Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization and modeling of monocyte‐derived macrophages after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) elicits a neuroinflammatory reaction dominated by microglia and monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDM). Because MDM do not infiltrate the spinal cord until days after injury, it may be possible to control whether they differentiate into neuroprotective or neurotoxic effector cells. However, doing so will require better understanding of the factors controlling MDM differentiation and activation. Our goal was to develop an in vitro model of MDM that is relevant in the context of SCI. This tool would allow future studies to define mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways that are associated with MDM‐mediated neuroprotection or neurotoxicity. We first characterized SCI‐induced cytokine expression in MDM using laser capture microdissection and real‐time PCR. Based on this data, we assessed which easily procurable primary macrophage subset would mimic this phenotype in vitro. We established the baseline and inductive potential of resident peritoneal, thioglycollate‐elicited peritoneal and bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDM) at the molecular, cellular and functional level. Of these cells, only BMDM retained the phenotypic, molecular and functional characteristics of MDM that infiltrate the injured spinal cord. Thus, peripheral macrophages should not be used interchangeably in vitro to model the functional consequences of the MDM response elicited by SCI.
The Role of Fundamental Frequency in Phonetic Accommodation

Previous research has argued that fundamental frequency is a critical component of phonetic accommodation. We tested this hypothesis in an auditory naming task with two conditions. Participants in an Unfiltered Condition completed an auditory naming task with a single male model talker. A second group of participants was assigned to a Filtered Condition where the same stimuli had been high-pass filtered at 300 Hz, thereby eliminating the fundamental frequency. Acoustic analysis of f0 revealed that participants assigned to the Unfiltered Condition imitated the pitch of the model talker more than those assigned to the Filtered Condition. Although accommodation was statistically significant, the effect was small, so we followed with a perception study to examine listeners’ abilities to detect differences in accommodation across conditions. Shadowed tokens from participants in the Unfiltered Condition were indeed judged by listeners to be more similar to the model talker’s productions that those from participants in the Filtered Condition. However, acoustic measurements and listener judgments of accommodation were not significantly correlated, enforcing the intuitive concept that accommodation and listeners’ judgments of similarity are holistic and do not hone in on singular features in the acoustic signal.
A family of low and high copy replicative, integrative and single‐stranded S. cerevisiae/E. coli shuttle vectors

We describe a set of replicative, integrative and single‐stranded shuttle vectors constructed from the pUC19 plasmid that we use routinely in our experiments. They bear a yeast selectable marker: URA3, TRP1 or LEU2. Replicative vectors carrying different yeast replication origins have been constructed in order to have plasmids based on the same construction with a high or low copy number per cell and with different mitotic stabilities. All the vectors are small in size, provide a high yield in Escherichia coli and efficiently transform Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These plasmids have many of the unique sites of the pUC19 multicloning region and many of them allow for the screening of plasmids with an insert by alpha‐complementation. The nucleotide sequence of each of them is completely known.
A qualitative re-construction of project measurement criteria

– Failure is encountered regularly within project‐based industries and there has been research for decades into this phenomenon. Much of it has considered the failure of projects in terms of the classic project progress issues such as time, cost and quality. Using cases from two major industries the authors aim to develop a different understanding of project measurement criteria. This work is part of a larger completed investigation into information systems and information technology (IS/IT) project management models, developed for industry comparisons. , – During the study, the concept of project failure and success is investigated. The authors carry out a UK‐based, grounded study of two project‐based industries of differing maturity levels (construction and IS/IT) to investigate measures of project failure or success across the two industries. , – The paper presents a reassessment of project measurement criteria. This is based on the separation of measures for project performance and project progress. , – The adopted strategy of naturalistic inquiry has always been susceptible to the criticism that it relies too much on subjective interpretation of data. In addition, no clear relationship was established between the factors discussed and the criteria for measuring project success. , – The paper discusses current differences in perception of what actually constitutes a failed or successful project. The paper highlights that often two different (but closely related) concepts, are being discussed by project stakeholders.
Efficient Evaluation of Array Subscripts of Arrays

The APL language allows subscripted expressions such as A[I;J;K], where A is an array and I, J and K may be scalars, vectors or arrays of any size and shape. We describe an efficient method of evaluating these expressions. The method is quite general and yet it does recognize all the special cases in which multiple subscripts can be reduced to a simpler form. We show how the same mechanism can be used to evaluate other selection operations, such as transpose, and how selection operations may be combined.
Independent filtering increases detection power for high-throughput experiments

With high-dimensional data, variable-by-variable statistical testing is often used to select variables whose behavior differs across conditions. Such an approach requires adjustment for multiple testing, which can result in low statistical power. A two-stage approach that first filters variables by a criterion independent of the test statistic, and then only tests variables which pass the filter, can provide higher power. We show that use of some filter/test statistics pairs presented in the literature may, however, lead to loss of type I error control. We describe other pairs which avoid this problem. In an application to microarray data, we found that gene-by-gene filtering by overall variance followed by a t-test increased the number of discoveries by 50%. We also show that this particular statistic pair induces a lower bound on fold-change among the set of discoveries. Independent filtering—using filter/test pairs that are independent under the null hypothesis but correlated under the alternative—is a general approach that can substantially increase the efficiency of experiments.
Universal excess noise in resonant tunneling via strongly localized states.

We show that in disordered resonant tunneling conductors the excess current noise is suppressed by a factor of 3/4 in comparison with its Poisson value provided the electrons tunnel via strongly localized states. Thus we reveal a class of systems exhibiting universality of its shot-noise properties. We discuss recent experiments. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
On the asymptotic normality of autoregressive spectral density estimates for the noise corrupted case

Asymptotic statistics for spectral density estimates of noise corrupted autoregressive (AR) series are evaluated. The "high-order" Yule-Walker equation estimates of the autoregressive parameters are used to form a spectral density estimate. The estimate is shown to be a consistent asymptotically normal (CAN) estimate. An expression for the variance of the limiting distribution in terms of the AR process parameters and the noise variance is provided.
A Future Home Power System with Contactless Power Transmission Technologies

The traditional home power system is not suitable for the current complex household appliances for its low efficiency, which need a new power system. In this paper, a future home power system with contactless power transmission (CPT) technologies is proposed. Besides, with the consideration of using renewable power, a solar power hybrid generation system is integrated in the future power system. In addition, the distributed power system is introduced to the proposed power system instead of traditional centralized power method. The distributed power system is more stable and efficient. On the other hand, thanks to the CPT technologies, household appliances will be more safe and friendly by using CPT systems than before by eliminating cords and plugs. A simulation by PSIM DEMO version of the proposed future power system shows that the proposed concept is feasible. Furthermore, a CPT prototype has been fabricated to analyze the circuit characteristics of the CPT system.A novel concept of home power system is proposed, elaborated in detail and simulated by computer software. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v11i12. 3692 Full Text: PDF
Energy-Model-Based Optimal Communication Systems Design for Wireless Sensor Networks

As is widely used in our daily life, wireless sensor network (WSN) is considered as one of the most important technologies of the new century. Although, the sensor nodes are usually battery powered with limited energy sources, the system energy consumption must be minimized in order to extend the life time. Since the energy consumption of transceiver front ends is dominant in the whole sensor nodes, we focus on how to minimize energy consumption by the system level design. According to the applications, we analyze four types of RF architectures: on-off keying (OOK) transceiver, phase-shift keying (PSK) transceiver, quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) transceiver, and frequency-shift keying (FSK) transceiver which are widely used in WSN and establish the related energy models for each kind of architecture, respectively. We connect the baseband parameters such as modulation level, data rate, bandwidth, and propagation distance. with the energy consumption of RF front end for WSN. Afterwards, through theoretical and numerical analysis in system level, we discuss and conclude how to design optimal energy-quality system in terms of various application scenarios.
Asymptotic power of likelihood‐ratio tests for detecting quantitative trait loci using the COGA data

We investigated the asymptotic power of the likelihood‐ratio test for detecting linkage to a quantitative trait locus (QTL) using the data set from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). Assuming a total trait heritability of 50% as determined for the COGA Cz P300 phenotype, we determined the minimum QTL heritability required at each point in the genome to achieve 80% power to detect linkage with a lod of 3.0. We find that there are regions of the genome where it is not possible to detect a QTL of any effect with 80% power, and that the overall minimum detectable QTL heritability for the COGA data is 0.35–0.40.
Non-Foster matching of Electrically Small Antennas. Stability considerations

Stability is the biggest problem in the matching of Electrically Small Antennas (ESAs) using non-Foster reactances realized by Negative Impedance Converters (NICs). However, it is not usually studied properly. In this paper we propose the Normalized Determinant Function (NDF) as a powerful method to test the stability of the systems formed by the NIC and the ESA, and we will show how conventional design can lead us to unstable solutions.
Effect of dibutyryl cAMP on the cAMP content, meiotic progression, and developmental potential of in vitro matured pre‐pubertal and adult pig oocytes

Pre‐pubertal pig oocytes display reduced developmental competence compared with adult oocytes following in vitro maturation (IVM). Exposure to dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) for the first 20 hr IVM improves development of pre‐pubertal oocytes, suggesting that their cAMP content may be inadequate. This study examined the effect of 1 mM dbcAMP treatment for the first 22 hr of IVM on the cAMP content, meiotic progression, and embryo development of pre‐pubertal and adult oocytes. In control groups, a two‐fold increase in cAMP was observed in adult oocytes after 22 hr IVM, with no change in pre‐pubertal oocyte cAMP content. At 22 hr IVM, dbcAMP treatment resulted in two‐ and five‐fold increases in pre‐pubertal and adult oocyte cAMP, respectively. After 22 hr control IVM, a greater proportion of pre‐pubertal oocytes occupied metaphase I (MI) compared with adult oocytes (69% vs. 49%). dbcAMP treatment reduced the proportion of pre‐pubertal and adult oocytes in MI stage at 22 hr. Despite dbcAMP treatment, the proportion of pre‐pubertal oocytes in the MI stage at 22 hr remained higher than that of adult oocytes. In control groups, adult oocytes displayed a greater ability to form blastocysts compared with pre‐pubertal oocytes following either parthenogenetic activation (59% vs. 25%) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) (47% vs. 19%). dbcAMP treatment increased subsequent blastocyst formation rates of pre‐pubertal oocytes, whereas blastocyst formation rates of adult oocytes remained unchanged. Our results suggest that the reduced developmental capacity of pre‐pubertal oocytes may be a consequence of their reduced ability to accumulate cAMP during IVM. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A small molecule, LLL12 inhibits constitutive STAT3 and IL‐6‐induced STAT3 signaling and exhibits potent growth suppressive activity in human multiple myeloma cells

We characterized the effects of a newly developed signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor, LLL12 in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. LLL12 specifically inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, nuclear localization, DNA binding activity, down‐regulated STAT3 downstream genes, and induced apoptosis in MM cells. Importantly, LLL12 significantly inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, induced apoptosis in primary MM cells which came from patients that were clinically resistant to lenalidomide and bortezomib. LLL12 is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation with IC50 values ranging between 0.26 and 1.96 μM in MM and primary MM cells. LLL12 also inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation induced by interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interferon‐α but not STAT1, STAT2, STAT4 and STAT6 phosphorylation induced by interferon‐α, interferon‐γ and IL‐4 indicating the selectivity of LLL12 for STAT3. The selectively of LLL12 on STAT3 was further demonstrated on 21 protein kinases, which LLL12 had IC50 values ≥73.92 μM. In addition, the pretreatment of LLL12 blocked the promotion of the cell proliferation and resistance to lenalidomide by IL‐6. Furthermore, LLL12 significantly blocked tumor growth of MM cells in mouse model. Our results indicate that LLL12 blocks constitutive STAT3 and IL‐6 induced STAT3 signaling and may be a potential therapeutic agent for MM.
Factors Affecting Early Services for Children Who Are Hard of Hearing.

PURPOSE To describe factors affecting early intervention (EI) for children who are hard of hearing, we analyzed (a) service setting(s) and the relationship of setting to families' frequency of participation, and (b) provider preparation, caseload composition, and experience in relation to comfort with skills that support spoken language for children who are deaf and hard of hearing (CDHH). METHOD Participants included 122 EI professionals who completed an online questionnaire annually and 131 parents who participated in annual telephone interviews. RESULTS Most families received EI in the home. Family participation in this setting was significantly higher than in services provided elsewhere. EI professionals were primarily teachers of CDHH or speech-language pathologists. Caseload composition was correlated moderately to strongly with most provider comfort levels. Level of preparation to support spoken language weakly to moderately correlated with provider comfort with 18 specific skills. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest family involvement is highest when EI is home-based, which supports the need for EI in the home whenever possible. Access to hands-on experience with this population, reflected in a high percentage of CDHH on providers' current caseloads, contributed to professional comfort. Specialized preparation made a modest contribution to comfort level.
TRIANGULAR MODEL OF CONCEPT STRUCTURE IN CURRICULUM DESIGN

This paper presents a triangular model of concept structure and four developmental levels of physical concepts: primitive, empirical, exact, and formal. The model is built upon Vygotsky’s concept theory and derived from the semantic modeling of concepts. The basic components of the model are: core C, meaning M, meaning layers M1, M2, M3, sense S, and their relationships. This model also distinguishes between the concept’s meaning and sense as being two disjunctive sets following Frege’s idea of meaning/reference (Bedeutung) and sense (Sinn). Besides the description of spontaneous concept development, it distinguishes several stages in the development of scientific concepts during physics and math concept learning. Based on this model, a specific method of cognitive analysis of concepts has started to develop. This method enables cognitive modeling – the construction of cognitive models of single external concepts and their mental representations.
Recovery of Understory Bird Movement Across the Interface of Primary and Secondary Amazon Rainforest

ABSTRACT. Amazonia now contains vast areas of secondary forest because of widespread regeneration following timber harvests, yet the value of secondary forest to wildlife remains poorly understood. Secondary forest becomes structurally similar to primary forest after abandonment, and therefore we predicted that avian movement across the interface of primary and secondary forest (hereafter “the interface”) would gradually increase with time since abandonment until recovery to pre-isolation levels. From 1992 to 2011, we captured 2,773 understory birds of 10 foraging guilds along the interface of primary forest fragments and zero- to 30-year-old secondary forest at the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project near Manaus, Brazil. Our objectives were to understand the differences in land-use history that affect cross-interface movement and to determine how long it takes each guild to recover to pre-isolation capture rates. Across guilds, age of secondary forest within 100 m of the interface was the most important explanatory variable affecting capture rates; rates increased with age of secondary forest for all guilds except non-forest species. Mean recovery to pre-isolation was 26 years (asymmetric SE = 13 years below and 16 years above estimate) after secondary forest abandonment and 9 of 10 guilds recovered within 13 to 34 years. In the slowest guild to recover, terrestrial insectivores, 6 of 12 species were never caught along the interface, and we projected that this guild would recover in ∼60 years. Our recovery estimates quantify the dynamic permeability of the interface and contribute to a better understanding of the value of secondary forests as corridors among primary forest fragments.
An approach to 3D shape blending using point cloud slicing

Shape blending is of great theoretical and practical significance in industrial design, engineering simulation, etc. An approach to 3D shape blending using point cloud slicing is proposed in this article. It can be used in industrial design as an aid to design creativity. After the uniform slicing of each point cloud model, an improved ray-firing method is adopted to establish the correspondence between the vertices on two sets of cross-section contours. The vertex coordinates of the intermediate shapes are generated using the weighted mean methods, and the new contours are created. Finally, 3D model of the intermediate shape is obtained by constructing a loft surface. The example testifies that the algorithm has good stability and reliability. It provides a new way for innovation design of product shape.
Dynamic Classification of Sensitivity Levels of Datawarehouse Based on User Profiles

A data warehouse stores secret data about the privacy of individuals and important business activities. This makes access to this source a risk of disclosure of sensitive data. Hence the importance of implementing security measures which guarantee the data confidentiality by establishing an access control policy. In this direction, several propositions were made, but none are considered as a standard for access management to data warehouses. In this article, we will present our approach that allows first to exploit the permissions defined in the data sources in order to help the administrator to define access permissions to the data warehouse, and then our system will automatically generate the sensitivity level of each data warehouse element according to the permissions granted to an object in the data warehouse.
Performance Improvement of OTFTs using Double Layer Insulator

Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with improved performance are fabricated using SiO2-cross-linked PVA double layer insulator. The improved field- effect mobility, on-current, off-current, on/off ratio, and subthreshold slope are 0.12 cm2/V-sec, 9.2times10-6 Aring, 2times10-12 Aring, 4.6times106, and 0.4 V/dec, respectively. In addition, a negligible threshold voltage shift is observed in the device. The performance improvements are attributed to good leakage characteristic of SiO2 and high-k characteristic of cross- linked PVA. Based on the proposed OTFTs, an organic inverter working as high as 1 kHz is implemented.
Manipulation of Characteristic Wave Modes by Impedance Loading

The influence of the antenna impedance loading on the characteristic wave modes is investigated and evaluated. It is shown that the eigenvalue behavior of the characteristic modes can be modified by impedance loading at specific positions on the antenna. Thereby, it is possible to manipulate certain modes such that they resonate in the desired frequency band. These modes can then effectively be excited to achieve the desired antenna performance. It is found that using characteristic wave modes leads to better intuitive insight compared to the entire current distribution. Furthermore, we present a definition of the modal efficiency of the characteristic modes, which can be used to take into account the effect of losses in the matching components or the load elements.
Development of Piezo-Driven Compliant Bridge Mechanisms: General Analytical Equations and Optimization of Displacement Amplification

Compliant bridge mechanisms are frequently utilized to scale micrometer order motions of piezoelectric actuators to levels suitable for desired applications. Analytical equations have previously been specifically developed for two configurations of bridge mechanisms: parallel and rhombic type. Based on elastic beam theory, a kinematic analysis of compliant bridge mechanisms in general configurations is presented. General equations of input displacement, output displacement, displacement amplification, input stiffness, output stiffness and stress are presented. Using the established equations, a piezo-driven compliant bridge mechanism has been optimized to maximize displacement amplification. The presented equations were verified using both computational finite element analysis and through experimentation. Finally, comparison with previous studies further validates the versatility and accuracy of the proposed models. The formulations of the new analytical method are simplified and efficient, which help to achieve sufficient estimation and optimization of compliant bridge mechanisms for nano-positioning systems.