Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methods in Comprehensive Mass Spectrometry-Based Measurement of Sphingolipids

Molecular analysis of lipids has essentially improved by introduction of multidimensional mass spectrometry. This important technique allows identification and quantification of complex sphingolipids, e.g. glycosphingolipids and ceramides, from diverse intestinal sources including liver and bowel. In the following a short overview is given concerning this important technical tool which facilitates molecular characterization of lipids in intestinal physiology and diseases.
Reduced-order observer design using a Lagrangian model

This paper considers the problem of reduced-order observer design. A design procedure is proposed in which the impulse response of the observer is treated as the solution of a general optimization problem. Using principles from variational analysis, the corresponding Lagrangian system is reduced so as to yield observers of reduced-order. Using this approach, two different observer design problems are discussed and compared on an industrial example.
Identifying and Validating a Quantitative Trait Locus on Chromosome 14 Underlying Stearic Acid in a Soybean Landrace

ABSTRACT Stearic acid (ST) is one of the saturated fatty acids (FAs) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] oil; lowering ST content may be helpful to reduce the potential health risks. In this study, recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from “Jidou 12” × “Heidou” cross were used to identify the QTL underlying ST content. As a result, two quantitative trait loci (QTL), designated as qSTE_6_1 and qSTE_14_1, were identified. The QTL qSTE_14_1 was also validated using residual heterozygous lines (RHLs) derived from the RILs. Analysis of the RHLs showed that two simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers, BARCSOYSSR_14_1033 and BARCSOYSSR_14_1079, located on chromosome 14, were tightly linked with qSTE_14_1 and could explain 50.2% and 43.1% of ST content variance at two locations. The allele from “Heidou” decreased the ST content from 3.28% to 2.92% at one location and from 3.55% to 3.01% at the other location. No significant effect of qSTE_14_1 on other FA contents was detected at either location. This study will assist in creating cultivars with lower ST.
Temperature Tolerance of the Sheepshead Minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus

The sheepshead minnow may be the most eurythermic of all known fishes. This species' physiological (static or plunge) and ecological (dynamic) thermal tolerance polygons have areas of 1380 C2 and 1470 C2, respectively, which are among the largest ever measured for a fish. In addition, sheepshead minnows are more resistant to both high and low lethal temperatures than are other fish species. Sheepshead minnows acclimated to 5 and 30 C have CTMin-CTMax of 0.6-34.6 C and 11.3-
Autotomy of the tail in Permian reptiles

HE transverse cartilaginous septa associated with autotomy and found in the caudal centra of various existing lizards and Sphenodon were long ago observed in two Jurassic genera Homeosaurus and Saphaeosaurus (=Sauronodon), the former a typical rhynchocephalian and the latter a primitive diapsid which may belong to the same order. We wish to record the presence of this condition in a very different group of reptiles, and one much more remote geologically-the family Captorhinidae of the Cotylosauria or "stem reptiles. " These forms flourished in the oldest of the adequately known reptilian faunas, that of the Permo-Carboniferous "redbeds" of the American Southwest.
HIV-1 genotypic resistance in structured treatment interruptions

Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) represents perhaps the most significant therapeutic advance in HIV research to date, and is the basis of a significant decline in morbidity andmortality rates among patients. However, current antirretroviral regimens are limited by issues of potency, adherence, toxicity, resistance and cost. Hence, eradication of the virus has not been achieved and so treatment has to be maintained for the remainder of the patients’ lives. Structured treatment interruptions (STI) offer an alternative to continuous HAART. STI involves alternating on-and-off cycles of HAART in order to enhance the utility of therapy. One of the main risks is selection of resistance mutations. In this review, we will examine if the presence of any drugresistance mutations detected during STI are selected de novo or if they are from archived mutations. Moreover, we will review the relationship between the presence of drug resistance mutations and the achievement undetectable viral load after treatment reintroduction. Finally, we will study whether the appearance of drug resistance mutations during STI is favoured by specific antiretroviral drugs. 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Size hierarchies of shoots and clones in clonal herb monocultures: do clonal and non-clonal plants compete differently?

In order to test whether predictions of mortality and size hierarchy development, as derived from studies of non-clonal plants, are valid for clonal plants, an experiment was carried out with Brachypodium pinnatum and Carex flacca, two rhizomatous herbs, planted at three densities. Competition was studied at two levels of organization, the shoot (ramet) and the clone (the individual plant consisting of all interconnected ramets). Size inequalities (measured as Gini coefficients), size-dependent growth and mortality of both shoots and clones were analysed over a period of two years. The species were grown in monocultures in three treatments that differed in clone density. At the end of both the first and the second year of the experiment there were not significant differences in Gini coefficients of shoot height or weight between treatments (.)
Onset of oestrus and fertility of dairy heifers and suckled beef cows treated with prostaglandin F 2α

Suckled cows (average 70 days post partum) and British Friesian dairy heifers (13 to 24 months of age) were injected intramuscularly with prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α ) on two occasions 12 days apart, to synchronize oestrus and ovulation. The cattle were inseminated twice, 70 and 88 hr after the second injection. Injections of 20, 30 or 40 mg of PGF 2α were equally effective in 59 heifers; after the first injection, 11 failed to show oestrus during the following 10 days and 10 began oestrus within 36 hr. The majority of the heifers (59%) began oestrus during the 3rd or 4th day after the first injection of PGF 2α . After the second injection of PGF 2α , all but two heifers showed oestrus and the majority (88%) began oestrus in 3 to 6 days. Injections of 30 or 60 mg of PGF 2α were equally effective in 66 suckled cows; after the second injection of PGF 2α , 68% of the cows began oestrus from the 3rd to the 6th day but 10 (15%) cows failed to show oestrus. Fertility was highest among heifers and cows which began oestrus during 3 to 5 days after the second injection of PFG 2α , 54% of the treated heifers and 42% of the treated cows calving during the expected intervals. Nineteen of the 20 control heifers were mated and 25 of 33 control cows were observed in oestrus and inseminated during 3-week or 25-day breeding periods. Eleven (55%) control heifers and 14 (42%) control cows calved during the expected intervals. Thus, fertility of the treated cattle inseminated at predetermined intervals after PGF 2α was equivalent to that in the controls.
Reward-Based DSM Program for Residential Electrical Loads in Smart Grid

There is a positive attitude towards the use of different strategies for engaging in demand response (DR) programs in energy markets through the innovation and trend of smart grid technologies. In this paper, a reward-based approach is proposed that enhances the involvement of customers in the DR program by assuring the customer’s comfort level. Most of the previous works considered limited controllable loads like thermal loads for demand side management (DSM). In this approach thermal and all active electrical loads are considered for the analysis. Comfort indicator is used for the analysis which is an important parameter for measuring comfort of each resident. This technique significantly reduces the utility reward cost and maximizes the user satisfaction level compared with existing approach. The numerical example considered in this work illustrates the fruitfulness of the proposed approach. This problem is formulated as mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and solved by using CPLEX solver in General Algebraic Modelling Software (GAMS).
Plant functional group responses in an African tropical forest recovering from disturbance

Background: Newly protected, tropical forests recovering from logging and clearance are increasingly important targets for conservation. Recovery is typically evaluated or monitored by using a few easily identified species groups, but this may not be sufficient as unmonitored groups of equivalent ecological importance are unlikely to respond in a similar manner due to physiological or dispersal differences. Aims: We compared four groups of plants: large trees, shrubs and saplings, herbs and ferns in a forest recovering from disturbance. We quantified the relative importance of disturbance history and local environmental conditions in determining species richness and community composition of these groups and assessed whether the groups could act as surrogate indicators for one another. Methods: Vegetation was surveyed on a gradient of disturbance intensity and recovery time (20–60 years) in Mabira Forest, Uganda. We looked for correlations between species groups in richness or composition across sites and used constrained ordinations to identify important environmental variables. Results: Neither species richness nor composition patterns were correlated between groups. All groups were weakly related to disturbance history; trees and shrubs were related to soil, herbs to microhabitat and ferns to microclimate. Conclusions: No group acted as an indicator for another. The relative influence of disturbance and local environmental effects varied in the manner predicted, with disturbance stronger for trees and environment stronger for ferns.
HYBRIDIZATION OF THE HABITAT

It has been the experience of most biologists that hybridization between species is rare in nature. Many biologists encounter interspecific hybrids in the field so rarely as to doubt if they really occur there at all or else find them under special circumstances (Epling, 1947) which raise serious doubts as to the importance of hybridization under natural conditions. After a series of investigations (Anderson, 1936b, 1936d; Anderson and Hubricht, 1938; Anderson and Turrill, 1938) it has been my own experience that clearcut out-and-out hybrids are seldom met with. even when a deliberate search is made for them, and that hybrid swarms of bizarre recombinations are found, if at all, only under peculiar circumstances. It was once the common opinion (Zirkle, 1935) that this lack of evident hybridization was caused by the sterility of interspecific hybrids. Experimental evidence has not confirmed this judgment and modern advocates of reproductive isolation (Mayr, 1940) as a species criterion have had to phrase their definitions to permit semi-fertility between distinct species. For the higher plants there is an impressive amount of experimental evidence on this point though it is widely scattered. There are the papers of the early hyhridizers (Focke, 1881; Roberts. 1929: Zirkle. 1935). much work in genet-
Relationship between temperature and δ~(13)C values of C3 herbaceous plants and its implications of WUE in farming-pastoral zone in North China

Plant carbon isotope composition(δ13C) comprehensively reflects the information of C and H2O exchange in the process of plant photosynthesis,thus,in theory it could serve as a potential indicator of long-term water use efficiency(WUE) of plants.In addition,it could also be used to reveal a series of climatic and environmental information related to plant physiology and ecology.In this paper,through the systematical measurements of δ13C values of samples representing 28 families and 118 C3 herb species along the isohyet of 400 mm in farming-pastoral zone in northern China,the responses of δ13C values and WUE for C3 plants to temperature gradients were analyzed.This study shows that,along the isohyet of 400 mm,the δ13C values of C3 plant species in farming-pastoral zone range between-31.5 ‰ and-23.0 ‰,with an average value of-27.7‰. The distribution range of plant δ13C values in this study is consistent with that of C3 plants grown in arid and semi-arid area on the Loess Plateau obtained by previous study.Statistical analyses for the whole C3 plants show that the δ13C values of C3 plants and the mean annual temperature were significantly and positively correlated with an increase in δ13C of about 0.14 ‰ per 1.0℃ increase,and that the δ13C values of C3 plants also significantly and positively relate to the summer temperature,with a increasing rate of 0.27‰ per 1.0℃ increase.The results indicate that plant WUE increases with rising air temperature.However,the phenomenon above is only a false appearance,the variations in δ13C values of C3 herbaceous plants with temperature are actually controlled by the water stress induced by the lower soil relative humidity(or humidity index) which is closely related to temperature increment.The available water for plant species growing in this belt transect is a controlling factor of plant carbon isotope fractionation.In addition,this study shows that the δ13C values of 5 C3 eurytopic plants also increase with increasing temperature,but both the slope variations and the average δ13C values among species are significantly different,which suggests that different species have different strategies to adapt to environmental changes.Also,this study shows that,for different life-span herbaceous plant,δ13C values and WUE denoted by carbon isotope ratio present the following patterns: the δ13C of biennial herbs is smaller than that of perennial herbs,and larger than that of annual herbs(This could be associated with the root distribution and water absorption ability of different life-span herbs),and the finding is consistent with the results reported by Ehleringer in desert regimes,while opposite to the results from humid climate zone.This indicates that the δ13C values and WUE of different life-span herbs are likely related to local moisture condition.
DIFFERENCES IN THE FLOWERS VISITED BY FOUR SPECIES OF BUMBLE-BEES AND THEIR CAUSES

many countries and most observers are agreed that bees of each species tend to frequent different flowers but that there is considerable overlap nevertheless. The literature on this subject has been reviewed recently (Brian 1954) and will not be discussed again in detail. The object of this study was to determine what differences existed in one small area in the feeding plants of the four common species of Bombus present, and the cause of these differences. Many observers have commented on the connection between the length of the corolla tube of the flower and the tongue length of the bumble-bees that visit it but other factors also seem to influence the choice of flower by the bee. In many cases under natural conditions two or more of these factors may be confounded, for example corolla length and flower colour. In this paper an attempt has been made to determine the importance to bumble-bees of a number of these factors independently.
Automated Generation of a Digital Twin of a Manufacturing System by Using Scan and Convolutional Neural Networks

The simulation of production processes using a Digital Twin is a promising means for prospective planning, analysis of existing systems or process-parallel monitoring. However, many companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, do not apply the technology, because the generation of a Digital Twin is cost-, time- and resource-intensive and IT expertise is required. This obstacle can be removed by a novel approach to generate a Digital Twin using fast scans of the shop floor and subsequent object recognition in the point cloud. We describe how parameters and data should be acquired in order to generate a Digital Twin automatically. An overview of the entire process chain is given. A particular attention is given to the automatic object recognition and its integration into Digital Twin.
Controlling the “Opioid Epidemic”: A Novel Chemical Entity (NCE) to Reduce or Supplant Opiate Use for Chronic Pain

We report on the ongoing project “A Novel Therapeutic to Ameliorate Chronic Pain and Reduce Opiate Use. ” Over 100 million adults in the U.S. suffer from intermittent or constant chronic pain, and chronic pain affects at least 10% of the world’s population. The primary pharmaceuticals for treatment of chronic pain have been natural or synthetic opioids and the use of opioids for pain treatment has resulted in what has been called an “epidemic” of opioid abuse, addiction and lethal overdoses. We have, through a process of rational drug design, generated a novel chemical entity (NCE) and have given it the name Kindolor. Kindolor is a non-opiate, non-addicting molecule that was developed specifically to simultaneously control the aberrant activity of three targets on the peripheral sensory system that are integral in the development and propagation of chronic pain. In our initial preclinical studies, we demonstrated the efficacy of Kindolor to reduce or eliminate chronic pain in five animal models. The overall goal of the project is to complete the investigational new drug (IND)-enabling preclinical studies of Kindolor, and once IND approval is gained, we will proceed to the clinical Phase Ia and 1b safety studies and a Phase 2a efficacy study. The work is in its second year, and the present report describes progress toward our overall goal of bringing our compound to a full Phase 2 ready stage.
Hybrid Female Matings Are Directly Related to the Availability of Rana lessonae and Rana esculenta Males in Experimental Populations

In the hybridogenetic frog complex Rana lessonae and Rana esculenta, mate choice based on genetic benefit could be an important form of sexual selection. The hybrid R. esculenta, must coexist with the parental species R lessonae, which functions as a genetic host. The two types occur in varying ratios in natural populations depending on environmental conditions of the aquatic habitat. In highly disturbed habitats such as gravel pits, R. esculenta is most common, whereas R. lessonae is more frequent under less disturbed environmental conditions. To examine the influence of different proportions of males of the two types on mating success, we subjected hybrid females to different ratios of R. lessonae and R. esculenta males in artificial pools. Our results show that females mated according to the availability of the two types of males in the pools. However, combining data over all ratio treatments suggested a slightly higher mating frequency for R. lessonae males than for R. esculenta males, although the R. esculenta males behaved more aggressively, called more often, and tended to orient more frequently toward females than did R lessonae males. This, plus results from previous mate choice studies, suggests that R. esculenta females have a preference for mating with R. lessonae males because of genetic benefits; but which mate a female finally mates with is also influenced by other processes, such as the availability of the two male types at the time of mate choice as well as the strength of male-male competition.
Determinants of Nesting Success in the Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus): A Comparison of Two Populations under Different Risks from Predation

location, and water chemistry but with different fish communities. Ranger Lake had well-established populations of smallmouth and largemouth bass and few planktivorous fish, whereas Mouse Lake had no piscivores and many planktivorebenthivores capable of consuming pumpkinseed eggs and larvae. Both lakes had well-established pumpkinseed populations, but nesting success was significantly higher in Ranger Lake. The influences of environmental factors (nesting substratum and depth, temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, and wind velocity) on nesting success were investigated, and only wind-induced water turbulence was important. Although wind events were associated with significant amounts of nest destruction, the effects were the same in both lakes. Nest attacks and male nest defense were higher in Mouse Lake, particularly at night. These attacks came from the dense populations of golden shiners found at Mouse Lake and resulted in the loss of many pumpkinseed nests. We conclude that a predatorinduced cascade indirectly influenced nesting success. At Mouse Lake, piscivores were rare, planktivore-benthivore nest predators were abundant, nest-specific behavioral interactions were numerous and nesting success was low. At Ranger Lake, large piscivores were abundant, planktivore-benthivore numbers were low, and nesting success was high.
Current management and controversies in management of T4 cancers of the colon—a narrative review of the literature

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy and represents the third most likely cause of cancer related deaths worldwide with approximately 10% of patients with locally advanced colon cancer (LACC) presenting with peritoneal involvement (T4a) or invasion of adjacent organs (T4b) at the time of diagnosis. Accurate pre-operative staging is paramount, and while CT and MRI scans are useful in identifying lymph nodal involvement and distant metastasis, there is an inherent inability to accurately differentiate true invasion from the simple, inflammatory adherence to the neighbouring structures with these existing imagining modalities. Despite the advanced nature of this disease, extended and multivisceral resections with clear margins (R0 resection) combined with appropriate adjuvant treatments have been shown to result in good oncological outcomes and offer patients a real chance of cure. There is emerging evidence in the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and/or radiotherapy in T4a/T4b colon cancers, these therapies have been successfully utilised in patients with non-obstructing LACC and appear to be a safe and effective way to increase chances of achieving a R0 resection without significant morbidity or mortality. This review is focused on preoperative workup, conventional treatment strategies and controversies in advanced T4 colon cancers.
Floral Pigments and Phylogeny in Echinocereus (Cactaceae)

A phylogenetic hypothesis is presented based upon floral flavonoid glycoside char- acters from 87 geographically separated populations representing 14 species of Echinocereus including E. chloranthus, E. engelmannii, E. enneacanthus, E. fendleri, E. pectinatus, E. polyacanthus, E. reichenbachii, E. rigidissimus, E. scopulorum, E. stoloniferus, E. stramineus, E. subinermis, E. triglochidiatus, and E. viridiflorus. A biosynthetic scheme involving flavanone-, dihydroflavonol-, flavone-, and flavonol-7-0-glyco- sides is put forth to clarify critical assumptions of character polarity. The unifying model proposes that intensification of ultraviolet solar radiation accompanied climatic change and increasing aridity of post-pluvial natural habitats. It is assumed that climatic change was the driving force behind the modification of floral flavonoids which act in cactus flowers as possible ultraviolet screens. Taxa which share the derived micromolecular chemosyndrome (presence of flavanone- and dihydrofla- vonol-7-0-glycosides) are considered more advanced than those species with 3-0-mono- and dig- lycosides of the common flavonols, because these flavonoids presumably better shield the cactus flowers from potentially damaging radiation in the UV-B. Flavone- and flavonol-7-0-glycosides are also considered to be apomorphic since they are immediate biosynthetic derivations of the UV-B flavonoid screening agents. Camin-Sokal Parsimony with known ancestral states (determined from the unifying model) allowed the construction of hypothetical phylogenies for 14 species.