gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of exopolysaccharide produced by<i>Vibrio harveyi</i>strain VB23 (2006)

This is the first report of EPS characterization in luminous V. harveyi bacteria, which describes the isolation and characterization of an EPS expressed by V. harveyi. The results of the study contributes significantly towards an understanding of the chemical composition and applications of the EPS in environmental biotechnology and bioremediation.
Sensory Descriptive Analysis of Soymilk (2001)

ABSTRACT: A descriptive analysis panel developed terms to describe aroma and flavor of soymilk. Panelists evaluated a commercial soymilk and soymilks processed with beans from the normal or lipoxygenase‐free lines. Descriptors used to describe “beaniness” were “raw as hexanal” for flavor or aroma, “grassy” flavor, and “sweet as green floral” flavor. High correlations were found among these attributes. Judges were consistent in the use of terminology. “Beaniness” for the normal soymilk was described by the terms “raw aroma as in hexanal” and “raw flavor as in hexanal,” while “beaniness” for soymilk from the lipoxygenase‐free line was described by the terms “sweet as green floral” and “grassy” flavors.
NanoSail-D: A Solar Sail Demonstration Mission (2009)

During the past decade, within the United States, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was heavily engaged in the development of revolutionary new technologies for in-space propulsion. One of the major in-space propulsion technologies developed was a solar sail propulsion system. Solar sail propulsion uses the solar radiation pressure exerted by the momentum transfer of reflected photons to generate a net force on a spacecraft. To date, solar sail propulsion systems have been designed for large spacecraft in the tens to hundreds of kilograms mass range. Recently, however, MSFC has been investigating the application of solar sails for small satellite propulsion. Likewise, NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has been developing small spacecraft missions that have a need for amass-efficient means of satisfying deorbit requirements. Hence, a synergistic collaboration was established between these two NASA field Centers with the objective of conducting a flight demonstration of solar sail technologies for small satellites. The NanoSail-D mission flew onboard the ill-fated Falcon Rocket launched August 2, 2008, and, due to the failure of that rocket, never achieved orbit. The NanoSail-D flight spare is ready for flight and a suitable launch arrangement is being actively pursued. Both the original sailcraft and the flight spare are hereafter referred to as NanoSail-D. The sailcraft consists of a sail subsystem stowed in a three-element CubeSat. Shortly after deployment of the NanoSail-D, the solar sail will deploy and mission operations will commence. This demonstration flight has two primary technical objectives: (1) to successfully stow and deploy the sail and (2) to demonstrate deorbit functionality. Given a near-term opportunity for launch on Falcon, the project was given the challenge of delivering the flight hardware in 6 mo, which required a significant constraint on flight system functionality. As a consequence, passive attitude stabilization of the spacecraft will be achieved using permanent magnets to detumble and orient the body with the magnetic field lines and then rely on atmospheric drag to passively stabilize the sailcraft in an essentially maximum drag attitude. This paper will present an introduction to solar sail propulsion systems and an overview of the NanoSail-D spacecraft.
New results on paraunitary filter banks over finite fields (2002)

In the complex field, unitary and paraunitary (PU) matrices have found many applications in signal processing. There has recently been interest in extending these ideas to the case of finite fields. In this paper, we will study the theory of PU filter banks in GF(q) with q prime. Various properties of unitary and PU matrices in finite fields will be studied. In particular, a number of factorization theorems will be given. We will show that: (i) All unitary matrices in GF(q) are factorizable in terms of Householder-like matrices and a permutation matrix. (ii) The class of first-order PU matrices, the lapped orthogonal transform in finite fields, can always be expressed as a product of degree-one or degree-two building blocks. If q>2, we do not need degree-two building blocks. While many properties of PU matrices in finite fields are similar to those of PU matrices in the complex field, there are a number of differences. For example, unlike the conventional PU systems, in finite fields there are PU systems that are unfactorizable in terms of smaller building blocks.
Design theory for binaural synthesis: Combining microphone array recordings and head-related transfer function datasets (2017)

Signal processing methods that accurately synthesize sound pressure at the ears are important in the development of spatial audio devices for personal use. This paper reviews the current methods and focuses on a promising class of these methods that rely on combining the spatial information available in microphone array recordings and datasets of head-related transfer functions (HRTFs). These two kinds of spatial information enable the consideration of dynamic and individual auditory localization cues during binaural synthesis. A general formulation for such a class of methods is presented in terms of a linear system of equations, whose associated matrix is composed of acoustic transfer functions that relate the positions of microphones and HRTFs. Based on this formulation, it is shown that most of the existing methods under consideration can be classified into two prominent approaches: 1) the HRTF modeling approach and 2) the microphone signal modeling approach. An important relation between these two approaches is evidenced in the general formulation: when one approach arises from the solution to an overdetermined system, the other corresponds to an underdetermined system, and vice versa. Illustrative examples of binaural synthesis from spherical arrays are provided by means of simulations. Underdetermined systems generally achieve better performance than overdetermined ones.
Targeting Extracellular Cyclophilins Ameliorates Disease Progression in Experimental Biliary Atresia (2015)

Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating liver disease of unknown etiology affecting children generally within the first 3 months of life. The disease is manifested by inflammation and subsequent obstruction of the extrahepatic bile ducts, fibrosis and liver failure. The mechanisms responsible for disease pathogenesis are not fully understood, but a number of factors controlled by the SMAD signaling pathway have been implicated. In this study, we investigated the role of a known proinflammatory factor, extracellular cyclophilin A (CypA), in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia using the rhesus rotavirus (RRV) murine model. We used a unique cyclosporine A derivative, MM284, which does not enter cells and therefore inactivates exclusively extracellular cyclophilins, as a potential treatment. We demonstrated that levels of CypA in plasma of RRV-infected mice were increased significantly, and that treatment of mice with MM284 prior to or one day after disease initiation by RRV infection significantly improved the status of mice with experimental BA: weight gain was restored, bilirubinuria was abrogated, liver infiltration by inflammatory cells was reduced and activation of the SMAD pathway and SMAD-controlled fibrosis mediators and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-4 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 was alleviated. Furthermore, treatment of human hepatic stellate cells with recombinant cyclophilin recapitulated SMAD2/3 activation, which was also suppressed by MM284 treatment. Our data provide the first evidence that extracellular cyclophilins activate the SMAD pathway and promote inflammation in experimental BA, and suggest that MM284 may be a promising therapeutic agent for treating BA and possibly other intrahepatic chronic disorders.
Evaluation of a warped linear predictive coding scheme (2002)

Basically all conventional digital signal processing techniques can be warped by introducing a simple modification to the system. In this paper, the focus is in warped linear predictive coding techniques with application to speech and audio coding. The performance of warped LPC is compared with a conventional LPC in listening tests and in terms of technical measures. This is done at various sampling rates as a function of the order of the LPC model.
Fractionation of heparin-derived oligosaccharides by gradient polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (1987)

Heparin-derived oligosaccharides, prepared by using flavobacterial heparinase, having a high degree of heterogeneity (sequence variability) were resolved into sharp well-defined bands by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The use of a stacking gel and a high-density-pore-gradient resolving gel was primarily responsible for the success of this separation. Low-Mr standards of known structure and having a degree of polymerization (dp) 2-6 were used to establish that the separation on gradient PAGE was primarily dependent on molecular size. High-Mr oligosaccharides (dp 8-20) were prepared using strong-anion-exchange h.p.l.c. and were used to help characterize the gradient PAGE separation. Kinetic profiles were obtained for the depolymerization of heparin and heparan sulphate with heparinase and heparitinase respectively. The utility of this approach in sequencing oligosaccharides derived from glycosaminoglycans is discussed.
Dose comparison trial of sustained-release fampridine in multiple sclerosis (2008)

This phase 2 study suggests that a subgroup of patients, when treated with fampridine, experiences a clinically relevant improvement in walking ability, which is sustained for at least 14 weeks.
Biomarkers of some pulmonary diseases in exhaled breath (2002)

Analysis of various biomarkers in exhaled breath allows completely non-invasive monitoring of inflammation and oxidative stress in the respiratory tract in inflammatory lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), bronchiectasis and interstitial lung diseases. The technique is simple to perform, may be repeated frequently, and can be applied to children, including neonates, and patients with severe disease in whom more invasive procedures are not possible. Several volatile chemicals can be measured in the breath (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia), and many non-volatile molecules (mediators, oxidation and nitration products, proteins) may be measured in exhaled breath condensate. Exhaled breath analysis may be used to quantify inflammation and oxidative stress in the respiratory tract, in differential diagnosis of airway disease and in the monitoring of therapy. Most progress has been made with exhaled nitric oxide (NO), which is increased in atopic asthma, is correlated with other inflammatory indices and is reduced by treatment with corticosteroids and antileukotrienes, but not (beta 2-agonists. In contrast, exhaled NO is normal in COPD, reduced in CF and diagnostically low in primary ciliary dyskinesia. Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) is increased in asthma, COPD and CF. Increased concentrations of 8-isoprostane, hydrogen peroxide, nitrite and 3-nitrotyrosine are found in exhaled breath condensate in inflammatory lung diseases. Furthermore, increased levels of lipid mediators are found in these diseases, with a differential pattern depending on the nature of the disease process. In the future it is likely that smaller and more sensitive analyzers will extend the discriminatory value of exhaled breath analysis and that these techniques may be available to diagnose and monitor respiratory diseases in the general practice and home setting.
Purification of a human glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter-binding protein. Production of polyclonal antibodies against the purified factor (1991)

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is an essential protein involved in mediating glucocorticoid-regulated gene transcription. The cellular GR concentration is modulated by a number of factors including glucocorticoids, which are capable of down-regulating their own receptor concentration. To further study this phenomenon, the human GR (hGR) gene promoter was isolated and was shown to contain the sequences essential for glucocorticoid-dependent down-regulation in CV-1 cells by gene transfer. Further transfections performed with the hGR gene demonstrated that the nucleotide sequence between -250 and -750 is implicated in the down-regulation of the hGR by hormone. The promoter region of human GR is extremely rich in G+C sequences which are known to be involved in the regulation of many housekeeping genes such as GR, as well as a number of cellular oncogenes. Using a combination of partial purification of DNA-binding proteins, DNA-protein interaction by gel shift analysis and preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have identified a protein factor (GRF-1) of 95 kDa which interacts with the human GR gene fragment implicated in homologous down-regulation. Polyclonal antibodies were then raised against the protein following purification. This method of purification and identification may be universally applied to purify and characterize unknown factors which may be involved in the regulation of genes such as hGR gene.
The influence of film cooling on turbine aerodynamic performance (2011)

This thesis is not available on this repository until the author agrees to make it public. If you are the author of this thesis and would like to make your work openly available, please contact us: thesis@repository.cam.ac.uk.
Design, Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Antimicrobial Activity of Sulfonamide Boronic Acids as β-Lactamase Inhibitors (2010)

We investigated a series of sulfonamide boronic acids that resulted from the merging of two unrelated AmpC β-lactamase inhibitor series. The new boronic acids differed in the replacement of the canonical carboxamide, found in all penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics, with a sulfonamide. Surprisingly, these sulfonamides had a highly distinct structure-activity relationship from the previously explored carboxamides, high ligand efficiencies (up to 0.91), and K(i) values down to 25 nM and up to 23 times better for smaller analogues. Conversely, K(i) values were 10-20 times worse for larger molecules than in the carboxamide congener series. X-ray crystal structures (1.6-1.8 Å) of AmpC with three of the new sulfonamides suggest that this altered structure-activity relationship results from the different geometry and polarity of the sulfonamide versus the carboxamide. The most potent inhibitor reversed β-lactamase-mediated resistance to third generation cephalosporins, lowering their minimum inhibitory concentrations up to 32-fold in cell culture.
Relation of lactoferrin levels in gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori infection and with the degree of gastric inflammation. (1997)

The results of the present investigation showed, for the first time in vivo, that Lf concentration is increased in the biopsy specimens of patients with HP-related gastritis, and that the levels of Lf correlate significantly with the degree of inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The gastric mucosal level of Lf may constitute an excellent marker of HP infection.
Effects of Enzyme Hydrolysis and Thermal Treatment on Bioactive Flavor Compounds in Pork-Based Flavoring Ingredients (2002)

Pork loin tissues were hydrolyzed by either one of two endopeptidases, alcalase or papain, under optimal condition of 60°C, 60 min. The hydrolysates were subjected further to heat treatment at 90°C, 30 min or 120°C, 30 min. The resulting pork-based flavoring ingredients were subsequently evaluated for organoleptic properties using a descriptive panel. Sensory scores indicated that chicken aroma was the most predominant aroma attribute in all pork-based flavoring ingredients obtained from both enzyme digestion processes and temperature treatments. The chicken aroma attribute varied indiscriminately of enzyme type and thermal processing conditions. Flavor volatiles were obtained by GC-MS analysis to elucidate the unexpected development of intense chicken aroma note. Lipid-derived aldehydes, implicated in the development of this note, were affected by both temperature and enzyme treatments. Proposed chemical and biochemical mechanisms involved in the development of chicken flavor from pork-based flavoring ingredients are discussed.
Quality of Service Support for Real-time Storage Systems (2003)

The performance and capacity of commodity computer systems have improved drastically in recent years. However, these systems still lack the support for real-time data access, which is required by an increasing number of emerging applications. In this paper we first present several important storagebound real-time applications and classify their Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. We then survey the representative work on disk management in the areas of IO scheduling, admission control, and data placement. Finally, we present our approach for providing disk QoS in commodity systems and present key empirical results from the micro-benchmark-based evaluation of our QoS-enhanced Linux kernel.
Conserved pharmacological rescue of hereditary spastic paraplegia-related phenotypes across model organisms (2016)

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of neurodegenerative diseases causing progressive gait dysfunction. Over 50 genes have now been associated with HSP. Despite the recent explosion in genetic knowledge, HSP remains without pharmacological treatment. Loss-of-function mutation of the SPAST gene, also known as SPG4, is the most common cause of HSP in patients. SPAST is conserved across animal species and regulates microtubule dynamics. Recent studies have shown that it also modulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here, utilizing null SPAST homologues in C. elegans, Drosophila and zebrafish, we tested FDA-approved compounds known to modulate ER stress in order to ameliorate locomotor phenotypes associated with HSP. We found that locomotor defects found in all of our spastin models could be partially rescued by phenazine, methylene blue, N-acetyl-cysteine, guanabenz and salubrinal. In addition, we show that established biomarkers of ER stress levels correlated with improved locomotor activity upon treatment across model organisms. Our results provide insights into biomarkers and novel therapeutic avenues for HSP.
Extracellular matrix ligands promote RPE attachment to inner Bruch’s membrane (2002)

RPE attachment is increased by adding ligands to the basal lamina or inner collagen layer but not to the elastin layer. This may be important if the elastin layer is exposed in AMD patients after submacular surgery.
Predicting the Formation and Stability of Amorphous Small Molecule Binary Mixtures from Computationally Determined Flory−Huggins Interaction Parameter and Phase Diagram (2010)

The Flory-Huggins interaction parameter has been shown to be useful in predicting the thermodynamic miscibility of a polymer and a small molecule in a binary mixture. In the present paper, this concept was extended and evaluated to determine whether or not the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter can be applied to small molecule binary mixtures and if this parameter can predict the phase stability of such amorphous binary mixtures. This study was based on the assumption that a thermodynamically miscible binary system is stable and cannot crystallize, and that phase separation is essential before the individual components can crystallize. The stabilization of a binary system is thought to derive from molecular interactions between components in a solid dispersion, which are characterized by the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter. Based on DSC experiments, drug molecules (39) in the present study were classified into three different categories according to their crystallization tendency; i.e., highly crystallizing, moderately crystallizing and noncrystallizing compounds. The Flory-Huggins interaction parameter was systematically calculated for each drug pair. The validity of this approach was empirically verified by hot-stage polarized light microscopy. If both compounds in the pair belonged to the category of highly crystallizing compound, the Flory-Huggins interaction predicted an amorphous or crystalline phase with approximately 88% (23 out of 26) confidence. If one or both compounds of the pair were either moderately crystallizing or noncrystallizing compounds, the binary mixture remained in the amorphous phase during the cooling phase regardless of the interaction parameter. The Flory-Huggins interaction parameter was found to be a reasonably good indicator for predicting the phase stability of small molecule binary mixtures. The method described can enable fast screening of the potential stabilizers needed to produce a stable amorphous binary mixture.
Role of methionine as a methyl group donor in cattle (1999)

Holstein steers were used in two 5 x 5 Latin square experiments to evaluate the sparing of methionine by alternative sources of methyl groups (betaine or choline). Steers were housed in metabolism crates and limit fed a diet high in rumen degradable protein. To increase energy supply, volatile fatty acids were infused into the rumens, and glucose was infused into the abomasum. An amino acid mixture, limiting in methionine, was infused abomasally to ensure that non-sulfur amino acids did not limit protein synthesis. Treatments for Exp. 1 were abomasal infusion of 1) water (control), 2) 2 g/day additional L-methionine, 3) 1.7 g/day Lcysteine, 4) 1.6 g/day betaine, and 5) 1.7 g/day L-cysteine + 1.6 g/day betaine. Treatments for Exp. 2 were abomasal infusion of 1) water (control), 2) 2 g/day additional L-methionine, 3) 8 g/day betaine, 4) 16 g/day betaine, and 5) 8 g/day choline. In both experiments, nitrogen retention increased (P<.05) in response to methionine, demonstrating a deficiency of sulfur amino acids. Responses to cysteine, betaine and choline were small. The low response to cysteine indicates that either the response to methionine is not due to transsulfuration to cysteine, or that cysteine supply does not alter the flux of methionine through transsulfuration. The small responses to betaine and choline suggest that they do not substitute for methionine. Thus, under our experimental conditions, responses to methionine likely were due to a correction of a deficiency of methionine per se rather than of methyl group donors.
The Utility of Droplet Elimination by Thermal Annealing Technique for Fabrication of GaN/AlGaN Terahertz Quantum Cascade Structure by Radio Frequency Molecular Beam Epitaxy (2010)

We investigated the utility of a droplet elimination by thermal annealing (DETA) technique during the radio-frequency molecular beam epitaxy growth of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) structure. DETA is a method in which droplets deposited on the surface are eliminated by temporarily increasing the substrate temperature. DETA is a useful method which makes it possible not only to increase the number of periods in the QC structure, but also to improve the surface and structural properties of the QC structure. We could successfully increase the radiant intensity from a QCL sample by increasing the number of periods in the stacked QC structure with the DETA method.