Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nr-CAM promotes neurite outgrowth from peripheral ganglia by a mechanism involving axonin-1 as a neuronal receptor.

Nr-CAM is a neuronal cell adhesion molecule (CAM) belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily that has been implicated as a ligand for another CAM, axonin-1, in guidance of commissural axons across the floor plate in the spinal cord. Nr-CAM also serves as a neuronal receptor for several other cell surface molecules, but its role as a ligand in neurite outgrowth is poorly understood. We studied this problem using a chimeric Fc-fusion protein of the extracellular region of Nr-CAM (Nr-Fc) and investigated potential neuronal receptors in the developing peripheral nervous system. A recombinant Nr-CAM-Fc fusion protein, containing all six Ig domains and the first two fibronectin type III repeats of the extracellular region of Nr-CAM, retains cellular and molecular binding activities of the native protein. Injection of Nr-Fc into the central canal of the developing chick spinal cord in ovo resulted in guidance errors for commissural axons in the vicinity of the floor plate. This effect is similar to that resulting from treatment with antibodies against axonin-1, confirming that axonin-1/Nr-CAM interactions are important for guidance of commissural axons through a spatially and temporally restricted Nr-CAM positive domain in the ventral spinal cord. When tested as a substrate, Nr-Fc induced robust neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglion and sympathetic ganglion neurons, but it was not effective for tectal and forebrain neurons. The peripheral but not the central neurons expressed high levels of axonin-1 both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, antibodies against axonin-1 inhibited Nr-Fc-induced neurite outgrowth, indicating that axonin-1 is a neuronal receptor for Nr-CAM on these peripheral ganglion neurons. The results demonstrate a role for Nr-CAM as a ligand in axon growth by a mechanism involving axonin-1 as a neuronal receptor and suggest that dynamic changes in Nr-CAM expression can modulate axonal growth and guidance during development.
Information and elections

R. Michael Alvarez examines how voters make their decisions in presidential elections. He begins with the assumption that voters have neither the incentive nor the inclination to be well-informed about politics and presidential candidates. Candidates themselves have incentives to provide ambiguous information about themselves, their records and their issue positions. Yet the author shows that a tremendous amount of information is made available about presidential candidates. And he uncovers clear and striking evidence that people are not likely to vote for candidates about whom they know very little. Alvarez explores how voters learn about candidates through the course of a campaign. He provides a detailed analysis of the media coverage of presidential campaigns and shows that there is a tremendous amount of media coverage of these campaigns, that much of this coverage is about issues and is informative, and that voters learn from this coverage.The paperback edition of this work has been updated to include information on the 1996 Presidential election. "Information and Elections" is a book that will be read by all who are interested in campaigns and electoral behavior in presidential and other elections. "Thoughtfully conceptualized, painstakingly analyzed, with empirically significant conclusions on presidential election voting behavior, this book is recommended for both upper-division undergraduate and graduate collections. " --"Choice"R. Michael Alvarez is Associate Professor of Political Science, California Institute of Technology.
Ecological speciation in tropical reef fishes

The high biodiversity in tropical seas provides a long-standing challenge to allopatric speciation models. Physical barriers are few in the ocean and larval dispersal is often extensive, a combination that should reduce opportunities for speciation. Yet coral reefs are among the most species-rich habitats in the world, indicating evolutionary processes beyond conventional allopatry. In a survey of mtDNA sequences of five congeneric west Atlantic reef fishes (wrasses, genus Halichoeres) with similar dispersal potential, we observed phylogeographical patterns that contradict expectations of geographical isolation, and instead indicate a role for ecological speciation. In Halichoeres bivittatus and the species pair Halichoeres radiatus/brasiliensis, we observed strong partitions (3.4% and 2.3% divergence, respectively) between adjacent and ecologically distinct habitats, but high genetic connectivity between similar habitats separated by thousands of kilometres. This habitat partitioning is maintained even at a local scale where H. bivittatus lineages are segregated between cold- and warm-water habitats in both Bermuda and Florida. The concordance of evolutionary partitions with habitat types, rather than conventional biogeographical barriers, indicates parapatric ecological speciation, in which adaptation to alternative environmental conditions in adjacent locations overwhelms the homogenizing effect of dispersal. This mechanism can explain the long-standing enigma of high biodiversity in coral reef faunas.
CMOS 3D image sensor based on pulse modulated time-of-flight principle and intrinsic lateral drift-field photodiode pixels

Design and measurement results of a CMOS 128 × 96 pixel sensor are presented, which can be used for three-dimensional (3D) scene reconstruction applications based on indirect time-of-flight (ToF) principle enabled by pulse modulated active laser illumination. The 40μm pitch pixels are based on the novel intrinsic lateral drift-field photodiode (LDPD) that allows for a 30ns complete charge transfer from the photoactive area into the readout node, and accumulation of signal charge over several readout cycles for extended signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Distance measurements have been performed using a specially developed camera system.
Life Science : RESEARCH ARTICLE ; Development of sildenafil-loaded orally disintegrating tablet with new lactate salt

To develop a sildenafil lactate-loaded orally disintegrating tablet with a faster drug effect onset and immediate action of erection, the orally disintegrating tablets were prepared with various amounts of menthol and colloidal silica using the direct compression technique followed by vacuum drying. Theirtablet properties such as friability, hardness, wetting time and disintegration time were investigated. The oral bioavailability of sildenafil in the orally disintegrating tablet was then compared with the sildenafil citrate-loaded commercial tablet (Viagra(®)) in rabbits. Sildenafil lactate was a new salt form with more improved solubility and alleviated bitterness compared with commercial salt, sildenafil citrate. As the amount of menthol in the orally disintegrating tablet increased, the friability increased and hardness decreased, resulting in a shorter wetting time and disintegration time. Colloidal silica did the opposite. The sildenafil lactate-loaded orally disintegrating tablet prepared with 45 mg/tab of menthol and 1.5 mg/tab of colloidal silica gave a hardness of 3-4 KP, friability less than 0.5% and disintegration time less than 30 s, suggesting that it was a practical and commercial product with goodtablet property and excellent efficacy. Furthermore, it gave higher AUC and C(max), and shorter T(max) values than did the commercial tablet, indicating that it improved the oral bioavailability of sildenafil in rabbits compared with the commercial tablet. Thus, the sildenafil lactate-loaded orally disintegratingtablet might induce a fast onset of action and immediate erection compared with the sildenafil citrate-loaded commercial tablet.
Gender discrimination for women with diabetes mellitus in Algeria

Background: Nowadays diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the greatest global challenges. Its expansion varies from an area to another according to genetic, traditions, socio-economic conditions, and stress. In Algeria, as in other emerging countries undergoing an epidemiological transition, noncommunicable diseases are sharply increasing. After high blood pressure, DM is now the second metabolic disease. But are women more concerned by DM since obesity frequency is higher in females? Can we assert that there is a sort of sex discrimination for DM complications? Materials and Methods: To answer these questions we took into account published documents carried in Algerian population. But, as those were very scarce, we also considered newspapers articles, some documents published by health minister department, posters and oral communications of the Algerian Society of Endocrinology and Diabetology, and our clinical experience. We also have done a small survey to get our patients’ opinions. Results and Conclusion: At the first sight, it seems gender discrimination between men and women cannot exist since most epidemiological studies showed that both sexes are broadly and equally affected by DM, except for old aged females who are the most affected. When we reconsidered the problem, and when we compared past results to those obtained after the terrorism period, many studies showed a sort of gender difference. Apart from gestational DM, which is increasing sharply, some complications and death related to DM are prevailing in women. Coronary diseases and cerebral vascular accidents are more frequent in women too, especially the young ones and those suffering from DM. These complications are probably due to the recent and rapid modification in women's lifestyle with a strong reduction in physical activity, eating disorders, hormonal contraception, and high sensitivity to perceived stress secondary to the near past stressing life and/or to numerous responsibilities taken by women in the modern society.
The CYGNSS Level 1 Calibration Algorithm and Error Analysis Based on On-Orbit Measurements

The calibration algorithm used by the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission to produce version 2.1 of its Level 1 (L1) science data products is described. Changes and improvements have been made to the algorithm, relative to earlier versions, based on the first year of on-orbit result. The L1 calibration consists of two parts: first, the Level 1a (L1a) calibration converts the raw Level 0 delay Doppler maps (DDMs) of processed counts into received power in units of watts. Second, the L1a DDMs are then converted to Level 1b DDMs of bistatic radar cross section values by unwrapping the forward scattering model, which are then normalized by the surface scattering area to arrive an observation of $ \sigma _0$. An update to the bottom up term-by-term error analysis is also presented, using on-orbit results to better quantify the accuracy of the rolled-up L1 calibration. The error analysis considers uncertainties in all known input calibration parameters. Finally, a method for calibrating the time delay of CYGNSS measurements is presented.
Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi Increase Green Manure-15N Recovery Efficiency, N Contents, and Micronutrients in Rice Grains

An understanding of the interaction between rice and dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi, under green fertilization, may lead to sustainable agricultural practices. Nevertheless, this interaction is still poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the accumulation of macro- and micronutrients, dry matter, and protein and N recovery efficiency from Canavalia ensiformis (L.)-15N in rice inoculated with DSE fungi. An experiment under greenhouse conditions was conducted in a randomized complete block design comprising split-plots, with five replicates of rice plants potted in non-sterilized soil. Rice (Piauí variety) seedlings were inoculated with DSE fungi, A101 and A103, or left uninoculated (control) and transplanted into pots containing 12 kg of soil, which had previously been supplemented with dry, finely ground shoot biomass of C. ensiformis enriched with 2.15 atom % 15N. Two collections were performed in the experiment: one at 54 days after transplanting (DAT) and one at 130 DAT (at maturation). Growth indicators (at 54 DAT), grain yield, nutrient content, recovery efficiency, and the amount of N derived from C. ensiformis were quantified. At 54 DAT, the N content, chlorophyll content, and plant height of inoculated plants had increased significantly compared with the control, and these plants were more proficient in the use of N derived from C. ensiformis. At maturation, plants inoculated with A103 were distinguished by the recovery efficiency and amount of N derived from C. ensiformis and N content in the grain and shoot being equal to that in A101 inoculation and higher than that in the control, resulting in a higher accumulation of crude protein and dry matter in the full grain and panicle of DSE-rice interaction. In addition, Fe and Ni contents in the grains of rice inoculated with these fungi doubled with respect to the control, and in A103 inoculation, we observed Mn accumulation that was three times higher than in the other treatments. Our results suggest that the inoculation of rice with DSE fungi represents a strategy to improve green manure-N recovery, grain yield per plant, and grain quality in terms of micronutrients contents in cropping systems with a low N input.
Physical Fitness and Cognitive Function in an 85-Year-Old Community-Dwelling Population

Background: Little is known about the association between physical fitness and cognitive function in very elderly people (over 80 years of age). Objectives: To evaluate that relationship in 85-year-old community-dwelling individuals. Methods: Out of 207 participants (90 males, 117 females) who were 85 years old and community-dwelling, 205 completed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for evaluating cognitive function. The numbers of subjects who completed physical fitness measurements such as hand-grip strength, isometric leg extensor strength, one-leg standing time, stepping rate, and walking speed were 198, 159, 169, 168, and 151, respectively. Results: There were significant associations in MMSE with hand-grip strength (right or left hand), isometric leg extensor strength, stepping rate, and walking speed by simple regression analysis. MMSE was still significantly associated with hand-grip strength (β = 0.305, p = 0.005 for right side; β = 0.309, p = 0.004 for left side), stepping rate (β = 0.183, p = 0.046), and walking speed (β = –0.222, p = 0.014) by multiple regression analysis after adjustments for the amount of education, gender, smoking, drinking, complication of stroke, body weight, body height, regular medical care, serum albumin, blood HbA1c, and marital status. By logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of a normal MMSE score (MMSE ≧24) was increased by 9% with each 1-kg increase in hand-grip strength of the left hand (OR 1.087, 95% CI 1.003–1.179, p = 0.042), and was increased by 6% with each step per 10 s in stepping rate (OR 1.060, 95% CI 1.000–1.122, p = 0.048). Conclusion: In a very elderly population of 85-year-olds, cognitive function was associated with some physical fitness measurements, independent of confounding factors.
Formal Versus Informal Sector Choice of Wage Earners and Their Wages in Turkey

This study considers those wage earners who are covered by a social security program as part of the formal sector and those wage earners who are not covered by any social security program as part of the informal sector. Using 1994 Household Expenditure Survey I first examine how individuals are selected into nonparticipation and employment in the covered, uncovered and other sectors. Then, I estimate the selectivity corrected wage equations to examine wage determination in these sectors. These analyses are carried out for men and women separately. The results indicate that wage earners with more education are more likely to have social security coverage while those with less education are more likely to be uncovered. Further, when controlled for the observed characteristics and sample selection, for men, covered sector wages are at least twice as higher than uncovered sector wages at all levels of experience and education. This is true with some caveat for women also. This large differential in wages can be taken as an indication of labor market segmentation between the covered and uncovered wage earners.
The gaussian two-way relay channel with wiretapper

Secrecy capacity is analyzed in a Gaussian two-way relay wiretap channel (TRWC), where two legitimate source nodes wish to exchange their messages through a relay in the presence of an eavesdropper. We assume that all intended nodes operate in full-duplex mode and there is no direct path between two sources. In the Gaussian TRWC, we propose an achievable coding scheme composed of superposed lattice codes with both structured and random codebooks. A jamming strategy is further introduced at the two sources as well as at the relay to maximize the achievable secrecy rate regions, where each node allocates part of its power to jam the eavesdropper. Our result indicates that positive achievable secrecy rates are maintained even for the reversely degraded scenario. In addition, assuming two sources with equal power constraint, it is shown that the scheme asymptotically achieves within 1/2 bit from the cut-set bound based on the channel with no secrecy constraints, as the downlink phase is in the high signal-to-noise ratio regime.
Concurrent and separate inside‐out transition of platelet apoptosis and activation markers to the platelet surface

The cell plasma membrane is tightly coupled with the vital processes of apoptosis and activation. In the current study, we investigated exposure of the apoptosis marker phosphatidylserine (PS) and activation marker P‐selectin (CD62) on the plasma membrane of anucleate platelets. We found that, depending on triggering stimuli, the plasma membrane of human platelets may exist in four states with predominant exposure of (i) PS but not CD62 (75·9 ± 2·8% of total cells), (ii) CD62 but not PS (86·2 ± 1·3%), (iii) both PS and CD62 (89·6 ± 1·0%) or (iv) neither PS nor CD62 (87·9–97·5%), when platelets were treated at optimal conditions with pro‐apoptotic BH3 mimetic ABT‐737, thrombin, calcium ionophore A23187 or control diluents, respectively. The dynamics of PS exposure induced by ABT‐737 is a slow temperature‐dependent process requiring 90 min treatment at 37°C rather than at room temperature for obtaining high levels of PS exposure. In contrast, thrombin‐induced CD62 exposure and A23187‐induced PS and CD62 exposure showed fast temperature‐independent dynamics. This model of selective and concurrent stimulation of PS and/or CD62 transition to the platelet surface provides an experimental horizon for elucidating the roles of plasma membrane markers of platelet apoptosis and activation in platelet clearance.
Implications of a 3.472–3.333 Gyr-old subaerial microbial mat from the Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa for the UV environmental conditions on the early Earth

Modelling suggests that the UV radiation environment of the early Earth, with DNA weighted irradiances of about three orders of magnitude greater than those at present, was hostile to life forms at the surface, unless they lived in specific protected habitats. However, we present empirical evidence that challenges this commonly held view. We describe a well-developed microbial mat that formed on the surface of volcanic littoral sediments in an evaporitic environment in a 3.5–3.3 Ga-old formation from the Barberton greenstone belt. Using a multiscale, multidisciplinary approach designed to strongly test the biogenicity of potential microbial structures, we show that the mat was constructed under flowing water by 0.25 μm filaments that produced copious quantities of extracellular polymeric substances, representing probably anoxygenic photosynthesizers. Associated with the mat is a small colony of rods–vibroids that probably represent sulphur-reducing bacteria. An embedded suite of evaporite minerals and desiccation cracks in the surface of the mat demonstrates that it was periodically exposed to the air in an evaporitic environment. We conclude that DNA-damaging UV radiation fluxes at the surface of the Earth at this period must either have been low (absorbed by CO2, H2O, a thin organic haze from photo-dissociated CH4, or SO2 from volcanic outgassing; scattered by volcanic, and periodically, meteorite dust, as well as by the upper layers of the microbial mat) and/or that the micro-organisms exhibited efficient gene repair/survival strategies.
Effect of increased free fatty acid supply on glucose metabolism and skeletal muscle glycogen synthase activity in normal man.

1. Experimental elevation of plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations has been postulated to decrease insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation and storage rates. Possible mechanisms were examined by measuring skeletal muscle glycogen synthase activity and muscle glycogen content before and during hyperinsulinaemia while fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid levels were maintained. 2. Fasting plasma non-esterified fatty acid levels were maintained in seven healthy male subjects by infusion of 20% (w/v) Intralipid (1 ml/min) for 120 min before and during a 240 min hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp (100 m-units h-1 kg-1) combined with indirect calorimetry. On the control day, 0.154 mol/l NaCl was infused. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsy was performed before and at the end of the insulin infusion. 3. On the Intralipid study day serum triacylglycerol (2.24 +/- 0.20 versus 0.67 +/- 0.10 mmol/l), plasma nonesterified fatty acid (395 +/- 13 versus 51 +/- 1 mumol/l), blood glycerol (152 +/- 2 versus 11 +/- 1 mumol/l) and blood 3-hydroxybutyrate clamp levels [mean (95% confidence interval)] [81 (64-104) versus 4 (3-5) mumol/l] were all significantly higher (all P less than 0.001) than on the control study day. Lipid oxidation rates were also elevated (1.07 +/- 0.07 versus 0.27 +/- 0.08 mg min-1 kg-1, P less than 0.001). During the clamp with Intralipid infusion, insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose disposal decreased by 28% (from 8.53 +/- 0.77 to 6.17 +/- 0.71 mg min-1 kg-1, P less than 0.005). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Growth hormone, insulin‐like growth factor I, insulin and C‐peptide during human fetal life: in‐utero study

Serum growth hormone (GH), Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐I), insulin and C‐peptide were measured by RIA In fetal blood collected in utero by umbilical cord puncture performed for a variety of Indications. Eighty‐four fetuses were aged 19–25 weeks and 14 were 26–37 weeks. IGF‐I values were lower than the sensitivity of the method. The range for GH was 3–197 μ g/I (GH‐μ g/I × 2= mU/I), for Insulin 14·3–117 pmol/l, for C‐peptide 66·2–827·5 pmol/l. GH significantly Increased from week 19 to 25; insulin and C‐peptide levels Increased from week 19 to 37. GH levels at 19–25 weeks were significantly higher in fetuses with femoral length less than the 5th compared with those with femoral length greater than the 95th centlle for that age. GH and insulin levels did not correlate with weight at birth or with maternal hormone levels. These data provide evidence for a presence in living fetuses, from the 19th week, of high levels of GH and of Insulin levels not very different from those In adults but these hormones do not seem to be directly responsible for fetal growth.