Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of evolutionary time, diversification rates and dispersal in determining the global diversity of a large radiation of passerine birds

Variation in species diversity among different geographical areas may result from differences in speciation and extinction rates, immigration and time for diversification. An area with high species diversity may be the result of a high net diversification rate, multiple immigration events from adjacent regions, and a long time available for the accumulation of species (known as the ‘time‐for‐speciation effect’). Here, we examine the relative importance of the three aforementioned processes in shaping the geographical diversity patterns of a large radiation of passerine birds.
Seven decades of climate change across Mexico

Due to its geographical location, Mexico is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. However, we currently ignore the exact magnitude and particularities of past climate change in the Mexican territory and are missing a country-level spatially explicit analysis based on observed data. To fill this gap, I analyzed how temperature, precipitation and the water balance of Mexico changed over 1951-2017 at interannual and seasonal scales. My results show a clear national increment in temperature (+0.71 ºC) but no modification in annual mean precipitation. At the seasonal scale, the wet season (June-November) had higher rainfall (+31 mm) and no change was detectable on the dry season (December-May). However, when the full water balance was seasonally accounted for (precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration), the trend resulted in a wetter wet season and a much drier dry season across the country. Regionally, seasonal changes in water balance were larger in the area surrounding the Gulf of Mexico and positive in the Yucatan Peninsula and the central highlands. My results help explaining the recent increase in drought, storms and intense rainfall across Mexico and suggest even more extreme seasonal weather in the future if climate change exacerbates.
Design and Experiment of a Novel High-Impact MEMS Ceramic Sandwich Accelerometer for Multi-Layer Target Penetration

The output signal of traditional cantilever accelerometers usually overlapping and tailing during the high-velocity penetration process. And the sensitivity of traditional cantilever accelerometers cannot satisfy the application of multi-layer target penetration, that process contains large length-to-diameter ratios and high velocities. This paper proposes a novel high-impact Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) ceramic sandwich accelerometer (HMCSA) for the measurement of penetration-overload signals. Firstly, the HMCSA structure was designed and its structure-sensitive model was established. Then, the filling material in HMCSA was selected and the structure was simulated in ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. After that, the structure MEMS processing was introduced and the monitoring system was designed. Finally, the multi-layer target penetration process was simulated and HMCSA was tested in lab environment. The experiment verified that the design and manufacture of HMCSA was correct, and HMCSA can detect 30 000g acceleration.
Analysing Shrub Encroachment in the Southern Kalahari: A Grid-Based Modelling Approach

Shrub encroachment is reducing the carrying capacity of arid grasslands in southern Africa for cattle. Although shrub-encroachment is known to occur as a result of the selective overgrazing of grasses by cattle, the interactions between rainfall and grazing are not well understood. Both the quantity and sequence of rainfall events are likely to influence the growth rates and competitive abilities of shrubs and grasses. Shrub encroachment is a slow process and animals are stocked at low densities in arid regions. Thus, field experiments for determining stocking rates that avoid shrub encroachment under various rainfall scenarios are almost impossible to replicate. We used a grid-based simulation model to investigate the shrub-grass dynamics of the southern Kalahari under various realistic rainfall scenarios and stocking rates of domestic livestock. The simulation experiments addressed the following questions: Does simulated cattle grazing lead to shrub encroachment? Over what time scale does the process take place? Are the dynamics of vegetation-change continuous in relation to grazing pressure or do they show a threshold behaviour? Simulation results indicated that the answers to all three questions depended on the quantity and sequence of rainfall. Simulated cattle grazing led to shrub encroachment under all rainfall scenarios, once stocking rates exceeded a threshold determined by long-term mean annual rainfall. The stocking rate threshold for shrub encroachment was less distinct (i.e. shrub cover in different simulation experiments had a higher coefficient of variation) under xeric than mesic climatic scenarios. This is because either competition from the herbaceous layer or rain may limit shrub establishment. In relatively mesic scenarios, where shrub encroachment was limited mainly by grass competition, the grazing of grasses beyond a certain threshold led to an almost deterministic increase in shrub cover. However, under xeric climates, where rainfall was lower and more stochastic, the rate of shrub encroachment in response to a given intensity of grazing became less predictable. The most significant finding of the simulation experiments was that, although the stocking rates currently recommended by pasture scientists are unlikely to lead to shrub encroachment within 20 years, they have a high probability of bringing about shrub encroachment within a century. These findings applied to most of the rainfall scenarios found in the southern Kalahari and are therefore of particular interest to rangeland policy makers in this semi-arid region.
Towards teacher professionalization for inclusive education: Reflections from the perspective of a socio-cultural approach

A common challenge in education in many European countries is related to inclusive education. It is probably the most important change in education for quite some time because it requires a comprehensive and deep transformation of mindset and practices with respect to all key aspects of education (e.g. policy making, teacher education, professional development of teachers, teaching/ learning practices, school leadership, family-school collaboration). The quest for inclusive education is also related to new tensions between different actors in education (teachers, students, parents, school principals, researchers and policy makers), since it disrupts foundation principles and ideas of dominant practices that are crystallized and normalized during a long history of segregated education of students with specific educational needs. Thus, it does not come as a surprise that the implementation of inclusive education is related to different opinions, hopes, concerns and reactions among key actors. In this paper we are focusing on teacher education and teacher professionalization to reflect on these topics from the perspective of a socio-cultural approach. We believe that this view provides an appropriate conceptual lens for a better understanding of controversies and complexities related to the implementation of inclusive education, as well as for a reflection on teacher education, professional development and adequate support to teach. Following this line of thought, the paper is organized in three sections. In the first one, we discuss the key assumption and the main concepts related to a socio-cultural approach within the overarching socio-cultural tradition. We will argue why the proposed view is an appropriate perspective to reflect on teacher training and professionalization in relation to inclusive education. We have chosen a specific approach because it assumes that the
COVID 19: An Epidemiological and Host Genetics Appraisal

Coronaviruses (CoVs) is a single single-strand RNA genome approximately 26 - 32 kb in size. Out of the seven coronaviruses, three HCoVs (Human CoVs) have been discovered that causes severe pneumonia such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and recently recognized SARS-CoV-2, which possesses varying degrees of lethality worldwide and happened to be bioterrorism in terms of the recent outbreak through human-to-human transmission from China to all over the world. Epidemiological and Clinical study on SARS-COV-2 have recently been reported world-wide but lack of data on prognosis factors including effective medicine or vaccine are yet to be clinically approved to prevent this infectious disease. Human pathogenic coronaviruses SARS-CoV-2 bind to their target cells through ACE2, which is expressed by epithelial cells of the lung, intestine, kidney, and blood vessels. The difference in distribution, maturation, and functioning of viral receptors could be considered as a possible reason for the genetic heterogeneity of ACE2, and age and sex related difference in the incidence of the disease such as, the positive correlation with ACE2 expression and age including the severity of the infection of SARS-CoV-2. Since the ACE2 location in X chromosome, therefore, the males presumable might have more morbidity and mortality by SARS-CoV-2 than females due to sex-based immunological differences like greater observable circulating level of ACE2 in males or else it may be due to the patterns of life style variables such as prevalence of smoking among the males. Additionally, the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE1) is characterized by a genetic insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in intron 16, which is associated with alterations in circulating and tissue concentrations of ACE, where the study reported as D allele is associated with a reduced expression of ACE2. Nevertheless, studies from different states of Indian population on ACE I/D gene polymorphism shows higher frequency of I allele which might explain the lower prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Indian population and consequently be subject matter of research of SARS-CoV-2 on epidemiological and public health issues.
Geographical Structural Features of the WeChat Social Networks

Recently, spatial interaction analysis of online social networks has become a big concern. Early studies of geographical characteristics analysis and community detection in online social networks have shown that nodes within the same community might gather together geographically. However, the method of community detection is based on the idea that there are more links within the community than that connect nodes in different communities, and there is no analysis to explain the phenomenon. The statistical models for network analysis usually investigate the characteristics of a network based on the probability theory. This paper analyzes a series of statistical models and selects the MDND model to classify links and nodes in social networks. The model can achieve the same performance as the community detection algorithm when analyzing the structure in the online social network. The construction assumption of the model explains the reasons for the geographically aggregating of nodes in the same community to a degree. The research provides new ideas and methods for nodes classification and geographic characteristics analysis of online social networks and mobile communication networks and makes up for the shortcomings of community detection methods that do not explain the principle of network generation. A natural progression of this work is to geographically analyze the characteristics of social networks and provide assistance for advertising delivery and Internet management.
Mammalian cells genetic manipulations for enhanced monoclonal antibody production: from traditional to novel trends, a review

Novel therapeutics and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specifically, are under massive demands for the treatment of various illnesses. Research in cell engineering has been able to develop mammalian cell lines able to produce higher yields of potent recombinant proteins using different genetic manipulations. However, the public demands for these potent drugs keep increasing and as such, it is needed for the field of biopharmaceuticals to create highly efficient producers to increase volumetric productivity and lower overall costs. Several ways have been investigated up to date, from impacting on cells' natural growth pattern, by apoptosis regulation and cell cycle control, enhancement of its production pathways, by stimulating secretary factors, and production of enzymes to use growth-related metabolites. These approaches, most of the time, involve a considerable amount of resources and time, with an impact mostly on a couple of natural traits of mammalian cells. The ideal scenario is to use other vectors to impact entire pathways and the global cellular functioning to provide better workhorses. Novel approaches, namely micro RNAs (miRNAs), RNA interferences (RNAi) and CRISPR/Cas9, have been used in the last few years and have demonstrated a broader impact on cellular pathways, and also more efficiency in recombinant genes transfection or complete knock-out of specific sequences. In this review, traditional and novel aspects are described, discussed while expressing what approach to be taken next would be of interest, from a productivity standpoint.
Sperm allocation in the three-spined stickleback

Male three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus have a fixed amount of sperm during the breeding season because spermatogenesis is inhibited at this time. A method was developed to estimate ejaculate size in situ by removing the sperm from the male's nest. The reliability of the method was tested using known numbers of sperm. In their first mating, males ejaculated 11.64 × 10 6 sperm (median), representing c. 5% of the male's sperm store (median 27.88 × 10 7 sperm). The amount of sperm in the testes was significantly reduced in males that had mated several times (median 8.09 × 10 7 ). Additionally, ejaculate size was smaller in these experienced males (median 8.79 × 10 5 ). Heavier and larger fish invested absolutely and relatively more sperm in a mating than did lighter and smaller fish. Ejaculate size did not correlate with the mass of the egg clutch.
Forb‐Arthropod Food Chains in a One‐Year Experimental Field

Phosphorous—32 tracer studies of plant—arthropod food chains showed a significant difference in both consumer diversity and grazing pressure between the two dominant plant species on a first—year weed field in South Carolina. Where Heterotheca subaxillaris was the labeled plant 32P was transferred readily to a number of phytophagous insects and secondarily to the predator fauna. Where only Erigeron canadensis was tagged, there was little transfer of the isotope to the consumer populations, with the exceptions of the ant Dorymyrmex and the tree cricket Oceanthus. Dorymyrmex is a predator—scavenger, but also tends the aphids present on Erigeron; this latter habit accounted for the high uptake and unusual retention pattern of 32P by this ant where Erigeron was tagged. Oecanthus was primarily an herbivore, but the data suggest some predation on aphids from Erigeron plants. Very little 32P was transferred to the detritus eaters during the 43 day period of the study. Further support is given for the use of radi.
A revision of Chorizema (Leguminosae: Mirbelieae)

A taxonomic revision is presented for the genus Chorizema Labill. The circumscription is enlarged slightly to include three species formerly in Oxylobium Andrews. Of the 26 taxa recognised, three species and one subspecies are described as new: C. circinale, C. retrorsum, C. ulotropis, and C. aciculare subsp. loxum respectively. Three new intergeneric combinations are made: C. carinatum, C. obtusifolium, C. spathulatum; one new infrageneric combination is made: C. racemosum; and three names are reinstated: C. humile, C. nanum, and C. rhynchotropis. A key, descriptions, illustrations and distribution maps and notes are provided for all taxa. Lectotypes are chosen where necessary. Relationships between species are analysed cladistically and, on this basis, a new infrageneric classification including three sections, of which two are new (Parviflores and Hirtistylis), is constructed.
VARIATION IN SEX ALLOCATION AND FLORAL MORPHOLOGY IN IPOMOPSIS AGGREGATA (POLEMONIACEAE)

Intrapopulational variation in biomass allocation to male vs. female function was quantified for the hermaphroditic plant Ipomopsis aggregata in terms applicable to sex allocation models. The proportions of flower biomass put into the corolla and calyx averaged 0.59 and 0.20 and were relatively constant across plants. The proportions in the stamens and pistil averaged 0.13 and 0.08, with considerable variation among plants. Phenotypic gender at the time of flowering ranged from 0.34 to 0.77 female. Pistil dry weight was correlated with stigma exsertion. Stamen weight was correlated with corolla width, which influences male pollination success, and was also correlated with anther position and pollen production. Female reproductive success as estimated by seeds per flower showed no detectable relationship with initial allocation of biomass at the time of flowering, but decreased in accelerating fashion with the proportion of final biomass including seeds that was allocated to male function.
A Situation Simulation Method for Achieving Situation Variability and Authoring Scalability based on Dynamic Event Coupling

: We develop a simulation method that affords very high variability of virtual pedagogical situations involving many independent plans, still achieves authoring (or implementation) scalability. While each individual plan would be coherently drawn up by an agent for its respective goal, those independently-made plans might be coincidentally intertwined in their execution. The inevitable non-determinism involved in this multi-event plan encompassing pre-planned and unforeseen events is resolved by (multi-phase) dynamic planning and articulated sequencing of events in contrast to static planning and monolithic authoring in conventional narrative systems. Connections between events are dictated by their associated rules and their actual connections are dynamically determined in execution time by current conditions of background-world. This unified connection scheme across pre-planned and unforeseen events allows a multi-plan, multi-agent situation to be coherently planned and executed in a global scale. To further the variability of a situation, the inter-event coupling is made in a fine level of action along with a limited episteme of each agent involved. We confirm analytically the viability of our approach with respect to the situation variability and authoring scalability, and demonstrate its practicality with an implementation of a composite situation.
Using video to examine teacher noticing and the role of teaching experience

Video has been used extensively in teacher preparation to develop noticing skills. Experienced teachers generally detect, understand and interpret the multiplicity of events that take place in the classroom, whereas novice teachers tend to focus their attention on more superficial aspects that are often not strictly relevant to students’ learning. This study presented video-recorded lessons both to a group of Italian novice teachers in training (without previous teaching experience) and to a group of more experienced teachers (with three or more years of service) with the aim of comparing the observation and interpretation skills of the two groups. Results confirmed prior findings: novices mostly described what they observed, focusing on the teacher’s actions and without demonstrating a critical stance nor suggesting instructional improvements. Contrary to prior research, the majority of novice participants did not focus on issues of or classroom climate or management, and differences between novice and more experienced teachers were not statistically significant. The discussion suggests various hypotheses that might explain these findings and highlights the need for professional development experiences that centre the work of teaching specifically on close analysis of practice and of student thinking.
Rapid Seed Bank Development in Restored Tidal Freshwater Wetlands

Studies of seed bank development have rarely been included in evaluations of wetland restoration. We compared the seed bank of a recently restored tidal freshwater marsh in Washington, D.C., Kingman Marsh, with seed banks of another restored site (Kenilworth Marsh) and two reference marshes (Dueling Creek and Patuxent Marsh). The density and richness of emerging seedlings from Kingman Marsh seed bank samples increased from less than 4 seedlings and 2 taxa/90‐cm2 sample in 2000 (the year of restoration) to more than 130 seedlings and 10 taxa/90‐cm2 sample in 2003. The most important seed bank taxa at Kingman Marsh included Cyperus spp. , Juncus spp. , Lindernia dubia, Ludwigia palustris, and the non‐native Lythrum salicaria. These taxa are not abundant in most mid‐Atlantic tidal freshwater marshes but are almost identical to those described for a created tidal freshwater wetland in New Jersey. Seed banks of both the restored sites contained few seeds of several important species found at the reference sites. Flooding had a significant negative effect on emerging seedling density and taxa density, suggesting that slight decreases in soil elevation in restored wetlands will dramatically decrease recruitment from the seed bank. Because seed banks integrate processes affecting growth and reproduction of standing vegetation, we suggest that seed banks are a useful metric of wetland restoration success and urge that seed bank studies be incorporated into monitoring programs for restored wetlands.
Effects of Population Size, Mating System, and Evolutionary Origin on Genetic Diversity in Spiranthes sinensis and S. hongkongensis

Hong Kong once supported more than 10.9 species oJ wvild orchids, oJ u'hich approximately . 30(' were endemic. Most of the local wild orchids have now becomne rare or endangered. I conducted a compara- tive study of genetic diversity in two closely related terrestrial orchids, an allotetraploid, Spiranthes hong- kongensis, and its diploid progenitor, S. sinensis, to assess tbe eJjects of the population bottleneck associated with the origin of the polyploid and to investigate the relationships between number of breeding individuals, mating system, and level of isozyme variation in their populations. Nearly complete genetic unijormity was observed both within and among populations of S. hongkongensis. In contrast, S. sinelisis had high levels of genetic variation ftr all of the genetic parameters examined. Regression analysis of population size and sev- eral components of genetic diversity in S. sinensis revealedl that, among various measures of jithin-popula- tion variation, the proportion of polymorphic loci (P) and average number of alleles per locus (A) or per poly- morphic locus (A,) were the most sensitive to population size (R- = 0.942, p = 0.(00)1; R- = 0.9. 32, p = 0. (002; and R2 = 0.923, p = 0.(002 respectively). The highly negative correlation (r =--0.9.99, p < 0.(01) between pop- ulation size and the mean frequency of private alleles in pairwise population comparisons, p(l), indicated that population size may also be used to predict the extent of population differentiation caused bgy random genetic drift. Conservation of genetic diversity in S. sinensis coiuld be maximized by protecting several of both large and small populations, whereas fewer populations may be needed to achieve this goal firr S. hongkon- gensis.