Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The plastic cellular states of liver cells: Are EpCAM and Lgr5 fit for purpose?

Adult liver cells have been considered restricted regarding their fate and lineage potential. That is, hepatocytes have been thought able only to generate hepatocytes and duct cells, only duct cells. While this may be the case for the majority of scenarios in a state of quiescence or homeostasis, evidence suggests that liver cells are capable of interconverting between cellular states of distinct phenotypic traits. This interconversion or plasticity had been suggested by classical studies using cellular markers, but recently lineage tracing approaches have proven that cells are highly plastic and retain an extraordinary ability to respond differently to normal tissue homeostasis, to tissue repair, or when challenged to expand ex vivo or to differentiate upon transplantation. Stemness, as “self‐renewal and multipotency,” seems not to be limited to a particular cell type but rather to a cellular state in which cells exhibit a high degree of plasticity and can move back and forth in different phenotypic states. For instance, upon damage cells can dedifferentiate to acquire stem cell potential that allows them to self‐renew, repopulate a damaged tissue, and then undergo differentiation. In this review, we will discuss the evidence on cellular plasticity in the liver, focusing our attention on two markers, epithelial cell adhesion molecule and leucine‐rich repeat‐containing G protein‐coupled receptor 5, which identify cells with stem cell potential. (Hepatology 2016;64:652‐662)
Psychosocial Development from College through Midlife: a 34-year Sequential Study Erikson's Psychosocial Theory We Wish to Thank Mark Weinberger, Yariv Hofstein, and Allison Branch for Their Preliminary Work on This Study And

Two cohorts of alumni, leading-edge and trailing-edge baby boomers, first tested in their college years, were followed to ages 43 (N ϭ 136) and 54 (N ϭ 182) on a measure of Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to model the trajectory of growth for each psychosocial issue across middle adulthood. As predicted, the early psychosocial issues (trust, autonomy, and initiative) showed patterns of slow and steady increases in favorable resolution, as did the midlife issue of generativity. Industry, found in earlier investigations on the samples to change to differing degrees by cohort, continued to show cohort differences through midlife. The quadratic terms indicated that growth was curvilinear for both cohorts on identity and intimacy, and ego integrity showed variations by cohort, with the older cohort showing steeper patterns of increases. Gender differences were observed on intimacy, with women receiving higher initial scores, but the curves showed deceleration through midlife. Tests of variations in growth curves by the life history variables of educational attainment, occupational prestige, commitment to a long-term relationship, and parenthood status showed variations by cohort, but a general pattern of catching up emerged in which those who entered early adulthood at a relative disadvantage in terms of psychosocial development were able to attain favorable outcomes by midlife. Erik Erikson (1963) provided the first widely accepted perspective in developmental psychology to hold that personality changes throughout life. However, with its basis in clinical observation and emphasis on diverse processes spanning many decades, it has proven notoriously difficult to put to a rigorous empirical test. As an offshoot of psychodynamic theory, Erikson's work is subject to challenges that face its larger perspective and, in a time of computerized assessments and manualized therapy, has waned in popularity within the larger fields of personality and clinical psychology. Despite these challenges, Erikson's theory retains its appeal within areas of personality psychology that focus on specific developmental periods. The area of identity development in adolescence , for example, seems to have benefited from the Erikso-nian perspective, which has stimulated widespread research on the emergence and subsequent shaping of the individual's sense of self from the teenage years Studies that focus on other Eriksonian concepts, such as generativity and ego integrity, have provided valuable insights as well as empirical data regarding developmen-The thrust of Eriksonian theory is that personality continually evolves throughout life, a view that contrasts sharply with the …
Joint Morphological Generation and Syntactic Linearization

There has been growing interest in stochastic methods to natural language generation (NLG). While most NLG pipelines separate morphological generation and syntactic linearization, the two tasks are closely related. In this paper, we study joint morphological generation and linearization, making use of word order and inflections information for both tasks and reducing error propagation. Experiments show that the joint method significantly outperforms a strong pipelined baseline (by 1.1 BLEU points). It also achieves the best reported result on the Generation Challenge 2011 shared task.
Adaptive quality of service management for enterprise services

In the past, enterprise resource planning systems were designed as monolithic software systems running on centralized mainframes. Today, these systems are (re-)designed as a repository of enterprise services that are distributed throughout the available computing infrastructure. These service oriented architectures (SOAs) require advanced automatic and adaptive management concepts in order to achieve a high quality of service level in terms of, for example, availability, responsiveness, and throughput. The adaptive management has to allocate service instances to computing resources, adapt the resource allocation to unforeseen load fluctuations, and intelligently schedule individual requests to guarantee negotiated service level agreements (SLAs). Our AutoGlobe platform provides such a comprehensive adaptive service management comprising —static service-to-server allocation based on automatically detected service utilization patterns, —adaptive service management based on a fuzzy controller that remedies exceptional situations by automatically initiating, for example, service migration, service replication (scale-out), and —adaptive scheduling of individual service requests that prioritizes requests depending on the current degree of service level conformance. All three complementary control components are described in detail, and their effectiveness is analyzed by means of realistic business application scenarios.
Remote sensing of protected areas to derive baseline vegetation functioning characteristics

Abstract Question: How can we derive baseline/reference situations to evaluate the impact of global change on terrestrial ecosystem functioning? Location: Main biomes (steppes to rain forests) of Argentina. Methods: We used AVHRR/NOAA satellite data to characterize vegetation functioning. We used the seasonal dynamics of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), a linear estimator of the fraction of the photosynthetic active radiation intercepted by vegetation (fPAR), and the surface temperature (Ts), for the period 1981–1993. We extracted the following indices: NDVI integral (NDVI-I), NDVI relative range (Rrel), NDVI maximum value (Vmax), date of maximum NDVI (Dmax) and actual evapotranspiration. Results: fPAR varied from 2 to 80%, in relation to changes in net primary production (NPP) from 83 to 1700 g.m–2.yr–1. NDVI-I, Vmax and fPAR had positive, curvilinear relationships to mean annual precipitation (MAP), NPP was linearly related to MAP. Tropical and subtropical biomes had a significantly lower seasonality (Rrel) than temperate ones. Dmax was not correlated with the defined environmental gradients. Evapotranspiration ranged from 100 to 1100 mm.yr−1. Interannual variability of NDVI attributes varied across the temperature and precipitation gradients. Conclusions: Our results may be used to represent baseline conditions in evaluating the impact of land use changes across environmental gradients. The relationships between functional attributes and environmental variables provide a way to extrapolate ecological patterns from protected areas across modified habitats and to generate maps of ecosystem functioning. Abbreviations: CV = Coefficient of variation; Dmax = Date of maximum NDVI; e = Light use efficiency; Et = Evapotranspiration; fPAR = Fraction of photosynthetic active radiation intercepted by vegetation; MAP = Mean annual precipitation; MAT = Mean annual air temperature; NDVI = Normalized difference vegetation index; NDVI-I = NDVI integral; NPP = Net primary production; PAL = Pathfinder AVHRR Land; PUE = Precipitation use efficiency; Rrel = NDVI relative range; Ts = Surface temperature; Vmax = NDVI maximum value
Use of the Collaborative Optimization Architecture for Launch Vehicle Design

Collaborative optimization is a new design architecture specifically created for large-scale distributed-analysis applications. In this approach, a problem is decomposed into a user-defined number of subspace optimization problems that are driven towards interdisciplinary compatibility and the appropriate solution by a system-level coordination process. This decentralized design strategy allows domain-specific issues to be accommodated by disciplinary analysts, while requiring interdisciplinary decisions to be reached by consensus. The present investigation focuses on application of the collaborative optimization architecutre to the multidisciplinary design of a single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle. Vehicle design, trajectory, and cost issues are directly modeled. Posed to suit the collaborative architecture, the design problem is characterized by 95 design variables and 16 constraints. Numerous collaborative solutions are obtained. Comparison of these solutions demonstrates the influence which an a priori ascent-abort criterion has on development cost. Similarly, objective-function selection is discussed, demonstrating the difference between minimum weight and minimum cost concepts. The operational advantages of the collaborative optimization architecutre in a multidisciplinary design environment are also discussed.
Accounting Students’ Evaluation of Internship Experiences from a Skills Perspective

The University of Zimbabwe formally introduced internship into the Bachelor of Accountancy degree programme in 2003. The effect of the internship programme on the accounting students has not been studied. Internships are a popular method of experiential learning where students come face to face with the real world of work and its complexities, something that cannot be replicated in the four walls of the classroom. All parties involved benefit that is the student, the university and the employer. The study sought to evaluate the internship experiences of undergraduate accounting students with regard to career, soft skills, incentives and functional and technical skills. Ninety- three students took part in the survey. Students’ expectations were only met in one out of twenty situations probed that is, as far as exposure to information systems. Despite this students generally agreed that they benefited from the internship experiences. Significant differences on certain items due to location and institution of placement were observed. To this end the study recommended that key areas to be covered during internship should be indentified and communicated to institutions where accounting students would be attached.
Role Demands and Work Life Balance among Women Lecturers in Sri Lankan State Universities

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between role demands of work, family and work life balance. Also, this study tried to explore the factors that influence the supportive work life balance of the women academic staff in university. In quantitative phase of the study, a questionnaire survey was used to gather data from 265 women lecturers in state universities of Sri Lanka. Twenty in -depth interviews were conducted with women lecturers in same universities as gathering qualitative data. Finding of structural equation modeling indeed indicate that the significant negative relationship between role demands and work life balance, it fills a gap in the literature by validating the associations between role demands and work life balance dimensions. The qualitative data were analyzed via thematic exploratory analysis, which suggest that supportive factors for work life balance, such as workplace flexibility, avoiding role interference, correct prioritization, good working environment and personal factors against the role demands, that will be useful to Sri Lankan women in the academic profession to avoid their imbalance of work and family life and it also sends an important message to individuals to encourage work and family satisfaction
Manipulation Therapy Prior to Diagnosis Induced Primary Osteosarcoma Metastasis—From Clinical to Basic Research

Osteosarcoma (OS) patients who suffer manipulation therapy (MT) prior to diagnosis resulted in poor prognosis with increasing metastasis or recurrence rate. The aim of the study is to establish an in vivo model to identify the effects of MT on OS. The enrolled 235 OS patients were followed up in this study. In vivo nude mice model with tibia injection of GFP-labeled human OS cells were randomly allocated into MT(+) that with repeated massage on tumor site twice a week and no treatment as MT(−) group. The five-year survival, metastasis and recurrence rates were recorded in clinical subjects. X-ray plainfilm, micro-PET/CT scan, histopathology, serum metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) level and human kinase domain insert receptor (KDR) pattern were assayed in mice model. The results showed that patient with MT decreased 5-year survival and higher recurrence or metastasis rate. Compatible with clinical findings, the decreased body weight (30.5±0.65 g) and an increased tumor volume (8.3±1.18 mm3) in MT(+) mice were observed. The increasing signal intensity over lymph node region of hind limb by micro-PET/CT and the tumor cells were detected in lung and bilateral lymph nodes only in MT(+) group. MMP2 (214±9.8 ng/ml) and MMP9 (25.5±1.81 ng/ml) were higher in MT(+) group than in MT(−) group (165±7.8 ng/ml and 16.9±1.40 ng/ml, individually) as well as KDR expression. Taking clinical observations and in vivo evidence together, MT treatment leads to poor prognosis of primary osteosarcoma; physicians should pay more attention on patients who seek MT before diagnosis.
Investigating Participation in Online Policy Discussion Forums Over Time: Does Network Structure Matter?

Online policy discussion forums can be construed as a social network where citizens interact and collectively deliberate on policy issues. It is believed that citizen participation in such forums can help in the formulation of well -deliberated policy solutions. A key concern for governments is to promote participation in such forums. Soci al network literature reveals that the evolving interaction patterns between network participants can influence their collective behaviors. Thus, this study aims to investigate the longitudinal effects of network structural properties on forum participatio n using time series analysis. Our findings reveal that network structure can have both positive and negative effects on participation in terms of the number of postings and unique ideas contributed. This theoretically grounded empirical study on e -particip ation , employing ARIMA modeling with transfer function analysis on social network measures , contributes to the diversity of theories and methods in IS research. Implications for practice are also discussed.
Large Margin Semi-supervised Learning

In classification, semi-supervised learning occurs when a large amount of unlabeled data is available with only a small number of labeled data. In such a situation, how to enhance predictability of classification through unlabeled data is the focus. In this article, we introduce a novel large margin semi-supervised learning methodology, using grouping information from unlabeled data, together with the concept of margins, in a form of regularization controlling the interplay between labeled and unlabeled data. Based on this methodology, we develop two specific machines involving support vector machines and ψ-learning, denoted as SSVM and SPSI, through difference convex programming. In addition, we estimate the generalization error using both labeled and unlabeled data, for tuning regularizers. Finally, our theoretical and numerical analyses indicate that the proposed methodology achieves the desired objective of delivering high performance in generalization, particularly against some strong performers.
Prodigiosin - A Multifaceted Escherichia coli Antimicrobial Agent

Despite a considerable interest in prodigiosin, the mechanism of its antibacterial activity is still poorly understood. In this work, Escherichia coli cells were treated with prodigiosin to determine its antimicrobial effect on bacterial physiology. The effect of prodigiosin was concentration dependent. In prodigiosin treated cells above MIC value no significant DNA damage or cytoplasmic membrane disintegration was observed. The outer membrane, however, becomes leaky. Cells had severely decreased respiration activity. In prodigiosin treated cells protein and RNA synthesis were inhibited, cells were elongated but could not divide. Pre-treatment with prodigiosin improved E. coli survival rate in media containing ampicillin, kanamycin and erythromycin but not phleomycin. The results suggest that prodigiosin acts as a bacteriostatic agent in E. coli cells. If prodigiosin was diluted, cells resumed growth. The results indicate that prodigiosin has distinct mode of antibacterial action in different bacteria.
The effect of website quality on repurchase intention with the mediation of perceived value: The case study of online travel agencies in Vietnam

The sharing economy is getting broader with its non-ownership assets, better use of resources, lower prices, and more customized products (Belk, 2014). In tourism industry, the development of the sharing economy involved the emergence of online travel agencies (OTAs) who are intermediates between services providers and consumers, provide accommodations, transport services, food and beverages services, tour guide services, etc. (Skalska, 2017). Recently, Vietnam has experienced a rapid growth in the number of users booking tourism products and services through OTAs. Playing such an important role in the tourism market, it is essential for OTAs to retain customers which later bring successes for the business. This research examines the role of perceive value as it mediates the effect of website quality on customer repurchase intention at OTAs in Vietnam. Quantitative approach was employed with structured questionnaires written in Vietnamese and English. The questionnaires were distributed to tourists in Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Nha Trang. Partial least squares was applied to test the reliability, validity of the measures and the causal effects. The findings suggest that: (1) only website’s ease of use has direct positive influence on repurchase intention; (2) while security, service quality, visual appearance, price, and brand image have indirect positive affect on repurchase intention through the mediation of perceived value. Based on the results, theoretical implications and practical implications were also provided in this research.
SiASR4, the Target Gene of SiARDP from Setaria italica, Improves Abiotic Stress Adaption in Plants

Drought and other types of abiotic stresses negatively affect plant growth and crop yields. The abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins play important roles in the protection of plants against abiotic stress. However, the regulatory pathway of the gene encoding this protein remains to be elucidated. In this study, the foxtail millet (Setaria italica) ASR gene, SiASR4, was cloned and characterized. SiASR4 localized to the cell nucleus, cytoplasm and cytomembrane, and the protein contained 102 amino acids, including an ABA/WDS (abscisic acid/water-deficit stress) domain, with a molecular mass of 11.5 kDa. The abundance of SiASR4 transcripts increased after treatment with ABA, NaCl, and PEG in foxtail millet seedlings. It has been reported that the S. italica ABA-responsive DRE-binding protein (SiARDP) binds to a DNA sequence with a CCGAC core and that there are five dehydration-responsive element (DRE) motifs within the SiASR4 promoter. Our analyses demonstrated that the SiARDP protein could bind to the SiASR4 promoter in vitro and in vivo. The expression of SiASR4 increased in SiARDP-overexpressing plants. SiASR4-transgenic Arabidopsis and SiASR4-overexpressing foxtail millet exhibited enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress. Furthermore, the transcription of stress-responsive and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger-associated genes was activated in SiASR4 transgenic plants. Together, these findings show that SiASR4 functions in the adaption to drought and salt stress and is regulated by SiARDP via an ABA-dependent pathway.
Tumor-promoting activity of phorbol and four diesters of phorbol in mouse skin.

Phorbol, the terpene alcohol found in the skin tumor-promoting components of croton oil, was isolated, and four diesters were synthesized from it. The tumor-promoting potencies of these compounds were tested in Charles River CD1 mice and skin tumor-susceptible mice. The esters of high tumor-promoting ability (12- O -tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and phorbol-12,13-didecanoate) were effective in both lines of mice, but the compounds which were only weakly active or inactive in Charles River mice (phorbol-12,13-dibenzoate and phorbol) and a compound which was not tested in CD1 mice (phorbol-12,13-diacetate) have the ability to promote in the skin tumor-susceptible mice. The presence of a long-chain acid esterified to phorbol appears to be of greater importance in ordinary mice than in susceptible mice, in which phorbol alone possesses weak promoting activity.