Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EVOLUTION OF GALAXIES IN CLUSTERS .4. PHOTOMETRY OF 10 LOW-REDSHIFT CLUSTERS

On donne les magnitudes et les couleurs, obtenues dans les bandes J et F ainsi que les types morphologiques des galaxies situees dans les cœurs de 10 amas de galaxies proches. Comme prevu, les couleurs des galaxies elliptiques et SO presentent une faible dispersion autour d'une couleur moyenne qui decroit avec la magnitude. Les couleurs des galaxies spirales ne repondent pas totalement a l'attente, leur dispersion etant plus faible que ce qu'on prevoit a partir de leurs types morphologiques
The l 1/2 law and multifractal topography: theory and analysis

Abstract. Over wide ranges of scale, orographic processes have no obvious scale; this has provided the justification for both deterministic and monofractal scaling models of the earth's topography. These models predict that differences in altitude (Δh) vary with horizontal separation ( l ) as Δh ≈ l H . The scaling exponent has been estimated theoretically and empirically to have the value H=1/2. Scale invariant nonlinear processes are now known to generally give rise to multifractals and we have recently empirically shown that topography is indeed a special kind of theoretically predicted "universal" multifractal. In this paper we provide a multifractal generalization of the l 1/2 law, and propose two distinct multifractal models, each leading via dimensional arguments to the exponent 1/2. The first, for ocean bathymetry assumes that the orographic dynamics are dominated by heat fluxes from the earth's mantle, whereas the second - for continental topography - is based on tectonic movement and gravity. We test these ideas empirically on digital elevation models of Deadman's Butte, Wyoming.
Pain and Parkinson's disease: Current mechanism and management updates

The aim of this comprehensive review was to provide an overview of pain in Parkinson's disease (PD) by identifying different clinical features and potential mechanisms, and presenting some data on the evaluation and management of pain in PD. PD is a multifocal degenerative and progressive disease, which could affect the pain process at multiple levels. Pain in PD has a multifactorial aetiology, with a dynamic process based on pain intensity, complexity of symptoms, pain pathophysiology and presence of comorbidities. In fact, pain in PD responds to the concept of multimorphic pain, which can evolve, in relation to the different factors, whether they are linked to disease and its management. Understanding the underlying mechanisms will help in guiding of treatment choices. Providing scientific support useful for clinicians and health professionals involved in management of PD, the aim of this review was to bringing practical suggestions and clinical perspectives on the development of a multimodal approach guided by a multidisciplinary clinical intervention through a combination of pharmacological and rehabilitative approaches, to manage pain to improve the quality of life on individuals with PD.
Ca2+-Dependent and -Independent Calmodulin Binding to the Cytoplasmic Loop of Gap Junction Connexins

Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM) interaction with connexins (Cx) is well-established; however, the mechanistic basis of regulation of gap junction function by Ca2+/CaM is not fully understood. Ca2+/CaM is predicted to bind to a domain in the C-terminal portion of the intracellular loop (CL2) in the vast majority of Cx isoforms and for a number of Cx-s this prediction has proved correct. In this study, we investigate and characterise both Ca2+/CaM and apo-CaM binding to selected representatives of each of the α, β and γ connexin family to develop a better mechanistic understanding of CaM effects on gap junction function. The affinity and kinetics Ca2+/CaM and apo-CaM interactions of CL2 peptides of β-Cx32, γ-Cx35, α-Cx43, α-Cx45 and α-Cx57 were investigated. All five Cx CL2 peptides were found to have high affinity for Ca2+/CaM with dissociation constants (Kd(+Ca)) from 20 to 150 nM. The limiting rate of binding and the rates of dissociation covered a broad range. In addition, we obtained evidence for high affinity Ca2+-independent interaction of all five peptides with CaM, consistent with CaM remaining anchored to gap junctions in resting cells. However, for the α-Cx45 and α-Cx57 CL2 peptides, Ca2+-dependent association at resting [Ca2+] of 50–100 nM is indicated in these complexes as one of the CaM Ca2+ binding sites displays high affinity with Kd of 70 and 30 nM for Ca2+, respectively. Furthermore, complex conformational changes were observed in peptide-apo-CaM complexes with the structure of CaM compacted or stretched by the peptide in a concentration dependent manner suggesting that the CL2 domain may undergo helix-to-coil transition and/or forms bundles, which may be relevant in the hexameric gap junction. We demonstrate inhibition of gap junction permeability by Ca2+/CaM in a dose dependent manner, further cementing Ca2+/CaM as a regulator of gap junction function. The motion of a stretched CaM–CL2 complex compacting upon Ca2+ binding may bring about the Ca2+/CaM block of the gap junction pore by a push and pull action on the CL2 C-terminal hydrophobic residues of transmembrane domain 3 (TM3) in and out of the membrane.
North Flinders Reef (Coral Sea, Australia) Porites sp. corals as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series

Corals are unique in the suite of proposed Anthropocene Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) archives, as living organisms that produce aragonite exoskeletons preserved in the geological record that contain highly accurate and precise (<±1 year) internal chronologies. The GSSP candidate site North Flinders Reef in the Coral Sea (Australia) is an offshore oceanic reef, and therefore less vulnerable to local human influences than those closer to the coast. Here, we present geochemical records from two Porites sp. corals sampled at an annual to pluri-annual (i.e. 3–5 years) resolution that shows clear global and regional human impacts. Atmospheric nuclear bomb testing by-products (14C,239+240Pu) show a clear increase in the Flinders Reef corals coincident with well-dated nuclear testing operations. By contrast, the radionuclides 241Am and 137Cs are present at low or undetectable levels, as are spheroidal carbonaceous fly-ash particles. Coral δ13C shows centennial variability likely influenced by growth effects in the 18th century and with a progression to lower values starting in 1880 CE and accelerating post-1970 CE. The latter may be related to the Suess effect resulting from 13C-depleted fossil fuel burning. Coral δ15N decreased between 1710 and 1954 CE with a reversal post-1954 CE. Coral temperature proxies indicate prominent centennial variability with equally warm conditions in the 18th and end of 20th century. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for the mid-20th century changes in these parameters need to be scrutinised in further detail. Plain Language summary: This work proposes a candidate natural archive for the official marker of the Anthropocene that geologists will use to mark this important interval in time. Our candidate is a live coral from North Flinders Reef in the Coral Sea (Australia), located 150 km east of the Great Barrier Reef, a location that is remote from direct local human influences. Corals are a unique archive of tropical ocean change because they incorporate the geochemical signature from seawater into their limestone skeleton during their long life-spans. Here we investigated a number of geochemical markers in yearly growth layers of the corals to define several markers for the Anthropocene based on changes in temperature, water chemistry, chemicals from pollution and fertilisers, radioactive products from nuclear bomb testing, and by-products from burning fossil fuels. We have detected clear human influences in several of these markers.
Vortical motion contributions to stress transport in turbulent boundary layers

Four‐wire hot‐wire probe measurements are used to examine the relationships between the motions bearing spanwise vorticity, ωz, and the mechanisms responsible for turbulent stress transport. The measurements were carried out in thick zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers over the Reynolds number range, 1010<Rθ<4850. Because of the scale of the flow, the spatial resolution of the probe was, in general, very good. The capabilities of the probe allowed all of the terms in the balance equation for 〈u2〉, except the pressure strain correlation, to be directly measured. Regarding wall region vorticity dynamics, velocity–vorticity correlation measurements are used to investigate ωz motion contributions to the gradients of the turbulent stresses. In particular, the measured positive correlation between v and ωz for y+<15 is shown to be consistent with the large ∂〈−uv〉/∂y gradient in this region, and physically, with the outward motion of sublayer streaks. Relationships between the motions bearing ωz and.
Chronic pain and local pain in usually painless conditions including neuroma may be due to compressive proximal neural lesion

It has been unexplained why chronic pain does not invariably accompany chronic pain-prone disorders. This question-driven, hypothesis-based article suggests that the reason may be varying occurrence of concomitant peripheral compressive proximal neural lesion (cPNL), e.g., radiculopathy and entrapment plexopathies. Transition of acute to chronic pain may involve development or aggravation of cPNL. Nociceptive hypersensitivity induced and/or maintained by cPNL may be responsible for all types of general chronic pain as well as for pain in isolated tissue conditions that are usually painless, e.g., neuroma, scar, and Dupuytren's fibromatosis. Compressive PNL induces focal neuroinflammation, which can maintain dorsal root ganglion neuron (DRGn) hyperexcitability (i.e., peripheral sensitization) and thus fuel central sensitization (i.e., hyperexcitability of central nociceptive pathways) and a vicious cycle of chronic pain. DRGn hyperexcitability and cPNL may reciprocally maintain each other, because cPNL can result from reflexive myospasm-induced myofascial tension, muscle weakness, and consequent muscle imbalance- and/or pain-provoked compensatory overuse. Because of pain and motor fiber damage, cPNL can worsen the causative musculoskeletal dysfunction, which further accounts for the reciprocity between the latter two factors. Sensitization increases nerve vulnerability and thus catalyzes this cycle. Because of these mechanisms and relatively greater number of neurons involved, cPNL is more likely to maintain DRGn hyperexcitability in comparison to distal neural and non-neural lesions. Compressive PNL is associated with restricted neural mobility. Intermittent (dynamic) nature of cPNL may be essential in chronic pain, because healed (i.e., fibrotic) lesions are physiologically silent and, consequently, cannot provide nociceptive input. Not all patients may be equally susceptible to develop cPNL, because occurrence of cPNL may vary as vary patients' predisposition to musculoskeletal impairment. Sensitization is accompanied by pressure pain threshold decrease and consequent mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia, which can cause unusual local pain via natural pressure exerted by space occupying lesions or by their examination. Worsening of local pain is similarly explainable. Neuroma pain may be due to cPNL-induced axonal mechanical sensitivity and hypersensitivity of the nociceptive nervi nervorum of the nerve trunk and its stump. Intermittence and symptomatic complexity of cPNL may be the cause of frequent misdiagnosis of chronic pain.
IN SEARCH OF THE PROGENITORS OF TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE

We review the candidate progenitor binary systems of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). We argue that the exploding star is likely to be a mass accreting carbon-oxygen white dwarf. "Primary" characteristics of SNe Ia, such as the composition of the ejected matter as a function of the ejection velocity, depend on whether th efirst nuclear ignition takes place in carbon-oxygen at or near the center of a Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf, or off-center, in a helium layer of a sub-Chandrasekhar white dwarf. The primary characteristics of SNe Ia, as inferred from observation, favor carbon ignitors rather than helium ignitors. "Secondary" characteristics of SNe Ia that are determined by the nature of the donor star and the accretion process tend to be environmental, i.e., having to do with a circumstellar medium. We consider seven candidate progenitor systems for carbon ignitors as well as four candidate systems for helium ignitors, and we discuss the feasibility of identifying the progenitor systems by means of observations of the secondary characteristics of SNe Ia. The most promising tests at present appear to be searches for radio emission, to constrain the circumstellar density, and for narrow lines of hydrogen, helium, carbon, and oxygen in early and late time spectra, to determine the composition of the donor star. We conclude with reasons for suspecting that the coalescence of pairs of C-O white dwarfs, and the accretion of hydgrogen on a thermal timescale via Roche lobe overflow from subgiant donors, are the two most promising candidate progenitors of SNe Ia.
Avalanche properties in a transport model based on critical-gradient fluctuation dynamics

A simple one-dimensional transport model based on critical-gradient fluctuation dynamics is applied to describe some of the properties of plasma-turbulence-induced transport. This model combines avalanche-like transport with diffusion. The particle flux is self-regulated by the stability properties of the fluctuations. A high-gradient edge region emerges where transport dynamics is close to marginal stability. In steady state, the core remains at the subcritical gradient. The avalanches change from quasiperiodic events triggered mostly near the edge region to intermittent transport events depending on the noise level of the particle source.
Transfer of micro-optical structures into GaAs and diamond

Transfer of continuous-relief micro-optical structures from resist into GaAs, by use of direct-write electron-beam lithography followed by dry etching in an inductively coupled plasma, is demonstrated. A BCl3/Ar chemistry has been found to give satisfactory results, N2 and Cl2 have been added to change the selectivity between GaAs and e-beam resist. The transfer process generates smooth etched structures. Distortion of the diffractive structures in the transfer process has been examined. Blazed gratings with a period of 10 micrometers have been optically evaluated using a 940 nm VCSEL. The diffraction efficiency was 67% in the first order with a theoretical value of 87%. Also, simulations of the optical performance for the transfered diffractive elements have been made using Fourier transform of the grating profile. For integrating the optical element with VCSELs there are several possible alternatives. We have fabricated the optical structure on the same substrate that is used for the VCSEL and characterization is presently under way. We also show our initial results on transfer of micro-optical structures from resist into diamond using dry etching.
Denoising and Inpainting of Sonar Images Using Convolutional Sparse Representation

Recently, sparse representation (SR) techniques have been extensively applied for sound navigation and ranging (sonar) images’ restoration tasks such as denoising and inpainting. However, fine details such as edges and texture information present in sonar images are not fully restored using these techniques. This is due to ineffective dictionary formation and learning of sparse components and dictionaries. In this article, the author proposes the convolutional SR (CSR)-based methods for sonar image denoising and inpainting tasks. To minimize the Gaussian noise from sonar images, an alternative direction method of the multiplier (ADMM) optimization algorithm is used for solving the convolutional basis pursuit denoising (CBPDN) problem with joint sparsity through an <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{2,1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-norm term. For the removal of impulse noise from sonar images, an ADMM algorithm is used to solve a CSR problem with an <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> data fidelity term and both <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> gradient regularization terms. For the inpainting of sonar images, the additive mask simulation (MS) technique is used for solving CSR problems related to boundary masking. From the experimental results, it is found that the proposed sonar image denoising and inpainting methods have created better visual quality sonar images, higher peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structure similarity (SSIM) values, when compared with the state-of-the-art sonar image denoising and inpainting methods.
Aeroservoelastic Structural and Control Optimization Using Robust Design Schemes

The procedure for structural and robust control design of multi-input/multi-output aeroservoelastic systems presented contains modeling of uncertainties, synthesis of a robust controller, and a unified structural and control optimization process under stress, flutter, and control performance constraints. Robust control design techniques can enhance the preliminary structural design for cases where certain system parameters are not known exactly or are uncertain. An aeroservoelastic interaction module is used for mediation between the structural optimization code and the control synthesis tools in an iterative coupled process. It provides the reduced-size state-space aeroelastic models needed for control synthesis, including model sensitivities to structural uncertainties, and integrates the resulting control model in structural optimization that includes robust-control considerations in terms of singular value constraints. The efficient uncertainty modeling developed is based on the readily available structural sensitivity data and the linear fractional transformation tools. Modeling of inertial uncertainties of the controlled structure was performed to account for relatively large inertial deviations of a fighter aircraft wing-tip missile. The numerical example clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed design scheme and its usefulness at preliminary design stages of aircraft with multiple external store loads.
The interaction of relativistic charged-particle beams with interstellar clouds

Collimated beams of relativistic particles are known to be emitted from radio-bright active galaxies and quasars. Recent observations suggest that similar phenomena may occur in the nuclear regions of Seyfert galaxies. We have calculated some of the consequences that result from the interaction of a beam of relativistic particles with interstellar clouds for a plausible range of physical parameters. Resonant plasma waves, nonresonant plasma waves, and ion acoustic waves are excited as a relativistic electron, electron-positron, or electron-proton beam traverses an interstellar cloud. The wave energy levels are characterized by either oscillatory or (quasi) steady state solutions. Nonresonant plasma waves may add power law tails to the distribution function of the background plasma electrons. The presence of electron tails can lead to enhanced optical and UV line radiation. The beam losses energy primarily as a result of the collisionless excitation of plasma waves, inverse Compton radiation, and resistive heating. We describe our calculations and discuss some of their implications for observations of active galactic nuclei.
Cross-correlations between 21 cm, X-ray and infrared backgrounds

The history of the cosmological reionization is still unclear. Two ionizing sources, stars and QSOs, are believed to play important roles during this epoch. Besides the 21 cm signals, the infrared emission from Pop III stars and X-ray photons from QSOs can be powerful probes of the reionization. Here we present a cross-correlation study of the 21cm, infrared and X-ray backgrounds. The advantage of doing such cross-correlations is that we could highlight the correlated signals and eliminate irrelevant foregrounds. We develop a shell model to describe the 21 cm signals and find that Pop III stars can provide higher 21 cm signals than QSOs. Using the ROSAT data for X-ray and AKARI data for infrared, we predict various cross power spectra analytically and discuss prospects for detecting these cross-correlation signals in future low frequency radio surveys. We find that, although these cross-correlational signals have distinct features, so far, they have been difficult to detect due to the high noise of the soft X-ray and infrared backgrounds given by ROSAT and AKARI.
Inhibition of Melanogenesis by Essential Oils from the Citrus Cultivars Peels

Citrus is one of the most popular and widely grown fruit crops in the world. However, the bioactivity of only certain species of citrus cultivars is studied. In this study, the effects of essential oils from 21 citrus cultivars on melanogenesis were investigated in an effort to identify active anti-melanogenesis constituents. The essential oils from the peels of 21 citrus cultivars obtained by hydro-distillation were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Mouse melanoma B16BL6 cells were used in all assays conducted in this study. The tyrosinase activity and melanin content were determined using the lysate of α-Melanocyte-stimulated B16BL6 cells. In addition, the melanogenic gene expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Overall, the essential oils of (Citrus unshiu X Citrus sinensis) X Citrus reticulata, Citrus reticulata, and ((Citrus unshiu X Citrus sinensis) X Citrus reticulata) X Citrus reticulata provided the best bioactivity and comprised five distinct constituents compared to other essential oils such as limonene, farnesene, β-elemene, terpinen-4-ol, and sabinene. The anti-melanogenesis activities of the five individual compounds were evaluated. Among the five essential oils, β-elemene, farnesene, and limonene showed dominating properties. The experimental results indicated that (Citrus unshiu X Citrus sinensis) X Citrus reticulata, Citrus reticulata, and ((Citrus unshiu X Citrus sinensis) X Citrus reticulata) X Citrus reticulara are potential candidates with anti-melanogenesis activity for use as cosmetics and pharmaceutical agents against skin hyperpigmentation.
A high‐precision model of first‐order reversal curve (FORC) functions for single‐domain ferromagnets with uniaxial anisotropy

Plots of the first‐order reversal curve (FORC) function are used to characterize ferromagnetic particles in rocks. The function is based on classical Preisach theory, which represents magnetic hysteresis by elementary loops with displacement Hu and half width Hc. Using analytical and numerical integration of single‐particle magnetization curves, a high‐precision FORC function is calculated for a sample with randomly oriented, noninteracting, elongated single‐domain (SD) particles. Some properties of the FORC function are independent of the distribution of particle orientations and shapes. There is a negative peak near the Hu axis, and the FORC function is identically zero for Hu > 0. The negative peak, previously attributed to particle interactions, is due to the increasing slope of a reversible magnetization curve near a jump. This peak is seen in experimental FORC functions of SD samples but not of samples with larger particles, probably because of Barkhausen jumps. The second feature is not seen in any experimental FORC function. A spread of the function to Hu > 0 can be caused by particle interactions or nonuniform magnetization.