Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ECM protein nephronectin promotes kidney development via integrinα 8β1-mediated stimulation of Gdnf expression

Development of the metanephric kidney crucially depends on proper interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. For example, we showed previously that in the absence of α8β1 integrin, invasion by the ureteric bud into the metanephric mesenchyme is inhibited, resulting in renal agenesis. Here we present genetic evidence that the extracellular matrix protein nephronectin is an essential ligand that engagesα 8β1 integrin during early kidney development. We show that embryos lacking a functional nephronectin gene frequently display kidney agenesis or hypoplasia, which can be traced to a delay in the invasion of the metanephric mesenchyme by the ureteric bud at an early stage of kidney development. Significantly, we detected no defects in extracellular matrix organization in the nascent kidneys of the nephronectin mutants. Instead, we found that Gdnf expression was dramatically reduced in both nephronectin- andα 8 integrin-null mutants specifically in the metanephric mesenchyme at the time of ureteric bud invasion. We show that this reduction is sufficient to explain the agenesis and hypoplasia observed in both mutants. Interestingly, the reduction in Gdnf expression is transient, and its resumption presumably enables the nephronectin-deficient ureteric buds to invade the metanephric mesenchyme and begin branching. Our results thus place nephronectin and α8β1 integrin in a pathway that regulates Gdnf expression and is essential for kidney development.
btFICA MAC Protocol for High Data Rate WLANs

In this paper we develop a new MAC protocol for improving network throughput and hence, channel utilization in wireless LANs that can support very high PHY layer data rates (>; 1Gbps). We call our new MAC protocol Busy Tone Assisted Fine-Grained Channel Access (btFICA). btFICA is based upon the framework of a prominent state-of-the-art PHY/MAC scheme for high data rate WLANs, called Fine-Grained Channel Access (FICA). While the rationale behind the FICA scheme appears effective for enhancing channel utilization in high data rate WLANs, a recent study shows that problems, such as deafness, muteness and a form of hidden terminal problem, can easily arise with the FICA MAC protocol. These problems can degrade the network performance, if left unaddressed. This motivates us to develop our btFICA MAC protocol that uses an additional busy tone antenna. btFICA comprehensively solves all of the three problems faced by the FICA MAC protocol, while maintaining the beneficial aspects of the original FICA scheme. Finally, we show via extensive simulations, that btFICA significantly outperforms the original FICA scheme and 802.11 DCF, in different network topologies and traffic scenarios, in terms of channel utilization, per-user-throughput and fairness.
Production of Plasminogen Activators and Inhibitor by Serially Propagated Endothelial Cells from Adult Human Blood Vessels

Endothelial cells were Isolated from arteries and veins obtained from elderly people at autopsy and propagated for 37 to 69 population doublings. The cells secreted tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and PA lnhlbltor-1, and, after subculturlng, urokinase-type PA (u-PA) antigen. The following differences between endothelial cells from adult arteries and veins were observed: 1) The cells had the potential to be propagated as a healthy monolayer. The diameter of aortic endothelial cells Increased after 8 to 19 population doublings, while a homogeneous population of small diameter vena cava cells was retained for 35 population doublings. 2) The amount of secreted t-PA varied. Vena cava cells produced four times more t-PA than aorta cells, and 20- fold more than umbilical artery or vein endothelial cells. The t-PA mRNA content of vena cava cells did not exceed that of aorta cells, but was fourfold greater than that of umbilical cord endothelial cells. 3) The release of u-PA antigen varied. No u-PA antigen was detectable In conditioned medium of primary cultures of human aorta and vena cava endothelial cells or of early passage vena cava cells. After prolonged subculturlng, vena cava cells started to secrete u-PA. Endothelial cells from aorta and other adult arteries, however, started secreting u-PA after one to four passages, parallel to the occurrence of enlarged endothelial cells. u-PA was present as a u-PA/lnhlbltor complex and as a single-chain u-PA. These differences may be developmentally related to their artery or vein origin or may reflect differences acquired during the “life history” of these blood vessels In vivo. Our data suggest that the release of u-PA antigen by human macrovascular endothelial cells can be used as an Indicator of cell senescence.
Logarithmic intertwining operators and W(2,2p−1) algebras

For every p⩾2, we obtained an explicit construction of a family of W(2,2p−1) modules, which decompose as direct sum of simple Virasoro algebra modules. Furthermore, we classified all irreducible self-dual W(2,2p−1) modules, we described their internal structure, and computed their graded dimensions. In addition, we constructed certain hidden logarithmic intertwining operators among two ordinary and one logarithmic W(2,2p−1) modules. This work, in particular, gives a mathematically precise formulation and interpretation of what physicists have been referring to as “logarithmic conformal field theory” of central charge cp,1=1−[6(p−1)2∕p], p⩾2. Our explicit construction can be easily applied for computations of correlation functions. Techniques from this paper can be used to study the triplet vertex operator algebra W(2,(2p−1)3) and other logarithmic models.
Free-boundary linear parameterization of 3D meshes in the presence of constraints

Linear parameterization of 3D meshes with disk topology is usually performed using the method of barycentrie coordinates pioneered by Tutte and Floater. This imposes a convex boundary on the parameterization, which can significantly distort the result. Recently, several methods showed how to relax the convex boundary requirement while still using the barycentric coordinates formulation. However, this relaxation can result in other artifacts in the parameterization. In this paper we explore these methods and give a general recipe for "natural" boundary conditions for the family of so-called "three point" barycentric coordinates. We discuss the shortcomings of these methods and show how they may be rectified using an iterative scheme or a carefully crafted "virtual boundary". Finally, we show how these methods adapt easily to solve the problem of constrained parameterization.
Non-optimal receiver for space time spreading across a Time Hopping over Ultra Wideband PPM

A novel non-optimal chip based technique is proposed to use two antennas to transmit data across a direct sequence time hopping ultra wideband dual antenna wireless communication system to a single receiver. The spread data is sent over the independent channels using the space time spreading technique to encode the chips which are sent on each antenna simultaneously. A hard decision is made at each chip of the spreading code received based on the known channel state information which pulse position modulated signal was received from each antenna. The paper shows that by adapting the space time spreading technique to use three pulse positions in a dual input single output system one can transmit data at a lower bit error rate for high Eb/No. Three receive techniques are considered; the use of the first arriving rays, the first set of useful arriving rays and the best set of arriving rays for each symbol period. The proposed receiver is less complex than that of the optimal system where a maximum ratio combiner is used across the entire spread signal space (per symbol rather than per chip), requiring more memory storage in the receiver. In addition, symbols are transmitted during the period of one symbol period for a single antenna system. This is achieved at the expense of a higher measured BER compared to single antenna systems.
Resistive Memory Based Acceleration of Data Intensive Computing

Resistive memory technologies hold the promise of replacing mainstream on-chip memory while providing enhanced throughput and capacity in modern compute systems. Demonstrating material, process, and circuit compatibility with existing CMOS infrastructures, resistive memories deliver non-volatility, no static power consumption, and improved density. Application of these technologies, however, requires novel circuits and architectures that exploit these features. Several approaches are summarized in this article in which resistive memory technologies are leveraged to achieve significant performance enhancement in modern data intensive applications. Two recent results utilizing phase change memory (PCM) and spin torque transfer magnetoresistive RAM (STT-MRAM) based resistive TCAM systems demonstrate significant acceleration and energy reduction over a broad set of data intensive applications. Additionally, recent circuit level enhancements to increase the sensing ratio are described that demonstrate improved read latency for STT-MRAM arrays. Lastly, a magnetic field is applied to MTJ devices to improve both write energy and latency in high performance STT-MRAM on-chip caches.
Resistance to adefovir dipivoxil in lamivudine resistant chronic hepatitis B patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil

Background: Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) is a potent nucleotide analogue against both the wild-type and lamivudine (LMV) resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV). The cumulative incidence of ADV resistant mutations in the nucleoside/-tide treatment naïve chronic hepatitis B patient (CHB) at weeks 48, 96, and 144 was 0, 0.8–3%, and ∼5.9%, respectively. Aims: The aim of this study was to characterise the genotypic and phenotypic mutation profiles to ADV in 67 LMV resistant CHB patients who were treated with ADV. Methods: Serum HBV DNA was quantified by real time polymerase chain reaction. The ADV mutant was detected using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry based genotyping assays, termed restriction fragment mass polymorphism (RFMP). Results: RFMP analysis revealed that a total of 11 amino acid substitutions developed in the rt domain of the HBV polymerase in nine patients. The cumulative incidence of genotypic ADV resistance at months 12 and 24 was 6.4% and 25.4%, respectively. The rtA181V, rtN236T, and rtA181T mutations were detected in five, four, and two of the 67 patients at treatment months 12–17, 3–19, and 7–20, respectively. Serial quantification of serum HBV DNA revealed that two patients with the rtA181V mutation, with or without the rtN236T mutation, and one patient with the rtA181T mutation displayed HBV DNA rebound. Conclusion: Emergence of the ADV mutation in LMV resistant patients who are treated with ADV appeared to present earlier and more frequently than was reported in previous studies on nucleoside/-tide treatment naïve patients.
Facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research

Face preferences affect a diverse range of critical social outcomes, from mate choices and decisions about platonic relationships to hiring decisions and decisions about social exchange. Firstly, we review the facial characteristics that influence attractiveness judgements of faces (e.g. symmetry, sexually dimorphic shape cues, averageness, skin colour/texture and cues to personality) and then review several important sources of individual differences in face preferences (e.g. hormone levels and fertility, own attractiveness and personality, visual experience, familiarity and imprinting, social learning). The research relating to these issues highlights flexible, sophisticated systems that support and promote adaptive responses to faces that appear to function to maximize the benefits of both our mate choices and more general decisions about other types of social partners.
Regulation of Endothelin-1 Production in Cultured Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is secreted from all rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) examined, in addition to endothelial cells (ECs). An average secretion rate of ET-1 from rat VSMCs was determined to be 10% that excreted from ECs. We examined the effects of 22 substances on ET-1 secretion from VSMCs and compared them with those from ECs. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, epidermal growth factor, angiotensin II, and adrenaline stimulated ET-1 secretion from VSMCs, whereas forskolin, thrombin, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB reduced it. Only TGF-β and phorbol ester elicited consistent effects on ET-1 secretion from VSMCs and ECs. Regulation of ET-1 and adrenomedullin secretion from VSMCs was distinctly different. These data suggest that ET-1 production in VSMCs is regulated by a mechanism separate from that in ECs and from adrenomedullin production in VSMCs. Chromatographic analysis showed immunoreactive ET-1 secreted from VSMCs was mainly composed of big ET-1, whereas approximately 90% of that from ECs was ET-1. By TGF-β stimulation of VSMCs, the ratio of big ET-1 to ET-1 was further increased. Because big ET-1 is converted into ET-1 only on the surface of the ECs in the culture system, big ET-1 secreted from the VSMCs may function as a mediator transmitting a signal from VSMCs to ECs in vivo.
Conjugation in Escherichia coli

Bacterial conjugation is a genetic transfer that involves cell‐to‐cell between donor and recipient cells. With the current method used to teach students in genetic courses at the undergraduate level, the transconjugants are identified using bacterial physiology and/or antibiotic resistance. Using physiology, however, is difficult for both first‐year undergraduates and special science students at the high school levels, who do not have the basic knowledge. We have developed a laboratory exercise that comprises a simple and rapid technique for transferring bacterial DNA by conjugation and examining the transconjuants using only antibiotic resistance on agar. The identity of the right transconjuants is confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. This exercise is designed to help students understand how horizontal gene transfer occurs in bacteria by conjugation using Escherichia coli as a hands‐on learning model. Students should be able to draw concept maps of three DNA transfer methods on their own after carrying out the experiment and getting some additional information.
A study of the accuracy in FDTD algorithm for solving EM field with rotating body

In this paper, FDTD method combined with Overset Grid Generation method is proposed to the analysis of the EM fields around a rotating body. We have previously proposed this numerical approach for a stationary and uniformly moving body. Lorentz transformation is combined to the analysis to comprise with the high relative velocities. The results of the numerical analysis show the modulations of the observed waveform when the incident wave hits the rotating body. The relativistic effects and its influence to the EM waveforms are presented. The modulations of EM fields in different radius length of observation point are also shown. The observed EM waveforms are compared with the theoretical results and achieved good agreements in high relative velocities, up to ν = 0.7c closed with the finite speed of light.
Auto-segmentation using mean-shift and entropy analysis

In this paper we discuss the automization of the mean-shift clustering algorithm which is dependent on user-defined parameters for its efficiency. We propose that the optimum solution of mean-shift corresponds to the maximum entropy of the mode-probabilities which assume the form of a uniform probability distribution for the meaningful segmentation of a scene. The experimentation on the benchmark Berkeley segmentation database shows high accuracy for the automated mean-shift as compared to the baseline method. The Non-extensive entropy with Gaussian gain gives highly meaningful segmentation that agrees with human perception as compared to the extensive Shannon entropy.
Combining CDA and topic modeling: Analyzing discursive connections between Islamophobia and anti-feminism on an online forum

In this article we present an analysis of the discursive connections between Islamophobia and anti-feminism on a large Internet forum. We argue that the incipient shift from traditional media toward user-driven social media brings with it new media dynamics, relocating the (re)production of societal discourses and power structures and thus bringing about new ways in which discursive power is exercised. This clearly motivates the need to critically engage this field. Our research is based on the analysis of a corpus consisting of over 50 million posts, collected from the forum using custom web crawlers. In order to approach this vast material of unstructured text, we suggest a novel methodological synergy combining critical discourse analysis (CDA) and topic modeling – a type of statistical model for the automated categorization of large quantities of texts developed in computer science. By rendering an overview or ‘content map’ of the corpus, topic modeling provides an enriching complement to CDA, aiding discovery and adding analytical rigor.
TCR Triggering by pMHC Ligands Tethered on Surfaces via Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Depends on Polymer Length

Antigen recognition by T cells relies on the interaction between T cell receptor (TCR) and peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) at the interface between the T cell and the antigen presenting cell (APC). The pMHC-TCR interaction is two-dimensional (2D), in that both the ligand and receptor are membrane-anchored and their movement is limited to 2D diffusion. The 2D nature of the interaction is critical for the ability of pMHC ligands to trigger TCR. The exact properties of the 2D pMHC-TCR interaction that enable TCR triggering, however, are not fully understood. Here, we altered the 2D pMHC-TCR interaction by tethering pMHC ligands to a rigid plastic surface with flexible poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers of different lengths, thereby gradually increasing the ligands’ range of motion in the third dimension. We found that pMHC ligands tethered by PEG linkers with long contour length were capable of activating T cells. Shorter PEG linkers, however, triggered TCR more efficiently. Molecular dynamics simulation suggested that shorter PEGs exhibit faster TCR binding on-rates and off-rates. Our findings indicate that TCR signaling can be triggered by surface-tethered pMHC ligands within a defined 3D range of motion, and that fast binding rates lead to higher TCR triggering efficiency. These observations are consistent with a model of TCR triggering that incorporates the dynamic interaction between T cell and antigen-presenting cell.
Christian School Leaders and Spirituality: A Reaction to Banke, Maldonado, and Lacey

ABSTRACT Banke, Maldonado, and Lacey (2012) found evidence to suggest that the experiences of Christian school leaders affect their roles as spiritual leaders because learning from various prior experiences aided these leaders on how to be better spiritual leaders. Argued herein is that this conclusion “begs the question” because the conclusion that the authors attempt to prove is included in the initial premise of their argument. This approach perhaps explains why the authors purposefully nominated participants for the study and made other simplifying assumptions such as equating servant leadership to spiritual leadership, equating protestant Christians to all Christian denominations, equating Christian school leaders to spiritual leaders, and equating Christian primary and secondary school leaders to Christian college and University leaders.
Autonomous navigation: Accommodating pulsar based navigation system in small-micro class satellites

The shift of focus from ground-based architectures to reliable on-board autonomous systems is a prime necessity for navigation of small satellites if they are to venture beyond Earth. Apart from state determination, navigation systems would need to provide higher accuracy levels, generally constrained by stringent transfer trajectories. Planetary and Interplanetary small satellite mission profiles, can primarily be classified into the cruise and orbiting phases. This division has been considered for onboard navigation systems. Research on autonomous navigation by Spaceflight Dynamics division at SRM University considered an articulated navigation technique with the goal to maximize accuracy at each phase of the mission. Optical navigation is considered as primary navigation method for orbiting profile phases and Milli-Second X-Ray Pulsar based navigation for the cruise phase. The navigation methods are theoretically investigated in Lunar WSB transfer trajectory, which is being considered in the mission design for SRMSAT-2, a student designed lunar orbiter. This paper presents outcomes of a feasibility study on pulsar-based navigation for translunar cruise. It covers hardware mainly, x-ray detector and on-board signal processing and future trends in the development of necessary hardware. The following sections comprise of pulsar selection strategy, complying to optimum Orbit Determination performance in the selected trajectory along with orbit scheduling for maximum visibility. Final sections of the paper give simulation results and performance analysis of the acquisition of navigational state parameters. The basis of filter selection and needs of modifications to traditionally used Extended Kalman Filter are specified with the performance characteristics.
A Soft Systems Methodology Perspective on Data Warehousing Education Improvement

— This paper demonstrates how the soft systems methodology can be used to improve the delivery of a module in data warehousing for fourth year information technology students. Graduates in information technology needs to have academic skills but also needs to have good practical skills to meet the skills requirements of the information technology industry. In developing and improving current data warehousing education modules one has to find a balance in meeting the expectations of various role players such as the students themselves, industry and academia. The soft systems methodology, developed by Peter Checkland, provides a methodology for facilitating problem understanding from different world views. In this paper it is demonstrated how the soft systems methodology can be used to plan the improvement of data warehousing education for fourth year information technology students.
Young emerging adults’ graduateness and career adaptability: Exploring the moderating role of self-esteem

This study investigated the moderating role of self-esteem on young emerging adults’ in their school-to-work transition phase of graduateness skills and career adaptability. A non-probability convenience sample (n=332) of undergraduate black (98.5%) and female (62%) young emerging adults (18–29 years) at a Further Education and Training (FET) college in South Africa participated in the study. Participants completed the Culture Free Self-esteem Inventory for Adults (CFSEI 2-AD, Battle, 1992), the Graduateness Skills and Attributes Scale (GSAS, Coetzee, 2010) and the Career Adapt-abilities Scale (CAAS, Savickas & Porfeli, 2012). Hierarchical moderated regression analysis indicated significant interaction effects between self-esteem and overall graduateness, lifelong learning and global/moral citizenship skills and attributes in moderating overall career adaptability. The relationship between the participants’ graduateness skills and attributes (overall graduateness, global/moral citizenship, and lifelong learning) and their career adaptability was significantly stronger when their self-esteem was high than when their self-esteem was low. The finding suggests self-esteem to influence self-perceived graduateness skills and career adaptability in emerging adults.