Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leveraging the Common Model to Inform the Research Agenda on Aging and Wisdom

For millennia, the question of wisdom, its precursors and correlates, and its implications for informing a ‘good life’ has fascinated philosophers and social scientists alike (Sternberg & Gl€ uck, 2019). The gerontological literature in particular has a rich research tradition exploring this concept (Staudinger & Gl€ uck, 2011), but there is an ongoing tension: Laypeople’s aging expectations (e.g., L€ ockenhoff et al., 2009) and positive aging stereotypes (Hummert, Garstka, Shaner, & Strahm, 1994) emphasize age-related increases in wisdom, whereas studies examining actual age differences in wisdom-related concepts yield more complex, and, at times contradictory results (for reviews see Grossmann et al., this issue; Staudinger & Gl€ uck, 2011; Gl€ uck, 2019). In part, such inconsistencies are explained by methodological variations in assessment strategies (i.e., performance vs. self-report measures), sample composition (e.g., age range, cultural background), and study design (e.g., crosssectional vs. longitudinal assessment; Grossmann et al., this issue). More fundamentally, however, the various research streams differ in the very definition of what constitutes the core components of wisdom (e.g., the relative role of experience-based knowledge, fluid reasoning, integration of affect and cognition etc., Gordon & Jordan, 2017; Labouvie-Vief, 2003; Sternberg, 2005). In this respect, the Common Wisdom Model (CWM) outlined by Grossmann and colleagues (this issue), offers much-needed conceptual clarity by defining wisdom as aspects of perspectival meta-cognition that are grounded in cultural/experiential context and moral aspirations. The specific (albeit narrow) scope of the CWM sets the stage for mapping out a conceptual framework that outlines key mechanisms behind age differences in wisdom, along with relevant moderators including both task characteristics and contextual factors (Figure 1). Note that this framework shows commonalities with the one proposed in L€ ockenhoff (2018) to inform the literature on aging and decision making. Given that any good decision entails the engagement of meta-cognitive processes and contextual awareness, some overlap is not surprising, although there are important differences (e.g., in the relative significance of different age-related mechanisms and the specific role of contextual factors and task characteristics). In the remainder of this commentary, I briefly touch on each of the components of this framework, highlight key findings within each area, and point to notable gaps that should be addressed in future research.
Forest floor fuel consumption and carbon emissions in Canadian boreal forest fires

In many forest types, over half of the total stand biomass is located in the forest floor. Carbon emissions during wildland fire are directly related to biomass (fuel) consumption. Consumption of forest floor fuel varies widely and is the greatest source of uncertainty in estimating total carbon emissions during fire. We used experimental burn data (59 burns, four fuel types) and wildfire data (69 plots, four fuel types) to develop a model of forest floor fuel consumption and car- bon emissions in nonpeatland standing-timber fuel types. The experimental burn and wildfire data sets were analyzed sepa- rately and combined by regression to provide fuel consumption models. Model variables differed among fuel types, but preburn fuel load, duff depth, bulk density, and Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System components at the time of burning were common significant variables. The regression R 2 values ranged from 0.206 to 0.980 (P < 0.001). The log- log model for all data combined explained 79.5% of the regression variation and is now being used to estimate annual car- bon emissions from wildland fire. Forest floor carbon content at the wildfires ranged from 40.9% to 53.9%, and the carbon emission rate ranged from 0.29 to 2.43 kgm -2 .
A STATISTICAL METHOD FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING OF PREDICTED ORTHOLOGS

Orthologs are genes in different species that diverged from a common ancestral gene after speciation. Their identification is critical for reliable prediction of gene function in newly sequenced genomes. Orthologous genes are usually identified by a highthroughput method called Reciprocal-Best BLAST-hit (RBH). As RBH is subject to errors from incomplete sequencing or gene loss in a species, a bioinformatics tool called Ortholuge was developed that identifies RBH-predicted orthologs with atypical genetic divergence. However, declaring the cut-off for atypical divergence in Ortholuge is very computationally-intensive, and so we propose a faster statistical procedure and examine its performance by simulation. We find that performance depends on the fit of the assumed model for the distribution of divergence measures in true orthologs.
Nitrate-Induction of Nitrate Reductase and its Inhibition by Nitrite and Ammonium Ions in Spirulina platensis

★★ ★ Nitrate assimilation in Spirulina platensis is not well characterized, despite its direct link with its high protein content. In other non-nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria, the reported role of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions in the regulation of nir operon and nitrate reductase (NR) activity varies considerably. We report here that NR activity in Spirulina is diminished upon withdrawal of nitrate from the medium, and is fully restored within two hours of resupplying nitrate, indicating substrate induction. Nitrite and ammonium, the downstream metabolites of nitrate assimilation, significantly inhibited nitrate-induced NR activity in a concentration dependent manner. These results in Spirulina indicate the need to reassess the role of nitrate in the expression of NR in this and other non-N 2 -fixing, nitrate-assimilating cyanobacteria.
Effect of some plant extracts on growth performance, intestinal morphology, microflora composition and activity in broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of water-soluble carbohydrate extracts from Cabbage tree (Cordyline australis), Acacia (Acacia pycnantha), and Undaria seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) (at 5 or 10 g/kg diet) on the performance and gut microbiota of broilers. The plant extracts had no negative effect on growth performance, except that a high level of Undaria extract in the diet suppressed the growth of broiler chicks. Ileal digesta viscosity was increased (P < 0.05) and apparent ileal digestibility of fat was depressed (P < 0.05) in birds fed the higher level of Undaria extract compared with the negative control. The plant extracts increased (P < 0.05) the numbers of lactobacilli in the ileum and caeca. The high levels of Acacia extract and Undaria extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the population of coliform bacteria in the ileum compared with the negative control group. The population of Clostridium perfringens in caeca, but not the ileum, was reduced (P < 0.05) by the plant extracts. An antibiotic positive control reduced the population of C. perfringens in both the ileum and caeca compared with the negative control group. The plant extracts altered microbial fermentation patterns in the ileum and caeca. The higher level of Undaria extract reduced villus height in the ileum while the antibiotic diet resulted in higher (P < 0.05) villus height and villus height : crypt depth ratio compared with the negative control group. The results of the study suggest that prebiotic plant extracts had no negative effect on performance of broilers except at a high level (10 g/kg diet) of Undaria extract. The plant extracts beneficially modulated the composition of the microflora in the ileum and caeca by increasing the number of lactobacilli and reducing harmful bacteria, such as potential pathogenic coliforms and C. perfringens.
TRANSPORTABLE FAST-PYROLYSIS PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTED CONVERSION OF WASTE BIOMASS TO RENEWABLE LIQUID FUELS

In Florida alone, sugarcane bagasse, orange residue from juicing, and logging/mill residues are produced at a rate exceeding 16,000 dry tons per day. However, these agricultural residues are often spread over large areas and are difficult to access, particularly the logging residues. Rather than trucking large quantities of low-density biomass to a massive centralized biofuel production plant, the distributed conversion of agricultural residues into bio-oil is an attractive alternative for sustainable biofuel production. Opportunities also exist for the conversion of mixed waste to biofuel at forward-deployed military outposts, where the true delivered cost of fuel often exceeds $15 per gallon. Mainstream Engineering (MEC) recently commissioned a highly instrumented fast-pyrolysis pilot plant (1 ton/day) to demonstrate small-scale conversion of waste organic material to bio-oil. The pilot reactor was designed for flexibility and tight process control, as we explore the product yield and quality for a variety of feedstocks. Testing to date has used pine sawdust or a granulated mixed-waste surrogate consisting of corrugated cardboard, office paper, and several plastics. MEC is working to commercialize the portable process at a 10 ton/day scale for commercial applications and at the <1 ton/day scale for military applications. Our efforts have focused on improving the reactor yield by minimizing secondary cracking and improving the energetics with tight heat integration. Both improvements are geared towards achieving viable process economics at a small throughput. We have also experimentally investigated feedstock pre-processing (size reduction and drying) and end-use utilization of raw bio-oil in a burner/boiler. Results are presented on our pilot reactor testing and techno-economic analysis of the portable reactor approach.
Breeding in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.): strategic considerations

Bambara groundnut ( Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. ) has a large number of landraces throughout Africa where small-scale farmers have preserved its genetic diversity on-farm. To date, the full genetic diversity of the crop remains largely unexploited. Until recently bambara groundnut never received any appreciable research effort, especially for its genetic improvement. Until then, only selection breeding was practised in which existing landraces were evaluated and their seeds multiplied. However, no new combinations resulting from hybridisation had ever been produced. Recently, collaborative research efforts involving partners from Africa and Europe have produced the first crosses of bambara groundnut. The creation of these crosses is a significant scientific and practical achievement and opens up the possibility of breeding true varieties of this crop. This paper shows how different strategies have been combined to establish the basis of a strategic breeding programme in bambara groundnut. The paper also illustrates the use of landraces in the bambara groundnut breeding programme, as an example of the contribution that landraces can make to increasing productivity in marginal environments and the conservation of a crop's genetic resources on-farm. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 463-471, 2005
Neural–glial–vascular communication in the brain

This issue contains four papers based on a symposium entitled Neural–Glial–Vascular Communication in the Brain, which took place at the Experimental Biology meeting in Washington, DC, USA, 29th April 2007. Over a century ago, seminal investigations revealed that brain activity was tightly associated with an increase in blood flow (Mosso, 1880; Roy & Sherrington, 1890), a phenomenon known today as functional hyperaemia. Since then, enormous efforts have focused on understanding the cellular mechanism underlying functional hyperaemia in the brain. It is now clear that rapid increases in blood flow in response to neuronal activation require an exquisite organization involving multiple cell types and signals, a process also referred to as ‘neurovascular coupling’. Recent findings have demonstrated the importance of various signals derived from neuronal and glial sources in translating the state of neuronal activity to dynamic alterations in the nearby microcirculation. The purpose of the ‘Neural–Glial–Vascular Communication in the Brain’ symposium was to provide an update on some of the most recent findings addressing the nature of the neurovascular response and the potential mechanisms mediating this orchestrated phenomenon. The following four reports summarize the topics addressed by the speakers during the symposium. Dr E. Newman discussed the involvement of K+ siphoning, metabolites of the arachidonic acid pathway and nitric oxide in the signalling mechanisms underlying neurovascular coupling in the retina (Metea & Newman, 2007). DrJ. Filosa addressed current evidence supporting a role for K+ signalling between astrocytic end-feet and vascular smooth muscle cells and described the changes in intracellular Ca2+ that occur in both cell types during vascular responses in the brain microcirculation (Filosa & Blanco, 2007). DrD. Pelligrino presented new findings addressing the importance of purinergic mechanisms involving ATP release and hydrolysis, with emphasis on the signalling events underlying the communication between the glial limitans and pial arterioles (Xu & Pelligrino, 2007). Finally, J.Iliff provided evidence for the expression of a P450 epoxygenase isoform (CYP2C11) and of soluble epoxide hydrolase in extrinsic parasympathetic and sensory vasodilatory nerve fibres contacting the middle cerebral artery and proposed a novel role for P450 eicosanoids in the neurovascular control of the cerebral circulation (Iliff et al. 2007). Altogether, these reports add new impetus to this exciting area of research and highlight the complexity of the neurovascular response in the brain. This symposium was kindly sponsored by the Central Nervous System Section of the American Physiological Society.
The Advantage of Morphological Awareness Among Normal and Dyslexic Native Arabic Readers: A Literature Review

Abstract This article presents a review of studies that investigated the advantage of morphological awareness and knowledge of basic morphemes that comprise verbs in Arabic among normal and dyslexic native Arabic readers, and discusses the role of Arabic morphology in reading. The review included studies on Arabic as well as some studies on Hebrew, since they are both Semitic languages. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of morphology in the organization of words, and its effect on the reading process. Studies investigating normal and dyslexic readers usually focused on the role of phonology in different orthographies, rather than on the role of morphology. It is important to study the orthography of the specific language, due to its specific nature, and the different effect that each orthography type may have on the reading process. The present review discusses most of the recent studies on Arabic morphology and focuses on the contribution of morphological awareness for acquisition and fluency in reading and its effect on the reading process of normal and dyslexic readers. The findings of these studies, as well as future research directions are discussed. Highlights What is already known about this topic? *Recent studies demonstrated the importance of morphology in the organization and processing of words and its effect on the reading process. This role is not clear in all orthographies. What this paper adds. *The present review discusses most of the recent studies conducted on Arabic morphology, shows what these studies concluded as well as future research directions.
Outdoor recreation in ecosystem service accounting: pilot accounts from Finland

ABSTRACT Ecosystem accounting is a coherent framework for integrating measures of ecosystems and the flow of services they provide to the national accounting of economic activity. Here we focus on the accounting of cultural ecosystem services, particularly, nature-based recreation in open access conditions in Finland. The aim is to improve national capacity to proceed to ecosystem accounting by illustrating possibilities in existing data and knowledge and by identifying data gaps. We apply the United Nations System of Integrated Environmental Accounting – Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA) framework for recreation accounting to test its applicability, and to show how existing national forest and outdoor recreation-related data sets can support accounting. Assessment of the extent of recreational resources is based on data from areas available for recreation. In the assessment of recreational use, we illustrate how nationwide survey data can provide an estimate of the number of recreational visits to nature areas and a solid base for monetary accounts. We identify gaps in the extent, supply and use data for recreational ecosystem services.
Effects of amino acids magnesium and molluscan extrapallial fluid on crystallization of calcium carbonate in vitro experiments

The extrapallial fluid (EPF), the fluid component of the shell-forming system of molluscs, has been examined for its effect on the rate of CaCO3 crystal formation in vitro. The medium was an artificial inorganic extrapallial fluid supersaturated with respect to CaCO3. EPF of the bivalves Crassostrea virginica and Mercenaria mercenaria strongly inhibited CaCO3 crystallization in high dilution. The inhibitory material had negatively charged groups as indicated by the removal of inhibition subsequent to passage through a DEAE-Sephadex column and the restoration of inhibition in material eluted from the column with 2.0 M NaCl. Polyaspartic and polyglutamic acids with COO- groups also inhibited crystal formation whereas polyamino acids lacking those groups and free amino acids were without effect. The inhibition by the acidic polyamino acids suggests that polypeptides known to be present in EPF are one possible cause of inhibition of crystal formation by EPF. Mg present in EPF was also strongly inhibitory. The.
Becoming Vulnerable to Flooding: An Urban Assemblage View of Flooding in an African City

ABSTRACT Assemblage thinking has emerged over the last two decades as an important theoretical framework to interrogate emerging complex socio-material phenomenon in cities. This paper deploys the assemblage lens to unpack the vulnerability of informal communities to flood hazards in an African city. Focusing on Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama, the largest informal settlements in Accra, Ghana, this paper employs multiple methods including archival analysis, institutional surveys, focus group discussions, and mini-workshops to study the processes of exposure and vulnerability to flood hazards in these two communities. We find that being vulnerable to flood hazards in these informal settlements emerges from historically contingent, co-constitutive processes and actants: the city officials’ modernist imaginaries and socio-cultural identities of residents in informal settlements; the social material conditions experienced by residents in these settlements; and the translocal learning networks of government and non-government actors that simultaneously (re)produce oppressive urban planning policies and grassroots resistance to these policies. The paper concludes with a call to urban planners and allied built environment practitioners to understand flood vulnerability as both a process and product of these complex interactions.
QuEChERS applicability to measure land snail polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for risk assessment

Abstract The methods conventionally used for the extraction of organic pollutants in different environmental matrices are not suitable for measuring low concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioaccumulated in terrestrial snails that are both indicator of soil quality and a food item of various consumers including human being. A protocol, adapted from the QuEChERS method, originally designed for the extraction of pesticides in fruits and vegetables, in combination with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was developed to assess the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extraction at low levels in soils to the soil quality bioindicator Cantareus aspersus. Bioaccumulation was measured in snails exposed ex situ for 28 days under controlled conditions to soils lightly or highly contaminated (sum of 16 molecules in the range 3.32–140 mg kg−1 dry weight). The method was validated (low limits of detection, linear calibration curves, good precision and trueness) and found to be efficient to show that strongly contaminated soils were not necessarily those that presented the highest bioavailable organics concentrations. This methodology offers a tool to assess the environmental risk of contaminated soils and to prioritize the management of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-contaminated soils.
Severe drought effects on ecosystem CO2 and H2O fluxes at three Mediterranean evergreen sites: revision of current hypotheses?

Eddy covariance and sapflow data from three Mediterranean ecosystems were analysed via top‐down approaches in conjunction with a mechanistic ecosystem gas‐exchange model to test current assumptions about drought effects on ecosystem respiration and canopy CO2/H2O exchange. The three sites include two nearly monospecific Quercus ilex L. forests – one on karstic limestone (Puéchabon), the other on fluvial sand with access to ground water (Castelporziano) – and a typical mixed macchia on limestone (Arca di Noè). Estimates of ecosystem respiration were derived from light response curves of net ecosystem CO2 exchange. Subsequently, values of ecosystem gross carbon uptake were computed from eddy covariance CO2 fluxes and estimates of ecosystem respiration as a function of soil temperature and moisture. Bulk canopy conductance was calculated by inversion of the Penman‐Monteith equation. In a top‐down analysis, it was shown that all three sites exhibit similar behaviour in terms of their overall response to drought. In contrast to common assumptions, at all sites ecosystem respiration revealed a decreasing temperature sensitivity (Q10) in response to drought. Soil temperature and soil water content explained 70–80% of the seasonal variability of ecosystem respiration. During the drought, light‐saturated ecosystem gross carbon uptake and day‐time averaged canopy conductance declined by up to 90%. These changes were closely related to soil water content. Ecosystem water‐use efficiency of gross carbon uptake decreased during the drought, regardless whether evapotranspiration from eddy covariance or transpiration from sapflow had been used for the calculation. We evidence that this clearly contrasts current models of canopy function which predict increasing ecosystem water‐use efficiency (WUE) during the drought. Four potential explanations to those results were identified (patchy stomatal closure, changes in physiological capacities of photosynthesis, decreases in mesophyll conductance for CO2, and photoinhibition), which will be tested in a forthcoming paper. It is suggested to incorporate the new findings into current biogeochemical models after further testing as this will improve estimates of climate change effects on (semi)arid ecosystems' carbon balances.