gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Steroid-free immunosuppression in kidney-islet transplantation: a long-term follow-up (2002)

Islet transplantation has until recently been hampered by the use of glucocorticoids for immunosuppression which aggravates the metabolic demand in insulin-resistant patients. We consequently applied our success with steroid-free immunosuppression in kidney transplantation (1) to our combined kidney-islet transplantation protocol, and published in 1995 our initial results in this field using a pioneering steroid-free approach, thymoglobulin induction, and cyclosporine + mycophenolate mofetil maintenance therapy (2). Last year Shapiro et al. (3) published a series on seven patients using a similar protocol with a glucocorticoid-free immunosuppressive regimen consisting of sirolimus, tacrolimus, and daclizumab, and obtaining insulin independence in all, with a follow-up on 4.4 to 14.9 months. This series was recently expanded to 12, with a follow-up on median 10.2 months; however, only a few are observed more than 1 year (the longest was 20 months) (4). Because islet transplantation is still experimental, we find it may be of interest to report a 6-year follow-up on our first patient who had a simultaneous kidney-islet transplantation (and a second islet transplantation after 1 week). He received 9360 islet-equivalents per kg and obtained insulin-independence for more than 1 year (Fig. 1). The immunosuppressive protocol included a 10-day thymoglobulin induction together with sandimmune neoral and the patient has since been maintained on cyclosporine supplemented with mycophenolate mofetil when this drug was available 10 months after the transplantation. He had never received steroids. After 15 months he had to receive a small insulin dose. After more than 6 years of excellent kidney function (SE-creatinine 162 μmol/liter), he still has a fasting C-peptide level on 207 pmol/liter, and receives today 24 IU of insulin (40 IU before transplantation) with the same level of HbA1C as before transplantation (8.8–9.3%). He has a good quality of life and is working full time. Our patient was then one of the few who obtained sustained insulin independence. Insulin had later to be reinstituted; however, the islets are still functioning after more than 6 years with a reduced insulin requirement and well-being for the patient compared with the pretransplant situation. We did not have access to mycophenolate mofetil from the time of transplantation, which could be the reason for the declining islet function. We still think that steroid-free protocols with a combination of other immunosuppressive drugs are the way ahead; however, this long-term observation raises concerns that current conclusions about the success of such protocols in achieving long-term insulin independence may be premature.Figure 1: C-peptide and insulin requirement after islet transplantation.Sven Arvid Birkeland Henning Beck-Nielsen Nils Rohr Federico Bertuzzi Antonio Secchi
Steroid disorders in children: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and apparent mineralocorticoid excess (1999)

Our research team and laboratories have concentrated on two inherited endocrine disorders, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and apparent mineralocorticoid excess, in thier investigations of the pathophysiology of adrenal steroid hormone disorders in children. CAH refers to a family of inherited disorders in which defects occur in one of the enzymatic steps required to synthesize cortisol from cholesterol in the adrenal gland. Because of the impaired cortisol secretion, adrenocorticotropic hormone levels rise due to impairment of a negative feedback system, which results in hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex. The majority of cases is due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). Owing to the blocked enzymatic step, cortisol precursors accumulate in excess and are converted to potent androgens, which are secreted and cause in utero virilization of the affected female fetus genitalia in the classical form of CAH. A mild form of the 21-OHD, termed nonclassical 21-OHD, is the most common autosomal recessive disorder in humans, and occurs in 1/27 Ashkenazic Jews. Mutations in the CYP21 gene have been identified that cause both classical and nonclassical CAH. Apparent mineralocorticoid excess is a potentially fatal genetic disorder causing severe juvenile hypertension, pre- and postnatal growth failure, and low to undetectable levels of potassium, renin, and aldosterone. It is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the HSD11B2 gene, which result in a deficiency of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2. In 1998, we reported a mild form of this disease, which may represent an important cause of low-renin hypertension.
Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antinociceptive activity of Terminalia arjuna Roxb bark powder in mice and rats. (2009)

Terminalia arjuna back powder (400 mg/kg, po) significantly reduced formalin-indued paw oedema at 24 h but not carrageenan-induced paw oedema. It significantly increased the anti-SRBC antibody titre in the secondary phase of immune response. The same dose significantly reduced the duration of licks and bites in both phases of formalin-induced pain response and showed significant increase in tail flick latency at higher dose (800 mg/kg, po). These effects of T. arjuna were antagonised by pretreatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg, ip). In another series of experiments, mice pretreated with morphine for three days in increasing doses (10, 15, 20 mg/kg, ip; twice daily) showed a decreased response in antinociceptive activity of morphine (5 mg/kg, ip). Further, cross tolerance was observed with T. arjuna (800 mg/kg, po) in morphine tolerant animals. These findings support the hypothesis that T. arjuna has anti-inflammatory potential against some phlogistic agents along with some immunomodulatory activity and also has antinococeptive action probably mediated via central opioid receptors.
Formation of Cyclohexylamin from Sodium Cyclamate in Germfree and Conventional Mice Administered with Cyclamate-Converting Bacteria (1982)

In the previous paper of this series, we reported that three strains of bacteria, i. e. Clostridium sordellii, Propionibacterium acnes and Campylobacter sp. were identified as being able to form cyclohexylamine (CHA) from sodium cyclamate (CHS-Na) in in vitro experiments. These strains have been isolated from the gastrointestinal flora of CHS-Na converter guinea pigs. To confirm their ability to convert CBS-Na to CHA in vivo, these were given alone or in combination to germfree and conventional mice in drinking water containing CBS-Na, and excretion of CHA in the urine and the stools was examined. The growth of the bacteria was also checked. Campylobacter sp. seemed unable to establish itself in the intestine, because the bacterial count decreased from 104 at 3 days to below 102 at several weeks when this bacterium was administered alone. On the other hand, the mixed cultures of Campylobacter sp. with each of the other two strains and of all three strains combined were found to establish themselves well in the intestine of the germfree mice as indicated by bacterial counts of 107-1010. C. sordellii and P. acnes were also able to colonize the intestine alone in or combination; the bacterial counts were always 109-10. As regards excretion of CHA in the urine and the stools, positive results were obtained with the combination of Campylobacter sp. and C. sordellii, and of all three strains. In the former case, the excretion of CHA gradually increased for 4 weeks and reached 2mg/day/mouse. The results were similar in germfree and conventional mice. The results of this experiment suggest that the converting bacteria were Campylobacter sp. and C. sordellii. However, it is not clear which bacterium is the main converting bacterium at present, so a more detailed investigation of the CH-Na conversion mechanism by both bacteria will be carried out in the next phase of this study.
Observation of catastrophic self-propelled self-focusing in optical fibres (1988)

Observation of what appears to be a new guided-wave phenomenon which causes optical damage to the entire optical fibre transmission path at relatively low optical power levels is reported. Damage to the core manifests itself as periodic restructuring of the region, similar to that seen in self-focusing.
Coverage issues in wireless sensor networks (2006)

A fundamental issue in the deployment of a large scale Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is the ability of the network to cover the region of interest. While it is important to know if the region is covered by the deployed sensor nodes, it is of even greater importance to determine the minimum number of these deployed sensors that will still guarantee coverage of the region. This issue takes on added importance as the sensor nodes have limited battery power. Redundant sensors affect the communications between nodes and cause increased energy expenditure due to packet collisions. While scheduling the activity of the nodes and designing efficient communication protocols help alleviate this problem, the key to energy efficiency and longevity of the wireless sensor network is the design of efficient techniques to determine the minimum set of sensor nodes for coverage. Currently available techniques in the literature address the problem of determining coverage by modeling the region of interest as a planar surface. Algorithms are then developed for determining point coverage, area coverage, and barrier coverage. The analysis in this thesis shows that modeling the region as a two dimensional surface is inadequate as most applications in the real world are in a three dimensional space. The extension of existing results to three dimensional regions is not a trivial task and results in inefficient deployments of the sensor networks. Further, the type of coverage desired is specific to the application and the algorithms developed must be able to address the selection of sensor nodes not only for the coverage, but also for covering the border of a region, detecting intrusion, patrolling a given border, or tracking a phenomenon in a given three dimensional space. These are very important issues facing the research community and the solution to these problems is of paramount importance to the future of wireless sensor networks. In this thesis, the coverage problem in a three dimensional space is rigorously analyzed and the minimum number of sensor nodes and their placement for complete coverage is determined. Also, given a random distribution of sensor nodes, the problem of selecting a minimum subset of sensor nodes for complete coverage is addressed. A computationally efficient algorithm is developed and implemented in a distributed fashion. Numerical simulations show that the optimized sensor network has better energy efficiency compared to the standard random deployment of sensor nodes. It is demonstrated that the optimized WSN continues to offer better coverage of the region even when the sensor nodes start to fail over time. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Enrichment and visualization of small replication units from cultured mammalian cells (1978)

DNA from cultured Chinese hamster cells has been fractionated to yield a population of DNA enriched for replicating molecules. Molecules containing replication structures were analyzed by electron microscopy, and replicon size was estimated. The enrichment procedure takes advantage of single-stranded regions characteristic of replicating molecules, and the greater affinity of mercuric ion for single-stranded rather than native DNA. After interaction with low concentrations of HgCl2, DNA with bound mercury is separated from the bulk of the DNA by virtue of its increased buoyant density in an isopycnic Cs2SO4 gradient. When DNA from cells labeled with [3H]thymidine for 45 s is interacted with HgCl2 and banded in Cs2SO4, the DNA with the highest specific activity is found in a dense region of the gradient. The high specific activity DNA behaves kinetically like nascent DNA since the radioactivity can be chased into main band if the cells are incubated for a further 2 h in excess unlabeled thymidine. Electron microscope analysis of the DNA in the enriched fraction confirmed that it contains a substantial fraction of molecules with replication structures. The level of enrichment is about 25-fold compared to unfractionated DNA or DNA taken from the main band of the Hg++/Cs2SO4 gradient. Of the replicating molecules visualized, 85% possessed a single replication structure. All molecules with multiple replication forms contained replicon sizes less than 5 micron, ranging from 0.2 to 4.5 micron. Replicon size was determined by measuring the distance from the center of one replication structure to the center of the adjacent replication structure on the same molecule. The replicons observed in this study are far smaller than can be detected by DNA fiber autoradiography and are in the same size range as the very small replication units reported in embryonic systems.
The use of rh‐G‐CSF in chronic autoimmune neutropenia: reversal of autoimmune phenomena, a case history (1996)

An 8-year-old boy had been suffering from chronic autoimmune neutropenia for more than 5 years. The neutropenia proved to be resistant to high-dose steroids and intravenous (either low-or high-dose) immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy. The chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenia and recurrent phases of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia did, however, respond to high-dose prednisone. Other signs of immune dysregulation in this patient consisted of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type I (IDDM) and an acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia, most compatible with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI). Prior to rhG-CSF therapy the child had suffered for more than 2 years from recurrent life-threatening bacterial infections. Anti-neutrophil autoantibodies had pan-Fc gamma RIII (CD116, NA1/NA2) specificity. The neutropenia as well as the antineutrophil autoantibodies disappeared when subcutaneous rhG-CSF therapy was started. Upon tapering rhG-CSF, anti-Fc gamma RIII antibodies reappeared together with an absolute neutropenia. Renewed administration resulted again in the normalization of symptoms. Soluble Fc gamma RIII (sFc gamma RIII) antigen levels in plasma increased dramatically during rhG-CSF treatment. These high levels of sFc gamma RIII together with increased numbers as well as decreased apoptotic reactions of neutrophils apparently result in adsorption of the autoantibodies in vivo, contributing to the normalization of autoimmune-mediated neutropenia upon rhG-CSF treatment. Long-term administration of rhG-CSF represents as alternative in the treatment of autoimmune neutropenia.
Peptoid nanotubes: an oligomer macrocycle that reversibly sequesters water via single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations (2013)

A highly thermostable peptoid cyclo-octamer can reversibly accommodate and release water molecules from central channels formed by the macrocycles in a crystalline array. We report the first single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation for a peptidomimetic oligomer.
Dislocations in quasicrystals and their interaction with cluster-like obstacles (1997)

A dislocation moving through a quasicrystal is leaving in its wake a fault denoted phason wall. For a two-dimensional model quasicrystal the disregistry energy of this phason wall is studied to determine possible Burgers vectors of the quasicrystalline structure. Contrary to periodic crystals, the disregistry energy is an average quantity with large fluctuations on the atomic scale. Therefore the dislocation core structure and mobility cannot be linked to this quantity e.g. by a Peierls-Nabarro model. Atomistic simulations show that dislocation motion is controlled by local obstacles inherent to the atomic structure of the quasicrystal.
A Simple Methodology for the Modeling of Carbon Black Aggregate Structure (1996)

Abstract A procedure for modeling some morphological characteristics of carbon black aggregates is presented. The method uses a standard reaction limited aggregation algorithm to predict the location of the centers of primary particles within an aggregate. The shape of the aggregate is determined by drawing simple linear links between extreme points of primary particles centered on these loci. Analysis of the particle distribution function computed from the simulated structure leads to definitions of the interior and periphery of the aggregate structure. Direct comparisons between simulated aggregates and two commercial carbon blacks are presented to illustrate the usefulness of the approach. The perimeter fractal dimension of simulated aggregates can be made to match the perimeter fractal dimension of the commercial carbon black aggregates through proper choice of the sticking probability in the simulation algorithm. With this proper choice of sticking probability, the relative amounts of voids in the periphery and interior of the simulated aggregate correspond to relative amounts of filled and unfilled voids in actual aggregates that have been soaked for extended periods of time with processing fluids.
Design and Development of Monolithic Microwave Integrated Amplifiers and Coupling Circuits for Telecommunication Systems Applications (2001)

Recent advances in printed circuit and packaging technology of microwave and millimeter wave circuits result to the increasing use of MMICs in telecommunication systems. At Microwave and Fiber Optics Lab of NTUA several designs of various MMICs were conducted using the HP Eesof CAD Tool and FET and HEMT models of F20 and H40 GaAs foundry process of GEC Marconi. The designed MMICs are constructed in Europractice Organization while on‐wafer probe measurements are performed in the Lab. In that framework, MMIC technologies are employed in the design of power and low noise amplifiers and couplers to be used for mobile and wireless communications as well as remote sensing and radar applications. A medium power linear FET amplifier has been designed with combining techniques on a single chip. The circuit operates at 14.4–15.2 GHz with an input power of −15 dB m, a 36 dB total gain, while the input and output VSWR is less than 1.6. Due to high cost of MMIC fabrication only the first subunit was manufactured and tests verified the simulation results. Additionally, novel techniques have been used for the design of two coupling networks at 10 GHz in order to minimize the area occupied. A meander‐kind design as well as shunt capacitors were implemented for a 90 ° quadrature coupler and a Wilkinson one in order to reduce size. Finally, a two stages low noise amplifier was designed with the use of H40 GaAs process in order the differences between the relevant designs to be explored. The key specifications for this MMIC LNA include operation at 10 GHz with a total gain of 17 dB while the noise figure is less than 1.5 dB.
Thermally activated honeycomb dehumidifier for adsorption cooling system (1995)

Silica-base honeycomb adsorbent was prepared by sol-gel synthesis with corrugated ceramic fiber sheet as matrix and assembled in an adsorptive dehumidifier of rotary type which operates with a thermal regeneration cycle. High efficiency of dehumidification was confirmed at regeneration temperature as low as 80 C when the rotation speed or cycle time was adjusted to the optimal value, for which the criterion was proposed in non-dimensional terms. A prototype air-conditioning unit equipped with the symmetric dehumidifier was examined in a direct pass ventilation mode. Satisfactory decrease in enthalpy of product air relative to room air was observed. Changes in state of air during processing are discussed rather rigorously in terms of a humidity chart.
Remarks on the multicritical topologies in the n=? limit (1991)

We show that phase diagrams involving the condensation of two vectorial order parameters in the limit n=∞ (n = number of components of the vectors) coupled only to quartic order exhibit an unexpectedly large variety of topologically distinct cases.
Exact and truncated Coriolis coupling calculations for the S(1D)+HD reaction employing the ground adiabatic electronic state (2010)

We present exact quantum differential cross sections and exact and estimated integral cross sections and branching ratios for the title reaction. We employ a time-dependent wavepacket method as implemented in the DIFFREALWAVE code including all Coriolis couplings and also an adapted DIFFREALWAVE code where the helicity quantum number and with this the Coriolis couplings have been truncated. Our exact differential cross sections at 0.453 eV total energy, one of the experimental energies, show good agreement with the experimental results for one of the product channels. While the truncated calculation present a significant reduction in the computational effort needed they overestimate the exact integral cross sections.
Conformational alteration of Sindbis virion glycoproteins induced by heat, reducing agents, or low pH (1992)

Sindbis virions undergo a conformational rearrangement after attachment to cells but prior to entry, as detected by exposure of epitopes on virus-cell complexes which are not accessible to their cognate monoclonal antibodies on native virions (D. C. Flynn, W. J. Meyer, and R. E. Johnston, J. Virol. 64:3643-3653, 1990). The rearrangement did not appear to require transit of virions through a low-pH environment, and the altered virions participated in a productive infection. This naturally occurring structural alteration could be mimicked, although not precisely duplicated, by any of the three artificial treatments of purified virions in vitro: brief incubation at 51 degrees C, treatment with 1 to 5 mM dithiothreitol, or incubation of pH 5.8 to 6.0. Infectivity was maintained after all three treatments, suggesting that Sindbis virions are metastable and can exist in at least two infectious conformations. The integrity of external, neutralizing epitopes was maintained on cell-associated virions and in the altered conformations induced by heat and dithiothreitol, whereas these epitopes were unreactive under low-pH conditions that induced an analogous exposure of previously inaccessible epitopes. The pH at which the conformational change was induced and the pH at which virions could mediate cell-cell fusion from without were coordinately shifted when these two parameters were determined for another strain of Sindbis virus. This coordinate shift in pH optima suggests that the conformational change in virion structure observed at the cell surface may be causally related to fusion.
Size-dependent lattice contraction in<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">CdS</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">−</mml:mi><mml:mi mathvariant="italic">x</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math><mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">Se</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="italic">x</mml:mi></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>nanocrystals embedded in glass observed by Raman scattering (1992)

We demonstrate that ${\mathrm{CdS}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Se}}_{\mathit{x}}$ nanocrystals embedded in glass suffer compressive strain which increases as the crystallite radius decreases. A model based on the dependence of the cluster surface free energy on the surface-to-volume ratio explains very well the observed blueshift of the phonon bands in the Raman spectra.