Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asynchrony-Robust Collaborative Perception via Bird's Eye View Flow

Collaborative perception can substantially boost each agent's perception ability by facilitating communication among multiple agents. However, temporal asynchrony among agents is inevitable in the real world due to communication delays, interruptions, and clock misalignments. This issue causes information mismatch during multi-agent fusion, seriously shaking the foundation of collaboration. To address this issue, we propose CoBEVFlow, an asynchrony-robust collaborative perception system based on bird's eye view (BEV) flow. The key intuition of CoBEVFlow is to compensate motions to align asynchronous collaboration messages sent by multiple agents. To model the motion in a scene, we propose BEV flow, which is a collection of the motion vector corresponding to each spatial location. Based on BEV flow, asynchronous perceptual features can be reassigned to appropriate positions, mitigating the impact of asynchrony. CoBEVFlow has two advantages: (i) CoBEVFlow can handle asynchronous collaboration messages sent at irregular, continuous time stamps without discretization; and (ii) with BEV flow, CoBEVFlow only transports the original perceptual features, instead of generating new perceptual features, avoiding additional noises. To validate CoBEVFlow's efficacy, we create IRregular V2V(IRV2V), the first synthetic collaborative perception dataset with various temporal asynchronies that simulate different real-world scenarios. Extensive experiments conducted on both IRV2V and the real-world dataset DAIR-V2X show that CoBEVFlow consistently outperforms other baselines and is robust in extremely asynchronous settings. The code is available at https://github.com/MediaBrain-SJTU/CoBEVFlow.
FedZeN: Towards superlinear zeroth-order federated learning via incremental Hessian estimation

Federated learning is a distributed learning framework that allows a set of clients to collaboratively train a model under the orchestration of a central server, without sharing raw data samples. Although in many practical scenarios the derivatives of the objective function are not available, only few works have considered the federated zeroth-order setting, in which functions can only be accessed through a budgeted number of point evaluations. In this work we focus on convex optimization and design the first federated zeroth-order algorithm to estimate the curvature of the global objective, with the purpose of achieving superlinear convergence. We take an incremental Hessian estimator whose error norm converges linearly, and we adapt it to the federated zeroth-order setting, sampling the random search directions from the Stiefel manifold for improved performance. In particular, both the gradient and Hessian estimators are built at the central server in a communication-efficient and privacy-preserving way by leveraging synchronized pseudo-random number generators. We provide a theoretical analysis of our algorithm, named FedZeN, proving local quadratic convergence with high probability and global linear convergence up to zeroth-order precision. Numerical simulations confirm the superlinear convergence rate and show that our algorithm outperforms the federated zeroth-order methods available in the literature.
Effective action and black hole solutions in asymptotically safe quantum gravity

We derive the quantum effective action and the respective quantum equations of motion from multi-graviton correlation functions in asymptotically safe quantum gravity. The fully momentum-dependent couplings of three- and four-graviton scatterings are computed within the functional renormalisation group approach and the effective action is reconstructed from these vertices. The resulting quantum equations of motion are solved numerically for quantum black hole geometries. Importantly, the black hole solutions show signatures of quantum gravity outside the classical horizon, which manifest in the behaviour of the temporal and radial components of the metric. Three different types of solutions with distinct causal structures are identified and the phase structure of the solution space is investigated.
Leveraging Deep Learning and Online Source Sentiment for Financial Portfolio Management

Financial portfolio management describes the task of distributing funds and conducting trading operations on a set of financial assets, such as stocks, index funds, foreign exchange or cryptocurrencies, aiming to maximize the profit while minimizing the loss incurred by said operations. Deep Learning (DL) methods have been consistently excelling at various tasks and automated financial trading is one of the most complex one of those. This paper aims to provide insight into various DL methods for financial trading, under both the supervised and reinforcement learning schemes. At the same time, taking into consideration sentiment information regarding the traded assets, we discuss and demonstrate their usefulness through corresponding research studies. Finally, we discuss commonly found problems in training such financial agents and equip the reader with the necessary knowledge to avoid these problems and apply the discussed methods in practice.
Nuclear Modification Factor in Pb-Pb and p-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=5.02 TeV at LHC energies using Boltzmann Transport Equation with Tsallis Blast Wave Description

In this article, we have studied the nuclear modification factor measured in Pb-Pb collisions ($R_{PbPb}$) for $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p+\bar{p}$, $K^{*0} + \bar{K^{*0}}$, $\phi$ and in p-Pb collisions ($R_{pPb}$) for $\pi^{\pm}$, $K^{\pm}$, $p+\bar{p}$ at Large hadron collider (LHC) energy of $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV for the most central and peripheral collisions. We have also analysed the experimental data of transverse momentum ($p_T$) spectra for these identified hadrons at LHC for Pb-Pb as well as for p-Pb collisions. We have used Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) in relaxation time approximation (RTA) for this analysis. The Tsallis statistics is used as an initial distribution function and The Tsallis blast wave (TBW) model is employed as an equilibrium distribution in BTE. The present model fits the measured transverse momentum spectra, $R_{PbPb}$, and $R_{pPb}$ successfully upto $p_T$ = 8 GeV with a reasonable $\chi^2/ndf$ for all the considered hadrons at various centralities. The experimental data for $R_{pPb}$ are generated using the particle yields at pPb and pp collisions where number of binary collisions are taken from Glauber model calculations. We find that the average transverse flow velocity ($<\beta_r>$) follows the mass and centrality ordering and decreases with the mass as well as when one move from the central collisions to peripheral collisions. These findings are inline with the results of the hydrodynamical calculations.
Recent developments regarding the influence of soil surface characteristics on overland flow and erosion

Recent developments in modelling overland flow and soil erosion, which permit the consilidation of soil surface characteristics, are reviewed. The models of overland flow are found to be sensitive to soil surface micro-topography and surface pore structure. The former affects depressional storage and hydraulic routing and the latter soil hydraulic properties, notably infiltration rate. The models of soil erosion by water are found to be sensitive to surface roughness, strength and the aggregate size distribution, and the deposition characteristics, of the eroded sediment. Methods for describing the roughness of a soil surface are described and the links to the above processes discussed. The implications of new techniques of roughness measurement for this area of research are briefly examined. It is concluded that the new models of erosion and overland flow provide a more realistic description of the influence of soil surface characteristics than previous semi-empirical models. The review identified the case of large form roughness and shallow flow as a poorly described regime. It was also concluded that the relationship between structural degradation and surface roughness warranted investigation.
A new orogenic model for the External Hellenides

Abstract In the context of the External Hellenides, ‘pro’-lithosphere, corresponding to the Apulian microcontinent, converges on ‘retro’-lithosphere, corresponding to the Pelagonian microcontinent. Structural and stratigraphic data in the External Hellenides suggest that the convergence at this margin is fairly well described by the conceptual doubly vergent accretionary wedge model. This new orogenic model for the External Hellenides differs from the classical west-verging assumption and emphasizes that the retro-mass flux is critical for the pro-mass flux. Our model is primarily 2D, and is described in terms of three system components: an accretionary wedge (or pro-wedge), an uplifted plug and a retro-wedge. Three ‘isopic’ zones (Pindos, Gavrovo-Tripolitsa and Ionian) are included in the pro-wedge. The uplifted plug in the north (Epirus area) includes the Pindos ocean ophiolitic rocks and the Pindos zone, the Parnassos zone in central Greece, and the HP belt of the External Hellenides in the Peloponnese. The retro-wedge includes the Mesohellenic Trough in the north and the Argos plain in the south.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER

The warming temperatures and changing precipitation regimes associated with global climate change have effects on the quantity and quality of water in rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Indeed, it is likely that aquatic systems are among the most sensitive of all ecosystems to climate change, as water temperatures track air temperatures closely, the majority of aquatic species are cold blooded and easily affected by changes in temperature, and many ecological processes such as productivity, decomposition, and nutrient cycling in waterways are closely linked to temperature (Ormerod 2009). These waterways are essential for the functioning of all of the planet’s ecosystems, as well as for the maintenance of human life. They also provide essential habitat for more than125,000 species of freshwater animals, representing 9.5% of all known animal species on the planet, along with associated high levels of plant diversity (Strayer 2010). Despite this richness and vulnerability, aquatic systems are often not well protected by traditional protected areas, and receive less conservation attention than terrestrial systems. At the global scale, warming temperatures increase humidity and precipitation, and precipitation has increased about 2% in the last century (Huntington 2006). However, this figure disguises regional differences, as precipitation is expected to increase at high latitudes, and decrease at low and mid latitudes (Malmqvist 2002). Global precipitation trends will also be driven by changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, and on alterations of multiannual and decadal climate cycles such as the El Nino Southern Oscillation or the North Atlantic Oscillation (Wise 2010). However, the majority of effects on waterways and aquatic systems occur at regional and local scales. The main pathways for change are warming water temperatures, changes in snowpack and timing of runoff events, loss of ephemeral wetlands, and sea level rise causing flooding and salinization of coastal wetlands.
Association of dietary intake with micronutrient deficiency in Indian school children: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Adequate nutrition is necessary during childhood and early adolescence for adequate growth and development. Hence, the objective of the study was to assess the association between dietary intake and blood levels of minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium) and vitamins (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin D) in urban school going children aged 6–16 years in India, in a multicentric cross-sectional study. Participants were enrolled from randomly selected schools in ten cities. Three-day food intake data was collected using a 24-h dietary recall method. The intake was dichotomised into adequate and inadequate. Blood samples were collected to assess levels of micronutrients. From April 2019 to February 2020, 2428 participants (50⋅2 % females) were recruited from 60 schools. Inadequate intake for calcium was in 93⋅4 % (246⋅5 ± 149⋅4 mg), iron 86⋅5 % (7⋅6 ± 3⋅0 mg), zinc 84⋅0 % (3⋅9 ± 2⋅4 mg), selenium 30⋅2 % (11⋅3 ± 9⋅7 mcg), folate 73⋅8 % (93⋅6 ± 55⋅4 mcg), vitamin B12 94⋅4 % (0⋅2 ± 0⋅4 mcg), vitamin A 96⋅0 % (101⋅7 ± 94⋅1 mcg), and vitamin D 100⋅0 % (0⋅4 ± 0⋅6 mcg). Controlling for sex and socioeconomic status, the odds of biochemical deficiency with inadequate intake for iron [AOR = 1⋅37 (95 % CI 1⋅07–1⋅76)], zinc [AOR = 5⋅14 (95 % CI 2⋅24–11⋅78)], selenium [AOR = 3⋅63 (95 % CI 2⋅70–4⋅89)], folate [AOR = 1⋅59 (95 % CI 1⋅25–2⋅03)], and vitamin B12 [AOR = 1⋅62 (95 %CI 1⋅07–2⋅45)]. Since there is a significant association between the inadequate intake and biochemical deficiencies of iron, zinc, selenium, folate, and vitamin B12, regular surveillance for adequacy of micronutrient intake must be undertaken to identify children at risk of deficiency, for timely intervention.
Ornithopodichnus and Pes-Only Sauropod Trackways from the Hwasun Tracksite, Cretaceous of Korea

Trackways of small (foot length ∼12–15 cm) robust ornithopods are relatively uncommon in the Cretaceous, where most tracks attributed to iguanodontids and hadrosaurs range in size from ∼20–80 cm. The Hwasun site, previously noted for its abundant theropod trackways, also reveals one horizon (L2) with at least six parallel trackways of small blunt-toed ornithopods with wide tracks, short steps and typical inward rotation of the pes. The site also reveals a second horizon (L4) which yields a single clear trackway of a much larger blunt-toed ornithopod. Although allometric trends in tridactyl track assemblages tend to show increased trackway width and reduced anterior projection of digit III (reduced mesaxonic emphasis) with increasing size, the small Hwasun ornithopods reveal unusually wide tracks with reduced mesaxony. The tracks are herein assigned to the ichnogenus Ornithopodichnus. A map of previously unmapped Level 4 is presented showing the context of the large ornithopod tracks on the same surface as an unusual pes-only trackway with distinctive claw traces and sediment rims. This surface also reveals isolated sauropod manus tracks and various underprints.
Algeria’s economic and political trends after the Hirak movement

In 2018, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced he would run for a fifth term. Seriously injured after a stroke in 2013 left him unable to walk or speak, Bouteflika had already amended the constitution twice to allow him to run for a third and a fourth term. Public opinion, fuelled by his lack of public appearances, held that his position was legitimised through le pouvoir, or the powerful, institutionalised controls of the political elite and the military (Hemchi and Benantar 2023, 31). In response, large-scale, youth-led protests began emerging across Algeria. Collectively known as the Hirak, or ‘movement’, calls for change were largely ignored by the public, state-influenced media and were only covered by private channels. As the protests continued, a government crackdown on the media led to the arrest and sentencing of dozens of journalists. Protests continued, drawing international media attention, and eventually leading to the resignation of both President Bouteflika and his prime minister, Ahmed Ouyahia. Constitutional amendments were shortly after instated, and a presidential election was conducted in December of 2019, bringing to power current President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Youth opinion, like with Bouteflika, links the Tebboune administration tightly with the political elite and military (Boubekeur 2020, 8). The Hirak Movement from 2018–2019, a youth-led movement aimed at calling out corruption, changed the shape of Algeria (Boubekeur 2020; Davis 2019, 337; International Crisis Group 2020). After Bouteflika announced he was stepping down on 5 March 2019, news articles claimed that this was a ‘New Era’ and that Algeria was ‘Opening for Rights’ (Saleh 2019; HRW 2019). Statements of support for the Algerian people were released by the United States (Department of State 2019), France (France 24 2019), and Italy (Algerie Patriotique 2019). Russia remained firmly apolitical (Mesbah 2019; Rumer 2019, 35–38) and China’s response was notably absent. These
Comparison of Online and face-to-face Learning Experience: A Case Study of Higher Vocational Hospitality Education in China

ABSTRACT Online learning has attracted attention from academics and educators for several decades. Online learning plays a significant role in many educational institutions, including higher vocational hospitality colleges, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, students’ learning experience of online and face-to-face higher vocational hospitality courses is scarcely understood. To fill this research gap, a higher vocational college in China is selected as a case study to conduct a comparative study. Results show that students scored higher in face-to-face hospitality course learning experience than in online courses. Theoretical and practical implications are provided accordingly.
Letter to Scott Aaronson and Andy Pollington on the Solovay–Kitaev Theorem and Golden Gates

and Golden Gates Peter Sarnak February 2015 Typeset by Zachary Stier, June 2022 Dear Scott and Andy, Thanks for pointing me to the papers [KMM’12, RS’14]. I was not aware of these interesting developments in connection with the Solovay–Kitaev theorem and the design of universal 1-qubit quantum gates. These papers refer to some others which are also very interesting such as [BGS’13]. All of these results can be understood in a unified way in terms of the arithmetic of quaternion algebras. Doing so clarifies (at least for me) the constructions and it also allows one to prove some fundamental properties for these gates as well as to relate them to some older and more recent developments. I explicate these points below, for myself as much as for the reader. The problem is one of constructing an efficient universal set of quantum gates. That such exist is the Solovay–Kitaev theorem [NC’00]. The basic state in quantum computation is a single qubit, which is a unit vector in C2. The construction of universal quantum gates reduces to finding efficient topological generators of G = PSU(2) (or SU(2)) [NC’00]. G comes with a left and right invariant metric:
Prehistoric Use of Ringed Seals: A Zooarchaeological Study from Arctic Canada

Abstract This paper presents new data on ringed seal hunting in the Early Palaeoeskimo period (ca. 4000–3500 B.P.) in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Skeletal age schedules, thin sections of ringed seal canine teeth and skeletal element frequency analysis, provides the means to reconstruct specific seal hunting strategies, especially as regards the selection of particular age classes, season of hunt, and locations for hunting. The zooarchaeological data indicate a human predation pattern similar to the winter hunting pattern of polar bears. Most remains are from seals between the skeletal ages of four and seven/ eight – indicating the selection of juvenile and young adult seals from along ice leads and at refrozen cracks. Skeletal element representation allows for the tentative identification of sharing among households.
Resolution and Dynamical Core Dependence of Atmospheric River Frequency in Global Model Simulations

AbstractThis study examines the sensitivity of atmospheric river (AR) frequency simulated by a global model with different grid resolutions and dynamical cores. Analysis is performed on aquaplanet simulations using version 4 of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM4) at 240-, 120-, 60-, and 30-km model resolutions, each with the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) and High-Order Methods Modeling Environment (HOMME) dynamical cores. The frequency of AR events decreases with model resolution and the HOMME dynamical core produces more AR events than MPAS. Comparing the frequencies determined using absolute and percentile thresholds of large-scale conditions used to define an AR, model sensitivity is found to be related to the overall sensitivity of subtropical westerlies, atmospheric precipitable water content and profile, and to a lesser extent extratropical Rossby wave activity to model resolution and dynamical core. Real-world simulations using MPAS at 120- and 30-km grid resolutions also exhibit a de.
Seasonal differences in low‐frequency current fluctuations over the Oregon continental shelf

Current observations over three isobaths (50, 100, and 200 m) on the Oregon continental shelf are available for winter and spring 1975 and summer 1973. In each season there are low-frequency current fluctuations with periods of several days, predominantly alongshore, that are correlated with the alongshore wind stress and sea level at Newport. The amplitude of the current fluctuations is greatest in winter and least in summer, but the ratio between current and wind stress fluctuations does not change appreciably. In each season the alongshore fluctuations have the same sign throughout the water column, and they are nearly in phase across the shelf. The vertical and offshore structure of the fluctuations was examined by means of empirical orthogonal functions. In winter the amplitude decreases with depth at each location; in summer it is nearly constant at all locations. The near-bottom shear is consistent with Ekman veering. Away from the bottom the shear is an approximate geostrophic balance. The fluctuations have a significant baroclinic component in winter but not insummer. In each season the amplitude of the fluctuations decreases with distance from shore, but the offshore length scale is about twice as great in winter as it is in spring.
Effects of season and man‐made changes on baseflow and flow recession: case studies

Discharge hydrographs of rivers carry the cumulated information on the various hydrological processes in catchments and the influences imposed on them. From the analysis of observed baseflow recessions, direct and groundwater flow can be separated and time series of the main components of the underlying groundwater balance, namely discharge, evapotranspiration losses, abstractions, storage and recharge, can be derived. This inverse, or downward, approach was applied to daily streamflow data of rivers in different climate zones (Germany, Western Australia, Turkey) under different influences. The mostly shallow, unconfined aquifers were found to react as nonlinear reservoirs and an appropriate recession function was used instead of the traditional exponential function of the linear reservoir. However, though the actual storage–discharge relationships of aquifers will hardly change, flow recession properties are subject to seasonal variation and changes due to evapotranspiration and other fluxes and abstractions from the groundwater. As demonstrated in the case studies, recession analysis and baseflow separation permits the detection and quantification of these changes. In a separate application, the method is used to identify groundwater flow intruded into leaky sewer lines. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.