Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Across the Universe: Biasing Facial Representations Toward Non-Universal Emotions With the Face-STN

Facial expression recognition, as part of an affective computing system, usually relies on solid performance metrics to be successful. These metrics depend significantly on the affective context in which one evaluates this system. While presenting excellent performance on the dataset it was trained on, a facial expression recognition model might drastically fail when one assesses it in a different scenario. Such performance reduction occurs because most facial perception models rely on an extreme generalization concept, focusing on a universal emotion perception system. With the recent findings on the non-universality of emotional perception, generalization of facial encoders seems not to be the optimal path to take. Therefore, exploiting transfer learning toward adapting specific facial features to specific scenarios could address this problem. This paper proposes and investigates a Spatial Transformer Plugin (STN) to rearrange different facial encoders towards particular affective representations from different scenarios. We experiment with our model in eight different facial expression recognition datasets (AffectNet and the derived MaskedAffectNet, OMG-Emotion, FERPlus, ElderReact, EmoReact, FABO and JAFFE datasets) and obtain competitive performance with much less training effort than state-of-the-art models. Besides performance alone, we introduce the STN as a mechanism towards a non-universal emotional perception system and discuss how it rearranges learned perception features to address some specific characteristics of each investigated dataset.
Inverse problem: Reconstruction of the modified gravity action in the Palatini formalism by supernova type Ia data

We introduce in f(R) gravity-Palatini formalism the method of the inverse problem to extract the action from the expansion history of the Universe. First, we use an ansatz for the scale factor and apply the inverse method to derive an appropriate action for the gravity. In the second step we use the supernova type Ia data set from the Union sample and obtain a smoothed function for the Hubble parameter up to the redshift 1.7. We apply the smoothed Hubble parameter in the inverse approach and reconstruct the corresponding action in f(R) gravity. In the next step we investigate the viability of reconstruction method, doing a Monte Carlo simulation we generate synthetic SNIa data with the quality of the Union sample and show that roughly more than 1500 SNIa data is essential to reconstruct correct action. Finally, with enough SNIa data, we propose two diagnosis in order to distinguish between the {lambda}CDM model and an alternative theory for the acceleration of the Universe.
Quenching and tomography from the RHIC to the LHC

We compare fully perturbative and fully nonperturbative pictures of high-pT energy loss calculations to the first results from the LHC. While oversuppressed compared to published ALICE data, parameter-free pQCD predictions based on the WHDG energy loss model constrained to RHIC data simultaneously describe well the preliminary CMS hadron suppression, ATLAS charged hadron v2, and ALICE D meson suppression; we also provide for future reference WHDG predictions for B meson RAA. However, energy loss calculations based on AdS/CFT also qualitatively describe well the RHIC pion and non-photonic electron suppression and LHC charged hadron suppression. We propose the double-ratio of charm to bottom quark RAA as a qualitative distinguisher between these two energy loss pictures.
Scale‐free distribution of Dead Sea sinkholes: Observations and modeling

There are currently more than 5500 sinkholes along the Dead Sea in Israel. These were formed due to the dissolution of subsurface salt layers as a result of the replacement of hypersaline groundwater by fresh brackish groundwater. This process has been associated with a sharp decline in the Dead Sea water level, currently more than 1 m/yr, resulting in a lower water table that has allowed the intrusion of fresher brackish water. We studied the distribution of the sinkhole sizes and found that it is scale free with a power law exponent close to 2. We constructed a stochastic cellular automata model to understand the observed scale‐free behavior and the growth of the sinkhole area in time. The model consists of a lower salt layer and an upper soil layer in which cavities that develop in the lower layer lead to collapses in the upper layer. The model reproduces the observed power law distribution without involving the threshold behavior commonly associated with criticality.
Bandwidth-Enhanced Circularly Polarized Slot Antenna and Array Under Two Pairs of Degenerate Modes in a Single Resonant Cavity

A novel design concept of bandwidth-enhanced full-metal circularly polarized (CP) cavity-backed slot antenna and array based on two pairs of degenerate modes in a single cavity is proposed in this paper. Conventional CP antenna based on one pair of degenerate modes only has one axial-ratio (AR) minima and causes a narrow AR bandwidth. Two pairs of degenerate modes in a proposed multimode cavity resonator can initially produce two separate CP operating bands. Then, a pair of metal prisms is introduced to allocate the two bands in proximity to each other, thus obtaining a wide operating bandwidth with two AR minima. As the radiation slots are directly fed by the electric field of the cavity modes, 2 × 2 cross slots are placed on the top wall so as to comprise a CP array. As such, a very simple wideband CP antenna array is realized by virtue of a single multiple-mode resonator without needing extra power dividers. Finally, the 2 × 2 wideband CP antenna array is fabricated and measured. Measurement shows that the proposed antenna array can achieve 15% bandwidth, a peak gain of 11.8 dBic, and a peak total efficiency of 96%.
Effects of stacking sequence on the electrical conductivity of InAs: A combination of density functional theory and Boltzmann transport equation calculations

The effects of the stacking sequence on the electrical conductivity of InAs are theoretically investigated using a combination of density functional theory and Boltzmann transport equation calculations. The calculations within the constant-relaxation-time approximation demonstrate that the electrical conductivity for n-type InAs with wurtzite segments is ∼47% larger than that with zinc blende structure. In contrast, the conductivity for p-type InAs with zinc blende structure is three times larger than those with wurtzite segments owing to the difference in the electronic states ∼0.1 eV below the valence band maximum depending on the staking sequence. The results within the constant-relaxation-time approximation suggest that differences in the stacking sequence along the growth direction could affect the electrical conductivity of InAs nanowires.
THE OBSERVABLE SIGNATURES OF GRB COCOONS

As a long gamma-ray burst (GRB) jet propagates within the stellar atmosphere it creates a cocoon composed of an outer Newtonian shocked stellar material and an inner (possibly relativistic) shocked jet. The jet deposits erg into this cocoon. This is comparable to the energies of the GRB and of the accompanying supernova, yet the cocoon’s signature has been largely ignored. The cocoon radiates a fraction of this energy as it expands, following the breakout from the star, and later as it interacts with the surrounding matter. We explore the possible signatures of this emission and outline a framework to calculate them from the conditions of the cocoon at the time of the jet breakout. The cocoon signature depends strongly on the, currently unknown, mixing between the shocked jet and shocked stellar material. With no mixing the γ-ray emission from the cocoon is so bright that it should have been already detected. The lack of such detections indicates that some mixing must take place. For partial and full mixing the expected signals are weaker than regular GRB afterglows. However, the latter are highly beamed while the former are wider. Future optical, UV, and X-ray transient searches, like LSST, ZTF, ULTRASAT, ISS-Lobster, and others, will most likely detect such signals, providing a wealth of information on the progenitors and jets of GRBs. While we focus on long GRBs, analogous (but weaker) cocoons may arise in short GRBs. Their signatures might be the most promising electromagnetic counterparts for gravitational wave signals from compact binary mergers.
PCB parameter extraction for signal integrity modeling

PCB material parameters (Dk, Df and surface roughness) are key factors for signal integrity analysis. By using the parameters within vendor's datasheets directly, simulation result always have big offset compared with lab measurement result due to different production variations. To improve the accuracy of simulation and guarantee a design to be successful for the first-time, one test coupon board is designed, fabricated, and measured. PCB laminate parameters are extracted based on lab measurements instead of datasheet values. With the extracted parameters and same stack up under same factory production process, high-speed channel simulation can predict transmission line & RF transition's performance on real PCB products with reliable simulation accuracy up to 50 GHz.
Cloud formation in colliding flows: influence of the choice of cooling function

We study the influence of the choice of cooling function on the formation of molecular clouds in high-resolution three-dimensional simulations of converging flows. We directly compare the results obtained using the simple, parametrized cooling function introduced by Koyama & Inutsuka (2002) and used by a number of converging flow studies with the results of the detailed calculation of the non-equilibrium chemistry and thermal balance of the gas. We find that a number of the cloud properties, such as the mass and volume filling fractions of cold gas, are relatively insensitive to the choice of cooling function. On the other hand, the cloud morphology and the large-scale velocity distribution of the gas do strongly depend on the cooling function. We show that the differences that we see can largely be explained by differences in the way that Lyman-alpha cooling is treated in the two complementary approaches, and that a proper non-equilibrium treatment of the ionisation and recombination of the gas is necessary in order to model the high-temperature cooling correctly. We also investigate the properties of the dense clumps formed within the cloud. In agreement with previous models, we find that the majority of these clumps are not self-gravitating, suggesting that some form of large-scale collapse of the cloud may be required in order to produce gravitationally unstable clumps and hence stars. Overall, the physical properties of the dense clumps are similar in both simulations, suggesting that they do not depend strongly on the choice of cooling function. However, we do find a systematic difference of around 10K in the mean temperatures of the clumps produced by the two models.
β-chitosan-clay films: Characterization and antibacterial study using response surface methodology

Properties of the chitosan films can be improved by incorporating clay minerals. So, solvent-cast films of the β-chitosan containing stevensite-rich or kaolinitic-illitic clays (up to 50 mass %) were characterized for their structural and mechanical properties. The effects of molecular weight (MW) and deacetylation degree (DD) of chitosan and the clay/chitosan mass ratio on the inhibition growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were studied using the response surface methodology (RSM). The films consisted of exfoliated/intercalated or flocculated composites, and the electrostatic bonds formed between the functional moieties of the chitosan and the clay particles active sites essentially influenced their mechanical strength. The results of the study using RSM showed that the optimal value of MW required for the inhibition of the bacteria varied according to the film used, and high antibacterial activity necessitated high DD (89–97%). Graphical Abstract
Proton activity of the Sun in current solar cycle 24

We present a study of seven large solar proton events in the current solar cycle 24 (from 2009 January up to the current date). They were recorded by the GOES spacecraft with the highest proton fluxes being over 200 pfu for energies >10 MeV. In situ particle measurements show that: (1) The profiles of the proton fluxes are highly dependent on the locations of their solar sources, namely flares or coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which confirms the “heliolongitude rules” associated with solar energetic particle fluxes; (2) The solar particle release (SPR) times fall in the decay phase of the flare emission, and are in accordance with the times when the CMEs travel to an average height of 7.9 solar radii; and (3) The time differences between the SPR and the flare peak are also dependent on the locations of the solar active regions. The results tend to support the scenario of proton acceleration by the CME-driven shock, even though there exists a possibility of particle acceleration at the flare site, with subsequent perpendicular diffusion of accelerated particles in the interplanetary magnetic field. We derive the integral time-of-maximum spectra of solar protons in two forms: a single power-law distribution and a power law roll-over with an exponential tail. It is found that the unique ground level enhancement that occurred in the event on 2012 May 17 displays the hardest spectrum and the largest roll-over energy which may explain why this event could extend to relativistic energies.
How Has COVID-19 Changed the Way We Do Virtual Care? A Scoping Review Protocol

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic created worldwide interest and use of virtual care to support public health measures and reduce the spread of infection. While some forms of virtual care have been used prior to COVID-19 such as telemedicine, little is known about other virtual modalities such as video conferencing, wearables and other digital technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an opportunity to question the efficacy and safety of virtual care, especially in terms of patient outcomes among those self-isolating. The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the safety of virtual care among active COVID-19 patients in the community and examine the types and dose of virtual care. Finally, this review will examine what patient outcomes are identified from interventions delivered virtually to treat COVID-19. We followed a systematic process guided by the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews with a comprehensive search strategy across four bibliographic databases and handsearching reference lists. We undertook a blinded, two-stage screening process with eligibility criteria. All citations and screening were managed using the DistillerSR software. Data were extracted using a data extraction tool developed for this project. The conclusions from this review will offer greater understanding for how virtual care can be used among community-based COVID-19 patients.
Testing the accuracy of radiative cooling approximations in SPH simulations

Hydrodynamical simulations of star formation have stimulated a need to develop fast and robust algorithms for evaluating radiative cooling. Here we undertake a critical evaluation of what is currently a popular method for prescribing cooling in SPH simulations, i.e. the polytropic cooling due originally to Stamatellos et al. This method uses the local density and potential to estimate the column density and optical depth to each particle and then uses these quantities to evaluate an approximate expression for the net radiative cooling. We evaluate the algorithm by considering both spherical and disc-like systems with analytic density and temperature structures. In spherical systems, the total cooling rate computed by the method is within around 20 for the astrophysically relevant case of opacity dominated by ice grains and is correct to within a factor of order unity for a range of opacity laws. In disc geometry, however, the method systematically under-estimates the cooling by a large factor at all heights in the disc. For the self-gravitating disc studied, we find that the method under-estimates the total cooling rate by a factor of 200. This discrepancy may be readily traced to the method's systematic over-estimate of the disc column density and optical depth, since (being based only on the local density and potential) it does not take into account the low column density route for photon escape normal to the disc plane. These results raise an obvious caution about the method's use in disc geometry whenever an accurate cooling rate is required, although we note that there are situations where the discrepancies highlighted above may not significantly affect the global outcome of simulations. Finally, we draw attention to our introduction of an analytic self-gravitating disc structure that may be of use in the calibration of future cooling algorithms.
Nonadiabatic effects in long-pulse mixed-field orientation of a linear polar molecule

We present a theoretical study of the impact of an electrostatic field combined with non-resonant linearly polarized laser pulses on the rotational dynamics of linear molecules. Within the rigid rotor approximation, we solve the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for several field configurations. Using the OCS molecule as prototype, the field-dressed dynamics is analyzed in detail for experimentally accessible static field strengths and laser pulses. Results for directional cosines are presented and compared to the predictions of the adiabatic theory. We demonstrate that for prototypical field configuration used in current mixed-field orientation experiments, the molecular field dynamics is, in general, non-adiabatic, being mandatory a time-dependent description of these systems. We investigate several field regimes identifying the sources of non-adiabatic effects, and provide the field parameters under which the adiabatic dynamics would be achieved.
Accessibility Analysis of Worldwide COVID-19-Related Information Portals

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, communication technology has demonstrated its usefulness in sharing and receiving health data and communicating with the public. This study evaluated the accessibility of 199 websites containing official COVID-19 information related to medical schools, governments, ministries, and medical associations, obtained from the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. We used the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 to evaluate web accessibility, using a six-phase process with an automatic review tool. The study results reveal that the highest number of barriers encountered are concentrated in the perceivable principle with 6388 errors (77.8%), followed by operability with 1457 (17.7%), then robustness with 291 (3.5%), and finally understandability with 78 errors (0.9%). This study concludes that most COVID-19-related websites that provide information on the context of the pandemic do not have an adequate level of accessibility. This study can contribute as a guide for designing inclusive websites; web accessibility should be reviewed periodically due to technological advances and the need to adapt to these changes.
Solution of stochastic Allen–Cahn equation in the framework of soliton theoretical approach

In this paper, the Allen–Cahn equation with time noise is under consideration. The extended fan-sub technique is used to find the exact solutions. The solutions are successfully extracted in the form of hyperbolic, trigonometric and mixed forms of solitons. Importantly, the physical unique value problems of the solutions are discussed using the different values of parameters. The 2D, 3D, and their corresponding contour behaviors of these solutions are depicted by choosing the different values of parameters. The stability is controlled through the Borel coefficient in the noise term.
Approximation dans des classes de fonctions analytiques généralisées et résolution de problèmes inverses pour les tokamaks

Cette these traite de la resolution theorique et constructive de problemes inverses pour des equations de diffusion isotropes dans des domaines plan simplement et doublement connexes. A partir de donnees de Cauchy (potentiel, flux) disponibles sur une partie de la frontiere du domaine, il s’agit de retrouver ces quantites sur la partie du bord ou l’on ne dispose pas d’information, ainsi qu’a l’interieur du domaine. L’approche mise au point consiste a considerer les solutions de l’equation de diffusion comme les parties reelles des solutions complexes d’une equation de Beltrami conjuguee. Ces fonctions analytiques generalisees d’un type particulier permettent de definir des classes de Hardy, dans lesquelles le probleme inverse est regularise en etant reformule comme un probleme de meilleure approximation sous contrainte (ou encore probleme extremal borne, d’adequation aux donnees). Le caractere bien pose de celui-ci est assure par des resultats d’existence et de regularite auxquels s’ajoutent des proprietes de densite a la frontiere. Une application au calcul de la frontiere libre d’un plasma sous confinement magnetique dans le tokamak Tore Supra (CEA-IRFM Cadarache) est proposee. La resolution du probleme extremal a partir d’une base de fonctions adaptees (harmoniques toroidales) fournit un critere permettant de qualifier les estimations de la frontiere plasma. Un algorithme de descente permet de le faire decroitre, en ameliorant l’estimation de la frontiere. Cette methode, qui ne requiert pas d’integration de l’equation dans le domaine, fournit de tres bons resultats et semble appelee a connaitre des extensions pour d’autres tokamaks tels que JET et ITER.
Intermittency and transition to chaos in the cubical lid-driven cavity flow

Transition from steady state to intermittent chaos in the cubical lid-driven cavity flow is investigated numerically. Fully three-dimensional stability analyses have revealed that the flow experiences an Andronov–Poincaré–Hopf bifurcation at a critical Reynolds number Rec = 1914. As for the 2D-periodic lid-driven cavity flows, the unstable mode originates from a centrifugal instability of the primary vortex core. A Reynolds–Orr analysis reveals that the unstable perturbation relies on a combination of the lift-up and anti lift-up mechanisms to extract its energy from the base flow. Once linearly unstable, direct numerical simulations show that the flow is driven toward a primary limit cycle before eventually exhibiting intermittent chaotic dynamics. Though only one eigenpair of the linearized Navier–Stokes operator is unstable, the dynamics during the intermittencies are surprisingly well characterized by one of the stable eigenpairs.