Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stateful Behavioral Types for ABS

It is notoriously hard to correctly implement a multiparty protocol which involves asynchronous/concurrent interactions and the constraints on states of multiple participants. To assist developers in implementing such protocols, we propose a novel specification language to specify interactions within multiple object-oriented actors and the side-effects on heap memory of those actors; a behavioral-type-based analysis is presented for type checking. Our specification language formalizes a protocol as a global type, which describes the procedure of asynchronous method calls, the usage of futures, and the heap side-effects with a first-order logic. To characterize runs of instances of types, we give a model-theoretic semantics for types and translate them into logical constraints over traces. We prove protocol adherence: If a program is well-typed w.r. t. a protocol, then every trace of the program adheres to the protocol, i.e., every trace is a model for the formula of its type.
A method of simultaneous location and mapping based on RGB-D cameras

Autonomous UAV must rely on the navigation system to fly in the indoor environment. However, the traditional navigation system such as GPS cannot be used in the indoor environment. A method of Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM) based on RGB-D cameras is used to solve this matter. We adopt the RGB-D SLAM algorithm to locate the camera and build the 3D map of the environment in this paper. The framework and process of the algorithm are described in detail. The experiments show that the RGB-D SLAM algorithm can achieve good results.
Interpolated Discretized Embedding of Single Vectors and Vector Pairs for Classification, Metric Learning and Distance Approximation

We propose a new embedding method for a single vector and for a pair of vectors. This embedding method enables: a) efficient classification and regression of functions of single vectors; b) efficient approximation of distance functions; and c) non-Euclidean, semimetric learning. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that enables learning any general, non-Euclidean, semimetrics. That is, our method is a universal semimetric learning and approximation method that can approximate any distance function with as high accuracy as needed with or without semimetric constraints. The project homepage including code is at: this http URL
Asthma and the risk of panic attacks among adults in the community

Objective. The study was designed to determine the association between self-reported asthma and the risk, persistence and severity of panic attacks among adults in the community. Method. Data were drawn from waves 1 and 2 of the Baltimore site of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Study (N=2768), which included self-report information on asthma, treatment for asthma and panic attacks in 1981 and 1982. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios comparing the prevalence of panic attack at baseline and follow-up by asthma status at baseline. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between self-reported asthma status and the number of panic symptoms during a panic attack. Results. Self-report asthma was associated with significantly increased likelihood of having panic attacks at baseline (1981) (12·1% v. 7·3%, P<0·05) and of having panic attacks at both baseline and follow-up (15·9% v. 7·3%, P<0·05), compared to those without asthma at baseline. Adults receiving treatment for asthma at baseline had an increased risk of incident panic attacks at follow-up (OR=2·65 (1·11, 6·34)) and at baseline and follow-up (OR=5.88 (2·21, 15.62)), though untreated asthma did not appear to increase risk of incident panic at follow-up. Similarly, the risk of panic at follow-up was not increased among those with asthma at baseline who did not report asthma at follow-up, compared with those without asthma at baseline. Treated asthma was associated with having more panic symptoms during panic attacks, compared to those without asthma (P<0·001). Conclusion. These findings are consistent with and extend previous results suggesting that self-reported asthma is associated with an increased risk of panic attacks among adults in the general population, and that there is a consistent relation between severity and persistence of asthma and panic attacks. The lack of association between remitted asthma and panic attack may reveal a need for further research to determine whether asthma may be a causal risk factor for panic attacks, or whether a third factor (genetic or environmental) may be associated with increased risk of the co-occurrence of asthma and panic attacks. Replication of these results using alternative methodology with corroborative data on asthma and panic attacks is needed next.
An active bivergent rolling-hinge detachment system: Central Menderes metamorphic core complex in western Turkey

Two symmetrically arranged detachment systems delimit the central Menderes metamorphic core complex and define a bivergent continental breakaway zone in the Anatolide belt of western Turkey. Structural analysis and apatite fission-track thermochronology show that a large east-trending syncline within the Alpine nappe stack in the central part of the orogen is related to late Miocene‐early Pliocene to recent core-complex formation. The syncline formed as a result of two opposite-facing rolling hinges in the footwalls of each of the two detachments. Back-rotation of the syncline limbs suggests that the detachments rotated from an initial dip of 408‐608 to a currently shallow orientation of 08‐208.
An Unsupervised Approach for Semantic Relation Interpretation

In this work we propose a hybrid unsupervised approach for semantic relation extraction from Italian and English texts. The system takes as input pairs of ""distributionally similar"" terms, possibly involved in a semantic relation. To validate and label the anonymous relations holding between the terms in input, the candidate pairs of terms are looked for on the Web in the context of reliable lexico-syntactic patterns. This paper focuses on the definition of the patterns, on the measures used to assess the reliability of the suggested specific semantic relation and on the evaluation of the implemented system. So far, the system is able to extract the following types of semantic relations: hyponymy, meronymy, and co-hyponymy. The approach can however be easily extended to manage other relations by defining the appropriate battery of reliable lexico-syntactic patterns. Accuracy of the system was measured with scores of 83.3% for hyponymy, 75% for meronymy and 72.2% for co-hyponymy extraction.
Development of a Real Time Sparse Non-Negative Matrix Factorization Module for Cochlear Implants by Using xPC Target

Cochlear implants (CIS) require efficient speech processing to maximize information transmission to the brain, especially in noise. A novel CI processing strategy was proposed in our previous studies, in which sparsity-constrained non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) was applied to the envelope matrix in order to improve the CI performance in noisy environments. It showed that the algorithm needs to be adaptive, rather than fixed, in order to adjust to acoustical conditions and individual characteristics. Here, we explore the benefit of a system that allows the user to adjust the signal processing in real time according to their individual listening needs and their individual hearing capabilities. In this system, which is based on MATLAB®, SIMULINK® and the xPC Target™ environment, the input/outupt (I/O) boards are interfaced between the SIMULINK blocks and the CI stimulation system, such that the output can be controlled successfully in the manner of a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation, hence offering a convenient way to implement a real time signal processing module that does not require any low level language. The sparsity constrained parameter of the algorithm was adapted online subjectively during an experiment with normal-hearing subjects and noise vocoded speech simulation. Results show that subjects chose different parameter values according to their own intelligibility preferences, indicating that adaptive real time algorithms are beneficial to fully explore subjective preferences. We conclude that the adaptive real time systems are beneficial for the experimental design, and such systems allow one to conduct psychophysical experiments with high ecological validity.
On the Strategic Allocation of Social Gratification

Members of social networks are given opportunities to bestow positive recognition upon one another by means of constructs such as "likes" and "retweets. " Although recipients no doubt experience utility from these actions, one might question why these constructs with no intrinsic value for the sender are exchanged at all. Here we formulate a metric for the prestige of a member of a social network based on his or her place within the network and the rate at which "likes" are exchanged within his or her social circle. Simulation reveals that the 1% most strategically-optimized networks exchange likes at an average rate 23.5% higher than that of their random counterparts. This suggests that purely strategic agents, even with no concern for altruism or the general welfare, experience utility from giving social gratification. Further, we show that prestige-maximization creates a selective pressure for structural features associated with social networks including clustering and the small-world property.
Probability distribution of sea surface wind stresses

The probability density function (pdf) of sea surface wind stresses is considered. Observed sea surface wind stresses are highly non‐Gaussian, with characteristic relationships between moments. A consideration of empirical models of sea surface wind stress pdfs built from models of sea surface vector winds demonstrates that non‐Gaussian structure in the vector winds must be accounted for to accurately characterise the observed relationships between wind stress moments. An idealised stochastic boundary layer model is shown to provide a good qualitative characterisation of these pdfs.
A spatial analysis method (SAM) to detect candidate loci for selection: towards a landscape genomics approach to adaptation

The detection of adaptive loci in the genome is essential as it gives the possibility of understanding what proportion of a genome or which genes are being shaped by natural selection. Several statistical methods have been developed which make use of molecular data to reveal genomic regions under selection. In this paper, we propose an approach to address this issue from the environmental angle, in order to complement results obtained by population genetics. We introduce a new method to detect signatures of natural selection based on the application of spatial analysis, with the contribution of geographical information systems (GIS), environmental variables and molecular data. Multiple univariate logistic regressions were carried out to test for association between allelic frequencies at marker loci and environmental variables. This spatial analysis method (SAM) is similar to current population genomics approaches since it is designed to scan hundreds of markers to assess a putative association with hundreds of environmental variables. Here, by application to studies of pine weevils and breeds of sheep we demonstrate a strong correspondence between SAM results and those obtained using population genetics approaches. Statistical signals were found that associate loci with environmental parameters, and these loci behave atypically in comparison with the theoretical distribution for neutral loci. The contribution of this new tool is not only to permit the identification of loci under selection but also to establish hypotheses about ecological factors that could exert the selection pressure responsible. In the future, such an approach may accelerate the process of hunting for functional genes at the population level.
On the Development of a Sensor Module for Real-Time Pollution Monitoring

In a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) application for ambient pollution monitoring, which involves the deployment of a large number (i.e. ~100) of sensors in India and UK to obtain fine-grain pollution data, the selection of gas sensors and the validity of sensor measurements against ground truth are vitally important to the success of the system. Electrochemical and solid state gas sensors are low- cost, small sensors that are traditionally used for examining exhaust emissions from vehicles, and hence, they are specifically designed to measure a much higher gas concentration than in our measured environment. In this paper, we evaluate the use of gas sensors in a pollution monitoring project using pervasive sensor technology by literature comparison of the different types of gas sensors available commercially; and a discussion on the calibration process of a set of selected Oxygen (O2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) sensors. The results show that the electrochemical CO sensors exhibit linearity against the range of concentrations that we are interested in (0-20ppm). This paper presents in-depth knowledge on sensor selection and calibration against the ground truth to the research community interested in enabling practical development and deployment of WSN gas pollution monitoring systems.
Matching directories and OWL ontologies with AROMA

This paper presents a simple and adaptable matching method dealing with web directories, catalogs and OWL ontologies. By using a well-known Knowledge Discovery in Databases model, such as the association rule paradigm, this method has the originality to be both extensional and asymmetric. It works at the terminological level (by selecting concept-relevant terms contained in documents) and permits to discover equivalence and also subsumption relations holding between entities (concepts and properties). This method relies on the implication intensity measure, a probabilistic model of deviation from independence. Selection of significant rules between concepts (or properties) is lead by two criteria permitting to assess respectively the implication quality and the generativity of the rule. Finally, the proposed method is evaluated on two benchmarks. The first contains two conceptual hierarchies populated with textual documents and the second one is composed of OWL ontologies.
Locating Prefix Hijackers using LOCK

Prefix hijacking is one of the top known threats on today's Internet. A number of measurement based solutions have been proposed to detect prefix hijacking events. In this paper we take these solutions one step further by addressing the problem of locating the attacker in each of the detected hijacking event. Being able to locate the attacker is critical for conducting necessary mitigation mechanisms at the earliest possible time to limit the impact of the attack, successfully stopping the attack and restoring the service. We propose a robust scheme named LOCK, for LOCating the prefix hijacKer ASes based on distributed Internet measurements. LOCK locates each attacker AS by actively monitoring paths (either in the control-plane or in the data-plane) to the victim prefix from a small number of carefully selected monitors distributed on the Internet. Moreover, LOCK is robust against various countermeasures that the hijackers may employ. This is achieved by taking advantage of two observations: that the hijacker cannot manipulate AS path before the path reaches the hijacker, and that the paths to victim prefix "converge" around the hijacker AS. We have deployed LOCK on a number of PlanetLab nodes and conducted several large scale measurements and experiments to evaluate the performance. Our results show that LOCK is able to pinpoint the prefix hijacker AS with an accuracy up to 94.3%.
Estratigrafía Física, Palinológica, Sedimentológica y Secuencial del Cretácico Superior y Paleoceno del Piedemonte Llanero: Implicaciones en Exploración Petrolera

The stratigraphy of the Chipaque Formation, Guadalupe Group, Guaduas Formation and Socha Inferior Formation in the vicinity of San Luis de Gaceno is discussed here. The Guadalupe Group from the Llanos Foothills is divided in three new litostratigraphic units that from base to top are named Arenitas de San Antonio Formation (Guadalupe Inferior, early Campanian), Lodolitas de Aguacaliente Formation (Guadalupe Medio, late Campanian) and Arenitas de San Luis de Gaceno Formation (Guadalupe Superior, early Maastrichtian). The units that have the same stratigraphic position of the Guadalupe Group and are consequently bounded by the same discontinuities, are included in an allostratigraphic unit named Guadalupe Allogroup. This unit is in turn divided in the Alloformations Guadalupe Inferior, Guadalupe Medio, and Guadalupe Superior. In the same way, the units bounded by the unconformities of the late Paleocene and late Eocene, are included in the Alloformations Socha Inferior (late Paleocene) and Socha Superior (early Eocene) of the Socha Allogroup. In addition, the palynology, biostratigraphy, and sedimentary environments are discussed. The succession is divided in sequence-stratigraphy units in order to provide a regional correlation frame. The sequences, that are bounded by unconformities or correlative surfaces between sea level falls, are named SK5 (uppermost interval of the Une Formation and Chipaque Formation), SK6 (Arenitas de San Antonio and Lodolitas de Aguacaliente Formations), SK7 (Arenitas de San Luis de Gaceno Formation and lower part of the Guaduas Formation), and ST2 (Socha Inferior and Socha Superior Formations). Finally, a discussion of the implications in petroleum exploration is presented in the light of the stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and geochronologic framework proposed here.
Polar Layered Terrains: Links Between the Martian Volatile and Dust Cycles

The nature, origin and evolution of the polar layered terrains are a major mystery of Martian climate. Almost every aspect of these enigmatic terrains surrounding, and probably underlying, the polar residual ice caps is in contention. Are the polar laminae forming today? Are they inactive or even eroding, being mere relics of the past? Are the north and south polar layered terrains fundamentally different in composition, age or process? Are they a physical record of past, possibly cyclic, climate change and, if so, can we learn to read that record? We know from past Mariner 9 and Viking orbital observations that there are layered terrains at high latitudes, defined by alternating bands of visually lighter and darker material appearing in stacks hundreds of meters thick with individual bands as thin as could then be resolved (tens of meters). In this talk, aspects of the polar layered terrains will be reviewed with emphasis on issues likely to be addressed with data from ongoing and near-term flight missions to Mars. Particular attention will be given to what might be learned from observing the present seasonal cycles of dust, water and carbon dioxide on Mars, in conjunction with in situ data from one site on the south polar layered terrain.
Temporal and spatial rainfall analysis across a humid tropical catchment

Temporal and spatial rainfall patterns were analysed to describe the distribution of daily rainfall across a medium‐sized (379km2) tropical catchment. Investigations were carried out to assess whether a climatological variogram model was appropriate for mapping rainfall taking into consideration the changing rainfall characteristics through the wet season. Exploratory, frequency and moving average analyses of 30 years' daily precipitation data were used to describe the reliability and structure of the rainfall regime. Four phases in the wet season were distinguished, with the peak period (mid‐August to mid‐September) representing the wettest period. A low‐cost rain gauge network of 36 plastic gauges with overflow reservoirs was installed and monitored to obtain spatially distributed rainfall data. Geostatistical techniques were used to develop global and wet season phase climatological variograms. The unscaled climatological variograms were cross‐validated and compared using a range of rainfall events. Ordinary Kriging was used as the interpolation method. The global climatological variogram $\gamma^{*} = 1{\cdot}2 \left[1 - \exp - {h\over 18 \hbox{ km}}\right]$ performed better, and was used to optimize the number and location of rain gauges in the network. The research showed that although distinct wet season phases could be established based on the temporal analysis of daily rainfall characteristics, the interpolation of daily rainfall across a medium‐sized catchment based on spatial analysis was better served by using the global rather than the wet season phase climatological variogram model. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real-time high quality volume isosurface rendering

Title of Thesis: Real-Time High Quality Volume Isosurface Rendering John Werner Kloetzli, Jr , Master of Science, 2008 Thesis directed by: Marc Olano, Associate Professor Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering We present a volume format which is capable of representing c omplex reconstructions as well as a fast isosurface rendering algorithm. Our v olume format consists of a set of densely packing tetrahedral polynomials in Bernstei form, each constrained to provide continuity across face boundaries. We define a specific c lass of tetrahedral partition suitable for our method, along with a least-squares approxi mation method to generate data in this format as approximations to arbitrary continuous vo lumes. Our volume format is closed under convolution with scalar volumes, so by represe nting reconstruction filters in our format we can create convolved volumes easily. We also pr esent a fast rendering algorithm which maintains interactive rates for most volumes up to 128 resolution. Our results include analytic and observational error for how our format approximate several common volume reconstructions, as well as space requirements and r ende ing speed. Real-Time High Quality Volume Isosurface Rendering by John Werner Kloetzli, Jr Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science 2008
Differential expression of retinoic acid receptor‐β isoforms during chick limb ontogeny

Retinoids influence both morphogenetic events and differentiation during development of the vertebrate limb. These effects are mediated through nuclear retinoid receptors, which modulate target gene expression. We report here the cloning and characterization of three promoter‐ and splicing‐variants of the retinoic acid receptor‐β (RAR‐β) from chick. These receptor isoforms are independently expressed during limb development. RARβ2 but not RARβ1 transcripts are enriched three‐fold in the posterior limb bud, reflecting the increased RA concentrations in this region. RARβ1 transcripts are initially present throughout the limb bud mesenchyme and ectoderm, then become restricted within perichondrial regions and loose connective tissue of the limb. RARβ1 expression closely overlaps that of NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule) and tenascin in non‐neuronal tissues. RARβ2 transcripts are present within a subset of those limb tissues which express RARβ1. In the early limb bud RARβ2 transcripts are detected in proximal limb mesenchyme and in the initial mesenchymal condensate. In older limbs RARβ2 mRNAs are abundant in cells lateral to the digit cartilage. Neither RARβ1 nor RARβ2 transcripts are associated specifically with regions of limb cell death. The differential expression and regulation of RARβ isoforms suggests these variants may have different roles in limb development. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.