Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Catecholaminergic neuromodulation and selective attention jointly shape 1 perceptual decision making 2

22 Perception of sensory input is influenced by fluctuations in ongoing neural activity, most prominently driven by 23 attention and neuromodulator systems. It is currently unknown if neuromodulator activity and attention 24 differentially modulate neural activity and perception or whether neuromodulatory systems in fact control 25 attentional processes. We pharmacologically enhanced cholinergic (through donepezil) and catecholaminergic 26 (through atomoxetine) levels in humans performing a visual attention task to investigate the effects of 27 neuromodulatory drive and spatial attention on neural activity and behavior. Attention and catecholaminergic 28 enhancement both improved perceptual sensitivity by increasing the rate of evidence accumulation towards a 29 decision threshold (cholinergic effects were negligible). Electroencephalographic recordings revealed that 30 attention and catecholaminergic enhancement both modulated pre-stimulus cortical excitability, evoked sensory 31 processes and parietal evidence accumulation. Crucially however, the spatial profile and timing of these effects 32 were remarkably different. This suggests that selective attention and neuromodulatory systems shape 33 perception largely independently and in qualitatively different ways. study conducted using a randomized, double-blind crossover design. Atomoxetine (40mg), donepezil 451 (5mg) and placebo were administered in different experimental sessions, separated by at least seven days. The 452 order of drug administration was counterbalanced between participants. Experimental days started at 09:00 and 453 ended at 16:00. Atomoxetine (~2 hours) and donepezil (~4 hours) reach peak plasma levels at different latencies, 454 therefore these at different times prior to the onset tasks 457 every experimental 459 donepezil Supplementary
Imaging the neural substrate of trigeminal neuralgia pain using deep learning

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe and disabling facial pain condition and is characterized by intermittent, severe, electric shock-like pain in one (or more) trigeminal subdivisions. This pain can be triggered by an innocuous stimulus or can be spontaneous. Presently available therapies for TN include both surgical and pharmacological management; however, the lack of a known etiology for TN contributes to the unpredictable response to treatment and the variability in long-term clinical outcomes. Given this, a range of peripheral and central mechanisms underlying TN pain remain to be understood. We acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from TN patients who (1) rested comfortably in the scanner during a resting state session and (2) rated their pain levels in real time using a calibrated tracking ball-controlled scale in a pain tracking session. Following data acquisition, the data was analyzed using the conventional correlation analysis and two artificial intelligence (AI)-inspired deep learning methods: convolutional neural network (CNN) and graph convolutional neural network (GCNN). Each of the three methods yielded a set of brain regions related to the generation and perception of pain in TN. There were six regions that were identified by all three methods, including the superior temporal cortex, the insula, the fusiform, the precentral gyrus, the superior frontal gyrus, and the supramarginal gyrus. Additionally, 17 regions, including dorsal anterior cingulate cortex(dACC) and the thalamus, were identified by at least two of the three methods. Collectively, these 23 regions represent signature centers of TN pain and provide target areas for future studies relating to central mechanisms of TN.
The in fl uence of shallow core levels on the shape of REELS spectra

It is well established that the shape of spectra acquired using reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) is determined by the dielectric function. Extracting the dielectric function from REELS spectra is a real challenge as it is governed by strong multiple scattering. It is generally assumed that the contribution of shallow core levels (with binding energies over 100 eV) to the REELS data can be neglected when one interprets valence band REELS data that usually extends to, at most, 100 eV energy loss. Here we show that, especially when incoming energies over 1 keV are used, this is not the case and that the intensity of the REELS spectrum can only be calculated correctly if the shallow core levels are taken into account. The implications for this for the extraction of the dielectric function from REELS data is discussed.
Some Homological Properties of Skew PBW Extensions

We prove that if R is a left Noetherian and left regular ring then the same is true for any bijective skew PBW extension A of R. From this we get Serre's Theorem for such extensions. We show that skew PBW extensions and its localizations include a wide variety of rings and algebras of interest for modern mathematical physics such as PBW extensions, well-known classes of Ore algebras, operator algebras, diffusion algebras, quantum algebras, quadratic algebras in 3-variables, skew quantum polynomials, among many others. We estimate the global, Krull and Goldie dimensions, and also Quillen's K-groups.
Asymptotic expansion of β matrix models in the multi-cut regime

We push further our study of the all-order asymptotic expansion in β matrix models with a confining, offcritical potential, in the regime where the support of the equilibrium measure is a reunion of segments. We first address the case where the filling fractions of those segments are fixed, and show the existence of a 1{N expansion to all orders. Then, we study the asymptotic of the sum over filling fractions, in order to obtain the full asymptotic expansion for the initial problem in the multi-cut regime. We describe the application of our results to study the all-order small dispersion asymptotics of solutions of the Toda chain related to the one hermitian matrix model (β “ 2) as well as orthogonal polynomials outside the bulk. 1gaetan.borot@unige.fr 2guionnet@math.mit. edu
On the Dynamics of Induced Maps on the Space of Probability Measures

For the generic continuous map and for the generic homeomorphism of the Cantor space, we study the dynamics of the induced map on the space of probability measures, with emphasis on the notions of Li-Yorke chaos, topological entropy, equicontinuity, chain continuity, chain mixing, shadowing and recurrence. We also establish some results concerning induced maps that hold on arbitrary compact metric spaces.
Stein's method for steady-state diffusion approximations

Diffusion approximations have been a popular tool for performance analysis in queueing theory, with the main reason being tractability and computational efficiency. This dissertation is concerned with establishing theoretical guarantees on the performance of steady-state diffusion approximations of queueing systems. We develop a modular framework based on Stein's method that allows us to establish error bounds, or convergence rates, for the approximations. We apply this framework three queueing systems: the Erlang-C, Erlang-A, and $M/Ph/n+M$ systems. The former two systems are simpler and allow us to showcase the full potential of the framework. Namely, we prove that both Wasserstein and Kolmogorov distances between the stationary distribution of a normalized customer count process, and that of an appropriately defined diffusion process decrease at a rate of $1/\sqrt{R}$, where $R$ is the offered load. Futhermore, these error bounds are \emph{universal}, valid in any load condition from lightly loaded to heavily loaded. For the Erlang-C model, we also show that a diffusion approximation with state-dependent diffusion coefficient can achieve a rate of convergence of $1/R$, which is an order of magnitude faster when compared to approximations with constant diffusion coefficients.
Neighborhood Sorting Through Parcel Acquisitions With Negative Externalities

Residential segregation by categories, such as income and ethnicity, is prevalent in the United States. A large literature has developed to explain how various institutions affect sorting and the potential impacts of reduced diversity. Concurrently, experimental methods have been used in the literature on property to investigate questions regarding land acquisition. We combine these two streams of literature with a laboratory experiment to investigate a neighborhood where a new “neighbor” purchases parcels with attendant negative externalities for the initial residents. It is not our goal to model granular policies and institutions that either to promote or to impede neighborhood sorting. Rather, with a simple excess demand model as our guide, this paper aims to understand these negative externalities and the associated dynamics that lead to sorting in the absence of exclusionary institutions .
On separable Pauli equations

We classify (1+3)-dimensional Pauli equations for a spin-12 particle interacting with the electro-magnetic field, that are solvable by the method of separation of variables. As a result, we obtain the 11 classes of vector-potentials of the electro-magnetic field A(t,x)=(A0(t,x), A(t,x)) providing separability of the corresponding Pauli equations. It is established, in particular, that the necessary condition for the Pauli equation to be separable into second-order matrix ordinary differential equations is its equivalence to the system of two uncoupled Schrodinger equations. In addition, the magnetic field has to be independent of spatial variables. We prove that coordinate systems and the vector-potentials of the electro-magnetic field providing the separability of the corresponding Pauli equations coincide with those for the Schrodinger equations. Furthermore, an efficient algorithm for constructing all coordinate systems providing the separability of Pauli equation with a fixed vector-potential of t.
Polynomial growth of the volume of balls for zero-entropy geodesic systems

The aim of this paper is to state and prove a polynomial analogue of the classical Manning inequality, relating the topological entropy of a geodesic flow with the growth rate of the volume of balls in the universal covering. To this aim, we use a numerical conjugacy invariant for dynamical systems, the polynomial entropy. It is infinite when the topological entropy is positive. We first prove that the growth rate of the volume of balls is bounded above by means of the polynomial entropy of the geodesic flow. For the flat torus this inequality becomes an equality. We then study explicitely the example of the torus of revolution (which is a case of strict inequality). We give an exact asymptotic equivalent of the growth rate of volume of balls.
The superiority of earnings over cash flows in predicting cash flows available to investors over the long run*

Recent research has reignited the debate over whether earnings or cash flows better predict future cash flows. These studies and prior work generally focus on predicting future operating cash flows over the short run (one to three years ahead). In contrast, we examine the ability of earnings versus cash flows to predict cash flows available to investors after investment outlays over the long run (up to 20 years), which have a greater impact on equity valuation than near-term operating cash flows. We show that earnings dominate cash flows in predicting free cash flows over the long run, and this superiority is attributable in part to earnings’ inclusion of long-term investment accruals. We also find the superiority of earnings over cash flows and the importance of long-term investment accruals are more pronounced among firms with more volatile investment activities and longer investment cycles. Overall, our results help explain why earnings, not cash flows, are the predominant metric used for valuation and contracting purposes.
Breaking Barriers to Women’s Advancement in the Public Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

Women in Africa have continued to make considerable progress in their stride to be part of the social, political, economic, and governance issues of the continent. However, despite their efforts, women are still underrepresented in the senior leadership levels of the public sector in Sub-Saharan African countries (SSA). This study attempts to examine the current status of women in decision-making roles, barriers to women’s career advancement, and possible strategies to improve women’s involvement in decision-making roles of the public sector in SSA. To achieve these aims, two approaches are followed: an extensive review of existing research and a survey with professional women (African Leaders of Tomorrow Fellows). More than two dozen empirical studies, global and regional reports, and books were thoroughly reviewed and analyzed. To explore the lived experiences of women leaders in Africa, surveys and interviews were also held with African professional women (ALT scholars). The study revealed that women are slowly but increasingly participating in areas of public life in most SSA countries. However, the whole picture of this study shows that Africa needs to work hard to increase women’s representation in the leadership arenas of its public sectors. This study has also identified social norms and cultural factors as the most prominent barriers to women’s participation in the decision-making roles of the public sector. Work-life imbalance, discriminatory organizational structures and practices, and conflict and instability are also some of the hurdles that women have to overcome before they assume senior leadership roles. To address these gender imbalances, a combination of actions including affirmative action, quota system, mentoring and capacity-building programs, childcare centers, and attitudinal change strategies have been suggested to be implemented at organizational and national levels in SSA countries.
Vanishing theorems on (l|k)-strong Kaehler manifolds with torsion

We derive sufficient conditions for the vanishing of plurigenera, $p_m(J), m>0$, on compact (l|k)-strong, $\omega^l\wedge \partial\bar\partial \omega^k=0$, Kaehler manifolds with torsion. In particular, we show that the plurigenera of compact (l|k)-strong manifolds, k<n-1, for which the holonomy of the unique Hermitian connection with skew-symmetric torsion is contained in SU(n) vanish. As a consequence all generalized k-Gauduchon manifolds with holonomy of the Hermitian connection with skew-symmetric torsion contained in SU(n) do not admit holomorphic (n,0) forms. Furthermore we show that all conformally balanced, (l|k)-strong Kaehler manifolds with torsion, k<n-1, are K\"ahler. We also give several compact examples of (l|k)-strong Kaehler and Calabi-Yau manifolds with torsion.
Morphological and Genetic Diversity Study of Upland Rice Varieties under Rainfed Environment

Rain-fed Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Fogera Northwest Amhara region to study the morphological traits to variability in 20 upland rice varieties, consisting of nine NERICA and eleven parents. The data were collected from ten randomly selected plants of each plot (plant height, panicle length, culm length, flag-leaf length, number of spikelet per panicle, number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle, numbers of fertile tillers per plant, yield per plant) and from plot bases (days to heading, days to maturity, grain-filling period, thousand-seed weight, biomass yield, grain yield, and harvest index). The results of the principal component analysis showed that four components account for 76.7% of the total variation, giving a clear idea of the structure underlying the variables analysed. Cluster analysis using un-weighted Pair Group Method using Arithmetic Average linkage (UWPGMA) classified the twenty varieties into five distinct groups. The maximum inter-cluster distances were; recorded 8.05 between cluster I & V, 6.67 between cluster I and IV; and 5.5 between Cluster I and III, indicating that the possibility of high heterosis if individuals from these clusters are cross bred. The results of the principal component analysis were closely in line with those of the cluster analysis. This study has provided useful information, on evaluation of genetic diversity of rice varieties and will indicate the way, how plant breeders screen out large populations and to develop new breeding protocols for rice improvement.
A wireless bionic soft robotic fish using shape-memory alloy actuators

In this study, we present the construction of a wireless bionic soft robotic fish that has a silicone tail and uses shape-memory alloys (SMAs) as actuators. Even though there have been a lot of recent advancements in the field of soft robotics, the use of SMAs as actuators for soft robots is still not something that is investigated very often. In the course of this research, we plan to work toward the creation of a realistic bionic fish robot that possesses a high level of mobility in the water, in addition to being light enough, strong enough, and flexible enough. The purpose of this study is to expound on the process of optimizing the morphologies of the fish body, as well as the optimization of the electromechanical behavior of the SMAs, in order to generate swimming motions in the fish. Our attention will be on the optimization of these two aspects. This report also outlines some preliminary but promising physical tests that were conducted to create a robotic fish with the similar shape.
In Silico and In Vitro Analyses of PNPLA3 rs738409 C > G Polymorphism in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Disease and Diagnosis

Background: The polymorphism associated with liver fat content, which is well-known as PNPLA3 rs738409 (Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3), is one of the critical subjects widely investigated in the literature regarding the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide. The present research aimed to study the bioinformatics investigations of this polymorphism together with the in vitro analyses among patients with NAFLD. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, after performing bioinformatics analysis, the laboratory examination was performed in several steps. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of 53 NAFLD patients and 107 subjects with normal liver ultrasounds . PNPLA3 rs738409 was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The laboratory test results, including fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were collected from medical records. Finally, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 18.0. Results: The frequency of the G allele was 56% and 36% among patients and in the control group, respectively. The frequency of genotypes was 35.8% and 47.7% (CC), 17% and 31.8% (CG), 47.2% and 20.6% (GG) in patients and control groups, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for PNPLA3 rs738409 C > G were 3.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-6.98, P = 0.011) and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.25-1.83, P = 0 .44) for GG and CG genotypes, respectively. Conclusion: The findings showed the association between the GG genotype and the presence of NAFLD. Furthermore, the bioinformatics findings suggested the probable risk of the disease incidence regarding the change of hydropathic characteristics resulting from the amino acid substitution.
Mineralogy, fabric and deformation domains in D (cid:2)(cid:2) across the southwestern border of the African LLSVP

anisotropy and tight on the anisotropic and deformation scenarios in the D (cid:2)(cid:2) region. We apply this novel methodology to a large area of the D (cid:2)(cid:2) region beneath the South Atlantic, in proximity to and within the African large low seismic velocity province (LLSVP). This area of the mantle is characterized by a transition from fast to slow seismic velocity anomalies and it is thought to be the location of deep-seated plumes responsible for hotspot volcanism. Attempting to probe mantle composition and deformation along the LLSVP borders may provide key information on mantle dynamics. By analysing seismic phases sampling this region, we detect a D (cid:2)(cid:2) discontinuity over a large area beneath the South Atlantic, with inferred depth ranges ∼ 170 to ∼ 240 km above the core–mantle boundary. We ﬁnd evidence for a D (cid:2)(cid:2) reﬂector within the area of the LLSVP. Shear wave splitting observations suggest that anisotropy is present in this region of the mantle, in agreement with previous studies that partially sampled this region. We model the observations considering lattice- and shape-preferred orientation of materials expected in the D (cid:2)(cid:2) region. A regional variation of mineralogy, phase transition boundaries, and deformation direction is required to explain the data. We infer two distinct domains of mineralogy and deformation: aligned post-perovskite outside the LLSVP and aligned bridgmanite within the LLSVP. The scenario depicted by this study agrees well with the current hypotheses for the composition of the LLSVP and with the prevalence of vertical deformation directions expected to occur along the LLSVPs borders.
Framework for Accommodating Emerging Autonomous Vehicles

we develop a simulation-optimization framework to tackle the challenge of quantifying energy savings from platooning. Our optimization model determines vehicle-to-platoon assignments given the current location, speed, and destination of all the vehicles and platoons on the freeway. The simulation model takes these platooning decisions from the optimization model and implements them. Vissim is used to simulate the actions taken by all the vehicles and platoons and capture the energy expended by each vehicle over its entire trip duration. The system is simulated with and without platooning to quantify the energy savings. The optimization model is turned off when assessing the system's performance without platooning. In addition to the simulation-optimization framework, an accurate energy consumption model is developed in this project, inspired by Tadakuma and colleagues' work. The energy consumption model utilizes a hybrid prediction formula for aerodynamic drag reduction in multivehicle formations unifying both physical mechanisms and existing empirical study data. Our results show that a system-wide savings of about 3% can be realized over 160 kilometers when platoons are formed strategically.
Isotropic tori in $\mathbb{C}^m$ revisited

We show that for $m>n\geq 2$, there are at least two exact isotropic $n$-tori in $\mathbb{C}^m$ which are not Hamiltonian isotopic in $\mathbb{C}^m$, even though they are smoothly isotopic as isotropic $n$-tori. We apply this discovery to obtain more distinct non-exact isotropic tori in $\mathbb{C}^m$.
Fuzzy spaces and new random matrix ensembles

We analyze the expectation value of observables in a scalar theory on the fuzzy two sphere, represented as a generalized hermitian matrix model. We calculate explicitly the form of the expectation values in the large-N limit and demonstrate that, for any single kind of field (matrix), the distribution of its eigenvalues is still a Wigner semicircle but with a renormalized radius. For observables involving more than one type of matrix we obtain a new distribution corresponding to correlated Wigner semicircles.