gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
The electronic properties of graphene (2009)

This article reviews the basic theoretical aspects of graphene, a one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon, with unusual two-dimensional Dirac-like electronic excitations. The Dirac electrons can be controlled by application of external electric and magnetic fields, or by altering sample geometry and/or topology. The Dirac electrons behave in unusual ways in tunneling, confinement, and the integer quantum Hall effect. The electronic properties of graphene stacks are discussed and vary with stacking order and number of layers. Edge (surface) states in graphene depend on the edge termination (zigzag or armchair) and affect the physical properties of nanoribbons. Different types of disorder modify the Dirac equation leading to unusual spectroscopic and transport properties. The effects of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions in single layer and multilayer graphene are also presented.
Hyaluronic Acid Bioconjugates for the Delivery of Bioactive Molecules (2014)

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has currently several therapeutic applications: in ophthalmology, osteoarthritis, wound healing, tissue regeneration, postoperative anti-adhesion and anesthetic medicine. In the last ten years, it has also been successfully investigated in the field of drug delivery, in the form of conjugates or hydrogel depot systems. HAylation, the covalent conjugation of HA to bioactive molecules, allows the overcoming of disadvantages associated with some pharmaceuticals, such as insolubility, instability and fast kidney clearance. These issues can be addressed also by covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEGylation), but HA has the relevant advantages of biodegradability, high loading and specific targeting. In this review, the novel HA derivatives and the latest advances in HA-based drug delivery with a particular focus on the chemistry of conjugation will be discussed. Although, so far, there are no HA-drug conjugates on the market, several derivatives are presently under clinical investigation, and the promising results encourage further investigations and the exploitation of this versatile polysaccharide.
Managing cellular congestion using incentives (2012)

Mobile data traffic is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years due to the explosive growth of mobile web and video traffic on smartphones. Wireless operators have invested heavily to make infrastructural improvements by installing new cell towers and offloading cellular data traffic to Wi-Fi to resolve congestion. They are also exploring the use of behavioral and economic interventions to manage congestion. To understand the role of interventions, we distributed smartphones to students at Purdue University, loaded with applications to perform monitoring and location tracking with user consent. We conducted two experiments: first with 14 phones of one type, then with 30 phones of two types. Wi-Fi traffic and cellular network data usage were collected and analyzed to characterize and quantify the changes in usage behaviors; the second experiment also captured location data during compliance/non-compliance to incentive messages. The trial seeks not only to experiment with incentives and disincentives to observe their effectiveness, but also to understand current mobile broadband and Wi-Fi usage behaviors in a campus environment. Our results indicate a high level of compliance with economic incentives and disincentives. Detailed analysis further showed correlation with two psychological measures of each user (agreeableness and neuroticism). In addition, we found schemes with probabilistic payments of higher incentive amounts getting more positive results compared to schemes with definite payments with lower incentive amounts, despite similar total payout.
Surface-based labeling of cortical anatomy using a deformable atlas (1997)

We describe a computerized method to automatically find and label the cortical surface in three-dimensional (3-D) magnetic resonance (MR) brain images. The approach we take is to model a prelabeled brain atlas as a physical object and give it elastic properties, allowing it to warp itself onto regions in a preprocessed image. Preprocessing consists of boundary-finding and a morphological procedure which automatically extracts the brain and sulci from an MR image and provides a smoothed representation of the brain surface to which the deformable model can rapidly converge. Our deformable models are energy-minimizing elastic surfaces that can accurately locate image features. The models are parameterized with 3-D bicubic B-spline surfaces. We design the energy function such that cortical fissure (sulci) points on the model are attracted to fissure points on the image and the remaining model points are attracted to the brain surface. A conjugate gradient method minimizes the energy function, allowing the model to automatically converge to the smoothed brain surface. Finally, labels are propagated from the deformed atlas onto the high-resolution brain surface.
Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides selectively suppress expression of the mutant alpha 2(I) collagen allele in type IV osteogenesis imperfecta fibroblasts. A molecular approach to therapeutics of dominant negative disorders. (1996)

We are investigating the use of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to selectively suppress expression of the mutant type I collagen allele in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In this report, we target a human collagen mutation in its natural cellular context. We used cultured fibroblasts from a case of type IV OI, in which the mutant alpha 2(I) allele produces mRNA with exon 16 deleted due to a point mutation in the splice donor site. Lipid-mediated transfection was used to deliver antisense, sense and missense phosphorothioates targeted to both the abnormal mRNA exon 15/17 junction and the nuclear level point mutation. Significant suppression of the mutant protein chain and mRNA was achieved with antisense oligonucleotide to both mRNA and nuclear levels. Mutant protein was suppressed to 44-47% and mutant alpha 2(I) mRNA to 37-43% of their levels in control cells, indicating decreased mRNA as the basis for suppression. Selectivity of mutant allele suppression was better with an mRNA target: suppression was sequence specific and normal mRNA was expressed at 79% of its level in untreated cells. With a nuclear target, significant suppression of mutant mRNA occurred not only with antisense and sense, but also with missense oligonucleotide, which suppressed mutant mRNA to 60% of its level in untreated cells. We also investigated the time course of suppression of protein and mRNA in response to a 4 h transfection of antisense oligonucleotide. From 24-72 h after transfection, mutant protein was suppressed to approximately 50% of its untreated level and suppression of mutant message was significantly greater than that of normal message. The suppression achieved in these studies is insufficient for clinical intervention, but our results provide support for further development of antisense therapy as an approach to the treatment of dominant negative disorders.
Research progress on differentiation of embryonic stem cells into male germ cells (2012)

Embryonic stem cells(ESCs) have the potential ability of unlimited differentiation and self-renewal.ESCs can differentiate into germ cells in theory.At present,a successful report has been shown that human or mouse ESCs could be induced into mature sperm in vitro.This study aims to systematically describe the endogenous and exogenous factors inducing ESCs differnentiate into male germ cells,meanwhile,the inducing method was summarized combing with the latest research progress home and abroad.In addition,the applying prospect of inducing ESCs into male germ cell was analyzed too in order to provide the evaluable information for the scholars engaged in related research.
Diese Revolution ist auch deine!' Ein Streifzug durch die AktivistInnen-Szene in Tunesien. (2012)

Ein Streifzug durch die Szene der Aktivistinnen und Aktivisten in Tunesien zeigt neben anhaltender Repression und Ernüchterung eine starke Politisierung der Gesellschaft, viel Selbstbewusstsein und Mut. DieWahlen waren für sie nur ein kleiner Schritt, den einige boykottiert haben. Ihre Botschaft: Die Revolution hat erst begonnen, in Tunesien und weltweit. Diese über Facebook, Blogs und Handys vernetzten Jugendlichen haben die Revolution von Beginn weg auf der Strasse angetrieben. Dieser Beitrag gibt ihre Sicht wieder. Ihr Alltag aus Repression und Arbeitslosigkeit hat sich bislang nicht verändert. Sie sind enttäuscht, aber nicht entmutigt, und wollen ihren Kampf weiterführen.
Future perspectives of immunotherapy against ALS (2009)

Emerging evidence suggests that misfolded proteins in the various neurodegenerative diseases can be targets for immunotherapy including vaccination antibody therapy. To date, vaccination strategies have been shown to be effective in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Prion disease. Interestingly, the subcellular localization of the target proteins varies, including cytosol, synaptosomes and extracellular spaces. We have documented that mutant SOD1 is secreted together with a neurosecretory protein chromogranin, and that vaccination against the SOD1 mutant is beneficial in delaying the onset and prolonging the lifespan. However, the mechanism of vaccination on the mutant SOD1 mice remains unclear. Moreover, vaccination induces diverse inflammatory reactions, which are reported to modify both the onset and the progression of ALS. Therefore, it is important to clarify the role of innate or acquired immunity in the pathogenesis of ALS to avoid the adverse reactions of the vaccination, and rather to apply it for amelioration. Passive immunization is also promising since only aberrant proteins can be targeted using a specific monoclonal antibody. The development of the current immunization techniques is very important for the future application, since key molecules for the sporadic ALS have emerged and are intensively investigated such as TDP-43.
Severe Inherited “Homozygous” Protein C Deficiency in a Newborn Infant (1984)

A relapsing clinical syndrome of skin lesions and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that showed remission with the infusion of fresh frozen plasma is described in a newborn infant with homozygous deficiency of protein C antigen. This patient presented since birth a recurrent clinical picture of DIC and ecchymotic skin lesions that resembled typical ecchymosis except for the fact that they showed immediate improvement with the administration of fresh frozen plasma. Using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method, the determination of protein C antigen levels in the patient, without ingestion of coumarin drugs, showed very low values (less than 1%). No other deficiencies in the vitamin-K-dependent factors or in antithrombin III, antiplasmin, and plasminogen were found. Seven relatives of the infant had heterozygous deficiency in protein C antigen (values between 40-55%), without clinical history of venous thrombosis. The pedigree analysis of this family suggests an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance for the clinical phenotype, although an autosomal dominant pattern has been postulated until now in other reported families. We conclude that our patient has a homozygous deficiency in protein C and this homozygous state may be compatible with survival beyond the neonatal period.
Torsin A and Its Torsion Dystonia-associated Mutant Forms Are Lumenal Glycoproteins That Exhibit Distinct Subcellular Localizations (2000)

Early-onset torsion dystonia is an autosomal dominant hyperkinetic movement disorder that has recently been linked to a 3-base pair deletion in the DYT1 gene. The DYT1 gene encodes a 332-amino acid protein, torsin A, that bears low but significant homology to the Hsp100/Clp family of ATPase chaperones. The deletion in DYT1 associated with torsion dystonia results in the loss of one of a pair of glutamic acid residues residing near the C terminus of torsin A (DeltaE-torsin A). At present, little is known about the expression, subcellular distribution, and/or function of either the torsin A or DeltaE-torsin A protein. When transfected into mammalian cells, both torsin A and DeltaE-torsin A were found to behave as lumenally oriented glycoproteins. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that torsin A localized to a diffuse network of intracellular membranes displaying significant co-immunoreactivity for the endoplasmic reticulum resident protein BiP, whereas DeltaE-torsin A resided in large spheroid intracellular structures exclusive of BiP immunoreactivity. These results initially suggested that DeltaE-torsin A might exist as insoluble aggregates. However, both torsin A and DeltaE-torsin A were readily solubilized by nonionic detergents, were similarly accessible to proteases, and displayed equivalent migration patterns on sucrose gradients. Collectively, these data support that both the wild type and torsion dystonia-associated forms of torsin A are properly folded, lumenal proteins of similar oligomeric states. The potential relationship between the altered subcellular distribution of DeltaE-torsin A and the disease-inducing phenotype of the protein is discussed.
The peri-ictal state: cortical excitability changes within 24 h of a seizure (2009)

In this study, transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to investigate motor cortical excitability changes in the peri-ictal period, in drug-naive new-onset epilepsy patients. Eighty-seven studies were performed on 58 patients (23 with idiopathic generalized epilepsy and 35 with focal epilepsy) within 72 h before or after a seizure. Fifty studies in 35 patients were within 24 h of a seizure. In all 58 patients, an interictal baseline study was performed, at least 14 days from a seizure. Motor threshold and paired pulse recovery curve results obtained at short (2-15 ms) and long (50-400 ms) interstimulus intervals in each hemisphere (at <24 h pre- or post-seizure and 24-72 h pre- and post-seizure) were compared against the interictal results and normal control values obtained from 32 subjects. The nature of the seizure (generalized, focal or focal with secondary generalization) was also recorded. Increased motor cortex excitability, measured by decreased motor threshold, increased intracortical facilitation and decreased intracortical inhibition at short and long interstimulus intervals was seen in the 24 h before a seizure. Conversely, decreased excitability occurred in the 24 h after a seizure. These effects were bilateral in tonic-clonic seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy and also in secondarily generalized seizures in patients with focal epilepsy. Similar changes were seen in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the seizure focus in focal seizures that did not secondarily generalize, accompanied by complex excitability changes in the contralateral hemisphere. These effects were not apparent in the 24-72 h window. These results show that there are major and prolonged changes in motor cortex excitability in the pre and the postictal 24 h. Increased excitation precedes the seizure by hours and there is a similar period of decreased excitability following a seizure.
Light signals, phytochromes and cross-talk with other environmental cues (2003)

Plants have evolved highly complex sensory mechanisms to monitor their surroundings and adapt their growth and development to the prevailing environmental conditions. The integration of information from multiple environmental cues enables the co-ordination of development with favourable seasonal conditions and, ultimately, determines plant form. Light signals, perceived via the phytochrome, cryptochrome and phototropin photoreceptor families, are especially important environmental signals. Redundancy of function among phytochromes and their interaction with blue light photoreceptors enhance sensitivity to light signals, facilitating the accurate detection of, and response to, environmental fluctuations. In this review, current understanding of Arabidopsis phytochrome functions will be summarized, in particular, the interactions among the phytochromes and the integration of light signals with directional and temperature sensing mechanisms.
Role of RNA Structure and RNA Binding Activity of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus 3C Protein in VPg Uridylylation and Virus Replication (2006)

The uridylylation of the VPg peptide primer is the first stage in the replication of picornavirus RNA. This process can be achieved in vitro using purified components, including 3B (VPg) with the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (3Dpol), the precursor 3CD, and an RNA template containing the cre/bus. We show that certain RNA sequences within the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 5' untranslated region but outside of the cre/bus can enhance VPg uridylylation activity. Furthermore, we have shown that the FMDV 3C protein alone can substitute for 3CD, albeit less efficiently. In addition, the VPg precursors, 3B(3)3C and 3B(123)3C, can function as substrates for uridylylation in the absence of added 3C or 3CD. Residues within the FMDV 3C protein involved in interaction with the cre/bus RNA have been identified and are located on the face of the protein opposite from the catalytic site. These residues within 3C are also essential for VPg uridylylation activity and efficient virus replication.
Functional changes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (2011)

This study provides longitudinal data of NSAA and 6MWT over a 12-month period. These data can be useful when designing a clinical trial.
GPI-anchored complement regulatory proteins in seminal plasma. An analysis of their physical condition and the mechanisms of their binding to exogenous cells. (1996)

We analyzed and compared the properties of three glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. CD59, CD55 (both C regulators), and CDw52, and of the transmembrane C regulator CD46 in seminal plasma (SP). We demonstrated previously that anchor-intact SP CD59 is present on the membranes of vesicles (prostasomes) and that cells acquire this protein during incubation with SP. We now report that this acquisition is due partly to adherence of prostasomes to cells and partly to a second mechanism which may involve micellar intermediates. Using fluorescent labeling, ultracentrifugation, and density gradient centrifugation, virtually all CD46 was present on prostasomes whereas CD59, CD55, AND CDw52 were also detected in a form which remained in the 200,000 g supernatant and equilibrated at higher density than prostasomes in gradients. All three GPI-linked proteins eluted at high molecular mass during size exclusion chromatography of this nonprostasome fraction. As documented by videomicroscopy and biochemical analysis, cells acquired new copies of the GPI-linked proteins during incubation with the nonprostasome fraction as well as with prostasomes. These data demonstrate the presence in SP of a stable population of membrane-free, GPI-linked proteins available for transfer to cells. Binding of these proteins to spermatozoa and pathogens in SP may confer new properties on their membranes including increased resistance to C attack. Finally, our data raise the possibility that lipid-associated GPI-linked proteins may be suitable for therapeutic applications.
Inhibition of ligand-induced activation of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine phosphorylation by curcumin (1995)

We explored the regulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated activation of EGF receptor (EGF-R) phosphorylation by curcumin (diferuloyl-methane), a recently identified kinase inhibitor, in cultured NIH 3T3 cells expressing human EGF-R. Treatment of cells with a saturating concentration of EGF for 5-15 min induced increased EGF-R tyrosine phosphorylation by 4- to 11-fold and this was inhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner by up to 90% by curcumin, which also inhibited the growth of EGF-stimulated cells. There was no effect of curcumin treatment on the amount of surface expression of labeled EGF-R and inhibition of EGF-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF-R by curcumin was mediated by a reversible mechanism. In addition, curcumin also inhibited EGF-induced, but not bradykinin-induced, calcium release. These findings demonstrate that curcumin is a potent inhibitor of a growth stimulatory pathway, the ligand-induced activation of EGF-R, and may potentially be useful in developing anti-proliferative strategies to control tumor cell growth.
Mechanisms of transmembrane calcium movement in cultured chick embryo ventricular cells (1982)

1. Uptake of calcium was studied in spontaneously contracting monolayers of cultured chick embryo ventricular cells. Ca exchange could be separated into two components: a rapid phase with a rate constant of 3.91/min, accounting for 1.6 nmol/mg protein; and a slower phase with a rate constant of 0.069/min, accounting for 2.7 nmol/mg protein.2. Negatively inotropic concentrations of the slow Ca channel blocker verapamil inhibited the rapid phase of Ca uptake partially, with a maximum inhibition of 30-40% observed at concentrations of verapamil which completely inhibited contraction.3. The component of Ca uptake not inhibited by verapamil could be stimulated up to 25-fold by elevation of intracellular Na concentration and reduction of extracellular Na concentration, and thus appeared to represent at least in part Ca uptake via Na-Ca exchange.4. Ca uptake by cultured cells could be almost completely inhibited by exposure to LaCl(3), 1 mmol/l, within 5 s. This same concentration of La completely inhibited contraction within 5 s.5. During efflux of (45)Ca from cells, exposure to La (1 mmol/l) slightly inhibited efflux initially with more marked inhibition of Ca influx after 3 min of La exposure. There was no evidence for a component of superficial La-displaceable Ca, and thus the rapid phase of Ca uptake probably is due to an intracellular rapidly exchanging Ca pool. Efflux of Ca from this rapidly exchanging intracellular Ca pool was not significantly altered by exposure to Na-free choline chloride solutions.6. We conclude that rapid Ca uptake in these cultured myocardial cells is due primarily to Ca influx via the slow Ca channel and via Na-Ca exchange. In the presence of physiological [Ca(2+)](i), efflux of Ca from this intracellular Ca pool does not appear to be due to Na-Ca exchange.
Name and Address Block Reader system for tax form processing (2002)

The reading of names and addresses is one of the most complex tasks in automated forms processing. The paper describes an integrated real time system to read names and addresses on tax forms of the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. The Name and Address Block Reader (NABR) system accepts both machine printed and hand printed address block images as input. The application software has two major steps: document analysis (connected component analysis, address block extraction, label detection, hand print/machine print discrimination); and document recognition. Document recognition has two non identical streams for machine print and hand print; key steps are: address parsing, character recognition, word recognition and postal database lookup (ZIP+4 and City-State-ZIP files). Real time throughput (8,500 forms per hour) is achieved by employing a loosely coupled multiprocessing architecture. The functional architecture, software design, system architecture and hardware implementation are described. Performance evaluation on machine printed and handwritten addresses are presented.