gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Triptolide induces adverse effect on reproductive parameters of female Sprague-Dawley rats (2010)

The aim of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of triptolide, a diterpenoid triepoxid and a major active component isolated from Triptergium wilfordii Hook.f (TWHF), on various reproductive parameters of female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Female SD rats were treated with triptolide by oral administration (gastric infusion; 0, 100, 200, and 400 μg/kg) once-daily for 90 days. During the experimental period, vaginal smears were taken to monitor the estrous phase for the last 30 days. Relative ovary and uterus weights to body and histopathologically changes were determined on the last day. Serum levels of estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteotropic hormone (LH) were assessed by enzyme immunoassay. ERα expression in the uterus and ovaries were analyzed from using immunohistochemical detection. The results showed that treatment with 200 and 400 ug/kg of triptolide significantly reduced serum levels of E(2) and P and increased levels of FSH and LH. At these dose levels, relative weights of ovary and uterus were significantly reduced. Qualitative histological analysis of the ovaries revealed a reduction in developing follicles and increase in atretic follicles in treated animals. Further, estrous cycles were prolonged significantly. The expression of ERα in ovaries and the uterus decreased in treated animals. These data suggest that triptolide had a direct effect on the ovaries, and the decrease in steroids elicited feedback on FSH and LH. Thus, reduced levels of E(2) and P may affect follicular development, estrous cycle, and expression of ERα.
The Yeast Homolog of Human PinX1 Is Involved in rRNA and Small Nucleolar RNA Maturation, Not in Telomere Elongation Inhibition (2002)

In human cells, PinX1 protein has recently been shown to regulate telomere length by repressing the telomerase. In this work, we show that the putative yeast homolog of PinX1, encoded by the YGR280c open reading frame (ORF), is a new component of the ribosomal RNA processing machinery. The protein has a KK(E/D) C-terminal domain typical of nucleolar proteins and bears a putative RNA interacting domain widespread in eukaryotes called the G-patch. The protein was hence renamed Gno1p (G-patch nucleolar protein). GNO1 deletion results in a large growth defect due to the inhibition of the pre-ribosomal RNA processing first cleavage steps at sites A(0), A(1), and A(2). Furthermore, Gno1p is involved in the final 3'-end trimming of U18 and U24 small nucleolar RNAs. A mutational analysis showed that the G-patch of Gno1p is essential for both functions, whereas the KK(E/D) repeats are only required for U18 small nucleolar RNA maturation. We found that PinX1 complemented the gno1-Delta mutation, suggesting that it has a dual function in telomere length regulation and ribosomal RNA maturation in agreement with its telomeric and nucleolar localization in human cells. Conversely, we found that Gno1p does not exhibit the in vivo telomerase inhibitor activity of PinX1.
Glucose fast-response amperometric sensor based on glucose oxidase immobilized in an electropolymerized poly(o-phenylenediamine) film (1990)

o-Phenylenediamine has been used for glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilization on Pt electrodes by electrochemical polymerization at +0.65 V vs SCE. By this approach the enzyme is entrapped in a strongly adherent, highly reproducible thin membrane, whose thickness is around 10 nm. This one-step procedure produces a glucose sensor with a response time less than 1 s, an active enzyme loading higher than 3 units/cm2 of electrode surface, a high sensitivity, and a sufficiently wide linear range. The glucose response shows an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant, K'm = 14.2 mM, and a limiting current density, jmax of 181 microA/cm2. The product kD of partition and diffusion coefficients of glucose in the polymer film is on the order of 10(-13) cm2/s. Due to permselectivity characteristics of the membrane, the access of ascorbate, a common interfering species, to the electrode surface is blocked. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of a membrane capable, at the same time, of immobilizing GOx and rejecting ascorbate. The interesting electrode behavior can be rationalized by using an existing model predicting the amperometric response of an immobilized GOx system.
Frequency-selective fading channel estimation with a polynomial time-varying channel model (1999)

A rectangular-windowed least-squares estimator using a polynomial model of the time-varying channel taps is proposed for estimating the impulse response of a frequency-selective fading channel. This method provides a significant improvement in mean square identification error (MSIE) over the conventional least mean squares (LMS) and the exponentially weighted recursive least squares (EW-RLS) algorithms without a polynomial model. A detailed study of the effects of channel parameters, such as the fading rate and the signal-to-noise ratio, on the proposed method is carried out. The performance of the method depends on the window size of the least squares estimator and the polynomial order being used. Algorithms to obtain the approximately optimal window size and polynomial order are proposed and are shown to perform well.
Photocontrolled Cell Adhesion on a Surface Functionalized with a Caged Arginine‐Glycine‐Aspartate Peptide (2008)

Sticking to the time and the place: Cell adhesion can be photocontrolled spatiotemporally on a photoresponsive culture dish functionalized with a caged cell-adhesion motif, namely a nitrobenzyl-substituted argine-glycine-aspartate peptide. Photolysis of the dish cleaves the nitrobenzyl group to produce the active peptide to which HeLa cells can adhere (see micrograph: left half, irradiated). Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2008/z802731_s.html or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
Formation of Highly Reactive γ-Ketoaldehydes (Neuroketals) as Products of the Neuroprostane Pathway (2001)

Neuroprostanes are prostaglandin-like compounds produced by free radical-induced peroxidation of docosahexaenoic acid, which is highly enriched in the brain. We previously described the formation of highly reactive gamma-ketoaldehydes (isoketals) as products of the isoprostane pathway of free radical-induced peroxidation of arachidonic acid. We therefore explored whether isoketal-like compounds (neuroketals) are also formed via the neuroprostane pathway. Utilizing mass spectrometric analyses, neuroketals were found to be formed in abundance in vitro during oxidation of docosahexaenoic acid and were formed in greater abundance than isoketals during co-oxidation of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid. Neuroketals were shown to rapidly adduct to lysine, forming lactam and Schiff base adducts. Neuroketal lysyl-lactam protein adducts were detected in nonoxidized rat brain synaptosomes at a level of 0.09 ng/mg of protein, which increased 19-fold following oxidation in vitro. Neuroketal lysyl-lactam protein adducts were also detected in vivo in normal human brain at a level of 9.9 +/- 3.7 ng/g of brain tissue. These studies identify a new class of highly reactive molecules that may participate in the formation of protein adducts and protein-protein cross-links in neurodegenerative diseases and contribute to the injurious effects of other oxidative pathologies in the brain.
Site-Specific Geographic Association Between Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) Infestations and Ehrlichia chaffeensis-Reactive (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichieae) Antibodies in White-Tailed Deer (1996)

Serum samples from white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann, collected from 1982 through 1992 from the southeastern United States were tested for antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia chaffeensis Anderson, Dawson, Jones, & Wilson, the causative agent of human ehrlichiosis. Results were compared between areas based on known infestations of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum L., a suspected vector of E. chaffeensis. One hundred and twenty-five of 300 (41.7%) deer tested positive (> or = 1:128) for E. chaffeensis-reactive antibodies by fluorescent antibody analysis. Thirty of 30 (100%) collection areas known to be lone star tick infested contained deer that tested positive for E. chaffeensis-reactive antibodies, corresponding to 121/150 (80.7%) of deer examined. A few deer, 4/150 (2.7%) of those examined, from 2 of 30 (6.7%) areas where lone star ticks were not detected were positive for E. chaffeensis-reactive antibodies. This site-specific geographic association between A. americanum and the presence of E. chaffeensis-reactive antibodies in deer provides strong evidence that A. americanum is a natural vector of E. chaffeensis or a closely related species among white-tailed deer.
Disorders of lung matrix remodeling (2004)

A set of lung diseases share the tendency for the development of progressive fibrosis ultimately leading to respiratory failure. This review examines the common pathogenetic features of these disorders in light of recent observations in both humans and animal models of disease, which reveal important pathways of lung matrix remodeling.
Streamer compass validation and verification (1993)

Abstract During the acquisition of seismic data in a marine environment, the positions of the hydrophone groups are derived from data obtained using compass units deployed at intervals along the length of a streamer. Interpretation of the compass data to derive the streamer position has always proved difficult. The data is a set of measurements of spatial gradients at known distances along the streamer. The integration method used to derive the streamer shape requires additional data to resolve the undetermined constant. Thus the derived positions of the hydrophone groups have a translational indeterminacy. The compass measurements are independent and all measured azimuths can he expected to have similar error estimates. However streamer shapes, derived using a least-squares polynomial fitting algorithm are critically dependent on the accuracy of data obtained from the first and last units. These features have lead to innovative schemes to position the two ends of the streamers. Lasers, acoustics, and radio positioning, have all been used to locate accessible points closest to the streamer ends viz the towpoints and the tailbuoy. While this additional data has improved the quality of streamer positioning, these methods still leave the compasses as the only means of generating position information in the region where the hydrophone groups are actually situated.
Stability of Proteins and Their Delivery from Biodegradable Polymer Microspheres (2020)

This chapter discusses the concepts of biochemistry, polymer science, and microencapsulation to examines the complexity of formulating these dosage forms; particular emphasis is placed on the strategies and experimental methods used to handle the problems associated with protein stability. Although it has become a routine objective to analyze release kinetics of proteins, the number of publications that consider the stability of protein being delivered from polymers is very low. The stability of proteins encapsulated in biodegradable polymer microspheres may be separated into at least three complex themes and their interrelations: processing polymers into microspheres, hydration and erosion of the polymer during release incubation, and the intrinsic stability of the protein. A phase separation occurs at the surface of the polymer and second aqueous solution, leading to a polymer-rich phase at the microsphere surface and a more dilute polymer solution in the interior. Mechanistic analysis of the stability of proteins during processing, storage, and delivery from polymers is also virtually nonexistent.
Ultralow-Threshold Two-Photon Pumped Amplified Spontaneous Emission and Lasing from Seeded CdSe/CdS Nanorod Heterostructures (2012)

Ultralow-threshold two-photon pumped amplified spontaneous emission (2ASE) and lasing in seeded CdSe/CdS nanodot/nanorod heterostructures is demonstrated for the first time. Such heterostructures allow the independent tunability of the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section (σ(2)) through varying the CdS rod size, and that of the emission wavelength through varying the CdSe dot size. With an enhanced σ(2), 2ASE in these heterostructures is achieved with an ultralow threshold fluence of ~1.5 mJ/cm(2), which is as much as one order less than that required for spherical semiconductor NCs. Importantly, by exploiting this unique property of the seeded nanorods exhibiting strong quantum confinement even at relatively large rod sizes, a near reciprocal relation between the 2ASE threshold and the 2PA action cross-section (σ(2)η) (where η is the quantum yield) was found and validated over a wide volume range for II-VI semiconductor nanostructures. Ultrafast optical spectroscopy verified that while the Auger processes in these heterostructures are indeed suppressed, ASE in these samples could also be strongly affected by a fast hole-trapping process to the NR surface states. Lastly, to exemplify the potential of these seeded CdSe/CdS nanodot/nanorod heterostructures as a viable gain media for achieving two-photon lasing, a highly photostable microsphere laser with an ultralow pump threshold is showcased.
Plain radiography in the evaluation of knee osteoarthritis (1997)

The prospects for results of controlled studies of disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs in humans have fostered interest in radiographic methods to detect early cartilage damage and to assess progressive cartilage changes in osteoarthritis of the knee. We summarize here the extent to which technical factors in plain knee radiography-ie, the degree of knee flexion, misalignment of the x-ray beam, magnification of the radiographic image of the joint-and mensural procedures can impact the reproducibility of quantitative measurements of tibiofemoral joint space width, the surrogate for thickness of articular cartilage. Failure to standardize crucial elements of conventional knee radiography and to computerize measurement of tibiofemoral joint space width will introduce significant (and probably insurmountable) error variation into radiographic outcome data. The level of precision achievable with fluoroscopically-assisted flexion of the knee and rotation of the foot with computerized, magnification-corrected measurement of joint space width greatly improves the feasibility of disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug trials as they relate to sample size and duration of treatment necessary to detect an effect from disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs.
A piezoelectric-sound-resonance cavity for hydrogen gas detection (2003)

A new concept for hydrogen gas (H2) detection has been developed. This concept is based on a piezoelectric-sound-resonance cavity (PSRC). Detection uses sound resonance and the acoustic property differences of gases as a sensing mechanism in which there is a significant difference in the sound velocity and acoustic impedance between H2 and air. The PSRC sensor consists of two thin piezoelectric discs, separated by a small cavity. One disc excites a weak acoustic standing wave in the cavity, and the second senses the wave by monitoring the acoustic impedance characteristics of the cavity. Changes in H2 concentration result in a shift of the sound resonance state. Investigations of a PSRC prototype have demonstrated a sensitivity limit of <10 ppm, a fast response time approximately 1 second, and a signal (phase and voltage) in proportion to the change in H2 concentration (n) over the range of 10(-5) < n < 0.2. These performance characteristics are far superior to those of other methods.
Targeting I kappa B kinase for the treatment of inflammatory and other disorders. (2003)

The nuclear transcription factor NF kappa B plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of a number of human disorders, particularly those with an inflammatory component. Due to the fact that I kappa B kinase (IKK)-catalyzed phosphorylation of I kappa B proteins is an essential step in the signal-induced activation of NF kappa B, targeting this kinase represents a fascinating opportunity to develop novel therapeutics. In this review, the current understanding of the role of IKK/NF kappa B in disease processes will be discussed, along with evidence demonstrating that IKK inhibitors will be efficacious in disorders ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to cancer and diabetes. Potential mechanism-based toxicities will also be discussed.
Evaluation of symptom checkers for self diagnosis and triage: audit study (2015)

Symptom checkers had deficits in both triage and diagnosis. Triage advice from symptom checkers is generally risk averse, encouraging users to seek care for conditions where self care is reasonable.
Viscous Airflow Through a Rigid Tube With a Compliant Lining: A Simple Model for the Air-Mucus Interaction in Pulmonary Airways (1993)

The respiratory tract of mammals is lined with a layer of mucus, described as viscoelastic semi-solid, above a layer of watery serous fluid. The interaction of these compliant layers with pulmonary airflow plays a major role in lung clearance by two-phase gas-liquid flow and in increased flow resistance in patients with obstructive airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis and asthma. Experiments have shown that such coupled systems of flow-compliant-layers are quite susceptible to sudden shear instabilities, leading to formation of relatively large amplitude waves at the interface. Although these waves enhance the lung clearance by mobilizing the secretions, they increase the flow resistance in airways. The objective of this paper is to understand the basic interaction mechanism between the two media better by studying airflow through a rigid pipe that is lined by a compliant layer. The mathematical model that has been developed for this purpose is capable of explaining some of the published experimental observations. Wave instability theory is applied to the coupled air-mucus system to explore the stability of the interface. The results show that the onset flow speed for the initiation of unstable surface waves, and the resulting wavelength, are both very sensitive to mucus thickness. The model predicts that the instabilities initiate in the form of propagating waves for the elastic mucus where the wave speed is about 40 percent of the flow speed. The wavelength and phase speed to air velocity ratio are shown to increase with increasing mucus thickness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Review of Glucose Oxidases and Glucose Dehydrogenases: A Bird's Eye View of Glucose Sensing Enzymes (2011)

The evolution from first-generation through third-generation glucose sensors has witnessed the appearance of a number of very diverse oxidoreductases, which vary tremendously in terms of origin, structure, substrate specificity, cofactor used as primary electron acceptor, and acceptable final electron acceptor. This article summarizes our present knowledge of redox enzymes currently utilized in commercially available glucose monitoring systems to promote a fuller appreciation of enzymatic properties and principles employed in blood glucose monitoring to help avoid potential errors.
Synthesis of some novel 4-substituted coumarins having antibacterial activity (Part-I) (2005)

Organic Research Laboratory. SS &amp; LS Patkar College, Goregaon (W). Mumbai-400 062, India E-mail: ajayaaudi@rediffmail.com Fax : 91-22-28744755 <em>Manuscript received 13 February 2004, revised 1 September 2004, accepted 24 November 2004</em> Methyl coumarin-4-methyl acetate on bromination in dioxane or dichloroethane as solvent resulted in sidechain bromination giving a-bromo derivative. The same reaction when carried out in acetic acid resulted in selective synthesis of 3-bromo derivatives. The α-bromo derivatives on reaction with various urea derivatives give novel nitrogen heterocycles (imidazolones) substituted at 4-position of coumarin ring. The α-bromo derivatives when reacted with various 1.2-diamino compounds yielded fused 2-pyrazinones attached at 4-position of coumarin ring. Considering the potential biological activities of other 4-substituted coumarins and biological importance of imidazoles, pyrazines, triazines and oxazines in drug synthesis, the new heterocycles were examined for antibacterial properties and have shown positive results.
VEGF: once regarded as a specific angiogenic factor, now implicated in neuroprotection (2004)

Both blood vessels and nerves are guided to their target. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)A is a key signal in the induction of vessel growth (a process termed angiogenesis). Though initial studies, now a decade ago, indicated that VEGF is an endothelial cell-specific factor, more recent findings revealed that VEGF also has direct effects on neural cells. Genetic studies showed that mice with reduced VEGF levels develop adult-onset motor neuron degeneration, reminiscent of the human neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Additional genetic studies confirmed that VEGF is a modifier of motor neuron degeneration in humans and in SOD1(G93A) mice--a model of ALS. Reduced VEGF levels may promote motor neuron degeneration by limiting neural tissue perfusion and VEGF-dependent neuroprotection. VEGF also affects neuron death after acute spinal cord or cerebral ischemia, and has also been implicated in other neurological disorders such as diabetic and ischemic neuropathy, nerve regeneration, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. These findings have raised growing interest in assessing the therapeutic potential of VEGF for neurodegenerative disorders.
Aerosol-Assisted Self-Assembly of Single-Crystal Core/Nanoporous Shell Particles as Model Controlled Release Capsules (2006)

Single-crystal NaCl core/nanoporous shell particles have been synthesized by evaporation-induced self-assembly. By variation of the hydrophobicity of the mesoporous shell, we can control the release rates by over 4 orders of magnitude.
Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function mutations in Zat10 enhance the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress (2006)

C(2)H(2)-zinc finger proteins that contain the EAR repressor domain are thought to play a key role in modulating the defense response of plants to abiotic stress. Constitutive expression of the C(2)H(2)-EAR zinc finger protein Zat10 in Arabidopsis was found to elevate the expression of reactive oxygen-defense transcripts and to enhance the tolerance of plants to salinity, heat and osmotic stress. Surprisingly, knockout and RNAi mutants of Zat10 were also more tolerant to osmotic and salinity stress. Our results suggest that Zat10 plays a key role as both a positive and a negative regulator of plant defenses.