Abstraction-Based Output-Feedback Control with State-Based Specifications

We consider abstraction-based design of output-feedback controllers for non-linear dynamical systems against specifications over state-based predicates in linear-time temporal logic (LTL). In this context, our contribution is two-fold: (I) we generalize feedback-refinement relations for abstraction-based output-feedback control to systems with arbitrary predicate and observation maps, and (II) we introduce a new algorithm for the synthesis of abstract output-feedback controllers w.r.t. LTL specifications over unobservable state-based predicates. Our abstraction-based output-feedback controller synthesis algorithm consists of two steps. First, we compute a finite state abstraction of the original system using existing techniques. This process typically leads to an abstract system with non-deterministic predicate and observation maps which are not necessarily related to each other. Second, we introduce an algorithm to compute an output-feedback controller for such abstract systems. Our algorithm is inspired by reactive synthesis under partial observation and utilizes bounded synthesis

ON SOME EQUIVALENCE RELATION ON NON-ABELIAN \CA-GROUPS

A non-abelian group $G$ is called a \CA-group (\CC-group) if $C_G(x)$ is abelian(cyclic) for all $x\in G\setminus Z(G)$. We say $x\sim y$ if and only if $C_G(x)=C_G(y)$.We denote the equivalence class including $x$ by$[x]_{\sim}$. In this paper, we prove thatif $G$ is a \CA-group and $[x]_{\sim}=xZ(G)$, for all $x\in G$, then $2^{r-1}\leq|G'|\leq 2^{r\choose 2}$.where $\frac {|G|}{|Z(G)|}=2^{r}, 2\leq r$ and characterize all groups whose $[x]_{\sim}=xZ(G)$for all $x\in G$ and $|G|\leq 100$. Also, we will show that if $G$ is a \CC-group and $[x]_{\sim}=xZ(G)$,for all $x \in G$, then $G\cong C_m\times Q_8$ where $C_m$ is a cyclic group of odd order $m$ andif $G$ is a \CC-group and $[x]_{\sim}=x^G$, for all $x\in G\setminus Z(G)$, then $G\cong Q_8$

Life history traits and gonad histology of an endemic cyprinid fish, Mond spotted barb, Capoeta mandica from Southern Iran

The life history traits and gonad development of an endemic cyprinid fish, the spotted barb, Capoeta mandica (Bianco & Banarescu 1982), from southern Iran was investigated by regular monthly collections from February 2006 through January 2007 and on the basis of microscopic and macroscopic analyses. No information on the spawning characteristics of the fish are available to date. A total of 335 specimens were captured using electrofishing including 253 males and 102 females, resulting in 2.5:1 (male: female) sex ratio, which is significantly different from the expected ratio. The commonly known five standard maturation stages were determined based on the size, shape and weight of the gonads, degree of occupation of the body cavity, presence or absence of ripe oocytes, or milt, diameter of the oocytes in the ovary, and histological observations. These stages were correlated to the reproductive indices. The ovum diameters ranged from 0.04 to 1.31 mm, with the highest mean value in May. The condition factor of male and female specimens was the highest in April. The female GSI increased from March to May, peaking in the middle of spring and decreased significantly in June. Based on the gonad maturation stages, gonadosomatic index (GSI), modified GSI, mean egg diameter, condition factor (K) and Dobriyal index (DI), it was concluded that the spotted barb spawns during May and June. The provided data, contribute baseline data towards management ecology and conservation of this endemic fish species

Modelling passengers in air-rail multimodality

Air-rail mobility has the potential to play a significant role in addressing European mobility challenges such as emissions reduction and capacity shortages. Rail can complement the air network in different ways: enlarging airport catchment areas, supporting operations in case of disruption or replacing air links to obtain environmental benefits. There is, however, still a need to better understand the potential role of rail when substituting current air links both from a strategic and a tactical mobility perspective, particularly when passenger connections are considered. This was initially assessed, considering passengers' door-to-door itineraries, as part of the Modus project (H2020 - SESAR 2020) with an innovative approach towards data driven, integrated air-rail modelling. Further considerations, such as the evaluation of strategic and tactical multimodal solutions, will be explored in the MultiModX project (Horizon Europe - SESAR 3). This discussion paper presents the modelling challenges addressed in Modus and the approach defined for MultiModX to evaluate and model multimodal door-to-door solutions

Modus D5.2 Final project results report

The Final Project Results Report of the Modus project provides a comprehensive overview of the project. First, it outlines the operational context, the project scope and the objectives in order to show the relevance of the project to the ATM Master Plan as well as other European high-level strategic mobility agendas. Based on this scope and the objectives, the report describes the work performed and discusses the key project results, including a list of all technical deliverables. Based on the work performed and the results, the report contains a detailed maturity gate assessment which described the Modus solution and how this solution has been achieved. Furthermore, the report describes the overall conclusions of the project, the technical lessons learned and identifies further R&D needs

Learning from Children: Improving Image-Caption Pretraining via Curriculum

Image-caption pretraining has been quite successfully used for downstream vision tasks like zero-shot image classification and object detection. However, image-caption pretraining is still a hard problem -- it requires multiple concepts (nouns) from captions to be aligned to several objects in images. To tackle this problem, we go to the roots -- the best learner, children. We take inspiration from cognitive science studies dealing with children's language learning to propose a curriculum learning framework. The learning begins with easy-to-align image caption pairs containing one concept per caption. The difficulty is progressively increased with each new phase by adding one more concept per caption. Correspondingly, the knowledge acquired in each learning phase is utilized in subsequent phases to effectively constrain the learning problem to aligning one new concept-object pair in each phase. We show that this learning strategy improves over vanilla image-caption training in various settings -- pretraining from scratch, using a pretrained image or/and pretrained text encoder, low data regime etc.Comment: ACL Findings 202

Modus D4.2 Mobility models description

Air-rail multimodal mobility has the potential to play a significant role in addressing European mobility challenges such as emissions reduction goals, and capacity shortages, and in moving towards a wider European multimodal transport network. There is still a need to better understand the potential role of rail when substituting current air links both from a strategic and a full, tactical mobility perspective, particularly when passenger connections are considered. Here we present the development of an innovative approach towards data driven, integrated air-rail modelling, considering passenger door-to-door itineraries

Future multimodal mobility scenarios within Europe

The European transport system faces multiple pressing challenges, including the need for significant emissions reduction in the sector and the provision of a seamless, multimodal journey to travellers. In order to address these challenges, a thorough understanding and assessment of different development pathways are required. This paper elaborates on four different scenarios developed within the scope of the Modus project. Based on these as well as additional insights from experts of the air and rail sector, initial implications for emissions reduction potential, travel times, or technological options are discussed

Perceptual snoring as a basis for a psychoacoustical modeling and clinical patient profiling

Purpose The perceptual burden and social nuisance for mainly the co-sleeper can affect the relationship between snorer and bedpartner. Mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are commonly recommended to treat sleep-related breathing such as snoring or sleep apnea. There is no consensus about the definition of snoring particularly with MAD, which is essential for assessing the effectiveness of treatment. We aimed to stablish a notion of perceptual snoring with MAD in place. Methods Sound samples, each 30 min long, were recorded during in-home, overnight, automatic mandibular repositioning titration studies in a population of 29 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) from a clinical trial carried out to validate the MATRx plus. Three unspecialized and calibrated raters identified sound events and classified them as noise, snore, or breathing as well as providing scores for classification certainty and annoyance. Data were analyzed with respect to expiration-inspiration, duration, annoyance, and classification certainty. Results A Fleiss' kappa (>0.80) and correlation duration of events (>0.90) between raters were observed. Prevalence of all breath sounds: snore 55.6% (N = 6398), breathing sounds 31.7% (N = 3652), and noise 9.3% (N = 1072). Inspiration occurs in 88.3% of events, 96.8% contained at least on expiration phase. Snore and breath events had similar duration, respectively 2.58s (sd 1.43) and 2.41s (sd 1.22). Annoyance is lowest for breathing events (8.00 sd 0.98) and highest for snore events (4.90 sd 1.92) on a VAS from zero to ten. Conclusion Perceptual sound events can be a basis for analysis in a psychosocial context. Perceived snoring occurs during both expiration as well as inspiration. Substantial amount of snoring remains despite repositioning of the mandible aimed at the reduction of AHI-ODI

Immunosenescence and its hallmarks: How to oppose aging strategically? A review of potential options for therapeutic intervention

Aging is accompanied by remodeling of the immune system. With time, this leads to a decline in immune efficacy, resulting in increased vulnerability to infectious diseases, diminished responses to vaccination, and a susceptibility to age-related inflammatory diseases. An age-associated immune alteration, extensively reported in previous studies, is the reduction in the number of peripheral blood naive cells, with a relative increase in the frequency of memory cells. These two alterations, together with inflamm-aging, are considered the hallmarks of immunosenescence. Because aging is a plastic process, it is influenced by both nutritional and pharmacological interventions. Therefore, the role of nutrition and of immunomodulation in immunosenescence is discussed, due to the multifactorial influence on these hallmarks. The close connection between nutrition, intake of bioactive nutrients and supplements, immune function, and inflammation demonstrate the key role of dietary strategies as regulators of immune response and inflammatory status, hence as possible modulators of the rate of immunosenescence. In addition, potential options for therapeutic intervention are clarified. In particular, the use of interleukin-7 as growth factor for naive T cells, the function of checkpoint inhibitors in improving T cell responses during aging and, the potential of drugs that inhibit mitogen-activated protein kinases and their interaction with nutrient signaling pathways are discussed. Finally, it is suggested that the inclusion of appropriate combinations of toll-like receptor agonists may enhance the efficacy of vaccination in older adults