Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Verification of Software and Hardware using Quantified Boolean Formulas (QBF)

Many problems in formal verification of digital hardware circuits and other finite-state systems are naturally expressed in the language of quantified boolean formulas (QBF). The first two parts of this thesis proposal present techniques that advance the state-of-the-art in solving such QBF problems, thereby enabling the verification of more complex hardware designs. The third part proposes a new technique for software verification using a solver for QBF with free variables. Traditionally, QBF solvers have required that their input formulas be transformed into a special form known as prenex CNF . However, although prenex CNF has the benefit of being simple, it is now recognized that transformation to this form can be detrimental to advanced solvers because it obscures features of the input formula that could be useful to the solver. We present two contributions to the development of nonprenex, non-CNF solvers. First, we reformulate clause/cube learning, an important technique in prenex solvers, and we extend it to non-prenex instances. Second, we introduce a propagation technique using ghost literals that exploits the structure of a non-CNF instance in a manner that is symmetric between the universal and existential variables. The second part of this thesis proposal discusses an approach to QBF using Counterexample-Guided Abstraction Refinement (CEGAR). The approach recursively solves QBF instances with multiple quantifier alternations. Experimental results show that the CEGAR-based solver outperforms existing types of solvers on many publicly-available benchmark families. In addition, we present a method of combining the CEGAR technique with DPLL-based solvers and show that it improves the DPLL solver in many instances. The third part of this thesis proposal presents a method for automatically inferring universally quantified loop invariants for programs with dynamically allocated heap data structures. Our technique works by computing an overapproximation of the set of reachable states via a fixed-point procedure. We target a small dynamically typed intermediate language. Sets of states are described by formulas in a fragment of first-order logic augmented with transitive closure; the fragment includes equality, uninterpreted functions, and total order. We introduce an abstraction function that summarizes the heap memory, returning a formula of bounded size. Summarization of memory locations is based, in part, on how they can be reached from the program variables. The inferred invariants can be used to verify the absence of failed assertions and other run-time errors.
Performance issues of gesture based communication systems

Gesture based communication is relatively adopted in areas like medicine, sports, inventory etc. Human factors are involved in the algorithms to determine the nature of the gesture and the computer tool translating it should be an autodidactic tool. Traditional systems use touch screens of any touch points to communicate with the system either via a control panel or following a user journey. Gesture communication varies with the traditional in the sense that human communication is transferred to technical form of algorithms for a system to decipher them. There are few issues relating to the performance such gesture communication systems namely accuracy, transfer of human knowledge to computer and various other observations needs to be addressed. A case study in the form of a simple experiment relating to a basic two handed gesture and human interaction in a 3D database is analyzed in this paper.
The Relationship Between Suicide and Quality Communication: A Literature Review

Literature Review Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, which was 42,773 suicides in 2017 Nichols [1]. Female nurses are 4 times more likely to commit suicide than females in other careers Brennan [2]. In 82% of nurses surveyed, they reported a high risk for workrelated stress Parkash [3]. Nurses work long hours and have little control of duties with high workloads and demands, which can cause stress and burnout.
Equivalent Poisson Process for Interrupted Poisson Process with on-off Periods

Due to the advance in technology and the new types of services that are provided by 3G systems, the Poisson process is no longer an accurate approximation to the arrival process. Instead, a more general process is required to approximate accurately the new bursty traffic arrives to 3G systems. One of the most flexible processes that are used to model the bursty traffic is the interrupted Poisson process with on-off periods. However, using any process other than that of Poisson to model the arrival of the traffic complicates the analysis of the systems. In this paper, an Equivalent Poisson process to the interrupted Poisson process with on-off periods is presented, which may be used to simplify the analysis of computer/communication networks. Consequently, it will enable researchers to use standard formulas that were
Music Therapy Enhances Executive Functions and Prefrontal Structural Neuroplasticity after Traumatic Brain Injury: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes lifelong cognitive deficits, particularly impairments of executive functioning (EF). Musical training and music-based rehabilitation have been shown to enhance cognitive functioning and neuroplasticity, but the potential rehabilitative effects of music in TBI are still largely unknown. The aim of the present cross-over randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine the clinical efficacy of music therapy on cognitive functioning in TBI and to explore its neural basis. Using an AB/BA design, 40 patients with moderate or severe TBI were randomized to receive a 3-month neurological music therapy intervention either during the first (AB, n = 20) or second (BA, n = 20) half of a 6-month follow-up period. Neuropsychological and motor testing and MRI scanning was performed at baseline and at the 3-month and 6-month stage. 39 subjects who participated in baseline measurement were included in an intention-to-treat analysis using multiple imputation. Results showed that general EF (as indicated by the Frontal Assessment Battery) and set shifting improved more in the AB group than in the BA group over the first 3-month period and the effect on general EF was maintained in the 6-month follow-up. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of the structural MRI data indicated that grey matter volume (GMV) in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) increased significantly in both groups during the intervention vs. control period, which also correlated with cognitive improvement in set shifting. These findings suggest that neurological music therapy enhances EF and induces fine-grained neuroanatomical changes in prefrontal areas.
The effect of postcard reminders on vaccinations among the elderly: a block-randomized experiment

Prior research in the behavioral sciences has demonstrated that reminders can be an effective tool for encouraging health-related behavior changes. This article extends that literature by reporting the outcome of a randomized controlled trial of mailed vaccination reminders. In addition to making a substantive contribution regarding the efficacy of mailed reminders, this article also makes a methodological contribution: it illustrates how researchers can study the causal impact of an intervention even when a pure parallel trial is not possible. In this study, the Louisiana Department of Health sent postcard reminders regarding four recommended vaccinations (influenza, tetanus, shingles and pneumonia) to 208,867 senior residents of Louisiana. We used block randomization and a stepped wedge design to assess the efficacy of the intervention. Individuals were blocked by their prior vaccine record and randomized to receive the postcard in one of four consecutive months (October–January). The reminder postcard had an overall positive effect on vaccination rates. The statistically significant and substantively small increase in overall vaccination rates was driven by participants who received the postcard reminder early in the intervention period. * Correspondence to: University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA. Email: nchen3@illinois.edu Behavioural Public Policy, Page 1 of 26 © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/bpp.2020. 34
The relation of chronic idiopathic urticaria with Fibromyalgia, sleep disturbance and anxiety

Amac: Fibromiyalji sendromu (FMS) ve kronik idiyopatik urtiker (CIU), periferik norojenik inflamasyon (noropeptid salinimi), immun islev bozuklugu ve yaygin halsizlik, agri, anksiyete ve uyku bozuklugu gibi somatik sikayet nedeniyle yakindan iliskilidir. Bu calismada CIU ile FMS, uyku bozuklugu ve anksiyete iliskisini ortaya koymak amaclandi. G erec ve Yontem: Yaslari 18-64 arasinda degisen (36.2 ± 10.4) CIU'lu 51 hasta ile cinsiyet ve yasa uygun 45 saglikli kontrol alindi. Urtiker aktivite skoru (UAS) urtiker siddeti acisindan degerlendirildi. FMS tanisi icin 2010 Amerikan Romatoloji Cemiyeti siniflandirma kriterleri kullanilmistir. Katilimcilar gorsel analog skala (VAS), fibromiyalji etkisi anketi (FIQ), Pittsburgh uyku kalitesi indeksi (PSQI) ve Beck anksiyete envanteri (BAI) ile degerlendirildi. Bulgular: Urtiker grubunda FMS ve vucut kutle indeksi (VKI) kontrol grubuna gore anlamli derecede yuksekti. Urtiker grubunun FIQ ve UAS ortalamasi sirasiyla 47.0 ± 22.1 ve 1.3 ± 0.9 idi. UAS ile FIQ, PSQI, BAI ve VAS pozitif korele idi (rho=0.411 p=0.004; rho=0.310 p=0.034; rho=0.419 p=0.004; rho=0.414 p=0.004; sirasiyla). FMS varligi VKI ile anlamli iliskiliydi (p = 0.04). Sonuc: FMS prevalansi kontrol grubuna gore CIU olan hastalarda daha yuksekti. Ayrica, yuksek urtikeryel aktivite gosteren kisilerde FMS daha siddetli, genel agri ve yorgunluk, uyku bozuklugu ve anksiyete daha yuksek idi.
Finding temporal associative rules in financial time-series: a case of study in Madrid stock exchange (IGBM)

This research centres on an experience which deals with multiple financial time-series. Financial data are treated by temporal mining analysis, specifically temporal association rules. These data are captured from records of the Madrid Stock Exchange (IGBM). The main goal focuses on seeking useful knowledge to explain relationships and trends amongst assets/stock prices which determine IGBM stock index. An exploratory methodology based on Knowledge Discovery (KDD) is used to cover all stages of the mining analysis: data extraction, filtering, basic forms representation, finding of important and characteristic episodes/events, construction of temporal-transactional databases and finally, searching and presentation of temporal association rules with their technical and financial conclusions. This methodology is supported on software tools by using developed libraries and graphics in R-free statistical language platform. The basic idea of mining temporal rules consists in searching and representing the repeated relationships between events obtained from these financial time-series by adding time-parameter constraints: time window (sliding window) and time lags. This process involves finding significant events into multivariate time series considering time restrictions, and then a search is made for sequences of episodes or items that are repeated amongst financial data in order to carry out a rules extraction stage. Database is connected to 20 assets (stock price time-series, in Euros) of IGBM and IGBM (index evolution, expressed in points) which conform a set of 21 financial time-series from 1993 to 2008.
Modeling of low-capillary number segmented flows in microchannels using OpenFOAM

Modeling of low-Capillary number segmented flows in microchannels is important for the design of microfluidic devices. We present numerical validations of microfluidic flow simulations using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method as implemented in OpenFOAM. Two benchmark cases were investigated to ensure the reliability of OpenFOAM in modeling complex physical phenomena in microfluidics, viz. 1) the steady motion of bubbles in capillaries, and 2) the formation of bubbles in T-junctions. We found that it is crucial to reduce spurious currents and to apply local grid refinement to capture the relevant flow physics. With these, we obtain good agreement between our numerical simulations and previously published theoretical and experimental data.
Optimal advert placement slot – using the knapsack problem model

The Knapsack problem model is a general resource allocation model in which a single resource is assigned to a number of alternatives with the objective of maximizing the total return. In this work, we applied the knapsack problem model to the placement of advert slots in the media. The aim was to optimize the capital allocated for advert placements. The general practice is that funds are allocated by trial and error and at the discretions of persons. This approach most times do not yield maximum results, lesser audience are reached. But when the scientific Knapsack problem model was applied to industry data, a better result was achieved, wider audience and minimal cost was attained.
THE EFFECTS OF THAI MASSAGE ON LEG MUSCLE OXYGENATION AND TIME TO FATIGUE IN HEALTHY MALE SUBJECTS

Thai massage is a kind of alternative medicine commonly used in Thailand for relieving of muscle fatigue and pain. Several studies reported that it can increase blood circulation. This may be due to increasing muscle oxygenation and time to fatigue. However, there is no evidence to support. A cross-over study design was employed to evaluate the effects of Thai massage on leg muscle oxygenation, time to fatigue and muscle force. Twenty-six healthy males were allocated to receive isometric exercise by performing series of 10s of sustained contraction and 5s rest until they reach peripheral fatigue point where the quadriceps torque declined to less than 60% of peak torque in the last 10 times (control period). Conversely, they received a 60-minute session of Thai massage before isometric exercise (massage period). The results showed that after massage, the muscle oxygenation was significantly increased (79.47±9.24%) (P< 0.05) when comparing to control period (75.04±10.68%). In addition, the time to fatigue and quadriceps muscle force revealed no significant differences (P>0.05) although the massage period tended to have more prolonged duration (8.74±2.68 min.) than the control period (7.82±1.79min), and massage period showed higher quadriceps muscle force. As a result, Thai massage is effective to increase muscle oxygenation levels. Also, it seems to be associated with increased duration of isometric muscle fatigue and higher muscle force.
Presenting a Parallel Algorithm for Constructing Cartesian Trees and its Application in Generating Separate and Free Trees

In the present study, an n-element array is introduced in order to present a parallel algorithm for generating Cartesian trees. Furthermore, required time, space, and operations of the algorithm are investigated. The all nearest smaller values problem is explained briefly because it influences on the problems of Cartesian trees. Two applications of Cartesian trees in generating suffix and separating trees are explored. Suffix trees and separating trees are among the most important data structures in processing fields. (Azad Shojaei, Abdoljabar Asadi. Presenting a Parallel Algorithm for Constructing Cartesian
Dynamical behaviour and stability analysis in SEPIC converter based on sliding-mode control

Abstract A hysteretic current-controlled SEPIC converter, which uses the sum of two inductor currents as the control variable, is discussed. The operation states of the converter are studied based on the theory of sliding-mode control. The equivalent control and relative differential equations on the sliding surface are derived, based on which, the stability of equilibrium point is analysed with the calculation of eigen-values. With numerical calculation and computer simulation, it is shown that the equilibrium point will lose the stability via a Hopf bifurcation when the reference current increases. The other circuit parameters will make influence on the first bifurcation point of reference current. Subsequently, the converter will exhibit complex dynamical behaviour, including limit cycle, double limit cycle, quasi-periodicity and chaos, by increasing the reference current furthermore.
A Direct Method to Calculate Control Parameters by Using Input and Output Data

This paper presents an alternative approach to calculate control parameters by using input and output data to VRFT (Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning) or FRIT (Fictitious Reference Iterative Tuning) which are proposed to design SISO control system. The proposed method is able to design a multivariable control system and also design a disturbance feedforward control system. Simulation and experimental results are shown.
An Improvement in Maximum Likelihood Location Estimation Algorithm in Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network contains many sensors that Spread in an environment and gather the information from their vicinity [1]. Wireless sensor networks are tremendously being used in different environments to perform various monitoring tasks such as search, rescue, disaster relief, target tracking and a number of tasks in smart environments. May be the location of sensors are not predefined and given [10]. This feature helps to use them in hazardous or inaccessible places. These sensors after gathering the information from environment and process the data send them to control stations. Later on other parts decide and act based on received information. One of the challenging problems exists in wireless sensor network that is how to obtain location information for sensor nodes present in the network [1].
A fast stereo matching method for real time vehicle front perception with linear cameras

This paper presents a passive stereo-based approach for real time vehicle front perception with linear cameras. The heavily investigated problem in stereo approaches is the matching between two or more images of a scene observed, by two or more video cameras, from different viewpoints. It consists of identifying features in the left and right images that are projections of the same physical feature in the three-dimensional space. In our method, the correspondence problem is first mapped onto a two-dimensional matrix, called matching matrix. The problem is then formulated in terms of finding true matches that satisfy local and global constraints. Local constraints are used to discard impossible matches whereas global ones are used to search best matches. The performance of the proposed stereo matching method is evaluated on stereo images acquired in real traffic conditions.
Association between umbilical cord hygiene and neonatal sepsis among neonates presenting to a primary care facility in Nairobi County, Kenya: a case-control study

Background: Three-quarters of all annual neonatal deaths in developing countries are attributable to neonatal sepsis. In primary care settings, poor cord hygiene due to improper handling of the infant’s cord is a major contributor to the occurrence of neonatal sepsis. The objective of this study was to describe the umbilical cord practices among mothers attending a primary care facility, assess the relationship between umbilical cord hygiene and neonatal sepsis, its impact on the population, as well as the influence of other neonatal and maternal factors on this relationship. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to assess the umbilical cord hygiene-neonatal sepsis relationship among neonates attending a primary care facility between August and October 2018. All cases were selected, while controls were systematically random sampled, as per study eligibility criteria. Exposure variables were summarized using descriptive statistics. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to evaluate the association between umbilical cord hygiene and neonatal sepsis adjusting for the effect of potential confounders. Subsequently, a population attributable fraction (PAF) was estimated. Results: The proportion of mothers with improper hygiene was 35.3%: 72.1% among the cases and 16.3% among the controls’ caregivers. The odds of neonatal sepsis were 13 times higher (OR=13.24; 95% CI: [7.5; 23.4]) among infants whose caregivers had improper hygiene compared to those who had proper hygiene. None of the neonatal and maternal covariates confounded the umbilical cord hygiene-neonatal sepsis association. This odds ratio gave a PAF of 66.7% (95% CI: 62.5; 69.0). Conclusions: Improper cord hygiene is prevalent in this low resource setting. Improper cord hygiene has a strong positive association with neonatal sepsis. Observing good cord care practices could avert up to 67% of newborn infections. This calls for inclusion of comprehensive cord care practices in the antenatal care educational package.
A facial image processing system for psychological studies

This paper presents a facial image processing system which has been developed, based on the technology of intelligent (or knowledge based) image coding scheme proposed by Harashima et al. (1992). Moreover, the application of this system for psychological studies on human faces and facial expression are discussed with some examples. <<ETX>>
Distributed optimization in multi-agent systems: applications to distributed regression

The context for this work is cooperative multi-agent systems (MAS). An agent is an intelligent entity that can measure some aspect of its environment, process information and possibly influence the environment through its action. A cooperative MAS can be defined as a loosely coupled network of agents that interact and cooperate to solve problems that are beyond the individual capabilities or knowledge of each agent. The focus of this thesis is distributed stochastic optimization in multi-agent systems. In distributed optimization, the complete optimization problem is not available at a single location but is distributed among different agents. The distributed optimization problem is additionally stochastic when the information available to each agent is with stochastic errors. Communication constraints, lack of global information about the network topology and the absence of coordinating agents make it infeasible to collect all the information at a single location and then treat it as a centralized optimization problem. Thus, the problem has to be solved using algorithms that are distributed, i.e., different parts of the algorithm are executed at different agents, and local, i.e., each agent uses only information locally available to it and other information it can obtain from its immediate neighbors. In this thesis, we will primarily focus on the specific problem of minimizing a sum of functions over a constraint set, when each component function is known partially (with stochastic errors) to a unique agent. The constraint set is known to all the agents. We propose three distributed and local algorithms, establish asymptotic convergence with diminishing stepsizes and obtain rate of ii convergence results. Stochastic errors, as we will see, arise naturally when the objective function known to an agent has a random variable with unknown statistics. Additionally, stochastic errors also model communication and quantization errors. The problem is motivated by distributed regression in sensor networks and power control in cellular systems. We also discuss an important extension to the above problem. In the extension, the network goal is to minimize a global function of a sum of component functions over a constraint set. Each component function is known to a unique network agent. The global function and the constraint set are known to all the agents. Unlike the previous problem, this problem is not stochastic. However, the objective function in this problem is more general. We propose an algorithm to solve this problem and establish its convergence.