Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Enhances Expansion of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells without Diminishing Their Immunosuppressive Potential

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the main curative therapy for many hematologic malignancies. Its potential relies on graft-versus-tumor effects which associate with graft-versus-host disease. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties that make them attractive therapeutic alternatives. We evaluated the in vitro immunosuppressive activity of medium conditioned by human MSCs from 5 donors expanded 13 passages with or without FGF-2. FGF-2 supplementation increased expansion 3,500- and 240,000-fold by passages 7 and 13, respectively. There were no differences in immunosuppressive activity between media conditioned by passage-matched cells expanded under different conditions, but media conditioned by FGF-treated MSCs were superior to population doubling-matched controls. The immunosuppressive activity was maintained in three of the preparations but decreased with expansion in two. The proliferation induced by FGF-2 did not result in loss of immunosuppressive activity. However, because the immunosuppressive activity was not consistently preserved, caution must be exercised to ensure that the activity of the cells is sufficient after extensive expansion.
Blind source separation and Kalman filter-based speech enhancement in a car environment

In this paper, we present a speech enhancement method as a pre-processor in a car environment. For the friendly and safe use of the voice commander in a running car, non-stationary audio signals such as music and non-candidate speech should be reduced. Our technique is a two microphone-based one. It consists of two parts, i.e., blind source separation (BSS) and Kalman filtering. Firstly, BSS is operated as a spatial filter to deal with non-stationary signals and then car noise is reduced by Kalman filtering. The algorithm performance is tested with a speech recognizer. The results show that our algorithm can be very helpful for the voice commander in a car environment.
A scalable secure overlay framework for heterogeneous embedded systems

Research in overlay networks has been very successful, since overlay networks enabled a more efficient use of existing resources in a distributed manner. The paradigm shift from centralized control applied through few entities to distributed management performed by all entities not only had advantages. Also new kinds of security threats have been introduced. These new threats are more difficult to come by because of the distributed nature and the absence of central authorities. These threats can only be mitigated through the use of adequate security protocols, designed especially for these environments. Thus, we propose a framework which enables developers to build scalable secure overlay networking applications in a very straightforward manner by simply selecting the required level of security depending on the nodes resources.
Spatially resolved pharmacokinetic rate images of ICG using near-infrared optical methods

In this work, we present spatially resolved pharmacokinetic rate images of indocyanine green (ICG) obtained from three breast cancer patients using near infrared imaging methods. We used a two-compartment model, namely, plasma and extracellular extravascular (EES), to model ICG kinetics around the tumor region. We introduced extended Kalman filtering (EKF) framework to estimate the ICG pharmacokinetic rate images. The EKF framework allows simultaneous estimation of pharmacokinetic rates and the ICG concentrations in each compartment. Based on the pharmacokinetic rate images, we observed that the rates from inside and outside the tumor region are statistically different with a p-value of 0.0001 for each patient. Additionally, we observed that the ICG concentrations in plasma and the EES compartments are higher around the tumors agreeing with the hypothesis that ICG may act as a diffusible extravascular flow in leaky capillary of cancer vessels. Our study shows that spatially resolved pharmacokinetic rate images can be potentially useful for breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
Embedding of cycles in rotator and incomplete rotator graphs

Symmetric directed Cayley graphs called rotator graphs have been proposed recently in the literature. In addition to a lower diameter and average distance compared to the star graph, hypercube, and k-ary n-cubes, these rotator graphs also have a rich cyclic structure. We identify a variety of disjoint cycles in rotator graphs. An efficient algorithm for Hamiltonian cycles in rotator graphs is presented. This algorithm uses a basic sequence of four generators repeatedly with generators of higher order in between, to obtain Hamiltonian cycle in any n-rotator graph. We study the embedding of undirected cycles and directed cycles in rotator graphs. We also prove that the incomplete rotator graph obtained from the rotator graph is Hamiltonian. The embedding of undirected rings in rotator graphs is shown to have a low average dilation. <<ETX>>
On Minimum-time Control of Continuous Petri nets: Centralized and Decentralized Perspectives

Muchos sistemas artificales, como los sistemas de manufactura, de logistica, de telecomunicaciones o de trafico, pueden ser vistos ? de manera natural? como Sistemas Dinamicos de Eventos Discretos (DEDS). Desafortunadamente, cuando tienen grandes poblaciones, estos sistemas pueden sufrir del clasico problema de la explosion de estados. Con la intencion de evitar este problema, se pueden aplicar tecnicas de fluidificacion, obteniendo una relajacion fluida del modelo original discreto. Las redes de Petri continuas (CPNs) son una aproximacion fluida de las redes de Petri discretas, un conocido formalismo para los DEDS. Una ventaja clave del empleo de las CPNs es que, a menudo, llevan a una substancial reduccion del coste computacional. Esta tesis se centra en el control de Redes de Petri continuas temporizadas (TCPNs), donde las transiciones tienen una interpretacion temporal asociada. Se asume que los sistemas siguen una semantica de servidores infinitos (velocidad variable) y que las acciones de control aplicables son la disminucion de la velocidad del disparo de las transiciones. Se consideran dos interesantes problemas de control en esta tesis: 1) control del marcado objetivo, donde el objetivo es conducir el sistema (tan rapido como sea posible) desde un estado inicial a un estado final deseado, y es similar al problema de control set-point para cualquier sistema de estado continuo; 2) control del flujo optimo, donde el objetivo es conducir el sistema a un flujo optimo sin conocimiento a priori del estado final. En particular, estamos interesados en alcanzar el flujo maximo tan rapido como sea posible, lo cual suele ser deseable en la mayoria de sistemas practicos. El problema de control del marcado objetivo se considera desde las perspectivas centralizada y descentralizada. Proponemos varios controladores centralizados en tiempo minimo, y todos ellos estan basados en una estrategia ON/OFF. Para algunas subclases, como las redes Choice-Free (CF), se garantiza la evolucion en tiempo minimo; mientras que para redes generales, los controladores propuestos son heuristicos. Respecto del problema de control descentralizado, proponemos en primer lugar un controlador descentralizado en tiempo minimo para redes CF. Para redes generales, proponemos una aproximacion distribuida del metodo Model Predictive Control (MPC); sin embargo en este metodo no se considera evolucion en tiempo minimo. El problema de control de flujo optimo (en nuestro caso, flujo maximo) en tiempo minimo se considera para redes CF. Proponemos un algoritmo heuristico en el que calculamos los ? mejores? firing count vectors que llevan al sistema al flujo maximo, y aplicamos una estrategia de disparo ON/OFF. Tambien demostramos que, debido a que las redes CF son persistentes, podemos reducir el tiempo que tarda en alcanzar el flujo maximo con algunos disparos adicionales. Los metodos de control propuestos se han implementado e integrado en una herramienta para Redes de Petri hibridas basada en Matlab, llamada SimHPN.
The Value of the Computer in Learning Algebra Concepts

The BackgroundThe problems and difficulties which many secondary schoolchildren have withalgebra (generalised arithmetic) are well known and have been the subject ofmuch research investigation. Many of these relate to the conventions of thenotation and the inability of children to interpret the meaning of the use ofletters (Booth 1983a). Faced with a new and daunting cognitive situation,many fall back on their previous experience and make use of a one-to-onecorrespondence between the natural numbers and the letters of the alphabet (egWagner 1977), feeling a strong need for a numerical ‘answer’. Booth (1983b)reported encouraging success using an imaginary ‘Maths Machine’ which thechildren had to ‘program’ to produce answers. The value of computerprogramming in understanding algebra has already been shown (see, forexample, Tall 1983) and the natural extension of Booth’s work was to providethe children with actual ‘maths machines’ to program.The psychological framework of the research is based on constructivistPiagetian theory, with its idea of abstraction from experience, Ausubel’stheory of meaningful learning, and the relational understanding of Skemp. Allthese theories emphasise the importance of the ‘framework of knowledge’which the individual constructs in any cognitive area, and the need to build onthe existing knowledge structures of the child by conceptual rather than rotemeans.The experimenta) equipmentTo enable the children to construct a mental model for a variable in algebra,and the manner in which it is manipulated, a concrete model was providedconsisting of a ‘box’ containing the current numerical value of the variable andan attached label with the variable name (figure 1). Although this model doesnot fulfil all the mathematical uses of the concept of variable (see e.g. Wagner1981), it proved to be of great value to the children.
Discrepancy between estimated and measured fusion product rates on MAST using guiding-centre approximation

Experimental evidence is presented of a discrepancy between the predicted and measured D-D fusion products rates on MAST. Both the neutron and proton production rates, measured independently with a neutron camera and charged fusion product detector array, are approximately 40 % lower than those predicted by TRANSP/NUBEAM codes. This deficit is scenario independent and can not be explained by uncertainties in the typical plasma parameters suspected for such discrepancies such as the electron temperature, the plasma effective charge and the injected neutral beam power. Instead, a possible explanation is an overestimate of the neutron emissivity due to the guiding center approximation used in NUBEAM to model the fast ion orbits.
Moving Object Segmentation for Determining Direction

In this paper, we propose a new method for segmenting the moving objects in the difference image sequence, using the adaptive invariable moments (AIM). Following the detection and segmentation of the moving objects, we propose an analysis method of moving direction of moving object. The experiment results show that these methods are robust and effective.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Primary Motor Cortex Affects Mental Rotation

activated not only during overt motor behavior but also during tasks that require no overt motor behavior, such as motor imagery and mental rotation. We tested the hypothesis that activation of the primary motor cortex is needed for mental rotation by using singlepulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Single-pulse TMS was delivered to the representation of the hand in left primary motor cortex while participants performed mental rotation of pictures of hands and feet. Relative to a peripheral magnetic stimulation control condition, response times (RTs) were slower when TMS was delivered at 650 ms but not at 400 ms after stimulus onset. The magnetic stimulation effect at 650 ms was larger for hands than for feet. These findings demonstrate that (i) activation of the left primary motor cortex has a causal role in the mental rotation of pictures of hands; (ii) this role is stimulus-specific because disruption of neural activity in the hand area slowed RTs for pictures of hands more than feet; and (iii) left primary motor cortex is involved relatively late in the mental rotation process.
Extending the OpenSHMEM Memory Model to Support User-Defined Spaces

OpenSHMEM is an open standard for SHMEM libraries. With the standardisation process complete, the community is looking towards extending the API for increasing programmer flexibility and extreme scalability. According to the current OpenSHMEM specification (revision 1.1), allocation of symmetric memory is collective across all PEs executing the application. For better work sharing and memory utilisation, we are proposing the concepts of teams and spaces for OpenSHMEM that together allow allocation of memory only across user-specified teams. Through our implementation we show that by using teams we can confine memory allocation and usage to only the PEs that actually communicate via symmetric memory. We provide our preliminary results that demonstrate creating spaces for teams allows for less consumption of memory resources than the current alternative. We also examine the impact of our extensions on Scalable Synthetic Compact Applications #3 (SSCA3), which is a sensor processing and knowledge formation kernel involving file I/O, and show that up to 30% of symmetric memory allocation can be eliminated without affecting the correctness of the benchmark.
Multivariate Analysis of University Student Engagement through Visualization Techniques

The objective of this work is to apply visualization techniques for the representation of multivariate analysis results. The techniques were used to publicize the results of student engagement at universities of careers in technology at a university in the south of México. To measure student engagement, the UWES-S instrument was used, composed of vigor, dedication and absorption dimensions. The graphs presented in this paper are: Graphics Matrices, GGE Biplot and Chernoff faces, which were developed with the R language. It concludes on the utility that visualization techniques have in the multivariate analysis, given that in this it is studio was able to identify how students interact (genotypes) with the environment (variables of student engagement), identifying that the majority presents a stable level of student engagement. With the Chernoff faces, it was possible to visualize through the facial features in detail the presence of student engagement as a result medium level.
Ultrasound-Guided Small Vessel Cannulation: Long-Axis Approach Is Equivalent to Short-Axis in Novice Sonographers Experienced with Landmark-Based Cannulation

Introduction Our primary objective was to describe the time to vessel penetration and difficulty of long-axis and short-axis approaches for ultrasound-guided small vessel penetration in novice sonographers experienced with landmark-based small vessel penetration. Methods This was a prospective, observational study of experienced certified emergency nurses attempting ultrasound-guided small vessel cannulation on a vascular access phantom. We conducted a standardized training, practice, and experiment session for each participant. Five long-axis and five short-axis approaches were attempted in alternating sequence. The primary outcome was time to vessel penetration. Secondary outcomes were number of skin penetrations and number of catheter redirections. We compared long-axis and short-axis approaches using multivariable regression adjusting for repeated measures, vessel depth, and vessel caliber. Results Each of 10 novice sonographers made 10 attempts for a total of 100 attempts. Median time to vessel penetration in the long-axis and short-axis was 11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7–12) and 10 (95% CI 6–13) seconds, respectively. Skin penetrations and catheter redirections were equivalent and near optimal between approaches. The median caliber of cannulated vessels in the long-axis and short-axis was 4.6 (95% CI 4.1–5.5) and 5.6 (95% CI 5.1–6.2) millimeters, respectively. Both axes had equal success rates of 100% for all 50 attempts. In multivariable regression analysis, long-axis attempts were 32% (95% CI 11%–48%; p=0.009) faster than short-axis attempts. Conclusion Novice sonographers, highly proficient with peripheral IV cannulation, can perform after instruction ultrasound-guided small vessel penetration successfully with similar time to vessel penetration in either the long-axis or short-axis approach on phantom models.
Beyond Relationalism in Peacebuilding

ABSTRACT This conclusion notes the rise of relationalism in theorizing peacebuilding and the advantages of this approach as evident in the contributions to this special issue. Nevertheless, it cautions against such a move and in particular, some of the ontological and epistemological consequences of the relational turn as evident in recent poststructuralism, postcolonial approaches and practice theory. It contrasts this with the critical realist approach – whose relationalism has been ignored by the current turn – allowing both relationalism and a belief in objectivity and preference for certain knowledge claims.
Classification of Reviews on Mobile Phones Using Text Mining Techniques

People register their opinion or feedback regarding the products in different forum. This research work is based on the classification of reviews regarding the different mobile phones. Dataset from Amazon pertaining to the opinions for mobile phones is used in this work. Opinion which is expressed as text is classified as positive opinion or a negative opinion using text mining techniques. Opinion mining helps to understand the customers in a better way. This work shows the visual representation of words by using word cloud and to classify the reviews on a two point scale. From the dataset, randomly 197 reviews are taken out of which 148 reviews are classified as positive, 49 reviews are classified as negative.
Customizable Hardware Architecture of Support Vector Machine in CAD System for Colorectal Endoscopic Images with NBI Magnification

With the increase of colorectal cancer patients in recent years, the needs of quantitative evaluation of colorectal cancer are increased, and the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system which supports doctor's diagnosis is essential. In this paper, a hardware design of type identification module in CAD system for colorectal endoscopic images with narrow band imaging (NBI) magnification [1] is proposed for real-time processing of full high definition (Full HD) image (1920 x 1080 pixel). In addition, in order to improve the identification accuracy for type B (TA: tubular adenoma) and type C3 (SM-m cancer), algorithms to realize a 3-class identification, which has high efficiency and high accuracy, is proposed.
Acceleration of Protein Energy Calculation by FPGAs

Until today it is not reliably possible to computationally predict protein structure without using known structures from homologous proteins. One problem is, that the energies of very many conformations have to be computed. Speedup of the energy evaluation would make it possible to compute more conformations in a given time. In this paper we show, how a modern field programmable gate array chip (FPGA) can be programmed to enhance the speed of the protein energy computation dramatically. We present a FPGA implementation of a protein energy computation procedure. We show, that by using this FPGA design protein conformational search can be increased in speed by a factor of more than 35.
IDENTIFICATION AND COMPARISON STUDY OF MARKETING STUDENTS ETHICAL SENSITIVITY

<p><span class="fontstyle0">The research aimed to identify and compare the ethical sensitivity level of<br />marketing student. This research is descriptive-comparative using primary<br />data. Sources of data in the study is a student of marketing management. The study used a saturated sample of all students who are still active (3 batches). Data collection techniques are surveys using questionnaires. Data analysis techniques in this study using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Based on the result of the research, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in students' ethical sensitivity in 2</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">nd</span><span class="fontstyle0">, 4</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">th </span><span class="fontstyle0">and 6</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">th </span><span class="fontstyle0">semesters significantly. 6</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span><span class="fontstyle0">-semester students have better ethical sensitivity than 4</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">th </span><span class="fontstyle0">and 2</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">nd </span><span class="fontstyle0">semester. 4</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">th</span><span class="fontstyle0">-semester students have better ethical sensitivity than 2</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size: 8pt;">nd</span><span class="fontstyle0">semester. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span><span class="fontstyle2">Keywords: </span><span class="fontstyle0">ethical sensitivity, marketing students, semester</span></p>
Organizational challenges to equity in the delivery of services within a new personalized risk-based approach to breast cancer screening

Emerging evidence opens new possibilities to improve current breast cancer mammography screening programs. One promising avenue is to tailor mammography screening according to individual risk. However, some factors could challenge the implementation of such approach, specifically its potential impact on the equitable delivery of services. This study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators to the equitable delivery of services within a future integration of a personalized approach in the Québec screening program. We then propose different means to address them. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders with a role in the management, implementation or assessment of the Québec screening program. The barriers and facilitators identified by respondents were regrouped in two themes: 1) Reproduction of social inequities, and 2) Amplification of regional disparities in access to services. We consider that fostering inclusion through communication strategies and relying on electronic communication technologies could help in addressing these issues.
Multiband optical photometry and bolometric light curve of the Type Ia supernova 2004S

We present BVR C I C broad-band CCD photometry of the Type Ia supernova SN 2004S, which appeared in the galaxy MCG-05-16-021, obtained during 2004 February 12 to March 22. We present multiband and bolometric light curves constructed using our data as well as other available data. The time of the B-band maximum and the peak magnitudes in different bands are obtained using fits of light-curve and colour templates. We clearly see a strong shoulder in the R C band and a second maximum in the I C band. SN 2004S closely resembles SN 1992al after maximum. From the peak bolometric luminosity, we estimate the ejected mass of 56 Ni to be 0.41 M ○.