Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fusarium culmorum Tri genes and barley Hvugt13248 gene transcription in infected barley cultivars

The transcription activities of genes somehow associated with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis, namely Fusarium Tri genes, and the barley gene coding for UDP-glycosyltransferase (HvUGT13248) on different genetic backgrounds were compared. Determining the amount of the pathogen DNA was used as a useful tool for evaluating the infestation of barley cultivars. Amounts of the pathogen DNA differed in six barley cultivars infected by F. culmorum. Transcription of HvUGT13248 was related to DON content in the samples. Low pathogenic infection and low DON content were accompanied by increased Fusarium Tri10 transcription in resistant cv. Amulet. This finding confirmed our recent results and makes us propose using this change as a possible marker of barley resistance against Fusarium.
An Overview of Natural Extracts with Antioxidant Activity for the Improvement of the Oxidative Stability and Shelf Life of Edible Oils

Many plant materials, such as fruits and vegetables as well as herbs and spices, represent valuable sources of antioxidants. In recent years, wastes from agriculture and food industrial processes have been shown to be interesting sources for bioactive compound recovery, strongly contributing to the circular economy. Nowadays, because of their possible adverse effects on human health, there is a tendency to replace synthetic antioxidants with natural compounds. This review attempts to critically summarize the current evidence on plant bioactives, extracted from food or waste, added to unsaturated vegetable oils, in order to obtain high added-value products and to ameliorate their oxidative stability and shelf life. The goal of this review is to demonstrate the current status of the research on edible oils added with natural plant bioactives, highlighting new approaches in the field of health-promoting foods.
High angular resolution diffusion MRI reveals conserved and deviant programs in the paths that guide human cortical circuitry

Diffusion MR tractography represents a novel opportunity to investigate conserved and deviant developmental programs between humans and other species such as mice. To that end, we acquired high angular resolution diffusion MR scans of mice (embryonic day [E] 10.5 to post-natal week [PW] 4) and human brains (gestational week [GW] 17 to 30) at successive stages of fetal development to investigate potential evolutionary changes in radial organization and emerging pathways between humans and mice. We compare radial glial development as well as commissural development (e.g., corpus callosum), primarily because our findings can be integrated with previous work. We also compare corpus callosal growth trajectories across primates (i.e., humans, rhesus macaques) and rodents (i.e., mice). One major finding is that the developing cortex of humans is predominated by pathways likely associated with a radial glial organization at GW 17-20, which is not as evident in age-matched mice (E 16.5, 17.5). Another finding is that, early in development, the corpus callosum follows a similar developmental timetable in primates (i.e., macaques, humans) as in mice. However, the corpus callosum grows for an extended period of time in primates compared with rodents. Taken together, these findings highlight deviant developmental programs underlying the emergence of cortical pathways in the human brain.
Regulation of Hippo Pathway Kinases MST1/2 by DLG5 and Other Signaling Factors

The Hippo signal transduction pathway plays critical roles in regulating development, organ size, and cancer progression, and is broadly conserved across metazoans. Mammalian Sterile 20-like Kinase 1&2 (MST1/2) are mammalian homologues of the Drosophila Hippo kinase, and along with downstream Large Tumor Suppressor Kinase 1&2 (LATS1/2), constitute the core kinases of the Hippo pathway. How MST1/2 are regulated, and in particular, what mechanisms connect them to upstream signaling components is a key question in the field. To address this, I employed affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry to identify novel interacting proteins with important regulatory roles for MST1/2 and the Hippo pathway. I examined 25 different bait proteins related to the pathway, and identified 274 high confidence protein-protein interactions (PPI). The most intriguing PPI I identified was between MST1/2 and Discs Large Homolog 5 (DLG5), a widely conserved, large, multi-domain containing protein, which plays a role in maintenance of epithelial cell polarity. Using human, mouse, and fly model systems, fellow collaborators and I investigated the potential functional connections between DLG5, MST1/2, and other components of the Hippo pathway. We found that DLG5 acts as an inhibitor of Hippo signaling, in vivo and ex vivo. Mechanistically, I demonstrate that DLG5 binds directly to both MST1/2 and MAP/Microtubule Affinity-Regulating Kinase 3 (MARK3) and promotes their association. I found that MARK3 promotes hyperphosphorylation of MST1/2 and inhibits MST1/2 kinase activity. I propose a model wherein DLG5 recruits MARK3 to inhibit MST1/2 and the Hippo pathway. Although additional details of MARK3 regulation of MST1/2 await exploration, I have characterized DLG5 as a new and conserved component of the Hippo
Control de Tetranychus urticae koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) con Bacillus subtilis en hojas de fresa (Fragancia vesca)

En Ecuador se han reportado pérdidas entre 60 y 80% ocasionadas por la alimentación de Tetranychus urticae en plantas de fresa, por lo que se requieren frecuentes aplicaciones de plaguicidas. En el presente estudio se evaluó la actividad patogénica de diferentes concentraciones de B. subtilis (0, 1, 2 y 3 cc.l-1), mediante la técnica de contacto residual usando hembras de T. urticae de 48 h de edad. No se observó incremento en la mortalidad de las hembras de T. urticae por efecto de las diferentes concentraciones de B. subtilis, sin embargo, estas fueron estadísticamente superiores en referencia al control. Adicionalmente, no se observó efecto de las diferentes dosis de B. subtilis sobre la oviposición de T. urticae. Basados en los resultados, la aplicación de B. subtilis podría ser considerada como una alternativa para el combate de las poblaciones de T. urticae, sin embargo, se requiere validar estos resultados bajo condiciones de campo.
Effect of N Fertilization on the Content of Phenolic Compounds in Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) Tubers and Their Antioxidant Capacity

Three cultivars of Jerusalem artichoke Albik, Rubik and Gute Gelbe were grown under different nitrogen fertilization regimens: 0, 80 and 120 kg N·ha−1. Phenolic compounds were extracted from tubers using 80% (v/v) methanol. The total phenolics were determined with the Folin–Ciocâlteu reagent and antioxidant activity was assessed using the ABTS (2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power), and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays. The content of individual phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC. The effect of nitrogen fertilization on the total phenolics content was observed for the Albik cultivar. In the Rubik variety the lowest content was recorded at fertilization zero, and in the Gute Gelbe variety at this fertilization level the content of phenols was the highest. At fertilization 120 kg N·ha−1, the highest ABTS test results were noted for all cultivars. For the Albik variety no effect of fertilization on the FRAP test results was noted; for the Rubik variety at zero nitrogen fertilization, the value for FRAP was the lowest, and it was the highest Gute Gelbe. The results of the DPPH test in the Gute Gelbe variety did not depend on the fertilization used. In the other two varieties, the lowest DPPH results were obtained at zero nitrogen regimen. Three main phenolic compounds were determined using HPLC. One of them was chlorogenic acid and the other two were derivatives of caffeic acid. The content of chlorogenic acid in tubers of the Gute Gelbe variety depended on nitrogen fertilization; the highest content of this compound was found in the case of fertilization zero. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between the content of phenolic compounds in tubers and their antioxidant potential. The results of this study suggest great potential for using Jerusalem artichoke tubers as a rich source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity.
A longitudinal perspective on the associations between work engagement and workaholism

ABSTRACT The purpose of this two-wave longitudinal study was to examine the associations between work engagement and workaholism to better understand the psychological mechanisms underpinning high levels of work investment. These associations were examined in a sample of 514 employees using latent change models, allowing us to obtain a direct and explicit estimate of change occurring in both constructs over a 3-year period. These analyses relied on a bifactor representation of work engagement and workaholism, allowing us to properly disaggregate the global and specific levels of both constructs in the estimation of these longitudinal associations. To further enrich our theoretical understanding of the mechanisms at play in these relations, we also considered associations between these two constructs and employees’ levels of harmonious and obsessive work passion, two other facets of heavy work investment. Our results revealed the longitudinal independence of employees’ global levels work engagement and workaholism, showing that longitudinal associations between these two constructs occurred at the specific, rather than global, level. Harmonious work passion was only found to be associated to global and specific components of work engagement, whereas obsessive work passion was found to be associated with global and specific components of both work engagement and workaholism.
Methane Emissions in a Chemistry‐Climate Model: Feedbacks and Climate Response

Understanding the past, present, and future evolution of methane remains a grand challenge. Here we have used a hierarchy of models, ranging from simple box models to a chemistry‐climate model (CCM), UM‐UKCA, to assess the contemporary and possible future atmospheric methane burden. We assess two emission data sets for the year 2000 deployed in UM‐UKCA against key observational constraints. We explore the impact of the treatment of model boundary conditions for methane and show that, depending on other factors, such as CO emissions, satisfactory agreement may be obtained with either of the CH4 emission data sets, highlighting the difficulty in unambiguous choice of model emissions in a coupled chemistry model with strong feedbacks. The feedbacks in the CH4‐CO‐OH system, and their uncertainties, play a critical role in the projection of possible futures. In a future driven by large increases in greenhouse gas forcing, increases in tropospheric temperature drive, an increase in water vapor, and, hence, [OH]. In the absence of methane emission changes this leads to a significant decrease in methane compared to the year 2000. However, adding a projected increase in methane emissions from the RCP8.5 scenario leads to a large increase in methane abundance. This is modified by changes to CO and NOx emissions. Clearly, future levels of methane are uncertain and depend critically on climate change and on the future emission pathways of methane and ozone precursors. We highlight that further work is needed to understand the coupled CH4‐CO‐OH system in order to understand better future methane evolution.
Hematological parameters and total plasma protein values of captive strigiformes occurring in Brazil

Brazil has the highest number of birds of prey in the world, which are important environmental quality indicators. Nevertheless, few studies of the clinical pathology of raptors have been developed in this country. The objectives of this study were to create a database of owl hematology in Brazil and to compare the values between sex in Asio clamator, Megascops spp. and Tyto furcata. Blood samples were collected from 81 captive owls of 10 species located in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná and São Paulo states, Brazil. Hemogram and Total Plasma Protein (TPP) values were determined. Reference intervals (RIs) and descriptive statistic values were established using an Excel program with Reference Value Advisor. The reference intervals were the following: A. clamator: RBC (×106/? L) 1.0-2.5; PCV (%) 30.2-50.1; Hb (g dL-1) 6.7-15.3; MCV (fL) 123.8-355.2; MCHC (%) 17.1-38.6; WBC (× 103/? L) 1.2-23.6; Heterophils (× 103/? L) 0.6-16.6; Lymphocytes (× 103/? L) 0.6-10.2; Eosinophils (× 103/? L) 0.0-1.9; Basophils (× 103/? L) 0.0-1.0; Thrombocytes (× 103/? L) 10.8-56.6; H/L 0.0-10.8. Megascops spp. : RBC (× 106/? L) 0.8-2.3; PCV (%) 29.7-44.6; Hb (g dL-1) 6.4-12.4; MCV (fL) 131.6-374.4; MCHC (%) 12.1-34; WBC (× 103/? L) 0.7-23.1; Heterophils (× 103/? L) 1.1-10.3; Lymphocytes (× 103/? L) 0.0-11.5; Eosinophils (× 103/? L) 0.0-2.2; Basophils (× 103/? L) 0.0-0.7; Thrombocytes (× 103/? L) 10.3-43.6; H/L 0.5-7.3; TPP (g dL-1) 2.9-5.1. The parameters for Tyto furcata were presented with descriptive statistics values. Individual data were provided for the others Strigiformes species sampled. This study provides a wide database of hematological and TPP references for Megascops spp. , A. clamator and T. furcata and hematological values for Athene cunicularia, Bubo virginianus, Pulsatrix perspicillata, Asio stygius, Pulsatrix koeniswaldiana, Strix virgata and Asio flammeus in Brazil.
An Investigation of Digital Thinking Skills in EFL Digital Instruction

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to introduce a digital thinking skills (DTS) theoretical model (DTSM) that could support and enhance digital instruction best practices in schools. Methodology: We have taken a mixed-methods approach. Our respondents represent diverse cultural, linguistic, pedagogical, and social heritages. Contribution: The study provides a theoretical model developed by Eshet-Alkalai and Aviram that could impact subsequent digital teaching in schools. The highly accessible model may help teachers understand the cognitive learning outcomes that derive from frequently used digital tools. Findings: We found that teachers do not have a pedagogical concept of digital thinking skills, though many believe such skills might have a positive effect on their learners’ achievements. School culture plays a key role in effective DI delivery. Teachers want better in-service IT instruction. Recommendations for Practitioners: When distance learning has become the order of the day, we recommend practitioners connect pedagogical methodology and disciplinary content with new technology to boost learning outcomes. Recent world events have shown that in many cases practitioners have not been exposed to multiple digital options, especially those that not only present and review learning content but also boost the creation and dissemination of new knowledge. Recommendation for Researchers: We recommend researchers review different types of available resources and their effective implementation in the school curricula in order to foster creativity and more profound thinking among teachers and learners. Impact on Society: Better informed and greatly improved DI in schools is clearly crucial for twenty-first-century systems. As we go to press, in the middle of the coronavirus world-wide lockdown, these words resonate more than ever before. Our research both highlights this obvious need and provides a heuristic bridge between basic research and classrooms. Future Research: Future studies should focus on a pedagogical digital model that can enhance DI best practices in schools.
Evaluation of Volatile Compounds during Ageing with Oak Chips and Oak Barrel of Muscat Ottonel Wine

The aim of this work was to compare the variations of alcohols compounds in white wine Muscat Ottonel variety aged in the presence of untoasted oak chips, toasted oak chips and untoasted barrel, considering three ageing periods—30, 60, and 90 days. The liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry were used to compare the concentrations of the volatile constituents of Muscat Ottonel wines. A total of 51 volatile compounds were quantified. Alcohols, terpenic and carboxylic acids decreased with ageing time, whereas esters, lactones, and phenolic compounds increased due esterification processes. The chips toast level, method, and duration of ageing, significantly influenced the content of aromatic compounds. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) clearly discriminated the initial wine and also the wines aged with toasted and untoasted medium. The compounds (alcohols and terpenes) that impart distinctive aroma of Muscat Ottonel were enhanced by untoasted medium. Light toasted oak chips enhanced wood volatile components (acetovanillone and p-vinyl guaiacol). This study provides important scientific results on the ageing of Muscat Ottonel wines with practical economic benefits to winemakers. Alternative less expensive ageing methods and improved control on the wood components extraction process, may contribute to obtaining high-quality wines.
Mediating Effect of Islamic Social Reporting on the Relationship between Good Corporate Governance and Company Value: The Case of the State-Owned Enterprises

The concept of Good Corporate Governance (GCG) is related to the disclosure of Islamic Social Reporting (ISR) which guarantees that the funds invested in the company are well managed and will provide adequate returns so that this can attract investors and indirectly can increase the company value. This research aims to analyze the indirect effect of GCG rating on company value through the disclosure of ISR and it also attempts to analyze the direct effect of GCG and ISR toward company value, and the effect of GCG towards ISR. This research used quantitative and descriptive approaches with secondary data. The state-owned enterprises in the manufacturing and mining sector listed in the Indonesian Sharia Stock Index (ISSI) were selected as the sample of the study. The method used in this study includes descriptive statistical analysis, partial least square, and mediation test. The result shows that GCG has a positive effect on company value and ISR disclosure, while ISR disclosure does not affect company value. However, GCG does not affect company value through ISR disclosure. This indicates that ISR disclosure has no mediation effect on the relationship between GCG and company value.
A fast solver of plasma fluid model in dielectric-barrier-discharge simulation

A novel method for fast simulation of discharge, which uses a plasma fluid model, is proposed with a focus on the small space-charge variation in the calculation of electric field. A simple scalar equation is employed in the proposed method to calculate the electric field variation instead of solving Poisson’s equation at every time step when the dielectric relaxation time is relatively large compared to the time step interval. We perform numerical simulations of surface dielectric-barrier-discharge at atmospheric pressure, which is utilized in developing an active flow control device referred to as a plasma actuator, and demonstrate significant reduction of solve count of the Poisson’s equation throughout the simulation. The simulation result indicates that the CPU time required for the electric-field calculation becomes one order of magnitude smaller than that of the conventional approach within an error margin of one percent when several-10 kHz sinusoidal voltage is applied for the discharge. Moreover, a cost reduction of almost two orders of magnitude is achieved in the lower-frequency case with the same order of the error in the several-10 kHz case. Our approach enables large-scale discharge simulation and simulation of multi-physics phenomenon including the discharge physics with a practical computational cost.
Enhancing the wheat growth through micronutrients enriched biochar under salt stress

Crop irrigation with brackish water having high Na+ is a common practice in developing countries like Pakistan; hence increasing the saline-sodic soils throughout the region. Therefore, two independent studies were conducted to evaluate the impact of minerals enriched contrasting biochars (MECBs) in mitigating Na+ toxicity on soil physicochemical properties, wheat growth, and physiology. In 1st trial, an incubation experiment was conducted having 32 treatments including simple biochar (SBc), manganese enriched biochar (MnBc), zinc enriched biochar (ZnBc), and iron enriched biochar (FeBc) applied at two rates (0.1% and 0.5%) with four different salinity levels such as 10, 20, 30, and 40 dSm−1. The soil was sampled after the 8th, 16th, and 24th day of incubation. Among the four sources of biochar, MnBc (0.1%) + 40 dSm−1 and FeBc (0.5%) + 40 dSm−1 showed efficient results to tolerate salinity stress in soil by efficiently reducing the availability of Na+ (60% and 30%) when compared to SBc (0.5%) + 40 dSm−1. Then, a pot study was conducted with 20 different treatments (control, SBc, MnBc, ZnBc, and FeBc) at four different salinity levels, i.e., 0, 5, 10, and 15 dSm−1. There were four replicates and the crop was harvested after 60 days of germination. The application of brackish water (control+15 dSm−1) significantly reduced the fresh weight of root (28%) and shoot (34%) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as compared to FeBc+15 dSm−1. However, the soil Na+ toxicity was significantly decreased (23%) by the application of FeBc+15 dSm−1 as compared to control+15 dSm−1. Similarly, a significant increase was observed in leaf chl. a, b and photosynthetic rate (75%, 3 and 2-folds); however, a significant decrease was observed in transpiration rate (50%) in T. aestivum L. treated with FeBc+15 dSm−1 as compared to control+15 dSm−1. Interestingly, FeBc+15 dSm−1 also played a vital role to prevent oxidative damage by controlling the shoot CMP (63%) in T. aestivum L. by efficiently triggering the activities of shoot antioxidant enzymes such as APX (30%) and CAT (52%) when compared to control+15 dSm−1. In summary, it was evaluated that FeBc showed the highest adsorption capacity of Na+ ions to regulate salinity stress by improving soil health and crop physiology.
Auditory Dysfunction in Aging: Prospects for Stem Cell Therapy

Age-related hearing loss is the most common cause of adult auditory dysfunction. It is characterized by bilateral, progressive auditory deterioration associated with the aging process. There currently are limited options for the treatment as hearing aids or cochlear implants. To establish novel strategies for the treatment of this entity, it is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms of age-related hearing loss. Its etiology is believed to be multifactorial including both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Oxidative damage, as seen in other aging organs systems, may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the age-related hearing loss. Studies on animal models and human temporal bones have indicated a close relationship between degeneration of the cochlear lateral wall and hearing loss. Additional therapies that may prove beneficial in the treatment of age-related hearing loss include stem cell therapy, which we intend to review in this manuscript.