Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of referrals for short stature: A retrospective chart review.

Background Referrals to paediatric endocrine clinics for short stature are common. Height velocity (HV) is an essential component of the evaluation of short stature as growth deceleration often reflects an underlying paediatric endocrine diagnosis (PED). Access to previous measurements facilitates prompt calculation of HV. Objective To determine the availability of previous measurements at time of referral for short stature and to determine predictors of a PED. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on all referrals for short stature to a single paediatric endocrinologist between January 2008 and December 2014. Standard practice following receipt of a referral for short stature included repeated requests to the referring physician for previous measurements. Results A total of 324 charts of patients aged 11 months to 18 years were reviewed and 286 were eligible for inclusion. Previous measurements were available in 72.4%, and 44.8% of these were found to have a PED. There was a significant relation between HV<25th percentile and a PED (P<0.0001) and between height deficit (HD) and a PED (P<0.0001). Logistic regression analysis showed that a HV<25th percentile and a HD>2 standard deviations, increased the odds of PED by a factor of 5.12 (P<0.001) and 1.39 (P<0.005), respectively. Conclusion HV is a significant predictor of a PED. Our higher rate of previous measurement availability is likely due to our effective referral screening protocol. The availability of these measurements, which are essential for HV calculation, are likely to reduce delays in diagnosis and management.
Toxoplasma gondii : étude du réseau de nanotubes membranaires de la vacuole parasitophore et des protéines GRA associées

Dans la cellule hote, Toxoplasma gondii se developpe dans une vacuole parasitophore (VP) caracterisee par un reseau de nanotubes membranaires (RNM) dont la composition, le mecanisme de formation et la fonction sont obscures. Quelques proteines GRA, dont GRA2 et GRA6, sont secretees dans la VP a partir des granules denses puis ciblees au RNM. Cette localisation s'accorde avec l'helice alpha-hydrophobe de GRA6 et les helices alpha-amphipathiques de GRA2. Avant et apres secretion dans la VP, les proteines GRA sont partiellement solubles. Le phenotype de parasites deletes de leur(s) gene(s) GRA2 et/ou GRA6 revele que ces 2 proteines sont indispensables a la formation du RNM. J'ai montre 1) qu'avant leur insertion dans les membranes de la VP, la solubilite des proteines GRA est preservee grâce a des interactions hydrophobes avec peut etre, des micelles de l'espace vacuolaire ; 2) que GRA12, une nouvelle proteine du RNM, n'interagit pas avec GRA2 dans ces membranes. 3) que l'adressage specifique de GRA6 au RNM est determine par son domaine N-terminal hydrophile. 4) J'ai montre que GRA2 recombinante a une affinite pour le phosphatidyl inositol (4, 5) diphosphate avec lequel elle interagit via ses helices alpha-amphipathiques. GRA2 deforme des liposomes de courbure membranaire importante pour generer de courts tubules membranaires. La tubulation est accentuee par GRA6 qui s'associe aux liposomes, quelque soit leur diametre. Ces resultats valident le role direct de GRA2 et GRA6 dans la formation du RNM et laissent envisager un modele de sa formation, dans lequel GRA6 favoriserait l'assemblage de vesicules lipidiques que GRA2 fusionnerait en tubules membranaires.
Smart Monitoring of Outdoor Insulators

Outdoor insulators are crucial components to the integrity of overhead lines. There are two main types of outdoor insulators: ceramic and non-ceramic insulators. Both types suffer from different types of defects in the field and hence they need to be inspected regularly to avoid any possible sudden failure of these insulators. In this paper, the different types of defects of outdoor insulators are summarized. Moreover, the different pros and cons of sensors are highlighted and compared. Furthermore, the application of machine learning to enhance the inspection process is introduced.
Controller Based on Combined Tracking Error Applied in a Tilt-rotor MAV

This work proposes a control scheme, based on combined tracking error, for controlling a quadrotor in a tilting configuration. One of the main benefits of the tilting mechanism is that such a structure allows to increasing the workspace, in comparison with the classical quadrotor and, as a consequence, tilting drones can reach more complex surfaces. In this vein, such advantages could be profited on performing more advanced tasks such as transportation of pay-loads, high-speed grasping, image acquisition and sensing (finding cracks in pipelines). In this way, by adopting the Euler-Lagrange formalism, this work presents the mathematical model of the tilting quadrotor that describes the displacements in one of their planes. In addition, the control scheme is proposed by guaranteeing closed-loop stability, where its analysis has been derived by considering the Lyapunov approach. Finally, some numerical examples have been considered in order to evaluate and validate the control strategy.
Systematic Study of External Optical Feedback Tolerance in 1300 nm Quantum Dot Lasers

Resilience of 1300nm In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dot lasers to external optical feedback is systematically investigated from − 10°C to 85 °C. The high-resolution spectral and current-dependent linewidth enhancement factor is measured for all modes in the positive net modal gain region. Complimentary to that, analysis of the free-running and under deployment specific feedback relative intensity noise is discussed in the context of compliance against the IEEE 802.3ah specifications at the full range of temperatures.
A miniature storing activity recorder for seabird species

An activity recorder weighing 24 g with on-board data storage, designed to record data relating to seabird activity and behaviour at sea, is described. The principles, the design specification and the circuit description of the device are presented, together with data from field tests on Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans to illustrate performance.
L'accouplement chez les lepidopteres rhopaloceres : divers aspects ethologiques, morphologiques et physiologiques et leurs implications biosystematiques

Ce travail concerne l'ensemble des mecanismes de l'accouplement, de la recherche du partenaire jusqu'a la fecondation de l'ovocyte, et apporte des precisions sur divers aspects de ces mecanismes et sur l'utilisation qui peut en etre faite pour resoudre des problemes evolutifs. Pieris brassicae (pieridae) sert de materiel de base pour analyser chaque phenomene et mettre au point de nouvelles methodes d'etude, ensuite appliquees a des problemes evolutifs. La parade nuptiale de p. Brassicae comprend successivement trois grandes etapes : - visuelle : mouvement et taille supranormaux, discrimination dans l'ultraviolet ; - olfactive : pheromone male aphrodisiaque, et peut etre femelle antiaphrodisiaque ; - tactile : accouplements provoques obtenu avec un leurre. Presentation d'un schema general du comportement sexuel et discussion sur les capacites d'accouplements. Des experiences d'hybridation et d'elevages en conditions controlees ont permis de preciser chez deux satyridae : - les rapports des formes geographiques et saisonnieres de pararge aegeria : aucune barriere d'isolement postcopulatoire n'a ete trouvee ; - l'origine hybride d'erebia serotina demontree par le croisement d'e. Pronoe avec e. Epiphron. La structure et le fonctionnement des voies genitales males sont ensuite analyses chez p. Brassicae : - organogenese : essentiellement mesodermique ; - structure histologique et histochimique de l'imago vierge, revelant huit zones glandulaires differentes ; - modifications au cours de la vie imaginale avec un renouvellement partiel des secretions. La formation du spermatophore et sa degradation dans la femelle sont etudies ainsi que la migration et la maturation des spermatozoides. La structure comparee des genitalia est examinee dans deux genres de nymphalidae : - charaxes : speciation dans le groupe eudoxus, systeme clef-serrure dans le groupe boueti ; isolement du groupe laodice et niveau generique de c. Zingha ; - euptera : mise en evidence de trois niveaux de variation des genitalia.
Dendritic cells and immune-based therapies.

The dendritic cell (DC) lineage of white blood cells specializes in capturing antigens and stimulating T-dependent immunity. Because of their efficacy in inducing T cell responses in vivo without other adjuvants, DCs can be considered "nature's adjuvant. " DCs are the least abundant of leukocytes, but methods for generating large numbers of DCs are being developed. Ex vivo, DCs develop from CD34+ progenitors cultured in the presence of a combination of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). This kind of work is stimulating interest in charging DCs with clinically relevant antigens and inducing active immunity in patients. Targeting antigens to DCs may become feasible also because of the identification of distinct antigen receptors such as DEC-205, a DECalectin with 10 contiguous, C-type lectin domains. DEC-205 can mediate adsorptive uptake and presentation via DCs. AIDS is another disease for which DCs should be considered in designing new therapies, since DCs can play a major role in promoting HIV-1 replication. Many HIV-1 isolates induce syncytia between DCs and CD4+ memory T cells. These syncytia in turn are the site for a productive infection with HIV-1, possibly because requisite transcription factors like NF-kappaB and Sp1 are separately provided by DCs and T cells, respectively. Further attention to the DC lineage should provide new avenues for manipulating the immune system in several clinical contexts.
Autogenous control of heart rate taking Deep Slow Breaths during exercise

We investigated whether heart rate can be controlled consciously. This study examined the effect of 20 minutes of cycling exercise while being conscious about energy conservation on the heart rate. 21 healthy college students (9 men, 12 women) participated three exercise bouts. Exercise bouts were examined under the following three conditions: (a) known condition (participants having information about the exercise duration); (b) unknown condition (participants having no information about the exercise duration) and; (c) conserving energy condition (participants having information about the exercise duration and being conscious about energy conservation). Heart rate in the unknown condition was lower than that in the known condition (p < 0.05); further, it was lower in the conserving energy condition than in the known condition (p < 0.01). In contrast, the tidal volume of the conserving energy condition was higher than that in the known condition (p < 0.05). In addition, the respiratory rates in the unknown and conserving energy conditions were lower than that in the known condition (p < 0.01). Energy expenditure during exercise was lowest in the conserving energy condition. These results show the possibility of autogenous control of heart rate by taking deep slow breaths consciously during exercise.
Productivity of Lohmann Brown Laying Hens that Offered âYeast Cultureâ Supplemented inPollard and Soybean Hull Diets

This research was carried out to increase the productivity of Lohmann Brown laying hens aged 32â40 weeks that offered âyeast cultureâ (Saccharomyces cereviseae) supplementation, both in pollard and soybean hull diets. The research used a completely randomized design (CRD) with six treatments and eight replications. There were two birds in each replicate. The experimental diets for the laying period (aged 32-40 weeks) were formulated to 17% crude protein and 2750 kcal ME/kg as a control diets (A), 0.10% yeast culture supplementation (B), diets with 15% pollard (C), 15% pollard + 0,10% yeast (D), 15% soybean hull (E), and 15% soybean hull + 0,10% yeast (F), repectively. Experimental diets and drinking water were provided ad libitum during the entire experimental period. The results of this experiment showed that supplementation of 0.10% yeast culture as a probiotics sources in the basal diets increased (P<0,05) significantly on egg weight total, egg production, and feed efficiencies than control groups. The diets with 15% wheat bran did not effect (P>0,05) on eggs production. It was concluded that supplementation of 0,10% yeast culture as probiotics sources in basal diets increased productivity of Lohmann Brown laying hens aged 32 â 40 weeks. It was suggested that the used of 15% pollard and 15% soybean hull in Lohmann Brown laying hens aged 32- 40 weeks diets were recommended. Keywords : Soybean hull, pollard, productivity, laying hens
Novel methods of manipulating the Sinorhizobium meliloti genome and studying the effects of denitrification on symbiotic nitrogen fixation

By Brent Lee House, Ph.D. Washington State University May 2003 Chair: Michael L. Kahn Sinorhizobium meliloti is a Gram negative soil bacterium that commonly forms symbiotic relationships with legumes like Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and Medicago truncatula. S. meliloti infects the roots of these legumes, inducing the plants to form nodules, specialized tumor-like organs protruding from the roots. Differentiated S. meliloti bacteroids live inside the nodule cells, surrounded by a plant-derived peribacteroid membrane (PBM). Bacteroids convert atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonium, which the plant uses as a nitrogen source, while the plant supplies the bacteroids with reduced carbon. To exploit the recently available genome sequence of S. meliloti 1021, we developed a method to clone genes from the S. meliloti genome using bacteriophage lambda integrative
Innovative electroporation for therapeutic and vaccination applications

Summary Electroporation (EP) has been used for years as a tool to increase macromolecule uptake in tissues, including nucleic acids for gene therapeutic applications. Skeletal muscle is a preferable target tissue for a number of reasons including long-term secretion of therapeutic proteins for systemic distribution and promotion of strong humoral and cellular immune responses post-vaccination. All of these DNA-mediated applications are significantly improved by in vivo EP. We have demonstrated previously that constant-current EP is effective for intramuscular plasmid delivery in mammals and does not cause permanent damage to cells. Numerous other factors impact plasmid uptake and expression after intramuscular injection followed by EP, such as plasmid size, formulation, concentration, injection volume, intensity of the electric field, target muscle, and species and age of the treated subject. These improvements in the conditions of EP can increase the efficacy of plasmid transfer and lower the total amount of plasmid and DNA vaccines required to generate targeted levels of biologically active proteins or antibodies.
Etude du rôle du récepteur des xénobiotiques PXR dans la réponse à la chimiothérapie du cancer colorectal

Malgre de nombreuses etudes pharmacogenetiques, l’efficacite de la chimiotherapie du cancer colorectal est sujette a une grande variabilite interindividuelle rendant la prediction de la reponse therapeutique et toxique difficile. Les fluoropyrimidines associees a l’oxaliplatine ou a l'irinotecan constituent le traitement de premiere ligne des cancers colorectaux metastatiques et subissent un metabolisme peripherique et tumoral auquel participent differentes enzymes et proteines de transport membranaire. Considerant leurs profils metaboliques et la distribution tissulaire du recepteur des xenobiotiques PXR, nous avons emis l’hypothese que PXR pouvait jouer un role preponderant dans la reponse des cellules tumorales coliques a ces agents cytotoxiques. PXR est un xenorecepteur active par de nombreux medicaments et composes environnementaux et regulant l’expression de genes du metabolisme et du transport cellulaire des medicaments dans des organes cles de la detoxication tels que le foie et le tractus gastro-intestinal. La transfection stable de PXR dans les cellules tumorales coliques humaines LS174T, SW480 et SW620 a conduit a une augmentation de leur chimioresistance au SN38, metabolite actif de l’irinotecan, correlee au niveau d’expression de PXR. L’etude du profil metabolique du SN38 a permis de montrer une forte augmentation de sa glucuronidation en SN38G inactif dans les cellules LS174T exprimant PXR, associee a l’augmentation des niveaux d’expression des ARNm des UDP-glucuronosyl transferases UGT1A1, UGT1A9 et UGT1A10. L’inhibition de l’expression de PXR par une strategie siRNA a permis de restaurer la sensibilite des cellules concomitamment a une diminution de l’expression de l’UGT1A1 et de la glucuronidation du SN38. Nous avons egalement montre que PXR etait exprime dans les tissus coliques sains et tumoraux avec une grande variabilite et mis en evidence une forte correlation entre l’expression de PXR et de l’UGT1A1 dans le tissu tumoral. Nos resultats suggerent que le metabolisme tumoral du SN38 est affecte par PXR et que ces nouvelles donnees devraient etre prises en compte dans la prediction de la reponse a l’irinotecan des lors que des composes environnementaux ou le regime alimentaire affectent l’expression et/ou l’activite de PXR.
Studies on spawning and larval rearing of the Whelk, Babylonia spirata (Linnaeus,1758)(Neogastropoda: Buccinidae)

The spiral Babylon Babylonia spirata (locally called ‘Dove egg shell’- Pravumutta chank) is a gastropod resource which is being exploited rapidly for export to foreign countries mainly to Japan. The meat of this whelk is exported and also consumed by the fisher folks on the southeastern coast of India. The shells of these snails are used in the lime industry and for ornamental purposes. The operculum is exported to foreign countries for manufacturing medicine and perfumes (Thirumalavalavan, 1987). The export of these molluscs has led to the development of active fishery of this shellfish in different parts of India. As the demand for the whelk meat is increasing day by day and intensive exploitation is done by trawling in most centers, the chances of overexploitation and exploitation of undersized whelk leading to the depletion is quite possible. Measures are to be taken to avoid overexploitation and indiscriminate exploitation of the juvenile whelks and egg masses from the natural beds. Appukuttan and Ramdoss (2000) stressed the need for judicious exploitation and hatchery seed production for sea ranching to augment the production of the species.
Etude biochimique et immunocytochimique de l'impact de mutations génétiques sur la lignification et l'assemblage des parois d'Arabidopsis thaliana

La biomasse vegetale suscite un interet accru en raison de son potentiel pour les energies de remplacement du petrole. Dans toutes ces formes d’utilisation et de valorisation, la paroi cellulaire lignocellulosique occupe un role central. C’est dans ce contexte d’une meilleure connaissance de la structure fine de la paroi secondaire lignifiee et de la fonction des polymeres constitutifs dans l’elaboration du biocomposite qu’est la paroi que se situent les travaux realises dans le cadre de cette these. Plusieurs mutants nuls de la plante modele Arabidopsis thaliana, dont un ou plusieurs genes (cinnamoyl-CoA-reductase, mutant ccr1 ; cinnamyl alcohol deshydrogenase, mutants cad-c et cad-d ; aldehyde deshydrogenase, mutant ref1 ; ferulate 5-hydroxylase, mutant f5h) impliques dans la synthese des alcools coniferylique et sinapylique, precurseurs des unites G et S des lignines, ont ete totalement reprimes, ont constitue les modeles utilises pour etudier les effets de la mutation sur la composition et la structure des parois. L’analyse biochimique des lignines des plantes mutantes par thioacidolyse, d’une part, et l’etude a l’echelle ultrastructurale par immunomarquage en microscopie electronique, d’autre part, ont constitue les deux principales approches complementaires privilegiees par lesquelles il a ete possible de decrire les impacts des mutations sur la structure des lignines et par la sur l’assemblage macromoleculaire des parois. Les consequences des mutations se sont averees tissu-specifiques et suggerent une regulation spatio-temporelle de la lignification accompagnant la differenciation. La comparaison des alterations induites dans l’assemblage des parois par les differentes mutations a permis de deduire que les structures non-condensees des lignines assuraient un role important dans la cohesion du composite cellulose-hemicelluloses-lignines. L’analyse des impacts des mutations simples ou multiples des differents genes montre que les effets sur les lignines et les parois ne correspondent pas a la simple sommation des effets de chacune des mutations des genes, suggerant des regulations croisees. Le developpement d’une nouvelle approche de microanalyse impliquant la microdissection a capture laser a permis de preciser pour la premiere fois les differences analytiques des lignines des fibres par rapport aux vaisseaux, et a montre tout son potentiel pour l’analyse de l’impact des mutations a l’echelle tissulaire.
Efficacy of Trigger Points Mesotherapy for the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain: A Short Term Retrospective Study

Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether mesotherapy is effective in treating Chronic Neck Pain (CNP) and to evaluate the effects of superficial trigger point injections with lidocaine versus dry ones. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted. Forty-two subjects were recruited and divided into two groups: the Drug Mesotherapy Group (Group A: n=22) who received local microinjections of 1 cc of local anesthetic lidocaine 2% and the Dry Mesotherapy Control Group (Group B: n=20) who received microinjections (performed with a needle) without any drugs (dry mesotherapy). The treatments involved 8 local superficial trigger points of the cervical tract. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale, disability using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the quality of life using the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12). Data were collected at the baseline (T0), at the end of the treatment program (Tend) and at the three month (T3m) follow up. Results: Group A treatment significantly reduced pain for VAS at T1 (p=0,000), which rose after the end of treatment at T-follow-up and remained significantly lower than baseline levels (p=0,003). Short-term benefits were also observed in terms of the secondary outcome measures, but the medium-term effects were less significant. Conclusion: Administration of lidocaine using superficial trigger points mesotherapy is efficacy and well tolerated method for managing chronic neck pain in the short-term.
Effects on Sexual Function by the Drugs used in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer. A Practical Guide for the Urologist

The effects on sexual function (SF) by the drugs commonly used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PC) have been analyzed. BPH therapy: alpha-blockers have no adverse effects on SF; the only one without significant hypotensive effect, Tamsulosin, can cause retrograde ejaculation in 4–8% of cases. 5-Alpha-reductase (Finasteride and Dutasteride) inhibitors could have detrimental effects on erectile function, libido and ejaculation in a small percentage of cases rarely exceeding 10%; these effects are reversible and their incidence reduces after 1 yr. Phytotherapy (extracts from pygeum africanum and serenoa repens) and mepartricin have no unfavorable action on SF. PC therapy: Loss of erectile function and libido are the norm with the use of LH-RH analogues, estrogens and steroidal antiandrogens (cyproterone acetate). Non-steroidal antiandrogens (Flutamide, Bicalutamide and Nilutamide) allow the preservation of SF in two-thirds of cases.