Database Queries that Explain their Work

Provenance for database queries or scientific workflows is often motivated as providing explanation, increasing understanding of the underlying data sources and processes used to compute the query, and reproducibility, the capability to recompute the results on different inputs, possibly specialized to a part of the output. Many provenance systems claim to provide such capabilities; however, most lack formal definitions or guarantees of these properties, while others provide formal guarantees only for relatively limited classes of changes. Building on recent work on provenance traces and slicing for functional programming languages, we introduce a detailed tracing model of provenance for multiset-valued Nested Relational Calculus, define trace slicing algorithms that extract subtraces needed to explain or recompute specific parts of the output, and define query slicing and differencing techniques that support explanation. We state and prove correctness properties for these techniques and present a proof-of-concept implementation in Haskell.Comment: PPDP 201

Nonprofit Capacity Assessment: Indiana Charities, 2007

Presents findings from a survey of Indiana nonprofit organizations about their needs for technical assistance and capacity building. Aims to provide grantmakers with reliable data to inform charitable efforts and strategies in these areas

Special Project+ National Security

National security has become a hotly debated issue since September 11, 2001. National security has always been of great concern to the government; however former Defense Secretary McNamara\u27s thoughts indicate that national security has now also become an important topic for all individuals to consider.2 The policy and process of U.S. national security has evolved significantly throughout this country\u27s history, particularly in the years since September 11

The Effect of Inescapable Shock on Competitive Dominance in Rats

Experimental examination of the generality of learned helplessness has previously been confined to treatment and tests employing aversive motivators, such as electric shock. In the present study, rats were used to evaluate the effect of inescapable shock on their performance in a water test of competitive dominance which employs no aversive motivator. The subjects were paired and pre-tested for competitive dominance. In the experimental groups one member of each pair was treated with inescapable shock and the pairs were then post-tested for competitive dominance either 48, 72, or 168 hours after treatment. The control subjects were pre- and post-tested with no treatment intervening. Competitive dominance ranks were assigned to subjects after each test. Rank differences from pre- to post-test were analyzed for treated and control subjects. Controls showed no shifts in dominance from pre- to post-test, while significant shifts toward subordination appeared in all three experimental groups. No treated subjects showed shifts toward dominance. Significant pre- to post-test differences in drinking time were produced in all treatment groups, with the greatest difference at 72 hours after treatment. These results parallel those of Glazer and Weiss (1976) for escape time latencies at different times of posttreatment testing. The results of the present study, in contrast to those of Glazer and Weiss, cannot be accounted for by the principles of stimulus control. Instead, they support the claim of Maier and Seligman (1976) for considerable generality to the effect of learned helplessness, though the generality observed in this study is not explained by current principles of learning theory

Implementation of a Land and Aquatic-Based Physical Therapy Program for a 6-Year-Old Male with Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome: A Case Report

Background & Purpose: There is little research surrounding Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS) in all aspects of patient care, including physical therapy. AGS, a rare, early-onset, neurodegenerative disorder, includes symptoms of postnatal microcephaly, spasticity, muscle hypotonia, and developmental delay. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a land and aquatic-based physical therapy treatment program for improving functional limitations and balance for a 6 year-old male referred to physical therapy for developmental delay secondary to an onset of AGS. Case Description: This case study included a land and aquatic-based physical therapy treatment program focused on neuromuscular re-education, strengthening exercises, weight-bearing activities, and passive range of motion exercises in order to slow the patient’s decline of function. To measure the impact of the intervention the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) was used to measure capability and performance of selected functional activities within the domains of self-care, mobility, and social function. Balance was also observed in a variety of positions in order to determine how long a patient could maintain a given position unassisted. Outcomes: The patient demonstrated an increase in his ability to sit unsupported in a tailored-sitting position from one second to five seconds. The patient also demonstrated a slight decrease in a few scores on the PEDI, including the Functional Skills domains of Mobility (20.9 to 18.2), Social Function (39.6 to 37.9), and the Caregiver Assistance domain of Social Function (20.4 to 11.3). Discussion: The results from this case report demonstrated that a physical therapy treatment program may positively impact functional balance in a child with AGS, however it may not contribute to improvements in the patient’s ability to perform overall functional activities. Additional research could include longitudinal studies starting immediately post diagnosis of AGS, as children may live with the affects of AGS for several years post diagnosis

Nominal Logic Programming

Nominal logic is an extension of first-order logic which provides a simple foundation for formalizing and reasoning about abstract syntax modulo consistent renaming of bound names (that is, alpha-equivalence). This article investigates logic programming based on nominal logic. We describe some typical nominal logic programs, and develop the model-theoretic, proof-theoretic, and operational semantics of such programs. Besides being of interest for ensuring the correct behavior of implementations, these results provide a rigorous foundation for techniques for analysis and reasoning about nominal logic programs, as we illustrate via examples.Comment: 46 pages; 19 page appendix; 13 figures. Revised journal submission as of July 23, 200

Leaving No Loopholes for Terrorist Financing: The Implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act in the Real Estate Field

September 11, 2001 began like any other day but took a drastic turn at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time when a plane, hijacked by terrorists, crashed into the northern tower of the World Trade Center, setting it afire. As Americans mourned in silence, a second plane rammed through the southern tower of the World Trade Center at 9:05 a.m. and set it aflame. The horror continued, as a third plane crashed into the Pentagon, a fourth diverted into a field in Pennsylvania, and both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed. It did not take long for Americans to realize they had been attacked on their own soil by an impervious enemy - terrorists. This kind of attack was unprecedented in U.S. history, and the death toll reached nearly 3,000 within a few hours. President George W. Bush addressed the nation on the night of September 11, stating: Terrorist acts can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.. .Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America. Americans quickly determined that not only had terrorists attacked on U.S. soil, but also that terrorists had taken advantage of the U.S. financial system to fund the horrific events of September 11. Government officials suspected that the terrorists laundered money through banks in the United States and abroad, and through other highly valuable assets, including real estate. Consequently, not only did the events of September 11 leave an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of Americans, but these events dramatically changed the country\u27s economy, government, industry, and politics. One area of the economy remained stable despite the tragic events of September 11: real estate. It remains to be seen, however, whether this sector of the U.S. economy will escape the consequences of the tragedy. On October 26, 2001, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act ( Patriot Act ) was signed into law. The stated purpose of the law was to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes. 10 Towards that end, the Patriot Act enhanced the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act to eliminate money laundering as Congress determined that money laundering had partially funded the terrorist activities.\u27 Included in the Bank Secrecy Act\u27s definition of financial institutions, adopted by the Patriot Act, were persons involved in real estate closings and settlements. The Bank Secrecy Act required the creation of a paper trail of important financial records when a transaction involved large amounts of currency to further its goal of protect[ing] against international terrorism. The Patriot Act expanded these existing reporting requirements and strengthened communication among the reporting entities.\u27 The Act also empowered the Treasury Department to determine the extent to which it would regulate certain financial institutions under the Patriot Act. The Department, however, has yet to render a decision regarding the real estate sector

Dynamic Excitation for Geotechnical Centrifuge Modelling

The method of physical modeling in the centrifuge is growing in acceptance in the U.S.A. following many years of use in U.S.S.R., Denmark, England, Norway, France and Japan. Simulation of dynamic events (machine vibration, wave forces, and earthquake) in modeling in the centrifuge has important applications, especially on the large national Geotechical Centrifuge being constructed at NASA-ARC. The most difficult problem is that of earthquake simulation. Several schemes for light weight shakers have been proposed in a Workshop on Dynamic Excitation for Geotechnical Centrifuge Model Testing held in August, 1979. More recently, a scheme has been presented which utilizes traveling waves generated through a diaphragm at the side of the container which has many promising advantages and does not negate the work done in shaker development, but improves their utilization

Demand for Information Technology Workers in Central Florida

This is a study which attempts to determine the current and future demand for Information technology (IT) employees. A total of fifty-two (52) organizations from Central Florida responded to this study. Several interesting findings included: 1) seventy-five percent of the companies surveyed have a current hiring freeze in place for IT positions; 2) by 2006 forty percent of the companies are expected to resume hiring some IT personnel; 3) the areas of security, client support, systems analysis and consulting show the greatest demand and; 4) the most essential skills for an entry level IT position include: communications (verbal and written), database, system analysis and project management

Manure- Valuable Soil Builder

Good farmers for years have considered the manure produced on their farms a valuable fertilizer and many carefully conducted experiments have shown that these farmers have been right