nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
A Service-Oriented Approach for Dynamic Chaining of Virtual Network Functions over Multi-Provider Software-Defined Networks

Emerging technologies such as Software-Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) promise to address cost reduction and flexibility in network operation while enabling innovative network service delivery models. However, operational network service delivery solutions still need to be developed that actually exploit these technologies, especially at the multi-provider level. Indeed, the implementation of network functions as software running over a virtualized infrastructure and provisioned on a service basis let one envisage an ecosystem of network services that are dynamically and flexibly assembled by orchestrating Virtual Network Functions even across different provider domains, thereby coping with changeable user and service requirements and context conditions. In this paper we propose an approach that adopts Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) technology-agnostic architectural guidelines in the design of a solution for orchestrating and dynamically chaining Virtual Network Functions. We discuss how SOA, NFV, and SDN may complement each other in realizing dynamic network function chaining through service composition specification, service selection, service delivery, and placement tasks. Then, we describe the architecture of a SOA-inspired NFV orchestrator, which leverages SDN-based network control capabilities to address an effective delivery of elastic chains of Virtual Network Functions. Preliminary results of prototype implementation and testing activities are also presented. The benefits for Network Service Providers are also described that derive from the adaptive network service provisioning in a multi-provider environment through the orchestration of computing and networking services to provide end users with an enhanced service experience.
DRE-Bot: A Hierarchical First Person Shooter Bot Using Multiple Sarsa({\lambda}) Reinforcement Learners

This paper describes an architecture for controlling non-player characters (NPC) in the First Person Shooter (FPS) game Unreal Tournament 2004. Specifically, the DRE-Bot architecture is made up of three reinforcement learners, Danger, Replenish and Explore, which use the tabular Sarsa(λ) algorithm. This algorithm enables the NPC to learn through trial and error building up experience over time in an approach inspired by human learning. Experimentation is carried to measure the performance of DRE-Bot when competing against fixed strategy bots that ship with the game. The discount parameter, γ, and the trace parameter, λ, are also varied to see if their values have an effect on the performance.
An improved shuffled frog leaping algorithm for robot path planning

Path planning is one of the most significant and challenging subjects in robot control field. In this paper, a path planning method based on an improved shuffled frog leaping algorithm is proposed. In the proposed approach, a novel updating mechanism based on the median strategy is used to avoid local optimal solution problem in the general shuffled frog leaping algorithm. Furthermore, the fitness function is modified to make the path generated by the shuffled frog leaping algorithm smoother. In each iteration, the globally best frog is obtained and its position is used to lead the movement of the robot. Finally, some simulation experiments are carried out. The experimental results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in path planning for mobile robots.
A 20-MHz to 3-GHz Wide-Range Multiphase Delay-Locked Loop

A 20-MHz to 3-GHz wide-range multiphase delay-locked loop (DLL) has been realized in 90-nm CMOS technology. The proposed delay cell extends the operation frequency range. A scaling circuit is adopted to lower the large delay gain when the frequency of the input clock is low. The core area of this DLL is 0.005 mm2. The measured power consumption values are 0.4 and 3.6 mW for input clocks of 20 MHz and 3 GHz, respectively. The measured peak-to-peak and root-mean-square jitters are 2.3 and 16 ps at 3 GHz, respectively.
Descreening of color halftone images in the frequency domain

Scanning a halftone image introduces halftone artifacts, known as Moire patterns, which significantly degrade the image quality. Printers that use amplitude modulation (AM) screening for halftone printing position dots in a periodic pattern. Therefore, frequencies relating half toning arc easily identifiable in the frequency domain. This paper proposes a method for de screening scanned color halftone images using a custom band reject filter designed to isolate and remove only the frequencies related to half toning while leaving image edges sharp without image segmentation or edge detection. To enable hardware acceleration, the image is processed in small overlapped windows. The windows arc filtered individually in the frequency domain, then pieced back together in a method that does not show blocking artifacts.
0 Ju n 20 09 Present status of the Penrose inequality

The Penrose inequality gives a lower bound for the total mass of a spacetime in terms of the area of suitable surfaces that represent black holes. Its validity is supported by the cosmic censorship conjecture and therefore its proof (or disproof) is an important problem in relation with gravitational collapse. The Penrose inequality is a very challenging problem in mathematical relativity and it has received continuous attention since its formulation by Penrose in the early seventies. Important breakthroughs have been made in the last decade or so, with the complete resolution of the so-called Riemannian Penrose inequality and a very interesting proposal to address the general case by Bray and Khuri. In this paper, the most important results on this field will be discussed and the main ideas behind their proofs will be summarized, with the aim of presenting what is the status of our present knowledge in this topic.
PHY Covert Channels: Can you see the Idles?

Network covert timing channels embed secret messages in legitimate packets by modulating interpacket delays. Unfortunately, such channels are normally implemented in higher network layers (layer 3 or above) and easily detected or prevented. However, access to the physical layer of a network stack allows for timing channels that are virtually invisible: Sub-microsecond modulations that are undetectable by software endhosts. Therefore, covert timing channels implemented in the physical layer can be a serious threat to the security of a system or a network. In fact, we empirically demonstrate an effective covert timing channel over nine routing hops and thousands of miles over the Internet (the National Lambda Rail). Our covert timing channel works with cross traffic, less than 10% bit error rate, which can be masked by forward error correction, and a covert rate of 81 kilobits per second. Key to our approach is access and control over every bit in the physical layer of a 10 Gigabit network stack (a bit is 100 picoseconds wide at 10 gigabit per seconds), which allows us to modulate and interpret interpacket spacings at sub-microsecond scale. We discuss when and how a timing channel in the physical layer works, how hard it is to detect such a channel, and what is required to do so.
Faster RER-CNN: application to the detection of vehicles in aerial images

Detecting small vehicles in aerial images is a difficult job that can be challenging even for humans. Rotating objects, low resolution, small inter-class variability and very large images comprising complicated backgrounds render the work of photo-interpreters tedious and wearisome. Unfortunately even the best classical detection pipelines like Ren et al. [2015] cannot be used off-the-shelf with good results because they were built to process object centric images from day-to-day life with multi-scale vertical objects. In this work we build on the Faster R-CNN approach to turn it into a detection framework that deals appropriately with the rotation equivariance inherent to any aerial image task. This new pipeline (Faster Rotation Equivariant Regions CNN) gives, without any bells and whistles, state-of-the-art results on one of the most challenging aerial imagery datasets: VeDAI Razakarivony and Jurie [2015] and give good results w.r.t. the baseline Faster R-CNN on two others: Munich Leitloff et al. [2014] and GoogleEarth Heitz and Koller [2008].
A hybrid neural network and ARIMA model for water quality time series prediction

Accurate predictions of time series data have motivated the researchers to develop innovative models for water resources management. Time series data often contain both linear and nonlinear patterns. Therefore, neither ARIMA nor neural networks can be adequate in modeling and predicting time series data. The ARIMA model cannot deal with nonlinear relationships while the neural network model alone is not able to handle both linear and nonlinear patterns equally well. In the present study, a hybrid ARIMA and neural network model is proposed that is capable of exploiting the strengths of traditional time series approaches and artificial neural networks. The proposed approach consists of an ARIMA methodology and feed-forward, backpropagation network structure with an optimized conjugated training algorithm. The hybrid approach for time series prediction is tested using 108-month observations of water quality data, including water temperature, boron and dissolved oxygen, during 1996–2004 at Büyük Menderes river, Turkey. Specifically, the results from the hybrid model provide a robust modeling framework capable of capturing the nonlinear nature of the complex time series and thus producing more accurate predictions. The correlation coefficients between the hybrid model predicted values and observed data for boron, dissolved oxygen and water temperature are 0.902, 0.893, and 0.909, respectively, which are satisfactory in common model applications. Predicted water quality data from the hybrid model are compared with those from the ARIMA methodology and neural network architecture using the accuracy measures. Owing to its ability in recognizing time series patterns and nonlinear characteristics, the hybrid model provides much better accuracy over the ARIMA and neural network models for water quality predictions. & 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Interference management in LTE femtocell systems using Fractional Frequency Reuse

Recently, Long Term Evolution (LTE) has developed a femtocell for indoor coverage extension. However, interference problem between the femtocell and the macrocell should be solved in advance. In this paper, we propose an interference management scheme in the LTE femtocell systems using Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR). Under the macrocell allocating frequency band by the FFR, the femtocell chooses sub-bands which are not used in the macrocell sub-area to avoid interference. Simulation results show that proposed scheme enhances total/edge throughputs and reduces the outage probability in overall network, especially for the cell edge users.
Outsource Photo Sharing and Searching for Mobile Devices With Privacy Protection

With the proliferation of mobile devices, cloud-based photo sharing and searching services are becoming common du e to the mobile devices’ resource constrains. Meanwhile, the r is also increasing concern about privacy in photos. In this wor k, we present a framework SouTu, which enables cloud servers to provide privacy-preserving photo sharing and search as a se rvice to mobile device users. Privacy-seeking users can share the ir photos via our framework to allow only their authorized frie nds to browse and search their photos using resource-bounded mo bile devices. This is achieved by our carefully designed archite cture and novel outsourced privacy-preserving computation prot ocols, through which no information about the outsourced photos or even the search contents (including the results) would be revealed to the cloud servers. Our framework is compatible with most of the existing image search technologies, and it requi res few changes to the existing cloud systems. The evaluation of our prototype system with 31,772 real-life images shows the communication and computation efficiency of our system.
Integrated generative design tools for the mass customisation of furniture

This paper presents the optimisation step in a grammar-based generative design system for the mass customisation of furniture. The ongoing research assesses the use of integrated CAD-CAE tools in the development of a digital design process involving closer collaboration between design and engineering as a feasible motivation for optimum designs. The optimisation of structural behaviour is illustrated by a series of experiments using a simulated annealing algorithm to explore solutions for custom chairs generated by parametric models. Constraints are defined according to the aesthetic considerations established in the design language. The paper concludes with a discussion of the effective use of integrated performance tools in furniture design methodology in the age of mass customisation.
Conceptualizing and measuring historical trauma among American Indian people.

This article reports on the development of two measures relating to historical trauma among American Indian people: The Historical Loss Scale and The Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale. Measurement characteristics including frequencies, internal reliability, and confirmatory factor analyses were calculated based on 143 American Indian adult parents of children aged 10 through 12 years who are part of an ongoing longitudinal study of American Indian families in the upper Midwest. Results indicate both scales have high internal reliability. Frequencies indicate that the current generation of American Indian adults have frequent thoughts pertaining to historical losses and that they associate these losses with negative feelings. Two factors of the Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Scale indicate one anxiety/depression component and one anger/avoidance component. The results are discussed in terms of future research and theory pertaining to historical trauma among American Indian people.
Situating learning in the workplace : Having another look at Apprenticeships

This article examines the acquisition of vocational skills through apprenticeship-type situated learning. Findings from a studies of skilled workers revealed that learning processes that were consonant with the apprenticeship model of learning were highly valued as a means of acquiring and maintaining vocational skills. Supported by current research and theorising, this article, describes some conditions by which situated learning through apprenticeship can be utilised to develop vocational skills. These conditions include the nature of the activities learners engage in, the agency of the learning environment and mentoring role of experts. Conditions which may inhibit the effectiveness of an apprenticeship approach to learning are also addressed. The article concludes by suggesting that situated approaches to learning, such as the apprenticeship model may address problems of access to effective vocational skill development within the workforce.
Design of Stepped Patch Ultra Wideband Antenna with WLAN Band Notch Characteristics

The paper presents the design and performance measures of a printed stepped patch monopole antenna with semi-elliptical ground plane and band notch for ultra wideband applications. The proposed antenna operates in the frequency range 3.15 ~ 12.2 GHz with average gain of 4.27 dBi. Inverted U shaped slot is introduced in the feed line for WLAN band rejection and the rejection band ranges from 5.08 GHz to 5.93 GHz. The radiation pattern is directional in the elevation plane and omnidirectional in the azimuth plane. The consistency of the radiation pattern exists within the operating band. The performance of the proposed antenna is confirmed by simulation and experiment results. KeywordsInverted U slot, monopole antenna, stepped patch, ultra wideband
An Algorithm for Calculating the QR and Singular Value Decompositions of Polynomial Matrices

In this paper, a new algorithm for calculating the QR decomposition (QRD) of a polynomial matrix is introduced. This algorithm amounts to transforming a polynomial matrix to upper triangular form by application of a series of paraunitary matrices such as elementary delay and rotation matrices. It is shown that this algorithm can also be used to formulate the singular value decomposition (SVD) of a polynomial matrix, which essentially amounts to diagonalizing a polynomial matrix again by application of a series of paraunitary matrices. Example matrices are used to demonstrate both types of decomposition. Mathematical proofs of convergence of both decompositions are also outlined. Finally, a possible application of such decompositions in multichannel signal processing is discussed.
Evaluation of Existing Architectures in IRAM Systems

Computer memory systems are increasingly a bottleneck limiting application performance. IRAM architectures, which integrate a CPU with DRAM main memory on a single chip, promise to remove this limitation by providing tremendous main memory bandwidth and significant reductions in memory latency. To determine whether existing microarchitectures can tap the potential performance advantages of IRAM systems, we examined both execution time analyses of existing microprocessors and system simulation of hypothetical processors. Our results indicate that, for current benchmarks, existing architectures, whether simple, superscalar or out-of-order, are unable to exploit IRAM’s increased memory bandwidth and decreased memory latency to achieve significant performance benefits.
Microfluidic co-culture of pancreatic tumor spheroids with stellate cells as a novel 3D model for investigation of stroma-mediated cell motility and drug resistance

Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), a major component of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, play roles in cancer progression as well as drug resistance. Culturing various cells in microfluidic (microchannel) devices has proven to be a useful in studying cellular interactions and drug sensitivity. Here we present a microchannel plate-based co-culture model that integrates tumor spheroids with PSCs in a three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix to mimic the tumor microenvironment in vivo by recapitulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and chemoresistance.



A 7-channel microchannel plate was prepared using poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) via soft lithography. PANC-1, a human pancreatic cancer cell line, and PSCs, each within a designated channel of the microchannel plate, were cultured embedded in type I collagen. Expression of EMT-related markers and factors was analyzed using immunofluorescent staining or Proteome analysis. Changes in viability following exposure to gemcitabine and paclitaxel were measured using Live/Dead assay.



PANC-1 cells formed 3D tumor spheroids within 5 days and the number of spheroids increased when co-cultured with PSCs. Culture conditions were optimized for PANC-1 cells and PSCs, and their appropriate interaction was confirmed by reciprocal activation shown as increased cell motility. PSCs under co-culture showed an increased expression of α-SMA. Expression of EMT-related markers, such as vimentin and TGF-β, was higher in co-cultured PANC-1 spheroids compared to that in mono-cultured spheroids; as was the expression of many other EMT-related factors including TIMP1 and IL-8. Following gemcitabine exposure, no significant changes in survival were observed. When paclitaxel was combined with gemcitabine, a growth inhibitory advantage was prominent in tumor spheroids, which was accompanied by significant cytotoxicity in PSCs.



We demonstrated that cancer cells grown as tumor spheroids in a 3D collagen matrix and PSCs co-cultured in sub-millimeter proximity participate in mutual interactions that induce EMT and drug resistance in a microchannel plate. Microfluidic co-culture of pancreatic tumor spheroids with PSCs may serve as a useful model for studying EMT and drug resistance in a clinically relevant manner.
A Helix Excited Circularly Polarized Hollow Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator Antenna

In this letter, we use a helix to excite two orthogonal HE11δ modes in phase quadrature in a hollow cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna to generate circular polarization. As compared to our previous work, it is shown that replacing the cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna with a hollow cylindrical-shaped one leads to a significant enhancement in the 3-dB axial-ratio bandwidth. A design guideline is provided, and three design cases are presented. A prototype for one of the designs is fabricated and measured. Measured and simulated data are presented and discussed. It is shown that the 3-dB axial-ratio bandwidth increases as the wall thickness of the hollow cylindrical dielectric resonator decreases. Furthermore, a reduction in the wall thickness requires a longer helix exciter for similar performance .
Passive aeration composting of chicken litter: effects of aeration pipe orientation and perforation size on losses of compost elements.

A passive aeration composting study was undertaken to investigate the effects of aeration pipe orientation (PO) and perforation size (PS) on some physico-chemical properties of chicken litter (chicken manure + sawdust) during composting. The experimental set up was a two-factor completely randomised block design with two pipe orientations: horizontal (Ho) and vertical (Ve), and three perforation sizes: 15, 25 and 35 mm diameter. The properties monitored during composting were pile temperature, moisture content (MC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total carbon (C(T)), total nitrogen (N(T)) and total phosphorus (P(T)). Moisture level in the piles was periodically replenished to 60% for efficient microbial activities. The results of the study showed that optimum composting conditions (thermophilic temperatures and sanitation requirements) were attained in all the piles. During composting, both PO and PS significantly affected pile temperature, moisture level, pH, C(T) loss and P(T) gain. EC was only affected by PO while N(T) was affected by PS. Neither PO nor PS had a significant effect on the C:N ratio. A vertical pipe was effective for uniform air distribution, hence, uniform composting rate within the composting pile. The final values showed that PO of Ve and PS of 35 mm diameter resulted in the least loss in N(T). The PO of Ho was as effective as Ve in the conservation of C(T) and P(T). Similarly, the three PSs were equally effective in the conservation of C(T) and P(T). In conclusion, the combined effects of PO and PS showed that treatments Ve35 and Ve15 were the most effective in minimizing N(T) loss.