gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Novel synthetic amino acid copolymers that inhibit autoantigen-specific T cell responses and suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (2002)

Copolymer 1 (Cop 1, Copaxone [Teva Marion Partners, Kansas City, Missouri, USA]), a random amino acid copolymer of tyrosine (Y), glutamic acid (E), alanine (A), and lysine (K), reduces the frequency of relapses by 30% in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In the present study, novel random four-amino acid copolymers, whose design was based on the nature of the anchor residues of the immunodominant epitope of myelin basic protein (MBP) 85-99 and of the binding pockets of MS-associated HLA-DR2 (DRB1*1501), have been synthesized by solid-phase chemistry. Poly (Y, F, A, K) (YFAK) inhibited binding of the biotinylated MBP 86-100 epitope to HLA-DR2 molecules more efficiently than did either unlabeled MBP 85-99 or any other copolymer including Cop 1. Moreover, YFAK and poly (F, A, K) (FAK) were much more effective than Cop 1 in inhibition of MBP 85-99-specific HLA-DR2-restricted T cell clones. Most importantly, these novel copolymers suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, induced in the susceptible SJL/J (H-2(s)) strain of mice with the encephalitogenic epitope PLP 139-151, more efficiently than did Cop 1. Thus, random synthetic copolymers designed according to the binding motif of the human immunodominant epitope MBP 85-99 and the binding pockets of HLA-DR2 might be more beneficial than Cop 1 in treatment of MS.
Collaborative Processing of Wearable and Ambient Sensor System for Blood Pressure Monitoring (2011)

This paper describes wireless wearable and ambient sensors that cooperate to monitor a person's vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure during daily activities. Each wearable sensor is attached on different parts of the body. The wearable sensors require a high sampling rate and time synchronization to provide a precise analysis of the received signals. The trigger signal for synchronization is provided by the ambient sensors, which detect the user's presence. The Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15.4 wireless technologies are used for real-time sensing and time synchronization. Thus, this wearable health-monitoring sensor response is closely related to the context in which it is being used. Experimental results indicate that the system simultaneously provides information about the user's location and vital signs, and the synchronized wearable sensors successfully measures vital signs with a 1 ms resolution.
Evidence for a new variant CYP2D6 allele CYP2D6J in a Japanese population associated with lower in vivo rates of sparteine metabolism (1993)

A group of Japanese subjects were phenotyped for CYP2D6 activity by administration of sparteine and determination of urine metabolic ratios (MR). The CYP2D6 alleles from two subjects having a high MR, characteristic of slower rates of sparteine metabolism, were cloned in lambda EMBL3 and subjected to sequence analysis. One individual possessed a CYP2D6B allele, typically found in Caucasians, that is inactive due to an altered 3' splice recognition site and other potentially disruptive mutations. The second allele from this individual was identical to the wild type normal Caucasian CYP2D6 allele except for C188T and G4268C base differences in exons 1 and 9, respectively, that result in P34S and S486T amino acid substitutions. This allele was designated CYP2D6J. The second individual possessed two CYP2D6J alleles. PCR assays were performed to detect this allele and other alleles from a group of subjects exhibiting low rates of sparteine metabolism, i.e. with MRs > 1.5. Eleven CYP2D6J alleles were detected in 14 subjects exhibiting low rates of metabolism and including four individuals who were homozygous for this variant and had very low rates of sparteine metabolism (MRs > 2.5). In contrast, only two CYP2D6J alleles were found in 14 subjects having MRs of < 1.0. These data suggest that CYP2D6J encodes an enzyme having lower rates of sparteine metabolism.
Strength of TCR signal determines the costimulatory requirements for Th1 and Th2 CD4+ T cell differentiation (1997)

Differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into cytokine-secreting effector Th1 and Th2 cells is influenced by several factors. We have previously reported that the affinity of antigen for TCR and antigen dose can influence the differentiation of Th1 and Th2 cells. Several in vitro and in vivo models have demonstrated a role for the costimulatory molecules, B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86), in the generation of distinct effector T cell responses. To determine whether the strength of TCR signaling controls the involvement of CD28 costimulation in selective CD4 T cell differentiation, naive CD4 T cells bearing a transgenic TCR are primed by a weak or strong TCR signal (signal 1) in the presence or absence of B7 costimulatory molecules (signal 2). In this system, IL-4-producing Th2 cells are generated by priming with a weak but not a strong TCR signal. Th2 cell differentiation is dependent on CD28/B7 interactions in that disruption of CD28/B7 interactions inhibits the priming of Th2 cells and cross-linking CD28 with anti-CD28 antibody augments the priming of Th2 cells. In contrast, however, IL-4-producing Th2 cells cannot be generated by priming with a strong TCR signal even in the presence of strong costimulation or high doses of IL-2. Thus, our results suggest that naive CD4 T cells are receptive to CD28-dependent IL-4 production only if they receive a weak TCR signal.
A line string image representation for image storage and retrieval (1997)

Efficient storage and flexible retrieval are two principle needs in an image database. Image representation is the crucial factor in fulfilling these requirements. The paper proposes an image representation, including an image data structure and a spatial knowledge representation, that will facilitate the above two demands. The proposed data structure, called a line string, encodes an image via a string of skeletal lines and retrieves an image through string matching. The proposed spatial representation, called an OOLS, provides a structural and easy way to specify the line string in a database query. The paper also compares space needs and matching speed of line strings to other string data structures.
Functional expression of the lymphoid chemokines CCL19 (ELC) and CCL 21 (SLC) at the blood-brain barrier suggests their involvement in G-protein-dependent lymphocyte recruitment into the central nervous system during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (2002)

Migration of autoaggressive T cells across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critically involved in the initiation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis. The direct involvement of chemokines in this process was suggested by our recent observation that G-protein-mediated signaling is required to promote adhesion strengthening of encephalitogenic T cells on BBB endothelium in vivo. To search for chemokines present at the BBB, we performed in situ hybridizations and immunohistochemistry and found expression of the lymphoid chemokines CCL19/ELC and CCL21/SLC in venules surrounded by inflammatory cells. Their expression was paralleled by the presence of their common receptor CCR7 in inflammatory cells in brain and spinal cord sections of mice afflicted with EAE. Encephalitogenic T cells showed surface expression of CCR7 and the alternative receptor for CCL21, CXCR3. They specifically chemotaxed towards both CCL19 or CCL21 in a concentration dependent and pertussis toxin-sensitive manner comparable to naive lymphocytes in vitro. Binding assays on frozen sections of EAE brains demonstrated a functional involvement of CCL19 and CCL21 in adhesion strengthening of encephalitogenic T lymphocytes to inflamed venules in the brain. Taken together our data suggest that the lymphoid chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 besides regulating lymphocyte homing to secondary lymphoid tissue are involved in T lymphocyte migration into the immunoprivileged central nervous system during immunosurveillance and chronic inflammation.
Characterization of in vitro inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus by purified recombinant CD4 (1989)

The first step in infection of human T cells with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is binding of viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 to its cellular receptor, CD4. The specificity of this interaction has led to the development of soluble recombinant CD4 (rCD4) as a potential antiviral and therapeutic agent. We have previously shown that crude preparations of rCD4 can indeed block infection of T cells by HIV type 1 (HIV-1). Here we present a more detailed analysis of this antiviral activity, using HIV-1 infection of the T lymphoblastoid cell line H9 as a model. Purified preparations of rCD4 blocked infection in this system at nanomolar concentrations; combined with the known affinity of the CD4-gp120 interaction, this finding suggests that the inhibition is simply due to competition for gp120 binding. As predicted, rCD4 had comparable activity against all strains of HIV-1 tested and significant activity against HIV-2. Higher concentrations of rCD4 blocked infection even after the virus had been adsorbed to the cells. These findings imply that the processes of viral adsorption and penetration require different numbers of gp120-CD4 interactions. Recombinant CD4 was able to prevent the spread of HIV infection in mixtures of uninfected and previously infected cells. Our studies support the notion that rCD4 is a potent antiviral agent, effective against a broad range of HIV-1 isolates, and demonstrate the value of purified rCD4 as an experimental tool for studying the mechanism of virus entry into cells.
Tracking and recognizing rigid and non-rigid facial motions using local parametric models of image motion (2002)

This paper explores the use of local parametrized models of image motion for recovering and recognizing the non-rigid and articulated motion of human faces. Parametric flow models (for example affine) are popular for estimating motion in rigid scenes. We observe that within local regions in space and time, such models not only accurately model non-rigid facial motions but also provide a concise description of the motion in terms of a small number of parameters. These parameters are intuitively related to the motion of facial features during facial expressions and we show how expressions such as anger, happiness, surprise, fear, disgust and sadness can be recognized from the local parametric motions in the presence of significant head motion. The motion tracking and expression recognition approach performs with high accuracy in extensive laboratory experiments involving 40 subjects as well as in television and movie sequences.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Decreased expression of the transcription factor NURR1 in dopamine neurons of cocaine abusers (2002)

Chronic exposure to cocaine induces long-term adaptations that are likely to involve changes in transcription factor expression. This possibility has not been examined in the cocaine-exposed human brain. The transcription factor nurr1 is highly expressed in rodent midbrain dopamine neurons and is essential for their proper phenotypic development. Here we show that human NURR1 gene expression is robust within control subjects and reduced markedly within the dopamine neurons of human cocaine abusers. NURR1 is known to regulate transcription of the gene encoding the cocaine-sensitive dopamine transporter (DAT). We show here that DAT gene expression also is reduced markedly in the dopamine neurons of NURR1-deficient cocaine abusers, suggesting that NURR1 plays a critical role in vivo in controlling human DAT gene expression and adaptation to repeated exposure to cocaine.
Differential expression of five sialyltransferase genes in human tissues. (1994)

Cell type-specific expression of specific carbohydrate structures on cell surface glycoproteins and glycolipids is increasingly recognized for providing information relevant to cell-cell interactions in developing and adult organisms. Sialyltransferases contribute to the diversity in carbohydrate structure through their attachment of sialic acid in various terminal positions on glycolipid and on glycoprotein (N-linked and 0-linked) carbohydrate groups. In this report, differential expression of five sialyltransferase genes in human tissues i s evaluated as a potential mechanism to account for cell typespecific variation in terminal sialoside structures produced by a cell. For this analysis, the complete cDNA of the human Galpl,3GalNAc cu2,3-sialyltransferase and a partial cDNAof the developmentally regulated STX gene were cloned. Northern analysis was performed using these cDNAs and those of three previously cloned human siaiyltransferase genes as probes. Each of the five sialyltransferase genes exhibits dramatic differential expression in the 16 adult and 5 fetal human tissues examined, and expression of each gene appears to be independently regulated. Comparison with fragmentary earlier studies of the expression of several of the same enzymes i n rat tissues suggests that the overall pattern of expression is largely conserved.
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME AND RETICULOCYTOSIS IN PHENYLHYDRAZINE ANEMIA IN SWINE (1949)

Abstract 1. Six adult swine were given phenylhydrazine hydrochloride orally and intravenously. Hematologic observations, which included periodic bone marrow studies were made before, during, and after the administration of the drug. 2. Five swine responded to the drug in the usual manner with progressive anemia, reticulocytosis, and erythrocytic hyperplasia of the bone marrow. Three animals died between the thirty-ninth and fiftieth day of the experiment after receiving a total dose of 0.30 to 0.35 Gm. per kilogram of body weight. Two swine survived and recovered after receiving a similar dose. 3. One animal died on the fourteenth day of the experiment and exhibited a course which closely resembled that of benzol poisoning. Rapid and progressive granulocytopenia, anemia, and extreme universal hypoplasia of the bone marrow were observed. 4. A direct correlation between the mean corpuscular volume of the red cell and the per cent reticulocytes was found within the limits of 0 to 80 per cent reticulocytosis. With each increment of 10 per cent in the reticulocytes the mean corpuscular volume increased approximately 6.8 cubic microns.
Control gain adaptation in virtual reality mediated human–telerobot interaction: Research Articles (2005)

The Internet connects millions of computers worldwide, and provides a new potential working environment for remote-controlled telerobotic systems. The main limitation of using the Internet in this application is random delays between communicating nodes, which can cause disturbances in human–machine interaction and affect telepresence experiences. This is particularly important in systems integrating virtual reality technology to present interfaces. Telepresence, or the sense of presence in a remote environment, hypothetically is positively related to teleoperation task performance. This research evaluated the effect of constant and random network (communication) delays on remote-controlled telerover performance, operator workload, and telepresence experiences. The research also assessed the effect of using a system gain adaptation algorithm to offset the negative impact of communication delays on the various response measures. It was expected that with gain adaptation, system stability, performance, and user telepresence experiences would improve with a corresponding decrease in workload. Results indicated that gain adaptation had a significant effect on the performance measures. The study demonstrated that gain adaptation could reduce deterioration in telepresence experiences and improve user performance in teleoperated and telerobotic control. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 15: 259–274, 2005.
Direct identification of bacteria in blood culture by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry: a new methodological approach (2011)

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the rapid identification of bacteria from growing colonies. In order to speed up the identification of bacteria, several authors have evaluated the usefulness of this MALDI-TOF MS technology for the direct and quick identification bacteria from positive blood cultures. The results obtained so far have been encouraging but have also shown some limitations, mainly related to the bacterial growth and to the presence of interference substances belonging to the blood cultures. In this paper, we present a new methodological approach that we have developed to overcome these limitations, based mainly on an enrichment of the sample into a growing medium before the extraction process, prior to mass spectrometric analysis. The proposed method shows important advantages for the identification of bacterial strains, yielding an increased identification score, which gives higher confidence in the results.
Percutaneous procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of lower back pain: diskography, facet-joint injection, and epidural injection. (1991)

This review discusses the indications, techniques, complications, and results of three percutaneous procedures used to evaluate and treat lower back pain: diskography, facet-joint injection, and epidural injection. Diskography, performed by injection of contrast medium into the nucleus pulposus, is a technique used to determine the cause of lower back pain in patients in whom findings on other imaging studies are normal or conflicting. Injection of steroids and anesthetic into the facet joints of the lumbar spine is useful to diagnose or treat patients with facet syndrome (back pain caused by abnormalities of the facet joints). Injection of steroids and anesthetic agents into the epidural space provides short-term relief, and can sometimes provide permanent relief, of lower back pain.
InGaN/GaN Multiple Quantum Disk Nanocolumn Light-Emitting Diodes Grown on (111) Si Substrate (2004)

GaN-nanocolumn-based InGaN/GaN multiple quantum disk (MQD) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a novel columnar structure were fabricated on n-type (111) Si substrates. The n-GaN and InGaN/GaN MQD active region had isolated columnar structures, while the diameters were gradually increased in the p-GaN region by controlling the growth conditions. Consequently, the nanocolumn LED had a continuous surface without chasms. This novel structure enables p-type electrodes to be fabricated by the conventional method on top of nanocolumn devices while keeping the superior optical properties of the isolated nanocolumn active region. The nanocolumn LED showed clear rectifying behavior with a typical turn-on voltage of 2.5–3.0 V at room temperature. Electroluminescence was observed through semitransparent electrodes with various emission colors from green (530 nm) to red (645 nm).
Targeting a pre-mRNA structure with bipartite antisense molecules modulates tau alternative splicing (2012)

Approximately 15% of human genetic diseases are estimated to involve dysregulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Antisense molecules designed to alter these and other splicing events typically target continuous linear sequences of the message. Here, we show that a structural feature in a pre-mRNA can be targeted by bipartite antisense molecules designed to hybridize with the discontinuous elements that flank the structure and thereby alter splicing. We targeted a hairpin structure at the boundary between exon 10 and intron 10 of the pre-mRNA of tau. Mutations in this region that are associated with certain forms of frontotemporal dementia, destabilize the hairpin to cause increased inclusion of exon 10. Via electrophoretic mobility shift and RNase protection assays, we demonstrate that bipartite antisense molecules designed to simultaneously interact with the available sequences that immediately flank the tau pre-mRNA hairpin do indeed bind to this structured region. Moreover, these agents inhibit exon 10 splicing and reverse the effect of destabilizing disease-causing mutations, in both in vitro splicing assays and cell culture. This general bipartite antisense strategy could be employed to modulate other splicing events that are regulated by RNA secondary structure.
Influence of molecular hydrogen diffusion on concentration and distribution of hydroxyl groups in silica fibers (2005)

To study the hydroxyl (OH)-group contamination mechanisms in silica-based optical fibers, the transmission spectra of substrate tubes and fiber preforms made from various types of silica glasses ("Suprasil F-300," KS-4V, and KUVI) are measured by the method of infrared Fourier spectroscopy in a wavelength region of 2-5 /spl mu/m. Due to the intensity of the fundamental OH stretching vibration band, the absorption coefficient, concentration, and a distribution profile of OH groups across the aforesaid samples are calculated. It is found that using an oxyhydrogen burner in the modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) process of manufacturing preforms and fiber drawing, the main source of impurity OH groups can be the molecular hydrogen H/sub 2/ penetrating into glass much deeper than the OH groups diffusing from the substrate tube surface. A simple model explaining the formation and diffusion of OH groups into a fiber core and cladding is proposed. It is shown that heating tubes and preforms in a flame of oxyhydrogen burner during fiber fabrication causes a significant OH-group content growth (almost by two orders of magnitude) near to the outer preform surface. Using substrate tubes made from Suprasil F-300 glass, optical fibers are fabricated having a silica core and fluorosilicate reflecting cladding with optical losses of 0.3 dB/km at 1.55 /spl mu/m and a refractive-index difference between core and cladding /spl sim/1/spl middot/10/sup -2/.
Extended cavity perturbation technique to determine the complex permittivity of dielectric materials (1995)

An improved measurement technique to determine the complex dielectric properties of materials has been developed that extends the validity of the conventional cavity perturbation technique for circular cylindrical rod-shaped samples in circular cylindrical cavities resonating in TM/sub 0n0/ modes. The method is particularly useful for the dielectric characterization of fragile, low-loss materials that are difficult to machine to typically required thin dimensions. The method further allows for multi-frequency measurements using higher-order radial modes and somewhat alleviates the very small cavity dimensions typically required by the conventional perturbation technique at higher microwave frequencies. A validity criterion for the extended method is given. Measurements of the complex permittivity of NaCl single crystals are presented, showing excellent agreement with theory.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>