IL-21 enhances influenza vaccine responses in aged macaques with suppressed SIV infection.

Natural aging and HIV infection are associated with chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, immune senescence, and impaired antibody responses to vaccines such as the influenza (flu) vaccine. We investigated the role of IL-21, a CD4+ T follicular helper cell (Tfh) regulator, on flu vaccine antibody response in nonhuman primates (NHPs) in the context of age and controlled SIV mac239 infection. Three doses of the flu vaccine with or without IL-21-IgFc were administered at 3-month intervals in aged SIV+ NHPs following virus suppression with antiretroviral therapy. IL-21-treated animals demonstrated higher day 14-postboost antibody responses, which associated with expanded CD4+ T central memory cells and peripheral Tfh-expressing (pTfh-expressing) T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), expanded activated memory B cells, and contracted CD11b+ monocytes. Draining lymph node (LN) tissue from IL-21-treated animals revealed direct association between LN follicle Tfh density and frequency of circulating TIGIT+ pTfh cells. We conclude that IL-21 enhances flu vaccine-induced antibody responses in SIV+ aged rhesus macaques (RMs), acting as an adjuvant modulating LN germinal center activity. A strategy to supplement IL-21 in aging could be a valuable addition in the toolbox for improving vaccine responses in an aging HIV+ population

Physiological and biochemical response to higher temperature stress in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the physiological and biochemical changes in some thermotolerant and thermosensitive chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes. Fourteen chilli genotypes (SL 461, PP 404, DL 161, MS 341, VR 521, PB 405, PS 403, SD 463, FL 201, AC 102, S 343, SL 462 and SL 464 along with sensitive check [Royal Wonder of bell pepper] were evaluated for heat tolerance. The observations on morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters were recorded at 45, 65, 85 and 105 days after transplanting (DAT) (high temperature period). On the basis of our studies, genotypes S 343, AC 102 and FL 201 were found to be relatively thermotolerant. However, high temperature markedly decreased the photosynthetic activity of chilli plants by decreasing the photosynthetic pigments in leaf chloroplasts of all the genotypes. The levels of ascorbic acid, total soluble sugars and total phenols increased in the leaves of all the genotypes with the maturity of the crop. Electrolyte leakage and proline content also increased with rise in temperature. Genotypes AC 102 and S 343 were able to accumulate the maximum ascorbic acid, proline, total soluble sugars and total phenols under heat stress conditions. Decrease in fruit set percent led to reduction in the total yield per plant. Maximum yield was observed in genotype S 343 followed by FL 201

On the Critical Role of Ferroelectric Thickness for Negative Capacitance Device-Circuit Interaction

This paper demonstrates the critical role that Ferroelectric (FE) layer thickness (tFE) plays in Negative Capacitance (NC) transistors connecting device and circuit levels together. The study is done through fully-calibrated TCAD simulations for a 14nm FDSOI technology node, exploring the impact of tFE on the figures of merit of n-type and p-type devices, voltage transfer characteristic (VTC) and noise margin of inverter as well as the speed of buffer circuits. First, we analyze the device electrical parameters (e.g., ION, SS, ION/IOFF and Cgg) by varying tFE up to the maximum level at which hysteresis in the I-V characteristic starts. Then, we analyze the deleterious impact of Negative Differential Resistance (NDR), due to the drain to gate coupling, demonstrating how it imposes an additional constraint limiting the maximum tFE. We show the consequences of NDR effects on the VTC and noise margin of inverter, which are essential components for constructing robust clock trees in any chip. We demonstrate how the considerable increase in the gate’s capacitance due to FE seriously degrades the circuit’s performance imposing further constraints limiting the maximum tFE. Further, we analyze the impact of tFE on the SRAM cell static performance metrics such hold noise margin (HNM), read noise margin (RNM) and write noise margin (WNM) at supply voltages of 0.7V and 0.4V. We demonstrate that the HNM and RNM in a NC-FDSOI FET based SRAM cell are higher then those of the baseline FDSOI FET based SRAM cell noise margin and further increase with tFE. However, the WNM in general follows a non monotonic trend w.r.t tFE, and the trend also depends on the supply voltage. Finally, we optimize the design of the SRAM cell considering overall performance metrics. All in all, our analysis provides guidance for device and circuit designers to select the optimal FE thickness for NCFETs in which hysteresis-free operations, reliability, and performance are optimized

Rescue medication use as a patient-reported outcome in COPD: a systematic review and regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reducing rescue medication use is a guideline-defined goal of asthma treatment, however, little is known about the validity of rescue medicine use as a marker of symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To improve patient outcomes, greater insight is needed into the relationship between rescue medication use and alternative COPD outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases (Embase®, MEDLINE® and Cochrane CENTRAL) was conducted from database start to 26 May, 2015. Studies of bronchodilator therapy with a duration of ≥24 weeks were included if they reported either mean change from baseline (CFB) in rescue medication use in puffs/day or % rescue-free days (%RFD), and at least one other COPD endpoint. Correlation and meta-regression analyses were undertaken to test the association between rescue medication use and other COPD outcomes using weighted means (weights proportional to the sample size of the treatment group) and unweighted means (equal weight for each treatment group). Each association was assessed at 6 months and study end. RESULTS: Forty-six studies involving 46,531 patients provided mean data from 145 treatment groups for evaluation. Changes in both measures of rescue medication use were correlated with changes in trough forced expiratory volume in one second ([FEV1]; Pearson correlation coefficients |r| ≥ 0.63; p < 0.0001) and with St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score (|r| ≥ 0.70; p < 0.0001) at study end. Change in rescue medication use in puffs/day during the study correlated with annualized rates of moderate/severe exacerbations at 6 months and study end (both r = 0.66; p ≤ 0.0028). CFB in puffs/day was not well correlated with Transition Dyspnoea Index (TDI), but %RFD did correlate with TDI score at 6 months and study end (both r = 0.69; p < 0.0001). The values for CFB in puffs/day corresponding to the proposed minimal clinically important differences for trough FEV1 and SGRQ score were -1.3 and -0.6 puffs/day, respectively. A -1.0 puffs/day CFB in rescue use corresponded to a change of 0.26 events/patient-year in moderate/severe exacerbations. CONCLUSION: This analysis provides clear evidence of associations at a patient group level between rescue medication use and other clinically important COPD outcomes

Clinical evaluation of cases of lower genitourinary tract trauma with special reference to primary realignment in cases of posterior urethral distraction defect

Background: The exact management strategy for lower genitourinary tract trauma remains controversial. Primary realignment with/without suprapubic catheterization provides definitive procedure with low complications and avoids the need for further open surgeries.Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study done on 31 cases with different complaints related to lower tract genitourinary trauma. All patients underwent suprapubic catheterization and/or primary realignment. The outcome was measured in the terms of time for discharge, urinary incontinence, stricture formation, erectile dysfunction and impotence.Results: Maximum proportion of patients with lower genitourinary injuries in the study was in 10-20 years age group (48.4%). Blunt trauma was accounted for 93.6% of lower genitourinary injuries. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause (90.32%) of lower genitourinary injuries. Urinary bladder injuries accounted for 41.9% of all lower genitourinary injuries. Blood at meatus is present in only about half of the significant urethral injuries. Primary realignment of urethral injury results in lesser duration of hospital stay (9.24±2.44 days), shorter length of suprapubic catheterization (11.67±4.78 days) and early spontaneous voiding (40.93±15.79 days). The stricture rate following primary realignment is low (31.25%). Erectile dysfunction was noted only in two patients (16.6%).Conclusions: Management of traumatic urethral disruption by primary realignment serves as ultimate therapy in majority of patients

A Virtual Classroom Via Dataconferencing: A Multi-Institutional Experience

This paper presents the experience of five faculty from four universities who are co-developing and team teaching courses using the world-wide web (WWW). In particular two novel power engineering courses, Flexible Control of Transmission Systems and Flexible Control of Distribuction Systems, introduce the student to the application of power electronic-based controllers, known specifically as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) controllers, to enhance the performance of the transmission and distribution systems in an electric power system. In order to leverage faculty expertise in the various topics included in each course, a unique partnership was formed among five faculty from the following universities: University of Arkansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri--Rolla and Purdue University. In order to achieve the most effective presentation, in the presence of geographical, cost, time and technology constraints, the co-developers decided to pursue various distance learning strategies to link the four universities together in a live interactive virtual classroom utilizing dataconferencing software and the WWW. In this paper we address the trials and tribulations of our experience. In particular, we discuss the use of video tape technology by mail, the use of live audio and video via an integrated service digital network (ISDN) approach, and lastly, dataconferencing software in conjunction with telephone conferencing. Each of these alternative methodologies are examined in detail and are compared and contrasted from a cost and pedagogical point of view based on our experience