Public opinion is subject to peer interaction via social networks and external pressure from the media, advertising, and other actors. In this paper, we study the interaction between external and peer influence on the stochastic opinion dynamics of a majority vote model. We introduce a model where agents update their opinions based on the combined influence of their local neighbourhood (peers) and an external actor in the transition rates. In the first model, the external influence is only felt by agents non-aligned with the external actor ("push strategy"). In the second model, agents are affected by external influence, independently of their opinions ("nudging strategy"). In both cases, the external influence increases the possible macroscopic outcomes. These outcomes are determined by the chosen influence strategy. We also find that the social network structure affects the opinion dynamics, with social clustering positively reinforcing the external influence whereas degree heterogeneity weakens the external forces. These findings are relevant to businesses and policy making, helping to understand how groups of individuals collectively react to external actors.
In today's complex software, internal trusted code is tightly intertwined with external untrusted code. To reason about internal code, programmers must reason about the potential effects of calls to external code, even though that code is not trusted and may not even be available. The effects of external calls can be limited, if internal code is programmed defensively, limiting potential effects by limiting access to the capabilities necessary to cause those effects. This paper addresses the specification and verification of internal code that relies on encapsulation and object capabilities to limit the effects of external calls. We propose new assertions for access to capabilities, new specifications for limiting effects, and a Hoare logic to verify that a module satisfies its specification, even while making external calls. We illustrate the approach though a running example with mechanised proofs, and prove soundness of the Hoare logic.
Analyses of voting algorithms often overlook informational externalities shaping individual votes. For example, pre-polling information often skews voters towards candidates who may not be their top choice, but who they believe would be a worthwhile recipient of their vote. In this work, we aim to understand the role of external information in voting outcomes. We study this by analyzing (1) the probability that voting outcomes align with external information, and (2) the effect of external information on the total utility across voters, or social welfare. In practice, voting mechanisms elicit coarse information about voter utilities, such as ordinal preferences, which initially prevents us from directly analyzing the effect of informational externalities with standard voting mechanisms. To overcome this, we present an intermediary mechanism for learning how preferences change with external information which does not require eliciting full cardinal preferences. With this tool in hand, we find that voting mechanisms are generally more likely to select the alternative most favored by the external information, and when external information reflects the population's true preferences, so
On Stack Overflow, users reuse 11,926,354 external links to share the resources hosted outside the Stack Overflow website. The external links connect to the existing programming-related knowledge and extend the crowdsourced knowledge on Stack Overflow. Some of the external links, so-called as repeated external links, can be shared for multiple times. We observe that 82.5% of the link sharing activities (i.e., sharing links in any question, answer, or comment) on Stack Overflow share external resources, and 57.0% of the occurrences of the external links are sharing the repeated external links. However, it is still unclear what types of external resources are repeatedly shared. To help users manage their knowledge, we wish to investigate the characteristics of the repeated external links in knowledge sharing on Stack Overflow. In this paper, we analyze the repeated external links on Stack Overflow. We observe that external links that point to the text resources (hosted in documentation websites, tutorial websites, etc.) are repeatedly shared the most. We observe that: 1) different users repeatedly share the same knowledge in the form of repeated external links, thus increasing the ma
A three-valued logic L is subclassical when it is defined by a single matrix having the classical two-element matrix as a subreduct. In this case, the language of L can be expanded with special unary connectives, called external operators. The resulting logic L^e is the external version of L, a notion originally introduced by D. Bochvar in 1938 with respect to his weak Kleene logic. In this paper we study the semantic properties of the external version of a three-valued subclassical logic L. We determine sufficient and necessary conditions to turn a model of L into a model of L^e . Moreover, we establish some distinctive semantic properties of L^e.
We deal with a type I superconductor in a constant external magnetic field. We obtain the BCS-Bogoliubov gap equation with external magnetic field and apply the implicit function theorem to it. We show that there is a unique magnetic field (the critical magnetic field) given by a smooth function of the temperature and that there is also a unique nonnegative solution (the gap function) given by a smooth function of both the temperature and the external magnetic field. Using the grand potential, we show that the transition from the normal state to the superconducting state in a type I superconductor is of the first order. Moreover we obtain the explicit expression for the entropy gap.
Algorithms in the data stream model use $O(polylog(N))$ space to compute some property of an input of size $N$, and many of these algorithms are implemented and used in practice. However, sketching algorithms in the graph semi-streaming model use $O(V polylog(V))$ space for a $V$-vertex graph, and the fact that implementations of these algorithms are not used in the academic literature or in industrial applications may be because this space requirement is too large for RAM on today's hardware. In this paper we introduce the external semi-streaming model, which addresses the aspects of the semi-streaming model that limit its practical impact. In this model, the input is in the form of a stream and $O(V polylog(V))$ space is available, but most of that space is accessible only via block I/O operations as in the external memory model. The goal in the external semi-streaming model is to simultaneously achieve small space and low I/O cost. We present a general transformation from any vertex-based sketch algorithm to one which has a low sketching cost in the new model. We prove that this automatic transformation is tight or nearly (up to a $O(\log(V))$ factor) tight via an I/O lower boun
Multiple external representations (MERs) and personalized feedback support physics learning, yet evidence on how personalized feedback can effectively integrate MERs remains limited. This question is particularly timely given the emergence of multimodal large language models. We conducted a 16-24 week observational study in high school physics (N=661) using a computer-based platform that provided verification and optional elaborated feedback in verbal, graphical and mathematical forms. Linear mixed-effects models and strategy-cluster analyses (ANCOVA-adjusted comparisons) tested associations between feedback use and post-test performance and moderation by representational competence. Elaborated multirepresentational feedback showed a small but consistent positive association with post-test scores independent of prior knowledge and confidence. Learners adopted distinct representation-selection strategies; among students with lower representational competence, using a diverse set of representations related to higher learning, whereas this advantage diminished as competence increased. These findings motivate adaptive feedback designs and inform intelligent tutoring systems capable of
Hodograph equations for the n-dimensional Euler equations with the constant pressure and external force linear in velocity are presented. They provide us with solutions of the Euler in implicit form and information on existence or absence of gradient catastrophes. It is shown that in even dimensions the constructed solutions are periodic in time for particular subclasses of external forces. Several particular examples in one, two and three dimensions are considered, including the case of Coriolis external force.
We study the phase transition of the Parisi formula for the free energy in the multi-species Sherrington--Kirkpatrick model with a centered Gaussian external field and a positive-semidefinite variance profile matrix. We show that in terms of the strength of the external field and the variance profile, the de Almeida--Thouless surface delineates the boundary between replica symmetric solutions and replica symmetry breaking solutions.
Li-ion batteries are ineluctably subjected to external mechanical loading or stress gradient. Such stress can be induced in battery electrode during fabrication and under normal operation. In this paper, we develop a model for stresses generated during lithiation in the thin plate electrode considering the effects of external mechanical loading. It is found that diffusion-induced stresses are asymmetrically distributed through the thickness of plate due to the coupling effects of asymmetrically distributed external mechanical stress. At the very early stage during Li-ions insertion, the effects of the external mechanical loading is quite limited and unobvious. With the diffusion time increasing, the external mechanical loading exerts a significant influence on the evolution of stresses generated in the electrode. External compressed electrode is inclined to increase the value of stresses generated during lithiation, while external tensed electrode tends to decrease the value of stresses, and as the diffusion time increases, the effects of the external mechanical loading on the stresses generated during lithiation become more obvious.
We estimate the causal effect of external debt on greenhouse gas emissions in a panel of 78 emerging market and developing economies over the 1990-2015 period. Unlike previous literature, we use external instruments to address the potential endogeneity in the relationship between external debt and greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, we use international liquidity shocks as instrumental variables for external debt. We find that dealing with the potential endogeneity problem brings about a positive and statistically significant effect of external debt on greenhouse gas emissions: a 1 percentage point (pp.) rise in external debt causes, on average, a 0.5% increase in greenhouse gas emissions. One possible mechanism of action could be that, as external debt increases, governments are less able to enforce environmental regulations because their main priority is to increase the tax base to pay increasing debt services or because they are captured by the private sector who owns that debt and prevented from tightening such regulations.
Handwritten characters can be trickier to classify due to their complex and cursive nature compared to simple and non-cursive characters. We present an external classifier along with a Generative Adversarial Network that can classify highly cursive and complex characters. The generator network produces fake handwritten character images, which are then used to augment the training data after adding adversarially perturbed noise and achieving a confidence score above a threshold with the discriminator network. The results show that the accuracy of convolutional neural networks decreases as character complexity increases, but our proposed model, ADA-GAN, remains more robust and effective for both cursive and complex characters.
HEX-programs are an extension of answer set programs (ASP) with external sources. To this end, external atoms provide a bidirectional interface between the program and an external source. The traditional evaluation algorithm for HEX-programs is based on guessing truth values of external atoms and verifying them by explicit calls of the external source. The approach was optimized by techniques that reduce the number of necessary verification calls or speed them up, but the remaining external calls are still expensive. In this paper we present an alternative evaluation approach based on inlining of external atoms, motivated by existing but less general approaches for specialized formalisms such as DL-programs. External atoms are then compiled away such that no verification calls are necessary. The approach is implemented in the dlvhex reasoner. Experiments show a significant performance gain. Besides performance improvements, we further exploit inlining for extending previous (semantic) characterizations of program equivalence from ASP to HEX-programs, including those of strong equivalence, uniform equivalence and H, B -equivalence. Finally, based on these equivalence criteria, we ch
Planet-forming disc evolution is not independent of the star formation and feedback process in giant molecular clouds. In particular, OB stars emit UV radiation that heats and disperses discs in a process called 'external photoevaporation'. This process is understood to be the dominant environmental influence acting on planet-forming discs in typical star forming regions. Our best studied discs are nearby, in sparse stellar groups where external photoevaporation is less effective. However the majority of discs are expected to reside in much stronger UV environments. Understanding external photoevaporation is therefore key to understanding how most discs evolve, and hence how most planets form. Here we review our theoretical and observational understanding of external photoevaporation. We also lay out key developments for the future to address existing unknowns and establish the full role of external photoevaporation in the disc evolution and planet formation process.
Reduced magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations are used to study the nonlinear dynamics of external kinks in a quasi-axisymmetric (QA) stellarator with varying fractions of external rotational transform. The large bootstrap currents associated with high beta plasmas may make QA configurations susceptible to low n external modes, limiting their operational space. The violence of the nonlinear dynamics, and, in particular, when these modes lead to a disruption, is not yet understood. In this paper, the nonlinear phase of external kinks in an unstable QA configuration with an edge safety factor below two is simulated. An axisymmetric approximation of this stellarator is constructed in the nonlinear MHD code, JOREK, capturing the influence of the external rotational transform. The use of this approximation for the considered stellarator is validated by comparing the linear dynamics against the linear viscoresistive MHD code, CASTOR3D. The nonlinear dynamics of this stellarator approximation are compared with an equivalent tokamak to understand the influence of a relatively small external rotational transform. While the external rotational transform does have a stabilising influence on the
In this paper we consider heterogeneous diffusion processes with the power-law dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the position and investigate the influence of external forces on the resulting anomalous diffusion. The heterogeneous diffusion processes can yield subdiffusion as well as superdiffusion, depending on the behavior of the diffusion coefficient. We assume that not only the diffusion coefficient but also the external force has a power-law dependence on the position. We obtain analytic expressions for the transition probability in two cases: when the power-law exponent in the external force is equal to 2eta-1, where 2eta is the power-law exponent in the dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the position, and when the external force has a linear dependence on the position. We found that the power-law exponent in the dependence of the mean square displacement on time does not depend on the external force, this force changes only the anomalous diffusion coefficient. In addition, the external force having the power-law exponent different from 2eta-1 limits the time interval where the anomalous diffusion occurs. We expect that the results obtained in this paper may
We study epidemic spreading processes in large networks, when the spread is assisted by a small number of external agents: infection sources with bounded spreading power, but whose movement is unrestricted vis-à-vis the underlying network topology. For networks which are `spatially constrained', we show that the spread of infection can be significantly speeded up even by a few such external agents infecting randomly. Moreover, for general networks, we derive upper-bounds on the order of the spreading time achieved by certain simple (random/greedy) external-spreading policies. Conversely, for certain common classes of networks such as line graphs, grids and random geometric graphs, we also derive lower bounds on the order of the spreading time over all (potentially network-state aware and adversarial) external-spreading policies; these adversarial lower bounds match (up to logarithmic factors) the spreading time achieved by an external agent with a random spreading policy. This demonstrates that random, state-oblivious infection-spreading by an external agent is in fact order-wise optimal for spreading in such spatially constrained networks.
Answer Set Programming (ASP) is a well-known problem solving approach based on nonmonotonic logic programs and efficient solvers. To enable access to external information, HEX-programs extend programs with external atoms, which allow for a bidirectional communication between the logic program and external sources of computation (e.g., description logic reasoners and Web resources). Current solvers evaluate HEX-programs by a translation to ASP itself, in which values of external atoms are guessed and verified after the ordinary answer set computation. This elegant approach does not scale with the number of external accesses in general, in particular in presence of nondeterminism (which is instrumental for ASP). In this paper, we present a novel, native algorithm for evaluating HEX-programs which uses learning techniques. In particular, we extend conflict-driven ASP solving techniques, which prevent the solver from running into the same conflict again, from ordinary to HEX-programs. We show how to gain additional knowledge from external source evaluations and how to use it in a conflict-driven algorithm. We first target the uninformed case, i.e., when we have no extra information on
The external Compton (EC) model is used to study the high energy emission of some blazars, in which the external photon field is considered to dominate inverse Compton radiation. We explore the properties of external photon field through analyzing the FERMI LAT bright AGN sample within three months detection. In the sample, assuming the high energy radiation of low synchrotron peaked blazars from the EC process, we find that the external photon parameter Uext/ uext may not be a constant. Calculating synchrotron and inverse Compton (IC) luminosity from the quasi-simultaneous broadband spectrum energy distributions (SEDs), we find that they have an approximately linear relation. This indicates that the ratio of external photon and magnetic energy density is a constant in the comoving frame, implying that the Lorentz factor of the emitting blob depends on external photon field and magnetic field. The result gives a strong constraint on the jet dynamic model.