Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Karyotypic Study on Four Species of the Indonesian Fruit-Eating Bats, Belonging to Cynopterus, Eonycteris and Macroglossus (Chiroptera: Pteropidae)

SUMMARYThe karyotypes of four Indonesian pteropid bats, Cynopterus brachyotis javanicus, C. sphinx titthaecheilus (subfamily Pteropinae), Eonycteris spelaea spelaea and Macroglossus minimus minimus (subfamily Macroglossinae), are reported. On the basis of the comparison of our data and the karyotypes of the pteropid bats studied so far, it is assumed that the common ancestor of the two subfamilies possessed the karyotype with 2n = 36, FN = 68 or near and one pair of the marker chromosomes. The karyotypic difference found in Macroglossus and Eonycteris is considered to have resulted from the combination of some changing mechanisms occurring in the four pairs of small autosomes found in the complements of Eonycteris, but not pericentric inversion alone.
Climate and land‐use interactively shape butterfly diversity in tropical rainforest and savanna ecosystems of southwestern China

Human‐induced habitat conversion and degradation, along with accelerating climatic change, have resulted in considerable global biodiversity loss. Nevertheless, how local ecological assemblages respond to the interplay between climate and land‐use change remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of climate and land‐use interactions on butterfly diversity in different ecosystems of southwestern China. Specifically, we investigated variation in the alpha and beta diversities of butterflies in different landscapes along human‐modified and climate gradients. We found that increasing land‐use intensity not only caused a dramatic decrease in butterfly alpha diversity but also significantly simplified butterfly species composition in tropical rainforest and savanna ecosystems. These findings suggest that habitat modification by agricultural activities increases the importance of deterministic processes and leads to biotic homogenization. The land‐use intensity model best explained species richness variation in the tropical rainforest, whereas the climate and land‐use intensity interaction model best explained species richness variation in the savanna. These results indicate that climate modulates the effects of land‐use intensity on butterfly alpha diversity in the savanna ecosystem. We also found that the response of species composition to climate varied between sites: specifically, species composition was strongly correlated with climatic distance in the tropical rainforest but not in the savanna. Taken together, our long‐term butterfly monitoring data reveal that interactions between human‐modified habitat change and climate change have shaped butterfly diversity in tropical rainforest and savanna. These findings also have important implications for biodiversity conservation under the current era of rapid human‐induced habitat loss and climate change.
Dissemination biases in ecology: effect sizes matter more than quality

Publication and citation decisions in ecology are likely influenced by many factors, potentially including journal impact factors, direction and magnitude of reported effects, and year of publication. Dissemination bias exists when publication or citation of a study depends on any of these factors. We defined several dissemination biases and determined their prevalence across many sub-disciplines in ecology, then determined whether or not data quality also affected these biases. We identified dissemination biases in ecology by conducting a meta-analysis of citation trends for 3867 studies included in 52 meta-analyses. We correlated effect size, year of publication, impact factor and citation rate within each meta-analysis. In addition, we explored how data quality as defined in meta-analyses (sample size or variance) influenced each form of bias. We also explored how the direction of the predicted or observed effect, and the research field, influenced any biases. Year of publication did not influence citation rates. The first papers published in an area reported the strongest effects, and high impact factor journals published the most extreme effects. Effect size was more important than data quality for many publication and citation trends. Dissemination biases appear common in ecology, and although their magnitude was generally small many were associated with theory tenacity, evidenced as tendencies to cite papers that most strongly support our ideas. The consequences of this behavior are amplified by the fact that papers reporting strong effects were often of lower data quality than papers reporting much weaker effects. Furthermore, high impact factor journals published the strongest effects, generally in the absence of any correlation with data quality. Increasing awareness of the prevalence of theory tenacity, confirmation bias, and the inattention to data quality among ecologists is a first step towards reducing the impact of these biases on research in our field.
Does QUIC Suit Well With Modern Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Techniques?

This letter provides a thorough analysis of various recent adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) techniques over Google’s QUIC protocol. More specifically, we focus on the recent developments of the ABR techniques using control theoretic and reinforcement learning based approaches, and compare their performances over HTTP/TCP and HTTP/QUIC in terms of a wide range of video quality of experience (QoE) parameters. We observe that these ABR techniques are more compatible with HTTP/TCP compared to HTTP/QUIC, and the features of QUIC demands for new ABR technique which can balance the three fundamental QoE parameters – bitrate, smoothness and rebuffering during a video playback.
Improving End-to-End Single-Channel Multi-Talker Speech Recognition

Although significant progress has been made in single-talker automatic speech recognition (ASR), there is still a large performance gap between multi-talker and single-talker speech recognition systems. In this article, we propose an enhanced end-to-end monaural multi-talker ASR architecture and training strategy to recognize the overlapped speech. The single-talker end-to-end model is extended to a multi-talker architecture with permutation invariant training (PIT). Several methods are designed to enhance the system performance, including speaker parallel attention, scheduled sampling, curriculum learning and knowledge distillation. More specifically, the speaker parallel attention extends the basic single shared attention module into multiple attention modules for each speaker, which can enhance the tracing and separation ability. Then the scheduled sampling and curriculum learning are proposed to make the model better optimized. Finally the knowledge distillation transfers the knowledge from an original single-speaker model to the current multi-speaker model in the proposed end-to-end multi-talker ASR structure. Our proposed architectures are evaluated and compared on the artificially mixed speech datasets generated from the WSJ0 reading corpus. The experiments demonstrate that our proposed architectures can significantly improve the multi-talker mixed speech recognition. The final system obtains more than 15% relative performance gains in both character error rate (CER) and word error rate (WER) compared to the basic end-to-end multi-talker ASR system.
The Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Combined With Meibomian Gland Expression for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease Due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with Meibomian gland expression (MGX), and instant warm compresses combined with MGX, for treatment of dry eye disease (DED) due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: In a prospective, multicenter, interventional study, 120 subjects with DED due to MGD were randomized 1:1 to an IPL arm or a control arm. Each subject was treated 3 times at 3-week intervals. The primary outcome measure was the tear break up time (TBUT). Tear break up time and a few additional outcome measures were evaluated at the baseline and at 3 weeks after the last treatment. Results: All outcome measures improved in both arms, but in general, the improvement was significantly larger in the IPL arm. Tear break up time increased by 2.3±1.9 and 0.5±1.4 sec, in the IPL and control arms respectively (P<0.001). SPEED was reduced by 38% and 22% in the IPL and control arms, respectively (P<0.01). Meibomian Gland Yielding Secretion Score was improved by 197% in the IPL arm and 96% in the control arm. Corneal fluorescein staining also decreased by 51% and 24% in the IPL and control arms respectively, but the differences between the two arms were not statistically significant (P=0.61). A composite score of lid margin abnormalities improved in both arms, but more in the IPL arm (P<0.05). Conclusions: Intense pulsed light combined with MGX therapy was significantly more effective than instant warm compresses followed with MGX. This suggests that the IPL component has a genuine contribution to the improvement of signs and symptoms of DED.
Morphological studies of Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae) from the Australasian and Pacific regions

Ganoderma, a genus of approximately 214 described species has been deemed to be in taxonomic chaos. The difficulties stem from the large numbers of synonymies, widespread misuse of names, typification problems and a paucity of reliable morphological characters. In Australia, all of these problems are represented and the genus is in need of revision. In this study six species of Ganoderma were identified among several collections. A new species, G. steyaertanum sp. nov., is described from Australian and Indonesian material. This species has been commonly mistaken for G. lucidum, a species which is probably restricted to Europe and from which G. steyaertanum is genetically distinct. The remaining species were determined to be G. boninense, G. cupreum, G. incrassatum (a name which has not recently featured in literature), G. australe and G. weberianum. All were verified against type material except G. australe, which is in need of neotypification as the type is lost. G. tornatum, a widely accepted synonym, may take precedence; however, we have been unable to examine the type for verification. Based on morphology, G. polymorphum was identified as a synonym of G. cupreum. On the basis of morphology and previously published rDNA sequence studies, G. microsporum was considered a synonym of G. weberianum. A seventh species, G. colossum, has also been reported from Australia; however the specimen was not available for verification in this study.
Inflorescence Height Affects Visitation Behavior of Bees–A Case Study of an Aquatic Plant Community in Bolivia 1

We studied the bee fauna visiting a plant community of 10 species of flowering aquatic plants in an inundated savanna region in Bolivia. In total we observed 36 bee species in 17 genera at the flowers. Cluster analysis of the similarities among the plant species in terms of their visitor spectra showed a division into two groups: plants with inflorescence heights shorter than the grass height and plants with inflorescences projecting out of the surrounding vegetation. Larger bees of the genera Apis, Melipona, Bombus, and Xylocopa were observed only at flowers above the surrounding vegetation. Smaller, mainly solitary bees (e.g., Augochlorella, Ancyloscelis) visited flowers in the dense vegetation near the water surface. Analyses of the pollen loads revealed that most individuals were highly flower constant. When bees carried different pollen types, it was generally pollen from flowers within a single stratum. We discuss specialization, flower constancy, competition, and different foraging strategies as possible reasons for stratum fidelity.
Alveolar ridge preservation and early implant placement at maxillary central incisor sites: a prospective case series study.

PURPOSE To assess whether alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) with 90% deproteinized bovine bone mineral in a 10% collagen matrix (DBBMC) and resorbable type I/III porcine collagen matrix (CM) maintains sufficient bone volume for early implant placement 8 to 10 weeks after extraction of maxillary central incisors. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this case series study of 10 consecutively enrolled patients, sockets of maxillary single central incisors requiring extraction and early implant placement were grafted with DBBMC/CM. Ridge dimensions were measured pre-extraction and just prior to implant placement. RESULTS ARP maintained sufficient bone volume for implants to be placed in all sites. Compared to pre-extraction, there was a significant reduction in the orofacial dimensions of the ridge (1.4 ± 1.07 mm; 13.2% reduction) and the bone (0.7 ± 0.67 mm; 9.3%) at the coronal mid-facial region. A significant reduction in apicocoronal height of the crestal bone at midfacial (1.2 ± 0.78 mm) and palatal aspects was observed. On CBCT, a statistically significant reduction in alveolar ridge area occurred (10.9 ± 13.42 mm2 ; 12.2% reduction). To optimize aesthetic outcomes, 9/10 sites required additional low volume grafting at the coronal region, whereas 1 site required more extensive grating due to a facial bone dehiscence. At 1-year, the implant survival rate was 100% and median Pink Esthetic Score (PES) was 10 (range 9 - 13). CONCLUSIONS The novel approach of ARP using DBBMC/CM maintains sufficient bone volume for early implant placement 8.9 ± 0.97 weeks later, with a 100% survival rate one year after restoration.
Substituição do milho por polpa cítrica em rações com alta proporção de concentrado para cordeiros confinados

A polpa citrica desidratada (PC) e um subproduto altamente energetico e com potencial para substituir o milho em racoes de cordeiros desmamados precocemente. Dois experimentos foram realizados para avaliarem-se os efeitos da substituicao do milho por PC no desempenho de cordeiros e na digestibilidade das racoes. No Experimento 1, 64 cordeiros Santa Ines, com peso vivo inicial de 18 (±0,6) kg e 73 (±1) dias de idade, foram utilizados para avaliar o ganho de peso medio diario (GMD), o consumo de materia seca (CMS) e a conversao alimentar (CA). No experimento 2, 12 cordeiros foram mantidos em gaiolas para ensaio de metabolismo para determinar a digestibilidade aparente das racoes no trato digestorio total e o metabolismo de nitrogenio. Nos dois experimentos, os cordeiros foram alimentados com uma racao contendo 90% de concentrado (milho moido e/ou PC, farelo de soja e minerais) e 10% de feno de "coastcross" (Cynodon spp). A PC foi adicionada em 23,7; 46,1 e 68,4% da MS, substituindo o milho em 33, 67 e 100%, respectivamente. No Experimento 1, foi observado a maximizacao do GMD (267g dia-1) e do CMS (1,01kg dia-1), ate o teor de substituicao de 33% do milho pela PC. No Experimento 2, houve efeito linear (P 0,05) entre os tratamentos na digestiblidade aparente da materia orgânica e no balanco de nitrogenio.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process and outcome of thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke

Background The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still spreading across the world. Although the pandemic has an all-round impact on medical work, the degree of its impact on endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. Methods We continuously included AIS patients with large artery occlusion who underwent EVT in a comprehensive stroke center before and during the Wuhan shutdown. The protected code stroke (PCS) for screening and treating AIS patients was established during the pandemic. The efficacy and safety outcomes including the rate of successful reperfusion (defined as modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) graded 2b or 3) and time intervals for reperfusion were compared between two groups: pre-pandemic and pandemic. Results A total of 55 AIS patients who received EVT were included. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The time from hospital arrival to puncture (174 vs 125.5 min; p=0.002) and time from hospital arrival to reperfusion (213 vs 172 min; p=0.047) were significantly prolonged in the pandemic group compared with the pre-pandemic group. The rate of successful reperfusion was not significantly different between the two groups (85.7% (n=18) vs 88.2% (n=30); OR 0.971, 95% CI 0.785 to 1.203; p=1.000). Conclusion The results of this study suggest a proper PCS algorithm which combines the COVID-19 screening and protection measures could decrease the impact of the disease on the clinical outcomes of EVT for AIS patients to the lowest extent possible during the pandemic.
Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Hypertension Clinic in a Rural Primary Care Setting

Objective: To describe clinical pharmacy services provided in a rural North Carolina primary care clinic and assess the impact of these services on systolic and diastolic blood pressures in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study evaluated change in systolic and diastolic blood pressures from baseline, percentage of patients with blood pressure reductions, percentage at The Eight Joint National Committee (JNC 8) goal blood pressure, percentage at care gap closure defined as obtaining a blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg, and time to reach care gap closure. Results: The mean change in systolic blood pressure was −20.1 mm Hg (14.716-25.418, P < .0001) and the mean change in diastolic blood pressure was −8.8 mm Hg (5.449-12.117, P < .0001). Eighty percent of patients experienced blood pressure reductions from baseline, 51% met their respective JNC 8 goal blood pressure, and 48% met care gap closure. The average time to reach care gap closure was 23 weeks. Conclusion: When embedded within a primary care clinic in a rural setting, a pharmacist-managed hypertension clinic significantly improved both systolic and diastolic blood pressures of patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
Resolution of Drug-Resistant Hypertension by Adrenal Vein Sampling-guided Adrenalectomy: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Drug-resistant hypertension (RH) is a very high-risk condition involving many hypertensive patients, in whom primary aldosteronism (PA) is commonly overlooked. Hence, we aimed at determining if 1) adrenal vein sampling (AVS) can identify PA in RH patients, who are challenging because receiving multiple interfering drugs; 2) AVS-guided adrenalectomy can resolve high blood pressure resistance to treatment in these patients. Based on a pilot study we selected from 1016 consecutive patients referred to our Centre for "difficult-to-treat" hypertension those with RH, for an observational prospective cohort study. We excluded those non-adherent to treatment (by therapeutic drug monitoring) and those with pseudo-RH (by 24h blood pressure monitoring), which left 110 patients who met the ESC/ESH 2013 definition for RH. Of these patients, 77 were submitted to AVS, which showed unilateral PA in 27 (mean age 55 years; male/female 19/8). Therefore, these patients underwent AVS-guided laparoscopic unilateral adrenalectomy, which resolved RH in all: 20% were clinically cured in that they no longer needed any antihypertensive treatment; 96% were biochemically cured. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell from 165/100±26/14 mmHg at baseline, to 132/84±14/9 mmHg at 6 months after surgery (p<10-4for both) notwithstanding the fall of number and defined daily dose of antihypertensive drugs required to achieve blood pressure control (p <10-4 for both). A prominent regression of cardiac and renal damage was also observed. Thus, this study shows the feasibility of identifying PA by AVS in RH patients, and of resolving high blood pressure resistance to treatment in these patients by AVS-guided adrenalectomy.
Poster Abstract: The Utility of Wall-Blockage Modeling for Link Quality Prediction in Indoor IoT Deployments

We consider the problem of deployment of indoor multihop wireless networks for connecting sensors to a data collection station, in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The locations of the source nodes and the sink are fixed, and additional router nodes might be needed to create a connected network that provides the required quality of service (QoS). Practical constraints often dictate that these cannot be placed just anywhere, and so we assume that several potential relay locations are provided. The problem is then to design a multihop network connecting the sensors to the sink, using a minimal set of the potential relay locations, that meets the network QoS. A priori, the qualities of links terminating on potential locations are not known. We are interested in a predict-place-iterate approach for relay deployment. Thus, the quality of the deployed network depends on the quality of the link prediction model. In this work, we study the improvement in network deployment that is provided by including the number of intervening walls on the link, in addition to using link length, in the link prediction model. Our comprehensive study involving analysis, simulations and experimental validation demonstrates that including the number of walls in the link prediction model can lead to a larger probability of successful design, fewer router nodes, and fewer iterations until successful design.
QTL‐seq identifies BnaFT.A02 and BnaFLC.A02 as candidates for variation in vernalization requirement and response in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Summary Winter, spring and biennial varieties of Brassica napus that vary in vernalization requirement are grown for vegetable and oil production. Here, we show that the obligate or facultative nature of the vernalization requirement in European winter oilseed rape is determined by allelic variation at a 10 Mbp region on chromosome A02. This region includes orthologues of the key floral regulators FLOWERING LOCUS C (BnaFLC.A02) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (BnaFT.A02). Polymorphism at BnaFLC.A02 and BnaFT.A02, mostly in cis‐regulatory regions, results in distinct gene expression dynamics in response to vernalization treatment. Our data suggest allelic variation at BnaFT.A02 is associated with flowering time in the absence of vernalization, while variation at BnaFLC.A02 is associated with flowering time under vernalizing conditions. We hypothesize selection for BnaFLC.A02 and BnaFT.A02 gene expression variation has facilitated the generation of European winter oilseed rape varieties that are adapted to different winter climates. This knowledge will allow for the selection of alleles of flowering time regulators that alter the vernalization requirement of oilseed rape, informing the generation of new varieties with adapted flowering times and improved yields.