gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Contrast Sensitivity for Letter and Grating Targets under Various Stimulus Conditions (1989)

Measurement of visual acuity for letters of different contrasts has been suggested as a clinical way to evaluate contrast sensitivity in patients with vision abnormalities. If variable-contrast letter acuity provides information similar to the contrast sensitivity function (CSF), then comparable effects should be seen in stimulus manipulations which simulate decreased vision. Using both our own and published data, we compared the effects of diffusive blur, dioptric blur, and eccentric viewing on contrast sensitivity for letter and grating targets. A diffuser placed close to the eye reduces contrast sensitivity fairly evenly across all spatial frequencies, with similar results for letters and gratings. However, dioptric blur reduces sensitivity substantially more to letters than to comparably fine gratings. Eccentric viewing also produces a larger sensitivity loss for letters than for gratings. Because some stimulus manipulations produce dissimilar changes in contrast sensitivity for letters and gratings, it is questionable whether the results of one measure can be used to draw inferences about the other. It is proposed that local or relative phase discrimination has an important role in explaining the different responses to letter and grating targets.
Testing the ability of ADM1 to represent the anaerobic digestion of microalgae (2011)

International audience
Evaluation of BepanGel Hydrogel Efficacy and Tolerability Using an Abrasive Wound Model in a Within-Person, Single-Center, Randomized, Investigator-Blind Clinical Investigation (2020)

EUDAMED-No.: CIV-19-09-029744.
Noninvasive ventilation for prevention of post-extubation respiratory failure in obese patients (2006)

Current recommendations for management of obese patients post-extubation are based on clinical experience and expert opinions. It was hypothesised that the application of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) during the first 48 h after extubation in severely obese patients would reduce post-extubation failure and avert the need for reintubation. Following protocol-driven weaning trials, 62 consecutive severely obese patients (body mass index > or =35 kg x m(-2)) were assigned to NIV via nasal mask immediately post-extubation and compared with 62 historically matched controls who were treated with conventional therapy. The primary end-point was the incidence of respiratory failure in the first 48 h post-extubation. Compared with conventional therapy, the institution of NIV resulted in 16% (95% confidence interval 2.9-29.3%) absolute risk reduction in the rate of respiratory failure. There was a significant difference in the intensive care unit and lengths of hospital stay between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of hypercapnic patients showed reduced hospital mortality in the NIV group compared with the control group. In conclusion, noninvasive ventilation may be effective in averting respiratory failure in severely obese patients when applied during the first 48 h post-extubation. In selected patients with chronic hypercarbia, early application of noninvasive ventilation may confer a survival benefit.
<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Responds to the Central Metabolite Pyruvate To Regulate Virulence (2018)

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is a versatile bacterial pathogen that can cause significant disease burden and mortality. Like other pathogens, <i>S. aureus</i> must adapt to its environment to produce virulence factors to survive the immune responses evoked by infection. Despite the importance of environmental signals for <i>S. aureus</i> pathogenicity, only a limited number of these signals have been investigated in detail for their ability to modulate virulence. Here we show that pyruvate, a central metabolite, causes alterations in the overall metabolic flux of <i>S. aureus</i> and enhances its pathogenicity. We demonstrate that pyruvate induces the production of virulence factors such as the pore-forming leucocidins and that this induction results in increased virulence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> (CA-MRSA) clone USA300. Specifically, we show that an efficient "pyruvate response" requires the activation of <i>S. aureus</i> master regulators AgrAC and SaeRS as well as the ArlRS two-component system. Altogether, our report further establishes a strong relationship between metabolism and virulence and identifies pyruvate as a novel regulatory signal for the coordination of the <i>S. aureus</i> virulon through intricate regulatory networks.<b>IMPORTANCE</b> Delineation of the influence of host-derived small molecules on the makeup of human pathogens is a growing field in understanding host-pathogen interactions. <i>S. aureus</i> is a prominent pathogen that colonizes up to one-third of the human population and can cause serious infections that result in mortality in ~15% of cases. Here, we show that pyruvate, a key nutrient and central metabolite, causes global changes to the metabolic flux of <i>S. aureus</i> and activates regulatory networks that allow significant increases in the production of leucocidins. These and other virulence factors are critical for <i>S. aureus</i> to infect diverse host niches, initiate infections, and effectively subvert host immune responses. Understanding how environmental signals, particularly ones that are essential to and prominent in the human host, affect virulence will allow us to better understand pathogenicity and consider more-targeted approaches to tackling the current <i>S. aureus</i> epidemic.
U7 small nuclear RNA in C snurposomes of the Xenopus germinal vesicle. (1993)

In the amphibian germinal vesicle small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) occur in morphologically distinct structures called snurposomes. Three types (A, B, and C) have been distinguished on the basis of cytological appearance and snRNA composition. C snurposomes in Xenopus are spherical bodies ranging in diameter from < 1 microns to about 10 microns. They stain intensely with antibodies against trimethylguanosine and the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-specific Sm antigen but give weak or negative in situ hybridization reactions for the snRNAs involved in pre-mRNA splicing (U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6). We show here that C snurposomes in the Xenopus germinal vesicle contain U7 snRNA, an snRNA of low abundance involved in processing the 3' end of histone pre-mRNA. Xenopus U7 is 58 nucleotides long and is capped at the 5' end with trimethylguanosine. C snurposomes are often associated with B snurposomes, which contain the splicing snRNAs but not U7; B and C snurposomes together constitute a morphologically complex structure known as a sphere or sphere organelle. Although most spheres and C snurposomes are extrachromosomal, a few are attached at the histone gene loci on chromosomes 8, 9, and 16. Because they contain U7 snRNA and occur at the sites of histone pre-mRNA synthesis, C snurposomes presumably play a role in processing histone transcripts.
ChemInform Abstract: INTRAMOLECULAR CARBONYLATION OF VINYL HALIDES TO FORM METHYLENE LACTONES (1981)

Abstract Aus den Hydroxyalkenylbromiden (I) erhält man mit Nickeltetracarbonyl unter CO‐Insertion die Methylenlactone (II).
Magnetic exchange coupling for bilayered Ni81Fe19/NiO and trilayered Ni81Fe19/NiFeNb/NiO films (1993)

Exchange coupling between a ferromagnetic film and an antiferromagnetic NiO film was investigated. Bilayered ferromagnetic Ni81Fe19/antiferromagnetic NiO films had a large exchange coupling field and blocking temperature of about 200 °C. In trilayered Ni81Fe19/ferromagnetic (Ni81Fe19)100−xNbx/NiO films, a way could be developed to control the exchange coupling field at a small value by increasing the Nb of the intermediate film. The most important factor in the control seemed to be that the numbers of magnetic Fe and Ni atoms of (Ni81Fe19)100−xNbx, which contributed to the exchange coupling between (Ni81Fe19)100−xNbx and NiO, varied with the existence of nonmagnetic Nb at their interface. From experimental results with other trilayered Ni81Fe19/ferromagnetic (Ni100−xFex)93Nb7/NiO films, it was ascertained that the exchange coupling field seemed to be independent of the magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic film although unidirectional anisotropy constant was proportional to it. As for blocking temperature, it did not seem to be determined by the magnetism of the ferromagnetic material but the magnetism of the antiferromagnetic material.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CYCLOSPORINE PHARMACOKINETIC PARAMETERS AND SUBSEQUENT ACUTE REJECTION IN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS (1988)

The best approach to determining the optimal dose of cyclosporine in renal transplant recipients is unclear. In this prospective investigation, CsA pharmacokinetic studies were performed in 45 patients 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the initiation of CsA. Data from 104 studies were then combined to analyze the relationship between CsA kinetic parameters and posttransplant clinical events. Random trough levels, used in the day-to-day adjustment of CsA dose, were examined separately in 19 of the 45 study patients. All CsA levels were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography. Results showed: (1) trough CsA levels, obtained by random sampling, or from the kinetic studies, correlated poorly with dose; however, there was a good correlation between CsA dose and maximum concentration (Cmax, r = .39, P less than .001), area under the concentration-time curve (AUC, r = .45, P less than .001), and terminal elimination half-life (r = .43, P less than .001); (2) several pharmacokinetic parameters correlated with subsequent rejection episodes; patients with acute rejection within 2 or 4 weeks after study had 15-31% lower Cmax (P less than .05) and 13-19% lower AUC (P less than .05) compared to those who were rejection-free; and (3) levels of blood constituents known to bind CsA also correlated with rejection, and this correlation was independent of the impact of kinetic parameters on rejection. Altogether, these results suggested that a limited number of CsA pharmacokinetic studies may be more useful than multiple, random trough levels in monitoring CsA therapy.
The Fibrinolytic System in Experimental Prostate Tumor (1986)

Hypofibrinogenemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation are common events in patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma. This study tests the hypothesis that prostate tumor growth and metastasis is associated with sustained activation of fibrinolysis secondary to increased release of plasminogen activator. We implanted an androgen-insensitive prostate tumor into an inbred strain of rats and serially measured plasminogen, plasminogen activator, plasmin and fibrinogen. Control groups included animals without tumor and a group implanted with transitional cell bladder carcinoma, a locally infiltrating tumor not usually associated with hemostatic complications. Our results showed a significant and steady rise in plasma plasminogen activator, plasmin and fibrinogen levels in animals implanted with prostate cancer. This, however, is not specific for prostate tumor. Similar, perhaps more profound changes were noted in animals implanted with the transitional cell carcinoma.
Sulfur dioxide, sodium sulfate (2008)

List of Contributors. Preface. How to use the Corrosion Handbook. Sulfur Dioxide (L. Hasenberg, R. Bender). A. Metallic materials. Aluminum and aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys, iron, iron-based alloys and steels, nickel and nickel alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, zinc, cadmium and their alloys. B. Non-metallic inorganic materials. Carbon and graphite, binders for building materials, glass, quartz ware and quartz glass, enamel, oxide ceramic materials, metal ceramic materials. C. Organic materials/plastics. Thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, elastomers, duroplasts. D. Materials with special properties. Coatings and linings, seals and packings, composite materials. E. Materials recommendations. Bibliography.
Constitutive activation of transcription factors NF-?B, AP-1, and NF-IL6 in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines that express pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines (1999)

We previously reported that human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) express the pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in vitro and in vivo. The promoter region of the genes encoding these cytokines include binding sites for the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF) kappaB/Rel A, activator protein-1 (AP-1), and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta, or NF-IL6), which have been reported to contribute to activation of these cytokine genes. In the study presented here, we examined the activation, composition, and function of these transcription factors in HNSCC cell lines that express pro-inflammatory cytokines, by using electrophoretic mobility shift and reporter-gene assays. Constitutive activation of NF-kappaB, AP-1, and NF-IL6 DNA-binding proteins was detected. Supershift analysis with antibodies specific for NF-kappaB, AP-1, and NF-IL6 binding proteins showed that the NF-kappaB-binding protein included p65/Rel A and p50; AP-1 activity included c-jun, junB, junD, and Fra-1; and NF-IL6 included C/EBPbeta. Mutational analysis of the NF-kappaB, AP-1, and NF-IL6 sites in the IL-8 promoter region showed that NF-kappaB and AP-1 sites contributed to constitutive IL-8 reporter activity in HNSCC. HNSCC lines that exhibited increased IL-8 secretion relative to simian virus 40-immortalized and primary keratinocyte cell lines also demonstrated a concordant increase in NF-kappaB reporter activity relative to nonmalignant keratinocytes. We concluded that the early transcription factors NF-kappaB, AP-1, and NF-IL6 are constitutively activated in human HNSCC cell lines and that NF-kappaB and AP-1 promote expression of the pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic cytokine IL-8 in HNSCC. The demonstration of the activation of these transcription factors will be helpful in defining the identity and role of these and other early gene products that contribute to pathogenesis of the malignant phenotype in HNSCC and in defining potential targets for pharmacologic and molecular therapy of HNSCC. Mol. Carcinog. 26:119-129, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Short‐, Mid‐, and Long‐Term Reproducibility of the Atrial Signal‐Averaged Electrocardiogram in Healthy Subjects: Comparison with the Conventional Ventricular Signal‐Averaged Electrocardiogram (2000)

Although atrial signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) has been proposed for noninvasive identification of patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias, the substantial variability of the measurement limits the clinical value. The aim of the study was to assess the short- to long-term reproducibility of atrial SAECG and to compare it to that of the conventional ventricular SAECG in 51 healthy volunteers (30 men; age 32 +/- 8 years). In each subject, SAECG recordings were obtained using MAC-VU electrocardiograph and HiRES and PHiRES software (Marquette Medical Systems) and repeated after 5 minutes, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month. Automatically detected onset and offset of the filtered QRS complex and P wave were subsequently corrected by two independent observers, and the averaged values were used for the analysis. Conventional ventricular SAECG parameters: filtered QRS duration (QRStot), low amplitude signal duration, and root mean square voltage (RMS) of the terminal 40 ms of QRS, and 5 atrial parameters: filtered P wave duration (Ptot), RMS of the terminal 40, 30, 20 ms, and of the entire P wave were obtained. Relative errors of different pairs of measures were used to assess the intrasubject reproducibility. QRStot and Ptot were the most reproducible parameters. The relative errors after 5 minutes, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month were 0.8% to 2.4% for QRStot, and 1.3% to 4.2% for Ptot. For RMS voltages, the relative errors exceeded 15% in short-term and 20% in long-term recordings. Although Ptot was statistically less reproducible than QRStot, the reproducibility of the former was good and comparable to that of the QRStot. The reproducibility of the voltage parameters was significantly poorer than that of the duration parameters. The study showed a satisfactory short- and long-term reproducibility of Ptot in the atrial SAECG in healthy subjects. However, low reproducibility of the voltage parameters should be considered in clinical applications.
Using finite element analysis and thermal stress monitoring to manage turbine defects without mechanical intervention (1995)

Well over half of the steam turbines in the United States will be operating past their design life (typically 30 years) by the end of the decade. Utilities are looking to meet current and future power requirements using this existing equipment. To insure safe and economically justifiable operation until the projected unit decommissioning, utilities must seek the latest technology to provide repair options and operational strategies. The majority of turbine casing and rotor defects are initiated and propagated by thermal stress. These defects include low-cycle fatigue cracking, distortion, and creep rupture. In the past, defects of this nature were typically remedied through direct mechanical intervention such as grinding, welding, and machining. While these techniques are effective, they often require significant cost and time investments in order to implement, and the life of the repair may needlessly exceed the desired service life of the turbine itself. Evaluation techniques such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Fracture Mechanics now allow for accurate determination of the effect of defects on the remaining life of turbine components. Thermal Stress Monitoring (TSM) provides the feedback necessary to ensure that the calculated maximum stress is not exceeded. Choosing this monitoring process over repairs can save valuable more » outage time and repair expense. This paper will review the background and history behind thermal stress monitoring, the theory behind it, and the process for implementing a modern thermal stress monitoring system. « less
Effects of Drugs of Abuse on Reproductive Function in Women and Pregnancy (1994)

In the United States, the prevalence of substance use and abuse in women has been increasing over the last 20 yr. According to a 1984 survey in three major metropolitan areas sponsored by the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), alcohol abuse and dependence ranked fourth among psychiatric disorders in women aged 18–24, and drug abuse and/or dependence was the second most common psychiatric disorder among women aged 18–24,In a National Household Survey conducted in 1991, more than half (57.8 and 52.8%, respectively) of all women ages 18–25 and 26–34 yr reported that they had used alcohol during the previous month, and more than 1 in 10 women surveyed in these age groups (13.4 and 11.2%, respectively) had used some illicit drug during the same interval.Prevalence estimates for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin use are presented in Fig. 1. However, these figures may be underrepresented as this was a household survey and the prevalence of substance abuse may indeed be higher in women who have comprised socioeconomic status.
Surface modification of silica, titania, and zinc oxide micro particles with epoxidized soybean oil for preparation of polystyrene composite films (2009)

Abstract A novel and convenient procedure is presented for bilayered encapsulation of silica, ZnO, and TiO 2 microparticles using highly adhesive unsaturated polyester, poly (2‐hydroxy propylene maleate) (PHM) and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO). Thus, adsorption of PHM onto the particle surfaces from acetone solution (under sonication) and followed curing at 180°C resulted in self crosslinking of the polyester layer by thermally induced addition of its free‐hydroxy groups to the maleate double bonds. The adsorption of the polyester onto particle surfaces was demonstrated to obey typical Langmuir isotherms. The oil was tethered onto particle surfaces through residual hydroxy groups of the crosslinked polyester layer at 180°C. Thermo gravimetrical analyses (TGA), FTIR spectra, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the oil‐modified pigments clearly indicated presence of organic layers (26.4–37.3% w/w) with 0.1–0.15 μm thicknesses. The resulting organically modified particles were demonstrated to give fairly stable and homogenous dispersions in concentrated polystyrene solutions. Those dispersions were employed for preparing nearly transparent cast films on glass substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the freestanding films did not show any phase separation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Software structure design for a haptic-based medical examination system (2005)

This work presents a novel approach to software structure design of a haptic-based medical examination simulator. The proposed software is implemented in a fully object-oriented structure that provides real-time interaction with a PHANToM/spl trade/ haptic device, as a diagnostic tool for medical experts. The software allows radiology experts to visualize, display and interact with the graphical model of a patient's pre-scanned organ or tissue. The expert is also able to re-slice through pre-registered model data sets and view the 2D reslice images in different modalities simultaneously. The haptic interface guarantees position correspondence between the operator's hand and a virtual probe. Thus the simulated procedure emulates actual examinations condition in clinic. Our preliminary human factors study at Kingston General Hospital with radiology residents have demonstrated the significant potential of the developed software for scientific and commercial applications.
Helicobacter pylori membrane protein 1: a new carcinogenic factor of Helicobacter pylori. (2001)

Considering a suspected link between Helicobacter pylori infection and human stomach cancer, a new H. pylori gene for membrane protein 1 (HP-MP1) was recently cloned. Because HP-MP1 induces release of inflammatory cytokines and tumor necrosis factor-alpha acts as both initiator and tumor promoter, we studied the possible involvement of HP-MP1 in carcinogenesis of H. pylori. Two cell lines, BALB/3T3 cells as control and v-Ha-ras-transfected BALB/3T3 cells (Bhas 42 cells) as putative initiated cells, were each transfected with HP-MP1, urease B genes, or vector alone. All of the Bhas/mpl clones showed strong expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene and produced tumors in 100% of nude mice. Two Bhas/ure clones showed weak tumorigenicity; the other Bhas and BALB clones showed none. Results indicate strong carcinogenic activity of HP-MP1 in cooperation with viral Ras protein and weak activity of urease B.
A Persian Folk Method of Figuring Interest (1996)

(1996). A Persian Folk Method of Figuring Interest. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 69, No. 5, pp. 376-376.