gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Identification of an inhibitory ganglioside responsible for immune suppressive effects associated with ovarian cancer (100.27) (2010)

Abstract Tumors often use mechanisms to prevent or suppress immune recognition. One such mechanism is the shedding of immune-suppressive glycolipids into the local microenvironment. Previously we reported that pretreatment of CD1d expressing stimulator cells with ascites fluid from ovarian cancer patients inhibited the activation of NKT cells, one of the earliest lines of defense in an anti-cancer immune response. Here we identify the inhibitory factor responsible, ganglioside GD3, which we isolated from the polar lipid fraction of ovarian cancer-associated ascites. GD3 inhibited CD1d-mediated NKT cell activation directly, without antigen processing. Purified GD3 binds with high affinity to CD1d, even when compared to the well-established experimental CD1d activator, α-galactosylceramide. Mechanistically we show that factors in ascites fluid as well as purified GD3 bind directly to the CD1 antigenic binding site, and this presumably displaces endogenous NKT cell ligands. These data indicate that shedding of GD3 by ovarian cancer tumors is a mechanism of immune evasion that inhibits the activation of an anti-tumor NKT cell response.
Slowly Coupled Oscillators: Phase Dynamics and Synchronization (2003)

In this paper we extend the results of Frankel and Kiemel [SIAM J. Appl. Math, 53 (1993), pp. 1436-1446] to a network of slowly coupled oscillators. First, we use Malkin's theorem to derive a canonical phase model that describes synchronization properties of a slowly coupled network. Then, we illustrate the result using slowly coupled oscillators (1) near Andronov-Hopf bifurcations, (2) near saddle-node on invariant circle bifurcations, and (3) near relaxation oscillations. We compare and contrast synchronization properties of slowly and weakly coupled oscillators.
Data-Driven Sparse Skin Stimulation Can Convey Social Touch Information to Humans (2021)

During social interactions, people use auditory, visual, and haptic cues to convey their thoughts, emotions, and intentions. Due to weight, energy, and other hardware constraints, it is difficult to create devices that completely capture the complexity of human touch. Here we explore whether a sparse representation of human touch is sufficient to convey social touch signals. To test this we collected a dataset of social touch interactions using a soft wearable pressure sensor array, developed an algorithm to map recorded data to an array of actuators, then applied our algorithm to create signals that drive an array of normal indentation actuators placed on the arm. Using this wearable, low-resolution, low-force device, we find that users are able to distinguish the intended social meaning, and compare performance to results based on direct human touch. As online communication becomes more prevalent, such systems to convey haptic signals could allow for improved distant socializing and empathetic remote human-human interaction.
Denoising Maps and Constellations for Wireless Network Coding in Two-Way Relaying Systems (2008)

We investigate on the design of modulation schemes suited for two-way wireless relaying systems that apply network coding at the physical layer. We consider network coding based on denoise-and-forward (DNF), which consists of two stages: multiple access (MA) stage and broadcast (BC) stage. For the case of QPSK constellation in the MA stage, we introduce the modulation-related problems in DNF. We propose two approaches to solve those issues. One uses only QPSK constellations at the BC stage. The other allows the use of unconventional 5-ary modulations, optimized according to the channel condition. The performance evaluation shows that a significant improvement in end-to-end throughput can be achieved, in particular for Nakagami-Rice fading channels.
Measurements of macrosonic standing waves in oscillating closed cavities (1998)

Measurements of macrosonic standing waves in gases in oscillating closed cavities are shown. The strong dependence of the pressure waveform upon cavity shape is demonstrated. This dependence is exploited to provide control of harmonic phase and amplitude, thus avoiding shocks and enabling resonant waveforms to reach macrosonic pressures. The exploitation of this dependence is referred to as resonant macrosonic synthesis (RMS). Power is delivered to the cavity by oscillating it with a linear actuator (entire resonator drive). Standing wave overpressures in excess of 340% of ambient pressure are demonstrated in RMS cavities, compared to maximum overpressures of 17% observed in cylindrical resonators. Ratios of maximum to minimum pressures of 27 were observed in RMS cavities compared to 1.3 for cylinders. Measurements are shown for four axisymmetric cavity shapes: cylinder, cone, horn-cone hybrid, and bulb. Cavities were filled with nitrogen, propane, or refrigerant R-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane). Physical effects which can be observed at macrosonic pressures are demonstrated. These effects include nonlinearly generated dc pressures of 40% of ambient pressure as well as hardening and softening resonance behavior for the same gas but different cavity shape. RMS, together with the entire resonator drive, provides high-power transduction of energy through resonant sound waves and opens a wide range of new commercial applications for macrosonic waves.
<title>Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) to characterize the performance of producing oil wells</title> (2000)

This paper describes how distributed temperature sensing (DTS) based on Raman Scattering is being used as an in-situ logging technique in oil and gas wells. Traditional methods of gathering production data to characterize oil and gas well performance have relied on the introduction of electric logging tools into the well. This can be an expensive process in highly deviated or horizontal wells and usually results in the well being shut-in with the loss or deferment of hydrocarbon production. More recently permanently placed pressure sensors based on CMOS technology have been used, but these systems do not easily deliver distributed measurements and reliability has been found to be poor.
Atomically Precise Nanocluster Assemblies Encapsulating Plasmonic Gold Nanorods (2018)

Abstract The self‐assembled structures of atomically precise, ligand‐protected noble metal nanoclusters leading to encapsulation of plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs) is presented. Unlike highly sophisticated DNA nanotechnology, this strategically simple hydrogen bonding‐directed self‐assembly of nanoclusters leads to octahedral nanocrystals encapsulating GNRs. Specifically, the p ‐mercaptobenzoic acid ( p MBA)‐protected atomically precise silver nanocluster, Na 4 [Ag 44 ( p MBA) 30 ], and p MBA‐functionalized GNRs were used. High‐resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron tomographic reconstructions suggest that the geometry of the GNR surface is responsible for directing the assembly of silver nanoclusters via H‐bonding, leading to octahedral symmetry. The use of water‐dispersible gold nanoclusters, Au ≈250 ( p MBA) n and Au 102 ( p MBA) 44 , also formed layered shells encapsulating GNRs. Such cluster assemblies on colloidal particles are a new category of precision hybrids with diverse possibilities.
Observing individual generations in poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers with natural abundance 15N‐NMR spectroscopy (1994)

Abstract Natural abundance 15 N‐NMR spectra of poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers are presented to show the usefulness of the technique in characterizing these highly branched and well‐defined macromolecules. Inverse‐gated decoupled measurements show the number and intensities of signals that reflect the generations in the dendrimers.
Optimization with process limits and application requirements for force sensors (2010)

Piezoresistive cantilevers are commonly used for force sensing. However, the design of piezoresistive cantilevers is complicated by coupling between many design parameters as well as design and operation constraints. Here, we discuss analytical models and optimization techniques for piezoresistive cantilevers.
Three-dimensional holographic imaging (2003)

Recent developments in a new method of holographic computer-aided imaging will be reviewed. Our hologram is computed from angular viewpoints of the observed 3D scene. The recorded data are processed to yield a 2D computer-generated hologram. When this hologram is illuminated properly, a 3D image of the scene is reconstructed.
Development of an assay to predict oxaliplatin sensitivity from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) colorectal cancer tissues. (2011)

429 Background: Genomic profiling has improved our understanding of the underlying biology of tumors, accuracy of diagnosing disease, predictions of the courses of disease, and ability to determine the therapeutic agents that will be most effective in the treatment of particular tumors. However, in order for assays involving microarray data to be useful in the clinical setting, the ability to generate reliable and consistent data from FFPE tissues is essential. Methods: Cancer cell lines from the NCI-60 collection exhibiting greatest sensitivity or resistance to oxaliplatin were identified. These cells were grown in culture, fixed for 24 hours in formalin, and paraffin-embedded. RNA from the FFPE cells was isolated, amplified, and hybridized to Affymetrix arrays. A Bayesian binary regression analysis was used to generate a predictor of oxaliplatin sensitivity from the gene expression data. Metastatic derived xenografts (MDXs) from resected colorectal tumors were established and treated with oxaliplatin. Samples from tumors prior to treatment were paraffin-embedded and used for RNA extraction, amplification, and hybridization to Affymetrix arrays. The gene expression signature predicting sensitivity to oxaliplatin was then validated with response data from MDXs treated with oxaliplatin. Results: A predictor consisting of 300 genes that could predict sensitivity to oxaliplatin was generated using FFPE samples. Significant correlation was observed between the predicted probability of oxaliplatin sensitivity and the tumor growth inhibition measurement for a given MDX (p=0.0012). Conclusions: Reliable and consistent predictions of oxaliplatin sensitivity can be obtained from gene expression data from FFPE tissues. This method has potential utility in the clinical setting. The ability to predict response to a therapeutic in a FFPE sample has the potential to guide the choice of therapeutics, resulting in an option that could be most effective in treating an individual with metastatic colorectal cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
High efficacy full allelic CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in tetraploid potato (2019)

CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficacies in tetraploid potato were highly improved through the use of endogenous potato U6 promoters. Highly increased editing efficiencies in the Granular Bound Starch Synthase gene at the protoplast level were obtained by replacement of the Arabidopsis U6 promotor, driving expression of the CRISPR component, with endogenous potato U6 promotors. This translated at the ex-plant level into 35% full allelic gene editing. Indel Detection Amplicon Analysis was established as an efficient tool for fast assessment of gene editing in complex genomes, such as potato. Together, this warrants significant reduction of laborious cell culturing, ex-plant regeneration and screening procedures of plants with high complexity genomes.
Vision 20/20: Automation and advanced computing in clinical radiation oncology (2013)

This Vision 20/20 paper considers what computational advances are likely to be implemented in clinical radiation oncology in the coming years and how the adoption of these changes might alter the practice of radiotherapy. Four main areas of likely advancement are explored: cloud computing, aggregate data analyses, parallel computation, and automation. As these developments promise both new opportunities and new risks to clinicians and patients alike, the potential benefits are weighed against the hazards associated with each advance, with special considerations regarding patient safety under new computational platforms and methodologies. While the concerns of patient safety are legitimate, the authors contend that progress toward next-generation clinical informatics systems will bring about extremely valuable developments in quality improvement initiatives, clinical efficiency, outcomes analyses, data sharing, and adaptive radiotherapy.
Brominated Indole Alkaloids from the Marine Tunicate Pseudodistoma arborescens (1993)

Chemical investigation of the cytotoxic CH2Cl2-soluble extract of the marine tunicate Pseudodistoma arborescens led to the isolation of four brominated indole alkaloids, arborescidines A [1], B [2], C [3], and D [4], which were characterized by their spectral data, especially 2D nmr. Only arborescidine D [4] showed moderate activity (IC50 3 micrograms/ml) in vitro against the growth of KB human buccal carbinoma cells.
Recent Advances Toward the Discovery of Drug-Like Peptides De novo (2015)

Peptides are important natural molecules that possess functions as diverse as antibiotics, toxins, venoms and hormones, for example. However, whilst these peptides have useful properties, there are many targets and pathways that are not addressed through the activities of natural peptidic compounds. In these circumstances, directed evolution techniques, such as phage display, have been developed to sample the diverse chemical and structural repertoire of small peptides for useful means. In this review, we consider recent concepts that relate peptide structure to drug-like attributes and how these are incorporated within display technologies to deliver peptides de novo with valuable pharmaceutical properties.
NEC's Object Recognition Technologies and their Industrial Applications (2018)

Recent advancements in image recognition technologies has enabled image recognition-based systems to be widely used in real world applications. In this talk, I will introduce NEC's image-based object recognition technologies targeted for recognizing various manufactured goods and retail products from a camera, and talk about their industrial applications which we have developed and commercialized. These image-based object recognition technologies enable highly efficient and cost-effective management of goods and products throughout their life-cycle (manufacturing, distribution, retail, and consumption), which otherwise cannot be achieved by human labor or by use of ID tags. Firstly, I will talk about a technology to recognize multiple objects from a single image using feature matching of compact local descriptors, combined with a more recent Deep Learning-based recognition. It enables large number of objects to be recognized at once, which greatly reduces human labor and time for various product inspection and checking works. Using this technology, we have developed and commercialized the product inspection system in warehouses, the planogram recognition system for retail shop shelves, and the self-service POS system for easy-to-use and fast checkout in retail stores. Secondly, I will talk about the "Fingerprint of Things'' technology. It enables individual identification of tiny manufactured parts (e.g. bolts and nuts) by identifying images of their unique surface patterns, just like human fingerprints. We have built a prototype of mass-produced parts traceability system, which enables users to easily track down the individual parts using a mobile device. In the talk, I will explain the key issues in realizing these industrial applications of image-based object recognition technologies.
Direct Manipulation of Nanoparticles and DNA in Sub-Wavelength Optical Nanochannels (2009)

Here we demonstrate two novel approaches to on-chip optofluidic transport. We show the trapping of polystyrene microspheres using SU-8 waveguides down to 75nm polystyrene nanoparticles and linear λ-DNA using silicon slotted waveguides.
Synthesis of fluorinated 8-ribityllumazines as "F NMR probes and potential inhibitors of the light riboflavin synthase of Bacillus subtilis (1990)

Synthesis of fluorinated 8-ribityllumazines as "F NMR probes and potential inhibitors of the light riboflavin synthase of Bacillus subtilis was published in 9 Zurich, Switzerland, September 3–8, 1989 on page 249.
The Blue DRAGON - A System for Monitoring the Kinematics and the Dynamics of Endoscopic Tools in Minimally Invasive Surgery for Objective Laparoscopic Skill Assessment (2002)

Minimally invasive surgeiy (MIS) involves a multi-dimensional series of tasks requiring a synthesis between visual information and the kinematics and dynamics of the surgical tools. Analysis of these sources of information is a key step in mastering MIS surgery but may also be used to define objective criteria for characterizing surgical performance. The BIueDRAGON is a new system for acquiring the kinematics and the dynamics of two endoscopic tools along with the visual view of the surgical scene. It includes two four-bar mechanisms equipped with position and force torque sensors for measuring the positions and the orientations (P/O) of two endoscopic tools along with the forces and torques applied by the surgeons hands. The methodology of decomposing the surgical task is based on a fully connected, finite-states (28 states) Markov model where each states corresponded to a fundamental tool/tissue interaction based on the tool kinematics and associated with unique F/T signatures. The experimental protocol included seven MIS tasks performed on an animal model (pig) by 30 surgeons at different levels of their residency training. Preliminary analysis of these data showed that major differences between residents at different skill levels were: (i) the types of tool/tissue interactions being used, (ii) the transitions between tool/tissue interactions being applied by each hand, (iii) time spent while perfonning each tool/tissue interaction, (iv) the overall completion time, and (v) the variable F/T magnitudes being applied by the subjects through the endoscopic tools. Systems like surgical robots or virtual reality simulators that inherently measure the kinematics and the dynamics of the surgical tool may benefit from inclusion of the proposed methodology for analysis of efficacy and objective evaluation of surgical skills during training.
Éditorial (2019)

Alain Prochiantz Les lecteurs de La Lettre pourront prendre connaissance de ce qui a pu se produire de saillant au Collège de France au cours de la période 2017-2018. J’aimerais aussi attirer leur attention sur ce qui constitue l’essentiel de nos activités et relève de la recherche et de l’enseignement, activités essentielles de notre institution qui dépendent aussi de ce qu’on appelle les « fonctions supports ». Cet éditorial est donc pour moi, une nouvelle occasion de remercier, au-delà de...
A gain-of-function mutation in the cardiac pacemaker HCN4 channel increasing cAMP sensitivity is associated with familial Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (2015)

Aims Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST), a syndrome characterized by abnormally fast sinus rates and multisystem symptoms, is still poorly understood. Because of the relevance of HCN4 channels to pacemaker activity, we used a candidate-gene approach and screened IST patients for the presence of disease-causing HCN4 mutations.

Methods and results Forty-eight IST patients, four of whom of known familial history, were enrolled in the study. We initially identified in one of the patients with familial history the R524Q mutation in HCN4. Investigation extended to the family members showed that the mutation co-segregated with IST-related symptoms. The R524Q mutation is located in the C-linker, a region known to couple cAMP binding to channel activation. The functional relevance of the mutation was investigated in heterologous expression systems by patch-clamp experiments. We found that mutant HCN4 channels were more sensitive to cAMP than wild-type channels, in agreement with increased sensitivity to basal and stimulated adrenergic input and with a faster than normal pacemaker rate. The properties of variant channels indicate therefore that R524Q is a gain-of-function mutation. Increased channel contribution to activity was confirmed by evidence that when spontaneously beating rat newborn myocytes were transfected with R524Q mutant HCN4 channels, they exhibited a faster rate than when transfected with wild-type HCN4 channels.

Conclusion This is the first report of a gain-of-function HCN4 mutation associated with IST through increased sensitivity to cAMP-dependent activation.
The Aharonov-Bohm Effect Revisited by an Acoustic Time-Reversal Mirror (1997)

We take advantage of the violation of time-reversal invariance for acoustic waves to achieve a new way of characterizing a vorticity field with a double time-reversal mirror (TRM). In particular, we show experimentally that the double TRM works as a vorticity amplifier. In the case of a vorticity filament, the sound-vorticity interaction is interpreted as the acoustical analog of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Numerical experiments simulate the acoustical Aharonov-Bohm effect by propagating a plane wave which is scattered by a heterogeneous motionless medium.
Prevalence and Preoperative Demographic and Radiographic Predictors of Bilateral Femoroacetabular Impingement (2013)

Male sex, younger age, higher alpha angles, and reduced acetabular anteversion at initial presentation are significant risk factors for identifying patients who may ultimately require bilateral surgery for symptomatic FAI. Among bilaterally treated patients, no radiographic parameters were predictive of which side would require treatment first. Patients with FAI requiring surgery should be closely monitored for contralateral hip disease.
Dendritic Cells Enhance the Differentiation of Naïve B Cells into Plasma Cells In Vitro (1998)

We have shown previously that in vitro-generated human dendritic cells have an effect on the response of B cells at various stages of their differentiation. In a culture system described for the in vitro induction of plasma-cell differentiation, it was reported that naïve B cells have a poor propensity to differentiate into plasma cells. In such a culture system, 12% of naïve B cells differentiated into plasma cells in the presence of IL-2 and IL-10, despite the interruption of CD40 signalling which is necessary for plasma-cell differentiation. However, as reported herein, naïve B cells differentiated fully into plasma cells in response to dendritic cells. Addition of dendritic cells enhanced this differentiation strikingly by recruiting 57% of B cells as plasma cells producing IgM, but also IgG and IgA. In this model, dendritic cells act in synergy with IL-2 at an early stage of CD40-dependent B-cell differentiation, while IL-2 and IL-10 act together, at a later stage, in the generation of plasma cells in a CD40-independent manner. Thus, in addition to the key role played by dendritic cells in the initiation of T-cell responses, our results suggest that dendritic cells regulate humoral responses.