OpenRaiser/Intern-Atlas huggingface dataset:
Unbiased Matrix Rounding
Venue: arXiv cs.DS 2006
Year: 2006

We show several ways to round a real matrix to an integer one such that the rounding errors in all rows and columns as well as the whole matrix are less than one. This is a classical problem with applications in many fields, in particular, statistics. We improve earlier solutions of different authors in two ways. For rounding matrices of size $m \times n$, we reduce the runtime from $O((m n)^2 Second, our roundings also have a rounding error of less than one in all initial intervals of rows and columns. Consequently, arbitrary intervals have an error of at most two. This is particularly useful in the statistics application of controlled rounding. The same result can be obtained via (dependent) randomized rounding. This has the additional advantage that the rounding is unbiased, that is, for all entries $y_{ij}$ of our rounding, we have $E(y_{ij}) = x_{ij}$, where $x_{ij}$ is the corresponding entry of the input matrix.
Semantically Correct Query Answers in the Presence of Null Values
Venue: arXiv cs.DB 2006
Year: 2006

For several reasons a database may not satisfy a given set of integrity constraints(ICs), but most likely most of the information in it is still consistent with those ICs; and could be retrieved when queries are answered. Consistent answers to queries wrt a set of ICs have been characterized as answers that can be obtained from every possible minimally repaired consistent version of the original database. In this paper we consider databases that contain null values and are also repaired, if necessary, using null values. For this purpose, we propose first a precise semantics for IC satisfaction in a database with null values that is compatible with the way null values are treated in commercial database management systems. Next, a precise notion of repair is introduced that privileges the introduction of null values when repairing foreign key constraints, in such a way that these new values do not create an infinite cycle of new inconsistencies. Finally, we analyze how to specify this kind of repairs of a database that contains null values using disjunctive logic programs with stable model semantics.
Event Systems and Access Control
Venue: arXiv cs.LO 2006
Year: 2006

We consider the interpretations of notions of access control (permissions, interdictions, obligations, and user rights) as run-time properties of information systems specified as event systems with fairness. We give proof rules for verifying that an access control policy is enforced in a system, and consider preservation of access control by refinement of event systems. In particular, refinement of user rights is non-trivial; we propose to combine low-level user rights and system obligations to implement high-level user rights.
Probabilistic Automata for Computing with Words
Venue: arXiv cs.AI 2006
Year: 2006

Usually, probabilistic automata and probabilistic grammars have crisp symbols as inputs, which can be viewed as the formal models of computing with values. In this paper, we first introduce probabilistic automata and probabilistic grammars for computing with (some special) words in a probabilistic framework, where the words are interpreted as probabilistic distributions or possibility distributions over a set of crisp symbols. By probabilistic conditioning, we then establish a retraction principle from computing with words to computing with values for handling crisp inputs and a generalized extension principle from computing with words to computing with all words for handling arbitrary inputs. These principles show that computing with values and computing with all words can be respectively implemented by computing with some special words. To compare the transition probabilities of two near inputs, we also examine some analytical properties of the transition probability functions of generalized extensions. Moreover, the retractions and the generalized extensions are shown to be equivalence-preserving. Finally, we clarify some relationships among the retractions, the generalized extensions, and the extensions studied recently by Qiu and Wang.
Perfect Space Time Block Codes
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2006
Year: 2006

In this paper, we introduce the notion of perfect space-time block codes (STBC). These codes have full rate, full diversity, non-vanishing constant minimum determinant for increasing spectral efficiency, uniform average transmitted energy per antenna and good shaping. We present algebraic constructions of perfect STBCs for 2, 3, 4 and 6 antennas.
A Fast and Accurate Nonlinear Spectral Method for Image Recognition and Registration
Venue: arXiv cs.DC 2006
Year: 2006

This article addresses the problem of two- and higher dimensional pattern matching, i.e. the identification of instances of a template within a larger signal space, which is a form of registration. Unlike traditional correlation, we aim at obtaining more selective matchings by considering more strict comparisons of gray-level intensity. In order to achieve fast matching, a nonlinear thresholded version of the fast Fourier transform is applied to a gray-level decomposition of the original 2D image. The potential of the method is substantiated with respect to real data involving the selective identification of neuronal cell bodies in gray-level images.
Bounded expected delay in arithmetic coding
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2006
Year: 2006

We address the problem of delay in an arithmetic coding system. Due to the nature of the arithmetic coding process, source sequences causing arbitrarily large encoding or decoding delays exist. This phenomena raises the question of just how large is the expected input to output delay in these systems, i.e., once a source sequence has been encoded, what is the expected number of source letters that should be further encoded to allow full decoding of that sequence. In this paper, we derive several new upper bounds on the expected delay for a memoryless source, which improve upon a known bound due to Gallager. The bounds provided are uniform in the sense of being independent of the sequence's history. In addition, we give a sufficient condition for a source to admit a bounded expected delay, which holds for a stationary ergodic Markov source of any order.
One-in-Two-Matching Problem is NP-complete
Venue: arXiv cs.CC 2006
Year: 2006

2-dimensional Matching Problem, which requires to find a matching of left- to right-vertices in a balanced $2n$-vertex bipartite graph, is a well-known polynomial problem, while various variants, like the 3-dimensional analogoue (3DM, with triangles on a tripartite graph), or the Hamiltonian Circuit Problem (HC, a restriction to ``unicyclic'' matchings) are among the main examples of NP-hard problems, since the first Karp reduction series of 1972. The same holds for the weighted variants of these problems, the Linear Assignment Problem being polynomial, and the Numerical 3-Dimensional Matching and Travelling Salesman Problem being NP-complete. In this paper we show that a small modification of the 2-dimensional Matching and Assignment Problems in which for each $i \leq n/2$ it is required that either $π(2i-1)=2i-1$ or $π(2i)=2i$, is a NP-complete problem. The proof is by linear reduction from SAT (or NAE-SAT), with the size $n$ of the Matching Problem being four times the number of edges in the factor graph representation of the boolean problem. As a corollary, in combination with the simple linear reduction of One-in-Two Matching to 3-Dimensional Matching, we show that SAT can be linearly reduced to 3DM, while the original Karp reduction was only cubic.
Systematic Topology Analysis and Generation Using Degree Correlations
Venue: arXiv cs.NI 2006
Year: 2006

We present a new, systematic approach for analyzing network topologies. We first introduce the dK-series of probability distributions specifying all degree correlations within d-sized subgraphs of a given graph G. Increasing values of d capture progressively more properties of G at the cost of more complex representation of the probability distribution. Using this series, we can quantitatively measure the distance between two graphs and construct random graphs that accurately reproduce virtually all metrics proposed in the literature. The nature of the dK-series implies that it will also capture any future metrics that may be proposed. Using our approach, we construct graphs for d=0,1,2,3 and demonstrate that these graphs reproduce, with increasing accuracy, important properties of measured and modeled Internet topologies. We find that the d=2 case is sufficient for most practical purposes, while d=3 essentially reconstructs the Internet AS- and router-level topologies exactly. We hope that a systematic method to analyze and synthesize topologies offers a significant improvement to the set of tools available to network topology and protocol researchers.
Generalized Multiple Access Channels with Confidential Messages
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2006
Year: 2006

A discrete memoryless generalized multiple access channel (GMAC) with confidential messages is studied, where two users attempt to transmit common information to a destination and each user also has private (confidential) information intended for the destination. The two users are allowed to receive channel outputs, and hence may obtain the confidential information sent by each other from channel outputs they receive. However, each user views the other user as a wire-tapper, and wishes to keep its confidential information as secret as possible from the other user. The level of secrecy of the confidential information is measured by the equivocation rate, i.e., the entropy rate of the confidential information conditioned on channel outputs at the wire-tapper. The performance measure of interest for the GMAC with confidential messages is the rate-equivocation tuple that includes the common rate, two private rates and two equivocation rates as components. The set that includes all these achievable rate-equivocation tuples is referred to as the capacity-equivocation region. The GMAC with one confidential message set is first studied, where only one user (user 1) has private (confidential) information for the destination. Inner and outer bounds on the capacity-equivocation region are derived, and the capacity-equivocation are established for some classes of channels including the Gaussian GMAC. Furthermore, the secrecy capacity region is established, which is the set of all achievable rates with user 2 being perfectly ignorant of confidential messages of user 1. For the GMAC with two confidential message sets, where both users have confidential messages for the destination, an inner bound on the capacity-equivocation region is obtained.
Collaborative Tagging and Semiotic Dynamics
Venue: arXiv cs.CY 2006
Year: 2006

Collaborative tagging has been quickly gaining ground because of its ability to recruit the activity of web users into effectively organizing and sharing vast amounts of information. Here we collect data from a popular system and investigate the statistical properties of tag co-occurrence. We introduce a stochastic model of user behavior embodying two main aspects of collaborative tagging: (i) a frequency-bias mechanism related to the idea that users are exposed to each other's tagging activity; (ii) a notion of memory - or aging of resources - in the form of a heavy-tailed access to the past state of the system. Remarkably, our simple modeling is able to account quantitatively for the observed experimental features, with a surprisingly high accuracy. This points in the direction of a universal behavior of users, who - despite the complexity of their own cognitive processes and the uncoordinated and selfish nature of their tagging activity - appear to follow simple activity patterns.
Query Chains: Learning to Rank from Implicit Feedback
Venue: arXiv cs.LG 2006
Year: 2006

This paper presents a novel approach for using clickthrough data to learn ranked retrieval functions for web search results. We observe that users searching the web often perform a sequence, or chain, of queries with a similar information need. Using query chains, we generate new types of preference judgments from search engine logs, thus taking advantage of user intelligence in reformulating queries. To validate our method we perform a controlled user study comparing generated preference judgments to explicit relevance judgments. We also implemented a real-world search engine to test our approach, using a modified ranking SVM to learn an improved ranking function from preference data. Our results demonstrate significant improvements in the ranking given by the search engine. The learned rankings outperform both a static ranking function, as well as one trained without considering query chains.
General Discounting versus Average Reward
Venue: arXiv cs.LG 2006
Year: 2006

Consider an agent interacting with an environment in cycles. In every interaction cycle the agent is rewarded for its performance. We compare the average reward U from cycle 1 to m (average value) with the future discounted reward V from cycle k to infinity (discounted value). We consider essentially arbitrary (non-geometric) discount sequences and arbitrary reward sequences (non-MDP environments). We show that asymptotically U for m->infinity and V for k->infinity are equal, provided both limits exist. Further, if the effective horizon grows linearly with k or faster, then existence of the limit of U implies that the limit of V exists. Conversely, if the effective horizon grows linearly with k or slower, then existence of the limit of V implies that the limit of U exists.
Continuations, proofs and tests
Venue: arXiv cs.LO 2006
Year: 2006

Continuation Passing Style (CPS) is one of the most important issues in the field of functional programming languages, and the quest for a primitive notion of types for continuation is still open. Starting from the notion of ``test'' proposed by Girard, we develop a notion of test for intuitionistic logic. We give a complete deductive system for tests and we show that it is good to deal with ``continuations''. In particular, in the proposed system it is possible to work with Call by Value and Call by Name translations in a uniform way.
On fractionally linear functions over a finite field
Venue: arXiv cs.DM 2006
Year: 2006

Abstrct: In this note, by considering fractionally linear functions over a finite field and consequently developing an abstract sequence, we study some of its properties.
Gridscape II: A Customisable and Pluggable Grid Monitoring Portal and its Integration with Google Maps
Venue: arXiv cs.DC 2006
Year: 2006

Grid computing has emerged as an effective means of facilitating the sharing of distributed heterogeneous resources, enabling collaboration in large scale environments. However, the nature of Grid systems, coupled with the overabundance and fragmentation of information, makes it difficult to monitor resources, services, and computations in order to plan and make decisions. In this paper we present Gridscape II, a customisable portal component that can be used on its own or plugged in to compliment existing Grid portals. Gridscape II manages the gathering of information from arbitrary, heterogeneous and distributed sources and presents them together seamlessly within a single interface. It also leverages the Google Maps API in order to provide a highly interactive user interface. Gridscape II is simple and easy to use, providing a solution to those users who do not wish to invest heavily in developing their own monitoring portal from scratch, and also for those users who want something that is easy to customise and extend for their specific needs.
Efficient Operation of Coded Packet Networks
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2006
Year: 2006

A fundamental problem faced in the design of almost all packet networks is that of efficient operation--of reliably communicating given messages among nodes at minimum cost in resource usage. We present a solution to the efficient operation problem for coded packet networks, i.e., packet networks where the contents of outgoing packets are arbitrary, causal functions of the contents of received packets. Such networks are in contrast to conventional, routed packet networks, where outgoing packets are restricted to being copies of received packets and where reliability is provided by the use of retransmissions. This thesis introduces four considerations to coded packet networks: 1. efficiency, 2. the lack of synchronization in packet networks, 3. the possibility of broadcast links, and 4. packet loss. We take these considerations and give a prescription for operation that is novel and general, yet simple, useful, and extensible.
Curve Shortening and the Rendezvous Problem for Mobile Autonomous Robots
Venue: arXiv cs.RO 2006
Year: 2006

If a smooth, closed, and embedded curve is deformed along its normal vector field at a rate proportional to its curvature, it shrinks to a circular point. This curve evolution is called Euclidean curve shortening and the result is known as the Gage-Hamilton-Grayson Theorem. Motivated by the rendezvous problem for mobile autonomous robots, we address the problem of creating a polygon shortening flow. A linear scheme is proposed that exhibits several analogues to Euclidean curve shortening: The polygon shrinks to an elliptical point, convex polygons remain convex, and the perimeter of the polygon is monotonically decreasing.
Numeration-automatic sequences
Venue: arXiv cs.CL 2006
Year: 2006

We present a base class of automata that induce a numeration system and we give an algorithm to give the n-th word in the language of the automaton when the expansion of n in the induced numeration system is feeded to the automaton. Furthermore we give some algorithms for reverse reading of this expansion and a way to combine automata to other automata having the same properties.
The Generalized Multiple Access Channel with Confidential Messages
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2006
Year: 2006

A discrete memoryless generalized multiple access channel (GMAC) with confidential messages is studied, where two users attempt to transmit common information to a destination and each user also has private (confidential) information intended for the destination. This channel generalizes the multiple access channel (MAC) in that the two users also receive channel outputs. It is assumed that each user views the other user as a wire-tapper, and wishes to keep its confidential information as secret as possible from the other user. The level of secrecy of the confidential information is measured by the equivocation rate. The performance measure of interest is the rate-equivocation tuple that includes the common rate, two private rates and two equivocation rates as components. The set that includes all achievable rate-equivocation tuples is referred to as the capacity-equivocation region. For the GMAC with one confidential message set, where only one user (user 1) has private (confidential) information for the destination, inner and outer bounds on the capacity-equivocation region are derived. The secrecy capacity region is established, which is the set of all achievable rates with user 2 being perfectly ignorant of confidential messages of user 1. Furthermore, the capacity-equivocation region and the secrecy capacity region are established for the degraded GMAC with one confidential message set. For the GMAC with two confidential message sets, where both users have confidential messages for the destination, inner bounds on the capacity-equivocation region and the secrecy capacity region are obtained.
A Scalable Algorithm for Minimal Unsatisfiable Core Extraction
Venue: arXiv cs.LO 2006
Year: 2006

We propose a new algorithm for minimal unsatisfiable core extraction, based on a deeper exploration of resolution-refutation properties. We provide experimental results on formal verification benchmarks confirming that our algorithm finds smaller cores than suboptimal algorithms; and that it runs faster than those algorithms that guarantee minimality of the core.
The Multiple Access Channel with Feedback and Correlated Sources
Venue: arXiv cs.IT 2006
Year: 2006

In this paper, we investigate communication strategies for the multiple access channel with feedback and correlated sources (MACFCS). The MACFCS models a wireless sensor network scenario in which sensors distributed throughout an arbitrary random field collect correlated measurements and transmit them to a common sink. We derive achievable rate regions for the three-node MACFCS. First, we study the strategy when source coding and channel coding are combined, which we term full decoding at sources. Second, we look at several strategies when source coding and channel coding are separated, which we term full decoding at destination. From numerical computations on Gaussian channels, we see that different strategies perform better under certain source correlations and channel setups.
A Generalized Two-Phase Analysis of Knowledge Flows in Security Protocols
Venue: arXiv cs.CR 2006
Year: 2006

We introduce knowledge flow analysis, a simple and flexible formalism for checking cryptographic protocols. Knowledge flows provide a uniform language for expressing the actions of principals, assump- tions about intruders, and the properties of cryptographic primitives. Our approach enables a generalized two-phase analysis: we extend the two-phase theory by identifying the necessary and sufficient proper- ties of a broad class of cryptographic primitives for which the theory holds. We also contribute a library of standard primitives and show that they satisfy our criteria.
Restricted Strip Covering and the Sensor Cover Problem
Venue: arXiv cs.DS 2006
Year: 2006

Given a set of objects with durations (jobs) that cover a base region, can we schedule the jobs to maximize the duration the original region remains covered? We call this problem the sensor cover problem. This problem arises in the context of covering a region with sensors. For example, suppose you wish to monitor activity along a fence by sensors placed at various fixed locations. Each sensor has a range and limited battery life. The problem is to schedule when to turn on the sensors so that the fence is fully monitored for as long as possible. This one dimensional problem involves intervals on the real line. Associating a duration to each yields a set of rectangles in space and time, each specified by a pair of fixed horizontal endpoints and a height. The objective is to assign a position to each rectangle to maximize the height at which the spanning interval is fully covered. We call this one dimensional problem restricted strip covering. If we replace the covering constraint by a packing constraint, the problem is identical to dynamic storage allocation, a scheduling problem that is a restricted case of the strip packing problem. We show that the restricted strip covering problem is NP-hard and present an O(log log n)-approximation algorithm. We present better approximations or exact algorithms for some special cases. For the uniform-duration case of restricted strip covering we give a polynomial-time, exact algorithm but prove that the uniform-duration case for higher-dimensional regions is NP-hard. Finally, we consider regions that are arbitrary sets, and we present an O(log n)-approximation algorithm.