Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Living Donor Renal Transplantation Using Alemtuzumab Induction and Tacrolimus Monotherapy

Alemtuzumab was used as an induction agent in 205 renal transplant recipients undergoing 207 living donor renal transplants. All donor kidneys were recovered laparoscopically. Postoperatively, patients were treated with tacrolimus monotherapy, and immunosuppression was weaned when possible. Forty‐seven recipients of living donor renal transplants prior to the induction era who received conventional triple drug immunosuppression without antibody induction served as historic controls. The mean follow‐up was 493 days in the alemtuzumab group and 2101 days in the historic control group. Actuarial 1‐year patient and graft survival were 98.6% and 98.1% in the alemtuzumab group, compared to 93.6% and 91.5% in the control group, respectively. The incidence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) at 1 year was 6.8% in the alemtuzumab group and 17.0% (p < 0.05) in the historic control group. Most (81.3%) episodes of ACR in the alemtuzumab group were Banff 1 (a or b) and were sensitive to steroid pulses for the treatment of rejection. There was no cytomegalovirus disease or infection. The incidence of delayed graft function was 0%, and the incidence of posttransplant insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus was 0.5%. This study represents the largest series to date of live donor renal transplant recipients undergoing alemtuzumab induction, and confirms the short‐term safety and efficacy of this approach.
A comprehensive analysis of the (√13  ×  √13)R13.9° type II structure of silicene on Ag(1 1 1)

In this paper, using the same geometrical approach as for the (2 √ 3 × 2 √ 3)R30° structure (Jamgotchian et al 2015 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 27 395002), for the (√13 × √13)R13.9° type II structure, we propose an atomic model of the silicene layer based on a periodic relaxation of the strain epitaxy. This relaxation creates periodic arrangements of perfect areas of (√13 × √13)R13.9° type II structure surrounded by defect areas. A detailed analysis of the main published experimental results, obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy and by low energy electron diffraction, shows a good agreement with the geometrical model.
Novel protein-DNA interactions associated with increased immunoglobulin transcription in response to antigen plus interleukin-5

Although much has been learned about basal levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) transcription, the regulatory effects of cytokines and antigen (Ag) upon Ig expression in lymphocytes have not been fully characterized. We previously reported that Ag plus interleukin-5 (IL-5) caused increased steady-state Ig mRNA levels in Ag-specific cell lines. In this study, we have identified a region between -250 and -125 bp 5' of the Ig transcription start site that is necessary for the induction of increased mu mRNA levels by Ag plus IL-5. Mobility shift and UV cross-linking studies indicated that IL-5 plus Ag induced increased protein binding to this region. Furthermore, this sequence was found to be closely related to another A + T-rich sequence at -525 bp 5' of the transcription start site. Both sequences exhibited similar B-cell-specific and inducible protein binding. Our data suggest that treatment with IL-5 plus Ag induces several DNA-binding proteins, some of which may participate in increasing Ig transcription above basal levels by binding to sequences 5' of the octamer motif.
Time-domain beam propagation method and its application to photonic crystal circuits

A time-domain beam propagation method (BPM) based on the finite-element scheme is described for the analysis of reflections of both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarized pulses in waveguiding structures containing arbitrarily shaped discontinuities. In order to avoid nonphysical reflections from the computational window edges, the perfectly matched layer boundary condition is introduced. The present algorithm using the Pade approximation is, to our knowledge, the first time-domain beam propagation method which can treat wide-band optical pulses. After validating this method for an optical grating with modulated refractive indexes, various photonic crystal circuit components are simulated.
IBC-1, a Novel Integron-Associated Class A β-Lactamase with Extended-Spectrum Properties Produced by anEnterobacter cloacae Clinical Strain

ABSTRACT A transferable β-lactamase produced by a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of Enterobacter cloacae was studied. Thebla gene was carried by a large (>80-kb) transmissible plasmid. Nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned fragments revealed that it was part of a gene cassette carried by a class 1 integron along with other resistance genes, includingaac(6′)-Ib. The encoded β-lactamase, designated IBC-1, was a novel class A enzyme that hydrolyzed ceftazidime and cefotaxime and was inhibited by tazobactam and, to a lesser extent, by clavulanate. Also, imipenem exhibited potent inhibitory activity against IBC-1. The enzyme consisted of 287 amino acid residues, including Ser-237, cysteines at positions 69 and 237a, and Arg-244, which may be implicated in its interaction with β-lactams. In amino acid sequence comparisons, IBC-1 displayed the highest similarity with the chromosomal penicillinase of Yersinia enterocolitica, a carbenicillinase from Proteus mirabilis GN79, the species-specific β-lactamases ofKlebsiella oxytoca, and the carbapenemase Sme-1. However, a phylogenetic association with established β-lactamase clusters could not be conclusively shown.
Selective Carbonyl-C(sp3 ) Bond Cleavage To Construct Ynamides, Ynoates, and Ynones by Photoredox Catalysis.

Carbon-carbon bond cleavage/functionalization is synthetically valuable, and selective carbonyl-C(sp3 ) bond cleavage/alkynylation presents a new perspective in constructing ynamides, ynoates, and ynones. Reported here is the first alkoxyl-radical-enabled carbonyl-C(sp3 ) bond cleavage/alkynylation reaction by photoredox catalysis. The use of novel cyclic iodine(III) reagents are essential for β-carbonyl alkoxyl radical generation from β-carbonyl alcohols, including alcohols with high redox potential (Epox >2.2 V vs. SCE in MeCN). β-Amide, β-ester, and β-ketone alcohols yield ynamides, ynoates, and ynones, respectively, for the first time, with excellent regio- and chemoselectivity under mild reaction conditions.
Angiopoietin‐2 mediates blood–brain barrier impairment and colonization of triple‐negative breast cancer cells in brain

Although the incidence of breast cancer metastasis (BCM) in brain has increased significantly in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), the mechanisms remain elusive. Using in vivo mouse models for BCM in brain, we observed that TNBC cells crossed the blood–brain barrier (BBB), lodged in the brain microvasculature and remained adjacent to brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Breaching of the BBB in vivo by TNBCs resulted in increased BBB permeability and changes in ZO‐1 and claudin‐5 tight junction (TJ) protein structures. Angiopoietin‐2 expression was elevated in BMECs and was correlated with BBB disruption. Secreted Ang‐2 impaired TJ structures and increased BBB permeability. Treatment of mice with the neutralizing Ang‐2 peptibody trebananib prevented changes in the BBB integrity and BMEC destabilization, resulting in inhibition of TNBC colonization in brain. Thus, Ang‐2 is involved in initial steps of brain metastasis cascade, and inhibitors for Ang‐2 may serve as potential therapeutics for brain metastasis. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brazilian young dental practitioners' use and acceptance of digital radiographic examinations

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the use and acceptance of digital radiographic examinations by Brazilian dental practitioners in daily practice and to evaluate the advances that have occurred over the past 5 years. Materials and Methods Dental practitioners enrolled in extension courses at the Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Brazil, responded to a self-administered questionnaire in the years 2011 and 2015. They were asked about sociodemographic factors and their knowledge and use of digital radiographic examinations. Descriptive analysis was performed, as well as the chi-square and Fisher exact tests, with a significance level of 5% (α=0.05). Results A total of 181 participants responded to the questionnaire in the years 2011 and 2015. Most of the respondents worked in private practice, had graduated within the last 5 years, and were between 20 and 30 years old. In 2011, 55.6% of respondents reported having ever used digital radiographic examinations, while in 2015 this number increased significantly to 85.4% (p<.0001), out of which 71.4% preferred it to conventional images. Moreover, 21.4% of respondents reported having used digital radiographic examinations for more than 3 years. A significant increase in use of intraoral digital radiography (p=0.0316) was observed in 2015. In both years, image quality and high cost were indicated, respectively, as the main advantage and disadvantage of digital radiographic examinations. Conclusion This study showed that digital radiology has become more common in Brazil over the past 5 years. Most of the Brazilian dental practitioners evaluated in 2015 used digital radiographic examinations.
THE EFFECT OF GROWTH ON FEMORAL TORSION. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN DOGS.

An external or internal torsional deformity of the femur was produced in twenty-two puppies by performing an osteotomy high in the femoral shaft between marker pins which were aligned to provide a permanent record of the amount of rotation resulting from the operation. After sacrifice of the animals, two to five months later, the residual torsion of the osteotomized femur after this period of growth was determined by comparison with the torsion measured in the contralateral limb. It was found that some degree of correction of torsional deformity occurred in all the animals with substantial growth. The average amount of external rotation produced at operation in fourteen animals was 43 degrees. The average residual torsion in this group at autopsy was 19 degrees, an average correction of 56 per cent. The comparable figures for eight puppies with internal torsional deformity were: an initial deformity of –33 degrees was found at autopsy to measure –14 degrees, a correction of 58 per cent. Most of the experimental femora showed mild asymmetry of the head. The findings in eight control animals with high femoralshaft osteotomy tended to verify the validity of the technique of measurement employed in the experiment.
Chronic Enhancement of the Intrinsic Growth Capacity of Sensory Neurons Combined with the Degradation of Inhibitory Proteoglycans Allows Functional Regeneration of Sensory Axons through the Dorsal Root Entry Zone in the Mammalian Spinal Cord

Peripherally conditioned sensory neurons have an increased capacity to regenerate their central processes. However, even conditioned axons struggle in the presence of a hostile CNS environment. We hypothesized that combining an aggressive conditioning strategy with modification of inhibitory reactive astroglial-associated extracellular matrix could enhance regeneration. We screened potential treatments using a model of the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ). In this assay, a gradient of inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) stimulates formation of dystrophic end bulbs on adult sensory axons, which mimics regeneration failure in vivo. Combining inflammation-induced preconditioning of dorsal root ganglia in vivo before harvest, with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) digestion of proteoglycans in vitro allows for significant regeneration across a once potently inhibitory substrate. We then assessed regeneration through the DREZ after root crush in adult rats receiving the combination treatment, ChABC, or zymosan pretreatment alone or no treatment. Regeneration was never observed in untreated animals, and only minimal regeneration occurred in the ChABC- and zymosan-alone groups. However, remarkable regeneration was observed in a majority of animals that received the combination treatment. Regenerated fibers established functional synapses, as demonstrated electrophysiologically by the presence of an H-reflex. Two different postlesion treatment paradigms in which the timing of both zymosan and ChABC administration were varied after injury were ineffective in promoting regeneration. Therefore, zymosan pretreatment, but not posttreatment, of the sensory ganglia, combined with ChABC modification of CSPGs, resulted in robust and functional regeneration of sensory axons through the DREZ after root injury.
Drinking behaviors and life course socioeconomic status during the transition from adolescence to adulthood among Whites and Blacks.

OBJECTIVE This study sought to determine how socioeconomic status (SES) changes during the transition from adolescence into adulthood, and to understand the effects of SES on drinking behaviors in early adulthood among U.S. Whites and Blacks. METHOD Secondary data analysis was conducted using three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a school-based sample of adolescents (Grades 7-12) followed through adulthood (age range: 25-31 years). Through latent class analysis, SES was operationalized as economic (i.e., income, home ownership) and human capital (i.e., education, occupation). Drinking behavior was categorized into no past-year use, current drinking without weekly heavy episodic drinking (HED), and weekly HED. Models were stratified by race: Whites (n = 5,248) and Blacks (n = 1,875). RESULTS For Whites, four economic capital groups (persistently low, upward, downward, and persistently high) and five human capital groups (persistently low, upward with work, upward with school, downward with work, and persistently high) were found. Blacks had roughly similar SES groups as Whites but with lower economic and human capital levels across all groups and without downward groups in either domain. Among both Whites and Blacks, lower economic and human capital groups reported higher abstinence. Persistently low Blacks, however, reported higher HED, whereas persistently low Whites did not. Moreover, economically upward Whites reported lower HED, whereas upwardly mobile Blacks did not. CONCLUSIONS Racial disparities were evident by economic and human capital during the transition into adulthood. Although abstinence profiles were similar for Whites and Blacks, both persistently low and upward trajectory groups signified differential HED risks. Future research should examine the mechanisms by which SES trajectories affect drinking behaviors.
Feedback Signal from Motoneurons Influences a Rhythmic Pattern Generator

Motoneurons are not mere output units of neuronal circuits that control motor behavior but participate in pattern generation. Research on the circuit that controls the crawling motor behavior in leeches indicated that motoneurons participate as modulators of this rhythmic motor pattern. Crawling results from successive bouts of elongation and contraction of the whole leech body. In the isolated segmental ganglia, dopamine can induce a rhythmic antiphasic activity of the motoneurons that control contraction (DE-3 motoneurons) and elongation (CV motoneurons). The study was performed in isolated ganglia where manipulation of the activity of specific motoneurons was performed in the course of fictive crawling (crawling). In this study, the membrane potential of CV was manipulated while crawling was monitored through the rhythmic activity of DE-3. Matching behavioral observations that show that elongation dominates the rhythmic pattern, the electrophysiological activity of CV motoneurons dominates the cycle. Brief excitation of CV motoneurons during crawling episodes resets the rhythmic activity of DE-3, indicating that CV feeds back to the rhythmic pattern generator. CV hyperpolarization accelerated the rhythm to an extent that depended on the magnitude of the cycle period, suggesting that CV exerted a positive feedback on the unit(s) of the pattern generator that controls the elongation phase. A simple computational model was implemented to test the consequences of such feedback. The simulations indicate that the duty cycle of CV depended on the strength of the positive feedback between CV and the pattern generator circuit. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Rhythmic movements of animals are controlled by neuronal networks that have been conceived as hierarchical structures. At the basis of this hierarchy, we find the motoneurons, few neurons at the top control global aspects of the behavior (e.g., onset, duration); and within these two ends, specific neuronal circuits control the actual rhythmic pattern of movements. We have investigated whether motoneurons are limited to function as output units. Analysis of the network that controls crawling behavior in the leech has clearly indicated that motoneurons, in addition to controlling muscle activity, send signals to the pattern generator. Physiological and modeling studies on the role of specific motoneurons suggest that these feedback signals modulate the phase relationship of the rhythmic activity.
A Family of Interleaved DC–DC Converters DeducedFrom a Basic Cell With Winding-Cross-CoupledInductors (WCCIs) for High Step-Upor Step-Down Conversions

A basic cell with winding-cross-coupled inductors (WCCIs) and interleaved structure is proposed in this paper. A family of DC-DC converters is deduced from the proposed basic cell, which is suitable for high step-up or step-down conversions. The passive-lossless clamp scheme is derived from the active clamp scheme to recycle the leakage energy and to suppress the voltage spikes caused by the leakage inductance. The advantages of the derived interleaved boost converter with WCCIs and passive-lossless clamp circuits are analyzed as an example. The voltage gain is extended and the switch voltage stress is reduced to minimize the conduction losses. The rectifier reverse-recovery problem is alleviated by the leakage inductance. Furthermore, a series of DC-DC converters with WCCIs and passive-lossless clamp circuits are summarized for high efficiency, high power and high step-up or step-down applications. A clear picture is made in this paper on the general law and structure of the WCCIs for DC-DC conversion in high step-up or step-down applications. At last, the simulated and experimental results of a 1 kW 40 V-to-380 V prototype with WCCIs and passive-lossless clamp circuits verify the significant improvements in performance.
Antenna placement and wave propagation for Car-to-Car communication

The investigation of various antenna placements for Car-to-Car (C2C) communication has turned out to be crucial to achieve an omnidirectional coverage in the horizontal plane of the antenna. The complex shape and huge electrical size of a car at 5.9 GHz yield a high challenge for the numerical modeling. In this contribution, a new way of handling the analysis of near and far-field propagation for C2C antennas is proposed and applied in examples, which enables to investigate the whole car chassis by asymptotic methods, with a significantly reduced computational effort compared with a full wave analysis. The effect on radiation pattern of an antenna placed on the roof, side mirrors and bumpers is discussed. Dispensable parts of the car have been identified to speed up the simulation without losing accuracy. The influence of a glass roof on the radiation pattern is characterized using full wave methods in order to account for wave guidance, diffractions and creeping waves. Measurements are in good agreement with simulations.
Decentralized coordination of large populations of flexible electrical appliances through demand saturation

This paper presents a novel decentralized control strategy for integration of price-responsive loads in the electricity market. Previous work has shown that, by approximating the devices population as a continuum, it is possible to provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a Nash equilibrium (no device has unilateral interest in changing its scheduling when considering the resulting profile of aggregate demand). These results are now extended by introducing a time varying proportional constraint on the maximum power consumption of the appliances. This allows to saturate the flexible demand and obtain a Nash equilibrium for a much wider range of scenarios. The performance of the proposed control technique, which also minimizes the task time of all appliances, is tested in simulation.
Antitumor Activity of the Retinoid-Related Molecules (E)-3-(4′-Hydroxy-3′-adamantylbiphenyl-4-yl)acrylic Acid (ST1926) and 6-[3-(1-Adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene Carboxylic Acid (CD437) in F9 Teratocarcinoma: Role of Retinoic Acid Receptor γ and Retinoid-Independent Pathways

The retinoid-related molecules (RRMs) ST1926 [(E)-3-(4′-hydroxy-3′-adamantylbiphenyl-4-yl)acrylic acid] and CD437 (6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carboxylic acid) are promising anticancer agents. We compared the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) trans-activating properties of the two RRMs and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). ST1926 and CD437 are better RARγ agonists than ATRA. We used three teratocarcinoma cell lines to evaluate the significance of RARγ in the activity of RRMs: F9-wild type (WT); F9γ-/-, lacking the RARγ gene; F9γ51, aF9γ-/-derivative, complemented for the RARγ deficit. Similar to ATRA, ST1926 and CD437 activate cytodifferentiation only in F9-WT cells. Unlike ATRA, ST1926 and CD437 arrest cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and induce apoptosis in all F9 cell lines. Our data indicate that RARγ and the classic retinoid pathway are not relevant for the antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of RRMs in vitro. Increases in cytosolic calcium are fundamental for apoptosis, in that intracellular calcium chelators abrogate the process. Comparison of the gene expression profiles associated with ST1926 and ATRA in F9-WT and F9γ-/-indicates that the RRM activates a conspicuous nonretinoid response in addition to the classic and RAR-dependent pathway. The pattern of genes regulated by ST1926 selectively, in a RARγ-independent manner, provides novel insights into the possible molecular determinants underlying the activity of RRMs in vitro. Furthermore, it suggests that RARγ-dependent responses are relevant to the activity of RRMs in vivo. Indeed, the receptor hinders the antitumor activity in vivo, in that both syngeneic and immunosuppressed SCID mice bearing F9γ-/- tumors have increased life spans after treatment with ST1926 and CD437 relative to their F9-WT counterparts.
Factor Analysis and Reliability of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire

The purpose of this work was to analyze the factor structure, estimate reliability of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire of Hall and Pongrac, and examine differences between men and women on factor scores. The results for 63 men and 47 women supported the bifactorial structure and reliability of this self-report and its adequacy in comparisons of visual and kinesthetic imagery scores.