Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The inner ear morphology of the ‘condylarthran’ Hyopsodus lepidus

We describe the bony labyrinth morphology of the Eocene ‘archaic ungulate’ Hyopsoduslepidus (Bridgerian, North America) reconstructed from micro computed tomography scan data. Comparisons with the inner ear of the Eocene early diverging artiodactyl Diacodexis and perissodactyl Xenicohippus allow refining the picture of the ancestral inner ear morphology of Euungulates. These taxa are very close morphologically and mostly differ by slight differences in their semicircular canal angulations and profile. They all present a secondary crus and a low position of the plane of the lateral semicircular canal relative to the posterior semicircular canal. These two characters, considered as ancestral features for Theria, might be symplesiomorphies of Euungulata as well. Hyopsodus and Xenicohippus share characters also observed in other basal Equoidea, which would support the close relationship between these two taxa previously proposed in the literature. A functional study of the cochlea of Hyopsodus lepidus is also realised to discuss its putative ability of using terrestrial echolocation previously proposed in the literature. The morphology of the cochlea of Hyopsodus lepidus does not indicate a specialisation to sophisticated echolocation such as observed today in microchiropteran bats. However, its estimated audible range of frequencies (208 Hz to 76.8 KHz) would be compatible with terrestrial echolocation.
Zooplankton Community Changes at Pend Oreille Lake, Idaho: Testing Implications for Age-0 Kokanee Prey Selection, Digestion, and Growth

Abstract We used laboratory and field experiments to investigate how spring and autumn zooplankton community changes at Pend Oreille Lake, Idaho, characterized by reduced cladoceran abundance, have affected the prey selection, growth, and digestion of age-0 kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka. In prey selection trials using newly emerged kokanee alevins (mean total length (TL) = 25 mm) with varied levels of stomach fullness and that were fed different ratios of cladocerans to copepods, cladocerans were selected except when their relative abundance was the lowest. Alevins ate more zooplankton when cladocerans were relatively more abundant and when their stomachs were empty, but stomach fullness did not influence the prey type selected. Alevins ingested prey that were larger than available prey at each level of stomach fullness, the greatest size selectivity occurring on empty stomachs. Underyearling kokanee (48–57 mm TL) that were fed cladoceran zooplankton ingested more biomass in 1 h than did those fed copepod zo.
Diet, prey selection and ecological relations of leopard and golden cat in the Ituri Forest, Zaire

Summary Diets of leopard and African golden cat were studied in the Ituri Forest of Zaire by means of scat contents (N=336) and prey carcass finds (N=91). Felids consumed predominantly mammalian prey (464 of 482 prey items in scats). Ungulates comprised 53·5% and primates 25·4% of prey items identified in leopard scats; mean prey weight estimated from scats was 24·6 kg. In golden cat scats 50·9% of identified prey items were rodents and 20·2% were ungulates; mean prey weight estimated from scats was 1·4 kg. Leopards accounted for 79% of recovered scats and for 74% of tracks recorded on systematic counts along paths. Golden cats accounted for 18% of recovered scats and for 15% of track counts. Sixteen percent of felid scats recovered and 11% of track counts could not be attributed to one species or the other with certainty. Among prey species ≥5·0 kg, felid predation is selective for five species of nocturnal ungulates and one species of diurnal, terrestrial primate. Arboreal primates comprised 9% of prey items in scats. Scavenged crowned eagle kills may be an important source of arboreal primates in forest felid diets. Golden cats may be limited by low rodent densities and by competition with and predation by leopards. Leopards may be limited by competition with human hunters for ungulate prey in many areas of forested Africa. Resume On a etudie le regime alimentaire du leopard et du chat dore africain dans la foret de l'Ituri, au Zaire, au moyen du contenu des feces (N=336) et des carcasses de proies trouvees (N-91). Les felins mangeaient principalement des mammiteres (464 des 482 morceaux de proies trouves dans les feces). Les ongules composaient 53,5% et les primates, 25,4% des morceaux de proies identifies dans les feces de leopard; on estime d'apres les feces que le poids moyen des proies etait de 24,6 kg. Chez le chat dore, 50,9% des feces identifiees provenaient de rongeurs et 20,2% provenaient d'ongules; l'estimation du poids moyen des proies etait de 1,4 kg. Les leopards etaient a l'origine de 79% des feces retrouvees et de 74% des traces rapportees lors de comptages systematiques le long des sentiers. Les chats dores etaient a l'origine de 18% des feces retrouvees et de 15% des comptages de traces. Seize pourcent des feces de felides et 11% des comptages de traces n'ont pas pu etre attribues avec certitude a l'une ou l'autre espece. Parmi les especes de proies de ≥5,0 kg, la predation des felides est selective pour cinq especes d'ongules nocturnes et une espece de primate terrestre diurne. Les primates arboricoles comprenaient 9% des restes des proies dans les feces. Les proies des aigles couronnes recuperees peuvent etre une source importante de primates arboricoles dans le regime alimentaire des felins forestiers. Les chats dores peuvent etre limites par des densites faibles de rongeurs et par la competition et la predation par les leopards. Les leopards peuvent etre limites par la competition avec les chasseurs humains pour des proies ongules dans de nombreuses zones forestieres en Afrique.
Nitrogen Fixation of Sesbania rostrata : Contribution of Stem Nodules to Nitrogen Acquisition

Abstract Nitrogen contents, nodule numbers, and nodule dry weights of 6-week-oId Sesbania rostrata plants grown in sand culture with only root nodules, only stem nodules or with both were compared and the root nodules were found to contribute to nitrogen acquisition more significantly than the stem nodules. Similar findings were obtained in 15N2-fixing experiments. An 8-week-old plant with both stem and root nodules fixed 1.50 mg nitrogen in a 12 h light period, while the fixation decreased to 1.15 mg nitrogen after the removal of the stem nodules, suggesting that root nodules played major role in nitrogen fixation. However, acetylene-reducing activities per nodule dry weight were higher in the stem nodules. Under flooding conditions, the aerenchyma tissues contributed to about 40% of N2 transport to root nodules, and 60% was supplied through stem.
PHYLOGENETIC STATUS OF PARALICHTHODES ALGOENSIS (PLEURONECTIFORMES : PARALICHTHODIDAE)

The phylogenetic position and classification of the flatfish, Paralichthodes algoensis, have been subject to several changes since its description by Gilchrist (1902). Regan (1910) classified this South African species within the Samarinae, along with Brachypleura and Samaris, based on the absence of a distinct caudal peduncle, the forward extension of the dorsal fin nearly to the end of the snout, and the asymmetrically placed pelvic fins. Regan (1920) suggested that, although P algoensis is a pleuronectoid based on the absence of spinous fin-rays, the forward extension of the dorsal fin on the head, the emarginate urohyal and the absence of supramaxillary and palatine teeth, it differs from pleuronectids in the arrangement of the olfactory laminae. As a result, Regan (1920) placed P algoensis in a separate family, Paralichthodidae. In a subsequent revision, Regan (1929) recognized P algoensis as a subfamily within Pleuronectidae, based on its dextral eye position, nerve of the left eye always dorsal, a terminal mouth, and prominent lower jaw. This later classification was retained by Norman (1934) and Hubbs (1945). However, polarity for eye position cannot be assessed (Chapleau, 1993), the distribution of optic nerve morphology is not well understood (Hensley and Ahlstrom, 1984), and a terminal mouth and prominent lower jaw are plesiomorphic for the order (Chapleau, 1993). Nelson (1984) classified P algoensis within the Samarinae, based on the advanced position of the dorsal fin in front of the eyes and symmetrical pelvic fins; however the former is commonly observed in other flatfish groups, whereas the latter is plesiomorphic for the order. Sakamoto (1984) examined and illustrated the osteology of P algoensis as part of a phenetic study of pleuronectid intrarelationships. Paralichthodes was placed in Pleuronectinae based on overall osteological similarity. The similarities between P algoensis and other pleuronectins were deemed plesiomorphic by Chapleau (1993). Chapleau (1993) did not include P algoensis in his analysis of pleuronectiform relationships, and he suggested that, because P algoensis lacks the bothoid-type caudal skeleton observed in Hensley and Ahlstrom (1984), identifying the phylogenetic position for P algoensis would require a comparative analysis of groups such as the Rhombosoleinae, Poecilopsettinae, and Samarinae. Nelson (1994) reclassified P algoensis into a monotypic subfamily (Paralichthodinae) within Pleuronectidae, indicating that its relationship within the family was uncertain. This study establishes the phylogenetic position for P algoensis based on uniquely derived traits through a comparison with the most recent phylogenetic analysis of Pleuronectiformes (Chapleau, 1993).
Arterial Mesenteric Thrombosis as a Complication of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

A 52-year-old patient with SARS-CoV-2 was diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia and treated with darunavir/ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). After LMWH cessation, he developed superior mesenteric arterial thrombosis. An abdominal CT scan showed arterial thrombosis of vessels efferent of the superior mesenteric artery with bowel distension. COVID-19 may predispose to venous and arterial thromboembolism. Anticoagulation prophylaxis should be considered in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and potential thromboembolism investigated in each symptomatic patient affected by SARS-CoV-2. LEARNING POINTS Potential thromboembolism must be investigated in each symptomatic patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The preventive and therapeutic use of antithrombotic agents should be strongly considered in order to mitigate thrombotic and haemorrhagic events in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A stochastic characterisation of the natural disturbance regime of the boreal mixedwood forest with implications for sustainable forest management

The annual area burned on an 8.6 × 106 ha study area in the boreal mixedwood forest of northeastern Alberta, Canada, was characterised as a serially independent random draw from a lognormal distribution. This characterisation was applied in Monte Carlo simulations, which showed that estimates of the mean annual burn rates, even with long sample periods, are highly imprecise. Monte Carlo simulation was also used to simulate the development of a forest subject to lognormally distributed annual burn rate in an attempt to characterise the equilibrium age-class structure. No equilibrium age-class structure could be identified from the simulation results. The validity of equilibrium age-class distribution models (e.g., the negative exponential and Weibull) and analysis that relies on these models is questioned for forests where the annual burn rate is highly variable.
Self-Management Education for Persons with Parkinson's Disease and Their Care Partners: A Quasi-Experimental Case-Control Study in Clinical Practice

Background Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition with both physical and mental consequences that affect many aspects of everyday life. Persons with Parkinson's disease and their care partners want guidance from healthcare services in order to develop skills to adjust to life with a long-term condition. The Swedish National Parkinson School is a dyadic self-management programme to support both persons with Parkinson's disease and care partners. Objective To assess the outcomes of the Swedish National Parkinson School as reported by participants. Design A quasi-experimental case-control study in clinical care using self-reported questionnaires. Participants. Swedish National Parkinson School was offered by health care professionals working in clinical care. Participants in the programme were also asked to participate in the study. A matched control group was recruited for a comparison of findings. In total, 92 persons with Parkinson's disease and 55 care partners were included. Settings. Five Swedish geriatric and neurologic outpatient clinics. Method Data were collected during 2015–2017, before and after participation in the National Parkinson School or before and after seven weeks of standard care. Outcomes were assessed using generic and Parkinson's specific questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to describe baseline characteristics. Mann–Whitney U and Chi2 tests were used to test for between-group differences and within-group differences were tested by the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test. Results Improvements regarding health status, constructive attitudes and approaches, and skill and technique acquisition were found after the intervention among persons with Parkinson's disease. No changes were found among care partners. Conclusion The findings indicate that the Swedish National Parkinson School may improve health status and self-management among persons with Parkinson's disease, but further studies are needed to better understand the effects of the programme.
Incidence Rate of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 170,139 Women

Objective The reported incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after gestational diabetes (GDM) varies widely. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to define the incidence rate of T2DM among women with a history of GDM and to examine what might modulate the rate. Research Design and Methods. We searched PubMed and Embase for terms related to T2DM after GDM up to January 2019. Large cohort studies with sample size ≥300 and follow-up duration of at least one year were included. Data from selected studies were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model. Subgroups analyses were based on the sample size of gestational diabetes, geographic region, maternal age, body-mass index, diagnostic criteria, and duration of follow-up. Results Twenty-eight studies involving 170,139 women with GDM and 34,627 incident cases of T2DM were identified. The pooled incidence of T2DM after GDM was 26.20 (95% CI, 23.31 to 29.10) per 1000 person-years. Women from Asia and those with older age and higher body mass index seem to experience higher risk of developing T2DM. The incidence rate of T2DM was lowest when applying IADPSG (7.16 per 1000 person-years) to diagnose GDM. The risk of developing T2DM after GDM increased linearly with the duration of follow-up. The increments per year of follow-up were estimated at 9.6‰. The estimated risks for T2DM were 19.72% at 10 years, 29.36% at 20 years, 39.00% at 30 years, 48.64% at 40 years, and 58.27% at 50 years, respectively. Conclusions The findings of very high incidence of T2DM after GDM add an important insight into the trajectory of the development of T2DM in the long-term postpartum periods, which could provide evidence for consultant and might motivate more women with GDM to screen for T2DM. This trial is registered with PROSPERO identifier CRD42019128980.
Authentication of Lemon Juices and Concentrates by a Combined Multi-isotope Approach Using SNIF-NMR and IRMS

A methodology for measuring the natural deuterium distribution in citric acid by the SNIF-NMR method is presented. Triethyl citrate (TEC) is retained as a molecular probe for 2H NMR. The method provides efficient criteria for characterizing the authenticity of lemon juices: it is a powerful approach to detect the addition of exogenous citric acid manufactured from beet sugar (or other C3 plants). The whole analytical chain includes the separation and purification of citric acid from lemon juices or concentrates via preparative HPLC, followed by the synthesis of TEC. The present procedure may also integrate a determination of the 13C contents of sugars, citric acid, and l-malic acid. The correlation between δ13C values of sugars and of both acids is very specific and reinforces the discriminating power of the SNIF-NMR method. Keywords: Citric acid; triethyl citrate; SNIF-NMR; malic acid; sugars; lemon juices; lemon concentrates; δ13C profile; preparative HPLC; adulteration; authentication
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND WATER HOLDING CAPACITY OF CULTIVATED SOILS ALONG ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN SOUTH SIKKIM, INDIA

An investigation was carried out to study the physical and chemical properties of soils and its relationship with water holding capacity along altitudinal gradient for cultivated soils of South Sikkim. The physiography of the study area was mainly hilly terrain with closely spaced contour on steep sloppy lands. The soil texture ranged from sandy loam to clay with slightly acidic (6.6) to highly acidic (4.2) in reaction. The organic carbon content varied from 1.22 to 3.45 per cent with a mean value of 2.31 per cent. The bulk density, particle density, porosity, volume expansion and water in air dry soils ranged from 1.08 to 1.54 gm/cc, 2.05 to 2.77 gm/cc, 42.44 to 61.73 per cent, 2.95 to 11.9 per cent and 0.68 to 4.32 per cent, respectively. The water holding capacity (WHC) ranged from 33 to 73.86 per cent with a mean value of 54.18 per cent. The results revealed that 80 per cent of the soil samples have medium to high WHC while only 20 per cent are of low category. A significant positive relationship was observed between WHC and organic carbon, clay and porosity, while, a negative relationship was found with pH and bulk density with sand and silt content.
The Effects of Rare but Promiscuous Genetic Exchange on Evolutionary Divergence in Prokaryotes

I have investigated the determinants of genetic divergence within a metapopulation of bacterial populations, in which each constituent population is adapted to a different ecological niche and recombination occurs, rarely, within and between populations. Recombination was shown to be unlikely to constrain adaptive divergence between bacterial populations. Under relatively high rates of recombination, populations may diverge in ecological characters without diverging in neutral characters. Under lower recombination rates, populations may diverge in neutral as well as adaptive characters, even if they are not sexually isolated (i.e., if recombination occurs at the same rate within and between populations). Because bacterial populations that exchange genes may diverge in neutral and adaptive characters, extension of the biological species concept to bacteria may be inappropriate. Groups of strains that cluster by DNA sequence may each represent either a single ecological population or a group of ecological populations whose neutral divergence is constrained by recombination. The level of neutral diversity within a metapopulation is determined by a complex interaction among recombination rates, periodic selection rates, population size, and ecological differentiation. Therefore, one may not easily estimate these parameters from measures of nucleotide diversity within a "species" if the species is a metapopulation consisting of multiple ecological populations.
Action Spectrum of Coccolith Formation

The action spectrum of coccolith formation in Coccolithus huxleyi was determined by measuring the uptake of carbon-14 in coccoliths in four-hour experiments as a function of light intensity at each of seven wavelengths. An action spectrum | of photosynthetic carbon assimilation was obtained at the same time. The coccolith action spectrum had peaks at wavelengths of about 440 nm and 670 nm. probably corresponding to the regions of maximum cellular absorption and carbon assimilation. However, blue light appeared to be relatively more efficient in coccolith formation than in carbon assimilation. The results suggest that light-dependent coccolith formation may be catalyzed by two photochemical reactions, one mediated by chloroplast pigments and the other by some pigment absorbing specifically in the blue part of the spectrum.
The Effect of Bright/Dim Light Exposure During the Daytime on Rectal Temperature and Plasma Glucose Concentration in Healthy Women

The aim of our present study was to establish if there are any changes in core temperature and plasma glucose concentration during exposure to bright (5000 lx) and dim (100 lx) light. Ten healthy women (age: 19.6 ± 1.66 years) were studied in climatic chamber in which ambient temperature and relative humidity were maintained at 26°C and 60% RH, respectively. Rectal temperature was measured every 5 min and blood samples for determination of glucose were collected every 2 h. Each participant took part in both sessions in bright light and dim light conditions on different days with an interval of at least 1 day. Our results have shown that glucose concentration increases in bright light conditions as compared to dim light conditions but it remains within the normal range values for healthy subjects. On the other hand, there is a slight but significant decrease in rectal temperature in bright light in comparison to dim light conditions. The findings showing the decreased rectal temperature with concomitant increase in glucose concentration observed in bright light conditions might be explained by the mechanism involving melatonin action as shown previously by Aizawa and Tokura (1999).
Dendroécologie du pin laricio de Corse dans l'ouest de la France. Évolution du potentiel de croissance au cours des dernières décennies

L'evolution de la croissance radiale moyenne de 1 808 pins laricio de Corse (Pinus nigra Arnold ssp laricio Poiret var corsicana) echantillonnes dans 183 placettes de l'ouest de la France (region Pays-de-la-Loire) a ete etudiee, ainsi que les relations entre la croissance et l'etat actuel des houppiers. Pour chaque cerne, la largeur du bois initial et celle du bois final ont ete mesurees separement. L'accroissement annuel moyen selon l'âge cambial montre que les jeunes cernes (≤ 10 ans) sont constitues principalement de bois initial (70 a 80 %). Ce n'est qu'a partir de 40 ans que les pourcentages des deux compartiments dans chaque cerne s'egalisent (50 %). Entre 1935 et 1991, les courbes moyennes de croissance radiale montrent : i) de fortes variations interannuelles en liaison avec les conditions climatiques ; ii) des crises variables en duree et en intensite, liees a des stress climatiques prolonges (1952, 1962, depuis 1981) ; iii) une tendance generale positive respectivement de +50, +60 et +35 % si l'on considere le cerne total, le bois initial et le bois final. Ces resultats confirment les tendances deja observees sur d'autres especes dans d'autres regions francaises, et peuvent etre interpretes comme les consequences des modifications climatiques globales plus ou moins directement liees a l'augmentation du CO 2 atmospherique, des depots atmospheriques anthropiques, particulierement azotes, ou encore de l'amelioration de la sylviculture (selection des plants, densite de plantation, eclaircies.). La stratification des donnees selon l'aspect actuel des houppiers revele une divergence de croissance depuis la fin des annees 1960 des peuplements actuellement declinants. Cette perte ancienne de vitalite semble etre en relation etroite avec la succession des deficits pluviometriques des annees 1967 a 1978 ; deficits dont les effets ont ete amplifies pour ces peuplements par des conditions locales d'approvisionnement en eau defavorables. La pertinence du critere aspect des houppiers pour juger de la vitalite reelle des arbres est discutee.