Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An improved infrared image enhancement algorithm based on multi-scale decomposition

Due to the restriction of infrared imaging component and the radiation of atmosphere, infrared images are discontented with image contrast, blurry, large yawp. Aimed on these problems, a multi-scale image enhancement algorithm is proposed. The main principle is as follows: firstly, On the basis of the multi-scale image decomposition, We use an edge-preserving spatial filter that instead of the Gaussion filter proposed in the original version, adjust the scale-dependent factor With a weighted information. Secondly, contrast is equalized by applying nonlinear amplification. Thirdly, subband image is the weighted sum of sampled subband image and subsampled then upsampled subband image by a factor of two. Finally, Image reconstruction was applied. Experiment results show that the proposed method can enhance the original infrared image effectively and improve the contrast, moreover, it also can reserve the details and edges of the image well.
Electroweak phase transition in the scale invariant standard model

In an extension to the scale invariant standard model by two real singlet scalars $s$ and $s'$ in addition to the Higgs field, we investigate the strong first-order electroweak phase transition as a requirement for baryogenesis. This is the minimal extension to the scale invariant standard model with two extra degrees of freedom that possesses the physical Higgs mass of $125$ GeV. The scalar $s'$ being stable because of the $\mathbb Z_2$ discrete symmetry is taken as the dark matter candidate. We then show that the electroweak phase transition is strongly first-order, the dark matter relic density takes the desired value $\Omega_{\text{DM}}h^2 \sim 0.11$, and the constraints from direct detection experiments are respected only if $m_{s'}\equiv m_{\text{DM}} \gtrsim 4.5$ TeV. The model also puts a lower bound on the scalon mass, $m_s \gtrsim 200$ GeV.
Home Learning Environments During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Caregivers’ and Children’s Perceptions

ABSTRACT In this study, we explored Pre-K through 3rd-grade children’s home learning environments and caregivers’ perceptions, strategies, and attitudes regarding home learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included 10 caregivers and their Pre-K through 3rd-grade children. Data were collected via caregiver and child interviews, and a caregiver survey in Summer 2020. Descriptive statistics, and open, axial, and selective coding were used to analyze research data. Findings indicated that caregivers provided academic support for children’s learning, supervised their children’s technology use for academic purposes, and created study areas. Children’s learning activities were mainly in mathematics and language arts. During COVID-19, children completed homework and participated in activities with caregivers and siblings. Children reported missing their schools, friends, teachers, and school activities. Findings deepened our limited understanding of the home learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic from caregivers’ and children’s perspectives and illuminated possible pathways to improve children’s learning at home with the assistance of caregivers and technology use.
Modulation of near-wall turbulence in the transitionally rough regime

Direct numerical simulations of turbulent channels with rough walls are conducted in the transitionally rough regime. The effect that roughness produces on the overlying turbulence is studied using a modified triple decomposition of the flow. This decomposition separates the roughness-induced contribution from the background turbulence, with the latter essentially free of any texture footprint. For small roughness, the background turbulence is not significantly altered, but merely displaced closer to the roughness crests, with the change in drag being proportional to this displacement. As the roughness size increases, the background turbulence begins to be modified, notably by the increase of energy for short, wide wavelengths, which is consistent with the appearance of a shear-flow instability of the mean flow. A laminar model is presented to estimate the roughness-coherent contribution, as well as the displacement height and the velocity at the roughness crests. Based on the effects observed in the background turbulence, the roughness function is decomposed into different terms to analyse different contributions to the change in drag, laying the foundations for a predictive model.
The Populist Radical Right and the Pandemic

COVID-19 shocked the world and provided a particular challenge for populist radical right (PRR) forces. We lay out three research questions that this special issue addresses through case studies of the PRR in government in Brazil, Hungary, Turkey and the US and in opposition in France, Italy, Germany and Spain: (1) How have PRR actors responded to the pandemic? (2) How have PRR actors framed the politics of the pandemic? and (3) What have been the effects of the pandemic on the popularity of the PRR? We explain the case selection of this special issue and summarize the main findings of the eight case studies, which show that the pandemic did not severely damage the PRR and that they had very different responses to the challenge. This reinforces the idea that the PRR is not ephemeral but is rather the by-product of structural transformations of contemporary societies and is here for the foreseeable future.
High-resolution Navier-Stokes simulations of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability with reshock

The interaction of a Mach 1.45 shock wave with a perturbed planar interface between sulphur hexafluoride and air is studied through high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) shock-capturing adaptive mesh refinement simulations of multi-species Navier-Stokes equations. The sensitivities of time-dependent statistics on grid resolution for 2D and 3D simulations are evaluated to ensure the accuracy of the results. The numerical results are used to examine the differences between the development of 2D and 3D Richtmyer-Meshkov instability during two different stages: (1) initial growth of hydrodynamic instability from multi-mode perturbations after first shock and (2) transition to chaotic or turbulent state after re-shock. The effects of the Reynolds number on the mixing in 3D simulations are also studied through varying the transport coefficients.
Design of a Novel Circularly Polarized MIMO Antenna with Enhanced Isolation for Ultra-wideband Communication

In this paper, we propose a circularly polarized (CP) ultra-wideband (UWB) MIMO antenna. Compared with common linearly polarized (LP) UWB antenna, the proposed antenna can excite circular polarization (CP) mode for WLAN communication and its impedance bandwidth can also fully cover UWB spectrum. It consists of identical circularly polarized antennas. Each unit adopts circular monopole with extended orthogonal rectangle patch to realize broadband and symmetrical rectangular ground with slot in the diagonal of each antenna unit to achieve circular polarization for WLAN band. It has a very compact size and the dimension is 25 × 51 × 0.8 mm3. The impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna is from 3.1 GHz to 13.5 GHz, with average gain of 4 dBi, fully covering UWB bandwidth and enhanced by 38%. At the same time, circular polarization is achieved by embedding two symmetrical rectangular slot structures in the two opposite corners of every antenna unit. The extended orthogonal rectangle patch is introduced to enhance impedance bandwidth and broaden axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. The measured 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth is 1.8 GHz (4.7-6.5 GHz), fully covering WLAN band. Meanwhile, the slit slot between antenna units and rectangular openings are introduced to achieve high isolation. The proposed antenna keeps ECC (envelope correlation coefficient) below 0.01, which showing good isolation and diversity characteristics. The proposed antenna can simultaneously operate in the UWB spectrum and exhibit circularly polarized (CP) radiation characteristic in WLAN.
SWIFT image slicer: large format compact low scatter image slicing

We present the SWIFT image slicer and its novel de-magnifying design. It is based on the MPE-3D and SPIFFI image slicers, uses plane mirrors to slice the input field, but achieves a considerable de-magnification through the use of a mosaic of spherical lenses. As only plane and spherical surfaces are used in the design, classical polishing techniques can be applied to achieve very high surface accuracy and quality. This reduces aberrations and scattered light, mandatory for an image slicer working at optical wavelengths and behind an adaptive optics system. Except for the lens mosaic, the SWIFT slicer is built entirely from Zerodur and is assembled using optical contacting. We present a detailed description of the design as well as results of the early stages of its fabrication.
Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)—Fascioloides magna Interaction from the Perspective of the MHC Genes

Fascioloidosis is a parasitic disease caused by a trematode Fascioloides magna. Since major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play an important role in the immune response, the aim of this study was to compare the potential differences in MHC class II SLA-DRB1 exon 2 genes between wild boar populations from infected (cases) and non-infected areas (controls). During the winter of 2021, a total of 136 wild boar tissue samples were collected, 39 cases and 97 controls. DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina platform. Differences in distributions of allele combinations were calculated using the Chi-Square test for homogeneity and between proportions using the large-sample test and Fisher–Irwin test. Analysis revealed 19 previously described swine leucocyte antigen (SLA) alleles. The number of polymorphic sites was 79 (29.6%), with 99 mutations in total. Nucleotide diversity π was estimated at 0.11. Proportions of the alleles SLA-DRB1*12:05 (p = 0.0008379) and SLA-DRB1*0101 (p = 0.0002825) were statistically significantly higher in controls, and proportions of the SLA-DRB1*0602 (p = 0.006059) and SLA-DRB1*0901 (p = 0.0006601) in cases. Alleles SLA-DRB1*04:09, SLA-DRB1*0501, SLA-DRB1*11:09, and SLA-DRB1*1301 were detected only in cases, while SLA-DRB1*0404, SLA-DRB1*0701, SLA-DRB1*02:10, and SLA-DRB1*04:08 were present only in controls. We did not confirm the existence of specific alleles that could be linked to F. magna infection. Detected high variability of the MHC class II SLA-DRB1 exon 2 genes indicate high resistance potential against various pathogens.
VLBI Network SIMulator: An Integrated Simulation Tool for Radio Astronomers

In this paper we introduce a software package, the Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network SIMulator (VNSIM), which provides an integrated platform assisting radio astronomers to design the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) experiments and evaluate the network performance with a user-friendly interface. Though VNSIM is motivated to be designed for the East Asia VLBI Network, it can also be expandable to other VLBI networks and generic interferometers. The software package not only integrates the functionality of plotting $(u,v)$ coverage, scheduling the observation, and displaying the dirty and CLEAN images, but also further extends to add new features such as the sensitivity calculation of a certain network and multiple-satellite space VLBI simulations which are useful for future space VLBI mission. In addition, VNSIM provides flexible interactions on both command line and graphical user interface and offers friendly support for log report and database management. VNSIM also supports multiprocessing accelerations, enabling to handle large survey data. To facilitate the future development and update, each simulation function is encapsulated in different Python module allowing for independently invoking and testing. In order to verify the performance of VNSIM, we have carried out various simulations and compared the results with other simulation tools. All tests show good consistency.
The Power of Collaboration: Learning Language and Culture by Teaching

The purpose of this research is to present a means for ESL students in higher education to apply their academic knowledge and language (Cummins, 1981) to increase their local knowledge of school culture and intercultural competence (Neuliep, 2017) by working with teachers and students in a local K-12 school community. This was accomplished through a co-teaching K-12 program sponsored by a large public university that provides international college students of any major an opportunity to have a cultural and language learning experience through student teaching in a public middle school. The researcher, an ESL graduate student, along with a fellow ESL graduate student teacher pursuing a degree in food science, was partnered with two middle school teachers, observed an ESL and a science classroom, co-designed new lesson plans, and co-taught a full day of lessons weekly over one semester. Throughout the practicum, the participant researcher wrote weekly journals and reflections and attended workshops. At the end of the semester, the middle school students (n=140) completed a short questionnaire regarding their experience working with the international student teachers. The survey results indicate that the middle school students, including 40 ESL students, valued the experience of working with culturally diverse teachers. In addition, the experience benefited local teachers, as the ESL college students were able to provide linguistic, sensory, cultural, and interactive supports for content matter (Gibbons, 2014), along with innovative ideas and resources funded by grants. In the meantime, the ESL graduate students had an immersive learning experience on communicating more effectively in a school setting, both academically and interculturally. In conclusion, this collaboration program benefits ESL college students by developing their language proficiency, broadening their cultural perspective, and achieving their educational goals.
Progesterone: The Key Factor of the Beginning of Life

Progesterone is the ovarian steroid produced by the granulosa cells of follicles after the LH peak at mid-cycle. Its role is to sustain embryo endometrial implantation and ongoing pregnancy. Other biological effects of progesterone may exert a protective function in supporting pregnancy up to birth. Luteal phase support (LPS) with progesterone is the standard of care for assisted reproductive technology. Progesterone vaginal administration is currently the most widely used treatment for LPS. Physicians and patients have been reluctant to change an administration route that has proven to be effective. However, some questions remain open, namely the need for LPS in fresh and frozen embryo transfer, the route of administration, the optimal duration of LPS, dosage, and the benefit of combination therapies. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the uterine and extra-uterine effects of progesterone that may play a role in embryo implantation and pregnancy, and to discuss the advantages of the use of progesterone for LPS in the context of Good Medical Practice.
Is the dust-to-gas ratio constant in molecular clouds?

We perform numerical simulations of dusty, supersonic turbulence in molecular clouds. We model 0.1, 1 and 10 {\mu}m sized dust grains at an initial dust-to-gas mass ratio of 1:100, solving the equations of combined gas and dust dynamics where the dust is coupled to the gas through a drag term. We show that, for 0.1 and 1 {\mu}m grains, the dust-to-gas ratio deviates by typically 10-20% from the mean, since the stopping time of the dust due to gas drag is short compared to the dynamical time. Contrary to previous findings, we find no evidence for orders of magnitude fluctuation in the dust-to-gas ratio for 0.1 {\mu}m grains. Larger, 10 {\mu}m dust grains may have dust-to-gas ratios increased by up to an order of magnitude locally. Both small (0.1 {\mu}m) and large ($\gtrsim$ 1 {\mu}m) grains trace the large-scale morphology of the gas, however we find evidence for 'size-sorting' of grains, where turbulence preferentially concentrates larger grains into dense regions. Size-sorting may help to explain observations of 'coreshine' from dark clouds, and why extinction laws differ along lines of sight through molecular clouds in the Milky Way compared to the diffuse interstellar medium.
Unpacking notions of community: Critical design and exhibition as a creative participatory research method

Abstract This paper describes a case study exploring how critical design and public exhibition could be consolidated into an inclusive qualitative creative research method to engage participants in conversations about community. Past literature has acknowledged the ability of physical objects and creative methods in research to activate different lines of thinking and elicit thoughtful, in-depth responses from participants that may not have arisen through more ‘traditional’ methods of enquiry. Critical design, by nature, is intended to be a tool for starting discussion and debate. We employed this approach to inform the design of critical artefacts on the topic of community. These were then displayed at pop-up exhibitions in public spaces to engage members of the public in conversations on community. Responses informed future artefacts, which were exhibited again in an iterative cycle. We explored the potential of this research approach to both elicit and disseminate knowledge.
Intra-pixel response characterization of a HgCdTe near infrared detector with a pronounced crosshatch pattern

The “crosshatch” pattern is a recurring “feature” of HgCdTe arrays, specifically the Teledyne HAWAII family of near infrared detectors. It is a fixed pattern of high frequency QE variations along 3 directions generally thought to be related to the crystal structure of HgCdTe. The pattern is evident in detectors used in WFC3/IR, WISE, JWST, and in candidate detectors for Euclid and WFIRST. Using undersampled point sources projected onto a HAWAII-2RG detector, we show that the pattern induces photometric variations that are not removed by a flat-field calibration, thus demonstrating that the QE variations occur on scales smaller than the 18 micron pixels. Our testbed is the Precision Projector Laboratory’s astronomical scene generator, which can rapidly characterize the full detector by scanning thousands of undersampled spots. If not properly calibrated, detectors showing strong crosshatch may induce correlated errors in photometry, astrometry, spectroscopy, and shape measurements.
Vortex-type domain structure in Co-rich amorphous wires

Investigation of the surface magnetic domain structure has been performed in Co-rich, nearly zero magnetostrictive, amorphous wires using magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry and microscopy. The formation and motion of a multidomain vortex-type structure with curved domain walls have been observed in amorphous wires. The possible origins of the existence of the vortex-type structures in these amorphous wires are discussed.
Matrix Games, Mixed Strategies, and Statistical Mechanics

Matrix games constitute a fundamental problem of game theory and describe a situation of two players with completely conflicting interests. We show how methods from statistical mechanics can be used to investigate the statistical properties of optimal mixed strategies of large matrix games with random payoff matrices and derive analytical expressions for the value of the game and the distribution of strategy strengths. In particular the fraction of pure strategies not contributing to the optimal mixed strategy of a player is calculated. Both independently distributed as well as correlated elements of the payoff matrix are considered and the results compared with numerical simulations.
Horizontal photospheric flows trigger a filament eruption

Context. A large filament composed principally of two sections erupted sequentially in the southern hemisphere on January 26, 2016. The central, thick part of the northern section was first lifted up and lead to the eruption of the full filament. This event was observed in Hα with the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) and Christian Latouche IMageur Solaire (CLIMSO), and in ultraviolet (UV) with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) imager on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO). Aims. The aim of the paper is to relate the photospheric motions below the filament and its environment to the eruption of the filament. Methods. An analysis of the photospheric motions using Solar Dynamic Observatory Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (SDO/HMI) continuum images with the new version of the coherent structure tracking (CST) algorithm developed to track granules, as well as large-scale photospheric flows, has been performed. Following velocity vectors, corks migrate towards converging areas. Results. The supergranule pattern is clearly visible outside the filament channel but difficult to detect inside because the modulus of the vector velocity is reduced in the filament channel, mainly in the magnetized areas. The horizontal photospheric flows are strong on the west side of the filament channel and oriented towards the filament. The ends of the filament sections are found in areas of concentration of corks. Whirled flows are found locally around the feet. Conclusions. The strong horizontal flows with an opposite direction to the differential rotation create strong shear and convergence along the magnetic polarity inversion line (PIL) in the filament channel. The filament has been destabilized by the converging flows, which initiate an ascent of the middle section of the filament until the filament reaches the critical height of the torus instability inducing, consequently, the eruption. The n decay index indicated an altitude of 60 Mm for the critical height. It is conjectured that the convergence along the PIL is due to the large-scale size cells of convection that transport the magnetic field to their borders.
IRAC Mid-Infrared Imaging of the Hubble Deep Field-South: Star Formation Histories and Stellar Masses of Red Galaxies at z > 2

We present deep 3.6-8 μm imaging of the Hubble Deep Field-South with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We study distant red galaxies (DRGs) at z > 2 selected by Js-Ks > 2.3 and compare them with a sample of Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z = 2-3. The observed UV-to-8 μm spectral energy distributions are fitted with stellar population models to constrain star formation histories and derive stellar masses. We find that 70% of the DRGs are best described by dust-reddened star-forming models and 30% are very well fitted with old and "dead" models. Using only the I-Ks and Ks-4.5 μm colors, we can effectively separate the two groups. The dead systems are among the most massive at z ~ 2.5 (mean stellar mass ⟨M*⟩ = 0.8 × 1011 M☉) and likely formed most of their stellar mass at z > 5. To a limit of 0.5 × 1011 M☉, their number density is ~10 times lower than that of local early-type galaxies. Furthermore, we use the IRAC photometry to derive rest-frame near-infrared J, H, and K fluxes. The DRGs and LBGs together show a large variation (a factor of 6) in the rest-frame K-band mass-to-light ratios (M/LK), implying that even a Spitzer 8 μm-selected sample would be very different from a mass-selected sample. The average M/LK of the DRGs is about 3 times higher than that of the LBGs, and DRGs dominate the high-mass end. The M/LK values and ages of the two samples appear to correlate with derived stellar mass, with the most massive galaxies being the oldest and having the highest mass-to-light ratios, similar to what is found in the low-redshift universe.