Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RNA-sequencing Reveal the Molecular Mechanism of Moxibustion on Neutrophil Gene Expression Profile During Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Yajie JI Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Xinyue ZHANG Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Siyu LI Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Shanyan SHA Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Weili CHEN Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Yu LIU Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Yan HUANG Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Xiaohong XUE Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Huangan Wu (  wuhuangan@126.com ) Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
High temperature self-assembly of Ag nanowires on vicinal Si(001)

We have used low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and photo emission electron microscopy (PEEM) to study the high temperature (620 °C) self-assembly of Ag nanowires on vicinal Si(001), miscut 4° in the [110] direction. After formation of an initial wetting layer, growth of wire-like structures proceeds with subsequent deposition. Simultaneously, compact islands form and the nanowires comprise only a minority of the total Ag deposit. The wires display quasi-one-dimensional behaviour as their length is observed to increase while their width remains constant. The lengths of the wires can be controlled and we have routinely grown wires longer than 100 µm. A kinetically limiting process, wherein mass transport is suppressed in the direction normal to the direction of elongation, is identified as a contributor to the growth of the nanowires.
Using Reflexive Photography to Investigate Design Affordances for Creativity in Digital Entertainment Games

ABSTRACT This article aims to provide an account of the use of reflexive photography in capturing player creativity in practice and present a guide to how game design can support player creativity. While previous literature has examined some aspects of player creativity in digital games, there remains a dearth of work, which examines how design elements of games contribute to creative behavior. Using a reflexive photography method with photo-elicitation interviews, this study identifies eight design affordances for player creativity in digital games and outlines the effectiveness of the reflexive photography method within the context of digital games. The identified design affordances related to the degree of flexibility of the game structure (e.g., open versus linear), narrative exploration, extent and diversity of game variables, opportunities for content creation, environmental interaction and exploration, avatar customization, progression, and replayability. Implications for the design of games that support creativity are discussed.
Inclusion of Probiotics into Fermented Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Milk: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities

Buffalo-milk-based dairy products provide various health benefits to humans since buffalo milk serves as a rich source of protein, fat, lactose, calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin A and natural antioxidants. Dairy products such as Meekiri, Dadih, Dadi and Lassie, which are derived from Artisanal fermentation of buffalo milk, have been consumed for many years. Probiotic potentials of indigenous microflora in fermented buffalo milk have been well documented. Incorporation of certain probiotics into the buffalo-milk-based dairy products conferred vital health benefits to the consumers, although is not a common practice. However, several challenges are associated with incorporating probiotics into buffalo-milk-based dairy products. The viability of probiotic bacteria can be reduced due to processing and environmental stress during storage. Further, incompatibility of probiotics with traditional starter cultures and high acidity of fermented dairy products may lead to poor viability of probiotics. The weak acidifying performance of probiotics may affect the organoleptic quality of fermented dairy products. Besides these challenges, several innovative technologies such as the use of microencapsulated probiotics, ultrasonication, the inclusion of prebiotics, use of appropriate packaging and optimal storage conditions have been reported, promising stability and viability of probiotics in buffalo-milk-based fermented dairy products.
Enhancing Post-Secondary Student Retention: Lessons Learned From Stories of Former First-Year Students

This study explored the experiences of former first-year students who had been institutionally dismissed from an undergraduate health program in a large Canadian university. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry, 20 individual interviews were conducted with 10 former students. Challenges connecting with faculty, large classes, and academic under-preparedness contributed to these commuter students’ involuntary departure. The university’s student support resources were under-utilized. Lessons learned have emphasized the role that an institution has in supporting its students.
Non-interactive integrated membership authentication and group arithmetic computation output for 5G sensor networks

Group-oriented applications show its potential ability in the next generation of wireless sensor networks (5G WSNs), which have the particularity of being heterogeneous and so have different capabilities in terms of storage, computing, communicating and energy. One of the main challenges for secure group-oriented applications (SGA) in 5G WSNs is how to secure communication between these heterogeneous devices. Conventional protocols are not suitable for SGA in 5G sensor networks since multiparty output establishment in this environment requires lightweight communication and computation overhead, further the primary task of SGA in 5G WSNs is to securely transmit various types of jointly computing data. Hence, membership authentication and multiparty output for arithmetic computations become two fundamental and necessary security services in SGA for 5G WSNs. In this paper we propose a novel design of non-interactive integrated membership authenticated multiparty output for arithmetic computations in 5G sensor networks, which embeds the function of membership authentication and multiparty output for arithmetic computations. Since any arithmetic computation function is composed of multiple additions and multiplications, our result serves as a general method for multiparty computation output in SGA. This design is more suitable for lightweight membership authenticated multiparty arithmetic computations output in 5G sensor networks.
Preparation and characterization of a novel pH-, thermo-, and ionic strength-responsive hydrogels based on xanthan gum–poly(aspartic acid)

A series of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) hydrogels with different compositions that based on xanthan gum (XG) and poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) were synthesized. The effects of various external surrounding stimuli, including pH, temperature, and ionic strength on XG–PASP hydrogels swelling properties were investigated. Chemical structural changes of the IPN hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and swelling ratio measurement. The swelling process was found to be a Fickian diffusion and reached swelling equilibrium quickly. It was found that the feed composition of PASP was an important factor that affected the properties of IPN hydrogels. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
How Are Green Spaces Distributed among Different Social Groups in Urban China? A National Level Study

The study analyzes the distributional equity of urban green space (UGS) among different social groups across all urban areas in China. Urban green space is measured in two ways: Park area per capita and vegetation coverage ratio within 1.6 km and 3.2 km featuring different ecosystem services they provide. Multiple regression analyses are conducted to assess relationships between different groups (children, the elderly, and migrant populations) and distributed UGS. Largely consistent to other national level studies, the nationwide analytical results indicate emerging social inequality of UGS during the urbanization of China, with a few nuances. A bi-fold pattern is observed in our case: Whilst areas with higher portions of children and senior people have less parks and high vegetation coverage, a marginalized group—internal migrant people, have more parks and low vegetation coverage in their vicinities. The results of regression analyses in different regions further shed light on revealing disparities of UGS in areas with varying socioeconomic development levels, geographical features, and urbanization paces. The implication of the study informs the decision makers to incorporate spatial patterns of social groups into green space guidance and evaluation for the purpose of promoting more equal development of UGS.
Establishment and Characterization of Eye Muscle Cell Line from Snow Trout, Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray, 1832), a Vulnerable Coldwater Fish, for In Vitro Studies

Schizothorax richardsonii, commonly called snow trout is a vulnerable coldwater fish distributed in India and adjoining countries, is an important resource as food, ornamental and game fishery. A cell line, designated as SREM-1, has been established from the eye muscle of S. richardsonii using explant method and cultured in Leibovitz’s L-15 medium. The growth studies at 20-32°C temperatures and 5-20% of fetal bovine serum (FBS) concentrations revealed that SREM-1 cells exhibited optimal growth at 28°C in L-15 medium containing 20% FBS. Cell type was confirmed primarily as epithelial in nature by immuno-phenotyping assay and was sub-cultured for >55 times since its development. The origin of the cell line was confirmed by sequencing of cytochrome oxidase c subunit I and 16S rRNA genes. SREM-1 cell line is free from mycoplasma contamination and has been cryopreserved at different passage levels with revival efficiency of 70-80% after 6 months. The SREM-1 cell line was successfully transfected and also employed for evaluating in vitro cytotoxicity against a heavy metal, mercuric chloride. The newly established cell line of this vulnerable species would be useful as a model for aquatic toxicological and transfection studies.
Experimental study of dynamics of topological defects in nematic polymer liquid crystals

The dynamics of stringlike defects and the shrinkage and annihilation processes of individual defect loops in a nematic polymer liquid crystal have been experimentally investigated. In 40<t<500 s, the line density of defects ρ scales as ρ(t)∼t−1, as expected by theory and as found in the experimental studies of some low molecular weight (LMW) liquid crystals. For individual loops, they first change their complex shape into a circle, resulting in a rapid decrease in length, and then the circular loops continuously shrink. Before a complete annihilation, the relation between the radius R(t) of the circular loop and time t0−t, where t0 is the time to annihilation, is described by R2(t)=2Γ(t0−t)(t⩽t0). The kinetic constant Γ determined from this polymer liquid crystal is 0.34∼0.38 μm2/s, much smaller than those (200∼300 μm2/s) obtained in some LMW liquid crystals. The small Γ is ascribed to the high viscosity of this polymer liquid crystal, compared with LMW liquid crystals.
Characteristics of Facial Asymmetry in Congenital Superior Oblique Palsy according to Trochlear Nerve Absence

Methods A total of 287 consecutive patients diagnosed with congenital SOP and 82 control subjects were included. Congenital SOP patients were grouped according to the presence (present group) or absence (absent group) of the trochlear nerve using thin-section high-resolution MRI of cranial nerves. We developed a computer-aided detection (CAD) system that could automatically analyze objective indices of facial asymmetry using frontal face photographs. Results Of the 287 patients with congenital SOP, 60% of patients had ipsilateral trochlear nerve absence and superior oblique muscle (SO) hypoplasia (absent group), while the remaining 40% had a normal SO and trochlear nerve (present group). All but one objective indices related to facial asymmetry were significantly different between congenital SOP patients and controls (all P < 0.05). Among these features, the angle of nose deviation was significantly larger in the absent group compared to the present group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Objective analysis of facial asymmetry using our novel CAD system was useful for identifying distinct features of congenital SOP. Deviation of the nose was more prominent in congenital SOP patients with trochlear nerve absence.
Effect of mechanical vibration on protein crystallization

Mechanical vibration often occurs during protein crystallization; however, it is seldom considered as one of the factors influencing the crystallization process. This paper reports an investigation of the crystallization of five proteins using various crystallization conditions in a temperature-controlled chamber on the table of a mechanical vibrator. The results show that mechanical vibration can reduce the number of crystals and improve their optical perfection. During screening of the crystallization conditions it was found that mechanical vibration could help to obtain crystals in a highly supersaturated solution in which amorphous precipitates often normally appear. It is concluded that mechanical vibration can serve as a tool for growing optically perfect crystals or for obtaining more crystallization conditions during crystallization screening.
The Language of Leaders: Executive Sensegiving Strategies in Higher Education

This study explores how college and university presidents strategically negotiate institutional pressures and competing social norms in an attempt to maintain organizational legitimacy. It examines how presidents strategically frame organizational events in ways that help constituents make sense of their actions. Using archival and qualitative methods, I examine executive sensegiving strategies in the presidential communiqués of university magazines from eight tuition-driven universities during a 15-year period (2000–2014). Data revealed presidents employed three strategies—foundational, configurational, and transformational—driven by connecting different cues (i.e., events) with frames (i.e., institutional logics). Although prior literature has described actors draw on logics as a “toolkit,” this study illuminates how they modify those “tools” over time. In the transformational strategy, university leaders engaged in boundary work, acting as “institutional entrepreneurs” to change the microfoundations—or core elements—of an institutional logic over time and especially the meanings associated with its symbols and language.
Genotoxic Bystander Signals from Irradiated Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Mainly Localize in the 10–100 kDa Fraction of Conditioned Medium

Genotoxic bystander signals released from irradiated human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may induce radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC), potentially causing leukemic transformation. Although the source of bystander signals is evident, the identification and characterization of these signals is challenging. Here, RIBEs were analyzed in human CD34+ cells cultured in distinct molecular size fractions of medium, conditioned by 2 Gy irradiated human MSC. Specifically, γH2AX foci (as a marker of DNA double-strand breaks) and chromosomal instability were evaluated in CD34+ cells grown in approximate (I) < 10 kDa, (II) 10–100 kDa and (III) > 100 kDa fractions of MSC conditioned medium and un-/fractionated control medium, respectively. Hitherto, significantly increased numbers of γH2AX foci (p = 0.0286) and aberrant metaphases (p = 0.0022) were detected in CD34+ cells grown in the (II) 10–100 kDa fraction (0.67 ± 0.10 γH2AX foci per CD34+ cell ∨ 3.8 ± 0.3 aberrant metaphases per CD34+ cell sample; mean ± SEM) when compared to (I) < 10 kDa (0.19 ± 0.01 ∨ 0.3 ± 0.2) or (III) > 100 kDa fractions (0.23 ± 0.04 ∨ 0.4 ± 0.4) or un-/fractionated control medium (0.12 ± 0.01 ∨ 0.1 ± 0.1). Furthermore, RIBEs disappeared after heat inactivation of medium at 75 °C. Taken together, our data suggest that RIBEs are mainly mediated by the heat-sensitive (II) 10–100 kDa fraction of MSC conditioned medium. We postulate proteins as RIBE mediators and in-depth proteome analyses to identify key bystander signals, which define targets for the development of next-generation anti-leukemic drugs.
Using Mobiles to Monitor Respiratory Diseases

In this work, a mobile application is developed to assist patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or Asthma that will reduce the dependency on hospital and clinic based tests and enable users to better manage their disease through increased self-involvement. Due to the pervasiveness of smartphones, it is proposed to make use of their built-in sensors and ever increasing computational capabilities to provide patients with a mobile-based spirometer capable of diagnosing COPD or asthma in a reliable and cost effective manner. Data collected using an experimental setup consisting of an airflow source, an anemometer, and a smartphone is used to develop a mathematical model that relates exhalation frequency to air flow rate. This model allows for the computation of two key parameters known as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) that are used in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. The developed platform has been validated using data collected from 25 subjects with various conditions. Results show that an excellent match is achieved between the FVC and FEV1 values computed using a clinical spirometer and those returned by the model embedded in the mobile application.
A Two-Period Game Theoretic Model of Zero-Day Attacks with Stockpiling

In a two-period game, Player 1 produces zero-day exploits for immediate deployment or stockpiles for future deployment. In Period 2, Player 1 produces zero-day exploits for immediate deployment, supplemented by stockpiled zero-day exploits from Period 1. Player 2 defends in both periods. The article illuminates how players strike balances between how to exert efforts in the two periods, depending on asset valuations, asset growth, time discounting, and contest intensities, and when it is worthwhile for Player 1 to stockpile. Eighteen parameter values are altered to illustrate sensitivity. Player 1 stockpiles when its unit effort cost of developing zero-day capabilities is lower in Period 1 than in Period 2, in which case it may accept negative expected utility in Period 1 and when its zero-day appreciation factor of stockpiled zero-day exploits from Period 1 to Period 2 increases above one. When the contest intensity in Period 2 increases, the players compete more fiercely with each other in both periods, but the players only compete more fiercely in Period 1 if the contest intensity in Period 1 increases.
Dog Identification Method Based on Muzzle Pattern Image

Currently, invasive and external radio frequency identification (RFID) devices and pet tags are widely used for dog identification. However, social problems such as abandoning and losing dogs are constantly increasing. A more effective alternative to the existing identification method is required and the biometrics can be the alternative. This paper proposes an effective dog muzzle recognition method to identify individual dogs. The proposed method consists of preprocessing, feature extraction, matching, and postprocessing. For preprocessing, proposed resize and histogram equalization are used. For feature extraction algorithm, Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF), Binary Robust Invariant Scaling Keypoints (BRISK) and Oriented FAST, and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) are applied and compared. For matching, Fast Library for Approximate Nearest Neighbors (FLANN) is used for SIFT and SURF, and hamming distance are used for BRISK and ORB. For postprocessing, two techniques to reduce incorrect matches are proposed. The proposed method was evaluated with 55 dog muzzle pattern images acquired from 11 dogs and 990 images augmented by the image deformation (i.e., angle, illumination, noise, affine transform). The best Equal Error Rate (EER) of the proposed method was 0.35%, and ORB was the most appropriate for the dog muzzle pattern recognition.
A framework for seasonal variations of hydrological model parameters: impact on model results and response to dynamic catchment characteristics

Abstract. Previous studies have shown that the seasonal dynamics of model parameters can compensate for structural defects of hydrological models and improve the accuracy and robustness of the streamflow forecast to some extent. However, some fundamental issues for improving model performance with seasonal dynamic parameters still need to be addressed. In this regard, this study is dedicated to (1) proposing a novel framework for seasonal variations of hydrological model parameters to improve model performance and (2) expanding the discussion on model results and the response of seasonal dynamic parameters to dynamic characteristics of catchments. The procedure of the framework is developed with (1) extraction of the dynamic catchment characteristics using current data-mining techniques, (2) subperiod calibration operations for seasonal dynamic parameters, considering the effects of the significant correlation between the parameters, the number of multiplying parameters, and the temporal memory in the model states in two adjacent subperiods on calibration operations, and (3) multi-metric assessment of model performance designed for various flow phases. The main finding is that (1) the proposed framework significantly improved the accuracy and robustness of the model; (2) however, there was a generally poor response of the seasonal dynamic parameter set to catchment dynamics. Namely, the dynamic changes in parameters did not follow the dynamics of catchment characteristics. Hence, we deepen the discussion on the poor response in terms of (1) the evolutionary processes of seasonal dynamic parameters optimized by global optimization, considering that the possible failure in finding the global optimum might lead to unreasonable seasonal dynamic parameter values. Moreover, a practical tool for visualizing the evolutionary processes of seasonal dynamic parameters was designed using geometry visualization techniques. (2) We also discuss the strong correlation between parameters considering that dynamic changes in one parameter might be interfered with by other parameters due to their interdependence. Consequently, the poor response of the seasonal dynamic parameter set to dynamic catchment characteristics may be attributed in part to the possible failure in finding the global optimum and strong correlation between parameters. Further analysis also revealed that even though individual parameters cannot respond well to dynamic catchment characteristics, a dynamic parameter set could carry the information extracted from dynamic catchment characteristics and improve the model performance.