Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of different luteal support hormones on endometrial alkaline phosphatase activity and endometrial thickness in superovulated mice

Background: There are some controversial data on application of progesterone and progesterone plus estrogen at luteal phase. Objective: To investigate the effects of different luteal support hormones on the Alkaline Phosphates (ALP) activity in the endometrial epithelium and endometrial thickness during superovulation process for obtaining the optimized endometrial receptivity in animal model. Materials and Methods: Pseudopregnant female Balb/c mice were induced for pseudopregnany through superovulation then the mice were divided into two groups. Experimental group included five groups: the pseudopregnant mice were given four consecutive, daily injections of progesterone (P group), estrogen (E group), estrogen + progesterone (E+P group), antiprogesterone + estrogen (RU 486 + E), and sham group. In the control group, pseudopregnancy was induced in the natural cycle. The uterus was collected after day 4.5 of pseudopregnancy. The samples were prepared for the morphological and morphometrical evaluation of the endometrial ALP activity and endometrial thickness. Results: ALP activity was observed in all groups except P group. ALP activity of P + E group was similar to E and RU 486 + E groups. Sham group showed high ALP activity compared to the P group. The endometrial thickness was low in the P group and high in the sham group in comparison with other groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, super ovulation decreased the ALP activity. Estrogen along with progesterone at the luteal phase increased the enzyme activity and the endometrial thickness, compared with the progesterone administration, and thus, progesterone plus estrogen could improve embryo receptivity.
Commandes non linéaires robustes mono et multidimensionnelles de dispositifs électropneumatiques

Ces dernieres annees, les problemes des performances robustes ont ete consideres par de nombreux auteurs. L'objectif est de trouver des conditions pour garantir l'obtention de performances souhaitees en presence d'incertitudes dans le modele. D'autre part, les systemes electropneumatiques sont largement utilises dans le milieu industriel et repandus dans un domaine d'application assez vaste. Sciemment avertis de cette place privilegiee et conscients aussi des progres realises en commande ainsi que des grands besoins du marche, nous avons decide d'orienter nos travaux dans le domaine de l'asservissement d'actionneur electropneumatique. Notre travail s'inscrit dans ce contexte, traite de la synthese de commandes non lineaires robustes pour un systeme electropneumatique et fait le point sur l'utilisation de ces techniques. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes interesses a la technique du backstepping. Dans cette famille de commandes, la recherche de fonctions de Lyapunov joue un role tres important pour la stabilisation des systemes non lineaires et la robustesse de la stabilite obtenue. Differentes lois de commandes basees sur cette technique ont ete synthetisees. Nous nous sommes egalement interesses a une autre famille de commande : la commande par modes glissants d'ordre superieur. Notre objectif etait non seulement de prouver la robustesse de cette technique de commande mais aussi d'eviter le probleme de reticence. Differentes lois de commandes ont ete elaborees. Pour juger de l'interet de ces lois de commande non lineaires, tous les resultats experimentaux obtenus ont ete compares a une loi de commande lineaire classique.
The influence of organisational culture types on tacit knowledge sharing behaviour: A conceptual framework

Resources are central to the existence of any organisation, and among these resources, knowledge is recognised as one of the most important. Knowledge can be categorised as explicit or tacit. Explicit knowledge can be articulated, stored independently, and easily communicated. Conversely, tacit knowledge is embedded deep in people’s minds and is not easily shared. Attempts to share can be slow, costly, and uncertain. Although it is acknowledged that there are inherent benefits to tacit knowledge, people, generally, are reluctant to share it because of various barriers. According to prior research, organisational culture is one of the main barriers. This paper proposes a conceptual framework that will facilitate the study of the influence of organisational culture types on tacit knowledge-sharing behaviour.
The crystal structure of the monomeric human SOD mutant F50E/G51E/E133Q at atomic resolution. The enzyme mechanism revisited.

The crystal structure of the engineered monomeric human Cu,ZnSOD triple mutant F50E/G51E/E133Q (Q133M2SOD) is reported at atomic resolution (1.02 A). This derivative has about 20 % of the wild-type activity. Crystals of Q133M2SOD have been obtained in the presence of CdCl2. The metal binding site is disordered, with both cadmium and copper ions simultaneously binding to the copper site. The cadmium (II) ions occupy about 45 % of the copper sites by binding the four histidine residues which ligate copper in the native enzyme, and two further water molecules to complete octahedral coordination. The copper ion is tri-coordinate, and the fourth histidine (His63) is detached from copper and bridges cadmium and zinc. X-ray absorption spectroscopy performed on the crystals suggests that the copper ion has undergone partial photoreduction upon exposure to the synchrotron light. The structure is also disordered in the disulfide bridge region of loop IV that is located at the subunit/subunit interface in the native SOD dimer. As a consequence, the catalytically relevant Arg143 residue is disordered. The present structure has been compared to other X-ray structures on various isoenzymes and to the solution structure of the same monomeric form. The structural results suggest that the low activity of monomeric SOD is due to the disorder in the conformation of the side-chain of Arg143 as well as of loop IV. It is proposed that the subunit-subunit interactions in the multimeric forms of the enzyme are needed to stabilize the correct geometry of the cavity and the optimal orientation of the charged residues in the active channel. Furthermore, the different coordination of cadmium and copper ions, contemporaneously present in the same site, are taken as models for the oxidized and reduced copper species, respectively. These properties of the structure have allowed us to revisit the enzymatic mechanism.
Case–control study of male cancer patients exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water and tobacco smoke with relation to non-exposed cancer patients

The investigated data indicated that inorganic arsenic in drinking water is associated with increased mortality from different types of cancers. In the present study, biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of male subjects having lung and bladder cancers and non-cancerous subjects belonging to arsenic (As)-exposed area of southern parts of Pakistan were analysed for As contents. The As levels in drinking water of understudy area showed that sections of understudy population are exposed to arsenic concentrations, which was 3–15-fold higher than the permissible level (<10 μg/L). For comparative purposes the biological samples of matched male cancer patient, as referent patients belonging to big city (Hyderabad) who had used municipal treated water with low arsenic levels <10 μg/L, were also collected. The exposed cancer patients have 2–3-fold higher level of As in both biological samples compared to non-exposed case-matched cancerous male subjects. This study is compelling evidence in support of positive associations between arsenic-contaminated water, food and cigarette with different types of risks of cancer.
Reduced TIGR/myocilin protein in the monkey ciliary muscle after topical prostaglandin F(2alpha) treatment.

PURPOSE Mutations in the trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response (TIGR) gene, also known as myocilin, have recently been linked to some forms of glaucoma. Recent studies have shown that TIGR protein also is expressed in the ciliary muscle. Because uveoscleral outflow, which traverses the ciliary muscle, is increased by prostaglandins (PGs), the present study assessed whether topical PGs alter the amount of TIGR protein within the ciliary muscle. METHODS Vehicle was topically applied to one eye, and 2 microg PGF(2alpha)-isopropyl ester (PGF(2alpha)-IE) was applied to the other eye of cynomolgus monkeys twice daily for 5 days. Pressure reductions of 5 mm Hg in the PGF(2alpha)-IE-treated eyes were confirmed. The eyes were then fixed and paraffin sections were cut from each eye. The distribution of TIGR protein in the ciliary muscle was determined by confocal scanning laser microscopy. Additional sections were immunostained with a polyclonal antibody to recombinant TIGR protein or with a polyclonal antibody to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the leucine zipper region within the TIGR protein. Staining intensity in the ciliary muscle was assessed by measuring optical density (OD) along two line segments overlying the ciliary muscle, by using a high-resolution imaging densitometer. RESULTS TIGR protein immunoreactivity was observed in ciliary muscle fibers throughout the ciliary muscle. Extracellular TIGR immunoreactivity colocalized with collagen type IV immunoreactivity. Intracellular staining also was present. Immunoreactivity was less intense in the sections from the PGF(2alpha)-IE-treated eyes compared with the vehicle-treated eyes. This was reflected in the reduction of mean OD scores in each monkey. Overall, the reduction of mean OD scores in the treated eyes was 42.1% +/- 9.9% (P < 0.005) with the anti-recombinant TIGR antibody and 27.3% +/- 10.4% with the anti-TIGR peptide antibody (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS TIGR protein immunoreactivity was present both intracellularly and extracellularly in the ciliary muscle of the cynomolgus monkey. This suggests that extracellular TIGR protein is in contact with aqueous humor in the uveoscleral outflow pathway. Moreover, IOP-lowering topical PGF(2alpha)-IE treatment decreases the amount of TIGR protein in the ciliary muscle.
FOR COMMUNICATION-AWARE MULTI-ROBOT NAVIGATION

In this paper, we present a hybrid system architecture that enables a team of robots to self-organize into a multi-hop ad-hoc network allowing for the completion of a given task while providing the desired end-to-end data rates between designated robots. This architecture consists of a two stage feedback loop in which an outer loop provides infrequent global coordination and an inner loop, operating locally, controls the motion and network routing of each robot. The resulting system is able to operate dynamically in complex environments with minimal global coordination as demonstrated through multiple experiments. We conclude with a realistic application of our system, namely patrolling a set of hallways.
Successful treatment with DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine in established human small cell variant lung carcinoma implants in athymic mice.

We report that p.o. administration of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, markedly inhibits the growth of established implants of cultured human small cell lung carcinoma (SCC) in athymic (nude) mice. Human SCC tumor cells, from a cell line which exhibited cell death in culture in the presence of DFMO, were inoculated s.c. into athymic mice. The tumors were permitted to grow until they became palpable (0.05 cu cm, 3- to 5-mm-diameter nodules). The animals were then randomized into control, and early (low tumor burden) and late (high tumor burden) treatment groups which received 3% DFMO in the drinking water (5.0 g/kg/day). The tumors in the untreated control group grew to a size of 29 cu cm by 9 weeks, and these animals had a median survival of 9 weeks. The late treatment group began DFMO treatment 3 weeks after clinical tumor engraftment, when mean tumor size was 1.5 cu cm (1.2- to 1.5-cm-diameter nodules). Tumor growth was inhibited by 60% (11.4 cu cm) by Week 9 and survival was prolonged, with 83% survival at 10 weeks and a 56% increase in median survival to 14 weeks (p less than 0.05). The early treatment group received the same dose of DFMO beginning 1 week after tumor engraftment, when their mean tumor size was 0.1 cu cm (4- to 6-mm-diameter nodules). The early DFMO group had a 99% inhibition in tumor growth (0.3 cu cm) (p less than 0.05). Survival was also prolonged compared to the untreated controls, with 83% survival at 10 weeks and a median survival of 15 weeks (p less than 0.05). In both the early- and late-DFMO-treatment groups, no significant clinical toxicities were observed in the first 10 weeks, during which antitumor therapeutic effects were seen. DFMO may have a potential role in the treatment of sensitive human tumors such as SCC. The data suggest that DFMO may be most useful clinically in patients with SCC who have a low tumor burden. Thus, DFMO might be an important tool to produce long-term maintenance of initial clinical remissions induced by combination chemotherapy.
Blood Parasite Infestation and the Leukocyte Profiles in Adult and Immature Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and Sedge Warblers (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) During Autumn Migration

Haemoparasites prevalence in birds can vary among species, age and sex groups and ecological conditions. To comprehend the host—parasite assemblages, it is important to investigate physiological mechanisms underlying the interactions in wild bird species. Here, using blood smears we investigated how leukocyte profiles in reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and sedge warblers (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) vary in relation to the heamoparasite presence with respect to the host's age and sex. We sampled the birds during their autumn migration in 2008 at a stopover site in northern Poland. We found a significant relationship between the leukocyte profiles and parasite infection. Parasite infection was associated with elevated relative number of heterophils with simultaneous lowered relative number of lymphocytes. These opposite pattern resulted in an elevated H/L ratio in infected birds. Total leukocytes, lymphocytes and heterophils counts were elevated in birds infected with blood parasites as compared with those of non-infected ones. Leukocyte profiles of parasitized birds were similar regardless of individual age. However, non-infected adults had lower total leukocyte counts and values of H/L than non-infected immatures.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone family of peptides regulates intestinal angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) family of peptides modulates intestinal inflammation and the CRH receptor 2 (CRHR2) suppresses postnatal angiogenesis in mice. We investigated the functions of CRHR1 and CRHR2 signaling during intestinal inflammation and angiogenesis. METHODS The activities of CRHR1 and CRHR2 were disrupted by genetic deletion in mice or with selective antagonists. A combination of in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro measures of angiogenesis were used to determine their activity. CRHR1(-/-) mice and CRHR2(-/-) mice with dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis were analyzed in comparison with wild-type littermates (controls). RESULTS Colitis was significantly reduced in mice in which CRHR1 activity was disrupted by genetic deletion or with an antagonist, determined by analyses of survival rate, weight loss, histological scores, and cytokine production. Inflammation was exacerbated in mice in which CRHR2 activity was inhibited by genetic deletion or with an antagonist, compared with controls. The inflamed intestines of CRHR1(-/-) mice had reduced microvascular density and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, whereas the intestines of CRHR2(-/-) mice had increased angiogenesis and VEGF-A levels. An antagonist of VEGFR2 activity alleviated colitis in CRHR2(-/-) mice. Ex vivo aortic vessel outgrowth was reduced when CRHR1 was deficient but increased when CRHR2 was deficient. The CRHR1 preferred agonist CRH stimulated tube formation, proliferation, and migration of cultured intestinal microvascular endothelial cells by phosphorylating Akt, whereas the specific CRHR2 agonist Urocortin III had opposite effects. CONCLUSION CRHR1 promotes intestinal inflammation, as well as endogenous and inflammatory angiogenesis whereas CRHR2 inhibits these activities.
A pivotal role for the structure of the Holliday junction in DNA branch migration.

Branch migration of a DNA Holliday junction is a key step in genetic recombination that affects the extent of transfer of genetic information between homologous DNA sequences. We previously observed that the rate of spontaneous branch migration is exceedingly sensitive to metal ions and postulated that the structure of the cross‐over point might be one critical determinant of the rate of branch migration. Other investigators have shown that in the presence of divalent metal ions like magnesium, the Holliday junction assumes a folded conformation in which base stacking is retained through the cross‐over point. This base stacking is disrupted in the absence of magnesium. Here we measure the rate of branch migration as a function of Mg2+ concentration. The rate of branch migration increases dramatically at MgCl2 concentrations below 500 microM, with the steepest acceleration occurring between 300 and 100 microM MgCl2. This increase in the rate of branch migration coincides with the loss of base stacking in the four‐way junction over this same interval of magnesium concentration, as measured by the susceptibility of junction residues to modification by osmium tetroxide and diethyl pyrocarbonate. We conclude that at physiological concentrations of intracellular Mg2+, base stacking in the Holliday junction constitutes one kinetic barrier to branch migration and that disruption of base stacking at the cross‐over relieves this constraint.
Estimating cross-price elasticity of e-cigarettes using a simulated demand procedure.

INTRODUCTION Our goal was to measure the cross-price elasticity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and simulated demand for tobacco cigarettes both in the presence and absence of e-cigarette availability. METHOD A sample of New Zealand smokers (N = 210) completed a Cigarette Purchase Task to indicate their demand for tobacco at a range of prices. They sampled an e-cigarette and rated it and their own-brand tobacco for favorability, and indicated how many e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes they would purchase at 0.5×, 1×, and 2× the current market price for regular cigarettes, assuming that the price of e-cigarettes remained constant. RESULTS Cross-price elasticity for e-cigarettes was estimated as 0.16, and was significantly positive, indicating that e-cigarettes were partially substitutable for regular cigarettes. Simulated demand for regular cigarettes at current market prices decreased by 42.8% when e-cigarettes were available, and e-cigarettes were rated 81% as favorably as own-brand tobacco. However when cigarettes cost 2× the current market price, significantly more smokers said they would quit (50.2%) if e-cigarettes were not available than if they were available (30.0%). CONCLUSION Results show that e-cigarettes are potentially substitutable for regular cigarettes and their availability will reduce tobacco consumption. However, e-cigarettes may discourage smokers from quitting entirely as cigarette price increases, so policy makers should consider maintaining a constant relative price differential between e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes.
A 0.5° Error 10 mW CMOS Image Sensor-Based Gaze Estimation Processor

A CMOS image sensor (CIS)-based gaze estimation processor (GEP) is proposed for the next-generation user interface (UI) of the smart glasses. It integrates a functional CIS, a RISC, and an ellipse fitting engine (EFE) on a single chip to reduce the power consumption. The functional CIS includes mixed-signal preprocessing circuits, pupil edge detection circuit (PEDC), and glint corner detection circuit (GCDC). Logarithmic processing element (LPE) is adopted in EFE to reduce the power consumption further. As a result, PEDC/GCDC and LPE can reduce the overall power consumption by 55.2% and 14.1%, respectively. Implemented in 65 nm CMOS technology, the 11.29 mm2 chip consumes 10 mW power at 30 fps real-time operation, and 0.5° error is achieved in experiments.
Relationship Between Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) Size and Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) Result

Identification and treatment of children with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) is the single greatest method of preventing future TB disease cases in lowincidence settings. Up to three quarters of TB cases in children represent missed opportunities for prevention, primarily in foreign-born children or US-born children of immigrant parents. Being a foreign-born child is a risk factor for both LTBI and TB disease, as reflected in US national guidelines for targeted tuberculin skin testing (TSTs) and in TB disease data. However, given the widespread use of the bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine internationally, TSTs may be falsely positive in this population. Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs), which target almost exclusively Mycobacterium tuberculosis– specific proteins that are not found in BCG or the most common nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) species, provide enhanced specificity over the TST. IGRAs are now the preferred test for immunocompetent children ≥5 years of age who have received the BCG vaccine. Given the recent introduction of IGRAs, questions persist as to the optimal way to integrate IGRA testing into existing pediatric TB screening. The goal of this investigation was to describe associations between IGRAs and TSTs among children referred by pediatricians and clinics who were not part of health department contact investigations.
Contribution à l'étude et à la modélisation numérique des sols cloués : application au calcul en déformation des ouvrages de soutènement

L'interaction entre un renforcement lineaire (clou) et un sol granulaire (sable) est etudiee a plusieurs echelles en vue de realiser des calculs en deformation de murs en sol cloue. L'interaction entre un clou et un sol a l'echelle des grains est etudiee a l'aide d'un milieu continu generalise avec microstructure rigide (milieu de Cosserat). Trois lois de comportement du sol : elastique anisotrope, rigide parfaitement plastique et elastoplastique avec ecrouissage, ainsi que deux jeux de conditions aux limites microscopiques : statiques et cinematiques, sont consideres pour modeliser la formation des couches d'interfaces. Le lien entre les phenomenes de localisation surfacique (couche d'interface) et volumique (bande de cisaillement) est etabli. L'interaction entre un lit de clous et la tranche de sol afferente du mur en sol cloue est etudiee dans le cas d'un chargement thermique (gel). Un modele couplant les effets thermiques (penetration du gel), hydrauliques (gonflements du sol gele) et mecaniques (interaction sol-clou) est developpe et valide a partir des mesures realisees sur les soutenements en vraie grandeur de La Clusaz durant l'hiver 1980/1981. Des dispositions constructives innovantes sont proposees pour limiter les effets du gel. L'interaction entre les clous et le sol a l'echelle d'un ouvrage de soutenement est analysee afin de developper une correspondance entre le mur 3D et le modele numerique calcule en deformations planes (calcul 2D). Les methodes de determination des parametres mecaniques des materiaux a partir des essais in situ et en laboratoire sont analysees et comparees. Le calcul en deformation de la construction du mur experimental en vraie grandeur CLOUTERRE-CEBTP no. 1 est realise a l'aide de deux logiciels (CESAR et FLAC) pour valider l'approche proposee.