gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Encapsulated liquid sorbents for carbon dioxide capture (2015)

Drawbacks of current carbon dioxide capture methods include corrosivity, evaporative losses and fouling. Separating the capture solvent from infrastructure and effluent gases via microencapsulation provides possible solutions to these issues. Here we report carbon capture materials that may enable low-cost and energy-efficient capture of carbon dioxide from flue gas. Polymer microcapsules composed of liquid carbonate cores and highly permeable silicone shells are produced by microfluidic assembly. This motif couples the capacity and selectivity of liquid sorbents with high surface area to facilitate rapid and controlled carbon dioxide uptake and release over repeated cycles. While mass transport across the capsule shell is slightly lower relative to neat liquid sorbents, the surface area enhancement gained via encapsulation provides an order-of-magnitude increase in carbon dioxide absorption rates for a given sorbent mass. The microcapsules are stable under typical industrial operating conditions and may be used in supported packing and fluidized beds for large-scale carbon capture.
Measurements and modeling of PS/supercritical CO2 solution viscosities (1999)

Abstract This paper presents a technology to determine the melt viscosity of a PS/super‐critical CO 2 solution using a linear capillary tube die mounted on a foaming extruder. CO 2 was injected into the extrusion barrel and the content of CO 2 was varied in the range of O to 4 wt% using a positive displacement pump. Single‐phase PS/CO 2 solutions were formed using a microcellular extrusion system and phase separation was prevented by maintaining a high pressure in the capillary tube die. By measuring the pressure drop through the die, the viscosity of PS/CO 2 solutions was determined. The experimental results indicate that the PS/CO 2 solution viscosity is a senstive function of shear rate, temperature, pressure, and CO 2 content. A theoretical model based on the generalized Cross‐Carreau model was proposed to describe the shear‐thinning behavior of PS/CO 2 solutions at various shear rates. The zero‐shear viscosity was modeled using a generalized Arrhenius equation to accommo‐date the effects of temperature, pressure, and CO 2 content. Finally, the solubility of CO 2 has been estimated by monitoring the pressure drop and the absolute pressure in the capillary die.
Synthesis of Sterically-Stabilized Latexes Using Well-Defined Poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) Macromonomers (2010)

A range of well-defined methacrylic macromonomers based on glycerol monomethacrylate (GMA) has been synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in alcoholic media using an N-(dimethylamino)ethyl-2-bromoisobutyrylamide initiator. This tertiary amine-functionalized initiator was used to produce six homopolymer precursors with target degrees of polymerization of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 via ATRP. These polymerizations proceeded to very high conversions (>95%) and afforded relatively low polydispersities (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.33). The tertiary amine end groups were then quaternized using 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (4-VBC) to afford the corresponding near-monodisperse styrene-functionalized PGMA macromonomers. These PGMA macromonomers were evaluated as reactive steric stabilizers for latex syntheses. Near-monodisperse submicrometer-sized and micrometer-sized polystyrene latexes were obtained by aqueous emulsion and alcoholic dispersion polymerization, respectively, as judged by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering studies. Attempted latex syntheses conducted in the absence of any macromonomer invariably resulted in macroscopic precipitation under dispersion polymerization conditions, with no evidence of latex formation. Higher molecular weight macromonomers (DP = 40 or 50) generally gave smaller, more monodisperse particles compared with the lower molecular weight macromonomers (DP = 20 or 30). Latex syntheses conducted in the presence of the PGMA50 homopolymer precursor produced particles with significantly larger diameters than those prepared with the corresponding styrene-functionalized PGMA50 macromonomer. Such control experiments confirmed the importance of having terminal styrene groups on the macromonomer chains for successful latex formation. FT-IR spectroscopy indicated the presence of the PGMA50 macromonomer within the polystyrene latex and XPS studies indicated that these stabilizer chains are located at (or very near) the latex surface, as expected. Finally, approximately micrometer-sized latexes can be produced by aqueous dispersion polymerization of 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate in the presence of the PGMA50 macromonomer.
Stability of Aqueous α‐Al 2 O 3 Suspensions with Poly(methacrylic acid) Polyelectrolyte (1988)

Stability of aqueous α‐Al 2 O 3 suspensions with Na + salt of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA‐Na) polyelectrolyte was studied as a function of pH. At a given pH, the transition from the flocculated to the dispersed state corresponded to the adsorption saturation limit of the powders by the PMAA. As the pH was decreased, the adsorption saturation limit increased until insolubility and charge neutralization of the PMAA was approached. The critical amount of PMAA required to achieve stability is outlined in a stability map.
The Vaccine Adjuvant Monophosphoryl Lipid A as a TRIF-Biased Agonist of TLR4 (2007)

The inflammatory toxicity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of bacterial cell walls, is driven by the adaptor proteins myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and Toll-interleukin 1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-beta (TRIF), which together mediate signaling by the endotoxin receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) is a low-toxicity derivative of LPS with useful immunostimulatory properties, which is nearing regulatory approval for use as a human vaccine adjuvant. We report here that, in mice, the low toxicity of MPLA's adjuvant function is associated with a bias toward TRIF signaling, which we suggest is likely caused by the active suppression, rather than passive loss, of proinflammatory activity of this LPS derivative. This finding may have important implications for the development of future vaccine adjuvants.
A causal probabilistic network for optimal treatment of bacterial infections (2000)

The fatality rate associated with severe bacterial infections is about 30 percent and appropriate antibiotic treatment reduces it by half. Unfortunately, about a third of antibiotic treatments prescribed by physicians are inappropriate. We have built a causal probabilistic network (CPN) for treatment of severe bacterial infections. The net is based on modules, each module representing a site of infection. The general configuration of a module is as follows: Major distribution factors define groups of patients, each of them with a definite prevalence of infection caused by a given pathogen. Minor distribution factors multiply the likelihood of one pathogen, without changing much of the prevalence of infection. Infection caused by a pathogen causes local and generalized signs and symptoms. Antibiotic treatment is appropriate if it matches the susceptibility of the pathogens in vitro and appropriate treatment is associated with a gain in life expectancy. This is balanced against the cost of the drug, side effects, and ecological damage, to reach the most cost effective treatment. The net was constructed in such a way that the data for the conditional probability tables will be available, even if it meant sometimes giving up on fine modeling details. For data, we used large databases collected in the last 10 years (1990-2000) and data from the literature. The CPN was a convenient way to combine data from databases collected at different locations and times with published information. Although the net is based on detailed and large databases, its calibration to new sites requires data that is available in most modern hospitals.
Learning by transduction (1998)

We describe a method for predicting a classification of an object given classifications of the objects in the training set, assuming that the pairs object /classification are generated by an i.i.d. process from a continuous probability distribution. Our method is a modification of Vapnik&amp;apos;s support-vector machine; its main novelty is that it gives not only the prediction itself but also a practicable measure of the evidence found in support of that prediction. We also describe a procedure for assigning degrees of confidence to predictions made by the support vector machine. Some experimental results are presented, and possible extensions of the algorithms are discussed. 1 THE PROBLEM Suppose labeled points (x i ; y i ) (i = 1; 2; : : :), where x i 2 IR n (our objects are specified by n real-valued attributes) and y i 2 f\\Gamma1; 1g, are generated independently from an unknown (but the same for all points) probability distribution. We are given l points x i , i = 1; : : : ; l, toge...
Viral, host and interferon-related factors modulating the effect of interferon therapy for hepatitis C virus infection (2001)

The estimated prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the US is approximately 1.8%. Although interferon monotherapy and combination therapy of interferon with ribavirin represent mainstay for treating HCV infection, the rate of sustained virologic response remains suboptimal. The growing evidence suggested that the clinical sequence and treatment response of chronic hepatitis C are determined by a dynamic, complex tripartite relationship among HCV infection, the host immune response, and the effect of different interferon regimens. The treatment response is associated with various viral factors including the pretreatment viral level, dynamic change of viral level during treatment, viral genotype quasispecies and nucleotide mutation in nonstructural protein 5A of hepatitis C virus. Host factors that may affect treatment response include age, gender, race, HLA alleles and the host immune responses. Interferon regimens, including type, dose, frequency and duration of treatment and combination of interferon with other anti-HCV agents also alter the therapeutic response. Understanding these complicated interaction may provide better insights into the mechanism(s) of interferon response, leading to more effective clinical application of interferon therapy.
Natural killer cell cytolytic activity is inhibited by NKG2-A and activated by NKG2-C (1997)

NKG2 is a small family of type II transmembrane proteins possessing extracellular C-type lectin domains expressed primarily on NK cells. The function of these proteins is unknown. We have developed mAbs that recognize NKG2 family members on Western blots. Examination of cell extracts from NK cell clones demonstrates that individual NKG2 family members are expressed on subsets of NK cells. Because the anti-NKG2 mAb do not react with the cell surface Ag, signaling function was studied by generating cell lines that express a chimeric receptor consisting of a cytoplasmic and transmembrane domain from NKG2-A or NKG2-C fused to the extracellular segment of mouse NKR-P1C (NK1.1 Ag). Transfectants of the rat NK cell line, RNK-16, were tested for the effect of anti-NK1.1 mAb on cytolytic activity against the FcR+ target cell lines, P388D1 and P815. The anti-NK1.1 mAb stimulated lytic activity and calcium mobilization in the NK cell line expressing the NKG2-C/NKR-P1C chimeric receptor. By contrast, anti-NK1.1 inhibited the lytic activity and failed to stimulate a calcium response in cells expressing the NKG2-A/NKR-P1C chimeric receptor. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the inhibitory cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 selectively associates with the NKG2-A/NKR-P1C chimeric receptor, but not with the stimulatory NKG2-C/NKR-P1C receptor. These data indicate that NKG2-A and NKG2-C deliver, respectively, inhibitory and activating transmembrane signals in NK cells.
Requirement of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor–Associated Factor (Traf)6 in Interleukin 17 Signal Transduction (2000)

Signaling through its widely distributed cell surface receptor, interleukin (IL)-17 enhances the transcription of genes encoding proinflammatory molecules. Although it has been well documented that IL-17 activates the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), the upstream signaling events are largely unknown. Here we report the requirement of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)6 in IL-17-induced NF-kappaB and JNK activation. In embryonic fibroblasts (EFs) derived from TRAF6 knockout mice, IL-17 failed to activate the IkappaB kinases (IKKs) and JNK. Consequently, IL-17-induced IL-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression in the TRAF6-deficient cells was abolished. Lack of TRAF6 appeared to be the sole defect responsible for the observed failure to respond to IL-17, because transient transfection of TRAF6 expression plasmid into the TRAF6-deficient cells restored IL-17-induced NF-kappaB activation in a luciferase reporter assay. Furthermore, the levels of IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) on the TRAF6-deficient EFs were comparable to those on the wild-type control cells. Defect in IL-17 response was not observed in TRAF2-deficient EFs. Moreover, when TRAF6 and IL-17R were coexpressed in 293 cells, TRAF6 coimmunoprecipitated with IL-17R. Together, these results indicate that TRAF6, but not TRAF2, is a crucial component in the IL-17 signaling pathway leading to proinflammatory responses.
Percutaneous Treatment of Mitral Regurgitation (2009)

ercutaneous mitral valve therapy became a reality more than 25 years ago with the first description of balloon valvuloplasty for rheumatic mitral stenosis. 1 More recently, percutaneous closure of paravalvular leaks after surgical valve implantation has been shown to have a potential, but limited, role. 2-4 However, valvular mitral regurgitation (MR) remains largely the purview of surgery. Recently, the potential for less invasively replicating these successful surgical procedures without the need for thoracotomy or cardiopulmonary bypass has generated considerable interest. For the most part, these new approaches are modeled after established surgical strategies.
Chemotactic response to human C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins. I. Evaluation of C3a and C5a leukotaxis in vitro and under stimulated in vivo conditions. (1978)

Human C5a was maximally active over a narrow concentration range of 2 to 6 × 10-7 M as estimated in rabbits by utilizing a skin window assay technique (Otani and Hugli, 1977). Human C5ades Arg also stimulated neutrophil accumulation under simulated in vivo conditions but at a slightly higher concentration range of 0.2 to 1.2 × 10-6 M. The C5ades Arg did not require added serum to produce an apparent leukotactic response in vivo, but, as in vitro, activity was not observed at levels above or below the effective concentration ranges indicated for C5a and C5ades Arg C3a was inactive over a concentration range of 5.5 × 10-9 to 5.5 × 10-6 M as an attractant for rabbit neutrophils in the skin window assay. The concentrations of C5a or C5ades Arg that are required to induce chemotaxis under simulated in vivo conditions correspond to the potential serum levels of these factors (e.g., 4 to 5 × 10-7 M). It is suggested from our quantitative measurements that the predominant chemotactic activity generated in human serum during C activation is associated with the C5ades Arg molecule. Therefore, C5ades Arg exhibits the potential for playing a predominant functional role under physiologic conditions as a major humoral chemotactic factor.
Human Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease Is Processive, (1999)

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (AP endo) is believed to play a critical role in repair of oxidative damage of DNA and is proposed to initiate repair of most abasic sites in the base excision repair pathway. AP endo makes a single nick 5' to an abasic site in double-stranded DNA. In this study, we investigated whether AP endo locates an abasic site through a processive or a distributive mechanism. We used a linear multi-abasic site substrate (concatemer), synthesized by ligating together identical 25-nucleotide monomeric units (25-mers). We first determined that the 25-mer monomer from which the concatemers were prepared was nicked by AP endo in a fashion similar to that of the previously published 49-mer substrate with a different sequence. Steady state parameters K(m) and k(cat) and single-turnover parameters for substrate binding were comparable to previously published values. Using the multi-abasic site concatemer, we demonstrated that AP endo was capable of cleaving approximately seven to eight abasic sites, traveling at least 200 nucleotides, before dissociating from its substrate. Thus, AP endo, like uracil DNA glycosylase, behaves in a quasi processive fashion. Processivity could be separated from catalysis, since processivity was maximal at 25 mM NaCl, while the rate of cleavage was maximal at 125 mM salt. In short, nicking activity was maximized close to physiological salt molarities while processivity was midrange at physiological salt concentrations. The latter is likely to be subject to tight regulation by small changes in ionic strength.
How much training is needed in multiple-antenna wireless links? (2003)

Multiple-antenna wireless communication links promise very high data rates with low error probabilities, especially when the wireless channel response is known at the receiver. In practice, knowledge of the channel is often obtained by sending known training symbols to the receiver. We show how training affects the capacity of a fading channel-too little training and the channel is improperly learned, too much training and there is no time left for data transmission before the channel changes. We compute a lower bound on the capacity of a channel that is learned by training, and maximize the bound as a function of the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), fading coherence time, and number of transmitter antennas. When the training and data powers are allowed to vary, we show that the optimal number of training symbols is equal to the number of transmit antennas-this number is also the smallest training interval length that guarantees meaningful estimates of the channel matrix. When the training and data powers are instead required to be equal, the optimal number of symbols may be larger than the number of antennas. We show that training-based schemes can be optimal at high SNR, but suboptimal at low SNR.
An overview of dielectric properties measuring techniques (2005)

Venkatesh, M.S. and Raghavan, G.S.V. 2005. An overview of dielectric properties measuring techniques. Canadian Biosystems Engineering/Le genie des biosystemes au Canada 47: 7.15 7.30. With a need for the development of improved sensing devices for the control and automation of several agricultural, environmental, and food processes, there is an absolute need for better understanding of the dielectric properties of materials and techniques for measuring these properties. Microwave measurements and the dielectric properties of materials are finding increasing application as new electro-technology is adapted for use in the agriculture and food processing industries. The interest in dielectric properties of materials has historically been associated with the design of electrical equipment, where various dielectrics are used for insulating conductors and other components of electric equipment. Measurement of the bulk dielectric properties (dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor) is not an end unto itself. Rather, these properties are an intermediary vehicle for understanding, explaining, and empirically relating certain physico-chemical properties of the test material. Therefore, in this paper, an attempt is made to fully explore the existing knowledge of dielectric properties (complex permittivity), their role, and importance in the agri-food sector, and the concept of various measurement methodologies and their development. We have summarized the current status of research in this area with some notes on recent developments. An extensive review of the literature on measuring techniques and the comparison and potential application of dielectric properties is reported. Readers are advised to follow the appropriate literature cited for detailed and complete reference.
Amphotropic retrovirus vector system for human cell gene transfer. (1984)

Retroviral vectors have been constructed for gene transfer in mammalian and avian cells, however most retroviral vector systems are complicated by the spread of a replication-competent helper virus. This problem has been circumvented by segregating the viral genome into cis- and trans-acting components. By establishing helper cell lines that produce the trans-acting viral gene products, one can propagate the cis-acting component in them and harvest defective viral particles that contain only the cis-acting component. The cis-acting component can provide a useful vehicle for the highly efficient transfer of genes into target cells. The defective vector systems described to date, however, are restricted in host range to murine, avian, rat, and dog cells. We describe a helper-free vector system based entirely on an amphotropic murine virus with a wide mammalian host range, including the ability to carry out efficient gene transfer into human cells. We also describe a double mutation constructed in the trans-acting genome which reduces the frequency of replication-competent recombinant viruses to undetectable levels.
Rapid induction of remission in large vessel vasculitis by IL-6 blockade (2011)

Collectively the data suggest that IL-6 blockade using tocilizumab qualifies as a therapeutic option to induce rapid remission in large vessel vasculitides.
Human High Density Lipoproteins Are Platforms for the Assembly of Multi-component Innate Immune Complexes (2005)

Human innate immunity to non-pathogenic species of African trypanosomes is provided by human high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Here we show that native human HDLs containing haptoglobin-related protein (Hpr), apolipoprotein L-I (apoL-I) and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) are the principle antimicrobial molecules providing protection from trypanosome infection. Other HDL subclasses containing either apoA-I and apoL-I or apoA-I and Hpr have reduced trypanolytic activity, whereas HDL subclasses lacking apoL-I and Hpr are non-toxic to trypanosomes. Highly purified, lipid-free Hpr and apoL-I were both toxic to Trypanosoma brucei brucei but with specific activities at least 500-fold less than those of native HDLs, suggesting that association of these apolipoproteins within the HDL particle was necessary for optimal cytotoxicity. These studies show that HDLs can serve as platforms for the assembly of multiple synergistic proteins and that these assemblies may play a critical role in the evolution of primate-specific innate immunity to trypanosome infection.