Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Technique for Direct Fabrication of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Bridge: A Long-Term Clinical Observation †

The use of fiberglass in dentistry has increased due to the improvements in the development of adhesive techniques reducing the cost of treatment and avoiding abutment tooth craving. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the new technique to fabricate a direct fiber-reinforced composite bridge (FRCB) over a long period of time. Twenty-one FRCB were performed with the new direct technique on 21 patients with a mean age of 58.85 years and female predominance in the Faculty of Dentistry of Oviedo (Spain). The framework design releases the embrasures allowing adequate interproximal brushing, avoidance of periodontal disease and interproximal caries. A baseline examination was performed and the patients were examined regularly at six-month intervals (nine years’ follow-up). The restorations were also evaluated by an examiner using parameters to check their stability, longevity and the lack of periodontal disease. The most frequent location was the maxillary premolar region and the purpose of the restorations was to give a definitive bridge in 100% of the patients. Only one total debonding of the prostheses was detected during the observation period at 24 months and three partial adhesive–cohesive veneering composite fractures at the pontic after 60, 72 and 84 months, respectively. Kaplan–Meier was performed to detect the overall survival rate of the restorations at the end of the follow-up. Nine-year survival rates for the FRCB was 95.2%. All the cases had a clinically acceptable periodontal condition and an interproximal absence of caries in the abutment teeth. Currently, this type of restoration allows a minimally invasive aesthetic and is an affordable procedure, being a good alternative to other types of treatments.
Study on cholesteryl ester fatty acids in camel and cow milk lipid

Summary The average lipid content of mature camel milk (3.48 g100g−1), was found to be less than cow's milk (3.69g 100g−1), but the total cholesterol content of camel milk was high (31.32 mg100g−1) when compared to the total cholesterol content of cow's milk (25.63mg100g−1). The average free cholesterol content of mature milk from 54 lactating camels was 21.34 mg100g−1, while the average free cholesterol of mature milk of 24 lactating cows was 17.25 mg100g−1. In the esterified fraction of camel's milk the percentage of saturated fatty acids was 52% with a content of palmitic acid of 18.4%. In cow's milk saturated fatty acids accounted for 58% of the total with a content of palmitic acid of 23.6%. The unsaturated fatty acids fraction in both groups was mainly contributed by oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. Pelargonic acid (C9:0) and decanoic acid (C10:1) were found in significant amounts in mature camel milk, but were only just detectable in cow's milk. The higher content of medium chain fatty acids in camel milk is useful from a nutritional point of view as they are more easily absorbed and metabolized than long chain fatty acids.
Generating Quantitative Regional Plant Community Descriptions for Restoration

Information from reference sites is often used as an aid for planning and assessing native plant community restorations. However, restorations often proceed with inadequate reference information because there are insufficient resources to locate suitable sites and/or collect the data. As one means of providing reference information, we developed methods for using a large existing dataset to develop quantitative reference community descriptions for three ecological subsections in east‐central Minnesota. We used data gathered from remnant plant communities within the same region as potential restoration sites. Our data source was 325 vegetation plots (or “relevés”) and the results of recent cluster analysis work that grouped relevés into native plant communities for the region. The remnant natural areas sampled were distributed throughout the study area and varied in patch size. For each community type, we calculated the average frequency and abundance for each species. We also calculated an index of commonness as a product of frequency and abundance. Using this methodology, we generated lists for 31 native plant communities. We discuss the use of these lists to set restoration goals, guide restoration strategies, and/or assess restoration efforts and present some of the strengths and weaknesses of our approach.
Multiple queens and biased sex ratios in the independent‐founding Ropalidia Guérin‐Méneville, 1831 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) wasps

The social wasp genus Ropalidia includes both ‘swarm‐founding’ species with large, multi‐queen colonies, and ‘independent‐founding’ species that have smaller colonies and fewer queens. Swarm‐founding evolved from independent‐founding, and a key element of this transition was the evolution of queen cycling, which elevates relatedness despite high average queen numbers. Queen cycling is a form of split‐sex ratios; colonies with few queens specialise on new queen production, while colonies with many queens specialise on male production. This is consistent with worker preferences resulting from relatedness asymmetry (RA) to male and female brood but can also result from other factors. We characterised the demographic and genetic structure of colonies from three species of independent‐founding Ropalidia (R. excavata, R. revolutionalis and R. gregaria) to better understand the evolutionary origins of split‐sex ratios and queen cycling in their swarm‐founding relatives. We found that colonies of all three species varied in genetic structure, driving variation in RA. In colonies where the workers' RA was high (i.e. workers were more related to female than male brood), the proportion of males in the brood was lower, consistent with the relatedness‐based preferences of the workers. We also found that the proportion of males decreased in colonies with more mated and reproductively developed females. Our model explained 23% of the deviance in sex ratio across all three species and suggests that the workers manipulate the sex ratio in response to RA but that other factors are clearly important also. These results further suggest that split‐sex ratios and queen cycling in the swarm‐founding wasps are rooted in worker control of the colony sex ratio, and that such worker control may have occurred in their independent‐founding ancestors, enabling the subsequent evolution of large, multi‐queen societies.
From Dampier to DNA: the 300-year-old mystery of the identity and proposed allopolyploid origin of Conostylis stylidioides (Haemodoraceae)

The tetraploid Conostylis stylidioides (n= 16) has been proposed to be a stabilised hybrid between the diploid (n = 8) species C. prolifera and C. candicans because of morphological and geographical intermediacy, as well as a polyploid chromosome number. To test this hybrid-origin hypothesis, we used the DNA-fingerprinting technique amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and measured genetic variation within these taxa, as well as the putative outgroups C. robusta and C. aculeata. One AFLP primer pair generated 192 dominant markers for 36 samples from these species, of which 189 were polymorphic. Polymorphism within populations was uniformly high for all species, with 66–86% of all fragments polymorphic and estimates of heterozygosity ranging from 0.36 to 0.41. Ordination, UPGMA and maximum parsimony analyses of these genetic data consistently clustered species, supporting the current species’ level taxonomy. The intermediate placement of C. stylidioides between C. proliferaand C. candicans on the maximum parsimony tree supports the hybrid-origin hypothesis, although other interpretations are possible. The phenetic results for AFLP data, in which C. stylidioides is not strictly intermediate between C. prolifera and C. candicans, are either concordant with recent research suggesting that rapid intra- and inter-genomic rearrangements occur with the origin of polyploid taxa, or indicate an ancient hybridisation event. While our results do not reject the hybrid origin hypothesis, the extremely high levels of genetic variation detected with AFLP within these populations, in combination with extensive genomic reorganisation with the origin of C. stylidioides and the possibility of independent origins for different populations, make it difficult to confidently exclude other scenarios.
Long-term response of understory vegetation to stand density in Picea-Tsuga forests

The 17-year response of understory vegetation to forest thinning experiments was examined in two study sites on the central Oregon coast to determine the role of overstory species composition and stand density on forest succession. At 6 months, no significant difference in shrub, herb, and moss species composition or abundance was detected between the two study sites. Seventeen years after treatment, however, the Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr. site had much less vegetation cover and diversity than the Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. site. Overall response of most vascular species to thinning was insignificant because of their high variability in the medium and heavy treatments. Carpet-forming mosses were consistent in increasing their percent ground cover following thinning in the Picea site, and were the only species group to increase cover relative to initial conditions. Tsuga saplings were significantly more abundant under Picea canopies than under Tsuga canopies, probably because of the increased openne.
Revision of the genus Euagathis Szépligeti (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae) from Thailand, with description of three new species

The species of the genus Euagathis Szépligeti (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae) from Thailand are revised. Eight species are treated, three new species are described, i.e. Euagathis breviantennata sp. n. , E. setosimaculata sp. n. and E. pallitarsis sp. n. Disophrys sogdiana Fahringer, 1937, D. chinensis Fahringer, 1937, and Euagathis sentosus Chen & Yang, 1995, are new junior synonyms of Euagathis chinensis (Holm‐gren, 1868). Euagathis guangxiensis (Chen & Yang, 2006) is a new combination. Lectotypes are designated for Disophrys sogdiana Fahringer, 1937, and D. chinensis Fahringer, 1937. A dichotomous illustrated key to species is presented; links to electronic interactive keys and to distribu‐ tion maps are also included.
Hepatocyte growth factor regulates the proliferation and differentiation of cartilage in developing forelimb of mouse embryos in vitro

We examined the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification in the forelimbs of mouse embryos by use of immunohistochemistry and organ culture system. In the forelimbs of embryonic day 14 (E14) embryos, intense immunoreactivity for HGF was localized to the chondrocytes located in the proliferative and early hypertrophic zones, and moderate to weak immunoreactivity in the resting and late hypertrophic zones of bone anlagen. Immunoreactivity for the HGF receptor, c-Met, was also localized to the chondrocytes in the resting, proliferative and early hypertrophic zones. In the explants of forelimb buds from E10 embryos cultured for 8 days, exogenous HGF added to the culture media enhanced proliferation of chondrocytes in the forelimb bone anlagen. In contrast, the antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) for HGF as well as the specific HGF antagonist NK4 inhibited proliferation of chondrocytes and caused hypertrophic change and collagen X production, the signs of chondrocyte differentiation, in the arm bone anlagen. Furthermore, the antisense ODN and antagonists for HGF caused a complete lack in the formation of cartilaginous hand and digital bone anlagen. These results suggested that HGF functions in stimulating chondrogenesis and preventing endochondral ossification in the forelimbs of mouse embryos.
Iron limits primary productivity during spring bloom development in the central North Atlantic

We present in situ biophysical measurements and bioassay experiments that demonstrate iron limitation of primary productivity during the spring bloom in the central North Atlantic. Mass balance calculations indicate that nitrate drawdown is iron (Fe)‐limited and that aeolian Fe supply to this region cannot support maximal phytoplankton growth during the bloom. Using a simple simulation model, we show that relief of Fe limitation during the spring bloom can increase nitrate drawdown and, hence, new primary production, by 70%. We conclude that the episodic nature of iron supplied by dust deposition is an important factor controlling the dynamics of the spring bloom. From this, we hypothesize that variability in the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom in response to aeolian Fe supply will affect carbon drawdown and food web dynamics in the central North Atlantic.
Ecologically based management of rodents in lowland irrigated rice fields in Indonesia

Context.Overabundantrodentscauseconsiderablecropdamageand,indevelopingcountriesofSouth-eastAsia,rodents can be an obstacle to attempts at alleviating poverty. Management is often based on the use of chemicals that can harm non-target species. Therefore, an effective and environmentally benign management approach such as ecologically based rodent management (EBRM) is desirable. Aims. We compared the effectiveness of EBRM to that of conventional management on populations of rice-field rats (Rattus argentiventer). Methods. The study was conducted as a large-scale replicated field trial in lowland irrigated rice fields in West Java, Indonesia. EBRM actions included habitat manipulations, removal of rats with trap barrier systems, coordinated rat-control campaigns and synchrony of cropping on the village level. We measured abundance, population structure, and breeding of rice-field rats as well as rice production and crop damage caused by rats. Key results. Although there was no overall effect of the EBRM treatment on rat abundance, we found decreasing rat abundanceinrice-fieldhabitatsatthelatecroppingstageintreatedvillagesandadecreaseinbodysizeofrats.Inaddition,we foundfewerreproducingfemaleswhenEBRMwasappliedthanwiththeapplicationofconventionalmethods,whereasmale reproductive condition did not decrease. Overall, there was a reduction in mean crop damage when EBRM was applied (4.4 � 0.4% in treatments v. 2.5 � 0.4% in experimental controls), which translated into 6% higher rice production. Conclusions. The results demonstrated that EBRM is an appropriate approach to manage overabundant rodents in irrigated lowland rice-based agro-ecosystems and possibly in other agro-ecosystems. This will provide substantial benefits for smallholder farming communities in developing countries and most likely benefits for ecosystem health. Implications.The EBRM approach should be used routinely in irrigated lowland rice crops that are at risk of damage by rice-field rats.
Temporal Variation in Molluscan Community Structure in an Urban New Jersey Pond

Abstract Barbour's Pond is a 4.45-ha pond located in Garrett Mountain Reservation in Passaic County in northern New Jersey, one of the most densely populated regions in the United States. Despite its small size and surrounding urban sprawl, the shallow waters of this pond hold 18 species of molluscs. Monthly samples from March 2004 through March 2006 found the highest diversity in December 2004, and in January, June, and July 2005. Additional samples were taken in April 2007 and May 2010 to spot-check relative diversity years after the original sampling period. Total molluscan abundance was greatest in July and November 2004, possibly reflecting new late spring and autumn cohorts. Univariate statistics demonstrate that this pond has a temporally stable and diverse malacofauna. Analysis, of basic environmental parameters including temperature and pH, however, showed little correlation with molluscan diversity over time, underscoring the stable yet complex nature of biodiversity of this small urban pond.
Carbon stable isotopes: a tool for studying the mating, oviposition, and spatial distribution of races of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, among host plants in the field

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner, 1796) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a polyphagous corn pest species that includes two host races: one feeding on corn (Zea mays L.) and one feeding on mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) and hop (Humulus lupulus L.). Being able to determine the type of host plant on which field-caught moths fed as larvae would allow for the quantification of mating rates within and between races, as well as the quantification of the spatial distribution and oviposition of both races in the field. We found that stable carbon isotopes (δ;13C) are a reliable indicator of host-plant photosynthetic type (C3 or C4) regardless of adult food and intensity of metabolism; so even when food or metabolism had a significant effect on wing δ13C values, the magnitude of this effect was too small to obscure the signal characterizing host-plant type. Egg and spermatophore δ13C values similarly reflect female and male host-plant type, respectively, regardless of adult feeding. We found 224 ho.
Crop responses to lime in long-term pasture-crop rotations in a high rainfall area in south-eastern Australia

A long-term trial, known as ‘managing acid soils through efficient rotations’ (MASTER), commenced in 1992 to develop and demonstrate a cropping system that is economically viable on the highly acid soils of the traditional permanent pasture region in south-eastern Australia, so that their fertility is sustained or improved. There were 2 permanent pasture systems and 2 pasture–crop rotations, each with and without lime. This paper reports the effect of lime on crop production over the first cycle (6 years). On annual pasture–crop rotations, lime significantly increased the dry matter production at anthesis and grain yields of wheat (cv. Dollarbird) compared with the unlimed treatments. Averaged across years from 1992 to 1997 (excluding the severe drought year 1994), wheat crops produced 1.6 t/ha more grain on the limed treatments than on the unlimed treatments (3.6 v. 2.0 t/ha). On perennial pasture–crop rotations, the lime effects varied with crops grown at each phase and year. For example, despite being tolerant of acidity, oats (cv. Yarran) responded to lime in 1996. Likewise, triticale (cv. Abacus) responded to lime in 1997. Wheat (cv. Dollarbird) that is moderately tolerant to acidity responded to lime in phase 6 from 1992 to 1997 excluding 1994 (3.5 v. 1.7 t/ha). Acid-tolerant wheat varieties, triticale, and narrow-leaf lupins are considered the most viable crops for the soil and climatic conditions encountered in this high rainfall (5000—800 mm per annum) area of south-eastern Australia.
The Effect of Calcium Concentration of Water on Chloride Cell Density in Gill of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L.) Larvae

The effects of the calcium concentration on chloride cell (mitochondria-rich cell) density in the gills of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) larvae were studied. For this purpose, animals were divided into 3 groups 2 weeks after hatching and each groups was exposed to different calcium concentrations of water for two weeks. The results showed that the number of chloride cells in gill arch epithelia of larval fish increased with decreased calcium concentration.This increase was statistically significant in the gills of larvae kept in zero-Ca 2+ freshwater (ZCWF) (P< 0.001 ) and of those kept in low-Ca 2+ freshwater (LCFW) (P< 0.05) in comparision with the gills of larvae kept in normal freshwater (NFW).
Clinical value of one-level oblique lateral interbody fusion in the treatment of degenerative lumbar disc diseases

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of one-level oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. Methods A total of 36 patients, 11 males and 25 females with ages from 32 to 75 (average 55.2 ± 13.6 years), underwent one-level OLIF with or without posterior pedicle screw-rod instrumentations from October 2014 to May 2016. The index diagnosis was discogenic back pain in 15 cases, and spondylolisthesis with or without segmental instability in 21 cases. The distribution of operative level was 30 cases at L4/5 and 6 cases at L3/4. The changes of serum level of creatinine kinase was measured 1 and 3 days post-operatively, and compared to that of the pre-operative one. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODI) scores. Lumbar X-ray was taken and the clinical outcomes were re-assessed. Results 25 in the 36 patients underwent supplementary posterior pedicle screw-rod instrumentation with OLIF procedures. The operation lasted for 46-175 min, with a mean duration of (112±43) min. Blood loss during the operation was 30-180 ml, with a mean of (63 ± 35) ml. Average length of stay was (4.5±2.1) d, ranging from 3-7 d. Serum level of creatinine kinase was (63.5±16.8) IU/L before operation, (416.8±152.1) IU/L 1 day after operation, (112.4±37.5) IU/L 3 days after operation. The VAS and ODI score decreased from (8.3±2.3) pre-operatively to (1.6±0.4) 6 months post-operatively, and from (69.2±17.5) to (10.7±2.7), respectively. The total incidence of complications was 25%, including 8.3% of intra-operative complications (3 cases of cage subsidence) and 16.7% of post-operative ones. The latter consisted of ipsilateral hip flexor weakness in 1, ipsilateral anterior thigh pain in 1, contralateral pain in flexion of hip in 1, ipsilateral sympathetic chain injury in 1, and pain in area of iliac bone donor site in 2. All symptoms were released or disappeared during follow-up. Conclusion OLIF as a novel technique for spinal surgical management showed excellent short-term outcomes. Clinical results with long-term follow-up are required. Key words: Lumbar vertebrae; Spinal fusion; Clinical protocols
Carotenoid and molecular marker-based diversity assessment in tropical yellow endosperm maize inbred lines

Maize is a staple food crop for many people in Africa where millions of children, pregnant women and nursing mothers suffer from vitamin A deficiency. The β-carotene found in yellow maize can be used as a primary source of provitamin A. Several tropical yellow endosperm maize inbred lines with varying carotenoid concentrations have been identified as potential parents for breeding. Diversity assessment of these inbred lines was conducted using 17 AFLP primer combinations, 87 SSR markers and carotenoid composition to identify parents for making crosses to develop new inbred lines with high provitamin A carotenoids. Genetic distance (GD) values among all pairs of inbred lines varied from 0.08 to 0.64 with an average of 0.48 for AFLPs, and from 0.007 to 0.59 with an average of 0.45 for SSRs. The Euclidean distances calculated from carotenoid composition of the lines varied from 0.30 to 9.00 with an average of 3.27. Cluster and principal coordinate analyses based on AFLP and SSR-based GD estimates separated the lines into grouping consistent with their pedigrees. Although the correlations of molecular marker-based clustering with carotenoidbased clustering were not strong, molecular analysis could be used as the basis to identify diverse lines with complementary carotenoid compositions as parents for making bi-parental crosses to increase the level of provitamin A in tropical maize. The GD estimates can also be used as the basis to select yellow endosperm maize inbred lines for broadening and diversifying the genetic base of sources of provitamin A carotenoids in tropical yellow endosperm maize germplasm.