ppxscal/embedding_network huggingface dataset:
Managing and querying transaction-time databases under schema evolution
Authors: Hyun J. Moon, Carlo A. Curino, Alin Deutsch, Chien-Yi Hou, Carlo Zaniolo
Venue: Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment (2008)

The old problem of managing the history of database information is now made more urgent and complex by fast spreading web information systems, such as Wikipedia. Our PRIMA system addresses this difficult problem by introducing two key pieces of new technology. The first is a method for publishing the history of a relational database in XML, whereby the evolution of the schema and its underlying database are given a unified representation. This temporally grouped representation makes it easy to formulate sophisticated historical queries on any given schema version using standard XQuery. The second key piece of technology is that schema evolution is transparent to the user: she writes queries against the current schema while retrieving the data from one or more schema versions. The system then performs the labor-intensive and error-prone task of rewriting such queries into equivalent ones for the appropriate versions of the schema. This feature is particularly important for historical queries spanning over potentially hundreds of different schema versions and it is realized in PRIMA by (i) introducing Schema Modification Operators (SMOs) to represent the mappings between successive schema versions and (ii) an XML integrity constraint language (XIC) to efficiently rewrite the queries using the constraints established by the SMOs. The scalability of the approach has been tested against both synthetic data and real-world data from the Wikipedia DB schema evolution history.
Resisting structural re-identification in anonymized social networks
Authors: Michael Hay, Gerome Miklau, David Jensen, Don Towsley, Philipp Weis
Venue: Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment (2008)

We identify privacy risks associated with releasing network data sets and provide an algorithm that mitigates those risks. A network consists of entities connected by links representing relations such as friendship, communication, or shared activity. Maintaining privacy when publishing networked data is uniquely challenging because an individual's network context can be used to identify them even if other identifying information is removed. In this paper, we quantify the privacy risks associated with three classes of attacks on the privacy of individuals in networks, based on the knowledge used by the adversary. We show that the risks of these attacks vary greatly based on network structure and size. We propose a novel approach to anonymizing network data that models aggregate network structure and then allows samples to be drawn from that model. The approach guarantees anonymity for network entities while preserving the ability to estimate a wide variety of network measures with relatively little bias.
JESS-based web interface for XML document validation
Authors: Buhwan Jeong, Jungyub Woo, Boonserm Kulvatunyou, Hyunbo Cho
Venue: Expert Systems with Applications: An International Journal (2009)

Ensuring consistency among data exchange specifications in XML is critical to seamless integration of various business-to-business (B2B) applications. To this end, a specification should be thoroughly verified in manifold perspectives such as grammar/syntax conformance, design compliance, and canonical semantics accordance. A single hand-woven testbed implementation will fail to versatilely support such a variety of testings. In this paper, we propose a novel validation tool of XML documents using an expert system and open validation rule scripts. Particularly, we illustrate a web-based implementation to ensure an XML schema's design compliance to design and naming rules (NDR), namely a quality of schema design (QoD) test.
Performance profiling with EndoScope, an acquisitional software monitoring framework
Authors: Alvin Cheung, Samuel Madden
Venue: Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment (2008)

We propose EndoScope, a software monitoring framework that allows users to pose declarative queries that monitor the state and performance of running programs. Unlike most existing monitoring tools, EndoScope is acquisitional, meaning that it only instruments the portions of the program that need to be monitored to answer queries. The use of a high level declarative language allows EndoScope to search for efficient physical instantiations of queries by applying a suite of optimizations, including control flow graph analysis, and traditional database query optimization techniques, such as predicate pushdown and join optimization, to minimize the number of program instrumentation points and overhead to the monitored program. Furthermore, a flexible, high level language and the ability to attach to running programs enable developers to build various program analysis and monitoring applications beyond traditional software profilers with EndoScope. We describe a prototype implementation of the EndoScope framework and a simple profiler for Java programs implemented with EndoScope. We show results from using our profiler on a collection of real-world programs, including a TPC-C implementation using the Derby database and the petstore application running on top of Tomcat application server. Our results show the benefit of our optimization framework and demonstrate that our declarative, acquisitional approach can yield program instrumentation overheads that are dramatically lower than conventional profiling tools (for example, when profiling the Derby Database running TPC-C, our system's overhead ranges from 1% to about 25%, whereas the fastest existing profiler we measured imposes a minimum overhead of about 30%.)
Three-dimensional SPIHT coding of volume images with random access and resolution scalability
Authors: Emmanuel Christophe, William A. Pearlman
Venue: Journal on Image and Video Processing (2008)

End users of large volume image datasets are often interested only in certain features that can be identified as quickly as possible. For hyperspectral data, these features could reside only in certain ranges of spectral bands and certain spatial areas of the target. The same holds true for volume medical images for a certain volume region of the subject's anatomy. High spatial resolution may be the ultimate requirement, but in many cases a lower resolution would suffice, especially when rapid acquisition and browsing are essential. This paper presents a major extension of the 3D-SPIHT (set partitioning in hierarchical trees) image compression algorithm that enables random access decoding of any specified region of the image volume at a given spatial resolution and given bit rate from a single codestream. Final spatial and spectral (or axial) resolutions are chosen independently. Because the image wavelet transform is encoded in tree blocks and the bit rates of these tree blocks are minimized through a rate-distortion optimization procedure, the various resolutions and qualities of the images can be extracted while reading a minimum amount of bits from the coded data. The attributes and efficiency of this 3D-SPIHT extension are demonstrated for several medical and hyperspectral images in comparison to the JPEG2000 Multicomponent algorithm.
Fuzzy logic techniques for navigation of several mobile robots
Authors: Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Dayal Ramakrushna Parhi, Anup Kumar Panda
Venue: Applied Soft Computing (2009)

In this paper, navigation techniques for several mobile robots as many as one thousand robots using fuzzy logic are investigated in a totally unknown environment. Fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) using different membership functions are developed and used to navigate mobile robots. First a fuzzy controller has been used with four types of input members, two types of output members and three parameters each. Next two types of fuzzy controllers have been developed having same input members and output members with five parameters each. Each robot has an array of ultrasonic sensors for measuring the distances of obstacles around it and an infrared sensor for detecting the bearing of the target. These techniques have been demonstrated in various exercises, which depicts that the robots are able to avoid obstacles as well as negotiate the dead ends and reach the targets efficiently. Amongst the techniques developed, FLC having Gaussian membership function is found to be most efficient for mobile robots navigation.
An Agent Architecture for an Uncertain World
Authors: John Debenham, Carles Sierra
Venue: Proceedings of the 2008 IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Web Intelligence and Intelligent Agent Technology - Volume 02 (2008)

Successful negotiators look beyond a purely utilitarian view. We propose a new agent architecture that was inspired by the observation that "Everything that an agent says gives away (valuable) information.'' It is intended for agents who are uncertain about their environment. Information-based agency uses tools from information theory, and includes techniques for managing information exchange including: the acceptance of contracts, the estimation of trust, reliability, honour and confidence.
Evaluating the calibration of MTSAT-1R infrared channels using collocated Terra MODIS measurements
Authors: Byung-Ju Sohn, Hye-Sook Park, Hyo-Jin Han, Myoung-Hwan Ahn
Venue: International Journal of Remote Sensing (2008)

The calibration of four MTSAT-1R infrared channels was evaluated by comparing MTSAT measurements with Terra/MODIS inferred MTSAT-equivalent brightness temperatures during August 2005 and August 2006. Theoretical relationships converting MODIS brightness temperatures to MTSAT-equivalent values were obtained and used for the comparison. Results indicate that MTSAT two split window channels are well calibrated, and no serious systematic errors or biases are found; and the MTSAT water-vapour channel shows a good linear relationship but with a warm bias up to 2 K. The significant cold bias of MTSAT 3.7 µm channel about -6.7 K in August 2005 is found to be much removed in August 2006, after correction of the electrical crosstalk between MTSAT-1R SWIR channel and WV channel starting from March 2006. Since then, calibration performances of MTSAT-1R split window channels and shortwave IR channel seem to be comparable with MODIS calibration, while the water-vapour channel shows more uncertainties up to 2 K of bias.
H.264/AVC-based multiple description video coding using dynamic slice groups
Authors: Che-Chun Su, Homer H. Chen, Jason J. Yao, Polly Huang
Venue: Image Communication (2008)

In this paper, an H.264/AVC-based multiple description video coding scheme is proposed. It utilizes the advanced video coding tools and features provided in H.264/AVC to introduce redundancy into descriptions. Two independently decodable descriptions are generated, each consisting of two slice groups. One of them, called main slice group (MSG), is encoded normally as main information. The other one, called side slice group (SSG), is encoded with fewer bits as redundancy information by using larger quantization step sizes. Spatial and temporal correlations between neighboring macroblocks in video frames are exploited to achieve efficient redundancy coding. Experimental results show that the proposed MDC scheme is superior to previous slice group based multiple description coding (MDC) schemes in terms of the rate-distortion (R-D) performance.
A new variable topology for evolutionary hardware design
Authors: Chih-Yung Chen, Rey-Chue Hwang
Venue: Expert Systems with Applications: An International Journal (2009)

In this paper, a novel variable topology for evolutionary hardware design is proposed. The slicing structure and routing graph are integrated into the design of evolutionary hardware. With off-line gate-level samples, simulation results clearly demonstrate the validity of this new approach performed as superior as existing methods in the logic circuit optimization. Compare with the random circuit matrix method, our approach uses less code length for evolutionary hardware description. The method we proposed could be taken as an alternative way for possible evolutionary hardware applications in the future.
Real-Time Systems: Formal Specification and Automatic Verification, 1 edition
Authors: Ernst-Rdiger Olderog, Henning Dierks
Venue:  (2008)

Real-time systems need to react to certain input stimuli within given time bounds. For example, an airbag in a car has to unfold within 300 milliseconds in a crash. There are many embedded safety-critical applications and each requires real-time specification techniques. This text introduces three of these techniques, based on logic and automata: duration calculus, timed automata, and PLC-automata. The techniques are brought together to form a seamless design flow, from real-time requirements specified in the duration calculus; via designs specified by PLC-automata; and into source code for hardware platforms of embedded systems. The syntax, semantics, and proof methods of the specification techniques are introduced; their most important properties are established; and real-life examples illustrate their use. Detailed case studies and exercises conclude each chapter. Ideal for students of real-time systems or embedded systems, this text will also be of great interest to researchers and professionals in transportation and automation.
Discrete optimization with logical constraints for design of complex products
Authors: O. N. Guseletova, A. A. Kolokolov
Venue: Automation and Remote Control (2008)

Consideration was given to the optimization problem arising at designing complex products. It was assumed that the products are formed of the components with allowance for certain conditions and criteria. To solve the problem, an approach relying on discrete optimization with logical constraints was developed. An algorithm to determine the precise solution on the basis of enumeration of L-classes was developed, and a computer-aided experiment carried out. The algorithm was incorporated in the software of the computer-aided clothing design system.
Producing collaborative video: developing an interactive user experience for mobile tv
Authors: Arvid Engstrom, Mattias Esbjornsson, Oskar Juhlin, Mark Perry
Venue: Proceeding of the 1st international conference on Designing interactive user experiences for TV and video (2008)

This paper presents a study of professional live TV production, investigating the work and interactions between distributed camera operators and a vision mixer during an ice hockey game. Using interview and video data, we discuss the vision mixer's and camera operators' individual assignments, showing the role of video as both a topic and resource in their collaboration. Our findings are applied in a design-oriented examination into the interactive user experience of TV, and inform the development of mobile collaborative tools to support amateur live video production.
Challenges in the Development and Evaluation of Immersive Digital Educational Games
Authors: Effie Lai-Chong Law, Michael D. Kickmeier-Rust, Dietrich Albert, Andreas Holzinger
Venue: Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of the Workgroup Human-Computer Interaction and Usability Engineering of the Austrian Computer Society on HCI and Usability for Education and Work (2008)

In this paper, we describe a conceptual framework and address the related issues and solutions in the identification of three major challenges for the development and evaluation of Immersive Digital Educational Games (IDEGs). These challenges are (i) advancing adaptive educational technologies to shape learning experience, ensuring the individualization of learning experiences, adaptation to personal aims, needs, abilities and prerequisites; (ii) providing technological approaches to reduce the development costs for IDEGs; by enabling the creation of entirely different stories and games for a variety of different learning domains, each based, more or less, on the same pool of story units; patterns and structures; (iii) developing robust evaluation methodologies for IDEGs by the extension of ISO 9241 to include user satisfaction, motivation and learning progress and other User Experience (UX) attributes. While our research and development is by no means concluded, we believe that we have arrived at a stage where conclusions may be drawn, which will be of considerable use to other researchers in this domain.
Short communication: A broad and narrow approach to interactive evolutionary design-An aircraft design example
Authors: Oliver Bandte
Venue: Applied Soft Computing (2009)

While interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) is starting to penetrate a larger scientific community, only few researchers have applied IEC to the design of complicated artifacts like machines or transportation systems. The present paper introduces a specific approach to interactive evolutionary computation that breaches the two historical categories of user-defined fitness and selection in each generation (narrow) and occasional user-intervention of an automated evolutionary process to correct the fitness function used for (multi-objective) optimization (broad). To highlight the approach, a real world aircraft design problem is employed that demonstrates the relevance and importance of both features for an effective design process.
Dead-beat estimation problems for 2D behaviors
Authors: Mauro Bisiacco, Maria Elena Valcher
Venue: Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing (2008)

In this paper we address the dead-beat estimation problem for the class of two-dimensional (2D) behaviors which are described by means of a 2D difference equation, and whose trajectories evolutions pertain the "nonnegative half-plane". For this class of behaviors, the concept of nilpotency is defined and fully characterized. After this preliminary step, the estimation problem is formally addressed. Indeed, the concept of (consistent or not) 2D dead-beat observer (DBO) of the system relevant variables from the system measured variables is introduced, and a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such a DBO is given. Finally, a complete parametrization of the family of all consistent DBOs is given, and some partial results, together with an interesting counterexample, regarding the class of (not necessarily consistent) DBOs are presented. To conclude the paper, the general dead-beat estimation theory developed in this paper is adjusted to address and solve several problems, like state estimation, the design of unknown input observers or the design of fault detectors and identifiers (possibly in the presence of disturbances), for 2D systems described by quarter-plane causal 2D state space models.
Multitemporal assessment of the geomorphologic evolution of the Restinga of Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: F. S. C. Oliveira, M. Kampel, S. Amaral
Venue: International Journal of Remote Sensing (2008)

The Restinga of Marambaia is an emerged sand bar located between the Sepetiba Bay and the South Atlantic Ocean, on the south-east coast of Brazil. The objective of this study was to observe the geomorphologic evolution of the coastal zone of the Restinga of Marambaia using multitemporal satellite images acquired by multisensors from 1975 to 2004. The images were digitally segmented by a region growth algorithm and submitted to an unsupervised classification procedure (ISOSEG) followed by a raster edit based on visual interpretation. The image time-series showed a general trend of decrease in the total sand bar area with values varying from 80.61 km2 in 1975 to 78.15 km2 in 2004. The total area calculation based on the 1975 and 1978 Landsat MSS data was shown to be super-estimated in relation to the Landsat TM, Landsat ETM+, and CBERS-2 CCD data. These differences can also be associated to the relatively poorer spatial resolution of the MSS data, nominally 79 m, against the 20 m of the CCD data and 30 m of the TM and ETM+ data. For the estimates of the width in the central portion of the sand bar the variation was from 158 m (1975) to 100 m (2004). The formation of a spit in the northern region of the study area was visually observed. The area of the spit was estimated, with values varying from 0.82 km2 (1975) to 0.55 km2 (2004).
Land surface phenology dynamics and climate variations in the North East China Transect (NECT), 1982-2000
Authors: F. Tao, M. Yokozawa, Z. Zhang, Y. Hayashi, Y. Ishigooka
Venue: International Journal of Remote Sensing (2008)

Land surface phenology dynamics reflect the response of the Earth's biosphere to inter-and intra-annual dynamics of the Earth's climate and hydrologic regimes. Investigations of land surface phenology dynamics and its relation to long-term climate variation could help us to detect the response of regional vegetation to climate variation. The present study developed a new algorithm for detecting regional land surface phenology dynamics (ARLSPD) and demonstrated it in detecting the vegetation response to inter-annual climate variability in the North East China Transect (NECT), a mid-latitude semi-arid terrestrial transect with strong gradients in environmental conditions and vegetation formations. The spatial-temporal patterns of greenup-onset date, maturity date, and senescence date during the period of 1982-2000 are presented. The resultant spatial-temporal patterns of land surface phenology were quite consistent with the land-cover characteristics, moisture, and temperature gradients. The relations between inter-annual variations in phenology and seasonal climate were investigated. It was found that besides human disturbance, land surface phenology depended primarily on the combined effects of preseason temperature and precipitation. The relative influence of preseason temperature and precipitation on land surface phenology was changing, which led to the different responses of land surface dynamics to climate variation along the moisture gradient in the NECT. In the arid and semi-arid region of NECT, the dates of onset for phonological events in temperate typical grassland were most significantly related to the precipitation during the preceding 2-4 months. Temperature-induced drought stress during the preceding months could delay greenup onset in cropland/grassland mosaic, and advance senescence in temporal typical grassland, and in cropland/grassland mosaic. The regional phenology algorithm, theoretically also applicable for complex ecosystems characterized by annual multiple growth cycles, is expected to couple with large-scale biogeochemical models to regulate dynamically land surface phenology.