Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends as changes in variance: a new slant on progress and directionality in evolution

Trends are the primary phenomenon of macroevolution, but they have often been misinterpreted because an old and deep conceptual error has induced us to misread, as anagenesis in abstracted entities, a pattern that actually records changes in variance by increase or decrease in diversity or disparity among species within clades. These patterns are actually produced by the “entity making and breaking machine” of differential species success, but we misread history as anagenesis because we focus on extreme values (though they may only represent tails in variance of a system), or on measures of central tendency that shift passively as species birth and death work in their differential way. I discuss several examples in two classes: “increase trends” mediated by growth in variance, and “decrease trends” produced by diminution of diversity or disparity. I present two examples in extenso based on original data: threefold occurrence of Cope's rule in planktonic foraminifers as a consequence of increasing species diversity from small founding lineages (increase trend), and disappearance of 400 hitting in baseball as a decrease trend recording symmetrical decline of variance with increasing excellence of play, not the gradual extinction of a valued “thing. ” A proper appreciation of trends as changes in variance flows from and into the two most important revisionary themes in modern evolutionary theory: 1) constraint and structure as an antidote to overreliance upon adaptation (questions about why founding lineages tend to be small, and why size ranges are constrained, lie primarily in structural, not adaptational, domains); 2) hierarchy (increase and decrease trends are powered by differential species sorting, not by extrapolated anagenesis of competition among organisms within populations).
Mechanical Conditioning to Control Height

Mechanical conditioning is an excellent means of regulating the growth of vegetable transplants and some ornamental bedding plants. It improves the stature, appearance, handling characteristics, and overall quality of treated plants. The application procedures reported for transplants have included wind, shaking, brushing, and more recently impedance; all of which result in physical displacement of the growing points. Brushing has been most commonly studied for mechanical conditioning in high density transplant production. Brushing reduces plant height, increases stem and petiole strength, improves insect resistance in the greenhouse, tends to improve stress tolerance and enhance stand establishment in the field, and has no effect on crop yield. Although growers using the technique have been very pleased with the quality of brushed vegetable transplants, widespread commercial application of brushing is limited by a lack of automation.
Cognition in Practice: Outdoors: a social anthropology of cognition in practice

List of figures List of tables Preface 1. Introduction: psychology and anthropology I Part I. Theory in Practice: 2. Missionaries and cannibals (indoors) 3. Life after school 4. Psychology and anthropology II Part II. Practice in Theory: 5. Inside the supermarket (outdoors) and from the veranda 6. Out of trees of knowledge into fields for activity 7. Through the supermarket 8. Outdoors: a social anthropology of cognition in practice Notes References.
Anti-hypertensive effect by Single adminstration of Chunghyul-dan : A CASE SERIES

⋅Received:22 February 2017 ⋅Revised:13 March 2018 ⋅Accepted:15 March 2018 ⋅Correspondence to:김수빈(Su Bin Kim) 경희대학교 한의과대학 순환신경내과학 교실 Tel:+82-2-958-9129, E-mail:sbsb4726@naver.com Anti-hypertensive effect by Single adminstration of Chunghyul-dan : A CASE SERIES Sang-Kwan Moon, Su Bin Kim, Seungwon Kwon, Seung-Yeon Cho, Seong-Uk Park, Woo-sang Jung, Jung-Mi Park, Chang-Nam Ko, Ki-Ho Cho Department of Cardiology and Neurology, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital Department of Cardiology and Neurology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University
Antifungal potential and phytochemical analysis of extracts from seven Cameroonian plants against late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans

Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, B.A. college of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388110, Gujarat, India. Laboratory of Phytobiochemistry and Study of Medicinal Plants, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde 1, PO. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Box 2123, Yaounde, Cameroon *Corresponding author e-mail: josephgalani@gmail.com
Angular radiation models for Earth-atmosphere system. Volume 1: Shortwave radiation

Presented are shortwave angular radiation models which are required for analysis of satellite measurements of Earth radiation, such as those fro the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE). The models consist of both bidirectional and directional parameters. The bidirectional parameters are anisotropic function, standard deviation of mean radiance, and shortwave-longwave radiance correlation coefficient. The directional parameters are mean albedo as a function of Sun zenith angle and mean albedo normalized to overhead Sun. Derivation of these models from the Nimbus 7 ERB (Earth Radiation Budget) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) data sets is described. Tabulated values and computer-generated plots are included for the bidirectional and directional modes.
Isolation and Pathogenicity of Naturally Occurring Entomopathogenic Fungi to Clover Root Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a Pest of Red Clover Seed Crops

approved: ______________________________________________________ Sujaya U. Rao Entomopathogenic fungi are cosmopolitan microbial pathogens that cause fungous diseases in a wide range of insects via spore infection. Due to their natural enemy status, they have tremendous potential for use as microbial control agents against insect pests, especially subterranean pests for which few management options are available. The clover root borer (Hylastinus obscurus Marsham) develops belowground, attacks the roots of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and causes a drastic reduction in seed yield. Hylastinus obscurus was controlled with organochlorine pesticides but their use was prohibited due to hazardous effects on the environment, and non-target organisms including humans. Subsequently, no alternative pest management strategy was developed for this pest. Meanwhile, little is known about impacts of entomopathogenic fungi on clover root borer. The current study was conducted to isolate naturally occuring entomopathogenic fungi and assess their pathogenicity against the clover root borer. More than 150 isolates were collected from infected clover root borers and root zone soil samples from five red clover seed production fields in Western Oregon. Based on morphologic characters and phylogenetic analyses using ITS sequence data, these belonged to six species Beauveria bassiana, B. pseudobassiana, Metarhizium brunneum, Isaria fumosorosea, I. farinosa and Lecanicillium muscarium. A laboratory experiment showed that two species of field isolated fungi B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea were as effective in killing clover root borer adults as commercial sources of M. brunneum and I. fumosorosea when exposed to these fungi in petri dishes with sterile white sand. Subsequently, H. obscurus adults were exposed to four spore concentrations of B. bassiana and M. brunneum separately in cups filled with field collected unsterilized and sterilized soil. There were no significant mortality differences on either sterilized and unsterilized soil. However, at the highest concentration, more than 80% of clover root borers died with M. brunneum while with B. bassiana, the mortality was not significantly different due to high mortality in the negative control. Based on the study, at least six species of entomopathogenic fungi occur naturally in red clover seed production fields in western Oregon, and field isolated fungi are as virulent as commercial fungi against the clover root borer. Further research is needed for evaluation of the pathogenicity of these entomopathogenic fungi under field conditions. ©Copyright by Anis S. Lestari March 18, 2016 All Rights Reserved Isolation and Pathogenicity of Naturally Occurring Entomopathogenic Fungi to Clover Root Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a Pest of Red Clover Seed Crops
Comparative chemical structure and pharmacokinetics of MRI contrast agents.

Tweedle MF, Eaton SM, Eckelman WC, Gaughan GT, Hagan JJ, Wedeking PW, Yost FJ. Comparative chemical structure and pharmacokinetics of MRI contrast agents. Invest Radiol 1988; 23(Suppl 1):S236-S239. The blood clearance kinetics of five gadolinium complexes, Gd(L), were determined in rats and the results interpreted in terms of an open two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. The complexes were tested in vitro for stability in serum and in aqueous solutions of ions that they might encounter in vivo and that might be expected to react with the Gd(L) complexes to produce uncomplexed gadolinium. Reaction with serum was observed in two instances. Chemical structural differences among the chelating ligands appear to govern the overall reactivity of their Gd(L) complexes. It may be inferred from the results that a preferred structural feature of the ligand is the presence of a 12-membered 1,4,7,10-tetraaza macrocycle.
Divided differences and the joint distribution of linear combinations of spacings

We present an identity which can sometimes express the joint distribution of several linear combinations of uniform spacings as a sum of simpler distributions. Examples are given to show that this identity is useful in the exact computation of probabilities and expectations which arise in testing for uniformity. The identity is also used to provide a new derivation of the distribution of a linear combination of spacings.
Information loss in the transition from life to death assemblages of foraminifera in back reef environments, Key Largo, Florida

Despite numerous distributional studies of foraminifera in modern shallow-water carbonate environments, information loss and taphonomic bias in the transition from life to death assemblages of foraminifera in these environments have not previously been examined in detail. Surface sediment and vegetation samples were collected along six nearshore traverses and one traverse across the back reef lagoon off Key Largo, Florida. Living foraminifera are found in abundance on algae and the marine angiosperm, Thalassia testudinum, while foraminifera in sediment assemblages are represented primarily by empty tests. Q-mode cluster analysis of living assemblages on Thalassia delineates inshore (depth 0.4–2.7 m) and offshore (3.0–9.0 m) back reef biofacies. Calcareous imperforate (suborder Miliolina) species thrive in quiet waters of the inshore biofacies, in which biotic interactions appear to be the prime factor in determining small-scale species distributions of living foraminifera. Fragile species are most susceptible to test destruction, and, therefore, sediment assemblages are dominated by more robust forms (e.g., Archaias angulatus, Valvulina oviedoiana, thick-walled species of Quinqueloculina). Water turbulence primarily determines species composition of living populations of the offshore biofacies. These assemblages are dominated by the calcareous perforate (suborder Rotaliina) species Planorbulina acervalis and Rosalina bahamaensis. These species resist transport by encrusting Thalassia blades and having a test which fits flush with grass blades, respectively. However, sediment assemblages of the offshore biofacies are also dominated by typical inshore, robust species (Archaias angulatus, thick-walled miliolids). Thus, inshore and offshore biofacies are not readily differentiated by Q-mode cluster analysis of sediment assemblages. Robust species are wide ranging and often abundant in sediment because of differential preservation and time-averaging of sediment assemblages. The resultant taphonomic bias may interfere with paleoecologic interpretations concerning intensity of water energy and distance from shore.
Development of New Pentaplex PCR Assay for Differentiating Staphylococci from Other Bacteria with Simultaneous Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Genes Encoding Panton-Valentine Leukocidin and Methicillin Resistance

In some human infections including those of blood, skin and respiratory tract, the causative bacterial agents tend to overlap, especially Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. Such overlaps constitute difficulties in the choice of diagnostic tools, antibacterial chemotherapy and infection control strategies. To resolve this challenge, we developed a pentaplex PCR assay which simultaneously detects sequences for the recognition of bacteria (bacterial 16S rRNA), the genus staphylococcus translation elongation factor Tu (tuf), Staphylococcus aureus (spa), mecA-encoded Original Research Article Okolie and James; JABB, 2(4): 250-259, 2015; Article no.JABB. 2015.025 251 staphylococcal methicillin resistance (mecA) and the S. aureus Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) virulence factor (pvl). The new pentaplex PCR assay was validated using standard bacterial strains (N=377) including strains from the Network on Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (NARSA), the National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC), and the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB). The new pentaplex PCR assay enables inference of bacterial presence/absence, differentiates between the genus Staphylococcus spp. and other bacteria, separates S. aureus from other Staphylococcus spp. , differentiates between methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant staphylococci, and detects the S. aureus PVL gene locus. The negative predictive value was 100% while the positive predictive value was 100%. Using a 96-well plate, the time to result was 2.5 hours against ≥24 hours by bacteriological culture. The new pentaplex PCR assay can easily be integrated into routine diagnostic microbiology workflow especially for laboratories with slim budgets which are unable to incorporate next generation sequencing at the moment.
Preferences Over Taxation of High-Income Individuals: Evidence from a Survey Experiment

Mobility of high-income individuals across borders puts pressure on governments to lower taxes. A central tenet of the corresponding textbook argument is that mobile individuals react to tax differentials through migration, and in turn immobile individuals vote for lower taxes. We investigate to which extent this argument is complete. In particular, political ideology may influence voting on taxes. We vary mobility and foreign taxes in a survey experiment within the German Internet Panel (GIP), with more than 3,000 individuals participating. We find that while the treatment effects qualitatively confirm model predictions how voters take mobility of high-income earners into account when choosing domestic taxes, ideology matters: left-leaning high-income individuals choose higher taxes and emigrate less frequently than right-leaning ones. These findings are in line with the comparativestatic predictions of a simple model of inequality aversion when the aversion parameters vary with ideology
Myalgia with the presence of pathologic EMG correlates with perimysial inflammatory infiltrates

Objective We aimed to define normal numbers of inflammatory cells in muscle biopsies and to identify the predictive value of isolated muscle pain and increased creatine kinase regarding the diagnosis of myositis. Methods We analyzed muscle biopsies of 71 patients using immunostains for CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD68+, major histocompatibility complex class I, perforin, and myeloid-related protein (MRP) 8. Patients were categorized as follows—group 1: myalgia without further clinical or laboratory abnormalities (n = 24); group 2: asymptomatic elevation of creatine kinase (hyperCKemia, n = 26); group 3: myalgia and pathologic EMG findings (n = 9); and group 4: otherwise healthy controls who had malignant hyperthermia susceptibility testing (n = 12). Results In the normal muscle biopsy specimens from group 4, mean endomysial macrophage (CD68+) density was 21.7 ± 5.6/mm2, and perimysial density was 13.0 ± 5.6/mm2. Numbers of T-lymphocytes (CD3+) were 5 ± 3.5 endomysially and 2.2 ± 3.9/mm2 perimysially. This was not different from groups 1 and 2. Only group 3 patients had increased mean numbers of perimysial macrophages (24.1 ± 6.3/mm2; p = 0.0005), CD3+ (7.6 ± 4.9/mm2; p = 0.0056), and CD8+ T-lymphocytes (5.4 ± 3.1/mm2; p = 0.0008) and displayed the activation marker MRP8 in all cases. Although inflammatory cells were increased in the perimysium in group 3, histology did not fulfill the criteria for dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or inclusion body myositis. Conclusions Normal muscle contains a considerable number of macrophages and T-lymphocytes. Muscle biopsy is likely to detect inflammatory changes in patients with myalgia or hyperCKemia only if pathologic EMG findings are present.
Suction samplers are a valuable tool to sample arthropod assemblages for conservation translocation

An important component of recent nature conservation is the ecological restoration of semi‐natural grasslands. The aim of such projects is usually the restoration of typical plant communities; translocation of animals, by contrast, plays only a minor role. This is based on the assumption that a recovery of the flora will lead to recovered fauna; however, this is not always the case. Suction samplers with gauze collection bags are well suited to sample arthropods, and they may also be helpful for transferring animals. However, to date, the suitability of suction samplers as a translocation tool is unclear due to a lack of empirical data on the mortality rate of the sampled arthropod taxa. In this study, we sampled arthropods (leafhoppers, spiders, beetles, and true bugs) with a suction sampler on 21 calcareous grasslands. Immediately after sampling, animals were stored in collection bags and their mortality rate was determined. We compared storage periods (1, 2, and 3 h) and tested the suitability of a cool box to reduce mortality rates. Our study revealed that arthropod mortality was generally low (9% of all sampled individuals); however, the survival rate was affected by (1) storage time, (2) storage conditions, and (3) arthropod group. The mortality of beetles and true bugs was very low and not influenced by storage time or storage conditions. In contrast, leafhoppers and spiders had higher mortality, which increased with storage time and decreased by the use of a cool box. According to our results, suction samplers can be a valuable tool to sample arthropod assemblages for conservation translocation. In order to reduce mortality in sensitive groups such as leafhoppers and spiders, the storage process can be optimised. We thus recommend (1) using a cool box and (2) minimising the period until release of the collected arthropods at the restored site.
Comparative proteomic analysis between fifth‐instar nymphs and adults of Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri

Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is extremely problematic worldwide, particularly where Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, the most serious and devastating of citrus diseases, is found. The threat is a result of its ability to transmit the causal agent of HLB, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) bacterium. Improvements in proteomics, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics tools and gene ontology annotation facilitate the mapping and large‐scale identification and quantification of proteins. To date, only a few comparative proteomic studies report the developmental proteomic changes of hemimetabolous and plant–disease vector insects. Two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of D. citri total protein is able to detect qualitative and quantitative developmental differences. Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry identifies 89 protein spots. Most proteins are metabolism and bioenergetics‐related. Nineteen protein spots are found to be implicated in stress/defence/immunity; 7 in development regulation; 9 in nervous system functions; 4 in the reproductive system; 23 in cytoskeleton and muscle organization; and 4 in movement, flight and other processes. Significant increases in the level of proteins related to structural constitution of the skeleton, stress/defence/immunity, reproduction system, muscles, locomotion and flight are found in adults, consistent with the fact that D. citri is a hemimetabolous insect, whereas proteins involved in developmental regulation are higher in the nymphal stage. The identification of these variably expressed proteins between the nymph and adult stages, linked with the basis of their physiological roles, will lead to a better understanding of the factors influencing development in D. citri and the regulation of some crucial metabolic pathways. It may also help to identify targets for genetic manipulation using RNA interference or other techniques to disrupt Asian citrus psyllid development, lifespan or its ability to transmit CLas.
Contextual Chemical Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach to the Chemical Ecology of Insects

Insects are notoriously variable in their behavioral response to chemical substances. Much of this variability often is explained best by defining the context under which these substances are encountered and developing hypotheses that incorporate the role of natural selection (that is, evolutionary hypotheses) on behavioral responses. Examples from 3 different systems: (1) marking pheromones in fruit flies, (2) alarm pheromones in aphids, and (3) sex pheromones in bark beetles, are used to illustrate how an evolutionary approach can be used to construct testable hypotheses about the chemical ecology of insects.
3D Pen Tactile Pictures Generated by Individuals with Visual Impairments

Introduction: Individuals with visual impairments acquire information about objects through touch and by use of auxiliary tactile pictures. The current study introduced a new three-dimensional (3D) printing pen technology as a research tool to allow individuals with visual impairments to convert tactile experiences to convex tactile pictures. Methods: Participants with visual impairments used a 3D pen to draw pictures of daily necessities. The actions and time related to the entire drawing activity were recorded on video. Results: We noted three behaviors during the use of 3D pen: drawing, touching the trace lines, and finding location points. The object-depiction angle, component-completeness description, and drawing-line presentation differed between subjects with congenital and those with acquired blindness. Discussion: Individuals with congenital blindness depicted objects mainly from an operational angle, and those with acquired blindness from the angle of the object when laid flat. When the components of an object were relatively complex, the subjects with congenital blindness only drew local features in contact with their bodies and with continuous line segments, and those with acquired blindness used discontinuous line segments. Participants were satisfied that the 3D printing pen could touch the drawing path in time and that they could use the “piling” feature to create positioning marks or planar expressions. Implications for practitioners: Students can be instructed to use 3D pens to draw (lines, planes, and objects) to enhance the communication between teachers and students and improve teaching efficiency. Regarding the design of tactile pictures, the parts that come in contact with the body during object use can be considered the reference features of the pictures. For large pictures, attention should be paid to the size ratio between the outline and components. For small pictures, one should consider how the operational feature details should be shown at approximately the original size.