Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCD photometry of the massive X-ray binary 2S 0114 + 650⋆

It has been suggested by Finley, Belloni & Cassinelli that the periodic variability in 2S 0114 + 650 found in X-ray observations obtained since 1977 could be attributed to β Cephei-type pulsations of the primary component. New V-band CCD photometry has been obtained in an attempt to confirm the presence of optical variations with a period similar to those found at X-ray wavelengths. More than nine hours of monitoring has clearly demonstrated that no variation is present at levels of more than 0.005 mag. It would appear that the pulsations either do not exist or were not active at the time of observation
What good is the thermodynamic limit

Statistical mechanics applies to large systems: technically, its results are exact only for infinitely large systems in “the thermodynamic limit. ” The importance of this proviso is often minimized in undergraduate courses. This paper presents six paradoxes in statistical mechanics that can be resolved only by acknowledging the thermodynamic limit. For example, it demonstrates that the widely used microcanonical “thin phase space limit” must be taken after taking the thermodynamic limit.
Improving scene-based nonuniformity correction for infrared images using frequency domain processing

Scene-Based Non-Uniformity Correction (SBNUC) is an attractive alternative to radiometric calibration for infrared sensors because it does not rely on specialized hardware. The best known approach is Constant Statistics (CS) but it is highly dependant on scene content and the amount of motion present, often introducing a "ghosting" artifact. In this paper, we present a novel approach which applies a variation on CS to both the spatial and frequency domains of the image. The result is a solution which effectively eliminates fixed pattern noise without ghosting and is much less dependant scene content and scene motion than traditional CS.
High temperature growth of ZnS films on bare Si and transformation of ZnS to ZnO by thermal oxidation

ZnS films were grown on Si (100) at high temperatures by pulsed laser deposition using a KrF excimer laser. The growth temperature was varied from 200 to 700 °C and all films were found to have a specific preferential orientation. With increasing Ts, growth rate decreased but the quality of the film improved. The highest quality ZnS film was obtained at 700 °C. The presence of ZnS+ ions among the ablation products of a ZnS target was verified by laser desorption time of flight mass spectroscopy measurements. ZnO was formed by thermal oxidation of ZnS and the films showed strong near band-edge emission at 3.26 eV.
Augmentation of in vitro cytotoxic potentiality of crude methanolic leaf extract of Olea dioica as a pivotal anticancer source

Introduction and Aim: Tumor is the major cause of death world-wide, with an approximate 10 million fatalities in 2020, or almost one in every six deaths. The concerns with the current commercially available anticancer medications' low selectivity and persistent side effects have driven the research of safer and more effective chemotherapeutic drugs. The current work is focused on determining the cytotoxic potential of crude methanolic extract of Olea dioica leaves against various cancer cell lines viz., A549 (human lung cancer), HCT116 (human colorectal cancer), HeLa (human cervical cancer), MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer). Materials and Methods: The cells were treated with crude methanolic extract at five different concentrations viz., 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µg/ml to assess the cell viability. Results: The results from the assay performed for five cell lines have shown that methanolic extract of O. dioica has an exponential cytotoxicity potential on HeLa cell line followed by MCF-7 (IC50 value 81.05), HCT116 (106.86) and MDA-MB-231 with IC50 value 81.05, 106.86, 141.34 and 499.24 µg/ml respectively, whereas the A549-human lung cancer cell has shown no cytotoxic activity. Conclusion: The methanol extract of the O. dioica leaf could be recognized as a pivotal source of anticancer compounds, but furthermore research is needed to investigate the chemical components of O. dioica extracts that are mainly accountable for anticancer action and to expound more precise molecular processes of cell death.
Status of the VLT Nasmyth adaptive optics system (NAOS)

NAOS is the adaptive optics system to be installed at one of the Nasmyth focus of the VLT. It was designed and manufactured by a French Consortium to provide compensated images to the high angular resolution IR spectro-imaging camera (CONICA) in the 1 to 5 micrometer spectral range. For bright sources, NAOS will achieve a Strehl ratio of 70% under average seeing conditions. It is equipped with a 185 actuator deformable mirror, a tip/tilt mirror and two wavefront sensors, one in the visible and one in the near IR. All the components of NAOS have been delivered and the integration phase is in progress since the beginning of 2000. After extensive tests and performance verifications in France, the system will be shipped to Chile by the end of 2000. The first light at the VLT is foreseen in the beginning of 2001.
Assaults on belonging: how Dutch youth without ‘blue eyes, cheese, and clogs’ experience everyday racism in educational contexts

ABSTRACT Minoritized students’ ethnic backgrounds and racial appearances influence their academic opportunities and belonging experiences, and limit their access to safe and equal learning environments. In the Netherlands, limited research has focused on minoritized students’ experiences. In this study, we drew upon a theoretical framework focused on Othering and belonging as well as macro-/micro- connections related to racism to investigate the contemporary educational experiences of students from nondominant backgrounds. Participants experienced everyday racism and Othering in the: continuous centering of Whiteness and marginalization of the non-White Other; persistent obstacles perpetuated by educators that prevented parental participation; and consistent underestimation of students’ abilities by teachers and peers. As a step toward more just schooling, participants suggest that educators become more aware of minoritized students’ backgrounds and create spaces of belonging.
K-fluorescence lines in spectra of X-ray binaries

The reflection of the X-rays in K lines of heavy elements from a cold surface is calculated. The radiative transfer is treated rigorously, with the albedo in K lines expressed in terms of the H-function for isotropic scattering. This approach is also applied to evaluate the spectral shape of the low-energy wing of the line, formed by the singly scattered K photons. A detailed discussion is given of the main characteristics of K-emission from the X-ray binaries. The prospects of observations of the narrow K.cap alpha. lines in X-ray binaries are analyzed, with special attention paid to the new information that can be obtained from such observations. The minimum equivalent width which one could expect in the case of the iron K.cap alpha. line is evaluated for a number of well-known X-ray binaries.
Tectonics of the Þeistareykir fissure swarm

Tectonic activity within the Tjörnes Fracture Zone is characterized by strike-slip and extensional movements within three tranform zones, the Húsavík-Flatey Fault System, the Grímsey Volcanic Zone, connecting the offshore Kolbeinsey Ridge with the Northern Volcanic Zone on land, and the Dalvík lineament. We mapped the Þeistareykir volcanic system at the northwestern margin of the Northern Volcanic Zone using multibeam bathymetric maps, aerial photographs and satellite images. The 70–80 km long and 7–8 km wide Þeistareykir fissure swarm consists of large normal faults with maximum displacements of 200–300 meters along its western rim and rift fissures further east. A marked change in rift direction across the Húsavík-Flatey Fault System reflects complex tectonics at the junction of a transform fault system and a divergent volcanic zone. Normal faults on land and offshore have an average azimuth close to N25°E whereas the average azimuth of rift fissures changes from ∼N22°E south of the Húsavík–Flatey Fault System to ∼N43°E, in western Kelduhverfi. The 1618 and 1885 AD rifting events within the Þeistareykir fissure swarm were most likely fed by lateral magma propagation from the Þeistareykir volcanic center, northwards to the western part of Kelduhverfi. Although limited, historical reports indicate that the January 1885 rifting event triggered a ∼$M$ 6.3 earthquake near Lake Víkingavatn. The 1885 rifting event in western Kelduhverfi was similar to the 1975–1976 rifting event in eastern Kelduhverfi, when a laterally propagating dike from the Krafla caldera triggered the $M_S$ 6.4 Kópasker earthquake on January 13th, 1976. Seismic sequences within the Húsavík–Flatey Fault System and the Þeistareykir fissure swarm in 1867–1868 and 1884–1885 indicate a tectonic relationship between the rift zone and the transform zone.
CEO overpower and corporate social responsibility of commercial banks: The moderating role of state ownership

Abstract This study examines the impacts of powerful CEOs and state ownership on commercial banks’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Vietnam, a transitional market in Asia. Given the differences between emerging and developed markets in terms of their institutions and governance, it is essential to explore the impact of CEO power on CSR disclosure in emerging markets. This study collects data from 37 Vietnamese commercial banks from 2010 to 2020. We employ a dynamic system Generalized Method of Moments to overcome endogeneity and heterogeneity issues. The findings show that powerful CEOs negatively reduce CSR programs. CEO power tends to focus less on CSR investments because CSR expenses reduce the operating free cash flow. Meanwhile, our findings indicate a positive relationship between state ownership and CSR developments. This study reports a moderating role of state ownership in empowering powerful CEOs to develop CSR programs in commercial banks. We also perform a robustness test to confirm the persistence of our main findings across subsamples by CEO ages. Our robustness test results indicate that CEOs have the lowest motivation to improve CSR when their ages are from 40 to 60. Our findings align with agency theory, stakeholder theory and prior literature. Finally, our study contributes practical implications for management and policymakers to develop CSR programs sustainably.
Global emission line trends in spiral galaxies: The reddening and metallicity sequences

We have explored the emission line trends in the integrated spectra of normal spiral galaxies of the Nearby Field Galaxy Survey, in order to investigate the relationships between dust extinction, metallicity and some macroscopic properties of spiral galaxies. We found a very strong correlation between the Hbeta and Halpha equivalent widths, implying that the difference between the extinction of the stellar and the nebular light depends only on the intrinsic colours of the galaxies, being larger for redder galaxies. The usual metallicity indicator for giant HII regions ([OIII]4959,5007 + [OII]3726,3729)/ Hbeta is not appropriate for integrated spectra of spiral galaxies, probably due to metallicity gradients. Much better qualitative metallicity indicators are found to be [NII]6584/[OII]3726,3729 and [NII]6584/Halpha, the latter having the advantage of being independent of reddening and being applicable also for galaxies with weak emission lines. With these indicators, we find that the nebular extinction as derived from the Balmer decrement strongly correlates with the effective metallicity of the emission line regions. The overall metallicity of the emission line regions is much better correlated with galaxy colours than with morphological types. A Principal Component Analysis on a 7-D parameter space showed that the variance is produced, in first place, by the metallicity and parameters linked to the stellar populations, and, in second place, by the surface brightness, which is linked to the dynamical history of the galaxies. The absolute magnitude, related to the mass of the galaxy, comes only in the third place.
DISCRETE WAVELET MODELS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CHAOTIC SYSTEMS

This paper develops an original approach for identifying models of chaotic systems directly from noise-corrupted data. The nonlinear functional describing the process is constructed using a new multiresolution model structure implemented with B-spline wavelet and scaling functions. Following an iterative strategy, a sequence of model sets of increasing complexity are postulated and tested until a suitable model is found. An orthogonal-forward-regression routine coupled with model validity tests is used to select parsimonious wavelet models and to measure the quality of the fit. The effectiveness of the identification procedure is demonstrated using both simulated and experimental data. It is shown that the proposed method can produce accurate models which exhibit qualitatively the same dynamical behavior as the observed system and are characterized by dynamical invariants which are very close to those of the original system.
Adaptive focusing in scattering media through sound‐speed inhomogeneities: The van Cittert Zernike approach and focusing criterion

An original formalism that allows a thorough understanding of cross‐correlation‐based phase aberration correction techniques in a scattering medium is developed. This formalism is based on the analysis of the second‐order statistics of the pressure field scattered by a random distribution of scatterers. One of the major interests of this analysis is the ability it provides to evaluate and monitor the convergence of phase aberration correction techniques. This is achieved by the computation of a single parameter C that serves as a focusing criterion. The theoretical developments are validated experimentally.
THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PLANET SEARCH. XXI. A GAS-GIANT PLANET IN A ONE YEAR ORBIT AND THE HABITABILITY OF GAS-GIANT SATELLITES

We have detected the Doppler signature of a gas-giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 38283, in an eccentric orbit with a period of almost exactly one year (P = 363.2 ± 1.6 d, m sin i = 0.34 ± 0.02 MJup, e = 0.41 ± 0.16). The detection of a planet with period very close to one year critically relied on year-round observation of this circumpolar star. Discovering a planet in a 1 AU orbit around a G dwarf star has prompted us to look more closely at the question of the habitability of the satellites of such planets. Regular satellites orbit all the giant planets in our solar system, suggesting that their formation is a natural by-product of the planet formation process. There is no reason for exomoon formation not to be similarly likely in exoplanetary systems. Moreover, our current understanding of that formation process does not preclude satellite formation in systems where gas giants undergo migration from their formation locations into the terrestrial planet habitable zone. Indeed, regular satellite formation and Type II migration are both linked to the clearing of a gap in the protoplanetary disk by a planet, and so may be inextricably linked. Migration would also multiply the chances of capturing both irregular satellites and Trojan companions sufficiently massive to be habitable. The habitability of such exomoons and exo-Trojans will critically depend on their mass, whether or not they host a magnetosphere, and (for the exomoon case) their orbital radius around the host exoplanet.
The Distance of BL Lacertae

Spectrophotometric observations of the extended object around BL Lacertae have been conducted from August 1969 to October 1973 using circular apertures of various diameters as well as an annular aperture with an outer diameter of 10-in. and an inner obscuring disk of 5 in. All observations were carried out with a multichannel spectrometer attached to the 200-in. Hale telescope. The annular-aperture spectrum shows the absorption lines normally seen in spectra of ordinary giant galaxies; these lines yield a redshift (z) equal to 0.07. The central source shows a power law spectrum with the exponent (alpha) equal to -1.55. The underlying galaxy energy distribution is consistent with that of a normal giant elliptical galaxy. If a Hubble constant of 60 km/sec per Mpc is used, the absolute visual magnitude of the galaxy is -22.9, and the distance is 350 Mpc.
Non-LTE Calculations for the C II Doublet System

New non-LTE calculations for C II, focusing on multiplets 6, 4267.02/4267.27 Å, and 2, 6578.03/ 6582.85 Å, are presented for early-B/late-O stars. The predicted strengths for these transitions, which are prominently used in abundance analysis, are weaker than previously published results, and it is explicitly demonstrated that the non-LTE line strengths have converged with respect to model atom complexity. Comparison of these results to recent observations gives better agreement for realistic values of the microturbulent parameter. Error bounds for the non-LTE predictions are also provided.
Multicellular automaticity of cardiac cell monolayers: effects of density and spatial distribution of pacemaker cells

Self-organization of pacemaker (PM) activity of interconnected elements is important to the general theory of reaction–diffusion systems as well as for applications such as PM activity in cardiac tissue to initiate beating of the heart. Monolayer cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) are often used as experimental models in studies on cardiac electrophysiology. These monolayers exhibit automaticity (spontaneous activation) of their electrical activity. At low plated density, cells usually show a heterogeneous population consisting of PM and quiescent excitable cells (QECs). It is therefore highly probable that monolayers of NRVMs consist of a heterogeneous network of the two cell types. However, the effects of density and spatial distribution of the PM cells on spontaneous activity of monolayers remain unknown. Thus, a simple stochastic pattern formation algorithm was implemented to distribute PM and QECs in a binary-like 2D network. A FitzHugh–Nagumo excitable medium was used to simulate electrical spontaneous and propagating activity. Simulations showed a clear nonlinear dependency of spontaneous activity (occurrence and amplitude of spontaneous period) on the spatial patterns of PM cells. In most simulations, the first initiation sites were found to be located near the substrate boundaries. Comparison with experimental data obtained from cardiomyocyte monolayers shows important similarities in the position of initiation site activity. However, limitations in the model that do not reflect the complex beat-to-beat variation found in experiments indicate the need for a more realistic cardiomyocyte representation.
Flood preparedness module for Malaysian Higher Education students via Metaverse Environment

In Malaysia, the severity of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes have increased in recent years, making disaster preparedness a crucial aspect of students’ lives. In the context of flood preparedness, accessibility to materials on flood is still in deficit and a future-ready learning approach is required. This is parallel to Sustainable Development Goals Goal 4 in promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. The objective of this research is twofold: to study flood preparedness among Malaysian higher education students and to propose a flood preparedness module for Malaysian higher education students via Metaverse environment. The module is developed using Spatial.io, an immersive shared AR platform. For this research, the module addresses flood which is presented via a 3-D virtual learning space. This beta version will opt for multiple-stage sampling method via a focus group comprising 10 PPSSAAS students. Then, UX Testing, and post-test are conducted to gauge the module usability and latent potentials. Based on the research, the use of metaverse for the flood preparedness module shows significant impact amongst the respondents. The finding from this research is hoped to enhance students’ knowledge and awareness of flood preparedness so students can care for themselves and be of help to others during an emergency.
Detailed Analysis of the TeV γ-Ray Sources 3HWC J1928+178, 3HWC J1930+188, and the New Source HAWC J1932+192

The latest High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) point-like source catalog up to 56 TeV reported the detection of two sources in the region of the Galactic plane at galactic longitude 52° < ℓ < 55°, 3HWC J1930+188 and 3HWC J1928+178. The first one is associated with a known TeV source, the supernova remnant SNR G054.1+00.3. It was discovered by one of the currently operating Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope (IACT), the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS), detected by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S), and identified as a composite SNR. However, the source 3HWC J1928+178, discovered by HAWC and coincident with the pulsar PSR J1928+1746, was not detected by any IACT despite their long exposure on the region, until a recent new analysis of H.E. S.S. data was able to confirm it. Moreover, no X-ray counterpart has been detected from this pulsar. We present a multicomponent fit of this region using the latest HAWC data. This reveals an additional new source, HAWC J1932+192, which is potentially associated with the pulsar PSR J1932+1916, whose γ-ray emission could come from the acceleration of particles in its pulsar wind nebula. In the case of 3HWC J1928+178, several possible explanations are explored, in an attempt to unveil the origins of the very-high-energy γ-ray emission.
Misspecified proportional hazard models

SUMMARY The properties of an estimator based on a proportional hazards model are investigated when the model is incorrect. The estimator from the partial likelihood is shown to be consistent for a parameter that is defined implicitly. The results are used to investigate the effects on estimation if the true model is accelerated failure time, or if covariates are omitted from the proportional hazards model.
Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Neutralization and Novel mAb Reveal Protection against Omicron

New variants of SARS-CoV-2 continue to emerge and evade immunity. We isolated SARS-CoV-2 temporally across the pandemic starting with the first emergence of the virus in the western hemisphere and evaluated the immune escape among variants. A clinic-to-lab viral isolation and characterization pipeline was established to rapidly isolate, sequence, and characterize SARS-CoV-2 variants. A virus neutralization assay was applied to quantitate humoral immunity from infection and/or vaccination. A panel of novel monoclonal antibodies was evaluated for antiviral efficacy. We directly compared all variants, showing that convalescence greater than 5 months post-symptom onset from ancestral virus provides little protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Vaccination enhances immunity against viral variants, except for Omicron BA.1, while a three-dose vaccine regimen provides over 50-fold enhanced protection against Omicron BA.1 compared to a two-dose. A novel Mab neutralizes Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants better than the clinically approved Mabs, although neither can neutralize Omicron BA.4 or BA.5. Thus, the need remains for continued vaccination-booster efforts, with innovation for vaccine and Mab improvement for broadly neutralizing activity. The usefulness of specific Mab applications links with the window of clinical opportunity when a cognate viral variant is present in the infected population.