gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Development of a multiplex-PCR for direct detection of the genes for enterotoxin B and C, and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in Staphylococcus aureus isolates (1998)

As well as conventional methods such as immunodiffusion, ELISA, or agglutination for the detection of toxin production in Staphylococcus aureus, amplification techniques like PCR allow a very sensitive and specific identification of the genes responsible for enterotoxin B and C, and TSST-1 production. These toxins might be a cause of the toxic shock syndrome (TSS). For that reason an easy and quick test system for determining the toxin production pattern of S. aureus isolates is desirable so that strains suspected to be toxin producers may be identified much faster and easier. In the present investigation, a new multiplex-PCR method was used that allowed single bacterial colonies grown on agar plates to be used directly in the PCR assay without preceding preparation. This procedure generated information concerning the presence of seb, sec-1 and tst genes within 4 h in a single test. To analyse the sensitivity and the specificity of this procedure, 100 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 50 coagulase-negative staphylococci and 50 other eubacterial isolates were tested initially with sets of single primer pairs followed by a combined multiplex-PCR. Results of this amplification technique were compared to a conventional and widely used method for toxin detection, reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA). With the RPLA assay results as the basis, sensitivity and specificity of the seb and tst primer sets were 100%, whereas sensitivity and specificity of the sec-1 primer set were 100% and 82%, respectively. With the sec-1 primer set, two isolates were identified as carrying the corresponding toxin gene although the RPLA test did not show any detectable toxin. The multiplex-PCR rapidly generated reliable information concerning the toxin-producing capacity of staphylococcal strains and could be easily integrated into a multiplex procedure described previously. The latter enabled the identification of specific PCR products for eubacteria and staphylococci as well as the detection of the coa and mecA genes.
A Reversible and Higher-Rate Li-O 2 Battery (2012)

The rechargeable nonaqueous lithium-air (Li-O(2)) battery is receiving a great deal of interest because, theoretically, its specific energy far exceeds the best that can be achieved with lithium-ion cells. Operation of the rechargeable Li-O(2) battery depends critically on repeated and highly reversible formation/decomposition of lithium peroxide (Li(2)O(2)) at the cathode upon cycling. Here, we show that this process is possible with the use of a dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte and a porous gold electrode (95% capacity retention from cycles 1 to 100), whereas previously only partial Li(2)O(2) formation/decomposition and limited cycling could occur. Furthermore, we present data indicating that the kinetics of Li(2)O(2) oxidation on charge is approximately 10 times faster than on carbon electrodes.
THE MEDIAL TEMPORAL LOBE (2004)

The medial temporal lobe includes a system of anatomically related structures that are essential for declarative memory (conscious memory for facts and events). The system consists of the hippocampal region (CA fields, dentate gyrus, and subicular complex) and the adjacent perirhinal, entorhinal, and parahippocampal cortices. Here, we review findings from humans, monkeys, and rodents that illuminate the function of these structures. Our analysis draws on studies of human memory impairment and animal models of memory impairment, as well as neurophysiological and neuroimaging data, to show that this system (a) is principally concerned with memory, (b) operates with neocortex to establish and maintain long-term memory, and (c) ultimately, through a process of consolidation, becomes independent of long-term memory, though questions remain about the role of perirhinal and parahippocampal cortices in this process and about spatial memory in rodents. Data from neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and neuroanatomy point to a division of labor within the medial temporal lobe. However, the available data do not support simple dichotomies between the functions of the hippocampus and the adjacent medial temporal cortex, such as associative versus nonassociative memory, episodic versus semantic memory, and recollection versus familiarity.
A new paradigm for the closed-loop intraoperative administration of analgesics in humans (2002)

We present a new paradigm for the closed-loop administration of analgesics during general anesthesia. The manipulated variable in the control system is the infusion rate of the opiate alfentanil, administered intravenously through a computer-controlled infusion pump (CCIP). The outputs to be controlled are the patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the drug concentration in the plasma. Maintaining MAP within appropriate ranges provides optimal treatment of the patient's reactions to surgical stimuli. Maintaining plasma drug concentrations close to a reference value specified by the anesthesiologist allows to titrate analgesic administration to qualitative clinical end-points of insufficient analgesia. MAP is acquired invasively through a catheter cannula. Since plasma drug concentrations cannot be measured on-line, they are estimated via a pharmacokinetic model. We describe an explicit model-predictive controller which achieves the above-mentioned objectives. An upper constraint on drug concentrations is maintained to avoid overdosing. Constraints on the MAP are introduced to trigger a prompt controller reaction during hypertensive and hypotensive periods. Measurement artifacts in the MAP signal are rejected to prevent harmful misbehavior of the controller. We discuss the results of the clinical validation of the controller on humans.
Sucrose-based fabrication of 3D-networked, cylindrical microfluidic channels for rapid prototyping of lab-on-a-chip and vaso-mimetic devices (2012)

We present a new fabrication scheme for 3D-networked, cylindrical microfluidic (MF) channels based on shaping, bonding, and assembly of sucrose fibers. It is a simple, cleanroom-free, and environment-friendly method, ideal for rapid prototyping of lab-on-a-chip devices. Despite its simplicity, it can realize complex 3D MF channel architectures such as cylindrical tapers, internal loops, end-to-side junctions, tapered junctions, and stenosis. The last two will be of special use for realizing vaso-mimetic MF structures. It also enables molding with polymers incompatible with high-temperature processing.
A 390-mm/sup 2/, 16-bank, 1-Gb DDR SDRAM with hybrid bitline architecture (1999)

A 390-mm/sup 2/, 16-bank, 1-Gb, double-data-rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) has been fabricated in fully planarized 0.175-/spl mu/m, 8F/sup 2/ trench cell technology. The 1-Gb SDRAM employs a hybrid bitline architecture with 512 cells/local-bitline (LBL). Four LBL pairs are connected through multiplexers to each sense amplifier (SA). Two of the LBL pairs are coupled to the SA by wiring over two other LBL pairs using hierarchical bitlines. This results in a reduction of the number of the SA's to 1/4, reducing the chip size by 6%. A hierarchical column-select-line scheme is incorporated with a hierarchical dataline (MDQ) architecture. This makes 16-bank organization possible while sharing hierarchical column decoders and second sense amplifiers. A hierarchical 8-b prefetch scheme employs four MDQ's for each read-write drive (RWD) and two RWD's for each DQ. This reduces the frequencies of the MDQ's and the RWD's to 1/8 and 1/2, respectively. A 1-V swing signaling on the RWD is used to reduce the burst current by 18 mA. The 1-V swing signaling is successfully converted to 2.1 V with self-timed first-in, first-out circuitry. The hardware data demonstrate 400-Mb/s/pin operation with a 16-mm TSOP-II package. Seamless burst operation at various frequencies has also been confirmed. These features result in a 1.6-Gb/s data rate for /spl times/32 200-MHz DDR operation with a cell/chip area efficiency of 67.5%.
Coherent Optical Control of the Quantum State of a Single Quantum Dot (1998)

Picosecond optical excitation was used to coherently control the excitation in a single quantum dot on a time scale that is short compared with the time scale for loss of quantum coherence. The excitonic wave function was manipulated by controlling the optical phase of the two-pulse sequence through timing and polarization. Wave function engineering techniques, developed in atomic and molecular systems, were used to monitor and control a nonstationary quantum mechanical state composed of a superposition of eigenstates. The results extend the concept of coherent control in semiconductors to the limit of a single quantum system in a zero-dimensional quantum dot.
Rh(DIP)33+: a shape-selective metal complex which targets cruciforms (1988)

The coordination complex tris(4,7-diphenylphenanthroline)rhodium(III), Rh(DIP)3(3+), binds to and, upon photoactivation, cleaves both DNA strands near the base of a DNA cruciform. Sites of photoinduced double-stranded DNA cleavage by the rhodium complex map to regions containing cruciforms on closed circular pBR322, pColE1 and phi X174 (replicative form) DNAs. Neither cleavage nor binding by the metal complex, assayed using S1 nuclease, is found on the linear plasmid which lacks the extruded cruciform. High resolution mapping experiments reveal that Rh(DIP)3(3+) cleaves at a specific AT-rich site neighboring the stem of the minor cruciform on pBR322. The primary site of cleavage is found at position 3238 on the 3'-strand and 3250 on the 5'-strand and is remarkably specific. The pattern of cleavage, to one side only of the cruciform stem, indicates an asymmetry in the cruciform structure recognized by the complex. These results suggest that Rh(DIP)3(3+) may provide a useful reagent to probe cruciform sites. In addition, the high degree of specificity found in targeting the cruciform structure with this simple metal complex underscores the utility of shape-selection for the recognition of specific sites on a DNA strand.
The Action of Nine Chelators on Iron-Dependent Radical Damage (1994)

Nine iron chelators were tested in five systems for their effects on radical-generation and conversion at chelator: iron molar ratios from 0.1 to 10. Stimulatory actions might distinguish toxic from safer chelators. Radical-generating reactions which represent different aspects of iron (ferrous and ferric) availability were studied: a) the reaction with hydrogen peroxide to hydroxylate benzoate; b) the oxidation of ascorbate; c) the reaction with hydrogen peroxide to fragment proteins; d) the reaction with hydrogen peroxide to permit amplified chemiluminescence; and e) the induction of peroxidation of mitochondrial membrane lipids. The compounds used were HBED, CP130, Desferal, EDTA, pyridine-hydrazone (CGP 43'902B), Ferrozine, CP94 (CGP 46'700), L1 (CGP 37,391) and rhodotorulic acid (CGP 45 274). Only the hexadentate compounds HBED, CP130 and Desferal were uniformly inhibitory ("protective"). The protective compounds were also apparently more stable during radical fluxes than the other chelators.
Diversity in bacterial lysis systems: bacteriophages show the way (2012)

Bacteriophages have developed multiple host cell lysis strategies to promote release of descendant virions from infected bacteria. This review is focused on the lysis mechanisms employed by tailed double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, where new developments have recently emerged. These phages seem to use a least common denominator to induce lysis, the so-called holin-endolysin dyad. Endolysins are cell wall-degrading enzymes whereas holins form 'holes' in the cytoplasmic membrane at a precise scheduled time. The latter function was long viewed as essential to provide a pathway for endolysin escape to the cell wall. However, recent studies have shown that phages can also exploit the host cell secretion machinery to deliver endolysins to their target and subvert the bacterial autolytic arsenal to effectively accomplish lysis. In these systems the membrane-depolarizing holin function still seems to be essential to activate secreted endolysins. New lysis players have also been uncovered that promote degradation of particular bacterial cell envelopes, such as that of mycobacteria.
Blocking of threading dislocations by Hg1−xCdxTe expitaxial layers (1984)

The process by which threading dislocations present in the substrate are bent into the interface plane during epitaxial layer growth and thus are blocked from propagating into the epitaxial layer has been observed in growth of the II-VI ternary alloy Hg1−xCdxTe on CdTe and Cd1−zZnzTe substrates. Stereo-pair transmission electron micrographs were analyzed which clearly revealed the interfacial dislocations to be in a planar network, as has been previously reported for III-V epitaxial systems in which the blocking mechanism has been identified by other investigators. Additional evidence of the blocking phenomenon has been provided by chemical dislocation-revealing etching, which verified that the substrate dislocations were not present in the layer.
Sputtered barium titanate and barium strontium titanate films for capacitor applications (2002)

Thin barium titanate and barium strontium titanate films are being developed as dielectric film for use in dc-dc converters. Thin BaTiO/sub 3/ (BT) and (BaSr)TiO/sub 3/ (BST) film capacitor devices were fabricated using RF magnetron sputtering techniques. The typical dielectric constant of these film capacitors was in the range of 300 to 690. These film capacitors had dissipation factors between 0.2% to 0.6% before annealing. The film capacitors have breakdown voltages in the range of 1/spl times/10/sup 5/ to 1.2/spl times/10/sup 6/ V/cm. The resistivity was in the range of 10/sup 13/ to 10/sup 14/ ohm-cm. Annealing significantly increased the value of the dielectric constant. Annealing also increased the value of the dissipation factors up to 2%. The capacitance of these films had little dependence on frequency from 400 Hz to 100 kHz. Thermal cycling in the temperature range of 50 to 300/spl deg/C had very limited impact on the capacitance and dissipation factor. Measurements of dielectric and material properties are reported.
Complete band gaps in two-dimensional photonic quasicrystals (2009)

We introduce an optimization method to design examples of photonic quasicrystals with substantial, complete photonic band gaps; that is, a range of frequencies over which electromagnetic wave propagation is forbidden for all directions and polarizations. The method can be applied to photonic quasicrystals with arbitrary rotational symmetry; here, we illustrate the results for fivefold and eightfold symmetric quasicrystals. The optimized band gaps are highly isotropic, which may offer advantages over photonic crystals for certain applications.
Monolayers of Natural and Recombinant Photosystem II on Gold Electrodes—Potentials for Use as Biosensors for Detection of Herbicides (2004)

Abstract Two methods for monolayer immobilization of photosystem II (PSII) isolated from thermophilic cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus and prospects for its use as a biosensor for detection of herbicides are reported: (i) immobilization based on recombinant (His)6‐tagged PSII coupled with nickel‐nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni‐NTA) chelator monolayer on Au electrode. (ii) immobilization based on the natural PSII coupled with the protein A‐anti‐D1 antibody modified Au electrode. Here, Cysteamine (CYS)‐self‐assembled monolayer (SAM)‐(NTA)‐PSII monolayers were compared with traditional bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐glutaraldehyde (GA)‐PSII crosslinked gel matrix and better performances of the derived electrochemical biosensors were pointed out. Better diffusion of inhibitors and mediators resulted in improved sensitivity, velocity of the response, and lower I 50 for herbicides.
Craniofacial Tissue Engineering by Stem Cells (2006)

Craniofacial tissue engineering promises the regeneration or de novo formation of dental, oral, and craniofacial structures lost to congenital anomalies, trauma, and diseases. Virtually all craniofacial structures are derivatives of mesenchymal cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are the offspring of mesenchymal cells following asymmetrical division, and reside in various craniofacial structures in the adult. Cells with characteristics of adult stem cells have been isolated from the dental pulp, the deciduous tooth, and the periodontium. Several craniofacial structures--such as the mandibular condyle, calvarial bone, cranial suture, and subcutaneous adipose tissue--have been engineered from mesenchymal stem cells, growth factor, and/or gene therapy approaches. As a departure from the reliance of current clinical practice on durable materials such as amalgam, composites, and metallic alloys, biological therapies utilize mesenchymal stem cells, delivered or internally recruited, to generate craniofacial structures in temporary scaffolding biomaterials. Craniofacial tissue engineering is likely to be realized in the foreseeable future, and represents an opportunity that dentistry cannot afford to miss.
SACRAL NEUROMODULATION FOR NEUROGENIC BLADDER DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN (2004)

SNM is a promising new therapeutic modality. Implant placement is minimally invasive, nondestructive and reversible. Use in children with neurogenic bladder has not been previously reported. Although some improvement was noted in patients treated with SNM, the difference with the control group was not significant. A larger multicenter study is warranted to evaluate SNM.
TCAD development for lithography resolution enhancement (2001)

Advances in lithography have contributed significantly to the advancement of the integrated circuit technology. While non-optical next-generation lithography (NGL) solutions are being developed, optical lithography continues to be the workhorse for high-throughput very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) lithography. Extending optical lithography to the resolution levels necessary to support today's aggressive product road maps increasingly requires the use of resolution-enhancement techniques. This paper presents an overview of several resolution-enhancement techniques being developed and implemented in IBM for its leading-edge CMOS logic and memory products.
Clinical Utility of an Automated Immunochemiluminometric Thyroglobulin Assay in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma (2006)

The Tg-ICMA is a sensitive and reproducible assay for identifying patients in follow-up for DTC with evidence of disease, but uncertainty remains with regard to interpreting findings of measurable serum Tg in patients with no evidence of disease. Follow-up data are required to determine the predictive value of these isolated Tg results. New concepts, i.e., serial Tg measurements and risk stratification of patients, need to be tested to confirm the applicability of this assay for clinical practice.
Angiogenesis induction by tumors, embryonic tissues, and lymphocytes. (1976)

Although it is well established that tumors can induce endothelial cell mitosis and angiogenesis leading to extensive neovascularization, little is known concerning the spectrum of normal cells or tissues that may have similar inductive capabilities. A variety of developmentally active tissues were tested: mouse embryonic organ rudiments, mouse and rabbit trophoblast and placenta, and blastemal fragments obtained from regnerating deer antlers. Assays for angiogenesis included grafts made to the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryos and grafts placed intracorneally in adult rabbit eyes. Virtually all of these test tissues were negative, the only exceptions being some antler grafts and some grafts obtained from metanephric tubules of the embryonic mouse kidney.
Psychiatric disorder and gynaecological symptoms in middle aged women: a community survey. (1987)

In a community survey 521 women aged 35-59 were selected at random from all patients registered in two groups practices. They were interviewed at home and assessed by means of standardised psychiatric measures and detailed gynaecological inquiry. Levels of psychiatric morbidity were found to be within the expected range for such a sample. Both psychiatric morbidity and the personality dimension of neuroticism were significantly associated with gynaecological symptoms, including dysmenorrhoea and premenstrual tension, some symptoms of excessive menstruation, and flushes and sweats but not disappearance of menstruation for over six months. Current psychiatric state was significantly associated with recent adverse life events and with indices of psychiatric vulnerability (neuroticism and previous psychiatric history), suggesting possible aetiological links with gynaecological symptoms. The findings of this study have implications for the management of gynaecological complaints in general practice.
CD59, a Complement Regulatory Protein, Controls Choroidal Neovascularization in a Mouse Model of Wet-Type Age-Related Macular Degeneration (2007)

We have shown that membrane attack complex (MAC) formation via the activation of the alternative pathway plays a central role in the laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV). This study was undertaken to understand the role of a complement regulatory protein, CD59, which controls MAC assembly and function, in this model. CNV was induced by laser photocoagulation in C57BL/6 and Cd59a(-/-) mice using an argon laser. Animals from each group were sacrificed on day 1, 3, 5, and 7 postlaser. Retinal pigment epithelium-choroid-scleral tissue was examined to determine the incidence and size of CNV complex, and semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis for CD59a was studied. Recombinant soluble mouse CD59a-IgG2a fusion (rsCD59a-Fc) protein was injected via i.p. or intravitreal routes 24 h before laser. Our results demonstrated that CD59a (both mRNA and protein) was down-regulated during laser-induced CNV. Cd59a(-/-) mice developed CNV complex early in the disease process. Increased MAC deposition was also observed in these Cd59a(-/-) mice. Administration of rsCD59a-Fc inhibited the development of CNV complex in the mouse model by blocking MAC formation and also inhibited expression of angiogenic growth factors. These data provide strong evidence that CD59a plays a crucial role in regulating complement activation and MAC formation essential for the release of growth factors that drive the development of laser-induced CNV in mice. Thus, our results suggest that the inhibition of complement by soluble CD59 may provide a novel therapeutic alternative to current treatment.