Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Completion of the GOYA photometric survey

The Galaxy Origins and Young Assembly (GOYA) survey is designed to study the formation and evolution of 1 < z < 3 galaxies with the aim of learning on the epoch and the mechanisms by which galaxies assembled the bulk of their stars and acquired their present structure and dynamics. Since 1998 GOYA has been the scientific driver behind EMIR, an ambitious common-user near-infrared multi-object spectrograph for GranTeCan, and as a result it will benefit from half its guaranteed time. In preparation for the exploitation of EMIR, in 2000 we started a deep near-infrared photometric survey, for sample selection and characterisation. Now that this research has reached its final stages, we report here on its current status and its finalisation plans. Overall, this survey has images of ∼0.5 square degrees of high-latitude sky to limiting AB magnitude Ks = 23.7 (3-σ, 1'' aperture) and corresponding depths at U, B, V, R, I and J. The sample of sources obtained is being extended to include fields available to Gemini-S, since a recent collaboration with the Flamingos-2 Early Science Survey Team grants GOYA privileged access to this pioneering near-infrared multi-object spectrograph.
On the Cost of Near-Perfect Wear Leveling in Flash-Based SSDs

Wear leveling (WL) techniques in flash-based SSDs aim at distributing the erase cycles as uniformly as possible across the memory blocks within the SSD to extend its life span. The downside of any WL technique is that it causes additional internal write operations, thereby increasing the so-called write amplification (WA) factor, which equals the ratio between the total number of writes performed and the number of writes requested by the host system. In this article, we address the question whether near-perfect WL is possible at low costs in terms of the WA factor. We answer this question affirmatively by presenting a simple randomized algorithm that combines WL with garbage collection. This algorithm guarantees that the wear is nearly perfectly balanced at all times while causing a low increase in the WA. This is demonstrated mathematically using a mean field model in case of uniform random writes and using trace-driven simulation experiments for general workloads.
Optimizing Mixed Autonomy Traffic Flow with Decentralized Autonomous Vehicles and Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning

We study the ability of autonomous vehicles to improve the throughput of a bottleneck using a fully decentralized control scheme in a mixed autonomy setting. We consider the problem of improving the throughput of a scaled model of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge: a two-stage bottleneck where four lanes reduce to two and then reduce to one. Although there is extensive work examining variants of bottleneck control in a centralized setting, there is less study of the challenging multi-agent setting where the large number of interacting AVs leads to significant optimization difficulties for reinforcement learning methods. We apply multi-agent reinforcement algorithms to this problem and demonstrate that significant improvements in bottleneck throughput, from 20% at a 5% penetration rate to 33% at a 40% penetration rate, can be achieved. We compare our results to a hand-designed feedback controller and demonstrate that our results sharply outperform the feedback controller despite extensive tuning. Additionally, we demonstrate that the RL-based controllers adopt a robust strategy that works across penetration rates whereas the feedback controllers degrade immediately upon penetration rate variation. We investigate the feasibility of both action and observation decentralization and demonstrate that effective strategies are possible using purely local sensing. Finally, we open-source our code at https://github.com/eugenevinitsky/decentralized_bottlenecks.
Counterfactual Scenario-relevant Knowledge-enriched Multi-modal Emotion Reasoning

Multi-modal video emotion reasoning (MERV) has recently attracted increasing attention due to its potential application in human-computer interaction. This task needs to not only recognize utterance-level emotions for conspicuous speakers, but also perceive the emotions of non-speakers in videos. Existing methods focus on modeling multi-modal multi-level contexts to capture emotion-relevant clues from the complex scenarios in videos. However, the context information is far from enough to infer the emotion labels of non-speakers due to the large gap between the scenario situation and emotions labels. Inspired by the observation that humans can find solutions to complex problems with the leverage of experience and knowledge, we propose SK-MER, a Scenario-relevant Knowledge-enhanced Multi-modal Emotion Reasoning framework for MERV task, which can leverage external knowledge to enhance the video scenario understanding and emotion reasoning. Specifically, we use scenario concepts extracted from videos to build knowledge subgraphs from external knowledge bases. The knowledge subgraphs are then utilized to obtain scenario-relevant knowledge representations through dynamic knowledge graph attention. Next, we incorporate the knowledge representations into context modeling to enhance emotion reasoning with external scenario-relevant knowledge. In addition, we propose a counterfactual knowledge representation learning approach to obtain more effective scenario-relevant knowledge representations. Extensive experimental results on MEmoR dataset show that the proposed SK-MER framework achieves new state-of-the-art results.
Periodontal disease in pregnancy: A comparative prospective study

Abstract Introduction Periodontal disease affects many pregnant women and may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The object of this study was to evaluate women’s level of knowledge about this condition in pregnancy. We compared level of knowledge, participation in medical screening, and periodontal health status in pregnant women and nonpregnant controls. Material and Methods This study included 141 pregnant and 141 nonpregnant women, examined by one examiner at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University Hospital Muenster, Germany. With reference to periodontal health status, the Periodontal Screening Index was used and a questionnaire was designed to represent the level of knowledge and predisposing factors. Results Pregnant women showed a strong tendency towards higher Periodontal Screening Indices than the nonpregnant controls (P=0.058). A strong positive correlation between participation in screenings and a lower Periodontal Screening Index was measured, but no direct relation between knowledge and periodontal health was detected. However, a better level of knowledge correlated noticeably with participation in screening programs. Educational attainment was found to be a main factor correlated with periodontal health and further factors such as medical screening and smoking habits. A great number of women felt they were not sufficiently informed about oral health aspects in pregnancy. Conclusions As participation in screenings was a main item that positively correlated with healthier periodontal status, it had to be a focused element. The possible positive influence of knowledge regarding the participation in screening programs showed not only the need to spread awareness but also the need for proper education.
Modules de Hodge Polarisables

Dans [7], Deligne a introduit la notion de complexe pur, et démontré la stabilité par image directe par morphismes propres (i.e. la version relative de la conjecture de Weil). Cette théorie, combinée avec celle de faisceaux pervers, a été ensuite développée par Beilinson-Bernstein-Deligne-Gabber[l]: ils ont démontré le théorème de décomposition, et la stabilité des faisceaux pervers purs par images directes intermédiaires (en particulier, la pureté des complexes d'intersection) [loc. cit]. D'après la philosophie de Deligne [6, 7], on a conjecturé qu'il existerait des objets en car. 0, correspondant aux complexes purs, cf. [2,3,4] etc. Le but de cet article est de donner une réponse positive: en utilisant la théorie de £)-Modules filtrés, la théorie de la filtration V [17, 22] et la théorie de faisceaux pervers, on définit la notion de Module de Hodge polarisable (cf. 5.1-2), qui doit correspondre à celle de faisceau pervers pur, et on démontre la stabilité par images directes (perverses) par un morphisme projectif avec un théorème de Lefschetz fort relatif et une polarisation induite sur les parties primitives (i.e. une théorie de Hodge-Lefschetz relative), cf. 5.3. 1. Soient X une variété analytique complexe lisse, 3)x le faisceau des opérateurs différentiels analytiques muni de la filtration F par degré d'opérateur, et MF(â)x} la catégorie des . ^-Modules filtrés. On dit que (M, F)^MF(3)X} est holonome, si M est un . â^-Module holonome [16, 18] et GrM est un Gr£Dx-ModulQ cohérent (i.e. F est une bonne filtration de M[loc. cit]). Soit MFh(3)x} la sous-catégorie pleine de MF(3)X) des . â^-Modules filtrés holonomes. D'après Kashiwara [16] on a le foncteur
On the decay of low-magnetic-Reynolds-number turbulence in an imposed magnetic field

We examine the integral properties of freely decaying homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence subject to an imposed magnetic field B0 at low-magnetic Reynolds number. We confirm that, like conventional isotropic turbulence, the fully developed state possesses a Loitsyansky-like integral invariant, in this case I// = − ∫ r⊥2 〈 u⊥·u′⊥〉 dr, where 〈u(x) ·u(x + rc)〉 = 〈u·u′〉 is the usual two-point velocity correlation and the subscript ⊥ indicates components perpendicular to the imposed field. The conservation of I// for fully developed turbulence places a fundamental restriction on the way in which the integral scales can develop, i.e. it implies u⊥2 ℓ⊥4 ℓ// ≈ constant where u⊥, ℓ⊥ and ℓ// are integral scales. This constraint can be used to estimate the evolution of u⊥(t; B0), ℓ⊥(t; B0) and ℓ//(t; B0), and these theoretical decay laws are shown to be in good agreement with numerical simulations.
Robust control of period doubling bifurcations and implications for control of chaos

The stabilization of period doubling bifurcations for discrete-time nonlinear systems is investigated. Both static and dynamic feedback controllers have been studied. It is shown that generically such bifurcations can be stabilized using smooth feedback, even if the linearized system is uncontrollable at criticality. A connection is determined between control of the amplitude of a period doubled orbit and the elimination of a period doubling cascade to chaos. For illustration, the results are applied to the Henon system. <<ETX>>
A unifying model for discordant and concordant results in human neuroimaging studies of facial viewpoint selectivity

Our ability to recognize faces regardless of viewpoint is a key property of the primate visual system. Traditional theories hold that facial viewpoint is represented by view-selective mechanisms at early visual processing stages and that representations become increasingly tolerant to viewpoint changes in higher-level visual areas. Newer theories, based on single-neuron monkey electrophysiological recordings, suggest an additional intermediate processing stage invariant to mirror-symmetric face views. Consistent with traditional theories, human studies combining neuroimaging and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) methods have provided evidence of view-selectivity in early visual cortex. However, contradictory results have been reported in higher-level visual areas concerning the existence in humans of mirror-symmetrically tuned representations. We believe these results reflect low-level stimulus confounds and data analysis choices. To probe for low-level confounds, we analyzed images from two popular face databases. Analyses of mean image luminance and contrast revealed biases across face views described by even polynomials—i.e., mirror-symmetric. To explain major trends across human neuroimaging studies of viewpoint selectivity, we constructed a network model that incorporates three biological constraints: cortical magnification, convergent feedforward projections, and interhemispheric connections. Given the identified low-level biases, we show that a gradual increase of interhemispheric connections across network layers is sufficient to replicate findings of mirror-symmetry in high-level processing stages, as well as view-tuning in early processing stages. Data analysis decisions—pattern dissimilarity measure and data recentering—accounted for the variable observation of mirror-symmetry in late processing stages. The model provides a unifying explanation of MVPA studies of viewpoint selectivity. We also show how common analysis choices can lead to erroneous conclusions.
Bacterial suppressor-of-copper-sensitivity (Scs) proteins exhibit diverse thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase cellular functions

Disulfide bond (Dsb) proteins catalyse oxidative protein folding governing bacterial survival and virulence. Dsb systems in Escherichia coli K-12 are well-studied, yet what determines dithiol oxidase or disulfide reductase activity remains unknown. Past studies suggest oligomerisation of periplasmic thiol oxidoreductases dictates the direction of thiol catalytic activity. Here, we studied three suppressor-of-copper-sensitivity C (ScsC) Dsb-like proteins known to exist in the reduced state and bind to copper. These proteins adopt different quaternary structures: Salmonella enterica ScsC (StScsC) is monomeric, while ScsC from Proteus mirabilis (PmScsC) and Caulobacter crescentus (CcScsC) are trimeric. When expressed in the model organism E. coli K-12, we showed that all three ScsC proteins exhibit both dithiol oxidation and disulfide reduction activity, despite structural differences. Interestingly, while ScsC reductase function was supported by the canonical E. coli DsbD reductase, oxidase activity depended on environmental oxidation. However, an engineered monomeric PmScsC synergises with E. coli DsbB to gain dithiol oxidase activity at the expense of reductase function. Thus, oligomerisation could be one mechanism by which ScsC proteins avoid interactions with the periplasmic thiol oxidase pathway. This tightly controls their re-oxidation and maintains ScsC proteins in the reduced state required for binding and sequestering toxic levels of cellular copper.
Quantifying Yeast Microtubules and Spindles Using the Toolkit for Automated Microtubule Tracking (TAMiT)

Fluorescently labeled proteins absorb and emit light, appearing as Gaussian spots in fluorescence imaging. When fluorescent tags are added to cytoskeletal polymers such as microtubules, a line of fluorescence and even non-linear structures results. While much progress has been made in techniques for imaging and microscopy, image analysis is less well-developed. Current analysis of fluorescent microtubules uses either manual tools, such as kymographs, or automated software. As a result, our ability to quantify microtubule dynamics and organization from light microscopy remains limited. Despite the development of automated microtubule analysis tools for in vitro studies, analysis of images from cells often depends heavily on manual analysis. One of the main reasons for this disparity is the low signal-to-noise ratio in cells, where background fluorescence is typically higher than in reconstituted systems. Here, we present the Toolkit for Automated Microtubule Tracking (TAMiT), which automatically detects, optimizes, and tracks fluorescent microtubules in living yeast cells with sub-pixel accuracy. Using basic information about microtubule organization, TAMiT detects linear and curved polymers using a geometrical scanning technique. Images are fit via an optimization problem for the microtubule image parameters that are solved using non-linear least squares in Matlab. We benchmark our software using simulated images and show that it reliably detects microtubules, even at low signal-to-noise ratios. Then, we use TAMiT to measure monopolar spindle microtubule bundle number, length, and lifetime in a large dataset that includes several S. pombe mutants that affect microtubule dynamics and bundling. The results from the automated analysis are consistent with previous work and suggest a direct role for CLASP/Cls1 in bundling spindle microtubules. We also illustrate automated tracking of single curved astral microtubules in S. cerevisiae, with measurement of dynamic instability parameters. The results obtained with our fully-automated software are similar to results using hand-tracked measurements. Therefore, TAMiT can facilitate automated analysis of spindle and microtubule dynamics in yeast cells.
Pathogen-driven CRISPR screens identify TREX1 as a regulator of DNA self-sensing during influenza virus infection

Intracellular pathogens interact with host factors, exploiting those that enhance replication while countering those that suppress it. Genetic screens have begun to define the host:pathogen interface and establish a mechanistic basis for host-directed therapies. Yet, limitations of current approaches leave large regions of this interface unexplored. To uncover host factors with pro-pathogen functions, we developed a novel fitness-based screen that queries factors important during the middle-to-late stages of infection. This was achieved by engineering influenza virus to direct the screen by programing dCas9 to modulate host gene expression. A genome-wide screen identified the cytoplasmic DNA exonuclease TREX1 as a potent pro-viral factor. TREX1 normally degrades cytoplasmic DNA to prevent inappropriate innate immune activation by self DNA. Our mechanistic studies revealed that this same process functions during influenza virus infection to enhance replication. Infection triggered release of mitochondrial DNA into the cytoplasm, activating antiviral signaling via cGAS and STING. TREX1 metabolized the mitochondrial DNA preventing its sensing. Collectively, these data show that self-DNA is deployed to amplify host innate sensing during RNA virus infection, a process tempered by TREX1. Moreover, they demonstrate the power and generality of pathogen driven fitness-based screens to pinpoint key host regulators of intracellular pathogens.
Arachidonic acid does not grease the exocytotic SNARE machinery

It has been proposed that arachidonic acid stimulates neurite outgrowth by specifically activating syntaxin 3, a SNARE proteins that mediates the fusion of transport vesicles with the plasma membrane and is thus instrumental for the insertion of new membrane needed for cell growth and proliferation. Considering the important role of arachidonic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids for human health, these findings would have wide implications for everyday life. Here, I have report that the effect of arachidonic acid is caused by a nonspecific, detergent-like action on SNARE proteins in vitro. The action requires unphysiologically high concentrations, is mimicked by several detergents or detergent-like substances forming micelles regardless of whether arachidonic acid is present or not, and is thus highly unlikely to be of any physiological significance for SNARE function.
The long-lasting legacy of reproduction: lifetime reproductive success shapes expected genetic contributions of humans after 10 generations

An individual's lifetime reproductive success (LRS) measures its realized genetic contributions to the next generation, but how well does it predict this over longer periods? Here we use human genealogical data to estimate expected individual genetic contributions (IGC) and quantify the degree to which LRS, relative to other fitness proxies, predicts IGC over longer periods. This allows an identification of the life-history stages that are most important in shaping variation in IGC. We use historical genealogical data from two non-isolated local populations in Switzerland to estimate the stabilized IGC for 2230 individuals approximately 10 generations after they were born. We find that LRS explains 30% less variation in IGC than the best predictor of IGC, the number of grandoffspring. However, albeit less precise than the number of grandoffspring, we show that LRS does provide an unbiased prediction of IGC. Furthermore, it predicts IGC better than lifespan, and accounting for offspring survival to adulthood does not improve the explanatory power. Overall, our findings demonstrate the value of human genealogical data to evolutionary biology and suggest that reproduction—more than lifespan or offspring survival—impacts the long-term genetic contributions of historic humans, even in a population with appreciable migration.
An adaptive algorithm for determination of source terms in a linear parabolic problem

Abstract This paper investigates an adaptive algorithm for identification of source terms w:={F(x,t);p(t)}${w:=\lbrace F(x,t);p(t)\rbrace }$ in the linear parabolic equation u t =u xx +F(x,t)$u_t= u_{xx} + F(x,t)$ and Robin boundary condition -u x (l,t)=ν[u(l,t)-p(t)]${-u_x(l,t)= \nu [u(l,t) - p(t)]}$ from the measured final data and the measurement of the temperature in a subregion. This is based on the minimization of Tikhonov functional. We pursue the approach iteratively regularized gradient method. Results with the adaptive algorithm are presented.
Using music to identify and evaluate Knapp’s Relationship Staircase Model

This teaching activity builds students’ interpersonal competencies in identifying Mark Knapp’s Stages of Relationships (Adler, Rosenfeld, Towne, & Scott, 2012, Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication, p. 504, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston). The activity establishes a theoretical understanding of each stage and asks students to use their knowledge to identify and pair the stages with popular song lyrics. The benefits of using music in the classroom are described and then the Staircase Model is introduced, followed by an outline of the activity and a debrief. Lastly, variations are described. Courses Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Communication, Intercultural Communication. Objectives This activity engages students in discussion about Knapp’s Relational Staircase Model. By the end of this activity, students will be able to connect songs and lyrics to identify and interpret specific relational stages. Students will also be able to articulate their perceptions for where lines between cultural or personal expectations may blur. This activity also challenges students to identify their own expectations of relationship progression and dissolution while unpacking interpretations.
Effect of calcination temperature on the structural and electrical properties of low temperature sintered the (Na0.52K0.44Li0.04)(Nb0.88Sb0.08Ta0.04)O3 textured ceramics

Abstract The 1.5 mol% Na2O excess (Na0.52K0.44Li0.04)(Nb0.88Sb0.08Ta0.04)O3 (NKN-LST) matrix powders were calcined at 500–950 °C. A perovskite structure of calcined powders without crystallinity obtains calcined at 550 °C. As the calcination temperature increases to 750 °C, NKN-LST powders have a single orthogonal structure. When the calcination temperature ≥800 °C, NKN-LST powders form tetragonal structure. In the calcination temperature range of 800–900 °C, it can be seen that there exists a two-phase coexistence of orthogonal and tetragonal structure in NKN-LST powders. Highly textured (001)-NKN-LST were prepared by the templated grain growth (TGG) using a two-step thermal process with Na2O as a low temperature sintering aid. And the texture and properties of NKN-LST textured ceramics have a great influence on the calcination temperature of matrix materials. The optimum electrical properties of NKN-LST ceramics with an orientation degree of 98.9%, a d 33 of 442 pC/N, a k p of 0.58, an ε 33 T of 2935, were calcined at 750 °C, sintered for 1115 °C, 8 h. Therefore, the reduction of calcination temperature induces a significant advancement of 1.5 mol% Na2O excess NKN-LST textured ceramics.