Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Online Bin Covering with Limited Migration

Semi-online models where decisions may be revoked in a limited way have been studied extensively in the last years. This is motivated by the fact that the pure online model is often too restrictive to model real-world applications, where some changes might be allowed. A well-studied measure of the amount of decisions that can be revoked is the migration factor $\beta$: When an object $o$ of size $s(o)$ arrives, the decisions for objects of total size at most $\beta\cdot s(o)$ may be revoked. Usually $\beta$ should be a constant. This means that a small object only leads to small changes. This measure has been successfully investigated for different, classic problems such as bin packing or makespan minimization. The dual of makespan minimization - the Santa Claus or machine covering problem - has also been studied, whereas the dual of bin packing - the bin covering problem - has not been looked at from such a perspective. In this work, we extensively study the bin covering problem with migration in different scenarios. We develop algorithms both for the static case - where only insertions are allowed - and for the dynamic case, where items may also depart. We also develop lower bounds for these scenarios both for amortized migration and for worst-case migration showing that our algorithms have nearly optimal migration factor and asymptotic competitive ratio (up to an arbitrary small $\eps$). We therefore resolve the competitiveness of the bin covering problem with migration.
Connectivity and competition: the emerging geographies of Africa’s ‘Ports Race’

ABSTRACT This paper critically analyses Africa’s ‘Ports Race’, the massive increase in port infrastructure investment taking place across the continent since the mid-2000s. It argues that the phenomenon shapes, and is shaped by, three interconnected trends: (1) an emerging material–political–institutional lock-in to a new extractivist paradigm of capital accumulation; (2) continental governments’ growing embrace of state-led development strategies; and (3) the repackaging of globalized discourses of connectivity and idealized visions of modernity by elites to legitimize both their own political positions and what are often exploitative and environmentally destructive practices/processes. Taken together, these developments point to novel configurations of engagement playing out across the continent between transnational capital and political elites.
An Analysis of Repeated High Intensity Efforts (RHIE) across Different Competition Levels in Elite Rugby Union

The current investigation aimed to understand the differing positional demands across two elite rugby union competitions, with special reference to high-intensity effort (HIE) and repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) activity. Four hundred and forty-one (n = 441) individual game files from thirty-five competitive games from the European Rugby Champions Cup (tier 1; n = 8) and PRO12 League (tier 2; n = 24) were analysed. Players’ locomotor profiles were recorded using wearable global positioning system microtechnology (10 Hz Catapult S5, Catapult Innovations, Australia). Locomotor activities were classified as running (≥4.4 m∙s−1), high-speed running (≥5.5 m∙s−1), accelerations (≥2 m∙s−2) and decelerations (≤−2 m∙s−2). Data was gathered on collisions (≥4 g−1), high-intensity efforts (HIE), repeated high-intensity efforts (RHIE), average number of efforts within a RHIE bout (n) and maximal number of efforts within a RHIE bout (n). Overall locomotor differences between competitions were trivial to small in nature, with tier 1 competition associated with a larger number of RHIE bouts (6.5 ± 1.4 vs. 5.7 ± 1.5, effect size, ES = 0.55) and efforts per bout (3.0 ± 1.1 vs. 2.4 ± 1.2, ES = 0.52). Collisions comprised a greater proportion of total HIE for forwards within tier 1 competition compared to tier 2 competition. The hooker (mean difference: 4 [−10 to 14]; ES = 0.30, small), lock (mean difference: 5 [−12 to 23]; ES = 0.36, small) and backrow (mean difference: 8 [−10 to 15]; ES = 0.54, small) positions engaged in more collisions during tier 1 competition compared to tier 2 competition. These findings can be used by athletic performance staff to design game-specific drills and recovery strategies during different competition weeks to ensure players are appropriately prepared for the differing demands of elite rugby competition.
Portable RGB-D Camera-Based System for Assessing Gait Impairment Progression in ATTRv Amyloidosis

Hereditary Amyloidosis associated with variant Transthyretin (ATTRv Amyloidosis) is a progressive and highly disabling neurological disorder that affects gait. Quantitative motion analysis is useful for assessing motor function, including gait, in diseases affecting movement. A single markerless RGB-D camera enables 3D full-body motion capture in a less expensive and intrusive, and more portable way than multi-camera marker-based systems. In this study, we examine whether a gait analysis system based on an RGB-D camera can be used to detect significant changes in the gait of ATTRv amyloidosis patients over time, when compared with a 12-camera system. We acquired 3D data provided by both systems from six ATTRv amyloidosis patients, while performing a simple gait task, once (T0) and 18 months later (T1). A direct comparison of systems has already been conducted. In this work, however, for each patient, we investigated if the RGB-D camera system detects statistically significant differences between the two different acquisitions in a similar way to the reference system, and whether it is reliable to use during patients’ follow-up. The obtained results show that the differences detected between T0 and T1 for both systems follow the same tendency for 65% of the spatiotemporal gait parameters, and for 38% of the kinematic parameters (38%). The most reliable parameters were: stride duration/length, gait speed (and its variability), and arm/foot swing velocity, all with an almost perfect strength of agreement.
Tumbling of a Brownian particle in an extensional flow

The phenomenon of tumbling of microscopic objects is commonly associated with shear flows. We address the question of whether tumbling can also occur in stretching-dominated flows. To answer this, we study the dynamics of a semi-flexible trumbbell in a planar extensional velocity field. We show that the trumbbell undergoes a random tumbling-through-folding motion. The probability distribution of long tumbling times is exponential with a time scale exponentially increasing with the Weissenberg number.
Synthesizing of concentric circular antenna arrays by using a combination of ant lion optimizer and sequential quadratic programming

Antenna array synthesis is quite a popular topic in electromagnetics and finding suitable array parameter values is a challenging nonlinear engineering problem in this field. In recent years, it has been realized that optimization algorithms can be used to achieve desired solutions in this area. Besides, improvements in the optimization algorithms make it possible to perform synthesis processes on different array structures and to obtain better results. In this paper, a method based on a combination of ant lion optimizer (ALO) and sequential quadratic programming (SQP) is proposed for the concentric circular antenna array (CCAA) synthesis. Excitation amplitudes of array elements are optimized for CCAAs with low maximum sidelobe level (MSL), narrow first null beamwidth (FNBW), and low dynamic range ratio (DRR). The results of proposed ALO‐SQP method are compared with those of 11 different algorithms: ALO, moth flame optimizer (MFO), SQP, symbiotic organisms search (SOS), biogeography based optimization (BBO), opposition‐based gravitational search algorithm (OGSA), cat swarm optimization (CSO), firefly algorithm (FA), evolutionary programming (EP), backtracking search optimization algorithm (BSA), and seeker optimization algorithm (SOA). The comparisons indicate that the CCAAs synthesis using the proposed method presents good MSLs, FNBWs, and DRRs.
AUC: a Statistically Consistent and more Discriminating Measure than Accuracy

Predictive accuracy has been used as the main and often only evaluation criterion for the predictive performance of classification learning algorithms. In recent years, the area under the ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics) curve, or simply AUC, has been proposed as an alternative single-number measure for evaluating learning algorithms. In this paper, we prove that AUC is a better measure than accuracy. More specifically, we present rigourous definitions on consistency and discriminancy in comparing two evaluation measures for learning algorithms. We then present empirical evaluations and a formal proof to establish that AUC is indeed statistically consistent and more discriminating than accuracy. Our result is quite significant since we formally prove that, for the first time, AUC is a better measure than accuracy in the evaluation of learning algorithms.
On the Prospects for Artificially Inducing Equatorial Spread F.

Abstract : The possibility of artificially inducing the onset of equatorial spread F by the collision dominated Rayleigh-Taylor or ExB gradient drift instability mechanism via a hypothetical chemical release in the equatorial ionosphere is considered. Each of the factors affecting the outcome of such an experiment is examined, and recommendations are made with the goal of maximizing the chances of successfully triggering the instabilities. (Author)
Single-Family Zoning and Race: Evidence From the Twin Cities

Abstract The city of Minneapolis recently changed its zoning to allow two- and three-family houses in formerly single-family zones, in part with the goal of furthering racial integration. To test whether this policy approach holds promise, we assemble digital zoning data covering the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area and quantify the relationship between different types of residential zoning and racial and ethnic shares of neighborhood populations. Controlling for neighborhood location, we find that a neighborhood zoned for middle housing, such as Minneapolis’ triplexes, has a non-White population share that is 14 percentage points higher than that of a single-family zoned neighborhood. A neighborhood zoned for multifamily housing has a non-White population share 21 percentage points higher. This is consistent with the argument that upzoning single-family zones to allow middle and multifamily housing can promote racial integration. Our method can be easily replicated in other regions as data become available.
On-Manifold Model Predictive Control for Trajectory Tracking on Robotic Systems

Robotic systems usually evolve on manifolds, which are often overparameterized or minimally parameterized (but with singularities) in model predictive control (MPC). How to naturally incorporate the system manifold constraints without overparameterization or singularity is a fundamental problem when deploying MPC on robotic systems. In this article, we propose a unified on-manifold MPC framework to address this issue. This framework first formulates the MPC based on a canonical representation of on-manifold systems. Then, the on-manifold MPC is solved by linearizing the system at each point along the trajectory under tracking. There are two main advantages of the proposed scheme. First, the linearized system leads to an equivalent error system represented by local coordinates without singularities. Second, the process of system modeling, error-system derivation, linearization, and control has the manifold constraints completely decoupled from the system descriptions, enabling us to develop a symbolic MPC framework naturally encapsulating the manifold constraints. In this framework, one needs only to supply system-specific descriptions without dealing with the manifold constraints. To validate the generality of the proposed framework, we implement it on two different robotic platforms, a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) evolving on a Lie group, and an unmanned ground vehicle moving on curved surface with a non-Lie group structure. To validate the nonsingularity and tracking performance, we test it in tracking aggressive UAV trajectories. Experimental results show that with a single, global on-manifold MPC, the quadrotor tracks highly aggressive trajectories with large actuator efforts and attitude variation ($360^\circ$) in both roll and pitch directions.
Can a Video Game with a Fictional Minority Group Decrease Intergroup Biases towards Non-Fictional Minorities? A Social Neuroscience Study

Abstract A critical scientific and societal challenge involves developing and evaluating interventions that reduce prejudice towards outgroups. Video games appear to be a promising method, but several holes in the current scientific literature prevent fully understanding the sizeable potential impact of video games on reducing prejudice. The present study investigated to what extent a video game designed to reduce prejudice towards minorities in a fictional society has the potential to reduce prejudice towards non-fictional minorities. Participants played either a recently developed game designed to reduce prejudice towards non-fictional minorities (hereafter referred to as the test game) or a control game. After playing at home, participants performed two tasks in a lab context. We observed overall a positive effect of playing the test game compared to the control game on attenuating prejudice towards an outgroup individual. We indeed observed that players of the control game had increased midfrontal theta activity, reflecting a higher degree of cognitive conflict when they acted prosociality towards the outgroup participant and a lower neural response to the outgroup participant’s pain than compared to the ingroup participants. These effects were attenuated for players of the test game. We also observed that players of the test game had a higher sense of agency when they decided to help the outgroup participant than when they did not help the outgroup participant, an effect not observable in control game players. These results are promising as they support evidence that using fictional characters in video games may induce positive changes toward non-fictional individuals.
Unquenched Flavor in the Gauge/Gravity Correspondence

Within the AdS/CFT correspondence, we review the studies of field theories with a large number of adjoint and fundamental fields, in the Veneziano limit. We concentrate in set-ups where the fundamentals are introduced by a smeared set of D-branes. We make emphasis on the general ideas and then in subsequent chapters that can be read independently and describe particular considerations in various different models. Some new material is presented along the various sections.
A SLAM Method Based on Multi-Robot Cooperation for Pipeline Environments Underground

SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology has recently shown considerable forward progress; however, most of the mainstream SLAM technologies are currently based on laser- and vision-based fusion strategies. However, there are problems (e.g., a lack of geometric structure, no significant feature points in the surrounding environment, LiDAR degradation, and the longitudinal loss of constraints, as well as missing GPS signals within the pipeline) in special circumstances (e.g., in underground pipelines and tunnels), thus making it difficult to apply laser or vision SLAM techniques. To solve this issue, a multi-robot cooperation-based SLAM method is proposed in this study for pipeline environments, based on LIO-SAM. The proposed method can effectively perform SLAM tasks in spaces with high environmental similarity (e.g., tunnels), thus overcoming the limitation that existing SLAM methods have been poorly applied in pipeline environments due to the high environmental similarity. In this study, the laser-matching part of the LIO-SAM is removed, and a high-precision differential odometer, IMU inertial navigation sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor, which are not easily affected by the high similarity of the environment, are employed as the major sources of positioning information. Moreover, a front-to-back queue of two robots is trained in the pipeline environment; a unique period-creep method has been designed as a cooperation strategy between the two robots, and a multi-robot pose constraint factor (ultrasonic range factor) is built to constrain the robots’ relative poses. On that basis, the robot queue can provide a mutual reference when traveling through the pipeline and fulfill its pose correction with high quality, thus achieving high positioning accuracy. To validate the method presented in this study, four experiments were designed, and SLAM testing was performed in common environments, as well as simple and complex urban pipeline environments. Next, error analysis was conducted using EVO. The experimental results suggest that the method proposed in this study is less susceptible to environmental effects than the existing methods due to the benefits of multi-robot cooperation. This applies to a common environment (e.g., a room) and can achieve a good performance; this means that a wide variety of piping environments can be established with high similarity. The average error of SLAM in the pipeline was 0.047 m, and the maximum error was 0.713 m, such that the proposed method shows the advantages of controllable cumulative error, high reliability, and robustness with an increase in the scale of the pipeline and with an extension of the operation time.
Distinct Mechanisms of Target Search by Endonuclease VIII-like DNA Glycosylases

Proteins that recognize specific DNA sequences or structural elements often find their cognate DNA lesions in a processive mode, in which an enzyme binds DNA non-specifically and then slides along the DNA contour by one-dimensional diffusion. Opposite to the processive mechanism is distributive search, when an enzyme binds, samples and releases DNA without significant lateral movement. Many DNA glycosylases, the repair enzymes that excise damaged bases from DNA, use processive search to find their cognate lesions. Here, using a method based on correlated cleavage of multiply damaged oligonucleotide substrates we investigate the mechanism of lesion search by three structurally related DNA glycosylases—bacterial endonuclease VIII (Nei) and its mammalian homologs NEIL1 and NEIL2. Similarly to another homologous enzyme, bacterial formamidopyrimidine–DNA glycosylase, NEIL1 seems to use a processive mode to locate its targets. However, the processivity of Nei was notably lower, and NEIL2 exhibited almost fully distributive action on all types of substrates. Although one-dimensional diffusion is often regarded as a universal search mechanism, our results indicate that even proteins sharing a common fold may be quite different in the ways they locate their targets in DNA.
Trust in scientists, risk perception, conspiratorial beliefs, and unrealistic optimism: A network approach to investigating the psychological underpinnings of COVID-19 vaccination intentions

Using a network approach, we addressed in two studies interrelations among potential antecedents of vaccine intentions, related to both COVID-19 risk perception and epistemic beliefs (i.e., trust in scientists and conspiracy beliefs). In Study 1 and 2, we assessed a US (N = 994) and an international sample (N = 902) during spring and summer 2020. The network analysis reveals a complex interplay of factors where trust in scientists, the closest predictor of vaccine intention, is associated with conspiracy beliefs and danger perception. Furthermore, we found evidence for unrealistic optimism, with participants perceiving the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 as lower compared to the risk they attributed to other people. However, this bias was not associated with vaccine intention. Study 2 corroborated these results. The results call for a global change in the narrative which should highlight the epistemic authority of science in order to build a stronger trust in the scientific community. However, tackling trust in scientists needs a wider field of persuasion that includes conspiracy beliefs and risk perception factors.
Polyphase filter matrix for rational sampling rate conversions

The polyphase filter array has been used for efficient implementations of filters with integer sampling rate conversions. [1] The filter in the high sampling rate side is decomposed into its polyphase filters which can be moved to the lower sampling rate side without changing their functions. For FIR filters the computational complexity is reduced by a factor equal to the sampling rate ratio. A rational (L/M) sampling rate conversion system realized with a 1-to-L interpolator followed by an M-to-1 decimator has three sampling rates F, LF and (L/M)F involved. By using the polyphase filter array a filter operating at the sampling rate of LF can be implemented in either the input side or the output side with lower sampling rates. The polyphase filter matrix structure will operate at the sampling rate of F/M, which does not show in the above model and is lower than any one of those three rates. For FIR filters the computational complexity is reduced by a factor of LM compared to the direct realization of the integral filter or by a factor of M (or L) compared to the polyphase filter array realization while the system input-output relation is maintained.
Topological zero modes at nonzero chemical potential

We give analytical and numerical solutions for the zero modes of the Dirac operator in topological SU(2) gauge backgrounds at nonzero chemical potential. Continuation from imaginary to real chemical potential is used to systematically derive analytical zero modes for calorons at arbitrary holonomy and, in particular limits, for instantons and dyons (magnetic monopoles). For the latter a spherical ansatz is explored as well. All the zero mode exhibit stronger peaks at the core and negative regions in their densities. We discuss the structure of the corresponding overlap matrix elements. For discretized calorons on the lattice we consider the staggered operator and show that it does possess (quartet quasi-)zero modes, whose eigenmodes agree very well with the continuum profiles, also for nonzero chemical potential.
Ferroelectric Polarization Enhancement in Hafnium-Based Oxides Through Capping Layer Engineering

In this work, we investigate that the capping layer (CL) engineering of aluminum oxide (AlOx) on the dopant-free hafnium oxide (HfOx) and the hafnium zirconium oxide (HfZrOx) ferroelectric metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitors. The AlOx CL featuring large bandgap and excellent thermal stability offers a stable interface favorable for ferroelectric phase transition. Therefore, the ferroelectric polarization and high-temperature leakage current of HfZrOx MFM capacitor can be largely improved due to the combination of zirconium doping and AlOx capping effect. From the analysis of interface thermodynamic stability and leakage current mechanism, the AlOx CL effectively alleviates interface defect traps between electrode and ferroelectric HfZrOx, which lowers high-temperature leakage current, reduces ferroelectric domains pinning, enhances ferroelectric polarization, and stabilizes the long-term endurance cycling.