Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On a multi-resonant origin of high frequency quasiperiodic oscillations in the neutron-star X-ray binary 4U 1636-53

Context. The kHz quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in low-mass X-ray neutron star binaries are most likely connected to the orbital motion in the accretion disc. The ratio between f requencies of the upper and lower observed QPOs mode cluster close to ratios of small natural numbers, most often close to the 3/2 value, but the other rational ratios occur in some sources as well. The class of QPOs models considers a resonance between Keplerian and epicyclic frequencies of the geodesic motion. It was suggested that a multipeaked ratio distribution may follow from different resonances. The atoll source 4U 1636-53 shows datapoints clustering around two distinct values (3/2 and 5/4) of the frequency ratio. The same frequency ratios correspond to the change in the sign of the twin peak QPOs amplitude difference, suggesting existence of a resonant energy overflow. Aims. We explore the idea that the two clusters of datapoints in 4U 1636-53 result from two different instances of the same orbital resonance corresponding to the two resonant points. Methods. Assuming the neutron star external spacetime to be described by the Hartle-Thorne metric, we search for a frequency relation, matching the two observed datapoints clusters, which may correspond to a resonance. We consider orbital and associated epicyclic frequencies with accuracy up to the second order terms in the neutron star angular momentum j and first order terms in its quadrupole moment q. Results. We have identified a suitable class of frequency relations we ll fitting the observed data. These models imply for central c ompact object in 4U 1636-53 the mass M = 1.6 ‐ 2.5M⊙, dimensionless angular momentum j = 0 ‐ 0.4, and quadrupole momentum q = 0 ‐ 0.25, with most preferred values M � 1.77M⊙, j � 0.05, and q � 0.003. Conclusions. The relationship implied for a particular case of so called t otal precession resonance between the Keplerian and the total precession frequency introduced in this paper resembles the twin peak QPOs observed in 4U 1636-53 with aχ 2 ∼ 3 d.o. f. which is about one order lower thanχ 2 reached by other theoretical relationships which we examine. Moreover, the position of 3/2 and 5/4 resonant points implied by the total precession relationsh ip well coincides with frequencies given by the change of the rms-amplitude difference sign. Notice that if a resonance (in our opinion most likely present) is not considered, the total precession rela tion has a similar kinematic meaning as the periastron precession relation involved in the model of Stella and Vietri, but gives s ubstantially better fit and lower neutron star mass.
HIV-positive men who have sex with men: biography, diversity in lifestyles, common experience of living with HIV. ANRS-EN12 VESPA Study, 2003

Abstract The conceptualisation of male who have sex with male (MSM) to account for male homosexual behaviour has been developed to facilitate the endorsement of prevention message since the advent of HIV infection. Population studies performed to understand and monitor sexual and preventive behaviour usually recruit respondents through gay-friendly channels such as media, sexual venues or festivals, leading to recruitment bias. Few studies question possible differences according to varying sexual biography and current behaviour within the MSM population. The random sample of HIV+ individuals treated in specialised outpatient clinics (ANRS-EN12-VESPA study, 2003) provides the opportunity to question the MSM conceptualisation regarding sexual biography, social characteristics, current sexual behaviour, use of condom, living with HIV (quality of life, discrimination and participation in NGOs). Among the 2932 respondents, 1309 men reported a lifetime male sexual partner. Information regarding sexual biography (lifetime and current numbers of male and female sexual partners, lifetime number of male and female stable couples) was computed using cluster analysis and identified five profiles: exclusive gay (53.7%), gay with some bisexuality (21.8%), gay with mixed sexual history (8.1%), bisexual (7.8%) and heterosexual with male-to-male sex (8.6%). The profiles matched self-identification better among the most exclusive homosexuals than among men with current bisexuality. These five subgroups differed regarding demographic and social characteristics (except migration status), their period of diagnosis, age and CD4 count at diagnosis. Sexual activity, steady partnership, number of male and female partners, use of sexual venues and illegal substance use were different across subgroups. Reversely, these groups are homogenous regarding experience of discrimination and involvement in People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) activities. These findings among men living with HIV support the MSM conceptualisation and underscore the role of medicine and HIV activism in shaping the experience of HIV infection.
Use of respiratory function tests to predict survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Respiratory function tests (RFTs) are commonly used as a measure of progression in ALS. This study assessed the ability of various RFTs to predict survival in ALS patients. Subjects with ALS had one or more measurements of seated and supine FVC, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis was used to determine whether patients with abnormal RFTs had shorter survival than those with normal RFTs. The sensitivity and specificity of RFTs as predictors of two-year survival were calculated from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. With KM analysis, subjects with abnormal values of seated FVC, supine FVC, MIP and MEP had significantly reduced survival compared to subjects with normal values. With ROC curves, a normal supine FVC was highly predictive for two-year survival and had superior sensitivity over seated FVC. Slower rates of decline in seated or supine FVC were strong predictors of two-year survival. Our study demonstrates that respiratory function measurements are useful to predict survival in ALS patients. We show that measurements of FVC in the supine position are worth including in the assessment of respiratory function in ALS.
Dynamic Allocation of Kidneys to Candidates on the Transplant Waiting List

The crux of the kidney allocation problem is the trade-off between clinical efficiency and equity. We consider a dynamic resource allocation problem with the tri-criteria objective of maximizing the quality-adjusted life expectancy of transplant candidates (clinical efficiency) and minimizing two measures of inequity: a linear function of the likelihood of transplantation of the various types of patients, and a quadratic function that quantifies the differences in mean waiting times across patient types. The dynamic status of patients is modeled by a set of linear differential equations, and an approximate analysis of the optimal control problem yields a dynamic index policy. We construct a large-scale simulation model using data from over 30,000 transplants, and the simulation results demonstrate that, relative to the organ allocation policy currently employed in the United States, the dynamic index policy increases the quality-adjusted life expectancy and reduces the mean waiting time until transplantation for all six demographic groups (two sexes, races, and age groups) under consideration.
A survey on deployment techniques, localization algorithms, and research challenges for underwater acoustic sensor networks

In recent years, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have attracted the attention of both the research community and the industry, and this has eventually lead to the widespread use of WSNs in various applications. The significant advancements in WSNs and the advantages brought by WSNs have also enabled the rapid development of underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs). In UASNs, in addition to deployment, determining the locations of underwater sensor nodes after they have been deployed is important since it plays a critical role in many applications. Various localization techniques have been proposed for UASNs, and each one is suitable for specific scenarios and has unique challenges. In this paper, after presenting an overview of potential UASN applications, a survey of the deployment techniques and localization algorithms for UASNs has been presented based on their major advantages and disadvantages. Finally, research challenges and open research issues of UASNs have been discussed to provide an insight into future research opportunities.
Calcium intake and the risk of stroke: an up-dated meta-analysis of prospective studies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Calcium intake has been associated with stroke risk in a prior meta-analysis, however, newly published results are inconsistent. Dairy food benefits on stroke incidence may involve a calcium-related mechanism. We have therefore updated this meta-analysis with particular references to any possibility of a calcium-mediated dairy food risk reduction of stroke risk. METHODS We searched multiple databases and bibliographies for prospective cohort studies. Reports with multivariate-adjusted relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of calcium intake with stroke incidence were considered. RESULTS Ten studies with 371,495 participants and 10,408 stroke events were analyzed. The pooled analysis showed no statistically significant association of the risk of total stroke (RR=0.96; 95% CI: 0.89-1.04) and stroke subtypes with the highest and lowest calcium intake quantiles. Nevertheless, high dairy calcium intake was significantly associated with an approximately 24% reduction of stroke risk. (RR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.66-0.86). Furthermore, a long-term follow-up (>=14 years) was helpful to reduce the risk of stroke (RR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.51-0.88). Additionally, a non-linear dose-response relationship was predicted between calcium intake and stroke risk. CONCLUSIONS Dairy calcium intake is inversely associated with stroke incidence. There is a non-linear dose-response relationship between calcium intake and stroke risk. However, when the follow-up time is long enough, the inverse relationship is independent of dose. Additional large cohort studies are required to illustrate this relationship in detail.
Candidate gene polymorphisms for behavioural adaptations during urbanization in blackbirds

Successful urban colonization by formerly rural species represents an ideal situation in which to study adaptation to novel environments. We address this issue using candidate genes for behavioural traits that are expected to play a role in such colonization events. We identified and genotyped 16 polymorphisms in candidate genes for circadian rhythms, harm avoidance and migratory and exploratory behaviour in 12 paired urban and rural populations of the blackbird Turdus merula across the Western Palaearctic. An exonic microsatellite in the SERT gene, a candidate gene for harm avoidance behaviour, exhibited a highly significant association with habitat type in an analysis conducted across all populations. Genetic divergence at this locus was consistent in 10 of the 12 population pairs; this contrasts with previously reported stochastic genetic divergence between these populations at random markers. Our results indicate that behavioural traits related to harm avoidance and associated with the SERT polymorphism experience selection pressures during most blackbird urbanization events. These events thus appear to be influenced by homogeneous adaptive processes in addition to previously reported demographic founder events.
Brain-specific knockdown of miR-29 results in neuronal cell death and ataxia in mice

The authors investigate the consequences of miR-29a/b misregulation in the mouse brain. They use a neurotropic peptide, derived from the rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG), for targeted delivery of an miRNA inhibitor (miR-29a/b LNA anti-miR) to neuronal cells in vivo, overcoming the blood-brain barrier, and down-regulating miR-29a/b expression in the brain. They show that the mitochondrial outer membrane protein VDAC1 is a target of this miRNA and its dysregulation is a critical feature of neuronal cell death, highlighting the protective role of miR-29 in neuronal survival.
I MPACT OF INTERNATIONAL LISTING ON RETURN DISTRIBUTION An intervention analysis with Australian stocks

This study examines the effect of international listing on the conditional return distribution of Australian stocks in the domestic market. We conduct an intervention analysis in an EGARCH framework to measure any shift in the parameters describing the daily return generating process. All fifteen stocks that were listed on the major US exchanges (NYSE and NASDAQ ) as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) during the years 1981 to 1996 are analysed. The involvement of two exchanges allows us to study whether the listing exchange itself has an impact on the return distribution. Although we find evidence of statistical shift in the characteristics of the return distribution from individual stocks, there is no systematic market-wide pattern in the impact. From a policy perspective, the results imply (1) the Australian equity market is globally integrated and priced efficiently, and (2) the benefits of dual listing, if any, tend to be firm-specific.
Gradient perceptual facilitation from phonotactic knowledge

1 Introduction In classical generative phonology, phonotactic constraints define the set of possible sound patterns in a given language by restricting the distribution of sounds, e.g. in certain structural positions or next to certain other sounds. Speakers' knowledge of the phonotactic constraints in their language is manifested in various linguistic tasks they perform. Speakers will judge a sound pattern to be grammatical if it is phonotactically legal and ungrammatical if it is phonotactically illegal. Their knowledge is also manifested in their performance in on-line speech processing tasks, such as speech perception and production. For example, Brown and Hildum (1956) showed that adult English speakers perceive non-words beginning with phonotactically legal onset clusters (e.g. /pr/) more accurately than non-words beginning with illegal onset clusters (e.g. /zdr/). One obvious source of their sensitivity to phonotactic legality of sound patterns is the distribution of sound patterns in the language. They have encountered one or more examples of phonotactically legal sound patterns but they have not encountered any examples of phonotactically illegal sound patterns in the language. Under the classical view, the focus was on the categorical distinction between phonotactically legal vs. illegal sound patterns. More recent studies make a finer distinction and focus on the gradience of phonotactic constraints. One commonly made argument is that a better description of phonotactic constraints should include not only what are legal and illegal sound patterns in the language but also the frequency or probability with which legal sound patterns occur in the language. Evidence in support of the argument comes from studies that relate gradience in speakers' task performance with lexical statistics. Speakers judge non-words consisting of more frequent sound patterns to be more acceptable than non-words consisting of less frequent sound patterns (Coleman and Pierrehumbert, 1997; Treiman et al., 2000). Speakers perceive non-words with high-frequency syllables more quickly than non-words with low frequency syllables (Vitevitch et al., 1997). Similar to the idea that presence vs. absence of sound patterns in the language results in speakers' sensitivity to the phonotactic legality of sound patterns, the gradience in performance is often attributed to difference in the amount of statistical evidence for different sound patterns. That is, speakers become more familiar with the phonotactic constraint governing a
CONSTRAINTS ON PARAMETERS OF MODELS WITH EXTRA DIMENSION FROM PRIMORDIAL NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

5D models with one 3D brane and one infinite extra dimension are studied. Matter is confined to the brane, gravity extends to the bulk. Models with positive and negative tension of the brane are studied. Cosmological solutions on the brane are obtained by solving the generalized Friedmann equation. As the input in cosmological solutions we use the present-time observational cosmological parameters. We find constraints on dimensionless combinations of scales of 5D models which follow from the requirement that the models reproduce the data on production of 4He in primordial nucleosynthesis.
Transparent tabletop interface for multiple users on Lumisight table

This paper presents a new type of tabletop interface on Lumisight table. Putting physical objects on a tabletop display is one of the typical methods for intuitive tangible input. To date, various interactive systems that can identify and track the tabletop objects by using a camera, have been proposed. However, in these systems, the existence of objects with special devices or markers can disturb users' natural interaction by hiding displayed information. To solve this problem, the authors propose a transparent tabletop interface that is transparent from users but visible from a camera installed inside the system. This paper describes our research motivation, design and implementation of this interface, and examples of interaction.
An Effective Implementation of Dual Path Fused Floating-Point Add-Subtract Unit for Reconfigurable Architectures

Reconfigurable architectures have provided a low cost, fast turnaround platform for the development and deployment of designs in communication and signal processing applications. The floating point operations are used in most of the signal processing applications that require high precision and good accuracy. In this paper, an effective implementation of Fused Floating-point Add-Subtract (FFAS) unit with a modification in dual path design is presented. To enhance the performance of FFAS unit for reconfigurable architectures, a dual path unit with a modification in close path design is proposed. The proposed design is targeted on a Xilinx Virtex-6 device and implemented on ML605 Evaluation board for single, double and double extended precision. When compared to discrete floating point adder design, the FFAS unit reduces area requirement and power dissipation as the later shares common logic. A Dual Path FFAS (DPFFAS) unit has reduced latency when compared with FFAS unit. The latency is further reduced with the proposed modified DPFFAS when compared with DPFFAS for reconfigurable architectures.
Generating design pattern detectors from pattern specifications

We present our approach to support program understanding by a tool that generates static and dynamic analysis algorithms from design pattern specifications to detect design patterns in legacy code. We therefore specify the static and dynamic aspects of patterns as predicates, and represent legacy code by predicates that encode its attributed abstract syntax trees. Given these representations, the static analysis is performed on the legacy code representation as a query derived from the specification of the static pattern aspects. It provides us with pattern candidates in the legacy code. The dynamic specification represents state sequences expected when using a pattern. We monitor the execution of the candidates and check their conformance to this expectation. We demonstrate our approach and evaluate our tool by detecting instances of the observer, composite and decorator patterns in Java code using Prolog to define predicates and queries.
Subleading and non-holomorphic corrections to N=2 BPS black hole entropy

BPS black hole degeneracies can be expressed in terms of an inverse Laplace transform of a partition function based on a mixed electric/magnetic ensemble, which involves a non-trivial integration measure. This measure has been evaluated for black holes with various degrees of supersymmetry and for N = 4 supersymmetric black holes all results agree. It generally receives contributions from non-holomorphic corrections. An explicit evaluation of these corrections in the context of the effective action of the FHSV model reveals that these are related to, but quantitatively different from, the non-holomorphic corrections to the topological string, indicating that the relation between the twisted partition functions of the latter and the effective action is more subtle than has so far been envisaged. The effective action result leads to a duality invariant BPS free energy and arguments are presented for the existence of consistent non-holomorphic deformations of special geometry that can account for these effects. A prediction is given for the measure based on semiclassical arguments for a class of N = 2 black holes. Furthermore an attempt is made to confront some of the results of this paper with a recent proposal for the microstate degeneracies of the STU model.
Specificity of fungal associations of Pyroleae and Monotropa hypopitys during germination and seedling development

Mycoheterotrophic plants obtain organic carbon from associated mycorrhizal fungi, fully or partially. Angiosperms with this form of nutrition possess exceptionally small ‘dust seeds’ which after germination develop ‘seedlings’ that remain subterranean for several years, fully dependent on fungi for supply of carbon. Mycoheterotrophs which as adults have photosynthesis thus develop from full to partial mycoheterotrophy, or autotrophy, during ontogeny. Mycoheterotrophic plants may represent a gradient of variation in a parasitism–mutualism continuum, both among and within species. Previous studies on plant–fungal associations in mycoheterotrophs have focused on either germination or the adult life stages of the plant. Much less is known about the fungal associations during development of the subterranean seedlings. We investigated germination and seedling development and the diversity of fungi associated with germinating seeds and subterranean seedlings (juveniles) in five Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) species, the full mycoheterotroph Monotropa hypopitys and the putatively partial mycoheterotrophs Pyrola chlorantha, P. rotundifolia, Moneses uniflora and Chimaphila umbellata. Seedlings retrieved from seed sowing experiments in the field were used to examine diversity of fungal associates, using pyrosequencing analysis of ITS2 region for fungal identification. The investigated species varied with regard to germination, seedling development and diversity of associated fungi during juvenile ontogeny. Results suggest that fungal host specificity increases during juvenile ontogeny, most pronounced in the fully mycoheterotrophic species, but a narrowing of fungal associates was found also in two partially mycoheterotrophic species. We suggest that variation in specificity of associated fungi during seedling ontogeny in mycoheterotrophs represents ongoing evolution along a parasitism–mutualism continuum.