gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Role of IL-6 in Directing the Initial Immune Response to Schistosome Eggs (2000)

The eggs of Schistosoma mansoni are strong inducers of a Th2 response, and previous work has shown that Ag-specific IL-6 is produced within 24 h after the injection of eggs into mice. Investigations to determine the role of IL-6 in orchestrating the early response to schistosome eggs have revealed that IL-12 is rapidly produced in lymph node cell cultures from egg-injected mice. This "early" IL-12 primes for the production of IL-6 and IFN-gamma, for in IL-12-/- mice egg injection fails to stimulate increased production of either of these cytokines. Furthermore, IL-6 also up-regulates IL-10 production which, together with IL-6, negatively regulates IL-12 and IFN-gamma production. Finally, IL-10 down-regulates the production of its inducer, IL-6. These data indicate that the anti-inflammatory role of IL-6 may be effected through negative regulation of type 1 (IFN-gamma) and type 1-associated (IL-12) cytokines either directly (by IL-6) or indirectly (through the induction of IL-10) and suggest that one mechanism by which eggs may support the development of Th2 responses is through the negative regulation of the type 1 response.
Revolutionizing biodegradable metals (2009)

Development of biodegradable metal implants is a complex problem because it combines engineering and medical requirements for a material. This article discusses the development of sensing and corrosion control techniques that can help in the design of biodegradable metallic implants. Biodegradable metallic implants dissolve as new tissue is formed. One of the most important factors in the design of biodegradable implants is to study the active interface, which should be monitored and controlled to address the medical concern of biocompatibility. Thus miniaturized and nanotechnology-based sensors that measure the activities of the degradation process and the formation of tissue are discussed for use with in vitro and in vivo experiments. These sensors can monitor chemical components and also cell activity and can provide new knowledge about biodegradable interfaces and how to actively control the interface to provide the best bioactivity to regenerate new tissue in a short time. Development of new alloys, nano-materials, miniature sensors, corrosion control coatings, and auxiliary applications such as biodegradable drug delivery capsules is expected to open up a new era in the engineering of materials for medicine.
In vitro assessment of the acid resistance of demineralized enamel irradiated with Er, Cr:YSGG and Nd:YAG lasers. (2015)

Laser irradiation, with or without applying five percent sodium fluoride, was not capable of increasing the enamel white spot lesions' acid resistance.
A Mitochondrial NADH-dependent Fumarate Reductase Involved in the Production of Succinate Excreted by Procyclic Trypanosoma brucei (2005)

Trypanosoma brucei is a parasitic protist responsible for sleeping sickness in humans. The procyclic stage of T. brucei expresses a soluble NADH-dependent fumarate reductase (FRDg) in the peroxisome-like organelles called glycosomes. This enzyme is responsible for the production of about 70% of the excreted succinate, the major end product of glucose metabolism in this form of the parasite. Here we functionally characterize a new gene encoding FRD (FRDm1) expressed in the procyclic stage. FRDm1 is a mitochondrial protein, as evidenced by immunolocalization, fractionation of digitonin-permeabilized cells, and expression of EGFP-tagged FRDm1 in the parasite. RNA interference was used to deplete FRDm1, FRDg, or both together. The analysis of the resulting mutant cell lines showed that FRDm1 is responsible for 30% of the cellular NADH-FRD activity, which solves a long standing debate regarding the existence of a mitochondrial FRD in trypanosomatids. FRDg and FRDm1 together account for the total NADH-FRD activity in procyclics, because no activity was measured in the double mutant lacking expression of both proteins. Analysis of the end products of 13C-enriched glucose excreted by these mutant cell lines showed that FRDm1 contributes to the production of between 14 and 44% of the succinate excreted by the wild type cells. In addition, depletion of one or both FRD enzymes results in up to 2-fold reduction of the rate of glucose consumption. We propose that FRDm1 is involved in the maintenance of the redox balance in the mitochondrion, as proposed for the ancestral soluble FRD presumably present in primitive anaerobic cells.
The two most common alleles of the coding GGN repeat in the androgen receptor gene cause differences in protein function (2007)

Genetic studies have reported association of a polyglycine-encoding GGN repeat in exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene with common human traits. The polyglycine tract is located in the transactivating domain of the AR protein, suggesting an effect of repeat length on receptor function. Here, we compare the functional characteristics of the two most common alleles (23 and 24 repeats) and two extreme alleles (10 and 27 repeats) in a reporter gene assay in HeLa cells. A correlation between the repeat length and AR activity was observed. This is attributable to both a higher protein concentration, determined by ELISA, and a higher per-protein activity of long repeat alleles. Interestingly, protein concentration does not correlate with transcript quantity, determined by real-time PCR assays, and no influence of repeat length on protein stability could be detected in translation inhibition assays. This may suggest that repeat length affects translation efficiency. In conclusion, our data provide evidence of functional differences between the two most common alleles of the AR GGN repeat, supporting its potential role in the development of human traits.
Electrolyte-Gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistors for Detecting pH and Protein Adsorption (2009)

We investigated electrolyte-gated graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) for electrical detecting pH and protein adsorptions. Nonfunctionalized single-layer graphene was used as a channel. GFETs immersed in an electrolyte showed transconductances 30 times higher than those in a vacuum and their conductances exhibited a direct linear increase with electrolyte pH, indicating their potential for use in pH sensor applications. We also attempted to direct surface-protein adsorption and showed that the conductance of GFETs increased with exposure to a protein at several hundred picomolar. The GFETs thus acted as highly sensitive electrical sensors for detecting pH and biomolecule concentrations.
Maternal serum levels of total activin‐A in first‐trimester trisomy 21 pregnancies (2001)

Maternal serum total activin-A concentration was measured in 45 pregnancies affected by trisomy 21 and 493 control unaffected pregnancies at 10-14 weeks of gestation. In the trisomy 21 pregnancies total activin-A concentration was significantly higher (1.36 MoM of the unaffected pregnancies) and in 16% of cases the level was above the 95th centile of normal. The log10 SD for the control group and the trisomy 21 group were 0.17 and 0.22, respectively. The median pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in this trisomy 21 series was 0.49 and for free beta-hCG was 2.05. In the trisomy group there were significant positive associations between total activin-A and PAPP-A (0.6071) and free beta-hCG (0.4255). The low median difference and the high overlap in values between trisomic and unaffected pregnancies make total activin-A of little practical use in first-trimester screening for trisomy 21.
Healing of Polytetrafluoro-ethylene Vascular Grafts Analyzed by Anti-Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms (1995)

The purpose of this study was to characterize the cellular contributions to the formation of the pseudointima (PI) using immuno-histochemistry with antibodies to specific smooth muscle myosin isoforms, SM1, SM2, SMemb, and to alpha-smooth muscle actin. The outer wall of polytetrafluoroethylene tube grafts were coated with a 10-microns silicon film except for 5 mm of the midportion and the grafts were implanted into the inferior vena cava of rabbits. The PI in the anastomotic area was mainly formed by dedifferentiation and redifferentiation of medial smooth muscle cells of the host vessel, while PI in the midgraft was formed by differentiation of myofibroblasts into smooth muscle cells in the internodal space.
Alternative genetic code for amino acids and transfer RNA revisited (2013)

The genetic code is highly conserved among all organisms and its evolution is thought to be strictly limited. However, an increasing number of studies have reported non-standard codes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Most of these deviations from the standard code are attributable to tRNA changes relating to, for example, codon/anticodon base pairing and tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase recognition. In this review, we focus on tRNA, a key molecule in the translation of the genetic code, and summarize the most recently published information on the evolutionary divergence of the tRNAs. Surprisingly, although higher eukaryotes, such as the nematode (worm), utilize the standard genetic code, newly identified nematode-specific tRNAs (nev-tRNAs) translate nucleotides in a manner that transgresses the code. Furthermore, a variety of additional functions of tRNAs, beyond their translation of the genetic code, have emerged rapidly. We also review these intriguing new aspects of tRNA, which have potential impacts on translational control, RNA silencing, antibiotic resistance, RNA biosynthesis, and transcriptional regulation.
Activity of nitazoxanide alone and in combination with azithromycin and rifabutin against Cryptosporidium parvum in cell culture (2000)

The in vitro activity of nitazoxanide alone and in combination with azithromycin and rifabutin was investigated against four clinical isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum. The susceptibility tests were performed by inoculation of the isolates on toe cell monolayers and determination of the parasite count after 48 h incubation at 37 degrees C. The culture medium was supplemented with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing serial dilutions of each agent. Antibiotic-free plates were used as controls. Experiments were performed in triplicate. Nitazoxanide showed moderate anticryptosporidial activity: it suppressed the growth of parasites by >50% at 8 mg/L. A parasite reduction of 79.8-83.9% was observed when nitazoxanide 8 mg/L was combined with azithromycin 8 mg/L and rifabutin 8 mg/L. The study suggests that nitazoxanide may be active in inhibiting C. parvum growth in vitro upon combination with azithromycin or rifabutin.
Use of Hooked-Wire Electrodes for Electromyography of the Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles (1969)

A new technique for electromyography of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles with bipolar hooked-wire electrodes is described in detail. This technique has the following important advantages for investigating speech activity: (1) it offers minimum discomfort to the subject, and consequently does not interfere with natural speech; (2) the electrodes stay in place regardless of rapid movements of the vocal cords or of the entire larynx during speech; and (3) it permits considerable localization of the area from which electrical activity is picked up.
Evidence for an autocrine/paracrine role for interleukin-6 in bone resorption by giant cells from giant cell tumors of bone. (1992)

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine whose role in osteoclastic bone resorption has not been clearly defined. Therefore, we have used giant cells, which express many features of osteoclasts, from giant cell tumors of bone as a model to examine the role that IL-6 may play in human osteoclastic bone resorption. We found that conditioned medium from 24-h cultures of highly purified giant cells (10(6)/ml) contained large amounts of IL-6 (37.9 +/- 8.8 ng/ml), similar to the amount of IL-6 produced by tumor stromal cells (29.8 +/- 11.5 ng/ml). Giant cells and stromal cells from giant cell tumors expressed IL-6 mRNA, as indicated by polymerase chain reaction analysis and in situ hybridization studies, and immunohistochemical techniques demonstrated that the giant cells expressed IL-6 receptors. The addition of a neutralizing antibody to IL-6 significantly decreased the area of dentine resorbed by purified giant cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the addition of IL-6 to cultures of purified giant cells pretreated with anti-IL-6 restored the resorbing capacity of the giant cells. These data suggest that IL-6 may act as both an autocrine and a paracrine factor for human osteoclasts and play an important role in the bone-resorbing capacity of these cells.
Heparan sulfate and heparanase play key roles in mouse β cell survival and autoimmune diabetes (2011)

The autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D) that arises spontaneously in NOD mice is considered to be a model of T1D in humans. It is characterized by the invasion of pancreatic islets by mononuclear cells (MNCs), which ultimately leads to destruction of insulin-producing β cells. Although T cell dependent, the molecular mechanisms triggering β cell death have not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that a glycosaminoglycan, heparan sulfate (HS), is expressed at extraordinarily high levels within mouse islets and is essential for β cell survival. In vitro, β cells rapidly lost their HS and died. β Cell death was prevented by HS replacement, a treatment that also rendered the β cells resistant to damage from ROS. In vivo, autoimmune destruction of islets in NOD mice was associated with production of catalytically active heparanase, an HS-degrading enzyme, by islet-infiltrating MNCs and loss of islet HS. Furthermore, in vivo treatment with the heparanase inhibitor PI-88 preserved intraislet HS and protected NOD mice from T1D. Our results identified HS as a critical molecular requirement for islet β cell survival and HS degradation as a mechanism for β cell destruction. Our findings suggest that preservation of islet HS could be a therapeutic strategy for preventing T1D.
Serological studies in cholera. 2. The vibriocidal antibody response of cholera patients determined by a microtechnique. (1968)

A microtechnique is described for the determination of vibriocidal antibodies to Vibrio cholerae, using 0.025 ml of fingertip blood or venous serum per test. This test could be used in epidemiological surveys, or as a routine test on patients admitted to hospital.Fourfold or greater rises in vibriocidal titre were noted for 96.5% of 370 bacteriologically confirmed cholera patients in an endemic area of East Pakistan (91.5% for the 94 children under 5 years in the study group). It is necessary to test sera against both Ogawa and Inaba serotypes of V. cholerae, as a significant titre rise was found against the homologous serotype only in 11% of the cases, and against the heterologous serotype only in 2%.Six serologically positive but bacteriologically negative persons were found to be household contacts of confirmed cholera patients (and 3 of the contacts had been vaccinated against cholera within 1 week before testing); 3 other cases (1.6%) were considered to be false positives.The vibriocidal test using fingertip blood was compared with daily rectal swabbing for the detection of cholera carriers among 153 household contacts of cholera patients, who had not received cholera vaccine within 2 weeks before testing; 16% gave a positive vibriocidal titre, while V. cholerae was isolated from 13% only.
Role of a major autoepitope in forming the DNA binding site of the p70 (Ku) antigen. (1992)

The Ku antigen is a heterodimer consisting of 70- and 80-kD protein subunits that binds to termini of double-stranded DNA. DNA binding appears to be mediated partly by the 70-kD (p70) subunit, but the precise mechanism of its association with DNA is unclear. High-titer autoantibodies in sera from certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus recognize at least eight distinct epitopes of Ku, and inhibit DNA binding. In the present studies, the binding of DNA to truncated p70 fusion proteins was determined in Southwestern blots and DNA immunoprecipitation assays. Appropriate folding of the p70 protein was crucial for efficient DNA binding. The minimal DNA binding site, amino acids 536-609, contains a major conformational autoepitope of p70 (amino acids 560-609). Deletion of amino acids 601-609, or substitution of ala-ala-ala for lys-ser-gly at positions 591-593, eliminated DNA binding as well as autoantibody binding, suggesting that the same secondary or supersecondary structure is involved in both DNA binding and autoantibody recognition. Residues within the DNA binding site/autoepitope closely resemble the helix-turn-helix motif in bacteriophage lambda Cro protein and certain other DNA binding proteins, and mutations predicted to destabilize this structure eliminated DNA binding. Adjacent to the helix-turn-helix is a highly basic domain (positions 539-559) that was also required for DNA binding. The findings suggest that the DNA binding site of p70 consists of a basic domain adjacent to a helix-turn-helix structure that also forms a major autoepitope.
Fusion expression ofHelicobacter pylorineutrophil-activating protein inE.coli (2005)

Recombinant protein rMBP-NAP might be a novel antigen for vaccine development against H pylori.
Evidence of Bacterial Metabolic Activity in Culture-Negative Otitis Media With Effusion (1998)

The RT-PCR-based assay system can detect the presence of bacterial mRNA in a significant percentage of culturally sterile middle ear effusions, establishing the presence of viable, metabolically active, intact organisms in some culture-negative OME.
Observation of Ramsey's Interference Fringes in the Profile of Doppler-Free Two-Photon Resonances (1977)

Using two coherent time-delayed short pulses, we have demonstrated that one can obtain, in the profile of Doppler-free two-photon resonances, interference fringes with a splitting $\frac{1}{2T}$ ($T$, delay time between the two pulses) much smaller than the spectral width $\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ of each pulse ($\ensuremath{\tau}$ duration of each pulse). This method should lead to a number of important improvements in the presently available techniques of ultrahigh-resolution laser spectroscopy of atoms and molecules.
Optical waveguide intensity modulators based on a tunable electron density multiple quantum well structure (1990)

With a recently developed semiconductor heterostructure it has become possible to tune continuously the electron density in multiple quantum wells. Here we demonstrate the first electro-optic waveguide intensity modulators based on this concept. We achieve a 22 dB on/off ratio for 9 V applied at 1.54 μm wavelength in a rib waveguide electroabsorption modulator. Electrorefractive devices include a waveguide Mach–Zehnder interferometer with an active length 650 μm operating at 1.58 μm wavelength with 5.4 V half-wave voltage. We show that the operating voltage can be further reduced by operating the Mach–Zehnder modulators in push-pull configuration.
Highly Reliable 250 W GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor Power Amplifier (2005)

A state-of-the-art highly reliable 250 W AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) push-pull transmitter amplifier operated at a drain bias voltage of 50 V is described. The amplifier, combined with a digital predistortion (DPD) system, also achieved an adjacent channel leakage power ratio ( ACLR ) of less than -50 dBc for 4-carrier wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) signals with a drain supply voltage of 50 V. I also demonstrate its stable operation under RF stress testing for 1000 h at a drain bias voltage of 60 V. Stable gate-leakage current for high-temperature operation was verified. Device fabrications on 4 inch sapphire and 3 inch semi-insulating (S.I.) SiC substrates were also addressed. These performances clarify that an AlGaN/GaN HEMTs amplifier is suitable for 3G W-CDMA systems.
Platelet Receptors for Collagen (1997)

The interaction of platelets with collagen is a complex reaction because collagen monomer does not have any affinity to platelets, but collagen fibrils and immobilized collagen bind strongly to platelets. It was postulated that a platelet would have multiple binding sites for collagen that would encompass several collagen molecules polymerized to each other. The mechanism for how these collagen fibrils or immobilized collagen bind to and activate platelets is still unknown. Two platelet glycoproteins, GP Ia/IIa (integrin alpha 2 beta 1) and GP VI, fulfill the following requirements for a physiological collagen receptor: 1) antibodies against these proteins inhibit the platelet aggregation induced by collagen and platelet adhesion to collagen under both static and flow conditions, and 2) patients whose platelets are deficient in either GP Ia/IIa or GP VI have been found, and their platelets show no interaction with collagen. Under flow conditions, which closely approximate physiological conditions under which thrombus formation occurs, platelets interact with vWf molecules bound to immobilized collagen and then the adhered platelets would react with collagen through their collagen receptors, resulting in activation of the platelets and subsequent formation of platelet aggregates. Although the details of the interaction of GP Ia/IIa with collagen have been investigated in recent years, the mechanism of the reaction between GP VI and collagen remains to be explored.
Neutralization of multiple laboratory and clinical isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by antisera raised against gp120 from the MN isolate of HIV-1 (1992)

Vaccines prepared from the envelope glycoprotein, gp120, of the common laboratory isolate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (IIIB/LAV-1) elicit antibodies that neutralize the homologous virus but show little if any cross-neutralizing activity. This may be because the principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of gp120 is highly unusual in the IIIB/LAV-1 strain and is not representative of those found in the majority of field isolates. We have now examined the immunogenicity of recombinant gp120 prepared from the MN strain of HIV-1 (MN-rgp120), whose PND is thought to be representative of approximately 60% of the isolates in North America. Our results show that MN-rgp120 is a potent immunogen and elicits anti-gp120 titers comparable to those found in HIV-1-infected individuals. While both MN-rgp120 and IIIB-rgp120 induced antibodies able to block gp120 binding to CD4, strain-specific and type-common blocking antibodies were detected. Finally, antibodies to MN-rgp120 but not to IIIB-rgp120 were effective in neutralizing a broad range of laboratory and clinical isolates of HIV-1. These studies demonstrate that susceptibility or resistance to neutralization by antibodies to gp120 correlates with the PND sequence and suggest that the problem of antigenic variation may not be insurmountable in the development of an effective AIDS vaccine.