Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The H i detection of low column density clouds and galaxies

The HIDEEP survey was carried out in an attempt to find objects having low inferred neutral hydrogen column densities, yet it found a distribution that was strongly peaked at 10(20.65) cm(−2). In an attempt to understand this distribution and similar survey results, we model H i profiles of gas discs and use simple simulations of objects having a wide range of H i properties in the presence of an ionizing background. We find that inferred column density (N0Hi) values, which are found by averaging total H i masses over some disc area, do not vary strongly with central column density (N(max)) for detectable objects, so that even a population having a wide range of N(max) values will give rise to a strongly peaked distribution of N(0)(Hi) values. We find that populations of objects having a wide range of model parameters give rise to inferred column density distributions around 10(20.6±0.3) cm(−)2. However, populations of fairly massive objects having a wide range of central column densities work best in reproducing the HIDEEP data, and these populations are also consistent with observed Lyman limit absorber counts. It may be necessary to look two orders of magnitude fainter than HIDEEP limits to detect ionized objects having central column densities <10(20) cm(−2), but the inferred column densities of already detected objects might be lower if their radii could be estimated more accurately.
Well-structured futures and cache locality

In fork-join parallelism, a sequential program is split into a directed acyclic graph of tasks linked by directed dependency edges, and the tasks are executed, possibly in parallel, in an order consistent with their dependencies. A popular and effective way to extend fork-join parallelism is to allow threads to create {futures. A thread creates a future to hold the results of a computation, which may or may not be executed in parallel. That result is returned when some thread touches that future, blocking if necessary until the result is ready. Recent research has shown that while futures can, of course, enhance parallelism in a structured way, they can have a deleterious effect on cache locality. In the worst case, futures can incur Ω(P T∞ + t T∞) deviations, which implies Ω(C P T∞ + C t T∞) additional cache misses, where C is the number of cache lines, P is the number of processors, t is the number of touches, and T∞ is the computation span. Since cache locality has a large impact on software performance on modern multicores, this result is troubling. In this paper, however, we show that if futures are used in a simple, disciplined way, then the situation is much better: if each future is touched only once, either by the thread that created it, or by a later descendant of the thread that created it, then parallel executions with work stealing can incur at most O(C P T2∞) additional cache misses, a substantial improvement. This structured use of futures is characteristic of many (but not all) parallel applications.
Estimation of blood pressure variability from 24-hour ambulatory finger blood pressure.

Portapres is a noninvasive, beat-to-beat finger blood pressure (BP) monitor that has been shown to accurately estimate 24-hour intra-arterial BP at normal and high BPs. However, no information is available on the ability of this device to accurately track ambulatory BP variability. In 20 ambulatory normotensive and hypertensive subjects, we measured 24-hour BP by Portapres and through a brachial artery catheter. BP and pulse interval variabilities were quantified by (1) the SDs of the mean values (overall variability) and (2) spectral power, computed either by fast Fourier transform and autoregressive modeling of segments of 120-second duration for spectral components from 0.025 to 0.50 Hz or in a very low frequency range (between 0.00003 and 0.01 Hz) by broadband spectral analysis. The 24-hour SD of systolic BP obtained from Portapres (24+/-2 mm Hg) was greater than that obtained intra-arterially (17+/-1 mm Hg, P<0.01), but the overestimation was less evident for diastolic (3+/-1 mm Hg, P<0.01) and mean (3+/-1 mm Hg, P<0.01) BP. The BP spectral power <0.15 Hz was also overestimated by Portapres more for systolic than for diastolic and mean BPs; similar findings were obtained by the fast Fourier transform, the autoregressive approach, and focusing on the broadband spectral analysis. BP spectral power >0.15 Hz obtained by the Portapres was similar during the day but lower during the night when compared with those obtained by intra-arterial recordings (P<0.01). No differences were observed between Portapres and intra-arterial recordings for any estimation of pulse interval variabilities. The overestimation of BP variability by Portapres remained constant over virtually the entire 24-hour recording period. Thus, although clinical studies are still needed to demonstrate the clinical relevance of finger BP variability, our study shows that Portapres can be used with little error to estimate 24-hour BP variabilities if diastolic and mean BPs are used. For systolic BP, the greater error can be minimized by using correction factors.
Constraint Optimal Selection Techniques (COSTs) For A Class Of Linear Programming Problems

iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The dissertation work would not have been possible without the support, guidance, and advice from my supervising professors Dr. Their courses have benefited me greatly during my doctoral studies. Also, thanks to all my friends in the COSMOS lab Wen, as well as Jawahar Veera in the Robotics lab. They made my life in COSMOS fulfilling both academically and socially. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, my brother Bruce (Emily). I am especially indebted to my late father for his support and sacrifice. I deeply wish that I had the chance to hug him again, to thank him for everything he did for me, and to tell him how much I miss him. Special thanks are reserved for my dear v mother for building a family that keeps all her children bound strongly together, even though they all now have their own families. Without the boundless support from her, my sisters, and my brother, I would have not dreamed of pursuing a Ph.D. Saving the best for last, I can never express my full gratitude to my loving wife, who is expecting our first child. Her company and care has made my time in Texas the most joyful of This dissertation describes two classes of Constraint Optimal Selection Techniques (COSTs). An algorithm of each type is developed for solving nonnegative linear programming problems. In addition, geometric interpretations of these new algorithms are given, computational results for some large-scale problems are provided, and directions for future research are discussed.
Relationship Between Neointimal Thickness and Shear Stress After Wallstent Implantation in Human Coronary Arteries

BackgroundIn-stent restenosis by excessive intimal hyperplasia reduces the long-term clinical efficacy of coronary stents. Because shear stress (SS) is related to plaque growth in atherosclerosis, we investigated whether variations in SS distribution are related to variations in neointima formation. Methods and ResultsIn 14 patients, at 6-month follow-up after coronary Wallstent implantation, 3D stent and vessel reconstruction was performed with a combined angiographic and intravascular ultrasound technique (ANGUS). The bare stent reconstruction was used to calculate in-stent SS at implantation, applying computational fluid dynamics. The flow was selected to deliver an average SS of 1.5 N/m2. SS and neointimal thickness (Th) values were obtained with a resolution of 90° in the circumferential and 2.5 mm in the longitudinal direction. For each vessel, the relationship between Th and SS was obtained by linear regression analysis. Averaging the individual slopes and intercepts of the regression lines summarized the overall relationship. Average Th was 0.44±0.20 mm. Th was inversely related to SS: Th=(0.59±0.24)−(0.08±0.10)×SS (mm) (P <0.05). ConclusionsThese data show for the first time in vivo that the Th variations in Wallstents at 6-month follow-up are inversely related to the relative SS distribution. These findings support a hemodynamic mechanism underlying in-stent neointimal hyperplasia formation.
RaSOSS - Remote Analysis System for Open Source Software

Open Source Software is becoming evermore important and widespread these days. However, their maintenance processes are commonly unknown even they are controlled with defect management and version management systems. These systems have been studied separately in earlier studies. Therefore, in this paper, we present a system, Remote Analysis System Open Source Software (RaSOSS), for analyzing maintenance process through both systems. The system retrieves data from the defect management and version management systems for analysis. Analysis provides attributes that evaluated generally project, defect management process and version management. We used Apache HTTP Server as a case study to explain results of provided analysis.
Sport Event Consumers : Attitude , EQuality and E-Satisfaction

Sporting events attract millions of dollars in sponsorship and tourism, so a strong event brand is required. The event website quality is responsible for maintaining and attracting consumers and creating a positive attitude towards the brand. The purpose of this study was to examine key variables that affect the behavior of online sport event consumers. Specifically, it explores e-quality and e-satisfaction and how they influence the attitude towards the website and the brand. Structural equation model tests revealed that a positive quality can determine a positive attitude to the web site, even the consumer is not satisfied with it. On the other hand, the stakeholder needs to pay attention to maintain a high-quality web site if he wants to increase the attitude toward the brand to attract consumer to the sport event, because the event can generate revenue to the sponsors, cities and citizens.
Product placement practices in prime-time television programmes in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Product placement research tends to show how product placements impact consumer behaviour but less research examines the nature of product placement execution. This is the first study to examine product placement execution in Asia focusing on Hong Kong prime-time television programmes. Specifically it explores the prevalence of brand appearances, characteristics of programmes linked to brand appearances, features of placed brands and products, modality of brand appearances, character interaction with placed products and the placement context. It was found that integrating brands in television programmes in Hong Kong seems to be well supported by advertisers, with one brand appearing in every 11 minutes of programming. Less than half of brand appearances were disclosed at the end of the programmes, while none were disclosed prior to the programme which raises questions about regulation of the practice. Results of the analysis provide useful insights into the practice of product placement in this fast growth context and its (dis)connection with existing product placement literature.
Implementation of Pulse Shaping Techniques in OFDM System

Tremendous improvement has been made possible in wireless technology due to success of OFDM system which is a multi carrier modulation technique with capability to support high data rates. Despite its many advantages OFDM has failed against inter symbol interference (ISI), high sensitivity to Inter carrier interference (ICI), high peak to average power ratio (PAPR), phase noise and band limited channel. Hence the performance of an OFDM system is highly affected by the aforementioned undesired phenomenon. For this reason bandlimited system often employs pulse shaping techniques. In this paper pulse shaping of multi carrier signal is introduced by using various pulse shapes like Rectangular pulse (REC), Raised cosine pulse (RC), Better than raised cosine pulse (BTRC), Sinc power pulse (SP) and Improved sinc power pulse (ISP). The impulse responses and frequency spectrums have been evaluated and compared with system without using pulse shaping. Results obtained by simulation for OFDM system using pulse shaping and without using pulse shaping indicate that the performance of OFDM system with various pulse shapes is better than without using pulse shaping. Along with it can also be observed that among pulse shaping ISP exhibits better performance. Computer simulation has been done by using MATLAB 7.0 software.
Liquid crystal device and method of manufacture

A liquid crystal device (100) for focusing visible light, the liquid crystal device (100) comprising a plurality of curved substrates (101,102) arranged to form one or more curved cavities (104) therebetween, each substrate being configured to provide a focal power, wherein the one or more curved cavities contain liquid crystal and form one or more liquid crystal elements. Each of the one or more liquid crystal elements are configured to provide a focal power, the focal power of each of the liquid crystal elements being dependent on the curvature of the respective cavity and a voltage applied across the liquid crystal contained within the respective cavity. The substrates (101,102) in combination with the one or more liquid crystal elements are arranged to provide a first focal power in a substantial absence of an applied voltage and a second focal power in response to an applied voltage.
The Effect of Prolonged Physical Activity Performed during Extreme Caloric Deprivation on Cardiac Function

Background Endurance exercise may induce transient cardiac dysfunction. Data regarding the effect of caloric restriction on cardiac function is limited. We studied the effect of physical activity performed during extreme caloric deprivation on cardiac function. Methods Thirty-nine healthy male soldiers (mean age 20±0.3 years) were studied during a field training exercise lasted 85–103 hours, with negligible food intake and unlimited water supply. Anthropometric measurements, echocardiographic examinations and blood and urine tests were performed before and after the training exercise. Results Baseline VO2 max was 59±5.5 ml/kg/min. Participants' mean weight reduction was 5.7±0.9 kg. There was an increase in plasma urea (11.6±2.6 to 15.8±3.8 mmol/L, p<0.001) and urine osmolarity (692±212 to 1094±140 mmol/kg, p<0.001) and a decrease in sodium levels (140.5±1.0 to 136.6±2.1 mmol/L, p<0.001) at the end of the study. Significant alterations in diastolic parameters included a decrease in mitral E wave (93.6 to 83.5 cm/s; p = 0.003), without change in E/A and E/E′ ratios, and an increase in iso-volumic relaxation time (73.9 to 82.9 ms, p = 0.006). There was no change in left or right ventricular systolic function, or pulmonary arterial pressure. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were significantly reduced post-training (median 9 to 0 pg/ml, p<0.001). There was no elevation in Troponin T or CRP levels. On multivariate analysis, BNP reduction correlated with sodium levels and weight reduction (R = 0.8, p<0.001). Conclusions Exposure to prolonged physical activity performed under caloric deprivation resulted in minor alterations of left ventricular diastolic function. BNP levels were significantly reduced due to negative water and sodium balance.
Pathologic diagnosis of advanced lung cancer based on small biopsies and cytology: a paradigm shift.

With some exceptions, the field of lung cancer disease has been relatively static during the past several decades with few major practice-changing advances. In this issue of the journal 2, articles address the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on small biopsies and/or cytology, an area of lung cancer diagnosis in which a paradigm shift has occurred for both pathologists and clinicians. 1,2 This topic is important because the majority patients with lung cancer present with unresectable disease, and the diagnosis is established based on such small specimens. Moreover, with increasing use of minimally invasive biopsy methods, pathologists are being asked to do more with less tissue. HISTORY OF LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN SMALL BIOPSIES AND CYTOLOGY The World Health Organization classifications of lung tumors through the 1999 edition 3‐5 did not address lung cancer diagnosis based on small biopsies and cytology, because these were recommendations for the histologic classifications of resection specimens. In the 2004 World Health Organization classification, cytology was addressed for the first time, but classification in small biopsies was not addressed. 6 Currently, no internationally recognized standard of criteria or terminology for the diagnosis of lung cancer in small biopsies is available.
"The devil you know knows best": how online recommendations can benefit from social networking

The defining characteristic of the Internet today is an abundance of information and choice. Recommender Systems (RS), designed to alleviate this problem, have so far not been very successful, and recent research suggests that this is due to the lack of the social context and inter-personal trust. We simulated an online film RS with 60 participants, where recommender information was added to the recommendations, and a subset of these were attributed to friends of the participants. Participants overwhelmingly preferred recommendations from familiar recommenders with whom they shared interests and a high rating overlap. When recommenders were familiar, rating overlap was the most important decision factor, whereas when they were unfamiliar, the combination of profile similarity and rating overlap was important. We recommend that RS and social networking functionality should be integrated, and show how RS functionality can be added to an existing social networking system by visualising profile similarity.
Evaluating Security in Software Agent Systems using a Security Analysis Tool

This paper exposes different security threats posed to information in software agent systems. It describes various scenarios in which security can be compromised and highlights the requirements of a standard security-testing environment. This environment is generated using a Security Analysis Tool (SAT) proposed and described in this paper. The tool also fills in the requirement of a much-needed benchmarking function for the security implementations of different mobile agent systems.
Risk Factors for Serious Alcohol and Drug Use: The Role of Psychosocial Variables in Predicting the Frequency of Substance Use Among Adolescents

Reviews of the psychosocial risk factors of adolescent alcohol and drug use suggest that the highest risks can be summarized as: 1) psychological functioning, 2) family environment, 3) peer relationships, and 4) stressful life events. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationships among the most common risk factors among a clinical sample (n = 214) and to determine the collective importance of these risk factors on problems with substance use. Collectively, these risk factors were most effective in explaining alcohol use and binge drinking and marijuana use, which were the most frequent types of substance use in this sample. Antisocial peers and delinquent behavior were the strongest predictors of substance use. Implications are that treatment programs target different psychosocial factors depending on the substance being used, and put extra effort on understanding and altering the relationship between an adolescent's choice of peers and their own attitudes toward delinquency and drug use.
An exploration of female leadership language:case studies of senior women in Bahrain

This is a multiple case study of the leadership language of three senior women working in a large corporation in Bahrain. The study’s main aim is to explore the linguistic practices the women leaders use with their colleagues and subordinates in corporate meetings. Adopting a Foucauldian (1972) notion of ‘discourses’ as social practices and a view of gender as socially constructed and discursively performed (Butler 1990), this research aims to unveil the competing discourses which may shape the leadership language of senior women in their communities of practice. The research is situated within the broader field of Sociolinguistics and the specific field of Language and Gender. To address the research aim, a case study approach incorporating multiple methods of qualitative data collection (observation, interviews, and shadowing) was utilised to gather information about the three women leaders and produce a rich description of their use of language in and out of meeting contexts. For analysis, principles of Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) were used to organise and sort the large amount of data. Also, Feminist Post- Structuralist Discourse Analysis (FPDA) was adopted to produce a multi-faceted analysis of the subjects, their language leadership, power relations, and competing discourses in the context. It was found that the three senior women enact leadership differently making variable use of a repertoire of conventionally masculine and feminine linguistic practices. However, they all appear to have limited language resources and even more limiting subject positions; and they all have to exercise considerable linguistic expertise to police and modify their language in order to avoid the ‘double bind’. Yet, the extent of this limitation and constraints depends on the community of practice with its prevailing discourses, which appear to have their roots in Islamic and cultural practices as well as some Western influences acquired throughout the company’s history. It is concluded that it may be particularly challenging for Middle Eastern women to achieve any degree of equality with men in the workplace because discourses of Gender difference lie at the core of Islamic teaching and ideology.
Rab11‐Family of Interacting Protein 2 associates with chlamydial inclusions through its Rab‐binding domain and promotes bacterial multiplication

Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular pathogen, survives within host cells in a special compartment named ‘inclusion’ and takes advantage of host vesicular transport pathways for its growth and replication. Rab GTPases are key regulatory proteins of intracellular trafficking. Several Rabs, among them Rab11 and Rab14, are implicated in chlamydial development. FIP2, a member of the Rab11‐Family of Interacting Proteins, presents at the C‐terminus a Rab‐binding domain that interacts with both Rab11 and Rab14. In this study, we determined and characterized the recruitment of endogenous and GFP‐tagged FIP2 to the chlamydial inclusions. The recruitment of FIP2 is specific since other members of the Rab11‐Family of Interacting Proteins do not associate with the chlamydial inclusions. The Rab‐binding domain of FIP2 is essential for its association. Our results indicate that FIP2 binds to Rab11 at the chlamydial inclusion membrane through its Rab‐binding domain. The presence of FIP2 at the chlamydial inclusion favours the recruitment of Rab14. Furthermore, our results show that FIP2 promotes inclusion development and bacterial replication. In agreement, the silencing of FIP2 decreases the bacterial progeny. C. trachomatis likely recruits FIP2 to hijack host intracellular trafficking to redirect vesicles full of nutrients towards the inclusion.