Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inducing Embryonic Stem Cells to Differentiate into Pancreatic β Cells by a Novel Three‐Step Approach with Activin A and All‐Trans Retinoic Acid

Experimental induction of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to become pancreatic β cells can potentially provide ample resource for cell transplantation therapy of type I diabetes mellitus. Most of the previously reported induction strategies were long and complicated, and some required genetic manipulation. Moreover, it has been indicated that the insulin staining of ESC progeny was insulin uptake from the culture medium. Here we show that a simple three‐step experimental approach based on the combination induction by activin A, all‐trans retinoic acid, and other mature factors is able to induce murine ESCs to differentiate into insulin‐producing cells in 2 weeks, and that insulin release of these induced cells is regulated by the glucose concentration. Our insulin‐enhanced green fluorescent green protein reporter system excludes the possibility of insulin uptake. Transplantation of these ESC‐derived insulin‐positive cells can normalize blood glucose levels and rescue the survival of streptozocin‐induced diabetic mice. The findings reported here offer a novel in vitro model to study the differentiation mechanism of pancreatic β cells and a potential source of insulin‐producing cells for transplantation therapy of type I diabetes mellitus.
Support for self-management of cardiovascular disease by people with learning disabilities.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second most common cause of death among people with learning disabilities (LD), and lifestyle has been linked to risk factors. With a shift towards illness prevention and self-management support, it is important to know how people with LD can be involved in this process. OBJECTIVE To elicit the perceptions of people with LD, carers and health professionals regarding supported self-management of CVD. METHODS A qualitative approach used in-depth semi-structured interviews based on vignettes with accompanying pictures. Fourteen people with LD, 11 carers/care staff and 11 health professionals were recruited and interviewed. Thematic framework analysis was used to analyse interview data. RESULTS In total, 11 men and 25 women were interviewed. All respondents contributed views of self-management with a wide range of opinions expressed within each participant group. Four key themes encompassed: strategies for self-management; understanding the prerequisites for self-management support; preferred supporters and challenges for self-management implementation. Facilitated service user involvement in self-management decision making was highly valued in all groups. Service users wished for co-ordinated incremental support from across agencies and individuals. CONCLUSIONS People with LD can be effectively consulted regarding health management and their views can inform service development. Promoting joined-up support across health and social care and families will require investment in resources, education and dismantling of professional barriers.
Bioweapons and bioterrorism: A review of history and biological agents

Bioweapons is a thorny issue due their destructive capabilities, and for the potential to generate panic and terror among the affected people. Used since pre-Christian times, bioweapons have resulted in the decimation of whole populations and have changed the geopolitics of several places. In this paper, a summary of the main wars and terrorist activities carried out using bioweapons over the time is presented. In addition, the main biological warfare agents and related pathologies are considered, as according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) priority classification. The emergence of potentially more destructive biological agents, due to the widespread introduction of biotechnology, is also analysed.
Shimba—an environment for reverse engineering Java software systems

Shimba is a reverse engineering environment to support the understanding of Java software systems. Shimba integrates the Rigi and SCED tools to analyze and visualize the static and dynamic aspects of a subject system. The static software artifacts and their dependencies are extracted from Java byte code and viewed as directed graphs using the Rigi reverse engineering environment. The run‐time information is generated by running the target software under a customized SDK debugger. The generated information is viewed as sequence diagrams using the SCED tool. In SCED, statechart diagrams can be synthesized automatically from sequence diagrams, allowing the user to investigate the overall run‐time behavior of objects in the target system.
Modern spectral analysis of the UWB magnitometric signals

The short-time Fourier transform, the adaptive Fourier transform and the wavelet analysis for investigations of the geomagnetic field ultrawideband (UWB) signals accompanying the different high-energy processes have been applied. These methods have been shown to be useful applying simultaneously for the obtaining of the additional information about investigated UWB process in geomagnetic field.
A Case Report of Expanded-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase–Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Peritonitis in a Patient on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

1. Li PK, Szeto CC, Piraino B, Bernardini J, Figueiredo AE, Gupta A, et al. Peritoneal dialysis–related infections recommendations: 2010 update. Perit Dial Int 2010; 30:393–423. 2. Muraoka K, Ishibashi Y, Yamaguchi J, Kawarazaki H, Kume H, Fujita T. Early partial reimplantation of Tenckhoff catheters to treat intractable exit-site/tunnel infection. Perit Dial Int 2011; 31:350–3. 3. Hirohama D, Ishibashi Y, Kawarazaki H, Kume H, Fujita T. Successful treatment of mycobacterium gordonae exitsite and tunnel infection by partial catheter reimplantation of the Tenckhoff catheter. Perit Dial Int 2011; 31:368–70. 4. Tse KC, Lui SL, Cheng VC, Yip TP, Lo WK. A cluster of rapidly growing mycobacterial peritoneal dialysis catheter exit-site infections. am J Kidney Dis 2007; 50:e1–5. 5. Renaud CJ, Subramanian S, Tambyah PA, Lee EJ. The clinical course of rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterial peritoneal dialysis infections in Asians: a case series and literature review. Nephrology (carlton) 2011; 16:174–9. 6. Griffith DE, Aksamit T, Brown–Elliott BA, Catanzaro A, Daley C, Gordin F, et al. An official ATS/IDSA statement: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases. am J respir crit care med 2007; 175:367–416. 7. Lim SY, Kim BJ, Lee MK, Kim K. Development of a realtime PCR-based method for rapid differential identification of mycobacterium species. lett appl microbiol 2008; 46:101–6. 8. George G, Mony P, Kenneth J. Comparison of the ef f icacies of loop-mediated isothermal amplif ication, f luorescence smear microscopy and culture for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. PloS one 2011; 6:e21007. doi:10.3747/pdi.2011. 00080 A Case report of Expanded-spectrum Beta-Lactamase–Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Peritonitis in a Patient on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Chaos Communication over noisy Channels

The problem of transmitting digital information using chaotic signals over a channel with Gaussian white noise perturbation is introduced rigorously. It is shown that discrete time base-band chaotic communication systems with discrete time Gaussian white noise in the channel are sufficiently general in this context. The optimal receiver is given explicitly in terms of conditional probabilities. For the example of chaos shift keying using iterations of the tent map, the optimal classifier is constructed explicitly. Finally, it is shown how previously published methods, in particular those based on chaos synchronization, fit into this framework.
94-GHz Compact 2-D Multibeam LTCC Antenna Based on Multifolded SIW Beam-Forming Network

This communication presents a compact 94-GHz 2-D multibeam antenna using the low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology. A good 2-D substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) beam-forming network (BFN) for eight beams is proposed, where four-phase shifters are properly introduced to increase the flexibility of the beams. Benefiting from multilayer LTCC, the BFN is compactly implemented in a completely symmetrical structure by using two multifolded SIW Butler matrixes with 50% reduction of the longitudinal size, and four couplers placed on different layers with interlaced signal routes to avoid overlaps or crossovers. Combined with a $2 \times 4$ SIW slot antenna array, the multibeam antenna can realize eight symmetric scanning beams on 2-D with stable gains for a wide coverage. For demonstration, the two single-port antennas with different pitch-angle beams are fabricated and measured, and good agreements with the expectations are observed. The differences of the beam orientations are less than 5°, while the measured peak gains of the beams are about 8.5 dBi.
SOCIAL NETWORKS : USAGE INTENSITY AND EFFECTS ON PERSONALIZED ADVERTISING

The increasing popularity of social media has significantly changed user behavior and companies’ possibilities to engage in personalized advertising (targeted advertising based on user’s personal characteristics and preferences). Accordingly, there is a growing interest in the subject for business and scientific research. While the body of literature about social media grows in general, it surprisingly lacks studies about personalized advertising in social media and the associated social networks. Based on uses and gratifications theory, the current study therefore investigates factors which influence Facebook members’ usage intensity, as well as the relationship between this intensity and members’ approval of personalized Facebook ads. Furthermore, it also examines members’ word-of-mouth intention with regard to the advertised products or services, and examines how usage intensity and members’ approval of personalized advertising impact this intention. Based on a survey of 201 Facebook members, the study finds that Internal Core Functions, Need for Data Privacy, Need for New Friends and Need for Social Self-Portrayal show significant positive effects on Usage Intensity. In addition, the structural equation modeling approach confirms the impact of Usage Intensity on Approval of Personalized Facebook Ads and Word-of-Mouth Intention, which mediates the relationship between Usage Intensity and Word-of-Mouth Intention.
Age Determination from Sternal ends of the Ribs- an Autopsy Study

A random study of 500 cases for age determination from sternal ends of the ribs was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar with joint supervision of Department of Anatomy. The aim of the study was to determine the age after death with minimal error. Currently there are different parameters available to determine the age of a person like study of teeth, ossification of bones and other ancillary data, but the accurate reliability of these measures is only limited to a particular age group i.e. 25 ± 5 years. For the age beyond this, many workers in different parts of the world have done their studies to accurately determine the age of a person from the skeleton. Study by Iscan et al (1984) has emphasized fair amount of accurate assessment of age from the sternal end of the ribs. The present study was a similar attempt to analyze the reliability and accuracy of Iscan et al's (1984) work in this part of the world.
Essential Malariology

this volume. As part four indicates, in the mental health field concensus about these concepts is further complicated by such basic questions as "are mind and body fundamentally different"? Theoretical approaches, such as the medical, psychological, behavioral, and societal models, determine what information is gathered from a patient and what judgments are made regarding his or her mental state. No model seems complete, and often two may conflict. The ambiguity in the definition of mental illness and the difficulties in its diagnosis, are of concern when we consider the autonomy and rights of the individual defined as mentally ill. As a whole, this collection of essays serves to compare and contrast the languages, assumptions, and concepts of sociology, biology, economics, medicine, mental health, ethics, and philosophy. If the editors had attached the biographic data and the date the work was written to each essay, and not just at either end of the book, respectively, the reader might more easily recognize the contributions that each has made to the concepts of disease and health. As presented, the book contains too many essays and too much repetition to be read easily as a whole. The final essays, which elaborate on the earlier ones, often seem redundant or out of place. It is a book to be sampled through a long period of time and used as a reference. All of us health-related professions occasionally need to take stock of the values and assumptions regarding health and disease upon which we base our own work and lives. We need to acknowledge the influence that our personal concepts, and those implied by the structure of the systems in which we are working have upon our actions. Health practitioners ought also to listen to the language their patients or clients use to describe disease, illness, health, and wellbeing. An understanding of each others' terminology can expedite and enrich the care process. Concepts of Health and Disease challenges health workers to rethink their basic assumptions.
Clinical strains of Acinetobacter classified by DNA‐DNA hybridization

A collection of Acinetobacter strains consisting of 168 consecutive clinical strains and 30 type and reference strains was studied by DNA‐DNA hybridization and a few phenotypic tests. The field strains could be allotted to 13 DNA groups. By means of reference strains ten of these could be identified with groups described by Bouvet & Grimont (1986), while three groups were new; they were given the numbers 13‐15. The type strain of A. radioresistens‐ recently described by Nishimura et al. (1988) ‐ was shown to be a member of DNA group 12, which comprised 31 clinical isolates. Of the 19 strains of A. junii, eight showed hemolytic activity on sheep and human blood agar and an additional four strains on human blood agar only. Strains of this species have previously been regarded as non‐hemolytic. Reciprocal DNA pairing data for the reference strains of the DNA groups were treated by UPGMA clustering. The reference strains for A. calcoaceticus, A. baumannii and for DNA groups 3 and 13 formed a cluster with about 70% relatedness within the cluster. Other DNA groups joined at levels below 60%.
Model following control and application in cutting vibration control

In this paper, design of the model following control is discussed. The design of the control system is constructed using the easy algebraic algorithm of matrices whose elements are polynomials of the two kinds of operators. Bounded of the inner states for the control system is given and the utility of this control design is guaranteed. It is confirmed on basis of a numerical example that the output signal of the control system asymptotically follows the reference model signal in the case of the existence of disturbances.
Facial morphology and vibrissal movement in the golden hamster

The major cranial vibrissae in the golden hamster can be moved in complex ways that suggest they are served by a finely controlled motor system. Movements are hypothesized to be the products of (1) differential blood flow and pressure regulation in the sinus surrounding each vibrissal follicle, (2) contractions of the striated facial muscles, and (3) elastic rebound in the connective tissues. The vasculature contributes hydrostatic forces that (a) erect the vibrissae slightly and distort their connective tissue bedding, (b) rigidify the vibrissal capsules, thus forming firm bases of attachment for certain facial muscles, and (c) theoretically provide a pressure plate around the follicle, important in lowering the firing thresholds of receptor endings. The facial muscles supply the major forces in erection and protraction of the vibrissae by acting on both the capsules and the connective tissue bedding. The connective tissues are organized into capsular and extracapsular systems that serve to stabilize the vibrissae and return them to initial rest positions.
Overweight and obesity in the Arabian Peninsula: an overview

Obesity greatly increases the risks of developing diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, coronary artery disease, and some cancers. At least one-third of Arabs are obese, as defined by body mass index (BMI) more than 30 kg/m 2, and this figure is rising steadily despite increased interest in fitness. Women have particularly high rates of obesity. Obesity is clearly associated with increased risk for mortality, but there has been controversy regarding optimal weight with respect to mortality risk. A review of recent studies on the prevalence of obesity among population of the Arabian Peninsula and the evaluation of the health risk of obesity is presented in this paper. The prevalence of obesity ranges between 16-25% in men and 17-48% in women. The most prevalent chronic diseases related to obesity in these populations are diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease (CHD).
Molecular mechanisms of HLA class I‐mediated immune evasion of human tumors and their role in resistance to immunotherapies

Although the human immune system can recognize and eradicate tumor cells, tumors have also been shown to develop different strategies to escape immune surveillance, which has been described for the first time in different mouse models. The evasion of immune recognition was often associated with a poor prognosis and reduced survival of patients. During the last years the molecular mechanisms, which protect tumor cells from this immune attack, have been identified and appear to be more complex than initially expected. However, next to the composition of cellular, soluble and physical components of the tumor microenvironment, the tumor cells changes to limit immune responses. Of particular importance are classical and non‐classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens, which often showed a deregulated expression in cancers of distinct origin. Furthermore, HLA class I abnormalities were linked to defects in the interferon signaling, which have both been shown to be essential for mounting immune responses and are involved in resistances to T cell‐based immunotherapies. Therefore this review summarizes the expression, regulation, function and clinical relevance of HLA class I antigens in association with the interferon signal transduction pathway and its role in adaptive resistances to immunotherapies.
Auditory Lateralization Ability in Children with (Central) Auditory Processing Disorder

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the auditory lateralization ability in children with (central) auditory processing disorder. Methods: Participants were divided in two groups: 15 children with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (8-10 years) and 80 normal children (8-11 years) from both genders with pure-tone air-conduction thresholds better than 20 dB HL bilaterally and interaural pure tone threshold difference better than 5 dB . All subjects had normal IQ and normal otoscopy: In the present study 9 imaginary positions were simulated in horizontal plane by Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and Interaural Intensity Difference (IID) to evaluate the auditory lateralization performance in normal and children with (central) Auditory Processing Disorder (C)APD. Lateralization performance were determined by ITD ranging from -880 to +880 microsecond and IID ranging from -10 to +10 dB for high pass and low pass noise(2 kHz cut off point). Boltzmann function was used to describe the auditory lateralization performance and Independent Samples T-test was used to compare the two groups. Results: according to Boltzmann function two major types of abnormalities were revealed in the lateralization performances: 1- completely disoriented, 2- side-oriented. 86.6% of (C)APD children showed significant increase in mean of test errors compared with normal ones (p<0.001.( Discussion: The study supports the hypothesis that most children with (C)APD have poor auditory lateralization and abnormal processing of binaural cues.
Analysis of intraocular straylight, especially in relation to age.

PURPOSE To analyze straylight resulting from different sources (cornea, lens, wall translucency, and fundus reflectance) in combination with different properties (age and pigmentation). To give formulas for straylight calculations. METHODS In straylight on the retina multiple scattering can be assumed to be unimportant. Consequently, an additive model can be applied. RESULTS An efficient parameter to quantify straylight is the "straylight parameter" s(theta), with theta the scatter angle. The model reads s(theta) = s(cornea)(theta) + s(lens)(theta) + s(wall)(theta) + sfundus(theta), and each of these sources is analyzed as sx(theta) = sx,base(theta) + a(age)*sx,age(theta) + p(pigm.)*sx,pigm. (theta). CONCLUSIONS The most important effects, viz., s(lens,age), s(wall + fundus,pigm.) and s(cornea + lens + fundus,base) as well as a(age) and p(pigm.) were estimated. With the straylight parameter different effects of straylight, notably its disabling effect of contrast reduction, follow directly.
A dual-mode mm-wave injection-locked frequency divider with greater than 18% locking range in 65nm CMOS

A dual-mode mm-wave injection locked frequency divider operating at 39.5 and 59.5 GHz is presented. Achieving a locking range of 18% and 20% in divide-by-2 and 3 modes, it consumes 4 mW from a 0.8 V supply. Implemented in a bulk CMOS 65nm technology, it occupies a core area of 0.03mm2. The dual-mode operation is enabled by differential direct injection and Miller capacitance de-tuning. Two new figure-of-merits for proper comparison of ILFDs are also presented.
Joint Synchronization and Localization for Underwater Sensor Networks Considering Stratification Effect

In underwater wireless sensor networks, time synchronization and localization are basic requirements in many applications. A joint synchronization and localization framework is expected to provide better accuracy. In this paper, we propose a unified framework to execute synchronization and localization simultaneously taking stratification effect into account. In this method, the stratification effect of underwater medium is modeled using a ray tracing approach. The maximum likelihood (ML) estimator is derived, which is shown to be highly nonlinear and nonconvex. Therefore, we employ the Gauss–Newton algorithm to solve the original nonconvex ML problem in an iterative manner. Furthermore, the Cramér–Rao lower bound for this problem is derived as a benchmark. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the existing methods in both accuracy and energy efficiency.
Toward a prospective molecular evolution

Fitness landscapes provide a prospective understanding of chance and necessity in evolution The field of molecular evolution is concerned with evolutionary changes in genes and genomes and the underlying driving forces behind those changes. Current studies in molecular evolution are almost entirely retrospective, with a focus on the mutations that were fixed during evolution, and the conclusions are often explanatory, offering no predictive insights. Because only a tiny fraction of all mutations that have ever occurred during evolution have been fixed, the “successes” that we see today provide an incomplete or even biased understanding of the evolutionary process. One way to circumvent this problem is to obtain the whole fitness landscape of a gene to understand, prospectively, chance and necessity in evolution (see the figure). Two studies in this issue, by Li et al. on page 837 (1) and Puchta et al. on page 840 (2), each take on this challenge by characterizing the in vivo fitness landscape of two RNA genes.