Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voice controller for Image Guided Surgery and per-sonalized Interactive Visualisation

With the increasing availability of multimodal data, an important cur- rent topic is to provide surgeons with tools for the visual exploration of the pa- tient data according to their own preferences and experience. In the operating theatre very rigid visualisation modalities are normally available and each of them is usually dedicated to one specific aspect of the operation workflow. A need of more personalised and adaptable solution is clearly identified in many types of surgery. This paper presents a system for a personalized visualization for each single intervention step. It permits to plan the visualization preferences and configure different monitors assigning several input sources. During the operation, natural user interfaces permit navigating among all the pre-set con- figurations. The natural interaction is achieved by means of a combination of speech and multi-touch user interface (UI).
A case study in automated veri cation based on trace abstractions

In [14], we proposed a framework for the automatic verification of reactive systems. Our main tool is a decision procedure, Mona, for Monadic Second-order Logic (M2L) on finite strings. Mona translates a formula in M2L into a finite-state automaton. We show in [14] how traces, i.e. finite executions, and their abstractions can be described behaviorally. These state-less descriptions can be formulated in terms of customized temporal logic operators or idioms. In the present paper, we give a self-contained, introductory account of our method applied to the RPC-memory specification problem of the 1994 Dagstuhl Seminar on Specification and Refinement of Reactive Systems. The purely behavioral descriptions that we formulate from the informal specifications are formulas that may span 10 pages or more. Such descriptions are a couple of magnitudes larger than usual temporal logic formulas found in the literature on verification. To securely write these formulas, we introduce Fido [16] as a reactive system description language. Fido is designed as a high-level symbolic language for expressing regular properties about recursive data structures. All of our descriptions have been verified automatically by Mona from M2L formulas generated by Fido. Our work shows that complex behaviors of reactive systems can be formulated and reasoned about without explicit state-based programming. With Fido, we can state temporal properties succinctly while enjoying automated analysis and verification.
Analysis of surface black carbon distributions during ACE-Asia using a regional-scale aerosol model

[1] The regional-scale aerosol transport model (CFORS) is used in the analysis of black carbon (BC) observed at five remote Japanese islands during the ACE-Asia experiment. BC is modeled online in the regional-scale meteorological model, using emissions estimates for 2000. Two model experiments are conducted (1) a control run that includes all the BC emission, and (2) a sensitivity run without open biomass burning emissions to clarify the impact of biomass burning on the BC levels in the western Pacific. The regional aerosol model (CFORS) is shown to accurately reproduce many of the important features observed. Model analysis shows that the spatial and temporal distributions of black carbon between the northern sites (Rishiri and Sado; located in the Japan Sea) and the southern stations (Hachijo, Chichijima, and Amami-Oshima; in the western Pacific Ocean) are under different flow regimes. It is shown that the major synoptic features controlling BC levels are associated with outflow in the warm conveyor belt of traveling cold fronts and the subsequent postfrontal transport. At the northern stations (Rishiri and Sado), elevated BC concentrations are calculated to be mainly below the heights of 2000 m, and the biomass burning fraction is estimated to be below 20%. At the southern sites (e.g., Chichijima) the contribution due to biomass burning reaches 32% at the surface and 52% in the free atmosphere. CFORS results indicate that the major black carbon source and transport height are different between the northern and southern sites.
Controller inhibition of automated conflict resolutions in a maximum NextGen condition

With the continued projection of increases in air traffic density, operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) are expected to exceed human capabilities in the near future [1]. In order to address the bottleneck of human workload capacity, highly automated safety-critical systems are under development to support air traffic controllers. However, the transfer of tasks and capabilities from a human agent to an automated agent is not without its pitfalls. Human controllers provide safe, efficient, and creative problem-solving in conflict situations-situations that often are outside the abilities of an automated system. In order for controllers to best use their creative problem-solving skills in safety-critical situations, automated agents must shoulder `routine' activities contributing to controller workload in the current-day system, such as housekeeping tasks and basic separation assurance activities. The detection and resolution of conflicts required for basic separation assurance is the primary contributor to current day workload, since it requires controllers have an awareness of all aircraft to produce effective solutions. However in high-traffic airspace (e.g., 30+ aircraft in a sector), full situation awareness becomes impossible without automated assistance. While research on the automation of conflict detection and resolution is fairly well established, questions remain concerning the give and take between the responsibilities of the human controller and those of the automated agent. Discussed here is a portion of a larger human-in-the-loop experiment examining controllers' transition through four hypothetical automation stages of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). This portion, called Maximum NextGen, simulated a fully automated environment where the automation was responsible for detecting and resolving conflicts within simulation parameters in high-density airspace. The human moved to primarily a supervisory position: typically only assuming control over separation assurance tasks during conflict situations deferred by the automation. While tasks were allocated a-priori between the controller and automated agent, controllers maintained authority to inhibit the automation from interacting with particular aircraft. This analysis focuses on the circumstances surrounding controller's inhibitory actions upon the automation, postulating about their reasons for doing so based on contextual similarities, ultimately identifying preliminary trends for both further research and automation refinement.
Finding Large Matchings in Semi-Streaming

One of the most appealing open problems in the graph streaming area (see Problem 60 in [1]) is to close the gap between the approximation factor (i.e., lower bound) of 0:5 (achieved by a simple greedy algorithm) [2] and the hardness result (i.e., upper bound) of 1 1=e ' 0:63 [3], [4] for the classical problem of the maximum matching in the semistreaming model. Interestingly, for a long time closing this gap even using 2 passes over an adversarial stream was open until very recently that Konrad, Magniez, and Mathieu in [5] made progress toward answering this question.We develop a 0:583-approximation 2-pass streaming algorithm to find the maximum matching in bipartite graphs, using O(n) space. Using the same technique we give a 0:605-approximation 3-pass streaming algorithm to find the maximum matching in bipartite graphs, using O(n) space. Our results improve upon the 0:505-approximation 2-pass algorithm proposed in [5]. Our 3-pass algorithm is the first 3-pass streaming algorithm that achieves an approximation factor better than 0:6.In the first pass of our algorithm we find a maximal matching M. In the second pass, for every unmatched vertex we keep a small number of edges (so-called, golden edges) incident to distinct matched vertices in M. Every matched vertex of M is incident to at most one golden edge. At the end of second pass, we invoke an optimal matching algorithm on the union of matched and golden edges. For the analysis, let M be a maximum cardinality matching of G. We show that golden edges help to find a good fraction of augmenting paths of length 3 inM[M and also they build many new augmenting paths of length 3 using augmenting paths of length at least 5 and other alternating paths of M [ M. Our 3-pass algorithm simply repeats the process of the second pass.
Interactive surfaces and learning analytics: data, orchestration aspects, pedagogical uses and challenges

The proliferation of varied types of multi-user interactive surfaces (such as digital whiteboards, tabletops and tangible interfaces) is opening a new range of applications in face-to-face (f2f) contexts. They offer unique opportunities for Learning Analytics (LA) by facilitating multi-user sensemaking of automatically captured digital footprints of students' f2f interactions. This paper presents an analysis of current research exploring learning analytics associated with the use of surface devices. We use a framework to analyse our first-hand experiences, and the small number of related deployments according to four dimensions: the orchestration aspects involved; the phases of the pedagogical practice that are supported; the target actors; and the levels of iteration of the LA process. The contribution of the paper is twofold: 1) a synthesis of conclusions that identify the degree of maturity, challenges and pedagogical opportunities of the existing applications of learning analytics and interactive surfaces; and 2) an analysis framework that can be used to characterise the design space of similar areas and LA applications.
AXPs and X-ray dim neutron stars: Recent XMM-Newton and Chandra results

To date more than half a dozen X-ray dim isolated neutron stars are known. Their X-ray spectra are characterized by soft blackbody-like emission (kT ∼ 50-120 eV) without indication for harder, non-thermal components. These stars apparently show no radio emission and no association with supernova remnants. Four of them exhibit pulsations in their X-ray flux with periods in the range of 8.39 s to 22.7 s. Similar pulse periods were found from AXPs, maybe suggesting evolutionary connections. In this talk I will review the recent observational results from X-ray dim isolated neutron obtained by the major X-ray observatories XMM-Newton and Chandra. Spectral and temporal characteristics, inferred luminosities and magnetic field strengths will be compared with those of AXPs.
Are all reversible computations tidy

It has long been known that to minimise the heat emitted by a deterministic computer during it's operation it is necessary to make the computation act in a logically reversible manner\cite{Lan61}. Such logically reversible operations require a number of auxiliary bits to be stored, maintaining a history of the computation, and which allows the initial state to be reconstructed by running the computation in reverse. These auxiliary bits are wasteful of resources and may require a dissipation of energy for them to be reused. A simple procedure due to Bennett\cite{Ben73} allows these auxiliary bits to be "tidied", without dissipating energy, on a classical computer. All reversible classical computations can be made tidy in this way. However, this procedure depends upon a classical operation ("cloning") that cannot be generalised to quantum computers\cite{WZ82}. Quantum computations must be logically reversible, and therefore produce auxiliary qbits during their operation. We show that there are classes of quantum computation for which Bennett's procedure cannot be implemented. For some of these computations there may exist another method for which the computation may be "tidied". However, we also show there are quantum computations for which there is no possible method for tidying the auxiliary qbits. Not all reversible quantum computations can be made "tidy". This represents a fundamental additional energy burden to quantum computations. This paper extends results in \cite{Mar01}.
Ci-FoxA-a is the earliest zygotic determinant of the ascidian anterior ectoderm and directly activates Ci-sFRP1/5

This work focuses on the anteroposterior patterning of the ectoderm in the invertebrate chordate Ciona intestinalis. Previous work indicated that, by the eight-cell stage, the anterior and posterior animal blastomeres have acquired different properties, including a differential responsiveness to inducing signals from the underlying mesendoderm. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of this distinction. For this, we studied the regulation of the earliest marker specific for the anterior ectoderm, Ci-sFRP1/5, which is activated at the 64-cell stage. We first found that the activation of this marker in the anterior ectoderm does not involve communication with other lineages. We then identified, by phylogenetic footprinting and deletion analysis, a short conserved minimal enhancer driving the onset of expression of Ci-sFRP1/5. We showed that this enhancer was a direct target of the Ci-FoxA-a gene, a FoxA/HNF3 orthologue expressed in anterior ectodermal and mesendodermal lineages from the eight-cell stage. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that Ci-FoxA-a is necessary and sufficient within the ectoderm to impose an ectodermal anterior identity, and to repress the posterior programme. Thus, Ci-FoxA-a constitutes a major early zygotic anterior determinant for the ascidian ectoderm, acting autonomously in this territory, prior to the onset of vegetal inductions. Interestingly, while vertebrate FoxA2 are also involved in the regionalization of the ectoderm, they are thought to act during gastrulation to control, in the mesendoderm, the expression of organizer signals. We discuss the evolution of chordate ectodermal patterning in light of our findings.
Experiences of Prospective Physical Education Teachers on Active Gaming within the Context of School-Based Physical Activity

The present study aims to explore the experiences of prospective physical education teachers on active gaming. The study, which used qualitative case study design enrolled 2 prospective physical education teachers (1 male, 1 female) who were included in extracurricular activities and physical education classes in 2015-2016 academic year. For data collection, semi-structured interview forms, diaries and extended field notes were used. For data analysis, the content analysis method was used: following the transcription process, coding was performed in two categories and themes and sub-themes were created that reflect common codes. The findings have revealed that according to prospective teachers, active gaming ensures active participation of students and facilitates classroom management in physical education classes, which, in turn contributes to the learning environment where every student can participate. It also has been found that active gaming in the extracurricular activities contributes to the arousal of the initial participation desire in students, and establishment of an environment suitable for the improvement of physical competence. According to prospective teachers, active gaming should be used not in every part, but in certain parts of classes or of extracurricular activities.
Multiple Familial Trichoepithelioma Caused by Mutations in the Cylindromatosis Tumor Suppressor Gene

The recessive oncogene cylindromatosis (CYLD) mapping on 16q12-q13 is generally implicated in familial cylindromatosis, whereas a gene region for multiple familial trichoepithelioma has been assigned to 9p21. Markers from both chromosome intervals were subjected to linkage analysis in a large family with multiple hereditary trichoepithelioma (TE) from Algeria. Linkage to 9p21 was excluded, whereas CYLD remained as a candidate. Mutation analysis identified a single bp germ-line deletion expected to result in truncation or absence of the encoded protein, which segregated with the multiple TE phenotype. In individual tumors, loss of heterozygosity at 16q or a somatic point mutation in the CYLD gene was detected. Hence, mutations of the tumor suppressor gene CYLD at 16q12-q13 may give rise to familial TE indistinguishable from the phenotype assigned to 9p21.
Managing Risk To Avoid Supply-Chain Breakdown

Natural disasters, labor disputes, terrorism and more mundane risks can seriously disrupt or delay the flow of material, information and cash through an organization's supply chain. The authors assert that how well a company fares against such threats will depend on its level of preparedness, and the type of disruption. Each supply-chain risk to forecasts, information systems, intellectual property, procurement, inventory and capacity has its own drivers and effective mitigation strategies. To avoid lost sales, increased costs or both, managers need to tailor proven risk-reduction strategies to their organizations. Managing supply-chain risk is difficult, however. Dell, Toyota, Motorola and other leading manufacturers excel at identifying and neutralizing supply-chain risks through a delicate balancing act: keeping inventory, capacity and related elements at appropriate levels across the entire supply chain in a rapidly changing environment. Organizations can prepare for or avoid delays by "smart sizing" their capacity and inventory. The manager serves as a kind of financial portfolio manager, seeking to achieve the highest achievable profits (reward) for varying levels of supply-chain risk. The authors recommend a powerful "what if? " team exercise called "stress testing" to identify potentially weak links in the supply chain. Armed with this shared understanding, companies can then select the best mitigation strategy: holding "reserves," pooling inventory, using redundant suppliers, balancing capacity and inventory, implementing robust backup and recovery systems, adjusting pricing and incentives, bringing or keeping production in-house, and using Continuous Replenishment Programs (CRP), Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) and other supply-chain initiatives.
A Be star with a low nitrogen abundance in the SMC cluster NGC 330

High-resolution UVES/VLT spectra of B 12, an extreme pole-on Be star in the SMC cluster NGC 330, have been analysed using non-LTE model atmospheres to obtain its chemical composition relative to the SMC standard star AV 304. We find a general underabundance of metals which can be understood in terms of an extra contribution to the stellar continuum due to emission from a disk which we estimate to be at the ~25% level. When this is corrected for, the nitrogen abundance for B 12 shows no evidence of enhancement by rotational mixing as has been found in other non-Be B-type stars in NGC 330, and is inconsistent with evolutionary models which include the effects of rotational mixing. A second Be star, NGC 330-B 17, is also shown to have no detectable nitrogen lines. Possible explanations for the lack of rotational mixing in these rapidly rotating stars are discussed, one promising solution being the possibility that magnetic fields might inhibit rotational mixing.
Endothelial Cell Caveolae Opposing Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species and Cholesterol on Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is critical for normal vascular homeostasis. eNOS function is rapidly regulated by agonists and blood flow and chronically by factors that regulate mRNA stability and gene transcription. Recently, localization of eNOS to specialized plasma membrane invaginations termed caveolae has been proposed to be required for maximal eNOS activity. Because caveolae are highly enriched in cholesterol, and hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased NO production, we first studied the effects of cholesterol loading on eNOS localization and NO production in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Caveolae-enriched fractions were prepared by OptiPrep gradient density centrifugation. Treatment of BAECs with 30 mg/mL cholesterol for 24 hours stimulated significant increases in total eNOS protein expression (1.50-fold), eNOS associated with caveolae-enriched membranes (2.23-fold), and calcium ionophore-stimulated NO production (1.56fold). Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia, we next studied the effects of ROS on eNOS localization and caveolae number. Treatment of BAECs for 24 hours with 1 mmol/L LY83583, a superoxide-generating napthoquinolinedione, decreased caveolae number measured by electron microscopy and prevented the cholesterol-mediated increases in eNOS expression. In vitro exposure of caveolae-enriched membranes to ROS (xanthine plus xanthine oxidase) dissociated caveolin more readily than eNOS from the membranes. These results show that cholesterol treatment increases eNOS expression, whereas ROS treatment decreases eNOS expression and the association of eNOS with caveolin in caveolae-enriched membranes. Our data suggest that oxidative stress modulates endothelial function by regulating caveolae formation, eNOS expression, and eNOS-caveolin interactions. (Circ Res. 1999;85:29-37.)
The Undecidability of the Logic of Subintervals

The Halpern--Shoham logic is a modal logic of time intervals. Some effort has been put in last ten years to classify fragments of this beautiful logic with respect to decidability of its satisfiability problem. We complete this classification by showing ---what we believe is quite an unexpected result---that the logic of subintervals, the fragment of the Halpern--Shoham logic where only the operator “during”, or D, is allowed, is undecidable over discrete structures. This is surprising as this, apparently very simple, logic is decidable over dense orders and its reflexive variant is known to be decidable over discrete structures. Our result subsumes a lot of previous undecidability results of fragments that include D.