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The inner ear sensory epithelia contain mechanosensitive hair cells and supporting cells. Both cell types arise from SOX2-expressing prosensory cells, but the mechanisms underlying the diversification of these cell lineages remain unclear. To determine the transcriptional trajectory of prosensory cells, we established a SOX2-2A-ntdTomato human embryonic stem cell line using CRISPR/Cas9, and performed single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses with SOX2-positive cells isolated from inner ear organoids at various time points between differentiation days 20 and 60. Our pseudotime analysis suggests that vestibular type II hair cells arise primarily from supporting cells, rather than bi-fated prosensory cells in organoids. Moreover, ion channeland ion-transporter-related gene sets were enriched in supporting cells versus prosensory cells, whereas Wnt signaling-related gene sets were enriched in hair cells versus supporting cells. These findings provide valuable insights into how prosensory cells give rise to hair cells and supporting cells during human inner ear development, and may provide a clue to promote hair cell regeneration from resident supporting cells in individuals with hearing loss or balance disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of miss distance--Euclidean, Mahalanobis, etc.--is a fundamental, far-reaching, and taken-for-granted element of the engineering theory and practice of single-target systems. In this paper we introduce a comprehensive [L.sub.p]-type theory of distance metrics for multitarget (and, more generally, multiobject) systems. We show that this theory extends, and provides a rigorous theoretical basis for, an intuitively appealing optimal-assignment approach proposed by Drummond for evaluating the performance of multitarget tracking algorithms. We describe tractable computational approaches for computing such metrics based on standard optimal assignment or convex optimization techniques. We describe the potentially far-reaching implications of these metrics for applications such as performance evaluation and sensor management. In the former case, we demonstrate the application of multitarget miss-distance metrics as measures of effectiveness (MoEs) for multitarget tracking algorithms. Index Terms--Mallows distance, performance evaluation, random sets, sensor management, Wasserstein distance.

The article discusses the relevance of the application of a cost-benefit analysis to undergraduate research programs of small American comprehensive university. The author states that undergraduate research's operational costs require high budget making it difficult for small comprehensive universities to sustain the program. The author adds that cost-analysis initiatives allow universities to secure the viability and success of the research as well as optimize returns and benefits. The author notes that a well-balanced and strong evidence research helps institutions meet its goals and encourage active participation among students for the advancement of institutional prestige and reputation.