gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Localisation of the mitogenic epitope of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (1992)

Limited digestion of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) with trypsin resulted in the generation of a 12-Kda amino-terminal fragment and a 17-Kda carboxy-terminal fragment which were isolated by preparative iso-electric focusing. The carboxy-terminal fragment exhibited significant mitogenic activity for murine splenocytes, whereas the isolated amino-terminal fragment possessed little detectable mitogenic activity. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the carboxy-terminal fragment neutralised most of the mitogenic activity of both the intact toxin and the carboxy-terminal fragment. MAbs specific for the amino-terminal fragment had no detectable neutralising activity. These results support the hypothesis that the epitope(s) responsible for mitogenic activity is located in the carboxy-terminal region of SEB.
The short-chain fatty acid acetate reduces appetite via a central homeostatic mechanism (2014)

Increased intake of dietary carbohydrate that is fermented in the colon by the microbiota has been reported to decrease body weight, although the mechanism remains unclear. Here we use in vivo(11)C-acetate and PET-CT scanning to show that colonic acetate crosses the blood-brain barrier and is taken up by the brain. Intraperitoneal acetate results in appetite suppression and hypothalamic neuronal activation patterning. We also show that acetate administration is associated with activation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and changes in the expression profiles of regulatory neuropeptides that favour appetite suppression. Furthermore, we demonstrate through (13)C high-resolution magic-angle-spinning that (13)C acetate from fermentation of (13)C-labelled carbohydrate in the colon increases hypothalamic (13)C acetate above baseline levels. Hypothalamic (13)C acetate regionally increases the (13)C labelling of the glutamate-glutamine and GABA neuroglial cycles, with hypothalamic (13)C lactate reaching higher levels than the 'remaining brain'. These observations suggest that acetate has a direct role in central appetite regulation.
ID Learning Unit: Understanding and Interpreting Testing for Clostridium difficile (2014)

Understanding and interpreting the molecular tests for Clostridium difficile is challenging because there are several different types of assays and most laboratories combine multiple tests in order to assess for presence of disease. This learning unit demonstrates the basic principles of each test along with its strengths and weaknesses, and illustrates how the tests are used in clinical practice.
Dummy gated radio frequency VDMOSFET with high breakdown voltage and low feedback capacitance (2002)

In this paper, a novel radio frequency power device called dummy gated VDMOS has been proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The new device is produced using the standard RF VDMOS process technology. An improvement in breakdown voltage by 20% is realized, while the feedback capacitance C/sub rss/ is reduced by three times leading to a desired HF performance and high reliability.
Behavior of <i>cis</i>‐polybutadiene during mastication (1964)

Abstract Cold mastication of natural rubber in presence of oxygen leads to scission by a shear mechanism with subsequent stabilization of the free radicals by oxygen, while at high temperatures oxidative scission becomes the dominant mechanism. Studies of the behavior of cis ‐polybutadiene reveal that similar reactions are effective, but occur at much reduced rates. Shear degradation is particularly difficult to achieve in typical cis ‐polybutadienes. This is related to the molecular weight distribution of these polymers which usually lack the very high molecular species most subject to shear‐induced degradation, in agreement with the theory of F. Bueche. It is shown that when such a high molecular weight fraction is supplied, shear breakdown may be realized. All cis ‐polybutadienes undergo oxidative breakdown at high temperatures, the scission rate becoming appreciable above 140°C. A number of oxidation catalysts have been found which markedly increase the scission rate without leading to a correspondingly large increase in crosslinking. Significant improvements in processing may be realized in this manner.
Ultrasonically Enhanced Vancomycin Activity Against Staphylococcus Epidermidis Biofilms in Vivo (2004)

Infection of implanted medical devices by Gram-positive organisms such as Staphylococcus ssp. is a serious concern in the biomaterial community. In this research the application of low frequency ultrasound to enhance the activity of vancomycin against implanted Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms was examined. Polyethylene disks covered with a biofilm of S. epidermidis were implanted subcutaneously in rabbits on both sides of their spine. The rabbits received systemic vancomycin for the duration of the experiment. Following 24 h of recovery, one disk was insonated for 24 or 48 h while the other was a control. Disks were removed and viable bacteria counted. At 24 h of insonation, there was no difference in viable counts between control and insonated biofilms, while at 48 h of insonation there were statistically fewer viable bacteria in the insonated biofilm. The S. epidermidis biofilms responded favorably to combinations of ultrasound and vancomycin, but longer treatment times are required for this Gram-positive organism than was observed previously for a Gram-negative species.
Comparison of Er:YAG and 9.6‐μm TE CO<sub>2</sub> lasers for ablation of skull tissue (2001)

In summary, the novel 5- to 8-microsec pulse length of the TE CO(2) laser is long enough to avoid a marked reduction in the ablation rate due to plasma formation and short enough to avoid peripheral thermal damage through thermal diffusion during the laser pulse. Furthermore, in vivo animal studies with the TE CO(2) laser are warranted for potential clinical application in craniotomy and craniofacial procedures.
Three Dimensional Indium–Tin-Oxide Nanorod Array for Charge Collection in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (2014)

In this article, we report the design, fabrication, characterization, and simulation of three-dimensional (3D) dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), using ordered indium-tin-oxide (ITO) nanorod (NR) arrays as the photoanode, and compare them with conventional planar (2D) DSSCs. The ITO NR array used in the 3D cell greatly improves its performance by providing shorter electron pathways and reducing the recombination rate of the photogenerated electrons. We observed a 10-20% enhancement of the energy conversion efficiency, primarily due to an increased short circuit current. This finding supports the concept of using 3D photoanodes with optically transparent and conducting nanorods for the enhancement of the energy-harvesting devices that require short charge collection distance without sacrificing the optical thickness. Thus, unlike the conventional solar cell structure, the functions for photon collection and charge transport are decoupled to allow for improved cell designs.
Concurrency control in database structures with relaxed balance (1987)

We consider the separation of rebalancing from updates in several database structures, such as B-trees for external and AVL-trees for internal structures. We show how this separation can be implemented such that rebalancing is performed by local background processes. Our solution implies that even simple locking schemes (without additional links and copies of certain nodes) for concurrency control are efficient in the sense that at any time only a small constant number of nodes must be locked.
Distribution and Kinetics of Lipoprotein-Bound Lipoteichoic Acid (2003)

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a major cell wall component of gram-positive bacteria, is an amphipathic anionic glycolipid with structural similarities to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram-negative bacteria. LTA has been implicated as one of the primary immunostimulatory components that may trigger the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Plasma lipoproteins have been shown to sequester LPS, which results in attenuation of the host response to infection, but little is known about the LTA binding characteristics of plasma lipid particles. In this study, we have examined the LTA binding capacities and association kinetics of the major lipoprotein classes under simulated physiological conditions in human whole blood (ex vivo) by using biologically active, fluorescently labeled LTA and high-performance gel permeation chromatography. The average distribution of an LTA preparation from Staphylococcus aureus in whole blood from 10 human volunteers revealed that >95% of the LTA was associated with total plasma lipoproteins in the following proportions: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), 68% +/- 10%; low-density lipoprotein (LDL), 28% +/- 8%; and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), 4% +/- 5%. The saturation capacity of lipoproteins for LTA was in excess of 150 micro g/ml. The LTA distribution was temperature dependent, with an optimal binding between 22 and 37 degrees C. The binding of LTA by lipoproteins was essentially complete within 10 min and was followed by a subsequent redistribution from HDL and VLDL to LDL. We conclude that HDL has the highest binding capacity for LTA and propose that the loading and redistribution of LTA among plasma lipoproteins is a specific process that closely resembles that previously described for LPS (J. H. M. Levels, P. R. Abraham, A. van den Ende, and S. J. H. van Deventer, Infect. Immun. 68:2821-2828, 2001).
Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of salbutamol in premature labour. (1987)

1 The pharmacokinetics of salbutamol and its sulphate conjugate were examined during intravenous and steady-state oral administration in nine patients receiving the drug for the prevention or treatment of premature labour. 2 Uterine contractions were inhibited by plasma salbutamol concentrations in the range 8-33 ng ml-1 in six of the seven patients who were receiving intravenous drug. 3 By comparison with our previous study in a control group of healthy males and nonpregnant females, the total clearance of salbutamol in premature labour (501; s.d. 185 ml min-1) was similar to that in the control group (480; s.d. 123 ml min-1). Renal salbutamol clearance (208; s.d. 51 ml min-1), however, was significantly less than that in the control group (283; s.d. 51 ml min-1). 4 The systemic availability (n = 3), urinary recovery of unchanged oral salbutamol and area under the plasma curve during the oral dosage interval (n = 5) were all only slightly lower (10-20%) than control values, suggesting slightly lower oral absorption. 5 Formation and elimination of the sulphate conjugate were similar to those observed in control subjects suggesting that first-pass sulphation in the gut wall is unchanged in pregnancy. Overall there were only minor differences in salbutamol pharmacokinetics between control subjects and patients in premature labour.
TaO x -based resistive switching memories: prospective and challenges (2013)

Resistive switching memories (RRAMs) are attractive for replacement of conventional flash in the future. Although different switching materials have been reported; however, low-current operated devices (<100 μA) are necessary for productive RRAM applications. Therefore, TaOx is one of the prospective switching materials because of two stable phases of TaO2 and Ta2O5, which can also control the stable low- and high-resistance states. Long program/erase endurance and data retention at high temperature under low-current operation are also reported in published literature. So far, bilayered TaOx with inert electrodes (Pt and/or Ir) or single layer TaOx with semi-reactive electrodes (W and Ti/W or Ta/Pt) is proposed for real RRAM applications. It is found that the memory characteristics at current compliance (CC) of 80 μA is acceptable for real application; however, data are becoming worst at CC of 10 μA. Therefore, it is very challenging to reduce the operation current (few microampere) of the RRAM devices. This study investigates the switching mode, mechanism, and performance of low-current operated TaOx-based devices as compared to other RRAM devices. This topical review will not only help for application of TaOx-based nanoscale RRAM devices but also encourage researcher to overcome the challenges in the future production.
Diagnostic coverage estimation method for optimization of redundant sensor systems (2017)

In this paper we present a method to calculate estimated values for diagnostic coverage and false alarm rates of two channel redundant sensor systems. Avoiding time-consuming methodologies going into detail of system-sub-block failure rates and detailed fault cases we show a worst-case approach based on statistical methods. Diagnostic coverage and false alarm rates are important to develop a safety concept and to perform a functional safety analysis for sensor systems in safety critical applications. The proposed methodology additionally enables global sensor system optimizations including these dependability requirements.
Calculated Sputtering, Reflection and Range Values (2002)

The Monte Carlo program TRIM.SP was applied to calculate sputtering yields, reflection coefficients and mean ranges. Tables of these values are produced in the energy range from 10 eV to 300 keV and for several angles of incidence. Li, Be, B, C, Mg, Al, Si, P, Ti, Fe, Ni, Cu, Ga, Ge, Nb, Mo, Ag, In, Cs, Sm, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Hg and U are chosen as one-component target materials, BeO, B_4C, B_2O_3, B(OH)_3, TiC, WO_3, WO_4, W_xO_y as more component targets. Some examples for layered structures are also given. #mu#, H, D, T, &quot;3He, &quot;4He, C, N, O, Ne, Na, Mg, Al, P, Ar, K, Kr, Xe, Hg, Bi and Rn are selected as projectiles. Selfbombardment and an incident Maxwellian distribution is regarded for some cases, too. (orig.)
Vision-based railroad track extraction using dynamic programming (2009)

Most of the common driver assistant systems for detection of obstacles work on unstructured environments. These environments generally include many non-planar surfaces which pose a big challenge for vision systems. Similar problems exist for railroad environments which often contain complex shapes and surfaces like hills and vegetation along railroad tracks. In railroad transportation, the main task of a train driver is to carefully focus on the track. Therefore the field of view of a train driver must contain the space between two rails in front of the train and the near lateral area (left and right side) of these rails. In this paper, we present an algorithm to extract the train course and railroad track space in front of the train using dynamic programming in railroad environments. We use dynamic programming to compute the optimal path which gives the minimum cost to extract the railroad track space. The proposed algorithm extracts the left and right rails using dynamic programming simultaneously. Our method does not need any static calibration process. For this purpose, a camera system was installed in front of a locomotive. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Effect of human recombinant cytokines on the induction of macrophage procoagulant activity (1994)

A panel of human recombinant cytokines was tested for induction of procoagulant activity (PCA) in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Nonadherent culture conditions were used, and PCA was determined with whole cells rather than cell lysates. It was assured by Limulus amebocyte lysate assay that tested cytokines displayed low levels of endotoxin activity within the range of biologic activity. Additional evidence to rule out an endotoxin effect was provided by heat-inactivation experiments. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were strong macrophage PCA inducers. The low level of PCA induced by IL-2, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), M-CSF, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-alpha could not be distinguished from that induced by traces of endotoxin contaminating the preparations. Transforming growth factor-beta decreased constitutively expressed PCA within 24 hours of exposure. PCA induced by IFN-gamma, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha depended largely on tissue factor expression, as evidenced by experiments with factor X-deficient plasma and antitissue factor antibodies. In macrophages subcultured in adherence, IL-1 beta was a strong PCA inducer, whereas IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha promoted little PCA increase. This observation and different kinetics of PCA induction suggested that mechanisms of PCA induction are distinct for the three cytokines. Thus, we showed that well-characterized cytokines critically involved in the promotion of cell-mediated antimicrobial defense/delayed-type hypersensitivity and considered for clinical application promote local fibrin deposition by a direct effect on macrophages.
A mechanism for efficient debugging of parallel programs (1988)

This paper addresses the design and implementation of an integrated debugging system for parallel programs running on shared memory multi-processors (SMMP). We describe the use of flowback analysis to provide information on causal relationships between events in a program's execution without re-executing the program for debugging. We introduce a mechanism called incremental tracing that, by using semantic analyses of the debugged program, makes the flowback analysis practical with only a small amount of trace generated during execution. We extend flowback analysis to apply to parallel programs and describe a method to detect race conditions in the interactions of the co-operating processes.
A multiplex serologic platform for diagnosis of tick-borne diseases (2018)

Abstract Tick-borne diseases are the most common vector-borne diseases in the United States, with serology being the primary method of diagnosis. We developed the first multiplex, array-based assay for serodiagnosis of tick-borne diseases called the TBD-Serochip. The TBD-Serochip was designed to discriminate antibody responses to 8 major tick-borne pathogens present in the United States, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti , Borrelia burgdorferi , Borrelia miyamotoi , Ehrlichia chaffeensis , Rickettsia rickettsii , Heartland virus and Powassan virus. Each assay contains approximately 170,000 12-mer linear peptides that tile along the protein sequence of the major antigens from each agent with 11 amino acid overlap. This permits accurate identification of a wide range of specific immunodominant IgG and IgM epitopes that can then be used to enhance diagnostic accuracy and integrate differential diagnosis into a single assay. To test the performance of the TBD-Serochip, we examined sera from patients with confirmed Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus disease. We identified a wide range of specific discriminatory epitopes that facilitated accurate diagnosis of each disease. We also identified previously undiagnosed infections. Our results indicate that the TBD-Serochip is a promising tool for a differential diagnosis not available with currently employed serologic assays for TBDs.
Evidence for an Imipramine-sensitive Serotonin Transporter in Human Placental Brush-border Membranes (1989)

Serotonin is actively transported into brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from normal human term placentas and an inward-directed NaCl gradient provides the driving force for this process. Uptake is negligible if Na+ is replaced by Li+, K+, Rb+, Cs+ or choline. The presence of Cl- seems necessary for the maximal activity of this Na+-dependent uptake system. Intravesicular K+ (20-40 mM) stimulates serotonin uptake, the stimulation being considerably greater at pH 7.5 than at pH 6.5. But, in the absence of K+, uptake at pH 6.5 was twice the uptake at pH 7.5. Unlabeled serotonin and dopamine inhibit the uptake of radiolabeled serotonin and the IC50 values are 70 nM and 20 microM, respectively. Histamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan do not significantly interact with the system (IC50 greater than 1 mM). Kinetic analysis reveals that serotonin uptake in these vesicles occurs via a single, saturable, high affinity system (Kt = 51 +/- 2 nM; Vmax = 6.4 +/- 0.1 pmol/mg of protein/15 s). The transporter is highly sensitive to inhibition by imipramine (IC50 = 32 nM) and desipramine (IC50 = 160 nM) but relatively insensitive to reserpine and hydralazine.
Prospective Study of Leptospirosis Transmission in an Urban Slum Community: Role of Poor Environment in Repeated Exposures to the Leptospira Agent (2014)

This study found that slum residents had high risk (>3% per year) for acquiring a Leptospira infection. Re-infection is a frequent event and occurs in regions of slum settlements that are in proximity to open sewers. Effective prevention of leptospirosis will therefore require interventions that address the infrastructure deficiencies that contribute to repeated exposures among slum inhabitants.
[Differentiation of neural stem cells into blood vessel cells and their modulators]. (2002)

Multipotent stem cells that can generate neurons and glial cells exist in various regions of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) during development. The multipotent neural stem cells were isolated from rat embryonic day 14 (E14) or mouse E12 cortex and cultured by neurosphere formation in serum-free medium in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Differentiation was induced by the addition of 10% FBS to low density cultures (2.5 x 10(3) cells/cm2). Immunological analyses and RT-PCR indicated that neural stem cells gave rise to both endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). A reconstituted collagen gel fiber of NSC-derived SMCs caused contractions in response to typical contractile agonists (Oishi K. et al., J. Physiol., 540, 139-152, 2002). Moreover, neural stem cells subcultured into a collagen gel formed endothelial tube-like structures (Kawakita E, et al., J Smooth Muscle Res 6, J-33, 2002). These results arise one possibility that blood vessel cells in head are at least in part derived from NSCs.
Design of pseudo-random spreading sequences for CDMA systems (2005)

Pseudo-random sequences with good correlation properties and large linear complexity are widely used in code-division multiple-access (CDMA) communication systems and cryptology for reliable and secure information transmission. In this paper sequences with long period, large complexity, balance statistics and low correlation properties are constructed from addition of m-sequences with pairwise-prime periods (AMPP). Using m-sequences as building blocks, the proposed method proved to be an efficient and flexible approach to construct long period pseudo-random sequences with desirable properties from short period sequences. Applying the proposed method to two Gold sequences, a signal set ((2/sup n/ - 1) (2/sup m/ - 1), (2/sup n/ + 1)(2/sup m/ + 1), (2/sup (n+1)/2/ + 1)(2/sup (m+1)/2/ + 1)) is constructed.