Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new interpretation of Serkowski’s polarization law

The basic tenets of the alternative interpretation to be presented here are that the spectral profiles of the star light polarization peaks observed in the visible and near IR are a result of the optical properties of silicate grains in the same spectral range, not of the grain size, provided it remains within the range of Rayleigh's approximation. The silicate properties are those obtained experimentally by Scott and Duley \cite{sco} for the non-iron bearing \bf amorphous \rm forsterite and enstatite. The whole range of observed Serkowski polarization profiles can be simulated with mixtures made of forsterite plus an increasing fraction (0 to 0.5) of enstatite as the spectral peak shifts from 0.8 to 0.3 $\mu$m. Fits to individual observed polarization spectra are also demonstrated. The optical extinction of silicates in the vis/IR (the "transparency range") can be understood by analogy with the thoroughly studied amorphous hydrogenated carbons and amorphous silica. It is due to structural disorder (dangling bonds and coordination defects) and impurities, which give rise to electronic states in the forbidden gap of semi-conductors. Because they are partially localized, their extinction power is dramatically reduced and has been ignored or simply described by a low, flat plateau. As their number density depends on the environment, one expects variations in the ratio of optical extinction coefficients in the visible and mid-IR.
Geometric Allocation Approach for Transition Kernel of Markov Chain

We introduce a new geometric approach that constructs a transition kernel of Markov chain. Our method always minimizes the average rejection rate and even reduce it to zero in many relevant cases, which cannot be achieved by conventional methods, such as the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm or the heat bath algorithm (Gibbs sampler). Moreover, the geometric approach makes it possible to find not only a reversible but also an irreversible solution of rejection-free transition probabilities. This is the first versatile method that can construct an irreversible transition kernel in general cases. We demonstrate that the autocorrelation time (asymptotic variance) of the Potts model becomes more than 6 times as short as that by the conventional Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. Our algorithms are applicable to almost all kinds of Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and will improve the efficiency.
Halometry from astrometry

Halometry—mapping out the spectrum, location, and kinematics of nonluminous structures inside the Galactic halo—can be realized via variable weak gravitational lensing of the apparent motions of stars and other luminous background sources. Modern astrometric surveys provide unprecedented positional precision along with a leap in the number of cataloged objects. Astrometry thus offers a new and sensitive probe of collapsed dark matter structures over a wide mass range, from one millionth to several million solar masses. It opens up a window into the spectrum of primordial curvature fluctuations with comoving wavenumbers between 5 Mpc-1 and 105 Mpc-1, scales hitherto poorly constrained. We outline detection strategies based on three classes of observables—multi-blips, templates, and correlations—that take advantage of correlated effects in the motion of many background light sources that are produced through time-domain gravitational lensing. While existing techniques based on single-source observables such as outliers and mono-blips are best suited for point-like lens targets, our methods offer parametric improvements for extended lens targets such as dark matter subhalos. Multi-blip lensing events may also unveil the existence, location, and mass of planets in the outer reaches of the Solar System, where they would likely have escaped detection by direct imaging.
Anomalous particle diffusion and Lévy random walk of magnetic field lines in three-dimensional solar wind turbulence

Plasma transport in the presence of turbulence depends on a variety of parameters such as the fluctuation level, δB/B0, the ratio between the particle Larmor radius and the turbulence correlation length, and the turbulence anisotropy. In this paper, we present the results of numerical simulations of plasma and magnetic field line transport in the case of anisotropic magnetic turbulence, for parameter values close to those of the solar wind. We assume a uniform background magnetic field B0 = B0 ez and a Fourier representation for magnetic fluctuations, which includes wavectors oblique with respect to B0. The energy density spectrum is a power law, and in k space it is described by the correlation lengths lx, ly, lz, which quantify the anisotropy of turbulence. For magnetic field lines, transport perpendicular to the background field depends on the Kubo number R = (δB/B0) (lz/lx). For small Kubo numbers, R ≪ 1, anomalous, non-Gaussian transport regimes (both sub- and superdiffusive) are found, which can be described as a Lévy random walk. Increasing the Kubo number, i.e. the fluctuation level, δB/B0, or the ratio lz/lx, we find first a quasilinear regime and then a percolative regime, both corresponding to Gaussian diffusion. For particles, we find that transport parallel and perpendicular to the background magnetic field depends heavily on the turbulence anisotropy and on the particle Larmor radius. For turbulence levels typical of the solar wind, δB/B0≃ 0.5–1, when the ratio between the particle Larmor radius and the turbulence correlation lengths is small, anomalous regimes are found in the case lz/lx ⩽ 1, with a Lévy random walk (superdiffusion) along the magnetic field and subdiffusion in the perpendicular directions. Conversely, for lz/lx > 1 normal Gaussian diffusion is found. A possible expression for generalized double diffusion is discussed.
Wrinkling of microcapsules in shear flow

Elastic capsules can exhibit short wavelength wrinkling in external shear flow. We analyse this instability of the capsule shape and use the length scale separation between the capsule radius and the wrinkling wavelength to derive analytical results both for the threshold value of the shear rate and for the critical wavelength of the wrinkling. These results can be used to deduce elastic parameters from experiments.
Knowledge-Intensive Diagnostics Using Case-Based Reasoning and Synthetic Case Generation

Due to commercial pressures, North-American printed circuit-board assembly manufacturers have had to reposition themselves in the more difficult market segment of lower volume, higher complexity products, also called high-mix, low-volume (HMLV). The high per-unit costs of these products justify substantial diagnosis and repair efforts when defects are detected in production. Although automated diagnostics is desirable, the low production volumes impose severe limits on available data. We propose a novel approach based on knowledge modeling and case-based reasoning for automated diagnosis of assembled printed circuit boards in an HMLV production environment. Our hybrid approach can overcome the knowledge-acquisition bottleneck even in a data-poor environment. The proposed approach does not require contributions from product designers or experts and is designed to operate using only information available during manufacturing. Our test results show that our diagnostic system can detect, locate and classify all single faults and multiple faults affecting up to three neighboring nodes with a better success rate than the reference commercial tool. Moreover, case base data, including board layout information and user feedback from previous repairs, is used to feed a recommender system to provide repair suggestions. A production and repair data simulator is described and used to evaluate the recommender system’s effectiveness.
Instabilities of granular material undergoing vertical vibrations: a uniformly driven layer

In this paper, the stability of a uniformly driven granular layer is examined by linear stability analysis. This includes two main steps: first the base state at various values of mass holdup ($M_{t}$) and energy input ($Q_{t}$) is calculated; and, secondly, small perturbations are introduced to verify the stability of the base state by solving the linearized governing equations and corresponding boundary conditions. Results from the base-state solution show that, for a given pair of $M_{t}$ and $Q_{t}$, solid fraction tends to increase at first up the layer height and then decrease after a certain vertical position. In contrast, granular temperature decreases rapidly from the bottom plate to the top surface. The stability diagram is constructed by checking the eigenvalues at different points in the ($M_{t}$, $Q_{t}$) plane, and their dependence on the operating conditions and materials properties is also investigated. For the unstable regime, pattern formation is illustrated with the variation of solid fraction with vertical position. For the layer mode, there are no variations at different horizontal positions. In contrast, a periodic feature is found for the stationary mode in which alternating particle clusters and voids are observed in the horizontal direction. By introducing perturbations in different directions, we have produced surface patterns such as stripes, squares and hexagons. Besides the solid fraction distribution, other variables such as the profiles of velocities and granular temperatures are also examined.
Beachrocks and lithified barriers in the Gulf of Lions (western Mediterranean Sea) as new markers of the last sea‐level rise

The Gulf of Lions shelf (southern part of the French Mediterranean coast) displays several occurrences of beachrocks, thus offering an exceptional opportunity to determine the stages of the last marine transgression. These beachrocks crop out especially on the outer shelf and near the modern shoreline. In addition, several other exposures are located on the inner shelf between 10 m and 25 m. The absence of exposure on the middle shelf (water depths of 25 to 90 m) is probably related to a higher rate of sea‐level rise. Most of the beachrocks occur at the top of two or three parallel and contiguous barriers. The seaward barriers are generally less lithified than the inner barriers. Each barrier displays an asymmetrical profile, the seaward slope being more accentuated. This gently‐dipping landward slope forms part of the outer trough resulting from resuspension due to enhanced turbulence at the barrier toe. Almost all of these beachrocks are coarse quartz‐rich sandstones and conglomerates, whose large pore space has been first filled by magnesian calcite (ca 11 mol.% MgCO3), which predominantly fills the voids. Secondary sparites or microsparites, also composed of high‐magnesian calcite, may develop locally in the last remaining voids. Finally, more rarely and very locally (for example, Pierres de Sète), a late‐stage cementation of low‐magnesian calcite is observed which expresses a brief episode of influence from a nearby freshwater groundwater table. The δ18O and δ13C values reflect the relative geochemical homogeneity of these Gulf of Lions beachrocks. However, they are quite distinct from other marine cements and, in particular, those of the eastern Mediterranean, expressing lower temperatures and a lack of influence of dissolved carbon linked to terrigenous fluxes. Based on the radiocarbon ages of these calcitic cements, this study proposes new index points on sea‐level positions in the Gulf of Lions from −95 to 108 m to −0.3 m water depths, between ca 18 583 a cal bp and 633 a cal bp.
Oscillatory behavior of light in the composite Goos-Hänchen shift

For incidence in the critical region, the propagation of gaussian lasers through triangular dielectric blocks is characterized by the joint action of angular deviations and lateral displacements. This mixed effect, known as composite Goos-Haenchen shift, produces a lateral displacement dependent on the axial coordinate, recently confirmed by a weak measurement experiment. We discuss under which conditions this axial lateral displacement, which only exists for the composite Goos-Haenchen shift, presents an oscillatory behavior. This oscillation phenomenon shows a peculiar behavior of light for critical incidence and, if experimentally tested, could stimulate further theoretical studies and lead to interesting optical applications.
The GeV emission of PSR B1259–63 during its last three periastron passages observed by Fermi-LAT

PSR B1259–63 is a γ-ray emitting high mass X-ray binary system, in which the compact object is a millisecond pulsar. The system has an orbital period of 1236.7 d and shows peculiar γ-ray flares when the neutron star moves out of the stellar disk of the companion star. The γ-ray flare events were firstly discovered by using Fermi-LAT around the 2010 periastron passage, which was repeated for the 2014 and 2017 periastron passages. We analyze the Fermi-LAT data for all the three periastron passages and found that in each flare the energy spectrum can be represented well by a simple power law. The γ-ray light curves show that in 2010 and 2014 after each periastron there are two main flares, but in 2017 there are four flares including one precursor about 10 d after the periastron passage. The first main flares in 2010 and 2014 are located at around 35 d after the periastron passage, and the main flare in 2014 is delayed by roughly 1.7 d with respect to that in 2010. In the 2017 flare, the source shows a precursor about 10 d after the periastron passage, but the following two flares become weaker and lag behind those in 2010 by roughly 5 d. The strongest flares in 2017 occurred 58 d and 70 d after the periastron passage. These results challenge the previous models.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Arhopalus oberthuri Hua, 2002 (Coleoptera: Spondylidinae)

Abstract Arhopalus oberthuri is a pest which spreads in China, Laos, Japan and some other countries in Asia. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. oberthuri is 15,854 bp in length with 32.1% GC content, including 38.2% A, 20.4% C, 11.7% G, 29.7% T. There are 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNA) and two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA) encoded in the genome. The graph of phylogenetic analysis gives the information that Arhopalus oberthuri is closer to Arhopalus unicolor. This study provided a scientific basis for the population genetics, phylogeny, and molecular taxonomy of A. oberthuri.
Surface-wave dispersion retrieval method and synthesis technique for bianisotropic metasurfaces

We propose a surface-wave dispersion retrieval method and synthesis technique that applies to bianisotropic metasurfaces that are embedded in symmetric or asymmetric environments. Specifically, we use general zero-thickness sheet transition conditions to relate the propagation constants of surface-wave modes to the bianisotropic susceptibility components of the metasurface, which can themselves be directly related to its scattering parameters. It is then possible to either obtain the metasurface dispersion diagram from its known susceptibilities or, alternatively, compute the susceptibilities required to achieve a desired surface-wave propagation. The validity of the method is demonstrated by comparing its results to those obtained with exact dispersion relations of well known structures such as the propagation of surface plasmons on thin metallic films. In particular, this work reveals that it is possible to achieve surface-wave propagation only on one side of the metasurface either by superposition of symmetric and asymmetric modes in the case of anisotropic metasurfaces or by completely forbidding the existence of the surface wave on one side of the structure using bianisotropic metasurfaces.
Minimax Controller Design

Given a system with uncertain parameters, a performance index, and a controller structure, it is sometimes appropriate to determine the controller parameters by minimaximizing the performance index. In many of the cases where such a controller is too pessimistic it is appropriate to minimaximize a performance sensitivity. Some properties of these two types of controllers are presented. Since the minimax problems that arise do not in general have a saddle point, they must be solved by an iterative or search procedure. A new algorithm for solving algebraic minimax problems with or without a saddle point is presented and proved to converge. The rate of convergence is discussed. The algorithm is applied to the design of a controller for a string of three vehicles.
Schematizing car routes with their surrounding street network

ABSTRACT Car drivers can benefit from schematized maps because they require a different level and type of information from different areas of the map. The technical challenge of creating such maps is that a schematic car route map should be optimized for the individual route, and yet simultaneously present the surrounding street network to support orientation. Existing schematization algorithms focus either on routes (without including the surrounding street network) or on the street network (without optimizing the route schematic layout). This paper addresses this lack of methods in schematization research and proposes an algorithm that is able to schematize both the route and the surrounding street network while resolving their conflicting layout criteria. We follow a two-step approach: we optimize the route layout criteria and afterward add the surrounding street network adapting it to the schematic route distortions. Our schematic ‘route + network’ maps aim to satisfy three requirements: (i) better readability of the route with respect to its decision points, (ii) preserving the qualitative characteristics of the surrounding street network while adapting it to route distortions, (iii) better visibility of alternative routes within the street network. A user study with six example maps validates our layout.
Immunomodulatory Activity of Punicalagin, Punicalin, and Ellagic Acid Differs from the Effect of Pomegranate Peel Extract

Background: Our recent study has shown that pomegranate peel extract (PEx) showed significant immunomodulatory activity, which might be caused by ellagitannins. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that ellagitannin components act synergistically in the modulation of cytokine production. Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and treated with different concentrations of PEx or punicalagin (PG), punicalin (PN), and ellagic acid (EA), alone or with their combinations. Cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, and cytokine production were determined. Results: Non-cytotoxic concentrations of all compounds significantly inhibited cell proliferation. IC50 values (μg/mL) were: EA (7.56), PG (38.52), PEx (49.05), and PN (69.95). PEx and all ellagitannins inhibited the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8, dose-dependently, and their combinations acted synergistically. PEx and all ellagitannins inhibited Th1 and Th17 responses, whereas the lower concentrations of PEx stimulated the production of IL-10, a Treg cytokine, as did lower concentrations of EA. However, neither component of ellagitannins increased Th2 response, as was observed with PEx. Conclusions: The combination of PG, PN, and EA potentiated the anti-inflammatory response without any significant synergistic down-modulatory effect on T-cell cytokines. The increased production of IL-10 observed with PEx could be attributable to EA, but the examined ellagitannins are not associated with the stimulatory effect of PEx on Th2 response.
Coupled attitude and trajectory optimization for a launcher tilting maneuver

We study the minimum time control problem of the launchers. The optimal trajectories of the problem may contain singular arcs, and thus chattering arcs. The motion of the launcher is described by its attitude kinematics and dynamics and also by its trajectory dynamics. Based on the nature of the system, we implement an efficient indirect numerical method, combined with numerical continuation, to compute numerically the optimal solutions of the problem. Numerical experiments show the efficiency and the robustness of the proposed method.
Observations of Small-Scale Interstellar Structure in Dense Atomic Gas

We present high-resolution (R ~ 170,000) Kitt Peak National Observatory coudé feed telescope observations of the interstellar K I λ7698 line toward five multiple star systems with saturated Na I components. We compare the K I absorption-line profiles in each of the two (or three) lines of sight in these systems and find significant differences between the sight lines in three out of the five cases. We infer that the small-scale structure traced by previous Na I observations is also present in at least some of the components with saturated Na I absorption lines, and thus the small-scale structures traced by the neutral species are occurring at some level in clouds of all column densities. We discuss the implications of that conclusion and a potential explanation by density inhomogeneities.
On the validity of the streaming model for the redshift space correlation function in the linear regime

The relation between the galaxy correlation function in real and redshift-space is derived in the linear regime by an appropriate averaging of the joint probability distribution of density and velocity. The derivation recovers the familiar linear theory result on large scales but has the advantage of clearly revealing the dependence of the redshift distortions on the underlying peculiar velocity field; streaming motions give rise to distortions of ${\cal O}(\Omega^{0.6}/b)$ while variations in the anisotropic velocity dispersion yield terms of order ${\cal O}(\Omega^{1.2}/b^2)$. This probabilistic derivation of the redshift-space correlation function is similar in spirit to the derivation of the commonly used ``streaming'' model, in which the distortions are given by a convolution of the real-space correlation function with a velocity distribution function. The streaming model is often used to model the redshift-space correlation function on small, highly non-linear, scales. There have been claims in the literature, however, that the streaming model is not valid in the linear regime. Our analysis confirms this claim, but we show that the streaming model can be made consistent with linear theory {\it provided} that the model for the streaming has the functional form predicted by linear theory and that velocity distribution is chosen to be a Gaussian with the correct linear theory dispersion.
R-process Element Cosmic Rays from Neutron Star Mergers

Neutron star mergers (NSMs) are one of the most plausible sources of r-process elements in the universe. Therefore, NSMs can also be a major source of ultra-heavy elements in cosmic rays. In this paper, we first estimate the contribution of r-process elements synthesized in NSMs to the ultra-heavy element cosmic rays (UHCRs) by calculating transport equations that take into account energy loss processes and spallations. We show that the flux of UHCRs accelerated by the NSMs themselves fluctuates by many orders of magnitude on a timescale of several million years and can overwhelm UHCRs accelerated by supernova remnants (SNRs) after an NSM takes place within a few kiloparsec from the solar system. Experiments with very long exposure times using meteorites as UHCR detectors can detect this fluctuation. As a consequence, we show that if NSMs are the primary source of UHCRs, future experiments using meteorites may be able to reveal the event history of NSMs in the solar vicinity. We also describe a possible difference in the abundance pattern and energy spectrum of UHCRs between NSM and SNR accelerations.