Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indigenous knowledge of wild plants collected in Darfur, Sudan

Background: The lives of the “Fur”, indigenous people of Darfur, Sudan are intimately connected to local wild plants, but the traditional uses of these plants are, so far, poorly documented. Many species are indigenous to the region, but others are introduced, and have naturalized over millennia. Methods: For a month each summer from 2014-2016, using questionnaire interviews, direct observation of practices, and a literature review, 58 species were identified. An “importance value” for each was determined, based on the intensity and season(s) of use, in eight use categories. For each species, a “concordance ratio” characterized the degree of agreement between indigenous knowledge and our current “scientific understanding” of their value. Results: All species were multi-use; animal forage, “other functional uses”, traditional medicine, and construction predominated. Some species are declining due to overharvesting by the growing local population, exacerbated by conflict and refugee encampments. Most of the species are used in traditional medicines, but active ingredients have been scientifically confirmed for only half of them. Surprisingly, several species with known medicinal ingredients are not used locally. Conclusions: The “Fur” people have long combined agriculture with pastoralism and wildcrafting. For this to be sustainable, it is critical to understand cultural contexts and recognize multi-use species. This can help identify new medicines, and guide sustainable development of local resources, adapted to local conditions. Naturalized wild fruit trees may have evolved drought resistance in this increasingly dry savanna climate; such genes might usefully be incorporated in crop strains elsewhere as climate change proceeds. Key words: Ethnobotany, Multipurpose-Use Plants, Importance Value, Indigenous Knowledge Index, Scientific Knowledge Index, Concordance Value, Plant Diversity, Climate Change
Emodin Protects Against Acute Pancreatitis-Associated Lung Injury by Inhibiting NLPR3 Inflammasome Activation via Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling

Aim Lung injury is a common complication of acute pancreatitis (AP), which leads to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and causes high mortality. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of emodin on AP-induced lung injury and explored the molecular mechanisms involved. Materials and Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into AP (n=24) and normal (n=6) groups. Rats in the AP group received a retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct and then randomly assigned to untreated, emodin, combined emodin and ML385, and dexamethasone (DEX) groups. Pancreatic and pulmonary injury was assessed using H&E staining. In in vitro study, rat alveolar epithelial cell line L2 cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide and treated with emodin. Nrf2 siRNA pool was applied for the knockdown of Nrf2. The contents of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of related mRNAs and proteins in the lung or L2 cells were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Key Findings Emodin administration alleviated pancreatic and pulmonary injury of rats with AP. Emodin administration suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines, downregulated NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 expressions and inhibited NF-κB nuclear accumulation in the lung. In addition, Emodin increased Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulated HO-1 expression. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect of emodin was blocked by Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. Conclusion Emodin effectively protects rats against AP-associated lung injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.
Small shelly fossils and carbon isotopes from the early Cambrian (Stages 3–4) Mural Formation of western Laurentia

The extraordinary window of phosphatized and phosphatic small shelly fossils (SSF) during the early and middle Cambrian is an important testament to the radiation of biomineralizing metazoans. While SSF are well known from most Cambrian palaeocontinents during this time interval, western Laurentia has relatively few SSF faunas. Here we describe a diverse SSF fauna from the early Cambrian (Stages 3–4) Mural Formation at three localities in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, complemented by carbon isotope measurements to aid in a potential future bio‐chemostratigraphic framework. The fauna expands the recorded SSF assemblage diversity in western Laurentia and includes several brachiopods, four bradoriids, three chancelloriids, two hyoliths, a tommotiid and a helcionellid mollusc as well as echinoderm ossicles and specimens of Microdictyon, Volborthella and Hyolithellus. New taxa include the tommotiid genus Canadiella gen. nov., the new bradoriid species Hipponicharion perforata sp. nov. and Pseudobeyrichona taurata sp. nov. Compared with contemporaneous faunas from western Laurentia, the fauna is relatively diverse, particularly in taxa with originally phosphatic shells, which appear to be associated with archaeocyathid build‐ups. This suggests that the generally low faunal diversity in western Laurentia may be at least partly a consequence of poor sampling of suitable archaeocyathan reef environments. In addition, the tommotiid Canadiella filigrana appears to be of biostratigraphical significance in Cambrian Stage 3 strata of western Laurentia, and the unexpected high diversity of bradoriid arthropods in the fauna also suggests that this group may prove useful for biostratigraphical resolution in the region.
Quantifying Accelerometer-Based Tremor Features of Neuromuscular Fatigue in Healthy and Diabetic Adults

Neuromuscular fatigue affects workers’ productivity and health, which is further deteriorated with chronic conditions such as type 1 diabetes (T1D). Enhanced physiological tremor, a key indicator of neuromuscular fatigue, shows great potential in detecting the onset of neuromuscular fatigue. This study aims to determine the feasibility of using a cost-effective wearable accelerometer-based microelectromechanical sensor to convey neuromuscular fatigue-related tremor information in healthy and T1D adults. 42 adults (22 healthy, 20 T1D), equipped with a finger and a wrist accelerometer, performed intermittent submaximal isometric handgrip fatigue exercises using a grip dynamometer. Motor variability feature, namely, Coefficient of Variation (CV), and motor complexity feature, namely approximate entropy (ApEn), were extracted from the force signal of dynamometer and from the finger and wrist tremor accelerometry signals and subjected to statistical analysis. First, significant positive correlations were found between tremor accelerometry and force signal in terms of motor variability and complexity features. Second, a three-way (fatigue phase: early, middle, late; gender: male, female; condition: healthy, T1D) analysis of variance resulted in a significant fatigue effect on both accelerometry and force measurements in terms of motor variability and complexity features. Apart from finger CV, no other features showed any gender or condition effects. These findings indicate that finger and wrist tremors measured by accelerometer-based sensors can retain the robustness of fatigue-related motor variability and complexity. Wrist tremor features were found to capture fatigue development across both healthy and diabetic males and females, thereby offering comparable fatigue detection and management in adults with chronic conditions.
The Selectivity of Different Hook Size in the Bottom Longline which Used for Catching White Seabream (Diplodus sargus L., 1758) in Finike Bay

In this study, the selectivity of different hook size in the bottom longline which used for catc-hing white seabream (Diplodus sargus L., 1758) in Finike Bay were compared. In the calcula-tion of selectivity parameters of fishhooks, Holt (1963) method was used. 13 fishing operation were carried out during study period, a total number of 200 hooks used in each fishing opera-tion and 293 number of fishes was captured during study period. Selectivity parameters were calculated for white seabream for two hooks gap size of which are 0.72 and 0.63. The optimum capture length (Lopt) for 0.72 and 0.63 cm gap size were de-termined as 23.31 and 20.40 respectively, also the selectivity factor was determined as 32.37. A linear relationship between fish sizes and the gap size of hooks was found.
Bioativador no desempenho fisiológico de sementes de arroz

Rice is one of the most important and traditional cereal crops grown as it is a staple food of most of the world population. Rio Grande do Sul state is an important rice producer, accounting for 50% of Brazilian production, 80% of which is irrigated rice. The systemic insecticide thiamethoxam is transported within the plant and can activate various physiological processes, such as protein expression. These proteins interact with stress defense
The Morphology of Trypanosoma evansi (Steel)

In previous papers published in the ‘Proceedings,’ the morphology of various trypanosomes, such as Trypanosoma pecorum, vivax, uniforme, nanum , and brucei , has been described somewhat more fully than is usually done. It is proposed to do the same for Trypanosoma evansi in this paper. This trypanosome causes the disease in elephants, camels, horses, cattle, and dogs, known in India as Surra. It was discovered in 1880, by Evans, in the Punjab.
Achlamydocarpon pingquanensis sp. nov. (Lycopsida): A Novel, Anatomically Preserved Lepidodendralean Disseminule from the Lower Permian of North China

A new species of the arborescent lycopsid disseminule Achlamydocarpon is described and diagnosed from volcaniclastic tuffs in the Lower Permian Taiyuan Formation of northern China. Achlamydocarpon pingquanensis sp. nov. comprises a large megasporangium‐sporophyll unit with a dorsiventrally flattened sporangium lacking a dorsal ridge and keel, containing a single functional and three abortive megaspores, each with a conspicuous massa. The pedicel has narrowly winged lateral laminae that develop upward and outward, partially enveloping the basal part of the sporangium. An elliptical xylem strand is developed distally and is surrounded by a parichnos cavity. The sporangial wall has an outer parenchymatous layer, a middle sclerotic layer, and an inner, thick, parenchymatous layer and has a subarchesporial pad with a toothed margin. Achlamydocarpon pingquanensis does not readily conform to the previously recognized distinction between the Achlamydocarpon varius and Achlamydocarpon takhtajanii types, possessing characters belonging to both groups. This adds to a growing body of data on arborescent lycopsids from the Paleozoic Cathaysian floras and supports the systematic distinction of Cathaysian lepidodendralean plants (previously termed “Oriental lepidophytes”) as a distinct subset of the Lepidodendrales. However, their phylogenetic position remains uncertain because of an absence of reconstructed whole plants to enter into cladistic analyses, and thus their crown‐ or stem‐group position within Lepidodendrales is unknown.
Progesterone and 20α-dihydroprogesterone in sheep: a model of their distribution and metabolism

: The rates of metabolism of progesterone and 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-diHP) in sheep have been measured during and after the infusion of tracer amounts of [3H]progesterone. There were significant differences in the blood concentration of [3H]progesterone between experiments, but these were not attributable to the stage of gestation or to the difference between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The mean (+/- S.E.M.) metabolic clearance rate of progesterone was 3-277 +/- 0-239 litres blood/min. The simplest model of the distribution of progesterone was one containing two pools, V1[P] and V2[P], where [p] is the blood concentration of progesterone, and in 23 experiments on 7 sheep the mean pool dimensions were 7-8[P] mug and 70[P] mug, respectively. This model was developed to include the formation of 20alpha-diHP from progesterone. Progesterone appeared to be the major source of 20alpha-diHP, though this did not seem to be an obligatory metabolite. The parameters obtained gave comparably low residual deviations for both labelled steroids and were consistent with other observations made on progesterone clearance.
Another perspective on cytoevolution in Lobelioideae (Campanulaceae)

The Lobelioideae is a cosmopolitan group whose cytoevolution is discussed on a model of primitively high diploid chromosome numbers, in which x = 14 is relatively plesiomorphic and x = 21 may be even more plesiomorphic. This model is suggested from the high frequency of lobelioid genera with x = 14, the probably plesiomorphic condition of x = 17 in the sister group Campanuloideae (Campanulaceae), and the primitive x = 15 in Stylidiaceae (Campanulales). It contrasts with that for a primitive x = 7 and paleopolyploidy to higher chromosome numbers. In our analysis, the genus Lobelia shows three broad cytoevolutionary groups, which probably have phylogenetic and infrageneric taxonomic significance: (1) woody diploids with x = 21 in Chile and woody diploids with x = 14 in Africa, Asia, and Hawaii; (2) herbaceous diploids with several series of dysploid chromosome numbers n = 19, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, mainly in Africa and Australia; (3) widespread and speciose herbaceous taxa based on a very derived n = 7, with recent frequent euploid rises (neopolyploidy) at or below the species level in subgenus Lobelia and allied or segregate genera. Other woody and herbaceous lobeliad genera have comparable cytoevolutionary patterns. New chromosome counts for Australian Lobelia, Pratia, and Isotoma illustrate the last two cytoevolutionary groups.
Changes in Carbohydrate, Amino Acid and Phenol Contents in Cocoa Pods from Three Clones after Infection with Phytophthora megakarya Bra. and Grif.

Abstract Mature pods from three clones ofTheobroma cacaoL. , differing in their susceptibility toPhytophthora megakaryaBra. and Grif. , were infected with the fungal mycelium. Variations of the contents in carbohydrates, ketohexoses, amino acids, phenols and flavonol, and hydroxycinnamic derivatives were followed in the cortex for 4d. After pod infection, the amount of carbohydrates decreased more rapidly in the clone SNK10 (highly susceptible) than in the clones SNK413 (low susceptibility) and ICS95 (mildly susceptible), suggesting their utilization by the fungus. At the same time, the amount of ketohexoses decreased by 22% in the clone SNK10, remained almost constant in the clone SNK413, and increased by 53% in the clone ICS95. The content of amino acids increased with time in the pods of the three clones. The results suggest that the amino acid variation is related to pod aging and to the infection. Four days after treatment, an increase in phenolics was measured in all cases. The increase in flavonol and hydroxycinnamic derivatives was related to the wounding and to the infection of the pods. DuringPhytophthorablack pod development, variations of the contents in the biochemicals studied herein were genotype-dependent, and the patterns of the changes could be related, at least in part, to the susceptibility of the genotype toP. megakarya.
Behavioral Regulatory Mechanisms in the Social Homeostasis of Termites (Isoptera)

Recent progress in the elucidation of the behavioral mechanisms responsible for maintaining the steady state in a termite colony is discussed. It is pointed out that various homeostatic mechanisms have common behavioral mechanisms. The mechanisms involved in nest repair and construction, foraging, defense, and general mass movements within nests are explained. An experiment is described in which differential responses to a discrete simple stimulus (heat) are made by two different castes of Nasulitermes corniger and the homeostatic significance emphasized. The factors in volved in foraging behavior in Reticulitermes are described. An hypothesis for the significance of the behavioral phenomenon of head-banging in termites is put forward: it is considered to be connected with the maintenance of accelerated activity in a colony after “General Alarm”.
Drivers and barriers for Industry 4.0 readiness and practice: empirical evidence from small and medium-sized manufacturers

Abstract The technological development e.g. in terms of Industry 4.0 is moving rapidly enabling manufacturing companies with new possibilities for digital transformations to offer products and services to current and new markets at competitive costs. A mixed-method approach is used to investigate the drivers and barriers for Industry 4.0 readiness and practice among Danish small and medium-sized manufacturers. Data is based on a questionnaire-survey among 190 manufacturers about their readiness for digitalized manufacturing and their actual practice in this area. A main finding is that it is the managers’ lack of perceiving Industry 4.0 drivers, not their perceptions of high Industry 4.0 barriers that obstruct SMEs’ development of Industry 4.0 readiness and their application of Industry 4.0 technologies. Using these insights provide four more nuanced interpretations of the significance of the Industry 4.0 challenges faced by the four case companies. The finding that SMEs seem to engage positively with Industry 4.0 barriers, when there is perceived a business case to do so, has important consequences for our understanding of the inertial dynamics surrounding SMEs’ Industry 4.0 application, and consequently for guiding policy initiatives to promote Industry 4.0 adaptation among SMEs.
The Generalization of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing With Subcarrier Power Modulation to Quadrature Signal Constellations

A novel modulation technique termed as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with subcarrier power modulation (OFDM-SPM) has been proposed for achieving spectral-efficient data transmission in wireless communication systems. OFDM-SPM utilizes the power of each subcarrier in an OFDM block as an extra degree of freedom to convey extra information bits besides the bits transmitted by conventional signal modulation. OFDM-SPM has originally been introduced with binary phase shift keying (BPSK) symbol modulation, and was shown to provide great gains and various merits such as doubling the spectral efficiency, reducing transmission power and transmission times by half. Displaying its capabilities as a scheme to be adopted for future wireless communication systems, a question detrimental to the adoption of OFDM-SPM has yet to be answered. This is whether the gains that OFDM-SPM brings persist when paired with higher order modulation schemes, especially two dimensional signal constellation schemes such as M-ary PSK. In this paper, OFDM-SPM is paired with quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) symbol modulation as an example of a higher order two dimensional modulation scheme. The performance analysis of this scheme along with its numerical simulations are carried out where the bit error rate (BER) and throughput performances of the scheme are given in both an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), and multipath Rayleigh fading channels. These simulations are done for different power allocation policies. Unlike other 3D modulation methods, the results show that OFDM-SPM can be used with higher order modulation schemes while maintaining all the gains exhibited in OFDM-SPM with BPSK. This gives OFDM-SPM a unique advantage when compared to other 3D modulation schemes such as OFDM-IM and OFDM-SNM, which lose the gain in spectral efficiency as the modulation order becomes higher. Furthermore, the results of OFDM-SPM with QPSK were compared to that of conventional OFDM with 16-QAM symbol modulation. OFDM-SPM displayed superiority both in terms of BER and throughput achieving a gain of approximately 2.5-3 dB. These findings clearly point out that OFDM-SPM is a promising modulation scheme, which should be investigated more vigorously and considered as a strong candidate for adoption in future 6G and beyond wireless communication systems. INDEX TERMS BER, IoT, Multipath Rayleigh Channel, OFDM, Power Modulation, Spectral Efficiency, Throughput, Wireless Communication, Beyond 5G, 6G, Data Rates, BER, Delay, Power Saving.
Seasonal variation in body composition and morphology of adult muskrats in central Saskatchewan, Canada

We quantified seasonal variation in body composition and morphology of adult muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) inhabiting freshwater marsh environments in central Saskatchewan, Canada. The study areas were characterized by long and cold winters extending over six months during which muskrats were restricted to foraging under ice. A total of 162 adult muskrats were collected during nine sampling periods across the year. The large accumulation of fat reserves (16% of body mass) during winter and the concurrent decline in protein mass suggested a reduced maintenance requirement associated with the presence of energy-rich food resources. Dietary fibre content increased significantly during mid-summer and was manifested by changes in gut morphology. Mobilization of fat reserves during summer months by both sexes reflected high energetic demands for reproduction. Males depleted fat reserves soon after spring break-up, while near-exhaustion of fat reserves in females occurred 4–6 weeks later, during lactation. Pregnant females contained significantly greater fat and protein reserves compared to non-pregnant and lactating females. The dynamics of body reserves in muskrats should be viewed as an integral part of the sex-specific life-history traits of this important herbivore species of marsh environments.
SKULL ADAPTATIONS IN FOSSORIAL RODENTS

Certains rongeurs de la region Orientale sont adaptes au mode de vie fouisseur. Leurs incisives ont un angle d'attaque comparable a celui d'un ciseau et leurs molaires sont hypsodontes et ont une structure laminae ou prismatique. Le doveloppcment de la portion postorieure des muscles masse*ter et temporal a entraino le renforcement et l'olargissement des arcs zygomatiques, le doveloppcment de la cr£te sagittale, l'ölargissement du squainosal et la roduction du frontal, des pariötaux et de l'interparietal. En rapport avec le mode de vie fouisseur, les incisives sont proodontes et profonde*ment enracinees, les pramaxillaires sont longs et projetos vers l'avant, alors que l'occipital est incline* et que les foramens palatins ant£rieurs sont roduits. Les bulles tympaniques sont hypertrophioes et le moat auditif externe est rejeto en arriere.