Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The First XMM-Newton Observations of the Soft Gamma-Ray Repeater SGR 1900+14

A ~50 ks XMM-Newton observation of SGR 1900+14 has been carried out in 2005 September, after almost 3 yr during which no bursts were detected from this soft gamma-ray repeater. The 0.8-10 keV spectrum was well fit by a power law plus blackbody model with photon index Γ = 1.9 ± 0.1, temperature kT = 0.47 ± 0.02 keV, and NH = (2.12 ± 0.08) × 1022 cm-2, similar to previous observations of this source. The flux was ~5 × 10-12 ergs cm-2 s-1, a factor 2 dimmer than the typical value and the smallest ever seen from SGR 1900+14. The long-term fading of the persistent emission has been interrupted by the recent burst reactivation of the source. A Target of Opportunity XMM-Newton observation performed in 2006 April showed a flux ~15% higher. This variation was not accompanied by significant changes in the spectrum, pulsed fraction, and light-curve profile. We searched for emission and absorption lines in the spectra of the two observations, with negative results and setting tight upper limits of 50-200 eV (3 σ), depending on the assumed line energy and width, on the equivalent width of lines in the 1-9 keV range.
Potential sources of contamination to weak lensing measurements: constraints from N-body simulations

We investigate the expected correlation between the weak gravitational shear of distant galaxies and the orientation of foreground galaxies, throu gh the use of numerical simulations. This shear-ellipticity correlation can mimic a cosmological weak lensing signal, and is potentially the limiting physical systematic effect for cosmolo gy with future high-precision weak lensing surveys. We find that, if uncorrected, the shear-ell ipticity correlation could contribute up to 10% of the weak lensing signal on scales up to 20 arcminutes, for lensing surveys with a median depth zm = 1. The most massive foreground galaxies are expected to cause the largest correlations, a result also seen in the Sloan Digital Sky Sur vey. We find that the redshift dependence of the effect is proportional to the lensing efficie ncy of the foreground, and this offers prospects for removal to high precision, although with some model dependence. The contamination is characterised by a weakly negative B-mode, which can be used as a diagnostic of systematic errors. We also provide more accurate predictions for a second potential source of error, the intrinsic alignment of nearby galaxies . This source of contamination is less important, however, as it can be easily removed with distance information.
Gravitational N-Body Simulations

Preface 1. The N-body problem 2. Predictor-corrector methods 3. Neighbour treatments 4. Two-body regularization 5. Multiple regularization 6. Tree codes 7. Program organization 8. Initial setup 9. Decision-making 10. Neighbour schemes 11. Two-body algorithms 12. Chain procedures 13. Accuracy and performance 14. Practical aspects 15. Star clusters 16. Galaxies 17. Planetary systems 18. Small-N experiments Appendix A. Global regularization algorithms Appendix B. Chain algorithms Appendix C. High-order systems Appendix D. Practical algorithms Appendix E. KS procedures with GRAPE Appendix F. Alternative simulation method Appendix G. Table of symbols Appendix H. Hermite integration method References Index.
A General Theory of Temporal Connectivity

Methods to analyse the pair-wise connectivity of data in the temporal domain can provide a rich framework with which to extract transient, dynamic information. This paper presents a theoretical framework for a novel and highly flexible method to this end. By constructing a graph encoding the topology of connectivity, we expound upon a general theory for graph functions which allow for novel temporal probing of the connectivity information, defined as ‘temporal connectivity’. This includes methods to compute a special form of classical network measures at the temporal resolution of the signal. We present appropriate solutions of functions for three pertinent connectivity metricscorrelation, coherence and the phase-lag indexand show the usefulness of this approach in simulations of the Kuramoto model and in detecting spheroids in a noisy 3D grid. We apply our methods to examples of international trade and EEG brain functional connectivity. In the former, we reveal important insights into the effectiveness of integration in global economics. In the latter, we show that our approach combines signal dynamics and functional connectivity in a powerful way, outperforming either method on its own in the detection of functional differences between eyes open and eyes closed resting states. This open up a whole new way to analyse temporal information of networks which is conducive to precisely answering research hypotheses and gathering novel insights based both on the connectivity and transient temporal dynamics of the data.
Evolving ensembles in multi-objective genetic programming for classification with unbalanced data

Machine learning algorithms can suffer a performance bias when data sets are unbalanced. This paper proposes a Multi-objective Genetic Programming approach using negative correlation learning to evolve accurate and diverse ensembles of non-dominated solutions where members vote on class membership. We also compare two popular Pareto-based fitness schemes on the classification tasks. We show that the evolved ensembles achieve high accuracy on both classes using six unbalanced binary data sets, and that this performance is usually better than many of its individual members.
An Improved Neutral α-Glucosidase Assay for Assessment of Epididymal Function—Validation and Comparison to the WHO Method

Neutral α-glucosidase (NAG) activity in human seminal plasma is an important indicator for epididymis functionality. In the present study, the classic World Health Organization (WHO) method has been adapted to enhance assay robustness. Changes include modified enzyme reaction buffer composition and usage of an alternative enzyme inhibitor for background correction (glucose instead of castanospermine). Both methods have been tested in parallel on 144 semen samples, obtained from 94 patients/donors and 50 vasectomized men (negative control), respectively. Passing-Bablok regression analysis demonstrated equal assay performance. In terms of assay validation, analytical specificity, detection limit, measuring range, precision, and cut-off values have been calculated. These data confirm that the adapted method is a reliable, improved tool for NAG analysis in human semen.
The Role of Knowledge Embeddedness in the Process of Creation of Synergies in International Strategic Alliances

This paper develops a conceptual model, based on a structural equation approach, for empirically investigating the role played by relational embeddedness in the process of creation of synergies of knowledge related capabilities in international strategic alliances. The theoretical model identifies an underlying latent construct; knowledge embeddedness and its antecedents: complementarity, compatibility, tacitness, trust, protectiveness, coordination, and cultural distance, which needs to be explicitly recognized and integrated in the theory of creation of synergies in international strategic alliances. While the individual importance of most of these variables has long been recognized in both strategic alliance and social exchange literature, their simultaneous effects have thus far been ignored. Embeddedness is hypothesized to be a full mediator of these effects on creation of synergies. Furthermore, alliance longevity, absorptive capacity, network capacity, and collaborative know-how are proposed to moderate these effects.
Frontal lobe abnormalities on MRS correlate with poor letter fluency in ALS

Objective: To examine whether frontal lobe abnormalities on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) correlate with poor letter fluency (LF). Methods: Twenty-five patients with ALS (20 with definite, probable, or possible ALS and 5 with progressive muscular atrophy) performed an LF task, involving F word generation in 1 minute, and underwent MRS. Comparisons were made between patients with ALS with impaired LF and unimpaired LF based on an empirically derived cutoff score. A Spearman correlation was performed between the patient's N-acetyl acetate/creatinine-phosphocreatinine ratio (NAA/Cr) and the number of F words generated. Results: LF was impaired in 50% of patients with ALS. Patients with impaired LF had reduced NAA/Cr in the DLPFC compared with those with unimpaired LF (p = 0.007). There was a significant correlation between LF and NAA/Cr in the DLPFC (r = 0.51, p = 0.0009). The ALS Functional Rating Scale score, clinical region of motor onset, and disease category had no effect on LF or NAA/Cr in the DLPFC. Conclusions: A reduced NAA/Cr in the DLPFC of patients with ALS is a marker of neuronal dysfunction and correlates with impaired performance on a clinical measure of executive function.
Soft computing techniques for software effort estimation

The effort invested in a software project is probably one of the most important and most analyzed variables in recent years in the process of project management. The limitation of algorithmic effort prediction models is their inability to cope with uncertainties and imprecision surrounding software projects at the early development stage. More recently attention has turned to a variety of machine learning methods, and soft computing in particular to predict software development effort. Soft computing is a consortium of methodologies centering in fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks, and evolutionary computation. It is important, to mention here, that these methodologies are complementary and synergistic, rather than competitive. They provide in one form or another flexible information processing capability for handling real life ambiguous situations. These methodologies are currently used for reliable and accurate estimate of software development effort, which has always been a challenge for both the software industry and academia. The aim of this study is to analyze soft computing techniques in the existing models and to provide in depth review of software and project estimation techniques existing in industry and literature based on the different test datasets along with their strength and weaknesses
Natural Antibody and Complement Mediate Neutralization of Influenza Virus in the Absence of Prior Immunity

ABSTRACT Early control of virus replication by the innate immune response is essential to allow time for the generation of a more effective adaptive immune response. As an important component of innate immunity, complement has been shown to be necessary for protection against numerous microbial infections. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of complement in neutralizing influenza virus. Results demonstrated that the classical pathway of complement mediated serum neutralization of influenza virus. Although nonimmune serum neutralized influenza virus, the mechanism of virus neutralization (VN) required antibody, as sera from RAG1-deficient mice lacked VN activity; moreover, purified natural immunoglobulin M (IgM) restored VN activity to antibody-deficient sera. The mechanism of VN by natural IgM and complement was associated with virion aggregation and coating of the viral hemagglutinin receptor; however, viral lysis did not significantly contribute to VN. Additionally, reconstitution of RAG1-deficient mice with natural IgM resulted in delayed morbidity during influenza virus infection. Collectively, these results provide evidence that natural IgM and the early components of the classical pathway of complement work in concert to neutralize influenza virus and that this interaction may have a significant impact on the course of influenza viral pneumonia.
Development of the brain's structural network efficiency in early adolescence: A longitudinal DTI twin study

The brain is a network and our intelligence depends in part on the efficiency of this network. The network of adolescents differs from that of adults suggesting developmental changes. However, whether the network changes over time at the individual level and, if so, how this relates to intelligence, is unresolved in adolescence. In addition, the influence of genetic factors in the developing network is not known. Therefore, in a longitudinal study of 162 healthy adolescent twins and their siblings (mean age at baseline 9.9 [range 9.0–15.0] years), we mapped local and global structural network efficiency of cerebral fiber pathways (weighted with mean FA and streamline count) and assessed intelligence over a three‐year interval. We find that the efficiency of the brain's structural network is highly heritable (locally up to 74%). FA‐based local and global efficiency increases during early adolescence. Streamline count based local efficiency both increases and decreases, and global efficiency reorganizes to a net decrease. Local FA‐based efficiency was correlated to IQ. Moreover, increases in FA‐based network efficiency (global and local) and decreases in streamline count based local efficiency are related to increases in intellectual functioning. Individual changes in intelligence and local FA‐based efficiency appear to go hand in hand in frontal and temporal areas. More widespread local decreases in streamline count based efficiency (frontal cingulate and occipital) are correlated with increases in intelligence. We conclude that the teenage brain is a network in progress in which individual differences in maturation relate to level of intellectual functioning. Hum Brain Mapp 36:4938–4953, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compensation for environmental change by complementary shifts of thermal sensitivity and thermoregulatory behaviour in an ectotherm

SUMMARY Thermoregulating animals are thought to have evolved a preferred body temperature at which thermally sensitive performance is optimised. Even during thermoregulation, however, many animals experience pronounced variability in body temperature, and may regulate to different body temperatures depending on environmental conditions. Here we test the hypothesis that there is a trade-off between regulating to lower body temperatures in cooler conditions and locomotory and metabolic performance. Animals (estuarine crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus) acclimated to cold (N=8) conditions had significantly lower maximum and mean daily body temperatures after 33 days than warm-acclimated animals (N=9), despite performing characteristic thermoregulatory behaviours. Concomitant with behavioural changes, maximum sustained swimming speed (Ucrit) shifted to the respective mean body temperatures during acclimation (cold=20°C, warm=29°C), but there was no difference in the maxima between acclimation groups. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption changed significantly during acclimation, and maximum respiratory control ratios coincided with mean body temperatures in liver, muscle and heart tissues. There were significant changes in the activities of regulatory metabolic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, cytochrome c oxidase) and these were tissue specific. The extraordinary shift in behaviour and locomotory and metabolic performance shows that within individuals, behaviour and physiology covary to maximise performance in different environments.
Online social media in everyday life in Ireland : A qualitative exploration of media use among Irish 25-30 year-olds during a time of crisis

Online social media such as social network sites, online forums and blogs have emerged as spaces where interpersonal connections, discussion and displays of identity take place, and have been adopted extensively on a global scale. While research into the use of these sites in Ireland to date provides insights into subscription levels and the uses made of individual sites, little is known about the use of these media technologies in everyday life, the relationship between online and offline practices and the conceptualisation and use of these sites by individuals in an Irish context. This research conducts a qualitative examination into the use of online social media technologies among Irish 25 to 30 year olds within the context of the economic, political and social crisis which emerged and persisted since 2008. Drawing on theories of domestication (Silverstone, 1992) and media convergence (Jenkins, 2006) this research explores the incorporation of online social media into everyday life among eleven participants aged 25 to 30. The research highlights the perspectives of these users, utilising a comprehensive qualitative multi-method approach which examines the different sites of use and participants’ online practices. The objective is to gain a holistic understanding of what these sites mean to participants and how they are used within this tumultuous period in Ireland. In addressing the context of economic and political crisis, this research explores the conceptualisation of citizenship by participants and explores how they connect to public life in Ireland. Media are often viewed as the bridge which connects citizen and state. Innovations in online social media are widely said to offer the potential for the democratisation or ‘flattening out’ of hierarchical structures which have dominated state-citizen relationships, often presented as spaces where the citizen can ‘talk back’ to those in power. This research set out to explore whether and how online social media may be creating these spaces for increased participation, examining how they connect to citizenship practices in contemporary Ireland among participants in this study. The analysis demonstrates that while online social media, and the internet in general, have introduced new modes of media consumption, use and audience activity they are assimilated into the broader media consumption patterns for these participants, where there is a convergence of ‘new’ and ‘old’ media technologies.
OF MATHEMATICAL BIOPHYSICS VOLUME 32 , 1970 ON THE MASS DISTRIBUTION MODEL FOR MICROBIAL CELL POPULATIONS 9

The full implications of a stat ist ical model for growth of a microbial cell populat ion using cell mass as the index of physiological s ta te have been examined by solving the part ia l differential integral equations resulting from the model. Calculations reveal t ha t a lag phase is predicted during the initial stages of ba tch growth al though no specific cellular mechanism for the phenomenon of lag had been incorporated into the model. The model predicts severa ! situations of batch and continuous growth in which the populat ion density and biomass concentration show opposing t rends due to significant variat ion in the cell mass distr ibution with time.
Historic Heteroessentialism and Other Orderings in Early America

The aim of this essay is to highlight recent trends in the field of women's and gender history in early North America and to demonstrate why it holds value for feminist academics and activists alike. The essay focuses on two major themes in the field—one very old: the impact of the American Revolution on women's educational, political, and social opportunities; and one very new: the history of sexuality in early America. The books reviewed here address issues of power, agency, oppression, and change. Analytical categories such as race, gender, and sexuality frame the most exciting new work, offering textured perspectives on the use, abuse, and distribution of power in various realms of society. And yet, like most historical studies, even these works are limited in their attempt to consider the role that heterosexuality plays in giving meaning and stability to both individual subjects and larger systems like the family, the household economy, the market economy, and the state's need for able‐bodied, educated citizens. This practice of heteroessentialism results in the failure of many scholars' ability to see the work done by these important institutions to support heterosexual desire, identity, and activity. Still, this current wave of feminist scholarship signals most dramatically that women's experience cannot be interpreted in isolation from their social locations shaped by race, class, geography, culture, and sexuality. A woman's racial identity most significantly determined others' perceptions, judgments, and attempt to regulate, abuse, or protect her as a sexual being. Finally, by demonstrating the complexity of ways in which difference was codified and manipulated in early North America, thereby stigmatizing and regulating some groups while normalizing and privileging others, all of the books reviewed here help to make our view of the past more complex and more whole.
THE EFFECT OF ATTENTIONAL LOAD ON CROWDING

Crowding is a phenomenon of peripheral vision which impairs the ability to individuate an object surrounded by flankers. There has been a long-standing controversy in the literature between theories supporting or denying the role of attention in crowding. In our study, we present a new experimental approach to address this issue. It is based on a dual-task paradigm allowing us to manipulate attentional allocation towards or away from the crowded stimuli. It was expected that attentional load under a multiple object tracking task would impair the recognition of the target ring presented in the periphery both when the target was presented alone or when it was flanked. The results from the experiment support neither the role of attention in the crowding effect nor in a clear recognition of peripheral stimuli.
“Let Go of Your Ball, This Is Not the NBA!”: The Influence of Hip-Hop Ball on Institutional Basketball Around Paris (France): Cultural Antagonisms and Difficult Cohabitation

The nature of the game of basketball, which is to score more hoops than the opposing team while respecting a set of rules, has often been questionned. Young players have been developing new ways to play and think basketball ever since the advent of the American hip-hop basketball (“hip-hop ball”) culture in France in the noughties. However, this way of playing basketball is viewed negatively by club coaches, who are the guardians of institutional basketball. Through participant observation and the interviewing of five coaches and 32 players, this article seeks to measure the consequences of what may be seen as a cultural divide. Our findings show how coaches depreciate hip-hop ball culture and sometimes stigmatize players to reinforce their own legitimacy within institutional basketball. Also, our data illustrate the players’ ability to shift from one basketball culture to the next in an attempt to gain recognition in institutional basketball.
PHOENIX model chromospheres of mid- to late-type M dwarfs ,,

We present semi-empirical model chromospheres computed with the atmosphere code PHOENIX. The models are designed to fit the observed spectra of five mid- to late-type M dwarfs. Next to hydrogen lines from the Balmer series we used various metal lines, e.g. from Fe , for the comparison between data and models. Our computations show that an NLTE treatment of C, N, O impacts on the hydrogen line formation, while NLTE treatment of less abundant metals such as nickel influences the lines of the considered species itself. For our coolest models we investigated also the influence of dust on the chromospheres and found that dust increases the emission line flux. Moreover we present an (electronically published) emission line list for the spectral range of 3100 to 3900 and 4700 to 6800 A for a set of 21 M dwarfs and brown dwarfs. The line list includes the detection of the Na  D lines in emission for a L3 dwarf.