Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Citizenship Laws Dataset

The Citizenship Laws dataset contains information on citizenship laws in 162 countries of the world with reference to the years 1948, 1975, and 2001. The available information concerns the way in which countries regulate citizenship acquisition at birth, with a distinction among jus soli (i.e., by birthplace), jus sanguinis (i.e., by descent), and mixed regimes. We also collect information about naturalization requirements. Details are provided below in sub-sections 1.1 and 1.2.
A Preliminary Model of Emotional Prosody Using Multidimensional Scaling

Models of emotional prosody based on perception have typically required listeners to rate emotional expressions according to the psychological dimensions (arousal, valence, and power). We propose a perception-based model without assuming that the psychological dimensions are those used by listeners to differentiate emotional prosody. Instead, multidimensional scaling is used to identify three perceptual dimensions, which are then regressed onto a dynamic feature set that does not require a training set or normalization to a speaker’s “neutral” expression. The model predictions for Dimensions 1 and 3 closely matched the perceptual model; however, a moderately close match observed for Dimension 2.
k-out-of-n oblivious transfer based on homomorphic encryption and solvability of linear equations

Oblivious Transfer (OT) is an important cryptographic tool, which has found its usage in many crypto protocols, such as Secure Multiparty Computations, Certified E-mail and Simultaneous Contract Signing . In this paper, we propose three k-out-of-n OT (OT_k^n) protocols based on additive homomorphic encryption. Two of these protocols prohibit malicious behaviors from a receiver. We also achieve efficient communication complexity bounded by O(l* n) in bits, where l is the size of the encryption key. The computational complexity is comparable to the most efficient existing protocols. Due to the semantic security property, the sender cannot get receiver's selection. When the receiver tries to retrieve more than k values, the receiver is caught cheating with 1-(1/m) probability (Protocol II) or the receiver is unable to get any value at all (Protocol III). We introduce a novel technique based on the solvability of linear equations, which could find its way into other applications. We also provide an experimental analysis to compare the efficiency of the protocols.
The 3-53 keV Spectrum of the Quasar 1508+5714: X-Rays from z = 4.3

We present a high-quality X-ray spectrum in the 3-53 keV rest frame band of the radio-loud quasar 1508+5714, which is by far the brightest known X-ray source at z > 4. A simple power-law model with an absorption column density equal to the Galactic value in the direction of the source provides an excellent and fully adequate fit to the data; the measured power-law photon index Γ = 1.42+ 0.13−0.10. Upper limits to Fe Kα line-emission and Compton-reflection components are derived. We offer evidence for both X-ray and radio variability in this object and provide the first contemporaneous radio spectrum (α = -0.25). The data are all consistent with a picture in which the emission from this source is dominated by a relativistically beamed component in both the X-ray and radio bands.
On the Techniques We Create, the Tools We Build, and Their Misalignments: A Study of KLEE

Our community constantly pushes the state-of-the-art by introducing “new” techniques. These techniques often build on top of, and are compared against, existing systems that realize previously published techniques. The underlying assumption is that existing systems correctly represent the techniques they implement. This pa- per examines that assumption through a study of KLEE, a popular and well-cited tool in our community. We briefly describe six improvements we made to KLEE, none of which can be considered “new” techniques, that provide order-of-magnitude performance gains. Given these improvements, we then investigate how the results and conclusions of a sample of papers that cite KLEE are affected. Our findings indicate that the strong emphasis on introducing “new” techniques may lead to wasted effort, missed opportunities for progress, an accretion of artifact complexity, and questionable research conclusions (in our study, 27% of the papers that depend on KLEE can be questioned). We conclude by revisiting initiatives that may help to realign the incentives to better support the foundations on which we build.
Feedback from Horizontal Cells to Rod Photoreceptors in Vertebrate Retina

Retinal horizontal cells (HCs) provide negative feedback to cones, but, largely because annular illumination fails to evoke a depolarizing response in rods, it is widely believed that there is no feedback from HCs to rods. However, feedback from HCs to cones involves small changes in the calcium current (I Ca) that do not always generate detectable depolarizing responses. We therefore recorded I Ca directly from rods to test whether they were modulated by feedback from HCs. To circumvent problems presented by overlapping receptive fields of HCs and rods, we manipulated the membrane potential of voltage-clamped HCs while simultaneously recording from rods in a salamander retinal slice preparation. Like HC feedback in cones, hyperpolarizing HCs from −14 to −54, −84, and −104 mV increased the amplitude of I Ca recorded from synaptically connected rods and caused hyperpolarizing shifts in I Ca voltage dependence. These effects were blocked by supplementing the bicarbonate-buffered saline solution with HEPES. In rods lacking light-responsive outer segments, hyperpolarizing neighboring HCs with light caused a negative activation shift and increased the amplitude of I Ca. These changes in I Ca were blocked by HEPES and by inhibiting HC light responses with a glutamate antagonist, indicating that they were caused by HC feedback. These results show that rods, like cones, receive negative feedback from HCs that regulates the amplitude and voltage dependence of I Ca. HC-to-rod feedback counters light-evoked decreases in synaptic output and thus shapes the transmission of rod responses to downstream visual neurons.
The dogfish neuromuscular junction: dual innervation of vertebrate striated muscle fibres?

In the myotomal muscles of the dogfish, Scyliorhinu canicula , there are 2 major types of fibre. The red fibres at the periphery of the myotome receive a distributed en grappe pattern of innervation. There are subjunctional folds at these endings, and the nerve terminals contain vesicles around 50 nm in diameter. In contrast to this, the white twitch fibres of the myotome are innervated focally, by 2 nerve fibres passing to the same motor end-plate. These 2 fibres contain vesicles of different types. One type of nerve terminal contains vesicles around 50 nm in diameter; these terminals resemble those upon the red fibres. The other contains vesicles up to 100 nm in diameter, frequently possessing a dense core. It is suggested that the white twitch fibres of dogfish are innervated by 2 separate axons, possibly containing different transmitter substances.
Implementation of an Adaptive Questionnaire

An adaptive on-line questionnaire, named EDUFORM, is based on Bayesian statistical techniques that both optimize the number of propositions presented to each respondent and create an individual learner profile. Adaptive graphical user interface is generated partially (propositions of the questionnaire, collaborative actions and links to resources) and computational part totally with Bayesian computational techniques. The preliminary results show that after reducing dramatically the number of propositions (from 64% to 54%) we may still moderately control the error ratio (from 12% to 22 %). The profiling information of respondent is in most cases obtained after asking just one third of propositions.
Mechanistic Studies of the Solvolyses of Carbamoyl Chlorides and Related Reactions

Carbamoyl chlorides are important intermediates, both in the research laboratory and in industrial scale syntheses. The most studied and used are the disubstituted derivatives, incorporating either aryl or alkyl groups (Ar2NCOCl or R2NCOCl). Sometimes, the groups are tied back to give a ring and piperidino- and morpholino-derivatives are commonly encountered. Some studies have been made with two different groups attached. Solvolyses tend to occur at the carbonyl carbon, with replacement of the chloride ion. Studies of both rate and products are reviewed and the solvolysis reactions are usually SN1, although addition of an amine leads to a superimposable bimolecular component. Many of the studies under solvolytic conditions include the application of the extended Grunwald–Winstein equation. The monosubstituted derivatives (ArNHCOCl or RNHCOCl) are less studied. They are readily prepared by the addition of HCl to an isocyanate. In acetonitrile, they decompose to set up and reach equilibrium with the isocyanate (ArNCO or RNCO) and HCl. Considering that the structurally related formyl chloride (HOCOCl) is highly unstable (with formation of HCl + CO2), the unsubstituted carbamoyl chloride (H2NCOCl) is remarkably stable. Recommended synthetic procedures require it to survive reaction temperatures in the 300–400 °C range. There has been very little study of its reactions.
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO (UNAM) POSGRADO EN CIENCIA E INGENIERÍA DE LA COMPUTACIÓN FIFTH GENERAL EXAMINATION FOR Ph.D. STUDENT: SERGIO RAFAEL CORIA OLGUÍN EXAMINER: DR. JAMES ALLEN

2) There has been considerable work in using AI representations of actions in planning systems to operationalize Searle's insights. Give a brief overview of the plan-based approach to speech acts. Litman and Allen argue that multiple levels of plans must be used in order to adequately account for interactions in dialogue. What are their main arguments? Could prosodic information be used to improve plan-based intention recognition algorithms?
A matrix-based optimization algorithm for shape deformation using parametric curves / L. Hilario ... et al.

In this paper we propose a tensor based description of the Bézier Shape Deformation (BSD) algorithm, denoted T-BSD. The BSD algorithm is a well-known technique, based on the deformation of a Bézier curve through a field of vectors. A critical point in the use of real-time applications is the cost in computational time. Recently, the use of tensors in numerical methods has been increasing because they drastically reduce computational costs. Our formulation based in tensors T-BSD provides an efficient reformulation of the BSD algorithm. More precisely, the evolution of the execution time with respect to the number of curves of the BSD algorithm is an exponentially increasing curve. As the numerical experiments shown, the T-BSD algorithm transforms this evolution into a linear one. This fact allows to compute the deformation of a Bézier with a much lower computational cost. ∗
Fuel consumption minimisation of a microgrid

A cost optimisation scheme for a microgrid is presented. Prior to the optimisation of the microgrid itself, several power sharing schemes between two generators are compared. Then, the fuel minimisation of a small power system with a variety of power sources is discussed. The optimisation of a small power system has important differences with respect to a large system which falls into the traditional economic dispatch problem. Among the most important differences may be the presence of a local heat demand which adds another dimension to the problem. The small power system considered in this paper is a microgrid that consists of two reciprocating gas engines, a combined heat and power plant, a photovoltaic array and a wind generator. The optimisation is aimed at reducing the fuel consumption rate of the system, constrained to fulfil the local energy demand (both electrical and thermal) plus a certain minimum power reserve and penalised for any heat produced in excess of demand. The solution of the optimisation problem strongly supports the concept of having a dedicated communication infrastructure between the power sources.
Selecting on-topic sentences from natural language corpora

We describe a system that examines input sentences with respect to arbitrary topics formulated as natural language expressions. It extracts predicate-argument structures from text intervals and links them into semantically organized proposition trees. By instantiating trees constructed for topic descriptions in trees representing input sentences or parts thereof, we are able to assess degree of “topicality” for each sentence. The presented strategy was used in the BBN distillation system for the GALE Year 1 evaluation and achieved outstanding results compared to other systems and human participants.
Colored dissolved organic matter dynamics and anthropogenic influences in a major transboundary river and its coastal wetland

Most transboundary rivers and their wetlands are subject to considerable anthropogenic pressures associated with multiple and often conflicting uses. In the Eastern Mediterranean such systems are also particularly vulnerable to climate change, posing additional challenges for integrated water resources management. Comprehensive measurements of the optical signature of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were combined with measurements of river discharges and water physicochemical and biogeochemical properties, to assess carbon dynamics, water quality, and anthropogenic influences in a major transboundary system of the Eastern Mediterranean, the Evros (or, Марица or, Meriç) river and its Ramsar protected coastal wetland. Measurements were performed over three years, in seasons characterized by different hydrologic conditions and along transects extending more than 70 km from the freshwater end‐member to two kilometers offshore in the Aegean Sea. Changes in precipitation, anthropogenic dissolved organic matter (DOM) inputs from the polluted Ergene tributary, and the irregular operation of a dam were key factors driving water quality, salinity regimes, and biogeochemical properties in the Evros delta and coastal waters. Marsh outwelling affected coastal carbon quality, but the influence of wetlands was often masked by anthropogenic DOM contributions. A distinctive five‐peak CDOM fluorescence signature was characteristic of upstream anthropogenic inputs and clearly tracked the influence of freshwater discharges on water quality. Monitoring of this CDOM fluorescence footprint could have direct applications to programs focusing on water quality and environmental assessment in this and other transboundary rivers where management of water resources remains largely ineffective.
A sense of coherence and the use of postgraduate education in a group of the Małopolska nurses

Introduction: In Poland, a gradual increase of nurses and other health care workers interest in improvement of professional qualifications as part of postgraduate education, has been observed for several years. For this reason, one should strive to develop the educational infrastructure and influence the motivation of professionals from the health care sector in order not to waste their potential. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the sense of coherence on the motivation of nurses from Małopolska to undertake postgraduate education. Material and methods: The study was conducted from January to March 2018 in two postgraduate training centres in Krakow. In the study participated 211 female nurses and 5 male nurses who are undergoing specialization. The Life Orientation Questionnaire (SOC-29) was used to evaluate overall indicator of coherence. In addition, during the study, Adres do korespondencji: Anna Majda Pracownia Teorii i Podstaw Pielęgniarstwa Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum ul. Michałowskiego 12 31-126 Kraków e-mail: anna.majda@uj.edu. pl PrZesłANe: 26.06. 2018 AKcePTAcJA: 15.09. 2018 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ppiel.2018. 80808 1Doktorantka Wydziału Nauk o Zdrowiu, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Polska 2szpital św. rafała, Kraków, Polska 3Pracownia Teorii i Podstaw Pielęgniarstwa, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Polska 1PhD student, Faculty of Health sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical college, Krakow, Poland 2st. raphael Hospital, Krakow, Poland 3Department of Theory and Basics of Nursing, Faculty of Health sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical college, Krakow, Poland Authors’ contribution | Wkład autorów: A. study design/planning | zaplanowanie badań • B. Data collection/entry | zebranie danych • c. Data analysis/statistics | dane – analiza i statystyki • D. Data interpretation | interpretacja danych • e. Preparation of manuscript | przygotowanie artykułu • F. Literature analysis/search | wyszukiwanie i analiza literatury • G. Funds collection | zebranie funduszy
Discovery of radio‐loud quasars with z=4.72 and z=4.010

We report the discovery of two radio-loud quasars with redshifts greater than four; GB1428+4217 with z=4.72 and GB1713+2148 with z=4.01. This doubles the number of published radio-selected quasars with z > 4, bringing the total to 4. GB1428+4217 is the third most distant quasar known and the highest redshift radio and X-ray source currently known. It has a radio flux density at 5GHz of 259 +/- 31 mJy and an optical magnitude of R approximately 20.9. The rest frame absolute UV magnitude, M(nu=1450A), is -26.7 similar to that of the archetypal radio-selected quasar 3C273 (z=0.158; M(nu=1450A)=-26.4). GB1428+4217 has a tentative detection in ROSAT PSPC observations, which has been confirmed by more recent ROSAT observations, described in a companion paper by Fabian et al. Both quasars were discovered during the CCD imaging phase of an investigation into the evolution of the space density of radio-loud quasars at high redshift. Combined with our earlier survey results these objects give a lower limit on the space density of quasars with radio power P(5GHz) > 5.8 x 10^{26} W/Hz/sr between z=4 and z=5 of 1.4 +/- 0.9 x 10^{-10} Mpc^{-3}. This can be compared to 2.9 +/- 0.2 x 10^{-10} Mpc^-3 at z=2 from Dunlop & Peacock (1990) for flat-spectrum sources of the same luminosity.
Top-k string similarity search with edit-distance constraints

String similarity search is a fundamental operation in many areas, such as data cleaning, information retrieval, and bioinformatics. In this paper we study the problem of top-k string similarity search with edit-distance constraints, which, given a collection of strings and a query string, returns the top-k strings with the smallest edit distances to the query string. Existing methods usually try different edit-distance thresholds and select an appropriate threshold to find top-k answers. However it is rather expensive to select an appropriate threshold. To address this problem, we propose a progressive framework by improving the traditional dynamic-programming algorithm to compute edit distance. We prune unnecessary entries in the dynamic-programming matrix and only compute those pivotal entries. We extend our techniques to support top-k similarity search. We develop a range-based method by grouping the pivotal entries to avoid duplicated computations. Experimental results show that our method achieves high performance, and significantly outperforms state-of-the-art approaches on real-world datasets.
Chapter 90 Evolving Quantum Programs and Protocols

ion is a necessary component of controlling complexity, and it comes in many forms in classical computing. A brief scan of the history of development of programming languages, for example, reveals an increasing trend towards abstraction, and higher level constructs. Programmers initially wrote only object code, the lowest level of instruction for computer hardware. This was largely superseded by assembly languages, which allow more complex operations to be carried out by instructions and allowed locations to be given names. Higher-level languages such as Fortran and C emerged, and modern programming languages, such as the object-oriented Java, allow complex operations to be performed with single programming instructions. Software engineering progress has gone hand-in-hand with the ability to address concepts at higher levels of abstraction. Classical software development has a lifecycle, from the elicitation of requirements for the system, through progressive refinement into lower level designs, down to code that can be compiled for a hardware platform. Many of these steps enjoy some degree of automation: high level programs are transformed to object code by compilers; code itself can be generated automatically from designs expressed in certain mathematical or diagrammatic notations. The software industry has become adept at this refinement process; we know how to get from problem to solution, though this may require many thousands of person-years effort for the largest systems. In particular, software engineering has learned from both its mistakes and its successes, and has codified this learning in the form of patterns, reusable chunks of expertise. Patterns were originally developed in the domain of architecture by Christopher Alexander [1], and have been enthusiastically adopted in the software engineering community. Patterns can occur at any stage of the development lifecycle, for example [90] [34] [35] [6]. In the quantum domain there is a good deal of apparatus at the low level, in terms of the operation of unitary gates, but not much at higher levels of abstraction. We have nothing like the classical software engineering intellectual infrastructure in the quantum domain, yet it needs to be developed if quantum computing is to achieve its full promise [91]. 3.2 The Circuit Model of Quantum Computation A common representation of a quantum algorithm is the quantum circuit diagram. It bears some similarity to a combinational logic circuit diagram. The evolution of a qubit state is represented by its path from left to right along a horizontal ‘wire’. As the qubit moves along the wire it may meet a ‘gate’ that acts on its state. Gates are encountered in the order they are applied. Gates may act on one, two or more qubits. If a qubit is not acted on by a gate, there is an implicit tensor product with the identity transform on that qubit. Figure 4 shows a simple circuit model.
Architecture to integrate a large-scale DOPC-based optical switching system on a chip

In this paper, we propose a four-level architecture to integrate an entire N × M × K optical switching system on a chip using wavelength selective optical switches based on digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC), where N is the number of input fibers, M the number of output fibers and K the number of wavelengths carried within each input and output fiber. We show that a strictly non-blocking 128 × 128 × 48 system might be built on a 131 mm × 67 mm chip. With a 0.8 nm channel space, such optical switching systems might be widely used for dense wavelength division multiplexing networks.
SlotSwap: strong and affordable location privacy in intelligent transportation systems

Public acceptance, and thus the economic success, of an ITS is highly dependent on the quality of deployed privacy mechanisms. In general, neither users nor operators should be able to track a given individual. One approach to facilitate this is the usage of pseudonym pools, which allow vehicles to autonomously switch between different identities. We extend this scheme with that of a time-slotted pseudonym pool of static size, reducing the storage and computation needs of the envisioned ITS while further improving users' privacy. In addition, we allow the exchange of pseudonyms between vehicles, eliminating the mapping between vehicles and pseudonyms even for the ITS operator. We support the exchange of both current and future pseudonyms, further enhancing users' privacy. We evaluate the feasibility of our approach and back up privacy claims by performing a simulative study of the system using the entropy of nodes' anonymity sets as the primary metric.