Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Characterization of Hepatocytes for Cell Transplantation: Customized Cell Preparation for Each Receptor

The first indication of hepatocyte transplantation is inborn liver-based metabolic disorders. Among these, urea cycle disorders leading to the impairment to detoxify ammonia and Crigler-Najjar Syndrome type I, a deficiency in the hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 present the highest incidence. Metabolically qualified human hepatocytes are required for clinical infusion. We proposed fast and sensitive procedures to determine their suitability for transplantation. For this purpose, viability, attachment efficiency, and metabolic functionality (ureogenic capability, cytochrome P450, and phase II activities) are assayed prior to clinical cell infusion to determine the quality of hepatocytes. Moreover, the evaluation of urea synthesis from ammonia and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 activity, a newly developed assay using β-estradiol as substrate, allows the possibility of customizing cell preparation for receptors with urea cycle disorders or Crigler-Najjar Syndrome type I. Sources of human liver and factors derived from the procurement of the liver sample (warm and cold ischemia) have also been investigated. The results show that grafts with a cold ischemia time exceeding 15 h and steatosis should not be accepted for hepatocyte transplantation. Finally, livers from non-heart-beating donors are apparently a potential suitable source of hepatocytes, which could enlarge the liver donor pool.
What do majority-voting politics say about redistributive taxation of consumption and factor income? Not much

Tax rates on labor income, capital income and consumption-and the redistributive transfers those taxes finance-differ widely across developed countries. Can majority-voting methods, applied to a calibrated growth model, explain that variation? The answer I fund is yes, and then some. In this paper, I examine a simple growth model, calibrated roughly to U.S. data, in which the political decision is over constant paths of taxes on factor income and consumption, used to finance a lump-sum transfer. I first look at outcomes under probabilistic voting, and find that equilibria are extremely sensitive to the specification of uncertainty. I then consider other ways to restrict the range of majority-rule outcomes, looking at the model's implications for the shape of the Pareto set and the uncovered set, and the existence or non-existence of a Condorcet winner. Solving the model on discrete grid of policy choices, I find that no Condorcet winner exists and that the Pareto and uncovered sets, while small relative to the entire issue space, are large relative to the range of tax policies we see in data for a collection of 20 OECD countries. Taking that data as the issue space, I find that none of the 20 can be ruled out on efficiency grounds, and that 10 of the 20 are in the uncovered set. Those 10 encompass policies as diverse as those of the US, Norway and Austria. One can construct a Condorcet cycle including all 10 countries' tax vectors. ; The key features of the model here, as compared to other models on the endogenous determination of taxes and redistribution, is that the issue space is multidimensional and, at the same time, no one voter type is sufficiently numerous to be decisive. I conclude that the sharp predictions of papers in this literature may not survive an expansion of their issue spaces or the allowance for a slightly less homogeneous electorate.
A Procedural Geometry Modeling API

This paper presents a solution for geometric manipulation in procedural modeling as an Application Programming Interface (API). This approach intends to enable a more powerful control over the geometric entities by performing selections based on their attributes, similar to picking features in graphical interfaces. This is achieved through the definition of a topological structure, which features a set of properties, such as scope, spatial localization and semantic information. The applicable modeling operations allow a more customized control, as well as successive tracking, which induce a greater, faster and more intuitive approach for geometry generation. This approach still constitutes ongoing work, but has already been successfully applied for the generation of large virtual urban environments.
Process data comparison for topology inference

Power system operation and control relies heavily on models for decision making. Topology is a critical part of producing these models and maintaining up-to-date topologies of electrical distribution networks is a resource consuming and challenging task. This paper describes a methodology and system architecture for inference of electrical topology using process and model data from IEC 61850 - compliant substation automation devices. Furthermore, it examines the measurements and data handling required for such a system to work effectively. A system of autonomous intelligent agents communicating via an overlay network is described where agents are capable of communicating on the IEC 61850 station bus for collecting process data. The capabilities of structured information exchange and interfacing of substation automation devices enables plug-and-play operation of the topology inference requiring minimal prior knowledge of electrical network structure. Decentralized topology inference forms the basis for future work in operation and management of active distribution networks.
Advantages of 3D Extraction and Spatial Awareness within a Videoconferencing Environment

This work-in-progress paper describes some of the issues, and lists proposed use-case scenarios, for the development of a real-time multi-participant 3D enhanced videoconferencing system. We are interested in creating a framework capable of reconstructing an approximate 3D model of the physical environment, from a collection of images taken via the same system from probably unknown camera viewpoints. This reconstruction framework creates a partial 3D world that is embedded back within the videoconferencing environment and transmitted to all participants. We hypothesise that detailed 3D positional information combined with this augmented 3D world information of remote sites, can be useful to participants over and above the usual audio and video streams; it is believed that 3D reconstruction can be a rich tool to enable analysis and spatial awareness, moreover facilitating interactions with participants at remote sites
Swedish stocks, bonds, bills and inflation (1919-1990)

Cumulative index series for the Swedish security markets: common stocks, long-term government bonds, short-term risk free interest rate, consumer prices and the exchange rate SEK/$ are presented. The period under consideration is from 1919 to 1990. The series are presented as annual year-end figures but are all calculated from monthly data. It is for the first time that the index for common stocks is presented for such a long period. The summary statistics of the Swedish security markets are also presented and the results from the American security markets are used as a reference. The long time period makes it possible,to estimate the sign of the relevant risk premiums as well as the existence of mean reversion in stock returns for long investment horizons.
Identification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag protein domains essential to membrane binding and particle assembly

Assembly of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) particles occurs at the plasma membrane of infected cells. Myristylation of HIV-1 Gag precursor polyprotein Pr55Gag is required for stable membrane binding and for assembly of viral particles. We expressed a series of proteins representing major regions of the HIV-1 Gag protein both with and without an intact myristyl acceptor glycine and performed subcellular fractionation studies to identify additional regions critical for membrane binding. Myristylation-dependent binding of Pr55Gag was demonstrated by using the vaccinia virus/T7 hybrid system for protein expression. Domains within the matrix protein (MA) region downstream of the initial 15 amino acids were required for membrane binding which was resistant to a high salt concentration (1 M NaCl). A myristylated construct lacking most of the matrix protein did not associate with the plasma membrane but formed intracellular retrovirus-like particles. A nonmyristylated construct lacking most of the MA region also was demonstrated by electron microscopy to form intracellular particles. Retrovirus-like extracellular particles were produced with a Gag protein construct lacking all of p6 and most of the nucleocapsid region. These studies suggest that a domain within the MA region downstream from the myristylation site is required for transport of Gag polyprotein to the plasma membrane and that stable plasma membrane binding requires both myristic acid and a downstream MA domain. The carboxyl-terminal p6 region and most of the nucleocapsid region are not required for retrovirus-like particle formation.
Evidence-Based Review of the Pharmacoeconomics Related to the Management of Chronic Nonmalignant Pain

ABSTRACT Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for patients to seek medical care. Chronic pain results in substantial economic losses and remains one of the most costly conditions in modern western society. In 1991, costs were estimated to be approximately $65 billion annually, comparable to the cost of treating diabetes. Persistent chronic pain and the use of advanced interventional and pharmacological treatments often leads to complex social and psychological maladaptations, health care overutilization, as well as many other substantial direct and indirect costs. Thus, the proper treatment of chronic pain involves intense multidisciplinary management, including pharmacological, behavioral, and psychological interventions. Few studies have assessed the total economic cost of chronic pain. However, many of the chronic pain treatments do not alleviate pain symptoms for most patients and lead to unsuccessful application of resources. The economic consequences of inadequately treated chronic pain translates into lost work days, overutilization of health care resources (excess hospitalizations, and surgical procedures and inappropriate medications) and other out-of-pocket patient expenses. Increasing emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain places more importance on the need for efficient and coordinated management of patient with chronic pain. The management of chronic pain is remarkably complex and resource intensive. Therefore, a clear need exists for intensive pharmacoeconomic investigations, specifically evaluating costs related to chronic pain and the associated treatment modalities. Additionally, evaluation of the costs related to chronic pain would measure the economic burden of chronic pain, including an estimate of the amount that could potentially be saved if chronic pain patients are optimally managed.
THE ROLE OF TEMPORAL FINE STRUCTURE CUES IN SPEECH PERCEPTION

In this thesis, the importance of temporal fine structure (TFS) in speech perception is investigated. It is well accepted that TFS is important for sound localization and pitch perception, while envelope (ENV) is primarily responsible for speech perception. Recently, a significant contribution of TFS in speech perception has been suggested. This was linked to the improved ability of normal-hearing subjects to understand speech in fluctuating-power background noise as compared to hearing-impaired people. However, the accuracy of this claim is questionable since TFS and ENV are correlated and one can recover ENV to some extent if provided with TFS-only speech. In this work, we quantify the relative advantages of TFS and the possible influence of recovered ENV on speech recognition scores. We used a computational model for the cat auditory periphery, which was modified to match the available data for human cochlear tuning. The output of the model was analyzed by the spectro-temporal modulation index (STMI) metric to predict speech intelligibility. The settings for the auditory model output and STMI parameters were chosen to be insensitive to fast variations in the speech waveform within a narrow frequency band so that the STMI results are a direct measure of the envelope content of the stimulus. A speech recognition experiment was conducted on five normal-hearing subjects and the STMI predictions were mapped to intelligibility using a specially constructed mapping function. The TFS role was quantified by examining the TFS intelligibility scores and the corresponding intelligibility predictions from ENV recovery. Our results show that although ENV recovery has some influence on the intelligibility results, it cannot account for the total reported intelligibility.
Futures Market Fundamentals

The precise origins of the futures markets are obscure but arguably might be traced back to ancient Greece or medieval Europe or perhaps Japan. Modern futures markets as we know them today emerged from the North American grain trade as it evolved during the nineteenth century, driven in large part by the development of grain transportation patterns in the central and eastern United States. In more recent times since the early to mid-1970s, a variety of financial futures have been introduced in addition to the more traditional agricultural or physical commodity futures markets. These instruments now cover products as diverse as interest rate, equity, and foreign exchange markets but have been extended to include somewhat more esoteric items including real estate values, economic indicators, and even weather conditions. Whereas futures were once regarded as arcane trading vehicles largely used by speculators in search of outsized profits, they are now widely regarded and accepted by institutional and retail traders alike as a legitimate and even essential component of many investment and risk-management programs. The popularity of these instruments has in fact grown to achieve immense scale. The notional value of futures transacted frequently exceeds the values traded in the underlying markets to which these futures are tied. In the process, these instruments have focused attention and interest on Chicago as the epicenter of futures market developments and innovation. CME Group stands out as the leader in this regard, representing the amalgam of futures exchanges including Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and Commodity Exchange (COMEX). It is beyond the scope of this chapter to discuss the many direct and less subtle uses of these versatile risk management and investment tools. Rather,
A LuxS-Dependent Cell-to-Cell Language Regulates Social Behavior and Development in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT Cell-to-cell communication in bacteria is mediated by quorum-sensing systems (QSS) that produce chemical signal molecules called autoinducers (AI). In particular, LuxS/AI-2-dependent QSS has been proposed to act as a universal lexicon that mediates intra- and interspecific bacterial behavior. Here we report that the model organism Bacillus subtilis operates a luxS-dependent QSS that regulates its morphogenesis and social behavior. We demonstrated that B. subtilis luxS is a growth-phase-regulated gene that produces active AI-2 able to mediate the interspecific activation of light production in Vibrio harveyi. We demonstrated that in B. subtilis, luxS expression was under the control of a novel AI-2-dependent negative regulatory feedback loop that indicated an important role for AI-2 as a signaling molecule. Even though luxS did not affect spore development, AI-2 production was negatively regulated by the master regulatory proteins of pluricellular behavior, SinR and Spo0A. Interestingly, wild B. subtilis cells, from the undomesticated and probiotic B. subtilis natto strain, required the LuxS-dependent QSS to form robust and differentiated biofilms and also to swarm on solid surfaces. Furthermore, LuxS activity was required for the formation of sophisticated aerial colonies that behaved as giant fruiting bodies where AI-2 production and spore morphogenesis were spatially regulated at different sites of the developing colony. We proposed that LuxS/AI-2 constitutes a novel form of quorum-sensing regulation where AI-2 behaves as a morphogen-like molecule that coordinates the social and pluricellular behavior of B. subtilis.
Monitoring algal blooms using active learning camera sensor networks

The frequent occurrence of toxin-producing algal blooms is a serious concern for the ecological status of inland water and for human and animal health. In this paper, camera sensor networks are used to monitor algal blooms in lake for the first time. A distributed machine learning based algal blooms recognition DMLAR algorithm is proposed and implemented on embedded sensor nodes. DMLAR accurately recognises algal blooms and estimates their amounts in real-time based on the pictures of water surface. The machine learning model used by DMLAR is constructed by designing an active learning task, which is accomplished by collaborative embedded sensor nodes in a distributed manner. Extensive field experiments with large dataset are performed on the system deployed in lake since May 2010. Experiment results show that DMLAR outperforms two widely used methods both in terms of estimation accuracy and execution time, using nearly the same memory and energy.
HISTORIC CITIES IN EMERGING COUNTRIES. ECONOMICS OF CONSERVATION REVISITED

In 2012, UNESCO celebrated the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention for the Conservation of the Architectural Heritage. The protection and preservation of the world built heritage has been since so successful that we face today a new challenge in managing the heritage in a context of threatening macroeconomic factors: mass-tourism, urban development, restructuring, market dominance, climate changes, etc. The paper aims to revisit economics of conservation in the framework of historic cities in emerging countries. That entails the need for the sound assessment of economic values, the development of new monitoring tools, and decision-making process. It also put emphasis on new partnerships between public and private initiatives in historic cities.
Single Strand DNA Binding and Annealing Activities in the Yeast Recombination Factor Rad59*

Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD59 gene is required for homologous recombination processes and normal level of resistance to ionizing radiation. To study the biochemical functions of Rad59, it was overproduced in yeast and purified to near homogeneity. Rad59 binds DNA, showing much higher affinity for ssDNA than dsDNA. Rad59 also anneals complementary DNA strands, and order of addition experiments indicate that maximal annealing efficiency is achieved when both complementary DNA strands are present upon addition of Rad59. Thus, Rad59 resembles its homolog Rad52 in being able to bind ssDNA and anneal complementary DNA strands. However, unlike Rad52, DNA annealing by Rad59 is not accelerated by the ssDNA binding factor RPA. DNA binding and strand annealing are likely to be important for the biological functions of Rad59 in general recombination and in the single-strand annealing pathway of recombination.
The cultural complexity of medical groups

Background: Organizational culture is an important driver of organizational performance. However, little is known about the cultures of medical groups, which play an important role in health care. Purpose: We sought to characterize the cultures of medical groups and identify factors that influence these cultures. Methodology: We conducted a qualitative study of the organizational cultures of 8 U.S. multispecialty medical groups, using data collected during site visits and in-depth interviews with clinical and administrative staff (N = 69). Groups were randomly selected from those that participated in the second National Study of Physician Organizations using stratified sampling along three dimensions (i.e., ownership type, use of care management practices, and outcome performance). We analyzed the data to assess the presence of seven culture types—group, hierarchical, rational, developmental, quality oriented, patient centered, and physician centered—using the constant comparative method. Findings: We found that a multiplicity and diversity of cultures exist within and across multispecialty medical groups, with a dominance of patient-centered, physician-centered, rational, or quality-oriented cultures and less emphasis on group, developmental, and hierarchical cultures. Culture types that may seem antithetical, for example, patient-centered and physician-centered cultures, often coexisted within the same group. Across culture types, we found that six factors influenced medical group culture: financial, people, leadership, structural, processes, and environmental. Practice Implications: As medical groups adapt to changes under health care reform, their success likely depends on their having cultures that facilitate collaboration with other organizations (e.g., hospitals) that possess different cultures and adaptation to changes in payment and regulation. Our study suggests that some groups may not have the developmental and group cultures needed to adapt. Our study identifies six categories of levers they can use to alter their culture as desired.
Euc Chargeback Systems and their impacts on End User Behavior

Chargeback systems in an end user computing (EUC) environment were evaluated in an empirical survey of 16 organizations and 151 end users. The organizations were classified into six EUC chargeback system groups according to the extent of operation, development and investment costs absorbed in overhead, EDP-department control over microcomputer purchases and end user involvement in EUC budgeting. The six chargeback system types were strongly associated with organizational characteristics and moderately associated with EDP-departmental characteristics, but quite independent of user population characteristics. The impact of different chargeback systems on end user recognition of control was tested and verified in part. Neither chargeback systems nor recognition of control groups were associated with user variables. This is explained by the unique nature of EUC, which does not support the use of indirect control mechanisms such as chargeback systems to regulate demand.
Phenotype of cytochrome P4501B1 gene (CYP1B1) mutations in Japanese patients with primary congenital glaucoma

Aim: To investigate the phenotypes associated with cytochrome P4501B1 gene (CYP1B1) mutations in Japanese patients with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Methods: 66 Japanese patients with PCG were screened for sequence mutations in the CYP1B1 gene using single strand conformation polymorphism analysis followed by automated DNA sequencing. 11 cases had a CYP1B1 mutation in both alleles (the mutation group) and 21 cases did not have a CYP1B1 mutation (the “no mutation” group). The clinical features, such as age of onset, sex, intraocular pressure, and Descemet‘s membrane rupture, of the two groups were compared. Results: The clinical symptoms and signs did not differ for the two groups. The mean age at onset was 1.7 months in the mutation group and 3.1 months in the no mutation group, and the male:female ratio was 6:5 in the mutation group and 19:2 in the no mutation group. Both of these differences were statistically significant. Conclusions: In clinically diagnosed cases of PCG, a subgroup shows a CYP1B1 gene mutation. Age at onset was earlier in PCG patients with CYP1B1 mutations than in patients without mutations. Women were more prevalent among patients with mutations than those without mutations.