Population structure, phenotypic information and association studies in long-generation crops

Poster presented at Generation Challenge Program Annual Research Meeting. Sao Paulo (Brazil), 12-16 Sep. 200

Bridging the Gap Between Requirements and Model Analysis : Evaluation on Ten Cyber-Physical Challenge Problems

Formal verfication and simulation are powerful tools to validate requirements against complex systems. [Problem] Requirements are developed in early stages of the software lifecycle and are typically written in ambiguous natural language. There is a gap between such requirements and formal notations that can be used by verification tools, and lack of support for proper association of requirements with software artifacts for verification. [Principal idea] We propose to write requirements in an intuitive, structured natural language with formal semantics, and to support formalization and model/code verification as a smooth, well-integrated process. [Contribution] We have developed an end-to-end, open source requirements analysis framework that checks Simulink models against requirements written in structured natural language. Our framework is built in the Formal Requirements Elicitation Tool (fret); we use fret's requirements language named fretish, and formalization of fretish requirements in temporal logics. Our proposed framework contributes the following features: 1) automatic extraction of Simulink model information and association of fretish requirements with target model signals and components; 2) translation of temporal logic formulas into synchronous dataflow cocospec specifications as well as Simulink monitors, to be used by verification tools; we establish correctness of our translation through extensive automated testing; 3) interpretation of counterexamples produced by verification tools back at requirements level. These features support a tight integration and feedback loop between high level requirements and their analysis. We demonstrate our approach on a major case study: the Ten Lockheed Martin Cyber-Physical, aerospace-inspired challenge problems

Information Theoretical Estimators Toolbox

We present ITE (information theoretical estimators) a free and open source, multi-platform, Matlab/Octave toolbox that is capable of estimating many different variants of entropy, mutual information, divergence, association measures, cross quantities, and kernels on distributions. Thanks to its highly modular design, ITE supports additionally (i) the combinations of the estimation techniques, (ii) the easy construction and embedding of novel information theoretical estimators, and (iii) their immediate application in information theoretical optimization problems. ITE also includes a prototype application in a central problem class of signal processing, independent subspace analysis and its extensions.Comment: 5 pages; ITE toolbox: https://bitbucket.org/szzoli/ite

The EU's promotion of external democracy: in search of the plot

While the EU has recently upgraded its external democracy promotion policies through a number of different initiatives, there is one challenge that it has not yet addressed: what exactly does it aim to support? This policy brief illustrates that both the conceptualisation of democracy and the means to achieve it remain vague, and explains why this is problematic. It points out the risks that stem from a lack of clear understanding about how human rights, governance, civil society and socio-economic development relate to democratisation. Among a number of recommendations, authors Anne Wetzel and Jan Orbie propose a ‘Green Paper’ debate on this topic that would take into account the views of different stakeholders, including those from the target countries, without neglecting existing international standards and agreements

Measurements of ttˉt\bar{t} differential cross-sections of highly boosted top quarks decaying to all-hadronic final states in pppp collisions at s=13 \sqrt{s}=13\, TeV using the ATLAS detector

Measurements are made of differential cross-sections of highly boosted pair-produced top quarks as a function of top-quark and tt¯ system kinematic observables using proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of s=13  TeV. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36.1  fb-1, recorded in 2015 and 2016 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Events with two large-radius jets in the final state, one with transverse momentum pT>500  GeV and a second with pT>350  GeV, are used for the measurement. The top-quark candidates are separated from the multijet background using jet substructure information and association with a b-tagged jet. The measured spectra are corrected for detector effects to a particle-level fiducial phase space and a parton-level limited phase space, and are compared to several Monte Carlo simulations by means of calculated χ2 values. The cross-section for tt¯ production in the fiducial phase-space region is 292±7(stat)±71(syst)  fb, to be compared to the theoretical prediction of 384±36  fb.Peer Reviewe

Measurements of t¯t differential cross-sections of highly boosted top quarks decaying to all-hadronic final states in pp collisions at √s p = 13 TeV using the ATLAS detector

Measurements are made of differential cross-sections of highly boosted pair-produced top quarks as a function of top-quark and t ̄t system kinematic observables using proton-proton collisions at a center-of- mass energy of ffiffi s p 1⁄4 13 TeV. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb−1, recorded in 2015 and 2016 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Events with two large- radius jets in the final state, one with transverse momentum pT > 500 GeV and a second with pT > 350 GeV, are used for the measurement. The top-quark candidates are separated from the multijet background using jet substructure information and association with a b-tagged jet. The measured spectra are corrected for detector effects to a particle-level fiducial phase space and a parton-level limited phase space, and are compared to several Monte Carlo simulations by means of calculated χ2 values. The cross- section for t ̄t production in the fiducial phase-space region is 292 7ðstatÞ 71ðsystÞ fb, to be compared to the theoretical prediction of 384 36 fb.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Measurements of t¯t differential cross-sections of highly boosted top quarks decaying to all-hadronic final states in pp collisions at √s p = 13 TeV using the ATLAS detector

Measurements are made of differential cross-sections of highly boosted pair-produced top quarks as a function of top-quark and t ̄t system kinematic observables using proton-proton collisions at a center-of- mass energy of ffiffi s p 1⁄4 13 TeV. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb−1, recorded in 2015 and 2016 with the ATLAS detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Events with two large- radius jets in the final state, one with transverse momentum pT > 500 GeV and a second with pT > 350 GeV, are used for the measurement. The top-quark candidates are separated from the multijet background using jet substructure information and association with a b-tagged jet. The measured spectra are corrected for detector effects to a particle-level fiducial phase space and a parton-level limited phase space, and are compared to several Monte Carlo simulations by means of calculated χ2 values. The cross- section for t ̄t production in the fiducial phase-space region is 292 7ðstatÞ 71ðsystÞ fb, to be compared to the theoretical prediction of 384 36 fb.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

GlobalSoilMap.net - From planning, development and proof of concept to full-scale production mapping

The GlobalSoilMap.net project aims to produce predictions of nine key soil properties at continuous depth intervals at a spatial resolution of 90 m for the entire world. These maps of soil properties will be produced by a participants working under the coordination of regional node leaders with responsibility for organizing and delivering results for eight defined geographic regions of the world. This paper identifies and discusses the technical impediments to moving towards commencement of operational production mapping. These are: i) agreement on specifications for all products, ii) location, digital capture and harmonization of legacy soil data, iii) assembly of covariate databases, iv) documentation of prediction methods, v) specification of data model(s) to use to capture, store and disseminate maps and data, vi) selection of cyber-infrastructure to support map production and dissemination vii) end user surveys assessment and verification, and vii) identification of methods for assessing the uncertainty and accuracy of predictions. Actions undertaken to date to address these challenges are presented and progress is evaluated. There are no significant technical reasons for not moving towards planning and implementing operational production mapping

Perception of corruption in Uruguay: the effects of the sector of employment, life-course adjustments and education

In 2004, Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index ranks Uruguay at 28, seven positions higher than in 2001, scores changed from 5.1 to 6.2 (a higher score means less perceived corruption). In addition, there were no relevant corruption scandals in that period. Hence, we should ask: what are the foundations of corruption perception? We assess this at the micro-level. Our dataset is the module on Citizenship of the International Social Survey Program (that was carried out in 2004) and we estimate ordered a probit model. We find that some economic variables are significant. In particular we show that those who work in private enterprises tend to perceive higher levels of corruption as do unemployed people. Hence those who may be on the supply side of the bribe “market” perceive a higher level of corruption than those on the demand side (civil servants). In addition, our main contribution to the existence literature is showing that socio-demographic variables play a relevant role. We show that those who belong to the youngest group, who took, at least, high school studies and those who belong to a religious group are more likely to perceive a higher level of corruption.corruption, public opinion, microeconomic behavior, ISSP, Uruguay.

The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet - Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General On the Post-2015 Sustainable Development agenda

The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 68/6, in which Member States requested the Secretary-General to synthesize the full range of inputs available on the post-2015 development agenda and to present a synthesis report before the end of 2014, as an input to the intergovermental negotiations.Drawing from the experience of two decades of development practice and from the inputs gathered through an open and inclusive process, the report charts a road map to achieve dignity in the next 15 years. The report proposes one universal and transformative agenda for sustainable development, underpinned by rights, and with people and the planet at the centre. An integrated set of six essential elements is provided to help frame and reinforce the sustainable development agenda and ensure that the ambition and vision expressed by Member States communicates and is delivered at the country level: (a) dignity: to end poverty and fight inequality; (b) people: to ensure healthy lives, knowledge and the inclusion of women and children; (c) prosperity: to grow a strong, inclusive and transformative economy; (d) planet: to protect our ecosystems for all societies and our children; (e) justice; to promote safe and peaceful societies and storng institutions; and (f) partnership: to catalyse global solidarity for sustainable development