Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cells Express HLA-G and Show Unique Resistance to NK Cell-Mediated Killing

Parent-of-origin imprints have been implicated in the regulation of neural differentiation and brain development. Previously we have shown that, despite the lack of a paternal genome, human parthenogenetic (PG) embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can form proliferating neural stem cells (NSCs) that are capable of differentiation into physiologically functional neurons while maintaining allele-specific expression of imprinted genes. Since biparental (“normal”) hESC-derived NSCs (N NSCs) are targeted by immune cells, we characterized the immunogenicity of PG NSCs. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry revealed that both N NSCs and PG NSCs exhibited surface expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I but not HLA-DR molecules. Functional analyses using an in vitro mixed lymphocyte reaction assay resulted in less proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with PG compared with N NSCs. In addition, natural killer (NK) cells cytolyzed PG less than N NSCs. At a molecular level, expression analyses of immune regulatory factors revealed higher HLA-G levels in PG compared with N NSCs. In line with this finding, MIR152, which represses HLA-G expression, is less transcribed in PG compared with N cells. Blockage of HLA-G receptors ILT2 and KIR2DL4 on natural killer cell leukemia (NKL) cells increased cytolysis of PG NSCs. Together this indicates that PG NSCs have unique immunological properties due to elevated HLA-G expression.
A 1–1.5 GHz broadband tunable bandpass filter

This paper presents a broadband tunable bandpass filter based on varactor-loaded meandered combline topology. A new coupling path is introduced between the input and output multi-section stepped-impedance coupled lines such that the transmission zeros near the passband can be simultaneously controlled to achieve the desired stopband rejection. The measured performances show that a broad 40% tuning range from 1 GHz to 1.5 GHz was achieved. Across the whole tuning range, the insertion loss is 2.1-2.8 dB and the return loss is better than 15 dB and stopband rejection greater than 32 dB.
Platform Pricing with Strategic Buyers

Digital platforms are ubiquitous. While there has been a growing academic literature on platform strategies, little is known about platform pricing when buyers are strategic. In contrast to myopic buyers--who make decisions solely based on their current period utility, strategic buyers take into account future period utility in their decision making. They may wait-and-see, enter-early, or free-ride, in responding to key platform-specific factors such as cross-side network effects, and switching cost. Using a two-period analytical model, we derive optimal buyer-side pricing strategies for a monopolistic platform owner under three prevalent pricing models: subscription-based, license-based, and time-limited freemium (TLF). Compared with myopic buyers, strategic buyers do not affect optimal pricing strategies under the subscription model or under TLF with no switching cost, but significantly change optimal pricing strategies and adoption dynamics under the license model and under TLF with positive switching costs. The three models are also compared numerically.
Can melanoma therapy change attitudes toward prevention and tanning?

Malignant melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer whose incidence is increasing worldwide. Important is knowledge of risk factors, early diagnosis, long‐term follow‐up on confirmed melanoma cases and prevention. In this study, we tested melanoma patients' attitudes toward solar radiation and perception of the value of follow‐up. The present cross‐sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a group of patients diagnosed with stage I and II of malignant melanoma (n = 124). They were monitored for at least 1 year. The research was carried out by anonymous questionnaire. The results revealed that the respondents welcomed the opportunity of follow‐up care. Its benefits were said to outweigh the inconvenience of repeated checkups. However, the esthetic importance of a suntan was still considered quite high. Substantial reserve was found in the use of sunscreen. The need for wide public education and the protection against excessive contact with solar radiation is evident. Regular monitoring seems to be just as important.
Privacy-preserving concordance-based recommendations on vertically distributed data

Recommender systems are attractive components of e-commerce. Customers apply such systems to get help for choosing the appropriate product to purchase. To provide accurate and dependable referrals, recommender systems require sufficient user data. On the other hand, since people purchase products from different online vendors, collected user data for recommendation purposes might be distributed among several e-companies. Consequently, due to distributed data, such companies having inadequate data cannot provide truthful predictions. To overcome this challenge, data holders might want to collaborate. However, due to privacy and financial fears, they might hesitate to partnership. In this paper, we propose a concordance measure-based solution that enables data holders to produce recommendations without jeopardizing their privacy. We perform real data set-based experiments and analyze the solution in terms of privacy and extra costs. The experimental results show that e-companies can produce more accurate recommendations by employing the provided scheme.
An Undersampling 10-bit 30.4-MSample/s Pipelined ADC

A 3.3V 10bit 30.4-MS/s pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is presented. The application of undersampling input is considered and analyzed in particular. The flip-around S/H circuit is introduced to reduce the requirement of amplifier's performance and achieve low noise. The gate-voltage bootstrapped switch is used to allow a wideband input signal with excellent linearity. The gain-boost telescopic cascode amplifier is adopted to consume lower power The ADC achieved a signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR) of 56.5dB (9.1ENOB) for an input of 30 MHz at full speed of 30.4 MHz, consuming only 52 mW. The ADC is implemented in a 0.35mum CMOS technology and occupies an area of 1.47mm2.
Nearest neighbor classifier based on Riemannian metric in radar target recognition

A successful design for a nearest neighbor classifier based on Riemannian metric in radar target recognition is presented. In Riemannian space, obtaining feature coefficient using subspace methods can be regarded as an affine transformation, and the classifier can be deduced easily from the distance formula in Riemannian space. The classifier is compared with other classifiers and good performance is reported. This design for the classifier may serve as a guideline for dealing with the puzzle that how to combine feature extraction with classifiers reasonably in radar target recognition using range profiles.
Analysis of Product Evaluations: An Adaptive Approach Based on Extended Sentiment Dictionaries

In the past decades, the development of Internet has generated enormous information exchanges. The market strategy benefit a lot from analyzing sentiment tendency hidden in short texts. However, it seems hard to analyze the sentiment tendency hidden in short texts in Chinese because of the complexity of this language. In this paper, an approach for summarizing the product evaluations is presented. An adaptive method of sentiment analysis is applied to do sentiment classification which divides the evaluations into positive set, neutral set and negative set. In this method, the general sentiment dictionaries are extended to be special ones for specific topics. Besides, the degree adverbs and multiple negations are taken into consideration. Simulation results show this new method reaches higher accuracy compared with previous method based on general sentiment dictionaries. Then K-means clustering algorithm is employed to cluster the positive set and negative set. For a clear expression, we draw word cloud pictures to show the key words of each clustering. By analyzing the words shown on the pictures, marketing analysts can adjust their market strategies.
The Barriers and Enablers of the Educational Cloud: A Doctoral Student Perspective

Background, Motivation and Objective: Cloud computing (CC) within UK HEIs is an emerging research phenomenon. When adopting new innovations, it is important to assess whether it will add value to the organisation. Contri-bution/Method: This exploratory empirical research is derived from the technology, organisation and environment model (TOE), which targeted higher education institutions (HEIs). A qualitative study, which explored the potential barriers and enablers of CC adoption by HEIs from a doctoral stu-dent perspective, was conducted, where 32 students at a University that had recently adopted the educational cloud situated in North-west England, were interviewed. Results/Discussion/Conclusion: The results showed that the most significant enablers of the educational cloud were cost efficiency, scal-ability, flexibility and mobility, and especially collaboration among students. Whereas the most significant barriers of the educational cloud were security and cultural resistance. In conclusion, the adoption rate of CC is increasing gradually in UK HEIs, which is mostly down to the cost efficient and col-laborative nature of the educational cloud, but there is still the issue of pri-vacy and trust in the educational cloud which impedes adoption.
Efficient and Secure Data Sharing By Applying AES Algorithm with Anonymous Id Assignment

Security is a basic requirement of an organization in the world to keep their information secure from their competitors. Various techniques and algorithms were developed by research in order to achieve secure data sharing. We propose a technique for anonymous sharing of private data between N parties is developed. This technique is used to allocate these node ID numbers ranging from 1 to N and also apply encryption on private data. These assignments are anonymous in that the identities received are unknown to the other members of the group. Animosity between other members is verified in an information theoretic sense when private communication channels are used. This type of serial numbers assignment allows more complex data to be shared and has applications to other problems in privacy preserving data mining, animosity avoidance in communications and distributed database access. The prescribed computations are distributed without using a trusted third party central authority. Existing and new techniques for assigning anonymous IDs are examined with respect to trade-offs between communication and computational requirements. The proposed technique also finds distributed environment with minimal communication among parties and ensures higher degree of privacy with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). It generates more secured item sets among multiple parties without affecting mining performance and optimal communication among parties with high privacy and zero percentage of data leakage. The new techniques are built on top of a secure sum data mining operation using Newton's identities and Sturm's theorem.
Dietary Polyphenols, Mediterranean Diet, Prediabetes, and Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review of the Evidence

Dietary polyphenols come mainly from plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, coffee, tea, and nuts. Polyphenols may influence glycemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) through different mechanisms, such as promoting the uptake of glucose in tissues, and therefore improving insulin sensitivity. This review aims to summarize the evidence from clinical trials and observational prospective studies linking dietary polyphenols to prediabetes and T2D, with a focus on polyphenol-rich foods characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to describe the metabolic biomarkers related to polyphenol intake and genotype-polyphenol interactions modulating the effects on T2D. Intakes of polyphenols, especially flavan-3-ols, and their food sources have demonstrated beneficial effects on insulin resistance and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Several prospective studies have shown inverse associations between polyphenol intake and T2D. The Mediterranean diet and its key components, olive oil, nuts, and red wine, have been inversely associated with insulin resistance and T2D. To some extent, these associations may be attributed to the high amount of polyphenols and bioactive compounds in typical foods conforming this traditional dietary pattern. Few studies have suggested that genetic predisposition can modulate the relationship between polyphenols and T2D risk. In conclusion, the intake of polyphenols may be beneficial for both insulin resistance and T2D risk.
Exploring N-dimensional databases

The authors present a tool for the display and analysis of N-dimensional data based on a technique called dimensional stacking. This technique is described. The primary goal is to create a tool that enables the user to project data of arbitrary dimensions onto a two-dimensional image. Of equal importance is the ability to control the viewing parameters, so that one can interactively adjust what ranges of values each dimension takes and the form in which the dimensions are displayed. This will allow an intuitive feel for the data to be developed as the database is explored. The system uses dimensional stacking, to collapse and N-dimension space down into a 2-D space and then render the values contained therein. Each value can then be represented as a pixel or rectangular region on a 2-D screen whose intensity corresponds to the data value at that point. <<ETX>>
Experimental extraction of tactile sensor specifications for a minimal anthropomorphic robot hand

In this work a new approach is taken towards determining the quantified contribution of tactile acuity to human manual dexterity, and the implications of this approach when applied to the development of artificial fingertip touch sensors for humanoid robots or for prosthetic hands. The interdependence between several dimensions of both tactile acuity and dexterity is investigated. An experimental study was performed on a carefully chosen sample of 30 human subjects, with data acquisition taking place over a total period of 35 hours of testing in a controlled environment. The data were analyzed to extract minimum levels of tactile acuity that would result in manual dexterity performance at 80% of normal. These extracted levels are interpreted to represent minimum specifications for the design of an artificial tactile sensor that would endow a robot hand with acceptable dexterity, and are used in a case study to drive the conceptual design process for a new tactile sensor based on quantum tunneling composite material.
A capacitive MEMS accelerometer readout with concurrent detection and feedback using discrete components

This paper presents an analog readout method for capacitive MEMS accelerometers in which the feedback actuation and capacitive detection are achieved simultaneously on the same electrode set. The presented circuit operates in closed-loop for improved linearity, and it is constructed in a hybrid platform package in which off-the-shelf discrete components are used together with the silicon-on-glass micro-accelerometer. The system is developed as a practical solution to reduce the complexity of the readout circuit and the accelerometer without degrading the overall system performance. Experimental results demonstrate 17.5 micro-g per square-root hertz velocity random walk, and 28 micro-g bias instability. Considering the estimated full scale range of 20 g, the dynamic range of the sensor is calculated to be close to 124 dB.
Staff responses to behaviour that challenges: The role of knowledge, attributions, and emotion regulation style

Background In this study, we explored the extent to which the knowledge and attributions of support staff predicted their reported helping behaviour in relation to people with an intellectual disability who displayed challenging behaviour (CB), and whether emotion regulation style moderated the relationship between attributions and this helping behaviour. Method Participants (N = 107) completed self-report measures of knowledge of the meaning and management of CB, causal attributions and behavioural response to CB, and emotion regulation style. Results Knowledge and helpful attributions were significantly correlated with reported helping behaviour; however, in a regression analysis with both predictors, only knowledge significantly contributed to the variance. No moderating effect was found for emotion regulation styles on the relationship between attributions and reported helping behaviour. Conclusion Knowledge was the only significant predictor of reported positive staff approaches in managing CB, giving some support for the provision of staff training aimed at increasing knowledge, rather than changing attributions.
A robust general normalised gradient descent algorithm

A modification of the generalised normalised gradient descent (GNGD) algorithm is introduced which caters for the steady state performance of the algorithm. This is achieved by combining the search-then-converge and gradient adaptive step size approaches. This way the proposed algorithm exhibits very fast convergence and small steady state error. Simulations on linear and nonlinear signals in prediction setting support the analysis
Icai : une interface conversationnelle pour une aide intelligente

Cette these concerne la conception d'une interface conversationnelle pour les agents assistants personnels. Ce travail s'inscrit dans un processus de developpement d'un modele generique d'agent assistant personnel. Apres avoir examine les divers types d'interfaces utilisees par des agents assistants, nous avons conclu que les interfaces conversationnelles etaient particulierement bien adaptees a nos besoins. Cette these est donc focalisee sur la definition et la conception d'une interface conversationnelle pour un agent assistant, en tenant compte de plusieurs contraintes et hypotheses liees a l'agent lui-meme, a son pilotage et a la nature du rapport utilisateur-agent, mais aussi aux caracteristiques des applications potentielles. Nous estimons qu'une interface conversationnelle specialement concue pour l'agent assistant, simplifiera son pilotage, entrainant une amelioration de la qualite de l'aide apportee par rapport aux interfaces classiques purement graphiques. Ceci diminuera la charge cognitive de l'utilisateur, puisque le travail d'interpretation et reconnaissance des intentions de ce dernier devient de responsabilite de la machine. Nous postulons aussi que le comportement intelligent de l'agent peut contribuer a l'amelioration de la performance liee a une telle interface, grâce a une politique d'affichage d'informations. De notre travail est ne le concept d'interface conversationnelle pour une aide intelligente - ICAI. Une interface conversationnelle pour une aide intelligente est le resultat de la conjonction d'un mecanisme conversationnel en langage naturel parle et de la gestion intelligente de ce mecanisme, permettant le deroulement d'un dialogue cooperatif, et capable de gerer le declenchement de plusieurs tâches a la demande de l'utilisateur, tout en n'exigeant qu'un minimum d'effort de la part de ce dernier. Notre approche s'appuie sur les ontologies, fil conducteur de nos travaux, qui nous permettent d'interpreter les messages, provenant de l'utilisateur ou d'ailleurs.
Acidosis stimulates ,8-endorphin release during exercise

PCO~ (r = -0.83, HCO, (r = -O&3), base excess (r = -0.94), and lactate (r = 0.89). A multivariate model showed that P-endorphin levels were predicted best by the change in base excess. A time course analysis showed that /3-endorphin responses peaked postexercise and paralleled blood acid levels. Subsequently, subjects were compared after alkali loading and placebo during constant-intensity exercise at 85% of maximal exertion to determine whether acidosis is necessary for endorphin release. Treatment with a buffer, which effectively maintained pH above 7.40, significantly suppressed endorphin release (F = 3.07; P < 0.0001). The results of this study indicate that acidosis rather than any other physiological change associated with high-intensity exertion is the primary stimulus for /3-endorphin release. endorphins; lactates; bicarbonates; opiates; respiration
Homologous genetic recombination: the pieces begin to fall into place.

One of the authors (AJC) acknowledges with gratitude the important role Fernando Bastarrachea played in the author's discovery that E. coli could carry out homologous genetic recombination by multiple pathways. This in turn led to the discovery of several genes, including recF, recO, and recR, whose role in recombination would not otherwise have been detected. Subsequent genetic and biochemical studies have led to a general formulation in which there are multiple nucleolytic ways to achieve a presynaptic intermediate bound to RecA protein. Postsynaptic events in the general formulation occur by means of multiple branch migration enzymes to form Holliday DNA structures and a specific nuclease to cleave them. The general formulation is built on synapsis catalyzed by RecA protein. A second RecA-independent synapsis catalyzed by RecT (and RecE? ) protein is now under study and a third type independent of both RecA and RecT has apparently been discovered. How these will affect the general formulation remains to be seen. Some proteins, most prominently RecF, RecO, and RecR, have no role in the general formulation. The hypothesis is presented that these proteins act as a switch between replication and recombination by helping to convert replication to recombination intermediates. Universality of the general formulation is supported by the widespread occurrence of recA, recB, recC, and recD genes among bacteria. Recent discovery of recA-like genes in several eukaryotes further supports its universality. We have contributed additional support by sequencing a recA-like gene from an archaeal species, thus making it plausible that the mechanism of synapsis worked out for E. coli RecA protein will hold for all three organismal domains. The boundaries of the puzzle of homologous genetic recombination therefore seem complete and the pieces to the complex picture they encompass are falling into place.
Environmental temperature and relative humidity influence exhaled breath condensate pH

To the Editors: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is used to obtain information about the composition of airway surface lining fluid 1. Acidification of EBC has been reported in different inflammatory airway diseases 2. Interpretation of data is compromised by the fact that condensate pH shows day-to-day variability, even in healthy subjects 3. Coating of condensing surfaces 4 and salivary contamination of the condensate 5 have been proposed to influence exhaled biomarker levels. It was our aim to investigate whether environmental temperature and relative humidity could influence condensate pH and whether they could be responsible for the observed variability. EBC was collected from 12 healthy subjects with an R-Tube condenser (Respiratory Research Inc., Charlottesville, VA, USA) before and …