Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scalable Fabrication and Testing Processes for Three-Layer Multi-Color Segmented Electrowetting Display

Colorful electrowetting displays (EWD) present many challenges, such as scalability and electro-optical performance improvement (e.g., brightness, color gamut, and contrast ratio). The first full investigation of scalable fabrication and testing processes for multi-color segmented EWD with potentially unprecedented electro-optical performance is proposed. A three-layer architecture is employed to achieve colorful EWD, where the key components are three primary color layers (cyan, magenta, and yellow), switched independently. Unlike previous reports referred to herein, which used the same fabrication and testing processes for each layer, this architecture facilitates a uniform performance, improves yield, and simplifies the process for colorful EWD. With an aperture ratio greater than 80%, National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) color gamut area greater than 63%, switching speed lower than 12 ms, and DC driving voltage below 22V, the testing results of colorful EWD are proven successfully by using our proposed processes. The processes investigated in this paper have greatly improved efficiency, suitable for a high-volume of full-color EWD.
Transcervical chorionic villus sampling: a practical guide

Abstract First trimester screening for fetal aneuploidies has made the implementation of diagnostic techniques essential. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is the method of choice for obtaining chorionic villi for molecular and cytogenetic analysis in the first trimester. Two techniques have been developed, a transcervical and a transabdominal. The selection criteria have been based historically on factors, such as placental location, parity, maternal weight and preference of the operator. In our institution, we developed an elevated level of expertise in the field of transcervical approach, resulting in good quality of samples and comparable fetal loss rate to other approaches. Despite three decades of transcervical CVS performance, little consensus in terms of its technique and clinical guidelines exists. Considering the expertise and the volume of procedures performed at our center, we suggest a practical clinical guideline for transcervical CVS.
Cavin-1/PTRF mediates insulin-dependent focal adhesion remodeling and ameliorates high-fat diet–induced inflammatory responses in mice

Cavin-1/polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) is a requisite component of caveolae, small plasma membrane invaginations that are highly abundant in adipocytes. Cavin-1 is a dynamic molecule whose dissociation from caveolae plays an important role in mechanoprotection and rRNA synthesis. In the former situation, the acute dissociation of cavin-1 from caveolae allows cell membrane expansion that occurs upon insulin-aided lipid uptake into the fat cells. Cavin-1 dissociation from caveolae and membrane flattening alters the cytoskeleton and the interaction of plasma membrane proteins with the extracellular matrix through interactions with focal adhesion structures. Here, using cavin-1 knockout mice, subcellular fractionation, and immunoblotting methods, we addressed the relationship of cavin-1 with focal adhesion complexes following nutritional stimulation. We found that cavin-1 is acutely translocated to focal complex compartments upon insulin stimulation, where it regulates focal complex formation through an interaction with paxillin. We found that loss of cavin-1 impairs focal complex remodeling and focal adhesion formation and causes a mechanical stress response, concomitant with activation of proinflammatory and senescence/apoptosis pathways. We conclude that cavin-1 plays key roles in dynamic remodeling of focal complexes upon metabolic stimulation. This mechanism also underlies the crucial role of caveolae in the long-term healthy expansion of the adipocyte.
Consumers’ Views on the Importance of Specific Front-of-Pack Nutrition Information: A Latent Profile Analysis

Nutrition labelling can influence consumers’ assessments of food healthiness and their food choices. However, there is a lack of consensus about the optimal type and amount of nutrition information to provide on food packages. This study analysed consumers’ preferences for front-of-pack information relating to energy and various nutrients (sugar, saturated fat, sodium, fibre, carbohydrate, and protein). The aim was to identify discrete preference segments within the Australian market where the current Health Star Rating front-of-pack labelling system can be displayed with different levels of nutrition information. Adults (n = 1558) completed a survey assessing socio-demographics, self-reported nutrition knowledge, diet healthiness, special dietary requirements, and perceived importance of the provision of energy and nutrient information on the front of food packs. Latent profile analysis identified five consumer segments within the sample that ranged from groups exhibiting high levels of interest in various forms of nutrition information to one with very low interest and one with divergent scores according to whether nutrients were perceived as positive or negative for health. The results indicate that different forms of front-of-pack labelling featuring varying degrees of information about energy and specific nutrients are likely to be of interest and use to different market segments.
Retuning Rieske-type Oxygenases to Expand Substrate Range*

Rieske-type oxygenases are promising biocatalysts for the destruction of persistent pollutants or for the synthesis of fine chemicals. In this work, we explored pathways through which Rieske-type oxygenases evolve to expand their substrate range. BphAEp4, a variant biphenyl dioxygenase generated from Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 BphAELB400 by the double substitution T335A/F336M, and BphAERR41, obtained by changing Asn338, Ile341, and Leu409 of BphAEp4 to Gln338, Val341, and Phe409, metabolize dibenzofuran two and three times faster than BphAELB400, respectively. Steady-state kinetic measurements of single- and multiple-substitution mutants of BphAELB400 showed that the single T335A and the double N338Q/L409F substitutions contribute significantly to enhanced catalytic activity toward dibenzofuran. Analysis of crystal structures showed that the T335A substitution relieves constraints on a segment lining the catalytic cavity, allowing a significant displacement in response to dibenzofuran binding. The combined N338Q/L409F substitutions alter substrate-induced conformational changes of protein groups involved in subunit assembly and in the chemical steps of the reaction. This suggests a responsive induced fit mechanism that retunes the alignment of protein atoms involved in the chemical steps of the reaction. These enzymes can thus expand their substrate range through mutations that alter the constraints or plasticity of the catalytic cavity to accommodate new substrates or that alter the induced fit mechanism required to achieve proper alignment of reaction-critical atoms or groups.
Design Optimization of Cyber-Physical Distributed Systems using IEEE Time-sensitive Networks (TSN)

In this paper we are interested in safety-critical real-time applications implementedon distributed architecturessupporting the Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) standard. The ongoing standardization of TSN is an IEEE eﬀort to bring deterministic real-time capabilities into the IEEE 802.1 Ethernet standard supporting safety-critical systems and guaranteed Quality-of-Service. TSN will support Time-Triggered (TT) communication based on schedule tables, Audio-Video-Bridging (AVB) ﬂows with bounded end-to-end latency as well as Best-Eﬀort messages. We ﬁrst present a survey of research related to the optimization of distributed cyber-physical systems us-ing real-time Ethernet for communication. Then, we formulate two novel optimization problems related to the scheduling and routing of TT and AVB traﬃc in TSN. Thus, we consider that we know the topology of the network as well as the set of TT and AVB ﬂows. We are interested to determine the routing of both TT and AVB ﬂows as well as the scheduling of the TT ﬂows such that all frames are schedulable and the AVB worst-case end-to-end delay is minimized. We have proposed an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation for the scheduling problem and a Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP)-based heuristic for the routing problem. The proposed approaches have been evaluated using several test cases.
Some Illusions Are More Inconsistent Than Others

Illusions are characterized by inconsistencies. For instance, in the motion aftereffect, we see motion without an equivalent change in position. We used a simple pencil-and-paper experiment to determine whether illusions that influence an object’s apparent size give rise to equivalent changes in apparent positions along the object’s outline. We found different results for two equally strong size illusions. The Ebbinghaus illusion affected perceived positions in a way that was consistent with its influence on perceived size, but a modified diagonal illusion did not affect perceived positions. This difference between the illusions might explain why there are so many conflicting reports about the effects of size illusions on the maximum grip aperture during reach-to-grasp movements.
Serum metabolite profiles of habitual diet: evaluation by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis

ABSTRACT Background Objective and reliable methods to measure dietary exposure and prove associations and causation between diet and health are desirable. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate if 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) analysis of serum samples may be used as an objective method to discriminate vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore diets. Specifically, the aim was to identify a metabolite pattern that separated meat-eaters from non–meat-eaters and vegans from nonvegans. Methods Healthy volunteers (45 men and 75 women) complying with habitual vegan (n = 43), vegetarian (n = 24 + vegetarians adding fish n = 13), or omnivore (n = 40) diets were enrolled in the study. Data were collected on clinical phenotype, body composition, lifestyle including a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and a 4-d weighed food diary. Serum samples were analyzed by routine clinical test and for metabolites by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. NMR data were nonnormalized, UV-scaled, and analyzed with multivariate data analysis [principal component analysis, orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) and OPLS with discriminant analysis]. In the multivariate analysis volunteers were assigned as meat-eaters (omnivores), non–meat-eaters (vegans and vegetarians), vegans, or nonvegans (lacto-ovo-vegetarians, vegetarians adding fish, and omnivores). Metabolites were identified by line-fitting of 1D 1H-NMR spectra and the use of statistical total correlation spectroscopy. Results Although many metabolites differ in concentration between men and women as well as by age, body mass index, and body composition, it was possible to correctly classify 97.5% of the meat-eaters compared with non–meat-eaters and 92.5% of the vegans compared with nonvegans. The branched-chain amino acids, creatine, lysine, 2-aminobutyrate, glutamine, glycine, trimethylamine, and 1 unidentified metabolite were among the most important metabolites in the discriminating patterns in relation to intake of both meat and other animal products. Conclusions 1H-NMR serum metabolomics appears to be a possible objective tool to identify and predict habitual intake of meat and other animal products in healthy subjects. These results should be confirmed in larger cohort studies or intervention trials. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02039609.
Environmentally accurate microplastic levels and their absence from exposure studies on aquatic taxa.

Microplastics (synthetic polymers; <5 mm) are ubiquitous, in the environment and in the news. The associated effects of microplastics on flora and fauna are currently only established through laboratory-based exposure trials; however, such studies have come under scrutiny for employing excessive concentrations with little environmental relevance. This critical review is intended to summarize key issues and approaches for those who are considering the need for local microplastics research, both in terms of environmental pollution and the impacts on aquatic species. A meta-analysis of results from published experimental (n = 128) and environmental (n = 180) studies allowed us to compare the reported impacts from experiments that expose organisms to microplastics, and the concentrations of environmental microplastics found in the wild. The results of this meta-analysis highlight three issues that should be modified in future work (1) use of extreme dosages, (2) incompatible and incomparable units, and (3) the problem of establishing truly informative experimental controls. We found that 5% of exposure trials examined did not use any control treatment, and 82% use dramatically elevated dosages without reference to environmental concentrations. Early studies in this field may have been motivated to produce unequivocal impacts on organisms, rather than creating a robust, environmentally relevant framework. Some of the reported impacts suggest worrying possibilities, which can now inspire more granular experiments. The existing literature on the extent of plastic pollution also has limited utility for accurately synthesizing broader trends, as has been raised in previous reviews; environmental extraction studies use many different units, among which only 76% (139/180) could be plausibly converted for comparison. Future researcher should adopt the units of microparticles/kg (of sediment) or mp/L (of fluid) to improve comparability. Now that the global presence of microplastic pollution is well established, with more than a decade of research, new studies should focus on comparative aspects rather than the presence of microplastics. Robustly designed, controlled, hypothesis-driven experiments based on environmentally relevant concentrations are needed now to understand our future in the new plastic world.
Effects of Nylon Microplastic on Feeding, Lipid Accumulation, and Moulting in a Coldwater Copepod

Microplastic debris is a pervasive environmental contaminant that has the potential to impact the health of biota, although its modes of action remain somewhat unclear. The current study tested the hypothesis that exposure to fibrous and particulate microplastics would alter feeding, impacting on lipid accumulation, and normal development (e.g., growth, moulting) in an ecologically important coldwater copepod Calanus finmarchicus. Preadult copepods were incubated in seawater containing a mixed assemblage of cultured microalgae (control), with the addition of ∼50 microplastics mL–1 of nylon microplastic granules (10–30 μm) or fibers (10 × 30 μm), which are similar in shape and size to the microalgal prey. The additive chemical profiles showed the presence of stabilizers, lubricants, monomer residues, and byproducts. Prey selectivity was significantly altered in copepods exposed to nylon fibers (ANOVA, P < 0.01) resulting in a nonsignificant 40% decrease in algal ingestion rates (ANOVA, P = 0.07), and copepods exposed to nylon granules showed nonsignificant lipid accumulation (ANOVA, P = 0.62). Both microplastics triggered premature moulting in juvenile copepods (Bernoulli GLM, P < 0.01). Our results emphasize that the shape and chemical profile of a microplastic can influence its bioavailability and toxicity, drawing attention to the importance of using environmentally relevant microplastics and chemically profiling plastics used in toxicity testing.
The Association Between Low Serum Cholesterol and Non-Cardiovascular Mortality among Italian Males and Females: A Nine- Year Prospective Cohort Ctudy

Background: No study to date provides evidence suggesting that lower cholesterol is associated with excess death in non-cardiovascular disease (NCVD). This study aimed to determine the association between low cholesterol level and NCVD mortality. Methods: A nine-year cohort study was conducted on 3,079 male and 26,005 female Italians aged 20-69 years old. The Cox proportional hazard models implied a hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval for association. Results: Among males, there were significant inverse associations between the lowest cholesterol decile (< 160mg/dl) hazard ratio and all-cause deaths and non-cardiovascular deaths, 1.50 (1.19-1.89) and 2.06 (1.54-2.74), respectively. Among females, there was a significant inverse association of lowest and fourth cholesterol deciles, 1.53 (1.01-2.34); 1.52 (1.06-2.18) hazard ratio for all-cause deaths and risk for non-cardiovascular deaths in the same deciles 1.52 (0.91-2.50); 1.78 (1.16-2.71), respectively. Remarkably, in depth analysis for NCVD, found significant inverse associations hazard of cholesterol <160 mg/dl for cancer, non-cancer liver dysfunction (NCLD), other non-cancer-non-CVD in males and only NCLD death was significant in females. Conclusion: Among males, there were significant inverse hazard associations between the lowest cholesterol decile and all-cause and non-CVD deaths . Among females, there were significant inverse hazard associations of lowest and fourth cholesterol decile for all-cause and also risk first and fourth deciles for non-CVD mortality.
How bilingual experience and executive control influence development in language control among bilingual children.

This longitudinal study investigates whether the development in executive control and bilingual experience predicts change in language control in bilingual children. Children were tested twice over the course of 1 year, using the language-switching paradigm and the Simon task. The participants were Japanese-English bilingual "returnee" children (ages 7-13), who returned to their first language (L1) environment after spending some years in a second language (L2) dominant environment. Testing these children upon their return to the L1 environment allowed us to disentangle the effect of age from bilingual experience, as they experienced an increase in age but a decrease in L2 exposure over time. Children who had less L2 exposure showed smaller improvement in baseline performance when naming pictures in English (i.e., when English was relevant across all trials). Moreover, development in trials where children had to switch between languages were modulated by development in executive control. That is, children who increased their performance in the English mixed repetition trials also performed better on the executive control task over time. Thus, development in executive control modulated change in language control among bilingual children, suggesting a positive relationship between language control and executive control in children's development.
Quantum electrodynamics near a photonic band gap: Photon bound states and dressed atoms.

It is shown that in dielectrics exhibiting a complete photonic band gap, quantum electrodynamics predicts the occurrence of bound states of photons to hydrogenic atoms. When the atomic transition frequency lies near a photonic band edge, the excited atomic level experiences an anomalous Lamb shift and splits into a doublet. One member of this doublet exhibits resonance fluorescence whereas the other level is dressed by the emission and reabsorption of near-resonant photons whose amplitude decays exponentially from the vicinity of the atom.
Overweight and Obesity among Sexual Minority Adults in the United States

There is evidence that sexual minority populations have a potentially heightened risk of poor health outcomes due in part to the discrimination they may face. In the present study, we examined whether overweightness and obesity vary by sexual minority subgroup using a large, nationally representative sample. Data were drawn from 2014–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys (n = 716,609). We grouped participants according to sexual identity (straight, lesbian or gay, bisexual, and other/don’t know/not sure). The propensity score matching technique was used to address covariate imbalance among sexual identity groups. In addition, subgroup analyses were performed for both males and females. Compared to straight adults, lesbian females had significantly higher odds of being overweight (OR (odds ratio) 1.33; 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.17–1.53), whereas gay males had significantly lower odds (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.59–0.73). Similarly, lesbians were more likely to be obese (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.31–1.70), whereas gay men had significantly lower odds of obesity (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.69–0.86) when compared to straight adults. Bisexual females had significantly higher odds of being overweight (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10–1.34) and obese (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.29–1.59), whereas bisexual males showed no significant difference. Our results strengthen previous findings and further highlight the need for research by sexual minority subgroup.
Comparative “virtual biopsies” of normal skin and skin lesions using vibrational optical coherence tomography

Increased tissue stiffness (also termed modulus) has been shown to be a characteristic of potential tumor metastasis. Measured values of the stiffness of tumors and cancer cells are reported in the literature to increase compared to neighboring normal tissues. Yet the relationship between the mechanical properties of cells and the extracellular matrix has yet to be correlated with the histopathology of cancerous lesions.
Tail colour signals performance in blue tit nestlings

Indirect sexual selection arises when reproductive individuals choose their mates based on heritable ornaments that are genetically correlated to fitness. Evidence for genetic associations between ornamental colouration and fitness remains scarce. In this study, we investigate the quantitative genetic relationship between different aspects of tail structural colouration (brightness, hue and UV chroma) and performance (cell‐mediated immunity, body mass and wing length) in blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings. In line with previous studies, we find low heritability for structural colouration and moderate heritability for performance measures. Multivariate animal models show positive genetic correlations between the three measures of performance, indicating quantitative genetic variation for overall performance, and tail brightness and UV chroma, two genetically independent colour measures, are genetically correlated with performance (positively and negatively, respectively). Our results suggest that mate choice based on independent aspects of tail colouration can have fitness payoffs in blue tits and provide support for the indirect benefits hypothesis. However, low heritability of tail structural colouration implies that indirect sexual selection on mate choice for this ornament will be a weak evolutionary force.