Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ceramic Surface Treatment and Adhesive Systems on Bond Strength of Metallic Brackets

Objective This study evaluated the effect of ceramic surface treatments on bond strength of metal brackets to machinable ceramics and veneering porcelain using different adhesive resins. Materials and methods. Machined ceramic specimens (10 × 10 × 2 mm) were prepared from Vitablocs mark II (Vita) and IPS e.max® CAD (Ivoclar). Layered porcelain fused to metal (IPS d.Sign®, Ivoclar) was used to fabricate PFM specimens (n = 60/group). Half of specimens were etched (9.6% HF, 15 sec), and the rest were nonetched. Three resin bonding systems were used for attaching metal brackets (Victory series™ APC II, 3M) to each group (n = 10): Transbond™ XT (3M), Light Bond™ (Reliance), or Blugloo™ (Ormco), all cured with LED curing unit (Bluephase G1600, Vivadent) for 50 s each. Specimens were immersed in deionized water at 37°C for 24 hours prior to shear bond testing (Instron) at crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Debond surface of ceramic and bracket base was examined for failure mode (FM), Ceramic Damage Index (CDI), and Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). ANOVA and post hoc multiple comparisons were used to analyze the differences in bond strength. The chi-squared test was used to determine significance effect of FM, CDI, and ARI. Results Significant differences in shear bond strength among group were found (p ≤ 0.05) related to ceramic, surface treatment, and resin cement. Conclusion Bond strength of bracket to ceramic is affected by type of ceramic, resin cement, and ceramic surface conditioning. Etching ceramic surface enhanced ceramic-bracket bond strength. However, bond strengths in nontreated ceramic surface groups were still higher than bond strength required for bonding in orthodontic treatment.
Fuel treatments reduce the severity of wildfire effects in dry mixed conifer forest, Washington, USA

To address hazardous fuel accumulations, many fuel treatments are being implemented in dry forests, but there have been few opportunities to evaluate treatment efficacy in wildfires. We documented the effectiveness of thinning and prescribed burning in the 2006 Tripod Complex fires. Recent fuel treatments burned in the wildfires and offered an opportunity to evaluate if two treatments (thin only and thin and prescribed burn) mitigated fire severity. Fire severity was markedly different between the two treatments. Over 57% of trees survived in thin and prescribed burn (thinRx) units versus 19% in thin only (thin) and 14% in control units. Considering only large-diameter trees (>20 cm diameter at breast height), 73% survived in thinRx units versus 36% and 29% in thin and control units, respectively. Logistic regression modeling demonstrates significant reductions in the log-odds probability of tree death under both treatments with a much greater reduction in thinRx units. Other severity measures, including .
No sexual dimorphism in limb muscles of a frog not engaging in amplexus

Sexual dimorphism in limb muscles is widespread among anurans, with males having stronger limbs than females. This phenomenon has been interpreted in the context of intrasexual selection: 1) the robust forelimb muscles in males are associated with amplexus, in which the male tries to grasp the female tightly, and also with rejection of rivals’ attempts at taking over, and 2) massive hindlimb muscles favor the ability to kick away rivals during scramble competition. However, in a few species, fertilization occurs without any form of amplexus and in these species the limb muscle dimorphism is expected to be absent. We tested this prediction in Feirana taihangnicus: a species without amplexus. As expected, we detected non-significant sexual differences in the mass of both forelimb and hindlimb muscles after accounting for body size and age. Our findings represent an interesting example of coevolution of form and function.
Cyclic peptide hepatotoxins from freshwater cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) waterblooms collected in Central China

Toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) waterblooms have been found in several Chinese water bodies since studies began there in 1984. Waterbloom samples for this study contained Anabaena circinalis, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria sp. Only those waterblooms dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa were toxic by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) mouse bioassay. Signs of poisoning were the same as with known hepatotoxic cyclic peptide microcystins. One toxic fraction was isolated from each Microcystis aeruginosa sample. Two hepatotoxic peptides were purified from each of the fractions by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by amino acid analysis followed by low and high resolution fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). LD50 i.p. mouse values for the two toxins were 245-mu-g/kg (Toxin A) and 53-mu-g/g (Toxin B). Toxin content in the cells was 0.03 to 3.95 mg/g (Toxin A) and 0.18 to 3.33 mg/kg (Toxin B). The amino acid composition of Toxin A was alanine [1], arginine [2], glutamic acid [1] and beta-methylaspartic acid [1]; for Toxin B it was the same, except one of the arginines was replaced with a leucine. Low- and high-resolution FAB-MS showed that the molecular weights were 1,037 m/z (Toxin A) and 994 m/z (Toxin B), with formulas of C49H76O12N13 (Toxin A) and C49H75O12N10 (Toxin B). It was concluded that Toxin A is microcystin-RR and Toxin B is microcystin-LR, both known cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins isolated from cyanobacteria in other parts of the world. Sodium borohydride reduction of microcystin-RR yielded dihydro-microcystin-RR (m/z = 1,039), an important intermediate in the preparation of tritium-labeled toxin for metabolism and fate studies.
The Distribution of Undaria pinnatifida (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) on the Coast of St. Malo (Brittany, France)

A subtidal population of the Japanese brown alga Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae), which has been cultured in the Rance estuary since 1983, has been recorded by diving surveys of the subtidal rocky benthos at St. Malo, Brittany. A description of the occurrence of this alga is given and the possible competition between Undaria pinnatifida and the opportunist alga Saccorhiza polyschides (Lightfoot) Batters on the north and south Brittany coasts is discussed
CONDITION‐SPECIFIC COMPETITION: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ALTITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF STREAM FISHES

The occupation of adjacent, nonoverlapping positions along environmental gradients by closely related and ecologically similar species has drawn considerable attention from many ecologists over the past decades. Condition-specific competition, wherein competitive superiority varies with the abiotic environmental gradient, has been proposed as the major structuring force behind such distributions. However, few studies have elucidated the underlying mechanisms, such as behavioral and demographic processes. We conducted laboratory experiments to examine the effects of temperature on interspecific competition between two stream salmonid fishes, Salvelinus malma and S. leucomaenis. The two species have a largely allopatric altitudinal distribution on Hokkaido Island, Japan, proposed to be the result of temperature-mediated competition. We tested predictions that at a higher temperature (12°C), S. leucomaenis would dominate over S. malma in aggressive interactions, foraging performance, growth, and survival, but become subordinate at a lower temperature (6°C). Indeed, S. leucomaenis initiated a greater number of aggressive acts, attained greater food intake and greater growth, and finally excluded S. malma at the higher temperature. Although the two species initiated a similar number of aggressive acts and foraged equally well at the lower temperature, S. leucomaenis achieved a higher growth rate than S. malma; however, the latter eventually became numerically dominant. Clear competitive release in allopatry occurred for S. malma only at the higher temperature, providing direct evidence of condition-specific asymmetric competition. The lower distribution boundary of S. malma in Hokkaido streams may therefore be determined by temperature-mediated condition-specific competition. However, mechanisms determining the upper distribution boundary of S. leucomaenis could not be fully explained by the competitive results at lower temperature, but required an understanding of how effects of competition interacted with species-specific physiological traits. Thus, species distributions along an environmental gradient cannot be solely explained by a simple model of condition-specific competition without considering mechanistic linkages among behavioral and physiological responses to the environment, resource use, and demographic processes.
Chromosome cytology, leaf epidermal morphology and palynology of Curcuma rubrobracteata (Zingiberaceae)

Chromosome cytology, leaf epidermal morphology and palynology of Curcuma rubrobracteata (Zingiberaceae), a species recently recorded from southern Yunnan, China, have been investigated. The somatic chromosome number is determined as 2n=9x=63, contrary to a previous count of 2n=6x=42 based on material from northeastern India. The upper epidermis is unicellular, non-glandular, hairy along raised veins, with the epidermal cells being rectangular or polygonal in shape. The lower epidermis is glabrous, with the epidermal cells being circular or polygonal in shape, and smaller than the upper epidermal cells. The pollen grains are spherical or subspherical, non-aperturate, with a nearly smooth exine, nanoverrucate and with an annular ridge.
Effect of zinc supplementation on serum biochemicals in grower pig

Zinc (Zn) has a wide spectrum of biological activities, and its deficiency has been related to various dysfunctions and alterations of normal cell metabolism. To compare the effect of a higher dose of Zn supplementation on serum biochemicals of grower pigs (four months of age) that may serve as general indicators of optimum physiological functions, an experiment was conducted with one treatment group supplemented with higher dose of Zn (500 ppm) and another made deficient by supplementing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) at 1.5% of dry matter of diet, for a period of four months, and was compared to the control supplemented with 100 ppm Zn. Serum Zn decreased significantly in a deficient group (p <0.01), and the animals developed clinical symptoms of parakeratosis. Total serum protein and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration revealed a significantly (p <0.01) increasing trend in Zn-supplemented (500 ppm) animals from day 45 of treatment, whereas a significantly (p <0.01) decreasing trend was observed in deficient pigs. Serum albumin level was not affected by different supplemental level of Zn or induced Zn deficiency. An apparent increasing trend of glucose and cholesterol level was recorded in supplemented groups. However, it decreased significantly (p <0.01) in deficient pigs. The higher serum concentration of Zn, total serum protein, glucose, cholesterol andHb, resulting from 500 ppm of Zn supplementation in grower pigs, might help in maintaining a better physiological status through promotion of well-organised vital functions of proteins, ensuring a sufficient energy source for different physiological processes, and just source for synthesis of steroid hormones and optimal functioning of membrane receptors.
Patterns in the within‐tree distribution of the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) in young, green‐ash plantations of south‐western Ontario, Canada

1 The emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a serious exotic pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America, and is responsible for the deaths of millions of trees in Ontario and Michigan. One of the greatest challenges facing the successful management of the pest is the ability to accurately detect its presence in a tree.
Rotational vs. Continuous Stocking of Beef Cows and Calves on Mixed Endophyte-Free Tall Fescue-Bermudagrass Pasture

Endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) furnishes better animal performance than endophyte- infected grass but is less persistent under grazing, especially in mixture with common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers]. Rotational (RS), compared with continuous (CS), stocking of endophyte-free tall fescue may improve persistence when grown with an aggressive warm season perennial grass. Four 40-acre bermudagrass pastures no-till seeded witb endophyte-free 'AU Triumph' tall fescue were used, allowing two replications to compare CS and RS methods. Rotationally stocked pastures were divided into 12 paddocks to allow 2 d of grazing and 22 d of rest. Twenty Hereford (Bos taurus)x Brangus (B. indicus x B. taurus) beef cows/40-acre pasture were maintained year around for 3 yr with additional cows added in spring and summer to maintain similar forage availability. Grazing method had no effect on cow weight change, pregnancy rate, or calf weaning weight. Pasture stocking rate and calf weaning weight per acre were 38 and 37% higher (P < 0.10), respectively, and winter hay consumption was 31% lower from rotationally stocked pastures because of better tall fescue persistence and forage availability. Crude protein (CP) and in vitro dry matter digestibility of available forage generally exceeded 8 and 50%, respectively, throughout the year. Rotational stocking appears to be useful in maintaining stands of endophyte-free tall fescue in bermudagrass pastures.
Progress in breeding wheat for yield and adaptation in global drought affected environments

The impact of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in the highly productive environments of the developing world has been significant. However, 55% of the area sown to wheat in these countries is periodically affected by drought and the impact of CIMMYT germplasm on productivity in these areas is not dear. Our objective was to measure rates of yield improvement for the period 1979 through 1998 using yield data from CIMMYT's Elite Spring Wheat Trial (ESWYT) and Semi-Arid Wheat Yield Trial (SAWYT). The mean yield of the five highest yielding entries from each site was expressed as a percent of the trial mean (%TM). The trial mean yield (TM) and the mean yield of locally adapted check cultivars (LC) were used to provide estimates of the productivity of each environment. Measuring rates of progress by means of %TM, TM, and LC were favored to the use of mean yield alone as variable annual rainfall and subsequent fluctuations in productivity influence yield in dry environments. Yearly rates of progress were determined by measuring change in %TM and change in TM. In environments yielding less than 4 Mg ha -1 the respective increases in %TM and TM for SAWYT were 4.38 and 0.09% yr -1 . The equivalent rates for ESWYT were 0.34 and 0.19% yr -1 . In environments yielding 4 Mg ha -1 or more the respective rates of progress in %TM and TM for SAWYT were 0.85 and 2.87% yr -1 compared with 0.26 and 0.494% yr -1 observed in the ESWYT. Comparisons of %TM, TM, and LC for representative locations in Mexico, Argentina, Syria, and Portugal demonstrated progress in %TM ranging from highly significant to stable, regardless of local fluctuations in productivity.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEAD POSTURE AND LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OFFICE WORKERS

The purpose of this study was to discover the relationship between head and neck posture and level of physical activity for office workers. In our study, 66 subjects (women 2849 age old) who work in office longer than one year, sitting would total about 6 hours per 8 hour workday. Exclusion criteria were self-report of previous significant back injury; current neck or upper back pain; or referred pain into the upper extremity (i.e. cervical radiculopathy). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Physical activity levels were evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form. The head posture and the craniovertebral angle was measured using photogrammetry, Protractor mobile application using iPhone 6s cell phone. The cervical Range of Motion was analyzed using the inclinometer and the Neck Disability Index as an instrument for self-rated disability. The collected data were analyzed using the methods of mathematical statistics. Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship of level of physical activity with craniovertebral angle and Neck Disability Index. The results showed physical activity level has no correlations at all, a weak correlation to the craniovertebral angle. There is a correlation between all other head posture indicators.
Does Service Learning Work? Attitudes of College Students Toward Individuals With Disabilities

Background: Service-learning has been used in adapted physical activity and education (APA/E) courses in kinesiology. However, evidence has been lacking to clarify the need for utilizing service-learning in APA/E courses as an avenue to change attitudes of students. Purpose: This study aimed to compare two APA/E courses, one with service-learning and another without, to examine the effect of hands-on experiences working with individuals with disabilities on the attitudes of kinesiology undergraduate students. Methodology/Approach: Seventy-six undergraduate students enrolled in two APA/E courses were divided into the experimental (n = 28) and control group (n = 48). Only the experimental group had service-learning, which required working with children with autism in a physical activity program for 8 weeks. Both groups completed a self-efficacy measure and the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities (MAS) questionnaire at pre- and posttest. Findings/Conclusions: The results showed a significant positive change in the experimental group’s affect subset scores of the MAS and the self-efficacy measure. No significant changes in all variables were found in the control group. Implications: The findings of the study indicate that including a service-learning component in APA/E courses would be essential to change attitudes and increase self-efficacy of kinesiology students.
SIKVAV, a Laminin α1-Derived Peptide, Interacts with Integrins and Increases Protease Activity of a Human Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Cell Line through the ERK 1/2 Signaling Pathway

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a frequently occurring malignant salivary gland neoplasm. We studied the induction of protease activity by the laminin-derived peptide, SIKVAV, in cells (CAC2) derived from this neoplasm. Laminin α1 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 were immunolocalized in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells in vivo and in vitro. CAC2 cells cultured on SIKVAV showed a dose-dependent increase of MMP9 as detected by zymography and colocalization of α3 and α6 integrins. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of integrin expression in CAC2 cells resulted in decreased adhesion to the peptide. SIKVAV affinity chromatography and immunoblot analysis showed that α3, α6, and β1 integrins were eluted from the SIKVAV column, which was confirmed by mass spectrometry and a solid-phase binding assay. Small interfering RNA experiments also showed that these integrins, through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 signaling, regulate MMP secretion induced by SIKVAV in CAC2 cells. We propose that SIKVAV increases protease activity of a human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line through α3β1 and α6β1 integrins and the ERK 1/2 signaling pathway.
Genetic variability and population structure of Grapevine virus A in China based on the analysis of its coat protein gene

Abstract In this study, reverse transcription PCR (RT–PCR) detection revealed a high infection rate of Grapevine virus A (GVA) in grapevine plants cultivated in China. Population structures of 14 GVA isolates from Chinese grapevines were studied by single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) of the coat protein (CP) gene. Results showed that while most isolates contained a population of sequence variants, with one being predominant, one isolate (AF) had three major variants, and two isolates (BSSL and BSBD) consisted of a number of sequence variants with almost the same detection frequencies. The estimation of genetic diversity intra isolates by sequence alignment analysis indicated a high variability in the CP gene and the occurrence of mixed infections in some grapevines by divergent sequence variants. RT–PCR analysis using variant-specific primers (H587/C995, GVA6591F/GVA6906R) and phylogenetic analyses of CP gene sequences suggested that all sequence variants from Chinese isolates were separated into two subgroups IA and IB in the group I.
Recombinant transmembrane CD59 (CD59‐TM) confers complement resistance to GPI‐anchored protein defective melanoma cells *

Protectin (CD59) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored cell membrane glycoprotein, broadly expressed on melanocytic cells, that represents the main restriction factor of complement (C)‐mediated lysis of human melanoma cells. Levels of CD59 expression may impair the clinical efficacy of C‐activating monoclonal antibodies (mAb); thus, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the lack of CD59 expression in selected melanoma cells. Serological and biochemical analyses showed that MeWo melanoma cells expressed CD59 neither at cell surface nor at cytoplasmic levels; however, no critical mutations were identified in their CD59 mRNA. Consistently, MeWo CD59 cDNA (MeWo‐CD59) was appropriately translated when transfected into the CD59‐positive Mel 100 melanoma cells, and into the CD59‐negative Nalm‐6 pre‐B leukemia cells that acquired resistance to C. In contrast, transfection of MeWo cells with CD59 cDNA from Mel 275 melanoma cells did not induce CD59 expression; however, their transfection with the CD59‐TM chimeric construct, obtained by replacing the GPI‐anchoring signal of MeWo‐CD59 with the transmembrane tail of the human low‐density lipoprotein receptor, induced the expression of a C‐protective transmembrane form of CD59. These data, together with the absent expression of additional GPI‐anchored proteins (i.e., CD55), suggest that defects in the biosynthesis and/or processing of GPI‐anchored proteins underlie the lack of CD59 expression in MeWo cells. Further unveiling of the molecular mechanism that turns off CD59 expression in human melanoma cells will help to set‐up more effective therapeutic strategies utilizing C‐activating mAb in melanoma patients. J. Cell. Physiol. 190: 200–206, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.