Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphology and Life-cycle of an Amoeba Producing Amoebiasis in Reptiles

The morphology and life cycle of an amoeba producing amoebiasis in reptiles is described. The organism is assigned to the species Entamoeba invadens Rodham 1934, because of the pathogenicity of that species. Material for the study was derived from 30 individuals of 7 species of reptiles, either dying of spontaneous amoebiasis or experimentally infected. (Material from 3 additional species of reptiles dying of amoebiasis was not used in this study.) With the exception of a few minor morphological differences, E. invadens was found to be strikingly similar to E. histolytica in morphology of trophic and cystic stages, and in the processes of encystation, excystation, and metacystic development. Metacystic development was studied in stained preparations made from the intestines of snakes 1–24 hours after the inoculation by mouth of mature cysts. Excystation usually takes place in the jejunum and ileum, a single quadrinucleate amoeba hatching from each cyst. Each quadrinucleate metacystic amoeba ultimately forms 8 amoebulae as a result of one division of each cystic nucleus, cytoplasmic division, and parcelling out of the cystic (N) and daughter (n) nuclei. Nineteen of the 24 possible combinations of N and n nuclei were observed. The culture phenomena of multiple fission without encystment is suggested, and cannibalism of cysts by the trophozoites is described.
Occurrence of Dental Anomalies in Colombian Patients with Special Needs

Objective: To determine the occurrence of dental anomalies in patients with special needs from Barranquilla, Colombia. Material and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample of 59 patients chosen at convenience for 6 months during the course of 2017. With prior approval by experts, an instrument that identified dental anomalies was applied, followed by an institutional clinical history, intraoral clinical examination and final evaluation of the study variables, with descriptive statistics. Results: With regards to age ranges, 25% of subjects were between 14 to 17 years, and 19% between 22 to 25 years. The average age was 14 (± 7.9). No cases were found in the age range of 26 to 29 years. In terms of gender, males predominated with 78%. The anomaly that predominated was fluorosis (50.8%), followed by agenesis (23.7%). The syndrome and / or disorder with the highest frequency of dental anomalies was mental retardation with 39%, followed by behavioral disorders (22%) Conclusion: The frequency of dental anomalies in patients with special needs was evidenced, showing higher prevalence of dental fluorosis in patients with mental retardation, and a higher incidence in males; in the patients with syndromes and / or disorders who were observed, there were a few oral findings unrelated to dental anomalies.
Effect Of Degrees Of Deacetylation On The Antimicrobial Activities Of Chitosan

Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide polymer derived from chitin and was investigated for the effect of degree of deacetylation and its antimicrobial activity. The chitin was subjected to modification using 30%, 40% and 50% NaOH to obtain chitosan of various degree of Deacetylation and were subjected to physiochemical analysis such as: solubility, moisture content, ash content, viscosity and degree of deacetylation, Ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV-Visible), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and the antimicrobial study (zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacteriocidal/ fungicidal concentration) The degree of deacetylation was 80% when 50%w/v NaOH was used and 67% 30% w/v NaOH, which shows that as the concentration of NaOH increases the more acetyl groups are been removed.
A century of fungicide evolution

Up until the 1940s chemical disease control relied upon inorganic chemical preparations, frequently prepared by the user. Key areas of use were horticulture and vegetable production with key targets being diseases that caused easily recognized damage. After this era and as the damaging effects of more crop diseases became obvious by the use of chemical control, the crop protection industry expanded rapidly and research to discover new active materials began in earnest. As new areas of chemistry were introduced, each one aiming to offer advantages over the previous ones, chemical families were born with research-based companies frequently adopting patent-busting strategies in order to capitalize on the developing fungicides market. Systemic fungicides offered new opportunities in disease control. The rise in Research and Development (R & D) and the increase in the number and quantity of chemicals being applied led to the introduction of regulation in the 1950s, initially on a voluntary basis, but now strictly controlled by legal obligations. In the 1960s, the market switched from horticulture and vegetables to one in which the main agricultural crops dominated. The cereal market, initially based on barley, moved to the current dominant market of wheat. The costs of R & D have risen dramatically in recent years and have become dominated not by the discovery process per se but by the provision of all the extra data needed to obtain registration. These rising costs happened at a time when markets showed little growth and are currently showing some decline. This has resulted in an industry that is continually striving to cut costs, normally by mergers and take-overs. As a consequence, many plant disease problems are not now being targeted by the industry and special measures have been introduced to ensure adequate disease control is available for these minor markets. Plant disease control will remain a necessity and fungicides will remain as a key factor in such control, although it is predicted that integrated control using chemicals, biological controls and biotechnology approaches will begin to dominate.
COVID-19 and Air Quality: Evidence from China

ABSTRACT To test the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air quality, this article matches the city-level real-time air quality monitoring data with the big data on population migration provided by Baidu. The article uses urban samples from the same data sample of the Chinese lunar calendar in 2019 to construct the counterfactual status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the difference-in-differences (DID) model is employed to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air quality. It is found that the COVID-19 pandemic caused PM2.5 and AQI to decrease by about 7 μg/m3 and 5-points, respectively.
Fecundity and maturity of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) from Cardigan Bay

Measurements of fecundity are given for plaice (Pleuronedes platessa L.) sampled from Cardigan Bay. Values were compared with those obtained in 1953 from Cardigan Bay and from the eastern Irish Sea, and no differences were found; a marked contrast to results from the North Sea. Analysis of egg size showed that eggs develop earlier in older fish. A mechanism for ‘fine-tuning’ of fecundity is discussed. Size and age at maturity are calculated for Cardigan Bay plaice, and are compared with rates from surrounding areas. Plaice mature at an earlier age in Cardigan Bay.
Anticonvulsant activity of the methanol root bark extract of Ficus sycomorus Linn. (Moraceae)

Context: Ficus sycomorus Linn. (Moraceae) is used in Northern Nigeria for the management of grand mal epilepsy without any scientific validation. Aims: To evaluate the phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity study and anticonvulsant properties of the methanol root bark extract of F. sycomorus. Methods: The basic phytochemical screening, Lorke’s method and three models of epilepsy were employed, which include the maximal electroshock test in chicks, and pentylenetetrazole- and 4-aminopyridine-induced seizures in mice. Results: The extract revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, carbohydrate, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was estimated to be 565.69 mg/kg body weight. The extract afforded a slight protection, 30% (highest dose used) to the laboratory animals against the maximal electroshock test. The duration of convulsion decreased, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05) when compared to the untreated group. Also, the extract did not protect the animals against the chemically induced seizures by pentylenetetrazole and 4-aminopyridine. Conclusions: The data suggest that the methanol root bark extract of F. sycomorus, at the doses tested and under the experimental conditions reported, may not contain psychoactive principles that are relevant to the management of grand mal epilepsy as claimed by the traditional medicine practitioners.
Enhancing nursing home care for seniors: impact of a living classroom on nursing assistant’s education

ABSTRACT Nursing Assistants (NAs) are the largest workforce in nursing homes, but often lack adequate preparation for their role. The Living Classroom (LC) is an integrated learning approach, whereby a NA program is delivered in a nursing home (NH) in collaboration with a community college. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of the LC. Mixed methods were used to gather data from 48 NA students, 5 faculty, and 42 NH staff over 30 weeks. Students, faculty, and nursing home staff described the LC as a positive learning experience. Students’ gerontological knowledge increased over time (p = .0012). Students reported very positive relationships with program mentors and NH residents. The LC provides a unique approach to prepare NAs to work in nursing homes. This model could expand to other educational programs with a gerontology focus.
Organizational Acceptance of Social Media Marketing: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

ABSTRACT By surveying 115 social media marketing professionals in 17 different countries and regions, this study extends Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and digital divide research at the organizational level in the cross-cultural context. There are three major findings. First, there are significant differences in perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived usefulness (PU), and behavioural intention (BI) among different types of organizations (U.S. vs. Non-U.S. and global vs. domestic). Second, cultural convergence and cultural divergences theories may complement, instead of contradict, with each other. Finally, second-level digital divide may exist between non-U.S. based domestic organizations and the other three types of organizations.
An Improved Antiserum for Sensitive Serologic Detection of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus

A Syrian chickpea isolate of Chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus (CpCDV; genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) was purified and yielded 0.6-0.8 mg of purified virus per kg of infected chickpea tissue. The purified preparations were injected into a rabbit and an antiserum of good quality was obtained and used to evaluate different serological tests for the detection of CpCDV in infected chickpea leaf tissue and extracts. CpCDV was detected in sap dilutions of 1/640 by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and dot-blot ELISA, and in sap dilutions of 1/1280 by direct antigen-coating (DAC)-ELISA using CpCDV immunoglobulin G (IgG) at 0.5 μg/ml. The antiserum was also able to detect the capsid protein of CpCDV by Western blot using raw antiserum at a dilution of 1/2000. The CpCDV raw antiserum (third bleeding) produced had a titre of 1/320 000 when determined by tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA); whereas, coating ELISA plates with CpCDV IgG at a concentration of 0.004 μg/ml was enough to detect the virus by DAS-ELISA in a sap dilution of 1/20 using an enzyme conjugate at a dilution of 1/2000.
Acute stress induced by the preslaughter use of electric prodders causes tougher beef meat

Adrenergic activation and hormone release preslaughter is an inevitable outcome of the systems used to move cattle to slaughter. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of acute preslaughter stress in beef cattle on postmortem muscle metabolism and the meat quality, including consumer-assessed eating quality. Eighty-four cattle were used on three separate days, with ‘mobs’ of four cattle allocated to either a ‘control’ (no electric goads used preslaughter) or a ‘stress’ (six prods given with an electric goad over 5–10 min) treatment at 15 min preslaughter. Cattle undergoing the ‘stress’ treatment had higher plasma lactate at slaughter. The prerigor pH and temperature, ultimate pH and temperature at rigor of the longissimus thoracis muscle were similar between treatments (P > 0.05 for all). The water-holding capacity of the longissimus lumborum was reduced by the ‘stress’ treatment, as indicated by higher levels of water lost during suspension (drip loss), storage (purge) for 21 days and cooking (cooking loss at 1 day postslaughter) (P 0.05 for all). In conclusion, cattle subjected to acute preslaughter stress using electric goads produced meat which the consumer rated as tougher with inferior quality. The inferior quality induced by the acute stress treatment was associated with reduced water-holding capacity but was independent of muscle pH and temperature.
Psychological Reactions

were more likely to develop infection than normal women. Of particular interest in the management of patients during labour are the more serious infections that occur in paraplegic patients, since these women are liable to the acute reaction of the autonomic nervous system, which causes a great rise in blood pressure. These reactions are both disturbing and dangerous. I thank Dr. H. L. Frankel for his helpful advice and criticism in the preparation of this paper.
Phylogeny-based species delimitation and integrative taxonomic revision of the Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni species complex, with resurrection of H. viridissimum (Taylor, 1942)

Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni is one of the widest ranging glassfrog species, occurring in the lowlands from Mexico through Central America to Ecuador. Despite its conservative morphology, previous studies suggested that the species is comprised of multiple lineages. Here we test the hypothesis of cryptic species within H. fleischmanni by means of morphology, morphometrics, bioacoustics, and molecular analysis. Molecular delimitation based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes detected 17 candidate species within H. fleischmanni but combined with other sources of evidence, we support the recognition of at least three different species within the name H. fleischmanni. The identity of H. fleischmanni sensu stricto is supported for populations from Costa Rica to eastern Honduras while the name Hyalinobatrachium tatayoi corresponds to the southern lineages in Costa Rica and South America. Those two species differ in the note duration of the advertisement call and in the absence of nuptial pads in the hand webbing of H. fleischmanni males. Populations from Mexico and Guatemala represent a third species to which we assign the available name H. viridissimum comb. nov. Hyalinobatrachium viridissimum differs from H. fleischmanni and H. tatayoi in mitochondrial DNA divergence, variation in peak frequency, and note duration of the advertisement call. A divergent lineage from western and central Honduras is tentatively assigned to H. viridissimum. Based on these results, we provide updated information for each species. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:96D65174-4F8B-4E4B-8C85-967767311255
Use of tomato and cucumber waste fruits in goat diets: effects on rumen fermentation and microbial communities in batch and continuous cultures

SUMMARY Two in vitro experiments were conducted to analyse the effects of replacing dietary barley grain with wastes of tomato and cucumber fruits and a 1 : 1 tomato : cucumber mixture on rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial abundance. The control (CON) substrate contained 250 g/kg of barley grain on a dry matter (DM) basis, and another 15 substrates were formulated by replacing 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 g of barley grain/kg with the same amount (DM basis) of tomato or cucumber fruits or 1 : 1 tomato : cucumber mixture. In Expt 1, all substrates were incubated in batch cultures with rumen micro-organisms from goats for 24 h. Increasing amounts of tomato, cucumber and the mixture of both fruits in the substrate increased final pH and gas production, without changes in final ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations, substrate degradability and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, indicating that there were no detrimental effects of any waste fruits on rumen fermentation. Therefore, in Expt 2 the substrates including 250 g of waste fruits (T250, C250 and M250 for tomato, cucumber and the mixture of both fruits, respectively) and the CON substrate were incubated in single-flow continuous-culture fermenters for 8 days. Total VFA production did not differ among substrates, but there were differences in VFA profile. Molar proportions of propionate, isobutyrate and isovalerate were lower and acetate : propionate ratio was greater for T250 compared with CON substrate. Fermentation of substrates containing cucumber (C250 and M250) resulted in lower proportions of acetate, isobutyrate and isovalerate and acetate : propionate ratio, but greater butyrate proportions than the CON substrate. Carbohydrate degradability and microbial N synthesis tended to be lower for substrates containing cucumber than for the CON substrate, but there were no differences between CON and T250 substrates. Abundance of total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, fungi, methanogenic archaea and protozoa were similar in fermenters fed T250 and CON substrates, but fermenters fed C250 and M250 substrates had lower abundances of R. flavefaciens, fungi and protozoa than those fed the CON substrate. Results indicated that tomato fruits could replace dietary barley grain up to 250 g/kg of substrate DM without noticeable effects on rumen fermentation and microbial populations, but the inclusion of cucumber fruits at 250 g/kg of substrate DM negatively affected some microbial populations as it tended to reduce microbial N synthesis and changed the VFA profile. More studies are needed to identify the dietary inclusion level of cucumber which produces no detrimental effects on rumen fermentation and microbial growth.
The use of mini-implant in pre-prosthetic orthodontic treatment

The use of skeletal anchorage through mini-implants has been widely widespread in orthodontic treatment today, detaching therapies with complex orthodontic movements and need for maximum anchorage. The aim of this article is to describe an orthodontic treatment case report using mini-implant, in order to the preparation for prosthetic rehabilitation in clinical situation of multiple dental losses in an adult patient. Partial bonding of brackets edgewise prescription in maxilla was carried out, also the alignment and leveling with sequence of nickel-titanium and stainless steel arches. Posteriorly, a mini-implant with 8 millimeters length was inserted for movement and retraction with maximum control of anchorage in the right superior region hemi-arch, together with elastics and mechanic springs. Orthodontic mechanics proposed reached satisfactory alignment and leveling of teeth involved, recovering space for an appropriate prosthetic rehabilitation. The treatment demonstrated very acceptable itself, with maintenance of face balance and patient’s satisfaction with the result obtained. The use of mini-implant to help orthodontic treatment showed efficiency in the clinical case presented. Its handling was easy with low cost, the different possibilities of configuration for load vectors and elimination of anchorage losses in complex orthodontic movements are some characteristics which made the mini-implants a strong ally for orthodontist in daily clinical activities.
INTERVASCULAR PITTING ACROSS THE ANNUAL RING BOUNDARY IN BETULA PLATYPHYLLA VAR. JAPONICA AND FRAXINUS MANDSHURICA VAR. JAPONICA

The structure of intervascular pits, located at the boundary between the outermost and the second youngest annual rings in Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Fraxinus mandshurica var. japonica was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Unilaterally compound pits were present in the intervascular common wall at the annual ring boundary in both species. On the outer annual ring side of the unilaterally compound pits, outlines of pit membranes were curved or trifoliate, and each pit aperture was often elongated and curved. The porosity of the intervascular pit membranes differed between the two species. In B. platyphylla var. japonica, microfibrils were loosely packed in the peripheral region of each pit membrane, and openings of up to 300 nm in width were observed. By contrast, microfibrils were densely packed throughout the entire pit membranes in F. mandshurica var. japonica, and no openings perforating the pit membranes entirely were found. In addition, each species exhibited some unique features. In B. platyphylla var. japonica, extensive ethanol-soluble material was detected not only in the intervascular pits but also on scalariform perforation plates. In F. mandshurica var. japonica, we observed fine curly fibrils of unkown chemical composition in the intervascular pit membranes.
The Impact of an Early Reading Intervention with English Language Learners and Native-English-Speaking Children

Abstract This study investigated the effectiveness of a supplemental reading program that emphasizes phoneme awareness and phonics with small groups composed of both at-risk native English-speakers and at-risk English language learners (ELLs) whose first language is not Spanish. A multiple-baseline-across-participants design was utilized to investigate the effects of the intervention. Findings indicate that individual students placed in small reading groups comprised of ELLs and native English-speakers benefited from the code-oriented intervention, reinforcing the use of evidence-based instruction and more inclusive grouping practices for instruction. When disaggregated by language status, both ELLs and native English-speakers benefited from the supplemental reading instruction. Educational implications and areas for future research are discussed.
Oil content and physicochemical characteristics of some wild oilseed plants from Kivu region Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Seeds were collected from Carapa grandiflora, Carapa procera, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Maesopsis eminii, Millettia dura, Myrianthus arboreus, Myrianthus holstii, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Podocarpus usambarensis, Tephrosia vogelii and Treculia africana from Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the surrounding areas in D.R. Congo. Oils were extracted using ethyl ether in Soxhlet extractor. Physicochemical characteristics were determined using the methods of the American Oil Chemists Society. The seed oil content obtained ranged from 17.2 to 64.4%; the highest was obtained from P. usambarensis and the lowest from T. vogelii. The oil specific gravity varied from 0.8050 to 0.9854; the oils melting point ranged from -12 to 32°C; the oil saponification values from 182.5 to 260.9 mg KOH/g; the oil acidity index from 1.74 to 5.31 mg KOH/g and the unsaponifiable matter from 0.54 to 2.25%. The plant seed oils content reported in this study are comparatively higher than some food crop plants such as soybean and olive. Five of these oils have oil melting range as that of edible oils. C. grandiflora, C. halicacabum, M. eminii and the two species of Myrianthus are in the range of common cooking oils by their specific gravity values. P. usambarensis seed oil with its relatively high unsaponifiable matter content can have efficacy as cosmetic.