Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A biogeographical profile of the sand cockroach Arenivaga floridensis and its bearing on origin hypotheses for Florida scrub biota

Abstract Florida scrub is a xeric ecosystem associated with the peninsula's sand ridges, whose intermittent Pliocene–Pleistocene isolation is considered key to scrub endemism. One scrub origin hypothesis posits endemics were sourced by the Pliocene dispersal of arid‐adapted taxa from southwestern North America; a second invokes Pleistocene migration within eastern North America. Only one study to date has explicitly tested these competing hypotheses, supporting an eastern origin for certain scrub angiosperms. For further perspective, we conducted a genetic analysis of an endemic arthropod, the Florida sand cockroach (Arenivaga floridensis), with two aims: (1) to reconstruct the peninsular colonization and residence history of A. floridensis and (2) determine whether its biogeographic profile favors either origin hypothesis. We sequenced the cox2 mitochondrial gene for 237 specimens (65 populations) as well as additional loci (cox1, nuclear H3) for a subset of Florida roaches and congeners. Using Network and Bayesian inference methods, we identified three major lineages whose genetic differentiation and phylogeographical structure correspond with late Pliocene peninsula insularization, indicating Arenivaga was present and broadly distributed in Florida at that time. Stem and crown divergence estimates (6.36 Ma; 2.78 Ma) between A. floridensis and western sister taxa span a period of extensive dispersal by western biota along an arid Gulf Coast corridor. These phylogeographical and phylogenetic results yield a biogeographic profile consistent with the western origin hypothesis. Moreover, age estimates for the roach's peninsular residence complement those of several other endemics, favoring a Pliocene (or earlier) inception of the scrub ecosystem. We argue that eastern versus western hypotheses are not mutually exclusive; rather, a composite history of colonization involving disparate biotas better explains the diverse endemism of Florida scrub.
The CarboCount CH sites: characterization of a dense greenhouse gas observation network

Abstract. We describe a new rural network of four densely placed ( The Beromunster measurements are made on a tall tower (212 m) located on a gentle hill. At Beromunster, regional CO2 signals (measurement minus background) vary diurnally from −4 to +4 ppmv, on average, and are simulated to come from nearly the entire Swiss Plateau, where 50 % of surface influence is simulated to be within 130–260 km distance. The Fruebuel site measurements are made 4 m above ground on the flank of a gently sloping mountain. Nearby ( We find that the suitability of the data sets from our current observation network for regional carbon budgeting studies largely depends on the ability of the high-resolution (2 km) atmospheric transport model to correctly capture the temporal dynamics of the stratification of the lower atmosphere at the different sites. The current version of the atmospheric transport model captures these dynamics well, but it clearly reaches its limits at the sites in steep topography and at the sites that generally remain in the surface layer. Trace gas transport and inverse modeling studies will be necessary to determine the impact of these limitations on our ability to derive reliable regional-scale carbon flux estimates in the complex Swiss landscape.
Molecular phylogeny of the genus Saguinus (Platyrrhini, Primates) based on the ND1 mitochondrial gene and implications for conservation

The systematics of the subfamily Callitrichinae (Platyrrhini, Primates), a group of small monkeys from South America and Panama, remains an area of considerable discussion despite many investigations, there being continuing controversy over subgeneric taxonomic classifications based on morphological characters. The purpose of our research was to help elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within the monkey genus Saguinus (Callitrichinae) using a molecular approach to discover whether or not the two different sections containing hairy-faced and bare-faced species are monophyletic, whether Saguinus midas midas and Saguinus bicolor are more closely related than are S. midas midas and Saguinus midas niger, and if Saguinus fuscicollis melanoleucus and Saguinus fuscicollis weddelli really are different species. We sequenced the 957 bp ND1 mitochondrial gene of 21 Saguinus monkeys (belonging to six species and nine morphotypes) and one Cebus monkey (the outgroup) and constructed phylogenetic trees using maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and maximum likelihood methods. The phylogenetic trees obtained divided the genus Saguinus into two groups, one containing the small-bodied species S. fuscicollis and the other, the large-bodied species S. mystax, S. leucopus, S. oedipus, S. midas, S. bicolor. The most derived taxa, S. midas and S. bicolor, grouped together, while S. fuscicollis melanoleucus and S. f. weddelli showed divergence values that did not support the division of these morphotypes into subspecies. On the other hand, S. midas individuals showed divergence compatible with the existence of three subspecies, two of them with the same morphotype as the subspecies S. midas niger. The results of our study suggest that there is at least one Saguinus subspecies that has not yet been described and that the conservation status of Saguinus species and subspecies should be carefully revised using modern molecular approaches.
Net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange over grazed steppe in central Mongolia

This paper presents results of 1 year (from March 25, 2003 to March 24, 2004, 366 days) of continuous measurements of net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) above a steppe in Mongolia using the eddy covariance technique. The steppe, typical of central Mongolia, is dominated by C3 plants adapted to the continental climate. The following two questions are addressed: (1) how do NEE and its components: gross ecosystem production (GEP) and total ecosystem respiration (Reco) vary seasonally? (2) how do NEE, GEP, and Reco respond to biotic and abiotic factors? The hourly minimal NEE and the hourly maximal Reco were −3.6 and 1.2 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively (negative values denoting net carbon uptake by the canopy from the atmosphere). Peak daily sums of NEE, GEP, and Reco were −2.3, 3.5, and 1.5 g C m−2 day−1, respectively. The annual sums of GEP, Reco, and NEE were 179, 138, and −41 g C m−2, respectively. The carbon removal by sheep was estimated to range between 10 and 82 g C m−2 yr−1 using four different approaches. Including these estimates in the overall carbon budget yielded net ecosystem productivity of −23 to +20 g C m−2 yr−1. Thus, within the remaining experimental uncertainty the carbon budget at this steppe site can be considered to be balanced. For the growing period (from April 23 to October 21, 2003), 26% and 53% of the variation in daily NEE and GEP, respectively, could be explained by the changes in leaf area index. Seasonality of GEP, Reco, and NEE was closely associated with precipitation, especially in the peak growing season when GEP and Reco were largest. Water stress was observed in late July to early August, which switched the steppe from a carbon sink to a carbon source. For the entire growing period, the light response curves of daytime NEE showed a rather low apparent quantum yield (α=−0.0047 μmol CO2 μmol−1 photons of photosynthetically active radiation). However, the α values varied with air temperature (Ta), vapor pressure deficit, and soil water content.
Biochar elemental composition and factors influencing nutrient retention

Biochar is the carbonaceous solid byproduct of the thermochemical conversion of a carbon-bearing organic material, commonly high in cellulose, hemicelluloses, or lignin content, for the purposes of carbon sequestration and storage. More specifically, the thermal conversion process known as pyrolysis occurs when carbon-containing substances are introduced to elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen at varying residence times, yielding biochar. Several pyrolysis techniques employed to produce biochar differ in the temperature of reaction and residence time in the reactor. Different reactor residence times are described as slow (hours to days), fast (seconds to minutes), and flash (seconds). Fast or flash pyrolysis typically occurs around 500oC with residence times less than 500 milliseconds to 1 second and produces relatively greater gas yields with a concomitant decrease in biochar yield (~ 12%). Slow pyrolysis temperatures have ranged from 350 to 750oC but with residence times ranging from minutes to days. Slow pyrolysis yields a greater quantity of biochar (between 25 to 35%). Pyrolysis temperature and type may be varied to maximize the desired biochar end-product. In general, increasing pyrolysis temperature tends to increase biochar total carbon, potassium, and magnesium content, pH, and surface area, and decrease cation exchange capacity. Slow pyrolysis, in general, tends to produce biochars with greater nitrogen, sulfur, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, surface area, and cation exchange capacity as compared to fast pyrolysis. In addition to altering temperature and time, the importance of feedstock source needs to be recognized when utilizing biochar in situations such as a soil conditioner. Over the last 10 years biochar research and use has expanded exponentially and so have the feedstocks utilized. Biochars have now been created from corn, wheat, barley and rice straw, switchgrass, peanut, pecan, and hazelnut shells, sugarcane bagasse, coconut coir, food waste, hardwood and softwood species, poultry and turkey litter, swine, dairy, and cattle manure, and biosolids to name a few. Feedstock source influences end-product characteristics, and in general most plant-based biochars containing elevated carbon content and lesser quantities of necessary plant nutrients as compared to manure-based biochars. It has been demonstrated that the mineral content of the feedstock has a significant effect on product distribution, with higher amounts of chloride salts reducing the amount of the solid biochar product. In addition, chloride and other inorganic salts also impact the chemical composition of the liquid, gas, and char pyrolysis products, potentially producing products with higher economic values. Existing studies indicate that even the trace amounts of minerals present in the various biomass sources and feedstock mixtures do have an impact on the chemical compositions of the products. Furthermore, both temperature and residence time, along with feedstock source or mixtures of sources, affect end-product characteristics.
Online Demand Under Limited Consumer Search

U aggregate product search data from Amazon.com, we jointly estimate consumer information search and online demand for consumer durable goods. To estimate the demand and search primitives, we introduce an optimal sequential search process into a model of choice and treat the observed market-level product search data as aggregations of individual-level optimal search sequences. The model builds on the dynamic programming framework by Weitzman [Weitzman, M. L. 1979. Optimal search for the best alternative. Econometrica 47(3) 641–654] and combines it with a choice model. It can accommodate highly complex demand patterns at the market level. At the individual level, the model has a number of attractive properties in estimation, including closed-form expressions for the probability distribution of alternative sets of searched goods and breaking the curse of dimensionality. Using numerical experiments, we verify the model’s ability to identify the heterogeneous consumer tastes and search costs from product search data. Empirically, the model is applied to the online market for camcorders and is used to answer manufacturer questions about market structure and competition and to address policy-maker issues about the effect of selectively lowered search costs on consumer surplus outcomes. We demonstrate that the demand estimates from our search model predict the actual product sales ranks. We find that consumer search for camcorders at Amazon.com is typically limited to 10–15 choice options and that this affects estimates of own and cross elasticities. In a policy simulation, we also find that the vast majority of the households benefit from Amazon.com’s product recommendations via lower search costs.
Observations of a quasi shear‐free lacustrine convective boundary layer: Stratification and its implications on turbulence

[1] Convection due to surface cooling has been investigated in the surface boundary layer of a small lake under near-ideal conditions undisturbed by wind, large-scale currents, and differential cooling. Successive temperature microstructure profiles revealed a stable stratification in the lower bulk of the convective boundary layer despite strong cooling over the entire layer. Lateral heat fluxes as well as heat exchange with the thermocline could be excluded as driving mechanism of the observed stratification. Acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements indicated an asymmetric pattern of vertical velocities: strong downward plumes were observed upon a background of slow upflow. We suggest that this asymmetry allows cold water from the super-adiabatic surface layer to intrude at the base of the convective layer, thus causing the observed stratification. This in particular involves downward plumes that feature a relatively low entrainment rate in the center bulk of the convective layer. Corresponding large-eddy simulation studies, as well as thermistor string and ADCP data, were found consistent with this scenario. The dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) was estimated on the basis of the temperature microstructure profiles and from the ADCP data. Mean dissipation rates of only about 20% of the surface buoyancy flux were typically identified. This finding is attributed to respectively low buoyant production rates of TKE, attenuated by strong convective plumes penetrating through the stable stratification in the lower bulk of the convective layer into the thermocline. INDEX TERMS: 4568 Oceanography: Physical: Turbulence, diffusion, and mixing processes; 4524 Oceanography: Physical: Fine structure and microstructure; 4572 Oceanography: Physical: Upper ocean processes; 4239 Oceanography: General: Limnology; KEYWORDS: convection, temperature microstructure, ADCP, stratification, turbulent kinetic energy, convective boundary layer
culture: integrated response to TNF- adipokines by human adipocytes differentiated in Expression and secretion of inflammation-related

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , October 2, 2009; 284 (40): 27620-27628. J. Biol. Chem. Craig W. Younce, Asim Azfer and Pappachan E. Kolattukudy γ Proliferator-activated Receptor Finger Protein, Induces Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Pre-adipocytes without Peroxisome MCP-1 (Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1)-induced Protein, a Recently Identified Zinc [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , October , 2010; 299 (4): C750-C759. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol Ryousuke Satou, Kayoko Miyata, Akemi Katsurada, L. Gabriel Navar and Hiroyuki Kobori p50/p50 homodimer in human renal proximal tubular cells suppresses angiotensinogen expression through formation of a α Tumor necrosis factor[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January , 2011; 300 (1): E155-E163. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab Huey-Herng Sheu Ya-Yu Wang, Shih-Yi Lin, Yu-Han Chuang, Chun-Jung Chen, Kwong-Chung Tung and Wayne with hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in a rat ischemic stroke model Adipose proinflammatory cytokine expression through sympathetic system is associated [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January , 2011; 34 (1): 132-138. Dia Care Florencia Ziemke, Benjamin Schneider and Christos S. Mantzoros Hyun-Seuk Moon, John P. Chamberland, Kalliope N. Diakopoulos, Christina G. Fiorenza, Pathways in Peripheral Tissues : In vitro and ex vivo studies in humans Leptin and Amylin Act in an Additive Manner to Activate Overlapping Signaling [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January , 2011; 96 (1): 133-141. JCEM Jurga Laurencikiene, Peter Arner and Mikael Rydén Amanda T. Pettersson, Niklas Mejhert, Margareta Jernås, Lena M. S. Carlsson, Ingrid Dahlman, Twist1 in Human White Adipose Tissue and Obesity
Unitals over composition algebras

Abstract. We consider polar unitals in projective planes over composition algebras. We prove that the little projective group of such a unital is contained in the centralizer of the polarity defining the unital. This yields information about the full automorphism group of the unital; it is contained in the automorphism group of the normal subgroup generated by all translations of the unital. Over suitable ground fields (such as the real numbers) we obtain a complete description of the automorphism group of the unital in the sense that it coincides with the centralizer of the polarity. The action of a nilpotent regular normal subgroup is used to establish isomorphisms between unitals in spaces of different dimensions, and over different fields.
From wind to whales: trophic links in a coastal upwelling system

Blue whales Balaenoptera musculus meet the highest prey demands of any predator that has ever existed by feeding exclusively upon dense but patchy schools of pelagic euphausiids. We examined the role that seasonally high primary production supported by coastal upwelling com- bined with topographic breaks off California play in creating, collecting, and maintaining euphausi- ids at densities sufficient to allow exploitation by whales. We used concurrent ship- and mooring- based oceanographic, hydroacoustic, and net sampling, whale-sighting records, visual surveys, and time-depth recorder deployment to examine temporal and spatial linkages between (1) intensity of upwelling, (2) primary production, (3) development, density and distribution of euphausiids, and (4) the distribution, abundance, and foraging behavior of blue whales in Monterey Bay, California between 1992 and 1996. Blue whales fed exclusively upon adult euphausiids Thysanoessa spinifera and Euphausia pacifica that were larger than those generally available in the Bay. Foraging whales dove repeatedly to dense euphausiid aggregations between 150 and 200 m on the edge of the Mon- terey Bay Submarine Canyon. Euphausiid aggregations where whales were foraging averaged 153 g m -3 , approximately 2 orders of magnitude greater than mean euphausiid densities in the Bay (1.3 g m -3 ). High euphausiid densities are supported by high primary production between April and August (249 mgC m -3 d -1 ) and a submarine canyon that provides deep water down-current from an upwelling region. Peak euphausiid densities occur in late summer/early fall, lagging the seasonal increase in primary production by 3 to 4 mo. This lag results from the temporal development of euphausiids spawned around the spring increase in primary production and the shoreward collapse of productivity due to decreased upwelling in late summer. The migratory movements of the Califor- nia blue whale probably reflect seasonal patterns in productivity in other foraging areas similar to those we describe for Monterey Bay.
Lateral medullary syndrome with Ondine's curse

Objectives: To analyse the clinical characteristic of Lateral Medullary Syndrome (LMS) with Ondine's curse. Materials and Methods: This is a report of 3 cases of LMS with Ondine's curse. Characteristics and clinical presentations of three patients were described and analysed. Results: All patients were male and they were 63, 65 and 84 y old respectively. All had diabetes mellitus and poor glucose control. Patients 2 and 3 had snoring, smoking and alcohol use history. Patients 1 and 2 had hypertension. Ondine's curse occurred on the 5th, 10th and 23rd d after their strokes. All were on mechanical ventilation. Patients 2 and 3 were extubated successfully after 4 and 52 d of onset of Ondine’s curse. Patient 1 died. Conclusions: Ondine's curse is a rare and fatal condition. Diagnosing early, providing life support quickly and improving the variable risk factors are necessary for improving outcome. More researches are needed to elucidate its epidemiology, etiology, clinical characteristic, treatment and prognosis.
Excessive Extrapolation and the Allocation of 401(k) Accounts to Company Stock

About a third of the assets in large retirement savings plans are invested in company stock, and about a quarter of the "discretionary" contributions are invested in company stock. From a diversification perspective, this is a dubious strategy. This paper explores the role of excessive extrapolation in employees' company stock holdings. I find that employees of firms that experienced the worst stock performance over the last 10 years allocate 10.37 percent of their "discretionary" contributions to company stock, whereas employees whose firms experienced the best stock performance allocate 39.70 percent. Allocations to company stock, however, do not predict future performance. Copyright The American Finance Association 2001.
Public Sector Reforms and Financial Transparency: Experiences from Indonesian Districts

As in many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, democratization and devolution reforms have characterized the recent development of public management in Indonesia. This article analyses the current development of “good governance” in Indonesian local government. The main objective is to assess the level of transparency, the mechanisms for hiding, and the extent of corruption in district budgeting and accounting. The empirical data consists of 200 in-depth interviews with members of the executive, legislative and civil society institutions in six districts. The article concludes that national systems and traditions of politics and bureaucracy have a strong negative impact on local administrative procedures, leaving only marginal space for regional variance and improvements. There is a remarkable lack of transparency, and checks and balances in public financial affairs are largely absent in all districts.
Retinol-binding protein 4 versus albuminuria as predictors of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: Since the increase in some tubular damage biomarkers can be observed at the early stage of diabetic nephropathy, even in the absence of albuminuria, we aimed to investigate if urinary albumin is superior than tubular damage marker, such as serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), in predicting renal function decline (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) in the cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Materials and Methods: A total of 106 sedentary T2D patients (mean [± standard deviation] age 64.9 [±6.6] years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], lipid parameters, creatinine, RBP4, high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], urinary albumin excretion [UAE]), as well as blood pressure were obtained. Results: HsCRP (odds ratio [OR] =0.754, 95% confidence interval [CI] (0.603–0.942), P = 0.013) and RBP4 (OR = 0.873, 95% CI [0.824–0.926], P < 0.001) were independent predictors of eGFR decline. Moreover, although RBP4 and UAE as single diagnostic parameters of renal impairment showed excellent clinical accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.900 and AUC = 0.940, respectively), the Model which included body mass index, HbA1c, triglycerides, hsCRP, and RBP4 showed statistically same accuracy as UAE, when UAE was used as a single parameter (AUC = 0.932 vs. AUC = 0.940, respectively; P for AUC difference = 0.759). As well, the Model had higher sensitivity and specificity (92% and 90%, respectively) than single predictors, RBP4, and UAE. Conclusion: Although serum RBP4 showed excellent clinical accuracy, just like UAE, a combination of markers of tubular damage, inflammation, and traditional markers has the higher sensitivity and specificity than UAE alone for prediction renal impairment in patients with T2D.