Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The optical-to-radio spectral energy distributions of low-metallicity blue compact dwarf galaxies

We present global spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 0.3 µm to 90 cm for a sample of seven low-metallicity blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs). In addition to data compiled from the literature, we report new SCUBA data for the galaxies in the sample, including the two most metal-poor star-forming galaxies known, I Zw 18 and SBS 0335−052. The standard starburst templates, M 82 and Arp 220, do not give a good approximation to any of the BCD SEDs in our sample. Several SEDs are instead characterized by: (i) approximately flat radio spectra suggesting dominant thermal processes; (ii) far- infrared (FIR) spectra which peak at or shortward of 60 µm; (iii) a significant warm dust component and absence of Aromatic Features in Emission (or PAHs) in the mid-infrared (MIR). The SEDs of low-metallicity BCDs do not follow "canonical" scaling relations, and the "standard" star-formation indicators based on radio continuum, FIR, and MIR luminosities can be discrepant by factors of >10. We present new models of the dust SEDs from 5 µm to 1 cm, and derive infrared luminosities, dust distributions, temperatures, and masses. The observed SEDs and dust models are interpreted in terms of the active/passive regimes of star formation and trends with metallicity. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results on the z > 6s tarburst populations which will be detected by forthcoming submm and radio facilities.
Analysis of EMG and Acceleration Signals for Quantifying the Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective in reducing motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, objective methods for quantifying its efficacy are lacking. We present a principal component (PC)-based tracking method for quantifying the effects of DBS in PD by using electromyography (EMG) and acceleration measurements. Ten parameters capturing PD characteristic signal features were initially extracted from isometric EMG and acceleration recordings. Using a PC approach, the original parameters were transformed into a smaller number of PCs. Finally, the effects of DBS were quantified by examining the PCs in a low-dimensional feature space. The EMG and acceleration data from 13 PD patients with DBS ON and OFF, and 13 healthy age-matched controls were used for analysis. Clinical evaluation of patients showed that their motor symptoms were effectively reduced with DBS. The analysis results showed that the signal characteristics of 12 patients were more similar to those of the healthy controls with DBS ON than with DBS OFF. These observations indicate that the PC-based tracking method can be used to objectively quantify the effects of DBS on the neuromuscular function of PD patients. Further studies are suggested to estimate the clinical sensitivity of the method to different types of PD.
Tracing the Sgr Stream with 2MASS - Detection of Stream stars around Outer Halo globular clusters

We use infrared Color Magnitude Diagrams from the 2-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) to search for stars belonging to the tidal stream of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy (Sgr dSph) around selected Galactic globular clusters. Statistically significant detections are presented for the cases of Pal 12 and NGC 4147, strongly supporting the idea that these clusters are associated with the Sgr Stream and that they were previous members of the Sgr dSph galaxy.
The (in)security of gender in Afghanistan’s peacebuilding project: hybridity and affect

ABSTRACT In this article I draw on a feminist approach to hybridity to explore interview data and observations from my field research in Afghanistan. I argue that there is a logic of masculinist protection influencing the affective environment of the peacebuilding project there. The combination of a perceived patriarchal context in Afghanistan and security routines protecting civilian internationals (and Afghan elites), which rely on hypermasculine signifiers, help to create and perpetuate the conditions in which the female (for both internationals and Afghans) is marked with insecurity. I point to hybridity between the foreign and female experience, as well as resistance and reflexivity within my research. Throughout I explore fragments of power hierarchies that cut through the meaning of gender, rendering the female state a disempowering one, always referenced in some uncertain, hybrid way as protected or in need of protection.
The transport of cosmic rays in self‐excited magnetic turbulence

The process of diffusive shock acceleration relies on the efficacy with which hydromagnetic waves can scatter charged particles in the precursor of a shock. The growth of self-generated waves is driven by both resonant and non-resonant processes. We perform high-resolution magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the non-resonant cosmic ray driven instability, in which the unstable waves are excited beyond the linear regime. In a snapshot of the resultant field, particle transport simulations are carried out. The use of a static snapshot of the field is reasonable given that the Larmor period for particles is typically very short relative to the instability growth time. The diffusion rate is found to be close to, or below, the Bohm limit for a range of energies. This provides the first explicit demonstration that self-excited turbulence reduces the diffusion coefficient and has important implications for cosmic-ray transport and acceleration in supernova remnants.
Generating Real-Time Profiles of Runtime Energy Consumption for Java Applications

Energy consumption of computer-based systems is a growing concern, especially for large scaled distributed systems that operate in data centers and server farms. Currently, there exist many hardware implementations that holistically measure the consumption of energy for hardware and software systems. These approaches are limited as they measure the current power consumption of the overarching system an approach that does not necessarily assist in making the underlying software more power-aware while under operation. This paper introduces the algorithm and process of calculating the energy consumption of Java applications at runtime. This approach is evaluated using a new energy profiler tool that is designed to integrate with a Java application leveraging the underlying physical architecture of the hardware. By incorporating the awareness of energy consumption within the software application, then that application can dynamically choose the most energy-efficient processing paths within its operations.
The Phase-Space Density Profiles of Cold Dark Matter Halos

We examine the coarse-grained phase-space density profiles of a set of recent, high-resolution simulations of galaxy-sized cold dark matter (CDM) halos. Over two and a half decades in radius the phase-space density closely follows a power law, ρ/σ3 ∝ r-α, with α ≈ 1.875. This behavior closely matches the self-similar solution obtained by Bertschinger for secondary infall of gas onto a point-mass perturber in a uniformly expanding universe. On the other hand, the density profile corresponding to Bertschinger's solution (a power law of slope r2α-6) differs significantly from the density profiles of CDM halos. CDM halo density profiles are clearly not power laws, and they have logarithmic slopes that steepen gradually with radius, roughly as described by Navarro, Frenk, & White (NFW). We show that isotropic, spherically symmetric equilibrium mass distributions with power-law phase-space density profiles form a one-parameter family of structures controlled by the ratio of the local velocity dispersion to the "natural" velocity dispersion at some fiducial radius r0; κ = 4πGρ(r0)r20/σ2(r0). For κ = α = 1.875, one recovers the power-law solution ρ ∝ r2α-6. As κ increases, the density profiles become quite complex but still diverge as r2α-6 near the center. For κ larger than some critical value κcrit(α), solutions become nonphysical, leading to negative densities near the center. The critical solution, κ = κcrit, corresponds to the case where the phase-space density distribution is the narrowest compatible with the power-law phase-space density stratification constraint. Over three decades in radius, the critical solution follows closely an NFW profile, although its logarithmic slope asymptotically approaches -2α/5 = -0.75 (rather than -1) at very small radii. Our results thus suggest that the NFW profile is the result of a hierarchical assembly process that preserves the phase-space stratification of Bertschinger's spherical infall model but "mixes" the system maximally, perhaps as a result of repeated merging, leading to a relatively uniform phase-space density distribution across the system. This finding offers intriguing clues as to the origin of the similarity in the structure of dark matter halos formed in hierarchically clustering universes.
The Web of War : A Network Analysis of the Spread of Civil Wars in Africa *

War is typically studied by treating states as independent data points, focusing on particular characteristics and risk factors of individual states as causes of conflict. This situation is ironic, because it is the interactions among states in the international system that forms the entire unpinning of international relations theory. The world’s states and the relationships between them would therefore be better modeled as a network. Network analysis (graph theory), which has been extensively developed and tested in the natural sciences (e.g. ecological networks and food webs), can be used to examine the structure and behavior of the international system as a whole, allowing the quantification and analysis of: (1) how individual state behavior affects and is affected by the state system; (2) the role of indirect interactions (via linked neighbors), which are otherwise hard to study; and (3) the influence of “key player” states in the network (i.e. if and how certain states exert a disproportionate influence on the state system). Network analysis lends itself particularly well to the question of whether transnational factors are causes of civil war in neighboring states. Using data on civil wars in Africa from 1946-2002, we find that civil wars are positively (though weakly) related to states with greater topological importance in the network, even when controlling for other established causes of war. 1 Department of Politics, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LL, UK dominic@post.harvard. edu 2 Collegium Budapest, Institute for Advanced Study, Szentharomsag u. 2, H-1014, Budapest, Hungary, jordan.ferenc@gmail.com *Paper prepared for delivery at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, 28 August—2 September, 2007. Please do not cite without permission of the authors.
For Personal Use. Only Reproduce with Permission from Elsevier Ltd Homocysteine and Stroke: Evidence on a Causal Link from Mendelian Randomisation

Introduction Stroke is the third most common cause of death in more developed countries. 1 About 80% of strokes are thromboembolic (ischaemic) in origin and the remainder are haemorrhagic. 1–3 In the UK, stroke is the largest single cause of severe disability with more than 125 000 incident strokes and about 60 000 deaths due to stroke each year. 2 Because treatments for stroke are limited, the best approach to reduce mortality and morbidity is primary prevention through modification of acquired risk factors (eg, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation). 3 Data from cohort and case-control studies suggest that a raised circulating concentration of homocysteine is associated with a higher risk of stroke. 4–6 However, homocysteine concentration is also related to smoking status, blood pressure, and social class and is higher in people with existing atherosclerosis than in those without. A common functional polymorphism, C677T, in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), an enzyme involved in homocysteine metabolism, has been associated with differences in homocysteine concentration. 4,9,10 Since carriage of this variant is subject to the random assortment of maternal and paternal alleles at the time of gamete formation, according to Mendel's second law 11 associations between MTHFR genotype and homocysteine concentration or stroke should not be subject to reverse-causality bias and should also be largely free from confounding by other determinants of homocysteine concentration or risk factors for stroke. 9 Moreover, genotype is a fixed characteristic, so there is unlikely to be regression-dilution bias, which results from measurement error and biological variability of the exposure under assessment and leads to underestimation of the association between a risk factor and disease. 12,13 Therefore, if homocysteine increases the risk of stroke, carriage of the MTHFR polymorphism that exposes individuals to an increased homocysteine concentration should confer an increased risk of stroke proportional to the difference in homocysteine concentration attributable to variant and to the relative risk observed in non-genetic observational studies. The investigation of consistency between risk estimates obtained from genotype–disease studies and those from phenotype–disease studies, to provide insight into the nature of the observed associations, has been referred to as " mendelian randomisation ". 12,13 This approach has been used to test the nature of the association between homocysteine concentration and coronary heart disease, venous thromboembolism, and stroke. Summary Background Individuals homozygous for the T allele of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism have higher plasma homocysteine concentrations (the …
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Cc by Review on Papr Reduction in Ofdm Based System

In recent time, the demand for multimedia data services has grown up rapidly. One of the most promising multi-carrier system, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) forms basis for all 4G wireless communication systems due to its large capacity to allow the number of subcarriers, high data rate and ubiquitous coverage with high mobility. OFDM is significantly affected by peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR). Unfortunately, the high PAPR inherent to OFDM signal envelopes will occasionally drive high power amplifiers (HPAs) to operate in the nonlinear region of their characteristic curve. The nonlinearity of the HPA exhibits amplitude and phase distortions, which cause loss of orthogonality among the subcarriers, and hence, inter-carrier interference (ICI) is introduced in the transmitted signal. Not only that, high PAPR also leads to in-band distortion and out-of-band radiation. Different techniques are used to reduce the Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) to increase the efficiency of the OFDM system. In this paper some of these important techniques are reviewed.
When intersectionality met childhood studies: the dilemmas of a travelling concept

Childhood studies/geographies have a longstanding interest in questions around multiple social inequalities and identities in diverse socio-spatial contexts, but have not yet seriously considered the politics of intersectionality. Importing intersectionality into childhood studies is neither a straightforward nor an unproblematic process. We suggest that the question that childhood studies/geographies scholars must confront is how intersectionality can be used in this interdisciplinary field in ways which recognise and take seriously the intellectual history and labour of Black women and preserve the integrity of intersectionality’s radical praxis of emancipatory knowledge production and collective action for social justice. This article examines how intersectionality and its emancipatory politics might be preserved, strengthened and enhanced when it is operationalised in a context of childhood studies/geographies.
Collaborative Augmented Reality in Education: A Review

Globalization and innovation in technology have led to the extensive use of the latest technology in almost every sector, and education is no exception. Different technologies have been employed in various disciplines within the educational sector. Studies have shown that technology can enhance teaching and learning experiences. Augmented Reality (AR) is a new technology with vast potentials and great pedagogical value that offers new methods for education. AR enables the overlaying of computer-generated virtual information into the real environment in real time. Thus, researchers believed that the AR has provided new opportunities for designing engaging learning environments. Although the AR may improve educational outcomes, the main factor is to understand the process of designing the AR to support learning activities. Thus, various instructional strategies such as collaborative learning, were considered when designing an AR learning environment. Collaborative learning permits students to engage with other students and the educational content at the same time, resulting in a deeper understanding and higher motivation. Because educational research concerning collaborative AR is still in its infancy, this paper intends to review the literatures concerning collaborative AR, its previous usages and its potential in educational context.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 is a Prognostic Marker in ANCA-Associated Small Vessel Vasculitis

Background. The (anti neutrophil cytoplasmatic autoantibody ANCA), associated small vessel vasculitides (ASVV) are relapsing-remitting inflammatory disorders, involving various organs, such as the kidneys. (Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 MCP-1) has been shown to be locally up regulated in glomerulonephritis and recent studies have pointed out MCP-1 as a promising marker of renal inflammation. Here we measure urinary cytokine levels in different phases of disease, exploring the possible prognostic value of MCP-1, together with (interleukin 6 IL-6), (interleukin 8 IL-8) and (immunoglobulin M IgM). Methods. MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured using commercially available ELISA kits, whereas IgM in the urine was measured by an in-house ELISA. Results. The MCP-1 levels in urine were significantly higher in patients in stable phase of the disease, compared with healthy controls. Patients in stable phase, with subsequent adverse events; had significantly higher MCP-1 values than patients who did not. MCP-1 and IgM both tended to be higher in patients relapsing within three months, an observation, however, not reaching statistical significance. Urinary levels of IL-6 correlated with relapse tendency, and IL-8 was associated with disease outcome. Conclusions. Patients with ASVV have raised cytokine levels in the urine compared to healthy controls, even during remission. Raised MCP-1 levels are associated with poor prognosis and possibly also with relapse tendency. The association with poor prognosis was stronger for U-MCP-1 than for conventional markers of disease like CRP, BVAS, and ANCA, as well as compared to candidate markers like U-IgM and U-IL-8. We thus consider U-MCP-1 to have promising potential as a prognostic marker in ASVV.
Chemical Characterization and Antitumor Activities of Polysaccharide Extracted from Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) is a biologically active substance reported to possess anti-tumor ability. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of GLP-stimulated apoptosis are still unclear. This study aims to determine the inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of GLP on HCT-116 cells. We found that GLP reduced cell viability on HCT-116 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which in turn, induced cell apoptosis. The observed apoptosis was characterized by morphological changes, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, S phase population increase, and caspase-3 and -9 activation. Furthermore, inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by SP600125 led to a dramatic decrease of the GLP-induced apoptosis. Western blot analysis unveiled that GLP up-regulated the expression of Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). These results demonstrate that apoptosis stimulated by GLP in human colorectal cancer cells is associated with activation of mitochondrial and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.
Functional neuroimaging of anxiety: a meta-analysis of emotional processing in PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia.

OBJECTIVE The study of human anxiety disorders has benefited greatly from functional neuroimaging approaches. Individual studies, however, vary greatly in their findings. The authors searched for common and disorder-specific functional neurobiological deficits in several anxiety disorders. The authors also compared these deficits to the neural systems engaged during anticipatory anxiety in healthy subjects. METHOD Functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, and fear conditioning in healthy individuals were compared by quantitative meta-analysis. Included studies compared negative emotional processing to baseline, neutral, or positive emotion conditions. RESULTS Patients with any of the three disorders consistently showed greater activity than matched comparison subjects in the amygdala and insula, structures linked to negative emotional responses. A similar pattern was observed during fear conditioning in healthy subjects. Hyperactivation in the amygdala and insula were, of interest, more frequently observed in social anxiety disorder and specific phobia than in PTSD. By contrast, only patients with PTSD showed hypoactivation in the dorsal and rostral anterior cingulate cortices and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex-structures linked to the experience and regulation of emotion. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis allowed us to synthesize often disparate findings from individual studies and thereby provide neuroimaging evidence for common brain mechanisms in anxiety disorders and normal fear. Effects unique to PTSD furthermore suggested a mechanism for the emotional dysregulation symptoms in PTSD that extend beyond an exaggerated fear response. Therefore, these findings help refine our understanding of anxiety disorders and their interrelationships.
Robust and Task-Independent Spatial Profile of the Visual Word Form Activation in Fusiform Cortex

Written language represents a special category of visual information. There is strong evidence for the existence of a cortical region in ventral occipitotemporal cortex for processing the visual form of written words. However, due to inconsistent findings obtained with different tasks, the level of specialization and selectivity of this so called visual word form area (VWFA) remains debated. In this study, we examined category selectivity for Chinese characters, a non-alphabetic script, in native Chinese readers. In contrast to traditional approaches of examining response levels in a restricted predefined region of interest (ROI), a detailed distribution of the BOLD signal across the mid-fusiform cortical surface and the spatial patterns of responses to Chinese characters were obtained. Results show that a region tuned for Chinese characters could be consistently found in the lateral part of the left fusiform gyrus in Chinese readers, and this spatial pattern of selectivity for written words was not influenced by top-down tasks such as phonological or semantic modulations. These results provide strong support for the robust spatial coding of category selective response in the mid-fusiform cortex, and demonstrate the utility of the spatial distribution analysis as a more meaningful approach to examine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data.