Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Certia: Certifying Interface Automata for Cyber-Physical Systems

Interface automaton is a promising approach to model the temporal behaviors of system components, and its extension has been used to specify the security properties of component based systems. Currently, the formal properties of interface automata have not be certified with machine-checked proof by any proof assistant. In this work, we propose a Coq-library of interface automata which is developed in purpose to certify security properties of component-based cyber-physical systems, with an emphasis upon developing compositional verification of information flow security for cyber-physical applications.
PULSE: An Adaptive, Incentive-Based, Unstructured P2P Live Streaming System

Large-scale live media streaming is a challenge for traditional server-based approaches. To appropriately support big audiences, broadcasters must be able to allocate huge bandwidth and computational resources. The costs involved with such an infrastructure exclude all but the established content producers from exploiting the Internet as a distribution medium. Publishers of not-yet-popular content, unless they manage to properly predict their maximum audience size, will likely fail to dimension correctly their broadcast infrastructure. Peer-to-peer systems for live streaming allow the users to support content distribution by contributing their unused resources: this increases the scalability of the content distribution while reducing at the same time the economical burden on the streaming provider. This paper presents and evaluates PULSE, an unstructured mesh-based peer-to-peer system designed to support live streaming to large audiences under the arbitrary resource availability as is typically the case for the Internet. PULSE is a highly dynamic system: it constantly optimizes its mesh of data connections using a feedback-driven peer selection strategy that is based on pairwise incentives. We evaluate the behavior of PULSE under realistic scenarios via simulation and emulation, and present the advantages of our approach, namely a best-effort response to system-wide resource scarcity, high resilience to node churn, and good hop-count properties of the average data distribution paths.
The Σ-D analysis of recently detected radio planetary nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds

Aims. We investigate and analyze the radio surface brightness to diameter (∑-D) relation for recently detected, bright radio-continuum planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Magellanic Clouds (MC). Methods. We applied a Monte Carlo analysis in order to account for sensitivity selection effects on measured E - D relation slopes for bright radio PNe in the MCs. Results. In the ∑ - D plane, these radio MCs PNe are positioned among the brightest of the nearby Galactic PNe and are close to the D -2 sensitivity line of the MCs radio maps. The fitted Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) data slope appears to be influenced by survey sensitivity. This suggests the MCs radio PN sample represents just the "tip of the iceberg" of the actual luminosity function. Specifically, our results imply that sensitivity selection tends to flatten the slope of the ∑ - D relation. Although MCs PNe appear to share the evolution properties of Galactic PNe, the small number of data points prevented us from further constraining their evolution properties.
Preoperative versus postoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: results of the German CAO/ARO/AIO-94 randomized phase III trial after a median follow-up of 11 years.

PURPOSE Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been established as standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer after first results of the CAO/ARO/AIO-94 [Working Group of Surgical Oncology/Working Group of Radiation Oncology/Working Group of Medical Oncology of the Germany Cancer Society] trial, published in 2004, showed an improved local control rate. However, after a median follow-up of 46 months, no survival benefit could be shown. Here, we report long-term results with a median follow-up of 134 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 823 patients with stage II to III rectal cancer were randomly assigned to preoperative CRT with fluorouracil (FU), total mesorectal excision surgery, and adjuvant FU chemotherapy, or the same schedule of CRT used postoperatively. The study was designed to have 80% power to detect a difference of 10% in 5-year overall survival as the primary end point. Secondary end points included the cumulative incidence of local and distant relapses and disease-free survival. RESULTS Of 799 eligible patients, 404 were randomly assigned to preoperative and 395 to postoperative CRT. According to intention-to-treat analysis, overall survival at 10 years was 59.6% in the preoperative arm and 59.9% in the postoperative arm (P = .85). The 10-year cumulative incidence of local relapse was 7.1% and 10.1% in the pre- and postoperative arms, respectively (P = .048). No significant differences were detected for 10-year cumulative incidence of distant metastases (29.8% and 29.6%; P = .9) and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION There is a persisting significant improvement of pre- versus postoperative CRT on local control; however, there was no effect on overall survival. Integrating more effective systemic treatment into the multimodal therapy has been adopted in the CAO/ARO/AIO-04 trial to possibly reduce distant metastases and improve survival.
Spiritualities of Life: New Age Romanticism and Consumptive Capitalism

Preface. Introduction. PART I: PORTRAYING SPIRITUALITIES OF LIFE . 1 From the Romantics: The Repertoire. 2 Wellbeing Spirituality Today. PART II: THE 'CONSUMING GROWTH' DEBATE . 3 The Debate. 4 The Language of Consumption and Consumeristic Aspects of Mind-Body-Spiritualities of Life. 5 The Sacred and the Profane: Spiritual Direction or Consumer Preference? 6 The Matter of Personal Significance: Profaned Superficiality? 7 Work: Consumptive or Productive? PART III: TO WORK BEYOND THE CONSUMING SELF . 8 A 'Fag Ending' of the Sacred or Fit for the Future? 9 Inside Out. Epilogue: Birthright Spirituality Beyond the West. Appendix: Evidence Indicative of Inner Life 'Beliefs'. Notes. References. Name Index. Subject Index: Some Main Themes and Arguments
Tracking multiple talkers using microphone-array measurements

A method for tracking the positional estimates of multiple talkers in the operating region of an acoustic microphone array is presented. Initial talker location estimates are provided by a time-delay-based localization algorithm. These raw estimates are spatially smoothed by a Kalman filter derived from a set of potential source motion models. Data association techniques based on the estimate clusterings and source trajectories are incorporated to match location observations with individual talkers. Experimental results are presented for array recorded data using multiple talkers in a variety of scenarios.
Text Structure: Movie Scripts

The structure of whole texts is, arguably, one of the first objects of (pre-) linguistic analysis. Even the earliest forms of Rhetoric explorations focused on it. But what is text structure in reality? How can it be explained from a cognitive standpoint? How does it exist as a human mental phenomenon? Taking a mental operations and simulation perspective, the present paper offers a typology of text structure(s). It seeks confirmation for the hypothesized types of text structure within the latest cognition-based studies. The examples provided come from the text-type of film scripts, and, more precisely, the scripts of the first two seasons of the BBC’s Sherlock series.
Design and Development of the Prophesy Performance Database for Distributed Scientific Applications

Efficient execution of a scientific computing application requires insights into how system features impact the performance of the application. A distributed system consists of heterogeneous components, such as networks, processors, run-time systems, operating systems, etc. This heterogeneity complicates the task of gaining insights into the performance of the application. The Prophesy project [21] is an infrastructure that aids in gaining this needed insight based upon one’s experience and that of others. The core component of the Prophesy system is a relational database that allows for the recording of performance data, system features and application details to analyze and improve the performance of scientific applications. The Prophesy infrastructure can be used to develop models based upon significant performance data, identify the most efficient implementation of a given function based upon the given system configuration, explore the various trends im-
Inferential methods for comparing two single cases

In neuropsychological single-case studies, it is not uncommon for researchers to compare the scores of two single cases. Classical (and Bayesian) statistical methods are developed for such problems, which, unlike existing methods, refer the scores of the two single cases to a control sample. These methods allow researchers to compare two cases' scores, with or without allowing for the effects of covariates. The methods provide a hypothesis test (one- or two-tailed), point and interval estimates of the effect size of the difference, and point and interval estimates of the percentage of pairs of controls that will exhibit larger differences than the cases. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the statistical theory underlying the methods is sound and that the methods are robust in the face of departures from normality. The methods have been implemented in computer programs, and these are described and made available (to download, go to http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~psy086/dept/Compare_Two_Cases.htm).
The role of dispositional and situational antecedents in prosocial organizational behavior: An exami

A dry alkaline earth metal silicate or an alkali metal silicate is reacted with a concentrated mineral acid, forming a white granular mixture. The mineral acid is then neutralized with a dry alkali metal carbonate or hydroxide producing monosilanal and monosilanic acid. Monosilanal will react with water to produce monosilandiol.
Consumed power control of time deferrable loads for frequency regulation

Connection of a large number of dispersed generators to distribution networks is not easy due to various technical considerations. Thus we have been trying to devise a concept for future electrical distribution systems with a lot of dispersed generators. In this work, it has been considered that each customer's load and each generator's active and reactive power should be controlled in order to stabilize and optimize the networks. Under this consideration, two control methods for future distribution systems are proposed: a cooperative control and an independent control. An electric power system with a lot of time deferrable electric water heating and storage systems has been supposed, and the frequency regulation ability has been analyzed using the numerical calculation. The results of the analyses have shown that the frequency regulation ability becomes higher with the cooperative control than that with the independent control.
Interaction with Groups of Autonomous Characters

This paper presents a methodology for constructing large groups of autonomous characters which respond in real time to the user’s interaction, as well as to each other and their environment. The characters are based on steering controllers under the direction of a simple mental model which mediates between several conflicting behavioral goals. The characters are represented graphically by 3d models with a library of animated motions which are choreographed by the behavioral controllers.
Machine Learning in Computer-Aided Diagnosis of the Thorax and Colon in CT: A Survey

Computer-aided detection (CADe) and diagnosis (CAD) has been a rapidly growing, active area of research in medical imaging. Machine leaning (ML) plays an essential role in CAD, because objects such as lesions and organs may not be represented accurately by a simple equation; thus, medical pattern recognition essentially require "learning from examples. " One of the most popular uses of ML is the classification of objects such as lesion candidates into certain classes (e.g., abnormal or normal, and lesions or non-lesions) based on input features (e.g., contrast and area) obtained from segmented lesion candidates. The task of ML is to determine "optimal" boundaries for separating classes in the multidimensional feature space which is formed by the input features. ML algorithms for classification include linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), multilayer perceptrons, and support vector machines (SVM). Recently, pixel/voxel-based ML (PML) emerged in medical image processing/analysis, which uses pixel/voxel values in images directly, instead of features calculated from segmented lesions, as input information; thus, feature calculation or segmentation is not required. In this paper, ML techniques used in CAD schemes for detection and diagnosis of lung nodules in thoracic CT and for detection of polyps in CT colonography (CTC) are surveyed and reviewed.
The Attitude of Barbadian and Trinidadian Teachers to Integration.

This quantitative study investigated the opinions of primary school teachers regarding the integration process in Barbados and Trinidad. It utilized a cross sectional survey design and inferential statistics. Data collection was facilitated through the Opinions Relative to Integration Scale developed by Antonak and Larrivee (1995). Four research questions were addressed: (1) what are teachers’ attitudes towards the integration of students with disabilities? (2) what differences exist between teachers' attitudes in Barbados and Trinidad? (3) what differences exist between males and female teachers’ attitudes towards the integration of students with special needs? (4) do novice and more experienced teachers differ in their attitudes toward the integration of students with disabilities? Results suggested that Barbadian and Trinidadian express ambivalent attitudes towards including students with disabilities in regular education settings. Implications for teacher training are discussed.
Working Paper 49. Extra Classes and Subjective Well-being: Empirical Evidence from Vietnamese Children.

Do children with access to private tutoring feel happier than those without? In answering this question, this paper offers a novel way to understand the potential merit of providing private tutoring for children. Using a unique data set on Vietnamese children from Round 2 of the Young Lives 2006 Survey, this paper explores the link between taking extra classes and a child's subjective well-being, measured by degree of satisfaction regarding their current and future life. Estimation results from Ordinary Least-Square regressions indicate such a link to be positive and significant, which is further confirmed by Ordered Probit regressions aiming to control for the discontinuous nature of the dependent variable. To control for potential endogeneity of households' choice to purchase extra classes, the method of Propensity Score Matching is applied. Results from different versions of nearest-neighbour matching and Kernel matching indicate that children with private tutoring tend to feel happier about their current life, although the long-run effect of taking extra classes on a child's subjective well-being is more sensitive to the matching methods used.
Cessation of Epithelial Bmp Signaling Switches the Differentiation of Crown Epithelia to the Root Lineage in a β-Catenin-Dependent Manner

ABSTRACT The differentiation of dental epithelia into enamel-producing ameloblasts or the root epithelial lineage compartmentalizes teeth into crowns and roots. Bmp signaling has been linked to enamel formation, but its role in root epithelial lineage differentiation is unclear. Here we show that cessation of epithelial Bmp signaling by Bmpr1a depletion during the differentiation stage switched differentiation of crown epithelia into the root lineage and led to formation of ectopic cementum-like structures. This phenotype is related to the upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although epithelial β-catenin depletion during the differentiation stage also led to variable enamel defect and precocious/ectopic formation of fragmented root epithelia in some teeth, it did not cause ectopic cementogenesis and inhibited EMT in cultured dental epithelia. Concomitant epithelial β-catenin depletion rescued EMT and ectopic cementogenesis caused by Bmpr1a depletion. These data suggested that Bmp and Wnt/β-catenin pathways interact antagonistically in dental epithelia to regulate the root lineage differentiation and EMT. These findings will aid in the design of new strategies to promote functional differentiation in the regeneration and tissue engineering of teeth and will provide new insights into the dynamic interactions between the Bmp and Wnt/β-catenin pathways during cell fate decisions.
Multi-User MIMO Relay System with Self-Interference Cancellation

Next generation wireless communication systems need to support data rates much greater than 3G systems. This will require more efficient utilization of the radio resource. Relay and MIMO (multiple input multiple output) techniques can significantly enhance system power efficiency, extend system coverage and are considered promising candidates for next generation wireless communication systems. In this paper, we propose a multi-user MIMO relay protocol which utilizes self-information to subtract the interference in two-way communication systems. It is shown that the proposed protocol achieves more than 30% capacity gain compared to previously proposed multi-user MIMO relay protocols in various system scenarios. An adaptive relay power allocation algorithm is also discussed to further increase the system power efficiency.
Correlation of high‐resolution breast MR imaging with histopathology; validation of a technique

A high‐resolution three‐dimensional surface gradient coil set was used to obtain magnetic resonance (MR) images of breast specimens, using a gradient‐echo pulse sequence (TR/TE 1000/8 msec, flip angle 75°), with 117 μm in‐plane resolution and 1 mm slice thickness. Breast tissues were obtained from one autopsy and three surgical specimens. High‐resolution breast MR images and histopathology sections (7 μm thickness) were acquired in the same anatomical plane. Radiographs were acquired of the sliced specimens (approximately 5 mm thick) so that images from all three methods could be correlated. It was found that in vitro high‐resolution breast MRI correlated well with low‐resolution microscopic histology, demonstrating normal anatomy (lobules, ducts, connective tissue strands, blood vessels) and pathology (tumor content, margins, and presence of microcalcifications) of the breast more clearly than conventional pre‐gadolinium breast MRI. High‐resolution breast MRI may improve specificity, when added to a conventional breast MRI protocol. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;11:601–606. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A method of verification in design: an operating system case study

This paper reports a study of verification in the high-level design phase of operating system development in which both a rigorous and formal verification are used, where the rigorous argument is used to determine a manageable formal proof to be carried out. A 2-sorted first order temporal language is used to express several possible high-level designs and the required properties of an operating system store manager. The case of large system limits is reduced to a case of small system limits by use of a rigorous argument. Corresponding proportional temporal logic (PTL) formulae are then verified using a PTL theorem prover.
Cognitive model of new data on human problem solving

During the educational process there are a multitude of strategies that educators may employ in order to maximize learning among their pupils. For symbolic problem-solving skills (such as mathematics), a particularly effective technique is to have students study worked-out example problems and unworked practice problems. Research shows that students who explain parts of worked examples to themselves learn more effectively than students who do not This is called the self-explanation effect (Chi et al., 1989; Fergusson­ Hessler & de Jong, 1990; Pirolli & Bielaczyc, 1989) . In summary, this research proved that students learn most effectively by studying examples when they are careful to explain to themselves as many steps of the example as they can . This theory further states that students who do not carefully explain worked out example steps do not perform as well on subsequent problems. To explain this result, VanLehn and Jones (Venl.ehn, Jones & Chi, 1991) developed Cascade, a cognitive model that posits particular memory, problem-solving, and learning mechanisms to account for the self-explanation effect. Subsequent psychological research has concluded thatfading completely worked examples can further improve learning (Renkl, Atkinson & Maier, 2000). Fading consists of removing some of the solution steps in an example, forcing students to solve those portions themselves. To explain this new result, Jones and Fleischman (2001) used Cascade to model the basic cognitive processes of subjects given faded examples. This explanation relied on a small set of assumptions, to be verified by future experiments on human subjects. My primary work this year has been in collaboration with psychologists who have run further detailed experiments, in part to test the predictions we made last year. The new data provide detailed behavior traces of students studying a variety of different sets of example problems, in order to learn some basic princip les of mathematical probabilities. The detailed nature of the data allows me to use Cascade to do a very precise analysis of the errors the subjects generate, the learning episodes they experience, and the knowledge they acquire. Part of my task has been to engineer Cascade's knowledge base from classical physics to the probability principles in the current experiments. The rest of my work involves coding the subject behavior traces and tuning Cascade's parameters to fit them . The upshot of this work is that the new data are consistent with the predictions we made last year, providing further evidence that Cascade is a useful model of human learning and problem solving, and further insight into effective teaching procedures for problem-solving skills.