Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuropeptides in the Gonads: From Evolution to Pharmacology

Vertebrate gonads are the sites of synthesis and binding of many peptides that were initially classified as neuropeptides. These gonadal neuropeptide systems are neither well understood in isolation, nor in their interactions with other neuropeptide systems. Further, our knowledge of the control of these gonadal neuropeptides by peripheral hormones that bind to the gonads, and which themselves are under regulation by true neuropeptide systems from the hypothalamus, is relatively meager. This review discusses the existence of a variety of neuropeptides and their receptors which have been discovered in vertebrate gonads, and the possible way in which such systems could have evolved. We then focus on two key neuropeptides for regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis: gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH). Comparative studies have provided us with a degree of understanding as to how a gonadal GnRH system might have evolved, and they have been responsible for the discovery of GnIH and its gonadal counterpart. We attempt to highlight what is known about these two key gonadal neuropeptides, how their actions differ from their hypothalamic counterparts, and how we might learn from comparative studies of them and other gonadal neuropeptides in terms of pharmacology, reproductive physiology and evolutionary biology.
Improved computation of ellipsoidal invariant sets for saturated control systems

In this work, a new technique for the computation of ellipsoidal invariant sets for continuous-time linear systems controlled by a saturating linear control law is presented. New sufficient conditions to guarantee that an ellipsoid is a contractive invariant set for the closed-loop system is presented. The contractive nature of the invariant set ensures asymptotic stability of the controlled system. The main contributions of the paper are the following: the proposed sufficient condition is expressed in form of linear matrix inequalities constraints. The presented method includes (and consequently improves) previous results on this topic. The computational complexity of the proposed approach is analyzed. Illustrative examples are given.
Extending the concurrency model of the real‐time specification for Java

The current RTSJ (Real‐Time Specification for Java) threading model is dualized: a programmer has to decide between the high predictability offered by the region‐based model and the flexibility offered by the garbage collection. So far, there is no unique type of thread which offers both the high predictability of a non‐heap thread and the flexibility of a real‐time thread in a single entity. Furthermore, this lack has a serious impact on the programmer who has to deal with new and sometimes non‐trivial to use mechanisms, such as specific queues of objects or new types of threads, in order to avoid the priority inversion caused by the garbage collector. In order to tackle the concern properly and provide an improved and more generalized programming model, the authors propose a simple extension to the current threading model named RealtimeThread++, in an attempt to introduce more flexibility in the RTSJ concurrency model. The paper describes the extension from several points of view: (i) the programmer, identifying scenarios that may benefit from it significantly; (ii) the real‐time Java technology perspective, identifying changes required in the current real‐time virtual machine to support it; and (iii) the accumulated experience, relating empirical results obtained from a software prototype that supports the extension. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Renal magnesium handling and its hormonal control.

Our understanding of renal Mg handling has been expanded in recent years with the use of electron probe, ultramicroanalysis, and fluorescent dye techniques to determine total Mg and free Mg2+ in individual tubule segments and cells, respectively. Recent studies have shown that [Mg2+]i is a highly mobile cation that may be altered by a number of influences including hormones. It is likely that the hormonal changes in [Mg2+]i, reported here and elsewhere, are involved in intracellular metabolism and regulation rather than transepithelial transport. The role of intracellular Mg2+ in control of cell function is poorly understood. However, it is evident that [Mg2+]i may be rapidly charged through a number of different influences that may have important effects on cell function. These kinds of data have enlarged our understanding of Mg conservation by the renal tubule but have posed many questions for further study. Magnesium is handled in different ways along the nephron. About 80% of the total plasma Mg (1.5-2.0 mM) is ultrafilterable across the glomerular membrane. Of the ultrafilterable Mg (1.2-1.6 mM), only 20-25% is reabsorbed by the proximal tubule, including the convoluted and straight portions. This is in contrast to Na and Ca reabsorption, which amounts to approximately 70 and 60%, respectively, in the proximal nephron. Accordingly, the fractional delivery of Mg to the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle is much greater than that of Na or Ca. It is now evident from micropuncture studies that proportionally greater amounts of Mg (50-60%) are reabsorbed in the loop compared with Na (20-25%) or Ca (30-35%). Because the terminal nephron segments, including the DCT and collecting tubule, reabsorb only a small portion of the filtered Mg (approximately 5%), the loop of Henle plays a major role in the determination of Mg reabsorption, and it is in this segment that the major regulatory factors act to maintain Mg balance. Magnesium reabsorption in the thick ascending limb takes place in the cortical segments, at least in the mouse and rat. Evidence summarized here suggests that Mg is passively reabsorbed via the paracellular pathway in the cTAL of the loop of Henle. Several factors affect Mg reabsorption in the loop of Henle. Hypermagnesemia and hypercalcemia inhibit reabsorption leading to increased urinary excretion of Mg and Ca. These effects have been reviewed in detail elsewhere (113, 149). Magnesium depletion, for instance through dietary Mg deprivation, enhances Mg reabsorption in the loop of Henle before the fall in plasma Mg concentration and filtered Mg load. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Insufficient androgen and FSH signaling may be responsible for the azoospermia of the infantile primate testes despite exposure to an adult-like hormonal milieu.

BACKGROUND In humans, as well as in other higher primates, the infantile testis is exposed to an adult-like hormonal milieu, but spermatogenesis is not initiated at this stage of primate development. In the present study, we examined the molecular basis of this intriguing infertile state of the primate testis. METHODS The integrity of androgen receptor (AR) and FSH receptor (FSHR) signaling pathways in primary cultures of Sertoli cells (Scs) harvested from azoospermic infant and spermatogenic pubertal monkey testes were investigated under identical in vitro hormonal conditions. In order to synchronously harvest Scs from early pubertal testis, the activation of testicular puberty was timed experimentally by prematurely initiating gonadotrophin secretion in juvenile animals with an intermittent infusion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. RESULTS While qRT-PCR demonstrated that AR and FSHR mRNA expression in Scs from infant and pubertal testes were comparable, androgen-binding and FSH-mediated cAMP production by infant Scs was extremely low. Compromised AR and FSHR signaling in infant Scs was further supported by the finding that testosterone (T) and FSH failed to augment the expression of the T responsive gene, claudin 11, and the FSH responsive genes, inhibin-βB, stem cell factor (SCF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in Scs harvested at this stage of development. CONCLUSION These results indicate that compromised AR and FSHR signaling pathways in Scs underlie the inability of the infant primate testis to respond to an endogenous hormonal milieu that later in development, at the time puberty, stimulates the initiation of spermatogenesis. This finding may have relevance to some forms of idiopathic infertility in men.
Ipilimumab for advanced melanoma: A pharmacologic perspective

Ipilimumab, a fully human anti-CTLA-4 antibody, has been approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma based on its survival benefit demonstrated in randomized phase III studies. The current approved dosing schedule of ipilimumab is 3 mg/kg as a 90-min intravenous infusion every 3 weeks for a total of 4 doses. The immune-mediated mechanism of action of ipilimumab can result in tumor response patterns that may differ from those observed with conventional chemotherapy; therefore, revised response criteria to fully capture the spectrum of responses have been developed and are being prospectively validated. The safety profile of ipilimumab also reflects its mechanism of action and is characterized by immune-related adverse events. Although most of these events are mild, tolerable and reversible, high-grade immune-related adverse events have been observed in 15% of patients and can be potentially life-threatening if not managed appropriately. Guidelines for the management of these events emphasize thorough patient education, vigilant monitoring and prompt intervention with corticosteroids when appropriate. Ongoing research, including evaluation of ipilimumab in the adjuvant setting, investigation of its use in combination with other agents and assessment of alternative doses, will help optimize and expand the use of this innovative treatment.
Structural Determinants of Religious Participation among Black Americans

Structural determinants of religious participation were investigated among a national sample (N=2107) of black adults (The National Survey of Black Americans). Three indicators of religious participation were examined: Religious service attendance, church membership, and frequency of other religious activities. Multivariate analyses indicated that religious participation varied by gender, marital status, age, education, urbanicity, and region. The findings illustrate the degree of heterogeneity of religious participation and experience among black Americans.
Characterization of Pearl Millet Root Architecture and Anatomy Reveals Three Types of Lateral Roots

Pearl millet plays an important role for food security in arid regions of Africa and India. Nevertheless, it is considered an orphan crop as it lags far behind other cereals in terms of genetic improvement efforts. Breeding pearl millet varieties with improved root traits promises to deliver benefits in water and nutrient acquisition. Here, we characterize early pearl millet root system development using several different root phenotyping approaches that include rhizotrons and microCT. We report that early stage pearl millet root system development is characterized by a fast growing primary root that quickly colonizes deeper soil horizons. We also describe root anatomical studies that revealed three distinct types of lateral roots that form on both primary roots and crown roots. Finally, we detected significant variation for two root architectural traits, primary root lenght and lateral root density, in pearl millet inbred lines. This study provides the basis for subsequent genetic experiments to identify loci associated with interesting early root development traits in this important cereal.
Gender-related differences in non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

OBJECTIVES Clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas are common tumors of the pituitary gland. No studies have yet documented gender-related differences in the growth and presentation of these tumors and nothing is known about their effects on their subsequent surgical outcome and prognosis. SETTING AND DESIGN Twenty-eight patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma, that met strict inclusion criteria, and that underwent surgical treatment between January 1990 and June 1997, were retrospectively reviewed. METHODS The patient charts, as well as histological (incl. immunohistochemistry) and electron microscopic findings were analyzed. Tumor invasiveness was classified according to the modified Hardy criteria. MAIN FINDINGS Eleven patients were women and seventeen were men; the female-to-male-ratio was 1:1.5. Men were significantly older, both at diagnosis and surgery. Visual field defect and visual acuity deficit were the most common presenting symptoms with similar occurrence both in women and men, whereas blindness predominated in women. Microadenomas and invasive adenomas did not differ significantly in MIB-1 index, but patients less than 35 years old had higher MIB-1 indices (n=4, 1.72+/-1.15), than did patients over 45 years (n=11, 0.63+/-0.42) (p: n.s.). MIB-1 labeling indices were higher in adenomas of female compared to male patients (1.5 +/-1.2 vs. 0.8+/-1.8; p < 0.003). The overall outcome was significantly worse in women than in men. CONCLUSION The biology and the clinical course of clinically non-functioning pituitary adenoma seem to differ in women and men. In men, tumors are smaller and less invasive at surgery, and the outcome is better than in women. The present findings may justify a more aggressive therapeutic approach to clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas in women than in men, especially to improve the availability of viable pituitary cells at the time of surgery.
Effect of training location and time period on racehorse performance in New Zealand. 2. Multivariable analysis

Abstract AIM: To investigate training location (horses trained in Matamata vs those trained at all other venues in New Zealand), and time period (1996–1997 and 1998–1999), while controlling for other horse- and race- or trial-related factors, as a means of assessing the possible impact of construction of a new training surface at the Matamata Racing Club on indirect measures of racehorse performance (number of starts, and failure to race within 6 months of any start). METHODS: Multivariable logistic regression and poisson analysis were used to analyse data derived using a retrospective cohort approach. Multivariable logistic regression was also used to analyse a case-control study. All data were derived from New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), records of race and trial results for racehorses trained in Matamata and other venues in New Zealand, covering two 19-month time periods (1996–1997 and 1998–1999). Outcome variables included whether a horse started again in the 6 months following any start that occurred in the first 13 months of either time period, and a count of the total starts for every horse. RESULTS: Factors associated with increased risk of a start being followed by a 6-month no-race period included training location other than Matamata in comparison to horses trained in Matamata in the 1996–1997 time period, increasing age, 1998–1999 over 1996–1997, starting in a trial rather than a race, placing fourth or worse in a start, softer track conditions, summer vs autumn, increasing cumulative exercise intensity in the 60 days prior to a start, and increasing race distance. Factors associated with an increase in the total number of starts included horses trained at Matamata in 1996–1997 compared with other time period-location combinations, younger age of horses at the time of a start, longer race distance, and an increasing proportion of starts in stakes races. CONCLUSIONS: Official race and trial results data provided a valuable resource for epidemiological studies of factors influencing racehorse performance. Results of analyses performed here provided little evidence of any adverse impact of a new training surface at the Matamata Racing Club on indirect measures of racehorse performance.
Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 and Its Correlation with Vasogenic Brain Edema in Human Intracranial Meningiomas

COX-2 expression was evalueted in intracranial meningiomas, relating this molecule to grade, vasculature, VEGF and brain edema. Fifty-six tumors were evaluated for COX-2 and VEGF expression and for microvessel density. In 34/56 cases, the edema was evaluated by CT scan. COX-2 was detected in 46/56 meningiomas (82.14%), and it resulted as being related to histologic grade (t-test: p = 0.006) and to edema (t-test: p = 0.002). No statistical association between COX-2 and VEGF or MVD was found. In conclusion, COX-2 seems to be related to the more aggressive meningiomas and, somehow, to the development of meningioma-associated brain edema.
The Role of Oral Participation in Student Engagement

Engagement has received significant research attention in recent years in an effort to better understand student achievement and the lack of it. Oral participation is generally highly valued in American classrooms and is often thought to be a good indicator of students’ engagement in learning. As a result, many college instructors require and/or grade oral participation. Two studies were conducted that tested the relationship between students’ engagement and oral participation and other variables. The relationship between oral participation and engagement was weak. Oral participation was found to be associated with motivation to study and learning indicators. It occurred more frequently when graded and with teachers perceived as nonverbally immediate, and less frequently among highly apprehensive students. Student nonverbal attentiveness was positively associated with engagement. These studies question common assumptions about oral participation and create a new measure of oral participation.
Self-Perceived Knowledge: Some Effects on Information Processing for a Choice Task

The distinction between actual and perceived knowledge is discussed and the effects of the latter are empirically investigated in a choice task. Findings suggest that the level of perceived knowledge affects the comprehension and use of interrelationships among new pieces of information in subjects' choicedecision task. It also influences subjects' assessments of the importance of old and new information. Subjects with low perceived knowledge were better at detecting the similarity relationship among new items of information than were subjects with high perceived knowledge. Subjects with low perceived knowledge also value old and new information in a different way than those with high perceived knowledge, depending on the relationship between the old and the new information. Implications of the results of the present study and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Designing future dark energy space missions. I. Building realistic galaxy spectro-photometric catalo

Context. Future dark energy space missions such as JDEM and EUCLID are being designed to survey the galaxy population to trace the geometry of the universe and the growth of structure, which both depend on the cosmological model. To reach the goal of high precision cosmology they need to evaluate the capabilities of different instrument designs based on realistic mock catalogs of the galaxy distribution. Aims. The aim of this paper is to construct realistic and flexible mock catalogs based on our knowledge of galaxy populations from current deep surveys. We explore two categories of mock catalogs: (i) based on luminosity functions that we fit to observations (GOODS, UDF, COSMOS, VVDS); (ii) based on the observed COSMOS galaxy distribution. Methods. The COSMOS mock catalog benefits from all the properties of the data-rich COSMOS survey and the highly accurate photometric redshift distribution based on 30-band photometry. Nevertheless this catalog is limited by the depth of the COSMOS survey. Thus, we also evaluate a mock galaxy catalog generated from luminosity functions using the Le Phare software. For these two catalogs, we have produced simulated number counts in several bands, color diagrams and redshift distributions for validation against real observational data. Results. Using these mock catalogs we derive some basic requirements to help design future Dark Energy missions in terms of the number of galaxies available for the weak-lensing analysis as a function of the PSF size and depth of the survey. We also compute the spectroscopic success rate for future spectroscopic redshift surveys (i) aiming at measuring BAO in the case of the wide field spectroscopic redshift survey, and (ii) for the photometric redshift calibration survey which is required to achieve weak lensing tomography with great accuracy. In particular, we demonstrate that for the photometric redshift calibration, using only NIR (1–1.7 µm) spectroscopy, we cannot achieve a complete spectroscopic survey down to the limit of the photometric survey (I < 25.5). Extending the wavelength coverage of the spectroscopic survey to cover 0.6–1.7 µm will then improve the fraction of very secure spectroscopic redshifts to nearly 80% of the galaxies, making possible a very accurate photometric redshift calibration. Conclusions. We have produced two realistic mock galaxy catalogs that can be used in determining the best survey strategy for future dark-energy missions in terms of photometric redshift accuracy and spectroscopic redshift surveys yield. These catalogues are publicly accessible at http://lamwws.oamp. fr/cosmowiki/RealisticSpectroPhotCat, or at the CDS.
Neuronal integration in visual cortex elevates face category tuning to conscious face perception

The human brain has the extraordinary capability to transform cluttered sensory input into distinct object representations. For example, it is able to rapidly and seemingly without effort detect object categories in complex natural scenes. Surprisingly, category tuning is not sufficient to achieve conscious recognition of objects. What neural process beyond category extraction might elevate neural representations to the level where objects are consciously perceived? Here we show that visible and invisible faces produce similar category-selective responses in the ventral visual cortex. The pattern of neural activity evoked by visible faces could be used to decode the presence of invisible faces and vice versa. However, only visible faces caused extensive response enhancements and changes in neural oscillatory synchronization, as well as increased functional connectivity between higher and lower visual areas. We conclude that conscious face perception is more tightly linked to neural processes of sustained information integration and binding than to processes accommodating face category tuning.
THREE PARIETAL CIRCUITS FOR NUMBER PROCESSING

Did evolution endow the human brain with a predisposition to represent and acquire knowledge about numbers? Although the parietal lobe has been suggested as a potential substrate for a domain-specific representation of quantities, it is also engaged in verbal, spatial, and attentional functions that may contribute to calculation. To clarify the organisation of number-related processes in the parietal lobe, we examine the three-dimensional intersection of fMRI activations during various numerical tasks, and also review the corresponding neuropsychological evidence. On this basis, we propose a tentative tripartite organisation. The horizontal segment of the intraparietal sulcus (HIPS) appears as a plausible candidate for domain specificity: It is systematically activated whenever numbers are manipulated, independently of number notation, and with increasing activation as the task puts greater emphasis on quantity processing. Depending on task demands, we speculate that this core quantity system, analogous to an internal “number line,” can be supplemented by two other circuits. A left angular gyrus area, in connection with other left-hemispheric perisylvian areas, supports the manipulation of numbers in verbal form. Finally, a bilateral posterior superior parietal system supports attentional orientation on the mental number line, just like on any other spatial dimension.