Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyclic cosmology from Lagrange-multiplier modified gravity

We investigate cyclic and singularity-free evolutions in a universe governed by Lagrange-multiplier modified gravity, in both scalar-field cosmology and the f(R) one. In the scalar case, cyclicity can be induced by a suitably reconstructed simple potential, and the matter content of the Universe can be successfully incorporated. In the case of f(R)-gravity, cyclicity can be induced by a suitably reconstructed second function f2(R) of a very simple form; however, the matter evolution cannot be analytically handled. Furthermore, we study the evolution of cosmological perturbations for the two scenarios. For the scalar case the system possesses no wavelike modes due to a dust-like sound speed, while for the f(R) case there exists an oscillation mode of perturbations which indicates a dynamical degree of freedom. Both scenarios allow for stable parameter spaces of cosmological perturbations through the bouncing point.
Spatial density fluctuations and selection effects in galaxy redshift surveys

One of the main problems of observational cosmology is to determine the range in which a reliable measurement of galaxy correlations is possible. This corresponds to determining the shape of the correlation function, its possible evolution with redshift and the size and amplitude of large scale structures. Different selection effects, inevitably entering in any observation, introduce important constraints in the measurement of correlations. In the context of galaxy redshift surveys selection effects can be caused by observational techniques and strategies and by implicit assumptions used in the data analysis. Generally all these effects are taken into account by using pair-counting algorithms to measure two-point correlations. We review these methods stressing that they are based on the a-priori assumption that galaxy distribution is spatially homogeneous inside a given sample. We show that, when this assumption is not satisfied by the data, results of the correlation analysis are affected by finite size effects. In order to quantify these effects, we introduce a new method based on the computation of the gradient of galaxy counts along tiny cylinders. We show, by using artificial homogeneous and inhomogeneous point distributions, that this method identifies redshift dependent selection effects and disentangles them from the presence of large scale density fluctuations. We then apply this new method to several redshift catalogs and we find evidence that galaxy distribution, in those samples where selection effects are small enough, is characterized by power-law correlations with exponent γ=0.9 up to 20 Mpc/h followed by a change of slope that, in the range 20–100 Mpc/h, corresponds to a power-law exponent γ=0.25. Whether a crossover to spatial uniformity occurs at ∼ 100 Mpc/h or larger scales cannot be clarified by the present data.
Living Up to Young Employees’ Expectations: Employer Brand Management in Health Care Organisations

Health care professionals are ageing, and there is a severe, global need to attract future employees. This study examines the construction of employer brand image among young health care professionals, and related elements. The qualitative research data were collected through email and personal interviews from young nursing and physician students. The analysis results indicate that organisations can affect their employer brand image for future employees through supportive working culture and human resource practices as well as direct marketing actions. The marketing and human resource practices targeted towards young health care professionals are underused. The results can help health care organisations in planning recruitment and marketing processes according to young health care professionals' expectations. This study integrates human resource management research and marketing research relating to employer branding and recruitment.
TASI Lectures on a Holographic View of Beyond the Standard Model Physics

We provide an introduction to the physics of a warped extra dimension and the AdS/CFT correspondence. An AdS/CFT dictionary is given which leads to a 4D holographic view of the 5th dimension. With a particular emphasis on beyond the standard model physics, this provides a window into the strong dynamics associated with either electroweak symmetry breaking or supersymmetry breaking. In this way hierarchies associated with either the electroweak or supersymmetry breaking scale, together with the fermion mass spectrum, can be addressed in a consistent framework.
Impact of Transgenic Cry1Ab/2Aj Maize on Abundance of Non-Target Arthropods in the Field

Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize has broad prospects for application in China. Before commercialization, it is necessary to assess possible ecological impacts, including impacts on non-target arthropods (NTAs) in the field. In the present study, transgenic Bt maize expressing cry1Ab/2Aj and its corresponding non-transformed near isoline were planted under the same environmental and agricultural conditions, and arthropods in the field were collected during the three main growth stages of maize. In a one year trial, the results showed the composition of NTA communities in the transgenic and control maize fields were similar. There were no significant differences for community-level parameters of species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′), evenness index (J) and Simpson’s dominant concentration (C) between the two types of maize fields. Likewise, a Bray–Curtis dissimilarity and distance analysis showed that Cry1Ab/2Aj toxin exposure did not increase community dissimilarities between Bt and non-Bt maize plots and that the structure of the NTAs community was similar on the two maize varieties. Furthermore, planting of the transgenic cry1Ab/2Aj maize did not affect the density or composition of non-target decomposers, herbivores, predators, parasitoids and pollinator guilds. In summary, our results showed that planting of Bt maize producing Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj proteins do not adversely affect population dynamics and diversity of NTAs.
Transparent conducting Zn1−xMgxO:(Al,In) thin films

Zn1−xMgxO:Al thin films have been grown epitaxially on c-plane sapphire substrates by direct current reactive magnetron sputtering. Structural evaluation indicated that the ZnMgO films had similar crystalline perfection as ZnO films grown under similar conditions. Postdeposition annealing with in situ In doping was done at 415 °C for 4 h in H2/Ar mixtures, resulting in improved electrical properties. Increasing the Mg content from 0 to 20 at. % increased the band gap but decreased the conductivity, mobility, and electron density in annealed films. The decrease in mobility was explained by a combination of increasing electron effective mass and alloy disorder scattering. Increasing the Al dopant content in ZnMgO had similar effects as in pure ZnO, increasing the carrier density and optical band gap but decreasing the mobility. Band gaps of 3.76 eV were achieved in the Zn0.8Mg0. 2O:(Al,In) films with a corresponding resistivity of 2×10−2 Ω cm, a carrier concentration of 4×1019 cm−3, and a mobility of 7 cm2/V s.
A quark-meson coupling model based on Bogoliubov's model of the nucleon

The quark-meson coupling model due to Guichon is formulated on the basis of the independent quark model of the nucleon proposed by Bogoliubov and is applied to a phenomenological description of symmetric nuclear matter. The model predicts, at saturation density, the compressibility $K=249$ MeV and the quark effective mass $m_q^*= 249.1$ MeV, {the effective nucleon mass being $M^*=747.3$ MeV}. The predicted nucleon mass radius is $r=0.93$ fm.
Constructing Grith Eight GC-LDPC Codes Based on the GCD FLRM Matrix with a New Lower Bound

By connecting multiple short, local low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes with a global parity check, the globally coupled (GC) LDPC code can attain high performances with low complexities. The typical design of a local code is a quasi-cyclic (QC) LDPC for which the code length is proportional to the size of circulant permutation matrix (CPM). The greatest common divisor (GCD)-based full-length row multiplier (FLRM) matrix is constrained by a lower bound of CPM size to avoid six length cycles. In this paper, we find a new lower bound for the CPM size and propose an algorithm to determine the minimum CPM size and the corresponding FLRM matrix. Based on the new lower bound, two methods are proposed to construct the GC-QC-LDPC code of grith 8 based on the GCD based FLRM matrix. With the proposed algorithm, the CPM size can be 45% less than that given by sufficient condition of girth 8. Compared with the conventional GC-LDPC construction, the codes constructed with the proposed method have improved performance and are more flexible in code length and code rate design.
THE EFFICIENCY OF STELLAR REIONIZATION: EFFECTS OF ROTATION, METALLICITY, AND INITIAL MASS FUNCTION

We compute the production rate of photons in the ionizing Lyman continua (LyC) of H i (λ ⩽ 912 Å), He i (λ ⩽ 504 Å), and He ii (λ ⩽ 228 Å) using recent stellar evolutionary tracks coupled to a grid of non-LTE, line-blanketed WM-basic model atmospheres. The median LyC production efficiency is QLyC = (6 ± 2) × 1060 LyC photons per M☉ of star formation (range [3.1–9.4] × 1060), corresponding to a revised calibration of 1053.3 ± 0.2 photons s−1 per M☉ yr−1. Efficiencies in the helium continua are photons and photons at solar metallicity and larger at low metallicity. The critical star formation rate needed to maintain reionization against recombinations at z ≈ 7 is for fiducial values of the intergalactic medium (IGM) clumping factor CH ≈ 3 and LyC escape fraction fesc ≈ 0.2. The boost in LyC production efficiency is an important ingredient, together with metallicity, CH, and fesc, in assessing whether IGM reionization was complete by z ≈ 7. Monte Carlo sampled spectra of coeval starbursts during the first 5 Myr have intrinsic flux ratios of F(1500)/F(900) ≈ 0.4–0.5 and F(912−)/F(912+) ≈ 0.4–0.7 in the far-UV (1500 Å), the LyC (900 Å), and at the Lyman edge (912 Å). These ratios can be used to calibrate the LyC escape fractions in starbursts.
W49A: a starburst triggered by expanding shells

Aims. W49A is a giant molecular cloud which harbors some of the most luminous embedded clusters in the Galaxy. However, the explanation for this starburst-like phenomenon is still under debate. Methods. We investigated large-scale Spitzer mid-infrared images together with a Galatic Ring Survey 13 CO J = 1−0 image, complemented with higher resolution (∼11 �� ) 13 CO J = 2− 1a nd C 18 O J = 2−1 images over a ∼15 × 13 pc 2 field obtained with the IRAM 30 m telescope. Results. Two expanding shells have been identified in the mid-infrared images, and confirmed in the position-velocity diagrams made from the 13 CO J = 2− 1a nd C 18 O J = 2−1 data. The mass of the averaged expanding shell, which has an inner radius of ≈3.3 pc and a thickness of ≈0.41 pc, is about 1.9 × 10 4 M� . The total kinetic energy of the expanding shells is estimated to be ∼10 49 erg, which is probably provided by a few massive stars, whose radiation pressure and/or strong stellar winds drive the shells. The expanding shells are likely to have a common origin close to the two ultracompact Hii regions (source O and source N), and their expansion speed is estimated to be ∼ 5k m s −1 , resulting in an age of ∼3–7 × 10 5 years. In addition, on larger (∼35 × 50 pc 2 ) scales, remnants of two gas ejections have been identified in the 13 CO J = 1−0 data. Both ejections seem to have the same center as the expanding shells with a total energy of a few times 10 50 erg. The main driving mechanism for the gas ejections is unclear, but likely related to the mechanism
The last breath of the young gigahertz-peaked spectrum radio source PKS 1518+047

We present the results from multifrequency VLBA observations from 327 MHz to 8.4 GHz of the gigahertz-peaked spectrum radio source PKS 1518+047 (4C 04.51) aimed at studying the spectral index distribution across the source. Further multifrequency archival Very Large Array data were analysed to constrain the spectral shape of the whole source. The pc-scale resolution provided by the VLBA data allows us to resolve the source structure in several subcomponents. The analysis of their synchrotron spectra showed that the source components have steep spectral indices, suggesting that no supply/re-acceleration of fresh particles is currently taking place in any region of the source. By assuming the equipartition magnetic field of 4 mG, we found that only electrons with γ ≤ 600 are still contributing to the radio spectrum, while electrons with higher energies have almost been completely depleted. The source radiative lifetime we derived is 2700 ± 600 years. Considering the best fit to the overall spectrum, we find that the time in which the nucleus has not been active represents almost 20 per cent of the whole source lifetime, indicating that the source was 2150 ± 500 year old when the radio emission switched off.
A Deep Unfolding Method for Satellite Super Resolution

Despite that existing deep-learning-based super resolution methods for satellite images have achieved great performance, these methods are generally designed to stack unaccountable and dense modules (i.e., residual blocks and dense blocks) to reach an optimal mapping function between low-resolution and high-resolution patches/images at the expense of computing resources. To address this challenge, we propose a deep unfolding method (LDUM) that includes two major components: 1) the pretreatment network and 2) the unfolding blocks. The main responsibility of the pretreatment network is to generate initial high-resolution images. Further, we model high-resolution images with the prior information, which can be seen as a combination of low-resolution and high-frequency residual images, and solve the optimization problem via the iterative proximal strategy. Specifically, we unfold the iterative process into a deep neural network to refine the reconstructed results, as each layer serves as an iterative step of the proposed optimization model. Thus, the proposed method is able to iteratively generate residual maps and high-resolution images by combining the powerful feature extraction capability of data-driven deep-learning-based methods and the interpretability of traditional model-driven algorithms. Experiments show that the proposed method, featured by its interpretable and lightweight merits, outperforms other state-of-the-art methods from quantitative and qualitative perspectives.
Dynamic Stability Analysis of Patients with Degenerative Osteoarthritise during Walking

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variability to compare local dynamic stability via a linear and nonlinear analysis during walking. Twenty four elderly males, 12 healthy elderly and 12 patients with osteoarthritise walked on a treadmill for 100 consecutive strides. Lyapunov exponent and correlation dimension and coefficient variation were calculated for the kinematic parameters to determine the dynamic stability during walking. The linear measures indicated that the healthy elderly demonstrated significantly higher variability in the ankle joint displacement. The nonlinear analysis revealed that COD for the knee joint angle were higher in patient with osteoarthritise. There were no coincidence in results between linear and nonlinear techniques over two groups. In light of nonlinear analysis, it was concluded that patients with osteoathritise showed higher local instability during walking.
Spin Dynamics and Multiple Reflections in Ferromagnetic Film in Contact with Normal Metal Layers

Spin dynamics of a metallic ferromagnetic film imbedded between normal metal layers is studied using the spin-pumping theory of Tserkovnyak et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 117601 (2002)]. The scattering matrix for this structure is obtained using a spin-dependent potential with quantum well in the ferromagnetic region. Owing to multiple reflections in the well, the excess Gilbert damping and the gyromagnetic ratio exhibit quantum oscillations as a function of the thickness of the ferromagnetic film. The wavelength of the oscillations is given by the depth of the quantum well. For iron film imbedded between gold layers, the amplitude of the oscillations of the Gilbert damping is in an order of magnitude agreement with the damping observed by Urban et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 217204 (2001)]. The results are compared with the linear response theory of Mills [Phys. Rev. B 68, 0144419 (2003)].
Applying ACE-III, M-ACE and MMSE to Diagnostic Screening Assessment of Cognitive Functions within the Polish Population

The research aims to compare the accuracy of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III (ACE-III) and the mini-Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination (M-ACE) within the Polish population. The model comprised several stages: the features of each test were compared; the shifts in result categorisations between the norm and below the norm were analysed; a third category—mild cognitive impairment (MCI)—was included. Additionally, particular ACE-III domains that scored below domain-specific norm thresholds were analysed to establish the potential early predictors of dementia. All tests correlated to a high and very high degree—cf. MMSE and ACE-III (r = 0.817; p < 0.001), MMSE and M-ACE (r = 0.753; p < 0.001), ACE-III and M-ACE (r = 0.942; p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for the ACE-III diagnostic variable had a high value (AUC = 0.920 ± 0.014). A cut-off point of 81 points was suggested for ACE-III; the M-ACE diagnostic variable had an equally high value (AUC = 0.891 ± 0.017). A cut-off point of 20 points was suggested. A significant decrease in the mean score values for people who scored norm or below the norm under ACE-III, as compared to the MMSE results for norm (p < 0.0001), occurred for speech fluency (which decreased by 26.4%). The tests in question are characterised by high sensitivity and specificity. Targeted ACE-III seems best recommended for use in specialised diagnostic centres, whereas M-ACE appears to be a better suited diagnostic alternative for primary health care centres in comparison to MMSE.
ASTRO-H White Paper - Young Supernova Remnants

Thanks to the unprecedented spectral resolution and sensitivity of the Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) to soft thermal X-ray emission, ASTRO-H will open a new discovery window for understanding young, ejecta-dominated, supernova remnants (SNRs). In particular we study how ASTRO-H observations will address, comprehensively, three key topics in SNR research: (1) using abundance measurements to unveil SNR progenitors, (2) using spatial and velocity distribution of the ejecta to understand supernova explosion mechanisms, (3) revealing the link between the thermal plasma state of SNRs and the efficiency of their particle acceleration.
THE GALACTIC SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF OB ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR SURROUNDING SUPERNOVA-GENERATED SUPERBUBBLES

The Galactic spatial distribution of OB associations and their surrounding superbubbles (SBs) reflect the distribution of a wide range of important processes in our Galaxy. In particular, it can provide a three-dimensional measure not only of the major source distribution of Galactic cosmic rays, but also the Galactic star formation distribution, the Lyman continuum ionizing radiation distribution, the core-collapse supernova distribution, the neutron star and stellar black hole production distribution, and the principal source distribution of freshly synthesized elements. Thus, we construct a three-dimensional spatial model of the massive-star distribution based primarily on the emission of the H ii envelopes that surround the giant SBs and are maintained by the ionizing radiation of the embedded O stars. The Galactic longitudinal distribution of the 205 μm N ii radiation, emitted by these H ii envelopes, is used to infer the spatial distribution of SBs. We find that the Galactic SB distribution is dominated by the contribution of massive-star clusters residing in the spiral arms.
Modulating light with light via giant nano-opto-mechanical nonlinearity of plasmonic metamaterial

Jun-Yu Ou, Eric Plum, ∗ Jianfa Zhang, 2 and Nikolay I. Zheludev 3, † Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK College of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, 410073, China The Photonics Institute and Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637378, Singapore (Dated: June 22, 2015)
Immunoexpression of androgen receptor in genital tissues of male BALB/c mice

Aim: Androgens are hormones that are essential for the differentiation and development of male genital organs, preserving their structural features and maintaining their functions. These hormones exert their effects on target tissues mainly through androgen receptors (AR). The aim of this study was to determine the AR immunoexpression pattern in the genital tissues of male mice. Materials and Methods: A total of 6 BALB/c male mice were anesthetized with ether, and the genital tissues, which were quickly removed from the body, were fixed in Bouin’s solution for 18 hours. Tissues that underwent routine histological procedures after fixation were embedded in paraffin. Tissue sections cut with a thickness of 5 µm from paraffin blocks were taken on a slide and examined by staining with immunohistochemical methods. Results: AR-positive immunostaining in the testis was observed only in somatic cells such as Sertoli, peritubular myoid cells, and Leydig cells. Germ cells were AR-negative. In the caput epididymis, ductus deferens, and seminal vesicle, AR positive immunoexpression was observed in stromal cells, especially epithelial cells. Although AR-positive staining was observed in some of the epithelial and stromal cells in these organs, some of them were AR-negative. Conclusion: In the current study, it was determined that the AR expression pattern in the genital tissues of male BALB/c mice was similar to that in other species, although there were minor differences. The findings support the hypothesis that androgens exert their effects in testis mainly through somatic cells, and their effects in other genital tissues through epithelial cells, and the fact that androgens/ARs are essential for maintaining the structures and functions of male genital organs.
Universality of Planck's constant and a constraint from the absence of h_bar-induced neutrino mixing

You have probably often set hbar=1; but for what particle? I revisit here the possibility of a non-universal Planck-constant. Anomaly cancellation suggests that all particles in the same family perceive the same hbar at fixed charges e, g_w, g_s; the difference between the muon's and the electron's (and thus the first and second families) can be tightly constrained by the muon's anomalous magnetic moment,but constraints are weaker for the third family. Neutrino mixing could have proceeded a priori not only by the Lagrangian neutrino mass-term, but also by the kinetic term if Planck's constant was not equal for all three species. An experimental constraint follows as such contributions, characterized by oscillations proportional to the energy, as opposed to the inverse energy, have been generically analyzed in the past. This provides at the same time support for gauge invariance. On the other hand if hbar differs among particles while fixing the fine structure constants alpha_em, alpha_s, etc. instead of the charges, it affects the muonic atom puzzle without much constrain from g-2.