Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The catecholamine precursor Tyrosine reduces autonomic arousal and decreases decision thresholds in reinforcement learning and temporal discounting

Supplementation with the catecholamine precursor L-Tyrosine might enhance cognitive performance, but overall findings are mixed. Here, we investigate the effect of a single dose of tyrosine (2g) vs. placebo on two catecholamine-dependent trans-diagnostic traits: model-based control during reinforcement learning (2-step task) and temporal discounting, using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design (n = 28 healthy male participants). We leveraged drift diffusion models in a hierarchical Bayesian framework to jointly model participants’ choices and response times (RTS) in both tasks. Furthermore, comprehensive autonomic monitoring (heart rate, heart rate variability, pupillometry, spontaneous eye blink rate) was performed both pre- and post-supplementation, to explore potential physiological effects of supplementation. Across tasks, tyrosine consistently reduced participants’ RTs without deteriorating task-performance. Diffusion modeling linked this effect to attenuated decision-thresholds in both tasks and further revealed increased model-based control (2-step task) and (if anything) attenuated temporal discounting. On the physiological level, participants’ pupil dilation was predictive of the individual degree of temporal discounting. Tyrosine supplementation reduced physiological arousal as revealed by increases in pupil dilation variability and reductions in heart rate. Supplementation-related changes in physiological arousal predicted individual changes in temporal discounting. Our findings provide first evidence that tyrosine supplementation might impact psychophysiological parameters, and suggest that modeling approaches based on sequential sampling models can yield novel insights into latent cognitive processes modulated by amino-acid supplementation.
SigH stress response mediates killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by activating nitronaphthofuran prodrugs via induction of Mrx2 expression

Abstract The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains highlights the need to discover anti-tuberculosis drugs with novel mechanisms of action. Here we discovered a mycobactericidal strategy based on the prodrug activation of selected chemical derivatives classified as nitronaphthofurans (nNFs) mediated by the coordinated action of the sigH and mrx2 genes. The transcription factor SigH is a key regulator of an extensive transcriptional network that responds to oxidative, nitrosative, and heat stresses in M. tuberculosis. The nNF action induced the SigH stress response which in turn induced the mrx2 overexpression. The nitroreductase Mrx2 was found to activate nNF prodrugs, killing replicating, non-replicating and intracellular forms of M. tuberculosis. Analysis of SigH DNA sequences obtained from spontaneous nNF-resistant M. tuberculosis mutants suggests disruption of SigH binding to the mrx2 promoter site and/or RNA polymerase core, likely promoting the observed loss of transcriptional control over Mrx2. Mutations found in mrx2 lead to structural defects in the thioredoxin fold of the Mrx2 protein, significantly impairing the activity of the Mrx2 enzyme against nNFs. Altogether, our work brings out the SigH/Mrx2 stress response pathway as a promising target for future drug discovery programs.
Can electricity liberalisation foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies?

Summary The paper investigates the effect of electricity liberalisation on the variety of clean energy patent’ search space to asses whether a more competitive electricity market can foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies. This idea is tested using a cross-section of patents filed in the period 1990-2017, a set of patent-level indicators and an instrumental variable approach. Results show that electricity liberalisation pushes clean-energy patents to cite knowledge from technological fields other than their own. However, the reform does not significantly affect the overall breath of the knowledge base of these patents. Additional insights are drawn by looking at the correlation between electricity liberalisation and an indicator of novelty in patents’ search space. The results are consistent with the claim that electricity liberalisation has a positive effect on the development of radical clean-energy technologies. At the same time, by describing how the reform changes clean-energy patents’ search space, they define this effect more precisely.
Weak absorption detection method under broadband interference based on linear wavelength modulation spectroscopy

In complex environments, the measurement of trace gases is inevitably greatly affected by broadband absorption (such as water absorption in combustion exhaust). Based on the study of high-order harmonics in linear wavelength modulation spectroscopy, a method for detecting target gases (trace, weak absorption) in the presence of broadband absorption interference is proposed. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation work give the applicable conditions of this method. The effectiveness of this method is verified by NO2 measurement of combustion exhaust gas. This study proves the application potential of this method for the measurement of trace gases under broadband absorption interference.
The DIF-Free-Then-DIF Strategy for the Assessment of Differential Item Functioning

The DIF-free-then-DIF (DFTD) strategy consists of two steps: (a) select a set of items that are the most likely to be DIF-free and (b) assess the other items for DIF (differential item functioning) using the designated items as anchors. The rank-based method together with the computer software IRTLRDIF can select a set of DIF-free polytomous items very accurately, but it loses accuracy when tests contain many DIF items. To resolve this problem, the authors developed a new method by adding a scale purification procedure to the rank-based method and conducted two simulation studies to evaluate its performances on DIF assessment. It was found that the new method outperformed the rank-based method in identifying DIF-free items, especially when the tests contained many DIF items. In addition, the new method, combined with the DFTD strategy, yielded a well-controlled Type I error rate and a high power rate of DIF detection. In contrast, conventional DIF assessment methods yielded an inflated Type I error rate and a deflated power rate when the tests contained many DIF items favoring the same group. In conclusion, the simulation results support the new method and the DFTD strategy in DIF assessment.
Properties of a metamaterial element: Analytical solutions and numerical simulations for a singly split double ring

An equivalent circuit, consisting of bulk and distributed elements, is derived for describing the properties of a potential metamaterial element capable of providing negative effective permeability. It is the singly split double ring (SSDR), a special case of the split ring resonator (J. B. Pendry et al., IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech. 47, 2075 (1999)), obtained when the gap capacitance in the inner ring is infinitely large. The variables are the inter-ring voltage and the currents flowing in the inner and outer rings. The excitation is assumed in the form of a spatially constant temporally varying magnetic field. The functions, showing the angular variation of the variables, are found by solving a set of differential equations with boundary conditions imposed at the position of the split. It is shown from the analytical solution that the SSDR can have resonant frequencies in the full spectrum from very low to very high frequencies. It is pointed out in particular that whenever the mean diameter of th.
Feasibility of the 30 s Sit-to-Stand Test in the Telehealth Setting and Its Relationship to Persistent Symptoms in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Long COVID

Fatigue, dyspnea and pain are the main limitations of patients with long COVID. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of the 30 s sit-to-stand (30s-STS) test in the telehealth setting and its relationship to persistent symptoms in a sample of non-hospitalized patients with long COVID. A cross-sectional study was conducted in community patients with long COVID. Data collection and assessments were performed by videoconference and consisted of the fatigue assessment scale (FAS), London activity of daily living scale (LCADL), post-COVID-19 functional status (PCFS) and European quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), including the pain/discomfort dimension. The 30s-STS test was performed using a standardized protocol adapted for remote use, and the modified Borg scale (0–10) was used to assess dyspnea and lower limb fatigue immediately after the test. The feasibility of the 30s-STS test was assessed by the proportion of eligible participants who were able to complete the test. Safety was assessed by the number of adverse events that occurred during the test. Seventy-nine participants were included (median age: 44 years, 86.1% women). Performance in the 30s-STS test was 11.5 ± 3.2 repetitions with 60.8% of the sample below reference values. All eligible participants were able to complete the test. No adverse events were reported during the evaluation. Participants with lower 30s-STS performance had more fatigue and dyspnea, worse quality of life, more severe pain/discomfort, and worse functional status (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was obtained between LCADL and dyspnea, reported on the Borg scale (0–10) post 30s-STS (r = 0.71; p < 0.001). In conclusion, the 30s-STS test proved to be a feasible test to implement in the telehealth setting and is related to fatigue, dyspnea, quality of life and pain in non-hospitalized patients with long COVID. Clinicians may use this test when assessment of the physical sequelae of COVID-19 in the face-to-face setting is not possible.
Understand Simondon's Individualization of Technical Objects and Their Application in Education from a Digital Perspective

In today's society, our way of life is changing at an increasingly fast pace. For a long time before, people communicated by letters and phone calls. Now with the development of digitization, smartphones began to appear and quickly swept the market, with various social media and instant messaging. Communication Software. There are indications that our world is becoming more and more digital, and that the maturation of the Internet and computer technology has brought more complex and unpredictable effects on people than the changes brought about by mechanical technological advances before. This influence is not only on our life experience but also on cultural development. This article analyzes Si-mondon's elaboration in his book "On the Mode of Existence of Technical Objects," according to Simondon's interpretation of technological objects, taking the relational database as an example, to digital technological objects, as well as human beings in a digital environment, conduct research about technical objects included in computer science.
Numerical study of a Sahelian synoptic weather system: Initiation and mature stages of convection and its interactions with the large‐scale dynamics

A 24 h multi‐scale simulation of the life cycle of a Sahelian squall line is presented. The initial and coupling fields have been taken from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts re‐analysis (ERA‐15) after humidity corrections to avoid spurious absolute and conditional convective instabilities. Comparisons of model‐synthetic and Meteosat infra‐red radiances indicate that the simulated scenario of convection development and structure are realistic, though differences are found concerning the size of the squall line with a delay of 2–3 h. The simulated arc‐shaped structure and surface signature fit well with radar and ground station observations, respectively.
The Genetic Spectrum of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) in Qatar, a Population-Based Study

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare monogenic form of diabetes mellitus. In this study, we estimated the prevalence and genetic spectrum of MODY in the Middle Eastern population of Qatar using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 14,364 subjects from the population-based Qatar biobank (QBB) cohort. We focused our investigations on 14 previously identified genes ascribed to the cause of MODY and two potentially novel MODY-causing genes, RFX6 and NKX6-1. Genetic variations within the 16 MODY-related genes were assessed for their pathogenicity to identify disease-causing mutations. Analysis of QBB phenotype data revealed 72 subjects (0.5%) with type 1 diabetes, 2915 subjects (20.3%) with type 2 diabetes and 11,377 (79.2%) without diabetes. We identified 22 mutations in 67 subjects that were previously reported in the Human Genetic Mutation Database (HGMD) as disease-causing (DM) or likely disease causing (DM? ) for MODY. We also identified 28 potentially novel MODY-causing mutations, predicted to be among the top 1% most deleterious mutations in the human genome, which showed complete (100%) disease penetrance in 34 subjects. Overall, we estimated that MODY accounts for around 2.2–3.4% of diabetes patients in Qatar. This is the first population-based study to determine the genetic spectrum and estimate the prevalence of MODY in the Middle East. Further research to characterize the newly identified mutations is warranted.
Fusarium equiseti as One of the Main Fusarium Species Causing Wilt and Root Rot of Chickpeas in Morocco

Fungal isolates of Fusarium were collected from symptomatic chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants growing in fields within Souk Tlat commune in the Gharb region. Morphological and molecular characterizations were performed of the fungal isolate N3 obtained from a chickpea plant. PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer using the primers ITS1 and ITS4 was applied to identify the fungal isolate N3. The maximum similarity index of the fungus was found to be 99.33% with Fusarium equiseti (accession no. MT111122). In the pathogenicity test, both chickpea seed dip inoculation and soil infestation by the spore suspension of Fusarium isolate were adopted. Four weeks after chickpea seed inoculation, few plants emerged and those that emerged were stunted. A high percentage of inoculated seeds did not emerge and showed accentuated rot symptoms. Eight weeks after sowing seeds in infested soil, the obtained chickpea seedlings displayed root necrosis, browning at the crown, and wilting. In addition, these plants showed a foliar alteration index of 0.395. The re-isolation was positive for different parts of chickpea plants for both seed and soil inoculation. Fusarium equiseti isolate decreased the length of the root and aerial parts, and number of leaves and branches of the inoculated chickpea plants either by seed inoculation or soil infestation with values of 0.91 cm and 19.73 cm, 1.29 cm and 19.44 cm, 1.11 and 18.66, and 0.0 and 2.08 respectively, whereas the corresponding values for the control plants were 27.16 and 28.33 cm, 29.05 and 31.05 cm, 24.21 and 25.66, and 3.50 and 3.11, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of F. equiseti on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Morocco.
Surface potential fluctuations in metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitors fabricated on different silicon carbide polytypes

The standard deviation σs of the surface potential fluctuations affecting metal–oxide–silicon carbide capacitors has been extracted from low frequency conductance and capacitance measurements. These fluctuations may become very large for thermal oxides and aluminum‐doped epilayers. They must induce large errors in usual metal–oxide–semiconductor characterization techniques and are most probably the main reason for observing an activated transport in silicon carbide inversion layers.
Schottky solar cells based on graphene nanoribbon/multiple silicon nanowires junctions

We report the construction of Schottky solar cells based on graphene nanoribbon/multiple silicon nanowires (SiNWs) junctions. Only a few (∼10) SiNWs were involved to miniaturize the solar cell for nanoscale power source applications. It was found that doping level of the SiNWs played an important role in determining the device performance. By increasing the doping level, solar cell with open circuit voltage of 0.59 V and energy conversion efficiency of 1.47% were achieved under AM 1.5G illumination. The large effective junction area of the radial Schottky junction was responsible for the high device performance.We report the construction of Schottky solar cells based on graphene nanoribbon/multiple silicon nanowires (SiNWs) junctions. Only a few (∼10) SiNWs were involved to miniaturize the solar cell for nanoscale power source applications. It was found that doping level of the SiNWs played an important role in determining the device performance. By increasing the doping level, solar cell with open circuit voltage of 0.59 V and energy conversion efficiency of 1.47% were achieved under AM 1.5G illumination. The large effective junction area of the radial Schottky junction was responsible for the high device performance.
Microwave properties of metallic nanowires

We report on the microwave properties of arrays of parallel magnetic nanowires constituted of nickel, cobalt, or Ni/Fe alloy embedded in nanoporous track-etched polymer membranes. The experiments consist of transmission measurements carried out on microwave stripline structures using a magnetically loaded membrane as the substrate. Measurements were performed at frequencies ranging from 100 MHz to 40 GHz and under static magnetic fields up to 5.6 kOe applied along the wires axis. Resonance phenomena have been observed in the magnitude of the complex transmission coefficient at frequencies which depend on the nature of the material and applied static magnetic field. Results are consistent with those expected for a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiment and the observed behaviors are analyzed in the framework of the classical FMR theory. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02338-4].
Robust Tube-Based Model Predictive Control for Autonomous Vehicle Path Tracking

In real-world driving scenarios, the model mismatch can severely impair the robustness of the tracking system controlled by Model Predictive Control (MPC). Tube-based MPC (TMPC) addresses this problem by keeping the model mismatch error in an invariant tube. The TMPC algorithms, however, cannot deal with state-dependent uncertainty since TMPC relies on the fixed tubes. This paper presents a practical algorithm for improving the capability of TMPC to handle multiplicative uncertainty. Firstly, this algorithm adopts a Homothetic Tube-based MPC (HTMPC) framework to optimize the system’s future trajectory and tube geometry simultaneously, which dynamically resizes tubes according to uncertainty and the system’s current state. Secondly, this algorithm provides both the feasible formulation of the tube and the homothetic factor with low computational complexity. Thirdly, we aim to systematically evaluate the algorithm’s robustness by the simulations of different scenarios where the system parameters and the measurement noises might change over time. We have conducted and analyzed the Monte-Carlo simulations to compare the robustness and tracking capability of the proposed algorithm and other control algorithms. The comparative analysis shows that the HTMPC algorithm provides a higher level of performance than MPC and TMPC, and it performs closely to the robust controller based on the immersion and invariance (I&I) principle.
Laser pulse guiding and electron acceleration in the ablative capillary discharge plasma

The results of experiments are presented for the laser electron acceleration in the ablative capillary discharge plasma. The plasma channel is formed by the discharge inside the ablative capillary. The intense short laser pulse is guided over a 4 cm length. The generated relativistic electrons show both the quasimonoenergetic and quasi-Maxwellian energy spectra, depending on laser and plasma parameters. The analysis of the inner walls of the capillaries that underwent several tens of shots shows that the wall deformation and blistering resulted from the discharge and laser pulse effects.
Ultrahigh-Purity Undoped GaAs Epitaxial Layers Prepared by Liquid Phase Epitaxy

Ultrahigh-purity (UHP) GaAs epilayers have been grown reproducibly by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) with conventional solution baking in a H2 environment. We have succeeded in achieving a high-purity (HP) n-type GaAs epilayer with a low electron carrier concentration of 5.84×1012 cm-3 and a high mobility of 312,000 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 77 K, which is the highest value ever reported. Photoluminescence (PL) analyses at 15 K for both UHP n-type and p-type GaAs epilayers were also performed. We have clarified that the PL intensity of an HP GaAs epilayer has a strong correlation with the mobility measured by Hall measurements at 77 K. The electron carrier concentration of the UHP GaAs epilayer also agrees very well with that obtained from capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. We also showed that the recyclic growth process used in this study effectively improves the purity of the epilayers because the mobility at 77 K is enhanced approximately threefold and the ionized carrier concentration decreases threefold compared with their initial values. We also demonstrated that the recyclic growth process is effective in eliminating impurities such as carbon and silicon by analyzing the PL spectra.
Genetic variation of highly pathogenic Indian porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses after introduction in 2013

To study its possible link to pathogenicity, the genomic variation in full ORF5 and ORF7 genes, and their encoded proteins in 26 field HP-PRRSV isolates from three major HP-PRRS outbreaks occurred in India, since 2013 was analysed. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree revealed involvement of genetically different strain in each outbreak of India rather persistence of a single strain. Analysis and comparison of N protein amino acid sequences of HP-PRRSV with VR2332 revealed consistent mutation at position 15D to N or K and 46 K to R in all the HP-PRRSV. GP5 protein showed consistent mutations at 29 positions from that of VR2332. The potential Nglycosylation sites in GP5 was found variable from 4–5 with one additional N-glycan moiety around the neutralizing epitope B. However, the ‘decoy’ epitope A was found highly conserved in all the HP-PRRSV.
A Student-t Full Factor Multivariate GARCH Model

We extend the full-factor multivariate GARCH model of Vrontos et al. (Econom J 6:312–334, 2003a) to account for fat tails in the conditional distribution of financial returns, using a multivariate Student-t error distribution. For the new class of Student-t full factor multivariate GARCH models, we derive analytical expressions for the score, the Hessian matrix and the Information matrix. These expressions can be used within classical inferential procedures in order to obtain maximum likelihood estimates for the model parameters. This fact, combined with the parsimonious parameterization of the covariance matrix under the full factor multivariate GARCH models, enables us to apply the models in high dimensional problems. We provide implementation details and illustrations using financial time series on eight stocks of the US market.
A Modified Hybrid Algorithm of Set-Based Particle Swarm Optimization for Traveling Salesman Problem

This paper is concerned with the discrete combinatorial optimization problem. A modiﬁed hybrid algorithm that combines the max-min ant system and set-based particle swarm optimization (MSPSO) is proposed to solve the traveling salesman problem (TSP). To avoid a local solution, the cooperative mechanism among individuals is applied in MSPSO. MSPSO is based on set-based particle swarm optimization (SPSO). Before the execution of SPSO, max-min ant system (MMAS) is executed to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm. The results of the numerical experiments show that the proposed approach is eﬀective for solving the TSP.