Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 350‐million‐year legacy of fire adaptation among conifers

Current phylogenetic evidence shows that fire began shaping the evolution of land plants 125 Ma, although the fossil charcoal record indicates that fire has a much longer history (>350 Ma). Serotiny (on‐plant seed storage) is generally accepted as an adaptation to fire among woody plants. We developed a conceptual model of the requirements for the evolution of serotiny, and propose that serotiny is only expressed in the presence of a woody rachis as supporting structure, compact scales covering seeds as protective structure, seed wing as dispersal structure, and crown fire as the agent of selection and mechanism for seed release. This model is strongly supported by empirical data for modern ecosystems. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of intrinsic structural states required for the expression of serotiny in conifers, and show that these were diagnostic for early (‘transitional’) conifers from 332 Ma (late‐Carboniferous). We assessed the likely flammable characteristics of early conifers and found that scale‐leaved conifers burn rapidly and with high intensity, supporting the idea that crown fire regimes may have dominated early conifer ecosystems. Synthesis. Coupled with strong evidence for frequent fire throughout the Permian‐Carboniferous and fossil evidence for other fire‐related traits, we conclude that many early conifers were serotinous in response to intense crown fires, indicating that fire may have had a major impact on the evolution of plant traits as far back as 350 Ma.
Inertial Dynamometer for Shell Eco-marathon Engine: Validation

This paper aims to validate the construction of an inertia dynamometer. These types of dynamometers allow easy characterization of internal combustion engines. To validate the dynamometer, tests were carried out with the same engine (Honda GX 160) installed in the UBIAN car and kart, which after calculating the inertia and measuring engine acceleration in each test performed, allows to create the torque characteristic curve from the engine. Keywords: Inertia, Dynamometer, Torque, Flywheel, UBIAN
AMPHIBIAN USE OF CHEHALIS RIVER FLOODPLAIN WETLANDS

Abstract The use of isolated emergent wetlands by amphibians has been well documented. However, amphibian habitats such as emergent wetlands in floodplains may differ from isolated wetlands because of their high disturbance (water fluctuation) related to riverine flooding, presence of fish species, and increased connectivity among aquatic habitats. We compared the amphibian assemblages at 6 freshwater wetland habitats in the Chehalis River floodplain and examined the effect of wetland restoration on amphibians. We sampled 6 wetlands during the breeding season in 2003 and 2004 and captured over 15,000 adults, tadpoles, and larvae from 6 species. The red-legged frog (Rana aurora) was the most abundant species captured. The rough skinned newt (Taricha granulose) was the only amphibian captured at all sampled sites. Although it is more desirable to prevent wetland degradation from occurring, restored and enhanced wetlands in floodplains do provide breeding habitat for amphibians. Amphibian species captured in reference wetlands were also captured in restored wetlands. Water control structures, which were used to facilitate wetland restoration, did not seem to influence utilization by amphibians; however, hydroperiod seemed to affect amphibian abundances. Wetlands with intermediate hydroperiods had the highest amphibian abundance compared to wetlands with temporary or permanent water. Fish were captured in all wetlands, and those with the greatest abundance of native non-game fishes had the highest abundance of amphibians. Our results suggest that emergent wetlands in floodplains are dynamic habitats that can offer breeding opportunities, but microhabitat suitability needs to be considered when managing amphibian habitats.
Energy Communities and Sharing Economy Concepts in the Electricity Sector: A Survey

Due to high penetration of Distributed Renewable Energy Resources and their inflexible dispatch nature, modern and future electrical grids are facing technical challenges. New participants can offer the flexibility required by the grid through investments in Energy Storage and Demand Response capabilities, however, traditional and Peer-to-Peer business models are insufficient to take advantage of such flexibility. This article provides a comprehensive review on the concept of Energy Communities, their technical and economic motivations, available resources in the literature, trading schemes, and benefits for the grid. Furthermore, this review describes the policy framework in the European Union to make Energy Communities a reality. Moreover, a brief survey of related projects over the world is presented, along with a discussion of future research opportunities in this area.
Utilization of Steam-treated Oil Palm Fronds in Growing Goats: 1. Supplementation with Dietary Urea

Five male dairy goats (Saanen), 4.6 month old with a body weight of 21.4 (SD±1.6) kg, were used to examine 5 dietary urea treatments in a 5×5 Latin Square experimental design. The five levels of urea were 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g urea/kg DM of steam-treated oil palm fronds (OPF) and dry matter intake tended (p>0.05) to increase with increasing urea supplementation up to 30 g/kg OPF (77.7 g/kg BW 0.75), but decreased (p<0.05) with 40 and 50 g urea/kg OPF (67.4 and 63.7 g/kg BW 0.75, respectively) supplementation. Similarly, dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and hemicellulose digestibilities increased (p<0.05) with the addition of urea to 30 g/kg OPF but thereafter decreased (p<0.05) with 40 and 50 g/kg OPF. Ruminal pH, ruminal NH 3-N concentration and plasma urea concentration increased linearly (p<0.01) and quadratically (p<0.01) as a consequence of addition of urea to the diet. Excretion of total purine derivatives (PD) by goats fed 30 g of urea/kg OPF was highest (p<0.05) followed by goats fed 20, 40, 10 and 50 g of urea/kg OPF. Microbial N (g N/day) and efficiency of microbial N supply expressed as g N/kg organic matter apparently digested in the rumen were higher (p<0.05) in goats fed 30 g of urea/kg OPF (5.5 g N/day and 22.0 g N/kg DOMR, respectively) than in goats on 10 and 50 g of urea/kg OPF treatments. However, the former did not differ from goats fed 20 g of urea/kg OPF (3.9 g N/day and 16.6 g N/kg DMOR, respectively). Ruminal VFA concentration, protein/energy ratio, N absorption and N retention increased (p<0.05) with the addition of urea to the diet up to 30 g/kg OPF but decreased (p<0.05) with 40 and 50 g/kg OPF. This implies that the optimal level of urea supplementation in an OPF based diet was about 30 g urea/kg OPF.
Major Concerns on the Identification of Bat Coronavirus Strain RaTG13 and Quality of Related Nature Paper

A recent manuscript (Zhou, P. et al. “A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new coronavirus of probable bat origin”, Nature 579, 270–273 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7) from Wuhan Institute of Virology claimed the identification of a bat coronavirus, RaTG13, which showed 96.2% genome homology with SARS-CoV-2. In this paper, we raise the puzzling observations surrounding the identification, characterization, unique genome features of this RaTG13 strain, as well as its 100% nucleotide identity in partial RdRp gene with another bat coronavirus strain BtCoV/4991. And the paper presented premature hypothesis of potential bat origin of SARS-CoV-2 while RaTG13 strain was not successfully isolated. We also present the concerns on the methodology, data quality and experiment procedures described in this paper. We call for the authors to provide additional data, to share related samples to be verified and further characterized by other scientists.
Treatment strategies of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-19

With the outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), Changsha faced an increasing burden of treating the Wuhan migrants and their infected patients. This study is a retrospective, single-center case series of the 238 consecutive hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 at the First Hospital of Changsha city, China, from 01/21 to 02/14, 2020; the final date of follow-up was 02/27, 2020. Of 238 patients 43.7% visited Wuhan, 58.4% got in touch with Wuhan people, and 47.5% had contacted with diagnosed patients. 37.8% patients had family members infected. 190 cases had mild / general disease, and 48 cases had severe / critical disease. Compared to mild or general patients, more severe or critical patients visited Wuhan (59.6% vs 40.2%; P=0.02) and contacted with Wuhan people (74.5% vs 55.0%; P=0.02). All patients received antiviral treatment, including Lopinavir / Ritonavir (29.3%), Interferon (14.6%) and their combination (40.6%), Arbidol (6.7%), Xuebijing (7.1%) and Chloroquine phosphate (1.3%). Severe and critical patients received glucocorticoid, Gamma-globulin and oxygen inhalation. Some received mechanic ventilation support. As of 02/27, 161 patients discharged. The median length of hospital stay was 13 days. The 10-, 14-, 20- and 28-day discharge rate was 19.1%, 42.8%, 65.0% and 76.4%, respectively. No hospital-related transmission was observed.
The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

ABSTRACT The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), has been identified. The mtDNA (15,717 bp) of G. molesta encodes 13 putative proteins, two rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs. Analysis of nucleotide composition of the genome indicates high A+T composition (80.74%), which results in biased codon use and richness in specific amino acids of mitochondrial proteins. All protein-coding genes are initiated by ATN codons except for COI, which is initiated presumably by CGA codon. Except tRNASer (AGN), the remaining 21 tRNAs form a typical cloverleaf structure. An intergenic space between tRNASer (AGN) and ND1 contains a lepidopteran-characteristic sequence (ATACTAA). The control region, rich in A+T, harbors several sequence characteristics shared by lepidopteran species, such as the motif ATAGA followed by 5′ poly T stretch and 3′ poly A stretch at just upstream of tRNAMet. The phylogenetic analysis, using whole mtDNAs, showed that G. molesta is clustered with other tortricid species, in which lepidopterans form a monophylogeny on the basis of Papilionoidea.
Neuigkeiten zur Anwendung von Humanalbumin bei Lebererkrankungen

Was ist neu? Leitliniengerechte Indikationen für den Einsatz von Humanalbumin bei Leberzirrhose Aktuelle Indikationen für eine Albumintherapie bei Patienten mit Leberzirrhose sind die Prävention einer Kreislauffunktionsstörung nach Parazentese, die Prävention des hepatorenalen Syndroms (HRS) bei Patienten mit spontaner bakterieller Peritonitis (SBP) sowie das Management des HRS in Kombination mit Vasokonstriktoren. Durch eine kurzzeitige Anwendung von Albumin bei dekompensierter Leberzirrhose soll dabei eine Verbesserung des effektiven Blutvolumens erreicht werden. Albumin als Plasmaexpander, Radikalfänger, Antioxidans und Immunmodulator Neue Daten belegen, dass Albumin sowohl den Kreislauf unterstützt als auch die systemische Inflammation senkt. Neben seiner onkotischen Funktion fungiert es als Antioxidans, Radikalfänger und Immunmodulator. Diese nicht onkotischen Eigenschaften erklären, warum eine Langzeit-Albumingabe bei Patienten mit dekompensierter Leberzirrhose möglicherweise Komplikationen vorbeugen kann und auch bei Nicht-SBP-Infektionen die ACLF-Rate (ACLF = akut-auf-chronisches Leberversagen) senkt. Effekte auf die Kreislauffunktion und systemische Inflammation In einer aktuellen Studie verbesserte eine 12-wöchige Albumingabe (1,5 g/kg KG/Woche) bei dekompensierter Leberzirrhose die Marker der systemischen Inflammation. Diese Effekte könnten auf die Endothelfunktion sowie die antiinflammatorischen Eigenschaften des Proteins auf die Aufnahme von Albumin durch die Endothel- bzw. Immunzellen zurückgeführt werden. Aktuelle Studien zur Langzeit-Albumintherapie Neue Daten zeigen, dass eine Langzeit-Albumintherapie bei Patienten mit Leberzirrhose und Aszites das Überleben verbessert, Komplikationen vorbeugt, das Management von Aszites vereinfacht und die Hospitalisierungsrate senkt. Die sogenannten Disease-modifying-Effekte einer Langzeit-Albumintherapie beeinflussen möglicherweise den Krankheitsverlauf günstig. Trotzdem sind die optimale Dosierung und Verabreichungsintervalle noch nicht endgültig definiert.
REPRODUCTION AND DENTAL AGE CLASSES OF THE LITTLE WATER OPOSSUM (LUTREOLINA CRASSICAUDATA) IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

na crassicaudata) is one of least studied didelphid marsupial species (Redford and Eisenberg 1992). The long weasel-like body, short legs, small and rounded ears, and reddish brown fur are this opossum distinctive characteristics. Nocturnal and crepuscular, it is common near areas of permanent water, feeding on small mammals, birds, insects and aquatic invertebrates. This note documents reproductive patterns near the southern limits of their distribution. Thirty-six specimens were live-trapped from September 1990 to July 1991 in a field of 135 ha crossed by El Gato stream and several brooklets, that was utilized to cultivate tomato thirteen years ago, located in a rural zone about 50 km south of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Opossums were toe-clipped, weighted, sexed and assigned to one of 5 dental classes based on the sequence of tooth eruption of the postcanine cheekteeth (Regidor & Gorostiague 1990). They were subsequently released. Ages determined were related to the reproductive cycle of L. crassicaudata. Thirty-three recaptures corroborated the age class designation. We considered the reproductive season as from first mating to weaning of the last litter. The pouch condition of all females and litter size were recorded. If external sex organs were evident, pouch young sex was recorded. The sequence of tooth eruption was a useful indicator of age from weaning to the adult condition, attained after 6 months of life (Table 1). Deciduous first molars M1 characterized juvenile age classes; third premolars P3, the subadult class, and the complete permanent dentition P1-3 M2-5, the adult ones. Breeding began in September after an anestrous period of 5 months and finished by early April. All members of the population were in breeding condition at the onset of reproductive season. The male to female ratio was 23:13. It was significantly different from the expected value of 1:1 (X2 = 2.210, P = 0.1336). Adult males were heavier than adult females (X – SD: 790.54 ± 138.73 and 522.00 ± 111.54, n = 37 and 18 respectively, t = 6.66, P < 0.001). Two breeding periods were apparent based on the estimated date of birth and weaning. The first litters were born in late September and second litters were produced in late December or early January. We trapped 4 females with pouch young. Of these, only 1 nursing female, trapped and released in October 1990, was recaptured in early March with new pouch young about 2.5 months old. Rev. Biol. Trop. , 47(1-2): 271-272, 1999 www.ucr. ac.cr www.ots. ac.cr www.ots. duke.edu
Ceratocystis wilt on Eucalyptus: first record from South Africa

Wilt and death of an E. grandis × E. urophylla variety was recently observed in the Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Symptoms on the dying trees included a streaking pattern of discolouration in the sapwood and cambium of stems and roots. A fungus resembling a Ceratocystis sp. was consistently found sporulating on diseased material and isolated from the symptomatic root and stem tissue. DNA sequence analyses of the Ceratocystis isolates, including multiple gene regions, identified the isolates as C. eucalypticola. Multiple ITS types were identified among the isolates sequenced, similar to those found in other, closely related, Ceratocystis species. Artificial inoculations under field conditions confirmed the pathogenicity of the isolates. This is the first report of a Ceratocystis sp. causing a wilt disease of Eucalyptus in South Africa.
Clinical Impact of Plasma and Tissue Next-Generation Sequencing in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Real-World Experience.

BACKGROUND Targeted agents have improved the outcome of a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Molecular profiling by next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows screening for multiple genetic alterations both in tissue and in plasma, but limited data are available concerning its feasibility and impact in real-world clinical practice. METHODS Patients with advanced NSCLC consecutively referred to our institution for potential eligibility to VISION trial (NCT02864992) were prospectively enrolled. They were already screened with standard method, and EGFR/ALK/ROS-1 positive cases were excluded. NGS was performed in plasma and tissue using the Guardant360 test covering 73 genes and the Oncomine Focus Assay covering 59 genes, respectively. RESULTS The study included 235 patients. NGS was performed in plasma in 209 (88.9%) cases; 78 of these (37.3%) were evaluated also in tissue; tissue only was analyzed in 26 cases (11.1%). Half of the tissue samples were deemed not evaluable. Druggable alterations were detected in 13 of 52 (25.0%) of evaluable tumor samples and 31 of 209 (14.8%) of plasma samples. Improved outcome was observed for patients with druggable alterations if treated with matched targeted agents: they had a longer median overall survival (not reached) compared with the ones who did not start any targeted therapy (9.1 months; 95% confidence interval, 4.6-13.6; p = .046). The results of NGS testing potentially also affected the outcome of patients treated with immunotherapy. CONCLUSION Systematic real-life NGS testing showed the limit of tissue analysis in NSCLC and highlighted the potentiality of genetic characterization in plasma in increasing the number of patients who may benefit from NGS screening, both influencing the clinical decision-making process and affecting treatment outcome. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Genetic characterization of cancer has become more important with time, having had positive implications for treatment specificity and efficacy. Such analyses changed the natural history of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) with the introduction of drugs targeted to specific gene alterations (e.g., EGFR mutations, ALK and ROS-1 rearrangements). In the field of cancer molecular characterization, the applicability of the analysis of a wide panel of genes using high-throughput sequencing approach, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), is still a matter of research. Here we used NGS in a real-world setting to systematically and prospectively profile patients with aNSCLC. Our aim was to evaluate its feasibility and reliability as well as consequent access to targeted agents and impact on clinical outcome whenever a druggable alteration was detected either in tumor tissue samples or through liquid biopsy.
HUMAN ECOLOGY AND RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY: The Importance of Institutional Diversity

We define the concept of a common-pool resource based on two attributes: the difficulty of excluding beneficiaries and the subtractability of use. We present similarities and differences among common-pool resources in regard to their ecological and institutional significance. The design principles that characterize long-surviving, delicately balanced resource systems governed by local rules systems are presented, as is a synthesis of the research on factors affecting institutional change. More complex biological resources are a greater challenge to the design of sustainable institutions, but the same general principles appear to carry over to more complex systems. We present initial findings from pilot studies in Uganda related to the effects of institutions on forest conditions.
Estrategias para la aplicación del Social Media Mining en las redes sociales de Facebook e Instagram

Dado el gran uso de las redes sociales en la actualidad, es indudable la gran cantidad de datos que se genera cada dia y por lo cual es necesario tener la capacidad de hacer un analisis detallado. Debido a la particularidad que presentan los datos del social media, es importante que se requieren nuevas tecnicas que puedan manejar eficazmente este nuevo tipo de data. El estudio y desarrollo de estas nuevas tecnicas, se conoce como el Social Media Mining (SMM). Este trabajo se oriento a la construccion de un modelo que aborde los desafios y oportunidades del SMM en las redes sociales de Facebook e Instagram.
Phylogeography of the Eurasian green woodpecker (Picus viridis)

Aim In this paper we investigate the evolutionary history of the Eurasian green woodpecker (Picus viridis) using molecular markers. We specifically focus on the respective roles of Pleistocene climatic oscillations and geographical barriers in shaping the current population genetics within this species. In addition, we discuss the validity of current species and subspecies limits.
Effect of aqueous ammonia and other alkalis on the in-vitro digestibility of barley straw

The in-vitro digestibility of the organic matter of unground barley straw was increased by approximately 14 units by treatment with aqueous ammonia for 1 week at 20°C. Longer treatment times of 4 and 13 weeks had little or no additional effect on digestibility. Treatment with sodium hydroxide or tetramethylammonium hydroxide increased digestibility by up to 22 units. The content of cell walls of the straw after treatment with any of the alkalis was lower than that of untreated straw and the degradability of the walls from alkali-treated straw was more than 85% greater than that of the walls from untreated straw. Alkali treatment of straw caused loss of p-coumaric, ferulic and diferulic acids from the cell walls, the loss being greater with the stronger alkalis. The loss of ferulic was greater than that of p-coumaric acid.
In vitro antimicrobial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves of Ficus carica collected from five different regions of Morocco

Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves of Ficus carica collected from different regions in Morocco were screened for their antimicrobial activity against sixteen pathogenic bacterial strains and eight pathogenic yeast strains using agar well diffusion method and the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration was done by microtitratio n technique. The result obtained showed that the aqueous extract was active against Grampositive bacteria more than Gram-negative bacteria but not active against yeast strains. Ethanolic extract had strong antibmicrobial activity, the maximum zone of inhibition was noted for Fez extract against Staphylococcus epidermidis (21mm) with MIC 25µg/ml and for Al Jadida extract against Candida famata (14.7mm) with MIC 50µg/ml. These results indicate to some benefits of fig leaves which can use to treatment the microbial infection.