Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Galactic bulge population II Cepheids in the VVV survey: Period-luminosity relations and a distance to the Galactic centre

We present the near-infrared observations of population II Cepheids in the Galactic bulge from VVV survey. We identify 340 population II Cepheids in the Galactic bulge from VVV survey based on their match with OGLE-III Catalogue. The single-epoch $JH$ and multi-epoch $K_s$ observations complement the accurate periods and optical $(VI)$ mean-magnitudes from OGLE. The sample consisting of BL Herculis and W Virginis subtypes is used to derive period-luminosity relations after correcting mean-magnitudes for the extinction. Our $K_s$-band period-luminosity relation, $K_s = -2.189(0.056)~[\log(P) - 1] + 11.187(0.032)$, is consistent with published work for BL Herculis and W Virginis variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We present a combined OGLE-III and VVV catalogue with periods, classification, mean magnitudes and extinction for 264 Galactic bulge population II Cepheids having good-quality $K_s$-band light curves. The absolute magnitudes for population II Cepheids and RR Lyraes calibrated using Gaia and Hubble Space Telescope parallaxes, together with calibrated magnitudes for Large Magellanic Cloud population II Cepheids, are used to obtain a distance to the Galactic center, $R_0=8.34\pm0.03{\mathrm{(stat.)}}\pm0.41{\mathrm{(syst.)}}$, which changes by $^{+ 0.05}_{-0.25}$ with different extinction laws. While noting the limitation of small number statistics, we find that the present sample of population II Cepheids in the Galactic bulge shows a nearly spheroidal spatial distribution, similar to metal-poor RR Lyrae variables. We do not find evidence of the inclined bar as traced by the metal-rich red-clump stars. The number density for population II Cepheids is more limited as compared to abundant RR Lyraes but they are bright and exhibit a wide range in period that provides a robust period-luminosity relation for an accurate estimate of the distance to the Galactic center.
Globular Clusters in Dwarf Galaxies

Data are currently available on the luminosities and half-light radii of 101 globular clusters associated with low-luminosity parent galaxies. The luminosity distribution of globular clusters embedded in dwarf galaxies having Mv > -16 is found to differ dramatically from that for globular clusters surrounding giant host galaxies with Mv < -16. The luminosity distribution of globular clusters in giant galaxies peaks at Mv ~ -7.5, whereas that for dwarf galaxies is found to increase monotonically down to the completeness limit of the cluster data at Mv ~ -5.0. Unexpectedly, the power-law distribution of the luminosities of globular clusters hosted by dwarf galaxies is seen to be much flatter than that of the bright, unevolved part of the luminosity distribution of globular clusters associated with giant galaxies. The specific frequency of globular clusters fainter than Mv = -7.5 is found to be particularly high in dwarf galaxies. The luminosity distribution of the LMC globular clusters is similar to that found in giant galaxies and differs from those of globular clusters in dwarf galaxies. The present data appear to show no strong dependence of globular cluster luminosity on the morphological type of their parent galaxies. No attempt is made to explain the unexpected discovery that the luminosity distribution of globular clusters is critically dependent on parent galaxy luminosity (or mass) but insensitive to the morphological type of the host galaxy.
Age-related hearing loss accelerates the decline in fast speech comprehension and the decompensation of cortical network connections

Patients with age-related hearing loss face hearing difficulties in daily life. The causes of age-related hearing loss are complex and include changes in peripheral hearing, central processing, and cognitive-related abilities. Furthermore, the factors by which aging relates to hearing loss via changes in auditory processing ability are still unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 27 older adults (over 60 years old) with age-related hearing loss, 21 older adults (over 60 years old) with normal hearing, and 30 younger subjects (18–30 years old) with normal hearing. We used the outcome of the upper-threshold test, including the time-compressed threshold and the speech recognition threshold in noisy conditions, as a behavioral indicator of auditory processing ability. We also used electroencephalography to identify presbycusis-related abnormalities in the brain while the participants were in a spontaneous resting state. The time-compressed threshold and speech recognition threshold data indicated significant differences among the groups. In patients with age-related hearing loss, information masking (babble noise) had a greater effect than energy masking (speech-shaped noise) on processing difficulties. In terms of resting-state electroencephalography signals, we observed enhanced frontal lobe (Brodmann’s area, BA11) activation in the older adults with normal hearing compared with the younger participants with normal hearing, and greater activation in the parietal (BA7) and occipital (BA19) lobes in the individuals with age-related hearing loss compared with the younger adults. Our functional connection analysis suggested that compared with younger people, the older adults with normal hearing exhibited enhanced connections among networks, including the default mode network, sensorimotor network, cingulo-opercular network, occipital network, and frontoparietal network. These results suggest that both normal aging and the development of age-related hearing loss have a negative effect on advanced auditory processing capabilities and that hearing loss accelerates the decline in speech comprehension, especially in speech competition situations. Older adults with normal hearing may have increased compensatory attentional resource recruitment represented by the top-down active listening mechanism, while those with age-related hearing loss exhibit decompensation of network connections involving multisensory integration.
Characteristics of Summer Hailstorms Observed by Radar and Himawari-8 in Beijing, China

Severe hailstorms frequently occurred in Beijing between May and August 2021, leading to extensive hail damage. These hailstorms were observed by radar and satellite data, and reported by surface observers. In this study, the spectral and cloud microphysical characteristics of typical Beijing events in 2021 were analyzed using Himawari-8 satellite products and ground-based S-band weather radar data obtained from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau. The relationship between Himawari-8 brightness temperature differences (BTD) and radar reflectivity was also investigated. The results revealed that the significant spectral depression of brightness temperatures (BTs) in hail clouds was observed by a satellite. Furthermore, the stronger the radar reflectivity was, the more rapidly BTD decreased, with a nonlinear relationship between them. The results of cloud physical characteristics show that, for cloud-top heights above 10 km, the cloud effective radius was about 25 μm, with a cloud-top temperature of 225 K during these hail events. By means of Gaussian fitting, the BT threshold value (11.2 μm) was determined by satellite at 230 K, with a BTD focused on 1.9 K when hailstorms occurred. These results will help us better understand the characteristics of hailstorms, while also providing information for future hail suppression in Beijing.
Validation of the Factor Structure and Gender-Related Measurement Invariance of the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (Short Form): Proposing an Alternative Design

The aim of this paper was to validate the factor structure and gender-related measurement invariance of the short form of the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB). The study sample consisted of 710 undergraduate students aged 19–55 years. A confirmatory factor analysis of the original design confirmed a three-factor structure with an acceptable goodness of fit (CFI = 0.910, TLI = 0.894, RMSEA = 0.066) and validity; however, some indices hinted at potential weak points. Therefore, we proposed an alternative model with the identical three-factor structure but fewer items. This model showed a better goodness of fit (CFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.936, RMSEA = 0.064) and was superior to the original design (p < 0.001). Convergent and discriminant validity and reliability were also good. Finally, a gender-related measurement invariance analysis demonstrated invariance in the ISSB structure for both models, while revealing partial metric and scalar invariance. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the ISSB-SF is a reliable, efficient and rapid tool for measuring received social support, with the proposed alternative design possibly being advantageous if validated on other populations.
Effects of Distracting Behaviors on Driving Workload and Driving Performance in a City Scenario

Distractors faced by drivers grow continuously, and concentration on driving becomes increasingly difficult, which has detrimental influences on road traffic safety. The present study aims to investigate changes in driving workload and driving performance caused by distracting tasks. The recruited subjects were requested to drive along a city route in a real vehicle and perform three secondary tasks sequentially. Electrocardiography and driving performance were measured. Heart rate variability (HRV) was adopted to quantitatively analyze the driving workload. Findings show that: (i) increments are noticed in the root mean square differences of successive heartbeat intervals (RMSSD), the standard deviation of normal-to-normal peak (SDNN), the heart rate growth rate (HRGR), and the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency powers (LF/HF) compared to undistracted driving; (ii) the hands-free phone conversation task has the most negative impacts on driving workload; (iii) vehicle speed reduces due to secondary tasks while changes in longitudinal acceleration exhibit inconsistency; (iv) the experienced drivers markedly decelerate during hands-free phone conversation, and HRGR shows significant differences in both driving experience and gender under distracted driving conditions; (v) correlations exist between HRV and driving performance, and LF/HF correlates positively with SDNN/RMSSD in the hands-free phone conversation and chatting conditions while driving.
Formation of solitary zonal structures via the modulational instability of drift waves

The dynamics of the radial envelope of a weak coherent drift-wave (DW) is approximately governed by a nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE), which emerges as a limit of the modified Hasegawa–Mima equation (mHME). The NLSE has well-known soliton solutions, and its modulational instability (MI) can naturally generate solitary structures. In this paper, we demonstrate that this simple model can adequately describe the formation of solitary zonal structures in the mHME, but only when the amplitude of the coherent DW is relatively small. At larger amplitudes, the MI produces stationary zonal structures instead. Furthermore, we find that incoherent DWs with beam-like spectra can also be modulationally unstable to the formation of solitary or stationary zonal structures, depending on the beam intensity. Notably, we show that these DWs can be modeled as quantum-like particles (‘driftons’) within a recently developed phase-space (Wigner–Moyal) formulation, which intuitively depicts the solitary zonal structures as quasi-monochromatic drifton condensates. Quantum-like effects, such as diffraction, are essential to these condensates; hence, the latter cannot be described by wave-kinetic models that are based on the ray approximation.
Spin injection into a ballistic semiconductor microstructure

A theory of spin injection across a ballistic semiconductor embedded between two ferromagnetic leads is developed for the Boltzmann regime. Spin injection coefficient y is suppressed by the Sharvin resistance of the semiconductor r* N (=(h/e 2 )(π 2 /S N ), where S N is the Fermi-surface cross section. It competes with the diffusion resistances of the ferromagnets r F , and y is small, γ∼r F /r* N <<1, in the absence of contact barriers. Efficient spin injection can be ensured by contact barriers. Explicit formulas for the junction resistance and the spin-valve effect are presented.
Evidence of ongoing AGN-driven feedback in a quiescent post-starburst E+A galaxy

Post starburst E+A galaxies are thought to have experienced a significant starburst that was quenched abruptly. Their disturbed, bulge-dominated morphologies suggest that they are merger remnants. We present ESI/Keck observations of SDSS J132401.63+454620.6, a post starburst galaxy at redshift z = 0.125, with a starburst that started 400 Myr ago, and other properties, like star formation rate (SFR) consistent with what is measured in ultra luminous infrared galaxies (ULRIGs). The galaxy shows both zero velocity narrow lines, and blueshifted broader Balmer and forbidden emission lines (FWHM=1350 +- 240 km/s). The narrow component is consistent with LINER-like emission, and the broader component with Seyfert-like emission, both photoionized by an active galactic nucleus (AGN) whose properties we measure and model. The velocity dispersion of the broad component exceeds the escape velocity, and we estimate the mass outflow rate to be in the range 4-120 Mo/yr. This is the first reported case of AGN-driven outflows, traced by ionized gas, in post starburst E+A galaxies. We show, by ways of a simple model, that the observed AGN-driven winds can consistently evolve a ULIRG into the observed galaxy. Our findings reinforce the evolutionary scenario where the more massive ULIRGs are quenched by negative AGN feedback, evolve first to post starburst galaxies, and later become typical red and dead ellipticals.
On the interplay between turbulent forces and neoclassical particle losses in zonal flow dynamics

This study presents an investigation into the connection between radial electric fields, Reynolds stress gradients and long range correlations (LRCs), with the latter being a proxy for zonal flows (ZFs), in different plasma scenarios in the TJ-II stellarator. Monte Carlo simulations showed that radial electric fields with a similar size to those experimentally measured affect neoclassical orbit losses. Although the order of magnitude of turbulent acceleration was comparable to the neoclassical damping of perpendicular flows, we found that the dependence of this acceleration on the radial electric field did not correlate with the evolution of the LRC amplitude, indicating that turbulent acceleration alone cannot explain the dynamics of ZFs. These results are in line with the expectation that the interplay between turbulent and neoclassical mechanisms is an important ingredient of the dynamics of edge ZF.
Epidemiology, economic losses due to Haemorrhagic Septicemia and cost-benefit analysis of interventions in dairy animals of Punjab

The epidemiological features and financial losses due to Haemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) in dairy animals of Punjab were studied using the primary data collected from 720 livestock owners/ dairy farms. The overall incidence and case fatality rate (CFR) risk of HS among dairy animals was 5.45 and 45.15%, respectively. Incidence risk of HS on the species basis varied significantly and was observed highest in buffaloes (6.27%), followed by cross bred (4.67%) and indigenous cattle (3.91%). The overall financial loss due to HS per affected animal per year was ` ₹ 5111.64±482.32. However, the mean economic losses per animal per year affected varied significantly among different categories of animals, and was highest in buffalo (`₹ 7265.08±735.27), followed by cross bred (` 5799.55±447.48) and lowest in indigenous cattle (`₹ 2270.30±405.22). At species level, the largest component of the economic losses were due to mortality loss of animals (69.42% in cross bred, 63.15% in indigenous cattle and 70.40% in buffaloes), followed by treatment cost and reduction of milk yield. On benefit cost analysis of control measures, higher BCA ratio was observed in buffalo, followed by crossbred and indigenous cattle. It may be concluded that poor understanding of the disease and lack of effective control measures such as timing and potency of vaccination are some of the factors impacting upon the economics of dairy farming in Punjab state. Training and extension activities should backup the efforts to control this dreadful disease.
Anti-Diabetic and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Phlomis stewartii Plant Phytochemicals on Cigarette Smoke Inhalation and Alloxan-Induced Diabetes in Wistar Rats

The generation of free radicals in body causes oxidative stress and consequently different metabolic disorders. There are numerous environmental and emotional factors that trigger free radical generation, cigarette smoke (CS) is one of them. In addition to free radical production, it also increases the risk of developing type II diabetes, cancer, and has adverse effects on other organs such as liver and kidneys. In the present study, extracts of leaves, flower, and whole plant of P. stewartii Hf. in methanol were analyzed using LC-ESI-MS and investigated for their cytotoxic properties against HepG2 cell line and CS alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar albino rats model. A total of 24 rats were kept in aerated cage for eight weeks and exposed to CS following the administration of single dose of alloxan@140 mg/kg body weight at the end of six weeks to induce diabetes mellitus (DM). The cytotoxic activity of extracts against HepG2 was recorded in the order; leaves methanol (LM) > flower methanol (FM) and whole plant methanol (WPM). The IC50(1/4) values were in the order of 187 (LM) > 280 (FM) > 312 (WPM) µg/mL against HepG2. In positive control group, CS- and alloxan-induced diabetes significantly increased (p < 0.05) the level of alanine alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), low density lipoprotein (LDL), bilirubin, total protein, creatinine, uric acid, blood urea, globulin, total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as compared to negative control group. In conclusion, according to the results of this study, P. Stewartii methanol extracts showed good antioxidant, anticancer activity and worked well to recover the tested clinical parameters in CS/alloxan-induced diabetes animals, which indicated the extracts also possess good antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective potential.
Laser writing of individual nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond with near-unity yield

Atomic defects in wide-bandgap materials, such as the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color center in diamond, show considerable promise for the development of a new generation of quantum information technologies, but progress has been hampered by the inability to produce and engineer the defects in a controlled manner. Here, we demonstrate an all-optical method for the deterministic writing of individual NV centers at selected locations with high positioning accuracy. Ultrashort pulse laser processing is used to both create and diffuse defects inside the crystal through local annealing. During the laser-annealing process, online fluorescence feedback provides a trigger to stop processing once the NV formation is detected. This method provides a new tool for the optical fabrication of engineered materials and devices for quantum technologies.
The seeds of supermassive black holes and the role of local radiation and metal spreading

Abstract We present cosmological hydrodynamical simulations including atomic and molecular non-equilibrium chemistry, multi-frequency radiative transfer (0.7–100 eV sampled over 150 frequency bins) and stellar population evolution to investigate the host candidates of the seeds of supermassive black holes coming from direct collapse of gas in primordial haloes direct-collapse black holes, DCBHs. We consistently address the role played by atomic and molecular cooling, stellar radiation and metal spreading of C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ca, Fe, etc. from primordial sources, as well as their implications for nearby quiescent proto-galaxies under different assumptions for early source emissivity, initial mass function, and metal yields. We find that putative DCBH (direct-collapse black holes) host candidates need powerful primordial stellar generations, since common solar-like stars and hot OB-type stars are neither able to determine the conditions for direct collapse nor capable of building up a dissociating Lyman–Werner background radiation field. Thermal and molecular features of the identified DCBH host candidates in the scenario with very massive primordial stars seem favourable, with illuminating Lyman–Werner intensities featuring values of 1 – 50J21. Nevertheless, additional nonlinear processes, such as merger events, substructure formation, rotational motions, and photo-evaporation, should inhibit pure direct-collapse black hole formation in two-third of the cases. Local turbulence may delay gas direct collapse almost irrespectively from other environmental conditions. The impact of large Lyman–Werner fluxes at distances smaller than ~5 kpc is severely limited by metal pollution.
A Characterization of Brain Area Activation in Orienteers with Different Map-Recognition Memory Ability Task Levels—Based on fNIRS Evidence

Background: Mapping memory ability is highly correlated with an orienteer’s level, and spatial memory tasks of different difficulties can reveal the spatial cognitive characteristics of high-level athletes. Methods: An “expert–novice” experimental paradigm was used to monitor behavioral performance and changes in cerebral blood oxygen concentration in orienteering athletes with tasks of different difficulty and cognitive load using functional near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (fNIRS). Results: (1) there was no difference between high-/low-level athletes’ map recognition and memory abilities in the non-orienteering scenario; (2) with increasing task difficulty, both high-/low-level athletes showed significantly decreasing behavioral performance, reduced correctness, longer reaction time, and strengthened cerebral blood oxygen activation concentration. There was no significant difference in L-DLPFC cerebral oxygen concentration between high-/low-level athletes in the simple map task, and the cerebral oxygen concentration in all brain regions was lower in the expert group than in the novice group in the rest of the task difficulty levels; (3) the correctness rate in the expert group in the complex task was closely related to the activation of the right hemisphere (R-DLPFC, R-VLPFC). Conclusions: Experts have a specific cognitive advantage in map-recognition memory, showing higher task performance and lower cerebral blood oxygen activation; cognitive load constrains map-recognition memory-specific ability and produces different performance effects and brain activation changes on spatial memory processing.
Multiverse Predictions for Habitability:Fraction of Planets that Develop Life

In a multiverse context, determining the probability of being in our particular universe depends on estimating its overall habitability compared to other universes with different values of the fundamental constants. One of the most important factors in determining this is the fraction of planets that actually develop life, and how this depends on planetary conditions. Many proposed possibilities for this are incompatible with the multiverse: if the emergence of life depends on the lifetime of its host star, the size of the habitable planet, or the amount of material processed, the chances of being in our universe would be very low. If the emergence of life depends on the entropy absorbed by the planet, however, our position in this universe is very natural. Several proposed models for the subsequent development of life, including the hard step model and several planetary oxygenation models, are also shown to be incompatible with the multiverse. If any of these are observed to play a large role in determining the distribution of life throughout our universe, the multiverse hypothesis will be ruled out to high significance.