Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exciton and fermion-pair condensation at non-zero temperature

A thermodynamic study of a many-particle two-level system with the SU(2) ⊗ SU(2)-symmetry interaction in the particle–particle and particle–hole channels is carried out. Using the symmetry of the system, its free energy and phase diagram are calculated. It is demonstrated that the superconducting (particle–particle) and excitonic (particle–hole) condensates are both formed in the considered system which undergoes two phase transitions. The calculated phase diagram represents qualitatively the phase diagram typical for materials with the high-temperature superconducting properties, including the existence of two phase transitions, the first and second order phase transitions, triple and tricritical points.
Influence of Slaughter Weight and Sex on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Ham Traits of Heavy Pigs Fed Ad-Libitum

Simple Summary In recent years, pigs involved in the dry-cured ham production system have suffered from excessive leanness. This has led to the increase of slaughter weight (SW) to achieve greater carcass and ham fatness statuses to compensate for the loss in dry-curing aptitude. The production guidelines for the production of Italian dry-cured ham are currently under revision and an extension of the range of carcass weights from 126 to 168 kg, corresponding to about 146 to 210 kg of SW, has been proposed. However, little is known about the influence of SW in the range of 140–200 kg on growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass quality and ham curing aptitude. We hypothesized that an increased SW could exert a positive influence on ham characteristics. Data from 159 pigs fed ad libitum with diets, unlimiting for nutrient contents, up to 8 or 9 months of age (140–200 kg SW) were used. Greater SWs were linearly and positively associated with the growth performance of the pigs and with better ham quality traits. Greater SW increased ham weight, muscularity, and greater fat covering, according to the dry-cured ham industry’s expectations. Barrows produced hams with greater weight and marbling than gilts. Abstract Slaughter weight (SW) is critical for dry-cured ham production systems with heavy pigs. A total of 159 C21 Goland pigs (gilts and barrows) at 95 ± 9.0 kg body weight (BW) from three batches were used to investigate the impact of ad libitum feeding on SW, growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass and green ham characteristics. Diets contained 10 MJ/kg of net energy and 7.4 and 6.0 g/kg of SID-lysine. Slaughter weight classes (SWC) included <165, 165–180, 180–110 and >210 kg BW. In each batch, pigs were sacrificed at 230 or 258 d of age. Left hams were scored for round shape, fat cover thickness, marbling, lean colour, bicolour and veining. Data were analyzed with a model considering SWC, sex and SWC × Sex interactions as fixed factors and the batch as a random factor. The linear, quadratic and cubic effects of SWC were tested, but only linear effects were found. Results showed that pigs with greater SWC had greater average daily gain and feed consumption, with similar feed efficiency and better ham quality traits: greater ham weight, muscularity, and fat coveringin correspondence of semimembranosus muscle. Barrows were heavier and produced hams with slightly better characteristics than gilts.
Towards a national perioperative outcomes registry: A survey of perioperative electronic medical record utilisation to support quality assurance and research at Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Clinical Trials Network hospitals in Australia

In Australia, 2.7 million surgical procedures are performed annually. Historically, a lack of perioperative data standardisation and infrastructure has limited pooling of routinely collected data across institutions. We surveyed Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) Clinical Trials Network hospitals to investigate current and potential uses of perioperative electronic medical record data for research and quality assurance. A targeted survey was sent to 131 ANZCA Clinical Trials Network–affiliated hospitals in Australia. The primary aim was to map current electronic data collection methods and data utilisation in six domains of the perioperative pathway. The survey response rate was 32%. Electronic data recording in the six domains ranged from 19% to 85%. Where electronic data exist, the ability of anaesthesiology departments to export them for analysis ranged from 27% to 100%. The proportion of departments with access to data exports that are regularly exporting the data for quality assurance or research ranged from 13% to 58%. The existence of a perioperative electronic medical record does not automatically lead to the data being used to measure and improve clinical outcomes. The first barrier is clinician access to data exports. Even when this barrier is overcome, a large gap remains between the proportion of departments able to access data exports and those using the data regularly to inform and improve clinical practice. We believe this gap can be addressed by establishing a national perioperative outcomes registry to lead high-quality multicentre registry research and quality assurance in Australia.
Evaluation of Green Project Rating System for New Construction Projects

Over the past ten years the LEED rating system has been continuously focused on the various research domains in order to address the sustainability issues in built environments in the United States and other countries. LEED credit weighting provides a logical and rational approach to producing numerical scores in each category. Though it was developed in an extensive collaborative process, there has been controversy over the credit weightings system. The allocation of credit weightings still leaves much room for consideration due to the arbitrary decisions based on the developers’ judgment. Thus, this paper attempts to address the sensitivity and reliability of the optional credit weights among six categories. We conducted two experimental designs using point-by-point data for 43 LEED projects certified under LEED-NC version 2.0 series. The findings from this study will provide the LEED project teams with insight into credit implementation in the predesign stage of potential LEED projects.
Vertical Greening Systems and Sustainable Cities

Abstract Urban development is causing environmental and social concerns that are compromising human welfare and the sustainability of cities. New urban greening concepts are being developed to mitigate these problems in a sustainable and natural way. Vertical greening systems can be defined as structures that allow vegetation to spread over a building facade or interior wall. These systems are becoming popular though they are still evolving and more knowledge on some of their particular impacts is required. In the last five years, the number of studies published in the scientific literature on this topic, especially involving living walls, has significantly increased. This scientific interest has corresponded with an increased and parallel attention by the general public. This work offers a broad description of the different systems and a comprehensive review of the particular benefits of these green infrastructures. Knowledge gaps and shortcomings have also been identified and discussed.
Improved transformer maintenance plan for reliability centred asset management of power transmission system

In a competitive electric market, high maintenance costs brought the necessity of process recruitment to increase the maintenance process efficiency and to extend the asset life time. Reliability centred maintenance has been continually improved together with proper asset management techniques to meet this necessity. This study presents an improved power transformer maintenance plan for reliability centred asset management of Turkish National Power Transmission System. At first, Markov model of existing maintenance procedure is constructed. Model solutions are used to compute the reliability indices and the total costs of the transformer. Then, sensitivity analysis was performed to determine effective transition rates of the model. Finally, optimal maintenance rates and corresponding reliability indices, total cost and life time were determined using actual service data and estimated transition rates. The results are compared with the existing maintenance plan.
Macrophage activation marker sCD163 is associated with liver injury and hepatic insulin resistance in obese patients before and after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass

Macrophages are associated with metabolic complications to obesity including fatty liver disease and impaired hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity (IS). Bariatric surgery induces weight loss and improves IS. We investigated associations between the macrophage activation marker soluble (s)CD163, alanine‐aminotransferase (ALT), and IS before and after Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB).
Highly efficient activation of endogenous gene in grape using CRISPR/dCas9-based transcriptional activators

Abstract Overexpression and knockout (or knockdown) of gene of interest are two commonly used strategies for gene functional study. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system-mediated gene knockout has been applied in most plant species, including grapevine. However, CRISPR/dCas9 (deactivated Cas9)-based transcriptional activation is still unreported in fruit crops, although a few studies have been documented in Arabidopsis and rice. Here, we tested two transcriptional activators VP64 and TV for transcriptional activation of endogenous genes in grape. Both the dCas9-VP64 and dCas9-TV systems are efficient enough for transcriptional activation of the UDP-glucose flavonoid glycosyltransferases (UFGT) gene in grape cells. The effectiveness of the dCas9-VP64 system in UFGT activation was about 1.6- to 5.6-fold, while the efficiency of the dCas9-TV system was around 5.7- to 7.2-fold. Moreover, in grapevine plants, highly efficient activation of the cold-responsive transcription factor gene CBF4 was achieved by using the dCas9-TV system. The expression of CBF4 was increased 3.7- to 42.3-fold in transgenic plants. Compared with the wild-type plants, the CBF4-activated plants exhibited lower electrolyte leakage after cold treatment. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of the dCas9-VP64 and dCas9-TV systems in gene activation in grape, which will facilitate application of transcriptional activation in this economically important species.
Measures Associated With Early, Late, and Persistent Clinically Significant Symptoms of Depression 1 Year After Stroke in the AFFINITY Trial

Background and Objectives To determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with early, late, and persistent clinically significant symptoms of depression during the first year after a stroke. Methods This cohort study included 1,221 men and women recruited within 2 weeks of stroke onset in Australia, New Zealand, and Vietnam. The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess stroke severity. Other study measures included age, sex, marital status, living arrangements, function before the stroke, depression before the stroke, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, and treatment with fluoxetine or placebo for 26 weeks. Clinically significant symptoms of depression during the 52 weeks after baseline was the outcome of interest, and the presence of depression was defined by a total Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score of ≥9 at week 4, 12, 26, or 52; a clinician diagnosis of depression between assessments; or pharmacologic or psychological treatment of depression during follow-up. Participants were classified as not depressed or as having early (initial 12 weeks), late (12–52 weeks), or persistent (before and after 12 weeks) depression. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess depression risk, with all listed measures entered simultaneously into the model. Results The mean age of participants was 63.8 (SD 12.3) years, and 775 (63.5%) were male. At baseline, 48 (3.9%) participants had previous treated depression, and 228 (18.7%) had clinically significant symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 score ≥9). Seven hundred thirty-four (63.3%) participants showed no evidence of depression in the year after the stroke; 208 (17.9%) had early, 86 (7.4%) had late, and 131 (11.3%) had persistent depression. Increased stroke severity, as measured by doubling of the NIHSS scores, was associated with an increased risk of early (risk ratio [RR] 2.08, 95% CI 1.65–2.62), late (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.14–2.06), and persistent (RR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.89–3.32) clinically significant symptoms of depression. Similar findings were apparent for the mRS, a measure of functional disability. Past depression was associated with increased risk of persistent clinically significant symptoms of depression (RR = 6.28, 95% CI 2.88–13.71), as was being married or partnered (RR = 3.94, 95% CI 2.42–6.41). The risk of clinically significant symptoms of depression was higher in Australia and New Zealand than in Vietnam. Discussion The severity of neurologic and functional deficits increases the risk of poststroke clinically significant symptoms of depression early and persistently. Depression before stroke, personal relationships, and cultural context contribute to mediate depression risk. Interventions that minimize the severity of neurologic and functional deficits should decrease the risk of poststroke clinically significant symptoms of depression. Trial Registration Information Clinical trial registration number ACTRN12611000774921.
Shocked to happy: Experiences of Iranian diabetics in reaction to the bad news of the diagnosis

Diagnosis of a chronic disease like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is frequently shocking for patients, which influences their lives. Getting aware of bad news such as obtaining a chronic illness diagnosis is a sensitive issue in patients' lives. Conversely, reactions to the reception of a diagnosis of diabetes are often varied for a few reasons. To manage the diseases through care planning, the identification and modification of the causes of various reactions are necessary. The aim of the present survey was to investigate the reaction of diabetics to the reception of diabetes diagnosis and its possible reasons. In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were used. Furthermore, traditional content analysis of semi-structured interviews was conducted using a qualitative strategy with 20 individuals with type 2 diabetes. The purposeful sampling approach was employed for recruiting the participants. Eleven male and nine female participants having type 2 diabetes had been transferred to the diabetes association of Iran for receiving consulting assistance in the areas of nutrition, psychology, and health care. Four categories of reactions have arisen from the investigation including behavioral, emotional, contextual, and cognitive reactions. Reactions to the prognosis of diabetes may be different for some reasons. The findings of the present investigation may be employed by health care providers to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of unusual and usual reactions, their causes, and the context in the early years after the diagnosis and planning care programs for disease management.
Natural Resources for Human Health

Some insects cause high losses of the common bean during storage, namely, Acanthoscelides obtectus Say. Chemical insecticides are commonly used to control insects, but their overuse adversely affects the environment and consumers’ health. There is, therefore, the need for an alternative control method. This study was aimed to evaluate the chemical characterization and insecticidal property of Moringa oleifera seed extract on the developmental stages of A. obtectus in stored beans. Three types of M. oleifera seed extracts, namely methanol, ethanol and acetone extracts, were used at doses of 12.5, 25 and 50 μl/ml each. HPLC-MS was used to characterize these extracts. The toxicity of extracts against the adults, the number of eggs and the viability rate of laid or emerged eggs of A. obtectus were evaluated. The results show that M. oleifera seed extract is rich in Hesperidin, Quinic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-OH benzoic acid, cynaroside, isoquercitrin, cosmosiin, quercitrin, luteolin, naringenin, salicylic acid, Apigenin and Fumaric acid. The acetone extract, from day 2, showed a 100% mortality rate in all doses compared to about only 14% in the control treatment. The number of eggs laid in control (236.67) was higher than the null (0) in acetone treatment at 50 μl/ml. M. oleifera seed extracts contain chemical molecules. They significantly reduced the damage caused by A. obtectus on stored P. vulgaris grains. Therefore, they can be used as an alternative to chemicals for the protection of stored foodstuffs.
CHD pile performance: part II – numerical modelling

A set of simple finite-element modelling procedures that can be used to estimate the load–settlement behaviour of continuous helical displacement (CHD) piles in sand is presented. The approach makes use of a stress- and strain-dependent non-linear soil model that can be parameterised using basic soil data that can be determined through routine site investigation. The procedures are validated against a database of physical model tests (reported in a companion paper), where they are shown to be suitable for estimating the load–settlement behaviour of CHD piles within the serviceability range. In this way they are complementary to the analytical method reported in the companion paper for estimating the ultimate capacity of a CHD pile. In this paper, the finite-element method and analytical model are applied to four historical load tests on CHD piles conducted at three different sand sites. The modelling is further validated and used to discuss potential savings in pile material and therefore cost due to addi.
Runoff and sediment yield modeling in a medium-size mediterranean watershed

The AnnAGNPS model was used to estimate runoff, peak discharge and sediment yield at the event scale in the Carapelle watershed, a Mediterranean medium-size watershed (506 km2) located in Apulia, Southern Italy. The model was calibrated and validated using five years of runoff and sediment yield data measured at a monitoring station located at Ordona – Ponte dei Sauri Bridge. A total of 36 events was used to estimate the output of the model during the period 2007-2011, in comparison to the corresponding observations at the watershed outlet. The model performed well in predicting runoff, as was testified by the high values of the coefficients of efficiency and determination during the validation process. The peak flows predictions were satisfactory especially for the high flow events; the prediction capability of sediment yield was good, even if a slight over-estimation was observed. Finally, the model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of different Management practices (MPs) on the watershed (converting wheat to forest, using vegetated streams, crop rotation corn/soybean, no tillage). While the maximum reduction in sediment yield was achieved converting wheat to forest, the best compromises between soil conservation and agriculture resulted to be crop rotations.
Multi-omics data integration provides insights into the post-harvest biology of a long shelf-life tomato landrace

Abstract In this study we investigated the transcriptome and epigenome dynamics of the tomato fruit during post-harvest in a landrace belonging to a group of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) collectively known as “Piennolo del Vesuvio”, all characterized by a long shelf-life. Expression of protein-coding genes and microRNAs as well as DNA methylation patterns and histone modifications were analysed in distinct post-harvest phases. Multi-omics data integration contributed to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying processes leading to long shelf-life. We unveiled global changes in transcriptome and epigenome. DNA methylation increased and the repressive histone mark H3K27me3 was lost as the fruit progressed from red ripe to 150 days post-harvest. Thousands of genes were differentially expressed, about half of which were potentially epi-regulated as they were engaged in at least one epi-mark change in addition to being microRNA targets in ~5% of cases. Down-regulation of the ripening regulator MADS-RIN and of genes involved in ethylene response and cell wall degradation was consistent with the delayed fruit softening. Large-scale epigenome reprogramming that occurred in the fruit during post-harvest likely contributed to delayed fruit senescence.
Interaction range and temperature dependence of symmetry breaking in strongly correlated two-dimensional moiré transition metal dichalcogenide bilayers

We theoretically consider two-dimensional moiré transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayers, which are strongly correlated in the sense that the on-site Coulomb interaction is comparable to or larger than the hopping kinetic energy between the moiré lattice sites. The system accommodates many symmetry-broken ground states both in charge and isospin sectors at various commensurate rational fillings such as 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 2/3, etc. We investigate two complementary important aspects of the dependence of the symmetry breaking on (1) the range of the electron-electron interaction, which can in principle be experimentally controlled by the nearby gates and the dielectric environment, and (2) temperature, which could thermally suppress the symmetry breaking above a critical temperature. Experimental implications of the theory are discussed.
Understanding the Effects of Tactile Grating Patterns on Perceived Roughness Over Ultrasonic Friction Modulation Surfaces

Objective Our study aims to investigate the effects of grating patterns of perceived roughness on surfaces with ultrasonic friction modulation, and also to examine user performance of identifying different numbers of grating patterns. Background In designing grating-based tactile textures, the widths of low- and high-friction zones are a crucial factor for generating grating patterns that convey roughness sensation. However, few studies have explored the design space of efficient grating patterns that users can easily distinguish and identify via roughness perception. Method Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, we conducted a magnitude estimation of perceived roughness for both low- and high-friction zones, each with widths of 0.13, 0.25, 0.38, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.5, and 5.5 mm. In the second experiment, we required participants to identify 5 pattern groups with 2–6 patterns respectively. Results Perceived roughness fitted a linear trend for low- or high-friction zones with widths of 0.38 mm or lower. Perceived roughness followed an inverted U-shaped curve for low- or high-friction zones with widths greater than 0.5 mm but less than 2.0 mm. The peak points occurred at the widths of 0.38 mm for both low- and high-friction zones. The statistical analysis indicates that both low- and high-friction zones had similar effects on human perception of surface roughness. In addition, participants could memorize and identify up to four tactile patterns with identification accuracy rates higher than 90% and average reaction time less than 2.2 s. Conclusions The relation between perceived roughness and varying widths of grating patterns follows linear or inverted U-shape trends. Participants could efficiently identify 4 or fewer patterns with high accuracy (>90%) and short reaction time (<2.2 s). Application Our findings can contribute to tactile interface design such as tactile alphabets and target-approaching indicators.