Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial indicators of plant community assembly from a 453-year sand-dune chronosequence

Background : We explored evidence for spatial patterning in vegetation across a sand-dune chronosequence spanning 453 years of primary succession to test for indications of a temporal signature of niche versus neutral processes during community assembly. Methods : The study was conducted on a series of dune-capped beach ridges located in Wilderness State Park in Emmet County of northern Lower Michigan, United States (45° 43′ N, 84° 56′ E). Nearest-neighbour survey data were subjected to species dispersion and association analyses. Results : Both species richness and species evenness showed the classic ‘hump-shaped’ relationship across successional time, suggesting that competition is an important force in structuring this community. However, the only evidence of intra-specific aggregation occurred in the youngest dune. Older dunes displayed random spatial structure and the oldest dunes tended toward a mix of random patterns and intra-specific segregation, i.e. with nearest neighbours more likely than by chance to be inter-specific. In addition, the frequency of species having lower neighbour-species richness than expected by chance was higher in younger, not older dunes. Species with significantly low neighbour richness (based on absolute nearest neighbours) on later dunes tended to have a high proportion of nearest neighbours that were intra-specific. Conclusions : The data provided no evidence that resident species in later succession have greater intra-specific aggregation or more niche differentiation based on horizontal niche space. The data are more consistent with theories of community assembly involving competitive equivalence and/or effects of facilitation.
EFECTO DEL ESTRÉS HÍDRICO APLICADO EN DISTINTOS PERIODOS DE DESARROLLO DE LA VID cv. CHARDONNAY EN LA PRODUCCIÓN Y CALIDAD DEL VINO

Durante las temporadas 1998/99, 1999/2000 y 2000/01 se realizo una investigacion en vides (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Chardonnay, con el objeto de evaluar los efectos de la restriccion hidrica sobre la produccion, calidad del vino, estado hidrico de las plantas y las reservas nutricionales de las raices. Los tratamientos aplicados fueron los siguientes: T1 y T2, aplicacion de agua equivalente al 100 y 40%, respectivamente, de la evapotranspiracion del cultivo (ETc) durante toda la temporada; T3, sin aplicacion de agua desde brotacion a pinta y reposicion del 100% de ETc de pinta hasta la cosecha; T4, aplicacion de agua equivalente al 100% de ETc entre brotacion y pinta, y suspension del riego desde pinta hasta la cosecha. La disminucion del aporte hidrico redujo en forma significativa el crecimiento de brotes y el diametro de bayas, lo que se tradujo en una disminucion del rendimiento. El periodo comprendido entre brotacion y pinta determino las mayores disminuciones de estas variables. Por otra parte, el deficit hidrico produjo un descenso en los carbohidratos de reserva del sistema radicular. La acidez total, la calidad global del vino y los fenoles presentes en el mosto, a diferencia de lo observado en vinos tintos, no aumentaron con los deficit hidricos. El potencial hidrico xilematico (SWP) medido a mediodia, fue un indicador adecuado del estado hidrico de las plantas. Las vides no sometidas a estres hidrico presentaron SWP superiores a -0,8 MPa, en tanto que las sometidas a deficit hidrico presentaron valores de -1,2 MPa.
Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets

Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: National Results from Phase I of HDS2000 Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: Phase I Supplement Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: Phase 2 Asians and Pacific Islanders Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: Phase 3 Native Americans Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: Phase 4 Persons with Disabilities
Measuring the Algorithmic Efficiency of Neural Networks

Three factors drive the advance of AI: algorithmic innovation, data, and the amount of compute available for training. Algorithmic progress has traditionally been more difficult to quantify than compute and data. In this work, we argue that algorithmic progress has an aspect that is both straightforward to measure and interesting: reductions over time in the compute needed to reach past capabilities. We show that the number of floating-point operations required to train a classifier to AlexNet-level performance on ImageNet has decreased by a factor of 44x between 2012 and 2019. This corresponds to algorithmic efficiency doubling every 16 months over a period of 7 years. By contrast, Moore's Law would only have yielded an 11x cost improvement. We observe that hardware and algorithmic efficiency gains multiply and can be on a similar scale over meaningful horizons, which suggests that a good model of AI progress should integrate measures from both.
The ecology of fynbos: nutrients, fire and diversity.

Introduction: The Fynbos Biome Project Biogeography: Selective regime and time Flora and vegetation Plant diversity and endemism History of the Cape flora Ecology: Plant reproductive ecology Plant-animal relationships Competition and coexistence Plant structure and function Functional perspectives of ecosystems Management: Human settlement Plant and animal invasions Preservation of biotic diversity Ecosystem management Global perspective: A Californian's view of fynbos.
Above and below-ground competition between kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum) and meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii): a greenhouse study.

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum) is a perennial legume that shows potential for use in pasture mixtures in western Canada. Previous studies have shown that early growth of kura clover is reduced when grown in mixtures with grass species. A greenhouse study examined the relative importance of above- and below-ground competition on growth and development of kura clover when grown with a grass species. Kura clover plants were grown in pots with meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii) and barriers were put in place to remove all competition, shoot competition, root competition, or to allow full competition. After 12 wk, plants were harvested. Height, leaf area, leaf number, leaf dry weight, and root/crown dry weight were measured. Kura clover leaf number and leaf area were greatest when roots did not interact with meadow bromegrass roots. Vegetative biomass of kura clover doubled when there was no root competition. Shoot competition did not alter leaf number, leaf area, or leaf biomass. Successful establishm.
Extensive brain structural heterogeneity in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Identifying brain processes involved in the risk and development of mental disorders is a major aim. We recently reported substantial inter-individual heterogeneity in brain structural aberrations among patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Estimating the normative range of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) data among healthy individuals using a Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) enables us to map individual deviations from the healthy range in unseen datasets. Here we aim to replicate our previous results in an independent sample of patients with schizophrenia (n=166), bipolar disorder (n=135) and healthy individuals (n=687). In line with previous findings, our results revealed robust group level differences between patients and healthy controls, yet only a small proportion of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder exhibited extreme negative deviations from the norm in the same brain regions. These direct replications support that group level-differences in brain structure disguise considerable individual differences in brain aberrations, with important implications for the interpretation and generalization of group-level brain imaging findings to the individual with a mental disorder.
APOE e4 Genotype Predicts Severe COVID-19 in the UK Biobank Community Cohort

The novel respiratory disease COVID-19 produces varying symptoms, with fever, cough, and shortness of breath being common. In older adults, we found that pre-existing dementia is a major risk factor (OR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.71 to 5.50) for COVID-19 hospitalization in the UK Biobank (UKB). In another UK study of 16,749 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, dementia was among the common comorbidities and was associated with higher mortality. Additionally, impaired consciousness, including delirium, is common in severe cases. The ApoE e4 genotype is associated with both dementia and delirium, with the e4e4 (homozygous) genotype associated with high risk of dementia. We therefore aimed to test associations between ApoE e4 alleles and COVID-19 severity, using the UKB data.
Frontolimbic brain volume abnormalities in bipolar disorder with suicide attempts

Over 2.3 million people in the United States live with bipolar disorder. Sixty percent of those with a bipolar disorder diagnosis attempt suicide at least once in their lifetime, and up to 19% die by suicide. However, the neurobiology of suicide attempts in bipolar disorder remains unclear. Here, we studied the neuroanatomical basis for suicide attempt history in bipolar disorder by measuring gray matter volumes (GMV) to identify differences in brain-volumes in 121 participants with bipolar disorder type I, and healthy participants (n=40). The bipolar group consisted of individuals with suicide attempt history (n=23) and no suicide attempt history (n=58). All participants completed behavioral/diagnostic assessments and MRI measures of GMV. We focused on a predefined frontolimbic circuitry in bipolar disorder versus (vs.) healthy to first identify diagnostic GMV markers and to specifically identify markers for suicide attempt history. We found reduced GMV markers for bipolar diagnosis (i.e., bipolar<healthy) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC). Our observed DLPFC GMV abnormalities were associated with suicide attempt history and measures of individual variations in current suicidal ideation at the time of scanning. These results identified a frontolimbic-GMV marker for bipolar diagnosis and suicidal behavioral risk tendencies.
Estimating pre-symptomatic transmission of COVID-19: a secondary analysis using published data

Background: Understanding the extent of virus transmission that can occur before symptom onset is vital for targeting control measures against the global pandemic of COVID-19. Objective: Estimation of (1) the proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission of COVID-19 that can occur and (2) timing of transmission relative to symptom onset. Design: Secondary analysis of published data Data sources: Meta-analysis of COVID-19 incubation period and a rapid systematic review of serial interval and generation time, which are published separately. Methods: Simulations were generated of incubation period and of serial interval or generation time. From these, transmission times relative to symptom onset were calculated and the proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission was estimated. Results: A total of 23 estimates of serial interval and five estimates of generation time from 17 publications were included. These came from nine different data source categories (presented here in descending order of the proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission): Hong Kong, Tianjin, pooled data from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Singapore, Mainland China excluding Hubei, mixed sources, Shenzhen, northern Italy and Wuhan. Transmission time relative to symptom onset ranged from a mean of 2.05 days before symptom onset for Hong Kong to 1.72 days after symptom onset for Wuhan. Proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission ranged from 33.7% in Wuhan to 72.7% in Hong Kong. Based on individual estimates, transmission time relative to symptom onset ranged from mean of 2.95 days before symptom onset to 1.72 days after symptom onset and proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission ranged from 33.7% to 79.9%. Simple unweighted pooling of estimates based on serial intervals resulted in a mean time of transmission of 0.67 days before symptoms, and an estimated 56.1% of transmission occurring in the pre-symptomatic period. Conclusions: Contact rates between symptomatic infectious and susceptible people are likely to influence the proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission. There is substantial potential for pre-symptomatic transmission of COVID-19 in a range of different contexts. Our work suggests that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is most likely in the day before symptom onset whereas estimates suggesting most pre-symptomatic transmission highlighted a mean transmission times almost 3 days before symptom onset. These findings highlight the urgent need for extremely rapid and effective case detection, contact tracing and quarantine measures if strict social distancing measures are to be eased.
Nitrogen Fixation at 92°C by a Hydrothermal Vent Archaeon

A methanogenic archaeon isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal vent fluid was found to reduce N2 to NH3 at up to 92°C, which is 28°C higher than the current upper temperature limit of biological nitrogen fixation. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene of the hyperthermophilic nitrogen fixer, designated FS406-22, was 99% similar to that of non–nitrogen fixing Methanocaldococcus jannaschii DSM 2661. At its optimal growth temperature of 90°C, FS406-22 incorporated 15N2 and expressed nifH messenger RNA. This increase in the temperature limit of nitrogen fixation could reveal a broader range of conditions for life in the subseafloor biosphere and other nitrogen-limited ecosystems than previously estimated.
Early life history of Engraulicypris sardella (Cyprinidae) in Lake Malawi

Engrarulicypris sardella is the basis of an important artisanal and subsistence fishery in Lake Malawi. It is a small pelagic cyprinid growing to a maximum length of 13 cm and is the only fish species in the lake known to have pelagic larvae. Seasonal abundance and vertical distribution patterns of larvae were investigated in the offshore pelagic zone from March 1992 to January 1994. There was no evidence that E.sardella is a pelagic spawner. Growth rates were estimated by counting rings on the asteriscus otolith, and biomass and production calculated using a length-dry weight regression relationship. Distinct seasonal patterns were observed in the total numbers, biomass, production, and mortality, of larvae that were similar in both years of sampling. Mortality of larvae was lowest from July to December and highest from January to April. Mortality was, on average, higher in the south of the lake, and lower in the central and northern region. Low mortality of larvae coincided with the windy mixed period when primary and secondary production were at a maximum, and correlated with an increased focd supply at this time. It is suggested that the strength of the recruiting population is determined by mortality in the larval phase, rather than by the spawning stock biomass Larvae were found to be most abundant in the upper 50 m of the water column during the day and were virtually absent below 250 m. Larvae moved down by an average of 50 m at night.
Predicting Log Type and Knot Size Category Using External Log Shape Data from a 3D Log Scanner

The use of new technology such as 3D scanners for measuring log shape at sawmills is increasing. These scanners can provide a detailed model of log shape and evenness of the log mantle area. These data can be used for optimizing yield but also for predicting quality of the sawn goods. This report presents a model for quality - related log features based on data from a 3D log scanner. The model includes routines for development of variables related to four categories of log properties: surface unevenness, log taper, cross - sectional out - of - roundness and straightness. In total, 230 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) logs are used for developing and validating logistic regression models for sorting logs into classes of log type and knot size. The models are tested on validation data: 97% of the logs were sorted correctly according to log type and 79% were sorted correctly according to knot size.
The Ras AntagonistS-Farnesylthiosalicylic Acid Induces Inhibition of MAPK Activation

Abstract Inhibition of Ras-dependent signaling and of oncogenic Ras function by farnesyl transferase inhibitors that block Ras membrane anchorage is limited due to alternative prenylation of Ras. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of the Ras-dependent Raf-1-MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) cascade is achieved by S -farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) which affects Ras membrane association but not Ras farnesylation. FTS interferes with the activation of Raf-1 and MAPK and inhibits DNA synthesis in Ras-transformed EJ cells at concentrations similar to those at which it inhibits EJ cell growth (5–25 μM). FTS also inhibits MAPK activity and DNA synthesis stimulated by serum, EGF or thrombin in serum-starved untransformed Rat-1 cells, demonstrating the generality of its effects on Ras-dependent signaling. The effects of FTS on MAPK activity developed relatively rapidly (within 2–6 h) consistent with its rapid effect on Ras membrane anchorage. FTS represents a new class of Ras antagonists that may be useful for the inhibition of various types of oncogenic Ras isoforms independently of their prenylation.
Dynamics of appearance, flourishing, and extinction in the Devonian of radiolarians with two porous spheres and one main spine

The origin, basic evolutionary patterns, and great biotic crises in Phanerozoic radiolarian development were intimately connected with the geological history of the Earth. Glaciations and cold climate played a special role in radiolarian evolution. Radiolarians, which were typical for warm interglacial periods (greenhouse) disappeared during interglacial to glacial transition intervals (icehouse), and vice versa. Some possible regularities that resulted in increase radiolarian interglacial biodiversity, could be circumstanced by stabilization of climate and enhanced oceanic production. Biological mechanism, explaining these events, may be caused by phenomenon of solitary population waves (Kovalev, 2007). New species constantly appear under both favourable and severe conditions. Therefore, it is incorrect to propose that changes in global climatic conditions necessarily result in general deterioration of conditions in the habitats of all species. A crisis for some taxa is a chance for others (Kovalev et al., 2007; Chernykh et al., 2007). New morphological formations occurred usually under general stress. They probably invaded into global radiolarian fauna like a pandemic virus and instantaneously migrated to populations of remote water areas. Processes of expansion of species with morphological and/or physiological innovations into new ecological systems and adaptation to new niches are regarded as different phases of existence of populations. The phase of expansion is unique event of solitary population wave. In this situation, increasing number of alien taxa is accompanied by extreme increase of diversity. However, the capability of forming solitary population waves is only manifested in phylogenetically “juvenile taxa” (Kovalev, 2007). The Devonian radiolarians with two porous spheres and one main spine are a good object, where law of solitary population waves found whole confirmation. Four solitary population waves of expansion of examined radiolarian morphotype are observed during Devonian (Afanasieva & Amon, 2009). The first population wave emerged in the Early Emsian of Japan and it was attenuated in the Famennian of southern China. The second one started in the Middle Emsian of New South Wales and was accompanied by an explosive increase of new genera and species in the Early Frasnian of Western Australia. The third one emerged in the Late Emsian of Southern Urals and followed fan-shaped pattern of dispersal of new morphotype in the Late Eifelian of Prague Basin; in the Givetian of Northern Mugodzhary; in the Middle Frasnian of the Rudny Altai, Volga-Urals and Timan-Pechora basins; in the Late Frasnian of southern China, Rudny Altai, Northern Mugodzhary and Central Poland. In the Famennian, the third population wave was attenuated. The fourth population wave emerged in the Early Famennian of the Timan-Pechora Basin and showed circumradial expansion of this morphotype.
THE SOLID-STATE PHASE DIAGRAM OF THE PbTe-PbSe-Bi2Se3-Bi2Te3 RECIPROCAL SYSTEM

The solid-phase eqilibria in the Pb-Bi-Te-Se quaternary system along the reciprocal PbTePbSe-Bi2Se3-Bi2Te3 sub-system was investigated experimentally using Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray detector (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction XRD analyses of the equilibrated alloys. It was shown that the system featured by the formation of the tetradymite-type solid solutions based on the n(PbTe)·m(Bi2Te3) compounds (γ1, γ2 and γ3-phases)in the wide range of concentration. The narrow solid solutions having monoclinic structure fields were also revealed from the PbSe-Bi2Se3 boundary system based on its ternary [(PbSe)5]n[(Bi2Se3)3]m compounds (δ1, δ2 and δ3phases). The system has a quite complex phase equilibria scheme with numerous biphasic and triphasic phase areas.
The genus Cristulariella

The generic description of Cristulariella is emended and the fungus C. depraedans is redescribed. Both C. depraedans and C. pyramidalis are characterized by multicellular propagules which are distinct from the phialides each produces in culture. Cristulariella is not a synonym of Myrioconium, but the combination M. depraedans (Cooke) von Arx, referring to the phialides, may be legitimate. Cristulariella depraedans is reported on Acer circinatum and Aruncus sylvester from British Columbia and on Acer pennsylvanicum, A. rubrum, A. saccharum, and A. spicatum from Ontario.
Interleukins (IL)‐1 and IL‐2 control IL‐2 receptor α and β expression in immature thymocytes

Functional high‐affinity interleukin‐2 receptors (IL‐2R) contain three transmembrane proteins, IL‐2Rα, β and γ. We have investigated the expression of IL‐2Rα and β genes in immature mouse thymocytes. Previous work has shown that during differentiation these cells transiently express IL‐2Rα on their surface. Stimulation of IL‐2Rα+ and IL‐2Rα− immature thymocytes with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and calcium ionophore induces synthesis of IL‐2Rα and IL‐2Rβ mRNA. Most of this response depends on autocrine stimulation by IL‐2. IL‐1 synergizes with IL‐2 to induce a 120‐fold increase in IL‐2Rα mRNA and a 14‐fold increase in IL‐2Rβ mRNA levels. A large proportion of the stimulated cells contains both transcripts. These interleukins do not induce any differentiation to more mature phenotypes. Collectively, these results show that IL‐2 plays a major role in the regulation of IL‐2R expression in normal immature thymocytes. We suggest that this response to interleukins may be part of a homeostatic mechanism to increase the production of immature thymocytes during stress.
Evaluation of tree canopy epiphytes and bark characteristics associated with the presence of corticolous myxomycetes

Certain species of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) are regularly present with mosses, lichens, and algae. Corticolous myxomycetes were previously studied in the tree canopy, and observations suggested that species occurrence is patchy and species abundance may increase with the presence of bryophytes and lichens. The purpose of this study was to quantify the association of corticolous myxomycete species with percent cover of epiphytes and with bark characteristics, such as water absorption, bark thickness, and bark pH. Study sites were located in three temperate forests in the southeastern USA. The doubled rope climbing method was used to collect bark from trees and grapevines in a vertical transect up to 15 m above ground level. Moist chambers (374) were used to culture myxomycetes for 32 d. The percent cover of lichens, bryophytes, myxobacteria, and filamentous fungi were estimated in five 2 cm × 2 cm quadrats for 187 sample sites. Results showed no association between percent cover of epiphytes an.