Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Data Sharing and Exchange: Semantics and Query Answering

Exchanging and integrating data that belong to worlds of different vocabularies are two prominent problems in the database literature. While data coordination deals with managing and integrating data between autonomous yet related sources with possibly distinct vocabularies, data exchange is defined as the problem of extracting data from a source and materializing it in an independent target to conform to the target schema. These two problems, however, have never been studied in a unified setting which allows both the exchange of the data as well as the coordination of different vocabularies between different sources. Our thesis shows that such a unified setting exhibits data integration capabilities that are beyond the ones provided by data exchange and data coordination separately. In this thesis, we propose a new setting – called DSE, for Data Sharing and Exchange – which allows the exchange of data between independent source and target applications that possess independent schemas, as well as independent yet related domains of constants. To facilitate this type of exchange, we extend the source-to-target dependencies used in the ordinary data exchange setting which allow the association between the source and the target at the schema level, with the mapping table construct introduced in the classical data coordination setting which defines the association between the source and the target at the instance level. A mapping table construct defines for each source element, the set of associated (or corresponding) elements in the domain of the target. The semantics of this association relationship between source and target elements change with different requirements of different applications. Ordinary DE settings can represent DSE settings; however, we show that there exist DSE settings with particular semantics of related values in mapping tables where DE is not the best exchange solution to adopt. The thesis introduces two DSE settings with such a property. We call the first DSE with unique identity semantics. The semantics of a mapping table in this DSE setting specifies that each source element should be uniquely mapped to at least one target element that is associated with it in the mapping table.
A-PPP: Array-Aided Precise Point Positioning With Global Navigation Satellite Systems

In this paper, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) precise point positioning (PPP) concept is generalized to array-aided PPP (A-PPP). A-PPP is a measurement concept that uses GNSS data, from multiple antennas in an array of known geometry, to realize improved GNSS parameter estimation (position, attitude, time and atmospheric delays). The concept is formulated such that it applies to each current and future multifrequency GNSS, stand-alone or in combination. A-PPP is made possible through solving a novel orthonormality-constrained multivariate (mixed) integer least-squares problem. It is shown that the integer matrix constraint is necessary to obtain a precise instantaneous attitude- and position solution, whereas the inclusion of the orthonormality constraint in the integer ambiguity objective function is essential to achieve high instantaneous probabilities of correct integer estimation. Different A-PPP applications are discussed, with their performances illustrated by means of empirical GPS results.
Some problems in the overspeci cation of ARMA and ARIMA processes using ARFIMA models

Nonstationary ARIMA processes and nearly nonstationary ARMA processes, such as autoregressive processes having a root of the AR polynomial close to the unit circle, have sample autocovariance and spectral properties that are, in practice, almost indistinguishable from those of a stationary longmemory process, such as a Fractionally Integrated ARMA (ARFIMA) process. Because of this, model misspeci cation may occur in trying to distinguish between the di erent processes. An appealing strategy would be to overspecify the model and estimate the integration parameter. In this paper, we investigate the e ects of this type of misspeci cation on parameter estimates using either spectral regression or frequency-domain maximum likelihood methods.
Intense Passionate Love Attenuates Cigarette Cue-Reactivity in Nicotine-Deprived Smokers: An fMRI Study

Self-expanding experiences like falling in love or engaging in novel, exciting and interesting activities activate the same brain reward mechanism (mesolimbic dopamine pathway) that reinforces drug use and abuse, including tobacco smoking. This suggests the possibility that reward from smoking is substitutable by self-expansion (through competition with the same neural system), potentially aiding cessation efforts. Using a model of self-expansion in the context of romantic love, the present fMRI experiment examined whether, among nicotine-deprived smokers, relationship self-expansion is associated with deactivation of cigarette cue-reactivity regions. Results indicated that among participants who were experiencing moderate levels of craving, cigarette cue-reactivity regions (e.g., cuneus and posterior cingulate cortex) showed significantly less activation during self-expansion conditions compared with control conditions. These results provide evidence that rewards from one domain (self-expansion) can act as a substitute for reward from another domain (nicotine) to attenuate cigarette cue reactivity.
Development of a Corpus for Evidence Based Medicine Summarisation

In this paper we introduce some of the key NLP-related problems related to the practice of Evidence Based Medicine and propose the task of multi-document query-focused summarisation as a key approach to solve these problems. We have completed a corpus for the development of such multi-document queryfocused summarisation task. The process to build the corpus combined the use of automated extraction of text, manual annotation, and crowdsourcing to find the reference IDs. We perform a statistical analysis of the corpus for the particular use of single-document summarisation and show that there is still a lot of room for improvement from the current baselines.
Investigating Students’ Basic Needs and Motivation in College Chemistry Courses with the Lens of Self-Determination Theory

More graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathmetics (STEM) fields are needed to keep our nation’s preeminance in the global fields of technology and science. However, fewer than 40% of students who intend to major in STEM fields when entering college complete a STEM degree. Therefore, it is important to explore factors to improve student persistence in STEM fields at the college level as well as to understand the interrelationship between student motivation, academic achievement, and persistence. Motivation is strongly associated with student achievement and persistence; meanwhile, academic achievement can also affect persistence. Self-determination theory (SDT) represents a framework of several mini-theories to explore how social context interacts with people’s motivation. The three studies in this dissertation aim to investigate student motivation using instruments based on SDT and to explore the viability of the theory in a reform environment. In Study 1, the Academic Motivation Scale – Chemistry (AMS-Chemistry) was developed as an instrument based on the self-determination continuum to measure seven types of student motivation toward specific chemistry courses. Data gathered with AMS in college chemistry courses showed that AMS was a suitable candidate for modification. Based on expert panel discussions and cognitive interviews, AMS-Chemistry was developed. AMS-Chemistry was administered to university students in a general chemistry course as pre/post-test. Internal structure validity evidence was also collected. Results showed that students were more extrinsically motivated toward chemistry on average, and there was an overall motivational difference favoring males with a medium effect size. Correlation studies revealed that intrinsic motivation subscales were positively associated with student academic achievement at the end of the semester. Results also showed that students who persisted in class attendance scored significant differently on the set of motivation subscales. This study suggests that AMS-Chemistry is easy to administer and can be used to better understand students’ motivation status and how it might change across the curriculum. Faculty interested in promoting student intrinsic motivation may also use AMS-Chemistry to evaluate the impact of their efforts. In Study 2, AMS-Chemistry was used to examine student motivation and determine how motivation is related to academic achievement at different points in time in organic chemistry courses. This study was conducted in two organic chemistry courses where one course was primarily lecture-based and the other implemented flipped classroom and peer-lead team learning (Flip-PLTL) pedagogies. Descriptive statistics showed that students in both courses were more extrinsically motivated and their motivation moved in negative directions across the semester. Factorial multivariate analysis of covariance revealed a main effect of pedagogical approach. Students in the Flip-PLTL environment were significantly less lack of motivation toward…
Further research on market oriented grid based on contract management

Recently the rapid development of information technologies has caused that computing resources including computational power, memory storage, network bandwidth, devices and instruments are commoditized and delivered in a manner similar to traditional utilities. Grid Market and Cloud Computing are focused on to approach this utility computing vision. A Market Oriented Grid Model (MOGM) based on contract management is further researched in this paper. Firstly, the differences between Cloud Computing and MOGM are discussed. Secondly, a new reputation evaluation model is proposed and applied into MOGM. Thirdly, a solution integrated with payment management and reputation management is discussed based on contract management mechanism. The simulation results reveal that the market can be kept in healthy operation.
Generating training data for SART-2 keystroke analysis module

The keystroke dynamics analysis is one of the biometric techniques which takes into account behavioral features. The difficulty with the keystroke dynamics information is its poor stability. This article briefly presents a solution used to collect training data and extract features for a user authentication system based on the keystroke dynamics. Then a few approaches which might be applied to authenticate users basing on the keystroke rhythm are presented. These approaches are going to be tested in order to choose an efficient method to be applied as a part of a biometric security system for mobile workstations, which is being created within the framework of the SART-2 project.
An introduction to conformal field theory

A comprehensive introduction to two-dimensional conformal field theory is given. The structure of the meromorphic subtheory is described in detail, and a number of examples are presented explicitly. Standard constructions such as the coset and the orbifold construction are explained. The concept of a representation of the meromorphic theory is introduced, and the role of Zhu's algebra in classifying highest weight representations is elucidated. The fusion product of two representations and the corresponding fusion rules are defined, and Verlinde's formula is explained. Finally, higher correlation functions are considered, and the polynomial relations of Moore and Seiberg and the quantum group structure of chiral conformal field theory are discussed. The treatment is relatively general and also allows for a description of less well known classes of theories such as logarithmic conformal field theories.
AN EMPATHIC INTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH CHILDREN WITH SEVERE AUTISM IMPROVED THEIR ICT ATTAINMENT LEVELS

This research was carried out over 13 months, with eight children, in a specialist school unit for children with severe autism, aged 6-10 years (7 males, 1 female). The assessment of the children's characteristics and abilities was used to establish individual performance levels (P-Levels). P-Levels are used to describe attainment levels for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SENs) working below level 1 of the National Curriculum in England and Wales, and were applied to English language skills (writing, reading, listening, speaking) and Information and Computer Technology (ICT). These P-levels acted as a baseline to assess how computer-based interventions affected the participating children's learning abilities. An empathic and ethnographic approach was adopted to observe and interact personally with each child, through the development of computer interventions based on each child’s interests e.g. cartoons, singing, and drawing. Gradually, positive relationships were built and ultimately made an interestingly significant change in the behavior and learning abilities of the children. The findings suggested that the behavior and learning abilities, measured by P-levels, of children, under the umbrella of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), are wide and varied, albeit with some similarities. A slight improvement in the children’s Facial Emotional Recognition was observed, combined with a positive change in their interaction with the researcher and progress in their ICT attainment, with the biggest pre-post change recorded for ICT P-levels (p=0.026, Chi square). The level of non-cooperation in the initial study reflected the challenges faced when teaching children with severe autism, however using interactive tools tailored to the individual interests of each child was shown to make the computer technology a more enjoyable, engaging and efficient teaching tool. Further, the extensive field work yielded fascinating and intrinsically valuable and important insights into daily life in an educational unit for children with severe autism.
Identification of Spring Parameters for Deformable Object Simulation

Mass spring models are frequently used to simulate deformable objects because of their conceptual simplicity and computational speed. Unfortunately, the model parameters are not related to elastic material constitutive laws in an obvious way. Several methods to set optimal parameters have been proposed but, so far, only with limited success. We analyze the parameter identification problem and show the difficulties, which have prevented previous work from reaching wide usage. Our main contribution is a new method to derive analytical expressions for the spring parameters from an isotropic linear elastic reference model. The method is described and expressions for several mesh topologies are derived. These include triangle, rectangle, and tetrahedron meshes. The formulas are validated by comparing the static deformation of the MSM with reference deformations simulated with the finite element method.
Genome-wide association study of alcohol dependence implicates a region on chromosome 11.

BACKGROUND Alcohol dependence is a complex disease, and although linkage and candidate gene studies have identified several genes associated with the risk for alcoholism, these explain only a portion of the risk. METHODS We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a case-control sample drawn from the families in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. The cases all met diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition; controls all consumed alcohol but were not dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs. To prioritize among the strongest candidates, we genotyped most of the top 199 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (p < or = 2.1 x 10(-4)) in a sample of alcohol-dependent families and performed pedigree-based association analysis. We also examined whether the genes harboring the top SNPs were expressed in human brain or were differentially expressed in the presence of ethanol in lymphoblastoid cells. RESULTS Although no single SNP met genome-wide criteria for significance, there were several clusters of SNPs that provided mutual support. Combining evidence from the case-control study, the follow-up in families, and gene expression provided strongest support for the association of a cluster of genes on chromosome 11 (SLC22A18, PHLDA2, NAP1L4, SNORA54, CARS, and OSBPL5) with alcohol dependence. Several SNPs nominated as candidates in earlier GWAS studies replicated in ours, including CPE, DNASE2B, SLC10A2, ARL6IP5, ID4, GATA4, SYNE1, and ADCY3. CONCLUSIONS We have identified several promising associations that warrant further examination in independent samples.
An Overview of MIMO OFDM System Prof

In this paper, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) along with MIMO (MIMO OFDM) is considered to mitigate intersymbol interference and enhance system capacity. The main goal of use of multiple antennas at both ends of a wireless link (MIMO technology) is to improve the spectral efficiency and link reliability in future wireless communications systems. The goal of this paper is to improve the concept of increasing the link throughput by extending an OFDM-based system with MIMO.Since synchronization is an essential task for any digital communication system and required for reliable reception of the transmitted data, this paper provides an overview to the preamble, synchronization, channel estimation , time and frequency synchronization. KeywordsMultiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) System, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Preamble, Synchronization.
Reasoning about Inherent Parallelism in Object-Oriented Programs using Ownership Types

The principal premise of this paper is that as a field, we do not currently have a suitable conceptual framework for reasoning about inherent parallelism. We have techniques called dependence analysis for determining the safety of parallelization, but these techniques do not provide a basis for abstraction and so do not scale well to entire applications that are large, complex and developed from components. This paper seeks to extend both the principles and practice of parallel programming by proposing a new abstraction for reasoning about inherent parallelism and uses that abstraction to develop a set of sufficient conditions for data parallel loops.
Analyzing Parallel Programs with PIN

Software instrumentation provides the means to collect information on and efficiently analyze parallel programs. Using Pin, developers can build tools to detect and examine dynamic behavior including data races, memory system behavior, and parallelizable loops. Pin is a software system that performs runtime binary instrumentation of Linux and Microsoft Windows applications. Pin's aim is to provide an instrumentation platform for building a wide variety of program analysis tools, called pintools. By performing the instrumentation on the binary at runtime, Pin eliminates the need to modify or recompile the application's source and supports the instrumentation of programs that dynamically generate code.
2MASS J17112318−2724315: A DEEPLY EMBEDDED LOW-MASS PROTOSTELLAR SYSTEM IN THE B59 MOLECULAR CLOUD

We present near-infrared observations of the low-mass deeply embedded Class 0/I system 2MASS J17112318–2724315 (2M171123) in the B59 molecular cloud. Bright scattered light nebulosity is observed toward this source in the Ks images, that seems to trace the edges of an outflow cavity. We report the detection of a low-luminosity protostar 2M17112255−27243448 (2M17112255) that lies ∼8″ (∼1000 AU) from 2M171123. This is a Class I system, as indicated by its 2–8 μm slope and Infrared Array Camera colors, with an estimated internal luminosity of ∼0.3 L☉. We estimate a mass of ∼0.12–0.25 M☉ for this source, at an age of 0.1–1 Myr. Also presented is detailed modeling of the 2M171123 system. The best-fit parameters indicate a large envelope density of the order of ∼10−13 g cm−3, and an intermediate inclination between 53° and 59°. The observed Ks-band variability for this system could be explained by slight variability in the mass infall rate between 2.5E-5 and 1.8E-5 M☉ yr−1. The protostar 2M171123 exhibits a rarely observed absorption feature near 11.3 μm within its 10 μm silicate band. We find a strong correlation between the strength in this 11.3 μm “edge” and the H2O-ice column density, indicating the origin of this feature in the thickness of the ice mantle over the silicate grains.
High sensitivity of cancer exome-based CD8 T cell neo-antigen identification

Recent data suggest that T-cell reactivity against tumor-specific neo-antigens may be central to the clinical efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. The development of personalized vaccines designed to boost T-cell reactivity against patient specific neo-antigens has been proposed largely on the basis of these findings. Work from several groups has demonstrated that novel tumor-specific antigens can be discovered through the use of cancer exome sequencing data, thereby providing a potential pipeline for the development of patient-specific vaccines. Importantly though, it has not been established which fraction of cancer neo-antigens that can be recognized by CD8+ T cells is successfully uncovered with the current exome-based epitope prediction strategies. Here, we use a data set comprising human cancer neo-antigens that was previously identified through the use of unbiased, computational-independent strategies to describe the potential of cancer exome-based neo-antigen discovery. This analysis shows a high sensitivity of exome-guided neo-antigen prediction of approximately 70%. We propose that future research should focus on the analysis and optimization of the specificity of neo-antigen prediction, and should undoubtedly entail the clinical evaluation of patient-specific vaccines with the aim of inducing immunoreactivity against tumor-displayed neo-antigens in a physiologically relevant context.
Bilingual development of theta in a child

Abstract There are issues concerning the bilingual development of a marked consonant in the literature that need to be clarified. While it is known that input frequency has a facilitative effect on monolingual development, its effects on bilingual development are not clear. Here, a child’s dense, longitudinal speech data from age 2;7 to 3;11 are examined in order to study the bilingual development of a marked consonant, theta, in English and Greek. The results address several issues pertaining to monolingual and bilingual development. Theta development in the two languages is parallel: theta word-frequency reflects adult speech; theta vocabulary grows logarithmically; first accurate realizations occur in frequent words independently of their complexity; in contrast, complete acquisition first occurs in words of lower complexity independently of usage frequency; the acquisition level for all words remains at a low plateau level until ages 3;5 and 3;8, followed by a stage of acceleration of the logistic type until complete acquisition, at ages 3;10 and 3;11 for English and Greek, respectively. Because of the presence of two languages, there is a larger and more complex vocabulary across the two languages which facilitates earlier acquisition in the child than in respective monolingual norms.