Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uniform convergence to the Airy line ensemble

We show that classical integrable models of last passage percolation and the related nonintersecting random walks converge uniformly on compact sets to the Airy line ensemble. Our core approach is to show convergence of nonintersecting Bernoulli random walks in all feasible directions in the parameter space. We then use coupling arguments to extend convergence to other models.
Revisiting Kepler-444

Context. The CoRoT and Kepler missions have paved the way for synergies between exoplanetology and asteroseismology. The use of seismic data helps providing stringent constraints on the stellar properties which directly impact the results of planetary studies. Amongst the most interesting planetary systems discovered by Kepler, Kepler-444 is unique by the quality of its seismic and classical stellar constraints. Its magnitude, age and the presence of 5 small-sized planets orbiting this target makes it an exceptional testbed for exoplanetology. Aims. We aim at providing a detailed characterization of Kepler-444, focusing on the dependency of the results on variations of key ingredients of the theoretical stellar models. This thorough study will serve as a basis for future investigations of the planetary evolution of the system orbiting Kepler-444. Methods. We use local and global minimization techniques to study the internal structure of the exoplanet-host star Kepler-444. We combine seismic observations from the Kepler mission, Gaia DR2 data, and revised spectroscopic parameters to precisely constrain its internal structure and evolution. Results. We provide updated robust and precise determinations of the fundamental parameters of Kepler-444 and demonstrate that this low-mass star bore a convective core during a significant portion of its life on the main sequence. Using seismic data, we are able to estimate the lifetime of the convective core to approximately 8 Gyr out of the 11 Gyr of the evolution of Kepler-444. The revised stellar parameters found by our thorough study are M = 0.754 ± 0.03 M⊙, R = 0.753 ± 0.01 R⊙, and Age = 11 ± 1 Gyr.
ALGEBRAIC VALUES OF CERTAIN ANALYTIC FUNCTIONS DEFINED BY A CANONICAL PRODUCT

We give a partial answer to a question attributed to Chris Miller on algebraic values of certain transcendental functions of order less than one. We obtain $C(\log H)^{\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}}$ bounds for the number of algebraic points of height at most $H$ on certain subsets of the graphs of such functions. The constant $C$ and exponent $\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$ depend on data associated with the functions and can be effectively computed from them.
Resource-Aware Exact Decentralized Optimization Using Event-Triggered Broadcasting

This article addresses the decentralized optimization problem where a group of agents with coupled private objective functions work together to exactly optimize the summation of local interests. Upon modeling the decentralized problem as an equality-constrained centralized one, we leverage the linearized augmented Lagrangian method to design an event-triggered decentralized algorithm that only requires light local computation at generic time instants and peer-to-peer communication at sporadic triggering time instants. The triggering time instants for each agent are locally determined by comparing the deviation between true and broadcast primal variables with certain triggering thresholds. Provided that the threshold is summable over time, we establish a new upper bound for the effect of triggering behavior on the primal-dual residual. Based on this, the same convergence rate $O(\frac{1}{k})$ with periodic algorithms is secured for nonsmooth convex problems. Stronger convergence results are obtained for strongly convex and smooth problems, that is, the iterates linearly converge with exponentially decaying triggering thresholds. Finally, the developed strategy is examined with two common optimization problems; comparison results illustrate its performance and superiority in exploiting communication resources.
Asymptotic Independence ex machina -- Extreme Value Theory for the Diagonal BEKK-ARCH(1) Model

We consider multivariate stationary processes $(\boldsymbol{X}_t)$, satisfying a stochastic recurrence equation of the form $$ \boldsymbol{X}_t= \boldsymbol{m}M_t \boldsymbol{X}_{t-1} + \boldsymbol{Q}_t,$$ where $(M_t)$ and $(\boldsymbol{Q}_t)$ are iid random variables and random vectors, respectively, and $\boldsymbol{m}=\mathrm{diag}(m_1, \dots, m_d)$ is a deterministic diagonal matrix. We obtain a full characterization of the multivariate regular variation properties of $(\boldsymbol{X}_t)$, proving that coordinates $X_{t,i}$ and $X_{t,j}$ are asymptotically independent if and only if $m_i \neq m_j$; even though all coordinates rely on the same random input $(M_t)$. We describe extremal properties of $(\boldsymbol{X}_t)$ in the framework of vector scaling regular variation. Our results are applied to multivariate autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) processes.
Testing the disk-corona interplay in radiatively-efficient broad-line AGN

The correlation observed between monochromatic X-ray and UV luminosities in radiatively-efficient active galactic nuclei (AGN) lacks a clear theoretical explanation despite being used for many applications. Such a correlation, with its small intrinsic scatter and its slope that is smaller than unity in log space, represents the compelling evidence that a mechanism regulating the energetic interaction between the accretion disk and the X-ray corona must be in place. This ensures that going from fainter to brighter sources the coronal emission increases less than the disk emission. We discuss here a self-consistently coupled disk-corona model that can identify this regulating mechanism in terms of modified viscosity prescriptions in the accretion disk. The model predicts a lower fraction of accretion power dissipated in the corona for higher accretion states. We then present a quantitative observational test of the model using a reference sample of broad-line AGN and modeling the disk-corona emission for each source in the LX − LUV plane. We used the slope, normalization, and scatter of the observed relation to constrain the parameters of the theoretical model. For non-spinning black holes and static coronae, we find that the accretion prescriptions that match the observed slope of the LX − LUV relation produce X-rays that are too weak with respect to the normalization of the observed relation. Instead, considering moderately-outflowing Comptonizing coronae and/or a more realistic high-spinning black hole population significantly relax the tension between the strength of the observed and modeled X-ray emission, while also predicting very low intrinsic scatter in the LX − LUV relation. In particular, this latter scenario traces a known selection effect of flux-limited samples that preferentially select high-spinning, hence brighter, sources.
The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on the Healthfulness of Non-Alcoholic Beverage Choices among Low-Income Households

This article investigates the impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on beverage choices by low-income households. A theoretical analysis indicates that Medicaid expansion could induce an income effect from relaxation of the budget constraint that could increase unhealthy beverage purchases, and a nutrition education effect that could decrease them. To empirically test these effects, we utilize household-level data of beverage purchases from 2013 to 2016 in 52 U.S. metropolitan areas in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. The start of ACA Medicaid expansion enrollment in 2014 by 31 states and household Medicaid eligibility were used as the identification strategy. Results from a triple-differences model with nearly one million observations on purchases of seven beverage categories indicate that Medicaid expansion resulted in eligible households buying more soda and fruit drinks and less bottled water. Results from a mixed-logit model with nearly 17 million purchase observations at the household-brand level indicate that Medicaid expansion led to overall increases in eligible households’ purchases of and valuation of sugary beverages and a decrease in their price elasticities of demand. Overall, the empirical results lend support to income effect hypothesis of Medicaid expansion but not to the nutrition education effect hypothesis. The unintended impacts found in these empirical results highlight the need to complement the benefits of Medicaid expansion with effective diet quality programs or investigate nudges to improve the healthfulness of low-income household beverage choices.
OF ASPECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHRIS CALIBRATION

Following almost two years of CHRIS in-orbit operations, this paper reviews the procedure for calibration of the CHRIS instrument to assess whether changes could be implemented to improve the radiometric calibration. In particular the paper addresses: first, the variation of the dark signal data acquired over the period of the mission, from October 2001 to March 2004, secondly, the use of the generic dark-field data sets for correcting analogue electronic offsets and, thirdly, the influence of the platform temperature variations on instrument response and hence radiometric calibration.
How do analysts ’ forecast characteristics relate to investment efficiency ?

We argue that expert external financial analysis will help improve the efficiency of firms’ investment decisions. We use the accuracy and dispersion of financial analysts’ earnings forecasts as proxies of analyst expertise in information gathering and monitoring. We find that high quality analysis is associated with higher investment if the firm is more likely to under-invest and lower investment if the firm is more likely to over-invest. We further show that such effects are stronger for the firms with large deviations in investment from their expected level, higher information asymmetry, and lower institutional stock ownership. The effects of analysts’ forecast characteristics remain highly significant after controlling for the quality of financial reporting as well as other measures of governance mechanisms. Our results are consistent with the view that high quality information gathering and monitoring by financial analysts can enhance firms’ investment efficiency.
The Economics of Health Demand and Human Aging : Health Capital vs . Health Deficits

This paper provides a rigorous comparative analysis of assumptions and predictions of alternative economic theories of health demand and human aging. The health-capital model, based on Grossman (1972) and the health-deficit model, based on Dalgaard and Strulik (2014). We show that both theories lead to fundamentally different predictions of health behavior and human life histories. We find that the health-deficit model provides a consistent approach to health behavior and aging whereas the health-capital model generates predictions that are hard to square with the stylized facts. We argue that the root of the disagreement of the theories is the following: The health-capital model postulates that of two people of the same age the healthier one looses more health in the next instant whereas the health-deficit model, based on insights from modern gerontology, proceeds from the opposite assumption.
Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Efficacy of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Antagonist as Compared to Agonists with Combined AntiAndrogen Blockade ( CAB ) in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Purpose: we retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy of the LHRH antagonist degarelix and compared it with that of the LHRH agonist's leuprolide or goserelin when used in combination with a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, bicalutamide or flutamide, for patients with advanced prostate cancer classified as stage C or D. Material and Method: We examined the efficacy of degarelix, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) antagonist, and that of leuprolide and goserelin, LHRH agonists, in combination with anti-androgens for 145 advanced prostate cancers. Results: When Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was set as the primary endpoint, no significant difference was seen among the 3 agents or between the LHRH antagonist and each LHRH agonist in analysis of all patients as well as after dividing them according to stage (C/D) and J-CAPRA score (intermediate/high). Multivariate analysis showed that age <75 years old, initial PSA ≥ 200 ng/dl, and bone metastasis were risk factors affecting PSA PFS, whereas Gleason's score, lymph node metastasis, and visceral metastasis were not related. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, we did not find a significant difference in PSA PFS between an LHRH antagonist and agonists when used with Combined Anti-androgen Blockade (CAB). Limitations include a low number of enrolled patients, lack of randomization, and retrospective nature, thus further studies with a greater number of subjects are required to confirm our results and develop an ideal protocol for hormone therapy for advanced prostate cancer.
Inter-species HALYs: ethical considerations of well-being measurement across multiple species

Health-adjusted life years (HALYs) are population health measures which describe morbidity and mortality combined as one number. HALYs play a fundamental role in cost-effectiveness analysis, making it possible to compare the quantity of health-related well-being purchasable for a given investment across a range of initiatives. Currently, however, no such health measures consider human and non-human animal well-being simultaneously, representing both a philosophical and practical void in the field. This thesis looks to assess the ethical landscape surrounding the simultaneous assessment of inter-species well-being. It analyses various theories of well-being, then discusses various possible stances on relative species value and how they might be relevant to the calculation of an inter-species HALY.
An Analysis of Function in the Formation Flight of Canada Geese

AI•STRACT. --I analyzed formations of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) with a single, direct method of testing predictions from multiple hypotheses. The results support both energetic (aerodynamic) advantage and orientation communication through visual contact as functions of this complex behavior. Comparison of observed positioning patterns with criteria for optimal function suggests priority may be given to the maximization of energy savings within limits imposed by environmental and other constraints. Received 14 November 1986, accepted 10 July 1988.
LINE X TESTER ANALYSIS FOR YIELD AND ITS TRAITS IN BREAD WHEAT

The present study was carried out in three successive seasons from 2007 to 2010.The first and second seasons were at El-Giza Research Station while the third season was at Kafr ElHamam Research Station. The main objective of this study was to estimate combining ability variances and effects of eighteen wheat genotypes which were crossed to three local wheat cultivars, i.e., Gemmiza 9, Sakha 93 and Giza 169 as testers using Line x Tester analysis in F1 and F2 populations for grain yield and its components. The differences among genotypes, parents and crosses were highly significant for all studied characters. Both general and specific combining ability variances were highly significant for all characters. The results revealed that non additive gene effects were larger than those of the additive ones and played the major role in the inheritance of all studied characters. Also, the maximum contribution to total variance of grain yield per plant and other traits was made by female lines. The parental lines 3, 4, 14 and 15 proved to have better general combiners for grain yield per plant and most of its components in grain yield improvement. Hence, four female parents could be used in future programs to improve grain yield. Tester number 1 appeared to have better general combiner for grain yield per plant and some other traits. These parents presumed to have a relatively large number of favorable alleles for these traits. However, the hybrids (L3 X T3), (L4 X T1), (L14 X T2) and (L15 X T2) were excellent harmonious combinars for specific combining ability effects for all characters including grain yield per plant. Hence, it would result in transgressive segregants for grain yield per plant in late segregating generations due to the predominant non – additive gene action.
THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PARADOX : A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MULTINATIONAL AND DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN PAKISTAN

This paper examines the impact of firms’ location on its corporate governance quality and profitability. There are two commonly held views on the quality of corporate governance and profitability of multinational corporations operating in the developing countries. Firstly, the quality of corporate governance practiced by multinational corporations is generally higher than that of domestic companies. The second view postulates that multinational corporations show better financial performance than domestic companies. The converse side of this coin is that domestic companies have lower profitability due to the poor quality of their corporate governance, but our research reveals an interesting departure from these pervasive inferences. Our results show a strong positive relationship between firms’ location and financial performance, better quality of corporate governance for domestic firms and that the multinational corporations’ superior financial performance is due to factors other than quality of their corporate governance not covered in the present research.
uence of Deposition Temperature as a Reducing Agent on Synthesis of Reduced Graphene O xide ( RGO )

In this paper we have investigated the physical properties of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) thin lms prepared at various substrate temperatures of 230, 260, 290, 320 and 350 oC using spray pyrolysis technique. We have compared these lms from various viewpoints, including structural, morphological, optical, electrical and thermo-electrical properties. X-ray diffraction analysis showed a phase shift from graphene oxide (GO) to RGO due to elevate the substrate temperature from 200 oC to higher temperatures, in agreement with the FTIR spectra of the layers. FESEM images of RGO thin lms revealed stacked irregular folded nanosheets, and rod-like features at temperatures below and above 290 oC; respectively. Optical studies showed that the layers have a relatively high absorption coef cient (~0.8×10 to 1.7×10 cm) in the visible range, with an optical band gap of 1.67–1.88 eV. The Hall effect data showed that all samples have a p-type conductivity with a hole concentration of ~10 cm, and sheet resistance values of about 106 /square, in agreement with previous reports. The thermoelectric measurements revealed that with increasing applied temperature gradient between the two ends of the samples, the thermoelectric electromotive force (e.m.f) of the prepared RGO thin lms increases.
EPM – RT – 2010-11 RESTRUCTURING SOURCE CODE IDENTIFIERS

In software engineering, maintenance cost 60% of overall project lifecycle costs of any software product. Program comprehension is a substantial part of maintenance and evolution cost and, thus, any advancement in maintenance, evolution, and program understanding will potentially greatly reduce the total cost of ownership of any software products. Identifiers are an important source of information during program understanding and maintenance. Programmers often use identifiers to build their mental models of the software artifacts. Thus, poorly-chosen identifiers have been reported in the literature as misleading and increasing the program comprehension effort. Identifiers are composed of terms, which can be dictionary words, acronyms, contractions, or simple strings. We conjecture that the use of identical terms in different contexts may increase the risk of faults, and hence maintenance effort. We investigate our conjecture using a measure combining term entropy and term context-coverage to study whether certain terms increase the odds ratios of methods to be fault-prone. We compute term entropy and context-coverage of terms extracted from identifiers in Rhino 1.4R3 and ArgoUML 0.16. We show statistically that methods containing terms with high entropy and context-coverage are more fault-prone than others, and that the new measure is only partially correlated with size. We will build on this study, and will apply summarization technique for extracting linguistic information form methods and classes. Using this information, we will extract domain concepts from source code, and propose linguistic based refactoring.
Attention Pooling A Softmax-Cross Entropy with true label � Distractor Patch

We introduce a pretraining technique called Selfie, which stands for SELFsupervised Image Embedding. Selfie generalizes the concept of masked language modeling of BERT (Devlin et al., 2019) to continuous data, such as images, by making use of the Contrastive Predictive Coding loss (Oord et al., 2018). Given masked-out patches in an input image, our method learns to select the correct patch, among other “distractor” patches sampled from the same image, to fill in the masked location. This classification objective sidesteps the need for predicting exact pixel values of the target patches. The pretraining architecture of Selfie includes a network of convolutional blocks to process patches followed by an attention pooling network to summarize the content of unmasked patches before predicting masked ones. During finetuning, we reuse the convolutional weights found by pretraining. We evaluate Selfie on three benchmarks (CIFAR-10, ImageNet 32× 32, and ImageNet 224× 224) with varying amounts of labeled data, from 5% to 100% of the training sets. Our pretraining method provides consistent improvements to ResNet-50 across all settings compared to the standard supervised training of the same network. Notably, on ImageNet 224× 224 with 60 examples per class (5%), our method improves the mean accuracy of ResNet-50 from 35.6% to 46.7%, an improvement of 11.1 points in absolute accuracy. Our pretraining method also improves ResNet-50 training stability, especially on low data regime, by significantly lowering the standard deviation of test accuracies across different runs.
Control of acoustic streaming by a focusing source with two coaxially arranged transducers

Control of acoustic streaming is expected to provide a promising method in microfluidic technologies. However, there are less research reports on such acoustic systems to control the streaming velocity. To make sure that the velocity depends strongly on sound field distribution, we carried out some experiments using a focusing ultrasound transducer that consists of two coaxially arranged concentric piezoelectric elements: i.e., one is an inner disc element and the other an outer ring one. Both the elements can be driven by electric signals at the same frequency of 3.45 MHz but different phase angles. A sound beam model equation, SBE [T. Kamakura et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 3035-3046 (2000). ], is successfully used to predict the focused sound pressure distribution. The external driving force to act on the fluid is readily calculated by the pressure, and then the streaming speed can be theoretically predicted by the continuity equation and the Navier-Stokes equation with the term of the force [T. Kamakura et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 97, 2740-2746 (1995). ]. The profiles of the speed along and across the beam axis are measured using a Laser Doppler Velocimeter. It has been confirmed that experimental data and theoretical predictions are in pretty good agreement. The control feasibility of the streaming is discussed by changing the phase difference between the two signals.