gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Epitope focusing in the primary cytotoxic T cell response to Epstein-Barr virus and its relationship to T cell memory. (1996)

The relationship between primary and memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, and the factors influencing entry into memory, are poorly understood. Here we address this in the context of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a persistent human herpesvirus in which memory CTL responses in long-term virus carriers are highly focused on epitopes preferentially drawn from just three of the eight available virus latent proteins, EBNAs 3A, 3B, and 3C. To determine whether this unusual level of focusing is a consequence of long-term virus challenge, we carried out a detailed analysis of EBV antigen/epitope specificities in the primary virus-induced CTL response in 10 infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients of different HLA types. Primary effectors, studied in ex vivo assays and by limiting dilution cloning in vitro, were again highly skewed toward a small number of viral epitopes, almost all derived from the EBNA3 proteins, with CTL to the immunodominant epitope accounting for at least 1% of the circulating CD8+ IM T cell pool. This is the first unequivocal demonstration of an EBV-specific CD8+ CTL response in IM. Prospective studies on individual patients showed that, whereas all of the EBV reactivities found in CTL memory had been detectable earlier during primary infection, the memory population was not simply a scaled down version of the primary response. In particular (a) differences in the relative frequencies of CTL to immunodominant versus subdominant epitopes appeared to be much less marked in memory than in primary populations, and (b) we found at least one clear example in which a significant virus-specific reactivity within the primary response was never detectable in memory.
Dynamic Viscoelastic Study on the Gelation Properties of β-Conglycinin-Rich and Glycinin-Rich Soybean Protein Isolates (1996)

Preheated soybean protein isolates (SPIs) were prepared from new soybean lines that have extremely different compositions of β-conglycinin and glycinin by a typical method for manufacturing commercial SPI. The gelation properties of these SPIs were investigated by dynamic viscoelastic measurements. The storage modulus G‘ of 12% SPI was measured at pH 7.0 when the temperature was increased from 30 to 80 °C and then lowered to 20 °C at 2 °C/min. Gelation properties of the preheated SPI were different from those of the non-pre-heated SPI. In the absence of NaCl, an increase in the storage modulus G‘ was observed for preheated β-conglycinin-rich SPI and preheated control SPI, but not for preheated glycinin-rich SPI. On the other hand, in the presence of 2.5% NaCl, an increase in the storage modulus G‘ was observed for all preheated SPIs in the order β-conglycinin-rich SPI > control SPI > glycinin-rich SPI. These results suggest that β-conglycinin plays an important role in the heat-induced gel formation of commercial SPI. Keywords: β-Conglycinin; glycinin; gelation; dynamic viscoelastic measurements
Efficacy of a Conjugate Vaccine Containing Polymannuronic Acid and Flagellin against Experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection in Mice (2011)

Vaccines that could effectively prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infections in the settings of cystic fibrosis (CF) and nosocomial pneumonia could be exceedingly useful, but to date no effective immunotherapy targeting this pathogen has been successfully developed for routine use in humans. Evaluations using animals and limited human trials of vaccines and their associated immune effectors against different P. aeruginosa antigens have suggested that antibody to the conserved surface polysaccharide alginate, as well as the flagellar proteins, often give high levels of protection. However, alginate itself does not elicit protective antibody in humans, and flagellar vaccines containing the two predominant serotypes of this antigen may not provide sufficient coverage against variant flagellar types. To evaluate if combining these antigens in a conjugate vaccine would be potentially efficacious, we conjugated polymannuronic acid (PMA), containing the blocks of mannuronic acid conserved in all P. aeruginosa alginates, to type a flagellin (FLA) and evaluated immunogenicity, opsonic killing activity, and passive protective efficacy in mice. The PMA-FLA conjugate was highly immunogenic in mice and rabbits and elicited opsonic antibodies against mucoid but not nonmucoid P. aeruginosa, but nonetheless rabbit antibody to PMA-FLA showed evidence of protective efficacy against both types of this organism in a mouse lung infection model. Importantly, the PMA-FLA conjugate vaccine did not elicit antibodies that neutralized the Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5)-activating activity of flagellin, an important part of innate immunity to flagellated microbial pathogens. Conjugation of PMA to FLA appears to be a promising path for developing a broadly protective vaccine against P. aeruginosa.
Vascular smooth muscle relaxation mediated by nitric oxide donors: a comparison with acetylcholine, nitric oxide andnitroxyl ion (2001)

1. Vasorelaxant properties of three nitric oxide (NO) donor drugs (glyceryl trinitrate, sodium nitroprusside and spermine NONOate) in mouse aorta (phenylephrine pre-contracted) were compared with those of endothelium-derived NO (generated with acetylcholine), NO free radical (NO*; NO gas solution) and nitroxyl ion (NO(-); from Angeli's salt). 2. The soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ (1H-(1,2,4-)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)-quinoxalin-1-one; 0.3, 1 and 10 microM), concentration-dependently inhibited responses to all agents. 10 microM ODQ abolished responses to acetylcholine and glyceryl trinitrate, almost abolished responses to sodium nitroprusside but produced parallel shifts (to a higher concentration range; no depression in maxima) in the concentration-response curves for NO gas solution, Angeli's salt and spermine NONOate. 3. The NO* scavengers, carboxy-PTIO, (2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide; 100 microM) and hydroxocobalamin (100 microM), both inhibited responses to NO gas solution and to the three NO donor drugs, but not Angeli's salt. Hydroxocobalamin, but not carboxy-PTIO, also inhibited responses to acetylcholine. 4. The NO(-) inhibitor, L-cysteine (3 mM), inhibited responses to Angeli's salt, acetylcholine and the three NO donor drugs, but not NO gas solution. 5. The data suggest that, in mouse aorta, responses to all three NO donors involve (i) activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, but to differing degrees and (ii) generation of both NO* and NO(-). Glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside, which generate NO following tissue bioactivation, have profiles resembling the profile of endothelium-derived NO more than that of exogenous NO. Spermine NONOate, which generates NO spontaneously outside the tissue, was the drug that most closely resembled (but was not identical to) exogenous NO.
An Evaluation of the HVAC Load Potential for Providing Load Balancing Service (2012)

This paper investigates the potential of providing intra-hour load balancing services using aggregated heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) loads. A directload control algorithm is presented. A temperature-priority-list method is used to dispatch the HVAC loads optimally to maintain customer-desired indoor temperatures and load diversity. Realistic intra-hour load balancing signals are used to evaluate the operational characteristics of the HVAC load under different outdoor temperature profiles and different indoor temperature settings. The number of HVAC units needed is also investigated. Modeling results suggest that the number of HVAC units needed to provide a ±1-MW load balancing service 24 hours a day varies significantly with baseline settings, high and low temperature settings, and outdoor temperatures. The results demonstrate that the intra-hour load balancing service provided by HVAC loads meets the performance requirements and can become a major source of revenue for load-serving entities where the two-way communication smart grid infrastructure enables direct load control over the HVAC loads.
Molecular basis of "suppressor" macrophages. Arginine metabolism via the nitric oxide synthetase pathway (1991)

A molecular explanation for "suppressor" macrophage inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation is described. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NGMMA), a specific inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthetase pathway, markedly augments Con A-induced proliferation of rat splenic leukocytes. Macrophages are necessary and sufficient for NGMMA-releasable-suppression, as indicated by a loss of suppression after either pretreatment of isolated splenic macrophages with NGMMA or their depletion by plastic adherence or L-leucine methyl ester. L- (but not D-) arginine overrides NGMMA-releasable suppression, and suppression is blocked by RBC as would be expected if nitric oxide were the effector molecule. Unlike rats, NGMMA did not augment Con A-induced proliferation of normal mouse splenic leukocytes. However, NGMMA did augment Con A-induced proliferation of mouse splenic leukocytes induced to contain suppressor macrophages by intravenous injection of Corynebacterium parvum, which suggests a quantitative, not qualitative, difference in suppressor macrophages between rats and mice. Nitrite production, as an indicator of nitric oxide synthesis, correlated with suppressor macrophage activity in rats and mice and was inhibited by NGMMA. Finally, NGMMA also markedly enhanced proliferation with every other mitogen examined (PHA, protein A, PWM, and LPS). It is concluded that immunoregulation of lymphocyte proliferation by suppressor macrophages is mediated, in part, directly or indirectly by products of the nitric oxide synthetase pathway.
Serum Protein Signatures Differentiating Autoimmune Pancreatitis versus Pancreatic Cancer (2013)

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is defined by characteristic lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, ductal strictures and a pancreatic enlargement or mass that can mimic pancreatic cancer (PaCa). The distinction between this benign disease and pancreatic cancer can be challenging. However, an accurate diagnosis may pre-empt the misdiagnosis of cancer, allowing the appropriate medical treatment of AIP and, consequently, decreasing the number of unnecessary pancreatic resections. Mass spectrometry (MS) and two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) have been applied to analyse serum protein alterations associated with AIP and PaCa, and to identify protein signatures indicative of the diseases. Patients' sera were immunodepleted from the 20 most prominent serum proteins prior to further 2D-DIGE and image analysis. The identity of the most-discriminatory proteins detected, was performed by MS and ELISAs were applied to confirm their expression. Serum profiling data analysis with 2D-DIGE revealed 39 protein peaks able to discriminate between AIP and PaCa. Proteins were purified and further analysed by MALDI-TOF-MS. Peptide mass fingerprinting led to identification of eleven proteins. Among them apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, transthyretin, and tetranectin were identified and found as 3.0-, 3.5-, 2-, and 1.6-fold decreased in PaCa sera, respectively, whereas haptoglobin and apolipoprotein E were found to be 3.8- and 1.6-fold elevated in PaCa sera. With the exception of haptoglobin the ELISA results of the identified proteins confirmed the 2D-DIGE image analysis characteristics. Integration of the identified serum proteins as AIP markers may have considerable potential to provide additional information for the diagnosis of AIP to choose the appropriate treatment.
A Novel Fluorescent Toxin to Detect and Investigate Kv1.3 Channel Up-regulation in Chronically Activated T Lymphocytes (2003)

T lymphocytes with unusually high expression of the voltage-gated Kv1.3 channel (Kv1.3(high) cells) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model for multiple sclerosis. We have developed a fluoresceinated analog of ShK (ShK-F6CA), the most potent known inhibitor of Kv1.3, for detection of Kv1.3(high) cells by flow cytometry. ShK-F6CA blocked Kv1.3 at picomolar concentrations with a Hill coefficient of 1 and exhibited >80-fold specificity for Kv1.3 over Kv1.1 and other K(V) channels. In flow cytometry experiments, ShK-F6CA specifically stained Kv1.3-expressing cells with a detection limit of approximately 600 channels per cell. Rat and human T cells that had been repeatedly stimulated 7-10 times with antigen were readily distinguished on the basis of their high levels of Kv1.3 channels (>600 channels/cell) and ShK-F6CA staining from resting T cells or cells that had undergone 1-3 rounds of activation. Functional Kv1.3 expression levels increased substantially in a myelin-specific rat T cell line following myelin antigen stimulation, peaking at 15-20 h and then declining to baseline over the next 7 days, in parallel with the acquisition and loss of encephalitogenicity. Both calcium- and protein kinase C-dependent pathways were required for the antigen-induced Kv1.3 up-regulation. ShK-F6CA might be useful for rapid and quantitative detection of Kv1.3(high) expressing cells in normal and diseased tissues, and to visualize the distribution of functional channels in intact cells.
A Novel and Efficient Model of Coronary Artery Ligation in the Mouse (2013)

Coronary artery ligation to induce myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice is typically performed by an invasive and time-consuming approach that requires ventilation and a full thoracotomy (classical method), often resulting in extensive tissue damage and high mortality. Here, we describe a novel and rapid surgical method to induce MI that does not require ventilation. This method is much more efficient and safer than the classical method of MI and I/R injury.
Circular polarised cylindricaldielectric resonator antenna (1996)

A circular polarised cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna excited using a simple microstrip feed line is reported. The experimental results of the resonant frequency, radiation pattern, boresight axial ratio, gain, unloaded Q-factor, impedance bandwidth and radiation efficiency are presented.
Primary and secondary immune response to formalin inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae isolates in rabbits. (2006)

The present study was conducted to evaluate primary and secondary immune response to formalin inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae isolates in rabbits. Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated from mastitic buffaloes. The organism was characterized on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical tests. An increased geomean antibody titer was observed in rabbits inoculated with single dose (Group A) and double dose (Group B) of Streptococcus agalactiae antigen. It was also evident from the results that the double dose of Streptococcus agalactiae antigen in rabbits (Group B) showed better and long lasting humoral antibody response as compared to single dose (Group A).
Domain Adaptation for Visual Applications: A Comprehensive Survey (2017)

The aim of this paper is to give an overview of domain adaptation and transfer learning with a specific view on visual applications. After a general motivation, we first position domain adaptation in the larger transfer learning problem. Second, we try to address and analyze briefly the state-of-the-art methods for different types of scenarios, first describing the historical shallow methods, addressing both the homogeneous and the heterogeneous domain adaptation methods. Third, we discuss the effect of the success of deep convolutional architectures which led to new type of domain adaptation methods that integrate the adaptation within the deep architecture. Fourth, we overview the methods that go beyond image categorization, such as object detection or image segmentation, video analyses or learning visual attributes. Finally, we conclude the paper with a section where we relate domain adaptation to other machine learning solutions.
Mitochondrial ATP synthase. Overexpression in Escherichia coli of a rat liver beta subunit peptide and its interaction with adenine nucleotides. (1988)

The C-terminal two-thirds of the rat liver ATP synthase beta subunit has been overexpressed and exported to the Escherichia coli periplasm under the direction of the alkaline phosphatase (phoA) promoter and leader peptide. The processed soluble protein contains the 358 amino acids from glutamate 122 to the rat liver beta C-terminal serine 479, including all the regions that have been predicted by chemical and genetic modification studies to be involved in nucleotide, Pi, and Mg2+ binding. Through a simple sequence of Tris/EDTA/lysozyme treatment, osmotic lysis, and alkaline pH washes, the processed beta subunit fragment can be prepared in greater than 95% purity and at a yield of greater than 20 mg/liter of culture. It interacts with 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP) which exhibits a strong enhancement of fluorescence upon binding. A similar enhancement is observed upon interaction with TNP-ADP. Enhancement observed with both TNP-nucleotides is markedly reduced by prior addition of either ATP or ADP and almost completely prevented by the ATP synthase inhibitor 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole. Both TNP-ATP and TNP-ADP bind at a stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of nucleotide/mol of beta subunit fragment. Under the same conditions, TNP-AMP does not exhibit a fluorescence enhancement. This work demonstrates that, in the absence of interaction with other ATP synthase subunits, the rat liver beta subunit sequence from glutamate 122 to the C terminus exhibits no more than one readily detectable nucleotide binding domain. This success in producing a "functional" beta subunit fragment has significance for the pursuit of genetic and physical studies focused on the structure and function of the rat liver ATP synthase beta subunit.
Comparison of 60 Co and 192 Ir sources in HDR brachytherapy (2011)

This paper compares the isotopes (60)Co and (192)Ir as radiation sources for high-dose-rate (HDR) afterloading brachytherapy. The smaller size of (192)Ir sources made it the preferred radionuclide for temporary brachytherapy treatments. Recently also (60)Co sources have been made available with identical geometrical dimensions. This paper compares the characteristics of both nuclides in different fields of brachytherapy based on scientific literature. In an additional part of this paper reports from medical physicists of several radiation therapy institutes are discussed. The purpose of this work is to investigate the advantages or disadvantages of both radionuclides for HDR brachytherapy due to their physical differences. The motivation is to provide useful information to support decision-making procedures in the selection of equipment for brachytherapy treatment rooms. The results of this work show that no advantages or disadvantages exist for (60)Co sources compared to (192)Ir sources with regard to clinical aspects. Nevertheless, there are potential logistical advantages of (60)Co sources due to its longer half-life (5.3 years vs. 74 days), making it an interesting alternative especially in developing countries.
Future Directions in the Study and Management of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency (2002)

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia describes a group of inherited autosomal recessive disorders characterized by an enzymatic defect in cortisol biosynthesis, compensatory increases in corticotropin secretion, and adrenocortical hyperplasia. 21-Hydroxylase deficiency is responsible for more than 95% of cases and is one of the most common known autosomal recessive disorders. The classic or severe type presents in the newborn period or early childhood with virilization and adrenal insufficiency, with or without salt loss; the mild or nonclassic form presents in late childhood or early adulthood with mild hyperandrogenism and is an important cause of masculinization and infertility in women. This wide range of phenotypic expression is mostly explained by genetic variation, although genotype-phenotype discrepancies have been described. Reproductive, metabolic, and other comorbid conditions, including risk for tumors, are currently under investigation in both forms of the disease. A high proportion of patients with adrenal incidentalomas may be homozygous or heterozygous for 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia often develop the polycystic ovary syndrome. Ectopic adrenal rest tissue is often found in the testes of men with congenital adrenal hyperplasia; characteristic clinical and radiologic findings help differentiate this tissue from other tumors. Levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone are elevated in patients with depression and anxiety and are expected to be elevated in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia; it is unknown whether patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency have an increased incidence of these psychiatric disorders. Abnormalities in both the structure and function of the adrenal medulla have been shown in patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and the degree of adrenomedullary impairment may be a biomarker of disease severity. The 21-hydroxylase-deficient mouse has provided a useful model with which to examine disease mechanisms and test new therapeutic interventions in classic disease, including gene therapy. Treatment of this condition is intended to reduce excessive corticotropin secretion and replace both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. However, clinical management is often complicated by inadequately treated hyperandrogenism, iatrogenic hypercortisolism, or both. New treatment approaches currently under investigation include combination therapy to block androgen action and inhibit estrogen production, and bilateral adrenalectomy in the most severely affected patients. Other approaches, which are in a preclinical stage of investigation, include treatment with a corticotropin-releasing hormone antagonist and gene therapy.
Extreme chirped pulse oscillator (XCPO) using a theta cavity design (2006)

We demonstrate an extreme chirped pulse mode-locked laser, simultaneously generating near-transform-limited 3.9-ps optical pulses and /spl sim/510-ps linearly chirped output from the oscillator. The design overcomes fundamental limitations of energy extraction and nonlinearities induced by gain dynamics so that we can increase the dc current of the semiconductor optical amplifier up to 600 mA without distortion of the pulse characteristics. The maximum average power of the stretched pulses from the 1.95-GHz harmonically mode-locked semiconductor laser is measured to be 13.4 mW at 600 mA.
Effects of Lignin−Metal Complexation on Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose (2010)

This study investigated the inhibition of enzymatic hydrolysis by unbound lignin (soluble and insoluble) with or without the addition of metal compounds. Sulfonated, Organosolv, and Kraft lignin were added in aqueous enzyme-cellulose systems at different concentrations before hydrolysis. The measured substrate enzymatic digestibility (SED) of cellulose was decreased by 15% when SL was added to a concentration of 0.1 g/L due to nonproductive adsorption of enzymes onto lignin. Cu(II) and Fe(III) were found to inhibit enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis in the presence of lignin. Ca(II) and Mg(II) were found to reduce or eliminate nonproductive enzyme adsorption by the formation of lignin-metal complex. The addition of Ca(II) or Mg(II) to a concentration of 10 mM can almost completely eliminate the reduction in SED caused by the nonproductive enzyme adsorption onto the lignins studied (SL, OL, or KL at concentration of 0.1 g/L). Ca(II) was also found to reduce the inhibitive effect of bound lignin in pretreated wood substrate, suggesting that Ca(II) can also form complex with bound lignin on pretreated solid lignocelluloses. Significant improvement in SED of about over 27% of a eucalyptus substrate produced by sulfite pretreatment to overcome recalcitrance of lignocellulose (SPORL) was achieved with the application of Ca(II).