Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Método de preparo das sementes de mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.) para o teste de tetrazólio

The tetrazolium test is a quick and accurate method for estimating seed viability and vigor. This research had the objective of standardizing the preparation methods for castor bean seeds (Ricinus communis L.) to evaluate the physiological potential by the tetrazolium test. The evaluated seed preparation methods were: longitudinal cut through the middle of the seed coat, endosperm and embryo; longitudinal and diagonal cut without reaching the embryo; seed coat removal; seed coat removal with longitudinal cut through the middle of the endosperm and embryo; and seed coat removal with longitudinal cut parallel to the cotyledons through the middle of the endosperm and embryo. Before carrying out the preparation methods, the seeds were preconditioned between moist paper towels for 18 hours at 30oC, and after preparation, the seeds were immersed in tetrazolium solution at 0.5% concentration and then placed in a dark chamber at 35oC for the staining development. The staining uniformity was evaluated after each preparation method by comparing the methods. It was concluded that the best seed preparation method was coat removal with a lengthwise longitudinal cut, through the middle of the endosperm and embryo.
Nanotechnology-Based Vaccines for Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy: Potentials and Challenges of Conventional and Novel Adjuvants under Research

The increasing prevalence of allergic diseases demands efficient therapeutic strategies for their mitigation. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only causal rather than symptomatic treatment method available for allergy. Currently, AIT is being administered using immune response modifiers or adjuvants. Adjuvants aid in the induction of a vigorous and long-lasting immune response, thereby improving the efficiency of AIT. The successful development of a novel adjuvant requires a thorough understanding of the conventional and novel adjuvants under development. Thus, this review discusses the potentials and challenges of these adjuvants and their mechanism of action. Vaccine development based on nanoparticles is a promising strategy for AIT, due to their inherent physicochemical properties, along with their ease of production and ability to stimulate innate immunity. Although nanoparticles have provided promising results as an adjuvant for AIT in in vivo studies, a deeper insight into the interaction of nanoparticle–allergen complexes with the immune system is necessary. This review focuses on the methods of harnessing the adjuvant effect of nanoparticles by detailing the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune response, which includes allergen uptake, processing, presentation, and induction of T cell differentiation.
Intra- and Interhospital Repeatability of Radionuclide Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Post-Infarction Patients

Objective - To evaluate intra- and interobserver and interhospital repeatability of radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction in post-infarction patients. Design - The study comprised 131 patients who were examined in three different hospitals 2-7 days post infarction. The radionuclide examinations were conducted in a standardized manner, and different observers carried out repeated measurements blind on the stored raw data. Results
Biodiversity Indicators Show Climate Change Will Alter Vegetation in Parks and Protected Areas

While multifaceted, a chief aim when designating parks and protected areas is to support the preservation of biological diversity, in part, through representing and conserving the full range of landscape conditions observed throughout a representative area. Parks and protected areas are, however, typically developed using a static interpretation of current biodiversity and landscape conditions. The observed and potential climate change impacts to biodiversity have created a need to also contemplate how parks and protected areas will respond to climate change and how these areas will represent the future range of landscape conditions. To assess change in biodiversity, broad-scale ecosystem information can be sourced from indirect remotely sensed indicators. Quantifying biodiversity through indirect indicators allows characterization of inter-relationships between climate and biodiversity. Such characterizations support the assessment of possible implications of climatic change, as the indicators can be generated using modeled forecasts of future climatic conditions. In this paper we model and map impacts of climate change on British Columbia’s parks and protected areas by quantifying change in a number of remotely sensed indicators of biodiversity. These indicators are based on the measured amount of incoming solar energy used by vegetation and map the overall annual energy utilization, variability (seasonality), and latent or baseline energy. We compare current conditions represented by parks and protected areas, to those forecasted in the year 2065. Our results indicate that parks and protected areas are forecasted to become more productive and less seasonal, due to increased vegetation productivity in higher elevation environments. While increased vegetation productivity may be beneficial for biodiversity overall, these changes will be particularly problematic for sensitive and specialist species. Future gaps in vegetation conditions protected by parks and protected areas are observed in the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains and the central interior region of British Columbia. Protected areas along the Coast Mountains, Vancouver Island highlands, and the Rocky Mountains show the greatest levels of change in the biodiversity indicators, including decreasing seasonality, with the Mountain Hemlock ecozone most at risk. Examples of large parks that are predicted to experience rapid change in vegetation characteristics include Strathcona, Garabaldi, and Kitlope. Our maps of future spatial distributions of indirect biodiversity indicators fill a gap in information products available for adaptive parks management and provide an opportunity for dialogue and further research on the use of future scenarios of landscape conditions in conservation planning.
Comparison of operation of spinal locomotor networks activated by supraspinal commands and by epidural stimulation of the spinal cord in cats

Epidural electrical stimulation (ES) of the spinal cord restores/improves locomotion in patients. ES‐evoked locomotor movements differ to some extent from the normal ones. Operation of the locomotor network during ES is unknown. We compared the activity of individual spinal neurons during locomotion initiated by signals from the brainstem and by ES. We demonstrated that the spinal network generating locomotion under each of the two conditions is formed by the same neurons. A part of this network operates similarly under the two conditions, suggesting that it is essential for generation of locomotion under both conditions. Another part of this network operates differently under the two conditions, suggesting that it is responsible for differences in the movement kinematics observed under the two conditions.
Arts-based approaches to promoting health in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Introduction Arts-based approaches to health promotion have been used widely across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in public health responses to HIV/AIDS. Such approaches draw on deep-rooted historical traditions of indigenous groups in combination with imported traditions which emerged from colonial engagement. To date, no review has sought to map the locations, health issues, art forms and methods documented by researchers using arts-based approaches in SSA. Methods Using scoping review methodology, 11 databases spanning biomedicine, arts and humanities and social sciences were searched. Researchers screened search results for papers using predefined criteria. Papers included in the review were read and summarised using a standardised proforma. Descriptive statistics were produced to characterise the location of the studies, art forms used or discussed, and the health issues addressed, and to determine how best to summarise the literature identified. Results Searches identified a total of 59 794 records, which reduced to 119 after screening. We identified literature representing 30 (62.5%) of the 48 countries in the SSA region. The papers covered 16 health issues. The majority (84.9%) focused on HIV/AIDS-related work, with Ebola (5.0%) and malaria (3.3%) also receiving attention. Most studies used a single art form (79.0%), but a significant number deployed multiple forms (21.0%). Theatre-based approaches were most common (43.7%), followed by music and song (22.6%), visual arts (other) (9.2%), storytelling (7.6%) and film (5.0%). Conclusions Arts-based approaches have been widely deployed in health promotion in SSA, particularly in response to HIV/AIDS. Historically and as evidenced by this review, arts-based approaches have provided a platform to facilitate enquiry, achieved significant reach and in some instances supported demonstrable health-related change. Challenges relating to content, power relations and evaluation have been reported. Future research should focus on broadening application to other conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, and on addressing challenges raised in research to date.
Mainstream technology to support basic communication and leisure in people with neurological disorders, motor impairment and lack of speech

ABSTRACT Objective To assess a simple technology solution to support basic communication and leisure in people with neurological disorders, extensive motor impairment, and absence of speech. Design The design was a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants. Methods The study included eight participants and assessed a technology setup including a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 LTE tablet and a Samsung Galaxy A3 smartphone. The smartphone, automated via MacroDroid, presented the participant with leisure, messages, and caregiver options. Choosing leisure or messages (by activating the smartphone’s proximity sensor) led the smartphone to present the alternatives available for that option and eventually verbalize the alternative selected. This verbalization triggered the tablet’s Google Assistant and led the tablet to present a leisure event or start a message exchange. Choosing the caregiver led the smartphone to invite the caregiver to interact with the participant. Results During baseline (i.e., when a standard smartphone was available), the participants did not activate any of the options. During intervention and post-intervention (i.e., with the technology described above), participants activated all options and spent most of the session time positively engaged with them. Conclusions The aforementioned technology seems to be a useful tool for individuals like those involved in this study.
Evaluation of Tissue Preparation for in vitro Study of Hepatic Long-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism

Andersen J. B. , Larsen T. , Ingvartsen K. L. (Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, P.O. Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark). Evaluation of tissue preparation for in Øitro study of hepatic long-chain fatty acid metabolism. Accepted February 11, 2000. Acta Agric. Scand. , Sect. A, Animal Sci. 51: 47 ± 52, 2001. © 2001 Taylor & Francis.
Shell Structure And Inferred Growth, Functions And Affinities Of The Sclerites Of The Problematic Micrina

The stratiform laminae of Micrina sclerites originally consisted of rheomorphic successions of monolayers of micrometric–sized, apatitic tablets, presumably interleaved with chitin and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Paired laminae enclose slot–like chambers swelling into lobes distally that originally contained GAGs and deposits of spherulitic and prismatic apatite. The laminae are pervaded by apatitic tubes, apparently secreted by microvillous setoblasts and containing, at the surface, chitinous setae. Internal markings suggest that the triangular (sellate) sclerite supported a pair of muscles and the planospiral (mitral) sclerite, a medial muscle and gonadal sacs flanked by a pair of crescentic muscle bases. Both sclerites were secreted by a mantle with a circumferential fold. The sellate and mitral sclerites are homologized with the anterior and posterior shells of Halkieria and could have become the dorsal and ventral valves of the ancestral brachiopod by a sequence of transformations. These include: the folding of the halkieriid body axis; accelerated mixoperipheral growth of the anterior (dorsal) shell to enclose, with the posterior (ventral) shell, a mantle cavity lined with modified ciliated epithelium of the foot; reduction of sclerite–secreting epithelium to the locus of the brachiopod pedicle epithelium; and the anterior (dorsal) spread of gonadal lamellae.
Atomic Layer Deposition of ZnO on Mesoporous Silica: Insights into Growth Behavior of ZnO via In-Situ Thermogravimetric Analysis

ZnO is a remarkable material with many applications in electronics and catalysis. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZnO on flat substrates is an industrially applied and well-known process. Various studies describe the growth of ZnO layers on flat substrates. However, the growth characteristics and reaction mechanisms of atomic layer deposition of ZnO on mesoporous powders have not been well studied. This study investigates the ZnO ALD process based on diethylzinc (DEZn) and water with silica powder as substrate. In-situ thermogravimetric analysis gives direct access to the growth rates and reaction mechanisms of this process. Ex-situ analytics, e.g., N2 sorption analysis, XRD, XRF, HRTEM, and STEM-EDX mapping, confirm deposition of homogenous and thin films of ZnO on SiO2. In summary, this study offers new insights into the fundamentals of an ALD process on high surface area powders.
Temperature effects on otolith pattern formation in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua

The effect of food intake and temperature on otolith macrostructure and microstructure was examined experimentally in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. Daily increment formation was validated and otolith accretion rate and optical density quantified using image analysis. Two-week periods of starvation had no discernable effect on otolith increment width or optical density, despite having negative effects on somatic growth. In contrast, temperature had a strong positive effect on otolith accretion rate and clear effects on optical density with the otolith becoming more translucent at higher temperatures. Somatic growth, otolith accretion and otolith optical density each had a significantly different response curve to temperature. No relationship was detected between individual somatic growth rates and the accretion rate or optical properties of the otolith. The experimental manipulation of temperature-induced otolith patterns similar to the ‘false ring’ secondary structures sometimes observed in the otoliths of wild fish. The results suggest that otolith pattern arises from a combination of temperature and seasonal effects, but not directly from individual variation in somatic growth. # 2008 Crown Copyright Journal compilation # 2008 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Direct and Indirect Targets of the Arabidopsis Seed Transcription Factor ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3.

Arabidopsis thaliana ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) is a transcription factor in the B3 domain family. ABI3, along with B3 domain transcription factors LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) and FUSCA3 (FUS3), and LEC1, a subunit of the CCAAT box binding complex, form the so-called LAFL network to control various aspects of seed development and maturation. ABI3 also contributes to the abscisic acid (ABA) response. We report on chromatin immunoprecipitation-tiling array experiments to globally map binding sites for ABI3. We also assessed transcriptomes in response to ABI3 by comparing developing abi3-5 and wild type seeds and combine this information to ascertain direct and indirect responsive ABI3 target genes. ABI3 can directly induce and repress its target genes' transcription and some intriguing differences exist in cis motifs between these groups of genes. Directly regulated targets reflect ABI3's roles in seed maturation, desiccation tolerance, entry into a quiescent state and longevity. Interestingly, ABI3 directly represses a gene encoding a microRNA (MIR160B) that targets AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF)10 and ARF16 that are involved in establishment of dormancy. In addition, ABI3, like FUS3, regulates genes encoding MIR156 but while FUS3 only induces genes encoding this product, ABI3 induces these genes during early stages of seed development, but represses these genes during late development. The interplay between ABI3, the other LAFL genes, and the VP1/ABI3-LIKE (VAL) genes that are involved in the transition to seedling development are examined and reveal complex interactions controlling development.
Sedentariness and Urinary Metabolite Profile in Type 2 Diabetic Patients, a Cross-Sectional Study

Recent findings indicate a significant association between sedentary (SED)-time and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to investigate whether different levels of SED-time could impact on biochemical and physiological processes occurring in sedentary and physically inactive T2DM patients. In particular, patients from the “Italian Diabetes and Exercise Study (IDES)_2 trial belonging to the first and fourth quartile of SED-time were compared. Urine samples were analyzed by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) with parallel detection by mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection (GC × 2GC-MS/FID). This platform enables accurate profiling and fingerprinting of urinary metabolites while maximizing the overall information capacity, quantitation reliability, and response linearity. Moreover, using advanced pattern recognition, the fingerprinting process was extended to untargeted and targeted features, revealing diagnostic urinary fingerprints between groups. Quantitative metabolomics was then applied to analytes of relevance for robust comparisons. Increased levels of glycine, L-valine, L-threonine, L-phenylalanine, L-leucine, L-alanine, succinic acid, 2-ketoglutaric acid, xylitol, and ribitol were revealed in samples from less sedentary women. In conclusion, SED-time is associated with changes in urine metabolome signatures. These preliminary results suggest that reducing SED-time could be a strategy to improve the health status of a large proportion of diabetic patients.
A Novel Role of Interleukin 13 Receptor alpha2 in Perineural Invasion and its Association with Poor Prognosis of Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma †

Perineural invasion (PNI) is one of the major pathological characteristics of pancreatic ductal adeno-carcinoma (PDAC), which is mediated by invading cancer cells into nerve cells. Herein, we identify the overexpression of Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 (IL-13Rα2) in the PNI from 236 PDAC samples by studying its expression at the protein levels by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the RNA level by in situ hybridization (ISH). We observe that ≥75% samples overexpressed IL-13Rα2 by IHC and ISH in grade 2 and 3 tumors, while ≥64% stage II and III tumors overexpressed IL-13Rα2 (≥2+). Interestingly, ≥36 % peripancreatic neural plexus (PL) and ≥70% nerve endings (Ne) among PNI in PDAC samples showed higher levels of IL-13Rα2 (≥2+). IL-13Rα2 +ve PL and Ne subjects survived significantly less than IL-13Rα2 –ve subjects, suggesting that IL-13Rα2 may have a unique role as a biomarker of PNI-aggressiveness. Importantly, IL-13Rα2 may be a therapeutic target for intervention, which might not only prolong patient survival but also help alleviate pain attributed to perineural invasion. Our study uncovers a novel role of IL-13Rα2 in PNI as a key factor of the disease severity, thus revealing a therapeutically targetable option for PDAC and to facilitate PNI-associated pain management.
Nuclear rDNA characteristics for DNA taxonomy of the centric diatom Chaetoceros (Bacillariophyceae)

The genus Chaetoceros provides highly diversified diatoms in marine systems. Morphological descriptions of the genus are well-documented, yet the DNA taxonomy of Chaetoceros has not been satisfactorily established. Here, the molecular divergences of the 18S-28S rDNA of Chaetoceros were assessed. DNA similarities were relatively low in both 18S (93.1 3.9%) and 28S rDNA (81.0 4.6%). Phylogenies of the 18S, 28S rDNAs showed that Chaetoceros was divided according to individual species, clustering the same species into single clades. Statistical analysis with corrected genetic (p-) distance scores showed that nucleotide divergence of Chaetoceros 28S rDNA significantly differed from that of 18S rDNA (Student's t-test, p
Detecting suicidal thoughts: The power of ecological momentary assessment

Researchers and clinicians have typically relied on retrospective reports to monitor suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Smartphone technology has made real‐time monitoring of suicidal thoughts possible via mobile ecological momentary assessment (EMA). However, little is known about how information gleaned from EMA compares with that obtained by retrospective reports. The authors sought to compare suicidal ideation (SI) assessed over 1 week using EMA with a retrospective gold‐standard interviewer‐administered measure covering the same period.
Cross‐Taxa Distinctions in Mechanisms of Developmental Effects for Aquatic Species Exposed to Trifluralin

Standard ecological risk assessment practices often rely on larval and juvenile fish toxicity data as representative of the amphibian aquatic phase. Empirical evidence suggests that endpoints measured in fish early life stage tests are often sufficient to protect larval amphibians. However, the process of amphibian metamorphosis relies on endocrine cues that affect development and morphological restructuring and are not represented by these test endpoints. The present study compares developmental endpoints for zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), 2 standard test species, exposed to the herbicide trifluralin throughout the larval period. Danio rerio were more sensitive and demonstrated a reduction in growth measurements with increasing trifluralin exposure. Size of X. laevis at metamorphosis was not correlated with exposure concentration; however, time to metamorphosis was delayed relative to trifluralin concentration. Gene expression patterns indicate discrepancies in response by D. rerio and X. laevis, and dose‐dependent metabolic activity suggests that trifluralin exposure perturbed biological pathways differently within the 2 species. Although many metabolites were correlated with exposure concentration in D. rerio, nontargeted hepatic metabolomics identified a subset of metabolites that exhibited a nonmonotonic response to trifluralin exposure in X. laevis. Linking taxonomic distinctions in cellular‐level response with ecologically relevant endpoints will refine assumptions used in interspecies extrapolation of standard test effects and improve assessment of sublethal impacts on amphibian populations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1797–1812. Published 2020. This article is a US government work and is in the public domain in the USA.