Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Total evidence and sensitivity phylogenetic analyses of egg‐brooding frogs (Anura: Hemiphractidae)

We study the phylogenetic relationships of egg‐brooding frogs, a group of 118 neotropical species, unique among anurans by having embryos with large bell‐shaped gills and females carrying their eggs on the dorsum, exposed or inside a pouch. We assembled a total evidence dataset of published and newly generated data containing 51 phenotypic characters and DNA sequences of 20 loci for 143 hemiphractids and 127 outgroup terminals. We performed six analytical strategies combining different optimality criteria (parsimony and maximum likelihood), alignment methods (tree‐ and similarity‐alignment), and three different indel coding schemes (fifth character state, unknown nucleotide, and presence/absence characters matrix). Furthermore, we analyzed a subset of the total evidence dataset to evaluate the impact of phenotypic characters on hemiphractid phylogenetic relationships. Our main results include: (i) monophyly of Hemiphractidae and its six genera for all our analyses, novel relationships among hemiphractid genera, and non‐monophyly of Hemiphractinae according to our preferred phylogenetic hypothesis; (ii) non‐monophyly of current supraspecific taxonomies of Gastrotheca, an updated taxonomy is provided; (iii) previous differences among studies were mainly caused by differences in analytical factors, not by differences in character/taxon sampling; (iv) optimality criteria, alignment method, and indel coding caused differences among optimal topologies, in that order of degree; (v) in most cases, parsimony analyses are more sensitive to the addition of phenotypic data than maximum likelihood analyses; (vi) adding phenotypic data resulted in an increase of shared clades for most analyses.
The effects of COVID-19 policies on livelihoods and food security of smallholder farm households in Nigeria: Descriptive results from a phone survey

The Government’s policy measures such as travel restrictions, lockdowns, and restrictions on economic and social activities, aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, had affected the livelihoods and food security of smallholders in Nigeria. Using data collected from sample households from four Nigerian states, this study investigated the effects of COVID-19 pandemic policies on the incomes, employment, and food security situation of smallholder farming households. Results show that 88 percent of the households reported that they lost about 50 percent of their income due to the pandemic. As a result, about 66 percent of respondents reported they reduced food consumption. Travel and movement restrictions caused disruptions in agricultural activities and supply chains, as 29 percent of respondents reported planting fewer crops, 24 percent reduced cropping area, and 24 percent reduced fertilizer application. In terms of household’s food security, results show that COVID-19 significantly worsened the food security situation of many households in Nigeria, especially poorer households. More than 80 percent of respondents worried about not having enough food and 77 percent ate less food than they thought they should. Survey households also reported a significant reduction of consumption of proteins (eggs, meat, and dairy products) and fruits since the pandemic struck. Increases in food prices are felt by most households (85 percent). We suggest three key policy priorities: support vulnerable households to mitigate the impacts of income loss through cash transfer or improved credit access; interventions to improve agricultural inputs supply chains to ease the pandemic’s impact on agricultural production; and support food insecure households through direct food distribution.
Papermaking quality of fines from different pulps - the effect of size, shape and chemical composition

The fines of chemical pulps have a strong tendency to intensify the interaction between fibres. This is mainly due to the increased density of the network. A sheet made of kraft fines has a remarkably high density, 1100 -1200 kg/m3, whereas a handsheet made of TMP fines has a rather low density, about 450 kg/m3. In this study several pulps were compared. The fines form a spectrum ranging from fines of bleached softwood kraft to the fines of mechanical pulp. The differences between softwood and hardwood kraft fines as well as between bleached and unbleached softwood kraft fines are rather small. Clearly larger differences are within the different fractions of a fines from a certain chemical pulp. In addition to the size of the fines particles the shape seem to be important factor. Only part of differences in the quality of the fines can be explained by the chemical composition. But the results indicate that the size shape and chemical composition of the fines fraction have inter-correlation.
Varieties of Capitalism and labour market opportunities for the youth

In this study, we examine the extent to which socio-economic institutions shape young people’s perceptions of labour market opportunity structures and their employment attitudes (i.e. skills and retraining). Building on the varieties of capitalism approach, we expect young people (aged 18–35) in coordinated market economies (CMEs) with encompassing welfare states to regard firm- and industry-specific skills as more important than their peers in liberal market economies (LMEs). To assess this proposition, we draw on original survey data and compare young people’s employment attitudes in five European countries: the United Kingdom (UK), which represents a typical liberal market economy, and Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland as representatives of coordinated market economies. To what extent do different training regimes in CMEs and LMEs shape individual attitudes towards skill formation? The empirical analysis shows that young people’s attitudes with regard to the specificity of skills and the willingness to undertake retraining differ systematically between CME and LME countries and supports our argument that the specific socio-economic institutions matter.
Moderating Effect of Earnings Management in the Relationship between Sustainability Reporting Initiatives and Value Relevance

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether sustainability disclosures are associated with value relevance in Bangladesh. The moderating effect of earnings management is also examined to observe the right direction in this relationship. Based on prior studies on sustainability disclosure and global reporting initiatives guidelines, this research uses the content analysis approach to assess the magnitude of sustainability initiatives of 30 Bangladeshi banking companies over the period 2009–2017. The Ohlson price model and discretionary accruals are also employed as measures of value relevant of sustainability disclosure and earnings management, respectively. The findings state that sustainability reports positively affect the equity value, whereas earnings management negatively moderates the direction of this association. Results also confirm that management should be responsive of the impending capital market effects of voluntary disclosures regarding sustainability issues. These findings could have several implications for banks, investors, and policymakers.
Local Amenities, Commuting Costs and Income Disparities Within Cities

This paper studies the effect of transportation networks on spatial inequality within metropolitan areas. It uses a spatial equilibrium model featuring nonhomotheticities and worker heterogeneity, allowing to capture rich patterns of workers sorting on commuting costs and amenities. The model is calibrated for the Paris urban area. Counterfactual simulations study the effects of a) the Regional Express Rail and b) restricting car use in the city center. Despite a strong contribution to suburbanization and reducing welfare inequality, the public transport network plays no role in reducing income segregation. The effects of banning cars depends critically on the response of residential amenities in the city. If it is low enough, it reduces income disparities between Paris and its suburbs at the cost of a substantial welfare loss. If it is high enough, the policy creates welfare gains but steepens the income gradient.
Social Media Adoption and Financial Sustainability: Learned Lessons from Developing Countries

Social Media (SM) is considered one of the most discussed topics in today’s business environment, mostly because of the recent developments and improvements in computer and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) technologies. However, very little is known about Social Media’s (SM) role in creating Small and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (SMEs’) financial sustainability. Drawing upon the Technology Organisational and Environmental (TOE) framework, the authors constructed a comprehensive model that examined the role of different factors in the adoption of SM by SMEs in developing countries (using Pakistan as an example). Using a questionnaire survey of 383 owners/managers of SMEs in Pakistan, the research findings determined the different factors (i.e., organisational, technological, and environmental), which can impact the adoption of SM by SMEs. In line with previous research studies, the results of structural equation modelling show that technological factors such as perceived benefits of SM, compatibility of SM, cost, and trust have a substantial effect on SMEs’ SM adoption. Similarly, both organisational factors: top management support and technological competence, are strong predictors of SM adoption in SMEs. Finally, environmental factors (i.e., competitor pressure, customer pressure, and information intensity) positively impacted SM adoption by SMEs. The effect of SM adoption on SMEs’ financial sustainability was also tested and found to be positive and significant. Several theoretical and practical implications for owners/managers and other stakeholders regarding SM’s successful implementation by SMEs are highlighted within the paper.
Solventless C–C Coupling of Low Carbon Furanics to High Carbon Fuel Precursors Using an Improved Graphene Oxide Carbocatalyst

Graphene oxide, decorated with surface oxygen functionalities, has emerged as an alternative to precious-metal catalysts for many reactions. Herein, we report that graphene oxide becomes superactive for C–C coupling upon incorporation of a highly oxidized surface associated with Bronsted acidic oxygen functionality and defect sites along the surface and edges. The resulting improved graphene oxide (IGO) demonstrates significantly higher activity over commonly used framework zeolites for the upgrade of low-carbon biomass furanics to high-carbon fuel precursors. A maximum 95% yield of C15 fuel precursor with high selectivity is obtained at low temperature (60 °C) and neat conditions via hydroxyalkylation/alkylation (HAA) of 2-methylfuran (2-MF) and furfural. Coupling of 2-MF with carbonyl compounds ranging from C3 to C6 produces precursors of carbon numbers 12 to 21 with a high yield. The catalyst regains nearly full activity upon regeneration. Extensive microscopic and spectroscopic characterization of the.
Supernumerary lacrimal puncta: A case report

Supernumerary lacrimal puncta are rarely reported, though they are not exceptionally rare. We propose to present a case of intermittent tearing (epiphora) which on slit-lamp examination revealed unilateral three lower lacrimal puncta, only one of which remains functional. Keywords: Epiphora, Lacrimal, Punctum, Supernumerary.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Breast Cancer Patients Sensitive and Resistant to Chemotherapy: Looking for Overall Survival and Drug Resistance Biomarkers

Worldwide breast cancer ranks first in mortality and incidence rates in women over 20 years old. Rather than one disease, breast cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases that express distinct molecular profiles. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an important therapeutic strategy for breast cancer patients independently of their molecular subtype, with the drawback of resistance development. In addition, chemotherapy has adverse effects that combined with resistance could contribute to lower overall survival. Although great efforts have been made to find diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer and for response to targeted and immune therapy for this pathology, little has been explored regarding biomarkers of response to anthracyclines and taxanes based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This work aimed to evaluate the molecular profile of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that could be used as biomarkers of chemotherapy response and overall survival. Breast cancer patients who were candidates for neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. After treatment and according to their pathological response, they were assigned as sensitive or resistant. To evaluate DEGs, Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia Gene and Genome (KEGG), and protein–protein interactions, RNA-seq information from all patients was obtained by next-generation sequencing. A total of 1985 DEGs were found, and KEGG analysis indicated a great number of DEGs in metabolic pathways, pathways in cancer, cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions. A selection of 73 DEGs was used further for an analysis of overall survival using the METABRIC study and the ductal carcinoma dataset of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Nine DEGs correlated with overall survival, of which the subexpression of C1QTNF3, CTF1, OLFML3, PLA2R1, PODN, KRT15, HLA-A, and the overexpression of TUBB and TCP1 were found in resistant patients and related to patients with lower overall survival.
Standard-essential patents and incentives for innovation

Patent holders whose patents are essential to a standard are usually required to license their patents under fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. This requirement is often interpreted as a price cap such that royalties for the patents do not exceed their pre-standardisation incremental values. Using a theoretical model of innovators with interacting technologies, I consider the problem of choosing the incentive scheme to induce welfare-maximising research investments under the condition that it only uses the values created by the innovators, and analyse the prevalent interpretation of FRAND compared to the optimal scheme. It shows that in some cases, this incremental value rule does not lead to the efficient level of innovation investment.
Lake surface changes of the Osa River catchment, (northern Poland), 1900–2010

ABSTRACT The study objective was to prepare a quantitative inventory of lakes and to assess their long-term changes. The research area included the Osa river basin (northern Poland), which is located in a lake district. The research was based on historical cartographic materials published in 1900-1947 (German 1:25,000 ‘Messtischblatt’ topographic maps) and modern topographic maps from 2010 (The 1:50,000 Digital Map of the Hydrographic Division of Poland [MPHP]. The number of lakes increased from 173 to 235, while the total surface area of the lakes fell by 107.55 ha. The largest number of lakes belonged to the 1.0-5.0 ha range on both MPHP and Messtischblatt maps. It was in this range that the largest increase in number of lakes and lake area relative to the historical maps was found. A significant reduction in area of lakes was recorded in the group of lakes with an area from 50 to 100 ha.
Photosynthetic and Agronomic Traits of Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties

We tested six winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars in a small plot field experiment, measuring photosynthesis and other parameters three times during the growing season. Four genotypes—Andoria, Jakubus, Paradies and Zophia—are new, promising varieties with requirements of intensive technology, high yield potential and very good disease resistance. The two popular Hungarian varieties (KG Apavár and KG Puszta) are relatively old but they have good tolerance to extreme ecological conditions and outstanding resistance and winter hardiness. The aim of our research was to test the new varieties’ performance. Several recent studies found close connections among various photosynthetic parameters in barley, and we confirmed that in our research. There were significant differences between the varieties in the assimilation rate—the highest values were measured at the BBCH 47–49 stage (end of booting), except Jakubus and Zophia, where the highest values were at BBCH 73–75 (milk ripe). The cultivars’ response to irradiation change varied, especially at higher photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) levels. In April and May, the plants were in drought stress according to the intercellular CO2 level and the total conductance to carbon dioxide. The differences between the air and leaf temperature were also low, indicating water stress, but the assimilation rate was relatively high (9.07–14.09 µmol m−2 s−1). We found a close connection between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values and grain protein content in each of the tested barley cultivars. The correlation was significant, at p = 0.01 level. The protein yield per hectare was determined rather by grain yield than protein content. The relationship between the NDVI values and grain yield was moderate, but NDVI values and protein content are in strong correlation.
Assessment of Different Lily Types for Suitability for Commercial and Landscaping Use

Flowers are symbol of beauty, love and tranquillity; they form the soul of garden and convey the message of nature to mankind. Lilium is one of the horticultural most important genera for cut flower and pot plant production. The genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae comprises more than 80 species and these are divided into seven sections (Comber, 1949). Northern hemisphere, mainly Asia, North America and Europe, especially China, Nepal, Korea and Japan are the gene centres of this genus around the world. It is one of the six major genera of flower bulbs produced worldwide (Hertogh and Le Nard, 1993). It is a species of great economic importance in production and commercialization of cut flower in the international market (Jimenez et al., 2012). Due to its size, beauty and longevity Lilium is one of the ten most superior cut flowers in the world (Thakur et al., 2005). Due International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 12 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Effects of Walking on Fatigue in Cancer Patients

Background Walking is a simple form of exercise that is easily accepted by patients. Exercise is one of the main ways to control cancer-related fatigue (CRF). However, there are conflicting data on the association between walking and severity of CRF. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the overall effect of walking on CRF among adult cancer patients. Methods Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were systematically reviewed to identify suitable randomized controlled trials from inception to February 29, 2020. Two reviewers independently evaluated the risk of bias and extracted correlated data with Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews on Interventions. The data analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3. Results A total of 12 studies with 1064 patients were identified. Integrated result analysis of walking yielded a statistically significant effect on CRF (standard mean difference [SMD], −0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.06 to −0.26). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that intervention time longer than 6 weeks (SMD, −0.89; 95% CI, −1.22 to −0.57) had a better effect on fatigue compared with that of less than 6 weeks (SMD, 0.03; 95% CI, −0.39 to 0.45). The study showed walking was statistically more effective than the control intervention in patients undergoing cancer treatment (SMD, −0.79; 95% CI, −1.16 to −0.42). Descriptive analysis also showed that walking was effective for cancer patients who completed treatment. Conclusions Walking is effective for CRF during and after cancer therapy. Implications for Practice The results provide evidence for a general exercise form to relieve fatigue in cancer patients and facilitate support for future clinical trials and work.
Measuring the Standardization Ability of Construction Enterprises from a Dual Perspective

With the increase in large-scale engineering and construction projects and the enhancement of technical complexity, the ability to standardize has increasingly become one of the core elements of the overall competitiveness of construction enterprises. Previous studies have contributed to the relevant standardization ability literature. However, there remains a great deal of uncertainty concerning the standardization ability of construction enterprises (SACE). The measurable indicators still need to be further explored based on a comprehensive theory. This research aims to explore a model for evaluating the SACE and, explicitly, the status of standardization ability. The measurement index system for the SACE covers three dimensions and eight subcategories with 30 indicators which was established through a review of the literature and systematic analysis. A comprehensive measurement model for the SACE was designed from the dual perspectives of dominance and competitiveness. Finally, a case study was conducted to provide recommendations for policymakers to improve their standardization ability. The results indicate that the SACEs are inconsistent, and the vast majority of enterprises has relatively balanced standardization abilities. Furthermore, standardization ability is affected by the synergy of the three primary dimensions. Multiple linear regression was subsequently used to analyze the correlations among the three dimensions, which showed that there were obvious interaction effects and strong correlations among the three dimensions and indicated that the evaluation based on the three dimensions was reasonable. The findings are useful for the formulation of standardization policies and provide an evaluation and testing model for decision makers to improve their standardization ability.
The germanides Er5Pd4Ge8 and Tm5Pd4Ge8 – 3D [Pd4Ge8] polyanions with Ge2 dumb-bells and Ge4 chains in cis-conformation

Abstract Tm5Pd4Ge8 was synthesized by melting of the elements in an arc-melting furnace. The new germanide was characterized by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction: own structure type, P21/m, a=574.3(1), b=1380.4(3), c=836.4(1) pm, β=107.57(2)°, V=0.6321 nm3, wR2=0.0578, 2533 F2 values, 86 variables. The palladium and germanium atoms built up a three-dimensional [Pd4Ge8]15− polyanionic network which contains a unique germanium substructure composed of the Zintl anions Ge26− dumb-bells and Ge410− chains in cis-conformation. The palladium atoms within the network have distorted square pyramidal germanium coordination. The three crystallographically independent thulium atoms have coordination numbers 15, 16 and 17 with partial motifs of the Frank-Kasper type polyhedra. The isotypic germanide Er5Pd4Ge8 forms only after annealing the arc-melted sample at 1070 K for 1 week: a=575.14(9), b=1386.3(3), c=838.4(1) pm, β=107.51(2)°, V=0.6375 nm3.