Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relation between male obesity and male infertility in a Tunisian population

Obesity is associated with significant disturbance in the hormonal milieu that can affect the reproductive system. Male infertility affects approximately 6% of reproductive‐aged men. It has been suggested that overweight men or men with obese body mass index (BMI) experience prolonged time to pregnancy, although the influence of male BMI on fertility remains understudied. We hypothesised that BMI is inversely correlated with fertility, manifested by reduced sperm concentration and varicocele. Males of mean age 32.74 ± 6.96 years with semen analyses and self‐reported BMI were included (n = 98). Patient parameters analysed included age, BMI, pubertal timing, the development of varicocele, and leutinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone and testosterone (n = 18). The mean age of the study population was 32.74 ± 6.96 years. The incidence of azospermia, oligozoospermia, normospermia and the development of varicocele did not vary across BMI categories. Male obesity is not associated with the incidence of sperm concentration and the development of varicocele.
Learning Language Under Tension: New Directions from a Qualitative Study

This article examines the role of tension in the process of instructed second/foreign language acquisition, on the basis of findings from a comprehensive ethnography of the 7-week intensive beginners’ class in the summer French School of Middlebury College. This project both completes and challenges the current research paradigm on “language anxiety,” as it shifts the focus on the negative (anxiety) to a study of tension, defined as an unstable phenomenon that may be generated by any situation or event and may be perceived differently by each individual experiencing it. Our findings confirm that, regardless of its cause and manifestations, tension may engender euphoric or dysphoric effects (perceived as beneficial or detrimental), but also non-euphoric or non-dysphoric effects whose salience had previously not been established. These valuations appear linked not to the allegedly objective quality of instruction, materials and learning environment, but to personal expectations and a priori beliefs about language learning. In addition, we found it necessary to separate operationally the effects of tension in the cognitive and the affective domains, and assess these effects qualitatively, rather than quantitatively, because students reacted most productively not to the degree of difficulty and expectation in the course, or to the reduction of affective dysphoria (or “anxiety”) by a nonthreatening teaching style, but to the quality of materials and activities. Their overall perception of the learning experience was ultimately bound to the opportunity to reinvent themselves successfully in the target language. Achievement of linguistic or communicative proficiency mattered less than the satisfactory development of an emerging L2 self, which had to be fostered by a curriculum and instructional method providing the best possible balance of both cognitive and affective euphoric tension. In retrospect, dysphoria under its various guises was not found to play a particularly strong role, because it was dismissed and forgotten in a remarkable “amnesty effect” triggered by the students’ realization of their eventual achievements in the program.
Estimation of Sex From Index and Ring Finger Lengths in An Indigenous Population of Eastern India.

INTRODUCTION Forensic anthropology involves the identification of human remains for medico-legal purposes. Estimation of sex is an essential element of medico-legal investigations when identification of unknown dismembered remains is involved. AIM The present study was conducted with an aim to estimate sex from index and ring finger lengths of adult individuals belonging to an indigenous population of eastern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 500 unrelated adult individuals (18-60 years) from the Rajbanshi population (males: 250, females: 250) took part in the study. A total of 400 (males: 200, 200 female) participants were randomly used to develop sex estimation models using Binary Logistic Regression Analysis (BLR). A separate group of 200 adults (18-60 years) from the Karbi tribal population (males 100, females 100) were included to validate the results obtained on the Rajbanshi population. The univarate and bivariate models derived on the study group (n=400) were tested on hold-out sample of Rajbanshi participants (n=100) and the other test population of the Karbi (n=200) participants. RESULTS The results indicate that Index Finger Length (IFL) and Ring Finger Length (RFL) of both hands were significantly longer in males as compared to females. The ring finger was longer than the index finger in both sexes. The study successfully highlights the existence of sex differences in IFL and RFL (p<0.05). No sex differences were however, observed for the index and ring finger ratio. The predictive accuracy of IFL and RFL in sex estimation ranged between 70%-75% (in the hold out sample from the Rajbanshi population) and 60-66% (in the test sample from the Karbi population). A Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis was performed to test the predictive accuracy after predicting the probability of IFL and RFL in sex estimation. The predicted probabilities using ROC analysis were observed to be higher on the left side and in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The study concludes that sex estimation from index and ring finger lengths could be of utility when more reliable means of sex estimation are not available during medico-legal investigations.
Digital Filters for Gain Stabilization of Flexible Vehicle Dynamics

The necessity of having low-cost aerospace vehicles with short development times means that control designers need to work with simplified and approximate dynamic models. Aerospace vehicles typically being light and slender, exhibit body bending and flexibility effects at relatively lower frequencies. It may not be possible or practical in every case to carry out detailed test and analyses exercises to determine the structural dynamic characteristics of a vehicle. So, body bending shapes and slopes may not be precisely known; the mode frequencies can however be roughly estimated through simplified analysis. Here it will be assumed that the flexible mode frequencies are approximately known, and are sufficiently high so that gain stabilization is possible. This paper discusses different digital filters for gain stabilization of flexible vehicles, and elaborates their advantages and drawbacks. Various filters are compared; Butterworth, Bessel, Chebychev, Elliptical and simple quadratic filters of various orders are discussed. The filter selection is based on having desirable magnitude attenuation characteristics while at the same time leading to minimum phase lag near the closed-loop bandwidth. The filter design and selection process is illustrated by an example of a sounding rocket stabilization problem. Two flights of the vehicle have been conducted, the first with no consideration of the body-bending dynamics and hence no filters. Serious problems were observed, hence Elliptic filters were used to provide gain stabilization in the second flight. Flight test results are presented and discussed.
Harnessing the Power of Advocacy–Research Collaborations

The advocacy–research partnership has been identified as a key method of conducting the feminist and activist research that is important to domestic violence. However, these partnerships are often fraught with challenges that may jeopardize their development, sustainability, and potential impact on policy. Previous commentators have identified key challenges to engaging in advocate–researcher collaborations. This article takes particular care to set forth an advocate perspective through the authors' experience of planning and executing a collaborative study on the effects of mandatory arrest. The authors use a study that was specifically designed to affect policy to offer insight into the challenges faced and to make recommendations for successfully incorporating social action in advocacy–researcher collaborations.
The changes of BPA level in 31 cases of children with aplastic anaemia and its clinical significance

Abstract. Burst‐promoting activity (BPA) was measured in the sera from 31 children with aplastic anaemia (AA). BPA levels were elevated in most of the children with A A (65‐2%), the mean value (137.7 ± 18.4%) being significantly higher than that in normal children (69.6 ± 9.4%), in children in the recovery period and in children with non‐aplastic anaemia. There was a negative relationship between the BPA level in children with AA and the peripheral haemoglobin concentration. The BPA level was higher in those whose duration of illness was shorter than 1 year. In three cases of AA caused by chloramphenicol and benzene hexachloride and one case of congenital pure red cell AA, the BPA level was not elevated. Eleven patients received fetal liver cell suspensions intravenously (FLI). After FLI the BPA level in their sera was significantly reduced. According to these results, it appears that the elevation of BPA level is a special phenomenon of A A. The measurement of BPA in serum is helpful for differentiation between AA and other kinds of anaemia. The elevation of the BPA level in serum is a biological compensation for the haematopoietic disorder, and the measurement of BPA in the serum of patients with A A may be helpful in evaluating the haematopoietic condition.
Effets des acides gras Oméga-3 sur la Cardioprotection: Etude des acides gras oméga-3 chez le rat et chez des patients porteurs d'un défibrillateur automatique implantable

Bien que le regime mediterraneen (MED) soit considere comme le meilleur regime alimentaire pour prevenir les maladies cardiaques, on ignore toujours si l'adoption de MED resulte en une amelioration de la resistance du myocarde a l'ischemie et la reperfusion et en une prevention des arythmies ventriculaires. En consequence, nous avons mene deux etudes : (1) verifier si un profile lipidique de type MED; faible en gras satures et en acides gras omega-6 (ω6) et riche en acides gras omega-3 (ω3) d'origines vegetale et marine; peut reduire la taille d'infarctus et une meilleure recuperation de la fonction ventriculaire gauche (FVG) dans un modele de rat. Les rats MED ont ete compares avec des rats recevant des regimes riches en acides gras satures ou en acides gras ω6. Les resultats montrent une grande accumulation des ω3 et une diminution de l'acide arachidonique dans le plasma, les membranes des cellules cardiaques et dans les mitochondries. Pareillement, les rats MED avaient une taille infarctus plus reduite par rapport aux deux autres groupes, tandis que FVG recuperation n'etait pas differente dans les trois groupes. La deuxieme etude epidemiologique a ete menee au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble pour determiner une eventuelle correlation entre les omega-3 et la survenue de complications rythmiques. Deux cent trente huit patients porteurs de defibrillateurs automatiques implantables (DEF) ont ete inclus. La composition en acides gras des globules rouges a ete analyse et l'index omega-3 a ete calculee a partir de l'acide eicosapentaenoique et acide docosahexaenoique. Aucune difference significative entre les acides gras omega-3 (ALA, EPA et DHA) ou l'index omega-3 et la survenue d'evenements n'a ete observee entre quartiles. Neanmoins, l'index omega-3 chez ces patients etait deja a des niveaux qui ont ete demontres avoir un pouvoir cardioprotecteur (8.6±1.59 a 8,8±1.76).
T-cell receptor alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chain gene microsatellites show no association with multiple sclerosis

Genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis (MS) is determined, in part, by certain HLA genotypes, but the contribution of T-cell receptor (TCR) germline polymorphisms to MS susceptibility is less clear. Reports of disease associations with restriction fragment length polymorphisms of TCR alpha and beta chain genes have been difficult to confirm, and little data is available on the influence of the TCR gamma delta germline in MS. We investigated the TCR alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chain genes of Northern Irish patients with MS using four microsatellite markers of high heterozygosity. There were similar allele frequencies in patients and controls for all microsatellites studied. We conclude there is no convincing evidence for an association of MS with TCR alpha, beta, gamma, and delta chain gene polymorphisms. NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 1049-1053
Molluscicidal activity of some Cameroonian plants on Bulinus species.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate some locally available plants for their molluscicidal activity on Bulinus camerunensis and B. truncatus (slender form). DESIGN Experimental studies. SETTING Ndongo stream near the University of Buea and the University of Buea Life Sciences Laboratory. SUBJECTS Evaluation of molluscicidal activity on snails of Bulinus camerunensis and B. truncatus (slender form). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Plant extracts with molluscicidal activity determined. Determination of LC50, LC90 and LC100 of the potent plant extracts. Application of the extracts on aquaria-reared snails. Semi-field application of extracts. RESULTS A preliminary screening test using 10,000 ppm solution of the water extracts of thirteen plants revealed that 61.5% (8/13) of the plants investigated had molluscicidal properties, with snail mortality rates above 90%. Extracts of Nicotiana tabacum, Aframomum citratum, A. melegueta, Curcuma domestica and Solanum scabrum killed 100% of the snails after twenty four hours exposure. B. camerunensis was more susceptible to the water extracts than B. truncatus. The LC50, LC90 and LC100 of the different plant extracts against B. camerunensis were generally lower than those against B. truncatus. The concentrations that produced 50%, 90% and 100% snail mortalities were lower with the methanol extracts than with water extracts, indicating that the methanol extracts were more toxic. to the snails than the water extracts. Generally, the eggs were more susceptible to the extracts than the young and adult snails. Application of the water extracts at LC 100 on snails reared in aquaria and under semi-field conditions revealed that N. tabacum could kill up to 100% of the snails in aquaria and 61.25% under semi-field conditions. CONCLUSION Eight plant species with molluscicidal activity were identified, among which Nicotiana tabacum, Aframomum citratum, A. melegueta, Solanum scabrum and Curcuma domestica presented the highest activity. B. camerunensis was more susceptible to all the plant extracts tested than B. truncatus, and the methanol extracts proved more toxic than the water extracts. Semi-field testing of potent extracts showed promise, with N. tabacum having the highest effects on the snails.
Taxonomy of Challenges for Digital Forensics

Since its inception, over a decade ago, the field of digital forensics has faced numerous challenges. Despite different researchers and digital forensic practitioners having studied and analysed various known digital forensic challenges, as of 2013, there still exists a need for a formal classification of these challenges. This article therefore reviews existing research literature and highlights the various challenges that digital forensics has faced for the last 10 years. In conducting this research study, however, it was difficult for the authors to review all the existing research literature in the digital forensic domain; hence, sampling and randomization techniques were employed to facilitate the review of the gathered literature. Taxonomy of the various challenges is subsequently proposed in this paper based on our review of the literature. The taxonomy classifies the large number of digital forensic challenges into four well‐defined and easily understood categories. The proposed taxonomy can be useful, for example, in future developments of automated digital forensic tools by explicitly describing processes and procedures that focus on addressing specific challenges identified in this paper. However, it should also be noted that the purpose of this paper was not to propose any solutions to the individual challenges that digital forensics face, but to serve as a survey of the state of the art of the research area.
Visual navigation using view-sequenced route representation

Previous work in vision-based mobile robotics have lacked models of the route which can be utilized for (1) localization, (2) steering angle determination, and (3) obstacle detection, simultaneously. In this paper, the authors propose a new visual representation of the route, the "view-sequenced route representation (VSRR). " The VSRR is a non-metrical model of the route, which contains a sequence of front view images along a route memorized in the recording run. In the autonomous run, the three types of recognition described above are achieved in real-time by matching between the current view image and the memorized view sequence using a correlation technique. the authors also developed an easy procedure for acquiring VSRRs, and a quick control procedure using VSRRs. VSRRs are especially useful for representing routes in corridors. Results of autonomous navigation using a two-wheeled robot in a real corridor are also presented.
A new shape descriptor based on an angular-linear probability distribution

Motivated by the increased consideration of probability distributions as local descriptors of shape, we propose a local descriptor based on a bivariate circular distribution. Although some bivariate circular distributions are difficult to compute, our descriptor is computationally feasible because it is a generalization of the mixture of von Mises distributions. Using various shapes formed by line drawings, we show that our descriptor is more effective in shape retrieval than several conventional local descriptors.
Sensitive and rapid detection of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 gene by loop-mediated isothermal amplification 2 3

Sensitive and rapid detection of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 gene by loop-mediated isothermal amplification 2 3 Wei Liu, Dayang Zou, Yan Li, Xuesong Wang, Xiang He, Xiao Wei, Changlin Shao, 4 Xuelian Li, Wei Shang, Kaitao Yu, Dawei Liu, Yunmei Li, Jing Guo, Zhitao Yin, Jing 5 Yuan 6 Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 7 China 8 Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Academy of Military Medical Science, 9 Beijing, 100071, China 10 11 : These authors contributed equally to this work. 12 Correspondence: Prof. Jing Yuan, Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Academy of 13 Military Medical Sciences. 14 Tel: +86-10-66948301; Fax: +86-10-66948301 15 E-mail: yuanjing6216@163.com 16 17 Running title: A rapid NDM-1 detection assay 18 19 Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.06647-11 JCM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 22 February 2012
An Exploratory Study of Student Perception of Instructor Traits in Effective Learning

Effective learning is an outcome of effective teaching. Effective teaching, in turn, requires effective instructors. This study addresses relevant issues related to effective learning by comparing student perceptions of instructor characteristics in a b-school. It is based on the conceptual premise that effective college learning depends more on personality characteristics which students perceive to be relevant in the teaching/learning environment. Even though an instructor may be an expert in his field and very rich academically, it is the manner in which he transfers information and knowledge to the students that matters the most. The results of the factor analysis applied in the study indicate that the six most vital factors for learning effectiveness are: style of managing class, evaluation of student performance, facilitation, teaching style, communication skills and attitude.
Protective effect of melatonin against human leukocyte apoptosis induced by intracellular calcium overload: relation with its antioxidant actions

Abstract: Apoptosis or programmed cell death plays a critical role in both inflammatory and immune responses. Recent evidence demonstrates that control of leukocyte apoptosis is one of the most striking immune system‐related roles of melatonin. For this reason, this study evaluated the protective effects of melatonin on human leukocyte apoptosis induced by sustained cytosolic calcium increases. Such protective effects are likely mediated by melatonin’s free‐radical scavenging actions. Treatments with the specific inhibitor of cytosolic calcium re‐uptake, thapsigargin (TG), and/or the calcium‐mobilizing agonist, N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (FMLP), induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, caspase activation as well as DNA fragmentation in human leukocytes. Also, TG‐ and/or FMLP‐induced apoptosis was dependent on both cytosolic calcium increases and calcium uptake into mitochondria, because when cells were preincubated with the cytosolic calcium chelator, dimethyl BAPTA, and the inhibitor of mitochondrial calcium uptake, Ru360, TG‐ and FMLP‐induced apoptosis was largely inhibited. Importantly, melatonin treatment substantially prevented intracellular ROS production, reversed caspase activation, and forestalled DNA fragmentation induced by TG and FMLP. Similar results were obtained by preincubating the cells with another well‐known antioxidant, i.e., N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine. To sum up, depletion of intracellular calcium stores induced by TG and/or FMLP triggers different apoptotic events in human leukocytes that are dependent on calcium signaling. The protective effects resulting from melatonin administration on leukocyte apoptosis likely depend on melatonin’s antioxidant action because we proved that this protection is melatonin receptor independent. These findings help to understand how melatonin controls apoptosis in cells of immune/inflammatory relevance.
Salivary sCD14 as a potential biomarker of dental caries activity in adults

Abstract CD14 is a co-receptor involved in the recognition of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, the latter known to cause dental caries. The aim of this study was to determine whether soluble CD14 (sCD14) in saliva was associated with caries activity and the collection method from the saliva. The study included 55 participants aged 20 to 40 years, 30 with dental caries and 25 caries-free controls. We collected 110 saliva samples in total, 55 of resting saliva and 55 of mechanically stimulated saliva. Median levels of sCD14, measured with a matrix-matched enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were higher in the caries-active than in the caries-free group in either resting (203.3 vs.167.9 ng mL-1; P<0.01) or stimulated saliva (201 vs.105.7 ng mL-1; P<0.01). The resting salivary flow rate was lower in the caries-active than caries-free group (0.61±0.42 vs. 0.98±0.52 mL min-1; P<0.01). Hyposalivation was observed only in the caries-active group (10 and 13 % in stimulated and resting saliva, respectively). Higher salivary sCD14 levels and secretion rates were clearly associated with dental caries and resting saliva. Future studies should focus on the clinical utility of salivary sCD14 as a potential biomarker and predictor of future caries events.