Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and Function of Female and Bisexual Organ Complexes in Gnetales

The female structures in Gnetales share the presence of an integument with a long, open micropylar tube that takes up the pollen grains via nucellar secretion presented at the micropylar apex. The micropylar tube is sheathed by one or two united pairs of outer envelopes that resemble the inflorescence bracts. Developmentally, Gnetales and angiosperms have in common a circular (inner) integument and its initiation at the time when the sporogenous cells become apparent, whereas the integument is two-lobed and its initiation precedes the differentiation of sporogenous cells in other gymnosperms. However, Gnetales differ from angiosperms in having an acropetal (and not basipetal) initiation sequence for the two inner envelopes, including the integument. The attachment of the two envelopes of the nucellus is at about the same level in most angiosperms, whereas the outer is much lower than the inner in Gnetales. The second or third envelope as counted from the nucellus (the carpel) is the receptive one in angiosperms, while it is always the innermost one (the integument) in Gnetales. In all three genera of the Gnetales bisexual organ complexes occur in various combinations but always with the female organs more apical than the male ones, in Ephedra at inflorescence (rarely flower) level, in Gnetum at partial inflorescence level, and in Welwitschia at flower level. The female organs in these bisexual complexes are often sterile but seem to be regularly functional by secreting a sweet pollination drop that serves as nectar for pollinating insects. In some species of Ephedra and Gnetum that lack female flowers, in the male inflorescences nectar may also be secreted by other parts of the inflorescence. Homologies of the female organ complexes with those of angiosperms are uncertain apart from the nucellus and the (inner) integument. The floral bracts (outer envelopes) may be apomorphic in Gnetales without direct correspondence in angiosperm flowers. The basipetal development of the bisexual complexes in Gnetum is compared with the basipetal development of the ovules in Bennettitales and a similar topology in conifers with several ovules on a seed scale.
NiSFeS/N, S co‐doped carbon hybrid: Synergistic effect between NiS and FeS facilitating electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction

A series of NiSFeS/N, S co‐doped carbon (NixFeyS/NSC) for electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were synthesized by a co‐precipitation method and followed by pyrolysis in N2 atmosphere. NiSFeS hybrid was uniformly integrated with N, S co‐doped carbon in NixFeyS/NSC. NixFeyS/NSC showed high OER catalytic activity, and the optimized Ni60Fe40S/NSC afforded an OER overpotential of ~239 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and showed a corresponding Tafel slope of ~30.9 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH. Such OER catalytic activity was not only higher than that of IrO2, but also comparable with that of the most recently reported NiFe‐based sulfides for OER. Further study indicated that hybridizing NiS with FeS resulted in a synergistic effect for OER. The hybridization increased total amount of sulfides as active species, therefore enhancing the OER catalytic activity. In addition, the hybridization benefited the formation of petal‐like morphologies that contributing much to higher electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), and also boosted the content of graphitic and N, S co‐doped carbon that improving charge transfer efficiency.
Post-thinning Responses of Microbial Substrate Utilization in Temperate Japanese Larch Forests

ABSTRACT The present study examined microbial substrate utilization by community level physiological profiling and carbon-cycling enzyme assays (cellobiohydrolase, β-xylosidase, and oxidases) in three Japanese larch forests. The forests differed in their locations, topographies, and soil microclimates, and each covered three treatments, namely 20 (IT) and 35% basal area thinning (HT) without intensive residue harvests and an un-thinned control (UTC). Microbial substrate utilization and soil properties (temperature, moisture, total carbon and nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen, and pH) were analyzed at 0–10 cm depth, six years after thinning. Microbial utilization of carbohydrate group under IT was 27 and 62% higher than that under UTC and HT, respectively, in only one of the forests. This might occur because this forest featured a steeper slope, rockier soil texture, and cooler and drier soil surface than the other two forests, where no thinning effect was observed. However, neither microbial utilization of any other substrate groups nor enzyme activity changed by thinning across all forests. It could result from the exclusion of intensive residue harvests or the lack of changes in soil inorganic nitrogen and pH. These results indicate that the thinning effects on microbial substrate utilization might be inconsistent across multiple sites, and at least, not decline the associated forest ecosystem functions and sustainability.
Minimization of Pt-electrocatalyst deactivation in CO2 reduction using a polymer electrolyte cell

Diluted CO2 feeding was recently reported to efficiently generate CH4 at the theoretical Pt electrode potential, however, the reaction was easily deactivated. To solve this problem, we investigated the reaction/deactivation mechanism to produce CH4 from CO2 electroreduction. Using a polymer electrolyte single cell containing a Pt/C catalyst, CO2 was reduced to CH4 without overpotential by simply controlling the CO2 feed concentration. The CH4 synthesis proceeded if the Pt–CO/Pt–H ratio formed on the Pt-catalyst surface was 1 : 11 or higher. The deactivation of the CH4 generating reaction also depends on the Pt–CO/Pt–H ratio (the ratio does not satisfy 1 : 11 or higher). The optimum Pt–CO/Pt–H ratio to produce CH4 was 1 : 18. Furthermore, we achieved 86% recovery of CH4 activity by sweeping the deactivated Pt surface on the cathode up to 0.3 V where the CO2/Pt–CO redox reaction occurred simultaneously. As a result, an efficient less energy-intensive reactivation reaction that we defined as a poisoning-elimination method was established. Overall, this work demonstrated that the application of a polymer electrolyte cell together with a low concentration of CO2 is effective to minimize Pt-electrocatalyst deactivation.
Building an Understanding of How Winning Products Emerge When Open and Proprietary Products Coexist: Evidence from the Reprap Community

Online innovation communities have altered the nature of collaborative innovation. Within these communities, coexistence of open and closed source offerings is becoming commonplace, though potential diffusion and product advantages from each form are not well understood. Patterns of derivative innovation within these communities affect designers' focus; thus, this work is grounded in the attention&#8208;based view. Beyond open vs. closed source development, we find that the presence of sibling designs (designs based on the same source material) and self&#8208;remix (iteration on material by the same designer) have notable diffusion and product effects. Diffusion effects are investigated using 354 co&#8208;existing open and closed source 3D printers from the RepRap community, while a subset of these printers is used for an analysis of key product attributes: value and ease of use. While previous researchers have argued for an early stage open source diffusion advantage, this is not observed here. However, customers perceive open source products to have value advantages, while closed source offerings are easier to use. Sibling designs have a diffusion advantage, particularly early on. Self&#8208;remixes have both diffusion and product advantages. By better understanding these contextual elements of derivative innovation, designers' attention can be shaped to achieve desired outcomes.
Assessment of Melting Kinetics of Sugar-Reduced Silver Ear Mushroom Ice Cream under Various Additive Models

This study focuses on assessing the effects of various food processing silver ear (Tremella fuciformis) powders in sugar-reduced ice cream through melting kinetic simulation, sensory properties and functional ingredients. T. fuciformis, a natural anti-melting stabilizer in ice cream, has the advantage of functional ingredients. Using 100, 200, and 300 mesh of particle sizes, and then selecting a suitable particle size, those are added to the additive ratios of 0.4, 0.9, and 1.4% T. fuciformis powder to replace fresh T. fuciformis fruit body. Decreased particle size of T. fuciformis powder significantly increased ice cream stability. Comparisons of sensory evaluation and melting properties, in order to learn the differences of T. fuciformis ice cream under various stabilizer models, were evaluated and elucidated. Therefore, we obtained 300 mesh at 0.9% additive ratio of T. fuciformis powder, which is closest to the fresh fruit body/base ice cream. The enrichment of ice cream with T. fuciformis is to enhance the nutritional aspects and develop a functional food. Overall, the kinetic parameters of T. fuciformis ice cream melting can be provided as a reference for frozen dessert processing technology.
Ultrastructure and cell size‐dependent regulation of the adoral zone of membranelles in the heterotrich ciliate Stentor coeruleus

The number and length of oral membranelles were determined for both large and small Stentor from well-fed, growing cultures and nutrient-deprived cultures, respectively. Small cells possess both significantly fewer and shorter membranelles than do large cells. For both large and small cells, each membranelle is composed of three rows of basal bodies. The membranelles closest to the gullet have a third row that is only slightly shorter than the other two. The third row becomes rapidly shorter as membranelles become increasingly distant from the gullet. A short distance from the gullet, and for the remainder of the band, the third row is composed ofonly one to four basal bodies. The first two rows consist of approximately 35 basal bodies each in large cells and approximately 26 basal bodies each in small cells. This indicates that Stentor regulates the number of basal bodies per row, but not the number of rows, in response to changes in cell size. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cloning and Expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Major Secreted Protein Antigen 85B (Ag85B) in Escherichia coli

Background: The 30 kDa major secretory protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (antigen 85B) is a primary vaccine candidate. This secreted antigen induces a protective immune response and stimulates the production of IFN-γ in animal models. Objectives: The aim of this study was cloning and expression of Ag 85B of M. tuberculosis in Escherichia coli. Materials and Methods: To produce recombinant Ag85B, the fbpB gene was amplified by PCR method. Then inserted into the pET101/D vector and transported into E. coli strain TOPO10. Plasmid containing pET101/D: Ag85B was transformed into competence E.coli BL21 (DE3). The transformed E.coli strain BL21 was effectively expressed recombinant Ag85B. Results: The expressed fusion protein was found almost entirely in the insoluble form. Followed by sonication to disrupt the cells, Solution of the cell debris was centrifuged and after use of Ni–NTA column and 6 molar urea and 6 M guanidine-HCl solutions recombinant protein was purified. Conclusions: These results could serve as a basis for further studies in endemic regions of tuberculosis on the usefulness of this gene and its expression product in the development of subunit vaccine and DNA vaccine against tuberculosis.
On the Significance of Clutch Size in Nidifugous Birds

The average survival of young Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) from experimental 5-young broods was lower than that of young from natural 4-young broods. This is predicted by a theoretical model for the determination of clutch size in nidifugous birds; precocial young are vulnerable to predation when they move around, and nidifugous birds actively protect their young. The capacity of parents to provide protection is limited, and their protective effort is proportional to the product of the number of young times the movement rate of each young. But since the latter is inversely related to the distances between prey items, an increase in clutch size is advantageous only if accompanied by an increase in food density. However, hunting efficiency does not increase linearly with an increase in food density, and above a certain level a further increase in density has a negligible effect on efficiency. Thus, the upper limit of clutch size of nidifugous birds may be set by the fact that the protection required for more young exceeds that which the parents can offer.
Root length density and water uptake in cereals and grain legumes: how well are they correlated

Total root length per unit ground area (La) is often considered to be directly related to the amount and rate of water uptake. Experiments were conducted to compare the water use of spring wheat, barley, lupin (L. angustifolius) and field pea on four differing soil types in drought-stressed conditions. The La values of cereals were consistently five to ten times as large as those of grain legumes, whereas the aboveground biomass was sim~iar and never greater than twice that of the grain legumes. Growing-season water loss (WL) from the soil profile was very similar for wheat and lupins, despite this big difference in root length. Soil evaporation may have been greater under lupins, but when crop water uptake was compared for the period when leaf area was greatest, rates of change in soil water content within the root zone were still similar and were not well correlated with La. Specific root water uptake (Ur) was consistently greater for lupin than wheat. Maximum rooting depth was better correlated with WL than was La in all cases. Higher Ur values in lupin and pea may be related to their large and abundant metaxylem vessels, which give much lower axial resistance than in cereals. These results provide strong evidence for genotypic variation in root morphology, density and root extension between dicotyledenous and monocotyledenous species. They also indicate that La is not necessarily the root morphological characteristic most responsible for efficiency of water uptake in drought-stressed environments.
Going digital in agriculture: how radio and SMS can scale-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies in Tanzania

ABSTRACT In 2016, a study was conducted in Tanzania to assess the impact of radio and SMS in scaling-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices and technologies. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) does participation in the campaign enhance farmers’ knowledge of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies? (ii) what is the impact of the campaign on the adoption of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies? ; (iii) does exposure to multiple ICT-enabled channels result in larger gains (in terms of knowledge and adoption) than exposure to only one channel? (iv) is it more cost-effective to use radio or SMS alone or use them in combination? The results show that both awareness and adoption are boosted if SMS supports radio campaigns. However, radio alone is the most cost-effective approach. Each dollar spent on the radio campaign results in 2.1 farmers that have adopted at least one new practice, compared with 0.5 farmers for SMS and 0.4 farmers for radio and SMS combined. Other factors were also important in facilitating uptake of legume-based SAI practices, such as gender, age, education and land size, but were not statistically significant when rated against the communication channels used.
The Socio-Economic Impact Produced by Patients with Dementia and Hip Fractures

Age is one of the most important parameters influencing the occurrence of hip fractures in patients over the age of 65 but also their mental state is a decisive factor. In the first three months, older adults have eight times higher risk of dying of a hip fracture if compared with people who have not suffered such type of injury. In the last 10 years, several studies showed considerable increase in the well-being of patients who have both pathologies but for the caregivers it proved to be a very hard task. The management of hospitalization costs of dementia and hip fracture patients cannot include only the period of hospitalization, but should also include the 1-year period of recovery. In UK, the annual incidence of hip fracture is 79,243, accident and emergency costs per hip fracture is 297 pounds and hospitalization costs per hip fracture is 13,765 pounds. Health and social care for hip bone fractures in one year amounts to 2 billion euros but specialists expect the number of hip fractures to increase reaching 104,000 cases by 2025.
Psychological Separation from Parents as a Condition for the Development of Students' Goal-Setting

Обосновывается актуальность изучения психологической сепарации как условия, детерминирующего развитие целеполагания в студенческом возрасте. Гипотеза исследования заключается в том, что существуют различные по характеру взаимосвязи компонентов психологической сепарации и целеполагания у юношей (N=23) и девушек (N=42) из полных семей. В исследовании применялись опросник Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI), адаптация В. П. Дзукаева, Т. Ю. Садовникова; методика «Ценностные ориентации» М. Рокича; тест «Смысложизненные ориентации» Д. А. Леонтьева (адаптированная версия теста «Цель в жизни» Дж. Крамбо и Л. Махолика); опросник «Стиль саморегуляции поведения» В. И. Моросановой. Представлены результаты исследования, подтверждающего наличие специфических различий компонентов психологической сепарации от родителей и целеполагания у юношей и девушек. Юношей отличает опережающий характер отделения от родителей. Психологическая сепарация от родителей, в свою очередь, тесным образом связана с ценностно-смысловыми и операционными характеристиками целеполагания у студентов.
Sulfate reduction in sediments colonized by cyanobacteria, Spencer Gulf, South Australia

Sulfate reduction rates in laminated intertidal sediments colonized by cyanobacterial mats were determined by a glass-rod radiometric technique. Sulfate reduction rates were highest in the layers of sediment immediately below (c. 5 mm) the cyanobacterial mat. An annual sulfate reduction rate for the intertidal sediments was estimated at 6 5 mol m-2. The individual sulfate reduction rates ranged from 2 to 104 mmol m-2 day-1, with the mean, median, mode and standard deviation being 21, 15, 2 and 21 mmol m-2 day-1, respectively; the mean of all standard errors (σx) for the sulfate reduction rates of replicate sets was 18%. The radiometrically determined sulfate reduction rates were consistent with δ34S values. There was a significant linear correlation between the reciprocal of the absolute temperature of incubation and the sulfate reduction rate. Some diurnal variation in sulfate reduction rates (day-time > night-time) was most probably attributable to the higher day-time temperatures. A Q10 range of 2.0-2.4 between 10 and 40oC was calculated for sulfate reduction in sediment in which the porewater salinity was 121 × 10-3 Multiple regression analyses showed that the daily sulfate reduction rates correlated significantly with salinity, temperature, porewater content and primary productivity. There was some covariance between the variables salinity, temperature and primary productivity. The estimated molar ratio between photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduced sulfate was 2:1. An equation relating sulfate reduction rate, primary productivity and environmental factors in marine environments may be useful in constructing mathematical descriptions of the sulfate-reducing process in marine environments.
Erythrodynamics in fish: recovery of the goldfish Carassius auratus from acute anemia

Goldfish (Carassius auratus) were rendered anemic through immersion in phenylhydrazine∙HCl, a cohort of [3H]thymidine-labelled erythrocytes was established, and recovery followed over a 234-d period. Red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) levels increased in biphasic fashion during recovery, rapid increases to plateau values being followed by more modest increases to levels equalling those observed prior to treatment. During the initial rapid phase of response, increased ventilatory and cardiovascular activities probably compensated for deficits in oxygen-carrying capacity but, by elevating blood O2 tension, may have suppressed erythropoiesis. Continuing slow increases in RBC, Hb, and Hct may point to some as yet unidentified alternative mechanism for stimulating red cell formation. During maturation, mean erythrocytic volume decreased, while mean erythrocytic hemoglobin level increased. Cycles of division of circulating juvenile erythrocytes occurred at roughly 56-d intervals, but di.
Why Is the Hong Kong Housing Market Unaffordable? Some Stylized Facts and Estimations

The house price in Hong Kong is well-known to be "unaffordable. " This paper argues that the commonly used house price-to-income ratio may be misleading in an economy with almost half of the population living in either public rental housing or subsidized ownership. Moreover, we re-focus on the relationships between economic fundamentals and the housing market of Hong Kong. While the aggregate GDP, population and longevity continue to grow, the real wage and household income fall behind. The trend component of the real GDP growth suffers a permanent downward shift after the first quarter of 1989 (a “political scar”). The trend component of real wage growth is close to zero, and the counterpart of real consumption and real investment decline steadily. Meanwhile, the trend component of the real housing rent and price display patterns that decouple from the macroeconomic variables. We also discuss the directions for future research.
Complex Temporal Patterns of Large Earthquakes: Devil’s Staircases

Periodic or quasiperiodic earthquake recurrence on individual faults, as predicted by the elastic rebound model, is not common in nature. Instead, most earthquake sequences are complex and variable, and often show clusters of events separated by long but irregular intervals of quiescence. Such temporal patterns are especially common for large earthquakes in complex fault zones or regional and global fault networks. Mathematically described as the Devil’s Staircase, such temporal patterns are a fractal property of nonlinear complex systems, in which a change of any part (e.g., rupture of a fault or fault segment) could affect the behavior of the whole system. We found that the lengths of the quiescent intervals between clusters are inversely related to tectonic-loading rates, whereas earthquake clustering can be attributed to many factors, including earthquake-induced viscoelastic relaxation and fault interaction. Whereas the underlying causes of the characteristics of earthquake sequences are not fully known, we attempted to statistically characterize these sequences. We found that most earthquake sequences are burstier than the Poisson model commonly used in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, implying a higher probability of repeating events soon after a large earthquake.