gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Real-time, 3D estimation of human body postures from trinocular images (2003)

This paper proposes a new real-time method for estimating human postures in 3D from trinocular images. In this method, an upper body orientation detection and a heuristic contour analysis are performed on the human silhouettes extracted from the trinocular images so that representative points such as the top of the head can be located. The major joint positions are estimated based on a genetic algorithm based learning procedure. 3D coordinates of the representative points and joints are then obtained from the two views by evaluating the appropriateness of the three views. The proposed method implemented on a personal computer runs in real-time (30 frames/second). Experimental results show high estimation accuracies and the effectiveness of the view selection process.
Stabilization of G protein-coupled receptors by point mutations (2015)

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are flexible integral membrane proteins involved in transmembrane signaling. Their involvement in many physiological processes makes them interesting targets for drug development. Determination of the structure of these receptors will help to design more specific drugs, however, their structural characterization has so far been hampered by the low expression and their inherent instability in detergents which made protein engineering indispensable for structural and biophysical characterization. Several approaches to stabilize the receptors in a particular conformation have led to breakthroughs in GPCR structure determination. These include truncations of the flexible regions, stabilization by antibodies and nanobodies, fusion partners, high affinity and covalently bound ligands as well as conformational stabilization by mutagenesis. In this review we focus on stabilization of GPCRs by insertion of point mutations, which lead to increased conformational and thermal stability as well as improved expression levels. We summarize existing mutagenesis strategies with different coverage of GPCR sequence space and depth of information, design and transferability of mutations and the molecular basis for stabilization. We also discuss whether mutations alter the structure and pharmacological properties of GPCRs.
Fc-Disabled Anti-Mouse CD40L Antibodies Retain Efficacy in Promoting Transplantation Tolerance (2008)

CD40L antibodies have proven to be powerful immunosuppressive agents in nonhuman primates but unfortunately perturb blood coagulation. Neither the therapeutic nor the prothrombotic mechanism of anti-CD40L is defined sufficiently to determine whether these effects can be uncoupled. Recent evidence suggests that the Fc region of anti-CD40L antibodies interacting with Fc receptors plays an important role in stabilizing platelet aggregates. An Fc-disabled, aglycosylated anti-CD40L heavy chain variant was therefore created to determine whether it might still be useful in promoting transplantation tolerance. In a number of mouse models an engineered aglycosyl anti-CD40L recapitulated the effects of the intact anti-CD40L antibody in tolerance protocols involving transplantation of allogeneic bone marrow and skin. In contrast, another anti-CD40L variant with a conventional rat gamma2b heavy chain was less effective in ensuring long-term skin graft survival, possibly associated with its faster clearance from the circulation. These results show that short pulses of anti-CD40L antibody therapy may still be useful in tolerance protocols even when the Fc region is disabled.
Synthesis and Characterization of Thermo-Sensitive Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications (2008)

The aim of this research project was to develop new temperature sensitive nanoparticles that have a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) that is above body temperature and can be incorporated with various molecules at the surface. The poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide-co-allylamine) (NIPA-AAm-AH) nanoparticles were synthesized through a free radical polymerization method. NIPA was polymerized with AAm and AH to increase the LCST and to provide amine groups for functionalization, respectively. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and laser scattering technology, the sizes of these nanoparticles were found to be inversely proportional to the surfactant concentrations. In addition, the LCST of the 100-nm NIPA-AAm-AH nanoparticles was approximately 40 degrees C measured by a spectrophotometer. The chemical composition of the NIPA-AAm-AH nanoparticles determined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) also confirmed the presence of functional groups of each monomer. The nanoparticles were also successfully conjugated to bovine anti-rabbit IgG-Texas Red as a model for future bioconjugation. Furthermore, nanoparticles did not show significant cytotoxicity activity against human fibroblast cells. Finally, doxorubicin (DOX) was used in order to investigate the drug release profiles of the NIPA-AAm-AH nanoparticles at different temperatures. The results indicated that DOX was released more at 41 degrees C compared to that of 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C, which is evidence for temperature sensitivity of the nanoparticles. Future work will investigate the pharmacological and targeted capabilities of the synthesized nanoparticles conjugated to antibodies for possible application in controlled and targeted drug delivery.
Designing outcome studies to determine efficacy and safety of antipsychotics for ‘real world’ treatment of schizophrenia (2010)

Over the last 5 years, some studies have questioned the efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics over first-generation neuroleptics in the treatment of schizophrenia. At the same time, these study results have led to re-examination of their design--particularly CATIE and CUtLASS--which essentially measured relatively short-/mid-term outcome and did not always take into account real-world clinical practice and outcome measures (e.g. prevalence of positive acute symptoms, exclusion of comorbidity with substance abuse, predominance of chronic patients, lack of quality of life/wellbeing measures, etc.). In fact, one of the greatest challenges to treatment of schizophrenia is its life-long, multifaceted, functional disability associated with progressive cognitive deterioration after each acute episode. As such, the most important goal of the treatment is not just to deal with acute episodes, but rather to improve long-term outcome. Specifically, we aim for modest improvement and then stabilization of the different clinical dimensions involved in the overall symptomatology (i.e. negative/anergic, impulsive, positive, mood and cognitive impairments), and to achieve 'clinical stabilization' after obtaining a partial or full remission of acute symptoms, thus reducing the risk of a progressive cognitive deterioration. All these aspects need to be properly evaluated in a long-run perspective.
Proton‐Conducting Supramolecular Metallogels from the Lowest Molecular Weight Assembler Ligand: A Quote for Simplicity (2013)

Abstract Oxalic acid has been proven to be the lowest molecular weight organic ligand able to form robust supramolecular metallogel networks in the presence of metal salts. In particular, two novel multifunctional metallogels were readily prepared at room temperature by simple mixing of stock solutions of Cu II acetate monohydrate or Cu II perchlorate hexahydrate and oxalic acid dihydrate. Formation of different polymorphs and unprecedented proton conduction under anhydrous conditions were also demonstrated with some of these materials.
Analytical Sensitivity, Reproducibility of Results, and Clinical Performance of Five PCR Assays for Detecting Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (2000)

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), and its DNA has been detected in atheromatous lesions of the aorta, carotid, and coronary arteries by a variety of PCR assays. The objective of this study was to compare the performances of five published PCR assays in the detection of C. pneumoniae in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with coronary artery disease. The assays included two conventional PCRs, one targeting a cloned PstI fragment and one targeting the 16S rRNA gene; two nested PCRs, one targeting the 16S rRNA gene and one targeting ompA; and a touchdown enzyme time release (TETR) PCR, targeting the 16S rRNA gene. All PCRs had similar analytical sensitivities and detected a minimum of 0.005 inclusion-forming units (IFU) of C. pneumoniae; the ompA nested PCR and the TETR PCR were slightly more sensitive and detected 0.001 IFU. Assay reproducibility was examined by testing 10 replicates of C. pneumoniae DNA by each assay. All five assays showed excellent reproducibility at high levels of DNA, with scores of 10 out of 10 for 0.01 IFU, but exhibited decreased reproducibility for smaller numbers of C. pneumoniae IFU for all tests. Pairwise comparison of test results indicated that there was a significant difference between tests (Cochran Q = 32.0, P<0.001), with the PstI fragment (P<0.001) and 16S rRNA (P = 0.002) assays having lower reproducibility than the nested ompA and TETR assays. To further analyze assay sensitivity, C. pneumoniae-infected U-937 mononuclear cells were added to whole blood, and extracted mononuclear-cell DNA was tested by each assay. All five assays showed similar sensitivities, detecting 15 infected cells; three assays detected 3 infected cells, while all assays were negative at the next dilution (1.5 infected cells). A striking difference in performance of the five assays was seen, however, when PBMCs from CAD patients were tested for C. pneumoniae DNA. The ompA nested PCR detected C. pneumoniae DNA in 11 of 148 (7.4%) specimens, the 16S rRNA nested PCR detected 2 positives among the 148 specimens (1.4%) (P<0.001), and the other 3 assays detected no positive specimens (P<0.001, compared with the ompA assay). These results indicate that analytical sensitivity alone does not predict the ability of an assay to detect C. pneumoniae in whole-blood-derived PBMCs. Before standardized assays can be used in wide-scale epidemiological studies, further characterization of these assays will be required to improve our understanding of their performance in the detection of C. pneumoniae in clinical material.
Line spectrum representation of linear predictor coefficients of speech signals (1975)

It has been known that the linear predictor coefficients (LPC) of speech signals can be transformed into a “pseudo” vocal-tract area function whose boundary conditions are (a) a complete opening at the lips and (b) a matching resistance termination at the glottis. If the boundary condition at the glottis is replaced by a complete opening or a complete closure, all the poles of the resulting system function will move onto the unit circle in z plane. Using this fact it is possible to describe the original LPCs by two sets of pole frequencies corresponding to the two new boundary conditions at the glottis, or a set of frequency-residue pairs corresponding to either set of poles. These representations have several important features: (1) If an original pole is narrow band, the new pole is close to the original pole; (2) the two sets of pole frequencies alternate and are ordered on the frequency axis; and (3) the problem of locating complex poles can be reduced to solving a polynomial with real roots whose order is one-half that of the original all-pole transfer function.
Diffraction of Sound around a Circular Disk (1947)

The sound field behind a circular disk in the presence of a point source of sound on its axis, is computed approximately. The calculation is based on the reduction of the Kirchhoff surface integral to a line integral by the Maggi Transformation. The predictions of the Kirchhoff theory are compared with a more accurate calculation which makes use of the Green's function. The theory is compared with accurate measurements of the sound field, and satisfactory qualitative and quantitative agreement is found.
Sacral Neuromodulation with an Implantable Pulse Generator in Children with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: 15-Year Experience (2012)

Sacral neuromodulation is feasible in the pediatric population, with good short-term (78% full or partial response) and satisfactory long-term results (73%). Sacral neuromodulation can offer good results for overactive bladder, dysfunctional elimination syndrome and Fowler syndrome. Pudendal nerve stimulation is a feasible salvage treatment that can be useful in cases when S3 implantation is impossible or unsuccessful.
CD28 delivers a costimulatory signal involved in antigen-specific IL-2 production by human T cells (1991)

CD4+ T cells require two signals to produce maximal amounts of IL-2, i.e., TCR occupancy and an unidentified APC-derived costimulus. Here we show that this costimulatory signal can be delivered by the T cell molecule CD28. An agonistic anti-CD28 mAb, but not IL-1 and/or IL-6, stimulated T cell proliferation by tetanus toxoid-specific T cells cultured with Ag-pulsed, costimulation-deficient APC. Furthermore, the ability of B cell tumor lines to provide costimulatory signals to purified T cells correlated well with expression of the CD28 ligand B7/BB-1. Finally, like anti-CD28 mAb, autologous human APC appeared to stimulate a cyclosporine A-resistant pathway of T cell activation. Together, these results suggest that the two signals required for IL-2 production by CD4+ T cells can be transduced by the TCR and CD28.
Microtubule-interfering Agents Activate c-Jun N-terminal Kinase/Stress-activated Protein Kinase through Both Ras and Apoptosis Signal-regulating Kinase Pathways (1998)

The essential cellular functions associated with microtubules have led to a wide use of microtubule-interfering agents in cancer chemotherapy with promising results. Although the most well studied action of microtubule-interfering agents is an arrest of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, other effects may also exist. We have observed that paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), vinblastine, vincristine, nocodazole, and colchicine activate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) signaling pathway in a variety of human cells. Activation of JNK/SAPK by microtubule-interfering agents is dose-dependent and time-dependent and requires interactions with microtubules. Functional activation of the JNKK/SEK1-JNK/SAPK-c-Jun cascade (where JNKK/SEK1 is JNK kinase/SAPK kinase) was demonstrated by activation of a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element (TRE) reporter construct in a c-Jun dependent fashion. Microtubule-interfering agents also activated both Ras and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK1) and coexpression of dominant negative Ras and dominant negative apoptosis signal-regulating kinase exerted individual and additive inhibition of JNK/SAPK activation by microtubule-interfering agents. These findings suggest that multiple signal transduction pathways are involved with cellular detection of microtubular disarray and subsequent activation of JNK/SAPK.
Xylooligosaccharide supplementation alters gut bacteria in both healthy and prediabetic adults: a pilot study (2015)

NCT01944904 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01944904).
Neurotrophins enhance electric field-directed growth cone guidance and directed nerve branching (2000)

Neurotrophins play major roles in the developing nervous system in controlling neuronal differentiation, neurite outgrowth, guidance and branching, synapse formation and maturation, and neuronal survival or death. There is increasing evidence that nervous system construction takes place in the presence of dc electric fields, which fluctuate dynamically in space and time during embryonic development. These have their origins in the neural tube itself, as well as in surrounding skin and gut. Early disruption of these endogenous electric fields causes failure of the nervous system to form, or else it forms aberrantly. Nerve growth, guidance, and branching are controlled tightly during pathway construction and in vitro dc electric fields have profound effects on each of these behaviours. We have used cultured neurones to ask whether neurotrophins and dc electric fields might interact in shaping neuronal growth, given their coexistence in vivo. Electric field-directed nerve growth generally was enhanced by the simultaneous presentation of several neurotrophins to the growth cone. Under certain circumstances, more nerves turned cathodally, they turned faster, further, and in lower field strengths. Intriguingly, other combinations of dc electric field and neurotrophins (low field strength and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) switched the direction of growth cone turning. Additionally, cathodally directed nerve growth was faster and directed branching was much more common when electric fields and neurotrophins interacted with neuronal growth cones. Given such profound changes in growth cone behaviour in vitro, neurotrophins and endogenous electric fields are likely to interact in vivo.
Bacterial modulins: a novel class of virulence factors which cause host tissue pathology by inducing cytokine synthesis (1996)

Cytokines are a diverse group of proteins and glycoproteins which have potent and wide-ranging effects on eukaryotic cell function and are now recognized as important mediators of tissue pathology in infectious diseases. It is increasingly recognized that for many bacterial species, cytokine induction is a major virulence mechanism. Until recent years, the only bacterial component known to stimulate cytokine synthesis was lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It is only within the past decade that it has been clearly shown that many components associated with the bacterial cell wall, including proteins, glycoproteins, lipoproteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, have the capacity to stimulate mammalian cells to produce a diverse array of cytokines. It has been established that many of these cytokine-inducing molecules act by mechanisms distinct from that of LPS, and thus their activities are not due to LPS contamination. Bacteria produce a wide range of virulence factors which cause host tissue pathology, and these diverse factors have been grouped into four families: adhesins, aggressins, impedins, and invasins. We suggest that the array of bacterial cytokine-inducing molecules represents a new class of bacterial virulence factor, and, by analogy with the known virulence families, we suggest the term "modulin" to describe these molecules, because the action of cytokines is to modulate eukaryotic cell behavior. This review summarizes our current understanding of cytokine biology in relation to tissue homeostasis and disease and concisely reviews the current literature on the cytokine-inducing molecules produced by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, with an emphasis on the cellular mechanisms responsible for cytokine induction. We propose that modulins, by controlling the host immune and inflammatory responses, maintain the large commensal flora that all multicellular organisms support.
Circulating adhesion molecules and severity of coronary atherosclerosis (2000)

These findings suggest that E-selectin is related to the early stage, and ICAM-1 is related to the advanced stage, of coronary atherosclerosis. With progression of atherosclerosis, one-step adhesion by ICAM-1 could become more important than multistep adhesion involving E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. These molecules may serve as markers for severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Serum Stabilities of Short Tryptophan- and Arginine-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide Analogs (2010)

Taken together, the results provide insight into the behavior of the peptides in human serum and will therefore aid in advancing antimicrobial peptide design towards systemic applications.
Effects of Expression of Mammalian Gα and Hybrid Mammalian-Yeast Gα Proteins on the Yeast Pheromone Response Signal Transduction Pathway (1990)

Scg1, the product of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SCG1 (also called GPA1) gene, is homologous to the alpha subunits of G proteins involved in signal transduction in mammalian cells. Scg1 negatively controls the pheromone response pathway in haploid cells. Either pheromonal activation or an scg1 null mutation relieves the negative control and leads to an arrest of cell growth in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Expression of rat G alpha s was previously shown to complement the growth defect of scg1 null mutants while not allowing mating. We have extended this analysis to examine the effects of the short form of G alpha s (which lacks 15 amino acids present in the long form), G alpha i2, G alpha o, and Scg1-mammalian G alpha hybrids. In addition, we have found that constructs able to complement scg1 are also able to inhibit the response to pheromone and mating when expressed in a wild-type SCG1 strain. Overexpression of Scg1 has a similar inhibitory effect. These results are consistent with a model proposed for the action of Scg1 as the alpha component of a heterotrimeric G protein in which the beta gamma component (Ste4/Ste18) activates the pheromone response after dissociation from Scg1. They suggest that the G alpha constructs able to complement scg1 can interact with beta gamma to prevent activation of the pathway but are unable to interact with pheromone receptors to activate the pathway.
Optical demultiplexer for a wavelength division multiplexing system (1979)

A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technique, which transmits signals with different wavelengths by means of a single optical fiber, can increase the capacity of optical fiber transmission systems. This paper describes the experimental results of a demultiplexer using a diffraction grating for a WDM system. The insertion loss of the demultiplexer could be decreased by using a large core output fiber, an Au-coated diffraction grating, and small aberration lenses. There were five channels in the 0.8-microm wavelength region. Wavelength spacing was 200 A. Insertion loss for each channel was about 2 dB, and cross talk was <-30 dB.
One-Step Fabrication of Supramolecular Microcapsules from Microfluidic Droplets (2012)

Although many techniques exist for preparing microcapsules, it is still challenging to fabricate them in an efficient and scalable process without compromising functionality and encapsulation efficiency. We demonstrated a simple one-step approach that exploits a versatile host-guest system and uses microfluidic droplets to generate porous microcapsules with easily customizable functionality. The capsules comprise a polymer-gold nanoparticle composite held together by cucurbit[8]uril ternary complexes. The dynamic yet highly stable micrometer-sized structures can be loaded in one step during capsule formation and are amenable to on-demand encapsulant release. The internal chemical environment can be probed with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
E-Z-PASS AND TRANSMIT USING ELECTRONIC TOLL TAGS FOR TRAFFIC MONITORING (1996)

This paper describes how electronic E-Z Pass read-write tags are being used as probes along a 19 mile interstate corridor in New York. This is part of the TRANSMIT system and is proving to be a useful tool in the areas of incident detection and traffic flow monitoring.