Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Fluxes Under Different Cover Crop Systems

Cultivated lands that support high productivity have the potential to produce a large amount of GHG emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). Intensive land management practices can stimulate CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions from the soil. Cover crop establishment is considered as one of the sustainable land management strategies under warm and humid environmental conditions. To better understand how the incorporation of cover crops affect three major GHGs, we compared trace gas fluxes in a no-till maize field over the whole growing season in 2018 in a no cover crop (Tr) system and three cover crop systems: crimson clover (CC), cereal rye (CR), and living mulch (LM) using white clover. In 2019, we further explored potential differences in the three GHGs between in-row (IR) and between-row (BWR) of maize for LM and Tr systems during the early growing season. Measurements were taken using a cavity ring-down spectroscopy gas analyzer in Watkinsville, GA. In 2018, the highest CO2 flux (7.00 μmol m−2 s−1) was observed from BWR of maize for LM. The maximum N2O flux observed in LM on June 20th in 2018 was when soil N increase rate was the largest. Soils served as sinks for CH4 and Tr system served as the smallest CH4 sink compared to the other three cover crop systems. For N2O, the highest fluxes were observed from the TrIR plot (4.13 μmol m−2 hr−1) in 2019 with the greatest N inputs. In 2019, we observed a smaller CH4 sink in TrIR (−0.13 μmol m−2 hr−1) compared to TrBWR (−0.67 μmol m−2 hr−1) due potentially to greater NH4+ inhibition effects on CH4 consumption from greater N fertilizer inputs. The net carbon equivalent (CE) from May 23rd to Aug 16th in 2018, taking into account the three GHG fluxes, soil carbon content, and fertilizer, irrigation, and herbicide application, were 32–97, 35–101, 63–139, and 40–106 kg ha−1 yr−1 for CC, CR, LM, and Tr, respectively. LM had the lowest net CE after removing white clover respiration (−16–60 kg ha−1 yr−1). Our results show that implementing different types of cover crop systems and especially the LM system have some potential to mitigate climate change.
Socio-Demographic Characteristics of COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Understanding key socio-demographic variables of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine recipients is crucial to improving its acceptance and Nigeria's COVID-19 control strategy. The survey was conducted as a non-probability cross-sectional survey of 2,936 COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Kwara State. Our findings revealed that 74% (n = 2,161) of the vaccine recipients were older than 40 years. Forty percent (n = 1,180) of the vaccine recipients earned a monthly income >100,000 Naira (equivalent to US $200). Most of the vaccine recipients (64%, n = 1,880) had tertiary education, while 15% (n = 440) of them had no formal education. Almost half of the recipients (47%, n = 1,262) were government employees and 28.8% (n = 846) of them had health-related backgrounds. Only 17% (n = 499) of the vaccine recipients have been screened for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), of which 21% (n = 105/499) of them were tested positive. Only 47% (n = 1,378) had been fully immunized. The prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 cases among COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Kwara State was 3.6% (n = 105/2,936). The most recurrent adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) among vaccine recipients were fever (14%, n = 411), pain at injection site (47%, n = 1,409), headache (19%, n = 558), and body weakness (9%, n = 264). The need to protect themselves from the deadly virus was the main reason that prompted people to voluntarily accept the COVID-19 vaccine. There is a high level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among respondents across all social classes including those with no formal education, those with very low monthly income (< US $2 per day), and in untested population. Hence, vaccine donors should prioritize equitable distribution to Low-and-Middle-income Countries (LMICs) such as Nigeria, and health authorities should improve vaccine advocacy to focus on vaccine safety and efficacy.
Wellbeing and Resilience in Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review During COVID-19

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UWTO) has acknowledged 2020 as the worst year in tourism history due to the worldwide pandemic COVID-19. Destinations, tourists, local communities, stakeholders, and residents, and their daily activities were affected. Thus, wellbeing and resilience are two crucial variables to help the industry and the people recover. This research aims to analyze early positive approaches and attitudes to respond to the negative impact of COVID-19 in tourism everyday activities that have at its core wellbeing and resilience, the two main variables of the Positive Psychology field of studies. A systematic literature review was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines to achieve this aim. The research was done using the Online Knowledge Library (B-on) and all the available databases. The research led to 32 articles that were screened using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 18 scientific articles met all criteria. Overall, results show that a positive and resilient approach to deal with the adverse outcomes of the pandemic is a concern for stakeholders and the future of the organizations in the tourism and hospitality sector, as is tourists’ wellbeing. However, less research has been done on wellbeing and a clear lack of research regarding residents’ wellbeing and resilience is evident. A deeper study of wellbeing and resilience in tourism is needed, and actual practices and interventions to ensure that all tourism actors have the resources to overcome the pandemic and restart the industry’s daily lives feeling well and safe.
Effects of Olympic Combat Sports on Health-Related Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older People: A Systematic Review

Olympic combat sports are unconventional physical activity strategies to train middle-aged and older people with and without health problems. This systematic review aimed to assess the available body of published peer-reviewed articles related to the effects of Olympic combat sports interventions (boxing, fencing, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling) on health-related quality of life in adults aged 45 and older. The search was carried out in five generic databases until July 2021 and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (code: CRD42021244161). The PRISMA guidelines were followed and the Downs and Black checklist was used to assessed the methodological quality of the studies. After reviewing 1,151 records, only seven studies met the inclusion criteria, adding 212 participants (43.4% female) with a mean age of 63.7 years. Six studies (two with middle-aged participants and four with older people) provided data to calculate the effect size (ES) in the Olympic combat sports groups (No research that used taekwondo or wrestling as an intervention modality was found). Three studies reported beneficial changes with a small ES for the total score (d < 0.40) of the health-related quality of life. Two studies reported a beneficial change with a small ES (d = 0.49) and strong ES (d = 4.45) for physical health. One study reported improvements with a small ES for emotional (d = 0.23) and functional (d = 0.26) well-being. In conclusion, interventions based on Olympic combat sports produce beneficial effects with a small and moderate ES on health-related quality of life in male and female aged 45 and older who are healthy participants, participants with Parkinson's disease, and participants with breast cancer. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/, PROSPERO: CRD42021244161.
Prebiotic Supplementation During Gestation Induces a Tolerogenic Environment and a Protective Microbiota in Offspring Mitigating Food Allergy

Food allergy is associated with alterations in the gut microbiota, epithelial barrier, and immune tolerance. These dysfunctions are observed within the first months of life, indicating that early intervention is crucial for disease prevention. Preventive nutritional strategies with prebiotics are an attractive option, as prebiotics such as galacto-oligosaccharides and inulin can promote tolerance, epithelial barrier reinforcement, and gut microbiota modulation. Nonetheless, the ideal period for intervention remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether galacto-oligosaccharide/inulin supplementation during gestation could protect offspring from wheat allergy development in BALB/cJRj mice. We demonstrated that gestational prebiotic supplementation promoted the presence of beneficial strains in the fecal microbiota of dams during gestation and partially during mid-lactation. This specific microbiota was transferred to their offspring and maintained to adulthood. The presence of B and T regulatory immune cell subsets was also increased in the lymph nodes of offspring born from supplemented mothers, suggestive of a more tolerogenic immune environment. Indeed, antenatal prebiotic supplementation reduced the development of wheat allergy symptoms in offspring. Our study thus demonstrates that prebiotic supplementation during pregnancy induces, in the offspring, a tolerogenic environment and a microbial imprint that mitigates food allergy development.
Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 Gene Polymorphisms Affect Treatment Efficiency of Methylphenidate in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An fNIRS Study

Methylphenidate (MPH) is the first-line drug for the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, individual curative effects of MPH vary. Many studies have demonstrated that synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) gene MnlI polymorphisms may be related to the efficacy of MPH. However, the association between SNAP-25MnlI polymorphisms and changes in brain hemodynamic responses after MPH treatment is still unclear. This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to preliminarily investigate the interaction of MPH treatment-related prefrontal inhibitory functional changes with the genotype status of the SNAP-25 gene in children with ADHD. In total, 38 children with ADHD aged 6.76–12.08 years were enrolled in this study and divided into the following two groups based on SNAP-25 gene MnlI polymorphisms: T/T genotype group (wild-type group, 27 children) and G allele carrier group (mutation group, 11 children). The averaged oxygenated hemoglobin concentration changes [Δavg oxy-Hb] and deoxyhemoglobin concentration changes [Δavg deoxy-Hb] in the frontal cortex before MPH treatment and after 1.5 h (post-MPH1.5h) and 4 weeks (post-MPH4w) of MPH treatments were monitored using fNIRS during the go/no-go task. SNAP-IV scores were evaluated both pre-MPH and post-MPH4w treatments. In the T/T genotype group, [Δavg oxy-Hb] in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was significantly higher after 4 weeks of MPH (post-MPH4W) treatment than pre-treatment; however, in the G allele group, no significant differences in [Δavg oxy-Hb] were observed between pre- and post-treatments. In the go/no-go task, the accuracy was significantly increased post-MPH4w treatment in the T/T genotype group, while no significant differences were observed in response time and accuracy of the “go” sand no-go task in the G allele group for pre-MPH, post-MPH1.5h, and post-MPH4w treatments. The T/T genotype group exhibited a significant decrease in SNAP-IV scores after MPH treatment, while the G allele group showed no significant difference. In conclusion, fNIRS data combined with SNAP-25 MnlI polymorphism analysis may be a useful biomarker for evaluating the effects of MPH in children with ADHD.
Regulation Mechanism of Exogenous Brassinolide on Bulbil Formation and Development in Pinellia ternata

The bulbil is the propagative organ of the P. ternata, which has a great effect on the yield of P. ternata. It is well known that plant hormones play important roles in bulbil formation and development. However, there is not clear about brassinolide (BR) regulation on bulbil formation and development. In this study, we revealed the effects of BR and BR biosynthesis inhibitors (propiconazole, Pcz) application on the histological observation, starch and sucrose metabolism, photosynthesis pathway, and hormone signaling pathway of P. ternata. The results showed that BR treatment reduced starch catabolism to maltodextrin and maltose in bulbil by decreasing BAM and ISA genes expression and increased cellulose catabolism to D-glucose in bulbil by enhancing edg and BGL genes expression. BR treatment enhanced the photosynthetic pigment content and potential maximum photosynthetic capacity and improved the photoprotection ability of P. ternata by increasing the dissipation of excess light energy to heat, thus reduced the photodamage in the PSII center. BR treatment increased the GA and BR content in bulbil of P. ternata, and decreased the ABA content in bulbil of P. ternata. Pcz treatment increased the level of GA, SL, ABA, and IAA in bulbil of P. ternata. BR regulated the signal transduction of BR, IAA, and ABA to regulate the formation and development of bulbil in P. ternata. These results provide molecular insight into BR regulation on bulbil formation and development.
The Bacteroidetes Aequorivita sp. and Kaistella jeonii Produce Promiscuous Esterases With PET-Hydrolyzing Activity

Certain members of the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria are known to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Here, we describe the first functional PET-active enzymes from the Bacteroidetes phylum. Using a PETase-specific Hidden-Markov-Model- (HMM-) based search algorithm, we identified several PETase candidates from Flavobacteriaceae and Porphyromonadaceae. Among them, two promiscuous and cold-active esterases derived from Aequorivita sp. (PET27) and Kaistella jeonii (PET30) showed depolymerizing activity on polycaprolactone (PCL), amorphous PET foil and on the polyester polyurethane Impranil® DLN. PET27 is a 37.8 kDa enzyme that released an average of 174.4 nmol terephthalic acid (TPA) after 120 h at 30°C from a 7 mg PET foil platelet in a 200 μl reaction volume, 38-times more than PET30 (37.4 kDa) released under the same conditions. The crystal structure of PET30 without its C-terminal Por-domain (PET30ΔPorC) was solved at 2.1 Å and displays high structural similarity to the IsPETase. PET30 shows a Phe-Met-Tyr substrate binding motif, which seems to be a unique feature, as IsPETase, LCC and PET2 all contain Tyr-Met-Trp binding residues, while PET27 possesses a Phe-Met-Trp motif that is identical to Cut190. Microscopic analyses showed that K. jeonii cells are indeed able to bind on and colonize PET surfaces after a few days of incubation. Homologs of PET27 and PET30 were detected in metagenomes, predominantly aquatic habitats, encompassing a wide range of different global climate zones and suggesting a hitherto unknown influence of this bacterial phylum on man-made polymer degradation.
EOGT Correlated With Immune Infiltration: A Candidate Prognostic Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background A preliminary study by our group revealed that the deficiency of EGF domain-specific O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (EOGT) impaired regulatory T-cell differentiation in autoimmune hepatitis. Nevertheless, the prognostic value of EOGT in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationship with immune infiltration remain obscured. Methods Initially, EOGT expression was evaluated by Oncomine, TIMER, GEO, and UALCAN databases. Besides, the prognostic potential of EOGT expression was analyzed using GEPIA, Kaplan–Meier plotter, CPTAC, Cox regression, and nomogram in HCC samples. Furthermore, we investigated the association between EOGT expression and tumor mutation burden, DNA methylation, and immune infiltration in addition to its possible mechanism via cBioPortal, TIMER, GEPIA, ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, GSEA, STRING, and Cytoscape. Results The expression of EOGT in HCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. Additionally, elevated EOGT expression was correlated with advanced tumor staging and linked to poor overall survival and relapse-free survival, serving as a significant unfavorable prognostic indicator in HCC patients. Remarkably, our results revealed that high-EOGT expression subgroups with elevated TP53 or low CTNNB1 mutations have worse clinical outcomes than the others. Regarding immune infiltration, immunofluorescent staining showed that immune cells in HCC were positive for EOGT. Besides, elevated EOGT expression was linked to exhausted T cells and immune suppressor cells in HCC samples. More importantly, the proportion of CD8+ T cells was reduced in HCC samples with a high level of EOGT expression, but EOGT did not exhibit prognostic potential in HCC samples with increased CD8+ T cells. Conclusions EOGT may hold great potential as a novel biomarker to distinguish prognosis and immune profiles of HCC patients.
Aberrant Expression of miR-1301 in Human Cancer

miR-1301 is a newly discovered miRNA, which is abnormally expressed in 14 types of tumors. miR-1301 inhibits 23 target genes, forms a ceRNA network with 2 circRNAs and 8 lncRNAs, and participates in 6 signaling pathways, thereby affecting tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, etc. Abnormal expression of miR-1301 is often associated with poor prognosis of cancer patients. In addition, miR-1301 is related to the anti-tumor effect of epirubicin on osteosarcoma and imatinib on chronic myeloid leukemia(CML) and can enhance the cisplatin sensitivity of ovarian cancer. This work systematically summarizes the abnormal expression and prognostic value of miR-1301 in a variety of cancers, depicts the miR-1301-related signaling pathways and ceRNA network, and provides potential clues for future miR-1301 research.
Exercise and Carotid Properties in the Young–The KiGGS-2 Study

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and stiffness (cS) are predictive markers of early vascular aging and atherosclerotic risk. This study assessed, whether exercise has protective effects on carotid structure and function or on vascular risk in the young. Methods: Volume and change of exercise (recreational and organized sports participation) of German adolescents and young adults was assessed within the prospective population-study KiGGS at KiGGS-Wave-1 (2009–2012) and KiGGS-Wave-2 (2014–2017) using standardized self-reporting questionnaires. CIMT and cS were measured by real-time B-mode ultrasound sequences with semi-automated edge-detection and automatic electrocardiogram-gated quality control in 2,893 participants (14–28 years, 49.6% female). A cumulative index for atherosclerotic risk (CV-R) included z-scores of mean arterial pressure, triglycerides, total/HDL-cholesterol-ratio, body mass index, and HbA1c. Results: At KiGGS-Wave-2 cross-sectional CV-R but not cS and cIMT was lower in all exercise-groups compared to “no exercise” (B = −0.73, 95%-CI = −1.26 to 0.19, p = 0.008). Longitudinal volume of exercise was negatively associated with CV-R (B = −0.37, 95%-CI = −0.74 to 0.00, p = 0.048) but not with cS and cIMT. Cross-sectional relative risk of elevated CV-R but not cS and cIMT was lower in all exercise-groups compared to “no exercise” (RR = 0.80, 95%-CI = 0.66 to 0.98, p = 0.033). High exercise volumes were associated with lower relative risk of elevated CV-R (RR = 0.80, 95%-CI = 0.65–0.97, p = 0.021) and cS in tendency but not with cIMT. Conclusions: Increased levels of exercise are associated with a better cardiovascular risk profile in young individuals, but not with cS and cIMT. Our study confirms previous recommendations on exercise in this age group without demonstrating a clear benefit on surrogate markers of vascular health.
rs62139665 Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of EpCAM Is Associated With Hepatitis C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Egyptians

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a universal health problem that is particularly alarming in Egypt. The major risk factor for HCC is hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which is a main burden in Egypt. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a stem cell marker involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of many malignancies, including HCC. We investigated the association of -935 C/G single nucleotide polymorphism in EpCAM promoter region (rs62139665) with HCC risk, EpCAM expression and overall survival in Egyptians. A total of 266 patients (128 HCV and 138 HCC cases) and 117 age- and sex-matched controls participated in this study. Genotyping, performed using allelic discrimination and confirmed by sequencing, revealed a significant association between EpCAM rs62139665 and HCC susceptibility, with higher GG genotype and G allele distribution in HCC patients than in non-HCC subjects. Such association was not detected in HCV patients compared to controls. EpCAM gene expression levels, determined in blood by RT-qPCR, and its serum protein expression levels, determined by ELISA, were significantly higher in GG relative to GC+CC genotype carriers in HCV and HCC patients in a recessive model. ROC analysis of EpCAM protein levels revealed significant discriminatory power between HCC patients and non-HCC subjects, with improved diagnostic accuracy when combining α-fetoprotein and EpCAM compared to that of α-fetoprotein alone. Altogether, EpCAM rs62139665 polymorphism is significantly associated with HCC and with EpCAM gene and protein expression levels in the Egyptian population. Moreover, serum EpCAM levels may hold promise for HCC diagnosis and for improving the diagnostic accuracy of α-fetoprotein.
Effects of Saliva From Periodontally Healthy and Diseased Subjects on Barrier Function and the Inflammatory Response in in vitro Models of the Oral Epithelium

Background: Periodontitis is a multifactorial, bacteria-mediated chronic inflammatory disease that results in the progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting tissues. It is well-known that saliva from subjects suffering from this disease generally contains higher levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and bacteria-derived toxic products. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of saliva from periodontally healthy and diseased subjects on the barrier function and inflammatory response in in vitro models of the oral epithelium. Methods: Unstimulated saliva samples from two groups of subjects, one with a healthy periodontium (n = 12) and one with severe generalized periodontitis (n = 11), were filter-sterilized. All the saliva samples were analyzed using an immunological multiplex assay to determine the levels of various cytokines and MMPs relevant to periodontitis. The impact of saliva on epithelial barrier integrity was assessed by monitoring transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) in an oral epithelium model using the B11 keratinocyte cell line. GMSM-K oral epithelial cells were treated with saliva from both groups to determine their ability to induce the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Saliva from the periodontitis subjects contained significantly higher concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), IL-8, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) compared to saliva from the healthy subjects. Saliva from the healthy and periodontitis subjects affected cytokine secretion and TER in a similar manner. More specifically, saliva from both groups increased TER and induced IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in the in vitro oral epithelium models used. Conclusion: Independently of the presence or absence of periodontitis, saliva can increase the relative TER and the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 in in vitro models of the oral epithelium.