Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative study on the effects of chronic ethanol administration on the testis of adult male rat.

OBJECTIVES Considering the possibility that alcoholism induces gonadal dysfunction, the present work was designed to investigate the morphophysiology of rat testes submitted to experimental alcoholism. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150+/-5 gm were chronically given 40% ethanol solution at a dose of 3 g/kg body weight for 30 days. (3)H-thymidine autoradiographic investigations and histological studies were carried out to determine the proliferative activity and/or different stages of spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubule cycle and Leydig cells. RESULTS The 3H-thymidine autoradigraphic investigation revealed that there was a significant inhibition in the proliferative activity of the spermatogonia in all stages of the seminiferous tubule cycle in the alcohol-treated rats versus controls as indicated by the values of (3)H-labelling indices. The histological and numerical investigations indicated that the alcohol-treated rats presented testicular lesions including a significant decrease in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, the number of different germ cells in all stages of the seminiferous tubule cycle and the presence of degenerative germ cells. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the number of Leydig cells. CONCLUSION The present work suggests the deleterious effects of alcohol on the testes. These effects may be due to the effect of alcohol on the gonadotrophic cells of the pituitary gland and/or directly on the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells.
Differential Localization of Glutamate Receptor Subunits at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction

The subunit composition of postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptors is a key determinant of synaptic physiology. Two glutamate receptor subunits, Drosophila glutamate receptor IIA (DGluRIIA) and DGluRIIB, are expressed at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction and are redundant for viability, yet differ in their physiological properties. We now identify a third glutamate receptor subunit at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction, DGluRIII, which is essential for viability. DGluRIII is required for the synaptic localization of DGluRIIA and DGluRIIB and for synaptic transmission. Either DGluRIIA or DGluRIIB, but not both, is required for the synaptic localization of DGluRIII. DGluRIIA and DGluRIIB compete with each other for access to DGluRIII and subsequent localization to the synapse. These results are consistent with a model of a multimeric receptor in which DGluRIII is an essential component. At single postsynaptic cells that receive innervation from multiple motoneurons, DGluRIII is abundant at all synapses. However, DGluRIIA and DGluRIIB are differentially localized at the postsynaptic density opposite distinct motoneurons. Hence, innervating motoneurons may regulate the subunit composition of their receptor fields within a shared postsynaptic cell. The capacity of presynaptic inputs to shape the subunit composition of postsynaptic receptors could be an important mechanism for synapse-specific regulation of synaptic function and plasticity.
The Feldstein-Horioka Puzzle and Capital Mobility: A Review

This paper reviews how economists responded to the Feldstein-Horioka (FH) view that a high saving-investment association across OECD countries implied low capital mobility. This posed an uncomfortable puzzle since the conventional wisdom in most exchange rate and open-economy macroeconomic models was that capital mobility was high. In the face of a variety of replications, the FH result of a high cross-section association between saving and investment rates in OECD countries has remained remarkably robust. The debate over whether saving-investment comovements are informative about capital mobility is still unresolved although the skeptics appear to be in the ascendancy. Copyright @ 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Immunohistochemical determination of the expression of endothelin receptors in bronchial smooth muscle and epithelium of healthy horses and horses affected by summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE To immunohistochemically determine the expression of endothelin (ET) receptors in bronchial smooth muscle and epithelium of healthy horses and horses affected by summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD). SAMPLE POPULATION Tissue specimens obtained from 8 healthy and 8 SPAOPD-affected horses. PROCEDURE Horses were examined and assigned to healthy and SPAOPD groups. Horses were then euthanatized, and tissue specimens containing bronchi of approximately 4 to 8 mm in diameter were immediately collected from all lung lobes, fixed in zinc-formalin solution for 12 hours, and embedded in paraffin. Polyclonal primary antibodies against ET-A or ET-B receptors at a dilution of 1:200 and biotinylated IgG secondary antibodies were applied to tissue sections, followed by the addition of an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase complex. Photographs of the stained slides were digitally recorded and analyzed by use of image analysis software to determine the intensity of staining. Two-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The left diaphragmatic lung lobe of SPAOPD-affected horses had a significantly greater area of bronchial smooth muscle that immunostained for ET-A, compared with that for healthy horses. All lung lobes of SPAOPD-affected horses, except for the right diaphragmatic lobe, had significantly greater staining for ET-B receptors in bronchial smooth muscle, compared with results for healthy horses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study revealed overexpression of ET-A and, in particular, ETB receptors in the bronchial smooth muscle of SPAOPD-affected horses, which suggested upregulation of these receptors. These findings improve our understanding of the role of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of SPAOPD.
Improved structure-based automatic estimation of pronunciation proficiency

Automatic estimation of pronunciation proficiency has its specific difficulty. Adequacy in controlling the vocal organs is often estimated from spectral envelopes of input utterances but the envelope patterns are also affected by alternating speakers. To develop a good and stable method for automatic estimation, the envelope changes caused by linguistic factors and those by extra-linguistic factors should be properly separated. In our previous study [1], to this end, we proposed a mathematicallyguaranteed and linguistically-valid speaker-invariant representation of pronunciation, called speech structure. After the proposal, we have tested that representation also for ASR [2, 3, 4] and, through these works, we have learned better how to apply speech structures for various tasks. In this paper, we focus on a proficiency estimation experiment done in [1] and, using the recently developed techniques for the structures, we carry out that experiment again but under different conditions. Here, we use a smaller unit of structural analysis, speaker-invariant substructures, and relative structural distances between a learner and a teacher. Results show higher correlation between human and machine rating and also show extremely higher robustness to speaker differences compared to widely used GOP scores.
Resting and Exercise Energy Metabolism After Liver Transplantation for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Background Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading indication for liver transplantation (LT). We hypothesized that weight gain after LT may be exacerbated by reduced metabolic rates due to the LT procedure, particularly during exercise. We aimed to compare resting and exercise energy expenditure between patients transplanted for NASH and nontransplant nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) subjects. Methods NASH LT recipients (>1-year post, n = 14) and NAFLD controls (n = 13) underwent analysis of body composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), and exercise energy expenditure (VO2max), the latter using a ramped-Bruce protocol assessed by expired gas analysis and peak heart rate. Results Participants were mean 61.5 ± 7.9 years, 48.1% men, and 66.7% white. Baseline comorbidities were similar between groups. Among men, mean REE adjusted for total (17.7 vs 18.8, P = 0.87) and lean body mass (23.5 vs 26.9, P = 0.26), as well as VO2 (20.1 vs 23.9, P = 0.29), was lower in NASH LT recipients compared with NAFLD controls, respectively, although not statistically significant. However, female NASH LT recipients had significantly lower mean REE than NAFLD controls when adjusted for total (14.2 vs 18.9, P = 0.01) and lean body mass (19.3 vs 26.5, P = 0.002), as well as significantly lower VO2max (14.4 vs 20.6, P = 0.017). Conclusions NASH LT recipients, particularly women, have lower REE and exercise energy expenditure compared with nontransplant NAFLD patients. More aggressive diet and exercise programs for post-LT NASH recipients to account for reduced resting and exercise metabolic rates may attenuate weight gain in this vulnerable population.
Sperm entry is sufficient to trigger division of the central cell but the paternal genome is required for endosperm development in Arabidopsis

Fertilization in flowering plants involves two sperm cells and two female gametes, the egg cell and the central cell, progenitors of the embryo and the endosperm, respectively. The mechanisms triggering zygotic development are unknown and whether both parental genomes are required for zygotic development is unclear. In Arabidopsis, previous studies reported that loss-of-function mutations in CYCLIN DEPENDENT KINASE A1 (CDKA;1) impedes cell cycle progression in the pollen leading to the production of a single sperm cell. Here, we report that a significant proportion of single cdka;1 pollen delivers two sperm cells, leading to a new assessment of the cdka;1 phenotype. We performed fertilization of wild-type ovules with cdka;1 mutant sperm cells and monitored in vivo the fusion of the male and female nuclei using fluorescent markers. When a single cdka;1 sperm was delivered, either female gamete could be fertilized leading to similar proportions of seeds containing either a single endosperm or a single embryo. When two cdka;1 sperm cells were released, they fused to each female gamete. Embryogenesis was initiated but the fusion between the nuclei of the sperm cell and the central cell failed. The failure of karyogamy in the central cell prevented incorporation of the paternal genome, impaired endosperm development and caused seed abortion. Our results thus support that the paternal genome plays an essential role during early seed development. However, sperm entry was sufficient to trigger central cell mitotic division, suggesting the existence of signaling events associated with sperm cell fusion with female gametes.
Association between the frequency of meals combining "Shushoku, Shusai, and Hukusai" (Staple food, main dish, and side dish) and intake of nutrients and food groups among Japanese young adults aged 18-24 years: a cross-sectional study.

"Shushoku," "Shusai," and "Hukusai" are staple food, main dish, and side dish, respectively. The recommended meal in Japan is a combination of "Shushoku," "Shusai," and "Hukusai"; however, it remains unclear whether there is an association between the frequency of these meals and intake of nutrients and food groups. This cross-sectional study examined the association between the frequency of meals combining "Shushoku, Shusai, and Hukusai" and intake of nutrients and food groups among 664 Japanese young adults aged 18-24 y. The dietary habits of the subjects during the preceding month were assessed using a validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. The frequency of meals combining "Shushoku, Shusai, and Hukusai" was self-reported according to four categories: "less than 1 d or 1 d/wk," "2 or 3 d/wk," "4 or 5 d/wk," and "every day. " In both women and men, there was an association between the higher frequency of these meals and higher intake of the following food groups: pulses, green and yellow vegetables, other vegetables, mushrooms, seaweeds, fish and shellfish, and eggs. Moreover, there was an association with higher intake of protein, polyunsaturated fat, n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fat, total dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper, and lower intake of carbohydrate in both women and men. Our findings support the hypothesis that the meals combining "Shushoku, Shusai, and Hukusai" may be associated with intake of many food groups and nutrients among Japanese young adults.
Concatenated codes can achieve list-decoding capacity

We prove that binary linear concatenated codes with an outer algebraic code (specifically, a folded Reed-Solomon code) and independently and randomly chosen linear inner codes achieve the list-decoding capacity with high probability. In particular, for any 0 < ρ < 1/2 and ε > 0, there exist concatenated codes of rate at least 1 -- H(ρ) -- ε that are (combinatorially) list-decodable up to a fraction ρ of errors. (The best possible rate, aka list-decoding capacity, for such codes is 1 -- H(ρ), and is achieved by random codes. ) A similar result, with better list size guarantees, holds when the outer code is also randomly chosen. Our methods and results extend to the case when the alphabet size is any fixed prime power q ≥ 2. Our result shows that despite the structural restriction imposed by code concatenation, the family of concatenated codes is rich enough to include capacity achieving list-decodable codes. This provides some encouraging news for tackling the problem of constructing explicit binary list-decodable codes with optimal rate, since code concatenation has been the preeminent method for constructing good codes over small alphabets.
Increased aneusomy and long arm deletion of chromosomes 5 and 7 in the lymphocytes of Chinese workers exposed to benzene.

Two of the most common cytogenetic changes in therapy- and chemical-related leukemia are the loss and long (q) arm deletion of chromosomes 5 and 7. The detection of these aberrations in lymphocytes of individuals exposed to potential leukemogens may serve as useful biomarkers of increased leukemia risk. We have used a novel fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure to determine if specific aberrations in chromosomes 1, 5 and 7 occur at an elevated rate in the blood cells of workers exposed to benzene. Forty-three healthy workers exposed to a wide range of benzene concentrations (median 31 p.p.m., 8 h time-weighted average) and 44 unexposed controls from Shanghai were studied. Whole blood was cultured and metaphase spreads were harvested at 72 h. Benzene exposure was associated with increases in the rates of monosomy 5 and 7 but not monosomy 1 (P < 0.001, P < 0.0001 and P = 0.94, respectively) and with increases in trisomy and tetrasomy frequencies of all three chromosomes. Long arm deletion of chromosomes 5 and 7 was increased in a dose-dependent fashion (P = 0.014 and P < 0.0001) up to 3.5-fold in the exposed workers. These results demonstrate that leukemia-specific changes in chromosomes 5 and 7 can be detected by FISH in the peripheral blood of otherwise healthy benzene-exposed workers. We suggest that aberrations in chromosomes 5 and 7 may be useful biomarkers of early biological effect for benzene exposure.
Influence of genetic capacity for lean tissue growth on rate and efficiency of tissue accretion in pigs fed ractopamine.

The influence of genetic capacity for lean tissue (LT) growth on responses of pigs to ractopamine, in terms of rate and efficiency of body growth and the distribution and accretion rate of body tissues, was determined in this study. Two sources of pigs representing low and high LT genotypes were used. Within each source, two littermate barrows from each of eight litters were individually penned and given ad libitum access to a lysine-supplemented, corn-soybean meal diet (17.7% CP, 1.08% lysine) containing 0 or 20 ppm of ractopamine hydrochloride from 63 to 104 kg. Carcasses were physically dissected into muscle, fatty tissue, skin, and bone. Within each source, four additional pigs were killed for determination of initial body composition. Pigs of high LT genotype gained BW and muscle faster (P < .01), required less (P < .01) feed per unit of gain, and produced carcasses that contained more (P < .01) muscle and bone and less (P < .01) fatty tissue. Ractopamine increased (P < .01) weight gain and improved (P < .01) feed:gain ratio in both genotypes. Ractopamine enhanced the accretion rate and the amount of carcass muscle in both genotypes, but the degree of improvement was greater in pigs of the high than in those of the low LT genotype (genotype x ractopamine, P < .02). Ractopamine also reduced the accretion rate and amount of dissectible fat by a greater magnitude in the high LT genotype (genotype x ractopamine, P < .04). Based on these data, ractopamine increases muscle accretion to a greater degree in pigs with a high genetic capacity for LT growth than in those with a low capacity.
Synergistic Influence of Melatonin-Hydrocolloid Coating on Decay and Senescence of Nectarine (Prunus persica var. nucipersica) during Supermarket Storage Conditions

Nectarines have remarkable nutritional value, low caloric content, and are rich in antioxidants. However, despite substantial local and global demand, their susceptibility to rapid spoilage during peak summer harvest is limited. To address this issue, the current study investigated the potential benefits of using melatonin (MLT), an antioxidant biomolecule, in combination with edible hydrocolloid coatings like carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and gum Arabic (G.A.) on ‘Snow Queen’ nectarine fruits. The nectarines were treated with various combinations of coatings, including 1% and 1.5% CMC, 8% and 10% G.A. , and 0.1 mM melatonin. These coated and non-coated samples were stored under standard supermarket conditions (18 ± 1 °C, 85–90% R.H.) for 16 days. The outcomes demonstrated that the most effective treatment was the combination of 1% CMC with 0.1 mM melatonin. This treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced the rate of respiration, curbed fruit decay by approximately 95%, minimized weight loss by around 42%, and maintained approximately 39% higher levels of total phenol content and roughly 30% greater antioxidant (AOX) activity. These positive effects were accompanied by preserved firmness and overall quality attributes. Moreover, the treatment extended the shelf life to 16 days through retarding senescence and suppressing the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX) and pectin methylesterase (PME), all without compromising the functional qualities of the nectarine.
The latest Devonian (Famennian) phacopid trilobite Omegops from eastern Alborz, Iran

The Late Devonian (late Famennian) phacopid trilobites represented by Omegops tilabadensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the Khoshyeilaq Formation, eastern Alborz Mountains, North Iran. The species formed a monotaxic trilobite association inhabiting a shallow shelf together with diverse brachiopod communities dominated by the athyridides and spiriferides. Constant differences in pygidial morphology between the geographically separated Omegops species from the Middle East, Northwest China (Junggar) and West Europe plus the North African sector of Gondwana may suggest the existence of two geographically isolated Omegops lineages which diverged in pre-Strunian time. The occurrence of conodonts not older than the Bispathodus costatus Zone and the brachiopod Rhipidomella michelini gives a sufficient proof of the Strunian to early Tournaisian age of the uppermost part of the Khoshyeilaq Formation.
Blood Pressure Targets Recommended by Guidelines and Incidence of Cardiovascular and Renal Events in the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET)

Background— Hypertension treatment guidelines recommend that blood pressure (BP) be lowered to <140/90 mm Hg, but that a reduction to <130/80 mm Hg be adopted in patients at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. We investigated the CV and renal benefits associated with these BP targets in the high-CV-risk population of the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET). Methods and Results— Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the proportion of in-treatment visits before the occurrence of an event (<25%–>75%) in which BP was reduced to <140/90 or <130/80 mm Hg. After adjustment for demographic and clinical variables, a progressive increase in the proportion of visits in which BP was reduced to <140/90 or <130/80 mm Hg was associated with a progressive reduction in the risk of stroke, new onset of microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria, and return to normoalbuminuria in albuminuric patients. An increased frequency of BP control to either target did not have any consistent effect on the adjusted risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure. The adjusted risk of CV events was reduced by increasing the frequency of BP control to <140/90 mm Hg, but not to <130/80 mm Hg. Similar findings were obtained for the achievement of the BP target in the visit preceding a CV event. Conclusion— The more frequent achievement of the BP targets recommended by guidelines led to cerebrovascular and renal protection, but did not increase cardiac protection. Overall, CV protection was favorably affected by the less tight but not by the tighter BP target. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00153101.
Hypoxic Conditions Modulate Chondrogenesis through the Circadian Clock: The Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimer transcription factor composed of an alpha and a beta subunit. HIF-1α is a master regulator of cellular response to hypoxia by activating the transcription of genes that facilitate metabolic adaptation to hypoxia. Since chondrocytes in mature articular cartilage reside in a hypoxic environment, HIF-1α plays an important role in chondrogenesis and in the physiological lifecycle of articular cartilage. Accumulating evidence suggests interactions between the HIF pathways and the circadian clock. The circadian clock is an emerging regulator in both developing and mature chondrocytes. However, how circadian rhythm is established during the early steps of cartilage formation and through what signaling pathways it promotes the healthy chondrocyte phenotype is still not entirely known. This narrative review aims to deliver a concise analysis of the existing understanding of the dynamic interplay between HIF-1α and the molecular clock in chondrocytes, in states of both health and disease, while also incorporating creative interpretations. We explore diverse hypotheses regarding the intricate interactions among these pathways and propose relevant therapeutic strategies for cartilage disorders such as osteoarthritis.
Sense and Similarity: A Study of Sense-level Similarity Measures

In this paper, we investigate the difference between word and sense similarity measures and present means to convert a state-of-the-art word similarity measure into a sense similarity measure. In order to evaluate the new measure, we create a special sense similarity dataset and re-rate an existing word similarity dataset using two different sense inventories from WordNet and Wikipedia. We discover that word-level measures were not able to differentiate between different senses of one word, while sense-level measures actually increase correlation when shifting to sense similarities. Sense-level similarity measures improve when evaluated with a re-rated sense-aware gold standard, while correlation with word-level similarity measures decreases.