Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perception of Canadian French word‐final vowels in lexical and morphosyntactic minimal pairs by English learners of French.

The present study investigated perception of Canadian French word‐final vowels in various phonetic contexts by English‐dominant bilinguals living in Montreal. In a modified identification task, listeners selected responses that rhymed with the target words; production of each response corresponded to a target vowel (e.g., response “ai” is pronounced /e/). Target words included real and nonsense words contrasting in word‐final /i e e a o u y o// and morphosyntactic verb minimal pairs contrasting in word‐final /e‐e/ (e.g., first‐person singular future “parlerai” versus conditional “parlerais”) embedded in carrier sentences. Of interest were the perception patterns of /e/ and /e/. Both are phontactically allowed word‐final in Canadian French, but not in English. Also, previous studies suggest that /y/ and /u/ could have context‐dependent perceptual patterns for English listeners. Results showed that bilingual listeners performed well overall and were at ceiling for control vowels. Most mistakes were /e‐e/ co.
Ultra-wideband, Wide Scanning Phased Array for SATCOM Ground Station

We present the unit cell of a linearly polarised, ultra-wideband (UWB), wide scanning array antenna based on the tightly-coupled dipole antenna (TCDA) concept for cost-effective Ku/Ka-band SATCOM ground station applications. The TCDA unit cell is fed by a coaxial structure and several vias are used to broaden the bandwidth. In addition, a superstrate, functioning as a wide angle impedance matching (WAIM) layer, is employed to achieve together with an E-wall to reduce surface-waves. The simulated results show that the proposed TCDA provide a large bandwidth from 10.6-27.8 GHz at VSWR $\leq 2.0$ at broadside radiation. Scanning angles up to 65° and 75° at the E- and H-plane, respectively, are maintained over the desired frequency of 12-1S GHz at VSWR $\leq 2.5$.
The generation of truly random binary numbers

The generation of independent random binary digits with an extremely small difference between the probabilities for 0 and 1 is discussed and shown to be practicable by means of a scale-of-2 counter counting randomly timed input pulses for a fixed time interval. It is shown that such digits can be used to form other random numbers with appreciable advantages of speed and accuracy, in comparison with the direct generation of similar numbers by means of a scale-of-n counter, where n>4. The use of ternary digits, generated with a scale-of-3 counter, would give a slight further theoretical advantage, but would be less convenient to implement than binary.
A Novel and Fast Distributed Computation Method for Fisher’s Exact Test and Its Application in Gene Expression Profiling Studies

Fisher's Exact Tests of 2x2 contingency tables are often used to detect sample differences in biological data, such as the data generated by the gene expression profiling studies using the RNA-seq technology. When the numbers of samples and conditions are large, the computation involved for calculating the Fisher’s Exact statistics can become significant and lead to long data processing time, sometimes taking days to complete. In this paper, a distributed method using Apache Spark is proposed to speed up the computation. The simulation results show that the proposed distributed method can be scaled up almost linearly with the number of computing nodes to handle more samples and conditions. With a parallelism of 200, the computation speed is improved about 120 times. More computation time is saved by the distributed method as the number of 2x2 contingency tables increases. Moreover, the distributed method proposed in this study can be easily applied to other data processing processes if the whole computation work can be partitioned into smaller subtasks. Source code is at https://github.com/ichen6134/FastFisherExact.
Adaptive control design for a class of nonsmooth nonlinear systems with matched and linearly parameterized uncertainty

This paper presents an adaptive control design for a class of nonsmooth nonlinear systems with matched uncertainty, which is linearly parameterized with a known discontinuous function. The design framework is based on the concept of the Filippov solution as the classical Lyapunov theory for smooth systems cannot be applied to establish the stability of the adaptive control system due to the presence of the discontinuity. It is proved that as an adaptive control system, the global Lyapunov stability with the convergence of the state of the controlled system to the origin can be achieved by evaluating the monotonicity of the Lyapunov function in the state space, particularly on the discontinuous surface, while the uniqueness of the solution of the closed‐loop system is not necessarily guaranteed. Some interesting numerical examples are demonstrated with simulation results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design and modeling of a novel micro-displacement sensor based optical frequency comb

Pumping a single-mode, tunable, external-cavity laser to excite the whispering gallery modes (WGM) of micro ring resonators (MRRs), a series of equidistant, wide free spectrum range (FSR) can be observed. Frequency shift of FSR can be used to feedback external changes, making MRR very promising in high-sensitivity sensing. In this paper, a novel displacement sensor composed of a micro ring resonator and a waveguide is presented and a designing route for this sensor is discussed. Based on mathematical analysis and the beam propagation methods (BPM), the major parameters including the geometry of MRR and micro cantilever are investigated in detail. Materials selection and fabrication method under current processing technic are also presented. For the typical structure in this paper, the final Q factor is estimated approximately 103 in theory at the wavelength of 1. 5μm. Displacement alteration of cantilever is 0.296x10-6m - 0.535x10-5m approximately corresponding 10-8-10-6N force loading. The shift of transmission spectrum is about 3.9nm versus perimeter of MRR changing 1μm.
A Study on Active Electromagnetic Suspension System

This paper introduces a service robot which performs the repetitive task of welcoming people graciously both by a sweet recorded message and hand gesture representing “Namastae” – an Indian tradional method wishing of people. Most commonly we observe people dressed in the getups of Mickey mouse, Donald duck, Teddy bear etc., near schools, colleges, offices, in parties and marriages etc. Here the people wear only dress and performs the task of wishing unknown people mechanically which is really a mindnumbing task. In this paper we designed a service robot that acts as a host in receiving people and performs the same task for hours without getting weary. This is a low cost flexible robot which can be designed and constructed without difficulty. Keywords—Ping sensor, Arduino, servos, relays
Differences in the Luminosity Functions of Faint Early-Type and Faint Late-Type Galaxies in Four Nearby Clusters of Galaxies

We have carried out a photometric survey of four nearby clusters of galaxies, A1656, A1367, A1644, and A1631, with mosaic CCD cameras. The observed luminosity functions of A1656, A1367, and A1631 cannot be approximated by the Schechter function with α = -1.25 over the whole magnitude range -21.5 ≤ MR ≤ -16.0, although the bright parts (MR ≤ -18) have a Schechter form in all of the four clusters. The luminosity functions of late-type galaxies have a similar shape for all the clusters, while those of faint early-type galaxies (MR ≥ -18) show a large variation from cluster to cluster. Only A1644 lacks the faint early-type galaxies, and its luminosity function is in the Schechter form over all of the magnitude range observed.
Toward Domain-Specific Solvers for Distributed Consistency

To guard against machine failures, modern internet services store multiple replicas of the same application data within and across data centers, which introduces the problem of keeping geo-distributed replicas consistent with one another in the face of network partitions and unpredictable message latency. To avoid costly and conservative synchronization protocols, many real-world systems provide only weak consistency guarantees (e.g., eventual, causal, or PRAM consistency), which permit certain kinds of disagreement among replicas. There has been much recent interest in language support for specifying and verifying such consistency properties. Although these properties are usually beyond the scope of what traditional type checkers or compiler analyses can guarantee, solver-aided languages are up to the task. Inspired by systems like Liquid Haskell [43] and Rosette [42], we believe that close integration between a language and a solver is the right path to consistent-by-construction distributed applications. Unfortunately, verifying distributed consistency properties requires reasoning about transitive relations (e.g., causality or happens-before), partial orders (e.g., the lattice of replica states under a convergent merge operation), and properties relevant to message processing or API invocation (e.g., commutativity and idempotence) that cannot be easily or efficiently carried out by general-purpose SMT solvers that lack native support for this kind of reasoning. We argue that domain-specific SMT-based tools that exploit the mathematical foundations of distributed consistency would enable both more efficient verification and improved ease of use for domain experts. The principle of exploiting domain knowledge for efficiency and expressivity that has borne fruit elsewhere – such as in the development of high-performance domain-specific languages that trade off generality to gain both performance and productivity – also applies here. Languages augmented with domain-specific, consistency-aware solvers would support the rapid implementation of formally verified programming abstractions that guarantee distributed consistency. In the long run, we aim to democratize the development of such domain-specific solvers by creating a framework for domain-specific solver development that brings new theory solver implementation within the reach of programmers who are not necessarily SMT solver internals experts
An improved method for roughening floodplains on physical river models

physical (hydraulic) modelling of river systems subject to overbank flow require the simulation of floodplain roughness. significant full and reduced scale experiments have now been carried out to establish the flow resistance of a range of real and simulated floodplain vegetation. one use for this improved knowledge of hoodplain hydraulics is to provide a basis for an improved method for overbank roughening in hydraulic models. it can also be of value in multi-dimensional numerical models the first part of this paper reviews briefly this work on floodplain vegetation resistance, leading to both empirical and theoretical relationships to describe floodplain roughness, and assesses the appropriate use of these methods. the second and greater part of the paper examines in more detail two methods used recently to roughen floodplains in large scale hydraulic models: non-submerging vertical rods, and a method based on expanded aluminium mesh units. a comparison is made between these two methods by reference to recent tests in the uk flood channel facility at hr wallingford. practical recommendations are made for designing a roughness system appropriate for use in future river model tests.
Critical Phenomena in Cyclic Ecosystems: Parity Law and Selfstructuring Extinction Pattern

The spatial pattern dynamics in cyclic systems composed of several species is studied by applying the lattice version of the Lotka-Volterra model. We change the birth rate of a target species, and record the population size of the species. It is found that the profile of the parameter dependence is determined by “parity” which is defined by whether each system has an odd or even number of species. The spatial pattern formation of endangered species plays an important role in this law.
First Principle Calculation of the Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy Energy of FePt and CoPt Ordered Alloys

The spin-polarized band calculations including spin-orbit interaction for L1 0 -FePt and CoPt ordered alloys have been performed with LMTO-ASA method in the frame of local spin density functional approximation. It has been shown that strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of both alloys is brought about by a large spin-orbit coupling of Pt atom and a strong hybridization of Pt d bands with highly polarized Fe (Co) d bands. The obtained magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) is about 16×10 6 J/m 3 for FePt and 9×10 6 J/m 3 for CoPt. It is also found that both MAE's have a trend of increase with increasing axial ratio c / a in the vicinity of measured c / a . This can be regarded as being associated with the behavior that the MAE's decrease with increasing band filling.
Statistical properties of low cycle fatigue in paper

We consider fatigue fracture in the low-cycle limit. We use paper as the tested material and we study the failure and the deformation of individual samples, with a main emphasis on the possible predictability. The experimental procedure is to study fatigue in tension and follow the evolution of mechanical properties of paper samples. The primary quantity is the strain developing during load cycles and its evolution. Two concurrent methods are used to this end: vertical displacement measured by a laser interferometer sensor, and the digital image correlation technique (DIC). By the DIC, we obtain accurately at the same time displacement data and the spatial fields of strain and strain rate. The final rupture is signalled by a sharp final increase of different variables, like deformation, strain rate and their fluctuations. We find interestingly enough that looking at the evolution of these quantities during the first fatigue cycle only is already a good indicator about the lifetime of the sample. Crackling noise is also recorded during loading via acoustic emission (AE). AE is mostly accumulated during a short time interval before breakage. The results are compared with a fibre bundle model of fatigue in heterogeneous materials.
Experimentation and Disappointment

We depart from the classic setting of bandit problems by endowing the agent with a disappointment-elation utility function. The disutility of a loss is assumed to be greater than the elation associated with same-size gain, according to Kahneman-Tversky findings on the attitude of agents towards a change in wealth. We characterise the optimal experimentation strategy of an agent in a two-armed bandit problem setting with infinite horizon and we derive an existence theorem, specifying a condition on the disappointment aversion parameter. The model, solved in closed form in a one-armed bandit setting, shows that an agent who feels disappointment experiments more intensively than the agent characterised by the standard expected utility model, despite disappointment, but only if the degree of disappointment is under a certain threshold level. The threshold level depends both on the probability of rewards along the unknown projects relative to the expected number of trials and on the expected reward of the unknown project.
A Practical Guide to Designing and Deploying OT SDN Networks

Operational technology software-defined networking (OT SDN) uses open standard SDN technology in specific ways to deliver unparalleled benefits for OT networks, such as security, determinism, traffic control, and failure recovery. OT SDN does this by using an application-focused, proactive, and predictable design based on a deny-by-default cybersecurity architecture. This paper briefly explores the philosophy behind OT SDN. It discusses what the benefits listed previously mean for OT networks and what OT SDN brings to OT networks. Other papers have gone into depth regarding the benefits of SDN to OT, but not with a focus on design and deployment. This paper fills that gap by describing an approach to designing and deploying an OT SDN network to incorporate these benefits. The paper discusses design processes (such as requirement gathering, topology design, and path planning) and engineering considerations (such as automation, validation, and testing).
Transverse patterns in nondegenerate intracavity second-harmonic generation

Pattern formation is theoretically investigated in the process of second-harmonic generation in an externally driven plane-plane optical cavity which uses phase matching of type II. It is shown that in this system a symmetry-breaking polarization instability at the fundamental frequency can lead to the spontaneous appearance of self-organized states, which can be periodic or quasiperiodic in space. A weakly nonlinear analysis in the vicinity of the bifurcation point where these patterns emerge is developed by deriving both a complex order parameter equation of the Swift-Hohenberg type close to resonance, and a set of amplitude equations for the neutral modes far from resonance. The amplitude equations reveal the existence of multistability and pattern coexistence, and show that, besides the most common periodic patterns such as rolls, squares, and hexagons, quasipatterns with an arbitrary orientational order can be selected by the nonlinearity in this system. Numerical simulations of the original field equations are presented and the main predictions of the weakly nonlinear analysis are compared with the numerical results.
Slow light propagation in photonic crystal waveguides with ring-shaped holes

We use a single-defect photonic crystal waveguide with ring-shaped holes to achieve a small group velocity with relatively low group velocity dispersion. We show theoretically that a group index larger than 20 with a nearly constant group velocity dispersion parameter of 4.2 ps nm−1 mm−1 over a wavelength range of 5 nm can be achieved. We manufactured a photonic crystal waveguide with ring-shaped holes onto silicon-on-insulator substrate. From the Fabry–Pérot oscillations in the transmission spectrum, we deduced the group index in the waveguides as a function of the wavelength. We recorded group index values as large as 22.
The Quasi-Biennial Oscillation and Feedback Processes in the Atmosphere-Ocean-Earth System

Abstract Recent investigations indicate that the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in stratospheric winds may be related to variations in the tropospheric circulation in middle and high latitudes. Although the QBO was noticed years ago in a number of worldwide atmospheric phenomena, it is still not well understood. A logical question arises as to whether the oscillation might be a result of the annual forcing by the solar heating, since it is well known that in some nonlinear systems subharmonic oscillations can be produced of order one-half the frequency of the exciting force. A conceptual model is presented to show how a two-year oscillation could be produced by a negative feedback process acting on a two-state system, i.e., winter and summer states. Even for a relatively weak biennial oscillation with stochastic elements involved, the results show that rather strong links must exist in the chain or feedback loop, indicating potential predictability for periods of six months or more. Support for the conc.
Proportional lot-sizing and scheduling problem with identical parallel machines

This article addresses mixed integer programming (MIP) models for lot-sizing and scheduling of several products on identical parallel machines. The application of binary variables to such models leads to many solutions which differ only in the numbering of machines. To avoid this symmetry, one can aggregate the machines and use integer variables. We propose such a generalisation of the Proportional Lot-sizing and Scheduling Problem using sequence-dependent change-over variables. Several randomly generated instances of a problem have been solved with the new models using standard MIP procedures. The results confirm that they can be useful for practical applications.
ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS OF SIGNALS AND IMAGES Coding of Moore and Mealy Sources by Nonequivalent Symbols at Unknown Message Statistics

Redundancy of the universal coding by nonequivalent symbols for Markov sources given by matrices of transient probabilities with a fixed number of different rows is found. As a consequence, the estimates of redundancy for Markov sources with memory s and for Mealy Markov sources given by a graph are obtained. The rate of decrease in redundancy dependent on the graph characteristics, the length of the coded unit, and the channel bandwidth capacity is established. DOI: 10.3103/S8756699021020138
The Richardson extrapolation technique for quasilinear parabolic singularly perturbed convection-diffusion equations

The Dirichlet problem is considered for a quasilinear singularly perturbed parabolic convection-diffusion equation on a rectangular domain. For this problem classical finite difference (nonlinear) schemes on piecewise uniform meshes condensing in the boundary layer converge e-uniformly at a rate that is at best first-order. Using a Richardson extrapolation technique, we construct an improved (nonlinear) scheme that is -uniformly convergent at the rate ((N−1 ln N)2 + N−20), where N and N0 define the number of nodes in the spatial and time meshes, respectively. This nonlinear scheme is used in the construction of a linearized scheme where at each time level the nonlinear term is evaluated using the computed solution from the previous time level. Furthermore, using the linearized and nonlinear improved schemes, we construct a linearized improved Richardson scheme that converges e-uniformly at the rate ((N−1 ln N)2 + N−q0), where q ≥ 2.
Strain effects on individual quantum dots: Dependence of cap layer thickness

We have studied the effects of strain on individual self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) exemplified by InP dots embedded in GaInP. The quantum dot sample was etched from the top and in this way the amount of capping material was reduced. In a sequence of etch cycles, the cap layer was thinned, and the photoluminescence from several individual QDs could be followed as a function of cap layer thickness. The evolution of the emission spectra clearly depended on the quantum dot size. We interpret this as arising from differences in the aspect ratio for quantum dots of different sizes. The influence of the capping layer, for different QD geometries, was modeled using deformation potential theory with the strain calculated using a full three-dimensional linear elasticity model. The results agree well with the experimental observations. (Less)
In situ STM study of thermal annealing of Au thin films: An investigation on decay of nanometer Au clusters and 2D islands

An in situ, ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV STM) study of thermal annealing of gold thin films is presented in this paper. The gold thin films was heated and annealed in the UHV chamber in the temperature range from room temperature to maximum of 300°C, while a consecutive STM imaging was performed on the surface of the gold films during the heating and annealing. The STM results showed that the surface corrugation changes became more apparent after the temperature increased above 100°C, whereas much smoothened surface and large Au(111) crystalline terraces(>200nm) formed at temperature of 160°C or above. Besides the surface morphology change, our images clearly revealed the melting of multilayer gold clusters and shrinking of monolayer gold islands in a nanometer scale. It was shown that the decay of the gold clusters and islands constitute the microscopic processes contributing to the thermal activated surface morphology change. A classical theory of mass flow kinetics was adopted in analyzing the decay processes. The results showed that surface diffusion is the dominate mechanism in the thermal annealing of the gold thin films. This study presents the first microscopic investigation of thermal annealing processes of metal thin films observed by in situ and real-time STM.