Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Manchette-acrosome disorders during spermiogenesis and low efficiency of seminiferous tubules in hypercholesterolemic rabbit model

Hypercholesterolemia is a marker for several adult chronic diseases. Recently we demonstrated that sub/infertility is also associated to Hypercholesterolemia in rabbits. Seminal alterations included: abnormal sperm morphology, decreased sperm number and declined percentage of motile sperm, among others. In this work, our objective was to evaluate the effects of hypercholesterolemia on testicular efficiency and spermiogenesis, as the latter are directly related to sperm number and morphology respectively. Tubular efficiency was determined by comparing total number of spermatogenic cells with each cell type within the proliferation/differentiation compartments. We found lower testicular efficiency related to both a decrease in spermatogonial cells and an increase in germ cell apoptosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. On the other hand, spermiogenesis–the last step of spermatogenesis involved in sperm shaping–was detaily analyzed, particularly the acrosome-nucleus-manchette complex. The manchette is a microtubular-based temporary structure responsible in sperm cell elongation. We analyzed the contribution of actin filaments and raft microdomains in the arrangement of the manchette. Under fluorescence microscopy, spermatocyte to sperm cell development was followed in cells isolated from V to VIII tubular stages. In cells from hypercholesterolemic rabbits, abnormal development of acrosome, nucleus and inaccurate tail implantation were associated with actin–alpha-tubulin–GM1 sphingolipid altered distribution. Morphological alterations were also observed at electron microscopy. We demonstrated for the first time that GM1-enriched microdomains together with actin filaments and microtubules are involved in allowing the correct anchoring of the manchette complex. In conclusion, cholesterol enriched diets promote male fertility alterations by affecting critical steps in sperm development: spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. It was also demonstrated that hypercholesterolemic rabbit model is a useful tool to study serum cholesterol increment linked to sub/infertility.
Asymptotic Bethe equations for open boundaries in planar AdS/CFT

We solve, by means of a nested coordinate Bethe ansatz, the open-boundaries scattering theory describing the excitations of a free open string propagating in AdS5 × S5, carrying large angular momentum J = J56, and ending on a maximal giant graviton whose angular momentum is in the same plane. We thus obtain the all-loop Bethe equations describing the spectrum, for J, finite but large, of the energies of such strings, or equivalently, on the gauge side of the AdS/CFT correspondence, the anomalous dimensions of certain operators built using the ϵ tensor of SU(N). We also give the Bethe equations for strings ending on a probe D7-brane, corresponding to meson-like operators in an gauge theory with fundamental matter.
How Positive Affect Modulates Proactive Control: Reduced Usage of Informative Cues Under Positive Affect with Low Arousal

An example of proactive control is the usage of informative cues to prepare for an upcoming task. Here the authors will present data from a series of three experiments, showing that positive affect along with low arousal reduces proactive control in form of a reduced reliance on informative cues. In three affect groups, neutral or positive affective picture stimuli with low and high arousal preceded every trial. In Experiments 1 and 2, using a simple response cueing paradigm with informative cues (66% cue validity), a reduced cue validity effect (CVE) was found under positive affect with low arousal. To test the robustness of the effect and to see whether reactive control is also modulated by positive affect, Experiment 3 used a cued task switching paradigm with predicitive cues (75% cue validity). As expected, a reduced CVE was again found specifically in the positive affect condition with low arousal, but only for task repetitions. Furthermore, there was no difference in switch costs between affect groups (with and without task cues). Taken together, the reduced CVE indicates that positive affect with low arousal reduces proactive control, while comparable switch costs suggest that there is no influence of positive affect on reactive control.
Who Votes in Authoritarian Elections and Why? Determinants of Voter Turnout in Contemporary Egypt

This paper examines voter behavior in Egypt, an electoral authoritarian country. While some voters cast their ballots on an ideological basis, many Egyptian voters expect to receive a direct material beneflt for their vote. Although voter turnout is associated with higher levels of education in developed democracies, I flnd that in Egypt, illiterates are twice as likely to vote as those who can read. This is because the votes of illiterates tend to be cheaper to purchase by political entrepreneurs, and illiterates are also more vulnerable to intimidation by state authorities. These flndings have implications for our understanding of clientelistic politics, electoral authoritarianism, and accountability in autocratic regimes.
Gaussian Process Implicit Surfaces

Many applications in computer vision and computer graphics require the definition of curves and surfaces. Implicit surfaces [7] are a popular choice for this because they are smooth, can be appropriately constrained by known geometry, and require no special treatment for topology changes. Given a scalar function f : Rd 7→ R, one can define a manifold S of dimension d− 1 wherever f(x) passes through a certain value (e.g., 0)
Robot Law

'The breadth of fascinating legal and public policy challenges posed by the advent of robots (both physical and virtual) into the commerce of daily life are well represented in this wonderful collection of essays. It is truly heartening to witness the depth of reflection offered by the contributing legal and social theorists regarding ways to navigate the countless perceivable policy challenges and uncertainties the roboticization of warfare, commerce, and social interactions affords. With this volume robot law establishes its place as a field that deserves serious attention. '- Wendell Wallach, author, A Dangerous Master: How to keep technology from slipping beyond our control and Chair of the Technology and Ethics study group, Yale University's Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, US'The timing of Robot Law is perfect. If law is going to catch up with technology, it's going to need this book. The editors have convened an expert group of authors to guide us into the future on a wide range of issues. I'd be surprised if any legal case in robotics, in the next decade or so, does not refer to this touchstone work. '- Patrick Lin, California Polytechnic State University, USLike the Internet before it, robotics is a socially and economically transformative technology. Robot Law explores how the increasing sophistication of robots and their widespread deployment into hospitals, public spaces, and battlefields requires rethinking of a wide variety of philosophical and public policy issues, including how this technology interacts with existing legal regimes, and thus may inspire changes in policy and in law. This volume collects the efforts of a diverse group of scholars who each, in their own way, has worked to overcome barriers in order to facilitate necessary and timely discussions of a technology in its infancy. Identifying controversial legal, ethical, and philosophical problems, the authors reveal how issues surrounding robotics and regulation are more complicated than engineers could have anticipated, and just how much definitional and applied work remains to be done. This groundbreaking examination of a brand-new reality will be of interest and of use to a variety of groups as the authors include engineers, ethicists, lawyers, roboticists, philosophers, and serving military. Contributors include: P. Asaro, C. Bassani, E. Calisgan, R. Calo, G. Conti, D.M. Cooper, G. Conti, E.A. Croft, K. Darling, F. Ferreira, A.M. Froomkin, S. Gutiu, W. Hartzog, F.P. Hubbard, C.E.A. Karnow, I. Kerr, D. Larkin, J. Millar, A. Moon, J. Nelson, F. Operto, N.M. Richards, L.A. Shay, W.D. Smart, B.W. Smith, K. Szilagyi, K. Thomasen, H.F. M. Van der Loos, G. Veruggio
Evolutionary and Biogeographic Origins of High Tropical Diversity in Old World Frogs (Ranidae)

Differences in species richness between regions are ultimately explained by patterns of speciation, extinction, and biogeographic dispersal. Yet, few studies have considered the role of all three processes in generating the high biodiversity of tropical regions. A recent study of a speciose group of predominately New World frogs (Hylidae) showed that their low diversity in temperate regions was associated with relatively recent colonization of these regions, rather than latitudinal differences in diversification rates (rates of speciation-extinction). Here, we perform parallel analyses on the most species-rich group of Old World frogs (Ranidae; ∼1300 species) to determine if similar processes drive the latitudinal diversity gradient. We estimate a time-calibrated phytogeny for 390 ranid species and use this phytogeny to analyze patterns of biogeography and diversification rates. As in hylids, we find a strong relationship between the timing of colonization of each region and its current diversity, with recent colonization of temperate regions from tropical regions. Diversification rates are similar in tropical and temperate clades, suggesting that neither accelerated tropical speciation rates nor greater temperate extinction rates explain high tropical diversity in this group. Instead, these results show the importance of historical biogeography in explaining high species richness in both the New World and Old World tropics.
Predisposition of the dark state of rhodopsin to functional changes in structure

As the only member of the family of G‐protein‐coupled receptors for which atomic coordinates are available, rhodopsin is widely studied for insight into the molecular mechanism of G‐protein‐coupled receptor activation. The currently available structures refer to the inactive, dark state, of rhodopsin, rather than the light‐activated metarhodopsin II (Meta II) state. A model for the Meta II state is proposed here by analyzing elastic network normal modes in conjunction with experimental data. Key mechanical features and interactions broken/formed in the proposed model are found to be consistent with the experimental data. The model is further tested by using a set of Meta II fluorescence decay rates measured to empirically characterize the deactivation of rhodopsin mutants. The model is found to correctly predict 93% of the experimentally observed effects in 119 rhodopsin mutants for which the decay rates and misfolding data have been measured, including a systematic analysis of Cys→Ser replacements reported here. Based on the detailed comparison between model and experiments, a cooperative activation mechanism is deduced that couples retinal isomerization to concerted changes in conformation, facilitated by the intrinsic dynamics of rhodopsin. A global hinge site is identified near the retinal‐binding pocket that ensures the efficient propagation of signals from the central transmembrane region to both cytoplasmic and extracellular ends. The predicted activation mechanism opens the transmembrane helices at the critical G‐protein binding cytoplasmic domain. This model provides a detailed, mechanistic description of the activation process, extending experimental observations and yielding new insights for further tests. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measures on Corson compact spaces

x Introduction All spaces considered here are Hausdor Suppose X is compact and is a Radon probability measure on X We say that is separable if the measure algebra of hX i is separable as a metric space equivalently L is separable Haydon asked whether the existence of a non separable Radonmeasure on X implies that X can be mapped continuously onto It is open whether a yes answer is consistent with ZFC or even follows from MA CH see Fremlin for more discussion Under CH or some other axioms of set theory a number of counter examples are known due to D zamonja and Kunen These spaces have the additional properties of being either hereditarily Lindel of HL or hereditarily separable HS or both Either of these properties implies immediately that the space cannot be mapped continuously onto since is neither HL nor HS and both HL and HS are preserved under continuous maps There are many other classes of spaces that cannot be mapped continuously onto for some obvious reason For such a class say K one can ask whether there is a counter example to Haydon s question that belongs to K In this paper we consider the class of all Corson compact spaces Recall that a compact space X is called Corson compact if it can be embedded in a product of real lines Since every separable subspace of a Corson compact space is second countable it is easy to see that no Corson compact space can be mapped continuously onto So we ask can there be a non separable Radon measure on a Corson compact space It follows from results already known that the answer to this question is independent of ZFC There is no such space under MA CH To see this let X be a Corson compact space with a Radon probability measure By removing all open subsets of X of measure we may assume without loss of generality that X itself is the support of that is all nonempty open subsets of X have positive measure This implies that X satis es the countable chain condition ccc But under MA CH a Corson compact space that satis es the ccc is second countable see which implies that is separable On the other hand the HL space constructed in under CH is easily seen to be Corson compact In this paper we prove that the statement there is a Corson compact space with a non separable Radon measure is equivalent to a number of natural statements in set theory Let MAma denote MA restricted to measure algebras We shall prove
Approximating Curve and Strong Convergence of the CQ Algorithm for the Split Feasibility Problem

Using the idea of Tikhonov's regularization, we present properties of the approximating curve for the split feasibility problem (SFP) and obtain the minimum-norm solution of SFP as the strong limit of the approximating curve. It is known that in the infinite-dimensional setting, Byrne's CQ algorithm (Byrne, 2002) has only weak convergence. We introduce a modification of Byrne's CQ algorithm in such a way that strong convergence is guaranteed and the limit is also the minimum-norm solution of SFP.
Physiological Responses of Two Epiphytic Bryophytes to Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur Addition in a Subtropical Montane Cloud Forest

Atmospheric depositions pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well understood, and few studies have considered the combined effects and interactions of multiple pollutants. This in situ study explored the physiological responses of two epiphytic bryophytes to combined addition of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. We investigated the electrical conductivity (EC), total chlorophyll concentration (Chl), nutrient stoichiometry and chlorophyll fluorescence signals in a subtropical montane cloud forest in south-west China. The results showed that enhanced fertilizer additions imposed detrimental effects on bryophytes, and the combined enrichment of simulated fertilization exerted limited synergistic effects in their natural environments. On the whole, EC, Chl, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP) were the more reliable indicators of increased artificial fertilization. However, conclusions on nutrient stoichiometry should be drawn cautiously concerning the saturation uptake and nutrient interactions in bryophytes. Finally, we discuss the limitations of prevailing fertilization experiments and emphasize the importance of long-term data available for future investigations.
Compressions and Probably Intersecting Families

A family of sets is said to be intersecting if A ∩ B ≠ ∅ for all A, B ∈ . It is a well-known and simple fact that an intersecting family of subsets of [n] = {1, 2, . , n} can contain at most 2n−1 sets. Katona, Katona and Katona ask the following question. Suppose instead ⊂ [n] satisfies || = 2n−1 + i for some fixed i > 0. Create a new family p by choosing each member of independently with some fixed probability p. How do we choose to maximize the probability that p is intersecting? They conjecture that there is a nested sequence of optimal families for i = 1, 2,. , 2n−1. In this paper, we show that the families [n](≥r) = {A ⊂ [n]: |A| ≥ r} are optimal for the appropriate values of i, thereby proving the conjecture for this sequence of values. Moreover, we show that for intermediate values of i there exist optimal families lying between those we have found. It turns out that the optimal families we find simultaneously maximize the number of intersecting subfamilies of each possible order. Standard compression techniques appear inadequate to solve the problem as they do not preserve intersection properties of subfamilies. Instead, our main tool is a novel compression method, together with a way of ‘compressing subfamilies’, which may be of independent interest.
Relationship between antitumor effect and metabolites of 5-fluorouracil in combination treatment with 5-fluorouracil and guanosine in ascites sarcoma 180 tumor system.

The antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) against ascites Sarcoma 180 was significantly enhanced by coadministration of guanosine, and slightly by adenosine, but not by cytidine or uridine. In advanced ascites Sarcoma 180, guanosine also enhanced the action of FUra, but adenosine, uridine, and cytidine did not. The potentiation of antitumor activity by guanosine was reversed by addition of cytidine. The antitumor activity of FUra was significantly potentiated when guanosine was administered either 0 to 15 min before or 5 min after FUra. Changes in metabolites of FUra after potentiation by guanosine were investigated. Total radioactivity in the plasma was significantly decreased 10 min after the combined administration of [6-14C]FUra (3 mg/kg i.p.) and guanosine (100 mg/kg i.p.) in comparison with that of [6-14C]FUra alone and was slightly decreased by coadministration of [6-14C]FUra and adenosine. Conversely, it was significantly increased by uridine or cytidine. The decrease in total radioactivity in the plasma caused by guanosine was completely reversed by addition of cytidine. FUra, 5-fluorouridine, alpha-fluoro-beta-ureidopropionic acid, and alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine were found in the plasma. Intact FUra accounted for about 55% of the total radioactivity. The proportion of metabolites of [6-14C]FUra was not changed by coadministration of [6-14C]FUra and guanosine, adenosine, or cytidine, but the proportion of FUrd was increased by uridine. In the ascitic fluid, the total radioactivity derived from [6-14C]FUra was decreased by its combined administration with guanosine, and it was reversed by addition of cytidine. This pattern was similar to that in the plasma. The main FUra compound was intact FUra itself (90%), and 5-fluorouridine accounted for 1% of the total radioactivity in the ascitic fluid. On the other hand, total radioactivity of [6-14C]FUra in the tumor cells was significantly and slightly increased by guanosine and adenosine, respectively. Total radioactivity after [6-14C]FUra in combination with uridine or cytidine was less than that after [6-14C]FUra alone. Incorporation of [6-14C]FUra into RNA was increased about 3.7 times by its combination with guanosine in comparison with FUra alone, and it was increased 2.0, 0.6, and 0.7 times by adenosine, uridine, and cytidine, respectively. Moreover, FUra-nucleotides were significantly increased by guanosine. The increased radioactivity in RNA and FUra-nucleotides of tumor cells caused by guanosine was completely reversed by cytidine. These changes in incorporation into tumor cells were comparable to those in antitumor activity against ascites Sarcoma 180. The potentiation of antitumor activity of FUra by guanosine was considered to be due to an increase in incorporation of FUra into FUra-nucleotides and RNA in the tumor cells.
The young active star SAO 51891 (V383 Lacertae)

Aims. The aim of this work is to investigate the surface inhomogeneities of a young, late-type star, SAO 51891, at different atmospheric levels, from the photosphere to the upper chromosphere, analyzing contemporaneous optical high-resolution spectra and broad-band photometry. Methods. The full spectral range of FOCES@CAHA (R � 40 000) is used to perform the spectral classification and to determine the rotational and radial velocities. The lithium abundance is measured to obtain an age estimate. The BVRIJHKs photometric bands are used to construct the spectral energy distribution (SED). The variations in the observed BV fluxes and effective temperature are used to infer the presence of photospheric spots and observe their behavior over time. The chromospheric activity is studied applying the spectral subtraction technique to Hα ,C aii H& K, H� ,a nd Caii IRT lines. Results. We find SAO 51891 to be a young K0-1V star with a lithium abundance close to the Pleiades upper envelope, confirming its youth (∼100 Myr), which is also inferred from its kinematical membership of the Local Association. No infrared excess is detected from analysis of its SED, limiting the amount of remaining circumstellar dust. We detect a rotational modulation of the luminosity, effective temperature, Ca ii H& K, H� ,a nd Caii IRT total fluxes. A simple spot model with two main active regions, about 240 K cooler than the surrounding photosphere, fits the observed light and temperature curves very well. The small-amplitude radial velocity variations are also well reproduced by our spot model. The anti-correlation of light curves and chromospheric diagnostics indicates
The Architecture of the Adhesive Apparatus of Cultured Osteoclasts: From Podosome Formation to Sealing Zone Assembly

Background Osteoclasts are bone-degrading cells, which play a central role in physiological bone remodeling. Unbalanced osteoclast activity is largely responsible for pathological conditions such as osteoporosis. Osteoclasts develop specialized adhesion structures, the so-called podosomes, which subsequently undergo dramatic reorganization into sealing zones. These ring-like adhesion structures, which delimit the resorption site, effectively seal the cell to the substrate forming a diffusion barrier. The structural integrity of the sealing zone is essential for the cell ability to degrade bone, yet its structural organization is poorly understood. Principal Findings Combining high-resolution scanning electron microscopy with fluorescence microscopy performed on the same sample, we mapped the molecular architecture of the osteoclast resorptive apparatus from individual podosomes to the sealing zone, at an unprecedented resolution. Podosomes are composed of an actin-bundle core, flanked by a ring containing adhesion proteins connected to the core via dome-like radial actin fibers. The sealing zone, hallmark of bone-resorbing osteoclasts, consists of a dense array of podosomes communicating through a network of actin filaments, parallel to the substrate and anchored to the adhesive plaque domain via radial actin fibers. Significance The sealing zone of osteoclasts cultured on bone is made of structural units clearly related to individual podosomes. It differs from individual or clustered podosomes in the higher density and degree of inter-connectivity of its building blocks, thus forming a unique continuous functional structure connecting the cell to its extracellular milieu. Through this continuous structure, signals reporting on the substrate condition may be transmitted to the whole cell, modulating the cell response under physiological and pathological conditions.