gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Miniature bioreactors: current practices and future opportunities. (2006)

This review focuses on the emerging field of miniature bioreactors (MBRs), and examines the way in which they are used to speed up many areas of bioprocessing. MBRs aim to achieve this acceleration as a result of their inherent high-throughput capability, which results from their ability to perform many cell cultivations in parallel. There are several applications for MBRs, ranging from media development and strain improvement to process optimisation. The potential of MBRs for use in these applications will be explained in detail in this review. MBRs are currently based on several existing bioreactor platforms such as shaken devices, stirred-tank reactors and bubble columns. This review will present the advantages and disadvantages of each design together with an appraisal of prototype and commercialised devices developed for parallel operation. Finally we will discuss how MBRs can be used in conjunction with automated robotic systems and other miniature process units to deliver a fully-integrated, high-throughput (HT) solution for cell cultivation process development.
Recording characteristics of perpendicular magnetic media with CoZrNb, NiFeNb, and exchange-pinned NiFeNb soft magnetic underlayers (2003)

The recording performance of perpendicular media with amorphous CoZrNb, nanocrystalline NiFeNb, and exchange-pinned FeMn/NiFeNb soft magnetic underlayers (SULs) has been studied. A method has been proposed to quantify the spike noises from the SUL. We found that media with higher permeability NiFeNb SULs showed 4 db higher signal-to-noise ratio than media with lower permeability CoZrNb SULs. The exchange-pinned NiFeNb SUL suppresses spike noise and offers good recording performance. Furthermore, the recording frequency dependence of dynamic coercivity (Hc) was strongly affected by the use of different SULs. The increase in dynamic Hc with linear density is negligibly small for media with NiFeNb SULs, whereas dynamic Hc sharply increases with increasing density for media with CoZrNb SULs.
Electron-affinic compounds for labelling hypoxic cells: the synthesis and characterization of 1-[2-(2-iodophenoxy)-ethyl]-2-nitroimidazole. (1984)

Highly lipophilic and protein-bound derivatives of 1-(2-phenoxy-ethyl)-2-nitroimidazole (PENI; RGW-609), a known radiosensitizer, have been prepared by introducing one (IPENI) and two (DIPENI) iodine atoms into the phenyl ring via electrophilic substitution. The electron affinity of all 3 compounds, as determined by differential pulse polarography, was similar to that for MISO, a radiosensitizer which has undergone clinical trial, but P values were 2-3 orders of magnitude greater that for MISO and %PB values were as high as 30% in vitro compared to less than 1% for MISO. 131I-PENI was prepared by catalysed halogen exchange with Na131I in greater than 90% yield, and was found to be chemically and radiochemically stable in solution for at least 2 weeks. Whole-body studies in BDF/1 mice bearing EMT-6 tumors showed rapid hepatic extraction and biliary elimination with little or no accumulation in any other tissue including tumor and fat, indicating that P and % PB values had little impact on in vivo distribution and disposition. 131I-PENI was not measurably deiodinated in vivo. IPENI and DIPENI are radiosensitizers by inference only, that is, they have not been tested for radiosensitizer properties. However, PENI, the parent compound, has been shown to be active as a radiosensitizer, and the peak potentials (polarographic) for both IPENI and DIPENI fall near those of MISO, PENI and most other 2-nitroimidazole sensitizers. The low levels of concentration in target tissues achieved by 131I-PENI mitigate against its use as a diagnostic agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Safety and efficacy of lamivudine-zidovudine combination therapy in antiretroviral-naive patients. A randomized controlled comparison with zidovudine monotherapy. Lamivudine European HIV Working Group (1996)

Objective.-To compare safety and efficacy of lamivudine-zidovudine combination therapy with zidovudine monotherapy in treating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected, antiretroviral therapy-naive patients.\nDesign.-Double-blind, randomized, multicenter, comparative trial of 129 patients throughout 24 weeks followed by 24 weeks of open-label lamivudine in combination with zidovudine.\nSetting.-Outpatients from 14 hospitals in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom were enrolled within 6 months.\nPatients.-HIV-1-positive, antiretroviral-naive (less than or equal to 4 weeks prior zidovudine use) patients aged at least 18 years with CD4(+) cell counts between 0.10 x 10(9)/L and 0.40 x 10(9)/L (100-400/mu L).\nIntervention.-Patients received either 300 mg of lamivudine every 12 hours in combination with 200 mg of zidovudine every 8 hours for 24 weeks or zidovudine monotherapy for 24 weeks. All patients were then allowed to receive zidovudine in combination with open-label lamivudine (300 mg every 12 hours).\nMain Outcome Measures.-Efficacy was assessed by changes in CD4(+) cell counts, beta(2)-microglobulin, neopterin, HIV-1 immune-complex dissociated (ICD) p24 antigenemia, and HIV-1 viral load. Safety was assessed by incidence of adverse clinical events and defined laboratory-measured toxic effects.\nResults.-Combination therapy showed superior treatment effects compared with monotherapy during the first 24 weeks as documented by changes in CD4(+) cell counts (increase of 0.08 x 10(9)/L vs 0.02 x 10(9)/L, P<.001), ICD p24 (-88% vs -49%; P=.04), cellular viremia (-1.27 vs -0.20 log(10) median tissue-culture infected dose [TCID50] per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells; P=.001), and viral load measured by HIV-1 RNA polymerase chain reaction using a Roche method (-1.33 vs -0.57 log(10) copies/mL; P=.001) or an immune-capture method (-0.6 vs -0.14 log,, copies/mL; P=.008). Observed changes were sustained to 48 weeks for patients continuing to receive combination therapy. Patients switching to receive combination therapy at week 24 showed improvements in CD4(+) cell count and viral load to week 48. Mutation results suggested that mutations associated with zidovudine resistance may have developed more slowly over the first 24 weeks in patients receiving combination therapy. In contrast, mutations associated with lamivudine resistance appeared to develop rapidly, despite sustained antiviral treatment effect. However, the number of patients evaluated for genotypic changes was small, and confirmation of these results is needed in larger studies. No statistically significant differences in incidence or severity of clinically manifested or laboratory-measured toxic effects were noted between treatment groups.\nConclusions.-The combination of lamivudine and zidovudine results in a potent and sustained antiviral effect in antiretroviral-naive patients that is superior to that observed with zidovudine monotherapy.
Role of B-Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) in Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia. (2005)

Abstract Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a serious and frequently fatal disorder characterized by the production of a monoclonal IgM protein, a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the bone marrow, and associated symptoms including anemia, lymphadenopathy and hyperviscosity. Many of the mechanisms leading to this disease are not yet known. It is clear, however, that there is dysregulation of the balance between cell proliferation and programmed cell death. BLyS (B-lymphocyte stimulator) is a TNF family member expressed by monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. BLyS has been shown to be critical for maintenance of normal B cell development and homeostasis, and has been found to stimulate lymphocyte growth. BLyS is overexpressed in a variety of B-cell malignancies and has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in malignant B-cells. Studies of the effects of BLyS on B cell physiology have shown that it also regulates immunoglobulin secretion. In previous work, we have shown that malignant B cells from patients with WM are able to bind soluble BLyS and variably express the BLyS receptors, BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA. We also found expression of BLyS in bone marrow specimens by immunohistochemistry and elevated serum BLyS levels in patients with WM. The goal of this study was to determine the functional role of BLyS-receptor ligand system in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and its relevance to the increased immunoglobulin production seen in this disease. Using cells from WM patients, we first examined the ability of BLyS to increase the secretion of IgM by malignant B cells. BLyS, alone or in combination with cytokines that induce plasmacytic differentiation and immunoglobulin production (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12), was found to increase IgM secretion by malignant B cells. Mean baseline IgM levels significantly increased in cells treated with BLyS (p=0.03), cytokines (p=0.0002) and a combination of BLyS and cytokines (p<0.0001). We then determined the effect of BLyS on the survival of malignant B cells using Annexin-V/PI staining. Compared to cells cultured in media alone, BLyS was found to increase viability of malignant B cells from WM patients. Cell viability was normalized relative to the media-alone control and the median relative viability increased significantly compared to controls (median increase 41.2%; range 8 – 46%). Next, we examined the ability of BLyS to modulate cell proliferation using thymidine incorporation. Using WM patient samples, BLyS was found to significantly enhance the proliferation of malignant B cells (p=0.0002). Furthermore, addition of anti-Ig antibody further enhanced the ability of BLyS to promote the proliferation of malignant B cells (p<0.0001). In summary, we have demonstrated that BLyS enhances IgM secretion by malignant B cells from patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. We have also demonstrated the ability of BLyS to enhance the survival and proliferation of malignant B cells. Strategies to inhibit BLyS may potentially have therapeutic efficacy in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia.
Dynamic Shader Generation for GPU-Based Multi-Volume Ray Casting (2008)

Real-time performance for rendering multiple intersecting volumetric objects requires the speed and flexibility of modern GPUs. This requirement has restricted programming of the necessary shaders to GPU experts only. A visualization system that dynamically generates GPU shaders for multi-volume ray casting from a user-definable abstract render graph overcomes this limitation.
Aragón en la vida y en la pintura de Marcelina Poncela (2017)

espanolEste articulo trata de dar a conocer la obra que realizo la pintora Marcelina Poncela en Aragon a partir de 1894, region en la que paso los veranos a raiz de su matrimonio con Enrique Jardiel Agustin, natural de Quinto de Ebro y lugar donde fallecio, el 31 de Julio de 1917, y donde esta enterrada. Este ano se conmemora el centenario de su fallecimiento EnglishThis paper discusses the work made by painter Marcelina Poncela (1864-1917) in Aragon from 1894, where she used to spend every summer following her marriage with Enrique Jardiel Agustin, a native of Quinto de Ebro, place where she died on July 31, 1917 (she is buried there). This year marks the centenary of her death.
Path Planning for Unmanned Air and Ground Vehicles in Urban Environments (2008)

Unmanned vehicle systems, specifically unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), have become a popular research topic. This thesis discusses the potential of a UAV-UGV system used to track a human moving through complex urban terrain. This research focuses on path planning problems for both a UAV and a UGV, and presents effective solutions for both problems. In the UAV path planning problem, we desire to plan a path for a miniature fixed-wing UAV to fly through known urban terrain without colliding with any buildings. We present the Waypoint RRT (WRRT) algorithm, which accounts for UAV dynamics while planning a flyable, collision-free waypoint path for a UAV in urban terrain. Results show that this method is fast and robust, and is able to plan paths in difficult urban environments and other terrain maps as well. Simulation and hardware tests demonstrate that these paths are indeed flyable by a UAV. The UGV path planning problem focuses on planning a path to capture a moving target in an urban grid. We discuss using a target motion model based on Markov chains to predict future target locations. We then introduce the Capture and Propagate algorithm, which uses this target motion model to determine the probabilities of capturing the target in various numbers of steps and with various initial UGV moves. By applying some different cost functions, the result of this algorithm is used to choose an optimal first step for the UGV. Results demonstrate that this algorithm is at least as effective as planning a path directly to the current location of the target, and that in many cases, this algorithm performs better. We discuss these cases and verify them with simulation results.
Adjacent Upstream Activation Sequence Elements Synergistically Regulate Transcription of <i>ADH2</i> in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> (1989)

A 22-base-pair (bp) inverted repeat present in the ADH2 promoter is an upstream activation sequence (UAS1) which confers ADR1-dependent activation upon a heterologous Saccharomyces cerevisiae promoter. UAS1 was nonfunctional when placed within an intron 3' to the transcription start site. The 11-bp sequence which constitutes one-half of the UAS1 palindrome did not activate transcription in a single copy, as direct repeats, or in an inverted orientation opposite to that of ADH2 UAS1. Furthermore, two pairs of symmetrical point mutations within UAS1 significantly reduced activation. This result suggests that a specific orientation of sequences within UAS1 is necessary for ADR1-dependent activation. We determined that an ADR1-dependent complex was formed with UAS1 and, to a lesser extent, with the nonfunctional 11-bp half palindrome. However, the 11 bp did not confer UAS activity, suggesting that ADR1 binding is not sufficient for activation in vivo. ADR1 did not bind to mutant UAS1 sequences in vitro, indicating that their decreased activation is attributable to a reduced affinity of ADR1 for these sequences. We also identified an additional 20-bp ADH2 element (UAS2) that increased the expression of CYC1-lacZ 20-fold when combined with UAS1. UAS2 permitted ADR1-independent, glucose-regulated expression of the hybrid gene. Consistent with this observation, ADR1 did not form a detectable complex with UAS2. Deletion of UAS2 at the chromosomal ADH2 locus virtually abolished ADH2 derepression and had no effect on glucose repression.
Control and Power Management of Converter Fed Microgrids (2008)

This paper presents a voltage-power droop/frequency-reactive power boost (VPD/FQB) control scheme that allows multiple voltage source converters (VSCs) to operate in parallel in a VSC fed microgrid. Each current controlled VSC in such a microgrid has its own VPD/FQB controller that sets its current references to regulate the voltage and frequency of a common microgrid bus. By drooping the voltage reference of each controller against its real power output, multiple VPD/FQB controllers jointly regulate the microgrid voltage while sharing a common load power in proportion to a predetermined ratio. Similarly, by boosting the frequency reference of each controller against its reactive power output, multiple VPD/FQB controllers jointly regulate the microgrid frequency while sharing the reactive load in proportion to a predetermined ratio. The proposed control scheme can also operate in grid connected mode. Experimental results are provided to validate the VPD/FQB control scheme.
Gas−Liquid Equilibrium in a CO<sub>2</sub>−MDEA−H<sub>2</sub>O System and the Effect of Piperazine on It (1998)

Solubility data of CO2 and vapor pressure of water in 3.04−4.28 kmol/m3 aqueous N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) solutions were obtained at temperatures ranging from 40 to 100 °C and CO2 partial pressures ranging from 0.876 to 1013 kPa. A thermodynamic model was proposed and used for predicting CO2 solubility and water vapor pressure. An enthalpy change of absorption of CO2 in 4.28 kmol/m3 MDEA solution was estimated. The effect of piperazine (PZ) concentration on CO2 loading in MDEA solutions was determined at piperazine concentration ranging from 0 to 0.515 kmol/m3. The results show that piperazine is beneficial to the CO2 loading. The equilibrium partial pressure of piperazine in the PZ−MDEA−H2O system was measured in an Ellis Cell. Results show that the PZ−MDEA−H2O system is a typical negative deviation system, with the strength of deviation decreasing with MDEA solutions.
Novel short‐circuit protection technique for DC–DC buck converters (2013)

This study presents a novel short‐circuit protection technique for DC–DC buck converters. The required short‐circuit operating frequency is derived in order to avoid the effect of inherent propagation delay in the controller and power transistors. In this design, the short‐circuit switching frequency is approximately 31% of the normal value. Simultaneously, the peak current limit is decreased to about 40% of the normal value to lower the power dissipation when a short‐circuit event occurs. Once the fault condition is removed, the converters can automatically return to normal operation smoothly by clamping the soft‐start signal using the feedback voltage of the output. A buck converter with the proposed technique has been successfully simulated and verified by a 0.6‐μm CDMOS technology. The simulation results show that the power loss is only 17.1% of the constant current limit during the prolonged short‐circuit situation, which significantly enhances the reliability of the chip. Furthermore, the converter is able to achieve smooth self‐recovery as soon as the fault status is released.
Direct cardiac actions of erythropoietin (EPO): effects on cardiac contractility, BNP secretion and ischaemia/reperfusion injury (2008)

EPO (erythropoietin) has recently been shown to have protective actions upon the myocardium; however, the direct effects of EPO upon cardiac contractile and secretory functions are unknown and the signalling mechanisms are not well defined. In the present study, we provide the first evidence of direct cardiac contractile actions of EPO. In isolated perfused Sprague-Dawley rat hearts, a 30 min infusion of EPO significantly increased contractility in a dose-dependent fashion (maximal change 18+/-2% with 1 unit/ml EPO; P<0.005 compared with vehicle). Perfusate ET-1 (endothelin-1) increased transiently during EPO infusion, and the ET(A/)ET(B) antagonist bosentan abolished the inotropic response to EPO. BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) secretion (28+/-8%; P<0.05) and nuclear transcription factor GATA-4 DNA-binding activity (51%; P<0.05) were both significantly increased by EPO and blocked by bosentan. In a model of global ischaemic injury, delivery of 1 unit/ml EPO during reperfusion significantly attenuated creatine kinase release (28+/-12%; P<0.05) and significantly improved contractile recovery (P<0.001), independent of ET(A) blockade. Apoptotic indices [assessed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling)/cleaved caspase-3-positive cells] were significantly decreased (P<0.01) by 1 unit/ml EPO during reperfusion alone, coincident with significantly increased phosphorylation of myocardial JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) and STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). Thus EPO directly enhances cardiac contractility and BNP secretion and alleviates ischemia/reperfusion injury via ET-1-dependent and -independent mechanisms respectively.
New aspects of HLA: perspectives for rheumatoid arthritis. (1992)

The association of several HLA class II alleles with genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suggests a model in which a three-dimensional conformation of the DR molecule represents the key disease susceptibility element. However, recently found new genes of the HLA-D region may contribute additionally to the susceptibility in particular of genes coding for proteases and transporter channels. Since expression of the class II molecule is a common feature of the autoimmunity process, regulatory polymorphisms of the class II genes may influence the antigen-presenting capacity of the cells. The role of the invariant chain, a 31 kD protein associated with the alpha beta complex, is emphasized in antigen presentation and may provide new insights into the pathogenesis and therapy of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis.
Overexpression of Acid Sphingomyelinase Sensitizes Glioma Cells to Chemotherapy (2007)

Ceramide has been shown by many studies to induce apoptosis. Therefore, upregulation of ceramide is discussed as a novel approach for tumor treatment. However, it is unknown whether overexpression of acid sphingomyelinase releasing ceramide from sphingomyelin sensitizes cells to chemotherapy and, thus, serves as a potential target to amplify chemotherapy. Here, the authors demonstrate that transfection of human or murine glioma cells with acid sphingomyelinase results in a marked sensitization of glioma cells to gemcitabine and doxorubicin, respectively. Transfected cells responded to chemotherapy with an increased activation of acid sphingomyelinase, elevated ceramide levels, and approximately fourfold higher rates of cell death than control transfected cells. Neutralization of reactive oxygen species prevented these events. The data indicate a significant sensitization of glioma cells to chemotherapy treatment by expression of acid sphingomyelinase and further suggest an activation of acid sphingomyelinase by gemcitabine or doxorubicin, respectively, via reactive oxygen species.
Rare, outlier and extreme: beyond the Gaussian model and measures (2012)

Probability models for rare, outlier and extreme outcomes are different than the Gaussian (normal) distribution commonly used in management research. This paper illustrates the theoretical basis and implementation of these concepts. One example uses data on organisational size and compensation of CEOs in large US corporations in order to illustrate rare and outlier outcomes. Models that fit the data on these variables are very different than the Gaussian distribution, so mean, standard deviation and correlation are useless here. Another example uses data collected from business executives' economic forecasts shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to illustrate how to identify extreme outcomes and a Bayesian approach for inferring relationship between extreme outcomes and strategy type. Differentiations between extremes and rares are illustrated using data simulated by a Monte Carlo method. Visualisation of fit of a model for data by Q-Q plot and discussion of distributional testing precedes some concluding remarks.