Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THYROID HORMONES: THEIR ROLE IN TESTICULAR STEROIDOGENESIS

Thyroid hormones are important for growth and development of many tissues. Altered thyroid hormone status causes testicular abnormalities. For instance, juvenile hypothyroidism/neonatal transient hypothyroidism induces macroorchidism, increases testicular cell number (Sertoli, Leydig, and germ cells) and daily sperm production. Triiodothyronine (T3) receptors have been identified in sperm, developing germ cells, Sertoli, Leydig, and peritubular cells. T3 stimulates Sertoli cell lactate secretion as well as mRNA expression of inhibin- f, androgen receptor, IGF-I, and IGFBP-4. It also inhibits Sertoli cell mRNA expression of Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), aromatase, estradiol receptor, and androgen binding protein (ABP) and ABP secretion. T3 directly increases Leydig cell LH receptor numbers and mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. It stimulates basal and LH-induced secretion of progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol by Leydig cells. Steroidogenic factor-1 acts as a mediator for T3-induced Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Although the role of T3 on sperm, germ, and peritubular cells has not yet been completely studied, it is clear that T3 directly regulates Sertoli and Leydig cell functions. Further studies are required to elucidate the direct effect of T3 on sperm, germ, and peritubular cells.
Standard 6: Age Groups for Pediatric Trials

* Abbreviations: RCT — : randomized controlled trial SSRI — : selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor It has long been an axiom in clinical pediatrics that “children are not just little adults. ” It has also been recognized that there are many changes from birth through childhood and the adolescent years. However, the full implications of pediatric age groupings for health care and research are still not adequately understood. There is still much to be discovered about children’s biological and psychological development and how these processes affect the effectiveness and efficacy of interventions. Trial design that accounts for age differences and promotes consistency in reporting of age-related data is essential to ensure the validity and clinical usefulness of pediatric trial data. A recent study highlighted variable treatment efficacy in children versus adults. In this study, 128 meta-analyses from Cochrane reviews, containing data on at least 1 adult and 1 pediatric randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a binary primary efficacy outcome, were reviewed.1 The authors found that in all except 1 case, the 95% confidence intervals could not exclude a relative difference in treatment efficacy between adults and children of >20%; in two-thirds of these cases, the relative difference in observed point estimates was >50%. The study also highlighted the paucity of RCTs in pediatrics; the median number of children per meta-analysis was 2.5 times smaller than the number of adults. Children and adults seem to have distinctive responses to treatments. For example, administration of phenobarbitones is useful for adults with cerebral malaria and is associated with decreased convulsions. However, in children, this drug is associated with increased 6-month mortality. Similarly, corticosteroids may offer survival benefit for adults with bacterial meningitis but not for children with the same condition. In acute traumatic brain injury, corticosteroids did not decrease mortality in adults, but there was a trend for increased mortality in children.1 In asthma, long-acting β2-agonists decreased … Address correspondence to Martin Offringa, MD, PhD, Senior Scientist and Program Head, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8. E-mail: martin.offringa{at}sickkids.ca
Is Resting Anterior EEG Alpha Asymmetry a Trait Marker for Depression?

Several lines of evidence suggest that asymmetric anterior brain activation is related to affective style, linking left hemisphere activation to positive affect and right hemisphere activation to negative affect. However, previous reports of left frontal hypoactivation in depressed patients were not confirmed in recent studies. This study evaluated additional characteristics of resting EEG alpha (8–13 Hz) asymmetry in 15 clinically depressed patients and 22 healthy adults by recording EEG activity on two separate occasions, 2–4 weeks apart. Across both sessions, group differences in anterior EEG asymmetry were compatible with the original hypothesis. However, groups differed in temporal stability of anterior EEG asymmetry, which was retest reliable in controls but not depressed patients. In contrast, temporal stability of posterior EEG asymmetry was acceptable in both groups. Increased variability of anterior EEG asymmetry may be a characteristic feature for depression, and, if so, this would challenge the notion that anterior EEG alpha asymmetry is a trait marker for depression.
Autoimmune Diabetes in 26 Villages outside Madras

Abstract: Autoimmune diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Autoantibodies against major antigens GAD65 and IA‐2 as well as some minor antibodies are markers for autoimmune diabetes already several years before clinical onset in most populations. Screening the population for these autoantibodies can help identify subjects at risk for developing type 1 diabetes. In our study we screened 20,903 inhabitants in 26 villages outside Madras for diabetes. Among them 3.64% were detected to be diabetic. The aim of our study was to detect the presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), tyrosine phosphates (IA‐2) and tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibodies. We studied 169 individuals from this population, 75 of them were diagnosed as diabetics, based on presence of sugar in the urine and an elevated blood sugar, 58 had hypertension, and 36 were healthy subjects. We used radioimmunoassay with in vitro translated and transcribed human recombinant 35S‐GAD65, IA‐2 and TTG antigens. We observed presence of GAD65Ab in 10%, IA‐2Ab in 5%, and TTGAb in 5% in diabetic subjects, while the healthy subjects and people with hypertension didn't carry any of these antibodies. We conclude that prevalence of autoimmune diabetes mellitus based on antibody screening in this population is significantly high.
A two-stage discrimination of cardiac arrhythmias using a total least squares-based Prony modeling algorithm

In this paper, we describe a new approach for the discrimination among ventricular fibrillation (VF), ventricular tachycardia (VT) and superventricular tachycardia (SVT) developed using a total least squares (TLS)-based Prony modeling algorithm. Two features, dubbed energy fractional factor (EFF) and predominant frequency (PF), are both derived from the TLS-based Prony model. In general, EFF is adopted for discriminating SVT from ventricular tachyarrhythmias (i.e., VF and VT) first, and PF is then used for further separation of VF and VT. Overall classification is achieved by performing a two-stage process to the indicators defined by EFF and PF values, respectively. Tests conducted using 91 episodes drawn from the MIT-BIH database produced optimal predictive accuracy of (SVT, VF, VT) = (95.24%, 96.00%, 97.78%). A data decimation process is also introduced in the novel method to enhance the computational efficiency, resulting in a significant reduction in the time required for generating the feature values.
GABA Neuron Alterations, Cortical Circuit Dysfunction and Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder associated with cognitive deficits that severely affect the patients' capacity for daily functioning. Whereas our understanding of its pathophysiology is limited, postmortem studies suggest that schizophrenia is associated with deficits of GABA-mediated synaptic transmission. A major role of GABA-mediated transmission may be producing synchronized network oscillations which are currently hypothesized to be essential for normal cognitive function. Therefore, cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may result from a GABA synapse dysfunction that disturbs neural synchrony. Here, we highlight recent studies further suggesting alterations of GABA transmission and network oscillations in schizophrenia. We also review current models for the mechanisms of GABA-mediated synchronization of neural activity, focusing on parvalbumin-positive GABA neurons, which are altered in schizophrenia and whose function has been strongly linked to the production of neural synchrony. Alterations of GABA signaling that impair gamma oscillations and, as a result, cognitive function suggest paths for novel therapeutic interventions.
Statistical Treatment of Measured Orientation Relationships

Using the χ 2 -test a statistical method is described, which allows a clear decision whether a given distribution of orientation relationships between adjacent grains is random or not. The validity of this method even for small numbers of orientation relationships, as obtained from electron microscopical measurements, is shown by generating a small sample of randomly distributed orientation relationships and testing it against the calculated distribution. The method is applied to orientation relationships measured between α / α -, α /β- and β/β-neighbouring grains in single- and dual-phase brasses.
Combined production, option procurement and pricing strategies under random yield

We consider a manufacturer facility where the assembly of a product needs a critical component. The production of the component faces random yield. To prevent the shortage, the manufacturer can also purchase the component from another supplier with an option contract. According to the contract, a certain quantity of components can be reserved with a reservation price per unit, and an execution price per unit of actual needed quantity will be charged by the supplier when the random yield is realized. With deterministic but price-dependent demand of the product, we analyze the optimal component production quantity in the manufacturer facility, the optimal reserving decisions from the supplier and the optimal product pricing strategies. The results show that it is profitable for the manufacturer to reserve from the supplier only when the product price is greater than a certain threshold. The manufacturer will consider whether to choose the lower price strategy only if the threshold is high enough. Otherwise, the manufacturer surely chooses the higher price strategy.
Time-domain fast fixed-point algorithms for convolutive ICA

This letter presents new blind separation methods for moving average (MA) convolutive mixtures of independent MA processes. They consist of time-domain extensions of the FastICA algorithms developed by Hyvarinen and Oja for instantaneous mixtures. They perform a convolutive sphering in order to use parameter-free fast fixed-point algorithms associated with kurtotic or negentropic non-Gaussianity criteria for estimating the source innovation processes. We prove the relevance of this approach by mapping the mixtures into linear instantaneous ones. Test results are presented for artificial colored signals and speech signals.
Soft-robotic arm inspired by the octopus: II. From artificial requirements to innovative technological solutions

Soft robotics is a current focus in robotics research because of the expected capability of soft robots to better interact with real-world environments. As a point of inspiration in the development of innovative technologies in soft robotics, octopuses are particularly interesting ‘animal models’. Octopus arms have unique biomechanical capabilities that combine significant pliability with the ability to exert a great deal of force, because they lack rigid structures but can change and control their degree of stiffness. The octopus arm motor capability is a result of the peculiar arrangement of its muscles and the properties of its tissues. These special abilities have been investigated by the authors in a specific study dedicated to identifying the key principles underlying these biological functions and deriving engineering requirements for robotics solutions. This paper, which is the second in a two-part series, presents how the identified requirements can be used to create innovative technological solutions, such as soft materials, mechanisms and actuators. Experiments indicate the ability of these proposed solutions to ensure the same performance as in the biological model in terms of compliance, elongation and force. These results represent useful and relevant components of innovative soft-robotic systems and suggest their potential use to create a new generation of highly dexterous, soft-bodied robots.
Vowels co-ordination model

In Multi-Agent Systems, co-ordination plays an important role and addresses a hard problem when taken at distributed and dynamic way. Up to now, several approaches embark solving mechanisms upon agent, interaction, organisation or environment levels indistinctly. However, in a Multi-Agent Oriented Programming perspective, we need to consider the dynamics at every MAS component. In this article we address this MAOP view through a co-ordination model based on the Vowels Paradigm, which offers a componential view of a MAS and a development platform. So, our model takes this decomposition method through a cognitive approach by using multi-agent plan relations and social aspects by means of social dependence. Differently of classical component focused models, we orient our approach to every component of the MAS by addressing some co-ordination approaches into an integrated co-ordination model. This model is illustrated through the RoboCup application in order to evaluate these co-ordination ideas.
Lipid Nanotubes: A Unique Template To Create Diverse One-Dimensional Nanostructures†

Lipid molecules can self-assemble in liquid media into open-ended, hollow cylindrical structures, which are composed of rolled-up bilayer membrane walls. The resultant lipid nanotubes (LNTs) have a few unique properties, such as controllable diameters and length and finely functionalizable surfaces benefitting template-synthesized one-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures, that no other individual templates possess. The elegant hollow cylinders of the LNT can modulate the nucleation, growth, and deposition of inorganic substances on their external and internal surfaces, in the hollow cylinder, and in the bilayer membrane wall. Templating the LNTs enables one to produce diverse 1-D nanostructures, such as nanotubes, concentric tubular hybrids, complex helical architectures, and 1-D arrays of quantum dots.
Solution structure of maurotoxin, a scorpion toxin from Scorpio maurus, with high affinity for voltage‐gated potassium channels

Maurotoxin (MTX), purified from the scorpionid Scorpio maurus is a potent ligand for potassium channels. It shows a broad specificity as being active on Kv1.1 (Kd = 37 nM), Kv1.2 (Kd = 0.8 nM), Kv1.3 (Kd = 150 nM) voltage‐gated potassium channels, as well as on small‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channels. It has a unique disulfide pairing among the scorpion toxins family. The solution structure of MTX has been determined by 2D‐NMR techniques, which led to the full description of its 3D conformation: a bended helix from residues 6 to 16 connected by a loop to a two‐stranded antiparallel β sheet (residues 23 to 26 and 28 to 31). The interaction of MTX with the pore region of the Kv1.2 potassium channel has been modeled according to their charge anisotropy. The structure of MTX is similar to other short scorpion toxins despite its peculiar disulfide pairing. Its interaction with the Kv1.2 channel involves a dipole moment, which guides and orients the toxin onto the pore, toward the binding site, and which thus is responsible for the specificity. Proteins 29:321–333, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Probabilistic Relational Models with Relational Uncertainty: An Early Study in Web Page Classification

In the last decade, new approaches focused on modelling uncertainty over complex relational data have been developed. In this paper one of the most promising of such approaches, known as Probabilistic Relational Models (PRMs), has been investigated and extended in order to measure and include uncertainty over relationships. Our extension, called PRMs with Relational Uncertainty, has been evaluated on real-data for web document classification purposes. Experimental results shown the potentiality of the proposed methods of capturing the real “strength” of relationships and the capacity of including this information into the probability model.
Art, Design and Neurodiversity

What is the role of contemporary art and design practice within neurodiversity? How digital media is engaging people who have a neurodivergent perspective (e.g., autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia) into creating new art? This paper looks at giving a brief overview of the topic whilst looking into project Art, Design and Neurodiversity that the author started in 2015 in conjunction with the Graphic and Media Design course at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London (UAL). A collaboration was also built on some case-studies with Tate Digital Learning and BBC Research & Development. Exploring areas of sound art, graphic design, video art and storytelling, art practices around different forms of neurodiversity are investigated and produced. In this paper, there is also a key area of inclusive visual material and artistic work created by the participants. The art-design pieces can “live” independently but in this project they are also part of a wider communication that is taken into consideration also in the overall structure of this paper itself. With this paper, the author also looks at describing the way the project started, what outputs and findings are coming from the first phase of the work, and what are the next steps.
Deep Sequencing Reveals Differences in the Transcriptional Landscapes of Fibers from Two Cultivated Species of Cotton

Cotton (Gossypium) fiber is the most prevalent natural product used in the textile industry. The two major cultivated species, G. hirsutum (Gh) and G. barbadense (Gb), are allotetraploids with contrasting fiber quality properties. To better understand the molecular basis for their fiber differences, EST pyrosequencing was used to document the fiber transcriptomes at two key development stages, 10 days post anthesis (dpa), representing the peak of fiber elongation, and 22 dpa, representing the transition to secondary cell wall synthesis. The 617,000 high quality reads (89% of the total 692,000 reads) from 4 libraries were assembled into 46,072 unigenes, comprising 38,297 contigs and 7,775 singletons. Functional annotation of the unigenes together with comparative digital gene expression (DGE) revealed a diverse set of functions and processes that were partly linked to specific fiber stages. Globally, 2,770 contigs (7%) showed differential expression (>2-fold) between 10 and 22 dpa (irrespective of genotype), with 70% more highly expressed at 10 dpa, while 2,248 (6%) were differentially expressed between the genotypes (irrespective of stage). The most significant genes with differential DGE at 10 dpa included expansins and lipid transfer proteins (higher in Gb), while at 22 dpa tubulins, cellulose, and sucrose synthases showed higher expression in Gb. DGE was compared with expression data of 10 dpa-old fibers from Affymetrix microarrays. Among 543 contigs showing differential expression on both platforms, 74% were consistent in being either over-expressed in Gh (242 genes) or in Gb (161 genes). Furthermore, the unigene set served to identify 339 new SSRs and close to 21,000 inter-genotypic SNPs. Subsets of 88 SSRs and 48 SNPs were validated through mapping and added 65 new loci to a RIL genetic map. The new set of fiber ESTs and the gene-based markers complement existing available resources useful in basic and applied research for crop improvement in cotton.
Scalable Computing: Practice and Experience

Blood cell separation microdevices are designed in biomedical engineering for separation of cancer cells from blood. The movement of cancer cells particles in a continuous flow microfluidic device is a challenging problem since there are several forces incorporated. For instance, forces due to inertia, gravity, buoyancy, dielectrophoresis and virtual mass are accounted for in this system. Understanding the cell particle movement and behavior at high level of abstraction is necessary in order to avoid fundamental errors in the design of systems that can make use of this behavior. In this paper we use formal analysis in order to formalize and validate the movement of microparticles under DEP forces for blood cell separation microdevice. This is achieved by modeling the dynamic behavior that can predict the trajectory of microparticles as a transition state based system. The model is used to validate the correctness of the microdevice at early stages of the design process.
Colluder Detection for Nonlinear Collusion Attacks

We investigate the problem of colluder identification for digital fingerprinting systems under nonlinear collusion attacks. Formulating colluder detection as a binary hypothesis testing problem, we derive the log-likelihood ratio tests for various nonlinear collusion attacks. Utilizing the approximate distribution of the order statistics, we obtain suboptimal detection statistics with low complexity. Compared with the existing correlation-based detectors, these detectors provide substantial improvement in both detection performance and computational complexity.
Lunar cyclic population replenishment of a coral reef fish: shifting patterns following oceanic events

We examined the relationship between the pelagic environment and the lunar timing of reproduction and recruitment of a coral reef fish by comparing patterns exhibited by fish under nor- mal oceanographic conditions with patterns exhibited by fish that experienced significantly different pelagic conditions (i.e. encounter with meso-scale, low-salinity North Brazil Current (NBC) rings passing by the island of Barbados). We used a 20 mo time series of bluehead wrasse Thalassoma bifasciatum recruitment, and compared larval growth and the timing of settlement and (successful) spawning recorded in the otoliths of individual recruits that encountered an NBC ring (RING fish) with those that did not (NO RING fish). Spawning occurred during all times of the lunar cycle, but during NO RING conditions, only those larvae spawned during the first-quarter moon were retained nearshore. Successful NO RING recruits were spawned during the first-quarter moon, grew rapidly as larvae, and settled during the third-quarter moon and neap tides. In contrast, during RING events, larvae spawned during all lunar phases were retained nearshore. Successful RING recruits were spawned over the entire lunar cycle, grew more slowly as larvae, and settled during both quarter moons. Fish settling during the first-quarter moon were of higher condition than third-quarter-moon settlers, which is consistent with the concept of higher predation losses and selective mortality of set- tlers during less-than-optimum periods. Synchronized settlement patterns can be decoupled from spawning patterns by pelagic processes and flexible larval growth schedules. Variable pelagic con- ditions may contribute to the maintenance of daily reproduction and flexible growth histories in marine species.