Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Educating About/for Food Security Through Environmental Education: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Education Programs in Ontario

Food insecurity is on the rise worldwide and within Canada due to a myriad of factors such as climatic instability, rising food prices and unsustainable food production practices. In this context, educational systems (e.g. schools and universities) can contribute to developing knowledge and awareness of food insecurity as well as fostering new ways of thinking and engaging with food premised on just and sustainable food systems. This study is situated within the field of environmental education where there is a growing body of research at the intersections of food and the environment. Likewise, it was guided by the theoretical framing of EcoJustice Education, which offers a way of teaching and learning premised on the belief that our thoughts and actions can foster and enhance more social and ecologically equitable connections between food and the environment. By engaging in semi-structured interviews with teacher educators in select teacher education programs in Ontario and conducting document reviews, I investigated how the integration of the topic of food security is taking place—or not— in the initial training of future teachers in the province. The results showed that integration is not consistent across the different organizational levels of the programs investigated (i.e. wholeprogram level and classroom level). Moreover, the interviews with teacher educators revealed that any practices aiming at the integration of food security topics in BEd programs were primarily guided by a sustainable cultures perspective, which sees the world as having interconnected relationships amongst all living things. This view is supported by the data analysis of interviews with teacher educators, the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum documents, and select course syllabi. On the other hand, the school curriculum documents contained conflicting views on the topic, including an understanding of the world as being based on hierarchized relationships. This research advances the field of environmental education by further adding to the limited scholarship on the topic of food security in the context of EE, as well as contributing to an account of food security education and EE with a focus on teacher education in Ontario.
Impact of rice gruel on rumen metabolites and growth performance of sheep

Objectives: We investigated the impact of rice gruel as an alternative energy source of molasses as well as measured the effectiveness of rice gruel on the physiology of the rumen environment and the growth performance of growing lamb. Materials and methods: A number of 18 sheep with an average age of 7 months and mean body weight of 5.9 kg were selected and divided into three groups for 60 days long feeding trial with urea molasses straw (UMS), urea rice gruel straw (URS), and concentrate feed. Every fortnight interval, live weight was recorded and rumen liquor from every group was collected four times before and after feeding at 4-h interval to examine the rumen environment. Results: Color, odor, consistency, and protozoal motility remain unchanged in all three groups. The pH of the rumen liquor was highest at 8 h of post feeding among three groups. The bacterial count (6.1 × 1010) was higher in the group that consuming UMS than URS and concentrate feed. The rumen protozoa also showed a similar growth pattern in proportion to a number of rumen bacteria. At the end of the 60 days feeding trial, no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found among the three groups in contrast to body weight gain. Conclusion: In the current feeding trial, the close similar effectiveness of rice gruel and molasses was found as a fermentable energy source. However, we suggest that rice gruel can be supplemented as a substitute for molasses under the situation when molasses are not available or expensive in field condition.
Insights into the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Tanzania

Background Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by seven phylogenetic lineages of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), Lineage 1–7. Recent advances in rapid genotyping of MTBC based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), allow for phylogenetically robust strain classification, paving the way for defining genotype-phenotype relationships in clinical settings. Such studies have revealed that, in addition to host and environmental factors, strain variation in the MTBC influences the outcome of TB infection and disease. In Tanzania, such molecular epidemiological studies of TB however are scarce in spite of a high TB burden. Methods and findings Here we used SNP-typing to characterize a nationwide collection of 2,039 MTBC clinical isolates representative of 1.6% of all new and retreatment TB cases notified in Tanzania during 2012 and 2013. Four lineages, namely Lineage 1–4 were identified within the study population. The distribution and frequency of these lineages varied across regions but overall, Lineage 4 was the most frequent (n = 866, 42.5%), followed by Lineage 3 (n = 681, 33.4%) and 1 (n = 336, 16.5%), with Lineage 2 being the least frequent (n = 92, 4.5%). We found Lineage 2 to be independently associated with female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.14; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.31 – 3.50, p = 0.002) and retreatment cases (aOR 1.67; 95% CI 0.95 – 2.84, p = 0. 065) in the study population. We found no associations between MTBC lineage and patient age or HIV status. Our sublineage typing based on spacer oligotyping on a subset of Lineage 1, 3 and 4 strains revealed the presence of mainly EAI, CAS and LAM families. Finally, we detected low levels of multidrug resistant isolates among a subset of 144 retreatment cases. Conclusions This study provides novel insights into the MTBC lineages and the possible influence of pathogen–related factors on the TB epidemic in Tanzania.
Twistronics in Graphene, from Transfer Assembly to Epitaxy

The twistronics, which is arising from the moiré superlattice of the small angle between twisted bilayers of 2D materials like graphene, has attracted much attention in the field of 2D materials and condensed matter physics. The novel physical properties in such systems, like unconventional superconductivity, come from the dispersionless flat band that appears when the twist reaches some magic angles. By tuning the filling of the fourfold degeneracy flat bands, the desired effects are induced due to the strong correlation of the degenerated Bloch electrons. In this article, we review the twistronics in twisted bi- and multi-layer graphene (TBG and TMG), which is formed both by transfer assembly of exfoliated monolayer graphene and epitaxial growth of multilayer graphene on SiC substrates. Starting from a brief history, we then introduce the theory of flat band in TBG. In the following, we focus on the major achievements in this field: (a) van Hove singularities and charge order; (b) superconductivity and Mott insulator in TBG and (c) transport properties in TBG. In the end, we give the perspective of the rising materials system of twistronics, epitaxial multilayer graphene on the SiC.
Effect of Candida intermedia LAMAP1790 Antimicrobial Peptides against Wine-Spoilage Yeasts Brettanomyces bruxellensis and Pichia guilliermondii

Wine spoilage yeasts are one of the main issues in the winemaking industry, and the control of the Brettanomyces and Pichia genus is an important goal to reduce economic loses from undesired aromatic profiles. Previous studies have demonstrated that Candida intermedia LAMAP1790 produces antimicrobial peptides of molecular mass under 10 kDa with fungicide activity against Brettanomyces bruxellensis, without affecting the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. So far, it has not been determined whether these peptides show biocontroller effect in this yeast or other spoilage yeasts, such as Pichia guilliermondii. In this work, we determined that the exposure of B. bruxellensis to the low-mass peptides contained in the culture supernatant of C. intermedia LAMAP1790 produces a continuous rise of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this yeast, without presenting a significant effect on membrane damage. These observations can give an approach to the antifungal mechanism. In addition, we described a fungicide activity of these peptides fraction against two strains of P. guilliermondii in a laboratory medium. However, carrying out assays on synthetic must, peptides must show an effect on the growth of B. bruxellensis. Moreover, these results can be considered as a start to develop new strategies for the biocontrol of spoilage yeast.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Chinese zokor (Eospalax fontanierii)

Abstract The Chinese zokor, Eospalax fontanierii, is a group of common subterranean solitary rodents and endemic in China. The complete mitogenome sequence of E. fontanierii was determined based on next-generation sequencing in this study. The genome was 16,369 bp long, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one non-coding control region (D-loop). The overall base composition of the heavy strand is A (33.80%), C (23.85%), T (30.23%), and G (12.11%). The base compositions present highly biased toward A + T nucleotides. The result of phylogenetic analysis showed the four Eospalax species formed a monophyly with the high bootstrap value, and as a sister group of the genus Myospalax. This is the first report of the complete mitochondrial genomes of E. fontanierii, and the mitogenome is potentially important for evolutionary biology, population genetics, and species diagnosis studies of the Mysopalacinae.
Multi-parametric MRI with Diffusion-Weighted imaging in predicting response to chemotherapy in cases of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the multi-parametric MRI in predicting chemotherapy response in pathologically proven cases of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Correlation between the tumor size changes and internal breakdown using RECIST 1.1, modified RECIST, quantitative ADC and tumor volume as well as dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. METHODS The study included 104 patients pathologically proved osteosarcoma (53) and Ewing`s sarcoma (51) underwent MRI examinations; beforeand after chemotherapy. All patients were assessed using the RECIST 1.1 criteria, m-RECIST, quantitative ADC, and tumor volume evaluation. 21 patients underwent DCE-MRI curve type with quantitative parameters. Correlation between the different evaluations was carried out. Results were correlated with the postoperative pathology in 42 patients who underwent surgery and for statistical evaluation, Those patients were classified into responders (≥90% necrosis) and non-responders (<90% necrosis). RESULTS The initial mean ADC of 104 patients of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma (0.90 ± 0.29) and (0.71 ± 0.16) respectively, differed significantly from that after treatment (1.62 ± 0.46) and (1.6 ± 0.39) respectively with (P<0.001). ADC variations (ADC%) in the non-progressive group were higher than those of the progressive group (128.3 ± 63.49 vs 36.34 ± 78.7) % with (P<0.001). ADC values and ADC variations were inversely correlated with morphologic changes, regardless of the effectiveness of chemotherapy expressed as changes in tumor size based on (RECIST 1.1, RECIST, and 3D volume). Linear regression analysis revealed a Pearson correlation coefficient of r=(-0.427, -0.498 and -0.408), respectively with (P<0.001). An increase in the ADC value was not always associated with a reduction in tumor volume. The disease control rate (defined as the percentage of CR+PR+SD patients) was 89.4% and 93.9% according to RECIST 1.1 and m-RECIST respectively.42 out of the 104 patients had postsurgical histological evaluation as regards the chemotherapeutic response divided into two groups. ADC values showed a statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B being more evident with minimum ADC% (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Quantitative DW imaging with ADC mapping and ADC % after chemotherapy allows a detailed analysis of the treatment response in osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. The therapeutic response can be underestimated using RECIST 1.1, so the modified RECIST should be also considered. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE Quantitative ADC especially ADC% provided an accurate non-invasive tool in the assessment of post-therapeutic cases of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.
Response to Cassava Brown Streak Disease Infections in Local and Improved Cassava Genotypes under Field and Greenhouse Assays in Lower Eastern Kenya

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is caused by two cassava brown streak viruses (CBSVs) transmitted by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). CBSD significantly inhibits cassava production in Kenya through losses of up to 100% in farmer-preferred but susceptible varieties. As a management strategy, the present study evaluated the effect of CBSD on two local varieties (Thika-5 & Serere) and 15 improved genotypes in lower Eastern Kenya. Between October 2016 and June 2017, the genotypes were infected with CBSVs through whitefly transmission under field experiment at SEKU research farm (1.31ºS, 37.75ºE) and chip-bud grafting at KALRO-Katumani (1.35ºS, 37.14ºS) greenhouse conditions. RCBD and CRD experimental designs were respectively applied in field and greenhouse assays. CBSD symptoms were quantified through disease incidence (DIC) and severity (DSY) every 3 months for the field experiment and weekly for greenhouse assay. At harvest, storage root necrosis (SRN) was scored and non-necrotic roots weighed as marketable root yield (MRY). Molecular diagnostics was accomplished through duplex RT-PCR. Results revealed significantly (P≤0.01) higher foliar field DIC (81- 100%) and SRN (2.3 – 5.0) recorded in Thika-5 and Serere compared to all the improved genotypes that were foliarly asymptomatic (0% DIC and mean SRN of 1.0). Concomitantly and substantially lower (P≤0.01) MRY (1.99 – 2.16 t/ha) were bulked by Thika-5 and Serere compared to 10 improved genotypes that bulked 5.81 – 9.21 t/ha MRY. Upon chip-bud graft infection, Thika-5 and Serere showed higher DIC of 81 – 90% compared to four improved genotypes with 20 - 35% DIC. Correlations between MRY, DIC and SRN were inverse and significant (P≤0.01). RT-PCR detected pre-dominantly CBSV. In conclusion, the natural whitefly-based transmission of CBSVs was ineffective compared to chip-bud grafting. The inverse correlations between CBSD symptoms and yield corroborated the deleterious impact of CBSD on cassava production. The ten improved, high yielding and asymptomatic genotypes identified in the current study could potentially be used to confer resistance against CBSD into farmer-preferred but often sensitive varieties.
Coexistence of multiple sclerosis and brain tumors: a literature review.

Concurrent development of primary brain tumors and multiple sclerosis is quite rare. Only a few dozens of such comorbidity have been reported. Nevertheless, given the fact that such pathologies are characterized by similar clinical picture and neuroimaging findings, issues about diagnosis and differential diagnosis of such conditions often arise, which makes the problem relevant. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, by selecting articles on concurrent multiple sclerosis and brain tumors, particularly glial origin tumors, over the past 20 years (1989 to 2019). The search was performed in English, Russian, and Ukrainian using the following key words and terms: comorbidity, concomitance, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, glioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma. The analysis included all articles on etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, neuroimaging, and pathomorphological assessment. After identifying all the articles that met the inclusion criteria and removing duplicate data, 35 literature sources on concurrent primary brain tumors and multiple sclerosis were selected. The conclusion on whether concurrent primary brain tumors and multiple sclerosis develop randomly or have common pathophysiological mechanisms is still under discussion. Potential causes of pathogenesis of both diseases include viral infection, chronic inflammation, neoplastic transformation, and involvement of neurotropic growth factors. The likelihood that two processes, demyelinating and neoplastic, can develop in parallel will never be underestimated. In such cases, strong clinical suspicion arises due to atypical clinical picture characterized by aggressive and rapidly growing neurological symptoms such as aphasia, spastic hemiparesis, epileptic seizures, or signs of intracranial hypertension. In MRI diagnosis, pathological findings such as single lesion of more than 2 cm; mass effect, edema, signal amplification in the form of ring-shaped shadow are the reasons for a more thorough examination and applying additional diagnostic methods: CT, MR spectroscopy, PET, CSF tests to determine oligoclonal antibodies and other markers content, cerebral biopsy. According to the literature, cases of concurrent primary brain tumors and multiple sclerosis are rare though described. Atypical clinical signs, neuroimaging data, and cerebral biopsy which is currently considered as the only method for making accurate diagnosis are helpful in the diagnostic process.
Effect of biological products on the population of aphids and chemical components in alfalfa

One of the most serious pests of commercial Fabaceae crops especially alfalfa is the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris. The pea aphid damages crops directly caused chlorosis and necrosis, leading to significant alfalfa loss worldwide. Hence the need for aphid management and use of insecticides. It was studied the effect of a biological insecticide Agricolle and two biological nano–fertilizers (Nagro and Lytovit) to a control of pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) and changes in plastid pigment and total nitrogen contents in alfalfa. On the basis of the sweeping with the entomological net average number of aphids and mortality were calculated on the 1, 5, 7 and 9 days after treatment. It was found that the treatment with biological products Agricolle, Nagro and Litovit used alone and in combinations reduced Acyrthosiphon pisum density in a different range. After application of Agricolle with Nagro combination, followed by Agricolle was found the lowest density and the highest aphid mortality. Biological products increased the total pigment content as the highest impact demonstrated used of Agricolle with Nagro–33.4 % increase, followed by treatment with Nagro–29.6 %. Chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b as well as green pigments to carotenoids ratio determined plants treated with Agricolle + Nagro and Nagro as plants with the best physiological state. Alfalfa fixed the most nitrogen (respectively more with 2.77 and 2.95 kg N/kg dry mass yield in compared to control) in the combined treatment of Aricolle with Nagro and Litovit. Keyword: Agricolle, nano–fertilizers, Acyrthosiphon pisum mortality, plastid pigments, nitrogen.
Improving retention by placing retrieval practice at the end of class: a naturalistic study

Attempting to recall previously encountered information by being tested or quizzed (retrieval practice: RP) enhances memory. In real classrooms, however, it is unclear when testing should take place (placement) in order to elicit better learning. We tested students using authentic undergraduate-course materials with two placements, followed by collective feedback: (a) at the end of the class in which content was taught; or (b) at the beginning of the next class. Re-teaching (RT) the same content through lecturer led-reviews at the same placements was used as a control condition. RP and RT plus feedback took 15 min of 100 min-long classes and were applied during 12 classes after which retention was assessed by exams. Participants were 114 students enrolled in a biweekly taught course. Testing (RP) once at the end of the same class in which content was taught boosted academic scores by around 10% compared to the other manipulations. © 2020 Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/). Mejorando la retención al realizar la práctica de recuperación al final de la clase: un estudio naturalístico Resumen El intento de recordar la información presentada previamente mediante pruebas o cuestionarios (práctica de recuperación, RP) mejora la memoria. Sin embargo, en las clases reales no está claro en qué momento debe realizarse las pruebas para obtener un mejor aprendizaje. Probamos a los estudiantes utilizando materiales auténticos de cursos de licenciatura en dos momentos, seguidos de una retroalimentación colectiva: (a) al final de la clase en la que se enseñó el contenido; o (b) al principio de la siguiente clase. La reenseñanza (RT) del mismo contenido a través de revisiones dirigidas por el profesor en el mismo momento se utilizó como condición de control. La RP y la RT más la retroalimentación tomaron 15 minutos de clases de 100 minutos de duración y se aplicaron durante 12 clases después de las cuales la retención fue evaluada por exámenes. Los participantes fueron 114 estudiantes inscritos en un curso impartido cada dos semanas. Las pruebas (RP) realizadas una vez al final de la misma clase en la que el contenido se enseñó, aumentó los resultados académicos en alrededor de un 10% en comparación con las otras manipulaciones. © 2020 Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz. Este es un artículo Open Access bajo la licencia CC BY-NC-ND (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
Primary Production in the Water Column as Major Structuring Element of the Biogeographical Distribution and Function of Archaea in Deep-Sea Sediments of the Central Pacific Ocean

Information on environmental conditions shaping archaeal communities thriving at the seafloor of the central Pacific Ocean is limited. The present study was conducted to investigate the diversity, composition, and function of both entire and potentially active archaeal communities within Pacific deep-sea sediments. For this purpose, sediment samples were taken along the 180° meridian of the central Pacific Ocean. Community composition and diversity were assessed by Illumina tag sequencing targeting archaeal 16S rRNA genes and transcripts. Archaeal communities were dominated by Candidatus Nitrosopumilus (Thaumarchaeota) and other members of the Nitrosopumilaceae (Thaumarchaeota), but higher relative abundances of the Marine Group II (Euryarchaeota) were observed in the active compared to the entire archaeal community. The composition of the entire and the active archaeal communities was strongly linked to primary production (chlorophyll content), explaining more than 40% of the variance. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation of the entire archaeal community composition to latitude and silicic acid content, while the active community was significantly correlated with primary production and ferric oxide content. We predicted functional profiles from 16S rRNA data to assess archaeal community functions. Latitude was significantly correlated with functional profiles of the entire community, whereas those of the active community were significantly correlated with nitrate and chlorophyll content. The results of the present study provide first insights into benthic archaeal communities in the Pacific Ocean and environmental conditions shaping their diversity, distribution, and function. Additionally, they might serve as a template for further studies investigating archaea colonizing deep-sea sediments.