Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sevoflurane pretreatment prevents lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in rats through up- regulated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression

To observe the effect of sevoflurane pretreatment with different concentrations on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into six groups in different sevoflurane pretreatment experiment, Group A (control), Group B (1.5 MAC sevoflurane), Group C (1.5 MAC sevoflurane + LPS), Group D (1.0 MAC sevoflurane + LPS), Group E (0.5 MAC sevoflurane + LPS) and Group F (LPS) at random. Besides, SD rats were divided into other six groups in induced HO-1 expression experiment, Group A (control group), Group B (ZnPP), Group C (1.0 MAC sevoflurane), Group D (1.0 MAC sevoflurane + LPS), Group E (ZnPP + 1.0 MAC sevoflurane + LPS) and Group F (LPS). Using traditional method to detect pathological changes, wet/dry ratio (W/D), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and HO-1 activity; detecting the mRNA and protein level of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and HO-1 by RT-PCR and Western blot. 1.0 MAC sevoflurane pre-treatment could effectively protect ALI with decreasing pathomorphological scores, MPO activity, W/D and down-regulated expression of ICAM-1 and CINC. Furthermore, 1.0 MAC sevoflurane pre-treatment could significantly induced HO-1 expression suggesting sevoflurane may protect ALI from inflammation through inducing abundant HO-1 expression. Sevoflurane pre-treatment may be an effective avenue to alleviate ALI through inducing HO-1 expression. Key words: Sevoflurane, acute lung injury, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).
Conversion of data from the laser scanner to the Ansys Workbench

This paper deals with the data processing in the form of a cloud of points scanned using a handheld 3D laser scanner. The aim of this paper is to use this data to create a representative FEM model and compare two different approaches while one of them involves creating a CAD model and the other one not. The data processing is carried out in the freeware systems MeshLab and Meshmixer and FEM analysis in the software ANSYS Workbench.
Strategy and constraint in the winter fattening response to temperature in the great tit Parus major

Summary 1 For many small birds at temperate latitudes, the low temperatures and long nights of winter are associated with an increased risk of starvation. Birds such as the great tit Parus major L. face this by increasing their fat reserves. Theoretical, correlative and experimental evidence indicates that the amount of fat carried is not maximized for a given set of circumstances, but optimized, at least partly because of a need to trade off starvation risk against predation risk, part of which may be mass-dependent, and therefore increased by carrying increased reserves. Evidence for such a trade-off strategy includes the observed negative correlation between fat reserves and ambient winter temperature operating as a proximate factor. 2 However, the relationship between fat and temperature requires further investigation for two reasons. First, field evidence that temperature acts as a proximate factor is equivocal. Secondly, measures of temperature used (e.g. mean temperature over the previous 24 h) have given little resolution as to the time over which temperature effects operate, and whether low temperatures might constrain the bird's ability to fatten, in addition to signalling the need to fatten further. 3 This paper uses observations of fat from a wild great tit population, studied over 17 years, to address these two areas. First, it demonstrates that temperature acts as a proximate factor influencing fat reserve levels. Secondly, by relating the time of observation more precisely than previously to temperatures prevailing at particular times during the previous 24 h, it is shown that while past temperature (e.g. 5 + h previously) is used to optimize fat reserves (strategic fattening), more immediate temperature may constrain the bird's ability to achieve the optimum. 4 This constraint is demonstrated by a positive correlation between fat reserves and current temperature; probably the first demonstration of such a relationship. However, this constraining effect of temperature has diminished over the last 17 years, presumably because of climate amelioration.
Individual identity, song repertoire and duet function in the Crimson-breasted Shrike (Laniarius atrococcineus)

Avian vocal duets are joint displays where paired birds produce temporally and structurally coordinated vocalisations. Duets show great variety in form that can reflect different functions, such as mate guarding, mutual recognition, pair bond maintenance or territory defence. By describing the structure of duets and singing behaviour, we can investigate whether these signals are based on cooperation or conflict and which functions they might have. Here we describe the singing behaviour and song repertoire of the Crimson-breasted Shrike in the Kalahari Desert, and assess four main hypotheses proposed for the function of duets. We found that Crimson-breasted Shrikes have a sex-specific repertoire, and the individuality of males, females and pairs is expressed acoustically. Differences in vocal strategies between the sexes indicate male mate guarding as one possible function. Temporal coordination is high and duetters follow strict codes, suggesting that duetting could be a cooperative endeavour in this species. The observed duetting behaviour is also consistent with the predictions for mutual recognition because each bird has its individual vocal characteristics that are consistent over time. Our results provide no support for the hypothesis that duets serve pair bond maintenance in this species as no partner-directed adjustment of temporal coordination took place.
Chronic illness in childhood and early adolescence: A longitudinal exploration of co-occurring mental illness

Abstract Chronic health conditions are hypothesized to disrupt the typical trajectory of child and adolescent development, and subsequently lead to increased levels of mental illness. However, due to methodological limitations in existing studies, this theory remains to be fully substantiated by empirical research. This study aimed to more thoroughly test hypotheses in the field. This study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to examine the co-occurrence of mental illness among children with chronic illness in late childhood into early adolescence and explore mediating factors in these outcomes. Children with chronic health problems presented with a disproportionate rate of psychiatric illness at 10 years, and these chronic health problems continued to be associated with poor mental health outcomes at 13 years and 15 years. These outcomes were mediated by high levels of peer victimization and health-related school absenteeism. This study suggests that chronic illness may impact on functioning and social development in early adolescence, and consequently lead to increased rates of mental illness. Examining rates of school absenteeism and peer victimization may be key to identifying children at risk over time.
The feasibility of crop diversification in rice based cropping systems in haor ecosystem

An experiment was conducted in five farmers’ field in Dingaputa haor of Purba Tetulia village, Mohangonj Upazila in Netrakona district during the period from 20 July 2010 to 15 May 2011. The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of growing short duration vegetable and oil crops in seasonal fallow of Boro rice-Fallow-Fallow cropping patterns in terms of both combined yields and economic performance. Six short duration vegetables such as potato, red amaranth, stem amaranth, spinach, radish and mustard were the first crops and Boro rice (var. BRRI dhan28) was the second crop. Thus there were six types of cropping patterns Potato-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Red amaranth-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Stem amaranth-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Spinach-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Radish-Boro rice- Seasonal flood and Musturd-Boro rice- Seasonal flood. The agronomic productivity (rice equivalent yield t ha-1) of the cropping patterns Potato-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Red amaranth-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Stem amarnth-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Spinach-Boro rice- Seasonal flood, Radish-Boro rice- Seasonal flood and Mustard-Boro rice- Seasonal flood were 22.42, 15.47, 17.04, 17.79, 22.11 and 11.56 t ha-1, respectively with economic productivity (gross return Tk ha-1) of 364162.50, 251712.50, 276900.00, 292012.50, 359125.00 and 187850.00, respectively and the benefit cost ratio of 1.88, 1.52, 1.65, 1.69, 1.75 and 1.12, respectively From diversification practices in Dingaputa haor ecosystem Potato-Boro rice- Seasonal flood and Radish-Boro riceSeasonal flood cropping patterns were found to be the most dominant cropping patterns in economic terms.
Natural History's Place in Science and Society

The fundamental properties of organisms—what they are, how and where they live, and the biotic and abiotic interactions that link them to communities and ecosystems—are the domain of natural history. We provide examples illustrating the vital importance of natural history knowledge to many disciplines, from human health and food security to conservation, management, and recreation. We then present several lines of evidence showing that traditional approaches to and support for natural history in developed economies has declined significantly over the past 40 years. Finally, we argue that a revitalization of the practice of natural history—one that is focused on new frontiers in a rapidly changing world and that incorporates new technologies—would provide significant benefits for both science and society.
Systematics of Eriogonoideae s. s. (Polygonaceae)

Abstract Eriogonoideae s. s. (buckwheats and spineflowers, Polygonaceae) comprises morphologically diverse plants (ca. 325 species, 20 genera) distributed amphitropically in the New World. The lineage is hypothesized to have recently diversified mostly in arid habitats of the western U. S. A. , where species richness and endemism are highest. Generic classification of Eriogonoideae s. s. has been unstable, mostly due to different morphological interpretations of the involucre. In this study, phylogenetic relationships of Eriogonoideae s. s. were estimated using multiple genes (ITS, trnL—F and psbD—trnT), optimality criteria (Bayesian, Garli ML and RAxML), and a large taxonomic sample (n = 160). Tribes Pterostegieae and Eriogoneae are monophyletic and subtribes Chorizanthineae and Eriogoneae are paraphyletic. The largest genera (Eriogonum and Chorizanthe) and most subgenera are paraphyletic. Most taxonomic groups shown to be non-monophyletic in phylogenies are also rejected for monophyly using the Shimodaira-Hasegawa test. With a primary goal of informing future taxonomic changes, major clades are identified that may be referrable to generic or infrageneric groups within Eriogonoideae s. s. Also, hypotheses regarding the variation of inflorescence features among Eriogonoideae s. s. are discussed.
Liquidity Constraints and Firms' Linkages with Multinationals

Using a unique data set from the Czech Republic for 1994-2003, this study examines the relationship between a firm's liquidity constraints and its supply linkages with multinational corporations (MNCs). The empirical analysis indicates that Czech firms supplying MNCs are less credit constrained than non-suppliers. A closer inspection of the timing of the effect, however, suggests that this result is due to less constrained firms self-selecting into becoming MNC suppliers rather than the benefits derived from the supplying relationship. As recent literature finds that productivity spillovers from foreign direct investment (FDI) are most likely to take place through contacts between MNCs and their local suppliers, our finding suggests that well-developed financial markets may be needed in order to take full advantage of the benefits associated with FDI inflows.
Self-switching diodes as RF rectifiers: evaluation methods and current progress

In the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) applications, widespread uses and applications of devices require higher frequency connectivity to be explored and exploited. Furthermore, the size, weight, power and cost demands for the IoT ecosystems also creates a new paradigm for the hardware where improved power efficiency and efficient wireless transmission needed to be investigated and made feasible. As such, functional microwave detectors to detect and rectify the signals transmitted in higher frequency regions are crucial. This paper reviewed the practicability of self switching diodes as Radio Frequency (RF) rectifiers. The existing methods used in the evaluation of the rectification performance and cut-off frequency are reviewed, and current achievements are then concluded. The works reviewed in this paper highlights the functionality of SSD as a RF rectifier with design simplicity, which may offer cheaper alternatives in current high frequency rectifying devices for application in low-power devices.
Water retention characteristics of various soil types under diverse rainfed production systems of India

The relationships of soil water retention at 1/3 and 15 bar and available water content with soil physicochemical properties were studied in 147 soil samples collected from 21 profiles from rainfed regions of the country. In general Vertisols and Vertic sub-groups showed higher water retention at 1/3 and 15 bars, and available water content. A number of profiles showed an increasing trend in water retention with increase in soil depth. Reduction in water retention from 1/3 bar to 15 bar was greater in Inceptisols/Entisols, Alfisols/Oxisols and Aridisols than in Vertisols. Amount of clay and CEC showed significant positive correlation, while sand showed negative correlation with soil water retention. The relationships between organic carbon and water retention in surface soils were non¬significant. Multiple regression analysis for pooled soils (n=147) showed that EC, CaCO-, sand, clay and CEC contributed to the variations in available water in soil.
Xylooligosaccharide production from lignocellulosic wastes with Trichoderma longibrachiatum xylanase

Xylooligosaccharide (XO) production was performed by enzymatic hydrolysis of xylans which were obtained by alkali extraction from tobacco stalk (TS), cotton stalk (CS) and wheat straw (WS). Xylan was hydrolyzed using Trichoderma longibrachiatum xylanase preparation, and the effects of pH, temperature, hydrolysis period, substrate and enzyme concentrations on the xylooligosaccharide yield and degree of polymerization were investigated. It was found that these three agricultural wastes contained different amounts of xylan, cellulose and lignin and the xylan obtained from these sources contained different amounts of sugar and uronic acid. The xylan from WS had the highest amount of arabinose while the other xylans mainly had xylose and small amount of glucose. Trichoderma longibrachiatum xylanase hydrolyzed highly branched wheat straw xylan (WSX) better than cotton stalk xylan (CSX) and tobacco stalk xylan (TSX) under favorable conditions ( reaction time of 8 h at pH 4.6 and 50oC). The TLC analysis of the hydrolysis products indicated that the hydrolysis product of T. longibrachiatum xylanase contained different amounts of oligosaccharides (X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7) with some monosaccharides. Regardless of the structural differences of the xylan types presented in this paper, all xylans generated XO with different degree of polymerization (DP).
Error Probability Analysis of NOMA-Based Relay Networks With SWIPT

This letter investigates the error rate performance of relay-assisted non-orthogonal multiple access networks with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer. In particular, we derive a novel closed-form expression for the pairwise error probability (PEP) of all users, which is then used to derive a union bound on the error rate performance. Additionally, we derive an asymptotic closed-form expression of the PEP in the high signal-to-noise ratio regime and demonstrate that the maximum achievable diversity order for the underlying scenario is equal to one. Numerical and simulation results are presented to corroborate the analysis and to investigate the error rate performance of all users under different energy harvesting scenarios.
Diffusive boundary layers do not limit the photosynthesis of the aquatic macrophyte, Vallisneria americana, at moderate flows and saturating light levels

Hydrodynamic models of mass transport assume that diffusive processes next to the surface limit transport and that there are no biological and chemical processes that control the supply and demand of the scalar. The validity of these assumptions was examined by measuring the momentum boundary layer (via particle image velocimetry) and the concentration boundary layer (via O2 microsensors) over the leaves of Vallisneria americana. The O2 flux (Jobs) was highest at x = 2 cm downstream from the leading edge of the leaf and was 1.8 to 1.4 times higher than Jobs measured at the trailing edge of the leaf at 0.5 cm s−1 and 6.6 cm s−1 mean velocity (U), respectively. The maximum Jobs was 0.44 ± 0.07 (mean ± SE) vs. 0.50 ± 0.09 µmol m−2 s−1 at 0.5 vs. 6.6 cm s−1. Interestingly, the surface O2 potential (D[O2] = [O2]surface ‐ [O2]bulk) was also unimodal at the low velocity (D[O2]max = 36 ± 5 mmol m−3 at x = 3 cm) but was uniform at the higher velocity (D[O2] = 9 ± 0.7 mmol m‐3). An analysis of the time scale of nutrient diffusion (τD) vs. nutrient uptake (τup) through the measured diffusion boundary layer revealed that uptake was always the slower process (i.e., τD < τup; τD and τup increased with x and decreased with U). Under moderate water velocities and saturating irradiance, uptake rates rather than diffusive transport processes appear to control mass transfer rates regardless of the location on the leaf and the water velocity.
Cast Iron Metallurgy

Cast iron (CI) is one of the oldest materials in commercial use. It has excellent compressive strength and is commonly used for structures that require this property, as well as for water and sewer lines. This article explains CI metallurgy and why the understanding of this metallurgy is key to understanding other ferrous materials and alloys.
Quantitative genetics parameters show partial independent evolutionary potential for body mass and metabolism in stonechats from different populations

Phenotypic variation in physiological traits, such as energy metabolism, is commonly subjected to adaptive interpretations, but little is known about the heritable basis or genetic correlations among physiological traits in non-domesticated species. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass are related in complex ways. We studied the quantitative genetics of BMR, residual BMR (on body mass), mass-specific BMR and body mass of stonechats originating from four different populations and bred in captivity. Heritabilities ranged from 0.2 to 0.7. The genetic variance–covariance structure implied that BMR, mass-specific BMR and body mass can in part evolve independently of each other, because we found genetic correlations deviating significantly from one and minus one. BMR, mass-specific BMR and body mass further differed among populations at the phenotypic level; differences in the genetic correlation among populations are discussed.
Clustering Behavior in Wintering Greater Mouse-Eared Bats Myotis myotis — the Effect of Micro-Environmental Conditions

During monthly bat surveys carried out in winters of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 we studied clustering behavior of greater mouseeared bats (Myotis myotis) hibernating in the Międzyrzecz Fortified Front (MFF) in western Poland. Since the behavior of hibernating bats is usually affected by varying environmental conditions we measured changes in the ambient temperature (Ta and water vapor pressure (WVP) and their variability in the selected areas and analyzed the relationship between clustering behavior of hibernating bats and abiotic conditions. In both winters, the number of solitarily roosting individuals of M. myotis decreased from autumn to spring while the highest number of bats hibernating in clusters was recorded in the middle of winter. The number of clusters did not change significantly over the winter, but the number of individuals within a particular cluster increased from November (median = 5, inter-quartile range, IQR = 5-8) to March (median = 20, IQR = 14-35.5). The changes of the clusters' size were best explained by a mixed model with WVP and the variability in WVP over the 20 days prior to the bat survey as explanatory variables. As WVP and the variability in WVP decreased, the number of individuals in a cluster increased. Also, Ta affected the size of clusters. However, neither of the models supported the hypothesis of the effect of variability of Ta on clustering of M. myotis. We propose that huddling enables bats to reduce evaporative water loss during the middle and at the end of the hibernation and reduces costs of spring arousals, perhaps by synchronizing them between clustered individuals and thus allowing the use of passive re-warming.
A New Dryosaurid Ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal

ABSTRACT A new dryosaurid ornithopod, Eousdryosaurus nanohallucis, gen. et sp. nov., is described here based on a single specimen from the Late Jurassic Alcobaça Formation of Portugal. Eousdryosaurus nanohallucis is distinguished from all other dryosaurids by eight autapomorphic features and an unique combination of characters, some of which are also shared by other dryosaurids. Eousdryosaurus is linked with Dryosauridae, because the fourth trochanter is proximally placed and widely separated from the scar for the insertion of the M. caudifemoralis longus, which is restricted to the medial surface of the femoral shaft. Phylogenetic analysis nests Eousdryosaurus in an unresolved polytomy at the base of Dryosauridae together with Callovosaurus, Dryosaurus, and Kangnasaurus. The complete pes of Eousdryosaurus, which has a phalangeal formula of 1-3-4-5-0, supports the putative autapomorphic reduction of the dryosaurid pes that also occurs in parallel in more derived ornithopods.
Trends in the Reproductive Phenology of two Great Lakes Fishes

AbstractTo assess potential effects of climate change on Great Lakes fish populations, we evaluated trends in the reproductive phenology of Yellow Perch Perca flavescens (spring spawner) and Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush (autumn spawner). For Yellow Perch in Lake Michigan, the estimated reproductive midpoint date (50% of mature females ripe or spent, 50% not yet spawned) took place 6.2 d/decade earlier in the spring near Milwaukee from 1988 to 2012 and 1.8 d/decade earlier in Green Bay from 1980 to 2012. At both locations water temperatures at the spawning sites on the midpoint date showed no trends, but mean water temperatures during the spring at the spawning site and midlake increased over the study period. This suggests that Yellow Perch spawning areas were warming sooner in the spring and that Yellow Perch were spawning earlier to maintain a consistent spawning temperature. Lake Trout phenological patterns were more complex. For Lake Trout in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee, there was a marginally sig.