gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Swallow segmentation with artificial neural networks and multi-sensor fusion (2009)

Swallow segmentation is a critical precursory step to the analysis of swallowing signal characteristics. In an effort to automatically segment swallows, we investigated artificial neural networks (ANN) with information from cervical dual-axis accelerometry, submental MMG, and nasal airflow. Our objectives were (1) to investigate the relationship between segmentation performance and the number of signal sources and (2) to identify the signals or signal combinations most useful for swallow segmentation. Signals were acquired from 17 healthy adults in both discrete and continuous swallowing tasks using five stimuli. Training and test feature vectors were constructed with variances from single or multiple signals, estimated within 200 ms moving windows with 50% overlap. Corresponding binary target labels (swallow or non-swallow) were derived by manual segmentation. A separate 3-layer ANN was trained for each participant-signal combination, and all possible signal combinations were investigated. As more signal sources were included, segmentation performance improved in terms of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and adjusted accuracy. The combination of all four signal sources achieved the highest mean accuracy and adjusted accuracy of 88.5% and 89.6%, respectively. A-P accelerometry proved to be the most discriminatory source, while the inclusion of MMG or nasal airflow resulted in the least performance improvement. These findings suggest that an ANN, multi-sensor fusion approach to segmentation is worthy of further investigation in swallowing studies.
Cellobiose dehydrogenase, an active agent in cellulose depolymerization (1997)

The ability of cellobiose dehydrogenase purified from Phanerochaete chrysosporium to modify a Douglas fir kraft pulp was assessed. Although the addition of cellobiose dehydrogenase alone had little effect, supplementation with cellobiose and iron resulted in a substantial reduction in the degree of polymerization of the pulp cellulose. When the reaction was monitored over time, a progressive depolymerization of the cellulose was apparent with the concomitant production of cellobiono-1,5-lactone. Analysis of the reaction filtrates indicated that glucose and arabinose were the only neutral sugars generated. These sugars are derived from the degradation of the cellobiose rather than resulting from modifications of the pulp. These results suggest that the action of cellobiose dehydrogenase results in the generation of hydroxyl radicals via Fenton's chemistry which subsequently results in the depolymerization of cellulose. This appears to be the mechanism whereby a substantial reduction in the degree of polymerization of the cellulose can be achieved without a significant release of sugar.
Structural studies of human alkaline phosphatase in complex with strontium: Implication for its secondary effect in bones (2006)

Abstract Strontium is used in the treatment of osteoporosis as a ranelate compound, and in the treatment of painful scattered bone metastases as isotope. At very high doses and in certain conditions, it can lead to osteomalacia characterized by impairment of bone mineralization. The osteomalacia symptoms resemble those of hypophosphatasia, a rare inherited disorder associated with mutations in the gene encoding for tissue‐nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). Human alkaline phosphatases have four metal binding sites—two for zinc, one for magnesium, and one for calcium ion—that can be substituted by strontium. Here we present the crystal structure of strontium‐substituted human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), a related isozyme of TNAP, in which such replacement can have important physiological implications. The structure shows that strontium substitutes the calcium ion with concomitant modification of the metal coordination. The use of the flexible and polarizable force‐field TCPEp (topological and classical polarization effects for proteins) predicts that calcium or strontium has similar interaction energies at the calcium‐binding site of PLAP. Since calcium helps stabilize a large area that includes loops 210–228 and 250–297, its substitution by strontium could affect the stability of this region. Energy calculations suggest that only at high doses of strontium, comparable to those found for calcium, can strontium substitute for calcium. Since osteomalacia is observed after ingestion of high doses of strontium, alkaline phosphatase is likely to be one of the targets of strontium, and thus this enzyme might be involved in this disease.
Air-coupled 40-kHz ultrasonic 2D-phased array based on a 3D-printed waveguide structure (2017)

We present a fully-populated 2D-phased array, capable of emitting directed air-coupled ultrasound at 40 kHz without any grating lobes. In comparison to our previous work [Konetzke et al, IUS 2015], in which we describe a 1D-phased array, we use 3D printing techniques to realize a wave guide structure that fulfills the half-wavelength criteria of 4.3 mm. The key idea is to use the wave-guide structure to separate the vibrating from the acoustic aperture. This is required, since commercially available air-coupled ultrasound transducers are usually optimized to have a certain directivity, and, thus, require a diameter larger than the wavelength. Therefore, these transducers are unsuitable for being used directly in a phased array.
Nuclei of the solitary tract: Efferent projections to the lower brain stem and spinal cord of the cat (1978)

The efferent projections from the solitary complex to the lower brain stem and spinal cord were studied in the cat with the autoradiographic anterograde axonal transport and retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) techniques. A revised cytoarchitectonic description of the caudal two-thirds of the complex is presented in which the complex was subdivided into six nuclei: lateral, ventrolateral, intermediate, medial, parvocellular, and commissural solitary tract nuclei. Following injections of 3H amino acids into electrophysiologically defined regions of the complex in which cardiac or respiratory units were recorded, labeled fibers could be traced to a number of sites in the caudal brain stem including the medial and lateral parabrachial nuclei, Kölliker-Fuse nucleus and the area ventral to this nucleus, lateral periaqueductal gray matter, ambiguus complex, which consists of the retrofacial, ambiguus and retroambiguus nuclei, ventrolateral reticular nucleus (in an area equivalent to the A1 cell group of Dahlström and Fuxe, '64), medial accessory olive, paramedian reticular formation, and lateral cuneate nucleus. Descending solitario-spinal projections have been traced bilaterally, but predominantly to the contralateral side, to the region of the phrenic motor neurons in the C4-C6 ventral horn, to the thoracic ventral horn, and intermediolateral cell column. Confirmatory evidence of some of these projections was obtained from a series of HRP experiments. Mainly small neurons of the parvocellular, medial and commissural solitary tract nuclei project to the region of the parabrachial and Kölliker-Fuse nuclei. The lateral solitary nucleus projects almost exclusively to the ipsilateral medial accessory olive. It was not possible to interpret conclusively the labeling seen in the medium and large neurons of the ventrolateral solitary nucleus after HRP injections made in the region of the ambiguus-retroambiguus complex due to the problem of fibers of passage. Following injections of HRP into the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral spinal cord, retrograde cell labeling was seen in the solitary complex. Cells in the intermediate and commissural nuclei were labeled after all four types of experiments. In the ventrolateral nucleus, medium sized neurons were predominantly labeled after the cervical spinal cord experiments, while large sized neurons were labeled mainly after the thoracic spinal cord injections. The potential physiological significance of these connections is discussed in terms of central control of cardiovascular and respiratory functions.
Active-R Bandpass Filter Design Using Hybrid-Pi Transistor Model. (1978)

A design procedure is developed for a bandpass filter utilizing five bipolar transistors and no external capacitors. Base resistors of a three-stage amplifier are used to set a third-order open-loop pole at a location given in terms of the center frequency and bandwidth of the filter. A feedback resistor, also given in terms of the center frequency and bandwidth, is then used to move the poles to the final location. A test circuit is constructed and compared with a computer simulation. Limitations of the circuit are discussed. (Author)
Quantum Dot Biosensors for Ultrasensitive Multiplexed Diagnostics (2010)

Colorful bioassays: Time- and color-resolved detection of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from luminescent terbium complexes to different semiconductor quantum dots results in a fivefold multiplexed bioassay with sub-picomolar detection limits for all five bioanalytes (see picture). The detection of up to five biomarkers occurs with a sensitivity that is 40–-240-fold higher than one of the best-established single-analyte reference assays.
Furcatin Hydrolase from Viburnum furcatum Blume Is a Novel Disaccharide-specific Acuminosidase in Glycosyl Hydrolase Family 1 (2004)

Furcatin hydrolase (FH) is a unique disaccharide-specific acuminosidase, which hydrolyzes furcatin (p-allylphenyl 6-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (acuminoside)) into p-allylphenol and the disaccharide acuminose. We have isolated a cDNA coding for FH from Viburnum furcatum leaves. The open reading frame in the cDNA encoded a 538-amino acid polypeptide including a putative chloroplast transit peptide. The deduced protein showed 64% identity with tea leaf beta-primeverosidase, which is another disaccharide glycosidase specific to beta-primeverosides (6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosides). The deduced FH also shared greater than 50% identity with various plant beta-glucosidases in glycosyl hydrolase family 1. The recombinant FH expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited the highest level of activity toward furcatin with a Km value of 2.2 mm and specifically hydrolyzed the beta-glycosidic bond between p-allylphenol and acuminose, confirming FH as a disaccharide glycosidase. The FH also hydrolyzed beta-primeverosides and beta-vicianoside (6-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) but poorly hydrolyzed beta-gentiobiosides (6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-d-glucopyranosides), indicating high substrate specificity for the disaccharide glycone moiety. The FH exhibited activity toward p-allylphenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside containing the same aglycone as furcatin but little activity toward the other beta-D-glucopyranosides. Stereochemical analysis using 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that FH is a retaining glycosidase. The subcellular localization of FH was analyzed using green fluorescent protein fused with the putative N-terminal signal peptide, indicating that FH is localized to the chloroplast. Phylogenetic analysis of plant beta-glucosidases revealed that FH clusters with beta-primeverosidase, and this suggests that the disaccharide glycosidases will form a new subfamily in glycosyl hydrolase family 1.
Autocrine interleukin-6 production in renal cell carcinoma: evidence for the involvement of p53. (2002)

Interleukin (IL)-6 is an autocrine growth factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We sought to determine whether p53 regulates constitutive IL-6 production. RCC cell lines containing mutant (mut) p53 produced higher levels of IL-6 than those containing wild-type (wt) p53 (P < 0.05). Transfection of wt p53 into RCC cell lines bearing mut p53 (UOK 121LN) or wt p53 (A498 and ACHN) resulted in repression of IL-6 promoter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity (P < 0.05). Mutant p53 was either less effective at repressing IL-6 promoter activity (ACHN cells) or enhanced IL-6 promoter activity (A498 cells). A498 cells stably transfected with mut p53 produced higher levels of IL-6 than A498 cells transfected with an empty expression vector (P < 0.05). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed decreased binding of CAAT enhancer binding protein, cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein, +/- nuclear factor-kappaB transcription factors to the IL-6 promoter in various RCC cell lines transfected with wt p53 (P < 0.05) but not in those transfected with mut p53. These data suggest that: (a) mutation of p53 contributes to the overexpression of IL-6 in RCC; and (b) wt p53 represses IL-6 expression, at least in part, by interfering with specific transcription factor binding to the IL-6 promoter.
A dictionary of plant pathology (1990)

Acknowledgements Introduction For the user Major texts Abbreviations and conventions Dictionary.
Viral vectors for cystic fibrosis gene therapy: What does the future hold? (2010)

Abstract: Gene transfer to the airway epithelium has been more difficult than originally anticipated, largely because of significant extra- and intracellular barriers in the lung. In general, viral vectors are more adapted to overcoming these barriers than nonviral gene transfer agents and are, therefore, more efficient in transferring genes into recipient cells. Viral vectors derived from adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and Sendai virus, which all have a natural tropism for the airway epithelium, have been evaluated for cystic fibrosis (CF) gene therapy. Although these vectors transduce airway epithelial cells efficiently, gene expression is transient and repeated administration is inefficient. They are, therefore, unlikely to be suitable for CF gene therapy. More recently, lentiviruses (LV) have been assessed for lung gene transfer. In contrast to retroviruses, they transduce nondividing cells and randomly integrate into the genome. However, LVs do not have a natural tropism for the lung, and a significant amount of effort has been put into pseudotyping these vectors with proteins suitable for airway gene transfer. Several studies have shown that LV-mediated transduction leads to persistent gene expression (for the lifetime of the animal) in the airways and, importantly, repeated administration is feasible. Thus, appropriately pseudotyped LV vectors are promising candidates for CF gene therapy. Here, we will review preclinical and clinical research related to viral CF gene therapy. Keywords: cystic fibrosis, gene therapy, adenovirus, AAV, lentivirus, Sendai virus
Anastomotic disjunction in long-term patent vascular synthetic grafts in Dacron. (1993)

This study follows the recently published paper on the in vivo behaviour of patent Dacron vascular prostheses and focuses in particular on anastomotic disjunction. The question of the evolution of anastomoses was tackled by examining its three basic components: prosthetic tissue, suture thread and arterial wall. The authors' observations were based on material taken from reoperations performed between 7 and 18 years after the first graft. These data enable the authors to affirm that the prosthesis undergoes a general physical and chemical deterioration which varies in intensity according to the type of weaving. On the contrary, in the anastomotic zone this phenomenon is not intense enough to jeopardize the anchorage of the suture thread since the original weft does not show any loss of compactness. In spite of surface morphological deterioration of various intensity, the suture threads maintain satisfactory mechanical properties and structural integrity. The artery wall in the anastomotic zone shows a massive degeneration in terms of its true anatomic structure responsible for the rupture of the suture rima. On the basis of these results the authors conclude that this phenomenon represents the "Achilles' heel" of anastomotic junction.
Recommended standards for digital tape formats (1975)

Abstract Recently a new demand for demultiplexed formats has arisen in the seismic industry due to the utilization of minicomputers in digital field recording systems and because of a growing need to standardize an acceptable data exchange format.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin protein and gene therapies decrease autoimmunity and delay arthritis development in mouse model (2011)

These results present a new drug for arthritis therapy. Human AAT protein and gene therapies are able to ameliorate and delay arthritis development and reduce autoimmunity, indicating promising potential of these therapies as a new treatment strategy for RA.
T cell clones from psoriasis skin lesions can promote keratinocyte proliferation in vitro via secreted products (1994)

Psoriasis vulgaris has been recognized lately as an immunologically mediated inflammatory skin disease. To analyze the pathogenetic role of T lymphocytes in the generation of psoriatic skin lesions, 105 T cell clones (TCC) and 10 T cell lines (TCL) were differentially isolated from dermis and epidermis of psoriatic skin specimens. Supernatants prepared from these T cells were studied for their effects on keratinocyte proliferation in vitro. Conditioned media from 14 of 77 epidermal TCC, 7 of which were CD8+, and from 8 of 28 dermal TCC, 5 of which were CD8+, reproducibly enhanced keratinocyte proliferation, with more pronounced mitogenic activities found in dermal TCC. Another 9 epidermal and 3 dermal TCC did not affect keratinocyte growth and supernatants from the remaining clones, as well as from the 5 epidermal and 5 dermal TCL, inhibited keratinocyte replication to varying degrees. Both mitogenic and suppressive activities were largely abolished by addition of an antiserum to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), while addition of epidermal growth factor or irradiated psoriatic TCL had little effect on the activities of the supernatants. These studies reveal that a subpopulation of lesional psoriatic T lymphocytes is capable of enhancing keratinocyte proliferation in vitro via secreted products. Their mitogenic capacity most likely requires IFN-gamma, but the ultimate effect is apparently determined by the presence of additional cytokines. Activation of T cells secreting such combinations of factors in vivo may contribute to the keratinocyte alterations characteristic of psoriatic skin lesions.
Insight into the mechanism of aromatic hydroxylation by toluene 4-monooxygenase by use of specifically deuterated toluene and p- xylene (2003)

The present studies address the mechanism of aromatic hydroxylation used by the natural and G103L isoforms of the diiron enzyme toluene 4-monooxygenase. These isoforms have comparable catalytic parameters but distinct regiospecificities for toluene hydroxylation. Hydroxylation of ring-deuterated p-xylene by the natural isoform revealed a substantial inverse isotope effect of 0.735, indicating a change in hybridization from sp(2) to sp(3) for hydroxylation at a carbon atom bearing the deuteron. During the hydroxylation of 4-(2)H(1)- and 3,5-(2)H(2)-toluene, similar magnitudes of intramolecular isotope effects and patterns of deuterium retention were observed from both isoforms studied, indicating that the active-site mutation affected substrate orientation but did not influence the mechanism of hydroxylation. The results with deuterated toluenes show inverse intramolecular isotope effects for hydroxylation at the position of deuteration, normal secondary isotope effects for hydroxylation adjacent to the position of deuteration, near-quantitative deuterium retention in m-cresol obtained from 4-(2)H(1)-toluene, and partial loss of deuterium from all phenolic products obtained from 3,5-(2)H(2)-toluene. This combination of results suggests that an active site-directed opening of position-specific transient epoxide intermediates may contribute to the chemical mechanism and the high degree of regiospecificity observed for aromatic hydroxylation in this evolutionarily specialized diiron enzyme.
Dendritic Poly(ethylene glycol) Bearing Paclitaxel and Alendronate for Targeting Bone Neoplasms (2011)

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is the most popular polymer for protein conjugation, but its potential as carrier of low molecular weight drugs has been limited by the intrinsic low loading, owing to its chemical structure. In fact, only the two end chain groups of PEG can be modified and exploited for drug coupling. We have demonstrated that by synthesizing a dendrimer structure at the polymer end chains, it is possible to increase the drug payload and overcome this limitation. Furthermore, this approach can be improved by using heterobifunctional PEG. These polymers allow the precise linking of two different drugs, or a drug and a targeting agent, on the same polymeric chain. Heterobifunctional PEG-dendrimers have been obtained with defined chemical structures leading to their attractive use as drug delivery systems. In fact, they offer a double benefit; first, the possibility to choose the best drug/targeting agent ratio, and second, the separation of the two functions, activity and targeting, which are coupled at the opposite polymer end chains. In this study, we investigated the role of a PEG-dendrimer, H(2)N-PEG-dendrimer-(COOH)(4), as carrier for a combination of paclitaxel (PTX) and alendronate (ALN). PTX is a potent anticancer drug that is affected by severe side effects originating from both the drug itself and its solubilizing formulation, Cremophor EL. ALN is an aminobiphosphonate used for the treatment of osteoporosis and bone metastases as well as a bone-targeting moiety. The PTX-PEG-ALN conjugate was designed to exploit active targeting by the ALN molecule and passive targeting through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Our conjugate demonstrated a great binding affinity to the bone mineral hydroxyapatite in vitro and an IC(50) comparable to that of the free drugs combination in human adenocarcinoma of the prostate (PC3) cells. The PTX-PEG-ALN conjugate exhibited an improved pharmacokinetic profile compared with the free drugs owed to the marked increase in their half-life. In addition, PTX-PEG-ALN could be solubilized directly in physiological solutions without the need for Cremophor EL. The data presented in this manuscript encourage further investigations on the potential of PTX-PEG-ALN as treatment for cancer bone metastases.
Electrokinetically Controlled DNA Hybridization Microfluidic Chip Enabling Rapid Target Analysis (2004)

Biosensors and more specifically biochips exploit the interactions between a target analyte and an immobilized biological recognition element to produce a measurable signal. Systems based on surface nucleic acid hybridization, such as microarrays, are particularly attractive due to the high degree of selectivity in the binding interactions. One of the drawbacks of this reaction is the relatively long time required for complete hybridization to occur, which is often the result of diffusion-limited reaction kinetics. In this work, an electrokinetically controlled DNA hybridization microfluidic chip will be introduced. The electrokinetic delivery technique provides the ability to dispense controlled samples of nanoliter volumes directly to the hybridization array (thereby increasing the reaction rate) and rapidly remove nonspecific adsorption, enabling the hybridization, washing, and scanning procedures to be conducted simultaneously. The result is that all processes from sample dispensing to hybridization detection can be completed in as little as 5 min. The chip also demonstrates an efficient hybridization scheme in which the probe saturation level is reached very rapidly as the targets are transported over the immobilized probe site enabling quantitative analysis of the sample concentration. Detection levels as low as 50 pM have been recorded using an epifluorescence microscope.