Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dysfonctions mitochondriales et homéostasie bioénergétique des motoneurones dans un modèle de sclérose latérale amyotrophique

La sclerose laterale amyotrophique (SLA) est une maladie neurodegenerative fatale de l'âge adulte, caracterisee par une perte de motoneurones, conduisant a une atrophie et une faiblesse musculaires. Des mutations de la superoxyde dismutase-1 (SOD1) provoquent une forme genetique de SLA. Comme chez les patients atteints de SLA, le modele animal de SLA, SOD1 mutant, revele que tous les motoneurones sont inegalement sensibles a l'evolution de la maladie. Les mitochondries, centrales energetiques des cellules, sont des organelles precocement touchees dans la pathologie de la SLA. Un mecanisme attrayant qui sous-tend la susceptibilite differentielle est la necessite bioenergetique variable de sous-ensembles distincts de motoneurones. Cela implique que dans le systeme nerveux central, la demande bioenergetique pourrait moduler le seuil pathologique. Meme en l'absence de perte bioenergetique, on peut imaginer une situation dans laquelle une contrainte pathologique modifie le niveau a partir duquel la production ou la livraison de l'ATP devient insuffisant, precipitant la chute des neurones les plus vulnerables. Dans les neurones, la majorite de l'ATP est produite par les mitochondries et l'homeostasie des gradients d'ions est le procede le plus energivore. La fonction mitochondriale est moindre pour modifier les proprietes electriques des motoneurones si la disponibilite en ATP devient insuffisante pour permettre aux pompes ioniques de maintenir des gradients appropries. Nous avons demontre que la concentration intracellulaire basale d’ATP dans des cultures de neurones moteurs est diminuee dans les cellules mutees SOD1 par rapport au type sauvage. Paradoxalement a ce resultat, le taux de consommation d'oxygene des mitochondries est augmente dans les motoneurones SOD1m et il n'existe aucune preuve d'une augmentation de la consommation. Nos resultats appuient l'hypothese interessante qu'il y a un decouplage entre la chaine respiratoire et la production d'ATP. Ce decouplage peut etre utilise comme une strategie pour minimiser les proprietes toxiques des mitochondries hyper stimulees.
Effects of Trade Union Activities on Organizational Performance: A Case of Thika Level Five Hospital

iv ACKNOWLEDGMENT . vi DEDICATION. vii LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xii CHAPTER ONE . 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION. 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem . 4 1.3 General Objective . 5 1.4 Specific Objectives . 5 1.5 Importance of the study . 5 1.6 Scope of the Study . 6 1.7 Definition of Terms. 6 1.8 Chapter Summary . 7 CHAPTER TWO . 8 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW . 8 2.
Serum Soluble IL-6 Receptor Levels During the Mobilization of Stem Cells to Peripheral Blood

Serum soluble interleukin-6 receptors (sIL-6R) have been demonstrated to play an important role in hematopoiesis. We report here that serum sIL-6R levels reflect proliferative kinetics of the progenitors after stimulation by chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Serum sIL-6R were serially evaluated in 26 courses of peripheral blood (PB) stem cell collections in 16 patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of IL-6R and CD34 on PB mononuclear cells were examined by flow cytometric analysis and expressions of IL-6R mRNA were examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. There were no significant differences between the serum sIL-6R levels on day 0 in patients (27.8 ± 2.1 ng/ml, mean ± SEM) and those in controls (27.5 ± 1.5 ng/ml). Following chemotherapy the serum sIL-6R levels were significantly decreased, reaching a minimal level on day 14 (22.3 ± 1.2 ng/ml, p<0.01) and then significantly increased to above the baseline levels on day 21 (32.0 ± 2.1 ng/ml, p<0.01). Similar oscillations in the number of white blood cells, IL6R + cells, CD34 + cells and colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) in PB could be observed and the peak expression of mRNA was compatible with the expression of antigen. Serum sIL-6R levels on day 17 and 19 were positively correlated with the number of CD34 + cells, IL-6R + cells, CFU-GM in PB and the number of collected CD34 + cells in leukapheresis products. In addition, when comparing the 2 groups divided by the number of prior chemotherapies, the status of disease or dose of the mobilizing regimen, the serum sIL-6R levels were significantly increased after day 17 in the group that received fewer courses of prior chemotherapy, the group in complete remission and the group of high-dose chemotherapy. These findings indicated that sIL-6R levels do not reflect the hematopoietic ability in the steady state, or the capability of the hematopoiesis after stimulation. Thus, sIL-6R levels may be a marker for the timing of PBSC collection or the prediction of the number of collected CD34 + cells.
Progenitor cell domains in the developing and adult pancreas

Unlike organs with defined stem cell compartments, such as the intestine, the pancreas has limited capacity to regenerate. The question of whether the adult pancreas harbors facultative stem/progenitor cells has been a prime subject of debate. Cumulative evidence from recent genetic lineage tracing studies, in which specific cell populations were marked and traced in adult mice, suggests that endocrine and acinar cells are no longer generated from progenitors in the adult pancreas. These studies further indicate that adult pancreatic ductal cells are not a source for endocrine cells following pancreatic injury, as previously suggested. Our own studies have shown that adult ductal cells reinitiate expression of some endocrine progenitor markers, including Ngn3, after injury by partial duct ligation (PDL), but that these cells do not undergo endocrine cell differentiation. Here, we present additional evidence that endocrine cells do not arise from ducts following b-cell ablation by streptozotocin or by a diphtheria toxin-expressing transgene or when b-cell ablation is combined with PDL. In this review, we discuss findings from recent lineage tracing studies of embryonic and adult pancreatic ductal cells. Based upon the combined evidence from these studies, we propose that multipotency is associated with a specific transcriptional signature.
A robust control for a nuclear dismantling robot based on SMCSPO

In this research, a robust controller based on Sliding mode control with sliding perturbation observer (SMCSPO) for a nuclear dismantling hydraulic servo system is proposed. This paper introduces the controller for the 1st link first. The SMCSPO is using a sliding observer to observe perturbation only with encoder sensor. Meanwhile, the observed perturbation and state variables can be used to improve the performance of the controller based on sliding mode control.
An array-based Chip Lifetime Predictor macro for gate dielectric failures in core and IO FETs

A comprehensive Chip LIfetime Predictor (CLIP) macro for automatically characterizing gate dielectric failure reduces the stress time and silicon area by a factor proportional to the number of FETs to be tested. A flexible DUT cell that can be stressed in isolation without thicker tox FETs to 4 times supply voltage, enables accurate lifetime prediction under different ON and OFF state dielectric breakdown modes for both low voltage core and high voltage IO devices.
Learning Experiences in Programming: The Motivating Effect of a Physical Interface

A study of undergraduate students learning to program compared the use of a physical interface with use of a screen-based equivalent interface to obtain insights into what made for an engaging learning experience. Emotions characterized by the HUMAINE scheme were analysed, identifying the links between the emotions experienced during programming and their origin. By capturing the emotional experiences of learners immediately after a programming experience, evidence was collected of the very positive emotions experienced by learners developing a program using a physical interface (Arduino) in comparison with a similar program developed using a screen-based equivalent interface.
Regulation of hyphal morphogenesis by cdc42 and rac1 homologues in Aspergillus nidulans

The ability of filamentous fungi to form hyphae requires the establishment and maintenance of a stable polarity axis. Based on studies in yeasts and animals, the GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1 are presumed to play a central role in organizing the morphogenetic machinery to enable axis formation and stabilization. Here, we report that Cdc42 (ModA) and Rac1 (RacA) share an overlapping function required for polarity establishment in Aspergillus nidulans. Nevertheless, Cdc42 appears to have a more important role in hyphal morphogenesis in that it alone is required for the timely formation of lateral branches. In addition, we provide genetic evidence suggesting that the polarisome components SepA and SpaA function downstream of Cdc42 in a pathway that may regulate microfilament formation. Finally, we show that microtubules become essential for the establishment of hyphal polarity when the function of either Cdc42 or SepA is compromised. Our results are consistent with the action of parallel Cdc42 and microtubule‐based pathways in regulating the formation of a stable axis of hyphal polarity in A. nidulans.
A Conceptual Use of ICT to Approach Municipal Waste Problem

One of the greatest challenges facing developing countries is the unhealthy disposal of solid waste which resulted from human activities of development and survival. Awareness and attitude of people in the community appear to be crucial. The problem of waste management has arisen recently in developing countries where there is little history of the implementation of formal and informal community environmental education awareness program. Community participation significantly reduces the cost of waste collection. Information communication technology (ICT) significantly assists the acquisition and amalgamation of knowledge, offering developing countries unprecedented opportunities to enhance educational systems. To gauge the effectiveness of raising awareness regarding domestic solid waste management (SWM) within the society using computer aided tools (CAL), the present research was carried out. The study was conducted to find knowledge of college students with respect to Solid waste management by using developed communication methods. Sample study was conducted with 50 students. Preliminary data was collected by using questionnaire, before and after employing CAL tool and analyzed by using‘t test’. Development of effective knowledge regarding SWM using multimedia package is guiding factor in this project. The findings suggest that CAL tool developed by investigator were effective in raising knowledge of students regarding SWM.
PERMEABILITY OF THE PERINEURIUM OF SMALL NERVE FASCICLES: AN ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY USING FERRITIN IN RATS

The permeability of the perineurial cells was studied with ferritin as a tracer. It was injected beneath the muscle fascia of the lateral aspect of the fore limb of rats. After various intervals the animals were killed and the distribution of ferritin in the nerves of the underlying muscle was observed. Two minutes after injection, ferritin was found surrounding nerve fascicles of various sizes. Some medium sized fascicles containing ten to twenty myelinated nerve fibres, were bounded by a single layer of perineurial cells. In the endoneurium of these fascicles only very occasional ferritin particles were observed. Ferritin was, however, found in perineurial micropinocytotic vesicles which communicated with the epineurial extracellular compartment and also in some vesicles which were entirely intracellular and in a few vesicles which had an opening towards the endoneurium. Occasionally two or more vesicles had fused with one another. Fifteen minutes after the injection of ferritin, numerous ferritin particles were seen in the endoneurium of all nerve fascicles covered by a single layer of perineurial cells. The vesicles of these cells then frequently contained numerous ferritin particles. Sixty minutes after injection of ferritin the tracer was observed within the endoneurium of fascicles of all sizes, including those with a multilayered perineurium. In the latter, ferritin was seen between all the perineurial cell layers as well as in micropinocytotic vesicles of the perineurial cells. The results of this study strongly indicate that the perineurium of small nerve fasicles is permeable to ferritin and that this permeability is due to pinocytosis in the perineurial cells.
Valoración de garantías de valor residual en la industria aeronáutica: Un enfoque basado en la teoría de opciones reales

El presente trabajo ofrece un enfoque metodologico aplicado para valorar la flexibilidad que las garantias de valor residual ofrecen a las corporaciones que las emplean en sus proyectos de inversion relacionados con la industria aeronautica. La garantia de valor residual otorga a su titular el derecho a vender un activo, en una fecha futura, a un importe previamente acordado, siendo por tanto financieramente una opcion de venta (PUT), y en la terminologia de opciones reales, una opcion de abandono (way out option). Las garantias de valor residual son ampliamente utilizadas por operadores aereos, intermediarios financieros, y arrendadores operativos, con una finalidad dual materializada en la (i) gestion del capital de flexibilidad en la funcion de produccion y en la (ii) implementacion de las necesarias politicas de cobertura frente al riesgo de capacidad. En el trabajo se presenta un modelo especifico de valoracion adaptado a la dinamica estocastica existente en el mercado secundario de aeronaves, teniendo en cuenta la prima por riesgo de credito inherente a la naturaleza OTC de la opcion. Los resultados del modelo para algunos contratos especificos revelan que el mercado podria sobrevalorar las primas de estas opciones, lo cual es logico dada su falta de transparencia y los problemas que existen para cubrir apropiadamente la emision de las mismas.
MR imaging in carotid artery atherosclerosis plaque characterization.

AIM To evaluate the potential role of carotid artery atherosclerosis plaque magnetic resonance (MR) microimaging as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker, ex vivo MR images were acquired at optimized parameters on 9.4T Bruker animal imager for occluded tissue resected by carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and corresponding histopathological analysis was made. METHODS AND MATERIALS For imaging, CEA tissues of size 2-6 cm long and 0.5-1.5 cm wide, were transferred to 15 ml co-polymer laboratory culture tubes containing either 10% formalin in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or in 50% glycerol in PBS. Imaging protocol was set at TE=30 ms, TR=1.5 s, matrix size=265 x 512, NEX=128, slice thickness=1 mm and in-plane resolution=0.1 mm for total sample size 2.5 cm. Soon after imaging done, carotid artery tissues were cut into 5-mm segments and processed for histological section for successive 5-micrometer slices. To compare morphology of 5 mum thin CEA section with that of 1 mm MR slices, registration was obtained between histologic sections and MR slices. Contrast and magnetic resonance relaxation characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS Total carotid artery area computed by MR imaging was correlated with areas determined from histologic sections (r(2)=0.989, p=0.0001). For the lumen area, the correlation between MR images and histologic area was (r(2)=0.942, p=0.0001). Relaxation times and T(2) parametric images of different plaque components were determinant for contrast resolution. Scan parameters were optimized for fibrous cap and atheroma. Scan parameters were characteristic for comparison at 1.5T and 9.4T MR imagers. CONCLUSION The observed correlation validated MR microimaging to assess morphological features of carotid artery plaques and contrast resolution highlighted the potential of in vivo MR imaging as non-invasive MRI marker to monitor carotid artery plaque morphometry and plaque composition.
Air-Conditioning PID Control System with Adjustable Reset to Offset Thermal Loads Upsets

The heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems have huge different characteristics in control engineering from chemical and steel processes. One of the characteristics is that the equilibrium point (or the operating point) usually varies with disturbances such as outdoor temperature (or weather conditions) and thermal loads. The variations of the operating point intend to vary parameters of a plant model. Thus, the HVAC control systems are extremely difficult to obtain an exact mathematical model (Kasahara 2000). Proportional-plus-integral (PI) controllers have been by far the most common control strategy as the complexity of the control problem increased (Astrom 1995). Today, a variable air volume (VAV) system has been universally accepted as means of achieving energy efficient and comfortable building environment. While the VAV control strategies provide a high quality environment for building occupants, the VAV system analysis rarely receives the attention it deserves. As a result, basic control strategies for the VAV system have remained unchanged up to now (Hartman 2003). In addition, applying the model predictive control method to the HVAC systems, the control performance has been highly improved by pursuing the deviation from the operating point (Taira 2004). According to this report, recognizing the deviation from the operating point and calculating the optimal control inputs about the newly obtained operating point on next sampling time, the control system gives better responses than the traditional feedback control system. Motivated by these considerations in these reports, we consider the room temperature and humidity controls using the adjustable resets which compensate for thermal loads upsets. One of the primary objectives of the HVAC systems is to maintain the room air temperature and humidity at the setpoint values to a high quality environment for building occupants. The room temperature and humidity control systems may be represented in the same blockdiagram form as single-variable, single-loop feedback control systems because this interaction is weak relative to the desired control performance.
Bioaccumulation syndrome: identifying factors that make some stream food webs prone to elevated mercury bioaccumulation

Mercury is a ubiquitous contaminant in aquatic ecosystems, posing a significant health risk to humans and wildlife that eat fish. Mercury accumulates in aquatic food webs as methylmercury (MeHg), a particularly toxic and persistent organic mercury compound. While mercury in the environment originates largely from anthropogenic activities, MeHg accumulation in freshwater aquatic food webs is not a simple function of local or regional mercury pollution inputs. Studies show that even sites with similar mercury inputs can produce fish with mercury concentrations ranging over an order of magnitude. While much of the foundational work to identify the drivers of variation in mercury accumulation has focused on freshwater lakes, mercury contamination in stream ecosystems is emerging as an important research area. Here, we review recent research on mercury accumulation in stream‐dwelling organisms. Taking a hierarchical approach, we identify a suite of characteristics of individual consumers, food webs, streams, watersheds, and regions that are consistently associated with elevated MeHg concentrations in stream fish. We delineate a conceptual, mechanistic basis for explaining the ecological processes that underlie this vulnerability to MeHg. Key factors, including suppressed individual growth of consumers, low rates of primary and secondary production, hydrologic connection to methylation sites (e.g., wetlands), heavily forested catchments, and acidification are frequently associated with increased MeHg concentrations in fish across both streams and lakes. Hence, we propose that these interacting factors define a syndrome of characteristics that drive high MeHg production and bioaccumulation rates across these freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Finally, based on an understanding of the ecological drivers of MeHg accumulation, we identify situations when anthropogenic effects and management practices could significantly exacerbate or ameliorate MeHg accumulation in stream fish.
Efficiency and noise performance of wavelength converters based on FWM in semiconductor optical amplifiers

All optical frequency converters are key devices for new-conception optical networks. A theoretical model is presented to evaluate performances of frequencies converters based on highly nondegenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in semiconductor amplifiers. Conversion efficiency and noise performances are evaluated in generic saturation conditions and compared with experimental results. <<ETX>>
Defective expression of neutrophil C3b receptors and impaired lymphocyte Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

In our previous report, we demonstrated that the functions of phagocytes and lymphocytes were defective in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In an attempt to further clarify the defective mechanisms of these cells, 25 active SLE, 10 bronchial asthma patients (BA) on corticosteroids and 25 age and sex-matched normal individuals were investigated for the expression of membraneous C3b receptors, ionophore-induced 45Ca(2+)-uptake, mitochondrial potentials and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. We found decreased expression of C3b receptors on SLE PMN in both resting (37.2 +/- 3.7% of the normal controls) and FMLP-stimulated (68.3 +/- 7.1% of the normal controls) conditions, whereas the C3b receptor expression on BA-PMN receiving long-term steroid treatment was not different from normal controls. This suggests that the defective phagocytosis of SLE PMN is in the recognition, but not in the ingestion phase because of the normal function of Ca(2+)-influx and mitochondrial activity in SLE PMN. On the other hand, hyporesponsiveness to PHA stimulation (stimulation index: 127.4 +/- 46.3 in SLE vs. 311.2 +/- 30.4 in normals, p = 0.0077) was a distinct cell-mediated immune abnormality in our SLE patients. We measured the membrane potential of individual cells using 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanin and found hyperpolarization in resting SLE lymphocytes. However, the membrane polarization of SLE lymphocytes became lower than that of normal cells after PHA stimulation for 3 days. A similar tendency was also found in Na(+)-K(+)-dependent ATPase activity in SLE lymphocytes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)