gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
<i>In Vitro-In Vivo</i> Correlation for the Degradation of Tetra-PEG Hydrogel Microspheres with Tunable <i>β</i>-Eliminative Crosslink Cleavage Rates (2019)

The degradation of Tetra-PEG hydrogels containing β -eliminative crosslinks has been studied in order to provide an in vitro-in vivo correlation for the use of these hydrogels in our chemically controlled drug delivery system. We measured time-dependent gel mass loss and ultrasound volume changes of 13 subcutaneously implanted Tetra-PEG hydrogel microspheres having degradation times ranging from ~3 to 250 days. Applying a previously developed model of Tetra-PEG hydrogel degradation, the mass changes correlate well with the in vitro rates of crosslink cleavage and hydrogel degelation. These results allow prediction of in vivo biodegradation properties of these hydrogels based on readily obtained in vitro rates, despite having degradation times that span 2 orders of magnitude. These results support the optimization of drug-releasing hydrogels and their development into long-acting therapeutics. The use of ultrasound volume measurements further provides a noninvasive technique for monitoring hydrogel degradation in the subcutaneous space.
ChemInform Abstract: SYNTHESIS OF SOME NEW 2,4,6‐TRIARYL‐SUBSTITUTED PYRIDINES VIA AROYLMETHYLENEPYRIDINIUM YLIDES (1974)

Abstract Die durch Behandlung entsprechender Pyridiniumsalze mit wäßriger Kaliumcarbonatlösung oder mit NaH in DMF erhältlichen Ylide (I) reagieren mit (α,β‐ungesättigten β‐Arylketonen, wie (II), und Ammoniumacetat beim Erhitzen in Eisessig (oder in Methanol) unter Bildung von Triarylpyridinen, wie (III).
Invariant content-based image retrieval by wavelet energy signatures (2003)

An effective rotation and scale invariant log-polar wavelet texture feature for image retrieval was proposed. The feature extraction process involves a log-polar transform followed by an adaptive row shift invariant wavelet packet transform. The log-polar transform converts a given image into a rotation and scale invariant but row-shifted image, which is then passed to the adaptive row shift invariant wavelet packet transform to generate adaptively some subbands of rotation and scale invariant wavelet coefficients with respect to an information cost function. An energy signature is computed for each subband of these wavelet coefficients. In order to reduce feature dimensionality, only the most dominant log-polar wavelet energy signatures are selected as feature vector for image retrieval. The whole feature extraction process is quite efficient and involves only O(n/spl middot/log n) complexity. Experimental results show that this rotation and scale invariant texture feature is effective and outperforms the traditional wavelet packet signatures.
Mice Lacking the Basolateral Na-K-2Cl Cotransporter Have Impaired Epithelial Chloride Secretion and Are Profoundly Deaf (1999)

In chloride-secretory epithelia, the basolateral Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) is thought to play a major role in transepithelial Cl(-) and fluid transport. Similarly, in marginal cells of the inner ear, NKCC1 has been proposed as a component of the entry pathway for K(+) that is secreted into the endolymph, thus playing a critical role in hearing. To test these hypotheses, we generated and analyzed an NKCC1-deficient mouse. Homozygous mutant (Nkcc1(-/-)) mice exhibited growth retardation, a 28% incidence of death around the time of weaning, and mild difficulties in maintaining their balance. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced in both heterozygous and homozygous mutants, indicating an important function for NKCC1 in the maintenance of blood pressure. cAMP-induced short circuit currents, which are dependent on the CFTR Cl(-) channel, were reduced in jejunum, cecum, and trachea of Nkcc1(-/-) mice, indicating that NKCC1 contributes to cAMP-induced Cl(-) secretion. In contrast, secretion of gastric acid in adult Nkcc1(-/-) stomachs and enterotoxin-stimulated fluid secretion in the intestine of suckling Nkcc1(-/-) mice were normal. Finally, homozygous mutants were deaf, and histological analysis of the inner ear revealed a collapse of the membranous labyrinth, consistent with a critical role for NKCC1 in transepithelial K(+) movements involved in generation of the K(+)-rich endolymph and the endocochlear potential.
Semi-Supervised Learning Literature Survey (2005)

We review some of the literature on semi-supervised learning in this paper. Traditional classifiers need labeled data (feature / label pairs) to train. Labeled instances however are often difficult, expensive, or time consuming to obtain, as they require the efforts of experienced human annotators. Meanwhile unlabeled data may be relatively easy to collect, but there has been few ways to use them. Semi-supervised learning addresses this problem by using large amount of unlabeled data, together with the labeled data, to build better classifiers. Because semi-supervised learning requires less human effort and gives higher\naccuracy, it is of great interest both in theory and in practice.
Azithromycin induces anti-viral responses in bronchial epithelial cells (2010)

The majority of asthma exacerbations are caused by rhinovirus. Currently the treatment of asthma exacerbations is inadequate. Previous evidence suggests that macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects; however, the mechanism is unknown. We investigated the anti-rhinoviral potential of macrolides through the induction of antiviral gene mRNA and protein. Primary human bronchial epithelial cells were pre-treated with the macrolides azithromycin, erythromycin and telithromycin, and infected with minor-group rhinovirus 1B and major-group rhinovirus 16. The mRNA expression of the antiviral genes, type I interferon-β and type III interferon-λ1, interferon-λ2/3, and interferon-stimulated genes (retinoic acid inducible gene I, melanoma differentiation associated gene 5, oligoadenylate synthase, MxA and viperin) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8), and rhinovirus replication and release were measured. Azithromycin, but not erythromycin or telithromycin, significantly increased rhinovirus 1B- and rhinovirus 16-induced interferons and interferon-stimulated gene mRNA expression and protein production. Furthermore, azithromycin significantly reduced rhinovirus replication and release. Rhinovirus induced IL-6 and IL-8 protein and mRNA expression were not significantly reduced by azithromycin pre-treatment. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that azithromycin has anti-rhinoviral activity in bronchial epithelial cells and, during rhinovirus infection, increases the production of interferon-stimulated genes.
GameFlow (2005)

Although player enjoyment is central to computer games, there is currently no accepted model of player enjoyment in games. There are many heuristics in the literature, based on elements such as the game interface, mechanics, gameplay, and narrative. However, there is a need to integrate these heuristics into a validated model that can be used to design, evaluate, and understand enjoyment in games. We have drawn together the various heuristics into a concise model of enjoyment in games that is structured by flow. Flow, a widely accepted model of enjoyment, includes eight elements that, we found, encompass the various heuristics from the literature. Our new model, GameFlow, consists of eight elements -- concentration, challenge, skills, control, clear goals, feedback, immersion, and social interaction. Each element includes a set of criteria for achieving enjoyment in games. An initial investigation and validation of the GameFlow model was carried out by conducting expert reviews of two real-time strategy games, one high-rating and one low-rating, using the GameFlow criteria. The result was a deeper understanding of enjoyment in real-time strategy games and the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the GameFlow model as an evaluation tool. The GameFlow criteria were able to successfully distinguish between the high-rated and low-rated games and identify why one succeeded and the other failed. We concluded that the GameFlow model can be used in its current form to review games; further work will provide tools for designing and evaluating enjoyment in games.
Interpreting Change Scores for Pain and Functional Status in Low Back Pain (2008)

For a range of commonly used back pain outcome measures, a 30% change from baseline may be considered clinically meaningful improvement when comparing before and after measures for individual patients. It is hoped that these proposals facilitate the use of these measures in clinical practice and the comparability of future studies. The proposed MIC values are not the final answer but offer a common starting point for future research.
ECD of Tyrosine Phosphorylation in a Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer with a Radio-Frequency-Free Electromagnetostatic Cell (2014)

A radio frequency-free electromagnetostatic (EMS) cell devised for electron-capture dissociation (ECD) of ions has been retrofitted into the collision-induced dissociation (CID) section of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer to enable recording of ECD product-ion mass spectra and simultaneous recording of ECD-CID product-ion mass spectra. This modified instrument can be used to produce easily interpretable ECD and ECD-CID product-ion mass spectra of tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides that cover over 50% of their respective amino-acid sequences and readily identify their respective sites of phosphorylation. ECD fragmentation of doubly protonated, tyrosine-phosphorylated peptides, which was difficult to observe with FT-ICR instruments, occurs efficiently in the EMS cell.
Regulation of thymocyte proliferation and survival by deoxynucleosides. Deoxycytidine produced by thymic accessory cells protects thymocytes from deoxyguanosine toxicity and stimulates their spontaneous proliferation (1986)

Deoxyguanosine (dGuo) inhibits thymic blast DNA synthesis and then induces thymocyte cell death. The dGuo inhibitory action, measured with four different assays (spontaneous thymidine incorporation, immunofluorescent detection of 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, dye exclusion, tetrazolium salt cleavage), was suppressed in the presence of supernatants from cultures containing phagocytic cells. In particular, we studied the anti-dGuo activity in supernatants from thymic reticulum cultures (TRS) and in those from phagocytic cells isolated from TR cultures (P-TR). The anti-dGuo substance was identified as deoxycytidine (dCyd) by high performance liquid chromatography and other physicochemical studies. Secretion of dCyd by P-TR is accompanied by thymidine but not by purine nucleoside secretion. A dual mechanism of thymocyte rescue by dCyd was demonstrated by a study of the dose-dependencies of dCyd-mediated prevention and reversal, respectively, of the dGuo inhibition. In addition to this exogenously added anti-dGuo action, dCyd and dCyd-containing TRS induced significant stimulation of spontaneous thymic blast proliferation, and the kinetics of both effects were identical. These findings might suggest that a major role of thymic phagocytic cells is the supply of pyrimidine nucleosides to thymocytes resulting in the maintenance of proliferation and protection of at least some thymic blasts from the toxic effects of dGTP accumulation. The role of this system in the intrathymic selection process is discussed.
Positive-tone processing of plasma-polymerized methylsilane (PPMS) (1998)

Plasma polymerized methylsilane (PPMS) films exposed to UV light in the presence of air undergo photo-oxidation to produce a glass-like material, PPMSO, which can be selectively removed using aqueous HF based chemistries. We find that PPMS, used in such positive tone imaging processes, suffers from several drawbacks which make it an unattractive candidate for use as an imaging layer in positive tone resist schemes. We have used infrared and X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy to characterize the PPMS films. We have found evidence for the presence of bridging methylene groups in the Si-Si backbone of the PPMS polymer at the PPMS/Substrate interface. This thin underlayer of a polycarbosilane material is initially deposited in the PPMS CVD process and is insoluble in aqueous or vapor HF contributing to residue after the development. The limitation as to how rapidly PPMS films can be photo- oxidized in the presence of air using high-fluence laser steppers is determined by the rate of oxygen diffusion into the PPMS films during exposure. This reciprocity failure exhibited by PPMS films may limit positive tone PPMS processing from consideration in high-throughput UV based lithography.
Why should breast tumour detection go three dimensional? (2003)

Although x-ray mammography is widely developed for breast tumour detection, it suffers from spatial superposition in its two-dimensional (2D) representation of a three-dimensional (3D) breast structure. Accordingly, 3D breast imaging, such as cone-beam computed tomography (CT), arises at the historic moment. In this paper, we theoretically elucidate the spatial superposition effect associated with x-ray mammography on breast tumour detection. This explanation is based on the line integral of x-ray traversing a composite breast model. As a result, we can characterize the difficulty of detecting small tumours in terms of local intensity contrast in x-ray images. In comparison, we also introduce cone-beam CT breast imaging for 3D breast volume representation, which offers advantages for breast mass segmentation and measurement. The discussion is demonstrated with an experiment with a breast surgical specimen. In conclusion, we strongly believe that 3D volumetric representation allows for more accurate breast tumour detection.
A contextual personalization approach based on ontological knowledge (2006)

Combining traditional personalization techniques with novel knowledge representation paradigms, such as the ontologybased approach proposed in the Semantic Web ﬁeld, is a challenging task. Personalization is a difﬁcult problem when dealing with multimedia content and information retrieval, where context is increasingly acknowledged to be a key notion in order to make proper sense of user needs. This work focuses on contextualization within personalization in a multimedia environment. Towards that scope, we propose a novel contextual knowledge modeling scheme, and an approach for the dynamic, contextual activation of semantic user preferences to better represent user interests in coherence with ongoing user activities, e.g. in an interactive retrieval process. The application of this methodology is demonstrated using two user scenarios, and the performance results of a preliminary experiment are shown.
Balancing of flexible rotors without trial weights based on finite element modal analysis (2012)

With the continuous improvement of aviation engine performance, the engine rotor’s working speed is above the first critical speed, and some small engine rotor’s operating speed exceeds the second critical speed, thus most of the aircraft engine rotor is now flexible rotor. The primary goal of this research is to provide a new method without trial weights for flexible rotor balancing, which is based on the traditional modal balancing method and combines the dynamic characteristics of the rotor, such as the model shape, obtained by using finite element analysis software, the critical speed, the modal damping ratio, and so on. To demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the new method, two experiments are carried out. One is on a four-disk simply supported structure rotor experiment, which is balanced by using three balancing planes. After balancing the amplitude of the rotor through the first critical speed is reduced 80%. The other is on a turboshaft engine power turbine rotor which had been balanced quite well. The initial amplitude of the turboshaft engine power turbine rotor is 0.05 mm when it rotates at low speed, and the maximum amplitude is just 0.12 mm when it rotates at the first critical speed. After balancing the amplitude of the rotor through the first critical speed is reduced to 0.06 mm. The results of the experiments indicate that the new without trial weights method is a significant effective method for the flexible rotor dynamic balancing, and it will be widely used to balance the engine rotor.
Evaluation of Propolis. I. Evaluation of Brazilian and Chinese Propolis by Enzymatic and Physico-Chemical Methods. (1997)

To establish a method of evaluating propolis, the effects of the ethanol and water extracts from various collecting of propolis from different countries and plant sources on hyaluronidase activity were investigated along with their absorption spectra and specific absorbance (E(1%)1 cm value). The relations between the hyaluronidase inhibitory activities of these extracts and their E(1%)1 cm values were also examined, and the following was found: 1) the enzyme inhibitory activities of the ethanol extracts were more potent than those of the water extracts; 2) the enzyme inhibitory activities of the ethanol extracts from Araucaria angustifolia (BERT.) O. KTZE were low compared with those of other ethanol extracts; 3) the enzyme inhibitory activities of all the ethanol extracts correlated excellently with their E(1%)1 cm values, but in the water extracts, they decreased with increase in E(1%)1 cm values; 4) the water extracts of Chinese propolis from Hebei, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Zhejiang Provinces inhibited weakly compared with that from Brazilian and other Chinese propolis; 5) the shapes of absorption bands of the propolis extracts and the E(1%)1 cm values were approximately dependent on the place or the plant source from which propolis was collected. These experimental results indicated that, for the exact evaluation of propolis, the enzymatic method, measuring the hyaluronidase inhibitory activity, was superior to the physicochemical method.
Optimizing Dialysis Delivery in Tunneled Dialysis Catheters (2006)

Long-term dialysis is often delivered through tunneled central venous catheters (CVC) despite their associated morbidity and mortality rates. Because poor solute clearance might contribute to this risk, we examined the relation between blood pump speed (QB), access recirculation (AR), and dialysis delivery in patients with CVC. We conducted a prospective study on 102 patients receiving long-term hemodialysis with CVC. QB was systematically varied, and AR was measured by saline dilution with the blood supply lines in both the straight and the reversed positions during each of two dialysis sessions. During a third session, we measured ionic dialysance (EID) in patients with AR>0% and those in whom dialysis was usually delivered with catheters in the reversed position.Approximately one third (34.3%) of patients were usually run in the reversed position. Clinically significant AR (>10%) was infrequent (3%) in the straight position but common in the reversed position (86%). QB and EID were linearly correlated for both the straight and reversed positions. Approximately half (48.6%) of patients who were generally treated with their lines reversed were able to receive dialysis with the lines in the straight position within acceptable pressure limits when blood lines were switched part way through the run. In these patients, solute clearance was equivalent (EID straight 204 ml/min vs. reversed 196 ml/min, p=0.58) with lines in the straight configuration despite lower achieved QB (straight 354 ml/min vs. reversed 404 ml/min, p=0.04). Maximization of prescribed QB in CVC increased AR when blood line position was reversed but improved small solute clearance regardless of line position. This suggests that QB in CVC should be set as high as circuit pressure limits will allow, regardless of the potential for AR, and that reversal of line position confers no benefit with respect to solute clearance.
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) (1997)

FIBRODYSPLASIA OSSIFICANS PROGRESSIVA (FOP) is a rare heritable disorder of connective tissue characterized by congenital malformations of the great toes and by progressive heterotopic endochondral osteogenesis in predictable anatomic and temporal patterns. Disease flare-ups can occur spontaneously or can be induced by minor trauma such as intramuscular injections. FOP is the most extensive disorder of heterotopic osteogenesis in humans and leads to catastrophic disability by early adulthood. Bone morphogenetic protein-4, a potent bone inducing morphogen, is over-expressed in lymphocytes of patients with FOP. At the present time, there is no effective treatment or prevention. The pictures illustrate characteristic features of FOP in early childhood. The presence of short malformed great toes at birth (A, arrows) heralds the later spontaneous appearance of the pre-osseous soft-tissue lesion on the neck and back (B, arrow heads) and should provoke suspicion of FOP even before the transformation to heterotopic bone (arrows). An inspection of the toes (C) will confirm the diagnosis and may alleviate the need for a lesional biopsy (trauma) that could exacerbate the condition.
A neural network expert system for computer-assisted analysis of blood-pressure data (2002)

The expert system described, based on a neural network architecture, analyzes a subject's anamnesis and 24-hour blood-pressure monitoring, to diagnose hypertension and give advice about choice, timing, and dosage of the most appropriate treatment. It also includes a set of explanation tools, such as the 'why?' and the 'what if . . .' functions, which emulate the ones that are typical of symbolic expert systems. Ongoing tests on 50 subjects rated both sensibility and specificity above 90%.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Acetylsalicylic Acid Reduces Vegetation Bacterial Density, Hematogenous Bacterial Dissemination, and Frequency of Embolic Events in Experimental <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Endocarditis Through Antiplatelet and Antibacterial Effects (1999)

ASA reduces several principal indicators of severity and metastatic events in experimental S aureus endocarditis. These benefits involve ASA effects on both the platelet and the microbe.
Enzyme immunoassay for human apolipoprotein B, the major protein moiety in low-density- and very-low-density lipoproteins. (1978)

We used enzyme immunoassay to measure apolipoprotein B concentration in human plasma. Pure lipoprotein B was isolated from serum samples of fasting normolipidemic subjects by sequential preparative ultracentrifugation and coated to a polystyrene tube surface by adsorption. Human serum samples and rabbit antiserum to human apolipoprotein B were incubated with the solid-phase lipoprotein B. Soluble antigen competed with solid-phase antigen for binding to antibodies. After washing, peroxidase-labeled sheep antibodies against rabbit immunoglobulins were added, and after further washing the bound label was assayed. This provided a direct measurement of the soluble antigen. The best technical conditions for the assay were determined. The minimum detectable concentration was 1 microgram per assay. The enzyme immunoassay yielded values that compare favorably with those obtained by radial immunodiffusion (r = 0.84) and by rocket immunoelectrophoresis (r = 0.80). The assay offers several advantages over existing techniques: sensitivity, specificity, simplicity, ane non-use of radioisotopes.