Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When the Practitioner Saved the Theorist: Theory and Practice of Inference in Regression Discontinuity

This paper analyzes the asymptotic distribution of local polynomial estimators in the context of regression discontinuity designs. The standard "small-h" approach in the literature (Hahn Todd and van der Klaauw 2001, Porter 2003, Imbens and Lemieux 2008 and Lee and Lemieux 2009) is to assume the bandwidth, h, around the discontinuity shrinks towards zero as the sample size increases. However, in practice, the researcher has to choose an h > 0 to implement the estimator. This paper derives the …xed-h asymptotic distribution that allows for the bandwidth to be positive, providing re…ned approximations for the estimator’s behavior. When h > 0, the small-h asymptotic variance is equivalent to assuming that the density of the running variable and the conditional variance of the dependent variable are constant around the cuto¤. Simulations provide evidence that …xed-h asymptotic distributions better describe the behavior of both bias and variance of the estimator, leading to improved inference. Estimators for …xed-h standard errors are proposed and incorporate the theoretical gains of the improved approximations. The …xed-h variance estimators improve markedly over small-h estimators in the presence of some forms of heteroskedasticity. Interestingly, in the special case of homoskedastic errors using a local linear estimator, the variance estimators based on small-h asymptotics produce tests with similar size to the …xed-h variance estimators proposed in this paper.
An integrated MCDM model for glamour stock selection

Stock market is full of opportunity and uncertainty, which is characterized by return and risk. Investors have to utilize their knowledge and experience to explore the available information for selecting stocks with good prospects. Investment professionals mainly utilize available financial information for making evaluation, which is often termed as fundamental analysis. Nevertheless, which financial information (variables/ criteria) should be considered and the way for analysis is still inconclusive. Furthermore, while making comparison among a group of stocks, different criteria sometime reveal inconsistent signals. To handle the complexity of financial information analysis, this study proposes an integrated method to deal with the glamour stock evaluation problem. The method is based on an examined financial model. In the first stage, the weights of criteria are obtained by DANP method, and the second stage integrates the influential weights with expert's assessment for each criterion to complete the modified TOPSIS based on influential network relation map (INRM) for making decision in improvement direction. This study provides an empirical case for 5 real stocks in the Taiwan market as example. The suggested ranking result generated high correlation with the 5 stocks' subsequent holding period returns, which indicates the usefulness of the proposed method.
Smartphone Energy Drain in the Wild

The limited battery life of modern smartphones remains a leading factor adversely affecting the mobile experience of millions of smartphone users. In order to extend battery life, it is critical to understand where and how is energy drain happening on users' phones under normal usage, for example, in a one-day cycle. In this paper, we conduct the first extensive measurement and modeling of energy drain of 1520 smartphone in the wild. We make two primary contributions. First, we develop a hybrid power model that integrates utilization-based models and FSM-based models for different phone components with a novel technique that estimates the triggers for the FSM-based network power model based on network utilization. Second, through analyzing traces collected on 1520 Galaxy S3 and S4 devices in the wild, we present detailed analysis of where the CPU time and energy are spent across the 1520 devices, inside the 800 apps, as well as along several evolution dimensions, including hardware, Android, cellular, and app updates. Our findings of smartphone energy drain in the wild have significant implications to the various key players of the Android phone eco-system, including phone vendors Samsung, Android developers, app developers, and ultimately millions of smartphone users, towards the common goal of extending smartphone battery life and improving the user mobile experience.
Endogenous Constitutions

We present a theory of the choice of alternative democratic constitutions, a majoritarian or a consensual one, in an unequal society. We show that a consensual system turns out to be preferred by society when ex ante income inequality is relatively low, while a majoritarian system is chosen when income inequality is relatively high. We also find that consensual democracies should be expected to be ruled more often by centre-left coalitions while the right should have an advantage in majoritarian constitutions. The implications for the relationship between inequality and redistribution are discussed. Historical evidence and a cross-sectional analysis support our results.
The Mincle-Activating Adjuvant TDB Induces MyD88-Dependent Th1 and Th17 Responses through IL-1R Signaling

Successful vaccination against intracellular pathogens requires the generation of cellular immune responses. Trehalose-6,6-dibehenate (TDB), the synthetic analog of the mycobacterial cord factor trehalose-6,6-dimycolate (TDM), is a potent adjuvant inducing strong Th1 and Th17 immune responses. We previously identified the C-type lectin Mincle as receptor for these glycolipids that triggers the FcRγ-Syk-Card9 pathway for APC activation and adjuvanticity. Interestingly, in vivo data revealed that the adjuvant effect was not solely Mincle-dependent but also required MyD88. Therefore, we dissected which MyD88-dependent pathways are essential for successful immunization with a tuberculosis subunit vaccine. We show here that antigen-specific Th1/Th17 immune responses required IL-1 receptor-mediated signals independent of IL-18 and IL-33-signaling. ASC-deficient mice had impaired IL-17 but intact IFNγ responses, indicating partial independence of TDB adjuvanticity from inflammasome activation. Our data suggest that the glycolipid adjuvant TDB triggers Mincle-dependent IL-1 production to induce MyD88-dependent Th1/Th17 responses in vivo.
Stability of a networked control system using linear matrix inequalities

In this paper we study the stability of a networked control system using the stability theory of Lyapunov. The framework considered in this work is to allow in the discrete dynamics of the networked system unknown delays and some dropping in the samples between sensor and actuators. Solving a linear matrix inequality can demonstrate the stability of a system with time delays, and a bilinear matrix inequatily the stability with data dropping. As a case study, a simple integrator is used as a example.
Resource Equity in the Chicago Public Schools: A School- Level Approach.

recent years, a number of large urban school districts have begun efforts to decentralize important decision making authority from the central district office to the local school level, giving greater control over budgeting and management to school staff and parents. Mirroring this approach, school finance researchers are increasingly examining resource allocation issues at more microlevels, such as schools and classrooms. In analyzing funding equity, however, much of the focus has remained at the district-level. While district-level analyses are particularly appropriate for examining systematic relationships between funding levels and district tax bases, they can obscure important resource disparities that may arise between schools within a single district. These issues may be especially critical in large urban districts serving diverse student populations and many students with special needs. This study seeks to help fill this gap by examining resource allocations at the school level in the Chicago Public Schools. Specifically, this article investigates the equity of school-level resource allocations in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for the 1994-95 school year, the sixth year following the passage of the Chicago School Reform Act. In order to better understand the intradistrict distribution of funding to schools, the article summarizes the results of quantitative analyses of CPS school-level budgets. Because of the inherent difficulties in measuring value-laden concepts such as equity, this article uses a variety of methods and mea
Development and gait analysis of five-bar mechanism implemented quadruped amphibious robot

This paper presents the development and gait analysis of a quadruped amphibious robot. The proposed amphibious robot uses the five-bar mechanism to construct the flipper-leg to achieve terrestrial gaits and swimming gaits. We introduce a detailed model of five-bar mechanism to analysis the input and the output of the leg system. The leg trajectories of the robot during walking and swimming are analyzed. The experimental results show that since the implementation of the five-bar mechanism, the robot can easily adapt to different environments.
Intra-cortical complexities revealed in the primary somatosensory cortex of rats

Correlation dimension can give a good measure of complexity underlying the system. It is still not clear the system complexity embedding in different cortical layers that processed the neuronal information flow in vertically organized column. The aim of present study was to estimate the system complexity across different cortical layers by analyzing intracortical EEG signals using nonlinear analytical method and to identify the changes of layer-related complexity in different brain state. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized under l % halothane. Sixteen channels of evoked or spontaneous EEG signals were recorded simultaneously across the six cortical layers in the somatosenseroy cortex with a single Michigan probe. The system complexity was assessed by computing correlation dimension based on the data analysis program of the Nonlinear Time Series Analysis. Cortical layer IV exhibited the largest correlation dimension value, 3.24, and that was significantly higher than other cortical layers. The correlation dimension in layers IV and II/III was significantly reduced after reversible deactivation of ventrobasal thalamic nucleus. The correlation dimension decreases while increasing halothane concentration from 0.75% to 2.0% and the percent decrease of the correlation dimension is highest in layer IV. The present findings suggest that the cortical layer IV maintains a higher complexity than that in the other layers and the complexity of mid-cortical layers was
An investigation into recruitment, retention and motivation of advanced life support practitioners in South Africa

IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . V TABLE OF CONTENTS . VI LIST OF FIGURES . XIV LIST OF TABLES . XV GLOSSARY OF TERMS . XVIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . XX CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND . 1 1.
High fmax with High Breakdown Voltage in AlGaN/GaN MIS-HFETs using In-Situ SiN as Gate Insulators

AlGaN/GaN heterojunction transistors (HFETs) with metal-insulator-semiconductor (MlS)-type gate structure is promising for high frequency and high power applications owing to the superior material properties together with the reduced gate leakage current. In this paper, we present a novel AlGaN/GaN MIS-HFET using so-called in-situ SiN as a gate insulator. The in-situ SiN with a crystalline structure is formed subsequently after the epitaxial growth in the same reactor without any exposure in the air. The formation of the in-situ SiN greatly enhanced the sheet carrier concentration, which helps the reduction of the parasitic resistances. The fabricated MIS- HFET exhibits very high maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of 203 GHz for the device with the gate length of 100 nm. The device exhibits the off-state breakdown voltages of 190 V at highest maintaining the high fmax over 190 GHz, and is thus promising for high frequency and high power applications including future millimeter wave communication systems.
ultiple pontomedullary mechanisms of respiratory rhythmogenesis

Mammalian central pattern generators producing rhythmic movements exhibit robust but flexible behavior. However, brainstem network architectures that enable these features are not well understood. Using precise sequential transections through the pons to medulla, it was observed that there was compartmentalization of distinct rhythmogenic mechanisms in the ponto-medullary respiratory network, which has rostro-caudal organization. The eupneic 3-phase respiratory pattern was transformed to a 2-phase and then to a 1-phase pattern as the network was physically reduced. The pons, the retrotrapezoid nucleus and glycine mediated inhibition are all essential for expression of the 3-phase rhythm. The 2-phase rhythm depends on inhibitory interactions (reciprocal) between Bötzinger and pre-Bötzinger complexes, whereas the 1-phase-pattern is generated within the pre-Bötzinger complex and is reliant on the persistent sodium current. In conditions of forced expiration, the RTN region was found to be essential for the expression of abdominal late expiratory activity. However, it is unknown whether the RTN generates or simply relays this activity. Entrained with the central respiratory network is the sympathetic nervous system, which exhibits patterns of discharge coupled with the respiratory cycle (in terms of both gain and phase of coupling) and dysfunctions in this coupling appear to underpin pathological conditions. In conclusion, the respiratory network has rhythmogenic capabilities at multiple levels of network organization, allowing expression of motor patterns specific for various physiological and pathophysiological respiratory behaviors.
Stable Paretian Models in Finance

Foreword Preface 1 Introduction 2 Univariate Stable Distributions 3 Identification, Estimation and Goodness of Fit 4 Empirical Comparison 5 Subordinated, Fractional Stable and Stable ARIMA Processes 6 ARCH--type and Shot Noise Processes 7 Multivariate Stable Models 8 Estimation, Association, Risk, and Symmetry of Stable Portfolios 9 Asset--Pricing and Portfolio Theory Under Stable Paretian Laws 10 Risk Management: Value at Risk for Heavy--Tailed Distributed Rating 11 Option Pricing Under Alternative Stable Models 12 Option Pricing for Infinitely Divisible Return Models 13 Numerical Results on Option Pricing: Modeling and Forecasting 14 Stable Models in Econometrics 15 Stable Paretian Econometrics: Unit--Root Theory and Cointegrated Models References Indexes Author--Index Subject--Index
The Las Campanas/AAT Rich Cluster Survey – II. The environmental dependence of galaxy colours in clusters at z∼0.1

We present a photometric investigation of the variation in galaxy colour with environment in 11 X-ray-luminous clusters at 0.07 less than or equal to z less than or equal to 0.16 taken from the Las Campanas/AAT Rich Cluster Survey. We study the properties of the galaxy populations in individual clusters, and take advantage of the homogeneity of the sample to combine the clusters together to investigate weaker trends in the composite sample. We find that modal colours of galaxies lying on the colour-magnitude relation in the clusters become bluer by d(B - R)/dr(p) = -0.022 +/- 0.004 from the cluster core out to a projected radius of r(p) = 6 Mpc, further out in radius than any previous study. We also examine the variation in modal galaxy colour with local galaxy density, 2, for galaxies lying close to the colour-magnitude relation, and find that the median colour shifts bluewards by d(B - R)/d log(10)(Sigma) = -0.076 +/- 0.009 with decreasing local density across three orders of magnitude. We show that the position of the red envelope of galaxies in the colour-magnitude relation does not vary as a function of projected radius or density within the clusters, suggesting that the change in the modal colour results from an increasing fraction of bluer galaxies within the colour-magnitude relation, rather than a change in the colours of the whole population. We show that this shift in the colour-magnitude relations with projected radius and local density is greater than that expected from the changing morphological mix based on the local morphology-density relation. We therefore conclude that we are seeing a real change in the properties of galaxies on the colour-magnitude relation in the outskirts of clusters. The simplest interpretation of this result (and similar constraints in local clusters) is that an increasing fraction of galaxies in the lower density regions at large radii within clusters exhibit signatures of star formation in the recent past, signatures which are not seen in the evolved galaxies in the highest density regions.
A symmetry breaking mechanism for selecting the speed of relativistic solitons

We propose a mechanism for fixing the velocity of relativistic solitons based on the breaking of the Lorentz symmetry of the sine-Gordon (SG) model. The proposal is first elaborated for a molecular chain model as the simple pendulum limit of a double pendulums chain. It is then generalized to a full class of two-dimensional field theories of the sine-Gordon type. From a phenomenological point of view, the mechanism allows one to select the speed of a SG soliton just by tuning elastic couplings constants and kinematical parameters. From a fundamental, field-theoretical point of view we show that the characterizing features of relativistic SG solitons (existence of conserved topological charges and stability) may be still preserved even if the Lorentz symmetry is broken and a soliton of a given speed is selected.
Phenotype and Function of CD25-Expressing B Lymphocytes Isolated from Human Umbilical Cord Blood

Background. We have shown that approximately 30% of human peripheral blood B-cells express CD25. B cells expressing CD25 display a mature phenotype belonging to the memory B-cell population and have a better proliferative and antigen-presenting capacity. The aim of the present study was to characterize the CD25-expressing subset of B cells in human cord blood. Material and Methods. Mononuclear cell fraction from human cord blood (n = 34) and peripheral adult blood (n = 22) was sorted into CD20+CD25+ and CD20+CD25− B-cell populations. Phenotype and function of these B-cell populations were compared using flow cytometry, proliferation, cytokine production, and immunoglobulin secretion. Results. CD25-expressing B cells are a limited population of cord blood mononuclear cells representing 5% of the CD20+ B cells. They are characterised by high expression of CD5 in cord blood and CD27 in adult blood. CD25-expressing B cells express a functional IL-2 receptor and high levels of CC-chemokine receptors and spontaneously produce antibodies of IgG and IgM subclass. Conclusions. CD25 expression is a common denominator of a specific immunomodulatory B-cell subset ready to proliferate upon IL-2 stimulation, possibly ready to migrate and home into the peripheral tissue for further differentiation/action.
A combinatorial approach to the (positive) reachability of 2D positive systems

Local reachability of two-dimensional (2D) positive systems, by means of positive scalar inputs, is addressed. The combinatorial nature of this property allows for a graph theoretic approach. Indeed, to every 2D positive system of dimension n with scalar inputs one can associate a 2D influence graph with n vertices, one source and two types of arcs interconnecting the source and the vertices. Some results concerned with equivalent conditions for local reachability as well as upper and lower bounds on the reachability indices are provided.
Face Detection and Tracking in Video Sequence using Fuzzy Geometric Face Model and Mean Shift

Humans make use of face as an important cue for identifying people. This makes automatic face detection very crucial from the point of view of a wide range of commercial and law enforcement applications. While traditional face detection is typically based on still images, face detection and tracking from video sequences has become prominent research domain. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm which segments the face region in video images using fuzzy geometric face model in key frame. The mean shift is used to track the face along the video sequence. Contrary to current techniques that are based on huge learning databases and complex algorithms to get generic face models, the proposed method handles simple face detection and tracking approach. The proposed method is implemented and evaluated with numerous experiments on videos containing large variations of head motion, light condition, and expressions. The experimental results show that the proposed method is effective in detecting and tracking faces in videos.
A Nonsupervised Learning Framework of Human Behavior Patterns Based on Sequential Actions

In designing autonomous service systems such as assistive robots for the aged and the disabled, discovery and prediction of human actions are important and often crucial. Patterns of human behavior, however, involve ambiguity, uncertainty, complexity, and inconsistency caused by physical, logical, and emotional factors, and thus their modeling and recognition are known to be difficult. In this paper, a nonsupervised learning framework of human behavior patterns is suggested in consideration of human behavioral characteristics. Our approach consists of two steps. In the first step, a meaningful structure of data is discovered by using Agglomerative Iterative Bayesian Fuzzy Clustering (AIBFC) with a newly proposed cluster validity index. In the second step, the sequence of actions is learned on the basis of the structure discovered in the first step and by utilizing the proposed Fuzzy-state Q--learning (FSQL) process. These two learning steps are incorporated in an amalgamated framework, AIBFC-FSQL, which is capable of learning human behavior patterns in a nonsupervised manner and predicting subsequent human actions. Through a number of simulations with typical benchmark data sets, we show that the proposed learning method outperforms several well-known methods. We further conduct experiments with two challenging real-world databases to demonstrate its usefulness from a practical perspective.
Maximal profit allocation considering external attacks and self-defense in grid computing

The paper considers the resource management system (RMS) in grid computing systems. In grid computing systems, the RMS should adopt the optimal task allocation to maximize the service provider's profit, which equals the difference between service price and service cost. Because of possible external attacks, the system should adopt self-defense to ensure the quality of service. However, the use of self-defense could have impact on service cost. Thus, the RMS must make a tradeoff. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to solve this optimization problem. Due to the consideration of external attacks and self-defense, the algorithm would be practical.