Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling the dynamics of contextual motion integration in the primate

Dans cette these, nous etudions l’integration du mouvement chez le primate. En se basant sur les connaissances actuelles concernant l’anatomie et les fonctions de deux aires corticales impliquees dans le mouvement, VI et MT, nous expliquons un certains nombre de reponses perceptuelles et oculo-motrices rapportees dans la litterature. Tout d’abord, nous construisons un modele recurrent d’integration du mouvement se basant sur un nombre minimal d’hypotheses concernant les interactions corticales. En proposant un simple mecanisme de « lecture », nous sommes capables de reproduire non seulement la perception, mais aussi les dynamiques oculaires de poursuite sur des stimuli de type ligne ou grille. De la, en se basant sur des etudes physiologiques concernant les champs recepteurs, nous construisons un deuxieme modele dynamique dans lequel l’information concernant le mouvement est dirigee par un signal de forme. Pour cela, nous postulons que le cortex visuel utilise la regularite de la luminance pour diriger la diffusion du mouvement. Un tel mecanisme elementaire de diffusion permet de resoudre des problemes contextuels, dans lesquels les jonctions extrinseques doivent etre ignorees, sans avoir besoin d’utiliser des mecanismes plus complexes tels que les detecteurs de jonctions ou le calcul de profondeur. Enfin, nous reformulons le modele initial dans le cadre du formalisme des champs neuronaux afin d’analyser mathematiquement ses proprietes. Nous incorporons la retroaction multiplicative dans le formalisme et prouvons l’existence et l’unicite de la solution. Afin de generaliser les comparaisons aux performances du systeme visuel, nous proposons une nouvelle methodologie d’evaluation basee sur les performances du systeme visuel humain, accompagnee d’une serie de videos issues de la litterature biologique et psychophysique. En effet, une methodologie d’evaluation adaptee nous semble essentielle afin de continuer les progres en modelisation des mecanismes neuraux impliques dans le traitement du mouvement. Pour conclure, nous analysons les performances de notre modele d’integration du mouvement en l’appliquant a des problemes classiques et recents issus de la vision par ordinateur. En depit de son objectif initial, notre modele est capable de donner des resultats comparables aux recentes approches proposees en vision par ordinateur au niveau de l’estimation de mouvement.
Global path planning for omnidirectional vehicles based on Bezier curve and dynamic constraints

This paper presents a global path planning method for omnidirectional vehicles. The method plans a smooth and optimal path in polygonal obstacle environment, determining the velocity and trajectory by dynamic constrains of omnidirectional vehicles. The results of simulation have demonstrated the improvement of trajectory generation in terms of motion time and path length compared to potential field method and A* algorithm.
Protection Against Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Two Hours After a Single Oral Dose of Montelukast

The objective of this double-blind cross-over study was to evaluate montelukast for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Sixty-two patients with EIB (post-exercise decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥ 20% at pre-randomization) were randomized to montelukast 10 mg or placebo, followed by exercise-challenge 2, 12, and 24 hours postdose. The primary endpoint was the maximum percent-fall in FEV1 (from pre-exercise FEV1) during 60 minutes after exercise-challenge at 2 hours postdose. This endpoint was improved after montelukast (mean ± SD = 11.7% ± 10.8) versus placebo (17.5% ± 13.8) (p ≤ 0.001); numerically greater improvements were seen at 12 hours and 24 hours. A quicker time to recovery after challenge (p ≤ 0.001) and a smaller area under the curve for percent-fall in FEV1 during 60 minutes after challenge (p ≤ 0.01) were seen with montelukast at 2 hours. At this timepoint, more patients taking montelukast (45/54) than taking placebo (37/54) were protected against EIB (p = 0.039). We concluded that montelukast provided significant protection against EIB at 2 hours after a single dose.
Validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 in Assessing Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury

ObjectiveTo test the validity and reliability of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD) among persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). DesignProspective cohort study. SettingLevel I trauma center. Participants135 adults within 1 year of complicated mild, moderate, or severe TBI. Main Outcome MeasuresPHQ-9 Depression Scale, Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (SCID). ResultsUsing a screening criterion of at least 5 PHQ-9 symptoms present at least several days over the last 2 weeks (with one being depressed mood or anhedonia) maximizes sensitivity (0.93) and specificity (0.89) while providing a positive predictive value of 0.63 and a negative predictive value of 0.99 when compared to SCID diagnosis of MDD. Pearson's correlation between the PHQ-9 scores and other depression measures was 0.90 with the Hopkins Symptom Checklist depression subscale and 0.78 with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Test-retest reliability of the PHQ-9 was r = 0.76 and κ = 0.46 when using the optimal screening method. ConclusionsThe PHQ-9 is a valid and reliable screening tool for detecting MDD in persons with TBI.
Advantage of using CBA/N strain mice in a non‐radioisotopic modification of the local lymph node assay

The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is currently recognized as a stand‐alone test method for determining the skin sensitizing potential of chemicals. It has been incorporated into the official test guidelines published by some authorities, including the OECD. To avoid the use of radioisotopes, efforts have been made recently to develop non‐radioisotopic modifications of the LLNA. A non‐radioisotopic modification of the LLNA was developed previously using 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation (non‐RI LLNA). However, the non‐RI LLNA was found to be somewhat less sensitive than the standard assay. This study reports the advantage of using mice of the CBA/N strain in the non‐RI LLNA to improve the sensitivity of this method. The non‐RI LLNA was performed using CBA/JN and CBA/N mice exposed to one of four confirmed skin sensitizers, 2,4‐dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), eugenol (EG), isoeugenol (IEG) or α‐hexylcinnamic aldehyde (HCA), and to one non‐sensitizer, propylene glycol (PG). The EC3 values for DNCB, IEG, EG, HCA and PG were calculated to be 0.1%, 9.6%, 40.6%, 45.5% and >50% in CBA/JN mice and 0.08%, 1.9%, 10.7%, 20.3% and >50% in CBA/N mice, respectively. The EC3 values for DNCB, IEG, EG, HCA and PG in the standard LLNA using CBA/Ca mice and radioisotopes were reported elsewhere as being 0.08%, 1.3%, 13.0%, 8.0% and >50%, respectively. The EC3 values derived from the CBA/N mice in the non‐RI LLNA were nearly equivalent to the EC3 values obtained using the standard radioisotopic LLNA with CBA/Ca mice. These data suggest that the use of CBA/N mice may provide a realistic opportunity to develop a version of the LLNA that does not have a requirement for the use of radioisotopes, but which nevertheless has sensitivity approaching, or comparable to, the standard method. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Manual de Biología Molecular: Procedimientos básicos

En la actualidad la biologia molecular se considera como una ciencia fundamental, dinamica, interdisciplinaria e internacional, con un gran impacto sobre la sociedad y en continuo crecimiento. Es una de las ciencias mas utilizadas en el campo de la investigacion y uno de los pilares activos mas promisorios para el desarrollo del conocimiento. Debido a su relevancia, es necesario que profesionales con perfiles relacionados a las ciencias biologicas, biomedicas, agropecuarias y afines, conozcan y manejen los conceptos basicos de algunas de sus herramientas encaminadas a la innovacion de nuevas formas de diagnostico, prevencion, tratamiento, biorremediacion y desarrollo tecnologico aplicado al mejoramiento de la calidad de vida y el desarrollo sostenible de los ecosistemas. En este contexto, el manual pretende brindarles a los estudiantes los fundamentos para comprender y entender desde una dinamica practica, los procesos vitales de los seres vivos en funcion de las caracteristicas de su estructura molecular. Adicionalmente, otro aspecto sobresaliente a ser considerado con la aplicacion de este manual en las practicas academicas, es el desarrollo de competencias cientificas, enfocadas a la adquisicion de habilidades cognitivas basicas (observacion, descripcion, comparacion, toma de datos, revision bibliografica, etc.), habilidades procedimentales (capacidad para seguir un procedimiento, toma de muestras, recoleccion de datos, apropiacion tecnologica para el desarrollo de problemas), habilidades metacognitivas, y habilidades investigativas, todas ellas de suma importancia en la formacion cientifica de nuestros profesionales. Este modulo esta dirigido a todos los estudiantes que en sus programas de pregrado contemplan un componente biologico, que desean adquirir y poner en practica algunas de las tecnicas mas sencillas y de amplio uso en la biologia molecular, protocolos que han sido acoplados y ajustados y que pueden ser implementados en los laboratorios de docencia universitaria. Con la finalidad de lograr una lectura dinamica, el documento ha sido organizado en varios items: Introduccion basica, objetivos, materiales, procedimiento a r|ealizarse, cuestionario y referencias bibliograficas. Complementariamente, la parte final de cada practica contempla la preparacion de las soluciones correspondientes. Esperamos con esta primera parte enfocada a ADN, apasionarlos por una de las ciencias mas fascinantes y multidisciplinarias, desde la cual se pueden resolver infinidad de problemas y alcanzar desafios cientificos y tecnologicos.
Changes in the biomechanical response of the optic nerve head in early experimental glaucoma.

PURPOSE To investigate the biomechanical response of the optic nerve head (ONH) connective tissues to IOP elevation in three pairs of monkey eyes in which one eye had early experimental glaucoma (EG). METHODS A serial imaging technique was used to reconstruct the ONH and peripapillary sclera of three pairs of unilateral EG eyes fixed at 10 mm Hg. Eye-specific finite element models of the posterior pole were constructed with inhomogeneous material properties defined for the lamina cribrosa (LC) based on local connective tissue volume fraction (CTVF) and predominant LC beam orientation. These models were used to simulate an IOP increase from 10 to 45 mm Hg. A laminar material constant was varied to produce a range of LC displacements and scleral canal expansions, and the associated LC stress and strain were characterized. RESULTS The models suggest that the LC of normal and EG eyes can deform posteriorly or anteriorly when the LC material stiffness is low or high, respectively. Scleral canal expansion was generally, but not always, reduced in EG eyes. Strains in the EG eye were similar to or lower than those in the contralateral eye for the same average LC displacement and increased when the LC was more plaint. Laminar stresses were consistently lower in the EG eye, regardless of LC stiffness. CONCLUSIONS Connective tissue remodeling in EG alters the biomechanical response of the LC to IOP elevation in an eye-specific manner. The models indicated that the LC tissues in EG eyes were more plaint than those in the contralateral normal eyes in two of three monkeys.
Effects of temephos and temperature on Wolbachia load and life history traits of Aedes albopictus

Abstract Maternally inherited Wolbachia (gram‐negative bacteria) often affect the reproductive fitness of their arthropod hosts and may cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Comparing Wolbachia‐infected and uninfected strains of the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), we assessed the effects on fitness of two stressors: temperature elevation (25°C vs. 37°C) and exposure to temephos insecticide (concentration range 0.0017−0.0167 mg/L) during larval development. Fitness was measured in terms of life history traits: percentage survival, development time and wing size. Insecticide treatment was associated with reduction in survival rates and wing size in both sexes, but did not affect development time or Wolbachia load. Temperature elevation by 12°C significantly reduced all four bionomic parameters observed in both sexes. Wolbachia density within individual adult mosquitoes was determined by using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the wsp gene. Both male and female adults had significantly lower densities of Wolbachia after larval rearing at the higher temperature.
Modulation of growth and immunity by dietary supplementation with resveratrol in young chickens receiving conventional vaccinations.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of resveratrol (RES) on growth and immune status in chickens receiving conventional vaccinations. ANIMALS Two hundred forty 1-day-old layer chickens. PROCEDURES Chickens received conventional vaccinations throughout the study and were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in 6 replicate pens/treatment. Treatments included 1 control group (basal diet) and 3 experimental groups fed the basal diet plus 200, 400, and 800 mg of RES/kg of diet. At 40 days of age, 1 bird/pen was randomly selected to have blood and tissues collected to determine serum immunity indices; mRNA relative expression of proinflammatory cytokines in splenocytes; mRNA relative expression of nuclear transcription factor-κB, growth hormone receptor, and insulin-like growth factor-1 in hepatocytes; cell proliferation; and apoptosis. RESULTS Average daily gain, antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus and avian influenza viruses H5 and H9, and insulin-like growth factor-1 expression were quadratically increased with increasing RES concentration. In hepatocytes, growth hormone receptor gene mRNA relative expression was quadratically increased and nuclear transcription factor-κB gene mRNA relative expression was linearly decreased with increasing RES concentration. In splenocytes, nterleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA relative expression was linearly decreased with increasing RES concentration. Resveratrol supplementation delayed cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis in immunocytes. With increasing RES concentration, proliferation index and relative weight of the thymus, ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cells, and CD4+ cell count were quadratically increased, and IgM concentration was linearly increased. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Dietary resveratrol supplementation improved growth, protected immunocytes against antigen-induced apoptosis, and upregulated immune response in chickens that received conventional vaccinations.
Tasa de interés de largo plazo, interés técnico y pasivo pensional

Este articulo se pregunta si es oportuno modificar la tasa de interes tecnica utilizada para descontar el pasivo pensional del nivel actual de 4% anual, dada, por un lado, la trayectoria reciente que ha tenido la tasa de interes real y, por otro, las circunstancias diferentes que vive la economia en relacion con 1994 cuando fue fijada en dicho nivel. Se hacen diferentes pronosticos y simulaciones utilizando distintos enfoques estadisticos y financieros. Asi mismo, se toma en cuenta la restriccion macroeconomica que impone el crecimiento de muy largo plazo de la economia. Los resultados sugieren que no se deberia mover la tasa de descuento del pasivo pensional y que esta deberia continuar en el 4% anual.
Extracellular Matrix Protein-Coated Scaffolds Promote the Reversal of Diabetes After Extrahepatic Islet Transplantation

Background. The survival and function of transplanted pancreatic islets is limited, owing in part to disruption of islet-matrix attachments during the isolation procedure. Using polymer scaffolds as a platform for islet transplantation, we investigated the hypothesis that replacement of key extracellular matrix components known to surround islets in vivo would improve graft function at an extrahepatic implantation site. Methods. Microporous polymer scaffolds fabricated from copolymers of lactide and glycolide were adsorbed with collagen IV, fibronectin, laminin-332 or serum proteins before seeding with 125 mouse islets. Islet-seeded scaffolds were then implanted onto the epididymal fat pad of syngeneic mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Nonfasting glucose levels, weight gain, response to glucose challenges, and histology were used to assess graft function for 10 months after transplantation. Results. Mice transplanted with islets seeded onto scaffolds adsorbed with collagen IV achieved euglycemia fastest and their response to glucose challenge was similar to normal mice. Fibronectin and laminin similarly promoted euglycemia, yet required more time than collagen IV and less time than serum. Histopathological assessment of retrieved grafts demonstrated that coating scaffolds with specific extracellular matrix proteins increased total islet area in the sections and vessel density within the transplanted islets, relative to controls. Conclusions. Extracellular matrix proteins adsorbed to microporous scaffolds can enhance the function of transplanted islets, with collagen IV maximizing graft function relative to the other proteins tested. These scaffolds enable the creation of well-defined microenvironments that promote graft efficacy at extrahepatic sites.
Advances in Brief Correlation of High Lactate Levels in Human Cervical Cancer with Incidence of Metastasis 1

Tissue concentrations of ATP, glucose, and lÃ¡clate in cervical cancer biopsies that were taken before a conventional radiation treatment were imaged quantitatively with a bioluminescence technique. Concomitantly, a number of clinically relevant data, such as local tumor control, patient survival, metastatic spread, etc., were documented. There was no corre lation between staging or grading and any of the metabolic parameters measured. Local correlations between ATP, glucose, and lactate on a pixel-to-pixel basis were generally positive, with respective Spearman's correlation coefficients being lower in patients without clinically docu mented metastasis compared to those with metastatic spread. Lactate concentrations were significantly higher and scattered over a wider range in tumors with metastatic spread in comparison to malignancies in pa tients without metastasis. Thus, high local lactate levels of 2(1 umole/g appear to be associated with a high risk of metastasis, at least in the ten human cervical tumors investigated to date.
Automatic Author Detection for Turkish Texts

To classify a text or to recognize its author there are two ways. To use the content of the text or the style. In this study 22 of style markers figured out for each author. By the developed method the author of a text can be determined using the style markers formed from a group of authors. The author group consists of 18 different authors and the success rate has been obtained as %84 in average.
Whole cell based disposable biosensor for Cadmium detection in milk

In the current work authors report the development of a biosensor for the detection of cadmium and its application in milk. Bacillus badius cells were immobilized onto the nylon membranes using sol-gel approach with alcohol and TEOS. The cells were mixed with sol-gel and poured onto nylon membrane and then dried. Hydrosol-gel immobilized cells were used as a biocomponent for the study. Ammonium ISE used as transducer with bioassay principle based on inhibition of urease activity. The lowest detection limit achieved was 1.0 μg/l of Cd. The prepared biosensor was applied to natural and fortified, acid extracted milk samples. The linear range of detection is between 10μg–1mg/l for Cd. Storage stability of the developed biosensor is 65 days when stored at 40C in 10% glycerol. A good correlation of results was obtained with spiked samples.
Dual Functions for the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Inositol Kinase Ipk1 in Nuclear mRNA Export and Polarized Cell Growth

ABSTRACT The inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (IP5) 2-kinase (Ipk1) catalyzes the production of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) in eukaryotic cells. Previous studies have shown that IP6 is required for efficient nuclear mRNA export in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we report the first functional analysis of ipk1+ in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. S. pombe Ipk1 (SpIpk1) is unique among Ipk1 orthologues in that it harbors a novel amino (N)-terminal domain with coiled-coil structural motifs similar to those of BAR (Bin-amphiphysin-Rvs) domain proteins. Mutants with ipk1+ deleted (ipk1Δ) had mRNA export defects as well as pleiotropic defects in polarized growth, cell morphology, endocytosis, and cell separation. The SpIpk1 catalytic carboxy-terminal domain was required to rescue these defects, and the mRNA export block was genetically linked to SpDbp5 function and, likely, IP6 production. However, the overexpression of the N-terminal domain alone also inhibited these functions in wild-type cells. This revealed a distinct noncatalytic function for the N-terminal domain. To test for connections with other inositol polyphosphates, we also analyzed whether the loss of asp1+ function, encoding an IP6 kinase downstream of Ipk1, had an effect on ipk1Δ cells. The asp1Δ mutant alone did not block mRNA export, and its cell morphology, polarized growth, and endocytosis defects were less severe than those of ipk1Δ cells. Moreover, ipk1Δ asp1Δ double mutants had altered inositol polyphosphate levels distinct from those of the ipk1Δ mutant. This suggested novel roles for asp1+ upstream of ipk1+. We propose that IP6 production is a key signaling linchpin for regulating multiple essential cellular processes.
The development of indications for the preoperative use of recombinant erythropoietin.

OBJECTIVE To develop indications for the preoperative use of recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) alone and in conjunction with preoperative autologous donation (PAD). DESIGN A 2-round modified Delphi-consensus process. PARTICIPANTS Nine physicians representing multiple clinical specialties, practice environments and geographic locations. METHOD From evidence tables and a literature summary (MEDLINE database from January 1985 to August 1996) provided and using the RAND-UCLA appropriateness method, the physicians developed 264 indications for the preoperative use of rHuEPO by permuting 7 clinical factors (age, history of transfusion or antibody incompatibility, hemoglobin level, anemia of chronic disease, expected blood loss, presence of cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease and patient anxiety). These indications were rated on a 9-point appropriateness scale. Median scores and measures of agreement were determined. OUTCOME MEASURES The significance of cost constraints or cost and blood supply constraints and the impact of each clinical factor on the ratings as judged by statistical analysis. RESULTS Of the 264 indications, 54% were rated appropriate, 18% uncertain and 28% inappropriate. Expected blood loss had the greatest impact on the ratings (high expected blood loss had a 5.9 point more appropriate rating on the 9-point scale than low expected blood loss [p < 0.0001]). Preoperative hemoglobin level also significantly influenced the ratings (p < 0.0001). Compared with the clinical context, the ratings under the cost constraint were 1.0 less appropriate (p < 0.0001) for rHuEPO alone and 1.2 less appropriate for rHuEPO and PAD (p < 0.0001). The ratings for patients with moderate expected blood loss were significantly influenced by the cost constraint (less appropriate). CONCLUSIONS Expected blood loss and preoperative hemoglobin level were the best indicators of rHuEPO appropriateness. Different contexts modify the appropriateness ratings of an expensive drug like rHuEPO.