Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Optical Spectrum of the Geminga Pulsar

We obtained an optical spectrum of the isolated pulsar Geminga at the Keck Observatory. The optical object is at the limit of spectroscopic capability of any telescope, with a continuum flux that is ≈ 0.5% of the dark sky on Mauna Kea. With particular attention paid to the dominant systematics of sky subtraction in our observing and analysis methods, we attained ≈ 0.1% systematics in heavily binned spectra. The resulting spectrum spanning 3700-8000 Å has a flat power-law shape (fν ∝ ν−0.8) and a broad dip over 6300-6500 Å. Thermal radiation cannot explain the optical spectrum of Geminga. The dominant component can be modeled as either electron synchrotron emission and ion (proton) cyclotron absorption or ion cyclotron emission, the latter in a 1011 G magnetic field.
A skew-normal factor model for the analysis of student satisfaction towards university courses

Classical factor analysis relies on the assumption of normally distributed factors that guarantees the model to be estimated via the maximum likelihood method. Even when the assumption of Gaussian factors is not explicitly formulated and estimation is performed via the iterated principal factors’ method, the interest is actually mainly focussed on the linear structure of the data, since only moments up to the second ones are involved. In many real situations, the factors could not be adequately described by the first two moments only. For example, skewness characterizing most latent variables in social analysis can be properly measured by the third moment: the factors are not normally distributed and covariance is no longer a sufficient statistic. In this work we propose a factor model characterized by skew-normally distributed factors. Skew-normal refers to a parametric class of probability distributions, that extends the normal distribution by an additional shape parameter regulating the skewness. The model estimation can be solved by the generalized EM algorithm, in which the iterative Newthon–Raphson procedure is needed in the M-step to estimate the factor shape parameter. The proposed skew-normal factor analysis is applied to the study of student satisfaction towards university courses, in order to identify the factors representing different aspects of the latent overall satisfaction.
ZnO grown by atomic layer deposition: A material for transparent electronics and organic heterojunctions

We report on zinc oxide thin films grown by atomic layer deposition at a low temperature, which is compatible with a low thermal budget required for some novel electronic devices. By selecting appropriate precursors and process parameters, we were able to obtain films with controllable electrical parameters, from heavily n-type to the resistive ones. Optimization of the growth process together with the low temperature deposition led to ZnO thin films, in which no defect-related photoluminescence bands are observed. Such films show anticorrelation between mobility and free-electron concentration, which indicates that low n electron concentration is a result of lower number of defects rather than the self-compensation effect.
Ferroelectric Properties in Multiferroic BiFeO3 Thin Films Codoped with La and Co

BiFeO3, LO2a-doped BiFeO3, and (La, Co)-codoped BiFeO3 thin films were fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(111) substrates by chemical solution deposition method. The structural and electrical properties of pure, La-doped, and (La, Co)-codoped BiFeO3 thin films were studied. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that all the films were single perovskite structure. Electrical measurements indicated that the ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3 thin films were significantly improved by La and Co codoping. Well saturated hysteresis characteristic with large remanent polarization (larger than 57 μC/cm2) were observed in Bi0.9La0. 1Co0.1Fe0. 9O3 thin film.
Wess-Zumino-Witten model as a theory of free fields

The free field representation or "bosonization" rule1 for Wess-Zumino-Witten model (WZWM) with arbitrary Kac-Moody algebra and arbitrary central charge is discussed. Energy-momentum tensor, arising from Sugawara construction, is quadratic in the fields. In this way, all known formulae for conformal blocks and correlators may be easily reproduced as certain linear combinations of correlators of these free fields. Generalization to conformal blocks on arbitrary Riemann surfaces is straightforward. However, projection rules in the spirit of Ref. 2 are not specified. The special role of βγ systems is emphasized. From the mathematical point of view, the construction involved represents generators of Kac-Moody (KM) algebra in terms of generators of a Heisenberg one. If WZW Lagrangian is considered as d−1 of Kirillov form on an orbit of KM algebra,3 then the free fields of interest (i.e. generators of the Heisenberg algebra) diagonalize Kirillov form and the action. Reduction of KM algebra within the same construction should naturally lead to arbitrary coset models.
A Numerical Study of the Role of Wave-Wave Interactions during Sudden Stratospheric Warmings

Abstract In this study the role of nonlinear wave-wave interactions is investigated by performing two experiments using a numerical model adapted from that of Holton (1976). In the first experiment the model simulates a sudden stratospheric warming involving the interaction between the mean (zonally averaged) flow and a single zonal harmonic of wavenumber 1 which is forced at the lower boundary; presumably the tropopause level. In the second experiment the model includes an additional wave 2 which is not forced at the lower boundary but generated through nonlinear interaction between wave 1 and itself. This wave 2 interacts with both the mean flow and wave 1. However, zonal wavenumbers higher than 2 are all neglected. These two experiments are referred to as the linear and the nonlinear cases, respectively. The results are first described in an Eulerian framework. It is found that the simulated warming for the nonlinear case is more intense and rapid than that for the linear case. In order to describe how.
Interplanetary Transport of Decay Protons from Solar Flare Neutrons

We have developed models for the propagation of protons produced by the decay of solar flare neutrons. These models are applied to the observation of such protons on 1982 June 3 and 1984 April 25. Since the decay protons are produced with the same direction and velocity as the parent neutrons, these events provide a unique opportunity to measure the spectrum of emitted neutrons and to study the pitch-angle scattering of energetic protons as it transforms a monodirectional beam into an isotropic distribution
Cover crop composition in long‐term no‐till soils in Semi‐Arid environments do not influence soil health measurements after one year

Evaluating the influence of grass or broadleaf cover crops on soil health measurements is common in the U.S Midwest. However, the comparison among different cover crop mixtures, including blends of both grass and broadleaf species is limited. Eleven cover crop experiments were conducted in South Dakota from 2018-2020. Cover crops were planted in the fall after small grains harvest as mixtures of dominantly grasses or broadleaves, a 50/50 grass/broadleaf mixture, and a no cover crop control. Soil and plant surface residue samples were collected in the fall before winter kill and in the spring before cover crop termination and corn planting. Soil samples were analyzed for permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), and soil respiration. Cover crops regardless of composition compared to the no cover crop control did not affect fall or spring cover crop/previous crop residue biomass in 7 of the 11 site-years, suggesting growing cover crops may accelerate decomposition of previous crop residue. Cover crops did not improve soil health measurements compared to the no cover crop control or were there differences among cover crop mixtures. Weather and soil properties (precipitation, soil organic matter, and pH) were related to differences in soil heath measurements among site-years. In the first year of planting a multi-species mixture of grasses and/or broadleaves after small grain harvest, growers should not expect to find differences in soil health measurements. Long-term trials are needed to determine whether these different cover crop mixtures over time result in changes in soil health.
Driving Impairment in Movement Disorders

Driving may be adversely affected by any movement disorder, but has been mostly studied in Parkinson's disease (PD). Few studies have addressed driving impairment in patients with Huntington's disease (HD); driving in other movement disorders such as dystonia, blepharospasm and Tourette syndrome (TS) has not been adequately evaluated.
Primary Caregivers of Patients with Psychoactive Substance Use Often Suffer from Depression & Anxiety

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression and anxiety in carers of psychoactive substance use patients. Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Psychiatry, Baluchistan Institute of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences, Quetta from June 2020 to December 2020. Methodology: One hundred and twenty caregivers of psychoactive substance use patients were enrolled. Detailed demographics of patients and caregivers were recorded after taking informed written consent. Patients were aged between 18-70 years. Depression and anxiety were calculated in primary caregivers of patients of psychoactive substance use. A DASS-21 criterion was used to examine the depression. Data was analysed by SPSS 22.0. Results: Mean age of patients was 35.27±15.43 years. 90 (75%) patients were males while 25% were females. Among caregivers 78 (65%) were females while 42 (35%) were males with mean age 36.86±16.48 years. Among caregivers, 12.5% of the patients had mild, 37.5% showed moderate and 18.33% caregivers showed severe depression while 38 (31.67%) had no depression. Anxiety among caregivers was mild in 12 (10%), 26 (21.7%) had moderate and 15 (12.5%) caregivers had severe anxiety while 67 (55.83%) caregivers had no anxiety. Conclusion: The frequency of anxiety and depression was high in primary caregivers of patients with psychoactive substance abuse. Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Substance use, Caregivers
The 27-28 October 1986 FIRE IFO cirrus case study - Cirrus parameter relationships derived from satellite and lidar data

Abstract Cirrus cloud radiative and physical characteristics are determined using a combination of ground-based aircraft, and satellite measurements taken as part of the FIRE Cirrus Intensive Field observations (IFO) during October and November 1986. Lidar backscatter data are used with rawinsonde data to define cloud base, center, and top heights and the corresponding temperature Coincident GOES 4-km visible (0.65 μm) and 8-km infrared window (11.5 μm) radiances are analyzed to determine cloud emittances and reflectances. Infrared optical depth is computed from the emittance results. Visible optical depth is derived from reflectance using a theoretical ice crystal scattering model and an empirical bidirectional reflectance model. No clouds with visible optical depths greater than 5 or infrared optical depths less than 0.1 were used in the analysis. Average cloud thickness ranged from 0.5 km to 8.0 km for the 71 scenes. Mean vertical beam emittances derived from cloud-center temperatures were 0.62 for all.
Classifying images using multiple binary-class decision trees for object-based image retrieval

This paper describes an approach to multiclass object classification using local information based invariant object-contour representation and a combination of one-per- class binary-class decision tree classifiers. The object representation scheme is based on the polygonal approximations of object contours. C4.5 is used to learn each of the binary-class tree classifiers which are used to predict the class of each segment of an object. A new decision combination method is used to determine the class of an object based on class probability distribution of each segment of the object on each of the binary-class trees. The proposed object classification approach is invariant to translation, rotation, and scale changes of objects. On applying this approach to a hand tool image database in the situation of image retrieval, the experimental results show that the retrieval performance is significantly better than the results obtained by previous studies.
The Prevalence of Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella typhi Isolated From Blood Sample

Typhoid is a major public health concern. Even though antibiotics are usually used to treat typhoid fever, the spread of multi drug resistant Salmonella typhi is making antibiotics much less effective. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhi from the clinical samples. During this study, 154 blood samples of suspected typhoid patients were collected from the hospital and diagnostic center located in Chattogram City, Bangladesh. Isolation and identification of Salmonella typhi was done by both biochemical tests. PCR analysis was also done for the confirmation of biochemical result. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed according to the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cefepime, cotrimoxazole, ceptriaxone, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, and azithtomycin. Out of 154, 21 (13.64%) isolates were identified as Salmonella typhi and the prevalence of typhoid in Chattogram, Bangladesh was 13.64% (n = 21). It was also found that children under the age of 5 are the more vulnerable target of Salmonella typhi infection. Antibiotic resistance profiling revealed 85% isolates were Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and highest resistance was found in case of Nalidixic acid. Although, most of the isolated Salmonella typhi were MDR, first generation antibiotics Co-trimoxazile, Chloramphenicol, and Ampicillin were found effective against Salmonella typhi.
Comparison of Tamsulosin Versus Silodosin for Treatment of Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of drug in improving lower urinary tract symptoms for improved health care and better management of patients. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial Place and Duration of Study: Department of Urology, Department of General Medicine and Department of General Surgery, Pakistan Ordinance Factories Hospital, Wah Cantt from 1st January 2021 to 31st July 2022. Methodology: One hundred patients, age more than 45 years, moderate to severe prostate hyperplasia and prostrate size >50 gm were included. Detailes demographics were recorded after taking informed written consent. Patients were divided into two groups randomly through lottery method. In group A; patients were given tablet Tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily and in group B; patients were given tablet Silodosin 4 mg once daily for 12 weeks. Effectiveness between both groups were compared. Results: In group A, mean age of 59.70±7.45 years. In group B; mean age of 59.74±7.69 years. In group A; pre-treatment mean IPSS score 16.74±1.78 while in group B; mean score was 16.12±2.46. Pre-treatment PVR in group A was 57.62±8.9 while in group B mean PVR was 57.96±8.71. The post-treatment IPSS score showed that group A mean IPSS score of 9.26±1.61 while group B had mean IPSS score was 6.58±1.26 and P<0001. The post-treatment PVR volume results showed that group A mean PVR volume of 29.5±3.03 while group B had mean PVR was 25.12±1.94 and P<0001. Conclusion: The silodosin is an effective therapy for LUTS in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Keywords: Treatment, Benign prostatic hyperplasia, Lower urinary tract symptoms
Picosecond acoustic response of a laser-heated gold-film studied with time-resolved x-ray diffraction

We apply time-resolved x-ray diffraction using ultrashort x-ray pulses from a laser-produced plasma to probe the picosecond acoustic response of a thin laser-heated gold film. Measurements of the temporal changes in the angular distribution of diffracted x-rays provide direct quantitative information on the transient evolution of lattice strain. This allows to disentangle electronic and thermal pressure contributions driving lattice expansion after impulsive laser excitation. The electron-lattice energy equilibration time τE=(5±0.3) ps as well as the electronic Gruneisen parameter γe=(1.48±0.3) have been determined.
SPECTRAL DENSITY ESTIMATION VIA NONLINEAR WAVELET METHODS FOR STATIONARY NON‐GAUSSIAN TIME SERIES

In the present paper we consider nonlinear wavelet estimators of the spectral density f of a zero mean, not necessarily Gaussian, stochastic process, which is stationary in the wide sense. It is known in the case of Gaussian regression that these estimators outperform traditional linear methods if the degree of smoothness of the regression function varies considerably over the interval of interest. Such methods are based on a nonlinear treatment of empirical coefficients that arise from an orthonormal series expansion according to a wavelet basis. The main goal of this paper is to transfer these methods to spectral density estimation. This is done by showing the asymptotic normality of certain empirical coefficients based on the tapered periodogram. Using these results we can show the risk equivalence to the Gaussian case for monotone estimators based on such empirical coefficients. The resulting estimator of f keeps all interesting properties such as high spatial adaptivity that are already known for wavelet estimators in the case of Gaussian regression. It turns out that appropriately tuned versions of this estimator attain the optimal uniform rate of convergence of their L2 risk in a wide variety of Besov smoothness classes, including classes where linear estimators (kernel, spline) are not able to attain this rate. Some simulations indicate the usefulness of the new method in cases of high spatial inhomogeneity.
Acoustic Resonance of the Atmospheric at 3.7 Hz.

Abstract Vertical propagation of plane acoustic-gravity waves with horizontal wave fronts is discussed using a layer model with realistic temperature structure based on the Cospar International Reference Atmosphere, 1986. Acoustic resonance of a normal mode occurs between the ground and upper mesosphere, at a frequency of 3.64–3.69 mHz. Since acoustic waves with these frequencies are evanescent in the upper mesosphere where the acoustic cutoff is normally around 4.1 mHz, part of the wave energy propagated from below is reflected downward to interfere with the upward-propagating waves, thus causing model resonance. The computed resonant frequency coincides with the lower (3.7 mHz) of the two dominant frequencies found in the Rayleigh wave from the eruptions of El Chichon in 1982 and Mount Pinatubo in 1991. It also agrees with the lower spectral component of the ionospheric infrasonic waves observed by the high-frequency Doppler radar technique in association with severe convective storms below in the tropo.
Improved Temperature Stability of LiNbO3 Surface Acoustic Wave Devices with Sputtered SiO2 Over-Layers

SAW propagation characteristics, velocity and temperature coefficient of delay (TCD) of a 128° Y-X LiNbO 3 SAW device integrated with an over-layer of rf magnetron sputtered SiO2 film have been studied. A deviation in the experimental observations with respect to the theoretical calculations on the layered structure SiO 2 /LiNbO 3 are identified mainly due to the difference in the material parameters of the deposited SiO 2 film. Influence of deposition conditions on the materials parameters of SiO 2 thin film have been studied, and the representative values of density, dielectric constant, elastic constants (C 11 and C 44 and their temperature coefficients have been determined, required for the design of a temperature stable SAW device.
RECENT X-RAY VARIABILITY OF η CARINAE: THE QUICK ROAD TO RECOVERY

We report continued monitoring of the superluminous binary system η Car by the Proportional Counter Array on the Rossi X-ray Timing Observatory (RXTE) through the 2009 X-ray minimum. The RXTE campaign shows that the minimum began on 2009 January 16, consistent with the phasings of the two previous minima, and overall, the temporal behavior of the X-ray emission was similar to that observed by RXTE in the previous two cycles. However, important differences did occur. The 2–10 keV X-ray flux and X-ray hardness decreased in the 2.5 year interval leading up to the 2009 minimum compared to the previous cycle. Most intriguingly, the 2009 X-ray minimum was about 1 month shorter than either of the previous two minima. During the egress from the 2009 minimum the X-ray hardness increased markedly as it had during egress from the previous two minima, although the maximum X-ray hardness achieved was less than the maximum observed after the two previous recoveries. We suggest that the cycle-to-cycle variations, especially the unexpectedly early recovery from the 2009 X-ray minimum, might have been the result of a decline in η Car's wind momentum flux produced by a drop in η Car's mass loss rate or wind terminal velocity (or some combination), though if so the change in wind momentum flux required to match the X-ray variation is surprisingly large.
Understanding the Psychological Well-being of Patients With Locked-in Syndrome: A Scoping Review

Locked-in syndrome (LiS) is a neurological disorder caused by lesions affecting the ventral pons and midbrain and is characterized by loss of physical function, but with perceived consciousness intact. Despite severely limited function, previous studies have shown the quality of life (QoL) in patients to be more positive than naturally assumed by caregivers and relatives. The present review aims to synthesize the broad scientific literature focused on the psychological well-being of LiS patients. A scoping review was performed to synthesize the available evidence on the psychological well-being of LiS patients. Eligible studies included those that target individuals with LiS as the study population, evaluated psychological well-being, and explored the factors related to it. We extracted study population details, type of QoL methods, method of communication, and primary findings from the studies. We summarized the findings categorized into health-related QoL (HRQoL), global QoL, and other tools for assessing psychological status. Across the 13 eligible studies, we observed that patients with LiS had reasonable or similar psychological well-being as the standard based on HRQoL and global QoL assessment. Caregivers and healthcare professionals seem to rate the psychological QoL of LiS patients lower than patients themselves. Studies showed evidence that the longer duration of LiS is a factor that positively affects QoL, and augmentative and alternative communication tools and recovery of speech production showed positive effects as well. Studies reported a range of 27% to 68% of patients experiencing thoughts of suicide and euthanasia. The evidence shows that LiS patients had reasonable psychological well-being. There appear to be differences between patients’ assessed well-being and the negative perceptions by caregivers. Response shift and adaptation to disease by patients are considered potential reasons. A sufficient moratorium period and provision of information to support patients’ QoL and appropriate decision-making seems necessary.