gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Computational studies of transthoracic and transvenous defibrillation in a detailed 3-D human thorax model (1995)

A method for constructing and solving detailed patient-specific 3-D finite element models of the human thorax is presented for use in defibrillation studies. The method utilizes the patient's own X-ray CT scan and a simplified meshing scheme to quickly and efficiently generate a model typically composed of approximately 400,000 elements. A parameter sensitivity study on one human thorax model to examine the effects of variation in assigned tissue resistivity values, level of anatomical detail included in the model, and number of CT slices used to produce the model is presented. Of the seven tissue types examined, the average left ventricular (LV) myocardial voltage gradient was most sensitive to the values of myocardial and blood resistivity. Incorrectly simplifying the model, for example modeling the heart as a homogeneous structure by ignoring the blood in the chambers, caused the average LV myocardial voltage gradient to increase by 12%. The sensitivity of the model to variations in electrode size and position was also examined. Small changes (< 2.0 cm) in electrode position caused average LV myocardial voltage gradient values to increase by up to 12%. We conclude that patient-specific 3-D finite element modeling of human thoracic electric fields is feasible and may reduce the empiric approach to insertion of implantable defibrillators and improve transthoracic defibrillation techniques.
Analysis and performance evaluation of a three-phase sparse neutral point clamped converter for industrial variable speed drives (2021)

Abstract This paper analyzes the operation and characterizes the performance of a three-phase three-level (3-L) Sparse Neutral Point Clamped converter (SNPCC) for industrial variable speed drives (VSDs). The operating principle of the SNPCC, which advantageously employs a lower number of power transistors than a conventional 3-L inverter, is described in detail, focusing on the AC-side differential-mode and common-mode voltage formation and on the DC-side mid-point current generation processes. The degrees of freedom in the SNPCC modulation scheme are defined and several switching sequences are investigated. Afterwards, the stresses on the active and passive components (e.g. semiconductor losses, machine phase current ripple, DC-link capacitor RMS current, etc.) are calculated by analytical and/or numerical means, enabling a straightforward performance comparison among the identified switching sequences. The most suited modulation strategy for VSD applications is then selected and a chip area sizing procedure, aimed at minimizing the total semiconductor chip size, is applied to a 800V 7.5kW three-phase system. The performance limits of the designed SNPCC are evaluated and finally compared to the ones of conventional 2-L and 3-L solutions, highlighting the promising cost/performance trade-off of the analyzed topology.
Distribution of Damage to the Entire Retinal Ganglion Cell Pathway (2012)

OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that the amount and distribution of glaucomatous damage along the entire retinal ganglion cell-axonal complex (RGC-AC) can be quantified and to map the RGC-AC connectivity in early glaucoma using automated image analysis of standard spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. METHODS Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography volumes were obtained from 116 eyes in 58 consecutive patients with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. Layer and optic nerve head (ONH) analysis was performed; the mean regional retinal ganglion cell layer thickness (68 regions), nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness (120 regions), and ONH rim area (12 wedge-shaped regions) were determined. Maps of RGC-AC connectivity were created using maximum correlation between regions' ganglion cell layer thickness, NFL thickness, and ONH rim area; for retinal nerve fiber bundle regions, the maximum "thickness correlation paths" were determined. RESULTS The mean (SD) NFL thickness and ganglion cell layer thickness across all macular regions were 22.5 (7.5) μm and 33.9 (8.4) μm, respectively. The mean (SD) rim area across all ONH wedge regions was 0.038 (0.004) mm2. Connectivity maps were obtained successfully and showed typical nerve fiber bundle connectivity of the RGC-AC cell body segment to the initial NFL axonal segment, of the initial to the final RGC-AC NFL axonal segments, of the final RGC-AC NFL axonal to the ONH axonal segment, and of the RGC-AC cell body segment to the ONH axonal segment. CONCLUSIONS In early glaucoma, the amount and distribution of glaucomatous damage along the entire RGC-AC can be quantified and mapped using automated image analysis of standard spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Our findings should contribute to better detection and improved management of glaucoma.
Baculovirus vector as a delivery vehicle for influenza vaccines (2009)

The baculovirus vector has emerged as an efficient delivery vehicle for influenza vaccines. In addition to the ease and safety in expeditious production, recent improvements in baculovirus engineering to display foreign proteins on the surface and to express transgenes with suitable promoters in various cell lines have become milestones in the development of the baculovirus expression system. Surface-displayed and shuttle promoter-mediated baculovirus vaccines for influenza present advantages in immunogenicity and safety, as studied in several animal models. A variety of strategies, including the modification of envelope proteins for surface display, the selection of novel promoters for in vivo transductions and advancements in downstream processing, aid the improvement of baculovirus-based influenza vaccines and represent progress toward next-generation vaccines for influenza.
Compound Selection and Filtering in Library Design (2005)

Abstract Multiple approaches exist within the literature for the generation of new active compounds against existing or new therapeutic targets, but no technique has yet provided the rich source of high‐quality ‘hit’ and ‘lead’ compounds needed by the industry. The evolution of ultrahigh‐throughput screening (HTS) and fast computer‐based virtual high‐throughput screening (VHTS), provide two contrasting techniques for the potential identification of new active hit compounds. This article considers the trends adopted in the design of large to small compound libraries and some of the recent technologies that aim to search and select from chemical space in order to focus libraries towards known chemical ligands or biological target structures. The ability to combine multiple approaches against a given therapeutic target remains the best approach for success.
Proposal of the road surface friction coefficient real-time estimation method (2018)

For Autonomous Driving (AD) system or vehicle behavior control, it is important to know the friction coefficient of the road surface accurately. It is because the lateral and the longitudinal force characteristics of the tire depend on the road surface condition largely. However, even today it is difficult to detect the tire-road friction coefficient before the deterioration of vehicle dynamics in real time. This is because the tire-road friction coefficient estimation is usually conducted by comparing the actual vehicle motion with the reference vehicle model motion. So, such conventional estimators do not perform well if there is no significant difference between the actual vehicle behavior and the model. This paper propose a method for real-time estimate tire-road friction coefficient that changes variously during driving. Using this method, the friction coefficient value for a real road can be determined from relatively simple calculations. Moreover, this method has the advantage of allowing the independent estimation of the friction coefficient value for both the front and rear wheels. In addition, this paper explain how to apply and the effect on the actual vehicle. Furthermore, we demonstrate its effectiveness via online estimation of the road surface friction coefficient based on actual vehicle experiments.
Safety, Efficacy, and Cost of Pancreaticoduodenal Resection in a Specialized Center Based at a Community Hospital (1997)

To determine whether pancreaticoduodenal resection (PDR) for benign and malignant disease can be performed safely, efficiently, and economically at a 50-bed community hospital.Retrospective review of 39 consecutive PDRs performed in an 18-month period. Indications for surgery, length of hospital stay, complications, and patient charges were analyzed.A suburban 50-bed community hospital.Thirty-nine patients (15 male and 24 female) referred for PDR for benign and malignant disease.Mortality and morbidity rates, length of hospital stay, care, and cost.Of 39 patients who underwent PDRs, 1 patient (2.6%) died of myocardial infarct. Intraoperative blood transfusions were required by 3 patients (8%). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 11 days. Twenty-four patients (62%) were discharged by day 11. Fifteen patients (38%) were hospitalized 11 to 24 days. Complications in 10 patients (28%) included pancreatic or biliary fistula (n = 6), upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (n = 1), partial wound dehiscence (n = 1), bacteremia (n = 1), and pneumonia (n = 1). No patient required reoperation. Three patients were rehospitalized within 1 month. Mean patient charges were $21,864, and mean reimbursements were $19,669.Pancreaticoduodenal resection can be accomplished with low morbidity and mortality rates and a short stay at a community hospital. Thorough preoperative investigations to exclude unresectable lesions must precede every PDR for malignant disease. Mortality and morbidity rates in this series were similar to those for patients with similar diagnoses who were operated on in academic centers. Cost for and length of hospital stay of these 39 patients were significantly lower than those in other reported series.
Two RNA-binding motifs in eIF3 direct HCV IRES-dependent translation (2013)

The initiation of protein synthesis plays an essential regulatory role in human biology. At the center of the initiation pathway, the 13-subunit eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) controls access of other initiation factors and mRNA to the ribosome by unknown mechanisms. Using electron microscopy (EM), bioinformatics and biochemical experiments, we identify two highly conserved RNA-binding motifs in eIF3 that direct translation initiation from the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (HCV IRES) RNA. Mutations in the RNA-binding motif of subunit eIF3a weaken eIF3 binding to the HCV IRES and the 40S ribosomal subunit, thereby suppressing eIF2-dependent recognition of the start codon. Mutations in the eIF3c RNA-binding motif also reduce 40S ribosomal subunit binding to eIF3, and inhibit eIF5B-dependent steps downstream of start codon recognition. These results provide the first connection between the structure of the central translation initiation factor eIF3 and recognition of the HCV genomic RNA start codon, molecular interactions that likely extend to the human transcriptome.
Cutting Edge: IL-10–Mediated Tristetraprolin Induction Is Part of a Feedback Loop That Controls Macrophage STAT3 Activation and Cytokine Production (2012)

In activated macrophages, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 inhibits expression of molecules that propagate inflammation in a manner that depends on transcription factor STAT3. Expression of IL-10 is regulated posttranscriptionally by the RNA-binding protein tristetraprolin (TTP), which destabilizes IL-10 mRNA in activated macrophages. Using LPS-activated bone marrow-derived murine macrophages, we demonstrate that TTP is a negative regulator of the IL-10/STAT3 anti-inflammatory response. LPS-stimulated TTP-deficient macrophages overproduced IL-10, contained increased amounts of activated STAT3, and showed reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines, including cytokines encoded by TTP target mRNAs. Thus, in LPS-stimulated TTP-deficient macrophages, increased IL-10/STAT3 anti-inflammatory control was dominant over the mRNA stabilization of specific TTP targets. The TTP gene promoter contains a conserved STAT3 binding site, and IL-10 induces STAT3 recruitment to this site. Correspondingly, STAT3 was required for efficient IL-10-induced TTP expression. Hence, by inducing TTP expression, STAT3 activates a negative regulatory loop that controls the IL-10/STAT3 anti-inflammatory response.
Labia Majora Augmentation with Hyaluronic Acid Filler: Technique and Results (2016)

External female genitalia lose elasticity and volume with age. In the literature several techniques address the redundancy of the labia minora, but only few reports describe the augmentation of labia majora with fat grafting. At present, no studies describe the augmentation of the labia majora with hyaluronic acid. This study aims to present our technique of infiltration of hyaluronic acid filler, analyzing effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and complications. We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients affected by hypotrophy of the labia majora; they were treated with hyaluronic acid filler between November 2010 and December 2014. The Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) filled out by the doctor and the patients was used to evaluate the results 12 months after the infiltration. Complications were recorded. A total of 31 patients affected by mild to moderate labia majora hypotrophy were treated with 19 mg/mL HA filler; 23 patients affected by severe labia majora hypotrophy were treated with 21 mg/mL HA filler. Among the first group of patients, one underwent a second infiltration 6 months later with 19 mg/mL HA filler (maximum 1 mL). A significant improvement (P < .0001) in GAIS score was observed, both in the scores provided by the patients and by the doctor. A greater relative improvement was observed in patients affected by severe hypotrophy. No complications were recorded. Hyaluronic acid infiltration of the labia majora is able to provide a significant rejuvenation with a simple outpatient procedure. We achieved significant improvements with one infiltration in all cases. The treatment is repeatable, has virtually no complications and it is reversible. 4 Therapeutic
Baseline circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells and response to PD-1 inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer patients. (2018)

145 Background: Inhibitors of immune checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 (ICI) have become a care standard in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite promising results, some patients cannot take advantage of immunotherapy effects. Nowadays, neither predictive nor prognostic circulating biomarkers have been found in order to select patients or to predict response to ICI. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are potent immunity suppressors and may represent both a potential prognostic and a predictive biomarker. Methods: Peripheral blood samples regarding 54NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab and 5 healthy donors were prospectively included. Early-MDSC: e-MDSC (LIN - /CD14 - /CD15 - /HLA-DR - /CD33 + ), monocytic-MDSC: M-MDSC (HLA-DR low/- /CD14 + /CD15 - /CD11b + ), polymorphonuclear-MDSC: PMN-MDSC (HLA-DR low/- /CD14 - /CD15 + /CD11b + ) were analyzed through flow cytometry. MDSC percentage was calculated from viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We assessed if e-MDSC,M-MDSC and PMN-MDSC levels detected before anti-PD-1 therapy correlate with both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: 54 patients were prospectively included: 41 with adenocarcinoma and 13 with squamous NSCLC. When compared to healthy donors, patients had significantly higher levels of circulating e-MDSC(median (range): 0.13% (0-10.9) vs0.02%(0.01-0.14), p = 0.04) and M-MDSC (median (range): 4.55% (0.08-24.18) vs1.36% (0.77-3.76), p = 0.01). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that high level of M-MDSC before anti-PD-1 therapy was associated with OS (HR [CI95%]: 1.08 [1.01; 1.15],p = 0.02) and PFS (HR [CI95%]: 1.07 [1.01;1.14], p = 0.02). No prognostic impact was observed regarding e-MDSC and PMN-MDSC. Conclusions: Our study suggests that a baseline circulating high level of M-MDSC is associated with poor survival. M-MDSC may be a predictive and prognostic biomarker in NSCLC patients treated with anti-PD1. Further studies have been scheduled, including MDSC monitoring during anti-PD1 treatment, in order to confirm our findings. These data would be interesting for the development of combined therapy, targeting the suppressive environment, with ICI.
Aspergillus Cyclooxygenase-Like Enzymes Are Associated with Prostaglandin Production and Virulence (2005)

Oxylipins comprise a family of oxygenated fatty acid-derived signaling molecules that initiate critical biological activities in animals, plants, and fungi. Mammalian oxylipins, including the prostaglandins (PGs), mediate many immune and inflammation responses in animals. PG production by pathogenic microbes is theorized to play a role in pathogenesis. We have genetically characterized three Aspergillus genes, ppoA, ppoB, and ppoC, encoding fatty acid oxygenases similar in sequence to specific mammalian prostaglandin synthases, the cyclooxygenases. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed that production of PG species is decreased in both Aspergillus nidulans and A. fumigatus ppo mutants, implicating Ppo activity in generating PGs. The A. fumigatus triple-ppo-silenced mutant was hypervirulent in the invasive pulmonary aspergillosis murine model system and showed increased tolerance to H(2)O(2) stress relative to that of the wild type. We propose that Ppo products, PG, and/or other oxylipins may serve as activators of mammalian immune responses contributing to enhanced resistance to opportunistic fungi and as factors that modulate fungal development contributing to resistance to host defenses.
Prolonged fluconazole prophylaxis is associated with persistent protection against candidiasis-related death in allogeneic marrow transplant recipients: long-term follow-up of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (2000)

Two randomized, placebo-controlled trials previously showed that fluconazole (400 mg/d) administered prophylactically decreases the incidence of candidiasis in blood and marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. However, there exists conflicting data regarding the optimal duration of fluconazole administration, specifically whether prophylaxis through acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) results in improved survival in allograft recipients. Reported here are the results of long-term follow-up and a detailed analysis of invasive candidiasis and candidiasis-related death in 300 patients who received fluconazole (400 mg/d) or placebo for 75 days after BMT at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Patients in both treatment arms were compared for survival, causes of death, and the incidence of invasive fungal infections early (less than 110 days) and late (more than 110 days) after BMT. After 8 years of follow-up, survival is significantly better in fluconazole recipients compared with placebo recipients (68 of 152 vs 41 of 148,P = .0001). The overall incidence of invasive candidiasis was increased in patients who received placebo compared with fluconazole (30 of 148 vs 4 of 152, P &lt; .001). More patients who received placebo died with candidiasis early (13 of 148 vs 1 of 152, P = .001) and late (8 of 96 vs 1 of 121,P = .0068) after BMT. The incidence of severe GVHD involving the gut was higher in patients who did not receive fluconazole (20 of 143 vs 8 of 145, P = .02), and fewer patients who received fluconazole died with this complication. Thus, administration of fluconazole (400 mg/d) for 75 days after BMT appears to be associated with decreased gut GVHD, a persistent protection against disseminated candidal infections and candidiasis-related death, resulting in an overall survival benefit in allogeneic BMT recipients.
Nanoparticle based enrichment and expansion of self and neo-epitope specific CD8+ T cells in murine melanoma. (2017)

Abstract Neo-antigen T cell responses against tumors has created a new avenue to target and kill patients’ tumors while possibly decreasing autoimmune side effects. CD8+ Neo-antigen T cells have the potential benefit to be a source of T cells that are not limited by peripheral tolerance or deleted from the T cell repertoire by central tolerance. To understand the differences between self and neo-antigens T cell responses, the two types of T cell populations must be compared side-by-side by anti-tumor responses and phenotypic differences. Following another group (Castle; 2012) that identified mutated proteins from long sequences in murine melanoma our current work has identified the short peptide epitopes that can stimulate neo-antigen T cell responses. The candidate neo-epitopes were validated by peptide stabilization assays and in vitro T cell stimulations with nanoparticle artificial antigen presenting cells. 11 naïve neo-antigen T cells responses were identified out of a total of 19 possible candidate neo-antigens. Artificial antigen presenting cells were used to assess neo and self-antigen tumor specific responses in the naïve T cell repertoire and after tumor exposure to B16 murine melanoma. After exposure to tumor, neo-epitope T cell responses showed larger fold expansion as compared to a self-antigens expressed by the tumor cells. From this work, we deliver a proof of concept of a streamlined way to screen candidate neo-epitopes and identify rare endogenous T cell populations; and evaluate the benefit of T cell directed immunotherapies on different T cell populations.
Evolution of hydrogen from plasma-deposited amorphous hydrogenated silicon films prepared from a SiH4/H2 mixture (1989)

The desorption spectra of constant-rate annealing of the plasma-deposited amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) films prepared from the SiH4/H2 mixture gas show two peaks. The first peak is located at around 625 K and the position of the second peak varies from 765 to 903 K with the SiH4 fraction in the SiH4/H2 source gas. These experimental results seem to be strongly related to structural inhomogeneity of the plasma-deposited a-Si:H films. The change in the peak temperature of the high-temperature evolution process is explained on the basis of the difference between the activation energy of the hydrogen evolution from the SiH centers and that from the SiH2 center.
Online dictionary learning aided target recognition in cognitive GPR (2017)

Sparse decomposition of ground penetration radar (GPR) signals facilitates the use of compressed sensing techniques for faster data acquisition and enhanced feature extraction for target classification. In this paper, we investigate use of an online dictionary learning (ODL) technique in the context of GPR to bring down the learning time as well as improve identification of abandoned anti-personnel landmines. Our experimental results using real data from an L-band GPR for PMN/PMA2, ERA and T72 mines show that ODL reduces learning time by 94% and increases clutter detection by 10% over the classical K-SVD algorithm. Moreover, our methods could be helpful in cognitive operation of the GPR where the system adapts the range sampling based on the learned dictionary.