gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Mono‐ and Binuclear Ruthenium Corroles: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry, and Structural Characterization (2002)

The aim of this research was to prepare mononuclear ruthenium corroles, because of the well-documented potency of analogous porphyrin complexes in catalysis. The syntheses of the mononuclear nitrosyl complexes [Ru(tpfc)(NO)] and [Ru(tdcc)(NO)] (tpfc=trianion of 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole, tdcc=trianion of 5,10,15-tris(2,6-dichlorophenyl)corrole), and of the binuclear [[Ru(tpfc)](2)] were achieved by using [[Ru(cod)Cl(2)](x)] (cod=cyclooctadiene) as the metal source. The NMR spectra of all three complexes clearly demonstrate that they are diamagnetic; this is consistent with a triple bond between the metal ions in [[Ru(tpfc)](2)] and is expected for classical [MNO](6) complexes. These features were further substantiated by the stretching frequencies of the [MNO] moieties, electrochemical measurements on all complexes, and the X-ray crystal structures of [Ru(tpfc)(NO)] and [[Ru(tpfc)](2)]. A comparison of the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of these new complexes with analogous iron corroles, as well as with iron and ruthenium porphyrins, suggests that it will be hard to obtain mononuclear ruthenium corroles without pi-accepting ligands.
max encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein and is not regulated by serum growth factors. (1992)

Max and c-Myc proteins, produced in bacteria, were studied for DNA-binding activity using the electrophoretic band-shift assay (EMSA). Both Max homodimers and c-Myc-Max heterodimers selected the same sequence CA(C/T)GTG from an initial pool of 10(6) DNA molecules. From the pool of sequence-specific binding sites, the palindromic site (CACGTG) was preferentially selected over the CATGTG site using two different degenerate oligonucleotide probes. max expression is identical in myc-induced tumor cell lines relative to other cells. Furthermore, max expression is constant in both confluent and serum-stimulated A31 fibroblasts, in contrast to c-myc expression, which is barely detectable in confluent fibroblasts and induced 20-fold by serum growth factors. Based on recognition of the same DNA sequence by Max and c-Myc-Max complexes and differential expression of the two genes, we propose that Max homodimers and c-Myc-Max heterodimers may bind to a common set of cellular target genes.
Therapeutic Approaches to the Challenge of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (2011)

The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) affecting the central nervous system (CNS), with generally recessive inheritance. They are characterized by pathological lipofuscin-like material accumulating in cells. The clinical phenotypes at all onset ages show progressive loss of vision, decreasing cognitive and motor skills, epileptic seizures and premature death, with dementia without visual loss prominent in the rarer adult forms. Eight causal genes, CLN10/CTSD, CLN1/PPT1, CLN2/TPP1, CLN3, CLN5, CLN6, CLN7/MFSD8, CLN8, with more than 265 mutations and 38 polymorphisms (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ncl) have been described. Other NCL genes are hypothesized, including CLN4 and CLN9; CLCN6, CLCN7 and possibly SGSH are under study. Some therapeutic strategies applied to other LSDs with significant systemic involvement would not be effective in NCLs due to the necessity of passing the blood brain barrier to prevent the neurodegeneration, repair or restore the CNS functionality. There are therapies for the NCLs currently at preclinical stages and under phase 1 trials to establish safety in affected children. These approaches involve enzyme replacement, gene therapy, neural stem cell replacement, immune therapy and other pharmacological approaches. In the next decade, progress in the understanding of the natural history and the biochemical and molecular cascade of events relevant to the pathogenesis of these diseases in humans and animal models will be required to achieve significant therapeutic advances.
De novo bacterial genome sequencing: Millions of very short reads assembled on a desktop computer (2008)

Novel high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies allow researchers to characterize a bacterial genome during a single experiment and at a moderate cost. However, the increase in sequencing throughput that is allowed by using such platforms is obtained at the expense of individual sequence read length, which must be assembled into longer contigs to be exploitable. This study focuses on the Illumina sequencing platform that produces millions of very short sequences that are 35 bases in length. We propose a de novo assembler software that is dedicated to process such data. Based on a classical overlap graph representation and on the detection of potentially spurious reads, our software generates a set of accurate contigs of several kilobases that cover most of the bacterial genome. The assembly results were validated by comparing data sets that were obtained experimentally for Staphylococcus aureus strain MW2 and Helicobacter acinonychis strain Sheeba with that of their published genomes acquired by conventional sequencing of 1.5- to 3.0-kb fragments. We also provide indications that the broad coverage achieved by high-throughput sequencing might allow for the detection of clonal polymorphisms in the set of DNA molecules being sequenced.
The suppression of brain cold-stable microtubules in mice induces synaptic defects associated with neuroleptic-sensitive behavioral disorders (2002)

Neurons contain abundant subsets of highly stable microtubules that resist depolymerizing conditions such as exposure to the cold. Stable microtubules are thought to be essential for neuronal development, maintenance, and function. Previous work has indicated an important role of the microtubule-associated protein STOP in the induction of microtubule cold stability. Here, we developed STOP null mice. These mice were devoid of cold-stable microtubules. In contrast to our expectations, STOP-/- mice had no detectable defects in brain anatomy but showed synaptic defects, with depleted synaptic vesicle pools and impaired synaptic plasticity, associated with severe behavioral disorders. A survey of the effects of psychotropic drugs on STOP-/- mice behavior showed a remarkable and specific effect of long-term administration of neuroleptics in alleviating these disorders. This study demonstrates that STOP is a major factor responsible for the intriguing stability properties of neuronal microtubules and is important for synaptic plasticity. Additionally, STOP-/- mice may yield a pertinent model for study of neuroleptics in illnesses such as schizophrenia, currently thought to result from synaptic defects.
The Periplasmic Escherichia coli Peptidylprolyl cis,trans-Isomerase FkpA (2000)

The production of recombinant proteins in the periplasm of Escherichia coli can be limited by folding problems, leading to periplasmic aggregates. We used a selection system for periplasmic chaperones based on the coexpression of an E. coli library with a poorly expressing antibody single-chain Fv (scFv) fragment displayed on filamentous phage (Bothmann, H., and Plückthun, A. (1998) Nature Biotechnol. 16, 376-380). By selection for a functional antibody, the protein Skp had been enriched previously and shown to improve periplasmic expression of a wide range of scFv fragments. This selection strategy was now repeated with a library constructed from the genomic DNA of an skp-deficient strain, leading to enrichment of the periplasmic peptidylprolyl cis,trans-isomerase (PPIase) FkpA. Coexpression of FkpA increased the amount of fusion protein displayed on the phage and dramatically improved functional periplasmic expression even of scFv fragments not containing cis-prolines. In contrast, the coexpression of the periplasmic PPIases PpiA and SurA showed no increase in the functional scFv fragment level in the periplasm or displayed on phage. Together with the in vitro data in the accompanying paper (Ramm, K., and Plückthun, A. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 17106-17113), we conclude that the effect of FkpA is independent of its PPIase activity.
Are Good Texts Always Better? Interactions of Text Coherence, Background Knowledge, and Levels of Understanding in Learning From Text (1996)

Two experiments, theoretically motivated by the construction-integration model of text comprehension (W. Kintsch, 1988), investigated the role of text coherence in the comprehension of science texts. In Experiment 1, junior high school students' comprehension of one of three versions of a biology text was examined via free recall, written questions, and a key-word sorting task. This study demonstrates advantages for globally coherent text and for more explanatory text. In Experiment 2, interactions among local and global text coherence, readers' background knowledge, and levels of understanding were examined. Using the same methods as in Experiment 1, we examined students' comprehension of one of four versions of a text, orthogonally varying local and global coherence. We found that readers who know little about the domain of the text benefit from a coherent text, whereas high-knowledge readers benefit from a minimally coherent text. We argue that the poorly written text forces the knowledgeable readers to engage in compensatory processing to infer unstated relations in the text. These findings, however, depended on the level of understanding, text base or situational, being measured by the three comprehension tasks. Whereas the free-recall measure and text-based questions primarily tapped readers' superficial understanding of the text, the inference questions, problem-solving questions, and sorting task relied on a situational understanding of the text. This study provides evidence that the rewards to be gained from active processing are primarily at the level of the situation model rather than at the superficial level of text-base understanding.
Alzheimer's presenilin mutation sensitizes neural cells to apoptosis induced by trophic factor withdrawal and amyloid beta-peptide: involvement of calcium and oxyradicals. (1997)

Most autosomal dominant inherited forms of early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) are caused by mutations in the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene on chromosome 14. PS-1 is an integral membrane protein with six to nine membrane-spanning domains and is expressed in neurons throughout the brain wherein it is localized mainly in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The mechanism or mechanisms whereby PS-1 mutations promote neuron degeneration in AD are unknown. Recent findings suggest links among deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta), oxidative stress, disruption of ion homeostasis, and an apoptotic form of neuron death in AD. We now report that expression of the human PS-1 L286V mutation in PC12 cells increases their susceptibility to apoptosis induced by trophic factor withdrawal and Abeta. Increases in oxidative stress and intracellular calcium levels induced by the apoptotic stimuli were exacerbated greatly in cells expressing the PS-1 mutation, as compared with control cell lines and lines overexpressing wild-type PS-1. The antiapoptotic gene product Bcl-2 prevented apoptosis after NGF withdrawal from differentiated PC12 cells expressing mutant PS-1. Elevations of [Ca2+]i in response to thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the ER Ca2+-ATPase, were increased in cells expressing mutant PS-1, and this adverse effect was abolished in cells expressing Bcl-2. Antioxidants and blockers of calcium influx and release from ER protected cells against the adverse consequences of the PS-1 mutation. By perturbing cellular calcium regulation and promoting oxidative stress, PS-1 mutations may sensitize neurons to apoptotic death in AD.
Pleckstrin homology domains (1995)

Conference Article| August 01 1995 Pleckstrin homology domains M. Frech; M. Frech 1Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Postfach 2543, CH 4002 Basel, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar E. Ingley; E. Ingley 1Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Postfach 2543, CH 4002 Basel, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar M. Andjelkovic; M. Andjelkovic 1Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Postfach 2543, CH 4002 Basel, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar B. A. Hemmings B. A. Hemmings 1Friedrich Miescher-Institut, Postfach 2543, CH 4002 Basel, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Author and article information Publisher: Portland Press Ltd Received: March 24 1995 Online ISSN: 1470-8752 Print ISSN: 0300-5127 © 1995 Biochemical Society1995 Biochem Soc Trans (1995) 23 (3): 616–618. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0230616 Article history Received: March 24 1995 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation M. Frech, E. Ingley, M. Andjelkovic, B. A. Hemmings; Pleckstrin homology domains. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 1995; 23 (3): 616–618. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0230616 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Society Transactions Search Advanced Search Keywords: βARK, β-adrenergic receptor kinase, BTK, Bruton tyrosine kinase, PH, Pleckstrin homology, PtdIns(4,5)P2, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, XLD, X-chromosome-linked immunodeficiency, XLA, X-chromosome-linked agamma-globulinaemia This content is only available as a PDF. © 1995 Biochemical Society1995 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.
Application of Fragment Screening by X-ray Crystallography to the Discovery of Aminopyridines as Inhibitors of β-Secretase (2007)

Fragment-based lead discovery has been successfully applied to the aspartyl protease enzyme beta-secretase (BACE-1). Fragment hits that contained an aminopyridine motif binding to the two catalytic aspartic acid residues in the active site of the enzyme were the chemical starting points. Structure-based design approaches have led to identification of low micromolar lead compounds that retain these interactions and additionally occupy adjacent hydrophobic pockets of the active site. These leads form two subseries, for which compounds 4 (IC50 = 25 microM) and 6c (IC50 = 24 microM) are representative. In the latter series, further optimization has led to 8a (IC50 = 690 nM).
The Pseudomonas fluorescens AlgG Protein, but Not Its Mannuronan C-5-Epimerase Activity, Is Needed for Alginate Polymer Formation (2003)

Bacterial alginates are produced as 1-4-linked beta-D-mannuronan, followed by epimerization of some of the mannuronic acid residues to alpha-L-guluronic acid. Here we report the isolation of four different epimerization-defective point mutants of the periplasmic Pseudomonas fluorescens mannuronan C-5-epimerase AlgG. All mutations affected amino acids conserved among AlgG-epimerases and were clustered in a part of the enzyme also sharing some sequence similarity to a group of secreted epimerases previously reported in Azotobacter vinelandii. An algG-deletion mutant was constructed and found to produce predominantly a dimer containing a 4-deoxy-L-erythro-hex-4-enepyranosyluronate residue at the nonreducing end and a mannuronic acid residue at the reducing end. The production of this dimer is the result of the activity of an alginate lyase, AlgL, whose in vivo activity is much more limited in the presence of AlgG. A strain expressing both an epimerase-defective (point mutation) and a wild-type epimerase was constructed and shown to produce two types of alginate molecules: one class being pure mannuronan and the other having the wild-type content of guluronic acid residues. This formation of two distinct classes of polymers in a genetically pure cell line can be explained by assuming that AlgG is part of a periplasmic protein complex.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression after Human Brain Contusion (2002)

iNOS expression was up-regulated in a time-dependent manner in human brain tissue obtained from patients undergoing surgical treatment for contusional trauma. Our human data largely parallel experimental findings in rats, indicating that such trauma models are relevant for experimental studies and treatment trials.
The Influence of Soy-derived Phosphatidylserine on Cognition in Age-Associated Memory Impairment (2001)

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid widely sold as a nutritional supplement. PS has been claimed to enhance neuronal membrane function and hence cognitive function, especially in the elderly. We report the results of a clinical trial of soybean-derived PS (S-PS) in aging subjects with memory complaints. Subjects were 120 elderly (> 57 years) of both sexes who fulfilled the more stringent criteria for age-associated memory impairment (AAMI); some also fulfilled the criteria for age-associated cognitive decline. Subjects were allocated at random to one of the three treatment groups: placebo, 300mg S-PS daily, or 600mg S-PS daily. Assessments were carried out at baseline, after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, and after a wash-out period of 3 weeks. Tests of learning and memory, choice reaction time, planning and attentional functions were administered at each assessment. Delayed recall and recognition of a previously learned word list comprised the primary outcome measures. No significant differences were found in any of the outcome variables between the treatment groups. There were also no significant interactions between treatment and 'severity of memory complaints'. In conclusion, a daily supplement of S-PS does not affect memory or other cognitive functions in older individuals with memory complaints.
MPO cheesemaking course at ALFA Expo : Farmlink Africa (2016)

Foodies and farmers came from far and wide to improve their culinary skills at the cheesemaking course presented by the Milk Producers' Organisation (MPO) at the African Livestock Trade Fair (ALFA), recently held in Parys in the Free State.
Activity of a novel 4-quinolinecarboxylic acid, NSC 368390 [6-fluoro-2-(2'-fluoro-1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl)-3-methyl-4-quinolinecarb oxylic acid sodium salt], against experimental tumors. (1985)

A novel, substituted 4-quinolinecarboxylic acid (NSC 339768) demonstrated antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma in the National Cancer Institute's Developmental Therapeutics Program. An extensive analogue synthesis program was initiated; over 200 derivatives were synthesized and tested for anticancer activity. One of these compounds, 6-fluoro-2-(2'-fluoro-1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl)-3-methyl-4-quinolinecarboxylic acid sodium salt, NSC 368390 (DuP-785), was selected for further investigation because of its efficacy against a spectrum of human solid tumors and its water solubility. In initial studies with L1210 leukemia, the compound caused an increase in life span of greater than 80%. The activity was schedule dependent, and the compound was equally efficacious when administered i.p., i.v., s.c., or p.o. In tests against human tumors xenografted under the renal capsule of nude mice, NSC 368390 when injected i.p. in doses of 20-40 mg/kg daily for 9 days inhibited the growth of the MX-1 breast, LX-1 lung, BL/STX-1 stomach, and CX-1 colon carcinomas by greater than 90%. NSC 368390 also inhibited the growth of three distinct human colon carcinomas, the HCT-15, clone A, and DLD-2 tumors, growing s.c. in nude mice. An i.p. dose of 25 mg/kg given daily for 9 days inhibited the growth of the DLD-2 colon cancer by 98%. 1-beta-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine and Adriamycin were ineffective, and fluorouracil was only moderately effective against these colon tumors. Because of its good activity against human colon tumors and other human carcinomas and its water solubility, NSC 368390 (DuP-785) is being developed as a Phase 1 anticancer agent.
Effect of Dry Powder Inhaler Resistance on the Inspiratory Flow Rates and Volumes of Cystic Fibrosis Patients of Six Years and Older (2006)

Several inhaled drugs for use by cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are formulated for nebulizer use only. This therapy is time consuming and includes the risk of contamination of the nebulizers. Dry powder inhalers (DPI) can be an attractive alternative for CF drugs. Inhaled flow rate and volume, and the device resistance are important determinants for optimal dispersion of drug from a DPI. It is important to understand how these variables interact in the CF population in order to properly design a new DPI formulation targeted for these patients. The objective of this study was to assess the inspiratory variables of a representative population of CF subjects 6 years and older with varying degrees of lung disease while inhaling through resistances that simulate DPI devices. Ninety-six stable CF patients were enrolled, ages 6-54 years, FEV(1) 19-126% predicted. Subjects inhaled forcefully through four different resistances (0.019, 0.024, 0.038, and 0.048 kP(0.5)/LPM, respectively), while inspiratory time (IT(DPI)), peak inspiratory flow (PIF(DPI)), and volumes (V(DPI)) were measured. For any resistance, inspired V(DPI) increased with the older age groups; PIF(DPI) was similar between adults and adolescents but lower in the children. Subjects with lower FEV(1) had lower V(DPI) and PIF(DPI). As resistance increased, PIF(DPI) decreased, IT(DPI) increased, with no significant change in V(DPI). At the lowest resistance mean PIF(DPI) was 105 LPM (range 45-163) for all patients; 112 LPM (range 75-163) in adults; and 89 LPM (45-126) in children. Mean inspired V(DPI) was 1.75 L for all patients; 2.2 L (0.8-3.7) in adults; and 1.2 L (0.5-1.8) in children. At the lowest resistance a minimal flow rate of 30, 45, and 60 LPM was attained in 100%, 99%, and 96% of all patients. Volumes of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 L were attained by 85%, 57%, and 30% of the patients. At the highest resistance mean PIF(DPI) was 52 LPM (range 26-70) for all patients; 55 LPM (40-70) in adults; and 47 LPM (26-62) in children. Mean inspired V(DPI) was 1.5 L in all patients; 1.9 L (0.9-3.5) in adults and 1.1 L (0.5-2.3) in children. At the highest resistance, a minimal flow rate of 30, 45, and 60 LPM was attained in 99%, 80%, and 22% of all patients. Volumes of 1, 1.5, and 2 L were attained in 84%, 45%, and 23% of the patients. We defined ranges for inspiratory variables in a diverse CF population for a range of device resistances that bracket those of current DPIs. The recorded inspiratory patterns can be used on the bench to design and test new dry powder formulations and devices to target the largest proportion of the CF population.
Large-scale Generation of Patterned Bubble Arrays on Printed Bi-functional Boiling Surfaces (2016)

Bubble nucleation control, growth and departure dynamics is important in understanding boiling phenomena and enhancing nucleate boiling heat transfer performance. We report a novel bi-functional heterogeneous surface structure that is capable of tuning bubble nucleation, growth and departure dynamics. For the fabrication of the surface, hydrophobic polymer dot arrays are first printed on a substrate, followed by hydrophilic ZnO nanostructure deposition via microreactor-assisted nanomaterial deposition (MAND) processing. Wettability contrast between the hydrophobic polymer dot arrays and aqueous ZnO solution allows for the fabrication of heterogeneous surfaces with distinct wettability regions. Heterogeneous surfaces with various configurations were fabricated and their bubble dynamics were examined at elevated heat flux, revealing various nucleate boiling phenomena. In particular, aligned and patterned bubbles with a tunable departure frequency and diameter were demonstrated in a boiling experiment for the first time. Taking advantage of our fabrication method, a 6 inch wafer size heterogeneous surface was prepared. Pool boiling experiments were also performed to demonstrate a heat flux enhancement up to 3X at the same surface superheat using bi-functional surfaces, compared to a bare stainless steel surface.