Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methoxypyrazines in Red Wines : occurrence of 2-methoxy-3-(1-methylethyl)pyrazine

Methoxypyrazine quantitative analysis by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has identified a wine in which the concentration of 2-methoxy-3-(1-methylethyl)pyrazine (isopropylmethoxypyrazine) in one bottle (9.7 ng/L) was comparable with the concentration of 2-methoxy-3-(2-methylpropyl)pyrazine (isobutylmethoxypyrazine) (9.3 ng/L). At this concentration, sensory detection threshold data suggest that isopropylmethoxypyrazine may contribute to the aroma of the wine more strongly than isobutylmethoxypyrazine. Comparatively low levels of isopropylmethoxypyrazine were found in other wines studied and in other bottles of the same wine. This suggests that isopropylmethoxypyrazine can occur in wine from sources other than the grape berry and normal winemaking processes
Bond graph multi-physics modeling of encapsulating materials in power electronic modules

This paper focuses on multi-physics modeling of encapsulating gels in power electronic modules for transient and steady-state simulation. With the emergence of wide-bandgap semiconductors such as SiC or GaN, operating at a higher temperature than conventional Si power chips, this passive element of the packaging appears as a few studied element sensitive to thermal and mechanical stresses. A thermo-mechanical coupled modeling of the material, based on bond graph representation, is presented. This approach allows to establish, under the same formalism, an analogy between the different physical domains. From this analogy, a multi-physical nonlinear state space representation is built, allowing transient simulation of the thermo-mechanical behavior of the material. This way of modeling and simulating is particularly adapted for a preliminary study during the upstream phases of design of the power electronic modules. It quickly establishes the maximum temperature and mechanical strains experienced by the gel.
A 300-year history of disturbance and canopy recruitment for co-occurring white pine and hemlock on the Allegheny Plateau, USA.

1 Dendroecological techniques were used to examine the patterns of canopy recruitment in relation to disturbance history for two dominant, yet ecologically contrasting, tree species, Pinus strobus (white pine; disturbance dependent) and Tsuga canadensis (hemlock; late successional), in a 300-year-old primary forest. 2 Most tree recruitment in both species occurred between 1690 and 1810. All of the white pine, which dominated recruitment during the first 40 years due to more rapid height growth, recruited in this period. Low levels of hemlock recruitment continued until 1900. Most of the younger trees comprised several northern hardwood species. No trees were less than 50 years old and the forest was devoid of an understorey due to intense deer browsing. 3 Radial growth chronologies were determined for 27 cores across all species and age classes. These exhibited 1-11 major and/or moderate releases (indicative of disturbance) in most decades between 1730 and 1990. Peak releases were recorded in the 1950s when a series of severe windstorms impacted the site. Species recruitment patterns were related to earlier growth releases observed in the oldest cores. 4 White pine exhibited a degree of plasticity in initial radial growth (1-5 mm year-') depending on the time of establishment, as well as the ability to survive through prolonged periods of depressed growth (< 0.5 mm year') followed by growth releases. Hemlock was less plastic in its initial growth rates but did have dramatic growth releases (up to 8.8 mm year-') in several older trees. Thus, both species exhibited some unexpected dendroecological as well as successional attributes. 5 The future of this stand is uncertain due to the impacts of deer and insect outbreaks that plague the region, as well as fortuitous natural disturbances, e.g. wind and fire. Nonetheless, the dendroecological approach elucidated disturbance history, stand development and mechanisms of coexistence of two ecologically contrasting tree species, and should be used to further understanding of the complex ecology of other mixed-species forests and the successional role of various tree species.
What Determines Animal Group Size? Insider-Outsider Conflict and Its Resolution

Many species of animals form groups, ranging from colonies of social insects (Wilson 1971) and birds-in particular, waterbirds (Brown et al. 1990)-to foraging groups of lions (Caraco and Wolf 1975; Packer et al. 1990) and wolves (Nudds 1978). Central questions are how big an animal group should be and what determines group size. Several alternative hypotheses have been proposed (Caraco and Wolf 1975; Wilson 1975; Rodman 1981; Bartz and Holldobler 1982; Sibly 1983; Giraldeau 1988), but it is not clear exactly how these different hypotheses are related to each other and which hypothesis is more appropriate in a given situation. More important, all these hypotheses consider the evolutionary interest of only one of the two parties with different interests, the group insiders (i.e., current members) or outsiders (i.e., potential members). In addition, as pointed out by Giraldeau (1988), previous studies pose two paradoxes. First, the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS; Maynard Smith 1974) for group size for the outsiders (Giraldeau 1988) implies that the fitness of group-forming individuals is not higher than that of solitary individuals. This raises a fundamental question of why group-forming behaviors have evolved at all. Second, the outsiders' ESS group size, in terms of inclusive fitness (IF; Hamilton 1964), suggests that increasing relatedness always reduces group size, which implies that relatedness cannot enhance gregarious behavior but rather necessarily acts in the opposite direction. Here we present a theory that, by incorporating the evolutionary interests of both insiders and outsiders, generates a more comprehensive set of predictions of group size and provides new insights into the determinants of group size. With this theory, the paradoxes mentioned are resolved. A key idea of the theory is the evolutionary resolution of the insider-outsider conflict over group size, resulting in a "compromise group size" that can substantially differ from any of those predicted by the previously proposed hypotheses. We first present a summary of existing group size hypotheses, clarifying their mutual relationships. This leads to an explicit identification of conflict between the insiders and outsiders of a group of related individuals. A preliminary treatment of this conflict is presented elsewhere (Ito 1986; Yamamura 1986).
Termite Eusocial Evolution: A Re-Examination of Bartz's Hypothesis and Assumptions

Bartz's (1979) inbreeding hypothesis on termite social evolution predicted that (1) all termite colonies should have supplementary reproductives, (2) the winged alates should be the offspring of inbreeding supplementaries, and (3) alates should outbreed. These predictions are examined here for each family and subfamily of the Isoptera. Prediction 1 is at least superficially upheld for most termites that do produce either neotenic or adultoid reproductives. The rate of supplementary and replacement reproduction, however, varies greatly between different taxa. Prediction 2 is not upheld for the majority of termites because primary reproductives tend to be long lived and primary-headed colonies do generate alates. It may be upheld for Mastotermes, many of the Rhinotermitidae, and some Termitidae. Prediction 3 appears to be true for most termines, although support for it is inferential only. The breeding pedigrees of termites vary greatly with their ecological specializations and it is unlikely that Bartz's model can be reconciled to such variation. Bart's hypothesis also makes certain assumptions about the nature of caste differentiation and the nature of the behavior underlying the sociality of termites. These assumptions are discussed and some criticisms are made. We conclude that inbreeding according to Bartz's model may be a contributing factor in the social evolution of some termites but is probably not the major initiating or sustaining factor in termite social evolution.
Interference of EGCG on the Zn(II)-induced conformational transition of silk fibroin as a model protein related to neurodegenerative diseases

Misfolding or amyloid β-sheet aggregation of specific proteins is considered to be an underlying pathogenic mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some metallic ions, such as Zn(II), have been reported to promote the conformational transition of neurodegenerative disease-related proteins, whereas (-)-epigallocatechine gallate (EGCG) displays an inhibitory effect on the aggregation of those proteins. Few studies have investigated the secondary structure changes of those pathological proteins affected by Zn(II), EGCG and their co-existence. In the present work we used silk fibroin (SF), which has a similar conformational transition mechanism to neurodegenerative diseases-related proteins, as a model protein to reveal the influence of Zn(II) and EGCG on the SF conformation and the interference of EGCG on the Zn(II)-induced SF conformational transition. The results indicate that low concentrations of Zn(II) ions promotes the aggregation of SF, while EGCG significantly inhibits the aggregation. Importantly, EGCG can inhibit and even dissociate the Zn(II)-induced β-sheet aggregation of SF in a dose dependent manner. These findings provide a significant theoretical basis for understanding the effect of Zn(II) and EGCG on the conformational transition of proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases and developing agents like EGCG as potential treatments.
Cost Analysis of R-CHOP Versus Dose-Adjusted R-EPOCH in Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with High-Risk Features

Dose-adjusted rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin (DA.R-EPOCH) is used for upfront treatment of high-risk diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In this study, we compared the outcomes in patients with high-risk DLBCL who received frontline rituximab, cycophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP) or DA.R-EPOCH immunochemotherapy. Outcomes and treatment-related cost were analyzed. DLBCL with one of the following features were included in the study: MYC ± BCL2 or BCL6 rearrangement by FISH or MYC overexpression by immunohistochemistry, Ki67 index ≥ 80% or nongerminal center immunophenotype, tumor measuring ≥5 cm and NCCN- IPI score ≥4. A total of 80 patients were treated with R-CHOP (n = 52, 65%) or DA.R-EPOCH (n = 28, 35%), with a median follow-up of 11.2 months (range: 0.7–151.3 months). The hazard ratios (HRs) for progression-free survival and overall survival were 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28%–2.29%, p = 0.67] and 0.86 (95% CI 0.26%–2.78%, p = 0.80), respectively for DA.R-EPOCH compared to R-CHOP. The total mean cost was USD106,940 ± USD39,351 and USD58,509 ± 24,588 for DA.R-EPOCH and R-CHOP respectively (p < 0.001). In our analysis, DA.R-EPOCH resulted comparable clinical outcomes and increased treatment-related expenses compared to R-CHOP in high-risk DLBCL.
Acute toxicity evaluation of olive oil mill wastewaters: A comparative study of three aquatic organisms

Acute toxicity of olive mill wastewaters (traditional and continuous processes) collected from different regions of Portugal was evaluated using three test species (Vibrio fischeri formerly Photobacterium phosphoreum, Thamnocephalus platyurus, and Daphnia magna) and correlated with several physical and chemical parameters. Acute toxicity of these effluents, expressed in LC50 or EC50, ranged from: 0.16 to 1.24% in Microtox test, 0.73 to 12.54% in Thamnotoxkit F test, and 1.08 to 6.83% in Daphnia test. These values reflect the high toxicity of the olive mill wastewaters to all test species. Statistical analysis of the results shows a high correlation between the two microcrustacean bioassays. Microtox test did not correlate significantly with the other bioassays used. A significative correlation (p≤0.05) could also be established between L(E)C50 obtained in the microcrustacean tests and some physicochemical parameters of the effluent. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 14: 263–269, 1999
Sediment-water fluxes of inorganic nitrogen compounds along the transport route of organic matter in the North Sea

Abstract Sediment-water fluxes of ammonium and nitrate, as well as nitrification and denitrification were measured in different types of sediments in the North Sea in August 1991 and February 1992. Stations were located along the main transport route of organic matter and included depositional areas located on the southern shelf (German Bight) and on the north-eastern shelf-slope transition in the Skagerrak. Based on sedimentary organic carbon content and grain size distribution, the stations were divided into three clusters. I: depositional areas with median grain size 280 µm. Porewater profiles of nitrate and ammonium corresponded well to this clustering. The very high mineralisation in the German Bight in August demonstrates the importance of deposition of locally produced organic matter in this area. Total ammonium production in the Skagerrak in August and February indicates that he.
A Novel Linear Sparse Array with Reconfigurable Pixel Antenna Elements

In this paper, on the basis of multifunctional reconfigurable pixel antenna (RPA) elements, a novel linear sparse array with an attractive compound reconfigurability is presented. It has the potential advantages of its beam scanning with low gain fluctuation, low sidelobe in two orthogonal planes, and polarization reconfigurable performance. Specifically, an RPA with simultaneous polarization and pattern reconstruction capabilities, consisting of the driven patch and the parasitic pixels on the same layer of dielectric substrate, is firstly designed, which can work in several operation modes corresponding to steerable beam directions with two circular polarizations in X-band. Cross-slot coupling feed is used to improve polarization reconstruction capability and reduce the complexity of hybrid reconstruction topology optimization. Then, those RPAs are integrated into the linear sparse array to realize the reconfiguration of two circular polarizations and beam steering in xoz- and yoz-plane. Simulation results show that the gain fluctuation and sidelobe level of the array during beam scanning have significant advantages over the previous phased array, and the generation of antenna grating lobes is avoided. Moreover, both RPA element and RPA array prototypes have been fabricated and measured to testify the efficiency. The measured results agree well with the simulated ones, which indicates the application potential in the field of modern wireless communication system of the proposed linear sparse array.
Fatty acid carbon isotopes: a new indicator of marine Antarctic paleoproductivity?

Abstract. The Antarctic coastal zone is an area of high primary productivity, particularly within coastal polynyas where large phytoplankton blooms and drawdown of CO2 occur. Reconstruction of historical primary productivity changes, and the associated driving factors, could provide baseline insights on the role of these areas as sinks for atmospheric CO2, especially in the context of projected changes in coastal Antarctic sea ice. Here we investigate the potential for using carbon isotopes (δ13C) of fatty acids in marine sediments as a proxy for primary productivity. We use a highly resolved sediment core from off the coast of Adélie Land spanning the last ~ 400 years and monitor changes in the concentrations and δ13C of fatty acids along with other proxy data from the same core. We discuss the different possible drivers of their variability and argue that C24 fatty acid δ13C predominantly reflects phytoplankton productivity in open water environments, while C18 fatty acid δ13C reflects productivity in the marginal ice zone. These new proxies have implications for better understanding carbon cycle dynamics in the Antarctica coastal zone in future paleoclimate studies.
Characterisation of a population of Pratylenchus hippeastri from bromeliads and description of two related new species, P. floridensis n. sp. and P. parafloridensis n. sp. from grasses in Florida

Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed the presence of P. hippeastri in regulatory samples collected in commercial bromeliad operations from genera Guzmania, Neoregelia and Vriesea in central and south Florida, USA. These P. hippeastri from bromeliads contained males which were not detected in the type population from amaryllis. The rDNA sequences of these males matched those of P. hippeastri female type material. Pratylenchus hippeastri and related root-lesion nematodes from several hosts in Florida were characterized at the morphological and molecular level, whereas other samples from Russia and South Africa at the molecular level only. Phylogenetic and sequence analysis using the ITS rRNA gene of these root-lesion nematodes revealed the presence of eight putative new species (spH1-H8) closely related to P. hippeastri. However, detailed morphological and molecular analyses are still required to confirm their unique species status. Here we describe two Florida representatives of the amphimictic root-lesion nematodes from Bahia grass (N1) and maidencane (N2), previously characterized by Inserra et al. (1996) and Duncan et al. (1999), as two new species phylogentically related to P. hippeastri and named Pratylenchus floridensis n. sp. and P. parafloridensis n. sp. , respectively. The small round or oval, rarely rectangular and occasionally oblong and enlarged spermatheca and the bluntly pointed or subacute tail with smooth and occasionally indented terminus separate P. floridensis n. sp. from P. parafloridensis n. sp. , which has a quadrangular spermatheca and a sub hemispherical or bluntly pointed tail with generally smooth and rarely indented terminus. However, these characters may overlap in some specimens making the morphological separation problematic without the use of molecular analysis. The close phylogenetic relationships shared by the species characterized in this study indicate that they are representatives of a P. hippeastri species complex.
Continuous cardiac output assessment or serial echocardiography during septic shock resuscitation?

Septic shock is the leading cause of cardiovascular failure in the intensive care unit (ICU). Cardiac output is a primary component of global oxygen delivery to organs and a sensitive parameter of cardiovascular failure. Any mismatch between oxygen delivery and rapidly varying metabolic demand may result in tissue dysoxia, hence organ dysfunction. Since the intricate alterations of both vascular and cardiac function may rapidly and widely change over time, cardiac output should be measured repeatedly to characterize the type of shock, select the appropriate therapeutic intervention, and evaluate patient’s response to therapy. Among the numerous techniques commercially available for measuring cardiac output, transpulmonary thermodilution (TPT) provides a continuous monitoring with external calibration capability, whereas critical care echocardiography (CCE) offers serial hemodynamic assessments. CCE allows early identification of potential sources of inaccuracy of TPT, including right ventricular failure, severe tricuspid or left-sided regurgitations, intracardiac shunt, very low flow states, or dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. In addition, CCE has the unique advantage of depicting the distinct components generating left ventricular stroke volume (large cavity size vs. preserved contractility), providing information on left ventricular diastolic properties and filling pressures, and assessing pulmonary artery pressure. Since inotropes may have deleterious effects if misused, their initiation should be based on the documentation of a cardiac dysfunction at the origin of the low flow state by CCE. Experts widely advocate using CCE as a first-line modality to initially evaluate the hemodynamic profile associated with shock, as opposed to more invasive techniques. Repeated assessments of both the efficacy (amplitude of the positive response) and tolerance (absence of side-effect) of therapeutic interventions are required to best guide patient management. Overall, TPT allowing continuous tracking of cardiac output variations and CCE appear complementary rather than mutually exclusive in patients with septic shock who require advanced hemodynamic monitoring.
Grouping of rice cultivars based on reaction pattern to Philippine races of bacterial blight pathogen (Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae)

For identifying new sources of resistance to bacterial blight of rice, we inoculated rice cultivars from the International Rice Germplasm Center (IRGC) of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) with races 1, 2, 3, and 4 of bacterial blight pathogen from Philippines. Based on the reaction patterns to the four races, rice cultivars were classified into eight groups. Four groups are based on single genes. (1) Java 14 group having resistance to four races with brownish margins around lesions. Cultivars of this group have Xa-3 for resistance. (2) TKM 6 group with resistance to race 1, moderate resistance to race 4 but susceptibility to races 2 and 3. Cultivars of this group have Xa-4. (3) DZ 192 group with resistance to races 1, 2 and 3 and moderate resistance to race 4. Cultivars of this group have xa-5. (4) CAS 209 group with resistance to race 2 only. Cultivars of this group have Xa-10. Four groups, each having two genes were recognized. These groups are: Mond Ba (Xa-4+Xa-10), DV85 (xa-5+Xa-7), Makhmal Mehi (xa-5+Xa-4), and BJ1 (xa-5+xa-13). Electrophoretic variation at isozyme loci was examined in a number of cultlvars belonging to different groups. These results suggest that the differentiation of BB resistance genes probably linked with the differentiation of cultivars into distinct ecotype.
Frequency–dependent pollinator foraging in polymorphic Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana populations: implications for flower colour evolution and pollinator interactions

Under many circumstances pollinators are expected to practice positive frequency-dependent foraging in colour-polymorphic plant populations. Theory suggests, however, that competition for floral resources might favor negative frequency-dependent foraging by some pollinator species, possibly contributing to the maintenance of flower colour variation by negative frequency-dependent selection. We addressed this idea with pollination studies of the California annual plant Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana (Onagraceae), which is polymorphic for the presence of conspicuous petal spots and is pollinated by several specialist bee species. At the level of entire pollinator assemblages, we did not detect significant fixed flower colour preferences or frequency-dependent foraging. Three species of specialist bee pollinators, however, showed contrasting forms of frequency-dependent foraging. The most widespread species, Hesperapis regularis (Melittidae) exhibited positive frequency dependence. Two other common species, Lasiglossum pullilabre (Halictidae) and Ceratina sequoiae (Apidae), preferred to visit whichever morph (unspotted or spotted) was locally in the minority. All three species were found to be effective at transferring C. xantiana pollen; H. regularis appeared most effective. Our findings suggest that a mixture of positive and negative frequency-dependent selection on flower colour occurs in C. xantiana, with the form and intensity of selection varying in space and time with pollinator assemblages. Negative frequency-dependent selection via pollination dynamics may play a larger role in maintaining genetic variation in flower colour than was previously thought. Our results also suggest an unappreciated form of niche partitioning among specialist pollinators. Genetic polymorphism in flower colour may sometimes facilitate pollinator coexistence.