gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Binding of human factor VIII to phospholipid vesicles. (1990)

Factor VIII, a protein cofactor involved in blood coagulation, functions in vitro on a phospholipid membrane surface to greatly increase the rate of factor X activation by factor IXa. Using gel filtration, rapid sedimentation, and resonance energy transfer we have studied the interaction of recombinant-derived human factor VIII with small and large unilamellar phospholipid vesicles composed of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine. Resonance energy transfer, from intrinsic fluorophores in factor VIII to dansyl-phosphatidylethanolamine incorporated into vesicles, has been adapted for quantitative equilibrium measurements. Factor VIII binds rapidly and reversibly to small and large vesicles. At 8 degrees C the interaction of factor VIII with small vesicles fits a simple bimolecular model with a KD of 2 nM and a phospholipid binding site defined by 180 phospholipid monomers. At 25 degrees C the binding of factor VIII to small vesicles containing 20% phosphatidylserine can be described by an apparent KD of 4 nM; the phospholipid/protein ratio at saturation was 170. Binding to large vesicles was demonstrated with a KD of 2 nM and a phospholipid/protein ratio at saturation of 385. Binding was dependent upon the phosphatidylserine mole fraction and was nonlinear from 0 to 30% phosphatidylserine content. A direct comparison of factor VIII and factor V binding indicated that the affinity of factor V to phospholipid vesicles was equivalent to that of factor VIII and that the phosphatidylserine requirement was lower. A model is proposed to explain the nonlinear phosphatidylserine dependence of binding for factor VIII.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing of Grown Blood Cultures by Combining Culture and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Is Rapid and Effective (2011)

This new rapid method for antibiotic susceptibility testing can potentially provide accurate results for most relevant bacteria commonly isolated from positive blood cultures in less time than routine methods.
The Mammalian Degenerin MDEG, an Amiloride-sensitive Cation Channel Activated by Mutations Causing Neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans (1996)

Mutations of the degenerins (deg-1, mec-4, mec-10) are the major known causes of hereditary neurodegeneration in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We cloned a neuronal degenerin (MDEG) from human and rat brain. MDEG is an amiloride-sensitive cation channel permeable for Na+, K+, and Li+. This channel is activated by the same mutations which cause neurodegeneration in C. elegans. Like the hyperactive C. elegans degenerin mutants, constitutively active mutants of MDEG cause cell death, suggesting that gain of function of this novel neuronal ion channel might be involved in human forms of neurodegeneration.
Surface activity of a synthetic lung surfactant containing a phospholipase-resistant phosphonolipid analog of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (2003)

Surface activity and sensitivity to inhibition from phospholipase A2 (PLA2), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and serum albumin were studied for a synthetic C16:0 diether phosphonolipid (DEPN-8) combined with 1.5% by weight of mixed hydrophobic surfactant proteins (SP)-B/C purified from calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE). Pure DEPN-8 had better adsorption and film respreading than the major lung surfactant phospholipid dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and reached minimum surface tensions <1 mN/m under dynamic compression on the Wilhelmy balance and on a pulsating bubble surfactometer (37 degrees C, 20 cycles/min, 50% area compression). DEPN-8 + 1.5% SP-B/C exhibited even greater adsorption and had overall dynamic surface tension lowering equal to CLSE on the bubble. In addition, films of DEPN-8 + 1.5% SP-B/C on the Wilhelmy balance had better respreading than CLSE after seven (but not two) cycles of compression-expansion at 23 degrees C. DEPN-8 is structurally resistant to degradation by PLA2, and DEPN-8 + 1.5% SP-B/C maintained high adsorption and dynamic surface activity in the presence of this enzyme. Incubation of CLSE with PLA2 led to chemical degradation, generation of LPC, and reduced surface activity. DEPN-8 + 1.5% SP-B/C was also more resistant than CLSE to direct biophysical inhibition by LPC, and the two were similar in their sensitivity to biophysical inhibition by serum albumin. These findings indicate that synthetic surfactants containing DEPN-8 combined with surfactant proteins or related synthetic peptides have potential utility for treating surfactant dysfunction in inflammatory lung injury.
Prevention of Type I Diabetes in Nonobese Diabetic Mice by Virus Infection (1988)

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is an animal model of type I diabetes and develops a characteristic autoimmune lesion in the islets of Langerhans with lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of pancreatic β cells. The result is hypoinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, and death. Diabetes usually begins by the sixth month of age but can occur earlier when young NOD mice are infused with lymphocytes from older NOD donors. When newborn or adult NOD mice were infected with a lymphotropic virus they did not become diabetic. The interaction between viruses and lymphocytes is pivotal in aborting diabetes, as established by experiments in which lymphocytes from virus-infected donors failed to transfer diabetes. In contrast, lymphocytes from age- and sex-matched uninfected donors caused disease. Therefore, viruses and, presumably, their products can be developed to be beneficial and may have potential as a component for treatment of human diseases. Further, these results point to the utility of viruses as probes for dissecting the pathogenesis of a nonviral disease.
Mechanisms of action of the tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin ligand-receptor system. (1995)

In the past few years, a number of experimental observations have provided more insight into the mechanisms of action of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/lymphotoxin (LT) ligand-receptor system. This system consists of three ligands, TNF, LT alpha (LT alpha) and LT beta (LT beta), and three membrane-associated receptors, p55, p75 and LT beta-receptor (LT beta-R). Like TNF, LT alpha is a secreted protein which in solution forms a homotrimer molecule, with a conformation similar to that of TNF. LT beta is a transmembrane protein that provides the membrane anchor for the attachment to the cell surface of the heteromeric complex of LT alpha and LT beta. This complex retains a structure related to TNF and LT alpha homotrimers, with the homology regions interacting in a heterotypic fashion. The LT alpha 1:LT beta 2 heteromer has been found to be a predominant form of surface LT. The biological effects of TNF and LT alpha homotrimers are mediated by p55 and p75 receptors, while the heteromeric complex of LT alpha/LT beta transduces its cellular signal via LT beta-R. Membrane-associated receptor affinities as well as final biological effects of TNF/LT can be modulated by the influence of naturally occurring soluble receptors, derived from the cell surface by proteolytic cleavage. The multimerization of receptor cytoplasmic domains upon TNF/LT ligation is postulated to activate the intracellular signal-transduction pathways. One of them is the activation of phospholipase A2 (PL-A2) resulting in the production of arachidonic acid (AA) and other metabolites, including leukotriens, phosphatidycholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) with subsequent production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). As a third signaling pathway, TNF/LT employ the sphingomyelinase (SMase)-mediated hydrolysis of membrane sphingomyelin (SM) to ceramide. The final link in the TNF/LT signaling is activation of nuclear transcription factors, such as NF-kappa B, AP-1, interferon regulatory factors-1 and -2 (IRF-1, IRF-2), and NF-GMa. Since induction of AP-1, IRF-1 and IRF-2 as well as NF-GMa proceeds through translational event, the posttranslational TNF/LT-driven activation of NF-kappa B remains the only cellular event identified so far that serves as a direct target in their signaling cascade.
Strong broadband optical absorption in silicon nanowire films (2007)

The broadband optical absorption properties of silicon nanowire (SiNW) films fabricated on glass substrates by wet etching and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been measured and found to be higher than solid thin films of equivalent thickness. The observed behavior is adequately explained by light scattering and light trapping though some of the observed absorption is due to a high density of surface states in the nanowires films, as evidenced by the partial reduction in high residual sub-bandgap absorption after hydrogen passivation. Finite difference time domain simulations show strong resonance within and between the nanowires in a vertically oriented array and describe the experimental absorption data well. These structures may be of interest in optical films and optoelectronic device applications.
IgY antibodies in human nutrition for disease prevention (2015)

Oral administration of preformed specific antibodies is an attractive approach against infections of the digestive system in humans and animals in times of increasing antibiotic resistances. Previous studies showed a positive effect of egg yolk IgY antibodies on bacterial intoxications in animals and humans. Immunization of chickens with specific antigens offers the possibility to create various forms of antibodies. Research shows that orally applied IgY's isolated from egg yolks can passively cure or prevent diseases of the digestive system. The use of these alternative therapeutic drugs provides further advantages: (1) The production of IgY's is a non-invasive alternative to current methods; (2) The keeping of chickens is inexpensive; (3) The animals are easy to handle; (4) It avoids repetitive bleeding of laboratory animals; (5) It is also very cost effective regarding the high IgY concentration within the egg yolk. Novel targets of these antigen specific antibodies are Helicobacter pylori and also molecules involved in signaling pathways in gastric cancer. Furthermore, also dental caries causing bacteria like Streptococcus mutans or opportunistic Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients are possible targets. Therefore, IgY's included in food for human consumption may be able to prevent or cure human diseases.
Inhibition of interleukin‐6 synthesis in an animal model of septic shock by anti‐C5a monoclonal antibodies (1996)

The complement activation fragment C5a was recently shown to induce interleukin (IL)-6 synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To understand better the role of C5a in cytokine regulation in vivo, we investigated the effects of complement depletion by cobra venom factor (CVF) or of anti-C5a monoclonal antibodies (mAb) on IL-6 generation in an animal model of septic shock. Complement-depleted pigs which were subsequently challenged with Escherichia coli generated significantly (p < 0.05) less IL-6 during the 6-h observation period than complement-sufficient controls. To address specifically the role of C5a in IL-6 regulation, we produced a C5a(57-74) peptide-specific mAb (T13/9) which neutralizes the bioactivity of porcine C5a. The mAb T13/9 does not cross-react with the precursor protein C5. The pretreatment of pigs with anti-C5a mAb T13/9 prior to the induction of sepsis resulted in a decrease of over 75% in serum IL-6 bioactivity compared to control animals (p < 0.0001). These results indicate a role for C5a in the modulation of IL-6 synthesis in Gram-negative bacteremia.
Chinese Businesses of Good Repute and Long History Marching towards European Market (2005)

Not long ago, a 16-member study group completed its European study tour. The Group was composed of businesspersons from several famous Chinese businesses of good repute and long history (Lao Zi Hao in Chinese)including Shengxifu (Beijing Shengxifu Hatting Co., Ltd),Tongshenghe (Beijing Tongshenghe Shoe House), Ruifuxiang (Ruifuxiang Silk and Cotton Shop) and Jinyang Restaurant. The group came back to Beijing after attending the Forum on the Center of China's Brand Name Business in Ville de Lille, France, at which Chinese participants and their counterparts built friendly relations and got intentions of bilateral cooperation.
Interactions Between Current and Domain Wall Spin Structures (2006)

In dieser Arbeit wird die Wechselwirkung zwischen Strom und der Spinstruktur von Domänenwänden in den 3d-Ferromagneten Ni80Fe20 (Permalloy) und Co sowie in den halbmetallischen Ferromagneten Fe3O4 und CrO2 untersucht. Nanostrukturen aus diesen Materialien (Ringe, Drähte, Rechtecke etc.) verschiedener Größe und Dicke werden unter Einsatz von Molekularstrahlepitaxie, Elektronenstrahl-Lithographie, Lift-off-Technik sowie fokussiertem Ionenstrahl-Milling und chemischen Ätzprozessen hergestellt. Proben, die für Strominjektion und Magnetowiderstandsmessungen bestimmt sind, werden in einem Overlay-Prozess mit Goldkontakten elektrisch kontaktiert. Zunächst wird die Spinstruktur von Domänenwänden in diesen Materialien mit Hilfe von Photoemissionselektronenmikroskopie auf Basis von zirkularem Röntgendichroismus (XMCD-PEEM) mit Synchrotronstrahlung untersucht, weil bekannt ist, dass die Domänenwand-Spinstruktur den Magnetowiderstand beeinflusst und dass Spin-Transfer-Torque-Effekte in engem Bezug zur Spinstruktur stehen. Es ergeben sich Domänenwandtyp-Phasendiagramme für 180° Kopf-an-Kopf-Domänenwände, die mit Hilfe der Theorie des Mikromagnetismus bestätigt werden. Thermisch induzierte Wandtyp-Transformationen werden untersucht, die Wandbreite als Funktion der Strukturbreite ermittelt und die dipolare Kopplung benachbarter Domänenwände abgebildet. Die Domänenwand-Spinstrukturen und ihre Abhängigkeit von der magnetokristallinen Anisotropie in Fe3O4 und CrO2 Strukturen wird untersucht. Strom- und feldinduzierte Domänenwandverschiebung in NiFe-Strukturen wird bei variablen Temperaturen über Messung des Domänenwandbeitrages zum anisotropen Magnetowiderstand studiert. Die Messung der Joulschen Erwärmung durch Strom erlaubt, thermische Effekte von intrinsischen Spin-Torque-Effekten zu separieren. Die Domänenwandgeschwindigkeit und strominduzierte Transformationen der Domänenwand-Spinstruktur werden mit XMCD-PEEM bestimmt. In CrO2 werden die verschiedenen Magnetowiderstandsbeiträge temperaturabhängig ermittelt, die Joulsche Erwärmung durch Strom gemessen und stromunterstützte Domänenwandverschiebung bei tiefen Temperaturen untersucht.
Reconstruction Of Surfaces Of 3-D Objects By M-array Pattern Projection Method (2005)

A common problem of Pattern projection methods to measure surfaces of 3-D objects is that an observed pattern possibly i ncludes disorders such as deficiency, d isplacement, and permutation of subpatterns. These disorders make it difficult to match observed patterns with its position on the projected one and cause wrong m easurements as a result. This paper proposes a new technique to correct pattern disorders by using a pattern made from an M-array which is a two-dimensional extension of a well-known M-sequence.
Effects of growth factors on the antiproliferative activity of tumor necrosis factors. (1987)

Tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) are a class of cytokines secreted by activated effector cells involved in host defense against tumor progression. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and recombinant human transforming growth factor-alpha (rHuTGF-alpha) were shown to interfere with the in vitro antiproliferative effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) and -beta on a human cervical carcinoma cell line, ME-180. The inhibitory effect could be observed at EGF or rHuTGF-alpha concentrations of 100 pg/ml, and was maximal between 1 and 10 ng/ml. This response was not due to down regulation of the TNF receptor or to alteration of the affinity of TNF-alpha for its receptor. Since the antiproliferative effect of recombinant human interferon-gamma was not significantly affected by the presence of EGF or rHuTGF-alpha, the inhibition was specific for recombinant TNFs and was not due solely to enhanced proliferation induced by the growth factors. Neither growth factor had a substantial protective effect on the synergistic cytotoxicity observed when tumor cells were exposed simultaneously to rHuTNF-alpha and recombinant human interferon-gamma. TGF-beta can also interfere with the antiproliferative effects of rHuTNF-alpha in vitro. At concentrations of less than 1 ng/ml, TGF-beta significantly antagonized the cytotoxic effects of rHuTNF-alpha on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Since EGF, platelet-derived growth factor, and TGF-beta all enhanced NIH 3T3 cell proliferation, but only TGF-beta interfered with rHuTNF-alpha cytotoxicity, the protective effects of TGF-beta were not related in a simple manner to enhanced cell proliferation. rHuTGF-alpha and TGF-beta did not have a significant protective effect against rHuTNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity on two other tumor cell lines, BT-20 and L-929 cells. Based upon these observations we suggest that growth factors might enhance tumor growth in vivo by a combination of distinct mechanisms: (a) by autocrine stimulation tumor cell growth; and/or (b) by interfering with normal effector mechanisms of host defense.
Occlusal force pattern during chewing and biting in dentitions restored with fixed bridges of cross‐arch extension (1986)

The pattern of axially directed occlusal forces, i.e. magnitude, distribution, duration and frequency of occlusal forces perpendicular to the occlusal plane, was studied during chewing, swallowing and biting in twelve subjects whose dentitions were periodontally treated and prosthetically restored with fixed, cross-arch bridges whose periodontal support included bilateral end abutments. The measuring devices consisted of four strain gauge transducers bilaterally mounted into pontics of maxillary bridges to represent the posterior and anterior regions. The forces could thus be studied in various parts of as well as over the entire dentition simultaneously. All subjects exhibited a rhythmic chewing pattern with preference of one side as chewing side. Local chewing and biting forces were always larger in the posterior than in the anterior regions and largest in the posterior region of the preferred chewing side. The total chewing and swallowing forces were about 100 Newtons (N) whereas the total maximal bite force in habitual occlusion amounted to 320 N. On average 37% of the total maximal bite force in habitual occlusion was utilized during chewing (and swallowing). The capacity of the periodontal tissues on the preferred chewing side to withstand transient occlusal forces was utilized to an average of 25% during chewing and swallowing and to an average of 57% during biting with maximal strength in habitual occlusion. The mean duration of that part of the chewing cycle during which the teeth were subjected to occlusal forces was 240 ms. The duration of the occlusal forces during swallowing was about three times longer. It is concluded that the periodontal tissues can withstand transient occlusal forces which are much larger than those generally operating during chewing, swallowing and biting with maximal strength in habitual occlusion. However, when the bite force is concentrated to a limited area of the tooth-arch, its magnitude seems to be limited by feedback mechanisms evoked in the periodontal tissues of that region.
Immunochemical studies of Lolium perenne (rye grass) pollen allergens, Lol p I, II, and III. (1987)

It was reported earlier that human immune responses to three perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne) pollen allergens, Lol p I, II, and III, are associated with histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR3. Rye-allergic people are often concordantly sensitive to all three of these allergens. Since earlier studies suggested that these antigens are non-cross-reactive, their immunologic relatedness by double antibody radioimmunoassay (DARIA) was studied in order to understand further the immunochemical basis for the concordant recognition of the three allergens. Direct binding DARIA studies were performed with human sera from 189 allergic subjects. Inhibition DARIA studies were carried out with 17 human sera from grass-allergic patients who were on grass immunotherapy, one goat anti-serum, and six rabbit antisera. None of the sera detected any significant degree of two-way cross-reactivity between Lol p I and II, or between Lol p I and III. However, the degree of two-way cross-reactivity between Lol p II and III exhibited by individual human and animal antisera varied between undetectable and 100%. In general, the degree of cross-reactivity between Lol p II and III was higher among human sera than among animal sera. Taken together with earlier findings that antibody responses to Lol p I, II and III are associated with HLA-HDR3, and that most Lol p II and III responders are also Lol p I responders, but not vice versa, our present results suggest the following: the HLA-DR3-encoded Ia molecule recognizes a similar immunodominant Ia recognition site (agretope) shared between Lol p I and Lol p II and/or III; in addition, Lol p I appears to contain unique Ia recognition site(s) not present in Lol p II and III. However, further epitope analyses are required to investigate these possibilities.
Interleukin-17/Interleukin-17 Receptor-Mediated Signaling Is Important for Generation of an Optimal Polymorphonuclear Response againstToxoplasma gondiiInfection (2004)

We investigated the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17)/IL-17 receptor (IL-17R)-mediated signaling in the protective immunity against Toxoplasma gondii. IL-17R(-/-) mice developed a normal adaptive immunity against the parasite. However, increased mortality in the knockout animals can be attributed to a defect in the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to infected sites during early infection.
Point Mutations in the WD40 Domain of Eed Block Its Interaction with Ezh2 (1998)

The Polycomb group proteins are involved in maintenance of the silenced state of several developmentally regulated genes. These proteins form large aggregates with different subunit compositions. To explore the nature of these complexes and their function, we used the full-length Eed (embryonic ectoderm development) protein, a mammalian homolog of the Drosophila Polycomb group protein Esc, as a bait in the yeast two-hybrid screen. Several strongly interacting cDNA clones were isolated. The cloned cDNAs all encoded the 150- to 200-amino-acid N-terminal fragment of the mammalian homolog of the Drosophila Enhancer of zeste [E(z)] protein, Ezh2. The full-length Ezh2 bound strongly to Eed in vitro, and Eed coimmunoprecipitated with Ezh2 from murine 70Z/3 cell extracts, confirming the interaction between these proteins observed in yeast. Mutations T1031A and T1040C in one of the WD40 repeats of Eed, which account for the hypomorphic and lethal phenotype of eed in mouse development, blocked binding of Ezh2 to Eed in a two-hybrid interaction in yeast and in mammalian cells. These mutations also blocked the interaction between these proteins in vitro. In mammalian cells, the Gal4-Eed fusion protein represses the activity of a promoter bearing Gal4 DNA elements. The N-terminal fragment of the Ezh2 protein abolished the transcriptional repressor activity of Gal4-Eed protein when they were coexpressed in mammalian cells. Eed and Ezh2 were also found to bind RNA in vitro, and RNA altered the interaction between these proteins. These findings suggest that Polycomb group proteins Eed and Ezh2 functionally interact in mammalian cells, an interaction that is mediated by the WD40-containing domain of Eed protein.
Introduction to this special section: Africa (2011)

Africa has long been a place for successful mineral and oil and gas exploration; however, the diversity of geology, technical innovation, and opportunity make it a unique place. A single special section cannot hope to capture the breadth of the geophysical activity going on today somewhere on the continent. But we hope that with this issue we at least make a dent in the subject by offering a good variety of papers from both hard rock and hydrocarbon exploration.