Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EVIDENCE OF ORIBATID MITE DETRITIVORY IN ANTARCTICA DURING THE LATE PALEOZOIC AND MESOZOIC

Abstract Despite their importance in breaking down lignified tissue today, much is still unknown about the role of mites in the fossil record, especially with reference to the Paleozoic–Mesozoic transition. This study examines permineralized peat from three localities in the central Transantarctic Mountains, ranging in age from Permian to Jurassic, for evidence of diversity and abundance of wood-boring mites. Evidence of mites, in the form of coprolites and tunnels in wood and other tissues, was found at all three localities; the Triassic site included more than 10 times as many wood borings as the Permian site. Our results supplement prior evidence of wood-boring mites during the Mesozoic and thereby fill in the known geologic range of this plant/animal interaction.
Influence of seed invigoration and water supply on morphophysiological traits of chickpea

A sub-sample of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L. cv.ILC482) seeds was kept as control and two other sub-samples with about 15% moisture content were aged at 40 °C for 10 and 12 days. Consequently, three seed lots with different levels of vigor were provided. These seed lots were soaked in distilled water at 15°C for 12 and 18 hours and then dried back to initial moisture content at a room temperature of 20-22°C. Then seeds were sown in the field as split plot factorial based on RCB design. Hydro-priming improved leaf temperature of plants. Hydro-priming also enhanced grain yield of plants from all seed lots. Plants from high vigor seed lot had higher stem height and grain yield under different irrigation treatments, compared with those from low vigor seed lots. Leaf water content of chickpea plants from hydro-primed seeds was more than the plants from unprimed seeds. It was concluded that hydro-priming can somewhat repair aged seeds and improve their performance under different irrigation treatments
Aquiluscidin, a Cathelicidin from Crotalus aquilus, and the Vcn-23 Derivative Peptide, Have Anti-Microbial Activity against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria

Anti-microbial peptides play a vital role in the defense mechanisms of various organisms performing functions that range from the elimination of microorganisms, through diverse mechanisms, to the modulation of the immune response, providing protection to the host. Among these peptides, cathelicidins, a well-studied family of anti-microbial peptides, are found in various animal species, including reptiles. Due to the rise in anti-microbial resistance, these compounds have been suggested as potential candidates for developing new drugs. In this study, we identified and characterized a cathelicidin-like peptide called Aquiluscidin (Aq-CATH) from transcripts obtained from the skin and oral mucosa of the Querétaro’s dark rattlesnake, Crotalus aquilus. The cDNA was cloned, sequenced, and yielded a 566-base-pair sequence. Using bioinformatics, we predicted that the peptide precursor contains a signal peptide, a 101-amino-acid conserved cathelin domain, an anionic region, and a 34-amino-acid mature peptide in the C-terminal region. Aq-CATH and a derived 23-amino-acid peptide (Vcn-23) were synthesized, and their anti-microbial activity was evaluated against various species of bacteria in in vitro assays. The minimal inhibitory concentrations against bacteria ranged from 2 to 8 μg/mL for both peptides. Furthermore, at concentrations of up to 50 μM, they exhibited no significant hemolytic activity (<2.3% and <1.2% for Aquiluscidin and Vcn-23, respectively) against rat erythrocytes and displayed no significant cytotoxic activity at low concentrations (>65% cell viability at 25 µM). Finally, this study represents the first identification of an antimicrobial peptide in Crotalus aquilus, which belongs to the cathelicidin family and exhibits the characteristic features of these peptides. Both Aq-CATH and its derived molecule, Vcn-23, displayed remarkable inhibitory activity against all tested bacteria, highlighting their potential as promising candidates for further antimicrobial research.
Mantle evolution in Venus due to magmatism and phase transitions: From punctuated layered convection to whole‐mantle convection

A series of numerical models of magmatism and mantle convection with a stagnant lithosphere are developed to understand the mantle evolution in Venus. Magmatism is modeled as a permeable flow of basaltic magma generated by decompression melting, and the solid‐state convection of mantle materials with temperature‐dependent Newtonian rheology is affected by the garnet‐perovskite transition and the postspinel transition. In our preferred models, the mantle evolves in two stages: The earlier stage is characterized by layered mantle convection punctuated by repeated bursts of hot material from the deep mantle to the surface. Mantle bursts induce vigorous magmatism and also cause the basaltic crust, enriched in heat‐producing elements (HPEs), to recycle into the mantle. A part of the recycled basaltic crusts accumulates along the postspinel boundary to form a barrier, and this basalt barrier causes mantle convection to become layered. At a later stage, when the HPEs have already decayed, in contrast, the basalt barrier disappears and whole‐mantle convection occurs more steadily. Mild magmatism is induced by small‐scale partial melting at the base of the crust and hot plumes from the deep mantle. The internal heating by the HPEs that recycled into the mantle in the earlier stage allows the magmatism of the later stage to continue throughout the calculated history of mantle evolution. The two stages arise when the barrier effect of the postspinel transition is weak and the lithosphere is mechanically strong enough. The two‐stage evolution model meshes with the observed history of magmatism and the lithosphere on Venus.
Traditional Versus Sequenced Choropleth Maps/An Experimental Investigation

Modern computer technology provides cartographers with a host of new display potentialities not possible with traditional printed maps. One of these is sequencing, or the display of map elements in a particular order. This paper evaluates sequencing of choropleth maps via reaction time experiments with human subjects. Informal experiments reveal that subjects favor some form of sequencing, while formal experiments show no significant difference between traditional and sequenced maps for either information acquisition or memory. Since subjects find sequencing appealing and it does not appear to have negative effects on map learning, software developers may wish to consider including it as part of their cartographic display systems. Les cartographes ont acces, grâce a l'actuelle technologie informatique, a un eventail de nouvelles possibilites d'affichage jusque la inaccessibles avec l'impression des cartes traditionnelles. Une de ces possibilites repose sur l'affichage sequentiel d'elements cartographiques.
Spacial variability in plankton size structure and community composition along biogeochemical gradients in the Pacific Ocean

The size structure of upper ocean plankton assemblages appears to play an important role in determining the efficiency of the biological carbon pump and the resulting magnitude of biologically-mediated carbon export to the deep sea. To evaluate spatial variability in the size structure and community composition of plankton assemblages in the upper ocean measurements of size-fractionated chlorophyll a (Chi a), phycoerythrin and adenosine 5' -triphosphate (A1P) concentrations along with picoplankton abundances and taxonomic pigment biomarkers were assessed during the BEACH-BASH transect cruise from American Samoa to Honolulu, Hawaii in March 2005. Sampling for this study spanned four different biogeochemical provinces including the oligotrophic South Pacific Subtropical Gyre (SPSG), the relatively nutrient-enriched equatorial upwelling provinces, the Pacific Equatorial Divergence (PEQD) and the North Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent (PNEC), and the oligotrophic North Pacific Tropical Gyre (NPTG). Overall, nutrient concentrations were highest in the PEQD province, coinciding with the strong westerly South Equatorial Current (SEC) and the region of equatorial upwelling, and lowest in the SPSG and NPTG. Chi a and phycoerythrin concentrations throughout the transect were overwhelmingly dominated by picoplankton (0.2-2 f.UD.), accounting for 45 60 % of the total Chi a and 80 95 % of the total phycoerythrin throughout the transect. Flow cytometry measurements indicate that the picoplankton community composition was dominated by cyanobacteria of two genera; Prochlorococcus spp. and Synechococcus spp. and these groups accounted for most of the Chi a biomass throughout the transect. Picoeukaryotes also contributed to picoplankton abundances; however iv despite the likelihood of many species being present they remain largely unidentified. Total microbial biomass estimates via particulate ATP (P-ATP) measurements showed high variability with the occasional occurrence of larger heterotrophic organisms (>20 J.Lffi and 2-10 J.Lffi) which are not accounted for in Chi a biomass estimates. However, their distribution is sure to play an important role in regulating size structure and food web dynamics. Measurements of taxonomic pigment markers by HPLC confirmed the overwhelming dominance of prochlorophytes and cyanobacteria throughout the transect, however a transition in community composition in the PEQD province was observed. This transition was attributed to the increase in taxonomic pigment markers of chromophyte microalgae (i.e. prymnesiophytes, pelagophytes and diatoms).
Sample contamination by grinding

The extent of contamination resulting from the use of hardened high-carbon steel grinding plates, a chrome-steel shatterbox, a tungsten carbide shatterbox, an agate mortar and a corundum-ceramic handmill was evaluated on samples of Ottawa Sand Standard (>DVo SiO). These samples, after preparation in each of the different types of equipment, were analyzed for twenty-one major, minor and trace elements by X-ray-fluorescence methods and for five rare-earth elements by flameless atomic absorption. Semiquantitative results show that the agate mortar produced no measurable contamination. Other materials contributed the following: corundum-ceramic contaminated the samples with Al, Mg, Ba, Cu, Zn and Cr; tungsten carbide, with Co, M and W; chrome steel, with Fe, Cr and Mn; and hardened high-carbon steel, with Fe, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu and Ni.
On the evolution of a magnetic flux rope: Two‐dimensional MHD simulation results

We use the time‐dependent, two‐dimensional (2‐D), ideal MHD equations to simulate and investigate the evolution of magnetic field and plasma profiles of the typical (T) and crater (C) magnetic flux ropes (FRs). The T‐FR has a magnetic pressure peak at the center of the flux rope, while the C‐FR has a local dip instead. The simulation starts with a 2‐D magnetic flux rope in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium, where pressure gradient forces are balanced by Lorentz forces. The magnetic field and plasma pressure profiles for the initial flux rope are derived from the analytical solutions by Zhang et al. (2010). The initial flux rope starts to evolve when the force balance is broken by imposing pressure or magnetic field perturbations onto the equilibrium system. The pressure perturbations are produced by increasing/decreasing the internal plasma pressure of the flux rope, while the magnetic field perturbations are produced by increasing/decreasing the transverse magnetic fields across the flux rope. We conclude that a T‐FR can be evolved into a C‐FR and vice versa, if the perturbation strength is sufficient, and that the plasma pressure and density in the new equilibrium state could be either increased or decreased for the evolution of C‐FR to T‐FR and also for the evolution of T‐FR to C‐FR.
Proline and Proline Analogues Improve Development of Mouse Preimplantation Embryos by Protecting Them against Oxidative Stress

The culture of embryos in the non-essential amino acid L-proline (Pro) or its analogues pipecolic acid (PA) and L-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid (L4T) improves embryo development, increasing the percentage that develop to the blastocyst stage and hatch. Staining of 2-cell and 4-cell embryos with tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate showed that the culture of embryos in the presence of Pro, or either of these analogues, reduced mitochondrial activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively, indicating potential mechanisms by which embryo development is improved. Inhibition of the Pro metabolism enzyme, proline oxidase, by tetrahydro-2-furoic-acid prevented these reductions and concomitantly prevented the improved development. The ways in which Pro, PA and L4T reduce mitochondrial activity and ROS appear to differ, despite their structural similarity. Specifically, the results are consistent with Pro reducing ROS by reducing mitochondrial activity while PA and L4T may be acting as ROS scavengers. All three may work to reduce ROS by contributing to the GSH pool. Overall, our results indicate that reduction in mitochondrial activity and oxidative stress are potential mechanisms by which Pro and its analogues act to improve pre-implantation embryo development.
Estuarine use by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) : is it a viable life history stratecy

Across its geographic distribution in North America and Eurasia, juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) utilize an array of different freshwater habitats prior to moving seaward. These freshwater habitats include streams, lakes, beaver ponds, and off-channel sites. In recent years, pre-smolt juvenile coho salmon use of other habitats such as estuaries has been documented. This finding raises the question of whether or not estuarine use by pre-smolt coho salmon is a viable alternative life history? Juvenile pre-smolt coho were present in the upper intertidal portion of the Salmon River estuary from May through November with peak abundance occurring in August. Coho salmon use of an experimental tidal channel was similar to that of a nearby natural channel. Coho densities were similar in the two habitats. Mean residence time in the upper estuary was estimated to be 13.4 and 7.1 days in 1989 and 1990, respectively. It is postulated that the presence of a low tide refuge in the experimental channel lengthened residence time and increased site fidelity. Both young-of-the-year and yearling pre-smolt coho were captured in the estuary. By late summer, high estuarine growth rates of young-of-the-year fish enabled them to grow to the size of yearling coho. The age structure of the estuarine coho population shifted from predominantly young-of-the-year coho in spring and early summer to yearling coho in late summer and fall. Agonistic behaviour has been proposed as a potential cause for the emigration of stream resident coho to the estuary. Observations of juvenile coho in a stream and in an estuarine tidal channel indicated that stream coho defended territories and were highly aggressive while estuarine coho aggregated into small groups and were infrequently aggressive. In mirror image stimulation (MIS) experiments, stream resident forms were found to be more
Embargo and Engagement: Assessing the Landscape of US-Cuba Relations

US-Cuban history is filled with many historical events. The history goes way back in 1900s when Cuba was a Spanish colony in the western hemisphere. The USA helped Cuba fight and win war against the Spanish. After that the relations entered into another phase. Cuba even stayed under the US influence due to threat of colonial powers. But major shift in relations came after the end of WW-II in the 1959 when Fidel Castro overthrew the regime of Batista after the Cuban revolution started in 1953 and ended in 1959 and rose to power. Initially the USA backed this activity of Castro but later regrated when the demeanor of Cuba changed and Castro brought communism to the island and nationalized all the lands previously owned by the USA. This led to an embargo imposed by the USA on Cuba which further halted the relations. Then in the Cuban missile crisis put the last nail in the coffin when Cuba and USSR worked together on deployment of nuclear missiles on the island. The was the only time after Hiroshima and Nagasaki Incident that a nuclear was at the shore. Since then, the US sanctions on the island has been tightening and denting the relations further. Every President that came to the oval office has been following the identical policy regarding Cuba. The major significant change came in the second term of Barak Obama when he practically took actions to bring warmth in the US-Cuban relations.
Sediment Flow and Deformation (SFD) Layers: Evidence for Intrastratal Flow in Laminated Muddy Sediments of the Triassic Osawa Formation, Northeast Japan

ABSTRACT Thin chaotic layers containing abundant intraformational mud clasts are found in the offshore laminated mudstone of the Triassic Osawa Formation in northeast Japan. The geometry and internal structures of the layers are somewhat similar to those of slump/slide or debris-flow deposits, however, the layers have both upper and lower erosional contacts. Projections of host sediments and mud clasts with planed surfaces are identified beneath the upper contact of the layers. Closely packed sheet-form or ellipsoidal mud clasts are embedded in a poorly sorted fine- to coarse-grained sandy matrix. Some mud clasts are tightly folded, or show imbricated stacking. Internal layering structures are also well developed in the layers. The above features strongly suggest soft-sediment deformation as horizontal displacement of sand and mud under buried conditions. Here, we term these layers "sediment flow and deformation (SFD) layers. " Deformation layers with similar attributes have been identified by some prior authors, as in the case of flow of liquefied and/or fluidized host sand and clastic sill intrusion. However, the SFD layers described herein have more complex structure indicating advanced deformation. Occurrence of the SFD layers is stratigraphically limited to the uppermost part of the Osawa Formation, which is overlain by sand-rich submarine-fan deposits (the Fukkoshi Formation). It suggests that the stress field caused by differential loading of overlying deposits facilitated intrastratal flow and sill intrusions of sand. The vertical confinement was also controlled by the anisotropy in physical properties, such as tensile strength of laminated mud and/or conditions of gentle slope.
Prairie and arctic areal snow cover mass balance using a blowing snow model

Algorithms to calculate the threshold wind speed and the effect of exposed vegetation on saltation and to describe vertical profiles of humidity in blowing snow, permit the calculation of point blowing snow transport and sublimation fluxes using standard meteorological and landcover data or simple interfaces with climate models. Blowing snow transport and sublimation fluxes can be upscaled to calculate open environment snow accumulation by accounting for their variability over open snow fields, increase in transport and sublimation with fetch, and the effect of exposed vegetation on partitioning the shear stress available to drive transport. Blowing snow fluxes scaled in this manner were used to calculate snow mass balance and to simulate seasonal snow accumulation at a southern Saskatchewan prairie and an arctic site. Field measurements at these sites indicated that from 48% to 58% of snowfall was removed by blowing snow before melt began. Simulations suggest that the ratios of snow removed and sublimated by blowing snow to that transported were 2∶1 and 1∶1 at the prairie and arctic sites respectively. The resulting methodology was capable of estimating winter season mass balances for these snowpacks that compared well with snowfall and snow accumulation measurements.
Functional outcomes of patients in ICU using the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool: An integrative review

Background Outcome measures can assess the change in the health status of a patient in an intensive care unit (ICU). The Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment (CPAx) tool is used to assess the functional outcomes to monitor patient progression or regression in an ICU. Objectives Our study aimed to identify studies that assess the functional outcomes of patients nursed in ICUs that use the CPAx tool. Method An integrative review framework was used. Data were analysed in five steps to formulate a conclusion that aligned with the objective of our study. Data were extracted from peer-reviewed articles published online between 2013 and 2022. Databases that were used include Google Scholar, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and PubMed for reviewed articles. Keywords were used in the search strategy, and screening of abstracts was done to extract studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results We retrieved 41 studies, of which 11 matched the inclusion criteria. Data were thematically arranged into studies measuring the validity and reliability of the CPAx tool, using the CPAx tool to measure outcomes in the ICU, the tool used at ICU and hospital discharge. Conclusion The use of the CPAx tool has no impact on measuring the hospital length of stay or quality of life. Clinical implications The tool is comprehensive and enhances the accuracy of patient assessment.
Divine Compensation? Gender, Religiosity, and the Link Between Feeling Underpaid and Psychological Distress

Theoretical and empirical work within social psychology has highlighted the impact of the sense of distributive injustice—the evaluation of unfairness in the distribution of outcomes or rewards—and adverse mental health outcomes. Drawing on a sample of Canadian workers from the Canadian Work, Stress, and Health Study (CAN-WSH; N = 2,376), we consider whether three facets of religiosity—perceived divine control, religious attendance, and prayer—have stress buffering potency when it comes to perceived underpayment. We also test whether these associations vary by gender. Our results suggest that for men who reported being underpaid, higher levels of divine control were protective for psychological distress. By contrast, weekly religious attendance was a stress buffer for women who were underpaid. We draw from research at the intersection of sociology of religion and gender to interpret our findings. Taken as a whole, our findings underscore the importance of assessing religiously-based resources for individuals who perceive they are underpaid and speak to how understanding the effectiveness of coping resources, including those found within religious life, are contingent upon social status—a hallmark of the sociological tradition.