Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intracytoplasmic injection of porcine, bovine, mouse, or human spermatozoon into porcine oocytes

We determined the incidence of activation, male pronuclear formation, and apposition of pronuclei in porcine oocytes following intracytoplasmic injection of various porcine sperm components and foreign species spermatozoa, such as that of cattle, mouse or human. The porcine oocytes were activated by injection of a spermatozoon or an isolated sperm head. In contrast, injection of either sperm tail or a trypsin‐ or NaOH‐treated sperm head failed to induce oocyte activation. Because injection of mouse, bovine, or human spermatozoon activated porcine oocytes, the sperm‐borne activation factor(s) is not strictly species‐specific. Male pronuclear formation and pronuclear apposition were observed in porcine oocytes following injection of porcine, bovine, mouse or human spermatozoa. Electrical stimulation following sperm cell injection did not enhance the incidence of male pronuclear formation or pronuclear apposition compared with sperm cell injection alone (P > 0.1). Following porcine sperm injection, the microtubular aster was organized from the neck of the spermatozoon, and filled the whole cytoplasm. In contrast, following injection of bovine, mouse, or human spermatozoon, the maternal‐derived microtubules were organized from the cortex to the center of the oocytes, which seems to move both pronuclei to the center of oocytes. Cleavage to the two‐cell stage was observed at 19–21 hr after injection of porcine spermatozoon. However, none of the oocytes following injection of mouse, bovine, or human spermatozoa developed to the mitotic metaphase or the two‐cell stage. These results suggested that the oocyte activating factor(s) is present in the perinuclear material and that it is not species‐specific for the porcine oocyte. Self‐organized microtubules seemed to move the pronuclei into center of oocytes when foreign species spermatozoa were injected into porcine oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:84–91, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Small Molecule Induction of Human Umbilical Stem Cells into Myelin Basic Protein Positive Oligodendrocytes in a Defined Three- Dimensional Environment

Umbilical cord stem cells would be a favorable alternative to embryonic stem cells for therapeutic applications. In this study, human multipotent progenitor cells (MLPCs) from umbilical cord were differentiated into oligodendrocytes by being exposed to a range of microenvironmental chemical and physical cues. Chemical cues were represented by a novel defined differentiation medium containing the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE). Under traditional two-dimensional conditions, the MLPCs differentiated into oligodendrocyte precursors but did not progress further. However, in a three-dimensional environment, the MLPCs differentiated into committed oligodendrocytes that expressed myelin basic protein. The apparent method of interaction of NE in stimulating the differentiation process was shown to occur through the adenergic pathway, while all prior differentiation methods have used other routes. This novel method of obtaining functional human oligodendrocytes from MLPCs would eliminate many of the difficult.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL CONTROL OF FRESHWATER DIATOMS—A REVIEW

The examination of correlates of diatom community structure has long been centred on local environmental factors instead of broad-scale biogeographical factors largely because diatom distribution has been considered cosmopolitan. However, a number of recent publications have stressed the role of regional constraints such as historical factors, evolution and variability in modern day dispersal ability in determining the diatom community structure. This study aims to review the literature examining freshwater diatom community structure in relation to environmental and spatial gradients, and to consider the results in a wider ecological context. Diatom literature stresses the importance of ion concentration and trophic status as major environmental drivers of diatom distribution in lakes and streams, while physical factors typically have a lesser effect on community structure. Moreover, studies where spatial configuration accounted for a significant proportion of the community variance clearly outnumbered the studies suggesting strict local environmental control. Freshwater diatom communities seem also to be strongly spatially structured. According to studies from both lakes and streams, pure spatial factors account for about 20–30% of the total explainable community variation, and thereby suggest that diatoms lack strict ubiquitous dispersal. For the studies conducted in lakes, a meta-analysis showed that the proportion of variance explained by local environmental factors decreased, though non-significantly, as study extent increased. Although the pattern was relatively weak, this may imply that the role of spatial factors increased with increasing study area. These results suggest that bioassessment programs utilising diatoms should consider spatial factors explicitly using, for example, regional stratification as diatom communities are strongly spatially structured.
Using bacteriophages to prevent furunculosis caused by Aeromonas salmonicida in farmed brook trout

Abstract Fish aquaculture faces important losses as a result of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Bacteriophages have proven a useful alternative therapy in other domains, but remain to be tested with fish. The interaction between Aeromonas salmonicida HER 1107, bacteriophage HER 110, and brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis was studied in 70-L aquariums maintained at 9°C. Populations of A. salmonicida (108 colony-forming units per milliliter) declined by six log units (base 10) in 3 d when bacteriophage HER 110 was introduced in a multiplicity of infection factor of 1. Concentrations of bacteriophages and bacteria in the open water of the aquariums were 2–3 log units lower than those in gravel interstitial water. However, the relative drop in bacterial populations with time was the same in both environments. Addition of the bacteriophage HER 110 delayed by 7 d the onset of furunculosis in brook trout. Further addition of A. salmonicida HER 1107 showed that bacteriophages remained in the aquariums. Mutant.
Exploitation of InSAR techniques as a support of in situ sensors to improve safety and productivity in mining operations

The Brumadinho dam disaster occurred on 25 January 2019 when a tailings dam at the Corrego do Feijao iron ore mine in Brazil suffered a catastrophic failure of devastating consequences over hundreds of kilometres with a severe toll on the environment and the population. The collapse of Brumadinho tailings dam could be considered among the worst incidences related to mining operations in recent years. Unfortunately, it will not be the last tragedy of this kind. According to researchers at World Mine Tailings Failures, the risk of occurrence for these catastrophic events will increase in the near future. Mining operations are typically monitored by employing sparse networks of in situ sensors (prisms, ground-based radars, piezometers, etc.). This information does not cover the totality of the possible areas affected by deformation. Furthermore, it is difficult to manage since it is obtained from different sources, whose integration and comparison become a complex task. In this context, spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry (InSAR) technology represents an attractive alternative to complement the monitoring of mining operations due to its capabilities. On the one hand, spaceborne InSAR could provide measurements of terrain deformation with millimetric precision over wide areas. And on the other hand, the monitoring can be carried out regardless of day-night cycles or the weather conditions in the areas of interest. In recent years, the InSAR technology has improved, allowing the exploitation of key indicators revealing precursors in the trend of deformation time-series. This paper takes Cadia and Brumadinho as test sites and shows the potential of cross-sections and inverse velocity analysis to complement in situ sensors for the rapid identification of critical deformations on tailing dams and slopes in open pits. Finally, an example of an online platform is presented as a way of improving the user experience to exploit InSAR monitoring services jointly with in situ information over a map of reference. This provides the end-users with a single platform with all the monitoring data to make easier the spatio-temporal analysis of the deformation and the assessment of critical spots of deformation.
Update on Emerging Treatment Options for Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Abstract Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare autoimmune cholestatic liver disease that may progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis. Treatment options are currently limited. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) remains first-line therapy and has been proven to normalize serum biochemistries, halt histologic disease progression, and lead to patient survival comparable to the general population. Obeticholic acid (OCA) was recently approved as adjunct therapy in PBC patients with inadequate response or intolerance to UDCA. However, OCA has been associated with worsening pruritus in clinical studies which may limit its use in this patient population. Several studies are currently underway to address the lack of treatment options for PBC. Of these, fibrates, which have been used in Japan for over a decade, have produced promising results. Furthermore, as currently approved therapies for PBC do not address the potentially debilitating clinical symptoms of PBC such as pruritus and fatigue, supplemental therapy is often required for symptom control.
Yoga for seniors: understanding their beliefs and barriers to participation

ABSTRACT Yoga has been found to provide numerous health benefits to older adults including preventing or slowing physical frailty and subsequent functional limitations. The purpose of this study was to examine pre-frail or frail older adults’ beliefs about yoga as well as to identify barriers to participation. We recruited 37 older adults from a Faint, Fall, and Frailty Clinic at a medical center and asked them to complete questionnaires regarding their physical health and beliefs about yoga using the Beliefs About Yoga Scale. Frailty and fall risk were obtained through electronic health records. Participants’ had mean age of 72.81 years. Participants were considered to be prefrail (66.7%) or frail (33.3%), and most (78.4%) had fallen at least once in the past year. Over 72% of participants engaged in light physical activity. The BAYS mean score was 59.17 (SD = 12.5; Range 11–77). Higher scores indicted more optimistic beliefs about yoga. Over 90% of participants had not practiced yoga, 97.1% had no intentions to practice, 61.8% did not know locations placed where yoga classes were offered, 82.4% were unsure about the costs associated with yoga, and only 56.3% reported having transportation. The three primary barriers to practicing yoga were perceived difficulty of yoga practice, lack of motivation, and fear of injury. Participants held positive beliefs about yoga, yet had limited experience and little intention to participate indicating a need to provide targeted educational interventions to this population of older adults.
Modeling the potential effects of climate change on leaf pack processing in central Appalachian streams.

A computer simulation model was constructed to evaluate some of the projected impacts of climate change, including elevated temperatures and increased frequency and magnitude of floods and droughts, on leaf pack processing in central Appalachian streams. The model simulated microbial processing, invertebrate consumption, and transport along a 1-km second-order stream. We examined the effects of wet and dry years with and without a 2°C temperature increase. Both invertebrates and microbes processed more leaf material under the elevated temperature scenarios; however, the invertebrate response was greater than the microbial response. In the model, microbial processing is represented as a linear function of temperature; a nonlinear response might produce different results. Invertebrates processed a greater percentage of the inputs in wet than in dry years, while microbial processing rates were unaffected. A 20-year flood event occurring in November, January, or March caused more than 50% of the leaf inputs t.
Measuring Middle School Achievement Trajectories for College Readiness

This study identifies students’ academic trajectories in the middle grades relative to a set of college readiness benchmarks. We apply math and reading college readiness benchmarks to rich longitudinal data for more than 360,000 students across the nation. Student-level and school-level demographic characteristics significantly predict academic trajectories. Compared to White and Asian students, higher proportions of Black and Hispanic student are always off-track throughout middle school. Among students who started 6th grade on track, being male, Black, Hispanic, and attending schools with a higher percentage of low-income students are positively associated with falling off track.
Porous Carbon Monoliths Made from Cellulose and Starch

Porous carbon monoliths can be used as key components in a variety of applications, such as energy storage, adsorption and catalysis. The preparation of porous carbon monoliths suffers from several limitations, e.g., time-consuming synthesis steps, the use of hazardous chemicals, limited porosity or mechanical stability. This paper describes the investigation of a simple synthesis route to produce porous carbon monoliths from sustainable carbon precursors. Mixtures from different kinds of cellulose and starch, respectively, have been used as the carbon precursor. Fundamental features of porous monoliths, i.e., the porosity and the mechanic stability, respectively, have been investigated in dependence on the composition of the precursor mixtures. First attempts to explain the observed behavior have already been made.
Digital and Media Competences: Key Competences for EFL Teachers.

The usefulness of ICT in language learning is unquestionable nowadays. There are many digital educational resources available for foreign and second language teachers, materials which are progressively acquiring an important role in the teaching-learning process. In order to respond to the increasing presence of such technologies in the classroom, teachers need to acquire digital and media competences, two key elements for lifelong training process. However, these are superficially addressed in teacher education. In this light, both in-training and in-service educators demand more skills and specific training to be able to teach students how to use technologies and, ultimately, help them develop their own digital and media competences. Following an exhaustive bibliographical revision of scientific literature in the field, this theoretical paper seeks to revise the concepts of digital and media competences as well as to reflect on how superficially they are addressed at universities and teacher-training centres. After this, the importance of both competences as key elements for teachers is brought to light, as well as some useful suggestions to help foreign and second language teachers acquire and develop them and, simultaneously, teach them to their students.
UV treatment of fresh fruits and vegetables for improved quality: a status report

Purpose of review: Over the past 20 years, ultraviolet (UV) hormesis has been evaluated as a postharvest treatment for fresh fruits and vegetables. Results from several independent research teams highlight the potential of this new technology. The objectives of this review are to present an overview of UV hormesis in postharvest crops and to characterise their responses to this physical stressor. Considerations related to future directions for the application of UV treatment are also discussed. Findings: UV treatment applied to fresh fruits and vegetables at defined low effective doses, termed hormic or hormetic, results in a beneficial response in treated plant organs. UV-treated horticultural crops show improved resistance to disease development that is primarily related to the induced synthesis and accumulation of phytoalexins, as well as other defence mechanisms. UV treatment also favourably affects the evolution of several quality parameters in treated commodities. For model commodities such as grape, citrus and strawberry, results have been presented on the UV enhancement of bioactive compounds known to be beneficial to human health and well-being. Directions for future research: UV treatment is likely ready for commercial application. However, any attempt to develop an online apparatus must address crop specificity and the range of factors that affect hormetic responses. Future multidisciplinary research should support the development of effective technological designs applicable to particular postharvest systems.
An analysis of teamwork based on self and peer evaluation in higher education

Abstract Teamwork is one of the most important competences for most professionals, and it is therefore imperative that it be included in university education programmes, yet its evaluation continues to pose challenges. This paper reports on part of a study into the self and peer evaluation of teamwork, research which was carried out in order to analyse teamwork dynamics among students on degree courses in different disciplines, and how these relate to the outcome of teamwork and the grades obtained by each team member. The views of 351 students studying five subjects on five different degree courses were analysed, with participants divided into 95 groups. The results show that effective teamwork is related to higher grades and higher quality products. The weighting of the grade awarded to teamwork in the final subject grade conditions students’ assessment of how well the team has functioned, as does the grade each student receives from their teammates. Those teams that view their team as functioning best distribute equal grades among their teammates. The results also show that those students who assess themselves positively do the same for their peers.
Use and availability of tree and shrub resources on Maasai communal rangelands near Amboseli, Kenya

Use of plant resources is critical in understanding resource dependence among poor rural communities. This study investigated use of tree and shrub resources by a local Maasai community, through discussions and a questionnaire. Twenty-four tree and shrub species were utilised for four main purposes: medicinal, fencing, firewood and shelter. These uses were mainly confined to four key species: Acacia mellifera, Acacia xanthophloea, Acacia tortilis and Balanites glabra. Ethno-medicine was the most common use and required smaller quantities of plant materials, followed by firewood and fencing. Construction of shelter was the least of the uses, requiring specific plant resources. The purposes of use, frequency of utilisation and quantities consumed were species-dependent. Though generally common and accessible, plant resource availability and proximity varied among species. The community felt there was a decline in tree and shrub cover due to charcoal burning, land use changes — particularly agricultural expansion — and fencing. Even though tree and plant resources were still available, it is important to monitor their use to avert potential overexploitation.
Evaluation of the feed intake models in the Nordic feed evaluation system NorFor

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the feed intake models in the Nordic feed evaluation system NorFor. Data from 196 feeding experiments with dairy cows, and 17 experiments of periodical data, and 135 experiments of complete data with growing cattle were used in the evaluation by mixed model regression. The feed intake by both dairy cows and growing cattle were overestimated by the models. A linear bias indicated that over prediction increased with level of intake both by dairy cows and growing cattle. Most animal and diet factors were significantly related to the residuals, which indicated that those factors did not act independently in the predictions of feed intake. This kind of errors can restrict future ration formulation and animal performance, since animal production parameters included in the prediction models will be a consequence of the diet fed at the time they were measured.
Psychiatric morbidity in children attending child guidance clinic in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Mental and behavioral problems pose a unique challenge in growing years. A pediatrician should have the clinical acumen and knowledge to rule out organic causes and thereby identify various psychiatric illnesses that present to the Pediatric Department. The variety of presentation, lack of awareness among parents and stigma prevalent with regard to acceptance of psychological problems makes it more challenging and it is not uncommon that they present to the departments other than psychiatry. Despite the large number of children who attend primary care settings with mental disorders, their recognition and treatment are generally inadequate.
Application of grand-canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulation in metals using cavity-biased method

ABSTRACT A critic issue of the application of the conventional grand-canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method in high-density systems is the low acceptance ratio of insertion. Previous studies have revealed that this can be overcome by the cavity-biased (CB) insertion method in simulations of vapours, fluids and liquids. Here, we demonstrate that the method is also highly efficient in metals. Using the Fe–H system as an example, we find that the acceptance ratio of inserting H into Fe lattice is increased by several times using the CB GCMC method. The method is more valid than the conventional one at bulk H concentration over 5‰, implying that the CB GCMC method is highly efficient when there are deep traps for H in simulation systems, i.e. dislocations and interfaces. Application of the method in nanocrystalline Fe shows that the CPU time required for obtaining an equilibrium distribution of H is reduced by 60%.
Effect of Water Temperature on Reproductive Tract Condition of Penaeus setiferus Adult Males

— This study was conducted to determine the effect of water temperature on male reproductive tract degenerative syndrome (MRTDS) and male reproductive system melanization (MRSM) in Penaeus setiferus, and to evaluate the effect of water temperature on spermatophore regeneration time and sperm quality in electrically ejaculated adult males. Variation in sperm quality, gonadosomatic index, and histological changes in the reproductive system were used to assess reproductive tract changes in the first experiment. Sperm quality and regeneration time were measured before and after successive regenerations in the second experiment. Sperm quality was stable when shrimp were held at 26 C for 30 d but was reduced when shrimp were held at 30 C. Reproductive tissues of 20% of the shrimp held at 30 C were melanized to some degree but tissue melanization was found in only 2.5% of the shrimp held at 26 C. Spennatophore regeneration time was also affected by temperature. Average times for first spermatophore regeneration were 192 h at 25 C, 152 h at 30 C, and 144 h at 33 C. Sperm quality of regenerated shrimp was not affected at 25 C but was reduced for regenerated animals held at 33 C. Based on these results, we recommend a water temperature between 25 and 27 C to obtain adequate spermatophore regeneration and to maintain healthy male P. setiferus broodstock for at least 30 d.