gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Sarcopenia: A Major Challenge in Elderly Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (2012)

Sarcopenia is a condition of multifaceted etiology arising in many elderly people. In patients with chronic kidney, the loss of muscle mass is much more intensive and the first signs of sarcopenia are observed in younger patients than it is expected. It is associated with the whole-body protein-energy deficiency called protein-energy wasting (PEW). It seems to be one of the major factors limiting patient's autonomy as well as decreasing the quality of life. If it cannot be treated with the simple methods requiring some knowledge and devotion, we will fail to save patients who die due to cardiovascular disease and infection, despite proper conduction of renal replacement therapy. Many factors influencing the risk of sarcopenia development have been evaluated in number of studies. Many studies also were conducted to assess the efficacy of different therapeutic strategies (diet, physical activity, hormones). Nevertheless, there is still no consensus on treatment the patients with PEW. Therefore, in the paper we present the reasons and pathophysiology of sarcopenia as an important element of protein energy wasting (PEW) in elderly patients suffering from chronic kidney disease. We also analyze possible options for treatment according to up-to-date knowledge.
Digital image/video library and MPEG-7: standardization and research issues (2002)

Much research activity and interest has emerged in two closely related areas: the digital image/video library (DIVL) and MPEG-7. We review the critical research issues in DIVL from a signal processing viewpoint, the objectives and scope of MPEG-7, and the relationships between these two.
Lens-Sparing Vitreoretinal Surgery in Infants (1992)

Lensectomy is routinely performed in infant eyes undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. Using a two-port system, we performed pars plicata vitrectomy and membrane peeling without removal of the crystalline lens. Surgical manipulations were done in the postequatorial region in eyes with areas of attached peripheral retina. Eight of 10 eyes showed no evidence of postoperative cataract formation. In no instance was a peripheral retinal break created. In selected cases, vitreoretinal surgery can be performed in infant eyes without the need for lens removal.
CNS immunological modulation of neural graft rejection and survival (1996)

Neural transplantation therapy as a possible alternative treatment for neurological movement disorders, such as in Parkinson's disease (PD), has accentuated research interest on the immune status of the central nervous system (CNS). Most animal studies concerned with neural transplantation for the treatment of PD have utilized dopamine (DA) neurons from tissues of the embryonic ventral mesencephalon. Rat embryonic DA neurons, grafted either as solid blocks or dissociated into a cell suspension and stereotaxically injected intraparenchymally into a rat lesion model of PD, have been shown to survive and form connections with the host brain, and ameliorate the behavioral deficits of PD. Similarly, studies on nonhuman primate models of PD provide considerable support for neural transplantation of DA neurons as an experimental clinical procedure for the treatment of PD. To this end, experimental clinical trials have been centered upon transplantation of the embryonic ventral mesencephalic cells for PD patients. Although not conclusive, the findings from clinical studies have provided some evidence that most patients with marked increases in fluorodopa uptake (indicating graft survival) have been immunosuppressed. Furthermore, immune reactions have been observed in rats xenografted with human embryonic tissue. Of note, embryonic ventral mesencephalic tissues compared to adult tissues produce better morphological and long-lasting behavioral amelioration of the neurobehavioral deficits of PD, thus advocating the use of grafts from young donors (embryo) to circumvent the CNS immune rejection. The possible graft rejection due to CNS immune reactions, coupled with the social and ethical problems surrounding the use of embryonic neural tissue, and the logistical problems concerning tissue availability have prompted the development of alternative sources of DA-secreting cells. To circumvent these obstacles, several methods have been suggested including the use of immunosuppressants such as Cyclosporine-A, transplantation of autografts, polymer-encapsulated DA-secreting cells, co-culturing and co-transplantation of DA-secreting cells with microcarrier beads, with Sertoli cells, or with fragments of a monoclonal antibody that can mask the MHC class I antigens, and genetically modifying cells that can withstand CNS immune reactions. Some of these techniques allow transplantation of allograft (same species transplantation), or even xenograft (cross species transplantation) without immunosuppression of the recipient. We discuss recent CNS immunosuppression techniques that pose some promise for enhanced survival of neural grafts. When possible, advantages and disadvantages of each method are presented. Hopefully, such critical analysis of different immunosuppression techniques will produce innovated ideas that will lead to a better understanding of CNS immune response and its modulatory function on graft rejection and survival.
von Willebrand factor–cleaving protease ADAMTS13 reduces ischemic brain injury in experimental stroke (2009)

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. The only therapy available is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, but side effects limit its use. Platelets play a crucial role during stroke, and the inflammatory reaction promotes neurodegeneration. von Willebrand factor (VWF), an adhesion molecule for platelets, is elevated in patients with acute stroke. The activity of VWF is modulated by ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I repeats-13) that cleaves VWF to smaller less-active forms. We recently documented that ADAMTS13 negatively regulates both thrombosis and inflammation. We report that deficiency or reduction of VWF reduces infarct volume up to 2-fold after focal cerebral ischemia in mice, thus showing the importance of VWF in stroke injury. In contrast, ADAMTS13 deficiency results in larger infarctions, but only in mice that have VWF. Importantly, infusion of a high dose of recombinant human ADAMTS13 into a wild-type mouse immediately before reperfusion reduces infarct volume and improves functional outcome without producing cerebral hemorrhage. Furthermore, recombinant ADAMTS13 did not enhance bleeding in a hemorrhagic stroke model. Our findings show the importance of VWF in regulating infarction and suggest that recombinant ADAMTS13 could be considered as a new therapeutic agent for prevention and/or treatment of stroke.
p53, p21, pRB, and p16 Expression Predict Clinical Outcome in Cystectomy With Bladder Cancer (2004)

Although altered expression of each of the four cell cycle regulators is associated with bladder cancer outcome in patients undergoing radical cystectomy, p53 is the strongest predictor, followed by p21, suggesting a more pivotal role of the p53/p21 pathway in bladder cancer progression.
Fatty acid production in genetically modified cyanobacteria (2011)

To avoid costly biomass recovery in photosynthetic microbial biofuel production, we genetically modified cyanobacteria to produce and secrete fatty acids. Starting with introducing an acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase gene, we made six successive generations of genetic modifications of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 wild type (SD100). The fatty acid secretion yield was increased to 197 ± 14 mg/L of culture in one improved strain at a cell density of 1.0 × 10(9) cells/mL by adding codon-optimized thioesterase genes and weakening polar cell wall layers. Although these strains exhibited damaged cell membranes at low cell densities, they grew more rapidly at high cell densities in late exponential and stationary phase and exhibited less cell damage than cells in wild-type cultures. Our results suggest that fatty acid secreting cyanobacteria are a promising technology for renewable biofuel production.
Clinical role of urinary low molecular weight proteins: Their diagnostic and prognostic implications (2008)

In traditional urinalysis, casts in the urinary sediment are the only specific signs of renal tubular injury. When tubulo-interstitial fibrosis became the most predictive sign of renal outcome, tubular enzymes derived from proximal tubular brush border or lysosomes were used as early markers of nephrotoxicity and other tubular dysfunctions. More recently, the increase in low molecular weight proteins in urine, assumed to be freely filtered, was reported to reflect tubular dysfunction. This can have pre-renal, renal and post-renal causes. Among the pre-renal causes, Bence Jones protein (immunoglobulin light chains), myoglobin and haemoglobin are signs of extra-renal diseases. On the other hand, beta(2)-microglobulin, alpha(1)-microglobulin, retinol binding protein and lysozyme were recommended as tubular markers. Because of its lower pre-renal variability and higher stability in urine during storage in the bladder and urinary vessel, alpha(1)-microglobulin proved to be the most valuable in early detection, renal outcome prediction and easy inclusion in routine analytical programmes. In addition, other markers of intra-renal inflammatory processes may help to mirror histological changes occurring in the kidney. Future guidelines should therefore include low molecular protein as a tubular marker.
De novo DNA cytosine methyltransferase activities in mouse embryonic stem cells (1996)

It has been a controversial issue as to how many DNA cytosine methyltransferase mammalian cells have and whether de novo methylation and maintenance methylation activities are encoded by a single gene or two different genes. To address these questions, we have generated a null mutation of the only known mammalian DNA methyltransferase gene through homologous recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells and found that the development of the homozygous embryos is arrested prior to the 8-somite stage. Surprisingly, the null mutant embryonic stem cells are viable and contain low but stable levels of methyl cytosine and methyltransferase activity, suggesting the existence of a second DNA methyltransferase in mammalian cells. Further studies indicate that de novo methylation activity is not impaired by the mutation as integrated provirus DNA in MoMuLV-infected homozygous embryonic stem cells become methylated at a similar rate as in wild-type cells. Differentiation of mutant cells results in further reduction of methyl cytosine levels, consistent with the de novo methylation activity being down regulated in differentiated cells. These results provide the first evidence that an independently encoded DNA methyltransferase is present in mammalian cells which is capable of de novo methylating cellular and viral DNA in vivo.
Hardware Accelerator Design for Machine Learning (2018)

Machine learning is widely used in many modern artificial intelligence applications. Various hardware platforms are implemented to support such applications. Among them, graphics processing unit (GPU) is the most widely used one due to its fast computation speed and compatibility with various algorithms. Field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) show better energy efficiency compared with GPU when computing machine learning algorithm at the cost of low speed. Finally, various application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) architecture is proposed to achieve the best energy efficiency at the cost of less reconfigurability which makes it suitable for special kinds of machine learning algorithms such as a deep convolutional neural network. Finally, analog computing shows a promising methodology to compute large-sized machine learning algorithm due to its low design cost and fast computing speed; however, due to the requirement of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in the analog computing, this kind of technique is only applicable to low computation resolution, making it unsuitable for most artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
THE EFFECT OF SPECIFIC COMPRESSION ON SOFT-TISSUE RESPONSE TO FORMALINIZED POLYVINYL ALCOHOL (IVALON) SPONGE (1960)

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Transplantation Bulletin: August 1960 - Volume 26 - Issue 2 - p 249
Strength and Endurance Characteristics of the Normal Human Genioglossus (1993)

Since activity of the genioglossus muscle plays a primary role in maintaining upper airway patency during sleep, its strength and endurance characteristics are of potential importance. The purpose of this study was 2-fold. First, to define the strength and endurance characteristics of the normal human genioglossus. Second, we hypothesized that because the genioglossus has a high proportion of fast glycolytic muscle fibers, brief periods of increased activity would make it more susceptible to fatigue. In five normal male subjects strength of the tongue was evaluated by measuring maximal anterior force using a transducer (Fmax). In each subject tongue endurance was then tested at 100%, 80%, and 50% Fmax. To test the effect of a short-term increase in genioglossal activity on its endurance, an inspiratory flow-resistive load with mild hypercapnia was presented to the upper airway for 10 min, after which genioglossal endurance at 80% Fmax was repeated. On a separate day the effect of inspiratory loading plus hypercapnia on thoracic inspiratory muscle endurance was also tested. Our results showed that mean Fmax was 1,267 +/- 125 (SEM) g. Endurance time (Tlim) decreased progressively during 50%, 80% and 100% Fmax trials. Short-term activation of the genioglossus caused a reduction in Tlim at 80% Fmax to 51.4 +/- 4.8% of its value before loading (p < 0.05). Tlim for the inspiratory muscles, however, was unaffected. We conclude that, like other skeletal muscles, genioglossal endurance is reduced as the force of contraction increases. In addition, genioglossal endurance is significantly reduced by short-term activation insufficient to fatigue the thoracic inspiratory muscles.
Interrogation of Multimeric DNA Amplification Products by Competitive Primer Extension Using Bst DNA Polymerase (Large Fragment) (2001)

Linear dsDNA composed of tandem repeats may be exponentially amplified by the strongly strand-displacing Bst DNA polymerase (large fragment) and two primers specific for opposite strands. When the repetitive DNA is derivedfrom rolling circle replication of a circular template, the reaction is termed cascade rolling circle amplification (CRCA). We have developed a variant of CRCA in which one primer is attached to the surface of a microwell and the other is labeled, thus enabling detection of amplified material using an ELISA-like protocol. The circular template is derived by annealing and ligation of a padlock on target DNA. It was found that there was good correlation between the synthesis of amplified material and signal. The specificity of the reaction with respect to single-nucleotide polymorphisms was investigated, and it was found that Bst DNA polymerase is prone to extension from primers with mismatched 3' ends. Reliable single nucleotide specificity was only obtained when pre-synthesized amplified material was interrogated by competitive primer extension.
Biomimetic Coatings vs. Collagen Sponges as a Carrier for BMP-2: A Comparison of the Osteogenic Responses Triggered In Vivo Using an Ectopic Rat Model (2003)

We have developed a new carrier system for bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). This agent has been successfully incorporated into biomimetic calcium phosphate implant coatings without losing its osteoinductive potency. Numerous materials have been tested for their efficiency in carrying BMP-2 and in promoting its osteoinductive effects at both ectopic and orthotopic sites. In the present study, we compare the osteoinductive effects of BMP-2 delivered by biomimetic coatings and by classical collagen sponges in vivo using an ectopic rat model. Titanium-alloy discs, either bearing a co-precipitated layer of calcium phosphate and BMP-2 (1.7 μg/disc) or inserted into collagen sponges impregnated with the same drug (10 μg/sponge), were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region of rats and the bone-formation process monitored after 2 and 5 weeks. After 2 weeks, the net volume of bone formed in the biomimetic coating group (5.8 mm3/disc) was greater (p &lt; 0.01) than in the collagen sponge one (2.3 mm3/sponge). By the end of the fifth week, the net volume of bone deposited had increased significantly (p &lt; 0.001) in the biomimetic coating group (11.6 mm3/disc), whereas in the collagen sponge one it remained unchanged. (3.0 mm3/sponge; p = 0.82). As a carrier for BMP-2 and in facilitating its osteogenic effects, biomimetic calcium phosphate coatings offer a distinct advantage over the classical collagen sponge.
NRF2 and glutathione are key resistance mediators to temozolomide in glioma and melanoma cells (2016)

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and while great advances have been made particularly in chemotherapy, many types of cancer still present a dismal prognosis. In the case of glioma, temozolomide (TMZ) is the main option for treatment, but it has limited success due to drug resistance. While this resistance is usually associated to DNA repair mechanisms, in this work we demonstrate that oxidative stress plays an important role. We showed that upon TMZ treatment there is an induction of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which is the main antioxidant transcription factor regulator in human cells. This is accompanied by an enhancement of glutathione (GSH) concentration in the tumor cells. The effectiveness of this pathway was proven by silencing NFR2, which greatly enhanced cell death upon TMZ treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Also, higher DNA damage and induced cell death was observed by combining BSO - a GSH inhibitor - with TMZ. Similar effects were also observed using in vitro and in vivo models of melanoma, thus possibly indicating that GSH has a decisive role in TMZ resistance in a wider range of tumors. Thus, a combined regimen of BSO and TMZ configures an interesting therapeutic alternative for fighting both glioma and melanoma.
Salmonella typhimurium aroA- infection in gene-targeted immunodeficient mice: major role of CD4+ TCR-αβ cells and IFN-γ in bacterial clearance independent of intracellular location (1996)

Due to the dependency on aromatic precursors, the growth of Salmonella typhimurium aroA- is limited in immunocompetent mice. Here we show that H-21-A beta-/- mice (lacking MHC class II molecules and thus devoid of mature CD4+ TCR-alpha beta cells), TCR-beta-/- mice (devoid of TCR-alpha beta cells), and IFN-gamma R-/- mice (unresponsive to IFN-gamma) are highly susceptible to S. typhimurium aroA- infection compared with heterozygous controls. In contrast, beta 2m-deficient mice (lacking surface MHC class I and thus devoid of conventional CD8+ T cells) or TCR-delta-/- mice (devoid of TCR-gamma delta cells) were equally as resistant to S. typhimurium aroA- infection as their heterozygous littermates. These findings emphasize the vital role of CD4+ TCR-alpha beta cells and IFN-gamma in resistance against S. typhimurium aroA-. Sublethal inocula of S. typhimurium aroA- led to permanent infection in H-21-A beta-/- mice, suggesting that bacterial starvation is insufficient for sterile clearance in immunocompetent mice and that MHC class II-dependent immune mechanisms are required for pathogen eradication. The TCR-beta-/- mice suffered from salmonellosis more severely than the MHC class II-deficient mutants, suggesting an auxiliary function of CD8+ T cells. Recombinant S. typhimurium aroA-, secreting listeriolysin (Hly) of Listeria monocytogenes, are capable of escaping from the phagosome into the cytosol of the host cell. However, the course of infection of these recombinant S. typhimurium SL7207 Hlys and control strains did not differ in beta 2m-/- mutants. This finding argues against direct correlation of cytosolic location of S. typhimurium SL7207 Hlys with CD8+ T cell dependency of protection.
DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERIZATION IN A PRACTICAL MOMENT PROBLEM (2004)

Abstract. We investigate a problem connected with the evaluation of the asymp-totic probability distribution function (APDFs) given from a set of nite order moments by applying the Gram-Schmidt process with the aid of computer algebra. By selecting weighting (discrete or continuous) function of similar shape to desired (APDFs), orthogonal polynomial series are obtained that are stable at high order and allow accurate approximation of tail probabilities. 1.
Dual Calcium-Channel Blocker Therapy in the Treatment of Hypertension (1996)

Controlled data evaluating dual CCB therapy for the treatment of hypertension are lacking. This treatment modality may be beneficial in the future, but requires further investigation to determine safety and efficacy.
Synthesis of Proteins and Glycoproteins in Dengue Type 2 Virus-infected Vero and Aedes albopictus Cells (1985)

Fifteen proteins were detected in Vero cells infected by dengue type 2 (DEN-2) virus that were not observed in mock-infected cells, namely P98, p82, P67, GP60, gp54, GP46, p30, p28, gp22, GP20, p18, gp16, p15, p14 and gp13. With the exceptions of gp54 and gp13, polypeptides corresponding to those listed above were also observed in DEN-2 virus-infected Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells. Pulse-chase labelling experiments suggested a possible precursor-product relationship between p30 and p28, and between gp22 and GP20. Peptide mapping and immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the major glycoproteins GP60, GP46 and GP20 were unrelated. Immunoprecipitations of infected cells with antiserum prepared against the DEN-2 soluble complement-fixing (SCF) antigen demonstrated that this antigen is equivalent to the non-structural glycoprotein GP46. The envelope glycoprotein (E) from virus grown in C6/36 cells migrated faster through polyacrylamide gels containing SDS than E from virus grown in Vero cells. [3H]Mannose-labelled glycopeptides of GP60, GP46 and GP20 were separated by gel filtration and by electrophoresis in Tris-borate gels; in addition, the polypeptides synthesized in infected cells in the presence of tunicamycin were analysed. The results revealed heterogeneity among the glycan units of GP60 and GP46.