Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hop count optimal position based packet routing algorithms for ad hoc wireless networks with a realistic physical layer

Existing routing and broadcasting protocols for ad hoc networks assume an ideal physical layer model. We apply the log normal shadow fading model to represent a realistic physical layer and propose a MAC layer protocol to produce the optimal shortest hop count routing scheme. We then study the optimal packet forwarding distance to minimize the hop count. A hop count optimal, greedy, localized routing algorithm (referred as ideal hop count routing (IHCR)) is then presented. We also present another algorithm called expected progress routing with acknowledgements (referred as aEPR) and then propose a projection progress scheme. In conclusion, we propose a tR-greedy routing scheme, where the packet is forwarded to the neighbor closest to the destination, among neighbors that are within distance tR. All described schemes are implemented, and their performances are evaluated and compared.
Multivariable adaptive control using an observer based on a recurrent neural network

A real-time learning control technique for a general non-linear multivariable process is presented and applied to a laboratory plant. The proposed technique is a hybrid approach, which combines the ability of a recurrent neural network for modelling purposes and a linear pole placement control law to design the controller, providing a bridge between the field of neural networks and the well-known linear adaptive control methods. An Elman-type recurrent neural network strategy is introduced to model the behaviour of the non-linear plant, using available input–output data (an unmeasurable state problem is assumed). Following a linearization technique a linear time-varying state-space model is obtained, which allows simultaneous estimation of parameters and states. Once the neural model is linearized, some well-established standard linear control strategies can be applied. With simultaneous online training of the neural network and controller synthesis, the resulting structure is an indirect adaptive self-tuning strategy. The identification and control performances of the proposed approach are investigated on a non-linear multivariable three-tank laboratory system. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid structure. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
JPAR – Isolating Java Heap to Protect Runtime of Middleware from Memory Leak

Memory leaks are among the most difficult Java application problems, which do various harm to Java middlewarebased system, including unpredictable behavior, low performance, and even crash of the whole system. The fatal crash of the whole system may have devastating impact to enterprise applications supported by the system. Traditional approaches to solving memory leak problem are to provide methods and tools to assist finding leak sources in application code, or to diagnose candidate leak objects based on information collected at runtime. However, they can not prevent the whole system from crashing. In this paper, we present a novel approach to protect the whole Java middleware-based system from crashing by proactive isolation, quick detection and effective management of memory leaks. We show how well-isolated Unit of Work, right-sized heap partition, and the heap runtimemonitoring tool can form a framework to protect middleware from memory leak at runtime. A prototype, called JPAR, has been developed to demonstrate that the framework could effectively maintain the whole system continuously operational in the face of memory leaks. The prototype has been optimized from two aspects: appropriate garbage collection strategy for multiple heap partitions, and Resonant Model for setting suitable size of each heap partition. These optimizations effectively reduce the performance overhead caused by multiple heap partitions to 1.5% in our experiments.
Unique spatiotemporal activation pattern of Cdc42 by Gef1 and Scd1 promotes different events during cytokinesis

Cdc42 is activated in a unique spatiotemporal manner during cytokinesis due to the localization of its GEFs, Gef1 and Scd1. The fission yeast Gef1 localizes to the actomyosin ring and promotes timely onset of ring constriction. Scd1 localizes to the ingressing membrane to promote septum formation.
Fingerprint pore extraction based on Marker controlled Watershed Segmentation

Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) have become a popular tool in many security and law enforcement applications. Most of these systems rely on the matching of fingerprints using the position and orientation of ridge endings and bifurcations within the fingerprint image. Sweat pores have been recently employed for automated fingerprint recognition, in which the pores are usually extracted by using a computationally expensive skeletonization method or through defining pore as isotropic or anisotropic models. In this paper, Extraction of pores is done by employing the Marker controlled Watershed Segmentation. Experimental results demonstrate that the method is effective even for 500 dpi images despite the common belief that images obtained at this resolution are not suitable for pore extraction. An explanation of the method is presented, the results are discussed, and future research possibilities are put forth.
Center For Energy and Environmental Policy Research Forward Trading and Collusion in Oligopoly *

We consider an infinitely repeated oligopoly in which at each period firms not only serve the spot market by either competing in prices or quantities but also have the opportunity to trade forward contracts. Contrary to the pro-competitive results of finite-horizon models, we find that the possibility of forward trading allows firms to sustain collusive profits that otherwise would not be possible to achieve. The result holds both for price and quantity competition and follows because (collusive) contracting of future sales is more effective in deterring deviations from the collusive plan than inducing the previously identified pro-competitive effects. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. JEL classification: G13; L12; L13; L50
A broadband differential cascode power amplifier in 45 nm CMOS for high-speed 60 GHz system-on-chip

A compact two-stage differential cascode power amplifier is designed and fabricated in 45 nm standard LP CMOS. The cascode configuration, with the common gate device placed in a separate P-well, provides reliable operating condition for the devices. The amplifier shows 20 dB small-signal gain centered at 60 GHz with a flat frequency response and 1-dB bandwidth of 10 GHz. The broadband large-signal operation is also ensured by providing constant load resistance to both stages over the entire band and coupling them with a dual resonance matching network. The chip delivers 11.2 dBm output power at 1-dB compression and up to 14.5 dBm power in saturation. The power amplifier operates with 2 V supply and draws 90 mA total current which results in 14.4% maximum PAE. The output third order intercept point is measured to be 18 dBm for two-tone measurement at 60 GHz with 0.5 GHz, 1 GHz and 2 GHz frequency separations.
Optimized Reactive Power Flow of DFIG Power Converters for Better Reliability Performance Considering Grid Codes

If there is no reactive power exchange between a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) and a grid, the various characteristics of the power converters in a DFIG wind turbine system cause the lifetime expectancy of a rotor-side converter (RSC) to be significantly less than that of a grid-side converter (GSC). In order to fulfill modern grid codes, over-excited reactive power injection will further reduce the lifetime of the RSC. In this paper, the additional stress of a power semiconductor due to the reactive power injection is first evaluated in terms of a modulation index and the current loading. Then, an optimized reactive power flow is proposed in the case where an over-excited reactive power support is applied with the joint compensation from both the RSC and the GSC. Finally, some experimental validations are performed at a downscale DFIG prototype. It is concluded that, among the different combined reactive power support strategies, the best scheme will tradeoff the lifetime between the GSC and the RSC.
Fuzzy Logic Approach to Identification of Cellular Quantity by Ultrasonic System

This paper introduces an ultrasound identification system for cellular quantity of artificial culture bone with fuzzy inference. In our method, first, we measure ultrasound wave. Second, we obtain the two characteristics of the amplitude and the frequency. The amplitude is calculated as the Peak to Peak value, and the frequency is calculated from frequency spectrum of transfer-function by using cross-spectrum method. Our fuzzy inferences system estimates the cellular quantity from these values. As an experimental result, our identification system could evaluate the cellular quantity in culture bone with high accuracy.
Subcellular and supracellular mechanical stress prescribes cytoskeleton behavior in Arabidopsis cotyledon pavement cells

Although it is a central question in biology, how cell shape controls intracellular dynamics largely remains an open question. Here, we show that the shape of Arabidopsis pavement cells creates a stress pattern that controls microtubule orientation, which then guides cell wall reinforcement. Live-imaging, combined with modeling of cell mechanics, shows that microtubules align along the maximal tensile stress direction within the cells, and atomic force microscopy demonstrates that this leads to reinforcement of the cell wall parallel to the microtubules. This feedback loop is regulated: cell-shape derived stresses could be overridden by imposed tissue level stresses, showing how competition between subcellular and supracellular cues control microtubule behavior. Furthermore, at the microtubule level, we identified an amplification mechanism in which mechanical stress promotes the microtubule response to stress by increasing severing activity. These multiscale feedbacks likely contribute to the robustness of microtubule behavior in plant epidermis. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.01967. 001
Efficient Coupling of Ligand Binding to Channel Opening by the Binding Domain of a Modulatory (β) Subunit of the Olfactory Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel

CNG channels in vivo are heteromers of homologous α and β subunits that each contain a six-transmembrane segment domain and a COOH-terminal cytoplasmic cyclic nucleotide binding domain (BD). In heterologous expression systems, heteromeric αβ channels activate with greater sensitivity to ligand than do homomeric α channels; however, ligand-gating of channels containing only β subunit BDs has never been studied because β subunits cannot form functional homomeric CNG channels. To characterize directly the contribution of the β subunit BD to ligand-gating, we constructed a chimeric subunit, X-β, whose BD sequence was that of the β subunit CNG5 from rat, but whose sequence outside the BD was derived from α subunits. For comparison, we constructed another chimera, X-α, whose sequence outside the BD was identical to that of X-β, but whose BD sequence was that of the α subunit CNG2 from catfish. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, X-β and X-α each formed functional homomeric channels activated by both cAMP and cGMP. This is the first demonstration that the β subunit BD can couple ligand binding to activation in the absence of α subunit BD residues. Notably, both agonists activate X-β more effectively than X-α (higher opening efficacy and lower K1/2). The BD is believed to comprise two functionally distinct subdomains: (1) the roll subdomain (β-roll and flanking A- and B-helices) and (2) the C-helix subdomain. Opening efficacy was previously believed to be controlled primarily by the C-helix, but when we made additional chimeras by exchanging the subdomains between X-β and X-α, we found that both subdomains contain significant determinants of efficacy and agonist selectivity. In particular, only channels containing the roll subdomain of the β subunit had high efficacy. Thermodynamic linkage analysis shows that interaction between the two subdomains accounts for a significant portion of their contribution to activation energetics.
Using an Intelligent Agent to Improve Argumentation Skills over HyperNews

We describe an intelligent agent that provides students with suitable online argumentation strategies and rhetorical methods in a computer-supported collaborative argumentation environment. Computer-based arguments contain many regular patterns that occur with high frequency. Further more, these regular patterns are often related with argumentation strategies. Armed with this knowledge, the intelligent agent first retrieves regular patterns from high quality computer-based arguments, then saves them into its corpus of regular patterns. Each pattern is assigned with several suitable argumentation strategies and rhetorical methods. When students write articles either to support or to argue against a viewpoint, the intelligent agent can provide immediate strategies by matching regular patterns in related arguments. If a pattern is matched in arguments, it will retrieve argumentation strategies and rhetorical methods that are associated with that pattern, and then present them to the students. We implemented our intelligent agent on the platform of HyperNews. The regular pattern corpus has been tested with many webbased arguments. Experimental results show that, using our approach, students can readily improve the quality of their arguments with the help of this intelligent agent.
Fat mass but not fat-free mass is related to physical capacity in well-functioning older individuals: nutrition as a determinant of successful aging (NuAge)--the Quebec Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND Aging is associated with increases in fat mass (FM) and decreases in fat-free mass (FFM) that may affect physical capacity. However, it is not clear whether high FM or low FFM contribute more to a reduction in physical capacity. METHODS A structural equation modeling strategy was used to test an explanatory model of the association between body composition and physical capacity. The concept of physical capacity was assessed by walking speed at a normal pace and the one leg stand test. To test the model, 904 men and women between 67 and 84 years old were studied. Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Confounding factors related to body composition and physical capacities were included in the explanatory model (physical activity level, age, gender, and number of reported diseases). RESULTS The final model showed that physical capacity can be represented by a factorial first-order model including generic measures of walking speed and balance. Moreover, our results showed that percentage of FM was significantly associated with physical capacity (p<.01), whereas no such association was observed with FFM. Other variables such as physical activity level, number of self-reported diseases, and age were associated with physical capacity (all p<.01). Overall, the proposed model explained 48% and 57% of the variance observed in men and women when using the one leg stand and the walking speed at normal pace tests as measures of physical capacity. CONCLUSION FM was significantly and inversely correlated with physical capacity, whereas FFM was not associated when controlled for other potential confounding variables. More studies are needed to investigate the effect of different levels of obesity on physical capacity in older individuals.
Control of a hexapodal robot

The Dynamical Systems Design department at the Eindhoven University of Eindhoven is actively researching the design and control of robotic systems. Examples are Amigo, the service robot competing in the RoboCup @home league, the mid-size league soccer robots of Tech United and the Tulip which is the humanoid robot competing in the RoboCup humanoid adult league. One of the new research activities is the hexapodal robot, a legged robot which eventually should participate in the RoboCup Middle Size League. Therefore the final goal in the development of the robot should be to make it run. A first prototype is developed that is used as a testbed. The hexapod has 3 degrees-of-freedom per leg where each rotational joint is separately actuated so that the robot has 18 actuators. The torque of the actuator is transmitted to the joint using a torsional spring transmission. The introduced compliance improves the impact safety of the hardware and can decrease energy consumption when correctly exploited. The hexapod is equipped with an inertial measurement unit and each joint and actuator has a position encoder. A software structure is developed to control the motion of the hexapod. The control is developed in open-source software, mainly in Orocos. To control the hexapod the controller is divided in two main functions. The first controls the leg in joint space when it is positioned in the air by using SISO control techniques. The second controls the body by using linear virtual actuators in combination with the joint space controllers. The resulting forces of the virtual actuators determine the torques on the joints using a force distribution algorithm. The results of the overall performance as well as of individual components are presented. Although some improvements can still be made, the robot is able to walk. Using more advanced control techniques like learning could improve the walking speed. Exploiting the compliant dynamics and a redesign of the hardware eventually should result in a running hexapod.
Best of the Web Key Dates

Online museums could benefit from digital "lifelike" characters in order to guide users to virtual tours and to customize the tour information to users' interests. Digital characters have been explored in online museum web sites with different degrees of interaction and modes of communication. Such research, however, does not explore interactive "conversational" characters. The main interest of this research is a tour-guide character that provides tour information through dialogue with the user. This research developed an interactive conversational character that establishes a "character-user" dialogue while guiding the user through the virtual tour. The tour guide character provides tour information and responses to users' textual inputs by speaking through audio output and gesturing accordingly. Moreover, the tour guide character attempts to provide adaptive guidance, to perform engaging storytelling and to promote users' participation through the virtual tour. This paper describes the experiment focusing on the systems implementation, the dialogue creation process and the character's ability to detect users' interests. It further describes and analyzes the system's evaluation. Lessons learned could serve as a base for developers of interactive characters as tour guides. Includes two tables and three figures. (Contains 15 references.) (Author/AEF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Abstract In real museums, visitors may seek the help of a human tour guide in order to guide them through the exhibition and present information tailored to their interests. Accordingly, online museums could also benefit from digital § "life-like" characters in order to guide users to virtual tours and to customize the tour' information to user's interests. Digital characters have been explored in online museum websites with different degrees of interaction and modes of communication (Bertoletti et al. Such researches, however, do not explore interactive "conversational" characters. Our main interest is in a tour-guide character that provides tour information through dialogue with the user. Our research developed an interactive conversational character that establishes a "character-user" dialogue while guiding the user through the virtual tour. The tour-guide character provides tour information and responses to users' textual inputs by speaking through audio output and gesturing accordingly. Moreover, the tour-guide character attempts to provide adaptive guidance, to perform engaging storytelling and to promote user's participation through the virtual tour. In this paper, we describe the experiment focusing on the systems implementation, the dialogue creation process and the character's ability to detect user's interests. We further describe and …
It's All in the Stars: The Chinese Zodiac and the Effects of Parental Investments on Offspring's Cognitive and Noncognitive Skill Development

Parental investments in children's cognitive and noncognitive outcomes are deeply important to policymakers. However, because parental investments are arguably endogenous, estimating their importance empirically poses a challenge. To address this challenge, this paper exploits a rich and novel dataset, the China Family Panel Studies, and proposes a culture‐specific instrumental variable based on the Chinese zodiac. By comparing the outcomes of children born just before and just after the cutoff for a “lucky” (or ‘unlucky’) zodiac sign, we find that parents' investments have significant effects on offspring's development of both cognitive and noncognitive skills.
Change Management Strategies for Safety-Critical Software

Safety-critical embedded systems go through rigorous verification processes before being put into service. Verification is a major source of cost in the development process because of the rigour with which the verification is carried out. Most designs are subject to high levels of change traffic during development. This greatly increases the cost of the development as the complete system may need to be re-verified to full rigour several times before release to service. Thus there is potential benefit in designing to support ease of change, and focused re-verification after change. We briefly consider the current change management approaches, which have mainly targeted object-oriented software, and indicate some of their limitations when applied to safety-critical software. We then set out a number of proposed principles for the design of systems that facilitate change, and assess their effectiveness by discussing changes made to an aerospace system demonstrator. Their impact on more general software development is also considered.
Mobile-Enabled Language Learning Eco-System

This paper provides an overview of a Design-Based Research (DBR) study which resulted in a prototype of the MobileEnabled Language Learning Eco-System (MELLES) and replicable design principles to guide development of practical innovative mobile learning interventions. The MELLES solution was generated to augment in-class practice of ESP skills with learning embedded in real-life dynamic communicative situations. The solution was developed over multiple cycles of design, development, and testing which involved students and practitioners representing all relevant fields. The study and design activities were conducted at a Canadian community college and were guided by the Ecological Constructivist framework which evolved as a result of the initial stages of the project. The DBR methodology and the study outcomes are discussed along with the key features and various interdependent components of the MELLES system. Author