Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Andromeda stream — I. Simple analytic bulge—disc—halo model for M31

This paper is the first in a series which studies interactions between M31 and its satellites, including the origin of the giant southern stream. We construct accurate yet simple analytic models for the potential of the M31 galaxy to provide an easy basis for the calculation of orbits in M31's halo. We use a Navarro, Frenk and White (NFW) dark halo, an exponential disc, a Hernquist bulge, and a central black hole point mass to describe the galaxy potential. We constrain the parameters of these functions by comparing to existing surface-brightness, velocity-dispersion, and rotation-curve measurements of M31. Our description provides a good fit to the observations, and agrees well with more sophisticated modelling of M31. While in many respects the parameter set is well constrained, there is substantial uncertainty in the outer halo potential and a near-degeneracy between the disc and halo components, producing a large, nearly two-dimensional allowed region in parameter space. We limit the allowed region using theoretical expectations for the halo concentration, baryonic content, and stellar mass-to-light ratio (M/L R ), finding a smaller region where the parameters are physically plausible. Our proposed mass model for M31 has M bulge = 3.2 x 10 10 M ⊙ , M disc = 7.2 x 10 10 M ⊙ , and M 200 = 7.1 x 10 11 M ⊙ , with uncorrected (for internal and foreground extinction) mass-to-light ratios of M/L R = 3.9 and 3.3 for the bulge and disc, respectively. We present some illustrative test-particle orbits for the progenitor of the stellar stream in our galaxy potential, highlighting the effects of the remaining uncertainty in the disc and halo masses.
Tensegrity Frameworks in the One-Dimensional Space András RECSKI

The edge set of a graphG is partitioned into two subsets EC∪ES. A tensegrity framework with underlying graph G and with cables for EC and struts for ES is proved to be rigidly embeddable into a 1-dimensional line if and only if G is 2-edge-connected and every 2-vertex-connected component of G intersects both EC and ES. Polynomial algorithms are given to nd an embedding of such graphs and to check the rigidity of a given 1-dimensional embedding.
Uncertainty , conventions and short-term expectations 1

Contrasting different views on the topic, this article examines whether short-term expectations involve uncertainty, arguing in favour of an affirmative answer and thus invalidating any association with the rational or adaptive expectations hypotheses. It is then argued that the presence of uncertainty precludes any tendency towards equilibrium. After the notion of the state of short-term expectations is introduced, this conclusion is affirmed to be valid even if one considers that producers often follow conventional behaviour. Defending the view that uncertainty should be considered as gradable, the article maintains that conventions reduce but do not eliminate uncertainty.
Voluntary regulation of NGOs and nonprofits : an accountability club framework

The Club Framework: 1. Voluntary regulation of NGOs and nonprofits: an introduction to the club framework Mary Kay Gugerty and Aseem Prakash Part I. Club Emergence: 2. Filling the gaps in nonprofit accountability: applying the club perspective in the US legal system Dana Brakman Reiser 3. Trends and patterns in third-party accreditation clubs Woods Bowman 4. Self-regulation at the state level: nonprofit membership associations and club emergence Mary Tschirhart Part II. Club Sponsorship and Club Design: 5. Nonprofit infrastructure associations as reluctant clubs Dennis R. Young 6. Foundation accountability clubs and the search for philanthropic standards Peter Frumkin 7. Do self-regulation clubs work? Some evidence from Europe and some caveats from economic theory Andreas Ortmann and Katarina Svitkova 8. NGO accountability clubs in the humanitarian sector: social dimensions of club emergence and design Maryam Zarnegar Deloffre Part III. Club Design and Effectiveness: 9. The impact of sponsorship on club standards and design Angela Bies 10. The emergence and design of NGO clubs in Africa Mary Kay Gugerty 11. The benefits of accreditation clubs for fundraising nonprofits Rene Bekkers Future Research and Conclusions: 12. Conclusions: nonprofit accountability clubs Aseem Prakash and Mary Kay Gugerty.
Looking Through the "Glass Ceiling": A Conceptual Framework for the Problems of Spectral Similarity

Spectral similarity measures have been shown to exhibit good performance in several Music Information Retrieval (MIR) applications. Theyare also known, however,to possess several undesirable properties, namely allowing the existence of hub songs (songs which frequently appear in nearest neighbor lists of other songs), “orphans” (songs which practically never appear), and difficulties in distinguishing the farthest from the nearest neighbor due to the concentration effect caused by high dimensionality of data space. In this paper we develop a conceptual framework that allows connecting all three undesired properties. We show that hubs and “orphans” are expected to appear in high-dimensional data spaces, and relate the cause of their appearance with the concentration property of distance / similarity measures. We verifyourconclusionson real music data, examining groups of frames generated by Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs), considering two similarity measures: Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) in combination with Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence, and Monte Carlo (MC) sampling. The proposed framework can be useful to MIR researchers to address problems of spectral similarity, understand their fundamental origins, and thus be able to develop more robust methods for their remedy.
E-Cadherin Is Required for Centrosome and Spindle Orientation in Drosophila Male Germline Stem Cells

Many adult stem cells reside in a special microenvironment known as the niche, where they receive essential signals that specify stem cell identity. Cell-cell adhesion mediated by cadherin and integrin plays a crucial role in maintaining stem cells within the niche. In Drosophila melanogaster, male germline stem cells (GSCs) are attached to niche component cells (i.e., the hub) via adherens junctions. The GSC centrosomes and spindle are oriented toward the hub-GSC junction, where E-cadherin-based adherens junctions are highly concentrated. For this reason, adherens junctions are thought to provide a polarity cue for GSCs to enable proper orientation of centrosomes and spindles, a critical step toward asymmetric stem cell division. However, understanding the role of E-cadherin in GSC polarity has been challenging, since GSCs carrying E-cadherin mutations are not maintained in the niche. Here, we tested whether E-cadherin is required for GSC polarity by expressing a dominant-negative form of E-cadherin. We found that E-cadherin is indeed required for polarizing GSCs toward the hub cells, an effect that may be mediated by Apc2. We also demonstrated that E-cadherin is required for the GSC centrosome orientation checkpoint, which prevents mitosis when centrosomes are not correctly oriented. We propose that E-cadherin orchestrates multiple aspects of stem cell behavior, including polarization of stem cells toward the stem cell-niche interface and adhesion of stem cells to the niche supporting cells.
Energy-aware non-cooperative resource allocation in relay-assisted MIMO IC considering circuit dissipated power

In this paper, non-cooperative, energy-efficient resource allocation in a MIMO relay-assisted interference channel is considered. The energy efficiency of a given terminal is defined as the ratio between the throughput of that terminal and the consumed power. As far as the computation of the consumed power is concerned, not only the transmit power, but also the power dissipated in terminal's electronic circuitry to operate the device is considered. We consider both the cases of power control and of joint power control and linear receiver design; in the former case we are able to prove that a unique Nash equilibrium exists, and that the best-response-dynamics is guaranteed to converge to the unique equilibrium; in the latter scenario existence of the Nash equilibrium is shown, while the convergence of the best-response-dynamics is only conjectured, based on numerical evidence. Numerical results are provided to show the merits of the proposed algorithms.
Graph imperfection and channel assignment

Given a graph G and a non-negative integer weight or demand xv for each node v, a colouring of the pair (G, x) is an assignment to each node v of a set of xv colours such that adjacent nodes receive disjoint sets of colours. We are interested in such colourings when the maximum demand xv is large. An application where such colouring problems arise is in the design of cellular radio communication systems: we need to assign sets of radio frequency channels (colours) to transmitters (nodes), using few channels but avoiding excessive interference. We introduce here a new relevant graph invariant, the ‘imperfection ratio’ imp(G), and present some initial investigations concerning it. This invariant measures how well clique-based lower bounds approximate the number of colours required, when there are large demands. It satisfies for example imp(G) ≥ 1, imp(G) = 1 if and only if G is perfect, imp(G) = imp(Ḡ) where Ḡ denotes the complement of G, and if G is a line graph then imp(G) = g g−1 where g is the minimum length of an odd hole (if there is one).
A Technique for Defining Agent-oriented Software Engineering Process Models with Tool Support

The processes of development in software engineering are fundamental when referring to costs and quality of products. Moreover, the variety of software engineering processes in Multi-agent System developments implies the necessity of formalizing software engineering processes. This work proposes a technique for defining process models for agent-oriented developments. The technique presented is provided with a supporting tool. The tool was generated from a software process engineering metamodel, by following a Model-driven approach resulting, in a low cost maintenance tool. This work formalizes two agent-oriented process models: the Unified Development Process and the SCRUM process, both of which are within the context of INGENIAS methodology. Finally, the presented technique and supporting tool are compared with other existent alternatives.
Performance Tuning of Streaming Applications via Search-space Decomposition

High-performance streaming applications are typically pipelined and deployed on architecturally diverse (hybrid)systems. Developers of such applications are interested in customizing components used, so as to benefit application performance. We present an efficient and automatic technique for design-space exploration of applications in this problem domain. We solve performance tuning as an optimization problem by formulating cost functions using results from queueing theory. This results in a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem which is NP-hard. We reduce the search complexity by decomposing the search space. We have developed a domain-specific decomposition technique using topological information of the application embodied in the queueing network models. Our analysis includes when our decomposition preserves optimality. Our preliminary empirical results confirm two-fold benefits--solving a problem that is currently not solvable using state-of-the-art solvers and in some problem instances, improving initial solution value from the solver by over two orders of magnitude. Type of Report: Other Department of Computer Science & Engineering Washington University in St. Louis Campus Box 1045 St. Louis, MO 63130 ph: (314) 935-6160 Performance Tuning of Streaming Applications via Search-space Decomposition Shobana Padmanabhan, Roger D. Chamberlain, and Yixin Chen Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
Histogram-based detail preserving tone reproduction for high dynamic range image

In this paper, a simplified image formation model is proposed for objective evaluation function of tone reproduction. According to the model and the evaluation function, the best tone reproduction is presented. It relies on baseline demographic characteristics of the image brightness, then compresses an array images having been geometrically corrected the same scene photos with exposure bracketing to get a normal image using the histogram of each input images. Combined with dynamic range reduction, the proposed algorithm also applies the chromatic adaptation technique in order to preserve the chromatic appearance and color consistency across scene and display environments. This approach can better maintain a perceptual match between the real world and the displayed image. It can be used for the rapid static images processing.
Linear-quadratic infinite time horizon optimal control for differential-algebraic equations - a new algebraic criterion

with x0 ∈ R, B ∈ R and E,A ∈ R, such that the pencil sE − A ∈ R[s] is regular, that is, det(sE −A) 6= 0. For systems governed by ordinary differentialequations (that is, E is the identity matrix), a rigorous analysis of this problem has its origin in the 60s of the 20th century [6, 8–10, 13, 15, 21]. In particular, the article [20] by Willems gives a complete characterization of linear-quadratic optimal control of ordinary systems by means of solvability of an associated algebraic Riccati equation and feasibility of a certain linear matrix inequality. Mainly two approaches to the generalization of this theory exist for the differential-algebraic case: The articles [11,12,14] by Kawamoto et al. and Kurina on the one hand, and [4] by Bender and Laub on the other hand introduce different
Prion protein recruits its neuronal receptor NCAM to lipid rafts to activate p59fyn and to enhance neurite outgrowth

In spite of advances in understanding the role of the cellular prion protein (PrP) in neural cell interactions, the mechanisms of PrP function remain poorly characterized. We show that PrP interacts directly with the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and associates with NCAM at the neuronal cell surface. Both cis and trans interactions between NCAM at the neuronal surface and PrP promote recruitment of NCAM to lipid rafts and thereby regulate activation of fyn kinase, an enzyme involved in NCAM-mediated signaling. Cis and trans interactions between NCAM and PrP promote neurite outgrowth. When these interactions are disrupted in NCAM-deficient and PrP-deficient neurons or by PrP antibodies, NCAM/PrP-dependent neurite outgrowth is arrested, indicating that PrP is involved in nervous system development cooperating with NCAM as a signaling receptor.
The Cryptosporidium Parvum Transcriptome during In Vitro Development

Cryptosporidiosis is caused by an obligate intracellular parasite that has eluded global transcriptional or proteomic analysis of the intracellular developmental stages. The transcript abundance for 3,302 genes (87%) of the Cryptosporidium parvum protein coding genome was elucidated over a 72 hr infection within HCT8 cells using Real Time-PCR. The parasite had detectable transcription of all genes in vitro within at least one time point tested, and adjacent genes were not co-regulated. Five genes were not detected within the first 24 hr of infection, one containing two AP2 domains. The fewest genes detected were at 2 hr post infection, while 30% (985) of the genes have their highest expression at 48 and/or 72 hr. Nine expression clusters were formed over the entire 72 hr time course and indicate patterns of transcriptional increases at each of the 7 time points collected except 36 hr, including genes paralleling parasite 18S rRNA transcript levels. Clustering within only the first 24 hr of infection indicates spikes in expression at each of the 4 time points, a group paralleling 18S rRNA transcript levels, and a cluster with peaks at both 6 and 24 hr. All genes were classified into 18 functional categories, which were unequally distributed across clusters. Expression of metabolic, ribosomal and proteasome proteins did not parallel 18S rRNA levels indicating distinct biochemical profiles during developmental stage progression. Proteins involved in translation are over-represented at 6 hr, while structural proteins are over-represented at 12 hr. Standardization methods identified 107 genes with <80% at a single of its total expression at a single time point over 72 hr. This comprehensive transcriptome of the intracellular stages of C. parvum provides insight for understanding its complex development following parasitization of intestinal epithelial cells.
Performance of Trellis-Coded-Modulation for a Multi-Gigabit Millimeter-Wave WPAN System in the Presence of Hardware Impairments

This paper proposes the employment of trelliscoded-modulation (TCM) to improve error performance and/or to increase system throughput in a multi-gigabit physical layer (PHY) design for millimeter-wave 60 GHz wireless personal area network (WPAN) systems. Hardware impairments such as the 60 GHz power amplifier (PA) non-linear distortion and the 60 GHz phase-locked loop (PLL) phase noise (PN) are considered in the system design. It is found that for residential environment, in the AWGN and line-of-sight (LOS) multipath channels, TCM with hard decision Viterbi decoding is able to offer coding gain of approximately 1.5 dB, and in the non-line-of-sight (NLOS) multipath channel, approximately 1.2 dB, compared with quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK). By considering non-linear distortion in the PA, bit error rate (BER) degradation of 0.8 dB is observed in LOS channel. As for NLOS channel, the same non-linear distortion causes error floor at BER=10 5. It is also observed that a maximum of 2-times improvement of the PHY throughput can be achieved by TCM in the NLOS environment. Additional gain of 0.8 dB can be obtained in NLOS channels by employing longer decoder traceback length (TBL) of 20 instead of 10.
Life Cycle Dynamics of Income Uncertainty and Consumption

We propose a method for estimating household income uncertainty that does not impose restrictions on the underlying income shocks or assumptions about household behaviors. We measure income uncertainty as the variance of linear projection errors at various future horizons, up to 25 years ahead, conditional on only the information available to households when the projection is made. Our uncertainty estimates change substantially over the life cycle. We calibrate an income process to match our estimates, allowing the variances of both transitory and persistent shocks to change over the life cycle. Relative to previous studies, we find lower and less persistent income uncertainties that call for a life cycle consumption profile with a less pronounced hump.
The 3D Model Compression Method Based on Sparse Representation

The surface of the object is continuous and smooth. As one of the most popular methods, polygon meshes are extensively used in computer graphics. But it is difficult to achieve the sparse representation of polygon based 3D model due to its raw and discrete characters. Thus, the compressive sensing based compression method cannot be applied on 3D model directly. However, the geometry images method provides a way for the sparse representation of 3D geometric data in advance of its regular structure. For the sparse representation, we first proposed a new normalization method for the geometric patches of the geometry image. Then, a over-complete dictionary based sparse representation method for normalized geometry image has been proposed. The measurement matrix was introduced to sampling the geometric data which can be sparse by over-complete dictionary. At the decoding, we can get the reconstructed geometric data by solving the optimization model. Our effectiveness results of this method are shown in the experimental section.
Research and application of an extended role-based access control

Role-based access control (RBAC) model is widely used at the moment. Aiming at the executive order of role and time limit of permissions on RBAC96, this paper puts forward an extended role-based access control model (RBAC-TS). The new model details the access control and adds the concepts of Time-Control and Sequence-Control, based on the former RBAC model. The paper gives the theoretical model, and the model has been applied in specific systems.
Competition’s Effect on Teacher Pay and Teacher Characteristics

of Dissertation COMPETITION’S EFFECT ON TEACHER PAY AND TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS This dissertation adds to the literature that examines the effect of competition and school choice reform in elementary and secondary education. Specifically, we explore how three major forms of competition in U.S. schooling markets in Tiebout competition, charter competition, and private school competition affect the teaching profession by estimating a teacher wage equation and series of teacher characteristic equations. Since it has been well-established that all 3 forms of competition are likely endogenous, we present 2SLS estimates of competition’s effect in addition to simple OLS estimates. Our findings confirm the importance of studies controlling for endogeneity concerns, particularly in regards to teacher earnings. In nearly all instances, OLS yields estimates of the effects of competition on wages that are biased toward zero for each of the three measures. Additional findings suggest that policies aimed at promoting competition and choice-based reforms might well benefit traditional public school (TPS) teachers through higher pay, while competition would likely have little significant effect on earnings for charter teachers. In particular, we find TPS teachers working in MSAs with the average Tiebout competition receive a pay boost of almost 16.8%, while a 10-percent increase in charter competition corresponds to a nearly 20% rise in teacher pay for TPS teachers. While competition might benefit teachers through higher pay, it is unclear as to whether competition would change the type of teachers schools attract. Few systematic results emerge when exploring teacher characteristics. Some of the more interesting results include Tiebout competition raising the prevalence of TPS teachers having a Bachelor’s in math, and charter competition reducing the incidence of state certification and unionization among TPS teachers. Finally, although competition appears to have few significant effects on charter teachers, substantial differences in pay and characteristics among charter teachers and TPS teachers exist. We document these differences.