gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Mode of Action of a Soluble Immune Response Suppressor (Sirs) Produced by Concanavalin A-Activated Spleen Cells (1978)

The cellular site of action of SIRS, a soluble immune response suppressor released by Con A-activated spleen cells which suppresses antibody responses to heterologous erythrocytes by murine spleen cells in vitro, was investigated. Exposure of spleen cells to SIRS for 2 hr at 37 degrees C or 1 hr at 4 degrees C was sufficient to suppress 5-day antibody responses in vitro. Similar exposure of splenic or peritoneal exudate macrophages to SIRS also suppressed antibody responses by untreated splenic lymphoid cells; exposure of splenic lymphoid cells to SIRS was without effect. SIRS did not act via T cells which might have contaminated the macrophage preparations. SIRS-mediated suppression could be partially overcome by an excess of normal peritoneal exudate macrophages, but not by an excess of T or B cells. These data indicate that the target cell of SIRS activity is the macrophage. The results are discussed in the context of macrophage functions that could be affected by SIRS.
Image segmentation and shape analysis of blood vessels with applications to coronary atherosclerosis. (2007)

Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease of the vessel wall that occurs in the aorta, carotid, coronary and peripheral arteries. Atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries may cause the narrowing (stenosis) or complete occlusion of the arteries and lead to serious results such as heart attacks and strokes. Medical imaging techniques such as X-ray angiography and computed tomography angiography (CTA) have greatly assisted the diagnosis of atherosclerosis in living patients. Analyzing and quantifying vessels in these images, however, is an extremely laborious and time consuming task if done manually. A novel image segmentation approach and a quantitative shape analysis approach are proposed to automatically isolate the coronary arteries and measure important parameters along the vessels. The segmentation method is based on the active contour model using the level set formulation. Regional statistical information is incorporated in the framework through Bayesian pixel classification. A new conformal factor and an adaptive speed term are proposed to counter the problems of contour leakage and narrowed vessels resulting from the conventional geometric active contours. The proposed segmentation framework is tested and evaluated on a large amount of 2D and 3D, including synthetic and real 2D vessels, 2D non-vessel objects, and eighteen 3D clinical CTA datasets of coronary arteries. The centerlines of the vessels are proposed to be extracted using harmonic skeletonization technique based on the level contour sets of the harmonic function, which is the solution of the Laplace equation on the triangulated surface of the segmented vessels. The cross-sectional areas along the vessels can be measured while the centerline is being extracted. Local cross-sectional areas can be used as a direct indicator of stenosis for diagnosis. A comprehensive validation is performed by using digital phantoms and real CTA datasets. This study provides the possibility of fully automatic analysis of coronary atherosclerosis from CTA images, and has the potential to be used in a real clinical setting along with a friendly user interface. Comparing to the manual segmentation which takes approximately an hour for a single dataset, the automatic approach on average takes less than five minutes to complete, and gives more consistent results across datasets.
Fast and accurate edge orientation processing during object manipulation (2018)

Quickly and accurately extracting information about a touched object's orientation is a critical aspect of dexterous object manipulation. However, the speed and acuity of tactile edge orientation processing with respect to the fingertips as reported in previous perceptual studies appear inadequate in these respects. Here we directly establish the tactile system's capacity to process edge-orientation information during dexterous manipulation. Participants extracted tactile information about edge orientation very quickly, using it within 200 ms of first touching the object. Participants were also strikingly accurate. With edges spanning the entire fingertip, edge-orientation resolution was better than 3° in our object manipulation task, which is several times better than reported in previous perceptual studies. Performance remained impressive even with edges as short as 2 mm, consistent with our ability to precisely manipulate very small objects. Taken together, our results radically redefine the spatial processing capacity of the tactile system.
Complete amino acid sequence of the neurone‐specific γ isozyme of enolase (NSE) from human brain and comparison with the non‐neuronal α form (NNE) (1988)

The complete amino acid sequence (433 residues) of the human neurone-specific gamma isozyme of enolase (NSE) has been determined by a combination of direct amino acid sequencing and nucleotide sequencing of cloned cDNA. Substantial amino acid sequence of the non-neuronal alpha form of the enzyme was also obtained which agreed almost entirely with the indirect cDNA sequence. Comparison of the two human sequences shows no insertions or deletions, but 72 replacements. Comparison of the human gamma form with the corresponding isozyme from the rat shows only 7 replacements (compared to 27 changes between the human and rat alpha isozymes). We have identified regions of sequence difference between the human alpha and gamma forms that are mainly hydrophilic in character (residues 271-285, 298-316 and 416-433). These residues are on the surface of the three-dimensional structure and could be useful as immunogens to produce antibodies specific for the neurone-specific form.
A photonic ADC for radar and EW applications based on modelocked laser (2008)

This paper presents a WDM architecture of a photonic analogue to digital converter (ADC) for direct RF sampling in radar and EW digital receiver, the architecture is based on the parallel operation of an array of state-of-the-art electronic ADCs while the photonic sampling is achieved using a mode locked laser (MLL). The parallelisation is implemented through a novel technique for the slicing of the optical spectrum and the time interleaving of the colored pulses. A high dynamic range by bandwidth product of the ADC can be obtained. The MLL overcomes the jitter limitation in conventional electronic quartz references in electronic ADCs and can be also fiber optic distributed as reference clock for the Radar Tx and Rx functions. The test realized on the prototype is reported demonstrating a 5 Gbps sampling rate ADC.
The frequency range of the voice fundamental in the speech of male and female adults (1993)

Published data on the frequency of the voice fundamental (F0) in speech show its range of variation, often expressed in terms of two standard deviations (SD) of the F0-distribution, to be approximately the same for men and women if expressed in semitones, but the observed SD varies substantially between different investigations. Most of the differences can be attributed to the following factors: SD is increased in tone languages and it varies with the type of discourse. The more ‘lively ’ the type of discourse, the larger it is. The dependence of SD on the type of discourse tends to be mom pronounced in the speech of women than of men. Based on an analysis of various production data A is shown that speakers normally achieve an increased SD by increasing the excursions of F0 from a ‘base-value ’ that lies about 1.5 SD below their mean F0. This is relevant to applications in speech technology as well as to general theories of speech communication such as the ‘modulation theory ’ in which the base-value of F0 is seen as a carrier frequency.
A delivery system for protein and peptide‐based therapeutics to treat preeclampsia (2013)

Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal, fetal, and perinatal morbidity and mortality. There is currently no effective intervention for preeclampsia short of induced delivery of the fetus, which is why it is also a leading cause of premature birth. Failure of the maternal vasculature to adequately remodel during placental formation leads to a state of hypoxia/ischemia. In response, the placenta produces pathogenic factors, especially the VEGF antagonist sFlt‐1, inflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Development of new therapies for preeclampsia, including therapies targeted to these pathways, has been hampered by dose‐limiting fetal toxicity. We have developed a drug delivery system capable of stabilizing therapeutic agents in the maternal circulation while excluding them from the fetal circulation. This system utilizes a polypeptide carrier based on Elastin‐like polypeptide (ELP) fused to therapeutic peptides or proteins specifically targeting each of the above mentioned pathways. Here we present in vitro evidence for the restoration of angiogenic activity with ELP‐delivered VEGF, inhibition of the inflammatory response with an NF‐κB inhibitory polypeptide, and inhibition of hypoxia‐induced ROS with a NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitory polypeptide. These data suggest the therapies could be a novel approach for preeclampsia management.
Why do Overseas Trainees Fail? (1986)

Do overseas graduates fail the MRCPsych exam more than indigenous graduates; if so, why? After passing the MRCPsych exam, do overseas graduates do less well in their career: if so, why? A trainees' forum was held at the College Quarterly Meeting in February 1985 to try to provide some answers to these questions. Professor Cawley (Chief Examiner) presented comparative data regarding failure in the MRCPsych. Dr Bhate (Chairman, Overseas Trainees' Sub-Committee, OTSC) gave preliminary results on the OTSC's career survey of all successful MRCPsych candidates from November 1981 and April 1982. Dr Julie Hollyman (Chairman, Collegiate Trainees' Committee, CTC) chaired the forum which was attended by an audience including examiners, consultants and trainees.
Purification of major glucosinolates from <i>Brassicaceae</i> seeds and preparation of isothiocyanate and amine metabolites (2006)

Abstract Consumption of Brassica vegetables containing glucosinolates is associated with decreased risk of cancer at several tissue sites. Studies of the relative potency and metabolism of the major dietary isothiocyanates have been hindered by limited availability of high‐purity isothiocyanates and their glucosinolate precursors. We describe a simple procedure for the preparation of glucosinolates sinigrin, gluconapin, progoitrin, glucoiberin, glucoraphanin, glucoalyssin and gluconasturtiin from vegetable seeds. Glucosinolates were extracted from the seeds of mustard, oilseed, broccoli, cauliflower and winter cress. Purification by preparative anion exchange and reversed‐phase column chromatography gave the pure glucosinolates. Good separation was achieved without using ion‐pair reagents. Related isothiocyanates and amine degradation products were prepared by myrosinase‐catalysed hydrolysis of the corresponding glucosinolate and by organic synthesis, respectively. The compounds were characterized by analytical HPLC, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. Optimized conditions for detection and quantitation of these glucosinolates and metabolites by LC‐MS/MS are also given. Large‐scale glucosinolate preparation could be performed, giving amounts suitable for pharmacological evaluation in vivo . These methods will facilitate studies of the pharmacological activity and metabolism of dietary glucosinolates. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
The binomial test: a simple tool to identify process problems (1995)

The yield distribution of a batch of wafers is an indicator of the type and behavior of defect sources in the manufacturing process. In a stable process, defects generated by these sources are evenly and randomly distributed, repetitive from wafer-to-wafer. The yield distribution of wafers manufactured in such an environment follows the binomial distribution. If, on the other hand, wafers contain defects with systematic patterns that repeat from wafer-to-wafer, the yield distribution tends to be narrower than the binomial distribution. For defect sources that generate systematic wafer-to-wafer variations, the yield distribution widens if compared with the binomial distribution. The binomial distribution can be calculated from the mean yield and the number of dice per wafer. Thus, comparing the actual yield distribution with the corresponding binomial distribution (binomial test) gives the yield improvement engineer a simple first-order indicator of the behavior of defect sources. Since wafer yield data is routinely available from functional production tests, the binomial test can be performed with existing data. This paper describes the principle and use of the binomial test using visual analysis on graphical yield plots of simulated and actual production wafers.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Stochastic VM Multiplexing for Datacenter Consolidation (2012)

Virtual machine (VM) placement for Datacenter (DC) consolidation is a challenging problem, particularly in the face of VM workload fluctuation. In this paper, we present a stochastic model for optimization of DC consolidation and propose intelligent strategies for statistical VM multiplexing on physical machines (PMs) to ensure optimal use of hardware resources, while providing a service guarantee. We have provided an optimal strategy by modeling and solving the problem as a stochastic integer programming problem followed by a more scalable strategy based on a greedy heuristic. Extensive simulation based experimental results show that the strategies are more efficient in resource utilization while providing bounded service guarantees, than the traditional way of VM placement without any consideration to workload fluctuation.
Simulation and dose uniformity analysis of plasma based ion implantation (2005)

Plasma based ion implantation for a planar target was simulated using the particle-in-cell model. The plasma sheath evolution and the ion implantation details (the incident ion flux, the ion impact angle and the ion impact energy) were studied for targets with different sizes, with an aim to investigate the dependence of dose uniformity on target size. The effect of plasma density and pulse width on dose distribution was studied as a plus. The simulation results show that a larger target leads to a faster and less cylindrical sheath expansion. By increasing the target size, a more uniform distribution of incident ion flux can be obtained and the normal impact effect can be improved, while the distribution of impact energy is slightly influenced. As a result, the ion implantation dose presents a better uniformity on a larger target. By increasing plasma density or pulse width, we get a higher ion implantation dose but worse dose uniformity.
Identification of Equivalent Residues in the γ, δ, and ε Subunits of the Nicotinic Receptor That Contribute to α-Bungarotoxin Binding (1997)

Cysteine was introduced from residues 116 to 121 of the gamma subunit of the fetal mouse acetylcholine receptor, and the mutant receptors were treated with methanethiosulfonate reagents and examined for changes in ligand binding properties. Of the 18 combinations of mutant and reagent, only receptors harboring gammaL119C treated with the quaternary ammonium reagent MTSET (trimethylammonium-ethyl methanethiosulfonate) show a decreased number of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-btx) sites. The decrease of 50% suggests that alpha-btx binding to the site harboring gammaL119C is blocked. Analysis of binding of the site-selective ligands dimethyl-d-tubocurarine (DMT) and alpha-conotoxin M1 (CTX) confirm specificity of modification for the site harboring gammaL119C. Cysteines placed at equivalent positions of the delta and epsilon subunits also lead to selective loss of alpha-btx binding following MTSET treatment. gammaL119C receptors treated with the primary amine reagent MTSEA (aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate) retain alpha-btx binding to both sites but show reduced affinity for DMT and CTX at the modified site. Lysine mutagenesis of Leugamma119, Leudelta121, and Leuepsilon119 mimics MTSEA treatment, whereas mutagenesis of Thralpha119 and Glnbeta119 is without effect, demonstrating subunit and residue specificity of MTSEA modification. MTSET modification of nearby gammaY117C does not block alpha-btx binding but markedly diminishes affinity for DMT and CTX. The overall findings indicate a localized point of interaction between alpha-btx and the modified gammaL119C, deltaL121C, and epsilonL119C.
The brain language : psychotrauma spectrum disorder and cybernetics detection of disease conditions and comorbidities (2015)

Pas de résumé en français
Genetic Algorithms and Artificial Life (1994)

Genetic algorithms are computational models of evolution that play a central role in many artificial-life models. We review the history and current scope of research on genetic algorithms in artificial life, giving illustrative examples in which the genetic algorithm is used to study how learning and evolution interact, and to model ecosystems, immune system, cognitive systems, and social systems. We also outline a number of open questions and future directions for genetic algorithms in artificial-life research.
Head Injury in Facial Impact—A Finite Element Analysis of Helmet Chin Bar Performance (2000)

The chin bar of a motorcycle helmet protects the rider from facial and head injuries. To evaluate the protective performance of chin bars against head injuries from facial impacts, an explicit finite element method was used to simulate the Snell Memorial Foundation test and a proposed drop test. The maximum acceleration and Head Injury Criterion (HIC) were employed to assess the impact-absorbing capability of the chin bar. The results showed that the proposed approach should be more practical than the Snell test, and provided more information for improving the chin bar design to protect against head injuries. The shell stiffness was important in determining the protective ability of the chin bar, but a chin bar with only an outer shell and comfort foam offered inadequate protection. An energy-absorbing liner was essential to increase the protective performance of the chin bar and the liner density should be denser than that used in the cranial portion of the helmet. For the chin bar with energy-absorbing liner, a shell design that is less stiff would provide better protection.
Continuous blood densitometry: fluid shifts after graded hemorrhage in animals (1986)

To evaluate rapid fluid shifts after graded hemorrhage in splenectomized animals, four pigs and two dogs were bled 15-23 ml/kg body wt in steps of 2.2-6.0 ml/kg. Arterial blood density (BD), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and central venous pressure (CVP) were recorded continuously, and arterial plasma density (PD) and hematocrit (Hct) were determined from blood samples. Erythrocyte density was computed from PD, BD, and Hct. Starting with stable control conditions, MAP, CVP, and BD fell from the beginning of hemorrhage. Each blood withdrawal was followed by an immediate and rapid decrease in BD, even at the lowest (less than 3 ml/kg) initial blood losses. The time course of BD change mirrored that of the volume replacement, with time constants of 3.0-9.6 min and amplitudes depending on the magnitude of the relative volume loss. The PD decrease was significant (P less than 0.01) after 5.4 +/- 0.7 ml/kg hemorrhage. At 15 ml/kg blood loss the mean PD and BD had dropped by 0.99 +/- 0.15 and 2.42 +/- 0.26 g/l, respectively, and Hct had dropped by 2.40 +/- 0.47 units. Calculations suggest that either the inward-shifted fluid has a higher density than normal ultrafiltrate and/or there is a rise of the whole-body-to-large vessel Hct (F cell ratio). The rapid fluid replacement ranged from 5.8 +/- 0.8 to 10.6 +/- 2.0% of the initial plasma volume, or one-fifth to one-third of the lost volume with a 20% hemorrhage. Transvascular fluid shifts can be monitored with continuous high-precision blood densitometry.
The MUC5B Variant Is Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis but Not with Systemic Sclerosis Interstitial Lung Disease in the European Caucasian Population (2013)

A polymorphism on the MUC5B promoter (rs35705950) has been associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) but not with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with interstitial lung disease (ILD). We genotyped the MUC5B promoter in the first 142 patients of the French national prospective cohort of IPF, in 981 French patients with SSc (346 ILD), 598 Italian patients with SSc (207 ILD), 1383 French controls and 494 Italian controls. A meta-analysis was performed including all American data available. The T risk allele was present in 41.9% of the IPF patients, 10.8% of the controls (P = 2 × 10(-44)), OR 6.3 [4.6-8.7] for heterozygous patients and OR 21.7 [10.4-45.3] for homozygous patients. Prevalence of the T allele was not modified according to age, gender, smoking in IPF patients. However, none of the black patients with IPF presented the T allele. The prevalence of the T risk allele was similar between French (10%) and Italian (12%) cohorts of SSc whatever the presence of an ILD (11.1% and 13.5%, respectively). Meta-analysis confirmed the similarity between French, Italian and American cohorts of IPF or SSc-ILD. This study confirms 1) an association between the T allele risk and IPF, 2) an absence of association with SSc-ILD, suggesting different pathophysiology.
Heterologous Expression of<i>Trypanosoma cruzi trans</i>-Sialidase in<i>Leishmania major</i>Enhances Virulence (2000)

Earlier studies showed that mice primed for a few hours with the trans-sialidase (TS) of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, become highly susceptible to trypanosomal infection. These studies suggest that TS affects parasite virulence independent of antigenic stimulation. Potentially, TS could enhance or reduce the virulence of heterologous microbes depending on the mechanism of TS action and on the type of immune response elicited by the particular parasite. We tested this hypothesis by expressing heterologous TS in Leishmania major, a protozoan parasite that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis and lacks TS and the TS product alpha2-3-linked sialic acid. Leishmania cells transfected with a T. cruzi TS expression construct made high levels of active enzyme, which was present in the promastigotes and shed into the extracellular milieu. TS expression did not affect L. major binding to and entry into cultured macrophages or its tropism for macrophage infection in vivo. However, TS-expressing L. major exhibited elevated virulence in BALB/c mice, as determined by lesion progression, parasite numbers, and macro- and microscopic examination of cutaneous lesions. Several genetic tests proved that the enhanced virulence was directly attributable to TS expression. The results are consistent with TS functioning to sabotage the mouse immune system to confer a growth advantage on T. cruzi and transgenic L. major. These data suggest that heterologous expression of T. cruzi virulence factors in Leishmania may provide a new approach for dissecting their function in vivo.
Wiener estimation method in estimating of spectral reflectance from RGB images (2007)

Color is one of the most important features in digital images. The representation of color in digital form with a three-component image (RGB) is not very accurate, hence the use of a multiple-component spectral image is justified. At the moment, acquiring a spectral image is not as easy and as fast as acquiring a conventional three-component image. One answer to this problem is to use a regular digital RGB camera and estimate its RGB image into a spectral image by the Wiener estimation method, which is based on the use of a priori knowledge. In this paper, the Wiener estimation method is used to estimate the spectra of icons. The experimental results of the spectral estimation are presented.