Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the potential of poly(beta-amino ester) nanoparticles for reprogramming human fibroblasts to become induced pluripotent stem cells

Background Gene delivery can potentially be used as a therapeutic for treating genetic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, as well as an enabling technology for regenerative medicine. A central challenge in many gene delivery applications is having a safe and effective delivery method. We evaluated the use of a biodegradable poly(beta-amino ester) nanoparticle-based nonviral protocol and compared this with an electroporation-based approach to deliver episomal plasmids encoding reprogramming factors for generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from human fibroblasts. Methods A polymer library was screened to identify the polymers most promising for gene delivery to human fibroblasts. Feeder-independent culturing protocols were developed for nanoparticle-based and electroporation-based reprogramming. The cells reprogrammed by both polymeric nanoparticle-based and electroporation-based nonviral methods were characterized by analysis of pluripotency markers and karyotypic stability. The hiPSC-like cells were further differentiated toward the neural lineage to test their potential for neurodegenerative retinal disease modeling. Results 1-(3-aminopropyl)-4-methylpiperazine end-terminated poly(1,4-butanediol diacry-late-co-4-amino-1-butanol) polymer (B4S4E7) self-assembled with plasmid DNA to form nanoparticles that were more effective than leading commercially available reagents, including Lipofectamine® 2000, FuGENE® HD, and 25 kDa branched polyethylenimine, for nonviral gene transfer. B4S4E7 nanoparticles showed effective gene delivery to IMR-90 human primary fibroblasts and to dermal fibroblasts derived from a patient with retinitis pigmentosa, and enabled coexpression of exogenously delivered genes, as is needed for reprogramming. The karyotypically normal hiPSC-like cells generated by conventional electroporation, but not by poly(beta-amino ester) reprogramming, could be differentiated toward the neuronal lineage, specifically pseudostratified optic cups. Conclusion This study shows that certain nonviral reprogramming methods may not necessarily be safer than viral approaches and that maximizing exogenous gene expression of reprogramming factors is not sufficient to ensure successful reprogramming.
Fast Hydraulic Erosion Simulation and Visualization on GPU

Natural mountains and valleys are gradually eroded by rainfall and river flows. Physically-based modeling of this complex phenomenon is a major concern in producing realistic synthesized terrains. However, despite some recent improvements, existing algorithms are still computationally expensive, leading to a time-consuming process fairly impractical for terrain designers and 3D artists. In this paper, we present a new method to model the hydraulic erosion phenomenon which runs at interactive rates on today's computers. The method is based on the velocity field of the running water, which is created with an efficient shallow-water fluid model. The velocity field is used to calculate the erosion and deposition process, and the sediment transportation process. The method has been carefully designed to be implemented totally on GPU, and thus takes full advantage of the parallelism of current graphics hardware. Results from experiments demonstrate that the proposed method is effective and efficient. It can create realistic erosion effects by rainfall and river flows, and produce fast simulation results for terrains with large sizes.
iRNA-seq: computational method for genome-wide assessment of acute transcriptional regulation from total RNA-seq data

RNA-seq is a sensitive and accurate technique to compare steady-state levels of RNA between different cellular states. However, as it does not provide an account of transcriptional activity per se, other technologies are needed to more precisely determine acute transcriptional responses. Here, we have developed an easy, sensitive and accurate novel computational method, iRNA-seq, for genome-wide assessment of transcriptional activity based on analysis of intron coverage from total RNA-seq data. Comparison of the results derived from iRNA-seq analyses with parallel results derived using current methods for genome-wide determination of transcriptional activity, i.e. global run-on (GRO)-seq and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) ChIP-seq, demonstrate that iRNA-seq provides similar results in terms of number of regulated genes and their fold change. However, unlike the current methods that are all very labor-intensive and demanding in terms of sample material and technologies, iRNA-seq is cheap and easy and requires very little sample material. In conclusion, iRNA-seq offers an attractive novel alternative to current methods for determination of changes in transcriptional activity at a genome-wide level.
Games and Strategies as Event Structures

In 2011, Rideau and Winskel introduced concurrent games and strategies as event structures, generalizing prior work on causal formulations of games. In this paper we give a detailed, self-contained and slightly-updated account of the results of Rideau and Winskel: a notion of pre-strategy based on event structures; a characterisation of those pre-strategies (deemed strategies) which are preserved by composition with a copycat strategy; and the construction of a bicategory of these strategies. Furthermore, we prove that the corresponding category has a compact closed structure, and hence forms the basis for the semantics of concurrent higher-order computation.
Fate of estrogens and xenoestrogens in four sewage treatment plants with different technologies

The fate and removal of the estrogens 17β‐estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 17α‐ethynylestradiol (EE2) and of the xenoestrogens bisphenol A (BPA), 4‐tert‐octylphenol (4‐t‐OP), 4‐nonylphenol (4‐NP), and nonylphenol mono‐ and diethoxylate (NPEO1 and NPEO2, respectively) were investigated in four South Australian sewage treatment plants (STPs; plants A–D) with different treatment technologies. The concentrations in the effluent from the two‐year survey were similar to those reported in other studies. In the effluent, 4‐NP, NPEO1, and NPEO2 had total concentrations up to 8 μg/L, which were much higher than those of BPA and 4‐t‐OP. Estrone had the highest concentrations among the three estrogens, ranging between 13.3 and 39.3 ng/L, whereas the concentrations for E2 and EE2 varied between 1.0 and 4.2 ng/L and between 0.1 and 1.3 ng/L, respectively. The removal rates for the estrogens and xenoestrogens were variable but consistent with the plant performance parameters (biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and ammonia). Considering all the estrogenic compounds analyzed in the present study, plant D, with a series of anaerobic and aerobic lagoons, was the least efficient of the four STPs in the removal of these compounds. The removal rates for 4‐NP, NPEO1, and NPEO2 within the plants were 92% for plant A, with conventional activated sludge treatment; 80% for plant B, with two oxidation ditches; 70% for plant C, with three bioreactors; and 64% for plant D, with 10 lagoons in series. Comparatively, the removal of estrogens was lower, with rates ranging between 47 and 68% for E2 at the four plants. Both E1 and EE2 were more persistent during treatment, especially in plants C and D.
Ultrastructural Changes in Rat’s Atrial Cardiomyocytes After Short Term Administration of Amiodarone and Possible Protective Role of Vitamin E

Background Amiodarone chlorhydrate is a diiodated benzofuran derivative used to treat a variety of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. The use of amiodarone is associated with ultrastructural changes affecting body tissues, but its effect on the ultrastructure of the heart has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods The aim of this study is to test the adverse effects of amiodarone administration on cardiomyocytes and to study the possible protective role of vitamin E co-administration. A total of 18 adult male albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided randomly into three groups of 6 rats each as follows: group I was considered the control group and was given vegetable oil; group II received 54 mg/kg of oral amiodarone; and group III received a single dose of combined vitamin E (50 mg/kg) and amiodarone (54 mg/kg). After 2 weeks, the rats were sacrificed, and the atrial tissues were harvested and processed for electron microscopic study. Results Administration of amiodarone alone modified the atrial architecture, which was demonstrated by the following: mitochondrial enlargement and cristae lysis; marked heterogeneity of myofibril patterns with partial necrosis and disintegration of myofilaments; and irregularities of the sarcomere and less concentration of atrionatriuretic factor (ANF) granules, which localised in closed proximity to the nucleus with disrupted chromatin contents. Concomitant administration of vitamin E with amiodarone showed a considerable preservation of the atrial architecture. Conclusions Oral administration of amiodarone in rats resulted in ultrastructural changes in atria, which can be attenuated by vitamin E co-administration.
Shocked Self-similar Collapses and Flows in Star Formation Processes

We propose self-similar shocked flow models for certain dynamical evolution phases of young stellar objects, "champagne flows" of H II regions surrounding OB stars, and shaping processes of planetary nebulae. We analyze an isothermal fluid of spherical symmetry and construct families of self-similar shocked flow solutions that feature (1) either a core expansion with a finite central density or a core accretion at a constant rate with a density scaling proportional to r-3/2 (a free-fall state); (2) a shock moving outward at a constant speed (a wind, a breeze, or an accretion flow); and (3) a preshock gas approaching a constant speed at large r with a density scaling proportional to r-2. In addition to testing numerical codes, our models can accommodate diverse shocked flows with or without a core collapse or outflow and with or without an envelope expansion or contraction. As an application, we introduce our model analysis to observations of Bok globule B335.
Taste Changes in Vitamin A Deficiency

Taste preferences were studied in two groups of rats depleted of vitamin A by dietary restriction. One group received sufficient vitamin A acid supplement to maintain normal growth. The other group was repleted with vitamin A alcohol after the classical deficiency symptoms had appeared; this group gradually lost normal preferences for NaCl and aversion to quinine solutions during depletion. Vitamin A alcohol repletion tended to restore taste preferences to normal. In contrast, the group receiving vitamin A acid showed normal taste preferences throughout the depletion period. When the vitamin A acid supplement was removed taste preferences became abnormal and returned to normal when vitamin A acid was restored. Peripheral gustatory neural activity of depleted rats without any form of vitamin A was less than normal both at rest and when the tongue was stimulated with NaCl solutions. Histological examination showed keratin infiltrating the pores of the taste buds. Accessory glandular tissues were atrophied and debris filled the trenches of the papillae. It is concluded that vitamin A acid can provide the vitamin A required for normal taste, as contrasted with its inability to maintain visual function. It is suggested that the effect of vitamin A is exerted at the receptor level, as a result of its role in the biosynthesis of mucopolysaccharides, which have been recently identified in the pore area of taste buds, as well as being present in the various secretions of the oral cavity.
Numerical Analysis: A fast fourier transform algorithm for real-valued series

A new procedure is presented for calculating the complex, discrete Fourier transform of real-valued time series. This procedure is described for an example where the number of points in the series is an integral power of two. This algorithm preserves the order and symmetry of the Cooley-Tukey fast Fourier transform algorithm while effecting the two-to-one reduction in computation and storage which can be achieved when the series is real. Also discussed are hardware and software implementations of the algorithm which perform only (<italic>N</italic>/4) log<subscrpt>2</subscrpt> (<italic>N</italic>/2) complex multiply and add operations, and which require only <italic>N</italic> real storage locations in analyzing each <italic>N</italic>-point record. <
Large-Scale Information Flow in Conscious and Unconscious States: an ECoG Study in Monkeys

Consciousness is an emergent property of the complex brain network. In order to understand how consciousness is constructed, neural interactions within this network must be elucidated. Previous studies have shown that specific neural interactions between the thalamus and frontoparietal cortices; frontal and parietal cortices; and parietal and temporal cortices are correlated with levels of consciousness. However, due to technical limitations, the network underlying consciousness has not been investigated in terms of large-scale interactions with high temporal and spectral resolution. In this study, we recorded neural activity with dense electrocorticogram (ECoG) arrays and used the spectral Granger causality to generate a more comprehensive network that relates to consciousness in monkeys. We found that neural interactions were significantly different between conscious and unconscious states in all combinations of cortical region pairs. Furthermore, the difference in neural interactions between conscious and unconscious states could be represented in 4 frequency-specific large-scale networks with unique interaction patterns: 2 networks were related to consciousness and showed peaks in alpha and beta bands, while the other 2 networks were related to unconsciousness and showed peaks in theta and gamma bands. Moreover, networks in the unconscious state were shared amongst 3 different unconscious conditions, which were induced either by ketamine and medetomidine, propofol, or sleep. Our results provide a novel picture that the difference between conscious and unconscious states is characterized by a switch in frequency-specific modes of large-scale communications across the entire cortex, rather than the cessation of interactions between specific cortical regions.
College students’ attitudes towards sexually themed science content: a socioscientific issues approach to resolution

ABSTRACT A socioscientific issues integrated instruction was used in the study to resolve college students attitude towards sexually-themed science content. Some 200 college students participated in the study as experimental and control groups. The former consisting of 98 students from one college was taught the content using the socioscientific issues integrated instruction. The later with 102 students from another college was taught the same content using a traditionally teacher dominated lectures. Both groups were taught over a period of eight weeks. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained before and after the intervention. The quantitative data were analysed using analysis of covariance. The results revealed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and the control groups (F (1, 247) = 426.97, p = . 00, partial eta squared = 0.64) where the experimental group showed a significant change in attitude towards the content studied. The qualitative data obtained some experimental group students showed a change in attitude the second interview. It was concluded that the use of the approach has significantly made the college students feel comfortable and confident to learn and teach the content.
The compact structure of radio-loud broad absorption line quasars

We present the results of EVN+MERLIN very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) polarization observations of eight broad absorption line (BAL) quasars at 1.6 GHz, including four low-ionization BAL quasars (LoBALs) and four high-ionization BAL quasars (HiBALs) with either steep or flat spectra on Very Large Array (VLA) scales. Only one steep-spectrum source, J1122+3124, shows two-sided structure on the scale of 2 kpc. The other four steep-spectrum sources and three flat-spectrum sources display either an unresolved image or a core–jet structure on scales of less than 300 pc. In all cases, the marginally resolved core is the dominant radio component. Linear polarization in the cores has been detected in the range of a few to 10 per cent. Polarization, together with high brightness temperatures (from 2 × 10 9 to 5 × 10 10 K), suggests a synchrotron origin for the radio emission. There is no apparent difference in the radio morphologies or polarization between low-ionization and high-ionization BAL quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) or between flat- and steep-spectrum sources. We discuss the orientation of BAL QSOs with both flat and steep spectra, and consider a possible evolutionary scenario for BAL QSOs. In this scenario, BAL QSOs are probably a young population of radio sources that are compact steep spectrum or GHz peaked radio source analogues at the low end of radio power.
Industry-specific effect of CSR initiatives: hotels and airlines

Purpose – This study aims to examine the relationships between a firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and its performance and risk. The authors hypothesize that industry-level effects are highly determinant of the sign and magnitude of these relationships to establish a ranking of industries to identify the position of the most prominent tourism-related industries: hotels and airlines. Based on the cybernetic model of decision making and the heuristics thereof, shareholders base their investment decisions derived from CSR announcements on the idea that the industries behave differently; their fixed costs being a relevant factor. Design/methodology/approach – The authors estimate the industry-specific effects of CSR initiatives on firms' performance and risk using a sample of 583 announcements from the Spanish Stock Market. Findings – The results show that while CSR announcements have a positive effect on performance when the authors do not account for industry-specific factors, once the.
Association between Severe Dehydration in Rotavirus Diarrhea and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Infants at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia

Background. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute diarrhea in children. Infants who are exclusively breastfed develop fewer infections and have less severe illnesses. This study aimed to determine association between severe dehydration in rotavirus diarrhea and exclusive breastfeeding. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study in infants ≤ 6 months old with acute diarrhea in Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia. Results. From 134 infants ≤ 6 months old with acute diarrhea enrolled from April 2009 to December 2012, there were 88 (65.6%) boys and 46 (34.4%) girls in this study. Rotavirus was detected in 60 (44.8 %), 32 (53.3%) of whom were exclusively breastfed. From rotavirus positive subjects, severe dehydration occurred in 4 (12.6%) exclusively breastfed infants and 6 (21.5%) not exclusively breastfed infants. No significant association was found between severe dehydration and exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.491) in rotavirus diarrhea. Conclusions. In rotavirus diarrhea, there was no significant association between exclusive breastfeeding and severe dehydration.
A Facile Synthesis of (Z)-2-((5-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl) amino) Substituted Acid Using Microwave Irradiation and Conventional Method

A new effective approach to the synthesis of some new (Z)-2-((5-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-4,5- dihydrothiazol-2-yl)amino) substituted acid 6a-l is reported under microwave irradiation as well as conventional conditions.
Review of delivery strategies for insecticide treated mosquito nets: are we ready for the next phase of malaria control efforts?

Methods We searched PudMed, EMBASE, Popline, BIDS, African Journals Online, and SciELO using a board list of search terms to identify studies on bed nets. Additional searches were conducted in Google and through reference tracking. The net distribution mechanisms in the included studies were categorized using an open system of six characteristics with the distribution channel serving as the primary descriptive element. Studies were then further evaluated on net coverage, equity and cost per net delivered.
Comparison of transmission schemes for framed ALOHA based RFID protocols

The performance of RFID anti-collision protocols that are based on framed ALOHA depends on a transmission scheme that controls access to the shared channel. In this paper, we outline the characteristics of the RFID domain that impact the performance of such transmission schemes and compare four different transmission strategies. A novel technique introduced in this paper that recursively estimates the backlog on a slot-by-slot basis exhibits a superior performance in our simulations. The results also illustrate that our implementation of the Q algorithm proposed in (EPCglobal, 2005) only performs well, if the frame size changes are restricted to incremental updates
Laser Imaging Techniques for Follow-up Analysis of Joint Inflammation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most frequent chronic inflammatory arthropathy that often leads to joint destruction. Essential for the progress of the disease are both an early diagnosis and a sensitive follow-up of synovitis. In this paper, we present new laser based imaging techniques for the transillumination of small finger joints. The “Laserscan” technique allows the transillumination of small finger joints using red laser light with a wavelength of 675nm. The laser is positioned above the finger joint and a CCD camera detects the scattering distribution below the joint. After processing the data through a statistical machine learning method, we could show in a preliminary clinical study that it was possible to correctly classify the inflammatory status of 62 of 72 joints from 22 patients with RA compared to precise clinical examination. Sagittal optical tomography is a further development of “Laserscan”. In this technique, a red laser is moved in sagittal plane above the proximal interphalangeal finger joint while a detector underneath the joint measures the scattered light distribution in the same plane. Using model-based iterative image reconstruction algorithms, sagittal cross-sectional images are obtained based on the acquired data. These images reflect the distribution of scattering and absorption properties within and around the joint cavity of a first healthy volunteer.