Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of a radiation dose in gamma-ray irradiation fields on holographic gratings formed by liquid crystal composites

The radiation resistance of liquid crystal diffraction gratings was investigated using a cobalt 60 gamma radiation source until the radiation reached a total dose of 1000 Mrad, corresponding to a very severe amount of radiation. The optical properties of gratings exposed to gamma-ray radiation were discussed with internal observations such as polarization optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The radiation resistance of liquid crystal diffraction gratings for gamma-ray irradiation has been explained by associating the optical characteristic measurements for liquid crystal composite materials, including a glass substrate, by analyzing the internal volume grating structure. The radiation resistance for anisotropic diffraction in the HPDLC grating has been explained by the modulation of the LC orientation in the polymer network configuration affected by the gamma-ray irradiation.
Large-Scale Staphylococcus aureus Foodborne Disease Poisoning Outbreak among Primary School Children

A large-scale food poisoning outbreak happened at a school canteen in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, in 2018, resulting in the hospitalization of 352 students with clinical symptoms indicative of a staphylococcal food poisoning. A subsequent laboratory investigation detected Staphylococcus aureus in two food items—deep-fried shrimp and chicken floss—at up to 103 CFU/mL, and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in chicken floss at ≥0.211 ng SEs/g. S. aureus was also isolated from patients’ vomit and stool samples, and kitchen workers’ stool samples, as well as in frozen chicken meat, but not on the kitchen workers’ hand surfaces, suggesting the cause of this food poisoning outbreak was S. aureus contamination of the chicken meat. Molecular characterization revealed the S. aureus strains isolated from all samples were closely related; all belonged to sequence type (ST) ST6 and spa type t701 and carried both sea and sec genes. This SE-producing strain was resistant to penicillin and tetracycline, while still susceptible to oxacillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, methicillin, and vancomycin. Since S. aureus food poisonings are often underreported, our investigation added to the sparse qualitative and quantitative data of pathogenic S. aureus monitoring and surveillance in Vietnam, providing needed knowledge to guide preventative measures for future outbreaks.
Cloning and Expression of Levansucrase Gene of Bacillus velezensis BM-2 and Enzymatic Synthesis of Levan

Levan is a versatile and valuable fructose homopolymer, and a few bacterial strains have been found to produce levan. Although levan products have numerous specific functions, their application and promotion were limited by the production capacity and production cost. Bacillus velezensis BM-2 is a levan-synthesizing strain, but its levan production is too low to apply. In this study, the levansucrase gene of B. velezensis BM-2 was cloned to plasmid pET-32a-Acma-zz, and the recombinant plasmids were transferred to Escherichia coli BL21. A transformed clone was selected to express and secrete the fusion enzymes with an Acma-tag efficiently. The expressed products were further purified by a self-developed separating material called bacterial enhancer matrix (BEM) particles. The purification efficiency was 93.4%, with a specific activity of 16.589 U/mL protein. The enzymatic reaction results indicated that the optimal reaction temperature is 50 °C, the optimal pH of the acetate buffer is 5.6, and the buffer system greatly influenced the enzyme activity. The enzyme activity was enhanced to 130% in the presence of 5 mM Ca2+, K+, Zn2+, and Mn2+, whereas it was almost abolished in the case of Cu2+ and Fe3+. The values of Km, kcat, and kcat/Km were 17.41 mM, 376.83 s−1, and 21.64 mM−1s−1, respectively. The enzyme amount of 20 U/g sucrose was added to the system containing 400 g/L sucrose, and the levan products with a concentration of 120 g/L reached after an incubation of 18 h, which was 8 times that of the yield before optimization. The results of molecular docking analysis indicated that the Asp86 might act as a nucleophilic catalytic residue for sucrose, Arg246 and Asp247 act as transition state stabilizer of transfructosylation, and Glu340 and Arg306 were recognized as general acid donors. They formed the catalytic-groups triad. The unique properties and catalytic activity of the levansucrase suggest that it deserves further research and might have good industrial application prospects.
Sustainability in higher education: what is happening in Pakistan?

Purpose Sustainability in higher education has gained the attention of researchers and academia; however, there is still a need to explore and assess it from different perspectives that are unexplored. This study aims to evaluate and report sustainability and sustainable development in the higher education sector of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach There are 195 recognized and registered degree awarding institutes in Pakistan. A survey-based study was designed using self-administered questionnaires distributed among the deans of 145 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) using a simple random sampling technique. Responses were recorded using five-point Likert scale. In this study, 74 HEIs participated while 69 responses were complete in all respects and used for data analysis. Responses were recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings The results show little evidence of sustainability in all areas of HEIs (including; curriculum, research, faculty, stakeholder’s engagement and governance). Sustainability of campus (operations) was evident and, to a certain extent, apparent in outreach activities. The core objective of HEIs is teaching and research, however, HEIs in Pakistan have yet to accommodate sustainability in these core areas. Sustainability in HEIs of Pakistan is in the preliminary and the introductory stage. For the attainment of sustainability in HEIs, comprehensive planning and internal governance are required. Research limitations/implications This study was based on a survey to report the overall situation of sustainability in Pakistan’s HEIs. Therefore, it has the limitation of being a descriptive study. Nevertheless, this study contributed to the body of knowledge by reporting sustainability practices from the Pakistani context. This study helped identify critical aspects of sustainability that require the attention of both regulatory authority and top management. Originality/value This is a comprehensive study based on extensive research survey techniques to present and report sustainability in higher education in Pakistan. The data collected represents the major HEIs in Pakistan and has contributed to the body of knowledge by presenting the contemporary and contextual situation of sustainability in HEIs of Pakistan.
Mid-infrared spectral responsivity scale based on an absolute cryogenic radiometer and a tunable quantum cascade laser

The spectral optical radiant power of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) in the (7.35–10.6) µm spectral range has been measured using a Y-shape absolute cryogenic radiometer (ACR). The spectral responsivity (SR) of a transfer detector based on an integrating-sphere-coupled mercury-cadmium-telluride (IS-MCT) photoconductive detector has been calibrated. The optical radiant power of the QCL can be adjusted and stabilized in the range of (0.035–0.6) mW. The relative uncertainty of the ACR-based optical radiant power measurement was evaluated to be 0.023%–0.04% (k = 1). The relative uncertainty of the SR calibration of the IS-MCT transfer detector was analyzed to be 0.097%–0.16% (k = 1). The spectral range for the SR calibration can be extended to cover (3–12) µm using commercially available QCLs.
The importance of data revisions for statistical inference

The aim of the study is a quantitative analysis of revisions conducted by means of a new, real-time macroeconomic dataset for Poland, designed on the basis of the Statistical bulletin (Biuletyn statystyczny) published by Statistics Poland, covering the period from as early as 1995 until 2017. Polish data have positively verified a number of hypotheses concerning the impact of data revisions on the modelling process. Procedures assessing the properties of time series can yield widely discrepant results, depending on the extent to which the applied data have been revised. A comparison of the fitted ARIMA models for series of initial and final data demonstrates that the fitted models are similar for the majority of variables. In the cases where the form of the model is identical for both series, the coefficients retain their scale and sign. Most differences between coefficients result from a different structure of the fitted model, which causes differences in the autoregressive structure and can have a considerable impact on the ex ante inference. A prognostic experiment confirmed these observations. For a large number of variables, the total impact of revisions on the forecasting process exceeds 10%. Extreme cases, where the impact goes beyond 100%, or situations where data have a direct impact on the forecast sign, are also relatively frequent. Taking these results into account by forecasters could significantly improve the quality of their predictions. The forecast horizon has a minor impact on these conclusions. The article is a continuation of the author's work from 2017.
Cation distribution and magnetic structure of M-type BaTiMnFe10O19 examined by synchrotron X-ray and neutron studies

Combinational studies of synchrotron X-rays and neutrons have been performed to determine the site occupancy, valence state and magnetic structure of M-type BaTiMnFe10O19. X-ray resonant scattering studies have revealed the site preference, where Ti and Mn ions are distributed evenly over the Fe1, Fe2 and Fe3 sites of five independent Fe sites. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) results for BaTiMnFe10O19 are similar to those of BaFe12O19 at the Fe K absorption edge. Clear chemical shifts exist at both the Mn and Fe edges, suggestive of a mixed valence of Mn and Fe ions. The Mn K XANES resembles Mn–Zn ferrite, where the observed fourfold peak is explained as the presence of four-coordinated Mn ions, on the basis of the self-consistent calculation of relativistic density functional theory. This can be explained by the presence of spinel substructures within the S block layer. Satellite reflections of 002 ± τ and 004 − τ (τ = 2/3) on 00l were observed at a temperature of 8 K in neutron powder diffraction, due to magnetic scattering on the helicoidal arrangement of ordered spins with a propagation period of c/τ. The magnetic structure observed in the neutron powder diffraction and the XMCD results explain the decreasing uniaxial magnetization from BaFe12O19.
Resilience capacities and management control systems in public sector organisations

Purpose – Inspite of the attention resilience receives in relation to public policy and public management, very few studies have analysed the internal mechanics of public sector organisations to see what is producing their resilience. Considering management control systems (MCSs) as the drivers of organisational change, this paper aims to explore their role as determinants of resilience in the public sector. The paper attempts to open the black box of organisational functioning focusing on one complex component. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopted a qualitative approach for this longitudinal case study. This paper used a mix of primary and secondary sources in terms of direct observation, semistructured interviews and internal document analysis. This paper used a framework drawing on Barbera et al. (2017) and management control’s constraining and facilitating concepts to explore how anticipatory and coping capacities of resilience are supported and reinforced byMCSs. Findings – Findings suggest that MCSs support adaptive behaviour and assist decision-making by providing knowledge and ready-to-use answers to cope with external shocks. However, this is found in case of the adoption of facilitating MCSs, which empower managers and employees and are based on stewardship roles. In such a context, MCSs played an essential role in shaping anticipatory and coping capacities. At the same time, financial shocks fostered the investment in MCSs, cyclically strengthening or developing new anticipatory and coping capacities. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first attempting to identify how facilitating MCSs, as a driver of organisational change, can make an organisation more resilient. It shows how resilience capacities are generated and strengthened viaMCSs.
Quality of Croatian Inland Bathing Areas: Reference to The Region and EU

Introduction: The Republic of Croatia (HR) has significantly invested in monitoring the quality of inland bathing areas during the past 10 years. The aim of this paper was to analyze the results obtained during the 2014-2019 period and to compare them with the Region (non-European Union [EU] countries neighboring Croatia) and EU. Moreover, bathing water quality data at two bathing areas of Zagreb (lakes Jarun and Bundek) were processed in more detail.Methods: The quality of inland bathing areas in the HR is monitored in five rivers and five lakes in nine Croatian counties; 19 of the 35 monitored sites are located in Zagreb County. Escherichia coli (EC) was determined by EN ISO 9308-3: 1998, while intestinal enterococci (ENT) were defined by EN ISO 7899-2: 2000. Statistical processing of the results was performed using the Microsoft Excel Statistical Package (Redmond, USA) and Statistica 13.5. (Stat.Sof.Inc., Tulsa, USA); the significance level was set to p < 0.05. Results: During the study period, the worst Croatian inland water quality was recorded in 2019 (excellent quality for only 25.9% of the bathing areas), while the best quality was recorded in 2015 (excellent quality in 57.1%). On average (2014-2019), the share of bathing areas with excellent quality in Croatia was 46.3% (i.e., under the EU average of 85.3%); with no poor locations (EU average was nearly 2%). A significant positive correlation was found between fecal indicators (EC&ENT) and the amount of precipitation, while a negative correlation with water and air temperature in lakes.Conclusions: The quality of Croatian inland bathing areas is significantly lower than the European average, while EU water quality is improving. Regarding the countries bordering Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary have achieved better results, while Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are still in the process of developing the monitoring of the bathing water quality.
Nonparametric detection of changes over time in image data from fluorescence microscopy of living cells

The question whether structural changes in time‐resolved images are of statistical significance or merely emerge from random noise is of great relevance in many practical applications such as live cell fluorescence microscopy, where intracellular diffusion processes are investigated. Using bootstrap‐methods, we construct nonparametric confidence bands for time‐resolved images from fluorescence microscopy and use these to detect and visualize temporal changes between individual frames in imaging of living cells. We model the images frames as two‐dimensional fields of Poisson random variables and provide a strong approximation result for independent and standardized but not necessarily identically distributed Poisson random variables. The latter result is used to derive a limit result for the maximal difference between the reconstructed and the true image. This provides the theoretical foundation of our method. We apply regularization techniques to cope with the ill‐posedness of the convolution problem induced by the imaging system. Our approach provides a criterion to assess time‐resolved small scale structural changes, for example, in the nanometer range. It can also be adopted for use in other imaging systems. Moreover, a data‐driven selection method for the regularization parameter based on statistical multiscale methods is discussed.
How Environmental Awareness and Knowledge Affect Urban Residents’ Willingness to Participate in Rubber Plantation Ecological Restoration Programs: Evidence from Hainan, China

The rapid expansion of rubber plantations in Asian countries has led to various environmental problems. Therefore, local governments are implementing rubber plantation ecological restoration (RPER) programs as an essential solution. However, such programs can be implemented only if residents are intensely involved. Based on a survey of 521 urban households in Hainan Province, China, this study investigates the effect of environmental awareness and knowledge on residents’ willingness to participate in RPER programs. We employ a double-hurdle (DH) model to estimate residents’ participation in two stages. First, we determine whether residents wish to participate or not (PN). Then, we measure residents’ degree of willingness to participate (DWP). The results show that residents’ environmental awareness has a significant positive effect on whether they wish to PN but has no impact on their DWP. By contrast, residents’ environmental knowledge has a significant positive effect on whether they wish to PN and their DWP. The moderating effect shows that residents’ environmental knowledge significantly weakens the positive effects of their environmental awareness on whether they wish to PN. Moreover, residents’ age, educational level, employment, and place of residence substantially influence their DWP. The findings in this study can provide useful insights for policymaking on improving rubber plantation ecosystems.
Quantitative study of the interannual variability of South Asian summer monsoon rainfall regulated by SST

Most of the rainfall over South Asia occurs from June to September, and its variation is strongly related to the fluctuation of sea surface temperature (SST) on a global scale. In this study, we investigate how and to what degree the interannual variance (IAV) of South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) rainfall is regulated by SST anomalies through comparing the multi‐model simulations forced by observed interannual SST variation and climatological SST just with annual cycle. Results indicate that the interannual change in global SST can explain nearly 50% of the IAV of SASM rainfall, in which dynamic process (via atmospheric circulation), instead of thermodynamic process (via water‐vapour effect), plays a dominated role. SST influences the IAV of SASM rainfall mainly through changing the lower‐ and upper‐level atmospheric circulations, namely, the large‐scale vertical wind shears. Additional sensitivity experiments with the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model show that the effect of tropical Pacific SST (~24.0%) is more important than that of tropical Indian Ocean SST (~15.3%) on regulating the IAV of SASM rainfall.
Implementation Strategy and Spatiotemporal Extensibility of Multipredictor Ensemble Model for Water Quality Parameter Retrieval With Multispectral Remote Sensing Data

In previous studies, empirical models have been widely used to map water quality parameters for inland waters using remotely sensed imagery. Due to the complex optical properties of inland waters, empirical models often have limited performances and they cannot be extended or reused across space and time. To overcome the limitations of traditional empirical models, this article further explores the ensemble method for water quality parameter retrieval. Based on the Sentinel-2 multispectral images and extensive coincident in situ water quality data, we examined different implementation strategies and evaluated the extensibility of a multipredictor ensemble model for retrieving chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) across space and time. Our analysis shows that the multipredictor ensemble model can improve the Chl-a prediction accuracy by 46% compared with the best traditional empirical model. Our experiments suggest that the selection of heterogeneous component models improves the performance of the ensemble model and the new iterative $K$ -fold calibration approach results in a considerably better ensemble model than the global calibration approach. To evaluate the spatial extensibility, our ensemble model calibrated for Harsha Lake was applied to Caesar Creek Lake and Brookville Lake. This ensemble model calibrated with the data sets acquired on October 7, 2016 was also applied to Sentinel-2 images of Harsha Lake acquired on October 2, 2017 and August 23, 2018, to evaluate its extensibility for different years. Our evaluation results show that the ensemble model can be transferred and reused across space and time to provide reliable and accurate Chl-a estimates.
Analysis of interactions between finite-sized particles and terminally attached polymer using numerical self-consistent-field theory

Non-specific protein adsorption is known to influence many processes. For example, fouling of food processing equipment or fouling of biomedical implants often occurs because of strong protein adsorption. Protein adsorption on these and other surfaces, such as biomaterials, can however be reduced by attaching polymer chains by one end to the surface. Terminally attached polymer chains have also found application in size-based chromatographic separations. The goal of this thesis is to improve our understanding of the way in which solute molecules interact with terminally attached polymer chains, and to use this knowledge to predict optimum system conditions for minimizing protein adsorption. We develop a numerical selfconsistent-field lattice model, based on an earlier model of Scheutjens and Fleer [1979; 1980], to calculate theoretical results for the polymer density distribution of isolated and interacting chains around a solute particle positioned at a fixed distance from a surface. In addition, the excess energy required to move the particle into the polymer chains (interaction energy) is calculated using a statistical mechanical treatment of the lattice model. The effect of system variables such as particle size, chain length, surface density and interaction parameters on density distributions and interaction energies is also studied. The model is first applied to the compression of a single polymer chain by a disc of finite radius. Results are compared to predictions of a previous scaling thermodynamic model by Subramanian et al. [1995]. We see no first order partial-escape transition as reported by Subramanian et al. Instead, we find that the energy required to compress the chain increases monotonically, becoming independent of chain length at very close compression.
Fourier Transform and Autoregressive HRV Features in Prediction and Classification of Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT The decision making in diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) at the earliest is the necessity to decrease the mortality rate. The 5-minute electrocardiogram of 114 BC subjects and 13 age-matched healthy controls were recorded and spectral features of heart rate variability (HRV) were calculated. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and autoregressive (AR) spectral methods were compared to analyse the frequency domain of HRV. Lavenberg–Marquardt algorithm-based artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM) classified all the spectral measures with maximum accuracy of 54.2% and 100%, respectively. ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD Posthoc test has also been employed to evaluate the significant variations in different parameters due to BC with respect to control subjects with the help of statistical analysis. The FFT and AR results were found almost similar. Clinicians can achieve an insight of the severity of the disease as per the findings of spectral measures as per Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status and improvise the quality of their patients.