Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LOFAR insights into the epoch of reionization from the cross-power spectrum of 21 cm emission and galaxies

Using a combination of N-body simulations, semi-analytic models and radiative transfer calculations, we have estimated the theoretical cross-power spectrum between galaxies and the 21 cm emission from neutral hydrogen during the epoch of reionization. In accordance with previous studies, we find that the 21 cm emission is initially correlated with haloes on large scales (≳30 Mpc), anticorrelated on intermediate (˜5 Mpc) and uncorrelated on small (≲3 Mpc) scales. This picture quickly changes as reionization proceeds and the two fields become anticorrelated on large scales. The normalization of the cross-power spectrum can be used to set constraints on the average neutral fraction in the intergalactic medium and its shape can be a powerful tool to study the topology of reionization. When we apply a drop-out technique to select galaxies and add to the 21 cm signal the noise expected from the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) telescope, we find that while the normalization of the cross-power spectrum remains a useful tool for probing reionization, its shape becomes too noisy to be informative. On the other hand, for an Lyα Emitter (LAE) survey both the normalization and the shape of the cross-power spectrum are suitable probes of reionization. A closer look at a specific planned LAE observing program using Subaru Hyper-Suprime Cam reveals concerns about the strength of the 21 cm signal at the planned redshifts. If the ionized fraction at z ˜ 7 is lower than the one estimated here, then using the cross-power spectrum may be a useful exercise given that at higher redshifts and neutral fractions it is able to distinguish between two toy models with different topologies.
Malaysian Batik, Our Pride: A Systematic Literature Review

The world is rapidly changing into a more modern era with the availability of technology and according to the current generation’s needs. One of the main challenges in preserving culture is for the current generation to maintain the culture and tradition established in the community. The culture is crucially essential to any society in the works stipulated under SDG 11, which calls for efforts to protect the world’s culture and heritage. Thus, this paper aims to highlight the importance of protecting Malaysian batik by reviewing published articles that focused on design motifs and characteristics of Malaysian batik. This paper adopted systematic literature review analysis using PRISMA 2009 framework to identify Malaysian batik’s current design motifs and cha racteristics. Many of the identified scholars have attempted to produce and innovate new and contemporary batik design motifs for the Malaysian landscape. The outcome of this paper may help enlighten the relevant stakeholders such as the policymakers, industry players, researchers, and non-governmental organisations to research on this subject matter further. All stakeholders should work together to raise the profile of Malaysian batik on a global scale, which will lead to the protection and maximisation of benefits for future generations. motifs being by batik artisans. Compared to Indonesian batik abstractions of design direct imitations. the Malaysian community, the were of the use of batik as the daily their and type material batik the function as everyday attire for women, but also products, furniture, craftwork, and souvenirs
Nearby supernova rates from the Lick Observatory Supernova Search – III. The rate–size relation, and the rates as a function of galaxy Hubble type and colour

This is the third paper of a series in which we present new measurements of the observed rates of supernovae (SNe) in the local Universe, determined from the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS). We have considered a sample of ∼1000 SNe and used an optimal subsample of 726 SNe (274 SNe Ia, 116 SNe Ibc and 324 SNe II) to determine our rates. We study the trend of the rates as a function of a few quantities available for our galaxy sample, such as luminosity in the B and K bands, stellar mass and morphological class. We discuss different choices (SN samples, input SN luminosity functions, inclination correction factors) and their effect on the rates and their uncertainties. A comparison between our SN rates and the published measurements shows that they are consistent with each other to within the uncertainties when the rate calculations are done in the same manner. Nevertheless, our data demonstrate that the rates cannot be adequately described by a single parameter using either galaxy Hubble types or B ― K colours. A secondary parameter in galaxy 'size', expressed by luminosity or stellar mass, is needed to adequately describe the rates in the rate-size relation: the galaxies of smaller sizes have higher SN rates per unit mass or per unit luminosity. The trends of the SN rates in galaxies of different Hubble types and colours are discussed. We examine possible causes for the rate-size relation. Physically, such a relation for the core-collapse SNe is probably linked to the correlation between the specific star-formation rate and the galaxy sizes, but it is not clear whether the same link can be established for SNe Ia. We discuss the two-component ('tardy' and 'prompt') model for SN Ia rates, and find that the SN Ia rates in young stellar populations might have a strong correlation with the core-collapse SN rates. We derive volumetric rates for the different SN types [e.g. for SNe Ia, a rate of (0.301 ± 0.062) x 10 ―4 SN Mpc ―3 yr ―1 at redshift 0] and compare them to the measurements at different redshifts. Finally, we estimate the SN rate for the Milky Way Galaxy to be 2.84 ± 0.60 SNe per century (with a systematic uncertainty of a factor of ∼2), consistent with published SN rates based on several different techniques.
Fast separation of two trapped ions

We design fast protocols to separate or recombine two ions in a segmented Paul trap. By inverse engineering the time evolution of the trapping potential composed of a harmonic and a quartic term, it is possible to perform these processes in a few microseconds without final excitation. These times are much shorter than the ones reported so far experimentally. The design is based on dynamical invariants and dynamical normal modes. Anharmonicities beyond the harmonic approximation at potential minima are taken into account perturbatively. The stability versus an unknown potential bias is also studied.
The Relationship Between Study Engagement and Critical Thinking Among Higher Vocational College Students in China: A Longitudinal Study

Purpose Numerous cross-sectional studies have explored the correlation between study engagement and critical thinking, but the relationship between the development of these two key variables over time is unclear and the causal relationship between them remains controversial. In this study, we examined the developmental trajectories of and the interplay between study engagement and critical thinking. Methods We used a questionnaire method to follow 654 first-year students in Chinese higher vocational college over a period of one year and three times, of which 231 (35.321%) were male and 423 (64.679%) were female, with an average age of 18.11 years. Descriptive statistics were used to present general characteristics of the study participants, and latent growth model was used to explore the developmental trajectories of study engagement and critical thinking, and to explore the interplay between study engagement and critical thinking from a developmental perspective. Based on this, a cross-lagged model was used to verify the causal relationship between study engagement and critical thinking. Results During the first year of higher vocational college in China, students’ levels of study engagement and critical thinking declined continuously. The initial level and development of study engagement can positively influence the initial level and development of critical thinking, respectively, while the initial level and development of critical thinking can in turn positively influence the initial level and development of study engagement, respectively. Study engagement and critical thinking can predict each other. Conclusion The above results help researchers and educators to develop study engagement and critical thinking in higher vocational college students from a developmental perspective. The development of either aspect of study engagement and critical thinking can contribute to the joint improvement of both.
OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY AND NEBULAR OXYGEN ABUNDANCES OF THE SPITZER/SINGS GALAXIES

We present intermediate-resolution optical spectrophotometry of 65 galaxies obtained in support of the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS). For each galaxy we obtain a nuclear, circumnuclear, and semi-integrated optical spectrum designed to coincide spatially with mid- and far-infrared spectroscopy from the Spitzer Space Telescope. We make the reduced, spectrophotometrically calibrated one-dimensional spectra, as well as measurements of the fluxes and equivalent widths of the strong nebular emission lines, publically available. We use optical emission-line ratios measured on all three spatial scales to classify the sample into star-forming, active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and galaxies with a mixture of star formation and nuclear activity. We find that the relative fraction of the sample classified as star forming versus AGN is a strong function of the integrated light enclosed by the spectroscopic aperture. We supplement our observations with a large database of nebular emission-line measurements of individual H ii regions in the SINGS galaxies culled from the literature. We use these ancillary data to conduct a detailed analysis of the radial abundance gradients and average H ii-region abundances of a large fraction of the sample. We combine these results with our new integrated spectra to estimate the central and characteristic (globally averaged) gas-phase oxygen abundances of all 75 SINGS galaxies. We conclude with an in-depth discussion of the absolute uncertainty in the nebular oxygen abundance scale.
ADLPT: Improving 3D NAND Flash Memory Reliability by Adaptive Lifetime Prediction Techniques

NAND flash memory has become increasingly popular in various computing systems. Although NAND flash memory offers attractive performance, it suffers limited operable programming and erasing cycles. To improve the reliability of flash-based systems, previous works introduce machine learning models to predict flash lifetime. These works generally focus on improving prediction accuracy but present little research about the resources required for flash lifetime prediction. In application scenarios, the overheads and the frequency of lifetime predictions are important for storage systems. Excessive prediction actions would lead to unnecessary resource consumption. For building an efficient storage system, resource requirements need to be taken into consideration when designing flash lifetime prediction schemes. In this paper, we propose adaptive lifetime prediction techniques (ADLPT) that minimize redundant prediction operations by exploiting reliability variation. To explore reliability variation, we investigate the error distribution of different 3D flash chips. Based on the investigation, a prediction judgment method is presented. The method identifies the necessary prediction by detecting the variation of erase duration and raw bit errors. Furthermore, we provide a method to improve the performance of the static model. The experimental result shows that our approach can reduce about 90% of redundant predictions with over 0.8 F1-Score.
Isolation and Genotyping of Adenoviruses from Wastewater and Diarrheal Samples in Egypt from 2016 to 2020

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are a prevalent cause of diarrhea in children all over the world. Adenoviral infections are responsible for 2% to 10% of diarrheic cases. A long-term investigation was required to gain better knowledge about the incidence of HAdV in Egypt. Herein, we conducted 5 years of detection, isolation, and genotyping of HAdV in fecal and sewage samples from 2016 to 2020, in Cairo, Egypt using molecular and cell culture assays. Human adenoviruses were identified in 35 of 447 fecal samples (7.8%), but only 53.3% (64/120) of the sewage samples. Children under the age of two had the highest positive rate for HAdV infection (77.1%). Species F of HAdV was the most common prevalent genotype in fecal and sewage samples, at 88.5% and 85.9%, respectively. The most prevalent genotypes detected in fecal samples were HAdV-41 (71.2%), HAdV-40 (17.2%), HAdV-6 (5.7%), and HAdV-1 (5.7%). In contrast, the most common genotypes in sewage samples were HAdV-41 (64%), HAdVs-40 (21.8%), HAdV-6 (7.8%), HAdV-1 (4.7%), and HAdV-2 (1.6%). HAdV was detected in all months of the year, with a peak period for clinical samples from December to February (p < 0.001), which matched Egypt’s rainy season, while the monthly distribution of HAdV in sewage samples remained consistent throughout the year, with no statistically significant peak period. Interestingly, the HAdV-type 41 genotype was the most common genotype during all of the years of this study. Throughout a 5-year period, our work revealed the infection rate, seasonal distribution, virus isolates, and genetic diversity of HAdV infections in environmental and clinical samples in Cairo, Egypt. Non-enteric adenovirus types (1, 2 and 6), as well as enteric adenovirus (41 and 40), may play a key role in gastroenteritis in Egypt.
HI content, metallicities and spin temperatures of damped and sub-damped Lyman alpha systems in the redshift desert (0.6 < z < 1.7)

The HI 21cm absorption optical depth and the N(HI) derived from Lya absorption can be combined to yield the spin temperature (Ts) of DLAs. Although Ts measurements exist for samples of DLAs with z 1.7, the intermediate redshift regime currently contains only 2 HI 21cm detections, leading to a `redshift desert' that spans 4 Gyrs of cosmic time. To connect the low and high z regimes, we present observations of the Lya line of six 0.6<z<1.7 HI 21cm absorbers. The dataset is complemented by both VLBA observations (to derive the absorber covering factor, f), and optical echelle spectra from which metal abundances are determined. Our dataset therefore not only offers the largest statistical study of HI 21cm absorbers to date, and bridges the redshift desert, but is also the first to use a fully f-corrected dataset to look for metallicity-based trends. In agreement with trends found in Galactic sightlines, we find that the lowest N(HI) absorbers tend to be dominated by warm gas. In the DLA regime, spin temperatures show a wider range of values than Galactic data, as may be expected in a heterogenous galactic population. However, we find that low metallicity DLAs are dominated by small cold gas fractions and only absorbers with relatively high metallicities exhibit significant fractions of cold gas. Using a compilation of HI 21cm absorbers which are selected to have f-corrected spin temperatures, we confirm an anti-correlation between metallicity and Ts at 3.4 sigma significance. Finally, one of the DLAs in our sample is a newly-discovered HI 21cm absorber (at z=0.602 towards J1431+3952), which we find to have the lowest f-corrected spin temperature yet reported in the literature: Ts=90+-23 K. The observed distribution of Ts and metallicities in DLAs and the implications for understanding the characteristics of the interstellar medium in high redshift galaxies are discussed.
Experimental verification of the possibility using pneumatic flexible shaft couplings for the extremal control of torsional oscillating mechanical system

Extremal control is an optimization performed by experimenting with optimised device directly during operation. On our department we deal with the extremal control of torsional oscillating mechanical systems by means of pneumatic flexible shaft couplings. The torsional stiffness of these couplings and so the natural frequencies of torsional systems can be changed by adjusting the air pressure in their pneumatic flexible elements. The goal of this optimisation is to minimize the value of torsional vibration by changing the pressure of gaseous medium in the used pneumatic flexible shaft coupling. The goal of this article is to confirm the possibility of the use of extremal control in a laboratory torsional oscillating mechanical system built on our department.
The Effect of Full Disclosure Policy Compliance on Financial Performance of Local Government Units Moderated by Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report: A Study Conducted in the Province of Bataan, Philippines

This study was conducted to examine the effect of Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) compliance on financial performance as moderated by audit opinion. The sample of the study was the twelve (12) city and municipal Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Province of Bataan within two years’ time or fiscal year 2018-2019. Descriptive research design was utilized. The researchers used secondary data, particularly the Statement of Receipts and Expenditure (SRE) and Auditor’s Reports of selected local governments. The data were analyzed with SPSS results using multiple linear regression analysis. Disclosure compliance was measured through the availability of fourteen (14) financial documents queried at the FDP portal, while financial performance was measured by the computation of ten (10) financial indicator ratios using the formula extracted from SRE manual published by Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF). Audit opinion was used as a moderating variable and it was measured using proxy for each type of opinion. The findings of the study revealed that FDP compliance has no significant effect on financial performance. Moderation analysis also showed the absence of correlation between the variables examined. Hence, audit opinion has no moderating effect on disclosure compliance and financial performance. The outcome of the study is beneficial not only to LGUs but also to agencies and attached bureau for local governments to use as a guide for material considerations in determining future initiatives to improve the policy on government financial reports. This study is also useful for citizens and interest groups to have an idea as to the control efficiency and fiscal discipline of LGUs towards the provision of public services. Lastly, the result may provide empirical evidence for conducting further studies and it can develop existing accounting literature to strengthen the research related to the possible effects of the level of disclosure compliance and influencing factors of financial performances.
Nexus between Governance and Economic Growth: Learning from Saudi Arabia

Abstract This study aims to examine the impact of good governance on economic growth in the context of Saudi Arabia. Based on secondary sources, this study applies quantitative research methods to highlight any relationship between the predictors and outcome variables. An econometric model has been developed to this effect which is tested using 36 years of data. GDP per capita represents economic growth while oil price, general index, trade openness, government spending, corruption perceptions index, and worldwide governance indicators were used as governance parameters in this study. The Saudi Arabian economy has gone through various reform initiatives resulting redefining and refitting economic activities in areas like the ownership structure of companies, the overreliance on petroleum sector, measures addressed in Vision 2030. None of the studies perfectly captures the broader governance framework and its impact on economic performance from macro perspective. Considering this as a research gap, this study identifies various governance constructs within the country context and deploys a thorough analysis to understand the macroeconomic status and to highlight some policy issues for different stakeholder groups. The study confirms a positive relationship of general index, trade openness and oil price with economic growth. By bringing moderating (general index on the relationship between GDP per capita and oil price) and mediating (oil price on the relationship between GDP per capita and government expenditure) effect, this study brings additional insights on the macroeconomic dynamism of the country which has undergone major economic reforms.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Iron Homeostasis

Prenatal alcohol exposure results in a spectrum of behavioral, cognitive, and morphological abnormalities collectively referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD presents with significant phenotypic variability and may be modified by gestational variables such as maternal nutritional status. Iron serves a critical function in the development of and processes within central nervous system (CNS) structures. Gestational iron deficiency alters CNS development and may contribute to neurodevelopmental impairment in FASD. This review explores the relationship between iron deficiency and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as described in small animal and human studies. Consideration is given to the pathophysiologic mechanisms linking iron homeostasis and prenatal alcohol exposure. Existing data suggest that iron deficiency contributes to the severity of FASD and provide a mechanistic explanation linking these two conditions.
The shape of broad-line profiles in AGN

Aims. We present a study of the broad optical/UV emission line profiles in AGN (active galactic nuclei) to g et information on the dominant velocity components (turbulence, rotation, etc.) in the central broad-line region (BLR). Methods. We introduce line broadening simulations of emission line profiles and compare these results with the largest homogeneo us data set of reverberation-mapped AGN. Results. The underlying broad-line profiles in AGN are Lorentzian pro files caused by turbulence in the line emitting region. The turbulent velocities are different for the different line emitting regions of H, H�, Ly�, Ciii]�1909, Heii�1640, and Siiv�1400.
Experimental Determination of Absolute Spectral Radiance and Emissivity of a Photonic Crystal Filament

A recent discovery of super-Planckian radiation in the far-field has attracted a great deal of interest in thermal radiation control using photonic crystals (PC) architecture. The finding is based on a careful comparison of radiation intensity emitted from a PC nano-filament and a blackbody at the same temperature and same wavelength at λ∼1.7 μm. Extending that finding, we determined the absolute spectral radiance of such a PC filament at λ∼1.7 μm at elevated temperature, T = 445–723 °K, and compared its value to that predicted by Planck's blackbody radiation law. Our data confirmed that the PC spectral radiance surpassed that of a blackbody by an order-of-magnitude. We also determined the spectral emissivity of our PC filament and showed that its value far exceeded unity at resonance and fell below unity away from resonance. The observation of non-equality between absorptivity and emissivity suggests that a strong optical non-reciprocity takes place in our PC nano-filament.