Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Jet-disturbed molecular gas near the Seyfert 2 nucleus in M 51

Context. Previous molecular gas observations at arcsecond-scale resolution of the Seyfert 2 galaxy M 51 suggest the presence of a dense circumnuclear rotating disk, which may be the reservoir for fueling the active nucleus and obscures it from direct view in the optical. However, our recent interferometric CO(3-2) observations show a hint of a velocity gradient perpendicular to the rotating disk, which suggests a more complex structure than previously thought. Aims. To image the putative circumnuclear molecular gas disk at sub-arcsecond resolution to better understand both the spatial distribution and kinematics of the molecular gas. Methods. We carried out CO(2-1) and CO(1-0) line observations of the nuclear region of M 51 with the new A configuration of the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer, yielding a spatial resolution lower than 15 pc. Results. The high resolution images show no clear evidence of a disk, aligned nearly east-west and perpendicular to the radio jet axis, as suggested by previous observations, but show two separate features located on the eastern and western sides of the nucleus. The western feature shows an elongated structure along the jet and a good velocity correspondence with optical emission lines associated with the jet, suggesting that this feature is a jet-entrained gas. The eastern feature is elongated nearly east-west ending around the nucleus. A velocity gradient appears in the same direction with increasingly blueshifted velocities near the nucleus. This velocity gradient is in the opposite sense of that previously inferred for the putative circumnuclear disk. Possible explanations for the observed molecular gas distribution and kinematics are that a rotating gas disk disturbed by the jet, gas streaming toward the nucleus, or a ring with another smaller counter- or Keplarian-rotating gas disk inside.
Competitive Multi-period Pricing with Fixed Inventories

This paper studies the problem of multi-period pricing for perishable products in a competitive (oligopolistic) market. We study non cooperative Nash equilibrium policies for sellers. At the beginning of the time horizon, the total inventories are given and additional production is not an available option. The analysis for periodic production-review models, where production decisions can be made at the end of each period at some production cost after incurring holding or backorder costs, does not extend to this model. Using results from game theory and variational inequalities we study the existence and uniqueness of equilibrium policies. We also study convergence results for an algorithm that computes the equilibrium policies. The model in this paper can be used in a number of application areas including the airline, service and retail industries. We illustrate our results through some numerical examples.
Optimality Conditions for Irregular Inequality-Constrained Problems

We consider feasible sets given by conic constraints, where the cone defining the constraints is convex with nonempty interior. We study the case where the feasible set is not assumed to be regular in the classical sense of Robinson and obtain a constructive description of the tangent cone under a certain new second-order regularity condition. This condition contains classical regularity as a special case, while being weaker when constraints are twice differentiable. Assuming that the cone defining the constraints is finitely generated, we also derive a special form of primal-dual optimality conditions for the corresponding constrained optimization problem. Our results subsume optimality conditions for both the classical regular and second-order regular cases, while still being meaningful in the more general setting in the sense that the multiplier associated with the objective function is nonzero.
A review of software surveys on software effort estimation

This paper summarizes estimation knowledge through a review of surveys on software effort estimation. Main findings were that: (1) most projects (60-80%) encounter effort and/or schedule overruns. The overruns, however, seem to be lower than the overruns reported by some consultancy companies. For example, Standish Group's "Chaos Report" describes an average cost overrun of 89%, which is much higher than the average overruns found in other surveys, i.e. 3040%. (2) The estimation methods in most frequent use of expert judgment is that there is no evidence that formal estimation models lead to more accurate estimates. (3) There is a lack of surveys including extensive analyses of the reasons for effort and schedule overruns.
An Audio Shuffle-Encryption Algorithm

—This novel algorithm employs a shuffling procedure to perform encryption of audio files, applying the stream cipher method. The algorithm uses a private key to perform encryption that is key dependent and data dependent. This algorithm was implemented and tested with different types of audio files of different sizes. Empirical analysis showed that this new algorithm is effective for encrypting audio files of medium or high quality.
VLA H I Line Observations of the Extremely Metal-Poor Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy SBS 0335−052

We present the results of H I mapping with the NRAO2 VLA of one of the most metal-deficient blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies known, SBS 0335-052, with an oxygen abundance only 1/40 that of the Sun. We study the structure and dynamics of the neutral gas in this chemically young object with a spatial resolution of 20. ″5 × 15″ (∼5.4 × 3.9 kpc at an assumed distance of 54.3 Mpc), a sensitivity at the 2 σ detection level of ∼2.0 K or 7.5 × 1019 cm-2 and a velocity resolution of 21.2 km s-1. We detected a large H I complex associated with this object having an overall size of about 66 by 22 kpc and elongated in the east-west direction. There are two prominent, slightly resolved peaks visible in the integrated H I map, separated in the east-west direction by 22 kpc (84″). The eastern peak is nearly coincident with the position of the optical galaxy SBS 0335-052. The western peak is about a factor of 1.3 brighter in the H I line and is identified with a faint blue compact dwarf galaxy, SBS 0335-052W, with mB = 19.4, and a metallicity close to the lowest values known for BCDs, about 1/50 that of the Sun. The radial velocities of both systems are similar, suggesting that the two BCDs, SBS 0335-052 and SBS 0335-052W, constitute a pair of dwarf galaxies embedded in a common H I envelope. Alternatively, the BCDs may be the nuclei of two distinct interacting primordial H I clouds. The estimated total dynamical mass, assuming the BCDs form a bound system, is larger than ∼6 × 109 M⊙, compared with a total gaseous mass Mgas = 2.1 × 109 M⊙ and a total stellar mass Mstar ≤ 108 M⊙. Hence, the mass of the SBS 0335–052 system is dominated by dark matter. Because of the disturbed H I velocity field and the presence of what might be tidal tails at either end of the system, we favor the hypothesis of tidal triggering of the star formation in this system. It can be due to either the nearby giant galaxy NGC 1376 or the mutual gravitational interaction of the two H I clouds.
Domesticating Bodies: The Role of Shame in Obstetric Violence

Obstetric violence—violence in the labor room—has been described in terms not only of violence in general but specifically of gender violence. We offer a philosophical analysis of obstetric violence, focused on the central role of gendered shame for construing and perpetuating such violence. Gendered shame in labor derives both from the reifying gaze that transforms women's laboring bodies into dirty, overly sexual, and “not‐feminine‐enough” dysfunctional bodies and from a structural tendency to relate to laboring women mainly as mothers‐to‐be, from whom “good motherhood” is demanded. We show that women who desire a humane birth are thus easily made to feel ashamed of wanting to be respected and cared for as subjects, rather than caring exclusively for the baby's well‐being as a good altruistic mother supposedly should. We explore how obstetric violence is perpetuated and expanded through shaming mechanisms that paralyze women, rendering them passive and barely able to face and fight against this violence. Gendered shame has a crucial role in returning women to “femininity” and construing them as “fit mothers. ” To stand against gendered shame, to resist it, on the other hand, is to clearly challenge obstetric violence and its oppressive power.
Accessing Spoken Words : The Importance of Word Onsets

Approaches to spoken word recognition differ in the importance they assign to word onsets during lexical access. This research contrasted the hypothesis that lexical access is strongly directional with the hypothesis that word onsets are less important than the overall goodness of fit between input and lexical form. A cross-modal priming technique was used to investigate the extent to which a rhyme prime (a prime that differs only in its first segment from the word that is semantically associated with the visual probe) is as effective a prime as the original word itself. Earlier research had shown that partial primes that matched from word onset were very effective cross-modal primes. The present results show that, irrespective of whether the rhyme prime was a real word or not, and irrespective of the amount of overlap between the rhyme prime and the original word, the rhymes are much less effective primes than the full word. In fact, no overall priming effect could be detected at all except under conditions in which the competitor environment was very sparse. This suggests that word onsets do have a special status in the lexical access of spoken words.
Dynamic development of the pancreas from birth to adulthood

Abstract After birth the endocrine pancreas continues its development, a complex process that involves both the maturation of islet cells and a marked expansion of their numbers. New beta cells are formed both by duplication of pre-existing cells and by new differentiation (neogenesis) across the first postnatal weeks, with the result of beta cells of different stages of maturation even after weaning. Improving our understanding of this period of beta cell expansion could provide valuable therapeutic insights.
Uncertainties of the CJK 5 Flavour LO Parton Distributions in the Real Photon

Radiatively generated, LO quark (u,d,s,c,b) and gluon densities in the real, unpolarized photon, calculated in the CJK model being an improved realization of the CJKL approach, have been recently presented. The results were obtained through a global fit to the experimental F2γ(x,Q2) data. In this paper we present, obtained for the very first time in the photon case, an estimate of the uncertainties of the CJK parton distributions due to the experimental errors. The analysis is based on the Hessian method which was recently applied in the proton parton structure analysis. Sets of test parametrizations are given for the CJK model. They allow for calculation of its best fit parton distributions along with F2γ(x,Q2) and for computation of uncertainties of any physical value depending on the real photon parton densities. We test the applicability of the approach by comparing uncertainties of example cross-sections calculated in the Hessian and Lagrange methods. Moreover, we present a detailed analysis of the χ2 of the CJK fit and its relation to the data. We show that large χ2/DOF of the fit is due to only a few of the experimental measurements. By excluding them χ2/DOF ≈ 1 can be obtained.
The Shift of ERG B-Wave Induced by Hours' Dark Exposure in Rodents

Purpose Dark adaptation can induce a rapid functional shift in the retina, and after that, the retinal function is believed to remain stable during the continuous dark exposure. However, we found that electroretinograms (ERG) b-waves gradually shifted during 24 hours’ dark exposure in rodents. Detailed experiments were designed to explore this non-classical dark adaptation. Methods In vivo ERG recording in adult and developing rodents after light manipulations. Results We revealed a five-fold decrease in ERG b-waves in adult rats that were dark exposed for 24 hours. The ERG b-waves significantly increased within the first hour’s dark exposure, but after that decreased continuously and finally attained steady state after 1 day’s dark exposure. After 3 repetitive, 10 minutes’ light exposure, the dark exposed rats fully recovered. This recovery effect was eye-specific, and light exposure to one eye could not restore the ERGs in the non-exposed eye. The prolonged dark exposure-induced functional shift was also reflected in the down-regulation on the amplitude of intensity-ERG response curve, but the dynamic range of the responsive light intensity remained largely stable. Furthermore, the ERG b-wave shifts occurred in and beyond classical critical period, and in both rats and mice. Importantly, when ERG b-wave greatly shifted, the amplitude of ERG a-wave did not change significantly after the prolonged dark exposure. Conclusions This rapid age-independent ERG change demonstrates a generally existing functional shift in the retina, which is at the entry level of visual system.
Observing Gay, Lesbian and Heterosexual Couples' Relationships

ABSTRACT Two samples of committed gay and lesbian cohabiting couples and two samples of married couples (couples in which the woman presented the conflict issue to the man, and couples in which the man presented the conflict issue to the woman) engaged in three conversations: (1) an events of the day conversation (after being apart for at least 8 hours), (2) a conflict resolution conversation, and (3) a pleasant topic conversation. The observational data were coded with a system that categorized specific affects displayed. Data were weighted and two time-series created, one for the husband and one of the wife. The time series were modeled with nonlinear difference equations (Cook et al., 1995), and parameters were estimated that indexed uninfluenced steady state, influenced steady state, emotional inertia, repair effectiveness and threshold, and the power of positive and negative affect of one partner to affect the other partner.
Pulse Signal-Based Higher-Order Iterative Learning Control against Initial State Shifts

In this paper, a kind of pulse signal is introduced as a feedforward compensation to a higher-order PD-type iterative learning control updating law for a class of linear time-invariant systems with averaged initial state shifts, in which the higher-order scheme utilizes the tracking errors of both the current and the latest previous operations to generate the current control input. The objective of the feedforward compensation is to eliminate the tracking discrepancy caused by the initial state shifts. By taking advantage of the generalized Young’s inequality of the convolution integral, the tracking behavior of the learning updating law is derived in the Lebesgue-p norm and the elimination effectiveness of the feedforward compensation is approximately evaluated. The derivation clarifies that the sufficiently convergent condition is dominated by not only the derivative learning gain and the input/output matrices but also the proportional learning gain and the system state matrix. The validity is simulated to show that the feedforward pulse signal may effectively decrease the tracking error caused by the initial state shifts.
Activity-dependent modulation of inhibitory synaptic kinetics in the cochlear nucleus

Spherical bushy cells (SBCs) in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus respond to acoustic stimulation with discharges that precisely encode the phase of low-frequency sound. The accuracy of spiking is crucial for sound localization and speech perception. Compared to the auditory nerve input, temporal precision of SBC spiking is improved through the engagement of acoustically evoked inhibition. Recently, the inhibition was shown to be less precise than previously understood. It shifts from predominantly glycinergic to synergistic GABA/glycine transmission in an activity-dependent manner. Concurrently, the inhibition attains a tonic character through temporal summation. The present study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying this slow inhibitory input. We performed whole-cell voltage clamp recordings on SBCs from juvenile Mongolian gerbils and recorded evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) at physiological rates. The data reveal activity-dependent IPSC kinetics, i.e., the decay is slowed with increased input rates or recruitment. Lowering the release probability yielded faster decay kinetics of the single- and short train-IPSCs at 100 Hz, suggesting that transmitter quantity plays an important role in controlling the decay. Slow transmitter clearance from the synaptic cleft caused prolonged receptor binding and, in the case of glycine, spillover to nearby synapses. The GABAergic component prolonged the decay by contributing to the asynchronous vesicle release depending on the input rate. Hence, the different factors controlling the amount of transmitters in the synapse jointly slow the inhibition during physiologically relevant activity. Taken together, the slow time course is predominantly determined by the receptor kinetics and transmitter clearance during short stimuli, whereas long duration or high frequency stimulation additionally engage asynchronous release to prolong IPSCs.
Effect of Activating Lacto Peroxidase System (LPS) On Quality and Storage Stability of Soft Cheese

Utilization of intrinsic enzymatic activity to increase the quality and storage stability of food product is a novel biological and biochemical technique. The aim of present research was to minimize the microbial, physiochemical and protein degradation changes in soft cheese to enhance its quality and shelf life by activating lacto peroxidase system in raw buffalo milk and ultimately using it for cheese production and studying its quality and storage stability. For this purpose buffalo milk samples were collected from Diary Research Farm at University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. In collected milk samples LPS was activated by equimolar concentration at 20 ppm of NaSCN and H2O2 and resulting samples were used for soft cheese production. Analysis at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of storage period were conducted under 4oC. Collected data were analyzed by using one way analysis of variance under completely randomized design (CRD). Means were compared by using LSD test at probability level of p<0.05. Results showed minimum contamination in microbial count, especially bacteria of salt tolerant, at the end of 21 days storage period. Significantly lowered yeasts, molds, Coliform and bacterial count (p<0.05) were observed in LPS activated cheese samples as compared to other. Moreover, proteolysis results determined by Urea-PAGE gel electrophoresis for casein fractions extracted from the three samples showed lower value for LPS treated cheese sample in contrast to others samples. Hence, the present study supports the Lacto peroxidase system (LPS) as a quality-cum-economical preservative technique as compared to other techniques in practice.
Effects of Polyphenol, Measured by a Biomarker of Total Polyphenols in Urine, on Cardiovascular Risk Factors After a Long-Term Follow-Up in the PREDIMED Study

Several epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods and risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, accuracy and reliability of these studies may be increased using urinary total polyphenol excretion (TPE) as a biomarker for total polyphenol intake. Our aim was to assess if antioxidant activity, measured by a Folin-Ciocalteu assay in urine, is correlated with an improvement in cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure and serum glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations) in an elderly population at high risk. A longitudinal study was performed with 573 participants (aged 67.3 ± 5.9) from the PREDIMED study (ISRCTN35739639). We used Folin-Ciocalteu method to determine TPE in urine samples, assisting with solid phase extraction. Participants were categorized into three groups according to changes in TPE. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess relationships between TPE and clinical cardiovascular risk factors, adjusting for potential confounders. After a 5-year follow-up, significant inverse correlations were observed between changes in TPE and plasma triglyceride concentration (β = −8.563; P = 0.007), glucose concentration (β = −4.164; P = 0.036), and diastolic blood pressure (β = −1.316; P = 0.013). Our results suggest that the consumption of more polyphenols, measured as TPE in urine, could exert a protective effect against some cardiovascular risk factors.
Supervised Exercise Program, BMI, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Subjects With Normal or Impaired Fasting Glucose

OBJECTIVE To determine the association of regular exercise, BMI, and fasting glucose with the risk of type 2 diabetes and to predict the risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Korean subjects (n = 7,233; 40–79 years old) who were not diagnosed with diabetes at baseline were enrolled through the National Health Insurance Corporation. All participants underwent biennial examinations, and 1,947 of 7,233 subjects also underwent a 6-month program of moderate-intensity exercise (300 min/week) without dietary advice. RESULTS During follow-up (mean = 2 years), there were 303 incidents of type 2 diabetes in the nonexercise program group (n = 5,286) and 83 in the exercise program group (n = 1,947). After adjusting for confounders, the risk of type 2 diabetes was positively associated with BMI and inversely with regular exercise, especially among overweight/obese subjects. After further adjustment for BMI, the odds ratios for risk of diabetes associated without and with regular exercise were 1.00 and 0.77, respectively. Among subjects with normal fasting glucose, exercise reduced the diabetes risk; however, among those with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), the protective effect of exercise was found only among overweight/obese subjects. The overweight/obese subjects in the exercise program group exhibited improved fasting glucose compared with the nonexercise program group and showed 1.5 kg of weight loss and a 3-cm decrease in waist circumference. Among overweight/obese subjects with unchanged fasting glucose, weight loss was greater in the exercise program group. CONCLUSIONS Regular exercise reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in overweight/obese individuals. Particularly, regular exercise and weight or waist circumference control are critical factors for preventing diabetes in overweight/obese individuals with IFG.
Gaseous chemistry and aerosol mechanism developments for version 3.5.1 of the online regional model, WRF-Chem

Abstract. We have made a number of developments to the Weather, Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem), with the aim of improving model prediction of trace atmospheric gas-phase chemical and aerosol composition, and of interactions between air quality and weather. A reduced form of the Common Reactive Intermediates gas-phase chemical mechanism (CRIv2-R5) has been added, using the Kinetic Pre-Processor (KPP) interface, to enable more explicit simulation of VOC degradation. N2O5 heterogeneous chemistry has been added to the existing sectional MOSAIC aerosol module, and coupled to both the CRIv2-R5 and existing CBM-Z gas-phase schemes. Modifications have also been made to the sea-spray aerosol emission representation, allowing the inclusion of primary organic material in sea-spray aerosol. We have worked on the European domain, with a particular focus on making the model suitable for the study of nighttime chemistry and oxidation by the nitrate radical in the UK atmosphere. Driven by appropriate emissions, wind fields and chemical boundary conditions, implementation of the different developments are illustrated, using a modified version of WRF-Chem 3.4. 1, in order to demonstrate the impact that these changes have in the Northwest European domain. These developments are publicly available in WRF-Chem from version 3.5. 1 onwards.