Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Engineered Escherichia coli cell factory for anthranilate over-production

Anthranilate is a key platform chemical in high demand for synthesizing food ingredients, dyes, perfumes, crop protection compounds, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. Microbial-based anthranilate production strategies have been developed to overcome the unstable and expensive supply of anthranilate via chemical synthesis from non-renewable resources. Despite the reports of anthranilate biosynthesis in several engineered cells, the anthranilate production yield is still unsatisfactory. This study designed an Escherichia coli cell factory and optimized the fed-batch culture process to achieve a high titer of anthranilate production. Using the previously constructed shikimate-overproducing E. coli strain, two genes (aroK and aroL) were complemented, and the trpD responsible for transferring the phosphoribosyl group to anthranilate was disrupted to facilitate anthranilate accumulation. The genes with negative effects on anthranilate biosynthesis, including pheA, tyrA, pabA, ubiC, entC, and trpR, were disrupted. In contrast, several shikimate biosynthetic pathway genes, including aroE and tktA, were overexpressed to maximize glucose uptake and the intermediate flux. The rationally designed anthranilate-overproducing E. coli strain grown in an optimized medium produced approximately 4 g/L of anthranilate in 7-L fed-batch fermentation. Overall, rational cell factory design and culture process optimization for microbial-based anthranilate production will play a key role in complementing traditional chemical-based anthranilate production processes.
VCSEL as sensing element to measure distance changes in the nm-range

We investigated a novel sensor concept based on a coupled resonator configuration and the employment of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) sources. Hereby, the back reflection of a sample which is placed next to the emission window of the semiconductor based laser source affects the internal resonator conditions of the VCSEL. If the operating voltage is kept constant, the internal interaction results in a change of the emitted wavelength and operating current, respectively. First experiments show a reproducible change of the operating current when the sample is moved in vertical direction by a few nm. This behavior was previously verified with a simulation based on ANSYS Lumerical by creating distributed Bragg reflection (DBR) stacks with different layers and quantifying the influence of the movable third resonator surface on the emission wavelength.
Composition-dependent structural, optical, mechanical, and moisture resistant properties of CaF2-TiO2 composite films prepared by reactive ion-assisted codeposition

The influences of TiO2 contents on the structural, optical, mechanical, and moisture resistant properties of CaF2-TiO2 composite films prepared by reactive ion-assisted codeposition are systematically investigated. The CaF2 films deposited at an ambient substrate temperature are found to have superior optical, mechanical, and moisture resistant properties with the addition of 10 at. % TiO2. The structure of this film changes from polycrystalline CaF2 to a mixed phase of amorphous TiO2 and polycrystalline CaF2. The hardness of composite films containing 45 at. % TiO2 is even higher than that of pure TiO2 and glass, which is attributed to the isolation of the crystalline CaF2 grains by the interconnection of the amorphous TiO2 dispersoids.
Low-voltage high-speed Si Mach-Zehnder optical modulator with multi-cascade p/n junctions along waveguides

We propose a Si Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) optical modulator with multi-cascade p/n junctions along waveguides. So far a single p/n junction is set horizontally across the waveguide or vertically in the thickness direction. Compared with these types of MZIs, the newly proposed structure operates at low voltage because the depletion region expands from the p/n junctions at the both edges of the p or n type neutral region along the waveguide and the reverse bias voltage required to deplete the whole region becomes low. Furthermore, the doping concentration of the p and n regions can be reduced because there is no constraint on the width of the depletion region, while in the case of the horizontal or vertical junction type, the doping concentration must be high so that the depletion-region width is within the width or the height of the waveguide. The low doping concentration results in the low junction capacitance and leads to the higher operation speed. In this paper the detailed characteristics of the newly proposed MZI modulator have been simulated. The operation voltage of the proposed device is only 1.5V at 13dB (95%) modulation for the arm length of 5mm, while in the case of vertical junction, the operation voltage is 8V at the same modulation and for the same arm length.
Bioelectrical, Anthropometric, and Hematological Analysis to Assess Body Fluids and Muscle Changes in Elite Cyclists during the Giro d’Italia

Simple Summary Giro d’Italia is one of the most demanding races in cycling tour, in which, during the 3 weeks of competition, several physiological adaptations occur. This study aimed to analyze these changes with different methods (bioelectrical, anthropometrical, and hematological analysis) in order to see how body fluids vary in the whole body as the competition progresses, and also in three specific muscle groups (quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves). There were three checkpoint assessments: at the beginning, middle, and end of the race. Results indicated that bioelectrical impedance vector analysis is sensitive to the body fluid changes. A proper homeostatic adaptation was detected during the first half of competition, but the long-term, high intensity exercise would result in profound fluid loss and distribution in the soft tissues. Furthermore, most of these changes happened in the extracellular water compartment, indicating that the state of the cell membranes was maintained in good condition. The calves are the muscle group most sensitive to this analysis. In conclusion, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis is a reliable, non-invasive, and practical method to assess physiological adaptations in athletes. Abstract This study aimed to characterize and monitor the body fluid and muscle changes during the Giro d’Italia in nine elite cyclists via bioelectrical (whole-body and muscle-localized) anthropometric and hematological analysis. There were three checkpoint assessments: at the beginning, middle, and end of the race. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the data at baseline and follow up. The Spearman correlation was used to explore relationships between variables. Hotelling’s T2 test was used to determine bioelectrical differences in the complex vector. Bodyweight did not change during the competition, despite bioelectrical and hematological data indicating that at the first half of the race, there was a fluid gain, and in the second half a fluid loss occurred, reaching baseline values. These changes were especially prevalent in the extracellular water compartment. Significant correlations between whole-body bioelectrical vector changes and red blood cell parameter changes were reported. The muscle group most sensitive to changes were the calves. Quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves reported a PhA decrease trend during the first half of the race, and an increase during the second half. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis appears to be sensitive enough to detect hydration and cellular integrity adaptions induced by competitions as demanding as the Giro d’Italia.
Despite Workforce Diversity Efforts, Career Metrics Differ for Some Demographic Groups in the USDA Forest Service

Abstract A diverse, representative workforce is both beneficial and legally mandated for U.S. federal agencies. While previous research documents overall diversity within public agencies, like the USDA Forest Service, little is known about career outcomes and trajectories within these agencies. In this work, we look at individual-level career metrics which reveal patterns in employee retention, advancement, and termination. Using employment data for over 25,000 USDA Forest Service employees, we found that race/ethnicity, gender, and the interaction of these variables significantly related to each career metric. For instance, BIPOC female employees entered at a higher grade but advanced more slowly and spent fewer years with the agency. BIPOC male employees started at lower grades and were more likely to be terminated than any other group. These results suggest that career performance within the Forest Service varies substantially as a function of race and gender. Additional research is needed to uncover why these unequal outcomes occur.
Evaluation of skin care products using optical coherence elastography

The biomechanical properties of the human skin are intrinsically correlated with changes associated with pathological conditions, aging, and hydration. Quantitative measurements can improve diagnostic tools, treatments, and cosmetic product evaluation. Using optical coherence elastography (OCE), an emerging imaging modality combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) with a localized excitation source to induce mechanical disturbances, a quantitative evaluation of tissue biomechanics can be achieved. OCE complements the structural information with elasticity data to attain a complete overview of skin status. In this study, we employed a home-built OCE system, combining a swept-source OCT system with a piezoelectric actuator for tissue displacement, to evaluate changes to the skin biomechanical properties due to the application of an anti-aging cream. Skin elasticity was monitored for a total of five weeks. Anti-aging cream was applied daily for four weeks. OCE measurements continued for one additional week to assess the effect of cream application interruption. Three female volunteers were included in this proof-of-principle investigation. Their counter-arm was used as control. Although no statistical significance was reached, a decrease in skin Young’s modulus was observed with the cream application, indicating an increase in skin elasticity.
Global convergence rate of a standard multigrid method for variational inequalities

We introduce a multigrid algorithm for variational inequalities whose constraints are of the two-obstacle type. This algorithm is described as a V-cycle multigrid method, its iterations having an optimal computing complexity, but the results also hold for other types of iterations, W -cycles, for instance. In the case of the one-obstacle problems, the algorithm reduces to that introduced by Mandel in 1984 for complementarity problems and named later by Kornhuber as standard monotone multigrid method. First, we introduce the method as a subspace correction algorithm in a reflexive Banach space, prove its global convergence and estimate the error making some assumptions. By introducing the finite element spaces, this algorithm becomes a multilevel or multigrid method. In this case, we prove that the assumptions we made in the general theory are satisfied and write the convergence rate depending on the number of levels. Finally, we compare our results with the estimations of the asymptotic convergence rate existing in the literature for complementarity problems.
Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Aimed to the Ocular Delivery of Mangiferin: In Vitro Evidence

Although mangiferin (MGN) is a natural antioxidant that could be a good candidate for the treatment of ocular diseases, its use in ophthalmology is strongly compromised due to its high lipophilicity. Its encapsulation in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) seems to be an interesting strategy for improving its ocular bioavailability. As reported in our previous work, MGN–NLC showed high ocular compatibility and fulfilled the nanotechnological requirements needed for ocular delivery. The aim of the present work was to investigate, in vitro and ex vivo, the capability of MGN–NLC to act as a potential drug delivery system for MGN ocular administration. The data obtained in vitro on arising retinal pigment epithelium cells (ARPE-19) did not show cytotoxic effects for blank NLC and MGN–NLC; likewise, MGN–NLC showed the maintenance of the antioxidant role of MGN by mitigating ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) formation and GSH (glutathione) depletion induced by H2O2. In addition, the capacity of MGN-released to permeate through and accumulate into the ocular tissues was confirmed ex vivo using bovine corneas. Finally, the NLC suspension has been formulated as a freeze-dried powder using mannitol at a concentration of 3% (w/v) in order to optimize its storage for long periods of time. All this evidence suggests a potential application of MGN–NLC in the treatment of oxidative stress-related ocular diseases.
GPT-4 passes the bar exam

In this paper, we experimentally evaluate the zero-shot performance of GPT-4 against prior generations of GPT on the entire uniform bar examination (UBE), including not only the multiple-choice multistate bar examination (MBE), but also the open-ended multistate essay exam (MEE) and multistate performance test (MPT) components. On the MBE, GPT-4 significantly outperforms both human test-takers and prior models, demonstrating a 26% increase over ChatGPT and beating humans in five of seven subject areas. On the MEE and MPT, which have not previously been evaluated by scholars, GPT-4 scores an average of 4.2/6.0 when compared with much lower scores for ChatGPT. Graded across the UBE components, in the manner in which a human test-taker would be, GPT-4 scores approximately 297 points, significantly in excess of the passing threshold for all UBE jurisdictions. These findings document not just the rapid and remarkable advance of large language model performance generally, but also the potential for such models to support the delivery of legal services in society. This article is part of the theme issue ‘A complexity science approach to law and governance’.
Consumer Perception and Acceptability of Lupin-Derived Products: A Systematic Review

The addition of lupin into other foods can enhance their nutritional value and may be an acceptable approach to introducing lupin into the food supply, particularly as an ingredient. Lupin could be used in many food products (bakery products, pasta, beverages, meat products and dairy products) to improve their protein content and possible nutraceutical effects. The main aim of this study is to summarise the recent formulation trends with lupin as an ingredient of new food products based on consumer perception and acceptability. The present systematic literature review was conducted through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The eligibility criteria for the articles to be considered were: (a) the manufacturing of a food product with lupin as a formulation ingredient; (b) the food product developed was tested by a sensorial panel. A total of 33 studies filled the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the qualitative synthesis. The sensory analysis of each product was notoriously different based on the jury evaluators and measurement scales used but revealed high acceptability rates for possible future consumers. The high protein and fibre contents of lupin were the most cited reason associated with the importance of nutrient-rich food products for consumers. More research on foods with high nutrition profiles and well-established sustainability parameters is crucial to promote healthier food environments.
On the study of embedding fuzzy concept into reinforcement learning schemes

Abstract The paper is to study how to correctly embed fuzzy concept into reinforcement learning schemes with the box‐type structure. In fact, precious work has already proposed the idea of incorporating fuzzy concept into reinforcement learning systems. However, in that approach only two state variables were considered. In our implementation, when four state variables were used with the fuzzification process, the results show a complete disaster. After analyzing the behaviors of the approach, three problems have been identified. The first one is the credit assignment problem about the learning process in the use of the fuzzification process. Since the considered system is of bang‐bang control, all fired boxes may not all agree on the fired action. Thus, in the learning process, such a credit assignment problem must be taken into account. The second one is the weight domination problem. In the early stage, some learned boxes even with very small firing strengths might dominate the action generation process because other boxes are unlearned. Finally, the use of fuzzy schemes in generating the predicted evaluation under the temporal difference mechanism seems to be a negative factor in our example. The modifications to overcome those problems were also proposed in the paper. The results have shown the correctness of our modifications.
Contributions Regarding the Practicality of a Quantum Pair Space Thruster

Traditionally a space propulsion unit has a propellant mass which is ejected trough a nozzle at highvelocity to generate thrust. This paper proposes the use of the quantum pair formation for generating a working mass, this is different than conventional anti-matter thrusters since the material particles generated are used as a propellant mass not as energy storage. Two thrusters will be compared: photonic and quantum pair generation. The latter will be shown to offer better momentum than photons above certain energy levels. The implication is that quantum pair thrusters may develop into a new class of space propulsion systems. Keywords: quantum pair formation, space propulsion, photonic propulsion
Joint source-and-relay power allocation in multipleinput multiple-output amplify-and-forward relay systems: a non-convex problem and its solution

In this study, the joint source-and-relay power allocation (JPA) problem in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) relay systems is investigated. It is revealed for the first time that the JPA problem based on the mean squared error (MSE) minimisation or the achievable rate maximisation criterion possesses a partial convexity, that is, the cost function is convex with respect to (w.r.t.) part of the optimisation parameters only. It is then proved that a better partial convexity, namely, a partial convexity w.r. t. a larger subset of the optimisation parameters, can be achieved by relaxing the cost function with an upper or lower bound of the MSE or achievable rate. By exploiting the partial convexity properties disclosed, two iterative algorithms are proposed to solve the non-convex JPA problem. It is shown that the convergence of the proposed iterative algorithms is guaranteed because of the fact that each iteration follows a convex optimisation w.r. t. the partial parameters. Finally, it is shown by Monte Carlo simulations that the proposed algorithms outperform several existing methods including our own prior work.
Optimization of HVS-based objective image quality assessment with eye tracking

In this paper, we present an approach to predict perceived quality of compressed images while incorporating real visual attention coordinates. Information about the visual attention is not usually taken into account in image quality assessment models. The idea of implementing gaze information into the image quality assessment system lies in that the artefacts are more disturbing to human observer in the region with higher saliency than in other parts of an image. Impact of the re¬gion of interest on estimation accuracy of a simple image quality metric is investigated. The gaze coordinates were calculated using calibrated electro-oculogram records of human observers while watching a number of test images. The same images were used for subjective image quality assessment. Obtained mean opinion scores of perceived image quality and eye tracking data were used to verify potential improvement of assessment accuracy for a simple image quality metric. Based on the proven effect, our previously developed system for still image quality assessment has been adapted while utilizing information about the visual attention. The potential performance improvement of existing image coding while incorporating the spatially adaptive HVS is discussed.
Power Curve Modeling of Wind Turbines through Clustering-Based Outlier Elimination

The estimation of power curve is the central task for efficient operation and prediction of wind power generation. It is often the case, however, that the actual data exhibit a great deal of variations in power output with respect to wind speed, and thus the power curve estimation necessitates the detection and proper treatment of outliers. This study proposes a novel procedure for outlier detection and elimination for estimating power curves of wind farms by employing clustering algorithms of vector quantization and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise. Testing different parametric models of power output curve, the proposed methodology is demonstrated for obtaining power curves of individual wind turbines in a Korean wind farm. It is asserted that the outlier elimination procedure for power curve modeling outlined in this study can be highly efficient at the presence of noises.
Fitting Polynomial Trends to Seasonal Data by the Method of Least Squares

T HE PROBLEM discussed in this article is that of fitting a polynomial trend to an equally spaced time series with unknown seasonal differences in such manner that the seasonal differences and the coefficients of the polynomial are computed simultaneously so as to minimize the sum of the squared residuals. This problem is simple in theory; but its solution appears to have been overlooked in the literature on fitting trends. ' Sasuly2 suggests that fitting certain arcs by an iterative procedure will tend to eliminate the seasonal element; but there is no reason to suppose that this procedure will approximate the least squares solution. Macaulay3 argues that the method of least squares is not suitable for computing trend midordinates for a seasonal series, and chooses flexibility and smoothness as principal criteria for judging graduation
Study and Characterization of Regenerated Hard Foam Prepared by Polyol Hydrolysis of Waste Polyurethane

In this paper, four different kinds of diols were used for the alcoholysis of waste thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. The recycled polyether polyols were used to prepare regenerated thermosetting polyurethane rigid foam through one-step foaming. We used four different kinds of alcoholysis agents, according to different proportions of the complex, and we combined them with an alkali metal catalyst (KOH) to trigger the catalytic cleavage of the carbamate bonds in the waste polyurethane elastomers. The effects of the different types and different chain lengths of the alcoholysis agents on the degradation of the waste polyurethane elastomers and the preparation of regenerated polyurethane rigid foam were studied. Based on the viscosity, GPC, FT-IR, foaming time and compression strength, water absorption, TG, apparent density, and thermal conductivity of the recycled polyurethane foam, eight groups of optimal components were selected and discussed. The results showed that the viscosity of the recovered biodegradable materials was between 485 and 1200 mPa·s. The hard foam of the regenerated polyurethane was prepared using biodegradable materials instead of commercially available polyether polyols, and its compressive strength was between 0.131 and 0.176 MPa. The water absorption rate ranged from 0.7265 to 1.9923%. The apparent density of the foam was between 0.0303 and 0.0403 kg/m3. The thermal conductivity ranged from 0.0151 to 0.0202 W/(m·K). A large number of experimental results showed that the degradation of the waste polyurethane elastomers by the alcoholysis agents was successful. The thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers can not only be reconstructed, but they can also be degraded by alcoholysis to produce regenerated polyurethane rigid foam.