Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and propagation of enteric neural crest progenitor cells from mouse embryonic stem cells and embryos

Neural crest is a source of diverse cell types, including the peripheral nervous system. The transcription factor Sox10 is expressed throughout early neural crest. We exploited Sox10 reporter and selection markers created by homologous recombination to investigate the generation, maintenance and expansion of neural crest progenitors. Sox10-GFP-positive cells are produced transiently from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells by treatment with retinoic acid in combination with Fgf8b and the cytokine leukaemia inhibitory factor (Lif). We found that expression of Sox10 can be maintained using noggin, Wnt3a, Lif and endothelin (NWLE). ES cell-derived Sox10-GFP-positive cells cultured in NWLE exhibit molecular markers of neural crest progenitors. They differentiate into peripheral neurons in vitro and are able to colonise the enteric network in organotypic gut cultures. Neural crest cells purified from embryos using the Sox10 reporter also survive in NWLE, but progressively succumb to differentiation. We therefore applied selection to eliminate differentiating cells. Sox10-selected cells could be clonally expanded, cryopreserved, and multiplied for over 50 days in adherent culture. They remained neurogenic in vitro and in foetal gut grafts. Generation of neural crest from mouse ES cells opens a new route to the identification and validation of determination factors. Furthermore, the ability to propagate undifferentiated progenitors creates an opportunity for experimental dissection of the stimuli and molecular circu that govern neural crest lineage progression. Finally, the demonstration of robust enteric neurogenesis provides a system for investigating and modelling cell therapeutic approaches to neurocristopathies such as Hirschsprung's disease.
k− Nearest Neighbour and SVM classifier with feature extraction and feature selection

When people trying to classify big data, one of the difficulties is that the data contains too many different features. This could cause two problems. Firstly, too many features significantly increases the data size, and causes the classification problem computationally expensive. Secondly, it is not necessarily true that every feature has a great impact on the classification, some of the features could be redundant and ignored, some of the features could even mislead the classification and cause the item to be put in the wrong category. So one way of resolving this difficulty is to perform a dimensionality reduction before the classification. For example, in our last homework, we combined the leverage score feature selection and singular value decomposition (SVD) feature extraction techniques with the k− Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to classify the documents in our data set Exp 10567 11346.mat. However, we ’cheated’ by doing feature extraction and feature selection before separating the data into training set and test set. This causes problem because in the dimensionality reduction step, e.g. feature selection or SVD feature extraction, we used the information from both the training set and the test set. This means the classifier also ’learned’ some information from the test set in the training step. However, this is not true in practice. So a more realistic method should put the data separation in the first step before any dimensionality reduction or data preprocessing. In this project, we explore the methods of performing data separation before data preprocessing, and examine its performance on the data set Exp 10567 11346.mat. We implement the feature extraction via SVD, and implement feature selection via leverage scores to reduce the dimension of the features. We also use the KNN classifier and SVM classifier after the dimensionality reduction.
Phosphorylation Regulates In Vivo Interaction and Molecular Targeting of Serine/Arginine-rich Pre-mRNA Splicing Factors

The SR superfamily of splicing factors and regulators is characterized by arginine/serine (RS)-rich domains, which are extensively modified by phosphorylation in cells. In vitro binding studies revealed that RS domain–mediated protein interactions can be differentially affected by phosphorylation. Taking advantage of the single nonessential SR protein–specific kinase Sky1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we investigated RS domain interactions in vivo using the two-hybrid assay. Strikingly, all RS domain–mediated interactions were abolished by SKY1 deletion and were rescuable by yeast or mammalian SR protein–specific kinases, indicating that phosphorylation has a far greater impact on RS domain interactions in vivo than in vitro. To understand this dramatic effect, we examined the localization of SR proteins and found that SC35 was shifted to the cytoplasm in sky1Δ yeast, although this phenomenon was not obvious with ASF/SF2, indicating that nuclear import of SR proteins may be differentially regulated by phosphorylation. Using a transcriptional repression assay, we further showed that most LexA-SR fusion proteins depend on Sky1p to efficiently recognize the LexA binding site in a reporter, suggesting that molecular targeting of RS domain–containing proteins within the nucleus was also affected. Together, these results reveal multiple phosphorylation-dependent steps for SR proteins to interact with one another efficiently and specifically, which may ultimately determine the splicing activity and specificity of these factors in mammalian cells.
An Effective Friend Recommendation Method Using Learning to Rank and Social Influence

Social network sites have become an important medium for people to receive information anytime anywhere. Users of social network sites share information by posting updates. The updates shared by friends form social update streams that provide people with up-to-date information. To receive novel information, users of social network sites are encouraged to establish social relations. However, having too many friends can lead to an information overload problem causing users to be overwhelmed by the huge number of updates shared continuously by numerous friends. The information overload problem can result in bad user experiences. It may also affect user intentions to join social network sites and thereby possibly reduce the sites’ advertising earnings which are based on the number of users. To resolve this problem, there is an urgent need of effective friend recommendation methods. A user is considered as a valuable friend if people like the updates the user posts. In this paper, we propose a model-based recommendation method which suggests valuable friends to users. Techniques of matrix factorization and learning to rank are designed to model the latent preferences of users and updates. At the same time, social influence is incorporated into the proposed method to enhance the learned preferences. Valuable friends are recommended if the preferences of the updates that they share are highly associated with the preferences of a target user. Our experiment findings that are based on a huge real-world dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the social influence and learning to rank on a friend recommendation task. The results show that the proposed method is effective and it outperforms many well-known friend recommendation methods in terms of the coverage rate and ranking performance.
Experimenting with multimedia advances using GPAC

Multimedia applications are challenging software and require collaboration of very different components such as networking, rendering, or scripting to provide a nice user experience. GPAC is an open source multimedia framework that implements a vast number of components and helps experimenting with different types of multimedia applications. It provides a multimedia packager, some servers and a player for dynamic and interactive multimedia content. In this paper, we present the recent additions to the project which allow experimenting with new applications such as dynamic home networking or rich broadcasting of interactive content on the latest devices, including with 3D displays. Such experiments can be useful in research work and, as illustrated, in academic environment for educational purposes.
Reflected‐Scene Impostors for Realistic Reflections at Interactive Rates

We present a technique for rendering reflections on complex reflectors at interactive rates based on approximating the geometry of the reflected scene with impostors. The reflections correctly convey the distance to the reflector surface and provide motion parallax. Two types of impostors are adapted to the reflections framework: billboards and depth maps. Billboards remove most of the problems of environment mapped reflections at only a small additional cost. Second order reflections are supported by introducing reflective billboards. Higher quality reflections that provide motion parallax within a reflected object are obtained by approximating the reflective geometry with depth maps. The computation of the intersection between a reflected ray and a depth map is accelerated by leveraging epipolar constraints. Like environment mapping, our technique does not pose any restriction on the geometry of the reflector, supports dynamic scenes, and runs at interactive rates with the help of graphics hardware.
Some multiobjective optimizers are better than others

The No-Free-Lunch (NFL) theorems hold for general multiobjective fitness spaces, in the sense that, over a space of problems which is closed under permutation, any two algorithms will produce the same set of multiobjective samples. However, there are salient ways in which NFL does not generally hold in multiobjective optimization. Previously we have shown that a 'free lunch' can arise when comparative metrics (rather than absolute metrics) are used for performance measurement. Here we show that NFL does not generally apply in multiobjective optimization when absolute performance metrics are used. This is because multiobjective optimizers usually combine a generator with an archiver. The generator corresponds to the 'algorithm' in the NFL sense, but the archiver filters the sample generated by the algorithm in a way that undermines the NFL assumptions. Essentially, if two multiobjective approaches have different archivers, their average performance may differ. We prove this, and hence show that we can say, without qualification, that some multiobjective approaches are better than others.
Nanoparticles of carbon allotropes inhibit glioblastoma multiforme angiogenesis in ovo

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of carbon nanoparticles produced by different methods on the growth of brain tumor and the development of blood vessels. Glioblastoma multiforme cells were cultured on the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryo and after 7 days of incubation, were treated with carbon nanoparticles administered in ovo to the tumor. Both types of nanoparticles significantly decreased tumor mass and volume, and vessel area. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed downregulated fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression at the messenger ribonucleic acid level. The present results demonstrate antiangiogenic activity of carbon nanoparticles, making them potential factors for anticancer therapy.
Platelets Recruit Human Dendritic Cells Via Mac-1/JAM-C Interaction and Modulate Dendritic Cell Function In Vitro

Objective—Thrombotic events and immunoinflammatory processes take place next to each other during vascular remodeling in atherosclerotic lesions. In this study we investigated the interaction of platelets with dendritic cells (DCs). Methods and Results—The rolling of DCs on platelets was mediated by PSGL-1. Firm adhesion of DCs was mediated through integrin &agr;M&bgr;2 (Mac-1). In vivo, adhesion of DCs to injured carotid arteries in mice was mediated by platelets. Pretreatment with soluble GPVI, which inhibits platelet adhesion to collagen, substantially reduced recruitment of DCs to the injured vessel wall. In addition, preincubation of DCs with sJAM-C significantly reduced their adhesion to platelets. Coincubation of DCs with platelets induced maturation of DCs, as shown by enhanced expression of CD83. In the presence of platelets, DC-induced lymphocyte proliferation was significantly enhanced. Moreover, coincubation of DCs with platelets resulted in platelet phagocytosis by DCs, as verified by different cell phagocytosis assays. Finally, platelet/DC interaction resulted in apoptosis of DCs mediated by a JAM-C–dependent mechanism. Conclusions—Recruitment of DCs by platelets, which is mediated via CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) and platelet JAM-C, leads to DC activation and platelet phagocytosis. This process may be of importance for progression of atherosclerotic lesions.
Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in glaucoma associated with uveitis.

Twenty-four trabeculectomies performed in 24 patients for control of uveitic glaucoma were retrospectively evaluated to analyze the effect of intraoperative application of mitomycin C (MMC) on the short-term outcome of trabeculectomy for glaucoma associated with uveitis. Success rates, postoperative levels of intraocular pressure (IOP), and complications were studied. After a mean follow up of 9.87 months (range, 3 to 27 months), 18 eyes (75%) achieved an IOP of 21 mm Hg or less without antiglaucoma medications. The same IOP level with one antiglaucoma medication was achieved in four eyes (16.6%). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in IOP postoperatively during the period studied (P = .0001). Complications observed included exacerbation of the uveitis (12.5%), choroidal detachment (12.5%), hypotony (8.3%), postoperative shallow anterior chamber (4.2%), wound leak (4.2%), hyphema (4.2%), and macular edema (4.2%). The results of this retrospective and uncontrolled study suggest that intraoperative application of MMC may be a good option for enhancement of short-term trabeculectomy success rates in cases of uveitic glaucoma.
Cognitive Characteristics of the Top-Scoring Third of the 1976 Talent Search Contestants

Initial results from the 1976 Talent Search provided evidence for considerable precocity in mathematical and verbal reasoning ability among the mathematically apt seventh-grade-age boys and girls who participated in the first screening of that competition (George & Cohn, 1977). This initial screening procedure consisted of both the mathematics section (SAT-M) and the verbal section (SAT-V) of the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
A two-hop based real-time routing protocol for wireless sensor networks

A two-hop neighborhood information based routing protocol is proposed for real-time wireless sensor networks. The approach of mapping packet deadline to a velocity is adopted as SPEED; however, our routing decision is made based on the novel 2-hop velocity. Energy-efficient probabilistic drop is embedded to enhance energy utilization efficiency while reducing packet deadline miss ratio. In case packet deadline requirement is not stringent, a new mechanism is included to release nodes which are frequently chosen as forwarders. Improvement on energy consumption balance throughout the network is observed. The true characteristics of physical and MAC layers are captured in the simulation. A real lossy link model is drawn from extensive experiments through Mica2 Motes. Simulation results show that the new protocol has achieved lower packet deadline miss ratio and higher energy efficiency.
Costs of antibiotic resistance – separating trait effects and selective effects

Antibiotic resistance can impair bacterial growth or competitive ability in the absence of antibiotics, frequently referred to as a ‘cost’ of resistance. Theory and experiments emphasize the importance of such effects for the distribution of resistance in pathogenic populations. However, recent work shows that costs of resistance are highly variable depending on environmental factors such as nutrient supply and population structure, as well as genetic factors including the mechanism of resistance and genetic background. Here, we suggest that such variation can be better understood by distinguishing between the effects of resistance mechanisms on individual traits such as growth rate or yield (‘trait effects’) and effects on genotype frequencies over time (‘selective effects’). We first give a brief overview of the biological basis of costs of resistance and how trait effects may translate to selective effects in different environmental conditions. We then review empirical evidence of genetic and environmental variation of both types of effects and how such variation may be understood by combining molecular microbiological information with concepts from evolution and ecology. Ultimately, disentangling different types of costs may permit the identification of interventions that maximize the cost of resistance and therefore accelerate its decline.
A Typology of Research Methods Within the Social Sciences

This paper discusses and develops a typology of research methods in the social sciences. Such a typology will be relevant for various aspects of the work of the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) as well as other ESRC initiatives and the wider social science research community. It may be useful, for example, for the prioritisation of research methods, for defining the current focus of research, for the identification of needs for further training and research within certain areas and for a classification of research projects and funding schemes. This paper describes other approaches to such a classification, in particular the thesaurus of social research methodology developed by the SRM-Documentation Centre at the University Rotterdam. It is apparent that there is not a unique classification scheme and that various approaches to such a classification are possible. Aims and possible uses of the typology developed here are discussed. Some justification for the chosen structure is presented. Difficulties encountered in the development of the typology are described.
Postoperative ileus in colorectal surgery: is there any difference between laparoscopic and open surgery?

Background: Postoperative ileus is a major complication of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of operative time and the method of surgery on postoperative ileus. Methods: After institutional review board approval, 121 patients were studied in two groups. Group 1 consisted of 86 patients with colorectal cancers and Group 2 included 35 patients with diverticulitis. Various surgical procedures were performed in both groups. In all patients, the nasogastric (NG) tube was removed after termination of surgery. Clear liquids were offered commencing on the first postoperative day, followed by a regular diet as tolerated. GI-1 was the postoperative time to toleration of clear liquids, whereas GI-2 was the postoperative time to first bowel movement or flatus and toleration of a regular diet. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear regression model by disease with the first bowel movement or flatus as the dependent variable and operative time and category as explanatory variables. Results: Vomiting after oral feeding occurred in 18 (20.9%) patients with cancer and in 7 (20.0%) patients with diverticular disease. An NG tube was reinserted in 13 (15.1%) patients in the cancer group and in 3 (8.6%) patients in the diverticular disease group. In patients with cancer, the duration of operation was associated with GI-2 (P = 0.011), whereas in patients with diverticulitis, the duration of operation was associated with GI-1 (P = 0.001) and GI-2 (P = 0.044). In the diverticulitis group, a significant relationship was found between GI-2 and operative category (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Longer operations led to more prolonged postoperative ileus after both laparoscopy and laparotomy, regardless of malignant or benign pathology. In anticipation of and/or following longer operations, surgeons should consider measures to shorten postoperative ileus.
Development of hand rehabilitation system for paralysis patient – universal design using wire-driven mechanism –

We have developed a hand rehabilitation system for patients suffering from paralysis or contracture. It consists of two components: a hand rehabilitation machine, which moves human finger joints with motors, and a data glove, which provides control of the movement of finger joints attached to the rehabilitation machine. The machine is based on the arm structure type of hand rehabilitation machine; a motor indirectly moves a finger joint via a closed four-link mechanism. We employ a wire-driven mechanism and develop a compact design that can control all three joints (i.e., PIP, DIP and MP ) of a finger and that offers a wider range of joint motion than conventional systems. Furthermore, we demonstrate the hand rehabilitation process, finger joints of the left hand attached to the machine are controlled by the finger joints of the right hand wearing the data glove.
Bis[4-bromo-2-(ethyliminomethyl)phenolato-κ2 N,O]nickel(II)

In the title complex, [Ni(C9H9BrNO)2], the NiII ion lies on an inversion centre and is coordinated in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry by two N atoms and two O atoms from two symmetry-related bidentate 4-bromo-2-(ethyliminomethyl)phenolate ligands. The complex forms a one-dimensional chain in the crystal structure through short C—H⋯Br contacts (H⋯Br = 3.009 Å).
The Role of Societal and Organisational Culture in Employees' Satisfaction and Organisational Commitment

The concept of culture is closely linked to the concept of knowledge and knowledge as social capital. To understand the impact of organisational culture on organisational behaviour (individual and collective) means to understand how knowledge (formal/informal), which is a result of the interaction (formal and informal, past and present) among staff members and between staff members and their external environment, influences individuals' behaviour, effectiveness and efficiency at work. The purpose of our study, conducted on a representative sample of Slovenian population, was to answer the question to what extent variables describing societal and organisational culture predict psychological variables of employees' attitudes towards work, i.e. their job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Characteristics of culture at the society and organisational levels, human resource management practices and organisational climate as explicit elements of organisational culture influence employees' attitudes towards work and their workplace. The knowledge that individuals have and transfer from their social environment to the organisation, and the knowledge of how things are done in the organisation affect key psychological variables explaining behavioural intentions and behaviour of employees in the workplace. Knowledge is a historical phenomenon in an organisation and has not only a denotative, but also an evaluative – affective role.