gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Invariant signatures for planar shape recognition under partial occlusion (2003)

A planar shape distorted by a projective viewing transformation can be recognized under partial occlusion if an invariant description of its boundary is available. Research in this area has provided a theory for invariant boundary descriptions based on an interplay of differential, local, and global invariants. Differential invariants require high-order derivatives. The use of global invariants and point matches on the distorting transformations enables one to reduce the order. Trade-offs between the highest order derivatives required and the quantity of additional information constraining the distorting viewing transformations are made explicit.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Buried alive: a novel approach to cancer treatment (2004)

The heightened interest in the development of novel anti-cancer drugs that trigger apoptotic death in cancer cells stems from the fact that immediately upon execution of the death signal, the corpse is efficiently removed via specific recruitment of phagocytic cells. This prevents spilling of cellular contents and the associated inflammatory response, a likely scenario during necrotic death. Recent evidence has established that phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells is a function of ligand-receptor interaction, whereby the ligand(s) for the scavenger receptor(s) of phagocytic cells is/are specifically expressed on apoptosing cells. Therefore, by implication, enhancing this ligand-receptor interaction could be an alternate means for removing unwanted cells. Here we present a provocative hypothesis that circumvents the need for chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in cancer cells. According to our model, cancer cells need not die in order to be removed by scavenger cells, but could still be effectively phagocytosed provided the cell surface expression of specific molecules that strongly engage phagocytic cells is sufficiently enhanced. In other words, inducing the expression of "eat me" signals on cancer cells could be a novel approach to "bury alive" these unwanted cells without the untoward effects of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.
Increased Glucocorticoid Activity in Men With Cardiovascular Risk Factors (1998)

The association between hypertension and insulin resistance might be explained by increased activity of the principal glucocorticoid, cortisol. Recent data show that the intensity of dermal vasoconstriction after topical application of glucocorticoids is increased in patients with essential hypertension. In this report, we examine whether increased glucocorticoid sensitivity or secretion is associated with insulin resistance and is a cause or consequence of hypertension. We studied 32 men (aged 47 to 56 years) from a cross-sectional study and 105 men (aged 23 to 33 years) in whom predisposition to high blood pressure has been defined by their own blood pressure and the blood pressures of their parents. In both populations, increased dermal glucocorticoid sensitivity was associated with relative hypertension, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia. In young men with higher blood pressure whose parents also had high blood pressure, enhanced glucocorticoid sensitivity was accompanied by enhanced secretion of cortisol, enhanced ligand-binding affinities for dexamethasone in leukocytes, and impaired conversion of cortisol to inactive metabolites (cortisone and 5beta-dihydrocortisol). Increased tissue sensitivity to cortisol, amplified by enhanced secretion of cortisol, is a feature of the familial predisposition to high blood pressure rather than a secondary effect of high blood pressure. It may be mediated by an abnormal glucocorticoid receptor, and it may contribute to the association between hypertension and insulin resistance.
Oct4 expression revisited: potential pitfalls for data misinterpretation in stem cell research (2008)

The octamer-binding transcription factor 4 gene encodes a nuclear protein (Oct4, also known as Pou5F1 and Oct3/4) that belongs to a family of transcription factors containing the POU DNA-binding domain. Expression can be detected in embryonic stem cells as well as in adult stem cells, such as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Expression of Oct4 is downregulated coincident with stem cell differentiation and loss of expression leading to differentiation. A role for maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells is ascribed to Oct4 as a pluripotency marker. Results describing Oct4 expression in differentiated cells, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), neonatal and adult stem cells, as well as cancer cells, must be interpreted with caution. In several publications, Oct4 has been ascribed a function in maintaining self-renewal of adult stem cells. In contrast, other publications reported Oct4 expression in human tumor cells. Here, we summarize the recent findings on Oct4 expression and present possibilities and reasons why several false positive results on Oct4 expression still occur in the recent literature. Also, simple solutions are provided to avoid these positive signals.
Shear Stress Inhibits H 2 O 2 -Induced Apoptosis of Human Endothelial Cells by Modulation of the Glutathione Redox Cycle and Nitric Oxide Synthase (1997)

Physiological levels of shear stress reduce endothelial cell turnover and exert a potent antiatherosclerotic effect. Here we demonstrate that oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of human endothelial cells was inhibited by shear stress exposure (15 dynes/cm2). Incubation with H2O2 (200 mumol/L) for 18 hours induced apoptosis of human umbilical venous endothelial cells as demonstrated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for histone-associated DNA fragments and visual analysis of fluorescence-stained nuclei. Shear stress-mediated inhibition of apoptosis was partially prevented by pharmacological inhibition of glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) or nitric oxide (NO) synthase with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (LNMA), whereas inhibition of catalase by aminotriazol did not affect the inhibitory action of shear stress. Combined inhibition of NO synthase and GSH biosynthesis completely reversed the protective effect of shear stress, suggesting that both NO synthase and the GSH redox cycle system are involved in the apoptosis-suppressing effect of shear stress. Similar results were obtained when apoptosis was stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). To gain further insights into the interference of shear stress with apoptosis signal transduction, we measured caspase-3-like activity, a cysteine protease that has been shown to play a predominant role in the cell death effector pathway. Indeed, shear stress prevented the activation of caspase-3-like activity induced by H202 or TNF alpha. The inhibitory effect of shear stress was prevented by LNMA and BSO, suggesting that the reduction of oxidative flux by shear stress prevents the activation of caspase-like proteases and thereby inhibits apoptotic cell death in human endothelial cells.
Ultralight, ultrastiff mechanical metamaterials (2014)

Microlattices make marvelous materials Framework or lattice structures can be remarkably strong despite their very low density. Using a very precise technique known as projection microstereolithography, Zheng et al. fabricated octet microlattices from polymers, metals, and ceramics. The design of the lattices meant that the individual struts making up the materials did not bend under pressure. The materials were therefore exceptionally stiff, strong, and lightweight. Science , this issue p. 1373
Angiotensin II–Induced Stimulation of Smooth Muscle α-Actin Expression by Serum Response Factor and the Homeodomain Transcription Factor MHox (1997)

The objective of the present study was to examine the molecular mechanisms whereby angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates smooth muscle (SM) alpha-actin expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Nuclear run-on analysis and transfection studies indicated that the effects of Ang II on SM alpha-actin were mediated at least in part at the transcriptional level. Transfection of various rat SM alpha-actin promoter/chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) constructs into SMCs demonstrated that the first 155 bp of the SM alpha-actin promoter was sufficient to confer maximal Ang II responsiveness, conferring an approximately 4-fold increase in reporter activities in these SMCs compared with vehicle-treated SMCs. Mutation of either of two highly conserved CArG elements, designated A (-62) and B (-112), completely abolished Ang II-induced increases in reporter activity, whereas mutation of a homeodomain-like binding sequence at -145 (ATTA) reduced reporter activity by half. Results of EMSAs showed that nuclear extracts from Ang II-treated SMCs exhibited enhanced binding activity of serum response factor (SRF) to the CArG elements and of a homeodomain factor, MHox, to the ATTA element. Northern analyses showed that Ang II also stimulated marked increases in MHox mRNA levels. Western analyses demonstrated that Ang II-induced increases in SRF binding were not due to increased SRF protein expression. Recombinant MHox markedly enhanced binding activity of SRF in EMSAs. Finally, MHox overexpression transactivated a SM alpha-actin promoter/CAT reporter construct by approximately 3.5-fold in transient cotransfection studies. These results provide evidence for involvement of a homeodomain transcription factor, MHox, in Ang II-mediated stimulation of SM alpha-actin via a CArG/SRF-dependent mechanism.
Sialic Acid of Human Blood Platelets* (1964)

Sialic acid has been demonstrated in the blood platelets of man and other species (1, 2), but its function in these elements is unknown. Jeru- shalmy, Kohn, and de Vries (3) and others (4, 5) have shown that Myxoviruses are adsorbed to and eluted from blood platelets. Bacterial neur- aminidase, which liberates free sialic acid by cleavage of the a-ketosidic linkage between ter- minal sialic acid and galactose or galactosamine (6), interferes with these platelet adsorptionelution phenomena (3) in a manner qualitatively similar to its effect on erythrocytes (7) and leu- kocytes (8). The electrophoretic mobility of platelets is reduced after neuraminidase treatment (3), again mimicking the behavior of the other blood elements (9, 10).
BacT/Alert: an automated colorimetric microbial detection system (1990)

BacT/Alert (Organon Teknika Corp., Durham, N.C.) is an automated microbial detection system based on the colorimetric detection of CO2 produced by growing microorganisms. Results of an evaluation of the media, sensor, detection system, and detection algorithm indicate that the system reliably grows and detects a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. Results of a limited pilot clinical trial with a prototype research instrument indicate that the system is comparable to the radiometric BACTEC 460 system in its ability to grow and detect microorganisms in blood. On the basis of these initial findings, large-scale clinical trials comparing BacT/Alert with other commercial microbial detection systems appear warranted.
Inflammatory bowel disease in patients with prostate cancer treated with radiation. (2016)

15 Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has long been considered a risk factor for increased bowel toxicity from radiation therapy (RT); however, minimal evidence exists for patients with prostate cancer (PC) and IBD. Methods: The tumor registry was queried for patients with both IBD and PC from 2000-2010. A chart review was conducted for patients who received RT for PC. All patients carried the diagnosis IBD as defined by either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. RT specifics and radiation toxicity (acute and late) data were collected. Results: Eighteen patients met the inclusion criteria for PC and IBD diagnoses with radiation therapy treatment. Twelve were treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and 6 were treated with low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy. Average length of follow-up was 12 years (median 9.54, range 0.42-19.9). Most patients had well controlled baseline bowel function on medical management. Twenty-two percent were in remission from IBD without any form of treatment; 56% were actively taking 5-ASA; 17% were prescribed prednisone; and 6% were taking Remicade. Sixty percent of patients (9/15) reported grade 0 (G0) diarrhea at baseline prior to radiation therapy. Forty percent (6/15) suffered grade 1 (G1) diarrhea at baseline. No baseline proctitis existed. Two patients reported ostomy prior to radiation. Following radiation treatment, 78% (14/18) of patients experienced G0 diarrhea while 22% (4/18) reported G1 diarrhea. No patients suffered from greater than G1 diarrhea. Sixty-seven percent (12/18), 17% (3/18) and 17% (3/18) of patients experienced G0, G1, and G2 proctitis, respectively. No patients suffered post-radiation stricture formation. All patients with G2 proctitis following RT received 3dCRT. Conclusions: No available published data explores RT for patients with PC and IBD. This retrospective review offers valuable insight into appropriate counseling for a rare patient subset. EBRT was associated with improvement in late G1 diarrhea rates. Grade 2 proctitis was only encountered among 3dCRT patients. No post-radiation stricture or ostomy placements occurred. Our findings suggest that IBD patients experience minimal toxicity with IMRT-based radiation therapy.
Beneficial Effects of Aggressive Protein Feeding in Severely Burned Children (1980)

To determine any potential benefit of feeding increased amounts of protein to hypermetbolic burned patients, 18 children with burns averaging 60% total surface area were randomized into two matched groups and studied serially for at least six weeks: the first group was given a normal diet with a balanced nutritional supplement, and the second group was supplemented with milk whey protein. The normal protein group received 87.1% of their desired caloric intake with 16.5% of calories from protein compared to 77.7% of desired caloric intake with 23.0% of calories from protein for the high protein group. Despite a higher caloric intake, the normal protein group had a worse opsonic index compared to the high protein group (0.42 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.05, p < 0.0007), lower levels of C3 (1371 +/- 55 vs. 1585 +/- 64 micrograms/ml, p < 0.01), lower levels of IgG (805 +/- 52 vs. 975 +/- 56 micrograms/ml, p < 0.03), lower levels of transferrin (200 +/- 10 vs. 283 +/- 18 mg/dl, p < 0.0001), lower levels of total serum protein (5.5 +/- 0.1 vs. 6.3 +/- 0.2 g/dl, p < 0.005), more bacteremic days (11% vs. 8%, p < 0.005) and worse survival (5/9--56% vs. 9/9--100%, p < 0.03). Patients receiving the high protein diet had significantly higher plasma levels of valine, lysine, threonine, leucine, aginine, isoleucine, proline, serine, asparagine, tryptophane, and tyrosine. Asparagine levels were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with better neutrophil function and opsonic index. Except for phenylalanine, significant associations were found for serum levels of each of the amino acids with concentrations of one or more serum proteins. These studies provide evidence that many immunologic functions are dependent upon optimal availability of specific amino acids, and that routine diets do not provide sufficient protein to satisfy the needs of seriously burned children.
The Spherical Harmonics Discrete Ordinate Method for Three-Dimensional Atmospheric Radiative Transfer (1998)

A new algorithm for modeling radiative transfer in inhomogeneous three-dimensional media is described. The spherical harmonics discrete ordinate method uses a spherical harmonic angular representation to reduce memory use and time computing the source function. The radiative transfer equation is integrated along discrete ordinates through a spatial grid to model the streaming of radiation. An adaptive grid approach, which places additional points where they are most needed to improve accuracy, is implemented. The solution method is a type of successive order of scattering approach or Picard iteration. The model computes accurate radiances or fluxes in either the shortwave or longwave regions, even for highly peaked phase functions. Broadband radiative transfer is computed efficiently with a k distribution. The results of validation tests and examples illustrating the efficiency and accuracy of the algorithm are shown for simple geometries and realistic simulated clouds.
Optical Versus Video See-Through Head-Mounted Displays in Medical Visualization (2000)

We compare two technological approaches to augmented reality for 3-D medical visualization: optical and video see-through devices. We provide a context to discuss the technology by reviewing several medical applications of augmented-reality re search efforts driven by real needs in the medical field, both in the United States and in Europe. We then discuss the issues for each approach, optical versus video, from both a technology and human-factor point of view. Finally, we point to potentially promising future developments of such devices including eye tracking and multifocus planes capabilities, as well as hybrid optical/video technology.
Self-assembled monolayer electron beam resist on GaAs (1993)

We present results on electron beam exposure of a self-assembled monolayer film as a self-developing positive resist on GaAs. A 1.5 nm thick monolayer of n-octadecanethiol (C18H37SH) deposited on a GaAs (100) substrate showed a electron beam sensitivity of about 100 μC/cm2. The monolayer resist was used as a mask for chemical etching of the GaAs. Patterns in GaAs have been created with widths approximately equal to the exposing electron beam width of 50 nm.
Isolation and Analysis of Moenomycin and Its Biosynthetic Intermediates from Streptomyces ghanaensis (ATCC 14672) Wildtype and Selected Mutants (1997)

Streptomyces ghanaensis (ATCC 14672) produces the phosphoglycolipid antibiotic moenomycin consisting of several components. A solid phase extraction procedure was developed which allowed a rapid isolation of both moenomycin and its biosynthetic intermediates from culture filtrates. Semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography followed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry provided structural data on the different moenomycin components. In order to obtain initial information on the biosynthetic pathway, moenomycin non-producing mutants were isolated. They were shown to release intermediates with shorter lipid chains suggesting that the lipid chain synthesis probably takes place at a later stage of the moenomycin biosynthesis. Based on the biological activity and the analytical data, we assume that a modification and in particular a shorter lipid portion drastically influences the inhibitory activity of this antibiotic.
Suboptimal Effect of Daptomycin in the Treatment of Bacteremias (1989)

We have reported two cases involving bacteremic patients who failed to respond adequately to the investigational agent daptomycin. Despite apparent sensitivity of the organisms, therapy was unsuccessful in both patients using the recommended dosage. The sponsor of daptomycin is currently reevaluating the recommendation and may be revising their dosage guidelines in the future.
QscR, a modulator of quorum-sensing signal synthesis and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2001)

The opportunistic pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses quorum-sensing signaling systems as global regulators of virulence genes. There are two quorum-sensing signal receptor and signal generator pairs, LasR-LasI and RhlR-RhlI. The recently completed P. aeruginosa genome-sequencing project revealed a gene coding for a homolog of the signal receptors, LasR and RhlR. Here we describe a role for this gene, which we call qscR. The qscR gene product governs the timing of quorum-sensing-controlled gene expression and it dampens virulence in an insect model. We present evidence that suggests the primary role of QscR is repression of lasI. A qscR mutant produces the LasI-generated signal prematurely, and this results in premature transcription of a number of quorum-sensing-regulated genes. When fed to Drosophila melanogaster, the qscR mutant kills the animals more rapidly than the parental P. aeruginosa. The repression of lasI by QscR could serve to ensure that quorum-sensing-controlled genes are not activated in environments where they are not useful.
Expression of ADAMs and Their Inhibitors in Sputum from Patients with Asthma (2006)

ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) constitute a family of cell surface proteins containing disintegrin and metalloprotease domains which associate features of adhesion molecules and proteases. ADAMTSs (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs) bear thrombospondin type I motifs in C-terminal extremity, and most of them are secreted proteins. Because genetic studies have shown that ADAM-33 gene polymorphisms are associated with asthma, we designed this study to assess mRNA expression profile of several ADAM and ADAMTS proteases in sputum from patients with asthma and to investigate the relationship between expression of these proteases and asthma-associated inflammation and airway obstruction. mRNA expression profile of selected ADAM and ADAMTS proteinases (ADAM-8, -9, -10, -12, -15, -17, and -33; ADAMTS-1, -2, -15, -16, -17, -18, and -19), their physiological inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-3, and RECK, a membrane-anchored MMP activity regulator, was obtained by RT-PCR analysis performed on cells collected by sputum induction from 21 patients with mild to moderate asthma and 17 healthy individuals. mRNA levels of ADAM-8, ADAM-9, ADAM-12, TIMP-1, and TIMP-3 were significantly increased, whereas mRNA levels coding for ADAMTS-1, ADAMTS-15, and RECK were significantly decreased in patients with asthma compared with control patients. ADAM-8 expression was negatively correlated with the forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV(1)) (r = -0.57, P < 0.01), whereas ADAMTS-1 and RECK expressions were positively correlated to FEV(1) (r = 0.45, P < 0.05, and r = 0.55, P = 0.01, respectively). We conclude that expression of ADAMs and ADAMTSs and their inhibitors is modulated in airways from patients with asthma and that these molecules may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Participation of the CD69 Antigen in the T‐Cell Activation Process of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (1998)

Accumulating evidence has implicated T cells in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The CD69 antigen is an integral membrane protein rapidly induced on the surface of activated lymphocytes. We obtained CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from normal subjects and patients with SLE. The percentage of CD69 expression in freshly isolated cells and after in-vitro incubation with mitogens was quantified by three-colour immunofluorescent staining. Expression of this protein was increased in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets from SLE patients when compared with normal cells, although the difference was significant only in the CD8+ T-cell subset (P = 0.05). Cellular activation increased CD69 expression. When stimulated with anti-CD2/CD2R or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), the percentage and absolute numbers of CD69+ cells were lower in patients than in controls. Addition of anti-interleukin (IL)-10 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) increased the percentage of in-vitro CD69 expression in SLE cells. These results suggest that the peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with SLE have an intrinsic defect that alters their activation process, including the expression of CD69, and might explain some of the T immunoregulatory abnormalities observed in these patients.
Nanoparticle-chaperoned urinary 'synthetic biomarkers' for profiling proteases in cancer (2012)

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.