Self-Toughened Epoxy Resin via Hybridization of Structural Isomeric Curing Agents.

Fracture toughness is a key property of epoxy resins with a high glass transition temperature (T), used in carbon fiber/epoxy composites for aerospace applications. Conventional toughening methods rely on adding toughening agents, often compromising the processibility and thermal stability. This study introduces a simple self-toughening approach that enhances the fracture toughness without sacrificing other properties by controlling the cured epoxy network structure.

Fecal microbiota and diets of muskox female adults and calves.

In mammals, the gut microbiome is vertically transmitted during maternal lactation at birth. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiome and diets of muskox, a large herbivore inhabiting in the high Arctic. We compared the microbiota composition using bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and diets using stable isotope analysis of muskox feces of six female adults and four calves on Ella Island, East Greenland.