cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Prostacyclin Analog, Treprostinil Sodium, Provides Symptom Relief in Severe Buerger’s Disease A Case Report and Review of Literature

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans or TAO) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the development of segmental thrombotic occlusions of the medium and small arteries. The primary treatment for Buerger's disease is cessation of cigarette smoking. In patients whose disease progresses despite smoking cessation, therapeutic options are limited. Revascularization is rarely indicated and usually not successful because of the diffuse and distal distribution of the disease. Prostacyclin, or PGI2, and its analogs have been proposed as pharmacotherapy for Buerger's disease and studied in Europe. The authors review the prostacyclin literature in the treatment of Buerger's disease and present a case report of a patient with progressive Buerger's disease and the use of treprostinil sodium (Remodulin). This case report experience suggests hat subcutaneous treprostinil therapy could be clinically useful in Buerger's disease that does not improve with smoking cessation, particularly in the presence of critical limb ischemia where other therapeutic options have failed.
Validation of scheduling techniques to reduce peak temperature on an architectural level platform set-up

In this paper, we have proposed a novel architectural level simulation platform set-up to study the temperature characteristics of a processor system, when applying different speed scheduling schemes to execute the desired workload. Our simulation platform set-up is very practical as it combines the most practical simulation models, and uses the industry-standardized benchmark SPEC CPU2000 as the input to the platform. On this novel platform set-up we have compared two speed scheduling techniques, namely m-oscillation and a traditional optimal dynamic energy reducing speed scheduling technique, and have shown that m-oscillation can be as effective as the traditional approach in reducing the peak temperature of the system.
Antibody and DNA probes for detection of nitrite reductase in seawater

SUMMARY: A polyclonal antiserum was produced by immunization with nitrite reductase (NiR) purified from Pseudomonas stutzeri (ATCC 14405) and tested for specificity among known denitrifying strains. The antiserum was nearly strain-specific, identifying NiR only in some, but not all, other P. stutzeri strains. Denitrifying isolates from water column and sediment environments were also screened; several isolates from an intertidal microbial mat reacted with the NiR antiserum. Activity assays for NiR in polyacrylamide gels demonstrated that strains with apparently very similar NiR proteins did not react with the antiserum. These results imply that the NiR protein is more variable even among closely related strains than previously suspected. A DNA probe for a 721 bp region of the NiR structural gene was obtained by PCR amplification of P. stutzeri (ATCC 14405) DNA and used to screen denitrifying strains and isolates. The probe hybridized with a greater variety of strains than did the antiserum, implying that the DNA probe may be a more broadly useful and functional probe in environmental samples, whilst the NiR antiserum is nearly strain- or, at most, species-specific. Limits for detection of the enzyme and gene in seawater were estimated and NiR DNA was detected in DNA extracted from natural seawater. The hybridization data imply that in the order of 1-10 in 1000 cells in natural seawater possess homology with the NiR gene probe.
Peering into disaster: social software use from the indian ocean earthquake to the mumbai bombings

By examining the use of social software across multiple disasters of the 21st century, we can better understand social software use, user-centered design, and trends in communication. Looking across these disasters, we can trace from the early connections made by participants through the channels of the mainstream media up to more recent disasters in which participants were able to use numerous systems to locate data, validate it as information, and distribute it as knowledge. As participation across these systems reaches tipping points in terms of participation and media awareness, people will find more population to communicate and share information. The solutions will be in how we provide ways for them to be active participants, how well the mainstream media cooperates with these participants to further distribute information about key sites of activity, and how empowered moderators feel to create their own spaces for communities to meet and exchange details. Keywords: social software, user-centered design, disaster, sociotechnical systems.
Multigenerational Caregiving and Well-Being: The Myth of the Beleaguered Sandwich Generation

It has been suggested that middle-aged adults are becoming burdened with the responsibilities of caring for both parents and children as a result of changing social and demographic trends. Consequently, there is concern that this burden of multiple family responsibilities may adversely affect caregivers' well-being. Using a national sample of married persons, this study examines how the assumption of multigenerational caregiving responsibilities affects caregivers' well-being. It is found that this change in family responsibilities has little to no effect on caregivers' well-being, even after considering factors including caregivers' gender and weekly hours of labor force employment.
Poultry litter ash as a replacement for dicalcium phosphate in broiler diets

SUMMARY An experiment was designed to evaluate the nutritional value of poultry litter ash (PLA) under commercial-type conditions. Diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of the broiler utilizing PLA at combinations of 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% in starter, grower, and finisher diets as a replacement for dicalcium phosphate (DP). No significant effects were observed on BW, feed consumption, FCR, or mortality when broilers were fed PLA to 100% replacement for DP to 41 d of age. Processing performance, as measured by carcass and meat yield, of broilers at 42 d of age was also unaffected (P > 0.05). The complete substitution of DP with PLA failed to compromise growth and processing performance in market age broilers and the PLA produced via the combustion of poultry litter can be used as a phosphorus source in poultry diets.
Two-way selection for daily gain and feed conversion in a composite rabbit population.

We conducted a two-way selection experiment in a composite rabbit population to investigate the responses to selection for postweaning ADG and feed conversion (FC). Two generations of crossing, followed by four generations of random pair matings, preceded three generations of selection. Selection was practiced within four lines: high-feed conversion (HFC), low-feed conversion (LFC), high gain (HG), and low gain (LG). Data on 1,446 rabbits from the random mating and selection generations were fitted to an animal model to estimate heritabilities of and the genetic correlation between ADG and FC. The two-trait model included rabbit and common litter random effects and line, generation, and sex fixed effects. Estimates of heritability of ADG and FC were .48 and .29, respectively, and the genetic correlation between them was -.82. Common litter environmental effects accounted for a proportion of .11 and .13 of the phenotypic variation of the two traits, respectively. For ADG (in g/d) the regressions of mean breeding values on generation number during the selection period were 1.23 +/- .12 (P < .01) in the HG line and -.86 +/- .12 (P < .01) in the LG line; the regressions for FC (in g feed/g gain) were -.07 +/- .01 (P < .01) in the HFC line and .03 +/- .01 (P < .05) in the LFC line. Selection for ADG was effective in improving ADG and FC.
Phase Variation of Ag43 Is Independent of the Oxidation State of OxyR

OxyR is a DNA binding protein that differentially regulates a cell's response to hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidative stress. We previously reported that the reduced form of OxyR is sufficient for repression of transcription of agn43 from unmethylated template DNA, which is essential for deoxyadenosine methylase (Dam)- and OxyR-dependent phase variation of agn43. Here we provide evidence that the oxidized form of OxyR [OxyR(ox)] also represses agn43 transcription. In vivo, we found that exogenous addition of hydrogen peroxide, sufficient to oxidize OxyR, did not affect the expression of agn43. OxyR(ox) repressed in vitro transcription but only from an unmethylated agn43 template. The -10 sequence of the promoter and three Dam target sequences were protected in an in vitro DNase I footprint assay by OxyR(ox). Furthermore, OxyR(ox) bound to the agn43 regulatory region DNA with an affinity similar to that for the regulatory regions of katG and oxyS, which are activated by OxyR(ox), indicating that binding at agn43 can occur at biologically relevant concentrations. OxyR-dependent regulation of Ag43 expression is therefore unusual in firstly that OxyR binding at agn43 is dependent on the methylation state of Dam target sequences in its binding site and secondly that OxyR-dependent repression appears to be independent of hydrogen-peroxide mediated oxidative stress and the oxidation state of OxyR.
Interface, environmental behavior, and the city

This paper describes the design of an urban, ubiquitous computing-assisted, month-long game, in which place-based teams use the infrastructure and protocols of toll plazas to create momentary competitive events in the streets.These events expose and engage problems of data privacy, cultural identity and freedom of movement in the city; and generate revenue for the remediation of automotive air pollution. The game's byproduct, or prize, is the initiation of a fund for projects to remediate air pollution that is a result of automotive commuter traffic.The project was created for an exhibition on ubiquitous computing and its consequences for urban design. Its development followed a period of research that uncovered relationships between interfaces embedded in the infrastructure of cities today, and a range of opportunities that they open for reconciling environmental damage resulting from the era of industrialization.
Analysis and Forecasting of the Low-Level Wind during the Sydney 2000 Forecast Demonstration Project

Abstract During the Sydney 2000 Forecast Demonstration Project (FDP) a four-dimensional variational assimilation (4DVAR) scheme was run to analyze the low-level wind field with high spatial and temporal resolution. The 4DVAR scheme finds an optimal fit to the data and a background field under the constraints of a dry boundary layer model. During the FDP, the system assimilated data from two Doppler radars, a surface mesonet, and a boundary layer profiler, and provided low-level analyses every 10 min. After the FDP, a number of experiments have been performed to test the ability of the system to provide short-term forecasts (0–60 min) of the low-level wind and convergence. Herein, the performance of the system during the FDP and the forecast experiment's performed after the FDP are described. Two strong gust front cases and one sea-breeze case that occurred during the FDP are also examined. It is found that for the strong gust front cases, the numerical forecasts improve over persistence in the 1-h time fr...
WebTA: Automated iterative critique of student programming assignments

We introduce an interactive tool called WebTA that facilitates learning through automatic critique of student source code. Our tool provides immediate feedback to students and gives them experience with test-driven development. Students receive the benefits of cognitive apprenticeship through the feedback they receive in the tool. This facilitates tight, productive cycles of inquiry, critique and learning. WebTA compiles each student submission and executes it over a series of shakedown tests. Immediate feedback is given concerning errors and warnings, coupled with suggestions for debugging. The tool performs a textual analysis of the students source code and critiques programming style based on standard programming guidelines. To encourage inquiry through test-driven development, edge-case coverage, and API compliance, students develop and submit their own tests to be evaluated by the software. We report on use of WebTA in one first-year programming course and one second-year data structures course. Lab and assignment scores have improved with WebTA, and student comments attest to the effectiveness of the tool. Preliminary results indicate students receive higher grades with WebTA. One area with mixed results is WebTAs analysis of student developed JUnit tests; this feature improved API compliance but reduced edge-case testing. With these successful initial results, we offer suggestions for future development.
Use of teriparatide in osteoporotic fracture patients

Teriparatide [PTH (1-34)] is a genetically engineered analog of human parathyroid hormone that acts as an anabolic drug by increasing activity in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Intermittent (once-daily) doses of teriparatide seem to stimulate osteoblast activity and therefore result in a net increase of bone formation. It is recommended for use in post-menopausal women (PMW), men with hypogonadal osteoporosis, as well as men and women with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. In vivo studies have generated important findings regarding teriparatide's role in the enhancement of fracture healing. The intention of this article is to review the clinical findings of teriparatide to stimulate fracture healing. The drug was shown in a prospective randomized, double blind study to achieve earlier radiographic cortical bridging of three of four cortices (7.4 weeks) compared to patients who were assigned to the placebo group (9.1 weeks). Another study compared mean time for healing and functional outcome in two groups of elderly women who had suffered osteoporotic pelvic fractures: one group received daily 100 μg parathyroid hormone (1-84) injections, while the other group received no treatment. Patients who received the PTH (1-84) injections accelerated radiographic and clinical fracture healing (7.8 weeks) when compared to patients who received no treatment (12.6 weeks, p<0.001). Numerous case series state the safety and potential benefits of teriparatide use in patients recovering from fractures. In the following scenarios, teriparatide might be considered in patients with osteoporosis and a fracture: (1) patients with severe osteoporosis with use of bisphosphonates for a number of years with a fracture not expected to predictably unite, e.g. atypical femur fracture or open tibia fracture, (2) in cases where an osteoporotic patient has failed fracture healing and is considering surgical treatment e.g. non-union surgery. It seems prudent to reevaluate these patients frequently and reconsider which drug class of osteoporotic drug is best for the patient. Finally, it must be stressed that we do not recommend teriparatide in osteoporotic patients that may be well treated with bisphosphonates and a fracture is expected to heal uneventfully, nor when patients with metabolically normal bone have a fracture.
Static Timing Analysis

The key to working silicon usually lies in successful completion of static timing analysis performed on a particular design. PT is a stand-alone tool by Synopsys that is used to perform static timing analysis. It not only checks the design for required constraints that are governed by the design specifications, but also performs comprehensive analysis of the design. This capability makes STA one of the most important steps in the entire design flow and is used by many designers as a sign-off criterion to the ASIC vendor.
Demodulation techniques for full-surface data

A comparison of various full-surface demodulation algorithms is presented. Algorithms based on an iterative approach achieve highest optical data storage density at reasonable complexity and fixed bit error rate.
Providers' practice, recommendations and beliefs about HPV vaccination and their adherence to guidelines about the use of HPV testing, 2007 to 2010

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines prevent cervical pre-cancer lesion and can potentially reduce abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) results among vaccinated females. However, current U.S. cervical screening guidelines recommend no change in screening initiation and frequency based on vaccination status. We examined providers' practices and beliefs about HPV vaccination to evaluate their adherence to guidelines. We used 4-year data (2007-2010) from two nationally representative samples totaling 2119 primary-care providers from the Cervical Cancer Screening Supplement to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Providers in each survey were stratified to obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYNs) and non-OB/GYNs. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed to assess differences between providers' types in each survey. Approximately 60% of providers believed that HPV vaccination will result in fewer abnormal Pap tests and fewer referrals to colposcopy and over 92% would not change their cervical cancer screening practices for fully vaccinated females. NAMCS OB/GYNs were more likely (p<0.05) than non-OB/GYNs to rarely/never use the number of sexual partners to determine who gets the HPV vaccine (68.4% vs. 59.1%), more likely to recommend the vaccine to females with history of abnormal Pap (79.6% vs. 68.4%) and to females with a history of HPV positive test result (75.3% vs. 62.8%). Consistent with guidelines, most providers would not change cervical cancer screening practices based on patients' vaccination history. However, some providers used inappropriate tests for making vaccination decisions. Improving HPV vaccine knowledge and recommendations for its use is warranted to implement a successful vaccine program.
Bulk Properties of the Oxygen Reduction Catalyst SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3−δ

The perovskite SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3−δ (SCN) has excellent electrochemical activity toward oxygen reduction, and it is also valuable as a possible model material for other state-of-the-art perovskite catalysts based on strontium and cobalt, such as Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ (BSCF). Here we report thermogravimetric, conductivity, and diffraction measurements from SCN. We find that the thermodynamic stability limits of SCN are slightly more favorable than those reported for BSCF, although both materials exhibit a slow oxidative partial decomposition under likely operating conditions. In SCN, this decomposition is thermodynamically preferred when the average formal oxidation state of cobalt is greater than ∼3.0+, but due to sluggish kinetics, metastable SCN with higher cobalt valence can be observed. The oxygen stoichiometry 3−δ varies from 2.45 to 2.70 under the conditions studied, 500–1000 °C and 10–4–1 bar O2, which encompass both stable and metastable behavior. The electronic conductivity is p-type and thermally...
Formation of a Stable Complex, RuCl2(S2CPPh3)(PPh3)2, Containing an Unstable Zwitterion from the Reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with Carbon Disulfide.

New insight into the complexity of the reaction of the prominent catalyst RuCl2(PPh3)3 with carbon disulfide has been obtained from a combination of X-ray diffraction and 31P NMR studies. The red-violet compound originally formulated as a cationic π-CS2 complex, [RuCl(π-CS2)(PPh3)3]Cl, has been identified as a neutral molecule, RuCl2(S2CPPh3)(PPh3)2, which contains the unstable zwitterion S2CPPh3. In the absence of RuCl2(PPh3)3, there is no sign of a reaction between triphenylphosphine and carbon disulfide, although more basic trialkylphosphines form red adducts, S2CPR3. Despite the presence of an unstable ligand, RuCl2(S2CPPh3)(PPh3)2 is remarkably stable. It survives melting at 173–174 °C intact, is stable to air, and undergoes reversible electrochemical oxidation to form a monocation. When the reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with carbon disulfide is conducted in the presence of methanol, crystals of orange [RuCl(S2CPPh3)(CS)(PPh3)2]Cl·2MeOH and yellow RuCl2(CS)(MeOH)(PPh3)2 also form. 31P NMR studies indicate...
Functional calculus for generators of uniformly bounded holomorphic semigroups

We present a method for constructing a functional calculus for (possibly unbounded) operators that generate a uniformly bounded holomorphic semigroup, e−zA. (A will be called a generator.) These are closed, densely defined operators whose spectrum and numerical range are contained in [0,∞), with respect to an equivalent norm.
Effect of Temperature on the Toxicities of Ten Pyrethroids to German Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Of 10 pyrethroids tested by topical application of male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), d-phenothrin was the least toxic at 19, 26, or 31 degrees C. lambda-cyhalothrin was most toxic. Pyrethroids with the alpha-cyano moiety (fluvalinate, fenvalerate, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate, tralomethrin, cyfluthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin) were more toxic than those without this functional group (d-phenothrin, resmethrin, and permethrin). At LC50, toxicity was negatively related to temperature. Temperature-toxicity responses of five of seven alpha-cyano pyrethroids were parallel, possibly indicating qualitatively identical but quantitatively different levels of detoxification enzymes.
Explore of the Local Cost Control Smart Meter's Anti-attack Capability Test

There are kinds of safety leakages in the process of local cost control smart meter's design,production and application,so anti-attacking and anti-data cracking are the outstanding problems to be solved by smart meter.This paper has analysed the attack mode to smart meter from outside,introduced the existing safety protection technology of smart meter,and proposed some practical and effective test methods to the local cost control smart meter's anti-attack capability combining with the problems in practical work.
Age and sex differences in oxytocin and vasopressin V1a receptor binding densities in the rat brain: focus on the social decision-making network

Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) regulate various social behaviors via activation of the OT receptor (OTR) and the AVP V1a receptor (V1aR) in the brain. Social behavior often differs across development and between the sexes, yet our understanding of age and sex differences in brain OTR and V1aR binding remains incomplete. Here, we provide an extensive analysis of OTR and V1aR binding density throughout the brain in juvenile and adult male and female rats, with a focus on regions within the social decision-making network. OTR and V1aR binding density were higher in juveniles than in adults in regions associated with reward and socio-spatial memory and higher in adults than in juveniles in key regions of the social decision-making network and in cortical regions. We discuss possible implications of these shifts in OTR and V1aR binding density for the age-specific regulation of social behavior. Furthermore, sex differences in OTR and V1aR binding density were less numerous than age differences. The direction of these sex differences was region-specific for OTR but consistently higher in females than in males for V1aR. Finally, almost all sex differences in OTR and V1aR binding density were already present in juveniles and occurred in regions with denser binding in adults compared to juveniles. Possible implications of these sex differences for the sex-specific regulation of behavior, as well potential underlying mechanisms, are discussed. Overall, these findings provide an important framework for testing age- and sex-specific roles of OTR and V1aR in the regulation of social behavior.
Human Neutrophil Dysfunction With Giant Granules and Defective Activation of the Respiratory Burst

We describe a patient whose peripheral blood neutrophils and bone marrow precursors (beyond promyelocytes) contained multiple large azurophilic granules. There were also giant granules in eosinophils, basophils, melanocytes, renal tubules, thyroid, and neurones, but not lymphocytes or monocytes. His clinical course included recurrent (ultimately fatal) infections and severe neurologic impairment. Immunofluorescent staining with fluoroscein- and rhodamine-conjugated antisera to primary and secondary granule markers showed virtually all of the granulocyte granules and rare monocyte granules to be fusion products containing both markers. Electron microscopy showed the granules to be large peroxidase-containing lysosomes. Only rare normal primary and secondary granules were present. Superoxide generation in response to opsonized zymosan was 7.3 nmole/min/10(6) cells (control 8.9); but in response to phorbol myristate acetate, only 2.2 (control 9.4). Nitroblue tetrazolium slides showed 3+ dye reduction in response to opsonized zymosan by 90% of granulocytes (control 91%) and to phorbol myristate acetate by 22% (control 99%), with 71% producing only a minimal 1+ response. Cellular contents of myeloperoxidase and beta-glucuronidase were elevated, but the percent release during exocytic degranulation was equivalent to control. Ingestion of complement-opsonized Staphylococcus aureus and zymosan was also normal. Killing of Staphylococcus aureus was 60% at 90-min incubation (control 92%). Granulocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) content was 4 pmole/10(7) cells (control 3.1). In order to determine whether these characteristics derived from the cells' genetic program or their environment, the patient's bone marrow was grown in long-term culture. Granulocytes produced in vitro demonstrated the same morphology, same defect in activation of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, and same normal cyclic AMP level as those harvested from peripheral blood. These studies describe a new disorder of granulocytes; the structural similarity to, but biochemical differences from, Chediak-Higashi disease indicate the probable heterogeneity of mechanisms for the same morphological abnormality.
Quantifying the evolutionary potential and constraints of a drug-targeted viral protein

RNA viruses are most notorious for their ability to evolve rapidly under novel environments. It is known that the high mutation rate of RNA viruses can generate huge genetic diversity to facilitate viral adaptation. However, less attention has been paid to the underlying fitness landscape that represents the selection forces on viral genomes. Here we systematically quantified the distribution of fitness effects (DFE) of single amino acid substitutions (86 amino acids total) in the drug-targeted region of NS5A protein of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). We found that the majority of non-synonymous substitutions incur large fitness costs, suggesting that NS5A protein is highly optimized in natural conditions. Furthermore, we characterized the evolutionary potential of HCV by subjecting the mutant viruses to varying concentrations of an NS5A inhibitor Daclatasvir. As the selection pressure increases, the DFE of beneficial mutations shifts from an exponential distribution to a heavy-tailed distribution with a disproportionate number of exceptionally fit mutants. The number of available beneficial mutations and the selection coefficient are both found to increase at higher levels of antiviral drug concentration, as predicted by a pharmacodynamics model describing viral fitness as a function of drug concentration. Our large-scale fitness data of mutant viruses also provide insights into the biophysical basis of evolutionary constraints and the role of the genetic code in protein evolution.
The Perioperative Lung Transplant Virome: Torque Teno Viruses Are Elevated in Donor Lungs and Show Divergent Dynamics in Primary Graft Dysfunction

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a principal cause of early morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation, but its pathogenic mechanisms are not fully clarified. To date, studies using standard clinical assays have not linked microbial factors to PGD. We previously used comprehensive metagenomic methods to characterize viruses in lung allografts >1 mo after transplant and found that levels of Anellovirus, mainly torque teno viruses (TTVs), were significantly higher than in nontransplanted healthy controls. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyze TTV and shotgun metagenomics to characterize full viral communities in acellular bronchoalveolar lavage from donor organs and postreperfusion allografts in PGD and non-PGD lung transplant recipient pairs. Unexpectedly, TTV DNA levels were elevated 100-fold in donor lungs compared with healthy adults (p = 0.0026). Although absolute TTV levels did not differ by PGD status, PGD cases showed a smaller increase in TTV levels from before to after transplant than did control recipients (p = 0.041). Metagenomic sequencing revealed mainly TTV and bacteriophages of respiratory tract bacteria, but no viral taxa distinguished PGD cases from controls. These findings suggest that conditions associated with brain death promote TTV replication and that greater immune activation or tissue injury associated with PGD may restrict TTV abundance in the lung.
Localization and interaction effects of epitaxial Bi2Se3 bulk states in two-dimensional limit

Quantum interference effects and electron-electron interactions are found to play an important role in two-dimensional (2D) bulk transport of topological insulator (TI) thin films, which were previously considered as 2D electron gas (2DEG) and explained on basis of Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka formula and Lee-Ramakrishnan theory. The distinct massive Dirac-type band structure of the TI bulk state gives rise to quantum corrections to conductivity due to interference and interaction effects, which are quite different from that of a 2DEG. We interpret the experimental findings employing Lu-Shen theory particularly derived for the TI system in the 2D limit. The surface and the bulk conductions are identified based on slopes of logarithmic temperature-dependent conductivities with magnetic fields. The perpendicular field magnetoresistance is analyzed considering suppression of weak antilocalization/localization of the surface/bulk electrons by the applied field. We propose corresponding theoretical models to explain the parallel and tilted field magnetoresistance. The effect of the band structure is found to be crucial for an accurate explanation of the magnetotransport results in the TI thin film.
Quasi-Static Characterization of Self-Healing Dental Composites

Self-healing in dental resin composites were successfully achieved in recently developed dental composites. A self-healing system of microcapsules was made of 30–60 μm diameter of initiator (BPO) and activator monomers. A compact version of tapered double cantilever beam (cTDCB) specimens was made of dental composites by integrating the self-healing components in the form of microcapsules. Quasi-static tests were performed to characterize specimens and to measure healing efficiency. Two sets of specimens were tested to show the healing ability of the dental composites which include: injected healing, and full in-situ self-healing specimens. The injected healing specimens were made using 40 wt% of dental resin and 60 wt% of a dental filler; the healing system of equal amounts of initiator and activator were injected in fluid form into the surface crack instantly after breaking the specimens. Full in-situ self-healing specimens of dental composites were made using 40 wt% of dental resin, 55 wt% of dental filler, and 5 wt% of equal amounts of initiator and activator microcapsules. The results show 10.31–36.62 % of self-healing efficiency was successfully achieved in 80 % of the in-situ self-healing specimens, and 94–99.5 % of healing efficiency was achieved in all of the injected specimens.
Abstract IA05: Targeting regulatory T cells in tumors

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) inhibit beneficial antitumor responses. Treg depletion enhances tumor rejection in animal models and the clinic but also leads to substantial adverse events. Thus approaches have been sought to target Tregs in tumors while limiting systemic autoimmune and inflammatory manifestations. Two approaches will be discussed. First, the signals that maintain Treg stability and potentiate their function remain obscure. We have shown that the immune cell surface ligand semaphorin-4a (Sema4a) on conventional T cells and DCs, and the Treg-restricted receptor neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) interact to potentiate Treg function. Mice with a Treg-restricted deletion of Nrp1 exhibit limited tumor-induced tolerance and thus substantial resistance to tumors, yet do not develop any autoimmune manifestations. Thus, Nrp1 ligation maintains Treg stability and function in highly inflammatory sites but is dispensable for the maintenance of immune homeostasis, highlighting Nrp1 as a potential immunotherapeutic target in cancer. Second, the relative importance of different Treg suppressive mechanisms remains contentious. Interleukin-35 (IL35) is a Treg-secreted cytokine known to inhibit effector T cell proliferation and mediate infectious tolerance via induction of suppressive IL35-producing induced Tregs, iTr35. Using antibody-mediated neutralization, Treg-restricted deletion of Ebi3 and novel reporter mice, we have shown that IL35 facilitated tumor growth by limiting antitumor immunity in transplantable and genetically-induced murine models of melanoma and lung carcinoma. These findings reveal the previously unappreciated importance of IL35 in limiting antitumor immunity and present IL35 as a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Citation Format: Dario A. Vignali. Targeting regulatory T cells in tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA05.
Racial Differences in the Presentation and Outcomes of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the United States.

Abstract 898 Background: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and can often be cured with standard chemoimmunotherapy, but there is great heterogeneity in patient outcomes. Methods: To examine the baseline characteristics and outcomes in a national cohort of patients(pts) with DLBCL we performed a retrospective cohort analysis of DLBCL cases diagnosed from 1992 to 2005 in 13 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries. International Classification of Diseases for Oncology histology codes 9680, 9684, 9697 were used to identify cases. Cases with known race were grouped into White (W), Black (B), and others (O; Asians or Pacific Islanders, and American Indians or Alaska Natives). Subtype-specific DLBCL incidence rates were calculated for population subgroups according to age, sex, race, registry and time period, expressed as new cases per 100,000 population and age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. Incidence rates were compared by sex and by race by computing incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). Two- and 5-year relative survival rates (RSR) were calculated by actuarial methods. Results: Between 1992 and 2005, 34,436 cases of DLBCL were recorded in SEER. Over this period, the incidence of imunoblastic DLBCL decreased from 1.7 to 0.1 cases per 100,000 population while the incidence of DLBCL as a whole remained stable. Incidence rates were higher among W than among B or O pts with DLBCL (IRR W:B 1.52, 95% CI 1.45-1.59, W:O 1.26, 95% CI 1.21-1.31) and among those with immunoblastic DLBCL but not thymic DLBCL. 65% of B pts compared to 37% of W pts presented at age ≤60 years (p Conclusions: These data indicate that B pts present with DLBCL at a younger age, more advanced stage, and have inferior 2-yr and 5-yr RSR. Given the known differences in outcomes for activated B-cell (ABC) and germinal center B-cell DLBCL subtypes, to address these differences in survival it will be necessary for future studies investigating racial disparities in treatment outcomes to ascertain whether there are racial differences in the incidence of ABC DLBCL. Disclosures: Flowers: Amos Medical Faculty Development Program grant from the American Society of Hematology/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Research Funding.
Downlink performance of multi-tier wireless networks using punctured poisson process model

This paper analyzes the downlink outage probability and spectral efficiency in the multi-tier heterogeneous networks according to the punctured Poisson Point Process (Punctured-PPP) base stations (BSs) distribution. To achieve a successful communication, we consider an exclusion region, centered at macro BSs locations, in order to restrict the small BSs transmission and avoid their high interference which causes macro users outage. The resulting interference field of the lower tier BSs is modeled by the thined-PPP. Using stochastic geometry, we derive an accurate interference model to explore the spectral efficiency of the multi-tier networks. We discuss the effect of the radius of the exclusion region as a design parameter in evaluating the network performance. Our results reveal that extending an exclusion area, by either increasing its radius or raising the density of macro BSs, significantly reduces the network outage probability. Analytic results are in a good agreement with the numerical simulations and demonstrate the accuracy of our proposed model.
MicroRNA-induced silencing in epilepsy: Opportunities and challenges for clinical application

MicroRNAs are master regulators of gene expression. Single microRNAs influence multiple proteins within diverse molecular pathways and networks. Therefore, changes in levels or activity of microRNAs can have profound effects on cellular function. This makes dysregulated microRNA-induced silencing an attractive potential disease mechanism in complex disorders like epilepsy, where numerous cellular pathways and processes are affected simultaneously. Indeed, several years of research in rodent models have provided strong evidence that acute or recurrent seizures change microRNA expression and function. Moreover, altered microRNA expression has been observed in brain and blood from patients with various epilepsy disorders, such as tuberous sclerosis. MicroRNAs can be easily manipulated using sense or antisense oligonucleotides, opening up opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize studies using these techniques to identify microRNAs that modulate seizure susceptibility, describe protein targets mediating some of these effects, and discuss cellular pathways, for example neuroinflammation, that are controlled by epilepsy-associated microRNAs. We critically assess current gaps in knowledge regarding target- and cell-specificity of microRNAs that have to be addressed before clinical application as therapeutic targets or biomarkers. The recent progress in understanding microRNA function in epilepsy has generated strong momentum to encourage in-depth mechanistic studies to develop microRNA-targeted therapies. Developmental Dynamics 247:94-110, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Beeping children and adolescents: A method for studying time use and daily experience.

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) among preadolescents and young adolescents by examining its implementation in a study of 483 5th–9th graders. Four specific methodological questions are addressed: (1) How adequate is the sampling of adolescents? (2) How adequate is the sampling of adolescents' experiences? (3) Does the method alter the phenomenon it attempts to measure? (4) How valid are the data obtained? Methodological information collected as part of the study suggests that the data obtained by the ESM accurately represents most of the experience of most of the individuals in the sample population.
The Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae NodO protein compensates for the exported signal made by the host-specific nodulation genes

The nodulation of peas and vetches by R. leguminosarum biovar viciae requires the expression of several bacterial nodulation (nod) genes (1). One of these (nodD) is expressed constitutively and is involved in the positive regulation of the other nod genes (2). Flavonoids such as naringenin and eriodictyol are secreted from pea roots (3,4) and appear to be recognized by the NodD protein (5,6) which is then involved in the activation of transcription of the other nod genes. This regulation is mediated by the NodD protein binding to the promoters of the other nod genes (7) at a highly conserved DNA sequence (nod-box). In R. meliloti there also appears to be a repressor of nod gene expression (8) but we have not found such a repressor in b.v. viciae. However, we have identified mutations that lower the level of induction of nod gene expression. Recombinant plasmids which suppress these mutations have been identified and DNA hybridization using these clones has shown that they are from outside the nod gene region.
On the Type/Token Relation of Mental Representations

According to the Computational/Representational Theory of Thought (CRTT ≈ Language of Thought Hypothesis, or LOTH), propositional attitudes, such as belief, desire, and the like, are triadic relations among subjects, propositions, and internal mental representations. These representations form a representational system physically realized in the brain of sufficiently sophisticated cognitive organisms. Further, this system of representations has a combinatorial syntax and semantics, but the processes that operate on the representations are causally sensitive only to their syntax, not to their semantics. On this approach, a first pass account of propositional attitudes is the following (cf. Field 1978: 37 and Fodor 1987: 17):
Activation of mGluR1 Mediates C1q-Dependent Microglial Phagocytosis of Glutamatergic Synapses in Alzheimer’s Rodent Models

Microglia and complements appear to be involved in the synaptic and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD), though the mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, utilizing two types of rodent model of AD, we reported increased complement C1q-mediated microglial phagocytosis of hippocampal glutamatergic synapses, which led to synaptic and cognitive deficits. We also found increased activity of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) in hippocampal CA1 in the modeled rodents. Artificial activation of mGluR1 signaling promoted dephosphorylation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) and facilitated the local translation machinery of synaptic C1q mRNA, thus mimicking the C1q-mediated microglial phagocytosis of hippocampal glutamatergic synapses and synaptic and cognitive deficiency in the modeled rodents. However, suppression of mGluR1 signaling inhibited the dephosphorylation of FMRP and repressed the local translation of synaptic C1q mRNA, which consequently alleviated microglial phagocytosis of synapses and restored the synaptic and cognitive function in the rodent models. These findings illustrate a novel molecular mechanism underlying C1q-mediated microglial phagocytosis of hippocampal glutamatergic synapses in AD.
Vitamin E in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, accounting for over 100 billion dollars in annual direct medical costs in the United States alone. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a subtype of NAFLD that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. To date, there are no approved pharmacological therapies for NASH. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH in both preclinical and clinical studies. Several clinical practice guidelines recommend vitamin E as off-label treatment for NASH. Here, we discuss the complex pathogenesis of NASH, with emphasis on oxidative stress and organelle dysfunction. We summarize evidence supporting the beneficial role of vitamin E supplementation on NASH and on liver fibrosis, based on studies in animal models of NAFLD, in clinical trials of NAFLD patients and in meta-analyses. We briefly highlight the use of vitamin E in other forms of chronic liver disease, including alcoholic liver disease and chronic viral hepatitis, where the role of vitamin E supplementation remains controversial. Finally, we discuss safety concerns related to the long-term use of vitamin E and suggest that risks and benefits be discussed with patients prior to initiating vitamin E supplementation.
Spectral tracing of deuterium for imaging glucose metabolism

Cells and tissues often display pronounced spatial and dynamical metabolic heterogeneity. Common glucose-imaging techniques report glucose uptake or catabolism activity, yet do not trace the functional utilization of glucose-derived anabolic products. Here we report a microscopy technique for the optical imaging, via the spectral tracing of deuterium (STRIDE), of diverse macromolecules derived from glucose. Based on stimulated Raman-scattering imaging, STRIDE visualizes the metabolic dynamics of newly synthesized macromolecules, such as DNA, protein, lipids and glycogen, via the enrichment and distinct spectra of carbon-deuterium bonds transferred from the deuterated glucose precursor. STRIDE can also use spectral differences derived from different glucose isotopologues to visualize temporally separated glucose populations using a pulse-chase protocol. We also show that STRIDE can be used to image glucose metabolism in many mouse tissues, including tumours, brain, intestine and liver, at a detection limit of 10 mM of carbon-deuterium bonds. STRIDE provides a high-resolution and chemically informative assessment of glucose anabolic utilization.
Social Health with a Left Ventricular Assist Device is Similar to the General Population, Regardless of Time Since Implant

Introduction Social health (i.e., ability and satisfaction with ability to participate in family, work, and leisure activities) among patients (pts) with advanced heart failure (HF) who undergo left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is incompletely described. This report evaluated social health across three time periods (early, mid, and later) after implantation. Methods We evaluated data from 183 pts with LVADs who were ≤6 months, >6-24 months, and >24 months post-implant at 9 U.S. sites (10/26/16 - 12/31/18). Measures of social health included overall social health and satisfaction with social function (PROMIS v1.1) and multi-item measures of social function and satisfaction with social function (PROMIS v2.0). Tests for differences between implant groups included χ2 tests and ANOVAs. Results Pts at all 3 time periods were, on average, middle-aged; the majority were male, white, and well educated. Etiology of HF and pre-implant strategy were similar among groups. The majority of pts at all 3 time periods reported good to excellent overall ability to carry out usual social activities and roles, and satisfaction with social activities and relationships. Approximately 20% to 30% of patients in all 3 groups reported fair or poor overall social function/ability, and fair or poor satisfaction with social activities and relationships. For all 3 groups, ability to participate in social roles and activities, and satisfaction with social roles and activities approximated the U.S. general population mean of 50. Conclusions Regardless of time since implant, the majority of LVAD pts were able to participate in social activities and were satisfied with their social health. For the subset of patients who reported lower social functioning and satisfaction, future work should focus on developing effective interventions. These findings highlight the importance of assessing social health after LVAD implantation.
AAOIFI ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND A THEORY OF INTEREST-FREE BANKING

Based on the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) issued six new Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) in 2017, we derive the cost of financing formulas f...