gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Dual Roles of IL-4 in Lung Injury and Fibrosis (2003)

Increased lung IL-4 expression in pulmonary fibrosis suggests a potential pathogenetic role for this cytokine. To dissect this role, bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis were analyzed and compared in wild type (IL-4(+/+)) vs IL-4-deficient (IL-4(-/-)) mice. Lethal pulmonary injury after bleomycin treatment was higher in IL-4(-/-) vs IL-4(+/+) mice. By administration of anti-CD3 Abs, we demonstrated that this early response was linked to the marked T lymphocyte lung infiltration and to the overproduction of the proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and NO in IL-4(-/-) mice. In contrast to this early anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive role, during later stages of fibrosis, IL-4 played a profibrotic role since IL-4(-/-) mice developed significantly less pulmonary fibrosis relative to IL-4(+/+) mice. However, IL-4 failed to directly stimulate proliferation, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and type I collagen expression in lung fibroblasts isolated from the wild-type mice. Upon appropriate stimulation with other known fibrogenic cytokines, fibroblasts from IL-4(-/-) mice were relatively deficient in the studied parameters in comparison to fibroblasts isolated from IL-4(+/+) mice. Taken together, these data suggest dual effects of IL-4 in this model of lung fibrosis: 1) limiting early recruitment of T lymphocytes, and 2) stimulation of fibrosis chronically.
Identification of Three Interferon-Inducible Cellular Enzymes That Inhibit the Replication of Hepatitis C Virus (2007)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common cause of chronic hepatitis and is currently treated with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha)-based therapies. However, the underlying mechanism of IFN-alpha therapy remains to be elucidated. To identify the cellular proteins that mediate the antiviral effects of IFN-alpha, we created a HEK293-based cell culture system to inducibly express individual interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and determined their antiviral effects against HCV. By screening 29 ISGs that are induced in Huh7 cells by IFN-alpha and/or up-regulated in HCV-infected livers, we discovered that viperin, ISG20, and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) noncytolytically inhibited the replication of HCV replicons. Mechanistically, inhibition of HCV replication by ISG20 and PKR depends on their 3'-5' exonuclease and protein kinase activities, respectively. Moreover, our work, for the first time, provides strong evidence suggesting that viperin is a putative radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme. In addition to demonstrating that the antiviral activity of viperin depends on its radical SAM domain, which contains conserved motifs to coordinate [4Fe-4S] cluster and cofactor SAM and is essential for its enzymatic activity, mutagenesis studies also revealed that viperin requires an aromatic amino acid residue at its C terminus for proper antiviral function. Furthermore, although the N-terminal 70 amino acid residues of viperin are not absolutely required, deletion of this region significantly compromises its antiviral activity against HCV. Our findings suggest that viperin represents a novel antiviral pathway that works together with other antiviral proteins, such as ISG20 and PKR, to mediate the IFN response against HCV infection.
The Influence of Fluoride on the Physicochemical Properties of Anodic Oxide Films Formed on Titanium Surfaces (2008)

The influence of fluoride (and its concentration) on the electrochemical and semiconducting properties of anodic oxide films formed on titanium surfaces was investigated by performing electrochemical measurements (potentiodynamic/pontiostatic polarization, open circuit potential (OCP), and capacitance measurements) for a titanium/oxide film/solution interface system in fluoride-containing 1.0 M HClO(4) solution. On the basis of the Mott-Schottky analysis, and with taking into account both the surface reactions (or, say, the specifically chemical adsorption) of fluoride ions at the oxide film surface and the migration/intercalation of fluoride ions into the oxide film, the changes in the electrochemical behavior of titanium measured in this work (e.g., the blocked anodic oxygen evolution, the increased anodic steady-state current density, the positively shifted flat band potential, and the positively shifted film breakdown potential) were interpreted by the changes in the surface and the bulk physicochemical properties (e.g., the surface charges, surface state density, doping concentration, and the interfacial potential drops) of the anodic films grown on titanium. The fluoride concentrations tested in this work can be divided into three groups according to their effect on the electrochemical behavior of the oxide films: < or =0.001 M, 0.001-0.01 M, and >0.01 M. By tracing the changes of the OCP of the passivated titanium in fluoride-containing solutions, the deleterious/depassive effect of fluoride ions on the titanium oxide films was examined and evaluated with the parameter of the film breakdown time. It was also shown that the films anodically formed on titanium at higher potentials (>2.5 V) exhibited significantly higher stability against the fluoride attack than that either formed at lower potentials (<2.5 V) or formed natively in the air.
Using waste wood chips to treat septage (1994)

A pilot project in Texas explores the efficiency of a simplified system to recycle wastewater through a wood chip filter and compost the biosolids
Tissue Conditioners Containing Poly (butyl methacrylate) Powder (1989)

The viscoelastic properties of new experimental tissue conditioners which consist of synthesized poly (butyl methacrylate) PBMA and a liquid of aromatic-ester plasticizer, without alcohol, were investigated to evaluate the effects of the molecular weight of polymer. The master curves of storage modulus G', dynamic viscosity eta' and loss tangent tan delta were constructed from the viscoelastic data at different temperatures. The effects of the molecular weight of polymer on the viscoelastic properties G' and tan delta were observed particularly, in a low frequency range. However, the dynamic viscosity eta' was not very sensitive to the molecular weight. These results suggest that PBMA produces more desirable properties for tissue conditioners, and that it is possible to manufacture new materials without alcohol.
The impact of timing on linearizability in counting networks (2002)

Counting networks form a new class of distributed, low-contention data structures made up of interconnected balancers, and are suitable for solving a variety of multiprocessor synchronization problems that can be expressed as counting problems. A linearizable counting network guarantees that the order of the values it returns respects the real-time order they were requested. Linearizability significantly raises the capabilities of the network, but at a possible price in network size or synchronization support. In this paper, we further pursue the systematic study of the impact of timing on linearizability for counting networks, along a research line initiated by Lynch et al. (1996). We consider two basic timing models: the instantaneous balancer model, in which the transition of a token from an input to an output port of a balancer is modeled as an instantaneous event, and the periodic balancer model, where balancers send out tokens at a fixed rate. We also consider lower and upper bounds on the delays incurred by wires connecting the balancers. We present necessary and sufficient conditions for linearizability in the form of precise inequalities that involve timing parameters and identify structural parameters of the counting network, which may be of more general interest. Our results significantly extend and strengthen previous impossibility and possibility results on linearizability in counting networks (Herlihy et al., 1990; Lynch et al., 1996).
Increased Cytotoxicity of Carbon Tetrachloride in a Human Hepatoma Cell Line Overexpressing Cytochrome P450 2E1 (2002)

Cytotoxic free radicals generated during the metabolism of carbon tetrachloride by cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) are thought to cause hepatotoxicity. Here, the cytotoxic effects of carbon tetrachloride in a liver cell line expressing CYP2E1 (HLE/2E1) are compared with those in the mother cell line (HLE). The effects of carbon tetrachloride on the gene expression of HSP70, a potential marker of oxidative stress, were also examined. The viability of HLE/2E1 cells after exposure to carbon tetrachloride was significantly decreased compared with that of HLE cells. Northern blot analysis revealed that the HSP70 mRNA level was significantly increased after carbon tetrachloride treatment in both cell lines, while the magnitude of its increase was much greater in HLE/2E1 cells than in HLE cells. These results suggest that the oxidative stress induced by CYP2E1 plays an important role in the increase in cytotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride in CYP2E1-overexpressing cells.
Human mobility models and opportunistic communications system design (2008)

In this paper, we seek to improve understanding of the structure of human mobility, with a view to using this for designing algorithms for the dissemination of data among mobile users. We analyse community structures and node centrality from the human mobility traces and use these two metrics to design efficient forwarding algorithms in terms of delivery ratio and delivery cost for mobile networks. This is the first empirical study of community and centrality using real human mobility datasets.
Creep Feed: Effects of Feed Flavor Supplementation on Pre- and Post-weaning Performance and Behavior of Piglet and Sow (2011)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of flavor supplementation on pre- and post-weaning performance and behavior of piglets and sows. A total of 30 sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) and their litters were employed in this study. Sows were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (10 replications per treatment). Dietary treatments included: i) CON, basal diet; ii) TRT1, CON+0.1% vanilla supplement; iii) TRT2, CON+0.1% cheese supplement. The behavior of sows (nursery, eating and standing) and piglets (eating, sleeping and fighting) in each treatment was monitored throughout experiment. Each piglet was weighted at 5, 10, 15 and 21 d after birth to evaluate the average daily gain. Sows and piglets were bled on the weaning d to evaluate the blood characteristics. Back fat and estrus interval were investigated. In this study, there were no differences (p>0.05) in diarrhea score and blood characteristics among treatments. Likewise, the behavior was not influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary flavor supplementation. However, administration of flavor increased (p 0.05) on the blood characteristics, behavior, backfat loss and estrus interval among treatments. In conclusion, administration of flavor could increase creep feed intake pre-weaning and piglet ADG post-weaning, whereas inclusion of flavor had no influence on blood characteristics and performance in sow and piglets. (Key Words : Creep Feed, Flavor, Behavior, Piglet, Sow)
Digital Literacy for the Third Age: Sustaining Identity in an Uncertain World (2009)

The world in which we live the world of late modernity is characterised by a deep uncertainty; uncertainty not only about the foundations of social structure, but also about individual identity. Digital technology offers powerful tools for learning, for self-expression, and for the building, maintenance and sharing of identity. But for citizens of the third age, these aspects of the modern world pose a threat to their identity. Being able to use the technology appropriately in real situations is therefore important to any citizen.
Technology has not changed the notion of what learning is, but it has opened up more avenues in thinking how it can be done. If we wish to empower seniors digitally we should focus on their goals for digital usage, the areas in which digital activity is socially meaningful and contribute directly to the development of meaning and identity.
This paper presents a three-level model of digital literacy, understanding that by being aware of the challenges older citizens are facing in modern society we can consider more clearly the role which digital literacy, and its relation to learning, may play in addressing their predicament. Because of the particular uncertainties of the role of our seniors in society, digital literacy can be of great value as a means of social involvement and assertion. Gaining a literacy of the digital, senior citizens can retain a hold on the shape of their lives in an era of increasing uncertainty. In a society where inter-generational uncertainty is probably greater than it has ever been, it can also offer the possibility of a bridge of understanding across generations
Production of RNA-dependent haemolysin by <i>Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae</i> (1985)

Five strains of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae, out of eight strains tested, produced extracellular haemolysin(s) when grown in liquid culture in the presence, but not in the absence, of RNA. The haemolysin produced by the neotype strain was unstable, heat labile, and sensitive to degradation by pronase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin; moreover, trypan blue treated haemolysin preparations were less effective at causing erythrocyte lysis than were untreated preparations. Following growth in the absence of RNA, washed suspensions of the neotype strain produced extracellular haemolysin when incubated in the presence of RNA, glucose, and casein acid hydrolysate; extracellular haemolysin could not be detected if the incubation mixture contained chloramphenicol. The haemolysin produced by washed bacterial suspensions was similar to that produced by growing cultures in that it was unstable, heat labile, and sensitive to inactivation by the same complement of enzymes. Erythrocyte lysis induced by either haemolysin preparation was preceded by a prelytic phase, the duration of which was dependent upon haemolysin concentration and the initial temperature of the haemolysin--erythrocyte mixture. It is concluded that the haemolysin(s) produced by the neotype strain of H. pleuropneumoniae is distinct from, but closely related to both streptolysin S and the haemolysin produced by Treponema hyodysenteriae.
Interactive energy transfer between Cu<sup>2+</sup> and Yb<sup>3+</sup> in Ca<sub>1‐x</sub>CuSi<sub>4</sub>O<sub>10</sub>: Yb<sub>x</sub> (2012)

Abstract X‐ray diffraction patterns, photoluminescence, excitation spectra, and luminescence decay curves of polycrystals with compositions of Ca 1‐x CuSi 4 O 10 : Yb x (x = 0.00‐0.10) were measured. The samples showed intense absorption bands at 540, 630, 800 nm due to Cu 2+ : 2 B 1g → 2 A 1g , 2 E g , 2 B 2g transitions, and efficient photoluminescence bands at 920 nm from Cu 2+ and 1007 nm from Yb 3+ , respectively. With increasing of Yb concentration, the intensity of Yb 3+ peaks increased, while that of the Cu 2+ broadband luminescence did not decrease much. Possible energy transfer mechanisms were discussed based on result of luminescence decay curves of both active ions. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Compensation of amplitude imbalance of resolver signal for PMSM drives (2009)

This paper proposes a new compensation algorithm for position error due to an amplitude imbalance between resolver output signals. Resolvers are commonly used to obtain absolute rotor position information for motor drive systems in severe environments. However, in actual position sensing systems, rotor position error is caused by amplitude imbalance of the resolver output signals. As a result, the d- and q-axis currents of the synchronous reference frame have periodic ripples of the stator fundamental frequency in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) drives. In this paper, a new compensation algorithm to reduce the position error generated by amplitude imbalance is proposed. The proposed method does not require any additional hardware, and reduces computational time by simple integral operation according to rotor position. The effectiveness of the proposed compensation algorithm is verified through several simulations and experiments.
Establishing a minimally invasive surgery suite. (1993)

Establishing an exclusive minimally invasive surgery suite requires a commitment from management, administration, staff, and physicians. A specialized, dedicated staff becomes devoted to perfecting the procedures. There are many rewards associated with this obligation, the most rewarding being improvement in total quality patient care.
FM-UWB: A Low-Complexity Constant Envelope LDR UWB Approach (2006)

This paper presents a novel low complexity, constant envelope UWB communication system for personal network and sensor network applications: FM-UWB. FM-UWB uses double FM: digital FSK followed by high modulation index analog FM to create a constant envelope UWB signal. FDMA techniques at the sub-carrier level may be exploited to accommodate multiple users. A wideband delay line FM demodulator that is not preceded by any limiting amplifier constitutes the key component of the FM-UWB receiver. This allows multiple users to share the same RF bandwidth. The system is intended for low data rate, short-range (< 10 m) applications. Due to its simple architecture, FM-UWB radio will be low cost and have low power consumption.
Output statistics of the sample matrix inverse beamformer implemented in beam space (1986)

The probability density function of adaptive beam space estimates of the frequency-wave vector power is derived. The estimates are derived, at each frequency of interest, from the inverse of the cross-spectral matrix of the outputs of a conventional beamformer. From the probability density function, the detection performance of the beam space algorithm can be compared with the corresponding element space one. For very short integration times the beam space algorithm can, in certain noise fields, have a lower detection threshold than the element space one. An example, using experimental sonar data, is given to illustrate this.
Shared Backup Path Protection for Anycast and Unicast Flows Using the Node-Link Notation (2011)

In this paper we address the problem of shared backup path protection (SBPP) against random failures of single links in connection-oriented communication networks. Most of recent works has been concentrated on protecting the unicast traffic. Our paper is also focused on shared protection of anycast (i.e. one-to-one-out-of-many) flows. Anycasting is frequently met in practice (e.g. in Content Delivery Networks, peer-to-peer systems, or DNS service). A new ILP model for joint optimization of dedicated working and shared backup paths of anycast and unicast demands is introduced and is followed by extensive simulation research. The model is the first one that provides the optimal solutions to the problem of anycast traffic shared protection by using the Node-Link notation. The results show that our approach reduces the network cost and capacity utilization ratio by 36% and 42% accordingly, compared to the case when capacity sharing is not used.
Cellular immunity to human urinary bladder carcinoma. I. Correlation to clinical stage and radiotherapy (1972)

Abstract As tested in vitro in a microcytotoxicity assay, purified peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with carcinoma of the urinary bladder have a specific destructive effect on primary cultures of autologous and allogeneic tumour target cells, as well as on bladder carcinoma cell lines. No specific effect is observed on cells derived from normal tissues or tumour cells of other histogenic origin. Serial tests made on individual patients have shown that the incidence of lymphocyte cytotoxicity varies with the clinical staging of the disease. While 88% of patients with localized tumours, stage T1‐T2, have a response before treatment, the corresponding figure for those with T3‐T4 stage tumours is 41%. Local radiotherapy in tumour doses of 3,500–8,400 R either destroyed or diminished existing cytotoxicity. The response remained depressed as long as irradiation was continuous. After therapy all patients with T2 stage tumour redeveloped a response, usually within 7 days. While 80% of T3 patients had cytotoxicity at this time, the incidence in T4 cases was 50%. In some T3 and T4 patients no response redeveloped after radiotherapy or conversely a response was induced by the treatment. Patients lacking cytotoxicity after therapy invariably had distant metastases and/or large residual tumours detected within 3 months. Weak post‐therapy cytotoxicity was usually accompanied by development of recurrent tumour or distant metastases during a 9‐month observation period; this was not seen in patients whose post‐irradiation cytotoxicity was strong during this time. In the absence of viable tumour the post‐irradiation response seems to wane with time. Evidence for this comes from patients tested 1‐10 years after radiotherapy. Here the presence of cytotoxic lymphocytes was usually associated with viable tumour. The majority of patients clinically tumour free had no response. Maintenance of lymphocyte cytotoxicity, as measured in this system, therefore appears to require the presence of either viable tumour or tumour‐derived material. This cytotoxicity is inhibited however by large viable tumours and also metastases.
cAMP-stimulated Protein Phosphatase 2A Activity Associated with Muscle A Kinase-anchoring Protein (mAKAP) Signaling Complexes Inhibits the Phosphorylation and Activity of the cAMP-specific Phosphodiesterase PDE4D3 (2010)

The concentration of the second messenger cAMP is tightly controlled in cells by the activity of phosphodiesterases. We have previously described how the protein kinase A-anchoring protein mAKAP serves as a scaffold for the cAMP-dependent protein kinase PKA and the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase PDE4D3 in cardiac myocytes. PKA and PDE4D3 constitute a negative feedback loop whereby PKA-catalyzed phosphorylation and activation of PDE4D3 attenuate local cAMP levels. We now show that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) associated with mAKAP complexes is responsible for reversing the activation of PDE4D3 by catalyzing the dephosphorylation of PDE4D3 serine residue 54. Mapping studies reveal that a C-terminal mAKAP domain (residues 2085-2319) binds PP2A. Binding to mAKAP is required for PP2A function, such that deletion of the C-terminal domain enhances both base-line and forskolin-stimulated PDE4D3 activity. Interestingly, PP2A holoenzyme associated with mAKAP complexes in the heart contains the PP2A targeting subunit B56delta. Like PDE4D3, B56delta is a PKA substrate, and PKA phosphorylation of mAKAP-bound B56delta enhances phosphatase activity 2-fold in the complex. Accordingly, expression of a B56delta mutant that cannot be phosphorylated by PKA results in increased PDE4D3 phosphorylation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that PP2A associated with mAKAP complexes promotes PDE4D3 dephosphorylation, serving both to inhibit PDE4D3 in unstimulated cells and also to mediate a cAMP-induced positive feedback loop following adenylyl cyclase activation and B56delta phosphorylation. In general, PKA.PP2A.mAKAP complexes exemplify how protein kinases and phosphatases may participate in molecular signaling complexes to dynamically regulate localized intracellular signaling.