Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Classification and terminology of plant epicuticular waxes

Plant cuticles are covered by waxes with considerable ultrastructural and chemical diversity. Many of them are of great systematic significance. Waxes are an essential structural element of the surface and of fundamental functional and ecological importance for the interaction between plants and their environment. An extensive literature has been published since the introduction of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hitherto, the area has lacked a complete classification and terminology necessary as a standard for comparative descriptions. A refined classification and terminology of epicuticular waxes is therefore proposed based on high-resolution SEM analysis of at least 13 000 species, representing all major groups of seed plants. In total 23 wax types are classified. Thin wax films appear to be ubiquitous, while thicker layers or crusts are rare. The most prominent structures are local wax projections, which most probably result from self-assembly of wax molecules. These projections are supposed to be mainly of a crystalline nature and are termed crystalloids here. Among these, platelets and tubules are the most prominent types, while platelets arranged in parallel rows and stomatal wax chimneys are the most striking orientation and aggregation patterns. In addition, a comprehensive overview on the correlation between wax ultrastructure and chemical composition is given.
Multidrug Resistance of Cancer Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses primarily on recent reports relating to issues that remain unresolved in the field of multidrug-resistance and on developments that have come to the forefront in the past few years. After a brief overview of mdr genes and P-glycoprotein, (Pgp) activity, it discusses the clinical relevance of the human MDR1 gene and Pgp, the mechanism by which Pgp confers drug-resistance and the regulation of MDR1 gene activity in normal and cancer cells. The chapter briefly reviews what is known about other cellular mechanisms for conferring resistance to mdr-related drugs and the clinical aspect of mdr by discussing prospects for overcoming multidrug-resistance in light of what is now known about its mechanisms of action. MDR1 or mdr has been used generically to refer to mammalian genes functional in conferring multidrug-resistance.
Development of User-friendly GUI for Indoor Localization using RFID Passive Tag

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification technology that enables tracking of people and object. In this paper, passive RFID tag is used for indoor localization. Passive RFID tag has many advantages i.e., cost-effective, relatively small and its endurance. This paper proposes simulation of indoor localization using self-created Graphic User Interface (GUI) to apply the RFID-based localization using fingerprint technique. In this paper, Maximum number of intersect tags and Maximum and 2 nd Maximum number of intersect tags are deployed as pattern matching algorithm. For this technique, the database of fingerprint is obtained from ID information of the tags. The maximum number of intersect tag will be used as the justification of measured position of the target node. The estimated error location is obtained from the location estimation result compared with fingerprint location in the database. The average error in the estimation result for both techniques is approximately 21 cm. From the results, we can conclude that our proposed method can be applied in real situation.
[Hotspots of positive selection in primate genomes].

> Quand la premiere edition de L’Origine des Especes est publiee en 1859 [1], on n’y trouve aucune reference a l’evolution de l’homme et a ses liens de parente avec les grands singes. Darwin, qui n’en pense pas moins, anticipe ainsi un proces en heresie et le risque d’une opposition demultipliee a sa theorie de la selection naturelle. A l’ere genomique, l’homme est devenu « l’espece modele » pour l’etude de la selection naturelle chez les vertebres. Les projets de genotypage a grande echelle comme le projet HapMap [11], d’abord dedies aux etudes d’associations, ont en effet permis d’identifier plusieurs dizaines voire centaines de genes impliques dans l’adaptation des populations humaines a leurs environnements au cours des cent mille dernieres annees. L’approche gene-candidat utilisee jusquela n’avait pas permis d’anticiper un nombre si important, qui implique que l’homme a ete et reste en constante adaptation. adaptation des peaux claires aux hautes latitudes [3]. Ou encore, une mutation au locus G6PD (glucose 6 phosphate deshydrogenase) qui confere une resistance a la malaria a ete et est toujours selectionnee dans des populations africaines la ou la maladie est endemique [4].
Identification d’une protéine-clé pour le contrôle des sites de recombinaison méiotique

> Lors de la meiose, une seule replication du genome suivie de deux divisions permet a une cellule diploide de produire des gametes haploides. La premiere division se distingue par le fait que les chromosomes homologues d’origines maternelle et paternelle segregent. Les echanges reciproques entre chromosomes homologues, ou crossing-over, formes par recombinaison homologue lors de la prophase de cette division, jouent un role essentiel pour la formation de gametes euploides fonctionnels. En effet, ils conduisent a la formation d’un lien physique entre les chromosomes homologues, necessaire a leur segregation. La recombinaison meiotique a egalement pour consequence de provoquer un reassortiment des alleles dans le genome, ce qui contribue a generer de la diversite genetique. Le mecanisme moleculaire de la recombinaison meiotique, disseque chez la levure Saccharomyces cerevisiae, est conserve au moins dans ses grandes lignes chez les eucaryotes superieurs [1]. La premiere etape moleculaire est la formation de cassures double-brin de l’ADN catalysees par la proteine Spo11 [13]. Ces cassures double-brin sont reparees par recombinaison avec le chromosome homologue pour aboutir a la formation des produits de recombinaison, en particulier les crossing-over.
Degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium following epididymal obstruction in prepubertal rats

The development of the testes was studied in rats following prepubertal obstruction of the epididymis. Male rats received bilateral ligation of the corpus epididymidis or a sham operation at 10 days of age, and temporal changes in testicular morphology and weights of reproductive organs were determined at intervals spanning sexual maturation. Development of the testes was normal through 35 days of age. The initial histological changes in the testes of ligated animals, observed at 56 days, included an increased diameter of the seminiferous tubule lumen, depletion of spermatids, and the presence of multinucleate spermatids. Subsequently, germ cells were greatly depleted in the testes of 91‐ and 128‐day‐old rats with ligated epididymides. After puberty, testicular weight and volume declined relative to corresponding sham‐operated animals. On the other hand, the weights of the epididymides in ligated animals prior to puberty significantly exceeded those of sham‐operated rats but weighed significantly less than those of rats in the sham group after sexual maturation. Testicular alterations occurred after increases in the weights of the epididymides. Testicular changes may have contributed to rather than resulted from an autoimmune response to spermatozoa because testicular alterations preceded increases in antisperm autoantibodies. Anat Rec 254:76–86, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Temperature effects modelling and compensation analysis in analogue implementation of stochastic artificial neural networks

The implementation of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) as CMOS analogue integrated circuits shows several attractive features. Numerous papers show that small size analogue networks operate correctly. However, real ANN applications will require large networks. On the other hand, all of the presented implementations of ANN have been supposed to be working in ideal conditions but real applications will be subject to some global perturbations. For the analogue and mixed digital/analogue implementation cases, the behaviour analysis of the neural network with perturbation conditions is thus inevitable. Unfortunately, very few papers analyse the behaviour of analogue neural network with global perturbations. In this paper we present the behaviour analysis of a CMOS analogue implementation of the synchronous Boltzmann machine model with physical temperature perturbations. The relation between the T parameter of the Boltzmann machine's model and the physical temperature of circuit has been established. Simulation results have been given, temperature effects compensation have been discussed and finally, experimental results have been presented.
Oser innover pour favoriser la vie.

> Tandis que l’assistance medicale a la procreation revient sur le devant de l’actualite francaise a l’occasion des discussions parlementaires concernant la revision des lois de bioethique, la reconnaissance des travaux de Robert Edwards par le prix Nobel de Medecine 2010 est audacieuse et normale. Elle recompense un homme qui a defriche le terrain de la comprehension des mecanismes de la reproduction humaine et elle honore un parcours humain et scientifique hors-normes. Biologiste fondamentaliste, verse dans les sciences du vivant, Robert Edwards travaille a l’Universite de Cambridge dont les chercheurs se sont toujours illustres dans le domaine de la reproduction animale. Ils ont reussi la fecondation in vitro chez la lapine [1] en meme temps que Charles Thibault en France [2], mais Robert Edwards sera l’un des rares a vouloir appliquer ces techniques a l’espece humaine. Ce passage du fondamental biologique a l’applique medical s’inscrit dans la poursuite des travaux de Gregory Pincus, l’inventeur de la contraception hormonale feminine, qui stimule ses eleves Rock et Menkin a travailler sur la therapeutique de l’infertilite humaine, ce qui les conduira des 1941 aux Etats-Unis a entreprendre les premiers essais de fecondation in vitro chez l’homme [3]. Robert Edwards commence en 1965 le programme humain qui se concretisera en 1978 avec la naissance de Louise Brown. Il etablit pour cela un partenariat avec Patrick Steptoe, chirurgien gynecologue a Oldham, une petite ville situee pourtant a plusieurs dizaines de kilometres de Cambridge. P. Steptoe est un as de la cœlioscopie1 qui lui permet de recueillir l’ovule au 13e jour d’un cycle naturel, sous controle d’une camera, alors que les precedents recueils ovariens avaient ete faits par laparotomie2. Le cycle ovulatoire humain est de 28 jours, l’ovulation survient au 13e jour du cycle. Plus precisement, on sait aujourd’hui que cette ovulation survient 40 heures apres le debut du pic de LH (hormone luteinisante). Mais au milieu des annees 1960 c’est la peche, qui se fait a toute heure du jour ou de la nuit et au petit bonheur la chance en ce qui concerne l’etat de la maturation ovocytaire, point pourtant crucial puisque l’obtention de metaphases de deuxieme division
ERO, NADPH oxydases et vascularisation des tumeurs

Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant mechanisms. It is characterized by damage of all cellular components, DNA, proteins, lipids. ROS are nevertheless important for the physiology of an organism, as they are involved in the innate immune defense and several intracellular signaling pathways. They play an important role in tumorigenesis by promoting tumor vasculature, which is essential to their growth and metastatic processes. There are many sources of ROS in the cells, but the NOX enzymes (NADPH oxidase-dependent) are now recognized to have a major role in the oxidative stress process. Indeed, they are present in many tissues where their only function is to produce ROS. This article discusses the NOX in endothelial cells and their role in the tumor angiogenesis.
Solution of Moving-boundary Problems in Finite Media by Petrov-Galerkin and Predictor-corrector Techniques

In this paper, some solution techniques for plane or spherical moving-boundary problems, such as occur in gas-solid reactions and freezing or melting problems, are presented. A transformation for immobilization of the moving boundary is used. An iterative linearization method is developed to uncouple and solve the governing equation and the boundary motion equation. A lumped difference scheme is derived for the governing equation using a semidiscrete Petrov-Galerkin finite element method. This scheme is convergent uniformly in the diffusion parameter. A predictor-corrector method is used for boundary motion equation. Numerical results are compared with the analytic solution for the quasi-steady case in which diffusion is very rapid in comparison with reaction. Other supporting numerical results are obtained in order to examine the effect of variation of the parameters on the motion of boundary and boundary concentration. We argue that the method is well-suited to a variety of moving boundary problems.
Comparison of leaf morphology among submersed species of Myriophyllum (Haloragaceae) from different habitats and geographical distributions

An image analysis system was used to calculate the surface area and volume of the submerged leaves of seven species of Myriophyllum. We separated the species into two categories based on their distribution and habitat differences and compared their surface area, volume, dry mass, specific ;leaf area, and surface to volume ratios. The geographic location and habitat of the species explained the greatest percentage of total variance for these variables when compared by analysis of variance. A leaf shape analysis was performed by regressing surface area with volume for each species. Interspecific comparisons of leaf shape were made using analysis of covariance. Fundamental interspecific differences in submerged leaf shape, associated with differences in their geographic distributions and habitats, are explained as adaptations for different nutrient uptake regimes.
A Peptide Motif Consisting of Glycine, Alanine, and Valine Is Required for the Fibrillization and Cytotoxicity of Human α-Synuclein†

Amyloid-like aggregation or fibrillization of α-synuclein (α-Syn) and the filamentous deposits in Lewy bodies are believed to be closely associated with several fatal neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Here, we report the importance of a nine-residue peptide motif, 66VGGAVVTGV74, in the fibrillization and cytotoxicity of human α-Syn. Mutagenesis combined with thioflavin T fluorescence detection, atomic force microscopic imaging, and cytotoxicity assays reveal that deletion of this sequence completely eliminates α-Syn fibrillization and cell toxicity. However, deletion of the 71VTGV74 sequence decreases the fibrillization rate while the cytotoxicity remains unchanged. Incorporation of charged residues within this region slows aggregation and even impedes filament formation. In addition, substitution of Gly68 with Ala or C-terminal truncations of α-Syn accelerate the fibrillization processes. Circular dichroism studies suggest that β-sheet formation is often .
Research on Botnet Mechanisms and Defenses

Botnets are one of the most serious threats to the Internet. Researchers have done plenty of research and made significant progress. However, botnets keep evolving and have become more and more sophisticated. Due to the underlying security limitation of current system and Internet architecture, and the complexity of botnet itself, how to effectively counter the global threat of botnets is still a very challenging issue. This paper first introduces the evolving of botnet's propagation, attack, command, and control mechanisms. Then the paper summarizes recent advances of botnet defense research and categorizes into five areas: Botnet monitoring, botnet infiltration, analysis of botnet characteristics, botnet detection and botnet disruption. The limitation of current botnet defense techniques, the evolving trend of botnet, and some possible directions for future research are also discussed.
Identification of protein stability patches that pinpoint key structural or functional sites

The ability to locate in silico, in a protein structure, the active site, the binding site or the initiation site of conformational changes is important for understanding the functional mechanisms and is a prerequisite for the rational prediction of targeted mutations or for protein design. The amino acids in these sites have been optimized during evolution to fulfill a specific function, but not necessarily to improve stability. We present a program able to detect residues that are optimal or non-optimal against thermodynamic stability and to group them into patches. We apply this program to bovine seminal ribonuclease, a member of a well-studied enzyme family that binds RNA and undergoes 3D domain swapping under certain conditions.
[A novel caspase-independent apoptotic pathway triggered by Granzyme A].

Perforine, granulysine et granzymes, effecteurs de la cytotoxicite Les lymphocytes T cytotoxiques (CTL) et les cellules natural killer (NK) sont essentiels a la reponse immunitaire anti-tumorale et a la defense contre les pathogenes intracellulaires. Des etudes chez la souris et chez l’homme ont montre que l’elimination des cellules cancereuses et des cellules infectees par des pathogenes intracellulaires tels que les mycobacteries et les virus implique l’exocytose des granules cytotoxiques de ces lymphocytes [12]. En revanche, l’extinction de la reponse immunitaire necessite l’activation de la voie Fas. Les granules cytotoxiques, des lysosomes de secretion specialises, contiennent la perforine (PFN) et la granulysine deux proteines capables de former des pores dans la membrane plasmique et d’alterer la paroi des bacteries ainsi qu’une famille de proteases a serine appelees granzymes. Parmi les cinq granzymes decrites chez l’homme et les dix identifiees chez la souris, les granzymes A (GzmA) et B (GzmB) sont les plus abondantes. Une fois les cellules cibles reconnues, les CTL ou les cellules NK secretent le contenu de leurs granules dans la synapse immunologique. PFN permet l’entree des Gzm dans la cellule cible, declenchant ainsi des cascades biochimiques multiples qui, bien que distinctes, conduisent toutes a la mort cellulaire [1, 2].
Localization of the Binding Site for the Oligosaccharide Moiety of Gb3 on Verotoxin 1 Using NMR Residual Dipolar Coupling Measurements

By use of NMR residual dipolar coupling measurements in a dilute liquid-crystalline solvent, the solution structure has been determined of the complex between the oligosaccharide moiety of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3-OS) and the B-subunit homopentamer of verotoxin 1 (VTB). The dipolar coupling data indicate that Gb3-OS binds in a single binding site per monomer, which is identical to one of three sites inferred from the X-ray structure of the same complex. We find no evidence within experimental error for occupancy at either of the two additional binding sites observed per monomer in the crystal structure.
La biologie des cellules souchesmésenchymateuses d’origine humaine

Cet article resume les principales caracteristiques des cellules souches mesenchymateuses (CSM) de la moelle osseuse et des adipose-derived stroma/stem cells (ASC) du tissu adipeux : methodes d’obtention, phenotype, potentiel de differenciation, capacites de soutien de l’hematopoiese (fonction stromale) et d’immunosuppression. Deux points font l’objet d’une discussion particuliere : d’une part les criteres permettant de qualifier les CSM comme une population de cellules souches : multipotence, autorenouvellement, plasticite, et d’autre part les mecanismes de reparation en jeu dans les differentes indications de therapie cellulaire : reconstitution des compartiments tissulaires fonctionnels par repopulation apres proliferation et differenciation ou reprogrammation, effets de type stromal par secretion de facteurs angiogeniques, antiapoptotiques, antifibrotiques, modulateurs de l’inflammation, etc.
Selected parameters of gastrointestinal tract metabolism of turkeys fed diets with flavomycin and different inulin content

For 16 weeks, turkeys were fed the following feed mixtures: control diet without antibiotic (or inulin), diet with flavomycin (8 mg/kg) and diets with different level of inulin: low (0.1% for 16 weeks), medium (0.4% and 0.2% in the first and second 8-week period, respectively) and high (1% and 0.4% in the first and the second 8-week period of the experiment). During the first 8 weeks, dietary intake and feed conversion were similar in all groups. A high content of inulin in a diet caused lower body weight gain of turkeys compared to the remaining groups. In this period coefficients of protein digestibility (85.7-86.8%), concentration of dry matter and ammonia in faeces were alike in all groups. Faeces of turkeys fed a diet supplemented with inulin were characterised with a lower pH (5.48-5.56) than these of turkeys from the control group (5.77) as well as with lower activity of microbial β-glucuronidase (0.52-0.79 U/g and 1.01, respectively). The lowest faecal β-glucuronidase activity was in group with flavomycin (0.44). The addition of an antibiotic or inulin did not increase the final body weight of the turkeys; moreover the birds fed with the highest dose of inulin were the lightest. The influence of the experimental diets on ileal parameters was low; they affected however functioning of the caeca. The share of flavomycin in the mixture lowered the activity of microbial α-glucosidase, to some extent enhanced pH of digesta, but did not lower SCFAs concentration. As a result of increased amount of caecal digesta, the total sum of SCFAs produced was higher than in the control group. Higher doses (0.4/0.2% and 1.0/0.4%) of inulin in a diet caused a beneficial pH decrease in digesta (6.84 and 6.92, respectively), compared to lower doses of this preparation (7.12). On the other hand, they evoked a disadvantageous increase in the ammonia concentration in the caeca (1.188 and 1.240 mg/g in digesta of groups Inulin-M and Inulin-H, compared to 1.109 mg/g in digesta of group Inulin-L). Increasing the inulin dose in a diet up to 1% did not increase the activity of microbial enzymes, while increased significantly the concentration and amount of SCFAs in the caeca compared to limited dose (0.1%) of inulin preparation.
Distribution of the voltage‐dependent calcium channel α1A subunit throughout the mature rat brain and its relationship to neurotransmitter pathways

The α1 subunit provides both the voltage‐sensing mechanism and the ion pore of voltage‐dependent calcium channels. Of the six classes of α1 subunit cloned to date, α1A is the subject of debate in terms of its functional correlate, although it is generally thought to encode voltage‐dependent calcium channels of the ω‐agatoxin IVA‐sensitive, P/Q type. In the present study, an α1A‐specific riboprobe and antibody were used with in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemical techniques to localise α1A messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts and subunit protein throughout the mature rat brain. Dual localisation of α1A protein and markers for acetylcholine, catecholamines, and 5‐hydroxytryptamine have also been performed in a number of discrete areas. Abundant and widespread distribution of α1A protein was found, with immunoreactivity occurring both in cell bodies and as punctate staining in areas of neuronal processes. Several associations were noted across α1A localisation, defined neuroanatomical regions, and neurotransmitter systems. However, α1A expression was not confined to loci corresponding to any one neurotransmitter type, although a high level of expression was observed in cholinergic neurones. The distribution of the α1A subunit in the rat corresponded well with the limited human mapping data that are available. J. Comp. Neurol. 397:251–267, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.