Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crosstalk between Substrates and Rho-Associated Kinase Inhibitors in Cryopreservation of Tissue-Engineered Constructs

It is documented that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can be differentiated into various types of cells to present a tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, the preservation of stem cells is a crucial factor for their effective long-term storage that further facilitates their continuous supply and transportation for application in regenerative medicine. Cryopreservation is the most important, practicable, and the only established mechanism for long-term preservation of cells, tissues, and organs, and engineered tissues; thus, it is the key step for the improvement of tissue engineering. A significant portion of MSCs loses cellular viability while freeze-thawing, which represents an important technical limitation to achieving sufficient viable cell numbers for maximum efficacy. Several natural and synthetic materials are extensively used as substrates for tissue engineering constructs and cryopreservation because they promote cell attachment and proliferation. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitors can improve the physiological function and postthaw viability of cryopreserved MSCs. This review proposes a crosstalk between substrate topology and interaction of cells with ROCK inhibitors. It is shown that incorporation of ionic nanoparticles in the presence of an external electrical field improves the generation of ROCK inhibitors to safeguard cellular viability for the enhanced cryopreservation of engineered tissues.
Prolonged circulation of activated platelets following plasmapheresis

The extent and duration of in vivo platelet activation were determined in 12 volunteer donors undergoing automated plasmapheresis. Expression of P‐selectin, activated GpIIb/IIIa, and platelet microparticle formation were measured by flow cytometry on peripheral blood samples obtained immediately before and after plasmapheresis and at 24 hour intervals thereafter for up to 3 days. Although no adverse effects were noted in any donor, immediately after apheresis 3 87% of circulating platelets expressed P‐selectin: by 48 hours. 0.5 50% expressed P‐selectin; and by 72 hours, all donors studied had fewer than 5% P‐selectin expression on circulating platelets. Results were similar for the expression of the activated conformation of GpIIb/IIIa. There was a positive correlation with in vitro P‐selectin expression in response to ADP in the pre‐apheresis sample and the number of platelet microparticles detected in the donor following plasmapheresis. In addition, the percent expression of P‐selectin and activated GpIIb/IIIa in response to ADP was reproducible in each individual studied on five separate occasions (CV ≤ 8%). Platelets activated during plasmapheresis using an automated device may circulate for at least 48 hours, and pre‐plasmapheresis response of platelets to the agonist ADP correlated with platelet microparticle formation post‐plasmapheresis. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Low Power Sub-$\mu$W Chemical Gilbert Cell for ISFET Differential Reaction Monitoring

This paper presents a low power current-mode method for monitoring differentially derived changes in pH from ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) sensors, by adopting the Chemical Gilbert Cell. The fabricated system, with only a few transistors, achieves differential measurements and therefore drift minimisation of continuously recorded pH signals obtained from biochemical reactions such as DNA amplification in addition to combined gain tunability using only a single current. Experimental results are presented, demonstrating the capabilities of the front-end at a microscopic level through integration in a lab-on-chip (LoC) setup combining a microfluidic assembly, suitable for applications that require differential monitoring in small volumes, such as DNA detection where more than one gene needs to be studied. The system was designed and fabricated in a typical 0.35 μm CMOS process with the resulting topology achieving good differential pH sensitivity with a measured low power consumption of only 165 nW due to weak inversion operation. A tunable gain is demonstrated with results confirming 15.56 dB gain at 20 nA of ISFET bias current and drift reduction of up to 100 times compared to a single-ended measurement is also reported due to the differential current output, making it ideal for robust, low-power chemical measurement.
Effects of arc3, arc5 and arc6 Mutations on Plastid Morphology and Stromule Formation in Green and Nongreen Tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana †

Mutations in the ARC3, ARC5 and ARC6 genes of Arabidopsis thaliana affect chloroplast division. We investigated whether ARC3, ARC5 and ARC6 are also involved in determining plastid morphology in nongreen tissues, where stromules, stroma‐filled tubular extensions of the plastid envelope membrane, are more abundant than in mesophyll cells. Using plastid‐targeted green fluorescent protein to observe plastids throughout the organs of these mutants, we have discovered a number of new mutant phenotypes. The size of arc3 plastids was heterogeneous in various tissues. arc5 plastids appeared wild‐type in the majority of nongreen tissues examined. However, in cells of stamen filaments, the arc5 mutant showed an increase in the frequency of stromules. Increased stromule frequency was observed for a number of organs in the arc6 mutant. Some arc6 cells contained heterogeneous mixtures of plastids; epidermal cells of hypocotyls, stamen filaments and the bases of petals possessed both very large chloroplasts as well as much smaller nongreen plastids. Quantitative analysis in hypocotyl cells revealed that the alteration in stromule length in arc3 and arc6 mutants occurred despite wild‐type plastid densities. Thus, in hypocotyls, the effects of the arc3 and arc6 mutations on stromule length and frequency are independent of changes in plastid division. Although electron micrographs of stromules emanating from chloroplasts have rarely been reported, within the arc3 mutant, narrow, 40–50 nm diameter, recoiled stromules could be followed for about 10 μm in electron micrographs of leaf tissue.
Design of mismatched filters for long binary codes

Several approaches for sidelobe suppression of pulse compression radar using mismatched filters were proposed for more than 30 years. Barker code of length 13 was invariably used for the performance comparison of these methods. Present day pulse compression radars with large time-bandwidth products use binary code lengths much greater than 13. Very few results of mismatched filter performance were shown for binary codes of length greater than 100. One of the reasons why the results were limited to shorter code lengths was the computational complexity involved in mismatched filter optimization. For example, to apply one of the earlier methods to reduce peak sidelobes, repeated inversion of 1000-by-1000 matrix would be needed for 1000-tap mismatched filter. In this paper, a simple iterative processing algorithm coupled with minimax optimization to reduce peak sidelobe level is proposed that demonstrates mismatched filter performance for code lengths far greater than 1000. The performance of the proposed mismatched filters approaches that of Wiener filtering techniques but with much less complexity and therefore could be applied for designing longer mismatched filters. Furthermore, with this approach mismatched filter iteration could be stopped to stay within the mismatch loss budget.
Evidence-based medicine teaching in UK medical schools

Background: It is recognized that clinicians need training in evidence-based medicine (EBM), however there is considerable variation in the content and methods of the EBM curriculum in UK medical schools. Aims: To determine current practice and variation in EBM undergraduate teaching in UK medical schools and inform the strategy of medical schools and the National Knowledge Service. Methods: We contacted all 32 medical schools in the UK and requested that the person primarily responsible for EBM undergraduate teaching complete a short online survey and provide their EBM curriculum. Results: The survey was completed by representatives from 20 (63%) medical schools and curriculum details were received from 5 (16%). There is considerable variation in the methods and content of the EBM curriculum. Although the majority of schools teach core EBM topics, relatively few allow students to practice the skills or assess such skills. EBM teaching is restricted by lack of curriculum time, trained tutors and teaching materials. Conclusions: Key elements to progress include the integration of EBM with clinical specialties, tutor training and the availability of high-quality teaching resources. The development of a national undergraduate EBM curriculum may help in promoting progress in EBM teaching and assessment in UK medical schools.
International Environmental Agreements with Social Externalities: A Global Emissions Game with Asymmetric Players

In this work we present a Global Emission Game with N asymmetric players, in which the pay-off of cooperators is affected by a Social Externality, that we assume to be a positive function. We refer to the notion of self-enforcing agreements to study the stability of the coalition and we assume that the N players are divided in two homogeneous groups, developed and developing countries. Moreover, the externality doesn't depend on emissions, but only on the number of players in coalition. So, it has no effects on the choice of optimal emissions, but only on the stability of the coalition.
Adjuvant high-dose bolus interleukin-2 for patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma: a cytokine working group randomized trial.

PURPOSE This prospective, randomized, controlled phase III trial assessed high-dose bolus interleukin-2 (IL-2) postoperatively in patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligibility requirements were resected locally advanced (LA; T3b-4 or N1-3) or metastatic (M1) RCC, no prior systemic therapy, and excellent organ function. Randomized assignment was to one course of IL-2 (600,000 U/kg every 8 hours on days 1 to 5 and days 15 to 19 [maximum 28 doses]) or observation. The study was designed and powered to show an improvement in predicted 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) from 40% for the observation group to 70% for the treatment group. The accrual goal was 68 patients with LA disease, with 34 patients per treatment arm. Metastasectomy patients were to be analyzed separately because of their unpredictable natural history. RESULTS Sixty-nine patients were enrolled onto the study (44 LA and 25 M1 patients). Toxic effects of IL-2 were as anticipated; no unexpected serious adverse events or treatment-related deaths occurred. Early closure occurred when an interim analysis determined that the 30% improvement in 2-year DFS could not be achieved despite full accrual. Sixteen of 21 LA patients receiving IL-2 experienced relapse, compared with 15 of 23 patients in the observation arm (P =.73); in the LA group, three deaths occurred in the IL-2 arm, and five deaths occurred in the observation arm (P =.38). Analysis including metastasectomy patients made no difference in DFS or overall survival. CONCLUSION One course of high-dose bolus IL-2, though feasible, did not produce the ambitious clinically meaningful benefit anticipated when administered postoperatively to patients with resected high-risk RCC.
Business and its Environments: Business Opportunities Open to Small-scale Enterprises During Political Transition Periods in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The small-scale business enterprise operates in the same environment with its medium and large scale counterparts. Due to its size, the smal-scale busin ess enterprise can adapt easily to changing environ ments and circumstances faster than the other forms of bu sinesses. This paper examines the various political environments under which the small-scale busines enterprise operates, and the business opportunities open to it during political transition periods in s ub Sahara Africa. The paper finds out that the demo cratic capitalist environment offers the small-scale enter prises the best opportunity to thrive and identifie s several business opprtunities open to them during p olitical and regime transition periods in sub-sahar a Africa. The paper recommends that the small-scale e nterprisise should mix business with politics in or der to exploit these business opportunities open to it in its area of operation during political transitio n periods in the region.
Research on the Defense Against ARP Spoofing Attacks Based on Winpcap

Based on the study of the existing methods and the WinPcaP, aimed with the ARP spoofing attacks achieved mainly by disguising the gateway, the thesis presents a method of defending ARP spoofing attacks based on WinPcaP. The method is: Setting filtering rules by filtering mechanisms of the WinPcaP, and the system just captures the ARP packets flowing through the local card, and then sends the packets to the analysis module; In the analysis module, the system parses out the IP address and MAC address from the data packets, and sends them to the checking module; In the checking module, the system first judges whether the last number of the IP address is one, if not, the system gives up treating the packet, otherwise compares the IP/MAC to the right IP/MAC and sends the result to the response module; In the response module, if judging there exists ARP spoofing attacks, the system sends information to the users, modifies the ARP cache table and stores the information to the database server.
Energy harvesting for Wireless Sensors from electromagnetic fields around overhead power lines

In this paper, capacitive and inductive energy harvesting devices are proposed to extract energy from the electric and magnetic fields surrounding 132kV overhead transmission lines. Research has been done to determine what parameters affect these energy harvesters. In-lab testing has been done on both the inductive and capacitive energy harvesters and results look promising. A single IC solution for 3.3V voltage regulation and energy storage was also tested.
Innovation in teaching and learning : cum laude

As a lecturer in pharmaceutics, my goals as a teacher have been to: Promote the development of students into enthusiastic lifelong learners, as well as to support their personal development at university. Assist students in gaining the confidence to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice, and to inspire them to uphold their values and norms in all facets of their profession.
Reliability of Ultra‐Short ECG Indices for Heart Rate Variability

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is an accepted and reliable means for assessing autonomic nervous system dysfunction. A 5‐minute measurement of HRV is considered methodologically adequate. Several studies have attempted to use shorter recordings of 1–2 minutes or 10 seconds. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of HRV parameters calculated from ultra‐short electrocardiogram recordings.
Analysis of aspects of lightning strokes to large-sized transmission lines

When designing large-sized transmission facilities, evaluating the risk of their lightning outage is very important, hence the authors have been conducting a study to determine a more precise method for calculating the lightning stroke rate and the lightning outage rate. In that study, it is essential to clarify the aspect of lightning strokes to large-sized transmission lines. In this context, the Tokyo Electric Power Company has observed lightning strokes to overhead ground wire or transmission tower (shielding success), for the first time as far as the authors are aware, and direct lightning strokes to a phase conductor (shielding failure). The present study analyzed and compared the ratios of shielding success or failure, and the (forward) flashover or back flashover outage rates based on the observation results of UHV-designed and 500 kV transmission lines. The number of lightning strokes to transmission facilities is 167.3 cases/100km/year for UHV-designed transmission lines and 130.8 cases/100km/year for 500 kV transmission lines, meaning the taller the facilities, the more lightning strokes occur. For these lightning strokes, the shielding failure rates were 1.80 and 0.98% for UHV-designed and 500 kV transmission lines, respectively, whereas the lightning outage rates due to direct lightning strokes (flashover) were almost equal at 0.37 and 0.39% for UHV-designed and 500 kV transmission lines, respectively. This is due to the balance between the shielding effect associated with the insulation clearance and the flashover voltage between arcing horns. Conversely, the lightning outage rate due to back flashover was mainly a factor of the distance between arcing horns and was 0.05% for UHV-designed transmission lines, which was very low compared with 0.59% for 500 kV transmission lines. Based on these results, since a comparatively high number of lightning outages were caused by direct lightning strokes on large-sized transmission lines, e.g. UHV class, the need for insulation design to tackle such cases was indicated.
Cleft palate: A genetic and epidemiologic investigation

An examination of kindred histories of 561 Danish probands who have non‐syndromic CP has indicated that neither a multifactorial‐threshold model nor a single major locus model is completely compatible with the data. This suggests etiologic heterogeneity for CP, which was tested with kindred data.
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AS A SOURCE OF COMPETITIVE

This study examines the types of strategies and operating cultures of organizations in terms of their effectiveness at the individual, work-unit, and organizational levels of analysis. The framework focuses first on the relationship between the type of strategy adopted by organizations and their operating cultures, based on contingency or “fit” theories proposing that different cultures are appropriate for different types of strategies. The theoretical framework used in this study also focused on the relationship between organizational culture and effectiveness. This relationship was considered in terms of both “adaptive” theories of cultures—which propose that certain types of cultures promote effectiveness regardless of environmental and strategic factors --and contingency theories—which propose that such strategic factors moderate the relationship between culture and effectiveness. This paper presents a summary of the research efforts.
Identification and characterization of a novel antisense RNA transcribed from the opposite strand of the human blood group ABO gene

BACKGROUND: To elucidate the molecular basis of control of the ABO gene in cell type–specific expression, during normal cell differentiation, and in cancer cells lacking A/B antigen, the mechanisms responsible for regulation of human ABO gene expression have been studied. Recently, naturally occurring antisense transcriptions have been reported to regulate gene expression through a variety of biological mechanisms. Therefore, RNA transcribed from the opposite strand of the ABO gene was investigated.
Aging and structural relaxation of hyper-quenched Mg 65 Cu 25 Y 10 metallic glass

The structural relaxation, glass transition and crystallization processes of Mg65Cu25Y10 metallic glass are studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Mechanical Spectroscopy. The relaxation model derived from the mechanical measurements is compared with the kinetics of these transformations obtained from the DSC curves. The structural relaxation kinetics is found to be controlled by the glassy dynamics following an Adams-GibbsVogel function. The glass transition and crystallization kinetics are controlled by the dynamics of the supercooled melt following a Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann behaviour. The results suggest that the microscopic processes responsible of structural relaxation and aging below the glass transition correspond to the same processes generating the -relaxation peak.
A Modified Ant Colony Algorithm to the P| Prec| Cmax Scheduling Problem: A Comparative Study

This paper investigates a comparative study which addresses the P/prec/Cmax scheduling problem, a notable NP-hard benchmark. MLP_SACS, a modified ant colony algorithm, is used to solve it. Its application provides us a better job allocation to machines. In front of each machine, the jobs are performed with three priority rules, the longest path LP, a modified longest path MLP and a maximum between two values MAX. With these three rules and with both static and dynamic information heuristics called "visibility", six versions of this ant colony algorithm are obtained, studied and compared. The comparative study analyzes the following four meta-heuristics, simulated annealing, taboo search, genetic algorithm and MLP_SACS a modified ant colony system, is performed. The solutions obtained by the MLP_SACS algorithm are shown to be the best.
BALB/c.CBA/N mice carrying the defective Btk(xid) gene are resistant to pristane-induced plasmacytomagenesis.

The X-chromosome from the CBA/N mouse which carries the defective Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) allele (Xxid) has been introgressively backcrossed onto the plasmacytoma (PCT) induction-susceptible BALB/cAN. Inbred BALB/c.CBA/N-xid/xid (C.CBA/N) mice raised and maintained in our conventional colony were given three 0.5 ml injections of pristane and were highly refractory to PCT induction. Only one PCT was found among 59 mice followed for > or =300 days. Twenty mice were examined at day 200 for foci of plasma cells in the oil granuloma. Ten mice had small foci of plasma cells, most of which were plasmacytotic, embedded in the inflammatory oil granuloma. In one there were multiple foci, but most of the mice had only one or two foci. F1 hybrid XxidY males derived from CBA/N females crossed to BALB/cAnPt were also resistant to PCT induction, while heterozygous and homozygous XY males were susceptible. C.CBA/N mice can develop extensive mucosal plasma cells as well as plasma cell accumulations in oil granuloma tissue, but the precursors of these plasma cells do not give rise to PCT in genetically susceptible hosts. The failure of C.CBA/N mice to develop PCT is probably due to the elimination of B cell clones that can be perpetuated by repeated exposure to thymus-independent type 2 antigens.