Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of myoinositol on sperm mitochondrial function in-vitro.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Inositol is a component of the vitamin B complex. Myo-inositol (MYO) is the most biologically important form in nature. It is involved in several systemic processes and in mechanisms of signal transduction in the plasma membrane as precursor of second messengers. On the male reproductive function, MYO appears to regulate seminal plasma osmolarity and volume; the expression of proteins essential for embryogenetic development and sperm chemiotaxis; and sperm motility, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. Recently, a seminal antioxidant action has also been suggested. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the effects of MYO on sperm mitochondrial function and apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Spermatozoa isolated from 5 normozoospermic men and from 7 patients with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) were incubated in-vitro with 2 mg/ml of MYO or placebo (control) for 2 hours. After this incubation period, the following sperm parameters were evaluated by flow cytometry: mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by JC-1 staining; phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization by annexin V and propidium iodide double staining; and chromatin compactness following propidium iodide staining. RESULTS MYO did not affect the mitochondrial function of spermatozoa isolated from normozoospermic men, whereas it increased significantly the number of spermatozoa with high MMP and decreased significantly the number of those with low MMP in OAT patients. No effect of MYO was observed on PS externalization and chromatin compactness in both normozoospermic men and OAT patients. CONCLUSION The data suggest that MYO is able to ameliorate mitochondrial function in OAT patients. We conclude that this compound may be useful for the treatment of male infertility.
N-Acetyl-L-Leucine Accelerates Vestibular Compensation after Unilateral Labyrinthectomy by Action in the Cerebellum and Thalamus

An acute unilateral vestibular lesion leads to a vestibular tone imbalance with nystagmus, head roll tilt and postural imbalance. These deficits gradually decrease over days to weeks due to central vestibular compensation (VC). This study investigated the effects of i.v. N-acetyl-DL-leucine, N-acetyl-L-leucine and N-acetyl-D-leucine on VC using behavioural testing and serial [18F]-Fluoro-desoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG)-μPET in a rat model of unilateral chemical labyrinthectomy (UL). Vestibular behavioural testing included measurements of nystagmus, head roll tilt and postural imbalance as well as sequential whole-brain [18F]-FDG-μPET was done before and on days 1,3,7 and 15 after UL. A significant reduction of postural imbalance scores was identified on day 7 in the N-acetyl-DL-leucine (p < 0.03) and the N-acetyl-L-leucine groups (p < 0.01), compared to the sham treatment group, but not in the N-acetyl-D-leucine group (comparison for applied dose of 24 mg i.v. per rat, equivalent to 60 mg/kg body weight, in each group). The course of postural compensation in the DL- and L-group was accelerated by about 6 days relative to controls. The effect of N-acetyl-L-leucine on postural compensation depended on the dose: in contrast to 60 mg/kg, doses of 15 mg/kg and 3.75 mg/kg had no significant effect. N-acetyl-L-leucine did not change the compensation of nystagmus or head roll tilt at any dose. Measurements of the regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rCGM) by means of μPET revealed that only N-acetyl-L-leucine but not N-acetyl-D-leucine caused a significant increase of rCGM in the vestibulocerebellum and a decrease in the posterolateral thalamus and subthalamic region on days 3 and 7. A similar pattern was found when comparing the effect of N-acetyl-L-leucine on rCGM in an UL-group and a sham UL-group without vestibular damage. In conclusion, N-acetyl-L-leucine improves compensation of postural symptoms after UL in a dose-dependent and specific manner, most likely by activating the vestibulocerebellum and deactivating the posterolateral thalamus.
Electronic structures and optical properties of BiOX (X = F, Cl, Br, I) via DFT calculations

Based on the density functional theory (DFT), the lattice constants and atomic positions of BiOX (X = F, Cl, Br, I) species have been optimized, and the electronic and optical properties of the relaxed species have been calculated, with Bi 5d states considered or not. Relaxation generally results in the shrinkage in a and the expansion of c. Relaxed BiOCl, BiOBr, and BiOI present indirect band gaps, whereas BiOF exhibits a direct or somewhat indirect band‐gap feature corresponding to the relaxation and calculation with the Bi 5d states or not. The bottom of the conduction band is quite flat for relaxed BiOI, and apparently flat in BiOBr, and shows observable flatness in BiOCl as well when considering the Bi 5d states. The top of the valence band is rather even as well for some species. The obtained maximum gaps for relaxed BiOF, BiOCl, BiOBr, and BiOI are 3.34, 2.92, 2.65, and 1.75 eV, respectively. The density peak of X np states in the valence band shifts toward the valence band maximum with the increasing X atomic number. The bandwidths, atomic charges, bond orders, and orbital density have also been investigated along with some optical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2009
Metabolic Engineering of Salmonella Vaccine Bacteria To Boost Human Vγ2Vδ2 T Cell Immunity

Human Vγ2Vδ2 T cells monitor isoprenoid metabolism by recognizing foreign (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP), a metabolite in the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway used by most eubacteria and apicomplexan parasites, and self isopentenyl pyrophosphate, a metabolite in the mevalonate pathway used by humans. Whereas microbial infections elicit prolonged expansion of memory Vγ2Vδ2 T cells, immunization with prenyl pyrophosphates or aminobisphosphonates elicit short-term Vγ2Vδ2 expansion with rapid anergy and deletion upon subsequent immunizations. We hypothesized that a live, attenuated bacterial vaccine that overproduces HMBPP would elicit long-lasting Vγ2Vδ2 T cell immunity by mimicking a natural infection. Therefore, we metabolically engineered the avirulent aroA− Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL7207 strain by deleting the gene for LytB (the downstream enzyme from HMBPP) and functionally complementing for this loss with genes encoding mevalonate pathway enzymes. LytB− Salmonella SL7207 had high HMBPP levels, infected human cells as efficiently as did the wild-type bacteria, and stimulated large ex vivo expansions of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells from human donors. Importantly, vaccination of a rhesus monkey with live lytB− Salmonella SL7207 stimulated a prolonged expansion of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells without significant side effects or anergy induction. These studies provide proof-of-principle that metabolic engineering can be used to derive live bacterial vaccines that boost Vγ2Vδ2 T cell immunity. Similar engineering of metabolic pathways to produce lipid Ags or B vitamin metabolite Ags could be used to derive live bacterial vaccine for other unconventional T cells that recognize nonpeptide Ags.
Five types of blow-up in a semilinear fourth-order reaction–diffusion equation: an analytic–numerical approach

Five types of blow-up patterns that can occur for the 4th-order semilinear parabolic equation of the reaction–diffusion type are discussed. For the semilinear heat equation ut = Δu + up, various blow-up patterns were under scrutiny since the 1980s, while the case of higher order diffusion was studied much less, regardless of the wide range of its application. The types of blow-up include the following: Type I(ss): patterns of self-similar single point blow-up, including those for which the final time profile |u(·, T−)|N(p−1)/4 is a measure; Type I(log): self-similar non-radial blow-up with angular logarithmic TW swirl; Type I(Her): non-self-similar blow-up close to stable/centre subspaces of Hermitian operators obtained via linearization about constant uniform blow-up pattern; Type II(sing): non-self-similar blow-up on stable/centre manifolds of a singular steady state in the supercritical Sobolev range p ⩾ pS = (N + 4)/(N − 4) for N > 4 and Type II(LN): non-self-similar blow-up along the manifold of stationary generalized Loewner–Nirenberg type explicit solutions in the critical Sobolev case p = pS, when |u(·, T−)|N(p−1)/4 contains a measure as a singular component. Type I(ss): patterns of self-similar single point blow-up, including those for which the final time profile |u(·, T−)|N(p−1)/4 is a measure; Type I(log): self-similar non-radial blow-up with angular logarithmic TW swirl; Type I(Her): non-self-similar blow-up close to stable/centre subspaces of Hermitian operators obtained via linearization about constant uniform blow-up pattern; Type II(sing): non-self-similar blow-up on stable/centre manifolds of a singular steady state in the supercritical Sobolev range p ⩾ pS = (N + 4)/(N − 4) for N > 4 and Type II(LN): non-self-similar blow-up along the manifold of stationary generalized Loewner–Nirenberg type explicit solutions in the critical Sobolev case p = pS, when |u(·, T−)|N(p−1)/4 contains a measure as a singular component. There is some evidence that Type I(ss) are structurally stable (generic) patterns. However, justifying this and the existence of other proposed types of blow-up remain difficult open problems, so formal analytic and numerical methods are key in supporting some theoretical judgements.
Exploring Life Orientation Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Teaching of Recreation and Physical Well-being

Abstract Since 1994, there have been many new policy formulation in Education such as National Curriculum Statement (NCS) (2002), White Paper Six (2001) and the Constitution of South Africa (1996). All these above policies are important in the teaching of recreation and physical well-being because they focus on addressing the imbalances of the past. The introduction of Life Orientation (LO) in schools is guided by Learning Outcomes which focus on personal, social, career and recreation and physical well-being. LO also focuses on the learners in their totality and the self in relation to society. Based on the preceding discussion, the research therefore focuses on the Life Orientation teachers’ perceptions regarding teaching of recreation and physical well-being in South African disadvantaged high schools. The aim of this study is therefore to explore Life Orientation teachers’ perceptions regarding teaching of recreation and physical well-being in South African disadvantaged high schools. The research adopted a qualitative design and data was collected through focus group interviews. All LO teachers at that particular disadvantaged high school were used as participants. The findings revealed that recreation and physical well-being as a Learning Outcome of LO was not seriously taught.
Q-switching with single crystal photo-elastic modulators

An overview is given about experiments with a new method for Q-switching lasers at a constant pulse repetition frequency. It uses inside the laser resonator a Single Crystal Photo-Elastic Modulator (SCPEM). This consists of one piezo-electric crystal electrically excited on a mechanical resonance frequency. In resonance mechanical stresses are induced that lead via the photo-elastic effect to a strongly modulated birefringence. Polarized light going through such an oscillating crystal will experience a significant modulation of its polarization and of transmission through a polarizer. Suitable materials should not be optically active, as it is for example the case for SiO2, and should allow the excitation of a longitudinal oscillation with an electric field perpendicular to the travelling direction of the light. Crystals of the group 3m, like LiTaO3 and LiNbO3, proved to be ideally suited for SCPEMS for the NIR- and VIS-region. For the infrared GaAs can be used. We demonstrated SCPEM-Q-switching for a Nd:YAG-fiber, a Nd:YVO4-slab- and a Nd:YAG-rod-laser with typical pulse repetition rates of 100-200kHz, pulse enhancement factors of ~100 and pulse durations ~1/100 of the period time. Typically the average power during pulsed operation is nearly the same as the cw-power, when the modulator is switched off. The most stable results were achieved up to now with the Nd:YVO4-slab-laser at 10W average power, 1.1 kW peak power, 127 kHz pulse repetition rate, and 70ns pulse durations.
Wavelets, vision and the statistics of natural scenes

The processing of spatial information by the visual system shows a number of similarities to the wavelet transforms that have become popular in applied mathematics. Over the last decade, a range of studies have focused on the question of ‘why’ the visual system would evolve this strategy of coding spatial information. One such approach has focused on the relationship between the visual code and the statistics of natural scenes under the assumption that the visual system has evolved this strategy as a means of optimizing the representation of its visual environment. This paper reviews some of this literature and looks at some of the statistical properties of natural scenes that allow this code to be efficient. It is argued that such wavelet codes are efficient because they increase the independence of the vectors' outputs (i.e. they increase the independence of the responses of the visual neurons) by finding the sparse structure available in the input. Studies with neural networks that attempt to maximize the ‘sparsity’ of the representation have been shown to produce vectors (neural receptive fields) that have many of the properties of a wavelet representation. It is argued that the visual environment has the appropriate sparse structure to make this sparse output possible. It is argued that these sparse/independent representations make it computationally easier to detect and represent the higher–order structure present in complex environmental data.
The impact of environmental conditions on Campylobacter jejuni survival in broiler faeces and litter

Introduction Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial food-borne pathogen within the European Union, and poultry meat is an important vehicle for its transmission to humans. However, there is limited knowledge about how this organism persists in broiler litter and faeces. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a number of environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, and oxygen, on Campylobacter survival in both broiler litter and faeces. Materials and methods Used litter was collected from a Campylobacter-negative broiler house after final depopulation and fresh faeces were collected from transport crates. Samples were confirmed as Campylobacter negative according to modified ISO methods for veterinary samples. Both sample matrices were inoculated with 9 log10 CFU/ml C. jejuni and incubated under high (≥85%) and low (≤70%) relative humidity conditions at three different temperatures (20°C, 25°C, and 30°C) under both aerobic and microaerophilic atmospheres. Inoculated litter samples were then tested for Campylobacter concentrations at time zero and every 2 hours for 12 hours, while faecal samples were examined at time zero and every 24 hours for 120 hours. A two-tailed t-test assuming unequal variance was used to compare mean Campylobacter concentrations in samples under the various temperature, humidity, and atmospheric conditions. Results and discussion C. jejuni survived significantly longer (P≤0.01) in faeces, with a minimum survival time of 48 hours, compared with 4 hours in used broiler litter. C. jejuni survival was significantly enhanced at 20°C in all environmental conditions in both sample matrices tested compared with survival at 25°C and 30°C. In general, survival was greater in microaerophilic compared with aerobic conditions in both sample matrices. Humidity, at the levels examined, did not appear to significantly impact C. jejuni survival in any sample matrix. The persistence of Campylobacter in broiler litter and faeces under various environmental conditions has implications for farm litter management, hygiene, and disinfection practices.
Self-concept and the influence of social factors in elementary school high achieving gifted and normally achieving children: A multidimensional approach.

The self-concept of high achieving gifted children was investigated from a multidimensional perspective, examining the influence of the social comparison group employed and the relationship between parents' and teachers' perceptions and children's self-concept. The sample included 61 high achieving gifted children of both sexes enrolled in grades four through eight, participating in a one day per week segregated enrichment program, their parents and enrichment teachers. A control group consisted of normally achieving peers in regular classrooms matched for grade and sex, their parents and regular classroom teachers. The results suggested that the gifted group held generally positive self-perceptions but were best distinguished from the regular classroom group by more positive perceptions of ability within the realm of academic performance. Both groups were generally equivalent in their perceptions of ability in the athletic domain, satisfaction with physical characteristics and perceptions of popularity. Gifted children were found almost exclusively to be comparing themselves to regular classroom peers when making self­ appraisals. Consistent with expectations, children's self-perceptions were positively related to parents' and teachers' perceptions across most self-concept domains, with relatively high congruence among the adults' perceptions within gifted and regular classroom groups. Differences in perceptions between the adults of the gifted and tegular classroom groups mirrored the distinctions found in the children's self-perceptions. Perceived parental evaluations were found to be most strongly related to gifted children's general feelings of
Cell adhesion molecules regulating neurite growth from amacrine and rod photoreceptor cells [published erratum appears in J Neurosci 1994 Oct;14(10):following table of contents]

A great deal is now known about the cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that are responsible for promoting the growth of ganglion cell axons as they project out of the retina through the optic nerve and finally to distant targets in the brain. However, the CAMs important for regulating axon outgrowth from nonprojection neurons, such as amacrine cells and rods, are not known. Such local circuit neurons extend their neurites rather short distances on cellular surfaces not normally encountered by the ganglion cell axons. To study the mechanisms regulating axon or dendrite growth from local circuit neurons, neurite outgrowth from amacrine cells and rod photoreceptor cells derived from the rat was examined in vitro on immunopurified forms of NCAM, L1, and N-cadherin, three well-characterized adhesive molecules found in the developing retina. Either early (P3) or late (P10) postnatal amacrine cells grew neurites on all three CAMs, but there were significant differences in the percentage of the amacrine cells that responded to each CAM. None of the CAMs supported neurite outgrowth from early postnatal rods, but, surprisingly, NCAM stimulated vigorous neurite extension from rods isolated at postnatal day 10. Postnatal ganglion cells were also examined for comparison and were found not to grow neurites on NCAM, but did grow extensive processes on L1 and N- cadherin. These results show that NCAM, L1, and N-cadherin can promote neurite outgrowth from local circuit neurons, but that the effectiveness of any particular CAM is dependent on the cell type and the developmental period.
“ Front-Stage ” and “ BackStage ” Information Processes of Critical Discourse in Intensive Care Settings

This paper presents an ongoing observational study to explore a “front-stage-back-stage” model of information processes during group discussions (multidisciplinary rounds) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a large urban medical center. Participants were observed to collaborate on “front-stage” processes of presentations, discussion, and treatment planning, while in parallel they performed tightly-coupled “backstage” information activities. The front-stage and backstage information processes were interdependent to address the need for fluid, high time-pressured discourse with potential life-and-death consequences. We believe the front-stage-back-stage model adds to our understanding of collaborative information exchange and holds implications for computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) systems. For example, computing support may increase the efficiency and reliability of information transfer by enhancing the ability to “choreograph” front-stage and back-stage information processes during critical discourse such as medical rounds.
Modeling and Simulating Apache Spark Streaming Applications

Stream processing systems are used to analyze big data streams with low latency. The performance in terms of response time and throughput is crucial to ensure all arriving data are processed in time. This depends on various factors such as the complexity of used algorithms and conﬁgurations of such distributed systems and applications. To ensure a desired sys-tem behavior, performance evaluations should be conducted to determine the throughput and required resources in advance. In this paper, we present an approach to predict the response time of Apache Spark Streaming applications by modeling and simulating them. In a preliminary controlled experiment, our simulation results suggest accurate prediction values for an upscaling scenario.
Adaptive network coded retransmission scheme for wireless multicast

In wireless multicast, the receivers are interested in obtaining only a subset of the packets transmitted by the access node. Consequently, it is intuitively assumed that random network coded packet retransmissions will result in a lower bandwidth efficiency compared to opportunistic network coded retransmissions as the former involves the delivery of unwanted packets. In the first part of this paper, we show, through simulations, that the random network coded retransmission (RNCR) scheme outperforms the opportunistic network coded retransmission (ONCR) scheme in terms of bandwidth efficiency in a wide range of multicast settings. Motivated by this result, we propose an adaptive algorithm that can dynamically select, from the RNCR and ONCR schemes, the one that is expected to achieve a better performance for each multicast frame. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm almost achieves the optimal performance that can be obtained by combining these two retransmission schemes.