Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward a Precise Measurement of Matter Clustering: Lyα Forest Data at Redshifts 2-4

We measure the filling factor, correlation function, and power spectrum of transmitted flux in a large sample of Lyα forest spectra, comprised of 30 Keck HIRES spectra and 23 Keck LRIS spectra. We infer the linear matter power spectrum P(k) from the flux power spectrum PF(k), using an improved version of the method of Croft et al. that accounts for the influence of redshift-space distortions, nonlinearity, and thermal broadening on the shape of PF(k). The evolution of the shape and amplitude of P(k) over the redshift range of the sample (z ≈ 2-4) is consistent with the predictions of gravitational instability, implying that nongravitational fluctuations do not make a large contribution to structure in the Lyα forest. Our fiducial measurement of P(k) comes from a subset of the data with 2.3 < z < 2.9, mean absorption redshift ⟨z⟩ = 2.72, and total path length Δz ≈ 25. It has a dimensionless amplitude Δ2(kp) = 0.74 at wavenumber kp = 0.03 (km s-1)-1 and is well described by a power law of index ν = -2.43 ± 0.06 or by a CDM-like power spectrum with shape parameter Γ′ = 1.3 × 10-3 (km s-1)-1 at z = 2.72 (all error bars 1 σ). The correspondence to present-day P(k) parameters depends on the adopted cosmology. For Ωm = 0.4, ΩΛ = 0.6, the best-fit shape parameter is Γ = 0.16 h Mpc-1, in good agreement with measurements from the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, and the best-fit normalization is σ8 = 0.82(Γ/0.15)-0.44. Matching the observed cluster mass function and our measured Δ2(kp) in spatially flat cosmological models requires Ωm = 0.38 + 2.2(Γ - 0.15). Matching Δ2(kp) in COBE-normalized, flat CDM models with no tensor fluctuations requires Ωm = (0.29 ± 0.04)n-2.89 h, and models that satisfy this constraint are also consistent with our measured logarithmic slope. The Lyα forest complements other observational probes of the linear matter power spectrum by constraining a regime of redshift and length scale not accessible by other means, and the consistency of these inferred parameters with independent estimates provides further support for a cosmological model based on inflation, cold dark matter, and vacuum energy.
Thurstone Might Have Been Right About Attitudes, but Drasgow, Chernyshenko, and Stark Fail to Make the Case for Personality

Drasgow, Chernyshenko, and Stark’s (2010) polemic argues the need for, and superiority of, an ideal point response process and an ideal point measurement model, for ‘‘personality’’ measurement, broadly defined. Yet, the target article leaves me unconvinced of their merits or necessity in personality trait measurement. The reasons for my skepticism are their (a) questionable distinction between cognitive and noncognitive data as it relates to the applicability and interpretability of dominance response models, (b) weak conceptual link between attitude measurement theory and personality trait assessment, (c) reliance on the findings produced from a single fit index when applied to a limited set of self-report measures, and (d) failure to provide empirical evidence that personality trait scales, in general, fail to include items that provide measurement precision in the ‘‘middle’’ or ‘‘intermediate’’ level of the trait range.
Towards Real-time, On-board, Hardware-supported Sensor and Software Health Management for Unmanned Aerial Systems

For unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to be successfully deployed and integrated within the national airspace, it is imperative that they possess the capability to effectively complete their missions without compromising the safety of other aircraft, as well as persons and property on the ground. This necessity creates a natural requirement for UAS that can respondto uncertain environmental conditions and emergent failures in real-time, with robustness and resilience close enough to those of manned systems. We introduce a system that meets this requirement with the design of a real-time onboard system health management (SHM) capability to continuously monitor sensors, software, and hardware components. This system can detect and diagnose failures and violations of safety or performance rules during the flight of a UAS. Our approach to SHM is three-pronged, providing: (1) real-time monitoring of sensor and software signals; (2) signal analysis, preprocessing, and advanced on-the-fly temporal and Bayesian probabilistic fault diagnosis; and (3) an unobtrusive, lightweight, read-only, low-power realization using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) that avoids overburdening limited computing resources or costly re-certification of flight software. We call this approach rt-R2U2, a name derived from its requirements. Our implementation provides a novel approach of combining modular building blocks, integrating responsive runtime monitoring of temporal logic system safety requirements with model-based diagnosis and Bayesian network-based probabilistic analysis. We demonstrate this approach using actual flight data from theNASA Swift UAS.
Streaming Sorting Networks

Sorting is a fundamental problem in computer science and has been studied extensively. Thus, a large variety of sorting methods exist for both software and hardware implementations. For the latter, there is a trade-off between the throughput achieved and the cost (i.e., the logic and storage invested to sort <i>n</i> elements). Two popular solutions are bitonic sorting networks with <i>O</i>(<i>n</i>log <sup>2</sup><i>n</i>) logic and storage, which sort <i>n</i> elements per cycle, and linear sorters with <i>O</i>(<i>n</i>) logic and storage, which sort <i>n</i> elements per <i>n</i> cycles. In this article, we present new hardware structures that we call <i>streaming sorting networks</i>, which we derive through a mathematical formalism that we introduce, and an accompanying domain-specific hardware generator that translates our formal mathematical description into synthesizable RTL Verilog. With the new networks, we achieve novel and improved cost-performance trade-offs. For example, assuming that <i>n</i> is a two-power and <i>w</i> is any divisor of <i>n</i>, one class of these networks can sort in <i>n</i>/;<i>w</i> cycles with <i>O</i>(<i>w</i>log <sup>2</sup><i>n</i>) logic and <i>O</i>(<i>n</i>log <sup>2</sup><i>n</i>) storage; the other class that we present sorts in <i>n</i>log <sup>2</sup><i>n</i>/;<i>w</i> cycles with <i>O</i>(<i>w</i>) logic and <i>O</i>(<i>n</i>) storage. We carefully analyze the performance of these networks and their cost at three levels of abstraction: (1) asymptotically, (2) exactly in terms of the number of basic elements needed, and (3) in terms of the resources required by the actual circuit when mapped to a field-programmable gate array. The accompanying hardware generator allows us to explore the entire design space, identify the Pareto-optimal solutions, and show superior cost-performance trade-offs compared to prior work.
Determination of the far-infrared dust opacity in a prestellar core

Context. Mass estimates of interstellar clouds from far-infrared and submillimetre mappings depend on the assumed dust absorption cross-section for radiation at those wavelengths.Aims. The aim is to determine the far-IR dust absorption cross-section in a starless, dense core located in Corona Australis. The value is needed for determining of the core mass and other physical properties. It can also have a bearing on the evolutionary stage of the core.Methods. We correlated near-infrared stellar H − Ks colour excesses of background stars from NTT/SOFI with the far-IR optical depth map, τFIR, derived from Herschel 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm data. The Herschel maps were also used to construct a model for the cloud to examine the effect of temperature gradients on the estimated optical depths and dust absorption cross-sections.Results. A linear correlation is seen between the colour H − Ks and τFIR up to high extinctions (AV ~ 25). The correlation translates to the average extinction ratio A250 μm/AJ = 0.0014 ± 0.0002, assuming a standard near-infrared extinction law and a dust emissivity index β = 2. Using an empirical NH/AJ ratio we obtain an average absorption cross-section per H nucleus of σH250 μm = (1.8 ± 0.3) × 10-25 cm H-atom, corresponding to a cross-section per unit mass of gas κ250 μmg = 0.08 ± 0.01 cm g. The cloud model, however, suggests that owing to the bias caused by temperature changes along the line-of-sight, these values underestimate the true cross-sections by up to 40% near the centre of the core. Assuming that the model describes the effect of the temperature variation on τFIR correctly, we find that the relationship between H − Ks and τFIR agrees with the recently determined relationship between σH and NH in Orion A. Conclusions. The derived far-IR cross-section agrees with previous determinations in molecular clouds with moderate column densities, and is not particularly large compared with some other cold cores. We suggest that this is connected to the core not being very dense (the central density is likely to be ~105 cm), and judging from previous molecular line data, it appears to be at an early stage of chemical evolution.
Combining Fuzzy c-Means Classifiers Using Fuzzy Majority Vote

Although fuzzy c-means classifier has been proved preferable to crisp ones and various types of fuzzy c-means classifiers have been designed, none of them are universal enough to perform equally well in all cases. A promising direction for more robust fuzzy c-means classification is to derive multiple candidate fuzzy c-means classification over a common dataset and then combine them into a consolidate one. This paper devotes to the combination of multiple fuzzy c-means classifiers and proposes a combination method for fuzzy classifiers based on fuzzy majority voting rule, denoted by CFCM-FMV, which is tested on several real datasets. Experimental results show that the combination of fuzzy classifiers outperforms all the participant fuzzy classifiers in some cases in terms of the majority of cluster validity indexes.
Practicing a record-and-replay system on USRP

Signal recording and replaying is widely used in data analysis, device test, etc. Motivated by this fact, our paper focuses on developing a low-cost record-and-replay prototype based on USRP (Universal Software Radio Peripheral). In particular, we designed and developed a GPS (Global Positioning System) record-and-replay system, which can sample the real GPS signal and then output the analog GPS signal to other devices with cable. In this prototype, we first design the record flow graph and the replay flow graph for USRP, which is verified in the FM band with the FM (Frequency Modulation) broadcasting. After that, we replace the passive antenna with one active antenna suit to amplify the small power GPS signal, lower the quantization bits to reduce the data rate in order to support the wide bandwidth of the GPS signal. Finally, our GPS record-and-replay system is tested and verified by a real GPS receiver. The good performance of our GPS record-and-replay system showed that USRPs can not only used in academia as experiment devices but also used in industry as low-cost wireless auxiliary devices.
The Penultimate Glacial Termination and Variability of the Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone

Understanding how the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) responds to abrupt climate change is essential for reconstructing large‐scale atmospheric circulation across climate transitions. However, key differences between dynamical models and observational constraints on ITCZ movement remain unresolved. Here, we examine the Pb and Nd radiogenic isotope signatures of dust deposited in the central equatorial Pacific (CEP) from 160 to 105 kyr. We quantified the relative contributions of Northern Hemisphere‐ and Southern Hemisphere‐sourced dust to the CEP. In contrast with previous model estimates, we demonstrate that South America is an important source of dust to the CEP during glacial periods. Our new observations provide a critical data set for verifying dynamical arguments about tropical hydroclimate. We infer that the southernmost position of the ITCZ precipitation centroid occurs between 136 and 131 kyr, coincident with the timing of North Atlantic Heinrich Stadial Event 11 (136 to 129 kyr).
Interprocedural optimizations for improving data cache performance of array-sensitive embedded applications

As datasets processed by embedded processors increase in size and complexity, the management of higher levels of memory hierarchy (e.g., caches) is becoming an important issue. A major limitation of most of the cache locality optimization techniques proposed by previous research is that they handle a single procedure at a time. This prevents compilers from capturing the data access interactions between procedures and may result in poor performance. In this paper, we look at loop and data transformations from a different angle and use them in an interprocedural optimization framework. Employing the call graph representation of a given application, the proposed technique visits each node of this graph twice and uses loop and data transformations in a systematic way for optimizing array layouts whole program wide. Our experimental results show that this interprocedural locality optimization strategy is much more effective than the previous locality-based techniques that handle each procedure in isolation.
Sparse Rig Parameter Optimization for Character Animation

We propose a novel motion retargeting method that efficiently estimates artist‐friendly rig space parameters. Inspired by the workflow typically observed in keyframe animation, our approach transfers a source motion into a production friendly character rig by optimizing the rig space parameters while balancing the considerations of fidelity to the source motion and the ease of subsequent editing. We propose the use of an intermediate object to transfer both the skeletal motion and the mesh deformation. The target rig‐space parameters are then optimized to minimize the error between the motion of an intermediate object and the target character. The optimization uses a set of artist defined weights to modulate the effect of the different rig space parameters over time. Sparsity inducing regularizers and keyframe extraction streamline any additional editing processes. The results obtained with different types of character rigs demonstrate the versatility of our method and its effectiveness in simplifying any necessary manual editing within the production pipeline.
Posting With Passion: Blogs and the Politics of Gender

This chapter uses a feminist cultural studies perspective to analyse debates about the relevance of gender in weblog use. It argues that generalisations about the so-called 'trivial' content of women's blogs are of little use to the extent that they leave the apparently opposite term - 'political' - undefined. The chapter aims to situate discussions about gender and political participation within a wider historical and intellectual framework. In doing so, it suggests that both gender and blogging reflect broader social anxieties about an expanding public sphere.
Unnatural base pair systems for sensing and diagnostic applications

Expansion of the genetic alphabet by an unnatural base pair system provides a platform for the site-specific, enzymatic incorporation of extra, functional components into nucleic acids. Recently, several unnatural base pairs that exhibit high fidelity and efficiency in PCR have been developed. Functional groups of interest, such as fluorescent dyes, can be linked to the unnatural bases, and the modified base substrates are site-specifically incorporated into nucleic acids by polymerases. Furthermore, unique unnatural base pairs between fluorophore and quencher base analogs have been developed for imaging PCR amplification and as molecular beacons. Here, we describe the recent progress in the development of unnatural base pairs that function in PCR amplification and their applications as sensing and diagnostic tools.
Mental Rotation and Rotational Invariance in the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

The mode of visual information processing during visuospatial tasks differs across species and is supposed to depend on evolutionary and ecological factors. Humans show reaction times that increase with angular disparity when tested in mental rotation tasks. Pigeons show a time-independent rotational invariance that possibly evolved in response to the horizontal reference plane birds perceive while flying. As it was suggested that hominids may have secondarily lost the ability of rotational invariance while retreating from arboreal living and evolving upright gait where the vertical reference plane is more important, mental rotation tests with various recent primate species promise to model the evolution of the respective modes of information processing. The results of recent corresponding experiments with a mainly arboreal living primate species could not be explained by either mode, thus supporting the idea of information processing systems having gradually evolved. Here, we conducted mental rotation experiments with three Rhesus monkeys, a more terrestrial living primate species. In a two-alternative matching-to-sample procedure, we measured the monkeys’ reaction times for decisions between rotated figures representing image and mirror-image of a previously shown upright sample. The results of our three monkeys were inconsistent. Linear regression analyses showed for one test animal significant correlation coefficients for mean reaction times depending on angular disparity and thus clearly indicated mental rotation. The other two test animals showed reaction times not consistent with mental rotation, whereas rotational invariance might explain the responses to the smaller angles of rotation. Our results suggest that two separately evolved information processing systems may be coexisting to a certain extent in species with correspondingly overlapping ecological demands.
Refinements of inductive inference by Popperian and reliable machines

Restricted and unrestricted algorithmic devices which attempt to arrive in the limit at explanatory computer programs for input functions are studied. The input functions may be interpreted as summaries of the behavior of real world phenomena. A classification of criteria of success for such devices is made based on Karl Popper's refutability principle in philosophy of science. Also considered are criteria of success requiring reliability in the sense that the devices should not mislead us by converging to faulty programs. The criteria in the classifications are compared to one another and some interesting tradeoff results are obtained. The techniques of recursive function theory are employed.
A study on indoor automatic change detection for a mobile-camera

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Digitally programmable current amplifier

In this paper, a the digitally programmable current amplifier (DP-CA) for NMOS integrated circuit implementation is presented. To provide precise digital control of the gain characteristic, the proposed DP-CA comprises current proportional gain blocks that can be digitally controlled. The proposed DP-CA can be operated from a low power supply of ±1.25V. As an application example of the proposed circuit, the digitally programmable current-mode first-order allpass filter is described. Simulation results using 0.35-μm TSMC CMOS process parameters are also included.
Development of a new method for absolute protein quantification on 2‐D gels

With the development of systems biology projects aimed at modeling the cell, accurate and absolute measurements of cellular protein concentrations are increasingly important. However, methods for absolute quantification at the proteomic level remain rare. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we propose a new method based on the radioactive labeling with an 35S compound and 2‐D PAGE. The principle is simple: cells are grown for more than four generations in the presence of a unique sulfur source labeled at a defined specific radioactivity, ensuring that more than 90% of the proteins are labeled at the same specific radioactivity as the sulfur source. After separation of 35S‐labeled proteins on 2‐D gels, each protein is counted. The amount of each protein present in the gel is then calculated, from which is deduced the amount of each protein per cell. The method, limited to soluble and abundant proteins visible on 2‐D gels, is simple, precise and reproducible and does not require an internal standard. We use it to compare the amounts of proteins in two growth conditions: 100 μM sulfate or 500 μM methionine. Up to now, we only had transcriptional data on the expression of these proteins in both conditions.
Optimization and Control of a Hydro-Mechanical Transmission based Hybrid Hydraulic Passenger Vehicle

Hydro-mechanical transmission (HMT) based hybrid hydraulic vehicle architecture is potentially more efficient than other architectures because: 1) it uses the efficient mechanical transmission for partial power transfer, 2) it allows the engine to operate at its most efficient point. The input coupled power split hybrid vehicle being developed is one such example. The increase in degrees of freedom makes design, control and analysis more challenging. In this paper, HMT hybrid vehicle dynamics are derived and decomposed explicitly into decoupled dynamics that relate to vehicle motion and to efficient vehicle operation. A three level hierarchical control and analysis architecture is then introduced that separates the vehicle operation into a drive cycle dependent optimization layer, a non-drive cycle dependent optimization layer, and real time control layer. Exercising this framework indicates that to improve fuel economy, the current vehicle design can benefit from allowing pump/motor lock up, improved pump/motor efficiencies and improved sizing.
The Italian Economic Decline

The economic growth of Italy in the last twenty years was one of the worst across OECD countries. When looking for some causes, it is found that for 21 countries in the period 1997-2011, the growth rate of per capita GDP is positively related to initial human capital (proxied by the growth rate of tertiary school enrolments) and the research and development expenditure. Moreover Italy has some other typical characteristics: high deficit, increasing labour cost, high tax wedge, lack of innovation and some other structural problems.