Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The local semicircle law for a general class of random matrices

We consider a general class of $N\times N$ random matrices whose entries $h_{ij}$ are independent up to a symmetry constraint, but not necessarily identically distributed. Our main result is a local semicircle law which improves previous results both in the bulk and at the edge. The error bounds are given in terms of the basic small parameter of the model, $\max_{i,j} \mathbb{E} \left|h_{ij}\right|^2$. As a consequence, we prove the universality of the local $n$-point correlation functions in the bulk spectrum for a class of matrices whose entries do not have comparable variances, including random band matrices with band width $W\gg N^{1-\varepsilon_n}$ with some $\varepsilon_n>0$ and with a negligible mean-field component. In addition, we provide a coherent and pedagogical proof of the local semicircle law, streamlining and strengthening previous arguments.
Modified Landweber Iteration in Banach Spaces—Convergence and Convergence Rates

We introduce and discuss an iterative method of modified Landweber type for regularization of nonlinear operator equations in Banach spaces. Under smoothness and convexity assumptions on the solution space we present convergence and stability results. Furthermore, we will show that under the so-called approximate source conditions convergence rates may be achieved by a proper a-priori choice of the parameter of the presented algorithm. We will illustrate these theoretical results with a numerical example.
Theoretical/numerical study of electrohydrodynamic pumping through pure conduction phenomenon

In an isothermal liquid, only the Coulomb force which is the force acting on the free charges, can contribute to net electrohydrodynamic (EHD) motion. In the absence of a direct charge injection or induction, the charges can be generated through the dissociation process of the fluid. The generated charges by dissociation are redistributed by the applied electric field, resulting in the heterocharge layers around the electrodes. The pumping of an isothermal liquid without ion injection is associated with the heterocharge layers of finite thickness in the vicinity of the electrodes. This type of pumping is referred to as the conduction pumping. This paper investigates the conduction pumping mechanism theoretically through the numerical solutions. For this purpose, a theoretical model for the static case (i.e., without a flow motion) is established and a numerical code using the finite volume method is developed. Electric potential, electric field, charge density and electric body force distributions for the selected electrodes configuration are presented. The generated pressure as a function of applied voltage is also presented. The numerical results confirmed the EHD conduction pumping concept theoretically.
“But that was meant to be a compliment!”: Evaluative costs of confronting positive racial stereotypes

Past research on confronting racial prejudice has largely examined negative racial stereotypes. In the present work, we investigate perceiver and target perspectives associated with the evaluative costs of confronting positive racial stereotypes. We demonstrate that, in general, Asian Americans and African Americans who confront positive racial stereotypes suffer higher evaluative costs compared to targets who confront negative racial stereotypes and those who do not confront due, in part, to the lower perceived offensiveness of positive stereotypes (Studies 1 and 2). Moreover, Asian American and African American participants report lower confrontation intentions and higher anticipated evaluative costs for confronting positive, compared to negative, stereotypes. Furthermore, higher perceived offensiveness and lower anticipated favorable evaluations serially mediate the relationship between stereotype valence and confrontation intentions (Study 3). Overall, this research extends our understanding of the evaluative costs associated with confronting prejudice, with important downstream consequences regarding the continued prevalence of positive racial stereotypes.
Performance evaluation of a service availability model

Adoption of Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is increasing due to easy service integration and expected cost reductions due to reusability. Nowadays, safety critical, telecommunication and business systems are using SOA. SOA based systems still face challenges related to performance and quality of service such as availability. These challenges are due to complexity, distributed services and XML-based message processing. Response time is used to analyze performance of SOA applications and its analysis for web services is required. The solutions for increasing service availability can impose performance overhead as extra resources are required. We have proposed a SOA based model for increasing web services availability, which uses monitoring. In this paper, we have analyzed impact of monitoring on performance of web services in both LAN and WAN environments. We experimentally prove that monitoring can be used to increase service availability. Acceptable service loads and response time can be estimated based on our model.
Question answering in biomedicine

The recent developments in Question Answering have kept with open-domain questions and collections, sometimes argued as being more di ﬃ cult than narrow domain-focused questions and corpora. The biomedical ﬁeld is indeed a specialized domain; however, its scope is fairly broad, so that considering a biomedical QA task is not necessarily such a simpli-ﬁcation over open-domain QA as represented in the recent TREC evaluations. We shall try to characterize salient aspects of biomedical QA as well as to give a short review of useful resources to address this task.
DGA: Decomposition with genetic algorithm for multiple sequence alignment

Multiple sequence alignment is one of the most important issues in molecular biology as it plays an important role such as in life saving drug design. In this paper, we divide given sequences into two or more subsequences and then combine them together in order to find better multiple sequence alignments by applying a new GA based approach to the combined sequences. We also introduce new ways of generating an initial population and of applying the genetic operators. We have carried out experiments for the BAliBASE benchmark database using the sum of pair objective function with the PAM250 score matrix. To evaluate our proposed approach, we have compared with well known methods such as T-Coffee, MUSCLE, MAFFT and ProbCons. The experimental results show that better multiple sequence alignments may be obtained with higher number of divisions, however the computation time increases with the number of decompositions. The overall performance of the proposed Decomposition with GA (DGA) method is better than the existing methods and the GA method (without decompositions).
An Ecology-Based Adaptive Network Control Scheme for Radio Resource Management in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

The major challenge in future heterogeneous wireless networks is to promote the network welfare by well designing the radio resource management (RRM). Due to the similarity of both the ecological system and the heterogeneous wireless networks on the competitiveness, we propose a novel ecology-based adaptive network control (EBANC) scheme for RRM to optimize the network revenue, which introduces the Lotka-Volterra competition equations (L-V model) to predict the outcome of competitiveness. The proposed EBANC consists of two key algorithms, which are access selection algorithm on the user side and the price control algorithm on the network side. The simulation results exhibit the better performance of the EBANC scheme compared with other existing access selection scheme
Effects of line-blocking on the non-LTE Fe I spectral line formation

The information about the chemical compositions of stars is encoded in their spectra. Accurate determinations of these compositions are crucial for our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis and Galactic chemical evolution. The determination of elemental abundances in stars requires models for the stellar atmospheres and the processes of line formation. Nearly all spectroscopic analyses of late-type stars carried out today are based on one-dimensional (1D), hydrostatic model atmospheres and on the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). This approach can lead to large systematic errors in the predicted stellar atmospheric structures and line-strengths, and, hence, in the derived stellar abundances. In this thesis, examples of departures from LTE and from hydrostatic equilibrium are explored. The effects of background line opacities (line-blocking) due to atomic lines on the statistical equilibrium of Fe are investigated in late-type stars. Accounting for this line opacity is important at solar metallicity, where line-blocking significantly reduces the rates of radiatively induced ionizations of Fe. On the contrary, the effects of line-blocking in metal-poor stars are insignificant. In metal-poor stars, the dominant uncertainty in the statistical equilibrium of Fe is the treatment of inelastic H+Fe collisions. Substantial departures of Fe abundances from LTE are found at low metallicities: about 0.3 dex with efficient H+Fe collisions and about 0.5 dex without. The impact of three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamical model atmospheres on line formation in red giant stars is also investigated. Inhomogeneities and correlated velocity fields in 3D models and differences between the mean 3D stratifications and corresponding 1D model atmospheres can significantly affect the predicted line strengths and derived abundances, in particular at very low metallicities. In LTE, the differences between 3D and 1D abundances of C, N, and O derived from CH, NH, and OH weak low-excitation lines are in the range -0.5 dex to -1.0 dex at [Fe/H]=-3. Large negative corrections (about -0.8 dex) are also found in LTE for weak low-excitation neutral Fe lines. We also investigate the impact of 3D hydrodynamical model stellar atmospheres on the determination of elemental abundances in the carbon-rich, hyper iron-poor stars HE 0107-5240 and HE 1327-2326. The lower temperatures of the line-forming regions of the 3D models compared with 1D models cause changes in the predicted spectral line strengths. In particular we find the 3D abundances of C, N, and O to be lower by about -0.8 dex (or more) than estimated from a 1D analysis. The 3D abundance of Fe is decreased but only by -0.2 dex. Departures from LTE for Fe might actually be very large for these stars and dominate over the effects due to granulation.
Optimized Bit Rate Allocation for Iterative Source-Channel Decoding and its Extension towards Multi-Mode Transmission

Recent advancements in iterative source-channel decoding (ISCD) focus on the optimization of a single processing step of source coding (like the index assignment) or of channel coding. In this paper, we propose a new design guideline for a more general optimization of the overall ISCD scheme. In particular, we discuss how to allocate a given gross bit rate to source and channel coding. The new bit rate allocation reveals (at least) two benefits: Firstly, the proposed ISCD scheme using a rate r = 1 channel encoder yields improved error concealing/correcting capabilities if compared to the prior ISCD approaches. Secondly, the new scheme can easily be extended to a flexible multi-mode system. While all modes use the same r = 1 channel code, the joint adaptation of quantizer resolution and index assignment allows to manage the trade-off between quantization noise and error robustness.
Chord character evaluation model based on harmoniousness: Application to music mood visualization interface

The chord, along with melody and rhythm, is one of the important elements in constituting music, but the cause of music's psychological effects are, for the most part, yet to be clarified. There are previous studies that define chord characters on the basis of the levels of dissonance, tension and modality, but there is not enough research to discuss psychological indexes which is called chord's “brightness. ” Therefore, in this study, in order to define a chord character evaluation based on harmoniousness, we propose a method for estimating the impression of brightness in chords. Evaluation experiments were performed in order to validate the proposed method. As a result, a strong correlation was found between the proposed degree of harmoniousness (H) and the results of psychological experiments. Furthermore, through the application of these results, an interface for representing musical mood through color was developed.
Mining Big Data for Detecting, Extracting and Recommending Architectural Design Concepts

An architecture recommender system can help programmers make better design choices to address their architectural quality attribute concerns while doing their daily programming tasks. We mine big data to detect and extract a large set of architectural design concepts, such as design patterns, design tactics, architecture styles, etc., to be used in our architecture recommender system called ARS. However, mining big data poses many practical challenges for system implementation. The volume, velocity and variety of our data set, like all other big data systems, requires careful planning. This first challenge is to select appropriate technologies from the large number of available products for our system implementation. Building on these technologies our greatest challenge is to custom-fit our algorithms to the parallel processing platform we have selected for ARS, to meet our performance goals.
An Introduction to Modeling Stock Price Returns With a View Towards Option Pricing

Financial options, namely stock options, are ways in which investors can manage the risk level of their portfolios and control the timing of various cash flows. Because, in most basic terms, this class of derivatives consists of agreements to buy or sell financial assets (here, shares of stock) at a prescribed time in the future, determining their fair market value requires a prediction of the future price of the asset to be bought or sold. Mathematical models are therefore employed to most accurately predict the future behavior of stock prices. The owner of a European-style1stock option has the “right, but not the obligation” to either buy2 or sell3 a share of stock S at time T for price K. In financial terms, S is the underlying asset, T the time of expiration, and K the strike price. The fair trading value of the option is derived as following:
Partial protection of seasonal trivalent inactivated vaccine against novel pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009: case-control study in Mexico City

Objective To evaluate the association of 2008-9 seasonal trivalent inactivated vaccine with cases of influenza A/H1N1 during the epidemic in Mexico. Design Frequency matched case-control study. Setting Specialty hospital in Mexico City, March to May 2009. Participants 60 patients with laboratory confirmed influenza A/H1N1 and 180 controls with other diseases (not influenza-like illness or pneumonia) living in Mexico City or the State of Mexico and matched for age and socioeconomic status. Main outcome measures Odds ratio and effectiveness of trivalent inactivated vaccine against influenza A/H1N1. Results Cases were more likely than controls to be admitted to hospital, undergo invasive mechanical ventilation, and die. Controls were more likely than cases to have chronic conditions that conferred a higher risk of influenza related complications. In the multivariate model, influenza A/H1N1 was independently associated with trivalent inactivated vaccine (odds ratio 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.11 to 0.66) and underlying conditions (0.15, 0.08 to 0.30). Vaccine effectiveness was 73% (95% confidence interval 34% to 89%). None of the eight vaccinated cases died. Conclusions Preliminary evidence suggests some protection from the 2008-9 trivalent inactivated vaccine against pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009, particularly severe forms of the disease, diagnosed in a specialty hospital during the influenza epidemic in Mexico City.
Detection of Wolbachia pipientis, including a new strain containing the wsp gene, in two sister species of Paraphlebotomus sandflies, potential vectors of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis

Individual, naturally occurring Phlebotomus mongolensis and Phlebotomus caucasicus from Iran were screened for infections with the maternally inherited intracellular Rickettsia-like bacterium Wolbachia pipientis via targeting a major surface protein gene (wsp). The main objective of this study was to determine if W. pipientis could be detected in these species. The sandflies were screened using polymerase chain reaction to amplify a fragment of the Wolbachia surface protein gene. The obtained sequences were edited and aligned with database sequences to identify W. pipientis haplotypes. Two strains of Wolbachia were found. Strain Turk 54 (accession EU780683) is widespread and has previously been reported in Phlebotomus papatasi and other insects. Strain Turk 07 (accession KC576916) is a novel strain, found for first time in the two sister species. A-group strains of W. pipientis occur throughout much of the habitat of these sandflies. It is possible that Wolbachia is transferred via horizontal transmission. Horizontal transfer could shed light on sandfly control because Wolbachia is believed to drive a deleterious gene into sandflies that reduces their natural population density. With regard to our findings in this study, we can conclude that one species of sandfly can be infected with different Wolbachia strains and that different species of sandflies can be infected with a common strain.
Maximizing cost-effectiveness by adjusting treatment strategy according to glaucoma severity

Background:The aim of this study is to determine the most cost-effective strategy for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in Brazil, from the payer's perspective (Brazilian Public Health System) in the setting of the Glaucoma Referral Centers. Methods:Study design was a cost-effectiveness analysis of different treatment strategies for POAG. We developed 3 Markov models (one for each glaucoma stage: early, moderate and advanced), using a hypothetical cohort of POAG patients, from the perspective of the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) and a horizon of the average life expectancy of the Brazilian population. Different strategies were tested according to disease severity. For early glaucoma, we compared observation, laser and medications. For moderate glaucoma, medications, laser and surgery. For advanced glaucoma, medications and surgery. Main outcome measures were ICER (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio), medical direct costs and QALY (quality-adjusted life year). Results:In early glaucoma, both laser and medical treatment were cost-effective (ICERs of initial laser and initial medical treatment over observation only, were R$ 2,811.39/QALY and R$ 3,450.47/QALY). Compared to observation strategy, the two alternatives have provided significant gains in quality of life. In moderate glaucoma population, medical treatment presented the highest costs among treatment strategies. Both laser and surgery were highly cost-effective in this group. For advanced glaucoma, both tested strategies were cost-effective. Starting age had a great impact on results in all studied groups. Initiating glaucoma therapy using laser or surgery were more cost-effective, the younger the patient. Conclusion:All tested treatment strategies for glaucoma provided real gains in quality of life and were cost-effective. However, according to the disease severity, not all strategies provided the same cost-effectiveness profile. Based on our findings, there should be a preferred strategy for each glaucoma stage, according to a cost-effectiveness ratio ranking.
Argorejo ‘red-light district’ student perceptions on sexual behavior

Argorejo ‘Red-light District’ environment (Sunan Kuning), prostitution area in Semarang, Indonesia support the highly sexual behaviors among Junior High School (JHS) students. The aim of this study was to describe the perceptions of JHS students on sexual behaviors. The method used was that of a qualitative and descriptive phenomenological approaches. The data were collected, from four JHS students as key informants, and their neigbours as the supporting informants, by observation, interviews, and documentation study, then analyzed with the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The findings showed that (1) JHS students from ‘Red-light District’ of Argorejo showed they had more negative views of sexual behavior (behavioral beliefs), (2) they believed that other reference parties did not agree with this sexual behaviors, and consequently they would prohibit them to do sexual behavior (normative beliefs), and (3) assumed there were equal conditions that would fasilitate or hinder them to do sexual behavior (control beliefs).
Language Use Across International Contexts: Shaping the Minds of L2 Speakers

ABSTRACT Bilingualism is a complex life experience. Second language (L2) learning and bilingualism take place in many different contexts. To develop a comprehensive account of dual-language experience requires research that examines individuals who are learning and using two languages in both the first language (L1) and second language (L2) environments. In this article, we review studies that exploit the presence of an international research network on bilingualism to investigate the role of the environment and some the unique characteristics of L2 learning and bilingual language usage in different locations. We ask how the context of learning affects the acquisition of the L2 and the ability to control the use of each language, how language processing is changed by the patterns of language usage in different places (e.g., whether bilinguals have been immersed in the L2 environment for an extended period of time or whether they code-switch), and how the bilingualism of the community itself influences learning and language use.
A Re‐examination of the “Leipzig Wind Profile” Considering some Relations between Wind and Turbulence in the Frictional Layer

The “Leipzig Wind Profile” is a unique example of a representative wind distribution in the frictional layer which resulted from MILDNER's set of 28 pilot-balloon observations with two theodolites on October 20, 1931, near Leipzig for a stable weather situation. It is shown, that the vectors of geostrophic motion and ground drag follow from the wind profile when a scalar austausch is assumed. The re-computed vertical austausch-distribution indicates that the energy for maintaining the turbulence in a steady frictional wind profile is taken from the potential energy of the horizontal pressure field by means of the steady flow of air across the isobars. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1950. tb00321.x
Unifying viewpoints on distributed asynchronous optimization for MISO interference channels

We adopt the power gain description of wireless networks in order to provide conceptual insights on existing distributed asynchronous beamforming algorithms. From this common viewpoint, we compare the asynchronous distributed pricing (ADP) algorithm and the asynchronous scaled gradient projection (SGP) algorithm in terms of local subproblems, required information exchange and convergence behavior. We illustrate the underlying mechanisms that ensure the convergence to a stationary point of a sum utility function (i.e., complementary user actions, step size bounds), and we point out the algorithms' pros and limitations.