Pro-fibrotic microenvironments of scars and tumors characterized by increased stiffness stimulate mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to express α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). We investigated whether incorporation of α-SMA into contractile stress fibers regulates human MSC fate. Sorted α-SMA-positive MSCs exhibited high contractile activity, low clonogenicity, and differentiation potential limited...

RÉSUMÉ. Dans cet article, nous présentons une approche de modélisation et conception d’agents et de systèmes multi-agents (SMA). Elle s’appuie sur la proposition d’un modèle générique de SMA et d’un modèle hybride d’implémentation supportant les caractéristiques du paradigme agent. Ce modèle hybride offre des avantages intrinsèques de manipulation et d’interrogation des systèmes modélisés. Nous...

The observed pattern of lepton mixing does not give an evidence of the seesaw. It is easier to disprove seesaw showing that one of the alternatives gives dominant contribution to the neutrino mass. We consider alternative mechanisms based on (i) small (tree level) effective couplings, (ii) small VEV, (iii) radiative generation of masses, (iv) protection by SUSY breaking scale or by µ-term, (v) ...

We study the matter enhancement of T violation in neutrino oscillation with three generations. The magnitude of T violation is proportional to Jarlskog factor J . Recently, the elegant relation, (∆m)12(∆m)23(∆m)31Jm = ∆12∆23∆31J , is derived, where ∆ij = ∆m 2 ij/(2E) and the subscript m denotes the quantities in matter. Using this relation, we reconsider how Jm changes as the function of the ma...

The supplementary motor area (SMA) is a key structure involved in behavioral planning and execution. Although many reports have indicated that SMA is organized somatotopically, its exact organization remains still unclear. This study aimed to functionally map SMA using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and validate the fMRI-SMA by electrocortical stimulation (ECS) and postsurgical sy...

Social media analytics (SMA) can provide an organization with insights that would generate greater customer value and subsequently lead to better organizational performance and, thus enable the organization to have a competitive advantage over its rivals. In this paper, we develop a conceptual SMA capability framework which identifies SMA capabilities that an organization should have in order t...

OBJECTIVES Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) presents challenges in (i) monitoring disease activity and predicting progression, (ii) designing trials that allow rapid assessment of candidate therapies, and (iii) understanding molecular causes and consequences of the disease. Validated biomarkers of SMA motor and non-motor function would offer utility in addressing these challenges. Our objectives w...

Waste fibers produced from manufacturing processes are a byproduct commonly deposited in storing yards and/or landfills and thus results in many serious environmental problems in Iran. If these waste materials could be advantageously put to practical use in any application, it would reduce the burden on the environment and landfills. This paper compares the performance of the stone matrix aspha...

There are two different ways of using SMA wires as actuators for shape control of flexible structures; which can be either embedded within the composite laminate or externally attached to the structure. Since the actuator can be placed at different offset distances from the beam, external actuators produce more bending moment and, consequently, considerable shape changes with the same magnitude...