Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endocrine sex reversal of gonads by the aromatase inhibitor Letrozole (CGS 20267) in Emys orbicularis, a turtle with temperature-dependent sex determination.

In embryos of Emys orbicularis, the sexual differentiation of gonads is influenced by the incubation temperature of eggs. Estrogens administered during the thermosensitive period result in the feminization of gonads at 25 degrees (male-producing temperature), whereas an antiestrogen or aromatase inhibitors masculinize the gonads at 30 degrees (female-producing temperature). The nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor Letrozole induces gonads with different degrees of masculinization, from ovary-like to testis-like. The present study examines the endocrine function of such masculinized gonads, at the end of embryonic life. Aromatase activity (which is involved in estrogen synthesis in ovary) and the status of Müllerian ducts (the regression of which reflects the secretion of a putative anti-Müllerian hormone by the Sertoli cells) were examined. One month after treatment with Letrozole, the gonads of embryos presented various levels of aromatase activity. There was a strong correlation among aromatase activity, gonadal structure, and Müllerian duct status; high levels of aromatase (similar or close to those in control females) were found in ovary-like gonads; intermediate levels were found in gonads (masculinized ovaries or ovotestes? ) exhibiting a cortex and a composite medulla containing a mixture of ovarian lacunae and testicular cord-like structures; low levels (similar or close to those in control males) were found in strongly masculinized gonads (testis-like or ovotestes). Müllerian ducts were regressing in the majority of embryos with gonads containing low levels of aromatase activity. In these individuals, gonads functioned as embryonic testes. These results confirm the implication of estrogens in gonadal differentiation. The origin of these hormones is controversial, so that the aromatase activity was compared in gonads, in the undissociated adrenal-mesonephric complex (AM), and in different parts of this complex during the thermosensitive period. At the female-producing temperature, the aromatase activity per unit of tissue increased in differentiating ovaries but it was low in AM and similar to that found in AM at male-producing temperature. In embryos whose gonads had been masculinized by early treatment with Letrozole, aromatase activity was unchanged in AM. These results suggest that the main source of estrogens involved in ovarian differentiation is the gonad itself.
CT perfusion in oncologic imaging: a useful tool?

OBJECTIVE This article summarizes the current status of CT perfusion in oncologic imaging, including lesion characterization, staging, prediction of patient outcome or response to therapy, assessment of response to different therapies, and evaluation of tumor relapse. Technical limitations and drawbacks of CT perfusion are also discussed. CONCLUSION Tumor angiogenesis is essential for cancer growth and provides an attractive target for oncologic therapies. CT perfusion is an emerging imaging tool that provides both qualitative and quantitative information regarding tumor angiogenesis.
Speaker Role Recognition Using Question Detection and Characterization

Speech Data Mining is an area of research dedicated to characterizing audio streams that contain speech from one or more speakers, using descriptors related to the form and the content of the speech signal. Besides the word transcription, information about the type of audio stream and the role and identity of speakers is also crucial to allow complex queries such as: "seek debates on X", "ﬁnd all the interviews of Y”, etc. In this framework we present a study performed on broadcast conversations that focuses on the way speakers express their questions in conversations. The initial intuition is that the type of questions asked can help identify the role (anchor, guest, expert, etc.) of a speaker in a conversation. By tagging these questions with a set of labels and using this information in addition to the commonly used descriptors to classify users’ role in broadcast conversations, we improve the role classiﬁcation accuracy and validate our initial intuition.
p/sup +//n/sup -//n/sup +/ cz-Si detectors processed on p-type boron-doped substrates with thermal donor induced space charge sign inversion

We have processed pad detectors on high-resistivity p-type Cz-Si wafers. The resistivity of the boron-doped silicon is approximately 1.8 k/spl Omega/ cm after the crystal growth. The detector processing was carried out using the common procedure for standard n-type wafers, to produce p/sup +//p/p/sup -//n/sup +/ detector structures. During the last process step, i.e., sintering of aluminum electrode, the p-type bulk was turned to n-type through generation of thermal donors (TD). This way, high oxygen concentration p/sup +//n/sup -//n/sup +/ Cz-Si detectors were realized with low temperature process. The full depletion voltage of detectors could be tailored between wide range from 30 V up to close 1000 V by changing heat treatment at 400/spl deg/C-450/spl deg/C duration from 20 to 80 min. The space charge sign inversion (SCSI) in the TD generated devices (from p/sup +//p/sup -//n/sup +/ to p/sup +//n/sup -/(inverted)/n/sup +/) has been verified by transient current technique measurements. The detectors show very small increase of full depletion voltage after irradiations with 24 GeV/c protons up to 5*10/sup 14/ p/cm/sup 2/.
Simultaneous Coupling of arn-Adrenergic Receptors to Two G-proteins with Opposing Effects

Coupling of the three az-adrenergic receptor (a2AR) subtypes to Gi and G. was studied in membranes from transfected CHO cells. We observed that in the presence of low concentrations of the azAR agonist UK14304, azClO mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase activity, whereas at high concentrations of agonist, azCIO mediated stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity, We considered that this biphasic response was due to the coupling of aZC1O to both Gi and G. To isolate functional G. and Gi coupling, cells were treated with pertussis toxin or cholera toxin in doses sufficient to fully ADP-ribosylate the respective G-proteins. Following treatment with cholera toxin, agonists elicited only azC1O-mediated inhibition (-50%) of adenylyl cyclase while after pertussis toxin treatment, agonists elicited only azClO-mediated stimulation (-60%) of adenylyl cyclase. Incubation of membranes with antisera directed against the carboxyl-terminal portion of G, blocked this functional azAR. G, coupling to the same extent as that found for BzAR.Gs coupling. In addition to functional G, coupling, we also verified direct, agonistdependent, physical coupling of a2AR to G,. In agonisttreated membranes, an agonist-receptor-G, complex was immunoprecipitated with a specific azCIO antibody, and the G. component identified by both western blots using G , antibody, and cholera toxin mediated ADP-ribosylation. Due to the differences in primary amino acid structure in a number of regions of the azAR subtypes, we investigated whether G-protein coupling was subtypeselective, using UK-14304 and cells with the same azAR expression levels (-5 pmol/mg). Coupling to Gi was equivalent for azCIO, a&4, and azC2: 53.4 f 8.8% versus 54.9 f 1.0% versus 47.6 f 3.5% inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, respectively. In marked contrast, distinct differences in coupling to G. were found between the three azAR subtypes: stimulation of adenylyl cyclase was 57.9 f 6.3% versus 30.7 f 1.1% versus 21.8 2 1.7% for azC1O, a&4, and azC2, respectively. Thus, azAR have the potential to couple physically and functionally to both Gi and G. ; for Gi coupling we found a
The transport and metabolism of the uridine mononucleotides by rat jejunum in vitro.

1. Both uridine 3'‐monophosphate (3'‐UMP) and uridine 5'‐monophosphate (5'‐UMP) when perfused through the lumen of isolated rat jejunum gave rise to uracil as the only transported pyrimidine appearing in the serosal medium; neither the nucleotide nor the nucleoside could be detected in the serosal fluid. 2. There was a low level of the nucleoside, uridine, in the luminal fluid after the nucleotide had passed through the jejunal segment. Luminal nucleoside appearance was more marked from the 3' form of the nucleotide. 3. The hydrolysis of the nucleotides to the nucleoside form occurred via a brush‐border membrane enzyme, which had the same maximal velocity (Vmax) for the two nucleotides (699 +/‐ 35 and 747 +/‐ 10 nmol min‐1 (mg protein)‐1 for 3'‐UMP and 5'‐UMP, respectively) but a different Michaelis constant (Km) so that 3'‐UMP (Km = 58 +/‐ 3 microM) hydrolysis is favoured over 5'‐UMP hydrolysis (Km = 108 +/‐ microM) at lower concentrations. 4. At 0.05 mM, luminal 3'‐UMP gave rise to a higher rate of serosal uracil appearance than luminal 5'‐UMP, but at higher luminal concentrations (0.1‐0.2 mM) the rate of serosal uracil appearance was the same from both nucleotides. 5. The transmural transport of uracil from the uridine mononucleotides is discussed with reference to the metabolism and compartmentalization of the small intestine responsible for the appearance of the free pyrimidine in the serosal fluid.
The Cytoplasmic Tail of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Spike Protein Contains a Novel Endoplasmic Reticulum Retrieval Signal That Binds COPI and Promotes Interaction with Membrane Protein

ABSTRACT Like other coronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) assembles at and buds into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). Accumulation of the viral envelope proteins at this compartment is a prerequisite for virus assembly. Previously, we reported the identification of a dibasic motif (KxHxx) in the cytoplasmic tail of the SARS CoV spike (S) protein that was similar to a canonical dilysine ER retrieval signal. Here we demonstrate that this motif is a novel and functional ER retrieval signal which reduced the rate of traffic of the full-length S protein through the Golgi complex. The KxHxx motif also partially retained two different reporter proteins in the ERGIC region and reduced their rates of trafficking, although the motif was less potent than the canonical dilysine signal. The dibasic motif bound the coatomer complex I (COPI) in an in vitro binding assay, suggesting that ER retrieval may contribute to the accumulation of SARS CoV S protein near the virus assembly site for interaction with other viral structural proteins. In support of this, we found that the dibasic motif on the SARS S protein was required for its localization to the ERGIC/Golgi region when coexpressed with SARS membrane (M) protein. Thus, the cycling of SARS S through the ER-Golgi system may be required for its incorporation into assembling virions in the ERGIC.
Clinical and pathologic findings in 52 consecutively autopsied cases with multiple myeloma

We studied clinical features and pathologic findings in 52 consecutively autopsied patients with multiple myeloma in our center between 1979 and 1998. Distant extraosseous involvement was found in 33 patients (63.5%). Thirty‐one patients (59.6%) were proven to have infection at autopsy, among which pneumonia was most common site of infection. Amyloidosis was shown in 8 patients. Second malignancies were observed in 4 cases. The three major causes of death were hemorrhage, infection, and renal failure, which accounted for death in approximately 70% of the patients. Advances in the anticancer and antimicrobial chemotherapies might have decreased deaths due to myeloma itself or infection. Am. J. Hematol. 67:1–5, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a Rev-related protein by analysis of spliced transcripts of the human endogenous retroviruses HTDV/HERV-K

The human endogenous retrovirus family HTDV/HERV-K codes for the viral particles observed in teratocarcinoma cell lines. Two types of proviral genomes exist; these differ in the presence or absence of a stretch of 292 nucleotides. This sequence comprises the amino-terminal part of the env gene, the putative signal peptide, which overlaps in part with the carboxy terminus of the pol gene. Type 2 genomes containing this sequence presumably more closely reflect the structure of the infectious, replication-competent retrovirus ancestors of the HERV-K family than do type 1 genomes that lack the sequence. In human teratocarcinoma cell lines, both variants are expressed. Type 1 genomes, in which pol and env genes are fused, are deficient in splicing. Type 2 transcripts are spliced to subgenomic env mRNA and smaller messages. A doubly spliced transcript encodes a short open reading frame, preliminarily designated cORF (R. Löwer, K. Boller, B. Hasenmeier, C. Korbmacher, N. Mueller-Lantzsch, J. Löwer, and R. Kurth, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:4480-4484). The genomic organization of cORF resembles that of nonprimate lentivirus rev genes: the first exon comprises nearly the entire signal peptide of env, and the second exon is derived from a different reading frame in the 3' part of the genome. A nucleolar localization signal, which is also a putative RNA binding domain, as well as a sequence with similarities to the Rev effector domain consensus sequence is present in the first exon. Secondary structure analysis reveals similarities to basic helix-loop-helix proteins. cORF is a small protein with an apparent molecular mass of 14 kDa which accumulates in the nucleolus as has been described for Rev proteins.
ALTERATIONS WITH AGING OF THE ENDOCRINE AND NEUROENDOCRINE CIRCADIAN SYSTEM IN HUMANS

The various rhythms composing the human time structure are found at all levels of organization, from subcellular organelles to the whole organism. They are superimposed on trends like aging, which is often claimed to be related to a loss of the time structure with a decrease of the adaptation capability of various functions of the organism. Rhythm alterations presumably are involved in the processes of cell and organ damage, leading to death of the organism. Whether these rhythm alterations are a cause or a consequence of the aging process in humans is still debated. Evidence for a causative role has been found in plants and in insects. For instance, it has been shown in Drosophila (Pittendrigh and Minis 1972) that transplantation of young adults raised in a 24h light-dark cycle into an environment with a shorter (e.g., 21h) or longer (e.g., 27h) periodicity significantly shortens their life span. The importance of the problem of aging results from the increasing number of subjects reaching the age of 65 or older thanks to medical progress, rather than from the lengthening of life expectancy. The chronobiologic approach to aging aims to study the plasticity of the organism in relation to daily and seasonal environmental changes in an attempt to improve the conditions and quality of life of elderly subjects. This chronobiologic approach has to be extremely broad and has to consider biochemical, cell, and organ systems, as well as the organism as a whole. It cannot be limited to one frequency, but has to consider the entire human time structure, with a wide range of frequencies extending from milliseconds and minutes to many years, in individuals and in populations (for reviews, see Haus et al. 1989; Brock 1991; Haus and Touitou 1994a, 1994b; Touitou and Haus 1994). Changes in the human time structure observed during aging can involve all parameters of biologic rhythms and are found in most frequencies studied. In the circadian range, the most prominent changes in the aging organism are seen in the amplitude and, in some instances, in the timing of rhythms. The latter may lead to changes in the time
The factor VIII gene intron 1 inversion mutation: prevalence in severe hemophilia A patients in the UK

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Inhibitory effect of tetrahydroberberine on platelet aggregation and thrombosis.

Tetrahydroberberine (THB), an alkaloid extracted from Corydalis ambigua, inhibited the rabbit platelet aggregation triggered by arachidonic acid (AA), ADP, and collagen with IC50 of 0.86, 1.31, and 1.10 mmol.L-1, respectively. THB reduced the thromboxane B2 (TXB2) generation in rabbit platelet-rich plasma triggered by AA. THB 30 mg.kg-1.d-1 ip for 3 or 5 d restrained the ADP-induced platelet aggregation in rats. THB 30 mg.kg-1.d-1 ip for 1, 3, or 5 d inhibited the AA-induced platelet aggregation in rats. THB 15-30 mg.kg-1 iv showed an inhibition of venous thrombosis in rats. The results show that THB is a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo and is a promising antithrombotic drug.
Single‐molecule pull‐down (SiMPull) for new‐age biochemistry

Macromolecular interactions play a central role in many biological processes. Protein‐protein interactions have mostly been studied by co‐immunoprecipitation, which cannot provide quantitative information on all possible molecular connections present in the complex. We will review a new approach that allows cellular proteins and biomolecular complexes to be studied in real‐time at the single‐molecule level. This technique is called single‐molecule pull‐down (SiMPull), because it integrates principles of conventional immunoprecipitation with the powerful single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy. SiMPull is used to count how many of each protein is present in the physiological complexes found in cytosol and membranes. Concurrently, it serves as a single‐molecule biochemical tool to perform functional studies on the pulled‐down proteins. In this review, we will focus on the detailed methodology of SiMPull, its salient features and a wide range of biological applications in comparison with other biosensing tools.
Protective Role of Catalase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Resistance to Hydrogen Peroxide

ABSTRACT The role of the two known catalases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in protecting planktonic and biofilm cells against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was investigated. Planktonic cultures and biofilms formed by the wild-type strain PAO1 and the katA and katB catalase mutants were compared for their susceptibility to H2O2. Over the course of 1 h, wild-type cell viability decreased steadily in planktonic cells exposed to a single dose of 50 mM H2O2, whereas biofilm cell viability remained at approximately 90% when cells were exposed to a flowing stream of 50 mM H2O2. The katB mutant, lacking the H2O2-inducible catalase KatB, was similar to the wild-type strain with respect to H2O2 resistance. The katA mutant possessed undetectable catalase activity. PlanktonickatA mutant cultures were hypersusceptible to a single dose of 50 mM H2O2, while biofilms displayed a 10-fold reduction in the number of culturable cells after a 1-h exposure to 50 mM H2O2. Catalase activity assays, activity stains in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels, andlacZ reporter genes were used to characterize the oxidative stress responses of planktonic cultures and biofilms. Enzyme assays and catalase activity bands in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels showed significant KatB catalase induction occurred in biofilms after a 20-min exposure to H2O2, suggesting that biofilms were capable of a rapid adaptive response to the oxidant. Reporter gene data obtained with a katB::lacZtranscriptional reporter strain confirmed katB induction and that the increase in total cellular catalase activity was attributable to KatB. Biofilms upregulated the reporter in the constant presence of 50 mM H2O2, while planktonic cells were overwhelmed by a single 50 mM dose and were unable to make detectable levels of β-galactosidase. The results of this study demonstrated the following: the constitutively expressed KatA catalase is important for resistance of planktonic and biofilm P. aeruginosa to H2O2, particularly at high H2O2 concentrations; KatB is induced in both planktonic and biofilm cells in response to H2O2 insult, but plays a relatively small role in biofilm resistance; and KatB is important to either planktonic cells or biofilm cells for acquired antioxidant resistance when initial levels of H2O2 are sublethal.
Hugo Ferran: Offrandes et bénédictions. Une anthropologie musicale du culte des ancêtres chez les Maale d’Éthiopie. Thèse de doctorat en anthropologie sociale et ethnologie, soutenue le 1er juin 2010 à l’École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris

Ce travail, issu de plusieurs enquetes de terrain effectuees entre 2001 et 2008, propose une anthropologie musicale du culte des ancetres chez les Maale du Sud-Ouest ethiopien. Apres avoir montre que le culte des ancetres organise la societe maale en patrilignages, il ressort que ces lignages sont penses comme des canaux le long desquels s’ecoulent les offrandes musicales des cadets lignagers a leurs aines et les benedictions de ces derniers a leurs cadets. L’enquete de terrain a revele que c.
Transparency performance improvement for bilateral teleoperation with direct force-feedback control

This paper addresses the performance improvement of force feedback in bilateral teleoperation with a new direct force-feedback controller. To make the human operator feel the environment before touching the object, a designed force is added to the master robot. The master velocity signal and the distance signal between the slave robot and the object are all embedded in the designed force function. The communication delays are assumed to be both time-varying and asymmetrical, which is the case for network-based teleoperation systems. The stability conditions are presented for the teleoperation systems. Finally, the simulations are performed and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The sero-epidemiology of Rift Valley fever in people in the Lake Victoria Basin of western Kenya

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic arbovirus affecting livestock and people. This study was conducted in western Kenya where RVFV outbreaks have not previously been reported. The aims were to document the seroprevalence and risk factors for RVFV antibodies in a community-based sample from western Kenya and compare this with slaughterhouse workers in the same region who are considered a high-risk group for RVFV exposure. The study was conducted in western Kenya between July 2010 and November 2012. Individuals were recruited from randomly selected homesteads and a census of slaughterhouses. Structured questionnaire tools were used to collect information on demographic data, health, and risk factors for zoonotic disease exposure. Indirect ELISA on serum samples determined seropositivity to RVFV. Risk factor analysis for RVFV seropositivity was conducted using multi-level logistic regression. A total of 1861 individuals were sampled in 384 homesteads. The seroprevalence of RVFV in the community was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5–1.3). The variables significantly associated with RVFV seropositivity in the community were increasing age (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.1–1.4, p<0.001), and slaughtering cattle at the homestead (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.0–10.5, p = 0.047). A total of 553 slaughterhouse workers were sampled in 84 ruminant slaughterhouses. The seroprevalence of RVFV in slaughterhouse workers was 2.5% (95% CI 1.5–4.2). Being the slaughterman, the person who cuts the animal’s throat (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.0–12.1, p = 0.047), was significantly associated with RVFV seropositivity. This study investigated and compared the epidemiology of RVFV between community members and slaughterhouse workers in western Kenya. The data demonstrate that slaughtering animals is a risk factor for RVFV seropositivity and that slaughterhouse workers are a high-risk group for RVFV seropositivity in this environment. These risk factors have been previously reported in other studies providing further evidence for RVFV circulation in western Kenya.