Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relation of environmental factors to density of epilithic lotic bacteria in 2 ecoregions

Although heterotrophic bacteria are important components of stream ecosystems, little is known about the factors that contribute to their abundance. We used data from 69 streams to examine both the direct and indirect effects of algal biomass (chlorophyll a), dissolved organic C (DOC), NO3−, soluble reactive P (SRP), and NH4+ on bacterial density. All potential relationships were simultaneously evaluated using path analysis. Streams in 2 ecoregions (unglaciated and glaciated) were used to determine if important factors varied between ecoregions. The results indicated that algal biomass was the best predictor of bacterial density in both ecoregions. Furthermore, inorganic nutrients appeared to mainly affect bacteria indirectly through their influence on algal biomass. However, a quantitative relationship between algae and bacteria was not observed when algal biomass was <5 μg chlorophyll a/cm2. The lack of relationship between algae and bacteria at low algal biomass may help to explain why some studies have observed strong quantitative relationships between bacteria and algae in streams and others have not. Although the current study design was not capable of assessing the bioavailability of DOC to bacteria, the proposed conceptual framework used in the path analysis coupled with better assessments of the relationship between DOC and bacteria should prove useful for evaluating the importance of DOC, inorganic nutrients, and algae on epilithic bacteria in a number of different stream ecosystems.
Incomplete specimens in geometric morphometric analyses

The analysis of morphological diversity frequently relies on the use of multivariate methods for characterizing biological shape. However, many of these methods are intolerant of missing data, which can limit the use of rare taxa and hinder the study of broad patterns of ecological diversity and morphological evolution. This study applied a mutli‐data set approach to compare variation in missing data estimation and its effect on geometric morphometric analyses across taxonomically variable groups, landmark position and sample sizes. Missing morphometric landmark data were simulated from five real, complete data sets, including modern fish, primates and extinct theropod dinosaurs. Missing landmarks were then estimated using several standard approaches and a geometric‐morphometric‐specific method. The accuracy of missing data estimation was determined for each estimation method, landmark position and morphological data set. Procrustes superimposition was used to compare the eigenvectors and principal component scores of a geometric morphometric analysis of the original landmark data, to data sets with A) missing values estimated, or B) simulated incomplete specimens excluded, for varying levels of specimens incompleteness and sample sizes. Standard estimation techniques were more reliable estimators and had lower impacts on morphometric analysis compared with a geometric‐morphometric‐specific estimator. For most data sets and estimation techniques, estimating missing data produced a better fit to the structure of the original data than exclusion of incomplete specimens, and this was maintained even at considerably reduced sample sizes. The impact of missing data on geometric morphometric analysis was disproportionately affected by the most fragmentary specimens. Missing data estimation was influenced by variability of specific anatomical features and may be improved by a better understanding of shape variation present in a data set. Our results suggest that the inclusion of incomplete specimens through the use of effective missing data estimators better reflects the patterns of shape variation within a data set than using only complete specimens; however, the effectiveness of missing data estimation can be maximized by excluding only the most incomplete specimens. It is advised that missing data estimators be evaluated for each data set and landmark independently, as the effectiveness of estimators can vary strongly and unpredictably between different taxa and structures.
Digestibility of energy, lipids and fatty acids of vegetable oils and poultry fat by pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg 1887)

Evaluation of vegetable oils and poultry fat digestibility is the first step to elicit their use in aquafeeds. This work aimed at determining apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of energy, lipids and fatty acids of oil sources for pacu, a widely farmed neotropical Characin. A semipurified, omnivorous fish diet (344.2 g kg−1 crude protein; 18.16 MJ kg−1 gross energy) was used as reference diet. Test diets were obtained by adding 2 g kg−1 chromium III oxide and replacing 15 g kg−1 reference diet with fish, soybean, colza, corn and flaxseed oils and poultry fat. Juvenile pacu (64 ± 10.8 g; 14.6 ± 1.1 cm) were fed to apparent satiety, four times a day, and then transferred to cylindrical–conical aquaria for collection of faeces by sedimentation (n = 3). Apparent digestibility coefficients of energy and lipids were high for all tested oils (P > 0.05); ADCs of saturated fatty acid (SFA) were lower than monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Essential fatty acids (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3) had high ADC (>93%), colza oil and poultry fat yielding the lowest ADC for 18:2n-6 (P = 0.01) and 18:3n-3 (P < 0.01), respectively. Corn oil, soybean oil and flaxseed oil were interesting sources of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 dietary fatty acids for pacu.
Antioxidant Effects of Some Ginger Constituents

The nonvolatile fraction of the dichloromethane extract of ginger rhizomes exhibited a strong antioxidative activity using linoleic acid as the substrate in ethanol-phosphate buffer solution. The fraction was purified by chromatographic techniques to provide five gingerol related compounds and eight diarylheptanoids. Among them, 12 compounds exhibited higher activity than α-tocopherol. The activity was probably dependent upon side chain structures and substitution patterns on the benzene ring.
Natural hybrids of Papilio (Insecta: Lepidoptera): poor taxonomy or interesting evolutionary problem?

A minimum of 6% of Papilio species hybridize in nature, with most hybrids derived from parents within the same species group. Extensive laboratory hybridization between Papilio species indicates relatively little postzygotic incompatibility and suggests that most barriers to gene flow are prezygotic. In some species, mating behavior appears to be a by-product of selection on ecologically important traits. For example, larval host shifts in P. machaon in western North America may have led to changes in its mating sites and phenology. The extent of these changes can be related to the frequency of hybridization between P. zelicaon and P. machaon. In another species, P. glaucus, gene flow between two distinct subspecies may be decreased by genetic linkage between ecologically important traits on sex chromosomes. Although current information for Papilio species indicates that most species differences developed in allopatry, the observed connection between ecological traits and mating traits suggests the possib.
Extended Vector-Based EB-ESPRIT Method

The estimation of direction of arrivals (DoAs) from spherical microphone array data is one of the key issues in extracting source information from all-around audio recordings. One such technique is the eigenbeam estimation of signal parameters via the rotational invariance technique (EB-ESPRIT), which separates the signal subspace related to the stationary sound field and then directly estimates DoAs of multiple sound sources. EB-ESPRIT has been evolved in many different ways by involving different types of recurrence relations of spherical harmonics, all of which are able to identify DoAs of a limited number of sources that are noticeably smaller than the number of finite-order spherical harmonic coefficients recorded. In this work, we report that it is possible to go beyond the known limits of detectable sources. The proposed formula is also based on conventional recurrence relations and probably permits to reach the ultimate limit by additional constraints of the signal parameters that can better exploit the highest-order coefficients. Monte-Carlo simulations conducted with various source positions and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) reveal that the proposed technique can detect more sources with insignificant loss in estimation performance and robustness.
Fostering collisions in interdisciplinary graduate education

Using the lens of social physics, this study aims to examine how, if at all, one graduate training program fostered collisions or meaningful interactions, between students and faculty from different disciplinary backgrounds. ,Qualitative, ethnographic case study methods. ,The University of Maryland’s National Research Traineeship program fostered collisions between students and faculty from different disciplinary backgrounds by facilitating exploration, idea flow and engagement within an interdisciplinary scholarly community. These collisions generated productive opportunities for student learning, development and collaborations, but at times also produced non-generative outcomes. ,This study names specific, strategic activities (e.g. regular research talks, physical space) that graduate programs can use to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations among students and faculty and considers the extent to which such activities contribute to organizational change. ,This paper applies new theories (collisions and social physics) to understanding interdisciplinary collaboration and identifies aspects of graduate training programs that may be replicable in other institutional settings.
Probing Two-way Moderation Effects: A Review of Software to Easily Plot Johnson-Neyman Figures

ABSTRACT This review explores the possibility of generating Johnson-Neyman’s interaction plot merely using the functions from software or packages without involving complex calculations. Three different programs were compared: Mplus version 8.3, the Johnson-Neyman() function in the interaction package for R version 3.6. 2, and PROCESS Macro version 3.4 for IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. These three functions/software are capable of probing or providing sufficient information to probe the J-N interaction figure simply. Mplus and the Johnson-Neyman() are straightforward, including the graphing function, although the figure created in Mplus does not show the region(s) of significance. Johnson-Neyman() and PROCESS Macro provide more information in the output related to the J-N technique, reporting the region(s) of significance and the observed range of the moderator for identifying the actual region of significance. Johnson-Neyman() is superior for using the J-N technique to probe two-way moderation effects compared tootheravailable functions/software.
Development of PCR-based markers for a gene (Un8) conferring true loose smut resistance in barley

Breeding for true loose smut (Ustilago nuda (Jens.) Rostr. ) resistance in barley is expensive because of the great requirements for time, labour, and growth space, and thus is an ideal candidate for screening by indirect methods. One gene (Un8) confers resistance to most known races of the true loose smut pathogen and is the gene present in the majority of western Canadian barley cultivars. Here we report on linkage between this gene and a restriction fragment length polymorphism marker, or various forms of the marker, in a number of segregating barley populations. The different forms of the marker were developed through sequencing and postamplification restriction. The resulting allele-specific amplicon markers can be used in a relatively simple assay, based on the polymerase chain reaction, specific for either the resistant or susceptible allele. The marker was linked to the resistance gene in five crosses involving two sources of resistance and was located on chromosome 5 (1HL). The allele-specific amplicons are being routinely used for marker-assisted selection in conjunction with a rapid DNA template preparation method.
Modifications of Cortical Cell Walls in Roots of Seedless Vascular Plants

: Forty-three species of seedless vascular plants were assessed for modifications to root cortical cell walls. All species except Lycopodium had an endodermis with distinct Casparian bands. Experiments with the apoplastic tracer berberine hemisulfate showed that walls of all root cortical cells in the two Lycopodium species tested were permeable to this tracer. Although most species examined lacked a hypodermis several Equisetum species had a hypodermis with modified walls. Three Selaginella species had distinct Casparian bands in this cortical cell layer. This layer, therefore, is an exodermis in Selaginella and its presence limited the inward diffusion of the apoplastic tracer berberine hemisulfate.
Effects of pollution on holdfast macrofauna of the kelp Ecklonia radiata :discrimination at different taxonomic levels

Non-metric multidimens~onal scallng (MDS) ordinations were conducted at 5 main taxonomic levels and 1 mixed level (corresponding to malor fauna1 groups) for community data from kelp holdfasts sampled across a gradient of domestic effluent at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales Australia All plots showed separation of close outfall sites from controls Two-way nested analys~s and pairwise compansons of locations using non-parametnc randomisation tests (ANOSIM) indicated that differences between the close outfall location and controls were significant at all taxononuc levels In contrast the effect due to sites within locations, although significant up to order was not significant for analyses at the muted class and phylum levels These observations support the hypothesis that anthropogenic effects moddy community structure at higher taxonomic levels than natural environmental vanables Consequently, s tud~es of impact that focus on higher taxa may be more readily interpretable than those conducted at the species and family levels
Collision Detection of Robots Based on a Force/Torque Sensor at the Bedplate

For a collaborative robot that shares the workspaces with humans, physical human–robot interactions are unavoidable. Therefore, it must be capable to detect collisions. Usual collision detection algorithms are based on the robot's dynamic model that frequently suffers from complex joint frictions. The uncertainty of commonly modeled frictions could lead to low sensitivity of the collision detection algorithm. This article presents a novel collision detection scheme based on the robot's dynamic model that calculates the reaction force/torque (F/T) at the bedplate. This dynamic model could avoid modeling joint frictions. To identify the dynamic model, a systematic procedure by measuring the force and torque at the robot's bedplate with an F/T sensor is introduced. Moreover, a compensation method for the F/T sensor signal coupling is developed. The proposed identification procedure has been demonstrated on a six-degree-of-freedom collaborative robot. Finally, collision detection experiments are conducted on a test-bed and humans. The results show that the proposed scheme is reliable and can effectively reduce the impact force with simple reaction strategies.
AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF RAPOPORT'S RULE: ELEVATIONAL GRADIENTS IN MONTANE BUTTERFLY COMMUNITIES

We examined the response of montane butterflies to a 1300-m elevational gradient in the Toiyabe Range, a mountain range in the central Great Basin. We tested whether elevational ranges of montane butterflies conform to Rapoport’s elevational rule (species at higher elevations have greater elevational ranges). We also tested whether the Rapoport-rescue hypothesis (emigrants from higher elevation populations inflate the species richness of lower-elevation sites) could explain the species richness patterns we observed. In addition, we predicted whether global climate change is likely to perturb current elevational gradients in butterfly species richness. Species presence data were collected from 105 100-m vertical elevational bands in 17 canyons. Elevation and species richness were significantly negatively correlated, although species richness peaked at intermediate elevations, and butterflies in species-rich areas had significantly narrower elevational ranges than species in more depauperate areas. Toiyabe .
Chatbots in Healthcare: Status Quo, Application Scenarios for Physicians and patients and Future Directions

The implementation of chatbots in healthcare offers high potentials for patients and physicians. Among others, chatbots reduce physicians’ administrative workload and weaken the worse consequences coming along with the lack of physicians. However, to implement chatbots in healthcare successfully, we need to respect special characteristics of the domain, such that the shared data is highly sensitive and that an incorrect or incomplete chatbot answer can have far-reaching negative consequences for health and life. To examine this field of research and its specific characteristics, we perform a qualitative study with 23 physicians from different fields having experience with automation in the healthcare sector. We identify seven application scenarios for chatbots from the physicians’ perspective and seven further application scenarios physicians assess as useful for patients. Nine of them enlarge and five of them validate the existing five application scenarios in literature. We contribute to research in the stream of chatbots by offering a combined perspective of physicians and patients. We also contribute by revealing specific domain characteristics from the physicians’ perspective, such as e.g. the liability question and privacy concerns. Based on that, we offer future research directions, in terms of next steps, but also potential negative sides of chatbot implementations.
Metal–ring interactions in actinide sandwich compounds: A combined normalized elimination of the small component and local vibrational mode study

The relativistic Hamiltonian Normalised Elimination of the Small Component with atomic unitary transformation (NESCau) was used for the first time to calculate geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of actinide sandwich compounds (An: Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu; ). In addition, the Local Vibrational Mode analysis, the Natural Bond Orbital analysis, and the Atoms in Molecules analysis were applied to quantitatively assess the intrinsic strength and the nature of the An-ring interactions. Our results show that actinide sandwich compounds prefer strong covalent interactions between actinide and carbon atoms, similar to those found for homologous ferrocene-type complexes . The metal centre rather than the ring size plays a key role in the strength of those interactions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Does Travel Really Enhance Destination-Country Image? Understanding Tourists’ Changes in Perception toward a Destination Country

Tourism has played a fundamental role in shaping the image of destination countries. This study aimed to examine changes in international tourists’ enhanced and complex destination-country images (DCIs) by comparing pre- and post-trip perceptions. A total of 268 and 275 valid questionnaires from pre- and post-trip Chinese outbound tourists to South Korea, respectively, were collected. The results indicated that tourists’ DCIs were dynamic and could be effectively promoted through their actual tourism experiences. Overall, when considering enhanced DCI perception, compared with pre-trip tourists, post-trip tourists possessed a positive complex DCI perception. Tourism could provide an important channel for promoting a destination country’s image to the world.
DNA Barcoding for Discriminating the Economically Important Cinnamomum verum from Its Adulterants

Traded forms of spice and spice powders are often subjected to admixing with inferior substances by design or default, affecting public health and national prestige. Cinnamomum verum (true cinnamon), a high-value spice, is often adulterated with its inferior species such as C. cassia and C. malabatrum. The presence and detection of the spurious species in traded barks (whole or powder) of true cinnamon is posing problems. DNA markers are now used to detect such adulteration. Here we report the application of a DNA barcoding method to detect these adulterants in traded market samples of true cinnamon using the barcoding loci rbcL, matK and psbA-trnH. The PCR success rate, sequencing efficiency, inter and intra specific divergence, and occurrence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were utilized to assess the potential of each barcode loci to authenticate C. verum from its related adulterants. The amplification and sequencing success was 100% for rbcL and psbA-trnH while matK failed to amplify in the market samples. The locus of rbcL showed higher interspecific divergence while psbA-trnH exhibited lower interspecific divergence. SNPs specific to C. cassia were detected in rbcL locus in seven out of the ten market samples studied thereby confirming the presence of C. cassia adulteration in commercial samples of true cinnamon. Out of the three loci, rbcL locus proved to be efficient in tracing out adulterants in traded cinnamon. The SNP sites in this locus can be exploited in designing C. cassia specific primers, enabling kit development for easy detection of adulterants at the band level itself thereby bypassing the cost of sequencing.
Validity and reliability of EQ-5D-5L among patients with axial spondyloarthritis in Singapore.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of EuroQOL-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) among patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) in Singapore. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients with axial SpA in an Asian tertiary hospital from 2017 to 2018. This study followed the COnsensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement Instruments framework. Construct validity was evaluated by testing 22 a priori hypotheses with other patient-reported outcomes measures. Cronbach's alpha was used to estimate the internal consistency of the EQ-5D-5L, while its test-retest reliability was assessed using weighted kappa and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The measurement error was assessed by analyzing minimal detectable change (MDC). RESULTS The median age of included patients (n=118) was 35 years (interquartile range: 28, 49). Ninety-six (81.4%) patients were male, while 112 (94.9%) patients were of Chinese ethnicity. The EQ-5D-5L demonstrated good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.79. The test-retest reliability of the EQ-5D-5L was good with a weighted kappa of ≥0.61 for mobility, self-care, usual activities, and anxiety/depression; the ICC was 0.92 and 0.99 for the EQ-5D-5L index and visual analog scale (VAS) scores, respectively. The weighted kappa for the EQ-5D-5L pain/discomfort was moderate [0.53, 95% confidence interval: 0.41-0.60]. The MDC for EQ-5D-5L index and VAS scores was 0.06 and 4.5, respectively. Convergent validity was supported as all hypotheses were confirmed in the results. CONCLUSION This study supports EQ-5D-5L as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing health-related quality of life among patients with axial SpA in Singapore.
Hatching Nauplii of Planktonic Calanoid Copepods from Intertidal Estuarine Sediments

The dominant planktonic calanoid copepods in inshore and estuarine habitats in northern European waters; the Acartiidae, Centropagidae and Temoridae, produce eggs which survive and can remain dormant in the sediments (Marcus, 1996). Eggs of Eurytemora survived passage through the guts of fish larvae, in contrast with eggs of Pseudocalanus (Conway et al., 1994). Eggs of Paracalanus do not survive in sediments (Marcus, 1991). Lindley (1992) suggested that families within the superfamily Centropagoidea, including Eurytemora but not Paracalanus and Pseudocalanus, produce eggs which remain viable in sediments. Previous work on these eggs has been from subtidal sediments, although Naess (1996) showed that calanoid eggs survived in sediments in seasonally drained fish ponds.