Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation of highly pure and viable primordial germ cells from rainbow trout by GFP‐dependent flow cytometry

A highly pure and viable primordial germ cell (PGC) population appears to be an essential tool for establishing a cell line that can differentiate into a germ cell lineage and for studying the molecular biology and biochemistry of fish PGCs. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to establish a flow cytometric method for isolating highly pure and viable PGCs. As the material for PGC isolation, we used transgenic rainbow trout possessing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene driven by trout vasa‐gene regulatory sequences (pvasa‐GFP). Four independent transgenic strains were subjected to fluorescence microscopy and GFP‐dependent flow cytometric analyses. We found that some of the pvasa‐GFP transgenic strains exhibited ectopic background green fluorescence in the somatic cells aside from strong fluorescence in PGCs. Although flow cytometric analysis of genital ridge somatic cells in the four pvasa‐GFP transgenic strains revealed a wide range of GFP intensities, we proved that somatic cell contamination of the GFP‐positive cell population was markedly reduced if transgenic strains without the ectopic background green fluorescence were used. In addition, the forward light‐scattering (FS) property, which is an indication of relative cell size, and the side light‐scattering (SS) property, which is determined by cell shape and granularity, were employed to remove non‐PGC contaminants from the GFP‐positive cell population. By isolating GFP‐positive cells with high FS/SS values, we were able to effectively remove cell blebs and the apoptotic fraction. Consequently, the purities and survival rates of isolated PGCs were greatly improved compared with those using GFP intensity as a single indicator. Thus, our flow cytometric method, in combination with the selection of suitable transgenic strains without the ectopic background green fluorescence, is capable of isolating highly pure and viable PGCs from rainbow trout. By using this method in combination with cell‐cryopreservation and cell transplantation techniques, the isolated PGCs may also be used for preserving the genetic resources of endangered fish species and domesticated fish strains carrying commercially valuable traits. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 67: 91–100, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Polynomial-time Nash Equilibrium Algorithm for Repeated Stochastic Games

We present a polynomial-time algorithm that always finds an (approximate) Nash equilibrium for repeated two-player stochastic games. The algorithm exploits the folk theorem to derive a strategy profile that forms an equilibrium by buttressing mutually beneficial behavior with threats, where possible. One component of our algorithm efficiently searches for an approximation of the egalitarian point, the fairest pareto-efficient solution. The paper concludes by applying the algorithm to a set of grid games to illustrate typical solutions the algorithm finds. These solutions compare very favorably to those found by competing algorithms, resulting in strategies with higher social welfare, as well as guaranteed computational efficiency.
Animation Rendering on Multimedia Fog Computing Platforms

Modern distributed multimedia applications are resource-hungry, and they often leverage on-demand cloud services to reduce their expenses. Existing cloud services deploy many servers in a few data centers, which consume a lot of electricity to power up and cold down, and thus are expensive and environmentally unfriendly. In this paper, we present a multimedia fog computing platform that utilizes resources from public crowds, edge networks, and data centers to serve distributed multimedia applications at lower costs. We use animation rendering as a case study, and identify several challenges for optimizing it on our multimedia fog computing platform. Among these challenges, we focus on the problem of predicting the completion time of each rendering job. We propose an efficient algorithm based on state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. We also fine-tune the algorithm using multi-fold cross-validation for higher prediction accuracy. With real datasets, we conduct trace-driven simulations to quantify the performance of our prediction algorithm and that of the whole platform. The simulation results show that our proposed algorithm outperforms a state-of the-art statistical model in several aspects: completed job ratio by 20%, makespan by 2 times, and normalized deviation by 30 times, on average. Moreover, the overall performance of the platform with our proposed algorithm is fairly close to that with an Oracle of the actual job completion time: a small factor of 1.48 in terms of makespan is observed.
Modeling facility protection for numerical vulnerability assessment

Numerical vulnerability assessment provides calculations of possible facility attacking paths of the adversary. Path analysis is used to recommend facility modification or to add security elements to the most vulnerable path in order to reduce the vulnerability of the protected facility. For the implementation of the numerical vulnerability assessment it is necessary to develop a mathematical model of the protected facility. This paper presents an object based modeling approach that enables configuring the protected facility, placing the sensors, setting the blocking elements to delay the intruder, the use of burglary tools, modeling the security personnel activity, etc.
Functional MRI comparison of passive and active movement: possible inhibitory role of supplementary motor area

Recent studies have hypothesized that the supplementary motor area plays a role in motor inhibition. To study this possible role, we used functional MRI study to compare conditions, which require various level of inhibition of motor patterns. Seventeen healthy participants were scanned while executing – actively or passively – rhythmic opening/closing movements of their right hand, with and without congruent visual information. The contrast passive>active movement in the visual guidance condition which requires inhibition in order ‘not’ to perform the movement, yields to significant activation of areas commonly involved in the inhibitory brain circuitry among which, notably, controlateral supplementary motor area.
Body composition changes in haemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroidectomy measured by conventional and vector bioimpedance analysis

Considering the negative effects of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), the objective of the present study was to evaluate body composition changes using conventional and vector bioimpedance analysis in patients before and after parathyroidectomy (PTX). Twelve adult patients, mean age 43·4 (sd 12·7) years, were evaluated prior to and 6 months after PTX. Diets were assessed with 3d dietary records, and mean energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus intake were estimated from these inventories. Weight, height, BMI and bioelectrical impedance were measured; and biochemical markers of nutritional status (albumin and total protein) and bone metabolism (calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone) were determined. No significant differences were observed in mean energy, protein and phosphorus after surgery. There was a significant increase in calcium intake after PTX (382·3 (sd 209·6) mg to 656·6 (sd 313·8) mg; P<0·05). Mean weight, BMI, conventional bioelectrical impedance measurements, total body fat, lean body mass and total body water were unaffected by surgery. However, the phase angle and reactance significantly increased after PTX (5·0° (sd 1·4) to 5·6° (sd 1·3); 44·1 (sd 15·6) Ω to 57·1 (sd 14·4) Ω, respectively). The high levels of intact parathyroid hormone before surgery had a negative effect on total body fat (r −0·69, P<0·05). After PTX, the mean albumin significantly increased (3·9 (sd 0·4) g/dl to 4·2 (sd 0·6) g/dl; P<0·05). PTX for SHPT is associated with certain changes in laboratory values, dietary intake and body composition. The latter is best seen with bioimpedance vector analysis.
Intracoronary Delivery of Adenovirus Encoding Adenylyl Cyclase VI Increases Left Ventricular Function and cAMP-Generating Capacity

BackgroundWe tested the hypothesis that the intracoronary injection of a recombinant adenovirus encoding adenylyl cyclase type VI (ACVI) would increase cardiac function in pigs. Methods and ResultsLeft ventricular (LV) dP/dt and cardiac output in response to isoproterenol and NKH477 stimulation were assessed in normal pigs before and 12 days after the intracoronary delivery of histamine followed by the intracoronary delivery of an adenovirus encoding lacZ (control) or ACVI (1.4×1012 vp). Animals that had received ACVI gene transfer showed increases in peak LV dP/dt (average increase of 1267±807 mm Hg/s;P =0.0002) and cardiac output (average increase of 39±20 mL · kg−1 · min−1;P <0.0001); control animals showed no changes. Increased LV dP/dt was evident 6 days after gene transfer and persisted for at least 57 days. Basal heart rate, blood pressure, and LV dP/dt were unchanged, despite changes in cardiac responsiveness to catecholamine stimulation. Twenty-three hour ECG recordings showed no change in mean heart rate or ectopic beats and no arrhythmias. LV homogenates from animals receiving ACVI gene transfer showed increased ACVI protein content (P =0.0007) and stimulated cAMP production (P =0.0006), confirming transgene expression and function; basal LV AC activity was unchanged. Increased cAMP-generating capacity persisted for at least 18 weeks (P <0.0002). ConclusionsIntracoronary injection of a recombinant adenovirus encoding AC provides enduring increases in cardiac function.
Improved ADMM Penalized Decoder for Irregular Low-Density Parity-Check Codes

Based on linear programming (LP) decoding with alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), Liu et al. proposed an ADMM penalized decoder for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes that can improve the error rate performance at low signal-to-noise ratios. In this letter, we propose a new ADMM penalized decoder to improve the error rate performance further for irregular LDPC codes. The proposed decoder modifies the penalty term of the objective function by assigning different penalty parameters for different variable node degrees. Simulations over three irregular LDPC codes show that the proposed decoder performs considerably better than the ADMM penalized decoder.
Highly informative proteome analysis by combining improved N‐terminal sulfonation for de novo peptide sequencing and online capillary reverse‐phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Recently, various chemical modifications of peptides have been incorporated into mass spectrometric analyses of proteome samples, predominantly in conjunction with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS), to facilitate de novo sequencing of peptides. In this work, we investigate systematically the utility of N‐terminal sulfonation of tryptic peptides by 4‐sulfophenyl isothiocyanate (SPITC) for proteome analysis by capillary reverse‐phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (cRPLC/MS/MS). The experimental conditions for the sulfonation were carefully adjusted so that SPITC reacts selectively with the N‐terminal amino groups, even in the presence of the ϵ‐amino groups of lysine residues. Mass spectrometric analyses of the modified peptides by cRPLC/MS/MS indicated that SPITC derivatization proceeded toward near completion under the experimental conditions employed here. The SPITC‐derivatized peptides underwent facile fragmentation, predominantly resulting in y‐series ions in the MS/MS spectra. Combining SPITC derivatization and cRPLC/MS/MS analyses facilitated the acquisition of sequence information for lysine‐terminated tryptic peptides as well as arginine‐terminated peptides without the need for additional peptide pretreatment, such as guanidination of lysine amino group. This process alleviated the biased detection of arginine‐terminated peptides that is often observed in MALDI MS experiments. We will discuss the utility of the technique as a viable method for proteome analyses and present examples of its application in analyzing samples having different levels of complexity.
Annotated catalogue of the types of Triphoridae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom, London

We revise the type specimens of 132 nominal species of worldwide Triphoridae stored in the Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom (NHMUK), London. We provide the species name in its original combination, followed by bibliographic details of the original description, the location of the known type material, the original description (and its translation when in Latin), a diagnosis and curatorial or nomenclatural notes. We illustrated most specimens in the type series in colour and with SEM imaging and we have added the original figure whenever possible. The specimens of Triphorisalveolatus, T.granulatus, T.suturalis and T.verrucosus, all A. Adams & Reeve, 1850, T.pfeifferi Crosse & Fischer, 1865 and T.cucullatus de Folin, 1867, previously considered type material, are not considered here belonging to the type series. Adams & Reeve’s taxa should be considered nomina dubia. The name Triphorainsularum is a manuscript name by H.E. J. Biggs who deposited “types” in the NHMUK but refrained from introducing the name due to the lack of apex of the studied material. We selected lectotypes for six species (T.concors Hinds, 1843, T.maxillaris Hinds, 1843, T.fuscomaculata E.A. Smith, 1904, T.shepstonensis E.A. Smith, 1906, T.eupunctata G.B. Sowerby III, 1907, and T.rufula Watson, 1886) to stabilize the nomenclature. Finally, we illustrate original specimens (although not types) of three species described by Turton, whose type material is lost.
Mastery learning in the context of university education

Developed by Benjamin Bloom in the 1970s, Mastery Learning (ML) is a pedagogical approach that aims to circumvent the problems of conventional group-based teaching and one-to-one individual tutoring, so that better academic performance can be achieved in a more realistic and cost-effective manner. While ML has consistently produced positive effects on the students’ academic and affective outcomes, the amplitude of its benefit has been the subject of frequent contentions. The discrepancies are primarily due to the interplay of multiple extraneous factors that can either diminish or promote the success of ML. Bearing in mind the numerous factors capable of inf luencing the overall effectiveness of ML, is ML still amendable for university education in the 21st century? This review will first provide background to ML, followed by the merits and issues associated with its use. Different factors that can affect the effectiveness of ML will subsequently be examined. Lastly, modifications to better tailor ML for university education will be suggested and discussed. It was found that several unique features of the university curriculum promote the use of ML. ML can be further modified to better suit university education by combining with modern information technology and other effective teaching methods.
Validation of a New 96-Well Plate Spectrophotometric Method for the Quantification of Compound 48/80 Associated with Particles

A new, simple, inexpensive, and rapid 96-well plate UV spectrophotometric method was developed and validated for the quantification of compound 48/80 (C48/80) associated with particles. C48/80 was quantified at 570 nm after reaction with acetaldehyde and sodium nitroprusside in an alkaline solution (pH 9.6). The method was validated according to the recommendations of the ICH Guidelines for specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision, and detection and quantification limits (DL and QL). All the validation parameters were assessed in three different solvents, i.e., deionized water, blank matrix of chitosan nanoparticles, and blank matrix of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles. The method was found to be linear in the concentration range of 5 to 160 μg/ml (R2 > 0.9994). Intraday and interday precision was adequate, with relative standard deviation lower than those given by the Horwitz equation. The mean recoveries of C48/80 from spiked samples ranged between 98.1% and 105.9% for calibration curves done with the blank matrices and between 89.3% and 103.3% for calibration curves done with water, respectively. The DL were lower than 1.01 μg/ml and the QL were lower than 3.30 μg/ml. The results showed that the developed method is sensitive, linear, precise, and accurate for its intended use, with the additional advantages of being cost-effective and time-effective, allowing the use of small-volume samples, and the simultaneous analysis of a large number of samples. The proposed method was already successfully applied to evaluate the loading efficacy of C48/80 chitosan-based nanoparticles and can be easily applied during the development of other C48/80-based formulations.
Deep hybrid networks with good out-of-sample object recognition

We introduce Deep Hybrid Networks that are robust to the recognition of out-of-sample objects, i.e., ones that are drawn from a different probability distribution from the training data distribution. The networks are based on a particular combination of an auto-encoder and stacked Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBMs). The autoencoder is used to extract sparse features, which are expected to be noise invariant in the observations. The stacked RBMs then observe the sparse features as inputs to learn the top hierarchical features. The use of RBMs is motivated by the fact that the stacked RBMs typically provide good performance when dealing with in-sample observations, as proven in the previous works. To improve the robustness against local noise, we propose a variant of our hybrid network by the usage of a mixture of sparse features and sparse connections in the auto-encoder layer. The experiments show that our proposed deep networks provide good performance in both the in-sample and out-of-sample situations, particularly when the number of training examples is small.
Performance impact of web services on Internet servers

While traditional Internet servers mainly served static and later also dynamic content, the popularity of Web services is increasing rapidly. Web services incorporate additional overhead compared to traditional web interaction. This overhead increases the demand on Internet servers which is of particular importance when the request rate to the server is high. We conduct experiments that show that the imposed overhead of Web services is non-negligible during server overload. In our experiments the response time for Web services is more than 30% higher and the server throughput more than 25% lower compared to traditional web interaction using dynamically created HTML pages.
Vegetation structure of plantain-based agrosystems determines numerical dominance in community of ground-dwelling ants

In tropics, ants can represent an important part of animal biomass and are known to be involved in ecosystem services, such as pest regulation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the structuring of local ant communities is therefore important in agroecology. In the humid tropics of Africa, plantains are cropped in association with many other annual and perennial crops. Such agrosystems differ greatly in vegetation diversity and structure and are well-suited for studying how habitat-related factors affect the ant community. We analysed abundance data for the six numerically dominant ant taxa in 500 subplots located in 20 diversified, plantain-based fields. We found that the density of crops with foliage at intermediate and high canopy strata determined the numerical dominance of species. We found no relationship between the numerical dominance of each ant taxon with the crop diversity. Our results indicate that the manipulation of the densities of crops with leaves in the intermediate and high strata may help maintain the coexistence of ant species by providing different habitat patches. Further research in such agrosystems should be performed to assess if the effect of vegetation structure on ant abundance could result in efficient pest regulation.
Algorithmes hybrides pour la gestion intelligente de l'énergie dans les smart grids

Resume : L’Union Europeenne a fixe des objectifs en termes d’emissions de CO2, d’efficacite energetique et de production d’energie d’origine renouvelable. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, un changement de paradigme du secteur de l’energie s’impose et cela se traduit par la necessite d’evoluer vers un reseau electrique plus intelligent, dit smart grid. Les travaux presentes dans cet article proposent un systeme de gestion d’energie flexible et efficace, ouvrant de larges possibilites d’applications dans ces nouveaux reseaux, ou la communication et l’intelligence seront centraux. Un systeme multi-agents est hybride avec des algorithmes d’optimisation, bases sur des metaheuristiques, pour obtenir une gestion d’energie qui satisfait divers objectifs et contraintes. Plusieurs cas d’application sont egalement presentes, notamment sur une centrale de production et un micro-reseau. Mots-cles : Systemes multi-agents, Metaheuristiques, Gestion d’energie, Algorithmes hybrides.
FRACTIONS AND HEPARIN Activation of Lipoprotein Lipase : EFFECTS OF RAT SERUM LIPOPROTEIN

Guinea pig serum is deficient in high density lipoproteins (HDL); postheparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL) from it hydrolyzes a triglyceride (TG) emulsion very slowly. The rate is markedly increased by the addition of rat serum and even further by rat serum plus heparin. We have studied further the activation of LPL in this system. Rat serum lipoprotein fractions were isolated by ultracentrifugation and added to guinea pig postheparin serum in the presence or absence of heparin. When added in proportion to their original serum concentrations, HDL caused the greatest increase in TG hydrolysis. When each fraction was added at equal protein concentrations, purified low density lipoproteins had almost no effect; both very low density lipoproteins and HDL were very effective in increasing the rate of hydrolysis. Rat serum or rat HDL, added to the assay system in increasing amounts, appeared to increase the effective substrate concentration. In the absence of heparin, increasing the concentration of HDL increased the reaction rate which approached a limiting velocity (Vmax) and produced a hyperbolic curve which conformed to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. In the presence of heparin, increasing the concentration of HDL produced an S-shaped curve and increased the VmaxThese data conformed to the sigmoidal kinetics described by the Hill equation. Our results suggest that (1) heparin may function as a specific ligand which acts as an allosteric modifier of LPL and alters the kinetics of interaction of LPL with the effective substrateand (2) the rate of hydrolysis of the effective TG substrate is regulated by the concentration of this substrate. ADDITIONAL