gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Immunological Defects after Suicide Gene Therapy of Experimental Graft-versus-Host Disease (1999)

Donor T cells are beneficial for engraftment, immune reconstitution, and antileukemic effects after allogeneic marrow transplantation, but they also cause graft-versus-host disease. Treatment with ganciclovir can control graft-versus-host disease if donor T cells are genetically engineered to express viral thymidine kinase. Clinical protocols with thymidine kinase-expressing T cells currently prescribe the curative use of ganciclovir for genetic immunosuppression only after clinical manifestations of graft-versus-host disease have appeared. The aim of this work was to compare early/preventive versus delayed/curative treatment of GVHD. Here, we found that ganciclovir administered early after experimental marrow transplantation was highly effective in preventing graft-versus-host disease caused by thymidine kinase-expressing T cells, and surviving recipient mice were able to mount a T cell-dependent B cell response. In contrast, curative ganciclovir administration later after transplantation was much less effective in treating graft-versus-host disease and surviving recipients had markedly impaired immune function. These findings should be considered in the development of future clinical trials using thymidine kinase-expressing T cells; to date, such trials have envisaged the use of GCV to treat only declared graft-versus-host disease. The use of thymidine kinase-expressing T cells for conditional elimination of activated T cells after allogeneic marrow transplantation offers a promising new approach for the control of graft-versus-host disease. The versatility of the thymidine kinase/ganciclovir system offers clinical options depending on whether thymidine kinase-expressing T cells are infused at the time of bone marrow transplantation or in a delayed manner, and depending on whether GCV is administered in an early/preventive or delayed/curative manner. The rationale underlying these options is more complex than it may appear and is likely to have a profound impact on the efficacy of such treatments. In the present work, we analyze the immunological impact when GCV is administered in an early/preventive or delayed/curative manner. Our results demonstrate that the delayed/curative strategy is clearly associated with severe immunological defects. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immunodeficiency subsequent to suicide gene therapy for GVHD.
Case 13-1991 (1991)

Presentation of CaseA 63-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a diagnosis of pneumonia of the right lower lobe, complicated by coronary artery disease, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation, trachel intubation, and cardiac resuscitation.There was a history of severe coronary artery disease, with multiple myocardial infarcts, poor left ventricular function, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The patient was maintained on ethacrynic acid, supplemental potassium salts, isosorbide dinitrate, captopril, and diltiazem. She was in her customary state of health until about 10 days before entry, when she experienced the onset of a productive cough, . . .
Rapid Identification of <i>Yersinia enterocolitica</i> in Blood by the 5′ Nuclease PCR Assay (2000)

Yersinia enterocolitica accounts for 50% of the clinical sepsis episodes caused by the transfusion of contaminated red blood cells. A 5' nuclease TaqMan PCR assay was developed to detect Y. enterocolitica in blood. Primers and a probe based on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene from Y. enterocolitica were designed. Whole-blood samples were spiked with various numbers of Y. enterocolitica cells, and total chromosomal DNA was extracted. When the TaqMan PCR assay was performed, as few as six bacteria spiked in 200 microliter of blood could be detected. The assay was specific and did not detect other Yersinia species. The TaqMan assay is easy to perform, takes 2 h, and has the potential for use in the rapid detection of Y. enterocolitica contamination in stored blood units.
Estimation of the $T_4$ Binding Capacity of Serum Thyroxine Binding Globulin (1973)

The most commonly used methods for determining thyroxine binding globulin(TBG) concentration as the total thyroxine-binding capacity utilize electrophoretic seperation of serum. Although technically simple, the electrophoretic method is time consuming and is limited in the number of samples which can be run in a single assay. The author presented a single load ion exchange resin method as an approach to simplify the technique as with clinical practicability and results were analyzed. For construction of the standard curves, serum mixtures were diluted with barbital buffer.which effectively blocked -binding to TBPA. For each serum dilution, a constant amount of and increments of unlabelled were added. After incubation in water bath, resin beads were dispensed to the samples which binded all not bound to TBG. The radioactivity in the supernatant was counted in the gamma scintillation counter. Each standard curve was plotted from the percent counts in the supernatant and total in each tube. Unknown samples were diluted to 1:40 and ran at a single loading concentration, and the TBG capacity of the samples was able to be read on the standard isobars. The following results were obtained. 1) Mean and standard deviation for TBG capacity in normal population was . 2) in hyperthyroidism showed low TBG capacity comparing to normal population.(p in hypothyroidism showed high TBG capacity tendency comparing to normal population. 4) Reversed correlationship existed between TBG capacity and resin uptake(r=-0.624), TBG capacity and serum value (r=-0.859), and TBG capacity and free thyroxine index(r=-0.623). The author assumes that this method of assay is considerably simpler in instrumentation and technique than any other assays traditionally being used, and seems to be more practical for routine clinical laboratory use.
Nonlinear depth representation for 3D video coding (2013)

The paper deals with nonlinear transformations of depth-sample values and their applications to multiview-plus-depth video coding. It is proposed to apply such a transformation prior to depth coding. For this transformation, the experiments demonstrate improved quality of the virtual views that are synthesized with use of the decoded depth. Such experiments were made for two versions of the prospective extensions of the Advanced Video Coding (MPEG-4 part 10, ITU-T Rec. H.264). standard. The experimental results are given for the scenario where multiview video is encoded independently from depth and also for the scenario where multiview video is coded jointly with depth.
Advances in Electrochemical Compression of Hydrogen (2014)

This paper evaluates the potential for electrochemical hydrogen compression systems (EHCs) regarding their engineering performance, manufacturability, and capital costs. EHCs could enhance or replace mechanical hydrogen compressors. The physical embodiment of EHCs is similar to that of low temperature (LT) proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems (FCSs). They also share common operating principles with LT PEM FCS and with PEM electrolysis systems. Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA™) analysis is applied to EHCs to identify manufactured designs, manufacturing methods, projected capital costs under mass-production, and cost drivers for both the EHC stack and the balance of plant (BOP). DFMA™ analysis reveals that EHC stack costs are expected to be roughly equal to EHC BOP costs, under a variety of scenarios. (Total EHC system costs are the sum of stack and BOP costs.) Within the BOP, the primary cost driver is the electrical power supply. Within the stack, the primary cost drivers include the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the stamped bipolar plates, and the expanded titanium (Ti) cell supports, particularly at lower hydrogen outlet pressures. As outlet pressure rises, capital costs escalate nonlinearly for several reasons. Higher pressure EHCs experience higher mechanical loads, which necessitate using a greater number of smaller diameter cells and a greater tie rod mass. Higher pressure EHCs also exhibit a higher degree of back-diffusion, which necessitates using more cells per system.
FGF suppresses apoptosis and induces differentiation of fibre cells in the mouse lens (1995)

To determine whether fibroblast growth factor (FGF) has a role in lens development, we have generated transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative form of the murine FGF receptor-1 (FGFRDN) in the lens. Using the fibre cell-specific alpha A-crystallin promoter to express the FGFRDN, we have asked whether FGF is required for fibre cell differentiation. The transgenic mice display diminished differentiation of fibre cells as indicated by their reduced elongation. In addition, transgenic lenses have an unusual refractile anomaly that morphological and biochemical data show results from the apoptosis of fibre cells in the central region of the lens. These results show that lens fibre cells are dependent on FGF for their survival and differentiation, and demonstrate that growth factor deprivation in vivo can lead to apoptosis.
A Unifying Formalism for Shortest Path Problems with Expensive Edge Evaluations via Lazy Best-First Search over Paths with Edge Selectors (2016)

While the shortest path problem has myriad applications, the computational efficiency of suitable algorithms depends intimately on the underlying problem domain. In this paper, we focus on domains where evaluating the edge weight function dominates algorithm running time. Inspired by approaches in robotic motion planning, we define and investigate the Lazy Shortest Path class of algorithms which is differentiated by the choice of an edge selector function. We show that several algorithms in the literature are equivalent to this lazy algorithm for appropriate choice of this selector. Further, we propose various novel selectors inspired by sampling and statistical mechanics, and find that these selectors outperform existing algorithms on a set of example problems.
Surfactin – A Review on Biosynthesis, Fermentation, Purification and Applications (2010)

Surfactin, a bacterial cyclic lipopeptide, is produced by various strains of Bacillus subtilis and is primarily recognized as one of the most effective biosurfactants.It has the ability to reduce surface tension of water from 72 to 27 mN/m at a concentration as low as 0.005 %.The structure of surfactin consists of seven amino acids bonded to the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of a 14-carbon fatty acid.Surfactin possesses a number of biological activities such as the ability to lyse erythrocytes, inhibit clot formation, lyse bacterial spheroplasts and protoplasts, and inhibit cyclic 3 ' ,5-monophosphate diesterase.The high cost of production and low yields have limited its use in various commercial applications.Both submerged and solid-state fermentation have been investigated with the mutational approach to improve the productivity.In this review, current state of knowledge on biosynthesis of surfactin, its fermentative production, purification, analytical methods and biomedical applications is presented.
Operational Amplifier Speed and Accuracy Improvement: Analog Circuit Design with Structural Methodology (2004)

Operational Amplifier Speed and Accuracy Improvement proposes a new methodology for the design of analog integrated circuits. The usefulness of this methodology is demonstrated through the design of an operational amplifier. This methodology consists of the following iterative steps: description of the circuit functionality at a high level of abstraction using signal flow graphs; equivalent transformations and modifications of the graph to the form where all important parameters are controlled by dedicated feedback loops; and implementation of the structure using a library of elementary cells. Operational Amplifier Speed and Accuracy Improvement shows how to choose structures and design circuits which improve an operational amplifier's important parameters such as speed to power ratio, open loop gain, common-mode voltage rejection ratio, and power supply rejection ratio. The same approach is used to design clamps and limiting circuits which improve the performance of the amplifier outside of its linear operating region, such as slew rate enhancement, output short circuit current limitation, and input overload recovery. Most of the circuits demonstrated in this book have been publis
Entanglement and intra-molecular cooling in biological systems? - A quantum thermodynamic perspective (2008)

We discuss the possibility of existence of entanglement in biological systems. Our arguments centre on the fact that biological systems are thermodynamic open driven systems far from equilibrium. In such systems error correction can occur which may maintain entanglement despite high levels of de-coherence. We also discuss the possibility of cooling (classical or quantum) at molecular level.
Sodium/hydrogen exchange activity in type 1 diabetes mellitus: the never-ending story. (2001)

The amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) mediates uphill H+ extrusion and thus causes intracellular alkalinization. The NHE plays a major role in pH homeostasis, Na+ absorption, cell volume regulation, and cell proliferation; it is activated by growth factors, mitogens, neurotransmitters, tumor promoters, and others. At intracellular pH (pHi)>7.2-7.4, the system is quiescent; when pHi falls, the rate of H+ - efflux increases in an allosteric manner to reach a maximum around pHi=6.0. The kinetics for external Na+ follows the Michaelis-Menten model with a single, binding site. The effect of intracellular H+ best fits an allosteric model with at least two binding sites. According to the postulate that erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport (NLCT) might be one mode of operation of the ubiquitous NHE, and following the trail of previous investigations of NLCT association with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, several studies have confirmed elevated NHE activity in different cell types in patients with essential hypertension. However, the relation between NHE and either NLCT or hypertension remains unclear and the usefulness of NLCT activity as a risk marker for the development of essential hypertension has been now excluded. On the contrary, few publications have dealt with the physiologic NHE in diabetic nephropathy, and contrasting results have been reported. We have observed an accelerated NHE in essential hypertension and in Type 1 diabetes, however without any relationship with urinary albumin excretion rate. Furthermore, NHE activity increased in non-diabetic first-degree relatives of Type 1 diabetic patients, yet no difference could be observed between relatives of probands with diabetic nephropathy and relatives of probands with normoalbuminuria. Unlike erythrocyte NHE activity, abnormal albumin excretion was a distinctive feature of non-diabetic first-degree relatives of Type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy. The lack of agreement among Authors, even using both the same cell and the same method, testifies to the difficulty in performing a correct patient selection and uniformly reproducible NHE measurement. We compare individual clinical characteristics among different study populations confirming previous conclusions regarding NLCT in essential hypertension: main determinant for the flux values of NHE seems to be patient selection rather than methodology. A common effort is advisable to collaborate, standardise, compare methodologies, and unify criteria of subject recruitment.
Experimental sinus grafting with the use of deproteinized bone particles of different sizes (2003)

This study compared the osteoconductive capability of deproteinized bone particles of two different sizes (300-500 and 850-1000 microm) in rabbits undergoing maxillary sinus lift. Histologically, deproteinized bone particles of both sizes induced osteoconduction 1 week after implantation. Bone initially formed at the sinus wall and proliferated into the center of the augmented sinus cavity. In the small-particle group, newly formed bone showed many interconnections and appeared in most areas of the cavity 8 weeks after implantation. In the large-particle group, newly formed bone showed limited intercommunications, and the center of the sinus cavity contained fibrous connective tissue with no evidence of ossification 8 weeks after implantation. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a significantly higher density of newly formed bone in the small-particle group than in the large-particle group both 4 and 8 weeks after implantation. The total newly formed bone-particle contact length was also significantly higher in the small-particle group. The total surface length of the small particles was larger than that of the large particles, but the ratio of the newly formed bone-particle contact length to the total particle surface length did not differ significantly between the groups at any time. The interparticular spaces of the small particles were larger than those of the large particles. The bone area ratio in the interparticular spaces of the small particles was significantly higher than that of the large particles both 4 and 8 weeks after implantation. We conclude that graft bone particle size and interparticular space are important determinants of osteoconduction.
Tuning the Gelation Ability of Racemic Mixture by Melamine: Enhanced Mechanical Rigidity and Tunable Nanoscale Chirality (2014)

Understanding the relationship between molecular chirality of the gelators and the properties of the assembled supramolecular gels could be very important for developing novel functional soft matters. Although mixing the enantiomers with different molar ratios has been proved to be useful for modulating supramolecular assemblies, usually the racemates of different chiral molecules are not good gelators. In this study, the coassembly of the glutamic acid-based bolaamphiphile racemate and melamine was found to form hydrogels, while the assembly of the racemate only produced precipitates. Remarkably, the racemic hydrogels show lower CGC value, enhanced mechanical rigidity, and dual pH-responsive ability compared to the pure enantiomer hydrogels. The gelation properties, nanoscale chirality, and nanostructures of the racemic hydrogels can be regulated flexibly by changing molar ratios of different molecular building blocks.
Double heterojunction GaAs/Al<i>x</i>Ga1−<i>x</i>As bipolar transistors prepared by molecular beam epitaxy (1983)

Double heterojunction AlGaAs/GaAs bipolar junction transistors (DHBJT’s) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were fabricated and tested. The incorporation of a graded base-collector junction improved the dc performance of a DHBJT over that obtained with an abrupt base-collector junction. Maximum current gains of 500, 900, and 1650 were obtained using graded collector and emitter junctions and base widths of 0.05, 0.2, and 0.1 μm, respectively. The reduction in current gain in going from a 0.1-μm base width to a 0.05-μm base width is attributed to a lowering of the electron lifetime resulting from the high base doping level used. The value of 1650 is comparable to the current gains obtained from liquid phase epitaxy (LPE)-grown HBJT’s and is the best obtained from MBE-grown HBJT’s. Common-emitter transistor turn-on voltages were found to correspond to a difference in the collector and emitter junction turn-on voltages. High collector growth temperature improved dc performance with 700 °C as the optimum growth temperature. Preliminary results from DHBJT’s with superlattice interfaces have shown that the current gain is almost constant through a wide range of collector current levels.
Fusion of Velodyne and camera data for scene parsing (2012)

The fusion of information gathered from multiple sources is essential to build a comprehensive situation picture for autonomous ground vehicles. In this paper, an approach which performs scene classification and data fusion for 3D-LIDAR scanner (Velodyne HDL-64E) and video camera is described. A geometry segmentation algorithm is proposed for detection of obstacles and ground area from data collected by the Velodyne. In the meantime, the corresponding image collected by video camera is classified patch by patch into more detailed categories. The final situation picture is obtained by fusing the classification results of Velodyne data and that of images using the fuzzy logic inference framework. The proposed approach was evaluated with datasets collected by our autonomous ground vehicle testbed in the rural area. The fused results are more reliable and more completable than those provided by individual sensors.
Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Fission as a Therapeutic Strategy for Diseases with Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction (2014)

Mitochondria are essential cytoplasmic organelles, critical for cell survival and death. Recent mitochondrial research revealed that mitochondrial dynamics-the balance of fission and fusion in normal mitochondrial dynamics--is an important cellular mechanism in eukaryotic cell and is involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial morphology, structure, number, distribution, and function. Research into mitochondria and cell function has revealed that mitochondrial dynamics is impaired in a large number of aging and neurodegenerative diseases, and in several inherited mitochondrial diseases, and that this impairment involves excessive mitochondrial fission, resulting in mitochondrial structural changes and dysfunction, and cell damage. Attempts have been made to develop molecules to reduce mitochondrial fission while maintaining normal mitochondrial fusion and function in those diseases that involve excessive mitochondrial fission. This review article discusses mechanisms of mitochondrial fission in normal and diseased states of mammalian cells and discusses research aimed at developing therapies, such as Mdivi, Dynasore and P110, to prevent or to inhibit excessive mitochondrial fission.
Cytokines Inhibit p53-Mediated Apoptosis but Not p53-Mediated G<sub>1</sub> Arrest (1995)

Murine erythroleukemia cells that lack endogenous p53 expression were transfected with a temperature-sensitive p53 allele. The temperature-sensitive p53 protein behaves as a mutant polypeptide at 37 degrees C and as a wild-type polypeptide at 32 degrees C. Three independent clones expressing the temperature-sensitive p53 protein were characterized with respect to p53-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Clone ts5.203 responded to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G1 arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Apoptosis was seen in cells representative of all phases of the cell cycle and was not restricted to cells arrested in G1. The addition of a cytokine (erythropoietin, c-kit ligand, or interleukin-3) to the culture medium of ts5.203 cells blocked p53-mediated apoptosis and differentiation but not p53-mediated G1 arrest. These observations indicate that apoptosis and G1 arrest can be effectively uncoupled through the action of cytokines acting as survival factors and are consistent with the idea that apoptosis and G1 arrest represent separate functions of p53. Clones ts15.15 and tsCB3.4 responded to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G1 arrest but not apoptosis. We demonstrate that tsCB3.4 secretes a factor with erythropoietin-like activity and that ts15.15 secretes a factor with interleukin-3 activity and suggest that autocrine secretion of these cytokines blocks p53-mediated apoptosis. These data provide a framework in which to understand the variable responses of cells to p53 overexpression.