Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature responsiveness of seedlings maximum relative growth rate in three Mediterranean Cistus species

Aims Relative growth rate (RGR) is an indicator of the extent to which a species is using its photosynthates for growth and it is affected by environmental factors, including temperature. Nevertheless, most of plant growth studies have been carried out at a single growth temperature or at different temperature treatments, resulting in the lack of information on the relationship between RGR and changing mean daily air temperature. We analyzed the temporal changes in RGR during early growth stages in three Cistus species grown outdoor in a common garden from seeds of different provenances. Moreover, we wanted to define the relationship between daily changes in RGR and mean daily air temperature for the considered provenances. The hypothesis that intra-specific temporal variations in RGR can reflect differences in the behavior to maximize RGR (RGRmax) in response to temperature was tested. Methods Seedlings of C. salvifolius, C. monspeliensis and C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus were grown outdoor in the experimental garden of the Sapienza University of Rome under a Mediterranean climate. We analyzed early growth with non-linear growth models and calculated function-derived RGRs as the derivative with respect to time of the parameterized functions used to predict height divided by current height. The relationships between function-derived RGRs and mean daily air temperature were analyzed by linear and non-linear models, which were ranked according to their standard errors and correlation coefficients. The temperature dependency of RGRmax per each provenance was evaluated through the relationship between RGRmax and the coefficients of the best regression model obtained. Important Findings A parameter that could summarize the temperature dependency of RGR up to RGRmax during the early growth stages for the selected provenances was defined. This allowed us to highlight that a greater RGR temperature responsiveness was related to a delay in the time to reach RGRmax independently by the species. Nevertheless, a greater temperature sensitivity of RGR lead to a reduced maximum height which reflects a negative trade-off between the length of the developmental phases and the extent of RGR temperature responsiveness. Thus, variations in temperature responsiveness of RGR up to RGRmax have a significant role in shaping the early growth for the investigated species. Our findings quantitatively define provenance dependent strategies by which the selected species cope with daily air temperature variations during early growth.
Predicting Typological Features in WALS using Language Embeddings and Conditional Probabilities: ÚFAL Submission to the SIGTYP 2020 Shared Task

We present our submission to the SIGTYP 2020 Shared Task on the prediction of typological features. We submit a constrained system, predicting typological features only based on the WALS database. We investigate two approaches. The simpler of the two is a system based on estimating correlation of feature values within languages by computing conditional probabilities and mutual information. The second approach is to train a neural predictor operating on precomputed language embeddings based on WALS features. Our submitted system combines the two approaches based on their self-estimated confidence scores. We reach the accuracy of 70.7% on the test data and rank first in the shared task.
EUMECES-LIUI - A NEW SPECIES OF BLUE-TAILED SKINK (LACERTILIA-SCINCIDAE) FROM CHINA

the Mexican salamander Ambystoma schmidti Taylor. J. Herp. 1989(1). In press. LEVITON, A. E. , R. H. GIBBS, JR., E. HEAL AND C. E. DAWSON. 1985. Standards in herpetology and ichthyology: Part I. Standard symbolic codes for institutional reference collections in herpetology and ichthyology. Copeia 1985(3):802-832. MOORE, G. A. , AND C. C. RIGNEY. 1942. Notes on the herpetology of Payne County, Oklahoma. Proc. Oklahoma Acad. Sci. 22:77-80.
Production of a Fruity Odor by Neurospora sp.

ports on flavor formation by Neurospora sp. This paper deals with the identification of the compoundresponsible for the fruity note of Neurospora sp. ATCC46892 and the characteristics of its production. The fungus was grown at 30°C for 2~3 days in a 500ml shaking flask containing 100ml of YMbroth: 10g of glucose, 5g ofpeptone and 3g of yeast extract in 1 1 of distilled water.8'9) Then the cultured broth was filtered through a glass filter and the mycelia were washed with water; they were suspended mildly in sterilized water with a homogenizer; HISCOTRON. Three basal media, modified as described
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Older Workers: The Role of Self-Regulation and Organizations

Abstract We live in an unusual time, which effects all of us in different ways. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some people are working harder than ever, some people have lost their job, some people can only work from home, and some people have to reinvent how they work (Kniffin et al., 2020). Older 50+ workers might even be more affected by the pandemic compared to younger workers because they are labeled as vulnerable and as being at risk in terms of Covid-19 (Ayalon et al., 2020). However, emerging studies on the impact of Covid-19 suggest that older workers respond more effectively to measures that counter Covid-19 (Losada-Balter et al., 2020). This is in line with the lifespan developmental perspective, which theorizes and demonstrates that older adults generally are very capable of adapting and very effective in dealing with the aging process (Baltes and Baltes, 1990; Freund, 2008). Multiple studies show that older adults engage in various self-regulation strategies aimed at continuously maintaining or restoring person-environment fit (e.g., Kooij et al., 2020; Taneva and Arnold, 2018; Zacher, Kooij, & Beier, 2018a) thus helping them to age successfully at work. In this commentary, I will take a more positive perspective on older workers and discuss the self-regulation strategies that older workers engage in and how organizations can stimulate this. I will end my commentary with some suggestions for future research.
Supraneural and Predorsal Bones in Fishes: Development and Homologies

Homologies among supraneurals, predorsals, median neural spines, and pterygiophores in fishes are reassessed in a phylogenetic context with new comparative developmental information. Phylogenetic and developmental evidence fails to suggest a relationship of serial homology among supraneurals and median neural spines. Median neural spines in fishes do not form through the fusion of the neural arch anlagen to a separate median element. Dissimilarity in the developmental sequence and position of pterygiophores and supraneurals (=predorsals) of centrarchid fishes, in conjunction with a reinterpretation of phylogenetic correlations, indicates that supraneurals and pterygiophores are not serial homologues. Because supraneurals are found in all teleostean sister taxa, teleost "predorsals" are most parsimoniously interpreted as the phylogenetic homologues of supraneurals. Accordingly, it is recommended that supraneural, the more widely-used, senior synonym, be used to refer to these elements in teleosts.
COVID-19 Capitalism: The Profit Motive versus Public Health

Abstract Market incentives in capitalist economies and public health requirements are contradictory. In the COVID-19 pandemic, market-rewarded self-interested behavior has been exposed as a source of mortality and morbidity. Profit-motivated behaviors can keep people from accessing necessities for health thereby harming individuals and possibly damaging population health. The profit motive can also undermine healthcare system capacity by maldistributing goods that are inputs to healthcare. Furthermore, because profit-seeking is economically rational in capitalism, capitalist imperatives may be incompatible with public health. The ways markets misallocate resources provide a rationale for state responsibility for health, which is a public good.
Isolation and identification of oligosaccharides produced from raffinose by transgalactosylation reaction of thermostable α-galactosidase from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus

The thermostable α-galactosidase purified from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus catalyzed the galac-tosyltransfer reaction in the hydrolysis of raffinose and produced several kinds of transfer products. The main transfer products were isolated and the structures of the six kinds of transfer products (oligosaccharides A, B, C, D, E, and F) were investigated by acid and enzymatic hydrolysis, and methylation analysis. Oligosaccharides A, B, C, D, E, and F were identified as O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fructofuranoside, O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fructofuranoside, stachyose, O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fructofuranoside, verbascose, and ajugose, respectively.
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the Endocrine System

Abstract As SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) overtakes the world, causing moderate to severe disease in about 15% of infected patients, COVID-19 is also found to have widespread effects throughout the body with a myriad of clinical manifestations including the endocrine system. This manuscript reviews what is known about the impact of COVID-19 on the pathophysiology and management of diabetes (both outpatient and inpatient) as well as pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, bone, and gonadal function. Findings in this area are evolving, and long-term effects of infection remain an active area of further research.
Cognitive Multitasking: Inhibition in Task Switching Depends on Stimulus Complexity

We report a series of three experiments investigating inhibition in task switching, using N-2 repetition costs as an empirical marker. The experiments were structurally identical, employing a standard experimental paradigm where participants switch between three different categorization tasks. The experiments differed with respect to the stimulus material. According to prominent theories of cognitive control, N-2 repetition costs should be observed in all three experiments. To our surprise, this is not what we observed: N-2 repetition costs did not occur in Experiment 1, where we used static pictures from a driving simulator environment showing an oncoming car, embedded in a car-driving scene. In contrast, we observed robust N-2 repetition costs in Experiment 2, where we used static pictures of faces, and in Experiment 3, where the identical car stimuli from Experiment 1 were used, but without the surrounding visual scene. These results suggest that N-2 repetition costs depend on the complexity of the stimulus material. We discuss two aspects of complexity: 1) When the relevant stimulus feature is embedded in a complex visual scene, task-irrelevant features in that scene might trigger additional task sets, and thus induce additional task switches, attenuating N-2 repetition costs among the instructed task sets. 2) The presence of distractors might lead to additional covert or overt shifts of spatial attention, which in turn might reduce the size of N-2 repetition costs. On a more general level, the results illustrate the difficulty of transferring laboratory tasks to settings that bear more similarity to everyday life situations.
Food Chemical Studies on the Antioxidants in Sesame Seed

食品の品質劣化 は,微 生物 などによる劣化 とともに酸 素 によ る脂質 の劣化が大 きな問題で ある. 脂 質の酸化的 劣化によ り生 じる過酸化物は,食 品 のフレーバーや栄養 価の低下 のみな らず,生 体 内での老化,癌,そ の他様 々 な疾 病 の要 因 の一つ と考え られている1). 最 近,フ ライ 状の加 工食品 が増え,そ れ ら食 品をフライす る時の油の 熱酸化や フライ食品の保存中の脂質 の自動酸化を防止 す る ことが重 要 な問題 とな っている2). 油 の熱酸化や 自動 酸化を防止 する抗酸化剤で天然由来 の ものは,ま だ少な く,安 全性の高い有効な抗酸化剤 の開発 が望 まれて いる. 著者 は,約50%も の油脂を含 み,し か も,そ の約80% が不飽和脂肪酸 で構成 されてい るに もかかわ らず,酸 化 安定性が よく,長 期保存中 にも変敗臭 を生ぜず,そ のう え,不 老長寿などの薬用的効果を持 つ食品 として広 く知 られて いる3)ゴマに着 目 した. ゴ マ種子及 びその油 の酸 化安定性の要 因について 解明を行い,新 しい リグナ ンタ イプの抗酸化物質 の存在や,ゴ マ油精製時に化学 的反応 により生ず る抗酸化物質,ゴ マ油 フライ時に生 じる抗酸 化物質な どの知 見を得,ゴ マ種子お よび油の もつ食 品と しての高 い潜 在的機能性 を化学的 に明 らか にした. ゴマ油(ゴ マサ ラダ油)の 酸化安定性 に関 して は,既 に1950年 代 にP. BUDOWSKIら により一連の研究がな され た4). そ して,ゴ マサ ラダ油 の精製の脱色工程で使 用す る酸性白土 によ り未精製油 中のセサ モ リンが分解 さ れセサモールというフェノール物質 を生 じること(図1), Fig.1 Chemical structures of lignans in sesame seed
Incomplete reversal of genotypic resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine after a decade of change in malaria treatment policy in Uganda

Background: The potential re-emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites sensitive to chloroquine provides an opportunity for the reintroduction of the drug in patient care. With the recent discovery and spread of artemisinin resistance in South east Asia, the emergence of chloroquine sensitivity gives hope for malaria treatment globally. In this study, we explored the prevalence of genotypic chloroquine resistant P. falciparum isolates collected from symptomatic patients in northern Uganda. Methods: Finger-prick capillary blood spotted on Whatman 903 filter papers were collected from adult symptomatic outpatients ( $ 18 years) in Lira and Gulu regional referral hospitals. Patients were screened for the presence of Plasmodium infection using rapid diagnostic test histidine rich protein-2 (HRP- 2) prior to blood sample collection. Parasite DNA was extracted from individual spots on the filter papers using chelex-resin method. Presence of mutations, Pfcrt K76T and Pfmdr N86Y were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. A total of 213 and 169 amplicons were analyzed for Pfcrt K76T and Pfmdr N86Y polymorphisms, respectively. The data were analyzed in an Excel 2007 spreadsheet. Results: A total of 89/213 (41.8%) of the P. falciparum isolates analyzed for Pfcrt K76T polymorphism had wild type (chloroquine sensitive) genotype (76K). The majority, 116/213 (54.4%) carried the mutant (chloroquine resistant) genotype 76T whereas 8/213 (3.8%) had mixed genotypes Pfcrt- 76K/T (sensitive/resistant). For Pfmdr N86Y polymorphisms, the majority, 164/169 (97%) of the isolates had wild type (chloroquine sensitive) genotype Pfmdr 86N. A small proportion, (3/169) 1.8% had mutant (chloroquine resistant) genotype Pfmdr 86Y, whereas 2/169 (1.2%) samples had mixed genotypes Pfmdr1- 86N/Y (sensitive/resistant). Conclusion: P. falciparum parasites with genotypic resistance to chloroquine have persisted in the population after more than a decade since the change of policy in Uganda.
Reduction of soil water content fluctuations and soil temperature variations under retrievable drip irrigation

Wide soil water content and temperature variations affect crop yields for reasons ranging from rate of seed germination, seed development, to plant growth. This study aimed at evaluating the extent to which drip irrigation can reduce soil water content and temperature variations. An experiment was carried out in a 154 m2 glasshouse with Tottori dune sand of Japan. Two irrigation levels of 60 and 100% of evapotranspiration, and two dune sand covers of 2 and 5 cm on the drip lines were used. Soil water content and temperature variations were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced under the 5 cm dune sand cover but insignificantly reduced under the 2 cm dune sand cover. Minimum soil temperature was increased, and maximum soil temperature was decreased under the 5 cm dune sand cover. Irrigation level of 100% of evapotranspiration under 5 cm dune sand cover resulted in 20% dry matter yield increase of sorghum. Irrigation level of 60% of evapotranspiration under 5 cm dune sand cover resulted in no significant dry matter yield increase of sorghum. From this study, we conclude that the practical minimum depth of dune sand cover on the drip lines can be 5 cm. Key word: Irrigation level, sand dune soil, soil temperature, surface drip irrigation, water content.
Reply to Houston, McNamara and Thompson

In commenting on the need for sensitivity analyses of dynamic optimization models (Gladstein et al. 1991), we did not argue against the validity of such models, nor did we claim that authors do not perform sensitivity analyses of their models. Indeed, we are certain that they must do so, in order to be sufficiently confident of their work to submit it for publication. Our concern was for the readers of these publications, who have no way of evaluating a model unless sensitivity analyses are provided with it. Such analyses are essential not merely as a form of confirmation of the model's correctness, but because they are really descriptions of the model's properties, as indispensable for the reader's information as are the equations themselves. We attempted to demonstrate the incompleteness of a model presented without sensitivity analyses, in our re-examination of Clark's (1987) model of lion foraging group sizes. As practicing ecologists we wish to know not only that a model can be constructed to calculate an optimal solution for a given biological problem, but whether the answer provided is a plausible explanation for that phenomenon in reality. Consider the inevitably subjective assessment of the requisite "sharpness" of peaks on an adaptive landscape. Population genetics demonstrates that, all else being equal, even slight selection pressure will alter organisms' behavior toward an optimum. But in the noisy real world, all else is never equal. Each reader must judge the degree of superiority over suboptimal alternatives that he or she expects in order to accept that the modelled explanation is indeed the probable cause of lion group sizes or the dawn chorus. The proponents of competing hypotheses, especially, are entitled to see the sensitivity of the outcome to strategy choice, and will not wish to take the authors' word for it. Analyses published elsewhere subsequently, or remaining unpublished, do not suffice. Houston et al. raise the valid point that journal editors may refuse space for extensive sensitivity analyses. We would be delighted if our paper were cited to persuade them that their readers learn far more from sensitivity analyses than from the model alone. If this attempt fails, authors could prepare a supporting report such as Houston et al. describe, summarizing the report's results briefly in the main paper and noting which author will provide it on request. These reports should also be submitted to journals for distribution to reviewers, along with the manuscripts.
Effect of DNA Extraction on DGGE Analysis of Microbial Community in Soil

The Zhou,Martin,Bourrain and Kit methods were used to extract microbial DNA in paddy soil.They were evaluated based on the amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA V3 variable region amplified by the primer pair GC338f-530R and the fungal 18S rRNA region amplified by the primer pair NS1-GCFung and the subsequent DGGE analysis of amplified products.The results showed that the Martin and the Kit methods satisfied the analytical requirements of soil microbial diversity.The Kit method was simpler and faster,and the quality of its extracted DNA higher,but the yield and purity of DNA extracted were lower and the cost greater than the Martin method.However,the deficiencies did not appear to impose significant negative effect on the PCR amplification and DGGE analysis that followed.
Cloning and fusion expression of HBV PreS gene and its purification using affinity chromatography

AIM To search the novel protein interacted with HBV PreS so as to further study its function and mechanism. METHODS Firstly we cloned the gene of PreS. After sequencing cloned it into the expressing vector pRSET C, itwas transfected into the host strain E.coli JM109 (DE3). After 3 hours induction with IPTG, the strain controlled by T7 promoter expressed the fused PreS protein with a hexahistidine tail in its N terminal. We purified the target protein under denaturing condition. RESULTS SDS PAGE analysis showed that the fusion protein mainly existed in inclusion bodies. We isolated the inclusion bodies from the culture, then purified the fusion protein under denaturing condition using metal chelate affinity chromatography. The purity of HBV PreS was up to 90%. CONCLUSION Construction of the recombinant expressing plasmid lays a basis for further study of the PreS protein.
Intensive Inpatient vs. Home-Based Rehabilitation After Hip Fracture in the Elderly Population

Background: As the population ages, the rate of hip fractures and the need for rehabilitation increases. Home-based rehabilitation (HBR) is an alternative to classic inpatient rehabilitation (IR), which is an expensive framework with non-negligible risks. Methods: A retrospective study of patients 65 years and above following surgery to repair a hip fracture who underwent HBR or IR between 2016 and 2019. The two rehabilitation frameworks were compared for rehabilitation outcome and factors predicting successful rehabilitation. The outcome was determined with the Montebello Rehabilitation Factor Score-Revised (MRFS-R). Results: Data were collected for 235 patients over 3 years. The mean age was 81.3 ± 8.0 and 172 (73.3%) were women. Of these, 138 underwent IR and 97 HBR. The HBR group had better family support and fewer lived alone. There were also differences in the type of fracture and surgery. The medical condition of the IR group was more complex, as reflected in a higher Charlson's comorbidity scores, higher rates for delirium and more infectious complications, a lower Norton score, lower serum hemoglobin, and albumin levels, and higher serum creatinine and urea levels. It also had a more significant functional decline after surgery and required a longer rehabilitation period. However, no difference was found in the rehabilitation outcomes between the two groups (MRFS-R ≥ 50). The independent predictors for rehabilitation in the IR group were serum albumin level, comorbidity, and cognitive state. There were no independent predictors in the HBR group. Conclusions: In this retrospective study, there was no significant difference in short-term rehabilitation outcomes between the HBR and IR groups event though the patients in the IR group were medically more complex. This result should be taken into account when planning rehabilitation services after hip fracture and tailoring rehabilitation frameworks to patients.
Symmetric and asymmetric effects of financial development on carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria: Evidence from linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag analyses

This study examines the impact of financial development on carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria over the period 1971–2014. Income per capita, energy consumption, exchange rate and urbanization are incorporated in the analysis. The empirical analysis based on linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag techniques provides evidence of long-run relationship among the variables in Nigeria. The results in general show that financial development has significant asymmetric effects on carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria. Both short-run and long-run analyses show that the impact of positive changes in financial development on carbon dioxide emissions is significantly different from that of negative changes. The results suggest that in Nigeria positive shocks in financial development have significant reducing effect on carbon dioxide emissions, while negative shocks in financial development have significant increasing effect on carbon dioxide emissions. The empirical results also show that the response of carbon dioxide emissions to negative shocks in financial development is stronger. Based on these findings, this study concludes that mitigation policies would need to incorporate strategies to strengthen the depth of financial intermediation in the Nigerian economy.