Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do some AGN lack X-ray emission?

Context. Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) are thought to be the seeds of early supermassive black holes (SMBHs). While ≳100 IMBH and small SMBH candidates have been identified in recent years, few have been robustly confirmed to date, leaving their number density in considerable doubt. Placing firmer constraints both on the methods used to identify and confirm IMBHs/SMBHs, as well as characterizing the range of host environments that IMBHs/SMBHs likely inhabit is therefore of considerable interest and importance. Additionally, finding significant numbers of IMBHs in metal-poor systems would be particularly intriguing, since such systems may represent local analogs of primordial galaxies, and therefore could provide clues of early accretion processes. Aims. Here we study in detail several candidate active galactic nuclei (AGN) found in metal-poor hosts. Methods. We utilize new X-ray and optical observations to characterize these metal-poor AGN candidates and compare them against known AGN luminosity relations and well-characterized IMBH/SMBH samples. Results. Despite having clear broad optical emission lines that are long-lived (≳10−13 yr), these candidate AGN appear to lack associated strong X-ray and hard UV emission, lying at least 1−2 dex off the known AGN correlations. If they are IMBHs/SMBHs, our constraints imply that they either are not actively accreting, their accretion disks are fully obscured along our line-of-sight, or their accretion disks are not producing characteristic high energy emission. Alternatively, if they are not AGN, then their luminous broad emission lines imply production by extreme stellar processes. The latter would have profound implications on the applicability of broad lines for mass estimates of massive black holes.
Optimal scheduling and power control for tdma based point to multipoint wireless networks

In TDMA-based point-to-multipoint rural wireless deployments, co-located base station radios and sector antennas are used to increase base station capacity. To achieve maximum capacity with limited availability of non-overlapping wireless channels, we need to operate as many radios as possible from different sectors on the same channel. However, operating co-located radios on the same channel can result in substantial interference especially with the current practice of operating all radios at maximum power. We investigate techniques that increase network throughput by eliminating this interference. To this end we formulate an LP optimization problem that maximizes throughput by computing optimal transmit schedules, optimal allocation of clients to base station radios, and optimal radio power levels. Our results suggest that there is a large gap between currently-used and optimal strategies, creating opportunities for simple, practical algorithms to address these issues. Our techniques are equally applicable to both WiFi based networks as well as other point-to-multipoint technologies such as WiMax.
Complementarity, F-score, and NLP Evaluation

This paper addresses the problem of quantifying the differences between entity extraction systems, where in general only a small proportion a document should be selected. Comparing overall accuracy is not very useful in these cases, as small differences in accuracy may correspond to huge differences in selections over the target minority class. Conventionally, one may use per-token complementarity to describe these differences, but it is not very useful when the set is heavily skewed. In such situations, which are common in information retrieval and entity recognition, metrics like precision and recall are typically used to describe performance. However, precision and recall fail to describe the differences between sets of objects selected by different decision strategies, instead just describing the proportional amount of correct and incorrect objects selected. This paper presents a method for measuring complementarity for precision, recall and F-score, quantifying the difference between entity extraction approaches.
Explanations from knowledge-based systems and cooperative problem solving: an empirical study

Explanations are expected to play an important role when knowledge-based systems are used for cooperative problem solving. In this context both human and machine contribute to the procedures, constraints and strategies used in the problem-solving process. An increased need for explanations in this context is congruent with a cognitive-effort perspective and the Production Paradox observed with on-line help systems. This article describes an investigation of the role of explanations in cooperative problem solving. An experimental field study was performed with 41 users and an operational system for personal financial planning. The experiment showed a requirement for cooperative problem solving was associated with greater use of explanations. This effect was more marked with those users who had more fully explored the use of explanations during a preliminary stage of guided problem solving. The frequency of use of explanations in total was positively related to problem-solving performance. There was some evidence that the positive relationship between explanations and improved performance was more noticeable when problems requiring cooperation were undertaken.
Test planning and design space exploration in a core-based environment

This paper proposes a comprehensive model for test planning in a core-based environment. The main contribution of this work is the use of several types of TAMs and the consideration of different optimization factors (area, ping and test time) during the global TAM and test schedule definition. This expansion of concerns makes possible an efficient yet fine-grained search in the huge design space of a reuse-based environment. Experimental results clearly show the variety of trade-offs that can be explored using the proposed model, and its effectiveness on optimizing the system test design.
Content-based methods for the management of digital music

The literature on content-based music retrieval has largely finessed acoustic issues by using MIDI format music. This paper however considers content-based classification and retrieval of a typical (MPEG layer III) digital music archive. Two statistical techniques are investigated and appraised. Gaussian mixture modelling performs well with an accuracy of 92% on a music classification task. A tree-based vector quantization scheme offers marginally worse performance in a faster, scalable framework. Good results are also reported for music retrieval-by-similarity using the same techniques. Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients parameterize the audio well, though are slow to compute from the compressed domain. A new parameterization (MP3CEP), based on a partial decompression of MPEG layer III audio, is therefore proposed to facilitate music processing at user-interactive speeds. Overall, the techniques described provide useful tools in the management of a typical digital music library.
Are there species smaller than 1 mm?

The rapid advance in genetic sequencing technologies has provided an unprecedented amount of data on the biodiversity of meiofauna. It was hoped that these data would allow the identification and counting of species, distinguished as tight clusters of similar genomes. Surprisingly, this appears not to be the case. Here, we begin a theoretical discussion of this phenomenon, drawing on an individual-based ecological model to inform our arguments. The determining factor in the emergence (or not) of distinguishable genetic clusters in the model is the product of population size with mutation rate—a measure of the adaptability of the population as a whole. This result suggests that indeed one should not expect to observe clearly distinguishable species groupings in data gathered from ultrasequencing of meiofauna.
Flexible segments modulate co-folding of dUTPase and nucleocapsid proteins

The homotrimeric fusion protein nucleocapsid (NC)-dUTPase combines domains that participate in RNA/DNA folding, reverse transcription, and DNA repair in Mason-Pfizer monkey betaretrovirus infected cells. The structural organization of the fusion protein remained obscured by the N- and C-terminal flexible segments of dUTPase and the linker region connecting the two domains that are invisible in electron density maps. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that upon oligonucleotide binding the NC domains adopt the trimeric symmetry of dUTPase. High-resolution X-ray structures together with molecular modeling indicate that fusion with NC domains dramatically alters the conformation of the flexible C-terminus by perturbing the orientation of a critical β-strand. Consequently, the C-terminal segment is capable of double backing upon the active site of its own monomer and stabilized by non-covalent interactions formed with the N-terminal segment. This co-folding of the dUTPase terminal segments, not observable in other homologous enzymes, is due to the presence of the fused NC domain. Structural and genomic advantages of fusing the NC domain to a shortened dUTPase in betaretroviruses and the possible physiological consequences are envisaged.
A new look at World of Warcraft's social landscape

World of Warcraft (WoW) is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) supporting complex social interactions among over 12 million players. While the "lone gamer" stereotype still persists, there is little data on gaming with other players with whom one shares a "real life" (RL) social relationship. Our work departs from previous studies in focusing on the hybrid of online and offline sociality, rather than only one or the other. We provide perhaps the first systematic quantitative characterization of MMO play with RL friends, family and other social connections. A large online survey collected data from 2865 WoW players from the US, Europe, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The findings overwhelmingly support the view that playing WoW may often serve to enhance, not diminish, RL social interactions. In addition, we present benchmark results on demographics and WoW play practices in world regions previously not studied. The consistency of the patterns of findings across East/West and gender groupings suggests fascinating issues for further research.
Exergaming and obesity in youth: current perspectives

Although exergaming has been used as a physical activity modality among various populations, the evidence regarding its effectiveness on health-related outcomes in overweight/obese individuals remains unclear. The current study systematically reviewed literature and summarized findings of exergame-based interventions in overweight/obese populations with the goal of clarifying the current perspectives on exergaming and obesity. The initial search yielded 202 articles from six databases; 12 studies were included after evaluating for inclusion criteria and removing duplicates. Among these studies, seven were randomized controlled trials, two were control trials, and three were comparison studies. Overall, exergaming has the potential to attenuate weight gain and shows promise when used for physical activity and physical fitness promotion. Further, exergame play is positively associated with psychological well-being, but its effects on physiological outcomes are inconclusive. Finally, effects of exergaming on energy intake are not clear. Existing evidence supports that exergaming may elicit some health benefits in people who are overweight or/and obese. The limited number of available randomized controlled trials, however, restrict the ability to draw a conclusion that exergaming can trigger a change in all health-related outcomes. More research is warranted to make definitive conclusions regarding the effects of exergaming on health-related outcomes in such populations.
Active vertical-coupler-based optical crosspoint switch matrix for optical packet-switching applications

Packet-switching characteristics are optimized across an integrated 4 /spl times/ 4 optical crosspoint switch matrix consisting of active vertical-coupler-based switch cells. Optical gain difference between the shortest and the longest paths less than 3 dB is demonstrated. Bit error rate (BER) and power penalty measurements during packet routing have also been carried out over the entire 4 /spl times/ 4 matrix. At a 10-Gb/s packet data rate, a less than 1-dB power penalty is observed across the switch matrix, and the possibility for error-free packet routing is demonstrated with no BER floor observed.
Thermodynamically Consistent, Frame Indifferent Diffuse Interface Models for Incompressible Two-Phase Flows with Different Densities

A new diffuse interface model for a two-phase flow of two incompressible fluids with different densities is introduced using methods from rational continuum mechanics. The model fulfills local and global dissipation inequalities and is frame indifferent. Moreover, it is generalized to situations with a soluble species. Using the method of matched asymptotic expansions we derive various sharp interface models in the limit when the interfacial thickness tends to zero. Depending on the scaling of the mobility in the diffusion equation we either derive classical sharp interface models or models where bulk or surface diffusion is possible in the limit. In the latter case a new term resulting from surface diffusion appears in the momentum balance at the interface. Finally, we show that all sharp interface models fulfill natural energy inequalities.
Dilated Intercellular Spaces of Esophageal Epithelium in Nonerosive Reflux Disease Patients with Physiological Esophageal Acid Exposure

OBJECTIVES:It has been demonstrated that dilation of intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium is a marker of tissue injury in GERD patients with a pathological esophageal acid exposure time. To evaluate the relationship among ultrastructural changes, acid esophageal exposure, and GERD symptoms, intercellular space diameters have been assessed in nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) patients with/without abnormal acid exposure time.METHODS:Following a pharmacological wash-out, 20 NERD patients underwent upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and 24-h pH monitoring. Biopsies were taken at 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter and intercellular space diameters were measured on transmission electron microscopy photomicrographs. Seven asymptomatic controls underwent the same protocol.RESULTS:Acid exposure time was in the normal range in all controls and in 11 patients (NERD pH-negative); it was abnormal in 9 patients (NERD pH-positive). Mean intercellular space diameter in NERD pH-negative and in NERD pH-positive patients was three times greater than in controls (1.45 and 1.49 μm vs 0.45, p < 0.001). Mean values of maximum intercellular spaces in all NERD patients were greater, two-fold or more, than those in controls (p < 0.001). No difference in mean and maximal space diameters was observed between NERD pH-positive and pH-negative patients.CONCLUSIONS:Dilation of intercellular spaces is a feature of NERD patients, irrespective of esophageal acid exposure, and can be considered an objective, structural marker of GERD symptoms. Impaired esophageal mucosal resistance, even to small amounts of acid refluxate, plays a key role in the pathophysiology of NERD.
A putative placebo analysis of the effects of LCZ696 on clinical outcomes in heart failure

Aims Although active-controlled trials with renin–angiotensin inhibitors are ethically mandated in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, clinicians and regulators often want to know how the experimental therapy would perform compared with placebo. The angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 was compared with enalapril in PARADIGM-HF. We made indirect comparisons of the effects of LCZ696 with putative placebos. Methods and results We used the treatment-arm of the Studies Of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD-T) as the reference trial for comparison of an ACE inhibitor to placebo and the Candesartan in Heart failure: Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity-Alternative trial (CHARM-Alternative) as the reference trial for comparison of an ARB to placebo. The hazard ratio of LCZ696 vs. a putative placebo was estimated through the product of the hazard ratio of LCZ696 vs. enalapril (active-control) and that of the historical active-control (enalapril or candesartan) vs. placebo. For the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization in PARADIGM-HF, the relative risk reduction with LCZ696 vs. a putative placebo from SOLVD-T was 43% (95%CI 34–50%; P < 0.0001) with similarly large effects on cardiovascular death (34%, 21–44%; P < 0.0001) and heart failure hospitalization (49%, 39–58%; P < 0.0001). For all-cause mortality, the reduction compared with a putative placebo was 28% (95%CI 15–39%; P < 0.0001). Putative placebo analyses based on CHARM-Alternative gave relative risk reductions of 39% (95%CI 27–48%; P < 0.0001) for the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization, 32% (95%CI 16–45%; P < 0.0001) for cardiovascular death, 46% (33–56%; P < 0.0001) for heart failure hospitalization, and 26% (95%CI 11–39%; P < 0.0001) for all-cause mortality. Conclusion These indirect comparisons of LCZ696 with a putative placebo show that the strategy of combined angiotensin receptor blockade and neprilysin inhibition led to striking reductions in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, as well as heart failure hospitalization. These benefits were obtained even though LCZ696 was added to comprehensive background beta-blocker and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist therapy.
The Entity-Relationship model

The importance of the Entity-Relationship in the understanding of data base design is discussed as is the relative importance that many Universities give to its teaching. The amount of time of those Universities, that allow public access to database program syllabuses, is contrasted and a simulation that allows the experimentation with various forms of the Entity-Relationship model is also discussed. A brief explanation is given about Entity Relationship diagrams for background. There will be some discussion of a personal nature about getting to grips with the ER model.
Working Memory and Lexical Ambiguity Resolution as Revealed by ERPs: A Difficult Case for Activation Theories

This series of three event-related potential experiments explored the issue of whether the underlying mechanism of working memory (WM) supporting language processing is inhibitory or activational in nature. These different cognitive mechanisms have been proposed to explain the more efficient processing of subjects with a high WM span compared to those with a low WM span. Participants with high and low WM span were presented with sentences containing a homonym followed three words later by a nominal disambiguation cue and a final disambiguation using a verb. At the position of the disambiguation cue, inhibitory or activational WM mechanisms predict contrasting results. When activation is the underlying mechanism for efficient processing, the prediction is that high memory span persons activate both meanings of the homonym equally in WM, whereas low memory span persons only have one meaning present. When inhibition is the underlying mechanism, the predictions are the reverse. The ERP data, in particular, the variations of the meaning related N400 component, showed clear evidence for inhibition as the underlying cognitive mechanism in high-span readers. For low-span participants the cueing towards the dominant or the subordinate meaning elicited an equivalently large N400 component suggesting that both meanings are active in WM. In highspan subjects, the dominant disambiguation cue elicited a smaller N400 than the subordinate one, indicating that for these subjects particularly the dominant meaning is active. The experiments showed that inhibitory processes are probably underlying WM used during language comprehension in high-span subjects. Moreover, they demonstrate that these subjects can use their inhibition in a more flexible manner than low-span subjects. The effects that these processing differences have on the efficiency of language parsing are discussed.
Development and Test of a Theory of Applicant Reactions to Branched Situational Judgment Tests

DEVELOPMENT AND TEST OF A THEORY OF APPLICANT REACTIONS TO BRANCHED SITUATIONAL JUDGMENT TESTS Craig Matthew Reddock Old Dominion University, 2017 Director: Dr. Richard N. Landers Branched situational judgment tests (BSJTs) are a recent innovation in personnel selection. Yet, there is little research supporting their use. Data from a qualitative pilot study indicated that BSJTs are expected to result in more positive applicant reactions. Using a grounded theory approach, Study 1 developed a theoretical model of the impact of branching on applicant reactions. Several perceived procedure characteristics were theorized to mediate the relationship between both the general use of branching as well as different branching features and applicant perceptions. Study 2 empirically tested the model developed in Study 1. Results indicated that consistency of administration mediated the relationship between general branching and motivation and the relationship between general branching and procedural justice. Although branching in general resulted in increased motivation, it resulted in decreased perceptions of fairness. Consistency of administration also mediated the relationship between the use of parallel branching, a specific branching feature, and procedural justice, as well as between parallel branching and test attitude. BSJTs that utilized parallel branches resulted in more positive perceptions of fairness and test attitude. Looping had a positive impact on perceptions of fairness, though this relationship was not mediated by opportunity to perform. Limitations and practical implications are discussed.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Positive Thyroid Incidentaloma: The Risk of Malignancy Observed in a Tertiary Referral Center

An incidental finding of focal thyroid uptake (thyroid incidentaloma) from an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) positron presents a diagnostic challenge. We evaluated the incidence of thyroid incidentaloma identified by PET scans and the likelihood of malignancy associated with this finding. Records from all patients from January 1, 2000 to November 30, 2003 who had focal thyroid uptake without any history of thyroid disease were culled. Of the 6241 PET scans performed, focal thyroid uptake was observed in 76 patients (1.2%). Only 14 patients (18%) underwent biopsy. Four of 14 patients (28.6%) had papillary thyroid carcinoma, 7 (50%) had hyperplasia, and 1 each had thyroiditis, nodular goiter, and follicular neoplasm. The incidence of PET thyroid incidentalomas was 1.2 per cent and the incidence of malignancy was 28.6 per cent. Given the high likelihood of malignancy, a further diagnostic workup for surgically fit patients is warranted.
Extended Lie Algebraic Stability Analysis for Switched Systems with Continuous-Time and Discrete-Time Subsystems

Extended Lie Algebraic Stability Analysis for Switched Systems with Continuous-Time and Discrete-Time Subsystems We analyze stability for switched systems which are composed of both continuous-time and discrete-time subsystems. By considering a Lie algebra generated by all subsystem matrices, we show that if all subsystems are Hurwitz/Schur stable and this Lie algebra is solvable, then there is a common quadratic Lyapunov function for all subsystems and thus the switched system is exponentially stable under arbitrary switching. When not all subsystems are stable and the same Lie algebra is solvable, we show that there is a common quadratic Lyapunov-like function for all subsystems and the switched system is exponentially stable under a dwell time scheme. Two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the result.