gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Leukocyte LFA-1, OKM1, p150,95 deficiency syndrome: functional and biosynthetic studies of three kindreds. (1985)

Three patients (2 female, 1 male) with recurrent infection, granulocytosis, impaired pus formation, and/or delayed umbilical cord separation were identified. Assessments of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)/monocyte function in each patient revealed profound abnormalities of adherence and adherence-dependent functions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of their PMN lysates demonstrated a deficient or absent protein(s) of 138 kilodaltons (gp 138). Na3HB4 labeling demonstrated the absence of a major cell surface glycoprotein complex in each patient. Among parental and sibling PMN suspensions, functional assessments revealed no consistent abnormalities, although variably diminished gp138 was identified by SDS-PAGE and Na3HB4 labeling. Analysis by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to LFA-1 alpha, OKM1 alpha, and their common beta subunit demonstrated a severe or total deficiency of PMN/monocyte surface expression of each protein among all patients; intermediate values were observed for parental and affected sibling suspensions, findings consistent with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for this disorder. Cell surface labeling (125I) and immunoprecipitation with the same MAb demonstrated the absence of these glycoproteins in addition to a 150-kilodalton protein (p150,95). Identical abnormalities of surface expression of patient lymphocytes blast-transformed with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or Epstein-Barr virus were demonstrated. Further, significantly diminished natural killer cell cytotoxicity was observed for each patient tested. PHA blast-transformed patient lymphocytes labeled with [35S]methionine demonstrated a total absence of the beta molecule but indicated the presence of an LFA-1 alpha precursor. These findings indicate that LFA-1 alpha synthesis and surface expression require beta association. It is concluded that impaired inflammatory function in this disorder is casually related to a heritable deficiency of critical "adhesive" leukocyte glycoproteins.
The impact of digital audio and video on high-speed storage (2002)

Digital audio and video are difficult to store and replay due to their real-time nature, high bandwidth, and large size. To investigate the techniques required to support audio and video, a specialized continuous media storage server, in operation since December 1991, was built at Lancaster. This server and the techniques used in its design are briefly described. The current work at Lancaster in distributed continuous media storage servers is then outlined. This work is developing a scalable multimedia storage server architecture that supports wide area multimedia storage; storage server scalability that allows the incremental addition of new nodes; high bandwidth through the use of load balancing, including node striping and file replication; and store-and-forward caching for slower and faster than real-time links. The architecture will allow tens of simultaneous users for classroom teaching and video-on-demand applications.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Development of Stable Influenza Vaccine Powder Formulations: Challenges and Possibilities (2008)

Influenza vaccination represents the cornerstone of influenza prevention. However, today all influenza vaccines are formulated as liquids that are unstable at ambient temperatures and have to be stored and distributed under refrigeration. In order to stabilize influenza vaccines, they can be brought into the dry state using suitable excipients, stabilizers and drying processes. The resulting stable influenza vaccine powder is independent of cold-chain facilities. This can be attractive for the integration of the vaccine logistics with general drug distribution in Western as well as developing countries. In addition, a stockpile of stable vaccine formulations of potential vaccines against pandemic viruses can provide an immediate availability and simple distribution of vaccine in a pandemic outbreak. Finally, in the development of new needle-free dosage forms, dry and stable influenza vaccine powder formulations can facilitate new or improved targeting strategies for the vaccine compound. This review represents the current status of dry stable inactivated influenza vaccine development. Attention is given to the different influenza vaccine types (i.e. whole inactivated virus, split, subunit or virosomal vaccine), the rationale and need for stabilized influenza vaccines, drying methods by which influenza vaccines can be stabilized (i.e. lyophilization, spray drying, spray-freeze drying, vacuum drying or supercritical fluid drying), the current status of dry influenza vaccine development and the challenges for ultimate market introduction of a stable and effective dry-powder influenza vaccine.
Long-Circulating Near-Infrared Fluorescence Core-Cross-Linked Polymeric Micelles:  Synthesis, Characterization, and Dual Nuclear/Optical Imaging (2007)

We report the synthesis of PEG-coated, core-cross-linked polymeric micelles (CCPMs) derived from an amine-terminated amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(PEG-methacrylate)-b-poly(triethoxysilyl propylmethacrylate). The block copolymer self-assembled to form micellar nanoparticles, and a Cy-7-like near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) dye was entrapped in the core bearing reactive ethoxysilane functional groups through a subsequent sol-gel process. The fluorescent signal of CCPMs on the molar basis was 16-fold brighter than that of Cy7. With an average diameter of 24 +/- 8.9 nm, CCPMs exhibited a prolonged blood half-life (t1/2,alpha = 1.25 h; t1/2,beta = 46.18 h) and moderate uptake by the mononuclear phagocytic system. Significant accumulation of CCPMs in human breast tumor xenografts allowed noninvasive monitoring of the uptake kinetics with both NIRF optical and gamma imaging techniques. Our data suggest that Cy7-entrapped CCPM nanoparticles are suitable for NIRF imaging of solid tumors and have potential applications in the imaging of tumor-associated molecular markers.
Review. Hyaluronan: A Powerful Tissue Engineering Tool (2006)

Hyaluronan (HA) is a versatile molecular tool with considerable potential for tissue engineering applications. The inclusion of HA has created biocompatible biomaterials and engineered tissues that can be crosslinked or degraded controllably and can facilitate angiogenesis, osteointegration, and cell phenotype preservation. The utility of HA in tissue engineering has been broadened further by the recently identified HA synthases, which can be manipulated to stimulate the endogenous production of HA by cells seeded within biomaterial scaffolds. Overall, HA shows great promise in the development of engineered tissues and biomaterials for a variety of biomedical needs including orthopedic, cardiovascular, pharmacologic, and oncologic applications.
Transient behavior of the electrically controlled birefringence in a nematic liquid crystal (1973)

An homeotropic cell is built with a thin layer (5–25 μm) of nematic liquid crystal such as MBBA sandwiched between two indium oxide coated glass plates. The transient behavior of the cooperative angular variation of molecules submitted to an electric field step is studied theoretically. Experimental results are obtained by optical detection of the birefringence variations in the cell. Comparison of these studies allows one to determine the viscosity coefficient γ1(−λ1 in Leslie's notation).
Akt-mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem-like cancer cells (2015)

Oct4 protein encoded by POU5F1 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the self‑renewal of pluripotent stem cells; however, its presence in cancer cells remains controversial. In the present study, we provided evidence that the transcripts of authentic OCT4 gene (OCT4A) and its multiple pseudogenes were detected in a variety of cancer cell lines. A few major bands were also detected by western blotting using an anti‑Oct4A monoclonal antibody. Moreover, an anti‑Oct4‑pT235 antibody was used to identify a band in the majority of the tested cancer cell lines that coincided with one of the anti‑Oct4A bands which was decreasable by a specific shRNA. The Oct4‑pT235 signals were also detected in human glioblastoma and liver cancer specimens by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry. U87 glioblastoma cells were cultured in a neural stem cell medium to induce the formation of neurospheres rich in stem‑like cancer cells. The levels of Oct4‑pT235 in the sphere cells were markedly increased compared to their monolayer parental cells, a result that was accompanied by upregulation of the PI3K‑Akt pathway. Akti‑1/2, a specific inhibitor of Akt, effectively reduced the level of Oct4‑pT235 and attenuated the proliferation of U87 sphere cells. ITE, an agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, also significantly attenuated the Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 in glioblastoma and liver cancer cells, and reduced their tumorigenic potential in a xenograft tumor model. Taken together, we concluded that the Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4A or its homolog protein was associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells that may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for certain types of cancer.
Rodent models of partial hepatectomies* (2007)

Small rodents are the most used experimental models in liver surgical research. Hepatic resections in rodents are commonly performed to study liver regeneration, acute liver failure, hepatic metastasis, hepatic function, 'small-for-size' transplantation and metabolic response to injury. Most resections require only basic skills, are fast, reliable and highly reproducible. The partial hepatectomy technique in rodents can be improved by microsurgical techniques, which permit individualized dissection and ligature of the vascular and biliary branches with minimal operative morbidity and mortality. This is particularly relevant for murine models of liver resection. However, it requires advanced microsurgical skills. Here, we review the models, surgical techniques, results and limitations of partial liver resections in rodent models. We also reported for the first time segmentectomies of the median lobe in rodent models.
Field Studies on the Epidemiology of Venezuelan Hemorrhagic Fever: Implication of the Cotton Rat Sigmodon alstoni as the Probable Rodent Reservoir (1993)

During February 1992, field studies on the epidemiology of Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (VHF) were carried out in a rural area of Portuguesa State in central Venezuela. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of infection with Guanarito virus, the etiologic agent of VHF, among wild rodents and humans living within an endemic focus of the disease. A total of 234 rodents, representing nine different species, were collected and their spleens were cultured for virus. Thirty-one Guanarito virus isolates were made from two rodent species: 19 from 40 Sigmodon alstoni and 12 from 106 Zygodontomys brevicauda. Guanarito virus antibody rates among these two species were 5.1% and 15.0%, respectively. Nine of the 12 Z. brevicauda that yielded virus from their spleens also had Guanarito virus antibodies in their sera. In contrast, none of the 19 Guanarito virus-positive S. alstoni had antibodies to the virus. These data suggest that S. alstoni usually develops a persistent nonimmunizing infection with Guanarito virus, while Z. brevicauda develops an immunizing infection. Based on knowledge of the behavior of other human pathogenic arenaviruses, these results imply that S. alstoni is the principal rodent reservoir of Guanarito virus in nature. To determine the prevalence of Guanarito virus infection among humans in the same region, 195 people living near one of the rodent collecting sites were bled and their sera were tested for antibodies to the virus. Five individuals (2.6%) had Guanarito virus antibodies; all were adults, and two had been diagnosed previously as having VHF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Dual utilization of NADPH and NADH cofactors enhances xylitol production in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae (2015)

Abstract Xylitol, a natural sweetener, can be produced by hydrogenation of xylose in hemicelluloses. In microbial processes, utilization of only NADPH cofactor limited commercialization of xylitol biosynthesis. To overcome this drawback, Saccharomyces cerevisiae D452‐2 was engineered to express two types of xylose reductase (XR) with either NADPH‐dependence or NADH‐preference. Engineered S. cerevisiae DWM expressing both the XRs exhibited higher xylitol productivity than the yeast strain expressing NADPH‐dependent XR only (DWW) in both batch and glucose‐limited fed‐batch cultures. Furthermore, the coexpression of S. cerevisiae ZWF1 and ACS1 genes in the DWM strain increased intracellular concentrations of NADPH and NADH and improved maximum xylitol productivity by 17%, relative to that for the DWM strain. Finally, the optimized fed‐batch fermentation of S. cerevisiae DWM‐ZWF1‐ACS1 resulted in 196.2 g/L xylitol concentration, 4.27 g/L h productivity and almost the theoretical yield. Expression of the two types of XR utilizing both NADPH and NADH is a promising strategy to meet the industrial demands for microbial xylitol production.
Physiological factors that regulate skin pigmentation (2009)

More than 150 genes have been identified that affect skin color either directly or indirectly, and we review current understanding of physiological factors that regulate skin pigmentation. We focus on melanosome biogenesis, transport and transfer, melanogenic regulators in melanocytes, and factors derived from keratinocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hormones, inflammatory cells, and nerves. Enzymatic components of melanosomes include tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase, which depend on the functions of OA1, P, MATP, ATP7A, and BLOC-1 to synthesize eumelanins and pheomelanins. The main structural component of melanosomes is Pmel17/gp100/Silv, whose sorting involves adaptor protein 1A (AP1A), AP1B, AP2, and spectrin, as well as a chaperone-like component, MART-1. During their maturation, melanosomes move from the perinuclear area toward the plasma membrane. Microtubules, dynein, kinesin, actin filaments, Rab27a, melanophilin, myosin Va, and Slp2-a are involved in melanosome transport. Foxn1 and p53 up-regulate skin pigmentation via bFGF and POMC derivatives including alpha-MSH and ACTH, respectively. Other critical factors that affect skin pigmentation include MC1R, CREB, ASP, MITF, PAX3, SOX9/10, LEF-1/TCF, PAR-2, DKK1, SCF, HGF, GM-CSF, endothelin-1, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, neurotrophins, and neuropeptides. UV radiation up-regulates most factors that increase melanogenesis. Further studies will elucidate the currently unknown functions of many other pigment genes/proteins. (c) 2009 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
Blood stasis contributions to the perception of skin pigmentation (2004)

The chromatic characteristics of skin color arise from the interactions of light (primarily absorption and scattering) with the epidermis and the dermis. The primary light absorbers in skin are hemoglobin and melanin. Most of scattering is attributed to collagen fibers and in pigmented skin to melanosomes. Traditionally skin redness is considered to arise due to locally elevated concentrations of hemoglobin, whereas skin pigmentation is attributed to melanin. In this study we attempt to understand better the contributions of these chromophores to the perceived skin color using spectral analysis of skin color reactions induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation or pressure. In the first experiment 12 individuals with skin phototypes III-IV were irradiated on the back using a solar simulator with doses ranging from 0.7 to 3 MED. The skin reactions were evaluated on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 after irradiation. Evaluations included diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and clinical assessment of the erythema and the pigment reaction. Apparent concentrations of melanin, oxy-, and deoxy-hemoglobin were calculated from the absorption spectra. In the second experiment the levels of deoxy-hemoglobin of the volar forearm of ten volunteers were selectively altered by either application of a pressure cuff or by topical application of 3% H(2)O(2). Changes in skin color appearance were documented by photography, colorimetry, and DRS. In the UV exposure experiment all reactions were dose dependent. Oxy-hemoglobin values increased to a maximum on day 1, correlating well with the clinical evaluation of erythema, and then decreased exponentially to base line. Melanin showed a significant increase on day 7 and remained relatively constant for the next 3 weeks, correlating well with the clinical evaluation of pigmentation (tanning). Deoxy-hemoglobin increased slightly on day 1 and remained elevated for the next 2 weeks. Thus, deoxy-hemoglobin correlated moderately with the clinical erythema scoring on day 1 only, while it contributes significantly to what is clinically perceived as skin tanning on days 7 and 14. Application of pressure below the diastolic level increased deoxy-hemoglobin concentration as measured by DRS. This increase corresponded to a decrease of a "pigmentation" parameter (based on the L(*)a(*)b(*) scale) in a similar fashion that has been documented for increases in melanin concentration. Topical H(2)O(2) application reduced deoxy-hemoglobin levels as measured by DRS. This reduction coincided kinetically with a visible skin blanching. Application of pressure or H(2)O(2) did not significantly alter the levels of oxy-hemoglobin or melanin. In this report we present compelling evidence that deoxy-hemoglobin significantly contributes to the skin color appearance. Blood pooling, expressed as increased deoxy-hemoglobin, can contribute to what is visually perceived as pigmentation. Furthermore, we present that measurement of its contribution to the skin color appearance can only be accomplished with DRS.
Metabolic surgery profoundly influences gut microbial–host metabolic cross-talk (2011)

This profound co-dependence of mammalian and microbial metabolism, which is systematically altered after RYGB surgery, suggests that RYGB exerts local and global metabolic effects. The effect of RYGB surgery on the host metabolic-microbial cross-talk augments our understanding of the metabolic phenotype of bariatric procedures and can facilitate enhanced treatments for obesity-related diseases.
Adsorption of viruses in water environment onto solid surfaces (1997)

Recently the contamination of water environment involving rivers, lakes, the sources of drinking water, etc. by viruses has been paid attention to as a new threat. The behavior of the viruses found in water environment is not well understood so far. However, it is suspected in general that the viruses are adsorbed onto solid surfaces such as suspended solids and sediment and keep their activities for a long time. Most likely, it is true that the adsorption of the viruses onto solid surfaces is one of the major factors controlling their transport and survival in water environment. In this work, the adsorption equilibrium relations of model viruses in water environment and their activities on solid surfaces were investigated. The E. coli phage such as Qβ, fr, MS2 and T4 were employed for experiments as model viruses, and cellulose and its derivatives, kaolin, carbon black, etc. were chosen as model solid surfaces. All the adsorption isotherms of model viruses on model surfaces were successfully written as the linear expression by the Henry equation in the concentration range of 102-107 [PFU/ml]. The resultant Henry constants were correlated with the total acidity of the solid surfaces. Stability of the model viruses was completely different when they were adsorbed on the solid surfaces and when they were suspended in water. The viruses adsorbed on the solid surfaces were significantly stable compared with the suspended ones regardless of the surface properties. It is suggested that the shrinkage of the virus is one of the important survival factors and the adsorption onto solid surfaces enhances their activities.
IgA1 half molecules in human multiple myeloma and the in vitro production of similar fragments from intact IgA1 molecules. (1983)

This paper describes an IgA related protein Vla which occurred in the serum and urine of a patient with multiple myeloma. The protein was isolated from urine; it had a molecular mass of 70,000 daltons. It was shown to be a two chain IgA half molecule, consisting of a deleted alpha heavy chain, with a molecular mass of 42,000 daltons, which was disulphide linked to a normal kappa type light chain. Fabc fragments were produced from an unrelated myeloma IgA. These had the same biochemical properties as protein V1a, except for the absence of the disulphide linkage between the deleted heavy chains and the light chains. Protein Vla and the Fabc fragments could both be cleaved by IgA1 protease from Streptococcus sanguis, which indicates the presence of the alpha 1 hinge region. An inventory of its antigenic determinants and their similarity to those of previously characterized F(abc)2 fragments, indicates that protein Vla, like the Fabc fragments, contains the CH1 and CH2 domains, but lacks most of the CH3 domain. The fact that cleavage by IgA1 protease from S. sanguis yields a Fab fragment but fails to yield a CH2 domain demonstrates that cleavage by the enzyme is not only restricted to the Pro227-Thr228 bond in the IgA1 hinge region.
Graph Theory Finds Microseismic Multiplets (2005)

P091 Graph Theory Finds Microseismic Multiplets Summary 1 The interpretation of microseismic events observed in hydrocarbon reservoirs is often as challenging as the acquisition process itself. To visualize and more effectively analyze the microseismic datasets we propose to represent the data as a graph in which individual events are represented as nodes while physical relations between the events are represented as edges. For example a physical relationship may be a measure of the waveform similarity; i.e. doublets. A large number of algorithms developed for graphs can then be applied to the analysis of microseismic events. For example we group doublets