A new model for probabilistic databases, using interval-valued conditional probability assessments, is proposed. The concept of coherence adopted in our approach is based on a suitable generalization of the coherence principle of de Finetti and can be related to similar definitions given for lower and upper probabilities by other authors. A corresponding probabilistic relational algebra is intr...

We present a generalizable formal model of software readability based on a human study of 5000 participants. Readability is fundamental to maintenance, but remains poorly understood. Previous models focused on symbol counts of small code snippets. By contrast, we approach code as read on screens by humans and propose to analyze visual, spatial and linguistic features, including structural patte...

The general strategy in attempts to understand metabolism is based on the assumption that a very large class of anomalous phenomena rely on same basic mechanism. This includes life as a phenomenon, water memory and homeopathy, free energy phenomena involving over-unity phenomena related to the dissociation of water, lightning and ball lightning, anomalous effects associated with rotating magnet...

We propose a general chemotactic model describing a system of interacting elements. Each element in this model exhibits internal dynamics, and there exists a nonlinear coupling between elements that depends on their internal states. From this model, we derive a simpler model describing the phases and positions of the chemotactic elements by means of center-manifold and phase-reduction methods. ...

In an interdependent world the risks faced by any one agent depend not only on its choices but also on those of all others. Expectations about others’ choices will influence investments in risk-management, and the outcome can be suboptimal for everyone. We model this as the Nash equilibrium of a game and give conditions for such a sub-optimal equilibrium to be tipped to an optimal one. We also ...