Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forty new specimens of Ichthyornis provide unprecedented insight into the postcranial morphology of crownward stem group birds

Ichthyornis has long been recognized as a pivotally important fossil taxon for understanding the latest stages of the dinosaur–bird transition, but little significant new postcranial material has been brought to light since initial descriptions of partial skeletons in the 19th Century. Here, we present new information on the postcranial morphology of Ichthyornis from 40 previously undescribed specimens, providing the most detailed morphological assessment of Ichthyornis to date. The new material includes four partially complete skeletons and numerous well-preserved isolated elements, enabling new anatomical observations such as muscle attachments previously undescribed for Mesozoic euornitheans. Among the elements that were previously unknown or poorly represented for Ichthyornis, the new specimens include an almost-complete axial series, a hypocleideum-bearing furcula, radial carpal bones, fibulae, a complete tarsometatarsus bearing a rudimentary hypotarsus, and one of the first-known nearly complete three-dimensional sterna from a Mesozoic avialan. Several pedal phalanges are preserved, revealing a remarkably enlarged pes presumably related to foot-propelled swimming. Although diagnosable as Ichthyornis, the new specimens exhibit a substantial degree of morphological variation, some of which may relate to ontogenetic changes. Phylogenetic analyses incorporating our new data and employing alternative morphological datasets recover Ichthyornis stemward of Hesperornithes and Iaceornis, in line with some recent hypotheses regarding the topology of the crownward-most portion of the avian stem group, and we establish phylogenetically-defined clade names for relevant avialan subclades to help facilitate consistent discourse in future work. The new information provided by these specimens improves our understanding of morphological evolution among the crownward-most non-neornithine avialans immediately preceding the origin of crown group birds.
The Effects of Suaeda salsa/Zea mays L. Intercropping on Plant Growth and Soil Chemical Characteristics in Saline Soil

Halophytes possess the capacity to uptake high levels of salt through physiological processes and their root architecture. Here, we investigated whether halophyte/non-halophyte intercropping in saline soil benefits plant growth and contains root-dialogue between interspecific species. Field and pot experiments were conducted to determine the plant biomasses and salt and nutrient distributions in three suaeda (Suaeda salsa)/maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping systems, set up by non-barrier, nylon-barrier, and plastic-barrier between plant roots. The suaeda/maize intercropping obviously transferred more Na+ to the suaeda root zone and decreased salt and Na+ contents. However, the biomass of the non-barrier-treated maize was significantly lower than that of the nylon and plastic barrier-treated maize. There was lower available N content in the soil of the non-barrier treated groups compared with the plastic barrier-treated groups. In addition, the pH was lower, and the available nutrient content was higher in the nylon barrier, which suggested that rhizospheric processes might occur between the two species. Therefore, we concluded that the suaeda/maize intercropping would be beneficial to the salt removal, but it caused an adverse effect for maize growth due to interspecific competition, and also revealed potential rhizospheric effects through the role of roots. This study provides an effective way for the improvement of saline land.
A First Year’s Impact of the Pandemic on the Czech Entrepreneurial Activity

Every crisis affects entrepreneurial activity; for some entrepreneurs, it is an opportunity for a new start; others are forced to shut down their businesses. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the global coronavirus (so-called COVID-19) pandemic on Czech entrepreneurial activity. The article exploits the administrative data covering business demographics of seventy-seven Local Administrative Units (LAU1) regions over the years 2008-2020. Data were obtained from the Czech Statistical Office. The study provides insights into the short term effects of the pandemic, i.e. one year after. The results from the panel regression models and placebo tests comparing forecasted values of new businesses registrations and closures with actual values obtained after the end of 2020 do not show that there would be a significant drop in the Czech entrepreneurial activity. On the opposite, the data indicate that the Czech entrepreneurial activity grew and even increased compared with 2019. However, the obtained results need to be interpreted with caution, as many factors influenced Czech businesses’ development. Specifically, we mention the past economic growth, the introduction of public entrepreneurship and SME policy instruments and financial back-ups of the business owners. There are several implications of the conducted research. For instance, there is a need to observe the long-term effects of the pandemic on business demography and its structure. We propose to study changes in bankruptcy rates in the most harmed sectors such as tourism, hospitality, culture or sport and compare them with sectors that could easier transfer their business activities online.
The effect of remote work on the successful development of engineering company

The purpose of the present study is to identify the main advantages and problems of remote work for both employers and employees, and possible ways to solve them. The article shows a significant number of studies dealt with non-standard forms of labor organization, clarifies the essence of remote work, and examines the main aspects for its effective organization. The main advantages and problems of remote work for employers and employees, as well as possible ways to solve them, are identified based on an expert survey involving 36 experts. According to the conducted study, it can be concluded that the acceleration of scientific and technological progress and adverse epidemiological conditions contribute to the spread of remote work worldwide. This phenomenon has two aspects. On the one hand, remote work, firstly, reduces the unemployment rate and improves the image of the company; secondly, offers flexible working hours; thirdly, protects/retains customers and saves time/transport costs. On the other hand, remote work is associated with the difficulty in maintaining efficiency and teamwork at a high level; secondly, it restricts communication, makes it impossible to perform certain tasks at home; and thirdly, remote work leads to insufficient physical activity, causes difficulties with integration into the corporate culture, etc.
Evaluating Tailored Feedback for Re-Engaging Residential Smart Grid Users: A Case Study in Milton, Ontario

A rapidly changing climate, predominantly caused by carbon-intensive human activities, has stimulated policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG’s). One area in which GHG reductions are being made is in the electricity sector. In the province of Ontario, the shutting down of all coal fired plants in 2014 and the adding of clean energy sources have contributed to this shift away from GHG emitting fuel sources. In addition to this, the widespread adoption of smart meters, time-of-use pricing, and the fostering of a ‘conservation culture’ have been put forth to promote reductions in total and peak consumption through widespread access to electricity information. Reducing electricity consumption and shifting consumption to off-peak hours is important because it helps avoid investment in the up-keep of electricity systems, increases energy security, and decreases emissions produced from carbon-intensive sources used during times of peak demand. Electricity reporting studies have sought to provide detailed feedback in the hopes of enhancing awareness and further reducing electricity consumption. While many studies have conducted research on the effectiveness of short term feedback, this study focuses on a case study of 26 households whom have been engaged in electricity interventions over a three-year period. Previous research on this case study, found that household engagement dropped off after the first few months. Therefore, this research seeks to understand the effectiveness of feedback to re-engage long-term smart grid users. Throughout the course of a 30-week study period, households were provided with disaggregated appliance feedback and aggregate household feedback on electricity use on a weekly basis to encourage users to reduce overall consumption or to peak shift to hours of the day with a lower electricity demand. Household consumption from the monitoring period is compared to the baseline period to determine whether households made behavioural changes and reduced total or on-peak consumption. Those who achieved the greatest savings relative to the baseline period in each given month were awarded with a certificate and a public announcement of their success was delivered to all other households partaking in the study. The weekly feedback reports categorized households into quintiles based on their electricity use relative to others in the study, listing them as ‘very efficient’, ‘low consumers’, ‘average’, or ‘high consumers’, or quintile 1, 2, 3, 4/5, respectively. From this, it was determined whether higher consuming households became motivated to match the consumption of the very efficient consumers. To further encourage conservative energy practices, tips were sent out with the weekly reports to those households belonging to quintiles 3, 4, and 5, to encourage households to moderate specific appliances and reduce consumption to match that of the efficient households. Total consumption in kWh and on-peak share of the week following and month following were compared to the week and month prior to
Seismic Evaluation of Steel Moment Frames and Shear Walls Using Nonlinear Static Analysis Procedures

This paper discusses the effectiveness of simplified nonlinear static methods for predicting the seismic response of various steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) and shear wall structures. Different nonlinear static analysis procedures are discussed. Results from focused studies of different archetype structural systems are compared with nonlinear response history analysis (NRHA). The main engineering demand parameters considered are story drift ratios, story shear forces and overturning moments. Suggestions are made for improving accuracy and required effort of alternative nonlinear static procedures used to predict the seismic response of steel MRF and shear wall structural systems.
Non-canonical Roles of Telomerase: Unraveling the Imbroglio

Telomerase plays a critical role in stem cell function and tissue regeneration that depends on its ability to elongate telomeres. For nearly two decades, it turned out that TERT regulates a broad spectrum of functions including signal transduction, gene expression regulation, and protection against oxidative damage that are independent of its telomere elongation activity. These conclusions that were mainly obtained in cell lines overexpressing telomerase were further strengthened by in vivo models of ectopic expression of telomerase or models of G1 TERT knockout mice without detectable telomere dysfunction. However, the later models were questioned due to the presence of aberrantly shortened telomere in the germline of the parents TERT+/– that were used to create the G1 TERT–/– mice. The physiological relevance of the functions associated with overexpressed telomerase raised also some concerns due to artifactual situations and localizations and complications to quantify the level of TERT. Another concern with non-canonical functions of TERT was the difficulty to separate a direct TERT-related function from secondary effects. Despite these concerns, more and more evidence accumulates for non-canonical roles of telomerase that are non-obligatory extra-telomeric. Here, we review these non-canonical roles of the TERT subunit of telomerase. Also, we emphasize recent results that link TERT to mitochondria and protection to reactive oxygen species suggesting a protective role of TERT in neurons. Throughout this review, we dissect some controversies regarding the non-canonical functions of telomerase and provide some insights to explain these discrepancies. Finally, we discuss the importance of understanding these alternative functions of telomerase for the development of anticancer strategies.
Mathieu vs urethral plate tubularization in circumcised Megameatus intact prepuce repair: A prospective randomized comparative study

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare urethral plate tubularization vs Mathieu in circumcised Megameatus intact prepuce (MIP) repair. Many techniques were described for MIP, which account for 5% of hypospadias cases and usually diagnosed at time of, or even after circumcision. Material and methods: Forty-six circumcised MIP cases were prospectively enrolled in this prospective study, which was carried out in April 2017 and March 2020. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group one operated by simple urethral plate tubularization and group two by the Mathieu technique. Hypospadias objective scoring evaluation (HOSE) scores, success rate, operative time, and the need for relaxing incision or scrotal flaps for skin closure were compared. Results: Forty-three circumcised cases (22 in group one and 21 in group two) completed at least 6 months of follow-up. Ages ranged from 12 to 39 months (mean 18.06 ± 6.35) in group one and from 10 to 32 months (mean 19.5 ± 7.14) in group two. There was no significant difference between cases with accepted outcome based on HOSE scores (≥14) of the two groups (P value = .942). Three fistulae and one meatal stenosis were the complications in group one (18.2%). In group two, two patients complicated with fistula (9.5%) (P value = .674). Significant differences were present only in the operative time (P = .001) and in the need of relaxing incision or scrotal skin flaps (P = .012) both were more in group two. Conclusion: Mathieu and tubularized incised plate urethroplasty both are good options for circumcised MIP repair.
AAV9/MFSD8 gene therapy is effective in preclinical models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 7 disease

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 7 (CLN7) disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the facilitator superfamily domain containing 8 (MFSD8) gene, which encodes a membrane-bound lysosomal protein, MFSD8. To test the effectiveness and safety of adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy, an in vitro study demonstrated that AAV2/MFSD8 dose dependently rescued lysosomal function in fibroblasts from a CLN7 patient. An in vivo efficacy study using intrathecal administration of AAV9/MFSD8 to Mfsd8– /– mice at P7–P10 or P120 with high or low dose led to clear age- and dose-dependent effects. A high dose of AAV9/MFSD8 at P7–P10 resulted in widespread MFSD8 mRNA expression, tendency of amelioration of subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase accumulation and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity, normalization of impaired behaviors, doubled median life span, and extended normal body weight gain. In vivo safety studies in rodents concluded that intrathecal administration of AAV9/MFSD8 was safe and well tolerated. In summary, these results demonstrated that the AAV9/MFSD8 vector is both effective and safe in preclinical models.
Smaller bird species in decline in the south-west Hunter: the lessons of ten years of atlas data

Doyles Creek and Martindale to the west of Jerrys Plains support a wide variety of bird species including birds which are Vulnerable and at the edge of their distribution in the Hunter Region. While the first ten years of atlassing data for 4 sites in this area by no means reveal a bleak picture overall, some smaller species, such as fairy-wrens and grass finches have been in sharp decline at some sites. A major factor that must here be considered is the depth of the 2006 drought, though declines are not even across all sites and other factors must also be involved, some more local. Fortunately the typical woodland bird species may be more resilient; for instance the Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata is now the most regularly recorded finch at these sites. The repeated surveys also reflect some of the changes that have been affecting the Hunter more generally, including the spread of species like the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis from the west. While many of the trends were intuitively appreciated during the study, the analysis of ten years of data involved in preparing this paper reinforced my impressions in some cases, and drew my attention to other important facts that had previously not been noticed at all. I append information concerning increases and decreases in reporting rates at two Doyles Creek sites.
Enhancing Competitive Capabilities of Healthcare SCM through the Blockchain: Big Data Business Model’s Viewpoint

This study emphasizes the necessity of introducing a blockchain-based joint logistics system to strengthen the competency of medical supply chain management (SCM) and tries to develop a healthcare supply chain management (HSCM) competency measurement item through an analytic hierarchy process. The variables needed for using blockchain-based joint logistics are the performance expectations, effort expectations, promotion conditions, and social impact of the UTAUT model, and the HSCM competency results in increased reliability and transparency, enhanced SCM, and enhanced scalability. Word cloud results, analyzing the most important considerations to realize work efficiency among medical industry-related agencies, mentioned numerous words, including sudden situations, delivery, technology trust, information sharing, effectiveness, urgency, etc. This might imply the need to establish a system that can respond immediately to emergency situations during holidays. It could also suggest the importance of real-time information sharing to increase the efficiency of inventory management. Therefore, there is a need of a business model that can increase the visibility of real-time medical SCM through big data analysis. By analyzing the importance of securing reliability based on the blockchain technology in the establishment of a supply chain network for HSCM competency, we reveal that joint logistics can be achieved and synergistic effects can be created by implementing the integrated database to secure HSCM competency. Strengthening partnerships, such as joint logistics, will eventually lead to HSCM competency. In particular, HSCM should seek ways to upgrade its competitive capabilities through big data analysis based on the establishment of a joint logistics system.
Nutritional and range management practices for breeding beef females

The objective of this series of studies was to develop and improve methods of production in cow/calf operations of the Great Plains. Ultrasound measures of longissimus muscle depth (LMD) and intramuscular fat (IMF) of Angus × heifers were used to predict lifetime cow productivity. IMF and LMD were categorized into high, medium, and low groups (IMFG and LMDG, respectively). Cows in the high and medium LMDG had greater (P < 0.05) pregnancy rates than cows in the low LMDG. Calf BW at weaning increased (P < 0.05) as dam IMF increased. Angus crossbred cows grazing native range were used to evaluate the effects of prepartum ruminally-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on postpartum beef cow and calf performance. Under the conditions of our study, RPC supplementation had minimal (P > 0.05) effects on pregnancy rates and performance of beef cows and calves. Lactating crossbred cows with calves and non-pregnant, non-lactating Boer-cross nannies were used to evaluate the effects of co-grazing on herbivory patterns and animal performance while grazing native tallgrass rangeland infested heavily by sericea lespedeza (SL). The proportion of individual SL plants that had been grazed at the end of the trial was greater (P < 0.01) in co-grazed pastures than in singlespecies pastures. Grazing cows and goats in combination increased (P < 0.01) grazing pressure on SL without negatively affecting beef cow performance, beef calf performance, or residual forage biomass. Angus × cows and heifers grazing native range were used to evaluate the effects of pre-partum corn steep liquor supplementation on postpartum beef cow and calf performance. Under the conditions of our study, CSL supplementation did not generally promote beef cow and calf performance that was equivalent to supplementation with an isonitrogenous, dry, corn-soy alternative. Cow calf pairs were used to evaluate the effects of grazing system (GS) and stocking rate (SR) on cow and calf performance. Late season rest-rotation (LSRR) was compared with continuous (CONT) grazing at low, moderate, and high SR. Under the conditions of our study, CONT produced consistently better (P < 0.01) late-season cow and calf performance than LSRR. Season-long effects of SR on animal performance were minimal; moreover, GS and SR treatments produced equivalent pregnancy rates. NUTRITIONAL AND RANGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR BREEDING BEEF FEMALES
Effect of Cytokinins on Micropropagation of Moringa Oleifera Lam. and Genomic Stability Assessment Using Flow-Cytometry

Rohit Bharati Czech University of Life Sciences Prague: Ceska Zemedelska Univerzita v Praze Moses Okao Czech University of Life Sciences Prague: Ceska Zemedelska Univerzita v Praze Katerina Hamouzová Czech University of Life Sciences Prague: Ceska Zemedelska Univerzita v Praze Eloy Fernandez-Cusimamani (  eloy@ftz.czu.cz ) Czech University of Life Sciences Prague: Ceska Zemedelska Univerzita v Praze https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7835-9310
Air-Liquid-Interface Differentiated Human Nose Epithelium: A Robust Primary Tissue Culture Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The global urgency to uncover medical countermeasures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has revealed an unmet need for robust tissue culture models that faithfully recapitulate key features of human tissues and disease. Infection of the nose is considered the dominant initial site for SARS-CoV-2 infection and models that replicate this entry portal offer the greatest potential for examining and demonstrating the effectiveness of countermeasures designed to prevent or manage this highly communicable disease. Here, we test an air–liquid-interface (ALI) differentiated human nasal epithelium (HNE) culture system as a model of authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Progenitor cells (basal cells) were isolated from nasal turbinate brushings, expanded under conditionally reprogrammed cell (CRC) culture conditions and differentiated at ALI. Differentiated cells were inoculated with different SARS-CoV-2 clinical isolates. Infectious virus release into apical washes was determined by TCID50, while infected cells were visualized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. We demonstrate robust, reproducible SARS-CoV-2 infection of ALI-HNE established from different donors. Viral entry and release occurred from the apical surface, and infection was primarily observed in ciliated cells. In contrast to the ancestral clinical isolate, the Delta variant caused considerable cell damage. Successful establishment of ALI-HNE is donor dependent. ALI-HNE recapitulate key features of human SARS-CoV-2 infection of the nose and can serve as a pre-clinical model without the need for invasive collection of human respiratory tissue samples.