Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Trifluoro-Acetate Derivatives for GC-MS and GC-MS/MS Quantification of Trace Amounts of Stera-3β,5α,6β-Triols (Tracers of Δ5-Sterol Autoxidation) in Environmental Samples

Stera-3β,5α,6β-triols make useful tracers of the autoxidation of Δ5-sterols. These compounds are generally analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after silylation. Unfortunately, the 5α hydroxyl groups of these compounds, which are not derivatized by conventional silylation reagents, substantially alter the chromatographic properties of these derivatives, thus ruling out firm quantification of trace amounts. In this work, we developed a derivatization method (trifluoroacetylation) that enables derivatization of the three hydroxyl groups of 3β,5α,6β-steratriols. The derivatives thus formed present several advantages over silyl ethers: (i) better stability, (ii) shorter retention times, (iii) better chromatographic properties and (iv) mass spectra featuring specific ions or transitions that enable very low limits of detection in selected ion monitoring (SIM) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. This method, validated with cholesta-3β,5α,6β-triol, was applied to several environmental samples (desert dusts, marine sediments and particulate matter) and was able to quantify trace amounts of 3β,5α,6β-steratriols corresponding to several sterols: not only classical monounsaturated sterols (e.g., cholesterol, campesterol and sitosterol) but also, and for the first time, di-unsaturated sterols (e.g., stigmasterol, dehydrocholesterol and brassicasterol).
Janus Distillation Membrane via Mussel-Inspired Inkjet Printing Modification for Anti-Oil Fouling Membrane Distillation

In this work, inkjet printing technology was used to print a thin layer of a hydrophilic solution containing polydopamine as a binder and polyethyleneimine as a strong hydrophilic agent on a commercial hydrophobic membrane to produce a Janus membrane for membrane distillation. The pristine and modified membranes were tested in a direct-contact membrane distillation system with mineral oil-containing feedwater. The results revealed that an integrated and homogenous hydrophilic layer was printed on the membrane with small intrusions in the pores. The membrane, which contained three layers of inkjet-printed hydrophilic layers, showed a high underwater oil contact angle and a low in-air water contact angle. One-layer inkjet printing was not robust enough, but the triple-layer coated modified membrane maintained its anti-oil fouling performance even for a feed solution containing 70 g/L NaCl and 0.01 v/v% mineral oil concentration with a flux of around 20 L/m2h. This study implies the high potential of the inkjet printing technique as a facile surface modification strategy to improve membrane performance.
Design and Motion Simulation of a Soft Robot for Crawling in Pipes

In recent years, soft pipeline robot, as a new concept, is proposed to adapt to tunnel. The soft pipeline robots are made of soft materials such as rubber or silicone. These materials have good elasticity, which enhance the adaptability of the soft pipeline robot. Therefore, the soft pipeline robot has better performance on deformability than rigid robot. However, the structure of tunnel is complex and varied that brought challenges on design structure of soft pipeline robot. In this paper, we propose soft pipeline robot with simple structure and easy fabrication, which can be realized straight, turning motion in a variety of tunnels with different diameters. The soft pipeline robot composed of two types of structure, which are expansion part and deformation part. Front and rear deformation part for bending and position fixation, and middle expansion part for elongation, so the pipeline soft robot can be moved in various structures of tunnels. Moreover, the locomotion ability and adaptability in tunnel are verified by simulating on software. The structure of chamber proposed in this paper can guide the design method of soft pipeline robot.
Computer-Intensive Methods

With recent advances in the power of personal computers, reference distributions of statistics are now often generated using computer-intensive methods. Several terms are erroneously used interchangeably when referring to such computer-intensive statistical methods, including ‘resampling techniques’, ‘Monte Carlo’, ‘permutation’, ‘randomization’ and ‘bootstrap’. These techniques are not interchangeable but are fundamentally different in terms of their statistical mechanics. The generic terms ‘resampling techniques’ and ‘computer-intensive methods’ refer to all methods in which the observed data are used to generate a reference distribution by means of randomization. This reference distribution is then used to assess the significance of a statistic calculated from the observed (not randomized) data. Significance is evaluated under the assumption that the statistic computed using the observed data is sampled from the reference distribution generated with a randomization technique. Keywords: resampling; randomization; bootstrap; Monte Carlo; Jackknife
A Variational Learning Approach for Concurrent Distance Estimation and Environmental Identification

Wireless propagated signals encapsulate rich information for high-accuracy localization and environment sensing. However, the full exploitation of positional and environmental features as well as their correlation remains challenging in complex propagation environments. In this paper, we propose a methodology of variational inference over deep neural networks for concurrent distance estimation and environmental identification. The proposed approach, namely inter-instance variational auto-encoders (IIns-VAEs), conducts inference with latent variables that encapsulate information about both distance and environmental labels. A deep learning network with instance normalization is designed to approximate the inference concurrently via deep learning. We conduct extensive experiments on real-world datasets and the results show the superiority of the proposed IIns-VAE in both distance estimation and environmental identification compared to conventional approaches.
An Adaptive Sliding Mode Controller for a PAM-based Actuator

The Pneumatic Artificial Muscle (PAM) is a promising actuator for developing the human-robot interaction system. However, modeling and controlling PAM-based actuators are a significant difficulty due to the inherent uncertainty and hysteresis of PAM. Besides, the control approach of a PAM-based system also deals with unknown disturbances that always exist in any system. This study developed a sliding mode controller that employs an adaptive law to deal with issues and improve control performance. Furthermore, the stability of the proposed controller is proven based on the Lyapunov stability criterion. Finally, through a series of tests, the effectiveness of the proposed control approach is verified.
Phytosanitary Rules for the Movement of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Propagation Material into the European Union (EU)

Phytosanitary legislation involves government laws that are essential to minimize the risk of the introduction and diffusion of pests, especially invasive non-native species, as a consequence of the international exchange of plant material, thus allowing us to safeguard agricultural production and biodiversity of a territory. These measures ensure compliance with adequate requirements relating to the absence of pests, especially of harmful quarantine organisms through inspections and diagnosis tests of the consignments to ascertain the presence of the pests concerned. They also regulate the eradication and containment measures that are implemented in the eventuality of an unintentional introduction of these organisms. In the present contribution, the current plant protection legislation for the exchange of plants or propagation material within the European Union or for export to foreign countries, represented by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, has been reviewed, with a particular focus on the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). Furthermore, a brief summary of the main olive tree pests transmissible with the propagation material is also reported, indicating their current categorization with respect to the relative quarantine status.
Variability of the 3C 390.3 nucleus in 2000–2007 and a new estimate of the central black hole mass

We present further results of the optical observations of the 3C 390.3 nucleus undertaken at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory since 1992. From the new data obtained in 2000–2007, we find differences in the responses of the Balmer emission lines to the optical continuum variations. Moreover, these responses (i.e. the relationship between line and continuum fluxes) show long-term changes that can be presumably attributed to the evolution of the relationship between the fluxes of the optical and driving continua. We suspect that some small discrepancy between our spectral and photometric measurements of 3C 390.3 can be attributed to the longterm variability of the [O III] λ 5007 A forbidden line. The cross-correlation analysis of the light curves let us to improve the values of the time delays between continuum and emission-line variations: τcent = 94 ± 6 and 174 ± 16 d for the Hβ and Hα lines, respectively. The black hole mass, derived from the Hβ line, was found to be 2.0 × 10 9 M� . This result suggests an even larger black hole mass for the 3C 390.3 nucleus and, therefore, a lower accretion rate under a given luminosity than was previously thought and thus it provides more evidence for anticorrelation between broad-line widths and Eddington luminosity ratiosLbol/LEdd in AGNs.
Vitamin A: a key coordinator of host-microbe interactions in the intestine

The human intestine is home to a dense community of microbiota that plays a key role in human health and disease. Nutrients are essential regulators of both host and microbial physiology and function as key coordinators of host-microbe interactions. Therefore, understanding the specific roles and underlying mechanisms of each nutrient in regulating the host-microbe interactions will be essential in developing new strategies for improving human health through microbiota and nutrient intervention. This review will give a basic overview of the role of vitamin A, an essential micronutrient, on human health, and highlight recent findings on the mechanisms by which it regulates the host-microbe interactions.
LISA simulations of time-reversed acoustic and elastic wave experiments

Several experiments in the last decade have demonstrated the enormous potential of time-reversed acoustic (TRA) and elastic (TRE) waves for applications in many fields, such as medicine, materials characterization and oceanography. In the present contribution, we demonstrate the applicability of the local interaction simulation approach (LISA) to simulate, by means of virtual experiments, both TRA and TRE and to reproduce the relevant features of both techniques.
Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of a Flea Beetle Luperomorpha xanthodera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) and Phylogenetic Analysis

In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Luperomorpha xanthodera was assembled and annotated, which is a circular DNA molecule including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), and 1388 bp non-coding regions (A + T rich region), measuring 16,021 bp in length. The nucleotide composition of the mitochondrial genome is 41.3% adenine (A), 38.7% thymine (T), 8.4% guanine (G), and 11.6% cytosine (C). Most of the protein-coding genes presented a typical ATN start codon (ATA, ATT, ATC, ATG), except for ND1, which showed the start codon TTG. Three-quarters of the protein-coding genes showed the complete stop codon TAR (TAA, TAG), except the genes COI, COII, ND4, and ND5, which showed incomplete stop codons (T- or TA-). All the tRNA genes have the typical clover-leaf structure, except tRNASer1 (AGN), which has a missing dihydrouridine arm (DHU). The phylogenetic results determined by both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods consistently supported the monophyly of the subfamily Galerucinae and revealed that the subtribe Luperina and genus Monolepta are polyphyletic groups. Meanwhile, the classification status of the genus Luperomorpha is controversial.
Antibacterial activities of garlic (Allium sativum) in broiler and laying hens production

SUMMARY Garlic (Allium sativum), one of the several phytogenics with its functionally bioactive compounds (allicin, allyl-methyl thiosulphonate, gamma-L-glutamyl-S-alkyl-L-cysteine and 1-propenyl allyl thiosulphonate) offers many advances for enhancement in production when supplemented in the diets of birds. A number of in vitro studies have established its potency in minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration through microdilution techniques. There is enough indication that garlic and its secondary metabolites could replicate the enormous benefits of synthetic feed additive due to its ability to inhibit gram-negative and gram-positive pathogenic bacteria thereby proliferating useful microbes in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. Therefore, this review establishes the antibacterial activities of garlic in various processed forms/products in broiler chickens and laying hens production.
Antibiotic-Therapy-Induced Gut Dysbiosis Affecting Gut Microbiota—Brain Axis and Cognition: Restoration by Intake of Probiotics and Synbiotics

Antibiotic therapy through short-term or repeated long-term prescriptions can have several damaging effects on the normal microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in microbiota could be multiple including decreased diversity of species in gut microbiota, changed metabolic activity, and the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis in turn can induce antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and recurrent infections caused by Clostridioides difficile. There is also evidence that the use of different chemical classes of antibiotics for the treatment of a variety of ailments can lead to several health issues including gastrointestinal, immunologic, and neurocognitive conditions. This review discusses gut dysbiosis, its symptoms and one important cause, which is antibiotic therapy for the induction of gut dysbiosis. Since the maintenance of good gut health is important for the well-being and functioning of physiological and cognitive activities through the normal gut-microbiota–brain relationship, the condition of dysbiosis is not desirable. Specific therapies are prescribed by medical practitioners for the cure of a variety of ailments, and, if the prescription of antibiotics becomes unavoidable, there is a possibility of the onset of gut dysbiosis as the side or after effects. Therefore, the restoration of imbalanced gut microbiota to its balanced condition becomes necessary. A healthy relationship between gut microbiota and the brain can be achieved with the introduction of probiotic strains into the gut in a practical and consumer-friendly way, such as consumption of food and beverages prepared with the use of characterised probiotic species, fermented foods as the potential biotics, or synbiotic supplements.
Coherent data transmission with microresonator Kerr frequency combs

Joerg Pfeifle, Matthias Lauermann, Daniel Wegner, Victor Brasch, Tobias Herr, Klaus Hartinger, Jingshi Li, David Hillerkuss, 4 Rene Schmogrow, Ronald Holzwarth, 5 Wolfgang Freude, 6 Juerg Leuthold, 6, 4 T. J. Kippenberg, and Christian Koos 6, ∗ Institute of Photonics and Quantum Electronics (IPQ), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland Menlo Systems GmbH, 82152 Martinsried, Germany now with ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Max-Planck-Institut fur Quantenoptik, 85746 Garching, Germany Institute of Microstructure Technology (IMT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
Determination of the hyperfine constants for HCCO by pulsed-discharge-nozzle Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy

Abstract The rotational spectrum of a short-lived free radical, HCCO, has been observed by using a Fabry-Perot-type Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer combined with a pulsed-discharge nozzle. HCCO has been produced by a discharge of a mixture of C 2 H 2 and O 2 diluted in Ar and subsequently cooled to a few Kelvin in a supersonic expansion. All the fine and hyperfine components have been observed for the N = 1-0 rotational transition at 21 GHz. The lines have been analyzed with previously reported data in the submillimeter wave region, leading to a set of the effective constants for the K a = 0 state. The precisely determined magnetic hyperfine constants for the hydrogen nucleus have been discussed in connection with the electronic and geometrical structures of the radical. Transition frequencies for the hyperfine components of several low- N lines have been tabulated with calculated line strengths, as an aid for future astronomical searches of the radical.
Physical Aging Behavior of the Side Chain of a Conjugated Polymer PBTTT

This paper provides a viewpoint of the technology of the fast-scanning calorimetry with the relaxation behavior of disordered side chains of poly[2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (PBTTT-C12) around the glass transition temperature of the side chains (Tg,γ). PBTTT is an ideal model of the high-performance copolymer of poly(alkylthiophenes) with side chains. The γ1 relaxation process of the disordered side chains of PBTTT was detected as a small endothermic peak that emerges before the γ2 relaxation process. It shows an increase with increasing temperature as it approaches the glass transition temperature of the disordered side chains of PBTTT. The ductile–brittle transition of PBTTT in low temperatures originating from the thermal relaxation process is probed and illustrated by physical aging experiments. The signature is shown that the relaxation process of the disordered side chain of PBTTT at low temperatures varies from Arrhenius temperature dependence to super Arrhenius temperature dependence at high temperatures. These observations could have significant consequences for the stability of devices based on conjugated polymers, especially those utilized for stretchable or flexible applications, or those demanding mechanical robustness during tensile fabrication or use in a low-temperature environment.
Human Identification Based on the Histogram of Oriented Gradients

This paper proposes a new human identification based on the pattern of blood vessels seen in the sclera region of human eye. Blood vessel structure seen in the sclera region is unique to each person. To make the identification more accurately, a new method of feature extraction is incorporated which is Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG). By using this method, the different orientation of blood vessels in the sclera region is obtained which make it easier for sclera recognition. Software WEKA, which is machine learning used to measure the percentage of similarity measure between the training set and testing set of images. These experiments are done with the help of UBIRIS database. The experimental result shows that sclera recognition can achieve high accuracy in visible wavelength. Keywords—Human identification, Sclera recognition, Otsu’s thresholding, Histogram of Oriented Gradients(HOG), WEKA
Non-Aspergillus Hyaline Molds: A Host-Based Perspective of Emerging Pathogenic Fungi Causing Sinopulmonary Diseases

The incidence of invasive sino-pulmonary diseases due to non-Aspergillus hyaline molds is increasing due to an enlarging and evolving population of immunosuppressed hosts as well as improvements in the capabilities of molecular-based diagnostics. Herein, we review the following opportunistic pathogens known to cause sinopulmonary disease, the most common manifestation of hyalohyphomycosis: Fusarium spp. , Scedosporium spp. , Lomentospora prolificans, Scopulariopsis spp. , Trichoderma spp. , Acremonium spp. , Paecilomyces variotii, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Rasamsonia argillacea species complex, Arthrographis kalrae, and Penicillium species. To facilitate an understanding of the epidemiology and clinical features of sino-pulmonary hyalohyphomycoses in the context of host immune impairment, we utilized a host-based approach encompassing the following underlying conditions: neutropenia, hematologic malignancy, hematopoietic and solid organ transplantation, chronic granulomatous disease, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and healthy individuals who sustain burns, trauma, or iatrogenic exposures. We further summarize the pre-clinical and clinical data informing antifungal management for each pathogen and consider the role of adjunctive surgery and/or immunomodulatory treatments to optimize patient outcome.
Inductor-Aid Step-Up LLC Resonant Wireless Power Transfer

An inductor-aid step-up LLC wireless power transfer (WPT) system is proposed in this paper. It could step up the WPT output voltage beyond the conventional LLC series-series (SS) compensation method. Employing a parallel inductor with the transmitter coil to lessen the circuit impedance thus the inverter exhibits a new gain curve. The constant frequency operation and simple control of two series active switches in the parallel inductor branch shows a practical improvement of conventional constant frequency LLC WPT system, in terms of voltage demand, new standards and applications. Even the frequency modulation LLC WPT system could be benefited from this enhanced topology rather than to deteriorate the inverter current stress and unnecessary over-rating of magnetic components. The receiver side compensation tank has no additional voltage drop and overcurrent. A 300W prototype has been constructed to validate the concept and performed at 90% efficiency.
Thyroid Hormone Transporters MCT8 and OATP1C1 Are Expressed in Pyramidal Neurons and Interneurons in the Adult Motor Cortex of Human and Macaque Brain

Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) and organic anion transporter polypeptide 1C1 (OATP1C1) are thyroid hormone (TH) transmembrane transporters that play an important role in the availability of TH for neural cells, allowing their proper development and function. It is important to define which cortical cellular subpopulations express those transporters to explain why MCT8 and OATP1C1 deficiency in humans leads to dramatic alterations in the motor system. By means of immunohistochemistry and double/multiple labeling immunofluorescence in adult human and monkey motor cortices, we demonstrate the presence of both transporters in long-projection pyramidal neurons and in several types of short-projection GABAergic interneurons in both species, suggesting a critical position of these transporters for modulating the efferent motor system. MCT8 is present at the neurovascular unit, but OATP1C1 is only present in some of the large vessels. Both transporters are expressed in astrocytes. OATP1C1 was unexpectedly found, only in the human motor cortex, inside the Corpora amylacea complexes, aggregates linked to substance evacuation towards the subpial system. On the basis of our findings, we propose an etiopathogenic model that emphasizes these transporters’ role in controlling excitatory/inhibitory motor cortex circuits in order to understand some of the severe motor disturbances observed in TH transporter deficiency syndromes.