We study a reconfiguration problem for Steiner trees in an unweighted graph, which determines whether there exists a sequence of Steiner trees that transforms a given Steiner tree into another one by exchanging a single edge at a time. In this paper, we show that the problem is PSPACE-complete even for split graphs, while solvable in linear time for interval graphs and for cographs.

Verification of logic designs has been a long-standing bottleneck in the process of hardware design, where its automation and improvement of efficiency has demanding needs. Mainly simulation-based verification has been used for this purpose, and recently, coverage-driven verification has been widely used, of which target is improvement of some metric called coverage. Our target is the metric called toggle coverage. To find input patterns which cause some toggles on each signal, a SAT solver could be used, but this is computationally costly. In this paper, we study the effect of combination of random simulation and usage of a SAT solver. In particular, we use a SAT solver which can find multiple “diverse” solutions. With this solver, we can avoid generating similar patterns, which are unlikely to improve coverage. The experimental results show that, a small number of calls of a SAT solver can improve entire toggle coverage effectively, compared with simple random simulation.

During the development of a human embryo, the position of eyes moves medially and caudally in the viscerocranium. A statistical model of this process can play an important role in embryology by facilitating qualitative analyses of change. This paper proposes an algorithm to construct a spatiotemporal statistical model for the eyeballs of a human embryo. The proposed modeling algorithm builds a statistical model of the spatial coordinates of the eyeballs independently for each Carnegie stage (CS) by using principal component analysis (PCA). In the process, a q-Gaussian distribution with a model selection scheme based on the Aaike information criterion is used to handle a non-Gaussian distribution with a small sample size. Subsequently, it seamlessly interpolates the statistical models of neighboring CSs, and we present 10 interpolation methods. We also propose an estimation algorithm for the CS using our spatiotemporal statistical model. A set of images of eyeballs in human embryos from the Kyoto Collection was used to train the model and assess its performance. The modeling results suggested that information geometry-based interpolation under the assumption of a q-Gaussian distribution is the best modeling method. The average error in CS estimation was 0.409. We proposed an algorithm to construct a spatiotemporal statistical model of the eyeballs of a human embryo and tested its performance using the Kyoto Collection.

Collaborative filtering with only implicit feedbacks has become a quite common scenario (e.g. purchase history, click-through log, and page visitation). This kind of feedback data only has a small portion of positive instances reflecting the user's interaction. Such characteristics pose great challenges to dealing with implicit recommendation problems. In this letter, we take full advantage of matrix factorization and relative preference to make the recommendation model more scalable and flexible. In addition, we propose to take into consideration the concept of covisitation which captures the underlying relationships between items or users. To this end, we propose the algorithm Integrated Collaborative Filtering for Implicit Feedback incorporating Covisitation (ICFIF-C) to integrate matrix factorization and collaborative ranking incorporating the covisitation of users and items simultaneously to model recommendation with implicit feedback. The experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms on three standard datasets.

This paper proposes 0-1-A-Ā LUT, a new programmable logic using atom switches, and a delay-optimal mapping algorithm for it. Atom switch is a non-volatile memory device of very small geometry which is fabricated between metal layers of a VLSI, and it can be used as a switch device of very small on-resistance and parasitic capacitance. While considerable area reduction of Look Up Tables (LUTs) used in conventional Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) has been achieved by simply replacing each SRAM element with a memory element using a pair of atom switches, our 0-1-A-Ā LUT achieves further area and delay reduction. Unlike the conventional atom-switch-based LUT in which all k input signals are fed to a MUX, one of input signals is fed to the switch array, resulting area reduction due to the reduced number of inputs of the MUX from 2k to 2k-1, as well as delay reduction due to reduced fanout load of the input buffers. Since the fanout of this input buffers depends on the mapped logic function, this paper also proposes technology mapping algorithms to select logic function of fewer number of fanouts of input buffers to achieve further delay reduction. From our experiments, the circuit delay using our k-LUT is 0.94% smaller in the best case compared with using the conventional atom-switch-based k-LUT.

Task scheduling is one of the most important processes in the design of multicore computing systems. This paper presents a technique for scheduling of malleable tasks. Our scheduling technique decides not only the execution order of the tasks but also the number of cores assigned to the individual tasks, simultaneously. We formulate the scheduling problem as an integer linear programming (ILP) problem, and the optimal schedule can be obtained by solving the ILP problem. Experiments using a standard task-set suite clarify the strength of this work.

Linear phase maximally flat digital differentiators (DDs) with stopbands obtained by minimizing the Lp norm are filters with important practical applications, as they can differentiate input signals without distortion. Stopbands designed by minimizing the Lp norm can be used to control the relationship between the steepness in the transition band and the ripple scale. However, linear phase DDs are unsuitable for real-time processing because each group delay is half of the filter order. In this paper, we proposed a design method for a low-delay maximally flat low-pass/band-pass FIR DDs with stopbands obtained by minimizing the Lp norm. The proposed DDs have low-delay characteristics that approximate the linear phase characteristics only in the passband. The proposed transfer function is composed of two functions, one with flat characteristics in the passband and one that ensures the transfer function has Lp approximated characteristics in the stopband. In the optimization of the latter function, Newton's method is employed.

A comprehensive method applying a nonlinear frequency compression (FC) as complementary to multi-band loudness compensation is proposed, which is able to improve loudness compensation and simultaneously increase high-frequency speech intelligibility for digital hearing aids. The proposed nonlinear FC (NLFC) improves the conventional methods in the aspect that the compression ratio (CR) is adjusted based on the speech intelligibility percentage in different frequency ranges. Then, an adaptive wide dynamic range compression (AWDRC) with a time-varying CR is applied to achieve adaptive loudness compensation. The experimental test results show that the mean speech identification is improved in comparison with the state-of-art methods.

This letter proposes a class of polyphase zero correlation zone (ZCZ) sequence sets with low inter-set cross-correlation property. The proposed ZCZ sequence sets are constructed from DFT matrices and r-coincidence sequences. Each ZCZ sequence set is optimal, and the absolute value of the cross-correlation function of sequences from different sets is less than or equal to $rsqrt{N}$, where N denotes the length of each sequence. These ZCZ sequence sets are suitable for multiuser environments.

As autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been widely used to perform cooperative works with sensor nodes for data-gathering, the need for long-range AUVs has further grown to support the long-duration cooperation with sensor nodes. However, as existing data-gathering protocols for the cooperative works have not considered AUVs' energy consumption, AUVs can deplete their energy more quickly before fulfilling their missions. The objective of this work is to develop an AUV based data-gathering protocol that maximizes the duration for the cooperative works. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol outperforms existing protocols with respect to the long-range AUVs.

This paper proposes approximated log likelihood ratios (LLRs) for single carrier millimeter-wave (mmW) transmission systems in the presence of phase noise. In mmW systems, phase noise on carrier wave signals in very high frequency bands causes severe performance degradation. In order to mitigate the impairments of phase noise, forward error correction (FEC) techniques, such as low density parity check (LDPC) code, are effective. However, if the probabilistic model does not capture the exact behavior of the random process present in the received signal, FEC performance is severely degraded, especially in higher order modulation or high coding rate cases. To address this issue, we carefully examine the probabilistic model of minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer output including phase noise component. Based on the derived probabilistic model, approximated LLR computation methods with low computational burden are proposed. Computer simulations confirm that the approximated LLR computations on the basis of the derived probabilistic model are capable of improving bit error rate (BER) performance without sacrificing computational simplicity in the presence of phase noise.

In this paper, a novel fusion center controlled media access control (MAC) protocol for physical wireless parameter conversion sensor networks (PHY-C SN), and a transmission power design for each sensor node are proposed. In PHY-C SN, the sensing information is converted to corresponding subcarrier number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals, and all sensor nodes can send sensing information simultaneously. In most wireless sensor network standards, each sensor node detects the surrounding wireless signal through carrier sense. However, sensor nodes cannot send signals simultaneously if carrier sense is applied in PHY-C SN. Therefore, a protocol for PHY-C SN is devised. In the proposed protocol, the fusion center detects the surrounding wireless environment by carrier sense and requests sensing information transmission toward sensor nodes if no other wireless systems are detected. Once the sensor nodes receive the request signal, they transmit sensing information to the fusion center. Further, to avoid harmful interference with surrounding wireless systems, the transmission power of each sensor is designed to suit the considering communication range and avoid interference toward other wireless systems. The effectiveness of the proposed protocol is evaluated by computer simulation. The parameters for collection like the number of collecting sensor nodes and the radius of the collection area are also examined when determining the transmission power of sensor nodes. Results show that highly efficient information collection with reducing interference both from and towards surrounding wireless systems can be implemented with PHY-C SN.

Software-based error detection techniques, which includes error detection mechanism (EDM) transformation, are used for error localization in post-silicon validation. This paper evaluates the performance of EDM for timing error localization with a noise-aware logic simulator and 65-nm test chips assuming the following two EDM usage scenarios; (1) localizing a timing error occurred in the original program, and (2) localizing as many potential timing errors as possible. Simulation results show that the EDM transformation customized for quick error detection cannot locate electrical timing errors in the original program in the first scenario, but it detects 86% of non-masked errors potential bugs in the second scenario, which mean the EDM performance of detecting electrical timing errors affecting execution results is high. Hardware measurement results show that the EDM detects 25% of original timing errors and 56% of non-masked errors. Here, these hardware measurement results are not consistent with the simulation results. To investigate the reason, we focus on the following two differences between hardware and simulation; (1) design of power distribution network, and (2) definition of timing error occurrence frequency. We update the simulation setup for filling the difference and re-execute the simulation. We confirm that the simulation and the chip measurement results are consistent.

This paper summarizes Wi-SUN communication systems and their physical (PHY) layer and media access control (MAC) specifications. Firstly, the Wi-SUN communication systems are categorized into three. The key PHY and MAC standards, IEEE 802.15.4g and .4e, that configure the systems are explained, and fundamental transmission performances of the systems in the PHY layer and MAC layer are evaluated by computer simulations. Then, the Wi-SUN alliance and the Wi-SUN profiles that include IEEE 802.15.4g and .4e are explained. Finally, to understand the transmission performance of actual IEEE 802.15.4g Wi-SUN radio devices, PER performances under AWGN and multipath fading environments are measured by using IEEE 802.15.4g compliant and Wi-SUN alliance certified radio modules. This paper is an instruction paper for the beginners of the Wi-SUN based communications systems.

The rapid prototyping of a mixed-signal system-on-chip (SoC) has been enabled by reusing predesigned intellectual properties (IPs) and by integrating newly designed IP into the top design of SoC. The IPs have been designed on various hardware description levels, which leads to challenges in simulations that evaluate the prototyping. One traditional solution is to convert these heterogeneous IP models into equivalent models, that are described in a single description language. This conversion approach often requires manual rewriting of existing IPs, and this results in description loss during the model projection due to the absence of automatic conversion tools. The other solutions are co-simulation/emulation approaches that are based on the coupling of multiple simulators/emulators through connection modules. The conventional methods do not have formal theoretical backgrounds and an explicit interface for integrating the simulator into their solutions. In this paper, we propose a general co-simulation approach based on the high-level architecture (HLA) and a newly-defined programming language interface for interoperation (PLI-I) between heterogeneous IPs as a formal simulator interface. Based on the proposed PLI-I and HLA, we introduce formal procedures of integration and interoperation. To reduce integration costs, we split these procedures into two parts: a reusable common library and an additional model-dependent signal-to-event (SE) converter to handle differently abstracted in/out signals between the coupled IPs. During the interoperation, to resolve the different time-advance mechanisms and increase computation concurrency between digital and analog simulators, the proposed co-simulation approach performs an advanced HLA-based synchronization using the pre-simulation concepts. The case study shows the validation of interoperation behaviors between the heterogeneous IPs in mixed-signal SoC design, the reduced design effort in integrating, and the synchronization speedup using the proposed approach.

This report presents experimental measurements of mixed-mode oscillations (MMOs) generated by a weakly driven four-segment piecewise linear Bonhoeffer-van der Pol (BVP) oscillator. Such a roughly approximated simple piecewise linear circuit can generate MMOs and mixed-mode oscillation-incrementing bifurcations (MMOIBs). The laboratory experiments well agree with numerical results. We experimentally and numerically observe time series and Lorenz plots of MMOs generated by successive and nonsuccessive MMOIBs.

The electron retention characteristics of memory capacitors with blocking oxide-silicon carbonitride (SiCN)-tunnel oxide stacked films were investigated for application in embedded charge trapping nonvolatile memories (NVMs). Long-term data retention in the SiCN memory capacitors was estimated to be more than 10 years at 85 °C. We presented an improved method to analyze the energy distribution of electron trap states numerically. Using the presented analytical method, electron trap states in the SiCN film were revealed to be distributed from 0.8 to 1.3 eV below the conduction band edge in the SiCN band gap. The presence of energetically deep trap states leads us to suggest that the SiCN dielectric films can be employed as the charge trapping film of embedded NVMs.

This letter presents a test suite CF3 designed to find bugs in arithmetic optimizers of C compilers. It consists of 13,720 test programs containing all the expression patterns covering all the permutations of 3 operators from 14 operators. CF3 detected more than 70 errors in GCC 4.2-4.5 within 2 hours.

This paper investigates the effect of noises added to hidden units of AutoEncoders linked to multilayer perceptrons. It is shown that internal representation of learned features emerges and sparsity of hidden units increases when independent Gaussian noises are added to inputs of hidden units during the deep network training. It is also shown that the weights that connect the contaminated hidden units with the next layer have smaller values and outputs of hidden units tend to be more definite (0 or 1). This is expected to improve the generalization ability of the network through this automatic structuration by adding the noises. This network structuration was confirmed by experiments for MNIST digits classification via a deep neural network model.

The power packet dispatching system, in which electric power is transferred in a pulse-shaped form with information, is expected to realize dynamical management of multiple power sources in independent systems such as robots. In this letter, close-loop control of a stepper motor by power packets is discussed. The precise angle control is achieved by the combined transfer of power and control information in experiments.