gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Driving cold cathode fluorescent lamps in parallel (2005)

Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) show complex characteristics, which make it difficult to drive them in parallel. Analysis of the lamp current distribution in parallel operation is presented in detail. The current balancing condition, under which the lamp currents are well balanced in the presence of the lamp voltage variation, is derived. The analysis results are verified from experiments with two 720 mm/4 mm CCFLs for 32-inch LCD TVs. Experimental results with eight CCFLs in parallel are also presented.
Linux kernel projects for an undergraduate operating systems course (2010)

In this paper, we present a series of programming projects based on the Linux kernel for students in a senior-level undergraduate operating systems course. The projects we describe cover several key operating systems concepts, including process scheduling, I/O scheduling, memory management, and device drivers. In addition, we assess these projects along several dimensions, from their difficulty to their capacity to help students understand operating systems concepts, based on six terms (three years) of detailed student exit surveys along with observations and anecdotal evidence. Through this assessment, we conclude that our Linux-based projects are an effective means by which to teach operating systems concepts and, additionally, that students' response to these projects is overwhelmingly positive.
Arteriogenesis <i>versus</i> angiogenesis in peripheral artery disease (2012)

Different forms of vessel growth in the adult organism contribute to the compensation for an occluded artery. We here summarize the major differences between arteriogenesis and angiogenesis and provide evidence in favour of a therapeutic stimulation of collateral growth. In addition, we outline current knowledge about regulatory mechanisms transducing the initial physical stimulus into a cellular response. As an example, the role of nitric oxide during arteriogenesis is discussed, and finally, we propose a mechanism of how an efficient decision is made that makes the larger collaterals larger and the smaller ones smaller.
Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with porcine PBL. (1984)

Partially inbred miniature swine have been developed in this laboratory as a large animal model for immunologic studies. For many of these studies, a source of large quantities of well standardized antibodies to lymphocyte cell surface markers would be extremely helpful. Screening of a large panel of murine anti-human monoclonal antibodies (MAb) for anti-pig cross-reactions was nonproductive. We have therefore prepared a panel of MAb from mice immunized with pig thymocytes. Twenty-six stable MAb were produced that reacted with Ficoll/Hypaque-purified porcine lymphocytes. Reactivity was detected by complement-mediated cytotoxicity and/or cell surface binding ELISA. FMF analysis was performed on unseparated, glass-adherent, nylon wool-adherent, or nylon wool-nonadherent PBL and on cell preparations from lymphoid organs. In addition, the m.w. of the antigens detected by certain of these MAb were determined by immunoprecipitation of extracts of 125I surface-labeled cells. The majority of the MAb were not subpopulation specific. Included in these were 74-11-10 (IgG2b), which was specific for a polymorphic class I MHC determinant, and 76-3-2 (IgG1), which reacted with either a monomorphic class I MHC determinant or beta 2-microglobulin. Another MAb, 74-9-3 (IgM), precipitated a high m.w. complex of three polypeptide chains that appeared similar to that of the common leukocyte antigen. Of special interest were six MAb that were specific for various subpopulations of PBL: 76-7-4 (IgG2a) reacts with peripheral B cells, and 60% of thymocytes but not peripheral T cells, a pattern consistent with the murine ThB antigen; 74-22-15 (IgG1) and 76-5-28 (IgM) react with macrophages and granulocytes; 76-6-7 (IgM) reacts with T cells, macrophages, and granulocytes but not B cells, a combination of reactivities not previously reported in other species; 74-12-4 (IgG2b) and 76-2-11 (IgG2a) react specifically with T cells. 74-12-4 precipitated an antigen of 55,000 m.w., and 76-2-11 precipitated an antigen of 35,000 m.w. The m.w. and tissue distributions suggest that 74-12-4 recognizes porcine T helper cells, whereas 76-2-11 recognizes cytotoxic and/or suppressor T cells.
Disparate Cytotoxic Activity of Nickel-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ T Cell Subsets Against Keratinocytes (2000)

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is the result of an exaggerated immune reaction to haptens mediated by skin-homing T cells, but the effector mechanisms responsible for the tissue damage are poorly understood. Here we studied the capacity of distinct subsets of hapten-specific T cells to induce apoptosis in autologous keratinocytes. Skin- and blood-derived nickel-specific CD8+ T cytotoxic 1 (Tc1) and Tc2 clones as well as CD4+ Th1 and Th2 expressed the cutaneous lymphocyte-associated Ag and exhibited strong MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against nickel-coupled B lymphoblasts, as detected by the [3H]TdR release assay. Both Tc1 and Tc2 clones, but not CD4+ T cells, displayed a significant cytotoxic activity against resting nickel-modified keratinocytes. Following IFN-gamma treatment, keratinocytes expressed MHC class II and ICAM-1 and became susceptible to Th1-mediated, but not Th2-mediated, cytotoxicity. The molecules of the two major cytotoxic pathways, Fas ligand (FasL) and perforin, were expressed by Tc1, Tc2, and Th1 cells, whereas Th2 cells expressed only FasL. Experiments performed in the presence of specific inhibitors of the perforin (concanamycin A) and FasL (brefeldin A) pathway indicated that perforin-mediated killing dominated in Tc1 and Tc2, and FasL-mediated cytotoxicity prevailed in Th2 clones, with a more heterogeneous behavior in the case of Th1 cells. Finally, perforin mRNA was expressed in ACD lesional skin, as assessed by RT-PCR analysis. In aggregate, our results indicate that keratinocytes can be target of multiple hapten-specific CTL responses, that may have distinct roles in the epidermal injury during ACD.
Building reliable genetic maps: different mapping strategies may result in different maps (2010)

New high throughput DNA technologies resulted in a disproportion between the high number of scored markers for the mapping populations and relatively small sizes of the genotyped populations. Correspondingly, the number of markers may, by orders of magnitude, exceed the threshold of recombination resolution achievable for a given population size. Hence, only a small part of markers can be genuinely ordered in the map. The question is how to choose the most informative markers for building such a reliable “skeleton” map. We believe that our approach provides a solution to this difficult problem due to: a) powerful tools of discrete optimization for multilocus ordering; b) a verification procedure, which is impossible without fast and high-quality optimization, to control the map quality based on re-sampling techniques; c) an interactive algorithm of marker clustering in complicated situations caused by significant deviation of recombination rates between markers of non-homologous chromosomes from the expected 50% (referred to as quasi-linkage or pseudo-linkage); and d) an algorithm for detection and removing excessive markers to increase the stability of multilocus ordering.
Growth Characteristics of an Estuarine Heterocystous Cyanobacterium (2017)

A new estuarine filamentous heterocystous cyanobacterium was isolated from intertidal sediment of the Lagoa dos Patos estuary (Brazil). The isolate may represent a new genus related to <i>Cylindrospermopsis</i>. While the latter is planktonic, contains gas vesicles, and is toxic, the newly isolated strain is benthic and does not contain gas vesicles. It is not known whether the new strain is toxic. It grows equally well in freshwater, brackish and full salinity growth media, in the absence of inorganic or organic combined nitrogen, with a growth rate 0.6 d<sup>-1</sup>. Nitrogenase, the enzyme complex responsible for fixing dinitrogen, was most active during the initial growth phase and its activity was not different between the different salinities tested (freshwater, brackish, and full salinity seawater). Salinity shock also did not affect nitrogenase activity. The frequency of heterocysts was high, coinciding with high nitrogenase activity during the initial growth phase, but decreased subsequently. However, the frequency of heterocysts decreased considerably more at higher salinity, while no change in nitrogenase activity occurred, indicating a higher efficiency of dinitrogen fixation. Akinete frequency was low in the initial growth phase and higher in the late growth phase. Akinete frequency was much lower at high salinity, which might indicate better growth conditions or that akinete differentiation was under the same control as heterocyst differentiation. These trends have hitherto not been reported for heterocystous cyanobacteria but they seem to be well fitted for an estuarine life style.
Computer-generated profiles of the anal canal in patients with anal fissure (1995)

The primary abnormality in fissure is persistent hypertonia affecting the entire internal sphincter, unrelated to pain. Cross-sectional pressure profiles may explain the predilection of fissures to occur in the posterior midline; other factors must prevent chronic fissures from healing.
Cigarette smoke-induced lung emphysema in mice is associated with prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme involved in collagen breakdown (2010)

There is increasing evidence that the neutrophil chemoattractant proline-glycine-proline (PGP), derived from the breakdown of the extracellular matrix, plays an important role in neutrophil recruitment to the lung. PGP formation is a multistep process involving neutrophils, metalloproteinases (MMPs), and prolyl endopeptidase (PE). This cascade of events is now investigated in the development of lung emphysema. A/J mice were whole body exposed to cigarette smoke for 20 wk. After 20 wk or 8 wk after smoking cessation, animals were killed, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue were collected to analyze the neutrophilic airway inflammation, the MMP-8 and MMP-9 levels, the PE activity, and the PGP levels. Lung tissue degradation was assessed by measuring the mean linear intercept. Additionally, we investigated the effect of the peptide L-arginine-threonine-arginine (RTR), which binds to PGP sequences, on the smoke-induced neutrophil influx in the lung after 5 days of smoke exposure. Neutrophilic airway inflammation was induced by cigarette smoke exposure. MMP-8 and MMP-9 levels, PE activity, and PGP levels were elevated in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. PE was highly expressed in epithelial and inflammatory cells (macrophages and neutrophils) in lung tissue of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. After smoking cessation, the neutrophil influx, the MMP-8 and MMP-9 levels, the PE activity, and the PGP levels were decreased or reduced to normal levels. Moreover, RTR inhibited the smoke-induced neutrophil influx in the lung after 5 days' smoke exposure. In the present murine model of cigarette smoke-induced lung emphysema, it is demonstrated for the first time that all relevant components (neutrophils, MMP-8, MMP-9, PE) involved in PGP formation from collagen are upregulated in the airways. Together with MMPs, PE may play an important role in the formation of PGP and thus in the pathophysiology of lung emphysema.
OVERVIEW OF USB BATTERY CHARGING REVISION 1.2 AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF ADAPTER EMULATORS (2014)

At home, in the car, or plugged into a computer, USB-powered portable equipment needs a smart method for determining the appropriate amount of power to draw for both normal operation and charging. Motivated by the huge variety of portable devices, differences in USB ports, and complicated nature of rechargeable batteries, the USB Battery Charging Specification Revision 1.2 is a critical standard for establishing the proper way to charge a battery from a USB port. But even with the BC1.2 specification, some portable device manufacturers have still implemented proprietary chargers, further complicating the field of USB battery charging. This article discusses the impetus for recent industry standards for USB battery charging and the specifications that each defined. It also presents simple strategies for implementing a USB port capable of high-current charging for a variety of proprietary portable devices.
Amplification of 18 dystrophin gene exons in DMD/BMD patients: simultaneous resolution by capillary electrophoresis in sieving liquid polymers. (1995)

Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophies are the two most common myopathies described so far. In the late 80s, Chamberlain et al. and Beggs et al. proposed two PCR assays allowing detection of over 98% DMD/BMD deletions. Since each of them is based on specific co-amplification of 9 dystrophin gene exons, a method attempting simultaneous analysis of DMD/BMD should offer unambiguous resolution and identification of 18 DNA fragments ranging in size from approximately 100 to 500 bp. We have developed a novel capillary electrophoresis method that allows simultaneous analysis of the two PCR sets with full diagnostic value. It consists of (a) an ultrastable inner capillary coating based on a novel acrylamide monomer (N-acryloyl amino ethoxy ethanol); (b) a very low viscosity (barely 70 mPa) sieving polymer solution, formed by short-chain (average mol wt of 230,000, 55,000 Mn) polyacrylamides; (c) substitution of four fragments in the classical multiplex reaction (181 and 535 bp in the Beggs, 416 and 459 bp in the Chamberlain) with four new fragments of different lengths (170, 313, 154 and 88 bp, respectively). These new conditions allow resolution and unambiguous identification of all 18 PCR-amplified fragments in a single electrophoretic run. The set of 18 fragments comprises the following: 88, 113, 139, 154, 170, 196, 202, 238, 268, 271, 313, 331, 357, 360, 388, 410, 506 and 547 bp.
The Gauss-Seidel fast affine projection algorithm (2003)

In this paper we propose a new stable fast affine projection algorithm based on Gauss-Seidel iterations (GSFAP). We investigate its implementation using the logarithmic number system (LNS) and compare it with two other fast affine projection (FAP) algorithms. Simplified and multi-input GSFAP versions are also proposed. We show that the algorithm is only marginally more complex than NLMS and simpler than other FAP algorithms. Its application for acoustic echo cancellation is also investigated.
Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults, by Household Income and Education — United States, 2011–2014 (2017)

Studies have suggested that obesity prevalence varies by income and educational level, although patterns might differ between high-income and low-income countries (1-3). Previous analyses of U.S. data have shown that the prevalence of obesity varied by income and education, but results were not consistent by sex and race/Hispanic origin (4). Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC analyzed obesity prevalence among adults (aged ≥20 years) by three levels of household income, based on percentage (≤130%, >130% to ≤350%, and >350%) of the federal poverty level (FPL) and individual education level (high school graduate or less, some college, and college graduate). During 2011-2014, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among adults was lower in the highest income group (31.2%) than the other groups (40.8% [>130% to ≤350%] and 39.0% [≤130%]). The age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among college graduates was lower (27.8%) than among those with some college (40.6%) and those who were high school graduates or less (40.0%). The patterns were not consistent across all sex and racial/Hispanic origin subgroups. Continued progress is needed to achieve the Healthy People 2020 targets of reducing age-adjusted obesity prevalence to <30.5% and reducing disparities (5).
Developing an alginate/chitosan hybrid fiber scaffold for annulus fibrosus cells (2007)

A fibrous scaffold made of alginate or alginate/chitosan was fabricated for annulus fibrosus (AF) cell culture using a wet-spinning and lyophilization technique. The scaffolds were evaluated using several in vitro tests. Scanning electron microscopy showed the scaffold fibers generally aligned in one direction with individual fiber diameters varying between 40-100 microm. The alginate/chitosan hybrid scaffold exhibited a slower degradation rate, while both scaffold types did not display any cyto-toxicity to 3T3 fibroblasts and could maintain canine AF cell growth. The AF cells retained their spherical shape within the fibrous scaffold at the beginning of the culture period and formed into cell clusters at later times. Specific extracellular matrix molecules, including collagen I, collagen II, and aggrecan, could be detected in the AF cell clusters. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using this hybrid alginate/chitosan scaffold for AF cell culture, and the potential application for intervertebral disc tissue engineering.
α-Chymotrypsin as the catalyst for peptide synthesis (1977)

alpha-Chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.21.1)-catalysed syntheses of peptides were performed with various N-acylated amino acid or peptide esters as donors, and amino acid derivatives, peptides or their derivatives as acceptors. Under optimal conditions the synthesis was almost quantitative. As acceptor nucleophiles, free amino acids or the ester derivatives were inadequate, but amino acid amides or hydrazides, di- or tri-peptides, or the amides, hydrazides and esters of the peptides were useful. The nucleophile specificity for synthesis was markedly similar to the leaving-group specificity in hydrolysis; hydrophobic or bulky amino acid residues were most effecient at both P1′ and P2′ positions [notation of Schechter & Berger (1967) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 27, 157-162], but L-proline as well as D-amino acid residues were the worst choices. The synthesis was further dependent on the solubility of the products synthesized; a higher yield of products was expected with lower solubility. As donor esters, good substrates were all useful. Accordingly, fragment condensation was possible by using N-acylated peptide esters and various peptides. The present study suggested that alpha-chymotrypsin may become a useful tool for peptide synthesis.
The use of virtual flux estimation in aerospace starter-generator systems (2012)

This study explores how virtual flux estimation may be applied to the grid synchronization of an aerospace S/G system. This technique is used to make the converter more resilient to the grid distortion to be expected on an aircraft distribution bus. The performance of the proposed system is assessed in simulation and hardware. It is demonstrated how using the virtual flux technique the converter is able to maintain synchronization with the grid under the maximum distortion conditions permitted by aerospace power quality standards.
The management of primary chronic subdural haematoma: a questionnaire survey of practice in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (2008)

A wide range of treatment modalities are employed in the treatment of chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH). A rational and evidence-based treatment strategy has the potential to optimise treatment for the individual patient and save resources. The aim of this study was to survey aspects of current practice in the UK and Ireland. A 1-page postal questionnaire addressing the treatment of primary (i.e. not recurrent) CSDH was sent to consultant SBNS members in March 2006. There were 112 responses from 215 questionnaires (52%). The preferred surgical technique was burr hole drainage (92%). Most surgeons prefer not to place a drain, with 27% never using one and 58% using drain only in one-quarter of cases or less. Only 11% of surgeons always place a drain, and only 30% place one in 75% of cases or more. The closed subdural-to-external drainage was most commonly used (91%) with closed subgaleal-to-external and subdural-to-peritoneal conduit used less often (3 and 4%, respectively). Only 5% of responders claimed to know the exact recurrence rate. The average perceived recurrence rate among the surgeons that never use drains and those who always use drains, was the same (both 11%). Most operations are performed by registrars (77%). Postoperative imaging is requested routinely by 32% of respondents and 57% of surgeons prescribe bed rest. Ninety four per cent surgeons employ conservative management in less than one-quarter of cases. Forty-two per cent of surgeons never prescribe steroids, 55% prescribe them to those managed conservatively. This survey demonstrates that there are diverse practices in the management of CSDH. This may be because of sufficiently persuasive evidence either does not exist or is not always taken into account. The current literature provides Class II and III evidence and there is a need for randomized studies to address the role of external drainage, steroids and postoperative bed rest.
High-temperature surface superconductivity in rhombohedral graphite (2013)

Surface superconductivity in rhombohedral graphite is a robust phenomenon which can exist even when higher order hoppings between the layers lift the topological protection of the surface flat band and introduce a quadratic dispersion of electrons with a heavy effective mass. We show that for weak pairing interaction, the flat-band character of the surface superconductivity transforms into a BCS-like relation with high critical temperature characterized by a higher coupling constant due to a much larger density of states than in the bulk. Our results offer an explanation for the recent findings of graphite superconductivity with an unusually high transition temperature.
The Blockade of IL-6 Signaling in Rational Drug Design (2008)

After three decades from the development of the hybridoma technology, a monoclonal antibody-based therapy targeting the inflammatory cytokine has been established as an ultimate treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases. Interleukine-6 (IL-6) is one of the inflammatory cytokines playing a pivotal role in these conditions, and strategies targeting IL-6 signal show promise in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Although many groups have been exploring the approach to block the IL-6 signal, tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody of the IL-6 receptor, has been the most intensively studied agent for clinical use. Clinical trials regarding chronic inflammatory diseases described above have demonstrated efficacy of tocilizumab, however, this treatment has limitations in terms of economic costs and ease of administration, and further advances are necessary to expand the concept of IL-6-specific therapeutics. In this review, we discuss targeting IL-6 in a rational drug design and present the various strategies to achieve this.