Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Axis: Automatically fixing atomicity violations through solving control constraints

Atomicity, a general correctness criterion in concurrency programs, is often violated in real-world applications. The violations are difficult for developers to fix, making automatic bug fixing techniques attractive. The state of the art approach aims at automating the manual fixing process but cannot provide any theoretical reasoning and guarantees. We provide an automatic approach that applies well-studied discrete control theory to guarantee deadlocks are not introduced and maximal preservation of the concurrency of the original code. Under the hood, we reduce the problem of violation fixing to a constraint solving problem using the Petri net model. Our evaluation on 13 subjects shows that the slowdown incurred by our patches is only 40% of that of the state of the art. With the deadlock-free guarantee, our patches incur moderate overhead (around 10%), which is a worthwhile cost for safety.
A novel frequency band selection method for Common Spatial Pattern in Motor Imagery based Brain Computer Interface

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a system provides an alternative communication and control channel between the human brain and computer. In Motor Imagery-based (MI) BCI system, Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) is frequently used for extracting discriminative patterns from the electroencephalogram (EEG). There are many studies have proven that the performance of CSP has a very important relation with the choice of operational frequency band. As the fact that the CSP features at different frequency bands contain discriminative and complementary information for classification, this paper proposes a new frequency band selection method to find the best frequency band set on which subject-specifics CSP are complementary for MI classification. Compared to the performance offered by the existing method based on frequency band partition, the proposed algorithm can yield error rate reductions of 49.70% for the same BCI competition dataset.
Iron and nickel isotopic compositions of presolar SiC grains from supernovae

Approximately 1% of presolar SiC grains found in primitive meteorites condensed in the ejecta of Type II supernovae. To explain the isotopic signatures of these so-called X grains, material from different SN zones had to contribute to the mix from which the grains formed. We measured the Fe and Ni isotopic ratios of individual X grains with the NanoSIMS. Most grains have enhanced 57 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios ranging up to 2solar. A few grains have depleted 57 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios down to 0.55solar. In contrast, 54 Fe/ 56 Fe ratios are close to solar. Anomalies in the Ni isotopes are even more extreme. 61 Ni/ 58 Ni ratios range up to 3.5solar, 62 Ni/ 58 Ni ratios up to 2solar, but 60 Ni/ 58 Ni ratios only up to 1.1solar. One of the grains with 57 Fe deficits has a 61 Ni deficit, the others have normal 61 Ni/ 58 Ni ratios. The grain with the largest 57 Fe deficit has 62 Ni/ 58 Ni of 1.8solar but solar 61 Ni/ 58 Ni. The excesses in 57 Fe and 61,62 Ni observed in most of the grains can be explained by admixture of material from the He/C zone to material from the He/N (or outer) zones. In the He/C zone, neutron capture results in 57 Fe and 61,62 Ni excesses, and the grain data can be fairly well reproduced by variable admixture from different layers of the He/C zone. The lack of large 54 Fe excesses in the grains is puzzling in view of the fact that material from the Si/S zone, rich in 54 Fe, is required to explain the 28 Si excesses of X grains. We still do not have a good explanation for the 57 Fe deficits of several of the grains; they could reflect the initial isotopic compositions of the parent stars.
An Integrator-Backstepping-Based Dynamic Surface Control Method for a Two-Axis Piezoelectric Micropositioning Stage

In this paper, an integrator-backstepping-based dynamic surface control method for a two-axis piezoelectric micropositioning stage is proposed. First, according to the dynamics of motion of a mechanical mass-spring system, mathematical equations that contain a linear viscous friction, a varied elasticity with cross-coupling effect due to mechanical bending, and dynamics of a hysteresis variable is proposed to describe the motion dynamics of the two-axis piezopositioning stage. Next, from the equations, a state-space model in which the applied voltage to the stage is defined as an output of an integrator is derived. On the basis of this state-space model, the integrator-backstepping-based dynamic surface control is proposed. By using the proposed control method to trajectory tracking of the two-axis piezopositioning stage, the dynamic performance, robustness to parameter variations, and trajectory tracking error can be improved. Experimental results of the time responses from the computer-controlled two-axis piezopositioning stage illustrate the validity of the proposed control method for practical applications in trajectory tracking.
Exercise training can modify the natural history of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND Diabetes is the most important cause of peripheral neuropathy (DPN). No definitive treatment for DPN has been established, and very few data on the role of exercise training on DPN have been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY We sought to examine the effects of long-term exercise training on the development of DPN in both Types 1 and 2 diabetic patients. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Seventy-eight diabetic patients without signs and symptoms of peripheral DPN were enrolled, randomized, and subdivided in two groups: 31 diabetic participants [15 f, 16 m; 49+/-15.5 years old; body mass index (BMI)=27.9+/-4.7], who performed a prescribed and supervised 4 h/week brisk walking on a treadmill at 50% to 85% of the heart rate reserve (exercise group: EXE), and a control group of 47 diabetic participants (CON; 24 f, 23 m; 52.9+/-13.4 years old; BMI=30.9+/-8.4). Vibration perception threshold (VPT), nerve distal latency (DL), nerve conduction velocity (NCV), and nerve action potential amplitude (NAPA) in the lower limbs were measured. RESULTS We found significant differences on Delta (delta) in NCV for both peroneal and sural motor nerve between the EXE and CON groups during the study period (P<.001, for both). The percentage of diabetic patients that developed motor neuropathy and sensory neuropathy during the 4 years of the study was significantly higher in the CON than the EXE group (17% vs. 0.0%, P<.05, and 29.8% vs. 6.45%, P<.05, respectively). In addition, the percentage of diabetic patients who developed increased VPT (25 V) during the study was significantly higher in the CON than the EXE group (21.3% vs. 12.9%, P<.05). Change on Hallux VPT from baseline to the end of the study was significantly different between the EXE and CON groups (P<.05); no significant change in Malleolus VPT between the two groups occurred. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests, for the first time, that long-term aerobic exercise training can prevent the onset or modify the natural history of DPN.
Tuning PI controllers based on ℋ∞ Weighted Sensitivity

ℋ∞ control theory is usually associated with highorder controllers. In this paper, simple tuning rules (extending the well-known SIMC) for the Proportional-Integral (PI) algorithm are derived analytically based on ℋ∞ Weighted Sensitivity. The presented approach deals with stable, integrating and unstable plants in a unified way, avoiding any notion of coprime factorization. The final tuning involves two adjustable parameters, λ and γ with clear engineering meaning: λ selects the Robustness/Performance compromise, whereas γ allows to balance the Servo/Regulator performance. Based on this, several application scenarios are considered. First, a One-Degree-Of-Freedom (1-DOF) PI controller is assumed. Second, 2-DOF and switched implementations are investigated.
The repeatability of mating failure in a polyandrous bug

Mating failure, characterized by the lack of production of offspring following copulation, is relatively common across taxa yet is little understood. It is unclear whether mating failures are stochastic occurrences between incompatible mating partners or represent a persistent, meaningful phenotype on the part of one or other sex. Here we test this in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans, by sequentially mating families of males with randomly allocated unrelated females and calculating the repeatability of mating outcome for each individual male and family. Mating outcome is significantly repeatable within individual males but not across full‐sib brothers. We conclude that mating failure represents a consistent male‐associated phenotype with low heritability in this species, affected by as yet undetermined environmental influences on males.
Application and the parameter tuning of ADRC based on BFO-PSO algorithm

In order to overcome the difficulty in tuning multi-parameters of active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC), bacterial foraging optimization (BFO) algorithm was introduced. Considering the slow convergence of BFO algorithm and the good convergence of particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the parameter tuning of ADRC based BFO and PSO algorithm was proposed. The control method is applied to permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) control system used by numerically-controlled machine tool, and the simulations show that the ADRC with parameters optimized by BFO-PSO optimization algorithm has good control performance.
Practical Methods for Wireless Network Coding With Multiple Unicast Transmissions

We propose a simple yet effective wireless network coding and decoding technique for a multiple unicast network. It utilizes spatial diversity through cooperation between nodes which carry out distributed encoding operations dictated by generator matrices of linear block codes. In order to exemplify the technique, we make use of greedy codes over the binary field and show that the arbitrary diversity orders can be flexibly assigned to nodes. Furthermore, we present the optimal detection rule for the given model that accounts for intermediate node errors and suggest a low-complexity network decoder using the sum-product (SP) algorithm. The proposed SP detector exhibits near optimal performance. We also show asymptotic superiority of network coding over a method that utilizes the wireless channel in a repetitive manner without network coding (NC) and give related rate-diversity trade-off curves. Finally, we extend the given encoding method through selective encoding in order to obtain extra coding gains.
Utilizing automatic recognition and classification of images for pattern recognition

Pattern recognition is a scientific approach for categorizing objects to class or subject numbers. These subjects need to be classified based on their applications (can be image, signal or any other type of measurements). Occupation, automation, military information, communication, industry and commercial applications and many other fields can benefit from Pattern recognition approaches. Perhaps, one the most important reasons that lead to pattern recognition prominent place in today's research studies, is the role of image auto-classifications. In this research, we investigate recent literatures about image auto-classification and image processing to identify patterns.
Multimodal object recognition from visual and audio sequences

This paper describes a visual-audio object recognition system using hidden Markov models. The system uses the bag-of-words model with scale invariant feature transform descriptors as the visual feature and the mel-frequency cepstrum coefficients as the audio feature. The classification of objects is based on the computation of the probabilities with learned hidden Markov models. Two different fusion methods are used in the system: feature fusion and decision fusion. The former method learns a joint probability distribution with one HMM, while the latter method learns two separate distributions for each modality and combines them under the conditional independence assumption. Experiments based on a dataset of 33 different household objects are carried out to evaluate the performance of these two fusion methods as well as unimodal approaches. The result shows that both fusion methods outperform unimodal methods, while these two methods are mostly comparable.
Protection against lethal pneumococcal septicemia in pigs is associated with decreased levels of interleukin-6 in blood

Injection of type 6b pneumococci into pigs results in a sharp rise in levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in blood, with an average peak value of 7,700 U/ml at 4 h and mortality in five of seven of these animals. Pretreatment at -24 h with the monocyte activator MTP-PE prevents this strong increase in IL-6 (peak value, 1,000 U/ml) and reduces mortality to zero of six animals. This suggests that MTP-PE, in addition to activating monocytes, protects animals by preventing the harmful increase of cytokines such as IL-6.
A Musically Motivated Mid-Level Representation for Pitch Estimation and Musical Audio Source Separation

When designing an audio processing system, the target tasks often influence the choice of a data representation or transformation. Low-level time-frequency representations such as the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) are popular, because they offer a meaningful insight on sound properties for a low computational cost. Conversely, when higher level semantics, such as pitch, timbre or phoneme, are sought after, representations usually tend to enhance their discriminative characteristics, at the expense of their invertibility. They become so-called mid-level representations. In this paper, a source/filter signal model which provides a mid-level representation is proposed. This representation makes the pitch content of the signal as well as some timbre information available, hence keeping as much information from the raw data as possible. This model is successfully used within a main melody extraction system and a lead instrument/accompaniment separation system. Both frameworks obtained top results at several international evaluation campaigns.
Influence of systems biology response and environmental exposure level on between-subject variability in breath and blood biomarkers

To explain the underlying causes of apparently stochastic disease, current research is focusing on systems biology approaches wherein individual genetic makeup and specific ‘gene–environment’ interactions are considered. This is an extraordinarily complex task because both the environmental exposure profiles and the specific genetic susceptibilities presumably have large variance components. In this article, the focus is on the initial steps along the path to disease outcome namely environmental uptake, biologically available dose, and preclinical effect. The general approach is to articulate a conceptual model and identify biomarker measurements that could populate the model with hard data. Between-subject variance components from different exposure studies are used to estimate the source and magnitude of the variability of biomarker measurements. The intent is to determine the relative effects of different biological media (breath or blood), environmental compounds and their metabolites, different concentration levels, and levels of environmental exposure control. Examples are drawn from three distinct exposure biomarker studies performed by the US Environmental Protection Agency that studied aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, trichloroethylene and methyl tertiary butyl ether. All results are based on empirical biomarker measurements of breath and blood from human subjects; biological specimens were collected under appropriate Institutional Review Board protocols with informed consent of the subjects. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop a framework for eventually assessing the total susceptibility ranges along the toxicological pathway from exposure to effect. The investigation showed that exposures are a greater contributor to biomarker variance than are internal biological parameters.
Lung hyperinflation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: mechanisms, clinical implications and treatment

Lung hyperinflation is highly prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and occurs across the continuum of the disease. A growing body of evidence suggests that lung hyperinflation contributes to dyspnea and activity limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is an important independent risk factor for mortality. In this review, we will summarize the recent literature on pathogenesis and clinical implications of lung hyperinflation. We will outline the contribution of lung hyperinflation to exercise limitation and discuss its impact on symptoms and physical activity. Finally, we will examine the physiological rationale and efficacy of selected pharmacological and non-pharmacological ‘lung deflating’ interventions aimed at improving symptoms and physical functioning.
Green ergonomics: definition and scope

This paper demonstrates that the goals of ergonomics (i.e. effectiveness, efficiency, health, safety and usability) are closely aligned with the goals of design for environmental sustainability. In this paper, the term ‘green ergonomics’ is conceptualised to specifically describe ergonomics interventions with a pro-nature emphasis. Green ergonomics is focused on the bi-directional connections between human systems and nature. This involves looking at (1) how ergonomics design and evaluation might be used to conserve, preserve, and restore nature and (2) how ecosystem services might be harnessed to facilitate the improved wellbeing and effectiveness of human systems. The paper proposes the scope of green ergonomics based on these bi-directional relationships in the areas of the design of low resource systems and products, the design of green jobs, and the design for behaviour change. Suggestions for further work in the green ergonomics domain are also made. Practitioner Summary: Given the enormous environmental challenges facing modern industrial society, this paper encourages ergonomics science to embrace a pro-nature understanding of work design and research. This paper sets out the role for green ergonomics based on an appreciation of the human–nature connections that have been integrated with our understanding of ergonomics science and practice.
AKAP79/150 Signal Complexes in G-Protein Modulation of Neuronal Ion Channels

Voltage-gated M-type (KCNQ) K+ channels play critical roles in regulation of neuronal excitability. Previous work showed A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP)79/150-mediated protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation of M channels to be involved in M current (IM) suppression by muscarinic M1, but not bradykinin B2, receptors. In this study, we first explored whether purinergic and angiotensin suppression of IM in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) sympathetic neurons involves AKAP79/150. Transfection into rat SCG neurons of ΔA-AKAP79, which lacks the A domain necessary for PKC binding, or the absence of AKAP150 in AKAP150−/− mice, did not affect IM suppression by purinergic agonist or by bradykinin, but reduced IM suppression by muscarinic agonist and angiotensin II. Transfection of AKAP79, but not ΔA-AKAP79 or AKAP15, rescued suppression of IM by muscarinic receptors in AKAP150−/− neurons. We also tested association of AKAP79 with M1, B2, P2Y6, and AT1 receptors, and KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 channels, via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) on Chinese hamster ovary cells under total internal refection fluorescence microscopy, which revealed substantial FRET between AKAP79 and M1 or AT1 receptors, and with the channels, but only weak FRET with P2Y6 or B2 receptors. The involvement of AKAP79/150 in Gq/11-coupled muscarinic regulation of N- and L-type Ca2+ channels and by cAMP/protein kinase A was also studied. We found AKAP79/150 to not play a role in the former, but to be necessary for forskolin-induced upregulation of L-current. Thus, AKAP79/150 action correlates with the PIP2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate)-depletion mode of IM suppression, but does not generalize to Gq/11-mediated inhibition of N- or L-type Ca2+ channels.
An integrative dance class to improve physical function of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities: a feasibility study

ABSTRACT Background: This paper examines the feasibility of utilizing an integrative contemporary dance class for improving physical function in adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Methods: Eighteen individuals participated in a 12-week dance class alongside 11 matriculated college students registered in an integrative dance course. Lower extremity strength, flexibility, mobility and balance testing was measured at pre- and post- testing. The dance class comprised 60 min of dance training two times per week. College students participated by dancing alongside the individuals in the class and assisting, if required. Results: Significant improvements were found in lower extremity strength in all muscle groups tested, hamstring flexibility, generalized mobility and stability. Conclusions: Integrative contemporary dance may provide meaningful physical improvements for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and are in need of further development and research.
BEST PAPER AT SIGCSE 2019 IN THE CS EDUCATION TRACK: First things first: providing metacognitive scaffolding for interpreting problem prompts

James Prather, Abilene Christian University, Raymond Pettit, University of Virginia, Brett A. Becker, University College Dublin, Paul Denny, The University of Auckland, Dastyni Loksa, University of Washington, Alani Peters, Abilene Christian University, Zachary Albrecht, Abilene Christian University and Krista Masci, Abilene Christian University First Things First: Providing Metacognitive Scaffolding for Interpreting Problem Prompts
Rarity and genetic diversity in Indo–Pacific Acropora corals

Among various potential consequences of rarity is genetic erosion. Neutral genetic theory predicts that rare species will have lower genetic diversity than common species. To examine the association between genetic diversity and rarity, variation at eight DNA microsatellite markers was documented for 14 Acropora species that display different patterns of distribution and abundance in the Indo–Pacific Ocean. Our results show that the relationship between rarity and genetic diversity is not a positive linear association because, contrary to expectations, some rare species are genetically diverse and some populations of common species are genetically depleted. Our data suggest that inbreeding is the most likely mechanism of genetic depletion in both rare and common corals, and that hybridization is the most likely explanation for higher than expected levels of genetic diversity in rare species. A significant hypothesis generated from our study with direct conservation implications is that as a group, Acropora corals have lower genetic diversity at neutral microsatellite loci than may be expected from their taxonomic diversity, and this may suggest a heightened susceptibility to environmental change. This hypothesis requires validation based on genetic diversity estimates derived from a large portion of the genome.