Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sertoli cells as a target for reproductive hazards

Male fertility can be impaired by various toxicants. Some of them are known to target mainly Sertoli cells, which play an essential role in spermatogenesis. In this study, the in vitro response of immature rat Sertoli cells to various environmental pollutants, including pesticides, oestrogenic compounds and heavy metals, has been investigated. Mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity has been used to measure Sertoli cell viability, while production of lactate and secretion of inhibin B have been used as general and specific cell markers. Sertoli cell viability was not affected after 24‐h exposure to lindane, DDT, ethinyloestradiol or bisphenol A in the concentration range analysed (up to 100, 25 or 50 μm, respectively). In contrast, mercury(II) (EC50=31 μm) and cisplatin (15% decrease in viability at 100 μm) induced some cytotoxic effect. With the exception of the pesticide DDT, all chemicals investigated induced a significant dose‐dependent increase in lactate production after 24‐h exposure to Sertoli cells. Owing to the cytotoxic effect of mercury(II), lactate levels dropped again at concentrations above 20 μm. The pesticide lindane (but not DDT) and both oestrogens significantly increased the production of the Sertoli cell specific hormone inhibin B without affecting cell viability. In contrast, the heavy metals mercury(II) and platinum(II) markedly decreased inhibin B levels. This sharp decrease was already significant at metal concentrations that reduced Sertoli cell viability only moderately (10–15%). In conclusion, the secretion of lactate and inhibin B by immature rat Sertoli cells seems to be a useful and sensitive marker with which to explore potential Sertoli cell toxicants.
Characterization of La Crosse virus small-genome transcripts

With restriction fragments from DNA clones of the La Crosse virus S genome segment, the 3' end of the S mRNA was located by S1 nuclease mapping near a polyuridine tract, approximately 100 nucleotides, from the end of the S genome. Genome replication in La Crosse virus-infected cells was abolished by the drug cycloheximide, similar to other negative-strand RNA viruses. However, the synthesis of S mRNA could not be detected in cells pretreated with cycloheximide, suggesting that ongoing protein synthesis is required for La Crosse virus genome transcription and replication. Primer extension experiments in the presence of chain-terminating nucleoside triphosphates demonstrated that the 5' end of the La Crosse virus S mRNA begins 10 to 14 nucleotides before the 3' end of the S genome segment, suggesting that the La Crosse virus S mRNA is initiated on a host primer. A hypothesis consistent with these unexpected findings is presented.
Early exposure to infections and antibiotics and the incidence of allergic disease: a birth cohort study with the West Midlands General Practice Research Database.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that the rise in prevalence of allergic disease in westernized countries is due in part to a decrease in exposure to infections and an increase in the use of antibiotics early in life. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to quantify the relationships between (1) exposure to personal infections, infections in siblings, and use of antibiotics in early life and (2) the incidence of allergic disease. METHODS Using the West Midlands section of the UK General Practice Research Database, we established a historical birth cohort of children (N = 29,238). For each child, we identified all personal infections and infections in siblings and determined the use of antibiotics in early life; we also noted incident diagnoses of asthma, eczema, and hay fever. The data were analyzed through use of Cox regression. RESULTS There was no clear protective effect of exposure to either personal infections or infections in siblings with respect to the incidence of allergic disease. Antibiotic exposure was associated with an increased risk of developing allergic disease in a dose-related manner: having 4 or more courses of antibiotics in the first year of life was associated with an increased incidence of asthma (hazard ratio [HR], 3.13; 95% CI, 2.75-3.57), eczema (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.31-1.68), and hay fever (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.68-2.66). However, adjusting for consulting behavior reduced these effects (adjusted HR [95% CI]: asthma, 1.99 [1.72-2.31]; eczema, 1.01 [0.88-1.17]; hay fever, 1.14 [0.88-1.47]). CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that exposure to infections reduced the incidence of allergic disease, and infections did not explain the previous findings of a strong birth order effect in this cohort. The use of antibiotics might be associated with early diagnoses of allergic disease.
Magnitude economic effects of requirements in the development process — A simulation study of workload behaviour

In order to produce software, different standardized development approaches exist which define the process to follow. This paper investigates common development approaches concerning their profitability. It works out an appraisal which development approach should be used. This appraisal considers the economic performance yield by the ability of different development approaches to deal with customer's behaviour. To evaluate the profitability, multiple simulations were performed and their results were presented. In order to contribute to the decision on the right development approach, 600 simulations were executed and analysed. It was possible to identify a development approach which allows maximizing the profits. This paper helps to understand the relation between process performance and customer's behaviour.
Simulation and Optimization of Gate Temperatures in GaN-on-SiC Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits

This paper presents 3-D thermal simulation studies of GaN-on-SiC monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) containing multifinger micrometer-scale high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The heat spreading effect of HEMT source, gate, and drain metallizations on peak structure temperatures is examined. The impacts of a realistic die attach material and rear-of-die heat transfer coefficient on structure temperatures, and in particular on temperature nonuniformity, are examined. Variable gate finger spacing, in which the gate spatial positions are described by polynomials as a function of gate number, is investigated as a means for optimizing the temperature uniformity from gate-to-gate. A thermal simulation code with a parametric MMIC geometry-based mesh generator and a deformable mesh consistent with sequential movement of gate finger positions during optimization is employed for all of the studies. The code is multiscale with a sufficient resolution range to handle a multifinger HEMT structure while also including the MMIC die, die attach metallization, and a realistic heat transfer coefficient associated with microchannel coolers. A variable gate pitch geometry based on an optimized cubic polynomial demonstrates considerable advantage in temperature uniformity.
Ползите при анализ на рентабилността по клиенти в хотелиерството (The Benefits of Customer Profitability Analysis in the Hospitality Industry)

The article reveals the benefits of customer profitability analysis implementation according to the specifics of the hotel product and the state of the management accounting in hotels. On this basis is substantiated the necessity management accounting and information systems in the hotels to be anteriorly adapted and developed in relevance with the objectives and methodological tools of customer profitability analysis, while keeping their function in collecting information for operational revenues and costs by responsibility centers. A model for customer profitability analysis based on ABC method is proposed in this connection, providing an example to clarify its methodological aspects and benefits. The latter consist in providing information for the purposes of taking a variety of management decisions regarding costs, product mix, pricing, performance measurement and implementation of various marketing initiatives.
Hypertension following Arterial Baroreceptor Denervation in the Unanesthetized Dog

Studies were conducted on unanesthetized dogs (1) in the control state, (2) after carotid sinus denervation plus section of the cervical aortic nerves (SCAD), and (3) after carotid sinus denervation plus section of intrathoracic vagal branches which innervate arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors, the heart, lungs, and other structures (STD). Mean values and standard deviations of blood pressure and heart rate were measured during many 75-minute recording sessions. The control mean arterial pressure was 94.8 ± 8.9 nun Hg. The mean pressure after SCAD was 105.5 ± 9.5 mm Hg, 10.0 mm Hg higher (P < 0.05) than in the control state, whereas, after STD, the mean pressure was 119.5 ± 16.8 mm Hg, 25.3 mm Hg higher (P< 0.001) than in the control state. The standard deviation of pressure was increased (P < 0.01) by either denervation procedure. The mean pressure after STD was higher than after SCAD (P < 0.05). Ten of 12 animals with SCAD showed residual baroreceptor reflexes (seven from intrathoracic receptors) whereas, after STD, six of 11 animals showed reflexes (one from intrathoracic receptors). SCAD only occasionally produces denervation as complete as that produced by STD. A larger increase in arterial pressure follows a more complete denervation of vagally innervated baroreceptors. We believe that our procedures do not denervate all arterial baroreceptors. Chronic denervation of arterial baroreceptors leads to a widely varying, elevated arterial pressure. The increase in pressure has persisted more than l'/4 years. Circ Res 48: 576-586, 1981
Contribution of preventable acute care spending to total spending for high-cost Medicare patients.

IMPORTANCE A small proportion of patients account for the majority of US health care spending, and understanding patterns of spending among this cohort is critical to reducing health care costs. The degree to which preventable acute care services account for spending among these patients is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE To quantify preventable acute care services among high-cost Medicare patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We summed standardized costs for each inpatient and outpatient service contained in standard 5% Medicare files from 2009 and 2010 across the year for each patient in our sample, and defined those in the top decile of spending in 2010 as high-cost patients and those in the top decile in both 2009 and 2010 as persistently high-cost patients. We used standard algorithms to identify potentially preventable emergency department (ED) visits and acute care inpatient hospitalizations. A total of 1,114,469 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 years or older were included. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Proportion of acute care hospital and ED costs deemed preventable among high-cost patients. RESULTS The 10% of Medicare patients in the high-cost group were older, more often male, more often black, and had more comorbid illnesses than non-high-cost patients. In 2010, 32.9% (95% CI, 32.9%-32.9%) of total ED costs were incurred by high-cost patients. Based on validated algorithms, 41.0% (95% CI, 40.9%-41.0%) of these costs among high-cost patients were potentially preventable compared with 42.6% (95% CI, 42.6%-42.6%) among non-high-cost patients. High-cost patients accounted for 79.0% (95% CI, 79.0%-79.0%) of inpatient costs, 9.6% (95% CI, 9.6%-9.6%) of which were due to preventable hospitalizations; 16.8% (95% CI, 16.8%-16.8%) of costs within the non-high-cost group were due to preventable hospitalizations. Comparable proportions of ED spending (43.3%; 95% CI, 43.3%-43.3%) and inpatient spending (13.5%; 95% CI, 13.5%-13.5%) were preventable among persistently high-cost patients. Regions with high primary care physician supply had higher preventable spending for high-cost patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among a sample of patients in the top decile of Medicare spending in 2010, only a small percentage of costs appeared to be related to preventable ED visits and hospitalizations. The ability to lower costs for these patients through better outpatient care may be limited.
Harmonic disturbances observer based control for DC-AC inverter

Considering the load uncertainties in real applications, a novel harmonic disturbance observer based control (HDOBC) approach is proposed for single-phase DC-AC inverter system subject to load resistance disturbance, which acts via a different channel from control input. Differing from the existing methods, a novel harmonic disturbance observer (HDO) is proposed to estimate the load disturbance. Then by designing an appropriate disturbance compensation gain, the mismatched disturbance is counteracted from the output channel. A rigorous stability analysis is presented. Comparing with the traditional state feedback control, the proposed method obtains a better disturbance rejection ability. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed method in the presence of mismatched disturbances.
Image filtering, denoising and segmentation via levels set method: An application to medical images MRI

The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging or the MRI is one of the different noninvasive imaging techniques that have emerged in the recent decades. Thanks to its findings in different types of diagnosis, the M.R. I. technique has become one of the most interesting and widely used methods in clinical diagnosis. This paper suggests a method of correction, denoising, and segmentation of the MRIimages. That is to say, this issue can be solved by a coupled system of linear and nonlinear diffusion-reaction equations. In fact, these equations are suggested and tested for the denoising of magnetic resonance images, in order to be applied for the segmentation of medical images M.R. I.
Environment‐dependent growth inhibition of human epidermal keratinocytes by recombinant human transforming growth factor‐beta

Transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) purified from platelets is a potent growth inhibitor of several normal epithelial cell types in culture. In contrast, some carcinoma cell lines derived from tumors of these same tissues are resistant to this factor. Using recombinant human TGF‐β, the authors have confirmed these results with six normal human epidermal keratinocyte strains and four human epidermal squamous carcinoma cell lines. However, the sensitivity of normal cells to TGF‐β was found to depend on the culture conditions. When grown in a specialized nutrient medium supplemented with pituitary extract, keratinocytes were completely inhibited by the addition of 0.3 ng/ml TGF‐β. In contrast, when their growth was supported by cocultivation with 3T3 fibroblast feeder cells, 30‐ to 100‐fold higher concentrations of TGF‐β were required to achieve comparable growth inbibition. This differential sensitivity occurred despite the fact that in both culture systems TGF‐β in the culture medium had a half‐life of about 50 minutes, becoming tightly bound to the surface of the culture dish. Bound TGF‐β proved to be biologically active and stable for about a week in the absence of 3T3 feeder cells. Incubating 3T3 cells on TGF‐β‐coated dishes, however, resulted in nearly quantitative removal and degradation of the TGF‐β within 2 days, permitting normal rates of keratinocyte growth. The binding of TGF‐β to surfaces and the ability of fibroblasts to attenuate its inhibitory activity for epithelial cells must be considered when evaluating in vitro models and in planning strategies for the use of this factor in vivo.
The osteogenic response to distant skeletal injury.

We tested the hypothesis that when one bone of the skeleton is injured, others experience an osteogenic response. Although similar or related phenomena have been observed previously, the purposes of the study were to determine if this response was reproducible, to characterize it in terms of its magnitude and duration, and to show how it is related to the type of injury sustained. To obtain this information, a model was used in which an intramedullary nail was implanted in the femur and a standard closed fracture was subsequently produced. The osteogenic response was measured by histomorphometry. Eight-four nine-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into seven groups of twelve animals each. Groups I and II consisted of control animals in which no injury was produced. In Group-III rats, cortical drilling of the intercondylar notch and piriformis fossa of the right femur was performed, without intramedullary nailing. In Groups IV through VII, half of each group received intramedullary nails only, and in the other half intramedullary nailing was done and a closed transverse diaphyseal fracture was produced. With two different fluorochrome labels, rates of mineral apposition were measured in the left and right tibiae of all animals. The labeling periods differed in each group and were designed to determine when the peak response occurred, how long it lasted, and whether aging during the course of the experiment affected the response. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Grading of Lymphovascular Space Invasion in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Introduction: To assess the prognostic value of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Methods: We reexamined single representative hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of 66 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma to identify LVSI. A 4-grade system was used to classify LVSI: absent (no LVSI), mild (1-2 foci of LVSI), moderate (3-8 foci of LVSI), and severe (≥9 foci of LVSI). We investigated the possible associations between the grade of LVSI and clinicopathologic factors. Results: Lymphovascular space invasion was present in 36 patients (54.5%) and absent in 30 (45.5%). Statistical analysis indicated that LVSI was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage, poor histological grade, and lymph node metastasis. Follow-up studies indicated that the disease-free survival time for patients without LVSI was significantly longer than that for patients with moderate LVSI (P = 0.01) and severe LVSI (P = 0.001). The overall survival (OS) time for patients with moderate or severe LVSI was significantly shorter than that for patients with mild or no LVSI. The grade of LVSI was found to be significantly associated with OS (P = 0.004). The grade of LVSI showed poor correlation with disease-free survival and OS. Conclusions: The grade of LVSI is an important predictive factor for disease recurrence and poor survival of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
Incremental prognostic value of different components of coronary atherosclerotic plaque at cardiac CT angiography beyond coronary calcification in patients with acute chest pain.

PURPOSE To systematically evaluate the incremental predictive value of cardiac computed tomographic (CT) angiography beyond the assessment of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in patients who present with acute chest pain but without evidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS The human research committee approved this study and waived the need for individual written informed consent. The study was HIPAA compliant. A total of 458 patients (36% male; mean age, 55 years ± 11) with acute chest pain at low to intermediate risk for coronary artery disease underwent coronary calcification assessment with cardiac CT angiography. All patients who did not experience ACS at index hospitalization were followed for instances of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), such as a myocardial infarct, revascularization, cardiac death, or angina requiring hospitalization. CAC score and cardiac CT angiography were used to derive the presence and extent of atherosclerotic plaque (calcified, noncalcified, or mixed), and obstructive lesions (>50% luminal narrowing) were related to outcomes by using univariate and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Of the 458 patients, 70 (15%) experienced MACE (median follow-up, 13 months). Patients with no plaque at cardiac CT angiography remained free of events during the follow-up period, while 11 (5%) of 215 patients with no CAC had MACE. The extent of plaque was the strongest predictor of MACE independent of traditional risk factors (hazard ratio [HR], 151.77 for four or more segments containing plaque as compared with those containing no plaque; P < .001). Patients with mixed plaque were more likely to experience MACE (HR, 86.96; P = .002) than those with exclusively noncalcified plaque (HR, 58.06; P = .005) or exclusively calcified plaque (HR, 32.94; P = .02). CONCLUSION The strong prognostic value of cardiac CT angiography is incremental to its known diagnostic value in patients with acute chest pain without ACS and is independent of traditional risk factors and CAC.
The Rhythms of Life: Circadian Output Pathways in Neurospora

Research in Neurospora crassa pioneered the isolation of clock-controlled genes (ccgs), and more than 180 ccgs have been identified that function in various aspects of the fungal life cycle. Many clock-controlled genes are associated with damage repair, stress responses, intermediary metabolism, protein synthesis, and development. The expression of most of these genes peaks just before dawn and appears to prepare the cells for the desiccation, mutagenesis, and stress caused by sunlight. Progress on characterization of the output signaling pathways from the circadian oscillator mechanism to the ccgs is discussed. The authors also review evidence suggesting that, similar to other clock model organisms, a connection exists between the redox state of the cell and the Neurospora clock. The authors speculate that the clock system may sense not only light but also the redox potential of the cell through one of the PAS domains of the core clock components WC-1 or WC-2.
Systematic Risk in Energy Businesses: Empirical Evidence for the ASEAN

This paper is conducted to provide an additional empirical evidence in relation to the estimates of equity beta for energy businesses in the ASEAN-5 including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Listed energy companies for the period from 2005 to 2015 are used. Quantile regression, together with the ordinary least square (OLS) and least absolute deviations (LADs), has been used. Findings from this paper indicate that: (i) As long as the OLS and the LAD approaches are adopted, estimates of equity beta are relatively consistent across various research periods; (ii) estimates of equity beta appear to vary substantial across different quantiles; and (iii) estimates of equity beta have appeared to vary across research periods. However, as an overall level across time and methods, a level of risk faced by a company in the energy sector is below the average of the level of risk for the entire market for the above nations.