Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stable Robust Adaptive Controller and Observer Design for a Class of SISO Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Dead Zone

—This paper presents a new stable robust adaptive controller and observer design for a class of nonlinear systems that contain i. Coupling of unmeasured states and unknown parameters ii. Unknown dead zone at the system actuator. The system is firstly cast into a modified form in which the observer and parameter estimation become feasible. Then a stable robust adaptive controller, state observer, parameter update laws are derived that would provide global adaptive system stability and desirable performance. To validate the approach, simulation was performed to a single-link mechanical system with a dynamic friction model and unknown dead zone exists at the system actuation. Then a comparison is presented with the results when there is no dead zone at the system actuation.
WikiWinWin: A Wiki Based System for Collaborative Requirements Negotiation

Defining requirements is one of the most critical activities in the development of software intensive systems. The EasyWinWin system has been very good in capturing initial requirements involving heterogeneous stakeholders in over 150 client-developer requirements negotiations. However, it has been less easy to use in updating requirements and related information as a project proceeds and adapting to the evolving nature of the requirements. Because our clients are finding that wikis are easier to learn and use, and can organize information in a flexible and updatable manner, we have developed an initial version of a WikiWinWin system as a potential successor to EasyWinWin. We have conducted a case study of WikiWinWin, and the result shows that the initial WikiWinWin is basically good at facilitating stakeholder collaborative negotiation and learning, but has some limitations that we are now addressing.
Analysis of the game characteristics of a final juniors (male) match U14 at World Junior Tennis Finals in 2017 (case study)

The aim of this study, based on the reasearch data analysis, was find out the differences in the level of 13 chosen game characteristics of the winners and defeated junior finalists (n=4) and also to verify whether there are significant differences between the junior and adult players´ results at Roland Garros 2017. The research data were obtained from the recording of each match by the observation method using the Dartfish 9.0 software. We found out that differences between winning and defeated players were insignificant in this case. When comparing the level of game characteristics of juniors and adult players, it was found that there were significant differences in the importance of return points won and the breakpoints won.
Encouraging Students’ Pro-environmental Behaviour: Examining the Interplay Between Student Characteristics and the Situational Strength of Schools

The goal of this article is to understand how the pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) of secondary school students can be encouraged. In an exploratory study, we examine to what extent pro-environmental cues—that is, ‘situational strength’ (Mischel, Psychological Review, 80(4):252, 1973)—were present in schools and whether students in ‘stronger’ situations reported higher levels of PEB than students in ‘weaker’ ones. Moreover, we examined relationships between student characteristics—gender, perceived behavioural control (PBC), pro-environmental attitudes (PEA) and intentions (Fishbein & Ajzen, Belief, attitudes, intention, and behavior. An introduction to theory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1975)—and their PEB. A sequential mixed method was used, utilizing data from three Dutch secondary schools. Survey data covering 179 students showed relationships among students’ gender, PEA and intentions, and PEB. Qualitative data—derived from semi-structured interviews with staff members, structured assignments for students and observations—showed differences in situational strength between the schools. Moreover, the data suggest an interplay between student characteristics and situational strength in affecting PEB.
Utilising self-report data to measure racial discrimination in the labour market

Although economists have developed a series of approaches to modelling the existence of labour market discrimination, rarely is this topic examined by analysing self-report survey data. After reviewing theories and empirical models of labour market discrimination, we examine self-reported experience of discrimination at different stages in the labour market, among three racial groups utilising U.S. data from the 2001-2003 National Survey of American Life. Our findings indicate that African Americans and Caribbean blacks consistently report more experience of discrimination in the labour market than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. At different stages of the labour market, including hiring, termination and promotion, these groups are more likely to report discrimination than non-Hispanic whites. After controlling for social desirability bias and several human capital and socio-demographic covariates, the results remain robust for African Americans. However, the findings for Caribbean blacks were no longer significant after adjusting for social desirability bias. Although self-report data is rarely utilised to assess racial discrimination in labour economics, our study confirms the utility of this approach as demonstrated in similar research from other disciplines. Our results indicate that after adjusting for relevant confounders self-report survey data is a viable approach to estimating racial discrimination in the labour market. Implications of the study and directions for future research are provided.
A modified split-radix FFT with reduced arithmetic complexity

Recent results by Van Buskirk et al. have broken the record set by Yavne in 1968 for the lowest arithmetic complexity (exact count of real additions and multiplications) to compute a power-of-two discrete Fourier transform. Here, we present a simple recursive modification of the split-radix algorithm that computes the DFT with asymptotically about 6% fewer opera- tions than Yavne, matching the count achieved by Van Buskirk's program-generation framework. We also discuss the application of our algorithm to real-data and real-symmetric (discrete cosine) transforms, where we are again able to achieve lower arithmetic complexity than previously published algorithms.
Accounting for Crises

We provide among the first empirical evidence, consistent with recent macro global game crisis models, that shows that the precision of public signals can coordinate crises. In these models, self-fulfilling crises independent of fundamentals can occur only when publicly disclosed signals of fundamentals have high precision; poor fundamentals are the sole driver of crises only in low precision settings. We exploit a key publicly disclosed signal of fundamentals, namely accounting data, for 68 currency and systemic banking crises in 17 countries. We find that precrisis accounting signals of fundamentals are significantly lower only in low-precision countries.
Financial integration and macroeconomic adjustments in a Monetary Union 1

In a monetary union like the euro area adjustments facing asymmetric evolutions are more difficult due to fixed intra-European exchange rates. Capital markets well integrated, with portfolio diversification, capital income transfers and intra-zone credit, would constitute a powerful adjustment mechanism, examined in detail by the “risk sharing” approach. This result is used by advocates of a liberal economic policy in the EU to promote a deeper financial integration. However the theoretical basis and the econometric methodology used can be both criticised. A different approach is adopted in this paper based on a “stock-flow consistent” model of a Monetary Union with two countries in the line of Godley and Lavoie (2007). Alternative versions of the model are considered. Two results can be underlined. Foreign assets holding has a stabilising role but the capital income stabilising coefficient seems smaller than the one obtained by the “risk sharing” approach. On the opposite, foreign loans (intra-zone credit) seem to have no specific stabilization effects. There is no increase of the stabilization coefficient to expect from development of intra-euro zone credit. Résumé Dans une Union Monétaire comme la zone euro les ajustements face à des évolutions asymétriques sont plus difficiles en raison de la fixité des taux de change. Des marchés de capitaux bien intégrés, avec diversification des portefeuilles, transferts de revenus du capital et crédit intra-zone, constitueraient un puissant mécanisme d’ajustement, examiné en détail par l’approche du « risk sharing ». Ce résultat est utilisé par les avocats d’une politique libérale en Europe pour promouvoir une intégration financière plus profonde. Cependant les fondements théoriques et la méthodologie économétrique peuvent être critiqués. Une approche différente est retenue dans ce papier, fondée sur un modèle « stock-flow consistent » d’une Union monétaire à deux pays dans le prolongement des travaux de Godley-Lavoie (2007). Différentes versions du modèle sont considérés. Deux résultats se dégagent. La détention d’actifs étrangers a un rôle de stabilisation mais le coefficient de stabilisation serait plus petit que celui obtenu dans le cadre de l’approche du « risk sharing ». Au contraire le crédit intra-zone n’aurait aucun effet de stabilisation spécifique.
The metamorphism and exhumation of the Himalayan metamorphic core, eastern Garhwal region, India

Geothermobarometric together with micro‐ and macro‐structural data indicate ductile flow in the metamorphic core of the Himalaya in the Garhwal region of India. Peak metamorphic pressure and temperature increase dramatically across the Main Central Thrust (MCT) from ∼5 kbar and ∼550°C in the Lesser Himalayan Crystalline Sequence (LHCS) to ∼14 kbar and ∼850°C at ∼3 km above the MCT in the Greater Himalayan Sequence (GHS). Pressures within the GHS then decrease upsection to ∼8 kbar while temperatures remain nearly constant at ∼850°C up to the structurally overlying South Tibetan Detachment (STD). The GHS exhibits sheath fold geometries are indicative of high degrees of ductile flow. Overprinting ductile structures are two populations of extensional conjugate fractures and normal faults oriented both parallel and perpendicular to the orogen. These fractures crosscut major tectonic boundaries in the region such as the MCT and STD, and are found throughout the LHCS, GHS, and Tethyan Sedimentary Sequence (TSS). The thermobarometric and metamorphic observations are consistent with a form of channel flow. However, channel flow does not account for exhumational structures that formed above the brittle‐ductile transition. To explain all of the features seen in the metamorphic core of the Garhwal region of the Himalaya, both the theories of channel flow and critical taper must be taken into account. Channel flow can explain the exhumation of the GHS from the middle crust to the brittle‐ductile transition. The most recent extensional deformation is consistent with a supercritical wedge.
Ectomycorrhizal-Dominated Boreal and Tropical Forests Have Distinct Fungal Communities, but Analogous Spatial Patterns across Soil Horizons

Fungi regulate key nutrient cycling processes in many forest ecosystems, but their diversity and distribution within and across ecosystems are poorly understood. Here, we examine the spatial distribution of fungi across a boreal and tropical ecosystem, focusing on ectomycorrhizal fungi. We analyzed fungal community composition across litter (organic horizons) and underlying soil horizons (0–20 cm) using 454 pyrosequencing and clone library sequencing. In both forests, we found significant clustering of fungal communities by site and soil horizons with analogous patterns detected by both sequencing technologies. Free-living saprotrophic fungi dominated the recently-shed leaf litter and ectomycorrhizal fungi dominated the underlying soil horizons. This vertical pattern of fungal segregation has also been found in temperate and European boreal forests, suggesting that these results apply broadly to ectomycorrhizal-dominated systems, including tropical rain forests. Since ectomycorrhizal and free-living saprotrophic fungi have different influences on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, information on the spatial distribution of these functional groups will improve our understanding of forest nutrient cycling.
New evidence shows that Pocillopora ‘Pocilloporadamicornis-like’ corals in Singapore are actually Pocillopora acuta (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae)

Molecular sequence data have previously revealed the existence of cryptic species associated with the Pocillopora ‘damicornis-like’ coral. Recently, this species complex has been reclassified into three species including the resurrected P. acuta, which appears to have a wide distribution. Morphological characteristics described for P. acuta are present in corals previously identified as Pocillopora damicornis. To determine if the Pocillopora ‘damicornis-like’ colonies on Singapore’s reefs are P. acuta, P. damicornis, or both, we examined a new collection of Pocillopora using mitochondrial DNA data and morphology. We also compared specimen morphologies from past collections and examined the known regional distributions of both species. Our analyses show that most Pocillopora ‘damicornis -like’ corals in Singapore are P. acuta instead of P. damicornis. Findings here are important for coral diversity records in Singapore and will help clarify distributional limits of morphologically similar Pocillopora species. ‡,§ §,‡ | § §,‡
Efficient Word Alignment with Markov Chain Monte Carlo

Abstract We present EFMARAL, a new system for efficient and accurate word alignment using a Bayesian model with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inference. Through careful selection of data structures and model architecture we are able to surpass the fast_align system, commonly used for performance-critical word alignment, both in computational efficiency and alignment accuracy. Our evaluation shows that a phrase-based statistical machine translation (SMT) system produces translations of higher quality when using word alignments from EFMARAL than from fast_align, and that translation quality is on par with what is obtained using GIZA++, a tool requiring orders of magnitude more processing time. More generally we hope to convince the reader that Monte Carlo sampling, rather than being viewed as a slow method of last resort, should actually be the method of choice for the SMT practitioner and others interested in word alignment.
An on-line algorithm for dynamic reinforcement learning and planning in reactive environments

An online learning algorithm for reinforcement learning with continually running recurrent networks in nonstationary reactive environments is described. Various kinds of reinforcement are considered as special types of input to an agent living in the environment. The agent's only goal is to maximize the amount of reinforcement received over time. Supervised learning techniques for recurrent networks serve to construct a differentiable model of the environmental dynamics which includes a model of future reinforcement. This model is used for learning goal-directed behavior in an online fashion. The possibility of using the system for planning future action sequences is investigated and this approach is compared to approaches based on temporal difference methods. A connection to metalearning (learning how to learn) is noted
Towards Rational Design of Nanoparticle Catalysis in Ionic Liquids

This feature article introduces the strategies on the design of highly efficient nanoparticle (NP) catalytic systems in ionic liquids (ILs). The employment of functional ILs as the media for NP preparation and catalysis could prove advantageous in terms of enhancing both NP stability and catalytic activity. Hydroxyl group functionalized ILs, in particular, exhibited a remarkable promotion effect on a variety of reactions catalyzed by NPs, such as hydrogenation over Rh NPs, hydrodehalogenation over Pt NPs and Suzuki reaction over Pd NPs. In some cases, tailor-made stabilizer is used in addition to keep the NPs sufficiently stable. For example, a carboxylic group modified polyvinylpyrrolidone endows NPs three-fold stabilization, including steric, electrostatic and ligand stabilizations, which leads to excellent stability of the NPs. The catalytic activities of these NPs, on the other hand, are not compromised, as each of these stabilizations is not too strong. Following that, the article describes our recent work on the rational design of bimetallic NPs in ILs and the development of multifunctional systems involving NPs for a tandem reaction sequence that convert lignin-derived phenolic compounds into fuels.
Factors and Mechanisms Involved in the Coupling from Bone Resorption to Formation: How Osteoclasts Talk to Osteoblasts

Bone remodeling is the fundamental means by which the quality as well as quantity of the skeleton is maintained throughout adult life. When bone remodeling goes awry, a metabolic bone disease such as osteoporosis ensues. Among multiple phases of the complex remodeling process, we focus in this review on factors and mechanisms that are involved in the coupling of bone formation to preceding resorption.
Dose-Related and Time-Dependent Development of Collagenase-Induced Tendinopathy in Rats

Tendinopathy is a big burden in clinics and it represents 45% of musculoskeletal lesions. Despite the relevant social impact, both pathogenesis and development of the tendinopathy are still under-investigated, thus limiting the therapeutic advancement in this field. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose-dependent and time-related tissue-level changes occurring in a collagenase-induced tendinopathy in rat Achilles tendons, in order to establish a standardized model for future pre-clinical studies. With this purpose, 40 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, treated by injecting collagenase type I within the Achilles tendon at 1 mg/mL (low dose) or 3 mg/mL (high dose). Tendon explants were histologically evaluated at 3, 7, 15, 30 and 45 days. Our results revealed that both the collagenase doses induced a disorganization of collagen fibers and increased the number of rounded resident cells. In particular, the high dose treatment determined a greater neovascularization and fatty degeneration with respect to the lower dose. These changes were found to be time-dependent and to resemble the features of human tendinopathy. Indeed, in our series, the acute phase occurred from day 3 to day 15, and then progressed towards the proliferative phase from day 30 to day 45 displaying a degenerative appearance associated with a very precocious and mild remodeling process. The model represents a good balance between similarity with histological features of human tendinopathy and feasibility, in terms of tendon size to create lesions and costs when compared to other animal models. Moreover, this model could contribute to improve the knowledge in this field, and it could be useful to properly design further pre-clinical studies to test innovative treatments for tendinopathy.
STUDY OF THYROID PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a common endocrine metabolic disorder, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Thyroid dysfunction has been frequently encountered in diabetic patients with hypothyroidism being the most common type of dysfunction. Diabetics have a higher prevalence of thyroid disorders when compared with general population. Alteration in thyroid function complicates the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Methods: Total of 60 subjects were studied, divided into two groups cases group which consists of 30 known type 2 diabetic patients and controls group which consists of 30 normal healthy individuals. Fasting venous blood sample was taken and analyzed for blood sugar, serum T3 (Triiodothyronine), serum T4 ( Thyroxine) and serum TSH ( Thyroid stimulating hormone) in both cases and controls. Results: The levels of serum TSH and fasting blood sugar were significantly increased while serum T3 and T4 levels were significantly decreased in cases when compared to controls. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the abnormal thyroid hormone levels seen in type 2 diabetics are due to alteration in Hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis, which in turn produces significant metabolic disturbances. Hence, routine screening for thyroid dysfunction should be carried out in diabetics, which helps in its early diagnosis and treatment there by improves their quality of life and reduces the morbidity rate.
Global Existence of Weak Solutions for the Burgers-Hilbert Equation

This paper establishes the global existence of weak solutions to the Burgers--Hilbert equation, for general initial data in ${\bf L}^2(\mathbb{R})$. For positive times, the solution lies in ${\bf L}^2\cap{\bf L}^\infty$. A partial uniqueness result is proved for spatially periodic solutions, as long as the total variation remains locally bounded.
A Stochastic Approximation Method

Let M(x) denote the expected value at level x of the response to a certain experiment. M(x) is assumed to be a monotone function of x but is unknown tot he experiment, and it is desire to find the solution x=0 of the equation M(x) = a, where x is a given constant. we give a method for making successive experiments at levels x1, x2,. in such a way that x, will tend to 0 in probability.
Sequential Inference for Deep Gaussian Process

A deep Gaussian process (DGP) is a deep network in which each layer is modelled with a Gaussian process (GP). It is a flexible model that can capture highly-nonlinear functions for complex data sets. However, the network structure of DGP often makes inference computationally expensive. In this paper, we propose an efficient sequential inference framework for DGP, where the data is processed sequentially. We also propose two DGP extensions to handle heteroscedasticity and multi-task learning. Our experimental evaluation shows the effectiveness of our sequential inference framework on a number of important learning tasks.
Is the decline of ice on Kilimanjaro unprecedented in the Holocene?

Glaciers on Kilimanjaro’s highest peak, Kibo, are currently regarded as a persistent feature of the Holocene. Here we synthesize all available measurements, observations, and our understanding of current processes on Kibo — gained from intensive research over the past decade — to formulate an alternative hypothesis about the age of these ice fields. This suggests a shorter, discontinuous history of the tabular-shaped glaciers on Kibo’s plateau, where typical ‘life cycles’ of the ice may last only a few hundred years. If life cycles overlap, they are likely the cause of the observed steps in the plateau glaciers. Thus, it is likely that ice has come and gone repeatedly on Kibo’s summit plateau, throughout the Holocene. Such a cyclicity is supported by lake-derived proxy records.
[CII] at 158 mu m as a star formation tracer in late-type galaxies

We present a calibration of the massive star formation rate vs. [CII] luminosity relation based on a sample of nearby, late-type galaxies observed with ISO-LWS and imaged in the Halpha+[NII] line. The relation holds for far-IR luminosities 10^8 < L_{FIR} < 10^{10.5} L (solar units). The derived star formation rates have an uncertainty of about a factor of 10. Part of this uncertainty is due to the different mix of contributions to the [CII] emission from the different components of the interstellar medium in individual galaxies, as discussed in an appendix.