gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Pharmacogenetic polymorphisms in Brazilian-born, first-generation Japanese descendants (2009)

Brazil hosts the largest Japanese community outside Japan, estimated at 1.5 million individuals, one third of whom are first-generation, Brazilian-born with native Japanese parents. This large community provides a unique opportunity for comparative studies of the distribution of pharmacogenetic polymorphisms in native Japanese versus their Brazilian-born descendants. Functional polymorphisms in genes that modulate drug disposition (CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and GSTM3) or response (VKORC1) and that differ significantly in frequency in native Japanese versus Brazilians with no Japanese ancestry were selected for the present study. Healthy subjects (200 native Japanese and 126 first-generation Japanese descendants) living in agricultural colonies were enrolled. Individual DNA was genotyped using RFLP (GSTM3 A/B) or TaqMan Detection System assays (CYP2C9 2 and 3; CYP2C19 2 and 3; VKORC1 3673G>A, 5808T>G, 6853G>C, and 9041G>A). No difference was detected in the frequency of these pharmacogenetic polymorphisms between native Japanese and first-generation Japanese descendants. In contrast, significant differences in the frequency of each polymorphism were observed between native or first-generation Japanese and Brazilians with no Japanese ancestry. The VKORC1 3673G>A, 6853G>C and 9041G>A single nucleotide polymorphisms were in linkage disequilibrium in both native and first-generation Japanese living in Brazil. The striking similarity in the frequency of clinically relevant pharmacogenetic polymorphisms between Brazilian-born Japanese descendants and native Japanese suggests that the former may be recruited for clinical trials designed to generate bridging data for the Japanese population in the context of the International Conference on Harmonization.
Neutralizing Antibodies Associated with Viremia Control in a Subset of Individuals after Treatment of Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection (2001)

Immediate treatment of acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection has been associated with subsequent control of viremia in a subset of patients after therapy cessation, but the immune responses contributing to control have not been fully defined. Here we examined neutralizing antibodies as a correlate of viremia control following treatment interruption in HIV-1-infected individuals in whom highly active antiretriviral therapy (HAART) was initiated during early seroconversion and who remained on therapy for 1 to 3 years. Immediately following treatment interruption, neutralizing antibodies were undetectable with T-cell-line adapted strains and the autologous primary HIV-1 isolate in seven of nine subjects. Env- and Gag-specific antibodies as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also low or undetectable at this time. Despite this apparent poor maturation of the virus-specific B-cell response during HAART, autologous neutralizing antibodies emerged rapidly and correlated with a spontaneous downregulation in rebound viremia following treatment interruption in three subjects. Control of rebound viremia was seen in other subjects in the absence of detectable neutralizing antibodies. The results indicate that virus-specific B-cell priming occurs despite the early institution of HAART, allowing rapid secondary neutralizing-antibody production following treatment interruption in a subset of individuals. Since early HAART limits viral diversification, we hypothesize that potent neutralizing-antibody responses to autologous virus are able to mature and that in some persons these responses contribute to the control of plasma viremia after treatment cessation.
Synthesis of Biodegradable and Electroactive Multiblock Polylactide and Aniline Pentamer Copolymer for Tissue Engineering Applications (2008)

To obtain one biodegradable and electroactive polymer as the scaffold for tissue engineering, the multiblock copolymer PLAAP was designed and synthesized with the condensation polymerization of hydroxyl-capped poly( l-lactide) (PLA) and carboxyl-capped aniline pentamer (AP). The PLAAP copolymer exhibited excellent electroactivity, solubility, and biodegradability. At the same time, as one scaffold material, PLAAP copolymer possesses certain mechanical properties with the tensile strength of 3 MPa, tensile Young 's modulus of 32 MPa, and breaking elongation rate of 95%. We systematically studied the compatibility of PLAAP copolymer in vitro and proved that the electroactive PLAAP copolymer was innocuous, biocompatible, and helpful for the adhesion and proliferation of rat C6 cells. Moreover, the PLAAP copolymer stimulated by electrical signals was demonstrated as accelerating the differentiation of rat neuronal pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells. This biodegradable and electroactive PLAAP copolymer thus possessed the properties in favor of the long-time application in vivo as nerve repair scaffold materials in tissue engineering.
STARK SPECTROSCOPY: Applications in Chemistry, Biology, and Materials Science (1997)

Stark spectroscopy has been applied to a wide range of molecular systems and materials. A generally useful method for obtaining electronic and vibrational Stark spectra that does not require sophisticated equipment is described. By working with frozen glasses it is possible to study nearly any molecular system, including ions and proteins. Quantitative analysis of the spectra provides information on the change in dipole moment and polarizability associated with a transition. The change in dipole moment reflects the degree of charge separation for a transition, a quantity of interest to a variety of fields. The polarizability change describes the sensitivity of a transition to an electrostatic field such as that found in a protein or an ordered synthetic material. Applications to donor-acceptor polyenes, transition metal complexes (metal-to-ligand and metal-to-metal mixed valence transitions), and nonphotosynthetic biological systems are reviewed.
Efficient Synthetic Access to a New Family of Highly Potent Bryostatin Analogues via a Prins-Driven Macrocyclization Strategy (2008)

The step-economical synthesis of a new class of bryostatin analogues that contain the complete oxycarbocyclic core ring system of the bryostatin natural products is reported. These agents are convergently assembled via a highly efficient, functional-group-tolerant, and stereoselective Prins-driven macrocyclization. These tetrahydropyranyl B-ring analogues are among our most potent and efficacious analogues to date, exhibiting nanomolar and picomolar activities in protein kinase C affinity assays as well as in cellular antiproliferation assays.
Multicopy suppression by asd gene and osmotic stress-dependent complementation by heterologous proA in proA mutants (1995)

Auxotrophic proA mutants of Escherichia coli were complemented by two different classes of Corynebacterium glutamicum genes. One of these was the asd gene. The E. coli asd gene also complements the same proA alleles. Complementation of proA by the asd+ gene requires a high asd dosage and the proB and the proC gene products. The reciprocal complementation pattern (asd by the proA+ gene) was not observed. This complementation appears to be due to multicopy suppression by a proline biosynthetic gene whose product was expected to play a negligible role in this pathway. The other class of complementing clones carries the C. glutamicum proA gene. Complementation of E. coli proA mutants by the C. glutamicum proA+ gene was optimal at high osmolarity.
Mechanisms of nitric oxide-mediated neurotoxicity in primary brain cultures (1993)

In addition to mediating several physiological functions, nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the cytotoxicities observed following activation of macrophages or excess stimulation of neurons by glutamate. We extend our previous observations of glutamate-stimulated, NO-mediated neurotoxicity in primary cultures of rat fetal cortical, striatal, and hippocampal neurons. Neurotoxicity elicited by either NMDA or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) exhibits a similar concentration-effect relationship and time course. The concentration-effect curve of NMDA-induced neurotoxicity is shifted to the right in the presence of nitro-L-arginine and farther to the right in arginine-free media. The rank order of potency of several NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors in preventing neurotoxicity is the same as the rank order of these compounds in inhibiting NOS, and this inhibition is stereospecific. NMDA neurotoxicity is also prevented by flavoprotein inhibitors and calmodulin inhibitors, fitting with the roles of flavoproteins and calmodulin as NOS regulators. 8-Bromo-cGMP and guanylyl cyclase inhibitors do not affect neurotoxicity, while superoxide dismutase attenuates neurotoxicity. NOS neurons appear to be the source of neurotoxic NO in culture, as lesions of these neurons with 20 microM quisqualate diminish subsequent NMDA neurotoxicity. Moreover, NMDA neurotoxicity develops over time in culture coincident with the expression of NOS. Immunohistochemical localization of NOS in cultures and intact brain demonstrates widespread distribution of the cell processes suggesting that NOS neurons contact the majority of cortical neurons and so could mediate widespread neurotoxicity.
Circular Permutation of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (1999)

The sequence of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been circularly permuted by introducing new chain termini into interhelical loops and by constraining the N- and C-terminal helices, either by direct linkage of the termini (L0) or by substitution of the amino-terminal 10-residue segment with a seven-residue linker composed of glycines and serines (L1). All the circularly permuted G-CSFs (cpG-CSFs) were able to fold into biologically active structures that could recognize the G-CSF receptor. CD and NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that all of the cpG-CSFs adopted a fold similar to that of the native molecule, except for one [cpG-CSF(L1)[142/141]] which has the new termini at the end of loop 34 with the shorter L1 linker. All of the cpG-CSFs underwent cooperative unfolding by urea, and a systematically lower free energy change (DeltaGurea) was observed for molecules with the shorter L1 linker than for those molecules in which the original termini were directly linked (the L0 linker). The thermodynamic stability of the cpG-CSFs toward urea was found to correlate with their relative ability to stimulate proliferation of G-CSF responsive cells. Taken together, these results indicate that the G-CSF sequence is robust in its ability to undergo linear rearrangement and adopt a biologically active conformation. The choice of linker, with its effect on stability, seems to be important for realizing the full biological activity of the three-dimensional structure. The breakpoint and linker together are the ultimate determinants of the structural and biological profiles of these circularly permuted cytokines. In the following paper [McWherter, C. A., et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 4564-4571], McWherter and co-workers have used circularly permuted G-CSF sequences to engineer chimeric dual IL-3 and G-CSF receptor agonists in which the relative spatial orientation of the receptor agonist domains is varied. Interpreting the differences in activity for the chimeric molecules in terms of the connectivity between domains depends critically on the results reported here for the isolated cpG-CSF domains.
Greenhouse Gas Sinks (2007)

Bringing together leading researchers from around the world, this book reviews how vegetation and soils act as naturally occurring buffers which use up the gases responsible for global warming and the greenhouse effect. It provides in-depth information on the importance of these sinks, how they may respond to increased greenhouse gas emissions, how we can protect them and how they can help us mitigate climate change.
Smart Cars and Automated Highways (1998)

This article illustrates the development and use of intelligent vehicles and automated highways to solve the increasing traffic problem. Small networks of computers installed in vehicles and along selected roadways could closely coordinate vehicles and harmonize traffic flow, maximizing highway capacity and passenger safety. A driver electing to use such an automated highway might first pass through a validation lane, similar to today's high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) or carpooling lanes. The system would then determine if the car will function correctly in an automated mode, establish its destination, and deduct any tolls from the driver's credit account. The article also highlights that basic to the automated-highway schemes are computer simulations to indicate that such systems may be the least expensive way to increase highway throughput. The California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) Program at the University of California has developed the technology whereby magnets buried at intervals in the roadbed would be sensed by magnetometers in vehicles, providing a way to monitor their location and velocity.
[Behavioral disorders in psittacines. 2: Therapeutic measures]. (1997)

The main principal in the treatment of behavioural disorders in psittacines consists of optimizing the keeping conditions which have to be ruled out by precise anamnesis. Wounds caused by automutilation require a collar to be put around the patient's neck. This, however, is not a method for longterm preventing of feather plucking. A balanced diet that takes into account the bird's natural behaviour in food intake, larger cages and suitable toys as well as close relationship between bird and bird keeper are changes that should be achieved. Manifest behavioural disorders can only be treated successfully by keeping the bird together with a partner. Exceptionally this may be a bird of a different species. The problems of abnormal fixation to human beings are discussed.
Duplicate detection for symbolically compressed documents (1999)

A new family of symbolic compression algorithms has recently been developed that includes the ongoing JBIG2 standardization effort as well as related commercial products. These techniques are specifically designed for binary document images. They cluster individual blobs in a document and store the sequence of occurrence of blobs and representative blob templates, hence the name symbolic compression. This paper describes a method for duplicate detection on symbolically compressed document images. It recognizes the text in an image by deciphering the sequence of occurrence of blobs in the compressed representation. We propose a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) method for solving such deciphering problems and suggest applications in multilingual document duplicate detection.
Physicochemical Properties of PEG-Grafted Liposomes. (2002)

Egg phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes containing polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids covering a range of 0-30 mol% have been prepared by Extrusion method. The physicochemical properties including size evolution and calcein permeation were evaluated to investigate the effect of PEG-lipids on bilayer structure. The results from quasielasetic light scattering (QELS), freeze-fracture microscopy, and gel exclusion chromatography revealed that presence of low concentration of PEG-lipid results in decreasing of vesicle size and further increase in the PEG-lipid concentrations lead to a transition from the lamellar membranes to micelles. The permeability for calcein increased with increase in concentration of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE)-PEG. On the other hand, the permeability decreased with low amount of cholesterol-PEG (blow 20% cholesterol-PEG) and increased with high amount of it. The maximum concentration of PEG-lipid that may be incorporated without alteration of the liposome structure depends on the composition of the bilayer. The concentration of DSPE-PEG2000 incorporated into vesicles without damaging vesicle structures were <20 mol% for EggPC and <10% for DMPC.
Language background classification (1984)

Abstract The classification of individuals into groups with similar language backgrounds is considered. The use made of Language Background questionnaires is analysed and three criticisms offered. These criticisms concern firstly, the varying nature and range of questions used; secondly, the inclusion of indirect language background questions, suggesting a distinction between the concepts of functional bilingualism and language background; and thirdly, previous methods of categorisation of individuals into groups using language background scores. Cluster analysis is suggested as a method of solving the problem of categorisation. Consideration of approaches to cluster analysis appears to recommend latent class analysis as the preferable method due to its ability to include missing data and its probabilistic structure. As an example, an analysis of the language background of 192 nine and ten year olds is presented using the latent class model. The three group solution is profiled, suggesting the existence of one Welsh group, one English group, and one group who use both languages, English in some contexts, Welsh in other contexts.
Live forensics analysis: Violations of business security policy (2014)

Many more corporate entities today are utilizing ICTs to identify opportunities for innovative and customer-centric, value-added products and services. Indeed, information systems have been key characteristic of any growing and successful businesses, as they utilize ICTs for business value creation. The key motivation for the huge investment in IT infrastructures is to ensure an upsurge in revenue and retention of sizeable market share. Computer Usage policy is a document that provides guidelines that regulates the acceptable usage of these systems by end- users. The provision of these guidelines also serve as benchmark metrics in assessing the abuse or misuse of corporate information systems. These misuse and/or abuse are referred to as violations of computer usage in this study. 10 users, selected randomly from within each unit of a multi-lateral company, were observed for violations. Live computer forensics techniques utilizing EnCase, Microsoft reporting tools, WinHex, etc., were employed to investigate these violations. Notwithstanding the strict corporate policies, the study revealed that end-users virtually violated all computer usage policies. This paper further analyses and addresses the causes, effects and offers measures to mitigate computer usage violations.
Positional Cloning of the Human Quantitative Trait Locus Underlying Taste Sensitivity to Phenylthiocarbamide (2003)

The ability to taste the substance phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been widely used for genetic and anthropological studies, but genetic studies have produced conflicting results and demonstrated complex inheritance for this trait. We have identified a small region on chromosome 7q that shows strong linkage disequilibrium between single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and PTC taste sensitivity in unrelated subjects. This region contains a single gene that encodes a member of the TAS2R bitter taste receptor family. We identified three coding SNPs giving rise to five haplotypes in this gene worldwide. These haplotypes completely explain the bimodal distribution of PTC taste sensitivity, thus accounting for the inheritance of the classically defined taste insensitivity and for 55 to 85% of the variance in PTC sensitivity. Distinct phenotypes were associated with specific haplotypes, which demonstrates that this gene has a direct influence on PTC taste sensitivity and that sequence variants at different sites interact with each other within the encoded gene product.
DNA microarray analysis of Bacillus subtilis DegU, ComA and PhoP regulons: an approach to comprehensive analysis of B.subtilis two-component regulatory systems (2001)

We have analyzed the regulons of the Bacillus subtilis two-component regulators DegU, ComA and PhoP by using whole genome DNA microarrays. For these experiments we took the strategy that the response regulator genes were cloned downstream of an isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible promoter on a multicopy plasmid and expressed in disruptants of the cognate sensor kinase genes, degS, comP and phoR, respectively. The feasibility of this experimental design to detect target genes was demonstrated by the following two results. First, expression of lacZ fusions of aprE, srfA and ydhF, the target genes of DegU, ComA and PhoP, respectively, was stimulated in their cognate sensor kinase-deficient mutants upon overproduction of the regulators. Secondly, by microarray analysis most of the known target genes for the regulators were detected and, where unknown genes were found, the regulator dependency of several of them was demonstrated. As the mutants used were deficient in the kinase genes, these results show that target candidates can be detected without signal transduction. Using this experimental design, we identified many genes whose dependency on the regulators for expression had not been known. These results suggest the applicability of the strategy to the comprehensive transcription analysis of the B.subtilis two-component systems.
Varroa—Still A Problem In The 21st Century? (2011)

On Saturday 29th January 2011 IBRA held a well attended conference at Worcester. The following report is by Daniel Basterfield a bee farmer from Devon, England who recently joined IBRA Council.
Imaging of Nonuniform Current Density at Microelectrodes by Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence (1999)

The chemiluminescence arising from reaction of electrogenerated radical cations of 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA) and benzonitrile (solvent) radical anions has been used to image microelectrodes with dimensions in the micrometer range. Experimental conditions including supporting electrolyte, DPA concentration, and excitation frequency were optimized to affect high luminescent intensity. In solutions of high resistance, the light was found to be temporally delayed with respect to the applied potential due to the increased time required to charge the double layer. Spatially nonuniform light at disk- and band-shaped microelectrodes was observed under certain conditions, with the highest intensity occurring at the region of the electrode with highest curvature. The optimum condition for observation of the nonuniform light was with very high electrode currents. Under this condition, the current density approaches that of the primary current distribution, a circumstance where spatially nonuniform potentials occur. This phenomenon was also examined at a conical electrode as a method of reducing the emission area. A submicrometer-size light source was obtained at high frequencies with an electrode that had a significantly larger uninsulated area.
A bit-serial approximate min-sum LDPC decoder and FPGA implementation (2006)

We propose a bit-serial LDPC decoding scheme to reduce interconnect complexity in fully-parallel low-density parity-check decoders. Bit-serial decoding also facilitates efficient implementation of wordlength-programmable LDPC decoding which is essential for gear shift decoding. To simplify the implementation of bit-serial decoding we propose a new approximation to the check update function in the min-sum decoding algorithm. The new check update rule computes only the absolute minimum and applies a correction to outgoing messages if required. We present a 650-Mbps bit-serial (480, 355) RS-based LDPC decoder implemented on a single Altera Stratix EP1S80 FPGA device. To our knowledge, this is the fastest FPGA-based LDPC decoder reported in the literature