Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a Turbulent Outflow During Electron-Positron Magnetic Reconnection

The mass symmetry between the two species in electron-positron (pair) plasmas has interesting consequences for collisionless magnetic reconnection, because the Hall term, which plays a crucial role in supporting fast reconnection in electron-proton plasmas, vanishes. We perform kinetic simulations of pair reconnection in systems of various sizes, show that it remains fast, and identify the reason why this occurs. For sufficiently large systems a Weibel-like temperature anisotropy instability develops in the outflow from the X-point that causes the current layer to broaden and form a Petschek-like open outflow. We discuss the parameter regimes in which pair reconnection should be fast and the implications for astrophysical pair plasmas.
Condition monitoring of transformer using oil and winding temperature analysis

Transformer is a very important and critical component which acts as a link between the generation, distribution and consumer end of a power network. These devices are often subjected to electrical and mechanical exploitations throughout the operation, which many a time results in catastrophic failure and drastic reduction in life cycle. The problem is further elevated by the shift of paradigm in today's complex and deregulated market, which allows higher transformer overloads, handling of unprecedented power flow patterns and increased availability while reducing the service and maintenance cost at the same time. Online condition monitoring and analysis techniques can be very handy for evaluation of operational condition of transformer to prevent any abrupt inconsistencies, decrease the life cycle cost and increase the reliability and availability. The thermal behavior of transformer is a crucial parameter indicating its health. This paper proposes a simple method of monitoring the health of transformer based on statistical analysis of oil and winding temperature values. The results obtained indicate a strong correlation of temperature and health of transformer.
Small domain, large consequences: the axon initial segment as a key player in neuronal excitability

Abstract The axon initial segment (AIS) is a crucial axonal domain for neuronal function – it allows neurons to generate action potentials, maintain their polarity or modulate their own excitability, thereby adapting to sudden and more long-term changes in network state. Although the AIS has been a well-described structure in neurons with work dating back to the 1960s, its fundamental role in neuronal function has only really been appreciated in the last decade. It is therefore no surprise that the AIS now also emerges as a hub for the onset of various pathophysiological conditions. In this review, we will focus on AIS development, function, and plasticity in the context of neuronal network activity and will highlight recent results that indicate a role for the AIS in the regulation and fine-tuning of input-output relations in single neurons.
ViSSh: A Data Visualisation Spreadsheet

We describe a data visualisation system which uses spreadsheets as its user interface metaphor. Similar systems implemented in the past were hampered by the contradiction between an imperative formula language and the declarative spreadsheet framework. We have analysed spreadsheets from a data visualisation point of view, and built a system that is an improvement over past efforts. Our prototype combines the following three techniques: we store lists of values in each spreadsheet cell; we use a functional programming language as the formula language and we make use of lazy evaluation. The novel combination of these techniques makes our system consistently declarative in nature, and gives it several advantages such as small, uncluttered visual programs, the ability to deal with potentially infinite datasets and the use of advanced functional language features
Benevolent discrimination: Explaining how human resources professionals can be blind to the harm of diversity initiatives

This article contributes to critical diversity management studies by exploring how human resources professionals do not see that the diversity measures they initiate can contribute to the reproduction of inequalities. We argue that framing such practices as benevolent obscures the fact that they are discriminatory acts. Drawing on the concept of benevolent discrimination, we conceptualise it along three dimensions: (1) a well-intended effort to address discrimination within (2) a social relationship that constructs the others as inferior and in need of help, which is granted with (3) the expectation that they will accommodate into the existing hierarchical order. Benevolent discrimination is a subtle and structural form of discrimination that is difficult to see for those performing it, because it frames their action as positive, in solidarity with the (inferior) other who is helped, and within a hierarchical order that is taken for granted. We develop the concept of benevolent discrimination building on an in-depth qualitative case study of a Swedish organisation that is believed to be exemplary in its engagement in diversity management initiatives. The organisation is however swayed by an inequality regime based on the intersection of class and ethnicity. We argue that it is precisely because human resources professionals frame their actions as acts of benevolence that they cannot see how they take part in organisational discrimination.
A unified approach to algebraic set theory

Introduction . This short paper provides a summary of the tutorial on categorical logic given by the second named author at the Logic Colloquium in Nijmegen. Before we go into the subject matter, we would like to express our thanks to the organisers for an excellent conference, and for offering us the opportunity to present this material. Categorical logic studies the relation between category theory and logical languages, and provides a very efficient framework in which to treat the syntax and the model theory on an equal footing. For a given theory T formulated in a suitable language, both the theory itself and its models can be viewed as categories with structure, and the fact that the models are models of the theory corresponds to the existence of canonical functors between these categories. This applies to ordinary models of first order theories, but also to more complicated topological models, forcing models, realisability and dialectica interpretations of intuitionistic arithmetic, domain-theoretic models of the λ-calculus, and so on. One of the best worked out examples is that where T extends the theory HHA of higher order Heyting arithmetic [24], which is closely related to the Lawvere-Tierney theory of elementary toposes. Indeed, every elementary topos (always taken with a natural numbers object here) provides a categorical model for HHA, and the theory HHA itself also corresponds to a particular topos, the “free” one, in which the true sentences are the provable ones. The logic of many particular toposes shares features of independence results in set theory.
Efficient Service Management for Multimedia Sessions in Hybrid Clouds

Multimedia services are advanced applications with large data sets, high computational resources prerequisites and distributed execution flows. The fairly new domain of cloud computing proposes a model of virtual resources management that fulfills the requirements of an efficient development and deployment environment for this type of services. Throughout this paper we present the design of a multimedia, service oriented, management system for hybrid clouds. We propose a modular and flexible architecture to handle service composition, automated service deployment with execution flow management and scalable storage capabilities. Furthermore we present the benefits of using this service management system.
Cartoon Style Rendering

The objective of Cartoon Style Rendering is to produce a cartoon looking rendering out of a 3D scene. Instead of rendering photorealistic images the focus lies on artistic and stylistic characteristics. In this paper we give an overview of the common methods to generate cartoon looking scenes. We describe the basic techniques for the silhouette edge detection and the shading of the interior. Then we show how to enhance these techniques to mimic various cartoon styles and methods for special effects. We present methods for silhouette edge detection that operate in image-space as well as in object-space. For the interior shading we describe cel-shading, selfshadowing, diffuse-lighting and specular highlights. Then several approaches for enhanced cartoon style rendering follow, namely Chinese Painting, Pencil Drawings, and different styles of comic artists. Afterwards we show some possibilities for special effects in cartoon style renderings, including simulation of liquids and smoke as well as methods for stylistic shadows. CR Categories: I.3. 7 [Computer Graphics]: Three dimensional graphics and realism—;
Multistream Input: An Experimental Study of Document Scrolling Methods

Navigating through on-line documents has become an increasingly common task in human-computer interaction. This paper investigates alternative methods to improve user performance for browsing World Wide Web and other documents. In a task that involved both scrolling and pointing, we compared three input methods against the status quo. The results showed that a mouse with a finger wheel did not improve user's performance; two other methods, namely a mouse with an isometric rate-control joystick operated by the same hand and a two-handed system that put a mouse in the dominant hand and a joystick in the other, both significantly improved users' performance. A human factors analysis of each of the three input methods is presented.
Switching Toward Cloud ERP: A Research Model to Explain Intentions

This paper aims to develop a research model to explain managers' intentions to switch toward cloud based ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning). Indeed, as cloud computing is considered as a true revolution in Information Technologies field, ERP market is shaping toward more cloud based solutions. However, since cloud computing is presented as a risky alternative, cloud ERP adoption may faces reticence from managers. On the other hand, thanks to the benefits of such system associated to the known difficulties of On-Premises ERP, some managers would rather be motivated to switch to the cloud solution. Thus, from the proposed research model we attempt to present factors that influence managers' intentions to switch toward cloud ERP. By considering IT switching as a particular form of IT adoption, we based our literature review on Theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify the determinants of switching. This review also allowed us to integrate the expected switching benefits and risks as antecedents and the personal innovativeness as a moderating factor. To contextualize our research model, we performed semi-structured interviews in four Saudi Small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The use of Nvivo 10 to codify and analyze the interviews content combined to a deep analysis of previous researches helped us to improve the research model by adding two additional factors: â€œtop management supportâ€ considered as the main determinant of intentions and â€œsatisfaction with actual systemâ€ as an important antecedent linked closely to switching.
Evolutionary algorithms for real world applications [Application Notes]

In this section, we will report on three applications of evolutionary algorithms (EA) in real world parameter optimization. These applications show how the principles, such as robustness and representation independence, make it possible to extend the scope of optimization algorithms available so far and find answers to problems where classical solution methods fail.Evolutionary algorithms are today a state-of-the-art methodology in solving hard optimization problems, and are regularly being used in industries such as automotive and aerospace. In fact, these algorithms have revolutionized the way hard problems are being solved today. The pioneers of evolutionary computation, including Larry Fogel as one the key founders of the field, have been laying the foundations with their creativity and visionary approach toward science.
Maternal depressive symptoms, father's involvement, and the trajectories of child problem behaviors in a US national sample.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of maternal depressive symptoms on child problem behavior trajectories and how the father's positive involvement may modify this association. DESIGN Secondary data analysis using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. SETTING A nationally representative household sample of men and women from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. PARTICIPANTS The study sample includes 6552 mother-child dyads interviewed biennially between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2002; children were 0 to 10 years old at baseline. Intervention Past-week maternal depressive symptoms in 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Maternal self-reports of child internalizing and externalizing behaviors were assessed repeatedly using a modified Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS Linear growth curve models indicate that the adverse effects of maternal depressive symptoms on child problem behavior trajectories become negligible after controlling for the father's involvement and other covariates, including the child's age, sex, and race/ethnicity; the mother's educational level; maternal age at child birth; number of children; poverty status; urban residence; and father's residential status. Positive involvement by the father was inversely associated with child problem behavior trajectories. The effects of maternal depressive symptoms on child problem behaviors varied by the level of the father's positive involvement. CONCLUSION When the father actively compensates for limitations in the depressed mother's functioning, the child's risk of problem behaviors may be reduced.
Local Controllability of Single-Input Nonlinear Systems Based on Deterministic Wiener Processes

This technical note proposes a new sufficient condition for local controllability of nonlinear control systems ensured by single inputs. The objective is achieved by allowing control inputs to have the limitation of the derivation of unbounded-variation functions as with white noises, provided that we just consider deterministic signals. The treatment of the signals is mathematically recognized via rough path analysis, and then the dynamics of the target systems are represented by rough differential equations as the extension of ordinary differential equations. Our sufficient condition is clarified by deterministic Wiener processes that produce an effect on the dynamics of the systems similar to Wiener processes despite the nonprobabilistic property. The novelty of our condition is confirmed by a single-input two-link underactuated robot arm moving on the horizontal plane.
Brief report: diurnal salivary cortisol in youth--clarifying the nature of posttraumatic stress dysregulation.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to clarify the nature of diurnal salivary cortisol dysregulation in youth who experience posttraumatic stress (PTS). METHOD Diurnal trends in salivary cortisol secretion were examined in a sample of 41 youth aged 10-16 years (26 youth exposed to interpersonal traumas and 15 control participants with no PTS) using hierarchical linear modeling. RESULTS Cortisol levels were characterized by curvilinear trends in secretion (i.e., sharp declines from prebreakfast to prelunch followed by smaller decreases from prelunch to predinner with a leveling-off or slight increase from predinner to prebed assessment). Results further indicated that youth with PTS had sharper morning declines and relatively higher evening levels (i.e., a greater curve in the daily trend) than nontraumatized youth. CONCLUSIONS Findings help to elucidate the physiological basis for altered arousal patterns in youth with PTS. Traumatized youth showed wider daily fluctuations in cortisol levels when these trends were modeled in a curvilinear fashion. The findings help to describe the nature of stress dysregulation in trauma-exposed youth and may have implications for clarifying some of the apparent inconsistencies in the literature.
The effects of direction and orientation of located objects on spatial language comprehension

abstract Spatial descriptions such as “The spider is behind the bee” inform the listener about the location of the spider (the located object) in relation to an object whose location is known (i.e., the bee, also called the reference object). If the geometric properties of the reference object have been shown to affect how people use and understand spatial language (Carlson & Van Deman, 2008; Carlson-Radvansky & Irwin, 1994), the geometric features carried by the located object have been deemed irrelevant for spatial language (Landau, 1996; Talmy, 1983). This view on the (ir)relevance of the located object has been recently questioned by works showing that presenting the located object in misalignment with the reference object has consequences for spatial language understanding (Burigo, Coventry, Cangelosi, & Lynott, 2016; Burigo & Sacchi, 2013). In the reported study we aimed to investigate which geometric properties of the located object affect the apprehension of a spatial description, and to disentangle whether the information concerning its orientation (axis), direction (front/rear), or a combination of the two gives rise to conflict. The outcomes of three placing tasks suggest that only the information concerning the direction of the located object is critical for spatial language use.
Compressed sensing image reconstruction algorithm based on regional segmentation

The existing compressed sensing image reconstruction algorithms cannot combine reconstruction effect with reconstruction speed at the same time. A new image reconstruction algorithm is proposed for compressed sensing. The new algorithm retains the advantages of block-sampling compressed sensing by the image blocks segmentation. The subblocks of the image edges are extracted and then the edges structure information are added on the basis of matching pursuit algorithm (MP). The accuracy and speed of the MP algorithm has been improved and the blocking effect generated by block-sampling reconstruction is overcomed. Experimental results show that the new algorithm is better than other similar algorithms on the computation time and the accuracy of the reconstruction, and achieves the fast and accurate image reconstruction.
Cerebellar Deficits and Hyperactivity in Mice Lacking Smad4*

Smad4 is a central mediator of TGF-β signals, which are known to play essential roles in many biological processes. Using a Cre-loxP approach to overcome early embryonic lethality, we have studied functions of TGF-β/Smad4 signals in the central nervous system (CNS). No obvious deficits were detected in mice carrying the targeted disruption of Smad4 in the CNS. The overall morphology of the hippocampus appeared normal. There was no change in the proliferation of neuronal precursor cells, nor in several forms of synaptic plasticity. In contrast, deletion of Smad4 resulted in a marked decrease in the number of cerebellar Purkinje cells and parvalbumin-positive interneurons. Accompanied by the abnormality in the cerebellum, mutant mice also exhibited significantly increased vertical activity. Thus, our study reveals an unexpected role for Smad4 in cerebellar development and in the control of motor function.
Structural and functional analysis of the repressor complex in the Notch signaling pathway of Drosophila melanogaster

Despite high conservation of the Notch pathway, its repression appears diverse between organisms. In Drosophila, a high-affinity complex forms between the CSL orthologue Su(H) and Hairless, which is analyzed in great detail in vitro and in vivo. Drosophila Hairless is shown to bind CBF1 and inhibit Notch transcriptional output in mammalian cells.
Exclusion and inclusion intervals for the real eigenvalues of positive matrices

Given a real matrix, we analyze an open interval, called row exclusion interval, such that the real eigenvalues do not belong to it. We characterize when the row exclusion interval is nonempty. In addition to the exclusion interval, inclusion intervals for the real eigenvalues, alternative to those provided by the Gerschgorin disks, are also considered for matrices whose offdiagonal entries present a restricted dispersion. The results are applied to obtain a sharp upper bound for the real eigenvalues different from 1 of a positive stochastic matrix and a sufficient condition for the stability of a negative matrix, among other applications.
A Support Function Based Algorithm for Optimization with Eigenvalue Constraints

Optimization of convex functions subject to eigenvalue constraints is intriguing because of peculiar analytical properties of eigenvalue functions and is of practical interest because of a wide range of applications in fields such as structural design and control theory. Here we focus on the optimization of a linear objective subject to a constraint on the smallest eigenvalue of an analytic and Hermitian matrix-valued function. We propose a numerical approach based on quadratic support functions that overestimate the smallest eigenvalue function globally. The quadratic support functions are derived by employing variational properties of the smallest eigenvalue function over a set of Hermitian matrices. We establish the local convergence of the algorithm under mild assumptions and deduce a precise rate of convergence result by viewing the algorithm as a fixed point iteration. The convergence analysis reveals that the algorithm is immune to the nonsmooth nature of the smallest eigenvalue. We illustrate the .
The hidden robot concept-high level abstraction teleoperation

This paper discusses the development of new teleoperator systems. While many innovations during the last decade made teleoperation technology progress, some severe well known lacks that we enumerate still persist. With respect to some attractive solutions proposed for coping with these problems we designed a bilateral control scheme based on what we called the hidden robot concept. The teleoperator achieves tasks manually in a natural way within a virtual environment (VE). Thanks to suitable bilateral transformations, the virtual tasks are being reproduced by any slave robot within the remote site. Mainly task based, our approach is not considered like a high level task knowledge based control. Rather, we consider it like a more refined shared autonomy control with a high level abstraction interface. Three main components are developed: (i) supervision loop, (ii) bilateral transformation layer, (iii) execution loop. The approach has been validated experimentally and preliminary results as well as further work are discussed.
Representing Boolean Functions with Propositional Directed Acyclic Graphs

Propositional directed acyclic graphs (PDAG) continue the line of research on knowledge compilation in the context of Negational Normal Forms (NNF) and Binary Decision Diagrams (BDD). This paper summarizes previous results and open problems concerning knowledge representation based on PDAG and its sub-languages. In addition, it gives a short introduction to some application areas.