Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthetic observations of spiral arm tracers of a simulated Milky Way analog

Context. The Faraday rotation measure (RM) is often used to study the magnetic field strength and orientation within the ionized medium of the Milky Way. Recent observations indicate an RM magnitude in the spiral arms that exceeds the commonly assumed range. This raises the question of how and under what conditions spiral arms create such strong Faraday rotation. Aims. We investigate the effect of spiral arms on Galactic Faraday rotation through shock compression of the interstellar medium. It has recently been suggested that the Sagittarius spiral arm creates a strong peak in Faraday rotation where the line of sight is tangent to the arm, and that enhanced Faraday rotation follows along side lines which intersect the arm. Here our aim is to understand the physical conditions that may give rise to this effect and the role of viewing geometry. Methods. We apply a magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the multi-phase interstellar medium in a Milky Way-type spiral galaxy disk in combination with radiative transfer in order to evaluate different tracers of spiral arm structures. For observers embedded in the disk, dust intensity, synchrotron emission, and the kinematics of molecular gas observations are derived to identify which spiral arm tangents are observable. Faraday rotation measures are calculated through the disk and evaluated in the context of different observer positions. The observer’s perspectives are related to the parameters of the local bubbles surrounding the observer and their contribution to the total Faraday rotation measure along the line of sight. Results. We reproduce a scattering of tangent points for the different tracers of about 6° per spiral arm similar to the Milky Way. For the RM, the model shows that compression of the interstellar medium and associated amplification of the magnetic field in spiral arms enhances Faraday rotation by a few hundred rad m−2 in addition to the mean contribution of the disk. The arm–interarm contrast in Faraday rotation per unit distance along the line of sight is approximately ~10 in the inner Galaxy, fading to ~2 in the outer Galaxy in tandem with the waning contrast of other tracers of spiral arms. We identify a shark fin pattern in the RM Milky Way observations and in the synthetic data that is characteristic for a galaxy with spiral arms.
Orbital misalignment of the super-Earth π Men c with the spin of its star

Planet–planet scattering events can leave an observable trace of a planet’s migration history in the form of orbital misalignment with respect to the stellar spin axis, which is measurable from spectroscopic time-series taken during transit. We present high-resolution spectroscopic transits observed with ESPRESSO of the close-in super-Earth π Men c. The system also contains an outer giant planet on a wide, eccentric orbit, recently found to be inclined with respect to the inner planetary orbit. These characteristics are reminiscent of past dynamical interactions. We successfully retrieve the planet-occulted light during transit, and find evidence that the orbit of π Men c is moderately misaligned with the stellar spin axis with λ = − 24${_{. }^{\circ}}$0 ± 4${_{. }^{\circ}}$1 ($\psi = {26{_{.}^{\circ}} 9}^{+5{_{.}^{\circ}}8 }_{-4{_{.}^{\circ}}7 }$). This is consistent with the super-Earth π Men c having followed a high-eccentricity migration followed by tidal circularization, and hints that super-Earths can form at large distances from their star. We also detect clear signatures of solar-like oscillations within our ESPRESSO radial velocity time series, where we reach a radial velocity precision of ∼20 cm s−1. We model the oscillations using Gaussian processes (GPs) and retrieve a frequency of maximum oscillation, $\nu _\mathrm{max}{} = 2771^{+65}_{-60}\, \mu \mathrm{Hz}$. These oscillations make it challenging to detect the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect using traditional methods. We are, however, successful using the reloaded Rossiter–McLaughlin approach. Finally, in the appendix, we also present physical parameters and ephemerides for π Men c from a GP transit analysis of the full Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Cycle 1 data.
Better Early than Late: Fusing Topics with Word Embeddings for Neural Question Paraphrase Identification

Question paraphrase identification is a key task in Community Question Answering (CQA) to determine if an incoming question has been previously asked. Many current models use word embeddings to identify duplicate questions, but the use of topic models in feature-engineered systems suggests that they can be helpful for this task, too. We therefore propose two ways of merging topics with word embeddings (early vs. late fusion) in a new neural architecture for question paraphrase identification. Our results show that our system outperforms neural baselines on multiple CQA datasets, while an ablation study highlights the importance of topics and especially early topic-embedding fusion in our architecture.
Fractional edge reconstruction in integer quantum Hall phases

Protected edge modes are the cornerstone of topological states of matter. The simplest example is provided by the integer quantum Hall state at Landau level filling unity, which should feature a single chiral mode carrying electronic excitations. In the presence of a smooth confining potential it was hitherto believed that this picture may only be partially modified by the appearance of additional counter-propagating integer-charge modes. Here we demonstrate the breakdown of this paradigm: the system favors the formation of edge modes supporting fractional excitations. This accounts for previously unexplained observations, and leads to new predictions amenable to experimental tests.
Leveraging Synthetic Subject Invariant EEG Signals for Zero Calibration BCI

Recently, substantial progress has been made in the area of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) using modern machine learning techniques to decode and interpret brain signals. While Electroencephalography (EEG) has provided a non-invasive method of interfacing with a human brain, the acquired data is often heavily subject and session dependent. This makes the seamless incorporation of such data into realworld applications intractable as the subject and session data variance can lead to long and tedious calibration requirements and cross-subject generalisation issues. Focusing on a Steady State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) classification systems, we propose a novel means of generating highly-realistic synthetic EEG data invariant to any subject, session or other environmental conditions. Our approach, entitled the Subject Invariant SSVEP Generative Adversarial Network (SIS-GAN), produces synthetic EEG data from multiple SSVEP classes using a single network. Additionally, by taking advantage of a fixed-weight pre-trained subject classification network, we ensure that our generative model remains agnostic to subject-specific features and thus produces subject-invariant data that can be applied to new previously unseen subjects. Our extensive experimental evaluation demonstrates the efficacy of our synthetic data, leading to superior performance, with improvements of up to 16 percentage points in zero-calibration classification tasks when trained using our subject-invariant synthetic EEG signals.
Accelerating solitons

We present the saddle-point approximation for the effective Hamiltonian of the quantum kink in two-dimensional linear sigma models to all orders in the time-derivative expansion. We show how the effective Hamiltonian can be used to obtain semiclassical soliton form factors, valid at momentum transfers of order the soliton mass. Explicit results, however, hinge on finding an explicit solution to a new wave-like partial differential equation, with a time-dependent velocity and a forcing term that depend on the solution. In the limit of small momentum transfer, the effective Hamiltonian reduces to the expected form, namely H = (P^2 + M^2)^(1/2), where M is the one-loop corrected soliton mass, and soliton form factors are given in terms of Fourier transforms of the corresponding classical profiles.
(
g−2
) anomalies and neutrino mass

Motivated by the experimentally observed deviations from standard model predictions, we calculate the anomalous magnetic moments $a_\alpha = (g-2)_\alpha$ for $\alpha=e,\mu$ in a neutrino mass model originally proposed by Babu-Nandi-Tavartkiladze (BNT). We discuss two variants of the model, the original model plus a minimally extended version with an additional hypercharge zero triplet scalar. While the original BNT model can explain $a_\mu$, only the variant with the triplet scalar can explain both experimental anomalies. The heavy fermions of the model can be produced at the high-luminosity LHC and in the part of parameter space, where the model explains the experimental anomalies, it predicts certain specific decay patterns for the exotic fermions.
Generative Modeling by Inclusive Neural Random Fields with Applications in Image Generation and Anomaly Detection

Neural random fields (NRFs), referring to a class of generative models that use neural networks to implement potential functions in random fields (a.k.a. energy-based models), are not new but receive less attention with slow progress. Different from various directed graphical models such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), NRFs provide an interesting family of undirected graphical models for generative modeling. In this paper we propose a new approach, the inclusive-NRF approach, to learning NRFs for continuous data (e.g. images), by introducing inclusive-divergence minimized auxiliary generators and developing stochastic gradient sampling in an augmented space. Based on the new approach, specific inclusive-NRF models are developed and thoroughly evaluated in two important generative modeling applications - image generation and anomaly detection. The proposed models consistently improve over state-of-the-art results in both applications. Remarkably, in addition to superior sample generation, one additional benefit of our inclusive-NRF approach is that, unlike GANs, it can directly provide (unnormalized) density estimate for sample evaluation. With these contributions and results, this paper significantly advances the learning and applications of NRFs to a new level, both theoretically and empirically, which have never been obtained before.
Adhesion of bovine and goat salivary proteins to dental enamel and silicate (short communication)

proteins may help to prevent enamel abrasion and adverse chemical effects on teeth of herbivorous mammals. To detect potential candidates for protecting proteins, bovine and goat whole saliva were incubated with dental enamel and glass powder. Salivary proteins, bound to dental enamel and glass, were analysed by SDS-PAGE. Two distinct salivary proteins were found to adhere to bovine enamel and were identified by MS/MS mass spectrometry and protein sequencing. Both the bovine odorant-binding protein (bOBP) and the carbonic anhydrase VI (CA-VI) were components of the protein layers. The bovine CA-VI adherent to teeth may serve as a pH-regulator to protect bovine enamel from bacterial acids. The bOBP may bind odorant particles right in the oral cavity and enhance their transmission to the vomeronasal organ (VNO), the signals of which are important determinants in sexual behaviour of mammals. Another protein from bovine and goat saliva seemed to preferentially bind to glass beads. These results suggest that salivary proteins may support olfaction and protect teeth of ruminants from mechanical and chemical destruction.
Reduced genetic diversity in the parental population decreases offspring quality in an invasive grass1

Abstract Prolific production of offspring is generally characteristic of invasive plant species. However, Allee effects and other population-level processes may constrain reproductive success. This study identified variation in seed quality resulting from different genetic diversity levels in parental populations of an invasive grass. Using the outcrossing and wind-pollinated annual grass Lolium multiflorum, experimental populations were created with independently varying size and genetic diversity. Seeds from parental populations with lower diversity germinated and emerged from the soil at significantly lower rates than seeds from populations with the highest diversity. This effect was not detected in later-occurring fitness components such as flower production per planted seed. Reductions in seed germination and seedling numbers can affect future generations by reducing the size and/or genetic diversity of the resulting populations. The reduced offspring quality seen here suggests that fecundity and invasiveness vary not only among invasive species or potential invasive species, but also among populations of the same invasive species and highlights an advantage of genetic diversity within invasions.
The applicability of a seed ecological database (SEED) in botanical research

Abstract This is the first report on the SEed Ecological Database (SEED) being developed under the co-ordination of the author. In its first version the database will cover physical characteristics of seeds, such as: slenderness (length/width), flatness (thickness/width) and thousand-seed weight. The list of species encompasses all seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) native or naturalized in Hungary (about 2450 species). Two examples to demonstrate the power of SEED are included. The significantly lower slenderness values of Hungarian C4 grasses (compared with C3 types), shown in the first example, is a new contribution to understanding the ecology of C4 grasses. In the second example heavier seed weights of shade plants are statistically demonstrated, compared to their heliophilous congeners with the same life forms. The 113 congeneric species pairs considered are derived from a wide range of plant families.
Quasiconformal Gauss maps and the Bernstein problem for Weingarten multigraphs

Abstract:We prove that any complete, uniformly elliptic Weingarten surface in Euclidean $3$-space whose Gauss map image omits an open hemisphere is a cylinder or a plane. This generalizes a classical theorem by Hoffman, Osserman and Schoen for constant mean curvature surfaces. In particular, this proves that planes are the only complete, uniformly elliptic Weingarten multigraphs. We also show that this result holds for a large class of non-uniformly elliptic Weingarten equations. In particular, this solves in the affirmative the Bernstein problem for entire graphs for that class of elliptic equations. To obtain these results, we prove that planes are the only complete multigraphs with quasiconformal Gauss map and bounded second fundamental form.
Rendimento quântico e trocas gasosas em maracujazeiro amarelo sob salinidade hídrica, biofertilização e cobertura morta

Um experimento foi conduzido a ceu aberto no municipio de Remigio, PB, para se avaliar as respostas do maracujazeiro amarelo relacionadas a eficiencia fotossintetica e trocas gasosas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 2, referente a irrigacao com agua nao salina (0,5 dS m-1) e salina (4,5 dS m-1), sem e com biofertilizante bovino, sem e com cobertura morta, com tres repeticoes e tres plantas por parcela, em recipientes plasticos circulares utilizados como lisimetros de pressao, com 130 dm3 de volume e drenos na parte inferior para a lixiviacao do excesso de sais. A irrigacao com agua de baixa salinidade e aplicacao de biofertilizante bovino comum estimularam a eficiencia fotossintetica das plantas. O uso simultâneo de agua de alta salinidade, biofertilizante e cobertura morta reduziram a condutância estomatica do maracujazeiro amarelo. As plantas sob estresse salino apresentaram atividade fotoquimica do fotossistema II e fotossintese liquida inibida.
Growth of Poinsettias, Nutrient Leaching, and Water-use Efficiency Respond to Irrigation Methods

Gutbier V-14 Glory' poinsettias ( Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. Ex. Klotzsch) grown with ebb-and-flow irrigation used the least amount of water and produced the least runoff, and plants grown with capillary mats used the greatest amount of water and produced the most runoff, compared to microtube and hand-watering systems. The maximum amount of water retained by the pots and media was greatest for the microtube and ebb-and-flow systems and became progressively lower for the hand-watering and capillary mat systems. The media and leachate electrical conductivity from plants grown with subirrigation systems was higher than those grown with top irrigation. For the two top-irrigation systems (microtube and hand-watering), plants grown with 250 mg N/liter from a 20N-4.4P-16.6K water-soluble fertilizer had greater leaf, stem, and total dry weights than those grown with 175 mg N/liter. The two subirrigation systems (ebb-and- flow and capillary mat) produced plants that were taller and had greater leaf, stem, and total dry weights when grown with 175 than with 250 mg N/liter. The higher fertilizer concentration led to increased N, P, Fe, and Mn concentration in the foliage. Nitrogen concentration was higher in top-irrigated plants than in subirrigated plants. The ebb-and- flow system produced the greatest total dry weight per liter of water applied and per liter of runoff; capillary mat watering was the least efficient in regard to water applied and runoff.
Flybys, Orbits, Splashback: Subhalos and the Importance of the Halo Boundary

The classification of dark matter halos as isolated hosts or subhalos is critical for our understanding of structure formation and the galaxy–halo connection. Most commonly, subhalos are defined to reside inside a spherical overdensity boundary such as the virial radius. The resulting host–subhalo relations depend sensitively on the somewhat arbitrary overdensity threshold, but the impact of this dependence is rarely quantified. The recently proposed splashback radius tends to be larger and to include more subhalos than even the largest spherical overdensity boundaries. We systematically investigate the dependence of the subhalo fraction on the radius definition and show that it can vary by factors of unity between different spherical overdensity definitions. Using splashback radii can yet double the abundance of subhalos compared to the virial definition. We also quantify the abundance of flyby (or backsplash) halos, hosts that used to be subhalos in the past. We show that the majority of these objects are mislabeled satellites that are naturally classified as subhalos when we use the splashback radius. We show that the subhalo fraction can be understood as a universal function of only peak height and the slope of the linear power spectrum. We provide a simple fitting function that captures our simulation results to 20% accuracy across a wide range of halo masses, redshifts, and cosmologies. Finally, we demonstrate that splashback radii significantly change our understanding of satellite and flyby galaxies in the Local Group.
Molecular analysis of Oenococcus oeni population dynamics and the effect of aeration and temperature during alcoholic fermentation on malolactic fermentation

Summary The effects of aeration and temperature during alcoholic fermentation (AF) on spontaneous and inoculated malolactic fermentation (MLF) of wine have been analysed by following the population dynamics of Oenococcus oeni strains with multiplex random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction. It has enabled us to follow precisely the proportion of different autochthonous strains and the starter strain through fermentations. Lack of aeration led to delays in AF, which meant that autochthonous lactic acid bacteria could develop earlier and prevented the starter strain from developing correctly. Temperature was not found to lead to any differences. Two strains were isolated in the same spontaneous MLF, suggesting that, in some cases, multiple strains might be responsible for the degradation of malic acid in wine. It can be concluded that delays in the AF can negatively affect the control of MLF and that this can be studied by following the development of the different strains of O. oeni.
EMaQ: Expected-Max Q-Learning Operator for Simple Yet Effective Offline and Online RL

Off-policy reinforcement learning (RL) holds the promise of sample-efficient learning of decision-making policies by leveraging past experience. However, in the offline RL setting -- where a fixed collection of interactions are provided and no further interactions are allowed -- it has been shown that standard off-policy RL methods can significantly underperform. Recently proposed methods aim to address this shortcoming by regularizing learned policies to remain close to the given dataset of interactions. However, these methods involve several configurable components such as learning a separate policy network on top of a behavior cloning actor, and explicitly constraining action spaces through clipping or reward penalties. Striving for simultaneous simplicity and performance, in this work we present a novel backup operator, Expected-Max Q-Learning (EMaQ), which naturally restricts learned policies to remain within the support of the offline dataset \emph{without any explicit regularization}, while retaining desirable theoretical properties such as contraction. We demonstrate that EMaQ is competitive with Soft Actor Critic (SAC) in online RL, and surpasses SAC in the deployment-efficient setting. In the offline RL setting -- the main focus of this work -- through EMaQ we are able to make important observations regarding key components of offline RL, and the nature of standard benchmark tasks. Lastly but importantly, we observe that EMaQ achieves state-of-the-art performance with fewer moving parts such as one less function approximation, making it a strong, yet easy to implement baseline for future work.
Estimating supermassive black hole masses in active galactic nuclei using polarization of broad Mg ii, H α, and H β lines

For type-1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) for which the equatorial scattering is the dominant broad line polarization mechanism, it is possible to measure the supermassive black hole mass by tracing the Keplerian motion across the polarization plane positionangle. So far this method has been used for 30 objects but only for H${\alpha}$ emission line. We explore the possibilities this method for determining SMBH masses using polarization in broad emission lines by applying it for the first time to Mg II${\lambda}$2798AA spectral line. We use 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code stokes for simultaneous modeling of equatorial scattering of H${\alpha}$, H${\beta}$ and Mg II lines. We included vertical inflows and outflows in the MgII broad line region (BLR). We find that polarization states of H${\alpha}$ and H${\beta}$ lines are almost identical and SMBH mass estimates differ by 7%. For Mg II line, we find that polarization angle ${\varphi}$ exhibits an additional "plateau" with a constant ${\varphi}$, which deviates than the profiles expected for pure Keplerian motion. SMBH mass estimates using Mg II line are higher by up to 35% than those obtained from H${\alpha}$ and H${\beta}$ lines. Our model shows that for vertical inflows and outflows in the BLR that is higher or comparable to Keplerian velocity, this method can be applied as a first approximation for obtaining SMBH mass.