gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Effects of Therapy in Oropharyngeal Dysphagia by Speech and Language Therapists: A Systematic Review (2009)

Medical and paramedical treatments should be evaluated according to current standards of evidence-based medicine. Evaluation of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia fits into this growing interest. A systematic review is given of the literature on the effects of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia carried out by speech therapists. Thus, the review excludes reports of surgical or pharmacological treatments. The literature search was performed using the electronic databases PubMed and Embase. All available inclusion dates up to November 2008 were used. The search was limited to English, German, French, Spanish, and Dutch publications. MESH terms were supplemented by using free-text words (for the period after January 2005). Fifty-nine studies were included. In general, statistically significant positive therapy effects were found. However, the number of papers was rather small. Moreover, diverse methodological problems were found in many of these studies. For most studies, the conclusions could not be generalized; comparison was hindered by the range of diagnoses, types of therapies, and evaluation techniques. Many questions remain about the effects of therapy in oropharyngeal dysphagia as performed by speech and language therapists. Although some positive significant outcome studies have been published, further research based on randomized controlled trials is needed.
Basal lamina scaffold-anatomy and significance for maintenance of orderly tissue structure. (1974)

The basal lamina is an extracellular scaffold positioned between parenchymal cells and connective tissue. Parenchymal cells attach to one of its surfaces and the other is anchored to connective tissue. By its presence it defines the spatial relationships among similar and dissimilar types of cells and between these cells and the space occupied by connective and supportive tissues. Replenishment of cells which have died during normal functioning or have become damaged in course of injury occurs with new cells in an orderly way along the framework of the basal lamina scaffold. This process appears to be aided by the polarity of the basal lamina and by an apparent specificity for cell types, and it enables multicellular organisms to reconstitute histologic structures of most tissues and organs to what they were prior to loss of cells. If the basal lamina is destroyed, the healing in most tissues results in formation of scar and loss of function. The properties of the basal lamina concerned with maintenance of histologic order in organs and tissues offer new ways to interpret the pathogenesis of several common disorders, including emphysema, scars, adhesions, cirrhosis of liver and excessive accumulation of basal lamina material as, for example, it occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Stimulation of wound healing by helium atmospheric pressure plasma treatment (2011)

New experiments using atmospheric pressure plasma have found large application in treatment of living cells or tissues, wound healing, cancerous cell apoptosis, blood coagulation on wounds, bone tissue modification, sterilization and decontamination. In this study an atmospheric pressure plasma jet generated using a cylindrical dielectric-barrier discharge was applied for treatment of burned wounds on Wistar rats' skin. The low temperature plasma jet works in helium and is driven by high voltage pulses. Oxygen and nitrogen based impurities are identified in the jet by emission spectroscopy. This paper analyses the natural epithelization of the rats' skin wounds and two methods of assisted epithelization, a classical one using polyurethane wound dressing and a new one using daily atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of wounds. Systemic and local medical data, such as haematological, biochemical and histological parameters, were monitored during entire period of study. Increased oxidative stress was observed for plasma treated wound. This result can be related to the presence in the plasma volume of active species, such as O and OH radicals. Both methods, wound dressing and plasma-assisted epithelization, provided positive medical results related to the recovery process of burned wounds. The dynamics of the skin regeneration process was modified: the epidermis re-epitelization was accelerated, while the recovery of superficial dermis was slowed down.
Short-Term Retention of Labeled Chondrocyte Subpopulations in Stratified Tissue-Engineered Cartilaginous Constructs Implanted In Vivo in Mini-Pigs (2007)

It is likely that effective application of cell-laden implants for cartilage defects depends on retention of implanted cells and interaction between implanted and host cells. The objectives of this study were to characterize stratified cartilaginous constructs seeded sequentially with superficial (S) and middle (M) chondrocyte subpopulations labeled with fluorescent cell tracking dye PKH26 (*) and determine the degree to which these stratified cartilaginous constructs maintain their architecture in vivo after implantation in mini-pigs for 1 week. Alginate-recovered cells were seeded sequentially to form stratified S*/M (only S cells labeled) and S*/M* (both S and M cells labeled) constructs. Full-thickness defects (4 mm diameter) were created in the patellofemoral groove of adult Yucatan mini-pigs and filled with portions of constructs or left empty. Constructs were characterized biochemically, histologically, and biomechanically, and stratification visualized and quantified, before and after implant. After 1 week, animals were sacrificed and implants retrieved. After 1 week in vivo, glycosaminoglycan and collagen content of constructs remained similar to that at implant, whereas DNA content increased. Histological analyses revealed features of an early repair response, with defects filled with tissues containing little matrix and abundant cells. Some implanted (PKH26-labeled) cells persisted in the defects, although constructs did not maintain a stratified organization. Of the labeled cells, 126 +/- 38% and 32 +/- 8% in S*/M and S*/M* constructs, respectively, were recovered. Distribution of labeled cells indicated interactions between implanted and host cells. Longer-term in vivo studies will be useful in determining whether implanted cells are sufficient to have a positive effect in repair.
Codon Optimization of Gene Fragments Encoding Plasmodium falciparum Merzoite Proteins Enhances DNA Vaccine Protein Expression and Immunogenicity in Mice (2001)

In contrast to conventional vaccines, DNA and other subunit vaccines exclusively utilize host cell molecules for transcription and translation of proteins. The adenine plus thymine content of Plasmodium falciparum gene sequences (approximately 80%) is much greater than that of Homo sapiens (approximately 59%); consequently, codon usage is markedly different. We hypothesized that modifying codon usage of P. falciparum genes encoded by DNA vaccines from that used by the parasite to those resembling mammalian codon usage would lead to increased P. falciparum protein expression in vitro in mouse cells and increased antibody responses in DNA-vaccinated mice. We synthesized gene fragments encoding the receptor-binding domain of the 175-kDa P. falciparum erythrocyte-binding protein (EBA-175 region II) and the 42-kDa C-terminal processed fragment of the P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1(42)) using the most frequently occurring codon in mammals to code for each amino acid, and inserted the synthetic genes in DNA vaccine plasmids. In in vitro transient-expression assays, plasmids containing codon-optimized synthetic gene fragments (pS plasmids) showed greater than fourfold increased protein expression in mouse cells compared to those containing native gene fragments (pN plasmids). In mice immunized with 0.5, 5.0, or 50 microg of the DNA plasmids, the dose of DNA required to induce equivalent antibody titers was 10- to 100-fold lower for pS than for pN plasmids. These data demonstrate that optimizing codon usage in DNA vaccines can improve protein expression and consequently the immunogenicity of gene fragments in DNA vaccines for organisms whose codon usage differs substantially from that of mammals.
Unstable Carotid Plaques Exhibit Raised Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Activity (2004)

These data suggest that the active form of MMP-8 may be partly responsible for degradation of the collagen cap of atherosclerotic plaques. This enzyme represents an attractive target for drug therapy aimed at stabilizing vulnerable plaques.
Phase-resolved acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography (2012)

Many diseases involve changes in the biomechanical properties of tissue, and there is a close correlation between tissue elasticity and pathology. We report on the development of a phase-resolved acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography method (ARF-OCE) to evaluate the elastic properties of tissue. This method utilizes chirped acoustic radiation force to produce excitation along the sample's axial direction, and it uses phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure the vibration of the sample. Under 500-Hz square wave modulated ARF signal excitation, phase change maps of tissue mimicking phantoms are generated by the ARF-OCE method, and the resulting Young's modulus ratio is correlated with a standard compression test. The results verify that this technique could efficiently measure sample elastic properties accurately and quantitatively. Furthermore, a three-dimensional ARF-OCE image of the human atherosclerotic coronary artery is obtained. The result indicates that our dynamic phase-resolved ARF-OCE method can delineate tissues with different mechanical properties.
Listeriolysin generates a route for the presentation of exogenous antigens by major histocompatibility complex class I (1995)

We have exploited the pore forming activity of listeriolysin, the hemolysin of Listeria monocytogenes, to activate CD8+ T cells with soluble proteins in vivo and in vitro. Immunization with soluble, hemolytically active listeriolysin induces both cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells, and the CD8+ T cells can be propagated with soluble listeriolysin in vitro. Moreover, conventional antigens like ovalbumin mixed together with listeriolysin are also efficiently introduced into the MHC class I pathway in vitro and in vivo. Hence, listeriolysin effectively directs itself and passenger molecules into the intracellular compartment that leads to the cytotoxic T cell response. In this way, we circumvent the bias of CD8+ T cells to recognize intracellular antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. As cytotoxic CD8+ T cells are of pivotal importance in eliminating viral and microbial pathogens, the findings reported here could prove to be useful in vaccine development.
Optimal anticoagulation strategy in haemodialysis with heparin-coated polyacrylonitrile membrane (2003)

During the rinsing phase, the ionic interactions between the new AN69ST polyacrylonitrile membrane and unfractionated heparin induce stable heparin coating. This allows a significant reduction of systemic anticoagulant requirements without increasing the risk of clotting, both in the experimental setting and in the chronic haemodialysis patients. Further studies are required to assess this advantage in patients with acute renal failure and at risk of bleeding and to reduce the metabolic consequences of long-term treatment with heparin.
Evidence for in vivo Reaction of Antibody and Complement to Surface Antigens of Human Cancer Cells (1974)

The immune adherence test was used to determine whether antibody and complement in cancer patients are fixed in vivo to tumor cells. Human erythrocytes adhered in vitro to the surface of human cancer cells obtained from autopsy and biopsy. Adherence was enhanced by further addition of the C2 and C3 components of complement, and was diminished by preliminary treatment with antibody to C3 (that is, to beta1C-globulin). The results suggest that tumor associated membrane antigens form complexes in vivo with antibodies and complement.
Self-derivation of motion estimation techniques to improve video coding efficiency (2010)

This paper presents the techniques to self derive the motion vectors (MVs) at video decoder side to improve coding efficiency of B pictures. With the MVs information self derived at video decoder side, the transmission of these self-derived MVs from video encoder side to video decoder side is skipped and thus better coding efficiency can be achieved. Our proposed techniques derive the block-based MVs at video decoder side by considering the temporal correlation among the available pixels in the previously-decoded reference pictures. Utilizing the MVs derived at video decoder side can be added as one of coding mode candidates from video encoder where the video encoder can utilize this new coding mode during phase of the coding mode selection to better trade off the rate-distortion performance to improve the coding efficiency. Experiments have demonstrated that the BD bitrate improvement on top of ITU-T/VCEG Key Technology Area (KTA) Reference Software platform with an overall about 7% improvement on the hierarchical IbBbBbBbP coding structure under the common test conditions of the joint call for proposal for the new video coding technology from ISO/MPEG and ITU-T committee on January 2010.
Estimating Latent Distributions (1984)

Consider vectors of item responses obtained from a sample of subjects from a population in which ability θ is distributed with density g ( θ ‖ α ), where the α are unknown parameters. Assuming the responses depend on θ through a fully specified item response model, this paper presents maximum likelihood equations for the estimation of the population parameters directly from the observed responses; i.e., without estimating an ability parameter for each subject. Also provided are asymptotic standard errors and tests of fit, computing approximations, and details of four special cases: a non-parametric approximation, a normal solution, a resolution of normal components, and a beta-binomial solution.
The Cytokine, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), Can Deliver Bcl-XL as an Extracellular Fusion Protein to Protect Cells from Apoptosis and Retain Differentiation Induction (2007)

Bcl-XL, a member of the Bcl-2 protein family, is able to suppress cell death induced by diverse stimuli in many cell types, including hematopoietic cells. Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine that promotes the proliferation and maturation of neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages from bone marrow progenitors. We fused GM-CSF to Bcl-XL and examined the capacity of this chimera to bind human cells through the GM-CSF receptor and prevent apoptosis. We found that the chimeric protein increased the proliferation of human monocytes in culture from 24 h until at least 72 h. In the presence of different apoptotic agents, GM-CSF-Bcl-XL protected cells from induced cell death and promoted proliferation, whereas GM-CSF alone was completely inhibited. In the presence of cytarabine, GM-CSF-Bcl-XL was able also to promote the differentiation of the CD34+ myeloid precursor whereas Lfn-Bcl-XL, lacking the GM-CSF domain-stimulated cell proliferation and not differentiation. We conclude that recombinant GM-CSF-Bcl-XL binds the GM-CSF receptor on human monocyte/macrophage cells and bone marrow progenitors inducing differentiation and allowing Bcl-XL entry into cells where it blocks cell death and allows amplified cell proliferation. This fully human fusion protein has potential to prevent monocytopenia and represents a new strategy for engineering anti-apoptotic therapeutics.
Microfabrication technology for polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polymer (2000)

In this paper, we report the development of micromachining techniques for a biodegradable polymer for the first time. By virtue of their ability to naturally degrade in tissues, biodegradable polymers hold immense promise as new materials for implantable biomedical microdevices. This work focuses on the establishment of microfabrication processes for biodegradable microstructures and microdevices. Three unique fabrication processes have been established: (1) a micro-molding process to form 3D microstructures in polycaprolactone (PCL) via a silicon micromachined mold, (2) a method of transferring metal patterns to surfaces of PCL substrates, (3) techniques for sealing both dry and liquid-filled PCL micro-cavities with a metal thin film (e.g. gold). The chemical compatibility of PCL with common micromachining chemicals have been investigated.
Digital holography--coherent optics of the 21st century: introduction (2006)

This feature issue includes a representative selection of topics that were presented at the Digital Holography and 3-D Imaging Topical Meeting held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, April 2009. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America
Biphasic assembly of the murine intestinal microbiota during early development (2013)

The birth canal provides mammals with a primary maternal inoculum, which develops into distinctive body site-specific microbial communities post-natally. We characterized the distal gut microbiota from birth to weaning in mice. One-day-old mice had colonic microbiota that resembled maternal vaginal communities, but at days 3 and 9 of age there was a substantial loss of intestinal bacterial diversity and dominance of Lactobacillus. By weaning (21 days), diverse intestinal bacteria had established, including strict anaerobes. Our results are consistent with vertical transmission of maternal microbiota and demonstrate a nonlinear ecological succession involving an early drop in bacterial diversity and shift in dominance from Streptococcus to Lactobacillus, followed by an increase in diversity of anaerobes, after the introduction of solid food. Mammalian newborns are born highly susceptible to colonization, and lactation may control microbiome assembly during early development.
Distinct roles of the Y1 and Y2 receptors on neuropeptide Y‐induced sensitization to sedation (2001)

Intracranial injection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) increases the sensitivity to sodium pentobarbital and ketamin sedation and has similar properties as GABA agonists on sleep. Mice sensitive to sedation have increased levels of NPY in many brain regions and Y1(-/-) mice show a marked resistance to barbiturates. Here we characterized the role of the NPY Y receptors in anesthetic-induced sedation. We show that Y1 and Y2, but not Y5, receptors participate in the modulation of sedation. Administration of a Y1 agonist increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sedation and Y1(-/-) mice were less sensitive to this anesthetic. However, Y2(-/-) mice display increased sensitivity, showing that Y2 modulates GABAergic induced sedation both pharmacologically and physiologically and has a functionally opposing role to the Y1 receptor. Analysis of Y1(-/-)/Y2(-/-) double mutant mice show that increased sensitivity by Y1 occurs independent of the Y2 receptor, while the decreased sensitivity mediated by Y2 depend on an intact Y1 receptor. In contrast to sodium pentobarbital, both Y1 and Y2 receptors increase the sensitivity in a collaborative fashion to NMDA antagonist-induced sedation. These data demonstrate the physiological and pharmacological impact of the Y1 and Y2 receptors on sedation.
Intermediate-band solar cells based on quantum dot supracrystals (2007)

The authors show that the ordered three-dimensional arrays of quantum dots, i.e., quantum dot supracrystals, can be used to implement the intermediate-band solar cell with the efficiency exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit for a single junction cell. The strong electron wave function overlap resulting in minibands formation allows one to tune the band structure and enhance the light absorption and carrier transport. A first-principles semianalytical approach was used to determine the optimum dimensions of the quantum dots and the interdot spacing to achieve a maximum efficiency in the InAs0.9N0.1∕GaAs0.98Sb0.02 quantum dot supracrystal photovoltaic cells.
Production of an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Related Protein (1984)

Human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells in culture produce a soluble 105-kilodalton protein which, by the criteria of epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding, recognition by monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the EGF receptor, amino-terminal sequence analysis and carbohydrate content, is related to the cell surface domain of the EGF receptor. The high rate of production and the finding that with biosynthetic labeling the specific activity of this 105-kilodalton protein exceeds that of the intact receptor indicate that it is not derived from membrane-bound mature receptor but is separately produced by the cell. These cells thus separately synthesize an EGF receptor that is inserted into the membrane and an EGF receptor-related protein that is secreted.
Culture-Independent Analysis of Gut Bacteria: the Pig Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiota Revisited (2002)

The phylogenetic diversity of the intestinal bacterial community in pigs was studied by comparative 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence analysis. Samples were collected from a total of 24 pigs representing a variety of diets, ages, and herd health status. A library comprising 4,270 cloned 16S rDNA sequences obtained directly by PCR from 52 samples of either the ileum, the cecum, or the colon was constructed. In total, 375 phylotypes were identified using a 97% similarity criterion. Three hundred nine of the phylotypes (83%) had a <97% sequence similarity to any sequences in the database and may represent yet-uncharacterized bacterial genera or species. The phylotypes were affiliated with 13 major phylogenetic lineages. Three hundred four phylotypes (81%) belonged to the low-G+C gram-positive division, and 42 phylotypes (11.2%) were affiliated with the Bacteroides and Prevotella group. Four clusters of phylotypes branching off deeply within the low-G+C gram-positive bacteria and one in the Mycoplasma without any cultured representatives were found. The coverage of all the samples was 97.2%. The relative abundance of the clones approximated a lognormal distribution; however, the phylotypes detected and their abundance varied between two libraries from the same sample. The results document that the intestinal microbial community is very complex and that the majority of the bacterial species colonizing the gastrointestinal tract in pigs have not been characterized.
An adaptive fusion architecture for target tracking (2003)

A vision system is demonstrated that adaptively allocates computational resources over multiple cues to robustly track a target in 3D. The system uses a particle filter to maintain multiple hypotheses of the target location. Bayesian probability theory provides the framework for sensor fusion, and resource scheduling is used to intelligently allocate the limited computational resources available across the suite of cues. The system is shown to track a person in 3D space moving in a cluttered environment.
Receptor mechanisms in antipsychotic drug action: focus on sigma receptors (1989)

The principal antischizophrenic neuroleptic drugs in current clinical use act by blocking dopamine receptors, which mediate extrapyramidal side effects and tardive dyskinesia. As an alternative strategy, researchers have sought agents that do not influence dopamine receptors but whose behavioral effects in animals resemble those of neuroleptics. Some promising "new generation" candidate drugs have shown beneficial effects in schizophrenic patients in early clinical trials. These new agents share a selective, high affinity for sigma receptors, sites where psychotomimetic opiates act. A systematic screen for drugs that block sigma receptors may provide a valuable strategy in identifying novel antischizophrenic agents and in clarifying the pathophysiology of psychosis.