Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smart, Responsible, and Upper Caste Only: Measuring Caste Attitudes through Large-Scale Analysis of Matrimonial Profiles

Discriminatory caste attitudes currently stigmatize millions of Indians, subjecting individuals to prejudice in all aspects of life. Governmental incentives and societal movements have attempted to counter these attitudes, yet accurate measurements of public opinions on caste are not yet available for understanding whether progress is being made. Here, we introduce a novel approach to measure public attitudes of caste through an indicator variable: openness to intercaste marriage. Using a massive dataset of over 313K profiles from a major Indian matrimonial site, we precisely quantify public attitudes, along with differences between generations and between Indian residents and diaspora. We show that younger generations are more open to intercaste marriage, yet attitudes are based on a complex function of social status beyond their own caste. In examining the desired qualities in a spouse, we find that individuals open to intercaste marriage are more individualistic in the qualities they desire, rather than favoring family-related qualities, which mirrors larger societal trends away from collectivism. Finally, we show that attitudes in diaspora are significantly less open, suggesting a bi-cultural model of integration. Our research provides the first empirical evidence identifying how various intersections of identity shape attitudes toward intercaste marriage in India and among the Indian diaspora in the US.
Diagnóstico dos Casos de Dengue nas Capitais do Nordeste do Brasil entre 2000 e 2017

This work evaluated the dengue notifications number in Northeast Brazil (NEB) capitals between 2000 and 2017. For this, monthly data from Departamento de Informatica do Sistema Unico de Saude (DATASUS) submitted to the evaluation of descriptive and exploratory statistics were used. In addition, the occurrence number with the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events was evaluated. According to descriptive statistics results, the total notifications were 834,000 dengue fever notifications during the analyzed period with 33.3% (278,389 cases, with mean ± Standard Deviation of 1,288.8 ± 2485.0 cases) occurred in Fortaleza. In terms of annual totals, Fortaleza reappears as the city with the highest number of notifications with 39423 cases in 2016, followed by Recife and Salvador with 35,028 cases and 27,282 cases, respectively, both in 2002. In Fortaleza, the dengue notifications surpass 20 thousand annual cases in 6 of the 18 years analyzed. It was noticed a possible relation between dengue notifications with ENOS events, especially between the years 2002 (Recife and Salvador) and 2016 (Joao Pessoa) during El Nino, and in the years 2008 (Aracaju) and 2010-2012 (Fortaleza, Maceio, Sao Luis and Teresina), during La Nina. In monthly terms, it was verified that the highest number of notifications occurred at the end of summer and fall (between March and June months), during the rainy period with an emphasis in Fortaleza, which notified an average of 12 thousand notifications, with a peak in May, with 4.6 thousand notifications. Most of these notifications are associated with environmental factors associated with urban clutter and inadequate infrastructure that result in the proliferation of the mosquito.
Integration of Nonlinear Disturbance Observer within Proxy-based Sliding Mode Control for Pneumatic Muscle Actuators

This paper presents an integration of nonlinear disturbance observer within proxy-based sliding mode control (IDO-PSMC) approach for Pneumatic Muscle Actuators (PMAs). Due to the nonlinearities, uncertainties, hysteresis, and time-varying characteristics of the PMA, the model parameters are difficult to be identified accurately, which results in unmeasurable uncertainties and disturbances of the system. To solve this problem, a novel design of proxy-based sliding mode controller (PSMC) combined with a nonlinear disturbance observer (DO) is used for the tracking control of the PMA. Our approach combines both the merits of the PSMC and the DO so that it is effective in both reducing the ``chattering" phenomenon and improving the system robustness. A constrained Firefly Algorithm is used to search for the optimal control parameters. Based on the Lyapunov theorem, the states of the PMA are shown to be globally uniformly ultimately bounded. Extensive experiments were conducted to verify the superior performance of our approach, in multiple tracking scenarios.
Multi-Scale Minero-Chemical Analysis of Biomass Ashes: A Key to Evaluating Their Dangers vs. Benefits

A multi-methodic analysis was performed on five samples of fly ashes coming from different biomasses. The aim of the study was to evaluate their possible re-use and their dangerousness to people and the environment. Optical granulometric analyses indicated that the average diameter of the studied fly ashes was around 20 µm, whereas only ~1 vol% had diameters lower that 2.5 µm. The chemical composition, investigated with electron probe microanalysis, indicated that all the samples had a composition in which Ca was prevalent, followed by Si and Al. Large contents of K and P were observed in some samples, whereas the amount of potentially toxic elements was always below the Italian law thresholds. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were completely absent in all the samples coming from combustion plants, whereas they were present in the fly ashes from the gasification center. Quantitative mineralogical content, determined by Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data, indicated that all the samples had high amorphous content, likely enriched in Ca, and several K and P minerals, such as sylvite and apatite. The results obtained from the chemo-mineralogical study performed make it possible to point out that biomass fly ashes could be interesting materials (1) for amendments in clayey soils, as a substitution for lime, to stimulate pozzolanic reactions and improve their geotechnical properties, thus, on the one hand, avoiding the need to mine raw materials and, on the other hand, re-cycling waste; and (2) as agricultural fertilizers made by a new and ecological source of K and P.
When function meets emotion, change can happen: Societal value propositions and disruptive potential in fintechs

Fintechs, as providers of digital service innovations and as highly relevant and novel channels through which to deliver entrepreneurial finance based on the creative use of state-of-the-art technology in the financial domain, have thus far mainly been addressed in research by examining the functional aspects of their value propositions (VPs). This article thus sets out to gain insights into the interplay and overall role of societal VPs as potential antecedents and change catalysts in the formation of the often promised disruptive potential of fintechs for the financial sector. In an inductive, theory-building approach, the authors first examine how societal VPs transcend individual functional and emotional ones for entrepreneurs, and conclude with a conceptual model of how the former can build up the disruptive potential of fintechs and deliver apt solutions for entrepreneurs seeking finance.
Desaturating SDO/AIA Observations of Solar Flaring Storms

Image saturation has been an issue for several instruments in solar astronomy, mainly at EUV wavelengths. However, with the launch of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) as part of the payload of the Solar Dynamic Observatory image saturation has become a big data issue, involving around 105 frames of the impressive data set the telescope has been providing every year since 2010 February. This paper introduces a novel desaturation method that utilizes a sparsity constraint to solve the inverse scattering problem of determining the signal in the primary saturation region from the knowledge of the diffraction fringes produced by the instrument point-spread function. The method works without any need of a priori information on the image background and therefore can be applied even for desaturation of several consecutively deteriorated frames recorded during long-lasting intense solar storms. This peculiar methodological property could make this algorithm a possible tool for the realization of an automatic pipeline for the processing of the whole AIA data archive.
Local and global solvability for advection-diffusion equation on an evolving surface with a boundary

This paper considers the existence of local and global-in-time strong solutions to the advection-diffusion equation with variable coefficients on an evolving surface with a boundary. We apply both the maximal $L^p$-in-time regularity for Hilbert space-valued functions and the semigroup theory to construct local and global-in-time strong solutions to an evolution equation. Using the approach and our function spaces on the evolving surface, we show the existence of local and global-in-time strong solutions to the advection-diffusion equation. Moreover, we derive the asymptotic stability of the global-in-time strong solution.
Torus model properties of an ultra-hard X-ray selected sample of Seyfert galaxies

We characterize for the first time the torus properties of an ultra-hard X-ray (14–195 keV) volume-limited (DL < 40 Mpc) sample of 24 Seyfert (Sy) galaxies (BCS40 sample). The sample was selected from the Swift/BAT nine-month catalogue.We use high angular resolution nuclear infrared (IR) photometry and N-band spectroscopy, the CLUMPY torus models and a Bayesian tool to characterize the properties of the nuclear dust. In the case of the Sy1s, we estimate the accretion disc contribution to the subarcsecond resolution nuclear IR SEDs (∼0.4 arcsec) which is, on average, 46 ± 28, 23 ± 13, and 11 ± 5 per cent in the J, H, and K bands, respectively. This indicates that the accretion disc templates that assume a steep fall for longer wavelengths than 1 μm might underestimate its contribution to the near-IR emission. Using both optical (broad versus narrow lines) and X-ray (unabsorbed versus absorbed) classifications, we compare the global posterior distribution of the torus model parameters. We confirm that Sy2s have larger values of the torus covering factor (CT ∼ 0.95) than Sy1s (CT ∼ 0.65) in our volume-limited Seyfert sample. These findings are independent of whether we use an optical or X-ray classification.We find that the torus covering factor remains essentially constant within the errors in our luminosity range and there is no clear dependence with the Eddington ratio. Finally, we find tentative evidence that even an ultra-hard X-ray selection is missing a significant fraction of highly absorbed type 2 sources with very high covering factor tori.
Retarded hydrodynamic interaction between two spheres immersed in a viscous incompressible fluid

Retarded or frequency-dependent hydrodynamic interactions are relevant for velocity relaxation of colloidal particles immersed in a fluid, sufficiently close that their flow patterns interfere. The interactions are also important for periodic motions, such as occur in swimming. Analytic expressions are derived for the set of scalar mobility functions of a pair of spheres. Mutual hydrodynamic interactions are evaluated in one-propagator approximation, characterized by a single Green function acting between the two spheres. Self-mobility functions are evaluated in a two-propagator approximation, characterized by a single reflection between the two spheres. The approximations should yield accurate results for intermediate and long distances between the spheres. Both translations and rotations are considered. For motions perpendicular to the line of centers there is translation-rotation coupling. Extensive use is made of Faxen theorems which yield the hydrodynamic force and torque acting on a sphere in an incident oscillating flow.
Nonparametric tests for transition probabilities in nonhomogeneous Markov processes

This paper proposes nonparametric two-sample tests for the direct comparison of the probabilities of a particular transition between states of a continuous time nonhomogeneous Markov process with a finite state space. The proposed tests are a linear nonparametric test, an -norm-based test and a Kolmogorov–Smirnov-type test. Significance level assessment is based on rigorous procedures, which are justified through the use of modern empirical process theory. Moreover, the -norm and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov-type tests are shown to be consistent for every fixed alternative hypothesis. The proposed tests are also extended to more complex situations such as cases with incompletely observed absorbing states and non-Markov processes. Simulation studies show that the test statistics perform well even with small sample sizes. Finally, the proposed tests are applied to data on the treatment of early breast cancer from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) trial 10854, under an illness-death model.
Management Response to Online Customer Reviews in Distribution Channel: A Perspective of Manufacturers

In a distribution channel, where multiple manufacturers and retailers compete intensively, manufacturers’ investment decisions on directly communicating with end consumers are strategic. In this study, we examined the interactive relationship between the manufacturers’ management response strategies to online customer reviews and the channel structure formed in the online market. We collected data from Amazon.com, where the manufacturers, instead of the retailers, decide whether and how to respond to the customer reviews. The study illustrates the interaction of channel structure and manufacturers’ management response strategies to the reviews. On the one hand, if a manufacturer invests in responding to customer reviews, more retailers are willing to carry its product. On the other hand, if more retailers sell a manufacturer’s product, or if there are more intensive intra-competition in the retailer channels, the manufacturer is more likely to invest in management response.
A high-performance MoS2 synaptic device with floating gate engineering for neuromorphic computing

As one of the most important members of the two dimensional chalcogenide family, molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) has played a fundamental role in the advancement of low dimensional electronic, optoelectronic and piezoelectric designs. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to solid state synaptic transistors using two dimensional MoS2 floating gate memories. By using an extended floating gate architecture which allows the device to be operated at near-ideal subthreshold swing of 77 mV/decade over four decades of drain current, we have realised a charge tunneling based synaptic memory with performance comparable to the state of the art in neuromorphic designs. The device successfully demonstrates various features of a biological synapse, including pulsed potentiation and relaxation of channel conductance, as well as spike time dependent plasticity (STDP). Our device returns excellent energy efficiency figures and provides a robust platform based on ultrathin two dimensional nanosheets for future neuromorphic applications.
The Perils of Using Social Media Data to Predict the Spread of Diseases

The data produced by social media engagement is of interest to various organizations and has been used in different applications like marketing, finance and healthcare. Though the potential of mining this data is high, standard data mining processes do not address the peculiarities of social media data. In this paper, we explore the perils of using social media data in predicting the spread of an infectious disease; perils that are mostly related to data quality, textual analysis and location information. We synthesize findings from a literature review and a data mining exercise to develop an adapted data mining process. This process has been designed to minimize the effects of the perils identified and is thus more aligned with the requirements of predicting disease spread using social media data. The process should be useful to data miners and health institutions.
Precision modelling of the matter power spectrum in a Planck-like Universe

We use a suite of high-resolution N-body simulations and state-of-the-art perturbation theory to improve the code halofit, which predicts the nonlinear matter power spectrum. We restrict attention to parameters in the vicinity of the Planck Collaboration’s best fit. On large-scales (k≲ 0.07 h Mpc−1), our model evaluates the 2-loop calculation from the Multi-point Propagator Theory of Bernardeau et al. (2012). On smaller scales (k≳ 0.7 h Mpc−1), we transition to a smoothing-spline-fit model, that characterises the differences between the Takahashi et al. (2012) recalibration of halofit2012 and our simulations. We use an additional suite of simulations to explore the response of the power spectrum to variations in the cosmological parameters. In particular, we examine: the time evolution of the dark energy equation of state (w0, wa); the matter density Ωm; the physical densities of CDM and baryons (ωc, ωb); and the primordial power spectrum amplitude As, spectral index ns, and its running α. We construct correction functions, which improve halofit’s dependence on cosmological parameters. Our newly calibrated model reproduces all of our data with ≲ 1% precision. Including various systematic errors, such as choice of N-body code, resolution, and through inspection of the scaled second order derivatives, we estimate the accuracy to be ≲ 3% over the hyper-cube: w0 ∈ { − 1.05, −0.95}, wa ∈ { − 0.4, 0.4}, Ωm, 0 ∈ {0.21, 0.4}, ωc ∈ {0.1, 0.13}, ωb ∈ {2.0, 2.4}, ns ∈ {0.85, 1.05}, As ∈ {1.72 × 10−9, 2.58 × 10−9}, α ∈ { − 0.2, 0.2} up to k = 9.0 h Mpc−1 and out to z = 3. Outside of this range the model reverts to halofit2012. We release all power spectra data with the C-code NGenHalofit at: https://CosmologyCode@bitbucket.org/ngenhalofitteam/ngenhalofitpublic.git.
Characterizing Optical Fiber Transmission Matrices Using Metasurface Reflector Stacks for Lensless Imaging without Distal Access

The ability to form images through hair-thin optical fibres promises to open up new applications from biomedical imaging to industrial inspection. Unfortunately, deployment has been limited because small changes in mechanical deformation (e.g. bending) and temperature can completely scramble optical information, distorting images. Since such changes are dynamic, correcting them requires measurement of the fibre transmission matrix (TM) in situ immediately before imaging. TM calibration typically requires access to both the proximal and distal facets of the fibre simultaneously, which is not feasible during most realistic usage scenarios without compromising the thin form factor with bulky distal optics. Here, we introduce a new approach to determine the TM of multi-mode fibre (MMF) or multi-core fibre (MCF) in a reflection-mode configuration without access to the distal facet. A thin stack of structured metasurface reflectors is used at the distal facet to introduce wavelength-dependent, spatially heterogeneous reflectance profiles. We derive a first-order fibre model that compensates these wavelength-dependent changes in the TM and show that, consequently, the reflected data at 3 wavelengths can be used to unambiguously reconstruct the full TM by an iterative optimisation algorithm. We then present a method for sample illumination and imaging following TM reconstruction. Unlike previous approaches, our method does not require the TM to be unitary making it applicable to physically realistic fibre systems. We demonstrate TM reconstruction and imaging first using simulated non-unitary fibres and noisy reflection matrices, then using much larger experimentally-measured TMs of a densely-packed MCF, and finally on an experimentally-measured multi-wavelength set of TMs recorded from a MMF. Our findings pave the way for online transmission matrix calibration in situ in hair-thin optical fibres
What Information Propagates among the Public when an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is Initiated? A theory-driven approach

Since the popularity of blockchain-based cryptocurrency investments has increased among the public, people have directly purchased cryptocurrency through the cryptocurrency market or joined initial coin offering (ICO) projects. This research explores what informational cues are captured before, during, and after ICO projects that can be considered as signals and a fulfillment of information asymmetry. We adopted two theoretical underpinnings to achieve our research goal agency and signaling theory. Using information from Twitter, we selected the best-performing ICO project based on the highest return on investment (ROI). Then, we extracted 5,085 tweets related to the selected ICO project. Tweets are categorized by pre-ICO, during and post-ICO, by topic, and dispersion. Analyzing the tweets, we found multiple categories of informational cues for each ICO project. Implications and limitations are discussed.
The impact of hedonic dining experiences on word of mouth, switching intentions and willingness to pay

PurposeWhen customers decide to dine out, they choose a restaurant for both physiological and psychological reasons. The psychological reasons include the hedonic/enjoyment goal of the consumer. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether dining experiences that provide a positive or negative hedonic value will influence positive word of mouth (PWOM), switching intentions (SI) and willingness to pay (WTP). Design/methodology/approachTwo survey-based experiments using student (N = 112) and general restaurant consumer samples (N = 270) were conducted to test the proposed theoretical model. The student sample provided internal validity, whereas the general consumer sample provided external validity for the study. Two types of manipulations were used to manipulate positive and negative restaurant service encounters. The second study randomly assigned participants into positive or negative scenarios.FindingsThe results suggest that positive (negative) service encounters lead to higher (lower) hedonic value. Higher hedonic value leads to PWOM, WTP and reduced SI. The findings of this study would assist restaurant managers and service scholars by bridging the gap between experiential and relationship marketing.Originality/valueThe current research investigates the dining out experience with a holistic lens.
Inscribing Gender: A Duoethnographic Examination of Gendered Values and Practices in Fitness Tracker Design

Using fitness trackers to generate and collect quantifiable data is a widespread practice aimed at better understanding one’s health and body. The intentional design of fitness trackers as genderless or universal is predicated on masculinist design values and assumptions and does not result in “neutral” artifacts. Instead,\ ignoring gender in the design of fitness tracking devices marks a dangerous ongoing inattention to the needs, desires, lives, and life chances of women, as well as transgender and gender non-conforming persons. We utilize duoethnography, a methodology emphasizing personal narrative and dialogue, as a tool that promotes feminist reflexivity in the design and study of fitness tracking technologies. Using the Jawbone UP3 as our object of study, we present findings that illustrate the gendered physical and interface design features and discuss how these features reproduce narrow understandings of gender, health, and lived experiences.