Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Theory of groove-envelope phase effects in self-diffraction

If two laser beams cross in a medium under shallow angle, the laser-induced grating consists of only a few grooves. In this situation, the phase between the grooves of the grating and its envelope is a decisive parameter for nonlinear effects. Here, models are established for reproducing the groove-envelope phase effects that have been observed in the interference pattern of self-diffraction. Four-wave mixing leads to interferences that are dominant in the spatial region between the orders of diffraction and with tilted interference fringes in the diagram of transverse coordinate vs. pulse delay. The vertical interference fringes that are dominant directly on the diffraction orders, experimentally observed at high intensity close to the damage threshold, require a model beyond four-wave mixing. A model is suggested that is based on optical transmission changes with confinement to regions in the medium that are smaller than the groove spacing.
HOW TO MAKE A SINGLETON sdB STAR VIA ACCELERATED STELLAR EVOLUTION

Many hot subdwarf B stars (sdBs) are in close binaries, and the favored formation channels for subdwarfs rely on mass transfer in a binary system to strip a core He-burning star of its envelope. However, these channels cannot account for sdBs that have been observed in long-period binaries nor the narrow mass distribution of isolated (or “singleton”) sdBs. We propose a new formation channel involving the merger of a helium white dwarf and a low-mass, hydrogen-burning star, which addresses these issues. Hierarchical triples whose inner binaries merge and form sdBs by this process could explain the observed long-period subdwarf+main-sequence binaries. This process would also naturally explain the observed slow rotational speeds of singleton sdBs. We also briefly discuss the implications of this formation channel for extreme horizontal branch morphology in globular clusters and the UV upturn in elliptical galaxies.
HST's hunt for intermediate-mass black holes in star clusters

Abstract Establishing or ruling out, either through solid mass measurements or upper limits, the presence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs; with masses of 102 − 105 M⊙) at the centers of star clusters would profoundly impact our understanding of problems ranging from the formation and long-term dynamical evolution of stellar systems, to the nature of the seeds and the growth mechanisms of supermassive black holes. While there are sound theoretical arguments both for and against their presence in today's clusters, observational studies have so far not yielded truly conclusive IMBH detections nor upper limits. We argue that the most promising approach to solving this issue is provided by the combination of measurements of the proper motions of stars at the centers of Galactic globular clusters and dynamical models able to take full advantage of this type of data set. We present a program based on HST observations and recently developed tools for dynamical analysis designed to do just that.
A Framework for Robot Self-Assessment of Expected Task Performance

We propose a self-assessment framework which enables a robot to estimate how well it will be able to perform a known or possibly novel task. The robot simulates the task to generate a state distribution of possible outcomes and determines (1) the likelihood of overall success, (2) the most probable failure location, and (3) the expected time to task completion. We evaluate the framework on the “FetchIt! ” mobile manipulation challenge which requires the robot to fetch a variety of parts around a small enclosed arena. By comparing the simulated and actual task resulting state distributions, we show that the robot can effectively assess its expected performance which can be communicated to humans.
Influence of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Integrated Hemoadsorption on the Early Reversal of Multiorgan and Microcirculatory Dysfunction and Outcome of Refractory Cardiogenic Shock

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA–ECMO) integrated hemoadsorption on the reversal of multiorgan and microcirculatory dysfunction, and early mortality of refractory cardiogenic shock patients. Methods: Propensity score–matched cohort study of 29 pairs of patients. Subjects received either VA–ECMO supplemented with hemoadsorption or standard VA–ECMO management. Results: There was a lower mean sequential organ failure assessment score (p = 0.04), lactate concentration (p = 0.015), P(v–a)CO2 gap (p < 0.001), vasoactive inotropic score (p = 0.007), and reduced delta C–reactive protein level (p = 0.005) in the hemoadsorption compared to control groups after 72 h. In–hospital mortality was similar to the predictions in the control group (62.1%) and was much lower than the predicted value in the hemoadsorption group (44.8%). There were less ECMO-associated bleeding complications in the hemoadsorption group compared to controls (p = 0.049). Overall, 90-day survival was better in the hemoadsorption group than in controls without statistical significance. Conclusion: VA–ECMO integrated hemoadsorption treatment was associated with accelerated recovery of multiorgan and microcirculatory dysfunction, mitigated inflammatory response, less bleeding complications, and lower risk for early mortality in comparison with controls.
Primordial magnetic field constraints from the end of reionization

Primordial magnetic fields generated in the early Universe are subject of considerable investigation, and observational limits on their strength are required to constrain the theory. Due to their impact on the reionization process, the strength of primordial fields can be limited using the latest data on reionization and the observed UV luminosity function of high-redshift galaxies. Given the steep faint-end slope of the luminosity function, faint galaxies contribute substantial ionizing photons, and the low-luminosity cut-off has an impact on the total budget thereof. Magnetic pressure from primordial fields affects such cut-off by preventing collapse in haloes with mass below 1010 M, with B0 the comoving field strength. In this Letter, the implications of these effects are consistently incorporated in a simplified model for reionization, and the uncertainties due to the cosmological parameters, the reionization parameters and the observed UV luminosity function are addressed. We show that the observed ionization degree at z∼ 7 leads to the strongest upper limit of B0≲ 2–3 nG. Stronger limits could follow from measurements of high ionization degree at z > 7.
PERSONAL RELEVANCE MATTERS: REDUCING RACIAL PRIMING ON DISCUSSION BOARDS ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES IN MARKETING COURSES

ABSTRACT The job market puts pressure on marketing educators to adapt the content of their courses to current business events impacted by race, diversity, and gender issues. However, students may experience discomfort when learning about and discussing controversial topics that are not normally discussed in class. To provide tools for educators to tackle this problem, we conducted an experiment using online discussion boards, manipulating the sequence order of the questions asked to the students. A sentiment analysis offered evidence that a specific set of questions can trigger students’ personal relevance, reducing their racial priming. This will increase the students’ willingness to participate in an open discussion about race, diversity, and gender issues with their peers. The main contribution is a specific educational design that allows instructors to incorporate sensitive topics into their marketing courses without jeopardizing the classroom dynamic.
One Thousand New Dwarf Novae from the OGLE Survey

We present one of the largest collections of dwarf novae (DNe) containing 1091 objects that have been discovered in the long-term photometric data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey. They were found in the OGLE fields toward the Galactic bulge and the Magellanic Clouds. We analyze basic photometric properties of all systems and tentatively find a population of DNe from the Galactic bulge. We identify several dozen of WZ Sge-type DN candidates, including two with superhump periods longer than 0.09 d. Other interesting objects include SU UMa-type stars with "early" precursor outbursts or a Z Cam-type star showing outbursts during standstills. We also provide a list of DNe which will be observed during the K2 Campaign 9 microlensing experiment in 2016. Finally, we present the new OGLE-IV real-time data analysis system: CVOM, which has been designed to provide continuous real time photometric monitoring of selected CVs.
Sensitivity limits of a Raman atom interferometer as a gravity gradiometer

We evaluate the sensitivity of a dual cloud atom interferometer to the measurement of vertical gravity gradient. We study the influence of most relevant experimental parameters on noise and long-term drifts. Results are also applied to the case of doubly differential measurements of the gravitational signal from local source masses. We achieve a short term sensitivity of 3*10^(-9) g/Hz^(-1/2) to differential gravity acceleration, limited by the quantum projection noise of the instrument. Active control of the most critical parameters allows to reach a resolution of 5*10^(-11) g after 8000 s on the measurement of differential gravity acceleration. The long term stability is compatible with a measurement of the gravitational constant G at the level of 10^(-4) after an integration time of about 100 hours.
Non-geometric fluxes and non-associative geometry

In these proceedings, we discuss non-commutativity in closed string theory. In analogy to the open-string sector, for closed strings we first motivate a cyclic double commutator to be evaluated for backgrounds with geometric or non-geometric fluxes. A non-trivial result for such an expression indicates a non-associative structure. Second, we define a conformal field theory at linear order in background fluxes and compute correlation functions therein. From these we motivate a tri-product which captures non-commutative and non-associative effects.
Asymptotically AdS{sub 3} solutions to topologically massive gravity at special values of the coupling constants

We study exact solutions to cosmological topologically massive gravity coupled to topologically massive electrodynamics at special values of the coupling constants. For the particular case of the so-called chiral point l{mu}{sub G}=1, vacuum solutions (with vanishing gauge field) are exhibited. These correspond to a one-parameter deformation of general relativity solutions, and are continuously connected to the extremal Banados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black hole with bare constants J=-lM. At the chiral point this extremal Banados-Teitelboim-Zanelli black hole turns out to be massless, and thus it can be regarded as a kind of ground state. Although the solution is not asymptotically AdS{sub 3} in the sense of Brown-Henneaux boundary conditions, it does obey the weakened asymptotic recently proposed by Grumiller and Johansson. Consequently, we discuss the holographic computation of the conserved charges in terms of the stress tensor in the boundary. For the case where the coupling constants satisfy the relation l{mu}{sub G}=1+2l{mu}{sub E}, electrically charged analogues to these solutions exist. These solutions are asymptotically AdS{sub 3} in the strongest sense, and correspond to a logarithmic branch of self-dual solutions previously discussed in the literature.
Magnetic Field Effects near the launching region of Astrophysical Jets

One of the fundamental properties of astrophysical magnetic fields is their ability to change topology through reconnection and in doing so, to release magnetic energy, sometimes violently. In this work, we review recent results on the role of magnetic reconnection and associated heating and particle acceleration in jet/accretion disk systems, namely young stellar objects (YSOs), microquasars, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs).
Evolution of string-wall networks and axionic domain wall problem

We study the cosmological evolution of domain walls bounded by strings which arise naturally in axion models. If we introduce a bias in the potential, walls become metastable and finally disappear. We perform two dimensional lattice simulations of domain wall networks and estimate the decay rate of domain walls. By using the numerical results, we give a constraint for the bias parameter and the Peccei-Quinn scale. We also discuss the possibility to probe axion models by direct detection of gravitational waves produced by domain walls.
All-Optical Formation of Quantum Degenerate Mixtures

Ultracold atomic gases have provided deep insight intoquantum many-body systems, since the realization of aquantum degenerate gas, such as a Bose-Einstein con-densate (BEC) [1] and a degenerate Fermi gas [2]. Oneof the intriguing new developments in this ﬁeld is a studyof quantum degeneracy in a mixed gas. An advantage inthe study using ultracold atomic mixed gases is the abil-ity to select the statistics of atomic gases: a Bose-Bose,Fermi-Bose and Fermi-Fermi mixture. The interactions,which determine the stability and the dynamics of themixed-gas system, can be also tuned by changing a com-bination of a mixed gas or by using magnetic and opticalFeshbach resonances [3, 4, 5]. So far, Fermi-Bose mix-tures in the degenerate regime have been realized withvarious combinations of atoms:
Efficiency and power of a thermoelectric quantum dot device

We study linear response and nonequilibrium steady-state thermoelectric transport through a single-level quantum dot tunnel coupled to two reservoirs held at different temperatures as well as chemical potentials. A fermion occupying the dot interacts with those in the reservoirs by a short-ranged two-particle interaction. For parameters for which particles flow against a bias voltage from the hot to the cold reservoir this setup acts as an energy conversion device with which electrical energy is gained out of waste heat. We investigate how correlations affect its efficiency and output power. In linear response the changes in the thermoelectric properties can be traced back to the interaction-induced renormalization of the resonance line shape. In particular, small to intermediate repulsive interactions reduce the maximum efficiency. In nonequilibrium the situation is more complex and we identify a parameter regime in which, for a fixed lower bound of the output power, the efficiency increases.
Characteristic Genes and Immune Infiltration Analysis for Acute Rejection after Kidney Transplantation

Background Renal transplantation can significantly improve the survival rate and quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease, but the probability of acute rejection (AR) in adult renal transplant recipients is still approximately 12.2%. Machine learning (ML) is superior to traditional statistical methods in various clinical scenarios. However, the current AR model is constructed only through simple difference analysis or a single queue, which cannot guarantee the accuracy of prediction. Therefore, this study identified and validated new gene sets that contribute to the early prediction of AR and the prognosis prediction of patients after renal transplantation by constructing a more accurate AR gene signature through ML technology. Methods Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and multiple bioinformatic analyses, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and built a gene signature via LASSO regression and SVM analysis. Immune cell infiltration and immunocyte association analyses were also conducted. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between AR genes and graft survival status. Results Twenty-four DEGs were identified. A 5 gene signature (CPA6, EFNA1, HBM, THEM5, and ZNF683) were obtained by LASSO analysis and SVM analysis, which had a satisfied ability to differentiate AR and NAR in the training cohort, internal validation cohort and external validation cohort. Additionally, ZNF683 was associated with graft survival. Conclusion A 5 gene signature, particularly ZNF683, provided insight into a precise therapeutic schedule and clinical applications for AR patients.
High-flow nasal cannula therapy for patients with blunt thoracic injury: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been shown to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) and to decrease hospital and ICU days for patients with severe respiratory compromise. HFNC has not been evaluated in trauma patients, thus the goal of this study is to describe the use of HFNC in a chest-injured population. METHODS A retrospective study examined trauma patients with moderate to severe thoracic injury admitted to the ICU at a tertiary hospital between March 2012 and August 2015. HFNC was delivered by the Fisher & Paykel Optiflow system. Primary outcomes were the need for intubation after HFNC for respiratory failure, length of hospitalization, and mortality. RESULTS During the study period, 105 patients with blunt chest trauma were admitted to the ICU and received HFNC therapy. Eighteen percent received MV prior to HFNC. Overall, 69% of patients who received HFNC never received MV, and 92% of patients were discharged alive. The intubation rate for respiratory failure after HFNC was 18%. For patients who did not receive MV prior to HFNC, delay to first HFNC was correlated with increased hospital days (r s = 0.41, p = 0.001) and ICU days (r s = 0.41, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Study results suggest that HFNC is comparable with other methods of noninvasive ventilation and may be beneficial for patients with thoracic injury. Additional investigation is warranted to determine if early use of HFNC can deliver effective respiratory support and prevent intubation in this population.
Homogeneity of Mycoplasma agalctiae vaccine strains in an agalaxy- high-burden environment

Background and Objectives: Interrogation of the genomic relations between Iranian Mycoplasma agalactiae vaccine strains of Taliqan, Lorestan and Shiraz. Materials and Methods: Two MLVA (covering VNTR loci of 5, 9, 17 and 19) and MLST (comprising dnaA, gltX, gyrB, C, tufA genes) genotyping systems plus nucleotide structure analysis of P80 gene, was conducted. Results: The shared MLVA pattern represented by the three strains differed to that of the Mag PG2 laboratory strain, only at locus VNTR19 where the PG2 genome hold a 3 bp longer stretch. In MLST analysis, at dnaA, gltX, gyrB, metS and tufA loci, the three strains displayed alleles 1, 21, 2, 2 and 1, respectively. At, gltX locus a new allele (21) was detected where a new sequence type (ST33) was identified. Besides, the trio strains hold an identical nucleotide structure in their ma-mp81 gene. Conclusion: In explanation, lack of efficient disease control measures, has possibly contributed in evolution of a clone or a few clones that gradually overwhelmed the population over the time. Besides, the similarity between the Iranian and the PG2 strains, might be due to homoplasy or farming exercises such as animal importation. Inclusion of further local isolates in next studies will help to assess these assumptions.
Deep Westerbork observations of Abell 2256 at 350 MHz

Deep polarimetric Westerbork observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 2256 are presented, covering a frequency range of 325–377 MHz. The central halo source has a diameter of the order of 1.2 Mpc (18 � ), which is somewhat larger than at 1.4 GHz. With α = −1.61 ± 0.04, the halo spectrum between 1.4 GHz and 22.25 MHz is less steep than previously thought. The centre of the ultra steep spectrum source in the eastern part of the cluster exhibits a spectral break near 400 MHz. It is estimated to be at least 51 million years old, but possibly older than 125 million years. A final measurement requires observations in the 10–150 MHz range. It remains uncertain whether the source is a radio tail of Fabricant galaxy 122, situated in the northeastern tip of the source. Faraday rotation measure synthesis revealed no polarized flux at all in the cluster. The polarization fraction of the brightest parts of the relic area is less than 1%. The RM-synthesis nevertheless revealed 9 polarized sources in the field enabling an accurate measurement of the Galactic Faraday rotation (−33 ± 2r ad m −2 in front of the relic). Based on its depolarization on longer wavelengths, the line-of-sight magnetic field in relic filament G is estimated to be between 0.02 and 2 μG. A value of 0.2 μG appears most reasonable given the currently available data.
Evaluation of a sensitive cardiac troponin I assay as a screening test for the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats

Abstract Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cardiac disease in cats. However, most cats are not diagnosed until they develop congestive heart failure, arterial thromboembolism (ATE), or sudden cardiac death. Thus, an affordable screening test for early detection of HCM is desirable. Hypothesis/Objectives Evaluation of a sensitive cardiac troponin I (cTnI) assay as a screening test for HCM in cats and determination of a cutoff for its early detection. Animals One hundred sixty‐six client‐owned cats (male, n = 97) of various breeds were evaluated and classified using echocardiography as being healthy (n = 87), equivocal (n = 15), or having HCM (mild, n = 16; moderate, n = 10; severe, n = 34) or ATE (n = 4). Methods All cats were prospectively evaluated by echocardiography, and serum cTnI concentration was determined using the currently most sensitive assay (Siemens ADVIA Centaur TnI‐Ultra). Results The median cTnI concentration was significantly different between study groups (P < .000001). A cutoff of 0.06 ng/mL provided good discrimination between healthy cats and cats with HCM (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 95.4%; area under the curve [AUC], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.899‐0.978). Even for asymptomatic cats with HCM, sensitivity and specificity for a cutoff of >0.06 ng/mL remained high at 87.8% and 95.4%, respectively (AUC, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.864‐0.964). Conclusions and clinical importance Cardiac troponin I can be used as a sensitive and specific screening test for the diagnosis of HCM in otherwise healthy cats (cutoff, >0.06 ng/mL). However, echocardiography is needed to confirm the diagnosis.
EVIDENCE FOR GRANULATION IN EARLY A-TYPE STARS

Stars with spectral types earlier than about F0 on (or close) to the main sequence have long been believed to lack observable surface convection, although evolutionary models of A-type stars do predict very thin surface convective zones. We present evidence for granulation in two δ Scuti stars of spectral type A2: HD 174936 and HD 50844. Recent analyses of space-based CoRoT data revealed up to some 1000 frequencies in the photometry of these stars. The frequencies were interpreted as individual pulsation modes. If true, there must be large numbers of nonradial modes of very high degree l which should suffer cancellation effects in disk-integrated photometry (even of high space-based precision). The p-mode interpretation of all the frequencies in HD 174936 and HD 50844 depends on the assumption of white (frequency-independent) noise. Our independent analyses of the data provide an alternative explanation: most of the peaks in the Fourier spectra are the signature of non-white granulation background noise, and less than about 100 of the frequencies are actual stellar p-modes in each star. We find granulation timescales which are consistent with scaling relations that describe cooler stars with known surface convection. If the granulation interpretation is correct, the hundreds of low-amplitude Fourier peaks reported in recent studies are falsely interpreted as independent pulsation modes and a significantly lower number of frequencies are associated with pulsation, consistent with only modes of low degree.