Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Zipf-Like Distribution of Popularity and Hits in the Mobile Web Pages with Short Life Time

The mobile Internet quickly penetrates the society. The mobile clickstream is a valuable resource to identify the personal Web access behaviors. The author makes an empirical study on the mobile clickstream to identify the difference between the mobile information with limited life time and the traditional PC Web information with long life time. The observation shows that the mobile Web access indicates a zipf-like distribution even though the each Web content has a limited life time. The author discusses the implications of this similarity from the viewpoint of the mobile user behavior characteristics
Piecewise-Linear Frequency Shifting Algorithm for Frequency Resolution Enhancement in Digital Hearing Aids

In human hearing, frequency resolution is a term used to determine how well the ear can separate and distinguish two sounds that are close in frequency. This capability of breaking speech sounds into various frequency components plays a key role in processing and understanding speech information. In this paper, a piecewise-linear frequency shifting algorithm for digital hearing aids is proposed. The algorithm specifically aims at improving the frequency resolution capability. In the first step, frequency discrimination thresholds are processed by a computer testing software. Then, the input signal is parsed through the proposed piecewise-linear frequency shifting algorithm, which comprises of linearly stretching and compressing the frequency content at different frequency ranges. Experimental results showed that by using the proposed frequency shifting algorithm, the separation of formant tracks was increased in the stretching region and slightly squeezed in the adjacent compression region. Subjective assessment on six hearing-impaired persons with V-shaped audiograms demonstrated that nearly a 10% improvement of speech discrimination score was achieved for monosyllabic word lists tested in a quiet acoustic setting. In addition, the speech reception threshold was also improved by 2~8 dB when disyllabic word listswere tested in a noisy acoustic scenario.
Iranian EFL Learners’ Preferences of Different Digital Technologies for Language Learning Beyond the Classroom

In recent years, increasing availability of digital technologies and internet connection for the majority of global population has affected almost every aspect of modern life including education and language learning. As a result, the face of language learning is changing both inside and outside the classroom and there is an ever growing need to study various affordances of these new technologies in education and learners’ and teachers’ attitudes towards using them. To this end, the current study investigated Iranian EFL learners’ preferences regarding the use of different digital technologies for language learning beyond the classroom and their beliefs on how these technologies augment their language skills. To collect participants’ data, an online questionnaire was employed and responses from 114 Iranian EFL learners (50 males and 64 females) were obtained through a locally popular social media network. The results of the online survey revealed that participants use various media types and digital technologies for developing their language skills beyond the classroom, and electronic dictionaries, Internet sites, and films are among the highly employed multimedia types. Further statistical analysis (MANOVA) of data also revealed that despite some variation in frequency of use for various technology types among male and female participants, the two groups only have significant differences in using computer games and music. Findings of the study indicate that despite some imposed restrictions on social network and Internet use in Iran, most Iranian EFL learners are actively using them in their language learning beyond the classroom. On implication side, the paper discusses some benefits of using digital technologies for language learning and teaching.
Automatic Slack Matching of Asynchronous Circuits

Performance evaluation and optimization of asynchronous circuits are challenging processes due to the dependencies between highly concurrent events. This paper proposed a methodology for automatic slack matching of QDI circuits utilized in a framework of asynchronous synthesis toolset. Slack matching is the problem of adding pipeline buffers to an asynchronous pipelined design in order to prevent stalls and improve performance. The proposed technique is based on Simulated Annealing method and exploits the advantage of both static and dynamic performance analysis to provide precisely enough results in an acceptable time. The utilized performance model is a Timed Petri Net (TPN) which can extended to support choice places to capture the conditional behavior of the system. We implemented this method in the framework of asynchronous synthesis tool and optimized circuits using this technique during synthesis process. The results demonstrate that this algorithm is computationally feasible for moderately sized models. Experimental results on a large set of ISCAS benchmark indicate that our proposed technique can achieve on average 38% optimization for performance while there is 26% area penalty.
An Evaluation of Thumb Interface for Menu Selection on Mobile Equipment

Touchscreen-based mobile devices are now quite popular. In many real world situations, users like to use their thumbs to interact with mobile devices. Thumb interaction has received attention from many researchers. In this paper, we report an experimental study to find the relationship between thumb input methods and user performance in thumb interaction. Our results suggest that Quick wheel, a kind of gesture mode, allows users to select menus more quickly and correctly. We also suggest that visual feedback should be designed to match the input method.
Refining Recency Search Results with User Click Feedback

Traditional machine-learned ranking systems for web search are often trained to capture stationary relevance of documents to queries, which has limited ability to track non-stationary user intention in a timely manner. In recency search, for instance, the relevance of documents to a query on breaking news often changes significantly over time, requiring effective adaptation to user intention. In this paper, we focus on recency search and study a number of algorithms to improve ranking results by leveraging user click feedback. Our contributions are three-fold. First, we use real search sessions collected in a random exploration bucket for \emph{reliable} offline evaluation of these algorithms, which provides an unbiased comparison across algorithms without online bucket tests. Second, we propose a re-ranking approach to improve search results for recency queries using user clicks. Third, our empirical comparison of a dozen algorithms on real-life search data suggests importance of a few algorithmic choices in these applications, including generalization across different query-document pairs, specialization to popular queries, and real-time adaptation of user clicks.
Extracting the Range of cps from Affine Typing

Increasing degrees of reasoning about programs are being mechanized, and hence more formality is needed. Here we present an instance of this formalization in the form of a precise characterization of the range of the cps transformation using an affine type system. The point is that the range of cps is defined with a type system, that is, in a way quite accessible to tools.
European Conference on Information Systems ( ECIS ) 5-15-2012 UNDERSTANDING THE ADOPTION AND USE OF IT ARTEFACTS : A STRUCTURATIONAL MODEL

Within the Information Systems literature, there has been a call for new theories to investigate IT adoption and IT use. Based on Adaptive Structuration Theory a new model was developed to capture different functionalities, values and meanings provided by IT systems. Using a sample of 183 users of a student IT system, the research model and the hypothesized relationships were tested for the first time. Findings from the study show that the proposed constructs explain a large amount of IT use and might contribute to the understanding of the relevant factors of IT adoption and use in IS research.
Recurrent Kernel Machines: Computing with Infinite Echo State Networks

Echo state networks (ESNs) are large, random recurrent neural networks with a single trained linear readout layer. Despite the untrained nature of the recurrent weights, they are capable of performing universal computations on temporal input data, which makes them interesting for both theoretical research and practical applications. The key to their success lies in the fact that the network computes a broad set of nonlinear, spatiotemporal mappings of the input data, on which linear regression or classification can easily be performed. One could consider the reservoir as a spatiotemporal kernel, in which the mapping to a high-dimensional space is computed explicitly. In this letter, we build on this idea and extend the concept of ESNs to infinite-sized recurrent neural networks, which can be considered recursive kernels that subsequently can be used to create recursive support vector machines. We present the theoretical framework, provide several practical examples of recursive kernels, and apply them to typical temporal tasks.
Adaptive Compressive Sensing of Speech Signals Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition

In this paper, an adaptive compressive sensing of speech signals is presented based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD). According to the different numbers of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) produced by EMD, the speech signals is adaptively compressive sampled in the source and then adaptively reconstructed in the receiver. The three key technologies, that is, empirical mode decomposition, construction of adaptive dictionaries and adaptive reconstruction based on Bregman algorithm are discussed.
Ovarian follicle selection and granulosa cell differentiation1

The reproductive strategy for avian species that produce a sequence (or clutch) of eggs is dependent upon the maintenance of a small cohort of viable, undifferentiated (prehierarchal) follicles. It is from this cohort that a single follicle is selected on an approximate daily basis to initiate rapid growth and final differentiation before ovulation. This review describes a working model in which follicles within this prehierarchal cohort are maintained in an undifferentiated state by inhibitory cell signaling until the time of selection. Ultimately, follicle selection represents a process in which a single undifferentiated follicle per day is predicted to escape such inhibitory mechanisms to begin rapid growth and final maturation before ovulation. Several processes initiated within the granulosa cell layer at selection are dependent upon G protein-coupled receptors signaling via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and several critical processes are described herein. Finally, reference is made to several practical outcomes that can result from understanding the process of selection, including applications within the poultry industry. Proximal factors and processes that mediate follicle selection can either extend or decrease the length of the laying sequence, and thus directly influence overall egg production. In particular, any aberration that results in the selection of more than one follicle per day will result in decreased egg production. More generally, in wild birds these processes are modified by prevailing environmental conditions and by social interactions to influence clutch size. The elucidation of cellular processes that regulate follicle selection can assist in the development of assisted reproductive technologies for application in threatened and endangered avian species.
Systematic Analysis of Public Cloud Service Level Agreements and Related Business Values

Cloud computing offers lots of attractive benefits to individuals and organizations. However, the adoption rate is a far cry from what it really deserves. Lack of well defined Service Level Agreement (SLA) is one of the key factors. This research aims to provide better understanding of the status quo of the current public cloud service level agreements and to recommend best practices. We conducted a content analysis on around thirty SLAs to identify commonly stated attributes and commonly missing attributes. A follow up case study interviewed a selection of cloud customers further investigates the importance of SLA attributes and its relationship with potential business. The result reveals that some of the commonly missed attributes such as customer support, data protection plan are considered as very important attributes and most SLA attributes are directly related with business values.
A year of microseisms in southern California

Microseisms are due to continuous harmonic forcing by ocean waves, whose sources vary in time, frequency, and azimuth. Using frequency‐domain array beamforming, this variation is studied using one‐year of continuous seismic data from 155 stations in southern California. Detailed analysis of data delineates spatiotemporal variations of sources for the primary and secondary microseisms. Both types of microseisms are generated near the coasts but the locations of excitation are different and change with season. Often sources are multiply located but can be spread out over wider areas, especially in the case of secondary microseisms. Distant storms can also be seen occasionally in the frequency range between the primary and secondary microseisms where spectral amplitudes from nearby sources are low.
Scholarship@Western Scholarship@Western An in vitro study comparing limited to full cementation of An in vitro study comparing limited to full cementation of polyethylene glenoid components polyethylene glenoid components

Background: Glenoid component survival is critical to good long-term outcomes in total shoulder arthroplasty. Optimizing the fixation environment is paramount. The purpose of this study was to compare two glenoid cementing techniques for fixation in total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: Sixteen cadaveric specimens were randomized to receive peg-only cementation (CPEG) or full back-side cementation (CBACK). Physiological cyclic loading was performed and implant displacement was recorded using an optical tracking system. The cement mantle was examined with micro-computed tomography before and after cyclic loading. Results: Significantly greater implant displacement away from the inferior portion of the glenoid was observed in the peg cementation group when compared to the fully cemented group during the physiological loading. The displacement was greatest at the beginning of the loading protocol and persisted at a diminished rate during the remainder of the loading protocol. Micro-CT scanning demonstrated that the cement mantle remained intact in both groups and that three specimens in the CBACK group demonstrated microfracturing in one area only. Discussion: Displacement of the CPEG implants away from the inferior subchondral bone may represent a suboptimal condition for long-term implant survival. Cement around the back of the implant is suggested to improve initial stability of all polyethylene glenoid implants. Clinical relevance: Full cementation provides greater implant stability when compared to limited cementation techniques for insertion of glenoid implants. Loading characteristics are more favorable when cement is placed along the entire back of the implant contacting the subchondral bone.
Specification of Replication Techniques, Semi-Passive Replication, and Lazy consensus*

This paper brings the following three main contributions: a hierarchy of specifications for replication techniques, semi-passive replication, and Lazy Consensus. Based on the definition of the Generic Replication problem, we difine two families of replication techniques: replication with parsimonious processing (e.g., passive replication), and replication with redundant processing (e.g., active replication). This helps relate replication techniques to each other. We define a novel replication technique with parsimonious processing, called semi-passive replication, for which we also give an algorithm. The most significant aspect of semi-passive replication is that it requires a weaker system model than existing techniques of the same family. We difine a variant of the Consensus problem, called Lazy Consensus, upon which our semi-passive replication algorithm is based. The main difference between Consensus and Lazy Consensus is a property of laziness which requires that initial values are computed only when they are actually needed.
A double total variation regularized model of Retinex theory based on nonlocal differential operators

Image characteristics, such as texture, edge, smoothness, can be much better preserved by using nonlocal differential operators based on patch-distances in image processing. In this paper, we apply with nonlocal differential operators to some existing variation models of Retinex, such as the nonlocal variation model of Retinex (NL_VR); the nonlocal TV regularized model (NL_TV_R) and the nonlocal total variation regularized model with constraints (NL_TV_C). And then we improve and establish a double total variation regularized model of Retinex theory (DTV) and the nonlocal double total regularized model (NL_DTV), which could handles better edges in the illumination. Experiments show that our proposed method and Split Bregman algorithm presented in this paper have higher computational efficiency and accuracy.
Software Reliability Assessment of High Volume Web Systems

Software reliability is crucial for high volume Web based systems, where outages can result in loss of revenue and dissatisfied customers. Here we advocate a simple, but elegant approach based on construction of a Customer Behavior Model Graph to capture the dynamics involved in user behavior, and use Markov Chain modeling to determine the failures for software reliability computation. Here the software reliability is a function of software code level failures, incorrect user navigation and violations with respect to Quality of Service (QoS) such as the required response times. The results obtained from the assessment can help us to systematically identify the failure points in Web systems and makes the evaluation of reliability of these systems easy. Key-Words: Customer Behavior Model Graph (CBMG), Operational profile, Quality of Service (QoS)
Analytic difference rings

Generalizing and synthesizing earlier work on the model theory of valued difference fields and on the model theory of valued fields with analytic structure, we prove Ax–Kochen– Eršov style relative completeness and relative quantifier elimination theorems for a theory of valuation rings with analytic and difference structure. Specializing our results to the case of W [F p ], the ring of Witt vectors of the algebraic closure of the field with p elements, given together with the relative Frobenius and the Tate algebras as analytic structure, we develop a model theoretic account of Buium’s p-differential functions. In so doing, we derive a uniform p-adic version of the Manin–Mumford conjecture. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000). Primary 03C10, 03C60, 12J10; Secondary 11D45, 11G10, 12H10, 13K05.
Patient Experience in Safety-Net Hospitals Implications for Improving Care and Value-Based Purchasing

Methods: Our sample consisted of 3096 US hospitals. We defined safety-net hospitals as those hospitals in the highest quartile of the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) index, and we used national data on patient experience from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey in 2007 and 2010 to examine overall hospital performance and improvement over time.
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the disease specific questionnaire OQLQ in Serbian patients with malocclusions

Abstract Introduction Dentofacial disorders may potentially significantly affect the quality of life. Objectives of this study were to validate translated and culturally adapted Orthognatic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) on a cohort of Serbian patients with malocclusions. Methods The questionnaire was validated in 111 consecutive patients with malocclusions, seen between December 2014 and February 2015 at the Clinic of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. Clinical validity was assessed comparing the mean scores for the four subscales of the OQLQ and mean PAR pre-treatment score. In order to assess whether the allocation of items in the subscales corresponds to their distribution in the original questionnaire, an exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis with varimax rotation) was conducted. Results The results of the internal consistency analysis demonstrated good relationships between the items; Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the four subscales were highly significant (p<0.001) (0.88-0.91). All items were significantly correlated between baseline and the retest (6 weeks after). The correlations between the PAR and all four domains of the OQLQ were all significant (p<0.01). The loading weights obtained in the exploratory factor analysis showed that this model revealed four factors with eigenvalue greater than 1, explaining the 64.0% of the cumulative variance. The majority of the items (86.4%) in the Serbian version of the OQLQ presented the highest loading weight in the subscales assigned by the OQLQ developer. Conclusions The psychometric properties of the OQLQ (Serbian version) have exceptional internal consistency and reproducibility as an instrument for evaluation of dental malocclusions. Additionally, this questionnaire may be useful as a supplementary outcome measure in persons with malocclusions.
To treat or not to treat: Considerations for referring prospective clients.

In this article we present several issues that therapists should address in evaluating whether or not to accept prospective clients into treatment. These issues are formulated in terms of questions pertaining to the client's need for psychotherapy, the therapist's relationship with the person outside of therapy, the therapist's competence to treat the client, the therapist's personal reaction to the client, the therapist's emotional comfort in treating the client, the client's feelings about the therapist, and the client's ability to afford treatment. Suggestions are offered for addressing each of these issues.