Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Timing and completion of puberty in female mice depend on estrogen receptor α-signaling in kisspeptin neurons

Puberty onset is initiated by activation of neurons that secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The timing and progression of puberty may depend upon temporal coordination of two opposing central mechanisms—a restraint of GnRH secretion before puberty onset, followed by enhanced stimulation of GnRH release to complete reproductive maturation during puberty. Neuronal estrogen receptor α (ERα) has been implicated in both controls; however, the underlying neural circuits are not well understood. Here we test whether these mechanisms are mediated by neurons that express kisspeptin, a neuropeptide that modulates GnRH neurosecretion. Strikingly, conditional ablation of ERα in kisspeptin neurons results in a dramatic advancement of puberty onset in female mice. Furthermore, subsequent pubertal maturation is arrested in these animals, as they fail to acquire normal ovulatory cyclicity. We show that the temporal coordination of juvenile restraint and subsequent pubertal activation is likely mediated by ERα in two separate kisspeptin neuronal populations in the hypothalamus.
Trials with the Auditory Response Cradle

The Auditory Response Cradle enables physiological response measures to be recorded from the neonate. Auditory responses are detected in the form of head rotation, startle, body activity and respiration changes. This paper reports the results of trials with 203 neonates using 250 and 1000 Hz pure tone and broad band noise stimuli. Response criteria are determined and spontaneous control ‘responses’ compared with those resulting from stimulus presentation. The response rate is correlated with the measured intra-meatal sound pressure level. Clear response thresholds are determined for all three stimuli. The sharpness of these motor thresholds is discussed and found to have significant implications for cost-effective neonatal auditory screening.
Joint texture-depth pixel inpainting of disocclusion holes in virtual view synthesis

Transmitting texture and depth maps from one or more reference views enables a user to freely choose virtual viewpoints from which to synthesize images for observation via depth-image-based rendering (DIBR). In each DIBR-synthesized image, however, there remain disocclusion holes with missing pixels corresponding to spatial regions occluded from view in the reference images. To complete these holes, unlike previous schemes that rely heavily (and unrealistically) on the availability of a high-quality depth map in the virtual view for inpainting of the corresponding texture map, in this paper a new Joint Texture-Depth Inpainting (JTDI) algorithm is proposed that simultaneously fill in missing texture and depth pixels. Specifically, we first use available partial depth information to compute priority terms to identify the next target pixel patch in a disocclusion hole for inpainting. Then, after identifying the best-matched texture patch in the known pixel region via template matching for texture inpainting, the variance of the corresponding depth patch is copied to the target depth patch for depth inpainting. Experimental results show that JTDI outperforms two previous inpainting schemes that either does not use available depth information during inpainting, or depends on the availability of a good depth map at the virtual view for good inpainting performance.
Modelos de análisis para los diseños multivariados de medidas repetidas

En las investigaciones sociales, conductuales y de la salud resulta frecuente realizar mediciones a lo largo del tiempo de dos o mas grupos de participantes en multiples variables dependientes. El analisis de tales datos es bastante complicado por la existencia de correlacion, tanto entre las medidas tomadas en puntos diferentes a tiempo, como entre las variables de respuesta. Aunque diversos enfoques permiten realizar el analisis de estos datos, en la practica, un modelo mixto multivariado o un modelo doblemente multivariado son comunmente usados. Ambos enfoques requieren normalidad conjunta multivariada, homogeneidad de las matrices de dispersion, independencia entre las observaciones de distintos participantes, ausencia de desgaste de muestra y covariantes independientes del tiempo. Bajo desviaciones de uno o mas de los supuestos referidos dichos enfoques no controlan de manera adecuada las tasas de error de Tipo I, afectando con ello la validez y precision de las inferencias. Por este motivo, en el presente articulo se discutiran algunas soluciones que superan parcial o totalmente los problemas referidos. Tambien se presentan varios programas para efectuar correctamente los analisis mediante el modulo Proc Mixed del SAS.
Role of signal peptides in targeting of proteins in cyanobacteria

Proteins of cyanobacteria may be transported across one of two membrane systems: the typical eubacterial cell envelope (consisting of an inner membrane, periplasmic space, and an outer membrane) and the photosynthetic thylakoids. To investigate the role of signal peptides in targeting in cyanobacteria, Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 was transformed with vectors carrying the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene fused to coding sequences for one of four different signal peptides. These included signal peptides of two proteins of periplasmic space origin (one from Escherichia coli and the other from Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942) and two other signal peptides of proteins located in the thylakoid lumen (one from a cyanobacterium and the other from a higher plant). The location of the gene fusion products expressed in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 was determined by a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of subcellular fractions. The distribution pattern for gene fusions with periplasmic signal peptides was different from that of gene fusions with thylakoid lumen signal peptides. Primary sequence analysis revealed conserved features in the thylakoid lumen signal peptides that were absent from the periplasmic signal peptides. These results suggest the importance of the signal peptide in protein targeting in cyanobacteria and point to the presence of signal peptide features conserved between chloroplasts and cyanobacteria for targeting of proteins to the thylakoid lumen.
SV-2FA: Two-factor user authentication with SMS and voiceprint challenge response

Two-step authentication, which uses SMS or voice calls, is becoming more practical for user authentication or for preventing phishing attack. However, conventional methods have vulnerabilities to man-in-the-middle or social-engineering attack or cellphone theft. As a general problem, it is difficult to prevent a legitimate user's denial. Therefore, we propose a secure user authentication method that uses a onetime phone number sent by SMS and oath and voiceprint authentication through voice calls. This method solves the above-mentioned problem and is easy to use since it can be used with any cellphone.
Reducing the burden of maternal and neonatal infections in low income settings

Maternal and neonatal infections remain responsible for up to 1 million deaths each year globally. Current approaches to prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate management are limited by difficulties in developing vaccines against the main pathogens, or alternatively diagnosing the infections accurately and managing them appropriately and effectively in low-resource settings. We propose that short-term priorities should focus on promotion of evidence-based, cost-effective home care practices to prevent maternal and newborn infections, with increased coverage and improved quality of maternal and neonatal care interventions. Longer-term strategic priorities will ultimately need to focus on the development of vaccines and point-of-care diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests should help establish the aetiological diagnosis and inform treatment decisions. They will also need to be deliverable, affordable, sustainable and acceptable in low-resource settings. The cost-effectiveness of maternal immunization in the protection of neonates will also need to be established.
The motivations of mentors: promoting relationships, supporting pupils, engaging with communities

Mentoring as a means of supporting young people perceived as having difficulties or being at risk of disaffection has become an important feature of pastoral support approaches in and around schools in recent years. The provision of support that is based upon a highly personalised relationship and founded upon principles of unconditional positive regard has been a feature of many schools and has been endorsed at government and local authority levels. Drawing upon two recently conducted research projects, this paper considers the motivations of mentors, the definition and development of the mentoring role and the ways in which it is being developed in respect of young people. The authors suggest that a certain ambiguity and fluidity of definition of the role of the mentor may be a strength rather than a weakness when developing supportive pastoral systems. The paper considers the motivations of mentors and how these may impact upon the success of mentoring schemes.
Iron restriction and the growth of Salmonella enteritidis

SUMMARY Strains of Salmonella enteritidis were examined for their ability to remove ferricions from the iron chelating agents ovotransferrin, Desferal and EDDA. Growth of S. enteritidis phage type (PT) 4 (SE4) in trypticase soy broth containing ovotransferrin resulted in the expression of iron regulated outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of 74. 78 and 81 kDa. and unexpectedly the repression of expression of OMP C. The 38 MDa ‘mouse virulence’ plasmid was not required for the expression of the iron-regulated OMPs (IROMPs). SE4 was able to obtain iron bound to the iron chelator Desferal and EDDA without expressing a high-affinity iron uptake system. Strains of S. enteritidis belonging to PTs 7. 8, 13a, 23. 24 and 30 were also able to remove ferric ions from Desferal and EDDA without expressing a high-affinity iron uptake system. We conclude that strains of SE4 possess a high-affinity iron sequestering mechanism that can readily remove iron from ovotransferrin. It is likely that iron limitation, and not iron restriction, is responsible for the bacteriostatic properties of fresh egg whites.
Trois essais en économie des déchets : comportements individuels et politiques publiques

Le constat d'un volume de dechets en augmentation constante en France et dans le monde appelle des etudes permettant de comprendre les comportements de tri des menages. Cette these s'inscrit dans cette perspective et a pour ambition de comprendre comment modifier le comportement des consommateurs afin que ces derniers reduisent leurs dechets. Nous presentons d'abord une revue de la litterature analysant les differentes politiques publiques en matiere de gestion des dechets. L'approche traditionelle consistant a dire que les individus repondent avant tout a un comportement rationnel, la recherche de gain, a ses limites. Nous soutenons l'idee que des politiques specifiques prenant en compte les facteurs comportementaux sont necessaires dans l'elaboration des politiques publiques en faveur du recyclage. Dans un second temps, nous nous interessons aux determinants du tri selectif a partir de donnees issues d'une enquete originale aupres de 694 habitants de la region PACA. Nous estimons avec ￼un modele Probit la probabilite d'adopter un comportement de tri selectif. Ce modele teste les hypotheses etudiees jusqu'ici principalement par les sociologues et psychologues. Notre analyse empirique demontre que l'influence sociale impacte negativement le recyclage. Enfin, nous completons cette etude avec un modele mutli-agent qui cherche a expliquer le tri des dechets et l'impact des politiques publiques. Notre modele considere des menages heterogenes choisissant de recycler selon quatre caracteristiques: leurs preferences environnementales, le cout d'opportunite de la taxe, le cout du tri et leur image de soi. Trois politiques sont testees : l'information, la taxe, et les "nudges".
Impact of Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Infection on Red Blood Cell Indices in Adults Living in Ido-Ekiti, South-West Nigeria

Malaria remains a major public health problem in most countries of the tropics, It cause of morbidity and mortality accounting for an estimated of 300 to 500 million morbid episodes with 2 to 3 million death in a year worldwide. The aim of the study was to elucidate red blood cells indices patterns in adults infected with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and their impact on improved diagnosis and therapy. Malaria infected adult individuals within the age 15-64 years presented with signs and symptoms of malaria infection was used for the study, 4ml of blood sample was collected twice from each malaria infected individuals and dispensed into dipotassium ethylenediaminetetracetic acid vaccutainer bottles grouped as pre-treatment and post anti-malaria drug treatment sample. Red blood cell indices were analyzed using haematology analyzer, malaria parasite detection, malaria parasite count and malaria parasite species identification were carried out using stained thick and thin blood film. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Mean±SD of red blood cell indices was significantly (p<0.05) lower in age group A compared with other age groups in malaria infected (pre and post anti-malaria therapy) and non-malaria infected groups; red blood cell morphology shows normocytic and normochromic anaemia with a notable microcytosis and hypochromia. Parasite density was significantly reduced after taking anti-malaria drug. Anaemia is a major haematological disorder in patients infected with malaria at all age groups. Use of anti-malaria therapy would result in greater clinical and haematological benefits, after the recovery period of malaria infection.
Regional Difference in Ethics Decision Making: A Study of IT Pre-professionals in China

Information and communications technology played a significant role in the recent economic growth of China, which now ranks as the second largest economy in the world. As a result, China faces many social and ethical challenges common to technology-advanced countries. Ethical reasoning and practices are often influenced by cultural expectations and regional norms. The purpose of this study is to investigate ethics decision making by IT professionals in different regions of China. In contrast with many previous studies on comparisons across different countries, this research focuses on intra-country differences. An IT ethics survey was developed and administered in four regions in China with different degrees of westernization. The data were analyzed using standard cross tabulation and Chi-square test techniques. Preliminary results reveal observable differences among subjects from the four regions with respect to their decision choices, reasons for the choices, the scope of consideration, and the stage of their moral development. In particular, the subject group that was exposed to the strongest western influence, showed the highest degree of individualism in ethics decision making.
Gender in Management: Theorizing Gender as Heterogender

Research on gendered identities in management has exploded over the past three decades. The focus on gender obscures the place of sexuality in gendered theory. In this article theories of gender as ‘object’, ‘subject’ and as social processes are used as interpretative frames to explore the ways in which gender and sexuality are enacted by lesbian managers. Their narratives demonstrate that managing gender was experienced primarily as managing heterosexuality. Disjunctions in identity positions revealed that heterosexual assumptions provide the foundation of gender. Reframing gender as ‘heterogender’ foregrounds heterosexuality and gender as intertwined and provides another layer to understanding how gender is ‘done’ in management.
Preanalytical variables and Alzheimer disease biomarker concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)2 β-amyloid (Aβ1–42) is one of the key biological forms of β-amyloid protein in brain tissue that inversely reflects brain amyloid burden with reduced concentrations in Alzheimer disease (AD) (1). Reductions in CSF Aβ1–42 have been shown to occur years before symptom onset (2) and to have good positive predictive value for progression from mild cognitive impairment to clinical AD (3). CSF concentrations of total tau (T-tau), a marker for the intensity of neuronal degeneration, and hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau181P), thought to be a marker of neurofibrillary tangle pathology, are both increased in AD (4). The combination of low CSF Aβ1–42 with increased ratios of T-tau and P-tau181P to Aβ1–42 has been used to support the diagnosis of AD. One study has suggested that the T-tau:Aβ1–42 ratio is the most robust biomarker combination (5). These biomarkers have been incorporated into the revised diagnostic criteria of AD (6) and also are well established as part of inclusion and exclusion criteria for clinical trials. A low CSF Aβ1–42 does not always reflect brain amyloid deposition and it can also be seen in other non-AD causes of dementia such as Lewy body disease or vascular dementia (7). More importantly has come the realization that altered concentrations of CSF Aβ1–42 and other markers may be a consequence of both preanalytical and analytical biases that make it difficult to properly interpret the test result. In particular, lack of harmonization of the preanalytical sample handling procedures owing to variations in CSF collection, storage, or processing has hampered the comparison of CSF Aβ1–42, T-tau, and P-tau181P concentrations between different laboratories and studies. An article in this issue of Clinical Chemistry by Le Bastard et al. (8) is therefore very timely, first to raise awareness of preanalytical considerations, but also to provide further insights on sources …
Structure of Surface Layer Homology (SLH) Domains from Bacillus anthracis Surface Array Protein*

Surface (S)-layers, para-crystalline arrays of protein, are deposited in the envelope of most bacterial species. These surface organelles are retained in the bacterial envelope through the non-covalent association of proteins with cell wall carbohydrates. Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive pathogen, produces S-layers of the protein Sap, which uses three consecutive repeats of the surface-layer homology (SLH) domain to engage secondary cell wall polysaccharides (SCWP). Using x-ray crystallography, we reveal here the structure of these SLH domains, which assume the shape of a three-prong spindle. Each SLH domain contributes to a three-helical bundle at the spindle base, whereas another α-helix and its connecting loops generate the three prongs. The inter-prong grooves contain conserved cationic and anionic residues, which are necessary for SLH domains to bind the B. anthracis SCWP. Modeling experiments suggest that the SLH domains of other S-layer proteins also fold into three-prong spindles and capture bacterial envelope carbohydrates by a similar mechanism.
Effect of computerized physician order entry and a team intervention on prevention of serious medication errors.

CONTEXT Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant and costly cause of injury during hospitalization. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of 2 interventions for preventing nonintercepted serious medication errors, defined as those that either resulted in or had potential to result in an ADE and were not intercepted before reaching the patient. DESIGN Before-after comparison between phase 1 (baseline) and phase 2 (after intervention was implemented) and, within phase 2, a randomized comparison between physician computer order entry (POE) and the combination of POE plus a team intervention. SETTING Large tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS For the comparison of phase 1 and 2, all patients admitted to a stratified random sample of 6 medical and surgical units in a tertiary care hospital over a 6-month period, and for the randomized comparison during phase 2, all patients admitted to the same units and 2 randomly selected additional units over a subsequent 9-month period. INTERVENTIONS A physician computer order entry system (POE) for all units and a team-based intervention that included changing the role of pharmacists, implemented for half the units. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Nonintercepted serious medication errors. RESULTS Comparing identical units between phases 1 and 2, nonintercepted serious medication errors decreased 55%, from 10.7 events per 1000 patient-days to 4.86 events per 1000 (P=.01). The decline occurred for all stages of the medication-use process. Preventable ADEs declined 17% from 4.69 to 3.88 (P=.37), while nonintercepted potential ADEs declined 84% from 5.99 to 0.98 per 1000 patient-days (P=.002). When POE-only was compared with the POE plus team intervention combined, the team intervention conferred no additional benefit over POE. CONCLUSIONS Physician computer order entry decreased the rate of nonintercepted serious medication errors by more than half, although this decrease was larger for potential ADEs than for errors that actually resulted in an ADE.
Genetic Changes in Squamous Cell Lung Cancer: A Review

Identifying specific somatic mutations that drive tumor growth has transformed the treatment of lung cancer. For example, cancers with sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocations can have remarkable responses to epidermal growth factor receptor and ALK inhibitors respectively, leading to significant clinical benefit. However, effective molecularly targeted therapies have disproportionately impacted adenocarcinomas compared to squamous cell carcinomas, and never or light smokers compared to heavy smokers. Further progress in non–small-cell lung cancer will require the identification and effective targeting of molecular alterations in all subtypes of lung cancer. Here, we review the current knowledge about the molecular alterations found in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. First, we will discuss the ongoing efforts to comprehensively assess the squamous cell carcinoma genome. We will then discuss the evidence supporting the role of specific genes in driving squamous cell carcinomas. By describing the landscape of somatic targets in squamous cell lung cancer, we hope to crystallize the current understanding of potential targets, spur development of therapies that can have clinical impact, and underscore the importance of new discoveries in this field.
Secrecy by typing and file-access control

Secrecy properties can he guaranteed through a combination of static and dynamic checks. The static checks may include the application of special type systems with notions of secrecy. The dynamic checks can be of many different kinds; in practice, the most important are access-control checks, often ones based on ACLs (access-control lists). In this paper, we explore the interplay of static and dynamic checks in the setting of a file system. For this purpose, we study a pi calculus with file-system constructs. The calculus supports both access-control checks and a form of static scoping that limits the knowledge of terms - including file names and contents - to groups of clients. We design a system with secrecy types for the calculus: using this system, we can prove secrecy properties by static typing of programs in the presence of file-system access-control checks