Enumerating Counter-Factual Type Error Messages with an Existing Type Checker (poster+demo)

The Hindley-Milner type system is a foundation for most statically typed functional programming languages, such as ML, OCaml and Haskell. This type system has many advantageous, but it does make type debugging hard: If a program is not well-typed, it can be difficult for the programmer to locate the cause of the type error, that is, to determine where to change the program how. Many solutions to the problem have been proposed. Here we propose a new solution with two distinctive advantages: It is easy to use for the functional programmer, because it appears to be only a minor extension of the type error messages they are already familiar with. It is easy to implement, because it does not require the implementation of a new type checker, but instead reuses any existing one as a subroutine (like [2])

Enumerating Counter-Factual Type Error Messages with an Existing Type Checker

The type error message of a standard type checker for a functional language gives only a single location as potential cause of the type error. If that location is not the cause, which often is the case, then the type error message hardly helps in locating the real cause. Here we present a method that uses a standard type checker to enumerate locations that potentially cause the type error, each with an actual and a counter-factual type for the given location. Adding our method to existing compilers requires only limited effort but improves type error debugging substantially

Comparative study of manufacturing techniques for coronagraphic binary pupil masks: masks on substrates and free-standing masks

We present a comparative study of the manufacture of binary pupil masks for coronagraphic observations of exoplanets. A checkerboard mask design, a type of binary pupil mask design, was adopted, and identical patterns of the same size were used for all the masks in order that we could compare the differences resulting from the different manufacturing methods. The masks on substrates had aluminum checkerboard patterns with thicknesses of 0.1/0.2/0.4/0.8/1.6$\mu$m constructed on substrates of BK7 glass, silicon, and germanium using photolithography and chemical processes. Free-standing masks made of copper and nickel with thicknesses of 2/5/10/20$\mu$m were also realized using photolithography and chemical processes, which included careful release from the substrate used as an intermediate step in the manufacture. Coronagraphic experiments using a visible laser were carried out for all the masks on BK7 glass substrate and the free-standing masks. The average contrasts were 8.4$\times10^{-8}$, 1.2$\times10^{-7}$, and 1.2$\times10^{-7}$ for the masks on BK7 substrates, the free-standing copper masks, and the free-standing nickel masks, respectively. No significant correlation was concluded between the contrast and the mask properties. The high contrast masks have the potential to cover the needs of coronagraphs for both ground-based and space-borne telescopes over a wide wavelength range. Especially, their application to the infrared space telescope, SPICA, is appropriate.Comment: 21 pates, 12 figures, 2 tables, accepted to PAS

Buddhism and Suicide: Voluntary Death and Its Philosophy

Japan, one of the leading industrial countries, has had one of the world’s highest suicide rates for years. This paper in its present form is a shortened version for publication in Assumption University’s journal “Prajna Vihara”. Since the limitation of space to 20 pages prevented a more exhaustive treatment of each chapter, this abbreviated version partially summarises Chapter 3 of my master’s dissertation, Ambiguity of Karmic Fate and Voluntary Death: Suicide Cases in Theravada Buddhism and Japanese Society. This concise version thus analyses the statistics of suicides followed by references to the unique methods employed and phenomena related to suicide in modern Japanese society. In addition, it examines particular acts of voluntary death in Japan with reference to their cultural, religious, and philosophical aspects. Japan has some unique tendencies in regard to the prevalence of suicide and an ‘aesthetics’ or philosophy of death. Hopefully the findings in this paper can contribute practical guidelines which can be applied to the social problems surrounding suicide while promoting the right attitudes towards life not only in Japan, but in the whole world

Impacts of the Game-Centered Approach on Cognitive Learning of Game Play and Game Performance during 5-week of Spring Season with Intercollegiate Female Soccer Players

Game-centered approaches have been increasingly recognized for their features and the impacts in coaching profession. Research with the game-centered approach is still underdeveloped in coaching sports and physical activities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the impacts of the game-centered approach on cognitive learning of game play and game performance during 5-week of spring season with intercollegiate female soccer players. Game performances at beginning, mid, and end of the season were examined through Game Performance Assessment Inventory (GPAI) with seventeen participants. Cognitive learning of game play was also assessed with instant recalls and practice journals with all participants as well as simulated recall with three target players. Results indicated the potential to improve the players’ game performance with the game-centered approach through reinforcing the recognition of more quality game information in larger scale and the adjustments on and off the ball movements. In the complex and dynamic game learning situation, the players were seemed to identify the key tactical/technical components of the soccer game. The learning process supported the cognitive learning of game play by interacting mind and body as well as building different domains of game knowledge through the game-centered approach. The players used the game information to make adaptations through the complex game situation, and then constructed and built the cognitive representation which became more meaningful knowledge in the game. Additionally, this study positively supported the game learning through social interaction. The players were encouraged to communicate with each other, construct the tactical meaning through the interaction with other players, and reflect on their learning in the game situation. In conclusion, the players’ cognitive learning with and without the ball was enhanced by being able to analyze more quality game information and linking different domain-specific knowledge. There were also some positive components which could have indicated the potential improvement of actual game performance. Additionally, the players seemed to be encouraged to carefully observe the game situation, analyze them, make tactical decisions, and construct game knowledge through the collaboration of body and mind as well as the social interaction with other players