Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene transduction into murine primitive hematopoietic cells with 2‐gene retroviral vectors using a Transwell coculture system

The present study aims at expressing a reporter gene in hematopoietic cells in vivo by introducing it into primitive hematopoietic cells with a 2‐gene retroviral vector. Various constructs of retroviral vectors containing the human IL‐2 receptor α chain gene (TAC) as the reporter and the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo) as a selectable marker were engineered, and the effectiveness of these vectors for expression of the reporter gene was evaluated after transfection into the packaging cell line GP+E86. It was found that the highest levels of reporter gene expression were attained with constructs ordered 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR)‐TAC‐internal promoterneo‐3′ LTR. In experiments investigating the expression of a reporter gene in hematopoietic cells, we used the Escherichia coli β‐galactosidase gene (lacZ) instead of TAC, because a very sensitive detection method was available for lacZ. For transduction of hematopoietic progenitors, packaging cell lines producing recombinant viruses were cultured in a Transwell hung into a Dexter‐type bone marrow (BM) culture. The BM cells were selected with G418, and transferred into irradiated recipient mice. LacZ enzyme activity was detectable in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of recipients taken 8 wk after reconstitution.
Size-structured planktonic ecosystems: constraints, controls and assembly instructions

Here we present a nutrient–phytoplankton–zooplankton (NPZ) model that has arbitrary size-resolution within the phytoplankton- and zooplankton-state variables. The model assumes allometric scaling of biological parameters. This particular version of the model (herbivorous zooplankton only) has analytical solutions that allow efficient exploration of the effects of allometric dependencies of various biological processes on the model's equilibrium solutions. The model shows that there are constraints on the possible combinations of allometric scalings of the biological rates that will allow ecosystems to be structured as we observe (larger organisms added as the total biomass increases). The diversity (number of size classes occupied) of the ecosystem is the result of simultaneous bottom-up and top-down control: resources determine which classes can exist; predation determines which classes do exist. Thus, the simultaneous actions of bottom-up and top-down controls are essential for maintaining and structuring planktonic ecosystems. One important conclusion from this model is that there are multiple, independent ways of obtaining any given biomass spectrum, and that the spectral slope is not, in and of itself, very informative concerning the underlying dynamics. There is a clear need for improved size-resolved field measurements of biological rates; these will both elucidate biological processes in the field, and allow strong testing of size-structured models of planktonic ecosystems.
The illness experience

Individuals living with chronic illness have to modify or adapt previous behaviours and roles to accommodate the chronicity of their condition. Societal expectations, their own expectations, and their health status all influence illness behaviour. This chapter provides an overview of the illness experience and corresponding behaviour demonstrated by those with chronic illness. It presents a sociological view of illness rather than a medical view. It is not meant to be a comprehensive review of the entire body of knowledge, which is vast. Chronic disease involves not only the physical body, but it also affects one’s relationships, self-image, and behaviour. The social aspects of disease may be related to the pathophysiological changes that are occurring but may be independent of them as well. The very act of diagnosing a condition as an illness has consequences far beyond the pathology involved (Conrad, 2005). Freidson (1970) discussed this more than 40 years ago in his writings about the meaning that is ascribed to a diagnosis by an individual. Commonly, healthcare providers are educated in the medical model and understand its applicability and use in practice. Clients enter a healthcare system with symptoms, which are then diagnosed based on pathological findings and as such are treated and/or cured with medical treatment. For acute disease this is the pattern. One is not concerned about the client’s illness behaviour associated with tonsillitis, a fractured leg, or appendicitis. An individual may be concerned the tonsillitis will return, the fractured leg may not heal normally, or there may be an adverse event associated with the appendectomy, but by and large these concerns pass quickly because of the acuteness of the event. Canada’s acute care–focused healthcare system acts on the pathology that is present, with the goal that an individual will fully recover from the condition and return to prior behaviours and roles. What happens however, when the recovery is incomplete or the illness continues or becomes chronic in nature? It is not merely pathology or a diagnosis anymore, and the individual and family develop their own meanings and perceptions of Chapter 3
Labor Market Structure and Offshoring

We consider a two‐country, two‐sector model in which a firm’s offshoring decision depends on labor market rigidities that impose additional costs on the firm. Firms endogenously choose their organizational form considering their productivity level and organizational costs. The costs generated by labor market frictions play a key role in determining the benefits of each organizational structure, and thus helps determine the conditions under which a firm decides to offshore. There are three different types of equilibria depending on the relative levels of the domestic and foreign labor market costs and the price of the intermediate input. In all equilibria, a relative rise in the domestic labor market cost increases the share of firms that offshore, while decreasing domestic integration. Furthermore, an economy with offshoring has a higher welfare level and a lower unemployment rate than it would under autarky.
Illumination variation for object using sparse non negative matrix factorization

Object detection is a challenging task in computer vision applications. It has various applications such as military, airport security, home security, access control, biometric identification etc. Object recognition and authentication plays an important role. Various factors that should be considered for any object recognition; among them is the variation in Illumination. Several troubles are created due to changing illumination in an uncontrolled environment. It is necessary to recognize and recover the information of the object under such circumstances. Object detection undergoes small variation due to illumination cause by deviation in environments Based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF)object detection is of greater efficiency and convenience when compared with other methods such as PCA, VQ. This paper shows how an object can be identified using Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) with illumination change.
Constructing and Object-Oriented Architecture for Web Application Testing

The variety of existing web application frameworks has lead to the development of a wide range of Web applications for both the Internet and intranets. Web applications are constructed based on various frameworks ranging from simple HTML-based forms to complicated distributed-object computations based on Java and CORBA. Web soft- ware enables programmers to choose a proper framework for their own Web applications. The prevalence of Web-based applications has also led to the need to adapt software testing frameworks and tools for them. This study presents a software testing architecture that integrates several common but enhanced testing tools as a sub-architecture to fit a common Web application framework. The architecture reuses several software patterns and architectures from traditional testing environments. A Web application testing envi- ronment prototype is also constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed ar- chitecture.
The human granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor receptor is capable of initiating signal transduction in NIH3T3 cells.

The ability of the receptor for the hematopoietic cytokine granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) to function in non‐hematopoietic cells is unknown. NIH3T3 fibroblasts were transfected with cDNAs encoding the alpha and beta subunit of the human GM‐CSF receptor and a series of stable transformants were isolated that bound GM‐CSF with either low (KD = 860 − > 1000 pM) or high affinity (KD = 20–80 pM). Low affinity receptors were not functional. However, the reconstituted high affinity receptors were found to be capable of activating a number of signal transduction pathways, including tyrosine kinase activity, phosphorylation of Raf‐1, and the transient induction of c‐fos and c‐myc mRNAs. The activation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation by GM‐CSF in NIH3T3 cells was rapid (< 1 min) and transient (peaking at 5–20 min) and resulted in the phosphorylation of proteins of estimated molecular weights of 42, 44, 52/53 and 58–60 kDa. Some of these proteins co‐migrated with proteins from myeloid cells that were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues in response to GM‐CSF. In particular, p42 and p44 were identified as mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAP kinases), and the phosphorylation on tyrosine residues of p42 and p44 MAP kinases occurred at the same time as the phosphorylation of Raf‐1. However, despite evidence for activation of many mitogenic signal transduction molecules, GM‐CSF did not induce significant proliferation of transfected NIH3T3 cells. These results suggest that murine fibroblasts contain signal transducing molecules that can effectively interact with the human GM‐CSF receptor, and that are sufficient to activate at least some of the same signal transduction pathways this receptor activates in myeloid cells, including activation of one or more tyrosine kinase(s). However, the level of activation of signal transduction is either below a threshold of necessary activity or at least one mitogenic signal necessary for proliferation is missing.
The experience and meaning of women’s extramarital affairs

A qualitative phenomenological paradigm was used to explore the phenomenon of clandestine heterosexual extramarital affairs for women in long-term relationships. Five women were recruited from two cities on Vancouver Island, B.C. During individual, in-depth, audiotaped, personal interviews, the women retrospectively described their experience of an extramarital affair (or affairs). Five common themes were extrapolated from the data using the seven-step model of data analysis outlined by Colaizzi (1978). The results indicated that in their long-term relationships, the women felt powerless, invalidated, and disconnected. They perceived themselves as having a sense of control and as feeling validated and connected in their affairs. The women felt shame and self-blame for having sexual and emotional needs. They felt guilty for engaging in an affair to fulfill these needs, for breaking a traditional code of behavior, and for the pleasure they experienced in their affairs. They experienced a sexual reawakening in their affairs which brought with it a clarity about themselves and their needs. The experience was felt to be healing and was also a catalyst for positive change for all of the women, although for some this positive change signaled the ending of their marital relationships.
Efficient and rapid isolation and purification of mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells

ABSTRACT The alveolar surface is covered by an epithelium composed of 2 main cell types: type I and type II cells. Alveolar type II (ATII) cells have a distinct morphology with apical microvilli and characteristic lamellar bodies, which are the intracellular storage form of pulmonary surfactant. ATII cells play an important role in innate immunity and produce and secrete pulmonary surfactant. They proliferate to restore the epithelium after damage to the more sensitive type I cells. We developed an efficient and rapid method to isolate and purify ATII cells from mice. Alveolar epithelial cells were dissociated in the murine lung with dispase and lung tissue was gently minced with a GentleMACS Dissociator. ATII cell purification was performed using negative depletion with CD45 MicroBeads and positive selection for the epithelial-cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) by magnetic labeling with Streptavidin MicroBeads in MACS LS columns. The purity of these cells as measured by flow cytometry was up to 92.1% and 91.1% for co-staining with Ep-CAM and cytokeratin and co-staining with Ep-CAM and SP-A, respectively. The resulting ATII cell population has a high purity, viability, and yield. The phenotype of isolated and cultured ATII cells was confirmed by electron micrographs, expression of surfactant proteins (SP-A, proSP-B, mature SP-B, proSP-C, SP-D), and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) by western blotting and immunocytofluorescence. This protocol is based on surface antigens and our data demonstrated that murine ATII cells can be rapidly isolated, efficiently purified, and effectively cultured.
A Non-Iterative Approach to Reconstruct Face Templates from Match Scores

Regeneration of biometric templates from match scores has security and privacy implications related to any biometric based authentication system. In this paper, we propose a novel non-iterative scheme to reconstruct face templates from match scores. We use an affine transformation of the images to approximate the behavior of the given face recognition system based on an independent set of face templates termed as "break-in" set. Selected templates from the "break-in" set are matched only once with the enrolled template of the target account and match scores are recorded. These scores are then embedded in the approximating affine space along with break-in set templates to compute the co-ordinates of the target template. The inverse transformation is used to reconstruct the original target template. We present the reconstruction of templates for three different face recognition algorithms: Bayesian intrapersonal/extrapersonal classifier, elastic bunch graph matching (EBGM) algorithm and baseline algorithm used in Face Recognition Grand Challenge (2005). We also report the initial result to break a user's account using the reconstructed template for Bayesian algorithm. Bayesian algorithm was set to operate at 0.1% false acceptance rate and 98% true acceptance rate with 100 enrollments. We observed that with proposed scheme, at most 600 attempts are required to achieve a 0.99 probability of break-in the Bayesian face recognition algorithm
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Main Problem Waiting for Solution in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterized by abnormalities in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Although various studies have been conducted in ASDs etiology across the world, it seems that they are still unknown in Middle East. Some scientific researches have been conducted on ASDs in Mid dle East (ME) especially in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A systematic literature review was performed to identify the ASDs studies in KSA. Accordingly , PubMed, ISI web of Science and Google were searched to find KSA and ME studies in ASDs. The main focus of this review work is to out line an im proved understanding of the underpinnings of ASD in order to achieve therapeutic interventions and we will discuss the main problem we waiting for solution with reference with role of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to modulate cortical activity improve understanding ASD. Keywords—Autism, Neurodevelopmental disorder.
Upward Max Min Fairness

Often one would like to allocate shared resources in a fair way. A common and well studied notion of fairness is Max-Min Fairness, where we first maximize the smallest allocation, and subject to that the second smallest, and so on. We consider a networking application where multiple commodities compete over the capacity of a network. In our setting each commodity has multiple possible paths to route its demand (for example, a network using MPLS tunneling). In this setting, the only known way of finding a max-min fair allocation requires an iterative solution of multiple linear programs. Such an approach, although polynomial time, scales badly with the size of the network, the number of demands, and the number of paths. More importantly, a network operator has limited control and understanding of the inner working of the algorithm. Finally, this approach is inherently centralized and cannot be implemented via a distributed protocol. In this paper we introduce Upward Max-Min Fairness, a novel relaxation of Max-Min Fairness and present a family of simple dynamics that converge to it. These dynamics can be implemented in a distributed manner. Moreover, we present an efficient combinatorial algorithm for finding an upward max-min fair allocation, which is a natural extension of the well known Water Filling Algorithm for a multiple path setting. We test the expected behavior of this new algorithm and show that on realistic networks upward max-min fair allocations are comparable to the max-min fair allocations both in fairness and in network utilization.
Behavioral activation revisited as a key principle of change in personality disorders psychotherapy.

Patients with personality disorders suffer not just as a result of the specific thoughts they have but also because of their maladaptive behavioral responses to life challenges. As a consequence, we contend that any treatment for personality disorders should include a component of behavioral activation. In addition to focusing on thoughts and feelings, clinicians should help patients plan, adopt, and then reflect upon new behaviors that are aimed at both overcoming dysfunctional coping strategies, such as avoidance, and reaching goals consistent with personal wishes and motives. In this paper, we discuss how principles of behavioral activation are part of, or are missing from, existing models of therapies for personality disorders. We then propose how behavioral activation can be adapted to the needs of patients with personality disorders, in particular, considering their difficulties in reflecting about mental states.
Languages across Borders: Social Network Development in an Adolescent Two-Way Language Program

Background/Context Two-way dual-language programs have become an increasingly popular educational model in the United States for language minority and majority speakers, with a small but growing number of programs at the high school level. Little is known, however, about how adolescents’ social networks develop in the contexts of these programs. Purpose/Objective This study examines how a two-way, dual language enrichment program for Spanish-language learner (SLL) and English-language learner (ELL) adolescents influenced students’ social networks with peers of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Setting The program took place in a south-Atlantic state at a suburban/rural high school that has substantial within-school linguistic segregation. Population/Participants Program participants included 20 students: 10 English-dominant learners of Spanish, and 10 Spanish-dominant learners of English. Intervention/Program The two-way dual-language program was a voluntary extracurricular program in which adolescent Spanish-dominant ELLs and English-dominant SLLs participated in collaborative and student-led bilingual activities designed to foster the sharing of cross-linguistic expertise and cross-cultural knowledge over a seven-month period. Research Design In this mixed-methods study, student-level Likert-scale data is analyzed quantitatively and supported through analysis of qualitative interview responses and observational field notes. Quantitative results compare ELL and SLL participants’ demographic and baseline social characteristics, before-and-after social networks, the changing nature of reported relationships over time as a function of language status, and magnitude of growth in relationships’ strength before and after the program. Qualitative results examine the qualities and conditions of these relationships and the conditions under which they developed. Findings/Results Results suggest that despite participants’ demographic differences, ELL and SLL students in the dual-language program reported building new, strengthened, and mutually recognized relationships, particularly with students of different language backgrounds who worked together within long-term collaborative small groups. Conclusions/Recommendations When students are provided with a carefully designed instructional and ecological context that provides authentic purposes for using language and building peer relationships, this research suggests that both ELLs and SLLs may be able to build linguistically integrated social networks.
Handwritten Numeral Recognition of Six Popular Indian Scripts

India is a multi-lingual multi-script country but there is not much work towards handwritten character recognition of Indian languages. In this paper we propose a modified quadratic classifier based scheme towards the recognition of off-line handwritten numerals of six popular Indian scripts. Here we consider Devnagari, Bangla, Telugu, Oriya, Kannada and Tamil scripts for our experiment. The features used in the classifier are obtained from the directional information of the numerals. For feature computation, the bounding box of a numeral is segmented into blocks and the directional features are computed in each of the blocks. These blocks are then down sampled by a Gaussian filter and the features obtained from the down sampled blocks are fed to a modified quadratic classifier for recognition. Here we have used two sets of feature. We have used 64 dimensional features for high-speed recognition and 400 dimensional features for high-accuracy recognition in our proposed system. A five-fold cross validation technique has been used for result computation and we obtained 99.56%, 98.99%, 99.37%, 98.40%, 98.71% and 98.51% accuracy from Devnagari, Bangla, Telugu, Oriya, Kannada, and Tamil scripts, respectively.