Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Query Processing over Object Views of Relational Data

This paper presents an approach to object view management for relational databases. Such a view mechanism makes it possible for users to transparently work with data in a relational database as if it was stored in an object-oriented (OO) database. A query against the object view is translated to one or several internal queries against the relational database from which the answer is formed. The object view can also store its own data and therefore it must be possible to process queries that combine local data residing in the object view with data retrieved from the relational database. We discuss the key issues when object views of relational databases are developed , namely: how to map relational structures to subtype/supertype hierarchies in the view; how to represent relational database access in OO query plans; how to provide the concept of object identity in the view; how to handle the fact that the extension of types in the view depends on the state of the relational database; and how to optimize queries against the object view. The results are based on experiences from a running prototype implementation.
USING AN INTEGRATED MODELLING APPROACH FOR RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE ‘KILLER SHRIMP’ Dikerogammarus villosus

The aim of this study was to predict the future distribution of an invasive macroinvertebrate species, Dikerogammarus villosus, under changing environmental conditions. For this, we used an integrated modelling approach. First, a habitat suitability model (HSM) was constructed on the basis of a regression tree model, to determine the preferred chemical water quality conditions. Subsequently, this HSM was combined with a chemical water quality model that makes predictions on future water quality scenarios for the year 2015 and 2027. It was expected that the area of suitable habitat of D. villosus would increase with improving water quality conditions in the future. Finally, migration speed was incorporated to model the spatial–temporal spread of D. villosus based on a network analysis. On the basis of monitoring data of Flanders (Belgium), it was calculated that D. villosus is able to spread with an average speed of 5 km year−1.The model simulations indicate that the species is primarily present in large rivers and canals with a good chemical water quality. With improving water quality, the species will be able to colonize additional watercourses, mainly because of a decrease in chemical oxygen demand and orthophosphate concentration. A validation based on the observed occurrence shows that the model accurately predicts areas with a high suitability that are most likely to be invaded by D. villosus. Our integrated modelling approach is useful as a practical method to perform risk assessment for watercourses that are vulnerable to invasions not only in Flanders but also in the whole world. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An effective and robust fingerprint enhancement by adaptive filtering in frequency domain

Extensive research of automatic fingerprint identification system (AFIS), although started in the early 1960s, has not yet give the answer to reliable fingerprint recognition problem. A critical step for AFIS accuracy is reliable extraction of features (mostly minutiae) from the input fingerprint image. However, the effectiveness of a feature extraction relies heavily on the quality of the input fingerprint images. This leads to the incorporation of a fingerprint enhancement module in fingerprint recognition system to make the system robust with respect to the quality of input fingerprint images. In this paper we propose an adaptive filtering in frequency domain in order to enhance fingerprint image. Two different directional filters are proposed and results are compared.
GFS-BASED MOS WIND GUST GUIDANCE FOR THE UNITED STATES, PUERTO RICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

The National Weather Service has recently decided to include wind gust forecasts on an experimental basis in the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) (Glahn and Ruth 2003). To provide guidance for wind gusts, the Meteorological Development Laboratory (MDL) has developed a station-based Model Output Statistics (MOS) wind gust guidance product utilizing the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Global Forecast System (GFS) Model (Kanamitsu 1989). The station-based MOS guidance will then be processed and analyzed onto the NDFD 5-km grid (Glahn and Dallavalle 2005).
Wage and price setting: new evidence from Uruguayan firms

ABSTRACT This paper presents new evidence on wage and price setting based on a survey of more than 300 Uruguayan firms in 2013. Most of the firms set prices considering costs and adding a profit margin; therefore, they have some degree of market power. The evidence indicates that price increases appear quite flexible in Uruguay (prices are downward rigid). Most of the firms adjust their prices on an irregular basis, which suggests that price changes in Uruguay are state-dependent, although wage changes are concentrated in January and July. Interestingly, the cost of credit is seen as an irrelevant factor in explaining price increases. We also find that cost reduction is the principal strategy to a negative demand shock, and finally, that the adjustment of prices to changes in wages is relatively quick.
Fault linkage and graben stepovers in the Canyonlands (Utah) and the North Sea Viking Graben, with implications for hydrocarbon migration and accumulation

Segmented graben systems develop stepovers that have important implications in the exploration of oil and gas in extensional tectonic basins. We have compared and modeled a representative stepover between grabens in Canyonlands, Utah, and the North Sea Viking Graben and, despite their different structural settings, found striking similarities that pertain to other graben systems. In both cases, the stepovers represent relatively high parts within the graben systems that are likely to be among the first to be filled with hydrocarbons generated in deeper parts of the grabens. Furthermore, the relay ramps and smaller fault offsets in stepovers ease hydrocarbon migration and allow stepovers to act as preferred migration routes from deep graben kitchens to structurally higher traps in the basin. Graben stepovers and their related structures should be paid special attention during exploration because they may represent hydrocarbon accumulations complementary to larger traps along the graben flanks. These observations explain the location of the Kvitebjorn, Valemon, and Huldra fields in a stepover structure of the Viking Graben and encourage increased focus on similar graben stepovers in the Viking Graben and other graben systems.
Sense and reference

of Semantics I. - 1. Goal. - 2. Method. - 1. Designation. - 1. Symbol and Idea. - 1.1. Language. - 1.2. Construct. - 1.3. Predicate. - 1.4. Theory and Language. - 2. Designation. - 2.1. Name. - 2.2. The Designation Function. - 3. Metaphysical Concomitants. - 3.1. Basic Ontology. - 3.2. Beyond Platonism and Nominalism. - 2. Reference. - 1. Motivation. - 2. The Reference Relation. - 2.1. An Unruly Relation. - 2.2. Immediate and Mediate Reference. - 2.3. Reference Class. - 2.4. Factual Reference and Object Variable. - 2.5. Denotation. - 2.6. Reference and Evidence. - 2.7. Misleading Cues in the Search for Referents. - 3. The Reference Functions. - 3.1. Desiderata. - 3.2. Principles and Definitions. - 3.3. Some Consequences. - 3.4. Context and Coreference. - 4. Factual Reference. - 4.1. The Factual Reference Class. - 4.2. The Factual Reference Class of Scientific Theories. - 4.3. Spotting the Factual Referents: Genuine and Spurious. - 4.4. The Strife over Realism in the Philosophy of Contemporary Physics. - 5. Relevance. - 5.1. Kinds of Relevance. - 5.2. The Paradox of Confirmation as a Fallacy of Relevance. - 6. Conclusion. - 3. Representation. - 1. Conceptual Representation. - 2. The Representation Relation. - 2.1. A Characterization. - 2.2. The Multiplicity of Representations. - 2.3. Transformation Formulas and Equivalent Theories. - 3. Modeling. - 3.1. From Schema to Theory. - 3.2. Problems of Modeling. - 4. Semantic Components of a Scientific Theory. - 4.1. Denotation Rules and Semantic Assumptions. - 4.2. Philosophical Commitment of the SA's. - 4.3. Application to Quantum Mechanics. - 5. Conclusion. - 4. Intension. - 1. Form is not Everything. - 1.1. Concepts of Sense. - 1.2. Extension Insufficient. - 1.3. 'Intensional': Neither Pragmatic nor Modal. - 2. A Calculus of Intensions. - 2.1. Desiderata. - 2.2. Principles and Definitions. - 2.3. Main Theorems. - 2.4. Intensional Difference and Family Resemblance. - 3. Some Relatives - Kindred and in Law. - 3.1. Logical Strength. - 3.2. Information. - 3.3. Testability. - 4. Concluding Remarks. - 5. Gist and Content. - 1. Closed Contexts. - 1.1. Closed Contexts and Their Structure. - 1.2. The Logical Ancestry of a Construct. - 2. Sense as Purport or Logical Ancestry. - 2.1. Purport and Gist. - 2.2. The Gist of a Basic Construct. - 2.3. The Gist of a Theory. - 2.4. Changes in Gist. - 3. Sense as Import or Logical Progeny. - 3.1. The Logical Progeny of a Construct. - 3.2. Import. - 3.3. Theory Content. - 3.4. Empirical and Factual Content. - 3.5. Changes in Import and Content. - 4. Full Sense. - 5. Conclusion. - Index of Names. - Index of Subjects.
A case history of time-lapse 3D seismic surveys at Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada

Time-lapse 3D seismic surveys were acquired across a bitumen field at Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, during a production cycle (1990) and a steam-injection cycle (1992) of a thermal-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) program. We observed changes in interval traveltime and amplitude distributions between the processed surveys. We interpret the increased traveltimes observed over most of the injection survey to be a result of lowered interval velocities in the reservoir, caused primarily by higher temperature and lower effective pressure. Reflection-strength variations within the reservoir are present in each data set and change spatially between the surveys. In general, we interpret the amplitude anomalies seen only on the production survey to be caused by local free gas and the amplitude anomalies seen only on the injection survey, which are close to the perforation depths, to be caused by thin, vertically restricted steamed zones.
Inference for Generalized Linear Models via Alternating Directions and Bethe Free Energy Minimization

Generalized linear models, where a random vector x is observed through a noisy, possibly nonlinear, function of a linear transform $ \mathrm {z}= \mathrm {A} \mathrm {x} $ , arise in a range of applications in nonlinear filtering and regression. Approximate message passing (AMP) methods, based on loopy belief propagation, are a promising class of approaches for approximate inference in these models. AMP methods are computationally simple, general, and admit precise analyses with testable conditions for optimality for large i.i. d. transforms A. However, the algorithms can diverge for general A. This paper presents a convergent approach to the generalized AMP (GAMP) algorithm based on direct minimization of a large-system limit approximation of the Bethe free energy (LSL-BFE). The proposed method uses a double-loop procedure, where the outer loop successively linearizes the LSL-BFE and the inner loop minimizes the linearized LSL-BFE using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). The proposed method, called ADMM-GAMP, is similar in structure to the original GAMP method, but with an additional least-squares minimization. It is shown that for strictly convex, smooth penalties, ADMM-GAMP is guaranteed to converge to a local minimum of the LSL-BFE, thus providing a convergent alternative to GAMP that is stable under arbitrary transforms. Simulations are also presented that demonstrate the robustness of the method for non-convex penalties as well.
Using in situ Chlorine-36 cosmonuclide to recover past earthquake histories on limestone normal fault scarps: a reappraisal of methodology and interpretations

Cosmic-ray exposure dating of preserved, seismically exhumed limestone normal fault scarps has been used to identify the last few major earthquakes on seismogenic faults and recover their ages and displacements through the modelling of the content of in situ [36Cl] cosmonuclide of the scarp rocks. However, previous studies neglected some parameters that contribute to 36Cl accumulation and the uncertainties on the inferred earthquake parameters were not discussed. To better constrain earthquake parameters and to explore the limits of this palaeoseismological method, we developed a Matlab® modelling code (provided in Supplementary information) that includes all the factors that may affect [36Cl] observed in seismically exhumed limestone fault scarp rocks. Through a series of synthetic profiles, we examine the effects of each factor on the resulting [36Cl], and quantify the uncertainties related to the variability of those factors. Those most affecting the concentrations are rock composition, site location, shielding resulting from the geometry of the fault scarp and associated colluvium, and scarp denudation. In addition, 36Cl production mechanisms and rates are still being refined, but the importance of these epistemic uncertainties is difficult to assess. We then examine how pre-exposure and exposure histories of fault-zone materials are expressed in [36Cl] profiles. We show that the 36Cl approach allows unambiguous discrimination of sporadic slip versus continuous creep on these faults. It allows identification of the large slip events that have contributed to the scarp exhumation, and provides their displacement with an uncertainty of +/- ~25 cm and their age with an uncertainty of +/-0.5-1.0 kyr. By contrast, the modelling cannot discriminate whether a slip event is a single event or is composed of multiple events made of temporally clustered smaller size events. As a result, the number of earthquakes identified is always a minimum, while the estimated displacements are maximum bounds and the ages the approximate times when a large earthquake or a cluster of smaller earthquakes have occurred. We applied our approach to a data set available on the Magnola normal fault, Central Italy, including new samples from the buried part of the scarp. Reprocessing of the data helps to refine the seismic history of the fault and quantify the uncertainties in the number of earthquakes, their ages and displacements. We find that the Magnola fault has ruptured during at least five large earthquakes or earthquake clusters in the last 7 ka, and may presently be in a phase of intense activity.
Street based self-employment: A poverty trap or a stepping stone for migrant youth in Africa?

Street vending of goods and services is a common phenomenon in urban areas of Africa. Although such street based self-employment activities often lack legal recognition and are sometimes criminalized, significant share of the youth labor force in urban areas earn their livelihood from such activities. This study examines whether street based self-employment is a viable livelihood with a potential for transition or a poverty trap for youth migrants. The study is based on a survey of 445 youth who are engaged in shoe shining and coffee vending activities in two urban areas in Ethiopia. We found that street based self-employment is indeed dominated by migrant youth. In this sample, 96% of those engaged in the street based self-employment are youth and 98% are migrants from rural areas or smaller towns. We found that the average monthly earning of these self-employed youth is better than the minimum wage in public sector and much larger than the official poverty line. We found that most of the youth consider this as transitory employment and accumulate skill and capital with a view to establishing their own enterprise or joining skilled employment. While young women are in general found to be less likely than young men to seek exit out of street based self-employment, education increases the likelihood that young women aspire for a change in their employment situation. Youth with better-off parents back home and those with larger network in their new residence are more likely to change their current occupation.
A Hybrid Preference Learning and Context Refinement Architecture

Pervasive computing envisions a world where people are surrounded by numerous communication and computing interconnected devices that are invisible and assist users in their everyday tasks in a seamless unobtrusive manner. Most pervasive computing research initiatives aim towards the realization of smart spaces, i.e. fixed spaces that provide pervasive features in a static and geographically limited environment. To bridge these isolated pervasive spaces, the EU project Persist has introduced the concept of self-improving Personal Smart Spaces (PSSs) that follow their owners wherever they go. This paper provides an overview of the context and preference learning facilities that have been designed to support the realization of PSSs and enhance their proactivity and self-improvement features .
Introduction to Econophysics

This book concerns the use of concepts from statistical physics in the description of financial systems. The authors illustrate the scaling concepts used in probability theory, critical phenomena, and fully developed turbulent fluids. These concepts are then applied to financial time series. The authors also present a stochastic model that displays several of the statistical properties observed in empirical data. Statistical physics concepts such as stochastic dynamics, short- and long-range correlations, self-similarity and scaling permit an understanding of the global behaviour of economic systems without first having to work out a detailed microscopic description of the system. Physicists will find the application of statistical physics concepts to economic systems interesting. Economists and workers in the financial world will find useful the presentation of empirical analysis methods and well-formulated theoretical tools that might help describe systems composed of a huge number of interacting subsystems.
Energy Stable Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Method for the Allen-Cahn Equation

Allen--Cahn equation with constant and degenerate mobility, and with polynomial and logarithmic energy functionals is discretized using symmetric interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin (SIPG) finite elements in space. We show that the energy stable average vector field (AVF) method as the time integrator for gradient systems like the Allen-Cahn equation satisfies the energy decreasing property for the fully discrete scheme. The numerical results for one and two dimensional Allen-Cahn equation with periodic boundary condition, using adaptive time stepping, reveal that the discrete energy decreases monotonically, the phase separation and metastability phenomena can be observed and the ripening time is detected correctly.
Towards the Application of Association Rules for Defeasible Rules Discovery

In this paper we investigate the feasibility of Knowledge Discovery from Database (KDD) in order to facilitate the discovery of defeasible rules that represent the ratio decidendi underpinning legal decision making. Moreover we will argue in favour of Defeasible Logic as the appropriate formal system in which the extracted principles should be encoded.
Numerical Moveout Estimation for Migration Velocity Analysis in Super-Gathers

In migration velocity analysis (MVA), the residual moveout in the image gather is used to correct the velocity field. In this work we propose a numerical approach to describe the moveout in the image gather considering a dipping reflector. Through some numerical examples, we validate the strategy of fitting the moveout curves numerically. Furthermore, in our proposal many image gathers can be used altogether to obtain the parameters. This strategy provides more reliable values for the velocity correction factor.
Influence of Advective Accelerations on Estuarine Exchange at a Chesapeake Bay Tributary

AbstractThe influence of nonlinear advection on estuarine exchange flow was investigated with observations at the transition between the James River and Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, Virginia. Data were collected under different tidal forcing, wind forcing, and river discharge in 2004 and 2005. The relative contribution of nonlinear advective terms to the along-channel momentum balance had the same order of magnitude as pressure gradient and friction, verifying recent analytical and numerical model results. Both the magnitude and the spatial distribution of nonlinear advection showed fortnightly variability. Nonlinear advection was more influential on along-channel flow at spring tides than at neap tides because of increased tidal velocities, in a cross-sectionally averaged sense. The flow structures induced by each nonlinear advective process were investigated for the first time with observations. The lateral advection term υuy was found to enhance laterally sheared exchange acting along with Coriolis f.
The Niger Delta Region in the Light of the Theory of Continental Drift

Abstract A recently computed fit of the African and South American continents is astonishingly close, apart from an overlap of some 120 miles in the vicinity of the Niger delta. This paper attempts to determine whether there is a genuine misfit at this point or whether the delta may have grown beyond the continental margin after the continents separated. The evidence suggests that final separation took place in Albian times, and that the bulge of the present continental edge into the Atlantic Ocean has resulted from post-Cretaceous development of the delta. The gross structure of the delta region and also the associated minor structures are considered to represent a passive response to the influx of sediment from the Niger River.
LAS COMUNIDADES VIRTUALES COMO POTENCIAL PEDAGÓGICO PARA EL APRENDIZAJE COLABORATIVO A TRAVÉS DE LAS TIC Virtual communities as educational potential of collaborative learning through ICT Les communautés virtuelles comme potentiel éducatif de l'apprentissage collaboratif à travers les TIC

This paper presents some results of an educational innovation based on the use of ICT as a learning environment. The main aim of this study is to describe an experience based collaborative learning in virtual communities of learning and reciprocal teaching and assessing students’ knowledge. For that, we design an educational proposal with three didactic units, which includes a kit of tasks and resources for learning. This study adopts a quantitative and qualitative methodology, applying attitudes scales, interviews and analysis of messages from online discussion forums. The study involved 56 students in first year of Pedagogy. We apply a Likert scale and a semantic differential about the learning experience and the methodology used. Also we conducted semi-structured group interviews to understand the perceptions and students’ evaluations about the methodology. The results show a very positive assessment about the learning experience and the methodology used. Peer interaction is focused on resolving technical queries, although there are also other forms of collaboration focused on joint interpretation and understanding of learning activities and assessment of the learning process. The results show that the intervention centers on teacher feedback and monitoring of learning tasks, reinforcing positive actions of the students and guiding the learning process. Finally, as to the benefits received by students, the results show that not only is development of social and communication skills, but also conceptual and emotional changes related to the subject.