Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Space Is More Important than Season when Shaping Soil Microbial Communities at a Large Spatial Scale

Both space and time are key factors that regulate microbial community, but microbial temporal variation is often ignored at a large spatial scale. In this study, we compared spatial and seasonal effects on bacterial and fungal diversity variation across an 878-km transect and found direct evidence that space is far more important than season in regulating the soil microbial community. Partitioning the effect of season, space and environmental variables on microbial community, we further found that fast-changing environmental factors contributed to microbial temporal variation. ABSTRACT The relative importance of spatial and temporal variability in shaping the distribution of soil microbial communities at a large spatial scale remains poorly understood. Here, we explored the relative importance of space versus time when predicting the distribution of soil bacterial and fungal communities across North China Plain in two contrasting seasons (summer versus winter). Although we found that microbial alpha (number of phylotypes) and beta (changes in community composition) diversities differed significantly between summer and winter, space rather than season explained more of the spatiotemporal variation of soil microbial alpha and beta diversities. Environmental covariates explained some of microbial spatiotemporal variation observed, with fast-changing environmental covariates—climate variables, soil moisture, and available nutrient—likely being the main factors that drove the seasonal variation found in bacterial and fungal beta diversities. Using random forest modeling, we further identified a group of microbial exact sequence variants (ESVs) as indicators of summer and winter seasons and for which relative abundance was associated with fast-changing environmental variables (e.g., soil moisture and dissolved organic nitrogen). Together, our empirical field study’s results suggest soil microbial seasonal variation could arise from the changes of fast-changing environmental variables, thus providing integral support to the large emerging body of snapshot studies related to microbial biogeography. IMPORTANCE Both space and time are key factors that regulate microbial community, but microbial temporal variation is often ignored at a large spatial scale. In this study, we compared spatial and seasonal effects on bacterial and fungal diversity variation across an 878-km transect and found direct evidence that space is far more important than season in regulating the soil microbial community. Partitioning the effect of season, space and environmental variables on microbial community, we further found that fast-changing environmental factors contributed to microbial temporal variation.
Comparison of therapeutic efficacy of topical treatment with phenytoin and fluocinolone on cutaneous lichen planus: A randomized, double‐blind trial

Dear Editor, Lichen planus (LP) is a common inflammatory disease, characterized by the presence of violaceous papular lesions and pruritus as a bothersome symptom that affects the quality of life. Several medications have been tested for management of LP. Oral and topical phenytoin has been assessed for the treatment of LP in an open clinical trial with encouraging results. We designed the current clinical trial to compare the efficacy of topical phenytoin and fluocinolone for treatment of cutaneous lichen planus (CLP). After approval by institutional ethics committee (CT-P9354-5544), we conducted this double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial (IRCT2017081231028N3). Fifty patients over 8 years of age, clinically and/or pathologically diagnosed with CLP were recruited. The pregnant or lactating patients, oral or genital LP, LP pigmentosus, LP treated during 1 month before the study, and hypersensitive to phenytoin or corticosteroids were excluded. The patients were randomized by computerized, permuted block randomization to apply either fluocinolone acetonide (0.025%) cream (Emad Pharmaceutical; Iran), or phenytoin (2%) cream to skin lesions twice daily for 8 weeks and were investigated at the fourth week, and the end of treatment. The phenytoin (2%) cream was prepared by dissolving three 100 mg phenytoin capsules (Alhavi Pharmaceutical; Iran) in 30 g of phenytoin 1% cream (Daroupakhsh Pharmaceutical; Iran). The therapeutic response was measured by a 5-point scale for erythema, thickness and scaling (1 = severe, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = almost clear, and 5 = clear). Pruritus and patient satisfaction were assessed using the 10-point visual analogue scale. The patients and investigator were blind to the treatment category. The features of the groups were compared using t-test, and chisquare tests. The difference in the clinical features of the lesions between the follow-up and baseline measures was assessed by Wilcoxon signed rank test (non-normal data). A P-value of less than . 05 was considered statistically significant. Twenty-three patients in the phenytoin group and 25 patients in the fluocinolone group completed the study. The baseline features of the subjects in both groups and the therapeutic effect of treatments are presented in Table 1. The only significant effect of both treatments on CLP was amelioration of pruritus (P-value <.001). The scaling decreased significantly in the phenytoin-treated subjects (P-value = .035). The therapeutic effects of fluocinolone and phenytoin were similar in both groups (P-value >.05; Table 2). No side effects were observed. Topical application of phenytoin alleviated the pruritus and scaling of CLP lesions. Although topical corticosteroids are the first line of treatment for limited CLP, the concerns about their side effects and the chronicity of CLP are encouraging in offering other options.
Variation in the phenology of photosynthesis among eastern white pine provenances in response to warming

In higher‐latitude trees, temperature and photoperiod control the beginning and end of the photosynthetically active season. Elevated temperature (ET) has advanced spring warming and delayed autumn cooling while photoperiod remains unchanged. We assessed the effects of warming on the length of the photosynthetically active season of three provenances of Pinus strobus L. seedlings from different latitudes, and evaluated the accuracy of the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and the chlorophyll/carotenoid index (CCI) for tracking the predicted variation in spring and autumn phenology of photosynthesis among provenances. Seedlings from northern, local and southern P. strobus provenances were planted in a temperature‐free‐air‐controlled enhancement (T‐FACE) experiment and exposed to ET (+1.5/3°C; day/night). Over 18 months, we assessed photosynthetic phenology by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence, gas exchange, leaf spectral reflectance and pigment content. During autumn, all seedlings regardless of provenance followed the same sequence of phenological events with the initial downregulation of photosynthesis, followed by the modulation of non‐photochemical quenching and associated adjustments of zeaxanthin pool sizes. However, the timing of autumn downregulation differed between provenances, with delayed onset in the southern provenance (SP) and earlier onset in the northern relative to the local provenance, indicating that photoperiod at the provenance origin is a dominant factor controlling autumn phenology. Experimental warming further delayed the downregulation of photosynthesis during autumn in the SP. A provenance effect during spring was also observed but was generally not significant. The vegetation indices PRI and CCI were both effective at tracking the seasonal variations of energy partitioning in needles and the differences of carotenoid pigments indicative of the stress status of needles. These results demonstrate that PRI and CCI can be useful tools for monitoring conifer phenology and for the remote monitoring of the length of the photosynthetically active season of conifers in a changing climate.
Associations of sleep with psychological problems and well‐being in adolescence: causality or common genetic predispositions?

Background Whereas short and problematic sleep are associated with psychological problems in adolescence, causality remains to be elucidated. This study therefore utilized the discordant monozygotic cotwin design and cross‐lagged models to investigate how short and problematic sleep affect psychological functioning. Methods Adolescent twins (N = 12,803, 13–20 years, 42% male) completed questionnaires on sleep and psychological functioning repeatedly over a two‐year interval. Monozygotic twin pairs were classified as concordant or discordant for sleep duration and trouble sleeping. Resulting subgroups were compared regarding internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and subjective well‐being. Results Cross‐sectional analyses indicated associations of worse psychological functioning with both short sleep and problematic sleep, and cross‐lagged models indicate bidirectional associations. Longitudinal analyses showed that an increase in sleep problems experienced selectively by one individual of an identical twin pair was accompanied by an increase of 52% in internalizing problem scores and 25% in externalizing problem scores. These changes were significantly different from the within‐subject changes in cotwins with unchanged sleep quality (respectively, 3% increase and 5% decrease). Psychological functioning did, however, not worsen with decreasing sleep duration. Conclusions The findings suggest that sleep quality, rather than sleep duration, should be the primary target for prevention and intervention, with possible effect on psychological functioning in adolescents.
Effect of Preoperative Nutritional Risk Screening and Enteral Nutrition Support in Accelerated Recovery after Resection for Esophageal Cancer

Abstract Patients with esophageal cancer are often accompanied by malnutrition, especially in patients with obvious swallowing tract. Many studies have shown that preoperative nutritional support can reduce postoperative complications, but there are few studies comparing preoperative enteral nutrition with intravenous nutrition. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of the two nutritional support path in esophageal cancer patients undergoing surgery. We used the nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) for preoperative nutritional risk screening in patients with esophageal cancer treated at our department between April 2016 and March 2019. A total of 56 patients with an NRS2002 score ≥ 3 and with apparent difficulty swallowing received preoperative parenteral nutrition (PN; n = 29) or enteral nutrition (EN; n = 27). Both groups received 7 day of nutritional support before surgery. Nutritional indicators were measured on preoperative day 7, preoperative day 1, and postoperative day 7. The baseline characteristics, perioperative condition, nutritional status, and postoperative complications of the two groups were compared and analysed. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics and perioperative nutrition indicators between two groups. Postoperative hospital stay and the costs of nutrition support were significantly reduced in the EN group compared with PN group (P = 0.000). The times of first passing gas and bowel movement were shorter in the EN group compared with PN group (P = 0.001). The incidence of gastrointestinal complications was lower in the EN group compared with PN group (P = 0.039). For esophageal cancer patients with an NRS2002 score ≥ 3 and apparent difficulty swallowing, preoperative EN with a gastric tube is safe and easy to perform. Preoperative EN can shorten the recovery time of gastrointestinal function, reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal complications, finally accelerate postoperative recovery.
Effects of a Multicomponent Exercise Program in Physical Function and Muscle Mass in Sarcopenic/Pre-Sarcopenic Adults

This study aimed to assess the effects of a multicomponent exercise program on physical function and muscle mass in older adults with sarcopenia or pre-sarcopenia. Moreover, we aim to standardize the exercise program for easy incorporation in the daily life of community-dwelling older adults as a secondary outcome. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with individuals (≥60 years) who had sarcopenia or pre-sarcopenia (n = 72). Participants were randomly assigned to the exercise and control groups. The exercise program consisted of 12 weekly 60-min sessions that included resistance, balance, flexibility, and aerobic training. Outcome measures were physical function and muscle mass. Assessments were conducted before and immediately after the intervention. Among the 72 participants (mean age: 75.0 ± 6.9 years; 70.8% women), 67 (93.1%) completed the trial. Group-by-time interactions on the chair stand (p = 0.02) and timed “up and go” (p = 0.01) tests increased significantly in the exercise group. Although the exercise group showed a tendency to prevent loss of muscle mass, no significant interaction effects were observed for cross-sectional muscle area and muscle volume. The 12-week exercise program improved physical function in the intervention group. Although it is unclear whether the program is effective in increasing muscle mass, a multicomponent exercise program would be an effective treatment for physical function among older adults with sarcopenia.
Physiological State of Therapy Dogs during Animal-Assisted Activities in an Outpatient Setting

Simple Summary Therapy dogs and their benefits to human health have been studied extensively, but investigating the animal’s welfare during therapy sessions is limited. Moreover, existing literature has mixed results as to the emotional state and wellbeing of the therapy animals. This study focuses on 19 therapy dogs’ wellbeing during animal-assisted activities, by evaluating their heart rate and heart rate variability, salivary cortisol and oxytocin, and ear temperatures. The results demonstrated that the dogs’ wellbeing was not negatively affected during these visits. Moreover, pre- and post-visit physiological indicators remained stable and some of the dogs’ parameters suggested the therapy dogs may have been in a more relaxed state at the end of the session. Abstract Therapy dogs are increasingly being incorporated into numerous clinical settings. However, there are only a handful of studies that have focused on the impact of animal-assisted activity or therapy sessions on the wellbeing of the therapy dogs. Furthermore, these studies show mixed results. The goal of this study was to provide an in-depth picture of the effects of these interactions on the dogs involved by considering multiple physiological measures known to be associated with emotional state (continuous heart rate, heart rate variability, pre- and post-session tympanic membrane temperatures, and salivary cortisol and oxytocin concentrations). Nineteen Mayo Clinic Caring Canine therapy dogs completed five 20-minute animal-assisted activity (AAA) visits each in an outpatient clinical setting (Mayo Clinic Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Clinic). From a physiological perspective, the dogs showed a neutral to positive response to the AAA sessions. Heart rate (HR) was significantly lower at the end of the session compared with the beginning of the session (F = 17.26, df1 = 1, df2 = 29.7, p = 0.0003). The right tympanic membrane temperature was lower post-session (F = 8.87, df1 = 1, df2 = 107, p = 0.003). All other emotional indicators remained stable between pre- and post-session. These results suggest that the dogs involved were not negatively affected by their participation in the AAA. Moreover, there was some evidence suggesting the dogs may have been in a more relaxed state at the end of the session (lower HR and lower right tympanic membrane temperature) compared to the beginning of the session.
Tursiocola podocnemicola sp. nov., a new epizoic freshwater diatom species from the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Tursiocola podocnemicola sp. nov. is described from the Amazonian Rio Negro Basin in Brazil where it was found living epizoically on the carapaces of the freshwater turtle Podocnemis erythrocephala Spix. The detailed morphology of this epizoic diatom is examined using both light and scanning electron microscopy and compared with similar species of the genera Tursiocola Holmes, Nagasawa & Takano and Epiphalaina Holmes, Nagasawa & Takano. Specimens of this epizoic diatom belong to the genus Tursiocola, characterized by the presence of extensive pseudosepta, covering part of the apices and continuing along the mantle margin to merge with the stauros, uniseriate striae and two knob-like structures between the internal central raphe endings. However, the new species has a different external raphe structure when compared with all other species described from the mentioned genera, with unilaterally, strongly deflected, proximal raphe endings. The ecology and possible origin of the species on the Amazonian turtle's carapace is briefly discussed.
Ab initio Intermolecular Potential Energy Surface and Calculation of Second Virial Coefficients for the Cl2-Cl2 Dimer

The results presented in this paper are the ab initio intermolecular potentials and the second virial coefficient, B2 (T) of the dimer Cl2-Cl2. These ab initio potentials were proposed by the quantum chemical calculations at high level of theory CCSD (T) with basis sets of Dunning's valence correlation-consistent aug-cc-pVmZ (m = 2, 3); these results were extrapolated to complete basis set limit aug-cc-pV23Z. The ab initio energies of complete basis set limit aug-cc-pV23Z resulted from the exponential extrapolation were used to construct the 5-site pair potential functions. The second virial coefficients for this dimer were predicted from those with four-dimensional integration. The second virial coefficients were also corrected to first-order quantum effects. The results turn out to be in good agreement with experimental data, if available, or with those from empirical correlation. The quality of ab initio 5-site potentials proved the reliability for prediction of molecular thermodynamic properties.
A Taxonomic Survey of Cyst-producing Dinoflagellates from Recent Sediments of Victorian Coastal Waters, Australia

Forty-two types of cysts representing fourteen dinoflagellate genera were identified in Recent coastal sediments from Victoria, Australia. The most common were those of Scrippsiella trochoidea, Gonyaulax spinifera, Protoperidinium subinerme, Zygabikodinium lenticulatum, Polykrikos schwartzii and Protoperidinium punctulatum. Cysts belonging to the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenation were identified in several sediment samples, constituting the first records of G. catenatüm for both Victoria and the Australian mainland, and introducing a new aspect to the regional distribution of G. catenatum. As a result of cyst incubation experiments, twenty-three cyst-theca relationships are described of which five were previously unknown (Protoperidinium cf. achromaticum, P. obtusum, Lebouraia minuta, Gyrodinium undulans and Gyrodinium impudicum).
SPECIES DISTRIBUTION CONTROLS ACROSS A FOREST-STEPPE TRANSITION: A CAUSAL MODEL AND EXPERIMENTAL TEST'

Steppe communities of interior Alaska are restricted to steep, generally southfacing bluffs. Two competing hypotheses explain this distribution: (1) steppe taxa are restricted to bluffs by their requirements for the abiotic conditions of these sites, and (2) steppe taxa have broader physiological ranges than expressed in nature, but are restricted to bluff sites by competition with other plants. We addressed these hypotheses using correlative and experimental methods to identify controls over the distribution of steppe and forest understory species on Eagle Bluff, Alaska. We developed a causal model and used path analysis, a correlative method, to estimate strengths of hypothesized causal relationships. Based on the results of path analysis we hypothesized that light intensity and soil moisture were important controls over the composition of the vegetation and species distributions. We tested this hypothesis by examining the responses of two species native to steppe (Linum lewisii and Potentilla hookeriana) and two species native to forest (Moehringia lateriflora and Pyrola secunda) to manipulation of light intensity, soil moisture, and soil type. The forest species had reduced survival and biomass when grown in the high light and dry soil moisture characteristic of steppe environments. Conversely, survival of steppe taxa was independent of treatments, and the response of survivors to treatments differed between species. Linum had higher seed production with higher soil moisture than it normally experiences and grew less under lower light intensity. Potentilla responded positively to higher moisture and had weakly negative (but not significant) response to reduced light levels. Our experiments confirmed the importance of light and soil moisture to vegetation on Eagle Bluff, but revealed the individualistic nature of species response to environment.
Involvement of Anthocyanins and other Phenolic Compounds in Radical‐Scavenging Activity of Purple‐Fleshed Sweet Potato Cultivars

ABSTRACT: The 80% ethanol extracts of 5 purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars were separated into 2 fractions, anthocyanins- and phenolic compounds-rich fractions, to clarify the contribution of these constituents to the radical-scavenging activity. The separation was accomplished with an ethyl acetate liquid/liquid extraction. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity in each fraction and the contributors varied according to the cultivars. The dominant DPPH radical-scavengers in “Ayamurasaki” and “Kyushu-132” were anthocyanins rather than phenolic compounds, while those in “Miyanou-36” and “Bise” were phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acid. Furthermore, the high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of anthocyanins showed that “Ayamurasaki” and “Kyushu-132” were rich in anthocyanins with peonidin aglycon, whereas “Miyanou-36,”“Bise,” and “Tanegashimamurasaki” contained cyanidin aglycon.
Reappraisal of the genus Taumacera Thunberg with descriptions of two new species from South‐East Asia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

The galerucine genus Taumacera Thunberg is reviewed. Platyxantha Baly is placed in synonymy with Taumacera. The Taumacera deusta species‐group is defined and two new species are described in this group: Taumacera mohamedsaidi from Borneo and Taumacera evi from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. A new name, Taumacera seminigra, is provided for Taumacera nigripennis (Jacoby 1900a), nec Jacoby 1884, and Taumacera martapurensis Mohamedsaid is synonymised with Taumacera sucki Weise. A key is given for the deusta species‐group and a revised checklist presented for all Taumacera species.