Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Foreground Subtraction of Cosmic Microwave Background Maps Using WI-FIT (Wavelet-Based High-Resolution Fitting of Internal Templates)

We present a new approach to foreground removal for CMB maps. Rather than relying on prior knowledge about the foreground components, we first extract the necessary information about them directly from the microwave sky maps by taking differences of temperature maps at different frequencies. These difference maps, which we refer to as internal templates, consist only of linear combinations of Galactic foregrounds and noise, with no CMB component. We obtain the foreground-cleaned maps by fitting these internal templates to, and subsequently subtracting the appropriately scaled contributions of them from, the CMB-dominated channels. The fitting operation is performed in wavelet space, making the analysis feasible at high resolution with only a minor loss of precision. Applying this procedure to the WMAP data, we obtain a power spectrum that matches the spectrum obtained by the WMAP team at the signal-dominated scales. The fact that we obtain basically identical results without using any external templates has considerable relevance for future observations of the CMB polarization, where very little is known about the Galactic foregrounds. Finally, we have revisited previous claims about a north-south power asymmetry on large angular scales and confirm that these remain unchanged with this completely different approach to foreground separation. This also holds when fitting the foreground contribution independently to the northern and southern hemisphere, indicating that the asymmetry is unlikely to have its origin in different foreground properties of the hemispheres. This conclusion is further strengthened by the lack of any observed frequency dependence.
Design Studio of the Future

New communication media enable new design technologies. To investigate the mutual influence of a new medium like Virtual Reality (VR) and architectural design technologies, a laboratory called ‘the design studio of the future’ is established. In due time a design system will be developed offering different design technologies in an integrated environment. Interfaces within VR will support various approaches to the design problem. A large research program (Virtual Reality - Distributed Interactive Systems) is carried out to provide state-of-the-art tools for designers to experiment and to give feed back on the results.
Implementing geospatial operations in an object-relational database system

Over the last decade the need to implement functions into a DBMS that are application-specific has increased. For this reason today most object-relational DBMS (ORDBMS) provide features that allow the user to include application-specific functions into the DBMS for their execution within database queries. This paper reports on an implementation effort to include spatial operations into an ORDBMS as a basis to support geographic information systems (GIS). Based on the technique of multi-step query processing using z-values we show how to transform "straight forward" queries into more sophisticated ones that use the existing ORDBMS as is. That is, existing index methods and existing optimization techniques are sufficient to execute the rewritten queries efficiently. For this purpose we introduce several user-defined functions and types that provide the necessary basis for an efficient implementation. To validate our implementation we used a subset of queries as defined in the SEQUOIA2000 benchmark. Our measurements show that the performance improvements between the original queries and the rewritten ones are dramatic.
Luminous early-type field galaxies at z ∶ 0:4 — I. Observations and redshift catalogue of 581 galaxies

We have compiled a sample of ∼ 9600 bright, i≤18.95, red, bJ−r>2, candidate galaxies in an area of 220 deg2. These are luminous, L>L*, field early-type galaxies with redshifts 0.3≲z≲0.6. We present a redshift catalogue of a subsample of 581 targets. The galaxies were selected according to their broad-band bJri colours from United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope plates, and have a surface density on the sky of only ∼ 50 deg−2. Such luminous field galaxies are virtually absent from published redshift surveys and the catalogue provides a large sample of the most luminous normal galaxies, at cosmological distances. The statistical properties of the galaxy spectra, including absorption-line and emission-line measures, are presented and a composite spectrum constructed. The nature of the sample, combined with the relatively bright apparent magnitudes, makes the galaxies suitable targets for several key investigations in galaxy evolution and cosmology.
Dual energy computed tomography for explosive detection

Single energy computed tomography (CT) scanners use measurements of densities to detect explosives in luggage. It is desirable to apply dual energy techniques to these CT scanners to obtain atomic number measurements to reduce false alarm rates. However, the direct application of existing dual energy techniques has practical problems, such as, approximation errors and lack of boundary constraints in dual energy decomposition, image artifacts, and x-ray spectral drifts. In this paper, we present methods to reduce these problems. The methods include constrained dual energy decomposition, adaptive scatter correction, nonlinear filtering of decomposed projections, and real-time image-based correction for x-ray spectral drifts. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods using simulated data and real data obtained from a commercial dual energy CT scanner.
Space Telescope Science Institute Cos/fuv Spatial and Spectral Resolution at the New Lifetime Position

In order to overcome gain-sag effects, the default position of spectra on the COS FUV detector was recently moved by 3.5 " in the positive cross-dispersion direction, and by −0.05 " in the dispersion direction. This move to the second " lifetime position " , a fresh part of the detector which has not yet experienced significant gain sag, is potentially accompanied by changes in flux calibration, sensitivity, flat-field, and resolution. Hence, special calibration programs were undertaken to characterize the detector at this new lifetime position. In this ISR, we characterize the spatial and spectral resolution at the second COS FUV lifetime position. Code V Optical models of the COS LSFs are generated for modes of the M and L gratings, accounting for mid-frequency wavefront errors (MFWFE). In order to validate the modeling of the COS FUV LSFs, we perform a comparison of spectral line profiles between, on the one hand, COS FUV spectra of SMC O star AV75 acquired at the second lifetime position, and on the other hand previous STIS E140M spectra convolved with models of the COS FUV LSFs at the new lifetime position. Our analysis shows that the model LSFs are consistent with the observations within the measurement errors. In addition, we derive the spatial resolution of the COS FUV gratings at the new lifetime position, as a function of wavelength, from both observations and optical modeling. We show that the theoretical and observed cross-dispersion profiles are in very good agreement.
Glutamine deficiency in the prefrontal cortex increases depressive-like behaviours in male mice.

BACKGROUND The brain levels of glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln) are partially regulated through the Glu-Gln cycle. Astrocytes play a role in regulating the Glu-Gln cycle, and loss of astrocytes has been associated with depressive disorders. We hypothesized that levels of Glu and Gln would be affected by astrocyte loss and dysregulation of the Glu-Gln cycle and that depressive-like behaviours would be closely related to the level of changes in Glu and Gln. METHODS We used liquid chromatography to measure Glu and Gln concentrations in the prefrontal cortex of male mice infused with L-α aminoadipic acid (L-AAA), a specific astrocyte toxin, in the prelimbic cortex. Methionine sulfoximine, a Gln synthetase inhibitor, and α-methyl-amino-isobutyric acid, a blocker of neuronal Gln transporters, were used to disturb the Glu-Gln cycle. We assessed the behavioural change by drug infusion using the forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test. RESULTS The Glu and Gln levels were decreased on the fifth day after L-AAA infusion, and the infused mice showed longer durations of immobility in the FST and lower sucrose preference, indicative of depressive-like behaviour. Mice in which Gln synthetase or Gln transport were inhibited also exhibited increased immobility in the FST. Direct infusion of L-Gln reversed the increased immobility induced by astrocyte ablation and Glu-Gln cycle impairments. LIMITATIONS Genetically modified animal models and diverse behavioural assessments would have been helpful to solidify our conclusions. CONCLUSION Neuronal Gln deficiency in the prefrontal cortex may cause depressive behaviours.
Metrics-based design selection tool for aspect oriented software development

Software metrics provide a means for software practitioners to assess the quality of their software. Ideally, this information should be available earlier in the software development lifecycle, since changes are much more expensive to incorporate in the later stages. Design level metrics offer an elegant way of capturing this information. Research in software design metrics has focused primarily on procedural and object oriented software. However, such metrics are currently not available for Aspect Oriented Software Development (AOSD), which is an emerging paradigm. Aspect Oriented Programming (AOP) is an approach that allows programmers to modularize crosscutting concerns that are scattered across multiple modules. Separation of concerns through aspects has the advantages of increased reliability, adaptability and better reuse. The objective of this paper is to propose suitable metrics for the Aspect Oriented Design (AOD) and to develop a tool that will automatically select a better design based on the proposed metrics. In this paper, class and sequence diagrams are used to represent an AOD. The proposed design level metrics are applied to two alternative designs of an illustrative case study. The tool selects the design that better suits stakeholder requirements, based on logical inferences obtained from these metrics regarding the quality of the Aspect Oriented software.
Self-synchronizing robust texel watermarking in gaussian scale-space

In this paper, we propose a new second generation watermarking method for still images that embeds information in the feature space using rational dither modulation. Embedding at a fixed raster, e.g., the pixel grid, is a big problem in all first generation watermarking approaches. In contrast, our approach does not work depending on any raster. We use a texture-based feature, the so-called gray-level blob in Gaussian scale-space, which is invariant to scaling, rotation, and translation. It is associated with the image content and thus independend of image geometry. Furthermore, we show that our new method is robust against a variety of attacks, such as lossy compression, contrast and luminance enhancement, bluring and sharpening as well as noise adding. In addition, due to embedding at no fixed raster and insertion/deletion error correction even after slight image cropping the watermark can be extracted.
Crystal structure of the ββα-Me type II restriction endonuclease Hpy99I with target DNA

The ββα-Me restriction endonuclease (REase) Hpy99I recognizes the CGWCG target sequence and cleaves it with unusual stagger (five nucleotide 5′-recessed ends). Here we present the crystal structure of the specific complex of the dimeric enzyme with DNA. The Hpy99I protomer consists of an antiparallel β-barrel and two β4α2 repeats. Each repeat coordinates a structural zinc ion with four cysteine thiolates in two CXXC motifs. The ββα-Me region of the second β4α2 repeat holds the catalytic metal ion (or its sodium surrogate) via Asp148 and Asn165 and activates a water molecule with the general base His149. In the specific complex, Hpy99I forms a ring-like structure around the DNA that contacts DNA bases on the major and minor groove sides via the first and second β4α2 repeats, respectively. Hpy99I interacts with the central base pair of the recognition sequence only on the minor groove side, where A:T resembles T:A and G:C is similar to C:G. The Hpy99I–DNA co-crystal structure provides the first detailed illustration of the ββα-Me site in REases and complements structural information on the use of this active site motif in other groups of endonucleases such as homing endonucleases (e.g. I-PpoI) and Holliday junction resolvases (e.g. T4 endonuclease VII).
Expanding postgraduate clinical research capacity: an exploration of key resistances

ABSTRACT There have been increasing calls in healthcare for the development of a more robust evidence base. Facilitating research activity amongst clinicians is the primary means of achieving this, although engagement is often undermined by a number of barriers and resistors. This article identifies and explores the forms of resistance that graduates from three postgraduate healthcare education programmes have encountered on their return to practice. This study employed a collective case study approach and gathered data from 29 semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed a range of challenges, both anticipated and unexpected, which related to research engagement. Four forms of resistance were subsequently identified: managerial, medical, organisational and interprofessional. In exploring these forms of resistance, it became apparent that barriers to research engagement are not only contextually determined but also rooted in enduring social perceptions, role insecurity and professional protectionism. The study also found that, whilst research engagement was rhetorically supported, organisations offer very little tangible assistance to potential clinical researchers. A particular type of education has proved manifestly disruptive in this instance, and this disruption will need to be recognised as curricula are adjusted and developed. Further exploring the identified miscommunication between education and practice will also be of particular value to both fields.
Coactivators for the Orphan Nuclear Receptor RORα

A mutation in the nuclear orphan receptor RORα results in a severe impairment of cerebellar development by unknown mechanisms. We have shown previously that RORα contains a strong constitutive activation domain in its C terminus. We therefore searched for mammalian RORα coactivators using the minimal activation domain as bait in a two-hybrid screen. Several known and putative coactivators were isolated, including glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein-1 (GRIP-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-binding protein (PBP/TRAP220/DRIP205). These interactions were confirmed in vitro and require the intact activation domain of RORα although different requirements for interaction with GRIP-1 and PBP were detected. Even in the absence of exogenous ligand, RORα interacts with a complex or complexes of endogenous proteins, similar to those that bind to ligand-occupied thyroid hormone and vitamin D receptors. Both PBP and GRIP-1 were shown to be present in these complexes. Thus we have identif.
Patterns of injury, outcomes, and predictors of in-hospital and 1-year mortality in nonagenarian and centenarian trauma patients.

IMPORTANCE With the dramatic growth in the very old population and their concomitant heightened exposure to traumatic injury, the trauma burden among this patient population is estimated to be exponentially increasing. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical outcomes and predictors of in-hospital and 1-year mortality in nonagenarian and centenarian trauma patients (NCTPs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS All patients 90 years or older admitted to a level 1 academic trauma center between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2010, with a primary diagnosis of trauma were included. Standard trauma registry data variables were supplemented by systematic medical record review. Cumulative mortality rates at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge were investigated using the Social Security Death Index. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the predictors of in-hospital and 1-year postdischarge cumulative mortalities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, and cumulative mortalities at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. RESULTS Four hundred seventy-four NCTPs were included; 71.7% were female, and a fall was the predominant mechanism of injury (96.4%). The mean patient age was 93 years, the mean Injury Severity Score was 12, and the mean number of comorbidities per patient was 4.4. The in-hospital mortality was 9.5% but cumulatively escalated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge to 18.5%, 26.4%, 31.3%, and 40.5%, respectively. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were the Injury Severity Score (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.16; P = .01), mechanical ventilation (OR, 6.23; 95% CI, 1.42-27.27; P = .02), and cervical spine injury (OR, 4.37; 95% CI, 1.41-13.50; P = .01). Independent predictors of cumulative 1-year mortality were head injury (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.24-5.67; P = .03) and length of hospital stay (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11; P = .005). Cumulative 1-year mortality in NCTPs with a head injury was 51.1% and increased to 73.2% if the Injury Severity Score was 25 or higher and to 78.7% if mechanical ventilation was required. Most NCTPs required rehabilitation; only 8.9% were discharged to home. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Despite low in-hospital mortality, the cumulative mortality rate among NCTPs at 1 year after discharge is significant, particularly in the presence of head injury, spine injury, mechanical ventilation, high injury severity, or prolonged length of hospital stay. These considerations can help guide clinical decisions and family discussions.
Is the Political Economy Stable or Chaotic

Recent events in the global economy have caused many writers to argue that the mar- ket is driven by animal spirits, by irrational exuberance or speculation. At the same time, the economic downturn has apparently caused many voters in the United States, and other countries, to change their opinion about the the proper role of government. Unfortunately, there does not exist a general equilibrium model of the political economy, combining a formal model of the existence, and convergence to a price equilibrium, as well as an equilibrium model of political choice. One impediment to such a theory is the so-called chaos theorem which suggests that existence of a political equilibrium is non-generic. This paper surveys results in the theory of dynamical systems, emphasizing the role of structural stability and chaos. We consider models of celestial mechanics where the notion of chaos first developed, and then examine applications in models of climate change and economics. There is discussion of the past influences of climate on human society, and particularly how agriculture developed during the "holocene," the past ten thousand years of benign climate. The recent period of globalization is likened to the holocene, and the question is raised whether future climate change may bring economic and political chaos.
A Tumor Suppressor Homolog, AtPTEN1, Is Essential for Pollen Development in Arabidopsis Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at www.plantcell.org/cgi/doi/10.1105/tpc.005702.

Although it is well known that Tyr phosphatases play a critical role in signal transduction in animal cells, little is understood of the functional significance of Tyr phosphatases in higher plants. Here, we describe the functional analysis of an Arabidopsis gene (AtPTEN1) that encodes a Tyr phosphatase closely related to PTEN, a tumor suppressor in animals. The recombinant AtPTEN1 protein, like its homologs in animals, is an active phosphatase that dephosphorylates phosphotyrosine and phosphatidylinositol substrates. RNA gel blot analysis and examination of promoter-reporter constructs in transgenic Arabidopsis plants revealed that the AtPTEN1 gene is expressed exclusively in pollen grains during the late stage of development. Suppression of AtPTEN1 gene expression by RNA interference caused pollen cell death after mitosis. We conclude that AtPTEN1 is a pollen-specific phosphatase and is essential for pollen development.
Anthropometric and biochemical parameters in adolescents and their relationship with eating habits and household food availability.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the per capita availability of energy and macronutrients in the home and frequency of food consumption by adolescents and to relate them with anthropometric and biochemical variables, as well as verify if the eating habits of parents are associated to the children. METHODS We evaluated the weight, height, body fat (%BF), glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC) and fractions of 120 adolescents. We evaluated also the eating habits of adolescents and their parents. RESULTS Adolescents with more than 35% of available lipids had 9.1-fold higher chances of presenting alterations in TC. Those who replaced the main meals for snacks had 3.66, 4.66 and 2.82 higher chances of presenting alterationsin %BF, insulin and triglycerides, respectively. The daily consumption of fruit was considered as a protective factor in relation to hyperinsulinemia. There was a similar feeding behavior among adolescents and their mothers. CONCLUSION The results suggest the importance of specific attention to adolescent health, focused on family education.
The Role of Aggregators in Smart Grid Demand Response Markets

The design of efficient Demand Response (DR) mechanisms for the residential sector entails significant challenges, due to the large number of home users and the negligible impact of each of them on the market. In this paper, we introduce a hierarchical market model for the smart grid where a set of competing aggregators act as intermediaries between the utility operator and the home users. The operator seeks to minimize the smart grid operational cost and offers rewards to aggregators toward this goal. Profit-maximizing aggregators compete to sell DR services to the operator and provide compensation to end-users in order to modify their preferable consumption pattern. Finally, end-users seek to optimize the tradeoff between earnings received from the aggregator and discomfort from having to modify their pattern. Based on this market model, we first address the benchmark scenario from the point of view of a cost-minimizing operator that has full information about user demands. Then, we consider a DR market, where all entities are self-interested and non-cooperative. The proposed market scheme captures the diverse objectives of the involved entities and, compared to flat pricing, guarantees significant benefits for each. Using realistic demand traces, we quantify the arising DR benefits. Interestingly, users that are extremely willing to modify their consumption pattern do not derive maximum benefit.