gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Following nerve injury neuregulin‐1 drives microglial proliferation and neuropathic pain via the MEK/ERK pathway (2011)

Following peripheral nerve injury microglia accumulate within the spinal cord and adopt a proinflammatory phenotype a process which contributes to the development of neuropathic pain. We have recently shown that neuregulin-1, a growth factor released following nerve injury, activates erbB 2, 3, and 4 receptors on microglia and stimulates proliferation, survival and chemotaxis of these cells. Here we studied the intracellular signaling pathways downstream of neuregulin-1-erbB activation in microglial cells. We found that neuregulin-1 in vitro induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt without activating p38MAPK. Using specific kinase inhibitors we found that the mitogenic effect of neuregulin-1 on microglia was dependant on MEK/ERK1/2 pathway, the chemotactic effect was dependant on PI3K/Akt signaling and survival was dependant on both pathways. Intrathecal treatment with neuregulin-1 was associated with microgliosis and development of mechanical and cold pain related hypersensitivity which was dependant on ERK1/2 phosphorylation in microglia. Spinal nerve ligation results in a robust microgliosis and sustained ERK1/2 phosphorylation within these cells. This pathway is downstream of neuregulin-1/erbB signaling since its blockade resulted in a significant reduction in microglial ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Inhibition of the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway resulted in decreased spinal microgliosis and in reduced mechanical and cold hypersensitivity after peripheral nerve damage. We conclude that neuregulin-1 released after nerve injury activates microglial erbB receptors which consequently stimulates the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway that drives microglial proliferation and contributes to the development of neuropathic pain.
Single-Unit Sympathetic Discharge (1999)

Background-Reports demonstrating sympathetic hyperactivity in hypertension with the use of microneurography have been inconsistent. One possible reason is that previous studies have assessed muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) from integrated voltage waves ("bursts") recorded from multiunit discharges. We studied single units with defined vasoconstrictor properties (s-MSNA) to further characterize sympathetic output in hypertensive disease. Methods and Results-We examined 74 subjects with a wide range of arterial blood pressure that were considered to be either normal (NT), high normal (HN), or stages 1 to 3 essential hypertension (EHT-1, EHT-2/3). All had their peripheral sympathetic activity measured from both multiunit bursts and single-unit vasoconstrictor impulses. There was a significant correlation between s-MSNA and MSNA, and results of variability studies were similar. The EHT-1 and EHT-2/3 groups had greater s-MSNA and MSNA than did the matched NT group (always P<0. 01). The HN group also had greater s-MSNA and MSNA than did the NT group (mean+/-SEM; 43+/-5 vs 29+/-2 impulses/100 beats, P<0.05; 36+/-4 vs 24+/-2 bursts/100 beats, P<0.05). In addition, the EHT-1 group had significantly greater s-MSNA than did the EHT-2/3 group (63+/-6 vs 51+/-3 impulses/100 beats, P<0.05), which could not be demonstrated with MSNA bursts. Conclusions-Quantification from single vasoconstrictor units has provided additional evidence in established essential hypertension of increased central sympathetic output. Furthermore, in the mild or early stages of hypertension, this technique has provided new evidence of augmented sympathetic output compared with more severe hypertension.
Compliant Motion Control for Multisegment Continuum Robots With Actuation Force Sensing (2014)

During exploration through tortuous unstructured passages by continuum robots, methods are required to minimize the force interaction between the environment and the robot along its length. This paper presents and evaluates an algorithm for compliant motion control of continuum robots subjected to multiple unknown contacts with the environment. A mapping of external wrenches to a generalized force in the configuration space of a multisegment continuum robot is presented and related to measured joint-level actuation forces. These measurements are applied as inputs to a low-level compliant motion controller. Friction and modeling uncertainties, presenting an unknown nonlinear deviation from the nominal system model, are corrected via a feed-forward estimate provided by a support vector machine. The controller is evaluated on Ø9 and Ø5 mm multisegment continuum robots. We quantify the minimal interaction forces needed to generate compliant motion and demonstrate the ability of the controller to minimize interaction forces during insertion through tortuous passages.
Gibbon ape leukemia virus and the amphotropic murine leukemia virus 4070A exhibit an unusual interference pattern on E36 Chinese hamster cells (1993)

The gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV), the amphotropic mouse leukemia virus (A-MLV) 4070A, and the xenotropic mouse leukemia virus (X-MLV) exhibit wide but not identical species host ranges. However, most Chinese hamster cells resist infection by all three viruses. We have now determined that the Chinese hamster cell line E36 differs from other Chinese hamster cell lines in that it is susceptible to infection by wild-type GaLV, A-MLV, and X-MLV. Surprisingly, analysis of the interference pattern of GaLV and A-MLV in E36 cells indicated that GaLV and A-MLV interfere in a nonreciprocal fashion. E36 cells productively infected with GaLV were resistant to superinfection by both GaLV and amphotropically packaged recombinant retroviral vectors. In contrast, E36 cells infected with A-MLV were resistant to superinfection with an amphotropic vector but could still be infected by a GaLV vector. These results imply the existence of a receptor on E36 cells that interacts with both GaLV and A-MLV.
Thiocarbonylthio Compounds [SC(Ph)S−R] in Free Radical Polymerization with Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT Polymerization). Role of the Free-Radical Leaving Group (R) (2003)

Radical polymerization with reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT polymerization) can be used to synthesize a wide range of polymers of controlled architecture and narrow molecular weight distribution. The polymerizations use addition−fragmentation chain transfer agents (RAFT agents) that possess high transfer coefficients in free radical polymerization and confer living character on the polymerization. This paper explores the effect of the substituents R of dithiobenzoate RAFT agents [SC(Ph)S−R] on the outcome of polymerizations of styrene, methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl (BA) or methyl acrylate (MA). In MMA polymerization at 60 °C, effectiveness depends strongly on R decreasing in the order where R is: −C(Alkyl)2CN ∼ −C(Me)2Ar > −C(Me)2C(O)O(alkyl) > −C(Me)2C(O)NH(alkyl) > −C(Me)2CH2C(Me)3 ≥ −C(Me)HPh > −C(Me)3 ∼ −CH2Ph. Of these, only the compounds with R = −C(Me)2Ph and −C(Me)2CN provided polymers with substantially narrowed polydispersities in batch polymerization and gave molecular weight control of the form expected for a living polymerization. These compounds have high transfer coefficients in MMA polymerization (transfer coefficient >20 for 0.003 M RAFT agent in bulk MMA). Reagents with R = −C(Me)2C(O)O(alkyl), C(Me)2C(O)NH(alkyl), −C(Me)2CH2C(Me)3, −C(Me)HPh, −C(Me)3, and −CH2Ph appear relatively ineffective in MMA polymerization because they have much lower transfer coefficients (ca. 1.7, 0.7, 0.4, 0.15, 0.03, and 0.03 respectively). In polymerizations of styrene or acrylates at 60 °C, transfer coefficients of RAFT agents are several orders of magnitude higher and all compounds in the above series yield narrow polydispersity polymers. The transfer coefficients of benzyl dithiobenzoate in styrene and methyl acrylate polymerization at 60 °C are ca. 50 (0.0093 M RAFT agent in bulk monomer) and 105 (with 0.003−0.006 M RAFT agent in 4.43 M monomer), respectively. The rate constant for addition to the thiocarbonyl group does not depend strongly on R. Differences in activity depend on the properties of R and the propagating chain as free radical leaving groups and on the partitioning of R• between adding to monomer (to reinitiate) and adding to polymeric RAFT agent. When the reaction of R• with the polymeric RAFT agent to reform the initial RAFT agent is significant, the transfer coefficient may reduce with concentration of RAFT agent and with conversion. In these circumstances, the activity of RAFT agents is best characterized by two transfer constants associated with the forward and reverse reactions. Steric factors, polar factors, and the stability of R• all appear to play an important role in determining the transfer coefficient and the effectiveness of RAFT agents.
Viscoelastic properties of individual glial cells and neurons in the CNS (2006)

One hundred fifty years ago glial cells were discovered as a second, non-neuronal, cell type in the central nervous system. To ascribe a function to these new, enigmatic cells, it was suggested that they either glue the neurons together (the Greek word "gammalambdaiotaalpha" means "glue") or provide a robust scaffold for them ("support cells"). Although both speculations are still widely accepted, they would actually require quite different mechanical cell properties, and neither one has ever been confirmed experimentally. We investigated the biomechanics of CNS tissue and acutely isolated individual neurons and glial cells from mammalian brain (hippocampus) and retina. Scanning force microscopy, bulk rheology, and optically induced deformation were used to determine their viscoelastic characteristics. We found that (i) in all CNS cells the elastic behavior dominates over the viscous behavior, (ii) in distinct cell compartments, such as soma and cell processes, the mechanical properties differ, most likely because of the unequal local distribution of cell organelles, (iii) in comparison to most other eukaryotic cells, both neurons and glial cells are very soft ("rubber elastic"), and (iv) intriguingly, glial cells are even softer than their neighboring neurons. Our results indicate that glial cells can neither serve as structural support cells (as they are too soft) nor as glue (because restoring forces are dominant) for neurons. Nevertheless, from a structural perspective they might act as soft, compliant embedding for neurons, protecting them in case of mechanical trauma, and also as a soft substrate required for neurite growth and facilitating neuronal plasticity.
Interpandemic Influenza in the Houston Area, 1974–76 (1978)

Prospective virologic surveillance has defined two influenza epidemics representing the fifth and sixth outbreaks attributed to H3N2 viruses since the prototype, A/Hong Kong/68 ((H3N2), emerged in 1968. The 1975 epidemic was caused by influenza A/Port Chalmers and yielded an estimated attack rate of 9 per cent; the second, attributed to influenza A/Victoria, produced an explosive outbreak, with an estimated attack rate of 18 per cent in 1976. The highest morbidity occurred in preschool children, with an estimated attack rate of over 30 per cent. During the early stages of both epidemics there was a predominance of cases among school-aged children, and school absenteeism peaked earlier than other nonvirologic indexes. These observations support the concept of rapid dissemination of influenza among schoolchildren and suggest that control of epidemic influenza might be facilitated by prophylaxis for that age group and other accessible, healthy populations.
The gender bias in sleep apnea diagnosis. Are women missed because they have different symptoms? (1996)

Current clinical indications for sleep apnea evaluation are as appropriate for women as they are for men. Other reasons for the gender disparity in sleep apnea diagnosis, including the possibility that health care providers disregard typical symptoms in women, should be pursued.
Multi-antigenic human cytomegalovirus mRNA vaccines that elicit potent humoral and cell-mediated immunity (2018)

A cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine that is effective at preventing congenital infection and reducing CMV disease in transplant patients remains a high priority as no approved vaccines exist. While the precise correlates of protection are unknown, neutralizing antibodies and antigen-specific T cells have been implicated in controlling infection. We demonstrate that the immunization of mice and nonhuman primates (NHPs) with lipid nanoparticles (LNP) encapsulating modified mRNA encoding CMV glycoproteins gB and pentameric complex (PC) elicit potent and durable neutralizing antibody titers. Since the protective correlates in pregnant women and transplant recipients may differ, we developed an additional mRNA vaccine expressing the immunodominant CMV T cell antigen pp65. Administration of pp65 vaccine with PC and gB elicited robust multi-antigenic T cell responses in mice. Our data demonstrate that mRNA/LNP is a versatile platform that enables the development of vaccination strategies that could prevent CMV infection and consequent disease in different target populations.
Interleukin 1 production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. (1986)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), which share a common cell lineage with macrophages, could produce factors such as IL 1. Other properties which these two cell types share are their phagocytic nature and the common receptor and antigens on their cell surfaces. IL 1, in many of its physical, biochemical, and functional characteristics, is found to resemble endogenous pyrogen (EP). PMN have been cited as a possible cell source of EP, but there have also been reports in which the capacity of PMN to produce EP has been questioned. This study shows that normal human PMN can be stimulated by particulate agents such as zymosan and soluble agents such as phorbol myristic acetate to produce a factor(s) which induces proliferation of mouse thymocytes, i.e., PMN IL 1. This PMN IL 1 was released from PMN in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. PMN IL 1 was nondialyzable, was heat-labile, and was inactivated at pH below 5 and above 8. PMN IL 1 stimulated the proliferation of normal human synovial fibroblasts and caused release of a neutral protease (plasminogen activator) from synovial cells. The synovial and thymocyte-proliferating capacity of PMN IL 1 was not affected by the protease inhibitor aprotinin or by soybean trypsin inhibitor. Gel filtration studies estimate the m.w. of PMN IL 1 to be approximately 13,000 to 17,000.
A Comparison of Cytotoxicity after Whole- or Partial-Cell Irradiation with Synchrotron-Produced Ultrasoft X Rays (1998)

We introduce a method which allows partial-volume irradiation of live cells using synchrotron-produced ultrasoft X rays and micro-fabricated irradiation masks. The masks were made by X-ray lithography at the University of Wisconsin Synchrotron Radiation Center, and they consist of 1.85-microm-wide stripes of gold 1.35 microm apart plated onto thin silicon nitride membranes. When placed adjacent to Mylar on which live cells are plated, these masks allow cells to be irradiated in a striped pattern with dimensions much smaller than the cell nuclei. Using 1340 eV synchrotron-produced X rays, we compare the survival of cells subjected to uniform irradiation and cells subjected to partial-volume irradiation. Our results show that, at equal mean dose to the nucleus (i.e. equal total energies deposited), survival is not statistically different for the two treatments over a wide range of doses. Thus imparting equal energies to smaller intranuclear volumes does not appear to enhance cell killing.
Current status of stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (2005)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common dysrhythmia and increases the risk of stroke. Data from primary and secondary trials have shown that anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin, for example, is the treatment of choice for preventing stroke and systemic cardioembolism. The recommended international normalized ratio is 2.0–3.0, which maintains the balance between risk of ischaemic stroke and bleeding. Anticoagulation with warfarin is more effective than aspirin monotherapy, but ongoing studies are assessing the role of dual antiplatelet therapy (combined aspirin and clopidogrel). Recently, fixed dose ximelagatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, was shown to be as effective as warfarin and well-tolerated. Anticoagulation for patients with acute ischaemic stroke and AF has not resulted in significant improvements in functional outcome, whilst reductions in recurrent stroke were counterbalanced by an increase in intracerebral haemorrhage. Aspirin therefore remains the first line treatment for these patients. Lowering blood pressure and lipids provide additional benefits in reducing the rate of stroke in patients with AF. Other approaches are being assessed, including the local delivery of nitric oxide, and excision of the left atrial appendage, the source of most atrial embolic clots.
Considerations for the design and reporting of enzyme assays in high-throughput screening applications (2014)

This review describes the key steps and methods which are used to develop enzyme assays suitable for high-throughput screening (HTS) applications. The goals of HTS enzyme assays are defined relative to lower-throughput bench top assays and important aspects which go into constructing robust and sensitive enzyme assays are described. Methods that have been applied to common enzyme classes are reviewed and pitfalls related to assay artifacts are discussed. We also suggest a reporting format to describe the steps in HTS enzyme assays.
A microphone array with adaptive post-filtering for noise reduction in reverberant rooms (2003)

The author presents a self-adapting noise reduction system which is based on a four-microphone array combined with an adaptive postfiltering scheme. Noise reduction is achieved by utilizing the directivity gain of the array and by reducing the residual noise through postfiltering of the received microphone signals. The postfiltering scheme depends on a Wiener filter estimating the desired speech signal and is computed from short-term measurements of the autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions of the microphone signals. The noise reduction system has been tested experimentally in a typical office room. The system produces an enhanced speech signal with barely noticeable residual noise if the input SNR is greater than 0 dB. The received noise power-measured in the absence of the speech signal-can be reduced by 28 dB.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
A novel in vitro wound biofilm model used to evaluate low-frequency ultrasonic-assisted wound debridement (2015)

The manufacturer of the ultrasonic-assisted wound debridement device, Söring GmbH, Germany, has supported the ultrasound studies. The funding company had no role in the design, data collection, analysis, review, or approval of the manuscript.
Molecular aspects of multiple myeloma (2002)

Multiple myeloma is a malignant tumour of plasma cells with a median survival of two to three years. Karyotypic instability is seen at the earliest stage of the disease and increases with disease progression, leading to extreme genetic abnormalities similar to solid tumours. Translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain region on chromosome 14q32 are clearly important in the pathogenesis of most myelomas. This review focuses on the different genetic abnormalities found in myeloma and discusses possible pathogenetic mechanisms and the implications for biologically based treatments.
Synthesis of 4‐stannylated tamoxifen analogues; useful precursors to radiolabelled idoxifene and aziridinyl 4‐iodotamoxifen (1994)

Abstract The 4‐stannylated tamoxifen analogues ( E )‐1‐[4‐[2‐( N ‐pyrrolidino)ethoxy]phenyl]‐1‐[4‐(tributylstannyl)phenyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1‐butene and ( E )1‐[4‐[2‐(aziridin‐1‐yl)ethoxy]phenyI]‐1‐[4‐(tributylstannyl)phenyl]‐2‐phenyl‐1‐butene have been synthesised as precursors to radiolabelled idoxifene, an important new drug for the treatment of breast cancer, and to aziridinyl 4‐iodotamoxifen, a potentially useful biological research tool for studying the action of tamoxifen, respectively.
Array technology (1992)

A review of advances in devices and components applicable to modern phased arrays is given. Phase shifters as well as solid-state transmit/receive modules are discussed. Approaches to cost reduction using higher levels of integration (different packaging approaches) and new materials are also covered.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
Constrained connectivity for hierarchical image partitioning and simplification (2008)

This paper introduces an image decomposition and simplification method based on the constrained connectivity paradigm. According to this paradigm, two pixels are said to be connected if they comply to a series of constraints defined in terms of simple measures such as the maximum grey level differences over well-defined pixel paths and regions. The resulting connectivity relation generates a unique partition of the image definition domain. The simplification of the image is then achieved by setting each segment of the partition to the mean value of the pixels falling within this segment. Fine to coarse partition hierarchies (and therefore images of increasing degree of simplification) are produced by varying the threshold value associated with each connectivity constraint. The paper also includes a generalisation to multichannel images, applications, a review of related image segmentation techniques, and pseudo-code for an implementation based on queue and stack data structures.
LUX C, D AND E GENES OF THE Vibrio fischeri LUMINESCENCE OPERON CODE FOR THE REDUCTASE, TRANSFERASE, AND SYNTHETASE ENZYMES INVOLVED IN ALDEHYDE BIOSYNTHESIS (1989)

The lux C, D, and E genes of the Vibrio fischeri luminescence operon code for three polypeptides of 54, 33, and 42 kDa, respectively, which are required for synthesis of the aldehyde substrate for the luminescent reaction. These polypeptides have been identified in V. fischeri and V. harveyi as well as in recombinant E. coli harboring the cloned genes by specific acylation with [3H]fatty acid, showing that they are components of a fatty acid reductase system with reductase, synthetase and transferase activities. By using glycerol in the assay and/or extraction buffer and decreasing the reducing agent, the levels of the acylation of the 54 and 42 kDa polypeptides have been greatly increased. As a consequence, it was possible to demonstrate that the 54 kDa polypeptide coded by the lux C gene has reductase activity. In a subclone missing the lux E gene, the 42 kDa polypeptide was missing and the 54 kDa polypeptide could not be acylated in vitro with tetradecanoic acid (+ATP) and only to a low level in vivo indicating that the synthetase enzyme, responsible for fatty acid activation, is coded by the lux E gene. In vitro acylation with tetradecanoyl CoA of the 33 kDa polypeptide coupled with the specific cleavage of acyl-ACP only in E. coli extracts transformed with DNA containing the lux D gene, demonstrated that the lux D gene coded for the transferase enzyme.