gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Investigation of probiotics in multiple sclerosis (2018)

None of the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) currently being used for the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) are 100% effective. In addition, side effects associated with the use of these DMTs have limited the practice of combination therapy. Hence, there is a need for safe immunomodulatory agents to fine-tune the management of MS. The gut microbiome plays an important role in autoimmunity, and several studies have reported alterations in the gut microbiome of MS patients. Studies in animal model of MS have identified members of the gut commensal microflora that exacerbate or ameliorate neuroinflammation. Probiotics represent an oral, non-toxic immunomodulatory agent that could be used in combination with current MS therapy. We designed a pilot study to investigate the effect of VSL3 on the gut microbiome and peripheral immune system function in healthy controls and MS patients. VSL3 administration was associated with increased abundance of many taxa with enriched taxa predominated by Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Bifidobacterium species. At the immune level, VSL3 administration induced an anti-inflammatory peripheral immune response characterized by decreased frequency of intermediate monocytes (CD14<sup>high</sup>CD16<sup>low</sup>), decreased mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD80 on classical monocytes as well as decreased human leukocyte antigen-antigen D related (HLA-DR) MFI on dendritic cells.
A Novel cis-Acting Element in Promoters of Plant B-Type Cyclin Genes Activates M Phase-Specific Transcription (1998)

Masaki Ito, Masayuki Iwase, Hiroaki Kodama, Philippe Lavisse, Atsushi Komamine, Ryuichi Nishihama, Yasunori Machida, Akira Watanabe, A Novel cis-Acting Element in Promoters of Plant B-Type Cyclin Genes Activates M Phase-Specific Transcription, The Plant Cell, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Mar., 1998), pp. 331-341
Study of impedance and radiation properties of a concentric microstrip triangular-ring antenna and its modeling techniques using FDTD method (1998)

A concentric microstrip triangular-ring antenna structure using the log-periodic principle for increasing the impedance bandwidth of the microstrip patch antenna is described. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is applied to analyze the proposed structure. A special technique to model the slanted metallic boundaries of the triangular ring has been used in the general FDTD algorithm to avoid the staircase approximation. The method improves the accuracy of the original FDTD algorithm without increasing the complexity. The radiation patterns at different frequencies over a wide bandwidth are obtained experimentally.
Prognostic Significance of EDN/RB, HJURP, p60/CAF-1 and PDLI4, Four New Markers in High-Grade Gliomas (2013)

The expression of the EDN/RB, HJURP, p60/CAF-1 and PDLI4 proteins is disrupted in high grade gliomas and increases in the levels of these proteins are closely linked to tumour aggressiveness and poor outcome.
Intra-retinal layer segmentation in optical coherence tomography images (2009)

Retinal layer thickness, evaluated as a function of spatial position from optical coherence tomography (OCT) images is an important diagnostics marker for many retinal diseases. However, due to factors such as speckle noise, low image contrast, irregularly shaped morphological features such as retinal detachments, macular holes, and drusen, accurate segmentation of individual retinal layers is difficult. To address this issue, a computer method for retinal layer segmentation from OCT images is presented. An efficient two-step kernel-based optimization scheme is employed to first identify the approximate locations of the individual layers, which are then refined to obtain accurate segmentation results for the individual layers. The performance of the algorithm was tested on a set of retinal images acquired in-vivo from healthy and diseased rodent models with a high speed, high resolution OCT system. Experimental results show that the proposed approach provides accurate segmentation for OCT images affected by speckle noise, even in sub-optimal conditions of low image contrast and presence of irregularly shaped structural features in the OCT images.
Bright and Efficient Full-Color Colloidal Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Using an Inverted Device Structure (2012)

We report highly bright and efficient inverted structure quantum dot (QD) based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) by using solution-processed ZnO nanoparticles as the electron injection/transport layer and by optimizing energy levels with the organic hole transport layer. We have successfully demonstrated highly bright red, green, and blue QLEDs showing maximum luminances up to 23,040, 218,800, and 2250 cd/m(2), and external quantum efficiencies of 7.3, 5.8, and 1.7%, respectively. It is also noticeable that they showed turn-on voltages as low as the bandgap energy of each QD and long operational lifetime, mainly attributed to the direct exciton recombination within QDs through the inverted device structure. These results signify a remarkable progress in QLEDs and offer a practicable platform for the realization of QD-based full-color displays and lightings.
Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Controls Hepatic VLDL-Triglyceride Secretion in Rats via the Sympathetic Nervous System (2012)

Excessive secretion of triglyceride-rich very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL-TG) contributes to diabetic dyslipidemia. Earlier studies have indicated a possible role for the hypothalamus and autonomic nervous system in the regulation of VLDL-TG. In the current study, we investigated whether the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) release during fasting regulates hepatic VLDL-TG secretion. We report that, in fasted rats, an intact hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and hepatic sympathetic innervation are necessary to maintain VLDL-TG secretion. Furthermore, the hepatic sympathetic innervation is necessary to mediate the stimulatory effect of intracerebroventricular administration of NPY on VLDL-TG secretion. Since the intracerebroventricular administration of NPY increases VLDL-TG secretion by the liver without affecting lipolysis, its effect on lipid metabolism appears to be selective to the liver. Together, our findings indicate that the increased release of NPY during fasting stimulates the sympathetic nervous system to maintain VLDL-TG secretion at a postprandial level.
Anne Arundel opens world's first See and Treat Cancer Center. (2004)

Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), Annapolis, Md., is promoting he world's first See and Treat Cancer Care Center of Excellence at The DeCesaris Cancer Institute. The system uses medical imaging equipment from GE Healthcare and radiation therapy technologies from Varian Medical Systems.
Rare Structural Variants Disrupt Multiple Genes in Neurodevelopmental Pathways in Schizophrenia (2008)

Schizophrenia is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder whose genetic influences remain elusive. We hypothesize that individually rare structural variants contribute to the illness. Microdeletions and microduplications >100 kilobases were identified by microarray comparative genomic hybridization of genomic DNA from 150 individuals with schizophrenia and 268 ancestry-matched controls. All variants were validated by high-resolution platforms. Novel deletions and duplications of genes were present in 5% of controls versus 15% of cases and 20% of young-onset cases, both highly significant differences. The association was independently replicated in patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia as compared with their parents. Mutations in cases disrupted genes disproportionately from signaling networks controlling neurodevelopment, including neuregulin and glutamate pathways. These results suggest that multiple, individually rare mutations altering genes in neurodevelopmental pathways contribute to schizophrenia.
Method to measure CVT transfer function (2002)

In this paper, the results of tests on a 275 and a 400 kV capacitor voltage transformer are presented. The objective has been to determine the transfer function of the CVTs in the Scottish Power extra-high-voltage (EHV) system, which in turn can be used to compensate for the errors at harmonic frequencies. As a primary requirement, the magnetic elements of the capacitor voltage transformers (CVTs) must be excited at nearly their nominal magnetic states. A test procedure is presented, which does not require CVT disassembling and/or modeling and ensures that the above essential requirement is satisfied. The effects of burden on the frequency response is also presented. It is confirmed that the size and nature of burden affect the CVT frequency characteristic.
Radical and anionic homopolymerization of maleimide and N‐n‐butylmaleimide (1967)

Abstract The rate of homopolymerization of maleimide has been measured in dimethylformamide solution at 60°C. in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile; it has been compared to that of N‐n ‐butylmaleimide. The overall rates of polymerization are equal to R p = k [M] 1.1–1.2 [In] 0.8 for maleimide, and R p = k '[M] [In] 0.5 for the N ‐substituted imide. The difference of behavior has been interpreted on the basis of an intramolecular tautomery of the terminal group of the maleimide growing chain and the formation of a resonance‐stabilized succinimidyl radical. The relative ease of polymerization of these monomers and of maleic anhydride has been discussed. In the presence of sodium tert ‐butoxide at 20°C. in dimethylformamide solutions, maleimide polymerizes with hydrogen isomerization. The percentage of N ‐substituted isomerized units was evaluated at 70–75% by measurement of the rate of hydrolysis in 0.005 N sodium hydroxide and comparison with succinimide and N ‐butylsuccinimide. N‐n ‐butylmaleimide undergoes ring opening together with anionic polymerization in the presence of sodium tert ‐butoxide at 20°C. and butyllithium at ‐40°C. Unlike the radical‐initiated polymerization, it was impossible to obtain anionic copolymers of maleimide and N ‐butylmaleimide with acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate.
LC-HRMS analysis of 133 patient micro-volume blood samples to allow clinical assessment of medication adherence (2017)

133 DBS card/VAMS micro-volume blood samples were analysed by LC-HRMS to determine if therapeutic levels of the prescribed cardiovascular (CVD) drugs were present. This research focussed on the top 11 UK prescribed CVD drugs. Calibration samples, prepared from spiked human whole blood, were extracted and analysed by LC-HRMS. This method was validated and applied to volunteer and patient samples. The system successfully identified the prescribed drugs in volunteer’s samples who were known to be adherent. Non-detection of a prescribed drug indicated non-adherence to prescription: a situation identified for 12% of the volunteers and 36% of the patients.
Characterization and Affinity Cross-linking of Receptors for Human Recombinant Lymphotoxin (Tumor Necrosis Factor-β) on a Human Histiocytic Lymphoma Cell Line, U-937 (1989)

Recombinant human lymphotoxin (rhLT) expressed in a mammalian celi line was purified and used to examine its receptors on the human histiocytic lyrnphoma cell line U-937.rhLT was radioiodinated by the IODO-GEN method to a specific activity of 60 pCi/pg; the labeled protein was biologically active in the cytolytic assay, and displaceable binding to U-937 cells was observed.The specific binding reached a plateau within 10, 60, and 180 min at 37, 23, and 4 "C, respectively.Scatchard analysis of the binding data revealed the presence of a single class of high affinity receptors with an apparent Kd of 0.6 n M and a capacity of 33,000 f 7,000 binding sites/cell.The binding of '"I-rhLT to U-937 cells could be inhibited by excess Unlabeled rhLT or recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF), suggesting a common receptor for both molecules.As competitive inhibitor of the binding, rhTNF was equal in its potency to rhLT.Bacterial derived rhLT lacking carbohydrate was also found equipotent to cell line-derived rhLT for cell binding, indicating that carbohydrate plays no significant role in receptor interaction.Additionally, 12'I-rhLT was covalently attached to the cell surface via a bifunctional cross-linking reagent, ethylene glycol bis(succinimidy1 succinate), solubilized, and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The cross-linking of the receptor to rhLT revealed two distinct bands at approximate molecular masses of 100,000 and 120,000 daltons.Both bands were absent when unlabeled rhLT or rhTNF was used for competition, indicating the specificity.Affinity cross-linkingof U-937 cells with '"I-rhTNF, however, provided only a single band with a molecular mass of about 100,000 daltons.These results suggest that the manner in which rhLT interacts with its receptor is perhaps somewhat different from that of rhTNF.Lymphotoxin (LT)' is a lymphokine produced by lymphocytes and is toxic to a wide variety of tumor cells (I).It was first purified to homogeneity from a human B lymphoblastoid
Comparison of procalcitonin with C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections (1999)

In this study a PCT value of 1 microg/l or greater had better specificity, sensitivity and predictive value than CRP, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha in children for distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections. PCT values are higher in invasive bacterial infections, but the cutoff value of 1 microg/l indicates the severity of the disease in localized bacterial infection and helps to decide antibiotic treatment in emergency room. PCT may be useful in an emergency room for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections in children and for making decisions about antibiotic treatments.
Molecular mobility and transitions in complex organic systems studied by shear force microscopy (2006)

In this paper, we discuss novel nanoscale experimental approaches involving shear forces to investigate inter- and intramolecular mobilities, and their effect on mass and electronic transport, and material deformation properties. We review the non-scanning method of shear modulation force microscopy (SM-FM) used for glass transition analysis, and introduce heated tip atomic force microscopy (HT-AFM) for thermomechanical analysis of material interfaces. The dynamics and kinetics in organic thin films that are typically revealed by the activation energies related to molecular relaxations are determined with intrinsic friction analysis (IFA). Both SM-FM and IFA are applied to optimize the poling efficiency of organic non-linear optical materials involving chromophores, used for photonic devices. They also provide information about intramolecular relaxation properties. A shear force analysis involving HT-AFM was used to investigate the interfacial strength of silica nanoparticles and poly(trimethylsilylpropyne), which are known to form a reverse-selective membrane nanocomposite system.
Modulation of dendritic spine development and plasticity by BDNF and vesicular trafficking: fundamental roles in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation and autism (2009)

The process of axonal and dendritic development establishes the synaptic circuitry of the central nervous system (CNS) and is the result of interactions between intrinsic molecular factors and the external environment. One growth factor that has a compelling function in neuronal development is the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF participates in axonal and dendritic differentiation during embryonic stages of neuronal development, as well as in the formation and maturation of dendritic spines during postnatal development. Recent studies have also implicated vesicular trafficking of BDNF via secretory vesicles, and both secretory and endosomal trafficking of vesicles containing synaptic proteins, such as neurotransmitter and neurotrophin receptors, in the regulation of axonal and dendritic differentiation, and in dendritic spine morphogenesis. Several genes that are either mutated or deregulated in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation have now been identified, and several mouse models of these disorders have been generated and characterized. Interestingly, abnormalities in dendritic and synaptic structure are consistently observed in human neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation, and in mouse models of these disorders as well. Abnormalities in dendritic and synaptic differentiation are thought to underlie altered synaptic function and network connectivity, thus contributing to the clinical outcome. Here, we review the roles of BDNF and vesicular trafficking in axonal and dendritic differentiation in the context of dendritic and axonal morphological impairments commonly observed in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation.
High-Efficiency Targeted Editing of Large Viral Genomes by RNA-Guided Nucleases (2014)

A facile and efficient method for the precise editing of large viral genomes is required for the selection of attenuated vaccine strains and the construction of gene therapy vectors. The type II prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas)) RNA-guided nuclease system can be introduced into host cells during viral replication. The CRISPR-Cas9 system robustly stimulates targeted double-stranded breaks in the genomes of DNA viruses, where the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homology-directed repair (HDR) pathways can be exploited to introduce site-specific indels or insert heterologous genes with high frequency. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas9 can specifically inhibit the replication of the original virus, thereby significantly increasing the abundance of the recombinant virus among progeny virus. As a result, purified recombinant virus can be obtained with only a single round of selection. In this study, we used recombinant adenovirus and type I herpes simplex virus as examples to demonstrate that the CRISPR-Cas9 system is a valuable tool for editing the genomes of large DNA viruses.
MANCHESTER AIRPORT TERMINAL 2: TERMINAL INFRASTRUCTURE. (N.B. CORRIGENDUM WITH DISCUSSION IN VOL. 105, ISSUE 3, AUG 1994, P233.). (1994)

Keywords MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL AIRPORTS, TERMINALS, TERMINAL 2, INFRASTRUCTURE, FEASIBILITY, STUDIES, DESIGN, ROADS, FOOTPATHS, DIVERSION, SITES, DEVELOPMENT, LAYOUT, BUILDINGS, SITE INVESTIGATION, ACCESS, LANDSCAPING, APRONS, TAXIWAYS, DRAINAGE, CARS, PARKING, CAR PARKS, MULTI STOREY, TALL, SERVICES, GAS, WATER, MAINS, CHP, COMBINED, HEAT, POWER, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, PASSENGERS, AVIATION MANCHESTER, TERMINAL 2 UK... Show All
Enzymatically modified peptide surfaces: towards general electrochemical sensor platform for protein kinase catalyzed phosphorylations (2010)

We hereby present an electrochemical approach for monitoring the three protein kinases sarcoma-related kinase (Src), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (Erk1), and cyclin A-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2/cyclin A). The electrochemical sensor is based on the ability of kinases to transfer a redox-labeled phosphoryl group to surface-bound peptides that are highly specific substrates for the particular protein kinase (EGIYDVP, EPLTPSG, and HHASPRK, respectively). The detection method relies on the use of 5'-γ-ferrocenoyl-ATP (Fc-ATP) as a co-substrate for peptide phosphorylation. The peptides themselves are attached to a Au substrate, which acts as the working electrode. In this process a Fc-phosphoryl group is transferred to the peptide and the presence of the redox active Fc group is detected electrochemically. All peptide films were fully characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Particular attention was given to the electron transfer rates, k(ET), in peptide films after Fc-phosphorylation which were found to be on the order of seconds. The slow ET kinetics is presumably a result of the negative charge on the phosphoryl group. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) experiments based on the peptide modified Au surfaces reveal significant ferrocene and phosphate group content introduced using the kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation reaction.
Algorithms for estimating relative importance in networks (2003)

Large and complex graphs representing relationships among sets of entities are an increasingly common focus of interest in data analysis---examples include social networks, Web graphs, telecommunication networks, and biological networks. In interactive analysis of such data a natural query is "which entities are most important in the network relative to a particular individual or set of individuals?" We investigate the problem of answering such queries in this paper, focusing in particular on defining and computing the importance of nodes in a graph relative to one or more root nodes. We define a general framework and a number of different algorithms, building on ideas from social networks, graph theory, Markov models, and Web graph analysis. We experimentally evaluate the different properties of these algorithms on toy graphs and demonstrate how our approach can be used to study relative importance in real-world networks including a network of interactions among September 11th terrorists, a network of collaborative research in biotechnology among companies and universities, and a network of co-authorship relationships among computer science researchers.
Flavone acetic acid—from laboratory to clinic and back (1993)

Flavone acetic acid ester (NSC 293015, LM 985) emerged from a series of flavonoids from Lyonnaise Industrielle Pharmaceutique (Lipha) screened by the National Cancer Institute. LM 985 showed modest but sufficient activity in the P388 pre-screen to progress to secondary evaluation on the solid colon 38, where significant activity was seen. On the basis of this particular profile LM 985 was selected by the Cancer Research Campaign (CRC) UK for phase I clinical trial. It was not recommended for phase II trial because of drug associated hypotension and the fact that it appeared to act as a pro-drug for flavone acetic acid (NSC 347512, LM 975, FAA) which was shown to be responsible for the dramatic solid tumor activity in mice. This was manifested as dramatic hemorrhage necrosis and involves a complex mechanism of action. FAA proceeded to clinical trial but unfortunately no anti-tumor activity was seen. A large amount of effort has been channelled into identifying the mechanisms of action of FAA in mice and it is clear that activity relies on a number of factors. Subcutaneous tumors respond dramatically whereas ascites tumors and tumor deposits in other sites are usually less responsive. Establishment of a tumor blood vasculature system appears necessary for response and adequate drug concentrations within a therapeutic window are necessary. From the large body of information available at present the most likely explanation for discrepancies in activity between mouse and man seems to relate to differences in the ability of the immune system to respond to FAA, although variation in the composition of the vasculature cannot yet be ruled out. Analogs of this type of compound are worth pursuing but it is necessary to examine them in appropriate model systems in order to predict for possible clinical activity.