Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chitosan nanoparticles as a sustainable alternative nutrient formulation in hydroponically grown Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis (L.) Hanelt microgreen and its adult vegetable

ABSTRACT Microgreens have been chosen as a sustainable dietary staple food due to their high nutritional value and short harvesting time. However, researches about the actual comparison of the nutritional value between microgreens and their respective adult vegetables is still missing. Furthermore, in a hydroponic system, chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) can be used as an alternative sustainable nutrient formulation to the conventional/basic nutrient formulation solution. As a result, in this study, the quality, yield and nutritional content of hydroponically cultured microgreens versus adult of Bok Choy (Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis (L.) Hanelt) vegetables were examined and evaluated in response to CNPs treatments and/or fertilizer supplementation that were grown under the same conditions and environments. CNPs have shown incredible potential as a sustainable alternative nutrient supplement in the growth of Bok Choy microgreens and adults. The nutritional value results backed up these claims as well. The addition of CNPs to conventional fertilizer has significantly increased the nutritional value of Bok Choy (microgreens and adults), supporting the claims of CNPs’ ability to improve nutrient absorption and uptake. This is towards high-throughput green farming with better quality and yield using the nanotechnology platform.
Wurtzite-type faceted single-crystalline GaN nanotubes

We report on the direct fabrication of single-crystalline wurtzite-type hexagonal GaN nanotubes via a newly designed, controllable, and reproducible chemical thermal-evaporation process. The nanotubes are single crystalline, have one end closed, an average outer diameter of ∼300 nm, an inner diameter of ∼100 nm, and a wall thickness of ∼100 nm. The structure and morphology of the tubes are characterized using a scanning electron microscope and a transmission electron microscope. The cathodoluminescence of individual nanotubes is also investigated. The growth mechanism, formation kinetics, and crystallography of GaN nanotubes are finally discussed.
The Effect of Product Recommendations on Online Investor Behaviors

Despite the popularity of product recommendations on online investment platforms, few studies have explored their impact on investor behaviors. Using data from a global e-commerce platform, we apply regression discontinuity design to causally examine the effects of product recommendations on online investors' mutual fund investments. Our findings indicate that recommended funds experience a significant rise in purchases, especially among low socioeconomic status investors who are most influenced by these recommendations. However, investors tend to suffer significantly worse investment returns after purchasing recommended funds, and this negative impact is also most significant for investors with low socioeconomic status. To explain this disparity, we find investors tend to gather less information and expend reduced effort in fund research when buying recommended funds. Furthermore, investors' redemption timing of recommended funds is less optimal than non-recommended funds. We also find that recommended funds experience a larger return reversal than non-recommended funds. In conclusion, product recommendations make investors behave more irrationally and these negative consequences are most significant for investors with low socioeconomic status, which can amplify wealth inequality among investors in financial markets.
Spectral parameters estimation in precipitation for 50 MHz band atmospheric radars

Fifty megahertz band atmospheric radars (ARs) can detect clear air echoes and hydrometeor echoes simultaneously. However, in order to calculate spectral parameters (i.e., echo power, Doppler velocity, and spectrum width) of the clear air echo accurately, the clear air echo must be separated from the hydrometeor echo well. In this study, we propose methods (top method and two‐echo method) for calculating the spectral parameters in precipitation region. The top method is used when raindrops or solid hydrometeors with small echo intensities exist. The top method sets an echo cut level by using the peak intensity of the clear air echo. The echo cut level is used for separating clear air echoes from hydrometeor echoes. The two‐echo method is used when solid hydrometeors with large echo intensities exist. The two‐echo method sets the echo cut level by using the local minimum of echo intensity between the clear air echo and the hydrometeor echo. Measurement results obtained by the vertical beam of the middle and upper atmosphere radar during a precipitation event on 26 October 2009 were used for evaluating the performance of the top and two‐echo methods. The echo cut levels of the top and two‐echo methods were determined from numerical simulation. The measurement results demonstrate that the top and two‐echo methods are useful for reducing errors of spectral parameters.
Bidirectional promoter activity from expression cassettes can drive off-target repression of neighboring gene translation

Targeted selection-based genome-editing approaches have enabled many fundamental discoveries and are used routinely with high precision. We found, however, that replacement of DBP1 with a common selection cassette in budding yeast led to reduced expression and function for the adjacent gene, MRP51, despite all MRP51 coding and regulatory sequences remaining intact. Cassette-induced repression of MRP51 drove all mutant phenotypes detected in cells deleted for DBP1. This behavior resembled the ‘neighboring gene effect’ (NGE), a phenomenon of unknown mechanism whereby cassette insertion at one locus reduces the expression of a neighboring gene. Here, we leveraged strong off-target mutant phenotypes resulting from cassette replacement of DBP1 to provide mechanistic insight into the NGE. We found that the inherent bidirectionality of promoters, including those in expression cassettes, drives a divergent transcript that represses MRP51 through combined transcriptional interference and translational repression mediated by production of a long undecoded transcript isoform (LUTI). Divergent transcript production driving this off-target effect is general to yeast expression cassettes and occurs ubiquitously with insertion. Despite this, off-target effects are often naturally prevented by local sequence features, such as those that terminate divergent transcripts between the site of cassette insertion and the neighboring gene. Thus, cassette-induced off-target effects can be eliminated by the insertion of transcription terminator sequences into the cassette, flanking the promoter. Because the driving features of this off-target effect are broadly conserved, our study suggests it should be considered in the design and interpretation of experiments using integrated expression cassettes in other eukaryotic systems, including human cells.
Hypomagnesemia and the Metabolic Syndrome among Apparently Healthy Kuwaiti Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Magnesium plays a key role in metabolic disorder development, and hypomagnesemia may be implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the associations between hypomagnesemia, MetS, and MetS components among 231 adults (193 women and 38 men) living in Kuwait who were apparently healthy without chronic diseases. We used the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the United States National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria to define participants with MetS. The Ministry of Health cutoff for hypomagnesemia (<0.74 mmol/L) was employed. IDF- and ATP III-defined MetS prevalence was 22.1% and 15.2%, respectively. Hypomagnesemia occurred in 33.3% of all participants and 53.2% of participants with MetS (p < 0.001). Magnesemia correlated negatively with body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and triglyceride level; magnesemia correlated positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for BMI, age, and sex, showed that hypomagnesemia was associated with a 12- and 5-fold greater odds of getting IDF-defined (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 11.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.87–28.14) and ATP-defined (aOR 5.44; 95% CI 2.10–14.10) MetS, respectively, in the study population. Hypomagnesemia was significantly associated with a 3.62, 9.29, 7.01, 2.88, 3.64, and 3.27 higher odds of an increased waist circumference (95% CI 1.48–8.85), elevated serum triglyceride level (95% CI 3.97–21.73), elevated FBG (95% CI 3.25–15.11), elevated SBP (95% CI 1.16–7.11), elevated DBP (95% CI: 1.22–10.89), and lowered HDL-C level (95% CI 1.69–6.32), respectively. Hypomagnesemia could be a consequence of the pathophysiology of MetS and its individual components among adults in Kuwait.
Molecular Pathway-Based Classification of Ectodermal Dysplasias: First Five-Yearly Update

To keep pace with the rapid advancements in molecular genetics and rare diseases research, we have updated the list of ectodermal dysplasias based on the latest classification approach that was adopted in 2017 by an international panel of experts. For this purpose, we searched the databases PubMed and OMIM for the term “ectodermal dysplasia”, referring mainly to changes in the last 5 years. We also tried to obtain information about those diseases on which the last scientific report appeared more than 15 years ago by contacting the authors of the most recent publication. A group of experts, composed of researchers who attended the 8th International Conference on Ectodermal Dysplasias and additional members of the previous classification panel, reviewed the proposed amendments and agreed on a final table listing all 49 currently known ectodermal dysplasias for which the molecular genetic basis has been clarified, including 15 new entities. A newly reported ectodermal dysplasia, linked to the gene LRP6, is described here in more detail. These ectodermal dysplasias, in the strict sense, should be distinguished from syndromes with features of ectodermal dysplasia that are related to genes extraneous to the currently known pathways involved in ectodermal development. The latter group consists of 34 syndromes which had been placed on the previous list of ectodermal dysplasias, but most if not all of them could actually be classified elsewhere. This update should streamline the classification of ectodermal dysplasias, provide guidance to the correct diagnosis of rare disease entities, and facilitate the identification of individuals who could benefit from novel treatment options.
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS OF OPEN QUANTUM BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

This paper is concerned with the derivation and the numerical discretization of open boundary conditions for the 1D Schrödinger equation in order to simulate quantum devices. New discrete transparent boundary conditions are presented that are able to handle the situation of a continuous plane wave influx into a device. Also, we give a review of various formulations of boundary conditions that are used within the Schrödinger and the Wigner formalism of quantum mechanics, and we discuss their mathematical properties.
Implementation and Validation of the SST Delayed eXtra-LES Model for Complex Turbulent Flows

This work presents a Delayed version of the hybrid RANS-LES eXtra Large Eddy Simulation (SST DX-LES) model for the simulation of turbulent flows. In particular, in the proposed model the Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model replaces the TNT k-ω model, and a shielding function is introduced to avoid the Modelled Stress Depletion (MSD) and the related Grid-Induced Separation (GIS), typical of DES-like hybrid models. Moreover, a different definition of the filter is used, which blends the formula based on the maximum element spacing and element volume. The proposed hybrid model is implemented in the open-source CFD software OpenFOAM, calibrated, validated and assessed on several benchmark cases. The results are compared with both experimental data and reference numerical results. Simulations are performed also with the original X-LES model to spotlight the accuracy improvement.
Forward Osmosis Technology and Its Application on Microbial Fuel Cells: A Review

As a new membrane technology, forward osmosis (FO) has aroused more and more interest in the field of wastewater treatment and recovery in recent years. Due to the driving force of osmotic pressure rather than hydraulic pressure, FO is considered as a low pollution process, thus saving costs and energy. In addition, due to the high rejection rate of FO membrane to various pollutants, it can obtain higher quality pure water. Recovering valuable resources from wastewater will transform wastewater management from a treatment focused to sustainability focused strategy, creating the need for new technology development. An innovative treatment concept which is based on cooperation between bioelectrochemical systems and forward osmosis has been introduced and studied in the past few years. Bioelectrochemical systems can provide draw solute, perform pre-treatment, or reduce reverse salt flux to help with FO operation; while FO can achieve water recovery, enhance current generation, and supply energy sources for the operation of bioelectrochemical systems. This paper reviews the past research, describes the principle, development history, as well as quantitative analysis, and discusses the prospects of OsMFC technology, focusing on the recovery of resources from wastewater, especially the research progress and existing problems of forward osmosis technology and microbial fuel cell coupling technology. Moreover, the future development trends of this technology were prospected, so as to promote the application of forward osmosis technology in sewage treatment and resource synchronous recovery
OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE OF CHANGING PHOTOSPHERIC VECTOR MAGNETIC FIELDS ASSOCIATED WITH SOLAR FLARES

Recent observations have provided evidence that the solar photospheric magnetic fields could have rapid and permanent changes in both longitudinal and transverse components associated with major flares. As a result, the Lorentz force (LF) acting on the solar photosphere and solar interior could be perturbed, and the change of LF is always nearly in the downward direction. However, these rapid and permanent changes have not been systematically investigated, yet, using vector magnetograms. In this paper, we analyze photospheric vector magnetograms covering five flares to study the evolution of photospheric magnetic fields. In particular, we investigate two-dimensional spatial distributions of the changing LF. Around the major flaring polarity inversion line, the net change of the LF is directed downward in an area of ∼1019 cm2 for X-class flares. For all events, the white-light observations show that sunspots darken in this location after flares, and magnetic fields become more inclined, which is consistent with the ideas put forward by Hudson et al. and Fisher et al., and observations.
Effects of Ga Substitution for Cu on Microstructure and Giant Dielectric Response of CaGa x Cu3−x Ti4O12(x = 0, 0.01, and 0.05) Ceramics

The microstructural changes and dielectric properties of CaGa x Cu3-x Ti4O12(x = 0, 0.01, and 0.05) ceramics were investigated. The mean grain size and dielectric constant of CaGa0.01Cu2. 99Ti4O12ceramic increased by roughly a factor of 40, but decreased by roughly a factor of 100 with increasing levels of Ga3+ doping corresponding to the CaGa0.05Cu2. 95Ti4O12ceramic. The resistance of grain boundaries of CaGa0.01Cu2. 99Ti4O12ceramic decreased significantly. As levels of Ga3+ doping increased (x = 0.05), the resistance of grain boundaries was enhanced greatly. The giant dielectric response in CaGa x Cu3-x Ti4O12ceramics can be well described based on their electrically heterogeneous microstructure and was found to be correlated with their microstructure.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE V-SIT-AND-REACH AND TOE-TOUCH TESTS IN PRESCHOOLERS FIABILIDAD Y VALIDEZ DE LAS PRUEBAS V-SIT-AND-REACH Y TOE-TOUCH EN PREESCOLARES

This psychometric study aimed at assessing the test-retest reliability and criterion-related validity of the V-Sit and Reach (VS) and Toe-Touch (TT) tests when performed by preschoolers. Out of an initial sample of 158 participants 132 performed the tests on three occasions with a week interval. Construct validity was assessed by means of the passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test. Both tests showed excellent reliability (ICC=0.91-0.93 for the VS; ICC=0.93-0.97 for the TT). Statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) were observed between both tests and the PSLR test for all of the groups that were analyzed, except for the TT in the case of three-year old group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that both the VS and the TT are reliable tests that show
Reactive, Mechanically Alloyed Al·Mg Powders with Customized Particle Sizes and Compositions

Previous work showed that particles of mechanically alloyed Al·Mg powders burn faster than aluminum. However, such powders were coarser than fine aluminum commonly used in energetic formulations. This work addresses preparation of mechanically alloyed Al·Mg powders in which both internal structures and particle size distributions are adjusted. Powders with 50–90 at. % Al were prepared and characterized. Milling protocol was optimized to prepare equiaxial, micron-scale particles. Ignition temperatures measured using an electrically heated filament were much lower than those of pure Al powders and are close to those of Mg. Powders were aerosolized and ignited in air; the maximum pressure was higher, rates of pressure rise were greater, and ignition delays were shorter for the mechanically alloyed powders than for pure Al with directly comparable particle size distributions. Individual particle combustion experiments used laser ignition and showed that the alloyed particles burn in two stages, with the first .
An infeasible interior-point algorithm based on modified Nesterov and Todd directions for symmetric linear complementarity problem

We present an infeasible interior-point algorithm for symmetric linear complementarity problem based on modified Nesterov–Todd directions by using Euclidean Jordan algebras. The algorithm decreases the duality gap and the feasibility residual at the same rate. In this algorithm, we construct strictly feasible iterates for a sequence of perturbations of the given problem. Each main iteration of the algorithm consists of a feasibility step and a number of centring steps. The starting point in the first iteration is strictly feasible for a perturbed problem. The feasibility steps lead to a strictly feasible iterate for the next perturbed problem. By using centring steps for the new perturbed problem, a strictly feasible iterate is obtained to be close to the central path of the new perturbed problem. Furthermore, giving a complexity analysis of the algorithm, we derive the currently best-known iteration bound for infeasible interior-point methods.
Invariant measures for quasi-birth-and-death processes

Abstract: We show that an irreducible level-independent quasi-birth-and-death process always has a matrix-geometric invariant measure. Furthermore we give a construction for this invariant measure. The invariant measure is, of course, not summable over the state space if the process is null-recurrent or transient When the process is level-dependent, there exists a matrix-product-form invariant measure. We discuss how this measure may be constructed
Computation of Scattering from Conducting Bodies Coated with Chiral Materials using Conformal FDTD

A conformal FDTD approach is developed to compute scattering from conducting bodies coated with chiral materials. Comparisons between the standard and conformal FDTDs are numerically carried out to demonstrate the advantages of the conformal FDTD. Scattering from chiral sphere is computed and compared with the analytical values to further validate the developed approach. Several new results of scattering from conducting bodies coated with chiral materials are also given in the paper.
A NOTE ON CERTAIN EQUIVALENT NORMS ON TSIRELSON'S SPACE

We prove that the norm $\Vert\,{\cdot}\,\Vert_{n}$ of the space $T[\mathcal{S}_{n},\theta]$ and the norm $\Vert\,{\cdot}\,\Vert_{n}^{M}$ of its modified version $T_{M}[\mathcal{S}_{n},\theta]$ are 3-equivalent. As a consequence, using the results of E. Odell and N. Tomczak-Jaegermann, we obtain that there exists a $K\,{<}\,\infty$ such that for all $n$, $\Vert\cdot\Vert_{n}^{M}$ does not $K-$ distort any subspace of Tsirelson's space $T$.
Mannitol Production from Fructose by Using Resting Cells of Methylotrophic Yeasts

Background: Mannitol is a polyol sugar widely used in pharmaceutical and food industries which can be produced by bioconversion. Using of resting cells and methanol as a carbon source are strategies to increase the efficiency of mannitol production by increasing NAD(P)H needed in the reduction process. Objectives: This research aimed to optimize bioconversion condition by using resting cells of methylotrophic yeasts with methanol and fructose as carbon source and substrate, respectively. Methods: Several isolates were used including Candida sp, Debaryomyces nepalensis and Debaryomyces hansenii and three species suspected to be yeast isolated from a local paddy field. The methylotrophic characteristic of the yeasts was screened by turbidometry. The optimization of fermentation condition was conducted by varying cultivation time (24-96 hours), resting cell concentration (30-140 mg/mL), fructose concentration (7.5-15%), ammonium sulphate concentration (0.25-0.75%) and aeration condition (50-80%). Quantitative analysis of the mannitol was conducted by HPLC with NH2 column and Refractive Index Detector. Results: D. hansenii showed the highest yield value in mannitol production (23.17%), followed by D. nepalensis, Isolate A and Candida sp. (6.52%, 6.50% and 4.38%, respectively). Variation of bioconversion condition using D. hansenii showed that the highest resting cell concentration (140 mg/mL) incubated for 72 hours, moderate fructose concentration (10%), the highest ammonium sulphate concentration (0.75%) and moderate aeration condition (70%) would result in the highest yield value of mannitol (60%). Conclusion: This finding showed the potency of D. hansenii in mannitol production and gave preliminary information of its optimum fermentation condition.
Broadband and Low-Random-Phase-Errors 2 × 2 Optical Switch on Thin-Film Lithium Niobate

We propose and demonstrate a broadband and low-random-phase-errors 2 × 2 optical switch on thin-film lithium niobate platform. The proposed switch is based on a typical Mach-Zehnder interferometer constructed with two 2 × 2 3-dB multimode interferometer couplers, two few-mode waveguide (FMW) arms, and corresponding input and output waveguides. The use of FMWs can help to reduce the random phase errors and improve the fabrication tolerances. Over a wide optical bandwidth from 1530 nm to 1605 nm, our typical fabricated switch can work on the desired initial operating state and achieve an extinction ratio mostly larger than ∼16 dB. The switching voltage is ∼7.3 V. The rise and fall times are 134.4 ns and 8.8 ns, respectively. This work can facilitate the development of optical switches on the lithium-niobate-insulator (LNOI) platform.