Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
REGULATION OF BLACK HOLE WINDS AND JETS ACROSS THE MASS SCALE

We present a study of the mechanical power generated by both winds and jets across the black hole mass scale. We begin with the study of ionized X-ray winds and present a uniform analysis using Chandra grating spectra. The high-quality grating spectra facilitate the characterization of the outflow velocity, ionization, and column density of the absorbing gas. We find that the kinetic power of the winds, derived from these observed quantities, scales with increasing bolometric luminosity as log (Lwind, 42/Cv) = (1.58 ± 0.07)log (LBol, 42) − (3.19 ± 0.19). This suggests that supermassive black holes may be more efficient than stellar-mass black holes in launching winds, per unit filling factor, Cv. If the black hole binary (BHB) and active galactic nucleus (AGN) samples are fit individually, the slopes flatten to αBHB = 0.91 ± 0.31 and αAGN = 0.63 ± 0.30 (formally consistent within errors). The broad fit and individual fits both characterize the data fairly well, and the possibility of common slopes may point to common driving mechanisms across the mass scale. For comparison, we examine jet production, estimating jet power based on the energy required to inflate local bubbles. The jet relation is log (LJet, 42) = (1.18 ± 0.24)log (LBondi, 42) − (0.96 ± 0.43). The energetics of the bubble associated with Cygnus X-1 are particularly difficult to determine, and the bubble could be a background supernova remnant. If we exclude Cygnus X-1 from our fits, then the jets follow a relation consistent with the winds, but with a higher intercept, log (LJet, 42) = (1.34 ± 0.50)log (LBondi, 42) − (0.80 ± 0.82). The formal consistency in the wind and jet scaling relations, when assuming that LBol and LBondi are both proxies for mass accretion rate, suggests that a common launching mechanism may drive both flows; magnetic processes, such as magnetohydrodynamics and magnetocentrifugal forces, are viable possibilities. We also examine winds that are moving at especially high velocities, v > 0.01c. These ultra-fast outflows tend to resemble the jets more than the winds in terms of outflow power, indicating that we may be observing a regime in which winds become jets. A transition at approximately LBol ≈ 10−2 LEdd is apparent when outflow power is plotted versus Eddington fraction. At low Eddington fractions, the jet power is dominant, and at high Eddington fractions, the wind power is dominant. This study allows for the total power from black hole accretion, both mechanical and radiative, to be characterized in a simple manner and suggests possible connections between winds and jets. X-ray wind data and jet cavity data will enable stronger tests.
Threat, Mobilization, and Latino Voting in the 2018 Election

Abstract Throughout the 2016 US presidential campaign and the first 2 years of his presidency, Donald Trump has repeatedly dehumanized immigrants in pursuit of more restrictive immigration policies. Despite the common perception that this threat should increase the political mobilization of Latino voters, existing research has yielded mixed findings. In this article, we argue that attention has to be paid to both threatening climate and mobilization. We examine Latino voting in the 2018 midterm election using both aggregate election data from 2014 and 2018 as well as a large 10-week tracking poll (n=2767) of Latinos during the last 2 months of the 2018 election. We show that, compared to 2014, the number of ballots cast by Latinos increased substantially. Using the tracking poll, however, we show that threat alone did not appear to be sufficient to mobilize Latino voters in the 2018 election. It is threat combined with mobilization, rather, that increased Latino voting. We discuss implications for future Latino political participation in the US.
Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Sleep Apnea – A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Increased incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been reported among patients with sleep apnea (SA). However, this association has not been confirmed in a large-scale study. We therefore performed a population-based cohort study using Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) database to investigate the association of SA and ED. From the database of one million representative subjects randomly sampled from individuals enrolled in the NHI system in 2010, we identified adult patients having SA and excluded those having a diagnosis of ED prior to SA. From these suspected SA patients, those having SA diagnosis after polysomnography were defined as probable SA patients. The dates of their first SA diagnosis were defined as their index dates. Each SA patient was matched to 30 randomly-selected, age-matched control subjects without any SA diagnosis. The control subjects were assigned index dates as their corresponding SA patients, and were ensured having no ED diagnosis prior to their index dates. Totally, 4,835 male patients with suspected SA (including 1,946 probable SA patients) were matched to 145,050 control subjects (including 58,380 subjects matched to probable SA patients). The incidence rate of ED was significantly higher in probable SA patients as compared with the corresponding control subjects (5.7 vs. 2.3 per 1000 patient-year; adjusted incidence rate ratio = 2.0 [95% CI: 1.8-2.2], p<0.0001). The cumulative incidence was also significantly higher in the probable SA patients (p<0.0001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, probable SA remained a significant risk factor for the development of ED after adjusting for age, residency, income level and comorbidities (hazard ratio = 2.0 [95%CI: 1.5-2.7], p<0.0001). In line with previous studies, this population-based large-scale study confirmed an increased ED incidence in SA patients in Chinese population. Physicians need to pay attention to the possible underlying SA while treating ED patients.
Discussion Draft Not for Quotation Comments Welcome ! ! Hedonic Vices

One of the main tools for studying the demand for school quality is a regression of house value on school quality, controlling for housing and neighborhood characteristics. This type of “hedonic” regression faces many methodological challenges, such as endogeneity, and in recent years many scholars have developed new techniques designed to address these challenges. Unfortunately, however, many of these studies have lost track of the basic principles of hedonic estimation as laid out in Rosen (1974) and the related literature. After providing some conceptual background, this article illustrates the hedonic vices that have become far too common in recent hedonic studies. We focus on inappropriate functional forms, inappropriate control variables, and the misinterpretation of hedonic regression results. Our analysis is supported, where appropriate, with analysis of data from the Cleveland area in 2000.
Cross-national variation in the subjective wellbeing of youth in low and middle income countries: the role of structural and micro-level factors

ABSTRACT Subjective wellbeing (i.e. life satisfaction and happiness) impacts youth's social, economic and political participation. Prior studies have documented cross-national variation in subjective wellbeing of adults but there is a lack of data on the prevalence and correlates of subjective wellbeing among youth in low and middle income countries. This paper utilizes data from an international dataset – Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys to assess the influence of structural and micro-level factors on the subjective wellbeing of youth (ages 15–24) in 29 countries or regions in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. We find that within countries, global life satisfaction and happiness are associated with age, education attainment, place of residence, marital status, household wealth and exposure to mass media. Significant interactions between age, gender and education are observed. However, none of the country level development indicators account for cross-national variation in youth's SWB although there is some indication that income inequities between countries may influence youth's SWB. The findings underscore the need for objective measures of subjective wellbeing to understand the conditions in LMICs.
Going against the grain: women student leaders at coeducational institutions

ions preceded the experiences or pushed them out entirely, (p. 201) The women in Belenky's et al. (1986) study were drawn to the sort of knowledge that emerges from first-hand observation and the educational institutions they attended emphasized abstract, out of context learning. Baxter-Magolda (1992) studied 101 male and female students and identified four different types of knowers; absolute, transitional, independent and contextual. Absolute, transitional and independent knowers exhibited two distinct patterns of acquiring knowledge. The two patterns of each type were gender-related in that women most often exhibited patterns which were either quiet and personal, as in the case of absolute knowers, or were characterized by exchanging ideas with others and establishing a rapport with the instructor. Male students most often demonstrated patterns of acquiring knowledge illustrated by a more public role in the class, arguing and debate with peers, being challenged by instructors and thinking for themselves (Baxter-Magolda 1992) . Women tend to be unsettled by the idea of being stranded and isolated from others. On the other hand, Hall and Sandler (1984) defined masculinity through separation and asserted that males are threatened by intimacy. Men see danger in close personal affiliation whereas women see danger in detached personal achievement as a result of competitive success (Hall & Sandler, 1984).
Trust and Inequality: Are Perceptions of Inequality Influencing Trust?

Previous research has demonstrated a significant relationship between trust and inequality at both the individual and national levels (Wilkinson and Pickett, 2010), but it is unclear whether the absence of trust produces inequality or vice versa. Large social surveys, such as the General Social Survey, that attempt to measure the concept of trust are flawed in that they assume that all respondents have the same conceptualization of the word “trust”, and furthermore leave much open to speculation as to whom respondents are referencing when answering general trust questions. The literature regarding trust is also problematic, as some theoretical underpinnings are outdated and inaccurate in light of developments across multiple fields in the sciences. This paper first presents an analysis of both trust and inequality, as social conditions today—when levels of trust are lower in survey responses since surveys on trust began in the 1970s—call for a more in-depth, empirical analysis of these concepts. This thesis has two foci. First, this paper examines the issues related to trust and inequality, which includes theoretical underpinnings and previous research. Second, this
Ridged atomic mirrors and atomic nanoscope

Recent results on the reflection of waves from ridged mirrors are discussed. Numerical calculations, analytical estimates and the direct measurements of coefficient of specular reflection of atomic waves from solid-state mirrors are combined. The reflectivity is approximated as an elementary function of period L of ridges, their width ℓ, wavenumber K, grazing angle θ and effective depth w of the van der Waals potential. In a special case L = ℓ, the fit reproduces the reflectivity of flat surfaces. Our approximation allows us to optimize the L at given ℓ and estimate the maximum performance of a ridged mirror. Such a mirror is suggested as a focusing element for the nano-scale imaging system.
Firing-rate, symbolic dynamics and frequency dependence in periodically driven spiking models: a piecewise-smooth approach

In this work we consider a periodically forced generic integrate-and-fire model with a unique attracting equilibrium in the subthreshold dynamics and study the dependence of the firing-rate on the frequency of the drive. In an earlier study we have obtained rigorous results on the bifurcation structure in such systems, with emphasis on the relation between the firing-rate and the rotation number of the existing periodic orbits. In this work we study how these bifurcation structures behave upon variation of the frequency of the input. This allows us to show that the dependence of the firing-rate on frequency of the drive follows a devil's staircase with non-monotonic steps and that there is an optimal response in the whole frequency domain. We also characterize certain bounded frequency windows in which the firing-rate exhibits a bell-shaped envelope with a global maximum.
Association of Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality and Shift-Work Schedule in Relation to Hypertension Prevalence in Chinese Adult Males: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Previous studies indicated that measurement of sleep only by duration and quality may be biased. This study aimed to investigate the interactive association of self-reported sleep duration, quality and shift-work schedule with hypertension prevalence in Chinese adult males. Methods: A total of 4519 Chinese adult males (≥18 years) were enrolled into the cross-sectional survey. Sleep attributes were measured from the responses to the standard Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and relevant questions in a structured questionnaire survey. The association of sleep duration, quality and shift-work schedule with hypertension prevalence was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression, considering the interaction between them or not. Results: Taking the potential interaction of the three aspects of sleep into consideration, only short sleep duration combined with poor sleep quality was found to be related to hypertension prevalence in Chinese adult males (odds ratio (OR): 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31–2.31), which could be modified by occasional and frequent shift-work schedule (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.05–1.95; OR: 1.97, 95% CI: 1.40–2.79). Conclusions: Short sleep duration was not associated with the prevalence of hypertension in Chinese adult males unless poor sleep quality exists, which could be further modified by shift-work schedule. Assessment of sleep by measuring sleep duration only was not sufficient when exploring the association of sleep with hypertension.
{31 () Learning Controllers for Industrial Robots

One of the most signiicant cost factors in robotics applications is the design and development of real-time robot control software. Control theory helps when linear controllers have to be developed, but it doesn't suuciently support the generation of non-linear controllers, although in many cases (such as in compliance control), nonlinear control is essential for achieving high performance. This paper discusses how Machine Learning has been applied to the design of (non-)linear controllers. Several alternative function approximators, including Multilayer Per-ceptrons (MLP), Radial Basis Function Networks (RBFNs), and Fuzzy Controllers are analyzed and compared, leading to the deenition of two major families: Open Field Function Function Approximators and Locally Receptive Field Function Approximators. It is shown that RBFNs and Fuzzy Controllers bear strong similarities, and that both have a symbolic interpretation. This characteristics allows for applying both symbolic and statistic learning algorithms to synthesize the network layout from a set of examples and, possibly, some background knowledge. Three integrated learning algorithms, two of which are original, are described and evaluated on experimental test cases. The rst test case is provided by a robot KUKA IR-361 engaged into the \peg-into-hole" task, whereas the second is represented by a classical prediction task on the Mackey-Glass time series. From the experimental comparison, it appears that both Fuzzy Controllers and RBFNs synthesised from examples are excellent approximators, and that, in practice, they can be even more accurate than MLPs.
Global Alliances and Independence in Trees

A global defensive (respectively, offensive) alliance in a graph G = (V,E) is a set of vertices S ⊆ V with the properties that every vertex in V − S has at least one neighbor in S, and for each vertex v in S (respectively, in V − S) at least half the vertices from the closed neighborhood of v are in S. These alliances are called strong if a strict majority of vertices from the closed neighborhood of v must be in S. For each kind of alliance, the associated parameter is the minimum cardinality of such an alliance. We determine relationships among these four parameters and the vertex independence number for trees.
Combining Information from Distributed Evolutionary k-Means

One of the challenges for clustering resides in dealing with huge amounts of data, which causes the need for distribution of large data sets in separate repositories. However, most clustering techniques require the data to be centralized. One of them, the k-means, has been elected one of the most influential data mining algorithms. Although exact distributed versions of the k-means algorithm have been proposed, the algorithm is still sensitive to the selection of the initial cluster prototypes and requires that the number of clusters be specified in advance. This work tackles the problem of generating an approximated model for distributed clustering, based on k-means, for scenarios where the number of clusters of the distributed data is unknown. We propose a collection of algorithms that generate and select k-means clustering for each distributed subset of the data and combine them afterwards. The variants of the algorithm are compared from two perspectives: the theoretical one, through asymptotic complexity analyses, and the experimental one, through a comparative evaluation of results obtained from a collection of experiments and statistical tests.
Effect of moisture content, bevel angle and cutting speed on shearing energy of three wheat varieties.

Three varieties of wheat and knife bevel angles, four levels of moisture content and three shearing speeds of pendulum were considered to determine their effects on the shearing energy of wheat straw. Results showed that the effects of variety, knife bevel angle, moisture content and shearing speed on shearing energy were significant (P<0.01). Shearing energy decreased with decreasing moisture content and bevel angle and with increasing shearing speed. Maximum shearing energy was obtained with Kohdasht variety at 0.86 MJ mm . Minimum shearing energy was obtained at knife bevel angles of 25° and 30°, while its mean value 2 of 35° showed a significant difference at Duncan 5%.
Brain imaging in pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE To review progress in understanding pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The focus is on the frontal-striatal-thalamic model of OCD, neurobiological and genetic studies of the disorder, and their influence on recent advances in treatment. METHOD Computerized literature searches were conducted with the key words "obsessive-compulsive disorder" in conjunction with "pediatric," "genetics," and "imaging. " RESULTS Neuroimaging studies find evidence to support the frontal-striatal-thalamic model. Genetic and neurochemical studies also implicate glutamate in the pathological finding of OCD. This has led to the application of glutamate-modulating agents to treat OCD. CONCLUSIONS Studies of pediatric OCD have led to a refined frontal-striatal-thalamic model of pathogenesis and are having an evidence-based impact on treatment. Despite this progress, fully explanatory models are still needed that would allow for accurate prognosis and the development of targeted and efficacious treatments.
A Lyapunov Proof of an Improved Maximum Allowable Transfer Interval for Networked Control Systems

Simple Lyapunov proofs are given for an improved (relative to previous results that have appeared in the literature) bound on the maximum allowable transfer interval to guarantee global asymptotic or exponential stability in networked control systems and also for semiglobal practical asymptotic stability with respect to the length of the maximum allowable transfer interval
Opportunistic MANETs: Mobility Can Make Up for Low Transmission Power

Opportunistic mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are a special class of sparse and disconnected MANETs where data communication exploits sporadic contact opportunities among nodes. We consider opportunistic MANETs where nodes move independently at random over a square of the plane. Nodes exchange data if they are at a distance at most r within each other, where r > 0 is the node transmission radius. The flooding time is the number of time-steps required to broadcast a message from a source node to every node of the network. Flooding time is an important measure of how fast information can spread in dynamic networks. We derive the first upper bound on the flooding time, which is a decreasing function of the maximal speed of the nodes. The bound holds with high probability, and it is nearly tight. Our bound shows that, thanks to node mobility, even when the network is sparse and disconnected, information spreading can be fast.
Efficient and low-complexity hardware architecture of Gaussian normal basis multiplication over GF(2 m ) for elliptic curve cryptosystems

In this paper, an efficient high-speed architecture of Gaussian normal basis (GNB) multiplierover binary finite field GF(2 m ) is presented. The structure is constructed by using some regular modules for computation of exponentiation by powers of 2 and low-cost blocks for multiplication by normal elements of the binary field. For the powers of 2 exponents, the modules are implemented by some simple cyclic shifts in the normal basis representation. As a result, the multiplier has a simple structure with a low critical path delay. The efficiency of the proposed multiplier is examined in terms of area and time complexity based on its implementation on Virtex-4 field programmable gate array family and also its application specific integrated circuit design in 180 nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. Comparison results with other structures of the GNB multiplier verify that the proposed architecture has better performance in terms of speed and hardware utilisation.
Integrating multimedia applications in hard real-time systems

This paper focuses on the problem of providing efficient run-time support to multimedia applications in a real-time system, where two types of tasks can coexist simultaneously: multimedia soft real-time tasks and hard real-time tasks. Hard tasks are guaranteed based on worst case execution times and minimum interarrival times, whereas multimedia and soft tasks are served based on mean parameters. The paper describes a server-based mechanism for scheduling soft and multimedia tasks without jeopardizing the a priori guarantee of hard real-time activities. The performance of the proposed method is compared with that of similar service mechanisms through extensive simulation experiments and several multimedia applications have been implemented on the HARTIK kernel.