Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic corticothalamic modulation of the somatosensory thalamocortical circuit during wakefulness

The feedback projections from cortical layer 6 (L6CT) to sensory thalamus have long been implicated in playing a primary role in gating sensory signaling but remain poorly understood. To causally elucidate the full range of effects of these projections, we targeted silicon probe recordings to the whisker thalamocortical circuit of awake mice selectively expressing Channelrhodopsin-2 in L6CT neurons. Through optogenetic manipulation of L6CT neurons, multi-site electrophysiological recordings, and modeling of L6CT circuitry, we establish L6CT neurons as dynamic modulators of ongoing spiking in the ventro-posterior-medial nucleus of thalamus (VPm), either suppressing or enhancing VPm spiking depending on L6CT neurons’ firing rate and synchrony. Differential effects across the cortical excitatory and inhibitory sub-populations point to an overall influence of L6CT feedback on cortical excitability that could have profound implications for regulating sensory signaling across a range of ethologically relevant conditions.
Symmetry breaking in UCA-based vortex waves

In literature, it is often said that a uniform circular array (UCA) composed of a sufficient number of radiating elements is able to generate a vortex wave with arbitrary topological charge. While providing a very simple and intuitive solution without the need for any synthesis method, the excitation of UCAs by means of a progressive phase shift does not always guarantee that vortex waves are correctly generated, since a major role is played by the symmetry and radiation properties of each individual element which constitutes the array. When the UCAs are employed in vortex communication links, these symmetry properties strongly affect the orthogonality of the channel modes and, therefore, the communication efficiency. In this work, the symmetry breaking associated with the radiation of vortex waves by UCAs and its impact on the mode orthogonality are explored in detail.
RESONANT CHARACTERISTICS OF CIRCULAR HTC SUPERCONDUCTING PRINTED ANTENNA COVERED WITH A DIELECTRIC LAYER

Effects of a superstrate layer on the resonant frequency and bandwidth of a high Tc superconducting (HTS) circular printed patch are investigated in this paper. For that, a rigorous full-wave spectral analysis of superconducting patch in multilayer configuration is described. In such an approach, the spectral dyadic Green’s function which relates the tangential electric field and currents at various conductor planes should be determined. Integral equations are solved by a Galerkin’s moment method procedure, and the complex resonance frequencies are studied with basis functions involving Chebyshev polynomials in conjunction with the complex resistive boundary condition. To include the superconductivity of the disc, its complex surface impedance is determined by using London’s equation and the model of Gorter and Casimir. Numerical results are compared with experimental results of literature as well as with the most recent published calculations using different methods. A very good agreement is obtained. Finally, superstrate loading effects are presented and discussed showing interesting enhancement on the resonant characteristics of the superconducting antenna using combinations of Chebyshev polynomials as set of basis functions.
A new large sample goodness of fit test for multivariate normality based on chi squared probability plots

ABSTRACT Based on a chi square transform of the multivariate normal data set, we proposed a technique for testing multinormality which is the sum of interpoint squared distances between an ordered set of the transformed observations and the set of the population pth quantiles of the chi squared distribution. The critical values of the test were evaluated for different sample sizes and random vector dimensions through extensive simulations. The empirical type-I-error rates and powers of the proposed test were compared with those of some other well known tests for MVN with the proposed test showing excellent results at large sample sizes.
Studies of states and state transitions in low mass X-ray binaries

We investigate the model of a disk/coronal accretion flow into a black hole. We build a numerical code to ascertain whether the inner regions of an accretion disk in X-ray binaries can transform from a cool standard disk to an advection-dominated flow through the known properties of Coulomb interaction in a two-temperature plasma, taking into account viscous heating, standard radiation processes, and thermal conduction. A hot, diffuse corona covering the whole disk is powered by accretion, but it exchanges energy with the underlying cool disk through radiative interactions and conduction. If the accretion rate is low enough, at some intermediate radius the corona begins to evaporate the cool disk away, leaving an advective coronal flow to continue towards the hole as consistent with X-ray observations that I have studied using XMM-Newton and Chandra. We show that if the accretion rate increases sufficiently, complete evaporation does not occur and the cool inner disk remains, proceeding inward to the innermost stable orbit. During spectral transitions an intermediate state has been observed whose nature is unclear, but which shows the presence of cold matter near an X-ray emitting source, along with an additional component that could come from an advective coronal flow. We build a steady-state model that includes these effects and mass exchange between the two flows through evaporation and recondensation during the soft/hard transition and create a “hysteresis” similar to that observed, along with representative spectra for each X-ray state.
Some perspectives on nonparametric statistical process control

ABSTRACT Statistical process control (SPC) charts play a central role in quality control and management. Many conventional SPC charts are designed under the assumption that the related process distribution is normal. In practice, the normality assumption is often invalid. In such cases, some articles show that certain conventional SPC charts are robust and can still be used as long as their parameters are properly chosen. Some other articles argue that results from such conventional SPC charts would not be reliable and that nonparametric SPC charts should be considered instead. In recent years, many nonparametric SPC charts have been proposed. Most of them are based on the ranking information in process observations collected at different time points. Some of them are based on data categorization and categorical data analysis. In this article, we give some perspectives on issues related to the robustness of conventional SPC charts and to the strengths and limitations of various nonparametric SPC charts.
Super-polynomial separations for quantum-enhanced reinforcement learning

Recent work on quantum machine learning has demonstrated that quantum computers can offer dramatic improvements over classical devices for data mining, prediction and classification. However, less is known about the advantages using quantum computers may bring in the more general setting of reinforcement learning, where learning is achieved via interaction with a task environment that provides occasional rewards. Reinforcement learning can incorporate data-analysis-oriented learning settings as special cases, but also includes more complex situations where, e.g., reinforcing feedback is delayed. In a few recent works, Grover-type amplification has been utilized to construct quantum agents that achieve up-to-quadratic improvements in learning efficiency. These encouraging results have left open the key question of whether super-polynomial improvements in learning times are possible for genuine reinforcement learning problems, that is problems that go beyond the other more restricted learning paradigms. In this work, we provide a family of such genuine reinforcement learning tasks, and we construct quantum-enhanced learners which learn super-polynomially faster than any classical reinforcement learning model.
Effect of Control Horizon in Model Predictive Control for Steam/Water Loop in Large-Scale Ships

This paper presents an extensive analysis of the properties of different control horizon sets in an Extended Prediction Self-Adaptive Control (EPSAC) model predictive control framework. Analysis is performed on the linear multivariable model of the steam/water loop in large-scale watercraft/ships. The results indicate that larger control horizon values lead to better loop performance, at the cost of computational complexity. Hence, it is necessary to find a good trade-off between the performance of the system and allocated or available computational complexity. In this original work, this problem is explicitly treated as an optimization task, leading to the optimal control horizon sets for the steam/water loop example. Based on simulation results, it is concluded that specific tuning of control horizons outperforms the case when only a single valued control horizon is used for all the loops.
Robust protection scheme against cyber‐physical attacks in power systems

This study presents a robust defence strategy in reaction to destabilising cyber-physical attacks launched against linear time invariant systems and its application to power systems. The proposed protection scheme aims at making the dynamics of a selected subsystem decoupled from the dynamics of the subsystem targeted by the attack. The standard decoupling methods are made robust, in spite of poor information about plant parameters and lack of state measurement, with the aid of an extended observer. In this way, it is possible to keep the protected dynamics arbitrarily close to the one of a suitably chosen stable system, so long as the dynamics being targeted by the attack remain within the prescribed bounds. The proposed defence strategy is presented in the context of modern power systems, wherein generators and transmission networks are operated by different players and shown to be effective using the Western System Coordinating Council 9-bus test power network.
A binary approach to Spanish tense and aspect: on the tense battle about the past

The present paper aims at accounting for the Spanish Imperfecto, Perfecto, Pluscuamperfecto and the Indefinido by applying three binary tense oppositions: Present vs Past, Synchronous vs Posterior and Imperfect(ive) vs Perfect(ive). For the sixteen Spanish tense forms under analysis a binary approach leads to covering twelve of them. Their relation with the preterital forms outside the range of the three oppositions is accounted for by two surgical operations: (a) the notion of Imperfect(ive) is severed from the notion of ongoing progress by restricting it to underinformation about completion and by seeing continuous tense forms as involving a more complex semantics; (b) the notion of (non-)stative is strictly severed from interference of information coming from the arguments of a verb. These theoretical moves make the way free for a formal-semantic insight into the interaction of Spanish tense and aspect. It also paves the way for a principled distinction between completion and anteriority. Restricted to tense forms pertaining to the past, our analysis sheds light on the struggle for survival of tense forms outside the binary system.
Condensational Growth of Drops Formed on Giant Sea-Salt Aerosol Particles

AbstractThe most basic aspect of cloud formation is condensational growth onto cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). As such, condensational growth of cloud drops is often assumed to be a well-understood process described by the drop growth equation. When this process is represented in models, CCN activate into cloud drops at cloud base, and it is often assumed that drops consist of pure water or that the hygroscopic contribution after drop activation is small because of the inclusion of only small CCN. Drop growth rate in adiabatic ascent in such models is proportional to supersaturation and assumed to be inversely proportional to the drop radius, thereby making the drop spectrum narrow with altitude. However, the present study demonstrates that drop growth on giant sea-salt aerosol particles (GCCN; dry radius 0.5 m) behaves differently. For typical marine stratocumulus updrafts and for drops grown on GCCN with sizes m, these drops typically remain concentrated salt solutions. Because of this, their condensat.
Assessment of normal values of Area Strain by using Three-dimensional speckle-tracking Echocardiography

Background: area strain (AS) has become a parameter of increasing concern. AS is a parameter that combines both the longitudinal and the circumferential deformations and it is acquired using three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D STE). This parameter should be used to detect pathological changes as it is more sensitive than the conventional parameters in evaluating left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Aim: The present study aimed to estimate the maximum normal systolic reference value of Area Strain in a sample of healthy subjects. Subjects and Methods: the study conducted 180 healthy subjects (33.4±9.7yrs, 94.4% males, 5.6% females). The subjects were volunteers without heart-related diseases or other diseases. They were classified into three different age groups: Group I is between the ages of 20-30, Group II is between the ages of 30-40 and Group III is between the ages of 40- 50. Results: the study showed that the mean global area strain at group I, group II and group III were -28.40 ± 2.48 %, -28.57 ± 2.73% and -28.53 ± 2.81% respectively. The mean maximum systolic global area strain of all the studied subjects was -28.50 ± 2.66%. The difference between the three groups was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: the study concluded that global area strain obtained from 3D STE may be used clinically as an additional diagnostic method since Area Strain can provide a more global and comprehensive assessment of LV systolic function than traditional parameters.
TOPOLOGICAL 3D ELEVATION DATA INTERPOLATION OF ASTER GDEM BASED ON CONTINUOUS DEFORMATION

Abstract. In Geographic Information Science, polynomial methods such as linear estimation and non-polynomial methods including Inverse Distance Weighting and Kriging have been used for elevation data interpolation. In this paper, 3D data interpolation using linear and non-linear homotopy continuation as well as advanced polynomial interpolation methods are researched. Continuous deformations that reconstruct straight lines or algebraic curves between any pair of 3D data are presented. The implemented topological mathematical algorithm for 3D elevation data interpolation is compared to Inverse Distance Weighting and Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) methods. The presented linear and non-linear mathematical algorithms show better results compared to Inverse Distance Weighting and TIN in terms of Root Mean Square Error and L-infinity.
On the Stability of Stratified Shear Flows with a Monotonic Velocity Profile without Inflection Points

A two-layer model of a stably stratified medium is employed to study the stability of flows without inflection points on a velocity profile increasing monotonically from zero to a maximum value U 0 . It is shown that, in the general case, the onset of instability occurs at an arbitrarily small density difference and perturba- tions grow on all scales at once. As the stratification is enhanced, the velocity of downstream propagation of unstable perturbations c r increases. The upper boundary of the instability region is determined by the fact that c r reaches U 0 and the perturbation turns out to be out of the phase resonance with the flow and converts to a neutral oscillation of the medium.
Under Different Priors &Two Loss Functions To Compare Bayes Estimators With Some of Classical Estimators For the Parameter of Exponential Distribution

In this study, different estimators were used for estimating parameter of the exponential distribution, such as maximum likelihood estimator, moment estimator and the Bayes estimator, by assuming six types when the prior distribution for the scale parameter is: Levy distribution, Gumbel type-II distribution, Inverse Chi-square distribution, Inverted Gamma distribution, improper distribution, Non-informative distribution . Under squared and weighted squared error loss functions. We used simulation technique, to compare the performance for each estimator, several cases from Exponential distribution for data generating, for different samples sizes (small, medium, and large). Simulation results shown that The best method is the bayes estimation according to the smallest values of MSE & MWSE for all samples sizes (n) comparative to the estimated values by using Maximum likelihood estimation method (MLE) and Moment estimation method (ME). According to obtained results, we see that when the prior distribution for θ is Inverted Gamma distribution for some values of the parameters β & α , given the best results according to the smallest values of MSE & MWSE comparative to the same values which obtained by using MLE& ME for the assuming true values by 5 . 0 θ  and for all samples sizes. When the prior distribution for θ is Improper distribution for some values of the parameters a & b, given the best results according to the smallest values of MSE & MWSE comparative to the same values which obtained by using MLE & ME for the assuming true values by 1,2,4 θ  and all samples sizes.
Geometry Analysis of Ratawi Field

Ratawi Field is a promising hydrocarbon bearing structure conforming several reservoirs. Ratawi Field lies northwest of the Basrah city and west of Northern Rumaila Field.The study focuses on the structural analysis (geometric analysis) of Ratawi Structure. Reinterpretation of Seismic Data proved that no presence of any Fault in Ratawi Structure. The Fold Classifications (Geometric Analysis) proved that Ratawi Structure is Dome and Anticline shape, Gentle, Upright and Supratenuous Fold. Keywords— Ratawi Field, Structural Analysis, Geometric Analysis, Fold Classification.
Some properties of Lorenzen ideal systems

Let $G$ be a partially ordered abelian group ($po$-group). The construction of the Lorenzen ideal $r_a$-system in $G$ is investigated and the functorial properties of this construction with respect to the semigroup $(R(G),\oplus ,\le )$ of all $r$-ideal systems defined on $G$ are derived, where for $r,s\in R(G)$ and a lower bounded subset $X\subseteq G$, $X_{r\oplus s}=X_r\cap X_s$. It is proved that Lorenzen construction is the natural transformation between two functors from the category of $po$-groups with special morphisms into the category of abelian ordered semigroups.
THE DEPICTION OF DROUGHT

AUGUST 2002 AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY | T his issue of BAMS contains several articles that emphasize how we describe the status of drought. Interest in this topic has risen because of a combination of natural and human factors. The Southwest–southern Great Plains drought of 1995–96 led to the establishment of the Western Drought Coordination Council (WDCC) by the Western Governors Association. The subsequent National Drought Policy Commission (NDPC) expanded on WDCC recommendations distilled from the western experience. Both groups emphasized climate monitoring as a necessity. In May 1999, drought in an area of tremendous climatic significance—Washington, D.C.—led to the establishment of the Drought Monitor. A small cadre of climatologists, originally in the West—the Climate Prediction Center, the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), and the National Drought Mitigation Center— were involved in every step in this sequence, and participation has gradually grown since. The Drought Monitor is both a product and an activity. An extended e-mail “conversation” takes place for about 2–3 days each week, and the results are assimilated by the “author of the week” into a consensus product in the form of a national map. During a typical week about 15–20 out of a total distribution of around 140 individuals participate, mostly from affected areas. The article by Svoboda et al. captures the flavor of the Drought Monitor very well. The discussions, ranging widely as conditions and issues unfold, have proven to be a rich source of provocative thought. It is from these and numerous earlier WDCC discussions, and other experiences over the prior 15 years, that the personal perspective has been acquired to offer the observations and comments that follow.
Model-Based Testing Applied to Software Components of Satellite Simulators

Operational simulators have a fundamental role in space programs. During a satellite operation, these simulators are essential for validating critical manoeuvres, testing new on-board software versions, and supporting the diagnosis of anomalies. With the purpose of reusing the operational simulators, the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research has proposed a new standard for the specification of the components that must be integrated in their in-house developed simulators. The new standard describes the behaviour of satellite subsystems using cause-effect tables that relate telecommands, electrical switches, equipment working states, energy consumption, telemetries, and operating modes of the subsystem. Using this new standard as input, this work proposes an approach that merges model-based testing and model checking to verify the correct implementation of new components in the satellite simulator. The verification approach consists of extracting state machines from the cause-effect tables and used it to automatically derive a test case suite. In order to validate the proposal, we applied it to three different satellite subsystems and assessed the results obtained from the test campaigns. In all the three cases, the proposed approach identified errors in the simulator components that were not initially detected by the traditional testing approach used at the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research.
A two‐scale FE‐FFT approach to nonlinear magneto‐elasticity

Fourier‐based approaches are a well‐established class of methods for the theoretical and computational characterization of microheterogeneous materials. Driven by the advent of computational homogenization techniques, Fourier schemes gained additional momentum over the past decade. In recent contributions, the interpretation of Green operators central to Fourier solvers as projections opened up a new perspective. Based on such a viewpoint, the present work addresses a multiscale framework for magneto‐mechanically coupled materials at finite strains. The key ingredient for the solution of magneto‐mechanic boundary value problems at the microscale is the construction of suitable operators in Fourier space that project vector fields onto either curl‐free or divergence‐free subspaces. The resulting linear system of equations is solved by a conjugate gradient method. In addition to that, we describe the computation of the consistent macroscopic tangent operator based on the same linear operators as the microscopic equilibrium with appropriately defined right‐hand sides. We employ the framework for the simulation of representative two‐scale boundary value problems and compare the results with pure finite element schemes.