gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
NetTrouble: a TTS for network management (2002)

Current information systems need tools that are able to register the variety of problems that occur in the system, co-ordinating the efforts for resolution and keeping the experience gained in those efforts. These applications are traditionally called trouble ticket systems (TTS). The network management (NM) environment involves several issues not yet addressed by current systems, namely the heterogeneity of data networks, geographic dissemination (of the managed system and of the management team), the multi-organisational attribute of wide area networks (with many carriers and communication service providers between network ends), and the decomposition (both functional and hierarchical) of the associated tasks and responsibilities. This paper explains the most important results of a project developed at the University of Coimbra that involved the development of NetTrouble, a TTS designed for NM that brings out new and innovative concepts such as the use of administrative domains (useful in dealing with multi-organisational systems), the autonomic definition of co-operation policies between different organisations, a flexible administrative model (going to ticket-level detail and able to involve both local and remote human resources), and the virtual presence of tickets belonging to remote domains. The notification model of NetTrouble, another interesting feature, is also be described.
Gene cloning and characterization of Pseudomonas putida L-methionine-alpha-deamino-gamma-mercaptomethane-lyase. (1996)

Methionine dependency has been reported in cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Thus, L-methionine deprivation might have potential value for the treatment of human cancers with a methionine requirement. L-Methionine-alpha-deamino-gamma-mercaptomethane-lyase has been reported to decrease plasma methionine levels and to inhibit tumor growth in experimental animals but has not been studied extensively because sufficient homogeneous enzyme was not available. In this study, we cloned the L-methioninase gene from Pseudomonas putida and isolated pure and abundant recombinant enzyme. Both L-methionine and L-cysteine in culture medium were completely degraded by 1 unit/ml purified enzyme. Two hundred and fifty units/kg L-methioninase administered i.v. to mice yielded 0.7 unit/ml of plasma concentration and lowered total plasma sulfur-containing amino acids by more than 75%. Although sensitivity to enzymatic methionine depletion differed among cell lines, leukemia cell lines were generally more sensitive than solid tumor cell lines. The availability of pure recombinant L-methioninase will allow in vivo studies on the antitumor activity and the potential toxicity of enzymatic methionine depletion.
Reducing location update and paging costs in a PCS network (2002)

Mobility tracking operations in a personal communication service (PCS) system are signaling consuming. Several strategies have been proposed in the literature to reduce both the location update (LU) and the paging (PG) costs. In this paper, we propose a location-tracking algorithm called three-location area (TrLA), combined with selective paging. In TrLA, the mobile terminal (MT) allocates the identification of three neighboring location areas (LAs) in its local memory. We call this set of three LAs, a big-location area (BLA). Each time the MT exits the BLA, it triggers an LU message to the system databases via a base station, in order to maintain the databases up to date. The MT also updates its cache memory. A two-step selective PG is also considered and compared with the single-step (or nonselective PG). An analytical model based on a semi-Markov process has been used to evaluate our proposal. This scheme is compared with the classical Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard and the two-location algorithm proposal. As a result, this new scheme outperforms the cited strategies, and in our opinion, it can easily be implemented in existing standard cellular and personal communication systems.
The Connexin43 Carboxyl-Terminal Peptide ACT1 Modulates the Biological Response to Silicone Implants (2009)

ACT1 may provide an enabling technology for modulating the wound-healing response to implants, promoting integration of implanted materials and tissue-engineered devices in the human body.
Increased peripheral blood inflammatory cytokine levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a meta-analysis study (2017)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with poorly understood etiology. Increasing evidence suggest that inflammation may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ALS. Several studies have demonstrated altered levels of blood cytokines in ALS, but results were inconsistent. Therefore, we did a systematic review of studies comparing blood inflammatory cytokines between ALS patients and control subjects, and quantitatively combined the clinical data with a meta-analysis. The systematic review of Pubmed and Web of Science identified 25 studies encompassing 812 ALS patients and 639 control subjects. Random-effects meta-analysis demonstrated that blood tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF; Hedges' g = 0.655; p = 0.001), TNF receptor 1 (Hedges' g = 0.741; p < 0.001), interleukin 6 (IL-6; Hedges' g = 0.25; p = 0.005), IL-1β (Hedges' g = 0.296; p = 0.038), IL-8 (Hedges' g = 0.449; p < 0.001) and vascular endothelial growth factor (Hedges' g = 0.891; p = 0.003) levels were significantly elevated in patients with ALS compared with control subjects. These results substantially enhance our knowledge of the inflammatory response in ALS, and peripheral blood inflammatory cytokines may be used as diagnostic biomarkers for ALS in the future.
The transposable element mariner mediates germline transformation in Drosophila melanogaster. (1993)

A vector for germline transformation in Drosophila melanogaster was constructed using the transposable element mariner. The vector, denoted pMlwB, contains a mariner element disrupted by an insertion containing the wild-type white gene from D. melanogaster, the beta-galactosidase gene from Escherichia coli and sequences that enable plasmid replication and selection in E. coli. The white gene is controlled by the promoter of the D. melanogaster gene for heat-shock protein 70, and the beta-galactosidase gene is flanked upstream by the promoter of the transposable element P as well as that of mariner. The MlwB element was introduced into the germline of D. melanogaster by co-injection into embryos with an active mariner element, Mos1, which codes for a functional transposase and serves as a helper. Two independent germline insertions were isolated and characterized. The results show that the MlwB element inserted into the genome in a mariner-dependent manner with the termini of the inverted repeats inserted at a TA dinucleotide. Both insertions exhibit an unexpected degree of germline and somatic stability, even in the presence of an active mariner element in the genetic background. These results demonstrate that the mariner transposable element, which is small (1286 bp) and relatively homogeneous in size among different copies, is nevertheless capable of promoting the insertion of the large (13.2 kb) MlwB element. Because of the widespread phylogenetic distribution of mariner among insects, these results suggest that mariner might provide a wide host-range transformation vector for insects.
Regulation of vascular endothelial permeability by junctional adhesion molecules (JAM) (2007)

The vascular endothelium forms a barrier between the circulation and the interstitium, and changes in vascular permeability are very important during vascular repair and inflammatory conditions. The regulation of the endothelial barrier depends on actomyosin-related cell contractility as well as the integrity of cell-cell junctions, such as tight and adherens junctions. The present review will introduce the basic pathways involved in the regulation of the endothelial barrier as well as important participating signaling players, such as the small GTPases RhoA, Rac and Rap1. In this context, we will attempt to analyze and interpret the recent evidence pointing to the role of the family of junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) in modulating the pathways involved in the regulation of the endothelial barrier.
Sensitization of bleached rod photoreceptors by 11-cis-locked analogues of retinal. (1990)

Photoactivation of rhodopsin initiates both excitation and adaptation in vertebrate rod photoreceptors. Bleaching of rhodopsin to free opsin and all-trans-retinal in isolated rods produces a stable desensitization (bleaching adaptation) that is much larger than expected from pigment depletion alone. In our experiments, a 93% bleach produced a 500-fold increase in the light intensity required for saturation of the light response. This component of adaptation was 32-fold larger than the 16-fold increase expected from pigment depletion alone. 11-cis-Retinal, when delivered to isolated rods from liposomes, combines with free opsin to form a bleachable photopigment that fully restores sensitivity. 11-cis-Locked analogues of retinal combine with opsin to form unbleachable pigments in isolated bleached rods from the tiger salamander. They restore sensitivity to a substantial (16- to 25-fold) but incomplete extent. The analogues apparently relieve a stable component of adaptation when they interact with opsin. Because these analogues do not detectably excite rods, the structural requirements of both retinal and opsin for the relief of adaptation are different from those of excitation. The biochemical basis of light adaptation resulting from pigment bleaching and the minimum structural requirements of retinal for its relief remain to be determined.
Role of CD44 and Its v7 Isoform in Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B-Induced Toxic Shock: CD44 Deficiency on Hepatic Mononuclear Cells Leads to Reduced Activation-Induced Apoptosis That Results in Increased Liver Damage (2004)

Exposure to bacterial superantigens such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) leads to the induction of toxic shock syndrome which results in multiorgan failure, including liver damage. In the present study, we investigated the role of CD44 in SEB-induced liver injury. Injection of SEB into d-galactosamine-sensitized CD44 wild-type (WT) mice led to a significant increase in CD44 expression on liver T cells, NK cells, and NKT cells. Administration of SEB to CD44 knockout (KO) mice caused significantly enhanced liver damage which correlated with elevated numbers of T cells, NK cells, NKT cells, and macrophages in the liver and increased production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon compared to CD44 WT mice. Furthermore, liver mononuclear cells from CD44 KO mice were resistant to SEB-induced apoptosis, and cDNA microarray analysis revealed that SEB activation of such cells led to the induction of several antiapoptotic genes and repression of proapoptotic genes. Examination of CD44 isoforms revealed that SEB exposure altered CD44 variant 7 (v7) isoform expression. Interestingly, mice bearing a specific deletion of the CD44v7 exon exhibited increased susceptibility to SEB-induced hepatitis. Finally, treatment of CD44 WT mice with anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies reduced expression of CD44 in liver mononuclear cells and caused increased susceptibility to SEB-induced liver injury. Together, these data demonstrate that the expression of CD44 and/or CD44v7 on SEB-activated liver mononuclear cells facilitates their rapid apoptosis, thereby preventing severe liver injury in wild-type mice, and suggest that CD44 plays an important role in the regulation and elimination of immune cells in the liver.
Purification of bovine bone morphogenetic protein by hydroxyapatite chromatography. (1984)

Bovine bone morphogenetic protein (bBMP) induces differentiation of mesenchymal-type cells into cartilage and bone. bBMP has an apparent Mr of 18,500 +/- 500 and represents less than 0.001% of the wet weight of bone tissue. A Mr 34,000 protein resembling osteonectin is separated by extraction with Triton X-100. A Mr 24,000 protein and about half of a Mr 22,000 protein are disassociated from bBMP by precipitation in 1.5 M guanidine hydrochloride. Aggregates of bBMP and a Mr 14,000 protein are insoluble in aqueous media; the bBMP becomes soluble when the Mr 14,000 protein is disassociated in 6 M urea and removed from the solution by ultrafiltration. Three separate molecular species with apparent Mrs 18,500, 17,500, and 17,000 are eluted at 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 M phosphate ion concentrations, respectively, from a hydroxy-apatite column. The Mr 18,500 protein has the amino acid composition of acidic polylpeptide and includes four half-cystine residues; the pI is 4.9-5.1. The Mr 22,000 component is a chromoprotein resembling ferritin. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the Mr 17,500 protein simulates histone H2B. The Mr 17,000 protein may possess calmodulin activity. Aggregates of the Mr 18,500 and other proteins induce formation of large deposits of bone; the Mr 18,500 protein alone is rapidly absorbed and induces formation of small deposits. None of the other proteins induces bone formation.
Molecular genetics of retinitis pigmentosa (1995)

Hereditary degenerations and dysfunctions of the retina are an extremely heterogeneous group of diseases. This summary deals with recent advances in the molecular genetics of a subset of those disorders, namely, those encompassed under the diagnosis 'retinitis pigmentosa'. Over 20 loci where mutations cause retinitis pigmentosa have been mapped; the review focuses on the seven retinitis pigmentosa loci that have been identified.
MRC OX-43: a monoclonal antibody which reacts with all vascular endothelium in the rat except that of brain capillaries. (1986)

A mouse monoclonal antibody, MRC OX-43, has been shown to label vascular endothelium in all tissues of the rat except that of brain capillaries. Using immunoperoxidase staining, the antigen was shown to be expressed on the luminal surface of blood vessels. In addition, this antibody recognized a surface antigen on circulating erythrocytes and some macrophage populations, namely all those in the peritoneal cavity and a subset of alveolar macrophages. The antigen recognized by this antibody was identified on macrophages by metabolic and cell surface labelling followed by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and found to be a surface protein of 90,000 MW.
Through a Gender Lens: A View of Gender and Leadership Positions in a Department of Medicine (2015)

Leadership positions held by women and men were proportionate to faculty representation, although the top leadership positions were held almost exclusively by men. While female assistant professors were more likely to hold leadership positions than male assistant professors, these positions appear to be low status positions and it is not clear that they contribute to professional advancement, as few women hold the rank of full professor. Effective interventions are needed to address the gender disparity in top leadership positions.
Human Leukemic Models of Myelomonocytic Development: A Review of the HL-60 and U937 Cell Lines (1985)

The human leukemic myeloblast HL-60 and monoblast U937 cell lines have made important contributions to the disciplines of cancer, hematology, and immunology. As sources of leukemic cells, they have been used for the study of neoplasia and therapeutics. As sources of hemic cells, they have been used for biochemical and biological analysis of regulation and differentiation in myelopoiesis. When stimulated with immunomodulatory factors, the cell lines develop properties of host-defense effector cells. They are also a source of cytokines that affect other cell types.
Cell‐Responsive Synthetic Hydrogels (2003)

Synthetic biomaterial matrices have been formed in the presence of cells by a Michael‐type addition reaction between a difunctional protease substrate peptide, a monofunctional cell adhesion peptide, and a tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol). These materials locally degrade in response to cell‐surface proteases, allowing cells to create paths for 3D cell migration (see Figure).
Immune Response in Mice that Lack the Interferon-γ Receptor (1993)

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) exerts pleiotropic effects, including antiviral activity, stimulation of macrophages and natural killer cells, and increased expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens. Mice without the IFN-gamma receptor had no overt anomalies, and their immune system appeared to develop normally. However, mutant mice had a defective natural resistance, they had increased susceptibility to infection by Listeria monocytogenes and vaccinia virus despite normal cytotoxic and T helper cell responses. Immunoglobulin isotype analysis revealed that IFN-gamma is necessary for a normal antigen-specific immunoglobulin G2a response. These mutant mice offer the possibility for the further elucidation of IFN-gamma-mediated functions by transgenic cell- or tissue-specific reconstitution of a functional receptor.
Multivariate Nonparametric Tests of Independence (2005)

New test statistics are proposed for testing whether two random vectors are independent. Gieser and Randles, as well as Taskinen, Kankainen, and Oja have introduced and discussed multivariate extensions of the quadrant test of Blomqvist. This article serves as a sequel to this work and presents new multivariate extensions of Kendall's tau and Spearman's rho statistics. Two different approaches are discussed. First, interdirection proportions are used to estimate the cosines of angles between centered observation vectors and between differences of observation vectors. Second, covariances between affine-equivariant multivariate signs and ranks are used. The test statistics arising from these two approaches appear to be asymptotically equivalent if each vector is elliptically symmetric. The spatial sign versions are easy to compute for data in common dimensions, and they provide practical, robust alternatives to normal-theory methods. Asymptotic theory is developed to approximate the finite-sample null distributions as well, as to calculate limiting Pitman efficiencies. Small-sample null permutation distributions are also described. A simple simulation study is used to compare the proposed tests with the classical Wilks test. Finally, the theory is illustrated by an example.
Mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes and cancer: Mechanistic insights gained from human genomics (2015)

Over the past 4 years, nearly 100 exome sequencing studies have revealed the high frequency of mutations in the genes encoding the subunits of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers in human cancer. Most of these mutations are within the genes encoding subunits of the BAF (Brg/Brahma-associated factors) or mSWI/SNF complex, which is one of two dozen predicted ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in mammals. Considering BAF complexes as a single entity, the 15 subunits encoded by 29 genes are mutated in >20% of human cancer, across a broad range of tumor types. These observations demonstrate that there is little redundancy in the oncogenic function of BAF complexes with the other remodeling complexes, underscoring their unique roles. Several important conclusions emerge from these genomic data: specific subunits appear to be mutated in specific cancers, highlighting tissue-specific protective roles; mutations can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes; mutations can be homozygous or, more commonly, heterozygous, implying their dosage-sensitive roles in an unknown yet fundamental process used to suppress the genesis of cancer. These new human genetic findings paired with biochemical studies are challenging old ideas on how chromatin remodeling complexes function, generating new hypotheses with respect to their normal and oncogenic mechanisms and highlighting potential avenues for therapeutic intervention in human cancer.
Microfluidic gene synthesis (2008)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2008.
Cost Containment Using Cysteine HCl Acidification to Increase Calcium/ Phosphate Solubility in Hyperalimentation Solutions (1986)

The purpose of this study was to determine if (1) the calcium/phosphate insoluble product was inversely related to pH [when cysteine HC1 (CH) was added as neonatal supplementation at 0.5 mM/kg/day to hyperalimentation (HAL) solutions] and (2) the potential cost savings to the hospital. The pH of the HAL solutions was adjusted by adding various amounts of CH to the HAL solution. HAL solutions containing 27 mEq of calcium/liter and 30 mEq (15 mM) of phosphate/liter were compounded. Ten-milliliter aliquots were analyzed at 0, 12, 24, and 48 hr. All samples (n = 56) were filtered (0.22 mu), viewed with 7-10,000 X magnification scanning electron microscopy, and qualitatively analyzed with a Philips Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis System equipped with a SW9100 Microprocessor. Calcium/phosphate insoluble product was present in the 0-, 12-, 24-, and 48-hr samples from the CH-free solutions. The solutions containing 759 mg (4.17 mM)/liter of CH however, remained free of precipitant. This investigation demonstrated that addition of CH to HAL can foster significant cost containment (projected $82,000/yr tangible hospital savings) by the elimination of current calcium/phosphate separation procedures for neonates on parenteral nutrition.
Harmonics Plus Noise Model Based Vocoder for Statistical Parametric Speech Synthesis (2013)

This article explores the potential of the harmonics plus noise model of speech in the development of a high-quality vocoder applicable in statistical frameworks, particularly in modern speech synthesizers. It presents an extensive explanation of all the different alternatives considered during the design of the HNM-based vocoder, together with the corresponding objective and subjective experiments, and a careful description of its implementation details. Three aspects of the analysis have been investigated: refinement of the pitch estimation using quasi-harmonic analysis, study and comparison of several spectral envelope analysis procedures, and strategies to analyze and model the maximum voiced frequency. The performance of the resulting vocoder is shown to be similar to that of state-of-the-art vocoders in synthesis tasks.
Transcutaneous Analyte Measuring Methods (TAMM). Phase 2 (1991)

Abstract : This document contains a comprehensive status report on the TAMM phase II SBIR project at Biotronics Technologies. It is important to understand at this stage of TAMM development the strengths and weakness of current instrumentation and the design approach to overcoming current shortcomings. Optimism of Biotronics remains high. Even though the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of TAMM I instrumentation (the BI-800 Array Analyzer) made signal processing difficult and limited measurement accuracy, encouraging test results were still achieved, especially on the last 73 patients tested in Milwaukee.