Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
of Prosthetic rimental titanium alloys for dental

Material and methods. Specimens of titanium alloys and commercially pure titanium were cast by using plasma. Their modulus of elasticity and ultimate tensile strength were determined in a universal testing machine. Biocompatibility was evaluated with SCC9 cells. In periods of 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days, cell proliferation was evaluated by the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium reduction assay, and cell viability was evaluated in the 7-day period. Cell morphology was evaluated at 2, 12, and 24 hours. Modulus of elasticity, ultimate tensile strength, and cell viability were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni test; cell proliferation data were compared by 2-way ANOVA (alloy versus time) and by the Bonferroni test; and the cell morphology data were analyzed by split-plot design. All statistical tests were performed at the 95% confidence level (P<.05).
Does physicochemical pre-treatments can alleviate germination and dormancy of Sophora alopecuroides seeds?

Accepted: 29 June 2014 A factorial experiment in completely randomized design was conducted with three replications in 2012 at the University of Maragheh, Iran, to evaluate the different pretreatments effects on germination of Sophora seeds. To release the physical dormancy, seeds were exposed to: mechanical scarification; sulfuric acid (65%) for 15 min; sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min. To examine the existence of physiological dormancy, Seeds were tested with following solutions in the seed bed; distilled water; saturated soil extract solution ; KNO3 (34 mg\L); Gibberllic acid (20 ppm) and KNO3 (34 mg\L)+ GA3 (20 ppm). The results showed that Germination percentage (GP), Seedling fresh weight (SFW), Seedling dry weight (SDW), Grain fresh weight (GFW), Grain dry weight (GDW) and Resource remobilization (PM) were significantly affected by scarification treatments whereas the influence of media solutions on mentioned traits were not statistically significant. Among the scarification treatments, sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min improved seed germination percentage from 2.22% to 81.66%. However, the rest treatments had a negligible effect on the germination percentage in comparison with control. Sulfuric acid scarification enhanced seedling properties and the highest values were obtained from sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min. In conclusion, it seems that the primary control of germination in sophora seeds is located in the seed coats and scarification with sulfuric acid (65%) for 30 min can easily eliminate these limitations and seed dormancy.
Constrained Adaptive Neural Control of Nonlinear Strict-Feedback Systems with Input Dead-Zone

This paper focuses on a single neural network tracking control for a class of nonlinear strict-feedback systems with input dead-zone and time-varying output constraint via prescribed performance method. To release the limit condition on previous performance function that the initial tracking error needs to be known, a new modified performance function is first constructed. Further, to reduce the computational burden of traditional neural back-stepping control approaches which require all the virtual controllers to be necessarily carried out in each step, the nonlinear items are transmitted to the last step such that only one neural network is required in this design. By regarding the input-coefficients of the dead-zone slopes as a system uncertainty and introducing a new concise system transformation technique, a composite adaptive neural state-feedback control approach is developed. The most prominent feature of this scheme is that it not only owes low-computational property but also releases the previous limitations on performance function and is capable of guaranteeing the output confined within the new form of prescribed bound. Moreover, the closed-loop stability is proved using Lyapunov function. Comparative simulation is induced to verify the effectiveness.
Prebiotic effects of Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extracts in rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus )

The prebiotic potentials of crude extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum in rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) were studied. The aqueous leaf extracts of both plants, taken orally, were evaluated for their effects on the composition and relative abundance of the rabbit gastrointestinal microflora as well as their protective roles against gastrointestinal infection by selected test organisms. The crude extracts were administered to eight-week old rabbits with average weight of 0.85 ± 0.14 kg, at a dosage of 0.1 g/day. Species of Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus and Actinomyces were identified as resident bacteria in the rabbit gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Consumption of Vernonia amygdalina extract selectively and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the numbers of Enterococcus and Actinomyces species recovered from the animals faecal specimens, while O. gratissimum increased only the Actinomyces species. In contrast, the numbers of Bacteriodes species were significantly decreased by both extracts. Consumption of V. amygdalina extract also reduced colonization and damage of the animals GIT by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as evidenced by restricted shedding of the organisms in faeces and histopathological examination of colon tissues. The results from this study showed that the V. amygdalina leaf extract has prebiotic effects in the rabbit GIT including protection of the animals against some GIT pathogens. Key words: Prebiotics , Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum gratissimum , gastrointestinal tract, rabbit.
Diversity and morphological characterization of Musa spp. in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes an area where the East African Highland bananas (Musa-AAA-EA) and plantains (Musa-AAB) meet. However, Musa diversity in this region has never been characterized nor represented in national or international collections, yet increasing human activities and build-up of pests and diseases, especially Xanthomonas wilt of banana and banana bunchy top disease, could negatively affect this diversity. This study assessed, collected and morphologically characterized on-farm Musa diversity in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Musa accessions collected were added to the UCG-Butembo in situ field collection. A total of 90 and 150 farms were assessed, respectively, in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. High Musa variability was observed in both provinces. Forty-one cultivars (six presumed new) were identified in Ituri Province compared to 38 cultivars (13 presumed new) in North Kivu Province. Nineteen cultivars occurred in both provinces. Beni and Lubero territories in North Kivu and Mambasa territory in Ituri Province had greater Musa diversity, varying between 27 and 38 cultivars, approximately double of the number of cultivars observed in the other territories. Twenty-three of the 34 Musa descriptors contributed more to the discrimination of the cultivars identified across the provinces and were therefore used for grouping the cultivars using principal component analysis (PCA). The Morisita index of similarity between Ituri Province and North Kivu Province territories was less than 0.5, suggesting dissimilarity in diversity between these sites. Six cultivars: ‘Kirisirya’, ‘Pakuma’, ‘Nziravahima’, ‘Vuhindi’, ‘Tundu’ and ‘Kisubi musa’ were reportedly at risk of genetic erosion. Key words: Banana, conservation, cultivars, ex-situ, genetic erosion, genotypes, plantain.
An integrated-process model of service quality, institutional brand and behavioural intentions: The case of a University

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an integrated-process model/an index model by incorporating the antecedents and consequences of service quality in a higher education context. Design/methodology/approach – This research employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The data from three focus groups, conducted at an Australian University, generated key themes and their interrelationships. The theoretical model was then tested using the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique on a sample of 528 University students. Findings – The findings show that information (or marketing communications) and past experience are the antecedents of perceived service quality (PSQ). PSQ is a second order construct and has three dimensions: academic, administrative and facilities. The consequences of PSQ include trust, satisfaction, university-brand (UniBrand) performance and behavioural intentions. Overall, the results suggest a good validity of the model, and the nine path coeffi.
Title The relationship between risk propensity andviolation : an experimental study

This study aimed to empirically investigate the relationship between violation and risk propensity. Thirty-six participants were instructed to perform a cognitive task, and were informed that they should save their results. However, the saving can be skipped operationally. Thus, in this study, to skip saving was regarded as violation. Results indicated that risk propensity, especially the tendency to engage in risktaking according to time and circumstance, was significantly related to violation. On the basis of the results, the mechanisms of violation were discussed in terms of risk propensity.
Episodic and semantic memory functioning in very old age: Explanations from executive functioning and processing speed theories

Abstract Structural equation modeling was used to investigate whether age-related episodic and semantic memory impairments are better explained by decline in processing speed or executive functioning (or both), rather than directly in terms of memory components. The models tested were based on an extensive review of the literature on cognitive decline in normal aging, up to very old age. A computerized test battery, measuring episodic memory (free and cued recall; recognition), semantic memory (fluency; naming accuracy and latencies), processing speed and executive functioning, was administered to 234 elderly persons ranging from young-old to very old age (55–96 years). To avoid large variance in response times due to physical instead of cognitive limitations, no motor responses were required from participants. Age-related decline in episodic and semantic memory performance was found to be the consequence of declines in processing speed and executive functioning. Processing speed mainly mediated decline of semantic memory, whereas executive functioning mainly mediated episodic memory decline. The most parsimonious model showed that both processing speed and executive functioning attributed to memory decline but independent from one another. The results suggest that at very old age, the impact of executive dysfunctions on episodic memory performance exceeds the influence of cognitive slowing.
Evolutionary and Genetic Theories of Lateralization and Laterality

The hemispheres of the human brain are anatomically and functionally asymmetric, and many cognitive and motor functions such as language and handedness are lateralized. This review examines anatomical, psychological, and physiological approaches to the understanding of separate hemispheric functions and their integration. The concept of hemispheric laterality plays a central role in current neuropsychological and pathophysiological models of schizophrenia. Reduced hemispheric asymmetry has also been reported for other mental disorders, for example, bipolar disorder. Recent research reflects an increasing interest in the molecular and population genetics of laterality and its potential link with animal models of schizophrenia. The authors review the principles of laterality and brain asymmetry and discuss the evidence for changes in asymmetry in schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
Barriers to anti-inflammatory development : Measuring airway inflammation

Funding information NIH/NHLBI, Grant numbers: K23-HL089708, R01-HL116228 Abstract Cystic fibrosis is characterized by an overly exuberant neutrophilic inflammatory response to pathogens and other stimuli that starts very early in disease. The overwhelming nature of this response is a primary cause of remodeling and destruction of the airways, suggesting that anti-inflammatory therapies could be beneficial in CF. However, finding therapies that can effectively reduce the inflammatory response without compromising host defenses remains elusive. New approaches towards mapping inflammatory targets promise to aid in developing novel therapeutic strategies and improve outcomes in individuals with CF.
Plasma natriuretic peptide levels in fetuses with congenital heart defect and arrhythmia: a single-center prospective study: Plasma natriuretic peptides in fetal heart disease

Objective Diagnosing fetal heart failure remains challenging because it is difficult to know how well the fetal myocardium will perform as loading conditions change. In adult cardiology, natriuretic peptides (NPs) are established markers of heart failure. However, the number of studies investigating NP levels in fetuses is quite limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of plasma NP levels in the assessment of heart failure in fetuses with a congenital heart defect (CHD) and/or arrhythmia. Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary pediatric cardiac center. A total of 129 singletons with CHD and/or arrhythmia and 127 controls were analyzed between 2012 and 2015. Umbilical cord plasma atrial NP, brain NP and N-terminal pro-brain NP levels at birth were compared with ultrasonography findings indicating fetal heart failure, such as cardiovascular profile (CVP) score and morphological characteristics. Results Fetuses with CHD and/or arrhythmia had higher NP levels than did controls (P < 0.01). NP levels of fetuses with CHD and/or arrhythmia were correlated inversely with CVP score (P for trend < 0.01). No differences in NP levels were found in fetuses with CHD and/or arrhythmia and a CVP score of ≥ 8 in comparison to controls. Multivariate analysis showed that a CVP score of ≤ 5, tachyor bradyarrhythmia at birth, preterm birth and Correspondence to: Dr N. Minamino, Omics Research Center, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 5-7-1 Fujishiro-dai, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan (e-mail: minamino@ncvc.go.jp) #T.M. , T.U. and H.H. contributed equally to this article. Accepted: 29 September 2017 umbilical artery pH < 7.15 were associated independently with high NP levels (P < 0.01). Among fetuses with a CVP score of ≤ 7, abnormal venous Doppler sonography findings were significantly more common and more severe in fetuses with tachyor bradyarrhythmia than in those with CHD, and those with tachyor bradyarrhythmia had higher NP levels than did those with CHD (P = 0.01). Fetuses with right-heart defect and moderate or severe tricuspid valve regurgitation had significantly higher NP levels than did fetuses with other types of CHD (P < 0.01). Conclusions Plasma NP levels in fetuses with CHD and/or arrhythmia are correlated with the severity of fetal heart failure. Elevated NP levels are attributed mainly to an increase in central venous pressure secondary to arrhythmia or atrioventricular valve regurgitation due to CHD, rather than to the morphological abnormality itself. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Cis-regulatory code of spatial stress response 1 2 Corresponding

Running head: Cis-regulatory code of spatial stress response 1 2 Corresponding author: 3 Shin-Han Shiu 4 Michigan State University 5 Plant Biology Laboratories 6 612 Wilson Road, Room166 7 East Lansing, MI 48824-1312 8 517-353-7196 9 shius@msu.edu 10 11 Research area: Systems and Synthetic Biology 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Plant Physiology Preview. Published on April 3, 2017, as DOI:10.1104/pp.16. 01828
Rotary ultrasonic machining of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V): effects of tool variables

Unique properties of titanium alloys (such as high strength-to-weight ratio, heat and corrosion resistance, shock resistance and erosion resistance) make them important materials in industries. However, poor machinability poses considerable problems in fabrication of components from titanium alloys. Therefore, to machine titanium alloys cost effectively still remains a challenge. In this paper, Rotary Ultrasonic Machining (RUM) of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) has been investigated. Four tools with different specifications (diamond grit size, diamond concentration and metal bond type) are used to drill holes in titanium alloy workpieces. The cutting force, surface roughness on machined holes and rods and tool wear are compared.
Role of LTBP-4 in alveolarization , angiogenesis and fibrosis in 1 lungs 2 Running title LTBP-4 in alveolarization , angiogenesis , fibrosis 3

1 Center for Experimental Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany 9 2 Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, 10 Germany 11 3 Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany 12 4 Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany 13 Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany 14 6 Cluster of Excellence, Cellular Stress Response in Aging-Related Diseases (CECAD), Core Facility 15 Imaging, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany 16 7 Cluster of Excellence, Cellular Stress Response in Aging-Related Diseases (CECAD), Core Facility 17 Proteomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany 18 8 Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany 19 9 Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany 20 10 Department of Pharmacology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan 21 11 Department of Molecular Hematology, University of Frankfurt Medical School, Frankfurt am Main, 22 Germany. 23 24
Efficacy of SCoT and ISSR marekers in assessment of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) genetic diversity.

Two molecular marker systems, SCoT and ISSR were used for genetic diversity analysis of 10 Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) accessesions. Using 10 selected SCoT primers 83 bands were generated, of which 30 (36.14%) were polymorphic. 10 selected ISSR primers amplified 86 bands with 20 (23.25%) being polymorphic. Average PIC values for SCoT and ISSR marekers were 0.142 and 0.088 respectively. Mean RP values for SCoT and ISSR marekers were 1.88 and 1.55 respectively. The 10 accessesion were clustered into 3 major groups based on the SCoT analysis and 2 major groups based on the ISSR analysis with UPGMA. The PCA Analysis confirmed the results of the clustering. The results also demonstrate that the SCoT marker system is useful for identification and genetic diversity analysis of tomato accessesions. In general, SCoT molecular marker was informative than ISSR molecular system.
Inflorescence Development of the 'Hass' Avocado: Commitment to Flowering

The developmental stage at which the shoot primary axis meristem (PAM) of the 'Hass' avocado ( Persea americana Mill.) is committed to flowering was determined. Three-year-old trees were subjected to low-temperature (LT) treatments at 10/7 °C day/night with a 10-h photoperiod for 1 to 4 weeks followed by 25/20 °C day/night at the same photoperiod. Before LT treatment, apical buds of mature vegetative shoots consisted of a convex PAM with two lateral secondary axis inflorescence meristems lacking apical bracts each associated with an inflorescence bract. Apical buds did not change anatomically during LT treatment. However, the 3- and 4-week LT treatments resulted in inflorescences at 17% and 83% of apical buds, respectively. Trees receiving 2 weeks or less LT, including controls maintained at 25/20 °C, produced only vegetative shoots. Apical buds of 2-year-old trees receiving 3 weeks at 10/7 °C plus 1 week at 20/15 °C produced 100% inflorescences. GA3 (100 mg·L -1 ) applied to buds 2 or 4 weeks after initiation of this LT treatment did not reduce the number of inflorescences that developed. 'Hass' avocado apical buds were fully committed to flowering after 4 weeks of LT, but were not distinguishable anatomically from those that were not committed to flowering.
Attributing the forced components of observed stratospheric temperature variability to external drivers

One of the largest anthropogenic fingerprints on climate is observed in stratospheric temperatures, but measurements in this region are uncertain. Here, regularised optimal fingerprinting techniques are used to attribute annual temperature variability in the mid‐upper stratosphere to external forcing factors over the period 1979–2005. Specifically, the solar, volcanic, ozone and greenhouse gas (GHG) forced components are characterised. The analysis compares the two most recent reconstructions of the Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU) with each other and with six historically forced simulations taken from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, phase 5. In the uppermost stratospheric SSU channel, all individual forcings are detected. Solar and volcanic forcings are also detected in the middle and lower SSU channels, but at these levels the GHG and ozone signals are not detected separately from each other. The uncertainty in the global temperature response due to individual forcings is found to be dominated by observational uncertainty in the upper stratosphere, and the signal‐to‐noise ratio in the middle stratosphere. Estimates of the 11‐year solar cycle amplitude are broadly consistent with reanalysis studies. The temperature response to volcanic eruptions is found to be larger than previously thought in the upper stratosphere (0.4–0.6 K for Mount Pinatubo), although is still dominated by the lower‐stratospheric signal. Finally, the anthropogenic response in the upper stratosphere gives rise to a cooling of ∼2–3 K over the 27‐year period, with two thirds of this attributed to GHGs, and one third to ozone depletion.
NYMPH CONTROL OF Mahanarva andigena WITH Metarhizium anisopliae IN GREENHOUSE AND FIELD CONDITIONS IN PASTAZA, ECUADOR

The efficacy of four native isolations of Metarhizium anisopliae in the control of Mahanarva andigena nymphs in greenhouse and field was evaluated. In both conditions, the treatments were: four native isolations: T1: MT-51 (01), T2: P-50 (01), T3: T-63 (01) and T4: F55 (01); a commercial strain T5: Metazeb and T6 control treatment. In a greenhouse, 30 days old sugar cane seedlings were used, each one was infested with 10 fourth instar nymphs and subsequently sprinkled with 15 mL of a suspension of 1x108 conidia/mL-1 for each isolation, the commercial strain at a dose of 2x1012 conidia/ha-1 (300 g of commercial product/ha-1) and the control treatment (sterile distilled water + agral 90). In greenhouse mortality was recorded for seven days and the corrected and confirmed mortality was determined. In the field, the treatments were sprayed at the same concentrations. The effectiveness of the treatments was determined at 7 and 14 days after the application, with the Henderson-Tilton formula. In the greenhouse treatments, T1, T2 and T3 caused high percentages of confirmed mortality, with values of 71.11, 67.5 and 54.45%, respectively, higher than the commercial strain, and in the field at 14 days, the application of treatments T1 and T2, reached an efficiency of 73.08 and 69.68%, higher than other treatments. These results demonstrate that the T1 isolations: MT-51 (01) and T2: P-50 (01) in greenhouse and field induced a high mortality of M. andigena nymphs, so they are the most promising for use as control biological agents of this insect pest in the cultivation of sugar cane.