Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Constitution, New Europe: What About (Fiscal) Federalism?

More than fifty years after the Schuman Declaration, Europe is still far from a real Political Union. In fact, Europe faces an important imbalance between the two sides of the integration process, appearing as an important actor in the international economic scenario, but as a minor actor in the international political arena. In this paper, we start by arguing that the Â“small stepsÂ” strategy that led Europe until the present situation is no longer sufficient to let the Union efficiently overcome its present deficits and challenges. So, we call for an important change in the institutional and economic organisation of the EU, towards a model of largely decentralised federalism. By examining the present challenges for EU and the characteristics of the proposal for an European Constitution designed by the Convention, as well as comparing the main federal systems existing in the world today, we argue that the mentioned proposal is not enough to give the EU a strong voice both in the political and the economic areas. In this context, we discuss the design of an adequate institutional framework for the political organisation of the EU, presenting an alternative proposal based on the characteristics of a truly federal system, also as its consequences in what concerns the design and implementation of European economic policies. Keywords: European Union, Political Union, Federalism, Fiscal Federalism, European Constitution
Berührungslose Bedienung von Infotainment-Systemen im Fahrzeug

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Realisierung eines Gesamtkonzepts zur beruhrungslosen Bedienung eines Infotainment-Systems im Kraftfahrzeug. Von zentralem Interesse ist dabei die visuelle Interaktion mittels dynamischer Hand- und Kopfgesten. Durch die ergonomische Auslastung der menschlichen Kapazitaten soll dem Fahrer eine moglichst naturliche und intuitive Interaktion bereitgestellt werden. Aufbauend auf sehr positiven Befunden grundlegender Benutzerstudien wird eine gestenoptimierte Bedienumgebung entwickelt. Diese erweist sich aufgrund entwicklungsbegleitender Gebrauchstauglichkeitstests (usabilitytests) als weitgehend intuitiv bedienbar sowie wenig ablenkend und findet zudem breite Akzeptanz. Daruber hinaus wird eine neue Technologie eingefuhrt, die eine robuste, fahrzeugtaugliche (automotive) Erkennung von Hand- und Kopfgesten ermoglicht. Sie basiert auf der Merkmalgewinnung mittels Infrarot-Distanz-Sensor-Arrays und erbringt hohe Erkennungsraten unter Echtzeitbedingungen(realtime conditions) bei auserst geringem Bedarf an Rechenleistung.
Effects of ZnO Nanoparticle on Photo-Protection and Insecticidal Synergism of Rotenone

Rotenone has an effective insecticidal activity. However, the photodegradation of rotenone under sunlight or UV (ultraviolet light) leads to negative effects on its insecticidal activity and persistence. This study examined the photo-protection of rotenone when exposed to UV combinated with various nanoparticles. The remaining concentration of rotenone was analyzed by LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry) at particular intervals. It indicated that various nanoparticles had different effects and combination with ZnO nanoparticle provided remarkable degree of photo-protection of rotenone in UV radiation. In comparision with ZnO, SiO 2 nanoparticle provided moderate degree of photo-protection of rotenone in UV radiation. In addition, TiO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 and CuO nanoparticle exerted catalytic degradation effects on rotenone to a certain degree.The combination of rotenone and ZnO nanoparticle(4:1) increased the effciency of mortality to the highest compared with the same concentration of sole rotenone or ZnO nanoparticle treatment alone and their co-toxicity coefficient was 128.63. ZnO nanoparticle has good UV photo-protective properties and insecticidal synergism on rotenone. The application of this proposed method can provide significant and practical guidance for improving the photostability and insecticidal activity of rotenone as well as other biopesticides.
Cultura da goiabeira.

Trata sobre a cultura da goiabeira: origem e dispersao, botânica, importância economica; importância alimentar e social, comercializacao, instrucoes tecnicas: clima, solo e adubacao; propagacao, preparo do solo e plantio da muda, poda, controle de ervas daninhas, irrigacao, doencas e pragas, variedades, colheita e acoes que devem ser desenvolvidas.
Open Source XML Database Toolkit: Resources and Techniques for Improved Development

This guide aims to arm database professionals with the nuts-and-bolts information and tools they need to fully exploit XML's powerful capabilities. It focuses exclusively on how XML works with database technologies and provides clear technical coverage of the key issues involved with storing XML in databases and using relational databases with XML applications. Readers will learn how to move data stored in relational databases in and out of an XML application, store XML documents in a database, find and use the best XML database tools and applications, and store links in a database for metadata access. The book also discusses W3C specifications for XQL, XSL, Xlink, and Xpointer. The CD-ROM contains resources, utilities, examples from the book, and updated information.
Problems in conceptual analysis of natural language

Abstract : This paper reports on some recent developments in natural language analysis. We address such issues as the role of syntax in a semantics-oriented analyzer, achieving a flexible balance of top-down and bottom-up processing, and the role of short term memory. Our results have led to improved algorithms capable of analyzing the kinds of multi-clause inputs found in most text. (Author)
Advancing the Effectiveness of Non-Linear Dimensionality Reduction Techniques

Advancing the Effectiveness of Non-Linear Dimensionality Reduction Techniques Michael S. Gashler Department of Computer Science, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Data that is represented with high dimensionality presents a computational complexity challenge for many existing algorithms. Limiting dimensionality by discarding attributes is sometimes a poor solution to this problem because significant high-level concepts may be encoded in the data across many or all of the attributes. Non-linear dimensionality reduction (NLDR) techniques have been successful with many problems at minimizing dimensionality while preserving intrinsic high-level concepts that are encoded with varying combinations of attributes. Unfortunately, many challenges remain with existing NLDR techniques, including excessive computational requirements, an inability to benefit from prior knowledge, and an inability to handle certain difficult conditions that occur in data with many real-world problems. Further, certain practical factors have limited advancement in NLDR, such as a lack of clarity regarding suitable applications for NLDR, and a general inavailability of efficient implementations of complex algorithms. This dissertation presents a collection of papers that advance the state of NLDR in each of these areas. Contributions of this dissertation include: • An NLDR algorithm, called Manifold Sculpting, that optimizes its solution using graduated optimization. This approach enables it to obtain better results than methods that only optimize an approximate problem. Additionally, Manifold Sculpting can benefit from prior knowledge about the problem. • An intelligent neighbor-finding technique called SAFFRON that improves the breadth of problems that existing NLDR techniques can handle. • A neighborhood refinement technique called CycleCut that further increases the robustness of existing NLDR techniques, and that can work in conjunction with SAFFRON to solve difficult problems. • Demonstrations of specific applications for NLDR techniques, including the estimation of state within dynamical systems, training of recurrent neural networks, and imputing missing values in data. • An open source toolkit containing each of the techniques described in this dissertation, as well as several existing NLDR algorithms, and other useful machine learning methods.
FINDING DWARF GALAXIES FROM THEIR TIDAL IMPRINTS

We describe ongoing work on a new method that allows one to approximately determine the mass and relative position (in galactocentric radius and azimuth) of galactic companions purely from analysis of observed disturbances in gas disks. We demonstrate the validity of this method, which we call Tidal Analysis, by applying it to local spirals with known optical companions, namely M51 and NGC 1512. These galaxies span the range from having a very low mass companion (∼one-hundredth the mass of the primary galaxy) to a fairly massive companion (∼one-third the mass of the primary galaxy). This approach has broad implications for many areas of astrophysics—for the indirect detection of dark matter (or dark-matter-dominated dwarf galaxies), and for galaxy evolution in its use to decipher the dynamical impact of satellites on galactic disks. Here, we provide a proof of principle of the method by applying it to infer and quantitatively characterize optically visible galactic companions of local spirals, from the analysis of observed disturbances in outer gas disks.
Arabic multi-document text summarisation

Multi-document summarisation is the process of producing a single summary of a collection of related documents. Much of the current work on multi-document text summarisation is concerned with the English language; relevant resources are numerous and readily available. These resources include human generated (gold-standard) and automatic summaries. Arabic multi-document summarisation is still in its infancy. One of the obstacles to progress is the limited availability of Arabic resources to support this research. When we started our research there were no publicly available Arabic multi-document gold-standard summaries, which are needed to automatically evaluate system generated summaries. The Document Understanding Conference (DUC) and Text Analysis Conference (TAC) at that time provided resources such as gold-standard extractive and abstractive summaries (both human and system generated) that were only available in English. Our aim was to push forward the state-of-the-art in Arabic multi-document summarisation. This required advancements in at least two areas. The first area was the creation of Arabic test collections. The second area was concerned with the actual summarisation process to find methods that improve the quality of Arabic summaries. To address both points we created single and multi-document Arabic test collections both automatically and manually using a commonly used English dataset and by having human participants. We developed extractive language dependent and language independent single and multi-document summarisers, both for Arabic and English. In our work we provided state-of-the-art approaches for Arabic multi-document summarisation. We succeeded in including Arabic in one of the leading summarisation conferences the Text Analysis Conference (TAC). Researchers on Arabic multi-document summarisation now have resources and tools that can be used to advance the research in this field.
Análisis experimental de desarrollo de aplicaciones móviles multiplataforma

Resumen. Los dispositivos móviles han cambiado la forma de pensar el software. Existe un gran abanico de alternativas de desarrollo. En este trabajo se analizan cuatro enfoques multiplataforma distintos (aplicaciones web móviles, híbridas, interpretadas, compilación cruzada) y se estudian sus características más destacadas, a través de un caso experimental. Palabras claves: dispositivos móviles, aplicaciones móviles multiplataforma, aplicaciones móviles web, aplicaciones móviles híbridas, aplicaciones móviles interpretadas, compilación cruzada.
Implementation and Evaluation of A Low-Cost Intrusion Detection System For Community Wireless Mesh Networks

Rural Community Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) can be great assets to rural communities, helping them connect to the rest of their region and beyond. However, they can be a liability in terms of security. Due to the ad-hoc nature of a WMN, and the wide variety of applications and systems that can be found in such a heterogeneous environment there are multiple points of intrusion for an attacker. An unsecured WMN can lead to privacy and legal problems for the users of the network. Due to the resource constrained environment, traditional Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) have not been as successful in defending these wireless network environments, as they were in wired network deployments. This thesis proposes that an IDS made up of low cost, low power devices can be an acceptable base for a Wireless Mesh Network Intrusion Detection System. Because of the device’s low power, cost and ease of use, such a device could be easily deployed and maintained in a rural setting such as a Community WMN. The proposed system was compared to a standard IDS solution that would not cover the entire network, but had much more computing power but also a higher capital cost as well as maintenance costs. By comparing the low cost low power IDS to a standard deployment of an open source IDS, based on network coverage and deployment costs, a determination can be made that a low power solution can be feasible in a rural deployment of a WMN.
Identifying relationship patterns inside communities

Some studies on networks require to isolate groups of elements, known as Communities. Some examples include (i) detection of protein complexes [10]; (ii) mapping metabolic networks [9]; (iii) identification of criminal organizations [5]. There are many algorithms to find communities and a commonly used evaluation approach is the maximization of the Modularity Clustering. This technique was proposed by Newman and Girvan [7][11] and is based on the number of edges that are into a community minus the expected number of edges from null model. The null model is a graph G′ = (V,E′), obtained from original network G = (V,E), with |E′| = |E| and each edge is distributed over uniform probability, so each node in G′ has the same degree on equivalent node in G. The objective function is to maximize the Equation 1 2 ∑ u,v∈E( Au,v−(dudv) 2m )σ(u, v), where the dw is degree of w ∈ V , |E| = m and function σ returns 1, if u and v are in the same community and 0 otherwise [4] [3]. Some criticism and reviem over Newman and Girvan model can be seen in [6], [2] and [8]. Community detection is an important problem for Computer and other sciences. Following Agarwal and Kempe [1] one of the most important reasons to make clustering over a network is to identify the function/role of each element in a community. If the communities have hundreds or thousands of elements, it is important to understand the functions of internal elements, but that will require an automatic process. In this context, we propose to develop a model, capable to identify elements with common features in different communities, based on the connection between elements and communities, agreeing with Newman and Girvan model features. To understand the patterns within communities and carry out the research, the steps below are necessary. The schedule is as follows:
An investigation into multi-spectral tracking

The purpose of this study was to investigate multi-spectral tracking. Various algorithms were investigated and developed to enhance the contrast between target and non-target classes. Different tracking algorithms were implemented on the resulting grayscale input. A physical tracking system consisting of a video input processor and DSP was designed and built to implement algorithms and investigate the viability of realtime multi-spectral tracking. It is illustrated that conventional intensity tracking clouds the available information and that by studying various spectral inputs information is extracted more efficiently from the available data.
Fast and Flexible Application-level Networking on Exokernel Systems (CMU-CS-00-117)

Application-level networking is a promising software organization for improving performance and functionality for important network services. The xok/ExOS exokernel system includes application-level support for standard network services, while at the same time allowing application writers to specialize networking services. This paper describes how xok/ExOS's kernel mechanisms and library operating system organization achieves this exibility, and shares our experiences and lessons learned (both positive and negative). It also describes how we have used this exibility to build and specialize three network data services: the Cheetah HTTP server, the webswamp web benchmarking tool, and an application-level TCP forwarder. Overall measurements show large performance improvements relative to similar services built on conventional interfaces, in each case reaching the maximum possible end-to-end performance for the experimental platform. For example, Cheetah provides factor of 2{4 increases in throughput compared to highly-tuned socket-based implementations and 3{8 compared to conventional systems. Webswamp can o er loads that are 2{8 times heavier. The TCP forwarder provides 50{300% higher throughput while also providing end-to-end TCP semantics that cannot be achieved with POSIX sockets. With more detailed measurements and pro ling, these overall performance improvements are also broken down and attributed to the speci c specializations described, providing server writers with insights into where to focus their optimization e orts.
Physical-Layer Security: From Information Theory to Security Engineering

This complete guide to physical-layer security presents the theoretical foundations, practical implementation, challenges and benefits of a groundbreaking new model for secure communication. Using a bottom-up approach from the link level all the way to end-to-end architectures, it provides essential practical tools that enable graduate students, industry professionals and researchers to build more secure systems by exploiting the noise inherent to communications channels. The book begins with a self-contained explanation of the information-theoretic limits of secure communications at the physical layer. It then goes on to develop practical coding schemes, building on the theoretical insights and enabling readers to understand the challenges and opportunities related to the design of physical layer security schemes. Finally, applications to multi-user communications and network coding are also included.
The order of premodifiers in English nominal phrases

The research reported in this thesis sought an explanation for the order of premodifiers in English nominal phrases. It aimed to establish what validity there is in the quite divergent earlier explanations, to find any other valid forms of explanation that might exist, and to integrate them all. The method was to make a wide survey of as many varieties of current English as possible, by observation; to then analyse the order at all levels (semantics, syntax, and so on); and to check the accuracy of the results against the 100-million-word British National Corpus. From that research, the thesis asserts that parts of most past approaches can be integrated into a comprehensive explanation; and that there is a new and important element of the full explanation, namely that of words' semantic structure, which is the combination of types and dimensions of meaning that make up the sense of each premodifier. Other new elements in this treatment of the subject are analysis of long groups of premodifiers (up to 10 words), consideration of why premodifiers regularly occur in different positions in the order, and explanation from the historical development of premodifier order. After an introductory chapter and a survey of the relevant literature, the thesis argues that the explanation of premodifier order in English nominal phrases is as follows. There are four positions for premodifiers, as in "your (1) actual (2) tinny (3) round (4) percussion instrument" [i.e. a tambourine] (chapter 3). The regular, unmarked order (illustrated in the phrase just quoted) has several elements of explanation: primarily, the semantic structure (chapter 4); secondarily, the syntactic structure (chapter 5). In a second type of order (when two or more words occur in one position), stylistic considerations control the order, not grammatical ones (chapter 7). In a third type of order, a marked one, a premodifier may be put in a position different from the position that the word's usual semantic structure would require, changing its meaning and stylistic effect (chapter 8). Some features of all three types of order are to be explained partly by their historical development for example, the existence of borderline uses (chapter 9). There are some supporting explanations, from discourse structure and psycholinguistics, for example (chapter 10). The relevance of the previous chapters to wider issues, such as grammaticalisation, is discussed (chapter 11); and conclusions are drawn (chapter 12). _____________________
How to push a block along a wall

Some robot tasks require manipulation of objects that may be touching other fixed objects. The effects of friction and kinematic constraint must be anticipated, and may even be exploited to accomplish the task. An example task, a dynamic analysis, and appropriate effector motions are presented. The goal is to move a rectangular block along a wall, so that one side of the block maintains contact with the wall. Two solutions that push the block along the wall are discussed.
Identification of Infinite Dimensional Systems Via Adaptive Wavelet Neural Networks

Abstract : We consider identification of distributed systems via adaptive wavelet neural networks (AWNNs). We take advantage of the multiresolution property of wavelet systems and the computational structure of neural networks to approximate the unknown plant successively. A systematic approach is developed in this paper to find the optimal discrete orthonormal wavelet basis with compact support for spanning the subspaces employed for system identification. We then apply backpropagation algorithm to train the network with supervision to emulate the unknown system. This work is applicable to signal representation and compression under the optimal orthonormal wavelet basis in addition to autoregressive system identification and modeling. We anticipate that this work be intuitive for practical applications in the areas of controls and signal processing.