Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological Study on the Correlation of Prenatal and Postnatal Development between Mouse Parotid Salivary Gland and Tooth

In the mouse, there are three pairs of major salivary glands, which develop as the result of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and form at set positions within the mouth. Salivary gland development can be divided into five stages: prebud, initial bud, pseudoglandular, canalicular, and terminal bud (Jaskoll & Melnick, 1999; Jaskoll et al., 1998; Melnick & Jaskoll, 2000; Zhou et al., 2010). The major salivary glands are named according to their anatomical location: parotid, sublingual, and submandibular (Amano, 2011; Amano et al., 2012; Saracco & Crabill, 1993; Williams et al., 1989). The submandibular and sublingual salivary glands are located under the tongue, while the parotid salivary glands are located at the back of the mouth between the upper and lower jaw (Tucker, 2007). Each salivary gland is composed of acini, which are formed by glandular secretory cells, and surrounding myoepithelial cells and ducts, including intercalated and striated ducts, which terminate in the lumen (Amano et al., 2012; Chi, 1996; Melnick & Jaskoll, 2000). The acini, the secretory portion of the salivary gland, produce and secrete primitive saliva of which there are three types, serous, mucous and mixed saliva depending on the characteristics of the secretory cells (Amano et al., 2012; Chi, 1996). The parotid salivary gland is the largest of the salivary glands, and in the mouse the parotid glands consist of serous acinar cells that secrete an abundance of amylase (Amano et al., 2012; Leith et al., 2014; Tucker, 2007). Tooth development broadly comprises three stages, the bud stage, cap stage and bell stage and is a continuous process (Antonio, 2008). As a result of interactions between the epithelium and mesenchyme, the epithelial cells differentiate into ameloblasts and the ectomesenchymal cells differentiate into odontoblasts (Maas & Bei, 1997; Theslef & Sharpe,
The Oxidative Stress Mediated Toxicity and Immunotoxic Effect of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Spleen of Adult Albino Rats

The escalated use of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) in various fields increased risk of human and environmental exposure. Spleen accounts for a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunity and represents a potential target for nanoparticles toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunotoxic effect of sub-acute oral exposure to CuO NPs on spleen of adult male albino rats. Thirty rats were divided into two main groups. Group (I) control which was subdivided into two groups (10 rats each): (IA) negative control and (IB) positive control (received deionized water). Group II received CuO NPs (125 mg/kg). Animals were orally gavaged with treatments on a daily base for 28 days. At the end of experiment, blood samples on EDTA were used to assess number of red blood corpuscles (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb%), platelets (PLT), white blood cells count (WBCs), and differential leucocyte count (neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes). Serum samples were analyzed for total IgG and IgM levels. Thereafter, spleens were resected to assess levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Number of T-Lymphocyte subpopulation (CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+) and histopathology (H&E) were also determined. The results of the present study revealed that CuO NPs significantly decreased RBCs, Hb%, PLT, WBCs and lymphocytes% and significantly increased neutrophils% and monocytes%. Also, a significant reduction in total IgG and IgM in serum was detected. Furthermore, spleens of CuO NPs treated group demonstrated significant elevation in MDA, TNFα. , and CD8+. Meanwhile, SOD, IL4, CD4+, CD19+ and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio were significantly decreased. Structural damage was indicated by reduced number and cellularity of lymphoid follicles, as well as, congestion of red pulps. It can be concluded that the immune function of spleen was intoxicated by CuO NPs mostly due to oxidative stress mechanism and inflammation.
Climate as a major driver of avian diversity in riparian Amazonian habitats along an environmental gradient

To investigate the influence of bioclimatic, productivity and topographic variables on avian diversity patterns in riparian habitats along a savanna/humid forest environmental gradient. We investigate how this gradient affects patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha and beta diversities, and whether the changes observed along the river are the result of taxonomic (and phylogenetic) replacement or nestedness‐resultant dissimilarities. We also explore a potential ecological mechanism to account for differences in species richness along the gradient.
On the Nature of the Turbulent Energy Dissipation Beneath Nonbreaking Waves

Here we have determined the nature of turbulent flow associated with oceanic nonbreaking waves, which are on average much more prevalent than breaking waves in most wind conditions. We found this flow to be characterized by a low turbulence microscale Reynolds number of 30 < Reλ < 100. We observed that the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate associated with nonbreaking waves ϵ, ranged to 3 · 10−4 W/kg for a wave amplitude 50 cm. The ϵ, under nonbreaking waves, was consistent with ϵ=2νTSij2 ; Sij is the large‐scale (energy‐containing scales) wave‐induced mean flow stress tensor. The turbulent Reynolds stress associated with nonbreaking waves was consistent with experimental data when parameterized by an amplitude independent constant turbulent eddy viscosity, 10 times larger than the molecular value. Given that nonbreaking waves typically cover a much larger fraction of the ocean surface (90–100%) than breaking waves, this result shows that their contribution to wave dissipation can be significant.
Credit Management Guidelines to Strengthen Thai Industrial Sector

This research investigates the credit management guidelines to strengthen Thai industrial sector. The research has been simulated from the findings of both qualitative and quantitative of 500 questionnaires distributed to industrial business executives in Thailand. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis categorized into SME and large enterprises, and SEM to conduct the model in consistent with the empirical data. The results show that: (1) the credit management guidelines consist of 4 factors: a) characteristics management b) financial management c) operations management and d) assets management. The business executives gave overall importance on the guidelines at a high level with an average of 3.86. (2) The development of SEM shows that the model fits with the empirical data at Chi-Square probability level = 0.084, CMIN/DF = 1.164, GFI = 0.965 and RMSEA = 0.018. (3) The characteristics management directly influences the financial management and the operation management. The financial management directly influences on the assets management. The assets management has direct influence on the operations management. The findings show that the characteristics management is the essential starting component in SEM and the financial management factor has the most influence in the assets management variable with standard regression weight of 0.990.
Projected changes in fire size from daily spread potential in Canada over the 21st century

The broad consensus indicates that climate change will cause larger and more frequent fires, resulting in a growing annual area burned (AAB) in much of Canada. Our ability to predict future changes in fire size (FS) and AAB is limited due to the uncertainty embedded in climate change models and our inability to quantify the complex interactions between the changing environment and fire activity. In this study, we introduce a new method to predict future FS and AAB across Canada over the 21st century based on fire-conducive weather and how it translates to on-the-ground fire spread (i.e. spread days). We found that the potential for an extreme fire year (99th percentile of AAB) could quadruple by the end of the century across Canada, and ≥ 10 times more common in the boreal biome. Specifically, FS and AAB may increase 20%–64% and 25%–93%, respectively, and the average fire year under the extreme climate scenario may burn ∼11 Mha, which is ∼4 Mha higher than the most extreme fire year in Canada’s modern history (∼7 Mha). Our results demonstrate that by accounting for the strong nonlinear expansion of wildfires as a function of number of fire spread days, even conservative climate-change scenarios may yield significant increase in fire activity.
Why Are International Visitors More Satisfied with the Tourism Experience? The Role of Hedonic Value, Escapism, and Psychic Distance

Previous studies have consistently observed that international visitors are more satisfied with the tourism experience than their domestic counterparts. To date, however, no study has provided empirical evidence of the mechanism that could explain this phenomenon. Building on the experiential paradigm, we conducted two empirical studies (a field study and an online experiment) showing that the reason foreign (vs. domestic) visitors exhibit higher levels of satisfaction lies in the greater hedonic value that these tourists derive from their experience. Moreover, the greater hedonic value observed among international foreign visitors is due to the deeper feeling of escapism they experience by traveling abroad. We also demonstrate that this effect is explained by the concept of psychic distance, whereby going abroad leads to a greater perception of psychic distance, and subsequently escapism, hedonic value, and satisfaction with the tourism experience.
I-ApeI: a novel intron-encoded LAGLIDADG homing endonuclease from the archaeon, Aeropyrum pernix K1

Over 50 introns have been reported in archaeal rRNA genes (rDNAs), a subset of which nests putative homing endonuclease (HEase) genes. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a novel archaeal LAGLIDADG-type HEase, I-ApeI, encoded by the ApeK1.S908 intron within the 16S rDNA of Aeropyrum pernix K1. I-ApeI consists of 222 amino acids and harbors two LAGLIDADG-like sequences. It recognizes the 20 bp non-palindromic sequence 5′-GCAAGGCTGAAAC↓TTAAAGG and cleaves target DNA to produce protruding tetranucleotide 3′ ends. Either Mn2+ or Co2+ can be substituted for Mg2+ as a cofactor in the cleavage reaction. Of the 20 bases within the minimal recognition site, 7 are essential for cleavage and are located at positions proximal to the cleavage sites.
Perspective of university students from health and non-health colleges on COVID-19 pandemic: a questionnaire-based survey

After COVID-19 had begun its journey worldwide, intensified and stringent public health precautionary measures toward COVID-19 was effectively taken by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for its control, among which ubiquitous education plays an essential role This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about COVID-19 among Qassim University students from health and non-health colleges A cross-sectional study, using a self-administered online, close-ended questionnaire was adopted 534 Qassim university students from health and non-heal colleges were our participants who, voluntarily and anonymously, answered the questionnaire regarding their KAP toward COVID-19 Appropriate knowledge was acquired by 81 3% subjects, where the level was significantly higher in students from health colleges than their counterparts (P < 0 05) 68 2% subjects reported positive attitude, with significantly higher level among older students, students from health colleges and students from the higher academic grades (P < 0 05) Proactive practice was found in 87 8% participants which was significantly more prevalent among older students, males and higher grade students (P < 0 05) Significant concordant correlation between knowledge, attitude and practice and between attitude and practice were noticed (P < 0 05) Tailored public health trainings to improve preventative measures towards COVID-19 should addressed younger students in primary grades, females and students from non-health colleges
Achieving Life Milestones in Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Objective To understand the milestones achieved in the transition from childhood to adulthood for patients with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD/BMD). Methods We performed a retrospective chart review on patients aged 15 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of DMD/BMD who received care from January 1, 2008, to January 1, 2018 at the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Rochester Medical Center. Participants were identified using local Muscular Dystrophy Asssociation-funded clinic lists, neuromuscular research databases, and electronic medical record review. Data were abstracted using a uniform template on education, employment, community resources, relationships, and end-of-life discussions and is presented as mean, median, or frequency with associated 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 109 patients were identified: patients ranged in age from 15 to 56 years with a median of 24, and covered a 5-state region and Ontario, Canada. Seventy-eight percent of patients had DMD and were, on average, 8.5 years younger than patients with BMD. Over half (56.9%, 95% CI 47.6–66.2) were high school graduates or beyond. Sixteen percent did not have their highest level of education documented. Only 20.0% had an occupation (95% CI 12.7–27.7), most frequently in education and administrative support (34%). The majority were still living with parents (80.7%, 95% CI 73.3–88.1). A minority reported having end-of-life discussions (17.4%, 95% CI 10.3–24.6). Conclusions Psychosocial elements reflecting the transition to adulthood are inconsistently reported in clinical documentation. A prospective study will further elucidate this transition.
Recent Developments in Low iLUC Policies and Certification in the EU Biobased Economy

The development of a sustainable biobased economy (BBE) in Europe is associated with several challenges. Amongst others, lessons learned from the development of the biofuel sector and the complex debate around land use change associated with a growing demand for biomass have to be considered when developing BBE policies. In that regard, strategies to identify and verify feedstocks with low potential risks for direct and indirect land use change (iLUC) impacts are of specific importance. Complementing existing efforts to assess iLUC with modelling activities, the European Commission (EC) has proposed a risk-based approach, aiming to differentiate high and low iLUC risk biomass. Amongst others, different additionality measures can be used to produce certified biomass with low iLUC risk. However, a comprehensive overview and analysis of these additionality measures and the challenges related to their integration in an integer verification approach is still missing. Therefore, we analyse European Union (EU) policies dealing with iLUC, iLUC risk assessment studies, certification approaches, and iLUC modelling studies to identify and develop additionality practices potentially applicable in certification and to show how the potential application of the proposed measures could be realised and verified in practice. We identified five potential practices for low iLUC risk biomass production, which are likely to be used by market actors. For each practice, we identified methods for the determination of low iLUC risk feedstock and products. Finally, our review includes recommendations for follow-up activities towards the actual implementation of additionality measures in biomass certification schemes.
Antioxidants activity and physicochemical properties of honey from social bees of the Brazilian semiarid region

This study compared the nutraceutical potential of Apis mellifera and Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides honeys from the semiarid region of Bahia, Brazil, using microbiological, melissopalynological, and physicochemical techniques. Total phenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant activity were also determined. All samples had good microbiological quality and safety with an absence of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. , Staphylococcus coagulase positive and Clostridium sulphite reducing spores. Were identified 41 pollen types belonging to 23 botanical families. Myrtaceae, Anacardiaceae, and Sapindaceae were the predominant pollen types in A. mellifera honey, while honey Malvaceae was the most representative in the M. q. anthidioides. Regarding the physicochemical parameters evaluated, 75% complied with the standards established by the Brazilian and European quality legislation. The honey samples of A. mellifera had higher values of phenolic compounds and flavonoids (260.0 to 341.51 mgGAE.kg−1 and from 114.44 to 216.29 mgQE.kg−1, respectively). The samples from M. q. anthidioides presented higher antioxidant activity. The honeys of A. mellifera and M. q. anthidioides from the semiarid regions presented distinct botanical compositions, suggesting that both species use different plant sources, which possibly influenced the parameters related to honey quality as well as the content of phenolic compounds.
Comparative transcriptome analysis between Solanum lycopersicum L. and Lotus japonicus L. during arbuscular mycorrhizal development

ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with diverse plant species. The AM fungi enhance mineral uptake from the soil, which benefits the growth of the host plants. Previous microarray and RNA-seq analyses have identified a large number of AM-responsive plant genes. However, little is known whether the gene expression profile of mycorrhiza is different among genetically distant plant species. The aim of this study was to assess the conservation and divergence of AM-responsive genes between two different hosts, Solanum lycopersicum L. and Lotus japonicus L. , during AM development using RNA-seq data. In each host plant, gene expression was compared between AM roots and non-mycorrhizal (NM) roots. Potential orthologs of AM-responsible genes between S. lycopersicum and L. japonicus were identified with reciprocal BLAST searches. Only one quarter to one third of the AM-inducible genes in each plant species were co-upregulated in both species. The co-upregulated genes included those known to be essential for AM development and function. The co-upregulated genes exhibited a wide range of fold changes in the AM symbiosis, and the fold change value for individual co-upregulated genes was positively correlated between the two hosts. Most of the species-dependent upregulated genes exhibited low levels of induction. We also analyzed gene expression in AM fungi colonizing roots of S. lycopersicum and L. japonicus. Overall, the gene expression profiles of Rhizophagus irregularis were similar among the roots of the two different hosts, although hundreds of fungal genes were differentially expressed between the two hosts. In particular, genes related to the mitochondrial electron transport chain were highly expressed in AM fungi colonizing L. japonicus roots, indicating that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production was enhanced in the L. japonicus–R. irregularis symbiosis. Overall, these results show that a certain proportion of AM-responsive genes is conserved across plant species. The species-dependent AM-responsive genes may be related to the physiological differences between AM and NM roots in each plant species.
Effects of mowing and fertilization on soil quality in a semiarid grassland of North China

Soil quality has been defined as the capacity to sustain biological productivity and maintain environmental quality. Mowing and fertilization may affect ecosystem function through numerous soil properties, especially in semiarid grasslands where plant growth is limited by nutrient availability. However, the effects of grassland management on the trade‐off between soil quality and plant community structure is still unclear. Understanding the effect of land use type on soil quality is essential to adopt proper grassland management practices for a specific region. Principal component analysis was used to calculate a soil quality index (SQI) with 18 variables under the following treatments: control, mowing, nitrogen addition, and mowing plus nitrogen addition in August 2017 in a typical steppe of North China. This study showed that nitrogen addition significantly increased SQI by 0.82, field water capacity by 3.77%, soil capillary porosity by 3.30%, and soil available nitrogen content by 13.85 mg kg−1, but reduced soil aggregate proportion by 3.07%, microbial biomass nitrogen content by 7.74 mg kg−1, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by 0.02 μmol g−1, the ratio of fungus to bacteria by 0.16, and the ratio of Gram‐positive bacteria to Gram‐negative bacteria by 0.13 across the mowing and unmowing treatments. Nitrogen addition could improve productivity by increasing the soil quality but reduce plant diversity of the grassland ecosystems. Mowing did not affect SQI and aboveground biomass. The results suggested that fertilization as grassland management improved soil quality and productivity, whereas mowing was a sustainable way to maintain plant diversity in this semiarid grassland.
Antifungal activity of cultivated oyster mushrooms on various agro-wastes

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the antifungal activity of four fruiting bodies of oyster mushroom harvested from three agro-substrates in vitro . At three concentrations (2, 4 and 8 mg/disc), extracts discs of Pleurotus ostreatus (grey), P. ostreatus var. florida , P. cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus and P. salmoneostramineus were tested against three fungal pathogens: Trichoderma harzianum (after 2 days), Verticillium sp. and Pythium sp. (after 5 days) via the Disc Diffusion Method. The highest overall activity was by the extract disc Y2 ( P. cornucopiae grown on M2 substrate; 70% wheat straw, Owaid; M.N.; Al-Saeedi, S.S.S.; Al-Assaffii, I.A.A.Antifungal activity of cultivated oyster mushrooms on various agro-wastes. Summa Phytopathologica, v.43, n.1, p.09-13, 2017. 20% hardwood sawdust and 10% date palm fibers) and the lowest by Y1 ( P. cornucopiae grown on wheat straw). The best inhibition zone was 16 mm toward T. harzianum by extract disc W2 (2 mg/disc) ( P. ostreatus var. florida grown on M2 substrate), compared with 23 mm with Nystatin disc (100 U), followed 7 and 5 mm by P3 (
Classification, Force Deformation Characteristics and Cooking Kinetics of Common Beans

Post-harvest characteristics of common beans influences its classification, which significantly affects processing time and energy requirements. In this work, ten bean cultivars were classified as either easy-to-cook (ETC) or hard-to-cook (HTC) based on a traditional subjective finger pressing test and a scientific objective hardness test. The hardness study used seed coat rigidity to explain the structural deformation observed during cooking. The result shows that the average hardness of raw dry ETC and HTC beans was 102.4 and 170.8 N, respectively. The maximum seed coat resistance is observed within the first 30 min of cooking regardless of the classification. The results show that a modified three-parameter non-linear regression model could accurately predict the rate of bean softening (R2 = 0.994–0.999 and RMSE = 3.3–14.7%). The influence of bean softeners such as potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) to reduce cooking time was also investigated. The results showed that the addition of K2CO3 to the cooking water significantly reduced the cooking time by up to 50% for ETC and 57% for HTC.