Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Field Guide for Monitoring Riverine Macroplastic Entrapment in Water Hyacinths

River plastic pollution is an environmental challenge of growing concern. However, there are still many unknowns related to the principal drivers of river plastic transport. Floating aquatic vegetation, such as water hyacinths, have been found to aggregate and carry large amounts of plastic debris in tropical river systems. Monitoring the entrapment of plastics in hyacinths is therefore crucial to answer the relevant scientific and societal questions. Long-term monitoring efforts are yet to be designed and implemented at large scale and various field measuring techniques can be applied. Here, we present a field guide on available methods that can be upscaled in space and time, to characterize macroplastic entrapment within floating vegetation. Five measurement techniques commonly used in plastic and vegetation monitoring were applied to the Saigon river, Vietnam. These included physical sampling, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle imagery, bridge imagery, visual counting, and satellite imagery. We compare these techniques based on their suitability to derive metrics of interest, their relevancy at different spatiotemporal scales and their benefits and drawbacks. This field guide can be used by practitioners and researchers to design future monitoring campaigns and to assess the suitability of each method to investigate specific aspects of macroplastic and floating vegetation interactions.
A review on the theory of stable dendritic growth

This review article summarizes the main outcomes following from recently developed theories of stable dendritic growth in undercooled one-component and binary melts. The nonlinear heat and mass transfer mechanisms that control the crystal growth process are connected with hydrodynamic flows (forced and natural convection), as well as with the non-local diffusion transport of dissolved impurities in the undercooled liquid phase. The main conclusions following from stability analysis, solvability and selection theories are presented. The sharp interface model and stability criteria for various crystallization conditions and crystalline symmetries met in actual practice are formulated and discussed. The review is also focused on the determination of the main process parameters—the tip velocity and diameter of dendritic crystals as functions of the melt undercooling, which define the structural states and transitions in materials science (e.g. monocrystalline-polycrystalline structures). Selection criteria of stable dendritic growth mode for conductive and convective heat and mass fluxes at the crystal surface are stitched together into a single criterion valid for an arbitrary undercooling. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 1)’.
Predicted Shifts in the Distributions of Atlantic Reef-Building Corals in the Face of Climate Change

Many species drive the diversity of ecosystems by adding structural complexity to the environment. In coral reefs, stony corals act as habitat-forming species, increasing niche availability for other organisms. Some coral species play key roles as reef builders due to their abundance or morpho-functional characteristics. Thus, changes in the distributions of these species can entail cascading effects in entire ecosystems. With climate change, many coral species are experiencing shifts in their distributions, threatening the preservation of coral reefs. Here, we projected the current and future distributions of three key reef builders of the Atlantic (Mussismilia hispida, Montastraea cavernosa, and the Siderastrea complex) under three relative concentration pathway scenarios: the most optimistic, the most pessimistic and one moderate scenario (RCP2.6, 4.5, and 8.5). Our models revealed that all the above species will undergo habitat loss in the future (2100) in the most pessimistic scenario, although new areas could become suitable, including regions in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, when considering only its actual range of occurrence, M. hispida will lose habitats under all future scenarios. Moreover, in some regions of both the Tropical Northwestern Atlantic (TNA) and the Brazilian coast, these three species could disappear, with detrimental consequences for the associated communities. We highlight the need for an urgent change of course to guarantee functional reefs in the Atlantic in the future.
The effects of a low dose OTA exposure on weanling piglet gut microbiota

Abstract Feed contamination is a major concern to the pig farming industry. There is a growing concern towards the harmful effects that mycotoxins and especially ochratoxin A have on the overall health and development of pigs. However the deleterious effects on the gastro-intestinal microbiota has not been studied thoroughly, especially at a low dose exposure. The current study proposed to investigate the effect of a sub-chronic dose of OTA on some of the important bacterial populations colonizing the pig gut as well as assessing the impact on SCFA production. The changes induced in bacterial populations not only affect the immune system of the pig but also influence the development of the mycotoxicosis. This paper highlights the impact of 0.05mg/kg feed of OTA on the large intestine microbiota and on the SCFA production associated with it.
Biventricular Morphology and Function Reference Values Derived From a Large Sample of Healthy Chinese Adults by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Quantification of cardiac structure and function is essential for diagnostic interpretation and clinical decision making. We sought to establish cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) reference values of left and right ventricular (LV and RV) morphology and function based on a large sample of healthy Chinese adults. Methods: Five hundred fifty validated healthy Chinese adults (aged 21–70 years; 323 men) free of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity were included in this study. All the subjects were stratified by gender (men and women) and age decades. On cine CMR, measurements of biventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic, and stroke volumes (EDV, ESV, and SV), ejection fraction (EF), and end-diastolic LV wall thickness (LVWT) and mass (LVM) were obtained. Results: Men had greater LVEDV (111.6 ± 19.8 vs. 94.6 ± 15.6 ml), LVESV (36.5 ± 9.8 vs. 28.2 ± 7.9 ml), LVM (121.1 ± 19.9 vs. 86.1 ± 14.5 g), global end-diastolic LVWT (8.1 ± 1.1 vs. 6.7 ± 1.0 mm), RVEDV (128.0 ± 23.6 vs. 101.7 ± 17.0 ml), and RVESV (53.5 ± 13.7 vs. 36.8 ± 8.9 ml), while women had greater LVEF (67.5 ± 5.4 vs. 70.4 ± 5.7%) and RVEF (58.5 ± 5.2 vs. 64.0 ± 5.3%) (all p < 0.001). For both men and women, age was negatively correlated with LVEDV (r = −0.31 and r = −0.32), LVESV (r = −0.37 and r = −0.47), RVEDV (r = −0.31 and r = −0.29), and RVESV (r = −0.33 and r = −0.44), while it was positively correlated with LVEF (r = 0.28 and r = 0.43) and RVEF (r = 0.28 and r = 0.41) (all p < 0.001). Aging was associated with increasing global end-diastolic LVWT and LVM/LVEDV in both sexes (all p < 0.001). Older age was associated with increasing LVM only in women (r = 0.36, p < 0.001), not in men (r = 0.05, p = 0.359). Conclusions: We systematically provide age-, sex-, and body size-specific CMR reference values for biventricular morphology and function based on a large sample of healthy Chinese adults. Biventricular structure and function are significantly associated with age and sex.
Effect of sea buckthorn meal extract in alleviating the toxic effect of ochratoxin A and zearalenone in porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Abstract The mycotoxins ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEA) are frequent contaminants of cereals responsible for important toxic effects in human and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of the sea buckthorn meal extract in alleviating the toxic effect of ochratoxin A and zearalenone on oxidative stress and inflammation using porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our results have shown that both zearalenone and ochratoxin causes oxidative damage and alter the inflammatory response. The use of the sea buckthorn meal extract can improve some markers of the oxidative stress (total antioxidant status) and inflammation (pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6) altered by exposure to the mycotoxins ZEA and OTA and our results indicate that this waste represents a promising biological method that can be used for the alleviation of the mycotoxins negative effects.
Berberine Reduces Aβ42 Deposition and Tau Hyperphosphorylation via Ameliorating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is tightly related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress), which aggravates two dominant pathological manifestations of AD: senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Berberine is widely applied in the clinical treatment of many diseases and is reported to have anti-AD effects. In the present study, berberine was shown to ameliorate ER stress and cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. We found ER stress plays a role as a central hub for signal transduction, which was evidenced by the hyperactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) to phosphorylate tau and the activation of PRKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) subsequently to phosphorylate eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2 α (eIF2α). Also, eIF2α has regulated the expression of beta-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), which cleaves APP into pro-oligomerized amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), the main component of senile plaques, proven by using siRNA targeting at eIF2α. Mechanically, berberine can reduce GSK3β activity, contributing to the downregulation of tau phosphorylation. Berberine also suppressed Aβ42 production via inhibiting the PERK/eIF2α/BACE1 signaling pathway. Taken together, these findings indicated that berberine had the potential to ameliorate two major pathological manifestations of AD mainly by suppressing ER stress. Our work provided knowledge on the pharmacological intervention of AD and the possible targets for future drug development.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog Exendin-4 Ameliorates Cocaine-Mediated Behavior by Inhibiting Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling in Mice

Exendin-4 (Ex4), a long-lasting glucagon-like peptide-1 analog, was reported to exert favourable actions on inhibiting cocaine-associated rewarding and reinforcing effects of drug in animal models of addiction. However, the therapeutic potential of different dose of GLP-1 receptor agonist Ex4 in different behavioral paradigms and the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. Herein, we firstly investigated the effects of Ex4 on cocaine-induced condition place preference (CPP) as well as extinction and reinstatement in male C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, we sought to elucidate the underlying pharmacological mechanism of these actions of Ex4. The paradigm of cocaine-induced CPP was established using 20 mg/kg cocaine or saline alternately during conditioning, while the reinstatement paradigm was modeled using 10 mg/kg cocaine on the reinstatement day. Different dose of Ex4 was administrated intraperitoneally either during conditioning or during extinction state or only on the test day. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the potential effects of Ex4 on maladaptive behaviors of cocaine, the TLR4-related inflammation within the hippocampus was observed by immunofluorescence staining, and the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were detected by Western blotting. As a consequence, systemic administration of different dose of Ex4 was sufficient to inhibit the acquisition and expression of cocaine-induced CPP, facilitate the extinction of cocaine-associated reward and attenuate reinstatement of cocaine-induced behavior. Furthermore, Ex4 treatment diminished expression levels of TLR4, TNF-α, and IL-1β, which were up-regulated by cocaine exposure. Altogether, our results indicated that Ex4 effectively ameliorated cocaine-induced behaviors likely through neurobiological mechanisms partly attributable to the inhibition of TLR4, TNF-α and IL-1β in mice. Consequently, our findings improved our understanding of the efficacy of Ex4 for the amelioration of cocaine-induced behavior and suggested that Ex4 may be applied as a drug candidate for cocaine addiction.
Diversité des populations bactériennes d'un réseau de distribution publique

Des prelevements systematiques d'echantillons d'eau destines a l'analyse microbiologique ont permis de definir une zonation du reseau de distribution publique de la ville de Metz. Pour chaque campagne de prelevement (Janvier, Avril et Juin 1984) 120 souches bacteriennes ont ete selectionnees par tirage au prorata de densite de microorganismes isoles par etalement sur milieu gelose nutritif R2A (Reasoner et Geldreich, 1979). Les bacilles gram negatif ont toujours represente groupe predominant. Cependant de Janvier a Juin 1984, leur proportion a diminue d'une maniere sensible (de 91,3 % a 68,1 %) au profit du groupe des bacilles gram +(variation de 7,8 % a 29,2 %). Ce glissement peut etre attribue a une diminution relative des populations de Pseudomonas et une augmentation des populations de Corynebacterium (alors que les bacteries du genre Flavobacterium semblent rester quantitativement stables). La repartition des genres bacteriens au sein du n'est pas homogene et certaines zones apparaissent dominees particulierement les Corynebacterium, etc. Le reseau de distribution publique represente ainsi un enorme reacteur heterogene dont les differentes zones se comportent d'une maniere quasi independante, meme en ce qui concerne la diversite des populations bacteriennes.
Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in a mule : first case reported

A 12-month-old mule (sterile hybrid equine species) presented unspecific neurological changes (symmetric ataxia, dysmetria, conscious proprioceptive deficit and weakness). Due to poor prognosis and to the fact that a sibling from the previous generation exhibited similar clinical signs that were not definitively diagnosed, the animal was euthanized. Diagnosis of neuroaxonal dystrophy was confirmed by anatomohistopathological analysis. This is the first clinical case of neuronal dystrophy in a mule reported in the world. The clinical and histopathological characteristics of this disease were very similar to those reported for several equine breeds. Therefore, the disease should also be considered in the diagnosis of neurological conditions in mules and donkeys.
A novel dual-template method for synthesis of SAPO-44 zeolite

The chabazite-like silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve SAPO-44 was first synthesized using tetraethylenepentamine and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine as dual-templates. Ammonia temperature-programmed desorption profiles confirmed the presence of abundant strong acid sites due to the higher Si/Al ratio in comparison with using the routine template cyclohexane, suggesting a promising application in solid acid catalysis by SAPO-44.
S1366728921000225jra 1..14

Mentalizing, a dynamic form of social cognition, is strengthened by language experience. Past research has found that bilingual children and adults outperform monolinguals on mentalizing tasks. However, bilingual experiences are multidimensional and diverse, and it is unclear how continuous individual differences in bilingual language experience relate to mentalizing. Here, we examine whether individual differences in bilingual language diversity, measured through language entropy, continuously pattern with mentalizing judgments among bilingual adults, and whether this relationship is constrained by first vs. second language reading. We tested sixty-one bilingual adults on a reading and inference task that compared mental state and logical inferences. We found that greater language diversity patterned with higher mentalizing judgments of mental state inferences across all readers, and that L2 readers attributed more mentalizing to logical inferences compared to L1 readers. Together, we found evidence of a positive relationship between continuous individual differences in bilingual language diversity and mentalizing.
Milk yield genetic parameters estimated using random regression model in Teleorman Black Head Sheep

Abstract Genetic parameters are important in breeding program of sheep. For the genetic evaluation of sheep was used the random regression test-day animal model. This model was better economic that another models because reduces generation interval and reduces the costs with test-days records. Data consisted of 1050 test-day of 403 ewes in first year (2017), 752 test-day of 374 ewes in second year (2018) and 1164 test-day of 319 ewes in third year (2019). The main goal to achieve the objectives of this research were the estimation of the genetic parameters important in obtaining the breeding value by calculation heritability for test-day milk yields and the correlations between test-days milk yields, for Teleorman Black Head Sheep population from Teleorman county in three different years. The heritability for test-day milk yield ranged from 0.150 to 0.237 in 2017, from 0.212 to 0.600 in 2018 and in 2019 from 0.186 to 0.403. Genetic correlations between sheep test-days milk yield in 2017 were positive and high.
Development and estimation of an animal subacute aging model induced by D-galactose

Objective The development and estimation of an animal subacute aging model induced by D galactose were reported in the paper.Methods The experiment was conducted on the 2.5 month old SD rats injected with D galactose 300? mg·kg -1 ·d -1 or 500? mg·kg -1 ·d -1 for 56 days by intra peritoneum.The level of SOD,MDA,CH and TG were measured and the weights of rats thymus,spleen and ovaries of female rats was weighed.Results The weights of male rats in group 500? mg· kg -1 ·d -1 were lower than that of the rats of control group without D galactose ( P 0.01),and the serum SOD activity was lower too( P 0.05),but the content of serum MDA were higher.And the result indicated that the ratio of rats thymus weight with body weight was reduced ( P 0.01) and that of spleen weight with body weight was increased in group 500? mg·kg -1 ·d -1 compared with control group.There were no significant differences between the indexes of female rats that were given D galactose 500? mg·kg -1 ·d -1 and the female rats in control group expect that the serum SOD activity was higher than the latter ( P 0.05). And 54.5% of the female rats that were given D galactose 500? mg·kg -1 ·d -1 had ovaries cyst.Conclusion Our results show that the rat model of subacute aging can be established by intra peritoneum injection of D galactic and the male rats are the first choice animals.
Glycophorin C in atherosclerotic plaque is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events after carotid endarterectomy.

Introduction Histological assessment studies have identified the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) as an indicator of plaque instability and resulting ischemic cerebral sequelae. Although the presence of IPH has been studied extensively in relation to neurological symptoms preceding carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or as a predictor for postoperative risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), the degree of IPH has not been studied before. Glycophorin, an erythrocyte-specific protein, has been suggested as a marker for the degree of previous hemorrhages in atherosclerotic plaque since erythrocytes are prominently present in IPH. We hypothesized that quantified plaque glycophorin C, as a proxy for the degree of IPH, is associated with destabilizing plaque characteristics, preprocedural symptoms, and increased postoperative risk for MACE. Methods We quantified glycophorin C and six other plaque characteristics with the slideToolkit method. We used human atherosclerotic plaque samples from 1971 consecutive asymptomatic and symptomatic (carotid endarterectomy) patients in the Athero-Express Biobank. Results The total area of glycophorin C in plaque was larger in individuals with a plaque with IPH compared to individuals with plaque without IPH (p<0.001). Quantified glycophorin C was significantly associated with ipsilateral pre-procedural neurological symptoms (OR:1.27, 95%CI:1.06-1.41, p=0.005). In addition, quantified glycophorin C was independently associated with an increased postoperative risk for MACE (HR:1.31, 95%CI:1.01-1.68, p=0.04). Stratified by sex, quantified glycophorin C was associated with an increased postoperative risk for MACE in male patients (HR:1.50, 95%CI:1.13-1.97, p=0.004), but not in female patients (HR:0.70, 95%CI:0.39-1.27, p=0.23). Conclusion Quantified glycophorin C, as a proxy for the degree of IPH, was independently associated with the presence of IPH, symptomatic preprocedural symptoms, and with an increased three-year postoperative risk of MACE. These findings indicate that quantified plaque glycophorin C can be considered as a marker for identifying male patients with a high residual risk for secondary MACE after CEA.
The impact of a demand-side sanitation and hygiene promotion intervention on sustained behavior change and health in Amhara, Ethiopia: A cluster-randomized trial

Background: Behaviors related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are key drivers of infectious disease transmission, and experiences of WASH are potential influencers of mental well-being. Important knowledge gaps exist related to the content and delivery of effective WASH programs and their associated health impacts, particularly within the contexts of government programs implemented at scale. Methods: We developed and tested a demand-side intervention called Andilaye, which aimed to change behaviors related to sanitation, personal hygiene, and household environmental sanitation. This theory-informed intervention was delivered through the existing Ethiopian Health Extension Programme (HEP). It was a multilevel intervention with a catalyzing event at community level and behavior change activities at group and household level. We randomly selected and assigned 50 kebeles (sub-districts) from three woredas (districts), half to receive the Andilaye intervention, and half the standard of care sanitation and hygiene programming (i.e., community-led total sanitation and hygiene [CLTSH]). We collected data on WASH access, behavioral outcomes, and mental well-being. Results: A total of 1,589 households were enrolled into the study at baseline; 1,472 households (94%) participated in an endline assessment two years after baseline, and approximately 14 months after the initiation of a multi-level intervention. The intervention did not improve construction of latrines (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.99; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.21) or handwashing stations with water (PR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.26), or the removal of animal feces from the compound (PR=1.10; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.28). Nor did it impact anxiety (PR 0.90; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.11), depression (PR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.07), emotional distress (PR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.67, 1.09) or well-being (PR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.10) scores. Discussion: We report limited impact of the intervention, as delivered, on changes inbehavior and mental well-being. The effectiveness of the intervention was limited by poor intervention fidelity. While sanitation and hygiene improvements have been documented in Ethiopia, behavioral slippage, or regression to unimproved practices, in communities previously declared open defecation free is widespread. Evidence from this trial may help address knowledge gaps related to challenges associated with scalable alternatives to CLTSH and inform sanitation and hygiene programming and policy in Ethiopia and beyond.