Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Unbiased Estimate of the Global Hubble Constant in the Region of Pisces-Perseus

We obtain an unbiased estimate of the global Hubble constant H0 in a volume of cz ≤ 12,000 km s-1 in the region of Pisces-Perseus. The Tully-Fisher (TF) relation is applied to a magnitude-limited sample of 441 spiral galaxies selected from the Arecibo 21 cm catalog. We improve the photometry data of the previous TF study by Ichikawa & Fukugita by using our original surface photometry data and local calibrators that have newly been made available in other works. The photometry data were calibrated with CCD observations, and we achieve 0.13 mag for a photometric internal error. We use a maximum likelihood method for the TF analysis. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that our method reproduces a given H0 at the 95% confidence level. By applying the method to our sample galaxies, we obtain the unbiased global Hubble constant H0=65±2−14+20 km s-1 Mpc-1; the first and the second terms represent the internal random error and the external uppermost and lowermost systematic errors, respectively. We also find a good agreement for our H0 with those recently obtained via Cepheid observation in the local universe and the TF relation and supernovae applied to a spatial volume comparable to or larger than ours. Hubble velocities of the spirals inferred from our H0 show no significant systematic differences from those given in the Mark III catalog. The same analysis for H0 is carried out using the r-band photometry data of the Pisces-Perseus region given by Willick et al. We obtain a global H0 that is consistent with that obtained from the B-band analysis. A bulk motion in the Pisces-Perseus region is briefly discussed, based on our calibration of H0. The B-band intrinsic TF scatter is too large to allow any determination of bulk motion. However, our r-band TF analysis supports the notion of a coherent streaming motion of the Pisces-Perseus ridge with a velocity of ~-200 km s-1 with respect to the CMB, in agreement with most modern studies.
The primacy of narrative agency: Re-reading Seyla Benhabib on narrativity

The central claim of this article is that narrative agency, which I will define as a subject’s capacity to make sense of herself as an ‘I’ over time and in relation to other ‘I’s, is a precondition for identity formation. I engage with two critiques of this claim: first, that narrative agency is limited by, rather than primary to, subordinating gender norms and, second, that a view of narrative agency as primary is committed to too ambitious a conception of the communicability of narratives. I argue that the narrative model survives these two criticisms by emphasising its irreducibility, its inherent relationality and its generative potential. I then suggest some of the ways in which a concept of narrative agency might help feminist critical theory to posit mutual recognition and respect as productive criteria for progressive self and social transformation.
Quantum gravity in large dimensions

Quantum gravity is investigated in the limit of a large number of space-time dimensions d, using as an ultraviolet regularization the simplicial lattice path integral formulation. In the weak field limit the appropriate expansion parameter is determined to be 1/d. For the case of a simplicial lattice dual to a hypercube, the critical point is found at k{sub c}/{lambda}=1/d (with k=1/8{pi}G) separating a weak coupling from a strong coupling phase, and with 2d{sup 2} degenerate zero modes at k{sub c}. The strong coupling, large G, phase is then investigated by analyzing the general structure of the strong coupling expansion in the large d limit. Dominant contributions to the curvature correlation functions are described by large closed random polygonal surfaces, for which excluded volume effects can be neglected at large d, and whose geometry we argue can be approximated by unconstrained random surfaces in this limit. In large dimensions the gravitational correlation length is then found to behave as vertical bar log(k{sub c}-k) vertical bar{sup 1/2}, implying for the universal gravitational critical exponent the value {nu}=0 at d={infinity}.
Effectiveness of an Integrative Approach on Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment disorders are defined as reactions of an individual, when fails to cope with an identifiable stressor event or situation which exceeds normally expected response results in subjective distress and emotional disturbance followed by an interruption of the functioning in social and personal entities. It is one of the diagnostic categories given in DSM and ICD -10 which is characterized by an emotional or behavioral response to a stressful event. Adjustment disorder was reported to be varied per different studies, the kind of population studied and the assessments applied Depressed mood was the most common subtype assigned (11.6%), followed by anxious mood, mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and disturbance of conduct. Factors that may contribute to the development of adjustment disorders Tomb 1996 are the nature of the stressor, individual vulnerability, Intrinsic factors-Age; sex; intellectual, emotional, and ego development; coping skills; temperament; and past experiences and Extrinsic factors-Parents and support systems; expectations, understanding, skills, maturity, and support available from the child’s larger environment plays a greater role in the risk of occurrence and shaping of the manifestations of Adjustment disorders. The stressor may involve only individual or even the community. Aim is to understand the factors involved considering certain cultural background and to enhance the quality of life through the application of integrated Evidence based approach by treating the Adjustment disorder.
An FDD Multihop Cellular Network for 3GPP-LTE

The future cellular radio networks like 3G-LTE are based on an OFDMA physical layer. The duplex scheme is preferably frequency division (FDD) because of its advantages in long range. Huge area coverage in a cost-efficient way is important problem for the early deployment. Time after time the demand in densely populated areas will grow, so a higher cell capacity over the area is needed. The requirements are expensive to solve with a traditional cellular architecture, because a fibre line access will be needed at any base station location, which are sometimes only a few 100 meters apart. This paper deals with multihop operation as an option to improve the coverage as well as the capacity issue at low cost. Homogeneous relays act like base stations, but without the need of a cable or fibre access. They are simply fed by the same radio technology in their first hop. The contribution of this paper is especially the multihop operation in the FDD mode and performance results for the throughput on the MAC-layer. The results were obtained with an analytic model, numerically evaluated with Matlab.
Fuzzy versus hard hidden Markov chains segmentation for volume determination and quantitation in noisy PET images

Accurate volume contouring in PET is crucial for quantitation in numerous oncology applications. The objective of our study was to compare the performance of two algorithms for automatic lesion volume delineation that permit noise modelling and have not previously been applied to PET data; namely the hidden Markov chains (HMC) model and a novel version: fuzzy HMC. Both models take into account noise, voxel's intensity and spatial correlation, in order to classify a voxel as "background" or "functional volume". In comparison to HMC which only models uncertainty, the novelty of the fuzzy model consists of the inclusion of an estimation of imprecision. The performance of both models was compared using realistic simulated images. Results demonstrate that FHMC performs better than HMC in both activity concentration accuracy as well as functional volume determination under different imaging conditions
Ju n 20 03 Arrangements of symmetric products of spaces

We study the combinatorics and topology of general arrangements of subspaces of the form D + SP (X) in symmetric products SP (X) where D ∈ SP (X). Symmetric products SP (X) := X/Sm, also known as the spaces of effective “divisors” of order m, together with their companion spaces of divisors/particles, have been studied from many points of view in numerous papers, see [7] and [21] for the references. In this paper we approach them from the point of view of geometric combinatorics. Using the topological technique of diagrams of spaces along the lines of [34] and [37], we calculate the homology of the union and the complement of these arrangements. As an application we include a computation of the homology of the homotopy end space of the open manifold SP (Mg,k), where Mg,k is a Riemann surface of genus g punctured at k points, a problem which was originally motivated by the study of commutative (m + k, m)-groups [32]. 1 Arrangements of symmetric products The study of homotopy types of arrangements of subspaces with an emphasis on the underlying combinatorial structure is a well establish part of geometric and topological combinatorics. Originally the focus was on the arrangements of linear or affine subspaces [6] [17] [26] [36]. Gradually other, more general arrangements of spaces were introduced and studied. Examples include arrangements of pseudolines/pseudospheres, in connection with the realizations of (oriented) matroids [5] [30], arrangements of projective and Grassmann varieties, partially motivated by a geometrization of the Stanley ring construction [15] [34], arrangements of classifying spaces BH for a family of subgroups of a given group, subspace arrangements over finite fields [4] etc. With the introduction into combinatorics of the technique of diagrams of spaces and the associated homotopy colimits [34] [37], it became apparent that arrangements of subspaces have much in common with other important and well studied objects like stratified spaces/discriminants and their geometric resolutions [33], toric varieties viewed as combinatorial objects associated to face latices of polytopes [9] [11] [34] etc. All this serves as a motivation for the study of general subspace arrangements carrying interesting combinatorial structure. Symmetric products of spaces SP(X) are classical mathematical objects [1] [2] [10] [12] [13] [14] [21] [27] which appear in different areas of mathematics and mathematical physics as orbit spaces, divisor spaces, particle spaces etc., see [7] for a leisurely introduction and a review of old and new applications. The case of 2-manifolds M is of particular interest since in this case SP(M) is a manifold. Elements D ∈ SP (M) The authors were supported by the grant 1643 of the Serbian Ministry of Science, Technology and Development.
A controlled study of eight months of physical training and reduction of blood pressure in children: the Odense schoolchild study.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the effect of physical training on physical fitness and blood pressure in children aged 9-11 years. DESIGN--Prospective randomised controlled intervention study of a sample of children drawn from a population survey of coronary risk factors in children. SETTING--Odense, Denmark. SUBJECTS--69 children with mean blood pressure greater than or equal to 95th centile (hypertensive group) and 68 with mean blood pressure less than 95th centile (normotensive group), randomly selected from a population of 1369 children. INTERVENTION--67 children were randomised to receive three extra lessons a week of an ordinary school physical education programme for eight months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Physical fitness assessed by calculation of maximum oxygen uptake and blood pressure recorded by one unblinded observer. RESULTS--After three months neither blood pressure nor physical fitness had changed significantly. After adjustment for values in weight, height, heart rate, and the variable in question before training physical fitness rose significantly at the end of eight months' training, by 3.7 mlO2/kg/min (95% confidence interval 2.2 to 5.3) in the normotensive training subgroup and by 2.1 mlO2/kg/min (0.1 to 4.2) in the hypertensive training subgroup compared with that in the controls. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the training subgroups fell significantly by 6.5 mm Hg (3.2 to 9.9) and 4.1 mm Hg (1.7 to 6.6) respectively in the normotensive group and by 4.9 mm Hg (0.7 to 9.2) and 3.8 mm Hg (0.9 to 6.6) respectively in the hypertensive group. CONCLUSIONS--Physical training lowers blood pressure and improves physical fitness in children and might have implications for an important non-pharmacological approach to primary prevention of essential hypertension.
Mindfulness Interventions for Preventing and Treating Eating Disorders in Adolescent and Young Adult Females

Mindfulness Interventions for Preventing and Treating Eating Disorders in Adolescent and Young Adult Females Amanda Pfeifer Graves College of Nursing, BYU Master of Science Purpose: The portrayal of women in the mass media is increasingly sexualized. An accumulation of negative media exposure can cause adolescent girls to fall prey to self-objectification. Repeated experiences of self-objectification can result in body shame, which consequently may lead to dietary restraint and binge eating to achieve the idealized thin body. The goals of a mindfulness intervention are to change how one feels in response to external cues and to develop healthier coping skills. The purpose of this literature review is to compare and contrast recent studies on mindfulness measures aimed at preventing or treating disordered eating behaviors in adolescent and young adult females. Method: An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE, CINAHL, psycINFO, and Alt Health to identify English-language studies from 2006 to 2016. 16 articles (seven randomized controlled trials and nine quasi-experimental design studies) met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Findings: A variety of mindfulness interventions showed promising results in decreasing eating disorder symptomology, including mirror exposure, acceptance practices, yoga, mindfulnessbased educational programs, acupuncture, and mealtime mindfulness. Conclusions: Mindfulness interventions show promising efficacy in reducing eating disorder symptomology. Nursing implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Gain Control Network Conditions in Early Sensory Coding

Gain control is essential for the proper function of any sensory system. However, the precise mechanisms for achieving effective gain control in the brain are unknown. Based on our understanding of the existence and strength of connections in the insect olfactory system, we analyze the conditions that lead to controlled gain in a randomly connected network of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We consider two scenarios for the variation of input into the system. In the first case, the intensity of the sensory input controls the input currents to a fixed proportion of neurons of the excitatory and inhibitory populations. In the second case, increasing intensity of the sensory stimulus will both, recruit an increasing number of neurons that receive input and change the input current that they receive. Using a mean field approximation for the network activity we derive relationships between the parameters of the network that ensure that the overall level of activity of the excitatory population remains unchanged for increasing intensity of the external stimulation. We find that, first, the main parameters that regulate network gain are the probabilities of connections from the inhibitory population to the excitatory population and of the connections within the inhibitory population. Second, we show that strict gain control is not achievable in a random network in the second case, when the input recruits an increasing number of neurons. Finally, we confirm that the gain control conditions derived from the mean field approximation are valid in simulations of firing rate models and Hodgkin-Huxley conductance based models.
Radiation-force-based estimation of acoustic attenuation using harmonic motion imaging (HMI) in phantoms and in vitro livers before and after HIFU ablation

Acoustic attenuation represents the energy loss of the propagating wave through biological tissues and plays a significant role in both therapeutic and diagnostic ultrasound applications. Estimation of acoustic attenuation remains challenging but critical for tissue characterization. In this study, an attenuation estimation approach was developed using the radiation-force-based method of harmonic motion imaging (HMI). 2D tissue displacement maps were acquired by moving the transducer in a raster-scan format. A linear regression model was applied on the logarithm of the HMI displacements at different depths in order to estimate the acoustic attenuation. Commercially available phantoms with known attenuations (n=5 ? >) and in vitro canine livers (n=3 ? >) were tested, as well as HIFU lesions in in vitro canine livers (n=5 ? >). Results demonstrated that attenuations obtained from the phantoms showed a good correlation (R2=0.976 ? >) with the independently obtained values reported by the manufacturer with an estimation error (compared to the values independently measured) varying within the range of 15–35%. The estimated attenuation in the in vitro canine livers was equal to 0.32 ± 0.03 dB cm−1 MHz−1, which is in good agreement with the existing literature. The attenuation in HIFU lesions was found to be higher (0.58 ± 0.06 dB cm−1 MHz−1) than that in normal tissues, also in agreement with the results from previous publications. Future potential applications of the proposed method include estimation of attenuation in pathological tissues before and after thermal ablation.
Genetic evidence from mitochondrial DNA corroborates the origin of Tibetan chickens

Chicken is the most common poultry species and is important to human societies. Tibetan chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is a breed endemic to China that is distributed mainly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, its origin has not been well characterized. In the present study, we sequenced partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 239 and 283 samples from Tibetan and Sichuan indigenous chickens, respectively. Incorporating 1091 published sequences, we constructed the matrilineal genealogy of Tibetan chickens to further document their domestication history. We found that the genetic structure of the mtDNA haplotypes of Tibetan chickens are dominated by seven major haplogroups (A-G). In addition, phylogenetic and network analyses showed that Tibetan chickens are not distinguishable from the indigenous chickens in surrounding areas. Furthermore, some clades of Tibetan chickens may have originated from game fowls. In summary, our results collectively indicated that Tibetan chickens may have diverged from indigenous chickens in the adjacent regions and hybridized with various chickens.
A Correlated Parts Model for Object Detection in Large 3D Scans

This paper addresses the problem of detecting objects in 3D scans according to object classes learned from sparse user annotation. We model objects belonging to a class by a set of fully correlated parts, encoding dependencies between local shapes of different parts as well as their relative spatial arrangement. For an efficient and comprehensive retrieval of instances belonging to a class of interest, we introduce a new approximate inference scheme and a corresponding planning procedure. We extend our technique to hierarchical composite structures, reducing training effort and modeling spatial relations between detected instances. We evaluate our method on a number of real‐world 3D scans and demonstrate its benefits as well as the performance of the new inference algorithm.
Gender differences in personality characteristics and cognitive abilities in adolescents admitted in correctional institutes in Egypt

Objectives To ascertain differences between male and female adolescents admitted to correctional institutes in Egypt with respect to their personality characteristics and cognitive abilities. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in two correctional institutes in Cairo. Fifty adolescents admitted after being convicted by court (25 male, 25 female) were randomly selected, assessed, and compared with an age-matched control group ( N =25). Data on personal, sociodemographic, and criminal history were collected. They were subjected to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, The Hostility Questionnaire, and the Psychiatric Symptomatology Scale for adolescents. Results Of the students, 28% were male and 16% were female; 72% of male and 36% of female adolescents were working as unskilled manual workers. Male adolescents were more violent in their acts compared with female adolescents (48 vs. 8%); 12% of male adolescents were engaged in the use and sale of drugs compared with 8% of female adolescents; 44% of female adolescents were homeless compared with 4% of male adolescents; stress factors were mostly financial in male adolescents (88%), whereas in females sexual abuse was present in 24% in addition. Substance abuse was a dominant feature in both: 80% in male adolescents (nicotine smoking in 24% and polysubstance in 56%) and 64% in female adolescents (nicotine smoking in 44% and polysubstance in 20%). Adolescent girls had significantly higher scores in the adjustment disorder, identity disorder, and depression, bulimia, and sleep disorders on the symptomatology scale. They also had lower IQ in the total, verbal, performance, vocabulary, arithmetic, digit span, digit symbol, and block design scales of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. No significant difference was seen in the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
Recognising simplicity of black-box groups

We investigate the complexity of computing involutions and their centralizers in groups of Lie type over finite fields of odd order, and discuss applications to the problem of deciding whether a matrix group, or a black-box group of known characteristic, is simple. We show that if the characteristic is odd, then simplicity can be recognised in Monte Carlo polynomial time. Mathematics Subject Classification:
Stability and Noise Analysis of Coupled-Oscillator Systems

We present a simplified closed-form formulation for the optimized design of coupled-oscillator systems. It is based on admittance models for the oscillator elements, extracted from HB simulations. The formulation relates explicitly the coupled-system oscillation frequency and amplitude and phase distributions with the parameters of the coupling network and the oscillator elements. It allows anticipating and understanding the form of variation of the system variables and can be used for an insightful design. With a perturbation analysis based on the new formulation, we will generalize existing stability criteria to more complete oscillator models. A combined amplitude- and phase-noise formulation will enable the prediction of the phase-noise spectrum flattening near oscillator carrier, while taking into account the system resonances that affect the spectrum shape. The techniques have been successfully applied to a coupled-oscillator system at 5.2 GHz.