gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes with systemic interferonl α 2a (1992)

Systemic interferon-alpha has recently been reported to be useful in the treatment of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM) in age-related macular degeneration. To further investigate its effect we treated eight patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes of various aetiologies including idiopathic, age-related macular degeneration and myopic chorioretinal degeneration. Only one of the eight patients responded with an angiographically demonstrated decrease in the size of the CNVM; this was in a patient from the idiopathic group. Considerable side-effects were reported with marked lethargy and malaise limiting compliance with some patients. Although this is an initial report with limited patient numbers and follow-up, it does suggest a role for interferon-alpha in patients with idiopathic neovascular membranes where the retina is otherwise normal, but raises some doubt as to its efficacy in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
Using benchmarking to manage your laboratory. (2003)

How does your cost per test compare with the competition? Does your productivity measure up? Benchmarking data provide the answers, but you may not realize just how far the information can go. In times of budget cuts, comparing your laboratory operations with the best performers can be crucial. The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS) Pathology Department in Richmond, Virginia, demonstrated that benchmarking is more than a paper exercise. It literally saved the laboratory. The keys were clarification, consistency, and communication.
Calcitonin Receptor-Like Receptor Is Expressed on Gastrointestinal Immune Cells (2002)

These novel data indicate that mucosal immune cells of the rat gut are a target for CGRP and provide significant evidence that CGRP functions as an immune regulator in the gut mucosa.
Maternally‐derived antibody to infectious bronchitis virus: Its detection in chick trachea and serum and its role in protection (1987)

Chicks with maternally-derived IgG antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were protected against challenge with a mixture of IBV and Escherichia coli. This protective immunity lasted for at least 1 week. IBV-specific IgG was detected, using an ELISA, in the majority of tracheal washes taken from chicks aged 1 day and 1 week that had been hatched from IBV-infected hens. Some of the 2-week-old chicks also had detectable antibody. This tracheal IgG may be an important factor in mediating protective immunity. The origin and transport of the IgG into the trachea are discussed. IBV-specific IgG was detected in chick serum and had a half-life of 4.5 days. Yolk samples, collected from eggs laid by IBV-infected hens, were tested for the presence of viral-specific IgG antibodies. The sequential IgG antibody response to IBV in yolk was determined. Specific antibodies were detected at highest concentrations 16 to 18 days after infection and then declined. A second inoculation of an inactivated oil-based vaccine induced high concentrations of IBV-specific antibodies in the yolk which were maintained for the 60 days of the experiment. Detection of specific IgG in the yolk could be used as a means of assessing response to vaccination.
CHEMISTRY OF HOP CONSTITUENTS, PART XXXVI. AN IMPROVED SYNTHESIS OF HOP β-ACIDS (LUPULONES) (1970)

Hop β-acids and their analogues are formed in high yield by the isoprenylation o acylophloroglucinols in liquid ammonia.
Characterization of the Chemical Properties of Crude Oils To Explain Observed Asphaltene Inhibitor Specificity (2007)

Abstract Asphaltenes are typically defined by solubility as benzene soluble and pentane or heptane insoluble. The deposition and precipitation of flocculated asphaltenes in the oilfield can severely reduce the permeability of the reservoir, cause formation damage and can also plug-up the wellbore and tubing. Asphaltene inhibitors have been used with success in preventing these precipitation/deposition problems. Based on laboratory and field tests, it was found that asphaltene inhibitor performance is oil specific. We present results obtained by analyzing crude oil from two different geographic regions. The crude oil and asphaltene samples were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques including total acid number (TAN), elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS) was used to further characterize the two different crudes and their associated asphaltenes. Substantial differences between the relative abundance of heteroatom-containing compound classes were found for the two oils. The relationship between these findings and asphaltene inhibitor performance specificity is discussed. The results from this study provide a greater understanding on how different inhibitors interact with asphaltenes thus enhancing the ability to develop the next generation of asphaltene inhibitors.
Two-dimensional metallic tantalum disulfide as a hydrogen evolution catalyst (2017)

Two-dimensional metallic transition metal dichalcogenides are emerging as prototypes for uncovering fundamental physical phenomena, such as superconductivity and charge-density waves, as well as for engineering-related applications. However, the batch production of such envisioned transition metal dichalcogenides remains challenging, which has hindered the aforementioned explorations. Herein, we fabricate thickness-tunable tantalum disulfide flakes and centimetre-sized ultrathin films on an electrode material of gold foil via a facile chemical vapour deposition route. Through temperature-dependent Raman characterization, we observe the transition from nearly commensurate to commensurate charge-density wave phases with our ultrathin tantalum disulfide flakes. We have obtained high hydrogen evolution reaction efficiency with the as-grown tantalum disulfide flakes directly synthesized on gold foils comparable to traditional platinum catalysts. This work could promote further efforts for exploring new efficient catalysts in the large materials family of metallic transition metal dichalcogenides, as well as exploiting their applications towards more versatile applications.Metallic transition metal dichalcogenides are important materials for catalysis, but scalable and controllable preparation methods are scarce. Here, the authors synthesize 2H-TaS<sub>2</sub> as centimetre-scale films of tunable thickness and show they are an efficient catalyst for hydrogen evolution.
The Effects of Oxymetazoline on Lysozyme Secretion from the Human Nasal Mucosa (1997)

Lysozyme is a protein secreted by nasal submucosal glands. Its secretion is under cholinergic control. It is considered important in nasal defence as it enzymatically hydrolyses peptidoglycan bonds in bacterial cell walls and has specific activity against Gram-positive bacteria in vitro. Oxymetazoline is freely available as a non-prescription nasal decongestant. Some recent work has shown that it has no effect on histamine-induced plasma exudation but little is known about its effects on glandular secretion. The current study is a randomized controlled study that investigates the effect of topical oxymetazoline on the total protein and lysozyme content of nasal fluid. Thirty healthy volunteers were randomized to receive either a normal saline nasal spray (placebo) or an active spray of oxymetazoline, 0.05% (w/v) in saline. NAR was assessed in all subjects using posterior rhinomanometry and nasal lavage before the application of the spray and again 10 min later. The results were analysed using non-parametric statistics. There was a significant decrease in both the lysozyme and total protein content of nasal lavage after application of oxymetazoline when compared with placebo (p < 0.05). A possible mechanism for the observed decease in total protein and lysozyme would be that the vasoconstrictor effects of oxymetazoline also apply to the vessels supplying nasal submucosal glands and that this decrease in blood supply is reflected by a decrease in secretion.
Adjustable depth resolution OCT imaging (1998)

Using an in house low coherence reflectometry system, a large number of en-face images of the retina for different depths are collected. These images are then processed to produce an aggregated intensity image by the superposition of a number of individual transversal images. Varying the number of transversal OCT images superposed, the effective depth sectioning interval of the superposed image is altered. In this way, the sectioning interval width can be varied from the minimum given by the coherence length, to a maximum given by the range covered by the data collection.
The anodic formation of calomel films on mercury electrodes—an ellipsometric-galvanostatic study (1964)

Abstract The mechanism of formation of calomel films on mercury electrodes in 1 M potassium chloride solutions has been investigated by combining conventional galvanostatic techniques with a new application of ellipsometry. In this application, the ability of surface films to alter the polarization state of light reflected from metals has been used to monitor optically the state of the mercury surface and to signal the formation of a calomel film on a mercury mirror anode. The cell has been designed for simultaneously obtaining potential-time and ellipsometer intensity-time transients. A potentiostat has been used to maintain the mirror electrode at a potential such that it is kept free of anodically-formed films—this is the optical reference state. The cessation of potentiostatic control of the potential and the imposition of a constant anodic current makes calomel formation possible and ellipsometrically detectable in situ. The essential observation is that the mercury anode attains the ‘calomel potential’ in a time significantly less than the ‘induction time’ (Ti) which is necessary for the formation of a calomel film on the anode. This induction time increases if an inert gas is bubbled during the passage of an anodic current. Further, it depends on the galvanostatic current density; the product iT increases linearly with current density at low current densities, but is constant at current densities &gt; ~ 0.1 mA/cm2. The ellipsometer showed that, even when the anodic current was turned off during film growth, calomel growth continued for some time after which the film thickness became fairly steady over several minutes. Under these conditions (of steady thickness), the refractive index of a particular film has been shown to be that of calomel and its thickness ≈ 35 Å. The experimental results are discussed in terms of a dissolution-precipitation model in which a Hg/KCl interface is charged to the ‘calomel potential’ by a process involving the formation of mercurous adions and specifically adsorbed chloride ions. The transformation of the polarizable interface into a non-polarizable interface occurs through the passage into solution of chloro-mercurous ions, Hg2Cl+. The accumulation of these ions is subject to diffusion away from the electrode and to disproportionation into chloro-mercuric ions, HgCl+, and other mercuric entities. When the chloro-mercurous ions attain a critical con­centration (corresponding to the solubility product of calomel with respect to Hg2Cl+) in the vicinity of the anode, a film of calomel is precipitated on to the electrode. On the basis of a diffusion precipitation model, the authors have previously derived an expression for the dependence of iT on i by solving the boundary-value problem. The predictions of this equation are in conformity with the plot of iT against i experimentally observed for calomel formation.
A new coupled-cavity circuit for high mean power traveling-wave tubes (1991)

A technique to increase the mean power capability of coupled-cavity traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) was demonstrated theoretically and practically. Theoretical work involved the investigation of the RF and thermal properties of the structures using experimental and computing techniques. A description is presented of the testing of, and results from, an experimental I-band coupled-cavity TWT containing the novel ferrule bar and ring structure operating at an output power of 50-kW peak, 3-kW mean. A threefold increase in mean power over an existing coupled-cavity TWT, with no degradation in the percentage bandwidth, has been obtained. The extension of this technique to other frequency bands is also discussed.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
<scp>VIP</scp> and <scp>PACAP</scp>: neuropeptide modulators of <scp>CNS</scp> inflammation, injury, and repair (2013)

Inflammatory processes play both regenerative and destructive roles in multiple sclerosis, stroke, CNS trauma, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's. Endogenous defence mechanisms against these pathologies include those that are directly neuroprotective, and those that modulate the expression of inflammatory mediators in microglia, astrocytes, and invading inflammatory cells. While a number of mechanisms and molecules have been identified that can directly promote neuronal survival, less is known about how the brain protects itself from harmful inflammation, and further, how it co-opts the healing function of the immune system to promote CNS repair. The two closely related neuroprotective peptides, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), which are up-regulated in neurons and immune cells after injury and/or inflammation, are known to protect neurons, but also exert powerful in vivo immunomodulatory actions, which are primarily anti-inflammatory. These peptide actions are mediated by high-affinity receptors expressed not only on neurons, but also astrocytes, microglia and peripheral inflammatory cells. Well-established immunomodulatory actions of these peptides are to inhibit macrophage and microglia production and release of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, and polarization of T-cell responses away from Th1 and Th17, and towards a Th2 phenotype. More recent studies have revealed that these peptides can also promote the production of both natural and inducible subsets of regulatory T-cells. The neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions of VIP and PACAP suggest that receptors for these peptides may be therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases and other forms of CNS injury.
Provisioning Software-Defined IoT Cloud Systems (2014)

Cloud computing is ever stronger converging with the Internet of Things (IoT) offering novel techniques for IoT infrastructure virtualization and its management on the cloud. However, system designers and operations managers face numerous challenges to realize IoT cloud systems in practice, mainly due to the complexity involved with provisioning large-scale IoT cloud systems and diversity of their requirements in terms of IoT resources consumption, customization of IoT capabilities and runtime governance. In this paper, we introduce the concept of software-defined IoT units - a novel approach to IoT cloud computing that encapsulates fine-grained IoT resources and IoT capabilities in well-defined APIs in order to provide a unified view on accessing, configuring and operating IoT cloud systems. Our software-defined IoT units are the fundamental building blocks of software-defined IoT cloud systems. We present our framework for dynamic, on-demand provisioning and deploying such software-defined IoT cloud systems. By automating provisioning processes and supporting managed configuration models, our framework simplifies provisioning and enables flexible runtime customizations of software-defined IoT cloud systems. We demonstrate its advantages on a real-world IoT cloud system for managing electric fleet vehicles.
Evaluation of pretreatments for enzymatic conversion of agricultural residues (1981)

The effectiveness of various physical and chemical pretreatments on the enzymatic digestibility of wheat straw was evaluated. Structural features, including crystallinity and lignin content, were measured after pretreatments. Several promising pretreatments were identified. In general, chemical pretreatments were more effective than physical pretreatments. Although the hydrolysis rate was dependent appreciably on the crystallinity index, lignin content of the substrate appeared predominant. The hydrolysis rate increased with an increase in the degree of delignification only up to 50%; it remained unchanged thereafter. Scanning electron microscopic observations were used to facilitate further insight into structural modification of the substrate. A preliminary cost analysis was conducted.
Automated macromodel generation for high level modeling (2008)

In this paper we present a novel approach termed multiple model generation system (MMGS) for extracting either single-input single-output (SISO) or multiple- input single-output (MISO) macromodels from a SPICE netlist. It detects nonlinearity through variations in output error. The multiple model conversion system (MMCS) is developed to automatically convert these models from MMGS into hardware description language (HDL) models for either SISO or MISO macromodels and behave as the operational amplifier (op amp). We demonstrate the application of MMGS using a two-stage CMOS operational amplifier (op amp), comparing simulations of the macromodel against those of the original SPICE circuit utilizing transient analysis.
In vitro importance of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum related to medical field (2015)

Lactobacillus plantarum is a Gram positive lactic acid bacterium commonly found in fermented food and in the gastro intestinal tract and is commonly used in the food industry as a potential starter probiotic. Recently, the consumption of food together with probiotics has tremendously increased. Among the lactic acid bacteria, L. plantarum attracted many researchers because of its wide applications in the medical field with antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anti-obesity and antidiabetic properties. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro importance of L. plantarum toward medical applications. Moreover, this report short listed various reports related to the applications of this promising strain. In conclusion, this study would attract the researchers in commercializing this strain toward the welfare of humans related to medical needs.
Synthesis of a Nitrogen Analogue of Salacinol and Its .ALPHA.-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity. (2001)

A nitrogen analogue 4 of the naturally occurring sulfonium ion salacinol (1), a potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor isolated from the Ayruvedic medicine Salacia reticulata, was synthesized and its inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase tested. Substitution of the sulfur atom in 1 with a nitrogen reduced the activity considerably. The solid-state stereostructure of the related compound (5) was determined on the basis of single crystal X-ray measurement.
Characterization of TTX‐sensitive and TTX‐resistant sodium currents in small cells from adult rat dorsal root ganglia. (1993)

1. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the characteristics of two types of sodium current (INa) recorded at room temperature from small diameter (13-25 microns) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells, isolated from adult rats and maintained overnight in culture. 2. Sodium currents were isolated pharmacologically. Internal Cs+ and external tetraethylammonium (TEA) ions were used to suppress potassium currents. A combination of internal EGTA, internal F-, a low (10 microM) concentration of external Ca2+ and a relatively high (5 mM) concentration of internal and external Mg2+ was used to block calcium channels. The remaining voltage-dependent currents reversed direction at the calculated sodium equilibrium potential. Both the reversal potential and magnitude of the currents exhibited the expected dependence on the external sodium concentration. 3. INa subtypes were characterized initially in terms of their sensitivity to tetrodotoxin (TTX). TTX-sensitive (TTXs) currents were at least 97% suppressed by 0.1 microM TTX. TTX-resistant (TTXr) INa were recorded in the presence of 0.3 microM TTX and appeared to be reduced in amplitude by less than 50% in 75 microM TTX (n = 1). 4. As in earlier studies, the peak of the current-voltage relationship, the mid-point of the normalized conductance curve and the potential (Vh) at which the steady-state inactivation parameter (h infinity) was 0.5 were found to be significantly more depolarized for the TTXr INa (by ca 10, 14 and 37 mV respectively). There was little difference in the slope at the mid-point of the normalized conductance curves (the mean slope factors were 5.1 mV for the TTXs INa and 4.9 mV for the TTXr current) but the h infinity curves for TTXr currents were significantly steeper than those for TTXs currents (mean slope factors of 3.8 and 11.5 mV respectively). Both the time to peak and the decay time constant of the peak current recorded from a holding potential of -67 mV were more than a factor of three slower for the TTXr INa than for the TTXs current. 5. However, in direct contrast to the difference in activation and decay kinetics, 'slow' TTXr INa recovered from inactivation at -67mV, or reprimed, more than a factor of ten faster than 'fast' TTXs INa. 6. The differences apparent in both the repriming kinetics of TTXs and TTXr INa at -67 mV and the kinetics of the decay phase of the peak INa are shown to be explicable largely in terms of the voltage dependence of their respective inactivation systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
An economic model of stroke in atrial fibrillation: the cost of suboptimal oral anticoagulation. (2004)

Using a disease model, the current economic burden of stroke in the 2.3 million US patients with atrial fibrillation was estimated, and potential savings in direct costs obtainable by optimization of oral anticoagulation were projected using a disease model. Cost estimates were based on published epidemiologic data on risks in 3 main prevention scenarios (ie, none or aspirin alone, warfarin in routine care, and warfarin in anticoagulation clinic settings) and 2003 Medicare cost data. According to the model described, the approximately 1.265 million (55%) patients currently not receiving prophylaxis, suffer 58 382 strokes annually with an associated total direct cost to Medicare of dollar 4.8 billion. For the 1.035 million receiving warfarin, 38 468 strokes are predicted every year, costing an estimated dollar 3.1 billion. If 50% of those not receiving warfarin prophylaxis were optimally anticoagulated, 19 380 emboli would be prevented and dollar 1.1 billion would be saved. If 50% of those currently receiving warfarin in routine medical care were optimally anticoagulated, 9852 emboli would be prevented and dollar 1.3 billion would be saved. The risk of bleeding increases in the first of these "what if" scenarios but drops substantially in the second. These estimates do not account for the costs of optimization. Given the continued underutilization and poor anticoagulation control observed with warfarin, despite 50 years of use and widespread awareness of its effectiveness, the feasibility of achieving the projected 50% increases in optimal usage is questionable. Although efforts to optimize warfarin use must continue, the best opportunity for Medicare or managed care organizations to reduce stroke rates and costs at magnitudes approaching those analyzed in this model may come with use of newer oral anticoagulants that are easier to manage.