A Measurement-Based Prioritization Scheme for Smartphone Applications

Applications labeled with priorities can reduce energy consumption on smartphones for network traffic, by conserving up to 56 % energy under typical usage patterns. In this paper, we present a measurement-based prioritization scheme for smartphone applications, which labels each application with a priority. More specifically, we first conduct a measurement of application usage on Android smartphones based on the implementation of SystemSens. Based on the measurement results, we observe that two key features of receiving rate (RX rate) and screen touch rate (ST rate) extracted from netlog and screen data can reflect the network interactivity and improve the accuracy of the prioritization scheme as well. Then, with the two selected features, we propose an online solution that prioritizes applications on smartphones to conserve energy consumption. Finally, we evaluate the proposed prioritization scheme with data from a user study, and the results demonstrate that our scheme can accurately prioritize applications on smartphones most of the time.     

Regression of subcutaneous lymphoma following removal of an ovarian granulosatheca cell tumor in a horse

A 9-year-old Arabian mare was admitted for evaluation of multiple subcutaneous nodules and infertility. Fine-needle aspiration of one of the subcutaneous nodules resulted in a cytologic diagnosis of histiolymphocytic lymphoma. Palpation per rectum and transrectal ultrasonography revealed a mass associated with the left ovary. Excision of the ovarian tumor was performed, and a histopathologic diagnosis of granulosa-theca cell tumor was made. After removal of the granulosa-theca cell tumor, subcutaneous nodules regressed. The referring veterinarian reported that the nodules had also disappeared and then recurred after administration of a synthetic progestin. To further characterize the lymphoma and investigate this possible hormonal relationship, immunophenotyping and estrogen and progesterone receptor assays were performed. The subcutaneous lymphoma was classified as a T-cell rich B-cell lymphoma, results of estrogen receptor assays were negative, and results of progesterone receptor assays were positive. Clinical observations of subcutaneous lymphoma in horses indicate that the waxing and waning nature of these tumors may be associated with the estrous cycle, pregnancy, foaling, and lactation. Clinical observations and identification of progesterone receptors suggest that a relationship between serum steroid hormone concentrations, such as estrogen and progesterone, and subcutaneous lymphoma may exists.     

A spatially augmented reality sketching interface for architectural daylighting design

We present an application of interactive global illumination and spatially augmented reality to architectural daylight modeling that allows designers to explore alternative designs and new technologies for improving the sustainability of their buildings. Images of a model in the real world, captured by a camera above the scene, are processed to construct a virtual 3D model. To achieve interactive rendering rates, we use a hybrid rendering technique, leveraging radiosity to simulate the interreflectance between diffuse patches and shadow volumes to generate per-pixel direct illumination. The rendered images are then projected on the real model by four calibrated projectors to help users study the daylighting illumination. The virtual heliodon is a physical design environment in which multiple designers, a designer and a client, or a teacher and students can gather to experience animated visualizations of the natural illumination within a proposed design by controlling the time of day, season, and climate. Furthermore, participants may interactively redesign the geometry and materials of the space by manipulating physical design elements and see the updated lighting simulation.     

Microprogrammed computer simulator tools

A versatile microassembler and assembler program is described that was developed to facilitate the preparation of symbolic microprograms and assembly language programs for use with the microprogrammable computer simulator ET (educational tool) previously reported by the authors (see ibid., vol.E-30, p.135, Aug. 1987). The microassembler program takes as input a microprogram source file written in symbolic form and produces files ready for loading into the simulator's control ROM and address ROM. In addition, a file containing the mnemonics and corresponding op-codes of each instruction in the instruction set of the machine being simulated by the microprogram is created. The assembler program uses this file together with a user-written symbolic assembly language source program and produces a file containing machine language object code ready for loading into the simulator's RAM. Both the microassembler and the assembler also produce list files that may be examined by the user. Students of computer architecture indicate that use of these tools, in conjunction with the ET simulator, greatly simplifies the task of learning how microprogrammed computers function     

Traffic signal light detection through sunglare filters of different Q factors

Recent guides for use of sunglare protection filters have introduced the concept of Q factors as a measure of colour appearance distortion in viewing traffic signal lights. The adoption of Q factor values was apparently arbitrary and not firmly based on experimental data. The manner in which changes in Q factor affect colour perception and detection of signal lights has been measured and shows that detection thresholds vary with the Q factor in a manner that can only partly be explained, but that is not independent of the colour of the signal as assumed in the guides. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 22, 24–31, 1997.     

Breath ethane as a marker of reactive oxygen species during manipulation of diet and oxygen tension in rats

Breath ethane, O2 consumption, and CO2 production were analyzed in 24-mo-old female Fischer 344 rats that had been fed continuously ad libitum (AL) or restricted 30% of AL level (DR) diets since 6 wk of age. Rats were placed in a glass chamber that was first flushed with air, then with a gas mixture containing 12% O2. After equilibration, a sample of the outflow was collected in gas sampling bags for subsequent analyses of ethane and CO2. The O2 and CO2 levels were also directly monitored in the outflow of the chamber. O2 consumption and CO2 production increased for DR rats. Hypoxia decreased O2 consumption and CO2 production for the AL-fed and DR rats. These changes reflect changes in metabolic rate due to diet and PO2. A significant decrease in ethane generation was found in DR rats compared with AL-fed rats. Under normoxic conditions, breath ethane decreased from 2.20 to 1.61 pmol ethane/ml CO2. During hypoxia the levels of ethane generation increased, resulting in a DR-associated decrease in ethane from 2.60 to 1.90 pmol ethane/ml CO2. These results support the hypothesis that DR reduces the level of oxidative stress.     

The predominance of strong initial syllables in the English vocabulary

Studies of human speech processing have provided evidece for a segmentation strategy in the perception of continuous speech, whereby a word boundary is postulated, and a lexical access procedure initiated, at each metrically strong syllable. The likely success of this strategy was here estimated against the characteristics of the English vocabulary. Two computerized dictionaries were found to list approximately three times as many words beginning with strong syllables (i.e. syllables containing a full vowel) as beginning with weak syllables (i.e. syllables containing a reduced vowel). Consideration of frequency of lexical word occurrence reveals that words beginning with strong syllables occur on average more often than words beginning with weak syllables. Together, these findings motivate an estimate for everyday speech recognition that approximately 85% of lexical words (i.e. excluding function words) will begin with strong syllables. This estimate was tested against a corpus of 190 000 words of spontaneous British English conversion. In this corpus, 90% of lexical words were found to begin with strong syllables. This suggests that a strategy of postulating word boundaries at the onset of strong syllables would have a high success rate in that few actual lexical word onsets would be missed.