Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-17 antagonism inhibits acute but not chronic vascular rejection.

BACKGROUND Blocking the action of interleukin (IL) 17 with an IL-17 receptor (R):Fc fusion protein inhibits T-cell proliferative responses to alloantigens and prolongs vascularized heart graft survival. In this study, we examined whether IL-17 antagonism could suppress the development of chronic rejection. METHODS A 0.6-cm section of C57BL10 (H2b) thoracic aorta was transplanted to recipient C3H (H2k) abdominal aorta. IL-17R:Fc or control human immunoglobulin G was administered i.p. (500 microg/day) from days 0 to 6 or from days 0 to 29. Mice were killed on days 7 or 30. Grafts were examined histologically and stained for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-smA). Antidonor mixed leukocyte reaction, cytotoxic T cell, and alloantibody responses were quantified. RESULTS On day 7, control grafts showed mononuclear cell (MNC) infiltration, pronounced endothelial damage, and apoptosis of intimal and medial cell compartments. By day 30, there was concentric intimal thickening, accumulation of alpha-smA+ cells, and collagen deposition. Patchy destruction of the elastic membranes and loss of alpha-smA expression in media were evident. IL-17R:Fc for 6 days decreased MNC infiltration in the intimal and medial compartments at day 7. The endothelium was preserved (completely or partially) in all grafts. The medial compartment showed normal alpha-smA expression. Irrespective of IL-17R:Fc treatment for either 6 days or continuously, allografts harvested at day 30 showed circumferential intimal thickening, with accumulation of alpha-smA+ cells and collagen deposition. There was no effect on circulating alloantibody levels. CONCLUSIONS These findings support a role for IL-17 in the immunopathogenesis of acute vascular rejection and demonstrate the potential of IL-17 antagonism for therapy. By contrast, IL-17 antagonism does not appear to prevent ensuing chronic graft vascular disease, in particular neointimal formation.
Alternative temperature estimation approaches for sensorless permanent magnet synchronous machines

This paper proposes alternative methods for the estimation of the phase winding- and magnet temperature of a surface mounted permanent magnet synchronous machine. Different approaches for HF injection based temperature estimation are discussed and analysed. The conclusion for HF techniques leads to the design of a recursive least squares base estimation approach which with good properties regarding noise and bandwidth. A model based fusion of three temperature sensors serves as a reference for all experimental estimation results.
Randomized clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of breast irradiation following lumpectomy and axillary dissection for node-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Although the conservation management of breast cancer has become a routine method of treatment in most centers, there is still considerable controversy surrounding the ultimate minimum treatment required for node-negative breast cancer to achieve adequate local control. PURPOSE Our purpose was to assess the value of breast irradiation in reducing breast relapse following conservation surgery for node-negative breast cancer. We attempted to define low-risk groups of women for breast and distant site relapse (i.e., recurrence outside the breast) who might be spared breast irradiation or adjuvant systemic therapy. METHODS Eight hundred thirty-seven patients were randomly assigned to receive radiation therapy or no radiation therapy following lumpectomy and axillary dissection for node-negative breast cancer. RESULTS Breast irradiation reduced relapse in the breast from 25.7% in the controls to 5.5% in the irradiated patients. There was no difference in survival between the two groups (median follow-up, 43 months). A low-risk group (less than 5% chance of relapse in the breast without irradiation) could not be defined. Tumor size (greater than 2 cm), age (less than 40 years), and poor nuclear grade were important predictors for breast relapse. Age (less than 50 years) and poor nuclear grade were important predictors for mortality. The presence of ductal carcinoma in situ did not predict breast relapse. CONCLUSIONS Breast irradiation significantly reduces breast relapse, but it does not influence survival. Important predictors of breast relapse are age, tumor size, and nuclear grade, but not the presence of ductal carcinoma in situ. Age and, in particular, nuclear grade predict survival. IMPLICATIONS Further follow-up may define an acceptable low-risk group for breast relapse. Until then, we recommend that all patients receive breast irradiation. Systemic adjuvant therapy should be considered for patients with poor nuclear grade tumors.
Subjective Awareness on the Iowa Gambling Task: The Key Role of Emotional Experience in Schizophrenia

The key role of emotion in complex decision-making is commonly assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task, and has recently been a substantial research topic in neuropsychology. However, the question of subjective experience on such emotion-based learning measures has yet to be fully investigated, largely because previous studies have focussed primarily on behavioral performance measures. The present study investigated subjective experience on the Gambling Task, using a more systematic and quantitative method than that previously employed: evaluating the ability of participants to ‘interrogate’ emotion-based learning systems. The study also investigated subjective experience in a population (people with schizophrenia) in whom the question of emotional awareness is of especial interest. People with schizophrenia showed learning on the Gambling Task at levels entirely comparable with that of controls. Both groups of participants also showed substantial, and rapidly developing, awareness of which decks were 'good' and 'bad'. Importantly, greater awareness was a significant correlate of good performance on the Gambling Task, for both groups, suggesting that there may be greater conscious awareness of emotion-related information in complex decision-making than had previously been appreciated. We would like to thank Sohee Park and Brad Folley for their assistance with various aspects of the study. This research was funded by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) and the Wellcome Trust.
Interrelationships between energy intake and endogenous porcine growth hormone administration on the performance, body composition and protein and energy metabolism of growing pigs weighing 25 to 55 kilograms live weight.

Thirty-six barrows were used in a 2 X 3 factorial experiment to investigate the effects of porcine growth hormone (pGH) administration (USDA-pGH-B1; 0 and 100 micrograms.kg body weight-1.d-1) and three levels of feeding of a single diet (EI; ad libitum, 1.64 and 1.38 kg/d) on the performance, body composition and rates of protein and fat deposition of pigs growing over the live weight phase 25 to 55 kg. Raising EI resulted in linear increases in growth rate and in protein and fat accretion but had no effect on the feed to gain ratio (F/G). Carcass fat content and carcass fat measurements also increased with EI, whereas carcass protein and water decreased (P less than .01). Growth hormone administration resulted in improvements in growth rate (16 to 26%), F/G (23%), protein deposition (34 to 50%) and increases in carcass protein and water at each level of feeding, but reduced ad libitum feed intake (P less than .01), carcass fat content (P less than .01) and carcass fat measurements (P less than .01). Estimated maintenance energy expenditure was increased by pGH administration (2.02 vs 1.72 Mcal digestible energy/d). Results indicate that the effects of pGH on growth performance and energy and protein metabolism were largely independent of, and additive to, the effects of energy intake.
A novel control of a small wind turbine driven generator based on neural networks

This paper presents a novel control strategy of turbine directly driven permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) for a small wind generation system. Compared to the traditional techniques, this new method has following advantages: 1) the proposed neural networks provides a fast and accurate estimation of actual wind velocity without anemometer; 2) the maximum mechanical power of small wind turbine can be well tracked at both dynamic and steady states. The neural networks are trained offline by Matlab software and the control algorithms then will be implemented by DSP controller. Therefore, the new small wind generation system is capable of delivering maximum electric power to customer applications with low cost, high efficiency and high reliability
Intraductal carcinoma of the breast: Follow‐up after biopsy only

Twenty‐eight women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast treated by biopsy only were identified in a histologic review of 11,760 biopsies performed between 1950 and 1968. Seven of the 25 women followed for more than three years developed invasive breast carcinoma, all in the same breast with a previously detected DCIS. Average follow‐up interval for the 18 women not developing invasive carcinoma was 16 years. The invasive carcinomas presented clinically from three to ten years (average, 6.1) after the biopsies demonstrating DCIS. Four women with invasive carcinoma developed distant metastases following mastectomy. This study suggests that 28% of women treated with biopsy only for DCIS presenting as an incidental histologic finding will develop invasive carcinoma in a follow‐up period of approximately 15 years.
The Interference of Insulin Antibodies in Insulin Immunometric Assays

Abstract We investigated the interference of insulin antibodies in two insulin immunometric assays (Bio-Rad and Elecsys) by measuring direct and free insulin in plasma from 30 patients without insulin antibodies (group 1), as screened by a sensitive radio-binding assay, and in plasma from 80 patients with insulin antibodies (group 2). In group 1, the direct/free insulin ratio did not differ from 1, showing the equivalence of free and direct insulin results in theses samples. In group 2, this ratio was markedly increased (mean: Bio-Rad 2.63, Elecsys 5.02) and correlated positively with the insulin antibody radio-binding assay result (r=0.92 for the correlation between Bio-Rad and Elecsys assays after log-transformation of the ratios). In samples containing insulin antibodies, direct insulin concentration was frequently lower than total (bound and unbound) insulin measured with the Bio-Rad and Elecsys assays. This study underlines the interference of insulin antibodies in insulin immunometric assays and the importance of assessing an insulin immunometric assay for sensitivity towards the presence of these antibodies.
Ontologies and Logic Reasoning as Tools in Humanities?

In this article, we evaluate approaches using logic reasoning applied to an ontology for literary characters. The inference tool Racer and the programming language Prolog were tested and compared to see if they can serve as a computer assisted approach in this scenario. Both offer options to draw inferences, but the usage requests a good comprehension of logics. Intuitive and individual queries are also difficult to produce with solely logic constructs. Furthermore, information in humanities is often vague, ambiguous, or even contradictory. Solving such problems by logic reasoning which is simply based on true or false conclusions will become challenging and might exceed the limits of logic reasoning. At the moment, to the author’s knowledge, only few such approaches, especially in literature studies, have been published. Existing approaches show promising results in modelling information in humanities. Therefore, further research should be directed to make ontologies and further approaches like logic reasoning even more popular and applicable in the humanities and literature studies.
The LIM homeobox gene, L3/Lhx8, is necessary for proper development of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) are involved in cognitive functions such as learning and memory, and are affected in several neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease). Despite their importance, the molecular mechanisms of their development are not fully elucidated. A recent report demonstrated that some BFCNs in adult rat are positive for L3/Lhx8, a LIM homeobox transcription factor. To examine the function of L3/Lhx8 in the development of BFCNs, we generated L3/Lhx8 gene‐disrupted mice. In these mice, cells expressing cholinergic neuron markers, such as choline acetyltransferase, vesicular acetylcholine transporter and p75 low‐affinity NGF receptor, were markedly reduced in the basal forebrain, whereas other cholinergic neurons including brain stem and spinal motor neurons expressed the markers. Neurotransmitter phenotypes other than cholinergic in the basal forebrain appeared intact. From these results, we suggested that L3/Lhx8 has a pivotal and specific role in the development and/or maintenance of BFCNs.
Reproduction in Octocorals (Subclass Octocorallia): A Review of Published Literature

The Subclass Octocorallia represents a geographically and morphologically diverse group of Cnidarians for which basic life history, including reproductive biology, is poorly known in most species. Current knowledge of reproduction in this group is derived from a few of taxonomic descriptions which include information on reproductive morphology (e.g. Kukenthal 1919), and a limited number of published studies on reproductive biology and ecology in mostly tropical species.
The use of cone-beam computed tomography in dentistry: an advisory statement from the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW The American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA) promotes safe use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and appropriate professional justification of CBCT imaging procedures. The CSA reviewed the current research literature to develop collaborative guidance regarding the use of CBCT in dentistry with input from a broad group of stakeholder organizations. The Council's principles for CBCT safety may be applied to any number of potential dental CBCT imaging applications. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS As with other radiographic modalities, CBCT imaging should be used only after a review of the patient's health and imaging history and the completion of a thorough clinical examination. Dental practitioners should prescribe CBCT imaging only when they expect that the diagnostic yield will benefit patient care, enhance patient safety or improve clinical outcomes significantly.
Comparison of one-, two-, and three-dimensional measurements of childhood brain tumors.

BACKGROUND End points for assessing drug activity in brain tumors are determined by measuring the change in tumor size by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relative to a pretreatment or best-response scan. Traditionally, two-dimensional (2D) tumor measurements have been used, but one-dimensional (1D) measurements have recently been proposed as an alternative. Because software to estimate three-dimensional (3D) tumor volume from digitized MRI images is available, we compared all three methods of tumor measurement for childhood brain tumors and clinical outcome. METHODS Tumor size from 130 MRI scans from 32 patients (32 baseline and 98 follow-up scans, for a total of 130 scans; median, three scans per patient; range, two to 18 scans) was measured by each method. Tumor-response category (partial response, minor response, stable disease, or progressive disease) was determined from the percentage change in tumor size between the baseline or best-response scan and follow-up scans. Time to clinical progression was independently determined by chart review. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Concordances between 1D and 2D, 1D and 3D, and 2D and 3D were 83% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 67% to 99%), 61% (95% CI = 47% to 75%), and 66% (95% CI = 52% to 80%), respectively, on follow-up scans. Concordances for 1D and 3D and for 2D and 3D were statistically significantly lower than the concordance for 1D and 2D (P< .001 and P = .003, respectively). Concordance among 1D, 2D, and 3D methods in detecting partial response was high; there was less concordance in classifying tumors in the minor response and progressive-disease categories. Median times to progression measured by the 1D, 2D, and 3D methods were 154, 105, and 112 days, respectively, compared with 114 days based on neurologic symptoms and signs (P = .09 for overall comparison). CONCLUSIONS Detection of partial responses was not influenced by the measurement method, but estimating time to disease progression may be method dependent for childhood brain tumors.
Panic Attacks and the Risk of Depression among Young Adults in the Community

Objective: To determine the association between panic attacks and the risk of major depression among young adults in the community. Method: Data were drawn from a 21-year longitudinal birth cohort study (n = 1, 265). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between panic attacks in adolescence (age 15–21 years) and the risk of current major depression (past month). Results: Having a panic attack in the preceding 3 years was significantly associated with elevated risk of current major depression (past month) at the ages of 18 and 21. This association persisted after adjusting for a range of fixed social, family and individual risk factors for psychopathology, history of major depression, comorbid psychiatric disorder and life adversity among both males (OR = 8.9; 95% CI = 3.9–20.4) and females (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2–4.2). Conclusions: These data are consistent with and extend previous work by showing that panic attack increases the risk of current major depression, independent of the effects of psychiatric comorbidity and other early risk factors for psychopathology, though much of this relationship appears to be explained by common risk factors and comorbidity. These data show new evidence of interaction between gender and panic attacks in the risk of depression among young persons. Replication of these findings is needed, as are future studies that further investigate the underlying mechanism of this association.
Genotoxicity of Atrazine , Avenoxan , Diuron and Quizalofop-P-ethyl Herbicides using the Allium cepa Root Chromosomal Aberration Assay

Cytogenetic effects of different herbicides viz. Atrazine, Avenoxan, Diuron and Quizalofop-P-ethyl (QPE), were evaluated in the root tip meristem cells of Allium cepa. In the Allium root growth test, the effective concentration (EC50) value was determined as approximately 0.5 ppm in the case of Atrazine and Avenoxan and 1.0 ppm in the case of Diuron and QPE herbicides with a control for each combination. Mitotic index decreased with increasing herbicide concentration at each exposure time. In anaphase-telophase cells, the total percentages of different chromosomal aberrations like stickiness, bridges, break(s), ring chromosomes, vagrant chromosomes, c-mitosis, delayed anaphase, laggard(s) and micronuclei at high concentration (1 ppm) were calculated as 31.85% (Atrazine), 29.94% (Avenoxan), 36.66% (Diuron) and 41.04% (QPE). The total number of chromosome aberrations increased as herbicide concentration increased. Micronucleated cells were observed at different stages of the cell cycle. The frequency of the micronucleus was markedly higher at 1 ppm than at other test concentrations. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The weather's response to a solar eclipse

Solar eclipses are not of merely astronomical interest, as they provide a predictable transient reduction in the energy source driving the atmosphere and weather systems. Changes in surface air temperature have been measured since 1834 with wind speed and direction subsequently studied, most notably during the 1900 US eclipse. These studies led to theories associating wind speed and direction changes, which, as different eclipse have produced different effects, have not been without controversy. Here, these theories are developed further using observations from the UK eclipses of 1999 and 2015 and detailed weather prediction models. These show that near-surface wind effects during eclipses can result from changes in structure of the lowest part of the atmosphere.
Wahrgenommener Wert sozialer Netzwerkdienste aus Sicht der Benutzer

Soziale Netzwerkdienste sind eine der am meisten genutzten Anwen- dungen im Internet. Trotz der enormen Verbreitung ist der wahrgenommene Wert dieser Anwendungen fur die Nutzer bisher wenig erforscht und es mangelt an Modellen, die die komplexen Zusammenhange in der Nutzungsphase erkla- ren. Zur Schliesung dieser Forschungslucke wird im vorliegenden Beitrag ein Modell entwickelt, das den wahrgenommenen Wert auf vier Determinanten zu- ruckfuhrt: Nutzlichkeit, Vergnugen, Wechselkosten und Risiko. Das entwickel- te Modell wurde auf Basis einer Stichprobe (N=208) aus Nutzern sozialer Netzwerkdienste empirisch uberpruft. Die Auswertung der Daten erfolgte mit Hilfe eines PLS-basierten Strukturgleichungsmodells. Das vorgeschlagene Mo- dell zeigt sich in der Lage, die Nutzungsintention und die Nutzungskonzen- tration zu einem erheblichen Teil zu erklaren. Signifikante Einflusse des wahr- genommenen Wertes konnten auch fur die Zahlungsbereitschaft und die Akzep- tanz von Werbung gemessen werden. Aus den Ergebnissen der Studie werden Implikationen fur die weitere Forschung abgeleitet.
PHOENIX: efficient computation in memory

Parallelism is inherent in most problems but due to current programming models and architectures which have evolved from a sequential paradigm, the parallelism exploited is restricted. We believe that the most efficient parallel execution is achieved when applications are represented as graphs of operations and data, which can then be mapped for execution on a modular and scalable processing-in-memory architecture. In this paper, we present PHOENIX, a general-purpose architecture composed of many Processing Elements (PEs) with memory storage and efficient computational logic units interconnected with a mesh network-on-chip. A preliminary design of PHOENIX shows it is possible to include 10,000 PEs with a storage capacity of 0.6GByte on a 1.5cm2 chip using 14nm technology. PHOENIX may achieve 6TFLOPS with a power consumption of up to 42W, which results in a peak energy efficiency of at least 143GFLOPS/W. A simple estimate shows that for a 4K FFT, PHOENIX achieves 117GFLOPS/W which is more than double of what is achieved by state-of-the-art systems.
Immunosuppression and tumor development in organ transplant recipients: the emerging dualistic role of rapamycin

Cancer morbidity and mortality are increasingly apparent risks in transplant recipients, thus reducing life quality and overall survival. These risks have largely been attributed to long‐term immunosuppressive drug therapy, which remains necessary to prevent organ allograft rejection. Interestingly, however, recent studies challenge the premise that all immunosuppressive drugs necessarily promote cancer. A particular class of immunosuppressants, referred to as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, has been shown to have potent anti‐cancer effects that are presently being tested in clinical studies. The focus of this review is to present current evidence that allows us to understand better the dual immunosuppressive and anti‐cancer functions of this class of drugs used to prevent allograft rejection. We will concentrate on the different functions of mTOR that allow it to simultaneously control the immune system and tumor development. We will also discuss results from current clinical studies that either support or refute this potential dualistic role.