Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enrichment of Human ESC‐Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Immunosuppressive and Anti‐Inflammatory Properties Capable to Protect Against Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Human ESCs provide access to the earliest stages of human development and may serve as an unlimited source of functional cells for future cell therapies. The optimization of methods directing the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into tissue‐specific precursors becomes crucial. We report an efficient enrichment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from hESCs through specific inhibition of SMAD‐2/3 signaling. Human ESC‐derived MSCs (hESC‐MSCs) emerged as a population of fibroblastoid cells expressing a MSC phenotype: CD73+ CD90+ CD105+ CD44+ CD166+ CD45− CD34− CD14− CD19− human leucocyte antigen‐DR (HLA‐DR)−. After 28 days of SMAD‐2/3 inhibition, hESC cultures were enriched (>42%) in multipotent MSCs. CD73+CD90+ hESC‐MSCs were fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)‐isolated and long‐term cultures were established and maintained for many passages displaying a faster growth than somatic tissue‐derived MSCs while maintaining MSC morphology and phenotype. They displayed osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrocytic differentiation potential and exhibited potent immunosuppressive and anti‐inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo, where hESC‐MSCs were capable of protecting against an experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease. Interestingly, the efficient enrichment of hESCs into MSCs through inhibition of SMAD‐2/3 signaling was not reproducible with distinct induced pluripotent stem cell lines. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the differentiation of hESCs into immunosuppressive and anti‐inflammatory multipotent MSCs with potential future clinical applications. STEM CELLS 2011;29:251–262
Revealing the results of whole-genome sequencing and whole-exome sequencing in research and clinical investigations: some ethical issues

The introduction of new sequencing technologies whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) that are much less finely targeted than previous genetic tests has resulted in ethical debate about what should be done with clinically significant findings that may arise during the sequencing process. In this piece we argue that, in addition to whether the finding has been intentionally sought or arises incidentally, the ethical issues concerning what should be done with WES and WGS findings are also influenced by whether sequencing occurs in a clinical or research setting. We argue that decisions about the disclosure of WGS and WES findings generated in the clinical context are much less ethically contentious than decision making about the feedback of research results. We conclude by calling for greater transparency about the purpose of sample collection, more explicit protocols for transitioning between research and clinical contexts and patients and research participants to be warned of the potential for incidental findings to be generated, their potential significance and the actions that might be taken as a result.
Self-constructing fuzzy neural network speed controller for permanent-magnet synchronous motor drive

A self-constructing fuzzy neural network (SCFNN) which is suitable for practical implementation is proposed. The structure and the parameter learning phases are performed concurrently and online in the SCFNN. The structure learning is based on the partition of input space and the parameter learning is based on the supervised gradient decent method using a delta adaptation law. Several simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed SCFNN control stratagem with the implementation of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor speed drive. Moreover, the simulation results of time varying and nonlinear disturbances are given to show the dynamic characteristics of the proposed controller over a broad range of operating conditions.
Examination of Socio-Economic Variables Having Effect on Functions of Single Parent Families

The purpose of this study is to explore the affect of socio-economic variables on single parent families general functions. Participants of this study consisted of single parent employees at the Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey (n=119). In this research, McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD) used as well as the socio-economic data such as age, gender, level of education, level of income, state of being satisfied with the level of income, number of family members and children, and the duration of living as a single parent. Results suggested significant relationships exist among level of education, state of being satisfied with the level of income and family general functions in single parent families.
Using the 3-tiered system for categorizing workup of incidental thyroid nodules detected on CT, MRI, or PET/CT: how many cancers would be missed?

BACKGROUND A 3-tiered system has been proposed by radiologists for the reporting and workup of incidental thyroid nodules (ITN) detected on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). It has been shown to reduce the workup rate, but there remains concern about missed malignancies. This study aims at estimating the proportion of incidental cancers that would be missed relative to all thyroid cancers if the 3-tiered system were applied to ITN seen on CT, MRI, or PET/CT. We also aim to characterize these missed incidental cancers by histology and tumor stage. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of 680 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer who underwent surgery between January 2003 and December 2012. Medical records were reviewed to identify incidental thyroid cancers detected on imaging. Patients with incidental cancers detected on CT, MRI, or PET/CT were categorized according to the system as 3-tiered system-positive and 3-tiered system-negative. The system recommends that only 3-tiered system-positive ITN undergo further workup with ultrasound. Three-tiered system-negative cancers were the cancers that would have been missed if the system were used in practice. These tumors are described by tumor type, size, and stage to determine the potential impact if the 3-tiered system were adopted. RESULTS One hundred and one patients had imaging-detected incidental cancers, of whom 64 met the inclusion criteria and were originally detected on CT, MRI, or PET/CT. Eight were 3-tiered system-negative, which represents 13% of the 64 incidental cancers that could be categorized and 1.2% of all thyroid cancers treated at our institution in the 10-year period. Three-tiered system-negative tumors were all papillary in histology and had a median size of 12 mm (interquartile range 10-12 mm). Six tumors (75%) were American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I, one was AJCC stage II, and one was AJCC stage III at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Based on thyroid cancers diagnosed during a decade, incidental malignancies missed by the 3-tiered system represent 1.2% of all thyroid malignancies. Three-tiered system-negative incidental cancers were all small papillary cancers. Given that few cancers would be missed and most are less aggressive, we propose that the 3-tiered system could be adopted in clinical practice to guide the workup of ITN identified on CT, MRI, and PET/CT.
Computational identification of conserved microRNAs and their targets from expression sequence tags of blueberry (Vaccinium corybosum)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, approximately 21nt in length, non-coding RNA, which mediate the expression of target genes primarily at post-transcriptional levels. miRNAs play critical roles in almost all plant cellular and metabolic processes. Although numerous miRNAs have been identified in the plant kingdom, the miRNAs in blueberry, which is an economically important small fruit crop, still remain totally unknown. In this study, we reported a computational identification of miRNAs and their targets in blueberry. By conducting an EST-based comparative genomics approach, 9 potential vco-miRNAs were discovered from 22,402 blueberry ESTs according to a series of filtering criteria, designated as vco-miR156–5p, vco-miR156–3p, vco-miR1436, vco-miR1522, vco-miR4495, vco-miR5120, vco-miR5658, vco-miR5783, and vco-miR5986. Based on sequence complementarity between miRNA and its target transcript, 34 target ESTs from blueberry and 70 targets from other species were identified for the vco-miRNAs. The targets were found to be involved in transcription, RNA splicing and binding, DNA duplication, signal transduction, transport and trafficking, stress response, as well as synthesis and metabolic process. These findings will greatly contribute to future research in regard to functions and regulatory mechanisms of blueberry miRNAs.
Comparison of diffusion tractography and tract‐tracing measures of connectivity strength in rhesus macaque connectome

With the mapping of macroscale connectomes by means of in vivo diffusion‐weighted MR Imaging (DWI) rapidly gaining in popularity, one of the necessary steps is the examination of metrics of connectivity strength derived from these reconstructions. In the field of human macroconnectomics the number of reconstructed fiber streamlines (NOS) is more and more used as a metric of cortico‐cortical interareal connectivity strength, but the link between DWI NOS and in vivo animal tract‐tracing measurements of anatomical connectivity strength remains poorly understood. In this technical report, we communicate on a comparison between DWI derived metrics and tract‐tracing metrics of projection strength. Tract‐tracing information on projection strength of interareal pathways was extracted from two commonly used macaque connectome datasets, including (1) the CoCoMac database of collated tract‐tracing experiments of the macaque brain and (2) the high‐resolution tract‐tracing dataset of Markov and Kennedy and coworkers. NOS and density of reconstructed fiber pathways derived from DWI data acquired across 10 rhesus macaques was found to positively correlate to tract‐tracing based measurements of connectivity strength across both the CoCoMac and Markov dataset (both P < 0.001), suggesting DWI NOS to form a valid method of assessment of the projection strength of white matter pathways. Our findings provide confidence of in vivo DWI connectome reconstructions to represent fairly realistic estimates of the wiring strength of white matter projections. Our cross‐modal comparison supports the notion of in vivo DWI to be a valid methodology for robust description and interpretation of brain wiring. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3064–3075, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hybrid Optical Unobtrusive Blood Pressure Measurements

Blood pressure (BP) is critical in diagnosing certain cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Some previous studies have proved that BP can be estimated by pulse transit time (PTT) calculated by a pair of photoplethysmography (PPG) signals at two body sites. Currently, contact PPG (cPPG) and imaging PPG (iPPG) are two feasible ways to obtain PPG signals. In this study, we proposed a hybrid system (called the ICPPG system) employing both methods that can be implemented on a wearable device, facilitating the measurement of BP in an inconspicuous way. The feasibility of the ICPPG system was validated on a dataset with 29 subjects. It has been proved that the ICPPG system is able to estimate PTT values. Moreover, the PTT measured by the new system shows a correlation on average with BP variations for most subjects, which could facilitate a new generation of BP measurement using wearable and mobile devices.
非小细胞肺癌患者凝血功能异常的相关因素与预后分析

背景与目的 凝血及纤溶系统激活在肺癌患者中较为常见，与肺癌侵袭、转移的高风险和预后差相关。 非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）占肺癌的80%-85%，本研究旨在回顾性分析凝血功能指标对NSCLC的预后价值，为目前NSCLC患者高凝状态的预防及治疗提供参考。 方法 回顾性分析2009年1月-2012年12月首次就诊于河北医科大学第四医院的604例经病理学证实的NSCLC患者的临床资料。 资料内容包括患者治疗前凝血功能相关指标[血浆凝血酶原时间（prothrombin time, PT）、凝血酶原活动度（prothrombin time activity, PTA）、国际标准化比率（international normalized ratio, INR）、活化部分凝血活酶时间（activated partial thromboplastin time, APTT）、纤维蛋白原（fibrinogen, Fib）、D二聚体（D-dimer, D-D）、血小板计数（platelet count, PLT）]、性别、年龄、病理分型、TNM分期、淋巴结状态等。 本研究选择了50例同期就诊于河北医科大学第四医院的非癌症患者作为对照组。 采用SPSS 13. 0统计软件进行分析。 结果 NSCLC组与对照组之间所有的凝血功能指标（包括PT、PTA、INR、APTT、Fib、D-D、血小板计数）的血浆水平显示均有统计学差异[除了Fib（P=0.001, 5）、Plt（P=0.004, 5），其余指标（P＜0.001）]。 纤维蛋白原水平与NSCLC的组织学亚型之间相关，鳞癌比腺癌的Fib水平明显升高（P＜0.001）。 Ⅲ期、Ⅳ期期比Ⅰ期-Ⅱ期患者的Fib、PLT水平升高（P＜0.001, P=0.014），APTT缩短（P＜0.001）。 与N0患者相比，N1-N3患者的APTT，明显缩短（P＜0.001），Fib、D-D水平升高（P＜0.001, P=0.048）。 对生存率的比较研究显示，PT、INR延长（P=0.032, P=0.001），Fib升高（P＜0.001），PTA下降（P=0.005），在统计学上对总生存有明显的不利影响。 多因素生存分析显示，在凝血功能指标中INR是唯一的独立预后因素（P=0.017）。 结论 NSCLC患者往往存在凝血纤溶系统的激活，导致凝血纤溶指标的亚临床改变。 肺腺癌患者以及分期为晚期、淋巴结存在转移的NSCLC患者更易出现高血凝状态。 PT、INR的延长与NSCLC患者生存率的下降密切相关，INR是NSCLC的独立预后因素，PT、INR可能成为NSCLC的预后指标。
Market Orientation, Intrapreneurship Behavior, and Organizational Performance: Test of a Structural Contingency Model

This study examines a mediated moderation process linking market orientation and organizational performance. Data were obtained from 143 manufacturing firms in the People’s Republic of China. Regression results reveal that (a) organizational structure moderates the relationship between market orientation and organizational performance and between market orientation and intrapreneurship behavior, and (b) intrapreneurship behavior fully mediates the interactive effects of market orientation and organizational structure on organizational performance. Thus, the interaction between market orientation and organizational structure positively affects intrapreneurship behavior, which in turn leads to organizational performance. The study sheds light on the mechanisms through which market orientation affects organizational performance.
Comparisons between the effects of calcitonin receptor‐stimulating peptide and intermedin and other peptides in the calcitonin family on bone resorption and osteoclastogenesis

Calcitonin receptor‐stimulating peptide (CRSP) and intermedin (IMD) are two recently discovered peptides in the calcitonin (CT) family of peptides. CRSP and IMD, similar to CT, calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), and amylin (AMY), but in contrast to adrenomedullin (ADM), inhibited bone resorption in mouse calvarial bones. CRSP and IMD, similar to CT, CGRP, AMY, but in contrast to ADM, decreased formation of osteoclasts and number of pits in bone marrow macrophage cultures stimulated by M‐CSF and RANKL, with no effect on the expression of a number of genes associated with osteoclast progenitor cell differentiation. CRSP and IMD inhibited osteoclastogenesis at a late stage but had no effect on DC‐STAMP mRNA. IMD, similar to CGRP, AMY, and ADM stimulated cyclic AMP formation in M‐CSF expanded osteoclast progenitor cells lacking CT receptors (CTRs). RANKL induced CTRs and a cyclic AMP response also to CT and CRSP, and increased the cyclic AMP response to CGRP, AMY, and IMD but decreased the response to ADM. Our data demonstrates that CRSP and IMD share several functional properties of peptides in the CT family of peptides, including inhibition of bone resorption and osteoclast formation. The data also show that the reason why ADM does not inhibit osteoclast activity or formation is related to the fact that RANKL decreases ADM receptor signaling through the adenylate cyclase‐cyclic AMP pathway. Finally, the findings indicate that activation by CGRP, AMY, and IMD may include activation of both CT and CT receptor‐like receptors. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 3300–3312, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Novel Recombinant Soluble Human Thrombomodulin, ART‐123, in Healthy Male Volunteers

The safety and pharmacokinetics of a novel recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin, ART‐123 were evaluated in single‐ and multiple‐dose studies involving 16 healthy male volunteers. ART‐123 was administered by intravenous infusion over 2 hours. The single‐dose study indicated that plasma ART‐123 levels at doses of 0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 mg declined biexponentially and those half‐lives were approximately 4 hours (t1/2α) and 20 hours (t1/2β), respectively. The mean plasma peak concentration and area under the plasma concentration—time curves increased in proportion to the given doses. Mean urinary recovery within the first 48 hours was between 54.3% and 59.8% of dose. In the multiple‐dose study, ART‐123 was administered at a dose of 0.2 mg once daily for 3 days. ART‐123 did not accumulate as judged from plasma concentrations and urinary recovery. There were no abnormal findings in objective symptoms and laboratory findings, including blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, body temperature, hematology, bleeding time, coagulation and hemostatic parameters, blood chemistry, and urinalysis. There were no significant adverse reactions or abnormalities in physical and laboratory examinations that could definitely be attributed to the drug at a dose of 0.3 mg as a single administration and at a dose of 0.2 mg once daily for 3 days. These results indicate that ART‐123 is safe at doses up to 0.2 mg once daily for 3 days and may have clinical application. Further studies are needed, however, to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of ART‐123 in the targeted population.
Refactoring Real-Time Java Profiles

Just like other software, Java profiles benefits from refactoring when they have been used and have evolved for some time. This paper presents a refactoring of the Real-Time Specification for Java (RTSJ) and the Safety Critical Java (SCJ) profile (JSR-302). It highlights core concepts and makes it a suitable foundation for the proposed levels of SCJ. The ongoing work of specifying the SCJ profile builds on sub classing of RTSJ. This spurred our interest in a refactoring approach. It starts by extracting the common kernel of the specifications in a core package, which defines interfaces only. It is then possible to refactor SCJ with its three levels and RTSJ in such a way that each profile is in a separate package. This refactoring results in cleaner class hierarchies with no superfluous methods, well defined SCJ levels, elimination of SCJ annotations like @SCJAllowed, thus making the profiles easier to comprehend and use for application developers and students.
Supervision bancaire et contraintes en capital : hiérarchie des régulateurs et arbitrage optimal des instruments

Cette these a pour objectif de prendre part a la reflexion menee sur la mise en place d'une reglementation efficace pour l'industrie bancaire. Pour cela, ce travail contribue a la litterature existante a travers plusieurs aspects. Tout d'abord, nous tenons compte de l'impact des nouvelles contraintes en capital suggerees par les accords dits de Bâle III sur l'offre de credit des banques en plus de la stabilite bancaire. Par ailleurs, cette these prend egalement en compte la disparite entre regulateurs bancaires concernant leurs capacites a auditer les banques et les sanctionner si besoin est. De maniere plus generale, cette heterogeneite des regulateurs bancaires nous amene egalement a repenser la reglementation existante, en etudiant sous quelles conditions une regulation centrale devient plus efficace qu'un ensemble de regulations locales. La prise en compte de chacun de ces elements permet alors d'aborder la regulation bancaire a travers une perspective nouvelle. Dans le premier chapitre de cette these, nous construisons un modele theorique analysant l'impact de l'ajout d'un ratio de levier a la Bâle III en plus d'un ratio de capital pondere du risque a la Bâle II sur le bien-etre du regulateur. Nous mettons en evidence que ce ratio de levier conduit a une baisse de l'offre de credit des banques. En contrepartie, le ratio de levier peut reduire l'instabilite bancaire mais uniquement si le regulateur souffre d'un faible pouvoir de supervision : pour les regulateurs beneficiant d'un fort pouvoir de supervision, le ratio de levier entraine une deterioration du bien-etre. Le but du second chapitre est de tester empiriquement les resultats de cette approche theorique. Nous utilisons pour cela les donnees disponibles depuis la mise en place effective du ratio de levier propose par le Comite de Bâle. Nous mettons en evidence que la mise en place de ce ratio de levier conduit a une baisse significative de l'offre de credit bancaire, ainsi qu'a une hausse du risque de credit. Ces deux effets sont amplifies lorsque le pouvoir de supervision est eleve. Le troisieme chapitre se consacre a l'elaboration d'un schema reglementaire capable d'internaliser les externalites existantes lorsque plusieurs regulateurs locaux avec des objectifs differents doivent cohabiter. Nous montrons que cela est rendu possible par la mise en place d'un regulateur central deleguant les tâches liees a la supervision aux regulateurs locaux. Cette regulation centrale est d'autant plus efficace si les regulateurs locaux souffrent d'une forte capture de la part des banques et si les effets de contagion entre pays sont eleves.
Interactive architectural modeling with procedural extrusions

We present an interactive procedural modeling system for the exterior of architectural models. Our modeling system is based on procedural extrusions of building footprints. The main novelty of our work is that we can model difficult architectural surfaces in a procedural framework, for example, curved roofs, overhanging roofs, dormer windows, interior dormer windows, roof constructions with vertical walls, buttresses, chimneys, bay windows, columns, pilasters, and alcoves. We present a user interface to interactively specify procedural extrusions, a sweep plane algorithm to compute a two-manifold architectural surface, and applications to architectural modeling.
Vitamin D Therapy to Reduce Blood Pressure and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Resistant Hypertension: Randomized, Controlled Trial

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with higher prevalent blood pressure. We tested whether high-dose intermittent oral vitamin D therapy could reduce blood pressure and left ventricular mass in patients with hypertension resistant to conventional treatment. We conducted a parallel-group, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Patients with supine office blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg on ≥3 antihypertensive agents received 100 000 U oral vitamin D3 or matching placebo every 2 months. Office and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol were measured at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 months; left ventricular mass index was measured by cardiac MRI on a subgroup at baseline and 6 months. The primary outcome was mean 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure at 6 months. A total of 68 participants were randomized, 34 in each group. Mean age was 63 (SD 11) years, mean baseline office blood pressure was 154/84 (13/10) mm Hg, and mean baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 42 (16) nmol/L. Treatment with vitamin D did not reduce 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (adjusted treatment effects: systolic, +3 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, –4 to +11; P=0.33; diastolic, –2 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, –6 to +2; P=0.29); similar results were seen for office blood pressure. Left ventricular mass index was measured in a subgroup (n=25); no reduction was seen with vitamin D treatment (adjusted treatment effect, +4 g/m2; 95% confidence interval, 0 to +7; P=0.04). There was no significant change in cholesterol or glucose levels. Thus, 6 months of intermittent, high-dose oral vitamin D3 did not reduce blood pressure or left ventricular mass in patients with resistant hypertension.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Check-in computation and optimalization by simulation and IP in combination

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