Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using symbolic execution for verifying safety-critical systems

Safety critical systems require to be highly reliable and thus special care is taken when verifying them in order to increase the confidence in their behavior. This paper addresses the problem of formal verification of safety critical systems by providing empirical evidence of the practical applicability of symbolic execution and of its usefulness for checking safety-related properties. In this paper, symbolic execution is used for building an operational model of the software on which safety properties, expressed by means of a Path Description Language (PDL), can be assessed.
Estimation of HMM Topology for Sign Language Recognition

Sign language is used for communicating to people with hearing difficulties. Recog- nition of a sign language image sequence is difficult due to the variety of hand shapes and hand motions. The previous method for sign language recognition used Hidden Markov Models(HMMs), but the models have a fixed topology that cannot represent the variety for each word. We pro- pose a method to construct a Hidden Markov Model(HMM) that has branches and junctions to represent a structure which is different for each word. The proposed method consists of segmen- tation of a motion, and construction of the topology from segments. The topology is constructed from an initial topology by modifying it. With experiments, we show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Risk assessment of bond pad stacks: Combined utilization of nanoindentation and FE-modeling

Wire bonding as well as wafer probing can lead to oxide layer cracking. In combination with metal migration electrical failures may occur. Loading conditions comparable to the wire bonding process can be achieved using a nanoindenter. In this work a spherical tip has been used at first to determine material properties of the silicon nitride film and also to attain cracking of the film material. Based on the experimental results a finite element model using ABAQUS standardTM was established representing the experimentally observed load-displacement behavior. The introduction of the extended finite element method as well as the cohesive surface approach allow to describe different failure modes. The results of these investigations can be used to avoid failures like oxide layer cracking during wire bonding or during the wafer testing process.
Influence of celebrity involvement on place attachment: role of destination image in film tourism

ABSTRACT The importance of place attachment in film tourism has been recognized by scholars and practitioners. However, despite its predominance in the destination management industry, several unaddressed issues remain in film tourism. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the relationships between celebrity involvement, destination image, and place attachment. Data obtained from 301 purposeful film tourists indicated that celebrity involvement was positively associated with place attachment. Moreover, cognitive image and affective image partially mediated the relationship between celebrity involvement and place attachment. In other words, cognitive image and affective image represent crucial psychological processes that explain how celebrity involvement influences place attachment. Furthermore, compared with the affective image, the cognitive image had a more crucial mediating role in the celebrity fan–film destination attachment relationship. Theoretical and managerial implications are also provided.
Enabling dynamic spectrum access for cognitive radio using software defined radio platform

This Spectrum occupancy measurement in many countries shows sporadic and poorly utilized licensed radio spectrum due to the outdated exclusive spectrum access policy. Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technique allows cognitive (unlicensed) user (CU) to opportunistically transmit in a primary (licensed) user (PU) frequency band for a given time if it does not detect any ongoing operations. In this work, DSA is realized using cognitive radio (CR) technology due to its features of able to sense, learn, adapt and react according to the environment. The proposed design of the DSA based CR system consists of four main functional blocks: spectrum sensing, spectrum management, spectrum decision and data transmission. The implementation is done using GNU Radio and Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform. The result shows a significant improvement in term of Packet Reception Rate (PRR) in DSA based CR systems compared to the system without DSA capability.
Improve Frequent Closed Itemsets Mining over Data Stream with Bitmap

Frequent itemsets mining is an important problem in data mining. Frequent closed itemsets mining provides complete and condensed information for frequent pattern analysis thus reduces the memory cost without accuracy loss. More research focus on stream mining with the more application of stream. Stream is fast and unlimited thus data had to be stored in limited memory, how to save running time and memory usage is the most important target. In this paper, we propose an improved frequent closed itemsets mining method based on traditional stream mining algorithm CFI-stream with bitmap coding named CLIMB (closed itemset mining with bitmap) over stream's sliding window. The distinct items are maintained in memory in lexicographic order and each itemset is coded to bit-sequence with the order of items, moreover, the bit-sequence is split into sections to be recoded to reduce the memory cost. The experimental results on real-life show that CLIMB algorithm is effective and efficient.
Bier — Effect of log quality on timber strength and stiffness 177 stiffness of sawn timber

A sample of 78 Pinus radiata D. Don logs was measured and sawn to maximise yields of 100 x 50-mm and 200 x 50-mm timber. The average bending strength and stiffness of the timber were found to depend on the basic density of the log but the lower fifth-percentile strength was more dependent on branch index. For the 28-year-old stand sampled, logs with a low branch index yielded 100 x 50-mm timber of No. 1 Framing grade strength without grading of the timber. When the timber was graded the influence of branch index on strength was reduced but logs with a large branch index yielded graded timber that was below strength.
Multirate sliding mode disturbance compensation for model predictive control

In this paper, a novel hierarchical multirate control scheme for nonlinear discrete‐time systems is presented, consisting of a robust nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) and a multirate sliding mode disturbance compensator (MSMDC). The proposed MSMDC acts at a faster rate than the NMPC in order to keep the system as close as possible to the nominal trajectory predicted by NMPC despite model uncertainties and external disturbances. The a priori disturbance compensation turns out to be very useful in order to improve the robustness of the NMPC controller. A dynamic input allocation between MSMDC and NMPC allows to maximize the benefits of the proposed scheme that unites the advantages of sliding mode control (strong reduction of matched disturbances, low computational burden) to those of NMPC (optimality, constraints handling). Sufficient conditions required to guarantee input‐to‐state stability and constraints satisfaction by the overall scheme are also provided. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Idea of the Video Behavior Analysis in Air-Conditioning System

Load gained from the person is an important part of the air-conditioning system load,according to the changing number of staffs in air conditioning area, adjusting the air conditioning load is of great significance for the air conditioning system’s energy-saving operation and better comfort. The video behavior analysis technology can realize to grasp the actual change of staffs in the area by using the video image. This paper propose the idea of adjust air-conditioning load to match the actual load in time and ensure the system's load by using the video images to obtained the target detection, and give the Introduction implementation process of applications of video behavior analysis in air conditioning systems control.
Vascular superoxide production and vasomotor function in hypertension induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt.

BACKGROUND Angiotensin II-induced hypertension is associated with increased vascular superoxide production, which contributes to hypertension caused by the octapeptide. In cell culture, stretch increases endothelial and vascular smooth muscle production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In perfused isolated vessels, elevations of pressure can increase vessel angiotensin II production. The effects of low-renin hypertension on vascular ROS production remain unclear. Furthermore, the role of ROS in vascular function and hypertension in low-renin hypertension is undefined. METHODS AND RESULTS Rats were treated with DOCA and saline drinking water for 3 weeks. Both systolic blood pressure (189+/-4 versus 126+/-2 mm Hg) and aortic superoxide production (3972+/-257 versus 852+/-287, P<0. 05) were increased compared with controls. Relaxations of vascular segments to acetylcholine (ACh, 100+/-2% versus 75+/-2%, P<0.05) and the calcium ionophore A23187 (92+/-2% versus 72+/-3%, P<0.05) were also impaired in DOCA-salt. Heparin-binding superoxide dismutase (1200 U/d IV for 3 days) had no effect on blood pressure but significantly improved relaxations to ACh and A23187. Losartan (25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) PO) for 7 days did not correct the hypertension or endothelium-dependent vessel relaxation in DOCA-salt rats, excluding a role of a local renin/angiotensin II system. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that increased vascular superoxide production occurs not only in angiotensin II-induced hypertension but also in hypertension known to be associated with low-renin states. Increased superoxide production alters large-vessel endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation but does not modulate blood pressure in low-renin hypertension.
Employment structures of information systems professionals: a comparative study of the United States and Singapore

Prior research into information systems (IS) personnel has been primarily directed from the perspective of an internal labor market. The assumption underlying that body of research is that agents, i.e., IS workers, form long-term employment relationships with the principals, i.e., the firms employing. However, the recent emphasis on externalizing IS labor (for example, by outsourcing) suggests that this assumption may no longer hold true. This study provides an empirical investigation of the extent of externalizing IS workers in both the United States and Singapore. Results indicate that the United States utilizes more externalized IS employment structures than Singapore. Moreover, the trend toward externalized IS workers is more pronounced in the United States in the most recent three quarters analyzed than at any other period in the 1990–1993 timeframe. Possible explanations for the differential trend behavior ensue.
Increased leakiness of the tetracycline-inducible Triple-Op promoter in dividing cells renders it unsuitable for high inducible levels of a dominant negative CDC2aAt gene.

A tetracycline-inducible promoter system was used to generate transgenic tobacco plants that confer inducible expression of the wild type or a dominant negative allele of the gene coding for the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) of Arabidopsis thaliana CDC2aAt. Although the total extractable CDK activity was doubled, the induced expression of the wild-type CDC2aAt did not correlate with any change of the cell cycle kinetics. An increase of CDK activity upon CDC2aAt expression was only seen in dividing cell populations, demonstrating that CDC2aAt expression itself is not sufficient to induce CDK activation. Induced expression of the dominant negative CDC2aAt.N146 correlated with a reduction of CDK activity to 66% of the level found in non-induced cells. This decrease was not sufficient to block cell division. The isolation of plants showing only low inducible levels of CDC2aAt.N146 suggests that a counterselection against strong inducible lines had occurred. Accordingly, Triple-Op promoter activity was found in dividing cells in the absence of tetracycline.
LinkScope : Interactive Graph Analysis of Unstructured Text

This paper presents LinkScope, a toolkit for interactive analysis of text using node link graphs, with support for dynamic addition of attributes from tabular data. The interaction technique draws on ideas from 3D modeling, mesh deformation, and static graph drawing to promote discovery of hidden information across a wide variety of graph types and analysis tasks. The key innovation of this work is the application of methods traditionally reserved for automated graph layout and clustering, to produce useful task-specific layout through dynamic interactions. Graph nodes are dynamically repositioned using an interpolated decay function over a single node movement provided by a user. We describe several variants of the interpolation method, including coupling it with a fast local-cut algorithm for cluster selection. Compared to traditional layout mechanisms the technique is particularly useful when meta-data nodes are added to a graph, increasing its connectivity. We show how the techniques can be used interactively to solve text analysis tasks including a case study on a collection of 16K awarded NSF grant proposals with metadata and a corpus of New York Times news articles.
The Transformative Power of Knowledge Sharing in Settings of Poverty and Social Inequality

Knowledge sharing is central to reducing inequality and alleviating poverty. However, communities in settings of extreme poverty are often bounded by distinct perspectives and understandings that hinder knowledge sharing. Furthermore, social fault lines may create internal boundaries that impede interaction, further complicating knowledge sharing. Despite these challenges, some knowledge sharing efforts are successful. The purpose of this study is to better understand how knowledge sharing overcomes boundaries in settings of extreme inequality and poverty. Using qualitative data from rural India, we find that boundary work performed by boundary spanners overcomes external and internal boundaries by creating space for action, observation, and reflection in the recipient community. These actions, or syncretizing mechanisms, transform newly introduced knowledge, which then facilitates further boundary work, resulting in community transformation. Under certain circumstances, we see how boundary work and syncretism can lead to significant knowledge and recipient transformation. Thus, we seek to contribute to the literature by more fully exploring the transformative power of knowledge sharing within contexts of extreme poverty, and by explaining the process by which it occurs.
Towards learning ‘Self’ and Emotional Knowledge in Social and Cultural human-Agent Interactions

AbSTrACT This article presents research towards the development of a virtual learning environment (VLE) inhabited by intelligent virtual agents (IVAs) and modelling a scenario of inter-cultural interactions. The ultimate aim of this VLE is to allow users to reflect upon and learn about intercultural communication and collaboration. Rather than predefining the interactions among the virtual agents and scripting the possible interactions afforded by this environment, we pursue a bottom-up approach whereby inter-cultural communication emerges from interactions with and among autonomous agents and the user(s). The intelligent virtual agents that are inhabiting this environment are expected to be able to broaden their knowledge about the world and other agents, which may be of different cultural backgrounds, through interactions. This work is part of a collaborative effort within a European research project called eCIRCUS. Specifically, this article focuses on our continuing research concerned with emotional knowledge learning in autobiographic social agents. [Article copies are available for purchase from InfoSci-on-Demand.com]
Software Architecture Behavior Meta-model for Real-Time Systems

Component-based software engineering is widely used for developing large and complex software systems. In particular, real-time systems should benefit from this technique to handle complexity and deal with dependability. In real-time systems, applications should not only be logically correct but also behave within time windows. In this paper, we present a metamodel for component-based software description that integrates timing issues. Our metamodel is built by focusing on four functional aspects: interface, static behavior, dynamic behavior, and interaction protocol, to achieve a complete functional model of software components. For each aspect we define its associated time model. Such a time model can be used to check a componentpsilas design against certain properties and to compute the timing properties of component assemblies.
Impact des critères E-S-G sur la performance financière des entreprises de secteurs controversés

Cette these examine la responsabilite sociale des entreprises (RSE) par les entreprises de secteurs controverses. Dans le premier chapitre, on evalue les strategies en RSE pour 565 entreprises de secteurs controverses de 1991 a 2013 en estimant la relation compensatoire entre Irresponsabilite Sociale des Entreprises (ISE) et RSE. On montre que ces entreprises tendent a compenser pour leur ISE en s'engageant dans des domaines strategiques de RSE tels que la protection de l'environnement et le respect des communautes locales avec un manque d'engagement dans d'autres activites telles la gouvernance d'entreprise. Dans le deuxieme chapitre, on examine si l'engagement RSE de 499 entreprises de secteurs controverses est susceptible de diminuer leur risque financier. Nos resultats montrent qu'un engagement RSE strategique reduit le risque idiosyncratique et total pour certaines industries controversees et que le manque d'engagement dans les activites de gouvernance augmente leur risque. Le troisieme chapitre examine la divulgation societale en tant que mecanisme de reddition de comptes dans le contexte d'un incident environnemental majeur. L'etude de cas des strategies RSE utilisees par l'entreprise Canadienne En bridge, durant sa reponse a l'incident de deversement de parole en 2010 revele que ses rapports RSE sont souvent optimistes et ne reussissent pas a decrire son incapacite a faire face aux problemes de securite ayant entraine l'incident; et ont aussi sous-estime le volume du deversement et la difficulte du nettoyage, ainsi mettant en question l'effet des activites RSE compare a l'effet de facteurs contextuels dans la protection de l'entreprise durant la crise.
MINESWEEPER, #MINESWEEPER

We address the problem of finding an optimal policy for an agent playing the game of minesweeper. The problem is solved exactly, within the reinforcement learning framework, using a modified value iteration. Although it is a Partially Observable Markov Decision Problem (MDP), we show that, when using an appropriate state space, it can be defined and solved as a fully observable MDP. As has been shown by Kaye, checking whether a minesweeper configuration is non-contradictory is an NP-complete problem. We go a step further, as we define a corresponding counting problem, named #MINESWEEPER, and prove it is #P-complete. We show that computing both the state transition probability and the state value function requires finding the number of solutions of a system of Pseudo-Boolean equations (or 0-1 Programming), or alternatively, counting the models of a CNF formula describing a minesweeper configuration. We provide a broad review of the existing approaches to exact and approximate model counting, and show none of them matches our requirements exactly. Finally, we describe several ideas that cut the state space dramatically and allow us to solve the problem for boards as large as 4×4. We present the results for the optimal policy and compare it to a sophisticated probabilistic greedy one, which relies on the same model counting idea. We evaluate the impact of the free-first-move and provide a list of the best opening moves for boards of different sizes and with different number of mines, according to the optimal policy.
Critérios para Identificação da Saliência de Stakeholders Através da Análise de Conteúdo

E notoria a integracao da Teoria dos Stakeholders a area de Estrategia Empresarial, evidencia explicita e o titulo da obra seminal desta teoria, a de Freeman (1984): Strategic Management - a stakeholder approach. Desde entao, o campo de Stakeholder Strategy evoluiu consideravelmente em termos conceituais e instrumentais. Varios modelos foram desenvolvidos, entre eles o modelo de saliencia de stakeholders proposto por Mitchell et al. (1997). Esta pesquisa contribui para o campo de Stakeholder Strategy ao ter como objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia de analise de conteudo para a analise da saliencia de stakeholders. O modelo de Saliencia baseia-se na percepcao dos gestores quanto a posse dos atributos Poder, Legitimidade e Urgencia pelos stakeholders. A combinacao entre os tres atributos gera 7 classes de stakeholders. O metodo proposto neste estudo e composto de seis etapas: 1) definicao da fonte de dados, 2) definicao das secoes do documento a serem analisadas, 3) definicao das palavras chave, 4) criterios de associacao entre stakeholder e atributo, 5) criterios para identificacao da presenca do atributo, 6) processamento da analise. Os resultados indicaram que a metodologia e operacionalmente aplicavel, uma vez que foi possivel identificar, na amostra testada, as classes de stakeholders propostas por Mitchell et al. (1997). A pesquisa apresenta uma contribuicao metodologica para a analise do modelo de saliencia o que pode auxiliar os pesquisadores no acesso a uma maior quantidade de informacoes sobre a percepcao dos gestores em relacao aos stakeholders
The Geographical Clusters of Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer in Fars Province, Southern Iran

Background: Gastrointestinal tract cancer (GI.C) is one of the common cancers in world-wide. The incidence rate of it is different in various geographical regions. This study was performed to assess spatial clusters of the occurrence of GI.C in Fars Province. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the new cases were 4569 cases from 2001 to 2009. The crude incidence rates were standardized based on world population for both sexes. The spatial analysis was conducted using the geographical information systems. We used the local Indicators of spatial association measure, in order to identify local spatial clusters. Results: From a total of the new cases, 62.8% cases were male. The most common GI.Cs were stomach and colorectal cancer in men and women respectively. The significant cluster patterns were discovered from 2002 to 2007. The common type of spatial clustering was a high-high cluster, that to indicate from North-west to South-east of Fars Province. Conclusions: Analysis of the geographical distribution of GI.C will provide opportunities for policymakers for applying preventive measures. Furthermore, it could be helpful for researchers for future epidemiological studies for investigation of etiological agents in regions with significant spatial clustering of high incidence of cancer.
AmbiGaze: Direct Control of Ambient Devices by Gaze

Eye tracking offers many opportunities for direct device control in smart environments, but issues such as the need for calibration and the Midas touch problem make it impractical. In this paper, we propose AmbiGaze, a smart environment that employs the animation of targets to provide users with direct control of devices by gaze only through smooth pursuit tracking. We propose a design space of means of exposing functionality through movement and illustrate the concept through four prototypes. We evaluated the system in a user study and found that AmbiGaze enables robust gaze-only interaction with many devices, from multiple positions in the environment, in a spontaneous and comfortable manner.