bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compressed linear algebra for declarative large-scale machine learning
Authors: Elgohary Ahmed , Boehm Matthias , Haas Peter J. , Reiss Frederick R. , Reinwald Berthold
Published: April 2019

Large-scale Machine Learning (ML) algorithms are often iterative, using repeated read-only data access and I/O-bound matrix-vector multiplications. Hence, it is crucial for performance to fit the data into single-node or distributed main memory to enable fast matrix-vector operations. General-purpose compression struggles to achieve both good compression ratios and fast decompression for block-wise uncompressed operations. Therefore, we introduce Compressed Linear Algebra (CLA) for lossless matrix compression. CLA encodes matrices with lightweight, value-based compression techniques and executes linear algebra operations directly on the compressed representations. We contribute effective column compression schemes, cache-conscious operations, and an efficient sampling-based compression algorithm. Our experiments show good compression ratios and operations performance close to the uncompressed case, which enables fitting larger datasets into available memory. We thereby obtain significant end-to-end performance improvements.
Encryption and surveillance
Authors: Feigenbaum Joan
Published: April 2019

Why the law-enforcement access question will not just go away.
Algorithmic randomness
Authors: Downey Rod , Hirschfeldt Denis R.
Published: April 2019

Tracing some of the latest advancements in algorithmic randomness.
Advances in the Use of Microfluidics to Study Crystallization Fundamentals
Authors: Candoni Nadine , Grossier Romain , Lagaize Mehdi , Veesler Stéphane
Published: April 2019

This review compares droplet-based microfluidic systems used to study crystallization fundamentals in chemistry and biology. An original high-throughput droplet-based microfluidic platform is presented. It uses nanoliter droplets, generates a chemical library, and directly solubilizes powder, thus economizing both material and time. It is compatible with all solvents without the need for surfactant. Its flexibility permits phase diagram determination and crystallization studies (screening and optimizing experiments) and makes it easy to use for nonspecialists in microfluidics. Moreover, it allows concentration measurement via ultraviolet spectroscopy and solid characterization via X-ray diffraction analysis.
Mechanisms of sex differences in exercise capacity
Authors: Oydanich Marko , Babici Denis , Zhang Jie , Rynecki Nicole , Vatner Dorothy E. , Vatner Stephen F.
Published: April 2019

Sex differences are an important component of National Institutes of Health rigor. The goal of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that female mice have greater exercise capacity than male mice, and that it is due to estrogen, nitric oxide, and myosin heavy chain expression. Female C57BL6/J wild-type mice exhibited greater ( P < 0.05) maximal exercise capacity for running distance (489 ± 15 m) than age-matched male counterparts (318 ± 15 m), as well as 20% greater work to exhaustion. When matched for weight or muscle mass, females still maintained greater exercise capacity than males. Increased type I and decreased type II myosin heavy chain fibers in the soleus muscle from females are consistent with fatigue resistance and better endurance in females compared with males. After ovariectomy, female mice no longer demonstrated enhanced exercise, and treatment of male mice with estrogen resulted in exercise capacity similar to that of intact females (485 ± 37 m). Nitric oxide synthase, a downstream target of estrogen, exhibited higher activity in female mice compared with male mice, P < 0.05, whereas ovariectomized females exhibited nitric oxide synthase levels similar to males. Nitric oxide synthase activity also increased in males treated with chronic estrogen to levels of intact females. Nitric oxide synthase blockade with Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester eliminated the sex differences in exercise capacity. Thus estrogen, nitric oxide, and myosin heavy chain expression are important mechanisms mediating the enhanced exercise performance in females.
Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells exert immunomodulatory function by driving inflammatory CD4+T cell responses
Authors: Breda Philippe Christophe , Wiech Thorsten , Meyer-Schwesinger Catherine , Grahammer Florian , Huber Tobias , Panzer Ulf , Tiegs Gisa , Neumann Katrin
Published: April 2019

In immune-mediated glomerular diseases like crescentic glomerulonephritis (cGN), inflammatory CD4+T cells accumulate within the tubulointerstitial compartment in close contact to proximal and distal tubular epithelial cells and drive renal inflammation and tissue damage. However, whether renal epithelial cell populations play a role in the pathogenesis of cGN by modulating CD4+T cell responses is less clear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential of renal epithelial cells to function as antigen-presenting cells, thereby stimulating CD4+T cell responses. Using a FACS-based protocol that allowed comparative analysis of cortical epithelial cell populations, we showed that particularly proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) express molecules linked with antigen-presenting cell function, including major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII), CD74, CD80, and CD86 in homeostasis and nephrotoxic nephritis, a murine model of cGN. Protein expression was visualized at the PTEC single cell level by imaging flow cytometry. Interestingly, we found inflammation-dependent regulation of epithelium-expressed CD74, CD80, and CD86, whereas MHCII expression was not altered. Antigen-specific stimulation of CD4+T cells by PTECs in vitro supported CD4+T cell survival and induced CD4+T cell activation, proliferation, and inflammatory cytokine production. In patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis, MHCII and CD74 were expressed by both proximal and distal tubules, whereas CD86 was predominantly expressed by proximal tubules. Thus, particularly PTECs have the potential to induce an inflammatory phenotype in CD4+T cells in vitro, which might also play a role in the pathology of immune-mediated kidney disease.
Policies or knowledge: priors differ between a perceptual and sensorimotor task
Authors: Chambers Claire , Fernandes Hugo , Kording Konrad Paul
Published: April 2019

If the brain abstractly represents probability distributions as knowledge, then the modality of a decision, e.g., movement vs. perception, should not matter. If, on the other hand, learned representations are policies, they may be specific to the task where learning takes place. Here, we test this by asking whether a learned spatial prior generalizes from a sensorimotor estimation task to a two-alternative-forced choice (2-Afc) perceptual comparison task. A model and simulation-based analysis revealed that while participants learn prior distribution in the sensorimotor estimation task, measured priors are consistently broader than sensorimotor priors in the 2-Afc task. That the prior does not fully generalize suggests that sensorimotor priors are more like policies than knowledge. In disagreement with standard Bayesian thought, the modality of the decision has a strong influence on the implied prior distributions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We do not know whether the brain represents abstract and generalizable knowledge or task-specific policies that map internal states to actions. We find that learning in a sensorimotor task does not generalize strongly to a perceptual task, suggesting that humans learned policies and did not truly acquire knowledge. Priors differ across tasks, thus casting doubt on the central tenet of many Bayesian models, that the brain’s representation of the world is built on generalizable knowledge.
Case Studies in Neuroscience: The electrophysiology of a human obsession in nucleus accumbens
Authors: Miller Kai J. , Prieto Thomas , Williams Nolan R. , Halpern Casey H.
Published: April 2019

Microelectrode recordings were performed during awake deep brain stimulation surgery for obsessive-compulsive disorder, revealing robust brain oscillations that were plainly visible throughout the ventral striatum. There was an elegant topological correspondence between each oscillation and the underlying brain anatomy, most prominently a ~35-Hz gamma-oscillation specific to the nucleus accumbens. Direct provocation of the patient’s contamination obsession modulated both firing rate and gamma-oscillation amplitude within the nucleus accumbens.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Surgical implantation of deep brain stimulating electrodes (DBS) to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an option for patients who have not fully responded to medical intervention or cognitive behavioral therapy. We measured the electrophysiology of a collection of deep brain structures during awake DBS surgery for an OCD patient with an obsession about cleanliness and contamination. The anatomic delineation of these deep brain structures was revealed by distinct brain rhythms, most notably a ~35 Hz oscillation specific to the nucleus accumbens. In the first ever measurement of a human obsessive thought, we found that this ~35-Hz biomarker, as well as the local neuronal action potential rate, were modulated by handing the patient a toothbrush to bring to his face and instructing him to “imagine brushing your teeth with this dirty toothbrush.”
Prolonged time course of population excitatory postsynaptic potentials in motoneurons of chronic stroke survivors
Authors: Son Jongsang , Hu Xiaogang , Suresh Nina L. , Rymer William Z.
Published: April 2019

Hyperexcitability of spinal motoneurons may contribute to muscular hypertonia after hemispheric stroke. The origins of this hyperexcitability are not clear, but we hypothesized that prolongation of the Ia excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) in spastic motoneurons may be one potential mechanism, by enabling more effective temporal summation of Ia EPSPs, making action potential initiation easier. Thus, the purpose of this study is to quantify the time course of putative EPSPs in spinal motoneurons of chronic stroke survivors. To estimate the EPSP time course, a pair of low-intensity electrical stimuli was delivered sequentially to the median nerve in seven hemispheric stroke survivors and in six intact individuals, to induce an H-reflex response from the flexor carpi radialis muscle. H-reflex response probability was then used to quantify the time course of the underlying EPSPs in the motoneuron pool. A population EPSP estimate was then derived, based on the probability of evoking an H-reflex from the second test stimulus in the absence of a reflex response to the first conditioning stimulus. Our experimental results showed that in six of seven hemispheric stroke survivors, the apparent rate of decay of the population EPSP was markedly slower in spastic compared with contralateral (stroke) and intact motoneuron pools. There was no significant difference in EPSP time course between the contralateral side of stroke survivors and control subject muscles. We propose that one potential mechanism for hyperexcitability of spastic motoneurons in chronic stroke survivors may be associated with this prolongation of the Ia EPSP time course. Our subthreshold double-stimulation approach could provide a noninvasive tool for quantifying the time course of EPSPs in both healthy and pathological conditions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Spastic motoneurons in stroke survivors showed a prolonged Ia excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) time course compared with contralateral and intact motoneurons, suggesting that one potential mechanism for hyperexcitability of spastic motoneurons in chronic stroke survivors may be associated with this prolongation of the Ia EPSP time course.
Formation and decay of auditory short-term memory in the macaque monkey
Authors: Teichert Tobias , Gurnsey Kate
Published: April 2019

Echoic memory (EM) is a short-lived, precategorical, and passive form of auditory short-term memory (STM). A key hallmark of EM is its rapid exponential decay with a time constant between 1 and 2 s. It is not clear whether auditory STM in the rhesus, an important model system, shares this rapid exponential decay. To resolve this shortcoming, two rhesus macaques were trained to perform a delayed frequency discrimination task. Discriminability of delayed tones was measured as a function of retention duration and the number of times the standard had been repeated before the target. Like in the human, our results show a rapid decline of discriminability with retention duration. In addition, the results suggest a gradual strengthening of discriminability with repetition number. Model-based analyses suggest the presence of two components of auditory STM: a short-lived component with a time constant on the order of 550 ms that most likely corresponds to EM and a more stable memory trace with time constants on the order of 10 s that strengthens with repetition and most likely corresponds to auditory recognition memory.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first detailed quantification of the rapid temporal dynamics of auditory short-term memory in the rhesus. Much of the auditory information in short-term memory is lost within the first couple of seconds. Repeated presentations of a tone strengthen its encoding into short-term memory. Model-based analyses suggest two distinct components: an echoic memory homolog that mediates the rapid decay and a more stable but less detail-rich component that mediates strengthening of the trace with repetition.
Gender-Related Effect of Sodium Dichloroacetate on the Number of Hassall’s Corpuscles and RNA NKCC1 Expression in Rat Thymus
Authors: Stanevičiūtė Jūratė , Juknevičienė Milda , Balnytė Ingrida , Valančiūtė Angelija , Lesauskaitė Vaiva , Fadejeva Julija , Stakauskas Rimantas , Stakišaitis Donatas
Published: April 2019

The aim was to investigate the effect of dichloroacetate (DCA) on thymus weight, Hassall’s corpuscle number (HCs), and NKCC1 RNA expression in Wistar rats aged 4–5 weeks. They were investigated in the controls and DCA-treated gonad-intact and castrated males and females. The treatment lasted 4 weeks with DCA 200 mg/kg/day. At the end of the experiment, rat thymus was weighted, and its lobe was taken for the expression of NKCC1 RNA determined by the PCR method and of Hassall’s corpuscles by immunohistochemistry. DCA caused a thymus weight decrease in DCA-treated gonad-intact rats of both genders as compared with their controls (p < 0.05), and no such impact was found in castrated DCA-treated males and females. DCA caused an increase of the HCs in gonad-intact males (p < 0.05), and no such increase in the DCA-treated gonad-intact females was found. There was gender-related difference in the HCs when comparing DCA-treated gonad-intact males and females: males showed significantly higher HCs (p < 0.05); no gender-related differences were found in the castrated DCA-treated groups. The Slc12a2 gene RNA expression level was found to be significantly decreased only in gonad-intact and in castrated DCA-treated males. The authors discuss the gender-related DCA effects on the thymus.
Impact of Combined Acidic and Hyperosmotic Shock Conditions on the Proteome ofListeria monocytogenesATCC 19115 in a Time-Course Study
Authors: Zhang Dong Lai , Bai Ya Long , Bowman John P.
Published: April 2019

Listeria monocytogenescan cause listeriosis in humans through consumption of contaminated food and can adapt to and grow under a wide array of physiochemical stresses. Consequently, it causes persistent food safety issues and requires vigilant sanitation processes to be in place, especially for the manufacture of high-risk food products. In this study, the global proteomic responses of the food-borne pathogenL. monocytogenesstrain ATCC 19115 were determined when exposed to nonthermal inactivation. This process was examined in the early stationary growth phase with the strain placed under simultaneous exposure to low pH (pH 3.5) and high salinity (aw0.900, 14% NaCl). Proteomic responses, measured using iTRAQ techniques, were conducted over a time course (5 min, 30 min, and 1 h at 25°C). The enumeration results showed that, at 5 min, cells underwent initial rapid inactivation by 1.2 log units and 2.5 log units after 30 min, and after that, culturability remained stable when sampled at 1 h. From the iTRAQ results, the proteome level changes that occur rapidly during the inactivation process mainly affected prophage, cell defense/detoxification, carbohydrate-related metabolism, transporter proteins, phosphotransferase systems, cell wall biogenesis, and specific cell surface proteins. Pathway map analysis revealed that several pathways are affected including pentose and glucuronate interconversions, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and proteins associated with bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and host survival. Proteome profiling provided a better understanding of the physiological responses of this pathogen to adapt to lethal nonthermal environments and indicates the need to improve food processing and storage methods, especially for non- or minimally thermally processed foods.
Prevalence and Reinfection Rates of Schistosoma mansoni and Praziquantel Efficacy against the Parasite among Primary School Children in Sanja Town, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Woldegerima Eden , Bayih Abebe Genetu , Tegegne Yalewayker , Aemero Mulugeta , Jejaw Zeleke Ayalew
Published: April 2019

Background. Schistosomiasis is among the most widespread chronic infections in the world. The magnitude of the infection may show variations across different areas with respect to time. Praziquantel is a first line drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis although its low cure rate has been reported in different parts of the world. Thus, an assessment of the magnitude of the diseases, the efficacy of currently available drugs, and reinfection rates is crucial. Objective. Our principal objective is to determine the prevalence and reinfection rates of Schistosoma mansoni and to evaluate the efficacy of PZQ against Schistosoma mansoni. Method. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Sanja Elementary Schools, Sanja town, northwest Ethiopia. Stool specimens were examined using Kato-Katz method. Schoolchildren who tested positive for intestinal schistosomiasis and fulfilled the inclusion criteria took part in the efficacy and reinfection study. Positive participants were treated with 40 mg/kg of Praziquantel. Cure and egg reduction rates were evaluated three weeks after treatment. The intensity of infection was determined following the WHO’s guideline. Moreover, the reinfection rate of those who were cured was evaluated after a six-month posttreatment period. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results. At baseline, 130 (35%) of the 372 schoolchildren were found infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Out of the 130 infected schoolchildren, 112 (86.2%) had moderate infection intensity. Among the S. mansoni positive schoolchildren, 80 were included as study participants for the evaluation of PZQ efficacy, based on the inclusion criteria established by WHO. The cure and egg reduction rates were found to be 90% (72/80) and 99.5%, respectively. Of the seventy-two schoolchildren considered for the determination of reinfection rate, after 6 months of posttreatment, 13.9% were found to be reinfected. Conclusion. The schoolchildren in the three primary schools of Sanja are at moderate risk of the infection caused by S. mansoni. Although the therapeutic potency of PZQ at 40 mg/kg was efficient against S. mansoni, a high rate of reinfection was reported in the study site, suggesting the need for integrated schistosomiasis control measures.
HARQ-Chaotic: Analog Chaotic Code Applied in HARQ Scheme of Wireless Communication System
Authors: Yu Wei , Zhu Fusheng , Wu Jun , Wang Rui , Ren Haoqi , Zhang Zhifeng
Published: April 2019

This paper proposes a novel symbol-level combining hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) scheme based on analog chaotic code and named HARQ-Chaotic. The transmitter of HARQ-Chaotic adopts analog chaotic code to encode Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) symbols of retransmission packets to combat fading and noise. As the analog chaotic code can only handle sources with amplitudes in the range of [-0.5, 0.5], QAM symbols must be scaled into this range. We derived the optimal scaling factor through theoretical analysis. A joint algorithm combining with novel soft chaotic decoder and novel soft QAM demapper is proposed for the receiver to enhance the performance of the whole communication system. We implemented HARQ-Chaotic with LDPC codes and 16-QAM/64-QAM to carry out simulations in both AWGN channels and multipath fading channels. Massive simulation results demonstrate that the proposed HARQ-Chaotic has 1dB-4dB gain over traditional HARQ-Chase combining (HARQ-CC) scheme in block error rate (BLER) performance.
New Analytical Method to Evaluate Casing Integrity during Hydraulic Fracturing of Shale Gas Wells
Authors: Li Jun , Guo Xueli , Liu Gonghui , Liu Shuoqiong , Xi Yan
Published: April 2019

An accurate analysis of casing stress distribution and its variation regularities present several challenges during hydraulic fracturing of shale gas wells. In this paper, a new analytical mechanical‐thermal coupling method was provided to evaluate casing stress. For this new method, the casing, cement sheath, and formation (CCF) system was divided into three parts such as initial stress field, wellbore disturbance field, and thermal stress field to simulate the processes of drilling, casing, cementing, and fracturing. The analytical results reached a good agreement with a numerical approach and were in‐line with the actual boundary condition of shale gas wells. Based on this new model, the parametric sensitivity analyses of casing stress such as mechanical and geometry properties, operation parameters, and geostress were conducted during multifracturing. Conclusions were drawn from the comparison between new and existing models. The results indicated that the existing model underestimated casing stress under the conditions of the geostress heterogeneity index at the range of 0.5–2.25, the fracturing pressure larger than 25 MPa, and a formation with large elastic modulus or small Poisson’s ratio. The casing stress increased dramatically with the increase of in situ stress nonuniformity degree. The stress decreased first and then increased with the increase of fracturing pressure. Thicker casing, higher fluid temperature, and cement sheath with small modulus, large Poisson’s ratio, and thinner wall were effective to decrease the casing stress. This new method was able to accurately predict casing stress, which can become an alternative approach of casing integrity evaluation for shale gas wells.
Intimate Partner Violence among Pregnant Women and Postpartum Depression in Vietnam: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Tho Nhi Tran , Hanh Nguyen Thi Thuy , Hinh Nguyen Duc , Toan Ngo Van , Gammeltoft Tine , Rasch Vibeke , Meyrowitsch Dan W.
Published: April 2019

Background. Exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy is associated with a wide range of adverse reproductive health outcomes. However, detailed knowledge on the association between specific types of exposure to partner violence and postpartum depression is limited. Purpose. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between exposure to emotional violence, physical violence, and sexual violence during pregnancy and postpartum depression among women in northern Vietnam. Methods. The study was designed as a longitudinal study, which included a total of 1,337 women. The study participants were recruited from 24 communes in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, Vietnam, and interviewed four times: (a) at enrolment (which took place no later than week 24 of the pregnancy); (b) at a gestational age of 30-34 weeks; (c) at delivery; and d) 4-12 weeks after delivery. Emotional, physical, and sexual violence exerted by the intimate partner were measured using a modified version of the questionnaire initially developed by the World Health Organization, and signs of depression were measured by the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Results. More than one-third of the women (35.3%) experienced at least one type of violence during their pregnancy and 8.2% of the women reported postpartum depression. The results of multivariate analyses showed that both physical and sexual violence were statistically significantly associated with postpartum depression (AOR=2.75, 95%CI: 1.19-6.35 and AOR=1.93, 95%CI: 1.01-3.73, respectively). Conclusions. The results showed strong and statistically significant associations between partner violence and postpartum depression. These findings clearly demonstrate a crucial need for relevant health professionals to identify women who are exposed to partner violence and screen for postpartum depression in order to mitigate the negative mental health outcomes among Vietnamese women.
Comparison of Endoscope-Assisted and Microscope-Assisted Tubular Surgery for Lumbar Laminectomies and Discectomies: Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up Results
Authors: Zhang Yaqing , Chong Fanli , Feng Chencheng , Wang Yan , Zhou Yue , Huang Bo
Published: April 2019

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted tubular surgery for lumbar laminectomies and discectomies. Methods. Three hundred and seven patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) or lumbar disc herniation (LDH) at L3–4, L4–5, and L5-S1 were included in this study. The patients were treated with endoscope-assisted or microscope-assisted tubular surgery. Data on patient demographic characteristics and operative results, including ages, blood loss, operative times, hospital stay, and surgical complications were collected. Clinical outcomes were assessed based on pre- and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for low-back pain (LBP) and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale. Results. Both tubular-based endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted surgery were effective in relieving acute radicular symptoms. The results showed characteristic differences in operating times between endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted procedures and between discectomies and laminectomies. At the last follow-up, VAS scores of LBP and leg pain, JOA scores, and ODI scores were significantly better than preoperative correlates in all groups. There were no differences between endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted discectomies for LDH in JOA scores, ODI scores, and VAS scores, while the microscope-assisted laminectomies related to better JOA recovery rate for LSS. Conclusions. Endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted tubular discectomies resulted in similar clinical outcomes for LDH, while the microscope-assisted surgery may relate to better recovery rate for LSS, less surgical time, and less intraoperative dural tear.
The Evolving Roles of Macrophages in Organ Transplantation
Authors: Li Junhui , Li Cai , Zhuang Quan , Peng Bo , Zhu Yi , Ye Qifa , Ming Yingzi
Published: April 2019

Organ transplantation is a life-saving strategy for patients with end-stage organ failure. Over the past few decades, organ transplantation has achieved an excellent success in short-term survival but only a marginal improvement in long-term graft outcomes. The pathophysiology of graft loss is multifactorial and remains incompletely defined. However, emerging evidence suggests macrophages as crucial mediators of acute and chronic allograft immunopathology. In this process, macrophage-mediated mobilization of first-line defenses, particularly phagocytosis and the release of acute inflammatory mediators, is important, but macrophages also launch adaptive alloimmune reactions against grafts through antigen processing and presentation, as well as providing costimulation. Additionally, crosstalk with other immune cells and graft endothelial cells causes tissue damage or fibrosis in transplanted organs, contributing to graft loss or tolerance resistance. However, some macrophages function as regulatory cells that are capable of suppressing allogeneic T cells, inhibiting DC maturation, inducing the differentiation of Tregs, and subsequently promoting transplant tolerance. This functional diversity of macrophages in organ transplantation is consistent with their heterogeneity. Although our knowledge of the detrimental or beneficial effects of macrophages on transplants has exponentially increased, the exact mechanisms controlling macrophage functions are not yet completely understood. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the multifaceted nature of macrophages, focusing on their evolving roles in organ transplantation and the mechanisms involved in their activation and function in allograft transplantation. We also discuss potential therapeutic options and opportunities to target macrophage to improve the outcomes of transplant recipients.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Cancer Inhibitory Activity of a Colored Avocado Seed Extract
Authors: Dabas Deepti , Elias Ryan J. , Ziegler Gregory R. , Lambert Joshua D.
Published: April 2019

Avocado (Persea americana) seeds have been used traditionally for a number of health-related indications. Because of its high polyphenol content, we investigated the potential antioxidant and anticancer effects of a colored avocado seed extract (CASE). CASE exhibited an oxygen radical acceptance capacity value of 2012 ± 300 trolox equivalents/mg. CASE reduced lipid hydroperoxide formation in an oil-in-water emulsion (33% reduction at 500 μg/mL). CASE dose-dependently reduced the viability of human breast (MCF7), lung (H1299), colon (HT29), and prostate (LNCaP) cancer cells in vitro. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 19 to 132 μg/mL after treatment for 48 h. CASE treatment downregulated the expression of cyclin D1 and E2 in LNCaP cells. This was associated with cell G0/G1 phase cycle arrest. CASE also dose-dependently induced apoptosis in LNCaP cells. CASE reduced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB, a prosurvival signal. Further studies are needed to examine these effects in in vivo models.
Alterations of Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity and Degree Centrality in Cervical Dystonia: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Authors: Jiang Wenyan , Lei Yiwu , Wei Jing , Yang Lu , Wei Shubao , Yin Qiong , Luo Shuguang , Guo Wenbin
Published: April 2019

Background. Cervical dystonia (CD) is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary head and neck movements and postures. Reports on microstructural and functional abnormalities in multiple brain regions not limited to the basal ganglia have been increasing in patients with CD. However, the neural bases of CD are unclear. This study is aimed at identifying cerebral functional abnormalities in CD by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods. Using rs-fMRI data, voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and degree centrality were used to compare the alterations of the rs-functional connectivity (FC) between 19 patients with CD and 21 healthy controls. Regions showing abnormal FCs from two measurements were the regions of interest for correlation analyses. Results. Compared with healthy controls, patients with CD exhibited significantly decreased VMHC in the supplementary motor area (SMA), precuneus (PCu)/postcentral gyrus, and superior medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). Significantly increased degree centrality in the right PCu and decreased degree centrality in the right lentiform nucleus and left ventral MPFC were observed in the patient group compared with the control group. Further correlation analyses showed that the VMHC values in the SMA were negatively correlated with dystonia severity. Conclusion. Local abnormalities and interhemispheric interaction deficits in the sensorimotor network (SMA, postcentral gyrus, and PCu), default mode network (MPFC and PCu), and basal ganglia may be the key characteristics in the pathogenesis mechanism of CD.
Fast Recovery of the Amblyopic Eye Acuity of Kittens following Brief Exposure to Total Darkness Depends on the Fellow Eye
Authors: Mitchell Donald E. , Aronitz Elise , Bobbie-Ansah Philip , Crowder Nathan , Duffy Kevin R.
Published: April 2019

Recent studies conducted on kittens have revealed that the reduced visual acuity of the deprived eye following a short period of monocular deprivation imposed in early life is reversed quickly following a 10-day period spent in total darkness. This study explored the contribution of the fellow eye to the darkness-induced recovery of the acuity of the deprived eye. Upon emergence of kittens from darkness, the fellow eye was occluded for different lengths of time in order to investigate its effects on either the speed or the extent of the recovery of acuity of the deprived eye. Occlusion of the fellow eye for even a day immediately following the period spent in darkness blocked any recovery of the acuity of the deprived eye. Moreover, occlusion of the fellow eye two days after the period of darkness blocked any further visual recovery beyond that achieved in the short period when both eyes were open. The results imply that the darkness-induced recovery of the acuity of the deprived eye depends upon, and is guided by, neural activity in the mature neural connections previously established by the fellow eye.
Diffuse Adenomatosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Liver Transplantation in an Adolescent Female with Kabuki Syndrome with a Novel KMT2D Gene Mutation
Authors: Timothy Leander D. , Lehrke Heidi D. , Chandan Vishal S. , Kolbe Amy B. , Furuya Katryn N.
Published: April 2019

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare disorder primarily associated with mutations in the KMT2D and KDM6A genes. Several tumors have been reported with KS; however, there have been no reports of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatic adenomatosis. We present an adolescent girl with KS and a novel KMT2D mutation who developed diffuse adenomatosis, HCC, and subsequently underwent liver transplantation.
Patients Selection for Immunotherapy in Solid Tumors: Overcome the Naïve Vision of a Single Biomarker
Authors: Signorelli Diego , Giannatempo Patrizia , Grazia Giulia , Aiello Marco Maria , Bertolini Federica , Mirabile Aurora , Buti Sebastiano , Vasile Enrico , Scotti Vieri , Pisapia Pasquale , Cona Maria Silvia , Rolfo Christian , Malapelle Umberto , Group Immune-Oncology YOUNG
Published: April 2019

Immunotherapy, and in particular immune-checkpoints blockade therapy (ICB), represents a new pillar in cancer therapy. Antibodies targeting Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and Programmed Death 1 (PD-1)/Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) demonstrated a relevant clinical value in a large number of solid tumors, leading to an improvement of progression free survival and overall survival in comparison to standard chemotherapy. However, across different solid malignancies, the immune-checkpoints inhibitors efficacy is limited to a relative small number of patients and, for this reason, the identification of positive or negative predictive biomarkers represents an urgent need. Despite the expression of PD-L1 was largely investigated in various malignancies, (i.e., melanoma, head and neck malignancies, urothelial and renal carcinoma, metastatic colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer) as a biomarker for ICB treatment-patients selection, it showed an important, but still imperfect, role as positive predictor of response only in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Importantly, other tumor and/or microenvironments related characteristics are currently under clinical evaluation, in combination or in substitution of PD–L1 expression. In particular, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, gene expression analysis, mismatch- repair deficiency, and tumor mutational landscape may play a central role in predicting clinical benefits of CTLA-4 and/or PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we will focus on the clinical evaluation of emerging biomarkers and how these may improve the naïve vision of a single- feature patients-based selection.
The Influence of Coauthorship in the Interpretation of Multimodal Interfaces
Authors: Morreale Fabio , Masu Raul , De Angeli Antonella
Published: April 2019

This paper presents a model to codesign interpretively flexible artefacts. We present the case study of Beatfield, a multimodal system that allows users to control audiovisual material by means of tangible interaction. The design of the system was coauthored by individuals with different background and interests to encourage a range of difference interpretations. The capability of Beatfield to foster multiple interpretations was evaluated in a qualitative study with 21 participants. Elaborating on the outcome of this study, we present a new design model that can be used to stimulate heterogeneous interpretations of interactive artefacts.
Utilization and Dose Optimization of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors among Heart Failure Patients in Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Niriayo Yirga Legesse , Kumela Kabaye , Gidey Kidu , Angamo Mulugeta Tarekegn
Published: April 2019

Background. Optimal use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) is crucial to improve the treatment outcome in heart failure patients. However, little is known about the optimal use of ACEIs among heart failure patients in our setting. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the utilization and optimal dosing of ACEIs and associated factors in heart failure patients. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected patients with heart failure between February 2016 and June 2016 at ambulatory care clinic of Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia. Data were collected through patient interview and review of medical records. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with utilization and optimal dosing of ACEIs. Results. A total of 308 patients were included in the final analysis of this study. The mean (±standard deviation) age of the patients was 52.3 ±15.5 years. Out of the total, 74.7% of the patients were receiving ACEIs. Among the patients who were receiving ACEIs, only 35.7% were taking optimal dose. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR):0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.02–0.98), valvular heart disease (AOR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.56), hypertension (AOR: 5.82, 95% CI: 2.16-15.71), and diabetes mellitus (AOR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.07-13.86) were significantly associated with the use of ACEIs, whereas age ≥65 (AOR: 2.61, 95%CI: 1.20-5.64), previous hospitalization for heart failure (AOR: 2.08, 95%CI: 1.11-3.92), diuretic use (AOR: 5.60, 95%CI: 2.75-11.40), and dose of furosemide >40mg (AOR: 9.80, 95%CI: 3.00-31.98) were predictors of suboptimal dosing of ACEIs. Conclusion. Although majority of patients were receiving ACEIs, only about one-third were using optimal dosage. Valvular heart disease and NYHA class III were negatively associated with the use of ACEIs while previous hospitalization for heart failure, old age, diuretic use, and diuretic dose were predictors of suboptimal dosing of ACEIs. Therefore, more effort needs to be done to minimize the potentially modifiable risk factors of suboptimal use of ACEIs therapy in heart failure patients.
Language Specificity in Phonetic Cue Weighting: Monolingual and Bilingual Perception of the Stop Voicing Contrast in English and Spanish
Authors: Schertz Jessamyn , Carbonell Kathy , Lotto Andrew J.
Published: April 2019

Background/Aims:This work examines the perception of the stop voicing contrast in Spanish and English along four acoustic dimensions, comparing monolingual and bilingual listeners. Our primary goals are to test the extent to which cue-weighting strategies are language-specific in monolinguals, and whether this language specificity extends to bilingual listeners.Methods:Participants categorized sounds varying in voice onset time (VOT, the primary cue to the contrast) and three secondary cues: fundamental frequency at vowel onset, first formant (F1) onset frequency, and stop closure duration. Listeners heard acoustically identical target stimuli, within language-specific carrier phrases, in English and Spanish modes.Results:While all listener groups used all cues, monolingual English listeners relied more on F1, and less on closure duration, than monolingual Spanish listeners, indicating language specificity in cue use. Early bilingual listeners used the three secondary cues similarly in English and Spanish, despite showing language-specific VOT boundaries.Conclusion:While our findings reinforce previous work demonstrating language-specific phonetic representations in bilinguals in terms of VOT boundary, they suggest that this specificity may not extend straightforwardly to cue-weighting strategies.
Teaching Material Mathematics with a Metacognitive Approach Guidance
Authors: Arvyaty Arvyaty , Salim Salim , Maryanti Era
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this research is to analyze the improvement of students' mathematical literacy ability through the use of mathematics teaching materials with metacognitive approach guidance. This research will be held in the city of Kendari to the subject of this research target is students who are at grade 5 Land in Junior High VIIID Kendari years lessons 2017/2018 with many limited scale trial class is only required as much as 1 class. To know the significance of the increase in the literacy abilities of students using paired t-test. Data processing using the SPSS program with criteria if α=0,05 then there is an increased of student's mathematical literacy ability. The results of the analysis on the stages of the evaluation shows the learning materials with metacognitive approach guidance can provide better against an increase in student learning. The ability of the early mathematical literacy against students is very less because of learning during this time students have not been directed with the ability of mathematical literacy. After the students get learning by using learning materials through metacognitive approach guidance, the ability of mathematical literacy students’ level 3 and level 4 underwent significant improvement.
The Students’ Ability to Solve Realistic Mathematical Problems through Polya Type Problem Solving Learning Model
Authors: Widiana I Wayan , Japa I Gusti Ngurah , Suarjana I Made , Sujendra Diputra Komang
Published: April 2019

This study was done to analyze the effect of Polyatype problem solving learning oriented toward realistic mathematics on the ability to solve mathematical word problems. This study belongs to an experimental research with the Posttest Only Control Group Design. The population used in this study was the students of grade 4 at Gugus VIII Sukawati Gianyar elementary schools with the total number of 138. The sample was selected through random sampling. The result of selection by lottery assigned Grade 4 students of SDN 4 SingapaduKaler to the control class and Grade 4 students of SDN 1 SingapaduKaler to the experiment class. The data were collected through an essay test that had been validated. The data that had been collected were analyzed through a difference test (t-test). Based on the result of data analysis it can be concluded that the use of  Polya type  problem solving teaching model  oriented toward  realistic mathematics  gave  a positive effect to the ability to solve word problems  among the  Grade  4 students  in Gugus VIII Sukawati Gianyar.
Students’ Semantic-Proof Production in Proving a Mathematical Proposition
Authors: Syamsuri Syamsuri , Purwanto Purwanto , Subanji Subanji , Irawati Santi
Published: April 2019

Proving a proposition is emphasized in undergraduate mathematics learning. There are three strategies in proving or proof-production, i.e.: procedural-proof, syntactic-proof, and semantic-proof production. Students’ difficulties in proving can occur in constructing a proof. In this article, we focused on students’ thinking when proving using semantic-proof production. This research is qualitative research that conducted on students majored in mathematics education in public university in Banten province, Indonesia. Data was obtained through asking students to solve proving-task using think-aloud and then following by interview based task. Results show that characterization of students’ thinking using semantic-proof production can be classified into three categories, i.e.: (1) false-semantic, (2) proof-semantic for clarification of proposition, (3) proof-semantic for remembering concept. Both category (1) and (2) occurred before students proven formally in Representation System Proof (RSP). Nevertheless, category (3) occurred when students have proven the task in RSP then step out from RSP while proving. Based on the results, some suitable learning activities should be designed to support the construction of these mental categories.
The Influence of Information Technology Toward Interest In Utilization of The Virtual Learning Environment
Authors: Sahusilawane Wildoms , Hiariey Lilian Sarah
Published: April 2019

This research aims at examining the effect of Ease, Affect, Flexibility and Accessibility of information technology on utilizing virtual learning environment at Universitas Terbuka. The population of the research consists students of Bidikmisi scholarship in Non Basic Education program of Accounting that include of 145 respondents. The sampling method is purposive sampling with 141 eligible samples. The questionnaires are measured with Correlation and Multiple Regression analysis that covers descriptive statistics, reliability test and validity test. Classical Assumption Test which includes multcollinearity test is later conducted. Hypothesis testing and discussion are presented at the end. Result of research with t test or partially indicate that, variable of ease of use have positive relation and have significant influence to interest of utilization of virtual learning environment, t test result for accessibility variable have positive relation and no significant effect to interest of utilization of virtual learning environment. The result of the research on the affect variable has a positive relationship and has a significant effect on the interest of utilizing the virtual learning environment. While the flexibility variable shows have a negative relationship and no significant effect on the interest of utilization of virtual learning environment.
Preparing A Strategic Learner By Using Metacognitive Strategies: From Theory Into Practice
Authors: Djudin Tomo
Published: April 2019

It is unrealistic to expect students to have future literacy about science, information, and technology if their education includes only facts and concepts relevant during the school years. While life presents situations that cannot be solved by learned responses, the metacognitive strategy is brought into play. Metacognitive skills are needed when habitual responses are not successful. Metacognitive skills will enable students to successfully cope with new situations. The main purpose of this paper is to propose a practical model of implementing strategies to increase students’ ability to comprehend texts and find solutions to word problems based on the theories and empirical background of metacognition. In addition, the distinction between metacognition and cognition and explicit instruction on the learning strategies to develop students metacognitive skills were discussed. It concludes that  teachers can raise the level of metacognitive thought in their classrooms by modeling the processes. The use of metacognitive strategies will enable students to be independent and strategic learners.