Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BOSS: Bottom-up Cross-modal Semantic Composition with Hybrid Counterfactual Training for Robust Content-based Image Retrieval

—Content-Based Image Retrieval (CIR) aims to search for a target image by concurrently comprehending the composition of an example image and a complementary text, which potentially impacts a wide variety of real-world applications, such as internet search and fashion retrieval. In this scenario, the input image serves as an intuitive context and background for the search, while the corresponding language expressly requests new traits on how speciﬁc characteristics of the query image should be modiﬁed in order to get the intended target image. This task is challenging since it necessitates learning and understanding the composite image-text representation by incorporating cross-granular semantic updates. In this paper, we tackle this task by a novel Bottom-up crOss-modal Semantic compoSition (BOSS) with Hybrid Counterfactual Training framework, which sheds new light on the CIR task by studying it from two previously overlooked perspectives: implicitly bottom-up composition of visiolinguistic representation and explicitly ﬁne-grained correspondence of query-target construction . On the one hand, we leverage the implicit interaction and composition of cross- modal embeddings from the bottom local characteristics to the top global semantics, preserving and transforming the visual representation conditioned on language semantics in several continuous steps for effective target image search. On the other hand, we devise a hybrid counterfactual training strategy that can reduce the model’s ambiguity for similar queries. This strategy resorts to the ﬁne-grained correspondence construction of composed query and target image by providing extra explicit context-preserving and content-independent supervised signals. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we conducted extensive experimental studies to show that our architecture BOSS outperforms existing techniques by achieving SOTA per- formance on two benchmark datasets.
Learning Causal Effects on Hypergraphs

Hypergraphs provide an effective abstraction for modeling multi-way group interactions among nodes, where each hyperedge can connect any number of nodes. Different from most existing studies which leverage statistical dependencies, we study hypergraphs from the perspective of causality. Specifically, in this paper, we focus on the problem of individual treatment effect (ITE) estimation on hypergraphs, aiming to estimate how much an intervention (e.g., wearing face covering) would causally affect an outcome (e.g., COVID-19 infection) of each individual node. Existing works on ITE estimation either assume that the outcome on one individual should not be influenced by the treatment assignments on other individuals (i.e., no interference), or assume the interference only exists between pairs of connected individuals in an ordinary graph. We argue that these assumptions can be unrealistic on real-world hypergraphs, where higher-order interference can affect the ultimate ITE estimations due to the presence of group interactions. In this work, we investigate high-order interference modeling, and propose a new causality learning framework powered by hypergraph neural networks. Extensive experiments on real-world hypergraphs verify the superiority of our framework over existing baselines.
Optimal policies for Bayesian olfactory search in turbulent flows

In many practical scenarios, a flying insect must search for the source of an emitted cue which is advected by the atmospheric wind. On the macroscopic scales of interest, turbulence tends to mix the cue into patches of relatively high concentration over a background of very low concentration, so that the insect will detect the cue only intermittently and cannot rely on chemotactic strategies which simply climb the concentration gradient. In this work we cast this search problem in the language of a partially observable Markov decision process and use the Perseus algorithm to compute strategies that are near-optimal with respect to the arrival time. We test the computed strategies on a large two-dimensional grid, present the resulting trajectories and arrival time statistics, and compare these to the corresponding results for several heuristic strategies, including (space-aware) infotaxis, Thompson sampling, and QMDP. We find that the near-optimal policy found by our implementation of Perseus outperforms all heuristics we test by several measures. We use the near-optimal policy to study how the search difficulty depends on the starting location. We also discuss the choice of initial belief and the robustness of the policies to changes in the environment. Finally, we present a detailed and pedagogical discussion about the implementation of the Perseus algorithm, including the benefits-and pitfalls-of employing a reward-shaping function.
Scaling the Number of Tasks in Continual Learning

Standard gradient descent algorithms applied to sequences of tasks are known to produce catastrophic forgetting in deep neural networks. When trained on a new task in a sequence, the model updates its parameters on the current task, forgetting past knowledge. This article explores scenarios where we scale the number of tasks in a ﬁnite environment. Those scenarios are composed of a long sequence of tasks with reoccurring data. We show that in such setting, stochastic gradient descent can learn, progress, and converge to a solution that according to existing literature needs a continual learning algorithm. In other words, we show that the model performs knowledge retention and accumulation without speciﬁc memorization mechanisms . We propose a new experimentation framework, SCoLe (Scaling Continual Learning), to study the knowledge retention and accumulation of algorithms in potentially inﬁnite sequences of tasks. To explore this setting, we performed a large number of experiments on sequences of 1,000 tasks to better understand this new family of settings. We also propose a slight modiﬁcations to the vanilla stochastic gradient descent to facilitate continual learning in this setting. The SCoLe framework represents a good simulation of practical training environments with reoccurring situations and allows the study of convergence behavior in long sequences. Our experiments show that previous results on short scenarios cannot always be extrapolated to longer scenarios.
HST Strong-lensing Model for the First JWST Galaxy Cluster SMACS J0723.3−7327

On 2022 July 8, NASA shared (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasa-shares-list-of-cosmic-targets-for-webb-telescope-s-first-images) the list of five public showcase targets that have been observed with the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and whose data—at the time of writing—are expected to be released to the public around Tuesday, July 12. One of these targets is the galaxy cluster SMACS J0723.3−7327 (z = 0.39), which acts as a gravitational lens and was recently imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in the framework of the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS). To facilitate studies by the community with the upcoming JWST data, we publish here a strong-lensing model for SMACS J0723.3−7327—including mass density and magnification maps. We identify five multiple-image families in the HST imaging. For three of them, system membership and redshift are secured by public spectroscopic data. For the remaining two systems, we rely on robust photometric redshift estimates. We use the Light-Traces-Mass lens modeling method, which complements the parametric models already available in the RELICS repository and elsewhere and thus helps span a representative range of solutions. The new model published here can be accessed on the RELICS website at MAST. It will be interesting to examine which properties of the mass models change and improve, and by how much, when the JWST data are incorporated.
Going the Extra Mile in Face Image Quality Assessment: A Novel Database and Model

An accurate computational model for image quality assessment (IQA) benefits many vision applications, such as image filtering, image processing, and image generation. Although the study of face images is an important subfield in computer vision research, the lack of face IQA data and models limits the precision of current IQA metrics on face image processing tasks such as face superresolution, face enhancement, and face editing. To narrow this gap, in this article, we first introduce the largest annotated IQA database developed to date, which contains 20,000 human faces – an order of magnitude larger than all existing rated datasets of faces – of diverse individuals in highly varied circumstances. Based on the database, we further propose a novel deep learning model to accurately predict face image quality, which, for the first time, explores the use of generative priors for IQA. By taking advantage of rich statistics encoded in well pretrained off-the-shelf generative models, we obtain generative prior information and use it as latent references to facilitate blind IQA. The experimental results demonstrate both the value of the proposed dataset for face IQA and the superior performance of the proposed model.
(2018). Beyond Liberalism: Marxist Feminism, Migrant Sex Work, and Labour Unfreedom. Feminist Legal Studies , 26 (1), 65-92.

In this article, I use a Marxist feminist methodology to map the organisation of migrant sex workers’ socially reproductive paid and unpaid labour in one city and country of arrival, London, UK. I argue that unfree and ‘free’ (sexual) labour exists on a continuum of capitalist relations of ( re )production, which are gendered, racialised, and legal . It is within these relations that various actors implement, and migrant sex workers contest, unfree labour practices not limited to the most extreme forms. My analysis reveals that many migrant sex workers have very limited ‘freedom’. This is in stark contrast to the classical liberal claim of sex worker rights activists and academics that the vast majority of migrant sex workers are free, and therefore not coerced, exploited or trafficked. I then consider whether the emerging labour approach to trafficking could help achieve ‘freedom’ for migrant sex workers. Advocates argue that anti-trafficking efforts must, and can, be refocused on extending minimum labour and social protections to all vulnerable workers. I argue that this approach is disconnected from material interests and history. Rather, migrant sex workers, sex worker rights activists, and all migrant and citizen workers and activists globally must collectively organise against ‘labour unfreedom’ and hence for meaningful control over their labour and lives. Thirteen semi-structured interviews conducted with members of the xtalk collective; Feminist Fightback; General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied International Union of Sex Workers Sex Worker Open University (SWOU); and English Collective of Prostitutes and two interviews with sex worker rights sup- porters from the UK Network of Sex Work Projects. The interviews aimed to explore three themes: the type of rights and freedoms sought; political positions on engaging the state and the law; and the rela- tionship between feminism/s and sex worker rights activism.
Optimization of Burnable Poison Loading for HTGR Cores with OTTO Refueling

Abstract A burnable poison (BP) loading principle has been proposed for once-through-then-out refueling of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) core with pebble fuel. The principle holds that an axial core power peaking factor can be minimized when k∞ of the fuel pebbles is kept constant during their axial movement from the top to the bottom of the core by adding BP. This principle has been confirmed numerically using B4C with 10B enrichment of 90% and Gd2O3 with natural content as BP. Spherical particles of B4C and Gd2O3 are distributed uniformly in the fuel pebble. The respective optimal radius and number of BP particles are 90 μm and 1650 for B4C and 950 μm and 16 for Gd2O3. Through addition of B4C and Gd2O3, the power peaking factors are reduced from 4.4 to 1.61 and 1.64, respectively. Burnup reactivity swings are reduced from 38% to about 2% in both BP loadings. Because of reduction of the power peaking factors, the maximum fuel temperatures are respectively lower than the maximum permissible values of 1250 and 1600°C for normal operation and depressurization accident.
Challenges in the rural family doctor system in Iran in 2013–14: a qualitative approach

Background. Family doctor is a medical specialization that provides families and people of all ages, genders and diseases with comprehensive ongoing health services. Objective. The present study wasconducted to describe challenges in the rural family physician program from the perspective of family physician program directors and family doctors in Iran using a qualitative approach. Methods. We conducted interviews with 13 family physician program directors and 8 family doctors selected through purposive snowball sampling. The initial in-depth unstructured interviews were reviewed and transformed into semi-structured ones. The data obtained were analyzed in ATLAS. ti using the conceptual framework method. Results. Nine main concepts (comprehensive planning, medical insurance system, compensation for services, performance evaluation, welfare facilities, recruiting and retaining a workforce, information system, culture-building and financing) and 27 subgroups emerged from the analysis of the data. in the family physician program include cultural, economic and environmental factors and work conditions. The implementation of this program can be improved through building a community culture and exercising minor and major modifications.
High voltage pulsed stimulation increases cicatrization of chronic cutaneous ulcers: analysis of six cases

Correspondence to: Maísa Soares Gui – Avenida Limeira, 901 – Caixa Postal 52 – CEP: 13414-903 – Piracicaba (SP), Brazil – E-mail: maisa_gui@yahoo.com. br Presentation: dec. 2012 – Accepted for publication: aug. 2013 – Financing source: none – Conflict of interests: nothing to declare – Presentation at a scientific event: II Congresso Brasileiro de Fisioterapia (Intercobraf) – Approval at the Ethics Committee n. 08-3/019. AbstrAct | The treatment of cutaneous ulcers by electrical stimulation in clinical practice has grown, however there are few studies investigating the effectiveness of these individual resources in monitoring and complete healing of the lesions. Thus, High Voltage Pulsed Stimulation (HVPS) was used in chronic skin ulcers with the aim of reduce the area of the lesion. Four male subjects with chronic cutaneous ulcers participated in the study. The treatment of the injury consisted on HVPS application (15 microseconds, 100/150 V, 100 Hz) for 30 minutes, 2 times weekly. The electrode with negative polarity was placed on the lesion and positive on vascular path. The ulcers were assessed pre and post-intervention by photogrammetry, and it was calculated the area of the lesion. As a result, we observed the complete healing in the subjects I and II (respectively, area of 4.66 cm to 0 after 21 sessions and 1.74 cm to 0 after 16 sessions). The area of subject III right ulcer obtained reduction of 93% after 100° session (2.02 to 0.14 cm2) and left ulcer obtained reduction of 80.40% (2.50 to 0.49 cm2). In subject IV there was a complete healing of the sacral lesion after 75 sessions (10.74 cm2 to 0) and decrease sciatic lesion of 11.01 to 2.43 cm2. Thus we conclude that HVPS facilitated the healing process of stimulated ulcers because the areas of all ulcers had decreased more than 78%, and in three of them there was complete healing.
Ecological Study on COVID-19: associations between the early exponential growth rate and historical environmental and socio-economic factors in 96 countries using GAM (Generalized Additive models)

associations between the early exponential growth rate and historical environmental and socio-economic in Additive Abstract : SRAS-CoV-2 virus provoked a major pandemic. Some environmental parameters can influence the transmission of respiratory viruses, creating seasonal effects. Emerging viruses have a different behaviour since population immunity does not exist. Few studies looked at the determinants of the COVID-19 spread. This study investigates the link between historical socio-economic, environmental and health indicators and the transmission of COVID19 in 96 countries using Generalized Additive Models. Our results indicated that the exponential early growth rate calculated on a period of seven days since the 100 th case in each country is significantly and positively associated with the number of air passengers carried (p<0.0001). This spread was also associated with historical winter temperatures (p=0.02), the Universal Health Coverage Index (p=0.006) from World health Organization, GDP per capita (p=0.03) and the prevalence of overweight (=0.004) and undernourishment (p=0.09). In the sensitivity analysis, these results remained similar for a period of 14 days and with a growth rate since the 50 th case. In conclusion, environmental effects on COVID-19 early transmission
University of Birmingham Measurement of CP observables in B ± D ( ) K ± and B ± D ( ) ± decays Aaij

Citation for published version (Harvard): Aaij, R, Adeva, B, Adinolfi, M, Ajaltouni, Z, Akar, S, Albrecht, J, Alessio, F, Alexander, M, Alfonso Albero, A, Ali, S, Alkhazov, G, Alvarez Cartelle, P, Alves, AA, Amato, S, Amerio, S, Amhis, Y, An, L, Anderlini, L, Andreassi, G, Andreotti, M, Andrews, JE, Appleby, RB, Archilli, F, d'Argent, P, Arnau Romeu, J, Artamonov, A, Artuso, M, Aslanides, E, Auriemma, G, Baalouch, M, Babuschkin, I, Bachmann, S, Back, JJ, Badalov, A, Baesso, C, Baker, S, Balagura, V, Baldini, W, Baranov, A, Bifani, S, Calladine, R, Chatzikonstantinidis, G, Farley, N, Lazzeroni, C, Mazurov, A, Sergi, A, Watson, NK, Williams, MP, Williams, T, Zarebski, KA & LHCb Collaboration 2018, 'Measurement of CP observables in B ± D () K ± and B ± D ()± decays', Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics, vol. 777, pp. 16-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb. 2017.11. 070
Genetic Correlation and Path-Coefficient Analysis of Oil Yield and its Components in Castor

: Relationship between castor oil yield and seven agronomic characters were studied in 28 selected castor genotypes. Results indicated that the genotypic correlations generally showed more significant differences between the pairs of characters than the phenotypic correlations. 100-seed weight showed significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations with oil yield per plant. The path analysis also revealed that 100-seed weight had a positive highly significant correlation with as well as a high direct effect on oil yield per plant. Apart from this, 100-seed weight also influenced the effects of other characters indirectly on their effects on oil yield per plant thus suggesting that 100-seed weight is undoubtedly the most reliable character to select for in castor oil yield improvement to improve oil yield of castor populations.
University of Birmingham A dichotomy of sets via typical differentiability

We obtain a criterion for an analytic subset of a Euclidean space to contain points of diﬀerentiability of a typical Lipschitz function: namely, that it cannot be covered by countably many sets, each of which is closed and purely unrectiﬁable (has a zero-length intersection with every 𝐶 1 curve). Surprisingly, we establish that any set failing this criterion witnesses the opposite extreme of typical behaviour: in any such coverable set, a typical Lipschitz function is everywhere severely non-diﬀerentiable.
Clinical Profile of Acute Myocardial Infarction in elderly

Background: The clinical picture of Myocardial Infarction (MI) in elderly patients differs in many aspects as compared to younger/middle age patients. Hence the present study was undertaken to know and compare risk factors, clinical features, complication and outcome of middle age (35-60yr) to elderly (>60yr) patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: This study enrolled total 100 cases of AMI of which 50 cases belonged to group I (age 35-60yr) and 50 cases belonged to group II (age >60 years). AMI was diagnosed using World health organization (WHO) MONICA criteria. Patients were analyzed on the basis of risk factors, clinical presentation, complication and outcome. Results: Male to female ratio was 2.8:1 in group I and 1.7:1 in group II indicating occurrence of MI was common in elderly male. The elderly (>60yrs) were more likely to have atypical presentations (44%) while middle age patients have Typical chest pain, (62%). Dyspnoea was common in elderly person (56%). Hypertension, Dyslipidemias, Diabetes mellitus, smoking, alcohol addiction, obesity and family history of coronary artery disease were the observed risk factors in group I (35-60yrs), more in males. Anterior wall MI (36 patients) was commonest followed by inferior wall MI (23 patients) and anteroseptal wall MI (20 patients). The complications like cardiac failure, arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, reinfarction were commonly seen in group II (>60y) during hospital stay. Mortality was higher in >60 year patients (32%), especially in males (62.5%). Conclusion: The manifestations of AMI are more subtle in the elderly, with different risk factors. The elderly subjects are under thrombolysed and have higher complication and mortality rate.
The long-term memory benefits of a daytime nap compared with cramming James

Study Objectives: Daytime naps benefit long-term memory relative to taking a break and remaining awake. However, the use of naps as a practical way to improve learning has not been examined, in particular, how memory following a nap compares with spending the equivalent amount of time cramming. Methods: Young adults learned detailed factual knowledge in sessions that flanked 1 hr spent napping (n = 27), taking a break (n = 27), or cramming that information (n = 30). Recall was examined 30 min and 1 week after learning. Results: When tested 30 min after learning, cramming and napping led to significantly better memory than taking a break. After a week, napping maintained this significant advantage, but cramming did not. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the longer-term benefits of napping for retention of memoranda akin to what students encounter daily and encourage more widespread adoption of napping in education.
Expected performance of the ATLAS detector under diﬀerent High-Luminosity LHC conditions

A major upgrade of the LHC is planned to be completed by 2027, resulting in the so-called High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) operating at a target luminosity of 5 × 10 34 cm − 2 s − 1 , with a possibility to reach an ultimate peak luminosity of up to 7 . 5 × 10 34 cm − 2 s − 1 . This corresponds to an average of 140 to 200 proton–proton collisions per bunch crossing. To help the HL-LHC experiments separate particles coming from the diﬀerent collisions in a single crossing, the HL-LHC can manipulate the beams in various ways to change the density of these collisions in the spatial dimensions, at the expense of potential performance degradation and ﬁnancial costs. This note documents studies of the performance of the object-level reconstruction and identiﬁcation with the ATLAS detector at HL-LHC as a function of the number of collisions per bunch crossing and their density.