gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Nerve growth factor specifically induces human IgG4 production (1991)

The effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on human IgG4 production was studied. NGF specifically enhanced IgG4 production in cultures of human tonsillar mononuclear cells without affecting production of other isotypes or other IgG subclasses. Optimal enhancement of IgG4 production by NGF required the presence of T cells. However, NGF induced significant IgG4 production by small resting B cells in the absence of T cells, and this production was enhanced by stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC). In contrast to small B cells, large activated B cells produced IgG4 spontaneously; this production was enhanced by NGF. NGF also enhanced IgM and IgA production by large B cells, while production of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgE was not affected. The enhancement of IgG4 production was blocked by anti-NGF serum but not by control serum. NGF, T cells and SAC, separately or together, failed to induce IgG4 production by surface (sIgG4+)-depleted B cells. In contrast to NGF, other recombinant human cytokines including interleukin (IL) 1 beta, IL 2, IL 4, IL 5, IL 6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon alpha and gamma failed to induce IgG4 production. These results suggest that NGF directly and preferentially stimulates activated sIgG4+ B cells to produce IgG4.
Association with an Ammonium-Excreting Bacterium Allows Diazotrophic Culture of Oil-Rich Eukaryotic Microalgae (2012)

Concerns regarding the depletion of the world's reserves of oil and global climate change have promoted an intensification of research and development toward the production of biofuels and other alternative sources of energy during the last years. There is currently much interest in developing the technology for third-generation biofuels from microalgal biomass mainly because of its potential for high yields and reduced land use changes in comparison with biofuels derived from plant feedstocks. Regardless of the nature of the feedstock, the use of fertilizers, especially nitrogen, entails a potential economic and environmental drawback for the sustainability of biofuel production. In this work, we have studied the possibility of nitrogen biofertilization by diazotrophic bacteria applied to cultured microalgae as a promising feedstock for next-generation biofuels. We have obtained an Azotobacter vinelandii mutant strain that accumulates several times more ammonium in culture medium than wild-type cells. The ammonium excreted by the mutant cells is bioavailable to promote the growth of nondiazotrophic microalgae. Moreover, this synthetic symbiosis was able to produce an oil-rich microalgal biomass using both carbon and nitrogen from the air. This work provides a proof of concept that artificial symbiosis may be considered an alternative strategy for the low-N-intensive cultivation of microalgae for the sustainable production of next-generation biofuels and other bioproducts.
Plasmon Emission Quantum Yield of Single Gold Nanorods as a Function of Aspect Ratio (2012)

We report on the one-photon photoluminescence of gold nanorods with different aspect ratios. We measured photoluminescence and scattering spectra from 82 gold nanorods using single-particle spectroscopy. We found that the emission and scattering spectra closely resemble each other independent of the nanorod aspect ratio. We assign the photoluminescence to the radiative decay of the longitudinal surface plasmon generated after fast interconversion from excited electron-hole pairs that were initially created by 532 nm excitation. The emission intensity was converted to the quantum yield and was found to approximately exponentially decrease as the energy difference between the excitation and emission wavelength increased for gold nanorods with plasmon resonances between 600 and 800 nm. We compare this plasmon emission to its molecular analogue, fluorescence.
Human natural killer cell receptors and co‐receptors (2001)

In the absence of sufficient signaling by their HLA class I-specific inhibitory receptors, human natural killer (NK) cells become activated and display potent cytotoxicity against cells that are either HLA class I negative or deficient. This indicates that the NK receptors responsible for the induction of cytotoxicity recognize ligands on target cells different from HLA class I molecules. On this basis, the process of NK-cell triggering can be considered as a mainly non-MHC-restricted mechanism. The recent identification of a group of NK-specific triggering surface molecules has allowed a first series of pioneering studies on the functional/molecular characteristics of such receptors. The first three members of a receptor family that has been termed natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCR) are represented by NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30. These receptors are strictly confined to NK cells, and their engagement induces a strong activation of NK-mediated cytolysis. A direct correlation exists between the surface density of NCR and the ability of NK cells to kill various target cells. Importantly, mAb-mediated blocking of these receptors has been shown to suppress cytotoxicity against most NK-susceptible target cells. However, the process of NK-cell triggering during target cell lysis may also depend on the concerted action of NCR and other triggering receptors, such as NKG2D, or surface molecules, including 2B4 and NKp80, that appear to function as co-receptors rather than as true receptors. Notably, a dysfunction of 2B4 has been associated with a severe form of immunodeficiency termed X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Future studies will clarify whether also the altered expression and/or function of other NK-triggering molecules may represent a possible cause of immunological disorders.
Vibrissa dermal papilla cell aggregative behaviour in vivo and in vitro (1984)

Parallel cultures of adult rat vibrissa dermal papilla cells and skin fibroblasts revealed differences between the two cell types with respect to a number of criteria. In particular the dermal papilla cells demonstrated a distinctive single cell morphology, and at confluence formed cell aggregates radically different from regular fibroblast multilayering and patterning. This finding confirmed repeated observations of papilla cell clumping in short-term culture. The dermal papilla cells which are mitotically quiescent in situ were also shown to have a lower proliferative capacity than the skin fibroblasts. The affinity shown by papilla cells towards each other in culture reflected the behaviour demonstrated by isolated dermal papillae transplanted into ear dermis and into the collagenous capsule of the vibrissa follicle. In the absence of epidermal contact the papilla cells remained as recognizable rounded aggregates for the experimental period of up to nine months. Synthesis of extracellular material typical of that seen in situ was observed, particularly during the first weeks following transplantation. The collective behaviour of the dermal papilla cells revealed in this study may be significant for the morphogenetic activity of the papilla, and for papilla size during the hair cycle. It may also reflect the retention of embryonic-like properties by the dermal component of adult hair follicles.
Common Gateway Interface for SIP (2001)

In Internet telephony, there must be a means by which new services are created and deployed rapidly. In the World Wide Web, the Common Gateway Interface (CGI) has served as popular means towards programming web services. Due to the similarities between the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP), CGI is a good candidate for service creation in a SIP environment. This document defines a SIP CGI interface for providing SIP services on a SIP server.
A Phase I Trial of Intravesical Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel in the Treatment of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Refractory Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (2011)

Intravesical nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel exhibited minimal toxicity and systemic absorption in the first human intravesical phase I trial to our knowledge. A larger phase II study has begun to formally evaluate the activity of this regimen.
Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Sepedonicus Elicits a Hypersensitive Response in Tobacco and Secretes Hypersensitive Response-Inducing Protein(s) (1997)

ABSTRACT Strains of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, causal agent of bacterial ring rot of potato, showed marked differences in virulence on host plants. When infiltrated into tobacco leaves, virulent strains caused a rapid localized necrotic response (within 24 to 48 h) characteristic of the hypersensitive response (HR), whereas nonpathogenic strains did not. Concentrated cell-free culture supernatants (CCS) from virulent strains caused a necrotic reaction on tobacco, whereas CCS from nonpathogenic strains did not. The necrosis-inducing activity was heat stable and protease sensitive. Inhibitors of eukaryotic metabolism suppressed the necrotic reaction of tobacco to CCS. No necrotic response was observed when host plants were infiltrated with either cells or CCS from virulent strains. HR-inducing protein(s) from a virulent strain separated from the majority of other proteins on DEAE cellulose at 250 to 300 mM NaCl. Ammonium sulfate-precipitated proteins from a virulent strain produced a necrotic reaction at a total protein concentration of 18 mug/ml, whereas those from a nonpathogenic strain did not, even at a concentration of 180 mug/ml. We conclude that virulent strains of C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus elicit a typical HR in tobacco and secrete proteinaceous elicitor(s) of the nonhost HR.
Semi-insulating epitaxial layers for optoelectronic devices (2002)

Semi-insulating epitaxial layers of InP:Fe, GaAs:Fe and GaInP:Fe have been grown. To avoid the often observed inter-diffusion between Fe and Zn, two remedies are proposed using InP:Fe/InP:Zn as an example. One is co-doping InP with sulphur and iron and the other is to use ruthenium instead of iron. In situ mesa etching can also hinder side wall stimulated diffusion. Epitaxial lateral overgrowth studies of InP on a masked surface indicate promising feasibility of integrating SI InP on silicon. InP:Fe and GaInP:Fe/GaAs are found to be useful in the buried heterostructure laser fabrication. Buried in-plane lasers have shown very good thermal and high modulation properties. Buried vertical cavity surface emitting lasers can be pumped up to 97/spl deg/C under continuous operation.
Synergism from combined immunologic and pharmacologic inhibition of HER2 in vivo (2009)

The monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and the EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib improve the clinical outcome of patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. However, the majority of metastatic cancers will eventually progress, suggesting the need for other therapies. Because HER2 overexpression persists, we hypothesized that the anti-HER2 immune response induced by cancer vaccines would be an effective strategy for treating trastuzumab- and lapatinib-refractory tumors. Furthermore, we hypothesized that the antibody response could synergize with lapatinib to enhance tumor inhibition. We developed a recombinant adenoviral vector expressing a kinase-inactive HER2 (Ad-HER2-ki) to use as a cancer vaccine. Vaccine-induced polyclonal HER2-specific antiserum was analyzed for receptor internalization and signaling effects alone and in combination with lapatinib. Ad-HER2-ki vaccine-induced potent T cell and antibody responses in mice and the vaccine-induced polyclonal HER2-specific antiserum mediated receptor internalization and degradation much more effectively than trastuzumab. Our in vitro studies demonstrated that HER2 vaccine-induced antibodies effectively caused a decrease in HER2 expression, but when combined with lapatinib caused significant inhibition of HER2 signaling, decreased pERK and pAKT levels and reduced breast tumor cell proliferation. In addition, a known mechanism of resistance to lapatinib, induction of survivin, was inhibited. The combination of Ad-HER2-ki plus lapatinib also showed superior antitumor efficacy in vivo. Based on these results, we feel clinical studies using this approach to target HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, including trastuzumab- and lapatinib-resistant tumors is warranted.
Identification of 4370 expressed sequence tags from a 3'-end-specific cDNA library of human skeletal muscle by DNA sequencing and filter hybridization. (1996)

A systematic study on the mRNA species expressed in the human skeletal muscle is presented in this paper. To carry on this study, a new method has been developed for the construction of unbiased cDNA libraries specially designed for the production of ESTs corresponding to the 3'-end portion of the mRNAs. The method has been applied to human skeletal muscle, where the analysis of the transcription profile is particularly difficult for the presence of several very abundant transcripts. To detect and quantify high-level mRNAs, the first 1054 ESTs were obtained from randomly selected clones. The 10 most abundant transcripts accounted for > 45% of the clones. Subsequently, these transcripts were identified by filter hybridization, thus making DNA sequencing more productive. Overall, 4370 clones were identified: 3372 by DNA sequencing and 998 by filter hybridization. The number of groups of sequences identifying individual transcripts was relatively low compared with other tissues, resulting in a total of 934 groups out of 4370 ESTs. Of these, 719 groups were represented by only one sequence.
In vivo method for correcting transmit/receive nonuniformities with phased array coils (2005)

Phased array coils are finding widespread applications in both the research and the clinical setting. However, intensity nonuniformities with such coils can reduce the potential benefits of these coils, particularly for applications such as tissue segmentation. In this work, a method is described for correcting the nonuniform signal response based on in vivo measures of both the transmission field of body coil and the reception sensitivity of phased array coils, separately. For a uniform phantom, the reception sensitivity can be calculated using both Bloch equations and transmission field maps. For a heterogeneous object such as a brain, a minimal contrast acquisition must be obtained to map the receiver nonuniformities. This transmit field/receiver sensitivity (TFRS) approach is compared with the standard methods of using the body coil to obtain a reference scan and low-pass filtering. The quantitative comparison results shows that the TFRS approach provides superior results in correcting intensity nonuniformities for a uniform phantom. This approach reduces the ratio between signal intensity SD of an image and its mean intensity from approximately 21% before correction to 13% after correction. Results are also shown demonstrating the utility of this approach in vivo with human brain images. The method is general and can be applied with most pulse sequences, any coil combination for transmission and reception, and in any anatomic region.
Fresh Small-Fragment Osteochondral Allografts (1985)

Of 100 patients receiving fresh osteochondral fragment allografts, 95 had replacement of the weight-bearing portion of the knee. The allografts excised under sterile conditions were stored in Ringer's lactate at 4° and transplanted into recipients within 24 hours. The average follow-up time was 3.8 years. One-half of the patients had allografts because of traumatic injury, and the best results (75% success) were obtained in this group of patients. The overall results were not encouraging for patients with osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis.
Current State of Knowledge on Porcine Circovirus Type 2-Associated Lesions (2012)

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), a small single-stranded DNA virus, was initially discovered in 1998 and is highly prevalent in the domestic pig population. Disease manifestations associated with PCV2 include postweaning multisystemic wasting disease (PMWS), enteric disease, respiratory disease, porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), and reproductive failure. Although these clinical manifestations involve different organ systems, there is considerable overlap in clinical expression of disease and presence of lesions between pigs and within herds. It is now widely accepted that PCV2 can be further subdivided into different types, of which PCV2a and PCV2b are present worldwide and of greatest importance. This review will focus on PCV2-associated lesions in different organ systems.
Nitric Oxide Therapies in Vascular Diseases (2002)

Endothelial dysfunction defined as the impaired ability of vascular endothelium to stimulate vasodilation plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis and in various pathological conditions which predispose to atherosclerosis, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperhomocyst (e) inemia and chronic renal failure. The major cause of the endothelial dysfunction is decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), a potent biological vasodilator produced in vascular endothelium from L-arginine by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). In vascular diseases, the bioavailability of NO can be impaired by various mechanisms, including decreased NO production by eNOS, and/or enhanced NO breakdown due to increased oxidative stress. The deactivation of eNOS is often associated with elevated plasma levels of its endogenous inhibitor, N(G) N(G)-dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA). In hypercholesterolemia, a systemic deficit of NO may also increase the levels of low density lipoproteins (LDL) by modulating its synthesis and metabolism by the liver, as suggested by recent in vivo and in vitro studies using organic NO donors. Therapeutic strategies aiming to reduce the risk of vascular diseases by increasing bioavailability of NO continue to be developed. Cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins, have been shown to improve endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Promising results were also obtained in some, but not all, vascular diseases after treatment with antioxidant vitamins (C and E) and after administration of eNOS substrate, L-arginine, or its cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). Novel strategies, which may produce beneficial changes in the vascular endothelium, include the use of natural extracts from plant foods rich in phytochemicals.
Predicting peptide structures using NMR data and deterministic global optimization (1999)

The ability to analyze large molecular structures by NMR techniques requires efficient methods for structure calculation. Currently, there are several widely available methods for tackling these problems, which, in general, rely on the optimization of penalty-type target functions to satisfy the conformational restraints. Typically, these methods combine simulated annealing protocols with molecular dynamics and local minimization, either in distance or torsional angle space. In this work, both a novel formulation and algorithmic procedure for the solution of the NMR structure prediction problem is outlined. First, the unconstrained, penalty-type structure prediction problem is reformulated using nonlinear constraints, which can be individually enumerated for all, or subsets, of the distance restraints. In this way, the violation can be controlled as a constraint, in contrast to the usual penalty-type restraints. In addition, the customary simplified objective function is replaced by a full atom force field in the torsional angle space. This guarantees a better description of atomic interactions, which dictate the native structure of the molecule along with the distance restraints. The second novel portion of this work involves the solution method. Rather than pursue the typical simulated annealing procedure, this work relies on a deterministic method, which theoretically guarantees that the global solution can be located. This branch and bound technique, based on the αBB algorithm, has already been successfully applied to the identification of global minimum energy structures of peptides modeled by full atom force fields. Finally, the approach is applied to the Compstatin structure prediction, and it is found to possess some important merits when compared to existing techniques. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 1354–1370, 1999
Quantitation of venous clot lysis with the D-dimer immunoassay during fibrinolytic therapy requires correction for soluble fibrin degradation. (1990)

Plasma cross-linked fibrin-degradation products were analyzed using a D-dimer (DD) immunoassay in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or acute myocardial infarction (MI) treated with fibrinolytic therapy, and the results were correlated with clot lysis documented angiographically. In 13 patients with DVT, the mean DD concentration increased 10-fold (1,074 +/- 252 to 10,333 +/- 1,004 ng/ml) during therapy, but neither the peak level nor the DD concentration integrated over the course of therapy correlated with clot lysis. Since plasma DD can derive from degradation of soluble plasma fibrin as well as from thrombi, the contribution of the former was estimated by in vitro incubation of the pretreatment plasma with plasminogen activator. Subtraction of this value from the measured posttreatment DD concentration provided a "corrected" level that represented DD originating from lysis of thrombi. This modification resulted in improved correlation of DD levels with clot lysis. The mean corrected peak DD was higher in patients with successful thrombolysis (8,780 +/- 1,352 ng/ml) compared with patients without lysis (3,075 +/- 589 ng/ml, p less than 0.001). There was a moderate correlation between the volume of clot lysed and the corrected peak DD (r = 0.62) and a higher correlation with the corrected DD integrated over the course of treatment (r = 0.97). By contrast, the corrected DD concentrations were near zero in patients treated for MI with or without thrombolytic reperfusion, suggesting that fibrin in small coronary thrombi did not contribute significantly to total plasma DD during therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)