12,770 research outputs found
Exchange-Repairs: Managing Inconsistency in Data Exchange
In a data exchange setting with target constraints, it is often the case that
a given source instance has no solutions. In such cases, the semantics of
target queries trivialize. The aim of this paper is to introduce and explore a
new framework that gives meaningful semantics in such cases by using the notion
of exchange-repairs. Informally, an exchange-repair of a source instance is
another source instance that differs minimally from the first, but has a
solution. Exchange-repairs give rise to a natural notion of exchange-repair
certain answers (XR-certain answers) for target queries. We show that for
schema mappings specified by source-to-target GAV dependencies and target
equality-generating dependencies (egds), the XR-certain answers of a target
conjunctive query can be rewritten as the consistent answers (in the sense of
standard database repairs) of a union of conjunctive queries over the source
schema with respect to a set of egds over the source schema, making it possible
to use a consistent query-answering system to compute XR-certain answers in
data exchange. We then examine the general case of schema mappings specified by
source-to-target GLAV constraints, a weakly acyclic set of target tgds and a
set of target egds. The main result asserts that, for such settings, the
XR-certain answers of conjunctive queries can be rewritten as the certain
answers of a union of conjunctive queries with respect to the stable models of
a disjunctive logic program over a suitable expansion of the source schema.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, submitted to the Journal on Data Semantic
Detection of Contact Binaries Using Sparse High Phase Angle Lightcurves
We show that candidate contact binary asteroids can be efficiently identified
from sparsely sampled photometry taken at phase angles >60deg. At high phase
angle, close/contact binary systems produce distinctive lightcurves that spend
most of the time at maximum or minimum (typically >1mag apart) brightness with
relatively fast transitions between the two. This means that a few (~5) sparse
observations will suffice to measure the large range of variation and identify
candidate contact binary systems. This finding can be used in the context of
all-sky surveys to constrain the fraction of contact binary near-Earth objects.
High phase angle lightcurve data can also reveal the absolute sense of the
spin.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in ApJ
John Carroll University Theatre presents The Little Theatre Society Story, 1949-1963
A short history of the theatre program at John Carroll University, describing the purpose and processes of the program, and directed toward the student body
Corticomotor excitability during precision motor tasks
The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate motor cortex (cortical) excitability between a similar fine visuomotor task of varying difficulty. Ten healthy adults (three female, seven male; 20—45 years of age) participated in the study. Participants were instructed to perform a fine visuomotor task by statically abducting their first index finger against a force transducer which displayed the level of force (represented as a marker) on a computer monitor. This marker was to be maintained between two stationary bars, also displayed on the computer monitor. The level of difficulty was increased by amplifying the position of the marker, making the task more difficult to control. Cortical measures of motor evoked potential (MEP) and silent period (SP) duration in first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle were obtained using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) while the participant maintained the ‘‘easy’’ or ‘‘difficult’’ static task. An 11.8% increase in MEP amplitude was observed when subjects undertook the ‘‘difficult’’ task, but no differences in MEP latency or SP duration. The results from this preliminary study suggest that cortical excitability increases reflect the demand required to perform tasks requiring greater precision with suggestions for further research discussed
Complexity transitions in global algorithms for sparse linear systems over finite fields
We study the computational complexity of a very basic problem, namely that of
finding solutions to a very large set of random linear equations in a finite
Galois Field modulo q. Using tools from statistical mechanics we are able to
identify phase transitions in the structure of the solution space and to
connect them to changes in performance of a global algorithm, namely Gaussian
elimination. Crossing phase boundaries produces a dramatic increase in memory
and CPU requirements necessary to the algorithms. In turn, this causes the
saturation of the upper bounds for the running time. We illustrate the results
on the specific problem of integer factorization, which is of central interest
for deciphering messages encrypted with the RSA cryptosystem.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure
Climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment for Fiji
All nations, including Fiji, that are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) are obliged to provide National Communications to the Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC. The COP4 stressed the need for parties to the Convention to take into account the need for establishing implementation strategies for adaptation to climate and sea-level changes. As such, Fiji is required to submit a National Communication document that shall include information on climate change vulnerability and adaptation implementation policies and strategies.
The methodology used in this assessment is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) technical guidelines (Carter et al, 1994) for assessing climate change impacts and adaptation. Firstly, the present conditions are examined and key sectors identified. Then, future climatic and non-climatic scenarios are used to examine the possible effects of climate and sea-level changes on the various sectors identified. These then form the basis for identifying possible adaptation response measures for endorsement, adoption and implementation by the Fiji government. Because of the many gaps in present knowledge, and the fact that this study is focussed only on Viti Levu, the recommendations in this report should be seen as starting point for an on-going process of vulnerability and adaptation assessment in Fij
A search for magnetic fields on central stars in planetary nebulae
One of the possible mechanisms responsible for the panoply of shapes in
planetary nebulae is the presence of magnetic fields that drive the ejection of
ionized material during the proto-planetary nebula phase. Therefore, detecting
magnetic fields in such objects is of key importance for understanding their
dynamics. Still, magnetic fields have not been detected using polarimetry in
the central stars of planetary nebulae. Circularly polarized light spectra have
been obtained with the Focal Reducer and Low Dispersion Spectrograph at the
Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory and the Intermediate
dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System at the William Herschel Telescope.
Nineteen planetary nebulae spanning very different morphology and evolutionary
stages have been selected. Most of central stars have been observed at
different rotation phases to point out evidence of magnetic variability. In
this paper, we present the result of two observational campaigns aimed to
detect and measure the magnetic field in the central stars of planetary nebulae
on the basis of low resolution spectropolarimetry. In the limit of the adopted
method, we can state that large scale fields of kG order are not hosted on the
central star of planetary nebulae.Comment: Paper accepted to be published in Astronomy and Astrophysics on
20/01/201
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