Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulations of Beam ’ s Vibrations between Stops

We present numerical simulations of vibrations of an elastic beam between two stops. The beam is clamped at one end to a vibrating device; the motion of the other end is restricted by two stops. The contact is modeled by the normal compliance condition which describes nonlinear flexible stops, and approximates the Signorini condition for rigid stops. We propose a finite element method for the numerical approximations of the behavior of the model. The numerical simulations indicate that the stops may cause very complicated oscillations. We also use the FFT to describe the noise characteristics of the system.
Acoustic features contributing to the individuality of wild agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis agilis) songs

We examined acoustic individuality in wild agile gibbon Hylobates agilis agilis and determined the acoustic variables that contribute to individual discrimination using multivariate analyses. We recorded 125 female‐specific songs (great calls) from six groups in west Sumatra and measured 58 acoustic variables for each great call. We performed principal component analysis to summarize the 58 variables into six acoustic principal components (PCs). Generally, each PC corresponded to a part of the great call. Significant individual differences were found across six individual gibbons in each of the six PCs. Moreover, strong acoustic individuality was found in the introductory and climax parts of the great call. In contrast, the terminal part contributed little to individual identification. Discriminant analysis showed that these PCs contributed to individual discrimination with high repeatability. Although we cannot conclude that agile gibbon use these acoustic components for individual discrimination, they are potential candidates for individual recognition. Am. J. Primatol. 69:777–790, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dyslexia: search for phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity.

Dyslexia, or specific reading disability, has been shown in many studies to be familial, though no simple mode of inheritance accounts for all pedigrees. It is likely that the difficulties of genetic analysis are due to heterogeneity within the phenotype. We have undertaken a series of studies of normally intelligent children with dyslexia and their families in a search for phenotypic and genetic evidence of heterogeneity. Family histories with specific attention to difficulties in learning to read and spell were taken for 21 families. School test results were available for probands. Spelling was analyzed and anecdotal information assessed to determine whether visual or auditory difficulties predominated. Among the probands, 11 had predominantly visual problems (with preference for orally presented material) and phonetic spelling errors; 7 had predominantly auditory problems (with preference for visually presented materials), mispronunciations, and dysphonetic spelling errors; and 3 had mixed features. Visual and auditory evoked responses were measured on all the probands and some of the family members, in a search for neurophysiological evidence of abnormality or asymmetry of response. No significant differences were found between hemispheres, between those with visual- and those with auditorypredominant dyslexia, or between left-handed and right-handed individuals. Both anecdotal family histories and spelling performances provide suggestive evidence that dyslexic patients may be delineated into subgroups with predominantly visual or predominantly auditory impairment and that these subtypes may be under separate genetic predisposition. Further neurophysiological investigation will be required to devise ways of identifying cases before learning disability becomes an educational problem.
Oxidative phosphorylation and compartmentation of fatty acid metabolism in brown fat mitochondria.

1 Mitochondria freshly isolated from brown adipose tissue by a standard procedure consistently fail to display normal oxidative phosphorylation. Incubation of these particles with ATP and carnitine in the absence of exogenous substrate results in a rapid burst of respiration which eventually slows to a low resting rate. Oxidation of the endogenous substrate is absolutely dependent upon the presence of both ATP and carnitine and is completely inhibited by rotenone. In the absence of added CoASH, respiration is also inhibited by atractyloside, and this inhibition in completely released by addition of CoASH. 2 After the ATP + carnitine-induced respiration has slowed to a low resting rate, oxidative phosphorylation is observed during the oxidation of added α-ketoglutarate, succinate, or α-glycerophosphate. 3 If the mitochondria are incubated with ATP and carnitine in the presence of rotenone, coupled behavior is also observed upon subsequent oxidation of succinate or α-glycerophosphate. 4 Under appropriate conditions, the time-course of appearance of oxidative phosphorylation corresponds closely to the time-course of appearance of significant levels of acylcarnitine. 5 It is concluded that the endogenous substrate of brown fat mitochondria is free fatty acids which lie initially outside the acyl-CoA barrier, and that these are responsible for the uncoupled behavior of the freshly isolated particles. By providing the mitochondria with the appropriate components for activation and transport of free fatty acids, the redistribution which occurs relieves the uncoupling and hence both oxidative phosphorylation and classical sensitivities to inhibitors become evident. 6 The significance of the fatty acid transport mechanism in these mitochondria is discussed with respect to a possible role in regulating the degree of uncoupling which may occur during active thermogenesis by brown adipose tissue.
Stress response dampening indexed by cortisol in subjects at risk for alcoholism.

OBJECTIVE This study examines the stress-response-dampening (SRD) hypothesis of alcoholism from a novel vantage point. Various investigators have demonstrated that persons considered to be at risk for developing alcohol-related problems exhibit attenuation of stress reactions in psychologically challenging experimental sessions after receiving alcohol. These studies have used autonomic nervous system measures for indexing stress responses. In our report we address the question of whether people with a family history of alcoholism exhibit dampening effects of ethanol in the response of a classical stress hormone (i.e., cortisol). METHOD Subjects in this report were 46 healthy male and 40 healthy female adult subjects; 36 of the men were sons and 28 of the women were daughters of alcohol-dependent fathers (sons of alcoholics, SOAs; daughters of alcoholics, DOAs); 12 women and 10 men had no family history of any alcohol use disorders (daughters of nonalcoholics, DONAs; sons of nonalcoholics, SONAs). The subjects were part of a large-scale project in which participants received two laboratory sessions with exposure in each to three experimental paradigms involving psychological stress while various psychophysiological and neuroendocrine measures were taken. In one of the sessions alcohol was administered. RESULTS In the 1-hour period after termination of the stress paradigms, SOAs showed significantly lower plasma cortisol levels on laboratory days with alcohol administration than on days without alcohol administration at two of the three poststress sampling points. DOAs, however, did not exhibit a dampening pattern for cortisol. In the two control groups of SONAs and DONAs, no stress response attenuation effects of alcohol were observed. CONCLUSIONS The results of experimental laboratory work with individuals at risk of alcoholism in the present and other studies add to the validity of SRD models of this disorder. Research strategies that should provide direct evidence for the SRD hypothesis are addressed in the Discussion section.
highlighted topics Physiological and Genomic Consequences of Intermittent Hypoxia Invited Review: Intermittent hypoxia and respiratory plasticity

Review: Intermittent hypoxia and respiratory plasticity. J Appl Physiol 90: 2466–2475, 2001. — Intermittent hypoxia elicits long-term facilitation (LTF), a persistent aug- mentation (hours) of respiratory motor output. Considerable recent progress has been made toward an understanding of the mechanisms and manifestations of this potentially important model of respiratory plasticity. LTF is elicited by intermittent but not sustained hypoxia, indicating pro- found pattern sensitivity in its underlying mechanism. During intermittent hypoxia, episodic spinal serotonin receptor activation initiates cell signaling events, increasing spinal protein synthesis. One associated protein is brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a neurotrophin implicated in several forms of synaptic plasticity. Our working hypothesis is that increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor enhances glutamatergic synaptic currents in phrenic motoneurons, increasing their responsiveness to bulbospinal inspiratory inputs. LTF is heterogeneous among respiratory outputs, differs among experimental preparations, and is inﬂuenced by age, gender, and genetics. Furthermore, LTF is enhanced following chronic intermittent hypoxia, indicating a degree of metaplasticity. Although the physiological relevance of LTF remains unclear, it may reﬂect a general mechanism whereby intermittent serotonin
Differential pituitary and gonadal function of Chinese Meishan and European white composite boars: effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation, castration, and steroidal feedback.

Considerable breed differences exist in concentrations of gonadotropins between Chinese Meishan boars and meat-type crossbred boars of European origin. To define mechanisms that might be responsible, sensitivity to GnRH stimulation, hormonal clearance, and gonadal pituitary feedback effects were monitored in two experiments. In the first trial, jugular catheters were placed into mature Meishan (n = 7) and white composite boars (n = 8). Boars were repetitively sampled after administration of two doses of GnRH (150 and 1500 ng/kg BW) a week apart. Before administration of GnRH, FSH was greater in Meishan boars (554 +/- 50 vs. 102 +/- 8 ng/ml, p < 0.01). Both breeds responded with increases in FSH, LH, and testosterone; but concentrations of gonadotropins in Meishan boars were increased for a greater duration than in white composite boars. By 160 min after GnRH administration, gonadotropins were declining in white composite boars. Maximal plasma concentrations of FSH after GnRH stimulation were greater with the higher GnRH dosage than with the lower (1058 +/- 113 vs. 730 +/- 70 in Meishan and 184 +/- 40 vs. 141 +/- 14 ng/ml in white composite boars). In the second trial, boars were assigned to three groups related to their circulating FSH concentrations: European white composite boars (FSH = 100 ng/ml), Meishan boars with low FSH (FSH = < 500 ng/ml), and Meishan boars with high FSH (FSH > 750 ng/ml; n = 5 per breed group). Boars were cannulated and repetitively sampled during three protocols: 1) low GnRH stimulation (15 ng/kg BW), 2) pre- and postcastration, and 3) steroidal treatment (0.5 mg testosterone propionate and 20 micrograms estradiol cypionate/kg BW; then 24 days later, a 20-strength low-dosage steroid treatment). At the low GnRH stimulation, LH and testosterone concentrations were increased but FSH concentrations were not altered. Rate of increase of FSH and decline of testosterone concentrations were not different between the three treatment groups after castration. Castration levels of FSH were maintained and further increased with time. Rates of reduction in FSH concentration after gonadal steroidal stimulation were not different between breed groups, but Meishan boars escaped the exogenous steroid suppression earlier than white composite boars (p < 0.01). Differences in concentrations of gonadotropins in Meishan and white composite boars of European origin seem to be at the pituitary level of control and not related to gonadal factors.
Vibration of FGM Cylindrical Shells under Effect Clamped-simply Support Boundary Conditions using Hamilton's Principle

— In this paper a study on the vibration of thin cylindrical shells with ring supports and made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) composed of stainless steel and nickel is presented. Material properties vary along the thickness direction of the shell according to volume fraction power law. The cylindrical shells have ring supports which are arbitrarily placed along the shell and impose zero lateral deflections. The study is carried out based on third order shear deformation shell theory (T.S.D.T). The analysis is carried out using Hamilton’s principle. The governing equations of motion of FGM cylindrical shells are derived based on shear deformation theory. Results are presented on the frequency characteristics, influence of ring support position and the influence of boundary conditions. The present analysis is validated by comparing results with those available in the literature.
INTRA-ARTICULAR GLUCOCORTICOID , BUPIVACAINE AND MORPHINE REDUCES PAIN AND THE DURATION OF CONVALESCENCE AFTER ARTHROSCOPIC ANKLE SURGERY

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GPU-basiertes Volumenrendering von multimodalen medizinischen Bilddaten in Echtzeit

Kurzfassung. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeichnet sich dadurch aus, dass registrierte unsegmentierte Volumina aus multimodalen Bilddatensatzen (z.B. MRT, PET) gleichzeitig in einer 3D-Rekonstruktion visualisiert werden und in Echtzeit manipuliert werden konnen. Ermoglicht wird die Echtzeitfahigkeit durch die Programmierung der Algorithmen zur direkten Volumenvisualisierung auf der Grafikkarte mittels der neuen CUDA-Technologie. Die Zuordnung der Farbeigenschaften wird uber 1D-Transferfunktionen fur jedes Volumen getrennt gesteuert. So konnen durch die interaktive Veranderung der 1D-Transferfunktion Detailinformationen aus den zwei Bilddatensatzen getrennt kontrolliert werden und die Vorteile der verschiedenen Bildmodalitaten in einer Visualisierung genutzt werden. Mittels dieses interaktiven Frameworks konnen neue Erkenntnisse insbesondere uber neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen gewonnen werden.
Health policy making for street children: challenges and strategies

Abstract Background The phenomenon of street children is a bio-psychological and social issue that not only harms children, but also endangers the health of a society. In line with the national programs for the development and promotion of street children’s health in Iran, health policy making and essential strategies for this group of children will be presented in this paper. This paper will discuss the main issues and challenges of street children’s health and, also, health policy and guidelines for this population. Methods In this review study, the keywords; street children, health, challenges, policy, and health policy making were searched through PubMed, SID, Iranmedex, World Health Organization (WHO), Emro, the Cochran Library, Medline and Google scholar to collect data. The search resulted in 84 related resources from which 48 cases that were more relevant to this research and covered the issue more comprehensively, were used. All data published during 2002–2015 have been included in this paper. Results Key concepts including street children and their health, health policy, strategies to improve the health of street children, health policy approaches for street children, the WHO’s strategies, and social support program for street children must be considered in the health policy making processes for street children, as precise identification of the relevant information makes planning more effective in health policy making for this group of children. Conclusion The phenomenon of street children is a growing problem in the world and it has turned into a serious concern in many countries including Iran. The findings of this study can be used for identifying necessary measures in order to use research outcomes more effectively in policy making processes and reforming street children’s health policies in Iran.
Evidence for Normal Cell-Mediated Immunity in Scrapie-Infected Mice

Comparisons between mixed lymphocyte cultures of splenocytes from scrapie-infected and normal mouse brain-inoculated control mice did not reveal any evidence of an impaired cell-mediated immune response in scrapie-infected mice. Likewise, mixed lymphocyte cultures of splenocytes from scrapie-infected and normal mice demonstrated that infected spleen cells had no scrapie-specific antigens on their surfaces. These data suggested that the absence of a detectable scrapie-specific immune response in infected mice was the result of an absence of an exposed scrapie-specific antigen and not due to any direct effect on the immune system.
Combinations of 3-Hydroxyphthalic Anhydride-Modified Ovalbumin With Antiretroviral Drug-Based Microbicide Candidates Display Synergistic and Complementary Effects Against HIV-1 Infection

Background:The development of a safe, effective, and affordable microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV combination is urgently needed. Our previous studies demonstrated that 3-hydroxyphthalic anhydride-modified chicken ovalbumin (HP-OVA) exhibited potent antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of HIV, simian immunodeficiency virus, and herpes simplex virus, making it a promising candidate as a component of combination microbicide. We intended to evaluate potential the synergistic anti-HIV-1 effect of HP-OVA in combination with antiretroviral drug (ARV)-based microbicide candidates. Methods:The antiviral activity of HP-OVA and the ARVs, including HIV-1 entry inhibitors (T20, C52L, NB64, NBD556, AMD3100, and Maraviroc) and reverse transcriptase inhibitors (Tenofovir, UC781, and TMC120), tested alone or in combination, against HIV-1 X4 and R5 viruses, including some drug-resistant strains, was determined in MT-2 and peripheral blood mononuclear cells using p24 assay. The immune responses induced by HP-OVA that was applied in the vaginas of rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:When each of these ARV-based microbicide candidates was combined with HP-OVA, synergistic activity was observed against infection by both X4 and R5 strains, and the degree of synergy differed in each case. HP-OVA was highly effective against several ARV-resistant HIV-1 strains, suggesting that combining HP-OVA with these ARV-based microbicide candidates might work cooperatively against both drug-sensitive and -resistant HIV-1 strains. Human body fluids and human proteins had little or no effects on HP-OVA-mediated inhibitory activity against HIV-1 infection. HP-OVA formulated in the universal gel maintained its antiviral activity for at least 1 month and only induced weak immune responses after its multiple applications in the vaginas of rats. Conclusions:Synergistic and complementary effects against infection by a broad spectrum of HIV-1 strains were observed by combining HP-OVA with the ARV-based microbicide candidates. These findings provide a sound scientific platform for the development of a safe, effective, and affordable combination microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmissible viruses.
Relations intercellulaires dans les îlots de Langerhans et leur rôle dans la sécrétion du glucagon

Les ilots de Langerhans sont de mini-organes comprenant des interactions cellulaires complexes et necessaires a la regulation de la glycemie dans l'organisme. Toutefois, les mecanismes permettant de coordonner les differents types cellulaires de l'ilot sont nombreux et encore mal connus. Afin de mieux comprendre l'importance de ces interactions cellulaires, nous avons effectue deux etudes differentes. Dans notre premiere etude, nous avons pu constater que les cellules delta et PP presentent une distribution asymetrique au sein des ilots humains. En effet, les cellules PP sont majoritairement localisees aux bords des vaisseaux peripheriques de l'ilot tandis que les cellules delta se trouvent majoritairement aux bords des vaisseaux qui s'invaginent a l'interieur de l'ilot. Notre seconde etude a quant a elle permis de mettre en evidence le role essentiel des cellules beta et des contacts cellulaires directs dans la regulation de la secretion du glucagon lors d'un challenge hypoglycemique.
Neurofilament Distribution is Altered in the Mnd (Motor Neuron Degeneration) Mouse

Motor neuron degeneration (Mnd) is a genetic neurodegenerative disease of the mouse that is characterized by a progressive increase in motor dysfunction, moving from hind to fore limbs, leading to paralysis. An immunocytochemical analysis of the neurofilament distribution in spinal motor neurons in Mnd mice from all stages of the disease, including the presymptomatic, was performed using antibodies to different neurofilament subunits with different degrees of phosphorylation. Perikarya that stained with antibodies to phosphorylated neurofilaments were present in Mnd and control spinal cords, but the number of stained perikarya in Mnd was not significantly different from controls. There was a marked redistribution of neurofilaments within the cytoplasm of some motor neurons in Mnd cords. In Mnd but not controls, the immunoreaction product appeared marginated, leaving areas in the cytoplasm absent of immunostaining. These areas were observed in all stages of the disease, but less predictably in presymptomatics. Both the size of the areas and the number of motoneurons containing these areas appeared to increase with the severity of the disease. The number of anterior horn neurons in the hind limb region of lamina IX in spinal segment L4 of Mnd was lower than in controls, suggesting there is a loss of neurons in Mnd.
Modulation of NK Cell Function by Genetically Coupled C-Type Lectin-Like Receptor/Ligand Pairs Encoded in the Human Natural Killer Gene Complex

Functional responses of natural killer (NK) cells including eradication of “harmful” cells and modulation of immune responses are regulated by a broad variety of activating and inhibitory NK receptors. Whereas the leukocyte receptor complex (LRC) encodes for NK receptors of the immunoglobulin superfamily, genes of C-type lectin-like NK receptors are clustered in the mammalian natural killer gene complex (NKC). Besides the thoroughly studied C-type lectin-like receptors NKG2D, CD94/NKG2x, and members of the murine Ly49 subfamily, the NKC also encodes for NK receptors of the less characterized NKRP1 subfamily. The prototypic mouse NKRP1 receptor is Nkrp1c (also known as NK1.1), while human members of the NKRP1 subfamily are NKRP1A, NKp80, and NKp65. The latter are not straight homologs of mouse NKRP1 receptors, but share distinct subfamily-specific traits classifying them as members of the NKRP1 subfamily. Ligands of the human NKPR1 receptors are likewise C-type lectin-like glycoproteins belonging to the CLEC2 subfamily (i.e., LLT1, AICL, and KACL), and are encoded in the NKC in tight genetic linkage to their respective receptors. Similarly, certain members of the mouse NKRP1 subfamily interact with genetically coupled CLEC2 glycoproteins, while the reasons for this intriguing tight genetic linkage remain unknown. Recent studies provided new and unique insights into the expression, interaction, and signaling of NKRP1 receptors and their ligands, thereby substantially advancing our understanding of their function and biology. Here, we review our current knowledge on NKRP1 receptors and their genetically linked CLEC2 ligands with an emphasis on the human receptor/ligand pairs NKRP1A-LLT1, NKp80-AICL, and NKp65-KACL.