Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Allometry of the babassu palm growing on a slash-and-burn agroecosystem of the eastern periphery of Amazonia

Babassu (Attalea speciosa C.Martius, Arecaceae) is a palm with extraordinary socioeconomic and ecologic importance in large areas of tropical Brazil, especially in frequently burned and degraded landscapes. Nevertheless, surprisingly little is known about this keystone species. This paper investigates the allometry of babassu, in order to improve understanding on palm architecture and to provide researchers with an efficient tool for aboveground biomass estimation of juvenile and adult palms. Juvenile leaf biomass can be accurately predicted with the easily measurable minimum diameter of rachis at 30 cm extension. Adult palm biomass can be estimated based on woody stem height, a variable fairly easily measurable on-field. Leaf biomass of adult palms was highly variable, averaged 31.7% of aboveground biomass and can be estimated only indirectly through the relationships between wood:leaf-ratio and total aboveground biomass. Carbon contents varied little in the babassu palm, without size- or growth-stage related differences, suggesting the general applicability of values (42.5% C for stems, 39.8% C for leaves). As a consequence of the limited secondary diameter growth inherent to palms, stem diameter of adult palms is unrelated to palm height and biomass. Stem tapering decreases with increasing palm height. This is partially compensated by increasing wood density in near cylindrical stems. Nevertheless, maximum babassu palm height of about 30 meters appears to be dictated by mechanical stability constraints. All allometric relationships of babassu described in this study are not affected by vegetation stand age, indicating the general applicability of these relationships.
The euro's impacts on the smooth transition dynamics of stock market volatilities

On January 1, 1999, an epochal event took place in the arena of international finance: 11 European countries replaced their national currencies and introduced a single European currency, the Euro.y The creation of the euro was preceded by a long convergence process starting in 1979 with the establishment of the European Monetary System. The introduction of the euro as a single currency apparently reduced investors’ transaction and information costs among the stock markets of Eurozone countries.z It also eliminated intra-European currency risk (Hardouvelis et al. 2006). Detken and Hartmann (2002) propose that the Euro became one of the three major currencies in the world after its introduction, taking its place alongside the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen. When the euro took over the functions of national currencies, all aspects of country-specific risk connected with exchange rates were removed. Therefore, the euro’s introduction should facilitate capital movement. Broadened investment opportunities across the Eurozone countries were therefore expected. Coupled with a
Evaluation of food safety and quality in organic beef cattle in NW Spain; a comparison with intensive and conventional systems

The objective of this study was to analyse how beef-cattle farming in NW Spain on organic farms compares with intensive and conventional systems in terms of impacts on the safety and quality of cattle products. Data on the hygiene and quality of 244, 2596 and 3021 carcasses of calves from organic, intensive and conventional farms, respectively, were collected at the slaughterhouse. Organic calves generally had fewer condemnations for liver, kidney and heart pathologies. Liver parasitic infections were 2 fold higher in organic calves than those from other types of farm. Farm processes and resultant food product quality are linked through the health of the animal and its disease status. Overall better health status was not reflected by carcass performance as this was significantly lower for organic calves than for calves from conventional and intensive farms. Carcass performance seemed to be more determined by dietary component than by health status in the animals in our study.
Serum biochemical status and morphological changes in mice ovary associated with copper oxide nanoparticles after thiamine therapy

Introduction: Nanoparticles (NPs) can induce inflammatory responses and oxidative stress and are also cytotoxic to the genital organs of animals after exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of copper oxide (CuO) and CuO NPs alone and in combination with thiamine on the ovaries of mice and on antioxidant enzymes.Methods: Sixty adult mice were randomly divided into five groups. Group A served as the control. Group B received CuO NPs and group C received CuO at 0.2 mL/kg intraperitoneally (IP). Mice in groups D and E respectively received CuO and CuO NPs along with thiamine (30 mg/L) therapy. The responses of the ovaries to the treatments were appraised by histopathology studies. The values for catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation were determined after 20 days of treatment.Results: The degree of degeneration and apoptosis of the different zones within the ovaries were recorded in groups B and C. The decrease in CAT value and increase in SOD activity were significant for groups B and C at 20 days compared to the control group. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level in groups B, C and E were significantly higher at 20th day when compared with control group. The groups treated with thiamine showed histopathological and enzymatic results that were similar to those of the control group.Conclusion: These findings suggest the combination of CuO NPs and CuO with thiamine improves serum enzyme activity and has positive effects on the ovary.
Health benefits of dairy lipids and MFGM in infant formula

Human breast milk (HBM) is the gold standard for the early nutrition of the neonates. The best way to improve infant formulas (IFs) is to mimic both the composition and the structure of HBM components. Supplementation of IF with dairy lipids or bovine milk components such as milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), in partial replacement of plant oils that are currently mainly used, has health benefits for infants. In this article, results of clinical studies on the impact of IF supplementation with MFGM and dairy lipids on psychomotor development and infectious disease prevalence in infants are reviewed and supported by recent pre-clinical studies. Numerous human studies have reported beneficial effects of MFGM supplementation on neurocognitive development and protection against infectious agents without deleterious impact on growth. Based on rodent and porcine studies, benefits of adding bovine MFGM and dairy lipids in IFs on gut digestion, physiology and protection against pathogens and inflammatory challenges have also been highlighted. However, more randomized controlled trials testing IF supplementation with bovine milk fat, and specifically apolar lipids and associated glycoproteins, must be performed to increase scientific-based knowledge, address safety concerns, and study its potential programming role of adult health.
Plasma pharmacokinetics of high-affinity transferrin receptor antibody-erythropoietin fusion protein is a function of effector attenuation in mice.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a potential therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease (AD), however limited blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration reduces its applicability as a CNS therapeutic. Antibodies against the BBB transferrin receptor (TfRMAbs) act as molecular Trojan horses for brain drug delivery, and a fusion protein of erythropoietin (EPO) and TfRMAb, designated TfRMAb-EPO, is protective in a mouse model of AD. TfRMAbs have Fc effector function side-effects, and removal of the Fc N-linked glycosylation site by substituting Asn with Gly reduces Fc effector function. However, the effect of such Fc mutations on the pharmacokinetics of plasma clearance of TfRMAb-based fusion proteins, such as TfRMAb-EPO, is unknown. To examine this, the plasma pharmacokinetics of TfRMAb-EPO (wild-type), which expresses the mouse IgG1 constant heavy chain region and includes the Asn residue at position 292, was compared to the mutant TfRMAb-N292G-EPO, in which the Asn residue at position 292 is mutated to Gly. Plasma pharmacokinetics were compared following IV, IP and SQ administration for doses between 0.3-3 mg/kg in adult male C57 mice. The results show a profound increase in clearance (6- to 8-fold) of the TfRMAb-N292G-EPO compared with the wild-type TfRMAb-EPO following IV administration. The clearance of both the wild-type and mutant TfRMAb-EPO fusion proteins followed non-linear pharmacokinetics, and a 10-fold increase in dose resulted in a 7- to 11-fold decrease in plasma clearance. Following IP and SQ administration, the Cmax values of the TfRMAb-N292G-EPO mutant were profoundly (37- to 114-fold) reduced compared with the wild-type TfRMAb-EPO, owing to comparable increases in plasma clearance of the mutant fusion protein. The wild-type TfRMAb fusion protein was associated with reticulocyte suppression, and the N292G mutation mitigated this suppression of reticulocytes. Overall, the beneficial suppression of effector function via the N292G mutation may be offset by the deleterious effect this mutation has on the plasma levels of the TfRMAb-EPO fusion protein, especially following SQ administration, which is the preferred route of administration in humans for chronic neurodegenerative diseases including AD.
MiR-30a Regulates S100A12-induced Retinal Microglial Activation and Inflammation by Targeting NLRP3

ABSTRACT Purpose: Our previous study has identified that plasma levels of S100A12 are closely associated with presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). In this work, we explored whether S100A12 can contribute to retinal microglial activation and inflammatory changes of DR via a microRNA-dependent mechanism. Material and Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR model was developed. Retinal microglia of rats were activated through intravitreal injection of S100A12. Differential expression of miRNAs on retinal microglia treated with S100A12 or DMEM/F-12 alone was determined using microarray analysis. Luciferase reporter assays were performed, which explored the regulation of a putative target of miR-30a. Results: S100A12 was increased approximately fivefold in the retina of 16-week diabetic rats compared with nondiabetic retinas. Furthermore, the levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly increased in the retina of rats treated with intravitreal injection of S100A12. Moreover, S100A12 induced an increased expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in a dose- and time-dependent manner in retinal microglia. S100A12 was a proinflammatory trigger in diabetes-induced retinal microglial activation by activating NLRP3 in vivo and in vitro. In addition, S100A12 induced retinal microglial activation via a miR-30a-dependent mechanism. Mechanistically, S100A12 inhibited miR-30a expression, which was controlled by HDAC, and miR-30a downregulated NLRP3 expression by directly targeting its 3ʹ-UTR. Conclusions: S100A12 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DR by activating retinal microglia via a miR-30a-dependent mechanism.
Improving the Brain Delivery of Chemotherapeutic Drugs in Childhood Brain Tumors

The central nervous system (CNS) may be considered as a sanctuary site, protected from systemic chemotherapy by the meninges, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Consequently, parenchymal and CSF exposure of most antineoplastic agents following intravenous (IV) administration is lower than systemic exposure. In this review, we describe the different strategies developed to improve delivery of antineoplastic agents into the brain in primary and metastatic CNS tumors. We observed that several methods, such as BBB disruption (BBBD), intra-arterial (IA) and intracavitary chemotherapy, are not routinely used because of their invasiveness and potentially serious adverse effects. Conversely, intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy has been safely and widely practiced in the treatment of pediatric primary and metastatic tumors, replacing the neurotoxic cranial irradiation for the treatment of childhood lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). IT chemotherapy may be achieved through lumbar puncture (LP) or across the Ommaya intraventricular reservoir, which are both described in this review. Additionally, we overviewed pharmacokinetics and toxic aspects of the main IT antineoplastic drugs employed for primary or metastatic childhood CNS tumors (such as methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, hydrocortisone), with a concise focus on new and less used IT antineoplastic agents.
Bottom‐up cascade in a tri‐trophic system: different impacts of host‐plant regeneration on performance of a willow leaf beetle and its natural enemy

Abstract. 1. Plant quality can directly and indirectly affect the third trophic level. However, little attention has been paid to how changes in plant quality affect the performance of predators through trophic levels, and which herbivores or predators are affected more strongly by host‐plant quality. The present study examined the effects of artificial cutting of willows on the performance of a willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting) and its predatory ladybird beetle (Aiolocaria hexaspilota Hope).
A multi-component intervention to support breastfeeding in Lebanon: A randomized clinical trial

Background Effective evidence-based breastfeeding support interventions can bolster breastfeeding practices. This study investigated the effect of a multi-component breastfeeding support intervention delivered in hospital and home settings on six-month exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) relative to standard care. Methods This is a parallel group, randomized clinical trial, in which 362 healthy pregnant women with singleton pregnancy were randomly allocated to a multi-component intervention that included antenatal breastfeeding education, professional, and peer support, delivered in hospital and home settings for six months (experimental, n = 174), or to standard care (control, n = 188). The primary outcome was six-month EBF rate. Secondary outcomes were exclusive and any breastfeeding rates at one and three months, maternal breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and behavior at six months, and satisfaction with the intervention. Results The crude six-month EBF rate was similar in both groups (35.2% vs. 28.1% in the experimental and control groups, respectively, p = 0·16). In adjusted analysis, six-month exclusivity was twice as likely in the experimental group relative to standard care (OR = 2.02; 95%CI: 1.20 to 3.39); whereas the odds for any breastfeeding were similar. Participants compliant with all three components were six times more likely to practice EBF for six months relative to standard care (OR = 6.63; 95% CI: 3.03 to 14.51). Breastfeeding knowledge of the experimental group, at six months, was significantly improved compared to the control. No changes were observed in breastfeeding attitude or behavior. Conclusions Combining education with peer and professional breastfeeding support improved six-month breastfeeding exclusivity and knowledge.
INDEXES OF GROUP DIVERSITY 1 SOME COMMON INDEXES OF GROUP DIVERSITY: UPPER BOUNDARIES

ANTONIO SOLANAS Department of Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona Institute for Research in Brain, Cognition, and Behavior (IR3C), University of Barcelona REJINA M. SELVAM Department of Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona Institute for Research in Brain, Cognition, and Behavior (IR3C), University of Barcelona JOSÉ NAVARRO Department of Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona DAVID LEIVA Department of Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona Institute for Research in Brain, Cognition, and Behavior (IR3C), University of Barcelona
In Vitro Anticollagenase and Antielastase Activities of Essential Oil of Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum (Roth) G. Don.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of flowering aerial parts of Helichrysum italicum subsp. italicum cultivated in central Italy, Marche region, was analyzed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seventy-eight components, accounting for 98.71% of the whole essential oil composition, were identified and quantified. Neryl acetate showed the largest relative abundance in the composition, accounting for 15.75% of the oil, followed by α-pinene (8.21%); 4,6,9-trimethyl-8-decene-3,5-dione, (Italidione I), (7.34%); ar-curcumene and β-selinene (5.37%); γ-curcumene (4.83%); nerol (4.75%); α-selinene (4.68%); limonene (4.55%); linalool (4.42%), and 2,4,6,9-tetramethyl-8-decene-3,5-dione (Italidione II), (4.26%). The oil inhibited in vitro collagenase and elastase activities, with IC50 values of 36.99 ± 1.52 and 135.43 ± 6.32 μg/mL, respectively. Neryl acetate, nerol, and linalool, distinctive compounds of the oil obtained from this plant, tested alone or in mixture, at the same percentages shown in the essential oil, exhibited no activity against the two enzymes. On the contrary, α-pinene and limonene, tested alone and in mixture, showed inhibitory activity on both collagenase and elastase.
Dynamic scapular recognition exercise improves scapular upward rotation and shoulder pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Examine the ability of a dynamic scapular recognition exercise to improve scapular upward rotation and decrease shoulder pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Methods A test-retest randomized controlled study design was used. A total of sixty-six patients with unilateral adhesive capsulitis were equally divided into two groups. The study group received a dynamic scapular recognition exercise using a wireless biofeedback system, while the control group received placebo treatment in the form of active range-of-motion (ROM) exercises of the sound upper limb. A digital inclinometer was used to measure the scapular upward rotation and ROM of the shoulder joint, and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) was used to measure the shoulder pain and disability. Results Study results showed that after two weeks, there were statistically significant differences between the study and control groups in scapular upward rotation and shoulder flexion and abduction (P < .05) and nonsignificant differences in shoulder external rotation and SPADI (P > .05). After two and six months, there were statistically significant differences between study and control groups in scapular upward rotation; shoulder flexion, abduction and external rotation; and SPADI scores (P < .05). Conclusion This study showed that a dynamic scapular recognition exercise significantly improves scapular upward rotation and the ROM of shoulder flexion and abduction after two weeks. At two and six months, this exercise improves scapular upward rotation; ROM of shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation; and SPADI scores. These improvements persisted for six months after the performance of this exercise
Exploring the Relationships between Perceptions of Peer Prejudice, School Attendance, and Academic Performance among Adolescent Youth

Research pertaining to perceived prejudice among adolescents has been limited despite the growing prevalence and incidence of issues centered around race relations and the impact it has on youth development and academic achievement. Given the research gap in this area, especially as it relates to the variations among different racial and ethnic groups, this study examined the relationships between youths’ perceptions of peer prejudice in the school environment to school attendance and academic performance among a cross-sectional sample of 68,825 adolescents from Wave 1 of the In-School data set from the [1] National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Multiple regression analyses pertaining to perceptions of peer prejudice was predictive of school attendance among African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic males and females. Results also revealed that perceived peer prejudice was predictive of academic performance among African American males and females and Caucasian females, but not predicative of Caucasian males and Hispanic males and females. Implications for research, intervention, and prevention as it relates to educational achievement among adolescent youth are discussed.
Exergy analysis of bioethanol production from rice residues

Biofuels production is one of the industrial sectors with greater growth in the last years. This sector is focused on the energetic self-sustainability of the regions through the replacement of fossil fuels. The use of residual biomass for the production of second generation biofuels generates opportunities for strengthening the agricultural sectors, at the same time as it offers greater opportunities for the growth of bioethanol production. However, some of these processes must be evaluated to verify that the productive processes proposed from waste biomass represents energy and environmental suitable alternatives. In this paper, exergy analysis of a bioethanol production plant from rice husks was performed. Ethanol production through simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) of lignocellulosic residues was simulated through Aspen Plus software. Also, production pathways were analyzed using exergy tools in order to evaluate the process performance.
Possible organosedimentary structures on Mars

Abstract This study, using the Microscopic Imager (MI) of NASA Rover Exploration Mission's (REM) ‘Opportunity’, aims to explain the origin of laminated sediments lying at Meridiani Planum of Mars, and of the strange spherules, known as blueberries, about which several hypotheses have been formulated. To this purpose, images of the sedimentary textures of layers and fragments captured by REM have been analysed; sediments that NASA has already established as ‘pertinent to water presence’. Our study shows that such laminated sediments and the spherules they contain could be organosedimentary structures, probably produced by microorganisms. The laminated structures are characterized by a sequence of a thin pair of layers, which have the features of skeletal/agglutinated laminae and whose basic constituents are made by a partition of septa and vacuoles radially arranged around a central one. The growth of these supposed organosedimentary masses is based on the ‘built flexibility’ of such a basal element; it may be a coalescing microfossil formed by progressive film accretion (calcimicrobe), in a variety of geometrical gross forms, such as a repeated couplet sequence of laminae or domal mass and large composite polycentric spherule, both in elevation. The acquired structural and textural data seem to be consistent with the existence of life on Mars and could explain an origin of sediments at Meridiani Planum similar to that of terrestrial stromatolites. The Martian deposits, probably produced by cyanobacterial activity, and the embedded blueberries could represent a recurrent and multiform product of colonies with sheath forms, resembling in shape those of the fossil genus Archaeosphaeroides (stromatolites of Fig Tree, South Africa).