Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The star cluster system of the 3 Gyr old merger remnant NGC 1316: Clues from optical and near-infrared photometry

The giant merger remnant galaxy NGC 1316 (Fornax A) is an ideal probe for studying the long-term effects of a past major merger on star cluster systems, given its spectroscopically derived merger age of � 3 Gyr which we reported in a recent paper (Goudfrooij et al. 2001). Here we present new ground-based, large-area optical and near-IR imaging of star clusters in NGC 1316. The ground-based photometry is complemented with deep Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 imaging, constituting an excellent combination for studying globular cluster systems. We find that the optical-near-IR colours and lumino sities of the brightest � 10 clusters in NGC 1316 are consistent with those of intermediate-age (2 ‐ 3 Gyr) populations. In particular, the near-IR data preclude ages 4 Gyr for those clusters. Unlike ‘normal’ giant ellipticals, the B I colour distribution of clusters in NGC 1316 is not clearly bimodal. However, the luminosity functions (LFs) of the blue and red parts of the cluster colour distribution are different: The red cluster LF is well represented by a power law, �(L)dL / L 1.2±0.3 dL, extending to about 1.5 mag brighter (in B) than those of typical giant ellipticals. In contrast, the shape of the blue cluster LF is consistent with that of ‘normal’ spiral and elliptical galaxies. We conclude that t he star cluster system of NGC 1316 is a combination of a population of age � 3 Gyr having roughly solar metallicity and a population of old, metal-poor clusters which probably belonged to the pre-merger galaxies. After the 3 Gyr old, metal-rich clusters fade to an age of 10 Gyr, they will form a red ‘peak’ in a bimodal cluster colour distribution. This ‘red peak’ will have a colour consistent with that found in ‘normal, old’ giant ellipticals of the same galaxy l uminosity (taking age dimming into account). The surface density profile of clusters in the innermost regions is lower than that of the integrated light of the galaxy, presumably due to the collective effect of extended star formation in the inner regions of NGC 1316 and tidal shocking of the inner clusters. Outside the core, the surface density profile of clusters is cons istent with that of the underlying starlight, suggesting that the cluster system originally e xperienced the same violent relaxation as did the main body of the merger remnant. The specific cluste r frequency is presently SN = 1.7 ± 0.4 down to the 50 per cent completeness limit of the WFPC2 photometry, and will increase to SN > 2.0 as the merger-induced stellar (and star cluster) popula tion fades to an age of � 10 Gyr (barring further merger events), consistent with specific frequencies of typical giant ellipticals in the field and in poor groups. These f eatures of the star cluster system of NGC 1316 are fully consistent with scenarios for forming ‘normal’ giant elliptical galaxies through gas-rich mergers at look-back times > 10 Gyr.
PRACTICING TEACHERS BELIEFS AND USES OF ASSESSMENT

In an exploratory study of teachers’ beliefs and use of assessment, four certified teachers of culturally and linguistically diverse students volunteered for interviews and submission of assessments they created. Detailed case studies, focusing on exploring the complexities of assessment-related issues, were developed. Common themes emerging from the case studies were: (1) a frustration with standardized testing, (2) low self-efficacy in preparing objective types of tests, and (3) concern about the value of objective test items for teaching. In the socio-political environment of high stakes testing, implications for testing practices, support for assessment, and teacher education and training are also presented.
Contemporary Ethnic Mobilization

Ethnic mobilization is the process by which groups organize around some feature of ethnic identity (for example, skin color, language, customs) in pursuit of collective ends. In this review I seek to uncover some of the material and ideological bases of this explosion of ethnic movements in such diverse regions as Quebec, Eritrea, Bangladesh, Brittany, Biafra, and Scotland, to name but a few. I limit this review to the occurrences of ethnic mobilization since World War II because many observers claim that during this period the character of ethnic movements has qualitatively changed toward increasing politicization of ethnicity (Glazer & Moynihan 1975), and has quantitatively changed toward increasing claims of autonomy, statehood, and independent status (Rothschild 1981; Smith 1981 b). In narrowing my scope to recent ethnic mobilizations, I accept the proposition that under certain conditions modernization 1 creates and sustains contemporary ethnic movements (Connor 1972; Young 1976; Esman 1977; Smith 1979; Enloe 1973, 1980a). Two research questions relating modernization to ethnic mobilization guide this review. First, why does modernization foster ethnic movements in some but not all states? More specifically, under what conditions does political
Tm-doped fiber laser with control of spectral dynamics

Self-sweeping of laser frequency is relatively new effect in fiber lasers. The effect consists in periodic dynamics of the laser frequency without use of tuning elements and electrical drivers for frequency tuning. Owing to broad sweeping range (up to 23 nm) and simplicity, self-sweeping fiber lasers are attractive sources for applications demanding tunable radiation. Currently the self-sweeping effect in fiber lasers was observed in different spectral regions covering range from 1 to 2.1 μm. However, it is difficult to control spectral dynamics due to self-induced nature of the sweeping effect. In the paper, we demonstrated linearly-polarized Tm-doped fiber laser with lasing near 1.9 μm with manually controlled the spectral dynamics with pump power adjustment. The laser operates in three self-sweeping regimes depending on pump power: 1) with normal scanning direction at high rate (~5 nm/sec) and, 2) with reverse one at low sweeping rate (~0.1 nm/sec) and 3) wavelength stopping. In the case of wavelength stopping, the wavelength can be stopped at arbitrary value in the range from 1912 to 1923 nm depending on prehistory of spectral dynamics of the laser. The wavelength stability in case of wavelength stopping is better than 50 pm within 5 minutes. In the case of linear scanning of laser line, sweeping range exceeds 15 nm.
The Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Vascular Complications

Oxidative stress has been paid increasing attention to as an important causative factor for diabetic vascular complications. Among possible various sources, accumulating evidence has indicated that NAD(P)H oxidase may be the most important source for reactive oxygen species production in diabetic vascular tissues. The mechanisms underlying activation and up-regulation of NAD(P)H oxidase has been supposed to be mediated by high glucose-induced protein kinase C (PKC) activation. In this review article, activation of local renin-angiotensin II system induced by chymase activation is also shown to amplify such a PKC-dependent activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. Additionally, human evidence showing the beneficial effect of antioxidants on diabetic vascular complications. Bilirubin has been recognized as a strong endogenous antioxidant. Here markedly lower prevalence of vascular complications is shown in diabetic patients with Gilbert syndrome, a congenital hyperbilirubinemia, as well as reduced markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Lastly, statin, angiotensin II receptor blocker, chymase inhibitor, bilirubin and biliverdin, PKC β isoform inhibitor, and glucagon-like peptide-1 analog, are shown to serve as antioxidants and have some beneficial effect on diabetic vascular complications, via inhibiting PKC-NAD(P)H oxidase activation, supporting the notion that this mechanism may be an effective therapeutic target for preventing diabetic vascular complications.
Assessment of claims of improved prediction beyond the Framingham risk score.

CONTEXT With heightened interest in predictive medicine, many studies try to document information that can improve prediction of major clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reported design and analysis of studies that examined whether additional predictors improve predictive performance when added to the Framingham risk score (FRS), one of the most widely validated and cited clinical prediction scores. STUDY SELECTION Two independent investigators searched 1908 articles citing the article that described the FRS in 1998 until September 2009 through the ISI Web of Knowledge database. Articles were eligible if they included any analyses comparing the predictive performance of the FRS vs the FRS plus some additional predictor for a prospectively assessed outcome. Data Analyses We recorded information on FRS calculation, modeling of additional predictors, outcomes assessed, population evaluated, subgroup analysis documentation, and flaws in the methods that may have affected the reported improvements in predictive ability. We also evaluated the correlation of reported design and analysis features with the predictive model discrimination and improvements with the additional predictors. RESULTS We evaluated 79 eligible articles. Forty-nine studies (62%) did not calculate the FRS as it has been proposed, 15 (19%) modeled the additional predictor in more than 1 way and presented only the best-fit or area-under-the-curve (AUC) results for only 1 model, 41 (52%) did not examine the original outcome that the FRS was developed for, 33 (42%) studied a population different from what the FRS was intended for, and 25 (32%) claimed improved prediction in 1 subgroup but only 7 (9%) formally tested subgroup differences. Evaluation of independence in multivariable regressions, discrimination in AUC, calibration, and reclassification were reported in 77, 36, 7, and 7 studies, respectively, but these methods were adequately documented in only 60, 13, 4, and 2 studies, respectively. Overall, 63 studies (80%) claimed some improved prediction. Increase in AUC was larger when the predictive performance of the FRS was lower (rho = -0.57, P < .001). Increase in AUC was significantly larger when evaluation of independence in multivariable regression or discrimination in AUC analysis was not adequately documented and when the additional predictor had been modeled in more than 1 way and only 1 model was reported for AUC. CONCLUSION The majority of examined studies claimed that they found factors that could offer additional predictive value beyond what the FRS could achieve; however, most had flaws in their design, analyses, and reporting that cast some doubt on the reliability of the claims for improved prediction.
Initial adhesion and surface growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on biomedical polymers.

The infection risk of biomaterials implants varies between different materials and is determined by an interplay of adhesion and surface growth of the infecting organisms. In this study, we compared initial adhesion and surface growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis HBH(2) 102 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa AK1 on poly(dimethylsiloxane), Teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(methyl methacrylate), and glass. Initial adhesion was measured in situ in a parallel plate flow chamber with microorganisms suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, while subsequent surface growth was followed in full and in 20 times diluted growth medium. Initial adhesion of both bacterial strains was similar to all biomaterials. In full growth medium, generation times of surface growing S. epidermidis ranged from 17 to 38 min with no relation to wettability, while in diluted growth medium generation times increased from 44 to 98 min with increasing surface wettability. For P. aeruginosa no influence of surface wettability on generation times was observed, but generation times increased with decreasing desorption rates, maximal generation times being 47 min and minimal values down to 30 min. Generally, generation times of adhering bacteria were shorter than of planktonic bacteria. In conclusion, surface growth of initially adhering bacteria is influenced by biomaterials surface properties to a greater extent than initial adhesion.
[A "good" death in pediatric ICU: is it possible?].

OBJECTIVE In the modern pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) physicians are often faced with the need to interrupt life-sustaining treatment (LST) and to allow children to die when no further treatment options are available. Consequently, the importance of palliative care has been increasing in this context. The goal of this review is to provide intensivists with guidelines to allow PICU patients to have a more dignified and humane death. SOURCE OF DATA Medline was searched using relevant key-words, emphasizing the topic of death in the PICU. The principles of palliative care medicine were then applied to this context. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS To ensure a dignified death for a child receiving palliative care in the PICU some important measures must be taken, such as: let the family participate in the decision-making process in an open and honest manner; allow family members to perform their religious rites and rituals; offer them moments of complete privacy; effectively manage pain and discomfort, especially at the time of removal of LST; and finally, let the family be present when LST is interrupted, if they so desire. CONCLUSIONS A child's death following withdrawal of LST in the PICU can be humane and dignified if basic principles of palliative care are followed. This is especially important in an environment that is notorious for the use of complex technology and described by the general public as inhumane.
Immunization with live attenuated poliovirus vaccine.

Live attenuated poliovirus vaccine was administered to 400 newborn infants during a three-month period (October, 1959, to January, 1960). This study was designed to obtain information which might provide answers to the following questions. Would the ingestion of larger doses permit enough of the vaccine viruses regularly to pass the "acid barrier" of the stomach of newborn infants and result in regular multiplication in the intestinal tract? (Poliovirus may be destroyed below a pH of 2.5 and the gastric contents of newborns often have a pH of about 1.5.)1-3 Would it be possible to by-pass the potential handicap of high gastric acidity by swabbing the vaccine directly on the posterior pharyngeal wall? Would all three types multiply following administration of a mixture of large doses of Types 1, 2, and 3 poliovirus either by mouth or by throat as determined by virus excretion and antibody formation? Materials
GA BASED CNC TURNING CENTER EXPLOITATION PROCESS PARAMETERS OPTIMIZATION

This paper presents machining parameters (turning process) optimization based on the use of artificial intelligence. To obtain greater efficiency and productivity of the machine tool, optimal cutting parameters have to be obtained. In order to find optimal cutting parameters, the genetic algorithm (GA) has been used as an optimal solution finder. Optimization has to yield minimum machining time and minimum production cost, while considering technological and material constrains.
Probing the dusty environment of the Seyfert 1 nucleus in NGC 3783 with MIDI/VLTI interferometry

Aims. We present mid-IR spectro-interferometry of the Seyfert type 1 nucleus of NGC 3783. The dusty circumnuclear environment is spatially resolved and the wavelength dependence of the compact emission is discussed. Methods. The observations were carried out with the MIDI instrument at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer in the N-band. Spectra and visibilities were derived with a spectral resolution of λ/Δλ ∼ 30 in the wavelength range from 8 to 13 μm. For the interpretation we developed a simple dusty disk model with a small and variable covering factor. Results. At baselines of 65 and 69 m, visibilities in the range of 0.4 to 0.7 were measured. The N-band spectra show a monotonic increase of the measured flux with wavelength with no apparent silicate feature around 10 μm. We find that the mid-IR emission from the nucleus can be reproduced by an extended dust disk or torus with a small covering factor of the radiating dust clouds. Conclusions. Our mid-IR observations of NGC 3783 are consistent with a clumpy circumnuclear dust environment. The interpretation in terms of a dusty torus with a low covering factor supports a clumpy version of the unified scheme for AGN. The inferred sizes and luminosities are in good agreement with dust reverberation sizes and bolometric luminosities from optical and X-ray observations.
Skincare products containing low concentrations of formaldehyde detected by the chromotropic acid method cannot be safely used in formaldehyde‐allergic patients

Formaldehyde is a well‐known contact sensitizer. Formaldehyde releasers are widely used preservatives in skincare products. It has been found that formaldehyde at concentrations allowed by the European Cosmetics Directive can cause allergic contact dermatitis. However, we still lack information on whether formaldehyde at low concentrations affects dermatitis in formaldehyde‐allergic individuals.
Adaptive sampling and reconstruction using greedy error minimization

We introduce a novel approach for image space adaptive sampling and reconstruction in Monte Carlo rendering. We greedily minimize relative mean squared error (MSE) by iterating over two steps. First, given a current sample distribution, we optimize over a discrete set of filters at each pixel and select the filter that minimizes the pixel error. Next, given the current filter selection, we distribute additional samples to further reduce MSE. The success of our approach hinges on a robust technique to select suitable per pixel filters. We develop a novel filter selection procedure that robustly solves this problem even with noisy input data. We evaluate our approach using effects such as motion blur, depth of field, interreflections, etc. We provide a comparison to a state-of-the-art algorithm based on wavelet shrinkage and show that we achieve significant improvements in numerical error and visual image quality. Our approach is simple to implement, requires a single user parameter, and is compatible with standard Monte Carlo rendering.
Two methods for hierarchy learning in reinforcement environments

This paper describes two methods for hierarchically organizing temporal behaviors. The rst is more intuitive: grouping together common sequences of events into single units so that they may be treated as individual behaviors. This system immediately encounters problems, however, because the units are binary , meaning the behaviors must execute completely or not at all, and this hinders the construction of good training algorithms. The system also runs into diiculty when more than one unit is (or should be) active at the same time. The second system is a hierarchy of transition values. This hierarchy dynamically mod-iies the values that specify the degree to which one unit should follow another. These values are continuous, allowing the use of gradient descent during learning. Furthermore, many units are active at the same time as part of the system's normal functionings.
Relationship Among Customer Value, Satisfaction, And Loyalty of Social Network Service

Social Network Service (SNS), is an innovative application and business model in recent years. It changes the development and communication of current social network and gathers tremendous viewers to create more business opportunities. However, what are the values that attract users to use SNS? This study focuses on the behaviors of SNS users in Taiwan by empirical research. From the customer point of view, satisfaction and loyalty could be relative to and affected by utilitarian value and hedonic value. Therefore, this study builds an applicable integrated model and uses Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the relations of constructs in the model. We find the following. (1) The constructs of the model are supported. (2) The utilitarian value can be measured by factors of sociality, convenience, and information availability; hedonic value can be measured by factors of adventure, escapism, and affiliation. (3) The utilitarian value and hedonic value affect customer satisfaction; customer satisfaction affects word of mouth and repatronage intention. (4) The utilitarian value and hedonic value positively affect word of mouth and repatronage intention, but providing a good customer satisfaction can enhance word of mouth and repatronage intention. (5) The influence of hedonic value is higher than that of utilitarian value.
Emotional labor in china: do perceived organizational support and gender moderate the process?

This survey study of 2201 employees from a large mobile phone company investigated how perceived organizational support (POS) and gender moderate the impact of emotional labor strategies on employee strain. Emotional labor strategies were related to employee strain, including turnover intentions, job satisfaction, burnout, and mental wellbeing in the expected directions. POS moderated these relationships such that POS was related to more positive outcomes for employees who engaged in deep acting but exacerbated negative outcomes for employees who engaged in surface acting. Gender moderated these relationships such that women were more likely than men to report positive consequences when engaging in deep acting. POS and gender interacted with deep acting in predicting cynicism such that POS was related to reduced cynicism in response to deep acting for women but not for men. These results indicate that organizational policies and training opportunities aimed at improving POS and use of deep acting over surface acting could be valuable for organizations. Results also illuminate the important and complicated moderating role of POS and gender in the emotional labor process. Future research directions for scholars investigating the emotional labor process, its consequences, moderators and its cross-cultural relevance are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Arginine Methylation of STAT1 Regulates Its Dephosphorylation by T Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase*

Transcriptional induction by interferons requires the tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of the STAT1 transcription factor as well as its amino-terminal arginine methylation. Here we show that arginine methylation of STAT1 controls the rate of STAT1 dephosphorylation by modulating its interaction with PIAS1 and the nuclear tyrosine phosphatase TcPTP. Inhibition of STAT1 arginine methylation, or mutation of STAT1 Arg-31, results in a prolonged half-life of STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation. This effect appears to be mediated by an increased binding of PIAS1 to STAT1 in the absence of STAT1 arginine methylation and a concomitant decrease in the association of STAT1 with TcPTP. Furthermore, inhibitors of arginine methylation require the presence of PIAS1 to exert their negative regulatory effect on the dephosphorylation of STAT1.