gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Rapid and efficient differentiation of functional motor neurons from human iPSC for neural injury modelling (2018)

Primary rodent neurons and immortalised cell lines have overwhelmingly been used for in vitro studies of traumatic injury to peripheral and central neurons, but have some limitations of physiological accuracy. Motor neurons (MN) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) enable the generation of cell models with features relevant to human physiology. To facilitate this, it is desirable that MN protocols both rapidly and efficiently differentiate human iPSCs into electrophysiologically active MNs. In this study, we present a simple, rapid protocol for differentiation of human iPSCs into functional spinal (lower) MNs, involving only adherent culture and use of small molecules for directed differentiation, with the ultimate aim of rapid production of electrophysiologically functional cells for short-term neural injury experiments. We show successful differentiation in two unrelated iPSC lines, by quantifying neural-specific marker expression, and by evaluating cell functionality at different maturation stages by calcium imaging and patch clamping. Differentiated neurons were shown to be electrophysiologically altered by uniaxial mechanical deformation. Spontaneous network activity decreased with applied stretch, indicating aberrant network connectivity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of this rapid, simple protocol for differentiating iPSC-derived MNs, suitable for in vitro neural injury studies focussing on electrophysiological alterations caused by mechanical deformation or trauma.
The flux shuttle—A Josephson junction shift register employing single flux quanta (1973)

A shift register is described which employs as information bits the flux quantum vortices occurring in Josephson junctions of extended dimensions. The positions of the vortices can be controlled and manipulated by an appropriately designed circuit geometry and by application of currents and magnetic fields. The time required for switching of the position of a vortex can approach the period of the Josephson plasma oscillation (∼10 ps) and the intrinsic energy dissipation is typically ≲ 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">-18</sup> J/shift.
TUNGSTEN TRIOXIDE HYDRATE INCORPORATED NAFION COMPOSITE MEMBRANE FOR PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS OPERATED ABOVE 100°C (2007)

A new composite membrane is fabricated by incorporating tungsten trioxide hydrate into Nafion to be employed as a candidate electrolyte for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) operated above 100°C. Thermal behavior and proton conductivity of the composite membrane are studied by means of thermogravimetric/differential thermal analyis (TG/DTA) and AC impedance measurements, respectively. These results demonstrate that the thermal stability of the composite membrane has no appreciable change when compared with the native Nafion membrane. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane is found to be better than that of the native Nafion membrane at high temperature and lower relative humidity. When the composite membrane is used as an electrolyte in H2/O2 PEMFC under the operating conditions of 110°C, 1.36 atm gas pressure, and 70% relative humidity, the observed current density value at 0.4 V is 1.5 times higher than that of the cell employing native Nafion membrane as an electrolyte.
Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile and its binary mixture with 4‐vinyl pyridine onto isotactic polypropylene powder by preirradiation method (1995)

Abstract Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and its binary mixture with 4‐vinyl pyridine (4‐VP) onto isotactic polypropylene powder in aqueous medium, using γ‐rays as an initiator, was studied. Optimum conditions for affording maximum percentage of grafting were evaluated. Rate of grafting (Rg) of AN and binary mixture (4‐VP + AN) was determined as a function of total initial monomer concentrations. The graft copolymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Noise Variance Estimation In Signal Processing (2006)

We present a new method of estimating noise variance. The method is applicable for ID and 2D signal processing. The essence of this method is estimation of the scatter of normally distributed data with high level of outliers. The method is applicable to data with the majority of the data points having no signal present. The method is based on the shortest half sample method. The mean of the shortest half sample (shorth) and the location of the least median of squares are among the most robust measures of the location of the mode. The length of the shortest half sample has been used as the measurement of the data scatter of uncontaminated data. We show that computing the length of several sub samples of varying sizes provides the necessary information to estimate both the scatter and the number of uncontaminated data points in a sample. We derive the system of equations to solve for the data scatter and the number of uncontaminated data points for the Gaussian distribution. The data scatter is the measure of the noise variance. The method can be extended to other distributions
Pioneers of the intrauterine device (1997)

The history of the intrauterine device is remarkably short and its survival has been jeopardized several times from the beginning when Gräfenberg introduced the intrauterine ring in 1928, and later when product liability claims in the USA forced companies to withdraw the IUD from the market. However, a revival is happening, and one of the withdrawn copper IUDs has been re-introduced in the USA. In the 1980s, pessimism about the future of the IUD was based on the fact that there are still two major imperfections inherent in intrauterine contraception: its lack of protection against both 'gyne' and sexually transmitted disease. That IUDs, in contrast with some other methods, do not protect the wearer against microbiological invasion from the lower genital tract is correct, and will probably remain so notwithstanding the prophylactic use of antibiotics at the time of insertion. However, the solution to this imperfection is quite simple: clinicians must learn once and for all to adhere to the principle that bilateral monogamy is the first prerequisite for the safe use of this method of contraception. The second drawback of the IUD is the absence of so-called 'gyne' protection. Although seldom threatening women's health, menorrhagia, occasionally accompanied by pain, is a nuisance, and bleeding problems remain the most frequent single reason for the removal of an IUD. Consequently, research should concentrate on the alleviation of abnormal vaginal bleeding. Prevention is difficult, mainly because the etiopathology of abnormal bleeding is insufficiently understood. Menstrual hemostasis is a complex phenomenon and attempts at etiological treatment give poor results. However, because bleeding is, in all probability, related to an endometrial trauma caused by the geometric incompatibility between the frame of the IUD and the uterine cavity, it was logical for research to concentrate on correcting this factor. This review provides some historical notes about the pioneers who contributed to the improvement of intrauterine contraception since the introduction of the intrauterine ring by Gräfenberg in 1928 until the invention of the frameless device by Wildemeersch in 1984.
The European Parliament (1979)

During the coming election, the organisation and powers of the European Parliament will be referred to by both the press and politicians more than ever before. This chapter asks the key questions that are sure to be at the heart of many arguments.
Updated Neuroimaging Using Intraoperative Brain Modeling and Sparse Data (1999)

A strategy to update preoperative imaging for image-guided surgery using readily available intraoperative information has been developed and implemented. A patient-specific three-dimensional finite element model of the brain is generated from preoperative MRI and used to simulate deformation resulting from multiple surgical processes. Intraoperatively obtained sparse imaging data, such as from digital cameras or ultrasonography, is then used to prescribe the displacement of selected points within the model. Interpolation to the resolution of preoperative imaging may then be performed based upon the model. The algorithms for generation of the finite element model and for its subsequent deformation have been successfully validated using a pig brain model, and preliminary clinical application in the operating room has demonstrated feasibility.
Experimental studies of oxymatrine and its mechanisms of action in hepatitis B and C viral infections (2004)

Oxymatrine has a similar efficacy to IFNalpha, but with no adverse effects apart from slight injection pain, and it is much less expensive.
F-TES ADT Organic Integrated Circuits on Glass and Plastic Substrates (2007)

Using the small-molecule organic semiconductor fluorinated 5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene (F-TES ADT), we have fabricated spin cast organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) and integrated circuits on glass and plastic substrates. Our F-TES ADT spin cast films are deposited at room temperature from toluene or chlorobenzene solutions with no annealing steps. Film growth is considerably more ordered on pentafluorobenzenethiol (PFBT) treated Au electrodes surfaces than on oxide and on samples with patterned PFBT-Au structures grains appear to grow out from the PFBT-Au areas into the oxide areas. OTFTs fabricated on silicon wafers have mobility of 0.1 - 0.4 cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> /V·s and 0.2 - 1.0 cm <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> / V·s spin cast from toluene and cholobenzene solutions respectively. Results for operational and environmental stability of spin cast F-TES ADT OTFTs and circuits on both glass and plastic substrates are also presented.
Integrated Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Analysis of Primary Human Lung Epithelial Cell Differentiation (2013)

Elucidation of the epigenetic basis for cell-type specific gene regulation is key to gaining a full understanding of how the distinct phenotypes of differentiated cells are achieved and maintained. Here we examined how epigenetic changes are integrated with transcriptional activation to determine cell phenotype during differentiation. We performed epigenomic profiling in conjunction with transcriptomic profiling using in vitro differentiation of human primary alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). This model recapitulates an in vivo process in which AEC transition from one differentiated cell type to another during regeneration following lung injury. Interrogation of histone marks over time revealed enrichment of specific transcription factor binding motifs within regions of changing chromatin structure. Cross-referencing of these motifs with pathways showing transcriptional changes revealed known regulatory pathways of distal alveolar differentiation, such as the WNT and transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) pathways, and putative novel regulators of adult AEC differentiation including hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A), and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) signaling pathways. Inhibition of the RXR pathway confirmed its functional relevance for alveolar differentiation. Our incorporation of epigenetic data allowed specific identification of transcription factors that are potential direct upstream regulators of the differentiation process, demonstrating the power of this approach. Integration of epigenomic data with transcriptomic profiling has broad application for the identification of regulatory pathways in other models of differentiation.
The aconitase of <i>Escherichia coli</i> (1992)

The nucleotide sequence of the aconitase gene (acn) of Escherichia coli was determined and used to deduce the primary structure of the enzyme. The coding region comprises 2670 bp (890 codons excluding the start and stop codons) which define a product having a relative molecular mass of 97,513 and an N-terminal amino acid sequence consistent with those determined previously for the purified enzyme. The acn gene is flanked by the cysB gene and a putative riboflavin biosynthesis gene resembling the ribA gene of Bacillus subtilis. The 1004-bp cysB--acn intergenic region contains several potential promoter and regulatory sequences. The amino acid sequence of the E. coli aconitase is similar to the mitochondrial aconitases (27-29% identity) and the isopropylmalate isomerases (20-21% identity) but it is most similar to the human iron-responsive-element-binding protein (53% identity). The three cysteine residues involved in ligand binding to the [4Fe-4S] centre are conserved in all of these proteins. Of the remaining 17 active-site residues assigned for porcine aconitase, 16 are conserved in both the bacterial aconitase and the iron-responsive-element-binding protein and 14 in the isopropylmalate isomerases. It is concluded that the bacterial and mitochondrial aconitases, the isopropylmalate isomerases and the iron-responsive-element-binding protein form a family of structurally related proteins, which does not include the Fe-S-containing fumarases. These relationships raise the possibility that the iron-responsive-element-binding protein may be a cytoplasmic aconitase and that the E. coli aconitase may have an iron-responsive regulatory function.
Targeted <i>In vivo</i> Imaging of Integrin αvβ6 with an Improved Radiotracer and Its Relevance in a Pancreatic Tumor Model (2009)

The cell surface receptor alpha(v)beta(6) is epithelial specific, and its expression is tightly regulated; it is low or undetectable in adult tissues but has been shown to be increased in many different cancers, including pancreatic, cervical, lung, and colon cancers. Studies have described alpha(v)beta(6) as a prognostic biomarker linked to poor survival. We have recently shown the feasibility of imaging alpha(v)beta(6) in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) using the peptide [(18)F]FBA-A20FMDV2. Here, we describe improved alpha(v)beta(6) imaging agents and test their efficacy in a mouse model with endogenous alpha(v)beta(6) expression. The modified compounds maintained high affinity for alpha(v)beta(6) and >1,000-fold selectivity over related integrins (by ELISA) and showed significantly improved alpha(v)beta(6)-dependent binding in cell-based assays (>60% binding versus <10% for [(18)F]FBA-A20FMDV2). In vivo studies using either a melanoma cell line (transduced alpha(v)beta(6) expression) or the BxPC-3 human pancreatic carcinoma cell line (endogenous alpha(v)beta(6) expression) revealed that the modified compounds showed significantly improved tumor retention. This, along with good clearance of nonspecifically bound activity, particularly for the new radiotracer [(18)F]FBA-PEG(28)-A20FMDV2, resulted in improved PET imaging. Tumor/pancreas and tumor/blood biodistribution ratios of >23:1 and >47:1, respectively, were achieved at 4 hours. Significantly, [(18)F]FBA-PEG(28)-A20FMDV2 was superior to 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([(18)F]FDG) in imaging the BxPC-3 tumors. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is highly metastatic and current preoperative evaluation of resectability using noninvasive imaging has limited success, with most patients having metastases at time of surgery. The fact that these tumors express alpha(v)beta(6) suggests that this probe has significant potential for the in vivo detection of this malignancy, thus having important implications for patient care and therapy.
Severe Impairment in Early Host Defense againstCandida albicans in Mice Deficient in Myeloperoxidase (1999)

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with chloride ion to produce hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which is used for microbial killing by phagocytic cells. Despite the important role of MPO in host defense, however, MPO deficiency is relatively common in humans, and most of these individuals are in good health. To define the in vivo role of MPO, we have generated by gene targeting mice having no MPO activity in their neutrophils and monocytes. The mice without MPO developed normally, were fertile, and showed normal clearance of intraperitoneal Staphylococcus aureus. However, they showed increased susceptibility to pneumonia and death following intratracheal infection with Candida albicans. Furthermore, the lack of MPO significantly enhanced the dissemination of intraperitoneally injected C. albicans into various organs during the first 7 days. Thus, MPO is important for early host defense against fungal infection, and the inability to generate HOCl cannot be compensated for by other oxygen-dependent systems in vivo in mice. The mutant mice serve as a model for studying pulmonary and systemic candidiasis.
Mapping of the prekallikrein-binding site of human H-kininogen by ligand screening of lambda gt11 expression libraries. Mimicking of the predicted binding site by anti-idiotypic antibodies. (1990)

High molecular weight (H-)kininogen, a non-enzymatic cofactor of the contact activation system, has on the COOH-terminal part of its light chain a unique binding site which complexes prekallikrein or factor XI with high affinity and specificity. In a conventional protein fragmentation approach, the prekallikrein-binding site was mapped to positions 556-595 of the human H-kininogen sequence (Tait, J. F., and Fujikawa, K. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 15396-15401). To gain more insight into the minimum structural requirements of the prekallikrein-binding site, we have developed an alternative strategy employing the lambda gt11 expression cloning system. A ligand assay was established which probes for the binding site in H-kininogen or recombinant fusion proteins thereof by complexation with prekallikrein, followed by a specific antibody against prekallikrein and a secondary labeled antibody. A cDNA library constructed in lambda gt11 from random fragments of a cDNA clone encoding the COOH-terminal part of the kininogen light chain was screened by the ligand assay, and 17 positive clones were identified. Analysis of their inserted cDNA sequences revealed a consensus sequence of 119 nucleotides which maps to the extreme 3' end (positions 1759-1877) of the coding part of the prekininogen mRNA. The consensus sequence encodes positions 569-607 of the kininogen light chain and overlaps by 27 residues (positions 569-595) with the binding segment identified previously by the fragment approach. Analysis of successively shortened peptides revealed that the common segment of 27 residues but not truncated versions thereof contains the essential structural elements for prekallikrein binding. This conclusion was corroborated by the finding that anti-idiotypic antibodies toward a monoclonal antibody directed to the binding segment of 27 residues bear internal image(s) of the binding site of H-kininogen. It is pointed out that the methodology described in this study may prove generally useful in the cloning and mapping of high affinity binding sites of proteins.
Rock climbing anchors : a comprehensive guide (2007)

This is a rock climbing instructional book. Climbing anchors allow climbers to safely defy gravity. Solid anchors and proper rope techniques can prevent a fall from turning into a catastrophe, while bad anchors are an accident waiting to happen, says certified guide Craig Luebben, who invented his own type of climbing protection, the Big Bro. Since then, he has taught rock climbing to hundreds of clients and has conducted self-rescue clinics across the United States. He distills more than twenty-five years of experience into Rock Climbing Anchors. This 2007 entry in the Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series, for intermediate-to-advanced climbers, presents modern anchoring ideas and techniques for top-roping, rappelling, sport climbing, traditional rock climbing, and mountaineering-all in one comprehensive guide. Luebben covers the finer points of all types of commonly used anchors: removable anchors including hexes, wired nuts, tri-cams, expanding wedges, expandable tubes, and cams; natural anchors such as trees and boulders; and fixed anchors like bolts and pitons. Photos show a variety of gear placements, accompanied by discussion of the pros and cons of each.
Using data mining to find fraud in HCFA health care claims. (2001)

Data mining can be/used to detect health care fraud and abuse through visualization of very large data sets to isolate new and unusual patterns of activity. Data mining has allowed better direction and use of health care fraud detection and investigative resources by recognizing and quantifying the underlying indicators of fraudulent claims, fraudulent providers, and fraudulent beneficiaries. A large amount of work must be performed prior to the actual data mining. These precursory tasks include: customer discussions, data extraction and cleaning, transformation of the database, and auditing (basic statistics and visualization of the information) of the data. This paper describes the tasks performed in support of a project for HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration).
Sniper detector based on cat eye effect (2010)

An active laser-illuminating sniper detector based on cat eye effect is developed.According to actual circumstances,some tests were conducted to verify the detection performance of the detector.Testing results show that night-vision sight and telescope sights with objective aperture diameters of 32 mm,40 mm,42 mm and 50 mm can be effectively detected by the detector in the range of 20 m to 200 m,which is typical for snipers.The detector is not interfered by mirror,concave mirror of flashlight or similar reflectors.However,a telescope sight with honeycomb panel can not be reliably identified when the detection distance is over approximate 80 m,and thermal weapon sight can not be detected either.
Improving resolution to reduce aliasing in an undersampled image sequence (2000)

We present various methods to increase the spatial resolution of an undersampled, and thus aliased, image sequence. The sequence is acquired by an infrared camera, which severely undersamples the image of a static scene. Vibration of the setup causes a random, sub-pixel, global translation of the scene before sampling. Although a single frame is hampered by aliasing, a sufficiently large series of such frames contains all the information needed to undo this aliasing.
Relationship between Electrical Activity of the Diaphragm and Ventilation. (1962)

The use of the integrated electromyogram of the diaphragm as an index of ventilation was studied in 22 animals. The increase in electrical activity of the diaphragm and the tidal volume, produced by rebreathing, were linearly related. Under the conditions of these experiments—spontaneous breathing with an unobstructed airway and a constant position of the diaphragmatic electrode—the integrated electromyogram of the diaphragm provides an indirect quantitative measure of ventilation.
Fabrication and optical characterization of polystyrene opal templates for the synthesis of scalable, nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials by electrodeposition (2017)

Using polystyrene opal templates, we employ electrodeposition for the synthesis of highly homogeneous, large scale nanoporous (photo)electrocatalytic materials for artificial photosynthesis.