Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dopamine Inhibits Arabidopsis Growth through Increased Oxidative Stress and Auxin Activity

Like some bacterial species and all animals, plants synthesize dopamine and react to its exogenous applications. Despite dopamine’s widespread presence and activity in plants, its role in plant physiology is still poorly understood. Using targeted experimentation informed by the transcriptomic response to dopamine exposure, we identify three major effects of dopamine. First, we show that dopamine causes hypersensitivity to auxin indole-3-acetic acid by enhancing auxin activity. Second, we show that dopamine increases oxidative stress, which can be mitigated with glutathione. Third, we find that dopamine downregulates iron uptake mechanisms, leading to a decreased iron content—a response possibly aimed at reducing DA-induced oxidative stress. Finally, we show that dopamine-induced auxin sensitivity is downstream of glutathione biosynthesis, indicating that the auxin response is likely a consequence of DA-induced oxidative stress. Collectively, our results show that exogenous dopamine increases oxidative stress, which inhibits growth both directly and indirectly by promoting glutathione-biosynthesis-dependent auxin hypersensitivity.
A comparative study of pupils’ performance during online and face-to-face learning in under resourced secondary schools of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Onset of COVID-19 early 2020 disrupted learning in public and private schools of Zimbabwe. The traditional face-to-face lesson delivery method was no longer feasible due to lockdowns. The purpose of this research was to establish whether or not performance in under-resourced schools was affected. The research compares performance of learners prior to and during COVID-19 period in arts, commercial and science subjects. A simple random sampling method was used to collect primary data from advanced level students, teachers and other stakeholders using questionnaires. Secondary data on performance of learners was collected randomly from reports from public schools within Bulawayo. Evaluation of structural associations between learning areas, teaching methods and subject areas were analysed using loglinear models. Findings of the research show that arts and commercial subjects could be taught online without statistically significant changes in the odds of passing these learning areas. While science subjects had statistically significant changes in the odds of passing these learning areas when a shift from face-to face to online learning was made. Girl child was the most affected. It is recommended that for science subjects, mixture of online learning and face-to-face lessons be considered.
Stochastic varying coefficients gravity model: An application in trade analysis

In international trade analysis between countries, the central theme is the examination of whether or not there are any significant diff erences between the actual trade and potential trade, given the determinants of trade flows. Thus, estimating the potential trade is an important component in trade analysis. The objective of this paper is to suggest a methodology to estimate the potential trade flows between countries, using the gravity model, which has been established in the literature as the most successful empirical trade flow equation, usually producing a good fit. The application of the method has been demonstrated using trade flows between Australia and its trading partners in the Indian Ocean Rim.
Correspondence analysis of square asymmetric matrices

The application of correspondence analysis to square asymmetric tables is often unsuccessful because of the strong role played by the diagonal entries of the matrix, obscuring the data off the diagonal. A simple modification of the centring of the matrix, coupled with the corresponding change in row and column masses and row and column metrics, allows the table to be decomposed into symmetric and skew symmetric components, which can then be analysed separately. The symmetric and skew symmetric analyses can be performed by using a simple correspondence analysis program if the data are set up in a special block format. The methodology is demonstrated on a social mobility table from the first democratically elected Parliament in Germany, the Frankfurter Nationalversammlung. The table cross‐tabulates the jobs of parliamentarians when first entering the labour market and their jobs in May 1848 when the Parliament started its first session.
Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach Learning Theory and Approximation

Learning theory studies data structures from samples and aims at understanding unknown function relations behind them. This leads to interesting theoretical problems which can be often attacked with methods from Approximation Theory. This workshop-the second one of this type at the MFO-has concentrated on the following recent topics: Learning of manifolds and the geometry of data; sparsity and dimension reduction; error analysis and algorithmic aspects, including kernel based methods for regression and classification; application of multiscale aspects and of refinement algorithms to learning.
Planetary migration in gaseous protoplanetary disks

Abstract Tides come from the fact that different parts of a system do not fall in exactly the same way in a non-uniform gravity field. In the case of a protoplanetary disk perturbed by an orbiting, prograde protoplanet, the protoplanet tides raise a wake in the disk which causes the orbital elements of the planet to change over time. The most spectacular result of this process is a change in the protoplanet's semi-major axis, which can decrease by orders of magnitude on timescales shorter than the disk lifetime. This drift in the semi-major axis is called planetary migration. In a first part, we describe how the planet and disk exchange angular momentum and energy at the Lindblad and corotation resonances. Next we review the various types of planetary migration that have so far been contemplated: type I migration, which corresponds to low-mass planets (less than a few Earth masses) triggering a linear disk response; type II migration, which corresponds to massive planets (typically at least one Jupiter mass) that open up a gap in the disk; “runaway” or type III migration, which corresponds to sub-giant planets that orbit in massive disks; and stochastic or diffusive migration, which is the migration mode of low- or intermediate-mass planets embedded in turbulent disks. Lastly, we present some recent results in the field of planetary migration.
Exact solutions of axial vibration problems of elastic bars

While exact solutions for linear static analysis of most frame structures can be obtained by the finite element method, it is very difficult to obtain exact solutions for free vibration and harmonic analyses for non‐trivial cases. This paper presents a study on new finite element formulation and algorithms for exact solutions of undamped axial vibration problems of elastic bars. Appropriate shape functions are constructed by using the homogeneous governing equations, and based on the new shape functions, a novel element is formulated. An iterative procedure is proposed for determining both the exact natural frequency values and the corresponding vibration mode shapes. Exact solutions can also be obtained for undamped harmonic response analyses by using the new element, as its stiffness and mass matrices are exact for a specified frequency. Illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed element and algorithm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of digital development on China’s carbon emission efficiency: In the view of economic and environmental balance

Introduction: With the worsening global climate problem, carbon peak and carbon neutrality have become crucial objects to realize sustainable development. Regarded as the engine of economic development in the new era, it is worth exploring whether digitalization could contribute to carbon goals. Meanwhile, carbon reduction should not be advocated at the cost of economic recession and contains the risk of reversal when the economy renews in growth. Material and Methods: This paper evaluates carbon efficiency using the total factor non-radial directional distance function, which reflects the economic performance and environmental performance of 246 China’s prefecture-level cities during 2011–2019. Fixed effect and mediation effect models are used to explore the non-linear relationship and transmission channels between digital development and carbon efficiency. Results: It is found that: 1) digital development would hinder carbon efficiency first and then promote it after reaching a certain level; 2) digital development could indirectly affect carbon efficiency through industrial agglomeration, industrial structure upgrading, and industrial electricity productivity in non-linear ways. 3) Heterogeneity exists in the relationship between digital development and carbon efficiency due to different regions and development types. Discussion: Due to digital development itself having high carbon-negative externalities at the initial stage, its impact on carbon efficiency is complex and non-liner even when decomposing through multiple channels. A well-structured development strategy is needed during the digitalization process in order to prompt carbon efficiency. Graphical Abstract
Subrelativistic Jets from Black Hole Accretion Vortices. I. The Extreme-Ultraviolet and X-Ray Emission from Radio-quiet Quasars

This article and its companion describe a theory of quasars that differentiates radio-loud quasars from radio-quiet quasars by the physical structures extant in the accretion vortices above the poles of a supermassive, rapidly rotating black hole. Quasars are manifestly radio loud as a consequence of large-scale magnetic flux threading these funnels and relativistic magnetic winds of plasma that propagate outward (magnetic wind models of radio-loud quasars exist in the literature). Radio-quiet quasars are devoid of this large-scale magnetic flux, and radiation pressure in the funnel drives hypersonic, underexpanded, subrelativistic jets. These jets are relatively feeble compared to the radiation-driven relativistic jets from the funnels of superluminous accretion disks that were popular in the theoretical literature of the 1980s. The primary emphases of this article are the near-field dynamics and the observational implications of the radiation-driven jets from these vortices conjectured to exist in radio-quiet quasars. The physical state of the ejecta is governed by the force of gravity, the initiating continuum radiation pressure, and the line-driving forces from ultraviolet accretion disk radiation. These hypersonic jets form a bipolar broad absorption line region (BALR) with a small covering factor dictated by the collimation of the jets. Consequently, radio-quiet quasars have broad absorption lines in the UV region of their spectra if the line of sight passes through a jet. Radio-loud quasars do not have BALRs in this model. It is demonstrated in the companion article that absorbing columns with a range of outflow velocities from ≈ 0 km s-1 to more than 35,000 km s-1 result in these putative jets. In this article it is shown that the frictional and compressional heating in the turbulent boundary layer between the base of the jet and the funnel walls creates a hot corona above the innermost regions of the disk. The corona cools by Compton-scattering disk UV radiation, creating the far-UV and soft X-ray excess that radio-quiet quasars have relative to radio-loud quasars as found in composite spectra of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and ROSAT archives, respectively. Furthermore, Compton cooling of the hot outer regions of the corona creates the flat spectral energy distribution of hard X-rays observed in radio-quiet quasars. By the geometry of an X-ray source collaring the base of the jet, if the line of sight passes through the jet (a BAL quasar), X-ray emission is obscured. Thus, soft X-ray emission is suppressed in BAL quasars relative to the rest of the radio-quiet population in the model as observed. Seyfert galaxies do not have disks that are luminous to drive winds from the vortex and hence do not have BALRs in the model consistent with IUE searches.
A self-calibrating, multichannel streak camera for inertial confinement fusion applications

Self-calibrating, multichannel UV streak cameras have been designed, and six units have been deployed on the OMEGA laser system. These instruments acquire 12 channels simultaneously on a low-noise, charge-coupled-device camera in single-shot operation. The instruments can discern temporal features out to a bandwidth of 11 GHz, and the peak signal-to-noise ratio in each channel is 200:1. The unique feature of this system is the self-calibration ability built into it. The geometric distortions, flat field, and sweep speed of each channel can be measured and adjusted on a routine basis. By maintaining a strick regime of weekly calibrations, accurate power-balance measurements on the OMEGA laser can be obtained. These cameras represent a cost-effective solution for power balancing the OMEGA laser system.
Some properties of the tukey g and h family of distributions

The g and h family of distributions, introduced by J.W. Tukey, is generated by a single transformation of the standard normal which allows for symmetry and heavier tails. Selected percentage points are tabulated, and a closed-form solution for the moments, when they exist, is found. A comparison is made with the Pearson system of distributions. The g and h distributions cover most of the Pearson family to an adequate approximation, when the first four moments exist, and also generate a variety of other types of distributions. Selected distributions graphically illustrate the great variety of possible shapes.
Muon-to-Electron Conversion with COMET

The Coherent Muon-to-Electron Transition (COMET) experiment is presented, focusing on the particle detection systems. COMET is currently under construction as the first of two phases at the J-PARC proton accelerator laboratory in Tokai, Japan. COMET will search for muon-to-electron conversion with a single-event sensitivity of 2.6 × 10−17, with Phase-I achieving a sensitivity of 3.1 × 10−15 and due to enter commissioning in 2016. Phase-I will also allow us to study the novel pion and muon beamline and the rates of background processes.
Evolution of anti-malaria policies and measures in P.R. China for achieving and sustaining malaria-free

Malaria is a major public health threat worldwide, and it was also widely prevalent in the history in China, seriously endangering people's health and affecting socioeconomic development. China was certified malaria elimination in 2021 with unremitting efforts since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. This great achievement has been another milestone in the fight against major infectious diseases following the elimination of smallpox, poliomyelitis, leprosy, filariasis, neonatal tetanus and blinding trachoma in China. This paper briefly introduces the malaria burden dynamics and the corresponding malaria transmission risk stratificantions, as well as systematically reviews the evolution of anti-malaria policies and measures from severe epidemic to elimination in China. Meanwhile, five key lessons in malaria control and elimination in China are also briefly summarized. All of the above provide evidences for promoting global malaria eradication and preventing reestablishment of malaria transmission, finally benefit all individuals still suffering from the scourge of malaria.
The Binary Fraction of NGC 6397

Abstract The binary fraction, η, of a globular cluster (GC) is a key parameter in determining its dynamical evolution, as well as its content of rare stars, such as cataclysmic variables and blue stragglers. The precise value of η for a GC was historically difficult to constrain due to an inability to obtain reliable photometry for faint objects in dense stellar fields. However, today, the HST allows us to image the main sequence of the nearest GCs to their terminations. Using HST observations we constrain η for NGC 6397. While the necessary computing power is now available to realistically simulate entire GCs, large discrepancies in the assumed primordial binary fraction, ηp, of GCs still exist. Estimates range from 5% (Hurley et al. 2007) to 100% (Ivanova et al. 2005). The N-body models of Hurley et al. (2007) suggest that η beyond the half-mass radius remains close to ηp, while cluster evolution can increase the value in the core. We find η for NGC 6397 is 15.2±0.8% in a field centered on the core, and 1.1±0.3% in a field beyond the half mass radius. These findings suggests ηp ~ 1%.
AI-Assisted Dynamic Tissue Evaluation for Early Bowel Cancer Diagnosis Using a Vibrational Capsule

With early sign of bowel cancer being changes in affected lesions biomechanical properties, an AI-assisted dynamic tissue evaluation is proposed for early bowel cancer diagnosis. Dynamic signals from a self-propelled vibrational capsule in contact with in-situ bowel lesions were processed and analysed for features that may be indicative of biomechanical changes in the lesions. Different combinations of the features were used to develop different lesion characterisation models. Supervised classification using Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Stacking Ensemble networks (SE) was carried out alongside unsupervised classification using K-means clustering. The SE base-learners comprised Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree, Naïve Bayes and Random Forest. Cross-validation on simulated test data showed that the SEs outperformed their composite base-learners, however, SVM as a base-learner showed tendency to yield greater than 90% accuracy. The MLPs outperformed the SEs in accuracies and in numbers of high-performance models, hence, were the only supervised network used during experimental validation and they yielded an average accuracy of 96.5%. For unsupervised classification, both simulation and experimental data showed that the lesions are best clustered into two categories representing benign and malignant lesions.
The influence of glottal waveform on the naturalness of speech from a parallel formant synthesizer

A computer-simulated parallel formant synthesizer has been used to copy short samples of human speech. It is possible to make the synthetic speech almost indistinguishable from the natural in spectrum, waveform, and by earphone listening, provided that the synthetic glottal pulse is derived by inverse filtering a typical natural vowel from the same talker. Various other pulse shapes have been tried, such as the combination of cosine segments suggested by various workers as a close approximation to human glottal pulses. For producing speech acceptable as natural, none of these idealized pulse shapes has been as successful as those derived by inverse filtering. However, the subjective differences are small compared with the differences that would be caused by reverberation when listening to a loudspeaker in an ordinary room with good acoustics; it has been demonstrated that under such listening conditions, the phase structure of glottal pulses is of no importance.
Spectroscopic Study on the Atmospheric Parameters of Nearby F-K Dwarfs and Subgiants

Based on a collection of high-dispersion spectra obtained at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, the atmospheric parameters (Teff ,l ogg, vt ,a nd [Fe/H]) of 160 mid-F through early-K stars were extensively determined by the spectroscopic method using the equivalent widths of Fe I and Fe II lines along with the numerical technique of Takeda et al. (2002, PASJ, 54, 451). The results are comprehensively discussed and compared with the parameter values derived by different approaches (e.g., photometric colors, theoretical evolutionary tracks, Hipparcos parallaxes, etc.) as well as with the published values found in various literature. It has been confirmed that our purely spectroscopic approach yields fairly reliable and consistent results.
Using early extremes to place the 2022 UK heat waves into historical context

As global surface temperatures continue to rise, both the duration and the intensity of heat waves across most land areas are expected to increase. The 2022 European summer broke a number of temperature records where a new record daily maximum temperature of 40.3°C was reached on 19th July making it the hottest July heat wave event in the UK. This paper aims to detect and analyse historical heat wave events, particularly prior to 1927 and compare these with recent events, particularly, 2022, which featured four summer heat wave events in the UK. This allows us to understand how noteworthy historical extremes are in comparison to those in recent decades, to place modern events into historical context, and to extend the sample of extreme events. Summer heat wave events have been detected between 1878 and 2022 from long station data in the UK. Heat wave extent, duration, and intensity have been analysed to compare past heat waves to the recent 2022 heat waves. For each of the summer months at least one of the top 10 most intense events between 1878 and 2022 occurred in the earliest third of the dataset (before 1927) emphasising the value of analysing early heat events. In all detected events, the anomalous UK heat was part of large‐scale European extreme heat when examining 20th‐century reanalysis data, associated with a high‐pressure system. The 2022 July event resembles in pattern of warming and circulation some earlier events, for example, in 1925. While there is a clear trend in the monthly data and the overall frequency of anomalously hot days, heat wave activity on daily scales even in the period 1878 and 1926 is considerable and in some cases comparable to modern heat wave events in the UK. The most intense events detected led to societal impacts based on UK newspaper articles from the period including impacts on the agricultural sector, health impacts, and travel disruptions, broadly comparable to impacts from recent events.
What Can the Kinematic Complexity of Astrophysical Shear Flows Lead To?

We develop a method for investigating waves and instabilities in astrophysical shear flows with complex kinematics. Using new tools, we find an unexpected richness in the spectrum of compressible fluctuations sustained by such a flow. The principal characteristic of the revealed exotic phenomena is their asymptotic persistence in the absence of viscosity. "Echoing" as well as strongly unstable (including parametrically driven) solutions are identified. Examples of astrophysical shear flows with nontrivial velocity structure where these method and results can be applied are also discussed.