gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
A frequency based ray tracer (1995)

A ray tracer has been developed that synthesizes images directly into the frequency domain. This makes it possible to use a simple vision model to control where rays are cast into a scene and to decide how rays should be spawned once an object is intersected. In this manner the most visible artifacts can be removed first and noise can be channeled into those areas of an image where it is least noticeable. The resulting image is produced in a format that is consistent with many image compression and transmission schemes.
Full-thickness flap/subepithelial connective tissue grafting with intramarrow penetrations: three case reports of lingual root coverage. (2005)

Three case reports are presented that demonstrate the use of full-thickness flap/subepithelial connective tissue grafting for root coverage on the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth. This is accomplished using an envelope full-thickness flap technique with intramarrow penetrations at the recipient site. Miller Class I, II, and III gingival recession defects and gingival perforation defects were treated. Complete root coverage was achieved in two Miller Class I gingival recession defects, in one Miller Class II gingival recession defect, and in two gingival perforation defects in areas that exhibited no radiographic evidence of bone loss. Partial root coverage was achieved in two Miller Class III gingival recession defects in an area that exhibited radiographic evidence of bone loss. Although the majority of the exposed root surface was covered in these two Miller Class III defects, about 1 mm of root surface remained exposed, which seemed to closely correspond to the amount of bone loss that was noted radiographically. A grafting technique has been presented that can be used to restore the functional properties of the lingual gingiva of the mandibular anterior teeth by repairing gingival defects and re-establishing the continuity and integrity of the zone of keratinized gingiva. Our clinical impression is that this has made it easier for the three patients presented in this report to maintain the lingual surfaces of the mandibular anterior teeth with routine oral hygiene measures.
(Invited)650 Volt GaN Commercialization Reaches Automotive Standards (2017)

With its proven ability to reduce size (form factor) and save energy (high efficiency) Gallium Nitride (GaN) is now no longer a nice to have, it is a must-have for power conversion. High voltage (HV) GaN HEMTs (also called GaN FETs) in the range of 650 to 900 volts are becoming the next standard for power conversion. GaN provides cost-competitive, easy-to-embed solutions that reduce energy loss by >50 percent, shrink system sizes by >40 percent, to simplify power converter/inverter design and manufacturing. These benefits are being realized today in various markets: Consumer, Industrial, Server, Servo Motors and Drives, Solar, Telecommunications, and recently Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. Having successfully completed JEDEC qualification and commercialization of HV-GaN, we will now review the first ever Automotive (AEC Q101) Qualification for GaN and discuss in detail results for highly stressed robustness tests, FIT rates & lifetime testing.
Lamellar structures in fluorinated phosphonium ionic liquids: the roles of fluorination and chain length (2017)

Ionic liquids (ILs) exhibit tunable behaviour and properties that are due to their supramolecular structure. We synthesized a series of alkylated and fluorinated phosphonium dicyanamide ILs to study the relation between molecular structure and assembly with a focus on the roles of cation chain length and fluorination. Small angle X-ray scattering indicated a lamellar structure with long-range order for all fluorinated ILs, while alkylated ILs showed only the general structures of ILs, i.e., alternating a polar ionic-zone and a nonpolar alkyl-zone. "Fluorophobic" interactions caused microphase segregation between perfluorinated and other molecular segments, "fluorophilic" interactions among the perfluorinated segments stabilized the microphase structure, and the coupling of "fluorophobic" and "fluorophilic" interactions resulted in a stable mesophase structure. The perfluorinated segments packed more densely than the alkylated analogues; the fluorinated versions (except for F2) liquefied at temperatures considerably above that of alkylated ILs. The lamellar structures strongly affected the rheology of the ILs. Fluorinated ILs had higher viscosities and exhibited non-Newtonian shear thinning; the alkylated ILs of the same length had an order of magnitude lower viscosities and were purely Newtonian. We propose that the disruption of lamellar structure in the shear flow causes the non-Newtonian flow behaviour.
Minimal length requirement of the single-stranded tails for ligation-independent cloning (LIC) of PCR products. (1994)

The ligation-independent cloning of PCR products (LIC-PCR) is a versatile and highly efficient cloning procedure resulting in recombinant clones only. Recombinants are generated between PCR products and a PCR-amplified vector through defined complementary single-stranded (ss) ends artificially generated with T4 DNA polymerase. This procedure does not require restriction enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, or DNA ligase. The primers used for amplification contain an additional 12-nucleotide sequence at their 5' ends that is complementary in the vector- and insert-specific primers. The (3'-->5') exonuclease activity of T4 DNA polymerase is used in combination with a predetermined dNTP (dGTP for the inserts and dCTP for the vector) to specifically remove 12 nucleotides from each 3' end of the PCR fragments. Because of the complementarity of the ends that are generated, circularization can occur between vector and insert. The recombinant molecules do not require in vitro ligation for efficient bacterial transformation. To make this technique widely applicable, we have simplified the handling of the PCR fragments prior to LIC. The PCR products do not need further purification following the T4 DNA polymerase treatment. Incubation of vector and insert PCR fragments for as little as 5 min is sufficient for a high yield of recombinants. Comparison of the transformation efficiencies using different-length LIC tails revealed that using 12-nucleotide cohesive ends produced four times more transformants than were obtained with the LIC with 10-nucleotide cohesive ends. When the LIC tails were 8 nucleotides long, no transformants were obtained. PCR fragment purification, T4 DNA polymerase treatment, and LIC is complete in < 1 hr.
Attenuation of leukocyte recruitment via CXCR1/2 inhibition stops the progression of PAH in mice with genetic ablation of endothelial BMPR-II (2011)

Previous studies from our group have demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein receptor-II (BMPR-II), expressed on pulmonary artery endothelial cells, imparts profound anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the release of proinflammatory cytokines and promoting barrier function by suppressing the transmigration of leukocytes into the pulmonary vessel wall. Here we demonstrate that, in mice with endothelial-specific loss of BMPR-II expression (L1Cre(+);Bmpr2(f/f)), reduction in barrier function and the resultant pulmonary hypertension observed in vivo are the result of increased leukocyte recruitment through increased CXCR1/2 signaling. Loss of endothelial expressed BMPR-II leads to elevated plasma levels of a wide range of soluble mediators important in regulating leukocyte migration and extravasation, including the CXCR1/2 ligand, KC. Treatment of L1Cre(+);Bmpr2(f/f) mice with the CXCR1/2 antagonist SCH527123 inhibits leukocyte transmigration into lung and subsequently reverses the pulmonary hypertension. Our data have uncovered a previously unrecognized regulatory function of BMPR-II, which acts to regulate the expression of CXCR2 on endothelial cells, suggesting that increased CXCR2 signaling may also be a feature of the human pathology and that CXCR1/2 pathway antagonists may represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating pulmonary hypertension because of defects in BMPR-II expression.
Wide-scan spherical-lens antennas for automotive radars (2002)

A new approach to wide scan-angle antennas at millimeter-wave frequencies is introduced with special focus on ease of manufacturing and reliability. The system is composed of planar feed antennas (tapered-slot antennas), which are positioned around a homogeneous spherical Teflon lens. Beam scanning can be achieved by switching between the antenna elements. The spherical-lens system is analyzed through a combined ray-optics/diffraction method. It is found that a maximum efficiency of 50%-55% can be achieved using Teflon, Rexolite, or quartz lenses. The efficiency includes taper, spillover, and reflection loss. Calculations also indicate that the maximum lens diameter is 30-40 /spl lambda//sub 0/, which results in a maximum directivity of 39.5-42 dB. Measurements done on a single-element feed and a 5-cm Teflon lens agree very well with theory and result in a 3-dB beamwidth of 5.5/spl deg/ and better than -20-dB sidelobe levels at 77 GHz. Absolute gain measurements show a system efficiency of 46%-48% (including dielectric loss). A 23- and 33-element antenna array with a scan angle of /spl plusmn/90/spl deg/ and a -3.5- and -6-dB crossover, respectively, in the far-field patterns was also demonstrated. The 23-element array resulted in virtually no gain loss over the entire 90/spl deg/ scan angle. This represents, to our knowledge, the first wide scan-angle antenna at millimeter-wave frequencies.
A Packaging Technique To Achieve Stable Single-Mode Fiber To Laser Alignment (1987)

A packaging technique that enables a low-loss optical couple between a single-mode laser diode and a single-mode optical fiber has been developed. The technique uses a miniature thin-film substrate with an onboard resistor to mount and subsequently align a lensed and metallized fiber to an emitting laser diode. The resistor serves as a local heat source to first effect the attachment of the fiber to the substrate and second to effect the attachment of the fiber-substrate assembly into aligned position with the laser. Thermal stability of optical couples made with this technique is demonstrated.
Red blood cells are dynamic reservoirs of cytokines (2018)

Red blood cells (RBCs) have been shown to affect immune function and can induce inflammatory responses after transfusion. The transfusion of washed RBCs can significantly reduce adverse effects, however, the soluble factors that may mediate these effects have not been identified. Previous studies have identified, but not quantified, a small number of chemokines associated with RBCs. We isolated RBCs from healthy volunteers and quantified of a panel of 48 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in the lysate, cytosol, and conditioned media of these cells using Luminex<sup>®</sup> technology. This analysis revealed that, after correcting for white blood cell and platelet contamination, 46 cytokines were detected in RBC lysates, and the median concentration in RBCs was 12-fold higher than in the plasma. In addition, extensive washing of RBCs, such as that performed in proteomics analyses or prior to some RBC transfusions, significantly attenuated the release of six cytokines following incubation at 37 °C. This supports the hypothesis that, alongside its gas exchange function, RBCs play a role in cytokine signalling. This discovery may help supplement disease biomarker research and may shed light on adverse inflammatory processes that can follow RBC transfusion.
In vitro assembly of infectious nucleocapsids of bacteriophage phi 6: formation of a recombinant double-stranded RNA virus. (1990)

A system is described for assembling infectious bacteriophage phi 6 nucleocapsids in vitro. Procapsids encoded by cDNA copies of genomic segment L in Escherichia coli were used to package and replicate viral RNA segments. The resulting filled particles were shown to be capable of infecting host cell spheroplasts after incubation with purified nucleocapsid shell protein P8. The infected spheroplasts yielded infectious virions. A modified cDNA-derived RNA segment was inserted into virions by this method. The resulting infectious virions contained the same 4-base-pair deletion as the modified cDNA. These findings support the contention that the preformed procapsids are the "machine" that replicates the phi 6 genome, by showing that the cDNA-derived procapsids are competent to package and replicate RNA properly.
Communicating hydrocephalus in systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. (1992)

We report a case of communicating hydrocephalus in a 24-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting with malignant hypertension, nephritis, serositis, and a seizure disorder of 16 months' duration. The patient demonstrated features of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). In proposing cerebral venous thrombosis as a possible, yet unproven, pathophysiologic mechanism for the hydrocephalus in this case we have reviewed and summarized literature relating to SLE, APS, hydrocephalus and pseudotumor cerebri. In cases of unexplained pseudotumor cerebri or hydrocephalus, a search for SLE and APS should be considered.
Gastrointestinal Colonization with a Cephalosporinase-Producing Bacteroides Species Preserves Colonization Resistance against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus and Clostridium difficile in Cephalosporin-Treated Mice (2014)

Antibiotics that are excreted into the intestinal tract may disrupt the indigenous intestinal microbiota and promote colonization by health care-associated pathogens. β-Lactam, or penicillin-type, antibiotics are among the most widely utilized antibiotics worldwide and may also adversely affect the microbiota. Many bacteria are capable, however, of producing β-lactamase enzymes that inactivate β-lactam antibiotics. We hypothesized that prior establishment of intestinal colonization with a β-lactamase-producing anaerobe might prevent these adverse effects of β-lactam antibiotics, by inactivating the portion of antibiotic that is excreted into the intestinal tract. Here, mice with a previously abolished microbiota received either oral normal saline or an oral cephalosporinase-producing strain of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron for 3 days. Mice then received 3 days of subcutaneous ceftriaxone, followed by either oral administration of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) or sacrifice and assessment of in vitro growth of epidemic and nonepidemic strains of Clostridium difficile in murine cecal contents. Stool concentrations of VRE and ceftriaxone were measured, cecal levels of C. difficile 24 h after incubation were quantified, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of microbial 16S rRNA genes was performed to evaluate the antibiotic effect on the microbiota. The results demonstrated that establishment of prior colonization with a β-lactamase-producing intestinal anaerobe inactivated intraintestinal ceftriaxone during treatment with this antibiotic, allowed recovery of the normal microbiota despite systemic ceftriaxone, and prevented overgrowth with VRE and epidemic and nonepidemic strains of C. difficile in mice. These findings describe a novel probiotic strategy to potentially prevent pathogen colonization in hospitalized patients.
Application of an Automatic Blood Cell Analyzer &ldquo;MICROX&rdquo; to the Blood of Experimental Animals (1982)

Automatic blood cell analyzer "MICROX" was examined for possible applicability to the differential count of white blood cell in the monkey and in the dog. Spun blood smear slides prepared from 42 monkeys and 60 dogs were stained with Wright's dye and totals of 4971 white blood cells of the monkey and 7189 cells of the dog were counted, respectively. The identification rate of MICROX was checked by the cell by cell counting method on a monitor TV of the instrument. Analysis of the data was made to examine correlationship between the results of MICROX and of optical microscopy on the same slides. 1) Identification rates and misclassification rates were 97.0% and 3.0% respectively in monkeys and 96.4% and 3.6% in dogs. 2) A high degree of correlation was observed between the results by MICROX and by optical microscopy in respect of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes. 3) There were an average of 15.5 cells counted as unknown cells in monkey blood and 16.5 in dog blood per 100 cells, respectively. Of the unknown cells about 40 to 50% were closely disposed leukocytes within the same counting squares and almost all of atypical lymphocytes and erythroblasts were also counted as unknown cells on the analyzer. The data support the feasibility of the use of MICROX for the differential count of white blood cells of normal monkeys and dogs.
Defects in myosin VB are associated with a spectrum of previously undiagnosed low γ‐glutamyltransferase cholestasis (2016)

MYO5B deficiency may underlie 20% of previously undiagnosed low-GGT cholestasis. MYO5B deficiency appears to impair targeting of BSEP to the canalicular membrane with hampered bile acid excretion, resulting in a spectrum of cholestasis without diarrhea. (Hepatology 2017;65:1655-1669).
Damage free dicing method for MEMS devices (2003)

A damage free dicing method for MEMS devices has been researched in this paper. The method is based on the bonding and detachment of a glass plate cap by using a thermoplastic adhesive. The sand blast technique was used for fabrication of the glass cap wafer, which has concavities with depth of 100 /spl mu/m. The thermoplastic adhesive (STAYSTIK373, Techno Alpha Co. Ltd.) was screen printed on the glass cap wafer. The glass cap wafer was thermocompression-bonded to silicon wafer at 210/spl deg/C and diced to individual chips. The glass cap plate was easily detached at 300/spl deg/C. This method prevented MEMS devices from suffering contamination by water or dicing dust during the dicing process. The method is easily applied to current mass-production processes, because the method is accomplished with inexpensive materials and well-established equipment. The process conditions and examples have been explained in the paper.
Lysophosphatidic Acid Up-Regulates Expression of Growth-Regulated Oncogene-α, Interleukin-8, and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in Human First-Trimester Trophoblasts: Possible Roles in Angiogenesis and Immune Regulation (2009)

The serum lysophospholipase D activity and production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) increase in women with pregnancy. The effects of LPA on human placenta tissue remained unclear. We investigate the expression of LPA receptors and function of LPA in human first-trimester trophoblasts. Normal villous trophoblasts were obtained from termination of first-trimester gestation. We examined the expression of LPA receptors in primary culture of trophoblasts and the tissue. The effects of LPA on the expressions of chemokines of trophoblasts were examined using RT-PCR and enzyme immunoassay. We delineate signal pathways of LPA-inducing relevant chemokines in trophoblasts. The secretory chemokines were tested for angiogenic function using human endometrial microvascular endothelial cells and for immunological chemotaxis using decidual natural killer cells and THP-1 monocytes. The results revealed the expression of LPA1 receptors in trophoblast cells. LPA enhanced growth-regulated oncogene (GRO)-alpha, IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 expressions in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic dissection disclosed that LPA functioned mainly via the LPA1 receptor, Gi protein, various signal mediators of ERK, protein kinase C, p38, Akt, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and nuclear factor-kappaB pathways to secrete these chemokines. LPA-induced IL-8 protein secretion of trophoblasts enhanced permeability, migration, proliferation, and capillary tube formation of human endometrial microvascular endothelial cells. LPA-induced GRO-alpha and MCP-1 incited chemotaxis of natural killer cells and monocytes. We demonstrate that LPA mediates trophoblast cells to produce GRO-alpha, IL-8, and MCP-1 via LPA1 receptors and nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent signal pathways. Through LPA-induced chemokine production, human first-trimester trophoblast cells may regulate angiogenesis and innate immune system in early pregnancy.
Structure-function analyses of the HTLV-I Rex and HIV-1 Rev RNA response elements: insights into the mechanism of Rex and Rev action. (1990)

The ability of the Rex protein of the type I human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I) to regulate expression of the retroviral gag and env structural genes post-transcriptionally is critically dependent on the presence of a Rex response element (RexRE). This cis-regulatory sequence is located within the retroviral 3' long terminal repeat and coincides with a predicted, highly stable RNA stem-loop structure. Rex action requires both the overall secondary structure intrinsic to the RexRE and specific sequences from one small subregion of this large structure. This small subregion likely forms a protein-binding site for Rex or a cellular RNA-binding factor. Whereas Rex can functionally replace the Rev protein of the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) through its interaction with the analogous Rev response element (RevRE), distinct subregions of this HIV-1 RNA element mediate the responses to Rex and Rev. Strikingly, Rex acts as a dominant repressor of Rev action, following the deletion of the Rex responsive subregion of the RevRE. Similarly, Rev inhibits Rex function in a dominant manner when the Rev responsive subregion of the RevRE is deleted. Together, these findings suggest that Rex and Rev not only interact with their respective RNA response elements but also may either form mixed inactive multimers or interact with a common cellular factor(s). If binding of a common host protein is involved, this factor likely plays a central role either in spliceosome assembly or nuclear RNA transport.
Characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ERG27 gene encoding the 3-keto reductase involved in C-4 sterol demethylation (1999)

The last unidentified gene encoding an enzyme involved in ergosterol biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been cloned. This gene, designated ERG27, encodes the 3-keto sterol reductase, which, in concert with the C-4 sterol methyloxidase (ERG25) and the C-3 sterol dehydrogenase (ERG26), catalyzes the sequential removal of the two methyl groups at the sterol C-4 position. We developed a strategy to isolate a mutant deficient in converting 3-keto to 3-hydroxy-sterols. An ergosterol auxotroph unable to synthesize sterol or grow without sterol supplementation was mutagenized. Colonies were then selected that were nystatin-resistant in the presence of 3-ketoergostadiene and cholesterol. A new ergosterol auxotroph unable to grow on 3-ketosterols without the addition of cholesterol was isolated. The gene (YLR100w) was identified by complementation. Segregants containing the YLR100w disruption failed to grow on various types of 3-keto sterol substrates. Surprisingly, when erg27 was grown on cholesterol- or ergosterol-supplemented media, the endogenous compounds that accumulated were noncyclic sterol intermediates (squalene, squalene epoxide, and squalene dioxide), and there was little or no accumulation of lanosterol or 3-ketosterols. Feeding experiments in which erg27 strains were supplemented with lanosterol (an upstream intermediate of the C-4 demethylation process) and cholesterol (an end-product sterol) demonstrated accumulation of four types of 3-keto sterols identified by GC/MS and chromatographic properties: 4-methyl-zymosterone, zymosterone, 4-methyl-fecosterone, and ergosta-7,24 (28)-dien-3-one. In addition, a fifth intermediate was isolated and identified by (1)H NMR as a 4-methyl-24, 25-epoxy-cholesta-7-en-3-one. Implications of these results are discussed.