis methods. Our approach presents mainly two advantages: First, it allows the traceability of the security analysis methods with the system architecture. Second, this framework can include several security analysis methods. Moreover it allows information reuse which is complicated when we use separate methods dedicated tools. Thus, we can have more consistent and accurate security analysis results for a system. We chose to implement two methods: A qualitative method named EBIOS which is simple and helps to identify areas of focus within the system. Then, to get more accurate results, we implement a quantitative method, the Attack trees. Attack trees can be automatically generated from the Ebios analysis phase and can be completed later on to get more specific results.
Parity bit signature in response data compaction and built-in self-testing of VLSI circuits with nonexhaustive test sets

The design of efficient time compression support hardware for built-in self-testing (BIST) is of great importance in the design and manufacture of VLSI circuits. The test data outputs in BIST are ultimately compressed by time compaction hardware, commonly called a response analyzer, into signatures. Several output response compaction techniques to aid in the synthesis of such support circuits already exist in literature, and parity bit signature coupled with exhaustive testing is already well known to have certain very desirable properties in this context. This paper reports new time compaction techniques utilizing the concept of parity bit signature that facilitates implementing such support circuits using nonexhaustive or compact test sets, with the primary objective of minimizing the storage requirements for the circuit under test (CUT) while maintaining the fault coverage information as best as possible.
A fundamental study on the effect of vibration stimulation for motion modification in perception-assist

In order to assist the daily life motion of physically weak persons such as elderly persons, many kinds of power-assist robot have been developed. In the case of physically weak persons, perception ability to perceive the surrounding environment is often deteriorated also. A method of perception-assist has been proposed to assist not only the user's motion but also interaction of the user with his/her environment. Perception-assist automatically modifies the user's motion when the power-assist robot detects the possibility of accident such as collision between the user and some obstacles. It is useful function for physically weak persons' daily motion assist. However, since unintentional motion is automatically generated by the robot, regardless of the user's motion intension, the user might feel uncomfortableness. In this paper, another motion modification method is investigated to make natural motion modification in perception-assist. It is known that kinesthetic illusion is generated and subjects feel as if their antagonist muscle is elongated when vibration stimulation is added to tendon of antagonist muscle around a joint. The possibility of the motion modification using vibration stimulation is investigated in this study. Vibration stimulation is added to biceps brachii during the elbow joint motion. Some features of motion modification using vibration stimulation were obtained during the elbow joint motion by performing the experiments.
Translations: generalizing relative expressiveness between logics

There is a strong demand for precise means for the comparison of logics in terms of expressiveness both from theoretical and from application areas. The aim of this paper is to propose a sufficiently general and reasonable formal criterion for expressiveness, so as to apply not only to model-theoretic logics, but also to Tarskian and proof-theoretic logics. For model-theoretic logics there is a standard framework of relative expressiveness, based on the capacity of characterizing structures, and a straightforward formal criterion issuing from it. The problem is that it only allows the comparison of those logics defined within the same class of models. The urge for a broader framework of expressiveness is not new. Nevertheless, the enterprise is complex and a reasonable model-theoretic formal criterion is still wanting. Recently there appeared two criteria in this wider framework, one from Garcia-Matos & Vaananen and other from L. Kuijer. We argue that they are not adequate. Their limitations are analyzed and we propose to move to an even broader framework lacking model-theoretic notions, which we call "translational expressiveness". There is already a criterion in this later framework by Mossakowski et al., however it turned out to be too lax. We propose some adequacy criteria for expressiveness and a formal criterion of translational expressiveness complying with them is given.
A Systematic Differential Analysis for Fast and Robust Detection of Software Aging

Software systems running continuously for a long time often confront software aging, which is the phenomenon of progressive degradation of execution environment caused by latent software faults. Removal of such faults in software development process is a crucial issue for system reliability. A known major obstacle is typically the large latency to discover the existence of software aging. We propose a systematic approach to detect software aging which has in a shorter test time and higher accuracy compared to traditional aging detection via stress testing and trend detection with high confidence. The approach is based on a comparative differential analysis where a software version under test is compared with against a previous robust version by observing in terms of behavioral (signal) changes during system tests of resource metrics. A key instrument adopted is a divergence chart, which expresses time-dependent differences between two signals, allowing us to detect changes in the system metrics' values which indicate the existence of software aging. In our experimental study, we focuses on memory-leak detection and the and evaluates divergence charts are computed using various multiple statistical techniques combined paired with different application-level memory related metrics (RSS and Heap Usage). The experimental results show that the statistical process control techniques used in our approach proposed method achieves good performance for memory-leak detection, when compared with other in comparison to techniques widely adopted in previous works (e.g., linear regression, moving average and median).
Optimal Output Quantization of Binary Input AWGN Channel for Belief-Propagation Decoding of LDPC Codes

Optimal quantizers for channel output are especially necessary for very high speed and memory-cell sensing applications where high-precision analog-to-digital converters are not available. This paper investigates a method to find optimal output quantizers for a binary input (BI) additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel when regular low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are used with belief-propagation (BP) decoding. The optimal quantizers are found by uni-parametric and multi-parametric optimization methods based on the discretized density evolution (DE). The capacity of various LDPC code ensembles are also provided with the BI-AWGN channel outputs quantized using these optimal quantizers. It is demonstrated that only 3 bits of quantization precision performs almost within 0.1 dB of the infinite precision channel output. The effect of the code rate and the degree distribution of LDPC codes on the optimal quantization boundaries is analyzed.
TKP: Three level key pre-distribution with mobile sinks for wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks are by its nature prone to various forms of security attacks. Authentication and secure communication have become the need of the day. Due to single point failure of a sink node or base station, mobile sinks are better in many wireless sensor networks applications for efficient data collection or aggregation, localized sensor reprogramming and for revoking compromised sensors. The existing sytems that make use of key predistribution schemes for pairwise key establishment between sensor nodes and mobile sinks, deploying mobile sinks for data collection has drawbacks. Here, an attacker can easily obtain many keys by capturing a few nodes and can gain control of the network by deploying a node preloaded with some compromised keys that will be the replica of compromised mobile sink. We propose an efficient three level key predistribution framework that uses any pairwise key predistribution in different levels. The new framework has two set of key pools one set of keys for the mobile sink nodes to access the sensor network and other set of keys for secure communication among the sensor nodes. It reduces the damage caused by mobile sink replication attack and stationary access node replication attack. To further reduce the communication time it uses a shortest distance to make pair between the nodes for comunication. Through results, we show that our security framework has a higher network resilience to a mobile sink replication attack as compared to the polynomial pool-based scheme with less communication time.