gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Decrease in Peripheral Sympathetic Nervous System Activity following Renal Denervation or Unclipping in the One-Kidney One-Clip Goldblatt Hypertensive Rat (1982)

Increased sympathetic nervous system activity has been demonstrated in established one-kidney one-clip hypertension in the rat. We have found that renal denervation in this model results in an attenuation of hypertension, unassociated with alterations in sodium or water balance or renin activity. To determine whether the depressor effect of renal denervation is associated with changes in peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity, sham operation (n = 12), renal denervation (n = 13), or unclipping (n = 13) was carried out 2 wk after the onset of one-kidney one-clip hypertension. Normotensive unine-phrectomized age- and sex-matched rats were used as controls (n = 14). Renal denervation resulted in a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (201+/-7 to 151+/-6 mm Hg), while unclipping lowered systolic blood pressure to normotensive levels (130+/-6 mm Hg). 8 d after operation plasma norepinephrine and mean arterial pressure before and after ganglionic blockade with 30 mg/kg hexamethonium bromide were measured in conscious, unrestrained, resting animals, as indices of peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity. Plasma norepinephrine was significantly higher in hypertensive sham-operated rats (422+/-42 pg/ml) compared with normotensive controls (282+/-25 pg/ml) (P < 0.01). Both renal denervation and unclipping restored plasma norepinephrine to normal levels (273+/-22 and 294+/-24 pg/ml, respectively). Ganglionic blockade in hypertensive sham-operated animals resulted in a significantly greater decrease in mean arterial pressure than occurred in renal denervated, unclipped, or control rats. The data suggest that the depressor effect of renal denervation or unclipping in the one-kidney one-clip hypertensive rat is associated with a decrease in peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity.
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid potently breaks down pre‐formed Alzheimer's β‐amyloid fibrils in vitro (2002)

Inhibition of the accumulation of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) and the formation of beta-amyloid fibrils (fAbeta) from Abeta, as well as the degradation of pre-formed fAbeta in the CNS would be attractive therapeutic objectives for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously reported that nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) inhibited fAbeta formation from Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) dose-dependently in the range of 10-30 micromin vitro. Utilizing fluorescence spectroscopic analysis with thioflavin T and electron microscopic study, we show here that NDGA dose-dependently breaks down fAbeta(1-40) and fAbeta(1-42) within a few hours at pH 7.5 at 37 degrees C. At 4 h, the fluorescence of fAbeta(1-40) and fAbeta(1-42) incubated with 50 microm NDGA was 5% and 10% of the initial fluorescence, respectively. The activity of NDGA to break down these fAbetas was observed even at a low concentration of 0.1 microm. At 1 h, many short, sheared fibrils were observed in the mixture incubated with 50 microm NDGA, and at 4 h, the number of fibrils reduced markedly, and small amorphous aggregates were observed. We next compared the activity of NDGA to break down fAbeta(1-40) and fAbeta(1-42), with other molecules reported to inhibit fAbeta formation from Abeta and/or to degrade pre-formed fAbeta both in vivo and in vitro. At a concentration of 50 microm, the overall activity of the molecules examined in this study was in the order of: NDGA >> rifampicin = tetracycline > poly(vinylsulfonic acid, sodium salt) = 1,3-propanedisulfonic acid, disodium salt > beta-sheet breaker peptide (iAbeta5). In cell culture experiments, fAbeta disrupted by NDGA were less toxic than intact fAbeta, as demonstrated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Although the mechanisms by which NDGA inhibits fAbeta formation from Abeta, as well as breaking down pre-formed fAbetain vitro, are still unclear, NDGA could be a key molecule for the development of therapeutics for AD.
On the design and quantification of privacy preserving data mining algorithms (2001)

The increasing ability to track and collect large amounts of data with the use of current hardware technology has lead to an interest in the development of data mining algorithms which preserve user privacy. A recently proposed technique addresses the issue of privacy preservation by perturbing the data and reconstructing distributions at an aggregate level in order to perform the mining. This method is able to retain privacy while accessing the information implicit in the original attributes. The distribution reconstruction process naturally leads to some loss of information which is acceptable in many practical situations. This paper discusses an Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm for distribution reconstruction which is more effective than the currently available method in terms of the level of information loss. Specifically, we prove that the EM algorithm converges to the maximum likelihood estimate of the original distribution based on the perturbed data. We show that when a large amount of data is available, the EM algorithm provides robust estimates of the original distribution. We propose metrics for quantification and measurement of privacy-preserving data mining algorithms. Thus, this paper provides the foundations for measurement of the effectiveness of privacy preserving data mining algorithms. Our privacy metrics illustrate some interesting results on the relative effectiveness of different perturbing distributions.
Circadian Cycle-Dependent MeCP2 and Brain Chromatin Changes (2015)

Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a chromosomal protein of the brain, very abundant especially in neurons, where it plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Hence it has the potential to be affected by the mammalian circadian cycle. We performed expression analyses of mice brain frontal cortices obtained at different time points and we found that the levels of MeCP2 are altered circadianly, affecting overall organization of brain chromatin and resulting in a circadian-dependent regulation of well-stablished MeCP2 target genes. Furthermore, this data suggests that alterations of MeCP2 can be responsible for the sleeping disorders arising from pathological stages, such as in autism and Rett syndrome.
Transcutaneous spinal electroanalgesia : its efects in healthy volunteers, acute and chronic pain patients (2001)

Epidemiological studies have shown that chronic pain is a major public health problem, because of the huge suffering of patients and the enormous medical and social resources required to optimise patient care. Currently there is a lot of interest in non-pharmacological, non-invasive therapies for both acute and chronic pain conditions. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), by stimulation of Ab fibres peripherally, interrupts the ascending transmission of painful impulses. However, its effects are known to diminish with time. Furthermore, it is not possible to undertake randomised double-blind trials with TENS, as the patients will always feel the tingling sensation when the machine is switched on. For patients with severe chronic intractable pain, a small device may be implanted around the spinal cord, which also interferes with ascending pain transmission - spinal cord stimulation. However this is a costly, invasive procedure with potentially serious complications. The new non-invasive technique of Transcutaneous Spinal Electroanalgesia (TSE) is thought to simulate the effect of spinal cord stimulation. As patients feel no peripheral stimulation when the device is switched on, all trials were double blinded with sham electrodes.;Postoperatively, TSE did not reduce the incidence of request for postoperative analgesia or the time or first request for analgesia. However, a trend towards lower pain scores was demonstrated. In the three sub groups of chronic pain patients studied, TSE did not bring about a reduction in pain intensity. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in quality of life following active TSE apart from a difference in the social functioning component of the SF-36 questionnaire in patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. TSE treatment did not affect thermal sensation, pain or mood in healthy volunteers.;This thesis has failed to demonstrate any effect of TSE treatment in healthy volunteers, in patients postoperatively and patients in the chronic pain clinic.
Randomized, controlled trial of the long term safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of RTS,S/AS02D malaria vaccine in infants living in a malaria-endemic region (2013)

Gov identifier: NCT00289185.
Self-assembly of amphiphilic peptides (2011)

The self-assembly of amphiphilic peptides is reviewed. The review covers surfactant-like peptides with amphiphilicity arising from the sequence of natural amino acids, and also peptide amphiphiles (PAs) in which lipid chains are attached to hydrophilic peptide sequences containing charged residues. The influence of the secondary structure on the self-assembled structure and vice versa is discussed. For surfactant-like peptides structures including fibrils, nanotubes, micelles and vesicles have been reported. A particularly common motif for PAs is β-sheet based fibrils, although other structures have been observed. In these structures, the peptide epitope is presented at the surface of the nanostructure, providing remarkable bioactivity. Recent discoveries of potential, and actual, applications of these materials in biomedicine and bionanotechnology are discussed.
IEEE 802.11 rate adaptation (2004)

Today, three different physical (PHY) layers for the IEEE 802.11 WLAN are available (802.11a/b/g); they all provide multi-rate capabilities. To achieve a high performance under varying conditions, these devices need to adapt their transmission rate dynamically. While this rate adaptation algorithm is a critical component of their performance, only very few algorithms such as Auto Rate Fallback (ARF) or Receiver Based Auto Rate (RBAR) have been published and the implementation challenges associated with these mechanisms have never been publicly discussed. In this paper, we first present the important characteristics of the 802.11 systems that must be taken into account when such algorithms are designed. Specifically, we emphasize the contrast between low latency and high latency systems, and we give examples of actual chipsets that fall in either of the different categories. We propose an Adaptive ARF (AARF) algorithm for low latency systems that improves upon ARF to provide both short-term and long-term adaptation. The new algorithm has very low complexity while obtaining a performance similar to RBAR, which requires incompatible changes to the 802.11 MAC and PHY protocol. Finally, we present a new rate adaptation algorithm designed for high latency systems that has been implemented and evaluated on an AR5212-based device. Experimentation results show a clear performance improvement over the algorithm previously implemented in the AR5212 driver we used.
The nerve supply of the lumbar intervertebral disc (2007)

The anatomical studies, basic to our understanding of lumbar spine innervation through the sinu-vertebral nerves, are reviewed. Research in the 1980s suggested that pain sensation was conducted in part via the sympathetic system. These sensory pathways have now been clarified using sophisticated experimental and histochemical techniques confirming a dual pattern. One route enters the adjacent dorsal root segmentally, whereas the other supply is non-segmental ascending through the paravertebral sympathetic chain with re-entry through the thoracolumbar white rami communicantes. Sensory nerve endings in the degenerative lumbar disc penetrate deep into the disrupted nucleus pulposus, insensitive in the normal lumbar spine. Complex as well as free nerve endings would appear to contribute to pain transmission. The nature and mechanism of discogenic pain is still speculative but there is growing evidence to support a 'visceral pain' hypothesis, unique in the muscloskeletal system. This mechanism is open to 'peripheral sensitisation' and possibly 'central sensitisation' as a potential cause of chronic back pain.
Potassium Movement During Sodium-Induced Motility Initiation in the Rat Caudal Epididymal Spermatozoa (1983)

The sodium-induced sperm motility initiation of the rat cauda epididymal sperm has been studied in different potassium concentrations. High K+ inhibited motility initiation. At a K+ concentration of 50 mM (concentration found in the rat cauda epididymidis), sperm motility was inhibited by 80%. K+ movement across the sperm membrane has been followed by using 86Rb+ as a marker for K+. When the 86Rb+ preloaded sperm were suspended in a sodium-free medium, there was a little efflux of 86Rb+. However, if they were suspended in a sodium-containing medium, the efflux rate was greatly increased. This increase in 86Rb+ efflux rate was associated with an initiation of sperm motility. Both 86Rb+ efflux and motility initiation were triggered by a K+ ionophore 18-crown-6 (2 X 10(-3)M). However, the ionophore-induced 86Rb+ efflux and motility initiation only occurred in the presence of extracellular Na+. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) chloride, which blocks K+ channels, inhibited motility initiation in a dose-dependent manner. Changes in the membrane potential of sperm have been followed using the fluorescent dye diO-C6-(3) whose fluorescence in sperm suspension changes markedly with changes in sperm membrane potential. During motility initiation, there was a fall in fluorescence of the dye due to increased partition into sperm cells. This observation may indicate a hyperpolarization of the sperm membrane during motility initiation. It was concluded that sperm motility initiation is associated with a complex ionic event. Na+ enters sperm cells in exchange with H+ and K+. This change in the permeability of the sperm membrane to ions is reflected by a change in the sperm membrane potential.
Identification of a New Modulator of the Intercalated Disc in a Zebrafish Model of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (2014)

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by frequent cardiac arrhythmias. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms and discover potential chemical modifiers, we created a zebrafish model of ACM with cardiac myocyte-specific expression of the human 2057del2 mutation in the gene encoding plakoglobin. A high-throughput screen identified SB216763 as a suppressor of the disease phenotype. Early SB216763 therapy prevented heart failure and reduced mortality in the fish model. Zebrafish ventricular myocytes that expressed 2057del2 plakoglobin exhibited 70 to 80% reductions in I(Na) and I(K1) current densities, which were normalized by SB216763. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes that expressed 2057del2 plakoglobin recapitulated pathobiological features seen in patients with ACM, all of which were reversed or prevented by SB216763. The reverse remodeling observed with SB216763 involved marked subcellular redistribution of plakoglobin, connexin 43, and Nav1.5, but without changes in their total cellular content, implicating a defect in protein trafficking to intercalated discs. In further support of this mechanism, we observed SB216763-reversible, abnormal subcellular distribution of SAP97 (a protein known to mediate forward trafficking of Nav1.5 and Kir2.1) in rat cardiac myocytes expressing 2057del2 plakoglobin and in cardiac myocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells from two ACM probands with plakophilin-2 mutations. These observations pinpoint aberrant trafficking of intercalated disc proteins as a central mechanism in ACM myocyte injury and electrical abnormalities.
Aminoalkylation of Aldehydes with Glyoxal N,N-Dimethlmonohydrazone Yields Stable 4-Substituted Pyrrolin-3-ones (1989)

various e n o l i z a b l e aldehydes w i t h glyoxal N,N-d~methylmonohydrazone l e d t o 4 -s u b s t i t u t e d I-N,N-dimethyl-3-morp h o l i n o p y r r o l e s 2, which are e a s i l y hydrolyzed t o novel pyrrolin-3-ones 5. 1 I n c o n t i n u a t i o n o f previous s t u d i e s on a l d o l condensations and aminoalkyl a t i o n r e a c t i o n s 2 involving g l y o x y l ~c acid, we became i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e use o f y l y o x a l as monofunctional reagent.Generally g l y o x a l i s used as d if u n c t ~o n a l reagent, f o r example i n c y c l o a d d i t i o n o r polycondensation reac-3 4 t i o n s .Recently t h e monoacetal of g l y o x a l described .On t h e other hand 5
ChemInform Abstract: Peptide Segment Coupling Catalyzed by the Semisynthetic Enzyme Thiolsubtilisin. (1987)

Abstract The title procedure is employed in the synthesis of small peptides (e.g.
The variable bandwidth mean shift and data-driven scale selection (2002)

We present two solutions for the scale selection problem in computer vision. The first one is completely nonparametric and is based on the the adaptive estimation of the normalized density gradient. Employing the sample point estimator, we define the Variable Bandwidth Mean Shift, prove its convergence, and show its superiority over the fixed bandwidth procedure. The second technique has a semiparametric nature and imposes a local structure on the data to extract reliable scale information. The local scale of the underlying density is taken as the bandwidth which maximizes the magnitude of the normalized mean shift vector. Both estimators provide practical tools for autonomous image and quasi real-time video analysis and several examples are shown to illustrate their effectiveness.
AT&T Voice Processing System Architectures (1990)

The voice processing equipment market has expanded to include both large and small businesses, and the influence of voice processing — evidenced in voice mail messages and voice response systems — has become widespread. AT&T systems such as the Conversant® Voice Information System and the AUDIX voice messaging system have been designed to enhance both business and personal telecommunications. This paper explores the architectures of AT&T's Conversant and AUDIX systems in terms of hardware, software, and application design.
On Being a Parasite in an Invertebrate Host: A Short Survival Course (1994)

Many parasites develop in invertebrate hosts that possess internal defense systems (IDS) that vigorously defined self-integrity. Invertebrates apparently do not produce a large diversity of finely tuned immunorecognition molecules but rather rely on recognition of patterns. As a consequence, requirements for immune evasion are likely to be fundamentally different in such hosts. Although parasites of invertebrates certainly employ diverse tactics to evade host IDS, this review focuses on parasite-mediated interference with the structural and functional integrity of host hemocytes and argues that this is a common strategy of immune evasion. Parasites mediating such effects on host hemocytes are termed suppressors. In some cases, interference is mediated by mutualistic symbionts carried by the suppressors. Hemocytes from infected hosts exhibit diminished adherence to substrates, impaired spreading ability, and reduced ability to participate in phagocytosis or encapsulation reactions. As a result of the action of suppressors, the host's vulnerability to opportunistic parasites is increased, a phenomenon termed acquired susceptibility. A strategy of interference is therefore risky, particularly for suppressors with relatively long development times. As a result, suppressors may provoke either a partial generalized interference or a selective interference with host IDS function, actively contribute to protection of the host to discourage growth of opportunists (termed parasite-mediated internal defense), or induce compensatory host responses that protect the host but that do not jeopardize their own development. Some parasites consistently colonize previously infected hosts and seem to be specialized opportunists.
Efficacy of an Escherichia coli J5 Mastitis Vaccine in an Experimental Challenge Trial (1992)

An Escherichia coli (O111:B4) J5 bacterin was tested for efficacy in reducing IMI and severity of clinical coliform mastitis in an experimental challenge trial. Ten cows were immunized at drying off, 30 d after drying off, and at calving. Ten control cows were not immunized. Right front quarters of all cows were infused with a heterologous strain of E. coli approximately 30 d after calving. Vaccinated cows had lower bacterial counts in milk and lower rectal temperatures than unvaccinated controls following intramammary challenge. Milk production and DMI were more depressed in controls than in vaccinated cows. Milk SCC did not differ between experimental groups. Mean serum IgG titer to whole cell E. coli J5 was significantly greater in vaccinated than in unvaccinated cows at 30 d after drying off, day of challenge, and 7 d postchallenge. Milk IgG titer to E. coli J5 was higher at challenge in vaccinated than in control cows. Vaccination with the E. coli J5 bacterin did not prevent IMI but did reduce severity of clinical signs following intramammary experimental challenge with a heterologous E. coli strain.
Innate Immunity in the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Antiviral Response of Uterine Epithelial Cells to the TLR3 Agonist Poly(I:C) (2005)

The objective of this study was to examine the expression of TLR by human primary uterine epithelial cells (UEC) and to determine whether exposure to the TLR agonist poly(I:C) would induce an antiviral response. The secretion of several cytokines and chemokines was examined as well as the mRNA expression of human beta-defensin-1 and -2 (HBD1 and HBD2), IFN-beta, and the IFN-beta-stimulated genes myxovirus resistance gene 1 and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase. The expression of TLR1-9 by UEC was demonstrated by RT-PCR, with only TLR10 not expressed. Stimulation of UEC with the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) induced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, GM-CSF, and G-CSF, as well as the chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1, and CCL4/MIP-1beta. In addition, poly(I:C) exposure induced the mRNA expression of HBD1 and HBD2 by 6- and 4-fold, respectively. Furthermore, upon exposure to poly(I:C) UEC initiated a potent antiviral response resulting in the induction of IFN-beta mRNA expression 70-fold and myxovirus resistance gene 1 and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA expression (107- and 96-fold), respectively. These results suggest that epithelial cells that line the uterine cavity are sensitive to viral infection and/or exposure to viral dsRNA released from killed epithelial cells. Not only do UEC release proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that mediate the initiation of an inflammatory response and recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection, but they also express beta-defensins, IFN-beta, and IFN-beta-stimulated genes that can have a direct inhibiting effect on viral replication.
Development of a Bivalent Dopamine D2 Receptor Agonist (2011)

Bivalent D₂ agonists may function as useful molecular probes for the discovery of novel neurological therapeutics. On the basis of our recently developed bivalent dopamine D₂ receptor antagonists of type 1, the bivalent agonist 2 was synthesized when a spacer built from 22 atoms was employed. Compared to the monovalent control compound 6 containing a capped spacer, the bis-aminoindane derivative 2 revealed substantial steepening of the competition curve, indicating a bivalent binding mode. Dimer-specific Hill slopes were not a result of varying functional properties because both the dopaminergic 2 and the monovalent control agent 6 proved to be D₂ agonists substantially inhibiting cAMP accumulation and inducing D₂ receptor internalization. Investigation of the heterobivalent ligands 8 and 9, containing an agonist and a phenylpiperazine-based antagonist pharmacophore, revealed moderate steepening of the displacement curves and antagonist to very weak partial agonist properties.