Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of special asymmetric cul-de-sac unit configuration high temperature superconductor filter with multi-pair of transmission zeros

A high-temperature superconductor (HTS) bandpass filter with special asymmetric cul-de-sac units (SACUs) is introduced and a compact low-radiating microstrip resonator is suggested for the filter realization. Such a filter is capable of providing better selectivity and higher out-of-band rejection and hence a decrease in adjacent-channel interference, which is of critical importance for mobile communication. This improvement of the filter characteristics results from an increase in the number of pairs of transmission zeros (TZs) on the imaginary axis on the complex plane when using the filter composed of the introduced SACUs, each providing a pair of TZs. An 11-pole filter consisting of two SACUs was fabricated using MgO substrate of 0.5 mm thickness with double-sided YBCO HTS film. Characterization of the filter at 77 K gave a central frequency of 2345 MHz, insertion loss 0.19 dB, an overall in-band return loss better than 15 dB, and an ultra-high band-edge steepness as a consequence of the two pairs of TZs. The measured characteristics are in good accord with those obtained by electromagnetic simulation.
Quantifying the recent expansion of native invasive rush species in a UK upland environment

Rushes, such as soft rush (Juncus effusus L.), hard rush (Juncus inflexus L.) and compact rush (Juncus conglomeratus L.) have become problem species within upland grasslands across the UK and the coastal grasslands of western Norway. Indeed, being largely unpalatable to livestock and having a vigorous reproductive ecology means that they can rapidly come to dominate swards. However, rush dominance results in a reduction in grassland biodiversity and farm productivity. Anecdotal evidence from the UK suggests that rush cover within marginal upland grasslands has increased considerably in recent decades. Yet, there is currently no published evidence to support this observation. Here, we use recent and historical Google Earth imagery to measure changes in rush frequency over a 13-year period within four survey years: 2005, 2009, 2015 and 2018. During each survey year, we quantified rush presence or absence using a series of quadrats located within 300 upland grassland plots in the West Pennine Moors, UK. Data were analysed in two stages, first, by calculating mean rush frequencies per sample year using all the available plot-year combinations (the full dataset), and second by examining 25 differences in rush frequency using only the plots for which rush frequency data were available in every sample year (the continuous dataset). The full dataset indicated that rush frequency has increased by 82% between 2005 and 2018. Similarly, the continuous dataset suggested that rush frequency has increased by 174% over the same period, with the increases in frequency being statistically significant (P<0.05) between 2005-2018 and 2009-2018. We discuss the potential drivers of rush expansion in the West Pennine Moors, the ecological and agronomic implications of grassland rush infestations, and priorities for future research.
Relações filogenéticas e diversidade de isolados de Guignardia spp oriundos de diferentes hospedeiros nas regiões ITS1-5,8S-ITS2

ABSTRACT- Fungi of Guignardia genera are commonly isolated from different plant species and most ofthe time they are characterized as endophytics. However, some species of this genus, as G. citricarpa and G. psidii are known as causal agents of serious diseases that affect cultures, such as the Citrus Black Spotand the guava fruit rot, respectively. They are also responsible for diseases that cause foliar spots indifferent fruit species and also in other cultures. This work has the objective of isolate, identify andcharacterize the genetic diversity present among Guignardia isolates obtained from citrus, mango, guava,eucalyptus, Brazilian grape tree and Surinam cherry by analysis of DNA sequence from cistron ITS1-5,8S-ITS2. It was verified that the obtained isolates belong to G. mangiferae and G. citricarpa species. Twodifferent Guignardia types, that were found in mango, could not be identified in species, and do not belongto none of the species deposited in GenBank. So, this work found that mango, guava, eucalyptus, Braziliangrape tree and Surinam cherry host only
Influence of Co bilayers and trilayers on the plasmon-driven light emission from Cu(111) in a scanning tunneling microscope

Kevin Edelmann,1,2,* Lars Wilmes,1 Vibhuti Rai,1 Lukas Gerhard,1 Liang Yang,1,3 Martin Wegener,1,3 Taavi Repän,1 Carsten Rockstuhl,1,4 and Wulf Wulfhekel1,2 1Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany 2Physikalisches Institut, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany 3Institute of Applied Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany 4Institut für Theoretische Festkörperphysik, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
A novel cyanobacterial toxin (BMAA) with potential neurodegenerative effects

The non-protein amino acid beta-N-methyl-amino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin that was recently found to be produced by most cyanobacteria. The neurotoxin was discovered in 1967 in the seeds of the cycad Cycas micronesica, but this BMAA may originate from the symbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc, which inhabits the roots of cycads. BMAA is thought to be the cause of the deadly neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS/PDC), common among the Chamorro people of Guam. It was demonstrated that the Chamorros, in all probability, have been exposed to high levels of BMAA through dietary consumption of flying foxes which fed mainly on cycads seeds. BMAA production may be a common conserved evolutionary feature among cyanobacteria and due to their wide global distribution, the toxin may be a common concern and potentially involved in provoking degenerative diseases worldwide. BMAA may likewise be bioaccumulated in other cyanobacterial based food webs within ecosystems outside Guam, and it is proposed that such webs may exist in the Baltic Sea, with its massive occurrence of cyanobacteria (blooms).
Ion‐Selective Sensors Based on Laser‐Induced Graphene for Evaluating Human Hydration Levels Using Urine Samples

Complex graphene electrode fabrication protocols including conventional chemical vapor deposition and graphene transfer techniques as well as more recent solution‐phase printing and postprint annealing methods have hindered the wide‐scale implementation of electrochemical devices including solid‐state ion‐selective electrodes (ISEs). Herein, a facile graphene ISE fabrication technique that utilizes laser induced graphene (LIG), formed by converting polyimide into graphene by a CO2 laser and functionalization with ammonium ion (NH4+) and potassium ion (K+) ion‐selective membranes, is demonstrated. The electrochemical LIG ISEs exhibit a wide sensing range (0.1 × 10−3–150 × 10−3 m for NH4+ and 0.3 × 10−3–150 × 10−3 m for K+) with high stability (minimal drop in signal after 3 months of storage) across a wide pH range (3.5–9.0). The LIG ISEs are also able to monitor the concentrations of NH4+ and K+ in urine samples (29–51% and 17–61% increase for the younger and older patient; respectively, after dehydration induction), which correlate well with conventional hydration status measurements. Hence, these results demonstrate a facile method to perform in‐field ion sensing and are the first steps in creating a protocol for quantifying hydration levels through urine testing in human subjects.
Discovery of a reproducing wild population of the swamp eel Amphipnous cuchia (Hamilton, 1822) in North America

We report discovery of an established population of the Asian swamp eel Amphipnous cuchia (Hamilton, 1822) in Bayou St. John, an urban waterway in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This fish, commonly referred to as cuchia (kuchia), is a member of the family Synbranchidae and is native to southern and southeastern Asia. Recently-used synonyms include Monopterus cuchia and Ophichthys cuchia. We collected both adult and young-of-year cuchia from dense mats of littoral vegetation at several locations in Bayou St. John. Presence of multiple age and size classes is the first documented evidence of reproduction of this species outside of its native range. Establishment of this air-breathing, burrowing, salt-tolerant, opportunistic predator is of concern given that Bayou St. John is a tributary of Lake Pontchartrain, which provides a direct pathway for dispersal into the Mississippi River basin and coastal wetlands of the Gulf of Mexico.
Progress in the knowledge of ‘ruby silvers’: New structural and chemical data of pyrostilpnite, Ag3SbS3

Abstract The crystal structure of pyrostilpnite from the Plaka mine, Lavrion Mining District, Greece, was refined in the space group P21/c to a final R1 index of 0.0283 on the basis of 2047 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 65 refined parameters. Unit-cell parameters of the crystal examined are a = 6.8629(6), b = 15.8800(14), c = 6.2711(5) Å, β = 117.087(2)°, V = 608.48(9) Å3 and Z = 4. Chemical data agree with the stoichiometric formula Ag3SbS3. The crystal structure reported previously was confirmed, although a higher precision of refinement was achieved. It can be described as formed by {010} slabs running along c and connected along a through relatively longer Ag–S bonds. The analysis of the atomic displacement parameters together with a refinement with higher order tensors in the expression of the structure factors revealed no hint for pyrostilpnite as an ionic conductor. A historical background of the ‘ruby silvers’ is also reported.
The involvement of nitric oxide in the hemodynamic and metabolic activities of the brain and small intestine

Nitric oxide is a mediator in many physiological processes including vasodilatation of blood vessels, neurotransmission and prevention of platelet aggregation. It has also a role in the pathophysiology of sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, various traumatic events and critical conditions involved with circulatory abnormalities. The last one is accompanied by blood flow redistribution and is considered to be the putative cause of altered oxygen metabolism in various pathophysiological conditions. The present study tested the involvement of NO in the brain as a vital organ versus the small intestine, a less vital organ using the non-specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME and exogenous NO donor - nitrite. The parameters that were simultaneously monitored in both organs included mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), tissue blood flow (TBF), using laser Doppler flowmetery and NADH fluorescence using the fluorometric technique. Three groups were tested. Group 1 - L-NAME +nitrite, group 2 - control L-NAME and group 3 - control nitrite. Following LNAME, MAP significantly increased and remained elevated through the entire experiment. TBF decreased in both organs with full recovery in the brain and no recovery in the intestine, whereas NADH showed no significant changes. Nitrite alone had no significant effect on the parameters in any of the organs. In group 1 the infusion of nitrite decreased the level of elevated MAP earlier induced by L-NAME. Nitrite also recovered the reduced TBF in the brain whereas it had no beneficial effect on intestinal blood flow indicating for its regulatory role in the brain but not in the intestine.
Balloon Design for Mars, Venus, and Titan Atmospheres

This paper studies the specifications of balloons for the exploration of bodies with different atmospheric conditions. Three types of balloons, i.e., zero-pressure, super-pressure, and over-pressurized, with four different shapes, i.e., sphere, oblate, prolate, and airship, were analysed. First, the development of a simulation tool is described, which was used for analysing the behaviour of balloons for different exploration missions. Next, the developed software was verified by comparing its output with recorded data from a set of flights at the Esrange Space Center. Based on the simulation results, recommendations are given for different balloon types and shapes for operation on Mars, Venus, and Titan.
Multiple Comparison with a Control Using Step-down Procedure

The purpose of this research was to compare the efficiency of single-step procedures and the step-down procedures in order to test for multiple comparison with a control group. Four tests; Dunnett test, Step-down Dunnett test, Bonferroni test and Bonferroni-Holm test, was considered. The performance of these tests was evaluated in terms of the family wise error rate, any-pair power and all-pairs power. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed with repeated 10,000 times. The results showed that the familywise error rate of all test statistics closed to the nominal level. The empirical power of step-down procedures were higher than the single-step procedures, and the step-down Dunnett test gave the highest power.
Long-time behavior of Lévy-driven Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes with regime switching

Abstract We investigate the long-time behavior of the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process driven by Lévy noise with regime switching. We provide explicit criteria on the transience and recurrence of this process. Contrasted with the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process driven simply by Brownian motion, whose stationary distribution must be light-tailed, both the jumps caused by the Lévy noise and the regime switching described by a Markov chain can derive the heavy-tailed property of the stationary distribution. The different role played by the Lévy measure and the regime-switching process is clearly characterized.
When team play matters: Building revenue management in tourism destinations

Competition between tourism destinations is intensifying, and collaboration between stakeholders can increase destination appeal. Until now, such collaboration has limited itself to governance and marketing. To advance an earlier proposal of destination revenue management (RM), we develop a conceptual framework of instigators and limiters to such cooperation between tourism operators. Next, we synthesize the framework with behavioral game theory (BGT), an extension of classical game theory that challenges the utility maximization-based outcomes of the classical version. BGT incorporates additional aspects, such as reciprocity and fairness, into bargaining and cooperation and supports the feasibility of forming a RM alliance. Based on BGT findings, our synthesis provides theoretical and practical insights into how destinations can improve their competitiveness through cooperation in two important RM areas, pricing and demand creation.
Evaluation of mosquito net barrier on cucurbit seedling with other chemical, mechanical and botanical approaches for suppression of red pumpkin beetle damage in cucurbit

Seedling bed netted with mosquito net barrier against red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) in sweet gourd was evaluated with other chemical, mechanical, and botanical approaches during 2006-07 and 2007-08 cropping seasons. Among six treatments, results indicated that seedling bed of sweet gourd covered with mosquito net barrier upto 45 days before planting was found to be most effective and provided 97.59 and 100% protection with higher benefit cost ratio of 21.99 compared to 9.74 with Furadan 5G applied in soil; as of 4.35 using neem seed oil for the average of two years applied against red pumpkin beetle. Keywords: Mosquito net barrier; cucurbit; pumpkin beetle. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i3. 6446 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(3) : 395-401
METHOLOGY FOR CITY LEVEL URBAN ROAD NETWORK CONNECTIVITY ANALYSIS USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORAMTION SYSTEMS (GIS)

In most of the urban cities in India, the existing road network structure is unable to meet the increasing travel demand. In this context, there is a need to utilize the existing road network in a more efficient manner. To effectively utilize the existing road network, the structural parameters like connectivity, accessibility, hierarchy and morphology should be analyzed and evaluated. This study aimed to analyze and evaluate the road network structure of Hyderabad city, Telangana state, India in terms of its connectivity. Different places in Hyderabad city were considered to quantify the connectivity measures such as alpha index, beta index, gamma index, eta index, Cyclomatic number and Aggregate transportation score. Five kilometers radius buffers were drawn from the center of each location to compute the connectivity measures. The results of the study may act as a guide to the transportation planning authorities to understand the level of connectivity at each location in the city and implement better planning practices to improve the level of connectivity in the city. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is a platform used for better decision making in urban transportation planning. The present study also tried to prove the efficiency of GIS in analyzing the connectivity based performance of the transport network structure in the study area.
ULTRACYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN THE TAIL MUSCLES OF ANURAN TADPOLES DURING METAMORPHOSIS

Tail muscles of Rana catesbeiana and Xenopus laevis during metamorphosis were investigated ultracytochemically for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). By means of the copper ferrocyanide method, LDH reaction products were found in the mitochondria, the muscle cell membrane, pinocytotic vesicle, T-tubules of vesicular triads and the sarcoplasm of the two types of muscle fibers (red and white fibers). The localization of the LDH reaction products which are described and discussed, suggests a correlation with the histochemical and biochemical properties of the anuran tadpole tail during metamorphosis.
A pilot study on the short-term effects of myofascial release and core stability exercises on balance in chronic low back pain

Background and Aim: Balance disorders are among common complications of chronic low back pain (LBP). Since the tissue and echogenicity of thoracolumbar fascia changes in chronic LBP, the independent motion of fascia layers would negatively alter, and it may affect the control of spine movements. It has been shown that myofascial release (MFR) improves the function of transversus abdominis as a core muscle in LBP. So, MFR may affect the balance and postural control in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of MFR and core stability (CS) exercises on dynamic balance and pain in women with chronic non-specific LBP. Methods: In this pilot study, with a pretestposttest design, 10 females aged 30 ± 9.04 participated. The participants received one session of MFR on thoracolumbar fascia and CS exercises. The outcome measures were dynamic balance by Y balance test (YBT) and pain with visual analogue scale (VAS), which were assessed before and immediately after the intervention. Results: Dynamic balance improved significantly (p < 0.02) after intervention. The VAS as an indicator of pain intensity showed significant improvement (p = 0.005). Conclusion: The application of MFR plus CS exercises for a single session is effective in improving dynamic balance and pain in women with chronic non-specific LBP.
Laboratory testing of larvivorous fish Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) predation ability to copper-treated Anopheles stephensi larvae: An alternative method for vector control under low concentration of copper

Utilizing larvivorous sh is a promising approach to biological control of malaria. In our laboratory, we have tested sh predation ability to Anopheles stephensi larvae under low concentration of copper. We found that at 0.26 ppm larvae were negatively a ected, especially in terms of diving ability, which made them easier for the larvivorous sh to catch. is concentration was safe for medaka (Oryzias latipes). It needs further study whether it is possible to use this sh together with low concentrations of copper in the limited area where
A new estimator of the self-similarity exponent through the empirical likelihood ratio test

ABSTRACT A new method is proposed to estimate the self-similarity exponent. Instead of applying finite moment(s) methods, a goodness-of-fit statistic is designed to test whether two rescaled sequences are drawn from the same distribution, which is the definition of self-similarity. The test is the empirical likelihood ratio, which is robust with respect to processes with dependence. We provide a closed formula for fractional Brownian motion and prove that the distance between two rescaled sequences is zero iff the scaling exponent equals the true one. According to our results, the method we propose can identify self-similarity and effectively estimate the corresponding exponent.
Studies on lamb hypothermia using a model lamb

Abstract A thermostatically controlled piece of equipment was developed which measured the rate of heat loss to the environment. The equipment was used to produce an equation which related ambient temperature, rainfall, windspeed, and light intensity (which was used as a measure of solar radiation) to heat loss from the model. In the future this equation could be used on a regional basis to help predict the risk of lamb hypothermia at lambing time according to the anticipated weather conditions. The model was also used for assessing the saving in heat loss provided by a commercially available insulating cover, and by a tree shelterbelt.
Direct Evidence of Graphene‐Induced Molecular Reorientation in Polymer Films

For the first time, direct evidence of graphene‐induced molecular reorientation in polymer films using polarization modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS) is presented. By creating favorable electrostatic interactions, graphene–polymer interfaces can be controlled by varying polymer and solvent composition. After transfer of unmodified graphene from copper onto a polymer substrate, polymer chain rearrangement relative to the orientation at the polymer‐copper interfaces is observed using PM‐IRRAS. Transfer success is characterized using both optical transmission measurements and Raman spectroscopy to quantify the transfer fidelity, that is, graphene coverage fraction. Taken together, oxygen‐containing poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) shows more polymer chain rearrangement and better graphene coverage compared to oxygen‐free polyethylene. Polymer composition seems to dominate graphene–polymer interactions while solvent choice has a smaller effect on transfer quality. These results are the first direct measurement of this effect and point toward the possibility of engineering graphene–polymer interactions for specific applications.
Intelligent Risk Assessment of Banking Services in the Transition to a Digital Economy Using the Example of Banks in Tajikistan

The digitalization of the banking sector, which consists of the use of digital tools in banking services, takes banks and other financial institutions to a new level of development. The most important component of digital technologies is intelligent model that reduce the role of people in making various decisions in any banking activity. Risk assessment in the provision of banking services to a client is the most important business process of any commercial bank. The problem of assessing the quality of the borrower in the context of digitalization of the activities of financial institutions goes to a different level, as traditional sources of customer data become insufficient. As part of this work, it is proposed to build a digital model for assessing the class of the borrower, on the one hand, based on fuzzy management technologies, and on the other, on data mining using the SAP cloud system. The proposed model allows you to rank borrowers by quality, distributing them by class. The article shows the economic efficiency of the constructed integrated model based on the data of the commercial bank of the Republic of Tajikistan.