Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonzero depolarization volumes in electromagnetic homogenization studies

The work of this thesis concerns depolarization regions in the homogenization of random, particulate composites. In conventional approaches to homogenization, the depolarization dyadics which represent the component phase particles are provided by the singularity of the corresponding dyadic Green function. Thereby, the component particles are effectively treated as vanishingly small, point-like entities. However, through neglecting the spatial extent of the depolarization region, important information may be lost, particularly relating to coherent scattering losses. In this thesis, depolarization regions of nonzero volume are considered. In order to estimate the constitutive parameters of homogenized composite materials (HCMs), the strong-property-fluctuation theory (SPFT) is implemented. This is done through a standard procedure involving the calculation of successive corrections to a preliminary ansatz, in terms of statistical cumulants of the spatial distribution of the component phase particles. The influence of depolarization regions of nonzero volume on the zeroth (and first), second and third order SPFT estimates of HCM constitutive parameters is investigated. Both linear and weakly nonlinear HCMs are considered.
The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission...Resolving Fundamental Processes in Space Plasmas

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission is a multiple-spacecraft Solar-Terrestrial Probe designed to study the microphysics of magnetic reconnection, charged particle acceleration, and turbulence in key boundary regions of Earth's magnetosphere. These three processes, which control the flow of energy, mass, and momentum within and across plasma boundaries, occur throughout the universe and are fundamental to our understanding of astrophysical and solar system plasmas. Only in Earth's magnetosphere, however, are they readily accessible for sustained study through in-situ measurement. MMS will employ five co-orbiting spacecraft identically instrumented to measure electric and magnetic fields, plasmas, and energetic particles. The initial parameters of the individual spacecraft orbits will be designed so that the spacecraft formation will evolve into a three-dimensional configuration near apogee, allowing MMS to differentiate between spatial and temporal effects and to determine the three dimensional geometry of plasma, field, and current structures. In order to sample all of the magnetospheric boundary regions, MMS will employ a unique four-phase orbital strategy involving carefully sequenced changes in the local time and radial distance of apogee and, in the third phase, a change in orbit inclination from 10 degrees to 90 degrees. The nominal mission operational lifetime is two years. Launch is currently scheduled for 2006.
Phase Diagram of Rb2xTl2(1−x)Cd2(SO4)3 Solid Solutions

The concentration-temperature phase diagram of Rb2xTl2(1−x)Cd2(SO4)3 solid solutions is obtained. It is found that the sequence of phase transitions is P213 ⇔ P21 ⇔ P1 ⇔ P212121 at x = 0−l0.5, while the temperature of phase transition from the cubic phase rapidly increases at x = 0.5−1 and a new phase with the symmetry R3 is inclined between the phases with symmetries P213 and P21.
Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Nature-Based Solutions for Hurricane Risk Reduction Policies in the Mexican Caribbean

Nature-based solutions (NbSs) have long recognized the value of coastal and marine ecosystem management and associated ecosystem services as useful tools for climate change mitigation (e.g., blue carbon) and adaptation (e.g., coastal protection against flooding and storm surges). However, NbSs remain poorly acknowledged and mostly absent from coastal planning for disaster risk reduction policies in the Caribbean, as well as from ex-post disaster reconstruction funds. With the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the region, NbSs are now more needed than ever. Taking Mexico as a representative case study for the wider Caribbean, we here seek to identify and analyze the barriers and opportunities perceived by relevant stakeholders for mainstreaming coastal-marine NbSs into coastal management and disaster risk reduction policies (e.g., mangroves as green infrastructure) to protect coastal societies and national economies against hurricanes. We conduct semi-structured, in-depth interviews with twenty stakeholders covering academic, governmental, tourism, NGO, coastal planning, and financial domains. Among the twenty-three identified barriers, governance, institutional, financial, and human-capacity aspects are the most dominant perceptions behind the current lack of NbS implementation. Future action for the policy integration of NbSs requires widespread political will and better quantification of both the provision of ecosystem services and their economic benefits under conventional markets.
An Update on Perturbative N=8 Supergravity

According to the recent pure spinor analysis of the UV divergences by Karlsson, there are no divergent 1PI structures beyond 6 loops in D=4 N=8 supergravity. In combination with the common expectation that the UV divergences do not appear at less than 7 loops, this may imply that the 4-point amplitude in D=4 N=8 supergravity is all-loop finite. This differs from the result of the previous studies of pure spinors, which suggested that there is a UV divergence at 7 loops in D=4. Therefore an independent investigation of the pure spinor formalism predictions is desirable, as well as continuation of explicit loop computations. In the meantime, we revisit here our earlier arguments on UV finiteness of N=8 supergravity based on the absence of the off-shell light-cone superspace counterterms, as well as on the E_{7(7)} current conservation. We believe that both arguments remain valid in view of the developments in this area during the last few years.
Application Of Cooperative Learning Model In Increasing Students' Motivation, Learning Participation And Creativity

Student learning motivation is a factor that will determine the success of student achievement in learning. One of the factors that can increase learning motivation is the use of varied and relevant learning models to the subject or material being studied. For this reason, the ability of teachers to use various learning models is highly demanded. Through Classroom Action Research (CAR), which aims to increase students' motivation and participation in learning to improve student achievement and creativity by using cooperative learning learning models. The results showed that the learning process with cooperative learning can increase motivation and learning participation so that it can change the learning paradigm from teacher centered to student centered. Indirectly, this method also succeeded in increasing learning outcomes or achievement as well as student creativity in learning.
Transforming Opacity Verification to Nonblocking Verification in Modular Systems

We consider the verification of current-state and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$</tex-math></inline-formula>-step opacity for systems modeled as interacting nondeterministic finite-state automata. We describe a new methodology for compositional opacity verification that employs abstraction, in the form of a notion called opaque observation equivalence, and that leverages existing compositional nonblocking verification algorithms. The compositional approach is based on a transformation of the system, where the transformed system is nonblocking if and only if the original one is current-state opaque. Furthermore, we prove that <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$</tex-math></inline-formula>-step opacity can also be inferred if the transformed system is nonblocking. We provide experimental results where current-state opacity is verified efficiently for a large scaled-up system.
Frequency, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes of Late-Onset Atrial Flutter in Patients after Heart Transplantation

Aims: Atrial flutter (AFL) is a common late-onset complication after heart transplantation (HTX) and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Methods: This study investigated the frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of late-onset post-transplant AFL. We analyzed 639 adult patients undergoing HTX at the Heidelberg Heart Center between 1989 and 2019. Patients were stratified by diagnosis and type of late-onset post-transplant AFL (>90 days after HTX). Results: A total of 55 patients (8.6%) were diagnosed with late-onset post-transplant AFL, 30 had typical AFL (54.5%) and 25 had atypical AFL (45.5%). Patients with AFL were younger at HTX (p = 0.028), received more biatrial anastomosis (p = 0.001), and presented with moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation (56.4%). Typical AFL was associated with graft rejection (p = 0.016), whereas atypical AFL was associated with coronary artery disease (p = 0.028) and stent implantation (p = 0.042). Patients with atypical AFL showed a higher all-cause 1-year mortality (p = 0.010) along with a higher rate of graft failure after diagnosis of AFL (p = 0.023). Recurrence of AFL was high (83.6%). Patients with catheter ablation after AFL recurrence had a higher 1-year freedom from AFL (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Patients with late-onset post-transplant AFL were younger at HTX, received more biatrial anastomosis, and showed a higher rate of moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation. Typical AFL was associated with graft rejection, whereas atypical AFL was associated with myocardial ischemia, graft failure, and mortality. Catheter ablation represents a viable option to avoid further episodes of late-onset AFL after HTX.
THE INFLUENCE OF ORBITAL ECCENTRICITY ON TIDAL RADII OF STAR CLUSTERS

We have performed N-body simulations of star clusters orbiting in a spherically symmetric smooth galactic potential. The model clusters cover a range of initial half-mass radii and orbital eccentricities in order to test the historical assumption that the tidal radius of a cluster is imposed at perigalacticon. The traditional assumption for globular clusters is that since the internal relaxation time is larger than its orbital period, the cluster is tidally stripped at perigalacticon. Instead, our simulations show that a cluster with an eccentric orbit does not need to fully relax in order to expand. After a perigalactic pass, a cluster recaptures previously unbound stars, and the tidal shock at perigalacticon has the effect of energizing inner region stars to larger orbits. Therefore, instead of the limiting radius being imposed at perigalacticon, it more nearly traces the instantaneous tidal radius of the cluster at any point in the orbit. We present a numerical correction factor to theoretical tidal radii calculated at perigalacticon which takes into consideration both the orbital eccentricity and current orbital phase of the cluster.
Broad-line region structure and kinematics in the radio galaxy 3C 120

Broad emission lines originate in the surroundings of supermassive black holes in the centers of active galactic nuclei (AGN). One method to investigate the extent, structure, and kinematics of the BLR is to study the continuum and line profile variability in AGN. We selected the radio-loud Seyfert 1 galaxy 3C 120 as a target for this study. We took spectra with a high signal-to-noise ratio of 3C 120 with the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope between Sept. 2008 and March 2009. In parallel, we photometrically monitored the continuum flux at the Wise observatory. We analyzed the continuum and line profile variations in detail (1D and 2D reverberation mapping) and modeled the geometry of the line-emitting regions based on the line profiles. We show that the BLR in 3C 120 is stratified with respect to the distance of the line-emitting regions from the center with respect to the line widths (FWHM) of the rms profiles and with respect to the variability amplitude of the emission lines. The emission line wings of H{\alpha} and H{\beta} respond much faster than their central region. This is explained by accretion disk models. In addition, these lines show a stronger response in the red wings. However, the velocity-delay maps of the helium lines show a stronger response in the blue wing. Furthermore, the HeII{\lambda}4686 line responds faster in the blue wing in contradiction to observations made one and a half years later when the galaxy was in a lower state. The faster response in the blue wing is an indication for central outflow motions when this galaxy was in a bright state during our observations. The vertical BLR structure in 3C 120 coincides with that of other AGN. We confirm the general trend: the emission lines of narrow line AGN originate at larger distances from the midplane than AGN with broader emission lines.
The Nexus between Environmentally Sustainable Practices, Green Satisfaction, and Customer Citizenship Behavior in Eco-Friendly Hotels: Social Exchange Theory Perspective

Recently, with increasing customer awareness about environmental issues, guests staying in hotels and potential consumers are more and more concerned about environmentally sustainable practices and their associated consequences. From the hotel industry perspective, empirical studies conducted on the association between customer citizenship behavior (CCB) and environmentally sustainable practices (ESPs) with the existence of green satisfaction (GS) are scarce. Consequently, the primary aim of the current study is to investigate the impact of ESPs on GS and CCB in a sample of five-star eco-friendly hotels in Egypt, as well as exploring the potential mediative role of GS in the relationship between CCB and ESPs. Additionally, we attempt to empirically determine to what extent GS directly impacts CCB. The study suggests a conceptual model for testing four hypothesized relationships between ESPs, GS, and CCB. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrapping was employed for testing our hypotheses. The findings of the study confirmed the significant positive impacts of ESPs on GS and CCB. Further, GS significantly and positively affects CCB. Moreover, GS partially mediates the relationship between CCB and ESPs. Given the study findings, some practical implications for improving GS and boosting CCBs in the green/eco-friendly hotel industry context are suggested.
Projecting Stratocumulus Transitions on the Albedo—Cloud Fraction Relationship Reveals Linearity of Albedo to Droplet Concentrations

Satellite images show solid marine stratocumulus cloud decks (Sc) that break up over the remote oceans. The Sc breakup is initiated by precipitation and is accompanied by a strong reduction in the cloud radiative effect. Aerosol has been shown to delay the Sc breakup by postponing the onset of precipitation, however its climatic effect is uncertain. Here we introduce a new approach that allows us to re‐cast currently observed cloud cover and albedo to their counterfactual cleaner world, enabling the first estimate of the radiative effect due to delayed cloud breakup. Using simple radiative approximation, the radiative forcing with respect to pre‐industrial times due to delayed Sc breakup is −0.39 W m−2. The radiative effect changes nearly linearly with aerosol due to the droplet concentration control on the cloud cover, suggesting a potentially accelerated warming if the current trend of reduction in aerosol emissions continues.
Efficacy of Online-Based Intervention for Anxiety during COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

COVID-19 has caused widespread psychological suffering. Anxiety is one of the several psychological disorders that are escalating globally, yet social distance constraints restrict in-person mental health therapy. Anxiety and other psychological disorders whose treatments are limited due to social distancing continue to grow, so there is an increasing need to use mental healthcare that can be offered remotely, especially in the pandemic era. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of online-based interventions for anxiety during COVID-19. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). We collected data from three databases, namely PubMed, CINAHL, and Oxford Library Press, published in 2020–2022. Additionally, we collected data using the snowball technique. This meta-analysis analyzed the pooled mean difference (MD) and its p-value using random-effects models. Critical appraisal and risk of bias were assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias (Rob) 2. We retrieved 34 RCTs for systematic review and 14 RCTs for meta-analysis, yielding 9159 participants for general anxiety disorder (GAD-7) measurement and 1303 participants for depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) measurement. This study shows that online-based interventions significantly reduce GAD-7 score (a pooled MD of 1.30; 95% CI: 2.83–4.65; p = 0.00001) and insignificantly reduce DASS-21 (0.05; 95% CI: −2.63–2.72; p = 0.97) according to pre- and post-test in intervention group. Additionally, there is a significant difference between the intervention and control groups, where the intervention group performed statistically progressively better than the controls (−7.26; 95% CI: −11.58–−2.95; p = 0.001) (−2.08; 95% CI: −6.71–2.55; p = 0.001). Online-based interventions have proved effective for reducing general anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this meta-analysis can be adapted as a model for mental health services in the new normal.
Simulation of Calcium Dynamics in Realistic Three-Dimensional Domains

The cytosolic concentration of free calcium ions ([Ca2+]) is an important intracellular messenger in most cell types, and the spatial distribution of [Ca2+] is often critical. In a salivary gland acinar cell, a polarised epithelial cell, whose principal function is to transport water and thus secrete saliva, [Ca2+] controls the secretion of primary saliva, but increases in [Ca2+] are localised to the apical regions of the cell. Hence, any quantitative explanation of how [Ca2+] controls saliva secretion must take into careful account the spatial distribution of the various Ca2+ sources, Ca2+ sinks, and Ca2+-sensitive ion channels. Based on optical slices, we have previously constructed anatomically accurate three-dimensional models of seven salivary gland acinar cells, and thus shown that a model in which Ca2+ responses are confined to the apical regions of the cell is sufficient to provide a quantitative and predictive explanation of primary saliva secretion. However, reconstruction of such anatomically accurate cells is extremely time consuming and inefficient. Here, we present an alternative, mostly automated method of constructing three-dimensional cells that are approximately anatomically accurate and show that the new construction preserves the quantitative accuracy of the model.
Reaction of African stocks markets to disequilibrium episodes of the COVID-19 infection: Evidence from the top hit African countries

The continued COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global economy, with countries battling to contain the infection’s spread as it continues to affect nearly every country in the globe. We test for possible explosive behavior (excessive disequilibrium) in COVID-19 infection in the top African impacted economies, given the sensitivity and fragility of stock markets to shocks. The study identifies two (2) separate explosive occurrences in Algeria and Egypt using the Generalized Sup Augmented DickeyFuller (GSADF) test. Furthermore, the study examines the influence of the COVID-19 infection’s explosive behavior on the stock markets of the countries, taking into consideration the disequilibrium occurrences. The COVID-19 infection’s explosive behavior had a negative but insignificant effect on stock returns, leading to an increase in riskiness. This outcome could be explained by the fact that the explosive incidents were transitory and could only have had a momentary impact on stock market returns absorbable overtime. More so, it suggests that investors may have adjusted to the shock of the COVID-19 infection prior to the two explosive occurrences, and that the development of the COVID-19 vaccine reassures for a near halt to the pandemic.
Development of an mHealth Platform for Adolescent Obesity Prevention: User-Centered Design Approach

Obesity is a chronic condition that influences the quality of life of patients and families while increasing the economic burden for the world population. Multidisciplinary prevention programs are crucial to address it, allowing an early introduction of healthy behaviors into daily habits. Mobile health interventions provide adequate support for these programs, especially considering the gamification techniques used to promote users’ engagement. TeenPower is a multidisciplinary mHealth intervention program conducted in Portugal during 2018 to empower adolescents, promoting healthy behaviors while preventing obesity. An agile software development process was applied to the development of the digital platform that holds a web-based application and a mobile application. We also propose a model for future developments based on the user-centered design approach adopted for this development and the assessment conducted in each phase. The user-centered design approach model proposed has three distinct phases: (1) design study; (2) pre-production usability tests; and (3) post-production data. Phase 1 allowed us to obtain the high-fidelity version of the graphical user interfaces (n = 5). Phase 2 showed a task completion success rate of 100% (n = 5). Phase 3 was derived from statistical analysis of the usage of the platform by real end users (n = 90). We achieved an average retention rate of 35% (31 out of 90 participants). Each technique has provided input for the continuous design and improvement of the platform. This allowed the creation of a tailored platform that could meet users’ expectations. Nevertheless, the retention rate decreased significantly over a short period of time, revealing the need for further work in the improvement of the gamification experience.
Direct Sparse Mapping

Photometric bundle adjustment (PBA) accurately estimates geometry from video. However, current PBA systems have a temporary map that cannot manage scene reobservations. We present, direct sparse mapping, a full monocular visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) based on PBA. Its persistent map handles reobservations, yielding the most accurate results up to date on EuRoC for a direct method.
Exact Rate-Distortion in Autoencoders via Echo Noise

Compression is at the heart of effective representation learning. However, lossy compression is typically achieved through simple parametric models like Gaussian noise to preserve analytic tractability, and the limitations this imposes on learning are largely unexplored. Further, the Gaussian prior assumptions in models such as variational autoencoders (VAEs) provide only an upper bound on the compression rate in general. We introduce a new noise channel, \emph{Echo noise}, that admits a simple, exact expression for mutual information for arbitrary input distributions. The noise is constructed in a data-driven fashion that does not require restrictive distributional assumptions. With its complex encoding mechanism and exact rate regularization, Echo leads to improved bounds on log-likelihood and dominates $\beta$-VAEs across the achievable range of rate-distortion trade-offs. Further, we show that Echo noise can outperform flow-based methods without the need to train additional distributional transformations.
PARALLEL AUXILIARY SPACE AMG FOR H(curl) PROBLEMS

In this paper we review a number of auxiliary space based preconditioners for the second order deflnite and semi-deflnite Maxwell problems discretized with the lowest order Nedelec flnite elements. We discuss the parallel implementation of the most promising of these methods, the ones derived from the recent Hiptmair-Xu (HX) auxiliary space decomposition (Hiptmair and Xu, SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 45 (2007), pp. 2483-2509). An extensive set of numerical experiments demonstrate the scalability of our implementation on large-scale H(curl) problems.