gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Virtual 3-Dimensional Planning and Patient Specific Surgical Guides for Osteotomies Around the Knee (2012)

Background Osteotomies around the knee have been used to correct lower limb mal-alignment for over 50 years. The procedure is technically demanding and carries specific risks of neurovascular injury, incorrect planning and execution, and insufficient fixation. In recent years, with the advent of locking plates, fixation techniques have improved significantly but the correct planning and execution of the operation remains difficult. Despite the availability of CT and MRI 3D imaging, surgical planning is still traditionally performed on 2D plain X-rays [1]. Especially with multi-planar deformities, this technique is prone to error. The aim of this clinical pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of virtual pre-operative three-dimensional planning and correct execution of osteotomies around the knee with the aid of patient specific surgical guides and locking plates. Patients and methods Eight consecutive patients, presenting with significant malalignment of the lower limb were included in the study. Pre-operative CT scans of the affected limb and the normal contra-lateral side were obtained and 3D models of the patient9s anatomy were created, using dedicated software (Mimics® 3-matic®, Materialise, Leuven Belgium) [2]. These models were used to evaluate the required surgical correction. The healthy contralateral limb was mirrored and geometrically matched to the distal femur or proximal tibia of the healthy side. A virtual opening wedge correction of the affected bone was used to match the geometry of the healthy contralateral bone. Standard lower limb axes measurements confirmed correction of the alignment [3]. Based on the virtual plan, surgical guides were designed to perform the planar osteotomy and achieve the planned wedge opening and hinge axis orientation (see figure 1). Apart from guiding the osteotomy, the patient specific surgical guide also guided drilling of the planned screw holes. Post-operative assessment of the correction was obtained through planar X-rays, CT-scan and full leg standing X-ray. Results One three-planar, three bi-planar and four single-plane osteotomies were performed. All guides could be used during surgery and served accurate guidance of the osteotomy plane and screwholes. The guides matched the bone very well in all cases without remaining toggle. The maximum deviation between the planned pre-operative wedge angle and the executed post-operative wedge angle was 1° in the coronal, sagittal and horizontal plane. The desired mechanical femorotibial axis on full-leg standing X-rays was achieved in 6 patients. Two patients were undercorrected by 1° and 2° respectively. No significant peri-operative complications occurred. Conclusion 3D planning and guided correction of multi-planar deformity of femur or tibia is a feasible and accurate novel technique.
Phenotypic and functional characteristics of macrophage‐like cells differentiated in pro‐inflammatory cytokine‐containing cultures (2000)

Previous studies have demonstrated an infiltration of monocytes and increased levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in some chronic inflammatory tissues. Interleukin-1beta and TNF-alpha are capable of protecting monocytes from spontaneous apoptosis and thus maintain their viability in vitro. To study the possible effects of these cytokines on the differentiation and function of recruited monocytes, a model has been developed in which monocytes isolated from human peripheral blood were differentiated into macrophages in serum in the presence or absence of IL-1beta or TNF-alpha. Monocytes cultured with IL-1beta and TNF-alpha underwent substantial changes in morphology, similar to those observed in monocytes undergoing differentiation into macrophages. The cultured cells increased in size and vacuolization and their content of acid phosphates increased 10-fold. Although they exhibited the morphological characteristics of macrophages, monocytes matured in the cytokines differed functionally from those cultured in serum in a lower expression of HLA-DR, lower ability for triggering the proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes, higher expression of mannose receptor and greater production of superoxide and TNF-alpha. This data suggests that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha direct monocyte differentiation into macrophages with a reduced antigen-presenting and an increased pro-inflammatory factor-releasing phenotype. Elevated levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the inflammatory tissues may therefore not only prolong the survival of recruited monocytes, but maintain them in an inflammatory state.
Approximation by structured lower rank matrices (1998)

We consider two general procedures for constructing the nearest approximation of a given matrix by one with any lower rank and any linear structure. Nearness can be measured in any matrix norm. Structured low rank matrices arise in various applications, including image enhancement and model reduction. In practice, the empirical data collected in the matrix often either do not maintain the specified structure or do not induce the desirable rank.It is an important task to search for the nearest structured lower rank approximation of a given matrix. The techniques developed in this paper can easily be implemented for numerical computation. In particular, it is shown that the computations can be approached using efficient optimization packages. The special case of Toeplitz structure using the Frobenius matrix norm is discussed in detail to illustrate the ideas, and numerical test are reported. The procedures developed herein can be generalized to consider a much broader range of approximation problems.
Effect of an Active Abdominal Pulse Generator on Defibrillation Thresholds with a Dual‐Coil, Transvenous ICD Lead System (2006)

DFTs are similar with the Active Can and Lead Alone configurations when a dual-coil, transvenous lead is used with a left abdominal pulse generator. Since most commercially available ICDs are only available with an active can, our data support the use of an active can device with this lead system for patients who present for routine pulse generator replacement.
The Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt1/Par-4 Axis: A Cancer-Selective Therapeutic Target (2006)

Activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt cell survival pathway in many cancers makes it an appealing target for therapeutic development. However, because this pathway also has an important role in the survival of normal cells, tactics to achieve cancer selectivity may prove important. We recently showed that the cancer-selective proapoptotic protein Par-4 is a key target for inactivation by PI3K/Akt signaling. Additionally, we found that Par-4 participates in mediating apoptosis by PTEN, the tumor suppressor responsible for blocking PI3K/Akt signaling. As a central player in cancer cell survival, Par-4 may provide a useful focus for the development of cancer-selective therapeutics.
A Polyphenol Extract ofHibiscus sabdariffaL. Ameliorates Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Steatosis by Attenuating the Mitochondrial Dysfunctionin Vivoandin Vitro (2012)

Oxidative stress is the major contributor to acetaminophen (AAP)-caused liver damage. It promotes mitochondrial oxidative stress and collapses the mitochondrial membrane potential to cause cell death. We have previously shown that a polyphenol extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HPE) potentiated the antioxidative effect. We further examined in this study the possible mechanism of HPE against AAP-caused liver damage. BABL/c mice were orally fed with HPE (100, 200 or 300 mg/kg) for two weeks prior to an i.p. injection of 1000 mg/kg of AAP. The mice were decapitated 6 h after the AAP injection to collect the blood and liver for further determination. The results show that pretreating with HPE increased the level of glutathione (GSH), decreased the level of lipid peroxidation, and increased catalase activity in the liver. A histopathological evaluation shows that HPE could decrease AAP-induced liver sterosis accompanied by a decreased expression of AIF, Bax, Bid, and p-JNK in the liver. An in vitro assay revealed that HPE could reduce AAP-induced death of BABL/c normal liver cells (BNLs), reverse the lost mitochondrial potency and improve the antioxidative status, similarly to the results of the in vivo assay. We show in this study that HPE possessed the ability to protect the liver from AAP-caused injury. The protective mechanism might be regulated by decreasing oxidative stress and attenuating the mitochondrial dysfunction.
Perinatal folate levels do not influence tumor latency or multiplicity in a model of NF1 associated plexiform-like neurofibromas (2023)

Abstract Objective In epidemiological and experimental research, high folic acid intake has been demonstrated to accelerate tumor development among populations with genetic and/or molecular susceptibility to cancer. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant disorder predisposing affected individuals to tumorigenesis, including benign plexiform neurofibromas; however, understanding of factors associated with tumor risk in NF1 patients is limited. Therefore, we investigated whether pregestational folic acid intake modified plexiform-like peripheral nerve sheath tumor risk in a transgenic NF1 murine model. Results We observed no significant differences in overall survival according to folate group. Relative to controls (180 days), median survival did not statistically differ in deficient (174 days, P =0.56) or supplemented (177 days, P =0.13) folate groups. Dietary folate intake was positively associated with RBC folate levels at weaning, ( P =0.023, 0.0096, and 0.0006 for deficient vs. control, control vs. supplemented, and deficient vs. supplemented groups, respectively). Dorsal root ganglia (DRG), brachial plexi, and sciatic nerves were assessed according to folate group. Mice in the folate deficient group had significantly more enlarged DRG relative to controls ( P =0.044), but no other groups statistically differed. No significant differences for brachial plexi or sciatic nerve enlargement were observed according to folate status.
Data from Modulation of NOXA and MCL-1 as a Strategy for Sensitizing Melanoma Cells to the BH3-Mimetic ABT-737 (2023)

&lt;div&gt;Abstract&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Purpose:&lt;/b&gt; Drug resistance in melanoma is commonly attributed to ineffective apoptotic pathways. Inhibiting antiapoptotic BCL-2 and its relatives is an attractive strategy for sensitizing lymphoid malignancies to drugs but it has been largely unsuccessful for melanoma and other solid tumors. ABT-737, a small-molecule BH3-mimetic, selectively inhibits BCL-2, BCL-XL, and BCL-w and shows promise for treating leukemia, lymphoma, and small-cell lung cancer. Melanoma cells are insensitive to ABT-737, but MCL-1 inhibition reportedly increases the sensitivity of other tumors to the compound.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Experimental Design:&lt;/b&gt; The efficacy of MCL-1 and BFL-1 inhibition for sensitizing melanoma cells to ABT-737 was investigated by short hairpin RNA–mediated knockdown or overexpression of their antagonist &lt;i&gt;NOXA&lt;/i&gt; in two-dimensional cell culture, a three-dimensional organotypic spheroid model, and an &lt;i&gt;in vivo&lt;/i&gt; model.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;MCL-1&lt;/i&gt; downregulation or &lt;i&gt;NOXA&lt;/i&gt; overexpression strongly sensitized melanoma cells to ABT-737 &lt;i&gt;in vitro&lt;/i&gt;. NOXA-inducing cytotoxic drugs also strongly sensitized melanomas to ABT-737 but, surprisingly, not &lt;i&gt;vice versa&lt;/i&gt;. The drugs most suitable are not necessarily those normally used to treat melanoma. Resistance to ABT-737 occurred quickly in three-dimensional melanoma spheroids through reduced NOXA expression, although experiments with both xenografts and three-dimensional spheroids suggest that penetration of ABT-737 into tumor masses may be the principal limitation, which may be obviated through use of more diffusible BH3-mimetics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Sensitization of tumors to BH3-mimetics by cytotoxic drugs that induce NOXA is a therapeutic strategy worth exploring for the treatment of melanoma and other solid cancers. &lt;i&gt;Clin Cancer Res; 18(3); 783–95. ©2011 AACR&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
How can microbial interactions with the blood-brain barrier modulate astroglial and neuronal function? (2011)

The vascular endothelium of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is regarded as a part of the neurovascular unit (NVU). This emerging NVU concept emphasizes the need for homeostatic signalling among the neuronal, glial and vascular endothelial cellular compartments in maintaining normal brain function. Conversely, dysfunction in any component of the NVU affects another, thus contributing to disease. Brain endothelial activation and dysfunction is observed in various neurological diseases, such as (ischemic) stroke, seizure, brain inflammation and infectious diseases and likely contributes to or exacerbates neurological conditions. The role and impact of brain endothelial factors on astroglial and neuronal activation is unclear. Similarly, it is not clear which stages of BBB endothelial activation can be considered beneficial versus detrimental. Although the BBB plays an important role in context of encephalopathies caused by neurotropic microbes that must first penetrate into the brain, a crucial role of the BBB in contributing to neurological dysfunction may be seen in cerebral malaria (CM), where the Plasmodium parasite remains sequestered in the brain vasculature, does not enter the brain parenchyma, and yet causes coma and seizures. In this minireview some of the scenarios and factors that may play a role in BBB as a relay station to modulate astroneuronal functioning are discussed.
LATE-SUMMER FEEDING PATTERNS OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS IN A SUNFLOWER-GROWING AREA OF NORTH DAKOTA (1979)

During August and September in 1977 and 1978, we monitored the feeding patterns of radio-equipped, male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) and associated blackbird flocks in the vicinity of Fuller’s Lake Waterfowl Production Area in Steele County in east-central North Dakota. Fuller’s Lake, a cattail marsh of about 1,000 acres (405 ha), serves as the main roosting area for a blackbird assemblage that, for the past seven years in late summer, has numbered from 100,000 in wet years to more than 750,000 in dry years. Sunflower is an important crop in the Fuller’s Lake area, being grown on about 20 percent of cropland. Wheat and barley are other major crops, grown on about 40 percent of the cropland. Corn is grown on less than 1 percent of the cropland, but the number of quarter-section (160-acre, 65 ha), irrigated cornfields increased in the area from two in 1977 to eight in 1978. The Fuller’s Lake area lies on the eastern edge of the North Dakota Drift Plains and is poorly drained, with as many as a dozen water basins per square mile. This combination of a large roosting marsh and numerous satellite roosting and loafing marshes, intermingled with sunflower fields, has created optimum conditions for blackbirds to damage some sunflower fields. Damage was estimated at 23.6 percent of the sunflower crop in a 28-section area surrounding Fuller’s Lake in 1972 (Besser and Guarino 1977), when little control effort was expended. Experiments were conducted with 4-aminopyridine baits as a frightening agent to protect sunflowers from blackbird damage in a 7-township (3-county) study area in the Fuller’s Lake area in 1977 and 1978. In 1977, 31 of the most heavily damaged fields were baited with Avitrol® FC-Corn Chops 99S (Henne 1978), but in 1978 only five were baited (Henne et al. 1979). These experiments afforded us an excellent opportunity to monitor the feeding patterns of blackbirds frightened from ripening sunflower fields as well as undisturbed birds. In some instances, when a feeding pattern had been established by a flock in an untreated ripening sunflower field, we frightened the flock from the field by mechanical means. This paper presents the major findings of this 2-year study.
The Dimerization of Ethylene Using Palladous Chloride as the Catalyst (1966)

Abstract The dimerization of ethylene was carried out using palladous chloride as the catalyst. Acetic acid, ethylene dichloride, ethylene tetrachloride, benzene, chlorobenzene, triethyleneglycol, acetic acid esters, chloroform, cyclohexane and ethanol were employed as the reaction solvents, and the effects of these solvents on the reaction were investigated. The best yield of butylene (about 1500 mol.% to palladous chloride) was obtained, when acetic acid was used as the solvent; the yield decreased gradually following the above order of solvents until, when ethanol was used as the solvent, it yielded only 96 mol.%. However, in all solvents dimerization was carried out predominantly, and only a few higher polymers were obtained. It is very interesting that the solvent effect mentioned above was different from the effect of solvents in the isomerization of olefin when metal carbonyl was used as the catalyst. To explain these results, a hydride ion-shift mechanism has been proposed.
Edge-induced stress and strain in stripe films and substrates: A two-dimensional finite element calculation (1995)

Finite element calculations of stresses and strains in substrates and stripe films of thickness h and width 2l are reported. Both variation of the stress in the vertical direction (away from the interface) in the film and distortion of the substrate are taken into account. The calculations show that both the horizontal and vertical lattice planes are curved in the film as well as in the substrate. If the thickness of the substrate is infinite, the curvature in the substrate is maximum near the interface and decays rapidly with depth. Furthermore, the edges near the top are over-relaxed, i.e., if the film is originally under compression, the stress becomes tensile because the free edge surfaces affect the relaxation. For a film with h/l=1 or greater, the stress is reversed throughout the top layer. The change from compression to tension takes place partly because of the Poisson effect and partly due to the bending of the lattice planes. The approximations made in the existing analytical models were examined and the conditions under which the models describe the stresses in the film or in the substrate were determined to a good approximation. Our finite element calculations agree with the available experimental data. Ours are the only theoretical results with which measured substrate stresses agree qualitatively.
Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 and Endothelial Adhesion Molecules (Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1) as Predictive Markers for Blood Pressure Reduction After Renal Sympathetic Denervation (2014)

Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) is a treatment option for patients with resistant arterial hypertension, but in some patients it is not successful. Predictive parameters on the success of RSD remain unknown. The angiogenic factors soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are known to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling, and hypertension. We evaluated whether sFLT-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 are predictive markers for blood pressure reduction after RSD. Consecutive patients (n=55) undergoing renal denervation were included. Venous serum samples for measurement of sFlt-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were collected before and 6 months after RSD. A therapeutic response was defined as an office systolic blood pressure reduction of >10 mm Hg 6 months after RSD. A significant mean office systolic blood pressure reduction of 31.2 mm Hg was observed in 46 patients 6 months after RSD. Nine patients were classified as nonresponders, with a mean systolic blood pressure reduction of 4.6 mm Hg. At baseline, sFLT-1 levels were significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders (P<0.001) as were ICAM-1 (P<0.001) and VCAM-1 levels (P<0.01). The areas under the curve for sFLT-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were 0.82 (interquartile range, 0.718-0.921; P<0.001), 0.754 (0.654-0.854; P<0.001), and 0.684 (0.564-804; P=0.01), respectively, demonstrating prediction of an RSD response. Responders showed significantly higher serum levels of sFLT-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 at baseline compared with nonresponders. Thus, this study identified for the first time potential biomarkers with a predictive value indicating a responder or nonresponder before renal denervation.
Roll‐to‐Roll (R2R) Production of Ultrasensitive, Flexible, and Transparent Pressure Sensors Based on Vertically Aligned Lead Zirconate Titanate and Graphene Nanoplatelets (2018)

Abstract Despite extensive advances in the use of piezoelectric materials in flexible electronics, they have numerous shortcomings, including low efficiency, limited flexibility, and lack of transparency. Additionally, the production of these materials is often limited to small batch processes which are difficult to scale up for mass production. A novel method to produce ultrasensitive, high performance, flexible, and transparent piezoelectric materials where both lead zirconate titanate nanoparticles, and graphene nanoplatelets are aligned together in polydimethylsiloxane under an AC electric field in the thickness (“Z”) direction, is reported here for the first time. The electric field alignment improves the piezoelectric response along with transparency and also reduces the amount of filler required to achieve outstanding piezoelectric properties. The resulting ultrasensitive piezoelectric film is able to sense the pressure of a bird feather (1.4 mg) dropped from a certain distance, whereas at the touch of a fingertip, it can generate up to 8.2 V signal. Moreover, the mass production compatibility of the system is also demonstrated by producing a 3 m long and 15 cm wide large‐area sample via a novel 44′ long roll‐to‐roll manufacturing line which is designed and developed by the group.
Oxytocin as a regulatory neuropeptide in the trigeminovascular system: Localization, expression and function of oxytocin and oxytocin receptors (2020)

Oxytocin receptors are extensively expressed throughout the rat trigeminovascular system and in particular in trigeminal ganglia A∂ neurons and fibers, but no functional oxytocin receptors were demonstrated in the dura and cranial arteries. Thus, circulating oxytocin may act on oxytocin receptors in the trigeminal ganglia to affect nociception transmission. These effects may help explain hormonal influences in migraine and offer a novel way for treatment.
Constructional Improvement of the Dummy Spindle used in the Rotor′s Low-pressure Aluminum-casting (2015)

Advantages of the improved construction of dummy spindle were demonstrated through comparison between two kinds of construction of the dummy spindle used in the rotor′s low-pressure aluminum-casting.
Comparative transcriptomics analysis reveals difference of key gene expression between banana and plantain in response to cold stress (2015)

We found that the cold-tolerance pathway appears selectively activated by regulation of ICE1 and MYBS3 expression in plantain under different stages of cold stress. We conclude that the rapid activation and selective induction of ICE1 and MYBS3 cold tolerance pathways in plantain, along with expression of other cold-specific genes, may be one of the main reasons that plantain has higher cold resistance than banana.