Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of fetal genes as biomarkers of cardiomegaly in rodent models of diabetes (1078.3)

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy activates a suite of genes called the fetal gene program (FGP). Pathological hypertrophy occurs in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM); therefore, the FGP is widely used as a biomarker of DCM in animal studies. However, it is unknown whether the FGP is a consistent marker of hypertrophy in rodent models of diabetes. Therefore, we analyzed this relationship in 94 systematically selected studies. Results showed that diabetes induced with cytotoxic glucose analogs such as streptozotocin was associated with decreased heart mass, but genetic or diet‐induced models of diabetes were significantly more likely to show cardiac hypertrophy (p<0.05). Animal strain, sex, age, and duration of diabetes did not moderate this effect. There were no correlations between the heart weight:body weight index and mRNA or protein levels of the fetal genes α‐myosin heavy chain (α‐MHC) or β‐MHC, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), or brain natriuretic peptide. The only correlates of non‐indexed heart mass were the protein levels of α‐MHC (Spearman’s ρ=1, p<0.05) and ANP (ρ=‐0.73, p<0.05). These results indicate that most commonly measured genes in the FGP are confounded by diabetogenic methods, and are not markers of cardiomegaly in rodent models of diabetes.
Produção, propriedades e aplicações de oligossacarídeos

Os oligossacarideos participam da constituicao da fibra alimentar e sao principalmente utilizados como prebioticos. Esta revisao apresenta as vias de obtencao destes acucares, os quais podem ser produzidos por sintese (quimica ou enzimatica) ou da despolimerizacao de polissacarideos (fisica, quimica ou enzimatica), como descrito na presente revisao. Os oligossacarideos vem sendo utilizados comercialmente como ingredientes de cosmeticos, medicamentos, produtos agricolas e principalmente na industria alimenticia. O potencial de aplicacoes dos oligossacarideos nessas areas nas mais diversas areas tais como alimentos, racoes animais, farmacos e cosmeticos tem contribuido para o aumento das investigacoes cientificas. O uso de oligossacarideos como agentes imunomoduladores e modificadores de respostas biologicas foi recentemente descrito, assim como seus efeitos como compostos antiinflamatorios e hipocolesterolemicos. Uma visao geral sobre as diversas funcoes nutraceuticas e biologicas destes oligomeros de carboidratos visando beneficios para a saude humana tambem foi reportada.
The three dimensions of somatic evolution: Integrating the role of genetic damage, life‐history traits, and aging in carcinogenesis

Tumors result from genetic and epigenetic alterations that change cellular survival and differentiation probabilities, promoting clonal dominance. Subsequent genetic and selection processes in tumors allow cells to lose their tissue fidelity and migrate to other parts of the body, turning tumors into cancer. However, the relationship between genetic damage and cancer is not linear, showing remarkable and sometimes seemingly counterintuitive patterns for different tissues and across animal taxa. In the present paper, we attempt to integrate our understanding of somatic evolution and cancer as a product of three major orthogonal processes: occurrence of somatic mutations, evolution of species‐specific life‐history traits, and physiological aging. Patterns of cancer risk have been shaped by selective pressures experienced by animal populations over millions of years, influencing and influenced by selection acting on traits ranging from mutation rate to reproductive strategies to longevity. We discuss how evolution of species shapes their cancer profiles alongside and in connection with other evolving life‐history traits and how this process explains the patterns of cancer incidence we observe in humans and other animals.
Modern Soil Microbiology

Soil Environment, D. Standing and K. Killham Microbial Phylogeny and Diversity in Soil, V. Torsvik and L. Ovreas Horizontal Gene Transfer and Microevolution in Soil, K.M. Nielsen, Pal Johnsen, and J.D. van Elsas Bacteria and Archaea in Soil, J. D. van Elsas, V. Torsvik, A. Hartmann, L. Ovreas, and J.K. Jansson Fungi in Soil, R.D. Finlay Protozoa and Other Protista in Soil, M. Clarholm, M. Bonkowsk, and B. Griffiths Microbial Interactions in Soil, J.D. van Elsas, L. Tam, R.D. Finlay, K. Killham, and J.T. Trevors Plant-Associated Bacteria-Lifestyle and Molecular Interactions, J. Sorensen and A. Sessitsch Microorganisms Cycling Soil Nutrients and Their Diversity, J.I. Prosser Soil Microbial Communities and Global Climate Change-Methanotrophic and Methanogenic Communities as Paradigms, R. Conrad Methods to Detect and Quantify Bacteria in Soil, O. Nybroe, K.K. Brandt, M.H. Nicolaisen, and J. Sorensen Analysis of Microbial Communities in Soil Microhabitats using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, M. Schmid, M. Rothballer, and A. Hartmann Functional Characterization of Soil Microbial Communities by Messenger RNA Analysis, S. Sharma, M.K. Anej, and M. Schloter Molecular Fingerprinting Techniques to Analyze Soil Microbial Communities, M. Oros-Sichler, R. Costa, H. Heuer, and K. Smalla Detection of Active Bacterial Populations in Soil, T.M. Timms-Wilson, R.I. Griffiths, A.S. Whiteley, J.I. Prosser, and M.J. Bailey Soil Metagenomics: Exploring and Exploiting the Soil Microbial Gene Pool, S. Sjoling, W. Stafford, and D.A. Cowan Biosensors to Monitor Soil Health or Toxicity, P.H. B. Poulsen, L. Hestbjerg Hansen, and S.J. Sorensen Soil Suppressiveness to Plant Diseases, C. Steinberg, V. Edel-Hermann, C. Alabouvette, and P. Lemanceau Biological Pesticides for Control of Seed- and Soil-Borne Plant Pathogens, J.M. Whipps and B. Gerhardson Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria, S. Saleh and B.R. Glick Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Organic Pollutants in Soil, K.T. Leung, K. Nandakumar, K. Sreekumari, H. Lee, and J.T. Trevors Statistical Analyses of Microbiological and Environmental Data, B.B. McSpadden Gardener Glossary Modern Soil Microbiology Index
The Combined Impact of CLIR Post-Analytical Tools and Second Tier Testing on the Performance of Newborn Screening for Disorders of Propionate, Methionine, and Cobalamin Metabolism

The expansion of the recommend uniform screening panel to include more than 50 primary and secondary target conditions has resulted in a substantial increase of false positive results. As an alternative to subjective manipulation of cutoff values and overutilization of molecular testing, here we describe the performance outcome of an algorithm for disorders of methionine, cobalamin, and propionate metabolism that includes: (1) first tier screening inclusive of the broadest available spectrum of markers measured by tandem mass spectrometry; (2) integration of all results into a score of likelihood of disease for each target condition calculated by post-analytical interpretive tools created byCollaborative Laboratory Integrated Reports (CLIR), a multivariate pattern recognition software; and (3) further evaluation of abnormal scores by a second tier test measuring homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, and methylcitric acid. This approach can consistently reduce false positive rates to a <0.01% level, which is the threshold of precision newborn screening. We postulate that broader adoption of this algorithm could lead to substantial savings in health care expenditures. More importantly, it could prevent the stress and anxiety experienced by many families when faced with an abnormal newborn screening result that is later resolved as a false positive outcome.
Water Management for Sustainable Food Production

The agricultural community has a challenge of increasing food production by more than 70% to meet demand from the global population increase by the mid-21st century. Sustainable food production involves the sustained availability of resources, such as water and energy, to agriculture. The key challenges to sustainable food production are population increase, increasing demands for food, climate change, and climate variability, decreasing per capita land and water resources. To discuss more details on (a) the challenges for sustainable food production and (b) mitigation options available, a special issue on “Water Management for Sustainable Food Production” was assembled. The special issue focused on issues such as irrigation using brackish water, virtual water trade, allocation of water resources, consequences of excess precipitation on crop yields, strategies to increase water productivity, rainwater harvesting, irrigation water management, deficit irrigation, and fertilization, environmental and socio-economic impacts, and irrigation water quality. Articles covered several water-related issues across the U.S., Asia, Middle-East, Africa, and Pakistan for sustainable food production. The articles in the special issue highlight the substantial impacts on agricultural production, water availability, and water quality in the face of increasing demands for food and energy.
Hepatic hemangioma in cirrhosis: Two case reports

Hepatic hemangioma is the most common primary liver tumor with a reported prevalence of 0.4-20%. However, the prevalence of hepatic hemangioma in cirrhosis is considered to be very low ranging from 1.2-1.7%. Also, the morphology and hemodynamics of the hemangioma are different from those found in non-cirrhotic liver. We report two cases of hepatic hemangioma in cirrhosis and their natural progression on follow-up.
Distinct impact of order degree on thermoelectric power factor of p-type full-Heusler Mn2VAl compounds

Full-Heusler compounds have three crystal structures with a different order degree; the highly ordered L21, partially disordered B2, and completely disordered A2 structures. To reveal the effects of the order degree on thermoelectric (TE) properties of the full-Heusler compounds, Mn2VAl samples with varied L21 and B2 order degrees are prepared by changing preparation conditions, and their Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities are measured in a wide temperature range. As the B2 order degree becomes higher, the Seebeck coefficient increases, leading to the increase of the power factor (PF). The maximum PF is 2.84 × 10−4 Wm−1 K−2 at 767 K for the Mn2VAl sample with the highest B2 order degree. This study demonstrates that the TE properties of Mn2VAl can be enhanced by increasing the fraction of the B2 phase. A relation between the Seebeck coefficient and crystal structures is also discussed based on the calculation of the electronic density of states of Mn2VAl with the L21 and B2 structures.
Influence of basketball shoe midsole inserts featuring different mechanical rebound properties on biomechanical loading and subjective perception during a side-cutting maneuver

This study examined the influence of basketball shoe midsole inserts with different forefoot and rearfoot rebound properties on biomechanical loading and subjective perception during a side-cutting maneuver. Eleven male basketball players executed side cutting in four shoe conditions mechanically characterized for their rearfoot/forefoot rebound: compliant/compliant, springy/springy, compliant/springy, and springy/compliant. Lower extremity kinetics and kinematics (normalized to body mass), as well as subjective perception, were measured. During the weight-acceptance phase, there were no differences between shoes in all biomechanical variables, except a slightly greater ankle range of motion (1.2° greater than the other three shoes) in the frontal plane for shoe compliant/springy. During the push-off phase, shoe springy/springy led to a greater ankle plantarflexion moment (1.21 Nm/kg greater than the other three shoes, p < 0.001) and knee internal rotation moment (0.09 Nm/kg greater than the other three shoes, p = 0.012), while shoe compliant/springy resulted in a greater ankle range of motion in the frontal plane (1.4° greater than the other three shoes, p < 0.001). Perception data showed no statistically significant difference among any shoes. In conclusion, springy inserts of basketball shoe midsoles induced a biomechanical loading effect. Perception of players being unaffected indicates the importance of biomechanical evaluation to examine the effects of the given shoe modifications during side cutting.
Weed Species, Not Mulching, Affect Web‐Building Spiders and Their Prey in Organic Fruit Orchards in South Africa

Weed infestation affects economically relevant orchard properties, including tree performance, yield, and fruit quality negatively, and weeds are therefore often controlled by herbicide application in conventional farming. The addition of organic mulch below tree canopies has been proposed as an alternative reliable practice to suppress weeds and preserve soil moisture in organic farming. Mulching, however, may also affect arthropod pest and natural enemy populations, which highlights the need for simultaneously assessing weed, natural enemy, and animal pest communities in mulch experiments. This study addresses the limited knowledge about nonchemical ground cover management strategies for the control of plant and animal pests in orchards as a major constraint for organic growers. Here, we hypothesize that decisions about ground cover management practices in organic temperate fruit orchards affect the composition of web-building spider communities and their functional role as natural enemies of pest arthropods through effects on weed and insect pest communities. We studied weed, prey, and spider communities, as well as spider diet composition, in four temperate fruit types (apricot, peach, plum, and quince) on a single farm in the Western Cape, South Africa. We established experimental plots with and without addition of dead organic mulch under fruit tree canopies. Addition of organic mulch did not significantly affect weed cover under trees or the taxonomic composition of weed or spider communities over the eight-month study period. However, independent of mulching, the taxonomic composition of weed communities was significantly related to the composition of potential prey and spider communities. These relationships indirectly affected the prey composition of web-building spiders. These results suggest that the identity of weed species in the study orchards had a pronounced effect on the diet composition and functional role of web-building spiders. Future research should focus on the value of individual plant species for the promotion of pest control services provided by spiders across larger spatial scales and with higher levels of replication to allow for wider generalizations. The expected results would not only be relevant for weed control but could also be considered during the development of future flower strips in orchards.
Effect of rearing style on the development of social behaviour in young ravens (Corvus corax)

Abstract Early social experiences can affect the development and expression of individual social behaviour throughout life. In particular, early‐life social deprivations, notably of parental care, can later have deleterious consequences. We can, therefore, expect rearing procedures such as hand‐raising—widely used in ethology and socio‐cognitive science—to alter the development of individual social behaviour. We investigated how the rearing style later affected (a) variation in relationship strength among peers and (b) individuals’ patterns of social interactions, in three captive groups of juvenile non‐breeders consisting of either parent‐raised or hand‐raised birds, or a mix of both rearing styles. In the three groups, irrespectively of rearing style: strongest relationships (i.e., higher rates of association and affiliations) primarily emerged among siblings and familiar partners (i.e., non‐relatives encountered in early life), and mixed‐sex and male–male partners established relationships of similar strength, indicating that the rearing style does not severely affect the quality and structure of relationships in young ravens. However, compared to parent‐raised ravens, hand‐raised ravens showed higher connectedness, i.e., number of partners with whom they mainly associated and affiliated, but formed on average relationships of lower strength, indicating that social experience in early life is not without consequences on the development of ravens’ patterns of social interaction. The deprivation of parental care associated with the presence of same‐age peers during hand‐raising seemed to maximize ravens’ propensity to interact with others, indicating that besides parents, interactions with same‐age peers matter. Opportunities to interact with, and socially learn from peers, might thus be the key to the acquisition of early social competences in ravens.
Innexons, membrane channels for ATP, control microglia migration to nerve lesions

of a dissertation at the University of Miami. Dissertation supervised by Professor Kenneth Muller. No. of pages in text. (108) ATP released upon nerve injury is an important chemotactic activator of microglia; however, the source of the extracellular ATP is uncertain. In large glial cells such as astrocytes, chemical or mechanical stimulation or injury causes an intracellular calcium wave that moves from cell to cell propagated by extracellular ATP through a regenerative ATP-induced ATP-release mechanism. In mammals a prime candidate for the ATP release channel is the pannexon, a hexamer of the invertebrate gap junction homologue pannexin1, although the pharmacologically similar protein connexin is also a candidate. I hypothesized that upon nerve injury, ATP released through pannexon channels activates microglia and initiates their movement. My experiments were done on leeches (Hirudo sp.) in part because they lack connexins, their microglia are regulated by ATP, and their glia are especially large and produce calcium signals. I found that in the giant glia of leeches the 2 homologues of pannexin1, innexins2 and 3 (HmINX2 and HmINX3), formed innexons with similar properties to pannexons. Innexons opened and released ATP upon depolarization or in elevated extracellular potassium solution, were permeable to dye molecules, and were blocked by carbenoxolone (10 to 30 μM) or saturated CO2. Pharmacological experiments showed these channels were essential for the migration of microglia to nerve lesions, but calcium waves in single leech glia did not require innexons or exogenous ATP. In addition, nerve injury typically produces arachidonic acid, which closed the innexons and thereby blocked microglia migration. The results were consistent with those in the leech showing that ATP activates microglia and NO is important for their directed movement. The contribution of these findings to a general understanding of the molecular signals regulating the activation of microglia is discussed.
The growth characteristics of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the northern part of the Small Island of Brăila Natural Park.

In this paper are presented the results of the growth parameters for the carp population. The study was realized in the 2006-2009 period on a total number of 367 carp specimens caught into the Danube river km 170-196 (the arms: Cravia, Calia, and Fundu Mare Island). In order to estimate the population growth characteristic of the carp population the following relationship was determined: length weight (L-W) using equation b L a W *  . The value of the coefficient b indicates an allometric increase, meaning the length increases faster than weight. Moreover, the good value of this coefficient, considered also as a condition factor (b = 2.845), shows us good growth conditions for this species in the researched area. Estimation of the growth parameters (von Bertalanffy) L∞, k, to, led to obtaining of comparable values with other nearby regions carp populations.
The Efficiency of Using the Interactive Smartboard in Social Studies to Increase Students’ Achievement and Tendency Toward the Subject Matter in the State of Qatar

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of the use of interactive smartboard techniques and applications in teaching a unit of a social studies curriculum for preparatory stage students in Qatar. The selected sample (47 students) is distributed into two groups, the experimental group which studied a chosen unit using the interactive smartboard, and the other group, the control group, which studied the same lesson plan conventionally. The two methods administered to the groups, before and after the experiment, are codified through a cognitive performance evaluation using the three stages of Bloom, and a structured assessment of the inclination towards social studies is applied. All groups are taught the same unit, prepared by the same teacher, but with a different method of teaching. To statistically test the research hypotheses, a quantitative comparison between the scores of the two groups before and after the experiment is carried out. The results indicate that the differences between the two groups in average values in favor of the trial group are statistically significant. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19. 3.1
An Improved Damage Index for Nondestructive Evaluation of a Disbond in Honeycomb Sandwich Structure Using Guided Waves

Honeycomb sandwich structures (HSS) are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their high strength-to-stiffness ratio. However, these materials are susceptible to damage during manufacturing or service that can cause great loss in the load bearing capacity or even failure. Thus, periodic or continuous nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of HSS is essential for safe operation. Development of effective NDE technique is challenging due to the geometric complexity of the honeycomb core. Guided ultrasonic waves are ideal for large-scale testing because of their large propagation range and high sensitivity to defects in their path. In this paper, an improved NDE method for detecting disbonds at the top and bottom interfaces between the core and facesheets is proposed based on experimental studies. By applying excitation signals at different frequencies, the responses at the top and bottom surface of plate-like HSS component are compared and analyzed. The response in a specific frequency range is further studied by introducing disbonds at the top interface. It is shown that some components of the recorded signal in a specific frequency range are more sensitive for detecting the disbond. In addition, an improvement of the conventional damage index based on the damage feature is proposed, and a systematic procedure for detecting damage inside HSS is conducted on an elevator section of an Airbus 330. The results show that the optimized damage index greatly improves the resolution and adaptability of damage detection in the structures.
A management guide for invasive plants in southern forests

Invasions of nonnative plants into forests of the Southern United States continue to spread and include new species, increasingly eroding forest productivity, hindering forest use and management activities, and degrading diversity and wildlife habitat. This book provides the latest information on how to organize and enact prevention programs, build strategies, implement integrated procedures for management, and proceed towards site rehabilitation and restoration. Effective control prescriptions are provided for 56 nonnative plants and groups currently invading the forests of the 13 Southern States. A companion book, “A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests,” (Miller and others 2010) includes information and images for accurate identification of these invasive plants.