Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Preliminary Approach to Define the Microbiological Profile of Naturally Fermented Peranzana Alta Daunia Table Olives

Samples of brines from Peranzana Alta Daunia olives at the end of fermentation were analyzed; samples were taken in two different years from eight different locations (Torremaggiore, San Severo, San Paolo di Civitate, Lucera, Chieuti, Serracapriola, Gargano and Termoli in Southern Italy). Total aerobic count, enterobacteria, pseudomonads, staphylococci, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts (Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces) were assessed; moreover, presumptive lactobacilli were characterized in relation to their ability to grow with salt added, and at 10 and 45 °C. Yeasts were generally more abundant than lactic acid bacteria (LAB), but two clusters were found: one including the areas of Torremaggiore, San Severo, Apricena, Lucera and San Paolo di Civitate (area 1, A1), and another comprising Gargano, Termoli and Serracapriola (area 2, A2). Lactobacilli of A1 were more resistant to stress conditions (growth at 10% of salt and at 10 °C); moreover, A1 was characterized by a lower abundance of yeasts. In some areas (Lucera and San Severo), a higher abundance of non-Saccharomyces yeasts was found. This paper offers a first insight into the profile of Peranzana Alta Daunia olives at the end of fermentation, suggesting that some indices (technological traits of lactobacilli, ratio yeasts vs. LAB, abundance of non-Saccharomyces yeasts) could be useful to define a microbiological profile of the variety.
Stretchable, Skin-Breathable, and Ultrasensitive Respiration Sensor Using Graphite on Paper With Smart Structures

Healthy sleep is an important indicator of good physical and mental health. The current technology employed for monitoring sleep quality is typically expensive and invasive, which demands innovations in respiration monitoring. In addition, recent effort in developing wearable respiration sensors has faced great challenges in concurrently obtaining low cost, high stretchability, and high sensitivity. Herein, we demonstrate a simple fabrication strategy to construct low-cost, stretchable, skin-breathable and ultrasensitive respiration sensors using pencil drawing, electrode pasting, and laser cutting methods. With smart designs, the sensors exhibited high sensitivity, good stability, decent skin-breathability and capability to detect respiration rate and depth in real-time. The sensors fabricated by the simple low-cost method in this study can be utilized to measure sleep quality, providing warning signals for apnea and sleep disorders. The proposed technology holds promise for developing cost-effective wearable ultrasensitive sensors for sleep quality monitoring.
Online Versus Offline Peer Feedback in Higher Education: A Meta-Analysis

In recent years, the technical possibilities of educational technologies regarding online peer feedback have developed rapidly. However, the impact of online peer feedback activities compared to traditional offline variants has not specifically been meta-analyzed. Therefore, the aim of the current meta-analysis is to do an in-depth comparison between online versus offline peer feedback approaches. An earlier and broader meta-analysis focusing on technology-facilitated peer feedback in general, was used as a starting point. We synthesized 12 comparisons between online and offline peer feedback in higher education, from 10 different studies. Moreover, we reviewed student perceptions of online peer feedback when these were included in the studies. The results show that online peer feedback is more effective than offline peer feedback, with an effect size of 0.33. Moreover, online peer feedback is more effective when the outcome measure is competence rather than self-efficacy for skills. In addition, students are mostly positive towards online peer feedback but also list several downsides. Finally, implications for online peer feedback in teaching practice are discussed and leads are identified for further research on this topic.
How Local is Locally Produced Food? A Choice Analysis on Red Tomatoes and Gala Apples

HOW LOCAL IS LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD? A CHOICE ANALYSIS ON RED TOMATOES AND GALA APPLES Kelvin Tsang Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Professor John A. L. Cranfield This study investigates Canadian consumers’ preferences for organic and locally produced fresh produce. The analysis is based on two choice experiments, one for red tomatoes and one for gala apples, and implemented through an internet based survey. The choice experiments address two important research questions. First, what attributes do Canadians associate with when purchasing locally produced organic foods. Second, to what degree do the identified attributes influence consumers‘ purchasing decision? Results from the food scale reveals that price, taste, and freshness were the top three important factors when purchasing organic and local food. From the exploratory factor analysis, underlying latent constructs regarding purchasing motives for organic and local food share similar factors. Results from conditional logit regression model suggests that there is a disutility associated with food mileage, where respondents were willing to pay a premium of $0.0061 per ten kilometres per kilograms and $0.0044 per ten kilometres per kilograms of tomatoes and apples respectively. Respondents were also willing to pay a premium for the authentication of “organic-ness”, and in the case of gala apples, respondents were indicating a disutility for non-certified organic apples.
Subject Perception of Newspaper Characteristics Based on Front Page Design

Perceptions by college students of a newspaper's front page design characteristics were analyzed. The study included separately owned, broadsheet newspapers of at least 100,000 circulation in 10 U.S. cities. Findings were: 1) respondents gave moderate to good ratings to most of the newspapers on most of the dimensions; 2) three pairs of newspapers were significantly different on the colorful/drab dimension; 3) in two pairs of newspapers, the more traditionally designed paper was more closely associated with hard news; and 4) modern-format newspapers received higher overall quality scores than papers with more traditional designs.
Automatic Classification of Pollen Grain Microscope Images Using a Multi-Scale Classifier with SRGAN Deblurring

Pollen allergies are seasonal epidemic diseases that are accompanied by high incidence rates, especially in Beijing, China. With the development of deep learning, key progress has been made in the task of automatic pollen grain classification, which could replace the time-consuming and laborious manual identification process using a microscope. In China, few pioneering works have made significant progress in automatic pollen grain classification. Therefore, we first constructed a multi-class and large-scale pollen grain dataset for the Beijing area in preparation for the task of pollen classification. Then, a deblurring pipeline was designed to enhance the quality of the pollen grain images selectively. Moreover, as pollen grains vary greatly in size and shape, we proposed an easy-to-implement and efficient multi-scale deep learning architecture. Our experimental results showed that our architecture achieved a 97.7% accuracy, based on the Resnet-50 backbone network, which proved that the proposed method could be applied successfully to the automatic identification of pollen grains in Beijing.
Understanding the youth tourists' motivation to attend rural gastronomic festivals in the Republic of Serbia

This study aims to examine the motivation of young tourists to attend gastronomic festivals in rural areas in the Republic of Serbia. In addition, it seeks to find out whether their motivation differs depending on their knowledge of and interest in gastronomy. The research was conducted on a sample of 125 respondents. The collected data was analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20), using descriptive statistics, the K-means clustering multivariate grouping technique, and nonparametric statistical procedures (Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test). The results have shown that the opportunity to try new and varied foods, as well as enjoying the atmosphere at the festival, are the main motives for young tourists to attend gastronomic festivals in rural areas in the Republic of Serbia. Additionally, it was discovered that the gastronomic motifs of young tourists are different and conditioned by their knowledge of and interest in gastronomy.
Depressão e qualidade de vida em mães de crianças com transtornos invasivos do desenvolvimento

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a prevalencia de disforia/sintomas depressivos em maes de criancas com transtorno autistico e identificar possiveis relacoes com qualidade de vida e caracteristicas sociodemograficas. Trata-se de estudo exploratorio, descritivo e transversal, conduzido com 20 maes, por meio da aplicacao de questionario do perfil sociodemografico e da versao brasileira do Inventario de Depressao de Beck (BDI) e da forma abreviada da Escala de Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL-Bref. Os resultados mostraram que 15% das maes preencheram os criterios para disforia/depressao; 70% avaliaram favoravelmente sua qualidade de vida global, todavia, apenas 40% delas estavam “satisfeitas” com sua saude. O dominio fisico (media=69,4) foi o melhor apreciado e o pior foi o ambiental (media=60,8). A qualidade de vida se associou positivamente com renda familiar e nivel de instrucao e, negativamente, com depressao. Considerando-se os resultados obtidos, sao sugeridos novos estudos que aprofundem, especialmente, as variaveis que nao se mostraram significativas.
Gut Microbes and Neuropathology: Is There a Causal Nexus?

The gut microbiota is a virtual organ which produces a myriad of molecules that the brain and other organs require. Humans and microbes are in a symbiotic relationship, we feed the microbes, and in turn, they provide us with essential molecules. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla account for around 80% of the total human gut microbiota, and approximately 1000 species of bacteria have been identified in the human gut. In adults, the main factors influencing microbiota structure are diet, exercise, stress, disease and medications. In this narrative review, we explore the involvement of the gut microbiota in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and autism, as these are such high-prevalence disorders. We focus on preclinical studies that increase the understanding of disease pathophysiology. We examine the potential for targeting the gut microbiota in the development of novel therapies and the limitations of the currently published clinical studies. We conclude that while the field shows enormous promise, further large-scale studies are required if a causal link between these disorders and gut microbes is to be definitively established.
Means of accelerating tendon graft healing after ACL reconstructions

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common sport-related injuries. As the ACL is unable to repair itself, reconstructive surgery, using a tendon graft, remains the number one option for the restoration of the joint function. This thesis has explored solutions capable of shortening the healing process along four lines. First, the tissue-regenerative properties of the tendon graft compared to the native ligament was evaluated. Using an in vitro analysis of the phenotype of cells derived from each tissue it was identified that the cells lack regenerative properties. The consequent task has been to find cells that do have these properties and can be used in ACL reconstruction practice. These properties are found in bone marrow cells. Secondly, the possibility of sourcing bone marrow cells proximal to the knee joint would be optimal for ACL reconstruction. However, our comparative study of different bone marrow cell sources has shown that bone marrow cells derived from the ilium offer the strongest regenerative properties. To enhance these properties further, this research has also investigated different priming methods, such as acoustic stimulation and selection of cells through different isolation methods. Thirdly, using an in vitro indirect co-culture system, the crosstalk between different cell types that contribute to the development of tendons and ligaments during embryogenesis was studied. This has revealed that myoblast-derived signals are capable of upregulating classical tendon/ligament gene expression markers on tendon-derived cells, which can contribute to ACL graft healing. Using a rat model of ACL reconstruction, we demonstrated that muscle-derived signals accelerate femoral tunnel closure and can be employed to improve ACL graft healing in a clinical setting. Finally, modulation of BMP-2 and TGF-β1 signalling pathways is essential during tendon/ligament healing. Unfortunately, growth factor delivery in situ is far from trivial and, in many cases, the necessary growth factors are not approved for clinical use. This research has screened a library of small molecules, which has led to the identification of modulators of both signalling pathways. The dissertation concludes with a brief reflection on the field of musculoskeletal tendon and ligament research.
COVID-19 Aftermath: Exploring the Mental Health Emergency among Students at a Northern Italian University

In this study, we investigated the symptoms of physical and mental health associated with lifestyle changes due to a lockdown among the students of a university in Northern Italy, one of the most affected areas in Europe during the first wave of COVID-19. We examined the psychopathological variations in relation to mental health problems in a young population. The goal was to develop interventions to resolve these new psychosocial problems. From June to July 2020, students participated in an anonymous survey asking about habits and symptoms that emerged during the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. Five health outcomes were assessed: digestive disorders; headaches; fear of COVID-19; panic and anxiety crises; and depression/sadness. The conditions and duration of the social isolation, lifestyle, SARS-CoV-2 infection in the household, financial situation, and productivity were considered in the analysis. A total of 3533 students completed the survey. The participants experienced headaches, depression and sadness, digestive disorders, a fear of COVID-19, and anxiety/panic crises. The duration of isolation was associated with an increased risk of digestive disorders, headaches, and COVID-19 fear. The female gender, medium–intense telephone usage, sleep quality, memory difficulties, and performance reduction were associated with an increased risk of the health outcomes. Future interventions should focus on promoting and implementing different habits with the support of health and university organizations.
Investigating what constitutes an effective workplace learning environment: A scoping review of the role physical and material elements play in student learning

The purpose of this article is to report on a scoping review of the literature on workplace learning in order to understand what is known about the impact the physical material dimensions of workplace learning environments have on enhancing students’ learning. The experience of workplace learning in authentic workplace settings is perceived as invaluable for undergraduates as a preparation for professional practice. With growing participation rates, there is an increased demand for universities to offer work placements. Although universities have no direct control over workplace environments, they can be astute in selecting workplaces that offer effective workplace learning environments for students. In order to undertake this selection it is important to understand what key features of workplace learning environments enable students to learn effectively. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s five step scoping review strategy, the researchers found that the physical material dimensions of the workplace learning environment and their influences on student learning have to date been neglected. The researchers also found that conceptualisations of workplace learning environments were often limited to a common sense understanding of the term environment. What constituted an effective workplace learning environment was mostly defined in relational terms through the quality of interaction between student and supervisor neglecting the physical material potential of workplace learning environments for learning. The researchers draw some implications for university capacity to select appropriate sites for student placements and make some recommendations for further research.
Does It Pay to be Green? A Study of the Global Microfinance Industry

This article examines whether it pays to be green in the microfinance industry. Environmental issues are important for all businesses around the world, and thus many microfinance institutions (MFIs) started embracing them as an additional objective alongside their traditional social and financial objectives. This article is among the first to test the relationships between environmental performance and both the financial and social performance of MFIs. Using a sample of 234 rated MFIs in 58 countries, we find that being green is associated with higher social and financial performance. Specifically, MFIs with environmental policies have higher financial performance (i.e., higher returns on assets, lower operating costs, and lower cost of capital) and higher social performance (i.e., a higher social rating score) than those without environmental policies. Overall, the results suggest that it pays to be green in the microfinance industry and this should motivate MFIs considering being green to do so.
Effect of aggregate gradation on rutting of asphalt concrete by using a wheel tracking device in Vietnam

Abstract This paper presents the relationship between rutting and aggregate gradation of asphalt concrete using a wheel tracking device at 60°C, with 30,000 cycles in air. The experiment was carried out on hot mix asphalt samples using three aggregate gradations which included maximum aggregate sizes of 9.5 mm, 12.5 mm and 19 mm. The result of the experiment showed that the maximum aggregate size has a great influence on the rutting of asphalt concrete.
Rhizoma Gastrodiae Water Extract Modulates the Gut Microbiota and Pathological Changes of P-TauThr231 to Protect Against Cognitive Impairment in Mice

Gastrodiae Rhizoma and its active constituents are known to exhibit neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the effect of Rhizoma Gastrodiae water extract (WERG) on AD and the detailed mechanism of action remain unclear. In this study, the mechanism of action of WERG was investigated by the microbiome–gut–brain axis using a D-galactose (D-gal)/AlCl3-induced AD mouse model. WERG improved the cognitive impairment of D-gal/AlCl3-induced mice. The expression level of p-Tauthr231 in the WERG-H treatment group was decreased, and p-Tauthr231 was found negative in hippocampal DG, CA1, and CA3 regions. Here, the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were analyzed by 16sRNA sequencing. WERG-H treatment had a positive correlation with Firmicutes, Bacilli, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus murinus, and Lactobacillus reuteri. Interestingly, the Rikenellaceae-RC9 gut group in the gut increased in D-gal/AlCl3-induced mice, but the increased L. johnsonii, L. murinus, and L. reuteri reversed this process. This may be a potential mechanistic link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and P-TauThr231 levels in AD progression. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that WERG improved the cognitive impairment of the AD mouse model by enriching gut probiotics and reducing P-TauThr231 levels.
Protecting the Public Health of Indian Tribes: the Indian Child Welfare Act

For thousands of years, Indian tribal governments developed the community environments that created healthy lives for American Indian and Alaska Native children. To support that mission, Congress passed the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which establishes minimum federal standards states must follow when an American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) child is removed from her home. Courts and child welfare agencies are mandated to comply with a framework that prioritizes the placement of an AI/AN child within the child’s Indian tribe or community, and requires heightened assistance for their families. This premier child welfare law is at risk due to a number of legal attacks in federal court. This essay posits a unique framework that identifies these legal attacks on ICWA as not just attacks on a gold standard law in the child welfare system, but rather as an attack on the public health of Indian tribes. Any success of these legal threats could lead to the same adverse health outcomes produced by long-time Indian child removal policies.
Dynamic correlation between selected cereals traded in commodity exchange market in AP Vojvodina

This paper investigates the level of pairwise dynamic correlations between prices of four agricultural commodities - corn, wheat soybean and barley that are traded in Novi Sad commodity exchange market. We use DCC-GARCH model, which is specially designed for this type or research. The results of the estimated dynamic conditional correlations show that low and positive correlation exist between all the pairs of the selected agricultural commodities, where the highest correlation is recorded between wheat and barley (24%), corn-barley pair follows (20%), while all other dynamic correlations are below 20%. The results indicate that price movements of the selected agricultural cereals are independent, which means that price discovery of one agricultural commodity does not provide information about the price of another agricultural commodity. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that traders in this market do not rely on the price co-movements between particular agricultural assets when they plan their selling or buying strategies, but to analyze fundamental macroeconomic factors.
Comparative Study of Three Dyes’ Adsorption onto Activated Carbon from Chenopodium quinoa Willd and Quillaja saponaria

The present study shows porous activated carbon obtained from Chenopodium quinoa Willd and Quillaja saponaria and their use as potential adsorbents to remove three types of dyes from aqueous solutions. The adsorption results were compared with commercial charcoal to check their efficiency. All porous carbon materials were activated using carbon dioxide and steam and fully characterized. Moreover, the steam-activated samples exhibited a high total pore volume with a BET surface area of around 800 m2 g−1. Batch adsorption experiments showed that commercial charcoal is the charcoal that offered the best adsorption efficiency for tartrazine and sunset yellow FCF. However, in the case of crystal violet, all activated carbons obtained from Chenopodium quinoa Willd and Quillaja saponaria showed the best captures, outperforming commercial charcoal. Molecular dockings of the dyes on the commercial charcoal surface were performed using AutoDock Vina. The kinetic results of the three isotherm’s models for the present data follow the order: Langmuir~Freundlich > Temkin.