ppxscal/embedding_network huggingface dataset:
Anonymous Credentials for Privacy-Preserving E-learning
Authors: Esma Aïmeur, Hicham Hage, Flavien Serge Mani Onana
Venue: Proceedings of the 2008 International MCETECH Conference on e-Technologies (2008)

E-learning systems have made considerable progress within the last few years. Nonetheless, the issue of learner privacy has been practically ignored. Existing E-learning standards offer some provisions for privacy and the security of E-learning systems offers some privacy protection, but remains unsatisfactory on several levels. On the other hand, privacy preserving solutions that are appropriate and used in E-commerce environments are inadequate and unsuitable to the context of E-learning. Indeed, while in most E-commerce applications different transactions between the client and the system are pretty much independent, in E-learning the interactions between the learner and system are intertwined into a developing process that depends heavily on the path the leaner is following. In this paper, we introduce the Anonymous Credentials for E-learning Systems (ACES), a set of protocols to preserve learner’s privacy in E-learning environments. In particular, the ACES allows learners to provide anonymous credentials throughout the learning process, such as when they need to prove that they possess the necessary requirements to register for a course, and/or to prove that they are the legitimate owners of an Anonymous Transcript or an Anonymous Degree. Although the concept of anonymous credentials is not novel, ACES takes into account the specificities of E-learning. Moreover, in order to prevent the misuse of privacy, ACES prevents the possibility of sharing credentials between learners.
Enabling internet singularity within the electronic commerce trust model
Authors: Omer Mahmood, Selvadurai Selvakennedy
Venue: ACM SIGecom Exchanges (2008)

Decentralization of publication is one of the great advantages of the Web's infrastructure. However, until now, Web failed to fully engage the user to contribute and add contents. This is the primary motivation for Web 2.0, which revolves around the notion that people can add contents for Collective Intelligence. Enterprises can also use Web 2.0 to reduce costs and increase profits through Social Network Analysis. Web 2.0 applications target to interconnect the users and contents so that the users can use contents to find participants and vice versa. Therefore, if the users are further assisted, to add contents to the web, link people with people, and link people with contents; then the distinction between the physical and electronic worlds will cease to exist. This web environment will enable the users to use web for Collective Intelligence and Social Network Analysis, defined here as 'Internet Singularity'. This paper proposes an application architecture based on decentralized information structure that links contents and people together. The architecture embraces FOAF, Atom, RDF, RDFS and OTER (Online Trust Evaluation RDF). OTER is constructed by using RDF Schema for linking and representing online trust evaluation information within Web 2.0. This architecture can be used as a model to develop Web 2.0 applications for any e-domain. However, it is believed that trust will be the main synthetic force in Web 2.0 as it is in the current physical environment. The proposed application architecture targets to assist the participants in committing online transactions while contributing towards Collective Intelligence.
A GPU-friendly method for high dynamic range texture compression using inverse tone mapping
Authors: Francesco Banterle, Kurt Debattista, Patrick Ledda, Alan Chalmers
Venue: Proceedings of graphics interface 2008 (2008)

In recent years, High Dynamic Range Textures (HDRTs) have been frequently used in real-time applications and video-games to enhance realism. Unfortunately, HDRTs consume a considerable amount of memory, and efficient compression methods are not straightforward to implement on modern GPUs. We propose a framework for efficient HDRT compression using tone mapping and its dual, inverse tone mapping. In our method, encoding is performed by compressing the dynamic range using a tone mapping operator followed by a traditional encoding method for low dynamic range imaging. Our decoding method, decodes the low dynamic range image and expands its range with the inverse tone mapping operator. We present results using the Photographic Tone Reproduction tone mapping operator and its inverse encoded with S3TC running in real-time on current programmable GPU-hardware resulting in compressed HDRTs at 4--8 bits per pixel (bpp), using a fast shader program for decoding. We show how our approach is favorable compared to other existing methods.
Analysis of transient adsorption processes using micro/nanocantilever oscillators
Authors: Zoran G. Djurić, Ivana M. Jokić, Miloš P. Frantlović
Venue: Microelectronic Engineering (2008)

We analyzed the transient in micro/nanocantilever response which begins when adsorption-desorption process starts on the surface of an oscillating cantilever. By solving a differential equation which describes the oscillation of a cantilever affected by time-varying process, we obtained the expression for cantilever response in the time domain, which shows dependence on AD process parameters. We proposed the method for AD process time constant determination, based directly on measurement of oscillating micro/nanocantilever transient response. The method is applicable even in the case of fast changing stimuli acting on the cantilever in the forced oscillation mode. The proposed method can also be utilized in the analysis of other timedependent processes occurring on micro/nanocantilevers.
Open loop transcoding using perceptually adaptive requantization of DCT coefficients
Authors: Francesco Bertagnolli, Matteo Lanati, Lorenzo Favalli, Francesco Gruppi
Venue: Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on Mobile multimedia communications (2006)

With increasing network heterogeneity, adaptive techniques for coding multimedia (and mainly video) signals become mandatory. In this paper we introduce a simple techniques to adapt quantization step size in an open loop transcoder based on a perceptual interpretation of DCT coefficient distribution. Results show that the technique is actually very simple and despite this simplicity, effective in improving the (trans-) coded stream quality.
Personalized mobile English vocabulary learning system based on item response theory and learning memory cycle
Authors: Chih-Ming Chen, Ching-Ju Chung
Venue: Computers Education (2008)

Since learning English is very popular in non-English speaking countries, developing modern assisted-learning tools that support effective English learning is a critical issue in the English-language education field. Learning English involves memorization and practice of a large number of vocabulary words and numerous grammatical structures. Vocabulary learning is a principal issue for English learning because vocabulary comprises the basic building blocks of English sentences. Therefore, many studies have attempted to improve the efficiency and performance when learning English vocabulary. With the accelerated growth in wireless and mobile technologies, mobile learning using mobile devices such as PDAs, tablet PCs, and cell phones has gradually become considered effective because it inherits all the advantages of e-learning and overcomes limitations of learning time and space that limit web-based learning systems. Therefore, this study presents a personalized mobile English vocabulary learning system based on Item Response Theory and learning memory cycle, which recommends appropriate English vocabulary for learning according to individual learner vocabulary ability and memory cycle. The proposed system has been successfully implemented on personal digital assistant (PDA) for personalized English vocabulary learning. The experimental results indicated that the proposed system could obviously promote the learning performances and interests of learners due to effective and flexible learning mode for English vocabulary learning.
Power efficient resilience and lifetime in wireless ad-hoc networks
Authors: Daniel Berend, Michael Segal, Hanan Shpungin
Venue: Proceeding of the 1st ACM international workshop on Foundations of wireless ad hoc and sensor networking and computing (2008)

The temporary and unfixed physical topology of a wireless adhoc network is determined by the distribution of the wireless nodes as well as the transmission power (range) assignment of each node. This paper studies asymmetric power assignments for which the induced communication graph is k-strongly connected, while minimizing the total energy assigned (which is NP-Hard) and maximizing the network lifetime. We show that our power assignment algorithm from [9] achieves a bicriteria approximation of (O(k),O(k log n k√nφ(n))) with high probability for the minimal total cost/maximal network (respectively) lifetime problem in the plane in the case of arbitrary battery charges. The same algorithm is an (O(k),O(1))-approximation in the case of uniform batteries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to provide a bicriteria approximation factor for the total power assignment cost and the network lifetime under the k-fault resilience criterion. We provide some results for the linear power assignment algorithm in [30] as well. In addition, we extend the static algorithms above to support dynamic node insert/delete operations in O(log n) time for the linear case and an expected O(k poly log n) amortized time in the plane.
Proceedings of the 6th workshop on Parallel and distributed systems: testing, analysis, and debugging
Venue: International Symposium on Software Testing and Analysis (2008)

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 6th Workshop on Parallel and Distributed Systems: Testing, Analysis, and Debugging (PADTAD '08). When we started PADTAD in 2003, it was the only workshop dedicated to testing of concurrent and distributed software. This field is taking center stage, as can be seen by the growing attention it is receiving in dedicated workshops and top conferences. Industry interest in PADTAD topics is reflected in our distinguished list of supporting companies, which includes IBM, Intel, and Microsoft. These companies and others now have groups dedicated to concurrency testing tools. PADTAD's mission is to share advances in the field of testing, analysis, and debugging of concurrent systems between industry and academia. This is achieved through the balanced mix of presentations and attendees from industry and academia. In this rapidly developing field, academic work can go quickly from theory to practice, and industrial work is often cutting edge and publishable. PADTAD '08 features a keynote presentation by Dr. Ramesh Peri, a Principal Engineer at Intel, on software development tools for multi-core/parallel programming. While PADTAD's traditional focus is on tools, it is clear that teaching students and professionals how to develop and test concurrent systems is also essential. Therefore, PADTAD '08 includes a special session on Education, featuring invited presentations by Dr. Madan Musuvathi from Microsoft Research and Dr. Eitan Farchi from IBM Research.
Statistical Evaluation of Split Gate Opportunities for Improved 8T/6T Column-Decoupled SRAM Cell Yield
Authors: Rouwaida Kanj, Rajiv Joshi, Keunwoo-Kim, Richard Williams, Sani Nassif
Venue: Proceedings of the 9th international symposium on Quality Electronic Design (2008)

We study the yield improvements of mixed/split gate designs in 45nm FinFET technology. The original contributions of this paper are: fast statistical analysis for FinFET designs including 6T and 8T column-decoupled designs, and the proposed low-voltage 6T-column-decoupled SRAM cell using stacked_and FinFET devices. Sensitivities of the cell yield to device design uncertainties and process variations are evaluated. Statistical analysis indicates that column-decoupled cells can help lower the stability requirement on the cell beta ratio and hence relax the design limitations with FinFET technology such as quantization penalties. Furthermore, physical cell image diagrams show that the 6T-decoupled cell suffers very small area penalties compared to the traditional double gate designs. Fast statistical analysis techniques are used to estimate yield trend. Numerical device/circuit mix-mode simulations support the predicted trends. Threshold voltage variations due to random dopant fluctuations are estimated using a macroscopic modeling method. The impact of fin-height variations is also evaluated.
A fast on-line algorithm for the preemptive scheduling of equal-length jobs on a single processor
Authors: Nodari Vakhania
Venue: Proceedings of the 2nd WSEAS International Conference on Computer Engineering and Applications (2008)

We propose a fast on-line algorithm for preemptive scheduling of equal-length jobs with due dates. The jobs are released on-line over time. We have a single processor that can handle at most one job simultaneously. Our objective is to minimize the number of late jobs, ones completed after their due dates.
A Flexible Protocol Composition for Multi-party Coordination Protocols in Multi-agent Systems
Authors: Ryuichi Takahashi, Kenji Tei, Fuyuki Ishikawa, Yoshiaki Fukazawa, Shinichi Honiden
Venue: Proceedings of the 2008 Sixth Annual IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications (2008)

Multi-agent systems need protocols to coordinate among agents implemented by different owners.However, specifying coordination protocols for many participating agents is a complex task.A protocol composition approach, which can reduce the complexity of specifying such a coordination protocol, must specify how to compose coordination protocols in a composition configuration.Current protocol compositions cannot sufficiently reduce the complexity because composing a protocol several times requires the specification of too many configurations.We propose a protocol composition approach that can specify composition configurations in an abstract way.We assign metadata to the messages in a coordination protocol and use the metadata to specify the configuration.An abstract configuration using metadata can be applied to various protocol compositions and can reduce the number of specifications required for configuration composition.
Channel error estimation in next generation optical networks
Authors: Stamatios V. Kartalopoulos
Venue: Proceedings of the 4th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Informatics and Communications (2004)

The next generation optical network demands unprecedented performance due to ultra-high aggregate bandwidth and the many channels transported by a single fiber. In dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks, optical channels travel for hundreds of kilometers and thus they suffer from attenuation, noise, jitter, dispersion and other degradations due to photon-matter interactions. Among the well-established link layer performance parameters that determine channel performance are bit error rate (BER), Q-factor, received signal power and signal to noise ratio (SNR). To date, BER and signal power are the only two parameters that are monitored in-service using error detected codes (EDC) and signal power meters, respectively. However, typical EDC codes have a limited error detection capability and require several information frames (or packets) to estimate BER and thus they are time consuming. In this paper we present a statistical estimation method, which in short intervals and in-service estimates BER, SNR, Q-factor and average power at each optical channel. Our method lends itself to VLSI implementation to estimate in real-time the aforementioned performance parameters so that proactive.
Priority Ordering Algorithm for Scalable Video Coding Transmission over Heterogeneous Network
Authors: Song Xiao, Chengke Wu, Yunsong Li, Jianchao Du, C. C-jay Kuo
Venue: Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications (2008)

Scalable video representation of the state-of-art scalable extension of the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (SVC) and its combined 3d scalability feature offer an excellent solution to flexible video multicast over IP network. In order to relieve the impact of the severe bandwidth fluctuations and packet loss to the reconstructed quality in heterogeneous networks like the internet, a GOP-adaptive layer-based priority ordering algorithm for SVC is proposed in this paper. The method ordered the SVC bit stream according to the rate distortion contribution of different layer to the whole performance within a GOP, which makes the transmission more efficient and robust under the same bandwidth condition. Simulation results of different sequences are given to demonstrate that the proposed algorithms offer better performance in video quality as compared the default SVC ordering method and the SNR-based ordering method.
Adaptive Filters
Authors: Ali H. Sayed
Venue:  (2008)

Adaptive Filters Adaptive filtering is a topic of immense practical and theoretical value, having applications in areas ranging from digital and wireless communications to biomedical systems. Now, preserving the style and main features of the earlier award-winning publication, Fundamentals of Adaptive Filtering (2005 Terman Award), the author offers readers and instructors a concentrated, systematic, and up-to-date treatment of the subject in this valuable new book. Adaptive Filters allows readers to gain a gradual and solid introduction to the subject, its applications to a variety of topical problems, existing limitations, and extensions of current theories. The book consists of eleven partseach part containing a series of focused lectures and ending with bibliographic comments, problems, and computer projects with MATLAB solutions available to all readers. Additional features include: Numerous tables, figures, and projects Special focus on geometric constructions, physical intuition, linear-algebraic concepts, and vector notation Background material on random variables, linear algebra, and complex gradients collected in three introductory chapters Complete solutions manual available for instructors MATLAB solutions available for all computer projects Adaptive Filters offers a fresh, focused look at the subject in a manner that will entice students, challenge experts, and appeal to practitioners and instructors.
Learning to Trust the Crowd: Some Lessons from Wikipedia
Authors: F. Xavier Olleros
Venue: Proceedings of the 2008 International MCETECH Conference on e-Technologies (2008)

Inspired by the open source software (OSS) movement, Wikipedia has gone further than any OSS project in decentralizing its quality control task. This is seen by many as a fatal flaw. In this short paper, I will try to show that it is rather a shrewd and fertile design choice. First, I will describe the precise way in which Wikipedia is more decentralized than OSS projects. Secondly, I will explain why Wikipedia’s quality control can be and must be decentralized. Thirdly, I will show why it is wise for Wikipedia to welcome anonymous amateurs. Finally, I will argue that concerns about Wikipedia’s quality and sustainable success have to be tempered by the fact that, as disruptive innovations tend to do, Wikipedia is in the process of redefining the pertinent dimensions of quality and value for general encyclopedias.
Sound and musics in the global village: On landscapes in sound and soundscapes in culture
Authors: Tatjana Böhme-mehner
Venue: Organised Sound (2008)

Following Marshall McLuhan's concept of a global village as a form of universal organisation in a technically dominated world, terms of globality and locality, and the concepts of world and village as social constructions in order to organise perception in an enhanced social environment are discussed in matters of their relevance in the context of electroacoustic music and especially its studies. In relation to historical as well as to more theoretical examples from the field of electroacoustic music, problems of perceiving spaces, places and locations are introduced. The solutions proposed here are primarily based on system theory approaches (as for instance Luhmann and Bühl) and newer network theory concepts (as for example Castells and Nowotny). The network is proposed as a kind of explanatory model in today's media-dominated world. Focusing on a model oriented to difference, ‘global’ and ‘local’ are regarded as categories guiding perception in matters of equality and difference. In this way the problem of listening to the other in opposition to the self is introduced. Thus it is demonstrated that there can never be a global sound or even a sounding globality. The phenomenon of soundscapes is discussed as a central theme in relation to its role as a listening strategy, its appearance in music and its own musicality.
Generating links by mining quotations
Authors: Okan Kolak, Bill N. Schilit
Venue: Proceedings of the nineteenth ACM conference on Hypertext and hypermedia (2008)

Scanning books, magazines, and newspapers has become a widespread activity because people believe that much of the worlds information still resides off-line. In general after works are scanned they are indexed for search and processed to add links. This paper describes a new approach to automatically add links by mining popularly quoted passages. Our technique connects elements that are semantically rich, so strong relations are made. Moreover, link targets point within a work, facilitating navigation. This paper makes three contributions. We describe a scalable algorithm for mining repeated word sequences from extremely large text corpora. Second, we present techniques that filter and rank the repeated sequences for quotations. Third, we present a new user interface for navigating across and within works in the collection using quotation links. Our system has been run on a digital library of over 1 million books and has been used by thousands of people.
Simulation Study on Lens Manufacturing Process Flow
Authors: Ezutah Udoncy Olugu, Kuan Yew Wong
Venue: Proceedings of the 2008 Second Asia International Conference on Modelling & Simulation (AMS) (2008)

The general question addressed by this work is how best productivity can be enhanced in the process flow of a lens manufacturing company without incurring any major extra cost. Process analysis has been conducted in the process flow of the firm in order to identify improvement prone areas and improvement alternative solutions were proposed. The application of discrete event simulation using WITNESS software has been employed in the evaluation of the production improvement solutions in order to identify which alternative solution yields the highest productivity. Generic performance measures and specific organizational performance measures has been investigated to provide subtle insights into the perceived benefits of adopting alternative manufacturing process structures in the process flow using simulation.