Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single-Cell Optical Absorbance Characterization With High-Throughput Microfluidic Microscopy

Morphological changes in cells associated with disease states are often assessed using clinical microscopy. However, the changes in chemical composition of cells can also be used to detect disease conditions. Optical absorption measurements carried out on single cells using inexpensive sources, detectors can help assess the chemical composition of cells; thereby enable detection of diseases. In this article, we present a novel technique capable of simultaneously detecting changes in morphology and chemical composition of cells. The presented technique enables characterization of optical absorbance-based methods against microscopy for detection of disease states. Using the technique, we have been able to achieve a throughput of about 1000 cells per second. We demonstrate the proof-of-principle by detecting malaria in a given blood sample. The presented technique is capable of detecting very lower levels of parasitemia within time scales comparable to antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests.
The Determinants of the Emergence of Coopetition Strategy in R&D

Abstract: This study aims to reveal the determinants of the emergence of coopetition strategy in R&D programs. This qualitative research is based on an exploratory case study: the cluster Celtic-Plus, dedicated to wireless telecommunications within the Eureka program. Our results show that several factors are necessary for coopetitive projects to emerge: a favorable context for collaboration, research-oriented objectives, consistency with the strategy of member firms, and a portfolio of R&D projects represented in several European, national, and regional R&D programs. This research shows how the degree of maturity of technology shapes a firm’s choice of coopetition strategy. Competitors work together to render technology maturer but without arriving at the development of final products and services stage. This strategy creates a time-lag between the cooperative and the competitive behaviors of the coopetition strategy. The study concludes with guidance for firms choosing a coopetition strategy.
How Do Short-Sale Costs Affect Put Options Trading? Evidence from Separating Hedging and Speculative Shorting Demands

We find that put options trading volume and bid-ask spreads both increase with equity lending fees. However, we also find that put options trading volume decreases with lending fees for banned stocks during the 2008 Short-Sale Ban period, when only options market makers could short. By separating the speculative demand of short sellers from the hedging demand of options market makers in the lending market, our results provide a thorough analysis of the interaction between the options market and the equity lending market. We also shed light on the substitutability/complementarity between put options volume and short interest shown in the literature.
HOUSEHOLDS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN ADWA WOREDA, ETHIOPIA: A CONTINGENT VALUATION STUDY

Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental problems in the highlands of Ethiopia. The prevalence of traditional agricultural land use and the absence of appropriate resource management often result in the degradation of natural soil fertility in the country. Hence, this study assesses farm households‟ WTP for soil conservation practices through a CVM study. Double Bounded Dichotomous choice with an Open ended follow up format was used to elicit the households‟ willingness to pay. Based on data collected from 218 respondents, descriptive statistics indicated that most of the respondents have perceived the problem of soil erosion and are willing to pay for conservation practices. Probit model was employed to assess the determinants of willingness to pay. Results of the model shows that age of the household head, sex of the household head, education level of the household head, family size, perception, land tenure, Total Livestock Units and initial bid were the important variables in determining willingness to pay for soil conservation practices in the study area. The study also show that the mean willingness to pay estimated from the Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice and open ended formats was computed at 56.65 and 48.94 person days per annum, respectively. The respective total aggregate value of soil conservation in the study area (Adwa Woreda) was computed to be 1,373,592 (16,483,104 Birr) and 1,186,648.18 (14,239,778.16 Birr) per annum for five years, respectively. The results of the study have shown that socio economic characteristics of the household and other institutional factors are responsible for household‟s WTP for soil conservation practices. Therefore, policy and program intervention designed to address soil erosion problems in the study area have needed to take in to account these characteristics.
High feasibility of cytological specimens for detection of ROS1 fusion by reverse transcriptase PCR in Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose Our previous study demonstrated that cytological specimens can be used as alternative samples for detecting anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion with the method of reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The current study aimed to investigate the feasibility of cytological specimens for ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase (ROS1) fusion detection by RT-PCR in advanced NSCLC patients. Patients and methods A total of 2,538 patients with advanced NSCLC, including 2,101 patients with cytological specimens and 437 patients with tumor tissues, were included in this study. All patients were screened for ROS1 fusion status by RT-PCR. The efficacy of crizotinib treatment was evaluated in ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC patients. Results Among 2,101 patients with cytological specimens, the average concentration of RNA acquired from cytological specimens was 47.68 ng/μL (95% CI, 43.24–52.62), which was lower than the average of 66.54 ng/μL (95% CI, 57.18–76.60, P=0.001) obtained from 437 tumor tissues. Fifty-five patients harbored ROS1 fusion gene that was detected by RT-PCR, and 14 of them were treated with crizotinib. The incidence of ROS1 fusion was 1.95% (41/2,101) in 2,101 patients with cytological specimens, similar to the rate of 3.20% (14/437, P=0.102) for the 437 patients with tumor tissue. Regarding crizotinib treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the objective response rate (ORR) (81.8% vs 100%, P=0.604) between the cytological and tissue subgroups of ROS1-positive patients. Conclusion This study shows that cytological specimens can be utilized as alternative samples for ROS1 fusion detection by RT-PCR in advanced NSCLC patients.
The differential effects of the radioprotectant drugs amifostine and sodium selenite treatment in combination with radiation therapy on constituent bone cells, ewing's sarcoma of bone tumor cells, and rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells in vitro

The purpose of this study was to determine the differential effects of therapeutic X‐radiation on constituent bone cells relative to the pediatric tumor cells: Ewing's sarcoma of bone and rhabdomyosarcoma. In addition, the radioprotectant drugs amifostine and sodium selenite were administered to constituent bone cells and the two tumor cells to determine if the radioprotectants differentially protect bone cells while not benefiting the tumor cells. These studies are a necessary first step in determining the potential clinical benefit of radioprotective therapy. An established in vitro cell culture model employing both constituent bone cells (osteoblasts, primary bone marrow monocytes, osteoclasts chondrocytes, and endothelial cells) and the tumor cells lines (Ewing's sarcoma of bone and rhabdomyosarcoma) were exposed to irradiation, amifostine, and sodium selenite. Cells were then assayed for changes in cell number, cytotoxicity, mineralization, bone resorption, cell attachment, osteocalcin, caspase‐3 expression, clonogenic survival, and alkaline phosphatase expression. Radiation therapy differentially decreased cell number; with osteoblasts being shown to be the least sensitive to irradiation, the tumor cells had an intermediate sensitivity and monocytes were the most sensitive. Both amifostine and sodium selenite protected chondrocytes and osteoblasts from the negative effects of irradiation, while not protecting the tumor cells. The pediatric tumor cell lines were generally more radiosensitive than the bone cells examined. The radioprotectant drugs amifostine and sodium selenite provided significant radioprotection to constituent bone cells while not protecting the tumor cells. Finally, amifostine and sodium selenite therapy provided an additional benefit beyond radioprotection by increasing cytotoxicity in nonirradiated and irradiated tumor cells. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1512–1519, 2008
Authentication and self-correction in DNA identification based on agarose-gel images

Agarose gel electrophoresis is an ideal method for separating and analyzing DNA and RNA molecules. Analysis is based on digital images taken by cameras equipped with UV filters and finds its main use in DNA identification. It is thus of paramount importance that these images employ authentication mechanisms and if possible, self-restore capabilities against malicious tampering. The proposed approach achieves the required authentication and self-correction by hiding a copy of the regions-of-interest into the region-of-non-interest of the images.
Compliance, Deterrence and Beyond

Effective enforcement is vital to the successful implementation of social legislation, and legislation that is not enforced, rarely fulfils its social objectives. This paper examines the question of how the enforcement task might best be conducted to achieve policy outcomes that are effective (in terms of reducing the incidence of social harm) and efficient (in doing so at least cost to both duty holders and regulators), while also maintaining community confidence. It begins by examining the two strategies that historically dominated the debate about enforcement strategy. First, the question of “regulatory style”; and second, whether it is more appropriate for regulators to “punish or persuade”. Recognising the deficiencies of the dichotomy between the two, the paper goes on to explore more recent approaches that have proved increasingly influential on the policy debate. These approaches include Ayres and Braithwaite’s arguments in favour of “Responsive Regulation”, which are taken further by “Smart Regulation”. The latter recognises the benefits of an escalating response up an enforcement pyramid but also argues that government should harness second and third parties (both commercial and non-commercial) as surrogate regulators and that regulation and enforcement should be designed using a number of different instruments implemented by a number of parties, and not necessarily by government alone.
Parasexual genetic analysis of Candida albicans by spheroplast fusion

Doubly auxotrophic strains of Candida albicans were selected from mutagenized cultures. Spheroplasts prepared from the auxotrophic strains were fused with polyethylene glycol. Prototrophic derivatives formed by this fusion protocol from auxotrophic strains were selected by complementation on minimal medium. These prototrophs had a cell volume twice that of the original strain and were shown to be heterozygous at four loci. Prototrophs obtained by this procedure infrequently gave rise to auxotrophic recombinants whose cell volume remained twice that of the original strain. It is suggested that these auxotrophic recombinants arise from mitotic crossing-over. This paper is the first report of a parasexual cycle in C. albicans.
Would You Trust Yourself? On the Long-Run Stability of Reciprocal Trust

Preferences for reciprocity of the Falk-Fischbacher type are applied to a game of trust. After deriving the reciprocity equilibrium, the evolution of preferences is analysed showing that a medium level of reciprocity is evolutionary stable. If players exhibit different inclinations regarding positive and negative reciprocity, a medium level of positive reciprocity remains stable but negative reciprocity must vanish. In both cases, players should show a level of reciprocity such that they would exactly trust themselves. The evolutionary equilibrium is characterized neither by efficiency (besides perfect information) nor by equity, although equity is used as a reference standard.
Investigation of the Statistical Variability of Static Noise Margins of SRAM Cells Using the Statistical Impedance Field Method

The statistical variability of the static noise margin of a six-transistor bulk complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor static random access memory (SRAM) cell due to random doping fluctuations (RDFs) is investigated via 3-D technology computer-aided design simulations. The SRAM cell is created through 3-D process simulations of the entire cell as a single structure. The process flow is based on a typical 32-nm technology. The effects of RDFs on the cell performance are investigated using the highly efficient statistical impedance field method.
Assessing molecular line diagnostics of triggered star formation using synthetic observations

The calculations presented here were performed using the University of Exeter Supercomputer, part of the DiRAC Facility jointly funded by STFC, the Large Facilities Capital Fund of BIS and the University of Exeter. TJH is funded by an STFC studentship. We thank Chris Brunt, Emily Drabek and Jennifer Hatchell for useful discussions. We also thank the referee for their useful comments, which helped to improve the paper.
Development and Analysis of Adaptive Neural Network Control for a Cybernetic Intelligent ‘iGDI’ Engine

As combustion can widely vary between engine cycles if left uncontrolled, strict and robust control methodologies required to meet optimum performance at different operating conditions. Although the direct injection stratified charge engine development attempts started since 1920, lack of advanced instrumentation and robust real-time control techniques restricted its developments to common usages. In this research, novel intelligent control solutions developed and simulated on a Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine. A research four cylinder 2.0 L GDI engine modeled with specific mechanical hardware along with adaptive control software that is frequently called as the conceptual Cybernetic intelligent GDI or ‘iGDI’ engine The engine modeled with Free Valve Actuation (FVA) hardware and precision fuel injectors connected directly to the engine cylinders that found assistive for control flexibility by technical assessments. Then a mechatronic neural network control approach proposed with adaptive control techniques. The engine and the controllers modeled and simulated with GT-SUITE and SIMULINK coupled simulation for control performance validation. Adaptive and predictive neural control architectures developed for multiple distinct GDI combustion modes. High volumetric efficiency (~99%) obtained overcoming pumping loss with throttle-less drive-by-wire operation. The neurocontrollers trained for time varying plant dynamics with Nonlinear Autoregressive with eXogenous Input (NARX) neural network. AFR set-point tracking achieved on ‘ECO’ mode with NARMA-L2 controller for minimum BSFC and NOx. On ‘POWER’ mode operation, maximum brake torque (MBT) obtained with NN predictive controller. Intake boosting provided by single stage turbocharging with intelligent controller methods developed and discussed. NN based controller algorithms developed, trained and simulated for dynamic control on cylinder firing events named as intelligent Dynamic Skip firing (iDSF) operation. Performance upgrades with the new hardware and software solutions discussed and shown graphically. It is clearly resulted that computational intelligence could effectively handle highly nonlinear dynamic real-time MIMO engine control problem with advantages of online optimization and adaptation feature.
The impact of Public Procurement Act 663 on the procurement of essential water treatment chemicals at Ghana Water Company Limited

Introduction: This article discusses the extent to which the promulgation of Public Procurement Act (PPA) 663 has affected the acquiring of water treatment chemicals which is pivotal to the operations of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). The purpose is to find out from officials within the company about their impressions with the coming into force of the act for more than a decade now. Methods: A descriptive study with quantitative methods was conducted with workers of GWCL; procurements and materials, operations/project management unit and projects planning and development in Accra. Questionnaires were administered to 85 workers within GWCL through a purposive sampling method. Data analyses involved descriptive statistics using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 85 participants, 88.2% revealed that all contracts are made available to interested individuals to apply through sources such as website of GWCL and newspapers. Most workers agreed that procurement management has improved efficiency and effectiveness in procurement of essential water chemicals (mean=4.08). Finding further revealed that the PPA has significant (65.9%) and very strong effect (27.1%) on procurement of essential water treatment. However, the structure has been plagued by lapses affecting procurement of water treatment chemicals. These include bureaucracy and centralization which has negative impacts on procurement activities. Conclusion: The study concludes that since the coming into force of the act, there has been institutionalization of structures to handle procurement within GWCL. Therefore, measures to decentralize the activities of GWCL will further help in enhancing efficiency within GWCL and other entities to a larger extent.
Cell‐fusion‐mediated somatic‐cell reprogramming: A mechanism for tissue regeneration

Spontaneous cell fusion between two cells of different lineages will originate new hybrid cells that have different features from the original parent cells. It has been shown that injury to a tissue can enhance spontaneous cell–cell fusion events. If one of the parent cells of a cell–cell fusion is highly plastic, such as a stem cell, and the other is a somatic cell, their fusion can be followed by reprogramming events that can generate new hybrid pluripotent cells. These, in turn, have the potential to differentiate and regenerate the damaged tissue. However, if this process is deregulated, this would provide a mechanism for cancer development. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 6–13, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of the N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 gene (ASAH1) for susceptibility to schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population

Abstract Objectives. To study the involvement of the N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 gene (ASAH1) in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Han Chinese population. Methods. We performed cDNA microarray analysis to exam the gene expression profile in six schizophrenic patients and six healthy controls. We evaluated the ASAH1 expression levels in 30 subjects with chronic schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 254 unrelated probands with schizophrenia and their biological parents were also genotyped at three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: rs3753118, rs3753116, and rs7830490) of the ASAH1 gene for association analysis. Results. In the microarray analysis, the ASAH1 gene was down-regulated in all schizophrenic patients compared with healthy controls. In real-time PCR, the ASAH1 expression levels for schizophrenic patients with positive family history were significantly decreased (P = 0.020). In the association analyses, two SNPs (rs7830490 and rs3753118) and one haplotype (rs7830490 (A)-rs3753116 (G)) of ASAH1 showed significant evidence of nominal associations with schizophrenia (P = 0.026; P = 0.046; P = 0.007, respectively). The haplotype remained statistically significant (empirical P = 0.045) after correction for multiple testing. Conclusions. This study supports that the ASAH1 gene may be a potential candidate gene for schizophrenia in Han Chinese subjects.
Magnetic fields and brain tumour risks in UK electricity supply workers.

AIMS To investigate whether brain tumour risks are related to occupational exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields. METHODS Brain tumour risks experienced by 73 051 employees of the former Central Electricity Generating Board of England and Wales were investigated for the period 1973-2010. All employees were hired in the period 1952-82 and were employed for at least 6 months with some employment in the period 1973-82. Detailed calculations had been performed by others to enable an assessment to be made of exposures to magnetic fields. Poisson regression was used to calculate relative risks (rate ratios) of developing a brain tumour (or glioma or meningioma) for categories of lifetime, distant (lagged) and recent (lugged) exposure. RESULTS Findings for glioma and for the generality of all brain tumours were unexceptional; risks were close to (or below) unity for all exposure categories and there was no suggestion of risks increasing with cumulative (or recent or distant) magnetic field exposures. There were no statistically significant dose-response effects shown for meningioma, but there was some evidence of elevated risks in the three highest exposure categories for exposures received >10 years ago. CONCLUSIONS This study found no evidence to support the hypothesis that exposure to magnetic fields is a risk factor for gliomas, and the findings are consistent with the hypotheses that both distant and recent magnetic field exposures are not causally related to gliomas. The limited positive findings for meningioma may be chance findings; national comparisons argue against a causal interpretation.