Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Ant Algorithm for the Sudoku Problem

In this paper an ant algorithm for the Sudoku problem is presented. This is the first ant algorithm enabling discovery of an optimal solution to the Sudoku puzzle for 100% of investigated cases. The Sudoku is a one of many combinatorial optimisation problems, as well as an NPcomplete problem, hence an ant algorithm which constructs an optimal solution as a meta-heuristic method is important for this problem.
Energy Efficient Scheduling Using Simulated Annealing Algorithm for Multi-Core Processors

The role of multi-core processors in recently developed real-time systems is gaining importance because of its energy and thermal conditions. The major development requirements and objectives to be met while designing multi-core processors are: low heat dissipation, low energy consumption and long battery life, which also helps to reduce the system costs. This paper is presented with an aim to achieve a better system performance in a multi-core processor platform by adjusting the trade-off between system performance and power dissipation. Dynamic Power Management (DPM) and Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS) are the two run-time techniques used to adjust the trade-off between the system performance and power dissipation. Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm is implemented in order to find a good approximation to the global optimum. The idea behind Simulated Annealing algorithm is to iteratively improve the solution by investigating the neighbour solutions.
Drilling Down and Building Up

If you drill down far enough into any phenomenon, eventually you get to physics. Unless you hold that some phenomena lie outside nature, you pretty much have to accept that. It is the building back up, inferring the whole from its parts, that is terribly difficult and that many will say is impossible, at least across certain boundaries. Start with Milton and ifyou dig down you get to Milton's brain. Drill into it and you get to what Hofstadter (1985) described as "billions of in-themselves-meaningless neural firings" (p. 649). Below that you get to Milton's DNA, and so on down. What is the prospect of building up from these lower levels to anything like an explanation of Paradise Lost? Do we not have to start a new page, taking the neural substrate as given and not very informative, recording instead the events and circumstances of Milton's life and whatever we can infer about his thoughts, beliefs, and feelings? No, say Dennett and Wilson in the monumental works under review. Both, in different ways, are about continuity across levels. Wilson says it in his title: Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge. The closest synonym for consilience, ac-
The Impact of Using Youtube in EFL Classroom on Enhancing EFL Students' Content Learning.

Information technology has opened up prospects for rich and innovative approaches to tackle educational issues and provide solutions to the increasing demands for learning resources. YouTube, a video-sharing website that allows users to upload, view, and share video clips, offers access to new and dynamic opportunities for effective and non-traditional patterns of teaching and learning. In Saudi Arabia, this technology has not been exploited much for educational purposes. The present study aims at experimenting the impact of integrating YouTube technology into English as a foreign language (EFL) instruction on enhancing EFL college students’ learning of the content of the course: “Observation in Schools 2”. This course is one of five courses taught in the program “Elementary School Teacher of English” which aims at developing certain observation skills for effective teaching in elementary school. Such skills could include using particular frames or lenses to gain insight about the classroom and teaching and learning, and developing methods of observing and recording. For the purpose of the study, a quasi experimental design was adopted. Based on such design, two groups of second year college students at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the Faculty of Education at Princess Noura University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were randomly assigned to the experimental and the control groups of the study. There were forty- five students in the control group and fifty-one in the experimental group. A pre-posttest covering the theoretical background of the course "Observation in School 2" was developed to be administered to all subjects of the sample before and after the experiment. Subjects of the experimental group were instructed the theoretical background of the course through the use of YouTube videos about observing the classroom, combined with discussion and power point presentation. Students of the control group were taught the same content through the usual lecture-based method. Instruction was provided to both groups by the researcher and took place throughout the second term of the academic year in 2011 for a period of 6 weeks, 2 hours per week. Statistical procedures were applied on the data obtained using a t-test, and major findings yielded results favourable to the use of the YouTube technology. The study shows positive gains for the experimental group students’ outcomes as a result of the integration of video technology in instruction. Thus, it was recommended that YouTube should be considered as an effective instructional tool for enhancing content learning of EFL college students and as an important teaching resource in classrooms.
Étude de mesures de qualité de préhensions sur le mannequin virtuel du logiciel de simulation Delmia de Dassault Systèmes

Delmia est un logiciel d’une filiale de Dassault Systeme permettant de tester l’ergonomie de systemes industriels a l’aide d’un mannequin virtuel. Afin d’automatiser le placement du mannequin virtuel dans son environnement, plusieurs projets ont ete definis. Parmi eux, l’etude de mesures de qualite de prehensions, decrite dans ce memoire, a cherche a definir un classement des prehensions comparable a celui qu’une personne aurait retenu pour maintenir un objet de maniere stable. Deux mesures de qualite ont ete testees : une mesurant la stabilite de la prehension, l’autre la capacite de la prehension a utiliser l’objet. Pour les tests, cinq objets couramment utilizes dans l’industrie ont ete selectionnes. Dans un premier temps, une etude sur la variation des indices en fonction des prehensions a ete menee. Dans un second temps, l’influence de certains parametres sur les mesures a ete analysee: le coefficient de friction aux points de contact, les forces maximales par phalanges et la position du centre de masse de l’objet. Les resultats obtenus sont encourageants pour de futures utilisations de ces deux mesures dans le but de qualifier la qualite de prehensions humaines.
Information technology for dynamic microsensor networks

Dynamic microsensor networks offer methods of supplying critical data and information to C4ISR and other critical intelligence-gathering needs. Microsensor networks are dynamic in terms of their internal operation as well as in their ability to operate in changing external circumstances. Key elements of dynamic microsensor networks include diffusion routing, collaborative and corroborative signal processing, high level querying of distributed databases, and tasking of sensors.
Audiovisual Integration of Reduced Information Speech Stimuli

Every day, without knowing it, we are using more than one sense to perceive speech. Speech perception is a combined effort using not only auditory cues, but visual cues as well. This has been observed in situations where one of the cues is impaired, leading to a reliance on the other cue to fill in the missing pieces. An example of this would be a noisy environment where the auditory cue is difficult to interpret, and as a result, the individual will start to depend on his or her ability to interpret the visual cue. It has been found, however, that even when the auditory signal remains intact, individuals will still use their visual cues and fuse the two responses together. This is shown in the McGurk Effect, in which listeners were presented with an auditory stimulus of “ba” and a visual stimulus of “ga,” with the result that most listeners perceived “da,” a fusion of the two places of articulation.
A random early discard framework for congestion control in ATM networks

To enhance performance characteristics of data transport over ATM-UBR service class, additional mechanisms, such as congestion control and buffer management, are required. In this paper, we investigate active queue management mechanisms that are designed to enable ATM switches to operate in the low delay/high throughput regime. In particular, we present an analytical framework for random early detection (RED)-like congestion control mechanisms in an ATM multiplexer, and obtain closed form expressions for performance metrics such as throughput and average queueing delays. Based on this analysis, we propose an adaptive mechanism to select the parameters of the congestion control algorithm to optimize the system performance.
Access Control in New Network Environment

Access control is an important technology for system security, and its mechanism is different for different networks. This paper first introduces the characteristics and applications of three traditional access control policies which are DAC (discretionary access control), MAC (mandatory access control) and RBAC (role-based access control), introduces the UCON (usage control) model, and then analyzes access control technology and current researches in Grid, P2P and wireless environment respectively. In addition, this paper proposes that trustworthy networks as the developing goal of the next generation Internet require using trust-based the access control model to assure security. This paper investigates on the trust and reputation model in detail, and finally gives the prospects of access control.
Perceptual coding of digital images

In this paper, a review of perceptual image coding technology is presented. Perceptual image coding methods attempt to exploit the perceptual redundancy existed in the raw images for coding gains. The paper includes three parts. Firstly the basis of the human visual system and the corresponding visual modeling techniques are reviewed. Then methods to incorporate visual models into digital image coding are discussed and as a case study, a perceptual image coding algorithm (Tan et al., 2004) is discussed in more detail. Finally some future research directions are pointed out to conclude the paper.
A prototype of vision based driver assistance system

This paper presents theoretical basis and application of image analysis for propose of a vision-based driver assistance system that helps to drive and increase driving safety. Using a video stream from a camera observing at the road, a computer program generates approximated road geometry. Then the program uses algorithms to estimate road shape, road width and car position on the road. The image analysis also enhances evaluation of distance from the preceding car. The computer program could also generate graphical and sound alerts to warn the driver of too high speed of approaching the preceding car, too small distance to the left or right road edge and about road curvature ahead.
Analysis of partial parallel interference cancellation in DS-CDMA system with timing errors

We study partial parallel interference cancellation in a DS-CDMA system with timing errors. We show that by multiplying symbol estimates by a factor less than unity in early stages of cancellation, the performance of parallel cancellation can be improved relative to full ("brute force") cancellation. BER performance is a function of the factor and the "best factor" can be far less than one. In practical systems, timing errors need to be considered. This paper considers the effect of timing errors on the selection of "best factor". We show that due to the timing error the interference cancellation is less reliable and a smaller factor of cancellation need be employed.
Neural networks applications for multimedia processing

Adaptive neural networks (NN) technologies present a unified solution to a broad spectrum of multimedia applications. In this paper we pointed out that current research frontier of multimedia signal processing is shifting from coding (MPEG-1,2,4) to automatic recognition (MPEG-7). Its research domain will cover techniques for object-based representation/coding, segmentation/tracking, pattern detection/recognition, multimodal signals fusion/conversion/synchronization, as well as content-based indexing and subject-based retrieval/browsing. Also, we reported successfully applications of NN for compression, denoising, contrast enhancement, snakes model segmentation/visualization, audio-to-video conversion and content-based processing/indexing/retrieval.
Enhanced Smoothing Algorithm Using GOP Unit

Smoothing is a transmission plan where variable rate video data is converted to a constant bit rate stream. These smoothing algorithms include CBA, MCBA, MVBA, PCRTT and others. But, these algorithms build a transmission plan per frame unit. So, these algorithms cause frame burst or GOP burst. In order to improve it, MVBAG algorithm build a transmission plan per GOP. But this algorithm may not guarantee QoS when frame`s size is abruptly larger or smaller than the computed transmission rate. In this paper, a smoothing algorithm is proposed to enhance MVBAG algorithm`s problem. In order to show the proposed algorithm`s performance, the proposed algorithm is compared with MVBAG algorithm using various evaluation factors such as number of frames that do not meet the QoS, average transmission rate variability per frame, average transmission rate variability per GOP. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms MVBAG algorithm in number of frames that do not meet the QoS.
ICI reduction technique by split OFDM

In this paper, a novel ICI reduction technique, with the combination of RF delay circuit and simple digital signal processing, is proposed. Proposed OFDM is compatible to existing OFDM systems and has 100% frequency efficiency. BER performance of proposed system is analyzed under the indoor multipath channel of 60 GHz by computer simulation. Simulation results in LOS multipath channels shows proposed technique enables BER of 1.0E-05 without forward error correction (FEC) for both QPSK and 16 QAM modulation schemes under the presence of phase noise and frequency shift.
Color night vision based on color transfer in YUV color space

To obtain a color night vision image, we proposed a color transfer algorithm in YUV color space based on the color transfer algorithm in lαβ color space which Reinhard proposed. After rendering the simple statistics (means and standard deviations) of the target image to the source image, the color appearance of the target image is transferred to the source image. 2D chromatic histogram (UV histogram) which can help to find an appropriate target image is established. Finally, we illustrated several examples of color transfer to multi-band fused images which are fused in MIT fusion scheme. After a color fused image is obtained, the color transfer is executed to render the color information of the target image to the fusion image. The final image could have a day-like color appearance. Besides, the algorithm has less operation than which in lαβ color space because of less transform complexity. It can be realized in real time in digital signal processors without color space transformation between RGB and YUV.
Co-operation of cell growth and cell-cycle progression in proliferating mammalian cells

Background It is widely believed that cell-size checkpoints help to coordinate cell growth and cell-cycle progression, so that proliferating eukaryotic cells maintain their size. There is strong evidence for such size checkpoints in yeasts, which maintain a constant cell-size distribution as they proliferate, even though large yeast cells grow faster than small yeast cells. Moreover, when yeast cells are shifted to better or worse nutrient conditions, they alter their size threshold within one cell cycle. Populations of mammalian cells can also maintain a constant size distribution as they proliferate, but it is not known whether this depends on cell-size checkpoints. Results We show that proliferating rat Schwann cells do not require a cell-size checkpoint to maintain a constant cell-size distribution, as, unlike yeasts, large and small Schwann cells grow at the same rate, which depends on the concentration of extracellular growth factors. In addition, when shifted from serum-free to serum-containing medium, Schwann cells take many divisions to increase their size to that appropriate to the new condition, suggesting that they do not have cell-size checkpoints similar to those in yeasts. Conclusions Proliferating Schwann cells and yeast cells seem to use different mechanisms to coordinate their growth with cell-cycle progression. Whereas yeast cells use cell-size checkpoints, Schwann cells apparently do not. It seems likely that many mammalian cells resemble Schwann cells in this respect.
The use(lessness) of online quizzes for achieving student learning

This paper describes experiences with online quizzes in an operations management course. Online quizzes were introduced to offset larger class sizes. During several quarters, experimentation with online quizzes took place including the number of attempts, the amount of time allowed and the topical coverage in the quizzes. Three research questions are explored: what type of online quiz taking behaviour do students have? Do online quizzes help students improve their grade, that is, Does improvement occur within a course? and, Does the use of online quizzes help a class overall? It was concluded that online quizzes do not significantly improve student learning.
Optimizing Resource Utilization in Grid Batch Systems

On Grid sites, the requirements of the computing tasks (jobs) to computing, storage, and network resources differ widely. For instance Monte Carlo production jobs are almost purely CPU-bound, whereas physics analysis jobs demand high data rates. In order to optimize the utilization of the compute node resources, jobs must be distributed intelligently over the nodes. Although the job resource requirements cannot be deduced directly, jobs are mapped to POSIX UID/GID according to the VO, VOMS group and role information contained in the VOMS proxy. The UID/GID then allows to distinguish jobs, if users are using VOMS proxies as planned by the VO management, e.g. ‘role=production’ for Monte Carlo jobs. It is possible to setup and configure batch systems (queuing system and scheduler) at Grid sites based on these considerations although scaling limits were observed with the scheduler MAUI. In tests these limitations could be overcome with a home-made scheduler.
Automation Bias, Accountability, and Verification Behaviors

Automated procedural and decision aids may in some cases have the paradoxical effect of increasing errors rather than eliminating them. Results of recent research investigating the use of automated systems have indicated the presence automation bias, a term describing errors made when decision makers rely on automated cues as a heuristic replacement for vigilant information seeking and processing (Mosier & Skitka, in press). Automation commission errors, i.e., errors made when decision makers take inappropriate action because they over-attend to automated information or directives, and automation omission errors, i.e., errors made when decision makers do not take appropriate action because they are not informed of an imminent problem or situation by automated aids, can result from this tendency. A wide body of social psychological research has found that many cognitive biases and resultant errors can be ameliorated by imposing pre-decisional accountability, which sensitizes decision makers to the need to construct compelling justifications for their choices and how they make them. To what extent these effects generalize to performance situations has yet to be empirically established. The two studies presented represent concurrent efforts, with student and “glass cockpit” pilot samples, to determine the effects of accountability pressures on automation bias and on verification of the accurate functioning of automated aids. Students (Experiment 1) and commercial pilots (Experiment 2) performed simulated flight tasks using automated aids. In both studies, participants who perceived themselves “accountable” for their strategies of interaction with the automation were significantly more likely to verify its correct functioning, and committed significantly fewer automation-related errors than those who did not report this perception.
Blink detection and eye tracking for eye localization

A method of using frame differencing coupled with optical flow computation for eye blink detection is proposed. Frame differencing allows quick determination of possible motion regions. If they are detected, optical flow is computed within these regions. The direction and magnitude of the flow field are then used to determine whether a blink has occurred. The eyes are then tracked using the Kanade Lucas Tomasi (KLT) tracker. We obtained a success rate of 97.0% in blink detection using the proposed method, and localised the eyes automatically at an average rate of 22 frames per second.
Uncertain variables as a tool for analysis and decision making in uncertain knowledge‐based systems

Purpose – To present new results concerning the applications of the uncertain variables to analysis and decision problems in a class of uncertain knowledge‐based systems described by a relational knowledge representation.Design/methodology/approach – The analysis and decision‐making problems are formulated, the general forms of the solutions are described, the theorem concerning the optimal solution is presented, numerical examples illustrating the general theoretical approaches are included.Findings – The uncertain variables have been proved as convenient tool for solving specific optimization problems based on relational knowledge representations with unknown parameters.Originality/value – Formulation and solving optimization problem for the given certainty threshold, application to the problem of resource and task distributions in a complex of parallel operations, indications of possible practical applications.
Minimizing the overhead of dynamic scheduling strategies in avionics systems

There are two main types of process scheduling strategies which can be used in aircraft/spacecraft avionics systems. In static strategies, priorities are statically assigned to processes prior to run time. These strategies have two main disadvantages. First,they are not applicable to systems in which there is not enough information available about run time requirements of processes in advance. Second, they limit CPU utilization. In fact, these strategies waste some CPU cycles because they have to provide for the critical instant of each process. In dynamic strategies, priorities are dynamically assigned to processes based on laxities or other run time parameters. These strategies theoretically do not restrict CPU utilization but they produce some run time overhead which is mainly related to the time required to sort processes in the ready queue each time a process is preempted. This paper proposes and evaluates a novel approach to minimizing the time consumed by the sorting algorithm. This approach is based on the mathematical properties of laxities (or other dynamic priority variables). It can be shown that the approach mentioned above can reduce the time complexity of the sorting algorithm, in terms of the number of processes (n), from O(nlogn) to O(n). This can considerably improve the performance of the aircraft/spacecraft avionics system.