cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Social Welfare of Smart Grid Development in Pressure-State-Response Framework

Rational evaluation of the social benefits of the smart grid is of great significance for guiding rational investment and scientific development of the smart grid. Given this background,the well-established pressure-state-response( PSR) framework in resource economics is employed to analyze the generating mechanism of the social benefits associated with smart grid development and a novel evaluation model is developed. First,the emerging types of technology in the power generation sector,power grid sector as well as terminal consumer sector brought about by smart grid development are taken as the incentives,and the enhanced capability of accommodating renewable energy generation,improved efficiency of power system operation,optimized allocation of energy resources and so on as the evolving states. Then,the relationship between technological development and system state is investigated,based on which an evaluation system for measuring the social benefits associated with smart grid development proposed. Finally,the successful social benefit evaluation of a smart grid in a province in Northwest China is given as an example of the merits of the model.
Treatment-refractory anxiety; definition, risk factors, and treatment challenges

A sizable proportion of psychiatric patients will seek clinical evaluation and treatment for anxiety symptoms reportedly refractory to treatment. This apparent lack of response is either due to "pseudo-resistance" (a failure to have received and adhered to a recognized and effective treatment or treatments for their condition) or to true "treatment resistance." Pseudo-resistance can be due to clinician errors in selecting and delivering an appropriate treatment effectively, or to patient nonadherence to a course of treatment. True treatment resistance can be due to unrecognized exogenous anxiogenic factors (eg, caffeine overuse, sleep deprivation, use of alcohol or marijuana) or an incorrect diagnosis (eg, atypical bipolar illness, occult substance abuse, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder). Once the above factors are eliminated, treatment should focus on combining effective medications and cognitive behavioral therapy, combining several medications (augmentation), or employing novel medications or psychotherapies not typically indicated as first-line evidence-based anxiety treatments.
A comparison of two takeoff and climb out flap retraction standard operating procedures

Takeoff and climb out flap retraction is a procedure that is conducted following takeoff to retract the flaps and slats from a takeoff configuration to a clean-up-and-away configuration. During this period the aircraft accelerates from the takeoff V2 speed to 250 knots and generally includes a thrust reduction from the takeoff thrust setting to the climb thrust setting. Timing of the flap retraction is critical to avoid overspeed or underspeed. Also, due to the vicinity of terrain and traffic, the aircraft performance and airspace must be carefully monitored while staying responsive to Air Traffic Control voice communication. As a result the design and certification of these procedures must resolve multiple conflicting objectives. This paper describes a formal analysis of alternate takeoff flap retraction procedures for the BAE 146 (Avro) aircraft. One procedure requires a “callout” by the Pilot Flying (PF) for each stage of flap retraction. The other procedure delegates flap retraction to the Pilot Monitoring (PM). A formal analysis of the procedures using the Human Machine Interaction Sequence Diagram (HMI-SD) method yielded equal utility. Overall, the Callout procedure is more robust to interruption and provides a better shared mental model between the crew members. However, the Delegate procedure can be completed on average 4.5 seconds faster providing more time for monitoring or performing other tasks. The implications and limitations of the formal procedure analysis is discussed.
Necrotizing brainstem leukoencephalopathy six weeks following radiotherapy

A 71-year-old male with a null cell pituitary macroadenoma was given peripituitary region radiotherapy (4,346 Gy units) over a 1-month-period and 6 weeks later developed the rapid onset of blurred vision, diplopia, ataxia, incoordination, cranial nerve palsy, somnolence, and respiratory distress. His fixed neurologic deficits required ventilatory support, feeding tube placement, and chronic hospitalization until his death 1 year later. At autopsy, necrotic foci with dystrophic axonal calcification were found throughout the brainstem, associated with mild focal vascular hyalinization but without fibrinoid necrosis, telangiectasias or large vessel abnormalities. This unusual case of fatal "early delayed" radiation injury is compared to previous literature cases.
The social production of business offenses

On October 5, 1976, the U.S. government fined the large, multinational Allied Chemical Corporation $13.24 million for criminal discharges of the toxic pesticide Kepone and other chemicals into Virginia's James River. Although some observers decried the fact that the several corporate officials indicted for the offenses had been acquitted, the case nonetheless represented a high point in the growing effort to legally protect the natural environment from despoliation. Not only was this single fine greater than the total fines and penalties imposed in all Environmental Protection Agency-initiated cases that had been previously concluded (through September 1976), but merely seven years earlier neither criminal fines nor civil penalties were part of the federal government's general response to the increasingly threatening environmental degradation due to water pollution. Seven years later the EPA's regulatory program was in disarray. Beset by deep budget cuts and overseen by a leadership eager to relieve industry of regulatory costs, the agency's enforcement efforts were in serious decline in all areas of environmental protection. This was clearly a consequence of the Reagan administration's wideranging policy to divest private enterprise of public regulation as part of a “supply-side” strategy to stimulate economic growth. The results of this policy, however, proved more dramatic at EPA than in any other regulatory arena.
The application of 3D printing technology in the fashion industry

ABSTRACTThe use of 3D printing (3DP) is increasing in a number of industries, including the fashion industry. It poses a number of advantages compared to traditional manufacturing processes, including an accelerated design process, less-production time, and lower costs related to inventory, warehousing, packaging, and transportation. This paper discusses the five types of 3DP methods that exhibit great potential in an application of fashion, including stereolithography, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modelling, PolyJet, and binder jetting. Examples of each 3DP method as it is used in the industry are provided. In addition, advantages and disadvantages are discussed for each 3DP method and specific printers. As the use of 3DP in the fashion industry is an emerging topic for discussion, this paper will provide a new guideline for designers about the uses, benefits, and challenges of 3DP in regards to the design process.
TNF activity and T cells.

TNF (tumor necrosis factor) is both a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine that is central to the development of autoimmune disease, cancer, and protection against infectious pathogens. As well as a myriad other activities, TNF can be a product of T cells and can act on T cells. Here we review old and new data on the importance of TNF produced by T cells and how TNF signaling via TNFR2 may directly impact alternate aspects of T cell biology. TNF can promote the activation and proliferation of naive and effector T cells, but also can induce apoptosis of highly activated effector T cells, further determining the size of the pathogenic or protective conventional T cell pool. Moreover, TNF can have divergent effects on regulatory T cells. It can both downregulate their suppressive capacity, but also contribute in other instances to their development or accumulation. Biologics that block TNF or stimulate TNFR2 therefore have the potential to strongly modulate the balance between effector T cells and Treg cells which could impact disease in both positive and negative manners.
Targeting and Internalization of Liposomes by Bladder Tumor Cells Using a Fibronectin Attachment Protein-Derived Peptide-Lipopolymer Conjugate.

A synthetic peptidolipopolymer conjugate, incorporated into liposomes to promote specific binding to the fibronectin (FBN) matrix surrounding bladder tumor cells and promote cellular internalization of FBN-integrin complexes, is reported. The peptide promotes association with MB49 mouse model bladder tumor cells in a sequence-specific and concentration-dependent manner, with the maximum cell association occurring at 2 mol % RWFV-PEG2000-DSPE. Double PEGylation of the liposome membrane (i.e., 4 mol % mPEG1000-DSPE + 2 mol % RWFV-PEG2000-DSPE) enhanced binding by >1.6-fold, by improving ligand presentation on the liposome surface. The sequence specificity of the peptide-lipopolymer construct was confirmed by comparing liposomes containing RWFV-PEG2000-DSPE with scrambled and nonpeptidic lipopolymer liposomal formulations. MB49 tumor-bearing mice showed greater mean radiance values for FAP peptide-targeted liposomes in tumor-associated regions of interest than for nontargeted and scrambled peptide liposome f...
Structure-Based Optimization of Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate-Dependent Transaminase Enzyme (BioA) Inhibitors that Target Biotin Biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent transaminase BioA catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis of biotin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and is an essential enzyme for bacterial survival and persistence in vivo. A promising BioA inhibitor 6 containing an N-aryl, N′-benzoylpiperazine scaffold was previously identified by target-based whole-cell screening. Here, we explore the structure–activity relationships (SAR) through the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a systematic series of analogues of the original hit using a structure-based drug design strategy, which was enabled by cocrystallization of several analogues with BioA. To confirm target engagement and discern analogues with off-target activity, each compound was evaluated against wild-type (WT) Mtb in biotin-free and -containing medium as well as BioA under- and overexpressing Mtb strains. Conformationally constrained derivative 36 emerged as the most potent analogue with a KD of 76 nM against BioA and a minimum inhibit...
Seeing Is Believing: Innovating the Clinical Practice Experience for Education Specialist Teacher Candidates With Video-Based Remote Supervision:

A call to implement 21st-century change drivers within teacher preparation is evidenced within policy and research. The use of technology-enhanced methods of supervision where virtual observations ...
Tailored surgical treatment of duodenal polyposis in familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome

Abstract Background To review our experience in patients undergoing operative treatment for duodenal polypoisis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis with an emphasis on operative approach and long-term outcomes. Methods Duodenal polypoisis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis patients undergoing operative treatment were studied retrospectively excluding patients with preoperative duodenal cancer. Results Of 767 patients in the database, 63 (8.2%) patients underwent operative treatment: 42 (67%) pancreas-sparing duodenectomy, 15 (24%) pancreatoduodenectomy, and 6 (9.5%) segmental duodenal resection; the majority for Spigelman stages III and IV polyposis. Overall 9.6% had adenocarcinoma postoperatively (28.6% in the pancreatoduodenectomy group; P = .01). The proportion of Spigelman stages III and IV with cancer were 9.5% and 6.5%, respectively. Pathologic upgrade to cancer in patients with low grade dysplasia and high-grade dysplasia on preoperative biopsy was 5.7% and 6.7%, respectively (P = .13). At a median follow-up of 16 years, 7.7% needed a second duodenal polypoisis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis-related operation. Progression to high grade dysplasia or cancer in the stomach occurred in 15.4% of patients. Median overall survival and recurrence-free survival was at least 16 years and 15.6 years. No significant group-based differences were noted on follow-up. Conclusion The majority of patients with duodenal polypoisis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis can achieve long-term, cancer-free survival with organ-preserving approaches (pancreas-sparing-duodenectomy and segmental-duodenal-resection) with survival not dependent on the type of resection.
No clean coal for stream animals

Societal activities carry environmental costs, which can be mitigated to restore ecosystem function and services. A meta-analysis demonstrates strong negative effects of coal mining on stream biota and limited recovery after restoration.
Influences of Fashion Leadership, Preference for Exploratory Behavior, and Need for Cognitionon Consumers’ Use of Internal Information and Tolerance for Risk-Taking

Consumer Decision Process Model by Blackwell, Miniard, and Engel (2005) is a theoretical description of decision-making from need recognition to post-purchase satisfaction. The model “shows how different internal and external forces interact and affect how consumers think, evaluate, and act” (p.71). There is a long history of research showing that fashion leadership is an internal factor influencing individual consumer’s shopping behavior (e.g., Kim & Hong, 2011).
Isolation, Properties, and Functions of Tonoplast ATPase from Higher Plants

It has long been speculated that tonoplast ATPase plays important roles in regulating solute concentration in plant cells and solute transport at the tonoplast (Dainty, 1968 ; Hodges, 1976 ; Leigh, 1983 ; Mac Robbie, 1979 ; Marin, Cretin, d’Auzac, 1982 ; Wagner, 1983) but until recently detailed biochemical investigations were limited by the lack of methods for isolating and identifying membrane preparation from plant tissues. In the mid-1970s and early-1980s methods were developed which allowed the isolation of large number of higher plant vacuoles thus for tonoplast membrane vesicles relatively free of contamination by other organelles (Leigh, Branton, 1976 ; Lorz, Harms, Potrykus, 1976 ; Wagner, Siegelman, 1976). Also, methods were developed for isolating tightly sealed membrane vesicles from tissue homogenates which some have suggested to be tonoplast derived (Bennett, O’Neill, Spanswick, 1984 ; Dupont, Bennett, Spanswick, 1982 ; Dupont, Giorgi, Spanswick, 1982 ; Poole, Briskin, Kratky, Johnstone, 1984 ; Sze, 1980). Using these methods a number of workers have accumulated evidence which indicate that tonoplast does possess a membrane-bound ATPase activity and associated proton pump.
Heparin-induced osteopenia: an appraisal.

Heparin has been used since 1936 for the treatment of vascular thrombotic episodes, but the association between heparin administration and osteopenia in man was not reported until 1964, when a causual notation was made regarding a spontaneous vertebral fracture in a 50-year-old man on heparin with no history of trauma (10). Jaffe and Willis (24) later reported the development of multiple symmetrical rib fractures, compression fractures of the thoracic vertebrae, and generalized skeletal demineralization in a 41-year-old man subjected to heparin at 20,000 units/day for 1 year. Earlier in the same year, Griffith et al. (18), reporting on 117 patients subjected to long-term heparin therapy, noted that 10 patients on subcutaneous heparin at 15,000 – 30,000 units/day for 6 months or longer developed spontaneous vertebral and/or rib fractures. These complications were not observed, however, in 107 patients receiving 10,000 units/day or less for 1 – 15 years. Bone biopsies obtained from two patients with osteopenia revealed that “the bony matrix was very soft, offering little or no resistance to the pathologist’s knife” (18).
Seawater Aging of Vinylester and Carbon Reinforced Vinylester

The effects of marine environmental exposure on moisture absorption and the mechanical properties of vinylester resins (VE510A and VE8084) and unidirectional carbon fiber/VE510A composites have been experimentally investigated. Two carbon fiber sizings (F and G) were examined. Neat resin specimens were exposed to humid air at 50 °C and seawater at 40 °C until saturation. The composite materials were immersed in seawater at 40 °C. The resin specimens absorbed small amounts of moisture. The composite specimens absorbed more moisture than the resins. Both the neat resins and composites displayed Fickian diffusion behavior. Mass balance analysis of moisture absorption of the composites was performed which shows that moisture up-take is dominated by the fiber/matrix interface region. The moisture absorption was found to depend on the fiber sizing. Dry and moisture saturated neat resin and composite specimens were tested in tension, compression, and shear. Moisture absorption slightly improved the ductility of the neat resin specimens. Composites with F-sized carbon fibers displayed higher strengths than those with G-sized fibers at both dry and moisture saturated conditions. Moisture absorption reduced the in-plane and interlaminar shear strengths of the composites.
Crystallochemical Aspects of the Phosphate Minerals

The details of phosphate mineral chemistry are intricate and voluminous. The great burst of knowledge, gained largely within the past 20 years, is due to the rapid increase of efficiency in artificial intelligence and the consequent practicability of systematic crystal structure analysis.
Cardiovascular disease risks among head and neck cancer survivors in a large, population-based cohort study.

6051Background: Over 63,000 Americans develop head and neck cancer (HNC) yearly. The 5-year survival rate for HNC patients is 40-90%. HNC shares risk factors to cardiovascular disease (CVD), such a...
Comparison of legacy quality of life measures with the electronic quality of life measuring system (NIH PROMIS) in glioblastoma patients.

e18823Background: Health-related quality of life (QoL) and patient reported outcomes are an essential component of patient-care and research. The National Institute of Health sponsored electronic P...
Ergonomic Analysis of Modern Day Kitchen Knives

The focus of this study was on how different knife characteristics affect the consumer’s ability to slice vegetables. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a difference in cutting be...
Thursday, September 27, 2018 1:05 PM–2:05 PM The Spine Journal Outstanding Paper Awards: Outstanding Paper: Surgical ScienceAlterations in 90-day morbidity, mortality and readmission rates following spine surgery in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (2009-2014)

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The impact of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) on healthcare quality and outcomes, including morbidity, mortality and readmissions, has not been substantially investigated, especially following spine surgery. PURPOSE To evaluate the impact of ACO formation on post-operative outcomes in the 90-day period following spine surgery. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of national Medicare claims data (2009-2014). PATIENT SAMPLE Patients who underwent one of four lumbar spine surgical procedures in an ACO or non-ACO. OUTCOME MEASURES The development of in-hospital mortality, complications or hospital readmission within 90-days of the surgical procedure. METHODS The primary outcome measures included post-surgical complications and readmissions at 90-days following surgery. In-hospital mortality and 30- day outcomes considered secondarily. The primary predictor variable consisted of ACO enrollment designation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to adjust for confounders and determine the independent effect of ACO-enrollment on post-surgical outcomes. The multivariable model included a propensity score adjustment that accounted for factors associated with the preferential enrollment of patients in ACOs; namely socio-demographic characteristics, medical co-morbidities, hospital teaching status, bed size and location. RESULTS In all, there were 344,813 patients identified for inclusion in this analysis with 97% (n=332,890) treated in non-ACOs and 3% (n=11,923) in an ACO. Although modest changes were apparent across both ACOs and non-ACOs over the time-period studied, improvements were slightly more dramatic in non-ACOs leading to statistically significant differences in both 90-day complications and readmissions. Specifically, in the period 2012-2014, ACOs demonstrated an 18% increase in the odds of 90-day complications and a 14% elevation in the odds of 90-day readmissions when compared to non- ACOs. There was no difference in hospital mortality between ACOs and non-ACOs. CONCLUSIONS Our study of Medicare data from 2009-2014 failed to demonstrate superior reductions in postoperative morbidity, mortality and readmissions for beneficiaries treated in ACOs as compared to non-ACOs. These results indicate that meaningful changes in post-operative outcomes should not be anticipated based on organizational participation in ACOs at present. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Digital Learning Resources for Prosthodontic Education: The Perspectives of a Long-Term Dental Educator Regarding 4 Key Factors

Technological advances have led to the introduction of 3D education programs specifically designed for dentistry, leading to the author's use of these programs in the education of dental students. Based on this usage, this paper proposes there are 4 key factors that can enhance student education (spatial ability, interactivity, critical thinking, and clinical correlations with integration of multiple dental disciplines). These key factors can be incorporated into student learning through the use of 3D education programs in class. Lessons learned from using these programs include the importance of regular use in class as well as testing students both visually and textually on the content present in such programs. In this way, students will use the program and thereby enhance their 3D visualization skills while learning the required didactic information. Simply providing students with access to such programs without regular use in class and without testing the students on the content leads to these programs' lack of use. As a result, the students miss an opportunity to enhance their ability to visualize structures three dimensionally and manipulate them in their minds, a process known as spatial ability that is linked to success in the sciences.
A Grounded Qualitative Analysis of the Effect of a Focus Group on Design Process in a Virtual Internship

A key component associated with the development of an entrepreneurial mindset is the ability to understand customerneeds and consider this when developing a product. This study sought to understand whether the inclusion of a customerfocus group as part of a virtual internship created any differences in the design processes of sophomore engineeringstudents (114 students). The Nephrotex virtual internship requires that students design a dialysis membrane by optimizinga selection of four components: membrane polymer, polymerization process, processing surfactant, and carbon nanotubepercentage. We found that sophomores who engaged in a focus group during the virtual internship Nephrotex showed(statistically) equal focus on cost versus technical measures of design performance during the focus group. Despite this,design cost was lower in the section that participated in a focus group, with no decrease in product quality. This indicatesthat customer voice may be an important factor in decreasing product cost. We also found that sophomore studentsprioritized their interviewing of customers within the focus group towards end users, such as the patient and nephrologist.Qualitative analysis of sophomore responses demonstrated that they found utility in the focus group (30% of participants)but did not necessarily believe that the customers had useful knowledge of the relevant design attributes (17% ofparticipants). Such realizations may have contributed to the equivalent quality and decreased costs associated with thedesigns of sophomores who participated in a focus group.
Cointegration, Price-Adjustment Delays, and Optimal Hedge Ratio in the Precious Metal Markets

Firms seeking to apply hedge accounting treatment under the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 must demonstrate higher hedge effectiveness, for which the regression analysis is commonly used as a testing method. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is adopted in this article to examine the hedge effectiveness in the presence of nonsynchronous trading of spot and futures contracts as well as a long-run cointegrating relationship between their prices. Using precious metal market data, our study empirically demonstrates that a hedge ratio estimated with a conventional OLS model tends to be downwardly biased. Our finding also indicates that the omitted-variable bias becomes apparent only when the difference between the transaction frequencies in spot and futures markets is significantly large.
CAN EFFICACY ECLIPSE SAFETY? THE ADDITIVE VALUE OF PACERS/ICDS IN THE CMR ENVIRONMENT

MRI is infrequently performed on pts with conventional PM/ICDs. While many studies have unequivocally documented safety, the clinical value has not been considered. We propose that MRI in pts with PM/ICDs is crucial to the existing diagnosis and many times, substantially alters the diagnosis and
P113 Diet Quality Assessment in Early Care and Education Centers: A Comparison of Three Common Methods

Background Children in Early Care and Education (ECE) centers are not meeting Dietary Guidelines (DG), which could contribute to the onset of diet-related diseases. ECE center diet quality has been assessed using either what is listed on the menu, what children are served and/or what was consumed for the lunch meal. However, it is unclear whether diet quality differs among the three measures, which may be useful to understand patterns that inform nutrition education messaging. Objective Identify if diet quality differs among the menu, served and consumed lunch measures. Diet quality will be assessed using Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) scores, which represent how closely DG are met. Study Design, Settings, Participants ECE centers were located within one southern state, and included rural and urban communities. For each center, three children from a 3-5 year old classroom, were randomly chosen and observed during one lunch meal, per a published protocol. The type and amount of food/beverage served to or by the child (SERVED) and the amount consumed (CONSUMED) was visually estimated and recorded. The menu from the observed lunch (MENU) was collected. For each center, a mean HEI score was calculated for SERVED, CONSUMED and MENU. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Non-parametric ANOVA and Duncan's post-hoc were used to identify statistically significant differences among SERVED, CONSUMED, and MENU HEI scores. Results Lunch observations were completed within 28 ECE centers. The total HEI score was significantly higher (χ2 = 11.7, P = .003) among MENUS, compared to SERVED and CONSUMED. Total HEI scores among SERVED and CONSUMED were not significantly different. Conclusion Diet quality was higher among menus, compared to served and consumed measures. Nutrition education messaging may encourage ECE employees to serve the food/beverage items listed on the lunch menu, in order to improve diet quality. Understanding why diet quality differences exist among lunch measures, is warranted. Funding Nestle S.A. Grant.
Transient Expression of IL-17A in Foxp3 Fate-Tracked Cells in Porphyromonas gingivalis-Mediated Oral Dysbiosis.

In periodontitis Porphyromonas gingivalis contributes to the development of a dysbiotic oral microbiome. This altered ecosystem elicits a diverse innate and adaptive immune response that simultaneously involves Th1, Th17, and Treg cells. It has been shown that Th17 cells can alter their gene expression to produce interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) is considered the master regulator of Treg cells that produce inhibitory cytokines like IL-10. Differentiation pathways that lead to Th17 and Treg cells from naive progenitors are considered antagonistic. However, it has been reported that Treg cells expressing IL-17A as well as IFN-γ producing Th17 cells have been observed in several inflammatory conditions. Each scenario appears plausible with T cell transdifferentiation resulting from persistent microbial challenge and consequent inflammation. We established that oral colonization with P. gingivalis drives an initial IL-17A dominated Th17 response in the oral mucosa that is dependent on intraepithelial Langerhans cells (LCs). We hypothesized that Treg cells contribute to this initial IL-17A response through transient expression of IL-17A and that persistent mucosal colonization with P. gingivalis drives Th17 cells toward an IFN-γ phenotype at later stages of infection. We utilized fate-tracking mice where IL-17A- or Foxp3-promoter activity drives the permanent expression of red fluorescent protein tdTomato to test our hypothesis. At day 28 of infection timeline, Th17 cells dominated in the oral mucosa, outnumbering Th1 cells by 3:1. By day 48 this dominance was inverted with Th1 cells outnumbering Th17 cells by nearly 2:1. Tracking tdTomato+ Th17 cells revealed only sporadic transdifferentiation to an IFN-γ-producing phenotype by day 48; the appearance of Th1 cells at day 48 was due to a late de novo Th1 response. tdTomato+ Foxp3+ T cells were 35% of the total live CD4+T cells in the oral mucosa and 3.9% of them developed a transient IL-17A-producing phenotype by day 28. Interestingly, by day 48 these IL-17A-producing Foxp3+ T cells had disappeared. Therefore, persistent oral P. gingivalis infection stimulates an initial IL-17A-biased response led by Th17 cells and a small but significant number of IL-17A-expressing Treg cells that changes into a late de novo Th1 response with only sporadic transdifferentiation of Th17 cells.
Development, implementation and optimization of a mobile 3D printing platform

One of the biggest challenges to 3D printing is that typical desktop printers are stationary with a limited workspace. A mobile 3D-printing platform, which has omnidirectional wheels that allow for unrestricted movement along x- and y-axes, can alleviate that restriction. The research team in this project performed a series of preliminary material tests with such a fully constructed platform. The system was tested with materials from three different industries that could benefit from mobile additive manufacturing technology. A cement paste was tested for the construction industry, frosting for the food industry, and clay paste for the fine arts industry. Next, a statistical experimental analysis was performed to determine the optimum printing parameters to obtain geometrical accuracy of the object being printed. The independent variables chosen for the material and the printing platform included the material type, percent concentration of dry material to wetting agent, layer height, layer width, and printing speed. Multiple samples were printed for each combination of independent variables. The dependent variables, maximum taper angle and x-y-z measurements, were then found from the printed samples. Principal Component Analysis was performed on the taper angle and x-y-z measurements to create a single index which represented the error in print quality. A slightly modified 2 k factorial design was then used to determine which printing parameters and material type significantly affected the error index. Finally, response surface methodology along with the method of steepest ascent was used to identify the optimum printing parameters.
Expansion of Cancer Care and Control in Countries of Low and Middle Income: A Call to Action

Substantial inequalities exist in cancer survival rates across countries. In addition to prevention of new cancers by reduction of risk factors, strategies are needed to close the gap between developed and developing countries in cancer survival and the effects of the disease on human suffering. We challenge the public health community's assumption that cancers will remain untreated in poor countries, and note the analogy to similarly unfounded arguments from more than a decade ago against provision of HIV treatment. In resource-constrained countries without specialised services, experience has shown that much can be done to prevent and treat cancer by deployment of primary and secondary caregivers, use of off-patent drugs, and application of regional and global mechanisms for financing and procurement. Furthermore, several middle-income countries have included cancer treatment in national health insurance coverage with a focus on people living in poverty. These strategies can reduce costs, increase access to health services, and strengthen health systems to meet the challenge of cancer and other diseases. In 2009, we formed the Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in Developing Countries, which is composed of leaders from the global health and cancer care communities, and is dedicated to proposal, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to advance this agenda.
The Role of the Environment in Poverty Alleviation

The new millennium raised hopes for a better future for humanity through a new spirit of international cooperation. This book draws on contributions to the People and the Environment lecture series at Fordham University, organized in partnership with the United Nations Development Program Equator Initiative and The Nature Conservancy. The essays offer a wealth of fresh perspectives and strategies to promote both environmental conservation and poverty eradication across four interrelated topics: The link between poverty reduction and the environment; environmental disasters; conservation knowledge; and legal empowerment of the poor. Demonstrating the roles that the environment can and should play in poverty alleviation, the essays deepen our understanding of the some of the world's most difficult challenges – and provide a toolkit of ideas and techniques for addressing them.
A semi-supervised model to predict regulatory effects of genetic variants at single nucleotide resolution using massively parallel reporter assays.

Motivation Predicting regulatory effects of genetic variants is a challenging but important problem in functional genomics. Given the relatively low sensitivity of functional assays, and the pervasiveness of class imbalance in functional genomic data, popular statistical prediction models can sharply underestimate the probability of a regulatory effect. We describe here the presence-only model (PO-EN), a type of semi-supervised model, to predict regulatory effects of genetic variants at sequence-level resolution in a context of interest by integrating a large number of epigenetic features and massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs). Results Using experimental data from a variety of MPRAs we show that the presence-only model produces better calibrated predicted probabilities and has increased accuracy relative to state-of-the-art prediction models. Furthermore, we show that the predictions based on pre-trained PO-EN models are useful for prioritizing functional variants among candidate eQTLs and significant SNPs at GWAS loci. In particular, for the costimulatory locus, associated with multiple autoimmune diseases, we show evidence of a regulatory variant residing in an enhancer 24.4 kb downstream of CTLA4, with evidence from capture Hi-C of interaction with CTLA4. Furthermore, the risk allele of the regulatory variant is on the same risk increasing haplotype as a functional coding variant in exon 1 of CTLA4, suggesting that the regulatory variant acts jointly with the coding variant leading to increased risk to disease. Availability The presence-only model is implemented in the R package 'PO.EN', freely available on CRAN. A vignette describing a detailed demonstration of using the proposed PO-EN model can be found on github at https://github.com/Iuliana-Ionita-Laza/PO.EN/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Into the unknown

We like to think that science can give us definitive answers to our questions, but uncertainty is a crucial part of the scientific process, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
The ESCRT Machinery Directs Quality Control Over Inner Nuclear Membrane Architecture

The late-acting endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery has been implicated in facilitating the resealing of the nuclear envelope (NE) after mitosis, enabling compartmentalization of the genome away from the cytoplasm. Here, we leverage the stereotypic first division of the C. elegans embryo to identify additional functions of the ESCRT machinery in maintaining the structure of the inner nuclear membrane. Specifically, impaired ESCRT function results in a defect in the pruning of inner nuclear membrane invaginations, which arise normally during NE reformation and expansion. Additionally, in combination with a hypomorphic mutation that interferes with assembly of the underlying nuclear lamina, inhibition of ESCRT function significantly perturbs NE architecture and increases chromosome segregation defects, resulting in penetrant embryonic lethality. Our findings provide new links between ESCRT-mediated inner nuclear membrane remodeling, maintenance of nuclear envelope morphology, and the preservation of the genome during early development.
Growth of the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica in 5-azacytidine has limited effects on parasite gene expression.

In higher eukaryotes DNA methylation regulates important biological functions including silencing of gene expression and protection from adverse effects of retrotransposons. In the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, a DNA methyltransferase has been identified and treatment with 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC), a potent inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase, has been reported to attenuate parasite virulence. However, the overall extent of DNA methylation and its subsequent effects on global gene expression in this parasite are currently unknown. In order to identify the genome-wide effects of DNA methylation in E. histolytica, we used a short oligonucleotide microarray representing 9,435 genes (~95% of all annotated amebic genes) and compared the expression profile of E. histolytica HM-1:IMSS parasites with those treated with 23 μM 5-AzaC for up to one week. Overall, 2.1% of genes tested were transcriptionally modulated under these conditions. 68 genes were upregulated and 131 genes down regulated (2-fold change; p-value < 0.05). Sodium-bisulfite treatment and sequencing of genes indicated that there were at least two subsets of genes with genomic DNA methylation in E. histolytica: (i) genes that were endogenously silenced by genomic DNA methylation and for which 5-AzaC treatment induced transcriptional de-repression, and (ii) genes that have genomic DNA methylation, but which were not endogenously silenced by the methylation. We identified among the genes down regulated by 5-AzaC treatment a cysteine proteinase (2.m00545) and lysozyme (52.m00148) both of which have known roles in amebic pathogenesis. Decreased expression of these genes in the 5-AzaC treated E. histolytica may account in part for the parasites reduced cytolytic abilities. This work represents the first genome-wide analysis of DNA-methylation in Entamoeba histolytica and indicates that DNA methylation has relatively limited effects on gene expression in this parasite.
Virus-polysaccharide interactions. I. An agar polysaccharide determining plaque morphology of EMC virus.

Abstract Wild-type EMC virus produced minute plaques (1 mm at 4 days) on L cell monolayers with an occasional mutant which produced large plaques (8–10 mm at 4 days). A sulfated polysaccharide present in agar inhibited the growth of the minute-plaque former, but had no effect on the large-plaque mutant. In the absence of the agar polysaccharide, the minute-plaque former actually multiplied more rapidly than the mutant. Two other macroanions, polyglucose-SO 4 and heparin, were also inhibitory to the virus that formed small plaques.
A psychiatrist-rated battery of measures for assessing the clinical status of psychiatric inpatients

Despite the increasing demand for outcome assessment measures, no published reports have provided a standardized way to assess psychiatric inpatients that includes diagnosis and observer ratings of psychopathology. This paper reviews general principles for selecting outcome assessment measures, proposes a battery of instruments based on already available measures to assess clinical status in psychiatric inpatients, reviews methods of implementing the battery in an academic inpatient psychiatric setting, and presents preliminary data on its interrater reliability, construct validity, and range of response to acute hospitalization. Preliminary results suggest that the battery may be useful for resident and medical student education and for enhancing quality assurance and continuous quality improvement.
Faculty Internationalization Priorities.

The internationalization of higher education has been the subject of a substantial body of research. However, few studies have examined how faculty members, significant implementers of internationalization, think about internationalization priorities. This article presents the results of a questionnaire which was sent to faculty members at three institutions of higher education, two in the United States and one in Canada. Three-hundred and seventy-five faculty members responded to an open ended question asking how they would prioritize international initiatives at their institution. These comments were coded and categorized based on patterns that emerged from the data. Additionally, the top five topics were examined more in depth to reveal faculty rationale for each. Two findings emerged from this study. First, respondents overwhelmingly support internationalization. Second, they expect the institution to shoulder the burden for the implementation of institutional directives. These findings inform institutional internationalization administrators. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201502021037
Sensitivity of the linearly-constrained constant-modulus cost function

The authors present results from the application of the linearly constrained constant-modulus (LCCM) adaptive algorithm to a perturbed array environment. Assuming a narrowband signal model, analytic expressions are derived for the feasible gain values on the signal in the presence of general array perturbations and ambient white noise. The feasible gain values are found to be the roots of a cubic equation that is parameterized by the number of array elements, the signal-to-noise ratio, the modulus factor, the kurtosis of the signal of interest, and the angle between the true signal steering vector, and the perturbed steering vector. A principal result of the analysis is that LCCM is robust in the presence of array perturbations but is sensitive to the modulus factor value. A simulation is included that compares the sensitivity to perturbations of the techniques of linearly constrained minimum power, unconstrained constant-modulus, and LCCM. Experimental results are presented on a four-element square array with half-wavelength spacing which is used to receive a QPSK signal arriving from a presumably known direction. >
Adolescent Intermittent Alcohol Exposure: Deficits in Object Recognition Memory and Forebrain Cholinergic Markers

The long-term effects of intermittent ethanol exposure during adolescence (AIE) are of intensive interest and investigation. The effects of AIE on learning and memory and the neural functions that drive them are of particular interest as clinical findings suggest enduring deficits in those cognitive domains in humans after ethanol abuse during adolescence. Although studies of such deficits after AIE hold much promise for identifying mechanisms and therapeutic interventions, the findings are sparse and inconclusive. The present results identify a specific deficit in memory function after AIE and establish a possible neural mechanism of that deficit that may be of translational significance. Male rats (starting at PND-30) received exposure to AIE (5g/kg, i.g.) or vehicle and were allowed to mature into adulthood. At PND-71, one group of animals was assessed using the spatial-temporal object recognition (stOR) test to evaluate memory function. A separate group of animals was used to assess the density of cholinergic neurons in forebrain areas Ch1-4 using immunohistochemistry. AIE exposed animals manifested deficits in the temporal component of the stOR task relative to controls, and a significant decrease in the number of ChAT labeled neurons in forebrain areas Ch1-4. These findings add to the growing literature indicating long-lasting neural and behavioral effects of AIE that persist into adulthood and indicate that memory-related deficits after AIE depend upon the tasks employed, and possibly their degree of complexity. Finally, the parallel finding of diminished cholinergic neuron density suggests a possible mechanism underlying the effects of AIE on memory and hippocampal function as well as possible therapeutic or preventive strategies for AIE.
Synthesis and Reactivity of Iridium and Rhodium Silyl Complexes Supported by a Bipyridine Ligand

The rhodium and iridium complexes [(tBu2bpy)2M(μ-Cl)]2 (M = Rh (1), Ir (2)) containing the bidentate tBu2bpy (4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridyl) ligand were prepared. Dimeric complexes 1 and 2 react with HSiPh3 to give [(tBu2bpy)MH(SiPh3)(μ-Cl)]2 in good yields (M = Rh (3) 92%, Ir (4) 90%). Addition of PiPr3 to 3 or 4 gave monomeric crystalline complexes of the type (tBu2bpy)MH(SiPh3)Cl(PiPr3) (M = Rh (7) and Ir (8)), which adopt a slightly distorted octahedral coordination geometry with the tBu2bpy ligand occupying sites trans to the hydride and chloride ligands, as determined by X-ray crystallography. Salt metathesis reactions of 7 and 8 produced (tBu2bpy)MH(SiPh3)(R)PiPr3 as monomeric octahedral complexes with the tBu2bpy ligand occupying sites trans to the hydride and R substituents (M = Rh, R = H (11) and M = Ir, R = H (12), Me (14), and Ph (15)). Salt metathesis reactions with 3 and 4 also generated the dimeric, dicationic complexes [(tBu2bpy)M(SiPh3)(μ-H)]2[B(C6F5)4]2, where M = Rh (16) or Ir (17)....
Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Necrotic Malignant Melanomas

We evaluated 35 cases of malignant melanomas with substantial necrosis immunostained with S-100, HMB-45, Melan-A, tyrosinase, PNL2, and microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF). Staining patterns were evaluated in viable and necrotic areas of the tumors. S-100 was the most sensitive marker (97%) in the viable tumors, but necrotic areas demonstrated nonspecific staining. Viable tumors stained variably for HMB-45 (25 [71%]), Melan-A (28 [80%]), tyrosinase (30 [86%]), and PNL2 (23 [66%]). Necrotic areas focally reacted to the same antibodies. The necrotic areas that retained immunoreactivity for these markers corresponded to areas where the outline of the tumor cells could still be recognized as ghost cells on the H&E-stained section. Areas that showed complete coagulative necrosis were negative for melanoma markers. MITF variably stained in the viable tumors but was completely negative in necrotic areas. Our study demonstrated that a combination of antibodies to HMB-45, tyrosinase, and PNL2 detected melanocytic differentiation in necrotic areas in 80% of cases.