Level Generation Through Large Language Models

Large Language Models (LLMs) are powerful tools, capable of leveraging their training on natural language to write stories, generate code, and answer questions. But can they generate functional video game levels? Game levels, with their complex functional constraints and spatial relationships in more than one dimension, are very different from the kinds of data an LLM typically sees during training. Datasets of game levels are also hard to come by, potentially taxing the abilities of these data-hungry models. We investigate the use of LLMs to generate levels for the game Sokoban, finding that LLMs are indeed capable of doing so, and that their performance scales dramatically with dataset size. We also perform preliminary experiments on controlling LLM level generators and discuss promising areas for future work

Protein Engineering of Endoglucanase CelR of Clostridium thermocellum for Enhanced Expression

Background: Enhanced production and improved properties of cellulases for a greater activity on plant biomass would rank amongst the top priorities for second-generation ethanol production. Based on the emergence of protein engineering as a cutting-edge technology for enhancing enzyme activity and expression level, the present study is aimed at the application of this technique to the major cellulosomal processing endoglucanase of C. thermocellum, CelR for refining enzyme characteristics. Methods: The full-length native enzyme gene (CelR) and a truncated version without the docking domains at C-terminus (CelR-CB) were PCR amplified using gene specific primers. The amplified PCR products were T/A cloned in the vector pTZ57 R/T and transformed in E. coli DH5α. The cellulase genes from the confirmed transformed plasmids were sub-cloned in T7 promoter-based expression vector pET-28a and expression analysis was done in E. coli (DE3) BL21 codon Plus. Results: An SDS PAGE analysis of both the CelR derivatives revealed that the truncated version i.e. CelR-CB showed a two-fold increase in expression level as compared to the full-length enzyme. Conclusion: The increased expression level of CelR in E. coli coupled with its increased production therefore makes it a promising method for augmenting the recombinant enzyme production for potential applications.

Performance Evaluation of Asphalt Modified with Municipal Wastes for Sustainable Pavement Construction

The severe hot temperature and high traffic loadings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are causing distress in flexible pavements within a few years of service. Secondly, the conventional bitumen extracted from Saudi oil refineries have a performance grade of 64-10 (PG 64-10), which does not meet the SuperPave performance grade requirement for most of the KSA’s regions. In order to improve the performance grade of bitumen, different percentages of municipal wastes (plastic and crumb rubber) were used as bitumen additives. The performance of bitumen at low, intermediate, and high temperatures was evaluated. This is important as the waste production is rising significantly due to the fast urbanization and high population growth in the KSA. Particularly, when there are very few ways of recycling these wastes (municipal, as well as industrial), which in fact have great impact on the environment. High-density polyethylene (HDP), low-density polyethylene (LDP), and crumb rubber (CR) with 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight of bitumen, were mixed with the base bitumen (PG 64-10). Rotational viscometer (RV), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and bending beam rheometer (BBR) were used to evaluate the viscosity, rutting, fatigue, and low-temperature behavior of base and modified binders. The test results indicated that the rutting (permanent deformation) and fatigue resistance were significantly improved in modified binders due to the improvement in the visco-elastic properties

Fiber Reinforced Polymer and Polypropylene Composite Retrofitting Technique for Masonry Structures

In the current research work, an attempt is made to increase the seismic capacity of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures by proposing a new composite material which can improve shear strength and deformation capacity of URM wall systems. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) having high tensile and shear stiffness can significantly increase in-plane and out-of-plane strength of masonry walls, but, inherently, FRP strengthened wall systems exhibit brittle failure under extreme seismic loading. Polypropylene (PP-band) is a low cost material with sufficient ductility and deformation capacity. Keeping in view the behavior of FRP and PP-band, a composite of FRP and PP-band is proposed for retrofitting of URM walls. Mechanical behavior of the proposed composite material is assessed by carrying out an in-plane diagonal compression test and an out-of-plane bending test on twenty-five 1/4-scaled masonry wall panels. Experimental plan for each panel, URM, PP-band retrofitted, FRP retrofitted and FRP + PP-band retrofitted masonry, is diagonal compression test and three-point bending test. Experimental results have determined that FRP + PP-band composite increased, not only the initial peak strength, but also the ductility, deformation capacity and residual strength of URM wall systems

اُردو شاعری پر لسانی تشکیلات اور علاقائی زبانوں کے اثرات

Abstract: As like Urdu poetry, there has been a lot of changes occurred in language and description. This is why Punjabi and regional influences are seen very deep on Urdu poetry because each era of poetry has accepted linguistic and regional effects consistently. In Urdu, along-with "Anti Ghazal", the usage of linguistic formats of regional languages also started. This trend in Urdu is actually strengthened through new poetry and lingual formats, and it is also true that language and description of poem in Urdu poetry are more significant than Urdu Ghazal. Not only did they strive to incorporate new words into his creative process according to the social attitudes and linguistic needs of his day, but he also saw the need for time.

Effect of Elevated Temperatures on Mortar with Naturally Occurring Volcanic Ash and Its Blend with Electric Arc Furnace Slag

The mechanical behavior of basaltic volcanic ash (VA) and fly ash (FA) as a cement replacement under elevated temperatures is mainly investigated in the current study. For this, cement content has been partially replaced with and without the presence of electric arc furnace slag (S). Four distinct ranges of temperatures (200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C) were selected, and the modified mixes were subjected to these gradually elevated temperatures. Samples were cured and cooled by using air- and water-cooling techniques. Test results were established by examining the sample weights and compressive strength before and after the exposure of each temperature level. The pozzolanic potential of volcanic ash and fly ash samples was identified using the strength activity index. After analyzing the test results, it has been found that there is a significant effect on the compressive strength of mortar mixes at the early ages of its strength gain. However, at the later ages of curing, samples modified with volcanic and fly ash with the presence of electric arc furnace slag have shown a better performance than control mix in terms of strength and weight loss

Aging and Curing Temperature Effects on Compressive Strength of Mortar Containing Lime Stone Quarry Dust and Industrial Granite Sludge

In this study, the researchers investigated the potential use of locally available waste materials from the lime stone quarry and the granite industry as a partial replacement of cement. Quarry sites and granite industry in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia produces tons of powder wastes in the form of quarry dust (QD) and granite sludge (GS), respectively, causing serious environmental problems along with frequent dust storms in the area. According to ASTM C109, identical 50-mm3 specimens were cast throughout this study to evaluate the compressive strength development of mortars (7, 28 and 91 days) containing these waste materials. Experimental variables included different percentage replacement of cement with waste materials (GS, QD), fineness of GS, various curing temperatures (20, 40 and 60 °C as local normal and hot environmental temperatures) and curing moisture (continuously moist and partially moist followed by air curing). Finally, the results of mortar containing waste materials were compared to corresponding results of control mortar (CM) and mortar containing fly ash (FA). The test results indicated that under normal curing (20 °C, moist cured), the compressive strength of mortar containing the different percentage of waste materials (QD, GS, FA and their combinations) remained lower than that of CM at all ages. However, the compressive strength of mortar containing waste materials slightly increased with increased fineness of GS and significantly increased under high curing temperatures. It was recommended that more fineness of GS be achieved to use its high percentage replacement with cement (30% or more) incorporating local environmental conditions