gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
A Simple Method for Molecular Detection of Swine-Origin and Human-Origin Influenza A Virus (2009)

Here we present a real-time one-step reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction SYBR Green assay derived from the method reported by van Elden and collaborators ( 2001 ) that ensures the rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection of both seasonal influenza A virus and emerging (H1N1) swine-origin influenza A virus (S-OIV). In addition to this screening test, which successfully detected both seasonal influenza A virus and S-OIV in human clinical samples, we showed that the probe initially designed by van Elden and collaborators could detect seasonal influenza A virus, but not S-OIV; a new probe was designed and tested that specifically detects S-OIV, but not seasonal influenza A. Both probe-based assays were validated by testing human clinical samples and specifically detected either seasonal influenza virus or S-OIV. Finally, in silico analysis of databases predicted that minor modifications of the van Elden primers would facilitate the use of this assay for the broad spectrum detection of all currently characterized variants of influenza A virus, including avian strains.
Polarisation control for surface emitting lasers (1991)

A polarisation control method for surface emitting lasers is proposed. By preparing high refractive index films on one side of dielectric multilayer reflector walls, a differential loss for orthogonal polarisations can be provided. A GaAlAs/GaAs device was fabricated based on this design and the polarisation control has been demonstrated up to 1.4 times the threshold.
Quantitative evaluation of yeast's requirement for glycerol formation in very high ethanol performance fed-batch process (2010)

This work demonstrates the power of fine-tuned pathway engineering, particularly when a compromise has to be found between high product yield on one hand and acceptable growth, productivity and stress resistance on the other hand. Under the conditions used in this study (VHEP fed-batch), the two strains with "fine-tuned" GPD1 expression in a gpd2Delta background showed slightly better ethanol yield improvement than previously achieved with the single deletion strains gpd1Delta or gpd2Delta. Although glycerol reduction is known to be even higher in a gpd1Delta gpd2Delta double deletion strain, our strains could much better cope with process stress as reflected by better growth and viability.
An automated microscale chromatographic purification of virus‐like particles as a strategy for process development (2007)

The development of fermentation processes for recombinant vaccines requires optimizing expression while maintaining high product quality. Changes to cell fermentation conditions are typically evaluated following cell disruption, with expression levels quantified by immunoassay, liquid chromatography or enzyme activity. However, assay titres do not always predict the effects that intracellular aggregation, proteolysis, post-translational modifications and differences in relative impurity levels can have on purification yield and product purity. Furthermore, heterogeneity in the size and surface properties inherent in viral particles makes unit operations such as chromatography less predictable. In these cases, the purification procedure (or a mimic thereof) must be carried out to give accurate information on the impact of changes in fermentation conditions on purification process performance. This was demonstrated for the development of a recombinant vaccine against human papillomavirus produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where the most informative feedback on fermentation variables was obtained by completing a multistep chromatographic purification to evaluate process yield and product purity. To increase the purification throughput and reduce labour, the chromatography was miniaturized 1000-fold from the laboratory scale using microlitre volumes of adsorbent in a pipette tip and automated on a robotic workstation. The microscale purification is shown to be predictive of the laboratory-scale purification in terms of yield and purity, while providing over a 10-fold increase in throughput and allowing for increased monitoring of fermentation processes. In addition, by reducing the volume of cells needed for this assessment, the fermentation can be correspondingly reduced in scale and carried out in parallel for additional throughput gains.
Adaptive non-local means filtering based on local noise level for CT denoising (2012)

Radiation dose from CT scans is an increasing health concern in the practice of radiology. Higher dose scans can produce clearer images with high diagnostic quality, but may increase the potential risk of radiation-induced cancer or other side effects. Lowering radiation dose alone generally produces a noisier image and may degrade diagnostic performance. Recently, CT dose reduction based on non-local means (NLM) filtering for noise reduction has yielded promising results. However, traditional NLM denoising operates under the assumption that image noise is spatially uniform noise, while in CT images the noise level varies significantly within and across slices. Therefore, applying NLM filtering to CT data using a global filtering strength cannot achieve optimal denoising performance. In this work, we have developed a technique for efficiently estimating the local noise level for CT images, and have modified the NLM algorithm to adapt to local variations in noise level. The local noise level estimation technique matches the true noise distribution determined from multiple repetitive scans of a phantom object very well. The modified NLM algorithm provides more effective denoising of CT data throughout a volume, and may allow significant lowering of radiation dose. Both the noise map calculation and the adaptive NLM filtering can be performed in times that allow integration with the clinical workflow.
Assessing the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA) (2011)

In 2006, IHRA received a 5‐year grant from DFID to develop a conducive policy environment for the implementation and scaling up of harm reduction activities on a global scale. An independent evaluation of the DFID programme focused primarily on IHRA's work with multilateral agencies such as those of the United Nations and civil society organisations, in particular harm reduction networks and drug users groups. This work, based largely on a human rights approach to harm reduction, included developing and disseminating evidence‐ based reports and publications, advocacy and lobbying with a wide range of national and international partners and planning the annual International Harm Reduction Conference.
A Practical Architecture of Distributed Real-Time Main-Memory Databases for Modern SCADA Systems (2011)

As the automated control systems have been applied to various aspects of everyday life including industrial control, oil mining, building automation and traffic scheduling, the strong flexibility and the high real-time performance of modern SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data acquisition) systems, especially their core — real-time databases, are in urgent need. In this paper, a practical architecture of the distributed real-time main-memory database is proposed, with the help of which, a modern SCADA system would be flexible enough to configure differently for different application, while still easily meet the requirements of the rigid time constraints.
Improving focus targeting in interactive fisheye views (2002)

Fisheye views allow people to see both a focus region and the surrounding context in the same window. However, the magnification effects of the fisheye lens can cause several problems for users. One of these is focus-targeting, where a user moves the focus to a new location. Magnification makes focus-targeting difficult because objects appear to move as the focus point approaches them. This paper examines how the distortion of a fisheye view affects focus-targeting performance, and present a technique called speed-coupled flattening (SCF) as a way to improve focus targeting in distortion-oriented views. SCF dynamically reduces the distortion level of a fisheye based on pointer velocity and acceleration. In an experiment, the technique resulted in significant reductions in both targeting time and targeting errors. By adjusting distortion based on the user's activity, we can improve usability without requiring the user to manipulate any additional view controls
User‐Controllable Color Transfer (2010)

Abstract This paper presents an image editing framework where users use reference images to indicate desired color edits. In our approach, users specify pairs of strokes to indicate corresponding regions in both the original and the reference image that should have the same color “style”. Within each stroke pair, a nonlinear constrained parametric transfer model is used to transfer the reference colors to the original. We estimate the model parameters by matching color distributions, under constraints that ensure no visual artifacts are present in the transfer result. To perform transfer on the whole image, we employ optimization methods to propagate the model parameters defined at each stroke location to spatially‐close regions of similar appearance. This stroke‐based formulation requires minimal user effort while retaining the high degree of user control necessary to allow artistic interpretations. We demonstrate our approach by performing color transfer on a number of image pairs varying in content and style, and show that our algorithm outperforms state‐of‐the‐art color transfer methods on both user‐controllability and visual qualities of the transfer results.
Evaluation of tetrazolium-based semiautomatic colorimetric assay for measurement of human antitumor cytotoxicity. (1990)

A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-based colorimetric assay was developed and compared with 51Cr release from different adherent tumor cell targets (human squamous cell carcinoma lines of the head and neck established in our laboratory, melanoma, and colorectal carcinoma) using 5-7-day human lymphokine-activated killer cells and monocyte-depleted peripheral blood lymphocytes as effectors. With adherent tumor cell targets, MTT colorimetry was more sensitive than the 51Cr release assay in measuring the antitumor activity of effectors: median, 4385 (range, 988-8144) versus median, 1061 (range, 582-7294) lytic units (the number of effector cells required to lyse 20% of 5 x 10(3) targets)/10(7) effectors (P less than 0.01). Background effects (without effector cells) were comparable in 4-h assays (9% versus 10%) between MTT colorimetry and 51Cr release. In 24-h assays, MTT colorimetry showed higher antitumor activity (70-100% versus 40-60% lysis at 1:1 effector:target cell ratio) but lower background effects (6% versus 38%) than 51Cr release assay. Thus, MTT colorimetry was more sensitive, did not use radiolabeled targets, required fewer effector cells, and was easier, less expensive, and better adaptable to serial monitoring of effector cell function in cancer patients. This colorimetric assay is especially well suited to adherent tumor cell targets. The use of adherent tumor cell monolayers, as opposed to trypsinized single cell suspensions, provides an opportunity to measure interactions of effector cells with enzymatically unaltered solid tumor targets. Because of the greater sensitivity of the colorimetric assay, the transformation of MTT data into lytic units, as commonly used for 51Cr release assays, required an adjustment to avoid the extrapolation based on the exponential fit equation.
Expression and Regulation of Interleukin-9 in Chronic Rhinosinusitis (2015)

IL-9 and IL-9R were overexpressed in CRS at both protein and mRNA levels. In addition, IL-4, IL-17A, IL-1beta, and the IL-4 and TGF-beta1 combination contributed to increased IL-9 levels. Our findings indicate that IL-9 may play a proinflammatory role after IL-9R binding to induce mucosal epithelial cell growth, gland epithelial cell proliferation, and inflammatory cell infiltration in CRS. Future studies are required to further define the role of IL-9 in CRS etiology.
A cohort study of topical vaginal estrogen therapy in women previously treated for breast cancer (2003)

Although the small numbers of this study preclude a definitive result, topical estrogen usage does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of recurrence of breast cancer.
Photoluminescence Quenching of Single CdSe Nanocrystals by Ligand Adsorption (2008)

We study the effects of octadecanethiol on the photoluminescence intensity and blinking dynamics of single CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots. The number of luminescent nanocrystals per unit area, the intensity histograms of the luminescent nanocrystals, and the single nanocrystal blinking behavior are analyzed in samples with and without added octadecanethiol. We find that the individual nanocrystals within an ensemble do not quench uniformly with thiol addition. The data suggest that the binding of a single octadecanethiol molecule to a CdSe nanocrystal can decrease the photoluminescence quantum yield of that single nanocrystal by at least 50%. These results are important for interpreting photoluminescence-based studies of nanocrystal-ligand binding constants and surface chemistry.
Fibrillar Amyloid-β-Activated Human Astroglia Kill Primary Human Neurons via Neutral Sphingomyelinase: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease (2010)

Glial activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. However, molecular mechanisms by which activated glia could kill neurons are poorly understood. The present study underlines the importance of neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) in mediating the damaging effect of fibrillar amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ1-42) peptide-activated astroglia on neurons. In transwell experiments, soluble products released from activated primary human astroglia induced the activation of neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase), production of ceramide, and cell death in primary human neurons. Protection of neurons from cytotoxic effects of activated astroglia by antisense knockdown of N-SMase, but not acidic sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), suggests that soluble products released from activated astroglia kill neurons via N-SMase but not A-SMase. Next we examined the role of N-SMase in the activation of human astroglia. Interestingly, knockdown of N-SMase, but not A-SMase, by either antisense oligonucleotides or chemical inhibitor, prevented the induction of proinflammatory molecules [tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6] and the activation of nuclear factor-κB in Aβ1-42-activated astroglia. Subsequently, fibrillar Aβ peptides also induced the activation of N-SMase and ceramide in vivo in mouse cortex. Most importantly, antisense knockdown of N-SMase, but not A-SMase, decreased the activation of astroglia and protected neurons from fibrillar Aβ toxicity in vivo in the cortex. Together, it is apparent that both the activation of astroglia by Aβ and that the cytotoxicity of activated astroglia on neurons depend on N-SMase.
Correlation between Pertussis Toxin IgG Antibodies in Postvaccination Sera and Subsequent Protection against Pertussis (2000)

All acellular pertussis vaccines contain pertussis toxoid and induce protection against pertussis. This study investigated the relation between the postvaccination levels of pertussis toxin (PT) serum IgG and protection against pertussis. PT IgG was determined in sera obtained 21-77 days after the third vaccination from 813 children who received 3 doses of pertussis toxoid. The children were followed for 21-33 months after vaccination for the occurrence of pertussis. Of the children, 126 were exposed to pertussis in their households. The median PT IgG concentration was 79 U/mL in those who developed severe pertussis (>/=21 day of paroxysmal cough), 156 U/mL with mild pertussis (<21 days of paroxysmal cough), and 246 U/mL in those who did not develop pertussis (79 vs. 246, P<.0001). Corresponding values in the 687 children with no household exposure were 99, 124, and 155 U/mL, respectively (99 vs. 155, P<.0001). Thus, there is a highly significant correlation between the level of vaccine-induced serum PT IgG and protection against pertussis.
MEASURING THE DRIVER SAFETY FREQUENCY RATE (1994)

Despite dramatic improvements in safety over the past 25 years, traffic accidents still account for the greatest number of work-related fatalities. Many safety technologies have been built into vehicles, and highway construction standards have been raised so that fewer highway fatalities occur. Because improper behavior can neutralize even the best safety technologies and construction standards, some safety specialists believe that driver behavior management is the best strategy available to reduce the number of vehicular accidents. One tool that can be utilized to support fleet safety is the driver safety frequency rate (DSFR), a pre-accident input measurement. The DSFR is based on the vehicular accident frequency rate formula using pre-accident performance data. It focuses strictly on measures of risk taking and carelessness. Many companies train their drivers in defensive driving techniques. Since the DSFR uses pre-accident incidents, it offers an opportunity to evaluate training effectiveness, and to reinforce the expected behavior taught in defensive driving courses.
Cloning and Genetic Characterization of dca Genes Required for β-Oxidation of Straight-Chain Dicarboxylic Acids in Acinetobacter sp. Strain ADP1 (2001)

A previous study of deletions in the protocatechuate (pca) region of the Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1 chromosome revealed that genes required for utilization of the six-carbon dicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, are linked to the pca structural genes. To investigate the genes involved in adipate catabolism, a 33.8-kb SacI fragment, which corrects a deletion spanning this region, was cloned. In addition to containing known pca, qui, and pob genes (for protocatechuate, quinate, and 4-hydroxybenzoate dissimilation), clone pZR8000 contained 10 kb of DNA which was the subject of this investigation. A mutant strain of Escherichia coli DH5alpha, strain EDP1, was isolated that was able to utilize protocatechuate and 4-hydroxybenzoate as growth substrates when EDP1 cells contained pZR8000. Sequence analysis of the new region of DNA on pZR8000 revealed open reading frames predicted to be involved in beta-oxidation. Knockouts of three genes implicated in beta-oxidation steps were introduced into the chromosome of Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1. Each of the mutants was unable to grow with adipate. Because the mutants were affected in their ability to utilize additional saturated, straight-chain dicarboxylic acids, the newly discovered 10 kb of DNA was termed the dca (dicarboxylic acid) region. Mutant strains included one with a deletion in dcaA (encoding an acyl coenzyme A [acyl-CoA] dehydrogenase homolog), one with a deletion in dcaE (encoding an enoyl-CoA hydratase homolog), and one with a deletion in dcaH (encoding a hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase homolog). Data on the dca region should help us probe the functional significance and interrelationships of clustered genetic elements in this section of the Acinetobacter chromosome.
DIGITAL VIDEO DATA HANDLING: (2024)

Satellite digital video data analyzed by two dimensional filter computer technique, discussing biomedical applications
Virtual cloud: Rent out the rented resources (2011)

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-entific research documents, whether they are pub-lished or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et a ̀ la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.
Clinical Signs of Gout (2006)

istorically, gout has been considered a disease of affluent middle-aged men who eat and drink to excess; however, gout does affect other segments of the population. Gout is a systemic disease characterized by manifestations of chronic underlying hyperuricemia, resulting in the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in various tissues. Initially, inflammatory arthropathy is episodic, but it can become persistent if left untreated. Other clinical signs of gout include tophi formation, renal calculi, and urate nephropathy. This article reviews the risk factors, clinical features, and diagnostic evaluation of gout and discusses the management of gout and hyperuricemia. RISK FACTORS Gout has a strong male predominance, with an estimated 2% prevalence in men over age 30 years 1 and a peak incidence in the fifth decade of life among men. 2 Gout is rarely seen in premenopausal women but can be found in postmenopausal women. The prevalence of gout is higher in African Americans than in whites, 3 and gout prevalence overall appears to have increased in recent decades. 4 Other risk factors for gout include older age, obesity, taking certain medications (eg, diuretics), and consuming purine-rich food and alcohol. Alcoholic beverages not only increase urate production but also decrease urate elimination via the kidney. Beer has the highest purine content of the alcoholic beverages and confers the highest risk for developing gout. However, wine does not increase the risk of developing gout. Interestingly, a recent study by Choi et al 5 showed that consuming purine-rich vegetables had no correlation with gout development and increasing dairy intake decreased gout incidence.
Growth curves for Laron syndrome. (1993)

Growth curves for children with Laron syndrome were constructed on the basis of repeated measurements made throughout infancy, childhood, and puberty in 24 (10 boys, 14 girls) of the 41 patients with this syndrome investigated in our clinic. Growth retardation was already noted at birth, the birth length ranging from 42 to 46 cm in the 12/20 available measurements. The postnatal growth curves deviated sharply from the normal from infancy on. Both sexes showed no clear pubertal spurt. Girls completed their growth between the age of 16-19 years to a final mean (SD) height of 119 (8.5) cm whereas the boys continued growing beyond the age of 20 years, achieving a final height of 124 (8.5) cm. At all ages the upper to lower body segment ratio was more than 2 SD above the normal mean. These growth curves constitute a model not only for primary, hereditary insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) deficiency (Laron syndrome) but also for untreated secondary IGF-I deficiencies such as growth hormone gene deletion and idiopathic congenital isolated growth hormone deficiency. They should also be useful in the follow up of children with Laron syndrome treated with biosynthetic recombinant IGF-I.
Lineage-specific reprogramming as a strategy for cell therapy (2008)

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are endowed with extensive ability for self renewal and differentiation. These features make them a promising candidate for cell therapy. However, despite the enthusiasm and hype surrounding the potential therapeutic use of human ES cells and more recently induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, to date few reports have documented successful therapeutic outcome with ES-derived cell populations. This is probably due to two main caveats associated with ES cells, their capacity to form teratomas and the challenge of isolating the appropriate therapeutic cell population from differentiating ES cells. We have focused our efforts on the derivation of skeletal muscle progenitors from ES cells and here we will discuss the strategy of reprogramming lineage choices by overexpression of a master regulator, which has proven successful for the generation of the skeletal myogenic lineage from mouse ES cells.