ppxscal/embedding_network huggingface dataset:
Multi-agent resource allocation (MARA) for modeling construction processes
Authors: Yang Liu, Yasser Mohamed
Venue: Proceedings of the 40th Conference on Winter Simulation (2008)

Multi-Agent Resource Allocation (MARA) is a field developing solutions to the problem of distributing a number of resources amongst multiple agents. This field has interdisciplinary characteristics and relates to a wide range of applications, such as industrial procurement, scheduling and network routing. Many construction operations involve entities sharing and competing for limited resources. The decision to allocate these resources to entities usually has a significant impact on the schedule and cost of these operations. The dynamic and continuously changing nature of construction operations justifies the need for decision support tools with high adaptability and handling of uncertainty which is featured by MARA. This paper presents the main elements and techniques in MARA and discusses a sample case applying these techniques for the modeling of industrial construction assembly processes, also presents the conceptual model of the sample case and a prototype implementation of that model using Repast multi-agent simulation package.
Using online annotations to support error correction and corrective feedback
Authors: Shiou-Wen Yeh, Jia-Jiunn Lo
Venue: Computers Education (2009)

Giving feedback on second language (L2) writing is a challenging task. This research proposed an interactive environment for error correction and corrective feedback. First, we developed an online corrective feedback and error analysis system called Online Annotator for EFL Writing. The system consisted of five facilities: Document Maker, Annotation Editor, Composer, Error Analyzer, and Viewer. With this system, teachers can mark error corrections on online documents and students can receive corrective feedback accordingly. The system also classifies and displays error types based on user query. Second, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this system. Fifty EFL (English as a Foreign Language) college freshmen were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group received corrective feedback with the developed system whereas the control group used the paper-based error correction method. After the treatment, students in both groups conducted corrective feedback activities by correcting the same document written by an EFL student. The experimental results were encouraging in that the analysis of students' corrective feedback revealed significantly better performance in the experimental group on recognizing writing errors. Implications for further research are discussed.
Blended learning and pure e-learning concepts for information retrieval: experiences and future directions
Authors: Andreas Henrich, Stefanie Sieber
Venue: Information Retrieval (2009)

Today, teaching and learning are mostly supported by digital material and electronic communication ranging from the provision of slides or scripts in digital form to elaborate, interactive learning environments. This article describes the prospects and risks of blended learning and e-learning for information retrieval courses. It deals with adequate content presentation and representation, as well as with interaction concepts and didactic considerations concerning the cost-benefit ratio of animations, applets, and multimedia elements. We present lessons learnt from 6 years of teaching information retrieval in blended learning and pure e-learning scenarios, and derive graded concepts for basic and advanced topics based on a book-like content representation on the one side, and lecture-recordings on the other side. Each concept is complemented by a pragmatic and focussed use of auxiliary elements such as forums and self-tests. Examples for beneficial and misguided applets and animations are given, along with criteria for their differentiation. Finally, critical success factors for technology enhanced learning approaches in the information retrieval field are derived concerning the creation, utilisation, and maintenance of courses. In short, we will argue that taking into account the nature and stability of the presented content, as well as a thorough consideration of the affordable creation and maintenance effort, are crucial for the success of such concepts. In addition, the closer the concept is to pure e-learning, the more important a high digital presence of the lecturer becomes.
Call browser: a system to improve the caller experience by analyzing live calls end-to-end
Authors: Bernhard Suhm, Pat Peterson
Venue: Proceedings of the 27th international conference on Human factors in computing systems (2009)

This paper describes a system that empowers practitioners to substantially improve the user experience with call center automation and agents. Unlike other approaches we analyze the caller experience in live calls end-to-end, from dialing to hangup. A web-based solution, the Call Browser provides access to hundreds or thousands of live end-to-end calls, and empowers usability practitioners and call-center analysts to systematically and efficiently evaluate the caller experience and identify usability issues. Case studies from our consulting practice illustrate how this approach reveals issues that remain hidden to traditional methods, such as log analyses, lab user studies, focus groups, and design guidelines.
Can feature information interaction help for information fusion in multimedia problems?
Authors: Jana Kludas, Eric Bruno, Stéphane Marchand-Maillet
Venue: Multimedia Tools and Applications (2009)

This article presents the information-theoretic based feature information interaction, a measure that can describe complex feature dependencies in multivariate settings. According to the theoretical development, feature interactions are more accurate than current, bivariate dependence measures due to their stable and unambiguous definition. In experiments with artificial and real data we compare first the empirical dependency estimates of correlation, mutual information and 3-way feature interaction. Then, we present feature selection and classification experiments that show superior performance of interactions over bivariate dependence measures for the artificial data, for real world data this goal is not achieved yet.
Computational Intelligence in Radio Astronomy: Using Computational Intelligence Techniques to Tune Geodesy Models
Authors: Daniel Angus, Adam Deller
Venue: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Simulated Evolution and Learning (2008)

In this paper a number of popular Computational Intelligence (CI) algorithms are used to tune Geodesy models, a radio astronomy problem. Several single and multiple objective variations of the Geodesy problem are examined with good results obtained using state-of-the-art CI algorithms. These novel applications are used to develop insights into methods for applying CI algorithms to unknown problem domains and to provide interesting solutions to the Geodesy models used.
A simplified method for online acoustic feedback path modeling and neutralization in multichannel active noise control systems
Authors: Muhammad Tahir Akhtar, Masahide Abe, Masayuki Kawamata, Wataru Mitsuhashi
Venue: Signal Processing (2009)

The presence of strong acoustic feedback degrades the performance of active noise control (ANC) systems, and in the worst case the ANC system may become unstable. In this paper, we investigate additive-random-noise-based methods for online feedback path modeling and neutralization (FBPMN) in multichannel ANC systems. In existing methods, separate filters are used for each acoustic feedback path: one for online feedback path modeling (FBPM), and another for feedback path neutralization (FBPN). Furthermore, the existing method works well for predictable noise sources but its performance degrades for unpredictable sources. This paper attempts to solve these problems in multichannel ANC systems. The proposed method is a modification and extension of previous work for online FBPMN in single-channel ANC systems. In the proposed method, we combine the two tasks of FBPM and FBPN in one online FBPMN filter, and hence, the computational complexity of the proposed method is lower than existing methods. Computer simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It is shown that the proposed method achieves better performance than existing methods for both predictable and unpredictable noise sources. Furthermore, this improved performance is achieved at somewhat reduced computational complexity.
On process variation tolerant low cost thermal sensor design in 32nm CMOS technology
Authors: Spandana Remarsu, Sandip Kundu
Venue: Proceedings of the 19th ACM Great Lakes symposium on VLSI (2009)

Thermal management has emerged as an important design issue in a range of designs from portable devices to server systems. Internal thermal sensors are an integral part of such a management system. Process variations in CMOS circuits cause accuracy problems for thermal sensors which can be fixed by calibration tables. Stand-alone thermal sensors are calibrated to fix such problems. However, calibration requires going through temperature steps in a tester, increasing test application time and cost. Consequently, calibrating thermal sensors in typical digital designs including mainstream desktop and notebook processors increases the cost of the processor. This creates a need for design of thermal sensors whose accuracy does not vary significantly with process variations. Other qualities desired from thermal sensors include low area requirement so that many of them maybe integrated in a design as well as low power dissipation, such that the sensor itself does not become a significant source of heat. In this paper, we present a process variation tolerant thermal sensor design with (i) active compensation circuitry and (ii) signal dithering based self calibration technique to meet the above requirements in 32nm technology. Results show that we achieve ±3ºC temperature accuracy, with a relatively small design. This compares well with designs that are currently used.
The Life of a Logic Programming System
Authors: Vítor Santos Costa
Venue: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Logic Programming (2008)

Logic Programming and the Prolog language have a major role in Computing. Prolog, and its derived languages, have been widely used in a impressive variety of application domains. Thus, a bit of the history of Logic Programming reflects in the history of systems such as Dec-10 Prolog [32], M-Prolog [15], C-Prolog [19], Quintus Prolog [20], SICStus Prolog [6], BIM-Prolog [17], ECLiPSe [1], BinProlog [30], SWI-Prolog [34], CIAO [14], and B-Prolog [35], to mention but a few. I briefly present the evolution of one such system, YAP, and present a personal perspective on the challenges ahead for YAP (and for Logic Programming).
A holistic approach for tightly coupled reconfigurable parallel processors
Authors: Hritam Dutta, Dmitrij Kissler, Frank Hannig, Alexey Kupriyanov, Jürgen Teich, Bernard Pottier
Venue: Microprocessors Microsystems (2009)

New standards in signal, multimedia, and network processing for embedded electronics are characterized by computationally intensive algorithms, high flexibility due to the swift change in specifications. In order to meet demanding challenges of increasing computational requirements and stringent constraints on area and power consumption in fields of embedded engineering, there is a gradual trend towards coarse-grained parallel embedded processors. Furthermore, such processors are enabled with dynamic reconfiguration features for supporting time- and space-multiplexed execution of the algorithms. However, the formidable problem in efficient mapping of applications (mostly loop algorithms) onto such architectures has been a hindrance in their mass acceptance. In this paper we present (a) a highly parameterizable, tightly coupled, and reconfigurable parallel processor architecture together with the corresponding power breakdown and reconfiguration time analysis of a case study application, (b) a retargetable methodology for mapping of loop algorithms, (c) a co-design framework for modeling, simulation, and programming of such architectures, and (d) loosely coupled communication with host processor.
Simulation modeling and analysis for in-store merchandizing of retail stores with enhanced information technology
Authors: Kanna Miwa, Soemon Takakuwa
Venue: Proceedings of the 40th Conference on Winter Simulation (2008)

In this study a procedure of simulation modeling for instore merchandizing was used in order to examine customer flows in retail stores. One of the main objectives of this paper is to propose an approach of building a simulation model by making use of the POS data. The methods for identifying the arrival time and routing inside store are described, using daily POS data. This study primarily analyzed customer congestion and the utilization of the cash registers. Recently, IC tags are recognized in the fields of manufacturing and distribution systems as a powerful tool to reduce sales transaction time, with the assistance of the POS system. The proposed procedure was applied to the actual case. The results show that the customer flow can be examined easily, while the proposed procedure is useful for store management including cashiers scheduling and in-store merchandising.
Research on Mobile-agent Based for ASP Model
Authors: Wei Zhang, Xiaohong Pan
Venue: Proceedings of the 2009 Second International Symposium on Intelligent Information Technology and Security Informatics (2009)

On the basis of analyzing the demand, to determine the entity targets of auto parts ASP platform, a simplified model of ASP platform is formed by studying entity targets separately through mobile Agent technology. The ASP platform with mobile Agent is achieved preliminarily by studying the working mechanism of the mobile Agent. It focuses on the framework structure of Agent and the typical collaboration between the Multi-Agent among the physical objects. The research shows that mobile Agent technology has good prospects of application in the network manufacturing, and it also provides a new way of thinking for achieving the intelligent ASP platform.
A novel nonvolatile memory based on self-organized quantum dots
Authors: A. Marent, M. Geller, D. Bimberg
Venue: Microelectronics Journal (2009)

A novel type of memory based on self-organized quantum dots (QDs) is presented, which merges the advantages of the most important semiconductor memories, the dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and the Flash. A nonvolatile memory with fast access times (<10ns) and good endurance (>1015 write/erase cycles) as an ultimate solution seems possible. A storage time of 1.6s at 300K in InAs/GaAs QDs with an additional Al0.9Ga0.1As barrier is demonstrated and a retention time of 106 years is predicted for GaSb QDs in an AlAs matrix. A minimum write time of 6ns is obtained for InAs/GaAs QDs. This value is already in the order of the access time of a DRAM cell and at the moment limited by the RC low pass of the device. An erase time of milliseconds is shown in first measurements on GaSb/GaAs QDs at 100K. Faster write/erase times below 1ns even at room temperature are expected for improved device structures.
Nonlinear optimization for adaptive antenna array receivers with a small data-record size
Authors: Ning Xie, Yuanping Zhou, Li Zhang, Gongbin Qian, Hui Wang, Xia Li
Venue: Wireless Communications Mobile Computing (2009)

Design of a nonlinear adaptive antenna array receiver is a challenging task in wireless communications due to the limited number of antenna elements and the presence of correlated signals, which directly affect the performance of an antenna array. More importantly, a conventional nonlinear array receiver is often associated with a high computational complexity that undermines its applicability in practice. In this paper, we present a new approach to adaptive beamforming receiver that provides superior performance in antenna array overloading and in the presence of correlated signals with a low complexity. In particular, the proposed receiver requires a small data-record size to estimate the beamformer weights, which is beneficial in applications with fast fading channels. Simulation examples illustrate the performance improvement of the proposed array receiver when it is compared to the conventional beamformers. Copyright &copy; 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Java Applet-Based Virtual Environment as an Usable Interface to Distributed Services and Collaborative Applications on the Internet
Authors: F. Pirri, P. Mugnai, P. Bussotti
Venue: Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia Computing and Systems - Volume 02 (1999)

In this paper we tackle the problem of implementing an user graphical interface that plays the role of an Internet distributed applications container. A Java applet-based DVE (Distributed Virtual Environment), named VERSA (Virtual Environment for Remote Services Access) has been conceived as a common users' platform for acceding to services and applications by means of virtual reality and multimedia communication. The user, that inhabits the "palace" in the semblance of an avatar, may move across rooms and corridors, interact with other avatars, communicate with them and join collaborative sessions of Internet applications by the simple action of entering special rooms. An inter-server communication protocol has been introduced for locating and acceding to such distributed services on the Internet. A widely distributed multi-server structure is implemented to ensure multi-user access and differentiated kinds of services.
Integrating phrasing and intonation modelling using syntactic and morphosyntactic information
Authors: Francisco Campillo Díaz, Jan van Santen, Eduardo Rodrıguez Banga
Venue: Speech Communication (2009)

This paper focuses on the relationship between intonation and syntactic and morphosyntactic information. Although intonation and syntax are both related to dependencies between the different parts of a sentence, and are therefore related to meaning, the precise influence of grammar on intonation is not clear. We describe a novel method that uses syntactic and part-of-speech features in the framework of corpus-based intonation modelling, and which integrates part of the phrasing algorithm in the unit selection stage. Subjective tests confirm an improvement in the quality of the resulting synthetic intonation: 75% of the sentences synthesised with the new intonation model were considered to be better or much better than the sentences synthesised using the old model, while only 7.5% of sentences were rated as worse or much worse.
Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, 4th edition
Authors: David D. Busch
Venue: For Dummies (2008)

Its easy to get started in digital photography and take great photos with Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies! This fourth edition helps you choose the right camera, compose and capture great photos, load them onto your computer, enhance them with Photoshop, and share them online or as prints. Heres how to compare digital camera features, choose accessories, and explore digital SLRs; get great close-ups, sports and action shots, and portraits; and use image editors including Paint Shop Pro, Corel PhotoPaint, PhotoImpact, and Adobes popular Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Youll also discover how to: Compose pictures that communicate Make the most of macro photography Get great candid photos Create the right lighting and use cool lighting gadgets Take advantage of six cool improvements in digital SLRs Follow great ideas for getting your photos published Take great shots in a wide range of situations Learn to repair and restore treasured heirloom photos Turn your images into greeting cards, T-shirts, online albums, or prints Youll quickly find what you need in one of the seven minibooks: Your Digital Studio Using Digital SLRs Taking Great Pictures Basics of Image Editing Editing with Photoshop/Photoshop Elements Restoring Old Photos Printing and Sharing Digital Images Digital Photography All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, 4th Edition gets you up to speed on digital cameras and all the tricks, so you can truly enjoy your digital photography experience.
A Performance Model for the Design of Pipelined ADCs with Consideration of Overdrive Voltage and Slewing
Authors: Masaya Miyahara, Akira Matsuzawa
Venue: IEICE Transactions on Fundamentals of Electronics, Communications and Computer Sciences (2008)

This paper proposes a performance model for design of pipelined analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). This model includes the effect of overdrive voltage on the transistor, slewing of the operational amplifier, multi-bit structure of multiplying digital to analog converter (MDAC) and technology scaling. The conversion frequency of ADC is improved by choosing the optimum overdrive voltage of the transistor, an important consideration at smaller design rules. Moreover, multi-bit MDACs are faster than the single-bit MDACs when slewing occurs during the step response. The performance model of pipelined ADC shown in this paper is attractive for the optimization of the ADC's performances.
The profession of ITBeyond computational thinking
Authors: Peter J. Denning
Venue: Communications of the ACM (2009)

If we are not careful, our fascination with "computational thinking" may lead us back into the trap we are trying to escape.
Improving the Exploration Strategy in Bandit Algorithms
Authors: Olivier Caelen, Gianluca Bontempi
Venue: Learning and Intelligent Optimization: Second International Conference, LION 2007 II, Trento, Italy, December 8-12, 2007. Selected Papers (2008)

The K-armed bandit problem is a formalization of the exploration versus exploitation dilemma, a well-known issue in stochastic optimization tasks. In a K-armed bandit problem, a player is confronted with a gambling machine with K arms where each arm is associated to an unknown gain distribution and the goal is to maximize the sum of the rewards (or minimize the sum of losses). Several approaches have been proposed in literature to deal with the K-armed bandit problem. Most of them combine a greedy exploitation strategy with a random exploratory phase. This paper focuses on the improvement of the exploration step by having recourse to the notion of probability of correct selection (PCS), a well-known notion in the simulation literature yet overlooked in the optimization domain. The rationale of our approach is to perform at each exploration step the arm sampling which maximizes the probability of selecting the optimal arm (i.e. the PCS) at the following step. This strategy is implemented by a bandit algorithm, called &epsilon;-PCSgreedy, which integrates the PCS exploration approach with the classical &epsilon;-greedy schema. A set of numerical experiments on artificial and real datasets shows that a more effective exploration may improve the performance of the entire bandit strategy.
Secondary Variables Selection and Data Pretreatment in Soft-Sensing for the Farmland Water Potential
Authors: Shengli Lu, Jinghua Wang, Yang Zou, Yanmei Pan, Jian Chu, Wenjun Sun
Venue: Proceedings of the 2009 Second International Symposium on Intelligent Information Technology and Security Informatics (2009)

In accordance with theory of water transfer in soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC), the moisture motion in SPAC is driven by water potential gradient. Therefore, continuous automatic measurement of water potential of SPAC and understanding of crop water stress is the most important premise of genuine precision irrigation (PI). In the view of the difficulty in auto-measurement of living crop water potential, a kind of special soft-sensing technique based on the microenvironment information around living crop is proposed. Secondary variables selection based on mechanism and sampled data analysis, outliers identifying and random noise filtering are important foundations of soft-sensing implementation.