Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Évaluation peropératoire de la parole dans la maladie de Parkinson

La stimulation cérébrale profonde des noyaux sous-thalamiques utilisée dans le traitement des symptômes moteurs de la maladie de Parkinson engendre fréquemment des effets secondaires sur l’intelligibilité de la parole. Aucune évaluation objective de la parole n’est actuellement administrée lors de la chirurgie d’implantation des électrodes malgré que le site de contact des électrodes influence grandement les résultats postopératoires. L’objectif de cette revue systématique des écrits scientifiques est de documenter et d’identifier les éléments pertinents pour prendre position quant à une procédure d’évaluation de la parole applicable au contexte peropératoire de stimulation cérébrale profonde dans la maladie de Parkinson. Grâce à une recherche effectuée sur les bases de données Medline, Cinahl et Google Scholar, 28 articles ont été analysés et de courtes tâches de répétition de mots, de répétition de syllabes rapide, de tenue vocalique et d’auto-évaluation ont été retenues. Ces quatre tâches permettent d’évaluer les effets directs du site d’implantation pour la stimulation sur la parole grâce aux mesures acoustiques, soit le temps maximal de phonation, la pente de transition du F2 et le débit articulatoire. Cette revue a permis d’identifier un protocole d’évaluation qui pourrait guider la pratique clinique.
Relative vulnerability of coyotes to some capture procedures

The protection of livestock and other commodities by capture and removal of coyotes (Canis latrans) is a common practice. Research to improve coyote capture methodology has included development and comparison of capture devices (Robinson 1943, Beasom 1974, Guthery and Beasom 1978, Linhart et al. 1981, Linhart et al. 1986, Olsen et al. 1986), development of toxicant delivery systems (Robinson 1948, Savarie and Sterner 1979, Connolly and Simmons 1984), and comparison of olfactory attractants (Turkowski et al. 1979, Bullard 1982, Fagre et al. 1983, Turkowski et al. 1983, Guthery et al. 1984). Damage reduction is less effective if coyotes responsible for depredations are not vulnerable to the capture technique(s) used. However, there have been few assessments of differential bias among coyote capture procedures. For example, assumed biases toward capture of younger coyotes have not been measured, nor has the relative vulnerability to capture of territorial and transient (nonterritorial) coyotes been compared. We examined capture data from previous studies to explore relative vulnerability by age, sex, and territorial classes of coyotes in relation to (1) capture methods, (2) spatial zones within coyote ranges, (3) duration of capture efforts, and (4) types of olfactory attractants.
3 Protocells: Genetic Polymers Inside Membrane Vesicles

The reality of the “RNA WORLD,” an RNA-dominated stage in the early evolution of life prior to the evolution of coded protein synthesis, has been firmly established by recent structural studies of the ribosome. These studies show that the catalytic peptidyl-transferase center of the ribosome is composed solely of RNA (Steitz and Moore 2003). The fact that the ribosome is a ribozyme implies that protein synthesis evolved during an early stage of cellular life in which biochemical functions were carried out largely by RNA molecules. This is a delightful confirmation of the logical deduction of the existence of the RNA World (Woese 1967; Crick 1968; Orgel 1968) as a way of resolving the apparent paradox that proteins are required to synthesize nucleic acids, whereas nucleic acids are required to synthesize proteins. The idea of RNA-catalyzed RNA replication resolves this paradox by providing a simple model for the origin of replicating, evolving biochemical systems; it also provides an explanation for the organization of modern biochemistry through the later evolution of molecules specialized for information storage (DNA) and for structural and catalytic activities (proteins). With the reality of the RNA World so strongly supported, the questions being asked about this early stage of life now focus on the transition from prebiotic chemistry to the RNA World, and then from the RNA World to the world of modern biochemistry that had evolved by the time of the last common ancestor of all extant life. Most discussions of the biochemistry of the RNA World.
Evolutionary relationships among rodents : a multidisciplinary analysis

Origin and Eutherian Affinities of Rodentia. - The Order Rodentia: Major Questions on Their Evolutionary Origin, Relationships and Suprafamilial Systematics. - Possible Phylogenetic Relationship of Asiatic Eurymylids and Rodents, with Comments on Mimotonids. - Cranial Evidence for Rodent Affinities. - Rodent and Lagomorph Morphotype Adaptations, Origins, and Relationships: Some Postcranial Attributes Analyzed. - Enamel Structure of Early Mammals and Its Role in Evaluating Relationships among Rodents. - Reconstruction of Ancestral Cranioskeletal Features in the Order Lagomorpha. - A Phylogeny of Rodentia and Other Eutherian Orders: Parsimony Analysis Utilizing Amino Acid Sequences of Alpha and Beta Hemoglobin Chains. - Superordinal Affinities of Rodentia Studied by Sequence Analysis of Eye Lens Protein. - Superordinal and Intraordinal Affinities of Rodents: Developmental Evidence from the Dentition and Placentation. - Phyletic Relationships Among Rodent Higher Categories. - Possible Evolutionary Relationships among Eocene and Lower Oligocene Rodents of Asia, Europe and North America. - Cranial Foramina of Rodents. - Phylogenetic Analysis of Middle Ear Features in Fossil and Living Rodents. - Systematic Value of the Carotid Arterial Pattern in Rodents. - Homologies of Molar Cusps and Crests, and Their Bearing on Assessments of Rodent Phylogeny. - Evolutionary Trends in the Enamel of Rodent Incisors. - Rodent Macromolecular Systematics. - Specific Problems of Intraordinal Relationships. - Reproductive and Chromosomal Characters of Ctenodactylids as a Key to Their Evolutionary Relationships. - The Relationships, Origin and Dispersal of the Hystricognathous Rodents. - Myology of Hystricognath Rodents: An Analysis of Form, Function, and Phylogeny. - Amino Acid Sequence Data and Evolutionary Relationships among Hystricognaths and Other Rodents. - New Phiomorpha and Anomaluridae from the Late Eocene of North-West Africa: Phylogenetic Implications. - Problems in Muroid Phylogeny: Relationship to Other Rodents and Origin of Major Groups. - Origin and Evolutionary Relationships among Geomyoids. - Evolutionary Data on Steppe Lemmings (Arvicolidae, Rodentia). - Karyotype Variability and Chromosome Transilience in Rodents: The Case of the Genus Mus. - Electromorphs and Phylogeny in Muroid Rodents. - Concluding Remarks. - Evolutionary Relationships among Rodents: Comments and Conclusions. - Contributors.
Estimation and Analysis of Wind Electricity Production Cost in Morocco

The goal of this investigation is to evaluate, analyze and compare the cost of energy produced at nine wind farms in Morocco, namely Tarfaya, Fem El Oued, Essaouira, Tangier I, Haouma, Koudia al Baida, Laayoune, Tetouan I and Tetouan II. We report the economic factors that influence the wind energy cost. Then, we give an easy and precise economic methodology to estimate it. The conducted analysis reveals that the minimum cost is attained at Koudia al Baida park which is equal to 0.0164 €/kWh. The good result is obtained also at Essaouira, Tetouan I and Fem El oued with a cost less than 0.03 €/kWh. The parks where the energy cost is between 0.03 €/kWh and 0.04? €/kWh are Haouma, Tarfaya, Tetouan II and Tangier I. The park that generates energy with more than 0.04? €/kWh is Laayoune. The sensitivity analysis reveals that for the studied wind farms, the variables which have a greatest effect on the estimated wind energy cost are the interest rate, the produced energy and the project lifetime. The estimated energy cost is not very sensitive to the variation on operation and maintenance costs. The obtained results show also that for all the studied wind farms, the obtained costs of producing one kWh of energy are less than the purchase tariff of electricity in Morocco and compare favorably with solar energy production cost in Morocco. Thus, wind energy is economically beneficial in Morocco, which is due to the important wind resources and the available concessional finance.
A Study on LSTM Networks for Polyphonic Music Sequence Modelling

Neural networks, and especially long short-term memory networks (LSTM), have become increasingly popular for sequence modelling, be it in text, speech, or music. In this paper, we investigate the predictive power of simple LSTM networks for polyphonic MIDI sequences, using an empirical approach. Such systems can then be used as a music language model which, combined with an acoustic model, can improve automatic music transcription (AMT) performance. As a first step, we experiment with synthetic MIDI data, and we compare the results obtained in various settings, throughout the training process. In particular, we compare the use of a fixed sample rate against a musically-relevant sample rate. We test this system both on synthetic and real MIDI data. Results are compared in terms of note prediction accuracy. We show that the higher the sample rate is, the better the prediction is, because self transitions are more frequent. We suggest that for AMT, a musically-relevant sample rate is crucial in order to model note transitions, beyond a simple smoothing effect.
Maintaining storability of shelled rubber (Hevea brasilliensis, Muell - Arg) seed using potential osmotic solution and fungicide

Rubber seed will loose its storability in a short time. Seed germination and fungal attack were factors that barrier the storage period. The research aim was to test the ability of the potential osmotic solution and fungicides to reduce seed germination. Completely randomized design with two factors and three replications, i.e: PEG 6000 (w/v): 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60% (potential osmotic solution) and fungicide (active ingredients were pyraclostrobin + metiram ) (g / 1 kg seed): 0 g, 10 g, 20 g, 30 g and 40 g, were applied.The results showed that PEG 30% can inhibit seed germination up to 9.07% and 37.47% and fungicides 40 g/1kg can reduce fungal attack during storage of 12 and 16 days. Combination of PEG-6000 30% and fungicides 40g / 1 kg could maintain seed storability by pressing the seeds germination up to 10.67% and fungal attacks up to 18.00% during storage of 16 days with 96.80% germination.
Small Supernumerary Marker Chromosomes (sSMC): A Guide for Human Geneticists and Clinicians

Introduction. - Inheritance of sSMC. - Formation of sSMC. - sSMC in genetic diagnostics and counseling. - sSMC known to be correlated with specific syndromes. - Centric sSMC. - Neocentric sSMC by chromosome. - Multiple sSMC. - sSMC additionally to other chromosomal rearrangements. - Complex sSMC. - sSMC and tumor. - Appendix: Patient organizations in connection with sSMC. -Glossary.
Molecular ecology of hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in the Seychelles

Molecular genetics are an invaluable tool in whole-organism biology, allowing the indirect investigation of life history traits and evolutionary processes that are otherwise unobservable. In this thesis, I apply molecular genetic techniques to the study of the hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, using a population in the Republic of Seychelles. My aim in this study was two-fold. Firstly, to better characterise certain key aspects of the hawksbill’s life history and demography, with a view to better informing hawksbill conservation. Secondly, to test several hypotheses relating to broader evolutionary questions, e.g. regarding the forces shaping mating systems and the link between individual genetic variability and fitness. I found that the majority of females were fertilised by a single male each, and that they used stored sperm to fertilise all of their multiple clutches across a nesting season. There was no evidence of females biasing paternity towards males with particular genetic properties (variability, dissimilarity), suggesting that females are not using sperm storage to promote sexual selection. Males were rarely seen to fertilise more than one female in the study, suggesting low reproductive skew and a large male population that is mobile and/or dispersed. Females at nesting beaches spanning 450 km comprised a single genetic stock, but males were more dispersive than females. I found that the effective size of the population was relatively large, and did not show signs of inbreeding or loss of genetic variation following the substantial reduction in hawksbill numbers caused by historic overhunting. Finally, I found that both male genetic variability and parental genetic dissimilarity can predict nest success, but in a way that might select for a stabilised level of genetic variability. I discuss the implications of these results for both evolutionary biology and the ongoing conservation management of a species internationally listed as critically endangered.
The role of TAF proteins during early zebrafish development

Replacement of the prototype promoter recognition factor (PRF) TFIID by alternative PRFs or changes in its subunit composition have recently been implicated in differentiation processes during development. TFIID is composed of TBP (TATA-binding protein) and 13 TAFs (TBP-associated factors). I comprehensively studied the roles of Tafs during vertebrate development using zebrafish model. Taf knock down (kd) phenotypes generated in an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) screen suggest differential functions of Tafs during zebrafish development. The kd phenotypes also propose a special requirement of DNA-binding Tafs during zebrafish development. In conjunction with zygotic mutant phenotype analysis of zebrafish taf8-mutants compared to taf6-mutants I investigated a potential coactivator function of Taf8 for Pparγ, which has been suggested by in vitro data. Oil Red O (ORO) stainings of 5 dpf (days post fertilisation) taf8- and taf6-mutant larvae revealed a specific lipogenesis defect in liver and intestine of taf8-mutant larvae. The results from treatments with a PPARγ inhibitor suggest that this lipogenic process is Pparγ-dependent. To convincingly establish a coactivator function of Taf8 for Pparγ during early zebrafish development, future work has to link the 5 dpf lipogenesis phenotype of taf8-mutants to defects in Pparγ-dependent transcription.
Retinal drusen detection using the Nidek F-10 SLO in retro-mode

Presentaton Purpose:We conducted a small study to assess the novel, retro - mode imaging technique of the NIDEK F-10 scanning laser ophthalmoscope, for detecting and quantifying retinal drusen. Methods:Fundus photographs of 4 eyes of 2 patients taken in retro-mode on the Nidek F-10 SLO were graded independently by 6,experienced, masked fundus graders for the presence of retinal drusen , and compared to stereo colour fundus photographs taken with a Topcon TRC-50DX camera. Results:The mean number of retinal drusen detected in retro mode was 142.96+/- 60.8, range 63-265, and on colour fundus photography mean of 66.6+/-32.6, range 26-177. All observers independently detected approximately twice as many drusen on retro-mode than colour fundus photography (p<0.0001, Student’s paired t-test) . The statistical significance of interobserver variation in drusen detection was p=0.07 on colour fundus photography , and p=0.02 on retro mode ( ANOVA) . Conclusions:The retro-mode of the F-10 camera uses infrared laser and an aperture with a modified central stop, with the aperture deviated laterally from the confocal light path. This forms a pseudo -3D image which is a new means of detecting abnomalites in the deeper retinal layers. Retro-mode imaging of retinal drusen using the F-10 Nidek SLO is a highly sensitive technique for detecting and quantifying retinal drusen , and detected twice as many drusen than colour fundus photography. This small pilot study suggests that this novel type of imaging may have a role in the future detection and analysis of retinal drusen, a field that is likely to become increasingly important in future AMD prevention studies.
Kyselina fytová ve výživě člověka

Phytic acid is the most widespread inositol phosphate on Earth and it is the main storage form of phosphorus in plant seeds. Phytic acid can form either soluble salts with monovalent elements or insoluble salts with bivalent elements (Ca, Mg). The most signifi-cant substance of this group is phytic acid magnesium-calcium salt, called phytin. On the one hand, phytic acid is consider to be antinutrient that lowers the use of P, Zn, Ca and Cu in animals and humans, whereas on the other hand, phytic acid suppresses the formation of reactive hydroxyl radicals Fe-catalyzed, and it also has the hypocholesterolemic effect. Degradation of phytic acid is ensured by the enzyme phytase
Investigations of anti-adhesion and endothelial environment for plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence

A unique feature of mature Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) parasitized RBC (pRBC) is that they bind to surface molecules of microvasculature endothelium via the parasite-derived surface protein PfEMP1. This ligand is associated with the cytoadherence pathology seen in severe malaria (SM) and recently our group has shown that even when treated with effective anti-malarial drug, pRBC are still able to cytoadhere, therefore, there is a need to find an adjunct treatment (in addition to antimalarial drugs) that can inhibit and reverse the adhesion process. Previous reports have suggested that sulphated glycoconjugates are highly effective at disrupting P. falciparum pRBC rosettes. Here, we investigate that effect by using sulphated polysaccharides and modified heparin for their effect to interrupt pRBC sequestration. We found that not all sulphated compounds or modified heparins were able to interrupt the sequestration process. Consideration of the inhibitory compounds generated some 18rules 19 fore exhibition of inhibitory properties: Sulphate position either at 6-O, or/and 2-O sulphate and N-sulphate is necessary for each compound. In addition, the multivalent effect and drug exhibit low anticoagulant activity also determined an active response to inhibit and de-sequestered P. falciparum pRBC on protein and endothelial cells. Here, we provide evidence that polysaccharides that possess a different level of sulphate, conformational structure and sulphate position act differently. This study also addressed the importance of pH host environment and extracellular matrix (glycocalyx) on the surface of endothelial cells on mediating pRBC binding. It found that pRBC bind significantly higher at pH 7-7.2 to CD36 and ICAM-1. Meanwhile, glycocalyx might interact as an instantaneous binder before pRBC reached ICAM-1 or CD36, unfortunately we cannot prove this due to methods and antibody chosen. The work reported in this thesis opens up new possibilities for therapeutic strategies targeting binding interaction of pRBC to host cells.
Amazon fish parasites

For many years, students from numerous countries have complained about the lack of "tools" to identify aquatic invertebrates from Latin America. Keys found in accepted textbooks are mostly limited, superficial or too popular-science. On the other hand, more advanced keys in academic books on aquatic invertebrates fail to cover Neotropical representatives in due detail. The few that do, however, also show too many defects in scope and presentation to be considered up-to-date. An international team of editors combined their efforts with Pensoft Publishers to launch a new major series on the aquatic biodiversity of Latin America. About 15 monographs, written by scientists from various countries, will offer a new, unrivalled view of the marvellous aquatic world of South America! The series is addressed to zoologists, ecologists, hydrobiologists, biogeographers, conservationists and students interested in aquatic biodiversity. The series will be an imminent tool for any biological library. Volume 1 - This book covers the following Phyla and Classes: Protozoa (Myxozoa, Sporozoa), Plathelminthes (Trematoda, Monogenoidea, Cestoda), Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Crustacea (Copepoda, Branchiura, Isopoda), Hirudinea and Pentastomida that are known to parasitize Amazonian fishes. The text is in English and the identification keys to families and genera are in both English and Spanish. In addition to the keys and checklists, each chapter gives information on the morphology, life cycles, pathology, prevention, treatment, collection method, as well as general reference data on each taxon. An alphabetic table of host fishes with their respective parasites is provided. The book will prove to be useful for parasitologists, ichthyologists, aquaculturists, pisciulturists and all those interested in Neotropical fish parasites.
NINE NEW SPECIES AND 11 COUNTRY RECORDS OF CYCLOCEPHALA (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE: DYNASTINAE) FROM PANAMA AND COSTA RICA

Nine new species of Cyclocephala are described from Panama and/or Costa Rica. They are C. dissimulata, C. isthmiensis, C. nigritarsis, C. nike, C. pan, C. rorschachoides, C. santaritae, C. williami, and C. zodion. New country records for Panama and/or Costa Rica are given for C. ampliata Bates, C. atripes Bates, C. brittoni Endrodi, C. castaniella Bates, C. confusa Endr6di, C. kaszabi Endrodi, C. macrophylla Erichson, C. nigerrima Bates, C. porioni Dechambre, C. prolongata Arrow and C. quadripunctata H6hne. "What's the use of their having names, " the gnat said, "if they won't answer to them? " "No use to them," said Alice; "but it's useful to the people that name them, I suppose. " Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland During the course of my studies on the dynastine scarabs of the Neotropics, I have encountered numerous new species and records of distribution. Most of these are in genera in the tribe Cyclocephalini. This paper describes those species and records I have for Panama and Costa Rica. I have worked extensively there during the past 15 years with the goal of providing a detailed faunistic survey of the Dynastinae of Panama and Costa Rica. This paper represents the first result of that survey. A complete synopsis of all the dynastine fauna is in preparation. Endrodi (1985) provided the most recent key to the genus Cyclocephala. The new species described here are all associated to that key in order that the reader will know where in the couplets each species will fall out. Appropriate notations can then be made for future reference. Keeping current with new species in such a large genus can often prove frustrating. In my own system, I make notations of new species in the most recent key as mentioned above. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, I also maintain a notebook arranged by genus with photocopies of diagnostic characters illustrated in every new publication describing new species. In this way, I note in the key that something has since been described, and I can immediately go to the illustrated notebook (and subsequently the paper itself) to confirm the status of the beetle before me. It is an eminently simple, yet workable, system. In this paper I list several new country records. Although I and a few others have known of these occurrences for several years, they have never been formally placed in any publication with which I am familiar. The purpose of listing these records is to get them into the literature as well as to provide those