Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tracing the Early Emergence of Microbial Sulfur Metabolisms

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (nH2S) and sulfur oxide (SO n ; n = 1, 2, 3) gases in early Earth’s globally anoxic atmosphere were subjected to gas-phase chemical transformations by UV light. A principal photolysis pathway at that time produced elemental sulfur aerosols with mass-independently fractionated (MIF) isotopic values carrying variable minor isotope (33S, 36S) compositions. These rained into the sulfate-deficient Archean (ca. 3.85–2.5 Ga) oceans to react with [Fe2+]aq and form sedimentary sulfides. The MIF-bearing sulfides were incorporated into Archean sediments, including banded iron formations (BIF). Such aerosols may also have fueled microbial sulfur metabolisms, and thus are traceable by the MIF sulfur isotopes. Yet, data show that before ∼3.5 Ga mass-dependent34S/32S values in Early Archean sediments tend to fall within a narrow (±0.1%) range even as they carry mass-independent values. By about 3.5 Ga, 34S/32S values show much greater changes (>1%) in range congruent with microbial metabolic processing. Here, we trace probable pathways of elemental sulfur aerosols into Archean sediments, and couple our study with analysis of the evolutionary relationships of enzymes involved in sulfur metabolism to explain the observed trends. Our model explains why elemental sulfur aerosols were apparently not utilized by the Eoarchean (pre-3.65 Ga) biosphere even though an immediate precursor to the required enzyme may have already been present. Highlights Evolution of microbial sulfur metabolisms is tracked by multiple sulfur isotopes Alkaline hydrothermal vents were an abode for early microbial life Sulfite detoxification prompted anaerobic respiration Reversal of respiratory electron transport chain (ETC) stimulated photothiotrophy Surplus e- acceptors permitted the emergence of elemental sulfur reduction
A logical error in Gassmann poroelasticity

The well‐known ‘Biot–Gassmann’ formula for the undrained compressibility of porous rock is in error. The error was introduced by Gassmann (implicitly revising earlier work by Biot) and results in an expression which is simpler than Biot's corresponding expression, containing only one material parameter (KS) in place of Biot's two (H and R). The error occurred when Gassmann applied a hydraulically open theorem to a hydraulically closed system, thus violating the assumptions of the undrained compressibility. Similar errors have marred the many subsequent derivations of Gassmann's result. Biot's (prior) correct formulation was subsequently rederived exactly (in different notation) by Brown and Korringa, and separately by Rice and Cleary. The inconsistency between Gassmann and these three analyses is caused by Gassmann's logical error, rather than by the issue of solid micro‐homogeneity. The additional parameter may be experimentally determined via the ‘Skempton B‐coefficient’ (the ratio of fluid pressure to external pressure in an undrained quasi‐static compression test). This correction resolves a long‐established inconsistency between Gassmann's result and effective‐medium theory. A new generation of experimentation is required to determine the systematics of the magnitude of the correction to the Gassmann result.
Oligotrophic fungi from a carbonate cave, with three new species of Cephalotrichum

ABSTRACT Oligotrophs are microorganisms that can grow in environments where concentrations of nutrients are low or even absent. Caves are typical oligotrophic environments distinctly characterised by constant low temperature, high humidity, scarcity of organic matter and darkness, which encompass a high diversity of fungi. In our investigation of microorganisms from carbonate caves in China, 169 strains belonging to at least 84 taxa were isolated using oligotrophic carbon free silica gel medium (SGM). Cephalotrichum appeared to be one of the dominant genera. Further morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses using DNA sequences of four loci (LSU, ITS, TUB2 and EF-1α) revealed that the 30 strains of Cephalotrichum represent three new species, which are described and named C. guizhouense, C. laeve and C. oligotriphicum. This study also significantly improved our understanding on fungi being able to grow on carbon free medium, with the known species increased from 18 to 99.
Hampering teaching excellence? Academics making decisions in the face of contradictions

ABSTRACT Universities might aspire to teaching excellence, but do they enable academic teachers to make good teaching decisions? Using a critical realist perspective, a qualitative interview study in England and Australia explored academics’ experiences of teaching decisions and their responses to strategic, institutional and departmental teaching policy and planning. Complex and contradictory conditions that challenged academics’ experiences of teaching and prevented effective decision-making were found. The paper identifies aspects of university functioning that act to prevent the achievement of teaching excellence. It argues that excellence in teaching requires coherent and integrated approaches and commitment right across the institution. For this to happen, universities need to consider how stated strategic learning and teaching ambitions are communicated, implemented, supported and, importantly, how they are understood and enacted throughout all levels and areas of the organisation, including many that hitherto do not consider they have a role in learning and teaching.
The two faces of conflict: how internal and external conflict affect interest group influence

ABSTRACT Conflict is one of the most fundamental concepts in the interest group literature. The more conflict there is, the less likely it is that interest groups can impact policymaking. In this paper we systematically explore whether some types of conflict affect interest-group influence more than others. More precise whether conflict among organizations that are perceived by policymakers as homogenous (‘internal conflict’) is more detrimental for the influence interest groups have on policymaking than conflict among groups that are not perceived by policymakers as homogenous (‘external conflict’). Empirically we focus on four cases of EU policymaking with varying levels of internal and external interest group conflict. Our case studies highlight that agreement among similar types of lobby organizations is a necessary condition for these groups to influence policymaking, while external conflict still provides much opportunities for interest groups to influence policymaking.
Hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Arrabidaea brachypoda (DC.) Bureau present antispasmodic activity mediated through calcium influx blockage

Aim: Since other species of the Bignoniaceae Family presented of antispasmodic activity, it was decided, by chemotaxonomic criterion, to determine the antispasmodic activity of the leaves of Arrabidaea brachypoda. Methodology: the segments of the rat jejunum were suspended in glass vats containing specific saline solution, at an appropriate temperature, and after stabilization period, were stimulated by a contractile agent to observe the inhibitory or relaxing effect of EHFAB. Results: EH-FAB showed the presence of 10 compounds, mainly rutin and it has an antispasmodic activity as it inhibits the phasic component and relaxes the tonic component of the contraction in isolated rat jejunum. To assess the mechanism of antispasmodic action, cumulative curves to the CCh were performed in which a non-competitive antagonism was observed, due to a displacement of the control curve to the right and reduction of the maximum contraction effect (Emax). Afterward, the participation of the calcium and/or potassium channels was evaluated by increasing the extracellular potassium, and it was observed that the EH-FAB relaxed the rat jejunum, suggesting the participation of the Ca2+ channels. To corroborate that hypothesis, the EH-FAB was tested against cumulative curves to Ca2+ in a free depolarizing solution of Ca2+, and it was observed that there was a shift of the curve to the right with a reduction in Emax. Conclusions: EH-FAB presents antispasmodic activity in isolated rat jejunum and it is suggested to block the influx of Ca2+ through voltage-gated calcium channels, signaling the therapeutic potential for the treatment of colic and/or diarrhea.
Coronavirus in Colombia: Stigma and quarantine

www.jogh. org • doi: 10.7189/jogh.10. 020372 1 December 2020 • Vol. 10 No. 2 • 020372 This study describes a brief history of the spread of coronavirus, listing the disease’s main characteristics. The decisions made by the Colombian government are presented, as there have been progressively more cases of infection, death and recovery, in addition to the stigmatisation that the medical personnel who are treating COVID-19 patients have experienced from some people in Colombia. Issues related to intra-family and domestic partner violence occurring in Colombia because of the quarantine processes are also addressed. Early stress studies in general population and medical professionals. The lines of work being implemented by the Colombian Association of Psychology (COLPSIC, for its Spanish acronym) for psychological help towards the affected population are described. Finally, psychological intervention initiatives that are important to implement for mental well-being are discussed.
The Chinese scientific publication system: Specific features, specific challenges

By introducing new policy initiatives, China is trying to change the evaluation of scientific research, shifting the focus from counting publication output to stressing high‐quality research, with the objective of achieving excellent science. Against this background, the scientific publication system itself is important for safeguarding high‐quality publications and high‐quality journals. However, the Chinese scientific publication system has some specificities and unique features, which also create particular challenges. This article describes the scientific publication system in China. It covers the Chinese ex‐ante journal licensing examination, the triple ownership management structure and provides an overview of the editorial process of Chinese scientific journals. It analyses how difficulties in the Chinese scientific publication system relate to concerns over research quality and integrity. We conclude with an agenda of the crucial issues facing the current Chinese attempts to promote quality in scientific publications.
Icariin impacts molecular changes in estrogen receptors but not other reproductive parameters in female mice

This study was conducted to assess the effects of icariin (ICA) an ingredient of Epimedium species, on reproductive parameters in mice. Serum, uterus and ovarian samples were collected after treatment. We determined the reproductive index (RI) and in vitro maturation (IVM) rates of oocytes. The serum was tested for 17b-estradiol (17b-E2) and progesterone (P4) using radioimmunoassay (RIA) and ovaries were analyzed for mRNA expression of Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star), Cytochrome p450 family 19 subfamilies a polypeptide 1 (Cyp19a1) and 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Hsd17b1), genes using Real-time Quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). Protein expression of estrogen receptors (ER) a, b, and progesterone receptor A (PRA) were detected using western blot (WB). ERa from treatment group was increased (p less then 0.05) while ERb and PRA were decreased (p less then0.05). ICA regulated ovarian development through the estrogen receptor pathway. ERa expression was evidently increased and this may be the pathway that is utilized for its mode of action.
Baroclinicity and directional shear explain departures from the logarithmic wind profile

Similarity and scaling arguments underlying the existence of a logarithmic wind profile in the atmospheric surface layer (ASL) rest on the restrictive assumptions of negligible Coriolis effects (no wind turning in the ASL) and vertically‐uniform pressure gradients (barotropic atmospheric boundary layer, ABL). This paper alleviates these asymptotic arguments to provide a realistic representation of the ASL where the common occurrence of baroclinicity (height‐dependent pressure gradients) and wind turning, traditionally treated as outer‐layer attributes, take part in modulating the ASL. The approximation of a constant‐stress ASL is first replaced by a refined model for the Reynolds stress derived from the mean momentum equations to incorporate the cross‐isobaric angle (directional shear) and a dimensionless baroclinicity parameter (geostrophic shear). A model for the wind profile is then obtained from first‐order closure principles, correcting the log‐law with an additive term that is linear in height and accounts for the combined effects of wind turning and baroclinicity. Both the stress and wind models agree well with a suite of large‐eddy simulations in the barotropic and baroclinic ABL. The findings provide a methodology for the extrapolation of near‐surface winds to some 200 m in the near‐neutral ABL for wind energy applications, the validation of the surface cross‐isobaric angle in weather and climate models, and the interpretation of wind turning in field measurements and numerical experiments of the Ekman boundary layer.
Antecedents of positive eWOM in hotels. Exploring the relative role of satisfaction, quality and positive emotional experiences

This study aims to compare the relative importance of service quality (SQ), customer satisfaction (CS) and positive emotional experiences (PEE) to determine which is more influential in customers’ intention to spread positive eWOM. ,A questionnaire that had been translated previously into English, German and Spanish and contained scales from previous studies, as well as a new scale created for electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) (which was tested before fieldwork commenced), was sent through an online survey to all customers who had stayed in a hotel during the previous three months and were selected from the customers’ database of two international hotel chains that operate hotels worldwide, most of which are middle-upper class establishments that specialize in the holiday market. A total of 3,671 valid questionnaires were obtained, and the research model was tested using partial least squares. ,The findings suggested that, in the context of mid-upscale hotels, SQ is of paramount importance for CS, but by itself, does not guarantee customers’ involvement in generating and spreading positive eWOM. CS, by itself, neither guarantees customer involvement in positive eWOM spreading. However, the provision of services that can generate PEE among hotel guests is a powerful determinant of positive eWOM spreading and also has a very positive effect on CS. ,The results are based on a sample selected from customers of mid-upper-class hotels that cater to the holiday segment, and therefore, apply only to customers who use this category of hotel services. Further research should be conducted on mid-lower-class hotels to determine whether the results obtained in this paper can be generalized throughout the hotel industry. ,This study provides useful insights for hotel marketing managers by identifying a key causal element that fosters consumer creativity and consumer content creation by spreading eWOM. Managerial practices should strive to provide guest experiences that have the ability to increase emotional outcomes. The results have practical implications for product/service development, communication and customer relationship activities, as well as price and revenue management. Specifically, SME hotels could benefit from an increased volume of positive eWOM to increase their competitiveness. ,The antecedents of eWOM have received less attention in research than its effects. Drawing on a large sample of hotel customers, this paper sheds light on the important issue of identifying which factors motivate customers to engage in spreading positive eWOM specifically in the hotel industry. The results also suggested that WOM and eWOM should not be considered strictly equivalent either in their features and effects or in their antecedents.
Distributed fault estimation for linear systems with actuator faults

This article investigates the problem of designing a distributed fault estimation observer (DFEO) for a given linear time invariant observed system with disturbances. The DFEO consists of a network of local fault estimation observers. The local observers at the network nodes are physically distributed and hence each of them has access to only part of the output of the observed system. Each local fault estimation observer communicates with its neighbors as prescribed by the given network graph. Both full order and reduced order DFEO's are presented in this article. A systematic design procedure for DFEO gains is addressed, enabling the estimation error dynamics to be robust against the effects of the external process disturbance and the derivative of the fault. The numerical design of our DFEO is amounts to solving an optimization problem with constraints of a bank of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, we illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed distributed fault estimation approach by means of a number of simulation results.
A Bibliometric Exploration of the Qualitative Research Literature in Distance Education Using A Network Approach

ABSTRACT Following repeated calls to ground the research surrounding distance education in theory, we engaged in a bibliometric exploration of the extant literature in order to determine the degree to which the field has been responsive to these calls. We focused on describing the trends – theoretical as well as methodological – of recent (2014–2018) qualitative scholarship in distance education, and we used network methods to explore connections within published work, established theories, and qualitative methodologies. We found that distance education researchers using qualitative research methods were likely to characterize their work as case study. We also found that although the field has been responsive to the critique that the work has been atheoretical, that response has produced a broad rather than focused foundation for research in distance education. That is, many individual studies are theoretically grounded, but the field has not identified a cohesive theoretical foundation. Appendices available: https://aub.ie/AJDE_DETheoryApp
Extending Drag-and-Drop Actions-Based Model-to-Model Transformations with Natural Language Processing

Model-to-model (M2M) transformations are among the key components of model-driven development, enabling a certain level of automation in the process of developing models. The developed solution of using drag-and-drop actions-based M2M transformations contributes to this purpose by providing a flexible, reusable, customizable, and relatively easy-to-use transformation method and tool support. The solution uses model-based transformation specifications triggered by user-initiated drag-and-drop actions within the model deployed in a computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool environment. The transformations are called partial M2M transformations, meaning that a specific user-defined fragment of the source model is being transformed into a specific fragment of the target model and not running the whole model-level transformation. In this paper, in particular, we present the main aspects of the developed extension to that M2M transformation method, delivering a set of natural language processing (NLP) techniques on both the conceptual and implementation level. The paper addresses relevant developments and topics in the field of natural language processing and presents a set of operators that can be used to satisfy the needs of advanced textual preprocessing in the scope of M2M transformations. Also in this paper, we describe the extensions to the previous M2M transformation metamodel necessary for enabling the solution’s NLP-related capabilities. The usability and actual benefits of the proposed extension are introduced by presenting a set of specific partial M2M transformation use cases where natural language processing provides actual solutions to previously unsolvable situations when using the previous M2M transformation development.
Towards an improvement of the risk assessment of polycyclic (hetero)aromatic hydrocarbons.

Current risk assessment for PACs focuses only on parental compounds, while a large amount of the PACs present in the environment are substitution or transformation products. It has been demonstrated that slight structural transformations can result in important differences in toxicity. Furthermore, short-term aquatic bioassays with mortality as an endpoint are the most common toxicity testing tools, and data of these tests are commonly used to derive quality criteria for sediments and soils. The extrapolation steps needed in this process produce large uncertainties, resulting in a poor estimation of the effects of these chemicals on populations of sediment and soil inhabiting organisms. This project focuses on the long-term and population effects of two three-ringed homocyclic PAHs (anthracene and phenanthrene), their azaarene analogues and two azaarene transformation products. Using both long-term and multi-generation experiments, the effects of these substances on two terrestrial and two benthic invertebrates will be investigated. Other biological endpoints than mortality (reproduction and growth) will be used to describe the effects of the toxicants at the population level. The aim of the project is to investigate the long-term effects of related compounds from which acute exposure data are already available. Standard chronic bioassays with the soil invertebrates Folsomia candida (Collembola, ISO 1999) and Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta, OECD 2000) have been demonstrated to be useful tools to assess toxicity of PAHs. The midge Chironomus riparius and the Oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus have also been widely used to test the effects of different chemicals using acute water exposure, but less data are available about the chronic effects of toxicants using sediment exposure. Standardized chronic bioassays will be performed with the four invertebrates to assess the effects of the six selected compounds on similar taxonomic groups living in different environments. In addition, chronic population effects will be investigated using multi-generation experiments with both the springtail and the midge, in test systems with a PAH concentration under the EC50 level to mimic the field situation.
The Long-Term Effects of Military Deployments and Their Relation with the Quality of Life of Dutch Veterans

Abstract Experiences during military deployments may have serious negative consequences for the health and well-being of veterans. The literature presents a wealth of information on these negative effects that are mostly studied relatively shortly after the veteran returned from deployment. Our purpose was to determine to what extent the deployment plays a role in the life of Dutch veterans who have left the Armed Forces and who returned from their deployment in a time frame from 1950 until 2018. Also, we aimed to assess how several deployment related factors are associated with their quality of life. We invited 6,000 veterans to fill out a questionnaire; 2,643 (44%) participated. We found support for long-term effects of deployments among almost half of the Dutch veterans. For most of those who experience an effect of the deployment in their life at present, that effect is positive. We also found support for deployment related factors to be related to veterans’ quality of life. Our findings underline the importance to study the long-term effects of experiences during deployment for veterans and thereby not to focus solely on the negative effects in order to get a more complete picture of the consequences of deployments veterans’ lives.