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Soil texture is key information in agriculture for improving soil knowledge and crop performance, so the accurate mapping of this crucial feature is imperative for rationally planning cultivations and for targeting interventions. We studied the relationship between radioelements and soil texture in the Mezzano Lowland (Italy), a 189 $km^2$ agricultural plain investigated through a ded-icated airborne gamma-ray spectroscopy survey. The K and Th abundances were used to retrieve the clay and sand content by means of a multi-approach method. Linear (simple and multiple) and non-linear (machine learning algorithms with deep neural networks) predictive models were trained and tested adopting a 1:50,000 scale soil texture map. The comparison of these approaches highlighted that the non-linear model introduces significant improvements in the prediction of soil texture fractions. The predicted maps of the clay and of the sand content were compared with the regional soil maps. Although the macro-structures were equally present, the airborne gam-ma-ray data permits us shedding light on finer features. Map areas with higher clay content were coincident with paleo-channels crossing the Mezzano Lowland in Etruscan and Roman periods, confirmed by the hydrographic setting of historical maps and by the geo-morphological features of the study area., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, correspondence to Andrea Maino via email at maino@fe.infn.it

This article presents a few selected developments and future ideas related to the measurement of $(n,\gamma)$ data of astrophysical interest at CERN n_TOF. The MC-aided analysis methodology for the use of low-efficiency radiation detectors in time-of-flight neutron-capture measurements is discussed, with particular emphasis on the systematic accuracy. Several recent instrumental advances are also presented, such as the development of total-energy detectors with $\gamma$-ray imaging capability for background suppression, and the development of an array of small-volume organic scintillators aimed at exploiting the high instantaneous neutron-flux of EAR2. Finally, astrophysics prospects related to the intermediate $i$ neutron-capture process of nucleosynthesis are discussed in the context of the new NEAR activation area., Comment: preprint submitted to the European Physical Journal A, 11 pages, 4 figures

In this paper, we study the hypercyclic composition operators on weighted Banach spaces of functions defined on discrete metric spaces. We show that the only such composition operators act on the "little" spaces. We characterize the bounded composition operators on the little spaces, as well as provide various necessary conditions for hypercyclicity.

Let $\mathcal{L}$ be the space of complex-valued functions $f$ on the set of vertices $T$ of an rooted infinite tree rooted at $o$ such that the difference of the values of $f$ at neighboring vertices remains bounded throughout the tree, and let $\mathcal{L}_{\textbf{w}}$ be the set of functions $f\in \mathcal{L}$ such that $|f(v)-f(v^-)|=O(|v|^{-1})$, where $|v|$ is the distance between $o$ and $v$ and $v^-$ is the neighbor of $v$ closest to $o$. In this article, we characterize the bounded and the compact multiplication operators between $\mathcal{L}$ and $\mathcal{L}_{\textbf{w}}$, and provide operator norm and essential norm estimates. Furthermore, we characterize the bounded and compact multiplication operators between $\mathcal{L}_{\textbf{w}}$ and the space $L^\infty$ of bounded functions on $T$ and determine their operator norm and their essential norm. We establish that there are no isometries among the multiplication operators between these spaces.

We study the multiplication operators on the weighted Lipschitz space $\mathcal{L}_{\textbf{w}}$ consisting of the complex-valued functions $f$ on the set of vertices of an infinite tree $T$ rooted at $o$ such that $\sup_{v\neq o}|v||f(v)-f(v^-)|<\infty$, where $|v|$ denotes the distance between $o$ and $v$ and $v^-$ is the neighbor of $v$ closest to $o$. For the multiplication operator, we characterize boundedness, compactness, provide estimates on the operator norm and the essential norm, and determine the spectrum. We prove that there are no isometric multiplication operators or isometric zero divisors on $\mathcal{L}_{\textbf{w}}$., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2207.12212

In this paper, we present the current results in the study of weighted composition operators on the Bloch space of bounded homogeneous domains in $\mathbb{C}^n$ with particular emphasis on the issues of boundedness and compactness. We also discuss the bounded and the compact weighted composition operators from the Bloch space to the Hardy space $H^\infty$.

In this article, we characterize the bounded and the compact multiplication operators between distinct iterated logarithmic Lipschitz spaces, and between the Lipschitz space and an iterated logarithmic Lipschitz space of an infinite tree. In addition, we provide operator norm estimates and show that there are no isometries among such operators. %We obtain a new characterization of the bounded multiplication operators acting on an iterated logarithmic Lipschitz space and the compact multiplication operators between the weighted Lipschitz space and the Lipschitz space.

We introduce a class of iterated logarithmic Lipschitz spaces $\mathcal{L}^{(k)}$, $k\in\mathbb{N}$, on an infinite tree which arise naturally in the context of operator theory. We characterize boundedness and compactness of the multiplication operators on $\mathcal{L}^{(k)}$ and provide estimates on their operator norm and their essential norm. In addition, we determine the spectrum, characterize the multiplication operators that are bounded below, and prove that on such spaces there are no nontrivial isometric multiplication operators and no isometric zero divisors.

Let $D$ be a bounded homogeneous domain in $\mathbb{C}^n$. In this paper, we study the bounded and the compact weighted composition operators mapping the Hardy space $H^\infty(D)$ into the Bloch space of $D$. We characterize the bounded weighted composition operators, provide operator norm estimates, and give sufficient conditions for compactness. We prove that these conditions are necessary in the case of the unit ball and the polydisk. We then show that if $D$ is a bounded symmetric domain, the bounded multiplication operators from $H^\infty(D)$ to the Bloch space of $D$ are the operators whose symbol is bounded.

Camera traps are a method for monitoring wildlife and they collect a large number of pictures. The number of images collected of each species usually follows a long-tail distribution, i.e., a few classes have a large number of instances, while a lot of species have just a small percentage. Although in most cases these rare species are the ones of interest to ecologists, they are often neglected when using deep-learning models because these models require a large number of images for the training. In this work, a simple and effective framework called Square-Root Sampling Branch (SSB) is proposed, which combines two classification branches that are trained using square-root sampling and instance sampling to improve long-tail visual recognition, and this is compared to state-of-the-art methods for handling this task: square-root sampling, class-balanced focal loss, and balanced group softmax. To achieve a more general conclusion, the methods for handling long-tail visual recognition were systematically evaluated in four families of computer vision models (ResNet, MobileNetV3, EfficientNetV2, and Swin Transformer) and four camera-trap datasets with different characteristics. Initially, a robust baseline with the most recent training tricks was prepared and, then, the methods for improving long-tail recognition were applied. Our experiments show that square-root sampling was the method that most improved the performance for minority classes by around 15%; however, this was at the cost of reducing the majority classes' accuracy by at least 3%. Our proposed framework (SSB) demonstrated itself to be competitive with the other methods and achieved the best or the second-best results for most of the cases for the tail classes; but, unlike the square-root sampling, the loss in the performance of the head classes was minimal, thus achieving the best trade-off among all the evaluated methods.

Purpose: We want to analyze transitions to low-lying excited states of the residual and ejectile nuclei in the 76Se(18O, 17O) 77Se one-neutron stripping reaction at 275-MeV incident energy and determine the role of single-particle and core excitation in the description of the measured cross sections. In addition, we explore the sensitivity of the calculated cross section to different nuclear structure models. Methods: The excitation energy spectrum and the differential cross-section angular distributions are measured using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer for the detection of the ejectiles and the missing mass technique for the reconstruction of the reaction kinematics. The data are compared with calculations based on distorted-wave Born approximation, coupled-channels Born approximation, and coupled reaction channels adopting spectroscopic amplitudes for the projectile and target overlaps derived by large-scale shell-model calculations and interacting boson-fermion model. Results: Peaks in the energy spectra corresponding to groups of unresolved transitions to 77Se and 17O are identified. The experimental cross sections are extracted and compared to theoretical calculations. A remarkable agreement is found, without using any scaling factors, demonstrating that the adopted models for nuclear structure and reaction take into account the relevant aspects of the studied processes. The main transitions which contribute to the cross section of each peak are identified., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures

The paper explores the feasibility of using machine learning techniques, in particular neural networks, for classification of the experimental data from the joint $^\text{nat}$C(n,p) and $^\text{nat}$C(n,d) reaction cross section measurement from the neutron time of flight facility n_TOF at CERN. Each relevant $\Delta E$-$E$ pair of strips from two segmented silicon telescopes is treated separately and afforded its own dedicated neural network. An important part of the procedure is a careful preparation of training datasets, based on the raw data from Geant4 simulations. Instead of using these raw data for the training of neural networks, we divide a relevant 3-parameter space into discrete voxels, classify each voxel according to a particle/reaction type and submit these voxels to a training procedure. The classification capabilities of the structurally optimized and trained neural networks are found to be superior to those of the manually selected cuts., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables

In the transition from nuclear matter to finite nuclei, complex finite-size effects which characterise open systems arise, in relation with either the nuclear surface or the bulk. In addition, the non-equilibrium character of the process, typical of violent heavy-ion collisions (from Fermi energy to the intermediate-energy domain) adds up as well. The resulting dynamics is the combination of surface and volume unstable modes which trigger large-amplitude fluctuations. A rich variety of fragmentation patterns may emerge, ranging from collimated streams of nuclear clusters to the split of a stretched nuclear complex into few large fragments. They imply different conditions of density and surface tension, and result in different chronologies. Such phenomenology has been observed in experiments, but it is often difficult to recognise and disentangle the underlying types of instabilities. To draw some example, two extremely deformed nuclear systems, produced below and above Fermi energy, are chosen and followed microscopically all along their evolution within the Boltzmann-Langevin One-Body approach., Comment: International Workshop on Multi facets of Eos and Clustering IWM-EC, Caen, 23-26 November 2021

Koopmans spectral functionals aim to describe simultaneously ground state properties and charged excitations of atoms, molecules, nanostructures and periodic crystals. This is achieved by augmenting standard density functionals with simple but physically motivated orbital-density-dependent corrections. These corrections act on a set of localized orbitals that, in periodic systems, resemble maximally localized Wannier functions. At variance with the original, direct supercell implementation [Phys. Rev. X 8, 021051 (2018)], we discuss here i) the complex but efficient formalism required for a periodic-boundary code using explicit Brillouin zone sampling, and ii) the calculation of the screened Koopmans corrections with density-functional perturbation theory. In addition to delivering improved scaling with system size, the present development makes the calculation of band structures with Koopmans functionals straightforward. The implementation in the open-source Quantum ESPRESSO distribution and the application to prototypical insulating and semiconducting systems are presented and discussed.

Transport models are the main method to obtain physics information from low to relativistic-energy heavy-ion collisions. The Transport Model Evaluation Project (TMEP) has been pursued to test the robustness of transport model predictions in reaching consistent conclusions from the same type of physical model. Calculations under controlled conditions of physical input and set-up were performed with various participating codes. These included both calculations of nuclear matter in a box with periodic boundary conditions, and more realistic calculations of heavy-ion collisions. In this intermediate review, we summarize and discuss the present status of the project. We also provide condensed descriptions of the 26 participating codes, which contributed to some part of the project. These include the major codes in use today. We review the main results of the studies completed so far. They show, that in box calculations the differences between the codes can be well understood and a convergence of the results can be reached. These studies also highlight the systematic differences between the two families of transport codes, known as BUU and QMD type codes. However, when the codes were compared in full heavy-ion collisions using different physical models, as recently for pion production, they still yielded substantially different results. This calls for further comparisons of heavy-ion collisions with controlled models and of box comparisons of important ingredients, like momentum-dependent fields, which are currently underway. We often indicate improved strategies in performing transport simulations and thus provide guidance to code developers. Results of transport simulations of heavy-ion collisions from a given code will have more significance if the code can be validated against benchmark calculations such as the ones summarized in this review., Comment: 114 pages, 14 figures, 479 references, accepted for publication in Progress of Particle and Nuclear Phsics

Charge exchange (CE) reactions offer a major opportunity to excite nuclear isovector modes, providing clues about the nuclear interaction in the medium. Moreover, double charge exchange (DCE) reactions are proving to be a tempting tool to access nuclear transition matrix elements (NME) related to double beta-decay processes. Through a multi-channel experimental analysis and a consistent theoretical approach of the $^{116}$Cd($^{20}$Ne,$^{20}$F)$^{116}$In single charge exchange (SCE) reaction at 306 MeV, we aim at disentangling from the experimental cross section the contribution of the competing mechanisms, associated with second or higher order sequential transfer and inelastic processes. We measured excitation energy spectra and absolute cross sections for elastic + inelastic, one-proton transfer and SCE channels, using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer to detect the ejectiles. For the first two channels, we also extracted the experimental cross section angular distributions. The experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions obtained by performing two-step distorted wave Born approximation and coupled reaction channel calculations. We employ spectroscopic amplitudes for single-particle transitions derived within a large-scale shell model approach and different optical potentials for modeling the initial and the final state interactions. The present study significantly mitigates the possible model dependence existing in the description of these complex reaction mechanisms, thanks to the reproduction of several channels at once. In particular, our work demonstrates that the two-step transfer mechanisms produce a non negligible contribution to the total cross section of the $^{116}$Cd($^{20}$Ne,$^{20}$F)$^{116}$In reaction channel, although a relevant fraction is still missing, being ascribable to the direct SCE mechanism, which is not addressed here., Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures

The 235U(n,f) cross section was measured in a wide energy range (25 meV - 170 keV) at the n_TOF facility at CERN, relative to 6Li(n,t) and 10B(n,alpha) standard reactions, with high resolution and accuracy, with a setup based on a stack of six samples and six silicon detectors placed in the neutron beam. In this paper we report on the results in the region between thermal and 10 keV neutron energy. A resonance analysis has been performed up to 200 eV, with the code SAMMY. The resulting fission kernels are compared with the ones extracted on the basis of the resonance parameters of the most recent major evaluated data libraries. A comparison of the n_TOF data with the evaluated cross sections is also performed from thermal to 10 keV neutron energy for the energy-averaged cross section in energy groups of suitably chosen width. A good agreement is found in average between the new results and the latest evaluated data files ENDF-B/VIII and JEFF-3.3, as well as with respect to the IAEA reference files. However, some discrepancies are still present in some specific energy regions. The new dataset here presented, characterized by unprecedented resolution and accuracy, can help improving the evaluations in the Resolved Resonance Region and up to 10 keV, and reduce the uncertainties that affect this region.

Koopmans-compliant functionals provide an orbital-density-dependent framework for an accurate evaluation of spectral properties; they are obtained by imposing a generalized piecewise-linearity condition on the total energy of the system with respect to the occupation of any orbital. In crystalline materials, due to the orbital-density-dependent nature of the functionals, minimization of the total energy to a ground state provides a set of minimizing variational orbitals that are localized and thus break the periodicity of the underlying lattice. Despite this, we show that Bloch symmetry can be preserved and it is possible to describe the electronic states with a band-structure picture, thanks to the Wannier-like character of the variational orbitals. We also present a method to unfold and interpolate the electronic bands from supercell ($\Gamma$-point) calculations, which enables us to calculate full band structures with Koopmans-compliant functionals. The results obtained for a set of benchmark semiconductors and insulators show very good agreement with state-of-the-art many-body perturbation theory and experiments, underscoring the reliability of these spectral functionals in predicting band structures., Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures

Background: Heavy-ion induced two-nucleon transfer reactions are powerful tools to reveal peculiar aspects of the atomic nucleus, such as pairing correlations, single-particle and collective degrees of freedom, and more. Also, these processes are in competition with the direct meson exchange in the double charge exchange reactions, which have recently attracted great interest due to their possible connection to neutrinoless double-beta decay. In this framework, the exploration of two-nucleon transfer reactions in the 20Ne+116Cd collision at energies above the Coulomb barrier is particularly relevant since the 116Cd nucleus is a candidate for the double-beta decay. Methods: We measured the excitation energy spectra and absolute cross sections for the two reactions using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer to detect the ejectiles. We performed direct coupled reaction channels and sequential distorted wave Born approximation calculations using the double folding S\~ao Paulo potential to model the initial and final state interactions. The spectroscopic amplitudes for two- and singleparticle transitions were derived by different nuclear structure approaches: microscopic large-scale shell model, interacting boson model-2 and quasiparticle random phase approximation. Results: The calculations are able to reproduce the experimental cross sections for both two-neutron and twoproton transfer reactions. The role of couplings with the inelastic channels are found to be important in the two-proton transfer case. A competition between the direct and the sequential process is found in the reaction mechanism. For the two-proton transfer case, the inclusion of the 1g7/2 and 2d5/2 orbitals in the model space is crucial.

The potential of lead-halide perovskites for realistic applications is currently hindered by their limited long-term stability under functional activation. While the role of lattice flexibility in the thermal response of perovskites has become increasingly evident, the description of thermally-induced distortions is still unclear. In this work, we provide a unified picture of thermal activation in CsPbBr3 across length scales, showing that lattice symmetry does not increase at high temperatures. We combine temperature-dependent XRD, Br K-edge XANES, ab initio MD simulations, and calculations of the XANES spectra by first-principles, accounting for both thermal fluctuations and core hole final state effects. We find that the octahedral tilting of the Pb-Br inorganic framework statistically adopts multiple local configurations over time - in the short-range. In turn, the stochastic nature of the local thermal fluctuations uplifts the longer-range periodic octahedral tilting characterizing the low temperature structure, with the statistical mean of the local configurations resulting in a cubic-like time-averaged lattice. These observations can be rationalized in terms of displacive thermal phase transitions through the soft mode model, in which the phonon anharmonicity of the flexible inorganic framework causes the excess free energy surface to change as a function of temperature. Our work demonstrates that the effect of thermal dynamics on the XANES spectra can be effectively described for largely anharmonic systems, provided ab initio MD simulations are performed to determine the dynamically fluctuating structures, and core hole final state effects are included in order to retrieve an accurate XANES line shape. Moreover, it shows that the soft mode model, previously invoked to describe displacive thermal phase transitions in oxide perovskites, carries a more general validity.

The atomic structure of well-ordered single steps on the Si(111)-\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}-Sn surface and the dynamics of Sn adatoms in the vicinity of these steps was studied. The work was performed using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and ab initio calculations based on the density-functional theory. The STM tip was used to record the tunneling current versus time on top of oscillating adatoms, keeping the feedback loop turned off. The dynamics of adatoms, detected as the telegraph noise present in the tunneling current, was registered near the steps at 80 K. The atomic structure model of the single steps consisting of Sn atomic chains along the steps was developed. This structure leads to the formation of potential double wells near the steps acting as traps for Sn atoms and explains the fluctuating current recorded in these areas., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures