Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corpora lutea diameter, plasma progesterone concentration and follicular development in PGF2α and CIDR estrus synchronized goats.

The current study compares the number and diameter of the corpora lutea (CL), plasma progesterone concentrations and follicular development in PGF2a and CIDR synchronized estrus cycle, their subsequent estrus cycles, and in unsynchronized, naturally cycling Boer x Feral crossbred goats. The PGF20, group was synchronized with a double intramuscular injection of 125 ug cloprostenol 11 days apart, the progesterone group was synchronized with CIDR left in place for 17 days, while the third group was not synchronized and served as control. All the estrus synchronized goats ovulated and formed normal CL while 25% in the subsequent estrus cycle and 50% of the naturally cycling goats did not ovulate and hence might be a cause of reduced fertility in the goats. The diameter of the CL, and the plasma progesterone concentration between the PGF2.a synchronized (11.910.5 mm; 3.5110.19 ng/ml) and their subsequent estrus cycle (12.010.4 mm; 3.2210.71 ng/ml), as well as between CIDR synchronized (12.310.4 mm; 5.9811.11 ng/ml) and subsequent estrus cycle (12.510.8 mm; 4.2511.37 ng/ml) were not significantly different (P>0.05) but were higher than in the unsynchronized goats (9.313.8 mm; 2.991s1.64 ng/ml). The day of emergence and duration of follicular waves, as well as the maximum diameter attained by the largest follicle in the follicular waves was unaffected irrespective of whether PGF2.a or CIDR was used for estrus synchronization. This indicated that the morphology and function of the CL did not influence these aspects of follicular development in non-seasonally polyestrus Boer crossbred goats in the humid tropics.
PROTECTIVE ROLE OF INTERFERON-Β IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY IN RATS

MURTEZA CAKIR1, SERKAN ZENGIN1, CAGATAY CALIKOGLU1, EROL AKPINAR2, RECEP DEMIR3, DENIZ UNAL4, HAKAN HADI KADIOGLU1 1Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Erzurum 2Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Erzurum 3Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Erzurum 4Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum, Turkey
Targeting of Zyxin to Sites of Actin Membrane Interaction and to the Nucleus*

The localization of proteins to particular intracellular compartments often regulates their functions. Zyxin is a LIM protein found prominently at sites of cell adhesion, faintly in leading lamellipodia, and transiently in cell nuclei. Here we have performed a domain analysis to identify regions in zyxin that are responsible for targeting it to different subcellular locations. The N-terminal proline-rich region of zyxin, which harbors binding sites for α-actinin and members of the Ena/VASP family, concentrates in lamellipodial extensions and weakly in focal adhesions. The LIM region of zyxin displays robust targeting to focal adhesions. When overexpressed in cells, the LIM region of zyxin causes displacement of endogenous zyxin from focal adhesions. Upon mislocalization of full-length zyxin, at least one member of the Ena/VASP family is also displaced, and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton is perturbed. Zyxin also has the capacity to shuttle between the nucleus and focal adhesion sites. When nuclear export is inhibited, zyxin accumulates in cell nuclei. The nuclear accumulation of zyxin occurs asynchronously with approximately half of the cells exhibiting nuclear localization of zyxin within 2.3 h of initiating leptomycin B treatment. Our results provide insight into the functions of different zyxin domains.
2D format for screening bacterial cells at the throughput of flow cytometry

We present a method for generating gel‐based unordered 2D arrays of bacterial cells of a very high density, up to 105 cells per mm2. Bacteria in a suspension are focused into a thin layer when the suspension and a dry gel matrix penetrate each other. Formation of a second gel from gel‐forming components contained in the suspension results in immobilization of the cells. The immobilized cells stay alive and can repeatedly divide to produce microcolonies. The method provides for high‐throughput screening and massively parallel analysis of individual cells in large populations, as well as for rapid isolation of rare clones. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2682–2690. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PDZ Domains in Microorganisms: Link Between Stress Response and Protein Synthesis

The PSD-95/Dlg-A/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain is highly expanded and diversified in metazoan where it is known to assemble diverse signalling components by virtue of interactions with other proteins in sequence-specific manner. In contrast, in bacteria it monitors protein quality control during stress response. The distribution, functions and origin of PDZ domain-containing proteins in prokaryotes are largely unknown. We analyzed 7,852 PDZ domain-containing proteins in 1,474 prokaryotes and fungi. PDZ domains are abundant in eubacteria; and, this study confirms their occurrence also in archaea and fungi. Of all eubacterial PDZ domain-containing proteins, 89% are predicted to be membrane and periplasmic, explaining the depletion of bacterial domain forms in metazoan. Planctomycetes, myxobacteria and other eubacteria occupying terrestrial and aquatic niches encode more domain copies, which may have contributed towards multi-cellularity and prokaryotic-eukaryotic transition. Over 93% of the 7,852 PDZ-containing proteins classified into 12 families including 6 novel families. Out of these 88% harbour eight different protease domains, suggesting their substrate-specificity is guided by PDZ domains. The genomic context provides tantalizing insight towards the functions associated with PDZ domains and reinforces their involvement in protein synthesis. We propose that the highly variable PDZ domain of the uncharacterized Fe-S oxidoreductase superfamily, exclusively found in gladobacteria and several anaerobes and acetogens, may have preceded all existing PDZ domains.
A CMOS 3–12-GHz Ultrawideband Low Noise Amplifier by Dual-Resonance Network

A low-power and high power-gain (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$S_{21}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) ultrawideband low noise amplifier (UWB LNA) with flat noise figure (NF) based on Global Foundies 0.13-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> CMOS technology is reported. The load effect of common-gate (CG) topology is applied with dual-resonance load network for both wideband input matching and NF flatness. Combined with inductive-series peaking technique, the frequency response of CG-common-source cascade topology is further extended. The LNA circuit achieves the high and flat power gain of 13.5 ± 1.5 dB with input return loss better than 13 dB and a flat NF of 4.3 dB ±0.4 dB for frequencies 3–12 GHz. The fabricated LNA occupies a die area of 1.09 0.8 mm<sup>2</sup> including pads and draw 8.5 mW from 1.2-V dc supply.
Combined Electroconvulsive-Clozapine Therapy

We reviewed 36 reported psychiatric patients who were treated with a combination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and clozapine. The indication of the ECT-clozapine treatment was resistance to classical antipsychotic agents, clozapine, or ECT alone. Sixty-seven percent of the patients benefited from the combined treatment. In most of the patients, the combined treatment was safe and well tolerated. Adverse reactions occurred in 16.6% of the patients and included prolonged ECT-induced seizures (one case), supraventricular (one case) and sinus tachycardia, and blood pressure elevation. It seems that combined ECT-clozapine treatment is effective and safe. This strategy may be a therapeutic option in treatment-resistant patients.
Tracking of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein after an initially elevated concentration: the JUPITER Study.

BACKGROUND The JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) trial suggests that increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations may be useful in decisions about the initiation of statin therapy for primary prevention of vascular disease. Although studies of specific populations have suggested that hsCRP is a reliable longitudinal marker, it is unclear how strongly hsCRP tracks in individuals after a single increased concentration. METHODS We evaluated tracking of hsCRP in 8901 individuals randomized to placebo in the JUPITER trial. These individuals had screening LDL cholesterol concentrations <130 mg/dL (<3.37 mmol/L) and hsCRP concentrations > or =2 mg/L, with subsequent hsCRP measurements made before randomization; at 13 weeks; 1, 2, 3, and 4 years later; and at trial termination. Longitudinal trends and associations were evaluated nonparametrically with box plots and Spearman correlations. After data transformation to achieve normality, repeated-measures regression models estimated the intraclass correlation of hsCRP, with and without controlling for known demographic, lifestyle, and medical determinants of hsCRP concentration. For comparison, we evaluated tracking of systolic and diastolic blood pressure; total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol; and fasting triglycerides. RESULTS The median hsCRP concentration in these untreated individuals showed modest regression to the mean over time, declining from 3.8 mg/L at randomization to 3.4 mg/L at 4 years. Tracking correlations for hsCRP over time were comparable to those for blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, but lower than those for HDL, fasting triglycerides, and total cholesterol. The intraclass correlation for repeated hsCRP measurements was 0.54 (95% CI, 0.53-0.55) without covariate adjustment and 0.50 (95% CI, 0.49-0.51) after adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, and comorbidity determinants. CONCLUSIONS Concentrations of hsCRP show strong tracking, even after selection of individuals with initially high values. Without statin therapy, increased concentrations of hsCRP generally remain high over time.
e-Government 2015: exploring m-government scenarios, between ICT-driven experiments and citizen-centric implications

After introducing the challenges and failures of first generation e-government (identified as e-Gov 1.0), and the rhetoric of the next generation of e-government efforts (identified as e-Gov 2.0), this paper presents an analysis of the promises of m-government, a relatively new phenomenon whose potential is largely unknown and unexplored but is already considered by many to be the most important subset of future e-government services. Discussing some cases of m-government technologies and applications worldwide, the paper identifies a number of risks and research questions to be further elaborated. In practice, are we about to go through a major adapting societal move, partly due to information and communication technologies (ICTs) but also to other co-factors likely to influence our near future (socio-political-economic and environmental trends), or are we just passing through a natural evolution (eventually faster than others occurred in the past)? Within this particular dynamic, the paper further addresses the importance of looking at what the various emerging scenarios may be, and which ones have to be considered and eventually deployed in terms of policy-relevant and favourable cost–benefit perspectives.
Assessment of subjective and motor fatigue in Polio survivors, attending a Postpolio clinic, comparison with healthy controls and an exploration of clinical correlates

Abstract Purpose: Polio survivors experience declining mobility, pain and fatigue. The extent of motor fatigue and its impact on mobility and quality of life, in addition to other commonly reported impairments requires evaluation. Methods: An observational, case–control, cross-sectional design was used to assess 30 Polio survivors and 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Muscle strength and motor fatigue were assessed using fixed dynamometry. Fatigue, pain and quality of life were assessed using the Piper Fatigue Scale, the Fatigue Severity Scale, visual analogue scales and the RAND Short Form-36, respectively. An 8-min walking test, including physiological cost index (PCI), evaluated mobility. Results: A significant difference in motor fatigue was identified only in hand grip (p = 0.03). Polio survivors were significantly weaker (p < 0.001) and more fatigued (p < 0.001) than controls. Motor fatigue was not related to subjective fatigue, mobility or quality of life. Muscle strength predicted mobility. Pain and fatigue were associated with lower mental quality of life, while PCI was associated with physical quality of life. Conclusion: Motor fatigue has been identified in Polio survivors but was only significantly different in hand grip, using this approach. Pain, fatigue and elevated energy cost of walking negatively influenced quality of life. Motor fatigue was unrelated to subjective fatigue, mobility or quality of life.
Roles of TLR2, TLR4, NOD2, and NOD1 in Pulp Fibroblasts

Pulp fibroblasts express various pro-inflammatory mediators leading to marked infiltration of inflammatory cells in the progression of pulpitis. We hypothesized that pulp fibroblasts play roles in the recognition of invaded caries-related bacteria and the subsequent innate immune responses. We found clear expressions of TLR2, NOD1, and NOD2 and a faint expression of TLR4 in human dental pulp fibroblasts (HDPF) by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. We also observed that various pro-inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, prostaglandin E2 and its key enzyme COX-2, not iNOS or caspase-1, were markedly up-regulated by stimulation with these TLR and NOD agonists. More over, the NOD2 agonist acted synergistically with the TLR2, not the TLR4, agonist to stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in HDPF. These findings indicate that TLR2, TLR4, NOD2, and NOD1 in HDPF are functional receptors, and NOD2 is a modulator of signals transmitted through TLR2 in pulpal immune responses, leading to progressive pulpitis.
Oxytocin mediated behavior in invertebrates: An evolutionary perspective

The molecular and functional conservation of oxytocin‐related neuropeptides in behavior is striking. In animals separated by at least 600 million years of evolution, from roundworms to humans, oxytocin homologs play critical roles in the modulation of reproductive behavior and other biological functions. Here, we review the roles of oxytocin in invertebrate behavior from an evolutionary perspective. We begin by tracing the evolution of oxytocin through the invertebrate animal lineages, and then describe common themes in invertebrate behaviors that are mediated by oxytocin‐related peptides, including reproductive behavior, learning and memory, food arousal, and predator/prey relationships. Finally, we discuss interesting future directions that have recently become experimentally tractable. Studying oxytocin in invertebrates offers precise insights into the activity of neuropeptides on well‐defined neural circuits; the principles that emerge may also be represented in the more complex vertebrate brain. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 128–142, 2017
Perfluoroalkyl Substances during Pregnancy and Offspring Weight and Adiposity at Birth: Examining Mediation by Maternal Fasting Glucose in the Healthy Start Study

Background: Certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread, persistent environmental contaminants. Prenatal PFAS exposure has been associated with lower birth weight; however, impacts on body composition and factors responsible for this association are unknown. Objectives: We aimed to estimate associations between maternal PFAS concentrations and offspring weight and adiposity at birth, and secondarily to estimate associations between PFAS concentrations and maternal glucose and lipids, and to evaluate the potential for these nutrients to mediate associations between PFAS and neonatal outcomes. Methods: Within the Healthy Start prospective cohort, concentrations of 11 PFAS, fasting glucose, and lipids were measured in maternal mid-pregnancy serum (n=628). Infant body composition was measured using air displacement plethysmography. Associations between PFAS and birth weight and adiposity, and between PFAS and maternal glucose and lipids, were estimated via linear regression. Associations were decomposed into direct and indirect effects. Results: Five PFAS were detectable in >50% of participants. Maternal perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) concentrations were inversely associated with birth weight. Adiposity at birth was approximately 10% lower in the highest categories of PFOA, PFNA, and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) compared to the lowest categories. PFOA, PFNA, perfluorodecanoate (PFDeA), and PFHxS were inversely associated with maternal glucose. Up to 11.6% of the effect of PFAS on neonatal adiposity was mediated by maternal glucose concentrations. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was not significantly associated with any outcomes studied. Conclusions: Follow-up of offspring will determine the potential long-term consequences of lower weight and adiposity at birth associated with prenatal PFAS exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP641
An automatic voltage disturbance classification system based on Clonal Selection Algorithm

Classification of voltage disturbances in power systems is essential for modern society and can be very demanding according to the used method or the aimed accuracy. This paper presents a new intelligent approach aimed to automatically analyse power quality disturbances including sag, swell, outage, harmonics and normal waveform. The approach is based on Artificial Immune System and focuses on the application of a Clonal Selection Algorithm to extract features from disturbance waveforms and classify the disturbances in each 0.5 cycle of the fundamental frequency. Other important feature of the proposed approach is that it can be embedded since the resulted on-line classification tool achieves very low computational complexity. Comparisons and experimental results obtained from the application of the proposed method validate the approach and achieved a classification accuracy at least better than previous work.
Analytical Expressions for Zero-Crossing Times in Lightning Return-Stroke Engineering Models

One of the characteristic features of the electromagnetic fields radiated by lightning is the far-field inversion of polarity with a zero-crossing occurring in the tens of microseconds range. This feature has been used in several studies to test the ability of return-stroke models to reproduce the observed electromagnetic fields. In this paper, we derive closed-form analytical expressions for the zero-crossing times associated with six engineering models for the lightning return strokes, namely the Bruce-Golde (BG) model, the transmission-line (TL) model, the traveling current source (TCS) model, the modified transmission-line linear (MTLL) model, the modified transmission-line exponential (MTLE) model, and the Diendorfer-Uman (DU) model. For the derivation, the late-time behavior of the current is expressed in terms of a single exponential function. It is shown from the derived expressions that except for the TL model, according to which the zero-crossing time is independent of the current decay constant tau, all the models exhibit greater zero-crossing time as the value of tau increases. This increase is found to be linear for the BG and TCS models, nearly linear for the DU model, and quasi-logarithmic for the MTLL and MTLE models. It is also shown that all the models exhibit a decrease of the zero-crossing time with increasing return-stroke speed, except for the BG model for which the zero-crossing time appears to be independent of v . The DU and TCS models predict almost the same zero-crossing times that vary quasi-linearly with the corresponding running variables. The zero-crossing times predicted by the MTLL and MTLE models are less sensitive to the current decay time and more sensitive to the return-stroke speed, compared to the predictions of the BG, TCS, and DU models. The BG, DU, and TCS models predict, in general, larger values for the zero-crossing times than those predicted by MTLL and MTLE models. The derived expressions are then used to discuss the conditions required for every engineering return-stroke model to reproduce the expected far-field zero-crossing times. The used procedure is to compute the zero-crossing times for each model, starting from channel-base current waveforms typical of the first and subsequent return strokes, and to examine how well the predicted values are in agreement with typical, experimentally observed zero-crossing times. Other adjustable parameters are varied within their typical range of variation. It is shown that only two models, namely MTLL and MTLE, are able to reproduce the typical zero-crossing times.
Isolation and Characterization of T4 Bacteriophage gp17 Terminase, a Large Subunit Multimer with Enhanced ATPase Activity*

Phage T4 terminase is a two-subunit enzyme that binds to the prohead portal protein and cuts and packages a headful of concatameric DNA. To characterize the T4 terminase large subunit, gp17 (70 kDa), gene 17 was cloned and expressed as a chitin-binding fusion protein. Following cleavage and release of gp17 from chitin, two additional column steps completed purification. The purification yielded (i) homogeneous soluble gp17 highly active inin vitro DNA packaging (∼10% efficiency, >108 phage/ml of extract); (ii) gp17 lacking endonuclease and contaminating protease activities; and (iii) a DNA-independent ATPase activity stimulated >100-fold by the terminase small subunit, gp16 (18 kDa), and modestly by portal gp20 and single-stranded binding protein gp32 multimers. Analyses revealed a preparation of highly active and slightly active gp17 forms, and the latter could be removed by immunoprecipitation using antiserum raised against a denatured form of the gp17 protein, leaving a terminase with the increased specific activity (∼400 ATPs/gp17 monomer/min) required for DNA packaging. Analysis of gp17 complexes separated from gp16 on glycerol gradients showed that a prolonged enhanced ATPase activity persisted after exposure to gp16, suggesting that constant interaction of the two proteins may not be required during packaging.
The Determinants of Length of Stay of Tourists in the Azores

This paper examines the determinants of the length of stay of tourists in the Azores. It is found that socio-demographic profiles, such as nationality and Azorean ascendancy, and trip attributes, such as repeat visitation rates and type of flight, are important determinants. In addition, destination image and attitudes regarding environmental initiatives, constructed from a factor analysis exercise, also influence the length of stay. In particular, the results suggest that marketing strategies which promote the Azores for its nature, landscape, remoteness and weather may increase length of stay, whereas cultural heritage has the opposite effect.