gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Live Offspring by In Vitro Fertilization of Oocytes from Cryopreserved Primordial Mouse Follicles after Sequential In Vivo Transplantation and In Vitro Maturation1 (2001)

The objectives of the present study were to achieve 1) oocyte maturation, 2) oocyte competence of fertilization, and 3) oocyte competence of embryogenesis with oocytes from primordial follicles obtained from cryopreserved newborn mouse ovaries by using a two-step method. In the first step, frozen-thawed newborn mouse ovaries were transplanted under the kidney capsule of recipients for the initiation of growth from the primordial follicle stage on. In the second step, growing preantral follicles in the ovarian grafts were recovered and cultured. The results demonstrated that primordial follicles were able to be recruited to preantral follicles during the period of transplantation, and preantral follicles could be mechanically isolated from ovarian grafts. Under the present in vitro culture conditions, 85.8% of the isolated follicles (n = 332) from ovarian grafts survived the 12-day in vitro culture process, 84.9% of the recovered oocytes (n = 285) were germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD)-competent, and 76% of the oocytes that underwent GVBD (n = 242) developed to the metaphase II (MII) stage. In the in vitro fertilization experiments, 75.4% of 142 inseminated MII oocytes underwent fertilization and cleavage to the 2-cell stage. Subsequently, 79.7% of the 2-cell-stage embryos (n = 69) progressed to the late morula-early blastocyst stage. Transfer of late morula-early blastocyst embryos resulted in the production of live offspring. From our experiments, it may be concluded that in vivo maturation by grafting followed by in vitro maturation of frozen-thawed primordial follicles can restore fertility in mice. This model could be useful for a similar application in the human.
Gut Microbiota, Lipopolysaccharides, and Innate Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk (2010)

Compelling evidence supports the concepts that gut microbiota actively promotes weight gain and fat accumulation and sustains, indirectly, a condition of low-grade inflammation, thus enhancing the cardiovascular risk. Fewer Bacteroidetes and more Firmicutes seem to characterize the gut microbiota of obese people as compared with that of lean individuals. This difference translates into an increased efficiency of microbiota of obese individuals in harvesting energy from otherwise indigestible carbohydrates. Furthermore, the microbiota also seems able to favor fat accumulation. Indeed, studies performed in germ-free animals have demonstrated that conventionalization of sterile intestine with gut microbiota is associated with an enhanced expression of various lipogenic genes in different tissues, i.e., hepatic, adipose, and muscle tissues. Finally, the microbiota favors systemic exposure to the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), large glycolipids derived from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPSs can cause a condition of "metabolic endotoxemia" characterized by low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and augmented cardiovascular risk. LPSs are a powerful trigger for the innate immune system response. Upon binding to the Toll-like receptor 4 and its coreceptors, LPSs trigger a cascade of responses ultimately resulting in the release of proinflammatory molecules that interfere with modulation of glucose and insulin metabolism, promote development and rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque, and favor progression of fatty liver disease to steatohepatitis. This review gives a comprehensive breakdown of the interaction among gut microbiota, LPSs, and the innate immune system in the development of obesity and promotion of an individual's cardiovascular risk.
Vacuum-sealed high temperature high bandwidth fiber optic pressure and acoustic sensors (2005)

A novel vacuum-sealed miniature optical fiber sensor for static pressure or acoustic wave measurement is presented. This pressure sensor functions as a diaphragm-based extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (DEFPI) sensor. The sensor can work at high temperatures because of its all-silica structure. In static pressure measurement, the sensor's measurement range can be set up to 15,000psi with different thickness diaphragms. For acoustic applications, the sensor resonant frequency is higher than 600kHz. Evacuation of the sensor's cavity eliminates the thermally induced inner pressure changes (which is a common problem in pressure sensors) and therefore improves the accuracy and repeatability. In addition, the sensor fabrication process is simple, fast, controllable and low cost. This fiber sensor is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and corrosion resistant.
Procedural modeling of buildings (2006)

CGA shape , a novel shape grammar for the procedural modeling of CG architecture, produces building shells with high visual quality and geometric detail. It produces extensive architectural models for computer games and movies, at low cost. Context sensitive shape rules allow the user to specify interactions between the entities of the hierarchical shape descriptions. Selected examples demonstrate solutions to previously unsolved modeling problems, especially to consistent mass modeling with volumetric shapes of arbitrary orientation. CGA shape is shown to efficiently generate massive urban models with unprecedented level of detail, with the virtual rebuilding of the archaeological site of Pompeii as a case in point.
Effector T-cell subsets in systemic lupus erythematosus (2011)

Emerging data show a body of evidence that IL-17 and Th17 cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE. Further studies are warranted to dissect the mechanism for increased IL-17 production and the therapeutic implication of targeting this cytokine in SLE.
CO-INOCULATION OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX) WITHACTINOMYCETESANDBRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUMENHANCES PLANT GROWTH, NITROGENASE ACTIVITY AND PLANT NUTRITION (2013)

The aim of this study was to determine the potential of the endophytic actinomycetes that produce plant growth promoters used as co-inoculants with Bradyrhizobium japonicum to promote the growth of soybean. These endophytes exhibited the potential to enhance plant growth, nitrogenase activity of root nodules and plant nutrient uptake. Co-inoculum of B. japonicum with Nocardia alba conferred the maximum yield of root and shoot dry weight. All single-inoculated actinomycetes strains had the ability to enhance plant growth. Noc. alba and Nonomuraea rubra increased total plant dry weight up to 2.14-fold and 2.11-fold, respectively, when compared to the uninoculated controls. Co-inoculations of B. japonicum with each of Noc. alba, Non. Rubra, and Actinomadura glauciflava increased acetylene reduction activity up to 1.7 to 2.7-fold. For plant mineral composition, all of co-inoculation treatments significantly increased the nutrient levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) within a soybean plant.
Development of specific RIA and ELISA to study trypsin modulating oostatic factor in mosquitoes (1992)

Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), a decapeptide (H-YDPAPPPPPP-OH) that signals the termination of trypsinlike enzyme biosynthesis in the mosquito midgut, was covalently bound to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin using N-hydroxysuccinimide and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against this conjugate were used to develop specific RIA and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the peptide hormone in female Aedes aegypti. TMOF and its analogs TMOF(B) (H-DYPAPPPPPP-OH), P4 (H-YDPAPPPP-OH), P1 (H-YDPAP-OH), and poly-L-proline were tested with the antiserum. The antiserum fully recognized TMOF and partially recognized P4. Using both RIA and ELISA, we report that the amount of TMOF in the mosquito ovary is 100 +/- 20 ng (S.E.) and 96 +/- 1.4 ng (S.E.), respectively, for each assay. Minute quantities of TMOF a thousandfold lower than in the ovary were found in the mosquito brain, indicating that the hormone is probably not neural but ovarian in origin.
A structural domain of the covalent polymer globin chains of artemia. Interpretation of amino acid sequence data. (1988)

Artemia is unusual in having extracellular hemoglobins of Mr 260,000 comprising two globin chains (Mr 130,000), each of which is a polymer of eight covalently linked domains of about Mr 16,000. The amino acid sequence of one of these domains (E1) has been determined. It has 147 residues and Mr of 17,574 including heme. Sequence alignment revealed 19.0% identity with sperm whale myoglobin, whereas other vertebrate and invertebrate globins had between 13 and 24% identity. However, a much higher percentage of residues has a similar side chain character, suggesting that the domain E1 is very similar to other globins in showing the myoglobin fold. Template model building based on the known three-dimensional structure of myoglobin further supports this conclusion. Conversely, the differences between E1 and other globins are believed to reflect differences in the packing of the domains, first in a covalent polymeric subunit containing eight hemes and subsequently by association of two of these subunits as dimers. These findings provide further evidence for the versatility of the myoglobin fold.
Acute Phase Reactant Proteins in Prostatic Cancer (1977)

A profile of acute phase reactant proteins has been studied in patients with cancer of the prostate as an aid to diagnostic staging and therapy control. A linear discriminant function analysis incorporating serum acid phosphatase, prealbumin, alpha1 antitrypsin, alpha1 acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin allows the correct identification of metastatic disease in 88.6% of patients. The profile may also serve to augment other parameters in the assessment of the physiological effect of oestrogen treatment and show whether the prescribed medication is being taken.
Safety and Tolerability of R(+) Pramipexole in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (2015)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an aging-related, degenerative brain disease of adults. Most (∼95%) of AD occurs sporadically and is associated with early-appearing deficits in brain regional glucose uptake, changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD-related proteins, regional brain atrophy, and oxidative stress damage. We treated mild-moderate AD individuals with R(+)-pramipexole-dihydrochloride (R(+)PPX), a neuroprotective, lipophilic-cation, free-radical scavenger that accumulates into brain and mitochondria. 19 subjects took R(+)PPX twice a day in increasing daily doses up to 300 mg/day under a physician-sponsor IND (60,948, JPB), IRB-approved protocol and quarterly external safety committee monitoring. 15 persons finished and contributed baseline and post-treatment serum, lumbar spinal fluid, brain 18F-2DG PET scans, and ADAS-Cog scores. ADAS-Cog scores did not change (n = 1), improved (n = 2), declined 1-3 points (n = 5), or declined 4-13 points (n = 8) over 6 months of R(+)PPX treatment. Serum PPX levels were not related to changes in ADAS-Cog scores. Fasting AM serum PPX levels at 6 months varied considerably across subjects and correlated strongly with CSF [PPX] (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001). CSF [PPX] was not related to CSF [Aβ(42)], [Tau], or [P-Tau]. Regional 18F-2DG measures of brain glucose uptake demonstrated a 3-6% decline during R(+)PPX treatment. 56 mild-moderate adverse events occurred, 26 probably/definitely related to R(+)PPX use, with 4 withdrawals. R(+)PPX was generally well-tolerated and entered brain extracellular space linearly. Further studies of R(+)PPX in AD should include a detailed pharmacokinetic study of peak and trough serum [PPX] variations among subjects prior to planning any larger studies that would be needed to determine efficacy in altering disease progression.
Cell Damage-induced Conformational Changes of the Pro-Apoptotic Protein Bak In Vivo Precede the Onset of Apoptosis (1999)

Investigation of events committing cells to death revealed that a concealed NH2-terminal epitope of the pro-apoptotic protein Bak became exposed in vivo before apoptosis. This occurred after treatment of human Jurkat or CEM-C7A T-lymphoma cells with the mechanistically disparate agents staurosporine, etoposide or dexamethasone. The rapid, up to 10-fold increase in Bak-associated immunofluorescence was measured with epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies using flow cytometry and microscopy. In contrast, using a polyclonal antibody to Bak, immunofluorescence was detected both before and after treatment. There were no differences in Bak protein content nor in subcellular location before or after treatment. Immunofluorescence showed Bcl-xL and Bak were largely associated with mitochondria and in untreated cells they coimmunoprecipitated in the presence of nonioinic detergent. This association was significantly decreased after cell perturbation suggesting that Bcl-xL dissociation from Bak occurred on exposure of Bak's NH2 terminus. Multiple forms of Bak protein were observed by two dimensional electrophoresis but these were unchanged by inducers of apoptosis. This indicated that integration of cellular damage signals did not take place directly on the Bak protein. Release of proteins, including Bcl-xL, from Bak is suggested to be an important event in commitment to death.
Biliprotein Assembly in the Disc-Shaped Phycobilisomes of Rhodella violacea. On the Molecular Composition of Energy-Transfering Complexes (Tripartite Units) Forming the Periphery of the Phycobilisome* (1978)

Heterogeneous complexes with a molecular weight of about 790000 containing B-phycoerythrin (Bangiales phycoerythrin) and C-phycocyanin (Cyanophyceae phycocyanin) in a molar pigment ratio of 2:1 were isolated from purified, dissociated phycobilisomes. Electron microscopical investigations revealed structures of three discs aggregated face to face with an apparent distance of 1.5 nm between each disc. Two discs may represent phycoerythrin and one phycocyanin. The complexes are structurally identical with tripartite units of the phycobilisome periphery. Fluorescence data confirmed the integrity of isolated tripartite units. Excitation at 546 nm gives a fluorescence maximum at 644 nm, indicating intermolecular transfer of excitation energy from phycoerythrin to phycocyanin. Comparative subunit analyses and spectral data suggested that no allophycocyanin is present. Cross-linking experiments gave evidence for a polar arrangement of phycocyanin within the complex. This pigment itself is an aggregate of two smaller molecules each having a molecular weight of about 140000. Tripartite units contain all the phycoerythrin and phycocyanin of the phycobilisome. On this basis, a phycobilisome model is proposed which combines the aspects of biliprotein distribution, energy transfer and fine structure.
Labelling DNA strand breaks with BrdUTP. Detection of apoptosis and cell proliferation (1995)

In situ presence of numerous DNA strand breaks is a typical feature of apoptotic cells. Selective DNA strand break induction by photolysis (SBIP) at sites that contain incorporated halogenated DNA precursors has recently been proposed as a method of analysing DNA replication. Detection of DNA strand breaks, thus, enables one to identify apoptotic and/or DNA replicating cells. The current methods for DNA strand break labelling rely on the use of exogenous terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase which either directly attaches the fluorochrome conjugated triphosphodeoxynucleotides to 3'OH ends in the breaks, or indirectly labels 3'OH ends with digoxygenin or biotin conjugated triphosphodeoxynucleotides. A limitation of these methodologies, especially restricting their routine application in the clinic, is high cost of reagents. In the present study we have tested whether relatively simple compound BrdUTP, which is approximately three orders of magnitude less expensive than dUTP conjugated to digoxygenin, can be used as marker of DNA strand breaks. Apoptosis of HL-60 cells was induced by DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin. The incorporated BrdUTP was detected by fluoresceinated anti-BrdUrd MoAb. Cellular fluorescence was measured by flow cytometry as well as by Laser Scanning Cytometer (LSC). The data show that intensity of DNA strand break labelling with BrdUTP was nearly four- and two-fold higher than that obtained with the indirect labelling using biotin- or digoxygenin-conjugated dUTP, respectively, and over eight-fold higher than in the case of direct labelling with the fluorochrome (fluorescein or BODIPY)-conjugated deoxynucleotides. The increased labelling of DNA strand breaks with BrdUTP may reflect more efficient incorporation of this precursor by terminal transferase, compared to the nucleotides with bulky fluorochrome conjugates. DNA strand break labelling with BrdUTP, thus, offers a possibility of more sensitive (and at lower cost) detection of apoptotic or DNA replicating cells, compared to the alternative methods of DNA strand break labelling.
Improving Adenovirus Based Gene Transfer: Strategies to Accomplish Immune Evasion (2010)

Adenovirus (Ad) based gene transfer vectors continue to be the platform of choice for an increasing number of clinical trials worldwide. In fact, within the last five years, the number of clinical trials that utilize Ad based vectors has doubled, indicating growing enthusiasm for the numerous positive characteristics of this gene transfer platform. For example, Ad vectors can be easily and relatively inexpensively produced to high titers in a cGMP compliant manner, can be stably stored and transported, and have a broad applicability for a wide range of clinical conditions, including both gene therapy and vaccine applications. Ad vector based gene transfer will become more useful as strategies to counteract innate and/or pre-existing adaptive immune responses to Ads are developed and confirmed to be efficacious. The approaches attempting to overcome these limitations can be divided into two broad categories: pre-emptive immune modulation of the host, and selective modification of the Ad vector itself. The first category of methods includes the use of immunosuppressive drugs or specific compounds to block important immune pathways, which are known to be induced by Ads. The second category comprises several innovative strategies inclusive of: (1) Ad-capsid-display of specific inhibitors or ligands; (2) covalent modifications of the entire Ad vector capsid moiety; (3) the use of tissue specific promoters and local administration routes; (4) the use of genome modified Ads; and (5) the development of chimeric or alternative serotype Ads. This review article will focus on both the promise and the limitations of each of these immune evasion strategies, and in the process delineate future directions in developing safer and more efficacious Ad-based gene transfer strategies.
In-plane vector magnetometer employing a single unbiased magnetoresistor (1998)

This paper extends previous work, where a single barber-pole magnetoresistor (MR) was employed for measuring simultaneously two magnetic field components. The present work differs from the previous one in employing a single unbiased MR, which is simpler and less expensive. The present arrangement, like the previous one, relies on a rotating excitation method. A specially devised elliptically rotating field is employed for this purpose. The latter causes the material magnetization to rotate uniformly when there is no external field present. The presence of an external magnetic field is detected by measuring the time shifts of the resulting MR ac output zero-crossings. Despite the similarity between the present system and its previous counterpart, the sensitivities of detection of the present arrangement are equal for the two orthogonal components of the externally measured field. It is also interesting that the intensities of the sinusoidal excitation fields in the present case are equal. However, the excitation coils are not perpendicular to each other as they were in the previous barber-pole case.
Strong Akaganeite Aerogel Monoliths Using Epoxides:  Synthesis and Characterization (2003)

The synthesis of iron(III) oxide aerogel monoliths was performed by adding any one of several different 1,2- and 1,3-epoxides to ethanolic Fe(III) salt solutions at room temperature. While all of the epoxides examined resulted in gel formation, robust low-density (∼30−40 kg/m3; 99% porous), high-surface-area (∼250−300 m2/g), aerogel monoliths were prepared by the addition of 1,3-epoxide derivatives to solutions of FeCl3·6H2O, followed by drying with supercritical CO2. Both types of iron(III) oxide aerogels (those made with 1,2- and 1,3-epoxides respectively) were characterized using elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, acoustic measurements, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption desorption analysis. Elemental analyses and powder X-ray diffraction indicated that the strong aerogel monoliths made with the 1,3-epoxides are made up predominately of polycrystalline β-FeOOH, akaganeite, and those made with the 1,2-epoxides are amorphous. To our knowledge, this is first known report of synthesis and characterization of akaganeite aerogel materials. Transmission electron microscopy analysis indicates that aerogels derived using 1,3-epoxides have a microstructure made up of a highly reticulated network of fibers with diameters from ∼5 to 35 nm and lengths several times that, whereas those resulting from the use of 1,2-epoxides consist of interconnected spherical particles, whose diameters are 5−15 nm. The difference in microstructure results in each type of aerogel displaying very distinct physical and mechanical properties. In particular, the stiffness of the β-FeOOH aerogels is remarkable for a transition metal oxide aerogel. Monolithic cylinders of β-FeOOH aerogel can be sintered at 515 °C, transforming to α-Fe2O3 without shattering.
Intramolecular self-cleavage of polysialic acid. (1994)

Polysialic acid (PSA) is an unusual homopolymer of sialic acid (Sia) found on a limited number of animal glycoproteins and in the capsules of certain pathogenic bacteria. The biological properties of PSA are known to vary markedly with the length of the polymer. We confirm here that while the primary linkage unit of PSA (Sia alpha 2-8Sia) is more stable than commoner Sia linkages, PSA with > 3 Sia units is substantially more labile. A "limit digest" of PSA yields fragments of degree of polymerization (DP) = 2 and 3 and little monomeric Sia. In keeping with this, the fragmentation of PSA of DP 4 is non-random, with the internal glycosidic bond being more labile than those at the two ends. The accelerated breakdown of PSA involves an intramolecular mechanism that is not explained by lactone formation, cation effects, or specific secondary structural features. However, it is dependent upon the intactness of internal carboxyl groups, which have an anomalously high pKa. Thus, the instability of PSA appears to result from intramolecular self-cleavage of the glycosidic bonds of internal Sia units, in which the adjacent carboxyl group with a high pKa acts as a proton donor for general acid catalysis. This lability of PSA is seen under mildly acidic conditions that can be encountered in various physiological and pathological situations and thus has potential implications for neuronal adhesion, embryogenesis, and bacterial pathogenicity.