Electrospinning polymer fibers for is a well-understood process, primarily resulting in random mats or single strands. More recent systems and methods have allowed for the production of nanofiber yarns (NFY) for ease of use in textiles. This paper presents a method of NFY manufacture using a simplified dry electrospinning system to produce self-assembling functional NFY capable of conducting electrical charge. The polymer is a mixture of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), polyvinyl acrylate (PVA) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). When treated with Ethylene Glycol (EG) to enhance conductivity, fibers touching the collector plate align to the applied electrostatic field and grow, twisting together as additional nanofiber polymer is added by the jet. The longer the electrospinning continues, the longer and more uniformly twisted the NFY becomes. This process has the added benefit of reducing the electric field required for NFY production from >2.43 kV cm-1 to 1.875 kV cm-1.

Lipophilic oligonucleotide derivatives are a potent approach to the intracellular delivery of nucleic acids. The binding of these derivatives to serum albumin is a major determinant of their fate in the body, as its structure contains several sites of high affinity for hydrophobic compounds. This study focuses on the features of self-association and non-covalent interactions with human serum albumin of novel self-penetrating oligonucleotide derivatives. The study revealed that the introduction of a triazinyl phosphoramidate modification bearing two dodecyl groups at the 3' end region of the oligonucleotide sequence has a negligible effect on its affinity for the complementary sequence. Dynamic light scattering verified that the amphiphilic oligonucleotides under study can self-assemble into micelle-like particles ranging from 8 to 15 nm in size. The oligonucleotides with dodecyl groups form stable complexes with human serum albumin with a dissociation constant of approximately 10-6 M. The oligonucleotide micelles are simultaneously destroyed upon binding to albumin. Using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and affinity modification, we examined the ability of DNA duplexes containing triazinyl phosphoramidate oligonucleotides to interact with Ku antigen and PARP1, as well as the mutual influence of PARP1 and albumin or Ku antigen and albumin upon interaction with DNA duplexes. These findings, together with the capability of dodecyl-containing derivatives to effectively penetrate different cells, such as HEK293 and T98G, indicate that the oligonucleotides under study can be considered as a platform for the development of therapeutic preparations with a target effect.

We develop an optimized force-field for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and demonstrate its utility for predicting thermodynamic self-assembly. In particular, we consider short oligomer chains, model electrostatics and solvent implicitly, and coarsely model solvent evaporation. We quantify the performance of our model to determine what the optimal system sizes are for exploring self-assembly at combinations of state variables. We perform molecular dynamics simulations to predict the self-assembly of P3HT at ~350 combinations of temperature and solvent quality. Our structural calculations predict that the highest degrees of order are obtained with good solvents just below the melting temperature. We find our model produces the most accurate structural predictions to date, as measured by agreement with grazing incident X-ray scattering experiments.

Nucleobase-containing molecules are compounds essential in biology due to the fundamental role of nucleic acids, and in particular G-quadruplex DNA and RNA in life. Moreover, some molecules different from nucleic acids isolated from different vegetal sources or microorganisms show nucleobase moieties in their structure. Nucleoamino acids and peptidyl nucleosides belong to this molecular class. Closely related to the above, nucleopeptides also known as nucleobase-bearing peptides are chimeric derivatives of synthetic origin and more rarely isolated from plants. Herein the self-assembly properties of a vast number of structures, belonging to the nucleic acid and nucleo amino acid/nucleopeptide family, is explored in the light of the recent scientific literature. Moreover, several technologically relevant properties such as the hydrogelation ability of some of the nucleobase-containing derivatives are reviewed in order to open the door to future experimental investigations of newly-inspired nucleobase-driven hydrogels. Nucleobase-containing molecules, such as mononucleosides, DNA, RNA, quadruplex (G4)-forming oligonucleotides and nucleopeptides, are paramount in gel and hydrogel formation owing to their distinctive molecular attributes and ability to self-assemble in biomolecular nanosystems with the most diverse applications in different fields of biomedicine and nanotechnology. In fact, these molecules and their gels present numerous advantages, underscoring their significance and applicability in both material science and biomedicine. Their versatility, capability for molecular recognition, responsiveness to stimuli, biocompatibility, and biodegradability collectively contribute to their prominence in modern nanotechnology and biomedicine. In this review, we emphasize the critical role of nucleobase-containing molecules of different nature in pioneering novel materials with multifaceted applications highlighting their potential in therapy, diagnostics, and new nanomaterials fabrication as required in order to address the numerous current biomedical and nanotechnological challenges.

Hydrogels incorporated with hydrophobic motifs have received considerable attention to recapitulate the cellular microenvironments, specifically for the bio-mineralization of a 3D matrix. Introduction of hydrophobic motifs into a hydrogel often results in irregular arrangement of the motifs, and further phase separation of hydrophobic domains, but limited efforts have been made to resolve this challenge in the hydrophobically-modified hydrogel. Therefore, this study presents an advanced integrative strategy to incorporate hydrophobic domains regularly in a hydrogel by self-assembling of polymer cross-linkers, building blocks of a hydrogel. Self-assemblies between polymer cross-linkers were examined as micro-domains to incorporate hydrophobic motifs in a hydrogel. The self-assembled structures in a pre-gelled solution were confirmed with the fluorescence analysis and the hydrophobicity of a hydrogel could be tuned by incorporating the motifs in a controlled manner. Overall, the results of this study would greatly serve to tuning performance of a wide array of hydrophobically-modified hydrogels in drug delivery, cell therapies and tissue engineering.

The rational fabrication of low-dimensional materials with a well-defined topology and functions is an incredibly important aspect of nanotechnology. In particular, the on-surface synthesis (OSS) methods based on the bottom-up approach enable facile construction of sophisticated molecular architectures unattainable by traditional methods of wet chemistry. Among such supramolecular constructs especially interesting are surface-supported metal-organic networks (SMONs), composed of low-coordinated metal atoms and π-aromatic bridging linkers differing in size, shape and functionalization scheme. In this work, the lattice Monte Carlo (MC) simulation technique was used to extract the chemical information encoded in a family of Y-shaped positional isomers coadsorbed with trivalent metal atoms on a flat metallic surface with (111) geometry. For this purpose the investigated tritopic molecules/metal atoms were carefully mapped on a triangular lattice as interconnected/isolated segments with appropriatelly embedded anisotropic interactions. Depending on the intramolecular distribution of active centers (functional groups) within the simulated molecular bricks, we observed the metal-directed self-assembly of two-dimensional (2D) openwork patterns, aperiodic mosaics and metal-organic ladders. The obtained theoretical findings could be especially relevant for the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experimentalists interested in a surface-assisted construction of complex nanomaterials stabilized by directional coordination bonds.

Nanoparticle (NP)–surfactants formed by the self-assembly of NPs and end-functionalized polymers at the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface have a wide range of applications in many fields. In this study, the influence of density of amino groups, NPs dimension and pH on the interaction between end-functionalized polymers and NPs were extensively investigated. Single amino-terminated polystyrene (PS-NH2, Mw ≈ 0.6k, 2.5k, 3.5k, 3.9k) and diamino-terminated polystyrene (H2N-PS-NH2, Mw ≈ 1.1k, 2.8k) were prepared using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization. NPs with different dimensions (zero-dimensional carbon dots with sulfonate groups, one-dimensional cellulose nanocrystals with sulfate groups and two-dimensional graphene with sulfonate groups) in the aqueous phase were added into the toluene phase containing the aminated PS. The influence of pH and the molecular weight of amino-terminated PS on the interfacial tension between two phases were investigated. The results indicate that aminated PS exhibited the strongest interfacial activity after compounding with sulfonated NPs at a pH of 3. Terminating PS with amino groups on both ends leads to better performance in in reducing the water/toluene interfacial tension than modifying the molecular structure of PS on a single end. The dimension of sulfonated NPs also contributed significantly to the reduction of the water/toluene interfacial tension. The minimal interfacial tension was 4.49 mN/m after compounding PS-NH2 with sulfonated zero-dimensional carbon dots. Molecular dynamics simulation on the evolution of the water/toluene interface in the presence of sulfonated carbon dots and H2N-PS-NH2 revealed that these opposite charged substances moved towards the interface in an extreme short time and orderly assembled in a thermodynamic equilibrium.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can often bind target molecules with high selectivity and specificity. When used as MIPs, conductive polymers may have unique binding capabilities; they often contain aromatic rings, which have a great tendency to undergo covalent and hydrogen bonding interactions with similarly structured target (or template) molecules. In this work, an electrochemical method was used to optimize the synthetic self-assembly of poly(aniline-co-metanilic acid) and testosterone, forming testosterone-imprinted polymers (TIPs) on sensing electrodes. The linear sensing range for testosterone ranged from 0.1 to 100 pg/mL, and the limit of detection was as low as ~pM. Random urine samples were collected and diluted 1000 fold to measure testosterone concentration using the above TIP sensors in comparison with a commercial ARCHITECT ci 8200 system. The testosterone concentrations in the tested samples were in the range of 0.33± 0.09 to 9.13±1.33 ng/mL. The mean accuracy of the TIP-coated sensors was 90.3 ±7.0 %.

In this paper, the columnar supramolecular aggregates of photosensitive star-shaped azobenzenes with benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide core and azobenzene arms are analysed theoretically applying a combination of computer simulation techniques. Without a light stimulus, the trans-stars build one-dimensional columns of stacked molecules during the first stage of the noncovalent association. These columnar aggregates represent the structural elements of more complex experimentally observed morphologies -- fibers, spheres, gels and others. Upon UV light exposure, the azobenzene arms isomerise from thermodynamically stable planar trans- to a metastable kinked cis-state influencing the aggregate morphology. Here, we determine the most favourable mutual orientations of the \textit{trans}-stars in the stack in terms of (i) the pi-pi distance between the cores lengthwise the aggregate, (ii) the star slipped displacements and (iii) the rotation promoting the helical twist and chirality of the aggregate by calculating the binding energy diagrams using density functional theory. The model predictions are further compared with available experimental data. The intermolecular forces responsible for the stability of the stacks made of trans-azobenzene stars in crystals are quantified using Hirshfeld surface analysis. Finally, to characterize the self-assembly mechanism of such stars in solution, we calculate the hydrogen bond lengths, the normalized dipole moment and the binding energies as the functions of the columnar length using molecular dynamics trajectories, and conclude about the cooperative nature of this process.

The phenomenon of ordered self-assembly on solid substrates is a topic of interest in both fundamental surface science research and its applications in nanotechnology. The regulation and control of two-dimensional (2D) self-assembled supra-molecular structures on surfaces have been realized through applying external stimuli. By utilizing scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), researchers can investigate detailed phase transition process about self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), providing insight into the interplay between intermolecular weak interactions and substrate-molecule interactions, which govern the formation of molecular self-assembly. This review will discuss the structural transition of self-assembly probed by STM in response to external stimuli and provide state-of-art methods such as tip induced confinement for the alignment of SAM domains and selective chirality. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field of self-assembly and STM.

Hierarchical honeycomb patterns were manufactured with the breath-figures self-assembly by drop-casting on the silicone-oil lubricated glass substrates. Silicone oil promoted spreading of the polymer solutions. The process was carried out with the industrial grade polystyrene and polystyrene with the molecular weight Mw=35.000. Both of polymers gave rise to the patterns, built from micro- and nano-scaled pores. Ordering of the pores was quantified with the Voronoi tessellations and calculating the Voronoi entropy. Measurement of the apparent contact angles evidenced the Cassie - Baxter wetting regime of the porous films.

This joint experimental-theoretical work focuses on molecular and photophysical properties of the spiropyran-containing amphiphilic molecule in organic and aqueous solutions. Being dissolved in tested organic solvents, the system demonstrates positive photochromism, i.e. upon UV stimulus the colorless spiropyran form is transformed into colorful merocyanine isomer. However, aqueous solution of the amphiphile possesses a negative photochromism: the orange-red merocyanine form turns to be thermodynamically more stable in water, and both UV and vis stimuli lead to the partial or complete photobleaching of the solution. The explanation of this phenomenon is given on the basis of density functional theory calculations and classical modeling including thermodynamic integration. The simulations reveal that stabilization of merocyanine in water proceeds with the energy of ca. 70 kJ mol−1, and that the Helmholtz free energy of hydration of merocyanine form is 100 kJ mol−1 lower as compared to the behavior of SP isomer in water. The explanation of such a difference lies in the molecular properties of the merocyanine: after ring-opening reaction this molecule transforms into a zwitterionic form, as evidenced by the electrostatic potential plotted around the opened form. The presence of three charged groups on the periphery of a flat conjugated backbone stimulates the self-assembly of merocyanine molecules in water, ending up with the formation of elongated associates with stack-like building blocks, as shown in molecular dynamics simulations of the aqueous solution with the concentration above critical micelle concentration. Our quantitative evaluation of the hydrophilicity switching in spiropyran/merocyanine containing surfactants may prompt the search for new systems, including colloidal and polymeric ones, aiming at remote tuning of their morphology, which could give new promising shapes and patterns for the needs of modern nanotechnology.

The review is devoted to the physical, chemical and technological aspects of the breath-figures self-assembly process. Main stages of the process and the impact of the polymer architecture and physical parameters of the breath-figures self-assembly on the eventual pattern are covered. The review is focused on the hierarchy of spatial and temporal scales inherent for the breath-figures self-assembly. Multi-scale patterns arising from the process are addressed. The characteristic spatial lateral scales of patterns vary from nanometers to dozens of micrometers. The temporal scales of the process span from micro-seconds to seconds. The qualitative analysis performed in the paper demonstrates that the process is mainly governed by the interfacial phenomena, whereas the impact of inertia and gravity is negligible. Characterization and applications of polymer films manufactured with breath-figures self-assembly are discussed.

Induction heating is a fast, reproducible, and efficient heating method used in various manufacturing processes. However, there is no established additive manufacturing (AM) process based on induction heating using wire as feedstock. This study investigates a novel approach to AM based on inductive heating, where a steel wire is melted and droplets are detached periodically using a two-winding induction coil. The process parameters and energy input into the droplets are characterized. The induction generator exhibits sluggish response to the excitation voltage, resulting in a lag in the coil current. The process is captured using a high-speed camera, revealing regular droplet formation and uniform size and shape when operated within an appropriate process window. Larger drops and increased spatter formation occur outside this window. The proposed method allows for the production of droplets with almost spherical shapes. Further analysis and characterization of droplet formation and energy input provide insights into process optimization and overall efficiency.

Semiconductor photocatalytic performances can be modulated through morphology modification. Herein porous hierarchical BiOBr microspheres (BiOBr-MS) of ~3 m was firstly self-assembled without the assistance of a template via a facile solvothermal synthesis in triethylene glycol (TEG) at 150 oC for 3 h. KBrO3 was exploited as a bromine source, which slowly provided bromide ions upon reduction in TEG and controlled the growth and self-assembly of primary BiOBr nanoplates. The addition of PVP during solvothermal synthesis of BiOBr-MS reduced the particle size by about three-fold to generate BiOBr sub-microspheres (BiOBr-sMS) of <1 m. BiOBr-sMS exhibited significantly higher photocatalytic activity than BiOBr-MS for aerobic photooxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) to benzaldehyde (BzH) under simulated sunlight irradiation (conversions of BzOH (50 mM) over BiOBr-sMS and BiOBr-MS were respectively 51.3% and 29.6% with 100% selectivity to BzH after Xenon illumination for 2 h at 25 oC). The photogenerated holes and •O2- were found to be main reactive species for the BzOH oxidation over BiOBr spheres by scavenging tests and spin-trapping EPR spectra. The higher photocatalytic activity of BiOBr-sMS was attributed to its more open hierarchical structure, efficient charge separation, more negative conduction band position and generation of larger amounts of •O2-.

The integration of bacteriophages, a particular class of viruses that specifically infect bacteria and archaea, in biosensors for the monitoring of pathogens in foods and beverages is highly desirable. To this end, an increasing focus has been set on the exploration of covalent and physical methods for the immobilization of phages on solid surfaces. This work investigates the electrostatic assembly of tailed phages, specifically anti-Listeria monocytogenes P100 phages, on an ultrathin self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 11-amino-1-undecanethiol (AUT). The cationic properties of AUT may allow for the electrostatic capture of P100 in a capsid-down fashion, thus, exposing the specific receptor-binding proteins on their tails to the corresponding pathogens in analytical samples. The physical properties of immobilized phages have been studied using AFM, SEM, and electrochemical techniques, providing insight into the orientation of the phages and revealing that the pH plays a remarkable role in the morphology and charge transfer behavior of the adsorbed films. Overall, this research portrays SAMs of amino-akylthiols as a valid platform for the oriented immobilization of bacteriophages on surfaces for electroanalytical purposes.

Modified ammonium polyphosphate (MAPP) as a novel mono-component intumescent flame retardant (IFR) was prepared via the ionic exchange between ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and piperazine sulfonate, which is synthesized by self-assembly using 1-(2-Amioethyl) piperazine (AEP) and p-amino benzene sulfonic acid (ASC) as raw materials. This all-in-one IFR integrating three functional elements (carbon, acid, and gas source) showed more efficient flame retardancy and excellent smoke suppression as well as better mechanical properties than the conventional APP. The incorporation of 22.5 wt.% MAPP into polypropylene (PP) eliminated the melt dripping phenomenon and passed the UL-94 V-0 rating. The results of the cone calorimetry test (CCT) revealed that the release of heat, smoke, and CO is significantly decreased, demonstrating that this novel IFR endows PP with excellent fire safety more effectively. For PP/MAPP composites, a possible IFR mechanism was proposed based on the analysis of the pyrolysis gas and char residues.

The final assembly of appliances and automotive industries is a rigorous process, that has limited capabilities of full traceability associated with: (1) the parts installed, (2) their fabrication processes, and (3) the assembly work. This is also the case for each of its sub-assemblies The many parts and sub-assemblies that compose the final assembly, make full traceability a challenging fit, that is almost unsurmountable. Such full traceability along the entire supply-chain is not existent today and must be based on documentation of most assembled parts, assembly tasks, and inspection tasks that compose the full assembled product. In addition, security measures are needed to prevent hostile hacking and unauthorized approach to the assembly documentation throughout the entire supply chain. The related documentation and repeated verifications require considerable effort and have many chances for human errors. So, automating these processes has a great value. This article expounds a framework that harnesses block-chain and smart-contract technology to offer traceable and protected documentation of the assembly process. We expand the concept of a Bill-Of-Assembly (BOA) to incorporate data from the bill of materials (BOM), the associated assembly activities, the associated activities’ specification parameters and materials, and the associated assembly resources (machines and/or operators). The paper defines the operation of the BOA with blockchain and smart-contract technology, for attaining full traceability, safety, and security, for the entire assembled product. Future research could extend the proposed approach to facilitate the usage of the BOA data structure in constructing a digital twin of the entire simulated system.

Using assembly theory, we investigate the assembly pathways of binary strings of length N formed by joining bits present in the assembly pool and the strings that entered the pool as a result of previous joining operations. We show that the string assembly index is bounded from below by the shortest addition chain for N, and we conjecture about the form of the upper bound. We define the degree of causation for the minimum assembly index and show that for certain N it features regularities that can be used to determine a shortest addition chain. We show that a string with the smallest assembly index for N can be assembled by a binary program of length equal to this index if the length of this string is expressible as a product of Fibonacci numbers. We conjecture that there is no binary program that has a length shorter than the length of the string having the largest assembly index for N that could assemble this string. The results confirm that four Planck areas provide a minimum information capacity that corresponds to a minimum thermodynamic (Bekenstein-Hawking) entropy. Knowing that the problem of determining the assembly index is at least NP-complete, we conjecture that this problem is NP-complete, while the problem of creating the string so that it would have a predetermined largest assembly index is NP-hard. The proof of this conjecture would imply P ≠ NP, since every computable problem and every computable solution can be encoded as a finite binary string.

Despite advances in algorithms and computational platforms, de-novo genome assembly remains a challenging process. Due to the constant innovation in sequencing technologies (Sanger, SOLiD, Illumina, 454, PacBio and Oxford Nanopore), genome assembly has evolved to respond to the changes in input data type. This paper includes a broad and comparative review of the most recent short-read, long-read and hybrid assembly techniques. In this review, we provide (1) an algorithmic description of the important processes in the workflow that introduces fundamental concepts and improvements; (2) a review of existing software that explains possible options for genome assembly; and (3) a comparison of the accuracy and the performance of existing methods executed on the same computer using the same processing capabilities and using the same set of real and synthetic datasets. Such evaluation allows a fair and precise comparison of accuracy in all aspects. As a result, this paper identifies both the strengths and weaknesses of each method. This comparative review is unique in providing a detailed comparison of a broad spectrum of cutting-edge algorithms and methods.

RNA pol II assembly occurs in the cytoplasm before the translocation of the enzyme to the nucleus. Affecting assembly influences mRNA transcription in the nucleus and mRNA decay in the cytoplasm. However, very little is known about the consequences on ncRNA synthesis. In this work, we show that impairment of RNA pol II assembly leads to a decrease in cryptic non-coding RNAs (preferentially CUTs and SUTs). This alteration is partially restored upon overcoming the assembly defect. Notably, this drop in ncRNAs is only partially dependent on the nuclear exosome, which suggests a major specific effect of enzyme assembly. Our data also point out a defect in transcription termination and lead as to proposes that CTD phosphatase Rtr1 could be involved in this process.

The paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent advancements and methodologies in Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) applied to the manufacturing assembly process. In modern manufacturing, the assembly process involves intricate and time-consuming operations, often necessitating flexible manual interventions. However, the cost and stability issues associated with manual labor highlight the need for collaborative solutions integrating humans and robots. HRC, as a viable solution, involves the joint effort of humans and robots in manufacturing tasks, presenting advantages in terms of precision, reproducibility, and cycle time. This review categorizes and discusses methodologies such as task allocation, reinforcement learning, and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)-based planning approaches that facilitate HRC in the assembly process. It also explores experiments and future trends to address challenges and enhance efficiency in manufacturing assembly through intelligent collaboration between humans and robots. The objective of this research is to provide insights and directions for further research in HRC to optimize manufacturing processes. By analyzing the existing state-of-the-art and presenting future prospects, this paper aims to guide researchers and practitioners toward more effective implementations of HRC in manufacturing assembly, ultimately leading to improved operational efficiency and productivity.

This paper addresses the approach of fully automated intelligent control systems in production organizations, focusing on intelligent production systems research. The overview highlights a gap in control operations ahead of assembly as single-purpose control machines are frequently employed, which is precisely their drawback. Conversely, there are accurate multipurpose measurement centers that do not provide total quality control over the manufactured parts because of the cost and length of the measuring procedure. The study's primary objective was to create an intelligent modular control system, whose concept enables it to control various components. The purpose of the modular intelligent control system is to keep an eye on each module's quality during the pre-assembly phase. This system ensures exact control over the production process of modules by integrating sophisticated sensors, diagnostic tools, and intelligent control mechanisms. The technology makes it possible to monitor several parameters and important quality features. Integrated sensors and diagnostic technologies identify possible inaccuracies and disparities, guaranteeing prompt diagnosis of issues in specific modules. The system's intelligent control algorithms streamline the production process and guarantee synchronization between individual modules to achieve consistent quality and performance. One advantage of implementing the solution is that, on average, inspection time is reduced by 40 to 60% as compared to the prior manual inspection approach. In addition, full measurement data archiving was made available, and finally, the human element—which introduced a substantial error rate into this process—was removed. This system also helps to increase the project's overall efficiency, predictability, and safety while allowing for quick adjustments by standards and requirements.

Snakes are a vital component of wildlife resources and are widely distributed across the globe. Bungarus multicinctus, a highly venomous snake, is found in central and southern China. B. multicinctus is a highly venomous snake and is distributed in central and southern China. Snakes are an ancient group of reptiles, and their genome resources can provide important clues for understanding the evolutionary history of reptiles. Meanwhile, genomic resources play a crucial role in comprehending the evolution of species. So far, the genomic resources of snakes are a rarity. In 2021, a snake sample was collected from Beiliu Longgukeng, Guangxi, which was identified as B. multicinctus through morphological identification. In this study, we present a highly contiguous genome of B. multicinctus with a size of 1.51 Gb. The genome contains a repeat content of 40.15%, with a total length exceeding 620 Mb. Additionally, we annotated a total of 24,869 functional genes. This research is of great significance for comprehending the evolution of B. multicinctus and provides a genomic basis for the genes involved in venom gland function.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection is a major cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) which may be occasionally associated with severe neurological complications. There are currently a lack of treatment options for EV-A71 infection. The Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, in addition to its critical importance in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and survival, has been shown to be essential for virus replication. In this study, we investigated the anti-EV-A71 activity of vemurafenib, a clinically approved B-Raf inhibitor used in the treatment of late stage melanoma. Vemurafenib exhibits potent anti-EV-A71 effect in cytopathic effect inhibition and viral load reduction assays, with half maximal effective concentration (EC50) at nanomolar concentration. Mechanistically, vemurafenib interrupts both EV-A71 genome replication and assembly. These findings expand the list of potential antiviral candidates of anti-EV-A71 therapeutics.

The snap fit is a common mechanical mechanism. We have studied the spherical snap fit carefully for its physical asymmetry which is easy to assemble but difficult to disassemble, and obtained the general law.Because of the complexity of spherical structure, it is difficult to get a theoretical formula to describe its physical asymmetry.In this paper, through the method of combining theory, simulation and experiment, and based on the general rule of cylindrical snap fit obtained in the early stage, pushing assembly and pulling disassembly of spherical snap fit are studied,we not only get the theoretical formula of spherical snap fit, but also further verify the correctness of previous research conclusions on cylindrical snap fit.This research provides strong theoretical support and basis for the optimization design and further research of snap fit.

Snap fit is a common mechanical mechanism. It uses the physical asymmetry that is easy to assemble but difficult to disassemble to provide a simple and fast link between objects. The ingenious combination of geometric shape, bending elasticity and friction of the snap fit is the mechanism behind the easy to assemble but difficult to disassemble disassemble. Yoshida and Wada (2020) has done a groundbreaking work in the analysis of the elastic snap fit. During our study of their paper, while we really enjoyed their research, unfortunately we detected several questioning formulations. After careful checking, we found that those formulations are not typographical, therefore it is necessary to make corrections. This paper reformulates the linear elasticity of a cylindrical snap fit, obtains an exact solution and proposes an accurate relation between the opening angle and bending tangent angle. Under the first order approximation, our formulations can reduced to the results of Yoshida and Wada and hence confirms the scientific correctness of Yoshida and Wada's work. Furthermore, this paper also derives a correct vertical displacement expression, and propose a new way of disassembly by bending for the first time and formulate a scaling law by data fitting. All formulations are validated by finite element simulation and experiment. The research here is helpful to the design of elastic snap fit or adjustable mechanical mechanism and metamaterial cell.

Acid proteins capable of nucleating Ca2+ and displaying aggregation capacity play key roles in the formation of calcium carbonate biominerals. EF-hands are among the largest Ca2+-binding motif in proteins. Gad m 1, an Atlantic cod β-parvalbumin isoform, is a monomeric EF-hand protein that acts as a Ca2+ buffer in fish muscle and is able to form amyloids under acidic conditions. Since nucleating Ca2+ protein have a propensity to form extended β-strand structures, we wondered whether amyloid assemblies of a protein containing refolded EF-hand motifs were able to influence the in vitro calcium carbonate crystallization. Here we have used the Gad m 1 chain as model to generate monomeric and amyloid assemblies and analyze their effect on in vitro calcite formation. We found that only amyloid assemblies alter calcite morphology.

In this study, we de novo assembled whole genomes of two small body-sized West Pacific sciaenids (Larimichthys polyactis and Collichthys lucidus) and compared them with published genome data of two closely-related, large body-sized species (Larimichthys crocea and Miichthys miiuy) and one distantly-related, large body-sized outgroup species (Dicentrarchus labrax). The phylogeny constructed using 7,403 single-copy orthologs shared among the five species indicated that L. crocea and L. polyactis diverged about 42 MYA. The two sibling taxa are more closely-related to C. lucidus than M. miiuy. We further identified four growth-related genes (CDHR2, PGC, PTN and PDGFA) that host five diagnostic amino acid variants on body size traits in the fishes, splitting small-body sized L. polyactis and C. lucidus from large-body sized L. crocea, M. miiuy and D. labrax. The results provide new genomic resources and guidelines to facilitate future endeavors in studying functional genomics and developing selective breeding programs for desirable growth traits in sciaenids.

With the advancement of long-read sequencing technologies and their more widespread use for bacterial genomics, several methods for generating genome assemblies from error-prone long reads have been developed. These are complemented by various tools for assembly polishing using either long reads, short reads, or reference genomes. End users are therefore left with a plethora of possible combinations of programs for obtaining a final trusted assembly. Hence, there is also the need for measuring completeness and accuracy of such assemblies, for which, again, several evaluation methods implemented in various programs are available. In order to automatically run all these programs, I developed two workflows for the workflow management system Snakemake for bacterial genome assembly and evaluation of assemblies, which provide end users with an easy-to-run method for both tasks. The workflows are available as open source software under the MIT license at https://github.com/pmenzel/ont-assembly-snake and https://github.com/pmenzel/score-assemblies.

The humpback puffer, Tetraodon palembangensis, also known as Pao palembangensis, is a species of poisonous freshwater pufferfish mainly distributed in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia). Despite interesting biological features, such as its very inactive nature, tetrodotoxin production and body expansion mechanisms, molecular research on the humpback puffer is still rare because of the lack of a high-quality reference genome. Here, we reported a first chromosome-level genome assembly of an adult humpback puffer, of which the genome size is 362 Mb with ~1.78 Mb contig N50 and ~15.8 Mb scaffold N50s. Based on the genome, ~61.5Mb (18.11%) repeat sequences were also identified, and totally 19,925 genes were annotated, 99.20% of which could be predicted with function using protein-coding function databases. Finally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed with single-copy gene families from ten teleost fishes. The humpback puffer genome will be a valuable genomic resource to illustrate possible mechanisms of tetrodotoxin synthesis and tolerance, providing clues for future detailed studies of biological toxins.

The today competitive advantage of Ready-made garment industries depends on the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization. Ready-made garment industries have long historically adopted fewer technological and process advancement as compared to automotive, electronics and semiconductor industries. Simulation modeling of garment assembly line system has attracted a number of researchers as one way for insightful analysis of system behaviour and improving its performance. However, most of simulation studies have considered ill-defined experimental design which cannot fully explore the assembly line design alternatives and does not uncover the interaction effects of the input variables. Simulation metamodeling is an approach to assembly line design which has recently been of interest to so many researchers. However, its application in garment assembly line design has never been well explored. In this paper, simulation metamodeling of trouser assembly line with 72 operations has been demonstrated. The linear regression metamodel technique with resolution-V design was used. The effects of five factors: bundle size, job release policy, task assignment pattern, machine number and helper number on the production throughput of the trouser assembly line were studied. The increase of 28.63% of the production throughput was achieved for the best factors’ setting of the metamodel.

The paper presents design methodology for the production process of a new product from the point of view of the assembly operations technology criterion (Design for Assembly - DFA) in the conditions of high-volume production. Mentioned are DFA methods and techniques used in the implementation of a new product. Author presents a new method to assess design for manufacturability based on fuzzy variables based on fuzzy variables. An example was given to illustrate the proposed course of action

The intermediate filament protein vimentin constitutes a critical sensor for electrophilic and oxidative stress. We previously showed that vimentin interacts with zinc, which affects its assembly and redox sensing. Here we have used vimentin wt and C328S, an oxidation-resistant mutant showing improved NaCl-induced polymerization, to assess the impact of zinc on soluble and polymerized vimentin by light scattering and electron microscopy. Zinc acts as a switch, reversibly inducing the formation of vimentin oligomeric species. High zinc concentrations elicit optically-detectable vimentin structures with a characteristic morphology depending on the support. These effects also occur in vimentin C328S, but are not mimicked by magnesium. Treatment of vimentin with micromolar zinc induces fibril-like particles that do not assemble into filaments, but form aggregates upon subsequent addition of NaCl. In contrast, when added to NaCl-polymerized vimentin, zinc increases the diameter or induces lateral association of vimentin wt filaments. Remarkably, these effects are absent or attenuated in vimentin C328S filaments. Therefore, the zinc-vimentin interaction depends on the chemical environment and on the assembly state of the protein, leading to atypical polymerization of soluble vimentin, likely through electrostatic interactions, or to broadening and lateral association of preformed filaments through mechanisms requiring the cysteine residue. Thus, impact of zinc on vimentin assembly and redox regulation is envisaged.

Scaffoldings play a critical role as temporary structures in supporting construction processes. Accidents at construction sites frequently stem from issues related to scaffoldings, including insufficient support caused by deviations from the construction design, insecure rod connections, or absence of cross bracing, which result in uneven loading and potential collapse, leading to casualties. In this study, we introduce a deep-learning-based, augmented reality (AR)-enabled system called scaffolding assembly deficiency detection system (SADDS) to assist field inspectors in identifying deficiencies in scaffolding assemblies. Inspectors have the flexibility to utilize SADDS through various devices, such as video cameras, mobile phones, or AR goggles (i.e., Microsoft HoloLens 2), for automated detection of deficiencies in scaffolding assemblies. The training test yielded satisfactory results, with a mean average precision of 0.89 and individual precision values of 0.96, 0.82, 0.90, and 0.89 for “qualified” frames and frames with the “missing cross-tie rod,” “missing lower-tie rod,” and “missing footboard” deficiencies, respectively. Field tests conducted at two construction sites demonstrated improved system performance compared to that in the training test. However, these field tests also revealed certain limitations of the SADDS system.

In China, 65 types of venomous snakes exist, with the Chinese Cobra Naja atra being prominent and a major cause of snakebites in humans. Furthermore, N. atra is a protected animal in some areas, as it has been listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Recently, due to the medical value of snake venoms, venomics has experienced growing research interest. In particular, genomic resources are crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms of venom production. Here, we report a highly continuous genome assembly of N. atra, based on a snake sample from Huangshan, Anhui, China. The size of this genome is 1.67 Gb, while its repeat content constitutes 37.8% of the genome. A total of 26,432 functional genes were annotated. This data provides an essential resource for studying venom production in N. atra. It may also provide guidance for the protection of this species.

The Oriental ratsnake Ptyas mucosa is a common non-venomous snake of the colubrid family, with a wide geographic range spanning much of South and Southeast Asia. P. mucosa is widely cultivated dut to it used in traditional medicine, scientific research, and handicrafts. Therefore, genome resources could play an important role in the efficacy of traditional medicine and the analysis of the living environment of the species. We collected a snake sample in Hezhou, Guangxi, China, which was identified as P. mucosa by morphological identification. Here we present a highly continuous P. mucosa genome with a genome size of 1.74Gb. The scaffold N50 length is 9.57Mb and the maximal length of scaffold is 78.3Mb, the P. mucosa genome has a CG content of 37.9% and the integrity of the gene reached 86.6%.Assembled using long-reads, the total length of the repeat sequence in the genome reached 735 Mb, and its repeat content was as high as 42.19%. A total of 24,869 functional genes were annotated. This study will assist in the understanding of the P. mucosa, and also provide a basis for medicinal research.

In this paper we propose a novel self-supervised approach of keywords and keyphrases retrieval and extraction by an end-to-end deep learning approach, which is trained by contextually self-labelled corpus. Our proposed approach is novel to use contextual and semantic features to extract the keywords and has outperformed the state of the art. Through the experiment the proposed approach has been proved to be better in both semantic meaning and quality than the existing popular algorithms of keyword extraction. In addition, we propose to use contextual features from bidirectional transformers to automatically label short-sentence corpus with keywords and keyphrases to build the ground truth. This process avoids the human time to label the keywords and do not need any prior knowledge. To the best of our knowledge, our published dataset in this paper is a fine domain-independent corpus of short sentences with labelled keywords and keyphrases in the NLP community.

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) has been a popular research area in the last decade. The dependability of CPS is still a critical issue, and rare survey has been published in this domain. CPS is a dynamic complex system, which involves various multidisciplinary technologies. To avoid human error and to simplify management, self-management CPS (SCPS) is a wise choice. And to achieve dependable self-management, systematic solution is necessary to verify the design and to guarantee the safety of self-adaptation decision, as well as to maintain the health of SCPS. This survey first recalls the concepts of dependability, and proposes a generic environment-in-loop processing flow of self-management CPS, and then analyzes the error sources and challenges of self-management through the formal feedback flow. Focus on reducing the complexity, we first survey the self-adaptive architecture approaches and applied dependability means; then we introduce a hybrid multi-role self-adaptive architecture, and discuss the supporting technologies for dependable self-management at the architecture level. Focus on dependable environment-centered adaption, we investigate the verification and validation (V&V) methods for making safe self-adaptation decision and the solutions for processing decision dependably. For system-centered adaption, the comprehensive self-healing methods are summarized. Finally, we analyze the missing pieces of the technology puzzle and the future directions. In this survey, the technical trends for dependable CPS design and maintenance are discussed, an all-in-one solution is proposed to integrate these technologies and build a dependable organic SCPS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive survey on dependable SCPS building and evaluation.

Glycosylation, a prevalent post-translational modification, plays a pivotal role in regulating intricate cellular processes by covalently attaching glycans to macromolecules. Dysregulated glycosylation is linked to a spectrum of diseases, encompassing cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, congenital disorders, infections, and inflammation. This review delves into the intricate interplay between glycosylation and protein conformation, with a specific focus on the profound impact of N-glycans on the selection of distinct protein conformations, characterized by distinct interactomes – namely protein assemblies - under normal and pathological conditions across various diseases. We begin by examining the spike protein of the SARS virus, illustrating how N-glycans regulate the infectivity of pathogenic agents. Subsequently, we utilize the prion protein and the chaperone glucose-regulated protein 94 as examples, exploring instances where N-glycosylation transforms physiological protein structures into disease-associated forms. Unraveling these connections provides valuable insights into potential therapeutic avenues and a deeper comprehension of the molecular intricacies that underlie disease conditions. This exploration of glycosylation's influence on protein conformation effectively bridges the gap between the glycome and disease, offering a comprehensive perspective on the therapeutic implications of targeting conformational mutants and their pathologic assemblies in various diseases. The goal is to unravel the nuances of these post-translational modifications, shedding light on how they contribute to the intricate interplay between protein conformation, assembly and disease.

Concatemeric viral DNA is packaged into Bacteriophage P22 procapsids via a headful packaging mechanism mediated by a molecular machine consisting of small (gp3) and large (gp2) terminase subunits. Although a negative stain reconstruction exists for the terminase holoenzyme, it is not clear how this complex binds dodecameric portal protein located at a 5-fold mismatch vertex. Herein, we describe new assemblies for the holoenzyme. Both native mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the P22 terminase complex adopts three main assemblies, which include a nonameric S-terminase bound to two L-terminase 1(gp3)9:2(gp2), two nonameric S-terminase bound to five L-terminase 2(gp3)9:5(gp2), and three nonameric S-terminase bound to seven L-terminase 3(gp3)9:7(gp2). Native agarose gel electrophoresis shows that the terminase complex interacts with procapsid with mild crosslinking. These results herein illustrate the P22 terminase complex can adopt a variety of confirmations and assembly states.

Gold nanoparticles have been increasingly used in several electronic, material fabrication, and biomedical applications. Several methods have been reported to prepare gold nanoparticles of various shapes and sizes with different photophysical properties. Although useful to prepare gold nanoparticles, most of the methods are not stable enough and undergo degradation, if stored at room temperatures (up to 30 °C) for a few days. In this paper, we report a novel environmentally friendly method to synthesize self-assembled gold nanoparticles in cruciform shapes by using leaf extract of Cannabis indica as a reducing agent without the aid of any polymers or additional chemicals. The nanoparticles are found to be stable for more than a month when stored at room temperature (30 °C). They were able to form stable conjugates with bovine α-lactalbumin protein that may possess anti-cancerous properties.

Salinity acts as a critical environmental filter on microbial communities in natural systems, negatively affecting microbial diversity. However, how salinity affects the community assembly remains unclear. This study used Wendeng multi-pond saltern as a model to evaluate the prokaryotic community composition and diversity and quantify the relative importance of ecological processes across salinity gradients. Results showed that low saline salterns (45-80 g/L) exhibited higher bacterial diversity than those in high saline salterns (175-265 g/L). The relative abundance of taxa assigned to Halanaerobiaceae, Haloferacaceae, Desulfohalobiaceae, Phormidiaceae, Rohodobacteraceae, and Nitrococcaceae was higher with increasing salinity. Salinity and pH were the primary environmental factors that directly or indirectly determined the composition and diversity of prokaryotic communities. Microbial co-occurrence network dynamics were more complex in the sediment than in water of salterns. An infer Community Assembly Mechanisms by Phylogenetic-bin-based null model analysis (iCAMP) showed that microbial community assembly in sediment and water differed. Our findings provide more information about microbial community structure and the importance of various ecological processes in controlling microbial community diversity and succession along salinity gradients in water and sediment environments.

A fundamental question in biology is how cell shapes are genetically encoded and enzymatically generated. Prevalent shapes among walled bacteria include spheres and rods. These shapes are chiefly determined by the peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall. Bacterial division results in two daughter cells, whose shapes are predetermined by the mother. This makes it difficult to explore the origin of cell shapes in healthy bacteria. In this review, we argue that the Gram-negative bacterium Myxococcus xanthus is an ideal model for understanding PG assembly and bacterial morphogenesis because it forms rods and spheres at different life stages. Rod-shaped vegetative cells of M. xanthus can thoroughly degrade their PG and form spherical spores. As these spores germinate, cells rebuild their PG and reestablish rod shape without preexisting templates. Such a unique sphere-to-rod transition provides a rare opportunity to visualize de novo PG assembly and rod-like morphogenesis in a well-established model organism.

The strong competition in the automotive industry has required manufacturers to implement lean production, both with methods and techniques specific to Industry 4.0. At the same time, universities must provide graduates with specific skills for applying these new production methods and techniques. In this context, a Lean Learning Factory was developed in the Pitesti University Center, which allows students to learn, experiment, and research, in an environment similar to that of enterprises, the new Lean Manufacturing methods and techniques, and Industry 4.0. The research presented in this study had as its objective identifying the minimum number of repetitions necessary to train operators who serve two differently organized workstations, one classic, the other including digital techniques, but on which the same assembly operation is performed. Several indicators were considered in the analysis, such as the number of errors, the number of stops, the effective duration of the work cycle, and the percentage ratio between the standard duration of cyclical activities and the effective duration of the work cycle. The evolution of these indicators was mathematically modelled by regression functions, using the least squares method. The obtained results also highlight the usefulness of applying the DOJO method as a Lean manufacturing-specific learning technique and the efficiency of implementing digital techniques in work organization.

Brown-Spotted Pit viper (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus), also known as the Chinese habu, is a widespread and highly venomous snake distributed from from northeastern India to eastern China. Genomics research can help provide much insight in understanding venom components and natural selection in vipers. Here, we collected, sequenced and assembled the genome of a male P. mucrosquamatus individual from China, producing a highly continuous reference genome, with the length of 1.53 Gb and 41.18% repeat element content. From this 24,799 genes were identified, and 97.97% genes could be annotated. Nuclear genome single-copy genes phylogenetic tree including 6 species verified the validity of our genome assembly and annotation process. This research will contribute to further study on Protobothrops biology and the genetic basis of the snake venom.

In verifying programs for embedded systems, it is essential to reduce the verification time because state explosion may occur in model checking. One solution is to reduce the number of interrupt handler execution. In particular, when periodic interrupts such as timer interrupts are incorporated, it is necessary to know the physical time. In this paper, we define a control flow automata (CFA) that can handle time and propose an algorithm based on interrupt handler execution reduction (IHER). The proposed method reduces the number of interrupt executions, including timer interrupts. A case study verifies the effectiveness of this algorithm.

Supplier selection/replacement strategies and optimized purchasing policies play a key role in efficient supply chain management in today’s dynamic market. Here we study supplier replacement in a one-level assembly system (OLAS) producing one type of finished product. To assemble the product, we need to provide multi-type components, but assembly will be interrupted if any single component is missing, and incoming units will get hoarded until the missing component arrives. The assembly process can be interrupted by various sources of uncertainty, including delays in component deliveries. There is consequently a non-negligible risk that the assembly process may get stopped any moment. This brings inventory-related costs, which should be minimized. Here we consider discrete lead-time distributions to mimic industry-world reality. We present a model that takes into account not only optimal assignment of component order release dates but also replacement of a critical supplier. For a given unit, we model several alternative suppliers with alternative pricing and lead-time uncertainties, and we evaluate the impact on the total assembly system. For a more general case where several suppliers may be replaced, we propose a genetic algorithm.

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is activated in response to the phosphorylation of Y705 (pStat3) and has the dual function of signal transduction and activation of transcription. Our previous study suggested that pStat3 is functional during oocyte maturation when transcription is silenced. Therefore, we speculated that pStat3 may have another function. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that pStat3 emerges at the microtubule asters and spindle and then localizes at the spindle poles concomitant with a Pericentrin during mouse oocyte maturation. When we examined conditionally knocked out Stat3−/− oocytes, we detected Stat3 and pStat3 proteins. The localization of the pStat3 was the same as that of Stat3+/+ oocytes, and the oocyte maturation proceeded normally, suggesting that pStat3 was still functioning. The oocytes were treated either with the Stat3 specific inhibitors, Stattic and BP-1-102, or anti-pStat3 antibody injection. This caused significant abnormal spindle assembly and chromosome mis-location in a dose-dependent manner, in which the pStat3 was either negative or localized improperly. Moreover, development of pre-implantation stage embryos derived from inhibitor-treated oocytes was also hampered significantly after in vitro fertilization. These findings indicate a novel function of pStat3 involved in spindle assembly.

With the breakthrough of modernism, various efforts are undertaken to rationalize architecture and building processes using industrial principles. Few architects explore these as intensively as Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus. Even before World War One, and increasingly in the interwar years, Gropius and a number of colleagues undertake various experiments which manifest in a series of projects, essays, model houses and Siedlungen. These aim at conceptually different goals, i.e. they follow two different categories of industrial logic: first, a flexible construction kit and, second, an assembly line serial production. This article traces the genesis of these two concepts and analyses their characteristics using these early manifestations. Compared to existing literature, this article takes into account hitherto neglected primary sources as well as technological and construction history aspects—allowing for a distinction based not only on theoretical, but also technological and structural characteristics. This article shows that Gropius succeeds in formulating and exploring the two principles in theory and practice as well as drawing conclusions by the end of the 1920s. With them, he contributed significantly to the rationalization of architecture, and his principles have been picked up and developed further by numerous architects since then.

Closely related to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the genus Boechera is known to contain both sexual and apomictic species or accessions. Boechera retrofracta is a diploid sexually reproducing species and is thought to be an ancestral parent species of the apomictic species Boechera divaricarpa. Here we report the de novo assembly of the B. retrofracta genome using short Illumina and Roche reads from 1 paired-end and 3 mate pair libraries. The distribution of 23-mers from the paired end library has indicated a low level of heterozygosity and the presence of detectable duplications and triplications. The genome size was estimated to be equal 227 Mb. N50 of the assembled scaffolds was 2.3 Mb. 27048 protein-coding genes were predicted using a hybrid approach that combines homology-based and de novo methods. Also repeats, tRNA and rRNA genes were annotated. Finally, genes of B. retrofracta and 6 other Brassicaceae species were used for phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Also, a detailed analysis of evolution of the APOLLO apomixis-associated locus was performed. An assembled genome of B. retrofracta will help in the challenging assembly of the highly heterozygous genomes of hybrid apomictic species such as B. divaricarpa.

An event occurring within a stationary environment, in the direction toward which an observer self-rotates, is perceived to precede a simultaneous event, in the direction away from which she moves. When self-rotation results from angular acceleration in the dark, perception of space is also distorted, such that the subjective straight-ahead shifts in the opposite direction to motion and temporal event promotion. A reference frameshift theory, based on the special theory of relativity, is proposed to explain these findings. Here, a hyperbolic tangent transformation of objective angular velocity constrains subjective self-rotation velocity within finite bounds, consistent with it being a limited perceptual resource. Identifying this subjective variable with vestibular nystagmus slow-phase angular velocity, the asymptotic perceived self-rotation velocity is estimated at ~200 °⁄s. When included in the Lorentz transformations of the new formalism, this value predicts experimental simultaneity distortion. Hypothetically, the hyperbolic tangent objective-to-subjective transfer function would maximize the differential entropy of the percept, and thereby also the stimulus/percept mutual information, if angular velocities of body rotation encountered in naturalistic environmental interaction have a logistic probability density distribution of scale 100 °⁄s, a proposed experimental test of the scheme.

Self-assembly is a spontaneous process through which macroscopic structures are formed from basic microscopic constituents (e.g. molecules or colloids). By contrast, the formation of large biological molecules inside the cell (such as proteins or nucleic acids) is a process more akin to self-organization than to self-assembly, as it requires a constant supply of external energy. Recent studies have tried to merge self-assembly with self-organization by analyzing the assembly of self-propelled (or active) colloid-like particles whose motion is driven by a permanent source of energy. Here we present evidence that points to the fact that self-propulsion considerably enhances the assembly of polymers: self-propelled molecules are found to assemble into polymer-like structures, the average length of which increases towards a maximum as the self-propulsion force increases. Beyond this maximum, the average polymer length decreases due to the competition between bonding energy and disruptive forces that result from collisions. The assembly of active molecules might have promoted the formation of large pre-biotic polymers that could be the precursors of the informational polymers we observe nowadays.

The present paper reports an exact approach quantifying the electromagnetic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment occurring in isolated system comprised of non-composite particle carrying elementary electric charge. Essential averaging procedure and regularization of the electromagnetic field potentials necessary when quantifying the electromagnetic self-interactions and when deriving equations of motion without singularities and obeying the conservation laws are thoroughly discussed. The study shows that the dynamics of the considered system is associated to unique classical transcendental equations of motion satisfied by the particle's velocity and the electromagnetic contribution to the anomalous $g$-factor known from the quantum electrodynamics. The equations of motion lead to an exact analytical expression for the anomalous $g$-factor that provides more accurate result than that calculated with the aid of quantum electrodynamics. It matches the experimentally measured value reported in the literature to a one part per trillion. We obtain a_e=0.00115965218000(65) thus reveling the potential of non-perturbative, non-probability methods in predicting the electron's anomalous g-factor.

The research proposes a self-directed paradigm with self-design using the existing technology with LMS modules, discussions, and self-tests. The research establishes its criteria for assurance of teaching and learning known as 7x2C for the compliance of content, and appearance along with other criteria for the analysis. The above technology of web and LMS is tested for a business course that is technology-oriented in creating an experiential learning system for Covid-19 awareness. Similarly, among other ideas, an environment for educating learners about diabetes and obesity has been designed. The project is known as Sunchoke with its theme of Grow, Eat, and Heal. The educators can use their technology and apply self-directed pedagogy to transform this approach to their customized ways by using their content and rubrics.

Purpose: To identify the impact of dealing with COVID-19 patients in clinical areas on nurses' professional self-concept and self-confidence. Background: Professional self-concept is considered a critical factor in the recruitment/retention process in nursing, nursing shortage, career satisfaction, and academic achievements. Professional self-confidence is also a crucial determinant in staff satisfaction, reducing turnover, and increasing work engagement. Design: Descriptive, comparative study. Methods: The study was conducted between February to May 2021 by utilizing a convenience sampling technique. A total of 170 nurses from two facilities were recruited from two COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 designated facilities. The level of professional self-concept and self-confidence was assessed by utilizing the Nurses' Self-Concept Instrument and Self-Confidence Scale. Results: The professional self-concept level among the exposed group to COVID-19 patients was lower than the comparison group, while the professional self-confidence level among the exposed group to COVID-19 patients was similar to the comparison group. On the other hand, the satisfied staff and those who received professional training in dealing with COVID-19 patients reported a higher level of professional self-concept. Conclusions: Dealing with COVID-19 patients has an impact on professional self-concept; the exposure group was lower than those who did not deal with COVID-19 patients, while the professional self-confidence level among the exposed group was similar to the comparison group. Getting professional training in dealing with COVID-19 patients and being satisfied at work were significant factors in improving the professional self-concept. Policymakers should create strategies that target the improvement of professional training in dealing with COVID-19 patients.

Trimeresurus albolabris, also known as the white-lipped pit viper or white-lipped tree viper, is a highly venomous snake distributed across Southeast Asia and the cause of many snakebite cases. In this study, we report the first whole genome assembly of T. albolabris obtained with next-generation sequencing from a specimen collected in Mengzi, Yunnan, China. After genome sequencing and assembly, the genome of this male T. albolabris individual was 1.51 Gb in length and included 38.42% repeat-element content. Using this genome, 21,695 genes were identified, and 99.17% of genes could be annotated using gene functional databases. Our genome assembly and annotation process was validated using a phylogenetic tree, which included six species and focused on single-copy genes of nuclear genomes. This research will contribute to future studies on Trimeresurus biology and the genetic basis of snake venom.

The king ratsnake (Elaphe carinata) of the genus Elaphe is a common large non-venomous snake that is widely distributed in Southeast and East Asia, and is an economically important farmed snake species. As a non-venomous snake, the king snake that is predatory on venomous snakes such as cobras and pit vipers. The immune mechanisms of which has been unclear. Despite their economic and research importance, genomic resources which will benefit studies in toxicology, phylogeography and immunogenetics are lacking. In this study, we use single-tube long fragment read (stLFR) sequencing to display the first complete genome of a King ratsnake from Huangshan City, Anhui province in China. The genome size is 1.56GB with a scaffold N50 of 6.53M, the total length of the genome is approximately 621Mb, and the repeat content is 38.90%. Additionally, we predicted 22,339 protein-coding genes, of which 22,065 had functional annotations. Our genome is a potentially useful addition to those currently available for snakes.

The phycobilisome (PBS) is the major light-harvesting apparatus in cyanobacteria and red algae, a large multi-subunit protein complex of several megadaltons that is found on the stromal side of thylakoid membranes in orderly arrays. Chromophore lyases catalyse the thioether bond between apoproteins and phycobilins of PBSs. Depending on the species, composition, spatial assembly and, especially, the functional tuning of different phycobiliproteins mediated by linker proteins, PBSs can absorb light between 450 and 650 nm, making them efficient and versatile light-harvesting systems. However, basic research and technological innovations are needed, not only to understand their role in photosynthesis but also to realise the potential applications of PBSs. Synthetic biology provides an innovative approach to expand our understanding of the distinctive properties that make the PBS such an efficient light-harvesting system and to explore its heterologous synthesis, photosynthetic functions and potential medical applications. Focusing on these topics, this review describes the essential components needed for PBS assembly, the functional basis of PBS photosynthesis and the applications of phycobiliproteins. Moreover, key technical challenges for heterologous biosynthesis of phycobiliproteins in chassis cells are discussed.

This article examines offering utensils for the Amitābha Dharma Assembly of the Pŏpch'ŏnsa temple held in 1168. The bronze offering utensils excavated at the Pŏp-ch'ŏnsa temple site were made for use in the Mit'ahoe in Muja year. In preparation for the Mit'ahoe, five monks made these bronze offering utensils during February and March of Muja year. For the Mit'ahoe at the Pŏpch'ŏnsa temple, there were Amitābha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, and Mahasthamaprapta placed on a lotus pedestal in the Amitābha Hall. In the center of the hall, there was a table on which offering utensils could be arranged. Two big bronze kwangmyŏngdaes, one bronze hyangwan, one bronze hyŏnlo, and one bronze pŏn were placed on the Buddhist altar in front of Amitābha Buddha. The same bronze offering utensils were placed on the altar in front of Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta. The bronze offering utensils made in Muja year have a possibility to be made in 1168. The bronze offering utensils made in Muja year have a relation to offering incense and light. In general, the arrangement of the offering utensils consisted of one incense burner with two candlesticks. The bronze offering utensils excavated at the Pŏpch'ŏnsa temple site give a lot of information about the Mit'ahoe of the Pŏpch'ŏnsa temple held in 1168. We can know what kinds of offering utensil were used, how many offering utensils were made, and which Buddha and Bo-dhisattvas were enshrined.

A partial aperture onboard calibration method can solve the onboard calibration problems of some large aperture remote sensors, which is of great significance for the development trend of increasingly large apertures in optical remote sensors. In this paper, the solar diffuser reflectance degradation monitor (SDRDM) in the onboard calibration assembly (CA) of the FengYun-4 (FY-4) advanced geostationary radiance imager (AGRI) is used as the reference radiometer for measuring the partial aperture factor (PAF) for the AGRI onboard calibration. First, the linear response count variation relationship between the two is established under the same radiance source input. Then, according to the known bidirectional reflection distribution function (BRDF) of the solar diffuser (SD) in the CA, the relative reflectance ratio coefficient between the AGRI observation direction and the SDRDM observation direction is calculated. On this basis, the response count value of the AGRI and the SDRDM is used to realize the high-precision measurement of the PAF of the AGRI B1 ~ B3 bands by simulating the AGRI onboard calibration measurement under the illumination of a solar simulator in the laboratory. According to the determination process of the relevant parameters of the PAF, the measurement uncertainty of the PAF is analyzed; this uncertainty is better than 2.04% and provides an important reference for the evaluation of the onboard absolute radiometric calibration uncertainty after launch.

With the rise of long-read sequencers and long-range technologies, delivering high-quality plant genome assemblies is no longer reserved to large consortia. Indeed, sequencing techniques but also computer algorithms have reached a point where the reconstruction of assemblies at the chromosome-scale is now feasible at the laboratory scale. Current technologies, and especially long-range technologies, are numerous and selecting the most promising one for the genome of interest is crucial to obtain optimal results. In this study, we resequenced the genome of the yellow sarson, Brassica rapa cv. Z1, using the Oxford Nanopore PromethION sequencer and assembled the sequenced data using current assemblers. To reconstruct complete chromosomes, we used and compared three long-range techniques, optical mapping, Omni-C and Pore-C sequencing libraries commercialized by Bionano Genomics, Dovetail Genomics and Oxford Nanopore Technologies respectively, or a combination of the three, in order to evaluate the capability of each technology.

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is debated, even after 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and a special investigation conducted by the World Health Organization. The RaTG13 sequence has been a highlight of discussions surrounding the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Here we express our opinion about the need for better reporting standards for information about sequencing data, especially for pathogens, citing our findings with the reported RaTG13 genome.

HIV-1 assembly is a complex mechanism taking place at the plasma membrane of the host cell. It requires nice spatial and temporal coordination to end up with a full immature virus. Researchers have extensively studied HIV-1 assembly molecular mechanism during the past decades, in order to dissect the respective roles of viral proteins, viral genome and host cell factors. Nevertheless, the time course of the process has been observed in living cells only a decade ago. The very recent revolution of optical microscopy, combining high speed and high spatial resolution now permit to study assemblies and their consequences at the single molecule level within (living) cells. In this review, after a short description of these new approaches, we will show how HIV-1 assembly in cells has been revisited using these advanced super resolution microscopy techniques and how much it could make a bridge in studying assembly from the single molecule to the host cell.

Self-compacting concrete is essential for vertical structures due to high reinforcement and usage of pumps for transporting the concrete at the working site. SCC is mainly influenced by self-curing for arid areas. To explore the SCC (Self-Compacting Concrete) mixture and condition influencing the self-curing condition were determined using the experimental procedure. Determination of various parameters was done using T50 slump flow, V-funnel, L-box-box, J ring test, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength test. After the experimental investigation, it shows that if the dose if the dosage of superplasticizer (SNF%) increases, it will improve the concrete mixture's different properties, such as flowability and ability to pass. Higher water-to-cement ratios (w/c) generally result in enhanced flowability and stability. Mixture 9 (SNF 0.35, w/c 0.5) demonstrates favourable results across all parameters, indicating excellent flowability and stability. Mixture 9 (SNF 0.35, w/c 0.5) also shows favourable flowability and stability characteristics. Lower concentrations, such as 0.5%, may have a positive effect up to a certain point but might not provide sustained improvement over the curing period. On the other hand, concentrations of 1% and 2% demonstrated consistent and significant enhancement in strength throughout the 28 days. It is found that the higher concentrations of PEG 4000 may be more effective in improving the material strength.

: BACKGROUND: The prevalence of smoking among students is a growing concern, particular-ly among medical students. Being associated with stress, competitiveness, and various social in-fluences, smoking can have detrimental effects on self-esteem and self-efficacy and may create a vicious cycle that may contribute to students’ well-being and academic performance out-comes.METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 456 medical students was conducted via an online survey using structured questionnaires on socio-demographic characteristics, smoking habits, nicotine dependence, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking was 31.1% The scores of self-esteem and self-efficacy were positively correlated with smoking habits (W1=0.957, W2=0.975, P<0.05). Students presented rather low smoking addiction with male stu-dents having slightly higher scores than female students on self-esteem and self-efficacy, mili-tary students had higher self-esteem scores than civilians with physical activity having a posi-tive correlation with non-smoking behavior. CONCLUSION: According to our results, self-esteem and self-efficacy were slightly positively correlated with smoking habits. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant association between other social factors and smoking. Our results may develop a theoretical basis for medical students’ psychological variables studying for further implementation of university educational programs and preventive interventions em-powering students towards an overall better quality of life, addressing, among others, smoking behaviors.

Living organisms are active open systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium. The ability to behave actively corresponds to dynamical metastability: minor but supercritical internal or external effects may trigger major substantial actions such as gross mechanical motion, dissipating internally accumulated energy reserves. Gaining selective advantage from beneficial use of activity requires a consistent combination of sensual perception, memorised experience, statistical or causal prediction models, and resulting favourable decisions on actions. This information processing chain originated from mere physical interaction processes prior to life, here denoted as structural information exchange. From there, the self-organised transition to symbolic information processing marks the beginning of life, evolving by novel purposivity of trial-and-error feedback and accumulation of symbolic information. The emergence of symbols and prediction models can be described as a ritualisation transition, a symmetry-breaking kinetic phase transition of the 2^nd kind previously known from behavioural biology. The related new symmetry is the neutrally stable arbitrariness, conventionality or code invariance of symbols with respect to their meaning. The meaning of such symbols is given by the structural effect they ultimately unleash, directly or indirectly, by deciding on which actions to take. The early genetic code represents the first symbols. The genetically inherited symbolic information is the first prediction model for activities sufficient for survival under the condition of environmental continuity, sometimes understood as a “final causality” property of the model.

We show that quantum mechanics can be constructed as a classical field theory that correctly describes all basic quantum effects, by combining the Maxwell and Dirac equations. It is shown that for a self-consistent union of the Maxwell and Dirac equations into a unified classical field theory, it is necessary to introduce an additional short-range tensor field, which compensates the intrinsic electrostatic field of the electron wave inside the atom. For the combined Maxwell-Dirac field, the stress-energy tensor is constructed. We show that in the nonrelativistic limit this theory naturally transforms into the self-consistent Maxwell-Pauli theory and allows describing all basic quantum effects in the framework of classical field theory without any quantization.

Today's unstable labor market increasingly requires flexibility and adaptability to cope with the threat of unemployment. It can cause distress in people and have a more significant negative impact on fragile workers, such as migrants. This study aimed to test whether a Career Counseling intervention designed for Migrants (CCfM) can develop Career Adaptability and, therefore, both Work Self-efficacy (WSe) and Job Search Self-efficacy (JSSe) perceptions. It was conducted in Italy and involved a sample of 233 migrants, who were asked to respond to a questionnaire available in three languages (Italian, French, and English). Data analysis showed that an improvement was demonstrated in all the variables considered, namely career adaptability (including concern, control, confidence, and curiosity), WSe, and JSSe, even though the CCfM was not directly designed to increase the last one. In addition, the development of career adaptability explained the increase in migrants' WSe and JSSe, and the initial level of career adaptability was found to explain the increase in WSe due to the initial positive level of curiosity.

In air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (Air PEM FCs), high rate of water evaporation from the cathode might influence the resistance of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which is highly dependent on the water content of the Nafion membrane. We propose a dead-end hydrogen anode as a means of intermediate storage of water/humidity for self-humidification of the membrane. Such inflatable bag integrated with the PEM FC has a potential in blimp applications for anode self-humidification. A dynamic numerical water balance model, validated by experimental measurements, is derived to predict the effect of MEA configuration, membrane’s hydration state, and water transfer rate at the anode on MEA resistance and performance. The experimental setup included humidity measurements, polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests to quantify the effect of membrane hydration on its resistance in a lightweight MEA integrated with an inflatable dead-end hydrogen storage bag. Varying current density (20 mA, 40 mA and 60 mA) and cathode humidity (20, 50 and 80%) were examined and compared with the numerical results. The validated model predicts that the hydration state of the membrane and water transfer rate at the anode can be increased by using a thin membrane and thicker gas diffusion layer.

Ribosome assembly is one of the most fundamental processes in gene expression and has served as a playground to investigate the molecular mechanisms of how protein-RNA complexes (RNPs) assemble. The bacterial ribosome is composed of around 50 ribosomal proteins several of which are co-transcriptionally assembled on a ~4,500 nucleotides long pre-rRNA transcript that is further processed and modified during transcription, the entire process taking around 2 minutes in vivo and assisted by dozens of assembly factors. How this complex molecular process works so efficiently to produce an active ribosome has been investigated over decades and has resulted in the development of a plethora of novel approaches that can also be used to study the assembly of other RNPs. Here we review biochemical, structural and biophysical methods that have been developed and integrated to provide a detailed and quantitative understanding of this complex and intricate molecular process of assembly. We also discuss emerging cutting-edge approaches that could be used in the future to study how transcription, rRNA processing, cellular factors and the native cellular environment shape ribosome assembly and RNP assembly at large.

The ability to directly look into genome sequences has opened great opportunities in plant breeding. Yet, the assembly of full-length chromosomes remains one of the most difficult problems in modern genomics. Genetic maps are commonly used in de novo genome assembly and are constructed on the basis of a statistical analysis of the number of recombination rather than physical distance in base pairs. This may affect the accuracy of the ordering and orientation of scaffolds within the chromosome, especially in the region of recombination suppression. Here we report the use of Tyr-FISH for validation of genetic and pseudochromosome maps. For probe design we developed a pipeline that is based on selection of a unique sequence with minimal potential fluorescent background arising from non-specific in situ hybridization. In total of 24 unique genes were located on physical chromosomes 2 and 6. The order of markers has been corrected by integration genetic and cytogenetic maps. Tyr-FISH mapping showed that the order of 23.1% (chromosome 2) and 27.3% (chromosome 6) of the tested genes differed between physical chromosomes and pseudochromosomes. Also the position of the mlh1 gene, which was not on the genetic map, was defined on physical chromosome 2. The results suggest the possibility of Tyr-FISH mapping of any gene that may not be neither on the genetic map nor in the assembly. Hence, Tyr-FISH provides valuable information for the improvement of the genome assembly.

The genus Rhodotorula includes basidiomycetous oleaginous yeast species. R. babjevae can produce compounds of biotechnological interest such as lipids, carotenoids and biosurfactants from low value substrates such as lignocellulose hydrolysate. High-quality genome assemblies are needed to develop genetic tools and to understand fungal evolution and genetics. Here, we combined short- and long-read sequencing to resolve the genomes of two R. babjevae strains, CBS 7808 (type strain) and DBVPG 8058 at chromosomal level. Both genomes have a size of 21 Mbp and a GC content of 68.2%. Allele frequency analysis indicated tetraploidy in both strains. They harbor 21 putative chromosomes with sizes ranging from 0.4 to 2.4 Mb. In both assemblies, the mitochondrial genome was recovered in a single contig, which shared 97% pairwise identity. The pairwise identity between the majority of chromosomes ranges from 82% to 87%. We found indications for strain-specific extrachromosomal endogenous DNA. 7,591 protein-coding genes and 7,607 associated transcripts were annotated in CBS 7808 and 7,481 protein-coding genes and 7,516 associated transcripts in DBVPG 8058. CBS 7808 has accumulated a higher number of tandem duplications than DBVPG 8058. We identified large translocation events between putative chromosomes and a high genetic divergence between the two strains.

Next-generation sequencing is now a mature technology, allowing partial animal genomes to be produced for many clades. Though many software exist for genome assembly and annotation, a simple pipeline that allows researchers to input raw sequencing reads in fastq format and allow the retrieval of a completely assembled and annotated mitochondrial genome is still missing. mitoMaker 1.0 is a pipeline developed in python that implements (i) recursive de novo assembly of mitochondrial genomes using a set of increasing k-mers; (ii) search for the best matching result to a target mitogenome and; (iii) performs iterative reference-based strategies to optimize the assembly. After (iv) checking for circularization and (v) positioning tRNA-Phe at the beginning, (vi) geneChecker.py module performs a complete annotation of the mitochondrial genome and provides a GenBank formatted file as output.

The experience of ego dissolution and self-transcendence induced by psychedelic substances offers a profound challenge to our conventional understanding of the self and our relationship with the natural world. This paper delves into the philosophical underpinnings and implications of this phenomenon, exploring how the temporary breakdown of ego boundaries during a psychedelic experience may foster a sense of profound interconnectedness with nature. Drawing from Western and Eastern philosophical traditions, as well as recent insights from neuroscience and consciousness studies, we examine the potential of psychedelic-induced self-transcendence to catalyze a shift in our perspectives on the human-nature relationship. The paper investigates the philosophical implications of this experience, including its resonance with deep ecological philosophies and its potential to inspire more ecocentric ethical frameworks. Furthermore, we explore the possible practical implications of fostering a sense of ecological connectedness through psychedelics, such as promoting environmentally sustainable behaviors and addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and ecological degradation. Ultimately, this exploration highlights the value of engaging with altered states of consciousness as a means to reconsider our place within the intricate web of life on Earth.

High-power laser facilities necessitate predicting incremental damage to final optics to identify evolving damage trends. In this study, we propose a surface damage detection method utilizing image segmentation employing ResNet-18, and a damage area estimation network employing U-Net++. Paired sets of online and offline images of optics obtained from a large laser facility is used to train the network. The trends of varying damage could be identified by incorporating additional experimental parameters. A key advantage of the proposed method is that the network can be trained end-to-end on small samples, eliminating the need for manual labeling or feature extraction. The software developed based on these models can facilitate the daily inspection and maintenance of optics in large laser facilities.

Cell sheet (CS) engineering using human MSC is of significant interest for regenerative medicine and this rapidly growing field translates to clinical use in a number of indications. Nevertheless, little is known of factors that define the timing of CS assembly from primary cultures which is important for planning treatments in both – autologous and allogeneic modes of use. We used a comparative in vitro approach with primary donors’ (n=14) adipose-derived MSC and evaluated the impact of healthy subject’s characteristics (age and sex), MSC culture features (population doubling time and lag-phase) and extracellular matrix (ECM) composition along with factors related to connective tissue formations (-SMA and FAP-) on CS assembly duration.

Traditional lithium-ion batteries cannot meet the high flexibility and bendability requirements of modern flexible electronic devices due to the limitations of their electrode materials. Therefore, the development of high-performance flexible energy storage devices is of great significance for promoting flexible electronics. In recent years, one-dimensional flexible fiber lithium-ion batteries have been rapidly developed due to the advantages of high flexibility and bendability. However, it is still a big challenge to realize 1D flexible fiber lithium-ion batteries with excellent electro-chemical properties and good mechanical performance. In this work, a reduced graphene ox-ide-based printing ink is proposed to fabricate flexible Li4Ti5O12/graphene fiber electrodes through a 3D printing assembly strategy. It is noteworthy that the green reducing agent vitamin C was used to reduce graphene oxide in one step, which improved the conductivity of the fiber elec-trode. Furthermore, a 3D conductive network is constructed inside the fiber electrodes due to the high specific surface area of reduced graphene oxide, which enhances the electronic conductivity and ion mobility. The fiber electrode not only has good mechanical performance, but also has ex-cellent electrochemical properties. Equally important, the method is simple and efficient, and the working environment is flexible. It can precisely control the shape, size and structure of the one-dimensional fiber flexible electrode, which is of great significance for the development of fu-ture flexible electronic devices.

During the recent pandemics of COVID-19, sequencing technics became powerful tool for gaining information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and using this knowledge in our advantage. Thanks to this advantage, scientists over the world were able to search for emerging variations, watching the virus evolving in real time. Assembly of the virus genomes is crucial part of getting this kind of useful information. In our study, we sequenced 79 samples from nasopharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients. Positivity on disease was evaluated by qRT-PCR. By studying assembly success rate, we noticed, that Ct-value of qRT-PCR can predict success of genome assembly and SARS-CoV-2 lineage assignment. In this work we described the relationship between Ct-value and further steps of genome construction and its assignment to specific viral strain.

This study is designed to assess and improve apparel sewing section efficiency and productivity throughout line balancing. Apparel industry is one of the oldest and among the most global industry, being primarily concerned with the design and production of cloth and their supply. The central process in apparel manufacturing is the joining together of components which is known as the sewing process , which is the most labour intensive type of manufacturing process .Proper utilization of resources in garment sewing section is more critical to enhance the performance of the apparel industry by reducing production cost and minimizing wastage. For effective utilization of resources in the sewing section, good line balancing is important to increase productivity and production efficiency. This research was a design to analyse and improve the assembling line in the case of Telaje garment manufacturing and sales plc. The study was first conduct observations in the production floor and start work with the selection of sewing line in the garment production process. Among the nine lines of the factory select one on the production floor and one garment ordered product known as five pocket men’s jeans trousers are selected. For this study, both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were employed. Both primary and secondary data sources are used to detail the collected relevant data to understand the current efficiency scenario of the factory. The main challenges to minimizing line efficiency and productivity with the expected performance measurement are improper utilization of resources and improper implementation of line balancing in sewing section, therefore this thesis work shows that the bottleneck process and consequence solution will be searched, and finally significantly improving the productivity by 418 unit products/ day and, hence the efficiency will increase from 28.83% to 50.04% of the line

In this paper, I propose a test for machine self-awareness inspired by the Turing test. While my test is plain and simple, it offers a much-needed alternative to ungrounded speculation while still capturing the essence of self-awareness. I discuss how to apply the test to Large Language Models and conduct experiments on GPT-3.5 that suggest it is not self-aware. I discuss the implications of machine self-awareness and relate it to questions about meaning and understanding. Finally, I present some next steps for studying self-awareness in machines.

Consciousness results from comprehending the living creature from its existence in time and space. Thought and consciousness are distinguishing factors between humans and machines having artificial intelligence. No algorithm has been offered for artificial self-awareness based on Thinking. Previous studies have not studied the relationship between consciousness, thinking and time. In this study, the relationship between consciousness, thinking, memories and speech over time has been studied. A deep logical connection exists between consciousness, thinking, and time. An algorithm can be designed for artificial consciousness based on this research findings.

Advanced coatings are essential to modern technologies, as they optimise surface characteristics for different application scenarios. Transparent and self-cleaning coatings are increasingly used as protective coatings for various applications, such as foldable touchscreens, windows, and solar panels. Moreover, incorporating other functionalities such as high hardness, wear resistance, and flexibility into transparent and self-cleaning coatings is important for broadening the use cases. Although many kinds of multifunctional coatings have been developed, it is still difficult to embody several properties in one coating adequately, as some properties, such as hardness and flexibility, are inherently contrastive. This review first describes basic principles, including wetting ability, photocatalytic reactions, photo-induced hydrophilic phenomena, and the implication of self-cleaning. The desired properties of multifunctional coatings are then listed, and methods for evaluating different properties are used. Recent progress in various preparation methods for multifunctional coatings, including the sol-gel, dip/spin, and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) methods, are also presented. Magnetron sputtering (MS) technology is widely used in coating preparation. Compared with chemosynthesis and CVD, MS is time-saving, suitable for industrial production, and environmentally friendly. Coatings prepared by MS usually possess excellent mechanical properties. Thus, we highlight the current research status of MS technology in multifunctional coating preparation. Moreover, according to the multilayer design structure of coatings, their optical and mechanical properties and self-cleaning ability can be controlled by combining the characteristics of different materials. Finally, combining photocatalytic materials such as TiO2 with other materials through a multilayer structure to obtain a multifunctional coating with excellent overall properties is discussed.

Anomaly detection and segmentation aim at distinguishing abnormal images from normal images and further localizing the anomalous regions. Feature reconstruction based method has become one of the mainstream methods for this task. This kind of method has two assumptions: (1) The features extracted by neural network is a good representation of the image. (2) The autoencoder solely trained on the features of normal images cannot reconstruct the features of anomalous regions well. But these two assumptions are hard to meet. In this paper, we propose a new anomaly segmentation method based on feature reconstruction. Our approach mainly consists of two parts: (1) We use a pretrained vision transformer (ViT) to extract the features of the input image. (2) We design a self-attention autoencoder to reconstruct the features. We regard that the self-attention operation which has a global receptive field is beneficial to the methods based on feature reconstruction both in feature extraction and reconstruction. The experiments show that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches for anomaly segmentation on the MVTec dataset. It is both effective and time-efficient.

Self-organized criticality (SOC) is a celebrated paradigm from the 90’s for understanding dynamical systems naturally driven to its critical point, where the power-law dynamics taking place make predictions practically impossible, such as in stock prices, earthquakes, pandemics and many other problems in science related to phase transitions. Shortly thereafter, it was realized that traffic flow might be in the SOC category, implying that conventional traffic management strategies seeking to maximize the local flows can become detrimental. This paper shows that the Kinematic Wave model with triangular fundamental diagram, and many other related traffic models, indeed exhibit SOC, thanks in part to the fractal nature of traffic exposed here on the one hand, and our need to get to our destinations as soon as possible, on the other hand. Important implications for congestion management of traffic near the critical region are discussed, such as: (i) Jam sizes obey a power-law distribution with exponent 1/2, implying that both its mean and variance become ill-defined and therefore impossible to estimate. (ii) Traffic in the critical region is chaotic in the sense that predictions becomes extremely sensitive to initial conditions. (iii) However, aggregate measures of performance such as delays and average speeds are not heavy tailed, and can be characterized exactly by different scalings of the Airy distribution, (iv) Traffic state time-space “heat maps” are self-affine fractals where the basic unit is a triangle, in the shape of the fundamental diagram, containing 3 traffic states: voids, capacity and jams. This fractal nature of traffic flow calls for analysis methods currently not used in our field.

Research professors develop scientific products that impact and benefit society, but their competencies in doing so are rarely evaluated. Therefore, employing a mixed two-stage sequential design, this study developed a self-assessment model of research professors’ competencies with four domains, seven competencies, and 30 competency elements. Next, we conducted descriptive statistical analysis of those elements. In the first year, 320 respondents rated themselves on four levels: initial, basic, autonomous, and consolidated. In the assessment model’s second year, we compared 30 respondents’ results with those of their initial self-assessment. The main developmental challenge was Originality and Innovation, which remained at the initial level. Both Training of Researchers and Transformation of Society were at the basic level, and Digital Competency was at the autonomous level. Both Teaching Competence and Ethics and Citizenship attained the consolidated level. This information helps establish priorities for accelerating researchers’ training and the quality of their research.

The first group to build artificial general intelligence or AGI stands to gain a significant strategic and market advantage over competitors, so companies, universities, militaries, and other actors have strong incentives to race to build AGI first. An AGI race would be dangerous, though, because it would prioritize capabilities over safety and increase the risk of existential catastrophe. A self-regulatory organization (SRO) for AGI may be able to change incentives to favor safety over capabilities and encourage cooperation rather than racing.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) is effective for the manipulation of fluids and particles in microscale. The current approach of integrating interdigitated transducers (IDTs) for SAW generation into microfluidic channels involves complex and laborious microfabrication steps. These steps often require the full access to clean room facilities and hours to align the transducers to the precise location. This work presents an affordable and innovative method for fabricating SAW-based microfluidic devices without the need of clean room facilities and alignment. The IDTs and microfluidic channels are fabricated in the same process and thus precisely self-aligned in accordance with the device design. With the use of the developed fabrication approach, a few types of different SAW-based microfluidic devices have been fabricated and demonstrated for particle separation and active droplet generation.

Online education allows learners to develop knowledge and skills flexibly and conveniently—such observation among students whose characteristics involve student engagement, self-regulation, and self-efficacy. However, studies to characterize Filipino online learners seem lacking. Thus, this study aimed to characterize science education tertiary students in the Philippines concerning their online student engagement (OSE), self-regulated learning (SRL), and online learning self-efficacy (OLSE). The unprecedented events brought by COVID-19 pandemic also urged the implementation of online modalities while there is no available information on students’ online learning profiles. Hence, researchers used a survey research employed through ex post facto approach to determine the effects of the demographic profile on OSE, SRL, and OLSE. The survey was participated by N=373 respondents who answered the questionnaire with informed consent administered via Google Forms. Results revealed that OSE indicators moderately characterized students, while SRL and OLSE indicators are true of them, substantiated by the overall mean M=3.85(SD=0.90), M=3.86(SD=0.92), and M=3.14(SD=0.73), respectively. Also, multivariate tests showed no significant effect among the independent groups (p&gt;0.05), except for gender and OLSE interaction (p&lt;0.05) so, only in OLSE was a significant difference found in gender. In conclusion, Filipino online learners are moderate across aspects of student engagement, self-regulation, and self-efficacy.

In 2015, the Self-Action Leadership Theory—a qualitative, nomological expansion of self-leadership theory rooted in atmospheric and astronomical metaphor aimed at expanding the personal freedom of individuals, organizations, and nations by bolstering the existential growth of individuals through a series of Maslow-esque stages of holistic, personal development. This article introduces an accompanying, practitioner-based Model of Self-Action Leadership (SAL) aimed at the implicit enhancement of a holistic range of administrative processes through explicit training, mentoring, and coaching in the model’s general and universally-applicable principles and practices. The SAL model produces an original construct of personal leadership practice that builds upon the extant self-leadership academic canon, which dates back to 1983 (Manz, 1983). It also provides an analogue to four of the five core processes of Project Management by positioning a self-action leader (an individual) as the ongoing “project” at hand. The SAL Model is rooted in action research and was developed through a variety of self-oriented, action research projects in conjunction with a comprehensive, qualitative, analytical autoethnographic study of a scholar’s life experiences.

The study of the inherent factors that influence the isolation of one type of metallosupramolecular architecture over another is one of the main objectives in the field of Metallosupramolecular Chemistry. In this work, we report two new neutral copper(II) helicates, [Cu2(L1)2]·4CH3CN and [Cu2(L2)2]·CH3CN, obtained by means of an electrochemical methodology and derived from two Schiff-based strands functionalized with ortho- and para-t-butyl groups on the aromatic surface. These small modifications let us to explore the relationship between the ligand design and the structure of the extended metallosupramolecular architecture. The magnetic properties of the Cu(II) helicates were explored by EPR spectroscopy and DC magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Advances in DNA sequencing technology are facilitating genomic analyses of unprecedented scope and scale, widening the gap between our abilities to generate and fully exploit biological sequence data. Comparable analytical challenges are encountered in other data-intensive fields involving sequential data, such as signal processing, in which dimensionality reduction (i.e., compression) methods are routinely used to lessen the computational burden of analyses. In this work we explore the application of dimensionality reduction methods to numerically represent high-throughput sequence data for three important biological applications of virus sequence data: reference-based mapping, short sequence classification and de novo assembly. Despite using highly compressed sequence transformations to accelerate the processes, our sequence processing approach yielded comparable accuracy to existing approaches, and are ideally suited for sequences originating from highly diverse virus populations. We demonstrate the application of our methodology to both synthetic and real viral pathogen sequence data. Our results show that the use of highly compressed sequence approximations can provide accurate results and that useful analytical performance can be retained and even enhanced through appropriate dimensionality reduction of sequence data.

This paper delves into the critical issue of concrete cracks, a common consequence of environmental factors and external forces, and their potential impact on the structural integrity of buildings. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, the concept of self-healing concrete has emerged, aiming to revolutionize the construction industry by autonomously repairing cracks and minimizing the need for labor-intensive and time-consuming manual interventions. The paper employs a bibliographic analysis methodology to comprehensively explore the most significant technologies associated with self-healing concrete, identifying key research countries/regions and prominent research institutions in this field. Through an examination of scholarly articles, the analysis seeks to uncover key themes, technologies, and contributors within the self-healing concrete domain. Insights into the geographical distribution of research efforts and the roles of influential research institutions are provided, shedding light on collaborative networks and knowledge-sharing dynamics that drive innovation in this evolving field.

While the desire to uncover the neural correlates of consciousness has taken numerous directions, self-face recognition has been a constant in attempts to isolate aspects of self-awareness. The neuroimaging revolution of the 1990’s bought about systematic attempts to isolate the underlying neural basis self-face recognition. These studies, including some of the first fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) studies, revealed a right hemisphere bias for self-face recognition in a diverse set of regions including the insula, the Dorsal Frontal Lobe, the Temporal Parietal Junction and Medial Temporal Cortex. Confirmation of these data (which are correlational) was provided by TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and patients in which direct inhibition or ablation of right hemisphere regions leads to a disruption or absence of self-face recognition. These data are consistent with a number of theories including a right hemisphere dominance for self-awareness and/or a right hemisphere specialization for identifying significant social relationships including to oneself.

As paradigm of complex behavior, Self-organized Criticality (SOC) reflects the ability of nonequilibrium dynamical systems to self-adjust into metastable states that are scale independent. The goal of this report is to tentatively show that the hierarchy of Standard Model masses and mixing angles follows from the universal scaling attributes of SOC.

Complex dynamical fluctuations, from molecular noise within cells, collective intelligence, brain dynamics or computer traffic have been shown to display noisy behaviour consistent with a critical state between order and disorder. Living close to the critical point can have a number of adaptive advantages and it has been conjectured that evolution could select (and even tend to) these critical states. One way of approaching such state is by means of so-called self-organized criticality (SOC) where the system poises itself close to the critical point. Is this the case of living cells? It is difficult to test this idea given the enormous dimensionality associated with gene and metabolic webs. In this paper, we present an alternative approach: to engineer synthetic gene networks displaying SOC behaviour. This is achieved by exploiting the presence of a saturation (congestion) phenomenon of the ClpXP protein degradation machinery in E. coli cells. Using a feedback design that detects and then reduces ClpXP congestion, a {\em critical motif} is built from a two-gene network system, where SOC can be successfully implemented. Both deterministic and stochastic models are used, consistently supporting the presence of criticality in intracellular traffic. The potential implications for both cellular dynamics and designed intracellular noise are discussed.

In the last years, we have witnessed a remarkable progress of algorithms solving Boolean satisfiability (SAT). The success of these algorithms has been especially relevant in a large number of industrial or real-world applications, for which these SAT solvers are nowadays an essential core part of their solving processes. Interestingly enough, these applications include a very diverse and heterogeneous range of domains, such as hardware verification, planning, and cryptography, among others. Unfortunately, the reasons of the good performance of these solvers on this variety of industrial benchmarks are not completely understood yet. Since SAT solvers’ efficiency is fundamental in various domains, obtaining a better understanding of these algorithms and the reasons of their good performance is crucial. In order to shed light on this question, SAT solvers are often viewed as complex systems with many interconnected components (e.g., conflict analysis and learning mechanism, database management, search restarts) interacting in many unpredictable ways. There is the common belief that the resulting emergent behavior of these complex systems takes advantage of a certain underlying structure of the SAT formula, which is shared by the majority of these industrial problems regardless the domain they come from. Recently, there have been some attempts of characterizing this structure under the lens of complex networks, with the purpose of better understanding the success of the solvers, and potentially improving them. In this paper, we analyze the structure of industrial SAT instances under the lens of self-similarity, and study how the execution of SAT solvers affect that structure. Many real-world graphs exhibit self-similar structure (with small fractal dimension), which means that after rescaling (replacing groups of nodes by a single node), the same kind of structure can be observed. In our analysis, in which we represent SAT instances as graphs, we observe that many industrial SAT formulas exhibit the same kind of structure. Moreover, we analyze how this structure evolves by effects of learning new clauses during the search. In particular, we observe that learned clauses usually contain variables that are close in the graph representation of the formula. This is, the learning mechanism tends to work locally. On the contrary, this learning mechanism on random SAT formulas –which do not exhibit any structure at all– is unable to generate these local clauses. This difference contributes to explain the success of modern SAT solvers on industrial problems.

To understand microbial growth with mathematical models has a long tradition that dates back to the pioneering work of Jacques Monod in the 1940s. Growth laws are simple mathematical expressions that aim at describing growth rates of microbes as functions of external parameters, in particular nutrient concentrations. These laws are now widely applied to construct, e.g., dynamic ecosystem models. However, to explain the growth laws from underlying (first) principles is extremely challenging. In the second half of the 20th century, numerous experimental approaches aimed at precisely measuring heat production during microbial growth to determine the entropy balance in a growing cell and to quantify the exported entropy. This has led to the development of thermodynamic theories of microbial growth, which have generated fundamental understanding and identified principle limitations of the growth process. Whereas these approaches considered a growing microbe as a black box, modern theories heavily rely on genomic resources to describe and model genome-scale networks to explain microbial growth. Interestingly, however, thermodynamic constraints are often included in modern modelling approaches only in a rather superficial fashion, and it appears that recent modelling approaches and classical theories are disconnected fields. In order to stimulate a closer interaction between these fields, we here review various theoretical approaches that aim at describing microbial growth based on thermodynamic principles. We start with classical black-box models of cellular growth, and continue with genome-scale modelling approaches that include thermodynamics, before we place these models in the context of fundamental considerations based on non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. We conclude by identifying conceptual overlaps between the fields and suggest how the various types of theories and models can be integrated. We outline how concepts from one approach may help to inform or constrain another, and we demonstrate how genome-scale models can be used to infer classical black-box parameters, which are experimentally accessible in growth experiments. Such integration will allow understanding to what extent microbes can be viewed as thermodynamic machines, and how close they operate to theoretical optima.

This article assumes that collaborators who adopt a positive-sum, prosocial perspective can build trust-based relationships, which is equivalent to collaborative ability (CA). To improve a collaborator’s CA, we anticipated that content based upon a model of positive-sum collaboration, founded upon ancestral behaviours presented as social norms, might alter a zero-sum, proself, collaborator’s perspective. However, we also postulated that learner’s willingness to engage in positive-sum content may rely on pre-existing prosociality. Intervention participant’s prosociality was assessed via self-assessment of their emotional intelligence (EQ), quality of life (QoL), and goal orientation (GO). Learner’s engagement in online content was assessed by the three stage reached: examine website front matter; examine website content; learn website content. Tukey’s multiple comparison showed a statistically significant difference between stages one and three, in the mean of respondent’s self-assessed QoL. This suggests that participants who wished to learn content had, on average, higher quality of life, and potentially therefore greater prosociality. In general, these findings support a claim that any intervention designed to increase individual prosociality may need to consider the target population’s reticence to engage.

Partial differential representation of self-similarity feature has been derived from notion of the homogenous function in general sense. This representation allows consideration of stochastic self-similar systems. As well as the partial differential representation allows consideration of Stochastic Partial Differential Equation.