Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Snow and cloud discrimination factors in the MODIS snow algorithm

A modification of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow algorithm to eliminate a problem of erroneous snow mapping in certain cloud situations in the swath level product is described. The purpose of this algorithm modification is to improve the snow algorithm in specific cloud situations where the cloud mask misses clouds that have some reflectance characteristics similar to snow. Including a test for reflectance characteristics among MODIS bands 4, 5 and 6 can effectively discriminate between snow and clouds in those situations
Ovariectomy, hindlimb unweighting, and recovery effects on skeletal muscle in adult rats.

INTRODUCTION The effect of female sex hormones on skeletal muscle is unclear. Reports suggest that female sex hormones have an anabolic effect, have no effect, or are detrimental to skeletal muscle. METHODS To amplify ovarian hormones' potential effects on skeletal muscle, 6-mo-old virgin intact (sham), ovariectomized (OVX), and ovariectomized plus estrogen (OVX + E2) rats were hindlimb unweighted (HLU) for 4 wk. To investigate estrogen's influence on the recovery process, OVX-HLU, sham-HLU and OVX + E2 HLU rats were cage-recovered for 2 wk following 4 wk of HLU. Changes in muscle mass were determined for the soleus (SOL), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), quadriceps (QUAD), gastrocnemius (GAST), tibialis anterior (TA), plantaris (PLA), and flexor carpi radialis (FCR). Dry weights were determined for GAST and TA. Peak tetanic tension was ascertained in the postural SOL and locomotor PLA. RESULTS HLU resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decline in mass of all muscles studied except EDL and FCR. The magnitude of atrophy resulting from suspension was similar between groups including wet and dry muscle mass normalized to bodyweight. Following HLU there were no differences between intact and OVX rats for contractile characteristics. Reloading for 2 wk resulted in recovery of wet muscle mass in intact and OVX + E2 rats for SOL, PLA, GAST, QUAD, and TA and in dry mass for GAST and TA. Reloaded OVX-HLU rats failed to recover wet muscle mass in all but the SOL and failed to recover GAST and TA dry weight. For example, PLA mass values for intact (sham) rats were 350 +/- 33, 284 +/- 41, and 346 +/- 44 mg for the control, HLU, and recovery groups, respectively. PLA values for OVX rats were 378 +/- 29, 316 +/- 30, and 325 +/- 23 mg for the control, HLU, and recovery groups. DISCUSSION Results suggest that ovarian function influences the recovery of skeletal muscle mass following a period of reduced physical activity.
Identification and Evaluation of Cochlear Implant Candidates with Asymmetrical Hearing Loss

Objective: Recommendation for cochlear implant (CI) treatment for individuals with severe to profound single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetrical hearing loss (AHL) is on the rise. This raises the need for greater consistency in the definition of CI candidacy for these cases and in the assessment methods of patient-related benefits to permit effective comparison and interpretation of the outcomes with both conventional and implantable options across studies. Method: During a dedicated seminar on implant treatment in AHL patients, the panellists of the closing round table reviewed the clinical experience presented with the aim to define clear audiometric characteristics for both AHL and SSD cases, as well as a common data set enabling consistent evaluation of hearing benefits in this population. Conclusions: The panellists agreed on a clear differentiation between AHL and SSD CI candidates, defining average pure-tone thresholds up to 4 kHz for better and poorer ears. Agreement was reached on a minimum set of assessment procedures, and included the necessity of trials with conventional CROS/BICROS hearing aids and bone conduction devices before considering CI treatment. Objective assessment of sound localisation abilities was identified as the most relevant criterion to quantify performance before and after treatment. In parallel, subjective assessment of overall hearing ability was recommended via the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of hearing questionnaire. Longitudinal follow-up of these parameters and the hours of daily use were considered essential to reflect the potential treatment benefits for this population. The consistency in the data collection and its report will further support health authorities in their decision on acceptable gains from available hearing loss treatment options.
Ingénierie des connaissances pour traiter de l'hétérogénéité des données issues de systèmes sociaux - IA et Altérité radicale

Ce memoire d’habilitation presente l’etat de mes travaux sur l’ingenierie des connaissances pour traiter de l’heterogeneite des donnees issues de systemes sociaux. Mes travaux ont d’abord porte sur des algorithmes d’apprentissage, puis sur des systemes d’agents en co-evolution avant que je ne modelise et ne simule des systemes plus sophistiques d’acteurs sous la forme de modeles spatiaux a trois niveaux correspondant a des phenomenes sociaux reels comme la mobilisation de masse en RDA en 1989. Ces recherches etaient realisees en coordination avec Wolf-Dieter Eberwein, specialiste en Sciences Politiques. Cette modelisation m’a amene a identifier le concept d’heterarchie pour modeliser des systemes heterogenes multi-agents et multi-niveaux. J’ai egalement utilise cette notion d’heterarchie pour concevoir des modeles d’evolution du systeme juridique de gestion des donnees personnelles. Toujours dans le cadre de l’etude des heterogeneites des donnees issues de systemes sociaux j’ai ensuite travaille avec Francis Rousseaux et Eddie Soulier sur des modeles d’ingenierie des connaissances s’appuyant sur l’intelligence territoriale et l’heterogeneite des lieux, les heterotopies. Ces travaux se poursuivent avec Francis Rousseaux et Jean Petit, un doctorant nouvellement inscrit. Mes travaux les plus recents avec Francis Rousseaux et Guillaume Blot, un doctorant que j’encadre, portent sur les heterogeneites temporelles constatees lors de parcours de contenus de connaissance accessibles en e-learning. Ces recherches sur les systemes multi-agents presentant differentes formes d’heterogeneites m’ont amene a les replacer dans le contexte des systemes plus classiques d’intelligence artificielle construits sur les capacites rationnelles individuelles des agents. Je degage dans ce memoire la notion d’alterite radicale qui federe ces travaux sur les systemes multi-agents heterogenes et produit des donnees elles-memes heterogenes pour des systemes d’agents. Pour cette heterogeneite je propose des familles d’operateurs et je presente brievement quelques-unes de leurs proprietes. J’indique enfin des travaux qui pourront faire l’objet de sujets de theses a venir ou qui sont deja en cours de traitement par des doctorants et qui mettent en jeu differentes formes d’heterogeneite presentees ici.
Phosphorylation of CRMP2 is involved in proper bifurcation of the apical dendrite of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

The neural circuit in the hippocampus is important for higher brain functions. Dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons mainly receive input from the axons of CA3 pyramidal neurons in this neural circuit. A CA1 pyramidal neuron has a single apical dendrite and multiple basal dendrites. In wild‐type mice, most of CA1 pyramidal neurons extend a single trunk, or alternatively, the apical dendrite bifurcates into two daughter trunks at the stratum radiatum layer. We previously reported the proximal bifurcation phenotype in Sema3A−/−, p35−/−, and CRMP4−/− mice. Cdk5/p35 phosphorylates CRMP2 at Ser522, and inhibition of this phosphorylation suppressed Sema3A‐induced growth cone collapse. In this study, we analyzed the bifurcation points of the apical dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in CRMP2KI/KI mice in which the Cdk5/p35‐phosphorylation site Ser522 was mutated into an Ala residue. The proximal bifurcation phenotype was not observed in CRMP2KI/KI mice; however, severe proximal bifurcation of apical dendrites was found in CRMP2KI/KI;CRMP4−/− mice. Cultured hippocampal neurons from CRMP2KI/KI and CRMP2KI/KI;CRMP4−/− embryos showed an increased number of dendritic branching points compared to those from wild‐type embryos. Sema3A increased the number of branching points and the total length of dendrites in wild‐type hippocampal neurons, but these effects of Sema3A for dendrites were notobserved in CRMP2KI/KI and CRMP2KI/KI;CRMP4−/−hippocampal neurons. Binding of CRMP2 to tubulin increased in both CRMP2KI/KI and CRMP2KI/KI:CRMP4−/− brain lysates. These results suggest that CRMP2 and CRMP4 synergistically regulate dendritic development, and CRMP2 phosphorylation is critical for proper bifurcation of apical dendrite of CA1 pyramidal neurons. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2013
Up-regulation of Cbfa1 and Pit-1 in calcified artery of uraemic rats with severe hyperphosphataemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the most frequent cause of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Vascular calcification is a confirmed risk factor for cardiovascular events in the general population and has a high occurrence in patients with ESKD. Despite the high prevalence of vascular calcification in ESKD, the pathogenesis of the disorder is still obscure. The present study examined the expressions of bone-associated factors in calcified arteries in subtotally nephrectomized rats with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). METHODS Seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups as follows: sham-operated rats that received a normal diet [0.8% of phosphorus (P), 1.1% of calcium (Ca)] (Sham), sham-operated rats that received a high-phosphorus and low-calcium (HPLCa) diet (1.2% P, 0.4% Ca) (Sham+HPLCa), 5/6 nephrectomized rats that received a normal diet as the uraemic control group (Nx), and 5/6 nephrectomized rats that received a HPLCa diet to induce the development of SHPT (Nx+HPLCa), and 5/6 nephrectomized and parathyroidectomized rats that received a HPLCa diet (Nx+PTx+HPLCa). The feeding period of each group was 10 weeks. The rats were then sacrificed and their serum was examined. The upper part of the abdominal aorta was used to investigate the expression of mRNAs of core-binding factor alpha-1 (Cbfa1) and sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter (Pit-1) by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) analysis. The lower part was examined for calcification by von Kossa staining. RESULTS Serum P level and Ca x P products increased significantly in the Nx+HPLCa group compared with those of any other groups. Severe hyperparathyroidism was also observed in the Nx+HPLCa group. Vascular calcification (medial layer) was observed in the Nx+HPLCa group only. There was a significant increase in Cbfa1 and Pit-1 mRNA expression levels in the aorta of the Nx+HPLCa group compared with that of any other groups. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that medial layer vascular calcification in uraemic rats with severe hyperphosphataemia and SHPT may be caused in part by Cbfa1 and Pit-1.
Crystal Structure of Complete Rhinovirus RNA Polymerase Suggests Front Loading of Protein Primer

ABSTRACT Picornaviruses utilize virally encoded RNA polymerase and a uridylylated protein primer to ensure replication of the entire viral genome. The molecular details of this mechanism are not well understood due to the lack of structural information. We report the crystal structure of human rhinovirus 16 3D RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (HRV16 3Dpol) at a 2.4-Å resolution, representing the first complete polymerase structure from the Picornaviridae family. HRV16 3Dpol shares the canonical features of other known polymerase structures and contains an N-terminal region that tethers the fingers and thumb subdomains, forming a completely encircled active site cavity which is accessible through a small tunnel on the backside of the molecule. The small thumb subdomain contributes to the formation of a large cleft on the front face of the polymerase which also leads to the active site. The cleft appears large enough to accommodate a template:primer duplex during RNA elongation or a protein primer during the uridylylation stage of replication initiation. Based on the structural features of HRV16 3Dpo1 and the catalytic mechanism known for all polymerases, a front-loading model for uridylylation is proposed.
Identification and characterization of a gonadotropin-inhibitory system in the brains of mammals

Successful reproduction requires maintenance of the reproductive axis within fine operating limits through negative feedback actions of sex steroids. Despite the importance of this homeostatic process, our understanding of the neural loci, pathways, and neurochemicals responsible remain incomplete. Here, we reveal a neuropeptidergic pathway that directly links gonadal steroid actions to regulation of the reproductive system. An RFamide (Arg-Phe-NH2) peptide that inhibits gonadotropin release from quail pituitary was recently identified and named gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH). Birds are known to have specialized adaptations associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulation to optimize reproduction (e.g., encephalic photoreceptors), and the existence of a hypothalamic peptide inhibiting gonadotropins may or may not be another such specialization. To determine whether GnIH serves as a signaling pathway for sex steroid regulation of the reproductive axis, we used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to characterize the distribution and functional role of this peptide in hamsters, rats, and mice. GnIH-immunoreactive (GnIH-ir) cell bodies are clustered in the mediobasal hypothalamus with pronounced projections and terminals throughout the CNS. In vivo GnIH administration rapidly inhibits luteinizing hormone secretion. Additionally, GnIH-ir neurons form close appositions with GnRH cells, suggesting a direct means of GnRH modulation. Finally, GnIH-ir cells express estrogen receptor-α and exhibit robust immediate early gene expression after gonadal hormone stimulation. Taken together, the distribution of GnIH efferents to neural sites regulating reproductive behavior and neuroendocrine secretions, expression of steroid receptors in GnIH-ir nuclei, and GnIH inhibition of luteinizing hormone secretion indicate the discovery of a system regulating the mammalian reproductive axis.
Risk-taking, peer-influence and child maltreatment: a neurocognitive investigation

Abstract Maltreatment is associated with increased risk of a range of psychiatric disorders, many of which are characterized by altered risk-taking propensity. Currently, little is known about the neural correlates of risk-taking in children exposed to maltreatment, nor whether their risk-taking is atypically modulated by peer influence. Seventy-five 10- to 14-year-old children [maltreated (MT) group: N = 41; non-maltreated Group (NMT): N = 34] performed a Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), under three different peer influence conditions: while alone, while being observed by a peer and while being encouraged by a peer to take risks. The MT group engaged in less risk-taking irrespective of peer influence. There was no differential effect of peer influence on risk-taking behaviour across groups. At the neural level, the right anterior insula (rAI) exhibited altered risk sensitivity across conditions in the MT group. Across groups and conditions, rAI risk sensitivity was negatively associated with risk-taking and within the MT group greater rAI risk sensitivity was related to more anxiety symptoms. These findings suggest that children with a history of maltreatment show reduced risk-taking but typical responses to peer influence. Abnormal rAI functioning contributes to the pattern of reduced risk-taking and may predispose children exposed to maltreatment to develop future psychopathology.
An early and late cytotoxicity evaluation of lidocaine on human oral mucosa fibroblasts

Local anesthetic drugs are extensively used in dentistry. However, the cytotoxic effects of these pharmaceutical compounds remain unclear. In this work, we have evaluated the cell viability and cell function of human oral mucosa fibroblasts exposed to different concentrations of lidocaine for increasing incubation times, using a global screening methods including structural, metabolic and microanalytical analyses. Our results demonstrate that lidocaine is able to alter cell viability and function even at low concentrations and times, although the effect of lidocaine concentration was more important than the incubation time. First, the structural analysis methods revealed that ≥5% concentrations of lidocaine are able to significantly reduce cell viability. Then, the metabolic 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assays suggest that concentrations starting from 1% were able to significantly hinder cell physiology. Finally, electron-probe X-ray microanalysis confirmed the deleterious effects of lidocaine and allowed us to demonstrate that these effects are associated to an apoptosis process of cell death. Therefore, care should be taken when lidocaine is clinically used, and the lowest efficient concentrations should always be used. Furthermore, these results suggest that the comprehensive evaluation method used in this work is accurate and efficient for screening of local anesthetics.
Comparative anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and toxicity profile of nimesulide vs nimesulide and piperine combination.

Piperine is an inhibitor of various hepatic and other enzymes involved in the biotransformation of drugs. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies conducted by us suggested the increased bioavailability of nimesulide co-administered with piperine. The present study was, thus, conducted to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and toxicity profile of a new nimesulide-piperine combination administered orally as compared with nimesulide alone. Antinociceptive efficacy was tested using an acetic acid writhing test and tail flick latency test (TFL). The ED50 value of a nimesulide-piperine combination in writhing test was calculated to be significantly lower (1.5 mg kg(-1)) as compared to (11.2 mg kg(-1)) of nimesulide alone. The antinociceptive effect was lesser in the tail flick latency test as compared to what was observed in the writhing test indicating the peripheral action of the Non-Steriodal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). In carrageenan-induced inflammatory tests, the nimesulide-piperine combination was found to be dose-to-dose superior than nimesulide alone. Acute toxicity studies on mice revealed a reduction in lethal dose (LD50) of the combination (980 mg kg(-1)) as compared to nimesulide (1500 mg kg(-1)) alone. Results from the present study suggest a better therapeutic index for the nimesulide-piperine combination indicating that this combination would further reduce the frequency of adverse effects associated with nimesulide alone.
Contribution of the Mismatch DNA Repair System to the Generation of Stationary-Phase-Induced Mutants of Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT A reversion assay system previously implemented to demonstrate the existence of adaptive or stationary-phase-induced mutagenesis in Bacillus subtilis was utilized in this report to study the influence of the mismatch DNA repair (MMR) system on this type of mutagenesis. Results revealed that a strain deficient in MutSL showed a significant propensity to generate increased numbers of stationary-phase-induced revertants. These results suggest that absence or depression of MMR is an important factor in the mutagenesis of nongrowing B. subtilis cells because of the role of MMR in repairing DNA damage. In agreement with this suggestion, a significant decrease in the number of adaptive revertant colonies, for the three markers tested, occurred in B. subtilis cells which overexpressed a component of the MMR system. Interestingly, the single overexpression of mutS, but not of mutL, was sufficient to decrease the level of adaptive mutants in the reversion assay system of B. subtilis. The results presented in this work, as well as in our previous studies, appear to suggest that an MMR deficiency, putatively attributable to inactivation or saturation with DNA damage of MutS, may occur in a subset of B. subtilis cells that differentiate into the hypermutable state.
Analytical strategy to achieve optimized grating couplers with high precision for both TE and TM polarizations on SOI platform

Diffraction elements are periodic structures that whose performance is based on the light diffraction principle. One application of this structure the are grating couplers which consist in coupling light on or off plane between two propagation means, in our case between a subwavelength waveguide and a single mode fiber optic. Optimized gratings are required to ensure a maximum coupling efficiency. Gratings on silicon on insulator (SOI) platform can be optimized in a few steps analyzing its behavior and linking some structure parameters. But advanced computational calculations and algorithms are used to optimize its design. Period and fill-factor are essential parameters in the optimization. In this paper, several analytical expressions based on the fundamental grating equation are proposed to accurately obtain the optimal period and fill-factor for a polarization transversal-electric and starting with the optimal values for this polarization get analytically the optimal parameters for polarization transversal-magnetic through a relation between both polarizations, avoiding simulation time.
The bacterial injection kit: Type III secretion systems

Type III secretion (T3S) systems are widespread among Gram‐negative bacteria pathogenic for animals and plants, including Yersinia spp. , Salmonella spp. , Shigella spp. , enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, or Pseudomonas spp. T3S systems allow bacteria to inject virulence proteins, called T3S effectors, into the cytosol of their eukaryotic host cells. These virulence factors will paralyze or reprogram the eukaryotic cell to the benefit of the pathogen. T3S effectors display a large repertoire of biochemical activities and modulate the function of crucial host regulatory molecules such as small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)‐binding proteins, mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, or phosphoinositides. The activity of T3S effectors allows bacteria, for example, to invade non‐phagocytic cells or to inhibit phagocytosis, to downregulate or promote pro‐inflammatory responses, to induce apoptosis, to prevent autophagy, or to modulate intracellular trafficking. In this review, we present the most recent advances in the understanding of the mode of action of T3S effectors. We highlight the biochemical activities of these eukaryotic‐like bacterial proteins that are shared among pathogens carrying T3S systems and the sequence, structural and functional resemblances between T3S effectors and eukaryotic proteins.