Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An implementation of the backtracking algorithm for multicore systems

The emergence of inexpensive parallel computers powered by multicore chips combined with high clock rates raises new challenges for software engineering. Since the performance improvements will not come from increased clock rates, high performance applications will need to be parallelized. In addition to operating system support, adjustments to existing software are required to maximize utilization of the computing resources provided by multicore processors. The ability of multicore processors to increase application performance depends on the use of multiple threads within applications. We will describe an algorithm that allows backtracking problems to be solved by means of such multicore systems. A multicore algorithm meant for backtracking problems and able to meet certain constraints is made of multiple search threads with concurrent operation and distinct processing parts of the solution space. The proposed algorithm is scalable.
A Validation Method for Emergency Operating Procedures of Nuclear Power Plants Based on Dynamic Multi-level Flow Modeling

While emergency operating procedures (EOPs) occupy an important role in the management of various abnormal situations in nuclear power plants (NPPs), current technology for the validation of EOPs still largely depends on manual review. A validation method for EOPs of NPPs is thus proposed based on dynamic multi-level flow modeling (MFM). The MFM modeling procedure and the EOP validation procedure are developed and provided in the paper. Application of the proposed method to EOPs of an actual NPP shows that the proposed method provides an efficient means of validating EOPs. It is also found that the information on state transitions in MFM models during the management of abnormal situations is also useful for further analysis on EOPs including their optimization.
Blind multiuser detection for quasi-synchronous modified MC-CDMA systems by Kurtosis maximization

In this paper, a blind multiuser detection algorithm (BMDA) for the uplink of quasi-synchronous modified MC-CDMA systems is proposed that comprises Chi and Chen's fast kurtosis maximization algorithm (FKMA) and a user identification algorithm. As the FKMA, the proposed BMDA is an iterative algorithm with super-exponential convergence rate. Furthermore, the proposed BMDA in conjunction with Chi et al.'s blind maximum ratio combining (BMRC) algorithm, called BMDA-BMRC algorithm, is proposed for the quasi-synchronous modified MC-CDMA system with multiple receive antennas. Finally, some simulation results are presented to support the efficacy of the proposed BMDA and BMDA-BMRC algorithm.
The large graph limit of a stochastic epidemic model on a dynamic multilayer network

ABSTRACT We consider a Markovian SIR-type (Susceptible → Infected → Recovered) stochastic epidemic process with multiple modes of transmission on a contact network. The network is given by a random graph following a multilayer configuration model where edges in different layers correspond to potentially infectious contacts of different types. We assume that the graph structure evolves in response to the epidemic via activation or deactivation of edges of infectious nodes. We derive a large graph limit theorem that gives a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) describing the evolution of quantities of interest, such as the proportions of infected and susceptible vertices, as the number of nodes tends to infinity. Analysis of the limiting system elucidates how the coupling of edge activation and deactivation to infection status affects disease dynamics, as illustrated by a two-layer network example with edge types corresponding to community and healthcare contacts. Our theorem extends some earlier results describing the deterministic limit of stochastic SIR processes on static, single-layer configuration model graphs. We also describe precisely the conditions for equivalence between our limiting ODEs and the systems obtained via pair approximation, which are widely used in the epidemiological and ecological literature to approximate disease dynamics on networks. The flexible modeling framework and asymptotic results have potential application to many disease settings including Ebola dynamics in West Africa, which was the original motivation for this study.
Secure Communication through Wireless-Powered Friendly Jamming: Jointly Online Optimization over Geography, Energy and Time

Exploring the interference-emitting friendly jammers to protect the sensitive communications in the presence of eavesdroppers has increasingly being investigated in literature. In parallel, scavenging energy from abient radio signals for energy-constrained devices, namely wireless energy harvesting (WEH), has also drawn significant attention. Without relying on external energy supply, the wireless-powered friendly jammer by WEH from legitimate wireless devices is an effective approach to prolong their lifetime and gain the flexibility in deployments. This paper studies the online optimization of the placement and WEH of a set of friendly jammers in a geographic location with the energy-efficiency (EE) consideration. We adopt a simple “time switching” protocol where power transfer and jammerassisted secure communications occur in different time blocks when WEH requests are launched. Our scheme has the following important advantages: 1) The proposed online jammers placement and interfering power allocation to attack eavesdroppers is the first distributed and scalable solutions within any specified geographic region; 2) We model the WEH for jammers as a JAM-NET lifetime maximization problem, where online scheduling algorithms with heterogeneous energy demands of each jammer (from energy sources) are designed; 3) Under our model, the problem of placing a minimum number of jammers with distancebased power assignments is NP-hard, and near optimal PTAS approximation algorithms are provided; 4) When durations of the eavesdropping and legitimate communicating are available and the scenario is extended to the multi-channels setting, our results are strengthened to see further improved EE and reduced number of jammers. Simulations back up our theory.
Effects of mutations in the rpoS gene on cell viability and global gene expression under nitrogen starvation in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli bearing an rpoS amber or disrupted mutation exhibited a significant decrease in the number of colony-forming units (c.f.u.) when exposed to nitrogen starvation, which was not observed in cells bearing a functional rpoS allele. The decrease in the number of c.f. u. that was observed about 25 h after initiation of nitrogen starvation was prevented by the addition of nitrogen within 3 h but not by the addition of nitrogen at more than 7 h after the initiation of nitrogen starvation, suggesting that a process leading to a decline in c.f. u. starts within this period. DNA microarray analysis of the rpoS mutant showed that a large number of genes including many functionally undefined genes were affected by nitrogen starvation. The expression levels of sigma(S) and sigma(H) regulon genes encoding acid-resistant proteins (hdeA, hdeB, gadA and gadB), DNA-binding protein (dps), chaperones (dnaK, ibpA, ibpB, dnaJ and htpG), chaperonins (mopB and mopA) and energy-metabolism-related proteins (hyaABCDF and gapA), and those of other genes encoding nucleotide-metabolism-related proteins (deoC and deoB), cell-division protein (ftsL), outer-membrane lipoprotein (slp) and DNA-binding protein (stpA) were significantly decreased by 10 h nitrogen starvation. The genes encoding transport/binding proteins (nac, amtB, argT, artJ, potF and hisJ) and amino acid-metabolism-related proteins (glnA, trpB, argG, asnB, argC, gdhA, cstC, ntrB, asd and lysC) were significantly up-regulated under the same condition, some of which are known Ntr genes expressed under nitrogen limitation. On the basis of these results, possible causes of the decrease in the number of c.f. u. under nitrogen starvation are discussed.
Barriers and enablers of inclusion for young autistic learners: lessons from the Polish experiences of teachers and related professionals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present new empirical data on the experiences of 120 teachers and professionals working with autistic children and young people across different settings in Poland where autism research on inclusive education is scarce. It explores the relationship of inclusive education to the social and neurodiversity models of disability. It makes evidence-based recommendations for good practice and modelling and evaluating future education and inclusion practices. Design/methodology/approach It uses a survey approach involving a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection and embeds practical findings in theory, including the relationship of inclusive education to the social and neurodiversity models of disability. Findings The findings include the barriers teachers and related professionals experience in facilitating inclusive teaching and learning and how the following would be useful to autistic students: opportunities to exercise responsibilities and take leadership roles; social as well as educational inclusion; provision of a safe environment; regular funded autism training in work time; and appropriate use of additional classroom teachers. Research limitations/implications A survey-based approach has limitations. Practical implications Opportunities to exercise responsibilities and take leadership roles; social as well as educational inclusion; provision of a safe environment; regular funded autism training in work time; and appropriate use of additional classroom teachers. Social implications This study can be useful in the development of social skills and communication, social and educational inclusion. Originality/value Polish teachers’ attitudes, experiences and support needs, including some previously overlooked issues, are related to the broader international context beyond Poland. Analysis of the findings is used to derive evidence-based recommendations for good practice and modelling, and evaluating future education and inclusion practices.
Efficient Solution to the Epipolar Geometry for Radially Distorted Cameras

The estimation of the epipolar geometry of two cameras from image matches is a fundamental problem of computer vision with many applications. While the closely related problem of estimating relative pose of two different uncalibrated cameras with radial distortion is of particular importance, none of the previously published methods is suitable for practical applications. These solutions are either numerically unstable, sensitive to noise, based on a large number of point correspondences, or simply too slow for real-time applications. In this paper, we present a new efficient solution to this problem that uses 10 image correspondences. By manipulating ten input polynomial equations, we derive a degree 10 polynomial equation in one variable. The solutions to this equation are efficiently found using the Sturm sequences method. In the experiments, we show that the proposed solution is stable, noise resistant, and fast, and as such efficiently usable in a practical Structure-from-Motion pipeline.
Properties of intentions and their effects on prospective memory : behavioural and fNIRS studies

3 Impact Statement . 4 Acknowledgments . 6 Table of Content . 8 List of Figures . 14 List of Tables . 16 Chapter 1: General Introduction . 17 1.1) Intentions & Prospective Memory: Conceptual Introduction . 17 1.1.1) What is Prospective Memory? 17 1.1.2) Real-life PM situations, laboratory-based and naturalistic PM paradigms . 18 1.1.3) The Concept of PM . 19 1.2) PM as an Executive Function, a Memory System, in Time & Theories of PM . 20 1.2.1) PM as an Executive Function . 20 1.2.2) PM as a Memory System . 22 1.2.2.1) Retrospective versus Prospective . 22 1.2.2. 2) Working Memory versus PM . 23 1.2.2.3) Memory Processes: Encoding, Storage & Retrieval . 24 1.2.3) PM in Time . 26 1.2.3.1) Duration of Delay . 26 1.2.3.2) Timing: event-based versus time-based PM . 27 1.2. 4) Theories of PM . 28 1.3) Neuroimaging research on PM . 31 1.3.1) Rostral Prefrontal Cortex & PM . 31 1.3.2) Gateway processes in lateral and medial BA 10 for PM . 33 1.3. 3) PM in the whole brain . 35 1.3. 4) The Attention to Delayed Intention model . 36 1.4) Further Considerations . 40 1.4. 1) PM and Metacognition . 40 1.4. 2) PM: From Lab to Life . 42
An Architecture for TSI-Free Nonblocking Optical TDM Switches

One of the key elements in building a time-division- multiplexed (TDM) switch is the time slot interchange (TSI). Given the current optical switching and buffer technologies, TSI-based TDM architectures have many implementation drawbacks, including severe signal attenuation. Some studies showed that some space-time equivalence diagrams can be converted into a delay-unit-based (TSI-free) TDM. This type of architecture is attractive for optical TDM switches, but the techniques discussed in those studies are for rearrangeable switches. Many applications require nonblocking switches where adding a new connection (or a flow) will not cause rearrangement of existing connections. In this paper, we present the design principle for building strictly nonblocking delay-unit-based (TSI-free) optical TDM switches.
VARIATION IN CAROTENOID-BASED COLOR IN NORTHERN FLICKERS IN A HYBRID ZONE

Abstract We studied variation in the carotenoid color of flight feathers of hybrid Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) and its correlation with reproductive performance and survival. Color scores provided by a digital camera revealed in 218 individuals a continuous spectrum from yellow to red. Males tended to be slightly redder than females. Within individuals, an analysis of color change with age revealed that males, but not females, became redder with age. Except for yearling females, body condition did not improve with age, suggesting that color is not linked to body condition measured during incubation. We did not detect any correlations between feather color and measures of reproductive performance, such as clutch size, hatching success, or fledging success, or return rate to the study area. In a hybrid population where intraspecific variation in color is controlled partly by genes, hue or brightness may not be a useful signal of individual quality, contrary to other studies of birds. About 25% of flickers had one or more tail feathers that differed from the rest of the plumage. In each case, the “odd” feathers were paler or yellower in color and may have been caused by diet or stress when the feathers were lost and regrown during winter. Such odd colors support the hypothesis that red carotenoid pigments are costly to maintain under stressful conditions.
Conformal Array Beam Synthesis and Taper Efficiency Comparisons

Abstract : In order to increase antenna placement options on crowded platforms, three methods for synthesizing conformal phased array excitations on curved surfaces were computer programmed and compared: the Alternating Projections method (AP), the Successive Projections method (SP), and the Genetic Algorithm method (GA). The comparison was based on how closely the synthesized patterns conformed to the desired pattern amplitudes, and on the resulting taper efficiency. An expression for taper efficiency of a curved array was derived, showing directivity compared to a linear array. Greater efficiency would increase gain for a given antenna size. Taper efficiency is useful in evaluating the synthesis methods since different methods can produce very different aperture illuminations despite similarity in the resulting patterns. Curved arrays were computer modeled ranging from 17 to 97 elements. Different initial excitations, element patterns, and desired pattern masks were investigated. The AP method synthesized patterns closest to the desired patterns, closely followed by the GA method. The SP method tended to get stuck in local minima for difficult cases. The GA method was programmed to optimize taper efficiency, but it takes much longer to run than the other two methods.
Developing Neonatal Rat Sympathetic and Sensory Neurons Differ in Their Regulation of 5-HT3 Receptor Expression

Serotonin 5-HT3 receptors (5-HT3Rs) are ligand-gated ion channels expressed by many peripheral neurons and are involved in several physiological processes. To learn more about the developmental regulation of 5-HT3R expression, we investigated rat sympathetic and vagal sensory neurons. We found that sympathetic and sensory neurons differ in their regulation of 5-HT3R expression during early postnatal life and as these neurons develop in culture. In SCG neurons 5-HT3R transcript levels are low at postnatal day 1 (P1) and increase 7.5-fold by P21; this increase occurs even after elimination of preganglionic innervation. In comparison, 5-HT3R mRNA levels in P1 nodose neurons are over 14-fold greater than in P1 SCG and change little by P21. We show that 5-HT3R transcript levels in nodose neurons depend on intact target innervation and drop by 60% after axotomy. When P1 SCG neurons develop in culture, we observed a significant increase in 5-HT3R expression: after 7 d in culture, transcript levels increase ninefold versus a threefold increase for neurons developing for 7 d in vivo. In contrast, 5-HT3R mRNA levels in cultured nodose neurons drop by 70% within 24 hr; however, this drop is transient. After 2 d, transcript levels begin to increase, and after 7 d, they are above initial values. We show that this delayed increase in 5-HT3R expression depends on neurotrophins. In both nodose and sympathetic neurons we found that the changes in 5-HT3R gene expression correlate directly with the appearance of 5-HT-evoked current densities.
Morphology and mycelial growth rate of Pleurotus spp. strains from the Mexican mixtec region

Two native Pleurotus spp. strains (white LB-050 and pale pink LB-051) were isolated from rotten tree trunks of cazahuate (Ipomoea murucoides) from the Mexican Mixtec Region. Both strains were chemically dedikaryotized to obtain their symmetrical monokaryotic components (neohaplonts). This was achieved employing homogenization time periods from 60 to 65 s, and 3 day incubation at 28 °C in a peptone-glucose solution (PGS). Pairing of compatible neohaplonts resulted in 56 hybrid strains which were classified into the four following hybrid types: (R1-nxB1-n, R1-nxB2-1, R2-nxB1-n and R2-nxB2-1). The mycelial growth of Pleurotus spp. monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains showed differences in texture (cottony or floccose), growth (scarce, regular or abundant), density (high, regular or low), and pigmentation (off-white, white or pale pink). To determine the rate and the amount of mycelium growth in malt extract agar at 28 °C, the diameter of the colony was measured every 24 h until the Petri dish was completely colonized. A linear model had the best fit to the mycelial growth kinetics. A direct relationship between mycelial morphology and growth rate was observed. Cottony mycelium presented significantly higher growth rates (p < 0.01) in comparison with floccose mycelium. Thus, mycelial morphology can be used as criterion to select which pairs must be used for optimizing compatible-mating studies. Hybrids resulting from cottony neohaplonts maintained the characteristically high growth rates of their parental strains with the hybrid R1-nxB1-n being faster than the latter.
Keening the Dead: Ancient History or a Ritual for Today?

In his 1909 work ‘Rites De Passage’, Arnold van Gennep acknowledges that a ritual often contains ‘rites within rites’. So, it was with the ancient ritual of the Irish wake, at the center of which was another ritual, that of the keen, the Irish funeral lament. The past tense is used tentatively here, as in this article the author explores the resilience of the ritual and how, rather than becoming extinct, the keen seems to spend periods of time underground before erupting again in a new form, attuning itself to a more contemporaneous social situation. Drawing on ethnographic and bibliographic research undertaken between 2010 and 2018, the author traces some of the history of the keen within the ritual of the Irish wake and funeral and gives instances of how it is being reconfigured in the 21st century. This continuation of the ritual, albeit in a new format, seems to speak to a deep emotional and spiritual need that may not be satisfied by more conventional religion in Ireland. Finally, the author considers the keen’s relevance and place in Irish society today.
An Annotated Corpus for Sentiment Analysis in Political News

This article describes a corpus of news texts in Brazilian Portuguese. News were collected from four big newswire outlets, segmented in paragraphs, and marked up by a group of four annotators, who had to classify each paragraph according to two dimensions: target entity (that is the person which is the main subject of the news contained in the paragraph), and the paragraph’s polarity with respect to the target entity. The corpus comprises 131 news, segmented in 1,447 paragraphs, with 65,675 words in total. Along with the corpus, we have also built a gold standard, where paragraphs are classified according to the opinion of the majority of annotators. This gold standard and annotated corpus are available to the community under a Creative Commons licence.
Reduced White Matter Integrity Is Related to Cognitive Instability

Increased performance variability has been demonstrated in several groups and conditions, including aging and cognitive decline. Structural brain characteristics underlying this phenomenon have so far been elusive. However, there is reason to expect that disconnectivity in associative pathways, whether caused by immature or degraded white matter (WM) tracts, will increase performance variability by neural noise. The aim of this study was to test whether the quality of WM, measured by diffusion tensor imaging, is related to performance variability in healthy adults. Intraindividual standard deviation of the reaction time (sdRT) across trials and median reaction time (mRT) from 270 participants were obtained from a speeded continuous performance task (Eriksen flanker task) with two conditions (congruent, incongruent). Tract-based spatial statistics was used to test the relationship with diffusion characteristics [fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusion (MD), radial diffusion (RD), axial diffusion (AD)]. Robust relationships between sdRT and all diffusion measures were found in most WM areas, independently of mRT, age, and sex. The effects were anatomically more widespread in the congruent than the incongruent condition, covering almost 50% of the voxels for RD and MD, and >25% of the voxels for FA and AD. Partial betas were in the range 0.45–0.55, and the strength of the relationships increased significantly with age. For mRT, the effects were smaller and unstable across condition. We concluded that performance variability is a likely consequence of individual differences in WM integrity, and that it is a promising behavioral correlate of individual differences in WM microstructure.