Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"

Abstract. Interactions between humans and the environment are occurring on a scale that has never previously been seen; the scale of human interaction with the water cycle, along with the coupling present between social and hydrological systems, means that decisions that impact water also impact people. Models are often used to assist in decision-making regarding hydrological systems, and so in order for effective decisions to be made regarding water resource management, these interactions and feedbacks should be accounted for in models used to analyse systems in which water and humans interact. This paper reviews literature surrounding aspects of socio-hydrological modelling. It begins with background information regarding the current state of socio-hydrology as a discipline, before covering reasons for modelling and potential applications. Some important concepts that underlie socio-hydrological modelling efforts are then discussed, including ways of viewing socio-hydrological systems, space and time in modelling, complexity, data and model conceptualisation. Several modelling approaches are described, the stages in their development detailed and their applicability to socio-hydrological cases discussed. Gaps in research are then highlighted to guide directions for future research. The review of literature suggests that the nature of socio-hydrological study, being interdisciplinary, focusing on complex interactions between human and natural systems, and dealing with long horizons, is such that modelling will always present a challenge; it is, however, the task of the modeller to use the wide range of tools afforded to them to overcome these challenges as much as possible. The focus in socio-hydrology is on understanding the human–water system in a holistic sense, which differs from the problem solving focus of other water management fields, and as such models in socio-hydrology should be developed with a view to gaining new insight into these dynamics. There is an essential choice that socio-hydrological modellers face in deciding between representing individual system processes or viewing the system from a more abstracted level and modelling it as such; using these different approaches has implications for model development, applicability and the insight that they are capable of giving, and so the decision regarding how to model the system requires thorough consideration of, among other things, the nature of understanding that is sought.
Multi-objective evolutionary optimization of agent-based models: An application to emergency response planning

Agent-based models (ABMs) / multi-agent systems (MASs) are today one of the most widely used modeling– simulation–analysis approaches for understanding the dynamical behavior of complex systems. These models are often characterized by several parameters with nonlinear interactions which together determine the global system dynamics, usually measured by different conflicting criteria. The problem that emerges is that of tuning the controllable system parameters at the local level, in order to reach some desirable global behavior. In this research paper, we cast the tuning of an ABM for emergency response planning as a multi-objective optimization problem (MOOP). We then propose the use of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) for exploration and optimization of the resultant search space. We employ two well-known MOEAs, the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and the Pareto Archived Evolution Strategy (PAES), and test their performance for different pairs of objectives for plan evaluation. In the experimental results, the approximate Pareto front of the non-dominated solutions is effectively obtained. Further, a conflict between the proposed objectives is patent. Additional robustness analysis is performed to help policymakers select a plan according to higher-level information or criteria not present in the original problem description.
E-VOTING SYSTEM BASED ON ID-BASED RING SIGNATURE

The design of an electronic voting system has been a hot research topic in the area of information sec urity. Based on ID-based ring signature, blind signature, multi-verification technology and existed typical electronic voting models, an improved anonymous ele ctronic voting system is designed. We proved that t e new system has good properties of security: anonymi ty, eligibility, fairness, nonrepeatability, verifi ability, etc., so it can avoid all the illegal behaviors. We also compare its performance with some typical sys tem . The new system is proved to be a practical and reli abl electronic voting system, which can be used in mobile ad hoc network.
ConToVi: Multi‐Party Conversation Exploration using Topic‐Space Views

We introduce a novel visual analytics approach to analyze speaker behavior patterns in multi‐party conversations. We propose Topic‐Space Views to track the movement of speakers across the thematic landscape of a conversation. Our tool is designed to assist political science scholars in exploring the dynamics of a conversation over time to generate and prove hypotheses about speaker interactions and behavior patterns. Moreover, we introduce a glyph‐based representation for each speaker turn based on linguistic and statistical cues to abstract relevant text features. We present animated views for exploring the general behavior and interactions of speakers over time and interactive steady visualizations for the detailed analysis of a selection of speakers. Using a visual sedimentation metaphor we enable the analysts to track subtle changes in the flow of a conversation over time while keeping an overview of all past speaker turns. We evaluate our approach on real‐world datasets and the results have been insightful to our domain experts.
Mutual information of broadband channels observed over finite spatial regions

The characterization of the mutual information of broadband channels observed over finite spatial regions is of great engineering interest. This work determines the amount of information that can be captured by a finite spherical region for a given bandwidth by incorporating the concepts of MIMO communications into the modal decomposition of signals. In particular, we decompose the signals observed over the region into a finite number of independent and orthogonal spatial modes. Furthermore, the effective spatial modes represent the maximum number of independent parallel channels. Our analysis shows that (i) finite number of independent channels are available over the finite spherical region for broadband signal transmissions, and (ii) the total amount of information captured by the region is the summation of the mutual information achievable by all of these channels. In addition, we illustrate the dependency of the channel gain on the operating frequency and the size of the region.
A study on spatially induced "virtual force" with an information theoretic investigation of human performance

Present virtual reality (VR) systems present powerful graphical information with human interaction capability but may be missing corresponding motion or force sensing inputs to the human operator. The concept of "virtual force" is introduced herein as a way to provide some of this missing sensing information. The "virtual force" environment is created in this paper using a displacement stick controller (joystick) with the reflective force on the controller being coordinated, in a spatial sense, with a visual scene displayed on a monitor. Force type fields are built about visual objects to provide proprioceptive feedback to the operator to improve his telepresence about the virtual scene. Since this study involves both information and control theory, certain equivalences are derived in the appendixes which extend to different plant dynamics not excluding small time delays which may appear anywhere in system. Data from a study of disabled patients and normals are presented to illustrate the efficacy of "virtual force" in terms of a performance measure related to transinformation (capacity or bits/second). >
EVALUATING BEHAVIOR PRIMING RESEARCH: THREE OBSERVATIONS AND A RECOMMENDATION

We discuss three observations about the state of the field of behavior priming. The first is that there are many more empirical demonstrations of behavior priming than may be apparant at first sight. The second is that some people doubt the validity of behavior priming effects because they are “counterintuitive,” and we argue that this reasoning is subjective, often circular, and sometimes based on an underappreciation of relevant theories. The third is that we concede that—just as in many other areas—publication bias and the use of researchers' degrees of freedom have presumably led to a somewhat distorted literature because they caused what we call “information leakage. ” Because of some of the habits in response to publication bias, our field knows much less about moderators and boundary conditions than we could have known. We conclude that although replication efforts can be very useful, the only true solution to further improve our field is to stop practices, such as the liberal use of researchers' de.
Dialogue Modelling and Generation

Traditionally, the tasks of understanding input and of generating output are markedly distinguished in natural language processing (nlp). This distinction methodologically becomes very clear in dialogue processing. Computational linguists who had to deal with understanding of humanly produced discourse quite naturally were urged to find general models of their subject matter. In a way, for the task of understanding, finding models of discourse is an extension of building grammars for sentence parsing. Needless to say, there are differences between the syntax at sentential level and the structurs found at discourse level, but the task of finding the right structural descriptions is ubiquitous. One early theory of discourse structure and interpretation that explicitly was based on observation of human behaviour was formulated in (Polanyi, 1986). This paper further developed earlier work (Polanyi & Scha, 1983a, 1983b) and remains influential. The most famous discovery with regard to human dialog that is reflected in this theory pertains to possible continuations in discourse. It has been observed that new contributions to discourse can only relate to certain earlier contributions. These are said to reside on the right frontier of the discourse parse tree. More formally, the node representing the last utterance and every node dominating this one are said to be on the right frontier. This property of human discourse was implemented in Polanyi’s LDM and is part and parcel of every theory of discourse structure since. The situation regarding the need to mirror naturally occuring phenomena is different for generation. Unless the additional requirement of generating humanlike (also called natural) responses is adopted, generation need not be based on models of human behavior. The pressure to adhere to human behaviour as the guideline is lower for generation than for understanding. This has led to the situation that only recently researchers strive to increase the naturalness of machine output by looking at models of human behaviour. Especially the quest for embodied conversational agents (ecas) sparked this development. This is witnessed in (Cassell, 2000, 70), where the author states that
A Living Lab Infrastructure for Investigating Activity Monitoring Needs in Service Robot Applications

This paper presents a framework that has been developed for automatic activity recognition and domestic behavior monitoring, towards supporting elderly MCI patients in their daily domestic life. Our framework's infrastructure consists of a network of smart-home sensors and RGB-D cameras that can be adapted and be unobtrusively installed in a variety of indoor living areas, collecting data relative to the human's movement and the state of the home environment. User activities and behavior are then assessed through machine learning algorithms applied on these data. The developed framework has been applied in real house settings and extensive analysis has been performed, so as to investigate how human activity and behavior monitoring needs, in the scope of ICT solutions for supporting active and healthy ageing of MCI patients, can be covered in the scope of corresponding service robot applications.
Reinvestigation of a New Type of Aerobic Benzoate Metabolism in the Proteobacterium Azoarcus evansii

ABSTRACT The aerobic metabolism of benzoate in the proteobacteriumAzoarcus evansii was reinvestigated. The known pathways leading to catechol or protocatechuate do not operate in this bacterium. The presumed degradation via 3-hydroxybenzoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and gentisate could not be confirmed. The first committed step is the activation of benzoate to benzoyl-CoA by a specifically induced benzoate-CoA ligase (AMP forming). This enzyme was purified and shown to differ from an isoenzyme catalyzing the same reaction under anaerobic conditions. The second step postulated involves the hydroxylation of benzoyl-CoA to a so far unknown product by a novel benzoyl-CoA oxygenase, presumably a multicomponent enzyme system. An iron-sulfur flavoprotein, which may be a component of this system, was purified and characterized. The homodimeric enzyme had a native molecular mass of 98 kDa as determined by gel filtration and contained 0.72 mol flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), 10.4 to 18.4 mol of Fe, and 13.3 to 17.9 mol of acid-labile sulfur per mol of native protein, depending on the method of protein determination. This benzoate-induced enzyme catalyzed a benzoyl-CoA-, FAD-, and O2-dependent NADPH oxidation surprisingly without hydroxylation of the aromatic ring; however, H2O2 was formed. The gene (boxA, for benzoate oxidation) coding for this protein was cloned and sequenced. It coded for a protein of 46 kDa with two amino acid consensus sequences for two [4Fe-4S] centers at the N terminus. The deduced amino acid sequence showed homology with subunits of ferredoxin-NADP reductase, nitric oxide synthase, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, and phenol hydroxylase. Upstream of the boxA gene, another gene, boxB, encoding a protein of 55 kDa was found. The boxB gene exhibited homology to open reading frames in various other bacteria which code for components of a putative aerobic phenylacetyl-CoA oxidizing system. The boxB gene product was one of at least five proteins induced when A. evansii was grown on benzoate.
Analytical Modelling of Grounding Electrodes Transient Behavior

This paper presents the results of analytical and numerical investigations to evaluate the impulse performance of grounding electrodes. Practical grounding electrodes used-for the lightning protection of power and industrigl systems are analyzed through, a comprehensive computer program developed for this purpose. The validity of the proposed methodology has been verified with various data available in the literature. Reaiistic models of grounding electrodes involve non-linear admittance elements which here are replaced with a pie% ewise-linear approach as a result of an artificial electrode segmentation.
On the LLR criterion based shortening design for LDPC codes

In shortening based coding design, a certain amount of known information bits (for instance, all 0 bits) will be inserted into each information packet for encoding and be removed before transmission. Since they are known, the decoder can assume a complete codeword in decoding, even those known bits are not delivered at all. Basically, shortening provides a framework to generate a set of more powerful codewords with shorter size and lower rate from one mother LDPC code. In this paper, a novel log-likelihood ratio (LLR) criterion is proposed to identify those shortening information indices for LDPC codes. Firstly, the LLR criterion is introduced to show how to determine the LLR reliability metric for each individual information bit via a simple noise-free decoding step. Then it is proposed to determine the shortened information indices based on the LLR ordering. The relationship between the proposed shortening scheme and the known approaches are highlighted as well. Finally, the irregular QC-LDPC codes in IEEE 802.11ac standard is utilized as an example to verify the proposed LLR criterion based shortening design. And our analysis unveils that the proposed shortening scheme provides an efficient shortening scheme for LDPC codes with lower computational complexity but better reliability performance.
Model-based approach to the localization of infarction

A model-based approach to noninvasively determine the location and size of the infarction scar is proposed, that in addition helps to estimate the risk of arrhythmias. The approach is based on the optimization of an electrophysiological heart model with an introduced infarction scar to fit the multichannel ECG measured on the surface of the patient's thorax. This model delivers the distributions of transmembrane voltages (TMV) within the ventricles during a single heart cycle. The forward problem of electrocardiography is solved in order to obtain the simulated ECG of the patient. This ECG is compared with the measured one, the difference is used as the criterion for optimization of model parameters, which include the site and size of infarction scar.
Safety Analysis of Ada Programs Using Fault Trees

Software is increasingly being used in the control of potentially hazardous systems. Software fault-tree analysis is a technique for analyzing the logic of software for any potential contribution to system mishaps. The technique is described using Ada as an example real-time language. Special consideration is given to the problems of concurrency and real-time constraints which are common in these types of applications.
The intrinsic structure and stability of out-of-alternation base pairs in Z-DNA.

Alternating pyrimidine-purine sequences typically form Z-DNA, with the pyrimidines in the anti and purines in the syn conformations. The observation that dC and dT nucleotides can also adopt the syn conformation (i.e. the nucleotides are out-of-alternation) extends the range of sequences that can convert to this left-handed form of DNA. Here, we study the effects of placing two adjacent d(G*C) base pairs as opposed to a single d(G*C) base pair or two d(A*T) base pairs out-of-alternation by comparing the structure of d(m5CGGCm5CG)2with the previously published structures of d(m5CGGGm5CG)*d(m5CGCCm5CG) and d(m5CGATm5CG)2. A high buckle and loss of stacking interactions are observed as intrinsic properties of the out-of-alternation base pairs regardless of sequence and the context of the dinucleotide. From solution titrations, we find that the destabilizing effect of out-of-alternation d(G*C) base pairs are identical whether these base pairs are adjacent or isolated. We can therefore conclude that it is these intrinsic distortions in the structure of the base pairs and not neighboring effects that account for the inability of out-of-alternation base pairs to adopt the left-handed Z conformation.
In an ICT‐based teacher‐education context: why was our group ‘the magic group’?

This article deals with a group of distance learning student teachers, who, after the course was completed, called themselves ‘The Magic Group’. The concept ‘magic’ refers to the reflective and productive learning process the group members experienced, a process far beyond their individual borders. The collaborative process was conducted by means of portfolio, peer learning through feedback and LMS (Learning Management System). The aim of the article is to focus on the most important assumptions for the group's successful learning process. Cet article porte l'attention sur un groupe d'étudiants en formation d'enseignants en ligne qui, après les études, s'est appelé ‘Le groupe magique’. Le concept ‘magique’ se réfère à l'aspect réflexif et productif du processus d'apprentissage tel qu'il a été ressenti par les participants, ce processus ayant dépassé de loin leurs capacités individuelles d'apprentissage. Le processus collaboratif a été mené à l'aide de portfolio, de tutorat entre étudiants et d'une plate‐forme LMS (Learning Management System). L'objectif de l'article est de mettre en évidence les principaux facteurs qui auraient contribué à la réussite du processus d'apprentissage. Éste artículo trata de un grupo de estudiantes que están estudiando métodos de enseñanza por la red y preparando para ser profesores. Después de había realizado sus estudios el grupo se llama ‘El grupo mágico’. La palabra ‘mágico’ hace referencia a la experiencia del grupo de un proceso de aprendizaje, productivo y reflexivo, un proceso que rebasó las posibilidades de cada estudiante individual. El proceso de colaboración se compuso de portafolios y de consejos y consultas de los compañeros estudiantes por medio de la red y de un programma de LMS (Learning Management System). Éste artículo tiene el propósito de enfocar a los aspectos más importantes para el aprendizaje muy bueno de ‘El grupo mágico’. Dieser Artikel handelt vom Fernstudium einer Referendarengruppe, die sich nach Abschluss des Kurses als ‘The Magic Group’ bezeichnete. Der Ausdruck ‘magic’ bezieht sich auf den reflektierenden und produktiven Lernvorgang, den die Gruppe erlebte, und der die Grenzen von dem, was sie als Einzelne erreicht hätten, weit übertraf. Arbeitsweisen bei dieser Zusammenarbeit waren der Einsatz von Portfolio, Lernen durch Feedback von Mitstudierenden, sowie LMS (Learning Management System). Die Absicht des vorliegenden Artikels ist, die wichtigsten Voraussetzungen für den erfolgreichen Arbeitsprozess der Gruppe zu beleuchten.
Real-time PCR study of Ang1, Ang2, Tie-2, VEGF, and KDR expression in human erectile tissue during aging.

INTRODUCTION Aging is a recognized risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED), contributing independently to vascular damage of penile tissue. Vascular maintenance depends on angiogenic balance in tissues. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a modulator of endothelial cells functions, after engagement to specific receptor kinase domain region (KDR). Other factors, such as angiopoietins, cross talk with VEGF, modulating its effects. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) compete for binding to Tie-2 and, while Ang1 promotes vascular stabilization, Ang2 acts as a partial agonist or antagonist of Ang1 signaling, depending on VEGF bioavailability. AIMS To quantify the expression of Ang1, Ang2, Tie-2, VEGF, and KDR by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in human corpus cavernosum (CC) from young and aged healthy individuals. METHODS Human CC fragments were obtained from organ donors without known risk factors to ED and divided in two groups: young (16-35 years) and aged (59-74 years). RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA. Real-time PCR reactions employed appropriate primers. KDR, Tie-2, Akt, and phospho-Akt protein levels were also assessed by Western blotting (WB). Computer-assisted evaluation of vascular areas was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Study of angiopoietins-Tie-2 and VEGF-KDR systems in human CC during aging by real-time PCR and WB. The ratios Ang1/Tie-2 and VEGF/KDR and Akt levels were also determined. RESULTS Real-time PCR results showed a sixfold significant reduction in the Ang1/Tie-2 ratio during aging. Ang2, VEGF, and KDR expression results were highly variable. Nevertheless, the ratio VEGF/KDR was significantly higher in the aged individuals. Akt and phospho-Akt levels were similar in both groups. Immunohistological evaluation revealed a significant decrease in vascular areas and endothelial surface in CC with aging, despite no differences found in vessel number. CONCLUSIONS The obtained results suggest an aging-associated downregulation of angiopoietins/Tie-2 system and an apparent compensatory upregulation of the VEGF/KDR system.