gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Platelet activating factor-induced microvascular permeability increases in the cat hindlimb. (1993)

Changes in microvascular permeability induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) were measured in the isolated, perfused cat hindlimb preparation, and compared to the effect produced by another inflammatory mediator, histamine. Permeability was assessed from changes in the protein reflection coefficient, as measured from changes in hematocrit and protein concentration resulting from microvascular fluid filtration. The findings were 1) PAF produces transient increases in permeability similar to histamine, but PAF is approximately 30 times as potent; 2) the permeability changes induced by 76 nM PAF can be totally inhibited by the specific PAF receptor blocker WEB-2086, but the blocker can only partially inhibit 380 nM PAF, a dose that produces a maximal increase in permeability; 3) Diphenhydramine (2 microM), an H1-receptor blocker, totally inhibits the transient permeability increase produced by 2 microM histamine; 4) Cimetidine (2 or 20 microM), an H2 blocker, could not inhibit this latter increase; 5) Isoproterenol (1 microM), a beta-agonist, totally inhibited the permeability increase produced by 1 microM histamine, but 10 microM isoproterenol only partially inhibited the maximal permeability increase produced by 10 microM histamine; 6) Isoproterenol could not inhibit PAF's permeability effect; and 7) PAF's effects were unchanged by depletion of white blood cells in the perfusate. These results suggest that PAF and histamine work through different pathways to increase permeability, but the final step of endothelial contraction, which opens large inter-endothelial gaps, occurs in response to both mediators. In addition, when concentrations of these inflammatory agents are sufficient to produce maximal permeability increases, as can occur in shock situations, then the permeability increases are more sustained and resistant to receptor inhibition.
Surface sensing and adhesion of Escherichia coli controlled by the Cpx-signaling pathway (2002)

Bacterial adhesion is an important initial step in biofilm formation, which may cause problems in medical, environmental, and industrial settings. In spite of obvious phenotypic differences between attached and planktonic cells, knowledge about the genetic basis for these differences and how adhesion-induced changes are mediated is limited. The Cpx two-component signal transduction pathway responds specifically to stress caused by disturbances in the cell envelope and activates genes encoding periplasmic protein folding and degrading factors. Here, we address the role of the Cpx-signaling pathway in sensing and responding to the physical change occurring during adhesion of Escherichia coli to surfaces. We present evidence that the expression of Cpx-regulated genes is induced during initial adhesion of E. coli to abiotic surfaces. This induction is specifically observed upon attachment of stationary-phase cells to hydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, surface-induced activity of the Cpx response requires NlpE, an outer membrane lipoprotein, which has previously been shown to induce the Cpx system when overproduced. The importance of a functional Cpx response during adhesion is further supported by the fact that a dramatically lower number of cells attach to the surface and dynamic cell-surface interactions as measured by a quartz crystal microbalance technique are altered when the CpxRA pathway is disrupted. The defects in adhesion exhibited by the cpxR and nlpE mutants were strikingly similar to those of wild-type cells in which protein synthesis was inhibited, suggesting that the Cpx pathway plays a key role in the regulation of adhesion-induced gene expression.
Lack of dynein arms in immotile human spermatozoa. (1975)

Sermatozoa from two brothers who are not twins were found to be straight and immotile. Examinations of the sperm showed that oxygen consumption and lactic acid production were normal; viability tests showed that the percentage of dead sperm was not increased. The ultrastructural appearance of the sperm tail was normal except for a complete lack of dynein arms and some irregularities in the arrangement of the accessory fibers and the longitudinal columns of the fibrous sheath. The mitochondrial apparatus and the sperm head conform to the conventional model. According to the sliding-filament hypothesis first proposed by Afzelius (1959. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol. 5:269.), the arms are responsible for the bending movements of the tail. The simplest explanation for the simultaneous lack of arms and sperm motility appears to be that the two brothers have a genetic disorder involving production, assembly, or attachment of the dynein arms.
Thermal Isolation of Encapsulated MEMS Resonators (2008)

This paper presents an in-chip thermal-isolation technique for a micro-ovenized microelectromechanical-system resonator. Resonators with a microoven can be used for high-precision feedback control of temperature to compensate for the temperature dependence of resonator frequency over a wide temperature range. However, ovenization requires power consumption for heating, and the thermal time constant must be minimized for effective temperature control. This paper demonstrates an efficient local-thermal-isolation mechanism, which can reduce the power requirement to a few milliwatts and the thermal time constant to a few milliseconds. In this method, the mechanical suspension of the resonator is modified to provide thermal isolation and include an integrated resistive heater. This combination provides mechanical suspension, electrical heating, and thermal isolation in a compact structure that requires low heating power and has a small thermal time constant. A power consumption of approximately 12 mW for a 125degC temperature rise and a thermal time constant ranging from 7 to 10 ms is reported in this paper, which is orders of magnitude lower than that of commercially available ovenized quartz resonators. A CMOS-compatible wafer-scale encapsulation process is used to fabricate this device, and the thermal-isolation design is achieved without any modification to the existing resonator fabrication process.
Improved detection limit of the proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometer: on-line monitoring of volatile organic compounds at mixing ratios of a few pptv (1998)

The sensitivity of our proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometer system has been improved by nearly two orders of magnitude, so that now on-line monitoring of volatile organic compounds at levels of a few pptv is possible. This has been demonstrated by means of calibration data down to 200 pptv and data on the diurnal variation of C9-alkylbenzene and its 13C-isotope in ambient air obtained at the western outskirts of Innsbruck. During night time the concentration of C9-alkylbenzene showed minimum values of about 200 pptv and its 13C-isotope, representing concentrations of ca. 20 pptv, closely followed time dependent relative variations of 10%, indicating a detection limit of 2 to 5 pptv. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cloning of a Putative Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit (1989)

A cDNA clone was isolated from a rat superior cervical ganglion cDNA library with an oligonucleotide that hybridized to muscle-like nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence possesses characteristics expected of a nAChR subunit that does not bind acetylcholine, in addition to distinctive features such as unique cysteine residues and N-linked glycosylation sites.
The Gene Ontology (GO) database and informatics resource (2003)

The Gene Ontology (GO) project (http://www. geneontology.org/) provides structured, controlled vocabularies and classifications that cover several domains of molecular and cellular biology and are freely available for community use in the annotation of genes, gene products and sequences. Many model organism databases and genome annotation groups use the GO and contribute their annotation sets to the GO resource. The GO database integrates the vocabularies and contributed annotations and provides full access to this information in several formats. Members of the GO Consortium continually work collectively, involving outside experts as needed, to expand and update the GO vocabularies. The GO Web resource also provides access to extensive documentation about the GO project and links to applications that use GO data for functional analyses.
Peripheral nerve repair with bioresorbable prosthesis. (1983)

Using the transected sciatic nerve model in adult mice, regeneration of a large bundle of axons organized into the form of a nerve with myelinated and unmyelinated axons, Schwann cells, fibroblasts, collagen, blood vessels, and connective tissue sheaths has been achieved with bioresorbable microtubular guidance channels over gaps of 5 mm in nonimmobilized animals. After 4-6 wks postoperatively, the regenerated nerve cable contains on the order of 40% as many myelinated axons as were measured in the proximal nerve stumps. With the channels used so far in this model, regenerating axons pass into the distal stump in about 3-6 wks postoperatively. The guidance channels used consist of synthetic polyesters and/or polyester composites including glycolic and lactic acid polymers, and polyesters derived from Krebs Cycle dicarboxylic acids. Inflammatory response to these materials has been minimal. Biodegradation/resorption rates can be controlled so as to be compatible with axon growth rates.
The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell activity. (2003)

Laughter may reduce stress and improve NK cell activity. As low NK cell activity is linked to decreased disease resistance and increased morbidity in persons with cancer and HIV disease, laughter may be a useful cognitive-behavioral intervention.
Modification of Alkanethiolate Monolayers by Low Energy Electron Irradiation:  Dependence on the Substrate Material and on the Length and Isotopic Composition of the Alkyl Chains (2000)

The low energy electron induced damage in self-assembled monolayers of dodecanethiolate, octadecanethiolate, and perdeuterated eicosanethiolate on gold and octadecanethiolate on silver has been investigated in situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and angle resolved near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. All investigated systems exhibit qualitatively similar behavior with respect to low energy electron irradiation. The most noticeable processes are the loss of orientational and conformational order, partial dehydrogenation with CC double bond formation, desorption of the layer fragments, reduction of the thiolate species, and the appearance of new sulfur species. The cross sections for the rates of the individual irradiation-induced processes have been determined. For the films on gold all these processes are found to evolve with similar rates, except for the formation of CC double bonds and desorption of sulfur-containing fragments. The extent of the latter process is noticeably smaller in the longer-chain films as compared to their shorter-chain counterparts. The response of the alkyl matrix and the S−Au interface to electron irradiation are not directly correlated. Whereas the irradiation-induced processes in the alkyl matrix are found to be essentially independent of the alkyl chain length and the substrate material, the extent and rate of the thiolate species reduction and new sulfur species formation are mainly determined by the strength and character of the thiolate−substrate bond. No large isotopic effect in the irradiation-induced dehydrogenation process was observed. Deuterated films are found to be only slightly less sensitive to electron irradiation as compared to their hydrogen-containing counterparts.
Polylactic Acid Technology (2000)

Polylactic acid is proving to be a viable alternative to petrochemical-based plastics for many applications. It is produced from renewable resources and is biodegradable, decomposing to give H2O, CO2, and humus, the black material in soil. In addition, it has unique physical properties that make it useful in diverse applications including paper coating, fibers, films, and packaging (see Figure).
Pharmacological Inhibition of Myostatin and Changes in Lean Body Mass and Lower Extremity Muscle Size in Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer (2014)

Four weekly s.c. doses of AMG 745 were well tolerated and were associated with increased LBM and decreased fat in the men receiving ADT for nonmetastatic prostate cancer. RESULTS support further investigation of AMG 745 in clinical settings with muscle loss and atrophy.
Bulk Superconductivity at 125 K inTl2Ca2Ba2Cu3Ox (1988)

Bulk superconductivity is reported in ${\mathrm{Tl}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{x}}$ with a transition to zero resistance at \ensuremath{\simeq} 125 K, the highest transition temperature (${T}_{c}$) yet found. Transmission electron spectroscopy shows that the unit cell is body-centered tetragonal and contains trilayer Cu perovskitelike units separated by bilayer Tl-O units. ${T}_{c}$ in this material varies from 118 to 125 K depending on preparation conditions. A high density of perovskitelike bilayer intergrowths are observed in the 118-K material, which we speculate result in the decreased ${T}_{c}$. A second structure containing only bilayer perovskitelike units---${\mathrm{Tl}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{1}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}{O}_{x}$---is a bulk superconductor with ${T}_{c}$ ranging from 95 to 108 K.
Visual navigation of an autonomous vehicle using white line recognition (1988)

A method is presented for the autonomous visual navigation of a vehicle by using a white guide for path recognition. The vehicle moves over a white guide line on the flat ground or floor, which is contrasted with its background. The vehicle uses a forward-looking TV camera for sensing. The white-line recognition algorithm presented uses a state transition algorithm. A field pattern monitoring method is also presented for vehicle guidance using a state transition scheme. When the vehicle comes to branches, it selects a suitable direction according to a path planner output. The vehicle can also avoid collisions with obstacles in front of it by monitoring the field patterns and their changes. An experimental moving vehicle system was constructed. Tests conforming the effectiveness of these approaches are described.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Thalidomide for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (2003)

In analogy to solid neoplasms, accumulating data suggest the requirement of angiogenesis also for the development and progression of hematopoietic malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Inhibition of increased microvessel density in bone marrow (BM) might be a promising target for pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing disease activity. Among the putative inhibitors of angiogenesis, thalidomide has demonstrated a considerable efficacy in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and AML with overall response rates up to 56% and 25%, respectively. Responders experienced hematologic improvements with increased hemoglobin and platelet counts resulting in temporary transfusion independence. In AML, partial responses--defined as reduction of the leukemic blast cell infiltration of at least 50% in BM--occurred in four of 20 patients after one month of thalidomide administration in a previous phase I/II study. Additionally, we observed a long-term response in one AML patient of more than 20 months, meanwhile fulfilling the criteria of complete remission. The decrease in leukemic blast infiltration in BM of responders was accompanied by a significant reduction of the microvessel density. Overall adverse events caused by the drug consisted mainly of fatigue, constipation, skin rash and polyneuropathy with a tolerable dose of 200-400 mg p.o. per day. In conclusion, thalidomide as a single agent has significant anti-leukemic activity with some evidence for anti-angiogenic effects in BM, although the precise mechanism of action remains to be elucidated.
Applications of high performance computing in engineering (1997)

Section 1 Parallel computing: Towards best achievable floating point performance for linear algebra computations on COTS Beowulf clusters C2AS: An agent-based distributed and parallel processing virtual machine Application of JavaSpaces to improve iterative reconstruction of SPECT data A parallel algorithm with time dependent mesh refinement for wave propagation problems Evaluation and benchmark of high-performance computer platforms for automotive crashworthiness simulation. Section 2 Parallel finite and boundary elements: Viscoelastic beam damping and piezoelectric control of deformations, probabilistic failures and survival times - analytical and massively parallel computational simulations Time-domain Laplace transform boundary element methods for diffusion problems Parallel finite element algorithms for the analysis of multiscale plasticity problems On parallel computing for the general boundary element method High performance computing for analysis and postprocessing of earthing systems in layered soils. Section 3 Applications in fluid flow: Parallel vorticity formulation for calculating lift and drag on bluff bodies in a free stream Parallel lattice fluid simulations for transport phenomena in porous media Large-scale parallel simulation of blood flow coupled with a diseased blood vessel Computation of the starting flow in a shock tunnel 2D nozzle Parallelization in two-dimensional direct numerical simulation Parallelization of a multi-blocked, multi-threaded general CFD code for heat transfer analysis. Section 4 Further applications in computational science: Data classification using KNN-fuzzy method optimized by a genetic algorithm Solving a rational Eigenvalue problem in fluid-structure interaction. Section 5 Performance and benchmarking: The VAMPIR and PARAVER performance analysis tools applied to a wet chemical etching parallel algorithm Computer-aided diagnostics, data collection, data warehousing and mining system for handguns A neural network implementation for data assimilation using MPI Information systems maintenance Issues of web-enabled high performance databases. Section 6 Distributed computer systems and networking: High performance multithreaded message passing on a myrinet cluster pCor: a prototype for resource oriented computing.
ZCS switched-capacitor bidirectional converters with secondary output power amplifier for biomedical applications (2010)

This paper proposes a zero-current-switching (ZCS) quasi-resonant (QR) bidirectional converter with secondary output power amplifier. For implantable biomedical devices applications, the proposed device could be regarded as a power regulator with power amplifier. The bidirectional converter could provide voltage conversion ratio double-mode/half-mode and also be employed as a secondary output power amplifier. The forward and reverse power conversion modes and power amplifier operating principles are described. Simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the concept and performance for the bidirectional power conversions and secondary output power amplifier. This device can be applied to wireless energy transfer for a battery management system (BMS) in an implantable electronics system.
Thymidine kinase mutants obtained by random sequence selection. (1993)

Knowledge of the catalytic properties and structural information regarding the amino acid residues that comprise the active site of an enzyme allows one, in principle, to use site-specific mutagenesis to construct genes that encode enzymes with altered functions. However, such information about most enzymes is not known and the effects of specific amino acid substitutions are not generally predictable. An alternative approach is to substitute random nucleotides for key codons in a gene and to use genetic selection to identify new and interesting enzyme variants. We describe here the construction, selection, and characterization of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase mutants either with different catalytic properties or with enhanced thermostability. From a library containing 2 x 10(6) plasmid-encoded herpes thymidine kinase genes, each with a different nucleotide sequence at the putative nucleoside binding site, we obtained 1540 active mutants. Using this library and one previously constructed, we identified by secondary selection Escherichia coli harboring thymidine kinase mutant clones that were unable to grow in the presence of concentrations of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) that permits colony formation by E. coli harboring the wild-type plasmid. Two of the mutant enzymes exhibited a reduced Km for AZT, one of which displayed a higher catalytic efficiency for AZT over thymidine relative to that of the wild type. We also identified one mutant with enhanced thermostability. These mutants may have clinical potential as the promise of gene therapy is increasingly becoming a reality.
Multiple functions of dynamic histone acetylation (1994)

Besides its role in organizing nuclear DNA, the nuclear matrix is involved in specific nuclear functions, including replication, transcription, and RNA splicing. It is becoming increasingly evident that nuclear processes are localized to distinct regions in the nucleus. For example, transcriptionally active genes and RNA transcripts are found in discrete transcription foci. Current evidence suggests that nuclear matrix-bound transcriptionally active DNA sequences are in nucleosomes with dynamically acetylated histones. Histone acetylation, which precedes transcription, alters nucleosome and chromatin structure, decondensing the chromatin fibre and making the nucleosomal DNA accessible to transcription factors. Histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase, which catalyze this rapid acetylation and deacetylation, are associated with the internal nuclear matrix. We hypothesize that these enzymes play a role in maintaining the association of the active chromatin domains with the internal nuclear matrix at sites of ongoing transcription.
Oncolytic virus therapy for cancer (2013)

The use of oncolytic viruses to treat cancer is based on the selection of tropic tumor viruses or the generation of replication selective vectors that can either directly kill infected tumor cells or increase their susceptibility to cell death and apoptosis through additional exposure to radiation or chemotherapy. In addition, viral vectors can be modified to promote more potent tumor cell death, improve the toxicity profile, and/or generate host antitumor immunity. A variety of viruses have been developed as oncolytic therapeutics, including adenovirus, vaccinia virus, herpesvirus, coxsackie A virus, Newcastle disease virus, and reovirus. The clinical development of oncolytic viral therapy has accelerated in the last few years, with several vectors entering clinical trials for a variety of cancers. In this review, current strategies to optimize the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of the major oncolytic viruses are discussed, and a summary of current clinical trials is provided. Further investigation is needed to characterize better the clinical impact of oncolytic viruses, but there are increasing data demonstrating the potential promise of this approach for the treatment of human and animal cancers.