Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tree rings of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) in Lithuania as drought indicators : dendroecological approach

Dendroecological research on the radial growth of Norway spruce in Lithuania during the 20th century has been conducted. Hypothesis of the study is following: intensity of droughts during the 20th century is the main factor determining the state of spruce forests in Lithuania. Aim of the study was to estimate the impact of dry spring and summer climate conditions on Norway spruce during the 20th century with a respect to global climate change. Climate impact on the radial growth of spruce using multivariate regression techniques and detection of pointer years (i.e. years with narrow tree rings in the majority of trees) was investigated. The results show that for radial growth of spruce the most important factor is humid beginning of summer and that from four to six pointer years to droughts during the 20th century are attributed.
Growth and Mortality of Larval Sunfish in Backwaters of the Upper Mississippi River

Abstract We estimated the growth and mortality of larval sunfish Lepomis spp. in backwater habitats of the upper Mississippi River with an otolith-based method and a length-based method. Fish were sampled with plankton nets at one station in Navigation Pools 8 and 14 in 1989 and at two stations in Pool 8 in 1990. For both methods, growth was modeled with an exponential equation, and instantaneous mortality was estimated by regressing the natural logarithm of fish catch for each 1-mm size-group against the estimated age of the group, which was derived from the growth equations. At two of the stations, the otolith-based method provided more precise estimates of sunfish growth than the length-based method. We were able to compare length-based and otolith-based estimates of sunfish mortality only at the two stations where we caught the largest numbers of sunfish. Estimates of mortality were similar for both methods in Pool 14, where catches were higher, but the length-based method gave significantly higher es.
Use of auxin and cytokinin to regulate anthocyanin production and composition in suspension cultures of strawberry cell

The effect of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and benzyladenine (BA) on the production of anthocyanin and its compositions in suspension callus culture of the leaf tissue from the strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv Shikinari) were investigated. In order to determine the optimum anthocyanin production in suspension cultures, the effects of cell inoculum size on cell growth and anthocyanin accumulation were also studied. Maximum anthocyanin production was obtained in cultures about 2 weeks old using an inoculum cell size of 2 g. In the early phase of culturing, 2,4-D stimulated cell growth and impaired anthocyanin accumulation. Approximately 207 μg g−1 cell of anthocyanins was obtained without the need to add phytohormones to the Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) liquid medium to a culture 1 week old, however, greater anthocyanin yield was obtained when 2,4-D in amounts of more than 0–5 mg litre−1 was added to the LS medium of 2-week-old strawberry cultures. The content of two major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside, were influenced by 2,4-D and BA. The content of cyanidin-3-glucoside increased as the both 2,4-D and BA concentrations rose, and the content when concentrations of 2,4-D and BA are each 1 mg litre−1 was almost seven times greater than that when no phytohormones were added.
Learning Long-text Semantic Similarity with Multi-Granularity Semantic Embedding Based on Knowledge Enhancement

ACM Reference Format: Deguang Peng, Bohui Hao, Xianlun Tang, Yingjie Chen, and Jian Sun. 2020. Learning Long-text Semantic Similarity with Multi-Granularity Semantic Embedding Based on Knowledge Enhancement. In 2020 International Conference on Control, Robotics and Intelligent System (CCRIS 2020), October 27–29, 2020, Xiamen, China. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 7 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3437802.3437806
Stand Structure and Abiotic Factors Modulate Karst Forest Biomass in Southwest China

Understanding the driving factors of forest biomass are critical for further understanding the forest carbon cycle and carbon storage management in karst forests. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of forest aboveground biomass (AGB) and the effects of stand structural and abiotic factors on AGB in karst forests in Southwest China. We established a 25 ha plot and sampled all trees (≥1 cm diameter) in a subtropical mixed evergreen–deciduous broadleaf forest. We mapped the forest biomass distribution and applied a variation of partitioning analysis to examine the topographic, stand structural, and spatial factors. Furthermore, we used structural equation models (SEM) to test how these variables directly and/or indirectly affect AGB. The average AGB of the 25 ha plot was 73.92 Mg/ha, but that varied from 3.22 to 198.11 Mg/ha in the 20 m × 20 m quadrats. Topographic, stand structural, and spatial factors together explained 67.7% of the variation in AGB distribution. The structural variables (including tree density and the diameter at breast height (DBH) diversity) and topographic factors (including elevation, VDCN (vertical distance to channel network), convexity, and slope) were the most crucial driving factors of AGB in the karst forests. Structural equation models indicated that elevation, tree density, and DBH diversity directly affected AGB, and elevation also indirectly affected AGB through tree density and DBH diversity. Meanwhile, AGB was indirectly influenced by VDCN, convexity, and slope. The evaluation of stand structural and abiotic drivers of AGB provides better insights into the mechanisms that play a role in carbon storage in karst forests, which may assist in improving forest carbon management.
Relative Brain Size Is Predicted by the Intensity of Intrasexual Competition in Frogs

Competition over mates is a powerful force shaping trait evolution. For instance, better cognitive abilities may be beneficial in male-male competition and thus be selected for by intrasexual selection. Alternatively, investment in physical attributes favoring male performance in competition for mates may lower the resources available for brain development, and more intense male mate competition would coincide with smaller brains. To date, only indirect evidence for such relationships exists, and most studies are heavily biased toward primates and other homoeothermic vertebrates. We tested the association between male brain size (relative to body size) and male-male competition across N=30 species of Chinese anurans. Three indicators of the intensity of male mate competition—operational sex ratio (OSR), spawning-site density, and male forelimb muscle mass—were positively associated with relative brain size, whereas the absolute spawning group size was not. The relationship with the OSR and male forelimb muscle mass was stronger for the male than for the female brains. Taken together, our findings suggest that the increased cognitive abilities of larger brains are beneficial in male-male competition. This study adds taxonomic breadth to the mounting evidence for a prominent role of sexual selection in vertebrate brain evolution.
Threshold Temperature and Minimum Thermal Time Requirements for the Complete Life Cycle of Meloidogyne Hapla From Northern Europe

The base threshold temperature for the development of a population of Meloidogyne hapla from a glasshouse in Finland was estimated as 8.25°. The thermal time requirement above this base for development from juvenile to the first juvenile of the second generation was about 553 day°. Two field populations from northern Europe had similar thermal requirements. In some experiments there was an indication that the rate of egg hatch had slowed at the lowest temperature used (17°), possibly because of a slight diapause. Tomato was a better host than cabbage, but the thermal requirements of the M. hapla were similar on both.
Azadirachtin‐induced effects on larval‐pupal transformation of Spodoptera mauritia

Abstract. Penultimate (fifth) and last (sixth) stadium larvae of Spodoptera mauritia Boisd. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) of various ages were injected with 0.5 μg, 1 μg or 2 μg azadirachtin and the effects on moulting and larval‐pupal transformation were analysed. Higher doses (1 μg and 2 μg) of azadirachtin induced a prolongation of the fifth stadium in larvae treated on day 0 and day 1. The resulting sixth stadium larvae failed to pupate. Sixth stadium larvae injected with 0.5 μg, 1 μg or 2 μg azadirachtin showed prolongation of sixth larval period. Azadirachtin treatments completely prevented normal pupation in ‘day 0’ and ‘day 1’ larvae even though the percentage of pupation increased in treated larvae of other age groups. Injection of 2 fig azadirachtin prevented normal pupation in larvae of all age groups. Injection of 4 μg ecdysterone to sixth stadium larvae pre‐treated with 1 fig azadirachtin (on day 0) promoted normal pupation in the majority of animals.
A probabilistic seismic hazard model for Mainland China

We construct a probabilistic seismic hazard model for mainland China by integrating historical earthquakes, active faults, and geodetic strain rates. We delineate large seismic source zones based on geologic and seismotectonic characteristics. For each source zone, a tapered Gutenberg–Richter (TGR) distribution is used to model the total seismic activity rates. The TGR a- and b-values are calculated using a new earthquake catalog, while corner magnitudes are constrained using the seismic moment rate inferred from a geodetic strain rate model. For hazard calculations, the total TGR distribution is split into two parts, with smaller (MW < 6.5) earthquakes being distributed within the zone using a smoothed seismicity method, and larger earthquakes put both onto active faults, based on fault slip rates and dimensions, and into the zone as background seismicity. We select ground motion models by performing residual analysis using ground motion recordings. Site amplifications are considered based on a site condition map developed using geology as a proxy. The resulting seismic hazard is consistent with the fifth-generation national seismic hazard model for most major cities.
LOH Analyses for Biological Effects of Space Radiation: Human Cell Culture in "Kibo" of International Space Station

This is a review paper to introduce how our developing methodology for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis is predictable to detect the biological effects of space radiation. An experiment was successfully performed at 'Kibo' facility of International Space Station (ISS) from November 2008 to March 2009. If the field is restricted to life science, this is the first experiment at 'Kibo'. In this first experiment, we designed to elucidate the following influences of space-radiation and microgravity in human lymphoblastoid cell, TK6: i) a mutagenic effect of space radiation, ii) an effect of microgravity on mutation induction, and iii) a radioadaptive response after recovering the sample to the earth. Since the cells were successfully brought back to the earth at the beginning of April, we just started to analyze mutagenic effects of the frozen cells which were exposed to space radiation during about 4 months and half preservation at 'Kibo', determine influences of microgravity effects on induction of mutations by analyzing the cells incubated during 8 days under 1G or μG at 'Kibo', and evaluate a potential ability of the above frozen-cells to induce a radioadaptive response by measuring the repair efficiencies of DNA double-strand breaks introduced after recovering the sample to the earth.
Surgery versus stereotactic radiotherapy for treatment of pulmonary metastases. A systematic review of literature

It is not clear as to which is the best treatment among surgery and stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung oligometastases. A systematic review of literature with a priori selection criteria was conducted on articles on the treatment of pulmonary metastases with surgery or SBRT. Only original articles with a population of patients of more than 50 were selected. After final selection, 61 articles on surgical treatment and 18 on SBRT were included. No difference was encountered in short-term survival between pulmonary metastasectomy and SBRT. In the long-term surgery seems to guarantee better survival rates. Mortality and morbidity after treatment are 0–4.7% and 0–23% for surgery, and 0–2% and 4–31% for SBRT. Surgical metastasectomy remains the treatment of choice for pulmonary oligometastases.
Speech Acts of Requests: A Case of Indonesian EFL Learners

This study sheds light on the delineation of the most frequently used request strategies as realized by Indonesian EFL learners and their reasons of utilizing such strategies. A descriptive qualitative study was employed by involving forty (40) English learners of a university at Surakarta as the participants. The data were gathered by means of DCT-questionnaire, Role-plays, and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The obtained data were descriptively analyzed by referring to Blum-Kulka and Olshtain’s Cross-Cultural Study of Speech Act Realization Patterns (CCSARP) followed by transcribing the result of FGD. The findings illustrated that Indonesian EFL learners made use of conventionally indirect request more frequently than other strategies. Furthermore, the FGD revealed that their reasons of employing conventionally indirect strategy were because of the cultural factors and the social distance between the interlocutors. As an effort to equip EFL learners with adequate pragmatic competence, this study offers some input enhancement both in terms of process (teaching activities) and in terms of product (realizing speech act of requests) for ELT practices in Indonesian context.
Variability in and Environmental Correlates to White Pine Blister Rust Incidence in Five California White Pine Species

Abstract Five white pine species were evaluated for their stand characteristics and white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.) occurrence and incidence in 123 field plots established across their ranges in California. Tree data were collected on stem diameter, crown condition and position, and rust presence/absence; plot data included slope, aspect, elevation, Ribes cover, and climate factors associated with site. Crowns of live trees were generally healthy and crown positions varied by species. Stem diameters were smallest in whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.; WBP) and largest in Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva D.K. Bailey). For the two main species examined, western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl.; WWP) and whitebark pine, ranked comparisons of rust incidence were significantly different between northern versus southern and western versus eastern Sierra Nevada plots, but were not significantly different between those species. In rust-confirmed WWP plots, eight significant simple regression models related environmental factors to rust incidence; elevation had the highest r2of 0.46. WBP had one weak significant regression with relative humidity (r2 = 0.15). In northern foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana Grev. & Balf. subsp. balfouriana), the strongest fit of data from the five plots was positive with number of wet days (r2= 0.97). Two-factor models gave stronger fits of climate data with rust incidence in WWP (r2 = 0.60) and WBP (r2 = 0.42). The results suggest that environmental correlates vary among species and trends can be found across a large diverse landscape in spite of high variability in rust incidence.
Measurement of Volume Change and Mass Transfer During Serpentinization: Insights From the Oman Drilling Project

Serpentinization plays a key role on the evolution of the physicochemical properties of the mantle lithosphere. The rate of serpentinization reactions is controlled by the transport of fluid, which itself depends on volume change during reaction. Element transfer can strongly modify the magnitude and sign of volume change. Here, we measure solid volume change and element transport perpendicular to a serpentine vein in a serpentinized dunite collected at depth during the Oman Drilling Project. The sample is extensively replaced (extent of reaction > 80%) by a serpentine/brucite mixture parallel to a main serpentine vein network. The Mg content of serpentine and brucite indicates reaction with a small amount of fluid at temperatures below 100°C. Concentrations of fluid‐mobile trace elements (Na, Ca, Sr, Rb, and Ba) decrease perpendicular to the main vein. Primary olivine contains parallel platelets of a clinopyroxene/magnetite symplectite. Tomography at the nanoscale reveals that these inclusions do not react during serpentinization but are cracked and displaced. We use these inert markers to measure a 59% to 74% positive volume change that is close to the 52% expected for reaction in a closed system. Chemical data indicate no change in major element composition during reaction except for the addition of water. The initial olivine zoning in Al, Ti, V, Sc, and Cr is still preserved in serpentine and brucite. Serpentinization can thus be a local replacement process during which the solid volume homogeneously increases at the micrometer scale and the transport of aqueous species is limited.
Impedance Spectroscopy for the Characterization of the All-Carbon Graphene-Based Solar Cell

In this work, front contacts for graphene-based solar cells are made by means of colloidal graphite instead of gold. The performance is characterized by exploiting impedance spectroscopy and is compared to the standard gold contact technology. Impedance data are analysed through equivalent circuit representation in terms of lumped parameters, suitable to describe the complex impedance in the frequency range considered in the experiments. Using this approach, capacitance–voltage of the considered graphene–silicon solar cell is found and the barrier height forming at the graphene–silicon interface is extracted.
Glycyrrhizic acid exerts protective effects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced human coronary artery endothelial cell damage by regulating mitochondria

Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) is one of the main causes of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is primarily induced by damage to coronary artery endothelial cells (CAECs). Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is a natural and abundant pentacyclic triterpenoid glycoside of the licorice root extract, and it has been reported to elicit protective effects against hypoxia, inflammation and apoptosis in ischemic myocardium; therefore, GA may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for ischemia-associated CAD. In the present study, the protective effects of GA against H/R-induced injury in CAECs were investigated. Treatment with GA during H/R maintained cell viability and decreased H/R-induced cell apoptosis in human CAECs. In addition, H/R-mediated induction of intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly decreased by GA exposure. Similar to ROS scavengers, GA treatment not only exhibited protective effects, but also maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential after H/R and inhibited H/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, including deficits in ATP synthesis, mitochondrial DNA copy number and mitochondrial transcriptional activity. Furthermore, GA decreased autophagy/mitophagy, and its protective effect against H/R was abolished by autophagy promotion. Collectively, the results suggested that GA exhibited protective effects against H/R-induced CAEC injury by decreasing ROS accumulation and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. Further investigation into the precise mechanisms underlying the decrease in ROS accumulation induced by GA is required.
Vegetable Crops Grown under High Soil Water Availability in Mediterranean Greenhouses

The soil water availability of six vegetable crop cycles, irrigated with water of 0.4 dS m−1 electrical conductivity, was modified by varying the irrigation frequency in typical Mediterranean greenhouses at SE Spain. The soil matric water potential (SMP) in the middle of the loamy soil layer where most roots usually grow was maintained between −10 and −20 kPa (H), −20 and −30 kPa (C), and −30 and −50 kPa (L) for the crops grown under high, conventional and low soil water availability, respectively, while the total irrigation water applied was similar for the three treatments. The high soil water availability (H) did not improve the fresh weight of total, marketable and first class fruits, or the shoot biomass and partitioning. The irrigation frequency did not affect the total root biomass at the end of the autumn–winter cucumber, but the crop under L distributed its root biomass more homogenously throughout the soil profile than the crop under H. Regulating the soil water availability (maintaining the SMP higher than or close to the level at which crop water stress may occur) over the cycle as a function of crop conditions or farmers’ requirements appears to be a useful management practice for controlling soil root distribution or shoot partitioning.
Community Diversity and Interactions Between the Size and Frequency of Disturbance

It has recently been argued that, because of the influence of disturbance, few if any communities in nature achieve a competitive equilibrium (Drury and Nisbet 1973; Connell 1978). Disturbance, as well as other forms of harvesting such as predation and herbivory, may remove from the community individuals that would otherwise have utilized common resources (Yodzis 1978). While the importance of disturbance has been documented in many communities (see Connell 1978; White 1979; Pickett 1980), a complete understanding of its effects has yet to be achieved. A general hypothesis seen in the literature is that an intermediate rate of disturbance will produce the highest diversity of species if diversity is a measure of both species abundance and number (Paine and Vadas 1969; Horn 1975; Connell 1978). This "intermediate disturbance hypothesis" is predicated on disturbance initiating local seres, each having a progression of species invasion and replacement. Many discussions have used only the frequency of disturbance events or the total rate of disturbance to describe the disturbance regime in a community (Dayton 1973; Osman 1977; Sousa 1979a, 1979b). This rate can be quantified as a total amount of area disturbed per unit time or the probability that an area will be disturbed per unit time. However, actual agents of disturbance should be characterized not only by the frequency and timing of each disturbance event (see Abugov 1982), but also by the size of the disturbed areas or "patches" (Levin and Paine 1974) produced. Disturbance rate is thus equal to the sum of the size or magnitude of all disturbance events in a given area per unit time. That both size and frequency are important characteristics of disturbance has been noted before (e.g., Osman 1977; Connell 1978; Levin and Paine 1974; Denslow 1980b). However, the effect of the interaction between size and frequency on community diversity has not previously been discussed. Here I show that, as a result of differences in the dynamics of large and small disturbances, disturbance size will independently have a large role in structuring some communities. Empirical work on the effect of disturbance size is sparse and mostly recent. Denslow (1980b) has proposed that most species which utilize disturbance events should be adapted to the more common disturbance "types' in a community; the major characteristics of type are size and frequency. Denslow (1980a, 1980b) and Hartshorn (1980) have both pointed out the influence of size of disturbance on the types of species found within tropical forests. Plants in temperate old-field communities have been shown to have differential success over a size gradient of artificially created openings (Davis and Cantlon 1969; Gross 1980). Colonizing