Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic changes and loss of N-CAM-mediated adhesion in transformed embryonic chicken retinal cells

Transformation of 6-d-old embryonic chicken retinal cells by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) was found to cause significant changes in several cellular properties including adhesiveness, motility, and state of differentiation. The alterations in cell adhesivity were analyzed by means of specific antibodies to the calcium-independent neural cell adhesion molecule, N-CAM. In the RSV-transformed cells the amount of N- CAM present at the cell surface was significantly decreased relative to normal cells, as assessed by immunofluorescent staining, specific immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting experiments. This decrease was reflected in a marked reduction in N-CAM-mediated adhesiveness measured in vitro. A different, calcium-dependent, adhesive system also present on neurons was not detectably altered by RSV transformation and, in contrast with previous studies on normal neurons, this adhesive system was detected without treatment by proteases. In culture, the transformed cells formed fewer and less compact colonies than the normal retinal cells. Observation of the RSV-transformed retinal cells by time-lapse cinematography confirmed the reduction in adhesiveness and also revealed that the transformed cells were more highly motile than their normal counterparts. In addition, RSV transformation appeared to alter the differentiation of the cultured retinal cells. Immunofluorescent staining studies indicated that in contrast to mature neurons, transformed neural retinal cells expressed the 34,000-mol-wt tyrosine kinase substrate and reduced amounts of a neuron-specific ganglioside recognized by monoclonal antibody A2B5. These characteristics are shared by untransformed glial cells. In double immunofluorescent staining experiments, many cells expressed both N-CAM and pp60src shortly after viral infection, which implies that the N-CAM- positive neuroepithelial cells were transformed by RSV. In addition, a highly purified population of N-CAM-positive neural retinal cells, selected using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter, was rapidly and extensively transformed by RSV at rates comparable to those of the unfractionated population. These results established that the transformed cells were largely derived from RSV-infected neuroepithelial cells rather than from a small population of retinal glial cells present in the primary culture. The findings suggest reconsideration of the possible origin of tumors classified by morphological criteria as derived from glia and raise the possibility that the normal homologue of pp60src may play a role in the commitment of neuroepithelial cells to neuronal or glial differentiation pathways.
Study of commonly used organophosphate pesticides that induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats

In a previous study, we have found that organophosphate (OP) pesticides such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), methyl parathion (MPT), and malathion (MLT) significantly induced genotoxicity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats. To explore the mechanism of OP-induced genotoxicity, we measured the formation of DNA interstrand cross-links (DICs) and apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats. Peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats were treated with CPF, MPT, and MLT individually and in combination at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.25 LC50 for 2, 4, 8, and 12 h at 37°C. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was measured as a biomarker of oxidative stress. Apoptosis induced by CPF, MPT, and MLT individually and in combination was determined by measuring the intracellular level of active caspase-3 and caspase-9 by spectrofluorimetry. We found significant dose- and time-dependent increases in LPO, DICs formation and increase of intracellular active caspase-3 and caspase-9 in exposed peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats. These findings suggest that the studied pesticides have potential to induce oxidative stress, cause DNA adduct formation, and cause failure of adduct repair, which leads to apoptosis that is partially mediated by activation of intracellular caspase-3 and caspase-9.
Management of a multiple-set synchronous island

The continuity of power supply can be improved by power system islanding. A possible solution, synchronous islanded operation, enables the islanded system to remain in phase with the main power system while not electrically connected, and so avoids out-of-synchronism re-closure. Specific consideration is required for the multiple-set scenario, and is the topic of this paper. A suitable island management system is proposed, with the emphasis being on maximum island flexibility by allowing passive islanding transitions to occur, facilitated by autonomous control. These transitions include: island detection, identification, fragmentation, merging and return-to-mains. It can be challenging to detect these transitions while maintaining synchronous islanded operation. A Mathworks SimPowerSystems simulation is used to investigate the performance of the island management system. However, return-to-mains is particularly difficult to detect, and so a method based on voltage phase angle variability is explored by using a laboratory demonstration and time stamped phasor measurements.
Smart Glasses: A semantic fisheye view on tiled user interfaces

With the evolution of mobile technology, many devices are introduced with very limited screen sizes like smart glasses. This technology must be accompanied with new visualization techniques. A classic interface can't meet the expectations of the user who becomes increasingly hard to please. The challenge is to display information and allow the user a better navigation with less effort especially in situation of mobility. This paper explores a fisheye view on tiled user interfaces for smart glasses that uses the semantic relationships of items of information contained in the tiles. We propose a reformulation of the degree of interest function and a semantic model for tiled interfaces that supports this reformulation. We developed a prototype to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach and to improve our design approach in our future work.
Inter-swarm resource allocation in BitTorrent communities

A considerable body of research shows that Bit-Torrent provides very efficient resource allocation inside single swarms. Many BitTorrent clients also allow users to participate in multiple swarms simultaneously, and implement inter-swarm resource-allocation mechanisms that are used by millions of people. However, resource allocation across multiple swarms in BitTorrent has received much less attention. In this paper, we investigate whether currently prevalent inter-swarm resource allocation mechanisms perform acceptably or call for improvements. We use data from two BitTorrent communities and present results from trace-based simulations. Two use-cases for allocation mechanisms drive our evaluation: (1) file-sharing communities, whose objective is maximizing throughput, and (2) video-streaming communities, whose objective is maximizing the number of users receiving sufficient resources for uninterrupted streaming. To put the results from the analyzed mechanisms into perspective, we devise theoretical efficiency bounds for inter-swarm resource allocation, for which we map the resource allocation problem to a graph-theoretical flow network problem. In this formalism, the goal of the file-sharing use-case, throughput maximization, is equivalent to maximizing the flow in the network. The goal of the video-streaming use-case translates into finding a max-min fair allocation for BitTorrent downloading sessions, a problem for which we devise a new algorithm.
Optimal auctions for correlated buyers with sampling

Crémer and McLean [1985] showed that, when buyers' valuations are drawn from a correlated distribution, an auction with full knowledge on the distribution can extract the full social surplus. We study whether this phenomenon persists when the auctioneer has only incomplete knowledge of the distribution, represented by a finite family of candidate distributions, and has sample access to the real distribution. We show that the naive approach which uses samples to distinguish candidate distributions may fail, whereas an extended version of the Crémer-McLean auction simultaneously extracts full social surplus under each candidate distribution. With an algebraic argument, we give a tight bound on the number of samples needed by this auction, which is the difference between the number of candidate distributions and the dimension of the linear space they span.
Improved Frame Mode Selection for AMR-WB+ Based on Decision Tree

In this letter, we propose a coding mode selection method for the AMR-WB+ audio coder based on a decision tree. In order to reduce computation while maintaining good performance, decision tree classifier is adopted with the closed loop mode selection results as the target classification labels. The size of the decision tree is controlled by pruning, so the proposed method does not increase the memory requirement significantly. Through an evaluation test on a database covering both speech and music materials, the proposed method is found to achieve a much better mode selection accuracy compared with the open loop mode selection module in the AMR-WB+.
When are no-take zones an economically optimal fishery management strategy?

Discussions on the use of marine reserves (no-take zones) and, more generally, spatial management of fisheries are, for the most part, devoid of analyses that consider the ecological and economic effects simultaneously. To fill this gap, we develop a two-patch ecological-economic model to investigate the effects of spatial management on fishery profits. Because the fishery effects of spatial management depend critically on the nature of the ecological connectivity, our model includes both juvenile and adult movement, with density dependence in settlement differentiating the two types of dispersal. Rather than imposing a reserve on our system and measuring its effect on profits, we ask: "When does setting catch levels to maximize system-wide profits imply that a reserve should be created? " Closing areas to fishing is an economically optimal solution when the value derived from spillover from the reserve outweighs the value of fishing in the patch. The condition, while simple to state in summary form, is complex to interpret because it depends on the settlement success of the dispersing organisms, the nature of the costs of the fishing, the economic and ecological heterogeneity of the system, the discount rate, and growth characteristics of the fish population. The condition is more likely to be satisfied when the closed area is a net exporter of biomass and has higher costs of fishing, and for fish populations with density-independent settlement ("adult movement") than with density-dependent settlement ("larval dispersal"). Rather surprisingly, there are circumstances whereby closing low biological productivity areas, and even sometimes low cost areas to fish, can result in greater fishing profits than when both areas are open to fishing.
Reconstructing sparse trigonometric functions

and one seeks to reconstruct a sparse signal from a small number of samples. The Chebyshev polynomial basis gives a recursive relation among trigonometric functions. In exact arithmetic, Lakshman and Saunders gave a sparse Chebyshev interpolation algorithm [7] that can be regarded as a generalization of the Ben-Or/Tiwari algorithm [1]. In a finite precision environment, a connection between the Ben-Or/Tiwari sparse interpolation and Prony’s classical method [9] was observed by Giesbrecht, Labahn, and Lee [4]. A reformulation of Prony’s method as a generalized eigenvalue problem [5] leads to a robust numerical sparse interpolation algorithm [4]. A generalized eigenvalue reformulation of sparse Chebyshev interpolation is presented in [3]. Based on Rutishauser’s qd-algorithm [10], an iterative algorithm for multivariate sparse polynomial interpolation, in the standard power basis, is developed [2]. This is due to a connection [8] between the generating polynomial computed via the Berlekamp/Massey algorithm in the BenOr/Tiwari sparse interpolation and the convergence of Hadamard polynomials, defined in terms of the determinants of the associated Hankel matrices and polynomials [6, p. 625], in the qd-algorithm. We extend such connection to trigonometric polynomials and the corresponding structured matrices and show how it is used for the reconstruction of a sparse trigonometric polynomial in the form p(x1, . . . , xn). Our trigonometric reconstruction leads to an iterative algorithm for sparse trigonometric interpolation. The Hankel-plus-Toeplitz matrix appearing in the sparse Chebyshev interpolation problem [7] and its generalized eigenvalue reformulation [3], can be factored as a structured matrix product. From the solution of the generalized eigenvalue problem the frequencies (θj1 , . . . , θjn) ∈ J1 and (φj1 , . . . , φjn) ∈ J2 are obtained. The numerical rank of the structured matrices is connected to the number of terms in p(x1, . . . , xn), in other words to the sparsity.
A cross-device spatial workspace supporting artifact-mediated collaboration in interaction design

In this paper we present our approach to support artifact-mediated collaboration in interaction design. We argue that the extensive number and the diversity of artifacts created and reflected upon during collaborative design activities as well as transitions between physical and digital representations impose both a challenge and opportunity for supporting interaction design practice. The design principles for our experimental tool that we introduce within this paper are based on a cross-device spatial workspace synchronized by a shared design artifact repository within a computation-augmented design studio setting.
A procedure for an automated measurement of song similarity

Assessment of vocal imitation requires a widely accepted way of describing and measuring any similarities between the song of a tutor and that of its pupil. Quantifying the similarity between two songs, however, can be difficult and fraught with subjective bias. We present a fully automated procedure that measures parametrically the similarity between songs. We tested its performance on a large database of zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata, songs. The procedure uses an analytical framework of modern spectral analysis to characterize the acoustic structure of a song. This analysis provides a superior sound spectrogram that is then reduced to a set of simple acoustic features. Based on these features, the procedure detects similar sections between songs automatically. In addition, the procedure can be used to examine: (1) imitation accuracy across acoustic features; (2) song development; (3) the effect of brain lesions on specific song features; and (4) variability across different renditions of a song or a call produced by the same individual, across individuals and across populations. By making the procedure available we hope to promote the adoption of a standard, automated method for measuring similarity between songs or calls. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Reversible Suppression of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission of Cerebellar Granule Cells In Vivo by Genetically Manipulated Expression of Tetanus Neurotoxin Light Chain

We developed a novel technique that allowed reversible suppression of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the cerebellar network. We generated two lines of transgenic mice termed Tet and TeNT mice and crossed the two transgenic lines to produce the Tet/TeNT double transgenic mice. In the Tet mice, the tetracycline-controlled reverse activator (rtTA) was expressed selectively in cerebellar granule cells by the promoter function of the GABAA receptor α6 subunit gene. In the TeNT mice, the fusion gene of tetanus neurotoxin light chain (TeNT) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was designed to be induced by the interaction of doxycycline (DOX)-activated rtTA with the tetracycline-responsive promoter. The Tet/TeNT mice grew normally even after DOX treatment and exhibited a restricted DOX-dependent expression of TeNT in cerebellar granule cells. Along with this expression, TeNT proteolytically cleaved the synaptic vesicle protein VAMP2 (also termed synaptobrevin2) and reduced glutamate release from granule cells. Both cleavage of VAMP2/synaptobrevin2 and reduction of glutamate release were reversed by removal of DOX. Among the four genotypes generated by heterozygous crossing of Tet and TeNT mice, only Tet/TeNT mice showed DOX-dependent reversible motor impairments as analyzed with fixed bar and rota-rod tests. Reversible suppression of glutamatergic neurotransmission thus can be manipulated with spatiotemporal accuracy by DOX treatment and removal. These transgenic mice will serve as an animal model to study the cerebellar function in motor coordination and learning.
Improving GPGPU resource utilization through alternative thread block scheduling

High performance in GPGPU workloads is obtained by maximizing parallelism and fully utilizing the available resources. The thousands of threads are assigned to each core in units of CTA (Cooperative Thread Arrays) or thread blocks - with each thread block consisting of multiple warps or wavefronts. The scheduling of the threads can have significant impact on overall performance. In this work, explore alternative thread block or CTA scheduling; in particular, we exploit the interaction between the thread block scheduler and the warp scheduler to improve performance. We explore two aspects of thread block scheduling - (1) LCS (lazy CTA scheduling) which restricts the maximum number of thread blocks allocated to each core, and (2) BCS (block CTA scheduling) where consecutive thread blocks are assigned to the same core. For LCS, we leverage a greedy warp scheduler to help determine the optimal number of thread blocks by only measuring the number of instructions issued while for BCS, we propose an alternative warp scheduler that is aware of the “block” of CTAs allocated to a core. With LCS and the observation that maximum number of CTAs does not necessary maximize performance, we also propose mixed concurrent kernel execution that enables multiple kernels to be allocated to the same core to maximize resource utilization and improve overall performance.
Who pays your debt? An important question for understanding compulsive buying among American college students

Compulsive buying, defined as the inability to control purchasing behaviour, is higher among college-aged students than it is among the general public. The present study examined the factors related to compulsive buying among college students and how those factors differ as a function of who paid the majority of their debt: themselves or their parents. A total of 628 undergraduates from the US completed a questionnaire containing items to measure compulsive buying, personality and financial responsibility. Results revealed that variables predictive of compulsive buying varied depending on the amount of credit card debt that the student was personally responsible for paying. Findings have implications for reducing compulsive buying in college students.
The Influence of Family Relationship Satisfaction and Perceived Work-Family Harmony on Mental Health Among Asian Working Mothers in Singapore

The Influence of Family Relationship Satisfaction and Perceived Work-Family Harmony on Mental Health Among Asian Working Mothers in Singapore Jerevie Malig Canlas School of Family Life, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Women's participation in the labor force has increased in Singapore in the recent years. Research has suggested that women's attempt to relate their traditional roles as wife and mother with the expectations of their modern role as a paid employee may have an impact on their mental health. Data from a cross-sectional national probability sample of 284 employed mothers in Singapore were used to investigate the relationships between work hours, marital satisfaction, child relationship satisfaction, work-family harmony, and mental health. Based on the results of the Structural Equation Model, mothers who worked long hours experienced more positive mental health. This is perhaps attributable to paid work being considered as a means by which women can contribute to the family's welfare and well-being, instead of competing with one's finite resources. Results of the mediation analysis suggested that marital satisfaction had a positive, albeit small, effect on mental health through work-family harmony. This renders support to the family stress model theory, suggesting that for Asian women who actively participate in the work force, family relationships play an important role on their work-life experience, which ultimately has a significant impact on their mental health. Recognizing the unique cultural meanings Asian societies ascribe to work and family can facilitate a better understanding of Asian women's work-family experience.
Saint or sinner? Teacher perceptions of a child with traumatic brain injury

Purpose: To examine influences on classroom performance and behaviour following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A case-study of one child who suffered a moderate TBI, with frontal brain damage, aged 8, followed up at ages 12 and 13 years. Parents and child were interviewed to establish pre- and post-injury behaviour and functioning. All 19 teachers who taught the child reported on classroom performance, behaviour and educational achievement in each of their subjects. The child completed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery including the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III(UK)), Children's Memory Scale (CMS) and Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS). Results: This child demonstrated above-average intelligence and good attention/concentration on the CMS. However, he was unable to focus or maintain attention in most classroom situations. His behaviour was erratic and disruptive in class and at home. At 5-year follow-up, his behaviour had deteriorated in both home and school situations, particularly in less structured environments. Conclusions: Teachers of more structured subjects (maths and science) perceived the child as excitable but performing at average or above-average levels, whereas teachers of less structured subjects (art, drama, music) perceived him to be ‘attention-seeking’ and very disruptive in class. The influences of environmental factors are discussed.
Gender, Identity and the Culture of Organizations

Part I Introduction 1. Organizational culture and gendered identities in context Part II Theorizing organizational culture and gendered identities 2. En-gendering differences, transgressing the boundaries, coping with dual presence 3. Alternative conceptualizations and theoretical perspectives on identities and organizational cultures: a personal review of research on men in organizations 4. Otherness at large: identity and difference in the new globalized organizational landscape 5. Beyond body-counting: a discussion of the social construction of gender at work 6. 'Managing' diversity: identity and power in organizations Part III Methods: beyond explorations 7. History/herstory: an introduction to the problems of studying the gendering of organizational culture over time 8. Investigating gender and organizational culture: gendered value foundations that reproduce discrimination and inhibit organizational change 9. Reporting gender: representations of gender in financial and social annual reports 10. Self in research: hopelessly entangled in the gendered organizational culture 11. Interviewing female managers: the presenting of gendered selves in context