Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Defined populations of inner ear progenitor cells show limited and distinct capacities for differentiation into hair cells , neurons , and glia ARCHIES

Despite the fact that mammalian hair cells and neurons do not naturally regenerate in vivo, progenitor cells exist within the postnatal inner ear that can be manipulated to generate hair cells and neurons. This work reveals the differentiation capabilities of distinct inner ear progenitor populations and pinpoints cell types that can become cochlear hair cells, vestibular hair cells, neurons, and CNS glia. We expanded and differentiated cochlear and vestibular progenitors from mice (postnatal days 1-3) and analyzed the cells for expression of mature properties by RT-PCR, immunostaining, and patch clamping. Whereas previous reports suggested that inner ear stem cells may be pluripotent and/or revert to a more neural stem cell fate, we find that cells from each organ type differentiated into cells with characteristics of the respective organ. Only cochlear-derived cells expressed the outer-hair-cell protein, prestin, while only vestibularderived cells expressed the vestibular extracellular matrix marker, otopetrin. Since Atohi expression is consistently found in new hair cells, we used an Atohl-nGFP mouse line to identify hair cell candidates. We find that cells expressing Atohl also expressed key transduction, hair bundle, and synaptic genes needed for proper function. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings showed that Atohl-nGFP+ cells derived from both cochlear and vestibular tissue had voltagegated ion channels that were typical of postnatal hair cells. Only vestibular-derived AtohinGFP+ cells, however, had Ih, a hyperpolarization-activated current typical of native vestibular hair cells but not native cochlear hair cells. Lineage tracing studies with known supporting cell and glial cell markers showed that progenitor capacity of cochlear supporting cells positive for Lgr5 (Lgr5+ cells) was limited to differentiation into hair cell-like cells but not neuron-like cells. In contrast, glial cells positive for PLP (PLP1+ cells) from the auditory nerve differentiated into multiple cell types, with properties of neurons, astrocytes, or mature oligodendrocytes but not hair cells. Thus, PLP+ progenitor cells within the auditory nerve are limited to neuronal or glial fates but have greater potency than Lgr5+ progenitors, which only formed hair cell-like cells. In summary, this work identifies distinct populations of post-natal inner ear progenitors and delineates their capacity for differentiation and maturation. Thesis Supervisors: Ruth Anne Eatock, Ph.D. & Albert Edge, Ph.D. Title: Defined populations of progenitor cells show limited and distinct capacity for differentiation into hair cells, neurons, and glia 3
Disulfide Bonds within the C2 Domain of RAGE Play Key Roles in Its Dimerization and Biogenesis

Background The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) on the cell surface transmits inflammatory signals. A member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, RAGE possesses the V, C1, and C2 ectodomains that collectively constitute the receptor's extracellular structure. However, the molecular mechanism of RAGE biogenesis remains unclear, impeding efforts to control RAGE signaling through cellular regulation. Methodology and Result We used co-immunoprecipitation and crossing-linking to study RAGE oligomerization and found that RAGE forms dimer-based oligomers. Via non-reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mutagenesis, we found that cysteines 259 and 301 within the C2 domain form intermolecular disulfide bonds. Using a modified tripartite split GFP complementation strategy and confocal microscopy, we also found that RAGE dimerization occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and that RAGE mutant molecules without the double disulfide bridges are unstable, and are subjected to the ER-associated degradation. Conclusion Disulfide bond-mediated RAGE dimerization in the ER is the critical step of RAGE biogenesis. Without formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds in the C2 region, RAGE fails to reach cell surface. Significance This is the first report of RAGE intermolecular disulfide bond.
Data cracker: developing a visual game analytic tool for analyzing online gameplay

Game analytics is a domain that focuses on the systems and methods used to analyze game-related data. In this paper we present how a visual game analytic tool can be developed to analyze player gameplay behavior. Our tool, Data Cracker, was built for monitoring gameplay in Dead Space 2, the latest game in the Dead Space franchise. We use Data Cracker as a case study to inform a larger discussion of designing a visual game analytic tool while working with a game team. Our design approach focuses on increasing the data literacy of a game team. This means getting an entire team interested and involved with game analytics. We found that building our tool during the early game development cycle, creating multiple early visual prototypes and branding the tool to the Dead Space team caused more team members to become interested in our tool. Increasing interest in analytics is also a means, we argue, for changing the common occurrence within the game industry to disband teams after a game is released. Instead, we promote the creation of "live" teams which stay attached to a game long after it is release in order to continue the analysis process. Additionally, we discuss the barriers one might face when developing game analytic tools, such as prejudice against analytics or the technical issues involved when collecting large data sets. All of these examples are presented as insights we gained while coupling analytic tool design to game development.
Design of Nonlinear Aero Controller and Simulation for Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This paper mainly presents development of nonlinear model of quad rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (named as QUAV-X4), design of nonlinear aero controller and analyzing stabilization of the model. Firstly, we introduce the principle of flight of quad rotor briefly. Secondly, with application of blade element theorem [1] and analysis of aerodynamic characteristics of QUAV-X4, the aero model is derived. Finally, designing a nonlinear control system, based on PID technique and Back stepping method [2], and simulation for observing the stabilization.
A generalized preprocessing and feature extraction platform for scalp EEG signals on FPGA

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) require real-time feature extraction for translating input EEG signals recorded from a subject into an output command or decision. Owing to the inherent difficulties in EEG signal processing and neural decoding, many of the feature extraction algorithms are complex and computationally demanding. Presently, software does exist to perform real-time feature extraction and classification of EEG signals. However, the requirement of a personal computer is a major obstacle in bringing these technologies to the home and mobile user affording ease of use. We present the FPGA design and novel architecture of a generalized platform that provides a set of predefined features and preprocessing steps that can be configured by a user for BCI applications. The preprocessing steps include power line noise cancellation and baseline removal while the feature set includes a combination of linear and nonlinear, univariate and bivariate measures commonly utilized in BCIs. We provide a comparison of our results with software and also validate the platform by implementing a seizure detection algorithm on a standard dataset and obtained a classification accuracy of over 96%. A gradual transition of BCI systems to hardware would prove beneficial in terms of compactness, power consumption and much faster response to stimuli.
Transparent Internet E-mail Security

An alternating current power transmission system employing a long transmission line has a stabilizing arrangement comprising a plurality of alternating current saturated reactors connected to intermediate stations along its length, at least some of the reactors having slope correction capacitors in series therewith, and others of the reactors having slope reactances which are not connected by series slope correction capacitors. Since the uncompensated reactors have a substantially instantaneous transient response the stabilizing arrangement gives an overall voltage control which is better than one incorporating only slope corrected reactors.
X-RAY EMISSION FROM TWO INFRARED-SELECTED GALAXY CLUSTERS AT z > 1.4 IN THE IRAC SHALLOW CLUSTER SURVEY

We report the X-ray detection of two z > 1.4 infrared-selected galaxy clusters from the IRAC Shallow Cluster Survey (ISCS). We present new data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory that spectroscopically confirm cluster ISCS J1432.4+3250 at z = 1.49, the most distant of 18 confirmed z > 1 clusters in the ISCS to date. We also present new spectroscopy for ISCS J1438.1+3414, previously reported at z = 1.41, and measure its dynamical mass. Clusters ISCS J1432.4+3250 and ISCS J1438.1+3414 are detected in 36 ks and 143 ks Chandra exposures at significances of 5. 2σ and 9. 7σ, from which we measure total masses of and 14.35 +0.14− 0.11, respectively. The consistency of the X-ray and dynamical properties of these high-redshift clusters further demonstrates that the ISCS is robustly detecting massive clusters to at least z = 1.5.
PPCA-based license plate detection algorithm

Detection of license plates is a critical part of License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems. In this paper we employ methods based on Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis (PPCA) to extract license plate areas out of vehicle images, and apply an im- proved normalization step to data preprocessing. The analysis of our experiment shows that this algorithm achieves good accuracy dealing with still vehicle images.
Personality, Interpersonal Context and Depression in Couples

The present study had two goals: first, to determine whether neediness and self-criticism are associated with distinct marital environments and, second, to evaluate two pathways by which marital environments may be related to personality and depressive symptoms. Personality vulnerability may be more strongly associated with depressive symptoms when the spouse’s behavior matches the vulnerability (i.e. a needy person’s spouse is emotionally distant). Alternatively, spousal behavior may elevate levels of neediness or self-criticism, which then increases depressive symptoms. We tested these alternatives in a sample of 64 couples recruited from the community. Among men, neediness was associated with depressive symptoms only if the marriage lacked intimacy. Self-criticism in both sexes and neediness in women were linked to the interpersonal context in a different manner: self-critics tended to have partners who have many complaints about them, and needy women tended to have partners who report low levels of marital intimacy. These results demonstrate that, to some extent, an individual’s self-criticism or neediness may be a realistic response to a distressing inter-personal context.
Computing Correlation Anomaly Scores Using Stochastic Nearest Neighbors

This paper addresses the task of change analysis of correlated multi-sensor systems. The goal of change analysis is to compute the anomaly score of each sensor when we know that the system has some potential difference from a reference state. Examples include validating the proper performance of various car sensors in the automobile industry. We solve this problem based on a neighborhood preservation principle - If the system is working normally, the neighborhood graph of each sensor is almost invariant against the fluctuations of experimental conditions. Here a neighborhood graph is defined based on the correlation between sensor signals. With the notion of stochastic neighborhood, our method is capable of robustly computing the anomaly score of each sensor under conditions that are hard to be detected by other naive methods.
Peer Effects in Academic Performance

This paper deals with the data of dormitory students in National Institute of Technology, Kagoshima College to demonstrate the existence of peer effects in academic performance. The data have unique advantages to avoid the difficulties of the self-selection problem and reflection problem. The data shows freshmen’s academic performance and previous year’s junior high school records, and roommate’s previous year’s academic performance for using an instrumental variable method. The results of my findings suggest that peer’s academic performance does not have any effects on freshmen’s. In spite of considering the asymmetric relationship between roommates, self-selection bias when choosing subjects, and nonlinearities of effects, there is no significance in any models.
INDEXATION OF WEB PAGES BASED ON THEIR VISUAL RENDERING

This paper present the indexation method that we are actually developing for information retrieval in web pages based on their visual rendering. This method can be summarized as follows. Firstly, the visual rendering of a page produced by a web browser is segmented into rectangular blocks considered as uniform in relation to some visual criteria. Secondly each block is indexed according to the vector space model. Finally, the indexation of each block is enhanced by its visual significance and by the indexation of the blocks which are associated to it by inclusion, neighborhood, or reference relations.
Molecular basis for the autonomous promotion of cell proliferation by angiogenin

Canonical growth factors act indirectly via receptor-mediated signal transduction pathways. Here, we report on an autonomous pathway in which a growth factor is internalized, has its localization regulated by phosphorylation, and ultimately uses intrinsic catalytic activity to effect epigenetic change. Angiogenin (ANG), a secreted vertebrate ribonuclease, is known to promote cell proliferation, leading to neovascularization as well as neuroprotection in mammals. Upon entering cells, ANG encounters the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein, which binds with femtomolar affinity. We find that protein kinase C and cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylate ANG, enabling ANG to evade its inhibitor and enter the nucleus. After migrating to the nucleolus, ANG cleaves promoter-associated RNA, which prevents the recruitment of the nucleolar remodeling complex to the ribosomal DNA promoter. The ensuing derepression of rDNA transcription promotes cell proliferation. The biochemical basis for this unprecedented mechanism of signal transduction suggests new modalities for the treatment of cancers and neurological disorders.
A pr 2 00 4 Time-dependent density-matrix renormalization-group using adaptive effective Hilbert spaces

An algorithm for the simulation of the evolution of slightly entangled quantum states has been recently proposed as a tool to study time-dependent phenomena in one-dimensional quantum systems. Its key feature is a timeevolving block-decimation (TEBD) procedure to identify and dynamically update the relevant, conveniently small subregion of the otherwise exponentially large Hilbert space. Potential applications of the TEBD algorithm are the simulation of time-dependent Hamiltonians, transport in quantum systems far from equilibrium and dissipative quantum mechanics. In this paper we translate the TEBD algorithm into the language of matrix product states in order to both highlight and exploit its resemblances to the widely used density-matrix renormalizationgroup (DMRG) algorithms. The TEBD algorithm, being based on updating a matrix product state in time, is very accessible to the DMRG community and it can be enhanced by using well-known DMRG techniques, for instance in the event of good quantum numbers. More importantly, we show how it can be simply incorporated into existing DMRG implementations to produce a remarkably effective and versatile “adaptive time-dependent DMRG” variant, that we also test and compare to previous proposals. PACS numbers: 71.10. -w, 71.15. -m, 71.27. +a
Local Liaisons: Roles, Challenges, and Training in Serving Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Through engaging in interviews with 10 local educational agency liaisons, this study provides insight into their roles, challenges, and training in serving children and youth experiencing homelessness. Using thematic analysis to analyze transcripts, common themes were uncovered. The findings highlight the liaisons’ challenges related to identification and academic barriers, as well as provide deeper insight into their preparation. Furthermore, the results suggest that liaisons are dedicated to their roles and are committed to building partnerships to serve students.
Incomplete decode-and-forward protocol using distributed space-time block codes

In this work, we explore the introduction of distributed space-time codes in decode-and-forward (DF) protocols. A first protocol named the Asymmetric DF is presented. It is based on two phases of different lengths, defined so that signals can be fully decoded at relays. This strategy brings full diversity but the symbol rate is not optimal. To solve this problem a second protocol named the Incomplete DF is defined. It is based on an incomplete decoding at the relays reducing the length of the first phase. This last strategy brings both full diversity and full symbol rate. The outage probability and the simulation results show that the Incomplete DF has better performance than any existing DF protocol and than the non-orthogonal amplify-and-forward (NAF) strategy using the same space-time codes. Moreover the diversity-multiplexing gain tradeoff (DMT) of this new DF protocol is proven to be the same as the one of the NAF.
Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Escherichia coli and Mutants of Neisseria meningitidis Intranasal Immunization with NadA of Antibodies and Cellular Immunity following Meningococci : Induction of Bactericidal Mucosal Vaccination against Serogroup B

10.1128/IAI.72. 7.4052-4060.2004. 2004, 72(7):4052. DOI: Infect. Immun. Kingston H. G. Mills Rae, Alan Huett, Rino Rappuoli, Gordon Dougan and Aaron Hale, Simon Clare, Beatrice Arico, Marzia M. Giuliani, Frances Bowe, Ed C. Lavelle, Edel A. McNeela, Christine Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Escherichia coli and Mutants of Neisseria meningitidis Intranasal Immunization with NadA of Antibodies and Cellular Immunity following Meningococci: Induction of Bactericidal Mucosal Vaccination against Serogroup B
Real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay for future management of ERBB2-based clinical applications.

BACKGROUND Gene amplification/overexpression of ERBB2 (HER2, neu) is a major event in human breast tumorigenesis. ERBB2-based therapeutic agents and ERBB2-specific gene therapy are under development. These new perspectives call for a sensitive and accurate method to screen breast cancer patients for ERBB2 alterations. METHODS We have developed and validated a real-time quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay, based on fluorescent TaqMan methodology, to quantify ERBB2 gene expression at the mRNA level in breast tumors. This recently developed method of nucleic acid quantification in homogeneous solutions has the potential for a wide dynamic range, interlaboratory agreement, and high-throughput capacity without tedious post-PCR processing. The ERBB2 mRNA signal was normalized to the signal for TATA box-binding protein mRNA. RESULTS The dynamic range was >1000-fold. The relationship between C(t) and log starting concentration was linear (r(2) >/=0.99). The mean (SD) normalized expression of ERBB2 in healthy breast tissue was 0.95 (0.37). Overexpression (>5 SD above mean for healthy breast) of the ERBB2 gene was observed (at 3.2- to 135-fold) in 23 (17%) of 134 breast tumor RNA samples. As expected, ERBB2 overexpression was present in all tumors with ERBB2 gene amplification but was uncommon and at a low ratio (<5) in breast cancers without gene amplification. CONCLUSIONS This new simple, rapid, semi-automated assay is a major alternative to fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunochemistry for gene alteration analysis in human tumors and may be a powerful tool for large randomized, prospective cooperative group trials and to support future ERBB2-based biological and gene therapy approaches.
Detection of regional copy/move forgery in MPEG videos using optical flow

With rapid proliferation of affordable video capturing devices and state-of-the-art video editing software tools, it is now easier than ever to manipulate video contents. In this paper a passive method for copy/move video forgery detection in MPEG videos is proposed. The method first divides each video frame into suspicious and apparently innocent parts. Subsequently, an optical flow coefficient is computed from each part. Forgeries are located when an unusual trend in the optical flow coefficient of the suspicious object is detected. Experiments on a set of forged and original sequences validate the justifications made by the proposed method.
Development of an adaptive cognitive training method using Near-InfraRed spectroscopy

Recently, the numbers of physically handicapped persons and higher brain dysfunctions are increasing in our super-aging society. Rehabilitative training or cognitive training has been studied. Now, more and more studies show that the motivation is important for the effect of such trainings. We focused on the brain function measurement and the technique of Brain-Computer Interface(BCI). We hypothesized that brain activity can be used as new indicators to set an appropriate task difficulty for patients. We measured the subjects' brain activities during tasks using Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy (NIRS). We found that difficult or easy tasks can be determined by the brain activities. We developed a system that changes the difficulty level of the task according to the results of the discrimination of brain activities during tasks. The system can be beneficial for patients to perform cognitive training more effectively.
Fair rate packet arbitration in Network-on-Chip

This paper proposes two new arbitration techniques to enable fair link bandwidth allocation. One technique is a weighted round-robin scheme with weights based on the number of contending flows at the input port. The second technique is an age-based scheme with probabilistic arbitration where the traversed packet distance approximates age. Opposed to existing work, both schemes reach almost absolute fairness of link bandwidth allocation and simplify calculation of arbitration metrics.
Another Hidden Cost of Incentives: The Detrimental Effect on Norm Enforcement

Monetary incentives, such as subsidies or bonuses, are often considered as a way to foster contributions to public goods in society and firms. This paper investigates experimentally the effect of private contribution incentives in the presence of a norm enforcement mechanism. Norm enforcement through peer punishment has been shown to be effective in raising contributions by itself. We test whether and how (centrally provided) private incentives interact with (decentralized) punishment, both of which affect subjects' monetary payoffs. The results of our experiment show that private incentives for contributors can reduce the effectiveness of the norm enforcement mechanism: Free riders are punished less harshly in the treatment with incentives, and as a consequence, average contributions to the public good are no higher than without incentives. This finding ties to and extends previous research on settings in which monetary incentives may fail to have the desired effect.