Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integer Range Analysis for Whiley on Embedded Systems

Programs written in the Whiley programming language are verified at compile-time to ensure all function specifications are met. The purpose of doing this is to eliminate as many software bugs as possible and, thus, Whiley is ideally suited for use in safety-critical systems. The language was designed from scratch to simplify verification as much as possible. To that end, arithmetic types in Whiley consist of unbounded integers and rationals and this poses a problem for use in memory constrained embedded devices. However, function specifications in Whiley provide a rich source of information from which finite bounds for integer variables can be determined. In this paper, we present a technique for range analysis of integer variables in Whiley. Previous work is typically based on dataflow analysis which requires a fixed-point computation and necessitates the use of imprecise widenings to ensure termination. However, the presence of loop and data type invariants in Whiley means that loops can be handled quickly and precisely.
Research on the algorithm of communication network speech enhancement based on BP neural network

Speech is one of the best natural and convenient intercommunication manners among humankind. Nowadays, speech processing technologies have been broadly used in many applied fields. In this paper, the main research focus is on the study of speech enhancement and separation, which is one of the key technologies when we try to put the speech processing into reality. Firstly, we introduce speech single as well as the neural network elementary theory and propose based on the BP neural network speech enhancement system modeling method. Secondly, we integrate voice feature extraction and summarize the speech cepstrum and noise cepstrum valuation for neural network training and learning in order to eliminate the noise. Finally, the experiment proved this method surpass traditional the speech enhancement algorithm. The simulation result shows that this speech enhancement system design method can save the running time and the effect is good.
Treatment of older patients with mantle-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND The long-term prognosis for older patients with mantle-cell lymphoma is poor. Chemoimmunotherapy results in low rates of complete remission, and most patients have a relapse. We investigated whether a fludarabine-containing induction regimen improved the complete-remission rate and whether maintenance therapy with rituximab prolonged remission. METHODS We randomly assigned patients 60 years of age or older with mantle-cell lymphoma, stage II to IV, who were not eligible for high-dose therapy to six cycles of rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide (R-FC) every 28 days or to eight cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) every 21 days. Patients who had a response underwent a second randomization to maintenance therapy with rituximab or interferon alfa, each given until progression. RESULTS Of the 560 patients enrolled, 532 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis for response, and 485 in the primary analysis for response. The median age was 70 years. Although complete-remission rates were similar with R-FC and R-CHOP (40% and 34%, respectively; P=0.10), progressive disease was more frequent with R-FC (14%, vs. 5% with R-CHOP). Overall survival was significantly shorter with R-FC than with R-CHOP (4-year survival rate, 47% vs. 62%; P=0.005), and more patients in the R-FC group died during the first remission (10% vs. 4%). Hematologic toxic effects occurred more frequently in the R-FC group than in the R-CHOP group, but the frequency of grade 3 or 4 infections was balanced (17% and 14%, respectively). In 274 of the 316 patients who were randomly assigned to maintenance therapy, rituximab reduced the risk of progression or death by 45% (in remission after 4 years, 58%, vs. 29% with interferon alfa; hazard ratio for progression or death, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.87; P=0.01). Among patients who had a response to R-CHOP, maintenance therapy with rituximab significantly improved overall survival (4-year survival rate, 87%, vs. 63% with interferon alfa; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS R-CHOP induction followed by maintenance therapy with rituximab is effective for older patients with mantle-cell lymphoma. (Funded by the European Commission and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00209209.).
Tax Avoidance Activities of U.S. Multinational Corporations

This paper investigates whether economies of scale exist for tax planning. In particular, do larger, more profitable, multinational corporations avoid more taxes than other firms, resulting in lower effective tax rates? While the empirical results indicate that, ceteris paribus, larger corporations have higher effective tax rates, firms with greater preâ€ tax income have lower effective tax rates. The negative relation between effective tax rates (ETRs) and pretax income is consistent with firms with greater preâ€ tax income having more incentives and resources to engage in tax planning. Consistent with multinational corporations being able to avoid income taxes that domesticâ€ only companies cannot, I find that multinational corporations in general, and multinational corporations with more extensive foreign operations, have lower worldwide ETRs than other firms. Finally, in a sample of multinational corporations only, I find that higher levels of U.S. preâ€ tax income are associated with lower U.S. and foreign ETRs, while higher levels of foreign preâ€ tax income are associated with higher U.S. and foreign ETRs. Thus, large amounts of foreign income are associated with higher corporate tax burdens. Overall, I find substantial evidence of economies of scale to tax planning.
Implementing Languages Other than Java on the Java Virtual Machine

The portability and runtime safety of programs which are executed on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) makes the JVM an attractive target for compilers of languages other than Java. Unfortunately, the JVM was designed with language Java in mind, and lacks many of the primitives required for a straight forward implementation of other languages. Here, we discuss how the JVM may be used to implement other object oriented languages. As a practical example of the possibilities, we report on a comprehensive case study. The open source Gardens Point Component Pascal compiler compiles the entire Component Pascal language, a dialect of Oberon 2, to JVM bytecodes. This compiler achieves runtime efficiencies which are comparable to native code implementations of procedural languages.
Strategies for orca call retrieval to support collaborative annotation of a large archive

The Orchive is a large audio archive of hydrophone recordings of Killer whale (Orcinus orca) vocalizations. Researchers and users from around the world can interact with the archive using a collaborative web-based annotation, visualization and retrieval interface. In addition a mobile client has been written in order to crowdsource Orca call annotation. In this paper we describe and compare different strategies for the retrieval of discrete Orca calls. In addition, the results of the automatic analysis are integrated in the user interface facilitating annotation as well as leveraging the existing annotations for supervised learning. The best strategy achieves a mean average precision of 0.77 with the first retrieved item being relevant 95% of the time in a dataset of 185 calls belonging to 4 types.
Perisynaptic Glia Discriminate Patterns of Motor Nerve Activity and Influence Plasticity at the Neuromuscular Junction

In the nervous system, the induction of plasticity is coded by patterns of synaptic activity. Glial cells are now recognized as dynamic partners in a wide variety of brain functions, including the induction and modulation of various forms of synaptic plasticity. However, it appears that glial cells are usually activated by stereotyped, sustained neuronal activity, and little attention has been given to more subtle changes in the patterns of synaptic activation. To this end, we used the mouse neuromuscular junction as a simple and useful model to study glial modulation of synaptic plasticity. We used two patterns of motor nerve stimulation that mimic endogenous motor-neuronal activity. A continuous stimulation induced a post-tetanic potentiation and a phasic Ca2+ response in perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs), glial cells at this synapse. A bursting pattern of activity induced a post-tetanic depression and oscillatory Ca2+ responses in PSCs. The different Ca2+ responses in PSCs indicate that they decode the pattern of synaptic activity. Furthermore, the chelation of glial Ca2+ impaired the production of the sustained plasticity events indicating that PSCs govern the outcome of synaptic plasticity. The mechanisms involved were studied using direct photo-activation of PSCs with caged Ca2+ that mimicked endogenous plasticity. Using specific pharmacology and transgenic knock-out animals for adenosine receptors, we showed that the sustained depression was mediated by A1 receptors while the sustained potentiation is mediated by A2A receptors. These results demonstrate that glial cells decode the pattern of synaptic activity and subsequently provide bidirectional feedback to synapses.
Method development for identification of N-linked glycans by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection and time of flight mass spectrometry

In the biopharmaceutical industry, identification of glycans in a glycoprotein is a regulatory requirement and is a part of the characterization of the protein. Glycans are constructed of several monosaccharides linked together. N-linked glycans, which have been studied in this project, are attached to the nitrogen atom in asparagine. A method for separating N-linked glycans by high performance anion exchange chromatography had already been developed at the department. To develop a method for identification of the N-glycans by mass spectrometry, a desalting method on porous graphitic carbon (PGC) columns was used and optimized resulting in the eluents A (0,05% TFA in ACN:water 5:95 v/v) and B (0,05% TFA in ACN:water 50:50 v/v). Also the sample introduction on the mass spectrometer was optimized and resulted in a sensitive on-line liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approach which gave mass spectrometric peaks with high signal to noise ratios and with high mass accuracy. The developed procedure was then successfully used on glycans cleaved from a glycoprotein separated by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detector.
Nonlinear differential equations of Riccati type on ordered Banach spaces

In this paper we consider a general class of time-varying nonlinear differential equations on infinite dimensional ordered Banach spaces, which includes as special cases many known differential Riccati equations of optimal control. Using a linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) approach we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of some global solutions such as maximal, stabilizing and minimal solutions for this class of generalized Riccati equations. The obtained results extend to infinite dimensions and unify corresponding results in the literature. They provide useful tools for solving infinite-time linear quadratic (LQ) control problems for linear differential systems affected by countably-infinite-state Markovian jumps and/or multiplicative noise.
The discrepancy of the asymmetries of different analyzers reduces mathematical abilities in adolescence

One of the bases of the classification of individual differences in differential neuropsychology is that of interhemispheric asymmetry and interaction. There is conflicting evidence as to the role of the right and left hemisphere in providing mathematical abilities. Much of this discrepancy is due to different approaches to the measurement of interhemispheric asymmetry and the allocation of the various components of mathematical abilities. There is reason to believe that matching / mismatching the asymmetries of different analyzers affects mathematical ability. The study involved 65 healthy subjects, aged 15 to 25 years (19 ± 2.3), including 4 men and 61 women. None of the subjects were engaged in mathematical activity professionally. To evaluate the manual asymmetry the following techniques were used: a standardized M. Annett questionnaire modification (Annett, 1970; Khokhlov, Burova, 2014) and the “Napoleon pose” (on the elbow). Visual asymmetry was assessed by means of the Rozenbakh test. Dichotic listening was used to assess audio-verbal asymmetry (Kimura, 1961) in the Russian-language adaptation (Kotik, 1974). Mathematical capacity was measured by a standardized test of mathematical (arithmetic, algebraic, geometric) abilities “MAAGA-2015” (Khokhlov, 2015). The discrepancy between the visual and the audio-verbal asymmetry is a negative predictor for arithmetic abilities (R = 0.26), geometrical abilities (R = 0.12), and mathematical abilities in general (R = 0.23). The discrepancy between the manual and visual asymmetries significantly reduces the ability of geometric (R = 0.09), and mathematical abilities in general (R = 0.07). The positive impact of mismatched asymmetries was found only in relation to algebraic skills (R = 0.07) when comparing the results of the Rozenbakh test and the “Napoleon pose”, however, upon removing subjects, through the absence of the leading eye, from analysis the positive impact becomes insignificant. Our study has shown that the discrepancy of asymmetries of different modalities creates a negative impact on the mathematical abilities of adolescence. The most significant negative predictor of mathematical ability is a mismatch of sensory (visual and audio-verbal) asymmetries. The findings confirm the need to take into account the combination of hemispheric asymmetries of different analyzers in neuropsychological studies.
Gender Di erences in High School Mathematics Achievement : An Empirical Application of the Propensity Score Adjustment

Research over the past twentyve years indicates that gender di erences in math achievement favoring males are not typically found prior to high school. In high school, di erences favoring males are common, particularly in the areas of problem solving and applications. The gender-related di erences in math achievement have been attributed to a number of variables, most notably, di erential coursetaking patterns and exposure to math, di erent learning styles, teacher behavior and learning environment, parental attitudes and expectations, and socioeconomic status as well as other background characteristics of students. One problem that is not addressed in this research is the inability to isolate the e ects of gender socialization from observed biological sex when observational data is used. One method by which the e ects of environment and socialization may be controlled for involves the use of a propensity score, as developed by Rosenbaum and Rubin, for gender. The gender propensity score contains the combined e ects of the environmental and socialization variables associated with gender and math achievement and was used as an independent variable in an OLS regression model of math achievement on biological sex. One important goal of this research was to examine gender di erences in math achievement over time while controlling for factors that contribute to the gender di erences and are associated with gender, such as math course-taking patterns. It was anticipated that with the inclusion of the gender propensity score, the gender di erences in math achievement that are found using observed biological sex as a predictor would greatly diminished. This study uses panel data from the student component of the National Educational Longitudinal Survey of 1988 (NELS:88). The three outcome variables include the IRT (Item Response Theory) number correct on the math achievement tests for the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. The analysis revealed evidence of the imposition of gender-stereotypical expectations upon students and genderstereotyped behaviors. Males receive more encouragement than females from parents and teachers to take math classes, and the expectations for the achievement and educational aspirations for males are higher than for females. Females are more likely to rely on the opinions of peers when making decisions about taking math. Neither observed sex nor gender socialization, indicated by the gender propensity score, have a large e ect on mathematics achievement. The greatest e ects on math achievement were produced by previous math achievement. It is unclear from this analysis if the gender propensity score, either as a theoretical measure of socialization or as a statistical balancing adjustment, improves the prediction of math achievement.
An environment for cooperative construction of natural-language requirement bases

To match the growing complexity of modern software systems, one needs to perform a fast, efficient, and complete requirement analysis. The purpose of this analysis is to produce a set of requirements acknowledged by all the participants in the definition process. To make cooperation possible and productive, one needs adequate environments supporting the participants, capable of timely identification of conflicting, vague, or imprecise requirements, end able to offer different "views" on the requirement base to each participant. To this end, we present the architecture of such an environment that we are building, together with the findings from some experiments on the use of a prototype. The prototype accepts simple natural-language requirements (in Italian) and produces graphical representations of certain classes of information. Natural-language requirements an interpreted using a domain dictionary and a set of fuzzy-logic rules; each rule is composed of a pattern (matching a natural-language construction) and a generic action (in our experiments, actions build a data flow diagram and an entity-relationship representation of the requirements.
A new manipulator structure for power-assist devices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new manipulator structure to configure power‐assist devices in order to protect the operator from suffering musculoskeletal disorders. The mechanical structure and the control system along with their main features are presented.Design/methodology/approach – The new structure was designed under the criterion of minimizing the torques required for handling payloads up to 75 kg as well as to configure a system to be controlled easily.Findings – A new structure based on electrical AC motors and capable of handling high payloads exerting low motor torque is provided.Originality/value – The paper describes how application of the criterion of minimizing the required torques to handle heavy payload produced a new manipulator structure. This structure is patent protected.
Language competence assessment in minoritised language revitalisation contexts. The case of Basque

ABSTRACT In minority language revitalisation contexts, the determination of proficiency in the minoritised language is a sensitive social issue that affects citizens regardless of their linguistic background. From a psychometric perspective, since the target population is heterogeneous, competence assessment instruments must ensure score validity for each linguistic subgroup. Focused on the Basque Autonomous Community (Spain), in this paper, we introduce the Basque Competence Assessment examination (known by its acronym EGA) and assess the factorial invariance of the writing section using a structural equation modelling approach. Data were collected from 2554 candidates classified into three groups according to mother tongue: Spanish, Basque, and Basque/Spanish. The results show the near invariance of the writing section of the EGA and that the highest performance was found in the Basque mother-tongue examinees. Results also reinforce the importance of validation analysis in language diversity contexts to guarantee fairness in test-based decisions.
Constraints on spinning dust towards Galactic targets with the Very Small Array: a tentative detection of excess microwave emission towards 3C396

We present results from observations made at 33 GHz with the Very Small Array (VSA) telescope towards potential candidates in the Galactic plane for spinning dust emission. In the cases of the diffuse H II regions LPH96 and NRAO591 we find no evidence for anomalous emission and, in combination with Effelsberg data at 1.4 and 2.7 GHz, confirm that their spectra are consistent with optically thin free‐free emission. In the case of the infrared bright supernova remnant 3C396 we find emission inconsistent with a purely non-thermal spectrum and discuss the possibility of this excess arising from either a spinning dust component or a shallow spectrum pulsar wind nebula, although we conclude that the second case is unlikely given the strong constraints available from lower-frequency radio images.
Metallicity effects on the modified wind momentum of CSPN

RESUMEN Investigaciones recientes de las estrellas centrales de nebulosas planetarias (CSPN) indican que las masas basadas en modelos de atm osferas pueden ser mucho mayores que las masas derivadas de las relaciones te oricas masa-luminosidad. Tambi en, la dispersi on en la relaci on entre el momento modicado del viento y la luminosidad depende de la dispersi on de las masas de las CSPN, y es mayor que la observada en estrellas calientes masivas. Como las caracter sticas del viento dependen probablemente de la metalicidad, analizamos los efectos en el momento modicado del viento considerando la dispersi on en esta cantidad causada por la metalicidad estelar. Nuestras masas para las CSPN est an basadas en una relaci on entre la masa del n ucleo y las abundacias nebulares. Concluimos que estas masas concuerdan con la distribuci on de masas conocida, tanto para CSPN como para enanas blancas, y que la dispersi on en el momento modicado del viento puede ser explicada por las variaciones de metalicidad observadas.
A Photovoltaic-Based SEPIC Converter with Dual-Fuzzy Maximum Power Point Tracking for Optimal Buck and Boost Operations

In this paper, a photovoltaic (PV)-based single ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) is developed with introduction of dual-fuzzy logic controller (FLC) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. Separate FLC parts, for the first time used for MPPT, are configured for optimal operations of both buck and boost operations. During buck operation, a high overshoot voltage exists, and during boost operation, an undershoot voltage occurs, both during the initial rising period. Definitely, a single-FLC MPPT could not be able to minimize both problems, which on the other hand can be handled by the proposed MPPT algorithm. For evaluation purposes, buck operation has been conducted during high irradiance, while during low irradiance, boost operation has been conducted. The dual-FLC MPPT with SEPIC was simulated in MATLAB-Simulink, and further a laboratory prototype was implemented with a TMS320F28335 eZdsp board. Both simulation and experimental results and comparison analysis (with the single-FLC MPPT) have been presented. From the results and analysis, the dual-FLC MPPT performs better than the single-FLC MPPT in terms of faster response time, lower overshoot and undershoot, and further significant reduction of power losses.