Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Requirement for Mesenchyme in the Proliferation and Maturation of Thymic Epithelial Progenitors

Formation of a mature thymic epithelial microenvironment is an essential prerequisite for the generation of a functionally competent T cell pool. It is likely that recently identified thymic epithelial precursors undergo phases of proliferation and differentiation to generate mature cortical and medullary thymic microenvironments. The mechanisms regulating development of immature thymic epithelial cells are unknown. Here we provide evidence that expansion of embryonic thymic epithelium is regulated by the continued presence of mesenchyme. In particular, mesenchymal cells are shown to mediate thymic epithelial cell proliferation through their provision of fibroblast growth factors 7 and 10. In contrast, differentiation of immature thymic epithelial cells, including acquisition of markers of mature cortical and medullary epithelium, occurs in the absence of ongoing mesenchymal support. Collectively, our data define a role for mesenchymal cells in thymus development, and indicate distinct mechanisms regulate proliferation and differentiation of immature thymic epithelial cells. In addition, our findings may aid in studies aimed at developing strategies to enhance thymus reconstitution and functioning in clinical certain contexts where thymic epithelial cell function is perturbed.
RubisCO Gene Clusters Found in a Metagenome Microarray from Acid Mine Drainage

ABSTRACT The enzyme responsible for carbon dioxide fixation in the Calvin cycle, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO), is always detected as a phylogenetic marker to analyze the distribution and activity of autotrophic bacteria. However, such an approach provides no indication as to the significance of genomic content and organization. Horizontal transfers of RubisCO genes occurring in eubacteria and plastids may seriously affect the credibility of this approach. Here, we presented a new method to analyze the diversity and genomic content of RubisCO genes in acid mine drainage (AMD). A metagenome microarray containing 7,776 large-insertion fosmids was constructed to quickly screen genome fragments containing RubisCO form I large-subunit genes (cbbL). Forty-six cbbL-containing fosmids were detected, and six fosmids were fully sequenced. To evaluate the reliability of the metagenome microarray and understand the microbial community in AMD, the diversities of cbbL and the 16S rRNA gene were analyzed. Fosmid sequences revealed that the form I RubisCO gene cluster could be subdivided into form IA and IB RubisCO gene clusters in AMD, because of significant divergences in molecular phylogenetics and conservative genomic organization. Interestingly, the form I RubisCO gene cluster coexisted with the form II RubisCO gene cluster in one fosmid genomic fragment. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that horizontal transfers of RubisCO genes may occur widely in AMD, which makes the evolutionary history of RubisCO difficult to reconcile with organismal phylogeny.
Meeting information needs of patients with incurable progressive disease and their families in South Africa and Uganda: multicentre qualitative study

Objectives To explore the information needs of patients with progressive, life limiting disease and their family caregivers in South Africa and Uganda and to inform clinical practice and policy in this emerging field. Design Semistructured qualitative interview study. Setting Four palliative care services in South Africa and one in Uganda, covering rural, urban, and peri-urban locations. Participants 90 patients and 38 family caregivers enrolled in palliative care services; 28 patients had cancer, 61 had HIV infection (including 6 dual HIV/cancer diagnoses), and 1 had motor neurone disease. Results Five themes emerged from the data. (1) Information sources: a lack of information from general healthcare providers meant that patients and caregivers had to draw on alternative sources of information. (2) Information needs: patients and caregivers reported needing more information in the key areas of the causes and progression of the disease, its symptoms and treatment, and financial/social support. (3) Impact of unmet needs: poor provision of information had a detrimental effect on patients’ and caregivers’ ability to cope. (4) Communication: negative experiences of communication with general healthcare staff were reported (misinformation, secrecy, insensitivity). (5) Barriers to effective provision of information: barriers related to symptoms, culture, time constraints in hospital, and paternalism in general health care. Conclusions Lack of information was a major theme for both patients and carers, who had important unanswered questions relating to living with a progressive incurable disease. Evidence based recommendations for clinicians are presented, including the proactive provision of information tailored to individual patients and families.
Fuzzy controller for three phases induction motor drives

Because of the low maintenance and robustness induction motors have many applications in the industries. Most of these applications need fast and smart speed control system. This paper introduces a smart speed control system for induction motor using fuzzy logic controller. Induction motor is modeled in synchronous reference frame in terms of dq form. The speed control of induction motor is the main issue achieves maximum torque and efficiency. Two speed control techniques, Scalar Control and Indirect Field Oriented Control are used to compare the performance of the control system with fuzzy logic controller. Indirect field oriented control technique with fuzzy logic controller provides better speed control of induction motor especially with high dynamic disturbances. The model is carried out using Matlab/Simulink computer package. The simulation results show the superiority of the fuzzy logic controller in controlling three-phase induction motor with indirect field oriented control technique.
Characterizing Distributed Shared Memory Performance: A Case Study of the Convex SPP1000

In a distributed shared memory (DSM) multiprocessor, the processors cooperate in solving a parallel application by accessing the shared memory. The latency of a memory access depends on several factors, including the distance to the nearest valid data copy, data sharing conditions, and traffic of other processors. To provide a better understanding of DSM performance and to support application tuning and compiler development for DSM systems, this paper extends microbenchmarking techniques to characterize the important aspects of a DSM system. We present an experiment-based methodology for characterizing the memory, communication, scheduling, and synchronization performance, and apply it to the Convex SPP1000. We present carefully designed microbenchmarks to characterize the performance of the local and remote memory, producer-consumer communication involving two or more processors, and the effects on performance when multiple processors contend for utilization of the distributed memory and the interconnection network.
Design and evaluation of a networked game to supportsocial connection of youth with cerebral palsy

Youth with cerebral palsy (CP) can experience social isolation, in part due to mobility limitations associated with CP. We show that networked video games can provide a venue for social interaction from the home. We address the question of how to design networked games that enhance social play among people with motor disabilities. We present Liberi, a networked game custom-designed for youth with CP. Liberi is designed to allow frictionless group formation, to balance for differences in player abilities, and to support a variety of play styles. A ten-week home-based study with ten participants showed the game to be effective in fostering social interaction among youth with CP.
Is FacePIN secure and usable?

Personal identification numbers (PINs) and hardware tokens are often used together for authentication purposes, e.g., in financial transactions with ATM machines. However, many people cannot remember their PINs. This has caused insecure practice, extra management cost, or both. In this paper, we evaluate FacePIN, a solution proposed to improve the security and memorability of the PIN scheme.
Hemangioblastic Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Exhibit Limited Expansion and Early Senescence

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) have been shown to differentiate into a variety of replacement cell types. Detailed evaluation and comparison with their human embryonic stem cell (hESC) counterparts is critical for assessment of their therapeutic potential. Using established methods, we demonstrate here that hiPSCs are capable of generating hemangioblasts/blast cells (BCs), endothelial cells, and hematopoietic cells with phenotypic and morphologic characteristics similar to those derived from hESCs, but with a dramatic decreased efficiency. Furthermore, in distinct contrast with the hESC derivatives, functional differences were observed in BCs derived from hiPSCs, including significantly increased apoptosis, severely limited growth and expansion capability, and a substantially decreased hematopoietic colony‐forming capability. After further differentiation into erythroid cells, >1,000‐fold difference in expansion capability was observed in hiPSC‐BCs versus hESC‐BCs. Although endothelial cells derived from hiPSCs were capable of taking up acetylated low‐density lipoprotein and forming capillary‐vascular‐like structures on Matrigel, these cells also demonstrated early cellular senescence (most of the endothelial cells senesced after one passage). Similarly, retinal pigmented epithelium cells derived from hiPSCs began senescing in the first passage. Before clinical application, it will be necessary to determine the cause and extent of such abnormalities and whether they also occur in hiPSCs generated using different reprogramming methods. STEM CELLS 2010;28:704–712
Cytokine Expression, Natural Killer Cell Activation, and Phenotypic Changes in Lymphoid Cells from Rhesus Macaques during Acute Infection with Pathogenic Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT We studied the innate and adaptive immune system of rhesus macaques infected with the virulent simian immunodeficiency virus isolate SIVmac251 by evaluating natural killer (NK) cell activity, cytokine levels in plasma, humoral and virological parameters, and changes in the activation markers CD25 (interleukin 2R [IL-2R] α chain), CD69 (early activation marker), and CD154 (CD40 ligand) in lymphoid cells. We found that infection with SIVmac251 induced the sequential production of interferon-α/β (IFN-α/β), IL-18, and IL-12. IFN-γ, IL-4, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were undetected in plasma by the assays used. NK cell activity peaked at 1 to 2 weeks postinfection and paralleled changes in viral loads. Maximum expression of CD69 on CD3−CD16+lymphocytes correlated with NK cytotoxicity during this period. CD25 expression, which is associated with proliferation, was static or slightly down-regulated in CD4+ T cells from both peripheral blood (PB) and lymph nodes (LN). CD69, which is normally present in LN CD4+ T cells and absent in peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) CD4+ T cells, was down-regulated in LN CD4+ T cells and up-regulated in PBL CD4+ T cells immediately after infection. CD8+ T cells increased CD69 but not CD25 expression, indicating the activation of this cellular subset in PB and LN. Finally, CD154 was transiently up-regulated in PBL CD4+ T cells but not in LN CD4+ T cells. Levels of antibodies to SIV Gag and Env did not correlate with the level of activation of CD154, a critical costimulatory molecule for T-cell-dependent immunity. In summary, we present the first documented evidence that the innate immune system of rhesus macaques recognizes SIV infection by sequential production of proinflammatory cytokines and transient activation of NK cytotoxic activity. Additionally, pathogenic SIV induces drastic changes in the level of activation markers on T cells from different anatomic compartments. These changes involve activation in the absence of proliferation, indicating that activation-induced cell death may cause some of the reported increase in lymphocyte turnover during SIV infection.
CT Perfusion for Confirmation of Brain Death

SUMMARY: For pronouncing brain death, unlike CTP, the 2-phase CTA gives no functional information and is limited by inadvertent delay of the second acquisition, which may give false-negative results. The purpose of our study was to compare CTP and CTA derived from the CTP data with the Dupas and Frampas criteria for confirmation of brain death. A retrospective review of CTP in 11 consecutive patients for confirmation of brain death showed a sensitivity of 72.7% for 7- and 4-point scores, 81.8% for opacification of the ICV, and 100% for CTP scores in the brain stem. CTA obtained from the CTP data showed similar sensitivity in the diagnosis of brain death. This protocol also reduces the iodinated contrast dose and is less operator-dependent. The addition of the functional tools of CTP increased the sensitivity of CTA in the confirmation of brain death.
Evaluation of Structures and Morphologies of Recycled PC/PET Blends Fabricated by High-Shear Kneading Processing

Abstract We fabricated polymer blends of recycled-PC (PC) and recycled-PET (PET) using high-shear processing technology. We also assessed its structure, morphology, and physical properties. Results of DSC measurements show that Tg of PC and Tc of PET shifted to higher temperatures by kneading under high-shear conditions. Results show further that the Tm of PET shifted to a lower temperature. Moreover, compatibilization progressed. TEM observations show that the PET domain was not confirmed completely under the kneading condition of 1 000 min−1/10 s or more. Compatibilization progressed. Tensile test results show that the PET ratio of 30 wt% (1 000 min−1/10 s) has higher breaking strain than neat PC does. Chemical resistance test results obtained by good solvent of PC demonstrated that blending of PET makes PC elution difficult.
Theory and Practice of Delegation to Non-Majoritarian Institutions

The article summarises the analytical frameworks, questions, and empirical findings of the volume. It defines the key concepts used. It then sets out the principal-agent framework that explains delegation to NMIs through functional logics for principals. It sets out alternative explanations based on sociological and historical institutionalism. Thereafter, it relates the empirical findings of the volume to these wider debates about delegation. It argues that although functional demands for delegation can almost always be identified, purely functional accounts of delegation to NMIs are inadequate. Explaining the decision to delegate and the institutional forms of that delegation involves including and specifying interests, policy learning/institutional isomorphism and institutional inheritances. Delegation has also had major consequences on the distribution of power, policy making processes and substantive policy choices, both through its direct effects, and via feedback effects. Finally, delegation has raised questions about the legitimacy and accountability of NMIs.
Designing Movement-based Play With Young People Using Powered Wheelchairs

Young people using powered wheelchairs have limited access to engaging leisure activities. We address this issue through a two-stage project; 1) the participatory development of a set of wheelchair-controlled, movement-based games (with 9 participants at a school that provides education for young people who have special needs) and 2) three case studies (4 participants) exploring player perspectives on a set of three wheelchair-controlled casual games. Our results show that movement-based playful experiences are engaging for young people using powered wheelchairs. However, the participatory design process and case studies also reveal challenges for game accessibility regarding the integration of movement in games, diversity of abilities among young people using powered wheelchairs, and the representation of disability in games. In our paper, we explore how to address those challenges in the development of accessible, empowering movement-based games, which is crucial to the wider participation of young people using powered wheelchairs in play.
Oxidative Damage Is the Earliest Event in Alzheimer Disease

Recently, we demonstrated a significant increase of an oxidized nucleoside derived from RNA, 8-hydroxyguanosine (8OHG), and an oxidized amino acid, nitrotyrosine in vulnerable neurons of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). To determine whether oxidative damage is an early- or end-stage event in the process of neurodegeneration in AD, we investigated the relationship between neuronal 8OHG and nitrotyrosine and histological and clinical variables, i.e. amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), as well as duration of dementia and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype. Our findings show that oxidative damage is quantitatively greatest early in the disease and reduces with disease progression. Surprisingly, we found that increases in Aβ deposition are associated with decreased oxidative damage. These relationships are more significant in ApoE ε4 carriers. Moreover, neurons with NFT show a 40%–56% decrease in relative 8OHG levels compared with neurons free of NFT. Our observations indicate that increased oxidative damage is an early event in AD that decreases with disease progression and lesion formation. These findings suggest that AD is associated with compensatory changes that reduce damage from reactive oxygen.
Oncogenic Signaling Pathways Activated in DMBA-Induced Mouse Mammary Tumors

Only about 5% of human breast cancers can be attributed to inheritance of breast cancer susceptibility genes, while the balance are considered to be sporadic in origin. Breast cancer incidence varies with diet and other environmental influences, including carcinogen exposure. However, the effects of environmental carcinogens on cell growth control pathways are poorly understood. Here we have examined oncogenic signaling pathways that are activated in mammary tumors in mice treated with the prototypical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). In female FVB mice given 6 doses of 1 mg of DMBA by weekly gavage beginning at 5 weeks of age, all of the mice developed tumors by 34 weeks of age (median 20 weeks after beginning DMBA); 75% of the mice had mammary tumors. DMBA-induced mammary tumors exhibited elevated expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), c-myc, cyclin D1, and hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Because of this, the activation of upstream regulatory pathways was assessed, and elements of the Wnt signaling pathway, the NF-κB pathway, and the prolyl isomerase Pin-1 were found to be frequently up-regulated in the tumors when compared to normal mammary gland controls. These data suggest that environmental carcinogens can produce long-lasting alterations in growth and anti-apoptotic pathways, leading to mammary tumorigenesis.
Measurement of Broadband Temperature-Dependent Ultrasonic Attenuation and Dispersion Using Photoacoustics

The broadband ultrasonic characterization of biological fluids and tissues is important for the continued development and application of high-resolution ultrasound imaging modalities. Here, a photoacoustic technique for the transmission measurement of temperature-dependent ultrasonic attenuation and dispersion is described. The system uses a photoacoustic plane wave source constructed from a polymethylmethacrylate substrate with a thin optically absorbent layer. Broadband ultrasonic waves are generated by illuminating the absorbent layer with nanosecond pulses of laser light. The transmitted ultrasound waves are detected by a planar 7-mum high-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometer. Temperature- induced thickness changes in the Fabry-Perot interferometer are tracked to monitor the sample temperature and maintain the sensor sensitivity. The measured -6-dB bandwidth for the combined source and sensor is 1 to 35 MHz, with an attenuation corrected signal level at 100 MHz of -10 dB. The system is demonstrated through temperature-dependent ultrasound measurements in castor oil and olive oil. Power law attenuation parameters are extracted by fitting the experimental attenuation data to a frequency power law while simultaneously fitting the dispersion data to the corresponding Kramers-Kronig relation. The extracted parameters are compared with other calibration measurements previously reported in the literature.
Correction: Epidermal Micromorphology and Mesophyll Structure of Populus euphratica Heteromorphic Leaves at Different Development Stages

Leaf epidermal micromorphology and mesophyll structure during the development of Populus euphratica heteromorphic leaves, including linear, lanceolate, ovate, dentate ovate, dentate rhombic, dentate broad-ovate and dentate fan-shaped leaves, were studied by using electron and light microscopy. During development of heteromorphic leaves, epidermal appendages (wax crystals and trichomes) and special cells (mucilage cells and crystal idioblasts) increased in all leaf types while chloroplast ultrastructure and stomatal characters show maximum photosynthetic activity in dentate ovate and rhombic leaves. Also, functional analysis by subordinate function values shows that the maximum adaptability to adverse stress was exhibited in the broad type of mature leaves. The 12 heteromorphic leaf types are classified into three major groups by hierarchical cluster analysis: young, developing and mature leaves. Mature leaves can effectively obtain the highest stress resistance by combining the protection of xerophytic anatomy from drought stress, regulation of water uptake in micro-environment by mucilage and crystal idioblasts, and assistant defense of transpiration reduction through leaf epidermal appendages, which improves photosynthetic activity under arid desert conditions. Our data confirms that the main leaf function is differentiated during the developing process of heteromorphic leaves.
Automated Verification of Shape, Size and Bag Properties

In recent years, separation logic has emerged as a contender for formal reasoning of heap-manipulating imperative programs. Recent works have focused on specialised provers that are mostly based on fixed sets of predicates. To improve expressivity, we have proposed a prover that can automatically handle user-defined predicates. These shape predicates allow programmers to describe a wide range of data structures with their associated size properties. In the current work, we shall enhance this prover by providing support for a new type of constraints, namely bag (multi-set) constraints. With this extension, we can capture the reachable nodes (or values) inside a heap predicate as a bag constraint. Consequently, we are able to prove properties about the actual values stored inside a data structure.
Snaplet: using body shape to inform function in mobile flexible display devices

With recent advances in flexible displays, computer displays are no longer restricted to flat, rigid form factors. In this paper, we propose that the physical form of a flexible display, depending on the way it is held or worn, can help shape its current functionality. We propose Snaplet, a wearable flexible E Ink display augmented with sensors that allow the shape of the display to be detected. Snaplet is a paper computer in the form of a bracelet. When in a convex shape on the wrist, Snaplet functions as a watch and media player. When held flat in the hand it is a PDA with notepad functionality. When held in a concave shape Snaplet functions as a phone. Calls are dropped by returning its shape to a flat or convex shape.