Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Partial Duct Ligation: β-Cell Proliferation and Beyond

Experimentally induced injury is an established strategy for studying mechanisms of tissue remodeling with the final goal of developing new regenerative therapies. Under normal physiological conditions, proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells, including even canonical stem cell−like activity, can be stimulated in tissues, such as brain and liver, that have a low cellular turnover rate (1,2). The presence of stem/progenitor cells in the pancreas could be relevant to normal homeostatic maintenance of various cell types in this organ, such as endocrine hormone−expressing cells, enzyme-secreting acinar cells, and the less secretory exocrine duct cells. Further, pancreatic stem/progenitor cells may be a possible source for replenishing cells destroyed by autoimmune disease or other stressors. We speculate that proliferative progenitors might be isolated, expanded, and differentiated in vitro to alleviate the donor scarcity in human islet transplantation and may therefore be developed as a therapy for diabetes. However, the existence and exact location of adult stem- or progenitor-like cells that can give rise to functional β-cells is highly controversial. This Perspective focuses on findings from a severe insult model (partial duct ligation [PDL]) with a long history (3). PDL received renewed attention when a 2008 study combined it with genetic reporter strategies now possible in mice to try to identify and isolate cells acting as β-cell progenitors (4). In vivo β-cell neogenesis under PDL was recently substantiated (5,6). Because the outcomes from this technique appear to vary across laboratories, we summarize and discuss some of the reported discrepancies to help identify current limitations and pitfalls of this model as well as opportunities for forward progress. The mechanisms leading to replacement of the endogenous β-cell pool have been studied under several cell ablation paradigms to test for the existence and type of cells in the adult mouse pancreas that are …
New optical spectra and general discussion on the nature of ULXs

We present optical spectroscopic observations of three Ultra Luminous X-ray sources (ULXs). Two of them are very close to the active galaxy NGC 720 and the other is near NGC 1073. The two around NGC 720 turn out to be quasars at z = 2.216 and z = 0.959, the one near NGC 1073 seems to be associated to an HII region at the redshift of NGC 1073. We concentrate our analysis on the two quasars and analyze them in conjunction with a set of 22 additional X-ray sources close to nearby galaxies which also fit the criteria of ULXs and which also have been identified as quasars of medium to high redshift. This sample shows an unusually large fraction of rare BL Lac type objects. The high redshifts of these ULXs and their close proximity to their low redshift, supposedly parent galaxies is a surprising result in the light of standard models. We describe the main properties of each of these objects and their parent galaxy, and briefly discuss possible interpretations.
Stepping into Adulthood: The Transition Period

The period of growth from late puberty to full adult maturation, termed the transition period, is important for tissue maturation. Peak bone mass, muscle mass and strength are usually attained in this period. However, it is common clinical practice in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) to discontinue growth hormone (GH) treatment in adolescence after attainment of final height. Therefore, patients with childhood-onset GHD that continues into adulthood and who do not receive treatment as adults may experience more severe consequences than patients who acquire GHD as an adult. Recent studies indicate that bone and muscle maturation are attenuated if GH treatment is discontinued at final height. Furthermore, these patients will also develop cardiovascular risk factors that are normally associated with GHD in adults. Much debate surrounds when retesting for GHD should be carried out and when GH treatment should be restarted in adolescents; many of these patients will not have severe GHD according to the criteria set for adults. The transition period is an appropriate time to modify GH doses. Finally, registries exist that have recorded clinical treatment experiences for children and adults. Tools that collect and analyse data provide an important opportunity to investigate issues related to transition.
An Adaptive Routing Protocol Based on Fixed Hubs for Opportunistic Networks

This paper presents a new routing protocol for opportunistic networks based on sociological movement model. In this movement model, the mobile nodes have the tendency to visit fixed places frequently. Our approach recognizes the encounter places, called hubs, and employs them as base elements for the routing procedure. Nodes visiting frequently two or more hubs are considered carriers and are used as data mule for message transport. After setting up this infrastructure, routing tables are constructed in the hubs. When a message should be routed, it is sent to a hub and, subsequently, forwarded among them until reaching a hub visited by the destination node. Simulations showed that, for scenarios strongly based on sociological movement, our method outperformed the Spray and Wait for different configurations.
Some improvements to the Banker's algorithm based on the process structure

The paper presents two methods for deadlock avoidance in concurrent systems. We apply the proposed approaches to flexible manufacturing systems, modeled by means of Petri nets. Both methods correspond to improvements of the classical Banker's algorithm, and are based on the knowledge of the process structure. The first one is polynomial in the size of the Petri net model. The second one depends strongly on the number of alternative paths for the processing of parts and can be of a non-polynomial cost.
An integrated neuro-robotic interface for stroke rehabilitation using the NASA X1 powered lower limb exoskeleton

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability, limiting independent ambulation in survivors, and consequently affecting quality of life (QOL). Recent technological advances in neural interfacing with robotic rehabilitation devices are promising in the context of gait rehabilitation. Here, the X1, NASA's powered robotic lower limb exoskeleton, is introduced as a potential diagnostic, assistive, and therapeutic tool for stroke rehabilitation. Additionally, the feasibility of decoding lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics during walking with the X1 from scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) signals - the first step towards the development of a brain-machine interface (BMI) system to the X1 exoskeleton - is demonstrated.
EphA2 enhances the proliferation and invasion ability of LNCaP prostate cancer cells

EphA2 is persistently overexpressed and functionally changed in numerous human cancers. However, to the best of our knowledge, the role that EphA2 plays in prostate cancer is not entirely clear. To investigate the roles of EphA2 in the development and progression of prostate cancer, the present study initially evaluated the roles of the EphA2 protein in LNCaP prostate cancer cells using recombinant plasmid, western blot analysis, flow cytometry, Matrigel invasion chamber and the cell counting kit-8 assay. An immunohistochemistry assay was also conducted to observe the effects of EphA2 in prostate cancer tissues. The results demonstrated that the LNCaP human prostate cancer cells that were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+) plasmid-mediated pcDNA3.1(+)-EphA2, markedly enhanced the cell growth and invasion in vitro. Additionally, EphA2 was overexpressed in prostate cancer specimens and the expression of EphA2 was significantly associated with Gleason grade, total prostate-specific antigen, advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that EphA2 is involved in malignant cell behavior and is a potential therapeutic target in human prostate cancer.
Fis plays a role in Tn5 and IS50 transposition

The Fis (factor for inversion stimulation) protein of Escherichia coli was found to influence the frequency of transposon Tn5 and insertion sequence IS50 transposition. Fis stimulated both Tn5 and IS50 transposition events and also inhibited IS50 transposition in Dam-bacteria. This influence was not due to regulation by Fis of the expression of the Tn5 transposition proteins. We localized, by DNase I footprinting, one Fis site overlapping the inside end of IS50 and give evidence to strongly suggest that when Fis binds to this site, IS50 transposition is inhibited. The Fis site at the inside end overlaps three Dam GATC sites, and Fis bound efficiently only to the unmethylated substrate. Using a mobility shift assay, we also identified another potential Fis site within IS50. Given the growth phase-dependent expression of Fis and its differential effect on Tn5 versus IS50 transposition in Dam-bacteria, we propose that the high levels of Fis present during exponential growth stimulate transposition events and might bias those events toward Tn5 and away from IS50 transposition.
Effects of Isoflurane on Myocardial Blood Flow, Function, and Oxygen Consumption in the Presence of Critical Coronary Stenosis in Dogs

Because isoflurane has been reported to produce coronary steal, we studied 12 open chest, anesthetized (pentobarbital) dogs with critical stenosis (CS) of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCA). Son micrometers were implanted to measure systolic watt thickening, myocardial Hood flow (MBF) was measured with microspheres (15 μm diameter), and regional venous sampling was performed to estimate regional oxygen extraction and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). Anesthetic concentrations of isoflurane reduced arterial blood pressure dramatically, resulting in a maldistribution of MBF distal to the CS consistent with the pattern characterizing a transmural coronary steal effect. Elevation of arterial blood pressure with phenylephrine during high concentration is oflurane (1.7 ± 0.1%) augmented MBF, but the maldistribution distal to the CS persisted. Despite the maldistribution, however, there was no indication of ischemia in the LCA region because systolic wall thickening, oxygen extraction, and MVo2 were not significantly different between the LCA and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (control) areas. Because wall thickening, oxygen extraction, and MVo2 were markedly reduced by isoflurane in both the LCA and control areas, it was concluded that isoflurane substantially reduced myocardial oxygen requirements by inducing myocardial depression, reducing heart rate, and decreasing afterload. Consequently, the apparent maldistribution of LCA blood flow (coronary steal) was due to the hemodynamic and vasodilatory effects of isoflurane, but did not result in ischemia because the level of blood flow was at or above the requirements of the myocardium.
Low-cost 3D printed 1  nm resolution smartphone sensor-based spectrometer: instrument design and application in ultraviolet spectroscopy.

We report on the development of a low-cost spectrometer, based on off-the-shelf optical components, a 3D printed housing, and a modified Raspberry Pi camera module. With a bandwidth and spectral resolution of ≈60 nm and 1 nm, respectively, this device was designed for ultraviolet (UV) remote sensing of atmospheric sulphur dioxide (SO2), ≈310 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of both a UV spectrometer and a nanometer resolution spectrometer based on smartphone sensor technology. The device performance was assessed and validated by measuring column amounts of SO2 within quartz cells with a differential optical absorption spectroscopy processing routine. This system could easily be reconfigured to cover other UV-visible-near-infrared spectral regions, as well as alternate spectral ranges and/or linewidths. Hence, our intention is also to highlight how this framework could be applied to build bespoke, low-cost, spectrometers for a range of scientific applications.
Characterization of determinants of genotypic and phenotypic resistance to enfuvirtide in baseline and on-treatment HIV-1 isolates

Background: Enfuvirtide (ENF) is the first of a novel class of drugs that block HIV gp41-mediated viral fusion to host cells. Viruses with mutations at positions 36–38 in HIV-1 gp41 and/or reduced susceptibility to ENF have been selected both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: An analysis of baseline and on-treatment ENF susceptibility in virus samples from Phase II clinical trial patients treated with ENF as functional monotherapy for 28 days (TRI-003) or in combination with oral antiretrovirals for ⩾ 48 weeks (T20–205, T20–206 and T20–208). Population sequencing identified amino acid (aa) substitutions at positions 36–45 of gp41 in plasma HIV-1. ENF susceptibility of virus isolates was tested in the cMAGI assay and viral DNA was sequenced for selected isolates. Results: HIV-1 gp41 aa 36–45 were highly conserved in virus from ENF-naive patients, except for a 15% incidence of N42S which did not reduce sensitivity to ENF. Virus from patients experiencing viral load rebound exhibited reduced susceptibility to ENF and substitutions in gp41 aa 36–45. The most common substitutions observed on treatment were at positions 36, 38, 40, 42 and 43. On-treatment changes in the phenotypic susceptibility of virus isolates to ENF were generally associated with genotypic changes in aa 36–45. There was a relatively lower incidence of ENF resistance in patients with baseline sensitivity to more oral antiretrovirals in comparison to patients sensitive to fewer antiretrovirals. Conclusions: These data identify the importance of HIV-1 gp41 aa 36–45 in the emergence of resistance to ENF.
SPdKS analysis of ultralow‐velocity zones beneath the western Pacific

We collected a new data set of 1354 broadband SPdKS waveforms sampling the western Pacific Ocean region. These data indicate that multiple ultralow‐velocity zones (ULVZs) exist in this region. We compared these data to 2.5‐D synthetic seismograms computed with the PSVaxi method for a suite of 517 ULVZ models. The region beneath the North and South Philippine Sea shows no evidence for ULVZ presence. The region beneath the Coral Sea shows a large ULVZ which is approximately 700 × 700 km in lateral dimensions and up to 20 km thick. Multiple small‐scale ULVZs approximately 180 × 180 km and up to 10 km thick are inferred beneath the South China Sea. Our findings are consistent with previous efforts utilizing the ScP seismic phase and provide additional constraints on ULVZ position and size.
Structural asymmetry of the insula is linked to the lateralization of gesture and language

The control of gesture is one of the most left‐lateralized functions, and the insular cortex is one of the most left‐biased structures in the human brain. Therefore, we investigated whether structural asymmetries of the insula are linked to the organization of functional activity during gesture planning. We reconstructed and parcellated the insular cortex of 27 participants. First, we tested 15 strongly left‐handed individuals because of a higher incidence of atypical organization of functions such as gesture and language in such a population. The inter‐hemispheric structural asymmetries were compared with the lateralization of activity for gesture in the supramarginal gyrus (the hotspot of signal increase regardless of the gesturing hand) and Broca's area (the hotspot of signal increase for language production). The more pronounced leftward structural asymmetries were accompanied by greater left‐hemisphere dominance for both of the studied functions. Conversely, an atypical, bilateral or rightward functional shift of gesture and language was accompanied by an attenuated leftward asymmetry of the insula. These significant relationships were driven primarily by differences in surface area. Subsequently, by adding 12 right‐handed individuals to these analyses we demonstrated that the observed significant associations are generalizable to the population. These results provide the first demonstration of the relationships between structural inter‐hemispheric differences of the insula and the cerebral specialization for gesture. They also corroborate the link between insular asymmetries and language lateralization. As such, these outcomes are relevant to the common cerebral specialization for gesture and language.
A Qualitative and Quantitative Frame Work for effective Website Design

The primary goal of this paper is to investigate various elements of website and evaluate quality of website design. The quality of website depends on various components such as download time, website size, broken links and website structure. The quality of website structure is based on its navigability, average number of clicks and structural complexity. Different kinds of tools are used to examine the components of website. These tools include: W3C Link Checker, W3C Markup Validation Service, Webpage Analyzer and Website Extractor. The W3C Link checker accepts URL address of Web page and parses each and every hyperlink to find broken links in the page. The W3C Markup Validation Service finds the errors regarding HTML tags', usage errors, properties of Web page and standards of the Web page mentioned by W3C Consortium. The errors of each web site are grouped into major and minor errors. A set of qualitative measures are identified based on these errors. The web tool PowerMapper is used to establish the sitemap for the website and path length metric is used to evaluate average number of clicks to get desired web page and web site structural complexity is determined with cyclomatic complexity. The quality of website design is measured in 10-point scale and the value suggests the improvement of the site design.
Cosine transform based preconditioners for total variation deblurring

In PDE image restoration problems, one has to invert operators which is a sum of a blurring operator and an elliptic operator with highly varying coefficient. We present a preconditioner for such operators, which can be used with the conjugate gradient (CG) method, and compare it with Vogel and Oman's product preconditioner.
Automatic Extraction of Learner Errors in ESL Sentences Using Linguistically Enhanced Alignments

We propose a new method of automatically extracting learner errors from parallel English as a Second Language (ESL) sentences in an effort to regularise annotation formats and reduce inconsistencies. Specifically, given an original and corrected sentence, our method first uses a linguistically enhanced alignment algorithm to determine the most likely mappings between tokens, and secondly employs a rule-based function to decide which alignments should be merged. Our method beats all previous approaches on the tested datasets, achieving state-of-the-art results for automatic error extraction.
Leveraging Homomorphic Encryption to Secure the Combinatorial Spectrum Auction without the Trustworthy Auctioneer

Spectrum auction is an enabling approach for drastically improving the spectrum utilization to satisfy the ever increasing service demands in wireless networks. However, the back-room dealing (i.e., the frauds of the untrustworthy auctioneer and the bid-rigging between the greedy bidders and the insincere auctioneer) makes these applications confront significant security challenges, and fails all existing secure auction designs to allocate spectrum bands considering the frequency reuse. In this paper, we propose a secure combinatorial spectrum auction (SCSA) by using homomorphic encryption to prevent the back-room dealing. The design of SCSA novelly incorporates cryptographic technique into spectrum auction to address the challenges of frauds and bid-rigging. It computes and reveals the results of spectrum auction while the actual bidding values of bidders are kept confidential. SCSA also provides a corresponding procedure for implementing the combinatorial spectrum auction with respect to interference constraints. Simulation results and analysis show that SCSA can effectively thwart the back-room dealing with limited communication and computational complexity, and achieve similar performance compared with existing spectrum auction designs in terms of spectrum utilization, the revenue of the auctioneer and the bidders’ satisfaction.
A combined quantitative mass spectrometry and electron microscopy analysis of ribosomal 30S subunit assembly in E. coli

Ribosome assembly is a complex process involving the folding and processing of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), concomitant binding of ribosomal proteins (r-proteins), and participation of numerous accessory cofactors. Here, we use a quantitative mass spectrometry/electron microscopy hybrid approach to determine the r-protein composition and conformation of 30S ribosome assembly intermediates in Escherichia coli. The relative timing of assembly of the 3′ domain and the formation of the central pseudoknot (PK) structure depends on the presence of the assembly factor RimP. The central PK is unstable in the absence of RimP, resulting in the accumulation of intermediates in which the 3′-domain is unanchored and the 5′-domain is depleted for r-proteins S5 and S12 that contact the central PK. Our results reveal the importance of the cofactor RimP in central PK formation, and introduce a broadly applicable method for characterizing macromolecular assembly in cells. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.04491. 001
Personalized progressive filtering of skyline queries in high dimensional spaces

Skyline queries were introduced to formulate multi-criteria searches. Such a query tries to select in a relation the tuples that optimize all the criteria, called dominant tuples. There rarely exists a single dominant tuple, but usually a set of incomparable ones, the skyline set. Unfortunately, the deterioration of the query (the size of its answer) increases proportionally with the number of criteria. To address this limitation, we propose a flexible approach to categorize and refine the skyline set by applying successive relaxations of the dominance conditions with respect to user's preferences. Our approach, called θ-skyline, is based on decision theory which deals with decision-making in the presence of conflicting choices. We also define global ranking method over the skyline set.
Dynamical modelling collective behavior through adaptation to topological neighbors

In recent years the field studies on collective behaviors have revealed that topological interaction of k nearest neighbors plays a the key role in flocking. In this work, we show a model of flocking through adaptation to k nearest topological neighbors, and examine the influence of the number of topological neighbors on flocking dynamics with different group size. The model is validated by simulations.
An Evaluation of Critical Thinking Competencies in Business Settings

Although critical thinking (CT) skills are usually considered as domain general (Gabbenesch, 2006; Halpern, 2003), CT ability may benefit from expertise knowledge and skill. The current study examined both general CT ability and CT ability related to business scenarios for individuals (a) expert in business, (b) novice in business, and (c) with no business experience, as well as the effects of educational background on both general and business-related CT. Results are discussed in light of research and theory on CT and business, and implications for future research are discussed.
Perceptual quality preserving SRAM architecture for color motion pictures

This work proposes a low power methodology for video framebuffers to preserve the perceptual quality while reducing SRAM power. The bank-wise voltage scaling combined with error masking circuitry is proposed where voltage domains are separated according to the importance of luminous and color channels. The implementation may apply to standard embedded memory cores without redesigning specialized hardware within the SRAM bank. The simulation results showed that the proposed channel protection technique produced better energy-quality trade-off than the conventional higher-order-bit protection for the uncompressed as well as compressed motion image frames.