Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Star formation and stellar populations across nuclear rings in galaxies

We present a study of the optical spectra of a sample of eight star-forming nuclear rings and the nuclei of their host galaxies. The spectra were obtained with the Intermediate dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System spectrograph on the William Herschel Telescope and cover a wide range in wavelength, enabling the measurement of several stellar absorption features and gas emission lines. We compared the strength of the absorption lines to a variety of population synthesis models for the star formation history in the nuclear rings, including also the contribution of the older bulge and disc stellar components. In agreement with our previous investigation of the nuclear ring of NGC 4321, which was based on a more restricted number of line-strength indices, we find that the stars in our sample of nuclear rings have most likely formed over a prolonged period of time characterized by episodic bursts of star formation activity. Constant star formation is firmly ruled out by the present data, whereas a one-off formation event is an unlikely explanation for a common galactic component such as nuclear rings. The nuclear rings of NGC 4314 and NGC 7217 have distinct line-strength properties that set them apart from the rest of our sample, which are due to a larger contribution of bulge star in the observed spectra and, in the case of NGC 4314, to a younger stellar population in the ring. We have used emission-line measurements to constrain the physical conditions of the ionized gas within the rings, using the ratio of the [S II]λλ6716, 6731 lines to estimate the density of the gas, and photoionization model grids within specific diagnostic diagrams to derive metallicity. We find that emission in all nuclear rings originates from H II regions with electron densities typical for these kinds of objects, and that the rings are characterized by values for the gas metallicity ranging from slightly below to just above solar. We have also studied the spectra of the nuclei of our sample galaxies, all of which display emission lines. Consistent with previous studies for the nuclear activity and stellar populations, the majority of our nuclei appear to be dominated by old stellar populations and by Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission Region like emission. As 20 per cent of nearby spiral galaxies host nuclear rings that are presently forming massive stars, our finding of an episodic star formation history in nuclear rings implies that a significant population remains to be identified of young nuclear rings that are not presently in a massive star formation phase. Nuclear rings may thus be a much more common galactic component than presently known.
Is the Previously Reported Increase in Second- and Higher-order Birth Rates in Norway and Sweden from the mid-1970s Real or a Result of Inadequate Estimation Methods?

According to models estimated separately for second-, third-, and fourth-birth rates in Norway, an increase took place from the mid-1970s to about 1990, given age and duration since last previous birth. A similar rise in the birth rates was seen in Sweden, except that the upturn at short durations was sharper. It is shown in this study, using Norwegian register data, that the increase partly reflects earlier changes in lower-order parity transitions. When models for each parity transition are estimated jointly, with a common unobserved factor included, there is no longer an upward trend in Norwegian second-birth rates, but a very weak decline, and the increase in the higher-order birth rates is strongly reduced compared to that found in the simpler approach.
An Analysis of the Binary Exponential Backoff Algorithm in Distributed MAC Protocols

In the paper, we perform an in-depth analytic study of the binary exponential algorithm (BEBA) that is widely used in distributed MAC protocols, for example, IEEE 802.11 DCF. We begin with a generalized framework of modeling BEBA. Then we identify a key difference between BEBA and the commonly-assumed p-persistent model: due to the characteristics of BEBA, the slot succeeding a busy period has a different contention rate from other slots. This causes access to a slot to be non-uniform and dependent on whether or not the slot immediately follows a busy period. We propose a detailed model with the use of a Markov chain to faithfully describe the channel activities governed by BEBA. To reduce the computational complexity, we simplify the model to an approximate one, and conduct an extensive simulation study. The analytical results derived in the proposed model are compared against those obtained from two other representative models. It is demonstrated that the proposed model is an accurate characterization of the BEBA algorithm in a broader range of system configuration. We further investigate the impact of the stochastic property of the backoff time, r, on the performance. It is revealed that in certain circumstances it becomes an important factor that affects the performance. A case study shows that by shifting the distribution range of r merely by 1 slot, substantial degradation in the system throughput may result.
Director's Cut: Analysis and Annotation of Soccer Matches

For development and alignment of tactics and strategies, professional soccer analysts spend up to three working days manually analyzing and annotating professional soccer matches. In an effort to improve soccer player and match analysis, a visual-interactive and data-analysis support system focuses on key situations by using rule-based filtering and automatically annotating key types of soccer match elements. The authors evaluate the proposed approach by analyzing real-world soccer matches and several expert studies. Quantitative measures show the proposed methods can significantly outperform naive solutions.
Subcritical and supercritical regimes in epidemic models of earthquake aftershocks

[1] We present an analytical solution and numerical tests of the epidemic-type aftershock (ETAS) model for aftershocks, which describes foreshocks, aftershocks, and main shocks on the same footing. In this model, each earthquake of magnitude m triggers aftershocks with a rate proportional to 10αm. The occurrence rate of direct aftershocks triggered by a single main shock decreases with the time from the main shock according to the “local” modified Omori law K/(t + c)p with p = 1 + θ. Contrary to the usual definition, the ETAS model does not impose an aftershock to have a magnitude smaller than the main shock. Starting with a main shock at time t = 0 that triggers aftershocks according to the local Omori law, which in turn trigger their own aftershocks and so on, we study the seismicity rate of the global aftershock sequence composed of all the secondary and subsequent aftershock sequences. The effective branching parameter n, defined as the mean aftershock number triggered per event, controls the transition between a subcritical regime n 1. A characteristic time t*, function of all the ETAS parameters, marks the transition from the early time behavior to the large time behavior. In the subcritical regime, we recover and document the crossover from an Omori exponent 1 − θ for t t* found previously in the work of Sornette and Sornette for a special case of the ETAS model. In the supercritical regime n > 1 and θ > 0, we find a novel transition from an Omori decay law with exponent 1 − θ for t t*. The case θ < 0 yields an infinite n-value. In this case, we find another characteristic time τ controlling the crossover from an Omori law with exponent 1 − |θ| for t < τ, similar to the local law, to an exponential increase at large times. These results can rationalize many of the stylized facts reported for aftershock and foreshock sequences, such as (1) the suggestion that a small p-value may be a precursor of a large earthquake, (2) the relative seismic quiescence sometimes observed before large aftershocks, (3) the positive correlation between b and p values, (4) the observation that great earthquakes are sometimes preceded by a decrease of b-value, and (5) the acceleration of the seismicity preceding great earthquakes.
Coordination of planar cell polarity pathways through Spiny-legs

Morphogenesis and physiology of tissues and organs requires planar cell polarity (PCP) systems that orient and coordinate cells and their behaviors, but the relationship between PCP systems has been controversial. We have characterized how the Frizzled and Dachsous-Fat PCP systems are connected through the Spiny-legs isoform of the Prickle-Spiny-legs locus. Two different components of the Dachsous-Fat system, Dachsous and Dachs, can each independently interact with Spiny-legs and direct its localization in vivo. Through characterization of the contributions of Prickle, Spiny-legs, Dachsous, Fat, and Dachs to PCP in the Drosophila wing, eye, and abdomen, we define where Dachs-Spiny-legs and Dachsous-Spiny-legs interactions contribute to PCP, and provide a new understanding of the orientation of polarity and the basis of PCP phenotypes. Our results support the direct linkage of PCP systems through Sple in specific locales, while emphasizing that cells can be subject to and must ultimately resolve distinct, competing PCP signals. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.09946. 001
The National Association of School Psychologists' Self-Assessment Tool for School Psychologists: Factor Structure and Relationship to The National Association of School Psychologists' Practice Model

ABSTRACT The National Association of School Psychologists' Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services (2010a), often referred to as the National Association of School Psychologists' Practice Model, describes the comprehensive range of professional skills and competencies available from school psychologists across 10 domains. The Self-Assessment Tool for School Psychologists is a two-scale, 48-item self-report measure that is based on the Practice Model and designed to have practitioners assess the degree to which they engage in various professional activities (A scale), and the perceived level of importance of those activities to effective service delivery (B scale). The present study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Self-Assessment Tool for School Psychologists and to evaluate the proposed interpretation regarding school psychologists' professional practices. Participants included a sample of 1,293 practicing school psychologists. Results of EFA and CFA, as well as reliability analyses, supported a seven- and five-factor model for the A and B scales, respectively. Collectively, this study suggests a varying factor structure between the Self-Assessment Tool for School Psychologists and the 10 domains of the Practice Model. Implications for conceptualization of school psychological practice in relation to the National Association of School Psychologists' Practice Model and future development of the Self-Assessment Tool for School Psychologists are discussed.
Shock Loading of a Cylinder Bank with Imaging and Pressure Measurements

Experiments are conducted in a shock tube to study the shock loading of a cylinder and a cylinder bank. The experiments model the loading of the cooling tubes in an inertial confinement fusion reactor where banks of tubes line the reaction chamber. The diffraction of the shock wave is visualized using shadowgraphy. Shock loading of the cylinder(s) is measured with flush mounted piezoelectric pressure transducers located at various angular locations. The single cylinder experiments are compared with the cylinder bank experiments to study the effect of the first wall of cylinders on the second one.
A new measure for the revised reinforcement sensitivity theory: psychometric criteria and genetic validation

Jeffrey Gray's Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) represents one of the most influential biologically-based personality theories describing individual differences in approach and avoidance tendencies. The most prominent self-report inventory to measure individual differences in approach and avoidance behavior to date is the BIS/BAS scale by Carver and White (1994). As Gray and McNaughton (2000) revised the RST after its initial formulation in the 1970/80s, and given the Carver and White measure is based on the initial conceptualization of RST, there is a growing need for self-report inventories measuring individual differences in the revised behavioral inhibition system (BIS), behavioral activation system (BAS) and the fight, flight, freezing system (FFFS). Therefore, in this paper we present a new questionnaire measuring individual differences in the revised constructs of the BIS, BAS and FFFS in N = 1814 participants (German sample). An English translated version of the new measure is also presented and tested in N = 299 English language participants. A large number of German participants (N = 1090) also filled in the BIS/BAS scales by Carver and White (1994) and the correlations between these measures are presented. Finally, this same subgroup of participants provided buccal swaps for the investigation of the arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) gene. Here, a functional genetic polymorphism (rs11174811) on the AVPR1a gene was shown to be associated with individual differences in both the revised BIS and classic BIS dimensions.
Understanding the Role of Group Cohesion and Group Alliance in a Secular Peer Support Group for Recovery from Substance Misuse

ABSTRACT This study aimed to understand the role of group cohesion and alliance in LifeRing, a secular peer support group for substance misuse. Correlational analyses of quantitative data and content analysis of qualitative data from 50 participants assessed (a) the relationship between group cohesion, alliance with the meeting convenor, and active participation in the group; (b) the associations among group cohesion, alliance with the meeting convenor, and satisfaction with the group; and (c) what participants found helpful about LifeRing. Group cohesion was significantly associated with active group participation while convenor alliance was significantly associated with group satisfaction.
Element matching by concatenating linguistic-based matchers and constraint-based matcher

Although a lot of previous work on schema matching has developed many partial automatic matches for specific application domains, combining multiple match techniques enables achieving high accuracy for a large variety of match circumstances. In this context, we present a schema-based element matching approach that concatenates linguistic-based matchers and a constraint-based matcher. We propose a basic processing of our element level match approach in terms of a sequence of linguistic-based match and constraint-based match. We also provide a composite element name matcher to automatically combine linguistic-based match algorithms with a maximum priority strategy, and a neural network matcher to categorize elements of schemas by using element constraints with results from composite name matcher for joint consideration of multiple criteria. The concatenation of composite name matcher and neural network matcher enable our approach to adapt to more complex matching circumstance
In-situ apparent conductivity measurements and microbial population distribution at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site

We investigated the bulk electrical conductivity and microbial population distribution in sediments at a site contaminated with light nonaqueous-phase liquid (LNAPL). The bulk conductivity was measured using in-situ vertical resistivity probes; the most probable num­ ber method was used to characterize the spatial distri­ bution of aerobic heterotrophic and oil-degrading mi­ crobial populations. The purpose of this study was to assess if high conductivity observed at aged LNAPLimpacted sites may be related to microbial degradation of LNAPL. The results show higher bulk conductiv­ ity coincident with LNAPL-impacted zones, in contrast to geoelectrical models that predict lower conductivity in such zones. The highest bulk conductivity was ob­ served to be associated with zones impacted by resid­ ual and free LNAPL. Data from bacteria enumeration from sediments close to the resistivity probes show that oil-degrading microbes make up a larger percentage (5–55%) of the heterotrophic microbial community at depths coincident with the higher conductivity compared to �5% at the uncontaminated location. The coincidence of a higher percentage of oil-degrading microbial popu­ lations in zones of higher bulk conductivity suggests that the higher conductivity in these zones may result from increased fluid conductivity related to microbial degra­ dation of LNAPL, consistent with geochemical studies that suggest that intrinsic biodegradation is occurring at the site. The findings from this study point to the fact that biogeochemical processes accompanying biodegra­ dation of contaminants can potentially alter geoelectri­ cal properties of the subsurface impacted media.
SPECIALIST: A dynamic speed limit control algorithm based on shock wave theory

In literature there are several approaches to eliminate shock waves on freeways by means of dynamic speed limits. Most of them incorporate control systems that have a high computational complexity or that contain parameters without direct physical interpretation, which may make the application in real life difficult. Here we present an approach called SPECIALIST that is based on shock wave theory, and that has parameters with clear physical meaning. The clear interpretation of the parameters leads to an intuitive and insightful formulation of the tuning guidelines. One of the most important features related to the parameter tuning is that the stability of the traffic flow can be ensured by selecting a proper maximum density that is allowed to occur in the speed-controlled area. In addition, other parameters can be tuned for more robust behavior of the algorithm. We first present the theory of shock wave resolution, and next we develop a practical control algorithm based on this theory. A unique feature of the algorithm is that it first judges the solvability of a shock wave and only starts controlling the speed limits if the shock wave is classified as solvable. The algorithm is demonstrated with a simulation example, and it is shown that its performance is similar to existing approaches.
Effectiveness and knowledge, attitudes and practices of seasonal influenza vaccine in primary healthcare settings in South Africa, 2010–2013

Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) and coverage data for sub‐Saharan Africa are scarce. Using a test‐negative case–control design, we estimated influenza VE annually among individuals with influenza‐like illness presenting to an outpatient sentinel surveillance programme in South Africa from 2010 to 2013. A knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) influenza vaccine survey of programme clinicians was conducted in 2013.
Upregulated long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 expression is associated with progression and poor prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Altered expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with human carcinogenesis. We performed a cDNA microarray analysis of lncRNA expression in 12 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 4 non-tumor nasopharyngeal epitheliums. One lncRNA, actin filament associated protein 1 antisense RNA1 (AFAP1-AS1), was identified and selected for further study. AFAP1-AS1 expression was upregulated in NPC and associated with NPC metastasis and poor prognosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that AFAP1-AS1 knockdown significantly inhibited the NPC cell migration and invasive capability. AFAP1-AS1 knockdown also increased AFAP1 protein expression. Proteomic and bioinformatics analyses suggested that AFAP1-AS1 affected the expression of several small GTPase family members and molecules in the actin cytokeratin signaling pathway. AFAP1-AS1 promoted cancer cell metastasis via regulation of actin filament integrity. AFAP1-AS1 might be a potential novel marker that can predict cancer patient prognosis and as a potential therapeutic target for NPC.
Is Economics Performative? Option Theory and the Construction of Derivatives Markets

The thesis that economics is “performative” (Callon 1998) has provoked much interest but also some puzzlement and not a little confusion. The purpose of this article is to examine from the viewpoint of performativity one of the most successful areas of modern economics, the theory of options, and in so doing hopefully to clarify some of the issues at stake. To claim that economics is performative is to argue that it does things, rather than simply describing (with greater or lesser degrees of accuracy) an external reality that is not affected by economics. But what does economics do, and what are the effects of it doing what it does? That the theory of options is an appropriate place around which to look for performativity is suggested by two roughly concurrent developments. Since the 1950s, the academic study of finance has been transformed from a low-status, primarily descriptive activity to a high-status, analytical, mathematical, Nobel-prize-winning enterprise. At the core of that enterprise is a theoretical account of options dating from the start of the 1970s. Around option theory there has developed a large array of sophisticated mathematical analyses of financial derivatives. (A “derivative” is a contract or security, such as an option, the value of which depends upon the price of another asset or upon the level of an index or interest rate.)
Automatic Activation of Impression Formation and Memorization Goals: Nonconscious Goal Priming Reproduces Effects of Explicit Task Instructions

According to the auto-motive model (J. A. Bargh, 1990), intentions and goals are represented mentally and, as representations, should be capable of nonconscious activation by the environmental context (i.e., "priming"). To test this hypothesis, the authors replicated 2 well-known experiments that had demonstrated differential effects of varying the information-processing goal (impression formation or memorization) on processing the identical behavioral information. However, instead of giving participants the goals via explicit instructions, as had been done in the original studies, the authors primed the impression formation or memorization goal. In both cases, the original pattern of results was reproduced. The findings thus support the hypothesis that the effect of activated goals is the same whether the activation is nonconscious or through an act of will. One's current intentions and goals affect not only what one considers important enough to pay attention to, but also how one uses, interprets, and subsequently remembers that information. Although that is a noncontroversial statement today, it was a radical departure from the dominant view of perception when Bruner and Postman (1948) originally proposed it. To claim that motivation influences perception was a major break with the then-dominant view that perception and judgment were entirely stimulus-driven (Stevens, 1951 ). The result of their claim that needs and motivations influence perception was the "New Look"--a flood of studies demonstrating that an individual's goals greatly influence which information the individual attends to and perceives in the environment, as well as how he or she interprets and remembers that information (Allport, 1955; Bruner, 1951, 1957). Jones and Thibaut (1958) subsequently introduced this idea to the domain of social perception, describing the influence that various potential interaction goals might have on selective attention to and use of information about one's interaction partner. After a period in which motivational and cognitive accounts of phenomena were viewed as mutually exclusive and competing instead of complementary and interdependent (see Gollwitzer & Bargh, 1996; Sorrentino & Higgins, 1986b), there recently has been a significant advance in theory and research on the motivation-cognition interface (e.g., Chaiken, Giner-Sorolla, C Goilwitzer & Moskowitz, 1996; Higgins &