Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Journal of Mathematical Psychology Categorical Invariance and Structural Complexity in Human Concept Learning

In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: a b s t r a c t An alternative account of human concept learning based on an invariance measure of the categorical stimulus is proposed. The categorical invariance model (CIM) characterizes the degree of structural complexity of a Boolean category as a function of its inherent degree of invariance and its cardinality or size. To do this we introduce a mathematical framework based on the notion of a Boolean differential operator on Boolean categories that generates the degrees of invariance (i.e., logical manifold) of the category in respect to its dimensions. Using this framework, we propose that the structural complexity of a Boolean category is indirectly proportional to its degree of categorical invariance and directly proportional to its cardinality or size. Consequently, complexity and invariance notions are formally unified to account for concept learning difficulty. Beyond developing the above unifying mathematical framework, the CIM is significant in that: (1) it precisely predicts the key learning difficulty ordering of the SHJ Boolean category types consisting of three binary dimensions and four positive examples; (2) it is, in general, a good quantitative predictor of the degree of learning difficulty of a large class of categories (in particular, the 41 category types studied by Feldman [Feldman, J. (2000). Minimization of Boolean complexity in human concept learning. Nature, 407, 630–633]); (3) it is, in general, a good quantitative predictor of parity effects for this large class of categories; (4) it does all of the above without free parameters; and (5) it is cognitively plausible (e.g., cognitively tractable).
Stochastic processes, non-normal innovations, and the use of scaling ratios

Market efficiency tests that rely on the martingale difference be-havior of returns can be based on various volatility measures. This paper argues that, to be able to differentiate between dependence and fat-tailedness. one should look simultaneously at plots based on ab-solute returns and variances. If the distribution is heavy-tailed, this shows up in the absolute moment plots, but not in the variance re-lated plots. Linear dependence. by contrast, is revealed in both plots. We provide and discuss an analytical and a simulation experiment illustrating these points.
Dynamic Scheduling and Resource Management in Heterogeneous Computing Environments with Reconfigurable Hardware

Dynamically reconfigurable hardware resources within complex heterogeneous computing environments show tremendous potential for an improvement in system performance, a reduction in the necessary number of processing resources, an increase in system degradability in the presence of faults, and an expansion of system flexibility, field upgradeability, and system lifecycles. However, efficient management and task scheduling for these resources demands the consideration of a number of factors beyond those necessary for more traditional systems. The document addresses the key issues associated with the exploitation of dynamically reconfigurable hardware. The patented Dynamic Logic Run-Time Resource Manager (DLRM), a middleware architecture developed specifically to address these challenges, is presented.
Influence des mécanismes de régulation de la fatigue neuromusculaire sur la performance motrice

Ce travail de these visait a determiner l’influence de la duree et du niveau d’entrainement en endurance sur les mecanismes de regulation de la fatigue neuromusculaire et d’une strategie de modulation de ces mecanismes sur la performance motrice. Ce travail de these consistait egalement a elaborer une nouvelle methode d’entrainement permettant d’optimiser les stimuli responsables des adaptations resultantes d’un programme de conditionnement physique. Les resultats principaux issus de ces travaux sont presentes dans un resume plus detaille en fin de manuscrit.
Derivatives of partial inductances for the sensitivity analysis in PEEC systems

When applying the adjoint sensitivity analysis to an electromagentic (EM) field solver, the derivatives of the system matrix elements with respect to the design parameters have to be computed. In this paper the partial element equivalent circuit (PEEC) method is utilized in the magneto-quasi-static regime where the system matrix elements represent partial resistances and inductances. Closed-form solutions for the derivatives of these elements with respect to the shape parameters under consideration are found for arbitrary positioned parallel conductors with rectangular cross sections. Results are presented for the AC impedance of a sole conductor and are compared with finite-difference approximations.
Topological and electronic transitions in a Sb(111) nanofilm: The interplay between quantum confinement and surface effect

When the dimension of a solid structure is reduced, there will be two emerging effects, quantum confinement and surface effect, which dominate at nanoscale. Based on first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that due to an intriguing interplay between these two dominating effects, the topological and electronic (topoelectronic) properties of Sb (111) nanofilms undergo a series of transitions as a function of the reducing film thickness: transforming from a topological semimetal to a topological insulator at 7.8 nm (22 bilayer), then to a quantum spin Hall (QSH) phase at 2.7 nm (8 bilayer), and finally, to a normal (topological trivial) semiconductor at 1.0 nm (3 bilayer). Our theoretical findings identify the existence of the QSH in the Sb (111) nanofilms within a narrow range of thickness and suggest that the Sb (111) nanofilms provide an ideal test bed for experimental study of topoelectronic phase transitions.
Symmetric computation of regularized inverse dynamics for high-speed flexible beams

A high speed flexible beam system, a simple but typical nonminimum phase system with ill posed noncausal inversion, is considered. Regularization based inverse dynamics can be used for recovering output trajectory tracking of a nonminimum phase system with the ill posed noncausal inversion. In the course of deriving the preimage of the output, high computational efficiency is always sought to meet increasingly stringent performance requirements in practical applications. The article addresses the symmetric computation issue for the regularization based preshaping of the inverse dynamics of a high speed flexible beam system. Regularization based preshaping filter in the time domain is presented for recovering the ill posed inverse dynamics satisfying the torque constraint. Also, the symmetric acausal/causal decoupled form of the preshaping filter is developed, and the symmetry computation scheme is proposed for computational efficiency.
Graytone Image Metamorphosis using 3D Interpolation Function

Image metamorphosis process produces deformation sequenc e whi h transforms one input image into another one. The method described in the paper applies morphologica approach to achieve this goal. It is based on morphological interpolation which makes use of the interpo lati n functions produced from geodesic distance functions. The described method allows applying this appro ach to graytone images via its 3D umbra. It produces 3D interpolation function. Its thresholding at gi ven level followed by inverse umbra transform allows obtaining frame of the interpolated sequence.
Transgenic study of energy homeostasis equation: implications and confounding influences

Recently novel molecular mediators and regulatory pathways for feeding and body weight regulation have been identified in the brain and the periphery. Mice lacking or overexpressing these mediators or receptors have been produced by molecular genetic techniques, and observations on mutant mice have shed new light on the role of each element in the homeostatic loop of body weight regulation. However, the interpretation of the phenotype is under the potential influence of developmental compensation and other genetic and environmental confounds. Specific alterations of the mediators and the consequences of the altered expression patterns are reviewed here and discussed in the context of their functions as suggested from conventional pharmacological studies. Advanced gene targeting strategies in which genes can be turned on or off at desired tissues and times would undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of the highly integrated and redundant systems for energy homeostasis equation. — Inui, A. Transgenic study of energy homeostasis equation: implications and confounding influences FASEB J. 14, 2158‐2170 (2000)
Social Forensics: Searching for Needles in Digital Haystacks

The use of online social networks and other digital communication services has become a prevalent activity of everyday life. As such, users' social footprints contain a massive amount of data, including exchanged messages, location information and photographic coverage of events. While digital forensics has been evolving for several years with a focus on recovering and investigating data from digital devices, social forensics is a relatively new field. Nonetheless, law enforcement agencies have realized the significance of employing online user data for solving criminal investigations. However, collecting and analyzing massive amounts of data scattered across multiple services is a challenging task. In this paper, we present our modular framework designed for assisting forensic investigators in all aspects of these procedures. The data collection modules extract the data from a user's social network profiles and communication services, by taking advantage of stored credentials and session cookies. Next, the correlation modules employ various techniques for mapping user profiles from different services to the same user. The visualization component, specifically designed for handling data representing activities and interactions in online social networks, provides dynamic "viewpoints" of varying granularity for analyzing data and identifying important pieces of information. We conduct a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of our system and find that our automated correlation process achieves significant coverage of users across services.
Comparison Between Measures of Atherosclerosis and Risk of Stroke: The Rotterdam Study

Background and Purpose— Several measures of atherosclerosis predict the risk of stroke. However, a comparison between various measures of atherosclerosis is lacking, and limited information exists on the added value of individual measures of atherosclerosis to cardiovascular risk factors. We compared different measures of atherosclerosis in relation to stroke. Methods— The study was based on the prospective cohort of the Rotterdam Study and included 6913 participants who did not suffer from previous stroke. At baseline, carotid intima-media thickness and plaques, ankle-arm index, and aortic calcifications were assessed; 3996 participants (53%) had measures of all studied markers of atherosclerosis. After a mean follow-up of 6.1 years, 378 strokes occurred. Data were analyzed with Cox proportional-hazards regression and Akaike information criteria scores. Results— Carotid intima-media thickness and aortic calcifications were related most strongly to the risk of stroke (relative risk, 2.23 and 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.48 to 3.36 and 1.28 to 2.80 for highest versus lowest tertile, respectively). The relations between intima-media thickness, aortic calcifications, and carotid plaques and stroke remained after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Intima-media thickness and aortic calcifications were related to the risk of stroke independently of each other. The relation between ankle-arm index and stroke disappeared after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions— Carotid intima-media thickness and aortic calcifications are stronger predictors of incident stroke than carotid plaque or ankle-arm indexes. They have additional value to each other and to classic risk factors and may reflect different processes.
- 1-Designing and Building Context-Aware Applications

User interfaces must adapt to the growing dissemination of computing power in our everyday environment. Computing devices and applications are now used beyond the desktop, in diverse environments, and this trend is accelerating. By taking context into account, context-aware applications promise richer and easier interaction. However, designers face three major obstacles: (1) the notion of context is still ill-defined; (2) there is a lack of conceptual models and methods to help drive the design of context-aware applications; and (3) no tools are available to jump-start the development of context-aware applications. In this paper, we address these three problems in turn. We first define context, identify categories of contextual information, and characterize context-aware application behavior. We then present a conceptual model of contextaware applications development. This conceptual model introduces abstractions to help deal with context and are implemented in a context toolkit we have built. We propose design rules that help derive relevant context components from the application requirements to build the software architecture of the application. We illustrate our concepts and design rules with a prototype application we have built, a mobile context-aware conference assistant. This example application emphasizes how the abstractions we propose facilitate the description and design of a seemingly complex system. Finally, based on our experience with context-awareness, we outline future challenges for context-aware applications.
Appraisal and Evaluation of Interurban ITS: A European Survey

Intelligent transport systems (ITS) have at their core technological systems that work together to improve transportation performance. However, this performance becomes uncertain when the technologies themselves are scrutinized alongside the benefit they deliver. This paper reviews the background theory, issues, and gaps concerning the assessment of performance for ITS, as well as a review of frameworks proposed by various authors in the field. This paper provides an original contribution through (1) identifying twelve evaluation framework requirements, (2) proposing corresponding solutions to business, and (3) the introduction of four key performance areas for ITS. The key requirements of ITS from the literature include improved geographical focus, reducing conflicting stakeholder involvement, and consolidating elements of ITS that are currently calculated in isolation. Current indicators are biased toward economic benefit. The definition of four key performance areas are Adaptability, Sustainability, Standardization, and Data Management. To conclude, the introduction of technology requires a paradigm shift, in terms of reorganization and realignment of the scope of conventional transport system evaluation. This is needed, in order to maintain accuracy and more fully capture performance aspects when appraising ITS.
Symmetric intertask communication

We argue for the need of supporting a symmetric select construct, in which entry calls as well as accepts can be alternatives. We present several situations in which a symmetric select leads to a more natural programming style. We show that several semantic principles are violated by a nonsymmetric select, while being satisfied by a symmetric one. In particular, the suggested symmetric intertask communication mechanism is fully abstract and composable, and has a distributed termination rule which reduces the risk of deadlock. Our discussion is in terms of Ada#8482;.
Across Families ? Ethnic Differences in Time Transfers from Adult Children to Elderly Parents : Unobserved Heterogeneity

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Network cloning using DNA barcodes

Significance The connections between neurons determine the computations performed by a neural network. Connections can be considered a “summary” of the statistical structure of the experience—data—on which the network was trained. Here, we propose a method for how neuronal network connectivity can be copied or “cloned” from one network to another. Our method relies on the use of DNA barcodes—short DNA sequences that allow tagging individual neurons with unique labels. In our study, we prove theorems that show that such a transfer of network connectivity is theoretically possible. The connections between neurons determine the computations performed by both artificial and biological neural networks. Recently, we have proposed SYNSeq, a method for converting the connectivity of a biological network into a form that can exploit the tremendous efficiencies of high-throughput DNA sequencing. In SYNSeq, each neuron is tagged with a random sequence of DNA—a “barcode”—and synapses are represented as barcode pairs. SYNSeq addresses the analysis problem, reducing a network into a suspension of barcode pairs. Here, we formulate a complementary synthesis problem: How can the suspension of barcode pairs be used to “clone” or copy the network back into an uninitialized tabula rasa network? Although this synthesis problem might be expected to be computationally intractable, we find that, surprisingly, this problem can be solved efficiently, using only neuron-local information. We present the “one-barcode–one-cell” (OBOC) algorithm, which forces all barcodes of a given sequence to coalesce into the same neuron, and show that it converges in a number of steps that is a power law of the network size. Rapid and reliable network cloning with single-synapse precision is thus theoretically possible.
State-mandated exit examinations increase performance . . . but take the fun out of mathematics

In response to PISA, all but one German federal states have adopted statemandated or "central" exit examinations (CEEs) at the end of all secondary school tracks. Theoretically, the advantages of CEEs are fairly undisputed. CEEs make teaching and learning output observable and comparable across schools, and provide incentives for teachers and students to increase their effort. In line with earlier research, we confirm that CEEs have a positive causal effect on student performance. We also investigate what actually drives this effect. We find that the teachers' main reaction to CEEs is to increase the amount of homework, and to check and discuss homework more often. Students report increased learning pressure, which has sizeable negative effects on student attitudes towards learning. Students who take central exit exams in mathematics like mathematics less, think it is less easy and they are more likely to find it boring.
Nonlinear Acoustic Echo Cancellation Using Voltage and Current Feedback

Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) is a well studied problem. The underlying assumption in most echo cancellation solutions is that the echo path following the reference signal is completely linear. However, in many handheld devices, the echo path following the reference signal is nonlinear. The reason for this nonlinearity in the echo path is the use of smaller inexpensive loudspeakers and the desire for generating high sound pressure levels. This brings about the need for a nonlinear echo canceler to maintain the required echo return loss enhancement (ERLE). Many software-based solutions have been proposed to solve this problem, but the computational complexity of these solutions is prohibitively high for practical implementation. This paper analyzes the sources of nonlinearities in smartphones and proposes a simple, elegant hardware modification to significantly reduce nonlinear echo. Thorough analysis and intensive testing results show that up to 6 dB of improvement in ERLE in a real device is possible using the proposed technique.
Runtime Estimations, Reputation and Elections for Top Performing Distributed Query Scheduling

In the last few years, highly distributed, heterogeneous and dynamic environments have become usual contexts for scientific and business domains. In this work, we consider query scheduling over a grid-enabled distributed database, where the data may be partially or totally replicated into the component sites. Although there have been some previous proposals for query scheduling in distributed databases, they did not consider site reputation, which is important in autonomous and heterogeneous distributed systems. We propose a reputation-based election-inspired query scheduling strategy. Sites are autonomous concerning candidacy for answering queries, in which case they must report an expected response time commitment to those queries. A reputation system is used for ranking sites on their response time estimations. Commitment information and subsequent outcome allows the reputation-based election-inspired approach to improve the overall mean response time of the system. We compare it experimentally with other distributed schedulers to show that the use of reputation and elections improves performance in heterogeneous autonomous environments.
High-Voltage Monitoring in Electrostatic Separators

High voltage is known to be one of the main control variables in any electrostatic-separation process. From this perspective, the aim of this paper is twofold: to develop an effective high-voltage monitoring system and to demonstrate that it can be a useful tool for controlling the overall operating conditions of an electrostatic-separator system. A custom-designed virtual instrument was employed for processing the experimental data provided by a high-voltage probe, the output of which was connected to an electrometer. In several experiments, the output of the high-voltage probe was also connected to a digital oscilloscope, in order to obtain a better understanding of the variation of the electrode potential after a spark discharge. The laps of time without corona discharge and/or with low electric field intensities could thus be accurately determined, and the impact of the spark discharges on the outcome of the separation process evaluated. The dispersion of high-voltage measured values was found to increase in the presence of the material. The statistical analysis of the data revealed a significant correlation between the standard deviation of the high-voltage and the concentration of metal in the processed material. The results of this paper could be helpful for those seeking the optimization of the operating conditions for the electrostatic separation applications, in which the metal content in the feed materials exhibits substantial fluctuation with time