Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical inference and modeling with the S distribution

We consider the problem of statistical inference for the S distribution and introduce new minimum distance estimators for the four parameters of the S distribution using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Cramer-von Mises and related distance metrics. Approximate goodness-of-fit and confidence intervals for parameters are calculated using bootstrap methods. We discuss further how the S distribution can be used to solve various problems of statistical modeling associated with parameter inference, including goodness-of-fit tests, Monte Carlo simulations and modeling trends in the distributions.
SUPER-ECCENTRIC MIGRATING JUPITERS

An important class of formation theories for hot Jupiters involves the excitation of extreme orbital eccentricity (e = 0.99 or even larger) followed by tidal dissipation at periastron passage that eventually circularizes the planetary orbit at a period less than 10 days. In a steady state, this mechanism requires the existence of a significant population of super-eccentric (e > 0.9) migrating Jupiters with long orbital periods and periastron distances of only a few stellar radii. For these super-eccentric planets, the periastron is fixed due to conservation of orbital angular momentum and the energy dissipated per orbit is constant, implying that the rate of change in semi-major axis a is and consequently the number distribution satisfies . If this formation process produces most hot Jupiters, Kepler should detect several super-eccentric migrating progenitors of hot Jupiters, allowing for a test of high-eccentricity migration scenarios.
Why "noncommuting common causes" don't explain anything.

In my commentary, I will argue that the conclusions drawn in the paper Noncommutative causality in algebraic quantum field theory (and similar publications) by Gabor Hofer-Szaboo are incorrect. As proven by J.S. Bell, a local common causal explanation of correlations violating the Bell inequality is impossible.
On the identification of continuous vibrating systems modelled by hyperbolic partial differential equations

Abstract This paper deals with the identification of spatially varying parameters in systems of finite spatial extent which can be described by second order hyperbolic differential equations. Two questions have been addressed. The first deals with "partial identification" and inquires into the possibility of retrieving all the eigenvalues of the system from response data obtained at one location x* e [0,1]. The second deals with the identification of the distributed coefficients p(x), a(x) and b(x). Sufficient conditions for unique identification of all the eigenvalues of the system are obtained, and conditions under which the coefficients can be uniquely identified using suitable response data obtained at one point in the spatial domain are determined. Application of the results and their usefulness is demonstrated in the identification of the properties of tall building structural systems subjected to dynamic load environments.
Eclipsing Binaries in the OGLE Variable Star Catalogs. V. Long-Period EB-Type Light Curve Systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud and the PLC-β Relation

Thirty-eight long-period (P > 10 days) apparently contact binary stars discovered by the OGLE-II project in the SMC show EB-type light curves and an "inverted" period-color relation with longer orbital periods for redder systems. The strong light variations between eclipses can be explained within a semidetached model in which ellipsoidal variations of a large, evolved, Roche lobe–filling component dominates over eclipse effects in the systemic light changes. The model requires further spectroscopic and color-curve support before it can be fully accepted. It is noted that the dominant role of the Roche lobe–filling component in the total systemic luminosity can explain the new period-luminosity-color (PLC) relation, which has been established for the long-period EB (LP–EB) systems. We call it the PLC-β relation, to distinguish it from the Cepheid relation. Two versions of the PLC-β relation—based on the (B-V)0 or (V-I)0 color indices—have been calibrated for 33 systems with (V-I)0 > 0.25 spanning the orbital period range of 11 to 181 days (it was found that blue systems with (V-I)0 ≤ 0.25 do not follow the same calibration). The relations can provide maximum-light, absolute-magnitude estimates accurate to ϵMV ≃ 0.35 mag within the approximate range -3 < MV < +1. In terms of their number in the SMC, the LP–EB binaries are about 50 times less common than the Cepheids. Nevertheless, their large luminosities coupled with continuous light variations make these binaries very easy to spot in nearby galaxies, so that the PLC-β relation can offer an auxiliary and entirely independent method of distance determination to nearby stellar systems rich in massive stars.
Bars in hydrodynamical cosmological simulations

We study the properties of two bars formed in fully cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of the formation of Milky Way-mass galaxies. In one case, the bar formed in a system with disc, bulge and halo components, and is relatively strong and long, as could be expected for a system where the spheroid strongly influences the evolution. The second bar is less strong, shorter and formed in a galaxy with no significant bulge component. We study the strength and length of the bars, the stellar density profiles along and across the bars, and the velocity fields in the bar region. We compare them with the results of dynamical (idealized) simulations and with observations, and find, in general, a good agreement, although we detect some important differences as well. Our results show that more or less realistic bars can form naturally in a ? cold dark matter cosmology, and open up the possibility to study the bar formation process in a more consistent way than previously done, since the host galaxies grow, accrete matter and significantly evolve during the formation and evolution of the bar.
A Low-Cost Attitude Determination and Control System and Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed for CubeSats

Since their initial development in the late 1990s, CubeSats have quickly grown popular due to their relatively low cost and short development period. However, CubeSat launches are prone to failure, with less than half of CubeSats completely fulfilling their mission objectives. To improve mission success, we present a low-cost attitude determination and control system (ADCS) that scales to 1U CubeSats and other small satellites. The ADCS is necessary to point satellite antennae and solar panels effectively and to orient on-board payloads to the target locations, all of which are crucial to a mission’s success. Modern methods for attitude determination and control rely on sophisticated actuators and sensors, such as reaction wheels and star trackers, that are often unable to be used on CubeSats due to weight, volume, and cost restrictions. Our proposed system relies on simple consumer-grade magnetometers, gyroscopes, and sun sensors to estimate the attitude of the satellite, along with a set of magnetic torque coils for actuation. Additionally, we provide a new method for calibrating on-board sensors that requires less storage space and allows for all parameters to be time-varying. By combining these low-cost sensors and actuators with sophisticated calibration, estimation, motion planning, and control software, we achieve full three-axis attitude determination and control. The system is also completely solid-state, with no moving parts or consumable propellant, greatly reducing the chance of hardware failure. To further improve the development cycle, we have developed an opensource hardware-in-the-loop simulator to enable rapid testing of ADCS algorithms and other flight software. The result is a robust, open-source development suite for CubeSats that is low cost, easy to program, and reliable.
Direct observation of nanometer-scale amorphous layers and oxide crystallites at grain boundaries in polycrystalline Sr1-xKxFe2As2 superconductors

We report here an atomic resolution study of the structure and composition of the grain boundaries in polycrystalline Sr0.6K0. 4Fe2As2 superconductor. A large fraction of grain boundaries contain amorphous layers larger than the coherence length, while some others contain nanometer-scale particles sandwiched in between amorphous layers. We also find that there is significant oxygen enrichment at the grain boundaries. Such results explain the relatively low transport critical current density (Jc) of polycrystalline samples with respect to that of bicrystal films.
Constraining the role of star cluster mergers in nuclear cluster formation: simulations confront integral-field data

We present observations and dynamical models of the stellar nuclear clusters (NCs) at the centres of NGC 4244 and M33. We then compare these to an extensive set of simulations testing the importance of purely stellar dynamical mergers on the formation and growth of NCs. Mergers of star clusters are able to produce a wide variety of observed properties, including densities, structural scaling relations, shapes (including the presence of young discs) and even rapid rotation. None the less, difficulties remain, most notably that the second-order kinematic moment inline image of the models is too centrally peaked to match observations. This can be partially remedied by the merger of star clusters on to a pre-existing nuclear disc, but the line-of-sight velocity V is still more slowly rising than in NGC 4244. Our results therefore suggest that purely stellar dynamical mergers cannot form NCs and that gas dissipation is a necessary ingredient for at least ∼50 per cent of a NC’s mass. The negative vertical anisotropy found in NGC 4244, however, requires at least 10 per cent of the mass to have been accreted as stars, since gas dissipation and in situ star formation leads to positive vertical anisotropy.
Plasma and vitreous selenium concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy

Background: This work aimed to determine and compare plasma and vitreous selenium (Se) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: A total of 60 type-2-diabetes patients including 20 without DR, 20 with non-proliferative DR (NPDR), and 20 with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), were involved in this study. Blood plasma samples were collected from above 60 patients and 20 normal controls (without diabetes). Twenty control vitreous samples were obtained from the eyes presenting a macular hole and epimacular membrane. Vitreous samples were also collected from PDR patients receiving one-week intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy or not. Plasma and vitreous Se concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: Plasma Se concentrations in PDR patients (163.74 ± 32.68 μg/L) were significantly higher than those in normal control patients (121.59 ± 28.33 μg/L), NPDR patients (130.34 ± 29.11 μg/L), and the patients without DR (81.23 ± 20.59 μg/L) (all P < .001). Similarly, Se concentrations in vitreous samples of PDR patients (56.30 ± 12.03 μg/L) were consistently higher than those in control vitreous samples (26.26 ± 6.53 μg/L). In addition, vitreous Se concentrations in PDR patients decreased to 47.76 ± 9.72 μg/L after intravitreal injection of the anti-VEGF drug ranibizumab for one week, which was significantly lower than those before injection (P = .02). Plasma VEGF levels of diabetic patients were lower than those of the normal controls (P < .001). On the contrary, the vitreous VEGF level in the PDR group (913.61 ± 193.32 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that of the normal control group (101.23 ± 21.33 pg/mL) (P < .001). Conclusion: The elevation of Se concentrations may be an important risk factor in plasma and vitreous with diabetic retinopathy among type-2-diabetes patients. The elevated VEGF may be also closely related to the intraocular Se concentration in PDR patients.
Effects of Preconditioning on RBC Deformability in Critically Ill Patients

OBJECTIVES: RBCs from critically ill patients have depressed deformability, especially in sepsis. Prolonged exposure of RBCs from healthy volunteers to physiologic shear stress (the preconditioning technique) has been associated with improved deformability, but the effect of preconditioning on RBCs from critically ill patients with or without sepsis has never been studied. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: A 32-bed medico-surgical ICU and a university-affiliated cell biology laboratory. SUBJECTS: RBCs from 26 healthy volunteers and 40 critically ill patients (20 with and 20 without sepsis). INTERVENTIONS: RBC deformability was measured using the elongation index (EI) with an ektacytometer, at shear stress levels ranging from 0.3 to 50 Pa. To assess the effects of preconditioning in the three groups, we measured EI after first applying a shear stress of 5 Pa for 300 seconds. To study the potential mechanisms involved in preconditioning, we looked at deformability after incubation of an RBC solution from the healthy volunteers with glutaraldehyde, a membrane-stabilizing protein, and neuraminidase, an enzyme that releases membrane sialic acid. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Baseline RBC deformability was significantly depressed in the septic patients compared with the volunteers at all shear stress levels greater than or equal to 4.89 Pa. Preconditioning improved deformability only in the volunteers (at shear stress levels of 0.48 and 0.76 Pa). Among the critically ill patients, preconditioning worsened RBC deformability at higher shear stress levels. After incubation (with glutaraldehyde or neuraminidase) of RBCs from five volunteers in whom preconditioning had significantly improved deformability, the positive effect of preconditioning was lost with glutaraldehyde. CONCLUSIONS: RBC deformability is depressed in septic patients. There was a deleterious effect of preconditioning on RBC deformability in septic patients, unlike the positive effect on RBCs from healthy volunteers. The effect of preconditioning may be associated with elasticity of the cell membrane.
A Systematic Review of Nursing Practice Workarounds

Background Nursing practice workarounds (NPWs) are a significant problem for health care organizations. Identified NPWs serve as a catalyst for innovation to improve efficiency, patient safety, and system design. To date, a systematic review of NPW literature has not been performed. Objectives The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence of NPW definitions, context, and prevention strategies, utilizing previous research to develop a framework that examines the current state of this phenomenon and implications for clinical practice, while highlighting the need for future research. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Academic Search, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Google Scholar databases were reviewed for eligible studies from 2013 to 2020. Results were further screened and sorted by relevance and scored for quality. Results Thirteen studies were included. Studies lacked the use of theory, and NPW definitions were varied. Nursing workarounds occurred most frequently when implementing new technology (46%) and when administering medications (31%). Contributing factors were workplace stressors and obstructions in workflow environment. Workaround prevention strategies include open communication and a proactive approach addressing conditions, situations, and processes. Overall study quality was low. Discussion This systematic review provides valuable information for critical care nurses and administrators regarding NPW. Implications for practice include the need for proactive and open communication between nurses and administrators when new technology and/or patient care processes require NPW. Administrative considerations include process and environmental improvement strategies to remove perceived workflow barriers. Future research to examine causes and consequences of NPW is needed to identify interventions for NPW prevention. Specific nursing considerations include workload, staffing and time constraints, and impacts of work-related stress levels. Critical care nursing processes should be examined for common NPW challenges. Interventions developed to address these challenges should then be tested to further advance evidence-based critical care nursing care.
The role of cluster mergers and travelling shocks in shaping the Hα luminosity function at z ~ 0.2:'sausage' and 'toothbrush' clusters

Themost extreme clustermergers can lead to massive cluster-wide travelling shockwaves. The CIZA J2242.8+5301 ('sausage') and 1RXS J0603.3+4213 ('toothbrush') clusters (z ~ 0.2) host enormous radio-emitting shocks with simple geometry. We investigate the role of mergers and shocks in shaping the Ha luminosity function, using custom-made narrow-band filters matching the cluster redshifts mounted on the Isaac Newton Telescope. We surveyed ~0.28 deg2 for each cluster and found 181 line emitters in the 'sausage' (volume of 3.371 × 103 Mpc3 for Hα at z = 0.1945) and 141 in the 'toothbrush' (4.546 × 103 Mpc3 for Hα at z = 0.225), out of which 49 ('sausage') and 30 ('toothbrush') are expected to be Hα. We build luminosity functions for the field-of-view down to an average limiting star formation rate of 0.14M⊙ yr-1, find good agreement with field luminosity functions at z = 0.2, but significant differences between the shapes of the luminosity functions for the two clusters. We discover extended, tens-of-kpc-wide Hα haloes in galaxies neighbouring relics, which were possibly disrupted by the passage of the shock wave. By comparing the 'sausage' cluster with blank fields and other clusters, we also uncover an order of magnitude boost (at 9σ level) in the normalization f φ* of the luminosity function in the relic areas. Our results suggest that cluster mergers may play an important role in the evolution of cluster galaxies through shock-induced star formation.
Aspects of Twistor Geometry and Supersymmetric Field Theories within Superstring Theory

In this thesis, we report on results in non-anticommutative field theory and twistor string theory, trying to be self-contained. We first review the construction of non-anticommutative N=4 super Yang-Mills theory and discuss a Drinfeld-twist which allows to regain a twisted supersymmetry in the non-anticommutative setting. This symmetry then leads to twisted chiral rings and supersymmetric Ward-Takahashi identities, which, when combined with the usual naturalness argument by Seiberg, could yield non-renormalization theorems for non-anticommutative field theories. The major part of this thesis consists of a discussion of various geometric aspects of the Penrose-Ward transform. We present in detail the case of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory and its self-dual truncation. Furthermore, we study reductions of the supertwistor space to exotic supermanifolds having even nilpotent dimensions as well as dimensional reductions to mini-supertwistor and mini-superambitwistor spaces. Eventually, we present two pairs of matrix models in the context of twistor string theory, and find a relation between the ADHM- and Nahm-constructions and topological D-brane configurations.
Effect of Longitudinally Varying Cloud Coverage on Visible Wavelength Reflected-Light Exoplanet Phase Curves

We use a planetary albedo model to investigate variations in visible wavelength phase curves of exoplanets. The presence of clouds on these exoplanets significantly alters their planetary albedo spectra. We confirm that non-uniform cloud coverage on the dayside of tidally locked exoplanets will manifest as changes to the magnitude and shift of the phase curve. In this work, we first investigate a test case of our model using a Jupiter-like planet, at temperatures consistent to 2.0 AU insolation from a solar type star, to consider the effect of H2O clouds. We then extend our application of the model to the exoplanet Kepler-7b and consider the effect of varying cloud species, sedimentation efficiency, particle size, and cloud altitude. We show that, depending on the observational filter, the largest possible shift of the phase curve maximum will be 2-10 deg for a Jupiter-like planet, and up to 30 deg (0.08 in fractional orbital phase) for hot-Jupiter exoplanets at visible wavelengths as a function of dayside cloud distribution with a uniformly averaged thermal profile. Finally, we tailor our model for comparison with, and confirmation of, the recent optical phase-curve observations of Kepler-7b with the Kepler space telescope. The average planetary albedo can vary between 0.1-0.6 for the 1300 cloud scenarios that were compared to the observations. We observe that smaller particle size and increasing cloud altitude have a strong effect on increasing albedo. In particular, we show that a set of models where Kepler-7b has roughly half of its dayside covered in small-particle clouds high in the atmosphere, made of bright minerals like MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4, provide the best fits to the observed offset and magnitude of the phase-curve, whereas Fe clouds are found to have too dark to fit the observations.
Pyrazinamide related prolonged drug-induced liver injury: A case report

Rationale: Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is a common side effect causing treatment discontinuation during tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and pyrazinamide (PZA) usually leads to a delayed and prolonged abnormal liver function of the 4 standard anti-tuberculosis regimens. However, a prolonged hepatitis lasting more than 4 months is rarely reported. Patient concerns: A 78-year-old man presented with general weakness and poor appetite on his seventh week of anti-TB treatment for tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Diagnosis: Drug induced liver injury, PZA-related. NAT2 slow acetylator phenotype was accidentally found during workup of DILI. Intervention: A liver biopsy was performed and PZA-related DILI was suspected. All anti-TB medications were therefore discontinued. Outcome: After withholding all anti-TB medications for 4 months, the elevations of aminotransferases and hyperbilirubinemia completely resolved. Anti-TB therapy was switched to ethambutol and levofloxacin for 15 months without adverse events. Long-term ultrasound follow-up was performed and cervical lymphadenopathy completely resolved. Conclusion: Our patient presents with PZA related prolonged DILI resolved after drug discontinuation for 4 months. NAT2 slow acetylator phenotype may be related to this condition through unknown mechanisms.
The efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention for heart diseases: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Introduction: The efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention for heart diseases remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of mindfulness-based intervention on heart diseases. Methods: We have search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through August 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of mindfulness-based intervention versus usual care on heart diseases. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model. Results: Five RCTs involving 458 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for heart diseases, mindfulness-based intervention is associated with significantly increased 6 minute walking test [mean difference (MD) = 14.74; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 2.50–26.97; P = . 02], decreased heart rate (MD = −2.54; 95% CI = −4.76 to −0.31; P = .03) and stress score (MD = −2.31; 95% CI = −4.23 to −0.38; P = .02), but shows no obvious impact on anxiety score (MD = −3.48; 95% CI = −7.98 to 1.03; P = .13) or respiratory rate (MD = −0.42; 95% CI = −1.31 to 0.46; P = .35). Conclusions: Mindfulness-based intervention can provide additional benefits to heart diseases.