gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
The associations of triclosan and paraben exposure with allergen sensitization and wheeze in children (2014)

Triclosan and parabens are chemicals used in personal care and medical products as microbicides and preservatives. Triclosan and paraben exposure may be associated with allergy (atopy), but these associations have not been evaluated with respect to other atopic states such as eczema (atopic dermatitis). This study examines the associations of urinary triclosan and paraben concentrations with allergic sensitization and asthma in children according to eczema history. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of U.S. children aged 6-18 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2006). Triclosan and paraben concentrations were measured in urine. We assessed associations of triclosan and parabens with allergic sensitization and asthma using multivariable logistic regression in 837 children with complete data and stratified our results by eczema status. After covariate adjustment, triclosan and methyl and propyl paraben concentrations were positively associated with the odds of aeroallergen sensitization. Eczema did not significantly modify the association between triclosan or paraben levels and aeroallergen sensitization, asthma, or wheeze. The odds of parent-reported atopic asthma increased 34% (95% CI, 0, 81) across triclosan concentration quartiles. Increasing triclosan concentrations (quartiles) were associated with 2.3 times the odds of food sensitization (95% CI, 1.14, 4.44) among children with eczema, but not among children without eczema (OR, 1.25; 95% CI 0.93, 1.68; effect measure modification, p = 0.04). Triclosan and paraben exposures may increase the risk of atopic asthma and aeroallergen sensitization. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings and determine if these chemicals pose a risk to children's health.
Improving visually servoed disassembly operations by automatic camera placement (2002)

It is advantageous to use an independently mobile camera in visually servoed disassembly operations since its degrees of freedom can be used to bring the camera into an optimal view-pose. Apart from the vision-based closed-loop control that guides the disassembly robot, a second vision-based closed-loop control can be set up which upgrades the camera from a passive to an active sensor and optimizes the view-pose according to changes in the scene domain. The objective of this contribution is to present an approach to model-based pose initialization and pose refinement steps of an active camera which is able to simultaneously observe and track several objects moving to some extent independently from each other. In both steps, constraints regarding object occlusions, the limited field-of-view, and the uncertainty of pose estimation are exploited to determine an optimal camera pose. The feasibility of this approach to model-based pose initialization is experimentally validated and documented for the case of the manipulation of a shock absorber lid.
Acutely dysregulated, chronically disabled by the enemy within: T‐cell responses to HIV‐1 infection (2006)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection causes chronic progressive immunodeficiency and immune dysregulaton. Although simple depletion of the major target of HIV infection, the CD4+ T cell, can explain much of the immunosuppression seen, there are multiple other factors contributing to the immune dysregulation. CD4+ T-cell depletion induces a range of homeostatic mechanisms that contribute to immune activation and cell turnover, providing a milieu conducive to further viral replication and cell destruction, resulting in functional defects in various lymphoid organs. These changes are progressive and in turn compromise the homeostatic processes. Further, the infection, like any other viral infection, provokes an active immune response consisting of both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses. Both appear compromised, displaying aberrant memory cell production. While some of these defects result from viral variation and the chronicity of antigen presentation, other defects of memory cell production appear very early during the primary immune response limiting the viral specific T-cell responses from the outset. This, combined with the ability of the virus to escape any successful immune responses, results in an attenuated immune response that eventually becomes exhausted, characterized by progressive deficits in T-cell repertoire. Furthermore, negative regulatory mechanisms that normally control the immune response may be aberrantly invoked, perhaps directly by the virus, further compromising the efficacy of the immune response. Rational design of effective immunotherapies depends on a clear understanding of the processes compromising the immune response to HIV.
S-Nitrosation of Mitochondrial Complex I Depends on Its Structural Conformation (2007)

Nitric oxide is known to cause persistent inhibition of mitochondrial respiration as a result of S-nitrosation of NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) (Clementi, E., Brown, G. C., Feelisch, M., and Moncada, S. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 7631-7636). Little is known about whether such nitrosation occurs in physiological conditions and, if so, what are the possible cellular mechanisms. We have now found that the conformational state (active/deactive transition (Vinogradov, A. D. (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1364, 169-185)) of mitochondrial complex I is an important factor for the interaction of the enzyme with nitrosothiols and peroxynitrite. Only the deactivated, idle form of complex I was susceptible to inhibition by nitrosothiols and peroxynitrite. In contrast, the active form of the enzyme was insensitive to such treatment. Neither form of complex I was inhibited by nitric oxide itself. Our data suggest that the process of active/deactive transition plays an important role in the regulation of complex I activity and cellular respiration by nitric oxide. The implications of this finding for hypoxic or pathophysiological conditions in vivo are discussed.
Chemical vapor detection with a multispectral thermal imager (1991)

Detection of chemical vapors with a remote sensor is necessary for both military defense and civilian pollution control. The thermal imager is a natural instrument from which to build a chemical sensor since most chemical vapors of interest are spectrally active in its operating wavelength range. A system has been designed to place a chemical detection capability as an adjunct function in a military thermal imager. An additional detector array, which is spectrally filtered at the focal plane, is added to the imager. Real-time autonomous detection and alarm is also required. A detection system model by Warren, based on a Gaussian vapor concentration distribution is the basis for detection algorithms. Algorithms recursive in both time and spectral frequency have been derived using Kalman filter theory. Adaptive filtering is used for preprocessing clutter rejection. Various components of the detection system have been tested individually and an integrated system is now being fabricated.
[Effects of microRNA miR-181a on gene expression profiles of K562 cells]. (2006)

miR-181a transfection for 48 h induces gene expression profile changes in K562 cells, indicating the functionality of the miR-181a. These differentially expressed genes are related to the functions of the microRNA, and may also be the basis of the regulation model of posttranscriptional gene silencing. These findings provide an evidence for further study of the machineries and functions of the microRNA in mammalian cells.
Air Power Australia Essays on Military Ethics and Culture (2013)

Air Power Australia Essays on Military Ethics and Culture series
comprises topical discussion articles, intended
to provide professional perspectives focussed on contemporary matters
of military ethics and culture, and related matters of policy. All
contributions are reviewed by the APA editorial board.
The proximal region of the β-tubulin C-terminal tail is sufficient for axoneme assembly (2005)

We have used Drosophila testis-specific beta2-tubulin to determine sequence requirements for different microtubules. The beta2-tubulin C-terminal tail has unique sperm-specific functions [Dev Biol 158:267-286 (2003)] and is also important for forming stable heterodimers with alpha-tubulin, a general function common to all microtubules [Mol Biol Cell 12(7):2185-2194 (2001)]. beta-tubulins utilized in motile 9 + 2 axonemes contain a C-terminal sequence "axoneme motif" [Science 275 (1997) 70-73]. C-terminal truncated beta2-tubulin cannot form the sperm tail axoneme. Here we show that a partially truncated beta2-tubulin (beta2Delta7) containing only the proximal portion of the C-terminal tail, including the axoneme motif, can support production of functional motile sperm. We conclude that these proximal eight amino acids specify the binding site for protein(s) essential to support assembly of the motile axoneme. Males that express beta2Delta7, although they are fertile, produce fewer sperm than wild type males. Beta2Delta7 causes a slightly increased error rate in spermatogenesis attributable to loss of stabilizing properties intrinsic to the full-length C-terminal tail. Therefore, beta2Delta7 males would be at a selective disadvantage and it is likely that the full-length C-terminus would be essential in the wild and in evolution.
STANDARDIZED NOMENCLATURE FOR INBRED STRAINS OF MICE. THIRD LISTING. (1964)

Rules for designating inbred strains of mice are presented, along with a list of strains with their origins and characteristics, a table of biochemical polymorphisms, and standard subline designations.
Lucky Read/Write Access to Robust Atomic Storage (2006)

This paper establishes tight bounds on the best-case time-complexity of distributed atomic read/write storage implementations that tolerate worst-case conditions. We study asynchronous robust implementations where a writer and a set of reader processes (clients) access an atomic storage implemented over a set of 2t+b+1 server processes of which t can fail: b of these can be malicious and the rest can crash. We define a lucky operation (read or write) as one that runs synchronously and without contention. It is often argued in practice that lucky operations are the most frequent. We determine the exact conditions under which a lucky operation can be fast, namely expedited in onecommunication round-trip with no data authentication. We show that every lucky write (resp., read) can be fast despite fw(resp., fr) actual failures, if and only if fw + fr \lt t-b.
Public finance, trade, and development : what have we learned? (1989)

Interdependence of trade and public finance policy are important considerations in designing macroeconomic policy, public revenue policy, and public expenditure policy. A competitive real exchange rate, improved trade performance, and trade liberalization are all built on the base of sound fiscal management. Trade policies and trade liberalization may, however have a negative effect on fiscal balances, which must be considered and compensated for. Improving competitiveness and reducing protection is likely to involve reform of both trade tariffs and domestic taxation. Greater reliance on efficiently designed user charges will also help make a country more competitive internationally. Correct priorities should be set for public expenditures - whether they are rising or falling - to ensure that they are supportive of trade and of tradeable goods production.
Molecular cloning and characterization of mitogen-activated protein kinase 2 in<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (2011)

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are major signal transduction systems by which eukaryotic cells convert environmental cues to intracellular events, such as cell proliferation and differentiation. Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that is both a human and animal pathogen. This Apicomplexan causes significant morbidity and mortality in immune-competent and immune-compromised hosts. In humans, the most common manifestations of T. gondii infections are chorioretinitis in congenital infection and encephalitis in immune-compromised patients, such as patients with advanced AIDS. We have identified a T. gondii homolog of the MAPK family that we have called TgMAPK2. Sequence analyses demonstrated that TgMAPK2 has homology with lower eukaryotic ERK2 but has significant differences from mammalian ERK2. TgMAPK2 has an open reading frame of 2,037 bp, 678 amino acids, and its molecular weight is 73.1 kDa. It contains the typical 12 subdomains of a MAPK and has a TDY motif in the dual phosphorylation and activation subdomains. This suggests that TgMAPK2 may play an important role in stress response. recombinant TgMAPK2 was catalytically active and was not inhibited by a human ERK2 inhibitor, FR180204. A partial TgMAPK2 lacking the ATP-binding motifs GxGxxGxV was successfully regulated by a ligand-controlled destabilization domain (ddFKBP) expression vector system in T. gondii. Since TgMAPK2 is significantly different from its mammalian counterpart, it may be useful as a drug target. This work establishes a foundation for further study for this unique kinase.
SPARC, a matricellular protein that functions in cellular differentiation and tissue response to injury (2001)

Vertebrate SPARC binds to a number of different ECM components including thrombospondin 1, vitronectin, entactin/nidogen, fibrillar collagens (types I, II, III, and V), and collagen type IV, the prevalent collagen in basement membranes (1). Therefore, SPARC has the potential to contribute to the organization of matrix in connective tissue as well as basement membranes. Interestingly, SPARC is expressed abundantly in basement membranes and in capsules that surround a variety of organs and tissues. In this regard, SPARC-null mice display early cataractogenesis, a phenotype with 100% penetrance (2). Transmission electron microscopy of lens epithelial cells in SPARC-null mice shows an intrusion of cellular processes into the basement membrane of the lens capsule, whereas wild-type lens epithelial cells exhibit a precise border at the cell-matrix interface (3). We have proposed that this phenotype reflects aberrant cell behavior or differentiation resulting from altered composition or structure of the basement membrane formed in the absence of SPARC.
A Review of Image Data Clustering Techniques (2015)

In order to the find the close association between the density of data points, in the given data set of pixels of an image, clustering provides an easy analysis and proper validation. In this paper various clustering techniques along with some clustering algorithms are described. Further k-means algorithm, its limitations and a new approach of clustering called as M-step clustering that may overcomes these limitations of k-means is included.
Myocardial infarction and the weather: A significant positive correlation between the onset of heart infarct and 28 KHz atmospherics—A pilot study (1985)

Abstract The date of occurrence of a heart infarct was tabulated for 162 patients admitted to four Munich clinics with cardiology departments from January 1 to July 31, 1981. This occurrence calendar was correlated with the daily average density of 28 KHz and 10 KHz atmospheric (atm) impulses and several classic weather parameters. The occurrence of heart infarcts has a certain positive correlation with the increased appearance of “pure” 28 KHz impulses, the correlation with 10 KHz impulses is very slight. Among the classic weather parameters, the average daily humidity has the highest negative correlation coefficient.
Transmission experiment at 3 Gbit/s with close-spaced wavelength-division-multiplexed single-frequency lasers at 1.5 μm (1984)

We report the first fibre-optic transmission experiment employing close-spaced wavelength division multiplexing and high-bit-rate modulation. Experimental results from transmission at 3 Gbit/s over 60 km of single-mode fibre using two wavelength-multiplexed single-frequency distri-buted-feedback lasers are described. The lasers, operating at 1.55 μm and with a wavelength separation of only 2.9 nm, are each modulated at 1.5 Gbit/s giving a total system capacity of 180 Gbitkm/s.
Retrieving the effective parameters of metamaterials from the single interface scattering problem (2010)

In order to better understand when man-made structures may be considered as metamaterials with effective properties at optical frequencies, we study the scattering (reflection, transmission) of light at a single interface between a uniform half-space and a bulk metamaterial, i.e., a semi-infinite three-dimensional periodic structure. We accurately compute the scattering coefficients between plane waves and Bloch modes and test the validity of the single-Bloch-mode approximation within the metamaterial. The knowledge of the single-interface scattering coefficients allows us to propose an innovative method for deriving effective optical parameters.
One-step synthesis of polypyrrole-coated silver nanocomposite particles and their application as a coloured particulate emulsifier (2007)

Polypyrrole-coated silver nanocomposite particles were synthesized by one-step aqueous chemical oxidative dispersion polymerization of pyrrole using silver nitrate as an oxidant. The synthesized nanocomposite particles behaved as a ‘coloured’ particulate emulsifier for the stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions.
Control glucémico en Cuidados Críticos. Tres mejor que uno (2011)

Hace una década Van den Berghe publicó un impactante artículo realizado en una unidad de cuidados críticos (UCC) postquirúrgica el Hospital de Leuven en el que mostraba que la terapia intensiva con insulina (TII) con un objetivo glucémico entre 80 y 110 mg/dl disminuía un 42% la mortalidad. Este artículo conmocionó la comunidad científica, que se dividió en dos bloques. Por una parte, aquellos que criticaban los contundentes resultados del estudio y que se intentara desde un solo centro generalizar a todo tipo de UCC. Por otra parte, diferentes asociaciones profesionales, como la Joint Commission on Acreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO), el Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI), la American Association of Clinical Endocrinology y la Volunteer Hospital Organization (VHA), adoptaron la estrategia y recomendaron el control estricto de la glucemia como un objetivo de calidad en el tratamiento del paciente crítico. A lo largo de esta última década se han publicado varios ensayos randomizados y controlados que no han podido demostrar la reducción de la mortalidad encontrada en el estudio inicial. Algunos fueron suspendidos prematuramente por la incidencia de hipoglucemia en el grupo de tratamiento intensivo y el último publicado en 2.009 (NICE SUGAR) encontró un aumento de la mortalidad a los 90 días en el grupo de TII. La mayoría de estudios se han centrado en comparar las medidas de tendencia central, pero en 2.007 Egi et al encuentra correlación entre la variabilidad glucídica y la mortalidad, con lo que deja abierta la posibilidad de que las diferen
Gallium arsenide field-effect transistors by ion implantation (1974)

Gallium arsenide Schottky-barrier field-effect transistors have been fabricated in an n-type film produced by sulfur implantation in a Cr-doped semi-insulating GaAs substrate. The conditions of the implantation and the resulting electrical properties of the film are presented. The FET devices are described and the measured current-voltage characteristics of this device are discussed.
Bubbles in circulating blood: stabilization and simulations of cyclic changes of size and content (1995)

Surface tension, blood pressure, and inherent unsaturation due to O2 metabolism promote diffusion of gases out of bubbles in the bloodstream. We review the mechanisms that can overcome the absorptive tendencies so small spherical bubbles can persist. One general type of stabilizer is a mechanical structure at the gas-liquid interface that can support a negative pressure so that gases inside can be in diffusion equilibrium with their counterparts outside; one possibility for mechanical stabilizers are surfactant films. We show that a slowly permeating gas is analogous to a mechanical stabilizer; it allows equilibration of other gases inside-to-outside by diluting the gases inside. By using numerically solved equations based on physics of diffusion, we demonstrate how nonrigid stabilized bubbles change size as they move through the circulatory system. In small pulmonary vessels, the bubbles enlarge because blood pressure is low, there is no inherent unsaturation, and O2 and N2 diffuse from lung gas into the bubble; these gases diffuse out again in the systemic circulation.
Monitoring of implanted stem cell migration <i>in vivo</i> : A highly resolved <i>in vivo</i> magnetic resonance imaging investigation of experimental stroke in rat (2002)

In vivo monitoring of stem cells after grafting is essential for a better understanding of their migrational dynamics and differentiation processes and of their regeneration potential. Migration of endogenous or grafted stem cells and neurons has been described in vertebrate brain, both under normal conditions from the subventricular zone along the rostral migratory stream and under pathophysiological conditions, such as degeneration or focal cerebral ischemia. Those studies, however, relied on invasive analysis of brain sections in combination with appropriate staining techniques. Here, we demonstrate the observation of cell migration under in vivo conditions, allowing the monitoring of the cell dynamics within individual animals, and for a prolonged time. Embryonic stem (ES) cells, constitutively expressing the GFP, were labeled by a lipofection procedure with a MRI contrast agent and implanted into rat brains. Focal cerebral ischemia had been induced 2 weeks before implantation of ES cells into the healthy, contralateral hemisphere. MRI at 78-microm isotropic spatial resolution permitted the observation of the implanted cells with high contrast against the host tissue, and was confirmed by GFP registration. During 3 weeks, cells migrated along the corpus callosum to the ventricular walls, and massively populated the borderzone of the damaged brain tissue on the hemisphere opposite to the implantation sites. Our results indicate that ES cells have high migrational dynamics, targeted to the cerebral lesion area. The imaging approach is ideally suited for the noninvasive observation of cell migration, engraftment, and morphological differentiation at high spatial and temporal resolution.
Strain hardening of molten thermoplastic polymers reinforced with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) nanofibers (2014)

The influence of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) nanofibers on the extensional viscosity of various molten thermoplastic polymers, including isotactic polypropylene (iPP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and atactic polystyrene (PS), has been investigated. It has been shown that PTFE nanofibers, generated in situ by shearing of crystalline PTFE inclusions during compounding with another molten polymer, formed an entangled network, which in turn drastically changed the rheological behavior of polymers studied. The entangled network of PTFE nanofibers induced the strain hardening effect in the nanocomposites based on iPPs, HDPE, and PS, which do not show the strain hardening themselves. Moreover, the strain hardening in the nanocomposite with LDPE was enhanced in comparison to neat LDPE. The higher the content of PTFE nanofibers and the larger the strain rates applied, the more pronounced the strain hardening occurred. Additionally, the presence of PTFE nanofibers significantly improved the melt strength of studied thermoplastic polymers.