Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Porcine Islet Isolation to Markedly Reduce Enzyme Consumption Without Sacrificing Islet Yield or Function

Background Human allogeneic islet transplantation for treatment of type 1 diabetes provides numerous clinical benefits, such as fewer episodes of hypoglycemic unawareness and tighter control of blood glucose levels. Availability of human pancreas for clinical and research use, however, is severely limited. Porcine pancreas offers an abundant source of tissue for optimization of islet isolation methodology and future clinical transplantation, thereby increasing patient access to this potentially lifesaving procedure. Methods Porcine islet isolations were performed using varying amounts of collagenase (7.5, 3.75, or 2.5 Wunsch units per gram tissue) and neutral protease activity (12 000, 6000, or 4000 neutral protease units per gram tissue) and perfusion volumes (1.7 or 0.85 mL/g tissue) to assess their effects on isolation outcomes. Retention of dissociative enzymes within the pancreas during perfusion and digestion was evaluated, along with distribution of the perfusion solution within the tissue. Results Reducing enzyme usage by as much as 67% and perfusion volume by 50% led to equally successful islet isolation outcomes when compared with the control group (48 ± 7% of tissue digested and 1088 ± 299 islet equivalents per gram of pancreas vs 47 ± 11% and 1080 ± 512, respectively). Using margin-marking dye in the perfusion solution to visualize enzyme distribution demonstrated that increasing perfusion volume did not improve tissue infiltration. Conclusions Current protocols for porcine islet isolation consume excessive amounts of dissociative enzymes, elevating cost and limiting research and development. These data demonstrate that islet isolation protocols can be optimized to significantly reduce enzyme usage while maintaining yield and function and thus accelerating progress toward clinical application.
A Causal-Comparative Study on the Effects of Prekindergarten on Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) Social Foundation Scores

A student’s educational development is brought on through learning experiences and lessons that enhance school readiness and set the tone for the remainder of that student’s life. School readiness begins with attendance in a preschool environment. Although not mandatory, the educational journey can begin in prekindergarten where children are exposed to a variety of lessons and experiences that enhance literacy, social, math, and physical skills. This study examined the impact that prekindergarten had on the social and behavior skills, also known as social foundations using a causal-comparative design. Specifically, this study determined if there was a difference among the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) social foundation scores of students who attend prekindergarten programs compared to students who do not attend prekindergarten programs. This study included KRA scores from kindergarteners enrolled in a school district in Maryland during the 2016-2017. For the 2016-2017 school year, the study assessed 213 students using KRA. From that population, 70 samples were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test. Based on the test, there were significant differences among the KRA social foundation scores of kindergarten students who attended Head Start, school-based prekindergarten, private preschool, or no prekindergarten program. This study was important since it addressed students’ social development at the beginning of their educational career in different learning environments. Additionally, it provided information on the development of the whole child.
TDP-43-Positive White Matter Pathology in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration With Ubiquitin-Positive Inclusions

TDP-43 was recently identified as the major disease protein in neuronal inclusions in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-U). TDP-43 is not only linked to disease mechanisms in FTLD-U, but it is also the most robust marker for the specific detection of neuronal inclusions in FTLD-U. In this study, we describe additional TDP-43 pathology in the white matter as a characteristic feature in a series of 38 FTLD-U cases including 3 cases with mutations in the progranulin gene. White matter pathology was most abundant in frontal and temporal lobes, but it was also detectable in brainstem and spinal cord. Based on morphology and double-labeling experiments, white matter cells with TDP-43-positive inclusions most likely represent oligodendrocytes. Biochemically, hyperphosphorylated and truncated TDP-43 was detectable in insoluble brain extracts from affected white matter regions in FTLD-U, similar to the biochemical signature observed in FTLD-U gray matter. Taken together, these results expand the spectrum of TDP-43 pathology in FTLD-U, suggesting that white matter pathology might contribute to the neurodegenerative process and clinical symptoms in FTLD-U.
Circulating Omentin-1 Levels Are Decreased in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients with Overt Heart Failure

Background. Recent evidence demonstrated that the circulating levels of omentin-1 are related to the presence of ischemic heart disease and heart failure. However, omentin-1 plasma levels in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is the most common etiology of heart failure, have yet to be investigated. Methods. Plasma levels of omentin-1 and adiponectin were measured in 100 patients with DCM and 45 healthy controls. Results. Plasma omentin-1 levels significantly decreased in DCM patients compared with the control group, whereas adiponectin levels significantly increased in DCM patients compared with the control group. Plasma omentin-1 levels were negatively correlated with adiponectin (R = −0.376, P = 0.005), C-reactive protein (CRP) (R = −0.320, P = 0.001), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (R = −0.365, P = 0.000) levels as well as left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) (R = −0.200, P = 0.046) but were positively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (R = 0.496, P = 0.000). Plasma adiponectin levels were positively correlated with CRP (R = 0.273, P = 0.006) and NT-proBNP (R = 0.329, P = 0.001) levels but were negatively correlated with fasting glucose (R = −0.218, P = 0.029) and LVEF (R = −0.615, P = 0.000) levels. Furthermore, omentin-1 (OR 0.983, 95% CI 0.970 to 0.996; P = 0.008) levels were independently associated with the presence of DCM before NT-proBNP was added. Conclusions. Omentin-1 is a novel biomarker of DCM.
Attitudes to Learner Autonomy and Learning Strategies in Algerian EFL Context

Our research explored attitudes to learner autonomy, learning strategies, and language achievement among 82 Algerian EFL learners. Descriptive findings demonstrated learners' positive attitudes to learner autonomy and substantial use of strategies, with most preference for cognitive and metacognitive strategies and least preference for social strategies. Correlational analysis of attitudinal data showed significant relationships among perceptions of self-efficacy, self-initiated learning efforts, and learner’s agency with language achievement. Equally, metacognitive strategies and strategies for perseverant learning correlated significantly with learners’ achievement. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in learners' attitudes and strategies across achievement, with high achievers showing significantly stronger positive perceptions of self-efficacy, attitudes to learner's role, perceptions of self-initiated learning, higher use of metacognitive strategies, and strategies for perseverant learning. Collectively, attitudes and strategies explained 39% of the variation in learners' achievement, with strategies for perseverant learning and social strategies as significant predictors. The research discusses the relevance of attitudes and learning strategies in language education research and the probable jeopardising effects of exam-orientated pedagogy within the educational system.
An Ultrastructural and Immunohistochemical Analysis of the Outer Plexiform Layer of the Retina of the European Silver Eel (Anguilla anguilla L)

Here we studied the ultrastructural organization of the outer retina of the European silver eel, a highly valued commercial fish species. The retina of the European eel has an organization very similar to most vertebrates. It contains both rod and cone photoreceptors. Rods are abundantly present and immunoreactive for rhodopsin. Cones are sparsely present and only show immunoreactivity for M-opsin and not for L-, S- or UV-cone opsins. As in all other vertebrate retinas, Müller cells span the width of the retina. OFF-bipolar cells express the ionotropic glutamate receptor GluR4 and ON-bipolar cells, as identified by their PKCα immunoreactivity, express the metabotropic receptor mGluR6. Both the ON- and the OFF-bipolar cell dendrites innervate the cone pedicle and rod spherule. Horizontal cells are surrounded by punctate Cx53.8 immunoreactivity indicating that the horizontal cells are strongly electrically coupled by gap-junctions. Connexin-hemichannels were found at the tips of the horizontal cell dendrites invaginating the photoreceptor synapse. Such hemichannels are implicated in the feedback pathway from horizontal cells to cones. Finally, horizontal cells are surrounded by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity, illustrating a strong dopaminergic input from interplexiform cells.
Liberation Technology: Mobile Phones and Political Mobilization in Africa

Can digital information and communication technology foster mass political mobilization? We use a novel georeferenced data set for the entire African continent between 1998 and 2012 on the coverage of mobile phone signal together with georeferenced data from multiple sources on the occurrence of protests and on individual participation in protests to bring this argument to empirical scrutiny. We find that while mobile phones are instrumental to mass mobilization, this only happens during economic downturns, when reasons for grievance emerge and the cost of participation falls. The results are in line with insights from a network model with imperfect information and strategic complementarities in protest occurrence. Mobile phones make individuals more responsive to both changes in economic conditions—a mechanism that we ascribe toenhanced information—and to their neighbors' participation—a mechanism that we ascribe toenhanced coordination.
Project Title: a Module for Noaa's Gnome Model to Provide Capability to Simulate Deepwater Oil and Gas Spills

CDOG (Clarkson Deepwater Oil and Gas) model simulates the behavior of oil and gas released from deepwater. The model integrates the hydrodynamics of the jet/plume, the thermodynamics, and the hydrate formation and decomposition. CDOG simulates both the dynamics of the jet/plume phase and the farfield conditions during the rise of oil/gas/hydrates through the water column. CDOG allows gas/hydrates to separate from the main plume if there are strong cross currents. Despite the comprehensive nature of CDOG, it is designed to simulate the oil and gas behavior only until they reach the water surface. CDOG at present does not include weathering processes once oil starts floating on the water surface. No Graphic User Interface (GUI) or data visualization were included in the original CDOG design. GNOME (General NOAA Oil Modeling Environment) is the trajectory model developed and used by NOAA for spill response. GNOME has several user “modes” to allow users of different levels of sophistication to setup and use the model. GNOME is designed to be flexible; allowing the model to use circulation fields from a number of different models in different formats, and includes a number of diagnostic tools. This paper reports the integration of CDOG with GNOME so that users can run CDOG using a GUI and then easily transition to running GNOME for the surface trajectories. This integration allows the users to run complete scenarios – the types that are required in comprehensive contingency planning.
Quantum oscillations in iron-doped single crystals of the topological insulator 
Sb2Te3

We investigated the magnetotransport properties of Fe-doped topological insulator $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{b}}_{1.96}\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{0.04}\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_{3}$ single crystals. With doping, the band structure changes significantly and multiple Fermi pockets become evident in the Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations, in contrast to the single frequency detected for pure $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{b}}_{2}\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_{3}$. Using complementary density functional theory calculations, we identify an additional bulk hole pocket introduced at the \ensuremath{\Gamma} point which originates from the chemical distortion associated with the Fe dopant. Experimentally, both doped and undoped samples are hole-carrier dominated; however, Fe doping also reduces the carrier density and mobility. The angle dependent quantum oscillations of $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{b}}_{1.96}\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{0.04}\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{e}}_{3}$ were analyzed to characterize the complex Fermi surface and isolate the dimensionality of each SdH feature. Among those components, we found two oscillations frequencies, which related to two Fermi pockets are highly angle dependent. Moreover, the fermiology changes via Fe doping and may also provide a different Berry phase, as demonstrated by the Landau fan diagram, thus indicating a rich complexity in the underlying electronic structure.
Brain Control of Movement Execution Onset Using Local Field Potentials in Posterior Parietal Cortex

The precise control of movement execution onset is essential for safe and autonomous cortical motor prosthetics. A recent study from the parietal reach region (PRR) suggested that the local field potentials (LFPs) in this area might be useful for decoding execution time information because of the striking difference in the LFP spectrum between the plan and execution states (Scherberger et al., 2005). More specifically, the LFP power in the 0–10 Hz band sharply rises while the power in the 20–40 Hz band falls as the state transitions from plan to execution. However, a change of visual stimulus immediately preceded reach onset, raising the possibility that the observed spectral change reflected the visual event instead of the reach onset. Here, we tested this possibility and found that the LFP spectrum change was still time locked to the movement onset in the absence of a visual event in self-paced reaches. Furthermore, we successfully trained the macaque subjects to use the LFP spectrum change as a “go” signal in a closed-loop brain-control task in which the animals only modulated the LFP and did not execute a reach. The execution onset was signaled by the change in the LFP spectrum while the target position of the cursor was controlled by the spike firing rates recorded from the same site. The results corroborate that the LFP spectrum change in PRR is a robust indicator for the movement onset and can be used for control of execution onset in a cortical prosthesis.
Functional sex differences in the accessory olfactory bulb of the rat

The aim of this study is to determine whether sex-related differences exist in the biosynthetic activity of the mitral cells within the mitral layer of the AOB. Possible functional changes over the estrus cycle and the potential effects of castration and androgenization are assessed. Biosynthetic activity was measured using silver staining of the argyrophilic proteins associated with the nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NOR). Assisted by stereological methods, the following parameters were studied: mean number, percentage and mean area of Ag-NOR in estrus and diestrus females, intact males, castrated and androgenizated rats. We detected sex differences in a histochemical marker related to synthetic activity, an estrus cycle effect and changes resulting from the perinatal treatments. We conclude that this structurally dimorphic region is also functionally dimorphic.
Per-thread cycle accounting in multicore processors

While multicore processors improve overall chip throughput and hardware utilization, resource sharing among the cores leads to unpredictable performance for the individual threads running on a multicore processor. Unpredictable per-thread performance becomes a problem when considered in the context of multicore scheduling: system software assumes that all threads make equal progress, however, this is not what the hardware provides. This may lead to problems at the system level such as missed deadlines, reduced quality-of-service, non-satisfied service-level agreements, unbalanced parallel performance, priority inversion, unpredictable interactive performance, etc. This article proposes a hardware-efficient per-thread cycle accounting architecture for multicore processors. The counter architecture tracks per-thread progress in a multicore processor, detects how inter-thread interference affects per-thread performance, and predicts the execution time for each thread if run in isolation. The counter architecture captures the effects of additional conflict misses due to cache sharing as well as increased latency for other memory accesses due to resource and bandwidth contention in the memory subsystem. The proposed method accounts for 74.3% of the interference cycles, and estimates per-thread progress within 14.2% on average across a large set of multi-program workloads. Hardware cost is limited to 7.44KB for an 8-core processor, a reduction by almost 10× compared to prior work while being 63.8% more accurate. Making system software progress aware improves fairness by 22.5% on average over progress-agnostic scheduling.
Intention to Use Internet Banking: Differences Between Users and Non Users and the Moderating Role of Felt Want

With the rapid developments in the field of Information and communication Technologies, internet banking has become a popular banking channel worldwide. This study examines the factors influencing the bank customers’ intentions to adopt and use internet banking. The review of literature relating to the factors influencing the adoption and use of internet banking indicates that there are numerous studies that have tried to identify the factors affecting the adoption and use and non adoption of internet banking, however limited research shows how the moderator variables influence the relationship between intention and the factors influencing intention. Also there is limited study conducted on the extensive comparison between the factors influencing the behaviour of the users and non users of internet banking. Hence, the present study provides additional insights into this issue.
Modelling of human motor control in an unstable task through operational space formulation

Human motor control computational model is an important component in the study and the successful realisation of human-robot interaction. In this paper, the Operational Space Formulation is presented as a suitable framework of human motor control computational model based on the Equilibrium Point Hypothesis (EPH) approach. The iterative adaptive control strategy was incorporated to simulate human motor adaptation to different tasks. The strategy involves the use of an Equilibrium Model which represents the ideal human motor response to a given task. The combined strategy was simulated to match a set of data gathered experimentally from several human subjects. The results were observed to explain many of the features found in the recorded behaviours in the EPH-based approach of human motor modelling.
Robust Routing with Unknown Traffic Matrices

In this paper, we present an algorithm for intra-domain traffic engineering. We assume that the traffic matrix, which specifies traffic load between every source-destination pair in the network, is unknown and varies with time, but that always lies inside an explicitly defined region. Our goal is to compute a fixed robust routing with best worst case performance for all traffic matrices inside the bounding region. We formulate this problem as a semi-infinite programming problem. Then, we focus on a special case with practical merits, where (1) the traffic matrix region is assumed to be a polytope specified by a finite set of linear inequalities, and (2) our objective is to find the routing that minimizes the maximum link utilization. Under these assumptions, the problem can be formulated as a polynomial size linear programming (LP) problem with finite number of constraints. We further consider two specific set of constraints for the traffic matrix region. The first set is based on the hose model and limits the total traffic rate of network point of presence (PoP) nodes. The second set is based on the pipe model and limits the traffic between source-destination pairs. We study the effectiveness of each set of constraints using extensive simulations.
Interpersonal skills and Facebook use among college students

The use of Facebook® among college students is prevalent, and its relationship with interpersonal skills is unknown. A cross-sectional design study using a convenience sample of undergraduate students enrolled in one of four sections of an upper-level nutrition course at a Northeastern, public university was conducted to investigate this relationship. Participants completed a paper survey containing items that assessed interpersonal skills, Facebook® use, and demographics. Data from 136 participants were analyzed to determine what, if any, relationship exists between Facebook® use and interpersonal skills. A statistically significant relationship was found between three pairs of variables: the Bergen Facebook® Addiction Scale total scores and a communication subscale, r(127) = -. 29, p <. 01; the Bergen Facebook® Addiction Scale total scores and a conflict resolution subscale, r(127) = -. 34, p <. 01; and the Bergen Facebook® Addiction Scale total scores and a total Interpersonal Skills Scale, r(127) = -. 25, p <. 01. Given the inverse relationship of these variables, health educators may need to emphasize interpersonal skills to a greater extent than in the past; however, further research investigating Facebook® use and interpersonal skills should be conducted to better understand this relationship and determine whether or not it is a causal relationship.
Rereplication in emi1-Deficient Zebrafish Embryos Occurs through a Cdh1-Mediated Pathway

Disruption of early mitotic inhibitor 1 (Emi1) interferes with normal cell cycle progression and results in early embryonic lethality in vertebrates. During S and G2 phases the ubiquitin ligase complex APC/C is inhibited by Emi1 protein, thereby enabling the accumulation of Cyclins A and B so they can regulate replication and promote the transition from G2 phase to mitosis, respectively. Depletion of Emi1 prevents mitotic entry and causes rereplication and an increase in cell size. In this study, we show that the developmental and cell cycle defects caused by inactivation of zebrafish emi1 are due to inappropriate activation of APC/C through its cofactor Cdh1. Inhibiting/slowing progression into S-phase by depleting Cdt1, an essential replication licensing factor, partially rescued emi1 deficiency-induced rereplication and the increased cell size. The cell size effect was enhanced by co-depletion of cell survival regulator p53. These data suggest that the increased size of emi1-deficient cells is either directly or indirectly caused by the rereplication defects. Moreover, enforced expression of Cyclin A partially ablated the rereplicating population in emi1-deficient zebrafish embryos, consistent with the role of Cyclin A in origin licensing. Forced expression of Cyclin B partially restored the G1 population, in agreement with the established role of Cyclin B in mitotic progression and exit. However, expression of Cyclin B also partially inhibited rereplication in emi1-deficient embryos, suggesting a role for Cyclin B in regulating replication in this cellular context. As Cyclin A and B are substrates for APC/C-Cdh1 - mediated degradation, and Cdt1 is under control of Cyclin A, these data indicate that emi1 deficiency-induced defects in vivo are due to the dysregulation of an APC/C-Cdh1 molecular axis.