Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND LECTIN-HISTOCHEMICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SCOLEX/STROBILA AND BLADDER TEGUMENTS OF THE TAENIA TAENIAEFORMIS STROBILOCERCUS

The strobilocercus stage of the cat tapeworm Taenia taeniaeformis is surrounded by a single syncytial sheet of cytoplasm called the tegument. The outer membrane of the tegument covers both the scolex/strobila (S/S) and the bladder portions of the strobilocercus, but only the S/S region is resistant to intestinal digestion. It has been suggested that the glycocalyx, the surface-exposed glycoconjugates of the outer membrane, may serve to insulate underlying surface membrane components from digestion. In this study, we used lectin binding to test the hypothesis that the glycocalyx of the S/S is different from that of the bladder and that this may serve as the resistance mechanism of the S/S to digestion. Biotin-labeled lectins and an avidin–glucose oxidase detection system were applied to whole strobilocerci and to 1-µm epon-araldite plastic-embedded sections. Lectins bound to either both regions of the strobilocerci, to the S/S regions only, or did not bind at all. The restriction of some glycoconjugates to the glycocalyx of the S/S region only is consistent with our hypothesis.
Développement de méthodes d'estimation de l'aptitude au mélange pour la prédiction des performances et la sélection de mélanges variétaux chez le blé tendre, et co-conception d'idéotypes de mélanges adaptés à l'agriculture biologique

Les melanges de varietes de cereales connaissent un regain d’interet recent, mais les methodes pour evaluer et selectionner des varietes sur l’aptitude au melange ainsi que pour la conception des melanges restent peu developpees. Il a ete montre que les performances de genotypes en culture pure pouvaient differer significativement de leurs performances en melange, rendant la prediction des performances de melanges difficile. Mais evaluer tous les melanges possibles entre genotypes devient techniquement impossible pour de larges panels. Ainsi, des methodes experimentales et statistiques sont necessaires pour identifier les genotypes qui presentent les meilleures aptitudes au melange, et pour predire les meilleures combinaisons de genotypes, a partir de l’observation d’un nombre limite de melanges.Dans une premiere partie, nous avons d’abord synthetise les differentes methodes proposees dans la litterature pour etudier les interactions plante-plante, en distinguant i) celles basees sur les performances des melanges, permettant d’estimer des Aptitudes Generale et Specifique au Melange, ii) celles ou les performances de chaque genotype en melange sont accessibles, permettant d’estimer des effets Producteur et Associe. Nous avons ensuite propose un cadre statistique base sur des modeles mixtes pour estimer l’aptitude au melange dans des dispositifs incomplets. Ces modeles d’Aptitude au Melange et le modele Producteur-Associes ont ete appliques a un panel diversifie de genotypes de ble tendre d’hiver observe dans differents dispositifs experimentaux, revelant des interactions entre plantes de genotypes differents. Puis, les capacites de ces dispositifs et modeles a predire les performances de melanges de validation ont ete comparees. Nous avons finalement discute l’application de ces cadres methodologiques a l’evaluation de l’aptitude au melange et la possibilite de les integrer dans des programmes de selection.Dans une seconde partie, nous avons realise une synthese bibliographique pour proposer des regles d’association afin de mieux assembler les traits relies aux interactions entre varietes, et concevoir des ideotypes de melanges qui favorisent les complementarites inter-varietes. Lors d’ateliers participatifs impliquant des agriculteurs biologiques, ces regles ont ensuite ete validees, infirmees, ou completees, puis utilisees pour la conception d’ideotypes de melanges qui correspondent aux pratiques et aux environnements des agriculteurs. Les melanges concus sur la base de ces regles ont ensuite ete evalues a la ferme sur des criteres agronomiques et sur les besoins specifiques des agriculteurs. Les deux approches complementaires de la these revelent la possibilite de developper des melanges varietaux localement adaptes.
Atrazine degradation in liquid culture and soil by a novel yeast Pichia kudriavzevii strain Atz-EN-01 and its potential application for bioremediation

Article history: Received on: 17/05/2013 Revised on: 29/05/2013 Accepted on: 14/06/2013 Available online: 27/06/2013 A novel yeast strain, Atz-EN-01 isolated from contaminated-agricultural soil was found to be highly effective in degrading atrazine in liquid culture and soil. The molecular characterization based upon partial 18S rDNA and ITS regions identified the strain Atz-EN-01 as Pichia kudriavzevii. The yeast could degrade atrazine completely within 7 days with a rate constant of 0.31 per day following the first order kinetic model. The time in which initial atrazine concentration (500 mg/L) was reduced by 50% (half-life) was 2.2 days under optimal conditions (pH 7.0, temperature 30 C, inoculum size 3% (v/v) and shaking speed 120 rpm). The analysis of the metabolites using GC-MS identified the formation of 3 intermediates viz. hydroxyatrazine, N-isopropylammelide and cyanuric acid. The enzyme atrazine chlorohydrolase exhibited maximum activity during degradation. Based upon the intermediates identified by GC-MS and FT-IR analysis, the sequential process of atrazine degradation was proposed. In soil bioremediation experiment, inoculation of soil with Atz-EN-01 promoted effective degradation than did the control. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on Pichia kudriavzevii strain Atz-EN-01 which can serve as a potential agent for in-situ bioremediation of atrazine contaminated environment.
Inhibition of iNOS and DNA Oxidation by Methanol Extract of Schizonepeta tenuifolia

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant properties of the methanol extract of S. tenuifolia as well as its effect on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cycleooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced cell damage in macrophage cells. Methods: The antioxidant activities of the plant extract were explored by measuring free radical scavenging activity, viz, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO), and deoxyribose oxidation levels. The mechanism of antioxidant action of the extract was determined by Western blot analysis for iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Results: The extract contained antioxidant components, including phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin and exerted significant radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. It also produced deoxyribose oxidation and dramatic reducing power. Production of iNOS induced by LPS was significantly inhibited by the extract, suggesting that the extract inhibits nitric oxide (NO) production by suppressing iNOS expression. However, COX-2 induced by LPS was not significantly affected by the extract. Conclusion: These results suggest that the methanol extract of S. tenuifolia exerts significant antioxidant activity via inhibition of free radicals, iNOS and DNA oxidation.
- 1-High Precision Measurement of Tools An Integrated Approach Based on HALCON

A methodology for proving the accuracy of a system for high precision measurement of cutting tools is described. The tools are backlit by infrared illumination. Images are acquired by telecentric lenses and standard cameras and framegrabbers. The outer boundary of the tools is extracted by subpixel edge detection and is then approximated by lines and circular arcs. All processing is done on standard hardware in real time. To guarantee high precision measurements, all components of the system have to be evaluated. The key components are image acquisition, including illumination, lenses, filter, camera and framegrabber, and all operators used by the system, e.g., filtering, subpixel edge detection, and an appropriate polygon approximation. Since radial distortions of the images are quite large, even though telecentric lenses are used, camera calibration is essential for the accuracy of the system, since it allows the elimination of these distortions. The influence of each of the above components is discussed, and the behaviour of the complete system is analyzed. With this analysis it can be proved that the system has an overall accuracy of 1/10th of a pixel and a precision of 1/25th of a pixel for real data.
New Therapeutic Modalities in Femtosecond Laser-assisted Corneal Surgery

When Maiman reported the first laser in 1960, it was described as a solution looking for a problem. Shortly thereafter, this spatially coherent beam of light had found its way out of research laboratories to be used in almost every aspect of our modern life. Ophthalmologists were one of the pioneers to harness this technology for the benefit of their patients and have developed numerous medical uses of this technology. Argon, krypton, carbon dioxide, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG), excimer laser, and finally neodymium glass femtosecond (FS) laser systems have all been used in ophthalmology and have dramatically revolutionized the management of different ocular conditions. The unique capability of FS laser to photodisrupt tissue with minimal collateral damage has made it a promising tool for revolutionizing corneal surgery, a surgery in which precision has a critical impact on outcomes. FS laser has been successfully used in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation, penetrating keratoplasty (PK), anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), endothelial keratoplasty (EK), astigmatic keratectomy (AK), intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) placement and several other corneal surgeries. Moreover, FS laser application in corneal surgery has become a major driving force for continuing optimization of the FS laser technology itself to overcome its limitations.
FGF 8 induces formation of an ectopic isthmic organizer and isthmocerebellar development via a repressive effect on Otx 2 expression

Regional specification processes partition the neural plate into its principal transverse and longitudinal subdivisions. Anteroposterior (A/P) patterning leads to the establishment of the forebrain, midbrain, cerebellum, hindbrain and spinal cord (reviewed by Lumsden and Krumlauf, 1996; Rubenstein and Beachy, 1998). Early patterning of the prospective midbrain and anterior hindbrain (cerebellum; Cb) can be divided into two phases. During the first phase, the position of this region within the anterior neural plate is determined. This process occurs during gastrulation and early neural plate stages of development and is mediated by signals from the anterior visceral endoderm (reviewed by Beddington and Robertson, 1998) and mesendoderm (Ang and Rossant, 1993; Ang et al., 1994), which establish gene expression domains within the neural plate. Several of the genes that are expressed at early neural plate stages and have been shown by genetic analysis to be required f r normal development of the region, encode homeodomain transcription factors, including OTX1 AND OTX2 (see Acampora et al., 1997; Suda et al., 1997; references therein) , GBX2 (Wassarman et al., 1997), PAX2 (Favor et al., 1996; Lun and Brand, 1998) and EN1 (Wurst et al., 1994). During the second phase, which begins at early neural plate stages, the patterning process apparently becomes independent of exogenous influences as a potent embryonic ‘organizer’ is formed within the neuroepithelium. Once established, this organizer is co-localized with a morphological feature of the developing neural tube known as the isthmic constriction at the midbrain/hindbrain (m/h) boundary. Because of this association, it has been termed the m/h or isthmic organizer (IsO). During normal development, patterning signals emanating 1189 Development 126, 1189-1200 (1999) Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1999 DEV2375
Realistic Pursuer Evader Engagement with Feedback Linearization Based Nonlinear Guidance Law

In this paper realistic Six Degrees of Freedom simulation of a pursuer evader engagement during terminal guidance has been carried out using a class of nonlinear guidance law based on Feedback Linearization. This guidance law has been developed as a regulator problem based on nonlinear control theory where line of sight rate derivative along both yaw and pitch plane are made zero by taking line of sight angle and line of sight rate as output feedback. The line of sight angles and rates have been computed from noisy seeker measurements through a nonlinear state observer. The available seeker measurements are pursuer-evader relative range, relative rage rate, gimbal angles and line of sight rates along yaw and pitch plane in seeker inner gimbal frame. The present guidance law has been validated in presence of realistic non Gaussian and correlated seeker measurement noise, estimator, autopilot lag and highly time varying pursuer velocity during engagement. It is demonstrated through realistic Six Degrees of Freedom pursuer-evader engagement simulation in the presence of above constraints in a practical environment that the proposed guidance law is a viable option for intercepting maneuvering target with high heading error over the well known proportional navigation guidance law. This specific type of guidance law being not available in published literature, is claimed as quiet novel.
SMART: A rapid layer adaptation protocol for layered video multicast

This paper presents a new network layer traffic control protocol for rapid layer adaptation and prompt congestion recovery of a layered-video multicast session. The proposed protocol SMART, which stands for Scalable Multimedia Rapid Rate Control in Multicast Networks, defines a concept of dependency between multicast group addresses that are pertaining to the same layered-video session. The information on dependency is carried on an extended version of Internet Group Managenemt Protocol, which is called IGMP-DX (Dependency Extension). SMART router creates a database to manage the dependency information. With SMART, receivers can adapt their subscription level to the right level rapidly by the function of Fast Learning. Emergency Drop Request is sent by a host who detects intensive congestion, and the router blocks the associated traffic. In this manner network can recover from congestion rapidly while not impairing the minimal multicast service. SMART supports both IGMPv2 and IGMPv3, including source-specific multicast in Internet. It is shown by simulations that SMART provides a rapid rate control mechanism and good scalability with small amount of control signal.
Stathmin expression and its relationship to microtubule‐associated protein tau and outcome in breast cancer

Microtubule‐associated proteins (MAPs) endogenously regulate microtubule stability. Here, the prognostic value of stathmin, a destabilizing protein, was assessed in combination with MAP‐tau, a stabilizing protein, in order to evaluate microtubule stabilization as a potential biomarker.
Evolution of Gene Expression in Human and Chimpanzee Brains

It has long been proposed that for creating diverse phenotypes in closely related species, such as a striking difference between human and chimpanzee brain functions, evolutionary changes in gene expression are more important than the changes in protein structure. High-throughput detection methods make it possible to gauge the differences in gene expression at the genome-wide level. Initial studies using deoxyribonucleic acid microarrays have shown that gene expression evolution is more conserved in the brain than in other tissues. However, those studies have also shown that the divergence rate of gene expression in the brain is higher in humans than in the chimpanzee lineage. Subsequent studies have identified detailed differences in gene expression such as alterations in network connectivity and temporal order. In addition to the expression of protein-coding genes, the expression of noncoding RNAs may also affect the divergence of gene expression and contribute to the phenotypic differences between humans and chimpanzees. Key Concepts: Differences in gene expression patterns rather than the changes in protein structures may have contributed to the functional differences between human and chimpanzee brains. The set of genes that have different expression patterns in human and chimpanzee brains can be identified using high-throughput methods such as DNA microarrays and RNA-Seq. Although we can detect functional gene expression changes specific to the human brain, it is not easy to elucidate the underlying evolutionary mechanisms. Gene expression is a complex trait; understanding the molecular mechanisms of brain development is important to unveil the genetic basis of brain evolution. Several studies revealed that the pattern of gene expression evolution in human brains was highly conservative in general, but showed acceleration after the split from the chimpanzee lineage. Keywords: evolution; primates; DNA microarray; gene expression; brain; natural selection
Diversification of the Perognathus flavus species group in emerging arid grasslands of western North America

Abstract We investigated the evolutionary history of a group of silky pocket mice (Heteromyidae: Perognathinae: Perognathus flavus species group) composed of the species P. flavus and P. merriami to determine patterns and postulate causes of geographical diversification across arid grasslands and intermontane basins in western North America. The region represents a topographically complex landscape with a Neogene history of dramatic geological and climatic transformations. Phylogenetic and dating analyses of mitochondrial DNA support an initial split among 4 major lineages during the late Miocene, and this hypothesis receives further support from analysis of a portion of the nuclear interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) gene. Two of these lineages have a restricted geographic distribution in the Chihuahuan Desert, and 2 have distributions ranging across large portions of the Chihuahuan Desert, Colorado Plateau, Great Plains, and Tamaulipan Plain. Within the 2 widespread lineages further geographical diversification likely was concentrated in the Pliocene, which coincided with the origin of several hypothesized geographic barriers. These results are consistent with models of allopatric divergence driven by pre-Pleistocene geological and climatic events, particularly the late-Miocene expansion of interior grasslands and Miocene–Pliocene evolution of Basin and Range geomorphology. Therefore, the biogeographic structure displayed in the flavus species group may be predictive for a range of sympatric taxa.
Improving the reliability of FPGA circuits using triple-modular redundancy (TMR) & efficient voter placement

Triple-modular redundancy has been proposed as a technique for improving the reliability of FPGA circuits in the presence of radiation-induced SEUs. This technique masks circuit faults by voting on the output of three identical circuit modules. A critical design decision in any TMR system is the placement of voters between the TMR modules. This paper presents a technique for selecting the appropriate location of voters within feedback paths of an FPGA circuit. Voting within the feedback path will repair corrupted state variables and tolerate online repair of the FPGA configuration.
Ontogeny and sexual dimorphism of the sonic motor nucleus in the oyster toadfish

Male oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau, produce a courtship boatwhistle call and have a larger sound‐producing organ than females, who do not boatwhistle. We investigated the possibility of sexual dimorphism in ontogeny of the sonic motor nucleus (SMN) of the toadfish. Brain weight increases for life though the increase decelerates with increasing fish weight. Neuron number, ranging from 760 to 2,888 in the SMN, increases rapidly to about 3 years, more slowly to about 8 years, and then levels off. There are no sexual differences in regressions of brain weight and SMN neuron number against fish size or age. Neuronal soma size in the SMN increases from 8 to 35 μm in average diameter and 67 to 916 μm2 in area over a period of at least 7 years. Males have larger neurons than females (P<.01). However, males can be separated by inspection into populations with large and small soma sizes. Neuron size is not different between females and males with small somas. Neurons in males with large somas are larger than neurons in females and neurons in males with, small somas. Such male dimorphism is reminiscent of other behavioral and morphological dimorphisms, which have led to characterization of males into territorial and satellite forms in certain mating systems.
Central nervous system effects of hyoscine in man.

Hyoscine, in doses of 0.15 to 0.8 mg, was injected subcutaneously in 54 subjects to determine its effects on salivary functioning, the spontaneous EEG, the electroencephalographic "arousal" response to photostimulation, motor behavior, mood, and the ability to focus and maintain attention. Hyoscine induced a moderate bradycardia and a marked decrease in salivation and in the duration of the EEG "arousal" response. These effects were maximal at 1 to 2 hours after administration of hyoscine but were no longer present at 4 hours. Consistent behavioral effects of hyoscine in the EEG experiments were a decrease in spontaneous speech and movement and a significant decrease in the "Energetic" Scale of the Clyde Mood Scale. The spontaneous EEG exhibited a consistent shift toward lower amplitude of 5 to 8 cycles per second activity. The alpha index significantly decreased. The effects on these behaviors and the spontaneous EEG differed from those noted in2) above in that they were maximal at 3 to 4 hours after hyoscine administration and persisted for at least 4 to 7 hours. We suggest that the depression of the EEG "arousal" response may be attributed to an action of hyoscine on the ascending reticular activating system, which occurs independently of the action on the spontaneous EEG rhythm. In comparing the effects of two dose levels of hyoscine, larger doses were associated with a decrease in performance on behavioral tests involving the ability to maintain an attentive set. However, differential doses of arecoline and methacholine did not exert differential effects on these same measures. In doses which antagonized the effects of hyoscine on salivation, arecoline and methacholine did not antagonize the effects of hyoscine on these behaviors.
A Novel PU Sensing Algorithm for Constant Energy Signals

In this correspondence, a novel spectrum sensing technique is proposed for primary user (PU) signals transmitted with constant energy. A new metric, namely the variance of the received signal energy, is first introduced and then used as the testing variable for detecting the PU signal. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by means of theoretical analysis and simulations in the presence of noise uncertainty. The results confirm the efficiency of our method for fast and reliable PUs’ detection in cognitive radio systems.