gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms for broadcast and selective broadcast (1980)

This thesis deals with a problem the effective use of a loosely-coupled store-and-forward network like the ARPANET. Many applications assume the existence of a mechanism to send a broadcast message to every node the network, or a selective broadcast message to a specified group of nodes. Previous work this field has resulted several techniques for broadcasting to the entire network. These include an algorithm for imposing a minimum spanning tree on the network and maintaining it the face of failures and changing costs, so that a broadcast can be routed along the branches of the MST at a minimum cost to the network as a whole.
I extend this work two directions. First of all, I discuss ways of adapting existing broadcast mechanisms to the more general problem of selective broadcast. In one case this involves generalizing the MST problem to the problem of finding a minimum Steiner tree, a problem which is NP-complete. I examine an existing approximation algorithm and show how to modify it for use a distributed environment. In the process I show that if we make a reasonable assumption about the way ties between edges are broken then we can considerably simplify this algorithm.
Second, I propose an original broadcasting technique that forwards along the branches of a single tree the same manner as the MST-based algorithm. The tree used is a shortest-path tree for a particular node that is, some sense, in the of the network; hence this method is called center-based forwarding. Using such a tree allows us to provide a broadcast facility with a small delay rather than a small cost; unfortunately it is impossible general to minimize the delay from every source if we use only a single tree.
To evaluate center-based forwarding, I define four measures of the delay associated with a given broadcast mechanism, and then propose three ways of selecting the center node. For each of the three forms of center-based forwarding, I compare the delay to the minimum delay for any broadcasting mechanism and also to the minimum delay for any single tree. In most cases, the delay on the centered tree is bounded by a small constant factor multiplied by either of these two minimum delays. When I can, I give a strict bound on the ratio between the center-based delay and the minimum delay; otherwise I demonstrate that no bound is possible. These results immediately imply bounds on how bad the three centered trees can be with respect to each other; most of these bounds are strict, and I improve the rest to bounds that are also strict.
Finally I present an algorithm for maintaining the centered tree the face of changes traffic conditions and failures nodes and links. I also discuss the extension of center-based forwarding to the problem of selective broadcast.
Rituximab treatment provides no clinical benefit in patients with pretreated advanced multiple myeloma (2006)

In the present phase II study, we tested the efficacy of a single course of rituximab (375 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15 and 22) as treatment for relapsed myeloma. The rationale for this study was the identification of a population of clonotypic CD20+ B cells that are believed to be precursors of malignant plasma cells. In addition, CD20 was expressed on 10% and 50% of bone marrow plasma cells in two of the ten patients enrolled. Following rituximab treatment, none of the patients achieved an objective response. Two patients had stable disease at month 6, the predefined end of the study, while, at that time, two patients were classified as having progressive disease. One patient opted to withdraw from the study at month 3, at which time he had stable disease. The other five patients had to be withdrawn early from the post-treatment observation because of need of salvage therapy for progressive disease. WHO grade <or=2 toxicity was seen in four patients. Peripheral B cells significantly decreased at 3 months, while no significant change of bone marrow myeloma cells was noted at that time. Mean paraprotein levels increased slightly during follow-up but IgM levels dropped in all patients, indicating an effective targeting of normal, short-lived plasma cells. Taken together, rituximab treatment yielded significant reductions in circulating B cells and serum IgM levels but had no beneficial clinical effect.
Movement Disorder Society Task Force report on the Hoehn and Yahr staging scale: Status and recommendations The Movement Disorder Society Task Force on rating scales for Parkinson's disease (2004)

The Movement Disorder Society Task Force for Rating Scales for Parkinson's disease (PD) prepared a critique of the Hoehn and Yahr scale (HY). Strengths of the HY scale include its wide utilization and acceptance. Progressively higher stages correlate with neuroimaging studies of dopaminergic loss, and high correlations exist between the HY scale and some standardized scales of motor impairment, disability, and quality of life. Weaknesses include the scale's mixing of impairment and disability and its non-linearity. Because the HY scale is weighted heavily toward postural instability as the primary index of disease severity, it does not capture completely impairments or disability from other motor features of PD and gives no information on nonmotor problems. Direct clinimetric testing of the HY scale has been very limited, but the scale fulfills at least some criteria for reliability and validity, especially for the midranges of the scale (Stages 2-4). Although a "modified HY scale" that includes 0.5 increments has been adopted widely, no clinimetric data are available on this adaptation. The Task Force recommends that: (1) the HY scale be used in its original form for demographic presentation of patient groups; (2) when the HY scale is used for group description, medians and ranges should be reported and analysis of changes should use nonparametric methods; (3) in research settings, the HY scale is useful primarily for defining inclusion/exclusion criteria; (4) to retain simplicity, clinicians should "rate what you see" and therefore incorporate comorbidities when assigning a HY stage; and (5) because of the wide usage of the modified HY scale with 0.5 increments, this adaptation warrants clinimetric testing. Without such testing, however, the original five-point scales should be maintained.
Biotechnology Update: Overview of Monoclonal Antibodies in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Cancer (1991)

Monoclonal antibodies initially offered the promise of a cure for cancer as "magic bullets" but this hope was quickly diminished as the complexities of the host-tumor relationship were realized. We have acquired a tremendous amount of practical experience since the first cancer patient was treated with a MAb nearly 10 years ago. This experience, combined with recent advances in recombinant DNA technology, has endowed us with a rich variety of opportunities to exploit in the diagnosis and treatment of malignancies. If recent preclinical research studies are clinically applicable and the antitumor responses seen in initial clinical trials can be optimized and confirmed, the next decade will likely be host to remarkable advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer with MAbs.
Co‐translational myristoylation alters the quaternary structure of HIV‐1 Nef in solution (2005)

We have studied the solution properties of Nef, a 24-kDa cotranslationally myristoylated protein produced by HIV-1 and other primate lentiviruses. Nef is found in the cytosol and also in association with cytoplasmic membranes, the latter, mediated in part by the myristoyl group attached to the N-terminal glycine. Recombinant Nef was coexpressed in Escherichia coli in tandem with N-myristoyl-transferase and is fully myristoylated. Analysis by circular dichroism showed the myristoylated form to contain a greater alpha-helical content than the nonmyristoylated form. Analysis of modified and unmodified Nef in solution using small angle X-ray scattering, dynamic laser light scattering and analytical ultracentrifugation consistently showed differences in the oligomeric states of the two forms of Nef. Myristoylated Nef is predominantly monomeric and small oligomers which are also present, can be converted to the monomeric form under reducing conditions. By contrast, the nonmyristoylated form exists as a stable hexadecamer in solution which disassociates into tetramers upon addition of reducing agents. Shape reconstructions from small angle scattering curves of nonmyristoylated Nef are compatible with a large disc-like structure in the hexadecameric oligomer consisting of four Nef tetramers. From these findings, we hypothesize that Nef undergoes a substantial conformational change from an "open" into a "closed" form whereby the myristate group is sequestered in a hydrophobic pocket. The myristoylated protein can switch to the open conformation by association of the N-terminal region of molecule with membranes. These changes would allow Nef to carry out various functions depending on the conformational and oligomeric states.
Liquid marble for gas sensing (2010)

The porous and superhydrophobic shell of a liquid marble prevents contact of its liquid core with outside surfaces, but allows gas transport. Liquid marble can therefore be used to sense gas or emit gas. Liquid marbles loaded with different indicators can simultaneously sense different gases via different mechanisms.
Optimizing Dialogue Management with Reinforcement Learning: Experiments with the NJFun System (2002)

Designing the dialogue policy of a spoken dialogue system involves many nontrivial choices. This paper presents a reinforcement learning approach for automatically optimizing a dialogue policy, which addresses the technical challenges in applying reinforcement learning to a working dialogue system with human users. We report on the design, construction and empirical evaluation of NJFun, an experimental spoken dialogue system that provides users with access to information about fun things to do in New Jersey. Our results show that by optimizing its performance via reinforcement learning, NJFun measurably improves system performance.
Nonlinear inversion-based output tracking (1996)

An inversion procedure is introduced for nonlinear systems which constructs a bounded input trajectory in the preimage of a desired output trajectory. In the case of minimum phase systems, the trajectory produced agrees with that generated by Hirschorn's inverse dynamic system; however, the preimage trajectory is noncausal (rather than unstable) in the nonminimum phase case. In addition, the analysis leads to a simple geometric connection between the unstable manifold of the system zero dynamics and noncausality in the nonminimum phase case. With the addition of stabilizing feedback to the preimage trajectory, asymptotically exact output tracking is achieved. Tracking is demonstrated with a numerical example and compared to the well-known Byrnes-Isidori regulator. Rather than solving a partial differential equation to construct a regulator, the inverse is calculated using a Picard-like interaction. When preactuation is not possible, noncausal inverse trajectories can be truncated resulting in the tracking-error transients found in other control schemes.
Presence of non‐selective type of endothelin receptor on vascular endothelium and its linkage to vasodilation (1991)

We studied the role of non-selective type (ETB) of endothelin (ET) receptor in the vasculature, using a ligand specific to the ETB receptor, [Glu9]-sarafotoxin S6b ([Glu9]SRTb). Endothelium-containing rat thoracic aorta possessed specific binding sites for 125I-[Glu9]SRTb, which were almost eliminated by removal of the endothelium, while ET-3-specific binding sites were not detected in the endothelium-intact rat aorta. Only ETB receptor was detected in the membranes from the endothelium of porcine thoracic aorta. [Glu9]SRTb exerted only vasodilation in rat aortic ring. These findings indicate that ETB receptors are located on vascular endothelium and linked to vasodilation.
Heparinase II from Flavobacterium heparinum (1998)

Heparinase II (no EC number) is one of three lyases isolated from Flavobacterium heparinum that degrade heparin-like complex polysaccharides. Heparinase II is unique among the heparinases in that it has broad substrate requirements and possesses the ability to degrade both heparin and heparan sulfate-like regions of glycosaminoglycans. This study set out to investigate the role of cysteines in heparinase II activity. Through a series of chemical modification experiments, it was found that one of the three cysteines in heparinase II is surface-accessible and possesses unusual chemical reactivity toward cysteine-specific chemical modifying reagents. Substrate protection experiments suggest that this surface-accessible cysteine is proximate to the active site, since addition of substrate shields the cysteine from modifying reagents. The cysteine, present in an ionic environment, was mapped by radiolabeling with N-[3H]ethylmaleimide and identified as cysteine 348. Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteine 348 to an alanine resulted in loss of activity toward heparin but not heparan sulfate, indicating that cysteine 348 is required for heparinase II activity toward heparin but is not essential for the breakdown of heparan sulfate. Furthermore, we show in this study that cysteine 164 and cysteine 189 are functionally unimportant for heparinase II.
Annotation of mammalian primary microRNAs (2008)

Little is known about the primary transcripts of intergenic miRNAs. Using comparative data, we are able to identify the boundaries of a significant proportion of human, mouse and rat pri-miRNAs. We confidently predict the transcripts including a total of 77, 58 and 47 human, mouse and rat pre-miRNAs respectively. Our computational annotations provide a basis for subsequent experimental validation of predicted pri-miRNAs.
Induction of apoptosis in mesothelioma cells by antisurvivin oligonucleotides. (2002)

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive tumor characterized by rapid progression, late metastases, and poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the expression of survivin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein gene family, in mesothelioma and an antisense oligonucleotide-based gene therapy for mesothelioma using survivin as a target. Initially, we documented the expression of survivin in human mesothelioma cell lines and fresh tissues using reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis. Our results showed that survivin was overexpressed in 7 of 8 (87.5%) mesothelioma cell lines assayed and in all (12 of 12; 100%) freshly resected mesothelioma tissues analyzed. To investigate the use of survivin as a therapeutic target on mesothelioma, we carried out transfections with antisurvivin oligonucleotides to induce apoptosis in mesothelioma cell lines MS-1 and H28. Results from cellular transfection and subsequent analysis using the flow cytometry demonstrated that antisurvivin oligonucleotides induced significantly greater apoptosis rates in the survivin-positive mesothelioma cell line H28 (42.5%) as compared with the control oligonucleotides (16.2%; P < 0.001). The survivin-negative cell line LRK1A (survivin-/-) did not apoptose with antisense oligonucleotides. Furthermore, time course evaluation by Western blot analysis showed that survivin was inhibited by antisurvivin oligonucleotides within 12 h after transfection. Our results show, for the first time, that survivin, an inhibitors of apoptosis protein family gene member, is highly overexpressed in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Down-regulation of survivin by a targeted antisense oligonucleotide appears to be an effective gene therapy approach to the treatment of mesothelioma.
Effect of imipenem treatment versus imipenem surgical prophylaxis on the intestinal microflora. (1988)

The impact of imipenem treatment versus imipenem surgical prophylaxis on the intestinal microflora was investigated in 40 patients. Ten patients received 0.5 g imipenem four times a day and ten patients 1.0 g imipenem four times a day for four to 11 days for treatment of different infections. The imipenem treatment was associated with minor to moderate changes in the intestinal flora. There was a decrease in the numbers of enterobacteria, anaerobic cocci and bacteroides during treatment, but afterwards the microflora was normalized in all patients. No new colonization with imipenem-resistant bacteria was seen. No concentrations of imipenem in faeces were observed. Twenty patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery participated in the imipenem surgical prophylaxis group. To ten patients, imipenem was given in a dose of 0.5 g at induction of anaesthesia followed by subsequent doses of 0.5 g at 6 h intervals for 48 h. The other ten patients received 1 g imipenem at 6 h intervals for 48 h. The aerobic bacteria - staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci and enterobacteria - were suppressed significantly during the prophylaxis period. Among the anaerobic bacteria, cocci, bifidobacteria, eubacteria, lactobacilli, clostridia, fusobacteria and bacteroides decreased markedly during the same period. The microflora was normalized after two weeks. The imipenem concentrations in the intestinal mucosa varied between 0.1-3.6 mg/kg for the dose of 0.5 g and 3.2-13.4 mg/kg for the dose of 1.0 g, and the concentrations in the faecal samples were between 0.1-5.0 mg/kg and 0.7-11.3 mg/kg respectively.
[Treatment of dry eye by temporary punctum plug. Comparison with a control group]. (1990)

35 patients with chronic dry eye were treated with punctum plug on one side only. The other side was a control: after simulation dilatation, the patient underwent a simulation insertion. This is an open study in which only the patient ignored the reality of treatment. The study was prospective. 28 females and 7 males were enrolled in this study. The age' average was 53. The follow-up average is 5.3 months. The etiologies were: idiopathic dry eye: 10 cases, Sjögren's syndrome: 11 cases, drug induced dry eye: 6 cases, filamentous keratitis: 4 cases. Other: 4 cases. Enrollment criteria were: functional symptomatology not answering to topical therapy (physiological serum drops) associated with one or more of the following items: positive Rose Bengal staining and/or Schirmer lower than 5 mm in 5 min and/or filamentary keratitis. Subjective improvement is significantly better after closing the two puncta on the same side (77%) than the other side (placebo) (17%) (p less than 0.001). This difference is also demonstrated for the improvement of Rose Bengal staining (p = 0.068) and for Schirmer's test (p = 0.002). These results demonstrated the effectiveness of this therapy versus placebo. Results after closing the 2 puncta on the same side are better than after closing one punctum.
Electric Flight Systems (1982)

Materials illustrating presentations on the development of electric flight systems for the all-electric aircraft and for spacecraft are presented.
Development of pandemic influenza vaccine production capacity in Viet Nam (2011)

The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), a state-owned vaccine manufacturer, initiated research into avian influenza vaccines in the early 1990 s in response to the threat of a highly pathogenic avian influenza pandemic. Successful results from laboratory studies on A(H5N1) influenza virus attracted seed funds and led to participation in the WHO technology transfer project to enhance influenza vaccine production in developing countries. IVAC's goal is to produce 500,000 doses of inactivated monovalent whole-virion influenza vaccine per year by 2012, and progressively increase capacity to more than 1 million doses to protect essential populations in Viet Nam in the event of an influenza pandemic. The WHO seed grants, supplemented by other international partner support, enabled IVAC to build in a very short time an influenza vaccine manufacturing plant under Good Manufacturing Practice and relevant biosafety standards, a waste treatment system and a dedicated chicken farm for high-quality eggs. Much of the equipment and instrumentation required for vaccine production has been installed and tested for functional operation. Staff have been trained on site and at specialized courses which provided comprehensive manuals on egg-based manufacturing processes and biosafety. Following process validation, clinical trials will start in 2011 and the first domestic influenza vaccine doses are expected in 2012.
Tumour-SelectiveSalmonella-BasedCancer Therapy (2001)

Cancer therapies fail for several primary reasons; lack of drug effect on the cancerous\ntissue, lack of selectivity for the cancerous tissue, and/or inadequate delivery to the\ntarget tissue. Drug effect and selectivity can be improved by increased understanding\nof molecular and cellular differences between cancer and normal tissues, thus\nenabling the design of drugs that potently affect cancer-specific molecular targets\nassociated with malignant behaviour. Another approach is to improve the selective\ndelivery of anti-cancer agents to tumours. One approach is to use carriers that bind to\ncancer-specific targets, such as antibodies (Hall, 1995). However, most targeting\napproaches, even if selective, tend not to deliver sufficiently high concentrations of\nthe agent to the tumour to induce significant therapeutic effects. Recent findings\nsuggest that the pathogenic bacterium Salmonella, when genetically modified, can be\nused to selectively deliver therapeutic agents to solid tumours at high concentrations\n(Pawelek et al., 1997; Low et al., 1999a). These attenuated bacteria are administered\neither systemically or locally, whereupon they typically replicate I 000 times greater\nin the tumour than in other tissue. The basis for preferential colonization and\naccumulation of Salmonella in tumours appears to include some of the same characteristics\nof tumours that provide resistance to drug and immune-based therapies(Bermudes et al., 2000a,b).
Experience with rituximab in scleroderma: results from a 1-year, proof-of-principle study (2009)

Our results indicate that RTX may improve lung function in patients with SSc. To confirm our encouraging results we propose that larger scale, multicentre studies with longer evaluation periods are needed.
TNF-α and myocardial depression in endotoxemic rats: temporal discordance of an obligatory relationship (1998)

Exogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces delayed myocardial depression in vivo but promotes rapid myocardial depression in vitro. The temporal relationship between endogenous TNF-alpha and endotoxemic myocardial depression is unclear, and the role of TNF-alpha in this myocardial disorder remains controversial. Using a rat model of endotoxemia not complicated by shock, we sought to determine 1) the temporal relationship of changes in circulating and myocardial TNF-alpha with myocardial depression, 2) the influences of protein synthesis inhibition or immunosuppression on TNF-alpha production and myocardial depression, and 3) the influence of neutralization of TNF-alpha on myocardial depression. Rats were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg ip). Circulating and myocardial TNF-alpha increased at 1 and 2 h, whereas myocardial contractility was depressed at 4 and 6 h. Pretreatment with cycloheximide or dexamethasone abolished the increase in circulating and myocardial TNF-alpha and preserved myocardial contractile function. Similarly, treatment with TNF binding protein immediately after LPS prevented myocardial depression. We conclude that endogenous TNF-alpha mediates delayed myocardial depression in endotoxemic rats and that inhibition of TNF-alpha production or neutralization of TNF-alpha preserves myocardial contractile function in endotoxemia.