Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Southern Sky Redshift Survey: Clustering of Local Galaxies

We use the two-point correlation function to calculate the clustering properties of the recently completed SSRS2 survey, which probes two well-separated regions of the sky, allowing one to evaluate the sensitivity of sample-to-sample variations. Taking advantage of the large number of galaxies in the combined sample, we also investigate the dependence of clustering on the internal properties of galaxies. The redshift-space correlation function for the combined magnitude-limited sample of the SSRS2 is given by ξ(s) = [s/(5.85 h-1 Mpc)]-1.60 for separations in the range 2 h-1 Mpc ≤ s ≤ 11 h-1 Mpc, while our best estimate for the real-space correlation function is ξ(r) = [r/(5.36 h-1 Mpc)]-1.86. Both are comparable with previous measurements using surveys of optical galaxies over much larger and independent volumes. By comparing the correlation function calculated in redshift and real space, we find that the redshift distortion on intermediate scales is small. This result implies that the observed redshift-space distribution of galaxies is close to that in real space and that β = Ω0. 6/b < 1, where Ω is the cosmological density parameter and b is the linear biasing factor for optical galaxies. We have used the SSRS2 sample to study the dependence of ξ on the internal properties of galaxies, such as luminosity, morphology, and color. We confirm earlier results that luminous galaxies (L > L*) are more clustered than sub-L* galaxies and that the luminosity segregation is scale-independent. We also find that early types are more clustered than late types. However, in the absence of rich clusters, the relative bias between early and late types in real space, bE+S0/bS ∼ 1.2, is not as strong as previously estimated. Furthermore, both morphologies present a luminosity-dependent bias, with the early types showing a slightly stronger dependence on luminosity. We also find that red galaxies are significantly more clustered than blue ones, with a mean relative bias of bR/bB ∼ 1.4, stronger than that observed for morphology. Finally, by comparing our results with the measurements obtained from the infrared-selected galaxies, we determine that the relative bias between optical and IRAS galaxies in real space is bo/bI ∼ 1.4.
Humidifier Disinfectants Are a Cause of Lung Injury among Adults in South Korea: A Community-Based Case-Control Study

Backgrounds An outbreak of lung injury among South Korean adults was examined in a hospital-based case-control study, and the suspected cause was exposure to humidifier disinfectant (HD). However, a case-control study with community-dwelling controls was needed to validate the previous study’s findings, and to confirm the exposure-response relationship between HD and lung injury. Methods Each case of lung injury was matched with four community-dwelling controls, according to age (±3 years), sex, residence, and history of childbirth since 2006 (for women). Environmental risk factors, which included type and use of humidifier and HD, were investigated using a structured questionnaire during August 2011. The exposure to HD was calculated for both cases and controls, and the corresponding risks of lung injury were compared. Results Among 28 eligible cases, 16 patients agreed to participate, and 60 matched controls were considered eligible for this study. The cases were more likely to have been exposed to HD (odds ratio: 116.1, 95% confidence interval: 6.5–2,063.7). All cases were exposed to HDs containing polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate, and the risk of lung injury increased with the cumulative exposure, duration of exposure, and exposure per day. Conclusions This study revealed a statistically significant exposure-response relationship between HD and lung injury. Therefore, continuous monitoring and stricter evaluation of environmental chemicals’ safety should be conducted.
Entropy analysis of physical unclonable functions

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are an emerging security primitive useful for secure key storage mechanisms and anti-counterfeiting measures. To do this securely, it is imperative that PUFs are unique, i.e., possess enough entropy. The aim of this thesis is to develop and implement new methodologies to accurately estimate the entropy of PUFs. To this end, a novel method is presented which estimates the extractable entropy by calculating the mutual information between enrollment and reconstruction measurements. Furthermore, a method to determine uniqueness from the field of biometrics is modified in such a way that the entropy of PUFs can be estimated. Our newly developed entropy estimation methods are compared to other methods found in the literature using a comprehensive experimental evaluation on synthetically generated PUF data with known entropy. We find that the results from our methods are in line with results found in the literature using methods such as the context-tree weighting compression and inter-device distance tests. The contributions of our methods are that the influence of the reconstruction condition (noise) is included in the entropy estimation as well as providing insight on how entropy develops if more measurements are used during enrollment and reconstruction. We find that the extractable entropy increases as more measurements are used during enrollment and reconstruction, but only if PUF biases are reliable across conditions. Furthermore, an entropy analysis is performed on PUF data from the European Union sponsored UNIQUE project, which consists of 192 application-specific integrated circuits housing multiple instances of the most popular intrinsic PUF types. In particular, we performed a comprehensive uniqueness evaluation of four memory based PUF types: the latch, D flip-flop (DFF), buskeeper and SRAM PUF. Our analysis shows that from the four analysed PUF types, the SRAM PUF has the most extractable entropy. The buskeeper also shows strong PUF behaviour, while the DFF and latch PUF have the least extractable entropy.
The oculomotor distractor effect in normal and hemianopic vision

The present study investigated the inhibitory effect of visual distractors on the latency of saccades made by hemianopic and normal human subjects. The latency of saccades made by hemianopic subjects to stimuli in their intact visual field was not affected by visual distractors presented within their hemianopic field. In contrast, the latency of saccades made by normal subjects was increased significantly under distractor conditions. The latency increase was larger for temporal than nasal distractors. The results are inconsistent with previous proposals that the crossed retinotectal pathway from the nasal hemiretina to the superior colliculus may mediate a blindsight inhibitory effect when distractors appear within a hemianopic temporal visual field. Instead, the distractor effect appears to reflect the normal processes involved in saccade target selection which may be mediated by a circuit involving both cortical and subcortical structures.
H∞ output feedback control for linear discrete time-varying systems via the bounded real lemma

In this paper we develop a solution to the discrete-time ℋ ∞ output feedback control problem for linear time-varying (LTV) systems. The solution is developed along the strategy set up by Doyle et al. in 1989 and the main ingredient in its derivation is the extension of the well known bounded real lemma to a (discrete) time-varying context, developed by van der Veen and Verhaegen in 1995. This approach contributes to the conceptual simplicity, and hence to the accessibility, of the solution. Apart from that, we treat the infinite-horizon case for LTV system of non-uniform state dimension, and varying input and output dimension. Both situations can easily occur in practice, for example in multirate sampled data control systems. The algorithm that can be derived from the solution presented in then applied to the ℋ ∞ output feedback of a dynamical system changing from one operation point in its operation envelope to another.
Interference-based dynamic pricing and radio resource management for WCDMA networks

In this paper, a new parameter, noise rise factor, that indicates the amount of interference generated by a call is suggested as a basis for setting price. We study the problem of optimal integrated dynamic pricing and radio resource management, in terms of resource allocation and call admission control, in an interference-limited network. The methods of dynamic programming are unsuitable for problems with large state spaces due to the "curse of dimensionality". To overcome this, we solve the problem using the simulation-based methods of neuro-dynamic programming. The results show that the optimal policy suggested provides significant average reward and congestion improvement over conventional policies that charge users based on their load factor.
Effect of season and sunlight on viral kinetics during hepatitis C virus therapy

Background and aims Rapid viral response (RVR) during antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) predicts sustained viral response (SVR). Recently, vitamin D levels have been associated with SVR. As sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D and shows seasonal variation, we evaluated the effect of season on viral kinetics during peginterferon/ribavirin-based therapy for HCV. Methods Consecutive HCV patients treated with peginterferon/ribavirin and boceprevir/ telaprevir (June 2011–July 2014) were included. Patients were grouped according to season when therapy was initiated (Season A: May–October and Season B: November–April) depending on hours of daily sunlight. Multiple logistic regression analysis included factors known to influence SVR to treatment. The dependent variables were undetectable viral load (VL) or VL ≤15 UI/mL (VL ≤15) at weeks 4, 8 and 12, end of treatment and SVR. Results The study included 930 patients (66.8% men; median 54 years) treated with telaprevir (n=537) or boceprevir, without (n=481) or with lead-in therapy of peginterferon/ribavirin. Baseline characteristics of patients in Season A (45.3%, n=421) and Season B groups were similar. Overall, a higher rate of RVR (23.5% vs 16.1%, p=0.005) and VL ≤15 (51.0% vs 38.6%, p≤0.001) was observed in patients starting treatment during Season A versus Season B. By logistic regression analysis, initiating treatment in Season A proved to be an independent predictor of RVR and VL ≤15. Conclusions In our setting, seasonality affects viral kinetics in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon/ribavirin-based therapy. Our findings support the hypothesis that vitamin D influences viral response to peginterferon/ribavirin-based therapy.
Economic impacts of climate change on agrifood markets: A bio-economic approach with a focus on the EU

Projections for world food production and prices play a crucial role to evaluate and tackle future food security challenges. Understanding how these projections will be affected by climate change is the main objective of this study. By means of a bio-economic approach we assess the economic impacts of climate change on agrifood markets, providing both a global analysis and a regionalised evaluation within the EU. To account for uncertainty, we analyse the IPCC emission scenario A1B for the 2030 horizon under several simulation scenarios that differ in (1) the climate projection, from HadleyCM3 (warm) or ECHAM5 (mild) global circulation models; and (2) the influence of CO2 effects. Results of this study indicate that agrifood market projections to 2030 are very sensitive to climate change uncertainties and, in particular to the magnitude of the carbon fertilization effect.
Anxiety disorders and risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: a population-based longitudinal study of adults.

CONTEXT Controversy exists whether anxiety disorders are independently associated (ie, after adjusting for comorbid mental disorders) with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. OBJECTIVE To examine whether anxiety disorders are risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a large population-based longitudinal study. METHODS Data come from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study, a prospective population-based survey with a baseline and 2 follow-up assessments over a 3-year period. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess DSM-III-R mental disorders. Lifetime diagnoses of anxiety disorders (social phobia, simple phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder) were assessed at baseline. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether anxiety disorders were associated with suicidal ideation and attempts at baseline (n = 7076) and whether anxiety disorders were risk factors for subsequent onset of suicidal ideation and attempts (n = 4796). RESULTS After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and all other mental disorders assessed in the survey, baseline presence of any anxiety disorder was significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in both the cross-sectional analysis (adjusted odds ratio for suicidal ideation, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-2.82; adjusted odds ratio for suicidal attempts, 2.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-3.62) and longitudinal analysis (adjusted odds ratio for suicidal ideation, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-4.11; adjusted odds ratio for suicide attempts, 3.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-7.83). Further analyses demonstrated that the presence of any anxiety disorder in combination with a mood disorder was associated with a higher likelihood of suicide attempts in comparison with a mood disorder alone. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate that a preexisting anxiety disorder is an independent risk factor for subsequent onset of suicidal ideation and attempts. Moreover, the data clearly demonstrate that comorbid anxiety disorders amplify the risk of suicide attempts in persons with mood disorders. Clinicians and policymakers need to be aware of these findings, and further research is required to delineate whether treatment of anxiety disorders reduces the risk of subsequent suicidal behavior.
How to Tackle Auditory Interface Aesthetics: Discussion and Case Study

This paper discusses the importance of auditory interface aesthetics and presents an empirical investigation of sound aesthetics in context. The theoretical discussion examines the relationship between sound aesthetics and user satisfaction and concludes that, despite the creation of numerous auditory design methods and guidelines, none are dedicated to achieving aesthetically pleasing designs. In a case study, an empirical investigation is conducted to evaluate the relationship between the functional and aesthetic value of an auditory interface. By investigating two different tasks, this study demonstrates that the nature of the tasks allocated to subjects has a significant impact on the aesthetic judgments made by the subjects. Consequently, functional and aesthetic properties of auditory cannot be dealt with independently.
Evidence for a Novel Peripheral Action of Leptin as a Metabolic Signal to the Adrenal Gland: Leptin Inhibits Cortisol Release Directly

The crucial role of glucocorticoids in obesity and insulin resistance and the actions of the OB protein leptin on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suggest that there is an important interaction of leptin with the glucocorticoid system. Therefore, we designed a study to test the effect of leptin directly on adrenocortical steroidogenesis. Primary cultures of bovine adrenocortical cells were incubated with increasing concentrations (10–1,000 ng/ml) of recombinant mouse leptin for 24 h, and the effects of leptin on basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion were determined. The accumulation of P450 17α mRNA following incubation with ACTH (10 nmol/1) and leptin (10–1,000 ng/ml) was analyzed by Northern blot. Adrenocortical cells were characterized by immunohistochemical staining for 17α-hydroxyprogesterone. Leptin (10–1,000 ng/ml) inhibited basal and ACTHstimulated cortisol release. At a concentration that occurs in obese individuals in vivo (100 ng/ml), it reduced basal cortisol secretion to 52.7 ± 37% (mean ± SE). The rise in cortisol secretion following maximal ACTH stimulation (10 nmol/1) was blunted to 55.2 ± 27%. At more physiological concentrations of ACTH (0.1 nmol/1), the inhibition of cortisol release by coincubation with low doses of leptin (10 ng/ml) was even more pronounced, leading to a reduction to 32.8% (1,248 ± 134 vs. 410 ± 157 nmol/1). Addition of OB protein (10–1,000 ng/ml) led to a dose-dependent reduction of ACTH-stimulated cytochrome P450 17α mRNA accumulation (from 80 to 45%), suggesting that leptin regulates adrenal steroidogenesis at the transcriptional level. These data clearly demonstrate that leptin inhibits cortisol production in adrenocortical cells and therefore appears to be a metabolic signal that directly acts on the adrenal gland.
PubMed on Tap: Discovering Design Principles for Online Information Delivery to Handheld Computers

Online access to biomedical information from handheld computers will be a valuable adjunct to other popular medical applications if information delivery systems are designed with handheld computers in mind. The goal of this project is to discover design principles to facilitate practitioners' access to online medical information at the point-of-care. A prototype system was developed to serve as a testbed for this research. Using the testbed, an initial evaluation has yielded several user interface design principles. Continued research is expected to discover additional user interface design principles as well as guidelines for results organization and system performance
CD28-Regulated Activation of Th2 Responses Knockout Mice Is Characterized by Lymphoproliferative Disorder in CTLA-4

Mice lacking CTLA-4 die at an age of 2–3 wk due to massive lymphoproliferation, leading to lymphocytic inﬁltration and destruction of major organs. The onset of the lymphoproliferative disease can be delayed by treatment with murine CTLA4Ig (mCTLA4Ig), starting day 12 after birth. In this study, we have characterized the T cells present in CTLA-4-deﬁcient mice before and after mCTLA4Ig treatment. The T cells present in CTLA-4-deﬁcient mice express the activation markers, CD69 and IL-2R; down-regulate the lymphoid homing receptor, CD62L; proliferate spontaneously in vitro and cannot be costimulated with anti-CD28 mAb consistent with a hyperactivated state. The T cells from CTLA-4-deﬁcient mice survive longer in culture correlating with higher expression of the survival factor, Bcl-x L , in these cells. Most signiﬁcantly, the CD4 1 T cell subset present in CTLA-4-deﬁcient mice secretes high levels of IL-4 and IL-5 upon TCR activation. Treatment of CTLA-4-deﬁcient mice treated with mCTLA4Ig reverses the activation and hyperproliferative phenotype of the CTLA-4-deﬁcient T cells and restores the costimulatory activity of anti-CD28 mAb. Furthermore, T cells from mCTLA4Ig-treated mice are not skewed toward a Th2 cytokine phenotype. Thus, CTLA-4 regulates CD28-dependent peripheral activation of CD4 1 T cells. This process results in apoptosis-resistant, CD4 1 T cells with a predominantly Th2 phenotype that may be involved in the lethal phenotype in these animals. The Journal of Immunology, and IFN- g assays. IL-2 and IL-4 cytokines were measured using an ELISA (Endogen, Cambridge, MA). A murine IL-2 or IL-4 standard was used to quantitate cytokine levels in the supernatants (presented as pg/ml). IFN- g production was measured using a modiﬁcation of a previously described ELISA with reagents kindly provided by Dr. Robert Schre- iber (Washington University, St. Louis, MO) (31). Brieﬂy, H1.5 (anti-IFN- g ) ascites ﬂuid (3.5 mg/ml) was precoated on 96-well Nunc- ImmunoPlate 1 (Nunc, Naperville, IL). Samples were added in serial dilutions at a ﬁnal volume of 100 m l/well and incubated for 1 h at 37°C. The wells were blocked with 2% BSA fo r 1 h atroom temperature, washed, and incubated with a polyclonal rabbit antiserum (1/1000) for 45 min. Bound rabbit Abs were detected using a 1/3000 dilution of alkaline phos-phatase-coupled donkey anti-rabbit IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, PA), followed by the phosphatase substrate p -nitrophenyl phos-phate disodium (Sigma) at 1 mg/ml. An IFN- g standard was used to quan- tify units of activity.
Social inclusion of newly arrived female asylum seekers and refugees through a community sport initiative: the case of Bike Bridge

Abstract This study examines the potential and limitations of a community sport initiative in fostering social inclusion of newly arrived adult female asylum seekers and refugees in Germany. It contains three parts: the first and second part aim to assess the perceived opportunities and barriers of riding a bicycle in the participants’ homeland and Germany and to provide empirical evidence about the outcomes of the project at a micro level by prioritising the participants’ accounts and experiences. In the third section, through an examination of the programme’s structure and provision, its perceived impact is investigated. Bourdieu’s theory of practice was deployed as an analytical tool in the study. The findings revealed the importance of need-based, informal and intercultural provisions and practices to foster participation of physical recreation of the target group in their new setting. However, to facilitate social inclusion, the participants’ prolonged and sustained engagement in the programme as volunteers was crucial.
“Parents, Me & X-Sports”: Mapping the BMX Culture in Contemporary China

Since the debut of BMX (bike motocross) cycling in the Beijing Olympics, lifestyle sports have gradually entered the public limelight and gained popularity in China. Lifestyle sports that celebrate leisure, excitement, and individuality have steadily grown a crowd of youth followers in major Chinese cities. This article contextualizes the BMX culture in contemporary China, particularly the local cultural dynamics of the subculture. Using evidence gleaned from interviews and media representations, I argue that while many of the features of development of BMX culture in China mirror that in the West acceptance by the family has become a central theme when it comes to BMX riders’ career choice in China—a “Parents, Me & X-sports” relationship.
Families of Prisoners: A Review of the Evidence

The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness of the issues experienced by the children and families of prisoners and to provide a resource to be used in conjunction with other resources to inform the ‘Child and Family Impact Assessments’ and subsequent support proposed by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. This paper represents a summary of research into the needs and experiences of children and families of prisoners; the impact of imprisonment on family relationships; and the role that families play in supporting the reintegration process.