Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A CHANDRA ACIS STUDY OF THE YOUNG STAR CLUSTER TRUMPLER 15 IN CARINA AND CORRELATION WITH NEAR-INFRARED SOURCES

Using the highest-resolution X-ray observation of the Trumpler 15 star cluster taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we estimate the total size of its stellar population by comparing the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of the detected sources to a calibrator cluster and identify for the first time a significant fraction (∼14%) of its individual members. The highest-resolution near-IR observation of Trumpler 15 (taken by the HAWK-I instrument on the Very Large Telescope) was found to detect most of our X-ray selected sample of cluster members, with a K-excess disk frequency of 3.8% ± 0.7%. The near-IR data, XLF, and published spectral types of the brightest members support a cluster age estimate (5–10 Myr) that is older than those for the nearby Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16 clusters, and suggest that high-mass members may have already exploded as supernovae. The morphology of the inner ∼0.7 pc core of the cluster is found to be spherical. However, the outer regions (beyond ∼2 pc) are elongated, forming an “envelope” of stars that, in projection, appears to connect Trumpler 15 to Trumpler 14; this morphology supports the view that these clusters are physically associated. Clear evidence of mass segregation is seen. This study appears in this special issue devoted to the Chandra Carina Complex Project, a 1.42 deg2 Chandra X-ray survey of the Great Nebula in Carina.
Digging beneath the surface: Results from stage one of a qualitative analysis of factors influencing the well-being of trans youth in Quebec

ABSTRACT Background : The literature on trans youth has been dominated by etiological studies interested in trans experience as a medical phenomenon. An emerging body of literature has begun to document that trans youth are a diverse, vulnerable, yet resilient population, and to investigate the role of various sites of support such as the family, peer groups, institutions, and community spaces in contributing to or impeding trans youth's well-being. Method: This article presents the results of Stage One of interviews (n = 24) conducted for a Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) qualitative research project based in Quebec. It studies the factors that enhance trans youth's well-being as well as the factors of oppression that negatively affect it. This paper offers a brief overview of the anti-oppressive methodology used for this project, emphasizing how CBPAR was combined with Grounded Theory (GT) methods to encourage the direct involvement of communities and the translation of knowledge into action. Results: We present preliminary categories emerging through the ongoing axial coding process. These categories address trans youth's experiences in and perceptions of various “sites”: 1) healthcare services both for gender-related and general care, 2) other institutional spaces, 3) the family and other social circles, and 4) community spaces. Conclusion: While much of this study's results support existing evidence on trans youth's experiences, they also provide a more nuanced portrayal of the complex ways in which recognition, as well as non-, mis-, or mal-recognition, influence trans youth's well-being at different sites. We also argue that recognition itself must be considered through the lens of intersectionality.
A Robust Identity-by-Descent Procedure Using Affected Sib Pairs: Multipoint Mapping for Complex Diseases

Multipoint linkage analysis is a powerful tool to localize susceptibility genes for complex diseases. However, the conventional lod score method relies critically on the correct specification of mode of inheritance for accurate estimation of gene position. On the other hand, allele-sharing methods, as currently practiced, are designed to test the null hypothesis of no linkage rather than estimate the location of the susceptibility gene(s). In this paper, we propose an identity-by-descent (IBD)-based procedure to estimate the location of an unobserved susceptibility gene within a chromosomal region framed by multiple markers. Here we deal with the practical situation where some of the markers might not be fully informative. Rather the IBD statistic at an arbitrary within the region is imputed using the multipoint marker information. The method is robust in that no assumption about the genetic mechanism is required other than that the region contains no more than one susceptibility gene. In particular, this approach builds upon a simple representation for the expected IBD at any arbitrary locus within the region using data from affected sib pairs. With this representation, one can carry out a parametric inference procedure to locate an unobserved susceptibility gene. In addition, here we derive a sample size formula for the number of affected sib pairs needed to detect linkage with multiple markers. Throughout, the proposed method is illustrated through simulated data. We have implemented this method including exploratory and formal model-fitting procedures to locate susceptibility genes, plus sample size and power calculations in a program, GENEFINDER, which will be made available shortly.
Efficient fault-tolerant certificate revocation

We consider scalable certi cate revocation in a public-key infrastructure (PKI). We introduce depender graphs, a new class of graphs that support e cient and fault-tolerant revocation. Nodes of a depender graph are participants that agree to forward revocation information to other participants. Our depender graphs are k-redundant, so that revocations are provably guaranteed to be received by all nonfailed participants even if up to k 1 participants have failed. We present a protocol for constructing k-redundant depender graphs that has two desirable properties. First, it is load-balanced, in that no participant need have too many dependers. Second, it is localized, in that it avoids the need for any participant to maintain the global state of the depender graph. We also give a localized protocol for restructuring the graph in the event of permanent failures.
Bounds on the Capacity of OFDM Underspread Frequency Selective Fading Channels

The analysis of the channel capacity in the absence of prior channel knowledge (noncoherent channel) has gained increasing interest in recent years. Yet, the noncoherent channel capacity is still unknown for the general case. In this paper, we derive bounds on the capacity of the noncoherent, underspread complex Gaussian, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, wide sense stationary channel with uncorrelated scattering, under a peak power constraint or a constraint on the second and fourth moments of the transmitted signal. These bounds are characterized only by the system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and by a newly defined quantity termed effective coherence time. Intuitively, the effective coherence time can be interpreted as the length of a block in the block-fading model in which a system with the same SNR will achieve the same capacity as in the analyzed channel. Unlike commonly used coherence time definitions, it is shown that the effective coherence time depends on the SNR, and is a nonincreasing function of it. We show that for low SNR, the capacity is proportional to the effective coherence time, while for higher SNR, the coherent channel capacity can be achieved provided that the effective coherence time is large enough.
Neural Stem Cells Show Bidirectional Experience-Dependent Plasticity in the Perinatal Mammalian Brain

Many of the effects of prenatal stress on the endocrine function, brain morphology, and behavior in mammals can be reversed by brief sessions of postnatal separation and handling. We have tested the hypothesis that the effects of both the prenatal and postnatal experiences are mediated by negative and positive regulation of neural stem cell (NSC) number during critical stages in neurodevelopment. We used thein vitroclonal neurosphere assay to quantify NSCs in hamsters that had experienced prenatal stress (maternal restraint stress for 2 hr per day, for the last 7 d of gestation), postnatal handling (maternal–offspring separation for 15 min per day during postnatal days 1–21), orboth. Prenatal stress reduced the number of NSCs derived from the subependyma of the lateral ventricle. The effect was already present at postnatal day 1 and persisted into adulthood (at least 14 months of age). Similarly, prenatal stress reduced in vivo proliferation in the adult subependyma of the lateral ventricle. Conversely, postnatal handling increased NSC number and reversed the effect of prenatal stress. The effects of prenatal stress on NSCs and proliferation and the effect of postnatal handling on NSCs did not differ between male and females. The findings demonstrate that environmental factors can produce changes in NSC number that are present at birth and endure into late adulthood. These changes may underlie some of the behavioral effects produced by prenatal stress and postnatal handling.
The Role of Boards in Reviewing Information Technology Governance (ITG) as part of organizational control environment assessments

IT Governance (ITG) is an important topic as US companies must now monitor ITG under the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) (Hoffmann, 2003). Trites (2003) indicates that directors are responsible for strategic planning, internal control structures and business risk. The control environment is defined in Australian Auditing Standard AUS 402 to mean 'the overall attitude, awareness and actions of management regarding internal control and its importance to the entity'. This paper contributes to the knowledge of ITG by forming an integrated ITG Literature (IIL) which links prior research to four key dimensions of ITG. The paper presents a review of literature on ITG performance measurement systems which assess the ability of organizations to achieve these four ITG dimensions. A revised ITG Dimensions Model offered for consideration. The final contribution of the paper is to propose critical issues Boards should consider as part of their assessment of organizational control environments.
Association between TIM-1 gene polymorphisms and allergic rhinitis in a Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND TIM-1, a member of the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin (TIM) domain family, is involved in T-cell differentiation and has been implicated in allergic diseases. An association between TIM-1 and allergic rhinitis, however, has not been established. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether TIM-1 gene polymorphisms were associated with allergic rhinitis in a Han Chinese population. METHODS Two TIM-1 promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), -416G>C and -1454G>A, were examined in 185 allergic rhinitis patients of Han Chinese ethnicity using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Additionally, exon 4 insertion/deletion polymorphisms in the TIM-1 gene were analyzed by PCR, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and silver staining. The relationship between gene polymorphisms and serum specific IgE levels in this Han Chinese population was also evaluated. RESULTS We found that the -416G>C and -1454G>A SNPs were associated with allergic rhinitis susceptibility in this Han Chinese population. No statistically significant differences in the distribution of genotype or allele frequencies of 5383_5397ins/del and 5509_5511delCAA in exon 4 were observed. The -416G>C and -1454G>A SNPs were associated with the level of serum IgE specific to house dust mites in patients with allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that TIM-1 gene polymorphisms (-416G>C and -1454G>A) are associated with allergic rhinitis susceptibility in a Han Chinese population.
Dexamethasone and Monophosphoryl Lipid A-Modulated Dendritic Cells Promote Antigen-Specific Tolerogenic Properties on Naive and Memory CD4+ T Cells

Tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) are a promising tool to control T cell-mediated autoimmunity. Here, we evaluate the ability of dexamethasone-modulated and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA)-activated DCs [MPLA-tolerogenic DCs (tDCs)] to exert immunomodulatory effects on naive and memory CD4+ T cells in an antigen-specific manner. For this purpose, MPLA-tDCs were loaded with purified protein derivative (PPD) as antigen and co-cultured with autologous naive or memory CD4+ T cells. Lymphocytes were re-challenged with autologous PPD-pulsed mature DCs (mDCs), evaluating proliferation and cytokine production by flow cytometry. On primed-naive CD4+ T cells, the expression of regulatory T cell markers was evaluated and their suppressive ability was assessed in autologous co-cultures with CD4+ effector T cells and PPD-pulsed mDCs. We detected that memory CD4+ T cells primed by MPLA-tDCs presented reduced proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine expression in response to PPD and were refractory to subsequent stimulation. Naive CD4+ T cells were instructed by MPLA-tDCs to be hyporesponsive to antigen-specific restimulation and to suppress the induction of T helper cell type 1 and 17 responses. In conclusion, MPLA-tDCs are able to modulate antigen-specific responses of both naive and memory CD4+ T cells and might be a promising strategy to “turn off” self-reactive CD4+ effector T cells in autoimmunity.
Experimental manipulations of personal control do not increase illusory pattern perception

We report seven experiments to investigate the effects of control threat manipulations on different measures of illusory pattern perception: magical thinking (Study 1–3), conspiracy beliefs (Study 4), paranormal beliefs (Study 5) and agent detection (Study 6 and 7). Overall we did not find evidence for an effect of control threat on any of our relevant dependent measures. By using Bayesian analyses we obtained positive evidence for the null-hypothesis that an experimentally induced loss of control does not affect illusory pattern perception. Finally, by re-conducting a recent meta-analysis we found strong evidence for publication bias and a relatively small effect size for control-threat manipulations. Together, these results cast doubt on the potential efficacy of experimental autobiographical recall manipulations to manipulate feelings of control.
PATHOGENESIS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BRUCELLOSIS IN YELLOWSTONE BISON: SEROLOGIC AND CULTURE RESULTS FROM ADULT FEMALES AND THEIR PROGENY

Our objective in this prospective study was to determine the natural course of Brucella abortus infection in cohorts of seropositive and seronegative, female bison (Bison bison) and their offspring in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) for 5 yr. We collected specimens from 53 adult females and 25 calves at least once and from 45 adults and 22 calves more than once. Annual seroconversion rates (negative to positive) were relatively high (23% for calves and juvenile bison, 6% in the total sample of adult female bison in our study, and 11% in the adult females that began the study as seronegatives). Antibody was not protective against infection, even for calves that passively received antibody from an infected mother’s colostrum. Antibody levels stayed remarkably constant, with only a slow decline over time. We found only two seroconversions from a weak positive status to negative. Infected bison aborted and shed viable bacteria. Risk of shedding infective Brucella was highest for bison in the 2 yr following seroconversion from negative to positive. In one bison, we detected shedding for 3 yr following seroconversion. Regardless of serostatus of dams and neonates, most calves were seronegative by 5 mo of age. There was no relationship between the antibody status of the dam and the tendency of a calf to seroconvert to positive during the duration of the study.
Robust Fixed Complexity Sphere Decoder

In this paper, RFSD (Robust Fixed-complexity Sphere Decoder) based on a new preprocessing algorithm is proposed for MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) detection. Unlike the original FSD (Fixed-complexity Sphere Decoder) ordering which determines the FE (Full expansion) stage by choosing the signal component with greatest post-processing noise amplification on itself, the proposed RFSD determines the FE stage by selecting the signal component with the smallest postprocessing impact on the undetected signal component in following SE (Single Expansion) stage. Besides better performance than the original FSD ordering, RFSD is robust to the configuration of MIMO antennas (both NT<=NR and NT>NR), which is another advantage over original FSD ordering.
Stabilization of Arbitrary Switched Linear Systems With Unknown Time-Varying Delays

We consider continuous time switched systems that are stabilized via a computer. Several factors (sampling, computer computation, communications through a network, etc.) introduce model uncertainties produced by unknown varying feedback delays. These uncertainties can lead to instability when they are not taken into account. Our goal is to construct a switched digital control for continuous time switched systems that is robust to the varying feedback delay problem. The main contribution of this note is to show that the control synthesis problem in the context of unknown time varying delays can be expressed as a problem of stabilizability for uncertain systems with polytopic uncertainties
Design of an Optimal Auction for Sponsored Search Auction

In this paper, we first describe a framework to model the sponsored search auction on the web as a mechanism design problem. Using this framework, we design a novel auction which we call the OPT (optimal) auction. The OPT mechanism maximizes the search engine's expected revenue while achieving Bayesian incentive compatibility and individual rationality of the advertisers. We show that the OPT mechanism is superior to two of the most commonly used mechanisms for sponsored search namely (1) GSP (Generalized Second Price) and (2) VCG (Vickrey-Clarke-Groves). We then show an important revenue equivalence result that the expected revenue earned by the search engine is the same for all the three mechanisms provided the advertisers are symmetric and the number of sponsored slots is strictly less than the number of advertisers.
Increasing Adaptivity through Evolution Strategies

The automated generation of controllers for real-world autonomous agents by means of evolutionary methods has recently attracted a lot of attention. Most of the pertinent research has employed genetic algorithms or variations thereof. We have applied a diierent evolutionary method to the generation of a control architecture for Braitenberg vehicles, namely \evolution-ary strategies". The application of the ES accelerates the development of such controllers by more than one order of magnitude (a few hours compared to more than two days). This result is very important, since the development process is to be done in real systems. In addition to the dramatic speedup, there is an important theoretical reason for preferring evolutionary strategy over genetic algorithms, namely epistatic interaction.
Adaptive control based on adjustable evaluation function

Every control design involves manipulating a controller so that a controlled plant behaves as desired. Various methodologies for manipulating the controller for certain well-defined classes of control problems have been well developed and proven. Despite great efforts, similar techniques are not available for more general classes of control problems involving nonlinear systems. Incorporating adaptive methods for manipulating the controller has been a widely used alternative. In many adaptive control system designs, the control objective is defined as to minimize the plant output error (i.e., the error between a goal and an actual plant state), assuming that smaller plant output errors imply better instantaneous control performances or immediate rewards. However, in many control problems, executing the actions that are predicted to result in smaller plant output errors only can mislead to non-goal states. This is because smaller plant output errors do not always imply better instantaneous control performances, i.e., the plant output error is not always an evaluative information. In Reinforcement Learning (RL), the evaluative information about action performances is assumed not readily available. In contrast with a customary in adaptive control designs where the actions are rewarded based on the control performance measure defined a priori by an engineer, RL views that the actions must be rewarded by the environment, not by the engineer. RL rewards the actions based on a value function, i.e, a function that represents ”goodness” of a state or a state-action. The value function is learned only from the long-term consequences of executing actions (i.e., being given a reward or a penalty) in every iteration, and then used to decide control actions. A precise value function simply recommends to take an action that can lead to
From Rights to Activation: The Evolution of the Idea of Basic Income in the Finnish Political Debate, 1980–2016

Abstract The article contributes to the growing body of research on the politics of basic income by analysing the framing of the idea in the context of Finland, a country with a long history of debate and one of the forerunners in experimenting with this policy. Using a comprehensive dataset of political documents covering 36 years, the study shows how contextual factors and shifts in political climate shaped the framing of the idea. It also shows that the key frames describing basic income were widely shared among the politicians and parties discussing the policy. The study enriches our understanding of the politics of basic income by adding an ideational perspective that has for long been a missing element in this field of research.
ECHINOCOCCUS INFECTIONS IN MAN AND ANIMALS IN KENYA.

More than 30 per cent. of the cattle, sheep and goats slaughtered in the central abattoir of the Kenya Meat Commission have hydatid cysts in either the liver or the lungs; the rate is even higher in animals slaughtered in the rural abattoirs (Ginsberg, 1958; Froyd, 1960). In spite, however, of the wide distribution in livestock, hydatids are rarely seen in man, except in the northern desert region of Turkana where the disease is particularly prevalent (Wray, 1958). Both Ginsberg and Wray suggested that this limited distribution might be explained if the main hosts of the parasite were hyaenas and jackals, not dogs. This hypothesis was supported by the absence of previous records of Echinococcus in dogs in East Africa. In the present study on hydatid disease in Kenya, special emphasis was given to an assessment of the role of wild animals as reservoirs of the parasite. More than 100 carnivores were examined for the adult worms and nearly 2,000 miscellaneous animals were examined for the larval stages. Several wild animals were found to be lightly infected, but the main cycle of transmission was between dogs and domestic livestock. A few minor morphological differences were seen in the Kenya material, but it was concluded that the species in dogs and wild carnivores was Echinococcus granulosus.