gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Class II transactivator and class II MHC gene expression in microglia: modulation by the cytokines TGF-β, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10 (1999)

Microglia are the resident macrophages of the brain, and when activated, have functions including cytokine production, phagocytosis and antigen presentation. The class II MHC genes encode proteins that present antigenic peptides to helper T cells, leading to T cell activation and the development of an antigen-specific immune response. Class II MHC gene expression is strictly regulated by the class II transactivator (CIITA) transcription factor. In this study, we investigated the effects of various immunomodulatory cytokines on IFN-gamma induction of class II MHC and CIITA gene expression in microglia, both primary microglia and a murine microglial cell line, EOC 20. By flow cytometry analysis we show that IFN-gamma-induced surface expression of class II MHC molecules on EOC 20 cells can be inhibited by the cytokines TGF-beta1, IL-4 and IL-10, but not IL-13. Using a ribonuclease protection assay, we have found that TGF-beta1, IL-4 and IL-10 act by inhibiting the expression of IFN-gamma-induced CIITA mRNA and, in turn, class II MHC mRNA. TGF-beta1, IL-4, and IL-10 inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced CIITA mRNA accumulation was not due to destabilization of CIITA mRNA, suggesting an effect at the level of transcription. In primary murine microglia, IL-10 and TGF-beta1 inhibited IFN-gamma-induced CIITA and class II MHC expression. However, a discordant effect of IL-4 was noted in that IL-4 enhanced IFN-gamma-induced CIITA and class II MHC expression in primary microglia. Although some differences are observed between EOC 20 cells and primary microglia in terms of responsiveness to TGF-beta, IL-4 and IL-10, CIITA and class II MHC gene expression are coordinately modulated.
Analysis and design of a Variable Flux Memory Motor for a humanoid robot application (2012)

Experiments were conducted to characterize renal lesions in chickens induced by four strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); each has been described as nephropathogenic. Those strains were also compared in vaccinated and unvaccinated older chickens for nephropathogenicity. The younger birds were much more susceptible to the nephritogenic effects of the strains. All four strains produced acute renal changes consisting of tubular damage and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and edema. Although both cortex and medulla were involved, the latter was generally affected more severely. The Holte strain proved to be the least pathogenic, followed by the more pathogenic Gray and Italian strains and finally by the Australian strain. All four strains produced similar chronic renal changes in unvaccinated birds, with no correlation to the severity of lesions seen at the acute phase. Chronic active and inactive types of interstitial nephritis were seen at the chronic phase. Vaccinated birds challenged with the Australian strain had the highest prevalence of the chronic active type of interstitial nephritis. The implication of renal viral persistence in the development of chronic active interstitial nephritis is discussed.
A model of thalamocortical relay cells (2004)

It is well established that the main intrinsic electrophysiological properties of thalamocortical relay cells, production of a low threshold burst upon release from hyperpolarized potential and production of a train of single spikes following stimulation from depolarized potentials, can be readily modelled using a single compartment. There is, however, another less well explored intrinsic electrophysiological characteristic of relay cells for which models have not yet accounted: at somatic potentials near spike threshold, relay cells produce a fast ragged high threshold oscillation in somatic voltage. Optical [Ca(2+)] imaging and pharmacological tests indicate that this oscillation correlates with a high threshold Ca(2+) current in the dendrites. Here we present the development of a new compartment model of the thalamic relay cell guided by the simultaneous constraints that it must produce the familiar regular spiking relay mode and low threshold rebound bursts which characterize these cells, as well as the less-studied fast oscillation occurring at near-threshold somatic potentials. We arrive at a model cell which is capable of the production of isolated high threshold Ca(2+) spikes in distal branch segments, driven by a rapidly inactivating intermediate threshold Ca(2+) channel. Further, the model produces the low threshold spike behaviour of the relay cell without requiring high T-current density in the distal dendritic segments. The results thus support a new picture of the dendritic tree of relay cells which may have implications for the manner in which thalamic relay cells integrate descending input from the cortex.
A new transthyretin mutation associated with amyloid cardiomyopathy. (1992)

In transthyretin (TTR) a new mutation (TTR-Thr45) has been identified in a patient with familial amyloidosis characterized clinically by prominent cardiomyopathy and the absence of peripheral neuropathy. Comparative peptide mapping by high-performance liquid chromatography of the patient's plasma TTR together with normal TTR showed the presence of an abnormal tryptic peptide in the patient's TTR. The sequence of this peptide (peptide 6, residues 36-48) demonstrated the presence of a threonine-for-alanine substitution at position 45. This change can be explained by a single base change of adenine for guanine in the Ala-45 codon and was demonstrated directly by DNA sequence analysis of PCR-amplified exon 2 of the TTR gene; allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization both in the patient and in fixed heart tissue from his aunt confirmed the base change. The TTR-Thr45 mutation is a new variant TTR found associated with cardiomyopathy.
Performance of 32-channel time-division SQUID multiplexer for cryogenic detector arrays (2003)

Multiplexed readout is a requirement for the successful deployment of large-scale cryogenic detector arrays in applications ranging from x-ray microanalysis to sub-millimeter astronomy. We report on the development of a time-division SQUID multiplexer (SQUID MUX) to read out one column of a 32/spl times/32 transition-edge sensor (TES) array. The new SQUID MUX has three stages. Individual TES pixels inductively couple to first-stage SQUID's, which are summed and coupled to a second-stage SQUID via a superconducting transformer. The first- and second-stage SQUID's are integrated on the same chip and are operated at the working temperature of the detectors of about 100 mK. The second stage SQUID is read out by a SQUID series array at 4K. Compared to former designs, the new SQUID MUX features a balanced input configuration to reduce crosstalk between read-out channels. In this paper we discuss the SQUID MUX design and analyze the noise and bandwidth performance of the SQUID multiplexer. Multiplexing of test input signals utilizing digital feedback electronics is demonstrated.
The method of intercepts in parameter space for the analysis of local minima caused by dose–volume constraints (2003)

The local minima problem in radiotherapy optimization has been a concern for both researchers and physicians. In this work, local minima induced by dose-volume histogram (DVH) constraints are discussed. The non-convex property of the feasible set formed by DVH constraints is discussed in beam weight space. An intuitive explanation of the origin of this type of local minima is given by a two-beam model setup. Some interesting properties and insights about the DVH-induced local minima are found. Based on this, a heuristic non-random initial guess sampling method is proposed and applied to a clinical nasopharyngeal case, where some significantly different local minima are located.
Serum stimulation of quiescent human fibroblasts induces the synthesis of tissue factor mRNA followed by the appearance of tissue factor antigen and procoagulant activity (1989)

Expression of the gene for tissue factor, the cell-surface initiator of blood coagulation, was examined by stimulating growth-arrested human fibroblasts with serum and measuring changes in the cellular content of tissue factor mRNA, antigen, and activity. Maximum tissue factor mRNA levels were reached within 1 h following serum induction and slowly declined to basal levels from 24 to 48 h after stimulation. The appearance of the tissue factor mRNA was followed by an increase in tissue factor antigen and activity. The parallel rise in antigenically positive protein and procoagulant activity was first observed about 2 h after serum stimulation with a peak at 12 h followed by a slow decline during the next 36 h. The serum-induced synthesis of the tissue factor mRNA was independent of de novo protein synthesis as demonstrated by the increased tissue factor mRNA levels generated in the presence of cycloheximide. The results of this study suggest that the synthesis of tissue factor in human fibroblasts is regulated principally at the level of transcription. In one strain of fibroblasts the activity/antigen ratio, during the period of maximum synthesis, was indistinguishable from that of tissue factor which had been immunoaffinity purified from human brain and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. However, during serum starvation the activity/antigen ratio in these cells was significantly reduced. Western blot analysis revealed that in serum-starved cells there was an accumulation of truncated forms of the tissue factor antigen while in the serum-stimulated cells only the full-length antigen was observed.
Histochemical Localization of Nitric Oxide Neurons in the Hypothalamus: Association with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons and Co-Localization with N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors (1995)

The neurotransmitter glutamate plays an important role in the control of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. Recent evidence suggests that the novel transmitter nitric oxide may also play a role in controlling GnRH release and may be an important mediator of glutamate effects. To explore the role of nitric oxide in these events, the present study determined the distribution of the enzyme which catalyzes nitric oxide production, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the hypothalamus, its association with GnRH neurons, and whether NOS neurons contain NMDA receptors. NOS was localized by staining hypothalamic sections from female rats for NADPH-diaphorase activity. Specific antibodies for GnRH and the NMDAR1 receptor subunit were used for double-staining to determine NOS association with GnRH neurons and the presence of NMDA R1 receptor subunits in hypothalamic NOS neurons. The studies showed intense NOS cell body and fiber staining in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) where numerous GnRH cell bodies are located. Other major GnRH cell body sites such as the median preoptic nucleus (MPN) and medial preoptic area (MPOA) displayed moderate staining of NOS cell bodies and fibers. Intense NOS staining was also observed in the median eminence, ventromedial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. While no GnRH neurons were found to double stain for NOS in the hypothalamus, GnRH neurons were frequently surrounded by NOS neurons in the OVLT, MPN and MPOA with potential contacts between NOS and GnRH neurons in these areas. In addition, there was significant overlap of GnRH and NOS fibers in the lateral portion of the internal zone of the median eminence where GnRH fibers and terminals converge. Double-staining studies for NADPH-diaphorase and NMDA R1 receptor subunit showed that many NOS neurons in the OVLT, MPOA, ventromedial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus co-localize the NMDA R1 receptor subunit. Localization of NMDA R1 receptor subunit immunoreactivity in B-NOS neurons in the hypothalamus was further confirmed by using combined immunohistochemistry-in situ hybridization. Finally, the functional importance of this co-localization was shown by the finding that central administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor blocked the ability of NMDA to induce LH secretion. Taken as a whole, these studies provide evidence which support a role for nitric oxide as an important regulator of GnRH neurons in the female. They also suggest that hypothalamic NOS neurons are targets for glutamate regulation as evidenced by co-localization of the NMDA R1 receptor subunit.
Instruments for Co-registration of Ultra-Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Images and Magnetoencephalography (2024)

No abstract prepared.
<title>Ablation of hard dental tissues with an ArF-pulsed excimer laser</title> (1991)

The interaction of 15 ns pulses from an ArF excimer laser with hard dental tissue was investigated for the purpose of obtaining practical information on the ablation process. Dark field fast photography utilizing an auxiliary, 15 ns Nd:Yag laser 'probe', was used to study the ablation plume dynamics as a function of time, luminescence were studied at different fluence levels and prr. Dentin ablation was found to be about four times as efficient as ablation of enamel in the higher fluence levels tested (> 10 J/cm<sup>2</sup>) and about twice as efficient as the ablation in the lower fluence regime (approximately equals 1 J/cm<sup>2</sup>). The dentin etch depth per pulse was found to increase exponentially with fluence (at least up to the tested level of 11 J/cm<sup>2</sup>), while in enamel the etch depth per pulse appears to increase logarithmically with fluence. Dentin ablation yields a larger, more dense plume which can be ejected (depending on the fluence level) to a height of several millimeters above the surface with observed ejection velocity in access of 1200 m/s. The dentin plume consisted of a relatively uniform particle size distribution (0.1 micrometers to 10 micrometers in diameter). Enamel ablation, on the other hand, yields a smaller observed ejection velocities (about 800 m/s), and a much smaller plume of fine particles (about 0.1 micrometers in diameter) and gases, confined to within 0.5 mm of the surface. In addition, an even smaller amount of highly non-uniform debris, (from ten to several hundred micrometers in size) is observed to be ejected to higher levels, and reach roughly half the height of the corresponding dentin plume for similar fluence levels. Although both dentin and enamel yield lower ablation efficiencies at 1 Hz, no significant difference is detected between the ablation efficiency at 5 Hz and ablation 10 Hz prr. Both materials remained within 20 degree(s)C of room temperature even at fluences as high as 20 J/cm<sup>2</sup> and prr as high as 10 Hz for enamel and 20 Hz for dentin. Although both materials attained temperature higher than 100 degree(s)C at prr greater than 50 Hz, enamel tends to become much warmer than dentin at this higher prr regime, and its surface temperature is more sensitive to fluence level. Both enamel and dentin ablation with fluence levels higher than approximately equals 1 J/cm<sup>2</sup> and at prr lower than 50 Hz, yielded smooth, thermal-damage-free surfaces. At sufficiently low fluence (< 1 J/cm<sup>2</sup>) only partial ablation is observed while rough and irregular surfaces are left behind. Spectral luminescence signatures generated by the ablation were found to be similar in both dentin and enamel, and to consist, initially, of broad plasma continuum, and later, of well defined Calcium atomic and ionic transition peaks.
Role of the Cytoskeleton in Mediating cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Inhibition of the Epithelial Na+/H+ Exchanger NHE3 (2001)

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger NHE3 isoform mediates the entry of Na(+) into epithelial cells of the kidney and gastrointestinal tract. Hormones and pharmacological agents that activate cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) are potent inhibitors of native and ectopically expressed NHE3 in epithelial and Chinese hamster ovary AP-1 cells, respectively. Previous studies have shown that acute inhibition is coupled to direct phosphorylation of the exchanger, but this only partly accounts for the observed effects. In this report, we show that inhibition of NHE3 activity by forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, occurs without changes in surface expression of the exchanger but is associated with altered cytoskeletal structure. This effect resembles that obtained with cytochalasin D or latrunculin B, actin disrupting agents that also inhibit NHE3. Such similarities prompted us to further investigate the relationship between PKA-induced inhibition of the exchanger and changes in the actin cytoskeleton. Inhibition of NHE3 by cytochalasin D does not require PKA, because the inhibitory effect is preserved in a mutant NHE3 that is not phosphorylated by PKA and in cells pretreated with the PKA inhibitor H89. In contrast, involvement of actin in the effect of cAMP on the exchanger is supported by the following observations: (i) jasplakinolide, an F-actin stabilizer, prevents the inhibition caused by forskolin, and (ii) constitutively active forms of RhoA and Rho kinase interfere with actin disruption by forskolin and also decrease inhibition of the transporter. These results suggest that reorganization of the cytoskeleton by PKA is involved in mediating inhibition of NHE3.
IC‐P2‐119: Differential fMRI activity in response to novel emotional faces in individuals with mild cognitive impairment versus elderly controls (2008)

We previously observed robust activation in the hippocampal region in response to novel valenced stimuli during an fMRI recognition memory paradigm in healthy individuals across the lifespan. In this study, we compared activation during the memory task in elderly controls (EC) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In 23 right-handed participants (15 EC, 8 MCI; 16M/7F; mean age=71.6), neural activity was compared for novel and previously learned (familiar) items. During encoding, participants viewed 10 B/W pictures of baby and elderly faces with happy/sad expressions repeated in a block 6x, alternating with blocks of 10 circles. Participants indicated whether each face was happy or sad. After a 20-minute consolidation period, the 10 encoded faces were presented 4x each intermixed with 40 new faces (half happy, half sad). Participants identified “new” or previously learned (“old”) faces. Random effects group analysis was performed using SPM5 to compare activity in response to novel vs familiar faces. Outside the scanner, participants viewed 40 new faces (half sad, half happy), 10 faces from the encoding scan, and 80 novel faces from the recognition scan. They indicated whether each face was “new” or “old” and rated valence and arousal of each face. EC showed significant activity in right fusiform and hippocampal regions in response to novel faces compared to previously learned faces (MNI coordinates FF: 40, -58, -14, T=8.07; pcorrected=.0001; HC: 22, -12, -16; T=5.60, puncorrected=.048). Significant activations were also observed in occipital and frontal cortices. A similar pattern was found in response to baby faces but did not hold for elderly faces, suggesting that arousal is important. MCI did not show increased activity in response to novel versus familiar faces in predicted regions. Groups did not significantly differ in overall reaction time/accuracy during encoding, valence/arousal ratings or accuracy during the post-scan task, or on the Florida Affect Battery, suggesting MCIs' affective perception was intact. MCIs were slower and less accurate during recognition scans. Lack of encoding-associated activity in MCIs suggests that continued studies of the functional correlates of the emotional-memory enhancement effect in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease are warranted.
Characterization of a sialic acid- and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1-independent adhesin activity in the granulocytotropic bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum (2006)

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the aetiologic agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, is an obligate intracellular bacterium that colonizes neutrophils and neutrophil precursors. The granulocytotropic bacterium uses multiple adhesins that cooperatively bind to the N-terminal region of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and to sialyl Lewis x (sLe(x)) expressed on myeloid cell surfaces. Recognition of sLe(x) occurs through interactions with alpha2,3-sialic acid and alpha1,3-fucose. It is unknown whether other bacteria-host cell interactions are involved. In this study, we have enriched for A. phagocytophilum organisms that do not rely on sialic acid for cellular adhesion and entry by maintaining strain NCH-1 in HL-60 cells that are severely undersialylated. The selected bacteria, termed NCH-1A, also exhibit lessened dependencies on PSGL-1 and alpha1,3-fucose. Optimal adhesion and invasion by NCH-1A require interactions with the known determinants (sialic acid, PSGL-1 and alpha1,3-fucose), but none of them is absolutely necessary. NCH-1A binding to sLe(x)-modified PSGL-1 requires recognition of the known determinants in the same manners as other A. phagocytophilum strains. These data suggest that A. phagocytophilum expresses a separate adhesin from those targeting sialic acid, alpha1,3-fucose and the N-terminal region of PSGL-1. We propose that NCH-1A upregulates expression of this adhesin.
Base station selection and per-cell codebook optimization for CoMP with joint processing (2012)

In cellular networks coordination among base stations (BSs) has been recognized as an important solution to handle inter-cell interference and increase spectral efficiency. In frequency division duplex systems one of the main issue that sensibly degrades the performance of coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission techniques is the imperfect channel state information (CSI) due to the limited bandwidth available for the feedback transmission. In this paper we focus on a CoMP scenario with data and CSI sharing among the BSs and we consider a feedback transmission scheme where each user equipment (UE) quantizes the different channels by using codebooks designed for a single-cell scenario. Due to the different propagation characteristics of the channels between a UE and each BS and by considering a constraint on the number of available feedback bits, we propose two practical algorithms depending on the large-scale fading to a) select the subset of BSs from whom the UE prefers to be served and b) optimize the number of feedback bits allocated to each channel. The developed techniques allow a UE to send more feedback bits to the BSs with a stronger signal and numerical results show the merits of the proposed approach.
Probabilistic Occupancy Filter for Parking Slot Marker Detection in an Autonomous Parking System Using AVM (2018)

Many car makers have examined parking assistance systems and auto parking systems that automatically find free parking spaces and can park a car. The around view monitoring (AVM) can compensate for the disadvantages of distance-sensor-based detection because it can recognize parking spaces based on parking slot markers instead of empty spaces. However, in the case of AVM-based parking marker recognition, false-positive (FP) features can be detected from 3-D objects and shadows, and the parking slot marker is occluded by the vehicle on which the AVM camera is attached. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic occupancy filter to detect parking slot markers. This filter uses a series of AVM images and onboard sensors to improve the occlusion problem and reduce the FPs from other objects. Each pixel of an AVM image has an occupancy probability of parking slot marker features. The occupancy probability compensates for using vehicle motion and updates using the error model of the AVM system and the performance indicator of the feature extractor.