Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liberating Technologies ? Perceptions of Government Control and Citizens ’ Use of Social Media during the Elections

Social media may liberate citizens in societies with stringent media controls and accelerate political democratization. Yet, little is known about the relation between social media use and perceived constraints in a semi-authoritarian system. This study draws on Media System Dependency theory to examine this relation in the context of the 2011 Singapore General Election. Our findings, based on national survey data, suggest that perceived control of traditional media and political activity is positively related to content production on social media as well as the visits to opposition party websites and Facebook pages. Additionally, perceived control of mass media is associated with increased consumption of political content on social media. Perceived control of the Internet reduces rather than increases content production on social media. We argue that social media alters the balance of dependency relationships between the government, media organizations and citizens. They create new, meso level networked avenues for information gathering and participation during the elections.
The exceptional X-ray evolution of SN 1996cr in high resolution.

We present X-ray spectra spanning 18 yr of evolution for SN 1996cr, one of the five nearest SNe detected in the modern era. Chandra HETG exposures in 2000, 2004, and 2009 allow us to resolve spectrally the velocity profiles of Ne, Mg, Si, S, and Fe emission lines and monitor their evolution as tracers of the ejecta-circumstellar medium interaction. To explain the diversity of X-ray line profiles, we explore several possible geometrical models. Based on the highest signal-to-noise 2009 epoch, we find that a polar geometry with two distinct opening angle configurations and internal obscuration can successfully reproduce all of the observed line profiles. The best-fitting model consists of two plasma components: (1) a mildly absorbed (2 × 1021 cm-2), cooler (≈2 keV) with high Ne, Mg, Si, and S abundances associated with a wide polar interaction region (half-opening angle ≈58°); (2) a moderately absorbed (2 × 1022 cm-2), hotter (≳20 keV) plasma with high Fe abundances and strong internal obscuration associated with a narrow polar interaction region (half-opening angle ≈20°). We extend this model to seven further epochs with lower signal-to-noise ratio and/or lower spectral-resolution between 2000 and 2018, yielding several interesting trends in absorption, flux, geometry, and expansion velocity. We argue that the hotter and colder components are associated with reflected and forward shocks, respectively, at least at later epochs. We discuss the physical implications of our results and plausible explosion scenarios to understand the X-ray data of SN 1996cr.
MVFST-RL: An Asynchronous RL Framework for Congestion Control with Delayed Actions

Effective network congestion control strategies are key to keeping the Internet (or any large computer network) operational. Network congestion control has been dominated by hand-crafted heuristics for decades. Recently, ReinforcementLearning (RL) has emerged as an alternative to automatically optimize such control strategies. Research so far has primarily considered RL interfaces which block the sender while an agent considers its next action. This is largely an artifact of building on top of frameworks designed for RL in games (e.g. OpenAI Gym). However, this does not translate to real-world networking environments, where a network sender waiting on a policy without sending data leads to under-utilization of bandwidth. We instead propose to formulate congestion control with an asynchronous RL agent that handles delayed actions. We present MVFST-RL, a scalable framework for congestion control in the QUIC transport protocol that leverages state-of-the-art in asynchronous RL training with off-policy correction. We analyze modeling improvements to mitigate the deviation from Markovian dynamics, and evaluate our method on emulated networks from the Pantheon benchmark platform. The source code is publicly available at this https URL.
BrokenStrokes: on the (in)security of wireless keyboards

Wireless devices resorting to event-triggered communications have been proved to suffer critical privacy issues, due to the intrinsic leakage associated with radio-frequency (RF) emissions. In this paper, we move the attack frontier forward by proposing BrokenStrokes: an inexpensive, easy to implement, efficient, and effective attack able to detect the typing of a pre-defined keyword by only eavesdropping the communication channel used by the wireless keyboard. BrokenStrokes proves itself to be a particularly dreadful attack: it achieves its goal when the eavesdropping antenna is up to 15 meters from the target keyboard, regardless of the encryption scheme, the communication protocol, the presence of radio noise, and the presence of physical obstacles. While we detail the attack in three current scenarios and discuss its striking performance---its success probability exceeds 90%6 in normal operating conditions---, we also provide some suggestions on how to mitigate it. The data utilized in this paper have been released as open-source to allow practitioners, industries, and academia to verify our claims and use them as a basis for further developments.
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PROTEIN EXTRACTS OF SELECTED MULBERRY VARIETIES

India has a wealth of medicinal Plants which has been used by our ancestors against various ailments from time immemorial. It is a big repository of medicinal plants that are being utilised in traditional medicine (Chopra et al., 1956). Medicinal plants generally produce many secondary metabolites which constitute an important source of microbicides, pesticides and many pharmaceutical drugs. The effects of plant extracts on bacteria have been studied by various researchers in different parts of the world (Reddy et al., 2001; Gallo et al., 2006, Karthikumar et al., 2007). Mulberry reduces blood serum glucose which was used in the old Chinese herbal medicine (Andallu et al., 2001). It has the ability to reduce blood cholesterol and lipid levels, fight against arterial plaques, diuretic and expectorant. (Andallu and Varadacharyulu, 2003; Doi et al., 2000; Jang et al., 2002). Increasing interest in the health benefits of various plant extracts has led to the investigation of mulberry protein extracts for their antibacterial activity. In the present study protein extract of 3 mulberry varieties viz., Morus indica, V1 and DD were evaluated for antibacterial activity.
On Post-selection Inference in A/B Testing

When interpreting A/B tests, we typically focus only on the statistically significant results and take them by face value. This practice, termed post-selection inference in the statistical literature, may negatively affect both point estimation and uncertainty quantification, and therefore hinder trustworthy decision making in A/B testing. To address this issue, in this paper we explore two seemingly unrelated paths, one based on supervised machine learning and the other on empirical Bayes, and propose post-selection inferential approaches that combine the strengths of both. Through large-scale simulated and empirical examples, we demonstrate that our proposed methodologies stand out among other existing ones in both reducing post-selection biases and improving confidence interval coverage rates, and discuss how they can be conveniently adjusted to real-life scenarios.
Investigating the multiwavelength behaviour of the flat spectrum radio quasar CTA 102 during 2013–2017

We present a multiwavelength study of the flat-spectrum radio quasar CTA 102 during 2013–2017. We use radio-to-optical data obtained by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope, 15 GHz data from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, 91 and 103 GHz data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, near-infrared data from the Rapid Eye Monitor telescope, as well as data from the Swift (optical-UV and X-rays) and Fermi (γ-rays) satellites to study flux and spectral variability and the correlation between flux changes at different wavelengths. Unprecedented γ-ray flaring activity was observed during 2016 November–2017 February, with four major outbursts. A peak flux of (2158 ± 63) × 10−8 ph cm−2 s−1, corresponding to a luminosity of (2.2 ± 0.1) × 1050 erg s−1, was reached on 2016 December 28. These four γ-ray outbursts have corresponding events in the near-infrared, optical, and UV bands, with the peaks observed at the same time. A general agreement between X-ray and γ-ray activity is found. The γ-ray flux variations show a general, strong correlation with the optical ones with no time lag between the two bands and a comparable variability amplitude. This γ-ray/optical relationship is in agreement with the geometrical model that has successfully explained the low-energy flux and spectral behaviour, suggesting that the long-term flux variations are mainly due to changes in the Doppler factor produced by variations of the viewing angle of the emitting regions. The difference in behaviour between radio and higher energy emission would be ascribed to different viewing angles of the jet regions producing their emission.
The Externalities of High-Frequency Trading 1 March 15 , 2012

We show that two exogenous technology shocks that increase the speed of trading from microseconds to nanoseconds do not lead to improvements on quoted spread, effective spread, trading volume or variance ratio. However, cancellation/execution ratio increases dramatically from 26:1 to 32:1, short term volatility increases and market depth decreases. We find evidence consistent with “quote stuffing,” which involves submitting an extraordinarily large number of orders followed by immediate cancellation in order to generate order congestion. The stock data are handled by six independent channels in the NASDAQ based on alphabetic order of ticker symbols. We detect abnormally high levels of co-movement of message flows for stocks in the same channel using factor regression, a discontinuity test and diff-in-diff test. Our results suggest that an arms race in speed at the sub-millisecond level is a positional game in which a trader’s pay-off depends on her speed relative to other traders. This game leads to positional externality (Frank and Bernanke, 2012), in which private benefit leads to offsetting investments on speed, or effort to slow down other traders or the exchange, with no observed social benefit.
EFFECTS OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE ON TIMING AND DEPTH OF BREATHING AT REST

Volume and timing components of resting ventilation were measured serially in 40 women aged 18 to 36 yr, during menstrual, follicular and luteal phases of menstrual cycle. Resting minute ventilation (VE) was significantly higher (P<O.OOl) in luteal phase than in menstrual and follicular phases; in the two latter phases VE was almost equal. This increment in V E during the luteal phase was due to a significant rise (P<O.OOl) in tidal volume (VT ). Respiratory frequency (D was unchanged throughout the cycle. Although there was a mean increases in inspiratory time (T,) during the luteal phase compared to the other two phases, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Duty cycle, T,f T LoL , was also unchanged throughout menstrual cycle. However, mean inspiratory f1ow, VI T" was significantly higher (P<O.05 and P<O.Ol) during luteal phase as compared to that during menstrual or follicular phases respectively. Pulmonary mechanics, as measured by forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV,) and forced mid expiratory f10w rate (FEF2"~.75"')' were within normal limits and remained unaltered during the menstrual cycle. Therefore, in the absence of alteration of pulmonary mechanics, the luteal increase in ventilation and inspiratory flow suggests a possible role for progesterone in stimulating the respiratory drive, either centrally or through the peripheral chemoreceptors or by both.
Clinical Study Altered Functional Connectivity within and between Brain Modules in Absence Epilepsy : A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

1 Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China 2 State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China 3University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China 4Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
Artificial Neural Networking Model an Approach for the Coagulation Properties of Milk

— The analysis and sequence of some technological parameters and milk coagulation properties (MCP) of Holstein Friesian dairy cows have been studied in the present research article. The milk samples have been collected from a local farm’s at Pelagonia region, Republic of Macedonia and the experimental work was conducted in the laboratories of the Faculty of biotechnical sciences, R. Macedonia and Tabuk University, KSA. The study illustrates the MCP of cow’s milk as well as the effect of milk urea nitrogen level and pH on the coagulum development. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of raw milk samples and after rennet addition also has been studied. All the said results/parameters have been compared with the soft computing approach so called artificial neural networking model, and the predictions of soft computing (ANN) model’s outcomes were found in a good agreement with the experimental data.
HECKE OPERATORS AND THE COHERENT COHOMOLOGY OF SHIMURA VARIETIES

Abstract We consider the problem of defining an action of Hecke operators on the coherent cohomology of certain integral models of Shimura varieties. We formulate a general conjecture describing which Hecke operators should act integrally and solve the conjecture in certain cases. As a consequence, we obtain p-adic estimates of Satake parameters of certain nonregular self-dual automorphic representations of $\mathrm {GL}_n$ .
Acoustokinetics: Crafting force landscapes from sound waves

Factoring the pressure field of a harmonic sound wave into its amplitude and phase profiles provides the foundation for an analytical framework for studying acoustic forces that not only provides novel insights into the forces exerted by specified sound waves, but also addresses the inverse problem of designing sound waves to implement desired force landscapes. We illustrate the benefits of this acoustokinetic framework through case studies of purely nonconservative force fields, standing waves, pseudo-standing waves, and tractor beams.
CO multi-line imaging of nearby galaxies (COMING). IV. Overview of the project

Observations of the molecular gas in galaxies are vital to understand the evolution and star-forming histories of galaxies. However, galaxies with molecular gas maps of their whole discs at sufficient resolution to distinguish galactic structures are severely lacking. Millimeter-wavelength studies at a high angular resolution across multiple lines and transitions are particularly needed, severely limiting our ability to infer the universal properties of molecular gas in galaxies. Hence, we conducted a legacy project with the 45 m telescope of the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, called the CO Multi-line Imaging of Nearby Galaxies (COMING), which simultaneously observed 147 galaxies with high far-infrared (FIR) flux in 12CO, 13CO, and C18O J = 1–0 lines. The total molecular gas mass was derived using the standard CO–to–H2 conversion factor and found to be positively correlated with the total stellar mass derived from the WISE 3.4 μm band data. The fraction of the total molecular gas mass to the total stellar mass in galaxies does not depend on their Hubble types nor the existence of a galactic bar, although when galaxies in individual morphological types are investigated separately, the fraction seems to decrease with the total stellar mass in early-type galaxies and vice versa in late-type galaxies. No differences in the distribution of the total molecular gas mass, stellar mass, or the total molecular gas to stellar mass ratio was observed between barred and non-barred galaxies, which is likely the result of our sample selection criteria, in that we prioritized observing FIR bright (and thus molecular gas-rich) galaxies.
Within-Host Phenotypic Evolution and the Population-Level Control of Chronic Viral Infections by Treatment and Prophylaxis

Chronic viral infections can persist for decades spanning thousands of viral generations, leading to a highly diverse population of viruses with its own complex evolutionary history. We propose an expandable mathematical framework for understanding how the emergence of genetic and phenotypic diversity affects the population-level control of those infections by both non-curative treatment and chemo-prophylactic measures. Our frameworks allows both neutral and phenotypic evolution, and we consider the specific evolution of contagiousness, resistance to therapy, and efficacy of prophylaxis. We compute both the controlled and uncontrolled, population-level basic reproduction number accounting for the within-host evolutionary process where new phenotypes emerge and are lost in infected persons, which we also extend to include both treatment and prophylactic control efforts. We used these results to discuss the conditions under which the relative efficacy of prophylactic versus therapeutic methods of control are superior. Finally, we give expressions for the endemic equilibrium of these models for certain constrained versions of the within-host evolutionary model providing a potential method for estimating within-host evolutionary parameters from population-level genetic sequence data.
Assessing the effects of a short-term green tea intervention in skin microvascular and oxygen tension in older and younger adults

Green tea consumption has been associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, there is little evidence examining its potential differing effect between younger and older populations, while little is known on its effect on the circulatory system when oxygen demand is higher. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of green tea consumption on microvascular functioning in both an older and younger population. Fifteen young [24 (4.0)] and fifteen older [61 (4.0)] participants, consumed two cups of green tea daily for 14 days. We used Laser Doppler Flowmetry to assess cutaneous microvascular function and Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure to assess skin oxygen tension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also assessed on both visits. We observed significant improvements in axon-mediated microvascular vasodilation for the younger group [1.6 (0.59) vs 2.05 (0.72), p<0.05] and the older group [1.25 (0.58) vs 1.65 (0.5) p<0.05]. Improvements in skin oxygen tension were also noted for both groups in both noted TcPO2 measures (i.e. 1.25 (0.58) vs 1.65 (0.5) (p<0.05), for ΔTcPO2max for the older group, between visits) respectively. Improvements were also observed for systolic blood pressure in both the younger [120 (10) vs 112 (10), p<0.05] and older group [129 (12) v 124 (11), p<0.001]. In conclusion, we observed statistically-significant improvements in microvascular function and skin oxygen tension. Our results suggest that green tea may prove beneficial as a dietary element in lifestyle interventions aiming to lower cardiovascular disease risk, in both older and younger populations.
Measuring the Benefits to Sniping on eBay: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Bidders on eBay frequently engage in sniping: that is, submitting a bid seconds before an auction closes. Using a field experiment, we attempt to measure the size of the benefit of sniping (if any). To do this we selected pairs of auctions that were as identical as possible (same item, same quality, same seller, similar closing time, et cetera). In one auction of each pair we submitted an early bid, and in the other we submitted the same bid exactly ten seconds before its close. Our results, from a set of 70 such pairs, indicate no benefit to sniping: we found evidence of 2.54% lower prices for the sniped auctions, but we did not find this benefit to be statistically significant. Additionally, we use our data to make a survey of the incidence of sniping and compare our findings with those of Roth and Ockenfels (2002).
J C A P 1 0 ( 2 0 1 6 ) 0 1 2 ournal of C osmology and A stroparticle P hysics

Dark matter that gets captured in the Sun may form positronium-like bound states if it self-interacts via light dark photons. In this case, dark matter can either annihilate to dark photons or recombine in bound states which subsequently also decay to dark photons. The fraction of the dark photons that leave the Sun without decaying to Standard Model particles have a characteristic energy spectrum which is a mixture of the direct annihilation process, the decays of orthoand parabound states and the recombination process. The ultimate decay of these dark photons to positron-electron pairs (via kinetic mixing) outside the Sun creates a distinct signal that can either identify or set strict constraints on dark photon models.
Laboratory Evaluation of Fluoride Varnish Effect on Ionomer Glass Color Using a Digital Camera and Spectrophotometer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The impact of external factors on color of ionomer glass as a restorative material is important due to its beauty. The aim of this study was to evaluate discoloration of conventional and resinmodified ionomer glass, after the application of fluoride varnish. METHODS: In this study, 16 samples of each ionomer glass Chemfil Superior (C) and (F) Fuji II LC were prepared. Then fluoride varnish Dura shield (Sultan, USA) was used on samples (Cf, Ff). The color of each sample was measured using a spectrophotometer (Gretage Macbeth, Color-eye7000A) and digital camera (Sony Cyber-shot DSC N1) before and after the application of fluoride varnish. Obtained data from camera was converted to color space Lab CIE by MATLAB software. Discoloration (ΔE) of each sample was calculated in spectrophotometer and digital camera and statistical analysis was performed. FINDINGS: Using spectrophotometer ΔE in Cf and Ff groups was obtained 4.44 and 5.8, respectively, but with a digital camera was 2.37 and 4.21, respectively in the same group. The application of fluoride varnish in the evaluation of a spectrophotometer and a digital camera resulted in a statistical significant color change in samples (respectively p<0.001 and p=0.028). In addition, the data showed a significant correlation in obtained results from spectrophotometer and digital camera (p=0.045 and r=0.357). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study in evaluation by spectrophotometry, application of fluoride varnish (Dura shield) led to an apparent color change in both ionomer glass. According to the same results, digital camera for evaluation of color is relatively reliable.