gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
<i>CCR2</i> and <i>CCR5</i> Genotypes in HIV Type 1-Infected Adolescents: Limited Contributions to Variability in Plasma HIV Type 1 RNA Concentration in the Absence of Antiretroviral Therapy (2002)

In HIV-1-infected individuals, plasma viral RNA concentration as well as preservation of CD8+ naive T cells can vary by age. Host genetic factors previously shown to mediate HIV-1 pathogenesis in adults and children may operate differently in HIV-1-infected adolescents. Our PCR-based haplotyping of genetic variants at the loci encoding CC (beta) chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and CCR5 revealed nine haplotypes (designated A through G*2) in 179 seronegative and 228 seropositive adolescent participants from the Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health (REACH) Study of the Adolescent Medicine and HIV/AIDS Research Network. The influence of CCR2-CCR5 haplotypes and genotypes on plasma HIV-1 RNA level was assessed in 207 AIDS-free seropositive individuals (mostly African-American females) who either did not receive therapy or had discontinued therapy for 6-12 months during initial follow-up between 1996 and 1999. The CCR2-64I-coding haplotype F*2 and the infrequent CCR5 Delta32-bearing haplotype G*2 had negligible impact on HIV-1 RNA level (p > 0.83) and CD4+ T cell counts (p > 0.30). In contrast, nine carriers of the E/E genotype had significantly higher (p = 0.007) plasma HIV-1 RNA level and slightly reduced CD4+ cell counts (p = 0.15) compared with those not carrying E/E or F*2 or G*2. The effect of E/E on HIV-1 RNA was stronger (p < 0.001) in a multivariable model adjusted for F*2 or G*2 (p = 0.45), race (p = 0.23), gender (p = 0.002), age (p = 0.26), and history of antiretroviral therapy (p < 0.001). Thus, among the major CCR2-CCR5 haplotypes/genotypes in chronically infected and predominantly African-American adolescents, only the E/E genotype appeared to influence early host-virus equilibration.
Induction of protective immunity in mice using a 62-kDa recombinant fragment of a Schistosoma mansoni surface antigen (1992)

Mice exposed to radiation-attenuated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni are highly resistant to challenge infection, and sera from these mice can confer partial resistance when transferred to naive recipients. These sera recognize Ag present in schistosomular and adult worms, among them an Ag of 200 kDa. A cDNA encoding a 62-kDa portion of this Ag was cloned; the deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA clone shares homology with myosins of other species. To assess the immunoprophylactic potential, we carried out vaccination trials in mice using the recombinant polypeptide expressed as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase presented in the form of proteosome complexes with the outer membrane protein of meningococcus. The level of protection achieved was 32%, and this level could be increased to 75% by removal of those amino acids included in the fusion protein that were derived from the vector to yield a polypeptide, designated rIrV-5. A similar level of protection was achieved when mice were immunized with the same dose of rIrV-5 in the form of protein complexes but without outer membrane protein, suggesting that protection did not require the use of adjuvant. However, at least three immunizations were necessary to achieve protection. Using mAb and sera from mice vaccinated with rIrV-5, we demonstrated that the native protein recognized by antibodies against rIrV-5 is a 200-kDa protein that is expressed on the surface of newly transformed schistosomula. The protection achieved with rIrV-5 in mice encourages additional studies of its potential as a vaccine candidate for the prevention of schistosomiasis.
Comparison of collagen orientation and distribution in-vivo between non-pregnant and pregnant human cervix using Mueller Matrix polarimetry (Conference Presentation) (2018)

Preterm birth (PTB) presents a serious medical heath concern throughout the world and maintains a high incidence rate in both developed and developing countries ranging between 11-15%, respectively. PTB can be caused by many different morbidities and ultimately results in the disorganization of cervical collagen and the premature alteration of the cervix mechanical properties. Changes in cervical collagen orientation and distribution may prove to be a predictor of PTB. Polarization imaging is an effective means to measure optical anisotropy in birefringent materials such as those rich in collagen. Non-invasive, in-vivo full-field Mueller Matrix polarimetry (MMP) imaging was conducting using a modified colposcope in a clinical study comparing collagen orientation and distribution between non-pregnant and pregnant patients. Six patients threatening PTB were imaged at the Jackson Memorial Hospital Triage Unit and six non-pregnant patients were image at Florida International University STAR center. In pregnant women collagen distributions changed depending on patient age and number of pregnancies in the non-pregnant population age played an important role in collagen organization.
A Discrete-Time Approach to Analyze Hard Handoff Performance in Cellular Networks (2004)

The handoff algorithm employed in a cellular network has a significant impact on overall network performance, but evaluation of handoff performance has for the most part been done using only crude approximations or brute-force computer simulation. We introduce a new discrete-time approach to analyze the performance of handoff algorithms based on pilot signal strength measurements. We derive exact analytical expressions and develop a recursive numerical procedure to evaluate handoff performance metrics for a mobile station moving along a straight-line trajectory in a cellular network employing hard handoff. The numerical procedure provides a computational solution to a level-crossing problem in discrete time. Our discrete-time approach provides valuable analytical insight into the performance impact of handoff algorithms. Moreover, our numerical procedure for discrete-time handoff analysis provides an accurate and efficient tool for the design and dimensioning of high-performance handoff algorithms. The accuracy of the numerical procedure is validated by simulation.
Characteristics of Non-Steady Pressure Exchange Ejectors (2006)

The work to be presented herein is a Computational Fluid Dynamics investigation of the complex fluid mechanisms that occur inside a non-steady, three-dimensional, supersonic pressure exchange ejector, specifically with regard to the pressure exchange mechanisms and the induction processes between a driving “primary” fluid and a driven “secondary” fluid and how this is related to the pressure exchange zone. This paper is based upon utilizing a non-steady flow field resulting in the work of pressure forces acting at a fluid interface between primary and secondary flows. These interfaces are produced through the aerodynamic design of a flow field, non-steady in the laboratory frame of reference, consisting of rotating oblique shock waves and expansion fans. Minimizing the possible losses from the oblique shocks and boundary layers offer the potential of achieving adiabatic efficiencies approaching those of turbo-machines. The results will show the length of pressure exchange zone. Results will show some characteristics of flow induction mechanism, especially when a pressure recovery is needed.
Solid lasers tunable in the visible range (1997)

A new type of solid state lasers tunable in the visible rang has been developed recently. Incorporation of perylimide and pyrromethene dyes into glasses prepared by the sol gel method allows to design new types of visible, stable solid lasers. These can be prepared either in the form of slabs or rods or as waveguiding active media deposited on glass or polymer supports. The bulk lasers are prepared by two methods: (1) By one phase procedure by preparation of dye- ORMOSIL samples including the photostable laser dyes. (2) By incorporation of the laser photostable dyes into pre- prepared porous glasses by the sol gel method followed by polymerization in situ in the glass. We summarize her the laser properties obtained by different methods and when possible compare the performance of the solid laser with the solutions of corresponding laser dyes.
Electrode-free visual prosthesis/exoskeleton control using augmented reality glasses in a first proof-of-technical-concept study (2020)

In the field of neuroprosthetics, the current state-of-the-art method involves controlling the prosthesis with electromyography (EMG) or electrooculography/electroencephalography (EOG/EEG). However, these systems are both expensive and time consuming to calibrate, susceptible to interference, and require a lengthy learning phase by the patient. Therefore, it is an open challenge to design more robust systems that are suitable for everyday use and meet the needs of patients. In this paper, we present a new concept of complete visual control for a prosthesis, an exoskeleton or another end effector using augmented reality (AR) glasses presented for the first time in a proof-of-concept study. By using AR glasses equipped with a monocular camera, a marker attached to the prosthesis is tracked. Minimal relative movements of the head with respect to the prosthesis are registered by tracking and used for control. Two possible control mechanisms including visual feedback are presented and implemented for both a motorized hand orthosis and a motorized hand prosthesis. Since the grasping process is mainly controlled by vision, the proposed approach appears to be natural and intuitive.
Nanostructures for superhydrophobicity and low adhesion (2008)

Nanoroughness is beneficial for superhydrophobicity and low adhesion. Self assembly of hydrophobic alkanes has been used to modify flat and microstructured surfaces. Various nanostructures, produced by three-dimensional alkane crystals, have been fabricated by changing the crystal density. Microstructures were fabricated by replication of a micropatterned master surface and alkanes have been applied as thin hydrophobic three-dimensional crystals to create a hierarchical structure. The fabrication technique provides flexibility in fabrication of a variety of nano- and hierarchical structures. Fabricated structures and surface chemistry mimic superhydrophobic plant surfaces. The influence of nanostructures with different crystal densities on the superhydrophobicity is demonstrated by investigation of contact angle, contact angle hysteresis, droplet evaporation and propensity of air pocket formation as well as adhesive forces.
Cytokine-Neuroantigen Fusion Proteins as a New Class of Tolerogenic, Therapeutic Vaccines for Treatment of Inflammatory Demyelinating Disease in Rodent Models of Multiple Sclerosis (2012)

Myelin-specific induction of tolerance represents a promising means to modify the course of autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Our laboratory has focused on a novel preclinical strategy for the induction of tolerance to the major encephalitogenic epitopes of myelin that cause experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats and mice. This novel approach is based on the use of cytokine-NAg (neuroantigen) fusion proteins comprised of the native cytokine fused either with or without a linker to a NAg domain. Several single-chain cytokine-NAg fusion proteins were tested including GMCSF-NAg, IFNbeta-NAg, NAgIL16, and IL2-NAg. These cytokine-NAg vaccines were tolerogenic, therapeutic vaccines that had tolerogenic activity when given as pre-treatments before encephalitogenic immunization and also were effective as therapeutic interventions during the effector phase of EAE. The rank order of inhibitory activity was as follows: GMCSF-NAg, IFNbeta-NAg > NAgIL16 > IL2-NAg > MCSF-NAg, IL4-NAg, IL-13-NAg, IL1RA-NAg, and NAg. Several cytokine-NAg fusion proteins exhibited antigen-targeting activity. High affinity binding of the cytokine domain to specific cytokine receptors on particular subsets of APC resulted in the concentrated uptake of the NAg domain by those APC which in turn facilitated the enhanced processing and presentation of the NAg domain on cell surface MHC class II glycoproteins. For most cytokine-NAg vaccines, the covalent linkage of the cytokine domain and NAg domain was required for inhibition of EAE, thereby indicating that antigenic targeting of the NAg domain to APC was also required in vivo for tolerogenic activity. Overall, these studies introduced a new concept of cytokine-NAg fusion proteins as a means to induce tolerance and to inhibit the effector phase of autoimmune disease. The approach has broad application for suppressive vaccination as a therapy for autoimmune diseases such as MS.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Soy Fatty Acid Ester Estolides as Bioplasticizers in Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (2019)

Abstract Plasticizers are nonvolatile organic liquids that impart flexibility to polymers. Due to environmental, health, and safety reasons, the industry is looking for bioplasticizers to replace petroleum‐derived phthalates. To fulfill this need, soy fatty acid ester estolides were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as phthalate replacements. Soybean oil was transesterified with methanol or glycerol to form lower molecular weight fatty acid esters that were epoxidized and ring opened with acetic acid and acetylated to give the final products. Ring opening and acetylation of the epoxidized oleic acid esters gave acyclic acetate fatty acid ester estolides, whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acid esters, linoleate, and linolenate gave cyclic tetrahydrofuran derivatives and cross‐linked higher molecular weight materials. The cyclization mechanism to form the tetrahydrofuran derivatives was postulated. Soy fatty acid ester estolides were compounded with formulated poly(vinyl chloride), (PVC) and tested for their functional properties. The physical and functional properties of the new bioplasticizers were compared with commercial plasticizers. The elasticity of PVC compounded with experimental plasticizers and commercial phthalates was comparable. PVC compounded with fatty acid methyl ester estolide showed lower glass transition temperature and similar tensile properties compared to PVC compounded with the commercial phthalate. PVC compounded with the glyceryl fatty acid ester estolide showed a higher glass transition temperature, higher tensile properties compared to PVC compounded with the commercial phthalate.
Templated self-assembly of Si-containing block copolymers for nanoscale device fabrication (2010)

Block copolymers have been proposed for self-assembled nanolithography because they can spontaneously form well-ordered nanoscale periodic patterns of lines or dots in a rapid, low-cost process.By templating the selfassembly, patterns of increasing complexity can be generated, for example arrays of lines with bends or junctions.This offers the possibility of using a sparse template, written by electron-beam lithography or other means, to organize a dense array of nanoscale features.Pattern transfer is simplified if one block is etch resistant and one easily removable, and in this work we use a diblock copolymer or a triblock terpolymer with one Sicontaining block such as polydimethylsiloxane or polyferrocenylsilane, and one or two organic blocks such as polystyrene or polyisoprene.Removal of the organic block(s) with an oxygen plasma leaves a pattern of Sicontaining material which can be used as an etch mask for subsequent pattern transfer to make metallization lines or magnetic nanostructures with feature sizes below 10 nm and periodicity below 20 nm.
Oscillatory-mode oxygen sensor (1982)

A high-temperature (∼ 800°C) O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> sensor is described based on O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> pumping and sensing with ZrO <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> , O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> -concentration cells. The cells are incorporated in a ceramic structure that defines an enclosed volume which communicates with a gaseous ambient of interest by means of a small leak. An oscillatory pumping procedure is described whose period is proportional to at least the first power of the desired ambient O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> -partial pressure over a substantial pressure range. The device has potential application for monitoring engine air-to-fuel ratio based on the O <inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf> content of exhaust gas.
New stable N color-center laser in pure KCI tunable in the 1.3-µm region (1988)

We report a stable near-lR color-center laser based on the N2 defect in pure KCI. The laser tunes from 1.24 to 1.33 µm and uses the convenient 1.06-µm Nd:YAG laser as a pump. The N2 color center is thought to be an F-center neutral aggregate, having either an F4 tetrahedral1,2 or an F3 trigonal configuration3,4; experimental data have not conclusively confirmed either of these models.
Optimizing Cursor Loops in Relational Databases (2020)

Loops that iterate over SQL query results are quite common, both in application programs that run outside the DBMS, as well as User Defined Functions (UDFs) and stored procedures that run within the DBMS. It can be argued that set-oriented operations are more efficient and should be preferred over iteration; but from real-world use cases, it is clear that loops over query results are inevitable in many situations, and are preferred by many users. Such loops, known as cursor loops, come with huge trade-offs and overheads w.r.t. performance, resource consumption and concurrency. We present Aggify, a technique for optimizing loops over query results that overcomes all these overheads. It achieves this by automatically generating custom aggregates that are equivalent in semantics to the loop. Thereby, Aggify completely eliminates the loop by rewriting the query to use this generated aggregate. This technique has several advantages such as: (i) pipelining of entire cursor loop operations instead of materialization, (ii) pushing down loop computation from the application layer into the DBMS, closer to the data, (iii) leveraging existing work on optimization of aggregate functions, resulting in efficient query plans. We describe the technique underlying Aggify and present our experimental evaluation over benchmarks as well as real workloads that demonstrate the significant benefits of this technique.
Structure–Activity Relationships of Noncovalent Immunoproteasome β5i-Selective Dipeptides (2020)

The immunoproteasome (i-20S) has emerged as a therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders and hematological malignancies. Inhibition of the chymotryptic β5i subunit of i-20S inhibits T cell activation, B cell proliferation, and dendritic cell differentiation in vitro and suppresses immune responses in animal models of autoimmune disorders and allograft rejection. However, cytotoxicity to immune cells has accompanied the use of covalently reactive β5i inhibitors, whose activity against the constitutive proteasome (c-20S) is cumulative with the time of exposure. Herein, we report a structure-activity relationship study of a class of noncovalent proteasome inhibitors with picomolar potencies and 1000-fold selectivity for i-20S over c-20S. Furthermore, these inhibitors are specific for β5i over the other five active subunits of i-20S and c-20S, providing useful tools to study the functions of β5i in immune responses. The potency of these compounds in inhibiting human T cell activation suggests that they may have therapeutic potential.
Method and apparatus for closing underwater wells. [is case of fire or blowout] (1979)

A method and apparatus is shown and described for remotely closing a well(s) without the possibility of accidental closure. The method and apparatus will have a significant application to underwater wells. A point of activation of a gas generator is remotely located away from the well to avoid debris that may fall at or near the well. A diver or technician brings the means for activating the gas generator to the activation point of the gas generator. Upon activation, pressure generated by the gas generator is transferred by appropriate conduit means to well closure equipment which may include a crimping device, a U type blowout preventer, blind rams or any combination thereof. The faces of rams used to pinch concentrical strings of pipe may be shaped to seal the outer strings of pipe as well as inner strings.
“Fire and Ice”: 25 years of fiber grating sensor technology (2012)

Over the past 25 years the author has been applying fiber grating sensor technology in a wide variety of industries that often involve operation in extreme environments where conventional sensor technology has limited or in some cases non-existent measurement capabilities. This paper will review a selection of these applications with the intent of showing how fiber grating sensor technology has evolved and perhaps provide some insight into where it is going.
A Class of Continuous Level Neural Nets (1987)

A neural net capable of restoring continuous level library vectors from memory is considered. The vectors in the memory library are used to program the neural interconnects. Given a portion of one of the library vectors, the net extrapolates the remainder. Sufficient conditions for unique convergence are stated. An architecture for optical implementation of the network is proposed.
Semiautomated segmentation of blood vessels using ellipse-overlap criteria: Method and comparison to manual editing (2003)

Two-dimensional intensity-based methods for the segmentation of blood vessels from computed-tomography-angiography data often result in spurious segments that originate from other objects whose intensity distributions overlap with those of the vessels. When segmented images include spurious segments, additional methods are required to select segments that belong to the target vessels. We describe a method that allows experts to select vessel segments from sequences of segmented images with little effort. Our method uses ellipse-overlap criteria to differentiate between segments that belong to different objects and are separated in plane but are connected in the through-plane direction. To validate our method, we used it to extract vessel regions from volumes that were segmented via analysis of isolabel-contour maps, and showed that the difference between the results of our method and manually-edited results was within inter-expert variability. Although the total editing duration for our method, which included user-interaction and computer processing, exceeded that of manual editing, the extent of user interaction required for our method was about a fifth of that required for manual editing.
A graph-theoretic approach to webpage segmentation (2008)

We consider the problem of segmenting a webpage into visually and semantically cohesive pieces. Our approach is based on formulating an appropriate optimization problem on weighted graphs, where the weights capture if two nodes in the DOM tree should be placed together or apart in the segmentation; we present a learning framework to learn these weights from manually labeled data in a principled manner. Our work is a significant departure from previous heuristic and rule-based solutions to the segmentation problem. The results of our empirical analysis bring out interesting aspects of our framework, including variants of the optimization problem and the role of learning.