From big smartphone data to worldwide research: The Mobile Data Challenge

This paper presents an overview of the Mobile Data Challenge (MDC), a large-scale research initiative aimed at generating innovations around smartphone-based research, as well as community-based evaluation of mobile data analysis methodologies. First, we review the Lausanne Data Collection Campaign (LDCC), an initiative to collect unique longitudinal smartphone dataset for the MDC. Then, we introduce the Open and Dedicated Tracks of the MDC, describe the specific datasets used in each of them, discuss the key design and implementation aspects introduced in order to generate privacy-preserving and scientifically relevant mobile data resources for wider use by the research community, and summarize the main research trends found among the 100+ challenge submissions. We finalize by discussing the main lessons learned from the participation of several hundred researchers worldwide in the MDC Tracks.     

Non-encapsulated thermo-liquid crystals for digital particle tracking thermography/velocimetry in microfluidics

The ever accelerating state of technology has powered an increasing interest in heat transfer solutions and process engineering innovations in the microfluidics domain. In order to carry out such developments, reliable heat transfer diagnostic techniques are necessary. Thermo-liquid crystal (TLC) thermography, in combination with particle image velocimetry, has been a widely accepted and commonly used technique for the simultaneous measurement and characterization of temperature and velocity fields in macroscopic fluid flows for several decades. However, low seeding density, volume illumination, and low TLC particle image quality at high magnifications present unsurpassed challenges to its application to three-dimensional flows with microscopic dimensions. In this work, a measurement technique to evaluate the color response of individual non-encapsulated TLC particles is presented. A Shirasu porous glass membrane emulsification approach was used to produce the non-encapsulated TLC particles with a narrow size distribution and a multi-variable calibration procedure, making use of all three RGB and HSI color components, as well as the proper orthogonally decomposed RGB components, was used to achieve unprecedented low uncertainty levels in the temperature estimation of individual particles, opening the door to simultaneous temperature and velocity tracking using 3D velocimetry techniques.     

Universal Remote Console-based next-generation accessible television

This paper presents a new approach to make current and future television universally accessible. The proposed approach provides a means of universal accessibility both for remotely operating the TV set and for interacting with online services delivered through the TV. This proposal is based on the ISO/IEC 24752 “Universal Remote Console” (URC) standard. This standard defines an abstract user interface layer called the “user interface socket” and allows the development of pluggable (plug-in) user interfaces for any type of user and any control device. The proposed approach lays the foundation for the development of advanced user interfaces that can be interacted within various modalities. Different prototypes have been developed based on this approach and tested with end users. The user tests have shown this approach to be a viable option for the proposed scenarios. Based on the experience gathered with the prototypes, recommendations and implementation options are suggested for commercial adoption.     

分数频率复用的帧结构及性能分析

针对现代无线通信系统在干扰控制方面越来越高的要求,利用通信帧中子载波的重新分配,提出了帧结构设计中一种新的分数频率复用方法—时频分分数频率复用,并将其与传统的分数频率复用方式进行比较。这一新方法是在对系统容量进行建模之后,综合资源块分配中的时分和频分模式提出的,其对应的帧结构相对于传统的FFR具有更高的调节粒度。实验结果验证了这种设计以少量系统容量为代价,在提升系统公平性、提高边缘用户吞吐率方面的性能优势。     

Adding cardinality constraints to integer programs with applications to maximum satisfiability

Max-SAT-CC is the following optimization problem: Given a formula in CNF and a bound k, find an assignment with at most k variables being set to true that maximizes the number of satisfied clauses among all such assignments. If each clause is restricted to have at most ? literals, we obtain the problem Max-?SAT-CC. Sviridenko [Algorithmica 30 (3) (2001) 398-405] designed a (1−e⁻¹)-approximation algorithm for Max-SAT-CC. This result is tight unless P=NP [U. Feige, J. ACM 45 (4) (1998) 634-652]. Sviridenko asked if it is possible to achieve a better approximation ratio in the case of Max-?SAT-CC. We answer this question in the affirmative by presenting a randomized approximation algorithm whose approximation ratio is . To do this, we develop a general technique for adding a cardinality constraint to certain integer programs. Our algorithm can be derandomized using pairwise independent random variables with small probability space.     

Cost-Based Filtering Techniques for Stochastic Inventory Control Under Service Level Constraints

This paper¹ considers a single product and a single stocking location production/inventory control problem given a non-stationary stochastic demand. Under a widely-used control policy for this type of inventory system, the objective is to find the optimal number of replenishments, their timings and their respective order-up-to-levels that meet customer demands to a required service level. We extend a known CP approach for this problem using three cost-based filtering methods. Our approach can solve to optimality instances of realistic size much more efficiently than previous approaches, often with no search effort at all. This work was supported by Science Foundation Ireland under Grant No. 03/CE3/I405 as part of the Centre for Telecommunications Value-Chain-Driven Research (CTVR) and Grant No. 00/PI.1/C075. ¹This paper is an extended version of [19].     

Tracing pathway activities with kinase inhibitors and reverse phase protein arrays

Controlling aberrant protein kinase activity is a promising strategy for a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. Hence, the development of kinase inhibitors is currently a focal point for pharmaceutical research. In this study we utilize a chip-based reverse phase protein array (RPA) platform for profiling of kinase inhibitors in cell-based assays. In combination with the planar wave-guide technology the assay system has an absolute LOD down to the low zeptomole range. A431 cell lysates were analyzed for the activation state of key effectors in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin signaling pathways to validate this model for compound screening. A microtiter-plate format for growing, treating, and lysing cells was shown to be suitable for this approach, establishing the value of the technology as a screening tool for characterization of large numbers of kinase inhibitors against a wide variety of cellular signaling pathways. Moreover, the reverse array format allows rapid development of site-specific phosphorylation assays, since in contrast to ELISA type systems only a single antigen-specific antibody is required.     

Application of the general elimination method in robot kinematics

A general method for solving the robot inverse kinematics problem is presented. The method is based upon the general elimination method to obtain the equivalent system of equations which are triangularized and the solutions of the inverse kinematics problem can be solved by backsubstitutions.     

Introduction of lysine residues on the light chain constant domain improves the labelling properties of a recombinant Fab fragment

Europium chelates provide a non-radioactive alternative forsensitive labelling of antibodies for diagnostic immunoassays.Lysine residues at antibody surfaces are ready targets for labellingby an isothiocyanate derivative of the europium chelate (Eu³⁺).Here the labelling efficiency of a recombinant anti-human -fetoprotein(hAFP) Fab fragment has been improved by increasing its lysinecontent by protein engineering. Molecular modelling was usedto identify three light chain constant domain surface arginineresidues, R154, R187 and R210, which were mutated to lysineresidues. The mutations did not influence the affinity of thelysine-enriched Fab fragment and its labelling efficiency wasfound to be 40% higher than that of the wildtype Fab fragmentWith low degree of labelling, the affinities of the two Fabfragments were identical and comparable with that of the originalmonoclonal anti-hAFP IgG. With a higher degree of labellingthe affinities of both Fab fragments decreased more than thatof the intact IgG since more lysine residues are available forlabelling in the additional heavy chain constant domains ofthe larger molecule. Electrostatic adsorption and covalent immobilizationof the Fab fragments were characterized by BIAcore^TM and thelysine-enriched Fab fragment was found to be more efficientlyimmobilized to an activated carboxymethyl surface.