Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wavelength dependence of angular diameters of M giants: an observational perspective

ABSTRACTWe discuss the wavelength dependence of angular diameters of M giants from an observationalperspective. Observers cannot directly measure an optical-depth radius for a star, despite thisbeing a common theoretical deﬁnition. Instead, they can use an interferometer to measure thesquare of the fringe visibility. We present new plots of the wavelength-dependent centre-to-limb variation (CLV) of intensity of the stellar disk as well as visibility for Mira and non-MiraM giant models. We use the terms “CLV spectra” and “visibilit y spectra” for these plots. Wediscuss a model-predicted extreme limb-darkening effect (also called the narrow-bright-coreeffect) in very strong TiO bands which can lead to a misinterpretation of the size of a star inthese bands. We ﬁnd no evidence as yet that this effect occurs in real stars. Our CLV spectracan explain the similarity in visibilities of R Dor (M8IIIe) that have been observed recentlydespite the use of two different passbands. We compare several observations with models andﬁnd the models generally under-estimate the observed variation in visibility with wavelength.We present CLV and visibility spectra for a model that is applicable to the M supergiant α Ori.Key words: techniques:interferometric,stars: fundamentalparameters, stars: variables: Miras,stars: individual: R Dor, α Ori1 INTRODUCTIONThe radius of a star is considered to be one of its fundamen-tal properties. Stellar radii may be determined from interfer-ometric observations of stellar angular diameters, but starsdo not necessarily appear to us as sharp-edged disks of uni-formbrightness and size. Rather, two effects may be present:limb-darkeningwhich tapers the surface brightness down to-wards the star’s edge and line absorption which changes thestar’s apparent size. Both effects depend on the wavelengthof the observation and are particularly signiﬁcant in M gi-ants.To determine the radii of M giants from interferomet-ric data, observers have relied upon comparisons with mod-els of the centre-to-limb variation (CLV) of the intensity ofthe stellar disk. The simplest CLV, a uniform disk, is oftenused for this. Alternatively we can use CLVs derived fromappropriate model photospheres of late M giants, since thisprocedure can lead to improvements in these models and agreater understandingof these stars. The model-photosphereCLVs are deﬁned for a particular ﬁlter or spectral passband
Some observations on answers to courtroom questions

This article is the third in a sequel of papers that investigate African Languages in Forensic Linguistics. The primary concern here is the linguistic involvement of the courtroom discourse participant who should provide almost all the answers in a criminal trial. He is usually male, less eloquent, less legally equipped, less powerful and, thus, less confident in his participation in the trial. Most of the time, this participant is Black, uneducated and poor, and can, thus, neither conduct his legal defense satisfactorily, nor can he afford a lawyer to defend him. He is normally overwhelmed by the intimidating judicial setting. This article describes how these factors affect the answers he provides to the court and then ends by assessing the content of the ultimate evidence as produced by this participant.
Integration of TNF induced apoptosis model and quantitative proteomics data of HeLa cells - our first experience

The TNF initiated processes are simulated using our integrative computational model with new quantitative proteomics data obtained on HeLa cell line. In spite of fact, that the model development is based on limited experimental information, with missing data estimated by simulations and parametrization using indirect experiments on different cell lines, the actual model with HeLa experimental data provides pleasant agreement between the computationally predicted behavior and experiments. Since no significant departures from experimentally determined functionality of HeLa cells has been observed, this can be taken as encouraging sign, that substantial features of the cell line behavior are reproduced correctly and indicate new possibilities for cell-line specific computational experiments.
Reconstruction of Wavelet Coefficients Using Total Variation Minimization

We propose a model to reconstruct wavelet coefficients using a total variation minimization algorithm. The approach is motivated by wavelet signal denoising methods, where thresholding small wavelet coefficients leads to pseudo-Gibbs artifacts. By replacing these thresholded coefficients by values minimizing the total variation, our method performs a nearly artifact-free signal denoising. In this paper, we detail the algorithm based on a subgradient descent combining a projection on a linear space. The convergence of the algorithm is established and numerical experiments are reported.
Enabling Managers to Achieve Work-Family Balance: A Demands-Control Model of Housework Behavior and Family Satisfaction

The interplay between work and family has received a great deal of attention in the last two decades. We know very little, however, about the organizational factors that enable managers achieve a good balance between their work and family lives. Following Karasek (1979) demands-control model, we hypothesized that managerial workload will interact with time flexibility and task autonomy to predict the division of household labor, which in turn will influence family satisfaction. A sample of 103 managers reported their workload and their spouses reported the division of housework activities and their level of satisfaction with family life.
Getting By in Postsocialist Romania: Labor, the Body, and Working-Class Culture

1. Getting By in Postsocialism: Labor, Bodies, Voices 2. How Workers Became "Others": Talking Alienation 3. Postsocialist Labor Pains: Fear, Distance, and Narrative in the Workplace 4. The Postsocialist Body Politic 5. Houses of Stone or of Straw? Postsocialist Worker Communities 6. Strangers in their Own Skin: Workers and Gender in Postsocialism 7. The Embodied Enemy: Stress, Health, and Agency 8. What Is to Be Done?
Mandatory reporting of suspected child maltreatment in New Zealand Early Childhood Centres

IX Chapter One: Introduction 1 Ethnic Breakdown in Abuse Statistics 5 Definition of Terms 6 Child Maltreatment/Abuse 6 Definition of Mandatory Reporting 7 Early Childhood Centres 8 Research Hypothesis 9 Literature Review 10 Methodology 11 Research Findings 12 Discussion 12 Chapter Two: Literature Review 15 Child Maltreatment/ Abuse 17 Mandatory Reporting 20 Brain Development 34
Squashed entanglement and the two-way assisted capacities of a quantum channel

We define the squashed entanglement of a quantum channel as the maximum squashed entanglement that can be registered by a sender and receiver at the input and output of a quantum channel, respectively. A new subadditivity inequality for the original squashed entanglement measure of Christandl and Winter leads to the conclusion that the squashed entanglement of a quantum channel is an additive function of a tensor product of any two quantum channels. More importantly, this new subadditivity inequality, along with prior results of Christandl, Winter, et al., establishes the squashed entanglement of a quantum channel as an upper bound on the quantum communication capacity of any channel assisted by unlimited forward and backward classical communication. A similar proof establishes this quantity as an upper bound on the private capacity of a quantum channel assisted by unlimited forward and backward public classical communication. This latter result is relevant as a limitation on rates achievable in quantum key distribution. As an important application, we determine that these capacities can never exceed log((1 + η)=(1 - η)) for a pure-loss bosonic channel for which a fraction η of the input photons make it to the output on average. The best known lower bound on these capacities is equal to log(1=(1 - η)). Thus, in the high-loss regime for which η ≪ 1, this new upper bound demonstrates that the protocols corresponding to the above lower bound are nearly optimal.
HLA-DPB1 Variant Effect on Hepatitis B Virus Clearance and Liver Cirrhosis Development Among Southwest Chinese Population

Background: Previous studies have shown that genetic variants in HLA-DP genes affect disease progression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate possible association between HLA-DPB1 rs9277534 polymorphism and different clinical complications of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Materials and Methods: Snapshot assay was used to investigate the association of rs9277534 polymorphism in 342 patients with persistent HBV infection and 342 age and gender-matched HBV spontaneous clearance controls. Patients were categorized into asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC, n = 104), chronic hepatitis B (CHB, n = 116), and liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 122) subgroups. Results: There was a significantly higher proportion of the rs9277534 minor allele A in HBV spontaneous clearance control than that in HBV persistent infection group (OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.46-0.73, P < 0.0001). Genotypic analysis showed that GA and AA genotypes were associated with HBV spontaneous clearance (GA: OR = 0.56, 95%CI = 0.40-0.79, P = 0.019; AA: OR = 0.24, 95%CI = 0.14-0.44, P < 0.0001). A significant difference was found between AsC and LC groups in the distribution of AA genotype (OR = 9.32, 95%CI = 1.293-67.14, P = 0.027). Conclusions: Variant at rs9277534 could affect both the spontaneous clearance of HBV infection and progression from asymptomatic HBV carriers to HBV-related liver cirrhosis in Southwest Han Chinese population.
Adjustment to a low-control situation: Reexamining the role of coping responses

The aim of the study was to test a revised conceptualization of the role of coping in adjustment to a low-control stressor-women's adjustment to a failed in vitro fertilization (NF) attempt. Data were collected prior to the IVF treatment (Time I) and twice after the failed NF attempt (1 to 2 weeks after finding out the results, n = 171, and fi weeks later, n = 139). Initial adjustment was assessed at Time I, whereas measures of coping and both self-report and partner ratings of adjustment were obtained at Times ? and 3. As predicted, escapist strategies and problem-management strategies (mainly at Time ? ) were associated with poor adjustment, whereas problem-appraisal coping was associated with better adjustment. , There was also support for the proposed positive relationship between adjustment and emotional approach coping (on self-report adjustment).
Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: An Observational Study in a Workers' Compensation Population

Study Design. Prospective cohort study. Objective. We estimated the cost-effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) among workers' compensation recipients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Summary of Background Data. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence suggests that SCS is more effective at 6 months than medical management for patients with FBSS. However, procedure costs are high and workers' compensation claimants often have worse outcomes than other patients. Methods. We enrolled 158 FBSS patients receiving workers' compensation into three treatment groups: trial SCS with or without permanent device implant (n = 51), pain clinic (PC) evaluation with or without treatment (n = 39), and usual care (UC; n = 68). The primary outcome was a composite measure of pain, disability and opioid medication use. As reported previously, 5% of SCS patients, 3% of PC patients and 10% of UC patients achieved the primary outcome at 24 months. Using cost data from administrative databases, we calculated the cost-effectiveness of SCS, adjusting for baseline covariates. Results. Mean medical cost per SCS patient over 24 months was $52,091. This was $17,291 (95% confidence intervals [CI], $4100–30,490) higher than in the PC group and $28,128 ($17,620–38,630) higher than in the UC group. Adjusting for baseline covariates, the mean total medical and productivity loss costs per patient of the SCS group were $20,074 ($3840–35,990) higher than those of the PC group and $29,358 ($16,070–43,790) higher than those of the UC group. SCS was very unlikely (<5% probability) to be the most cost-effective intervention. Conclusion. In this sample of workers' compensation recipients, the high procedure cost of SCS was not counterbalanced by lower costs of subsequent care, and SCS was not cost-effective. The benefits and potential cost savings reported in RCTs may not be replicated in workers' compensation patients treated in community settings.
Effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on transcript levels of IGF‐I, actin, and albumin in hepatocyte primary cultures treated with growth hormone and insulin

The stability of several RNA transcripts in cultured hepatocytes is known to increase when serum is omitted from the culture medium. In order to investigate possible mechanisms for this phenomenon, we examined the effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on the levels of actin, albumin, and insulin‐like growth factor I transcripts in primary cultures incubated in serumfree medium. The levels of IGF‐I and albumin transcripts per culture increased for the first 4 hours following addition of actinomycin D and then declined. The levels of actin transcripts and total RNA per culture declined immediately following actinomycin D addition in a manner consistent with exponential decay. IGF‐I and albumin transcript levels were relatively unaffected by cycloheximide, while actin transcript levels increased 7‐fold over 7 hours. The half‐lives of actin transcripts and total RNA were calculated to be 4.6 to 7.7 hours and 11 to 19 hours, respectively, with no statistically significant correlation with hormone treatment. The data suggest that the stability of albumin and IGF‐I transcripts, but not actin transcripts, is controlled in part by an actinomycin D‐sensitive process.
Calibration of the RT3 accelerometer for ambulation and nonambulation in children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to provide RT3 accelerometer thresholds to distinguish nonambulation from ambulation, as well as distinguish between low, moderate, and vigorous intensity ambulation in Chinese children. METHODS Thirty-five 8- to 12-yr-olds completed a laboratory-based experiment to calibrate the RT3 device across a range of intensities. Oxygen uptake during sedentary tasks and ambulation was aligned, with corresponding RT3 output, to one of four intensity categories (sedentary, < 2 METs; low, > or = 2 but < 3 METs; moderate, > or = 3 but < 6; and vigorous, > or = 6). Threshold values were derived using receiver operator curves to distinguish the sedentary from low intensity, low from moderate intensity, and moderate from vigorous intensity. These were confirmed in an independent sample of 46 similarly aged children. RESULTS RT3 movement counts increased in a linear manner with scaled oxygen uptake from stationary to vigorous movement (r(2) = 0.83). The ROC-derived thresholds showed a good ability to discriminate between nonambulatory and ambulatory tasks, as well as distinguish between low, moderate, and vigorous ambulation (sensitivity values of 87-100% and specificity values of 97-100%). ROC analyses in the independent sample showed sensitivity and specificity values ranging from 72 to 98%, indicating that the thresholds provided an accurate distinction between the four intensity categories. A Cohen's kappa of kappa = 0.92 confirmed that the lower threshold had near-perfect agreement with the independent sample, whereas the moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity thresholds showed good agreement with the independent sample (kappa = 0.63 and 0.65, respectively). CONCLUSION The RT3 accelerometer provides an acceptable marker of both sedentary and ambulatory behavior in Chinese children.
Mechanism for Further Enhancement in Drug Dissolution from Solid-Dispersion Granules upon Storage

The present study was performed to investigate the further increase in drug dissolution on storage of ternary solid-dispersion granules containing poorly water-soluble drugs. Ternary solid-dispersion granules of the drug, a dispersion carrier, and a surface adsorbent were prepared using hot-melt granulation. Two proton-donating drugs, BAY 12-9566, naproxen, and a nonproton-donating drug, progesterone, were studied. Gelucire 50/13 and polyethylene glycol 8000 were evaluated as solid-dispersion carriers with low melting point. Neusilin US2 (magnesium aluminosilicate), a proton acceptor, was used as the surface adsorbent. The proposed mechanism for further increase in drug dissolution (BAY 12-9566 and naproxen) on storage at 40°C/75% RH (relative humidity) is based on hydrogen bonding between the proton-donating drugs and the surface adsorbent, Neusilin US2 (proton acceptor). We propose that there is enough mobility in the solid-dispersion granules at elevated temperatures of storage to allow an increase in the ratio of the hydrogen bonded drug to the crystalline drug. These changes are mediated through the saturated solid solution state, and manifest themselves as increased drug dissolution upon storage. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies are indicative of an increase in the amount of drugs (BAY 12-9566 and naproxen) hydrogen bonded to Neusilin on storage. A corresponding decrease in the crystallinity of these drugs was measured using x-ray powder diffractometry. Granules containing progesterone (a nonproton-donating drug) do not show an increase in the amount of drug hydrogen-bonded to Neusilin upon storage. In contrast to the proton-donating drugs, decreased drug dissolution was found on storage of progesterone-containing granules.
Transplanted Perivascular Adipose Tissue Accelerates Injury-Induced Neointimal Hyperplasia: Role of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1

Objective— Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) expands during obesity, is highly inflamed, and correlates with coronary plaque burden and increased cardiovascular risk. We tested the hypothesis that PVAT contributes to the vascular response to wire injury and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Approach and Results— We transplanted thoracic aortic PVAT from donor mice fed a high-fat diet to the carotid arteries of recipient high-fat diet–fed low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice. Two weeks after transplantation, wire injury was performed, and animals were euthanized 2 weeks later. Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify adventitial macrophage infiltration and neovascularization and neointimal lesion composition and size. Transplanted PVAT accelerated neointimal hyperplasia, adventitial macrophage infiltration, and adventitial angiogenesis. The majority of neointimal cells in PVAT-transplanted animals expressed &agr;-smooth muscle actin, consistent with smooth muscle phenotype. Deletion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in PVAT substantially attenuated the effects of fat transplantation on neointimal hyperplasia and adventitial angiogenesis, but not adventitial macrophage infiltration. Conditioned medium from perivascular adipocytes induced potent monocyte chemotaxis in vitro and angiogenic responses in cultured endothelial cells. Conclusions— These findings indicate that PVAT contributes to the vascular response to wire injury, in part through monocyte chemoattractant protein-1–dependent mechanisms.
Securing password recovery through dispersion

Passwords form the Achilles heel of most uses of modern cryptography. Key recovery is necessary to provide continuous access to documents and other electronic assets in spite of possible loss of a password. Key escrow services provide key recovery for the owner, but need to be trusted. Additionally, a user might want to divulge passwords in case of his/her death or incapacitation, but not before. We present here a scheme that uses dispersion to provide trusted escrow services. Our scheme uses secret sharing to disperse password recovery information over several escrow services that authenticate based on a weak password. To protect against dictionary attacks, each authentication attempt takes a noticeable, but tolerable time (e.g. minutes). We achieve this by having the share of the secret be the solution of a puzzle that is solved by brute force in time depending on the number of processors employed. This additionally prevents escrow agencies from optimizing their part in recovering a password by pre-computing and storing their share in a more accessible and hence vulnerable format.
Analysis of the chronic wound microbiota of 2,963 patients by 16S rDNA pyrosequencing

The extent to which microorganisms impair wound healing is an ongoing controversy in the management of chronic wounds. Because the high diversity and extreme variability of the microbiota between individual chronic wounds lead to inconsistent findings in small cohort studies, evaluation of a large number of chronic wounds using identical sequencing and bioinformatics methods is necessary for clinicians to be able to select appropriate empiric therapies. In this study, we utilized 16S rDNA pyrosequencing to analyze the composition of the bacterial communities present in samples obtained from patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers (N = 910), venous leg ulcers (N = 916), decubitus ulcers (N = 767), and nonhealing surgical wounds (N = 370). The wound samples contained a high proportion of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas species in 63 and 25% of all wounds, respectively; however, a high prevalence of anaerobic bacteria and bacteria traditionally considered commensalistic was also observed. Our results suggest that neither patient demographics nor wound type influenced the bacterial composition of the chronic wound microbiome. Collectively, these findings indicate that empiric antibiotic selection need not be based on nor altered for wound type. Furthermore, the results provide a much clearer understanding of chronic wound microbiota in general; clinical application of this new knowledge over time may help in its translation to improved wound healing outcomes.
Synergistic effects of iron and temperature on Antarctic phytoplankton and microzooplankton assemblages

Abstract. Iron availability and temperature are important limiting factors for the biota in many areas of the world ocean, and both have been predicted to change in future climate scenarios. However, the impacts of combined changes in these two key factors on microbial trophic dynamics and nutrient cycling are unknown. We examined the relative effects of iron addition (+1 nM) and increased temperature (+4°C) on plankton assemblages of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, a region characterized by annual algal blooms and an active microbial community. Increased iron and temperature individually had consistently significant but relatively minor positive effects on total phytoplankton abundance, phytoplankton and microzooplankton community composition, as well as photosynthetic parameters and nutrient drawdown. Unexpectedly, increased iron had a consistently negative impact on microzooplankton abundance, most likely a secondary response to changes in phytoplankton community composition. When iron and temperature were increased in concert, the resulting interactive effects were greatly magnified. This synergy between iron and temperature increases would not have been predictable by examining the effects of each variable individually. Our results suggest the possibility that if iron availability increases under future climate regimes, the impacts of predicted temperature increases on plankton assemblages in polar regions could be significantly enhanced. Such synergistic and antagonistic interactions between individual climate change variables highlight the importance of multivariate studies for marine global change experiments.