gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Tissue characterization of symptomatic and asymptomatic disc herniations by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (1997)

The purpose of this investigation was to determine differences in tissue composition of symptomatic and asymptomatic disc herniations as reflected in T1 and T2 relaxation times (quantitative magnetic resonance imaging). Thirty patients with sciatica severe enough to require a discectomy and 46 asymptomatic volunteers (controls) were included in this study. Both groups had a clinical examination as well as a magnetic resonance investigation of the lumbar spine. The longitudinal and transverse magnetic relaxation times (T1 and T2, respectively) were calculated from a set of 20 images obtained with five single-slice/multi-echo sequences at different repetition time values on a commercial whole-body system (1.5 T). Twenty-two symptomatic and asymptomatic disc herniations could be matched according to age, gender, disc level, and the extent of herniation (protrusion or extrusion) and were compared with regard to T1 and T2 relaxation times. Symptomatic disc herniations exhibited significantly (pT1 < 0.04 and pT2 < 0.003) shorter T1 (delta T1: -182.1 milliseconds, -15%) and T2 (delta T2: -11.0 milliseconds, -21%) relaxation times than matched asymptomatic herniations. Symptomatic disc herniations also exhibited more advanced disc degeneration as graded by Pearce's criteria (p < 0.01). These results suggest that symptomatic and morphologically matched asymptomatic disc herniations differ with regard to disc matrix composition.
LAS NUEVAS TECNOLOGIAS EN PROCESOS DE INCLUSION SOCIAL: EVALUACION DE UNA METODOLOGIA BLENDED LEARNING (2012)

This research is part of a larger study, which analyzes the use of ICTS as tools really effective in dealing with employment and training processes with groups in a situation of social exclusion. To do it, we examined the implementation process and the development of a blended learning methodology in a program of job training funded by the ESF (European Social Fond). Aimed at disadvantaged groups living in rural contexts. The use of a double quantitative and qualitative methodology allowed us to assess the quality of the project and the measurement of effectiveness and efficiency indicators as well as the innovation of the same fundamental in order to determine the burden of investment. There have been 204 telephone surveys, 132 surveys to students, 4 faculty surveys and
Fast dynamics of halophilic malate dehydrogenase and BSA measured by neutron scattering under various solvent conditions influencing protein stability (2001)

Protein thermal dynamics was evaluated by neutron scattering for halophilic malate dehydrogenase from Haloarcula marismortui (HmMalDH) and BSA under different solvent conditions. As a measure of thermal stability in each case, loss of secondary structure temperatures were determined by CD. HmMalDH requires molar salt and has different stability behavior in H(2)O, D(2)O, and in NaCl and KCl solvents. BSA remains soluble in molar NaCl. The neutron experiments provided values of mean-squared atomic fluctuations at the 0.1 ns time scale. Effective force constants, characterizing the mean resilience of the protein structure, were calculated from the variation of the mean-squared fluctuation with temperature. For HmMalDH, resilience increased progressively with increasing stability, from molar NaCl in H(2)O, via molar KCl in D(2)O, to molar NaCl in D(2)O. Surprisingly, however, the opposite was observed for BSA; its resilience is higher in H(2)O where it is less stable than in D(2)O. These results confirmed the complexity of dynamics-stability relationships in different proteins. Softer dynamics for BSA in D(2)O showed that the higher thermostability is associated with entropic fluctuations. In the halophilic protein, higher stability is associated with increased resilience showing the dominance of enthalpic terms arising from bonded interactions. From previous data, it is suggested that these are associated with hydrated ion binding stabilizing the protein in the high-salt solvent.
Computational Thermostabilization of an Enzyme (2005)

Thermostabilizing an enzyme while maintaining its activity for industrial or biomedical applications can be difficult with traditional selection methods. We describe a rapid computational approach that identified three mutations within a model enzyme that produced a 10 degrees C increase in apparent melting temperature T(m) and a 30-fold increase in half-life at 50 degrees C, with no reduction in catalytic efficiency. The effects of the mutations were synergistic, giving an increase in excess of the sum of their individual effects. The redesigned enzyme induced an increased, temperature-dependent bacterial growth rate under conditions that required its activity, thereby coupling molecular and metabolic engineering.
Hepatitis C virus-specific CTL responses in the liver of chimpanzees with acute and chronic hepatitis C. (1993)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CTL responses were evaluated in two chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) during the acute and chronic phases of HCV infection. CD8+ T lymphocytes were isolated from liver tissue homogenates using anti-CD8 antibody-coated magnetic beads and then stimulated with anti-CD3 antibodies, IL-2, and irradiated human PBMC using limiting dilution culture conditions. HCV-specific cytotoxic activity of expanding CD8+ cell lines was assessed against autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines infected with recombinant vaccinia virus vectors encoding HCV Ag. CD8+ T cell lines specific for structural and nonstructural proteins of HCV were established from both animals. Cytolytic activity was blocked with anti-CD8 or anti-class I MHC antibodies, indicating that class I MHC molecules were involved in presentation of viral Ag to the CTL. Overlapping synthetic peptides were used to define a 12 amino acid segment of the nonstructural 3 (NS3) protein recognized by CTL lines from both chimpanzees. Studies with truncated peptides revealed that these CD8+ cell lines were directed against overlapping epitopes presented by distinct class I restriction elements of the chimpanzee MHC complex. CD8+ cell lines with identical specificities for an NS3 epitope were generated from one chronically infected animal at 16 and 28 wk postinfection. These results indicate that virus-specific CTL populations persist in the liver for months, but are unable to resolve chronic HCV infection.
Single-Stage Approach to Skin Grafting the Exposed Skull (2000)

Four patients are presented who suffered full-thickness loss of the scalp, exposing the skull. Removal of the outer table, immediate application of a split-thickness skin graft, and treatment with the VAC for 3 to 4 days resulted in approximately 100 percent graft take in each case without complications. When compared with the usual two-stage approach to skin grafting the exposed skull, this method spares the patient a longer hospital stay and a second operative procedure, and it results in a significant cost savings.
Failure Modes and Reliability Analysis of Belt-Type CVT Systems for Scooters (2005)

&lt;div class="htmlview paragraph"&gt;The purpose of the present study is to carry out failure analysis of a scooter's continuously variable transmission (CVT) system that is considered to be one of the key components of the scooter. In the study, many reliability analytical tools such as failure mode, effect and criticality analysis (FMECA) and fault tree analysis (FTA) are used to identify possible failure modes of the CVT system and its subsystems. The failure effects of components on the CVT system are emphasized in particular. Aside from the qualitative evaluation, simulation algorithms are also developed to examine the performance of the CVT system and assess the reliability of the belt. Through the study, it is found that mechanical wear at both sides of the V-belt is the most serious problem that affects the CVT performance. The sliding collar of the driven pulley is another component that has to be observed carefully. Some design improvements are pointed out at the end of the paper.&lt;/div&gt;
Cloning of Immunoglobulin-Superfamily Members Associated with HLA-C and HLA-B Recognition by Human Natural Killer Cells (1995)

Cytotoxicity by natural killer (NK) cells is inhibited by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on target cells. This inhibition may be mediated by NK receptors with different MHC specificities. A family of four NK-specific complementary DNAs (cDNAs), designated NKATs (NK-associated transcripts), was identified that encoded related transmembrane proteins, characterized by an extracellular region with two or three immunoglobulin-superfamily domains and by a cytoplasmic domain with an unusual antigen receptor activation motif (ARAM). The distribution of these cDNAs was clonotypic and correlated with NK cell inhibition by particular class I alleles. Thus, NKAT cDNAs may encode receptors for class I molecules on NK cells.
CaaX converting enzymes (1998)

Proteins that contain a carboxyl-terminal CaaX motif undergo post-translational processing involving prenylation, endoproteolysis and methylesterification. Two yeast genes, AFC1 and RCE1, which are candidates for genes encoding CaaX converting enzymes, were recently identified. Rce1p is required for the full penetrance of the activated Ras2pval19 phenotype in yeast, indicating its possible utility as a new target in Ras-based malignancies. Advances in our current understanding of CaaX convertases and the functional importance of CaaX proteolysis are discussed.
Abnormalities in cloned mice are not transmitted to the progeny (2002)

Cloned animals suffer a wide range of severe fetal and placental malformations. Whether these malformations arise from insufficient epigenetic modifications or mutations has not yet been determined. To address this question, we examined siblings from both cloned XO and XY parents. These parents, which exhibited hypertrophic placentas, increased body weights, and open eyelids at birth, were created from the same ES cell sublines. The siblings from all three cloned pairs showed normal body and placenta weights and no open eyelids at birth. The results clearly showed that the phenotypic abnormalities seen in cloned mice were not transmitted to the progeny, a finding that suggests that abnormalities in cloned mice are responsible for insufficient epigenetic modifications/reprogramming.
Disruption of the Gene Encoding the Mitogen-regulated Translational Modulator PHAS-I in Mice (1997)

PHAS-I is the prototype of a group of eIF4E-binding proteins that can regulate mRNA translation in response to hormones and growth factors. To investigate the importance of PHAS-I in the physiology of the intact animal, we disrupted the PHAS-I gene in mice. Tissues and cells derived from the knockout mice contained no detectable PHAS-I protein. A related protein, PHAS-II, and eIF4E were readily detectable in tissues from these animals, but neither appeared to be changed in a compensatory manner. Mice lacking PHAS-I appeared normal at birth. However, male knockout mice weighed approximately 10% less than controls at all ages, whereas female weights were similar to those of controls. Both males and females were fertile. Tissues from adult animals appeared to be normal by routine histological staining techniques, as were routine blood cell counts and chemistries. Fibroblasts derived from PHAS-I-deficient mouse embryos exhibited normal rates of growth and overall protein synthesis, responded normally to serum stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity and cell growth, and rapamycin inhibition of cell growth. Under these experimental conditions, PHAS-I is apparently not required for the normal development and reproductive behavior of female mice, but is required for normal body weight in male mice; the mechanisms responsible for this phenotype remain to be determined.
Inhibition of hydroxyapatite formation by osteopontin phosphopeptides (2004)

Osteopontin (OPN) is an acidic phosphoglycoprotein that is believed to function in the prevention of soft tissue calcification. In vitro studies have shown that OPN can inhibit the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) and other biologically relevant crystal phases, and that this inhibitory activity requires phosphorylation of the protein; however, it is not known which phosphorylated residues are involved. We have synthesized peptides corresponding to four phosphoserine-containing sequences in rat OPN: OPN7-17, containing phosphoserines 10 and 11; OPN41-52, containing phosphoserines 46 and 47; OPN248-264, containing phosphoserines 250, 257 and 262; and OPN290-301, containing phosphoserines 295-297. The abilities of these peptides to inhibit de novo HA formation were determined using a constant-composition autotitration assay. All four OPN phosphopeptides caused a dose-dependent increase in nucleation lag time, but did not significantly affect subsequent formation of the crystals. However, OPN41-52 (inhibitory constant 73.5 min/microM) and OPN290-301 (72.2 min/microM) were approx. 4 times more potent inhibitors than OPN7-17 (19.7 min/microM) and OPN247-264 (16.3 min/microM). 'Scrambling' the amino acid sequence of OPN290-301 resulted in decreased potency (45.6 min/microM), whereas omission of the phosphate groups from this peptide caused a greater decrease (5.20 min/microM). These findings have identified phosphorylated sequences that are important for the ability of rat bone OPN to inhibit HA crystal formation, and suggest that negative-charge density is an important factor in this activity.
Formation of core-shell structured silicon nanoparticles during pulsed laser ablation (2010)

We performed pulsed laser ablation of Si target in nitrogen background gas and found that core-shell structured nanoparticles can be prepared without postsurface treatment. The predominant ejected species from the target at free expansion region is Si, and N related species appears at the point blast region. The core-shell structure and plume expansion dynamics suggest that nuclei of the Si nanodroplets are formed in early stage followed by growth of nanodroplets and nitraidation at the surfaces region of the nanodroplets. Formation of core shell structure is a result of nonequilibrium high energy pulsed ejection of Si species.
Apoptosis occurs more frequently in intraductal carcinoma than in infiltrating duct carcinoma of human breast cancer and correlates with altered p53 expression: detected by terminal‐deoxynucleotidyl‐transferase‐mediated dUTP‐FITC nick end labelling (TUNEL) (1997)

Our data suggest that not only does apoptosis differ between intraductal carcinoma and infiltrating carcinoma but also it might be regulated by altered p53 expression.
Vacuolar Processing Enzyme Is Essential for Mycotoxin-induced Cell Death in Arabidopsis thaliana (2005)

Some compatible pathogens secrete toxins to induce host cell death and promote their growth. The toxin-induced cell death is a pathogen strategy for infection. To clarify the executioner of the toxin-induced cell death, we examined a fungal toxin (fumonisin B1 (FB1))-induced cell death of Arabidopsis plants. FB1-induced cell death was accompanied with disruption of vacuolar membrane followed by lesion formation. The features of FB1-induced cell death were completely abolished in the Arabidopsis vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE)-null mutant, which lacks all four VPE genes of the genome. Interestingly, an inhibitor of caspase-1 abolished FB1-induced lesion formation, as did a VPE inhibitor. The VPE-null mutant had no detectable activities of caspase-1 or VPE in the FB1-treated leaves, although wild-type leaves had the caspase-1 and VPE activities, both of which were inhibited by a caspase-1 inhibitor. gammaVPE is the most essential among the four VPE homologues for FB1-induced cell death in Arabidopsis leaves. Recombinant gammaVPE recognized a VPE substrate with Km = 30.3 microm and a caspase-1 substrate with Km = 44.2 microm, which is comparable with the values for mammalian caspase-1. The gammaVPE precursor was self-catalytically converted into the mature form exhibiting caspase-1 activity. These in vivo and in vitro analyses demonstrate that gammaVPE is the proteinase that exhibits a caspase-1 activity. We show that VPE exhibiting a caspase-1 activity is a key molecule in toxin-induced cell death. Our findings suggest that a susceptible response of toxin-induced cell death is caused by the VPE-mediated vacuolar mechanism similar to a resistance response of hypersensitive cell death (Hatsugai, N., Kuroyanagi, M., Yamada, K., Meshi, T., Tsuda, S., Kondo, M., Nishimura, M., and Hara-Nishimura, I. (2004) Science 305, 855-858).
Regulation of the interaction of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with the cytoskeleton by agrin-activated protein tyrosine kinase. (1995)

Agrin induces the accumulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in the myofiber membrane at synaptic sites in vertebrate skeletal muscle and causes an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the AChR beta subunit. To examine further the mechanism of agrin-induced AChR phosphorylation and the relationship between changes in protein phosphorylation and AChR aggregation, the effect of the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium pervanadate was tested on chick myotubes in culture. Pervanadate caused an increase in the phosphotyrosine content of a variety of proteins, including the AChR. Pervanadate also prevented agrin-induced AChR aggregation and slowed the rate at which AChRs were extracted from intact myotubes by mild detergent treatment. The rate at which phosphorylation of the AChR beta subunit and receptor detergent extractability changed following pervanadate-induced phosphatase inhibition was increased by agrin, indicating that agrin activates a protein tyrosine kinase rather than inhibiting a protein tyrosine phosphatase. The present results, taken together with previous findings on the inhibition of agrin-induced AChR aggregation by protein kinase inhibitors, demonstrate that protein tyrosine phosphorylation regulates the formation and stability of AChR aggregates, apparently by strengthening the interaction between AChRs and the cytoskelton.
DNA Isolation and Sequencing (1996)

Partial table of contents: GENERAL METHODS. Restriction Digestion. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis. Bacterial Cell Maintenance and Storage. RANDOM SUBCLONE GENERATION. Sonication. DNA Ligation. METHODS FOR DNA ISOLATION. Large Scale Double--Stranded DNA Isolation. Miniprep Double--Stranded DNA Isolation. METHODS FOR DNA SEQUENCING. Radiolabeled Sequencing Gel Preparation, Loading and Electrophoresis. Flourescent DNA Sequencing. ADDITIONAL METHODS. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Purification of PCR Fragments for Cloning. Synthesis and Purification of Oligonucleotides. Appendices. Index.
Neural network ensembles (1990)

Several means for improving the performance and training of neural networks for classification are proposed. Crossvalidation is used as a tool for optimizing network parameters and architecture. It is shown that the remaining residual generalization error can be reduced by invoking ensembles of similar networks.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Vestibular effects of intravenous lidocaine used in the treatment of tinnitus (1986)

Intravenous lidocaine is known to have an effect on the auditory system in that it is useful for suppressing tinnitus, albeit temporarily. We have used intravenously administered lidocaine as one of the treatment modalities for refractory, disturbing, tinnitus. Its effects on the vestibulo-ocular system were determined by electronystagmography performed before and immediately after injecting lidocaine: smooth pendular stimulus tracking was unaffected; spontaneous and positional nystagmus tended to be suppressed; directional preponderance was reduced or reversed; and the difference between the nystagmus responses in the two directions during the pendular rotation chair test was also reduced or reversed. These changes in the caloric and rotation tests were statistically significant. Lidocaine also appeared to have altered the balance between the two sides in the vestibulo-spinal system as indicated by the results of the stepping test during craniocorpography. The results lend support to the hypothesis that intravenous lidocaine acts at the level of the central nervous system rather than at the periphery.
Elimination of free-surface related multiples without need of the source wavelet (2001)

Abstract This paper presents a new, wave-equation based method for eliminating the effect of the free surface from marine seismic data without destroying primary amplitudes and without any knowledge of the subsurface. Compared with previously published methods which require an estimate of the source wavelet, the present method has the following characteristics: it does not require any information about the marine source array and its signature, it does not rely on removal of the direct wave from the data, and it does not require any explicit deghosting. Moreover, the effect of the source signature is removed from the data in the multiple elimination process by deterministic signature deconvolution, replacing the original source signature radiated from the marine source array with any desired wavelet (within the data frequency-band) radiated from a monopole point source. The fundamental constraint of the new method is that the vertical derivative of the pressure or the vertical component of the particle velocity is input to the free-surface demultiple process along with pressure recordings. These additional data are routinely recorded in ocean-bottom seismic surveys. The method can be applied to conventional towed streamer pressure data recorded in the water column at a depth which is greater than the depth of the source array only when the pressure derivative can be estimated, or even better, is measured. Since the direct wave and its source ghost is part of the free-surface demultiple, designature process, the direct arrival must be properly measured for the method to work successfully. In the case when the geology is close to horizontally layering, the free-surface multiple elimination method greatly simplifies, reducing to a well-known deterministic deconvolution process which can be applied to common shot gathers (or common receiver gathers or common midpoint gathers when source array variations are negligible) in the τ-p domain or frequency-wavenumber domain.
Assessment of Myocardial Viability With Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2002)

In severe ischemic heart failure, MRI hyperenhancement as a marker of myocardial scar closely agrees with PET data. Although hyperenhancement correlated with areas of decreased flow and metabolism, it seems to identify scar tissue more frequently than PET, reflecting the higher spatial resolution. Additional functional studies after revascularization are required to define the significance of small islands of scar detected by MRI.
Advanced medical care for soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. (2004)

War inevitably advances medical knowledge, particularly in the area of orthopedic surgery. This article presents an overview of the types of injuries emerging from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the majority of which are extremity injuries, and the care soldiers are receiving on the battlefield, while being evacuated, and at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It highlights the Army's use of new therapeutic approaches such as use of methyl methacrylate antibiotic beads, vacuum-assisted closure devices, and new prosthetic technologies.
Obesity Sheds Its Secrets (1997)

The fat-busting hormone leptin no longer looks to be the quick route to a svelte figure that early reports suggested. But while leptin itself may not pan out as an obesity treatment, in the past year, researchers have learned much more about how and where the hormone works in the body and how it interacts with other molecules—information that may help them design drugs that can trim body fat.