Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finding a Pure Nash Equilibrium for the Scheduling of Multi-Projects via Non-Cooperative Agents

We model a scheduling of multi-projects via intelligent agents, each one of which makes a project. Some tasks in this system can be done in parallel. We also consider that some tasks need common resources available to all multi-agent systems. The agents are non-cooperative, and they compete with the others for the common resources. We analyze the global joint interaction using a network congestion game and seek to arrive at stable assignments of the scheduling of the tasks. For this class of congestion network, the stable assignments of the scheduling are modeled as Pure Nash equilibrium, and we show in this case, there is a guarantee that we shall obtain a pure Nash equilibrium via local search algorithms.
Impaired Interparental Relationships in Families of Children with ADHD: A Meta-Analysis

Research on ADHD in children and adolescents has traditionally focused most on the genetic and neurobiological aspects of the disorder, but the role of family relationships has been much less systematically examined. There is growing evidence that the quality of interparental relationships and children’s ADHD symptoms are reciprocally related. Because former findings appear to be inconsistent, this meta-analysis aims at summarizing previous research in order to assess whether there are robust differences in the quality of interparental relationships between parents of children with ADHD and parents of healthy children. This meta-analysis of 15 studies with 43 effect sizes revealed a small, but significant difference (d = .24) and indicated that parents of a child with ADHD report poorer relationship quality than parents of healthy children. This effect was moderated by the child’s age and did not depend on whether the child had a comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder.
MPEG-Pro, an authoring system for MPEG-4

Bringing much new functionality, MPEG-4 is expected to be the future standard for multimedia applications. However, these numerous capabilities imply a complex authoring process, requiring many different competencies from audio/visual/BIFS encoding to the different delivery scenarios: local access on CD/DVD-ROM, Internet or broadcast. From multimedia history, we can see that however powerful the technologies underlying multimedia computing, it is the authoring suite(s) that determines the success of these systems. From this assumption, our solution for an MPEG-4 authoring system has focused mainly on two aspects: provide a powerful interface for an MPEG-4 author and define an open and modular architecture able to progress with MPEG-4 versions and easily extensible with better and higher-level authoring features.
Petri Net Reduction

The concept of Petri nets has its origin in Carl Adam Petri's dissertation Kommunikation mit Automaten, submitted in 1962 to the faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the Technische Universitat Darmstadt, Germany. Petri nets are a modeling tool designed to reveal information about the structure and dynamics of the modeled system. Petri nets are used for describing and studying information processing systems that are characterized as being concurrent, asynchronous, distributed, parallel, nondeterministic and/or stochastic. They are a graphical and mathematical tool intended to simplify the analysis of a given system.
Trait-based approaches to zooplankton communities

Author(s): Litchman, E; Ohman, MD; Kiorboe, T | Abstract: Zooplankton are major primary consumers and predators in most aquatic ecosystems. They exhibit tremendous diversity of traits, ecological strategies and, consequently, impacts on other trophic levels and the cycling of materials and energy. An adequate representation of this diversity in community and ecosystem models is necessary to generate realistic predictions on the functioning of aquatic ecosystems but remains extremely challenging. We propose that the use of trait-based approaches is a promising way to reduce complexity while retaining realism in developing novel descriptions of zooplankton in ecosystem models. Characterizing zooplankton traits and trade-offs will also be helpful in understanding the selection pressures and diversity patterns that emerge in different ecosystems along major environmental gradients. Zooplankton traits can be characterized according to their function and type. Some traits, such as body size and motility, transcend several functions and are major determinants of zooplankton ecological strategies. Future developments of trait-based approaches to zooplankton should assemble a comprehensive matrix of key traits for diverse groups and explore it for general patterns; develop novel predictive models that explicitly incorporate traits and associated trade-offs; and utilize these traits to explain and predict zooplankton community structure and dynamics under different environmental conditions, including global change scenarios. © 2013 The Author.
Supporting traceability and inconsistency management between software artifacts

Software artefacts at different levels of abstraction are closely inter-related. Developers require support for managing these inter-relationships as artefacts evolve during development. We describe a conceptual architecture and prototype for supporting traceability and inconsistency management between software requirements descriptions, UML-style use case models and black-box test plans. Key information models are extracted from each of these different kinds of software artefacts and elements in different models are implicitly or explicitly linked. Changes to one software artefact are detected and propagated to related artefacts in different information models and inform developers of change impacts.
Engineering of Helicobacter pylori L-Asparaginase: Characterization of Two Functionally Distinct Groups of Mutants

Bacterial L-asparaginases have been used as anti-cancer drugs for over 4 decades though presenting, along with their therapeutic efficacy, several side effects due to their bacterial origin and, seemingly, to their secondary glutaminase activity. Helicobacter pylori type II L-asparaginase possesses interesting features, among which a reduced catalytic efficiency for L-GLN, compared to the drugs presently used in therapy. In the present study, we describe some enzyme variants with catalytic and in vitro cytotoxic activities different from the wild type enzyme. Particularly, replacements on catalytic threonines (T16D and T95E) deplete the enzyme of both its catalytic activities, once more underlining the essential role of such residues. One serendipitous mutant, M121C/T169M, had a preserved efficiency vs L-asparagine but was completely unable to carry out L-glutamine hydrolysis. Interestingly, this variant did not exert any cytotoxic effect on HL-60 cells. The M121C and T169M single mutants had reduced catalytic activities (nearly 2.5- to 4-fold vs wild type enzyme, respectively). Mutant Q63E, endowed with a similar catalytic efficiency versus asparagine and halved glutaminase efficiency with respect to the wild type enzyme, was able to exert a cytotoxic effect comparable to, or higher than, the one of the wild type enzyme when similar asparaginase units were used. These findings may be relevant to determine the role of glutaminase activity of L-asparaginase in the anti-proliferative effect of the drug and to shed light on how to engineer the best asparaginase/glutaminase combination for an ever improved, patients-tailored therapy.
The Faint End of the QSO Luminosity Function at z = 3

We present the first measurement of the faint end of the QSO luminosity function at z = 3. The QSOs, which range from M1450 = -21 to M1450 = -27, were discovered in 17 fields totaling 0.43 deg 2 using multicolor selection criteria (the Lyman break technique) and spectroscopic follow-up. We find that the faint-end slope of the luminosity function is βl = 1.24 ± 0.07 (Φ ∝ L), flatter than the value of βl = 1.64 ± 0.18 measured at lower redshift. The integrated rest 1450 Å UV luminosity of z = 3 QSOs is only 50% of most previous estimates and only ≃8% of that produced by Lyman break galaxies at the same redshifts. Assuming that ionizing photons from faint QSOs are as successful in escaping their host galaxies as bright QSOs, we estimate the total contribution of QSOs to the ionizing flux J912 at z ~ 3, J912 ≃ 2.4 × 10-22 ergs s-1 cm-2 Hz-1. This estimate, which we regard as an upper limit, remains consistent with rough estimates of J912 based on the Lyα forest "proximity effect. "
Phase diagram of microtubules.

We map the phase diagram of microtubules as a function of temperature and tubulin concentration. We observe spontaneous and site-nucleated microtubule assembly. At temperatures and concentrations below the onset of spontaneous nucleation, we measure the steady-state proportion of occupied nucleation sites and the distribution of lengths of site-nucleated microtubules. Our observations reveal a transition in the length dynamics of microtubules from bounded to unbounded growth. This transition is also evident in the length dynamics of individual site-nucleated microtubules. The transition to spontaneous microtubule assembly completes the phase diagram. We measure the temperature and concentration dependence of the latent time for spontaneous nucleation of microtubules in the bulk.
Sudden noise reduction based on GMM with noise power estimation

This paper describes a method for reducing sudden noise using noise detection and classification methods, and noise power estimation. Sudden noise detection and classification have been dealt with in our previous study. In this paper, GMM-based noise reduction is performed using the detection and classification results. As a result of classification, we can determine the kind of noise we are dealing with, but the power is unknown. In this paper, this problem is solved by combining an estimation of noise power with the noise reduction method. In our experiments, the proposed method achieved good performance for recognition of utterances overlapped by sudden noises.
Strategy proofness and Pareto efficiency in quasilinear exchange economies

In this paper, we revisit a long-standing question on the structure of strategy-proof and Pareto-efficient social choice functions (SCFs) in classical exchange economies (Hurwicz (1972)). Using techniques developed by Myerson in the context of auction-design, we show that in a specific quasi-linear domain, every Pareto-efficient and strategy-proof SCF satisfying non-bossiness and a mild continuity property is dictatorial. The result holds for an arbitrary number of agents but the two-person version does not require either the non-bossiness or continuity assumptions. It also follows that the dictatorship conclusion holds on any superset of this domain. We also provide a minimum consumption guarantee result in the spirit of Serizawa and Weymark (2003).
A Guide for On-Chip Inductor Design in a Conventional CMOS Process for RF Applications By

This article gives a simple set of rules for the design of integrated inductors with a good quality factor in a standard CMOS process. This guide takes into account almost all the degrees of freedom that a designer has when creating an inductor: the number of sides, the number of metal layers, the center hole, the external radius, metal width and spacing. To verify these rules, a set of inductors for different applications were patterned and measured and quality factors (Q) between 4.6 and 6 were obtained. A 3.8 nH inductor with a Q of 6.1 was manufactured and used in the design of a VCO for a 1.8 GHz application. The design served to test the performance of the VCO and also demonstrated the applicability of the inductors. The measured device phase noise equals –87 dBc per hertz at an offset frequency of 100 kHz.
D ec 2 00 0 NON-BOLTZMANN EQUILIBRIUM PROBABILITY DENSITIES FOR NON-LINEAR LÉVY OSCILLATOR

We study, both analytically and by numerical modeling the equilibrium probability density function for an non-linear Lévy oscillator with the Lévy index α, 1 ≤ α ≤ 2, and the potential energy x 4. In particular, we show that the equilibrium PDF is bimodal and has power law asymptotics with the exponent −(α + 3). 1 Starting equations Recently, kinetic equations with fractional derivatives have attracted attention as a possible tool for the description of anomalous diffusion and relaxation phenomena, see, e.g., recent review [1], semi-review papers [2],[3],[4] and references on earlier studies therein. It was also recognized [5], [6] that the fractional kinetic equations may be viewed as " hydrodynamic " (that is, long-time and long-space) limits of the CTRW (Continuous Time Random Walk) scheme [7], which was successfully applied to the description of anomalous diffusion phenomena in many areas, e.g., turbulence [8], disordered medium [9], intermittent chaotic systems [10], etc. However, the kinetic equations have two advantages over a random walk approach: firstly, they allows one to explore various boundary conditions (e.g., reflecting and/or absorbing) and, secondly, to study diffusion and/or relaxation phenomena in external fields, both possibilities are difficult to realize in the framework of CTRW (we point, however, to the paper [11], in which a fractional kinetic equation was obtained from generalized CTRW). Fractional kinetic equations can be divided into three classes: the first one, describing Markovian processes, contains equations with fractional space or velocity derivatives and the first time derivative, the second one, describing non-Markovian processes, contains equations with fractional time derivative, and the third class, naturally, contains both fractional space and time derivatives, as well. In this paper we deal with a one-dimensional kinetic equation belonging to the first class, namely, with the Fractional Symmetric Einstein-Smoluchowski Equation (FSESE), which, from one hand, is a natural generalization of the diffusion-like equation with the symmetric fractional space derivative [3],[12] and, from the other hand, is a Markovian generalization of the Einstein-Smoluchowski kinetic equation, which describes a motion of a particle subjected to a white Gaussian noise in a strong friction limit, see, e.g., [13]. From this point of view, the FSESE describes a motion of a particle subjected to a white Lévy noise, also in a strong friction limit [14]. In dimensionless units the one-dimensional FSESE has the form ∂f ∂t = − ∂ ∂x (F f) + ∂ α f ∂ |x| α , t …
Towards Programmable Packet Scheduling

Packet scheduling in switches is not programmable; operators only choose among a handful of scheduling algorithms implemented by the manufacturer. In contrast, other switch functions such as packet parsing and header processing are becoming programmable [10, 3, 6]. This paper presents a programmable packet scheduler that allows operators to program a variety of scheduling algorithms. Our design exploits the insight that any scheduling algorithm can be deconstructed into two decisions: in what order packets depart and when they depart. The algorithms only differ in how the order and departure times are computed. We show how these decisions map to two well-understood abstractions: priority and calendar queues [11]. Priority and calendar queues can then be composed together to realize a broad range of sophisticated scheduling algorithms. Further, both abstractions can be realized using the same mechanism: a programmable push-in first-out queue (PIFO) that allows a packet to push itself into an arbitrary location in a queue by programming a packet field. A PIFO is feasible in hardware. Preliminary synthesis indicates that an unoptimized hardware design meets timing at 1 GHz on a 16 nm technology node and occupies only 5% additional die area relative to existing merchant-silicon switching chips.
Lung Nodule Segmentation Using EM Algorithm

Lung disease is often performed as nodules. Pulmonary nodule is one of important symbols of lung disease. Characteristics of pulmonary nodules always indicate the nature of lung disease. Detection of pulmonary nodules has great significance in diagnosing lung cancer. Study of pulmonary nodules is now a hot research. CT is a new type of medical imaging equipment with a high density resolution and adequate image information. But to detect small pulmonary nodes, radiologists need to read a lot of images. It could easily lead to misdiagnosis and miss-diagnosis. This paper uses EM algorithm in CT images for the lung nodule detection and segmentation. The application shows that the method of this paper is to improve the early detection rate of lung cancer nodules and one of the effective methods using computer-aided analysis of lung nodules. The algorithm used is simple, effective and practical.
Predicting Individual Response with Aggregate Data : A Conditional Means Approach

Researchers often predict individual behavior using a combination of individual and aggregate variables (e.g., zip code means). We show that in a linear model coefficients associated with individual variables will be inconsistently estimated if those variables are correlated with the underlying individual variables summarized to obtain the aggregate group means. Consistent estimates can be obtained if the group means are conditioned on observed individual variables. We introduce an approach to infer group level joint distributions to obtain such conditional estimates. The approach is illustrated in an application predicting the profitability of a bank’s customers.
Levels, Trends and Disparities in Public-Health-Related Indicators among Reproductive-Age Women in Bangladesh by Urban-Rural and Richest-Poorest Groups, 1993-2011

Background And Objectives Although Bangladesh has already achieved noticeable progress in the field of development and health, disparities in public health indicators for several markers are still reported. To assess public health development in Bangladesh during the last two decades, firstly, we analysed levels, trends and disparities in public-health-related indicators by rural versus urban as well as by the richest versus poorest group of women who have ever been married. Secondly, using the most recent data set we performed multiple analyses to check whether urban-rural and richest-poorest disparities were still significant. Methods The analysis was based on six nationally representative data sets from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) conducted in 1993-94 (n=9,640), 1996-1997 (n=9,127), 1999-2000 (n=10,544), 2004 (n=11,440), 2007 (n=10,996) and 2011 (n=17,749). The outcome variables were six selected public-health-related indicators. We performed various types of analyses, including multiple logistic regressions. Results The trend of all indicators except being overweight (1993-2011) displayed gradual improvements for both markers. However, the urban and richest groups revealed a better situation than their counterparts in both simple and multiple analyses. Disparities between richest-poorest groups were more pronounced than urban-rural disparities. For instance, the prevalence of delivery at any healthcare facility in 2011 was 20.4% in rural areas and 46.5% in urban areas, whereas it was 9.1% in the poorest group and 57.6% in the richest group. Conclusion The public health sector in Bangladesh has achieved some successes over the last two decades. However, urban-rural and richest-poorest disparities are still considerable and therefore more public health strategies and efforts are clearly needed for the rural and poorest groups of women in order to reduce these gaps further.
Using Storytelling to record requirements: Elements for an effective requirements elicitation approach

Existing requirements elicitation approaches have proven insufficient to record complete, consistent, and correct requirements. Studies conducted have shown that 40% of defects in software projects are due to incorrect recorded requirements. Therefore, some innovative approaches have been developed to deal with the lack of addressing the above-mentioned issues including video-based methods. Recent approaches using Storytelling to elicit requirements started to emerge in the field of requirement engineering. However, few experiences have been conducted to investigate which elements of the Storytelling technique are needed to conduct elicitation activities, and how effective Storytelling is in supporting, improving, and complementing existing techniques for the requirements elicitation phase. In this paper, we report on an experiment involving twenty-five domain experts from various industrial companies to collect requirements using a Storytelling technique for a particular ticket machine case. In particular, we investigate the effectiveness of using a Storytelling technique compared to a traditional brainstorming technique. We then sketch out the experimental design of the case study; outline various observations, results, and finally we lay out important findings about telling stories in the context of collecting requirements.
Should I stay or Should I Go: the Role of Referrals on Online Community Member turnover and Tenure

Communities are often faced with challenges associated with attracting and maintaining a membership base, which affects their ability to develop a pool of resources and ultimately impacts their sustainability. A potential resolution to this challenge lies in the members of the community referring non-members to the community – member referrals. While community joining has been acknowledged as important stage in the life cycle of community members; however, the way in which a member becomes aware of a community and its resulting influence on their engagement with the community has not been examined. This research-in-progress paper outlines the examination of the role of referrals on member turnover and tenure. Drawing upon theories of referrals from organizational behavior and marketing, the paper theorizes that referrals have the potential to facilitate the awareness of, and interest in, a community, which ultimately influences new members to return to, and stay, in a community.
Search Lessons Learned from Crossword Puzzles Search Lessons Learned from Crossword Puzzles

The construction of a program that generates crossword puzzles is discussed. The aim of this research is to draw conclusions that apply to conjunctive search generally, and the experimental results obtained in the crossword-puzzle domain lead us to the following: (1) Lookahead is extremely important when solving conjunctive queries, (2) Compile-time control of search is far less eeective than its run-time counterpart, and (3) Connectivity is best used as a backtracking heuristic and not as a heuristic that determines which of a particular set of conjuncts should be expanded next.
2 5 Ju l 2 00 9 Magnetic Nanoparticle Assemblies

This chapter provides an introduction to the fundamental physical ideas and models relevant to the phenomenon of magnetic hysteresis in nanoparticle assemblies. The concepts of single-domain particles and superparamagnetism are discussed. The mechanisms of magnetization by coherent rotation and the role of temperature in the gradual decay of magnetization are analyzed in the framework of simple analytical models. Modern numerical techniques (Monte Carlo simulations, Magnetization Dynamics) used to study dense nanoparticle assemblies are presented. An overview of the most common experimental techniques used to measure the magnetic hysteresis effect in nanoparticle assemblies are presented and the underlying principles are exposed.
Temporal Data Mining for the Discovery and Analysis of Ocean Climate Indices

* This work was partially supported by NASA grant # NCC 2 1231, NSF grant Number EIA 9818338, and by Army High Performance Computing Research Center cooperative agreement number DAAD19-01-2-0014. The content of this work does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the government and no official endorsement should be inferred. Access to computing facilities was provided by the AHPCRC and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. ABSTRACT