bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Localized Immunomodulation with PD-L1 Results in Sustained Survival and Function of Allogeneic Islets without Chronic Immunosuppression
Authors: Batra Lalit , Shrestha Pradeep , Zhao Hong , Woodward Kyle B. , Togay Alper , Tan Min , Grimany-Nuno Orlando , Malik Mohammad Tariq , Coronel María M. , García Andrés J. , Shirwan Haval , Yolcu Esma S. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Allogeneic islet transplantation is limited by adverse effects of chronic immunosuppression used to control rejection. The programmed cell death 1 pathway as an important immune checkpoint has the potential to obviate the need for chronic immunosuppression. We generated an oligomeric form of programmed cell death 1 ligand chimeric with core streptavidin (SA-PDL1) that inhibited the T effector cell response to alloantigens and converted T conventional cells into CD4+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells. The SA-PDL1 protein was effectively displayed on the surface of biotinylated mouse islets without a negative impact islet viability and insulin secretion. Transplantation of SA-PDL1–engineered islet grafts with a short course of rapamycin regimen resulted in sustained graft survival and function in &gt;90% of allogeneic recipients over a 100-d observation period. Long-term survival was associated with increased levels of intragraft transcripts for innate and adaptive immune regulatory factors, including IDO-1, arginase-1, Foxp3, TGF-β, IL-10, and decreased levels of proinflammatory T-bet, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ as assessed on day 3 posttransplantation. T cells of long-term graft recipients generated a proliferative response to donor Ags at a similar magnitude to T cells of naive animals, suggestive of the localized nature of tolerance. Immunohistochemical analyses showed intense peri-islet infiltration of T regulatory cells in long-term grafts and systemic depletion of this cell population resulted in prompt rejection. The transient display of SA-PDL1 protein on the surface of islets serves as a practical means of localized immunomodulation that accomplishes sustained graft survival in the absence of chronic immunosuppression with potential clinical implications.
Serine Phosphorylation of the STAT1 Transactivation Domain Promotes Autoreactive B Cell and Systemic Autoimmunity Development
Authors: Chodisetti Sathi Babu , Fike Adam J. , Domeier Phillip P. , Schell Stephanie L. , Mockus Taryn E. , Choi Nicholas M. , Corradetti Chelsea , Hou Baidong , Atkins Hannah M. , Caricchio Roberto , Decker Thomas , Lukacher Aron E. , Olsen Nancy , Rahman Ziaur S. M. 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Although STAT1 tyrosine-701 phosphorylation (designated STAT1-pY701) is indispensable for STAT1 function, the requirement for STAT1 serine-727 phosphorylation (designated STAT1-pS727) during systemic autoimmune and antipathogen responses remains unclear. Using autoimmune-prone B6.Sle1b mice expressing a STAT1-S727A mutant in which serine is replaced by alanine, we report in this study that STAT1-pS727 promotes autoimmune Ab-forming cell (AFC) and germinal center (GC) responses, driving autoantibody production and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development. In contrast, STAT1-pS727 is not required for GC, T follicular helper cell (Tfh), and Ab responses to various foreign Ags, including pathogens. STAT1-pS727 is also not required for gut microbiota and dietary Ag–driven GC and Tfh responses in B6.Sle1b mice. By generating B cell–specific bone marrow chimeras, we demonstrate that STAT1-pS727 plays an important B cell–intrinsic role in promoting autoimmune AFC, GC, and Tfh responses, leading to SLE-associated autoantibody production. Our analysis of the TLR7-accelerated B6.Sle1b.Yaa SLE disease model expressing a STAT1-S727A mutant reveals STAT1-pS727–mediated regulation of autoimmune AFC and GC responses and lupus nephritis development. Together, we identify previously unrecognized differential regulation of systemic autoimmune and antipathogen responses by STAT1-pS727. Our data implicate STAT1-pS727 as a therapeutic target for SLE without overtly affecting STAT1-mediated protection against pathogenic infections.
Faculty Leaders Challenges and Strategies in Redesigning EdD Programs
Authors: Perry Jill A. , Zambo Debby , Abruzzo Emma 
Published: April 2020

Producing change in higher education is not always easy or quick (Kennedy, et al., 2018; Perry, 2014a; Schuster & Finkelstein, 2006; Tierney, 1998). Conferences provide faculty with exposure to new ideas, but that exposure is often not enough to produce programmatic and structural change. In addition to new ideas, faculty must also have the tools they need to navigate change and institutional resistance when introducing and implementing new ideas. Over the last decade or so, school of education faculty, guided by the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) have worked to redesign the Education Doctorate and make it a professional practice degree. As a leader in educational change, CPED aims to reframe the EdD through both the cultivation of innovative ideas and the promulgation of those ideas across existing institutions and structures. CPED found faculty leaders to be necessary in creating institutional change, but also that the role of leader is a challenging one. Building upon earlier inquiries of faculty from CPED member institutions, this current study sought to discover more about the needs, challenges, and means for successful innovation implementation by EdD programmatic change leaders.
Examining Doctoral Student Development of a Researcher Identity: Using the Draw a Researcher Test
Authors: Caskey Micki M , Stevens Dannelle D , Yeo Marie 
Published: April 2020

With a core identity as working professionals, education doctoral students struggle with seeing themselves as researchers. Because research is essential in a doctoral program, the sooner doctoral students include researcher as an identity, the smoother and more successful their journey will be. To support doctoral student researcher identity development, we focused on scaffolding and embedding academic writing experiences in the first year seminar in a U.S. doctoral program. The purpose of this study was to describe and explain doctoral students’ development of a researcher identity as measured by the Draw-a-Researcher Test (DART). In the fall and spring, we collected drawings and narrative reflections about their drawings of researchers from nine students. We created a five-dimension DART scoring guide. In the fall, the drawings revealed students’ uncertainty about the agency and the research process dimensions; in the spring, however, the drawings showed students’ clearer understanding of these two dimensions. In the narrative reflections, students noted the influence of writing expectations and experiences on their role identity as researchers. Implications, as measured by the DART, are that an embedded writing support model seems to assure the development of doctoral students’ core identity as researchers during the first year of the program.
SILANE-TERMINATED LIQUID POLY(BUTADIENES) IN TREAD FORMULATIONS: A MECHANISTIC STUDY
Authors: Salort Fabien , Henning Steven K. 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT
Liquid poly(butadienes) are materials that exhibit flow properties as their molecular weights are at or below that for significant chain entanglement. When applied to tire compound formulation in additive amounts, these low-molecular-weight oligomers are compatible with the elastomeric phase and can influence viscoelastic behavior. The present article will catalogue the history of the use of liquid poly(butadiene) materials in tire compounding, linking their varied application to the evolution of structure–property relationships as a function of microstructure changes. The result of this evolution is the commercialization of functionalized liquid polybutadienes, specifically silane-terminated grades designed for silica-filled systems. It has been found that these materials are not replacements for the typical silane coupling agents ubiquitously used in silica formulating but are rather synergistic with the established technology. The application of silane-terminated liquid poly(butadienes) can both improve traction indicators and limit the negative hysteresis effect commonly associated with the use of liquid poly(butadiene) resins. The mechanism behind the specific changes in viscoelastic and mechanical properties attributed to the addition of silane-terminated liquid poly(butadienes) is explored. It is found that the terminal silane function of the liquid poly(butadienes) may both interact with the silane coupling agent–modified surface of the dispersed silica particles and be available to condense with each other, forming a higher-molecular-weight structure that may effectively increase the apparent crosslink density and therefore bound rubber as an interpenetrating network that extends well into the elastomer phase.
A Modern Polytheism? Nietzsche and James
Authors: Rodgers Jordan 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTS
Richard Rorty has argued that Friedrich Nietzsche and William James are both polytheists in the deflationary sense that they are both pluralists about human value. I argue that there is a more philosophically significant sense in which Nietzsche and James might be called polytheists: both advocate a life of openness and receptivity to multiple and potentially incommensurable sources of inspiration outside of our conscious control. The value of these sources is accessed in experiences in which one feels that one is given something in an experience that one could not have obtained through conscious effort. I argue that this moment of passivity plays a crucial role in both James’s treatment of religious experience in The Varieties of Religious Experience and Nietzsche’s account of the state of inspiration he experienced while composing Thus Spoke Zarathustra, and that their deep similarity on this point suggests that Nietzsche is closer to Jamesian religion than he is to Rortyan secularism.
Laser Direct Writing Assisted Fabrication of Skin Compatible Metal Electrodes
Authors: Gao Liang , Wang Xiaohan , Dai Wentao , Bagheri Robabeh , Wang Chen , Tian Zikang , Dai Xiao , Zou Guifu 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSkin‐compatible electrodes have been studied intensively for its application in wearable electronics. To satisfy various deformations of electronic skin, it requires to fabricate a highly conductive, mechanically stable, flexible, and stretchable electrode. Here, a feasible laser direct writing (LDW) process is carried out to fabricate micro‐spring structured metal electrodes. The metal electrodes show high conductivity and transparency with sheet resistance of 4.8 ohm per square and at transmittance of 83%. It is worthy of noting that, the metal electrodes have an excellent mechanical–electrical stability, where stretching over 75% and bending over 5000 times induces resistance variance less than 5% and 2%, respectively. The excellent mechanical and electrical behavior of the micro‐spring metal electrodes are promising to be useful for wearable electronics. The LDW process may facilitate the design and prototype of the skin compatible metal electrodes in the coming future.
Defining Clinical Subgroups in Relapsing Polychondritis: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Ferrada Marcela , Rimland Casey A. , Quinn Kaitlin , Sikora Keith , Kim Jeff , Allen Clint , Sirajuddin Arlene , Goodspeed Wendy , Chen Marcus , Grayson Peter C. 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveRelapsing polychondritis (RP) is a systemic disease. Failure to recognize RP can lead to diagnostic delay and further complications, including death. This study was undertaken to identify clinical patterns in a prospective cohort of patients with RP.MethodsPatient subgroups were identified using latent class analysis based on 8 clinical variables: saddle‐nose deformity, subglottic stenosis, tracheomalacia, bronchomalacia, ear chondritis, tenosynovitis/synovitis, inflammatory eye disease, and audiovestibular disease. Model selection was based on Akaike's information criterion.ResultsSeventy‐three patients were included in this study. Patients were classified into 1 of 3 subgroups: type 1 RP (14%), type 2 RP (29%), and type 3 RP (58%). Type 1 RP was characterized by ear chondritis (100%), tracheomalacia (100%), saddle‐nose deformity (90%), and subglottic stenosis (80%). These patients had the shortest median time to diagnosis (1 year), highest disease activity, and greatest frequency of admission to the intensive care unit and tracheostomy. Type 2 RP was characterized by tracheomalacia (100%) and bronchomalacia (52%), but no saddle‐nose deformity or subglottic stenosis. These patients had the longest median time to diagnosis (10 years) and highest percentage of work disability. Type 3 RP was characterized by tenosynovitis/synovitis (60%) and ear chondritis (55%). There were no significant differences in sex, race, or treatment strategies between the 3 subgroups.ConclusionOur findings indicate that there are 3 subgroups of patients with RP, with differences in time to diagnosis, clinical and radiologic characteristics, and disease‐related complications. Recognizing a broader spectrum of clinical patterns in RP, beyond cartilaginous involvement of the ear and upper airway, may facilitate more timely diagnosis.
Service migration in mobile edge computing: A deep reinforcement learning approach
Authors: Wang Hongman , Li Yingxue , Zhou Ao , Guo Yan , Wang Shangguang 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn mobile edge computing, service migration can not only reduce the access latency but also reduce the network costs for users. However, due to bandwidth bottleneck, migration costs should also be considered during service migration. In this way, the trade‐off between benefits of service migration and total service costs is very important for the cloud service providers. In this paper, we propose an efficient dynamic service migration algorithm named SMDQN, which is based on reinforcement learning. We consider each mobile application service can be hosted on one or more edge nodes and each edge node has limited resources. SMDQN takes total delay and migration costs into consideration. And to reduce the size of Markov decision process space, we devise the deep reinforcement learning algorithm to make a fast decision. We implement the algorithm and test the performance and stability of it. The simulation result shows that it can minimize the service costs and adapt well to different mobile access patterns.
Noninvasive prenatal paternity testing by maternal plasma DNA sequencing in twin pregnancies
Authors: Xie Yifan , Qu Ning , Lin Shaobin , Jiang Haojun , Zhang Yanyan , Zhang Xiuqing , Liang Hao , Chen Fang , Ou Xueling 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSNPs, combined with massively parallel sequencing technology, have proven applicability in noninvasive prenatal paternity testing (NIPPT) for singleton pregnancies in our previous research, using circulating cell‐free DNA in maternal plasma. However, the feasibility of NIPPT in twin pregnancies has remained uncertain. As a pilot study, we developed a practical method to noninvasively determine the paternity of twin pregnancies by maternal plasma DNA sequencing based on a massively parallel sequencing platform. Blood samples were collected from 15 pregnant women (twin pregnancies at 9–18 weeks of gestation). Parental DNA and maternal plasma cell‐free DNA were analyzed with custom‐designed probes covering 5226 polymorphic SNP loci. A mathematical model for data interpretation was established, including the zygosity determination and paternity index calculations. Each plasma sample was independently tested against the alleged father and 90 unrelated males. As a result, the zygosity in each twin case was correctly determined, prior to paternity analysis. Further, the correct biological father was successfully identified, and the paternity of all 90 unrelated males was excluded in each case. Our study demonstrates that NIPPT can be performed for twin pregnancies. This finding may contribute to development in NIPPT and diagnosis of certain genetic diseases.
Center‐Based Group and Home‐Based Individual Exercise Programs Have Similar Impacts on Gait and Balance in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Williams Katrina Louise , Low Choy Nancy Louise , Brauer Sandra Gail 
Published: April 2020

BackgroundGroup and home‐based exercises to improve function in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are common but have little underpinning evidence.ObjectiveTo determine the comparative effectiveness of a center‐based group versus home‐based individual 8‐week exercise program to improve gait and balance in people with MS.DesignProspective, randomized controlled trial.SettingCommunity center‐based and home‐based exercise program.ParticipantsFifty people with MS were randomized and completed allocated intervention (n = 26 center, n = 24 home), 47 completed post‐assessment and 44 follow‐up assessment.MethodsThe center‐ and home‐based groups completed an 8‐week progressive functional and balance training exercise program. The center‐based groups of four to six were supervised by a physiotherapist. The home‐based group was provided with telephone support.Main Outcome MeasurementsThe primary outcome was gait speed (10‐meter walk test). Secondary outcomes were gait endurance (6‐minute walk test) and balance (Berg Balance Scale). Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately postintervention and at 8‐week follow‐up.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between groups in gait speed post training, with a mean difference of 0.01 m/s, 95% CI −0.36 to 0.37. There were no group effects, time effects, or interactions for gait speed, endurance, or balance. In both groups, gait speed improved to a level that met minimal clinically important differences.ConclusionsGait speed, endurance, and balance did not statistically improve in either group; however, gait speed changes met minimally important differences.
Is Left Ventricular Assist Device Deactivation Ethically Acceptable? A Study on the Euthanasia Debate
Authors: Roggi Sara , Picozzi Mario 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn the last decades, new technologies have improved the survival of patients affected by chronic illnesses. Among them, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has represented a viable solution for patients with advanced heart failure (HF). Even though the LVAD prolongs life expectancy, patients’ vulnerability generally increases during follow up and patients’ request for the device withdrawal might occur. Such a request raises some ethical concerns in that it directly hastens the patient’s death. Hence, in order to assess the ethical acceptability of LVAD withdrawal, we analyse and examine an ethical argument, widely adopted in the literature, that we call the “descriptive approach”, which consists in giving a definition of life-sustaining treatment to evaluate the ethical acceptability of treatment withdrawal. Focusing attention on LVAD, we show criticisms of this perspective. Finally, we assess every patient’s request of LVAD withdrawal through a prescriptive approach, which finds its roots in the criterion of proportionality.
The parliament of the world? Reflections on the proposal to establish a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
Authors: Deplano Rossana 
Published: April 2020

AbstractOn 5 July 2018, the European Parliament adopted a recommendation to the Council endorsing a proposal for the establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. Conceived as a new primary organ of the United Nations (UN), the Parliamentary Assembly aims at complementing the work of the General Assembly by giving direct representation to the peoples of the world and passing binding legislation. This article reconstructs the historical roots of the proposal and speculates about the possible legal implications for both the UN and its member states stemming from the establishment of an elected citizens’ chamber within an intergovernmental organization. An argument is made that in order to achieve the stated goals of the model of United Nations Parliamentary Assembly endorsed by the European Union (EU), the required institutional changes to the UN system would be so radical as to effectively repudiate it in favour of a newly established system of international co-operation.
Diffuse enlargement of cerebral vasculature in an adult patient operated for cyanotic congenital heart disease
Authors: Emekli Ahmed S. , Ekizoglu Esme , Yesilot Nilufer 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA 24-year-old female patient diagnosed with cyanotic CHD had undergone a correction procedure at the age of eight. She had a normal motor and mental development until the age of 23. Later she had functional and cognitive decline following heart failure. Brain MRI showed enlargement of the cerebral arterial and venous system. The changes of central nervous system vasculature occurring in operated cyanotic CHD are not well known. Thanks to advances in this field, more cyanotic CHD patients reach adulthood nowadays and clinicians need to be familiar with the neurological conditions and potential neuroradiological changes.
The Relationship between Birth Weight Discordance and Adverse Infant Mortality among Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins in Japan, 1995–2008
Authors: Imaizumi Yoko 
Published: April 2020

AbstractUsing vital statistics in Japan (1995–2008), 154,578 live-born twin pairs (128,236 monozygotic [MZ] and 180,920 dizygotic [DZ]) were identified. The proportion of severe discordance among live-born twin births was twice as high in Japanese than Caucasian infants. There were 1858 MZ and 1620 DZ infant deaths. Computation of the relationship between infant mortality rate and birth weight discordance among the twins was performed. Discordance levels were classified into seven groups: <5%, five groups from 5–9% to 25–29%, and ≥30%.The mortality rate was significantly higher in MZ than DZ twins for discordances except at 5–9% and 10–14%. The lowest rate for MZ twins was at 5–9% (7.5 per 1000 live twins) and significantly increased from 10–14% (9.4) to ≥30% (83.4), while the lowest rate for DZ twins was at <5% (6.7), which significantly increased at 10–14% (8.0) and from 25–29% (12.1) to ≥30% (35.5). The relationship was also computed in two gestational age groups (<28 and ≥28 weeks). For births at <28 weeks, three discordances (after 20–24%) in MZ twins were associated with adverse mortality rate. For births at ≥28 weeks, the same relationship was obtained after 10–14% in MZ and after 20–24% in DZ twins. The relationship from 2002 to 2008 showed that the mortality rates significantly increased after 10–14% for both types of twins. In conclusion, five discordance levels in MZ and three levels in DZ twins were associated with adverse mortality rates.