Search

When conflicts escalate, is it due to what is said or how it is said? In the conflict literature, two theoretical approaches take opposing views: one focuses on the content of the disagreement, while the other focuses on how it is expressed. This paper aims to integrate these two perspectives through a computational analysis of 191 communication features -- 128 related to expression and 63 to content. We analyze 1,200 GPT-4 simulated conversations and 12,630 real-world discussions from Reddit. We find that expression features more reliably predict destructive conflict outcomes across both settings, although the most important features differ. In the Reddit data, conversational dynamics such as turn-taking and conversational equality are highly predictive, but they are not predictive in simulated conversations. These results may suggest a possible limitation in simulating social interactions with language models, and we discuss the implications for our findings on building social computing systems., Comment: Submitted to the NeurIPS 2024 Workshop on Behavioral ML

The matrix semigroup membership problem asks, given square matrices $M,M_1,\ldots,M_k$ of the same dimension, whether $M$ lies in the semigroup generated by $M_1,\ldots,M_k$. It is classical that this problem is undecidable in general but decidable in case $M_1,\ldots,M_k$ commute. In this paper we consider the problem of whether, given $M_1,\ldots,M_k$, the semigroup generated by $M_1,\ldots,M_k$ contains a non-negative matrix. We show that in case $M_1,\ldots,M_k$ commute, this problem is decidable subject to Schanuel's Conjecture. We show also that the problem is undecidable if the commutativity assumption is dropped. A key lemma in our decidability result is a procedure to determine, given a matrix $M$, whether the sequence of matrices $(M^n)_{n\geq 0}$ is ultimately nonnegative. This answers a problem posed by S. Akshay (arXiv:2205.09190). The latter result is in stark contrast to the notorious fact that it is not known how to determine effectively whether for any specific matrix index $(i,j)$ the sequence $(M^n)_{i,j}$ is ultimately nonnegative (which is a formulation of the Ultimate Positivity Problem for linear recurrence sequences).

We present a cryogenic configurable slit unit (CSU) for a multi object infrared spectrograph with an effective field of view of 9.1 arcmin x 9.1 arcmin that was completely conceived and designed in the laboratory at TIFR. Several components of the CSU including the controller for the commercially procured piezo-walkers, controlled loop position sensing mechanism using digital slide callipers and a cryogenic test facility for the assembled prototype were also developed in-house. The principle of the CSU involves division of the field of view of the spectrometer into contiguous and parallel spatial bands, each one associated with two opposite sliding metal bars that can be positioned to create a slit needed to make spectroscopic observations of one astronomical object. A three-slit prototype of the newly designed CSU was built and tested extensively at ambient and cryogenic temperatures. The performance of the CSU was found to be as per specifications., Comment: 7 pages, Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation

The TIFR Near Infrared Imaging Camera-II (TIRCAM2) is being used at the 3.6 m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) operated by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Earlier, the TIRCAM2 was used at the main port of the DOT on time shared basis. It has now been installed at the side port of the telescope. Side port installation allows near simultaneous observations with the main port instrument as well as longer operating periods. Thus, the TIRCAM2 serves the astronomical community for a variety of observations ranging from lunar occultations, transient events and normal scheduled observations., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy

The TIFR Near Infrared Imaging Camera-II (TIRCAM2) is being used at the Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) operated by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. In addition to the normal full frame observations, there has been a requirement for high speed sub-array observations for applications such as lunar occultation and star speckle observations. Fast sub-array modes have been implemented in TIRCAM2 with suitable changes in the camera software at the computer and controller DSP code level. Successful observations have been carried out with the fast sub-array mode of observation., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy, special issue

We present the design and performance of the TANSPEC, a medium-resolution $0.55-2.5~\mu$m cryogenic spectrometer and imager, now in operation at the 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT), Nainital, India. The TANSPEC provides three modes of operation which include, photometry with broad- and narrow-band filters, spectroscopy with short slits of 20$^{\prime \prime}$ length and different widths (from 0.5$^{\prime \prime}$ to 4.0$^{\prime \prime}$) in cross-dispersed mode at a resolving power R of $\sim$2750, and spectroscopy with long slits of 60$^{\prime \prime}$ length and different widths (from 0.5$^{\prime \prime}$ to 4.0$^{\prime \prime}$) in prism mode at a resolving power R of $\sim$100-350. TANSPEC's imager mode provides a field of view of 60$^{\prime \prime} \times 60^{\prime \prime}$ with a plate scale of 0.245$^{\prime \prime}$/pixel on the 3.6-m DOT. The TANSPEC was successfully commissioned during April-May 2019 and the subsequent characterization and astronomical observations are presented here. The TANSPEC has been made available to the worldwide astronomical community for science observations from October 2020., Comment: 35 pages, Accepted for publication in - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PASP)

We study the Escape Problem for discrete-time linear dynamical systems over compact semialgebraic sets. We establish a uniform upper bound on the number of iterations it takes for every orbit of a rational matrix to escape a compact semialgebraic set defined over rational data. Our bound is doubly exponential in the ambient dimension, singly exponential in the degrees of the polynomials used to define the semialgebraic set, and singly exponential in the bitsize of the coefficients of these polynomials and the bitsize of the matrix entries. We show that our bound is tight by providing a matching lower bound.

We study fundamental reachability problems on pseudo-orbits of linear dynamical systems. Pseudo-orbits can be viewed as a model of computation with limited precision and pseudo-reachability can be thought of as a robust version of classical reachability. Using an approach based on $o$-minimality of $\reals_{\exp}$ we prove decidability of the discrete-time pseudo-reachability problem with arbitrary semialgebraic targets for diagonalisable linear dynamical systems. We also show that our method can be used to reduce the continuous-time pseudo-reachability problem to the (classical) time-bounded reachability problem, which is known to be conditionally decidable.

The Infrared Astronomy Group (Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics) at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is presently developing controllers for the Teledyne HxRG Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) to be used on board the Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging Survey (IRSIS) satellite payload. In this manuscript we discuss the results of our tests with different FPA controllers like the Astronomical Research Cameras (ARC) controller, Teledyne's SIDECAR ASIC as well as our new in-house designed Array controller. As part of the development phase of the IRSIS instrument, which is an optical fibre based Integral Field Unit (IFU) Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectrometer, a laboratory model with limited NIR bandwidth was built which consisted of various subsystems like a Ritchey-Chretien (RC) 30 cm telescope, optical fibre IFU, spectrometer optics, and the Teledyne H2RG detector module. We discuss the various developments during the building and testing of the IRSIS laboratory model and the technical aspects of the prototype in-house H2RG controller., Comment: 19 pages, 28 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in The Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation (JAI)

The world is moving into a new era with the deployment of 5G communication infrastructure. Many new developments are deployed centred around this technology. One such advancement is 5G Vehicle to Everything communication. This technology can be used for applications such as driverless delivery of goods, immediate response to emergencies and improving traffic efficiency. The concept of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is built around this system which is completely autonomous. This paper studies the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack carried out over a 5G network and analyses security attacks, particularly the DDoS attack. The aim is to implement a machine learning model capable of classifying different types of DDoS attacks and predicting the quality of 5G latency. The initial steps of implementation involved the synthetic addition of 5G parameters into the dataset. Subsequently, the data was label encoded, and minority classes were oversampled to match the other classes. Finally, the data was split as training and testing, and machine learning models were applied. Although the paper resulted in a model that predicted DDoS attacks, the dataset acquired significantly lacked 5G related information. Furthermore, the 5G classification model needed more modification. The research was based on largely quantitative research methods in a simulated environment. Hence, the biggest limitation of this research has been the lack of resources for data collection and sole reliance on online data sets. Ideally, a Vehicle to Everything (V2X) project would greatly benefit from an autonomous 5G enabled vehicle connected to a mobile edge cloud. However, this project was conducted solely online on a single PC which further limits the outcomes. Although the model underperformed, this paper can be used as a framework for future research in Intelligent Transport System development., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures

We study the computational complexity of the Escape Problem for discrete-time linear dynamical systems over compact semialgebraic sets, or equivalently the Termination Problem for affine loops with compact semialgebraic guard sets. Consider the fragment of the theory of the reals consisting of negation-free $\exists \forall$-sentences without strict inequalities. We derive several equivalent characterisations of the associated complexity class which demonstrate its robustness and illustrate its expressive power. We show that the Compact Escape Problem is complete for this class.

The Continuous Polytope Escape Problem (CPEP) asks whether every trajectory of a linear differential equation initialised within a convex polytope eventually escapes the polytope. We provide a polynomial-time algorithm to decide CPEP for compact polytopes. We also establish a quantitative uniform upper bound on the time required for every trajectory to escape the given polytope. In addition, we establish iteration bounds for termination of discrete linear loops via reduction to the continuous case., Comment: Long version of a STACS 2020 paper

TIFR Near Infrared Imaging Camera-II is a closed-cycle Helium cryo-cooled imaging camera equipped with a Raytheon 512 x 512 pixels InSb Aladdin III Quadrant focal plane array having sensitivity to photons in the 1-5 microns wavelength band. In this paper, we present the performance of the camera on the newly installed 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) based on the calibration observations carried out during 2017 May 11-14 and 2017 October 7-31. After the preliminary characterization, the camera has been released to the Indian and Belgian astronomical community for science observations since 2017 May. The camera offers a field-of-view of ~86.5 arcsec x 86.5 arcsec on the DOT with a pixel scale of 0.169 arcsec. The seeing at the telescope site in the near-infrared bands is typically sub-arcsecond with the best seeing of ~0.45 arcsec realized in the near-infrared K-band on 2017 October 16. The camera is found to be capable of deep observations in the J, H and K bands comparable to other 4-m class telescopes available world-wide. Another highlight of this camera is the observational capability for sources up to Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) W1-band (3.4 microns) magnitudes of 9.2 in the narrow L-band (nbL; lambda_{cen} ~3.59 microns). Hence, the camera could be a good complementary instrument to observe the bright nbL-band sources that are saturated in the Spitzer-Infrared Array Camera ([3.6] <= 7.92 mag) and the WISE W1-band ([3.4] <= 8.1 mag). Sources with strong polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission at 3.3 microns are also detected. Details of the observations and estimated parameters are presented in this paper., Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, 1 table, Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation

We describe the TIFR Near Infrared Spectrometer and Imager (TIRSPEC) designed and built in collaboration with M/s. Mauna Kea Infrared LLC, Hawaii, USA, now in operation on the side port of the 2-m Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT), Hanle (Ladakh), India at an altitude of 4500 meters above mean sea level. The TIRSPEC provides for various modes of operation which include photometry with broad and narrow band filters, spectrometry in single order mode with long slits of 300" length and different widths, with order sorter filters in the Y, J, H and K bands and a grism as the dispersing element as well as a cross dispersed mode to give a coverage of 1.0 to 2.5 microns at a resolving power R of ~1200. The TIRSPEC uses a Teledyne 1024 x 1024 pixel Hawaii-1 PACE array detector with a cutoff wavelength of 2.5 microns and on HCT, provides a field of view of 307" x 307" with a plate scale of 0.3"/pixel. The TIRSPEC was successfully commissioned in June 2013 and the subsequent characterization and astronomical observations are presented here. The TIRSPEC has been made available to the worldwide astronomical community for science observations from May 2014., Comment: 20 pages, 21 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation

TIRCAM2 (TIFR Near Infrared Imaging Camera - II) is a closed cycle cooled imager that has been developed by the Infrared Astronomy Group at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research for observations in the near infrared band of 1 to 3.7 microns with existing Indian telescopes. In this paper, we describe some of the technical details of TIRCAM2 and report its observing capabilities, measured performance and limiting magnitudes with the 2-m IUCAA Girawali telescope and the 1.2-m PRL Gurushikhar telescope. The main highlight is the camera's capability of observing in the nbL (3.59 microns) band enabling our primary motivation of mapping of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) emission at 3.3 microns., Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, Accepted for publication in Bull. Astr. Soc. India

The Sato Caution Index takes into account the number and difficulty of items gotten wrong by a student within his or her ability, as well as the number and difficulty of items gotten right beyond his or her ability. Sato subtracts the two components to define a single Caution Index. In this study, the components are kept separate, defining a Within Ability Concern Index (W) and a Beyond Ability Surprise Index (B). Using data from 10-item testlets taken by 121 college students, the critical information made available by using the B and W Indexes in addition to the Sato Index is identified. The relationships of the three indexes to total score and the number of errors committed by the students within ability-level are examined. Factor analysis reveals that the new indexes can add a new dimension to test performance information provided by the Sato Index. Five tables provide analysis data. (Author/SLD)

The observational and operational efficiency of the TIFR 1 meter balloon borne far infrared telescope has been improved by incorporating a multielement solid state optical photometer (SSOP) at the Cassegrain focus of the telescope. The SSOP is based on a 1-D linear photo diode array (PDA). The online and offline processing schemes of the PDA signals which have been developed, lead to improvement in the determination of absolute telescope aspect ($\sim$ 0\farcm8), which is very crucial for carrying out the observations as well as offline analysis. The SSOP and its performance during a recent balloon flight are presented here., Comment: To appear in the February 2000 issue of the PASP

Using the Role Delineation study as the basis (see CE 031 628), a project developed a criterion-referenced self-assessment examination for physican assistants (PAs) from which appropriate continuing education could be developed. Working committees consisting of PAs and PA educators first developed five 80-item test sections and then 315 items which were assembled into a six-hour, two-section examination. The domain of the examination was the competency skills and knowledge expected of an entry-level generalist PA and had been defined in terms of two sets of scales: 17 role scales and 28 body system scales. Following this discussion of the project procedures, certain technical issues are examined in section 3, including objectives of self-assessment examination, test specifications, scales definition, item generation through use of the critical incidents technique, test item revision, test interpretation (proper use of test results), and technical limitations and deficiencies. Section 4 focuses on planning for the development of a national pilot continuing medical education system for PAs. Exhibits, amounting to approximately one-third of the volume, include an unprioritized list of program and research objectives, 11 areas of the PA Role Delineation, data tables and graphs from the two try-outs of the examination, and an example computer report and interpretive leaflet sent to persons who took the examination. (YLB)

This study, based on the Rasch model, used R. M. Smith's (1986) classification of measurement disturbances to assess the Rasch model approach to error control and statistical prediction. Partitioning the error component into a person component, an item-person interaction component, and a random unexplained error component has the net effect of reducing the error variance and improving statistical prediction and classification efficiency. The specific goal of this study is to determine the possibility of using the Item and Person Analysis Rasch Model (IPARM) to correct a person's score to eliminate person disturbances. The United States Air Force Placement and Validation Examination was administered to 1,200 freshmen entering the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs; the French language portion of the test was used. Test data were analyzed using IPARM to identify individual response disturbances and to estimate each person's true score. IPARM can assess item disturbances as well as person disturbances, but this study focused on the latter. Essentially, IPARM uses a person's total score to establish statistical expectancies for each item the individual attempted. Test result correlations with French grades and class rankings indicated that the IPARM-based corrections are useful for improvement of prediction and classification. (TJH)

Describes an attempt to develop a reliable and valid instrument to assess the relationship between locus of control of reinforcement and environmentally responsible behavior. Presents a six-step psychometric process used to develop the Environmental Action Internal Control Index (EAICI) for undergraduate students. Contains 54 references. (JRH)

Discusses how legal issues impinge upon teacher competency testing, describing key legal provisions (antitrust protection, due process, equal protection, substantial adverse impact, and business necessity), and examining each one's impact on testing and teacher certification. Recommendations to help teacher educators ensure legal, credible, and fair teacher competency testing are included. (SM)

A new explicit variable time-integration methodology and architecture which possesses self-starting attributes, eliminates the need to involve acceleration computations, and which has improved accuracy characteristics in comparison to the traditional central-difference-type formulations customarily advocated is described for applicability to computational structural dynamics. To sharpen the focus of the present study, an explicit variable time-integration architecture which is relatively simple, yet effective, is described. Unlike variable explicit time-integration formulations adopted in the past, the present self-starting variable time-integration architecture and implementation aspects facilitate a simplified representation and a straightforward and effective approach for combining finite element meshes requiring different time steps in a single analysis. Numerical test cases are provided which demonstrate the applicability of the proposed formulations.

This paper describes the evaluation of mixed implicit-explicit finite element formulations for hyperbolic heat conduction problems involving non-Fourier effects. In particular, mixed implicit-explicit formulations employing the alpha method proposed by Hughes et al. (1987, 1990) are described for the numerical simulation of hyperbolic heat conduction models, which involves time-dependent relaxation effects. Existing analytical approaches for modeling/analysis of such models involve complex mathematical formulations for obtaining closed-form solutions, while in certain numerical formulations the difficulties include severe oscillatory solution behavior (which often disguises the true response) in the vicinity of the thermal disturbances, which propagate with finite velocities. In view of these factors, the alpha method is evaluated to assess the control of the amount of numerical dissipation for predicting the transient propagating thermal disturbances. Numerical test models are presented, and pertinent conclusions are drawn for the mixed-time integration simulation of hyperbolic heat conduction models involving non-Fourier effects.

A compilation of "think papers" designed to identify data needs for policy-making related to allied health professions schools, this report is directed toward policy-makers and scholars involved in allied health professions education. The papers were solicited from selected representatives among allied health educators, state and national health planners, and government officials. Issues covered are: manpower supply and distribution; training programs, supply, quality, and articulation; professional identity and recognition; career opportunities and advancement; financing of educational programs; licensing and certification; and role in health care team. Specific papers and authors included are: "Data Needs for Health Manpower Planning," by David Hoover; "A Review of Allied Health," by Darrel J. Mase; "Towards the Restructuring of Allied Health Education," by Jerry N. Patterson; "Information Needs for Allied Health Policy," by Larrie J. Dean; and "The Development of Policy for Allied Health Schools," by Robert E. Tumelty. The intent is to raise critical issues about the current status of allied health professions and thus identify data and research needs for these professions. (LBH)