Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Harmonic coordinates on finitely connected fractafolds

We define finitely connected fractafolds, which are generalizations of p.c. f. self-similar sets introduced by Kigami and of fractafolds introduced by Strichartz. Any self-similarity is not assumed, and countably infinite ramification is allowed. We prove that if a fractafold has a resistance form in the sense of Kigami that satisfies certain assumptions, then there exists a weak Riemannian metric, defined almost everywhere, such that the energy can be expressed as the integral of the norm of a weak gradient with respect to an energy measure. This generalizes earlier results by Kusuoka and the author. Furthermore, we prove that if the fractafold can be homeomorphically represented in harmonic coordinates, then the weak gradient can be replaced by the usual gradient for smooth functions, which generalizes an earlier result by Kigami. We also prove a simple formula for the energy measure Laplacian in harmonic coordinates.
Complex Segregation Analysis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Families with Pediatric Probands

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the mode of inheritance for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in families ascertained through pediatric probands. Methods: We ascertained 52 families (35 case and 17 control families) through probands between the ages of 10 and 17 years. Direct interviews were completed with 215 individuals. Family informant data were collected on another 450 individuals without direct interviews, forming two data sets with one contained within the other. Complex segregation analyses were performed using regressive models as programmed in REGTL in the S.A. G.E. package.All models used in the analyses included sex-specific age and type parameters. Results: All models that excluded a residual effect of an affected parent were rejected. With that parameter included, the environmental and sporadic models were rejected in comparisons with the most general model in both data sets (all p < 0.005). With the direct interview data, the general codominant Mendelian model was not rejected when compared with the most general model (p = 0.140). We could not distinguish between any of the simple Mendelian models using either data set. However, the dominant Mendelian model provided a somewhat better fit than the other Mendelian models to the direct interview data. Conclusions: The results provide evidence for a major susceptibility locus in families with OCD when age at onset is incorporated into the model. Mendelian factors at most partially explained the familial aggregation of the phenotype, and residual familial effects were necessary to fit the data adequately. The results support the importance of linkage efforts by suggesting that a major locus is segregating within a proportion of families with OCD ascertained through pediatric probands.
How Noise Contributes to Contrast Invariance of Orientation Tuning in Cat Visual Cortex

The width of the orientation tuning curves of the spike response of neurons in V1 is invariant to contrast. This property constrains the possible mechanisms underlying orientation selectivity. It has been suggested that noise circumvents the iceberg effect that would prevent contrast invariance in the purely feedforward mechanism. Here we investigate systematically how noise contributes to the contrast invariance of orientation tuning curves in V1. We study three models of increasing complexity: a simple threshold-linear firing rate model, a leaky integrate-and-fire model, and a conductance-based model. We show that the noise transmutes the threshold nonlinearity of the input–output relationships into an approximate power law without a threshold within some firing rate range. This implies that, under certain conditions which are derived here, the tuning of the neuron output is approximately contrast invariant. In particular we show that this mechanism for contrast invariance requires that the neuron firing rate must not be too large and that increasing or lowering the contrast too much destroys this invariance. We also show that if this mechanism operates in V1, the spike response, R, and average voltage response V of the neurons in V1 should vary with the contrast, C, according to R(C) ∝ V(C)γ. The exponent γ can be estimated from the amount by which the spike tuning curve is sharpened with respect to the voltage tuning curves of the neurons. This prediction does not depend on the specifics of the model and can be tested experimentally.
ASTROMETRY WITH THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE: TRIGONOMETRIC PARALLAXES OF PLANETARY NEBULA NUCLEI NGC 6853, NGC 7293, ABELL 31, AND DeHt 5

We present absolute parallaxes and relative proper motions for the central stars of the planetary nebulae NGC 6853 (The Dumbbell), NGC 7293 (The Helix), Abell 31, and DeHt 5. This paper details our reduction and analysis using DeHt 5 as an example. We obtain these planetary nebula nuclei (PNNi) parallaxes with astrometric data from Fine Guidance Sensors FGS 1r and FGS 3, white-light interferometers on the Hubble Space Telescope. Proper motions, spectral classifications and VJHKT2M and DDO51 photometry of the stars comprising the astrometric reference frames provide spectrophotometric estimates of reference star absolute parallaxes. Introducing these into our model as observations with error, we determine absolute parallaxes for each PNN. Weighted averaging with previous independent parallax measurements yields an average parallax precision, σπ/π = 5%. Derived distances are: dNGC 6853 = 405+28−25 pc, dNGC 7293 = 216+14−12 pc, dAbell 31 = 621+91−70 pc, and dDeHt 5 = 345+19−17 pc. These PNNi distances are all smaller than previously derived from spectroscopic analyses of the central stars. To obtain absolute magnitudes from these distances requires estimates of interstellar extinction. We average extinction measurements culled from the literature, from reddening based on PNNi intrinsic colors derived from model SEDs, and an assumption that each PNN experiences the same rate of extinction as a function of distance as do the reference stars nearest (in angular separation) to each central star. We also apply Lutz–Kelker bias corrections. The absolute magnitudes and effective temperatures permit estimates of PNNi radii through both the Stefan–Boltzmann relation and Eddington fluxes. Comparing absolute magnitudes with post-AGB models provides mass estimates. Masses cluster around 0.57 , close to the peak of the white dwarf mass distribution. Adding a few more PNNi with well-determined distances and masses, we compare all the PNNi with cooler white dwarfs of similar mass, and confirm, as expected, that PNNi have larger radii than white dwarfs that have reached their final cooling tracks.
Electoral Violence in Africa: Experience from Ethiopia

It is impossible to think about democracy without elections. The litmus test of any electoral process in any country is the possibility of a one time minority to become a majority at another time and a peaceful transition of power. In many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa though the multi-party elections appeared to be competitive they failed the acid test of democracy: peaceful regime change in a free and fair election. Failure to solve electoral disputes might lead to bloody electoral conflicts as witnessed in many emerging democracies in Africa. The aim of this paper is to investigate electoral conflicts in Africa since the end of the Cold War by using the 2005 post-election violence in Ethiopia as a case study. In Ethiopia, the coming to power of the EPRDF in 1991 marked the fall of the Derg dictatorial military government and the beginning of a multi-party democracy. The country held multi-party parliamentary elections in 1995, 2000, and 2005 where the ruling EPRDF party “won” the elections through violence, involving intimidation, manipulation, detentions of political opponents, torture, and political assassinations. The 2005 electoral violence was the worst electoral violence in the country’s political history that led to the death of 193 protestors and the imprisonment of more than 40,000 people. It is found out that the major causes of the 2005 Ethiopian election were the defeat of the ruling party in the election and its attempt to reverse the poll results by force; the Opposition’s lack of decisive leadership; the absence of independent courts and independent electoral management body; and the ruling party’s direct control over the army and police.
Alternating Directions Dual Decomposition

We propose AD3, a new algorithm for approximate maximum a posteriori (MAP) inference on factor graphs based on the alternating directions method of multipliers. Like dual decomposition algorithms, AD3 uses worker nodes to iteratively solve local subproblems and a controller node to combine these local solutions into a global update. The key characteristic of AD3 is that each local subproblem has a quadratic regularizer, leading to a faster consensus than subgradient-based dual decomposition, both theoretically and in practice. We provide closed-form solutions for these AD3 subproblems for binary pairwise factors and factors imposing first-order logic constraints. For arbitrary factors (large or combinatorial), we introduce an active set method which requires only an oracle for computing a local MAP configuration, making AD3 applicable to a wide range of problems. Experiments on synthetic and realworld problems show that AD3 compares favorably with the state-of-the-art.
Recurrent seizure-like events are associated with coupled astroglial synchronization

Increasing evidence suggest that astrocytes significantly modulate neuronal function at the level of the tripartite synapse both in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The global control of the astrocytic syncytium over neuronal networks, however, is still less recognized. Here we examined astrocytic signaling during epileptiform activity which is generally attributed to large-scale neuronal synchronization. We show that seizure-like events in the low-[Mg2+] in vitro epilepsy model initiate massive, long-range astrocytic synchronization which is spatiotemporally coupled to the synchronized neuronal activity reaching its maximum at the electrographic tonic/clonic transition. Cross-correlation analysis of neuronal and astrocytic Ca2+ signaling demonstrates that high degree of synchronization arises not only among astrocytes, but also between neuronal and astrocyte populations, manifesting in astrocytic seizure-like events. We further show that astrocytic gap junction proteins contribute to astrocytic synchronization since their inhibition by carbenoxolone (CBX) or Cx43 antibody increased the interictal interval and in 41% of slices completely prevented recurrent seizure-like activity. In addition, CBX also induced unsynchronized Ca2+ transients associated with decreasing incidence of epileptiform discharges afterwards. We propose therefore that local, unsynchronized astrocytic Ca2+ transients inhibit, while long-range, synchronized Ca2+ signaling contributes to the propagation of recurrent seizure-like events.
Long range and low powered RFID tags with tunnel diode

In this paper, we present a 5.8 GHz RFID tag equipped with a high gain, low power reflection amplifier based on a tunnel diode. Experimental results show that the realized prototype achieves gains above 40 dB and requires only 29 μW of biasing power. The tag detects very low RF signals (<; -90 dBm) and provides read ranges up to 2 km. Long communication ranges and Manchester encoding are achieved by biasing on and off the tunnel diode.
Sharing the Corporate Crown Jewels

Intellectual property assets now account for 50% to 70% of the market value of all public companies, and corporate America is intensifying efforts to maximize the return on those assets. That explains why a small but growing number of Fortune 500 enterprises are moving away from a strict reliance on the "exclusivity value" of their patents and other intellectual property ? that is, their power to exclude or hinder competitors ? and are instead seeking to tap the often enormous financial and strategic value of their core technology assets by licensing them to other companies, including competitors. The practitioners of this strategic licensing, as it is called, are betting that any loss of market exclusivity that may result from making available their "crown jewel" technologies will be more than offset by the financial and strategic benefits gained. For this article, the author interviewed some of the pioneer practitioners of this emerging approach and got them to explain the nature and degree of the benefits their companies are now reaping. Although patent rights should always remain an important weapon in a company's competitive arsenal, strategic-licensing initiatives are encouraging managers to rethink what it means to create and sustain competitive advantage in business.
Why Does the Minimum Wage Have No Discernible Effect on Employment

The employment effect of the minimum wage is one of the most studied topics in all of economics. This report examines the most recent wave of this research – roughly since 2000 – to determine the best current estimates of the impact of increases in the minimum wage on the employment prospects of low-wage workers. The weight of that evidence points to little or no employment response to modest increases in the minimum wage.
Towards Strong Reverse Minkowski-Type Inequalities for Lattices

We present a natural reverse Minkowski-type inequality for lattices, which gives upper bounds on the number of lattice points in a Euclidean ball in terms of sublattice determinants, and conjecture its optimal form. The conjecture exhibits a surprising wealth of connections to various areas in mathematics and computer science, including a conjecture motivated by integer programming by Kannan and Lovasz (Annals of Math. 1988), a question from additive combinatorics asked by Green, a question on Brownian motions asked by Saloff-Coste (Colloq. Math. 2010), a theorem by Milman and Pisier from convex geometry (Ann. Probab. 1987), worst-case to average-case reductions in lattice-based cryptography, and more. We present these connections, provide evidence for the conjecture, and discuss possible approaches towards a proof. Our main technical contribution is in proving that our conjecture implies the l2 case of the Kannan and Lovasz conjecture. The proof relies on a novel convex relaxation for the covering radius, and a rounding procedure based on "uncrossing" lattice subspaces.
Wage Rigidity: A Look Inside the Firm

This paper tests for nominal salary rigidity using panel data from two large service-sector firms. Distributions of the firms' salary changes exhibit nominal rigidity: few nominal pay cuts, a pile-up of observations at zero, and positive skewness and asymmetry. In addition, these characteristics become more pronounced in periods of low inflation. These results are much stronger than those found in the previous literature. Further analysis shows that the sizable measurement error in the PSID and the fact that establishment surveys typically follow average wages within jobs may bias the results in the previous literature toward rejecting downward nominal wage rigidity.
Shyness in Early Infancy: Approach-Avoidance Conflicts in Temperament and Hypersensitivity to Eyes during Initial Gazes to Faces

‘Infant shyness’, in which infants react shyly to adult strangers, presents during the third quarter of the first year. Researchers claim that shy children over the age of three years are experiencing approach-avoidance conflicts. Counter-intuitively, shy children do not avoid the eyes when scanning faces; rather, they spend more time looking at the eye region than non-shy children do. It is currently unknown whether young infants show this conflicted shyness and its corresponding characteristic pattern of face scanning. Here, using infant behavioral questionnaires and an eye-tracking system, we found that highly shy infants had high scores for both approach and fear temperaments (i.e., approach-avoidance conflict) and that they showed longer dwell times in the eye regions than less shy infants during their initial fixations to facial stimuli. This initial hypersensitivity to the eyes was independent of whether the viewed faces were of their mothers or strangers. Moreover, highly shy infants preferred strangers with an averted gaze and face to strangers with a directed gaze and face. This initial scanning of the eye region and the overall preference for averted gaze faces were not explained solely by the infants’ age or temperament (i.e., approach or fear). We suggest that infant shyness involves a conflict in temperament between the desire to approach and the fear of strangers, and this conflict is the psychological mechanism underlying infants’ characteristic behavior in face scanning.
A Statistical and Evolutionary Approach to Sentiment Analysis

In the past years, the Web has become a huge source of opinionative data. Social media, such as Twitter, are regarded as public diaries, where millions of people express their sentiments and opinions in their daily interaction. One of the biggest challenges in the analysis of such data, is the classification of their polarity, that is, whether they carry a positive or negative connotation. For this purpose, statistical methods have been inspired by the observation that if two words frequently appear together within the same context, they are likely to have the same polarity. Consequently, the polarity of a word can be determined by calculating its relative frequency of co-occurrence with special words, called paradigm words, whose polarities are invariantly preserved (e.g., "good" and "bad"). In this way, one can classify, for example, a tweet as carrying a positive polarity, if the majority of its words is more strongly associated with the word "good" than with the word "bad". In current statistical approaches, such paradigm words have been selected following different criteria, without any prior evaluation. Motivated by this observation, we propose to classify tweets via a statistical method where the paradigm words are selected by means of a genetic algorithm. This algorithm explores a set of paradigm words to find a subset of such words that leads to a significant improvement of the classification accuracy. Additionally, we believe that an appropriate set of paradigm words may vary according to the data domain. For example, paradigm words applied in the classification of tweets in the domain of movies may not be convenient to classify tweets related to products. We prove this assumption empirically, using tweets from different domains, and show that our approach deals properly with this problem.
Linguistic Phylogenetic Inference by PAM-like Matrices

Abstract We apply to the task of linguistic phylogenetic inference a successful cognate identification learning model based on point accepted mutation (PAM)-like matrices. We train our system and we employ the learned parameters for measuring the lexical distance between languages. We estimate phylogenetic trees using distance-based methods on an Indo-European database. Our results reproduce correctly all the established major language groups and subgroups present in the dataset, are compatible with the Indo-European benchmark tree and include also some of the supported higher-level structures. We review and compare other studies reported in the literature with regard to recognized aspects of the Indo-European language family.
Food Security Rates Are High for Elderly Households

persons are generally more food secure than other U.S. households. However, not all elderly persons have achieved food security— access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. Analysis by USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) of data from a nationally representative food security survey conducted in September 2000 shows that 94 percent of households with an elderly person (age 65 or older) present were food secure throughout the year. The remaining 6 percent of households with elderly were food insecure. At some time during the previous year, these households were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet basic needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food (see box). One in four of the food-insecure elderly households (1.5 percent of all elderly households) were food insecure to the extent that one or more household members were hungry, at least some time during the year, because they could not afford enough food. The other threefourths of food-insecure elderly households obtained enough food to avoid hunger by using a variety of coping strategies, such as eating less varied diets, participating in Federal food assistance programs, or getting emergency food from community food pantries. These rates of food insecurity and hunger among elderly households were
Reconstruction of Ultrasound RF Echoes Modeled as Stable Random Variables

This paper introduces a new technique for reconstruction of biomedical ultrasound images from simulated compressive measurements, based on modeling data with stable distributions. The proposed algorithm exploits two types of prior information: on one hand, our proposed approach is based on the observation that ultrasound RF echoes are best characterized statistically by alpha-stable distributions. On the other hand, through knowledge of the acquisition process, the support of the RF echoes in the Fourier domain can be easily inferred. Together, these two facts form the basis of an ℓp minimization approach that employs the iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm, but in which the parameter p is judiciously chosen, by relating it to the characteristic exponent of the underlying alpha-stable distributed data. We demonstrate, through Monte Carlo simulations, that the optimal value of the parameter p is just below that of the characteristic exponent α, which we estimate from the data. Our reconstruction results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms previously proposed reconstruction techniques, both visually and in terms of two objective evaluation measures.
An Innovative Quality of Service (QOS) based Service Selection for Service Orchrestration in SOA

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) has become a new software development paradigm because it provides a flexible framework that can help reduce development cost and time. SOA promises loosely coupled interoperable and composable services. Service selection in business processes is the usage of techniques in selecting and providing quality of services (QOS) to consumers in a dynamic environment. Single business process model consists of multiple service invocations forming service orchestration. It represents multiple execution paths called modeled flexibility. In certain cases, modeled flexibility can cause conflicts in service selection optimization, making it impossible to simultaneousl y optimize all execution paths. This paper presents an innovative approach to service selection for service orchestration that addresses this type of conflicts by encompassing status identification based availability estimation with multiple QOS constraints along with an effective quality assessment model. This model captures the expectations from the users on the multiple quality of a service and returns ratings as a feedback on the service usage. This updated rating in the service list can be used by the new user. This proposed method provides optimal services to users consistently and efficiently thereby resulting in more meaningful and reliable selection of services for service orchestration in SOA.