Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spatial Organization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro—Results from a New Individual Cell-Based Model with Podia

Therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) requires their extensive in vitro expansion. MSC in culture typically grow to confluence within a few weeks. They show spindle-shaped fibroblastoid morphology and align to each other in characteristic spatial patterns at high cell density. We present an individual cell-based model (IBM) that is able to quantitatively describe the spatio-temporal organization of MSC in culture. Our model substantially improves on previous models by explicitly representing cell podia and their dynamics. It employs podia-generated forces for cell movement and adjusts cell behavior in response to cell density. At the same time, it is simple enough to simulate thousands of cells with reasonable computational effort. Experimental sheep MSC cultures were monitored under standard conditions. Automated image analysis was used to determine the location and orientation of individual cells. Our simulations quantitatively reproduced the observed growth dynamics and cell-cell alignment assuming cell density-dependent proliferation, migration, and morphology. In addition to cell growth on plain substrates our model captured cell alignment on micro-structured surfaces. We propose a specific surface micro-structure that according to our simulations can substantially enlarge cell culture harvest. The ‘tool box’ of cell migratory behavior newly introduced in this study significantly enhances the bandwidth of IBM. Our approach is capable of accommodating individual cell behavior and collective cell dynamics of a variety of cell types and tissues in computational systems biology.
Exploring the design space of ambient light displays

In this paper, we present an approach to explore the design space for ambient light displays with the help of software simulation. This allows researchers and practitioners to collect valuable information on the design space before making implementation decisions. In our interactivity users will be able to compare both software simulation and hardware prototype of an ambient light display for off-screen points of interest (POI).
Vertical Scaling for Prioritized VMs Provisioning

The elastic scaling of services permits us (1) to meet service provisioning requirements (i.e., not to violate its SLAs), and (2) to efficiently use available resources (i.e., to minimize the cost of running the application). In this paper, we describe a novel online controller design built on top of the Xen hyper visor. The controller facilitates the elastic provisioning of applications using a combination of adapting the resource constraints of VMs and dynamically plugging in new virtual CPUs. We have implemented our design and evaluated our approach using real world workload traces from the RUBiS online auction benchmark. The results show that our controller allows to reduce total CPU time in comparison to statically allocated CPU with of minimum SLA violation rate and provides stable response time for high priority VM, when we apply it to provision prioritized VMs.
Fast Encoding Algorithm for H.265/HEVC Based on Tempo-spatial Correlation

The newest H.265/HEVC video coding standard adopts the quadtree-structured coding unit (CU) to match various texture characteristics of image. Therefore, H.265/HEVC can achieve significantly better coding efficiency than all existing video coding standards such as H.264/AVC. However, the computational complexity of the H.265/HEVC encoder increases dramatically due to its recursive quadtree representation to find the best coding tree unit (CTU) partition. To speed up the encoding procedure, a fast CU depth range decision method is proposed to reduce the depth search range in this paper. Based on the depth information correlation between tempo-spatial adjacent CTUs and the current CTU, some depths can be adaptively excluded from the depth search process in advance. The best depth of current CTU is determined by an intersection between temporal predicted depth ranges by 9 Gaussian weighting from encoded blocks and spatial predicted depth ranges by 4 best weighting from encoded blocks, separately. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can achieve time improving ratio (TIR) about 42%~82% when compared to the default encoding scheme in HM 8.1 with insignificant loss of image quality. On the other hand, when compared with the other fast algorithm in [8], the proposed algorithm can further achieve an average TIR about 12%~ 8%.
Holographic elements for Fourier transform

Problems of designing the holographic Fourier transform elements are described. First, two different configurations for a Fourier transform setup are considered. The converging beam Fourier transform (CB-FT) is simpler than the conventional parallel beam Fourier transform (PB-FT) setup, and it appears that it should be preferred in ordinary cases. But the advantage of the conventional configuration is to make the Fourier plane free of the spherical factor. In order to obtain an exact Fourier transform, the design of holographic lens is described with respect to its optimization. A major problem is to eliminate possibly all aberrations, especially distortion for high values of spatial frequencies, threrefore we have shown the advantage of curved holographic element which could be applied to Fourier transform operation.
Novel Image Denoising using Series Structure of Wavelet Decomposition with Thresholding

Image denoising is the methodology to remove noises from images distorted by various noises like Gaussian, speckle, salt and pepper etc. This technology facilitate the imaging devices to a very large extent in some situations where noises is in the outer environment or distortions is created by dust particles, fog, or moistures etc. and effect of these noises can be reduced to enhance the visualization of images. So any work towards the improvement of denoising algorithm is always appreciable. In this paper an improved denoising algorithm is proposed with the series structure of wavelet decomposition with different symlet filter and different thresholding, and this structure significantly improve the results (i.e. PSNR) from previously implemented denoising algorithms.
Multi-drug resistance gene (MDR1) and opioid analgesia in horses

A absorcao de opioides no trato intestinal, assim como seus efeitos no sistema nervoso central, sao modulados pela P-glicoproteina (P-gp), uma proteina de membrana celular codificada pelo gene MDR1, tambem chamado ATP-binding cassete, subfamilia B, membro 1 (ABCB1) e que atua como bomba seletiva. A expressao desta proteina em roedores e seres humanos inibe a absorcao celular de opioides e sua presenca no intestino associada a isoenzima CYP3A4 reduz a atividade analgesica dos opioides por ativacao do metabolismo intestinal do farmaco. A reducao na extracao intestinal de farmacos opioides susceptiveis a esta proteina chega a 20%, o que reduz significativamente a biodisponibilidade de opioides administrados por via oral. No sistema nervoso central, a P-gp diminui a captacao neuronal dos opioides e seus efeitos analgesicos. Ainda e desconhecido se o gene MDR1 e a P-gp estao presentes no trato intestinal e no sistema nervoso central em cavalos e quais os seus efeitos na absorcao, metabolismo e efeito analgesico nesta especie. Fica evidente a importância da determinacao da presenca ou nao deste gene e sua expressao proteica no cavalo, para um melhor entendimento da farmacologia dos opioides nesta especie.
Supporting complex astronaut tasks: the right advice at the right time

A challenge for future human planetary exploration missions will be to empower the astronauts with sufficient cognitive support so that they can make decisions in much more autonomous fashion than in current missions. Future astronauts will be told the goal they need to realize; they have to work out for themselves how to realize these goals. This paper describes a planning-based system that, based on an accurate assessment of the current state, is able to support the astronaut in realizing the mission goals. As for the realization of the mission goals the use of complex equipment is crucial, the support includes also the operation of such systems
A Pair Wise Key Pre-Distribution Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are highly vulnerable to attacks for the limitation of constrained resource and communicating via wireless links, especially running in a hostile environment such as battlefields. In such situation, an adversary may capture any node compromising critical security data including keys used for confidentiality and authentication. Consequently, it is necessary to provide security services to these networks to ensure their survival. In this paper, we propose a new key management technique based on differentiated key pre-distribution, to provide end-to-end secure communication. The core idea is to distribute different number of keys to different sensors to enhance the resilience of certain links. This feature is leveraged during routing, where nodes route through those links with higher resilience. The analysis also shows that the technique can substantially improve the security as well as the performance of existing key pre-distribution techniques.
Towards adaptive elastic distributed Software Defined Networking

Distributed Software Defined Networking federates multiple controllers In a network to solve the problems In single controller networks, e.g., to improve network reliability and reduce the delay between controllers and switches. However, in the current distributed SDN schemes, the mapping between SDN switches and controllers is statically configured, which may result in uneven load distribution among controllers. These schemes cannot fully benefit from the distributed SDN architecture. In order to address this issue, this paper proposes an adaptive elastic distributed SDN architecture. The architecture dynamically selects a minimum. number of active controllers that switches attached to, and changes the mapping between switches and controllers according to the network load. Specially, a switch can migrate from one controller domain to another so that the mapping is adaptive to the network load. We formalize the controller selection problem as an optimization problem, and prove that the problem is NP-Hard. We solve the problem by using greedy algorithms. With the algorithms, controllers In a network are dynamically changed with respect to the network load and the number of active controllers is close to the optimal value. We validate the algorithms and evaluate the performance by simulations. In particular, the simulation results show that the number of active controllers is reduced by 60% when the whole network load decreases.
Single channel speech-music separation using matching pursuit and spectral masks

A single-channel speech music separation algorithm based on matching pursuit (MP) with multiple dictionaries and spectral masks is proposed in this work. A training data for speech and music signals is used to build two sets of magnitude spectral vectors of each source signal. These vectors' sets are called dictionaries, and the vectors are called atoms. Matching pursuit is used to sparsely decompose the magnitude spectrum of the observed mixed signal as a nonnegative weighted linear combination of the best atoms in the two dictionaries that match the mixed signal structure. The weighted sum of the resulting decomposition terms that include atoms from the speech dictionary is used as an initial estimate of the speech signal contribution in the mixed signal, and the weighted sum of the remaining terms for the music signal contribution. The initial estimate of each source is used to build a spectral mask that is used to reconstruct the source signals. Experimental results show that integrating MP with spectral mask gives good separation results.
Analysis of Memory Performance and Execution Models for Large-Scale Manycores.

Platforms consisting of many computing cores have become mainstream in scientific comput-ing/high performance computing, but present a technological challenge to others like real-time embedded systems. While they provide increased processing power and system availability, they can impose latencies and contention for memory accesses as multiple cores try to reference data at the same time. This becomes critical for hard real-time systems where predictability and performance isolation are important. On a multiprocessor board with 50 or more processing cores, the NoC (Network on Chip) adds to that unpredictability. This work makes two contributions: • It develops a bank-aware and controller-aware allocator and it evaluates the impact of targeted allocation on performance isolation and contention. Experiments for bank-aware and controller-aware allocation show that such targeted allocation significantly improves performance isolation, results in less contention and reduces worst case and average execution times. • It utilizes an MPI-like abstraction designed over the NoC and the vendor's OpenMP support for the assessment various programming models. The experiments are primarily designed to assess the impact of NoC contention and load distribution on application performance. The results demonstrate that MPI and OpenMP abstractions are most scal-able given the right data decomposition but they are also highly susceptible to NoC contention. The hybrid model, which utilizes a mix of both paradigms, performs inferior
The X-Ray Properties of Active Galactic Nuclei with Double-peaked Balmer Lines

Double-peaked Balmer line profiles originate in the accretion disks of a few percent of optically selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs). The reasons behind the strong low-ionization line emission from the accretion disks of these objects are still uncertain. In this paper, we characterize the X-ray properties of 39 double-peaked Balmer line AGNs, 29 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and 10 low optical luminosity double-peaked emitters from earlier radio-selected samples. We find that the UV-to-X-ray slope of radio-quiet (RQ) double-peaked emitters as a class does not differ substantially from that of normal RQ AGNs with similar UV monochromatic luminosity. The radio-loud (RL) double-peaked emitters, with the exception of low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) galaxies, are more luminous in the X-rays than RQ AGNs, as has been observed for other RL AGNs with single-peaked profiles. The X-ray spectral shapes of double-peaked emitters, measured by their hardness ratios or power-law photon indices, are also largely consistent with those of normal AGNs of similar radio loudness. In practically all cases studied here, external illumination of the accretion disk is necessary to produce the Balmer line emission, as the gravitational energy released locally in the disk by viscous stresses is insufficient to produce lines of the observed strength. In the Appendix we study the variability of Mrk 926, a double-peaked emitter with several observations in the optical and X-ray bands.
Some pathological and epidemiological considerations of animal mycoplasmoses.

None of the presently known mycoplasmal respiratory diseases of animals offers a model system closely resembling chronic bronchitis or pulmonary emphysema. The only animal disease with clinical and pathological similarities to human emphysema is the emphysema seen in horses. This is a very interesting model and would probably be useful for clinical evaluation and manipulation, but it is not going to be a useful model for the study of the etiological factors involved since this disease is rarely diagnosed until it becomes well advanced. In my opinion, the rat model offers the most promising possibilities in this area. The rat can develop chronic lung disease. Indeed these are of the commonest lesions found in old rats: pneumonias, bronchitis, and bronchiectasis. Although it is not exactly the same disease you see in the human patient, it has some characteristics in the course of development that are closely related. This disease in rats appears to have a multiple etiology. The factor of age plays a very significant role; the advanced lesions are characteristically seen in old rats. Mycoplasma (M. pulmonis and possibly other species) definitely plays a part in the disease. Although there seems to be some argument about its actual nature and significance, the virus described by Dr. Nelson' of the Rockefeller Institute also apparently plays some part in this disease. In addition, the rat is an animal that can be and already is being used for chemical and other environmental injury studies. These facts would suggest that a logical extension of our knowledge would involve combined studies of the effects of aging, injury, and multiple infectious agents singly and in various combinations on the respiratory tracts of rats. The rat has a relatively short life span and is easy to maintain. The most important factor in the choice of the rat is that this animal can be, given proper conditions, produced free of respiratory tract infection. This is a crucial factor in determining the possible etiological relationships and interrelationships of any infectious agents to chronic respiratory disease, as will be evident from our later discussion on avian respiratory disease.
An Approximate Formula for Pricing American Options

American exercise has always presented a problem for option pricing models. For put options and calls on underlying assets with a continuous proportional cash payout, American exercise turns valuation into a free boundary problem with no closed-form solution. The approximation formula derived by Baroni-Adesi and Whaley has been a very useful tool, but the approximation works best only for short maturities and every long maturities. The formula is less accurate for intermediate maturities of a couple of years, which are now common for over-the-counter option contracts and exchange-traded LEAPS. Other approximation methods based on numerical techniques can be made arbitrarily accurate, but are computationally much more burdensome. Ju and Zhong present a very useful new closed-form model, obtained by introducing correction terms to the Baroni-Adesi and Whaley formula. The model is much more accurate than most alternatives and is also computationally more efficient. As important as improved accuracy, for many users, is the fact that as a closed-form solution, programming Ju and Zhong's model is much simpler than setting up a numerical algorithm.
Robots for social skills therapy in autism: evidence and designs toward clinical utility

Given evidence that some individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have greater interest or facility in interacting with mechanical than social elements of everyday life, there has been much interest in using robots as facilitators, scaffolds, or catalysts for social behavior within interventions. This dissertation presents evidence toward the clinical utility of interaction with robots for communication and social skills therapies for children with ASD. Specifically, we present novel, group-based, well-controlled observations of social behaviors produced by populations with ASD and with typical development (TD), during brief interactions with social robots. Importantly, we present evidence that a robot can elicit greater social interaction with an interventionist than can an asocial engaging technology, or another adult, suggesting that the appeal of a technology cannot alone mediate or elicit social behavior in children with ASD; rather, sociality must be entwined with interaction with the technology. In addition, we present evidence validating novel technologies and interaction designs that support the application of social robots to the specific domain of speech prosody therapy. Finally, this dissertation suggests systematic design guidelines promoting clinically effective collaborations between human-robot interaction scientists and clinical researchers and providers who support individuals with ASD.
Drug-Metabolizing Activity, Protein and Gene Expression of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases Are Significantly Altered in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), the most important enzymes in body detoxification and homeostasis maintaining, govern the glucuronidation reaction of various endogenous and environmental carcinogens. The metabolic function of UGTs can be severely influenced by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fifth prevalent and third malignant cancer worldwide. Particularly in China, HBV-positive HCC account for approximately 80% of HCC patients. But rare papers addressed the alteration on the metabolism of UGTs specific substrates, translational and transcriptional activity of UGTs in HBV-positive HCC patients. In present study, we choose the main UGT isoforms, UGT1As, UGT1A1, UGT1A9, UGT1A4 and UGT2B7, to determine the alterations of metabolic activity, protein and gene expression of UGTs in HBV-positive HCC. The corresponding specific substrates such as genistein, SN-38, tamoxifen, propofol and zidovudine were utilized respectively in UGTs metabolic activity determination. Furthermore, the plausible mechanism responsible for UGTs alterations was addressed by analyzing the protein and gene expressions in tumor and the adjacent normal tissues in HBV-positive HCC. The results revealed that in the tumor human liver microsomes (HLMs), either Vmax (maximum reaction rate, Rmax for UGT1A1) or the clearance rates (Vmax/Km, Clint) of UGT1A, UGT1A1, UGT1A4, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 were significant lower than those of in the adjacent normal HLMs. Subsequently, the relative protein and gene expressions of these isoforms were notably decreased in most of tumor tissues comparing with the adjacent normal tissues. More interestingly, in tumor tissues, the metabolic activity reduction ratio of each UGT isoform was closely related to its protein reduction ratio, indicating that decreasing protein level would contribute to the reduced metabolic function of UGTs in HBV-positive HCC. In summary, our study firstly determined the alteration of UGT function in HBV-positive HCC patients, which would provide an important insight for toxicity or efficacy determination of chemotherapeutic drugs, and even bring a new strategy for clinical regimen in the health cares for the relative patients.
A Method for Large Vessels/Brain Activity Colocalization

FMRI is a technique using BOLD contrast to identify areas of cerebral activity. Large vessels contribution to this signal induces a delay in the measured response. It is therefore imperative to precisely colocalize brain activity and large veins. MR venography is an acquisition procedure using phase variations to reinforce cerebral vasculature on anatomical data. In this article, we present a method to register brain large veins and activation map in order to achieve an accurate interpretation of measured activity.