gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Carbon dioxide laser beam control for corneal surgery. (1981)

Precise control of output power and beam divergence of a CO2 laser resulted in focused beam diameters down to 25 microns and essentially continuous control of energy deposition on target. Application of controlled laser beams on cow, hog, and human eye-bank reject corneal tissue give evidence of well-defined, narrow cuts. The controllable penetration depth and width of the CO2 laser incisions seem to make the laser an ideal "knife" for such corneal modifications as radial keratotomy and epikeratophakia. Our results indicate that the CO2 laser, when successfully integrated with the standard slit lamp, may be a safer and useful tool in laser surgery of the cornea.
Constitutive nuclear factor-kappaB-RelA activation is required for proliferation and survival of Hodgkin's disease tumor cells. (1997)

The pathogenesis and etiology of Hodgkin's disease, a common human malignant lymphoma, is still unresolved. As a unique characteristic, we have identified constitutive activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB p50-RelA in Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (H/RS) cells, which discriminates these neoplastic cells from most cell types studied to date. In contrast to other lymphoid and nonlymphoid cell lines tested, proliferation of H/RS cells depended on activated NF-kappaB. Furthermore, constitutive NF-kappaB p50-RelA prevented Hodgkin's lymphoma cells from undergoing apoptosis under stress conditions. Consistent with this dual function, Hodgkin's lymphoma cells depleted of constitutive nuclear NF-kappaB revealed strongly impaired tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Our findings identify NF-kappaB as an important component for understanding the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease and for developing new therapeutic strategies against it.
Immunosuppressant FTY720 Induces Apoptosis by Direct Induction of Permeability Transition and Release of Cytochrome <i>c</i> from Mitochondria (2000)

FTY720 has immunosuppressive activity in experimental organ transplantation and shows a prompt and protracted decrease of blood T lymphocytes upon oral administration. The blood lymphocyte decrease in vivo was mainly a result of FTY720-induced apoptosis. However, this apoptotic mechanism is not well understood. We examined the mechanism of FTY720-induced apoptosis in lymphoma. Western blotting and fluorescent caspase-specific substrate revealed that caspase-3 is involved in FTY720-induced apoptosis, whereas caspase-1 is not. Apoptotic cell death was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, suggesting that caspase activation is essential for FTY720-induced apoptosis. FTY720 reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential and released cytochrome c from the mitochondria of intact cells as well as in a cell-free system even in the presence of Z-VAD-FMK. As these mitochondrial reactions occurred before caspase activation, we concluded that FTY720 directly influences mitochondrial functions. The inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition by Bcl-2 overexpression or by chemical inhibitors prevented all apoptotic events occurring in intact cells and in a cell-free system. Moreover, using a cell-free system, FTY720 did not directly affect isolated nuclei or cytosol. These results indicate that FTY720 directly affects mitochondria and triggers permeability transition to induce further apoptotic events.
Claudin localization in cilia of the retinal pigment epithelium (2002)

Using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy we demonstrate that claudin-immunoreactivity is a novel marker for retinal pigment epithelial cilia. Claudin-immunoreactivity obtained by polyclonal anti-claudin 1 antibody, which could crossreact with claudin 3, was colocalized with acetylated tubulin-immunoreactivity in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Claudin-immunoreactivity associated with the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cilia was more intense than was claudin-immunoreactivity in the junctional complex. Approximately two-thirds of the RPE cells in the rat contain cilia that are immunoreactive with acetylated tubulin on postnatal day 1, and a significant portion of these cilia label with the anti-claudin 1 antibody. Cilia decrease in frequency over subsequent postnatal days, and are absent by postnatal day 30. As RPE cilia decrease in number during postnatal rat development, claudin-immunoreactivity is lost earlier than acetylated tubulin, suggesting that the loss of claudin may initiate RPE cilium degeneration. Claudin-immunoreactivity was not evident in cilia of photoreceptor cells, epithelia of nasal mucosa, small intestine, or colon, suggesting that claudin may be a unique molecule in RPE cilia. These data suggest that cilia of the RPE, unlike cilia on other cell types, contain claudin, and that this molecule may play an important and specific role in the function and/or maintenance of RPE cilia.
Vaccination with syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotype protects against a tumour challenge. (1987)

Rat X rat hybridomas secreting monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies have been prepared from Hooded rats immunized with two tumour-reactive, syngeneic monoclonal antibodies 11/160 and M10/76 (specific, respectively, for the Hooded rat sarcomata HSN and MC24). The hybridomas were selected on the basis that the secreted antibodies competed with antigen for binding to the immunizing idiotype. One monoclonal anti-idiotype (HIM/1/230, gamma 2a isotype) that recognizes an antigen-binding site idiotope of antibody 11/160 has been found to substitute for antigen. Hooded rats vaccinated by three challenges with HIM/1/230 produce serum Ab3 that is indistinguishable in antigen specificity from the 11/160 Ab1, and show reduced tumour take following an i.v. challenge with 10(6) HSN cells. The response to vaccination with anti-idiotype was both qualitatively and quantitatively dependent on the mode of immunization. High titre 11/160-like Ab3 was generated only when the vaccine contained Freund's adjuvant, whereas resistance to tumour challenge was found only in animals vaccinated with anti-idiotype in the absence of adjuvant.
Peritumoral edema on MRI at initial diagnosis: an independent prognostic factor for glioblastoma? (2009)

This easily applicable early radiological characterization may contribute to a more subgroup oriented treatment in glioblastoma patients for future trials, as well as in clinical routine.
Synthesis and Characterization of Monodisperse Core−Shell Colloidal Spheres of Zinc Sulfide and Silica (2001)

We report on a new type of composite particles consisting of a zinc sulfide (ZnS) core and a silica (SiO2) shell or vice versa. We developed and optimized these particles for photonic applications, because ZnS has a large refractive index and does not absorb light in the visible and both ZnS and SiO2 can be easily doped with fluorophores. Both kinds of morphologies were created using a seeded growth procedure using monodisperse seeds on which homogeneous layers with a well-defined thickness were grown. Moreover, the ZnS and SiO2 cores could be completely dissolved leaving SiO2 and ZnS shells, respectively, filled with solvent or air after drying. The particle morphology was investigated by electron microscopy. The optical properties were studied by extinction measurements and angle resolved light scattering and compared to scattering theory.
Utility of respiratory‐navigator‐rejected k‐space lines for improved signal‐to‐noise ratio in three‐dimensional cardiac MR (2012)

The proposed technique improves SNR using the additional information from NAV-rejected k-space lines, while providing similar image quality to standard reconstruction using motion-free k-space data only, with no increase in scan time.
Empirical and Theoretical Bacterial Diversity in Four Arizona Soils (2002)

Understanding patterns of biodiversity in microbial communities is severely constrained by the difficulty of adequately sampling these complex systems. We illustrate the problem with empirical data from small surveys (200-member 16S rRNA gene clone libraries) of four bacterial soil communities from two locations in Arizona. Among the four surveys, nearly 500 species-level groups ( Dunbar et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:662-1669, 1999) and 21 bacterial divisions were documented, including four new candidate divisions provisionally designated SC1, SC2, SC3, and SC4. We devised a simple approach to constructing theoretical null models of bacterial species abundance. These null models provide, for the first time, detailed descriptions of soil bacterial community structure that can be used to guide experimental design. Models based on a lognormal distribution were consistent with the observed sizes of the four communities and the richness of the clone surveys. Predictions from the models showed that the species richness of small surveys from complex communities is reproducible, whereas the species composition is not. By using the models, we can now estimate the required survey scale to document specified fractions of community diversity. For example, documentation of half the species in each model community would require surveys of 16,284 to 44,000 individuals. However, quantitative comparisons of half the species in two communities would require surveys at least 10-fold larger for each community.
Structural Basis for Induced-Fit Binding of Rho-Kinase to the Inhibitor Y-27632 (2006)

Rho-kinase is a main player in the regulation of cytoskeletal events and a promising drug target in the treatment of both vascular and neurological disorders. Here we report the crystal structure of the Rho-kinase catalytic domain in complex with the specific inhibitor Y-27632. Comparison with the structure of PKA bound to this inhibitor revealed a potential induced-fit binding mode that can be accommodated by the phosphate binding loop. This binding mode resembles to that observed in the Rho-kinase-fasudil complex. A structural database search indicated that a pocket underneath the phosphate-binding loop is present that favors binding to a small aromatic ring. Introduction of such a ring group might spawn a new modification scheme of pre-existing protein kinase inhibitors for improved binding capability.
Spectrum of Mutation and Frequency of Allelic Deletion of the p53 Gene in Ovarian Cancer (1993)

Like p53 mutations in other types of human cancers, those in epithelial ovarian cancers are diverse and occur frequently in exons 5-8. The predominance of transition mutations suggests that p53 mutations in ovarian cancer arise because of spontaneous errors in DNA synthesis and repair rather than the direct interaction of carcinogens with DNA. These molecular data are consistent with data from epidemiologic studies that have failed to demonstrate a convincing relationship between exposure to environmental carcinogens and the development of ovarian cancer.
A homologue of the Drosophila female sterile homeotic (fsh) gene in the class II region of the human MHC (1992)

The RING3 gene maps in the class II region of the human major histocompatibility complex, at a CpG island distal of the HLA-DNA gene. RING3 cDNAs were obtained from a T cell cDNA library and the longest (4 kb) was sequenced. The sequence contained an open reading frame encoding a protein of 754 amino acids. A screen of protein databases revealed striking homology between the RING3 protein and the Drosophila female sterile homeotic gene (fsh) which is implicated in the establishment of segments in the early embryo. Partial sequence homology was also observed with some other proteins involved in cell cycle control (CCG1), cell division (ftsA) and regulation of cell growth (gamma interferons). This highly conserved gene may play an important role in human development. In addition, its location in the MHC class II region may be related to some HLA-associated diseases.
Terahertz pulse imaging in reflection geometry of human skin cancer and skin tissue (2002)

We demonstrate the application of terahertz pulse imaging (TPI) in reflection geometry for the study of skin tissue and related cancers both in vitro and in vivo. The sensitivity of terahertz radiation to polar molecules, such as water, makes TPI suitable for studying the hydration levels in the skin and the determination of the lateral spread of skin cancer pre-operatively. By studying the terahertz pulse shape in the time domain we have been able to differentiate between diseased and normal tissue for the study of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Basal cell carcinoma has shown a positive terahertz contrast, and inflammation and scar tissue a negative terahertz contrast compared to normal tissue. In vivo measurements on the stratum corneum have enabled visualization of the stratum corneum-epidermis interface and the study of skin hydration levels. These results demonstrate the potential of terahertz pulse imaging for the study of skin tissue and its related disorders, both in vitro and in vivo.
A dual-conversion-gain video sensor with dewarping and overlay on a single chip (2009)

Automotive sensors such as video-reversing cameras demand excellent low- light performance whilst also being able to handle full sunlight. Furthermore, the wide-angle-lens systems employed in such cameras introduce optical distortion, and the cameras are often mounted low down on the vehicle, making the picture hard to interpret. A sensor system-on-a-chip (SSoC), combining a CMOS video sensor having excellent low-light performance with spatial-processing circuitry to correct optical warping and adjust perspective, together with an overlay circuit to further assist the vehicle driver, producing NTSC video.
Estimation of signal-to-noise: a new procedure applied to AVIRIS data (1989)

To make the best use of narrowband Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data, an investigator needs to know the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The signal is land cover dependent and varies with both wavelength and atmospheric absorption, and random noise comprises sensor noise and intrapixel variability (i.e. variability within a pixel). The three existing methods for estimating the SNR are inadequate, since typical laboratory methods inflate, while typical dark-current and image methods deflate the SNR value. The authors propose a procedure called the geostatistical method that is based on the removal of periodic noise by notch filtering in the frequency domain and the isolation of sensor noise and intrapixel variability using the semivariogram. This procedure was applied easily and successfully to five sets of AVIRIS data from the 1987 flying season and could be applied to remotely sensed data from broadband sensors.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Abstraction in Human Factors (1999)

The concept and process of abstraction are central to the performance of human factors and ergonomics. It is a central component of all systems development and design and is an essential ingredient for integrating personnel into complex systems. Despite this, it is not often recognized or addressed directly. This article examines the process of abstraction and its product, the abstract, and shows how it is used in and relates to systems engineering and user interface design. Definitions and descriptions of the elements involved in performing abstraction are given. The 3 types of abstraction—filtering, aggregation, and partitioning—are described and their use explained. Tools that can be used to perform the required analyses and the abstraction process are described. Examples of abstraction and interactions are shown.
<i>Clostridium difficile</i>Infection (2015)

This article reviews the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this nosocomial and potentially fatal infectious diarrhea, as well as the associated risk factors. New treatments include fecal microbiota transplantation for disease that is resistant to vancomycin.
Key role for pregnenolone in combination therapy that promotes recovery after spinal cord injury. (1994)

Controlled compressive injury to rat spinal cord was chosen to test therapies that might attenuate the progression of tissue destruction and locomotor deficits that characteristically occur after spinal injury. A highly significant reduction of damage was achieved by immediate postinjury treatment with a combination of the following: an antiinflammatory substance, indomethacin; a stimulator of cytokine secretion, bacterial lipopolysaccharide; and the parent steroid, from which all other steroids arise, pregnenolone. This treatment reduced histopathological changes, spared tissue from secondary injury, and increased restoration of motor function. Remarkably, 11 of 16 of the animals treated with the above combination were able to stand and walk at 21 days after injury, 4 of them almost normally. The results were far superior to those obtained in controls or in animals to which the substances were given separately or in combination of two. This approach may prove to be applicable to nervous system injury, in general, and to injury in other tissues.
Radial Basis Function Neural Networks with Sequential Learning (1999)

From the Publisher:
This book presents in detail the newly developed sequential learning algorithm for radial basis function neural networks, which realizes a minimal network. This algorithm, created by the authors, is referred to as minimal resource allocation networks (MRAN). The book describes the application of MRAN in different areas, including pattern recognition, time series prediction, system identification and signal processing. Benchmark problems from these areas have been studied, and MRAN is compared with other algorithms. In order to make the book self-contained, a review of the existing theory of RBF networks and applications is given at the beginning.
A system for computer and robot assisted knee implantation (1992)

This paper describes the first implementation of a system for assisting the surgeon before and during the implant of a knee prosthesis. The semi-automatic procedure we are testing lets the surgeon plan the intervention on a workstation SUN, and aims at the execution of precise resections. Cuts are performed by a robotic manipulator, after a matching phase based on some markers inserted in the femur and the tibia before the pre-operative CT analysis.
The role of colony-stimulating factor 1 and its receptor in the etiopathogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma. (1995)

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is a homodimeric growth factor that humorally regulates the growth and differentiation of mononuclear phagocytes, and locally regulates maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy. It exerts these actions through a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R), the product of the c-fms proto-oncogene. Recent studies have demonstrated overexpression of CSF-1 and its receptor in breast, ovarian, and endometrial adenocarcinomas. To further investigate the possible role of CSF-1 and its receptor in the pathogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma, a prospective study was undertaken to study CSF-1 expression in benign and neoplastic endometrial epithelium and to compare serum CSF-1 levels in endometrial adenocarcinoma patients with healthy perimenopausal women. The mean serum levels of CSF-1 in 71 patients with endometrial cancer (4.9 +/- 1.8 microgram/liter) were significantly elevated compared with levels found in the 32 controls (3.5 +/- 1.1 microgram/liter). Within the endometrial adenocarcinoma group, circulating CSF-1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with large tumor volume, high grade, myometrial invasion, residual disease, and circulating CA-125 levels. High serum levels of serum CSF-1 were associated with elevated serum CA19-9 and CA-125 levels. Immunohistochemistry results revealed in tumor epithelium intense staining for CSF-1R (27 of 54 cases, 50%) and elevated staining for CSF-1 (41 of 54 cases, 75.9%), with intense staining of CSF-1 in 16 of 54 cases (29.6%). Staining was significantly greater in intensity and number of cells involved in malignant compared with benign epithelium for CSF-1R and CSF-1 (P = 0.05 and <0.0001, respectively). A positive correlation between amount and intensity of CSF-1 and CSF-1R staining in endometrial adenocarcinoma tissue was also demonstrated (P = 0.007). CSF-1 and CSF-1R mRNA was also detected in the tumor samples, confirming the expression of the protein in these tissues. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated the presence of mRNA for both the transmembrane and secreted forms of CSF-1 in all tumors analyzed. These results therefore support the hypotheses that CSF-1 and CSF-1R are overexpressed in endometrial adenocarcinoma, that levels of expression significantly correlate with clinicopathological risk factors for poor outcome, and that CSF-1 in association with its receptor via autocrine, juxtacrine, and/or paracrine interactions has a causal role in endometrial adenocarcinoma development and proliferation.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a potent activator of human mast cells (38.4) (2007)

Abstract Compelling evidence suggests that the epithelial cell-derived cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) may initiate asthma or atopic dermatitis through a dendritic cell-mediated Th2 response. Here we describe how TSLP might initiate and aggravate allergic inflammation via the innate immune system. We show that TSLP stimulates the production of Th2 cytokines by progenitor-derived human mast cells (MC). MC expressed each chain of the TSLP receptor complex, i.e. the TSLP-binding chain (TSLP-R) and the IL-7R-α chain at the mRNA and protein levels. TSLP-R was also detected on MC infiltrating the bronchial mucosa of asthmatic patients as revealed by staining biopsy specimen with TSLP-R specific mAb. TSLP dose-dependently induced the release of IL-5 which was detectable after 6 h of culture and reached plateau at 24 h. The response of MC was specifically suppressed by neutralizing mAb to TSLP or TSLP-R. TSLP did not induce MC degranulation or the release of lipid mediators. In contrast, high levels of IL-5, IL-13, IL-6 and GM-CSF were released after 24 h of MC stimulation. TSLP exerted an opposing effect on the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. it suppressed TGF-β and enhanced IL-10. Among several chemokines examined, TSLP enhanced the production of only IL-8 and I-309. Finally, we show that primary airway and skin epithelial cells release functionally sufficient levels of TSLP to stimulate human MC.
A Randomized, Double-Blind Study of the Safety, Transmissibility and Phenotypic and Genotypic Stability of Cold-Adapted Influenza Virus Vaccine (2006)

Young children in a day care setting had a high rate of shedding and a low rate of transmission. No clinically significant illness occurred among children who received vaccine or placebo or in the child to whom the vaccine virus was transmitted.