gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Physico-Mechanical Properties of Mycelium Reinforced Green Biocomposites Made from Cellulosic Fibers (2016)

<abstract> <b><i>Abstract. </i></b> Biodegradable and sustainable feedstocks are increasingly replacing petroleum-based materials commonly used for single- or multi-use packaging applications. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of an innovative biocomposite material patented by Ecovative Design LLC (Green Island, N.Y.) for use in commercial products and packaging. The biocomposite material utilizes the fungus mycelium as a matrix to bind cellulosic plant fibers. The test samples were manufactured with different fiber-fungal strain combinations, using cotton ginning waste and hemp pith as core material and fiber fabric on the surface. The physico-mechanical properties of the biocomposites were evaluated to develop a thorough understanding of the material which may lead to future applications. The properties evaluated included specific gravity, surface hardness, water absorption, coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and resistance to tension and compression stress. The density profile results indicated that the material is extremely light, buoyant, and highly hydrophilic. Surface hardness test showed that the material has a soft outer surface with high elasticity. The tensile and compression properties showed the material can be used in targeted packaging applications where lightweight, resiliency, and biodegradability are desirable.
Short-term BMP-4 treatment initiates mesoderm induction in human embryonic stem cells (2007)

Human embryonic stem cells (hES cells) have unlimited self-renewal capacity and can differentiate into most, if not all, possible cell types. This unique property makes them valuable not only for investigation of early developmental processes, but also for regenerative medicine. Mesoderm-derived cardiac cells and hematopoietic cells both have the potential for various therapeutic applications. However, efficient induction of hES cell differentiation into mesoderm remains a challenge. Here, we showed that treatment of hES cells with bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) exhibited differential effects: long-term treatment results in trophoblast and extra-embryonic endoderm differentiation, whereas short-term treatment can promote early mesoderm induction. The induction of mesoderm in hES cells occurs at a high efficiency as measured using several markers, such as Brachyury, WNT3, and MIXL1 expression. Moreover, these mesoderm progenitor cells can differentiate into cardiac and hematopoietic lineages in vitro. Further analysis showed that the mesoderm-inducing capacity of BMP-4 requires endogenous FGF and TGF-beta/Nodal/activin signaling activities. Thus, our results uncover a novel role for BMP-4 in regulation of hES cell differentiation and should provide insights into the mechanism of mesoderm induction in hES cells.
Seismic Methods in Post Construction Condition Monitoring of Bridge Decks (2000)

Ultrasonic methods implemented in various types of integrated seismic devices can be successfully used in quality control and condition assessment of bridge decks. Of special interest are three ultrasonic techniques: ultrasonic body-wave (UBW), ultrasonic surface-wave (USW) and impact echo (IE). While the first two are used in a deck material characterization, the IE method is primarily used in evaluation of a corrosion induced delamination. The biggest advantage of the IE method over a curent practice of chain dragging is that it allows detection of zones of delamination at various stages: from initial to progressed and developed, thus enabling better prediction of deterioration processes in the deck. To improve automation, accuracy and interpretation of results of the IE technique, the testing is simulated by the finite element method. Numerous finite element results confirm the ability of the IE method to accurately measure theposition, extent and the stage of delamination. The finite element method was successfully used in simulation of two probable scenarios of delamination progression: expansion∖growth of a single small delamination, and progressive linking of several smaller delaminations. Elements that can be used in recognition of the two processes are described and can be used in long term monitoring and prediction of deterioration processes. Issues related to finite element modeling of wave propagation in bridge decks and finite element analysis results interpretation are discussed too.
HPMA Copolymer Delivery of Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy in Ovarian Cancer (2005)

Our studies document a unique and unexpected advantage of the combination of HPMA copolymer bound doxorubicin with mesochlorin e6/photodynamic therapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Each drug's activity is individually enhanced when compared with free (low molecular weight) drugs, furthermore, in combination these HPMA copolymer bound agents act synergistically to create an unexpected biological effect. Figure 8 depicts the known activities of each agent which may play synergistic roles. HPMA copolymer-doxorubicin has been widely evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. It demonstrates marked advantages over free doxorubicin: control of biodistribution and accumulation via molecular weight restrictions, biodegradability, minimal immunogenicity, subcellular localization, anticancer activity, enhanced permeability and retention, increased apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and reduced nonspecific toxicity. Recent clinical trials in the UK provide "proof of principle" of the "enhanced permeability and retention effect" for solid tumors and the unique advantages of this novel drug delivery system for the treatment of ovarian cancer. With regards to photodynamic therapy using the photosensitizer mesochlorin e6, the preclinical evaluations thus far document: control of biodistribution and accumulation via molecular weight restrictions, biodegradability, subcellular localization, anticancer activity, enhanced permeability and retention, and reduced nonspecific toxicity. Ongoing microarray studies document unique cellular pathways and new pharmaceutical properties which are initiated by the HPMA copolymer delivery delivery of these agents, and predict an exciting future for this novel drug delivery system.
Diode Laser in Cervical Myofascial Pain (1989)

We present a double-blind trial in which a pulsed infrared beam was compared with a placebo in the treatment of myofascial pain in the cervical region. The patients were submitted to 12 sessions on alternate days to a total energy dose of 5 J each. At each session, the four most painful muscular trigger points and five bilateral homometameric acupuncture points were irradiated. Those in the placebo group submitted to the same number of sessions following an identical procedure, the only difference being that the laser apparatus was nonoperational. Pain was monitored using the Italian version of the McGill pain questionnaire and the Scott-Huskisson visual analogue scale. The results show a pain attenuation in the treated group and a statistically significant difference between the two groups of patients, both at the end of therapy and at the 3-month follow-up examination.
Virally infected and matured human dendritic cells activate natural killer cells via cooperative activity of plasma membrane-bound TNF and IL-15 (2010)

Recombinant adenovirus-engineered dendritic cells (Ad.DCs) are potent immunologic adjuvants of antiviral and anticancer vaccines. The effectiveness of Ad.DC-based vaccines may depend on the ability of Ad.DCs to crosstalk with natural killer (NK) cells and to activate, polarize, and bridge innate and adaptive immunity. We investigated, for the first time, whether and how human Ad.DCs activate NK cells, and compared the Ad.DC function with that of immature DCs and matured DCs (mDCs). We found that adenovirus transduction and lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma-induced maturation increased expression of transmembrane tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and trans-presented (trans) interleukin-15 (IL-15) on DCs, leading to enhanced NK cell activation without enhancing DC susceptibility to NK cell-mediated killing. This crosstalk enhanced NK cell CD69 expression, interferon-gamma secretion, proliferation, and antitumor activities, with Ad.DCs being significantly more effective than immature DCs, but less effective than mDCs. The Ad.DC and mDC crosstalk with NK cells was largely prevented by physical separation of DCs and NK cells, and neutralization of total TNF and IL-15, but not by selective sequestration of soluble TNF. These findings demonstrate that both Ad.DCs and mDCs can efficiently promote innate immune functions by activation of NK cells through the cooperative activities of tmTNF and trans-IL-15 mediated by cell-to-cell contact.
Identification of a Second Collagen-Like Glycoprotein Produced by Bacillus anthracis and Demonstration of Associated Spore-Specific Sugars (2005)

Certain carbohydrates (rhamnose, 3-O-methyl rhamnose, and galactosamine) have been demonstrated to be present in Bacillus anthracis spores but absent in vegetative cells. Others have demonstrated that these spore-specific sugars are constituents of the glycoprotein BclA. In the current work, spore extracts were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A second collagen-like glycoprotein, BclB, was identified in B. anthracis. The protein moiety of this glycoprotein was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) and the carbohydrate components by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry. Spore-specific sugars were also demonstrated to be components of BclB.
Oral Immunization and Production of Coproantibody in Human Volunteers (1963)

Summary A group of nine human volunteers received daily doses of oral cholera vaccine for 4 weeks. At the end of this period, seven (78%) showed appreciable antibody titers in fluid stools and/or duodenal fluids. Coproantibody could be maintained in these volunteers for 12 weeks (i.e., the length of the experiment) by a single weekly oral dose of vaccine. A primary course of daily oral doses for 2 (rather than 4) weeks was less effective in inducing coproantibody. Completely ineffective was a primary course of twice-weekly (rather than daily) oral doses for 4 weeks. A tentative schedule for induction of coproantibody in man by oral vaccine may therefore be formulated which consists of a primary course of one daily dose for 4 weeks, followed by one weekly dose for as long as coproantibody must be maintained. Oral vaccination is the only known method for maintaining coproantibody in man. Coproantibody titers in the orally immunized volunteers were of the same order of magnitude as those found previously after parenteral vaccination, in spite of the fact that 75 times higher serum antibody titers were induced by parenteral vaccine. Consequently, coproantibody stimulated by oral immunization appears to be produced in the intestine rather than being derived from serum antibody. Coproantibody titers in the duodenum of fasting volunteers were low, but increased sharply after a test meal of butter. Antibody titers in duodenal fluids were unrelated to the presence of bile. In many volunteers duodenal antibody titers were of the same order of mangitude as fecal titers, suggesting that release of antibody into the lumen occurs not only in the duodenum but also in lower portions of the intestinal tract. Presence of coproantibody in duodenal fluids was unrelated to the presence of bile pigments.
Fusobacterium necrophorumLeukotoxin Induces Activation and Apoptosis of Bovine Leukocytes (2002)

Fusobacterium necrophorum, a gram-negative, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacterium, is a primary or secondary etiological agent in a variety of necrotic, purulent infections in humans and animals. Its major virulence factor is leukotoxin, a high-molecular-weight secreted protein, primarily toxic to ruminant leukocytes. In this study, bovine peripheral blood leukocytes were exposed to various concentrations of immunoaffinity-purified leukotoxin and the cytotoxicity was analyzed by flow cytometry and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. At very low toxin concentrations, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) showed activation, as indicated by translocation of primary and secondary granules to the periphery of the cytoplasm. Furthermore, these cells showed changes characteristic of apoptosis, including decreased cell size, organelle condensation, cytoplasmic membrane blebbing (zeiosis), and chromatin condensation and margination, and decrease in cellular DNA content. At moderately high concentrations of leukotoxin, bovine mononuclear cells were also induced to undergo programmed cell death. At very high concentrations, leukotoxin caused necrotic cell death of bovine peripheral leukocytes. The ability of F. necrophorum leukotoxin to modulate the host immune system by its toxicity, including cellular activation of PMNs and apoptosis-mediated killing of phagocytes and immune effector cells, represents a potentially important mechanism of its pathogenesis.
L-arginine is required for expression of the activated macrophage effector mechanism causing selective metabolic inhibition in target cells. (1987)

L-Arginine is required for expression of the activated macrophage cytotoxic effector mechanism that causes inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, aconitase activity, and DNA synthesis in tumor target cells. This effector mechanism is active in the presence of L-arginine even when the cocultivation medium lacks all other amino acids and serum. Cytotoxic activated macrophage-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in target cells is proportional to the concentration of L-arginine in the medium. L-Arginine must be present during the cocultivation period. Pretreatment of cytotoxic activated macrophages with L-arginine or posttreatment of the target cells after cocultivation is not effective. D-Arginine does not substitute for L-arginine and at high concentrations is a competitive inhibitor of the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism. Other analogues that could not replace L-arginine include agmatine, argininic acid, arginine hydroxamate, and tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester. L-homoarginine, however, can effectively substitute for L-arginine. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine is a potent competitive inhibitor of this effector mechanism. High concentrations of lipopolysaccharide do not reverse inhibition of the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. However, inhibition of the effector mechanism by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine can be overridden by increasing the concentration of L-arginine in the culture medium. We compared NGNG-dimethyl-L-arginine and NGN1G-dimethyl-L-arginine with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine as inhibitors of the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism. The results show that the inhibitory effect of these guanidino methylated derivatives of L-arginine is highly determined by structure. Guanidine is a weak competitive inhibitor of the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism. The requirement for L-arginine does not appear to be for protein synthesis, creatine biosynthesis, polyamine biosynthesis, or ADP ribosylation reactions. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide is effective as a second signal only when the cocultivation medium contains L-arginine, and this strict L-arginine dependency is not overridden by increasing the concentration of lipopolysaccharide. Bovine liver arginase, by competing for L-arginine in the cocultivation medium, inhibits the L-arginine-dependent activated macrophage cytotoxic effector mechanism.
Sodium currents in dissociated bull‐frog sympathetic neurones. (1987)

1. Sodium currents were recorded from the cell bodies of single dissociated sympathetic neurones of bull-frogs, using patch electrodes in the whole-cell configuration, in Cs+-loaded cells, using external Mn2+ to block calcium currents. 2. A discontinuous single-electrode voltage-clamp method was used. Switching frequencies of 40-50 kHz were possible with 0.5-2 M omega electrodes, giving clamp settling times of approximately 0.2 ms and adequate clamp of currents up to 30 nA. 3. The sodium currents required unusually positive voltages for both activation and inactivation, with half of the maximal observed conductance activating at +2 mV, and half-maximal steady-state inactivation at -35 mV. Both fast (in the order of milliseconds) and slow (in the order of seconds) inactivation processes occurred. 4. Two pharmacologically and kinetically distinct sodium currents were observed. The larger current was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) and saxitoxin (STX) with I50 values (i.e. the concentration which results in 50% inhibition) of 10 nM or lower, and activated and inactivated relatively rapidly. 5. A smaller current (approximately 25% of peak current) was blocked by 0.1-1 microM-STX but not by 1-10 microM-TTX. It also activated rapidly, but inactivated approximately 3-fold more slowly than the larger current. The slower current was blocked 75-90% by Cd2+ (50-200 microM).
Physical activity, nutrition, and chronic disease (1996)

Epidemiologic, animal, clinical, and metabolic studies demonstrate the independent roles of physical activity and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases. Fewer data are available to describe the synergistic effects of exercise and diet, and questions remain as to whether and how these two lifestyle factors work together to promote health and prevent disease. This paper briefly reviews many of the known effects of physical activity and nutrition on the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, obesity, and osteoporosis as well as how exercise and diet may work together. A discussion of how to increase physical activity levels and how to improve dietary intake also is included. Finally, current exercise and dietary recommendations are summarized, as are directions for future research.
Enhancing E. coli Tolerance towards Oxidative Stress via Engineering Its Global Regulator cAMP Receptor Protein (CRP) (2012)

Oxidative damage to microbial hosts often occurs under stressful conditions during bioprocessing. Classical strain engineering approaches are usually both time-consuming and labor intensive. Here, we aim to improve E. coli performance under oxidative stress via engineering its global regulator cAMP receptor protein (CRP), which can directly or indirectly regulate redox-sensing regulators SoxR and OxyR, and other ~400 genes in E. coli. Error-prone PCR technique was employed to introduce modifications to CRP, and three mutants (OM1~OM3) were identified with improved tolerance via H(2)O(2) enrichment selection. The best mutant OM3 could grow in 12 mM H(2)O(2) with the growth rate of 0.6 h(-1), whereas the growth of wild type was completely inhibited at this H(2)O(2) concentration. OM3 also elicited enhanced thermotolerance at 48°C as well as resistance against cumene hydroperoxide. The investigation about intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which determines cell viability, indicated that the accumulation of ROS in OM3 was always lower than in WT with or without H(2)O(2) treatment. Genome-wide DNA microarray analysis has shown not only CRP-regulated genes have demonstrated great transcriptional level changes (up to 8.9-fold), but also RpoS- and OxyR-regulated genes (up to 7.7-fold). qRT-PCR data and enzyme activity assay suggested that catalase (katE) could be a major antioxidant enzyme in OM3 instead of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase or superoxide dismutase. To our knowledge, this is the first work on improving E. coli oxidative stress resistance by reframing its transcription machinery through its native global regulator. The positive outcome of this approach may suggest that engineering CRP can be successfully implemented as an efficient strain engineering alternative for E. coli.
MicroRNAs 221 and 222 inhibit normal erythropoiesis and erythroleukemic cell growth via kit receptor down-modulation (2005)

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression primarily through translational repression. In erythropoietic (E) culture of cord blood CD34+ progenitor cells, the level of miR 221 and 222 is gradually and sharply down-modulated. Hypothetically, this decline could promote erythropoiesis by unblocking expression of key functional proteins. Indeed, (i) bioinformatic analysis suggested that miR 221 and 222 target the 3' UTR of kit mRNA; (ii) the luciferase assay confirmed that both miRs directly interact with the kit mRNA target site; and (iii) in E culture undergoing exponential cell growth, miR down-modulation is inversely related to increasing kit protein expression, whereas the kit mRNA level is relatively stable. Functional studies show that treatment of CD34+ progenitors with miR 221 and 222, via oligonucleotide transfection or lentiviral vector infection, causes impaired proliferation and accelerated differentiation of E cells, coupled with down-modulation of kit protein: this phenomenon, observed in E culture releasing endogenous kit ligand, is magnified in E culture supplemented with kit ligand. Furthermore, transplantation experiments in NOD-SCID mice reveal that miR 221 and 222 treatment of CD34+ cells impairs their engraftment capacity and stem cell activity. Finally, miR 221 and 222 gene transfer impairs proliferation of the kit+ TF-1 erythroleukemic cell line. Altogether, our studies indicate that the decline of miR 221 and 222 during exponential E growth unblocks kit protein production at mRNA level, thus leading to expansion of early erythroblasts. Furthermore, the results on kit+ erythroleukemic cells suggest a potential role of these miRs in cancer therapy.
Isolation and culture of human trabecular meshwork cells by extracellular matrix digestion (1995)

Like corneal endothelial cells, human trabecular meshwork cells are believed to be of neural crest origin, but demonstrate physiological properties and an antithrombogenic surface similar to vascular endothelial cells. One current method for isolating trabecular meshwork cells utilizes the motile nature of these cells to migrate away from a trabecular meshwork explant in culture to more distal regions of the culture dish. This 'outgrowth' technique is limited in practice by the relatively small number of cells that migrate per explant per unit time, thus hindering the ability to gather sufficient numbers of cells for comprehensive experimentation. For this reason, we have modified an extracellular matrix digestion technique in current use for the isolation of microvascular endothelial cells to isolate human trabecular meshwork cells. This procedure is both efficient and rapid for isolating large numbers of trabecular meshwork cells and results in the availability of trabecular meshwork cells in sufficient quantities for subsequent experimentation.
Association of rheumatoid arthritis with a functional chemokine receptor, CCR5 (1999)

The results suggest that the CCR5 receptor plays an important role in RA and may be a suitable target for therapy.
Anthrax toxin: channel-forming activity of protective antigen in planar phospholipid bilayers. (1989)

The three separate proteins that make up anthrax toxin--protective antigen (PA), edema factor (EF), and lethal factor (LF)--act in binary combinations to produce two distinct reactions in experimental animals: edema (PA + EF) and death (PA + LF). PA is believed to interact with a membrane receptor, and after proteolytic processing, to mediate endocytosis and subsequent translocation of EF or LF into the cytosol. PA can be separated, after mild trypsinolysis, into two fragments, PA65 (65 kDa) and PA20 (20 kDa). We demonstrate that trypsin-cleaved PA is capable of forming cation-selective channels in planar phospholipid bilayer membranes and that this activity is confined to the PA65 fragment; PA20, LF, and EF are devoid of channel-forming activity. These PA65 channels exhibit pH-dependent and voltage-dependent activity--a property reminiscent of the channels formed by the two-chain proteins diphtheria, tetanus, and botulinum toxins.