gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for active, extensive, and medically refractory idiopathic ulcerative or Crohn's colitis. (1992)

To determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin produces demonstrable clinical improvement in patients with refractory idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, a pilot, open-label, nonrandomized, safety and therapeutic efficacy study was carried out at a tertiary care referral medical center. Twelve consecutive patients with refractory idiopathic colitis (nine ulcerative colitis, three Crohn's colitis) who were reluctant to receive immunosuppressive therapy or have surgical intervention were referred by physicians not participating as investigators in this study. Eleven patients were symptomatic for at least 6 months, with endoscopically moderate or severe mucosal inflammation despite medical therapy, including systemic corticosteroids in all cases, and one patient was dependent on oral prednisone to remain in clinical remission. Ten patients had extensive colitis, six of whom had pancolitis and four of whom had colitis extending to the hepatic flexure or transverse colon. Nine patients required hospitalization for treatment of colitis. Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered in one or two induction phases (2 g/kg over 2 or 5 days), followed by a maintenance phase (200-500 mg/kg every 2 wk for 12 or 24 wk). Tapering of systemic corticosteroid therapy was attempted, whereas other medications for idiopathic colitis were continued. Treatment response was assessed clinically and by colonoscopy with multiple biopsies whenever possible. Immunoglobulin therapy was well-tolerated and did not produce any biochemical abnormalities. In six patients who completed the treatment protocol, mean reductions +/- SE were achieved in subjective symptoms as quantified by a colitis activity score, 13.3 +/- 1.2 to 4.7 +/- 0.9 (p less than 0.001), and daily mg dose of prednisone, 41.7 +/- 8.0 to 1.9 +/- 1.2 (p less than 0.001). For all 12 patients, statistically significant reductions were achieved in the colitis activity score and daily prednisone dose. Of five patients who completed the treatment protocol and improved clinically, four underwent post-treatment colonoscopic and biopsy evaluations and had unequivocal reductions in the intensity of colonic mucosal inflammation. Three patients who had objective improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin experienced relapses of colitis after discontinuation of this therapy. Six patients did not complete the treatment protocol, two of whom required surgical intervention and four of whom withdrew to undergo colectomy electively. Intravenous immunoglobulin may be beneficial in subsets of patients with idiopathic colitis. The results of our pilot study justify the undertaking of a prospective, randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin in carefully defined subsets of patients with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease.
Endogenous VEGF Is Required for Visual Function: Evidence for a Survival Role on Müller Cells and Photoreceptors (2008)

These results indicate an important role for endogenous VEGF in the maintenance and function of adult retina neuronal cells and indicate that anti-VEGF therapies should be administered with caution.
T cell-antigen-presenting cell interactions in human systemic lupus erythematosus. Evidence for heterogeneous expression of multiple defects. (1993)

To assess interactions between T cells and APC in patients with SLE, PBL were stimulated in vitro and IL-2 production measured after stimulation with either a MHC-self-restricted Ag (influenza A virus) or an Ag which can use both MHC-self-restricted or unrestricted T cell activation pathways (HLA-alloantigen). SLE patients (n = 26) and controls (n = 8) were categorized as responder (+) or nonresponder (-) for each stimulus and grouped according to their paired response pattern. All controls responded to both influenza virus (Flu) or alloantigen (Allo) and were categorized as +/+. In contrast, SLE patient response patterns were heterogeneous with no evidence for a single SLE-associated defect. Instead, SLE patient responses fell into one of three different patterns: a) normal responses to both Flu and Allo (+/+), observed in nine (35%) patients; b) defective responses to Flu but intact Allo responses (-/+) observed in 12 (46%) SLE patients; and c) defective responses to both Flu and Allo (-/-), observed in five (19%) SLE patients. There was no statistically significant correlation between immune response pattern and the use of immunosuppressants. Further analysis of -/- SLE patients indicated defects in APC function and in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell function. In contrast, cell depletion and add-back studies in -/+ SLE patients demonstrated defects in APC function only. Thus, similar to the well recognized clinical heterogeneity among SLE patients, our data support the concept that SLE patients are heterogeneous with respect to in vitro T cell-APC function, exhibiting responses ranging from normal function to defects in APC and in both T cell subsets. Prospective studies are in progress to determine the clinical relevance of these observations.
Transcription of the Interleukin-1 Receptor-related T1 Gene Is Initiated at Different Promoters in Mast Cells and Fibroblasts (1996)

The delayed early serum response gene T1 encodes glycoproteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily with significant sequence similarity to the type 1 interleukin-1 receptor. The T1 gene is transcribed in fibroblasts into an abundant 2.7-kilobase (kb) and a rare 5-kb mRNA in response to proliferation-inducing stimuli. It gives predominantly rise to the longer transcript in the bone marrow of adult mice and in cultured mast cells. Alternative 3' processing is responsible for the two mRNA forms. The short transcript encodes a secreted protein with marked similarity to the extracellular domain of the interleukin-1 receptor, whereas the long mRNA is translated into a protein with an additional putative transmembrane and an intracellular domain. Here we demonstrate that T1 transcription in mast cells and fibroblasts initiates at two different start sites which are 10.5 kb apart. The alternative first exons are both spliced to exon 2 which contains the translation start site. Northern blot analysis and primer extension experiments revealed that promoter usage is strictly cell type-specific. T1 transcription in mast cells is initiated exclusively at the distal promoter, whereas in fibroblasts both the short and the long T1 mRNA start at the proximal promoter. Two GATA-1 elements were identified in the 5'-flanking region of the mast cell-specific distal exon 1.
Intelligent Order Matching Systems for Commodity Markets (1995)

A bstract Automatic order matching systems have emerged as an electronic alternative to traditional markets. In current automatic order matching systems, price and quantity are the only product dimensions used for the order matching. However, a single‐commodity market is made up of many heterogeneous goods which are close to each other but different in qualities and delivery conditions. Price and quantity are important but represent only parts of product attributes that commodity traders want to take into account. This study aims to extend current automatic order matching systems by diversifying product dimensions. An intelligent order matching system not only maximizes the total transaction volume based on the price and quantity but also satisfies traders' qualitative preferences over attributes other than price and quantity. The intelligent order matching mechanism combines an economic model with a preference model to incorporate both quantitative and qualitative utility of market participants. Constraint logic programming is investigated as a new information technology to structure and implement the intelligent order matching system.
Effect of direct-fed microbials on performance and Clostridium perfringens colonization of turkey poults (2011)

Clostridium perfringens is recognized as an enteric pathogen in humans, domestic animals, and livestock. This organism is associated with necrotic enteritis, gangrenous dermatitis, clostridial dermatitis (turkeys), and gizzard erosions in poultry. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a direct-fed microbial (DFM), Primalac (Star Labs, Clarksdale, MO), in preventing intestinal colonization of turkey poults with C. perfringens. One-day-old turkey poults (n = 128) were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 4 replicates (8 birds/pen). Treatments were as follows: 1) basal diet without DFM (C); 2) basal diet supplemented with Primalac (1.5 kg/ton; PM); 3) basal diet with poults gavaged with C. perfringens (CCP); and 4) basal diet supplemented with Primalac and poults gavaged with C. perfringens (PMCP). Feed and water were provided ad libitum throughout the trials, and birds were inoculated with C. perfringens (10(8)cfu/mL) on d 3 and 7. On d 21, 2 birds/pen were killed, spleen and bursa of Fabricius were collected and weighed, and cecal contents were used for C. perfringens enumeration. Feed consumption, BW, and feed conversion were calculated throughout the trial (weekly and cumulatively). Data were analyzed using GLM of SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC; P < 0.05). Among the inoculated groups, birds fed the DFM-supplemented diet had significantly lower cecal C. perfringens counts than the birds fed the diet without the DFM. The C. perfringens (log(10) cfu/g) in ceca were as follows: C, 5.88; CCP, 7.26; PM, 5.35; PMCP, 6.19 ± 0.36. No differences were observed for BW (814 ± 11 g), feed conversion (1.33 ± 0.03), organ weights, or relative organ weights. Further studies are needed to fully ascertain the potential of using DFM to reduce the numbers of C. perfringens in the gastrointestinal tract of turkey poults.
Performance evaluation of APACHE II score for an Indian patient with respiratory problems. (2004)

Despite the rise in observed and predicted mortality with 5-point APACHE II score, predicted mortality did not correlate with observed mortality for critically ill patients admitted to an Indian respiratory ICU. The scoring system also showed a poor calibration as well as discrimination. The model may be more useful for Indian patients by lowering down the cut-off value in allotment of age points and by awarding the weightage to factor like co-existing immunocompromised state.
Direct Observation and Manipulation of Single DNA Molecules using Fluorescence Microscopy (1991)

Many bacterial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)–CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems employ the dual RNA–guided DNA endonuclease Cas9 to defend against invading phages and conjugative plasmids by introducing site-specific ...Read More
A Narrow-Linewidth Laser at 1550 nm Using the Pound-Drever-Hall Stabilization Technique (2006)

Linewidth is a measure of the frequency stability of any kind of oscillator, and it is a defining characteristic of coherent lasers. Narrow linewidth laser technology, particularly in the field of fiber-based infrared lasers, has progressed to the point where highly stable sources are commercially available with linewidths on the order of 1-100 kHz. In order to achieve a higher level of stability, the laser must be augmented by an external frequency stabilization system. This paper presents the design and operation of a frequency locking system for infrared fiber lasers. Using the Pound-Drever-Hall technique, the system significantly reduces the linewidth of an input laser with an un-stabilized linewidth of 2 kHz. It uses a high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavity, which is mechanically and thermally isolated, as a frequency reference to measure the time-varying frequency of the input laser. An electronic feedback loop works to correct the frequency error and maintain constant optical power. Testing has proven the Pound-Drever-Hall system to be highly stable and capable of operating continuously for several seconds at a time. DEDICATION
Enabling portable application development for new media networks (2002)

Unless the overall application development community is able to develop portable applications that can be deployed easily and cost effectively over the entire range of broadband networks the "community network" will provide a limited set of services that are controlled by a small number of service providers. As we have all witnessed in the world of the personal computer, a rich set of compelling applications is necessary to attract a critical mass of consumers to drive the economics of a fledgling industry. The key to portable applications is a widely accepted, open set of high level objects that provide an environment that hides the particulars of the network, the hardware, and the operating environment. It is most important to address the execution environment (sessions, connections, users, access, etc.), the set of services (messaging, directory, etc.), as well as the organization of information (content organization, navigation, etc.). This paper proposes such a set of objects.
Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy in Postmenopausal Women: Findings from the REVIVE (REal Women's VIews of Treatment Options for Menopausal Vaginal ChangEs) Survey (2013)

VVA symptoms are common in postmenopausal women. Significant barriers to treatment include lack of knowledge about VVA, reluctance to discuss symptoms with HCPs, safety concerns, inconvenience, and inadequate symptom relief from available treatments.
Noise reduction by continuous addition of subchannel holograms (1975)

A new and convenient technique for reducing both speckle and coherent noise in holographic imagery is described with supporting experimental results. Its advantages and disadvantages have been mentioned in the context of other known techniques.
Ab initio study of the electronic structures and conduction properties of some donor-acceptor polymers and their copolymers (2003)

The electronic structures and conduction properties of four donor-acceptor polymers containing alternating electron-donating group SiF2 and electron-accepting group Y [Y=&amp;gt;C=CH2 in PSIFCH, &amp;gt;C=O in PSIFCO, &amp;gt;C=CF2 in PSIFCF, and &amp;gt;C=C(CN)2 in PSIFCN] along the conjugated trans-cisoid polyacetylene backbone, obtained on the basis of the ab initio Hartree-Fock crystal orbital method are compared. All the polymers are predicted to have band gap values ranging between 1 and 2 eV. The calculated band gap values are found to decrease in the order PSIFCO&amp;gt;PSIFCH&amp;gt;PSIFCF&amp;gt;PSIFCN. PSIFCO is predicted to be the strongest candidate for oxidative (p) doping while PSIFCN is found to have the greatest capacity for reductive (n) doping. The π-bond order data as well as the geometric structures of these polymers show them to have aromaticlike electronic structures. Using the ab initio band structure results of PSIFCO (A)x and PSIFCN (B)x, the electronic density of states of various quasi-one-dimensional compositional superlattices (copolymers) (AmBn)x, belonging to the type-II-staggered class have been determined using the negative-factor counting method, taking multineighbor interactions (up to six neighbors) into account. The trends in the electronic structures and conduction properties of these copolymers as a function of (i) block sizes m and n, (ii) composition (m/n), and (iii) arrangement of blocks (periodic or aperiodic) in the copolymer chain are discussed. The results are important guidelines for molecular designing of copolymers with tailor-made conduction properties.
Improving the variable ordering of OBDDs is NP-complete (1996)

Ordered binary decision diagrams are a useful representation of Boolean functions, if a good variable ordering is known. Variable orderings are computed by heuristic algorithms and then improved with local search and simulated annealing algorithms. This approach is based on the conjecture that the following problem is NP-complete. Given an OBDD G representing f and a size bound s, does there exist an OBDD G* (respecting an arbitrary variable ordering) representing f with at most s nodes? This conjecture is proved.
Technology Update: Leveraging Subsurface Insight, Screening, and Diversion Technology in Refracturing (2016)

Technology Update A challenging commodity price environment has forced operators to seek methods for sharply lowering recovery cost per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) in unconventional plays. Some reduced costs have resulted from the overcapacity of global services. Other reductions have resulted from declining industry activity, which has increased the availability of personnel and led to a renewed focus on maximizing drilling and completion (D&amp;C) process efficiency. A portion of the recovery cost reduction has resulted directly from incremental technical innovations and process improvements that were difficult to achieve when operators and service companies were concerned chiefly with D&amp;C execution. Older processes were designed to maximize early production, whereas a number of newer technologies focus on maximizing net present value (NPV). High NPV is most often achieved by reducing uncertainty and manipulating the cost portion of the NPV equation, especially when the commodity price and/or discount rate is uncontrollable. D&amp;C portfolios have primarily contained a mix of delineation wells and development wells. Delineation wells have a higher cost per BOE but a higher potential for accelerating reserve recovery. Development wells have a lower cost per BOE but a lower potential for accelerating recovery. This mix of wells is appropriate for periods when margins are high enough to cover the associated D&amp;C costs. However, the loss of such margins in a low-price environment has prompted adjustments to lower the average cost per BOE. One strategy for lowering that cost is to increase the percentage of refractured wells in a portfolio. Typically, the cost per BOE of refracturing is substantially lower than that of drilling and completing delineation or development wells. Recently, the development and implementation of effective stimulation diversion techniques and greater focus on candidate screening have narrowed the window of uncertainty in executing refracturing operations in horizontal wells. These improvements have reduced the economic risk of these operations and created further incentive to shift portfolio strategies toward refracturing. Taking advantage of refracturing opportunities in a portfolio involves four steps. Screen the best candidate properties, based on reservoir quality and the potential to exceed the original completion quality. Design the optimal refracture treatment to place new conductive fractures where desired and reconnect existing ones. Execute the refracture treatment for coverage of all selected lateral areas, using the latest processes, techniques, and materials. Diagnose the refracture performance and optimize the refracture design for analogous properties, using state-of-the- art diagnostic tools. This article primarily discusses the candidate selection process.
Small Molecule Inhibitors of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) &#948; and &#947; (2009)

In recent years, pharmaceutical companies have increasingly focused on phosphoinositide 3-kinases delta (PI3Kdelta) and gamma (PI3Kgamma) as therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. All class 1 PI3-kinases (alpha/beta/gamma/delta) generate phospholipid second messengers that help govern cellular processes such as migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. PI3K delta/ gamma lipid kinases are mainly restricted to the hematopoetic system whereas PI3K alpha/beta are ubiquitously expressed, thus raising potential toxicity concerns for chronic indications such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the challenge in developing a small molecule inhibitor of PI3K is to define and attain the appropriate isoform selectivity profile. Significant advances in the design of such compounds have been achieved by utilizing x-ray crystal structures of various inhibitors bound to PI3Kgamma in conjunction with pharmacophore modeling and high-throughput screening. Herein, we review the history and challenges involved with the discovery of small molecule isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors. Recent progress in the design of selective PI3Kdelta, PI3Kgamma, and PI3Kdelta/gamma dual inhibitors will be presented.
Variance in Patient Access to Support Persons by Race/Ethnicity and Language Preference: An Analysis of Patient Survey Data (2013)

Regulatory and accreditation organizations have advocated open visitation policies and allowance of support persons of patients’ choosing, but it is unknown if support is allowed equitably. Data from hospitalized patients were analyzed to determine access to support persons, stratified by patient-reported race/ethnicity, language, sex, age, and education. A multivariate regression model was constructed using race and language, controlling for site and patient sex, education and age. Additionally, sites’ policies explicitly allowing support persons were correlated to reports of allowance of support persons. Among 1,196 respondents, 17% reported not being allowed a support person or being unsure. African American patients had 2.4 times greater odds of reporting non-allowance of support than their white counterparts, while speakers of a language other than English or Spanish had 3.9 times greater odds. There were no significant differences noted between sites with a policy allowing patient support persons and those with no policy or one in development. Most patients report being allowed a support person, but African Americans and those speaking a language other than English or Spanish have greater odds of reporting not being allowed a support person. Reliable methods of informing all patients of this right are needed.
Arabidopsis thaliana as a new model host for plant-parasitic nematodes (1991)

We have established culture conditions for successful infection and development of several economically important cyst-forming and root-knot nematodes on Arabidopsis thaliana under monoxenic conditions. Complete life cycles were obtained with the sedentary cyst nematodes Heterodera schachtii, H. trifolii, H. cajani and the root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenariaas well as with the migratory nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. In contrast, H. goettingiana and Globodera rostochiensis were unable to develop on Arabidopsis roots. Tissue-culture quality agar and medium conditions optimized for hydroponic root culture were essential for successful infections. Detailed in-vivo observations were made inside Arabidopsis roots during the early infection stages of M. incognita and during complete development of H. schachtii. Seventy-four different ecotypes of Arabidopsis were screened for their susceptibility towards H. schachtii resulting in a range of infection rates. None of the ecotypes tested showed complete resistance in vitro. The use of Arabidopsis as a host for plant-parasitic nematodes will provide a new model system for the molecular genetic analysis of this interaction.