gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Increased collagenolytic activity in severed and sutured tendons following topical application of exogenous collagen in chickens (1985)

To verify the role of collagenase in reduction of peritendinous adhesion by topical application of exogenous collagen, the flexor tendons of 30 chickens were severed and sutured. Exogenous, native enriched collagen solution (ECS) was introduced in the tendon sheath via a polyethylene catheter. The effect of ECS on collagenolytic activity in the healing tendon was assessed 1, 2, and 3 weeks later both by determining the relative amounts of dialyzable protein and hydroxyproline and by using the collagen film collagenase assay. The results obtained indicated a significant increase in both dialyzable hydroxyproline level and collagenolytic activity in the ECS-treated tendons as compared with the untreated controls. It is suggested that the effect of the topically applied exogenous collagen on increasing the collagenolytic activity may be directly related to previously observed increased gliding capacity of the tendons in the same experimental model.
Quantization of CRC-Aided Successive Cancellation List Decoder for Polar Codes (2018)

In order to implement a low-complexity CRC-aided successive cancellation list decoder for polar codes on digital chips, we study the quantization technologies for the initial log likelihood ratios and the path metric distance of the decoder. In order to reduce the block error rate performance loss using the uniform quantization method, we analyze various optimization techniques such as quantization bits and quantization precision for the initial log likelihood ratios and the path metric distance. We provide quantization simulation for realistic code length N=2 10 and code rate R= 0.5. Simulation results show that 6 bits quantization on interval [-31, +31] for the initial log likelihood ratios and 8 bits quantization on interval [-255, +255] for the path metric distance can not only bring the block error rate performance loss less than 0.1 dB, but also decrease the hardware implementation complexity significantly.
Snail (2010)

Snail has moved into the fast lane of development and cancer biology with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) emerging as one of the hottest topics in medical science within the past few years. Snail not only acts primarily as a key inducer of EMT but also plays an important role in cell survival, immune regulation and stem cell biology. This review focuses on the regulation of Snail and discusses the EMT-dependent and -independent functions of Snail in development and disease. Understanding the regulation and functional roles of Snail will shed new light on the mechanism of tumor progression and the development of novel cancer therapies.
Ion nitriding of steels (1978)

This paper deals with the ’’ion-nitriding’’ method of nitriding various grades of steels in a laboratory model furnace. Four different grades of steels such as AISI 4140, Nitralloy 135 Mod., high-speed steel M2 and stainless steel 304 were ion nitrided at different temperatures with cycle times ranging from 1 to 36 h in a gaseous mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen under a total pressure of 7 Torr (9.1×103 Pa). Results obtained with 4140 steel show that ion nitriding at 950°F is much faster than conventional gaseous nitriding. At a given temperature of ion nitriding, case depth versus treatment time follows a parabolic law for all four grades of steels. Current theoretical and experimental evidence has been used to explain different nitriding rates observed for various steels. Finally results of ion nitriding performed at 750°F have been presented to show the versatility of this process.
Implementation of spectral maxima sound processing for cochlear implants by using Bark scale frequency band partition (2005)

A new method based on Bark scale frequency-band partition is presented to improve the recognition performance of cochlear implants. Using the principles of physics, it is based on the human cochlea filtering properties. Also the mechanism of a cochlear implant and its spectral maxima sound processing (SMSP) strategy are presented. The time-frequency analyzing property of the human cochlea is considered. The theoretical determination of the Bark scale frequency-band is also given with a formula. Simulation results using Bark scale transform signal processing are discussed in detail and the results show that the new method is feasible in speech processors for cochlear implants.
Energy metabolism of preimplantation mammalian blastocysts (1983)

We have measured the relative contributions of glycolytic and oxidative energy production pathways of metabolism in rabbit and mouse preimplantation blastocysts. We have further studied the relationship between these pathways and active transepithelial Na+ transport. Our results show that over 85% of all ATP production arises from mitochondrial respiration. By using amphotericin B to increase the Na+ permeability of the apical (or uterine-facing) membrane of the blastocyst, we have determined that the ratio of ouabain-sensitive Na+ influx to ATP consumption is 3. Based on the measurements of ouabain-sensitive Na+ influx across blastocysts incubated in glucose-containing medium, only 6% of the total energy consumption of the embryo is used for active transepithelial Na+ transport.
An overview of LITE: NASA's Lidar In-space Technology Experiment (1996)

The Lidar In-space Technology Experiment (LITE) is a three-wavelength backscatter lidar developed by NASA Langley Research Center to fly on the Space Shuttle. LITE flew on Discovery in September 1994 as part of the STS-64 mission. The goals of the LITE mission were to validate key lidar technologies for spaceborne applications, to explore the applications of space lidar, and to gain operational experience which will benefit the development of future systems on free-flying satellite platforms. The performance of the LITE instrument was excellent, resulting in the collection of over 40 GBytes of data. These data present us with our first highly detailed global view of the vertical structure of cloud and aerosol from the Earth's surface through the middle stratosphere. This paper will discuss the LITE instrument, the LITE mission, and briefly present some results from the Experiment. These preliminary results highlight the benefits to be obtained from long duration satellite lidars.
Demanding by Design (2017)

The investment of effort into personal communication can be highly meaningful to people, and has particular significance for the mediation of close relationships. This paper presents qualities of effort investment that are seen to be valuable. Furthermore, we consider how these qualities might sensitise designers of communication technologies to the meaningfulness of effort. We report a qualitative study focusing on individual descriptions of meaningful effort invested into everyday correspondence. We encapsulate our findings in the form of five qualities that characterise valued effort: discretionary investment, personal craft, focused time, responsiveness to the recipient, and challenge to a sender's capacities. Drawing on ideas generated in brainstorming sessions, we present two illustrative concepts for new communication technologies, highlighting how our findings can guide the creation of designed artefacts.
Creatine uptake, metabolism, and efflux in human monocytes and macrophages (1986)

The uptake of creatine in human monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages can be divided into two components. One component of uptake is saturable (Km = 30 microM), specific for creatine, requires Na+ in the extracellular medium, and enables cells to take up creatine against a concentration gradient of creatine. The second component of uptake is nonsaturable and accounts for less than 10% of creatine uptake at physiological creatine concentrations (20-60 microM). Both monocytes and macrophages have similar Km values for creatine transport. However, macrophages exhibit a fivefold greater rate of creatine uptake than monocytes (3.6 vs. 0.7 pmol X micrograms protein-1 X h-1), indicating that monocyte differentiation into macrophages is associated with an increase in the number of creatine transporters in the membrane. Monocytes do not contain creatine kinase and do not phosphorylate creatine; monocyte-derived macrophages express creatine kinase and phosphorylate approximately 25% of intracellular creatine. These results and the finding that 2-deoxyglucose inhibits creatine phosphorylation by macrophages without affecting the transport of creatine indicate that phosphorylation of creatine is not required for net creatine accumulation.
Improvement of industry-applied rifamycin B-producing strain, Amycolatopsis mediterranei, by rational screening. (2002)

An industrially applied rifamycin B-producing strain, Amycolatopsis mediterranei XC 1-02, was used for further screening. A special mutation and screening procedure was adopted to select a strain, which can alleviate the inhibition caused by both aromatic amino acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the pathway of rifamycin B biosynthesis as well as enhance the production of propionate, one of the precursors of rifamycin B biosynthesis. By the above methods, a strain A. mediterranei XC 9-25 was obtained, and its rifamycin B productivity in shaking flask reaches 10 g/L, which is 2.38 times higher than that of the ancestral strain XC 1-02. The productivity of rifamycin B fed-batch fermentation in 60000 L fermentor with A. mediterranei XC 9-25 reached 19.11 g/L.
A new method for the production of Mg–Ni hydrogen storage materials (1993)

Hydrogen storage materials based on magnesium alloys are interesting because they exhibit light weight, a large hydrogen capacity, and have a low cost. The Figure shows Mg 2 Ni which has been produced using powder metallurgical methods. It is found to have an attractive property profile compared to material prepared using induction melting. magnified image
Simvastatin, an inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis, shows a synergistic effect with N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea and beta-interferon on human glioma cells. (1992)

The effect of simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, on human glioma cell growth was investigated. When incubated with simvastatin, cell proliferation decreased in a concentration-dependent fashion, as measured by cell number and [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA (concentration producing 50% inhibition, 60 nM). The effect was detectable 12 h after cells were exposed to the drug and persisted for 2 days. Addition of mevalonate to cells exposed effect of simvastatin in combination with beta-interferon and N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea, both antitumoral drugs, was also evaluated by cell growth inhibition assay. The concentration producing 50% inhibition for each of these drugs was 650 units/ml and 50 nM, respectively. Subliminal concentrations of beta-interferon or N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea were incubated together with 1 nM simvastatin. The data were analyzed with the aid of an isobologram using the concept of an envelope of additivity. Simultaneous cell exposure to simvastatin with either N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea or beta-interferon produced a strong synergistic inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. These data provide in vitro support for the possibility that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, utilized as plasma cholesterol-lowering agents, could potentiate the effect of antiblastic drugs on tumor growth.
Increase of creatine kinase activity in the visual cortex of human brain during visual stimulation: A <sup>31</sup>p NMR magnetization transfer study (1997)

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate changes in high energy phosphate levels and creatine kinase (CK) kinetics induced in the human visual cortex during photic stimulation. CK kinetics was evaluated by measuring the apparent unidirectional rate constant (kf) in the "forward" direction (i.e., in the direction of ATP synthesis from phosphocreatine). kf increased 34% in the visual cortex areas during stimulation without significant changes of steady-state concentration of high energy phosphate compounds, indicating that CK turnover is elevated during increased neuronal activity.
High resolution motion layer decomposition using dual-space graph cuts (2008)

We introduce a novel energy minimization method to decompose a video into a set of super-resolved moving layers. The proposed energy corresponds to the cost of coding the sequence. It consists of a data term and two terms imposing regularity of the geometry and the intensity of each layer. In contrast to existing motion layer methods, we perform graph cut optimization in the (dual) layer space to determine which layer is visible at which video position. In particular, we show how arising higher-order terms can be accounted for by a generalization of alpha expansions. Moreover, our model accurately captures long-term temporal consistency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work which aims at modeling details of the image formation process (such as camera blur and downsampling) in the context of motion layer decomposition. The experimental results demonstrate that energy minimization leads to a reconstruction of a video in terms of a superposition of multiple high-resolution motion layers.
The effect of social stress on adrenal axis activity in horses: the importance of monitoring corticosteroid-binding globulin capacity (1998)

Plasma cortisol is largely bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), which regulates its bioavailability by restricting exit from capillaries. Levels of CBG may be altered by several factors including stress and this can influence the amount of cortisol reaching cells. This study investigated the effect of social instability on plasma concentrations of CBG, total and free (not protein bound) cortisol in horses. Horses new to our research herd ('newcomers') were confined in a small yard with four dominant resident horses for 3-4 h daily for 3-4 (n = 5) or 9-14 (n = 3) days. Jugular blood was collected in the mornings from newcomers before the period of stress began ('pre-stress'), and then before each day's stress. Residents were bled before stress on the first and thirteenth day. Residents always behaved aggressively towards newcomers. By the end of the stress period, all newcomers were subordinate to residents. In newcomers (n = 8) after 3-4 days of social stress, CBG binding capacity had fallen (P = 0.0025), while free cortisol concentrations had risen (P = 0.0016) from pre-stress values. In contrast, total cortisol did not change. In residents, CBG had decreased slightly but significantly (P = 0.0162) after 12 days of stress. Residents and newcomers did not differ in pre-stress CBG binding capacity, total or free cortisol concentrations. However, by the second week of stress, CBG binding capacity was lower (P = 0.015) and free cortisol higher (P = 0.030) in newcomers (n = 3) than in residents. Total cortisol did not differ between the groups. In conclusion social stress clearly affected the adrenal axis of subordinate newcomer horses, lowering the binding capacity of CBG and raising free cortisol concentrations. However, no effect of stress could be detected when only total cortisol was measured. Therefore, to assess adrenal axis status accurately in horses, it is essential to monitor the binding capacity of CBG and free cortisol concentrations in addition to total cortisol levels.
Identification and Characterization of Wnt Signaling Pathway in Keloid Pathogenesis (2013)

Keloid is characterized by fibroblastic cell proliferation and abundant collagen synthesis. Numerous studies have shown that the Wingless type (Wnt) signaling pathways play key roles in various cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis and migration. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of Wnt signaling pathway in keloid pathogenesis. Primary fibroblast cultures and tissue samples from keloid and normal appearing dermis were used. The expression of Wnt family members, frizzled (FZD)4 receptor, receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR)2 and the Wnt signaling downstream targets, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3-β and β-catenin were assessed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot, or immunohistochemical methods. Of the Wnt family members, Wnt5a mRNA and protein levels were elevated in keloid fibroblasts (KF) as compared to normal fibroblasts (NF). A higher expression of β-catenin protein was also found in KF. No detectable levels of FZD4 receptor and ROR2 proteins were observed in both NF and KF. Functional analysis showed that treatment of NF and KF with recombinant Wnt5a peptide resulted in an increase in protein levels of total β-catenin and phosphorylated β-catenin at Ser33/37/Thr 41 but no significant change in phosphorylated β-catenin at Ser45/Thr 41 positions. In addition, the expression of total GSK3-β protein was not affected but its phosphorylated/inactivated form was increased in NF and KF. Our findings highlight a potential role for a Wnt/β-catenin canonical signaling pathway triggered by Wnt5a in keloid pathogenesis thereby providing a new molecular target for therapeutic modulations.
An experimental study on RBC count and serum potassium concentration changes during compression transfusion of WBC-removal whole blood (2015)

To observe changes in RBC count, changes, RBC morphology, and serum potassium during compressed transfusion of WBC-removal whole blood. Prepared human WBC-removal whole blood and connected transfusion apparatus with different sizes of intravenous detaining needles (18G, 20G, 22G and 24G). Observed RBC count and serum potassium concentration under different pressures (100 mmHg, 200 mmHg, and 300 mmHg) as blood flowed out of the pinhead end of the intravenous detaining needle. Samples obtained with the 20G needle were smeared on glass slides, and RBC morphologic changes were observed under an oil immersion lens. RBC count and serum potassium changed slightly under different pressures with different sizes of intravenous detaining needles as blood flowed through the transfusion apparatus. In addition, the observation of blood samples under a common light microscope revealed that coarse-prick, oblong, and spindle cell counts in the visual fields increased gradually as the pressure increased. Additionally, a portion of cells had undergone splintering. While applying 18G, 20G, 22G and 24G intravenous detaining needles for blood transfusion under less than 300 mmHg of pressure, no significant RBC count change was found in blood samples in the short term. However, there were significant RBC morphologic changes. The results could offer more basis to ensure the clinical safety of patients undergoing blood transfusion.
Le “fonti anonime” di conoscenza ed il processo penale (2017)

EnglishThe jurisprudence about the application modalities of anonymous sources of law has led to a slow, yet progressive erosion of those protection systems, originally set by the legislator in order to defend the “genetic certainty” of the procedure sources. As a direct and immediate consequence, this has resulted in a substantial change in the usability regime of the cognitive results produced or producible by the anonymous sources of knowledge, as well as in a potential opening on further interpretative developments . italianoLa giurisprudenza di merito e di legittimita formatasi in ordine alle modalita applicative della normativa sulle fonti anonime ha generato una lenta, ma progressiva erosione dei presidi di impermeabilita originariamente posti dal legislatore a tutela della certezza genetica delle fonti processuali. Conseguenza diretta ed immediata ne e stata la sostanziale alterazione del regime di utilizzabilita dei risultati conoscitivi prodotti e producibili dalle fonti anonime di conoscenza, nonche la contestuale apertura della problematica ad ulteriori sviluppi interpretativi.
Lovastatin Prevents Steroid Induced Adipogenesis and Osteonecrosis (1997)

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head was induced experimentally in chickens after the administration of a high dose of corticosteroids. Lovastatin was used to prevent the effects of the steroid on adipogenesis in cultured cells, and adipogenesis and osteonecrosis in chickens. The in vitro study, with marrow cells in culture, showed that Lovastatin inhibited steroid induced fat specific gene expression and counteracted the inhibitory effects of steroids on osteoblastic gene expression. For the in vivo study, 83 adult chickens were used: 48 received methylprednisolone 3 mg/kg weekly via intramuscular injection (Group A). Fifteen received the steroid (as in Group A) plus Lovastatin 20 mg per animal per day orally (Group B). Ten chickens received Lovastatin only (Group C). Another 10 received no medication and served as the control group (Group D). Evidence of osteonecrosis was observed in specimens from Group A, including subchondral bone death and resorption, fat cell proliferation, and new bone formation. Conversely, sections from Group B showed less adipogenesis and no bone death. It is concluded that the bipedal chicken is a useful animal model for studies of osteonecrosis and that lipid clearing agents, such as Lovastatin, may be helpful in preventing the development of steroid induced osteonecrosis.
Learning Pyramid-Context Encoder Network for High-Quality Image Inpainting (2019)

High-quality image inpainting requires filling missing regions in a damaged image with plausible content. Existing works either fill the regions by copying high-resolution patches or generating semantically-coherent patches from region context, while neglecting the fact that both visual and semantic plausibility are highly-demanded. In this paper, we propose a Pyramid-context Encoder Network (denoted as PEN-Net) for image inpainting by deep generative models. The proposed PEN-Net is built upon a U-Net structure with three tailored components, ie., a pyramid-context encoder, a multi-scale decoder, and an adversarial training loss. First, we adopt a U-Net as backbone which can encode the context of an image from high-resolution pixels into high-level semantic features, and decode the features reversely. Second, we propose a pyramid-context encoder, which progressively learns region affinity by attention from a high-level semantic feature map, and transfers the learned attention to its adjacent high-resolution feature map. As the missing content can be filled by attention transfer from deep to shallow in a pyramid fashion, both visual and semantic coherence for image inpainting can be ensured. Third, we further propose a multi-scale decoder with deeply-supervised pyramid losses and an adversarial loss. Such a design not only results in fast convergence in training, but more realistic results in testing. Extensive experiments on a broad range of datasets shows the superior performance of the proposed network.