Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NOTES D’ÉTUDES ET DE RECHERCHE

In France and in Germany, the labour share income has recorded during the last thirty years some strong fluctuations. Those fluctuations could be linked to movements in price wedge and in interest rate and to increasing unemployment rate. After a theoretical examination of labour share income equation and its potential explanatory variables, we investigate the robustness of those explanatory variables on the sample 70-96. Unemployment rate and price wedge seem to be the relevant explanatory variables. At the opposite, there is no evidence of a significant impact of interest rate on labour share income.
Nicotine Administration Induced Changes in the Gonadal Functions in Male Rats

Nicotine is reported to have toxic effects on gonadal functions, in addition to its established role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and lung cancer. So nicotine-induced biochemical changes were studied in liver and testes. Chronic administration of nicotine was found to produce enhanced synthesis of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids in the liver and testes. The activity of the lipogenic enzymes was high in liver but unaltered in testes. The testosterone and estradiol levels in the serum were lower. As the changes brought about by chronic administration of nicotine were counteracted by mecamylamine, a known inhibitor of nicotine, it was proven that nicotine is having a specific gonadotoxic effect.
Face cooling reveals a relative inability to increase cardiac parasympathetic activation during passive heat stress

What is the central question of this study? Does passive heat stress attenuate the increase in cardiac parasympathetic stimulation, vascular resistance and blood pressure evoked by face cooling? What is the main finding and its importance? Passive heat stress attenuates the capacity to increase cardiac parasympathetic activation and impairs the ability to increase vascular resistance during sympathoexcitation, which ultimately results in a relative inability to increase blood pressure. These findings cast doubt on the efficacy of face cooling at augmenting blood pressure during orthostasis while heat stressed.
Effects of marine reserves on California spiny lobster are robust and modified by fine-scale habitat features and distance from reserve borders

Studies of marine reserves often describe mean differences in organism size or abun- dance inside versus outside reserves, but recent work indicates that these differences are influ- enced by habitat and proximity of sites to reserve borders. In this study, we measured mean effects of reserves and the influence of distance from reserve borders on the number and size of legal (≥82.5 mm carapace length (CL)) California spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus trapped at sites across a reserve network at the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, California, USA. Additionally, we controlled for habitat variability across sites (1) by measuring relative abundance of sublegal adult lobsters (i.e. those not removed through fishing) and (2) through visual SCUBA surveys on which we quantified fine-scale habitat features. Traps placed in reserves yielded more (4.81 trap �1 ) and larger (7.03 mm CL) legal-sized lobsters than traps placed outside. Multiple linear regression revealed that 2.43 more legal lobsters per trap were captured for every 1 km moved from borders towards reserve centers. Additionally, lobsters tagged and released immediately inside reserve borders were recaptured in areas open to fishing at a higher rate than lobsters tagged and released farther inside reserves. These results suggest that abundance gradients inside reserve borders were caused by net emigration of lobsters (spillover). Sublegal lobsters were more abun- dant inside reserves and nearer to reserve centers, but these increases were much smaller in mag- nitude than for legal-sized lobsters. Our results indicate that the differences we observed for legal- sized lobsters were driven primarily by reserve effects but were partially influenced by habitat heterogeneity.
Differences in the sodium content of bread products in the USA and UK: implications for policy

Abstract Objective Americans consume Na in excess of daily recommendations. Most dietary Na comes from packaged foods, and bread is a major contributor. In the UK, national Na reduction strategies contributed to lower Na levels in packaged foods and lower population Na intake. Similar initiatives are emerging in the USA and require surveillance to assess effectiveness. We aimed to examine Na levels in bread products in the USA and compare levels with similar UK products. Design Na data for bread products were obtained from the US Label Insight Open Data Initiative (n 4466) and the FoodSwitch UK database (n 1651). Mean, median and range of Na content, and proportion of products meeting Na targets established by the National Salt Reduction Initiative (NSRI) and the UK Department of Health (DH) were calculated overall, by bread type and by country. Results Mean (sd) Na content in bread was 455 (170) mg/100 g in the USA and 406 (179) mg/100 g in the UK. In both countries, savoury bread had the highest mean Na (USA=584 mg/100 g, UK=543 mg/100 g) and fruit bread the lowest mean Na (USA=345 mg/100 g, UK=277 mg/100 g). Na content of US bread products was 12 % higher than in the UK, with 21 % of US bread products and 31 % of UK bread products meeting the NSRI and DH targets, respectively. Conclusions US bread products have, on average, 12 % more Na than similar products in the UK. Variation in Na content within product categories, and between countries, suggests the feasibility of manufacturing products with lower Na to lower dietary Na intake.
Synergistic induction of aromatase activity in the rat brain by estradiol and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.

Estrogens are produced locally from androgen precursors by cells within the hypothalamus and preoptic area (POA). The activity of the aromatase enzyme complex responsible for this intracellular conversion is controlled by gonadal steroids. The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) whether estrogen acts together with androgen to regulate aromatase activity (AA) and (2) whether nuclear androgen receptor levels are increased after exposure to combined treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Thus, adult male rats were castrated and treated for 1 week with either vehicle (0.1 ml sesame oil, s.c.), EB (2 micrograms/day), testosterone (3-cm Silastic implant), DHT (3-cm Silastic implant) or EB + DHT. These treatments produced hormone levels in the physiologic range. We found that both testosterone and DHT significantly stimulated AA (p less than 0.05 vs. castrated rats). However, testosterone induced AA significantly more than DHT in the POA (p less than 0.05; castrated + testosterone vs. castrated + DHT). EB alone did not affect AA but synergized with DHT to stimulate AA in the POA to levels equivalent with the testosterone-treated group. By comparison, EB alone did not enhance the induction of AA by DHT in the hypothalamus. Combined treatment with EB and DHT had no effect on the concentrations of nuclear androgen receptors in either tissue suggesting that the effect of EB was not mediated through an androgen receptor mechanism. These results suggest that both androgens and estrogens play a physiologic role in the control of estrogen formation in the rat brain. Furthermore, the anatomical specificity that we observed indicates that critical differences in enzyme responsiveness are present in different areas of the brain.
A DNA biosensor for molecular diagnosis of Aeromonas hydrophila using zinc sulfide nanospheres

Abstract. Today, identification of pathogenic bacteria using modern and accurate methods is inevitable. Integration in electrochemical measurements with nanotechnology has led to the design of efficient and sensitive DNA biosensors against bacterial agents. Here, efforts were made to detect Aeromonas hydrophila using aptamers as probes and zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanospheres as signal enhancers and electron transfer facilitators. After modification of the working electrode area (in a screen-printed electrode) with ZnS nanospheres through electrodeposition, the coated surface of a modified electrode with ZnS nanospheres was investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of synthesized ZnS nanospheres was estimated at about 20–50 nm and their shape was in the form of porous plates in microscopic observations. All electrochemical measurements were performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and constant potential amperometry (CPA) techniques. The designed DNA biosensor was able to detect deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Aeromonas hydrophila in the range 1.0 × 10−4 to 1.0 × 10−9 mol L−1; the limit of detection (LOD) in this study was 1 × 10−13 mol L−1. This DNA biosensor showed satisfactory thermal and pH stability. Reproducibility for this DNA biosensor was measured and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the performance of this DNA biosensor was calculated as 5 % during 42 days.
The urinary microbiota: a paradigm shift for bladder disorders?

Purpose of review A resident microbial community [the female urinary microbiota (FUM)] exists within the female bladder of many adult women. Information about the FUM is likely to modify the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of adult women with urinary disorders. This review highlights key findings from recent literature relevant to adult, nonpregnant women. Recent findings Similar to other human microbial communities, the FUM varies in its characteristics, including organism diversity and predominant organism identity. Recent literature reveals previously undetected organisms and community characteristics that appear associated with certain urinary symptoms, including urinary tract infection and urgency urinary incontinence. The role of individual organisms may range from beneficial to pathogenic and may vary on the basis of an individual's FUM characteristics. The simple dichotomy of ‘infected’ or ‘sterile’ no longer sufficiently captures the microbiological complexity of the female bladder. Summary Deeper understanding of the FUM should yield better methods to restore the microbiota to a healthy state, providing symptom relief. Opportunities to modify the FUM without antibiotic use are exciting possibilities for future research; stand-alone antibiotic use may be reevaluated to improve treatment precision. Long-standing nomenclature for conditions such as asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infection will likely require modification.
Effectiveness of motivational interviewing for improving physical activity self-management for adults with type 2 diabetes: A review

Objectives This review examines the effectiveness of motivational interviewing for physical activity self-management for adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2. Motivational interviewing is a patient centered individually tailored counseling intervention that aims to elicit a patient’s own motivation for health behavior change. Review questions include (a) How have motivational interviewing methods been applied to physical activity interventions for adults with diabetes mellitus type 2? (b) What motivational interviewing approaches are associated with successful physical activity outcomes with diabetes mellitus 2? Methods Database searches used PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO for the years 2000 to 2016. Criteria for inclusion was motivational interviewing used as the principal intervention in the tradition of Miller and Rollnick, measurement of physical activity, statistical significance reported for physical activity outcomes, quantitative research, and articles written in English. Results A total of nine studies met review criteria and four included motivational interviewing interventions associated with significant physical activity outcomes. Discussion Findings suggest motivational interviewing sessions should target a minimal number of self-management behaviors, be delivered by counselors proficient in motivational interviewing, and use motivational interviewing protocols with an emphasis placed either on duration or frequency of sessions.
Investigation of the superconducting gap structure in κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 and κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br by means of thermal-conductivity measurements

We report temperature-dependent thermal-conductivity, κ, measurements on the layered quasi-two-dimensional organic superconductors κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 and κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br down to 160 mK. The results for κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 may be consistent with a nodal superconducting (SC) gap structure as indicated by a non-negligible remnant linear contribution when κ/T∝T2 is extrapolated to T=0. For κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br, contrary to expectations, higher κ values are observed in the superconducting regime as compared to the normal, high-field state evidencing a dominant phonon contribution to κ in the superconducting state. The strong increase of κ in the normal state below Tc for both samples indicates strong electron–phonon scattering. Our results highlight the need for thermal-conductivity measurements performed down to significantly lower temperatures to determine the symmetry of the SC gap.
Should single epileptic seizures be treated?

Seizures are very frightening events. Nearly one in every ten individuals will have a seizure sometime during his or her life, but many of them will never have another attack. Seizures are sufficiently dramatic and unsettling that most patients are brought to medical attention and many ultimately come to neurologists for advice. Since one seizure does not make a patient an epileptic, should doctors always wait for a second attack before treating with anticonvulsants? Alternatively, since the recurrence rate is quite high, and some believe that seizures may damage the brain, treatment of all patients with a single seizure has been advocated. But if so, for how long? Is it appropriate to treat some patients and not others, and if so what should be the criteria for treatment? I asked three experienced epilepsy experts to respond to the issue of treating a single seizure. These consultants are Dr. J.W. A.S. Sander, from the National Hospital-Chalfont Centre for epilepsy and the Institute of Neurology, London, Dr. E.B. Bromfield, the director of the epilepsy program at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, and Dr. I.E. Leppik of the Minnesota Comprehensive Research Center and the Epilepsy Research Program at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
nflWAR: a reproducible method for offensive player evaluation in football

Abstract Existing methods for player evaluation in American football rely heavily on proprietary data, are often not reproducible, lag behind those of other major sports, and are not interpretable in terms of game outcomes. We present four contributions to the study of football statistics to address these issues. First, we develop the R package nflscrapR to provide easy access to publicly available play-by-play data from the National Football League (NFL). Second, we introduce a novel multinomial logistic regression approach for estimating the expected points for each play. Third, we use the expected points as input into a generalized additive model for estimating the win probability for each play. Fourth, we introduce our nflWAR framework, using multilevel models to isolate the contributions of individual offensive skill players in terms of their wins above replacement (WAR). We assess the uncertainty in WAR through a resampling approach specifically designed for football, and we present results for the 2017 NFL season. We discuss how our reproducible WAR framework can be extended to estimate WAR for players at any position if researchers have data specifying the players on the field during each play. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of this work for NFL teams.
Graphitic C3N4 as a new saturable absorber for the mid-infrared spectral range.

The saturable absorption properties of few-layer graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets near 3 μm were investigated. A stable Q-switched Er:Lu2O3 laser at 2.84 μm was realized by using a home-made g-C3N4 saturable absorber (SA), generating a pulse duration of 351 ns and an average output power of 1.09 W at a repetition rate of 99 kHz, corresponding to a pulse energy of 11.1 μJ. Our result indicates a great potential of g-C3N4 as a new SA in the 3 μm wavelength range.
Molecular interactions of type I and type II positive allosteric modulators with the human α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: an in silico study

The binding site locations and structural components for type I and type II positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) have not been fully characterized yet. In this regard, homology models of the human α7 nAChR and hα7/m5-HT3A chimera, built using the crystal structure of the serotonin type 3A receptor (5-ΗΤ3ΑR), were used for molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to study the molecular interactions of selected type I (5-hydroxyindol, NS-1738, and LY-2087101) and type II (PNU-120596, PAM-2, and TBS-516) PAMs. The docking results indicate: (1) a site located in the extracellular domain (ECD) for type I PAMs such as NS-1738 and LY-2087101, but not for 5-HI; (2) an overlapping site in the ECD–transmembrane domain (TMD) junction for all studied PAMs. Additional docking results on the hα7/m5-HT3A chimera supported experimental results indicating that the ECD site might be relevant for type I PAM activity; and (3) two TMD sites, an intrasubunit site that recognizes type II PAMs, and an intersubunit pocket with high specificity for 5-HI (type I PAM). The in silico α7TSLMF mutant results support the view that M1–Ser223 and M3–Ile281 are key residues for the interaction of PAM-2 and PNU-120596 with the intrasubunit cavity. Our in silico results are in agreement with experimental data showing that the intrasubunit cavity is relevant for the activity of type II PAMs, and suggest that the ECD–TMD junction and intersubunit sites could be significant for the activity of type I PAMs.
Long–Term Outcome of Transrectal High– Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the long–term outcome after transrectal high–intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Between June 1992 and March 1995, 98 men (mean age: 66 years) with LUTS due to BPH underwent transrectal HIFU therapy at our institution, and the data of 80 patients were included in this long–term analysis. Principal inclusion criteria were a peak flow rate (Qmax) ≤15 ml/s, AUA/IPSS score ≥18 and a prostate volume ≤75 ml. Postoperatively, patients were seen at 6–month intervals with assessment of symptom score, uroflowmetry and post–void residual volume. In the present analysis, follow–up was terminated at 4 years. The mean follow–up of the study population (excluding the patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate, TURP, due to insufficient therapeutic response) was 41.3 months (range: 13–48 months). Results: In treatment responders (HIFU only; n = 45), the symptom score decreased from preoperatively 19.6 to 8.5 (–53%) after 12 months and subsequently showed only marginal fluctuations within the 4–year study period. The Qmax increased from preoperatively 9.1 to 11.8 ml/s (+30%) after 12 months and gradually declined to 10.2 ml/s (+12%) after 4 years. 35 men (43.8%) underwent TURP due to insufficient therapeutic response during the 4–year study period. The mean time interval between HIFU therapy and TURP was 26.5±2.7 months (range: 1–48 months). The retreatment–free period was significantly longer for patients with a pretreatment average flow rate >5 ml/s (p = 0.05) and lower grades of urodynamically documented bladder outflow obstruction (p = 0.03). A similar trend, which did not reach statistical significance, was noted for individuals with higher Qmax and lower post–void residuals.Conclusions: These long–time data indicate that transrectal HIFU therapy for BPH, at least in its present form, did not stand the test of time, as 43.8% of patients had to undergo TURP within 4 years after initial therapy. These data underline the need for long–term studies with follow–ups over several years to reliably assess the role of less invasive treatment options for BPH.
Polymerase Chain Reaction Based Method for the Detection of BCG Retention after Intravesical Instillation in Guinea Pig Bladders

Objective: In intravesical Bacille bilié de Calmette–Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy of superficial bladder cancer, a T cell mediated immunological reaction is associated with the antitumor activity. To gain insight into the approximate number of BCG bacteria retained in the normal, noninjured, urinary bladder after intravesical application responsible for induction of the immune reaction, the utility of a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assay was investigated in a guinea pig model.Methods: After one single or six subsequent weekly instillations with 1×107 CFU of BCG, the bladders were resected and processed for BCG determination with PCR. The bladders were resected 24 h after instillation, aiming at (semi)quantifying the number of BCG organisms able to resist the natural voiding washout of the bladder. The PCR was based on amplification of a 249 base pair fragment of the insertion element IS6110 and is specific for bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex which includes Mycobacterium bovis BCG.Results: After one single instillation no detectable BCG retention was found. However, after six weekly instillations, BCG bacteria could be demonstrated in 2 out of 5 guinea pig bladders, indicating that the number of adhering BCG organisms was around the detection limit of the assay (600–1,000 BCG bacteria per bladder). Conclusions: The data suggest that after six instillations, the retention of BCG in the guinea pig bladder is enhanced as compared with one single instillation. This finding is suggestive of a role of the inflammatory process that is, besides immune system mediated reactions, associated with intravesical BCG instillations. The nature of the molecules involved in enhanced BCG retention after repeated instillations remains to be investigated.