Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fourier transform infrared time series of tropospheric HCN in eastern China: seasonality, interannual variability, and source attribution

Abstract. We analyzed seasonality and interannual variability of tropospheric hydrogen cyanide (HCN) columns in densely populated eastern China for the first time. The results were derived from solar absorption spectra recorded with a ground-based high-spectral-resolution Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer in Hefei (31 ∘ 54 ′ N, 117 ∘ 10 ′ E) between 2015 and 2018. The tropospheric HCN columns over Hefei, China, showed significant seasonal variations with three monthly mean peaks throughout the year. The magnitude of the tropospheric HCN column peaked in May, September, and December. The tropospheric HCN column reached a maximum monthly mean of ( 9.8 ± 0.78 ) × 10 15 molecules cm −2 in May and a minimum monthly mean of ( 7.16 ± 0.75 ) × 10 15 molecules cm −2 in November. In most cases, the tropospheric HCN columns in Hefei (32 ∘ N) are higher than the FTIR observations in Ny-Alesund (79 ∘ N), Kiruna (68 ∘ N), Bremen (53 ∘ N), Jungfraujoch (47 ∘ N), Toronto (44 ∘ N), Rikubetsu (43 ∘ N), Izana (28 ∘ N), Mauna Loa (20 ∘ N), La Reunion Maido (21 ∘ S), Lauder (45 ∘ S), and Arrival Heights (78 ∘ S) that are affiliated with the Network for Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). Enhancements of tropospheric HCN column were observed between September 2015 and July 2016 compared to the same period of measurements in other years. The magnitude of the enhancement ranges from 5 % to 46 % with an average of 22 %. Enhancement of tropospheric HCN ( Δ HCN) is correlated with the concurrent enhancement of tropospheric CO ( Δ CO), indicating that enhancements of tropospheric CO and HCN were due to the same sources. The GEOS-Chem tagged CO simulation, the global fire maps, and the potential source contribution function (PSCF) values calculated using back trajectories revealed that the seasonal maxima in May are largely due to the influence of biomass burning in Southeast Asia (SEAS) ( 41±13.1 %), Europe and boreal Asia (EUBA) ( 21±9.3 %), and Africa (AF) ( 22±4.7 %). The seasonal maxima in September are largely due to the influence of biomass burnings in EUBA ( 38±11.3 %), AF ( 26±6.7 %), SEAS ( 14±3.3 %), and North America (NA) ( 13.8±8.4 %). For the seasonal maxima in December, dominant contributions are from AF ( 36±7.1 %), EUBA ( 21±5.2 %), and NA ( 18.7±5.2 %). The tropospheric HCN enhancement between September 2015 and July 2016 at Hefei (32 ∘ N) was attributed to an elevated influence of biomass burnings in SEAS, EUBA, and Oceania (OCE) in this period. In particular, an elevated number of fires in OCE in the second half of 2015 dominated the tropospheric HCN enhancement between September and December 2015. An elevated number of fires in SEAS in the first half of 2016 dominated the tropospheric HCN enhancement between January and July 2016.
A Scenario Generator for Evaluating the Social Acceptability of Emerging
 Technologies

In addition to functionality, usability and user experience, social acceptabilityis increasingly recognized as driver (or hindering factor) for the adoption of emerging interface technologies. In consequence, factors influencing social acceptance, the perception of technology usage in presence of other people – both, from the user’s and the by-stander’s points of view, has become of interest to researchers in Human-Computer-Interaction (HCI). Social acceptance does not only depend on the considered device, but also on design aspects, e.g., input and output modalities, and social context, e.g., usage location or the user’s relationship to the bystanders. To investigate these factors, and how they interconnect, prior work made use of scenario visualizations, e.g., photographs, videos, or illustrations, whose creations is often time-consuming and labour-intensive. With SAGE, the Social Acceptability (Scenario) Generator and Evaluator, we present a tool that solves this issue by enabling semi-automatic generation of scenario illustrations for the purpose of evaluating the social acceptability of human-computer interfaces. Embedded into a website, SAGE facilitates evaluation, generation and export (download) of scenarios. Thus, it provides an infrastructure for onlineand offline scenario evaluation, which contributes to research efforts in the field of social acceptability of emerging technologies and novel interaction paradigms.
Identification and comparison of the nucleotide sequence of 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic small SR(Spacer Region) of lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 with those of L. casei, L. acidophilus and L. helveticus

Reliable PCR based identification of lactobacilli has been described utilizing the sequence of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region. Those sequence comparisons showed a high degree of difference in homology among the strains of L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. acidophilus and L. helveticus whose 16S-23S rRNA intergenic small SR's sizes were 222 bp, 222 bp, 206 bp and 216 bp respectively. The sequence of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of L. rhamnosus ATCC 53103 revealed the close relatedness to those of L. casei strains by the homology ranges from 95.4% to 97.2%. 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region nucleotide sequence of L. acidophilus showed some distant relatedness with L. rhamnosus ATCC 53103 with the homology ranges from 40.3% to 41.8% and that with L. helveticus was shown to be 30% of homology, which exists at the most distant phylogenetic relatedness. The identification of species and strain of lactobacilli was possible on the basis of these results. The common sequences among the 17 strains were CTAAGGAA located in the initiating position of the DNA and some discrepancies were found between the same strains based on these results.
Sample Size for the Diagnosis of Conservation Units

Abstract: Use of the phylogenetic species concept in defining conservation units is based on the assumption that the fixation of a particular character state in a population is diagnostic of a long history of reproductive isolation. In practice, diagnosis is usually based on the character states of a small sample of individuals rather than the states of the entire population. Unfortunately, when sample sizes are small, samples in which all individuals share one character state can easily be drawn from populations that are actually polymorphic. I describe statistical methods for examining how much confidence can be placed in the diagnosis of a conservation unit, given the operative sample size. The methods estimate the probability of drawing a sample in which all individuals show the same state, if individuals with unsampled ( hidden) states actually exist in the population at some hypothetical frequency (e.g., 0.05). I considered finite and infinite population‐size models. The infinite population‐size model suggests that in order to reject with 95% confidence the hypothesis that 5% of individuals carry hidden character states, a sample of 59 individuals is necessary. Finite population‐size models give slightly smaller critical sample sizes for diagnosis with 95% confidence. I describe methods for including the effect of uncertainty in estimating population size when calculating critical sample size, and I discuss extensions to multiple characters and the impact of spatial structuring of character states. My results suggest that confident diagnosis requires sample sizes much larger than those commonly used when the phylogenetic species concept is applied to defining conservation units.
Modeling hydraulic fracture propagation in permeable media with an embedded strong discontinuity approach

The paper presents an embedded strong discontinuity approach to simulate single hydraulic fracture propagation in the poroelastic medium under plane‐strain conditions. The method enriches the strain field with the discontinuous deformation mode and allows the fracture to be modeled inside elements. The Mode‐I fracture initiation and propagation are described by the trilinear cohesive law, which is implemented by the penalty method. The enhanced permeability inside the fractured elements is dependent on the fracture aperture. Hydraulic fracture propagation is driven by the high pressure gradient near the fracture. Fluid transfer between the fracture and bulk rock is automatically captured within the poroelastic framework. The numerical framework is verified by the comparisons with the asymptotic analytical solutions for single hydraulic fracture propagation.
On the seed mass–regional abundance relationship: the Eriksson & Jakobsson (1998) model does not apply to Danish grasslands

Eriksson & Jakobsson (1998) developed a heuristic model predicting species regional abundance from their seed mass. The model took as a starting point the diversity of seed masses found in single communities (Westoby etal. 1996). This phenomenon does not, however, fit the theoretical predictions that seeds of a given mass will be fittest in a given environment (Smith & Fretwell 1974). Rees & Westoby (1996) showed that a game-theory approach would allow for variation in seed mass within communities. The ErikssonJakobsson model had two basic assumptions: (i) in a given microsite, a seedling emerging from a large seed will out-compete one from a small seed (a game rule supported empirically by Eriksson (1997) and Turnbull et al. (1999)), and (ii) that there is a trade-off between seed mass and seed number (Harper 1977) (empirically supported by Shipley & Dion (1992), Turbull et al. (1999) and Jakobsson & Eriksson (2000)). In other words, it assumes there to be an inverse relationship between colonization ability (large, but few seeds) and dispersability (many, but small seeds). The model predicts that species with intermediate-sized seeds will gain larger regional abundance than either largeror smaller-seeded species. Eriksson & Jakobsson (1998) identified the species with intermediate-sized seeds by use of the absolute deviance in log seed mass from the community median log seed mass. Data from Danish grasslands were used in an empirical test of the model's validity, both by phylogenetically corrected and traditional cross-species analysis.
LIPID-LOWERING EFFECTS OF ARONIA MELANOCARPA FRUIT JUICE IN RATS FED CHOLESTEROL-CONTAINING DIETS

Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) is very rich in phenolic antioxidants, mainly flavonoids from the subclass anthocyanins. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of AMFJ on body and liver mass, plasma lipids and lipoprotein profiles, and the histopathology of liver and aorta in rats fed with cholesterol diets. AMFJ was applied orally for 30 days at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mL/kg. In rats fed the cholesterol-containing diets, AMFJ significantly hindered an increase in plasma lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides) because of cholesterol feeding. Body weight gains, liver weights, and liver and aorta histopathology were not influenced either by high-cholesterol diets or by AMFJ treatment. In conclusion, AMFJ showed lipid-lowering effects in rats with experimentally induced hyperlipidemia, and could be valuable in reducing lipidemia as a factor of cardiovascular risk. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Hyperlipidemia characterized by an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Plant foods with high contents of phenolic phytochemicals are reported to be inversely correlated with plasma total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol. Aronia melanocarpa fruits are remarkably rich in phenolic substances. They are used for human consumption as juice, syrup, jam and wine. Our research demonstrated that A. melanocarpa fruit juice hindered the dietary-induced elevation of plasma TC, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in rats. In view of the results from our experiment, we can suppose that the juice may be further tested for reducing hyperlipidemia in humans and possibly approved a valuable dietary supplement.
Periodic perturbations of quadratic planar polynomial vector fields

In this work are studied periodic perturbations, depending on two parameters, of quadratic planar polynomial vector fields having an infinite heteroclinic cycle, which is an unbounded solution joining two saddle points at infinity. The global study envolving infinity is performed via the Poincare compactification. The main result obtained states that for certain types of periodic perturbations, the perturbed system has quadratic heteroclinic tangencies and transverse intersections between the local stable and unstable manifolds of the hyperbolic periodic orbits at infinity. It implies, via the Birkhoff-Smale Theorem, in a complex dynamical behavior of the solutions of the perturbed system, in a finite part of the phase plane.
Epimedium brevicornum Maxim and its efficacy in treatment of sexual dysfunction

Epimedium sp. is famous for its potency as sexual enhancer and five species of Epimedium brevicornum, E. sagittatum, E. pubescens, E. koreanum, and E. wushanense were recorded as Epimedium Herba (Yin Yang Huo) in Chinese Pharmacopeia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of E. brevicornum as remedy for sexual dysfunction and infertility. For preparing this manuscript, we searched in all accessible resources (PubMed, Science direct, Wiley, Springer, and Google), books, thesis, and pharmacopeia. There are different traditional prescriptions from E. brevicornum, which are used for treatment of impotence and sexual disorders. Although, there is no clinical study on efficacy and safety of E. brevicornum on sexual functions, but animal and experimental analysis exhibited that E. brevicornum is and estrogenic plant and its flavonoid glycosides are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE 5) and improved the erectile dysfunction, libido, impotence, sperm quality and fertility . Due to the lack of clinical study on efficacy of E. brevicornum, designing the human clinical study on safety and efficacy of standard E. brevicornum can be the subject of future studies.
Surfactant protein D/anti-Fc receptor bifunctional proteins as a tool to enhance host defence

Background: Drug-resistant pathogens are an increasing threat, particularly for hospitalised patients. In search of a new approach in pathogen targeting, we developed bifunctional proteins that combine broad spectrum pathogen recognition with efficient targeting to phagocytes. Pathogen recognition is provided by a recombinant fragment of surfactant protein D (rfSP-D) while targeting to phagocytic cells is accomplished by coupling rfSP-D to F(ab′) fragments directed against Fcα receptor I (FcαRI) or Fcγ receptor I (FcγRI). FcαRI and FcγRI are expressed on myeloid cells, and induce rapid internalisation of particles after crosslinking. Objective/methods: In this review we discuss the roles of SP-D and Fc receptors in host defence as a rationale for rfSP-D/anti-FcR bifunctional proteins. Furthermore we summarise the available data on rfSP-D/anti-FcR proteins as well as opportunities and considerations for future use of such bifunctional proteins. Results/conclusion: rfSP-D/anti-FcR bifunctional proteins could be of great value for the treatment of a variety of infectious diseases. The focus in the near future should be on proof-of-principle by testing the bifunctional proteins in different mouse models of infectious disease.
Do Larvae and Ovipositing Chironomus riparius (Diptera: Chironomidae) Females Avoid Copper-Contaminated Environments?

ABSTRACT Studies on the avoidance behavior of aquatic organisms to contaminants have confirmed that such behavior can be relevant in field situations. However, almost all toxicity tests involve the forced exposure of organisms to toxicants. In particular, despite the importance of Chironomus riparius Meigen larvae in sediment toxicity testing, only a few studies on avoidance behavior have been performed. This study investigated the ability of different life stages of C. riparius, including ovipositing females, first-, second-, and fourth-instar larvae, to avoid copper-contaminated environments. Ovipositing females were given a choice between a control and copper solution (1.3 mg Cu l− 1). First-instar larvae were provided with a choice between a control and a copper (2.0 mg Cu l− 1)-spiked sediment. Both second- and fourth-instars were exposed to a copper gradient (0.38–3.4 mg Cu l− 1) in a flow-through system. None of the life stages avoided copper, even though the highest concentrations caused lethal effects on midges. The avoidance behavior of C. riparius is not a sensitive endpoint to assess copper sublethal toxicity.
Correction of disordered mineral bone metabolism in patients affected by chronic periodontitis

One of the main mechanisms in pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis is disordered bone metabolism that is accomplished by cortical plate’s resorption, destruction of the interdental septums and osteoporosis of the jaws. Administration of osteotropic agents will allow achieving efficient results in treatment of the patients affected by periodontal disorders, lower the tendency of bone resorption and stimulate the processes of regeneration. The article demonstrates the results obtained after the surgical treatment of the patients with osteopenia affected by chronic periodontitis of II–III degree that were administered simultaneously with synthetic osteoplastic material Tricalcium phosphate and a bone resorption inhibitor Ibandronic acid. It has been established the high efficiency of the recommended treatment that was proved by positive progress of biochemical markers of bone metabolism in blood serum and urine of the individuals from the main group taken 24 month after the beginning of the treatment. The study shows that the reis arise of osteocalcin by 11,5% in the blood serum of the main group patients 2 years after the research and the amount of desoxypiridynolin, on the other hand, was by 21,72% lower comparing with those from the main group (р < 0,05).
Afrotemperate Amphibians in southern and eastern Africa: a critical review

Abstract The term ‘Afrotemperate’ is taken to cover the area and fauna of the southern Cape, eastern highlands of South Africa, and intertropical highlands. A feature of Afrotemperate distribution is that it conforms to climatic zones rather than to latitudinal zonation. Two main patterns of Afrotemperate distribution are perceived. One is shown by species or genera concentrated in temperate South Africa, or present both in the non-tropical south and disjunctly in the cartographic tropics in highland areas of non-tropical climate to the north. Another pattern is a concentration of species or genera on highlands of East Africa. A concentration of cool-preferring species in the south has led to the concept of this being a centre of endemism, with a radiation undergoing progressive attenuation northwards on highlands within the cartographic tropics; this concept is questioned in the case of several species, and a reverse direction of attenuation from East African highlands southwards is evident in others. Special attention is given to the widespread and problematic genus Strongylopus, whose biogeography is largely unresolved at present. The conventional application of the term ‘Afrotropical Region’ to the whole of Subsaharan Africa is criticised since a large proportion of the Subsaharan amphibian fauna avoids areas of tropical climate, including areas within the cartographic tropics. Undiscerning blanket application of the term ‘Afrotropical’ tends to divert attention away from the rich cool-preferring Afrotemperate faunas and floras. If a faunal and floral unity in Subsaharan Africa needs to be recognised by a corporate name, the name Subsaharan Region seems preferable to ‘Afrotropical Region’.
Levantamento e características ecológicas de orchidacea e da mata ciliar do rio dourados, Dourados-MS

Inventory and ecologic features of Orchidaceae in the Rio Dourados riparian Forest, Dourados-MS). The Orchidaceae is one of the largest flowering plants family and with a great importance to conservation. However, no survey on orchid flowers can be found in Mato Grosso do Sul. Thus, the objective of this work was to make a survey of the Orchidaceae species and of its ecology features in a riparian forest in a fragment of Floresta Estacional Semi-Decidual that belongs to the riparian forest of the Dourados River. The inventory was made by using a sweeping method for collection, and in addition to this the vertical and horizontal position of epiphytes were assessed on the hosts. For characterization of microclimate, it was used a thermohygrometer and luximeter. It was identified 17 species of 13 genera. Of the listed genera, the most abundant ones were: Acianthera, Macradenia and Capanemia. It was also noted a vertical and horizontal distribution of the Orchidaceae in relation to inverse gradient of water and light availability. Some species tended to be sensitive to height level categorization, whereas others seemed to occur with similar frequency along the host. In relation to the cardinal orientation, the apparent preferential response for south and east directions was associated to the low sampling effort and lower water availability, which could occur because the north face is opposed to the water body.
Cell-mediated immune response to Leishmania chagasi experimental infection of BALB/c immunosuppressed mice

Leishmaniasis, a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, presents a significant impact on immunosupressed patients. This study aimed to evaluate Leishmania chagasi infection in BALB/c mice immunosuppressed with dexamethasone. Spleen cells stimulated or not with L. chagasi were cultured for cytokine quantification (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10) by sandwich ELISA. Parasite loads in the spleen and liver were determined by means of culture microtitration. Immunosuppressed groups showed statistically lower spleen weight and CD4-cell percentage in blood on the day of infection and produced Th1 and Th2 cytokines on other days of the study. The other infected groups, weather immunosupressed or not, also produced Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Parasite loads in the spleen and liver were not statistically different among the groups. It was concluded that L. chagasi infection was not affected by dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression, probably due the reversible effect of the treatment.
Growth and reproduction in the leafy hepatic Ptilidium pulcherrimum(G. Web.) Vainio during a 4-year period

Abstract Annual growth rate and spore and capsule production was studied in 50 colonies of the epixylic hepatic, Ptilidium pulcherrimum in northern Sweden. Radial growth rate was independent of colony size but varied from year to year (mean value 5.2 mm year−1, range 3.5–6.3 mm year−1). Size at first sporophyte production was estimated to be 68 cm2 and the age of first reproduction was estimated to be about 9 years. It was estimated that antheridia were formed the third year. No correlation between growth rates and reproduction was observed. Capsule density as well as capsule and spore production increased significantly with increased colony size. Differences between years in spore and capsule production (up to six-fold) were observed. The mean number of spores per capsule was 27 400 but significant differences between colonies (range from 18 000 to 44 000) were observed.