Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The mass function of high-redshift seed black holes

In this Letter we derive the mass function of seed black holes that result from the central mass concentrated via disc accretion in collapsed haloes at redshift z≈ 15. Using standard arguments including stability, we show that these pregalactic discs can assemble a significant mass concentration in the inner regions, providing fuel for the formation and initial growth of supermassive black holes. Assuming that these mass concentrations do result in central seed black holes, we determine the mass distribution of these seeds as a function of key halo properties. The seed mass distribution determined here turns out to be asymmetric and skewed to higher masses. Starting with these initial seeds, building up to 109 solar masses by z= 6 to power the bright quasars is not a problem in the standard Λ cold dark matter cosmogony. These seed black holes in gas-rich environments are likely to grow into the supermassive black holes at later times via mergers and accretion. Gas accretion on to these seeds at high redshift will produce miniquasars that likely play an important role in the reionization of the Universe. Some of these seed black holes, on the other hand, could be wandering in galaxy haloes as a consequence of frequent mergers, powering the off-nuclear ultra-luminous X-ray sources detected in nearby galaxies.
How well do we know the age and mass distributions of the star cluster system in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) star cluster system offers the unique opportunity to independently check the accuracy of age (and the corresponding mass) determinations based on a number of complementary techniques. Using our sophisticated tool for star cluster analysis based on broad-band spectral energy distributions (SEDs), 'AnalySED', we re-analyse the Hunter et al. LMC cluster photometry. Our main aim is to set the tightest limits yet on the accuracy of absolute age determinations based on broad-band SEDs, and therefore on the usefulness of such an approach. Our broad-band SED fits yield reliable ages, with statistical absolute uncertainties within Δlog(Age/yr) ≃ 0.4 overall. The systematic differences we find with respect to previous age determinations are caused by conversions of the observational photometry to a different filter system, thus leading to systematically inaccurate results. The LMC's cluster formation rate (CFR) has been roughly constant outside of the well-known age gap between ∼3 and 13 Gyr, when the CFR was a factor of ∼5 lower. Using a simple approach to derive the characteristic cluster disruption time-scale, we find that log(tdis4/yr) = 9.9 ± 0.1 , where tdis=tdis4(Mcl/104 M⊙)0.62 . This long characteristic disruption time-scale implies that we are observing the initial cluster mass function (CMF). We conclude that while the older cluster (sub)samples show CMF slopes that are fully consistent with the α≃−2 slopes generally observed in young star cluster systems, the youngest mass and luminosity-limited LMC cluster subsets show shallower slopes (at least below masses of a few ×103 M⊙ ), which is contrary to dynamical expectations. This may imply that the initial CMF slope of the LMC cluster system as a whole is not well represented by a power law, although we cannot disentangle the unbound from the bound clusters at the youngest ages.
Invasion during Extreme Weather: Success and Failure in a Temperate Perennial Grassland

Invasive and native plant species compete for resources in similar pools, with disturbances often favoring the invader. Yet, increased climate variability may be shifting the competitive edge back toward the natives. We conducted field studies in perennial grasslands to determine the effects of clipping and drought on resource availability (light and moisture) and subsequent establishment of Carduus nutans. We measured light penetration and soil moisture content in C. nutans monoculture, clipped and nonclipped grassland with C. nutans, and bare ground control plots. We also tracked phenology of the invader and grasses. Our studies revealed that light was a limiting resource in normal precipitation years; removing biomass (e.g., clipped grassland plots) allowed C. nutans to successfully establish, while not removing biomass (e.g., nonclipped grassland plots) resulted in premature death. Similarly, soil moisture was a limiting resource when light was abundant; a lack of precipitation in the second year reduced grass growth, which opened the canopy and allowed adequate light for C. nutans seedlings that also died prematurely under extremely low soil moisture levels. We found that C. nutans was unable to compensate for the low light and soil moisture in offsetting, yet consecutive seasons and failed to establish in a nonclipped grassland. The emergence of C. nutans in a temperate perennial grassland is not a sure sign of success. If left undisturbed, C. nutans seedlings may eventually die without having a significant impact on grasses.
Fountain Codes Based Distributed Storage Algorithms for Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider large-scale networks with n nodes, out of which k are in possession, (e.g., have sensed or collected in some other way) k information packets. In the scenarios in which network nodes are vulnerable because of, for example, limited energy or a hostile environment, it is desirable to disseminate the acquired information throughout the network so that each of the n nodes stores one (possibly coded) packet and the original k source packets can be recovered later in a computationally simple way from any (1 + isin)k nodes for some small isin > 0. We developed two distributed algorithms for solving this problem based on simple random walks and Fountain codes. Unlike all previously developed schemes, our solution is truly distributed, that is, nodes do not know n, k or connectivity in the network, except in their own neighborhoods, and they do not maintain any routing tables. In the first algorithm, all the sensors have the knowledge of n and k. In the second algorithm, each sensor estimates these parameters through the random walk dissemination. We present analysis of the communication/transmission and encoding/decoding complexity of these two algorithms, and provide extensive simulation results as well.
A placebo‐controlled randomized study on the clinical effectiveness, immunohistochemical changes and protoporphyrin IX accumulation in fractionated 5‐aminolaevulinic acid‐photodynamic therapy in patients with psoriasis

Background Topical 5‐aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)‐photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of psoriasis has been evaluated in a few studies. In these studies different treatment parameters were used, there was a variable clinical response, and a nonhomogeneous fluorescence was seen after irradiation with Wood's light.
A BRIDGE TOO FAR: THE EFFECT OF INFORMAL TIES ACROSS FORMAL BOUNDARIES ON INDIVIDUAL EXPLORATION PERFORMANCE*

This paper examines the effect of informal relationships that connect actors across formal organization boundaries on their relative exploration performance. We distinguish between informal ties that connect actors across formally defined organization boundaries, and the extent to which actors have informal ties that bridge disconnected elements of the social structure. Further, we separate the effects by internal and external network ties. Consistent with extant research, we argue that internal indirect ties allow for mobilization of resources and therefore have a positive effect on exploration performance. In contrast, external indirect ties have a negative effect on exploration. We further posit that internal cross-specialization ties – ties that cross formally defined areas of specialization – are an important mechanism by which actors access information and resources from different knowledge domains. Nevertheless, to successfully mobilize such resources across formal organization boundaries, individuals benefit from having strong indirect ties in their internal networks. Similarly, external cross-specialization ties only have a positive effect on exploration performance when actors have external indirect ties in their networks. Detailed data on 1386 informal relationships of 79 senior partners in a large management consultancy lend support to these arguments.
Antitumor Activity of Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid against Thyroid Cancer Cell Lines In vitro and In vivo

Purpose: The histone deacetylase inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), has multiple antitumor effects against a variety of human cancers. Experimental design: We treated several anaplastic and papillary thyroid cancer cell lines with SAHA to determine if it could inhibit the growth of these cells in vitro and in vivo. Results: SAHA effectively inhibited 50% clonal growth of the anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines, ARO and FRO, and the papillary thyroid cancer cell line, BHP 7-13, at 1.3 × 10−7 to 5 × 10−7 mol/L, doses that are achievable in patients. In concert with growth inhibition, SAHA down-regulated the expression of cyclin D1 and up-regulated levels of p21WAF1. Annexin V and cleavage of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase were both increased by exposure of the thyroid cancer cells to SAHA. Expression of the death receptor 5 (DR5) gene was also increased by SAHA, but the combination of the DR5 ligand, tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), with SAHA had little effect compared with SAHA alone. Of note, the combination of paclitaxel, doxorubicin, or paraplatin with SAHA enhanced cell killing of the thyroid cancer cells. In addition, murine studies showed that SAHA administered daily by i.p. injection at 100 mg/kg inhibited the growth of human thyroid tumor cells. Conclusion: Our data indicate that SAHA is a plausible adjuvant therapy for thyroid cancers.
Energy norm error estimates for averaged discontinuous Galerkin methods in 1 dimension

Numerical solution of one-dimensional elliptic problems is investigated using an averaged discontinuous discretization. The corresponding numerical method can be performed using the favorable properties of the discontinuous Galerkin (dG) approach, while for the average an error estimation is obtained in the i? 1-seminorm. We point out that this average can be regarded as a lower order modification of the average of a well-known overpenalized symmetric interior penalty (IP) method. This allows a natural derivation of the overpenalized IP methods. © 2014 Institute for Scientific Computing and Information.
The Loss of Confidence on Bank Money in the Great Depression

1 This paper has had a long gestation, as it was first drafted in 1993 while the authors were at the University of Berkeley, respectively as graduate student and visiting scholar. Helpful comments have been provided, at various stages, Palazzo for the support provided in data elaboration. Of course the responsibility for the results presented is entirely ours.
Shaping career-long perspectives on teaching : a guide on policies to improve Initial Teacher Education

Lector Marco Snoek heeft een belangrijke bijdrage geleverd aan de publicatie ‘Shaping career-long perspectives on teaching’. Deze ‘Guide on policies to improve initial teacher education’ is onlangs gepubliceerd door de Europese Commissie. De guide omvat handreikingen die het resultaat zijn van het werk van de Working Group Schools van de Europese Commissie. De publicatie gaat in op de rol van leraren en hoe leraren in die rol ondersteund kunnen worden door een structuur voor het beroep, die gericht is op een leven lang leren en op samenwerkend leren. Het realiseren van een dergelijke structuur vraagt een nauwe samenwerking van de verschillende stakeholders: ministeries, leraren en schoolleiders. In de Working Group Schools bogen vertegenwoordigers van de verschillende lidstaten zich over de vraag hoe beleid van overheden het continuum van het beroep (de samenhang tussen de lerarenopleiding, de eerste fase van de beroepsuitoefening en de verdere loopbaan van leraren) kan versterken, welke bijdrage leeromgevingen die gericht zijn op samenwerkend leren tussen professionals daar aan kunnen leveren en wat dit vraagt van beleid en van de samenwerking tussen stakeholders bij het ontwikkelen van dit beleid. Marco Snoek vertegenwoordigde daarbij het Nederlandse Ministerie van Onderwijs. De verschillende inzichten die ontstonden op basis van uitwisseling van beleidsaanpakken in verschillende landen zijn vertaald naar aanbevelingen voor beleid. In een TEDlike talk die Marco Snoek op het Europese Education, Training and Youth Forum in Brussels op maandag 19 oktober verzorgde, gaat hij in op de hoofdpunten van de publicatie. Zie: www.vimeo. com/144635675
Inflammation in the course of early myocardial ischemia

Experimental models of acute ischemic myocardial injury indicate that the inflammatory response after the ischemic event contributes to tissue damage. This is especially apparent with reperfusion of the ischemic tissue. In such models some therapeutic strategies designed to reduce neutrophil accumulation or function have resulted in apparently beneficial effects. Although such findings are encouraging, interventions into these pathological processes using specific molecular targets will require greater understanding of specific mechanisms. Current evidence indicates that potential sites of therapeutic intervention will be found in pathways leading to complement activation, generation of lipid‐derived mediators, adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes, and activation of neutrophil secretory processes releasing, for example, proteolytic enzymes and reactive oxygen. Understanding the dynamic interplay between the mediators, adhesion pathways, and secretory processes that results in myocardial damage will allow a rational approach to controlling the detrimental inflammatory consequences of ischemia and reperfusion. —Entman, M. L. ; Michael, L. ; Rossen, R. D. ; Dreyer, W. J.; Anderson, D. C. ; Taylor, A. A. ; Smith, C. W. Inflammation in the course of early myocardial ischemia. FASEB J. 5: 2529‐2537; 1991.
Trends in Total and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol among U.S. Adults: Contributions of Changes in Dietary Fat Intake and Use of Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

Objective Our aim was to examine the relative contributions of changes in dietary fat intake and use of cholesterol-lowering medications to changes in concentrations of total cholesterol among adults in the United States from 1988–1994 to 2007–2008. Method We used data from adults aged 20–74 years who participated in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1988–1994 to 2007–2008. The effect of change in dietary fat intake on concentrations of total cholesterol was estimated by the use of equations developed by Keys, Hegsted, and successors. Results Age-adjusted mean concentrations of total cholesterol were 5.60 mmol/L (216 mg/dl) during 1988–1994 falling to 5.09 mmol/L (197 mg/dl) in 2007–2008 (P<0.001). No significant changes in the intake of total fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and dietary cholesterol were observed from 1988–1994 to 2007–2008. However, the age-adjusted use of cholesterol-lowering medications increased from 1.6% to 12.5% (P<0.001). The various equations suggested that changes in dietary fat made minimal contributions to the observed trend in mean concentrations of total cholesterol. The increased use of cholesterol-lowering medications was estimated to account for approximately 46% of the change. Discussion Mean concentrations of total cholesterol among adults in the United States have declined by ∼4% since 1988–1994. The increased use of cholesterol-lowering medications has apparently accounted for about half of this small fall. Further substantial decreases in cholesterol might be potentially achievable by implementing effective and feasible public health interventions to promote the consumption of a more healthful diet by US adults. Disclaimer The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Robust Adaptive Regulation by Output Error Feedback for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems

Abstract Minimum phase uncertain nonlinear systems in output feedback form are considered: they are subject to disturbances and/or uncertainties and are required to track reference signals. Both disturbances and references are generated by an exosystem whose parameters are uncertain. Under the assumption that the regulator problem has a solution, but with no a priori assumption on the required control input (e.g. no ‘immersion’ assumption), a global robust error feedback regulator is designed. If its adaptive internal model can generate the required control input global asymptotic regulation is achieved, otherwise the regulation error tends to a residual set which decreases as the reference input modeling error decreases.
Opportunistic screening and health promotion for type 2 diabetes: an expanding public health role for the community pharmacist.

BACKGROUND Early detection to identify people at risk of diabetes is an important approach to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to implement the Diabetes Prevention Program in community pharmacy using a diabetes risk prediction tool. METHODS The program was conducted in seven pharmacies in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants were the pharmacy's clients aged ≥ 35 years without the history of diabetes. A validated risk prediction tool was used to assess individuals' diabetes risk. Educational information was offered to all participants. Those with a high risk score (≥ 9 out of 17) were offered a self-check of fasting capillary blood glucose (CBG). A referral was made for those with CBG ≥ 126 mg/dl. RESULTS During a 3-month service, 397 individuals participated in the program. Nearly half of the participants (49.4%) were at a high risk of diabetes (risk score: ≥ 9). Ninety five (48.5%) of these high risk individuals undertook fasting CBG. Elevated fasting CBG (≥ 126 mg/dl) was found in 12 persons (12.7%). Overall, two patients with diabetes were identified during the provision of the program. CONCLUSIONS The Diabetes Prevention Program in community pharmacies uncovered half of the clients who were at risk of diabetes and provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about the prevention of diabetes.
Benefits of Pathway Splitting in Sensory Coding

In many sensory systems, the neural signal splits into multiple parallel pathways. For example, in the mammalian retina, ∼20 types of retinal ganglion cells transmit information about the visual scene to the brain. The purpose of this profuse and early pathway splitting remains unknown. We examine a common instance of splitting into ON and OFF neurons excited by increments and decrements of light intensity in the visual scene, respectively. We test the hypothesis that pathway splitting enables more efficient encoding of sensory stimuli. Specifically, we compare a model system with an ON and an OFF neuron to one with two ON neurons. Surprisingly, the optimal ON–OFF system transmits the same information as the optimal ON–ON system, if one constrains the maximal firing rate of the neurons. However, the ON–OFF system uses fewer spikes on average to transmit this information. This superiority of the ON–OFF system is also observed when the two systems are optimized while constraining their mean firing rate. The efficiency gain for the ON–OFF split is comparable with that derived from decorrelation, a well known processing strategy of early sensory systems. The gain can be orders of magnitude larger when the ecologically important stimuli are rare but large events of either polarity. The ON–OFF system also provides a better code for extracting information by a linear downstream decoder. The results suggest that the evolution of ON–OFF diversification in sensory systems may be driven by the benefits of lowering average metabolic cost, especially in a world in which the relevant stimuli are sparse.
Interfacial oxide defect mediated ballistic electron transport for ITO/p-Si contact

At moderately high field, the most frequent scattering events involve in carrier transport in semiconductor or solid, leading to the degradation of signal quality, limiting speed of devices. Ballistic transport is found to be an ideal mechanism in which carriers are not scattered [1][2][7]. The underlying heterostructure physics of Tin-doped Indium Oxide (ITO) on Si substrate is an interfacial formation which is relating to atomic placement. This may cause dislocations, vacancy defects at the interface, resulting in certain junction current voltage (I-V) characteristic. Herein, we report the I-V characteristic of as-deposited ITO/p-Si at relatively high temperature sputtering deposition (~350 DC) that allow ballistic transport, whereas ohmic contact can be obtained at room temperature deposition, and Schottky contact behavior at relatively medium temperature deposition (~200 DC). The ballistic electron transport of ITO/p-Si junction can be ascribed as the formation of interfacial oxide with localized nanoleakage (void channel) path buried inside oxide layer. The channel length of leakage path is well defined by interfacial oxide layer (~ 3 nm) [1-2][4][13].
Suicide in Racial and Ethnic Minority Adults: A Review of the Last Decade

There has been an increase in literature that addresses risks associated with suicide vulnerability and death for American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Black American, and Hispanic American adults. However, much more definitive work is needed. In comparison to previous decades, research in the area of ethnic minority suicide may have lost some momentum for certain racial/ethnic groups. As the U.S. population becomes increasingly diverse, the need for advanced research efforts regarding the full spectrum of suicide behavior grows increasingly urgent. Objective: To provide a summary of putative risk factors and plausible protective factors highlighting both unique and common factors for American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Black American, and Hispanic American adults. The dearth of literature is also addressed by the proposition of emergent needs in the study of ethnic minority suicide. Further, we will examine the ways in which the last decade of research has expanded suicide science as well as areas that have been understudied. Conclusions: A review of empirical studies and conceptual reports published in the last decade revealed common trends associated with suicide across ethnic groups, including sociodemographic variables, psychiatric risks, cultural factors, and factors related to interpersonal relations. Ethnic minority groups also shared notable protective factors, such as religious and spiritual beliefs, and familial ties. Suggested directions for future research include the examination of individual subgroups within ethnic communities as well as the exploration of understudied correlates that show promising evidence as influential to suicidal behavior. Additionally, factors that lead to suicide attempts for American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Black American, and Hispanic American adults remain relatively unexamined.
P88 REVERSIBLE CAPE IN TROPICAL CYCLONE TORNADO REGIMES

Tropical cyclone (TC) tornadoes produced by supercells occur in characteristic thermodynamic environments of  rich low-level moisture,  high precipitable water and  commonly (but not always) enhancement to CAPE by diurnal, diabatic surface heating. These factors juxtapose with strong low-level shear magnitudes, high storm-relative helicity and enlarged hodographs to optimize supercellular tornado potential in TCs (e.g., McCaul 1991; Edwards et al. 2012a), especially in areas located north through south-southeast of center (e.g., Edwards 2012 and climatologies cited therein). Nonsupercellular tornadoes also occur in TCs; however, they tend to be less damaging, shorter lived, and often embedded within otherwise supercell-favorable environments (Edwards et al. 2012b).