Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INFLUÊNCIA DA PINEAL SOBRE A MORFOLOGIA DO CÓRTEX DA ADRENAL

Varias glândulas interferem na producao e secrecao dos hormonios corticais da adrenal e, como previamente demonstrado por diversos estudos, a pineal exerce efeito inibitorio sobre tais hormonios. A pinealectomia aumenta o nivel dos hormonios do cortex e promove modifica coes morfologicas no cortex, tais como, diminuicao da atividade mitotica e hipertrofia da cortical. A finalidade do presente estudo foi verificar a influencia da pinealectomia, em ratos, sobre a morfologia das glândulas adrenais. Foram selecionados 4 grupos de animais, um grupo-controle normal, um submetido a cirurgia ficticial, dois pinealectomizados, sacrificados em intervalos de tempo diferentes. Realizou-se analise morfometrica e da proliferacao celular das camadas corticais das adrenais. O estudo morfometrico demonstrou aumento da camada fasciculada dos animais pinealectomizados, em relacao as adrenais dos ratos nao pinealectomizados. Nao foi observada proliferacao celular em qualquer dos grupos estudados. Os resultados demonstram que a pineal exerce influencia sobre as adrenais e a ausencia desta glândula causa aumento do peso da adrenal por hipertrofia celular da zona fasciculada e nao por hiperplasia.
Insulin stimulation of gene expression mediated by p21ras activation.

In fibroblasts, insulin is a weak mitogen and does not induce expression of c‐fos, c‐jun or p33. However, increasing the expression levels of either normal p21Hras or the insulin receptor, but not mutant p21Hras, enables insulin to induce the expression of these genes. In cells expressing elevated levels of insulin receptor, this process involves a rapid increase in p21rasGTP levels (from 20% to 70% GTP as a percentage of total guanine nucleotides). No increase in p21rasGTP levels was observed after PDGF and EGF stimulation of cells expressing high levels of the cognate receptor, stressing the specificity of the insulin‐induced increase. We conclude that in fibroblasts, p21ras is an intermediate of the insulin signal transduction pathway involved in the regulation of gene expression and mitogenicity.
Analysis of robust innate immune response after transplantation in the absence of adaptive immunity1

Background. Both animal models and clinical outcomes studies of transplantation suggest that antigen-independent mechanisms can alter graft survival and function. It has been suggested that antigen-independent processes interact with alloantigen-specific responses to augment the rejection reaction. A major link between antigen-specific adaptive immunity and pro-inflammatory stimuli is innate immunity. During transplantation, innate immunity may be stimulated by multiple factors, including ischemia, reperfusion, sterile injury, systemic stress, and cell death. Methods. We investigated the hypothesis that transplantation induces a potent innate immune response in a murine model of vascularized solid organ transplantation. In our studies, we analyzed three experimental groups: (a) alymphoid group in which both the donor and recipients strains lacked an adaptive immune response due to deletion of the recombinase activating gene, thus blocking production of both T cell and B cell antigen receptors; (b) syngeneic group in which the donors and recipients were genetically identical; and (c) allogeneic group in which the donors and recipients had a complete MHC mismatch. To analyze a large number of parameters we determined the level of expression of a panel of cytokines, chemokines, receptors, and cell surface markers by RNase protection assays. In addition, serum cytokines were determined by ELISA and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was assessed by histology. Results. Our results showed macrophage infiltration and up-regulation of multiple cytokines, chemokines, and chemokine receptors within the first day after transplantation in all groups, including the syngeneic and alymphoid recipients. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated a robust innate immune response that is independent of adaptive immunity and natural killer cell responses.
On Comparing Several Spectral Densities

We investigated the problem of testing equality among spectral densities of several independent stationary processes. Our main methodological contribution is the introduction of a novel semiparametric log-linear model that links all of the spectral densities under consideration. This model is motivated by the asymptotic properties of the periodogram ordinates and specifies that the logarithmic ratio of G − 1 spectral density functions with respect to the Gth is linear in some parameters. Then the problem of testing equality of several spectral density functions is reduced to a parametric problem. Under this assumption, the large-sample theory of the maximum likelihood estimator was studied, and it was found that the estimator is asymptotically normal even when the model is misspecified. The development of the asymptotic theory is based on a new contrast function that might be useful for other spectral domain time series problems. The results are applicable to a variety of models, including linear and nonlinear processes. Simulations and data analysis support further the theoretical findings.
Stereo geometry from 3D ego-motion streams

This paper addresses the problem of geometry determination of a stereo rig that undergoes general rigid motions. Neither known reference objects nor stereo correspondence are required. With almost no exception, all existing online solutions attempt to recover stereo geometry by first establishing stereo correspondences. We first describe a mathematical framework that allows us to solve for stereo geometry, i.e., the rotation and translation between the two cameras, using only motion correspondence that is far easier to acquire than stereo correspondence. Second, we show how to recover the rotation and present two linear methods, as well as a nonlinear one to solve for the translation. Third, we perform a stability study for the developed methods in the presence of image noise, camera parameter noise, and ego-motion noise. We also address accuracy issues. Experiments with real image data are presented. The work allows the concept of online calibration to be broadened, as it is no longer true that only single cameras can exploit structure-from-motion strategies; even the extrinsic parameters of a stereo rig of cameras can do so without solving stereo correspondence. The developed framework is applicable for estimating the relative three-dimensional (3D) geometry associated with a wide variety of mounted devices used in vision and robotics, by exploiting their scaled ego-motion streams.
Health Care Providers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-efficacy for Working With Patients With Spinal Cord Injury Who Have Diverse Sexual Orientations

Background and Purpose: This study, using an evaluative, cross-sectional design, explored the self-efficacy, knowledge, and attitudes of health care providers who treat people with spinal cord injury (SCI) who may be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT). The study also designed and implemented a diversity training program and measured its effect on participants’ perceptions of their ability to change their knowledge levels, attitudes, and self-efficacy with regard to sexual orientation diversity. Subjects and Methods: Health care professionals (N=402) participated in a diversity training program that included a pre-briefing questionnaire, a videotape, a post-briefing questionnaire, and discussion. Descriptive and chi-square analyses were performed on all variables of interest. Results: The majority of the participants reported low levels of knowledge, attitudes of tolerance versus respect, and 0% to 20% confidence levels for providing culturally sensitive services for patients with diverse sexual orientations. Three hundred seventeen participants strongly agreed that watching the videotape increased their confidence levels in providing services for people who may be GLBT. Discussion and Conclusion: Health care providers who treat people with SCI self-report low levels of knowledge, tolerance versus respect, and low levels of self-efficacy with regard to sexual orientation diversity. If a health care provider has a low level of knowledge, tolerance versus respect, and a low level of diversity self-efficacy toward others, there may be direct physical and mental health consequences for the patient. A limitation of the study was that social desirability bias may have increased the number of participants who reported increased levels of self-efficacy following the videotape. Further research is recommended (1) to determine whether current diversity training for health care professionals includes diversity of sexual orientation and (2) to examine the knowledge levels, attitudes, and self-efficacy of health care professionals with regard to sexual orientation diversity while attempting to control for social desirability bias in participants’ responses.
Evaluation d'une approche de classification conceptuelle

∗ Mathématiques Appliquées de Bordeaux, UMR 5466 CNRS Université Bordeaux1, 351, Cours de la libération, 33405 Talence Cedex chavent@math.u-bordeaux1.fr, http://www.math.u-bordeaux1.fr/ chavent ∗∗Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique, Domaine de Voluceau-Rocquencourt B.P.105, 78153 Le Chesnay Cedex Yves.Lechevallier@inria.fr http://www-rocq.inria.fr/axis/personnel/Yves.Lechevallier/yves.html
A simplified prognostic system for resected pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.

BACKGROUND A number of prognostically relevant clinicopathological variables have been proposed for pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. However, a standardized prognostication system has yet to be established for patients undergoing potentially curative tumour resection. METHODS We examined a prospectively maintained, single-institution database to identify patients who underwent potentially curative resection of non-metastatic primary pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Patient, operative and pathological characteristics were analysed to identify variables associated with disease-specific and disease-free survival. RESULTS Between 1991 and 2007, 43 patients met inclusion criteria. After a median follow-up of 68 months, 5-year disease-specific survival was 94% and 5-year disease-free survival was 72%. Tumours sized > or = 5 cm and vascular invasion were associated with worse disease-specific survival. Tumours sized > or = 5 cm, nodal metastases, positive resection margins and perineural invasion were associated with worse disease-free survival. A scoring system consisting of tumour size > or = 5 cm, histological grade, nodal metastases and resection margin positivity (SGNM) permitted stratification of disease-specific (P= 0.006) and disease-free (P= 0.0004) survival. This proposed scoring system demonstrated excellent discrimination of individual disease-specific and disease-free survival outcomes as reflected by concordance indices of 0.814 and 0.794, respectively. CONCLUSIONS A simple scoring system utilizing tumour size, histological grade, nodal metastases and resection margin status can be used to stratify outcomes in patients undergoing resection of primary pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Methodological Issues in Mobile Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (mCSCL): What Methods, What to Measure and When to Measure?

This study aims to investigate (1) methods utilized in mobile computer-supported collaborative learning (mCSCL) research which focuses on studying, learning and collaboration mediated by mobile devices; (2) whether these methods have examined mCSCL effectively; (3) when the methods are administered; and (4) what methodological issues exist in mCSCL studies. It attempts to bring to light methods more conducive to examining the effectiveness of mCSCL and thus to sustain the practices. The research findings reveal a variety of methodological issues that need to be addressed. Comparison is made to the findings in CSCL research and other studies leveraged by mobile technologies. Potential ways to investigate the effectiveness of mCSCL practices are proposed.
The Effects of High Steady State Auxin Levels on Root Cell Elongation in Brachypodium[OPEN]

Analysis of Brachypodium mutants with increased cellular steady state auxin content and root cell elongation sheds light on the importance of the Acid Growth Theory of plant cell elongation in roots. The long-standing Acid Growth Theory of plant cell elongation posits that auxin promotes cell elongation by stimulating cell wall acidification and thus expansin action. To date, the paucity of pertinent genetic materials has precluded thorough analysis of the importance of this concept in roots. The recent isolation of mutants of the model grass species Brachypodium distachyon with dramatically enhanced root cell elongation due to increased cellular auxin levels has allowed us to address this question. We found that the primary transcriptomic effect associated with elevated steady state auxin concentration in elongating root cells is upregulation of cell wall remodeling factors, notably expansins, while plant hormone signaling pathways maintain remarkable homeostasis. These changes are specifically accompanied by reduced cell wall arabinogalactan complexity but not by increased proton excretion. On the contrary, we observed a tendency for decreased rather than increased proton extrusion from root elongation zones with higher cellular auxin levels. Moreover, similar to Brachypodium, root cell elongation is, in general, robustly buffered against external pH fluctuation in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, forced acidification through artificial proton pump activation inhibits root cell elongation. Thus, the interplay between auxin, proton pump activation, and expansin action may be more flexible in roots than in shoots.
Dopamine Neuronal Transport Kinetics and Effects of Amphetamine

Abstract : The dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) regulates DA neurotransmission by recycling DA back into neurons. Drugs that interfere with DAT function, e.g., cocaine and amphetamine, can have profound behavioral effects. The kinetics of DA transport by DAT in isolated synaptosomal or single cell preparations have been previously studied. To investigate how DA transport is regulated in intact tissue and to examine how amphetamine affects the DAT, the kinetics of DA uptake by the DAT were examined in tissue slices of the mouse caudate‐putamen with fastscan cyclic voltammetry. The data demonstrate that inward DA transport is saturable and sodium‐dependent. Elevated levels of cytoplasmic DA resulting from disruption of vesicular storage by incubation with 10 μM Ro 4‐1284 did not generate DA efflux or decrease its uptake rate. However, incubation with 10 μM amphetamine reduced the net DA uptake rate and increased extracellular DA levels due to DA efflux through the DAT. In addition, a new, elevated steady‐state level of extracellular DA was established after electrically stimulated DA release in the presence of amphetamine, norepinephrine, and exogenous DA. These results from intact tissue are consistent with a kinetic model of the DAT established in more purified preparations in which amphetamine and other transported substances make the inwardly facing DAT available for outward transport of intracellular DA.
Adaptive Impedance Control of Robot Manipulators based on Function Approximation Technique

This paper presents an adaptive impedance control scheme for an $n$-link constrained rigid robot manipulator without using the regressor. In addition, inversion of the estimated inertia matrix is also avoided and the new design is free from end-point acceleration measurements. The dynamics of the robot manipulator is assumed that all of the matrices in robot model are unavailable. Since these matrices are time-varying and their variation bounds are not given, traditional adaptive or robust designs do not apply. The function approximation technique is used here to represent uncertainties in some finite linear combinations of the orthogonal basis. The dynamics of the output tracking can thus be proved to be a stable first order filter driven by function approximation errors. Using the Lyapunov stability theory, a set of update laws is derived to give closed loop stability with proper tracking performance. A 2 DOF planar robot with environment constraint is used in the computer simulations to test the efficacy of the proposed scheme.
Développement d'un modèle numérique de couplage fluide-structure appliqué au cas d'une pompe à membrane ondulante

Dans cette these, nous avons etudie la simulation numerique des phenomenes d’interaction fluide-structure (IFS) par la methode des elements finis pour un fluide incompressible et non visqueux en interaction avec une structure flexible. Les modeles numeriques developpes sont base sur une approche d’IFS partitionnee. Une amelioration basee sur une compensation des effets de masse ajoutee est proposee au cours de la these afin d’assurer la convergence et la stabilite du schema de couplage partitionne independamment de la densite du fluide implique. L’approche corrective necessite une estimation de la matrice de masse ajoutee et demande une legere modification de l’algorithme iteratif. Les methodes proposees ont ete validees sur les cas academiques en comparaison avec les solutions analytiques et sont appliques au cas d’une nouvelle conception de pompe pour tout type de fluides (gaz, liquides, fluide charge…), en vue d’affiner la comprehension de son fonctionnement et ainsi mieux la caracteriser. Les methodes ainsi que les validations sont publiees sur un article qui a ete accepte par le revue scientifique « Computers & Fluids ». Une presentation orale a effectuee pendant la conference internationale ACE-X2012 a Istanbul et une autre a ete accepte par la conference nationale CSMA-2013 a Giens.
Effects of Aquatic Aerobic Exercise for a Child with Cerebral Palsy: Single-Subject Design

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an aquatic aerobic exercise program for a child with cerebral palsy. Methods: A 5-year-old girl with spastic diplegia classified at level III on the Gross Motor Function Classification System participated in this single-subject A-B-A design study. The aquatic aerobic exercise intervention was carried out 3 times per week for 12 weeks at an intensity of 50% to 80% of heart rate reserve. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Gross Motor Function Measure, and 6-minute walk test were used as outcomes. Results: Statistically significant improvements were found in the participation, activity, and body function components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model. Improvements in functional abilities and walking endurance and speed were recorded. Conclusion: These findings suggest that an aquatic aerobic exercise program was effective for this child with cerebral palsy and support the need for additional research in this area.
Identificación de requisitos: Un enfoque basado en taxonomía verbal. Identification ofrequirements: A focus based on a verb taxonomy.

Uno de los principales problemas a los cuales se enfrenta un disenador de software es la distorsion que se puede producir entre las etapas del desarrollo que componen un ciclo de vida. Un ejemplo de ello lo constituye la identificacion de requisitos y la posterior especificacion de estos. En particular, en este tema, se han realizado grandes avances. Sin embargo, es en la etapa de identificacion de requisitos en la que el cliente intenta expresar su concepto, a veces confuso de funcionalidad y rendimiento, y transformarlos a elementos concretos. El desarrollador, por su parte, actua como un interrogador y consultor, siendo visto como la persona que resuelve problemas. Es en esta etapa en la cual abundan las malas interpretaciones o falta de informacion, y en la que los supuestos y paradigmas intentan suplir las carencias que no han sido expresadas explicitamente, lo cual provoca grandes distorsiones en la representacion de la realidad. El presente trabajo muestra una tecnica de identificacion sistematica de requisitos funcionales, basada en una taxonomia de verbos, en la que se pretende, a partir de identificar el nivel conceptual de un verbo (por ejemplo: administrar es de nivel superior que controlar y, controlar es de nivel superior que listar), identificar objetos elementales –definidos en esta propuesta como componentes individuales de software previamente implementados asociados al nivel mas bajo de la taxonomia de verbos– tales como: tipos de reportes pre hechos, pantallas de consulta, mantenedores de tablas, entre otros. En este sentido, y a partir de la identificacion de los niveles de verbos, estos se traducen finalmente a un conjunto de objetos elementales previamente implementados, lo cual trae como beneficios entre otros: 1) una mejor estimacion de esfuerzo, en la etapa de planificacion, de un proyecto de desarrollo; 2) un aumento sustancial del reuso de componentes de software u objetos elementales, y 3) un aumento en el nivel de trazabilidad o seguimiento sobre los requisitos y su posterior implementacion.
Laboratory testing for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is inconsistent in North America: A survey of North American specialized coagulation laboratories

Summary Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin therapy. As HIT is considered a clinico-pathologic entity, laboratory practices have an important role in diagnosing or excluding HIT. It was the objective of this study to assess the current status of laboratory testing for HIT in North America. An online survey consisting of 67 questions related to laboratory testing for HIT was developed by the North American Specialized Coagulation Laboratory Association (NASCOLA), and distributed to its 59 members. The survey included queries about HIT test ordering practices, HIT immunoassay and activation assays performed, and reporting practices. Data was collected from the 44 NASCOLA laboratories who responded. Of these sites, 88% performed immunoassays for HIT, commonly using commercial assays. However, sites varied in practices related to use of controls, immunoglobulin class of antibody detected, and in result interpretation and reporting. Platelet activation assays for HIT were performed by 36% of sites, commonly using assays of serotonin release (50%) or heparin- induced platelet aggregation (43%). Sites varied in the use of washed platelets versus platelet-rich plasma, controls, and heparin concentrations. This survey is the first comprehensive assessment of patterns of practice in HIT testing among diagnostic coagulation laboratories in North America. We observed sitespecific variability of testing methods encompassing all stages of testing, including pre-analytical handling, testing methodologies, and result interpretation and reporting. The variability in HIT platelet activation assay methods among institutions indicates a need for proficiency testing to assess assay performance,and for consensus guidelines on HIT laboratory testing.