gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Chlamydia pneumoniae Antigens Using Human T Cell Clones (1997)

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection is followed by the development of antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI), which is detectable as a positive lymphocyte proliferation (LP) response to C. pneumoniae elementary body (EB) antigen, but the proteins inducing the T cell activation are not known. In the present work the authors used human T lymphocyte clones (TLC) raised against C. pneumoniae EB antigen to characterize C. pneumoniae proteins as T cell-stimulating antigens. A total of 55% of the TLC established recognized antigenic determinants only on C. pneumoniae species, while the rest of the TLC proliferated to both C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis EB. The antigen specificity of the TLC was further analysed by stimulating with SDS-PAGE fractionated C. pneumoniae EB proteins. Chlamydia pneumoniae species-specific antigens were found in the molecular weight ranges 92-98, 51-55, 43-46 and 31.5-33 kDa and genus-specific antigens in the ranges 12, 26 and 65-70 kDa. The 46.5-49.5 and 55-61 kDa regions contained both species-specific and genus-specific antigens. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) restriction analysis for the TLC isolated from an HLA DR4, 15(2) heterozygous person showed the majority (81.3%) to be restricted to the HLA DR4 molecule, the rest being DR15(2)-restricted. An interesting preliminary finding was that the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA by the TLC was predominantly associated with antigen recognition in the context of the HLA DR4 molecule, while interleukin-4 (IL-4) production was linked to antigen recognition in the context of the HLA DR15(2) molecule.
Managing evaporation for more robust microscale assays : Part 1. Volume loss in high throughput assays (2008)

Evaporation is a well known issue when handling small liquid volumes. Here we present a review of microscale assays prone to evaporation and methods to make them more robust. Applications for these assays span from combinatorial chemistry to cell-biology where the stability of concentrations and osmolarity can be critical. A dimensionless evaporation number Ev is presented and used to characterize volume loss in short term and long term microscale assays. Ev can be used both as a design tool and as an analysis parameter. The advantageous use of evaporation in some applications is also discussed.
Modulation of renal epithelial cell growth by glucosylceramide. Association with protein kinase C, sphingosine, and diacylglycerol. (1991)

Two independent approaches were employed to explore the potential role of endogenous glucosylceramide or a closely related glucosphingolipid in mediating the cellular proliferation of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. First, cultured cells were depleted of glucosphingolipids by exposure to a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol. This agent markedly inhibited cell growth and DNA synthesis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Second, cells were grown in the presence of conduritol B epoxide, an inhibitor of glucosylceramide beta-D-glucosidase. Exposure of cells to this inhibitor resulted in the time-dependent accumulation of glucosylceramide with a corresponding increase in cellular proliferation. Alterations in protein kinase C activity were evaluated as a potential mechanism for these effects on growth. Both membrane- and cytosol-associated protein kinase C (PKC) activity declined under conditions of glucosylceramide synthase inhibition and increased under conditions of beta-glucosidase inhibition. The changes in PKC activity were evident after DEAE-cellulose purification. Diacylglycerol levels increased in response to both glucosylceramide synthase and beta-glucosidase inhibition. Ceramide and sphingosine levels changed only in the presence of D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, increasing due to lack of conversion to glucosylceramide. However, the elevation in endogenous sphingosine was probably insufficient to account for the decrease in PKC, considering the high level of diacylglycerol in the cells. These data demonstrate an association between glucosylceramide levels, PKC activity, and cell growth.
Network Synchronization: Analysis of a Hybrid of Master-Slave and Mutual Synchronization (1980)

The paper contains a proposal and an analysis of a hybrid method for synchronizing the clocks in a digital switching network to a more select group of "master clocks." The scheme is a hybrid of two well-known techniques, "mutual synchronization" and "masterslave," offering certain unique advantages. It allows different synchronizing disciplines for the masters (such as the toll switching machines) and the remaining subnetwork (composed, for example, of local switches). We begin by considering an idealized model containing only one master with constant clock frequency. The behavior of the controlled frequencies in the subnetwork is described by linear delay-differential equations with the delays determined by distances separating switches. We show that in all cases all clocks in the subnetwork approach in steady state the master clock frequency. Considerable emphasis is placed on the rate of synchronization, as determined by the principal root, the root with largest real part, of the characteristic function of the differential equations. The idealized model is extended in stages. First we consider the effects of many masters with constant but possibly nonidentical frequencies and show that the steady state frequencies in the subnetwork are narrowly bounded. Next, we allow clock drift and the master clocks to fluctuate about nominal centers with given tolerances. An expression for the residual steady-state departures from perfect synchronization shows the tradeoff between transient and stead-state behavior. Finally, two illustrative examples are numerically solved.
Dynamic rate shaping of compressed digital video (2006)

We discuss new theoretical and experimental results on the dynamic rate shaping (DRS) approach for transcoding compressed video bitstreams (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.261, as well as JPEG). We analyze the behavior of DRS assuming a first order autoregressive source. We propose a set of low complexity algorithms for both constrained and unconstrained DRS and substantiate the almost-optimal experimental performance of the memoryless algorithm by assuming a first order autoregressive source. By deriving the statistical and rate-distortion characteristics of different components of the interframe rate shaping problem, we offer an explanation as to why the set of optimal breakpoint values for any frame is somewhat invariant to the accumulated motion compensated shaping error from past frames. We also present an extensive experimental study on the various DRS algorithms (causally optimal, memoryless, and rate-based) both in their constrained and generalized forms. The study proves the computational viability of the DRS approach to transcoding and identifies a range of rate shaping ratios for which it is better than requantization, both complexity-wise as well as in performance. This result is significant in that it opens up the way to construct much simpler memoryless algorithms that give minimal penalty in achieved quality, not just for this but possibly other types of algorithms. This is also the very first use of matrix perturbation theory for tracking the spectral behavior of the autocorrelation matrix of the source signal and the motion residual it yields.
Tyrosinase-Catalysed Coating of Wool Fibres With Different Protein-Based Biomaterials (2009)

The potential of tyrosinases to activate tyrosine residues of wool protein fibres for cross-linking with different materials like collagen, elastin and gelatine was assessed. Natural fibres like wool offer an excellent environment for the growth of micro-organisms when the conditions like moisture, oxygen and temperature are appropriate. Coating with collagen, a very useful biomaterial with bactericidal and fungicidal properties, could be used to improve the properties of wool-based materials, especially when applied in hygienically sensitive applications like in hospitals. Tyrosinases were shown to catalyse the oxidation of tyrosine residues in wool and wool hydrolysates as model substrates, as determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Structural differences of the surface were evident from the increase of the intensity in the NH bending and stretching regions in the spectra of NIR FT Raman analysis of the enzyme treated and grafted wool fibres. The durability of the coating was also shown by using FITC-labelled collagen that was bound to the wool fibres, even after severe washing. Additionally, antimicrobial properties were successfully imparted due to the collagen grafted on the wool fibres. The functional and mechanical properties of the treated wool fibres showed no significant changes.
New insights into inhibitors of adipogenesis (2004)

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in the United States and in other westernized societies. Understanding the mechanisms of excessive energy storage in adipose tissue is necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent and treat obesity. One potential, but unrealized, approach to obesity treatment is to target excessive adipose tissue enlargement. A number of promising extra- and intracellular inhibitors of fat cell formation have been identified, but the modulation of adipose tissue mass may have both advantageous and deleterious health effects.
3'-Tetrahydrofuranylglycine as a novel, unnatural amino acid surrogate for asparagine in the design of inhibitors of the HIV protease (1993)

The blockade of the HIV protease has become a major target in the search for an effective therapy for AIDS.<sup>1</sup> While many reports of potent HIV-1 inhibitors have appeared recently, the compound Ro 31-8959 remains the least selective for the HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteases.<sup>2</sup> This property may result in reduced susceptibility to resistance since these represent the genetically most divergent strains of HIV presently known to exist.
Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Angelman Syndrome (2011)

The Angelman syndrome is caused by disruption of the UBE3A gene and is clinically delineated by the combination of severe mental disability, seizures, absent speech, hypermotoric and ataxic movements, and certain remarkable behaviors. Those with the syndrome have a predisposition toward apparent happiness and paroxysms of laughter, and this finding helps distinguish Angelman syndrome from other conditions involving severe developmental handicap. Accurate diagnosis rests on a combination of clinical criteria and molecular and/or cytogenetic testing. Analysis of parent-specific DNA methylation imprints in the critical 15q11.2-q13 genomic region identifies 75-80% of all individuals with the syndrome, including those with cytogenetic deletions, imprinting center defects and paternal uniparental disomy. In the remaining group, UBE3A sequence analysis identifies an additional percentage of patients, but 5-10% will remain who appear to have the major clinical phenotypic features but do not have any identifiable genetic abnormalities. Genetic counseling for recurrence risk is complicated because multiple genetic mechanisms can disrupt the UBE3A gene, and there is also a unique inheritance pattern associated with UBE3A imprinting. Angelman syndrome is a prototypical developmental syndrome due to its remarkable behavioral phenotype and because UBE3A is so crucial to normal synaptic function and neural plasticity.
Differential regulation of bcl-2 and bcl-x by CD3, CD28, and the IL-2 receptor in cloned CD4+ helper T cells. A model for the long-term survival of memory cells (1996)

In this study, we examined the molecular signals that control apoptosis in cloned CD4+ helper T cells. Resting T cells were highly resistant to spontaneous death in the absence of exogenous stress, and they expressed low levels of bcl-x protein and no detectable bcl-2. Upon exposure to gamma radiation, resting cells rapidly underwent apoptotic death. Incubation with IL-2 prevented this cell death and led to a large increase in bcl-2 protein expression and only a modest up-regulation in bcl-x. The combination of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs was also effective in protecting the cells against radiation-induced apoptosis; however, this protection was associated predominantly with bcl-x up-regulation, and only a small induction of bcl-2 protein was observed. Finally, cyclosporin A blocked both IL-2 secretion and bcl-2 induction in response to CD3 plus CD28 stimulation, suggesting a role for endogenous lymphokine production in the induction of bcl-2. These data support a model in which memory T cells remain resistant to apoptosis because intermittent contact with Ag-bearing APC and IL-2R occupancy result in the expression of the life-proteins bcl-2 and bcl-x.
Numerical and experimental study of the evolution of stresses in flip chip assemblies during assembly and thermal cycling (2003)

Thermal cycling of flip chip assemblies is one of the commonly used tests to identify potential reliability concerns. The CTE mismatch among dissimilar materials in a flip-chip assembly produces thermo-mechanical stresses, which can lead to failures such as solder cracking, interfacial delamination, die cracking, etc. Although much work has been done in understanding the eutectic solder fatigue failure during thermal cycling, not much work has been done in understanding the stresses induced during underfill cure and the subsequent evolution of these stresses during thermal cycling. In this ongoing research, a comprehensive theoretical and experimental study has been carried out to understand the development and evolution of stresses on the active side of the die during thermal cycling.
Halo vest versus spinal fusion for cervical injury: evidence from an outcome study (1989)

The indications for surgical fusion, as opposed to halo fixation, in the management of cervical spine injury are still unclear. At St. Louis University Medical Center a conservative protocol has been adopted to treat almost all cervical spine fractures with halo fixation. To determine what factors have contributed to failure of halo fixation, the records and radiographs of all patients with cervical spine injuries who were treated at that institution between 1984 and 1986 were reviewed. During this interval, 124 patients were treated, consisting of 93 men and 31 women between 6 and 94 years old. Of these, 15 (12%) had cervical fusion without preoperative halo device application. This group included eight patients with old injuries and delayed diagnosis, three with nonreducible locked facets, and four with miscellaneous indications. The remaining 109 patients were treated with halo vests. Four died before completing the 3-month standard treatment. Of those completing the treatment, 48 had C1-2 level injuries and 57 had C3-T1 level injuries. Sixteen patients (15%) failed their halo treatments and required surgical fusion: eight while still in halo fixation and eight after they had completed treatment with a halo device. Failure of halo treatment was indicated by recurrent dislocation in 13 patients and increased neurological deficit in three. Thirteen of the patients who failed treatment had C3-T1 injuries and three had C1-2 injuries. Of 27 patients with odontoid fractures, only two (7.4%) failed halo fixation. There were no failures in 11 patients with hangman's fractures. Of the 57 patients with C3-T1 injuries, 13 (23%) failed treatment, nine of whom had locked or "perched" facets. The factors causing failure of halo fixation were analyzed. The overall success rate was 85%, suggesting that the halo vest can be used to treat most patients with cervical spine injuries. Under certain circumstances (in the presence of old injuries, difficult reduction, or locked or "perched" facets), surgery may be indicated to avoid unnecessary delay in definitive management.
Short Telomeres, Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene Amplification, and Increased Telomerase Activity in the Blood of Familial Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients (2008)

Our study demonstrates that patients with FPTC display an imbalance of the telomere-telomerase complex in the peripheral blood, characterized by short telomeres, hTERT gene amplification, and expression. These features may be implicated in the inherited predisposition to develop FPTC.
Nucleoside Phosphorothioates (1985)

The Hippo pathway was initially discovered in Drosophila melanogaster as a key regulator of tissue growth. It is an evolutionarily conserved signaling cascade regulating numerous biological processes, including cell growth and fate decision, organ size ...Read More
Prevention of angiotensin II-induced cardiac remodeling by angiotensin-(1–7) (2006)

Cardiac remodeling, which typically results from chronic hypertension or following an acute myocardial infarction, is a major risk factor for the development of heart failure and, ultimately, death. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has previously been established to play an important role in the progression of cardiac remodeling, and inhibition of a hyperactive RAS provides protection from cardiac remodeling and subsequent heart failure. Our previous studies have demonstrated that overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) prevents cardiac remodeling and hypertrophy during chronic infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II). This, coupled with the knowledge that ACE2 is a key enzyme in the formation of ANG-(1-7), led us to hypothesize that chronic infusion of ANG-(1-7) would prevent cardiac remodeling induced by chronic infusion of ANG II. Infusion of ANG II into adult Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in significantly increased blood pressure, myocyte hypertrophy, and midmyocardial interstitial fibrosis. Coinfusion of ANG-(1-7) resulted in significant attenuations of myocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis, without significant effects on blood pressure. In a subgroup of animals also administered [d-Ala(7)]-ANG-(1-7) (A779), an antagonist to the reported receptor for ANG-(1-7), there was a tendency to attenuate the antiremodeling effects of ANG-(1-7). Chronic infusion of ANG II, with or without coinfusion of ANG-(1-7), had no effect on ANG II type 1 or type 2 receptor binding in cardiac tissue. Together, these findings indicate an antiremodeling role for ANG-(1-7) in cardiac tissue, which is not mediated through modulation of blood pressure or altered cardiac angiotensin receptor populations and may be at least partially mediated through an ANG-(1-7) receptor.
Identification and Characterization of a Novel Prokaryotic Peptide (2015)

Peptide:N-glycosidase (PNGase) F, the first PNGase identified in prokaryotic cells, catalyzes the removal of intact asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains from glycoproteins and/or glycopeptides. Since its discovery in 1984, PNGase F has remained as the sole prokaryotic PNGase. Recently, a novel gene encoding a protein with a predicted PNGase domain was identified from a clinical isolate of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. In this study, the candidate protein was expressed in vitro and was subjected to biochemical and structural analyses. The results revealed that it possesses PNGase activity and has substrate specificity different from that of PNGase F. The crystal structure of the protein was determined at 1.9 Å resolution. Structural comparison with PNGase F revealed a relatively larger glycan-binding groove in the catalytic domain and an additional bowl-like domain with unknown function at the N terminus of the candidate protein. These structural and functional analyses indicated that the candidate protein is a novel prokaryotic N-glycosidase. The protein has been named PNGase F-II.
Surface and bulk structure of segmented poly(ether urethanes) with perfluoro chain extenders. 5. Incorporation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and polyisobutylene macroglycols (1994)

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTSurface and bulk structure of segmented poly(ether urethanes) with perfluoro chain extenders. 5. Incorporation of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and polyisobutylene macroglycolsSung Chul Yoon, Buddy D. Ratner, Bela Ivan, and Joseph P. KennedyCite this: Macromolecules 1994, 27, 6, 1548–1554Publication Date (Print):March 1, 1994Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 March 1994https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ma00084a041https://doi.org/10.1021/ma00084a041research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views322Altmetric-Citations53LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts
Disease-associated KIF3A variants alter gene methylation and expression impacting skin barrier and atopic dermatitis risk (2020)

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding kinesin family member 3A, KIF3A, have been associated with atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. We find that KIF3A SNP rs11740584 and rs2299007 risk alleles create cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites, which are highly methylated and result in lower KIF3A expression, and this methylation is associated with increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in risk allele carriers. Kif3a<sup>K14∆/∆</sup> mice have increased TEWL, disrupted junctional proteins, and increased susceptibility to develop AD. Thus, KIF3A is required for skin barrier homeostasis whereby decreased KIF3A skin expression causes disrupted skin barrier function and promotes development of AD.
Nanoparticulate carriers for the treatment of coronary restenosis. (2007)

The current treatment for coronary restenosis following balloon angioplasty involves the use of a mechanical or a drug-eluting stent. Despite the high usage of commercially-available drug-eluting stents in the cardiac field, there are a number of limitations. This review will present the background ofrestenosis, go briefly into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of restenosis, the use of mechanical stents in coronary restenosis, and will provide an overview of the drugs and genes tested to treat restenosis. The primary focus of this article is to present a comprehensive overview on the use of nanoparticulate delivery systems in the treatment of restenosis both in-vitro and in-vivo. Nanocarriers have been tested in a variety of animal models and in human clinical trials with favorable results. Polymer-based nanoparticles, liposomes, and micelles will be discussed, in addition to the findings presented in the field of cardiovascular drug targeting. Nanocarrier-based delivery presents a viable alternative to the current stent based therapies.
Fibrin glue from single‐donation autologous plasmapheresis (1992)

A method is described for preparing fibrin glue from fibrinogen obtained by double cryoprecipitation of plasma collected by plasmapheresis. Plasma (average volume, 528.8 +/- 86 mL), collected from 12 plasmapheresis donors was cryoprecipitated twice. When the cryoprecipitated pellet was resuspended in 0.5 to 2 mL of saline (total volume of saline-resuspended fibrinogen: 5 mL), the average yield of fibrinogen was 78.4 +/- 18.3 mg per mL. This is comparable to commercial preparations, is suitable for clinical use, and offers greater safety at a reduced cost.