Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Experiential Learning to Foster University Students’ Proficiency in Engaging with People with Disabilities

Study purpose. Inclusive education, acknowledged as a fundamental human right, is aimed at enhancing the participation of all students and mitigating social and educational exclusion. Physical Education is identified as a vital instrument that fosters specific training on disability and inclusion, thereby ameliorating attitudes towards disability. The objective of this study is to scrutinize the perception of experiential learning and inclusive physical activity among students. Materials and methods. An inclusive physical activity program for students pursuing a degree in Early Childhood and Primary Education was designed. The program proposes five sessions of inclusive physical activity and accommodates 30 adult users with intellectual disability. To analyse the reliability and validity of a scale that measures students’ perception of experiential learning, descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess the effectiveness and inclusivity of the scale. Results. The validity and reliability of a scale that facilitates the analysis of students’ perceptions of learning derived from inclusive experiences is presented and the results are adequate for its usability. In addition, it is shown that experiential learning increases the perception towards the acquisition of disability-related competences among university students. Conclusions. This scale essentially allows a comprehensive analysis of students’ perception of learning that emerges from inclusive experiences. It is demonstrated that experiential learning enhances students’ perception regarding the attainment of competencies related to disability. These findings underscore the importance of inclusive learning experiences in the training of future educators.
Impact of Rare Earth Elements on CaCO3 Crystallization: Insights into Kinetics, Mechanisms, and Crystal Morphology

This study investigated the crystallization kinetics and mechanisms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the presence of rare earth elements (REEs) including lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), and dysprosium (Dy). Through a comprehensive approach utilizing UV–vis spectrophotometry, powder X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy, we examined the effects of REEs on CaCO3 growth from solution at varying concentrations and combinations of REEs. Our findings highlight that even trace amounts of REEs significantly decelerate the rate of CaCO3 crystallization, also leading to alterations in crystal morphology and mechanisms of growth. The impact of REEs becomes more pronounced at higher concentrations and atomic mass, although the potential formation of poorly ordered REEs carbonate precursor phases can result in a decrease in the REE3+/Ca2+ ratio, influencing the crystallization rate of CaCO3. Vaterite and calcite were identified as the main crystallized polymorphs, with vaterite exhibiting distinct growth defects and calcite developing complex morphologies at higher REEs concentrations and an internal architecture suggesting a nonclassical growth route. We propose that REEs ions selectively adsorb onto different calcite surfaces, impeding growth on specific sites and resulting in intricate morphologies.
DNI measurements in the South of Portugal: Long term results through direct comparison with global and diffuse radiation measurements and existing time series

The present work describes the measurement effort for direct normal irradiance (DNI) evaluation in the sunny south of Portugal, with a network of eight radiation measurement stations in several locations (including Evora) providing a good coverage of the region. This new initiative for DNI measurement will still need many years (typically 10 or more) to produce a time series which can claim having long term statistical value. This problem can, however, be temporarily mitigated by measuring DNI at the same time as GHI and DHI, in a place where long term series dating back, already exist for those two. It so happens that a long term series (20 years) of global and diffuse solar irradiation exists for the location Evora. So the expectation is to establish correlations with the goal of attributing at least some long term statistical significance to the short and recent DNI series. The paper describes the setup of the measuring stations and presents the preliminary measurements obtained. It further presents th.
The Combination of Noninvasive Tests and Fibroscan for the Assessment of Liver Fibrosis among Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Most prevalent chronic liver disease in developed and developing nations is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. From fatty liver, which often has benign, non-progressive clinical history, to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a more serious variant of fatty liver that can lead to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease encompasses broad spectrum of diseases. The gold standard for determining extent of hepatic fibrosis is still liver biopsy; however, number of noninvasive tests have been established to make diagnosis and assess effectiveness of treatment. Objective: Aim of study was to assess effectiveness of the combination of fibroscan and noninvasive biochemical tests and scoring systems for assessing liver fibrosis. Subjects and Methods: Cross-sectional prospective study conducted at outpatient clinic of Baghdad Gastroenterology and Hepatology Teaching Hospital from October 2018-March 2020. One hundred patients with fatty liver selected and subjected to specific questionnaires. Results: One hundred patients with fatty liver studied; fifty-five (55%) males, forty-five (45%) females. Mean age was (45 ±12.24) years, females were significantly older. Mean stiffness score was 11.7(SD:5.29) KPa. Forty-six (46%) patients had advanced fibrosis. The Positive correlation between FibroScan examination results and the noninvasive scores results was significant, as well as there was significant positive correlation between age and stiffness score and significant negative correlation between platelet count and stiffness score. Conclusions: This study showed that half patients showed advanced fibrosis, highlighting the need for early detection and management of fatty liver patients. Implementation of FibroScan with noninvasive fibrosis scoring tools has been shown to be helpful in this situation.
Systematic Review of Total Hip Arthroplasty Outcomes in Cerebral Palsy Patients and a Comparative Analysis with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered a successful treatment option for patients with degenerative hip arthritis. However, in the setting of neuromuscular diseases, patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are considered high-risk due to instability, contractures, and altered muscle tone. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse the data in the setting of THA in CP patients including indications, types of implants, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes and compare these with those of a cohort requiring THA due to degenerative arthritis unrelated to neuromuscular disorders. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception until June 10, 2023, to identify the relevant studies for THA on CP patients. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Results The initial search generated 190 studies out of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently reported indication was painful hip dislocation or subluxation due to failure of prior nonoperative treatment. The most frequently reported complication was dislocation affecting overall 7.5% (0–28%) of all patients, while other complications included periprosthetic fractures and heterotrophic ossification. The survival rates of primary THAs ranged from 85% to 100% at 5 years and from 73% to 86% at 10 years. Patients with CP who undergo total hip arthroplasty experience a greater overall rate of complications compared to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that undergo the same procedure. Conclusion The current literature suggests that THA is a beneficial procedure for patients with CP through pain reduction and functional improvement. However, the increased rates of potential complications compared to the general population require careful consideration. We suggest that further investigations on the most appropriate time of procedure, implant type, and procedure are needed.
Influence of Immediate and Delayed Dentin Sealing on Bonding Strength of Lithium Disilicate Glass Ceramic: An in vitro Study

Objective: To investigate the influence of immediate and delayed dentin sealing technique on shear bonding strength (SBS) of the lithium disilicate glass-ceramic on tooth structure with different depths. Methods: The buccal surfaces of 40 maxillary first premolars were prepared with two different depths (1mm and 1.5 mm) and two different timings for bonding (immediate and delayed dentin sealing). G1 (1 mm preparation) and G2 (1.5 mm preparation) were treated with bonding (Tetric N-Bond Universal, Ivoclar,2021, Schaan/Liechtenstein) two weeks after preparation, before cementation to the ceramic block with delayed dentin sealing (DDS), while G3 (1 mm preparation) and G4 (1.5 mm preparation) were treated immediately after preparation with bonding and immediate dentin sealing (IDS). All specimens were stored in artificial saliva (Biotene dry mouth, GSK goupe, Canada) for two weeks at 24℃. Forty lithium disilicate glass-ceramic rectangular blocks (Rosetta SM) (HASSBIO, Korea) with dimensions of (2 mm height, 2mm width and 3 mm thickness) were prepared. After preparation of the tooth surfaces, all prepared blocks were cemented to the prepared teeth in groups GI and G2 with phosphoric acid 37% for 15 seconds, and all ceramic fitting surfaces were treated with 10% hydroflouric acid for 20 seconds and coupling agent monobond, then aging was performed for 5000 cycles in artificial saliva from 5-55 °C for all specimens. A universal test machine was used to test the shear bond strength (SBS). The statistical analysis was done using a one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p<0.05). Results: The result revealed that IDS and minimum preparation depth had significantly higher bonding strength than DDS. Bonding strength in sequence was 15.50 ± 3.873 MPa in G3 and G4 8.25 ± 3.344 MPa, while for delayed dentin sealing the bonding strength was 7.75 ± 2.993 in G1 and 6.25 ± 2.125 MPa in G2. Conclusions: Teeth treated with IDS immediately after preparation showed significantly higher bonding strength than those treated with DDS for indirect ceramic restoration. Also, increase in the depth of the preparation toward the dentin led to a decrease in the bonding strength of the restoration.
Spatial ecology of wolves in Scandinavia : From spatio-temporal dynamics of wolf pairs to wolf population dynamics

Understanding how spatial and temporal variations shape populations is necessary to develop trustworthy conservation and management planning. In this thesis, I used individual-based long-term monitoring data of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) collected in Scandinavia during its recolonization phase since the early 1990’s. My main goal was to identify how habitat could affect the demography of this social carnivore species living in packs. Packs are generally composed of a territorial breeding pair and their offspring. Because the pair plays an important role in the pack, they are generally considered as the functional unit of wolf populations. I therefore focused my analyses on the territorial pair. My results suggest that wolf pairs generally avoided habitat characterized by humans when establishing a territory. Wolf pair bond duration was short (on average 3 consecutive winters), and dissolutions were mostly caused by humans. Furthermore, I showed that the effect of wolf culling (i.e. legal harvest) on population growth was complex. Culling interacted with the intrinsic characteristics of the species and other causes of mortality making any predictions of the effect of culling rather challenging. However, I found that temporal pair bond stability was a better predictor of growth rate than individual culling mortality. Additionally, I found that interspecific competition with brown bears (Ursus arctos) could have contributed to shape spatial patterns of wolf recolonization. The spatio-temporal avoidance of bears by wolves could occur at several scales, from decisions on territory establishment to the habitat selected by wolves within their home ranges. My results showed how data from long-term monitoring programs can be used to provide key information linking demography with habitat in a social large carnivore. In this thesis, I also highlighted the importance of a functional unit (i.e. the wolf pair for wolves) for the population dynamics of a socially-living species. I therefore recommend monitoring, management and conservation programs to further focus their actions at the level of the wolf pair.
Nutritional Quality of Amofer (Ammonia Fermentation) Corn Straw Using EM4 and M21 Decomposer

This study aimed to identify the best starter levels of commercial cultures and incubation time on crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), extract ether (EE), and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) of amofer corn straw. This research used a completely randomized design with ten treatments and four replications. The treatments were the additions of EM4 (EM) and M21 decomposer (MD) at different levels (control/without amofer; 0.04 % EM; 0.06 % EM; 0.04 % MD; and 0.06 % MD) and incubation times (4 weeks and 2 weeks). The obtained data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), then continued with the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The result showed that the use of commercial starters with different fermentation times could increase the CP and NFE levels while reducing the EE and CF of amofer corn straw. The most effective treatment was the addition of 0,04 % EM and 2 weeks incubation which contained CP of 5.9415 %, CF of 37.8545 %, EE of 4.5183 %, and NFE of 32.4245 %.
Genomic prediction of additive and non-additive effects in a pine breeding and simulated population

xiii GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER I . 4 LITERATURE REVIEW . 4 GENOMIC SELECTION . 4 PREDICTION WITH MARKERS AND PEDIGREE . 7 POLYGENIC AND OLIGOGENIC TRAITS . 9 NON-ADDITIVE EFFECTS . 11 ACCURACY . 14 PERSPECTIVE OF PREDICTIONS IN BREEDING: LARGE DATA SET IS COMING . 15 GENOMIC PREDICTION IN PINE BREEDING . 17 STATISTIC MODELS FOR GENOMIC SELECTION . 21 WHOLE-GENOME REGRESSIONS . 22 ESTIMATION OF A AND D AND EPISTASIS . 22 BREEDING AND DOMINANCE DEVIATION VALUES AND CROSS PREDICTION . 22 DISTRIBUTIONS ASSUMED FOR REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS . 23 Bayesian Ridge Regression (BRR) . 23 Bayes A . 24 BayesB . 25 BayesCπ . 27 Bayesian Lasso (BL) . 28
Succession Process for Sustainability of Family Dairy Farming

Succession is crucial in the small-scale dairy cattle business, predominantly managed by family members. The process of preparing a successor in a dairy farming family is a challenging endeavor. This study aims to explore the succession process through family business participation, the factors influencing a successor's participation, and succession patterns in family dairy farming. This study employed a quantitative method for multiple regression model and a qualitative method to compile the opinion of the succession patterns. The results revealed the low successor participation index for family business due to restricted time. Six variables significantly influenced successors’ participation in family dairy farms: family size, gender, employment status, number of dairy cattle, age, and farm size. The study’s findings generated two succession patterns: farm transfer and farm handover. The succession patterns preserved the existence of family dairy farms in Pangalengan District, West Java, Indonesia. Therefore, this study suggests to encourage the participation of potential successors to ensure the sustainability of family dairy farming.
Cambio climático y políticas públicas forestales en América Latina: una visión preliminar

El principal objetivo de este documento es analizar algunas de las principales politicas publicas sobre cambio climatico y bosques en America Latina. Ello incluye la revision de los posibles impactos del en el sector forestal de America Latina, asi como su papel tanto en mitigacion como adaptacion al cambio climatico.
Modulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expressions by Superfood Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dubia) Treatment in ARPE-19 and Fetal Human RPE Cells

Background Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy via intravitreal injection is an effective treatment for patients with abnormal ocular neovascularization, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). However, prolonged and frequent anti-VEGF treatment is associated with a risk of local and systemic adverse events, including geographic atrophy, cerebrovascular disease, and death. Furthermore, some patients do not adequately respond to anti-VEGF therapy. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcription factor that controls the expression of hypoxia-responsive genes involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, and metabolism. The HIF/VEGF pathway plays an important role in neovascularization, and the inhibition of HIF activation could be an effective biomolecular target for neovascular diseases. The demand for disease prevention or treatment using functional foods such as superfoods has increased in recent years. Few reports to date have focused on the antineovascular effects of superfoods in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In light of the growing demand for functional foods, we aimed to find novel HIF inhibitors from superfoods worked in RPE cells, which could be an adjuvant for anti-VEGF therapy. Methods Seven superfoods were examined to identify novel HIF inhibitor candidates using luciferase assay screening. We used the human RPE cell line ARPE-19 and fetal human RPE (fhRPE) to investigate the biomolecular actions of novel HIF inhibitors using quantitative PCR and western blotting. Results Under CoCl2-induced pseudohypoxic condition and 1% oxygen hypoxic incubation, camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) showed HIF inhibitory effects determined by luciferase assays. Camu-camu downregulated HIF-1α and VEGFA mRNA expressions in a concentration-dependent manner. Camu-camu also inhibited HIF-1α protein expressions, and its inhibitory effect was greater than that of vitamin C, which is present at high levels in camu-camu. Conclusion The camu-camu extract suppressed the activation of HIF and VEGF in RPE cells. This could assist anti-VEGF therapy in patients with abnormal ocular neovascularization.
“I Mainly Rely on the Textbook:” A Call for Teacher Enhancement in Agricultural Sciences

Universities play a crucial role in teachers' professional development. This study aims to examine the following research question: How can universities enhance the teaching of agricultural sciences in schools? Previous research has focused on the university’s collaboration with stakeholders, such as parents, to enhance teaching, but without a specific focus on the teaching of agricultural sciences. In response to this question, a transformative theoretical framework anchors this study. This study employed a participatory action research design involving focus group discussions to determine the need for improving the teaching of agricultural sciences. Eleven participants were involved in this research, and pseudonyms were used to ensure privacy and protect their identities. The study findings from the three schools in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District of the Free State Province, included in the study, revealed that there is an inability to meet curriculum requirements, accompanied by a reluctance to implement continuous professional teacher development. The findings emphasize the need for extended university involvement in the implementation of teacher development policies to address the teachers’ needs.
The Use of Fluorescence In situ Hybridisation in the Diagnosis of Hidden Mosaicism in Egyptian Patients with Turner Syndrome

ABSTRACT Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality in females. The diagnosis of TS is based on karyotyping of 30 blood lymphocytes. This technique does not rule out tissue mosaicism or low-grade mosaicism in the blood. Because of the associated risk of gonadoblastoma, mosaicism is especially important in case this involves a Y chromosome. Aims: This study was set to determine the value of additional genetic studies such as fluorescent in situ hybridisation and the inclusion of buccal cells in search for mosaicism in TS patients. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed in Human Genetics Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University. Materials and Methods: Fluorescence in situ hybridisation technique was applied to lymphocyte cultures as well as buccal smears using centromeric probes for X and Y chromosomes. Genotype phenotype correlation was also evaluated. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive study where categorical variables were described using number and percentage and continuous variables were described using mean and standard deviation. Results: Fluorescence in situ hybridisation technique study detected hidden mosaicism in 60% of studied patients; 20% of patients had a cell line containing Y material, while 40% had variable degrees of X, XX mosaicism, and in the remaining 40% no second cell line was detected. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation study helped identify the origin of the marker to be Y in all patients. The introduction of an additional cell line helped in identifying mosaicism in patients with monosomy X. Virilisation signs were only observed among TS patients with Y cell line mosaicism. The clinical manifestations were more severe in patients with monosomy X than other mosaic cases. Conclusions: Molecular cytogenetic investigation for all suspected cases of TS should be considered for appropriate treatment plan and genetic counselling.
Pleiotropic Potential of Evernia prunastri Extracts and Their Main Compounds Evernic Acid and Atranorin: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Evernia prunastri is a lichen widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Its biological properties still need to be discovered. Therefore, our paper focuses on studies of E. prunastri extracts, including its main metabolites evernic acid (EA) or atranorin (ATR). Phytochemical profiles using chromatographic analysis were confirmed. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using in vitro chemical tests and in vitro enzymatic cells-free tests, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT). The anti-inflammatory potential using cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and hyaluronidase were determined. The neuroprotective potential using acetylcholinesterase, (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase (Tyr) was estimated. The hypoglycemic activity was also confirmed (α-glucosidase). Principal component analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the biological activity of extracts. The inhibitory effect of EA and ATR on COX-2 AChE, BChE, Tyr, and α-glucosidase was evaluated using molecular docking techniques and confirmed for EA and ATR (besides α-glucosidase). The penetration of EA and ATR from extracts through the blood–brain barrier was confirmed using the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay blood–brain barrier test. In conclusion, depending on chemical surroundings and the concentration, the E. prunastri extracts, EA or ATR, showed attractive pleiotropic properties, which should be further investigated.