Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T C C F     

This installment of the concurrency column is devoted to a piece by Dale Miller on the connections between three logic formalisms and three approaches to specifying operational semantics. In the paper, Dale offers also a thoughtful discussion of the advantages that the establishment of these links has for operational semantics. Even though several of the examples presented in the article deal with concurrency, I trust that this column will be of interest also to readers of others columns in the Bulletin, such as the " logic in computer science " and the " programming languages " ones. The article is partly based upon the content of an invited lecture that Dale Miller delivered at SOS 2008, one of the events that were affiliated with ICALP 2008. A report on ICALP 2008 is available in this issue of the Bulletin. On behalf of my fellow organizers, Magnús M. Halldórsson and Anna Ingólfsdóttir, I thank all the members of the TCS community that made the trip to Reykjavík for the conference. Seeing so many people enjoy the conference was the best possible recognition for the effort we put into organizing the event. Abstract We review links between three logic formalisms and three approaches to specifying operational semantics. In particular, we show that specifications written with (small-step and big-step) SOS, abstract machines, and multiset rewriting, are closely related to Horn clauses, binary clauses, and (a subset of) linear logic, respectively. We shall illustrate how binary clauses form a bridge between the other two logical formalisms. For example, using a continuation-passing style transformation, Horn clauses can be transformed into binary clauses. Furthermore, binary clauses can be seen as a degener-ative form of multiset rewriting: placing binary clauses within linear logic allows for rich forms of multiset rewriting which, in turn, provides a modular , big-step SOS specifications of imperative and concurrency primitives. Establishing these links between logic and operational semantics has many advantages for operational semantics: tools from automated deduction can be used to animate semantic specifications; solutions to the treatment of binding structures in logic can be used to provide solutions to binding in the syntax of programs; and the declarative nature of logical specifications provides broad avenues for reasoning about semantic specifications.
Cooperation based energy efficiency optimization using game theory framework for heterogeneous networks

Wireless communications knows a real progress that continues relentless as subscribers consume new products and services using mobile devices having more and more powerful feature sets and performance. Consequently we have both a growth in electromagnetic radiation which can be harmful for human health, and mobiles battery consumption that have to be increasingly greater with such performances. In this paper1 we propose a new power optimization scheme that aims to reduce the transmit power while guarantying a good capacity for the system, based on a cooperation protocol algorithm and using a game theory based resource allocation scheme.
The Synergistic Repressive Effect of NF-κB and JNK Inhibitor on the Clonogenic Capacity of Jurkat Leukemia Cells

Deregulation of Nuclear Transcription Factor-κB (NF-κB) and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling is commonly detected in leukemia, suggesting an important role for these two signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of leukemia. In this study, using Jurkat cells, an acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line, we evaluated the effects of an NF-κB inhibitor and a JNK inhibitor individually and in combination on the proliferation, survival and clonogenic capacity of leukemic cells. We found that leukemic stem/progenitor cells (LSPCs) were more sensitive to NF-κB inhibitor treatment than were healthy hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), as shown by a reduction in the clonogenic capacity of the former. Inactivation of NF-κB leads to the activation of JNK signaling in both leukemic cells and healthy HSPCs. Interestingly, JNK inhibitor treatment enhanced the repressive effects of NF-κB inhibitor on LSPCs but prevented such repression in HSPCs. Our data suggest that JNK signaling stimulates proliferation/survival in LSPCs but is a death signal in HSPCs. The combination of NF-κB inhibitor and JNK inhibitor might provide a better treatment for T-ALL leukemia by synergistically killing LSPCs while simultaneously preventing the death of normal HPCs.
Mathematical approximation for real-time lighting rendering through participating media

Many shading models are able to provide realistic rendering of lighting effects under various atmospheric conditions but computational times are often expensive. This paper proposes a method to render lighting effects within participating media in real-time on a graphics workstation. It consists of mathematical approximations based on a re-formulation of the light transport equation considering atmospheric scattering with light sources described by their luminous intensity distribution. Hardware capabilities of graphics computer boards are used to accelerate parts of the rendering process.
Segmentation of White Blood Cell from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Images Using Dual-Threshold Method

We propose a dual-threshold method based on a strategic combination of RGB and HSV color space for white blood cell (WBC) segmentation. The proposed method consists of three main parts: preprocessing, threshold segmentation, and postprocessing. In the preprocessing part, we get two images for further processing: one contrast-stretched gray image and one H component image from transformed HSV color space. In the threshold segmentation part, a dual-threshold method is proposed for improving the conventional single-threshold approaches and a golden section search method is used for determining the optimal thresholds. For the postprocessing part, mathematical morphology and median filtering are utilized to denoise and remove incomplete WBCs. The proposed method was tested in segmenting the lymphoblasts on a public Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) image dataset. The results show that the performance of the proposed method is better than single-threshold approach independently performed in RGB and HSV color space and the overall single WBC segmentation accuracy reaches 97.85%, showing a good prospect in subsequent lymphoblast classification and ALL diagnosis.
Demonstration of a word design strategy for DNA computing on surfaces.

A strategy for DNA computing on surfaces using linked sets of 'DNA words' that are short oligonucleotides (16mers) is proposed. The 16mer words have the format 5'-FFFFvvvvvvvvFFFF-3' in which 4-8 bits of data are stored in 8 variable ('v') base locations, and the remaining fixed ('F') base locations are used as a word label. Using a template and map strategy, a set of 108 8mers each of which possesses at least a 4 base mismatch with the complements to all the other members of the set (4bm complements) are identified for use as a variable base sequence set. In addition, sets of 4 and 12 word labels of the form ABCD.DCBA that are respectively 8bm and 6bm complements with each other are identified. The 16mers are chosen to have a G/C content of 50% in order to make the thermodynamic stability of the perfectly matched hybridized DNA duplexes similar; a simple pairwise additive method is used to estimate the perfect match and mismatch hybridization thermodynamics. A series of preliminary experiments are presented that use small arrays of 16mers attached to chemically modified gold surfaces and fluorescently labeled complements to study the hybridization adsorption and enzymatic manipulation of the oligonucleotides.
Vortices in Circumstellar Disks

We discuss the physics of vortices in the circumstellar disks associated with young stellar objects. We elucidate the basic physical properties of these localized storm systems. In particular, we consider point vortices, linear vortices, the effects of self-gravity, magnetic fields, and nonlinear aspects of the problem. We find that these vortices can exist in many different forms in the disks of young stellar objects and may play a role in the formation of binary companions and/or giant planets. Vortices may enhance giant planet formation via gravitational instability by allowing dust grains (heavy elements) to settle to the center on a short timescale; the gravitational instability itself is also enhanced because the vortices also create a larger local surface density in the disk. In addition, vortices can enhance energy dissipation in disks and thereby affect disk accretion. Finally, we consider the possibility that vortices of this type exist in molecular clouds and in the disk of the galaxy itself. On all of these size scales, vortices can produce long-lived structures which may correspond to observed structures in these systems.
ASYMPTOTIC SCALING SYMMETRIES FOR NONLINEAR PDES

In some cases, solutions to nonlinear PDEs happen to be asymptotically (for large x and/or t) invariant under a group G which is not a symmetry of the equation. After recalling the geometrical meaning of symmetries of differential equations — and solution-preserving maps — we provide a precise definition of asymptotic symmetries of PDEs; we deal in particular, for ease of discussion and physical relevance, with scaling and translation symmetries of scalar equations. We apply the general discussion to a class of "Richardson-like" anomalous diffusion and reaction-diffusion equations, whose solution are known by numerical experiments to be asymptotically scale invariant; we obtain an analytical explanation of the numerically observed asymptotic scaling properties. We also apply our method to a different class of anomalous diffusion equations, relevant in optical lattices. The methods developed here can be applied to more general equations, as shown by their geometrical construction.
A multiple-server efficient reusable proof of data possesion from private information retrieval techniques

A proof of Data Possession (PDP) allows a client to verify that a remote server is still in possession of a file entrusted to it. One way to design a PDP, is to compute a function depending on a secret and the file. Then, during the verification stage, the client reveals the secret input to the server who recomputes the function and sends the output back to the client. The client can then compare both values to determine if the server is still in possession of the file. The problem with this approach is that once the server knows the secret, it is not useful anymore. In this article, we present two PDP schemes inspired in Multiple-Server Private Information Retrieval (MSPIR) protocols. In a traditional MSPIR protocol, the goal is to retrieve a given block of the file from a group of servers storing identical copies of it, without telling the servers what block was retrieved. In contrast, our goal is to let servers evaluate a function using an input that is not revealed to them. We show that our constructions are secure, practical and that they can complement existing approaches in storage architectures using multiple cloud providers. The amount of transmitted information during the verification stage of the protocols is proportional to the square root of the length of the file.
Reproductive Behavior and Personality Traits of the Five Factor Model

We examined associations between Five Factor Model personality traits and various outcomes of reproductive behavior in a sample of 15 729 women and men from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS) and Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) survey. Personality and reproductive history was self–reported in adulthood (mean age: 53 years). High extraversion, high openness to experience, and low neuroticism were associated with larger number of children in both sexes, while high agreeableness and low conscientiousness correlated with larger offspring number in women only. These associations were independent of marital status. There were also more specific associations between personality and timing of childbearing. The findings demonstrate that personality traits of the Five Factor Model are systematically associated with multiple reproductive outcomes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
III.4 Equity, Development and Climate Change Policy

This chapter explores the relationship between an equitable sharing of emission abatement targets between developed and developing countries and their incentives to participate in an international agreement to control climate change. Although developing countries face a drastic increase in their emissions, environmental efforts are not ranked among their priorities. The obvious explanation is their necessity to continue their development process, which is characterised by pressing needs other than emissions. For developing countries, the real problem is not emission reductions but economic growth. Therefore, the key question is whether there exists a climate strategy which guarantees both environmental effectiveness and an equitable sharing of emission burden, where equitable has the meaning of avoiding economic burdens on developing countries in order to support their economic development. The conjecture to be explored in this chapter is that the only way to accelerate the participation of developing countries in climate agreements -and thus to come closer to the aim of a global climate control is to design equitable climate strategies which also support economic development. This chapter analyses different equitable climate strategies and their implications on developing countries’ incentives to cooperate on climate change control.
A genetic programming hyper-heuristic: Turning features into heuristics for constraint satisfaction

A constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) is a combinatorial optimisation problem with many real world applications. One of the key aspects to consider when solving a CSP is the order in which the variables are selected to be instantiated. In this study, we describe a genetic programming hyper-heuristic approach to automatically produce heuristics for CSPs. Human-designed `standard' heuristics are used as components enabling the construction of new variable ordering heuristics which is achieved through the proposed approach. We present empirical evidence that the heuristics produced by our approach are competitive considering the cost of the search when compared to the standard heuristics which are used to obtain the components for the new heuristics. The proposed approach is able to produce specialized heuristics for specific classes of instances that outperform the best standard heuristics for the same instances.
Cooperative control of a compliant manipulator for robotic-assisted physiotherapy

In recent years, robotic systems have been playing an increasingly important role in physiotherapy. The aim of these platforms is to aid the recovery process from strokes or muscular damage by assisting patients to perform a number of controlled tasks, thus effectively complementing the role of the physiotherapist. In this paper, we present a novel learning from demonstration framework for cooperative control in robotic-assisted physiotherapy. Unlike other approaches, the aim of the proposed system is to guide the patients to optimally execute a task based on previously learned demonstrations. This allows the generation of patient-specific gestures under the supervision of the expert physiotherapist. The guidance is performed through stiffness control of a compliant manipulator, where the stiffness profile of the generalized trajectory is determined according to the relative importance of each section of the task. In contrast with the traditional learning approach, where the execution of the generalized trajectory by the robot is automated, this cooperative control architecture allows the patients to perform the task at their own pace, while ensuring the movements are executed correctly. Increased performance of the learning framework is accomplished through a novel fast, low-cost multi-demonstration dynamic time warping algorithm used to build the model. Experimental validation of the framework is carried out using an interactive setup designed to provide further guidance through additional visual and sensory feedback based on the task model. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed framework, showing a significant improvement in the performance of guided tasks compared to unguided ones.
iFL: An interactive environment for understanding feature implementations

We propose iFL, an interactive environment that is useful for effectively understanding feature implementation by application of feature location (FL). With iFL, the inputs for FL are improved incrementally by interactions between users and the FL system. By understanding a code fragment obtained using FL, users can find more appropriate queries from the identifiers in the fragment. Furthermore, the relevance feedback obtained by partially judging whether or not a fragment is relevant improves the evaluation score of FL. Users can then obtain more accurate results. Case studies with iFL show that our interactive approach is feasible and that it can reduce the understanding cost more effectively than the non-interactive approach.
MSTParser Model Interpolation for Multi-Source Delexicalized Transfer

We introduce interpolation of trained MSTParser models as a resource combination method for multi-source delexicalized parser transfer. We present both an unweighted method, as well as a variant in which each source model is weighted by the similarity of the source language to the target language. Evaluation on the HamleDT treebank collection shows that the weighted model interpolation performs comparably to weighted parse tree combination method, while being computationally much less demanding.
Approximate Visibility for Illumination Computations using Point Clouds

In this paper, we present a simple technique to evaluate the visibility between pairs of points in a scene. In most current rendering algorithms, visibility queries are evaluated exactly. Our approach approximates the visibility value between two points using a point cloud representation of the surfaces in the scene. The computed value is a function of the distance and orientation of points in the point cloud relative to the line segment connecting the two query points.
Evaluation of endometrial echotexture and cervical cytology in cows during and after treatment of endometritis

Summary Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the endometrium by using echotexture parameters during and after treatment of endometritis with intrauterine administration of an intra ute rine antiseptic solution (Lotagen®, 3% metacresolsulphonic acid and formaldehyde) in cows which became pregnant after treatment. Material and methods: According to the severity of endometritis 21 cows were divided into three groups: E1 (slight, n = 7), E2 (moderate, n = 8), E3 (severe, n = 6). The control group (C, n = 11) consisted of cows without endometritis that did not receive an intrauterine medication. A software (Bs200 Pro®) was used to evaluate echotexture parameters Contrast (CON), Gradient (GR), Homogeneity (HOM), Mean Gray Level (MGL) of images taken during the examinations at hours (h) 0, 1 and 6 and days (d) 2, 3, 5 and 10. Results: At 0 h, GR was significantly lower in group E2 than in groups E1 and C (p < 0.05). There was an increase in GR values between 0 h and 10 d in group E2 and E3, but a decrease during the same time interval in group C (p < 0.05). In contrast, CON values of group E2 were lower (p < 0.05) at 0 h compared to other timepoints of examination and lower than in group C. HOM values were lower (p < 0.05) in groups E1, E2 and E3 than in group C on d 5 and d 10. HOM values were higher at 1 h compared to 6 h, d 2 and d 10 in group E3 (p < 0.05). By contrast to GR values, HOM values were higher in group C at 6 h and d 10 than they were in group E3. MGL values of group E2 were higher (p < 0.05) than in group C until d 10 and higher (p < 0.05) in group E3 than in group C at 6 h after treatment. In group E2 an increase of MGL values until d 2 was followed by a decrease (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Echotexture parameters determined by the evaluation of sonographic B-mode images reflect changes in the endometrium and could be used for the evaluation of the recovery period after treatment of endometritis.
Proactive NBTI mitigation for busy functional units in out-of-order microprocessors

Due to fast technology scaling, negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) has become a major reliability concern in designing modern integrated circuits. In this paper, we present a simple and proactive NBTI recovery scheme targeting at critical and busy functional units with storage cells in modern microprocessors. Existing schemes have limitations when recovering these functional units. By exploiting the idle time of busy functional units at per-buffer-entry level, our scheme achieves on average 5.57x MTTF (Mean Time To Failure) improvement at the cost of ≪1% IPC degradation and ≪1% area overhead.
Vessel extraction from retinal images by using matched filter and first derivative of Gaussian function

Accurate detection of blood vessels from retina is an important job in computer aided diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy. The Matched filter is simple & effectively good method for vessel extraction. But Problem with that it recognizes vessels and non-vessels edges so it will detect false vessels. In this paper we introduce new extension of Matched Filter i.e. FDOG to extract the vessels. The MF-FDOG is combination of Matched filter which is zero mean Gaussian Function and First order derivative of Gaussian. The vessels are detected by thresholding the response of Matched Filter and Threshold is adjusted by image response of FDOG. The proposed method is very simple and it reduces false detection of Matched filter and detects all fine vessels which are not detected by matched filter. It gives good competitive results of vessel detection with low complexity. Keyword: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), Matched filter (MF), First order derivative of Gaussian Function (FDOG).
Reduced complexity sequence detection for high-order partial response channels

Detector hardware complexity of high-order partial response magnetic read channels is a major obstacle to high data rate operation and reduced area and power consumption. The method presented here reduces the complexity of single-step and two-step implementations of the Viterbi detector by applying a distance-enhancing code that eliminates some states from the code trellis. The complexity of the detector is further reduced by eliminating less-probable branches from the trellis. This is accomplished by a simple control mechanism that uses the signs of the consecutive input samples. The reduced set of add-compare-select (ACS) units is dynamically assigned to the detector states, decreasing the complexity of the Viterbi detector by roughly 50%. This method is demonstrated on high-order partial response systems with the E/sup 2/PR4 target and an 11-level/32-state target. The simulation results show negligible bit error rate (BER) degradation for signal-to-noise ratios In the range of operation of contemporary disk drive read channels.