gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Application of Medifoam B(R) & Negative Pressure Therapy for the Auxiliary Treatment of Pressure Sore (2004)

Pressure sore is usually developed by repeated or persistent pressure given to fixed regions. Due to increase in old ages, paraplegia or quadriplegia by traffic accidents and industrial accidents, the incidence of pressure sore is increasing. V.A.C.(R)(vacuum assisted closure, KCI Inc, U.S.A.) has been highly effective for accelerating wound healing, however, high cost and the use of special equipment have been preventing it from popular use. We applied the negative pressure of wall suction (100-150mmHg) with Medifoam B(R)(Hydrophilic polyurethane foam, Ildong Pharm, Co., Korea) on pressure sore wound instead of expensive dressing foam of V.A.C.(R) So, we could accelerate wound healing without special equipment or incurring high cost. We were able to reduce the cost to 10% with Medifoam B(R) and wall suction dressing compared with V.A.C.(R) In this aspect, the technique explained above seems to be clinically useful.
Heavy-ion beam irradiation facility for biological samples in RIKEN (2008)

Biological samples are irradiated with heavy-ion beams at a heavy-ion beam irradiation facility in RIKEN to perform mutation breeding. The energies of the heavy-ion beams are sufficiently high to irradiate biological samples of macroscopic thickness in air. A uniform dose distribution is a key to a systematic study of the effect of the heavy-ion beams, and thus to the improvement of mutation efficiency. We selected a sufficiently high beam energy to avoid the Bragg peak to realize a uniform dose distribution along the beam path. The outline of the beam line is presented. The linear energy transfers (LETs) of the heavy-ion beams are selected using a range shifter and an energy adjuster to investigate the LET dependence of the irradiation effect. More than five hundred samples are automatically sent to the beam position using an automatic sample changer, which put the heavy-ion beam induced mutation breeding to practical use. The structure and function of the automatic irradiation system are also presented.
Phase transitions and phase separations in phospholipid membranes induced by changes in temperature, pH, and concentration of bivalent cations (1975)

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence polarization of embedded probe molecules were used to detect phase behavior of various phospholipids. The techniques were directly compared for detecting the transition of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA) dispersed in aqueous salt solutions. Excellent agreement occurred in the case of phosphatidylcholine; however, in the case of phosphatidic acid, at pH 6.5, transitions detected by fluorescence polarization using the disc-like perylene molecule occurred about 10 degrees lower than those detected by DSC. Discrepancy between fluorescence and DSC methods is eliminated by using a rod-like molecule, diphenylhexatriene (DPH). Both techniques show that doubly ionizing the phosphate group reduces the Tc by about 9 degrees. Direct pH titration of fluidity can be accomplished and this effect is most dramatic when membranes are in their transition temperature range (ca. 50 degrees). Phosphatidic acid transitions occur at higher temperatures, and have appreciably lower transition enthalpies and entropies than phosphatidylcholine. These effect could not be explained simply on the basis of double layer electrostatics and several other factors were discussed in an attempt to rationalize the results. Addition of monovalent cations (0.01-0.5 M) is shown to increase the Tc of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol by less than 3 degrees. However, addition of (1 x 10-3 M) Ca2+ abolishes the phase transition of both phosphatidyglycerol and phosphatidylserine in the range 0-70 degrees. Preliminary X-ray evidence indicates the phosphatidylserine-Ca2+ bilayers are in a crystalline state at 24 degrees. In contrast, 5 x 10-3 M Mg2+ only broadens the transition and increases the Tc indicating a considerable difference between the effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Neutralization of PS increases the Tc from 6 degrees (at pH 7.4) to 20-26 degrees (at pH 2.5-3.0) but does not abolish the transition, suggesting the Ca2+ effect involves more than charge neutralization. Addition of Ca2+ to mixed phosphatidylserine-phosphatidylcholine dispersions, induces a phase separation of the dipalmitoyl- (and also distearoyl-) phosphatidylcholine as seen by the appearance of a new endothermic peak at 41 degrees (58 degrees). Similarly, in mixed (dipalmitoyl) phosphatidic acid-phosphatidylcholine (2:1) dispersions, Ca2+ again can separate the phosphatidylcholine component.
Quantitative mass spectral evidence for the absence of circulating brain natriuretic peptide (BNP-32) in severe human heart failure (2005)

C-terminal brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (BNP)-32 is a widely used clinical biomarker for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of heart failure (HF). The 32-aa peptide is synthesized primarily in the atrial and ventricular myocardium and constitutes the mature biologically active form of immature BNP (pro-BNP). There has been mounting evidence that suggests BNP circulates in different structural forms that impact HF diagnosis and in vivo activity. Herein, we have developed and used an immunoaffinity purification assay to isolate endogenous BNP-32 from New York Heart Association class IV patient plasma for subsequent analysis by nano-liquid chromatography (LC) electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) MS. We have introduced stable isotope-labeled BNP-32 to the assayed plasma to enable quantification of endogenous levels of BNP-32. Unlike the chemically nonspecific point-of-care tests (POCTs) and RIAs used worldwide to quantify BNP-32 from plasma, FT-ICR-MS (unprecedented mass measurement accuracy) coupled with LC (retention time) affords extraordinary molecular specificity, and when combined with the use of internal standards is able to confidently identify and quantify BNP-32. The significance of this work is despite exceedingly high circulating levels of BNP-32 in the New York Heart Association class IV patients as determined by POCTs (>290 fmol/ml) nano-LC-electrospray ionization-FT-ICR-MS data did not reveal any endogenous BNP-32. These results provide molecularly specific evidence for the absence of circulating BNP-32 in advanced-stage HF patients and suggest the existence of altered forms of BNP that are contributing to the POCT values.
Tumor-Induced CD11b+Gr-1+ Myeloid Cells Suppress T Cell Sensitization in Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes (2008)

Suppression of tumor-specific T cell sensitization is a predominant mechanism of tumor escape. To identify tumor-induced suppressor cells, we transferred spleen cells from mice bearing progressive MCA205 sarcoma into sublethally irradiated mice. These mice were then inoculated subdermally with tumor cells to stimulate T cell response in the tumor-draining lymph-node (TDLN). Tumor progression induced splenomegaly with a dramatic increase (22.1%) in CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) compared with 2.6% of that in normal mice. Analyses of therapeutic effects by the adoptive immunotherapy revealed that the transfer of spleen cells from tumor-bearing mice severely inhibited the generation of tumor-immune T cells in the TDLN. We further identified MDSC to be the dominant suppressor cells. However, cells of identical phenotype from normal spleens lacked the suppressive effects. The suppression was independent of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. Intracellular IFN-gamma staining revealed that the transfer of MDSC resulted in a decrease in numbers of tumor-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Transfer of MDSC from MCA207 tumor-bearing mice also suppressed the MCA205 immune response indicating a lack of immunologic specificity. Further analyses demonstrated that MDSC inhibited T cell activation that was triggered either by anti-CD3 mAb or by tumor cells. However, MDSC did not suppress the function of immune T cells in vivo at the effector phase. Our data provide the first evidence that the systemic transfer of MDSC inhibited and interfered with the sensitization of tumor-specific T cell responses in the TDLN.
Pharmacological characterization of prostanoid receptors mediating vasoconstriction in human umbilical vein (2003)

1. This study was undertaken to characterize pharmacologically the prostanoid receptor subtypes mediating contraction in human umbilical vein (HUV). 2. HUV rings were mounted in organ baths and concentration-response curves to U-46619 (TXA(2) mimetic) were constructed in the absence or presence of SQ-29548 or ICI-192,605 (TP receptor antagonists). U-46619 was a potent constrictor (pEC(50): 8.03). SQ-29548 and ICI-192,605 competitively antagonized responses to U-46619 with pK(B) values of 7.96 and 9.07, respectively. 3. Concentration-response curves to EP receptor agonists: PGE(2), misoprostol and 17-phenyl-trinor-PGE(2) gave pEC(50) values of 5.06, 5.25 and 5.32, respectively. Neither pEC(50) nor maximum of PGE(2) and 17-phenyl-trinor-PGE(2) concentration-response curves were modified by the DP/EP(1)/EP(2) receptor antagonist AH 6809 (1 micro M). However, ICI-192,605 produced a concentration-dependent antagonism of the responses to all the EP receptor agonists. The pA(2) estimated for ICI-192,605 against PGE(2) or misoprostol were 8.91 and 9.22, respectively. 4. Concentration-response curves to FP receptor agonists: PGF(2)(alpha) and fluprostenol gave pEC(50) values of 6.20 and 5.82, respectively. ICI-192,605 (100 nM) was completely ineffective against PGF(2)(alpha) or fluprostenol. In addition, lack of antagonistic effect of AH 6809 (1 micro M) against PGF(2)(alpha) was observed. 5. In conclusion, the findings obtained with TP-selective agonist and antagonists provide strong evidence of the involvement of TP receptors promoting vasoconstriction in HUV. Furthermore, the action of the natural and synthetic EP receptor agonists appears to be mediated via TP receptors. On the other hand, the results employing FP receptor agonists and antagonists of different prostanoid receptors suggest the presence of FP receptors mediating vasoconstriction in this vessel.
Developing a clinical proton accelerator facility: consortium-assisted technology transfer (2002)

A variable-energy medical synchrotron for accelerating protons to a prescribed energy, intensity, and beam quality has been placed in a hospital setting at Loma Linda University Medical Center for treating patients with localized cancer. The purposes of the program are control of cancer and some benign diseases and reduction of the side effects of current treatment. A major aim has been to develop a cost-effective process for exploiting the absorption characteristics of protons in tissue. The design requirements were dictated by the clinical needs of patients, physicians, and the medical center environment. These requirements increased the complexity of the system, particularly its beam delivery capability.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Phenylpyran-4-ones:  A New Class of Orally Active Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors (2004)

A series of 2-phenylpyran-4-ones were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Extensive structure-activity relationship work was carried out within this series, and a number of potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors were identified. Compounds having a p-methylsulfone group at the 2-phenyl ring showed the best COX-2 inhibitory activity. The introduction of a substituted phenoxy ring at position 3 enhanced both the in vitro and in vivo activity within the series. A selected group of 3-phenoxypyran-4-ones exhibited excellent activity in an experimental model of pyresis. The in vivo antiinflammatory activity of these compounds was confirmed with the evaluation of their antiarthritic and analgesic effectiveness. Moreover, their pharmacokinetic profile in rats is compatible with a once a day administration by oral route in humans. Within this novel series, compounds 21, 31, 34, and 35 have been selected for further preclinical and clinical evaluation.
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to etanercept. (2000)

Recently etanercept, a soluble recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein, became available to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among adverse reactions are cutaneous side effects, which occur in about 5% of patients. These have included mostly injection site reactions as well as urticarial reactions. We describe the first case of leukocytoclastic vasculitis associated with the use of etanercept in a patient with severe, deforming RA previously unresponsive to multiple therapies. Discontinuation of the drug led to complete resolution of the vasculitis.
ALTERING ANGIOTENSIN LEVELS BY ADMINISTRATION OF CAPTOPRIL OR INDOMETHACIN, OR BY ANGIOTENSIN INFUSION, CONTRIBUTES TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE REGULATION IN MAN (1988)

1. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels were positively correlated with plasma renin activity (PRA) levels, when blood volume and blood pressure (BP) were not raised in normal subjects (NLS) or patients with postoperative aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), Bartter's syndrome (BS), Addison's disease, anorexia nervosa, diuretic abuse or salt-losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia. 2. Angiotensin II infusion raised ANP levels in NLS, and patients with BS, pre- and postoperative APA, only when BP rose, suggesting that this effect might be mediated by the rise in BP. 3. Captopril lowered aldosterone and ANP levels in renal artery stenosis, but falling BP levels could mediate this effect. Captopril lowered aldosterone and BP in BS, but did not lower ANP, perhaps because angiotensin remained elevated. 4. Indomethacin lowered ANP when PRA was initially normal or raised (NLS and BS), but not when PRA was suppressed (APA). This effect could not be mediated by BP, which rose, but could be mediated by renin-angiotensin, which fell. 5. Factors other than central blood volume and atrial stretch may modulate ANP levels. Plasma angiotensin II may be such a factor, and may exert an important influence at high levels, especially when blood volume is low.
Control of the frequency comb from a modelocked Erbium-doped fiber laser (2002)

The noise spectrum of the unlocked Erbium-doped laser offset.
Transport of Oleic and Acetic Acids from Emulsions into Low Density Polyethylene; Effects on Adhesion with Aluminum Foil in Laminated Packaging (1995)

ABSTRACT Three test emulsions were prepared by adding oleic acid and/or acetic acid to a fatty food simulant (oil‐in‐water emulsion) from rapeseed oil, using Tween‐80 as emulsifier. These test emulsions and the blank were packed in laminated material and stored for 4 wk at room temperature (21°C). Sorption of oleic acid into LDPE and the rate of acetic acid permeation through LDPE were highest for emulsions containing both oleic and acetic acids. A complete delamination within 4–7 days occurred for all acid‐containing test‐emulsions, probably caused by formation of a weak boundary layer (WBL).
Highly available, fault-tolerant, parallel dataflows (2004)

We present a technique that masks failures in a cluster to provide high availability and fault-tolerance for long-running, parallelized dataflows. We can use these dataflows to implement a variety of continuous query (CQ) applications that require high-throughput, 24x7 operation. Examples include network monitoring, phone call processing, click-stream processing, and online financial analysis. Our main contribution is a scheme that carefully integrates traditional query processing techniques for partitioned parallelism with the process-pairs approach for high availability. This delicate integration allows us to tolerate failures of portions of a parallel dataflow without sacrificing result quality. Upon failure, our technique provides quick fail-over, and automatically recovers the lost pieces on the fly. This piecemeal recovery provides minimal disruption to the ongoing dataflow computation and improved reliability as compared to the straight-forward application of the process-pairs technique on a per dataflow basis. Thus, our technique provides the high availability necessary for critical CQ applications. Our techniques are encapsulated in a reusable dataflow operator called Flux, an extension of the Exchange that is used to compose parallel dataflows. Encapsulating the fault-tolerance logic into Flux minimizes modifications to existing operator code and relieves the burden on the operator writer of repeatedly implementing and verifying this critical logic. We present experiments illustrating these features with an implementation of Flux in the TelegraphCQ code base [8].
Regulatory elements in the introns of the human HPRT gene are necessary for its expression in embryonic stem cells. (1990)

We have examined the expression of transfected human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase minigenes (HPRT) in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. cDNA constructs of this gene that have been successfully used in somatic cell lines failed to confer hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine (HAT) resistance in ES cells. In contrast, constructs containing introns 1 and 2 from the HPRT gene produced a high frequency of HAT-resistant colonies. This observation allowed us to identify two sequences in these introns that influence expression of the HPRT gene in ES cells. One element, located in intron 2, is required for effective HPRT expression in these cells; the other element, located in intron 1, acts as an enhancer of HPRT expression. Using this information, we have constructed an HPRT minigene that can be used for either positive or negative selection in ES cell experiments. This dual capability allows the design of "in-out" procedures to create subtle changes in target genes by homologous recombination with the aid of this selectable minigene.
New electromagnetic sensors for magnetotelluric and induced polarization geophysical surveys (2012)

Installation of electric (E-) field sensors used in low frequency electromagnetic measurements, such as magnetotellurics and induced polarization, is often the limiting factor in their deployment. In particular the requirement for a low contact impedance limits their geographic usage while the associated manual labor often limits number of sensors that can be affordably deployed. A new type of E-field sensor that can be simply placed on the ground’s surface in all types of natural terrain completely alleviates these present issues. Side-by-side tests show that the new technology has equivalent sensitivity to the best reported conventional galvanic E-field sensor technology, and, furthermore, has a high degree of immunity to a number of secondary measurement problems.
Membrane-Based Electrochemical Nanobiosensor for the Detection of Virus (2009)

A membrane-based electrochemical nanobiosensor sensitive toward whole viral particles is fabricated by forming a submicrometer thick nanoporous alumina membrane over a platinum disk electrode. Antibody probe molecules are physically adsorbed onto the walls of the membrane nanochannels. The sensing signal is based on the monitoring of the electrode's Faradaic current response toward ferrocenemethanol, which is extremely sensitive to the formation of immunocomplex within the nanoporous membrane. This nanobiosensor is demonstrated for the sensing of West Nile virus protein domain III (WNV-DIII) and the inactivated West Nile viral particle, using anti-WNV-DIII immunoglobulin M (IgM) as the biorecognition probe. The detection of the viral protein and the particle are logarithmically linear up to 53 pg mL(-1) (R(2) = 0.99) and 50 viral particles per 100 mL (R(2) = 0.93) in pH 7, with extremely low detection limits of 4 pg mL(-1) and ca. 2 viral particles per 100 mL, comparable to sensitivities of polymerase chain reaction techniques. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of whole viral particle detection in whole blood serum is 6.9%. In addition, the simple nanobiosensor construction procedure, minimal sample preparation, and short detection time of 30 min are highly attractive properties and demonstrate that the detection of a wide range of proteins and viruses can be achieved.
Components of an Interdependent Unit within the SSU Processome Regulate and Mediate Its Activity (2002)

The SSU processome is required for production of the small ribosomal subunit RNA, the 18S rRNA. Specifically, the U3 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) component of the SSU processome is essential for the formation of the conserved central pseudoknot and for cleavages of the pre-rRNA, both of which are required for 18S maturation. To further elucidate how these events are mediated, we examined the regulatory and mechanistic roles of the U3 specific proteins: Imp3p, Imp4p, and Mpp10p. We found that these proteins demonstrated an interdependence with respect to their stability and to their association with the U3 snoRNA. Because mutations in the U3 snoRNA that disrupt pre-rRNA processing confer similar defects on growth and pre-rRNA processing as do carboxy-terminal truncations of Mpp10p, we hypothesized that Mpp10p may be involved in maintaining U3 snoRNA-pre-rRNA base pairing. However, combining the two mutations resulted in a more pronounced cleavage defect at site A(2), suggesting that Mpp10p is also required at an additional mechanistic step. Furthermore, heterologous complementation experiments demonstrate that the last 95 amino acids of yeast Mpp10p are specifically required for growth and pre-rRNA processing at low temperatures.
Erythropoietin treatment elevates haemoglobin concentration by increasing red cell volume and depressing plasma volume (2006)

Erythropoietin (Epo) has been suggested to affect plasma volume, and would thereby possess a mechanism apart from erythropoiesis to increase arterial oxygen content. This, and potential underlying mechanisms, were tested in eight healthy subjects receiving 5000 IU recombinant human Epo (rHuEpo) for 15 weeks at a dose frequency aimed to increase and maintain haematocrit at approximately 50%. Red blood cell volume was increased from 2933 +/- 402 ml before rHuEpo treatment to 3210 +/- 356 (P < 0.01), 3117 +/- 554 (P < 0.05), and 3172 +/- 561 ml (P < 0.01) after 5, 11 and 13 weeks, respectively. This was accompanied by a decrease in plasma volume from 3645 +/- 538 ml before rHuEpo treatment to 3267 +/- 333 (P < 0.01), 3119 +/- 499 (P < 0.05), and 3323 +/- 521 ml (P < 0.01) after 5, 11 and 13 weeks, respectively. Concomitantly, plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were reduced. This maintained blood volume relatively unchanged, with a slight transient decrease at week 11, such that blood volume was 6578 +/- 839 ml before rHuEpo treatment, and 6477 +/- 573 (NS), 6236 +/- 908 (P < 0.05), and 6495 +/- 935 ml (NS), after 5, 11 and 13 weeks of treatment. We conclude that Epo treatment in healthy humans induces an elevation in haemoglobin concentration by two mechanisms: (i) an increase in red cell volume; and (ii) a decrease in plasma volume, which is probably mediated by a downregulation of the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis. Since the relative contribution of plasma volume changes to the increments in arterial oxygen content was between 37.9 and 53.9% during the study period, this mechanism seems as important for increasing arterial oxygen content as the well-known erythropoietic effect of Epo.
Appearance-preserving view-dependent visualization (2004)

In this paper a new quadric-based view-dependent simplification scheme is presented. The scheme provides a method to connect mesh simplification controlled by a quadric error metric with a level-of-detail hierarchy that is accessed continuously and efficiently based on current view parameters. A variety of methods for determining the screen-space metric for the view calculation are implemented and evaluated, including an appearance-preserving method that has both geometry- and texture-preserving aspects. Results are presented and compared for a variety of models.