Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of the Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Ovarian Axis

The onset of puberty is a centrally driven process, the detailed mechanisms of which are not known. It is translated into an increased activity of the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator. This in turn is seen as increased pituitary pulsatile secretion of LH and FSH. LH pulses are observed even in midchildhood, particularly after the onset of sleep. Onset of puberty is associated with a greater increase in LH pulse amplitude than frequency and a much greater increase in LH and FSH. A progressive increase in daytime pulsatility occurs, with a gradual reduction of sleep-entrained amplification. Prepubertal FSH concentrations are relatively high in girls, and continous ovarian follicular growth and atresia take place, with estradiol concentrations being higher than in boys. Only after the steep early pubertal increase in LH, ovarian steroidogenesis is activated, with increases in androgen and estrogen secretion. Under further FSH stimulation, follicular growth and maturation proceed. The first menstrual cycles are mostly anovulatory for 1 to 2 years. Luteal phase insufficiency is common the first five years after menarche.
Improvement of the Microbiological Safety of Two Chilled Semi-Prepared Meals by Gamma Irradiation * *

Experimental batches of a stuffed pasta product, tortellini, and slightly pre-fried breaded reconstituted turkey steaks with cheese and ham filling, Cordon Bleu, were prepared according to commercial recipes, then inoculated with 10 CFU/g of Staphylococcus aureus (in case of tortellini) and with 10 CFU/g of Listeria monocytogenes (in case of Cordon Bleu) prior to packing in plastic bags under a gas atmosphere of 20 % CO2 and 80 % N2. The inoculated packages were irradiated at 3 kGy (tortellini) and 2 kGy (Cordon Bleu) with a Co radiation source. The applied radiation doses were sensorially acceptable for these products. The experimental batches of tortellini were stored at 15 °C, while the Cordon Bleu samples were stored at 5 and 9 °C. Unirradiated samples were kept together with the respective irradiated ones. Storage was continued for 4 weeks and microbiological tests were performed before and after the irradiation, and subsequently after every seven days. Besides selective estimation of the counts of the test organisms, total aerobic counts were evaluated in all samples and in case of Cordon Bleu, colony counts of lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, sulphite reducing clostridia, yeasts and moulds were also selectively estimated. The 3-kGy dose reduced the S. aureus count in tortellini below the detection limit (logCFU=0.26), and it remained undetectably low in the irradiated samples during all 28 days of storage, while the S. aureus count in the unirradiated samples increased up to 10 CFU/g during 8 days. The Listeria count in Cordon Bleu was reduced by irradiation from the initial count of 6.1 to 3.5 logCFU/g. At 5 °C storage, this residual count remained stagnant up to 3–4 weeks, but started to increase at 9 °C after one week of storage. In the unirradiated samples, the Listeria count increased hundred-fold during 4 weeks at 5 °C, and during 2 weeks at 9 °C. Sulphite reducing clostridia were, and remained, undetectable (<0.48 logCFU/g) in all samples even at 9 °C. The limiting factor of the shelf-life of the unirradiated poultry products was the growth of lactic acid bacteria at 9 °C, whereas enhanced lipid oxidation was an unwanted side-effect of radiation treatment. From these studies it can be concluded that the potential risk posed by the investigated non-sporeforming pathogenic bacteria could be considerably reduced by gamma irradiation, however, storage temperature remains a crucial factor of safety and methods should be developed to counteract the lipid-oxidative effect of the radiation processing.
Hydroxyethyl starch enhances fibrinolysis in human plasma by diminishing α2-antiplasmin–plasmin interactions

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are effective volume expanders but are also associated with poorly understood coagulopathy. Enhanced fibrinolysis following dilution with HES has been demonstrated. This investigation sought to identify the interactions of HES with critical fibrinolytic/antifibrinolytic enzymes. Normal plasma or plasmas deficient in factor XIII, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor or α2-antiplasmin were either not diluted or were diluted 20% with 0.9% NaCl, 5% human albumin, high-molecular-weight HES (HES 450) or low-molecular-weight HES (HES 130). Plasma was activated with celite and exposed to 75 IU/ml tissue-type plasminogen activator. Coagulation growth/disintegration kinetics were determined with thrombelastography. Compared with undiluted plasma, diluted plasma had a significant decrease in the clot lysis time and the time to maximum rate of lysis in all plasma types except in α2-antiplasmin-deficient plasma. The hierarchy of the decrease in clot lysis time and time to maximum rate of lysis was HES 450 = HES 130 > 5% human albumin = 0.9% NaCl. In conclusion, HES dilution enhances fibrinolysis by diminishing α2-antiplasmin–plasmin interactions. Further laboratory and clinical investigation is warranted to better define the mechanisms by which HES enhances clot disintegration and to find new therapeutic roles for HES to either prevent or treat thrombosis.
Design and Implementation of a 4 x 4 Butler-Matrix Switched-Beam Antenna

A switched-beam array system, capable to produce four orthogonal uniform beams and some low sidelobe beams, is presented in this work. The system is consisted of a four-element linear phased array and a 4x4 Butler-matrix beamforming network. System’s design and optimization was based on experimental results and computer simulations. New, small and easy to fabricate microstrip layout topologies for the 4x4 Butler-matrix beamforming network have been designed and constructed relying on a low cost dielectric material, the well-known FR4. Finally, measurements are presented in detail, in order to prove the excellent system’s performance.
Effects of chronic treatment with selective and nonselective antagonists on the subtypes of dopamine receptors

The effects of chronic blockade of D‐1, D‐2, or both subtypes of dopamine receptors on the densities and properties of the D‐1 and D‐2 subtypes of dopamine receptors were measured in rat brain. Animals were treated with 14 daily injections (i.p.) of the D‐1‐selective antagonist SCH‐23390, the D‐2‐selective antagonist sulpiride, the nonselective antagonist fluphenazine, or vehicle. Serial 32‐μm horizontal sections that included the caudate putamen were cut and alternately assigned to assays for D‐1 or D‐2 receptors. D‐1 receptors were labeled with 3H‐SKF‐83566 or 3H‐SCH‐23390, and D‐2 receptors were labeled with 3H‐spiroperidol. Scatchard analysis was performed on the saturation data measured in the head of the caudate putamen to obtain estimates of receptor density. As expected, administration of the D‐1‐selective ligand SCH‐23390 resulted in an increase in the density of D‐1 receptors by approximately 47% and had no significant effect on the density of D‐2 receptors. Similarly, administration of the D‐2‐selective ligand sulpiride resulted in an increase in the density of D‐2 receptors by 25% and had no significant effect on the density of D‐1 receptors. Thus the subtypes of dopamine receptors appear to be independently regulated after selective blockade. In contrast to the effects observed with selective antagonists, the results obtained with fluphenazine were more complex. Administration of the relatively nonselective antagonist fluphenazine resulted in an increase in the density of D‐2 receptors by 51% but had no significant effect on the density of D‐1 receptors. One explanation for this result is that up‐regulation of D‐2 receptors inhibits the regulation of D‐1 receptors, suggesting that the regulation of subtypes of dopamine receptors is not entirely independent. In support of this hypothesis, coadministration of sulpiride with SCH‐23390 attenuated the ability of SCH‐23390 to up‐regulate D‐1 receptors. To determine whether this phenomenon is observed in other brain regions, a second group of animals was chronically treated with selective and nonselective antagonists as described above, and coronal sections were cut at multiple levels of the brain. Receptors were labeled with a single concentration of either 3H‐SCH‐23390 or 3H‐spiroperidol, and the binding of the radioligands in 19 discrete brain regions was measured. The effects of these treatments on D‐1 and D‐2 receptors in most of these regions were similar to those described above for the caudate putamen.
A South African Perspective on Self-Leadership Development for Women Engineering Students – A Pilot Study

Across the world, initiatives have been introduced to encourage women to enter into and remain in engineering fields. However, research has shown that many women leave engineering or suffer a loss of self-esteem and self-confidence compared to their male counterparts. To address this problem, a South African comprehensive university developed a self-leadership intervention pilot study in 2013, aimed at improving the self-efficacy of its female engineering students and increasing retention rates. This paper is a qualitative, descriptive and interpretive study of the rationale and operational aspects of the Women in Engineering Leadership Association‟s (WELA) self-leadership workshop. The objectives of this paper are to provide a framework for the design of a self-leadership workshop and to provide insight into the process of developing such a workshop specifically for women engineering students at a South African university. Finally, the paper proposes an evaluation process for the pilot workshop, which also provides a framework to improve future workshops. It is anticipated that the self-leadership development framework will be applicable to other higher education institutions wishing to improve women engineering student‟s feelings of self-efficacy and therefore retention rates of women in engineering
Transverse relaxation effect of MRI contrast agents: A crucial issue for quantitative measurements of cerebral perfusion

Quantitative cerebral perfusion imaging using dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI requires the dynamic measurement of changes in contrast agent concentration in cerebral tissue and its feeding artery. In this work the tracer kinetics approach to general tracer‐based perfusion imaging is reviewed. In the typical practical setting, measurements of change in transverse relaxation (ΔR2) derived from MR signals are assumed to be substitutes for true concentration measurements. The implications and limitations of this assumption are reviewed in the light of various results obtained in theoretical, simulated, and experimental studies. The mechanisms of R2 changes in biological media are discussed. These mechanisms operate over different spatial scales and differentially influence gradient‐echo (GE) and spin‐echo (SE) MRI signals. This differential sensitivity can be used to assess vessel size in the microvasculature. Finally, the need for well controlled experimental data to provide input parameters and/or experimental tests of theoretical models is emphasized. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A circuit model for nonlinear simulation of radio-frequency filters employing bulk acoustic wave resonators

This paper describes a circuit model for the analysis of nonlinearity in the filters based on radio-frequency (RF) bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators. The non-linear output is expressed by a current source connected parallel to the linear resonator. Amplitude of the non-linear current source is programmed proportional to the product of linear currents flowing in the resonator. Thus the non-linear analysis is performed by the common linear analysis even for complex device structures. The analysis is applied to a ladder-type RF BAW filter, and frequency dependence of the non-linear output is discussed. Furthermore, this analysis is verified through comparison with experiments.
Phosphate Binders in Chronic Kidney Disease and End‐Stage Renal Disease: A Patient‐Centered Approach

Disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. These patients typically require oral phosphate binders to maintain phosphorus homeostasis, but the choice of which among several agents to use has been actively investigated and debated. Recent debate has been polarized between those who favor calcium‐based binders for their proven efficacy and relatively low cost and those who favor sevelamer for its putative beneficial effects on inflammatory biomarkers and vascular calcification. This review summarizes the current state of the art of prescribing phosphate binders, ranging from large‐scale clinical trials to focused mechanistic studies, and proposes that the available evidence does not conclusively prove the relative superiority of any one binder.
Expression of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐4 and ‐5 mRNAs in adult rat forebrain

Accumulating evidence indicates that the insulin‐like growth factors (IGFs) can act as neurotrophic factors. A family of at least six IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) has been characterized. The IGFBPs prolong the half‐life of IGFs in plasma and may modulate IGF action in a cell‐ or tissue‐specific fashion. Two recently characterized IGFBPs, IGFBP‐4 and ‐5, have been shown by northern blot hybridization to be expressed in rat brain, but their cellular sites of synthesis are poorly characterized. Because IGFBP‐4 and IGFBP‐5 could potentially modulate IGF actions in the brain, we used in situ hybridization histochemistry and 35S‐labeled IGFBP‐4 and IGFBP‐5 riboprobes to localize sites of IGFBP‐4 and ‐5 mRNA expression in adult rat brain. The two IGFBP mRNAs are abundantly expressed within discrete regions of brain. The expression patterns of the two genes are largely nonoverlapping. Notably, IGFBP‐4 mRNA is highly expressed within hippocampal and cortical areas, whereas IGFBP‐5 mRNA is not detected above background in these areas. Within the hippocampus, abundant IGFBP‐4 mRNA expression is detected in pyramidal neurons of the subfields of Ammon's horn and the subiculum and in the granule cell layer of the anterior hippocampal continuation. In the cortex, IGFBP‐4 mRNA is widely expressed in most areas and layers. In contrast, IGFBP‐5, but not IGFBP‐4, mRNA is detected within thalamic nuclei, leptomeninges, and perivascular sheaths. The distinct expression patterns of IGFBP‐4 and ‐5 mRNAs within the brain suggest that these IGFBPs may modulate paracrine/autocrine actions of the IGFs in discrete brain regions or compartmentalization of the IGFs within the brain. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
WOLF SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE

By whatever measures scientists choose for social intelligence, behavioral resilience of wolves illustrates their adaptations to changing aspects of their environments in the wild and captivity. Intriguing questions about wolves have emerged from studies of life history traits in social carnivores, such as large body size, delayed reproduction, and variable dispersal patterns. In this social context, the rapidly accumulating evidence for behavioral flexibility of wolves is reviewed in terms of learning, communication, problem-solving, and awareness. Changing aspects of the social environment include interactions with littermates, care-givers, mates, rivals for mates, hostile neighboring groups and permeability of group barriers to immigration. Hypotheses about the adaptive significance of behavioral resilience are examined for each of the major stages in the lifetime trajectory of individual wolves: dependent pups, pre-reproductive adults, reproductive adults and post-reproductive adults. The emerging answers point toward moving beyond simplistic notions that wolves are social due to the benefits of group hunting, to examine the more complex, and fascinating, intersection of evolutionary processes at nested levels of individuals, kin-groups, dynamic isolation of populations, and inter-species competition. Shifting proximate benefits and costs of apparent monogamy may have far reaching implications for designing effective conservation strategies based on a biological understanding of behavioral mechanisms in wolves.
Dietary diversity and subsequent cause-specific mortality in the NHANES I epidemiologic follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES Human diets tend to be complex mixtures of foods and nutrients. Therefore, we examined the relation of a measure of overall diet quality (independent of intake of individual foods or nutrients) with mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and non-CVD, non-cancer (other) causes. METHODS We used data from the NHANES I Epidemiologic follow-up study (n = 10,337; median follow-up time = 14 years; age 25-74 years at baseline), and included 988 CVD, 571 cancer, and 910 other cases. The 24-hour dietary recalls obtained at baseline were scored for quality using a dietary diversity score (DDS). The DDS (range 0-5) counts the number of major food groups--dairy, meat, grain, fruit, and vegetable consumed daily. RESULTS Age-adjusted risk of mortality from all three causes (except cancer in women) was inversely related with DDS in both men and women. Adjustment for multiple covariates attenuated the relative risk estimates slightly for CVD and cancer mortality, but markedly for other mortality. CONCLUSIONS The results are suggestive of an increased risk of CVD and cancer mortality associated with diets characterized by omission of several major food groups.
GABAA Receptor Trafficking Is Regulated by Protein Kinase Cε and the N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor

Disturbances in GABAA receptor trafficking contribute to several neurological and psychiatric disorders by altering inhibitory neurotransmission. Identifying mechanisms that regulate GABAA receptor trafficking could lead to better understanding of disease pathogenesis and treatment. Here, we show that protein kinase Cε (PKCε) regulates the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), an ATPase critical for membrane fusion events, and thereby promotes the trafficking of GABAA receptors. Activation of PKCε decreased cell surface expression of GABAA receptors and attenuated GABAA currents. Activated PKCε associated with NSF, phosphorylated NSF at serine 460 and threonine 461, and increased NSF ATPase activity, which was required for GABAA receptor downregulation. These findings identify new roles for NSF and PKCε in regulating synaptic inhibition through downregulation of GABAA receptors. Reducing NSF activity by inhibiting PKCε could help restore synaptic inhibition in disease states in which it is impaired.
A critical examination of the mechanics of dynamic NBTI for PMOSFETs

The physics of frequency-dependent shift in transistor parameters due to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) is examined using numerical and analytical solutions of the reaction-diffusion model (R-D). We find that the magnitude of NBTI degradation depends on frequency through a complex interplay of reaction- and diffusion-limited trap generation processes, and that the intrinsic symmetry of the stress and relaxation phases can account for the relatively weak frequency dependence of the NBTI phenomenon. We also show that the model is consistent with the broad features of the dynamic NBTI problem and can provide an adequate framework to discuss NBTI issues.
Real-time smooth pursuit tracking for a moving binocular robot

The problem of a moving robot tracking a moving object with its cameras, without requiring the ability to recognize the target to distinguish it from distracting surroundings, is examined. A novel aspect of the approach taken is the use of controlled camera movements to simplify the visual processing necessary to keep the cameras locked on the target. A gaze-holding system implemented on a robot's binocular head demonstrates this approach. Even while the robot is moving, the cameras are able to track an object that rotates and moves in three dimensions. The central idea is that localizing attention on 3D space makes simple precategorical visual processing sufficient to hold gaze. <<ETX>>
DEMONSTRATION OF AN ALTERED AMINOACYL RIBONUCLEIC ACID SYNTHETASE IN A MUTANT OF ESCHERICHIA COLI.

An analogue of phenylalanine, p-fluorophenylalanine, is known to inhibit the growth of many bacteria. A mutant strain of Escherichia coli has been isolated which is resistant to this analogue. Preliminary experiments (1) have indicated that the mutant is resistant because, unlike the parent strain, it is unable to activate p-fluorophenylalanine. This communication presents evidence that the mutant strain possesses an altered phenylalanyl ribonucleic acid synthetase. The companion paper considers the physiological consequences to the mutant of the altered enzyme (2).
Ovarian function after cancer treatment in young women affected by Hodgkin disease (HD)

Abstract We have evaluated the best method to assess the ovarian reserve and the ovarian protective effect of GnRH-analog (GnRH-a), in 29 women with Hodgkin's disease (HD) treated with chemotherapy (CHT). The ovarian reserve was studied by measuring the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), inhibin B, antimullerian hormone (AMH) and the ultrasound antral follicular count (AFC). The patients were randomly treated with or without GnRH-a. At the time of study menstrual function was normal in 21 cases (72.4%), but absent in 8 (27.5%). Mean basal values of FSH, LH, AMH, inhibin Band AFC were normal in patients less than 30 years old and in the group treated four years or less before observation. AFC appeared to be the best marker of reduced ovarian reserve and a combination of AFC–AMH or inhibin B appeared the best predictor. In the GnRH-a group, no women had amenorrhoea, although ovarian reserve assessment was not significantly different from those who were not treated. The time-interval from CHT was the only significant predictor of ovarian function in GnRH-a treated patients. In conclusion, ovarian reserve evaluation, in young patients treated by CHT, can be performed by AFC. GnRH-a treatment does not have a protective effect, but could delay the development of ovarian failure.
Estrogen Regulation of Intestinal Calcium Absorption in the Intact and Ovariectomized Adult Rat

Studies were carried out to examine the mechanism of action of estrogen on intestinal calcium absorption in the rat. Three‐month‐old Wistar rats were sham‐operated or ovariectomized (OVX). They were fed a diet containing 0.4% Ca, 0.4% P, and 2000 IU vitamin D3/kg. Eight weeks after operation, both OVX and sham‐operated rats were randomly assigned to eight treatment groups. Five groups received per 100 g of body weight 12.5 ng calcitriol (1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3); 7.5 μg of estradiol‐benzoate; 7.5 μg of estradiol‐benzoate and 0.1 mg of ICI 182780; 12.5 ng of calcitriol and 0.1 mg of ICI 182780; and 0.1 mg of ICI 182780, respectively. Three groups received the various vehicles used. Intestinal calcium absorption was measured in vivo using single pass perfusion of the duodenum. OVX did not change intestinal calcium absorption. A pharmacological dose of estradiol‐benzoate caused a significant increase in intestinal absorption of calcium, which was comparable to that of a pharmacological dose of calcitriol in both OVX and sham‐operated rats. Estrogen‐induced rise in intestinal calcium absorption was completely blocked to basal level by the pure estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780. In contrast, ICI 182780 did not antagonize calcitriol‐enhanced intestinal calcium absorption. Our findings suggest that estrogen stimulates intestinal calcium absorption via an ER.