Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced salinities compromise the thermal tolerance of hypersaline specialist diving beetles

Inland saline waters are globally threatened habitats that harbour unique assemblages of specialist invertebrates. In many Mediterranean regions, irrigation associated with intensive agriculture is lowering the salinity of these habitats, resulting in the loss of their specialist biota, although the mechanisms by which reductions in salinity lead to species loss are poorly understood. In the present study, the effects of reduced salinity on the temperature tolerance and thermal acclimatory abilities of two related species of hypersaline water beetles, Nebrioporus baeticus (Schaum) and Nebrioporus ceresyi (Aubé), are explored. Both upper (UTL) and lower thermal limits (LTL) are assessed, and both salinity and temperature are found to influence the thermal biology of Nebrioporus. Mean UTLs are greater in individuals of both species acclimated at high salinities, with salinity appearing to be more important than acclimation temperature in determining UTL. In both taxa, the lowest mean LTLs are recorded in individuals acclimated at the highest salinities and lowest temperatures; temperature‐dependent acclimation is only reported after exposure to relatively high salinities. The data show that salinity influences the thermal tolerance and acclimatory ability of these hypersaline beetles, and that lowered salinity compromises the ability of adult Nebrioporus to cope with both heat and cold. Such an effect may partly explain why specialist species are lost from hypersaline habitats subject to salinity reductions, and suggests that ongoing reduction in salinity may compromise the ability of such specialist taxa to cope with rapid climate change.
From the Department of Microbiology and the Immunology Graduate Program, University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas and the Institute for Immunology and Genetics, German Cancer

Smal l I g M ÷, IgD ÷ B cells can switch to the p roduc t ion of o ther classes (and subclasses) of immunog lobu l in (Ig) (1-4). This switch can be induced by ei ther an t igenic (5, 6) or mi togenic s t imula t ion (7). T h e na tu re of the ant igen (8), the site of an t igen inject ion (9), and the na tu re of the T cell response (8, 10-13) can de te rmine the class of Ig p roduced in vivo. In par t icu la r , the switch in isotype synthesis is re la t ively T cell dependen t (8, 10, 11). Fur the rmore , T cells can influence the subclass of IgG secreted by B cells (12, 13). However , in low densi ty cell cul tures in the presence o f l ipopolysacehar ide (LPS), 1 IgG secretion by mur ine B cells m a y not require T cells (5, 14-17). The re is moun t ing evidence tha t T cel l -derived factors can p ro found ly influence the growth and m a t u r a t i o n of l y m p h o i d cells (18, 19). These factors can be ob t a ined from T cell hybr idomas , lines, and clones. The re are reports (20-25) ind ica t ing tha t subsets of T cells can give isotype specific help, i.e., can enhance the synthesis of a pa r t i cu l a r isotype. It was of interest, therefore, to de te rmine whe ther T cell lines and hyb r idomas p roduced factors tha t affected the isotype p roduced by B cells. In the studies repor ted here we have used B cells s t imula ted by LPS to invest igate the effect of several T cel l -derived superna tan t s on Ig isotype secretion. O u r results suggest the existence of a T cell lymphokine(s) p roduced by a T cell h y b r i d o m a and two T cell lines which can induce B cell different iat ion. In the presence of LPS, this B cell d i f ferent ia t ion factor(s) (BCDF) 2 enhances IgG secretion by surface immunog lobul in (sIgG-) cells and, in par t icu la r , subs tan t ia l ly increases the secretion of IgG1.
On the importance of being moral: The Distinctive role of morality in social judgment

Agency and communion are the core dimensions of social judgment as they indicate whether someone's intentions toward us are beneficial or harmful (i.e., communion), and whether they have the ability to fulfil their intentions (i.e., agency). Recent advances have demonstrated that communion encompasses both sociability (e.g., friendliness, likeability) and morality (e.g., honesty, trustworthiness) characteristics. In this article, we review the emerging literature highlighting that morality and sociability make unique contribution to social judgment and that morality has a primary role in the evaluations we make of individuals and groups. We also consider the evidence showing that morality and sociability play distinct roles in the positive evaluation of the individual and group self-concept. We conclude that future research on social judgment should expand the two-dimensional model to the more specific aspects of communion captured in information about morality and sociability.
Invertébrés Sans Frontières: Large Scales of Connectivity of Selected Freshwater Species among Caribbean Islands

The freshwater fauna (crustaceans, molluscs, fish) of many tropical islands in the Caribbean and Pacific share an amphidromous life‐cycle, meaning their larvae need to develop in saline conditions before returning to freshwater as juveniles. This community dominates the freshwaters of much of the tropics, but is poorly known and at risk from development, in particular dam construction. Amphidromy can theoretically lead to dispersal between different freshwater areas, even to distant oceanic islands, via the sea. The extent and scale of this presumed dispersal, however, is largely unknown in the Caribbean. Recent genetic work in Puerto Rico has shown that many freshwater species have little or no population structure among different river catchments, implying high levels of connectivity within an island, whereas between‐island structure is unknown. We used genetic techniques to infer the geographic scales of population structure of amphidromous invertebrates (a gastropod and a number of crustacean species) between distant parts of the Caribbean, in particular Puerto Rico, Panama and Trinidad. We found virtually no geographic population structure across over 2000 km of open sea for these freshwater species. This implies that they are indeed moving between islands in sea currents as larvae, meaning that continued recruitment requires a continuum of healthy habitat from the freshwater to marine environment. We further discuss the role of amphidromy and suggest its ecological and biogeographic role may be more important than previously presumed.
Positive Personality Features and Stress among First-year University Students: Implications for Psychological Distress, Functional Impairment, and Self-esteem

The transition to college has often been treated as a period that creates considerable stress in the lives of students and it has been found to increase their distress and lower their self-esteem. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether the positive personality features of optimism, hope, and happiness were associated with the levels of psychological distress (i.e., perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety), functional impairment, and self-esteem reported by 217 freshman university students in Israel during the course of their first semester. A three-wave longitudinal study was used to examine whether positive personality features measured during the first week of the semester (Time-1) were associated with subsequent assessments of psychological distress, functional impairment, and self-esteem that took place during the third (Time-2) and fifteenth weeks (Time-3) of the semester. Results indicated a significant increase in distress symptoms and functional impairment during the course of the semester. Further, positive personality features at Time-1 were associated with levels of psychological distress, functional impairment, and self-esteem at Time-3 and these connections were mediated by Time-2 assessments. Moreover, results indicated that psychological distress at Time-2 was associated with greater distress, more functional impairment, and lower self-esteem at Time-3. Discussion will focus on the extent to which positive personality features offer protection from the deleterious consequences of stress and the possibility that psychological distress deteriorates personal resources.
Some Models for Estimating Technical and Scale Inefficiencies in Data Envelopment Analysis

In management contexts, mathematical programming is usually used to evaluate a collection of possible alternative courses of action en route to selecting one which is best. In this capacity, mathematical programming serves as a planning aid to management. Data Envelopment Analysis reverses this role and employs mathematical programming to obtain ex post facto evaluations of the relative efficiency of management accomplishments, however they may have been planned or executed. Mathematical programming is thereby extended for use as a tool for control and evaluation of past accomplishments as well as a tool to aid in planning future activities. The CCR ratio form introduced by Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes, as part of their Data Envelopment Analysis approach, comprehends both technical and scale inefficiencies via the optimal value of the ratio form, as obtained directly from the data without requiring a priori specification of weights and/or explicit delineation of assumed functional forms of relations between inputs and outputs. A separation into technical and scale efficiencies is accomplished by the methods developed in this paper without altering the latter conditions for use of DEA directly on observational data. Technical inefficiencies are identified with failures to achieve best possible output levels and/or usage of excessive amounts of inputs. Methods for identifying and correcting the magnitudes of these inefficiencies, as supplied in prior work, are illustrated. In the present paper, a new separate variable is introduced which makes it possible to determine whether operations were conducted in regions of increasing, constant or decreasing returns to scale in multiple input and multiple output situations. The results are discussed and related not only to classical single output economics but also to more modern versions of economics which are identified with "contestable market theories. "
EFFECT OF REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION ON THE MORPHOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, CARBON ALLOCATION AND NONSTRUCTURAL CARBOHYDRATES OF THREE KENTUCKY BLUEGRASSES

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) has been assessed in a wide number of field and fruit crops. However, few are the studies dealing with turfgrass. This study was conducted to investigate the morphology, physiology and carbon metabolic responses to regulated deficit irrigation for three Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) cultivars. Three Kentucky bluegrass cultivars were grown in PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tubes in a greenhouse and subjected to three soil water treatments in a growth chamber: 1) full irrigation; 2) drought stress, 21 days without water after full irrigation; and 3) drought recovery, stressed plants were re-watered for an additional 21 d. The present study indicated that drought resulted in a decline in turf quality (TQ), leaf relative water content (RWC), and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and an increase in electrolyte leakage (EL) for the cultivars. The turf quality, RWC, and Fv/Fm of the three Kentucky bluegrass cultivars increased with re-watering. The allocation of 14 C increased in the roots of these cultivars during the initial phase of drought stress, where a 14 C distribution shift from the roots to the stem and leaves appeared with further drought stress. Moreover, there was a significant accumulation of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in the leaves and stem. The TNC content in the leaves, stem, and roots did not completely return to the control levels following 21 d of re-watering, which was consistent with the recovery of TQ, RWC, Fv/Fm, and EL. In addition, during the re-watering treatment, the reduction in the TNC content may be due to increases in the demand or usage as a result of a rapid recovery in the growth and physiological activities as shown by increased TQ, RWC, and Fv/Fm and decreased EL. Our results suggested that the changes in the carbon allocation model and the accumulation and storage of TNC, as well as the changes in TQ, RWC, Fv/Fm, and EL, for the three cultivars are an adaptive reaction to drought and re-watering following drought. The accumulation and storage of TNC in plants during severe drought may contribute to the survival of meristematic regions and/or serve as reserves, which contribute to plant re-growth once the drought stress is alleviated. This result suggests that the allocation of carbon assimilates and their accumulation in different organs of turfgrass were a physiological adaptation response to drought and re-watering treatments, thus providing a scientific basis for further investigating the resistance of turfgrass to other adverse environments.
Effect of timing for NPK fertilizer application on flowering and yield of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.).

Off-season longan production needs various techniques to stimulate longan trees to flower, however, if the previous season’s store of N is low it may limit flower development and consequently decrease yield. The aim of the study was to examine effect of timing interval of NPK fertilizer application on longan flowering and yield. The field experiment was conducted at 2 sites in Chanthaburi province, with different soil fertilities, in South-East of Thailand. Application of NPK was made at (1) 0, 5 and 10 days after 2 flushing (DASF); (2) 0, 10 and 20 DASF; and (3) 0, 15 and 30 DASF in a RCBD with 4 replications. Twenty-five branches were labelled at random at the start of the experiment for parameter measurements. Leaf width, leaf length, fresh leaf weight, and concentrations of N, P and K, were determined before flower stimulation. After flower stimulation, percentage of flowering, fruit width, fruit length, fresh fruit weight and total fruit weight per tree were collected. The results showed that leaf growth, flowering percentage, foliar P and K concentrations and fruit weight were not affected by the time of NPK application after the 2 flushing at both sites, even though the level of soil fertility was different. However, at both sites, application of NPK fertilizer up to 30 DASF increased leaf N concentration than when the fertilizer was applied earlier. At site 2, late application of mineral fertilizer resulted in smaller fruit compared to the other treatments. At site 1 however, fruit size was not affected by time of NPK application. Also, site 2 had about 22% more flowering than site 1. It is suggested that fruit size may have been influenced by the timing of maturation of the foliage flush and also the continuity of supply of N into the tree during flower development. Further research is required to better define fertilizer options for longan production off-season.
Core Indicators of Japan's Consumer Price Index

The primary objective of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) in conducting monetary policy is to promote sustainable growth by achieving price stability. The price stability that needs to be achieved is regarded as not just short-term and temporary, but sustainable in the medium to long term, which is the common understanding among major central banks. To fulfill this mandate, the BOJ is required to identify the underlying trend of inflation by excluding various idiosyncratic disturbances from measured price developments in price indexes. This paper examines the effects of idiosyncratic disturbances on Japan's consumer price index (CPI), computes several core indicators to capture the underlying trend of inflation, and compares their performances. Empirical evidence reveals that the CPI excluding fresh food and 10-percent trimmed mean show somewhat better performances than other indicators in terms of tracking the underlying trend of inflation and forecasting the future direction of headline inflation. In examining consumer price developments, it is thus deemed important to monitor various indicators, including the CPI excluding fresh food that has drawn most of the focus. This enables us to identify the underlying trend of inflation by capturing the nature and size of idiosyncratic disturbances behind consumer price dynamics.
Focused Attention Meditation Training : Immediate Impact

Background. There is increasing interest in brief, online training in mind-body skills to improve resilience in health professionals. Methods. We analyzed data from an online training program in focused attention meditation. Resilience, relaxation, stress, positive and negative affect, and flourishing were measured before and after training using standardized scales. Results. The 379 participants included nurses (31%), physicians (21%), social workers and psychologists (10%), and others (38%). At baseline, participants reported high levels of stress (mean 16.7 compared with population norms of 12-14). Completing modules was associated with small but significant improvements in relaxation, resilience, stress, positive and negative affect, and flourishing (P <. 01 for all) Conclusion. Online focused attention meditation training reaches diverse health professionals and is associated with improvements in relaxation, resilience, stress, affect, and flourishing. Additional research is warranted to compare the long-term costeffectiveness of different amounts and types of mind-body training on clinician burnout and quality of care.
Recent changes in California condor eggshells

The entire population of the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) probably contains fewer than 50 individuals (Wilbur 1976, 1978). Within its recorded history the species has shown a continual decline in numbers. During the past decade there has been an especially alarming decrease in condor recruitment. Between 1968 and 1975 the entire population averaged only 1.5 young fledged per year with a maximum of two produced any single year (Wilbur 1978). Mortality factors which historically have reduced the condor population (Koford 1953) cannot account for the observed recent de-
Ammonium and maintenance of bloom populations of Alexandrium fundyense in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank: results of laboratory culture experiments

Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense, responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning, occur annually in the Gulf of MaineGeorges Bank region of the northwest Atlantic Ocean and often reach highest cell densities in surface waters depleted of nitrate, sug- gesting a dependence on recycled ammonium. We report here the results of batch culture exper- iments with A. fundyense designed to: (1) describe the kinetics of ammonium uptake and cell growth rates over a range of ammonium concentrations encompassing those observed in the Gulf of MaineGeorges Bank region; (2) compare rates of nitrate and ammonium uptake in the pres- ence of one another; and (3) determine whether growth rates of A. fundyense on ammonium at concentrations observed in the region are sufficient to maintain established bloom populations and the degree to which continued growth of the bloom populations may be sustained by ammo- nium. The resulting half-saturation constant for growth (Ks(g)) on ammonium was 0.93 µM, and the half-saturation constant for ammonium uptake (Ks(N)) was 1.74 µM. The maximum growth rate (μmax) was 0.51 d �1 , and the maximum cell-specific uptake rate (Vmax) was 7.0 × 10 �5 µmol NH4 + -N cell �1 d �1 . Based on these results we show that observed ammonium concentrations in the Gulf of MaineGeorges Bank region during A. fundyense blooms are sufficient to sustain the blooms for extended periods (weeks) and will allow modest continued growth.
Visual trimorphemic compound recognition in a morphographic script

ABSTRACT This lexical decision with eye-tracking study investigated how Japanese trimorphemic compounds (e.g. 体温計 “clinical thermometer”) are recognised. The questions answered were, in the course of decomposing and composing Japanese trimorphemic compounds, (1) whether recognition processes are tuned for a specific branching direction, (2) whether the morphological processing proceeds in a bottom-up combinatorial manner, and (3) whether the three constituents of trimorphemic compounds are equally important and processed serially. Mixed-effects regression analyses of response times and fixation durations revealed that a left-branching advantage appears in a late time frame and that, although there was early processing of the whole compound from the first fixation, a character frequency effect was also observed. Furthermore, the first and the third, but not the second, constituent frequencies contributed to compound recognition. This bathtub-like effect was further supported by corpus-based evidence: the conditional probability for the second constituent is incomparably high.
Antischistosomal and Hepatoprotective Activity of Morus alba Leaves Extract

Abstract. - Schistosomiasis is an important disease in the tropics with huge impact on the socio-economic development of affected regions. The study aimed to investigate the antischistosomal and hepatoprotective activity of Morus alba leaves extract. Mice were allocated to eight groups. Group I served as vehicle control. Groups II, II and IV were gaveged with 100 µl of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg mulberry leaves extract, respectively for 10 days. Groups V, VI, VII and VIII were infected with 100±10 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. On day 46 p.i. with S. mansoni , the animals of group VI, VII and VIIII received 100 µl mulberry extract by gavage once daily for 10 days at a dose of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight, respectively. All mice were sacrificed at day 55 post-infection. Worm recovery and egg counting in the hepatic tissues were determined. S. mansoni was able to induced inflammation and injury of the liver. This was evidenced (i) as increases in granuloma size, (ii) as increased production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, and (iii) as lowered glutathione levels. All these infection-induced parameters were significantly altered during mulberry treatment. Based on these results, it is concluded that mulberry could ameliorate preexisting liver damage and oxidative stress conditions due to schistosomiasis.
Volunteer-Based Online Studies With Older Adults and People with Disabilities

There are few large-scale empirical studies with people with disabilities or older adults, mainly because recruiting participants with specific characteristics is even harder than recruiting young and/or non-disabled populations. Analyzing four online experiments on LabintheWild with a total of 355,656 participants, we show that volunteer-based online experiments that provide personalized feedback attract large numbers of participants with diverse disabilities and ages and allow robust studies with these populations that replicate and extend the findings of prior laboratory studies. To find out what motivates people with disabilities to take part, we additionally analyzed participants' feedback and forum entries that discuss LabintheWild experiments. The results show that participants use the studies to diagnose themselves, compare their abilities to others, quantify potential impairments, self-experiment, and share their own stories -- findings that we use to inform design guidelines for online experiment platforms that adequately support and engage people with disabilities.