Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energetique de la reproduction chez la chouette effraie (tyto alba)

Au cours du cycle annuel, la reproduction est une des activites les plus couteuses en terme d'energie. Ainsi, par rapport aux besoins hors reproductions, il existe un surcout inherent a l'effort investi par l'individu qui va necessiter l'augmentation de la prise alimentaire ou l'utilisation de reserves energetiques precedemment accumulees. Pour etudier les strategies energetiques au cours de la reproduction chez la chouette effraie, nous avons utilise une double approche par des etudes sur des individus sauvages du suivi individuel du comportement et de la masse corporelle associees avec des etudes en captivite sur l'evolution spontanee des masses et reserves corporelles. Nous avons ainsi developpe des systemes d'acquisition de donnees automatises. Ceux-ci permettent a la fois de suivre sans derangement l'evolution de la masse corporelle grace a une balance electronique associee a une acquisition de donnees et le comportement des adultes grace a un systeme de surveillance video. Ainsi nous avons pu montrer que si la rigueur de l'hiver a une influence sur la reproduction qui suit ce n'est pas lie a la condition corporelle des individus car l'effraie est capable en moins d'une semaine de declencher les processus irreversibles de decision de ponte. Nous avons etabli precisement les besoins des poussins et l'etendue de leur plasticite et precise chez les adultes les phases clefs ou s'operent des modifications comportementales ou de composition corporelle. L'ensemble de ces donnees originales, beaucoup plus precises que celles obtenues dans la litterature, forme une base solide afin d'apprehender la part de l'influence des conditions du milieu et celle du deroulement de programme internes de gestion des reserves energetiques dans la realisation de la reproduction chez les oiseaux. Par ailleurs, notre modele d'etude et notre approche ont permis d'approfondir certaines questions d'interet general sur les strategies energetiques de la reproduction chez les oiseaux.
Passive Shareholders as a Takeover Defense

This paper evaluates the effect of shareholder passiveness on the market for corporate control. We find that firms with more passive shareholders (lower ownership per non-institutional shareholder) are less likely to be takeover targets, less likely to be acquired and command higher premiums. Using the adoption of anti-takeover law in Delaware as an exogenous shock to anti-takeover protection, we show that the passiveness of shareholder base decreases as the takeover threat subsides. Our findings support the idea that a passive shareholder base is a substitute for other takeover defenses.
Use of smartphone and crash risk among cyclists

Abstract High percentages of cyclists admit using smartphone devices while cycling. Moreover, such use has been found to be associated with near crashes and crashes, representing a risk factor for cyclists. This study examines the relationship between such type of behaviours, comprising calling and manipulating the screen, and the frequency of near crashes and actual crashes among Italian cyclists. We administered an online survey measuring smartphone-specific violation, errors, near crash and crash to Italian cyclists (N = 298; age range: 19–72). We hypothesised that the relationship between smartphone use and near crashes would be explained by an increase in the number of errors committed, thus increasing the likelihood of being involved in near crashes. Moreover, we hypothesised that near crashes will predict actual crashes. Results of path analysis showed that smartphone-specific violations predicted crashes throughout their consecutive effects on errors and near crashes only in the subsample of men. These findings offer an explanation of how smartphone use contributes to incrementing the likelihood of getting involved in near crashes and actual crashes. To our knowledge, the present study is the first in building a path model explaining how smartphone-specific violations lead to more near crashes among cyclists.
Health Values of Patients Coinfected With HIV/Hepatitis C: Are Two Viruses Worse Than One?

Objectives:We sought to assess health values of patients coinfected with HIV/hepatitis C (HCV) and compare them with those of patients singly infected with HIV or HCV and to characterize and assess the relationship of clinical and nonhealth-related factors with health values. Subjects:We studied a total of 203 subjects infected with HIV, HCV, or both. Measures:We assessed rating scale (RS), time tradeoff (TTO), and standard gamble (SG) values, and we explored associations of health values with the Mental Component Summary (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) of the SF-12; number of bothersome symptoms from the HIV Symptoms Index; spirituality, as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy, Spiritual Well-being scale; as well as with a number of demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics. Results:Of the 203 subjects, 59 (29%) had HIV monoinfection, 69 (34%) had HCV monoinfection, and 75 (37%) were coinfected. The mean (SD) health values for the cohort were: RS = 0.69 (0.23), TTO= 0.88 (0.24), and SG = 0.78 (0.30). Infection type was related, albeit differently, to TTO values (mean values for patients with coinfection = 0.82; HIV = 0.91; and HCV = 0.91 [P < 0.05]) and SG values (coinfection = 0.77; HIV = 0.70; and HCV = 0.87; P < 0.05). In multivariable models, RS scores were significantly associated with sexual orientation, PCS scores, MCS scores, symptoms, and spirituality (adjusted R2 = 0.61); TTO with symptoms and spirituality (adjusted R2 = 0.23); and SG with infection type, PCS scores, and symptoms (adjusted R2 = 0.24). Conclusions:Health values and their correlates varied by method of assessment. Health values appear to be driven more by symptoms, health status, and spirituality than by number of viral infections.
Evaluating clinically significant changes in health-related quality of life: A sample of relatives of patients with severe traumatic brain injury

The objective of the study was to investigate change and predictors of change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in relatives of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) during rehabilitation, and to analyse associations between changes in HRQoL and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The Vitality (VT), Mental Health (MH), Social Function (SF) and the Role Emotional (RE) scales from the Short Form 36, and the anxiety and depression scales from the Symptom Checklist-90 – Revised were used. Of the 62 relatives, 24.6% experienced a reliable improvement on the VT scale, 53.2% on the MH scale, 27.4% on the SF scale and 16.1% on the RE scale. Of the relatives, 24.0% experienced clinically significant change (CSC) on the VT scale, 19.6% on the MH scale, 21.6% on the SF scale, and 19.2% on the RE scale. Relatives’ age and higher patient Glasgow Coma Scale score predicted the experience of CSC in RE, and change on the Functional Independence Measure in patients predicted CSC on the MH scale. Improvements in VT as well as MH were associated with improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improvement in SF was associated with improvement in symptoms of depression. About one-fifth of the sample experienced a CSC on one of the four HRQoL measures. Relatives experiencing CSC tended to be related to patients who showed more improvement during rehabilitation. Improvements in HRQoL were associated with improvements in symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Molecular dynamics simulation with a continuum electrostatic model of the solvent

The accuracy and simplicity of the Poisson‐Boltzmann electrostatics model has led to the suggestion that it might offer an efficient solvent model for use in molecular mechanics calculations on biomolecules. We report a successful merger of the Poisson‐Boltzmann and molecular dynamics approaches, with illustrative calculations on the small solutes dichloroethane and alanine dipeptide. The algorithm is implemented within the program UHBD. Computational efficiency is achieved by the use of rather coarse finite difference grids to solve the Poisson‐Boltzmann equation. Nonetheless, the conformational distributions generated by the new method agree well with reference distributions obtained as Boltzmann distributions from energies computed with fine finite difference grids. The conformational distributions also agree well with the results of experimental measurements and conformational analyses using more detailed solvent models. We project that when multigrid methods are used to solve the finite difference problem and the algorithm is implemented on a vector supercomputer, the computation of solvent electrostatic forces for a protein of modest size will add only about 0.1 s computer time per simulation step relative to a vacuum calculation. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
NOTE DIFFERENCES IN POLYSACCHARIDE STRUCTURE BETWEEN CALCIFIED AND UNCALCIFIED SEGMENTS IN THE CORALLINE CALLIARTHRON CHEILOSPORIOIDES ( CORALLINALES , RHODOPHYTA )

The articulated coralline Calliarthron cheilosporioides Manza produces segmented fronds composed of calcified segments (intergenicula) separated by uncalcified joints (genicula), which allow fronds to bend and reorient under breaking waves in the wave-swept intertidal zone. Genicula are formed when calcified cells decalcify and restructure to create flexible tissue. The present study has identified important differences in the main agaran disaccharidic repeating units [ fi 3)-b-d-Galp (1 fi 4)-a-l-Galp(1 fi ] synthesized by genicular and intergenicular segments. Based on chemical and spectroscopical analyses, we report that genicular cells from C. cheilosporioides biosynthesize a highly methoxylated galactan at C-6 position with low levels of branching with xylose side stubs on C-6 of the [ fi 3)-b-d-Galp (1 fi ] units, whereas intergenicular segments produce xylogalactans with high levels of xylose and low levels of 6-O-methyl b-d-Gal units. These data suggest that, during genicular development, xylosyl branched, 3-linked b-d-Galp units present in the xylogalactan backbones from intergenicular walls are mostly replaced by 6-O-methyld-galactose units. We speculate that this structural shift is a consequence of a putative and specific methoxyl transferase that blocks the xylosylation on C-6 of the 3-linked b-d-Galp units. Changes in galactan substitutions may contribute to the distinct mechanical properties of genicula and may lend insight into the calcification process in coralline algae.
Mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo2 is important for enterochromaffin cell response to mechanical forces

The gastrointestinal epithelial enterochromaffin (EC) cell synthesizes the vast majority of the body's serotonin. As a specialized mechanosensor, the EC cell releases this serotonin in response to mechanical forces. However, the molecular mechanism of EC cell mechanotransduction is unknown. In the present study, we show, for the first time, that the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo2 is specifically expressed by the human and mouse EC cells. Activation of Piezo2 by mechanical forces results in a characteristic ionic current, the release of serotonin and stimulation of gastrointestinal secretion. Piezo2 inhibition by drugs or molecular knockdown decreases mechanosensitive currents, serotonin release and downstream physiological effects. The results of the present study suggest that the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo2 is specifically expressed by the EC cells of the human and mouse small bowel and that it is important for EC cell mechanotransduction.
Polarization Effect on the Photovoltaic Characteristics of  $\hbox{Al}_{0.14}\hbox{Ga}_{0.86}\hbox{N}/\hbox{In}_{0.21}\hbox{Ga}_{0.79}\hbox{N}$ Superlattice Solar Cells

The influence of spontaneous and strain-induced piezoelectric polarizations on the photovoltaic characteristics of an Al<sub>0.14</sub>Ga<sub>0.86</sub>N/In<sub>0.21</sub>Ga<sub>0.79</sub>N superlattice (SL) solar cell is numerically investigated. The simulation results show that, compared with the conventional p-i-n structure, the Al<sub>0.14</sub>Ga<sub>0.86</sub>N/In<sub>0.21</sub>Ga<sub>0.79</sub>N SL solar cell has better photovoltaic characteristics and is less sensitive to the effect of internal polarization. Therefore, the use of an SL structure in the III-nitride solar cells is advantageous if both the polarization effect and the crystal quality are of major concern.
Cooperative Selection Diversity in Wireless Multiuser Relay Networks

This paper advocates the performance of wireless multiuser relay networks (MRNs) equipped with a single amplify-and-forward (AaF) relay. For such networks, we focus on opportunistic scheduling, in which the destination with the highest instantaneous end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is scheduled for transmission. The scheduled destination can receive either directly from the source or indirectly through the relay, based on cooperative selection diversity (CSD). Assuming Rayleigh fading channels, we first derive a new expression for the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the received instantaneous end-to-end SNR. Then, relying on this statistical result, we present new exact expressions for the outage probability and symbol error rate (SER), both of which are obtained in closed-form. Furthermore, we derive simple yet valuable closed-form asymptotic expressions for the outage probability and SER in the high SNR regime. Our results explicitly reveal the impacts of CSD and opportunistic scheduling on the diversity order and array gain. Numerical results are presented to validate the analysis.
Regulation of the human bradykinin B2 receptor expressed in sf21 insect cells: A possible role for tyrosine kinases

The functional regulation of the human bradykinin B2 receptor expressed in sf21 cells was studied. Human bradykinin B2 receptors were immunodetected as a band of 75–80 kDa in membranes from recombinant baculovirus‐infected cells and visualized at the plasma membrane, by confocal microscopy, using an antibody against an epitope from its second extracellular loop. B2 receptors, detected in membranes by [3H‐bradykinin] binding, showed a Kd of 0.66 nmol/L and an expression level of 2.57 pmol/mg of protein at 54 h postinfection. In these cells, bradykinin induced a transient increase of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in fura 2‐AM loaded sf21 cells, and promoted [35S]‐GTPγS binding to membranes. The effects of bradykinin were dose dependent (with an EC50 of 50 nmol/L for calcium mobilization) and were inhibited by N‐α‐adamantaneacetyl‐D‐Arg‐[Hyp3,Thi5,8,D‐phe7]‐Bk, a specific B2 receptor antagonist. When the B2 antagonist was applied at the top of the calcium transient, it accelerated the decline of the peak, suggesting that calcium mobilization at this point was still influenced by receptor occupation. No calcium mobilization was elicited by 1 μmol/L (Des‐Arg9)‐Bk, a B1 receptor agonist that did not inhibit the subsequent action of 100 nmol/L bradykinin. No effect of bradykinin was detected in uninfected cells or cells infected with the wild‐type baculovirus. Bradykinin‐induced [Ca2+]i mobilization was increased by genistein and tyrphostin A51. These tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not modify basal levels of [Ca2+]i. Homologous desensitization of the B2 receptor was observed after repeated applications of bradykinin, which resulted in attenuated changes in intracellular calcium. In addition, genistein promoted an increased response to a third exposure to the agonist when applied after washing the cells that had been previously challenged with two increasing doses of bradykinin. Genistein did not affect the calcium mobilization induced by activation of the endogenous octopamine G protein‐coupled receptor or by thapsigargin. The B2 receptor, detected by confocal microscopy in unpermeabilized cells, remained constant at the surface of cells stimulated with bradykinin for 10 min, in the presence or absence of genistein. Agonist‐promoted phosphorylation of the B2 receptor was markedly accentuated by genistein treatment. Phosphoaminoacid analysis revealed the presence of phosphoserine and traces of phosphothreonine, but not phosphotyrosine, suggesting that the putative tyrosine kinase(s), activated by bradykinin, could act in a step previous to receptor phosphorylation. Interestingly, genistein prevented agonist‐induced G protein uncoupling from B2 receptors, determined by in vitro bradykinin‐stimulated [35S]‐GTPγS binding, in membranes from bradykinin pretreated cells. Our results suggest that tyrosine kinase(s) regulate the activity of the human B2 receptor in sf21 cells by affecting its coupling to G proteins and its phosphorylation. J. Cell. Biochem. 76:658–673, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effects of Coworker Heterogeneity on Firm-Level Output: Assessing the Impacts of Cultural and Language Diversity in the National Hockey League

Abstract This paper uses data from the National Hockey League (NHL) to consider the potential gains to firms from employing culturally diverse work teams. It finds that the presence of foreign workers does increase firm-level performance: NHL teams that employed a higher proportion of European players performed better. However, the results also indicate that teams perform better when their European players come from the same country rather than being spread across many European countries. When teams have players from a wide array of European countries, integration costs associated with language and cultural differences may start to override any gains from diversity.
Growth differentiation factor 9:bone morphogenetic protein 15 heterodimers are potent regulators of ovarian functions

Significance Although genetic studies have uncovered critical functions of GDF9 and BMP15 in female reproduction, many genetic and physiologic data for these ligands remain perplexing. Here we establish that mouse and human GDF9:BMP15 heterodimers are the most biopotent regulators of ovarian granulosa cell functions. Moreover, GDF9:BMP15 heterodimers require a unique signaling complex that includes the type 2 receptor BMPR2, an ALK4/5/7 type 1 kinase receptor, and an ALK6 type 1 co-receptor. GDF9:BMP15 binding to this complex stimulates phosphorylation of SMAD2/3. Our findings explain intraspecies and interspecies functions of these oocyte-synthesized proteins and have key implications for the regulation of female fertility. The TGF-β superfamily is the largest family of secreted proteins in mammals, and members of the TGF-β family are involved in most developmental and physiological processes. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), oocyte-secreted paralogs of the TGF-β superfamily, have been shown genetically to control ovarian physiology. Although previous studies found that GDF9 and BMP15 homodimers can modulate ovarian pathways in vitro, the functional species-specific significance of GDF9:BMP15 heterodimers remained unresolved. Therefore, we engineered and produced purified recombinant mouse and human GDF9 and BMP15 homodimers and GDF9:BMP15 heterodimers to compare their molecular characteristics and physiological functions. In mouse granulosa cell and cumulus cell expansion assays, mouse GDF9 and human BMP15 homodimers can up-regulate cumulus expansion-related genes (Ptx3, Has2, and Ptgs2) and promote cumulus expansion in vitro, whereas mouse BMP15 and human GDF9 homodimers are essentially inactive. However, we discovered that mouse GDF9:BMP15 heterodimer is ∼10- to 30-fold more biopotent than mouse GDF9 homodimer, and human GDF9:BMP15 heterodimer is ∼1,000- to 3,000-fold more bioactive than human BMP15 homodimer. We also demonstrate that the heterodimers require the kinase activities of ALK4/5/7 and BMPR2 to activate SMAD2/3 but unexpectedly need ALK6 as a coreceptor in the signaling complex in granulosa cells. Our findings that GDF9:BMP15 heterodimers are the most bioactive ligands in mice and humans compared with homodimers explain many puzzling genetic and physiological data generated during the last two decades and have important implications for improving female fertility in mammals.
Active controlled shutter for effective cooling of servers in data center

In a data center, the main challenge is dealing with the power consumption of IT equipment and air conditioning (AC) units. To reduce the total energy in a data center, many techniques and approaches have been proposed. These strategies focused on the idle power of servers or controlling AC units while considering the temperature of server racks independently. In this paper, an active controlled shutter that enables the control of cooling airflow was proposed while considering the temperature of servers independently. By using the proposed method, wasted cooling energy could be eliminated. In a simulation of the proposed method, a conventional task assignment method was used, and start-up delays were considered. Additionally, the effect of the active controlled shutter was evaluated. The shutter blocks off cool air from cold aisles by observing the temperature of a server. As a result, the cooling power of the AC can be reduced by preventing the excessive cooling of idle or shut-down servers. An experimental result shows that the proposed method reduced the cooling energy by 22.8 %.
The small leucine‐rich proteoglycan biglycan modulates BMP‐4‐induced osteoblast differentiation

Biglycan (bgn) is a small leucine‐rich proteoglycan enriched in extracellular matrices of skeletal tissues. Bgn‐deficient mice develop age‐related osteopenia with a phenotype that resembles osteoporosis and premature arthritis. In the present study, we have examined the differentiation of ftgw‐deficient osteoblasts from neonatal murine calvariae and found that the absence of bgn caused less BMP‐4 binding, which reduced the sensitivity of osteoblasts to BMP‐4 stimulation. The loss of sensitivity resulted in a reduction of Cbfa1 expression, which ultimately led to a defect in the differentiation of osteoblasts. However, the response of ftgw‐deficient osteoblasts to BMP‐4 was completely rescued by reintroduction of biglycan by viral transfection. We propose that biglycan modulates BMP‐4‐induced signaling to control osteoblast differentiation. —Chen, X. ‐D. , Fisher, L. W. , Robey, P. G. , Young, M. F. The small leucine‐rich proteoglycan biglycan modulates BMP‐4‐induced osteoblast differentiation. FASEB J. 18, 948–958 (2004)