gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Biosecurity Plan for Invasive Ants in the Pacific Region (2021)

The well-being of Pacific island communities and the ecosystems that support them is inextricably linked. Island ecosystems are fragile, complex, and have often evolved in isolation. Many species have not evolved defenses against common predators such as rats, cats, and invasive ants, and the introduction of new invasive species threatens the delicate balance between island communities and the ecosystems that nourish and sustain them. Invasive ants pose an especially severe threat and impact human health, agriculture, and the natural environment. A best-practice integrated biosecurity system is needed to prevent the entry and establishment of these species as well as mitigate impacts caused by priority invasive ants currently present in the region. We recommend a regional approach to invasive ant biosecurity be considered, which includes the essential elements of prevention, early detection, rapid response, ongoing management, capacity building, outreach, and research. This system should operate at island, national, and regional scales. The strategy has six main objectives: Prevention (prevent the entry of invasive ants into the Pacific region and prevent their spread to new locations within the region). Early detection and incursion response (detect and eradicate new invasive ant incursions while eradication is still possible and costs are low). Management of existing species (mitigate the impacts of priority invasive ants already present). Public awareness and engagement (increase public awareness of invasive ant impacts, enlist their cooperation and support for detection and control). Enhance capacity for invasive ant biosecurity and management (prevention plans, pre-approved control chemicals, monitoring protocols, etc.). Targeted research (develop an active research program that provides practical improvements in detection and mitigation of invasive ants).
Multimicrophone speech dereverberation using spatiotemporal and spectral processing (2008)

Speech signals acquired in a reverberant room with microphones positioned at a distance from the talker are degraded in quality due to reverberation and measurement noise. Therefore, enhancement of reverberant speech is important in hands-free telecommunications applications. The perceptual effects of reverberation can be linked to the room impulse response (RIR) between the talker and the microphone and are characterized by: (i) colouration, due to the strong early reflections and (ii) a distant 'echoey' quality due to the decaying tail of the RIR. Accordingly, we present a two-stage multimicrophone method for speech dereverberation. First, spatiotemporal averaging is performed on the linear prediction residual, which primarily reduces the effects of the early reflections. Secondly, a spectral subtraction method is employed to reduce late reverberation. Simulation results with measured RIRs and additive white Gaussian noise illustrate the performance of this method and show that the combined approach performs better than each of the two stages individually.
RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION of COFFEE MUCILAGE (1996)

Rheological behavior of mucilage obtained from two varieties of coffee grown in Colombia (Caturra and Colombia) was studied as a function of ripe cherry content (RCC) and postharvest time (PHT). A Brookfleld HB DV‐III viscometer was used in concentric cylinder geometry over a shear rate range of 4.8 to 120 s −1 . the power‐law model was used to describe the shear stress versus shear rate data, and the consistency index (K) and flow behavior index (n) were determined. the mucilage is a highly viscous and pseudoplastic (n &lt; 0.3) fluid. the K increased and n decreased as the RCC and PHT increased. the mucilage of the Caturra variety was more viscous and shear thinning than that of the Colombia variety. Microstructural examination of the mucilage revealed that certain weak structures as phloem vessels found in the mucilage may be destroyed upon application of shear stress and may contribute to the pseudoplastic nature of the mucilage. Diffusion of tannin from the pulp to mucilage with delay in postharvest processing may be responsible for increased apparent viscosity with increased PHT.
Framingham Risk Score Is an Ineffective Screening Strategy for Coronary Heart Disease in Long-Term Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Survivors (2020)

Long-term allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) survivors suffer an elevated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We conducted a prospective, nonrandomized, cross-sectional study to screen asymptomatic survivors at a single allo-HCT center using cardiac computed tomography (CT) involving coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. Seventy-nine subjects with a median age of 39 years at allo-HCT and a median follow-up interval of 8 years were evaluated for CHD by Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and cardiac CT. CHD was detected in 33 of 79 (42%) subjects; 91% of lesions were nonobstructive, 19.5% of were noncalcified and 30% had associated valvular calcification. Overall, CAC was significantly superior to FRS in detecting early CHD in allo-HCT survivors [∆C = 0.25; <i>P</i> < 0.0001]. While both FRS and CAC were highly, >95% specific, FRS had a sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of only 28% (95% CI, 14%-47%), 90% (95% CI, 55%-100%) and 60% (95% CI, 47%-73%), respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of CAC were 78% (95% CI, 60%-91%), 96% (95% CI, 80%-100%) and 83% (95% CI, 69%-93%), respectively. Significantly, cardiac CT detected CHD in 23 of the 68 (34%) survivors deemed to have a low Framingham risk. Radiation exposure during cardiac CT was negligible, and there were no adverse events. In conclusion, CAC score with or without CCTA is a safe, feasible and sensitive screening technique for CHD. The FRS greatly underestimates CHD in allo-HCT survivors.
MON-179 Repeat BCG Vaccination Creates Lasting HbA1c Reductions in Adult Subjects with Longstanding Type 1 Diabetes by Correcting Immune-Metabolic Defects (2019)

The move to cleaner and more urban environments is speculated to be involved in not just how type 1 diabetes develops, but also in the increased incidence of many immune diseases. The bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, originally developed to prevent tuberculosis and recently shown to reduce blood sugar levels in humans with advanced type 1 diabetes, may safely mimic the microbial exposures modern societies have lost. We investigated how the BCG vaccine impacts the immune system and lowers blood sugars by analyzing data from 282 adult human research participants from in vivo clinical trial studies (n=52) and in vitro mechanistic studies (n=230). Of these subjects, 211 had type 1 diabetes and 71 were non-diabetic controls. Participants with type 1 diabetes were followed for 8 years (Phase I trial subjects) or up to 5 years (additional subjects) after receiving BCG vaccinations, and all had disease >10 years duration without complications at enrollment. Mechanistic studies of RNAseq, metabolomics and epigenetics were performed in parallel to the clinical trial to track the systemic and mechanistic effects of BCG vaccinations. Subjects with type 1 diabetes had cellular metabolism consistent with fewer microbial exposures, resulting in white blood cells that use minimal blood sugar compared to non-diabetic control subjects. BCG led to a systemic shift in glucose metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis, which corrected metabolism to normal within the lymphoid compartment. Exposing the patients to microbes through the BCG vaccine exerted major epigenetic effects on the immune system related to Treg tolerance and resulted in white blood cells using more blood sugar by increasing aerobic glycolysis. Starting after Year 03 follow up, only BCG vaccinated subjects had lowered HbA1c for >1 year (p=0.02) and BCG lowering of blood sugar was maintained for 5 continuous years (p=0.0002). BCG-treated subjects had no post-enrollment change in insulin pump use, none utilized a CGM device, and insulin usage was reduced. We conclude that microbial exposure through BCG vaccination appears to result in white blood cells using more serum sugar by increasing aerobic glycolysis, a process of high cellular glucose utilization. After an onset delay, repeat BCG vaccination was associated with stable, long-term lowering of HbA1c in type 1 diabetes for > 5 years without hypoglycemia. These findings support the hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that early life exposure to microbes is actually beneficial to the development of the immune system and is an important determinant of sensitivity to autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes. The discovery that individuals with type 1 diabetes have too little lymphoid sugar utilization sets the stage for more clinical trials using the BCG vaccine, even in advanced type 1 diabetes, to stably and safely lower blood sugars.
Target validation and structure–activity analysis of a series of novel PCNA inhibitors (2015)

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays an essential role in DNA replication and repair. Tumor cells express high levels of PCNA, identifying it as a potentially ideal target for cancer therapy. Previously, we identified nine compounds termed PCNA inhibitors (PCNA-Is) that bind directly to PCNA, stabilize PCNA trimer structure, reduce chromatin-associated PCNA, and selectively inhibit tumor cell growth. Of these compounds, PCNA-I1 was most potent. The purpose of this study is to further establish targeting of PCNA by PCNA-I1 and to identify PCNA-I1 analogs with superior potencies. We found that PCNA-I1 does not affect the level of chromatin-associated PCNA harboring point mutations at the predicted binding site of PCNA-I1. Forty-six PCNA-I1 analogs with structures of 1-hydrazonomethyl-2-hydroxy (scaffold A), 2-hydrazonomethyl-1-hydroxy (scaffold B), 2-hydrazonomethyl-3-hydroxy (scaffold C), and 4-pyridyl hydrazine (scaffold D) were analyzed for their effects on cell growth in four tumor cell lines and PCNA trimer stabilization. Compounds in scaffold group A and group B showed the highest trimer stabilization and the most potent cell growth inhibitory activities with a significant potency advantage observed in the Z isomers of scaffold A. The absence of trimer stabilization and growth inhibitory effects in compounds of scaffold group D confirms the essentiality of the hydroxynaphthyl substructure. Compounds structure-activity relationship (SAR)-6 and SAR-24 were analyzed for their effects on and found to reduce chromatin-associated PCNA in tumor cells. This study led to the identification of SAR-24, a compound with superior potencies and potentially improved solubility, which will be used for future development of PCNA-targeting cancer therapies.
Faculty Opinions recommendation of Asynchronous Ca2+ current conducted by voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV)-2.1 and CaV2.2 channels and its implications for asynchronous neurotransmitter release. (2012)

Read the full review for this Faculty Opinions recommended article: Asynchronous Ca2+ current conducted by voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV)-2.1 and CaV2.2 channels and its implications for asynchronous neurotransmitter release.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum–Like Ulcer in a Patient With X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia (2010)

This novel technology was useful in the identification of a difficult-to-grow Helicobacter organism, the cause of pyoderma gangrenosum-like leg ulcers in patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Correct identification of this organism as the cause of pyoderma gangrenosum-like ulcers in patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia is of great importance for the early initiation of appropriate and curative antibiotic therapy.
M theory model of a big crunch/big bang transition (2004)

We consider a picture in which the transition from a big crunch to a big bang corresponds to the collision of two empty orbifold planes approaching each other at a constant nonrelativistic speed in a locally flat background space-time, a situation relevant to recently proposed cosmological models. We show that $p$-brane states which wind around the extra dimension propagate smoothly and unambiguously across the orbifold plane collision. In particular we calculate the quantum mechanical production of winding M2-branes extending from one orbifold to the other. We find that the resulting density is finite and that the resulting gravitational backreaction is small. These winding states, which include the string theory graviton, can be propagated smoothly across the transition using a perturbative expansion in the membrane tension, an expansion which from the point of view of string theory is an expansion in inverse powers of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$. The conventional description of a crunch based on Einstein general relativity, involving Kasner or mixmaster behavior is misleading, we argue, because general relativity is only the leading order approximation to string theory in an expansion in positive powers of ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$. In contrast, in the M theory setup we argue that interactions should be well behaved because of the smooth evolution of the fields combined with the fact that the string coupling tends to zero at the crunch. The production of massive Kaluza-Klein states should also be exponentially suppressed for small collision speeds. We contrast this good behavior with that found in previous studies of strings in Lorentzian orbifolds.
An ultra low power maximum voltage detector for piezoelectric and electrostatic energy harvesters (2013)

This paper presents an integrated circuit for mechanical energy harvesting applications which detects the electromechanical converter's maximum voltage in a very low power way. This circuit has been designed in AMS 0.35μm CMOS technology and its functionality and its efficiency have been validated with different kinds of converters (piezoelectric and electrostatic) at various mechanical frequencies (from 1 to 200 Hz). The experimental results have shown a power consumption of 150 nW under 3V with a delay of detection lower than 50μs. This circuit appears to be a relevant solution for all Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) in which the harvesting methods are based on Synchronized Switch Harvesting techniques (SSH).
A Novel Generation and Behavior of Alkylfluorocarbenoids from α,α-Chlorofluoroalkyl Sulfoxides (1989)

Abstract α,α-Chlorofluoroalkyl sulfoxides undergo nucleophilic desulfinylation with a Grignard reagent to give alkylfluorocarbenoids which collapse into cis-fluoroalkenes in the presence of copper(I) iodide.
Enzyme properties and thermal stability of horseradish peroxidase (HRP-DL) (2016)

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is widely used in biological engineering, wastewater treatment, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and other fields. It is great significance to study its enzyme properties, stress resistance and protective agent. In order to provide good quality HRP, and protection method of HRP thermal stability, horseradish peroxidase (HRP-DL) was extracted and purified from horseradish which was collected from Dalian, China in this paper. It was investigated that the enzyme characterization, thermal stability, thermal protection from thermal stability protection agents of HRP-DL. The optimum temperature of HRP-DL was 30 C, the optimum pH of HRP-DL was 5.5. HRP-DL enzyme activity was inhibited significantly by NaCl. HRP-DL was activated by Ca 2+ , Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ , Pb 2+ , Mg 2+ , Go 2+ , Fe 3+ , and inhibited by K + , Cu 2+ , Hg 2+ , Ag + , Fe 2+ in different degree. When HRP-DL was processed at the temperature greater than or equal to 35 C, the residual enzyme activity was reduced. The HRP-DL residual enzyme activity increase 49.3% when added 1 mmol/L Ectoine and heat treatment at 60 C for 15 min. The study of HRP-DL enzyme characterization provided the basis for its practical application. Ectoine as HRP-DL thermally stable protective agent has advantages such as the use of less, the effect is significant.
A Plasmodium falciparum novel gene encoding a coronin‐like protein which associates with actin filaments (1998)

Plasmodium falciparum, the major causative agent of human malaria, is an Apicomplexa protozoan parasite which invades in its intermediate host hepatocytes and erythrocytes. The driving force underlying internalization into the host cell is thought to involve both polymerization of parasite actin, as entry is inhibited by the cytochalasins, and an actin motor-associated protein. In the related Apicomplexa parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, the involvement of parasite actin during both processes of motility and host cell entry has been genetically established. In a search for molecules that can regulate actin dynamics within Apicomplexa parasites, we have identified a P. falciparum homologue of the actin associated protein called coronin originally described in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. The single copy gene displays a strong homology with the amoeba sequence and with the bovine and human coronin homologues recently cloned. This homology lies not only within the N-terminus containing the five WD repeats that characterize coronin but also extends in the C-terminal part. Furthermore, using an affinity-purified mouse monoclonal antibody against D. discoideum coronin, we have detected in extracts of P. falciparum young and mature schizonts a 42-kDa polypeptide which binds this antibody and is present in a Triton insoluble fraction that also contains parasite actin filaments. In addition, the recombinant protein encoded by the homologue nucleotidic sequence of P. falciparum coronin is indeed recognized by the antibody against D. discoideum coronin. Finally, the cross-reactive polypeptide displays the ability to cosediment with exogenous F-actin, a property which fits with its involvement in actin dynamics.
Resolving Bioactive Supramolecular Structure Formation in Live Cells by Phasor-Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (2022)

Supramolecular polymerization creates transient and life-defining functions in complex cellular systems but synthetically driven analogues has been held back by the lack of real-time correlation. Most synthetically assembled nanostructures in cells are studied when structure formation has reached equilibrium, creating a knowledge divide to the events initiated during the dynamic polymerization phase. Fourier transformed fluorescence lifetime fluctuations allow us to observe these molecular events on the fly, enabling the visualization of the monomers, intermediates, nanostructures and secondary cellular interactions on a 2-D phasor plot. We study the time-lapsed polymerization of amyloid-like naphthalene diimide peptides in MDA-MB 231 cells and show that the growth phase shuts ATP production. The cells then react to overcome the initial stress by mounting an increased respiratory capacity as structure formation nears equilibrium. By coupling simple and fit-free fluorescence lifetime responses to supramolecular chemistry, we reliably detail assembly dynamics and their biological effects with spatiotemporal resolution.
Elimination of high transient currents and electrode damage during electroformation of TiO2-based resistive switching devices (2012)

Abstract Transient currents associated with electroforming TiO 2 -based resistive switching devices were measured using three distinct circuits designed to limit them, and they were correlated with physical changes in the top electrode using scanning electron microscopy. A transient current more than 10 times greater than expected was observed when only using the source meter to limit the current via the compliance set point. The large excursion arose from equipment delays and resulted in significant physical changes to the top electrode. An external resistor was used to decrease the excess transient current value to nearly zero, as long as parasitic capacitive discharges were also suppressed. Simultaneously, the physical changes to the top electrode were completely suppressed, indicating physical damage was related to Joule heating from the excess forming currents. The switching characteristics of all devices were similar, implying damage during electroformation of functional switches can be avoided by device/circuit design.
Nonlinear function estimation and other numerical methods for imaging myocardial perfusion by N-13 ammonia PET (2003)

We study three numerical methods for parametric imaging of myocardial perfusion by N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET): weighted nonlinear regression (WNLR), nonlinear function estimation (NFE), and Patlak analysis. NFE is a set of empirical tools that learn nonlinear input-output mappings. Using Bayesian models of PET data, we trained a sigmoidal network, a tool for NFE, to produce MAP estimates of resting perfusion (0.1-1.5 ml/min/g). We compared the three methods with canine data (n=4) and simulation (m=2000). The simulation data show that NFE is the most accurate method The canine data show that NFE produces parametric images similar to WNLR but two orders of magnitude faster. NFE requires 5 seconds to produce a 128/spl times/128 image of perfusion, whereas WNLR requires 2 hours. We conclude that NFE is a fast method for parametric imaging of myocardial pefusion.
Sulfolobus as a model organism for the study of diverse biological interests : forays into thermal virology and oxidative stress (2013)

My research interests have focused on two distinct aspects of Sulfolobus biology: virology and oxidative stress. My major contribution to the emerging field of thermal virology has been the isolation, characterization and comparative genomic analysis of a spindle-shaped virus partical (SSV RH) infecting the thermoacidophilic archaeal host Sulfolobus solfataricus (18). Insights from this comparative genomic analysis have served as a platform for targeted structural studies, as well as providing molecular tools used to follow the viral life cycle in culture and for assessing the ecological significance of these viruses in the environment (9, 19-24). My research endeavors in oxidative stress arose from an early interest in iron metabolism and protective mechanisms that allow life to cope with the paradoxical role that iron plays in biological systems. Pursuit of this interest has lead to the discovery of a new class of proteins termed, "DPS-Like" (7, 17, 24, 25). These previously unrecognized proteins function as antioxidants and are widely distributed across both prokaryotic domains of life.
Identification of Nocardia farcinica by a PCR Primer Amplifying a Specific DNA Band for the Bacterium (2007)

A PCR primer specific to Nocardia farcinica was prepared based on sequence information of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The PCR primer amplifies N. farcinica species only; no amplification was observed in 25 other Nocardia strains that we tested. Specificity of the primer for N. farcinica was also confirmed using other fungal and bacterial strains that are frequently isolated from clinical samples such as sputa and broncho alveolar lavage (VAL).
ChemInform Abstract: Intrazeolite Nonstoichiometric Tungsten Oxides n(WO3‐x)‐Na56Y (0 < n . ltoreq. 32, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) (1993)

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.