Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the effect of substrate stiffness on neural stem cell differentiation

Differentiated neurons (dorsal root ganglia and cortical neurons) have been shown to develop longer neurite extensions on softer materials than stiffer ones, but previous studies do not address the ability of neural stem cells to undergo differentiation as a result of material elasticity. In this study, we investigate neuronal differentiation of C17.2 neural stem cells due to growth on polyacrylamide gels of variable elastic moduli. Neurite growth, synapse formation, and mode of division (asymmetric vs. symmetric) were all assessed to characterize differentiation. C17.2 neural stem cells were seeded onto polyacrylamide gels coated with Type I collagen. The cells were then serum starved over a 14 day period, fixed, and analyzed for biochemical markers of differentiation. For division studies, time-lapse imaging of cells on various substrates was performed during serum withdrawal using the Nikon Biostation. Division events were analyzed using ImageJ to quantify sizes of resulting daughter. Data shows that C17.2 cell differentiation (as dictated by number and type of division events) is dependent upon substrate stiffness, with softer polyacrylamide surfaces (140 Pa) leading to increased populations of neurons and increased neurite length. Our data also indicates that the ability of neural stem cells to express synaptic proteins and develop synapses is dependent upon material elasticity.
The Influence of Legal Proceedings on French General Practice: A Qualitative Study

Legal proceedings are becoming increasingly common in our society and especially in medicine. This raises the question as to whether General Practitioners (GPs) are concerned by this phenomenon. This study explores the impact of proceedings on the feelings and behaviors of different doctors. A qualitative semi-structured interview with 13 French GPs based on grounded theory was performed. A thematic analysis with major themes was then performed. This survey shows that lawsuits have little impact on the daily practice of GPs. Defensive medicine is practiced in certain specific situations: the treatment given, a patient known or perceived to be litigious. GPs attach importance to information and communicating to the patient. The primary concern of GPs remains their patients. They are not subject to daily anxiety over the risk of lawsuits.
Prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Japanese adults

Background Adult atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japan has become a significant social problem, with as many as one‐third of adult patients with severe AD absenting themselves from work or classes due to aggravation of the disease. Reports of such patients have become increasingly common in recent years. Despite the pressing need for epidemiological studies to clarify the prevalence and distribution of AD and to determine its aetiology, no previous research has been carried out on the prevalence of AD within the adult population in Japan.
Dependence of the mean SNR on the interaction between multiuser diversity, multipath diversity, and feedback delay

We examine wireless systems employing Rake receivers and fast scheduling over multiple users. The interactions between multipath diversity, multiuser diversity, and the feedback delay are investigated in terms of the mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). It is assumed that all users experience the same propagation characteristics, i.e., the same number of taps and power-delay profile (PDP). The results are exact as well as asymptotic (in the number of users) expressions that quantify this interaction. It is found that as the number of taps in the channel increases, the multiuser diversity gain decreases but better robustness against feedback delay is achieved. Furthermore, the asymptotic results derived show good agreement with the exact results for an exponential PDP, even for few users. Thus, we obtain expressions for the mean SNR that are compact and easy to evaluate.
Key issues in the dynamic control of lightweight robots for space and terrestrial applications

Compared with industrial robots, the DLR lightweight robot characterizes a new milestone in the field of robot design. The module structure, the highly integrated electrical and mechanical components, the very low own-weight/load ratio, the high motion speed as well as the joint-torque feedback capability are the main features of this new robot generation aiming towards the functionality of a human arm. The paper attempts to integrate the newest results in the field of robotics, nonlinear control theory and electric drive systems to formulate the possible solutions of the dynamic control issues, Some experimental or simulation results are given to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control approaches.
Design of High Integrated Low Phase Noise Phase-Locked Loop Frequency Synthesizer System

A design method of a local oscillator operated on C band was proposed in this paper for the high stability, high precision and light weight of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data link radio frequency transmitting unit. Based on high integrated broadband phase-locked loop chip (HMC834), the system was designed by adopting the internal programming models for the fractional-N control, and the high phase noise and small frequency step of the output could be realized. The simulation and testing method were combined to optimize and select the parameters of the filter circuit, and realize high precision phase-locked frequency synthesis output in the hardware design process. The theoretical analysis and engineering prototype measurement results showed that the local oscillator had stable output frequency, accurate frequency step, high spurious suppression and low phase noise, and met the design requirements. The proposed design idea and research method have theoretical guiding sense for engineering practice.
Possible predictive tests for malignant hyperthermia during anesthesia.

A 17-year-old patient survived an episode of fulminant hyperpyrexia during anesthesia with methohexital sodium, nitrous oxide, halothane, and succinylcholine. Five months later, studies performed in his immediate family revealed high creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values in him and slightly elevated values in his mother, brother, sister, and one maternal uncle and grandmother. The patient, his mother, brother, and sister were also found to have elevated serum pyrophosphate (P-P). Upper borderline levels of lactic dehydrogenase occur at expenses of its fraction III. These tests may have possible predictive value in identifying susceptible patients.
Learning Translations via Matrix Completion

Bilingual Lexicon Induction is the task of learning word translations without bilingual parallel corpora. We model this task as a matrix completion problem, and present an effective and extendable framework for completing the matrix. This method harnesses diverse bilingual and monolingual signals, each of which may be incomplete or noisy. Our model achieves state-of-the-art performance for both high and low resource languages.
Modulation and coding for information storage

Many of the types of modulation codes designed for use in storage devices using magnetic recording are discussed. The codes are intended to minimize the negative effects of intersymbol interference. The channel model is first presented. The peak detection systems used in most commercial disk drives are described, as are the run length-limited (d,k) codes they use. Recently introduced recording channel technology based on sampling detection-partial-response (or PRML) is then considered. Several examples are given to illustrate that the introduction of partial response equalization, sampling detection, and digital signal processing has set the stage for the invention and application of advanced modulation and coding techniques in future storage products. <<ETX>>
Efficacité de l'aide et développement : le cas de l'Asie de l'Est

L'aide au developpement est aujourd'hui remise en question. Si quelques pays ont reussi a se sortir du sous-developpement, l'echec de nombreux programmes d'assistance et des strategies de developpement mises en oeuvre au Sud, parait evident. L'inadequation des modeles theoriques sous-jacents avec la realite economique des pays en developpement et l'absence de prise en compte des consequences sociales des programmes de reformes, expliquent en grande partie cette desillusion. L'efficacite de l'aide est rapidement sujette a debat, une controverse alimentee par la difficulte d'etablir une relation directe entre l'aide et la croissance, au niveau theorique ou empirique. Toutefois, la croissance est un processus complexe et lent de transformation des structures productives et au-dela du mode de vie. Nous montrons qu'au niveau macroeconomique, il conviendrait plutot de s'attacher aux effets indirects de l'aide sur le reste de l'economie pour evaluer son efficacite. Contrairement a de nombreux pays dans l'impasse, l'Asie de l'Est a connu un developpement economique exceptionnel depuis 40 ans. Les flux d'aide publique au developpement et plus generalement les flux de capitaux etrangers ont pu jouer un role considerable dans le decollage economique de ces pays, revelant une forte capacite d'absorption. Dans ce contexte, le Japon s'est clairement positionne comme le principal bailleur de fonds et fournisseur de technologies avancees. Nos travaux mettent en lumiere l'originalite de l'aide japonaise dont le deploiement par vagues successives dans la region suit une logique de regionalisation dans laquelle les flux publics et prives sont etroitement lies et constitue une pratique singuliere de rationalisation economique des programmes d'assistance. Les resultats contribuent a l'elaboration d'un modele pertinent d'attribution de l'aide et, plus globalement, a la mise en lumiere des mecanismes sous-jacents a une dynamique du developpement.
Muscarinic receptor M2 in cat visual cortex: Laminar distribution, relationship to γ‐aminobutyric acidergic neurons, and effect of cingulate lesions

Acetylcholine can have diverse effects on visual cortical neurons as a result of variations in postsynaptic receptor subtypes as well as the types of neurons and subcellular sites targeted. This study examines the cellular basis for cholinergic activation in visual cortex via M2 type muscarinic receptors in γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ergic and non‐GABAergic cells, using immunocytochemical techniques. At light microscopic resolution, M2 immunoreactivity (‐ir) was seen in all layers except area and sublayer specific bands in layer 4. Subcellularly, M2‐ir occurred in both dendrites and terminals that form symmetric and asymmetric junctions. Layers 5 and 6 were characterized by axosomatic contacts that displayed labeling in the presynaptic component, and layer 6 displayed perikaryal postsynaptic staining, suggesting that corticofugal output neurons may be modulated particularly strongly via M2. Infragranular layers differed from the supragranular layers in that more labeled profiles were axonal than dendritic, indicating a dominant presynaptic effect by acetylcholine via M2 there. Unilateral cingulate cortex cuts caused reduction of cholinergic and noradrenergic fibers in the lesioned hemisphere at light microscopic resolution; at electron microscopic resolution, the synapse density and axonal M2 labeling were reduced, suggesting that M2 was localized presynaptically on extrathalamic modulatory inputs. Dual labeling with GABA in visual cortex layer 5 showed that half of M2‐labeled dendrites originated from GABAergic neurons. Given that only one‐fifth of all cortical dendritic profiles are GABAergic, this prevalence of dual labeling indicates an enrichment of M2 within GABAergic dendrites and, thus, implicates abundant postsynaptic action on GABAergic neurons via M2. In contrast, only one‐tenth of M2‐labeled terminals originated from GABAergic neurons, suggesting that the presynaptic action of acetylcholine via M2 receptors would be more selective for non‐GABAergic terminals. J. Comp. Neurol. 441:168–185, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neural network models for diagnostics of complex technical objects state by example of electrochemical treatment process

The work is devoted to solving the problem of monitoring and diagnostics of the complex technical and technological objects state by data-based models application. As an example of these models use, the process of electrochemical dimensional processing of high-strength materials was considered. The models of electrochemical processing based on neural networks are developed. The option for introduction of the developed models in the control system of electrochemical machining machines with the use of the Fault Detection and Identification method is proposed. The experimental results have shown that the developed models can reproduce the real process of electrochemical treatment and may be used for the tasks of diagnostics of the state of technological electrochemical processing.
A broad literature review of density measurements of liquid cast iron

The literature on density measurements, with a particular interest in methods suitable for liquid cast iron, is reviewed. Different measurement methods based on a number of physical properties are highlighted and compared. Methods for the calculation of density are also reviewed, and the influence of alloying elements on density is, to some extent, discussed. The topic is of essence for the understanding of the material behaviour at solidification, which is pivotal in software applications for casting simulation. Since a deeper understanding of the relationship between the density of liquid cast iron and volume expansion is necessary, the conclusion that further research within the field is needed lies close at hand.
Quantifying enzyme activity in living cells

For over a century, enzymatic activity has been studied in vitro, assuming similar activity in the crowded cellular milieu. Here, we determined in real time the catalytic activity of TEM1-β-lactamase inside living cells and compared the values to those obtained in vitro. We found the apparent in vivo catalytic efficiency, kcat/Km, to be lower than in vitro, with significant cell-to-cell variability. Surprisingly, the results show that inside the cell the apparent catalytic efficiency decreases, and Km increases with increasing enzyme concentration. To rationalize these findings, we measured enzyme and substrate diffusion rates in the cell and found the latter to be slower than expected. Simulations showed that for attenuated diffusion the substrate flux becomes rate-limiting, explaining why reaction rates in vivo can be independent on enzyme concentrations. The octanol/water partition of the substrate is 4.5, which is in the range of Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs. This suggests substrate-limited reaction rates to be common. These findings indicate that in vitro data cannot be simply extrapolated to the crowded in vivo environment.
Repair techniques for hybrid Nano/CMOS computational architecture

Presence of high defect rate in nanofabrics due to the inadequate fabrication processes has held back the development of emerging technology architecture. In this work, we propose two repair techniques to provide high level of defect tolerance in lookup table (LUT) based Boolean logic approach implemented in nano/CMOS. Further, we demonstrate that direct application of memory repair techniques is ineffective in dealing with high defect rate in hybrid nano/CMOS architecture. We show that the proposed techniques are capable of handling more than 20% defect rate in hybrid nano/CMOS architecture with efficient utilization of spare units.
Direct Interaction of Serotonin Type 3 Receptor Ligands with Recombinant and Native α9α10-Containing Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors

In the present work, we characterized the effects of serotonin type 3 receptor ligands on recombinant and native α9α10-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Our results indicate that the recombinant α9α10 nAChR shares striking pharmacological properties with 5-HT3 ligand-gated ion channels. Thus, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists block ACh-evoked currents in α9α10-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes with a rank order of potency of tropisetron (IC50, 70.1 ± 0.9 nM) > ondansetron (IC50, 0.6 ± 0.1 μM) = MDL 72222 (IC50, 0.7 ± 0.1 μM). Although serotonin does not elicit responses in α9α10-injected oocytes, it blocks recombinant α9α10 receptors in a noncompetitive and voltage-dependent manner (IC50, 5.4 ± 0.6 μM). On the other hand, we demonstrate an in vivo correlate of these properties of the recombinant receptor, with those of the α9α10-containing nAChR of frog saccular hair cells. The possibility that the biogenic amine serotonin might act as a neuromodulator of the cholinergic efferent transmission in the vestibular apparatus and in the organ of Corti is discussed.
The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine.

Adapted from material presented as the Loren Stephens Memorial * Lecture, University of Southern California Medical Center, Jan. 28, 1976; the Griffith McKerracher Memortal Lecture at the University of Saskatchewan, Mar. 26, 1976; the Annual Hutchings Society Lecture, State University of New York-Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, Apr. 21, 1976. Also presented during 1975-76 at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of California­ San Diego School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, and the 21st Annual Meeting of Midwest Professors of Psychiatry, Philadelphia .
Altered Proteins with Triosephosphate Isomerase Activity in Suppressor-containing Strains of Bacillus subtilis

Suppressor mutations in Bacillus subtilis cause the synthesis of a new protein with the enzymatic activity of l-leucine dehydrogenase and two groups of new proteins with the activity of triosephosphate isomerase. The new isoenzymes of triosephosphate isomerase are separable by zone electrophoresis and differ among themselves in elution behavior upon gel permeation chromatography. One group has an apparent average molecular weight of 120,000 to 135,000, which is more than twice that of the wild-type enzyme. Another group appears to be even higher in molecular weight. These data are consistent with the working hypothesis that the new isoenzymes are produced by extension of growing polypeptide chains through one or more chain-terminating triplets, although other mechanisms resulting in alteration of shapes, charges, or associations of the enzymes are not excluded.
Protein structure prediction by threading methods: Evaluation of current techniques

This paper evaluates the results of a protein structure prediction contest. The predictions were made using threading procedures, which employ techniques for aligning sequences with 3D structures to select the correct fold of a given sequence from a set of alternatives. Nine different teams submitted 86 predictions, on a total of 21 target proteins with little or no sequence homology to proteins of known structure. The 3D structures of these proteins were newly determined by experimental methods, but not yet published or otherwise available to the predictors. The predictions, made from the amino acid sequence alone, thus represent a genuine test of the current performance of threading methods. Only a subset of all the predictions is evaluated here. It corresponds to the 44 predictions submitted for the 11 target proteins seen to adopt known folds. The predictions for the remaining 10 proteins were not analyzed, although weak similarities with known folds may also exist in these proteins. We find that threading methods are capable of identifying the correct fold in many cases, but not reliably enough as yet. Every team predicts correctly a different set of targets, with virtually all targets predicted correctly by at least one team. Also, common folds such as TIM barrels are recognized more readily than folds with only a few known examples. However, quite surprisingly, the quality of the sequence‐structure alignments, corresponding to correctly recognized folds, is generally very poor, as judged by comparison with the corresponding 3D structure alignments. Thus, threading can presently not be relied upon to derive a detailed 3D model from the amino acid sequence. This raises a very intriguing question: how is fold recognition achieved? Our analysis suggests that it may be achieved because threading procedures maximize hydrophobic interactions in the protein core, and are reasonably good at recognizing local secondary structure. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maximising quality in health surveys: Lessons from the field.

The NSW Health Survey Program (HSP) has a goal to maximise the quality of the data it collects. This requires a comprehensive approach to quality control, which includes the implementation of procedures to ensure that minimum standards are met, the ongoing training of interviewers, and the motivation of interviewers to achieve high professional standards. Implicit in this approach is the notion that quality and productivity are not competing priorities.
Differences in germination and seedling establishment of alien and native Impatiens species Rozdíly v klíčivosti semen a vzcházení semenáčů nepůvodních a původních druhů rodu Impatiens

Comparative studies of closely related species may provide useful insights into the effect of species traits on invasion success since some of the biases associated with multispecies studies, such as phylogenetic effects, are considerably reduced by virtue of the experimental design. In this study seed and seedling traits of three congeneric alien species in Europe, differing in their region of origin, invasion status and history (Impatiens glandulifera, I. parviflora, I. capensis), were compared with the native I. noli-tangere in laboratory and common garden experiments. Seeds of I. glandulifera required the shortest period of stratification, germinated well both under laboratory and experimental garden conditions and the seedlings produced more biomass than those of the other species. Seeds of I. parviflora required a longer period of stratification, had the highest percentage germination but seedling emergence in the experimental garden was poorer than in I. glandulifera. Neither of these two species invasive in the Czech Republic formed soil seed banks. The native I. noli-tangere had the lowest percentage germination and formed a short-term persistent seed bank. Impatiens capensis germinated well in the laboratory, had the highest seedling emergence in the garden and its seed remained viable in the soil for three years. This indicates that in terms of germination and emergence, this species is comparable with the two invasive alien congeners and there appear to be no constraints to its invasion in the Czech Republic where it does not occur yet. Its absence may be due to a low propagule pressure; in the national flora I. capensis is listed as a potential future invader without mentioning it being cultivated in this country. Our results indicate that differences in the invasiveness of three alien species of balsams in the temperate zone of Central Europe can be attributed, at least in part, to their differing performances in the early stages of their life cycle. The short period of time required for seed stratification and the high seedling biomass of I. glandulifera might have increased its invasion potential compared to otherImpatiens species occurring in the Czech Republic.