Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males

Rising human population throughout the world especially in developing and underdeveloped countries has detrimental effects on life supporting system on earth. Traditionally, plants have been used to treat different kinds of ailments. The growing importance of phytochemicals in males has been reported. Contraceptive ability of plants has been reported in several animal models. The reversibility of the anti-fertility effects of plants and its active compounds are of potential clinical relevance in the development of male contraceptive. This review attempts to discuss the latest reports on the potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males.
Structural and Functional Integrity of Spermatozoa Is Compromised as a Consequence of Acute Uropathogenic E. coli-Associated Epididymitis1

ABSTRACT Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-associated epididymitis is commonly diagnosed in outpatient settings. Although the infection can be successfully cleared using antimicrobial medications, 40% of patients unexplainably show persistent impaired semen parameters even after treatment. Our aim was to investigate whether pathogenic UPEC and its associated virulence factor hemolysin (hlyA) perturb the structural and functional integrity of both the epididymis and sperm, actions that may be responsible for the observed impairment and possibly a reduction of fertilization capabilities. Semen collected from patients diagnosed with E. coli-only related epididymitis showed that sperm counts were low 14 days postantimicrobial treatment regardless of hlyA status. At Day 84 following treatment, hlyA production correlated with approximately 4-fold lower sperm concentrations than in men with hlyA-negative strains. In vivo experiments with the hlyA-producing UPEC CFT073 strain in a murine epididymitis model showed that just 3 days postinfection, structural damage to the epididymis (epithelial damage, leukocyte infiltration, and edema formation) was present. This was more severe in UPEC CFT073 compared to nonpathogenic E. coli (NPEC 470) infection. Moreover, pathogenic UPEC strains prematurely activated the acrosome in vivo and in vitro. Raman microspectroscopy revealed that UPEC CFT073 undermined sperm integrity by inducing nuclear DNA damage. Consistent with these observations, the in vitro fertilization capability of hlyA-treated mouse sperm was completely abolished, although sperm were motile. These findings provide new insights into understanding the possible processes underlying clinical manifestations of acute epididymitis.
An analysis of the carbon balance of the Arctic Basin from 1997 to 2006

This study used several model-based tools to analyse the dynamics of the Arctic Basin between 1997 and 2006 as a linked system of land-ocean-atmosphere C exchange. The analysis estimates that terrestrial areas of the Arctic Basin lost 62.9 Tg C yr-1 and that the Arctic Ocean gained 94.1 Tg C yr-1. Arctic lands and oceans were a net CO2 sink of 108.9 Tg C yr-1, which is within the range of uncertainty in estimates from atmospheric inversions. Although both lands and oceans of the Arctic were estimated to be CO2 sinks, the land sink diminished in strength because of increased fire disturbance compared to previous decades, while the ocean sink increased in strength because of increased biological pump activity associated with reduced sea ice cover. Terrestrial areas of the Arctic were a net source of 41.5 Tg CH4 yr-1 that increased by 0.6 Tg CH4 yr-1 during the decade of analysis, a magnitude that is comparable with an atmospheric inversion of CH4. Because the radiative forcing of the estimated CH4 emissions is much greater than the CO2 sink, the analysis suggests that the Arctic Basin is a substantial net source of green house gas forcing to the climate system.
Weak Instruments Estimation and Inference in the Presence of Parameter Instability ∗

The paper considers time series models when (i) some or all of the parameters are weakly identified and (ii) some or all of the parameters are time varying. Following the previous literature, the weak correlations between the instruments and the relevant first order condition are modeled as local to zero, and we focus on an empirically relevant case with moderately large instabilities, which are well approximated by a local asymptotic device. We show that for many forms of the instability and a large class of econometric models, weak instruments effect dominates in the simultaneous presence of weak identification and parameter instability. As a result, when making inference for the weakly identified parameters, the weak identification robust methods in the literature remain valid. One can thus ignore moderate instabilities in the model and still obtain approximately correct inference for the weakly identified parameters. Monte Carlo experiments indicate that for moderate size of parameter instability, asymptotic theory developed in this paper provides good empirical guidance. JEL Classification: C32
Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: updated consensus guidelines for clinical management and directions for future research

25–30% of families fulfilling the criteria for hereditary diffuse gastric cancer have germline mutations of the CDH1 (E-cadherin) gene. In light of new data and advancement of technologies, a multidisciplinary workshop was convened to discuss genetic testing, surgery, endoscopy and pathology reporting. The updated recommendations include broadening of CDH1 testing criteria such that: histological confirmation of diffuse gastric criteria is only required for one family member; inclusion of individuals with diffuse gastric cancer before the age of 40 years without a family history; and inclusion of individuals and families with diagnoses of both diffuse gastric cancer (including one before the age of 50 years) and lobular breast cancer. Testing is considered appropriate from the age of consent following counselling and discussion with a multidisciplinary team. In addition to direct sequencing, large genomic rearrangements should be sought. Annual mammography and breast MRI from the age of 35 years is recommended for women due to the increased risk for lobular breast cancer. In mutation positive individuals prophylactic total gastrectomy at a centre of excellence should be strongly considered. Protocolised endoscopic surveillance in centres with endoscopists and pathologists experienced with these patients is recommended for: those opting not to have gastrectomy, those with mutations of undetermined significance, and in those families for whom no germline mutation is yet identified. The systematic histological study of prophylactic gastrectomies almost universally shows pre-invasive lesions including in situ signet ring carcinoma with pagetoid spread of signet ring cells. Expert histopathological confirmation of these early lesions is recommended.
Motor control of locomotor hindlimb posture in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

SUMMARY Crocodilians are unusual among quadrupedal tetrapods in their frequent use of a wide variety of hindlimb postures, ranging from sprawling to a more erect high walk. In this study, we use synchronized kinematic videos and electromyographic recordings to test how the activity patterns of hindlimb muscles in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis Daudin) differ between sprawling and more upright postures. Previous force platform analyses suggested that upright posture in alligators would require greater activation by hindlimb extensors to counter increases in the flexor moments exerted about joints by the ground reaction force during upright stance. Consistent with these predictions, ankle extensors (gastrocnemius) and knee extensors (femorotibialis internus and iliotibialis 2) exhibit increases in signal intensity during the use of more upright stance. Bone loading data also predicted that activation patterns for hip adductors spanning the length of the femur would not differ between sprawling and more upright posture. Correspondingly, motor patterns of the adductor femoris were not altered as posture became more upright. However, the adductor puboischiofemoralis externus 3, which inserts far proximally on the femur, displays significant increases in burst intensity that could contribute to the greater femoral adduction that is integral to upright posture. In contrast to patterns in alligators, in mammals EMG burst intensity typically decreases during the use of upright posture. This difference in the motor control of limb posture between these taxa may be related to differences in the relative sizes of their feet. Alligator feet are large relative to the hindlimb and, as a result, the ground reaction force shifts farther from the limb joints during upright steps than in mammals, increasing flexor moments at joints and requiring alligator extensor muscles to exert greater forces to keep the limb in equilibrium. However, several alligator hindlimb muscles show no differences in motor pattern between sprawling and upright posture. The wide range of motor pattern modulations between different postures in alligators suggests considerable independence of neural control among the muscles of the alligator hindlimb.
C-Reactive Protein Does Not Directly Induce Tissue Factor in Human Monocytes

Objective—It is generally assumed that C-reactive protein (CRP) induces synthesis of tissue factor (TF) in monocytic cells, thereby potentially initiating intravascular blood coagulation. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism of CRP-induced TF expression in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) in vitro. Methods and Results—Monocytes were isolated from the blood of healthy donors and cultured with or without CRP or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to study the time course of TF antigen and TF mRNA expression. Addition of 100 μg/mL CRP did not result in a significant increase in TF antigen (range: 9 to 163 pg/106 cells, n=11) and TF mRNA (relative number of TF transcripts; NTF=0.01 to 0.33), when compared with nonstimulated cells (TF antigen 7 to 46 pg/106 cells, NTF=0.01 to 0.13). Variation of CRP concentration and exposure time did not affect the TF response. Similar results were obtained in monocytes cultured in suspension and in MDMs. In contrast, TF was strongly induced by 10 μg/mL LPS (TF antigen 1125 to 6120 pg/106 cells, NTF=5.94 to 23.43). Cultured monocytes did express FcRγII, a putative CRP receptor, and addition of CRP induced a 7-fold increase in the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Interestingly, CRP addition to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) did result in TF expression on monocytic cells. Conclusions—The absence of TF induction after incubation of purified monocytes with CRP indicates that CRP is unable to induce TF expression in monocytes and MDMs directly. The presence of CRP-induced TF expression in PBMCs suggests that CRP can induce TF indirectly, probably through cross-talk between cells.
New aspects in seismic survey design

In recent years new methods and tools were developed in seismic survey design to address the increasing complexity of geophysical and geological problems that seismic exploration is faced with. In this paper we discuss three of these new developments: the application of point-spread functions for seismic resolution analysis, seismic survey design based on Bayesian methodology, and the generation of the seismic response for a fractured reservoir using 3D elastic general anisotropic finite-difference modeling. We demonstrate that these methods can be used effectively for seismic survey design.
Smart Pilot Assignment for Massive MIMO

A massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, which utilizes a large number of antennas at the base station (BS) to serve multiple users, suffers from pilot contamination due to inter-cell interference. A smart pilot assignment (SPA) scheme is proposed in this letter to improve the performance of users with severe pilot contamination. Specifically, by exploiting the large-scale characteristics of fading channels, the BS first measures the inter-cell interference of each pilot sequence caused by the users with the same pilot sequence in other adjacent cells. Then, in contrast to the conventional schemes which assign the pilot sequences to the users randomly, the proposed SPA method assigns the pilot sequence with the smallest inter-cell interference to the user having the worst channel quality in a sequential way to improve its performance. Simulation results verify the performance gain of the proposed scheme in typical massive MIMO systems.
Public Sector Sport Policy

Despite the increasing involvement of governments in sport, and the high level of academic interest in sports-related public policy issues such as equity, doping, harassment and violence, there is remarkably little analysis of sport policy that utilizes the major models and frameworks for analysis widely adopted in other policy areas. Following the development of a set of criteria for assessing the adequacy of analytic frameworks, four major meso-level analytic frameworks are examined: the stages model, institutional analysis, multiple streams model, and the advocacy coalition framework. These are assessed for their internal coherence and applicability to the study of sport policy. None of the four frameworks reviewed is considered to be sufficiently persuasive and, consequently, a modified version of the advocacy coalition framework is developed and suggested as the most promising point of departure for the analysis of sport policy.
Involvement of the Interferon-Regulated Antiviral Proteins PKR and RNase L in Reovirus-Induced Shutoff of Cellular Translation

ABSTRACT Cellular translation is inhibited following infection with most strains of reovirus, but the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain to be elucidated. The extent of host shutoff varies in a strain-dependent manner; infection with the majority of strains leads to strong host shutoff, while infection with strain Dearing results in minimal inhibition of cellular translation. A genetic study with reassortant viruses and subsequent biochemical analyses led to the hypothesis that the interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase, PKR, is responsible for reovirus-induced host shutoff. To directly determine whether PKR is responsible for reovirus-induced host shutoff, we used a panel of reovirus strains and mouse embryo fibroblasts derived from knockout mice. This approach revealed that PKR contributes to but is not wholly responsible for reovirus-induced host shutoff. Studies with cells lacking RNase L, the endoribonuclease component of the interferon-regulated 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase-RNase L system, demonstrated that RNase L also down-regulates cellular protein synthesis in reovirus-infected cells. In many viral systems, PKR and RNase L have well-characterized antiviral functions. An analysis of reovirus replication in cells lacking these molecules indicated that, while they contributed to host shutoff, neither PKR nor RNase L exerted an antiviral effect on reovirus growth. In fact, some strains of reovirus replicated more efficiently in the presence of PKR and RNase L than in their absence. Data presented in this report illustrate that the inhibition of cellular translation following reovirus infection is complex and involves multiple interferon-regulated gene products. In addition, our results suggest that reovirus has evolved effective mechanisms to avoid the actions of the interferon-stimulated antiviral pathways that include PKR and RNase L and may even benefit from their expression.
Relay Selection for Security Enhancement in Cognitive Relay Networks

This letter proposes several relay selection policies for secure communication in cognitive decode-and-forward relay networks, where a pair of cognitive relays is opportunistically selected for security protection against eavesdropping. The first relay transmits the secrecy information to the destination, and the second relay, as a friendly jammer, transmits the jamming signal to confound the eavesdropper. We present new exact closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability. Our analysis and simulation results strongly support our conclusion that the proposed relay selection policies can enhance the performance of secure cognitive radio. We also confirm that the error floor phenomenon is created in the absence of jamming.
Depression and neuropsychological performance in the eosinophilia myalgia syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of cognitive function in a chronic illness

The assessment of cognitive functioning in chronic medical illness is complicated by concurrent depression and medication use. Both can affect neuropsychological performance. We examined cognitive functioning and its relationship to depression and medication history in patients with eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS). EMS is a multisystem disorder caused by the toxic effects of ingesting contaminated L-tryptophan. Patients with EMS (n = 48) were compared to healthy (n = 36) and depressed (n = 18) controls on neuropsychological measures and psychiatric interviews. EMS patients had significantly more fatigue than both control groups (p < 0.05) and performed significantly worse on verbal memory Lp < 0.05) and visual search and attention Lp < 0.05). Increased levels of depressive symptoms were associated with poorer verbal memory for EMS patients but not for the depressed control group. Medicated EMS patients had significantly more fatigue (p < 0.05) but did not difFer in neuropsychological performance from nonmedicated EMS patients. The results ofthis study indicate that EMS patients are more cognitively impaired than healthy and depressed controls and that cognitive dysfunction in EMS cannot be attributed solely to medication or depression
Rectangular Kronecker Coefficients and Plethysms in Geometric Complexity Theory

The geometric complexity theory program is an approach to separate algebraic complexity classes, more precisely to show the superpolynomial growth of the determinantal complexity dc(perm) of the permanent polynomial. Mulmuley and Sohoni showed that the vanishing behaviour of rectangular Kronecker coefficients could in principle be used to show some lower bounds on dc(perm) and they conjectured that superpolynomial lower bounds on dc(perm) could be shown in this way. In this paper we disprove this conjecture by Mulmuley and Sohoni, i.e., we prove that the vanishing of rectangular Kronecker coefficients cannot be used to prove superpolynomial lower bounds on dc(perm).
Stem Cell Factor Attenuates Vascular Smooth Muscle Apoptosis and Increases Intimal Hyperplasia After Vascular Injury

Objective—Stem cell factor (SCF) through its cognate receptor, the tyrosine kinase c-kit, promotes survival and biological functions of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors. However, whether SCF/c-kit interactions exacerbate intimal hyperplasia through attenuating VSMC apoptosis induced by vascular injury has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods and Results—VSMCs were stimulated with serum deprivation and H2O2 to induce apoptosis. The transcription of c-kit mRNA and the expression of the c-kit protein by VSMCs were estimated by Q-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The interactions of SCF and c-kit were investigated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro, H2O2 stimulation significantly induced apoptosis of VSMCs as evidenced by the 3- and 3.2-fold increases of cleaved caspase-3 compared with those in the control group by Western blot and flow cytometric analyses, respectively (P<0.01). Stimulation of apoptosis also caused 3.5- and 9-fold increases in c-kit mRNA transcription and protein expression, respectively, by VSMCs compared with those in the control group. Administration of SCF (10 to 1000 ng/mL) significantly lowered the amount of cleaved caspase-3 in H2O2-treated VSMCs (P<0.01). Specifically, SCF exerted this effect through activating Akt, followed by increasing Bcl-2 and then inhibiting the release of cytochrome-c from the mitochondria to the cytosol. In vivo, the mouse femoral artery was injured with a wire in SCF mutant (Sl/Sld), c-kit mutant (W/Wv), and colony control mice. In colony control mice, confocal microscopy demonstrated that the wire-injury generated a remarkable activation of caspase-3 on medial VSMCs, coinciding with upregulation of c-kit expression. The wire-injury also caused an increase in the expression of SCF on surviving medial VSMCs and cells in the adventitia. The upregulated c-kit expression in the vessel wall also facilitated homing by circulating SCF+ cells. Compared with colony control mice, vascular injury in SCF mutant and c-kit mutant mice caused a higher number of apoptotic VSMCs on day 14 and a lower number of proliferating cells, and resulted in significantly less neointimal formation (P<0.01) on day 28. Conclusions—The interactions between SCF and the c-kit receptor play an important role in protecting VSMCs against apoptosis and in maintaining intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury.
Object-based classification of earthquake damage from high-resolution optical imagery using machine learning

Abstract. Object-based approaches in the segmentation and classification of remotely sensed images yield more promising results compared to pixel-based approaches. However, the development of an object-based approach presents challenges in terms of algorithm selection and parameter tuning. Subjective methods are often used, but yield less than optimal results. Objective methods are warranted, especially for rapid deployment in time-sensitive applications, such as earthquake damage assessment. Herein, we used a systematic approach in evaluating object-based image segmentation and machine learning algorithms for the classification of earthquake damage in remotely sensed imagery. We tested a variety of algorithms and parameters on post-event aerial imagery for the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Results were compared against manually selected test cases representing different classes. In doing so, we can evaluate the effectiveness of the segmentation and classification of different classes and compare different levels of multistep image segmentations. Our classifier is compared against recent pixel-based and object-based classification studies for postevent imagery of earthquake damage. Our results show an improvement against both pixel-based and object-based methods for classifying earthquake damage in high resolution, post-event imagery.