gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Health Consequences of Catabolic Synthesis of Hippuric Acid in Humans (2010)

Hippuric acid has been a major human metabolite for years. However, there is no well-known documented health benefit associated with it except for excretion of environmental-toxic exposures of aromatic compounds such as toluene, or from dietary protein degradation and re-synthesis by intestinal microflora metabolism of quinic acid via the shikimate pathway. Thus hippuric acid can appear in humans as an excretory product from natural or unnatural sources. It has been believed over the years that the major source of urinary hippuric acid levels in humans has come from environmental toxic solvent exposures. However, more recently it was been shown that approximately 1-2 mM hippuric acid is excreted daily in the urine, even in the absence of organic solvent exposure, signalling abundant metabolic dietary sources of hippuric acid are also apparent. One of these has been dietary proteins. The other is from the well-documented presence of quinic acid in healthy colored foodstuffs. Quinic acid is a key metabolite associated with the shikimate pathway existing only in plants, and it is responsible for essential amino acid biosynthesis such as tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine. Here we review the evidence that the human gastrointestinal tract microflora are responsible for quinic acid metabolism not only to hippuric acid, but more importantly to efficacious antioxidant amino acids and vitamins.
Gluconoylated and Glycosylated Polylysines As Vectors for Gene Transfer into Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cells (1996)

To provide an alternative to viral vectors for the transfer of genes into airway epithelial cells in cystic fibrosis (CF), a novel set of substituted polylysines were employed. Polylysine was partially neutralized by blocking a number of positively charged residues with gluconoyl groups. In addition, polylysine was substituted with sugar residues on a specified number of amino groups. Using the gluconoylated polylysine as vector, the pCMVLuc plasmid gave high expression of the reporter gene luciferase in immortalized CF/T43 cells. The luciferase activity was 75-fold greater in the presence of 100 microM chloroquine. Luciferase gene expression persisted at high levels for up to at least 120 hr following transfection. Glycosylated polylysines/pCMVLuc complexes were compared to the gluconoylated polylysine/pCMVLuc complex and beta-Gal-, alpha-Glc-, and Lac-substituted polylysines gave 320%, 300%, and 290%, respectively, higher expression of the reporter gene luciferase. Luciferase expression ranged from 35 to 2 ng of luciferase per milligram of cell protein in the order: beta-Gal = alpha-Glc = Lac > alpha-Gal = Rha = Man > beta-GalNAc > alpha-GalNAc = alpha-Fuc, suggesting that the transfection efficiency is sugar dependent. Most importantly, in primary cultures of both CF and non-CF airway epithelial cells grown from tracheal tissue explants, lactosylated polylysine gave uniformly high expression of luciferase. The glycosylated polylysines provide an attractive nonviral approach for the transfer of genes into airway epithelial cells.
Modification of a commercial cavity ring-down spectroscopy NO2 detector for enhanced sensitivity (2009)

Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) plays a central role in atmospheric chemistry, air pollution, and biogeochemical cycles. Many analytical techniques have been developed to detect NO(2), but only chemiluminescence-based instruments are commonly, commercially available. There remains a need for a fast, light, and simple method to directly measure NO(2). In this work we describe the modification and characterization of a small, commercially available cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) NO(2) detector suitable for surface and aircraft monitoring. A metal oxide scrubber was added to remove NO(2), and provide a chemical zero, improving the detection limit (3sigma of the background noise) from several parts per billion by volume (ppbv) to 0.06 ppbv, integrated over 60 s. Known interferences by water and particles were removed using Nafion tubing and a 1 microm Teflon filter, respectively. A 95% response time of 18+/-1 s was observed for a step change in concentration. The CRDS detector was run in parallel to an ozone chemiluminescence device with photolytic conversion of NO(2) to NO. The two instruments measured ambient air in suburban Maryland. A least-squares fit to the comparison data resulted a slope of 0.960+/-0.002 and R of 0.995, showing agreement within experimental uncertainty.
Outer-surface protein C of the Lyme disease spirochete: A protein induced in ticks for infection of mammals (2004)

Environmentally responsive synthesis of surface proteins represents a hallmark of the infectious cycle of the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. Here we created and analyzed a B. burgdorferi mutant lacking outer-surface protein C (OspC), an abundant Osp that spirochetes normally synthesize in the tick vector during the blood meal and down-regulate after transmission to the mammal. We demonstrate that B. burgdorferi strictly requires OspC to infect mice but not to localize or migrate appropriately in the tick. The induction of a spirochetal virulence factor preceding the time and host in which it is required demonstrates a developmental sequence for transmission of this arthropod-borne pathogen.
Electron cyclotron resonance ion source related development work for heavy-ion irradiation tests (2006)

The European Space Agency (ESA) uses the facilities at the Accelerator Laboratory (Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä: JYFL) for heavy-ion irradiation tests of electronic components. Electron cyclotron resonance ion source related development work has been carried out in order to meet the requirements set by the project. During the irradiation tests several beam changes are performed during the day. Therefore, the time needed for the beam changes has to be minimized. As a consequence, a beam cocktail having nearly the same m∕q ratio is used. This makes it possible a quick tuning of the cyclotron to select the required ion for the irradiation. In addition to this requirement, very high charge states for the heavy elements are needed to reach a penetration depth of 100μm in silicon. In this article we present some procedures to optimize the ion source operation. We also present results of the first three-frequency heating tests. The main frequency of 14GHz was fed from a klystron and both secondary frequencies were launched from a traveling-wave tube amplifier (TWTA). Two separate frequency generators were used simultaneously to provide different signals for the TWTA. During the test an improvement of about 20% was observed for Kr25+84 and Xe30+129 ion beams when the third frequency was applied.
Two adjacent epitopes on a synthetic dodecapeptide induce lactate dehydrogenase B-specific helper and suppressor T cells (1986)

The outcome of an immune response to the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase B (LDH-B) is determined by the interplay between two types of regulatory T lymphocytes, T helper (Th) and T suppressor (Ts) cells. Most mouse strains are capable of generating Th but not Ts cells, and are therefore high responders to LDH-B in terms of both antibody production and antigen-specific T-cell proliferation. However, in strains expressing the b or k allele at the E beta locus of the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc), Ts cells are induced that partly or totally abrogate the proliferative response of Th cells to LDH-B. As a result, these strains are phenotypically medium (E beta b expressors) or low (E beta k expressors) responders. Because the suppression in the LDH-B system is antigen-specific (i.e. it only affects LDH-B-specific Th cells), it is conceivable that the Th and Ts cells use the antigen itself to communicate with each other. To investigate this possibility, we set out to determine which epitopes of the LDH-B molecule are recognized by Th and Ts cells. On the basis of previous studies, a loop structure extending from residue 211 to residue 224 of pig LDH-B appeared to be preferentially recognized by most Th-type (class II Mhc-restricted, proliferating) clones. By using a synthetic peptide, we demonstrate here that both Th and Ts cells are induced by the 211-222 stretch of LDH-B sequence. The use of two further dodecapeptides, each with a single amino-acid substitution in comparison with the pig 211-222 sequence, has revealed that Th and Ts cells have different fine specificities. Thus the loop appears to have two closely linked, if not overlapping, epitopes, one recognized by Th and the other by Ts cells. This finding is consistent with two possible mechanisms of suppression, namely bridging of Th and Ts cells by antigen and subsequent transmission of a suppressive signal, and competition for antigen between Th and Ts cells.
Characterization of recombinant polioviruses expressing regions of rotavirus VP4, hepatitis B surface antigen, and herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D (1995)

Recombinant polioviruses expressing antigens from rotavirus, herpes simplex virus type 2, and hepatitis B virus were generated. Fusion of the heterologous polypeptides to the amino terminus of the poliovirus polyprotein did not prevent myristylation of VP0, suggesting a novel mechanism of myristylation for these recombinant viruses. The effects of the parental genetic background, different foreign sequences, and different insert sizes on growth characteristics were compared. Both the size and the nature of the heterologous sequence appeared to be factors influencing the growth and stability of recombinant polioviruses. All of the recombinants showed a temperature-sensitive phenotype, regardless of the genetic background (attenuated or wild type) from which they were derived. Preliminary studies with transgenic mice carrying the poliovirus receptor gene are discussed.
New possibilities with hollow core antiresonant fibers (2015)

Hollow core antiresonant fibers offer new possibilities in the near infrared and visible spectral range. I show here that the great flexibility of this technology can allow the design and fabrication of hollow core optical fibers with an extended transmission bandwidth in the near infrared and with very low optical attenuation in the visible wavelength regime. A record loss of 175dB/km at 480nm is reported. A modification of the design of the studied fibers is proposed in order to achieve fast-responding gas detection.
Butyl Acrylate/Vinyl Acetate Emulsion‐Based Pressure‐Sensitive Adhesives: Empirical Modelling of Final Properties (2007)

Abstract The influence of the amounts of acrylic acid, chain transfer agent and anionic stabilizer on polymer microstructural properties and final adhesive performance of BA/VAc emulsion‐based PSAs on stainless‐steel and high‐density polyethylene substrates was investigated using a Box‐Behnken experimental design for 15 runs. The resulting data were empirically modelled. For each final adhesive property (i.e., loop tack, shear and peel strength), different models were found to fit the data. Similar models for loop tack and peel strength were found to be adequate for different PSA thicknesses on the same substrate. AA and SDS had significant effects on loop tack as did the AA‐SDS and CTA‐SDS two‐factor interactions. Quadratic peel strength models were found to adequately describe the data for SS substrate cases with a noticeable absence of any interaction parameters. The shear strength models were similar regardless of the substrate or thickness of the adhesive (e.g. in all models, AA and CTA, as well as their second‐order interactions, were the significant factors).
Accumulation of Insoluble Amyloid-β in Down's Syndrome is Associated with Increased BACE-1 and Neprilysin Activities (2011)

We previously reported age- and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related increases in the activities of β-secretase (BACE-1) and Aβ-degrading enzymes including neprilysin (NEP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the frontal cortex. We suggested that these increases were secondary to the accumulation of insoluble amyloid-β (Aβ) and a decline in soluble Aβ. We have further tested this hypothesis by examination of frontal cortex obtained postmortem from individuals with Down's syndrome (DS), in whom AD-like neuropathological changes occur in association with early-onset dementia. We measured total soluble and insoluble (guanidine-extractable) Aβ, BACE-1 activity, and the concentrations and activities of NEP and ACE in two independent DS cohorts: an initial, Bristol cohort (9 DS cases, 8 controls matched for age-at-death) and a validation Newcastle cohort (20 DS, 18 controls with a wider spectrum of age-at-death). In both cohorts the level of insoluble (but not soluble) Aβ was significantly higher in DS than controls and was comparable to previously measured levels in AD. NEP protein concentration and activity were significantly increased in DS; a trend towards increased BACE-1 activity was observed in DS but did not reach statistical significance. Both NEP and BACE-1 correlated with the level of insoluble Aβ. The concentration of ACE in DS was elevated in the pilot cohort only and ACE activity was unchanged. These findings provide strong support that BACE-1 and NEP activities, but not ACE, increase in response to the accumulation of insoluble Aβ within the brain.
A predatory mechanism dramatically increases the efficiency of lateral gene transfer in Streptococcus pneumoniae and related commensal species (2008)

Bacteria that are competent for natural genetic transformation, such as pneumococci and their commensal relatives Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus oralis, take up exogenous DNA and incorporate it into their genomes by homologous recombination. Traditionally, it has been assumed that genetic material leaking from dead bacteria constitutes the sole source of external DNA for competent streptococci. Here we describe a mechanism for active acquisition of homologous DNA that dramatically increases the efficiency of gene exchange between and within the streptococcal species mentioned above. This mechanism gives competent streptococci access to a common gene pool that is significantly larger than their own genomes, a property representing a considerable advantage when these bacteria are subjected to external selection pressures, such as vaccination and treatment with antibiotics.
Controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet 50/200 CR4): clinical and pharmacokinetic studies. (1989)

Several controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa preparations have been formulated to achieve a more stable and extended antiparkinsonian action. The most effective is Sinemet CR (Sinemet CR4), with an erodible polymer matrix that retards release of levodopa. In 19 parkinsonians with prominent dose-by-dose fluctuations, double-blind crossover trials comparing 8-week regimens of standard carbidopa/levodopa (25/100) to Sinemet CR (50/200) showed comparable clinical outcomes, with mean daily dosing for optimal control reduced from 10.2 to 5.4 (although mean daily levodopa dosage increased from 1,340 to 1,781 mg/day). Most patients improved on the Sinemet CR regimen in hours "on" and in ratings of clinical state and disability. With pharmacokinetic studies correlated to clinical ratings, plasma levodopa was less variable during Sinemet CR treatment, and clinical responses showed greater uniformity. Compared to standard Sinemet 25/100, time to peak levodopa concentration (2.3 versus 1.1 hrs), onset of maximal clinical improvement (2.2 versus 1.1 hrs), and other indices were significantly delayed with Sinemet CR. Levodopa bioavailability and clearance were similar between formulations. Although onset of clinical response is slower, the Sinemet CR formulation lessens peak-dose and "wearing-off" responses occurring with conventional carbidopa/levodopa and offers substantial improvement for some parkinsonians.
Core Convergence (2008)

The core of an economy is the set of all economic outcomes that cannot be ‘blocked’ by any group of individuals; it is an institution-free concept. A Walrasian equilibrium is an economic outcome based on the institution of market-clearing via prices: each individual consumes his or her demand, taking prices as given, and the demand for each good equals the supply of that good. Core convergence asserts that, for sufficiently large economies, every core allocation approximately satisfies the definition of Walrasian equilibrium; it is an important test of the price-taking assumption inherent in the definition of Walrasian equilibrium.
Immunological evidence that HMG‐CoA reductase kinase‐A is the cauliflower homologue of the RKIN1 subfamily of plant protein kinases (1995)

Three different antibodies against the RKIN1 and BKIN12 gene products from rye and barley recognized the 58 kDa subunit of HMG-CoA reductase kinase-A (HRK-A) from Brassica oleracea on Western blots. HRK-A was also detected by an antipeptide antibody in enzyme-linked immunoassays, and this was competed by the peptide antigen. HRK-A was not recognized by antibodies against plant, mammalian and Saccharomyces cerevisiae relatives of RKIN1, i.e. wheat PKABA1, rat AMP-activated protein kinase and S. cerevisiae Snf1p. RKIN1/HMG-CoA reductase kinase-A are now among the first protein kinases in plants to be well characterized at both the molecular and biochemical levels.
Epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein gC are clustered in two distinct antigenic sites (1985)

Epitopes of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain KOS glycoprotein gC were identified by using a panel of gC-specific, virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and a series of antigenic variants selected for resistance to neutralization with individual members of the antibody panel. Variants that were resistant to neutralization and expressed an antigenically altered form of gC were designated monoclonal antibody-resistant (mar) mutants. mar mutants were isolated at frequencies of 10(-3) to 10(-5), depending on the antibody used for selection. The epitopes on gC were operationally grouped into antigenic sites by evaluating the patterns of neutralization observed when a panel of 22 antibodies was tested against 22 mar mutants. A minimum of nine epitopes was identified by this process. Three epitopes were assigned to one antigenic site (I), and six were clustered in a second complex site (II) composed of three distinct subsites, IIa, IIb, and IIc. The two antigenic sites were shown to reside in physically distinct domains of the glycoprotein, by radioimmunoprecipitation of truncated forms of gC. These polypeptides lacked portions of the carboxy terminus and ranged in size from approximately one-half that of the wild-type molecule to nearly full size. Antibodies recognizing epitopes in site II immunoprecipitated the entire series of truncated polypeptides and thereby demonstrated that site II resided in the N-terminal half of gC. Antibodies reactive with site I, however, did not immunoprecipitate fragments smaller than at least two-thirds the size of the wild-type polypeptide, suggesting that site I was located in the C-terminal portion. Sites I and II were also shown to be spatially separate on the gC polypeptide by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies representative of different site I and site II epitopes.
Single‐Calcination Synthesis of Pyrochlore‐Free 0.9Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –0.1PbTiO 3 and Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 Ceramics Using a Coating Method (2003)

A coating approach for synthesizing 0.9Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –0.1PbTiO 3 (0.9PMN–0.1PT) and PMN using a single calcination step was demonstrated. The pyrochlore phase was prevented by coating Mg(OH) 2 on Nb 2 O 5 particles. Coating of Mg(OH) 2 on Nb 2 O 5 was done by precipitating Mg(OH) 2 in an aqueous Nb 2 O 5 suspension at pH 10. The coating was confirmed using optical micrographs and zeta‐potential measurements. A single calcination treatment of the Mg(OH) 2 ‐coated Nb 2 O 5 particles mixed with appropriate amounts of PbO and PbTiO 3 powders at 900°C for 2 h produced pyrochlore‐free perovskite 0.9PMN–0.1PT and PMN powders. The elimination of the pyrochlore phase was attributed to the separation of PbO and Nb 2 O 5 by the Mg(OH) 2 coating. The Mg(OH) 2 coating on the Nb 2 O 5 improved the mixing of Mg(OH) 2 and Nb 2 O 5 and decreased the temperature for complete columbite conversion to ∼850°C. The pyrochlore‐free perovskite 0.9PMN–0.1PT powders were sintered to 97% density at 1150°C. The sintered 0.9PMN–0.1PT ceramics exhibited a dielectric constant maximum of ∼24 660 at 45°C at a frequency of 1 kHz.
Optimal-REQUEST Algorithm for Attitude Determination (2004)

REQUEST is a recursive algorithm for least-squares estimation of the attitude quaternion of a rigid body using vector measurements. It uses a constant, empirically chosen gain and is, therefore, suboptimal when filtering propagation noises. The algorithm presented here is an optimized REQUEST procedure, which optimally filters measurement as well as propagation noises. The special case of zero-mean white noises is considered. The solution approach is based on state-space modeling of the K-matrix system and uses Kalman-filtering techniques to estimate the optimal K matrix. Then, the attitude quaternion is extracted from the estimated K matrix. A simulation study is used to demonstrate the performance of the algorithm.
Fractal based image compression with affine transformations (2002)

As the needs for information transfer and storage increase, data coding and compression become increasingly important in applications such as digital HDTV, telefax, ISDN and image data bases. The authors have developed a fractal image compression method and tested it with binary (black and white) images. The decoded results are similar to the original images. The compression ratios are found to be extremely high.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Contact Allergy to Various Components of Topical Preparations for Treatment of External Otitis (1985)

Patients suffering from chronic external otitis had developed contact allergies to one or more compounds of topical preparations in 40% of 142 tested patients. Neomycin and framycetin caused most of the allergic reactions (16.2%) followed by chinoform (7.0%), chloramphenicol and polymyxin (4.2%). Preservatives of the topical otic preparations such as benzethonium chloride (8.5%), benzalkonium chloride (6.3%) and thimerosal (merthiolate) (5.6%) were also common causes of allergic reactions. An epicutaneous test (patch test) using compounds in topical preparations should be done in cases of prolonged, treatment resistant external otitis.
Label‐Free Microscale Thermophoresis Discriminates Sites and Affinity of Protein–Ligand Binding (2012)

Look, no label! Microscale thermophoresis makes use of the intrinsic fluorescence of proteins to quantify the binding affinities of ligands and discriminate between binding sites. This method is suitable for studying binding interactions of very small amounts of protein in solution. The binding of ligands to iGluR membrane receptors, small-molecule inhibitorss to kinase p38, aptamers to thrombin, and Ca(2+) ions to synaptotagmin was quantified.