Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-performance bismaleimide resins with low cure temperature for resin transfer molding process

High-performance bismaleimide resin systems (here coined LBMI resin series) based on 4,4-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane, 2,4-bismaleimidotoluene, bisphenol A bisallyl ether, 4,4′-bis[2-(1-propenyl)phenoxy]benzophenone, 2-allylphenol, and cumene hydroperoxide for resin transfer molding (RTM) process with low cure and post-cure temperatures (≦180°C) have been developed. Considering the optimum formulation conditions, the injection temperature is in the range of 70–160°C, and the pot life at 100°C is determined to be approximately 100 min. After curing at 180°C for 6 h, the resins exhibit high thermal resistances, excellent mechanical properties, and exceptionally low dielectric loss. Among others, these findings render the materials suitable for the use as high-performance resins for the production of advanced composites via RTM technique and with low cure temperatures.
Metabarcoding of insect-associated fungal communities: a comparison of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large-subunit (LSU) rRNA markers

﻿Abstract Full taxonomic characterisation of fungal communities is necessary for establishing ecological associations and early detection of pathogens and invasive species. Complex communities of fungi are regularly characterised by metabarcoding using the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and the Large-Subunit (LSU) gene of the rRNA locus, but reliance on a single short sequence fragment limits the confidence of identification. Here we link metabarcoding from the ITS2 and LSU D1-D2 regions to characterise fungal communities associated with bark beetles (Scolytinae), the likely vectors of several tree pathogens. Both markers revealed similar patterns of overall species richness and response to key variables (beetle species, forest type), but identification against the respective reference databases using various taxonomic classifiers revealed poor resolution towards lower taxonomic levels, especially the species level. Thus, Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) could not be linked via taxonomic classifiers across ITS and LSU fragments. However, using phylogenetic trees (focused on the epidemiologically important Sordariomycetes) we placed OTUs obtained with either marker relative to reference sequences of the entire rRNA cistron that includes both loci and demonstrated the largely similar phylogenetic distribution of ITS and LSU-derived OTUs. Sensitivity analysis of congruence in both markers suggested the biologically most defensible threshold values for OTU delimitation in Sordariomycetes to be 98% for ITS2 and 99% for LSU D1-D2. Studies of fungal communities using the canonical ITS barcode require corroboration across additional loci. Phylogenetic analysis of OTU sequences aligned to the full rRNA cistron shows higher success rate and greater accuracy of species identification compared to probabilistic taxonomic classifiers.
Assessing the use of frozen pork meat in the manufacture of cooked ham

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of slow (–18 °C) and fast freezing (liquid nitrogen) of pork meat, and the use of exudate released upon thawing, on the physicochemical, color, rheological, microbiological, histological, and sensory characteristics of cooked ham. The meat samples were frozen at –18 °C and thawed after 22 weeks for the production of cooked ham. No significant difference was observed regarding physicochemical, color and microbiological parameters or in sensory acceptance. The hardness and chewiness parameters showed significant differences when compared to the control sample (ham made from chilled meat). Light microscopy of cooked ham samples showed that changes in the tissues were caused by freezing and thawing the meat. The effect of exudate was significant on the sodium content and compression force parameters, but this difference was not perceived in the sensory analysis, confirming that frozen pork meat can be used to produce cooked ham without loss of quality.
Looking for ‘Voice’ in Business and Citizen Groups: Who’s Being Heard?

Why do some associations provide members with an effective voice whereas others appear to have internal democracy in name only? We theoretically combine population ecology with Hirschman’s strategic response model. This leads us to hypothesize that in dense, competitive organizational environments, the effective alternatives available make it likely that dissatisfied members respond with exit rather than voice. However, in low-dense, monopoly-like situations dissatisfied members demand and receive effective voice options. We further hypothesize that the particular sets of incentives of firms and individuals as members moderates this effect. We assess our argument on the basis of the Comparative Interest Group elite survey among interest group leaders in five European countries and at the EU level. We control for the level of professionalization and use country dummies to identify country-level differences. We find strong empirical support for our theoretical argument. The contribution of this article is to theoretically connect macro-level population-level factors to micro-level intra-organizational processes and specifies the nature of the organizational link between interests in society and those represented in the interest group system.
Plantations on Forest Gaps and Edges Disturbs the Ecology of Threatened Understory Flora: A Case of Critically Endangered Gentiana Kurroo

Background: Within biodiversity hotspots, forest habitats have been disproportionately reduced and conservation efforts are insufficient, making restoration ventures extremely important. However, the impacts of restoration efforts on native threatened understory biodiversity residing in forest gaps and open edges have been seldom investigated. The current study attempts to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the ecology of a critically endangered understory plant namely Gentiana kurroo, across different successional stages of forest plantations including, open grassland (OG), 3-5-year-old plantation (YP), 5-15-year-old plantation (OP) and a mature forest (MF). Results: The highest population of the species was observed in OG, followed by YP, OP and MF. The regeneration was blocked by the plantation as evidenced by a ‘poor’ status in MF and OP, ‘fair’ at the YP and was ‘good’ only at OG. With an increase in canopy openness, the number of regenerating individuals increased, indicating the negative effect of the closed canopy on regeneration. The ordination projections show that the species density responds negatively with the stand basal area of the woody layer, litter depth, and tree density, but responds positively with soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and reduction in the plantation. Conclusion: The present study suggests that plantations are more likely to benefit when established on degraded land rather than a replacement of the natural ecosystems, though those systems were initially forested or not. The results have significant implications in designing forest restoration programs, particularly on sites with a high diversity of threatened understory species. Thus, we propose that the forest restoration projects should be designed in a way that favours sensitive understory species without compromising the supply of timber and other non-timber forest products.
On the Symbol Error Probability of STBC-NOMA with Timing Offsets and Imperfect Successive Interference Cancellation

Due to the ability to handle a large number of users, low latency, and high data rates, NON-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is considered a promising access technology for next-generation communication systems. However, as the number of users increases, each user experiences a greater number of successive interference cancellations (SIC), causing the system’s performance to decline. With the increase in the number of users, the fraction of power allocated to each user becomes smaller. Cooperative communication in downlink NOMA is considered as a potential approach to enhance the reliability, capacity, and performance over wireless channels. Space-time block code (STBC)-aided cooperative NOMA (CNOMA) offers an opportunity to improve the weak users’ signal-to-interference-plus-noise (SINR) through strong user cooperation. In this paper, we study the symbol error probability (SEP) performance of the STBC-NOMA and derive the asymptotic expression for SEP when the network is impaired with imperfect SIC (ipSIC) and timing offsets. The simulation results show that the performance of STBC-NOMA was degraded significantly with an increase in the imperfection of SIC and timing errors and that traditional orthogonal access schemes, such as orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA), should be used after a threshold SIC level.
Wave-Modified Ekman Current Solutions for the Time-Dependent Vertical Eddy Viscosity

This study aimed to highlight a general lack of clarity regarding the scale of the temporal averaging implicit in Ekman-type models. Under the assumption of time and depth-dependent eddy viscosity, we present an analytical Fourier series solution for a wave-modified Ekman model. The depth dependence of eddy viscosity is based on the K-Profile Parameterization (KPP) scheme. The solution reproduces major characteristics of diurnal variation in ocean velocity and shear. Results show that the time variability in eddy viscosity leads to an enhanced mean current near-surface and a decrease in the effective eddy viscosity, which finally results in an intensified near-surface shear and wakes a low-level jet flow. Rectification values are dominated by the strength of diurnal mixing, and partly due to the nonlinear depth dependence of the eddy viscosity.
Organic Micropollutants in Effluent Recharge to Groundwater

Groundwater pollution by organic material derived from the recharge of raw, untreated sewage effluent has been studied at the sewage treatment works at Whitchurch in Hampshire. This organic investigation consisted of two parts; the validation of the sampling and analytical techniques and the field investigation. Sampling points for the survey included open boreholes lined with uPVC or mild steel as well as specially designed buried in-situ groundwater samplers of uPVC or stainless steel construction. Laboratory leaching tests show significant pollution of sampled water by nylon and uPVC components and indicate that all plastics must be avoided in sample point construction. The in-situ samplers with stainless steel bodies and PTFE sampling tubes proved satisfactory. The organic field survey showed that the organic pollution plume is coincident with the inorganic plume from the effluent recharge site. The total organic content of the effluent is reduced through infiltration; 85 per cent is removed in the unsaturated zone and a further 14 per cent during 300 m of lateral flow. The number of organic compounds at significant concentrations also is greatly reduced through infiltration. The most persistent micropollutant identified as coming solely from the sewage is dichlorobenzene which is present at about 9 µg/l below the recharge lagoons and 1 µg/l in the pollution plume 300 m from the site.
Deep Learning-Based Spreading Sequence Design and Active User Detection for Massive Machine-Type Communications

In this letter, we propose a deep learning-based spreading sequence design and active user detection (AUD) to support massive machine-type communications (mMTC) where a large number of devices access the base station using non-orthogonal spreading sequences. To design the whole communications system minimizing AUD error, we employ an end-to-end deep neural network (DNN) where the spreading network models the transmitter side and the AUD network estimates active devices. By using the AUD error as a loss function, network parameters including the spreading sequences are learned to minimize the AUD error. Numerical results reveal that the spreading sequences obtained from the proposed approach achieve higher AUD performance than the conventional spreading sequences in the compressive sensing-based AUD schemes, as well as in the proposed AUD scheme.
Warm High‐Elevation Mid‐Latitudes During the Miocene Climatic Optimum: Paleosol Clumped Isotope Temperatures From the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA

Interrupting a long‐term Cenozoic cooling trend, the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO; ca. 17–15 Ma) represents a time interval characterized globally by warmer than present temperatures, lower ice volume, and elevated pCO2 levels. Establishing quantitative Neogene temperature estimates is an important element in the effort to explore the long‐term changes in the carbon cycle and associated climate feedbacks, yet terrestrial temperature records are still sparse. Here, we present a clumped isotope (Δ47) temperature record of the MCO from intermontane basins in the Northern Rocky Mountain (NRM) region. Arikareean (22.7–21.5 Ma) to Barstovian (16.9–14.7 Ma) paleosol carbonates from the Hepburn's Mesa Formation (Montana), supplemented with data from fossil localities in western Idaho. These records yield Δ47‐temperatures ranging from 17°C to 24°C, which are rather warm given the high elevation sites and are further relatively stable (mean of 21 ± 2°C) leading into and during the MCO until ca. 14.7 Ma. At ca. 14.7 Ma, we observe low Δ47‐temperatures (8°C–10°C) concomitantly with elevated Δ47‐temperatures (ca. 22°C). In line with recently suggested climate stability in the NRM region leading into the MCO, our Δ47‐temperature record, combined with carbon isotope (δ13C) and reconstructed soil water oxygen isotope (δ18Osw) values, indicates rather stable climate and environmental conditions throughout the MCO. Combining available records from inland sites in the western United States (NRM, Mojave region) points to prevailing stable continental climates even during the MCO.
The Evolution of New Party Systems: Voter Learning and Electoral Systems

How do new party systems evolve over time? This article argues that party system evolution requires the solution of coordination problems that voters face in early elections; this happens through a learning mechanism. Elections reveal information to voters, who update their beliefs about party viability and the distribution of voters’ preferences and adjust their behaviour. The institutional setting, however, strongly conditions the pace of learning. Restrictive electoral systems (single-member district) accelerate learning through the harsh penalties they impose on miscoordination, while permissive ones (proportional representation) prolong it. Testing the argument on a district-level dataset in new democracies provides ample support; voters learn to cast fewer wasted votes over time and this happens faster in single-member district systems. The findings point to a trade-off between consolidation and representation; while party system evolution is facilitated by restrictive electoral systems, the presence of distinct social groups in the political arena is better served by permissive ones.
Antioxidant, Total Phenolics, Free Radical Scavenging and Preliminary Cytotoxicity Studies of Ophiorrhiza mungos

The antioxidant activity of methanol extract of whole plant of Ophiorrhiza mungos (L) and its petroleum ether, carbon tetrachloride, dichloromethane and aqueous soluble partitionates was evaluated by analyzing the bleaching rate of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant assay using butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid (ASA) as standard antioxidants. The total phenolic content was also determined by using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and expressed in gallic acid equivalent (mg of GAE/g of sample). The result showed that the dichloromethane soluble fraction demonstrated the presence of highest amount of phenolic compounds (70.20±0.05 mg GAE/g of sample) and also revealed significant antioxidant activity (IC 50 8.50±0.85 µg/ml). A positive correlation was observed between the total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity of O. mungos having correlation coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.9398. The general toxicity of the extractive was studied by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and from the results (LC 50 0.474 -2.204 µg/ml), it can be well predicted that the crude extract and the Kupchan partitionates possessed cytotoxic principles as demonstrated by considerable toxic potencies.
Engineering of Viruses and Pathogens for Gain-of-Function Research

1 Executive Vice President, DHR Health, 5501 S. McColl Road, Edinburg, Texas 78539 and President & Chief Executive Officer, DHR Health Institute for Research & Development, 5323 S. McColl Road, Edinburg, Texas 78539. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5027-9992 2 Correspondence should be addressed to: Sohail Rao, MD, MA, DPhil. , DHR Health Institute for Research & Development, 5323 S. McColl Road, Edinburg, Texas 78539. Tel: (956) 362-2387. E-mail: s.rao@dhr-rgv.com 3 Chief Executive Officer, DHR Health, 5501 S. McColl Road, Edinburg Tx 78539 ORCID: Manish Singh: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4146-3282
Changes in Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization in Soil Organic Matter Under High CO2 Concentrations

To investigate the effects of different organic materials on soil organic carbon accumulation and carbon and nitrogen mineralization under different CO2 concentrations, field topsoil was used as the test soil and chicken manure, cow manure, and straw were mixed with soil samples as organic materials. The changes in organic carbon, carbon and nitrogen mineralization, and utilization of carbon sources by soil microorganisms were measured under high CO2 (800–1000 ppm) and low CO2 (400–500 ppm) concentrations. The results showed that adding organic material to soil can accelerate the mineralization of organic carbon and reduce the mineralization of nitrogen. While the addition of chicken manure and cow manure reduced the content of total organic carbon and active organic carbon in soil, straw increased the content of total organic carbon and active organic carbon in soil and reduced carbon utilization by the soil microbial community. Collectively, our findings revealed that, under high CO2 concentrations, adding organic material to soil can accelerate the mineralization of organic carbon and reduce the mineralization of nitrogen.
An Improved Approach of Incomplete Information Fusion and Its Application in Sensor Data-Based Fault Diagnosis

The Dempster–Shafer evidence theory has been widely used in the field of data fusion. However, with further research, incomplete information under the open world assumption has been discovered as a new type of uncertain information. The classical Dempster’s combination rules are difficult to solve the related problems of incomplete information under the open world assumption. At the same time, partial information entropy, such as the Deng entropy is also not applicable to deal with problems under the open world assumption. Therefore, this paper proposes a new method framework to process uncertain information and fuse incomplete data. This method is based on an extension to the Deng entropy in the open world assumption, negation of basic probability assignment (BPA), and the generalized combination rule. The proposed method can solve the problem of incomplete information under the open world assumption, and obtain more uncertain information through the negative processing of BPA, which improves the accuracy of the results. The results of applying this method to fault diagnosis of electronic rotor examples show that, compared with the other uncertain information processing and fusion methods, the proposed method has wider adaptability and higher accuracy, and is more conducive to practical engineering applications.
Perception of French wine buyers regarding environmental issues in wine production

ABSTRACT Increased consumer concern for the environment has motivated winegrowers to adopt more environmentally friendly practices in their vineyards, such as agroecological measures. Thanks to a 2016 French ministerial decree, these measures can now be included in the specifications of wine appellations. However, little is known about consumer perceptions on this topic. The main objective of this research was thus to analyze consumers’ perceptions of environmental issues in wine production, specifically with respect to a selection of agroecological measures in the vineyard. A national survey with 1022 respondents was conducted online in July 2019, and the factors that influenced perceptions were identified using an analysis of variance. The environmental issue of highest concern for consumers was the use of pesticides. However, the majority of the measures selected were perceived as having a positive impact on the environment. Practices aimed at improving biodiversity – such as the preservation of low walls and nest boxes, the establishment of trees, or sodding between parcels – were highly valued by consumers. This research demonstrates that, in order for winemakers to reap the maximum benefit from the implementation of environmentally friendly practices, effective communication of such practices to consumers is crucial.
A compact 100 GHz femtojoule silicon-organic hybrid modulator based on a novel Mach–Zehnder interferometer design

In this paper, a high-speed, low-power and compact silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) modulator operating at the telecom wavelength is presented. The modulator is based on the mature and widespread silicon-on-insulator technology with a device layer of 220 nm. The proposed design utilizes a slot waveguide in a loop-terminated Mach–Zehnder interferometer (LT-MZI) configuration. The LT-MZI is twice as compact as the conventional MZI. Accordingly, the LT-MZI modulator exhibits a reduction in capacitance by a factor of two, which subsequently enhances the modulator speed and power consumption by a factor of two. An electro-optic polymer is used as it exhibits fast and strong electro-optic effects. Finite element and finite difference simulations show that for a driving voltage of only 0.5 V our modulator arms’ length is as low as 167 µm resulting in a Vπ × L product of only 0.084 V mm, 10.41 fF capacitance and up to 100 GHz speed with corresponding energy consumption of only 6.755 fJ bit−1. Results based on 3D finite difference time domain simulation show that our modulator can work over a large optical bandwidth of 60 nm with an extinction ratio (ER) greater than 23 dB and insertion loss (IL) less than 1.7 dB, reaching ER = 40 dB and IL = 1.15 dB at λ = 1.55 µm.
Interface Converters for Residential Battery Energy Storage Systems: Practices, Difficulties and Prospects

Recent trends in building energy systems such as local renewable energy generation have created a distinct demand for energy storage systems to reduce the influence and dependency on the electric power grid. Under the current market conditions, a range of commercially available residential energy storage systems with batteries has been produced. This paper addresses the area of energy storage systems from multiple directions to provide a broader view on the state-of-the-art developments and trends in the field. Present standards and associated limitations of storage implementation are briefly described, followed by the analysis of parameters and features of commercial battery systems for residential applications. Further, the power electronic converters are reviewed in detail, with the focus on existing and perspective non-isolated solutions. The analysis covers well-known standard topologies, including buck-boost and bridge, as well as emerging solutions based on the unfolding inverter and fractional/partial power converters. Finally, trends and future prospects of the residential battery storage technologies are evaluated.