Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE TURN-ON AS A CHRONOMETER FOR YOUNG CLUSTERS: NGC 346 AS A BENCHMARK

We present a novel approach to deriving the age of very young star clusters, by using the Turn-On (TOn). The TOn is the point in the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) where the pre-main sequence (PMS) joins the main sequence (MS). In the MS luminosity function (LF) of the cluster, the TOn is identified as a peak followed by a dip. We propose that by combining the CMD analysis with the monitoring of the spatial distribution of MS stars it is possible to reliably identify the TOn in extragalactic star-forming regions. Compared to alternative methods, this technique is complementary to the turnoff dating and avoids the systematic biases affecting the PMS phase. We describe the method and its uncertainties and apply it to the star-forming region NGC 346, which has been extensively imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). This study extends the LF approach in crowded extragalactic regions and opens the way for future studies with HST/WFC3, the James Webb Space Telescope and from the ground with adaptive optics.
Evaluation of granular activated carbon filters for removal of VOCs in indoor environments

Numerous sources contribute to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air environment. Indoor air contaminants such as VOCs can be removed by adsorption onto activated carbon, which has been widely employed to treat drinking water, waste water, and industrial gas streams. So far this technology has been applied to a very limited extent for air purification in non-industrial buildings. But the technology is attracting more attention due to the increased demand for saving energy and in attempts to secure the building environment against intentional release of toxic compounds. The present study evaluated the performance of various granular activated carbons (GACs) to remove certain VOCs. A dynamic closedloop test system was used with toluene, cyclohexane and ethyl acetate as the VOCs. The effect of relative humidity on the performance of a virgin GAC was also investigated.
Principles and Applications of the Global Human Settlement Layer as Baseline for the Land Use Efficiency Indicator - SDG 11.3.1

The Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) produces new global spatial information, evidence-based analytics describing the human presence on the planet that is based mainly on two quantitative factors: (i) the spatial distribution (density) of built-up structures and (ii) the spatial distribution (density) of resident people. Both of the factors are observed in the long-term temporal domain and per unit area, in order to support the analysis of the trends and indicators for monitoring the implementation of the 2030 Development Agenda and the related thematic agreements. The GHSL uses various input data, including global, multi-temporal archives of high-resolution satellite imagery, census data, and volunteered geographic information. In this paper, we present a global estimate for the Land Use Efficiency (LUE) indicator—SDG 11.3. 1, for circa 10,000 urban centers, calculating the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate between 1990 and 2015. In addition, we analyze the characteristics of the GHSL information to demonstrate how the original frameworks of data (gridded GHSL data) and tools (GHSL tools suite), developed from Earth Observation and integrated with census information, could support Sustainable Development Goals monitoring. In particular, we demonstrate the potential of gridded, open and free, local yet globally consistent, multi-temporal data in filling the data gap for Sustainable Development Goal 11. The results of our research demonstrate that there is potential to raise SDG 11.3. 1 from a Tier II classification (manifesting unavailability of data) to a Tier I, as GHSL provides a global baseline for the essential variables called by the SDG 11.3. 1 metadata.
Teacher Structure and Child Care Quality in Preschool Classrooms

Abstract The present study examined the relationships between teacher structure, teacher behaviors, and child care quality. Participants included 72 female teachers from 44 preschool classrooms. Both a global measure of quality and a measure of teacher-child interaction were utilized. Results showed that a co-teacher structure was associated with higher quality child care and more positive teacher behaviors than a hierarchical two-teacher structure or a single-teacher structure. Comparisons between lead and assistant teachers in a hierarchical structure also revealed that teacher behaviors of lead teachers and assistant teachers were very similar, although their education levels were significantly different. Lower ratios and smaller group size were associated with more positive teacher behaviors. Implications for professionals and future research areas are discussed.
Supermarket model on graphs

We consider a variation of the supermarket model in which the servers can communicate with their neighbors and where the neighborhood relationships are described in terms of a suitable graph. Tasks with unit-exponential service time distributions arrive at each vertex as independent Poisson processes with rate $\lambda$, and each task is irrevocably assigned to the shortest queue among the one it first appears and its $d-1$ randomly selected neighbors. This model has been extensively studied when the underlying graph is a clique in which case it reduces to the well known power-of-$d$ scheme. In particular, results of Mitzenmacher (1996) and Vvedenskaya et al. (1996) show that as the size of the clique gets large, the occupancy process associated with the queue-lengths at the various servers converges to a deterministic limit described by an infinite system of ordinary differential equations (ODE). In this work, we consider settings where the underlying graph need not be a clique and is allowed to be suitably sparse. We show that if the minimum degree approaches infinity (however slowly) as the number of servers $N$ approaches infinity, and the ratio between the maximum degree and the minimum degree in each connected component approaches 1 uniformly, the occupancy process converges to the same system of ODE as the classical supermarket model. In particular, the asymptotic behavior of the occupancy process is insensitive to the precise network topology. We also study the case where the graph sequence is random, with the $N$-th graph given as an Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random graph on $N$ vertices with average degree $c(N)$. Annealed convergence of the occupancy process to the same deterministic limit is established under the condition $c(N)\to\infty$, and under a stronger condition $c(N)/\ln N\to\infty$, convergence (in probability) is shown for almost every realization of the random graph.
Black-hole puncture initial data with realistic gravitational wave content

We present improved post-Newtonian-inspired initial data for nonspinning black-hole binaries, suitable for numerical evolution with punctures. We revisit the work of Tichy et al. [W. Tichy, B. Brugmann, M. Campanelli, and P. Diener, Phys. Rev. D 67, 064008 (2003). ], explicitly calculating the remaining integral terms. These terms improve accuracy in the far zone and, for the first time, include realistic gravitational waves in the initial data. We investigate the behavior of these data both at the center of mass and in the far zone, demonstrating agreement of the transverse-traceless parts of the new metric with quadrupole-approximation waveforms. These data can be used for numerical evolutions, enabling a direct connection between the merger waveforms and the post-Newtonian inspiral waveforms.
Learning to read and write: A longitudinal study of 54 children from first through fourth grades.

My research focused on literacy development in children through fourth grade and followed an earlier study (Juel, Griffith, & Gough, 1986). The Simple View of reading and writing received support in this earlier study and was examined in my current research. Of particular concern were these questions: Do the same children remain poor readers year after year? Do the same children remain poor writers year after year? What skills do the poor readers lack? What skills do the poor writers lack? What factors seem to keep poor readers from improving? What factors seem to keep poor writers from improving? The probability that a child would remain a poor reader at the end of fourth grade if the child was a poor reader at the end of first grade was . 88. Early writing skill did not predict later writing skill as well as early reading ability predicted later reading ability. Children who became poor readers entered first grade with little phonemic awareness. By the end of fourth grade, the poor readers had still not achieved the level of decoding skill that the good readers had achieved at the beginning of second grade. Good readers read considerably more than the poor readers both in and out of school, which appeared to contribute to the good readers' growth in some reading and writing skills (e.g., in ideas for stories). Poor readers tended to become poor writers. The Simple View received support in accounting for reading and writing development through fourth grade. This study examined the development of literacy in one elementary school with a large minority, low socioeconomic status population. The reading and writing development of 54 children was followed as they progressed from first through fourth grade. This in-depth examination of literacy acquisition in a microcosm of at-risk children attempted to answer the following questions: Do the same children remain poor readers year after year? Do the same children remain poor writers year after year? What skills do the poor readers lack?
Dufès, Christine and Alleaume, Céline and Montoni, Alicia and Olivier, Jean-Christophe and Muller, Jean-Marc (2003) Effects of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and related peptides on glioblastoma cell growth

The growth rate of numerous cancer cell lines is regulated in part by actions of neuropeptides of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) family, which also includes pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), glucagon, and peptide histidine/isoleucine (PHI). The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of these peptides on the growth of the rat glioblastoma cell line C6 in vitro. We also sought to determine which binding sites were correlated with the effects observed. Proliferation studies performed by means of a CyQuant assay showed that VIP and PACAP strongly stimulated C6 cell proliferation at most of the concentrations tested, whereas PHI increased cell proliferation only when associated with VIP. Two growth hormone–releasing factor (GRF) derivatives and the VIP antagonist hybrid peptide neurotensin-VIP were able to inhibit VIP-induced cell growth stimulation, even at very low concentrations. Binding experiments carried out on intact cultured C6 cells, using 125I-labeled VIP and PACAP as tracers, revealed that the effects of the peptides on cell growth were correlated with the expression on C6 cells of polyvalent high-affinity VIP-PACAP binding sites and of a second subtype corresponding to very high-affinity VIP-selective binding species. The latter subtype, which interacted poorly with PACAP with a 10,000-fold lower affinity than VIP, might mediate the antagonist effects of neurotensin-VIP and of both GRF derivatives on VIP-induced cell growth stimulation. Index Entries: C6 glioblastoma; vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP); cell growth; cancer; VIP analog; VIP antagonist. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience Copyright © 2003 Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved. ISSN0895-8696/03/21:91–102/$25.00 Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 91 Volume 21, 2003 Introduction Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors account for approx 2% of all adult malignancies but are responsible for approx 7% of years of life lost owing to malignancy prior to age 70. Within adult CNS tumors, gliomas represent 40–67% of primary tumors. In children, 20% of all malignancies diagnosed before age 15 are primary CNS tumors, making them the second most frequently diagnosed childhood malignancy; and it is estimated that gliomas comprise 67% of such tumors (Bohnen et al., 1997). Of all primary CNS malignancies, glioblastoma, a highly malignant glioma, has the poorest prognosis, with the median survival limited to 7–9 mo (Ammirati et al., 1987). Even with aggressive surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapy, such as radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, the great majority of patients diagnosed with these high-grade gliomas succumb to their disease. The ORIGINAL ARTICLE *Author to whom all correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. E-mail: Jean.Marc. Muller@univ-poitiers.fr
Strategic fiscal interaction among OECD countries

This paper investigates whether OECD countries compete with each other for mobile factors by using various fiscal (tax-spending) policy instruments. We use a panel dataset of 20 OECD countries over the 1982–2000 period. Results reveal evidence that international capital inflows (FDI) are affected by fiscal policy at home and abroad. Also, there is evidence that domestic capital tax rates react: (i) positively to changes in capital tax rates in neighboring countries, and (ii) negatively to changes in public investment spending in neighboring countries. In contrast, strategic interdependence over public investment spending decisions is not established.
Spatial Analysis of Fatal and Injury Crashes in Flanders, Belgium: Application of Geographically Weighted Regression Technique

Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) are the most widely used models utilized in crash prediction studies. These models illustrate the relationships between the dependent and explanatory variables by estimating fixed global estimates. Since the crash occurrences are often spatially heterogeneous and are affected by many spatial variables, the existence of spatial correlation in the data is examined by means of calculating Moran’s I measures for dependent and explanatory variables. The results indicate the necessity of considering the spatial correlation when developing crash prediction models. The main objective of this research is to develop different Zonal Crash Prediction Models (ZCPMs) within the Geographically Weighted Generalized Linear Models (GWGLM) framework in order to explore the spatial variations in association between Number of Injury Crashes (NOICs) (including fatal, severely and slightly injury crashes) and other explanatory variables. Different exposure, network and socio-demographic variables of 2200 Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZs) are considered as predictors of crashes in the study area, Flanders, Belgium. To this end, an activity-based transportation model framework is applied to produce exposure measurements while the network and socio-demographic variables are collected from other sources. Crash data used in this study consist of recorded crashes between 2004 and 2007. GWGLMs are developed using a Poisson error distribution and are often referred to as Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression (GWPR) models. Moreover, the performances of developed GWPR models are compared with their corresponding GLMs. The results show that GWPR models outperform the GLM models; this is due to the capability of GWPR models in capturing the spatial heterogeneity of crashes.
On the structure of the transition disk around TW Hydrae

Context. For over a decade, the structure of the inner cavity in the transition disk of TW Hydrae has been a subject of debate. Modeling the disk with data obtained at di erent wavelengths has led to a variety of proposed disk structures. Rather than being inconsistent, the individual models might point to the di erent faces of physical processes going on in disks, such as dust growth and planet formation. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the structure of the transition disk again and to find to what extent we can reconcile apparent model di erences. Methods. A large set of high-angular-resolution data was collected from near-infrared to centimeter wavelengths. We investigated the existing disk models and established a new self-consistent radiative-transfer model. A genetic fitting algorithm was used to automatize the parameter fitting, and uncertainties were investigated in a Bayesian framework. Results. Simple disk models with a vertical inner rim and a radially homogeneous dust composition from small to large grains cannot reproduce the combined data set. Two modifications are applied to this simple disk model: (1) the inner rim is smoothed by exponentially decreasing the surface density in the inner 3 AU, and (2) the largest grains (>100 m) are concentrated towards the inner disk region. Both properties can be linked to fundamental processes that determine the evolution of protoplanetary disks: the shaping by a possible companion and the di erent regimes of dust-grain growth, respectively. Conclusions. The full interferometric data set from near-infrared to centimeter wavelengths requires a revision of existing models for the TW Hya disk. We present a new model that incorporates the characteristic structures of previous models but deviates in two key aspects: it does not have a sharp edge at 4 AU, and the surface density of large grains di ers from that of smaller grains. This is the first successful radiative-transfer-based model for a full set of interferometric data.
Effectiveness of Video-Assisted Teaching on No-Scalpel Vasectomy on Knowledge and Attitude of Married Men in Rural Nagaland, India

This study assessed whether video-assisted teaching increased the knowledge of,and resulted in a more favourable attitude among married men regarding No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) in a selected village of 17,000 people,bordering Assam, in Nagaland, India. The study used a one group,before-and-after design. The participants were 30 married men who were selected through purposive sampling. Pre-tested and validated tools to assess knowledge and attitudes were used for data collection. The mean post-test scores, on both the knowledge and attitude scales,showed a significant increase from pretest scores (knowledge pre-test mean 11.53±3.41; post-test 21.23±2.18;attitude pre-test mean 20.87±2.64, post-test35.2±1.66). Thus we conclude that the video-assisted teaching programme was effective in increasing both knowledge and positive attitudes. The study has implications for nursing education and practice. It could assist in developing positive attitudes, skills, and knowledge to better educate the community about NSV as a method of family planning. The study, however, has limited generalizability because of the small sample drawn from one community. Different interventions such as a Structured Teaching Programme and an information booklet could be compared with videoassisted teaching to determine the best ways for creating greater awareness about No-Scalpel Vasectomy.
The South Pacific Convergence Zone in three decades of satellite images

Interannual variability, seasonal evolution, and intraseasonal variability of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) are quantified using a new data set of 3‐hourly SPCZ labels, available from 1980 to 2012 Nov–Apr. The SPCZ label is a binary field indicating presence (1) or absence (0) of the SPCZ at each grid point (½° longitude by ½° latitude) as a function of time and is the output of a Bayesian spatiotemporal statistical model that takes in instantaneous data from geostationary satellites. The statistical model is designed to emulate the way human observers identify the SPCZ. Results show two distinct parts to the SPCZ: the western tropical part and the eastern subtropical part. At times, the two parts do not connect. When they do connect, they are oriented quite differently, such that the subtropical part has a steeper meridional slope. The SPCZ is present 50–70% of the time in the tropics from Jan to Mar and is usually anchored to the warm sea surface temperature (SST) distribution of the equatorial west Pacific. The subtropical part does not have the same sensitivity to the underlying SST distribution and is present more often in Nov–Dec and Apr than in Jan–Mar when the SST is highest. Interannual variability in SPCZ location is strongly associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO); however, no change in overall SPCZ area is detected in association with ENSO. On the intraseasonal time scale, composite analysis shows the distinct spatial patterns in SPCZ presence associated with each phase of the Madden Julian Oscillation.
Person–Organization Fit, Job Choice Decisions, and Organizational Entry☆

Abstract To investigate job seekers’ and new employees’ subjective person–organization (P-O) fit perceptions, we studied 96 active job seekers across three time periods, from their initial job search activity to their intended turnover from the jobs they accepted. Hypotheses were motivated by P-O fit, job choice, and organizational entry research and centered around two questions: What are the determinants of job seekers’ and new employees’ P-O fit perceptions, and how important are P-O fit perceptions in job choice decisions and work attitudes relative to job attributes? Results indicated that job seekers’ P-O fit perceptions are predicted by the congruence between their values and their perceptions of recruiting organizations’ values but not by their demographic similarity with organizational representatives. Results also suggested that P-O fit perceptions predict both job choice intentions and work attitudes, even after controlling for the attractiveness of job attributes. Finally, results suggested that job seekers can manage their future work attitudes by weighing P-O fit in their job choice decisions.
Reconstruction of global gridded monthly sectoral water withdrawals for 1971–2010 and analysis of their spatiotemporal patterns

Human water withdrawal has increasingly altered the global water cycle in past decades, yet our understanding of its driving forces and patterns is limited. Reported historical estimates of sectoral water withdrawals are often sparse and incomplete, mainly restricted to water withdrawal estimates available at annual and country scale, due to a lack of observations at local and seasonal time scales. In this study, through collecting and consolidating various sources of reported data and developing spatial and temporal statistical downscaling algorithms, we reconstruct a global monthly gridded (0.5 degree) sectoral water withdrawal dataset for the period 1971–2010, which distinguishes six water use sectors, i.e. irrigation, domestic, electricity generation (cooling of thermal power plants), livestock, mining, and manufacturing. Based on the reconstructed dataset, the spatial and temporal patterns of historical water withdrawal are analyzed. Results show that global total water withdrawal has increased significantly during 1971–2010, mainly driven by the increase of irrigation water withdrawal. Regions with high water withdrawal are those densely populated or with large irrigated cropland production, e.g., the United States (US), eastern China, India, and Europe. Seasonally, irrigation water withdrawal in summer for the major crops contributes a large percentage of annual total irrigation water withdrawal in mid and high-latitude regions, and the dominant season of irrigation water withdrawal is also different across regions. Domestic water withdrawal is mostly characterized by a summer peak, while water withdrawal for electricity generation has a winter peak in high-latitude regions and a summer peak in low-latitude regions. Despite the overall increasing trend, irrigation in the western US and domestic water withdrawal in western Europe exhibit a decreasing trend. Our results highlight the distinct spatial pattern of human water use by sectors at the seasonal and annual scales. The reconstructed gridded water withdrawal dataset is open-access, and can be used for examining issues related to water withdrawals at fine spatial, temporal and sectoral scales.