Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A canonical data model for simulator interoperation in a collaborative system for disaster response simulation

The Disaster Response Network Enabled Platform (DRNEP) is a system that integrates a set of independently developed infrastructure and disaster simulators. This paper describes some of the architectural choices that we made for DRNEP. The overall system uses a master-slave pattern, with one master simulator orchestrating all of the others, based on a central system clock. As the various simulators are developed by different organizations, they each have their own data models, with data elements not matching one for one, or with different representations, or not useful for collaboration. To integrate them in DRNEP, and to avoid developing n2 distinct translators, we devised a single common data model, akin to the mediator pattern, and we therefore need only one data translator per simulator. Developing this common data model poses many challenges: on one hand it must contain the right abstractions to communicate with a variety of existing and future simulators, in particular the topology of their underlying models, yet reduce the overall complexity of the system, and also minimize the likelihood of too many drastic changes when the system will evolve. We used principles from system theory to develop this common data model, and will be used with 2 simulators connected to UBC's Infrastructure Interdependency Simulator (I2Sim) serving as master.
Requirement elicitation: identifying the communication challenges between developer and customer

Eliciting requirements for a system is an important activity in requirement engineering. This process occur at the early stages in system development which involves communication between customers and developers. Researchers have identified that poor communication is one of the most common problem in identifying and defining customer’s requirements. This problem will contribute to bad result e.g. poor system, failure of the system and budget overruns. The communication is challenging and difficult as this process also includes cognitive aspect, personalities, techniques and tools. A study was carried out to explore the communication challenges that are faced by developers and customers during software requirement elicitation in Malaysia. The results of this study had shown that there are some important communication challenges during software requirements elicitation process in Malaysia. In addition, most of the practitioners were pursuing the practices that have been traditionally used by the organizations. Consequently, the results of this study have given us a good incentive to expand our research in the area of software requirements elicitation.
Adoption and feasibility of a communication app to enhance social connectedness amongst frail institutionalized oldest old: an embedded case study

ABSTRACT The risks of social isolation and loneliness are becoming emergent issues for older adults (aged 65+) in industrialized countries, particularly for oldest old people (80+) who are frail and institutionalized. Socially isolated and lonely older people are more likely to experience depression, social disengagement, cognitive and physical decline, morbidity, and early mortality. In response to these significant negative health and socioeconomic costs, research suggests using new technologies to enhance opportunities for social connectedness as a strategy to help alleviate both social isolation and loneliness. In this context, following a participatory design method, we developed an accessible communication app with and for frail institutionalized older adults. To test the adoption of this innovative technology and its feasibility to address social isolation and loneliness, we conducted a two-month deployment of the app in a long-term care home with five oldest old and their relatives. Due to access, recruitment, and ethical challenges, the oldest old are a specially understudied group. Using an embedded case study (based on interviews, psychometric scales, field observations, and usability and accessibility testing) and a recursive approach to technology studies, our findings show that technology adoption is based on a complex set of interrelated factors: social, attitudinal, physical, digital literacy, and usability. We also discuss the feasibility of the app to enhance perceived social connectedness amongst our target population, provided that at least one strong tie is involved and communication norms and expectations across generations are considered.
A MODEL FOR GENOMIC IMPRINTING IN THE SOCIAL BRAIN: JUVENILES

What are imprinted genes doing in the adult brain? Genomic imprinting is when a gene’s expression depends upon parent of origin. According to the prevailing view, the “kinship theory” of genomic imprinting, this effect is driven by evolutionary conflicts between genes inherited via sperm versus egg. This theory emphasizes conflicts over the allocation of maternal resources, and focuses upon genes that are expressed in the placenta and infant brain. However, there is growing evidence that imprinted genes are also expressed in the juvenile and adult brain, after cessation of parental care. These genes have recently been suggested to underpin neurological disorders of the social brain such as psychosis and autism. Here we advance the kinship theory by developing an evolutionary model of genomic imprinting for social behavior beyond the nuclear family. We consider the role of demography and mating system, emphasizing the importance of sex differences in dispersal and variance in reproductive success. We predict that, in hominids and birds, altruism will be promoted by paternally inherited genes and egoism will be promoted by maternally inherited genes. In nonhominid mammals we predict more diversity, with some mammals showing the same pattern and other showing the reverse. We discuss the implications for the evolution of psychotic and autistic spectrum disorders in human populations with different social structures.
Home Production and Nonergodic Endogenous Growth * July 29 , 1999

We introduce a model of endogenous growth which is driven by human capital augmentation as a by-product of consumption activities on the part of households. The growth rate is determined via a preference parameter unrelated to the rate of time preference. Positive feedback in the evolution of preferences, a well-attested phenomenon, can lead to nonergodicity and path dependence: the asymptotic growth rate to which the economy converges depends upon initial conditions and the sample path realization of shocks. It can also generate persistence in growth rates. ___________________________ *Thanks are due to Richard Cothren, Chad Jones, and the VPI&SU macroeconomics lunch group. All remaining errors are ours. Nonergodic Endogenous Growth 2
Flash memory management based on predicted data expiry-time in embedded real-time systems

Flash memory based embedded systems are becoming increasingly prevalent. Garbage collection mechanism is a critical issue in these systems, especially in embedded real-time systems. Therefore, in this article, we discuss the influence of the capacity utilization (percentage of fullness) of the flash memory on allocating and recycling, and propose a new flash memory management technique, namely PETFM. The proposed technique improves the performance of garbage collection mechanism by allocating free pages from different allocated-blocks for data to be updated, based on their predicted expiry-time. The analytical and experimental results show that garbage collection of PETFM is more efficient and effective under high capacity utilization in embedded real-time systems.
Autoimmunity in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Characterization of antibodies against the beta 1-adrenoceptor with positive chronotropic effect.

BACKGROUND Autoantibodies against the beta 1-adrenoceptor have been detected in the sera of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The mechanisms by which these autoantibodies can alter normal receptor function are investigated, and the results are interpreted in the light of the beneficial effects of beta 1-blockade in some of these patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Autoantibodies against the beta 1-adrenoceptor, affinity purified from sera of patients with idiopathic DCM, were analyzed in a functional test system of spontaneously beating neonatal rat heart myocytes. Antibodies from rabbits immunized with peptides derived from the amino acid sequence of this receptor were also analyzed. Autoantibodies, against the second extracellular loop increased the beating frequency of isolated myocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, to approximately 80% of maximal isoproterenol stimulation. Rabbit anti-peptide antibodies against the second extracellular loop increased the beating frequency correspondingly. Autoantibodies and rabbit anti-peptide antibodies against the second extracellular loop were able to immunoprecipitate the unliganded receptor but not the antagonist-occupied receptor. In contrast, rabbit antibodies against the extracellular N-terminal sequence 34-57 of the beta 1-adrenoceptor were able to immunoprecipitate both the unliganded and the antagonist-occupied receptor although with no effect on the beating frequency of myocytes. The positive chronotropic effect of the antibodies was completely neutralized both by the addition of increasing concentrations of the beta 1-selective antagonist bisoprolol and by preincubation with the peptide corresponding to the second extracellular loop. The antibody-induced increase in beating frequency remained unchanged for more than 6 hours. This should be compared with the isoproterenol-stimulated beating frequency, which undergoes desensitization within 60 minutes. Addition of isoproterenol to autoantibody-stimulated myocytes resulted in only a small increase in beating frequency and did not cause desensitization. Antibodies had only a marginal effect on cyclic AMP production of stimulated cardiomyocytes compared with the 10-fold increase obtained after stimulation with isoproterenol. CONCLUSIONS The second extracellular loop of the beta 1-adrenoceptor is a specific target for antibodies with stimulatory activity detected in patients with idiopathic DCM. The antibodies have a positive chronotropic effect on isolated rat heart myocytes. Autoantibody stimulation does not cause the normal agonist-induced desensitization phenomena of the effector system. These findings could contribute to our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the autoantibodies and of the beneficial effect of beta 1-blocking agents in the treatment of patients with idiopathic DCM.
What Number is “Fifty‐Fifty”?: Redistributing Excessive 50% Responses in Elicited Probabilities

Studies using open‐ended response modes to elicit probabilistic beliefs have sometimes found an elevated frequency (or blip) at 50 in their response distributions. Our previous research( 1–3) suggests that this is caused by intrusion of the phrase “fifty‐fifty,” which represents epistemic uncertainty, rather than a true numeric probability of 50%. Such inappropriate responses pose a problem for decision analysts and others relying on probabilistic judgments. Using an explicit numeric probability scale (ranging from 0–100%) reduces thinking about uncertain events in verbal terms like “fifty‐fifty,” and, with it, exaggerated use of the 50 response. ( 1,2) Here, we present two procedures for adjusting response distributions for data already collected with open‐ended response modes and hence vulnerable to an exaggerated presence of 50%. Each procedure infers the prevalence of 50s had a numeric probability scale been used, then redistributes the excess. The two procedures are validated on some of our own existing data and then applied to judgments elicited from experts in groundwater pollution and bioremediation.
Long Astral Microtubules and RACK-1 Stabilize Polarity Domains during Maintenance Phase in Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos

Cell polarity is a very well conserved process important for cell differentiation, cell migration, and embryonic development. After the establishment of distinct cortical domains, polarity cues have to be stabilized and maintained within a fluid and dynamic membrane to achieve proper cell asymmetry. Microtubules have long been thought to deliver the signals required to polarize a cell. While previous studies suggest that microtubules play a key role in the establishment of polarity, the requirement of microtubules during maintenance phase remains unclear. In this study, we show that depletion of Caenorhabditis elegans RACK-1, which leads to short astral microtubules during prometaphase, specifically affects maintenance of cortical PAR domains and Dynamin localization. We then investigated the consequence of knocking down other factors that also abolish astral microtubule elongation during polarity maintenance phase. We found a correlation between short astral microtubules and the instability of PAR-6 and PAR-2 domains during maintenance phase. Our data support a necessary role for astral microtubules in the maintenance phase of cell polarity.
Automated design for playability in computer game agents

This paper explores whether a novel approach to the creation of agent controllers has potential to overcome some of the drawbacks that have prevented novel controller architectures from being widely implemented. This is done by using an evolutionary algorithm to generate finite state machine controllers for agents in a simple role playing game. The concept of minimally playable games is introduced to serve as the basis of a method of evaluating the fitness of a game's agent controllers.
Company level Big Data Management

Carefully Processing enormous data in Company-level evokes new tools and methods in Enterprise Data Management. The volume of information and data increases in an exponential way, which makes strategic issues not only for individuals but also in Company-level. Typical approaches are well known for these kinds of problems. Date is stored in Databases, Data warehouses and Cloud applications. There are various well-known and appropriate solutions are ready-to-use for any of the above listed applications, but they are rarely complete at Corporation levels. Therefore, Enterprises require temporary solutions. The current article discusses the main issues together with the complete and temporary solutions for typical Data management. Effectiveness, efficiency and costs are demonstrated in different point of views, e.g. Project and Knowledge Management.
The DCS: a new approach to multisystem data-sharing

This paper describes a special purpose computer, the Data-sharing Control System (DCS), which was developed for multisystem data-sharing. This computer enables efficient block-level data sharing among several loosely coupled computer systems. Major architectural features incorporated into the design of the DCS are discussed in some detail, in the light of general requirements for such systems. The DCS-based loosely coupled multiprocessor architecture, together with the traditional tightly coupled multiprocessing, provides a new framework for the design of reliable large-scale database systems.
GLoP: Enabling Massively Parallel Incident Response Through GPU Log Processing

Large industrial systems that combine services and applications, have become targets for cyber criminals and are challenging from the security, monitoring and auditing perspectives. Security log analysis is a key step for uncovering anomalies, detecting intrusion, and enabling incident response. The constant increase of link speeds, threats and users, produce large volumes of log data and become increasingly difficult to analyse on a Central Processing Unit (CPU). This paper presents a massively parallel Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Log Processing (GLoP) library and can also be used for Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), using a prefix matching technique, harvesting the full power of off-the-shelf technologies. GLoP implements two different algorithm using different GPU memory and is compared against CPU counterpart implementations. The library can be used for processing nodes with single or multiple GPUs as well as GPU cloud farms. The results show throughput of 20 Gbps and demonstrate that modern GPUs can be utilised to increase the operational speed of large scale log processing scenarios, saving precious time before and after an intrusion has occurred.
Design Thinking and Organizational Culture: A Review and Framework for Future Research

Design thinking comprises an approach to problem solving that uses tools traditionally utilized by designers of commercial products, processes, and environments (e.g., designing a new car or the layout of a new airport). While design thinking was originally introduced as an approach that would work best when infused into the culture of an organization, most early studies of design thinking focused on identifying the specific tools and methods that might be used to solve management problems. Only recently have researchers examined how the implementation of design thinking might relate to organizational-level constructs, such as organizational culture. In this review, we examine empirical research (mostly from the past decade) that relates the practice of design thinking to the development of culture in organizations. Through this review, we identify how the use of specific design thinking tools supports the development of specific organizational cultures and vice versa. In addition, we identify how using design thinking tools produces emotional experiences and physical artifacts that help users to understand why and how specific cultures support the effective use of specific tools. Together, our review findings suggest that the experiential nature of design thinking tools and cultures (i.e., that they require people to actively engage in hands-on work) allows them to support one another. On the basis of this insight, we develop a general framework for organizing design thinking research and identify a number of avenues for future research that might advance our understanding of design thinking in organizational contexts.
Chapter 12 Ecological Factors Affecting Community Invasibility

What makes a community invasible? For over a century ecologists have sought to understand the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors that determine community composition. The fact that we are still exploring this topic today hints at both its importance and complexity. As the impacts from harmful non-native species accumulate, it has become increasingly urgent to find answers to the more applied aspects of this question: what makes a habitat vulnerable to invasion by additional species, and which species are likely to invade? Answers to these questions will not only aid in targeting conservation efforts but will also advance our understanding of marine community ecology. Although the relative importance of abiotic vs. biotic factors in making a habitat invasible varies, abiotic factors undoubtedly serve as the first “filter” to invasions, limiting establishment of non-native (=exotic) species to conditions approximating their native ranges. As obvious examples, tropical corals will not establish in boreal waters, and temperate rocky intertidal species will not colonize tropical shores. Similarly, species cannot invade a community if propagules do not arrive at the site. Other chapters in this volume cover the influence of abiotic factors and propagule supply (Chap. 7, Johnston et al.; Chap. 8, Miller and Ruiz; Chap. 19, Hewitt et al.), so we only briefly review these factors. In this chapter we focus on the question of predicting invasion success of non-native species that are (1) transported to the habitat in question (i.e., propagule supply is not extremely limiting) and (2) physiologically capable of surviving in the climatic regime. We begin with the observation that even in areas of suitable habitat within the current range of an introduced species, there is often dramatic variation in the density, presence, and overall success of the invader. We seek to explain this variation in terms of processes that control the availability of resources. These include not only abiotic and physical factors that determine base resource levels, but also interactions between species or between organisms and their environment that increase resource availability (through disturbance) or decrease resource availability (through competitive processes), or create new resources (through facilitation) (Fig. 12.1).
Detection of Correlated Alarms Based on Similarity Coefficients of Binary Data

This paper studies the statistical analysis for alarm signals in order to detect whether two alarm signals are correlated. First, a similarity measurement, namely, Sorgenfrei coefficient, is selected among 22 similarity coefficients for binary data in the literature. The selection is based on the desired properties associated with specialities of alarm signals. Second, the distribution of a so-called correlation delay is shown to be indispensable and effective for the detection of correlated alarms. Finally, a novel method for detection of correlated alarms is proposed based on Sorgenfrei coefficient and distribution of the correlation delay. Numerical and industrial examples are provided to illustrate and validate the obtained results.
Perturbation of the ground varieties of c=1 string theory

We discuss the effect of perturbations on the ground rings of c=1 string theory at the various compactification radii defining the AN points of the moduli space. We argue that perturbations by plus-type moduli define ground varieties which are equivalent to the unperturbed ones under redefinitions of the coordinates and hence cannot smoothen the singularity. Perturbations by the minus-type moduli, on the other hand, lead to semi-universal deformations of the singular varieties that can smoothen the singularity under certain conditions. To first order, the cosmological perturbation by itself can remove the singularity only at the self-dual (A1) point.
A storytelling robot for pediatric rehabilitation

We are developing a prototype storytelling robot for use with children in rehabilitation. Children can remotely control a large furry robot by using a variety of body sensors adapted to their disability or rehabilitation goal. In doing so, they can teach the robot to act out series of movements or "emotions" and then write stories - using a storytelling software - including those movements in the story. The story can then be "played" by the remote controlled robot, which acts out the story. We believe that this robot can motivate the children and help them reach their therapy goals through therapeutic play, either by exercising muscles or joints (e.g. for physically challenges children) or by reflecting on the stories (e.g. for children with developmental disabilities). We use an innovative design methodology involving children as design partners.