gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Risk of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) and Subsequent Multiple Myeloma among African-American and White Veterans in the U.S. (2005)

Abstract Background: The age-adjusted incidence of multiple myeloma (MM) is 2-fold higher in African-Americans than in Whites, which is paralleled by reports of a higher prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) in African Americans. Etiological factors for MGUS and determinants for transformation of MGUS to MM are unknown, but data on the race-specific prevalence of MGUS and progression of MGUS to MM may provide clues to etiology. Objective: To determine the prevalence and the probability of progression from MGUS to MM in African-Americans compared to Whites. Patients and Methods: The cohort was identified from review of discharge diagnoses in hospital medical records for inpatient hospitalizations at 142 nationwide U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals between October 1, 1980 and September 30, 1996. The target population for calculation of MGUS prevalence included all African-American (N=749,020) and White (N=3,248,795) veterans hospitalized at least once at age 18 or older. For estimating the risk of malignancy, all subjects without a prior discharge diagnosis of malignancy were followed from one year after index hospital discharge (MGUS diagnosis for MGUS cases, and first discharge for any reason for all others) until the diagnosis of a first malignancy, death, or the end of the observation period (September 30, 1996), whichever came first. Using the Kaplan-Meier procedure, we calculated the cumulative probability of developing MM among MGUS cases according to race, testing for statistical significance using the Wilcoxon-test appropriate for censored data. The Cox proportional hazards model was applied. Poisson regression was used for analyses comparing risk for MM among MGUS versus non-MGUS cohorts. Results: We identified 734 cases of MGUS in African-Americans and 1,312 in Whites. The age-adjusted prevalence-rate for MGUS was 3.0-fold (2.7–3.3 95% CI) higher in African-Americans than in Whites. Among MGUS cases, the estimated cumulative risk of developing MM during the first 10 years of follow-up was similar (Wilcoxon-test P=0.37) for African-Americans (17%) and for Whites (15%). The risk of developing MM among all MGUS (versus non-MGUS) cases was very high (RR=89.1; 74.7–106.3, 95%CI). Conclusions: In the largest study to date, we suggest that the excess risk of MM in African-Americans results from an increase in risk of MGUS rather than an increased risk of progression from MGUS to MM.
Identification of Aminoglycoside-Modifying Enzymes by Susceptibility Testing: Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> in Japan (2001)

A multiple-primer PCR was used to identify genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes in 381 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The technique used three sets of primers delineating specific DNA fragments of the aph(3')-III, ant(4')-I, and aac(6')-aph(2") genes, which influence the MICs of gentamicin, tobramycin, and lividomycin. Isolates with none of the three genes detected were susceptible to all three agents. Isolates with the aph(3')-III gene showed resistance to lividomycin (MIC > 1,024 microg/ml), and those with the ant(4')-I gene were resistant to tobramycin (MIC > or = 8 microg/ml). Isolates with only the aac(6')-aph(2") gene were resistant to gentamicin (MIC > or = 8 microg/ml) and tobramycin in decreasing order; those with both the ant(4')-I and aac(6')-aph(2") genes also were resistant to gentamicin and tobramycin, but in increasing order. Susceptibility testing, then, could detect specific genes. In 381 Japanese MRSA isolates, the ant(4')-I, aac(6')-aph(2"), and aph(3')-III genes were prevalent in 84.5, 61.7, and 8.9%, respectively. Isolates with only the ant(4')-I gene had coagulase type II or III, but isolates with both the ant(4')-I and aac(6')-aph(2") genes included all coagulase types. Most isolates with coagulase type IV or VII carried the aac(6')-aph(2") gene. Of the MRSA isolates with ant(4')-I and/or aac(6')-aph(2") genes, 97% were resistant to aminoglycosides in clinical use, but a new aminoglycoside, arbekacin, had excellent activity against these isolates.
Time for Detention Reform (2010)

The recent death of a man in Villawood Detention Center in Australia has once again raised doubts over Australia's harmful detention policy. The need to bring about reform in the detention system is urgently warranted.
Ryanoids and related compounds. A total synthesis of 3-epiryanodine (1993)

In the course of a preliminary investigation on the relationships between chemical structure of ryanoids and their affinity to the ryanodine (1) binding site, we have synthesized 3-epiryanodine (13) from anhydroryanodol (4), a key intermediate in our total synthesis of (+)-ryanodol (2).
Fatty acylation of yeast glycoproteins proceeds independently of <i>N</i>‐linked glycosylation (1989)

The relationship between protein glycosylation and fatty acylation of glycoproteins was studied in the wild-type and asparagine-linked glycosylation-deficient mutants (alg1 and alg2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. At the non-permissive temperature (37 degrees C), both mutant cells exhibited increased incorporation of [3H]palmitate into five polypeptides based on SDS-PAGE. In contrast, the wild-type yeast cells contained [3H]palmitate-labeled polypeptides of higher molecular weights, which were converted to the bands seen in the mutant cells upon treatment of the cell extract with endoglycosidase H prior to SDS-PAGE. In addition, labeling of the wild-type yeast cells with [3H]palmitate in the presence of tunicamycin revealed the incorporation of [3H]palmitate into the same five bands as found in the alg1 and alg2 mutants at the non-permissive temperature without tunicamycin. These results indicate that fatty acylation of glycoproteins proceeds independently of protein N-glycosylation in yeast cells.
Interaction of human placental ribonuclease with placental ribonuclease inhibitor (1991)

The interactions of human placental ribonuclease inhibitor (PRI) with bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase) A and human angiogenin, a plasma protein that induces blood vessel formation, have been characterized in detail in earlier studies. However, studies on the interaction of PRI with the RNase(s) indigenous to placenta have not been performed previously, nor have any placental RNases been identified. In the present work, the major human placental RNase (PR) was purified to homogeneity by a five-step procedure and was obtained in a yield of 110 micrograms/kg of tissue. The placental content of angiogenin was also examined and was found to be at least 10-fold lower than that of PR. On the basis of its amino acid composition, amino-terminal sequence, and catalytic properties, PR appears to be identical with an RNase previously isolated from eosinophils (eosinophil-derived neurotoxin), liver, and urine. The apparent second-order rate constant of association for the PR.PRI complex, measured by examining the competition between PR and angiogenin for PRI, is 1.9 X 10(8) M-1 s-1. The rate constant for dissociation of the complex, determined by HPLC measurement of the rate of release of PR from its complex with PRI in the presence of a scavenger for free PRI, is 1.8 X 10(-7) s-1. Thus the Ki value for the PR.PRI complex is 9 X 10(-16) M, similar to that obtained with angiogenin, and 40-fold lower than that measured with RNase A. Complex formation causes a small red shift in the protein fluorescence emission spectrum, with no significant change in overall intensity. The fluorescence quantum yield of PR and the Stern-Volmer constant for fluorescence quenching by acrylamide are both high, possibly due to the presence of an unusual posttranslationally modified tryptophan residue at position 7 in the primary sequence.
Plasma evolution during metal ablation with ultrashort laser pulses (2005)

We report on time-resolved measurements of the plasma evolution during metal ablation with ultrashort laser pulses in the range from 200 fs to 3.3 ps. The plasma transmission exhibits two distinctive minima. Almost total attenuation is observed a few nanoseconds after the ablation pulse, while a second decrease of the transmission to approximately 50% is observed after about 150 ns. Images taken with a gated ICCD-camera confirm these data and allow determining the expansion velocity of the plasma plume. The attenuation in the first nanoseconds can be attributed to electrons and sublimated mass emitted from the target surface, while attenuation after several 10 ns is due to particles and droplets after a thermal boiling process. The possibility of a normal or an explosive boiling process, also called phase explosion, is discussed. Despite of the physical insight into the ablation process, these data provide valuable information for scaling the speed of ultrashort pulse laser materials processing in a fluence regime of several J/cm2 since they allow estimating the maximum usable pulse repetition rate.
Distribution of Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Related Geometrical Isomers in Fruit, Vegetables, Wheat, and Pasta Products (2003)

Quantitative data with regard to dietary (3R,3'R,6'R)-lutein, (3R,3'R)-zeaxanthin, and their (E/Z)-geometrical isomers are scarce, and in most cases, only the combined concentrations of these two carotenoids in foods are reported. Lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the human macula and have been implicated in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The qualitative and quantitative distributions of lutein, zeaxanthin, and their (E/Z)-isomers in the extracts from some of the most commonly consumed fruits, vegetables, and pasta products were determined by HPLC employing a silica-based nitrile-bonded column. Green vegetables had the highest concentration of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), and the ratios of these carotenoids (L/Z) were in the range 12-63. The yellow-orange fruits and vegetables, with the exception of squash (butternut variety), had much lower levels of lutein in comparison to greens but contained a higher concentration of zeaxanthin. The ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin (L/Z) in two North American bread varieties of wheat (Pioneer, Catoctin) was 11 and 7.6, respectively, while in a green-harvested wheat (Freekeh) imported from Australia, the ratio was 2.5. Between the two pasta products examined, lasagne and egg noodles, the latter had a much higher concentration of lutein and zeaxanthin. The levels of the (E/Z)-geometrical isomers of lutein and zeaxanthin in these foods were also determined.
Synthesis and characterization of a novel blend of polypropylene with Chlorella (2000)

A novel blend of polypropylene (PP) with Chlorella, a natural microalga, was synthesized successfully by a melt-mixing method with maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene (MPP) as a compatibilizer. The adhesion of hydrophobic PP to hydrophilic Chlorella is based on the formation of chemical bonds between the maleic anhydride groups of MPP and hydroxy groups of Chlorella through solid-phase esterification. The single maleic anhydride groups have the highest reactivity with Chlorella. From the comparison with PP–Chlorella blends without MPP, the ester bonds between MPP and Chlorella cause a decrease in crystallinity of the MPP matrix which is a primary origin of the decrease in melting and solidification enthalpies of the MPP–Chlorella blend, and induce intensive expansion of the MPP matrix around the Chlorella particles which decreases the glass transition temperature. Consequently, the PP–Chlorella blend with MPP exhibits a marked increase in tensile strength and Young's modulus compared with the blend without MPP because of the stronger interactions between MPP and Chlorella than those between Chlorella cells.
Quenching of fluorescence at the nematic-isotropic phase transition (1973)

Polarized fluorescence of doped nematic liquid crystals is observed in the nematic phase and at the nematic-isotropic phase transition. We find a large change in the quantum yield of the fluorescence in the nematic and isotropic phases due to different quenching rates. The order parameter cannot be easily calculated from the fluorescence intensities because of these quenching effects.
An Approach to Hierarchical Input Devices (1990)

Abstract This paper shows how a formal description of the GKS input model can be extended to include hierarchically structured input devices
Separation of amino acids by electrodialysis with ion-exchange membranes. (1995)

The selective separation of amino acids, glutamic acid, methionine and lysine, from their solution mixture was examined by electrodialysis with ion-exchange membranes, SELEMION-CMV and SELEMION-AMV, under conditions of pH 1 to 12 and current densities of 0 to 15 A/m2. The amino acids were almost completely separated from each other under the conditions studied: Only glutamic acid is transported across the anion-exchange membrane; only lysine across the cation-exchange membrane; and methionine is not transported at all. Their fluxes across the membranes have maxima in the neutral pH range, increasing almost linearly with current density. A model for explanation of the experimental results has been proposed considering solution equilibrium, ion-exchange equilibrium and diffusion in the membranes. Successful simulation has confirmed the amino acid transport mechanism which was proposed in the model. The diffusivities of ionic species, model parameters, have been determined. Moreover the role of each ionic species in carrying current and the effect of water splitting are also discussed.
Quality Assessment of Facial Images (2006)

Quality assessment of facial images differs from the traditional quality assessment of image and video signals with regards to its multiple goals such as to ensure its fidelity to the human visual system (HVS) model, to predict matching performance, to generate feedback on image acquisition, to guard the enrollment process, and to provide a weight for merging multimodal biometrics. In this paper, we present a quality assessment framework that complies with the requirements of ISO/IEC 19794-5 for facial biometrics and additionally ensures optimal recognition performance. This framework employs a novel classification-based score normalization process for various quality metrics and includes techniques to fuse those individual quality scores into an overall quality score which is shown to be correlated to the genuine match scores of the Facelt face recognition engine. We confirm the effectiveness of this overall quality score at satisfying multiple goals by first parameterizing ROC curves with average database quality to show the predictive nature of the metric and secondly by showing the consistency between this overall quality score and human perception of image quality.
Where to Play: Retrieval of Video Segments using Natural-Language Queries (2017)

In this paper, we propose a new approach for retrieval of video segments using natural language queries. Unlike most previous approaches such as concept-based methods or rule-based structured models, the proposed method uses image captioning model to construct sentential queries for visual information. In detail, our approach exploits multiple captions generated by visual features in each image with `Densecap'. Then, the similarities between captions of adjacent images are calculated, which is used to track semantically similar captions over multiple frames. Besides introducing this novel idea of 'tracking by captioning', the proposed method is one of the first approaches that uses a language generation model learned by neural networks to construct semantic query describing the relations and properties of visual information. To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach, we have created a new evaluation dataset, which contains about 348 segments of scenes in 20 movie-trailers. Through quantitative and qualitative evaluation, we show that our method is effective for retrieval of video segments using natural language queries.
Friction and wear results from WC+Co coatings by −dc-biased rf sputtering in a helium atmosphere (1978)

WC+Co films were deposited on flat polished beryllium substrates by rf sputtering with selected values of −dc bias applied to the substrates. Topographical, structural, and compositional analysis of the coatings were done by SEM, x-ray diffraction, and EMA. X-ray diffraction results show the deposits to vary from amorphous to αW2C. Compositional analysis showed variations in carbon and cobalt in relation to the bias level. Friction and wear tests carried out in a helium atmosphere by rotating one specimen in contact with another at constant speed and load for a specified time showed coefficient of friction and wear effects to be related to substrate bias. WC+Co coatings have been shown to be effective wear-resistant surfaces when applied by predetermined deposition parameters.
Zinc metallopeptidase inhibitors. A novel antihypertensive treatment. (1991)

Inhibitors of two zinc metallopeptidases, angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral metalloendopeptidase-24.11 (EP-24.11), are antihypertensive agents. In this issue of Hypertension, Genden and Molineaux report that yet another peptidase inhibitor, metalloendopeptidase-24.15, EC 3.4.24.15 (EP-24.15), lowers blood pressure in normotensive rats. In this editorial we discuss the possible role of kinins as common mediators of part of the vasodepressor action of these peptidase inhibitors. Genden and Molineaux report that the marked fall in blood pressure caused by the EP-24.15 inhibitor is almost abolished by a kinin receptor antagonist, supporting the hypothesis that kinins play a role in the regulation of normal blood pressure. We have confirmed that the EP-24.15 inhibitor used by these investigators lowers blood pressure. Up to now, EP-24.15 has not been implicated in in vivo metabolism of kinins. Although a number of kininases have been identified, our own previous work indicated that the metabolic pathway responsible for clearing kinins from the circulation involves the action of kininase II (angiotensin I converting enzyme) and renal peptidases. Nevertheless, the main metabolic pathway involved some other unidentified enzyme, since in these experiments disappearance of kinins from the circulation was only marginally reduced by a "cocktail" of inhibitors of ACE, EP-24.11, and carboxypeptidase N. It could be that EP-24.15 is involved in kinin metabolism. However, a number of questions need to be answered with regard to the mechanism by which the EP-24.15 inhibitor lowers blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ion beam assisted deposition with a duoplasmatron (abstract)a) (1992)

One of the recent applications of ion sources is their use for ion beam assisted deposition of thin films and coatings. This method combines a coating technique such as evaporation or sputtering with bombardment with ions in the keV energy range. The required ions with defined energy, flux, and impact angle are delivered from an ion source. An apparatus for ion beam assisted evaporation with a duoplasmatron ion source is described. The features of the duoplasmatron with respect to application for ion beam assisted deposition such as beam shape, uniformity and intensity, ion-to-neutral ratio, and focused and defocused mode are discussed.
Biochemical Properties and Cytochemical Localization of Ouabain-insensitive, Potassium-dependent <i>p</i>-Nitrophenylphosphatase Activity in Rat Atrial Myocytes (1997)

Enzyme activity that represents ouabain-insensitive, potassium-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase (p-NPPase) was assessed in rat atrial myocytes by biochemical and cytochemical procedures. No activity was detected in parallel experiments with ventricular myocytes. Fixed tissues were incubated in a reaction medium containing Tricine buffer, p-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP), KCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, CeCl3. Triton X-100, levamisole, and ouabain. Final pH was adjusted to 7.5. Biochemical studies showed that accumulation of p-nitrophenol in the medium was increased proportionally in accordance with the amount of incubated tissue. This activity was optimal with incubation at pH 7.5 and in the presence of KCl. Approximately 70% of the enzyme was inhibited by 2 mM CeCl3. Electron microscopic observations revealed reaction product (RP) at sites of ouabain-insensitive, potassium-dependent p-NPPase activity as electron-dense precipitate localized at the inner surface of the plasma membrane and at the T-tubules of atrial myocytes. Control experiments indicated that the activity was strongly inhibited by sodium orthovanadate and was repressed by omeprazole and 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. X-ray microanalysis confirmed the presence of cerium within the cytochemical RP. The ouabain-insensitive, K-dependent p-NPPase activity detected in the present study is considered to be an isoform of a P-type, H-transporting, K-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (H,K-ATPase).
cDNA sequence of rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and evidence for down-regulation of its mRNA by insulin. (1988)

A coding-length clone of rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) was isolated by immunological screening of a cDNA library in lambda gt11. Its identity was verified by comparing the deduced amino acid sequence with that obtained by direct sequencing of a complete set of CNBr and proteolytic peptides from the purified protein. The enzyme subunit is composed of 362 amino acids and has N-acetylvaline as the amino-terminal residue. The cDNA, 1255 base pairs (bp) long, consisted of 1086 bp of coding region, 15 bp of 5' untranslated sequence, and 154 bp at the 3' untranslated end. The 3' untranslated sequence contained a polyadenylylation signal (AATAAA) followed after 30 bp by a stretch of 7 adenines at the end of the clone. The deduced amino acid sequence was identical to the primary sequence of the protein and confirmed the alignment of five nonoverlapping peptides. It also confirmed the 27-residue extension, unique to the rat liver subunit, ending with a carboxyl-terminal phenylalanine. RNA blot analyses using the radiolabeled liver cDNA as a probe revealed a single band of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase mRNA, 1.4 kilobases long, in liver and kidney but not in nongluconeogenic tissues. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase mRNA was increased 10-fold in livers from diabetic rats and was reduced to control levels after 24 hr of insulin treatment, suggesting that the changes in enzyme activity observed in diabetes and after insulin treatment are due to alterations in mRNA abundance.