gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and Effects of Tinnitus among Workers Exposed to Occupational Noise (2014)

Abstract Background and aims: Occupational noise is a major cause of hearing loss and tinnitus. In the present study, acoustic characteristics of tinnitus were evaluated and their relation with hearing loss and nervousness was studied. Methods: Our study was performed on 56 male workers aged between 40 to 56 years including 28 workers with accompanied hearing loss and tinnitus and a long history of working in environments with excessive noise and 28 matched workers with normal hearing. Acoustic characteristics and the effects of tinnitus were assessed by case history, and Mini-Mental State Examination Test was performed for all subjects. Results: In the most cases, tinnitus had high pitch and moderate stable loudness. It was continuous with moderate to high annoying effect and often with an impact on sleep and concentration of individuals. Significant relation was observed between hearing threshold in 4000 Hz frequency and acoustical characteristics of tinnitus (P<0.002). Further, tinnitus had impact on nervousness personality of the cases (p<0.047). Statistically significant difference was observed between scores of two groups in Mini-Mental State Examination Test (p<0.025). Conclusion: Our study revealed the effect of hearing loss and tinnitus on general cognition, the relationship between acoustic characteristics of tinnitus and degree of hearing loss, andstrengthening of nervousness in workers exposed to occupational noise. Keywords: Hearing loss, tinnitus, noise, worker, nervousness, cognition
Intensification of a copolymerization process: viscosity measurement and access to conversion (2011)

International audience
Light Commands: Laser-Based Audio Injection Attacks on Voice-Controllable Systems (2020)

We propose a new class of signal injection attacks on microphones by physically converting light to sound. We show how an attacker can inject arbitrary audio signals to a target microphone by aiming an amplitude-modulated light at the microphone's aperture. We then proceed to show how this effect leads to a remote voice-command injection attack on voice-controllable systems. Examining various products that use Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Facebook's Portal, and Google Assistant, we show how to use light to obtain control over these devices at distances up to 110 meters and from two separate buildings. Next, we show that user authentication on these devices is often lacking, allowing the attacker to use light-injected voice commands to unlock the target's smartlock-protected front doors, open garage doors, shop on e-commerce websites at the target's expense, or even unlock and start various vehicles connected to the target's Google account (e.g., Tesla and Ford). Finally, we conclude with possible software and hardware defenses against our attacks.
Correlation between Nanomechanics and Polymorphic Conformations in Amyloid Fibrils (2014)

Amyloid fibrils occur in diverse morphologies, but how polymorphism affects the resulting mechanical properties is still not fully appreciated. Using formalisms from the theory of elasticity, we propose an original way of averaging the second area moment of inertia for non-axisymmetric fibrils, which constitutes the great majority of amyloid fibrils. By following this approach, we derive theoretical expressions for the bending properties of the most common polymorphic forms of amyloid fibrils (twisted ribbons, helical ribbons, and nanotubes), and we benchmark the predictions to experimental cases. These results not only allow an accurate estimation of the amyloid fibrils' elastic moduli but also bring insight into the structure-property relationships in the nanomechanics of amyloid systems, such as in the closure of helical ribbons into nanotubes.
The construction of novel protease inhibitors by modification of the active centre of c1-antitrypsin (1986)

Abstract Several variants of α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) have been produced by site-directed mutagenesis and expression in E. coli. The variant α1-AT(Met-358-&amp;gt; Val) replaces the oxidation-sensitive Met residue at the active centre with an inert Val residue, is fully active as an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase and is resistant to oxidative inactivation. This molecule could be particularly useful in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema caused by hereditary or acquired α1-AT deficiency. It is found that α1-AT(Met-358-&amp;gt; Arg) no longer inhibits elastase but is an efficient, heparinindependent thrombin inhibitor. This shows that alteration of the active centre to incorporate a thrombin-specific sequence targets the inhibitor to thrombin. Preliminary studies with other mutants indicate that with this approach, inhibitors of other serine proteases like cathepsin G and porcine pancreatic elastase can also be designed. Analysis of further variants has allowed the identification of residues at the active centre that are essential for the molecule to function as an inhibitor.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Plasmodium Circumsporozoite Protein Binding to Hepatocytes (2016)

Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the dominant protein on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites and plays a critical role in the invasion by sporozoites of hepatocytes. Contacts between CSP and heparin sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) lead to the attachment of sporozoites to hepatocytes and trigger signaling events in the parasite that promote invasion of hepatocytes. The precise sequence elements in CSP that bind HSPGs have not been identified. We performed a systematic in vitro analysis to dissect the association between Plasmodium falciparum CSP (PfCSP) and hepatocytes. We demonstrate that interactions between PfCSP and heparin or a cultured hepatoma cell line, HepG2, are mediated primarily by a lysine-rich site in the amino terminus of PfCSP. Importantly, the carboxyl terminus of PfCSP facilitates heparin-binding by the amino-terminus but does not interact directly with heparin. These findings provide insights into how CSP recognizes hepatocytes and useful information for further functional studies of CSP.
Timing-adjusted iron dosing enhances erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-induced erythropoiesis response and iron utilization (2017)

We recently demonstrated, using an index of recently synthesized hemoglobin, reticulocyte hemoglobin (Ret-Hb), that iron administration remarkably improves hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis during the period of high activation of erythropoiesis induced by the administration of a continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA). We aimed to investigate whether repetition of iron dosing sustains effective erythropoiesis and suppresses iron storage. In a 3-month comparison of monthly CERA administration, 104 hemodialysis patients were randomized into two groups that received 40 mg iron intravenously 3 times; the first-week iron group [n = 51], given iron in the first week after CERA administration, during the period of high activation of erythropoiesis, and the third-week iron group [n = 53], given iron in the third week at the time of mild erythropoiesis activation. Initial mean CERA dosages were 123.5 ± 67.5 μg/month and did not differ between the groups. Hb levels were not different between the groups throughout the study. One-week increases in Ret-Hb levels after CERA administration were higher, during the first and the third month, in the group given iron in the first week compared with the third-week iron group (241.9 ± 63.3 vs. 196.2 ± 82.8 mg/dL, P = 0.004; 227.2 ± 83.5 vs. 187.9 ± 88.7 mg/dL, P = 0.037, respectively). The increase in ferritin levels was suppressed 3 months later in the first-week iron group compared with that of the third-week iron group (22.3 ± 64.0 vs. 69.0 ± 76.6 ng/mL, P = 0.002). Hepcidin levels decreased 1 week after CERA administration in both groups and were not different between the groups. Timing-adjusted iron administration increased the levels of recently produced Hb and iron utilization and suppressed the ferritin levels. The iron administration timing deserves consideration when optimizing the efficiency of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in patients undergoing hemodialysis. UMIN000016375 . Registered 29 January 2015.
The vascular permeabilizing factors histamine and serotonin induce angiogenesis through TR3/Nur77 and subsequently truncate it through thrombospondin-1 (2013)

Angiogenesis plays an important role in cancer and in many other human diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), the best known angiogenic factor, was originally discovered as a potent vascular permeability factor (VPF), suggesting that other vascular permeabilizing agents, such as histamine and serotonin, might also have angiogenic activity. We recently demonstrated that, like VEGF-A, histamine and serotonin up-regulate the orphan nuclear receptor and transcription factor TR3 (mouse homolog Nur77) and that TR3/Nur77 is essential for their vascular permeabilizing activities. We now report that histamine and serotonin are also angiogenic factors that, at low micromolar concentrations, induce endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation in vitro, and angiogenesis in vivo. All of these responses are mediated through specific histamine and serotonin receptors, are independent of VEGF-A, and are directly dependent on TR3/Nur77. Initially, the angiogenic response closely resembled that induced by VEGF-A, with generation of "mother" vessels. However, after ~10 days, mother vessels began to regress as histamine and serotonin, unlike VEGF-A, up-regulated the potent angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin-1, thereby triggering a negative feedback loop. Thus, histamine and serotonin induce an angiogenic response that fits the time scale of acute inflammation.
Contrast and Glare Sensitivity after Implantation of AcrySof® and Human Optics 1CU® Intraocular Lenses (2005)

The results suggest that the newly developed 1CU Human Optics intraocular lens and the standard AcrySof intraocular lens do not vary significantly in glare and contrast sensitivity.
Vibration monitoring with artificial neural networks (1991)

Vibration monitoring of components in nuclear power plants has been used for a number of years. This technique involves the analysis of vibration data coming from vital components of the plant to detect features which reflect the operational state of machinery. The analysis leads to the identification of potential failures and their causes, and makes it possible to perform efficient preventive maintenance. Earlydetection is important because it can decrease the probability of catastrophic failures, reduce forced outgage, maximize utilization of available assets, increase the life of the plant, and reduce maintenance costs. This paper documents our work on the design of a vibration monitoring methodology based on neural network technology. This technology provides an attractive complement to traditional vibration analysis because of the potential of neural network to operate in real-time mode and to handle data which may be distorted or noisy. Our efforts have been concentrated on the analysis and classification of vibration signatures collected from operating machinery. Two neural networks algorithms were used in our project: the Recirculation algorithm for data compression and the Backpropagation algorithm to perform the actual classification of the patterns. Although this project is in the early stages of development it indicates that neuralmore » networks may provide a viable methodology for monitoring and diagnostics of vibrating components. Our results to date are very encouraging.« less
Comparison and Temporal Trends of Three Groups with Cryptococcosis: HIV-Infected, Solid Organ Transplant, and HIV-Negative/Non-Transplant (2020)

BackgroundThe Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) 2010 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of cryptococcosis outlined three key populations at risk of disease: (1) HIV-infected, (2) transplant recipient, and (3) HIV-negative/non-transplant. However, direct comparisons of management, severity and outcomes of these groups have not been conducted.Methodology/Principal FindingsAnnual changes in frequency of cryptococcosis diagnoses, cryptococcosis-attributable mortality and mortality were captured. Differences examined between severe and non-severe disease within the context of the three groups included: demographics, symptoms, microbiology, clinical management and treatment. An average of nearly 15 patients per year presented at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) with cryptococcosis. Out of 207 study patients, 86 (42%) were HIV-positive, 42 (20%) were transplant recipients, and 79 (38%) were HIV-negative/non-transplant. HIV-infected individuals had profound CD4 lymphocytopenia and a majority had elevated intracranial pressure. Transplant recipients commonly (38%) had renal dysfunction. Nearly one-quarter (24%) had their immunosuppressive regimens stopped or changed. The HIV-negative/non-transplant population reported longer duration of symptoms than HIV-positive or transplant recipients and 28% (22/79) had liver insufficiency or underlying hematological malignancies. HIV-positive and HIV-negative/non-transplant patients accounted for 89% of severe disease cryptococcosis-attributable deaths and 86% of all-cause mortality.Conclusions/SignificanceIn this single-center study, the frequency of cryptococcosis did not change in the last two decades, although the underlying case mix shifted (fewer HIV-positive cases, stable transplant cases, more cases with neither). Cryptococcosis had a relatively uniform and informed treatment strategy, but disease-attributable mortality was still common.
Syntheses, Structures and Photosensitizing Properties of New Pt(II) and Pd(II) Porphyrinates (2012)

Platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes of coproporphyrin-I tetraisopropyl ester and coproporphyrin-II tetraethyl ester, as well as platinum(II) complexes of mesopyropheophorbide a methyl ester and mesochlorin e 6 trimethyl ester were synthesized. Five of them (platinum(II) mesochlorin e 6 trimethyl ester is amorphous) were prepared as single crystals and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. The porphyrinates were used for sensitization of titania. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was studied in the reactions of methyl orange decomposition under UV irradiation ( = 250-400 nm) or visible light ( > 450 nm). The highest photocatalytic activity under UV radiation was found with the use of palladium(II) coproporphyrin-II tetraethyl ester. Under visible light, the best results were achieved for the titania-silica powder modified with platinum(II) coproporphyrin-II tetraethyl ester in the reaction of methyl orange decomposition carried out in the presence of sodium fluoride.
Obligate phototrophy in cyanobacteria: more than a lack of sugar transport (1998)

DNA hybridization using the Synechocystis PCC6803 glucose transporter gene, glcP, revealed a single homologous region in two facultative photoautotrophic strains out of three tested, and none in three obligate autotrophs. In one of the latter, Synechococcus PCC7942, integration of glcP into the chromosome resulted in glucose sensitivity. A subclone isolated as glucose-tolerant had lost glcP. Integration in a replicative vector allowed glucose transport and photoheterotrophic growth, but could not be maintained. Thus lack of sugar transport could explain cyanobacterial obligate autotrophy. However, at least in Synechococcus PCC7942, acquisition of such a transport capacity created a metabolic disequilibrium barely compatible with survival.
Tricarboxylic acid cycle activity suppresses acetylation of mitochondrial proteins during early embryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans (2019)

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (or citric acid cycle) is responsible for the complete oxidation of acetyl-CoA and formation of intermediates required for ATP production and other anabolic pathways, such as amino acid synthesis. Here, we uncovered an additional mechanism that may help explain the essential role of the TCA cycle in the early embryogenesis of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans.</i> We found that knockdown of citrate synthase (<i>cts-1</i>), the initial and rate-limiting enzyme of the TCA cycle, results in early embryonic arrest, but that this phenotype is not because of ATP and amino acid depletions. As a possible alternative mechanism explaining this developmental deficiency, we observed that <i>cts-1</i> RNAi embryos had elevated levels of intracellular acetyl-CoA, the starting metabolite of the TCA cycle. Of note, we further discovered that these embryos exhibit hyperacetylation of mitochondrial proteins. We found that supplementation with acetylase-inhibiting polyamines, including spermidine and putrescine, counteracted the protein hyperacetylation and developmental arrest in the <i>cts-1</i> RNAi embryos. Contrary to the hypothesis that spermidine acts as an acetyl sink for elevated acetyl-CoA, the levels of three forms of acetylspermidine, <i>N</i><sup>1</sup>-acetylspermidine, <i>N</i><sup>8</sup>-acetylspermidine, and <i>N</i><sup>1</sup>,<i>N</i><sup>8</sup>-diacetylspermidine, were not significantly increased in embryos treated with exogenous spermidine. Instead, we demonstrated that the mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 4 (encoded by the <i>sir-2.2</i> gene) is required for spermidine's suppression of protein hyperacetylation and developmental arrest in the <i>cts-1</i> RNAi embryos. Taken together, these results suggest the possibility that during early embryogenesis, acetyl-CoA consumption by the TCA cycle in <i>C. elegans</i> prevents protein hyperacetylation and thereby protects mitochondrial function.
Metallfreie regioselektive Triazol‐Ligationen liefern konformativ fixierte cis‐Peptidmimetika (2009)

Abstract Metallfreie Triazolschleifen: 1,5‐Disubstituierte Peptidyltriazole werden regioselektiv durch eine 1,3‐dipolare Cycloaddition von Peptidylphosphoranen und Aziden erhalten. So entstehen Peptidschleifen, die eine konformativ fixierte cis ‐Peptidbindung enthalten. Da die Reaktion regioselektiv und ohne Schwermetallzusatz verläuft, könnte sie Anwendung in der chemischen Biologie und der medizinischen Chemie finden. magnified image
The Effects of Bacterial Inoculants, Beet Pulp, and Propionic Acid on Ensiled Wet Brewers Grains (1995)

The objective of this research was to determine whether microbial inoculants, propionic acid, or beet pulp would enhance the fermentation of wet brewers grains under short-term or long-term storage. In trial 1, three treatments (control and two amounts of lactic acid bacteria) were applied to wet brewers grains ensiled for 1, 2, 3, 28, and 57 d. Each added amount of lactic acid bacteria decreased pH faster, increased initial concentration of lactate, and reduced initial concentrations of acetate and butyrate compared with the control. In trial 2, four treatments (control, lactic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria plus enzymes, or propionic acid) were applied to wet brewers grains ensiled for 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 90 d. Benefits of the treatments were limited. Trial 3 utilized the same treatments as trial 2, and wet brewers grains were ensiled for 10, 25, 40, 55, and 75 d. All treatments increased production of lactate, enhanced the rate of pH decline, and limited production of butyrate. In trial 4, wet brewers grains were ensiled for 6 and 90 d as four treatments: 1) control, 2) added beet pulp (15% of wet weight), 3) high moisture grain inoculant, and 4) a combination of treatments 2 and 3. Treatnient 4 resulted in the lowest concentration of acetate, N H 3 N, and pH and the greatest concentration of lactate after 90 d of storage. Addition of microbial inoculants, acid, or beet pulp to wet brewers grains was beneficial in promoting a more efficient fermentation during long-term storage;
Oxydative Kupplung von Phenolen, III1) Isolierung und Konstitutionsbeweis eines 8.6′‐verknüpften Dehydro‐dicatechins (B4) (1970)

Abstract Bei der enzymatischen Dehydrierung des (+)‐Catechins lassen sich neben dem Dehydro dicatechin A (C 30 H 24 O 12 ) vier weitere Dehydro‐dicatechine B1–B4 (C 30 H 26 O 12 ) und ein Dehydro‐tricatechin isolieren. Die Dehydro‐dicatechine B1–B4 sind mit den Procyanidinen der Gruppe B isomer. Die Konstitution des Dehydro‐dicatechins B4 ( 1 ), aus dem durch weitere Oxydation das Dehydro‐dicatechin A entstehen sollte, wird mit Hilfe der NMR‐ und Massenspektren des Diacetyloctamethyl‐Derivats 4 bzw. des Octamethyl‐Derivats 3 bewiesen.
Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels in a renal transplant patient precede colitis (2006)

An asymptomatic, but highly significant, rise in serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels developed in a renal transplant recipient. Investigations ruled out bony or hepatobiliary disease. Subsequent diarrhea and weight loss led to a diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis, which was confirmed with a positive CMV pp65 antigenemia test and an endoscopic finding of multiple colonic erosions. Intravenous ganciclovir led to complete patient recovery and a swift reduction of serum AP levels to normal. Normally, intestinal AP isoenzymes are cleared quickly from the circulation. However, acute bowel diseases, especially when inflammatory in origin, can produce high serum AP levels. In this presented patient, the rise in serum AP levels preceded symptomatic manifestations of CMV colitis, and fell with successful therapy. Acute CMV disease in solid organ transplant recipients is common, can take many shapes, and needs to be diagnosed quickly. An unexplained rise in serum AP levels should lead to a search for inflammatory bowel disease, specifically CMV colitis, in transplanted patients.
<title>Uniform high-efficiency condenser for projection systems</title> (1997)

We present a novel condenser system based on a nonimaging TIR lens and an associated apodizing aspheric lens. This system provides uniform collimated illumination of the image plane of a projector such as an overhead viewgraph or LCD projector. The TIR lens enables the system to be very compact. The aspheric lens lies between the light source and the TIR lens, so that the TIR lens output illumination is spatially uniform.
[3,3]-Rearrangements of Phosphonium Ylides (2006)

Allylic phosphonium ylides are readily generated by the combination of an allylic alcohol, a carbene, and a chlorophosphite. Here we demonstrate that these intermediates undergo a thermal [3,3]-rearrangement to provide single isomers of homoallylic phosphonates in good to excellent yields. This new reaction manifold for phosphorus ylides is tolerant of a range of substitution patterns on the reactants and provides access to structurally complex intermediates for the synthesis of enzyme inhibitors, aminophosphonic acids, and natural products.
Switching activity analysis using Boolean approximation method (1995)

This paper presents a novel algorithm to estimate the signal probability and switching activity at all nodes in a combinational logic circuit under a zero-delay model without constructing global BDDs. By using Taylor expansion technique, the first-order signal correlation effects due to reconvergent fan-out nodes are taken into account. High accuracy is achieved by considering the dependency of the signal probability and switching activity on each primary input. High speed is also achieved by using the incremental approach for probability calculation. Our approach is able to handle large circuits, since it does not need to construct global BDDs for the probability calculation. The analysis of the time complexity and the experimental results show the running time of our approach to be about 100 times shorter than that of the most accurate approach previously proposed and that our approach has comparable accuracy. The error of the total power estimation is about 0.5% on average.