gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Haemophilus influenzae immunoglobulin A1 protease genes: cloning by plasmid integration-excision, comparative analyses, and localization of secretion determinants (1987)

Many bacteria which establish infections after invasion at human mucosal surfaces produce enzymes which cleave immunoglobulin A (IgA), the primary immunoglobulin involved with protection at these sites. Bacterial species such as Haemophilus influenzae which produce IgA1 proteases secrete this enzyme into their environment. However, when the gene encoding this protein was isolated from H. influenzae serotype d and introduced into Escherichia coli, the activity was not secreted into the medium but was localized in the periplasmic space. In this study, the IgA1 protease gene (iga) from an H. influenzae serotype c strain was isolated and the gene from the serotype d strain was reisolated. The IgA1 proteases produced in E. coli from these genes were secreted into the growth medium. A sequence linked to the carboxyl terminus of the iga gene but not present in the original clone was shown to be necessary to achieve normal secretion. Tn5 mutagenesis of the additional carboxyl-terminal region was used to define a 75- to 100-kilodalton coding region required for complete secretion of IgA1 protease but nonessential for protease activity. The iga genes were isolated by a plasmid integration-excision procedure. In this method a derivative of plasmid pBR322 containing a portion of the protease gene and the kanamycin resistance determinant of Tn5 was introduced into H. influenzae by transformation. The kanamycin resistance gene was expressed in H. influenzae, but since pBR322 derivatives are unable to replicate in this organism, kanamycin-resistant transformants arose by integration of the plasmid into the Haemophilus chromosome by homologous recombination. The plasmid, together with the adjoining DNA encoding IgA1 protease, was then excised from the chromosome with DNA restriction enzymes, religated, and reintroduced into E. coli. Comparisons between the H. influenzae protease genes were initiated which are useful in locating functional domains of these enzymes.
Analysis of free and esterified sterols in vegetable oils (2002)

Abstract In vegetable oils, phytosterols occur as free sterols or as steryl esters. Few analytical methods report the quantification of esterified and free sterols in vegetable oils. In this study, esterified and free sterols were separated by silica gel column chromatography upon elution with n ‐hexane/ethyl acetate (90∶10 vol/vol) followed by n ‐hexane/diethyl ether/ethanol (25∶25∶50 by vol). Both fractions were saponified separately and the phytosterol content was quantified by GC. The analytical method for the analysis of esterified and free sterols had a relative standard deviation of 1.16% and an accuracy of 93.6–94.1%, which was comparable to the reference method for the total sterol analysis. A large variation in the content and distribution of the sterol fraction between different vegetable oils can be observed. Corn and rapeseed oils were very rich in phytosterols, which mainly occurred as steryl esters (56–60%), whereas the majority of the other vegetable oils (soybean, sunflower, palm oil, etc.) contained a much lower esterified sterol content (25–40%). No difference in the relative proportion of the individual sterols among crude and refined vegetable oils was observed.
[Endocrine changes following progesterone substitution in early pregnancy]. (1986)

250 mg hydroxy-progesteronecaproate was used for intramuscular administration in 25 patients, between 11 and 15 week's gestation, presenting either with a history of recurrent abortion or being admitted because of threatened abortion. Beta-HCG and progesterone concentrations were determined twice at intervals of 24 hours. Three women aborted without showing any increase in Beta-HCG levels nore in progesterone levels. In 20 patients Beta-HCG concentrations increased significantly after the medication, whereas only 5 patients showed a rise in progesterone levels. In 14 patients serum progesterone concentrations decreased making the use of progestational steroids in the management of threatened abortion questionable.
Fabrication of Patterned Superhydrophobic/Hydrophilic Substrates by Laser Micromachining for Small Volume Deposition and Droplet-Based Fluorescence (2017)

The deposition of nanoliter and subnanoliter volumes is important in chemical and biochemical droplet-based microfluidic systems. There are several techniques that have been established for the deposition/generation of small volumes including the use of surfaces with patterned differences in wettability. Many such methods require complex and time-consuming lithographic techniques. Here, we present a facile method for the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with patterned hydrophilic regions by laser micromachining. A comprehensive study of fabrication parameters (laser machining speed, laser power, and patch size) on the material, patch wettability, and droplet volume is presented. Patch sizes as small as 100 μm diameter and as large as 1500 μm diameter were investigated, and volumes as low as 400 pL were observed. As an example application of such patterned materials and the deposition of small volumes, halide salts were preconcentrated on the hydrophilic patches, and their fluorescence quenching constants were rapidly calculated using a 3D-printed device coupled to a fluorescence spectrometer.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis Tandem Repeat Proteins and Ank200 are Type 1 Secretion System Substrates Related to the Repeats-in-Toxin Exoprotein Family (2011)

Ehrlichia chaffeensis has type 1 and 4 secretion systems (T1SS and T4SS), but the substrates have not been identified. Potential substrates include secreted tandem repeat protein (TRP) 47, TRP120, and TRP32, and the ankyrin repeat protein, Ank200, that are involved in molecular host-pathogen interactions including DNA binding and a network of protein-protein interactions with host targets associated with signaling, transcriptional regulation, vesicle trafficking, and apoptosis. In this study we report that E. chaffeensis TRP47, TRP32, TRP120, and Ank200 were not secreted in the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Cre recombinase reporter assay routinely used to identify T4SS substrates. In contrast, all TRPs and the Ank200 proteins were secreted by the Escherichia coli complemented with the hemolysin secretion system (T1SS), and secretion was reduced in a T1SS mutant (ΔTolC), demonstrating that these proteins are T1SS substrates. Moreover, T1SS secretion signals were identified in the C-terminal domains of the TRPs and Ank200, and a detailed bioinformatic analysis of E. chaffeensis TRPs and Ank200 revealed features consistent with those described in the repeats-in-toxins (RTX) family of exoproteins, including glycine- and aspartate-rich tandem repeats, homology with ATP-transporters, a non-cleavable C-terminal T1SS signal, acidic pIs, and functions consistent with other T1SS substrates. Using a heterologous E. coli T1SS, this investigation has identified the first Ehrlichia T1SS substrates supporting the conclusion that the T1SS and corresponding substrates are involved in molecular host-pathogen interactions that contribute to Ehrlichia pathobiology. Further investigation of the relationship between Ehrlichia TRPs, Ank200, and the RTX exoprotein family may lead to a greater understanding of the importance of T1SS substrates and specific functions of T1SS in the pathobiology of obligately intracellular bacteria.
Histone H1 Variants Are Differentially Expressed and Incorporated into Chromatin during Differentiation and Reprogramming to Pluripotency (2011)

There are seven linker histone variants in human somatic cells (H1.0 to H1.5 and H1X), and their prevalence varies as a function of cell type and differentiation stage, suggesting that the different variants may have distinct roles. We have revisited this notion by using new methodologies to study pluripotency and differentiation, including the in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem (ES) and teratocarcinoma cells and the reprogramming of keratinocytes to induced pluripotent stem cells. Our results show that pluripotent cells (PCs) have decreased levels of H1.0 and increased levels of H1.1, H1.3, and H1.5 compared with differentiated cells. PCs have a more diverse repertoire of H1 variants, whereas in differentiated cells, H1.0 expression represents ∼80% of the H1 transcripts. In agreement with their prevalent expression in ES cells, the regulatory regions of H1.3 and H1.5 genes were found to be occupied by pluripotency factors. Moreover, the H1.0 gene promoter contains bivalent domains (H3K4me2 and H3K27me3) in PCs, suggesting that this variant is likely to have an important role during differentiation. Indeed, the knockdown of H1.0 in human ES did not affect self-renewal but impaired differentiation. Accordingly, H1.0 was recruited to the regulatory regions of differentiation and pluripotency genes during differentiation, confirming that this histone variant plays a critical role in the regulation of these genes. Thus, histone H1 variant expression is controlled by a variety of mechanisms that produce distinct but consistent H1 repertoires in pluripotent and differentiated cells that appear critical to maintain the functionality of such cells.
Sodium channels, excitability of primary sensory neurons, and the molecular basis of pain (1999)

Following nerve injury, primary sensory neurons (dorsal root ganglion [DRG] neurons, trigeminal neurons) exhibit a variety of electrophysiological abnormalities, including increased baseline sensitivity and/or hyperexcitability, which can lead to abnormal burst activity that underlies pain, but the molecular basis for these changes has not been fully understood. Over the past several years, it has become clear that nearly a dozen distinct sodium channels are encoded by different genes and that at least six of these (including at least three distinct DRG- and trigeminal neuron-specific sodium channels) are expressed in primary sensory neurons. The deployment of different types of sodium channels in different types of DRG neurons endows them with different physiological properties. Dramatic changes in sodium channel expression, including downregulation of the SNS/PN3 and NaN sodium channel genes and upregulation of previously silent type III sodium channel gene, occur in DRG neurons following axonal transection. These changes in sodium channel gene expression are accompanied by a reduction in tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant sodium currents and by the emergence of a TTX-sensitive sodium current which recovers from inactivation (reprimes) four times more rapidly than the channels in normal DRG neurons. These changes in sodium channel expression poise DRG neurons to fire spontaneously or at inappropriately high frequencies. Changes in sodium channel gene expression also occur in experimental models of inflammatory pain. These observations indicate that abnormal sodium channel expression can contribute to the molecular pathophysiology of pain. They further suggest that selective blockade of particular subtypes of sodium channels may provide new, pharmacological approaches to treatment of disease involving hyperexcitability of primary sensory neurons.
Ongoing and Stimulus-Evoked Activity of Sympathetically Correlated Neurons in the Intermediate Zone and Dorsal Horn of Acutely Spinalized Rats (2000)

We have shown previously that in the acutely spinalized anesthetized rat the activities of many dorsal horn interneurons (DHN) at the T(10) level are correlated positively with both ongoing and stimulus-evoked renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and therefore may belong to networks generating RSNA after acute, cervical, spinal transection. In the present study, we recorded from both DHN and interneurons in the intermediate zone (IZN) of the T(10) spinal segment in acutely C(1)-transected, chloralose-anesthetized, artificially respired rats. The activities of a similar percentage of IZN and DHN were correlated positively with ongoing RSNA, but the peaks of spike-triggered averages of RSNA based on the activity of IZN were larger, relative to dummy averages, than spike-triggered averages of RSNA based on the activity of DHN. Sympathetically correlated DHN and IZN differed in their responses to noxious somatic stimuli. Most correlated DHN had relatively simple somatic fields; they were excited by noxious stimulation of the T(10) and nearby dermatomes and inhibited by stimulation of more distal dermatomes. As we have shown previously, the excitatory and inhibitory fields of these neurons were very similar to fields that, respectively, excited and inhibited RSNA. On the other hand, the somatic fields of 50% of sympathetically correlated IZN were significantly more complex, indicating a difference between either the inputs or the processing properties of IZN and DHN. Sympathetically correlated IZN and DHN also differed in their responses to colorectal distension (CRD), a noxious visceral stimulus. CRD increased RSNA in 11/15 rats and increased the activity of most sympathetically correlated T(10) IZN. On the other hand, CRD decreased the activity of a majority of sympathetically correlated T(10) DHN. These observations suggest that the same stimulus may differentially affect separate, putative, sympathoexcitatory pathways, exciting one and inhibiting the other. Thus the magnitude and even the polarity of responses to a given stimulus may be determined by the modality and location of the stimulus, the degree to which multiple pathways are affected by the stimulus, and the ongoing activity of presympathetic neurons, at multiple rostrocaudal levels, before stimulation. A multipathway system may explain the variability in autonomic responses to visceral and somatic stimuli exhibited in spinally injured patients.
Improved method of anodic oxidation of GaAs (1975)

A new and better electrolyte for anodic oxidation of GaAs is described. It is an aqueous solution of tartaric or citric acid mixed with glycol and can produce, in an extremely stable manner, native oxide films with remarkably improved dielectric properties.
Intravitreal Injection of Ganglioside GM1 After Ischemia Reduces Retinal Damage in Rats (1997)

GM1 protects the rat retina from pressure-induced ischemic injury when given intravitreally after the insult. The protection provided by GM1 after initiation of retinal damage could be of therapeutic interest.
Characterization of the rat osteocalcin gene: stimulation of promoter activity by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1988)

Osteocalcin is an abundant noncollagenous protein in bone, and its synthesis is stimulated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3]. In this study, the rat osteocalcin gene was isolated, sequenced, and found to be a single-copy gene that is highly conserved between human and rat. Northern blot analysis of RNAs from a number of rat tissues revealed osteocalcin mRNA only in calvariae, consistent with bone-specific expression of osteocalcin. In order to investigate promoter activity and its modulation by 1,25(OH)2D3, plasmids containing the osteocalcin promoter region linked to the reporter enzyme bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) were used to transfect rat osteosarcoma ROS 17/2.8 cells, which express osteocalcin endogenously, and UMR 106 cells, which lack osteocalcin expression. Transfected ROS 17/2.8 cells exhibited a higher basal CAT activity than UMR 106 cells. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulated the CAT expression 5-10-fold only in ROS 17/2.8 cells and not in UMR 106 cells. By use of unidirectional deletion analysis, a domain strongly responsive to 1,25(OH)2D3 was identified between bases -1035 and -871 upstream from the site of transcription initiation, while a weakly responsive region was found further downstream.
Carbon nanotube electronics (2003)

We evaluate the potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the basis for a new nanoelectronic technology. After briefly reviewing the electronic structure and transport properties of CNTs, we discuss the fabrication of CNT field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) formed from individual single-walled nanotubes (SWCNTs), SWCNT bundles, or multiwalled (MW) CNTs. The performance characteristics of the CNTFETs are discussed and compared to those of corresponding silicon devices. We show that CNTFETs are very competitive with state-of-the-art conventional devices. We also discuss the switching mechanism of CNTFETs and show that it involves the modulation by the gate field of Schottky barriers at the metal-CNT junctions. This switching mechanism can account for the observed subthreshold and vertical scaling behavior of CNTFETs, as well as their sensitivity to atmospheric oxygen. The potential for integration of CNT devices is demonstrated by fabricating a logic gate along a single nanotube molecule. Finally, we discuss our efforts to grow CNTs locally and selectively, and a method is presented for growing oriented SWCNTs without the involvement of a metal catalyst.
Effects of IGF-1, truncated IGF-1 and the tripeptide Gly-Pro-Glu on acetylcholine release from parietal cortex of rat brain. (1993)

The effects of intact IGF-1, truncated IGF-1 and Gly-Pro-Glu (GPE), the aminoterminal tripeptide of IGF-1, on the potassium (35 mM K+) stimulated release of acetylcholine (ACh) from rat cortical slices were investigated. GPE significantly increased the release of ACh in the dose range of 10(-10)-10(-6) M, while IGF-1 significantly enhanced the release of ACh only at 4 x 10(-8) M. The truncated form of IGF-1, lacking the tripeptide GPE, did not effect the release of ACh in rat cortex. Binding experiments also showed that truncated IGF-1 was less available to the brain slices. The possible underlying mechanisms of action of GPE in the cholinergic synapse were investigated. GPE (10(-5) M) significantly (40%) displaced [3H]nicotine from its binding sites in rat cortex. In the concentration range of 10(-10)-10(-5) M, GPE did not interact with the choline uptake sites ([3H]hemicholinium binding) or the muscarinic ([3H]QNB) receptor binding sites in rat cortex. The mechanism of action behind GPEs enhancement of cholinergic transmission is therefore still unknown.
Integrated-optic versus microoptic devices for fiber-optic telecommunication systems: a comparison (1996)

We assess the relative merits and prospects of integrated-optics in comparison with microoptic and fiber-based techniques. Firstly, the market for fiber-optic components for telecommunications is analyzed. Secondly, the technological issues which make integrated optics quite different from integrated electronics will be discussed. Thirdly, a specific comparison between the potential of the competing optical technologies will be made for the polarization-diversity hybrid and the optical wavelength (de)multiplexer, two optical devices used in networks that are based on optical frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).
Integrating networks and memory hierarchies in a multicomputer node architecture (2002)

We propose a new multicomputer node architecture, the DI-multicomputer, which can provide higher memory and communication performance than existing multicomputer architectures. By integrating a router onto each processor chip and eliminating the memory bus interface, each processor uses packet routing for both local memory access and internode communication. Multi-packet handling mechanisms are used to implement a high performance memory interface based on packet routing. The DI-multicomputer network interface directs different types of messages to an appropriate level of the memory hierarchy, providing efficient communication for both short and long messages. Trace-driven simulations show that the communication mechanisms of the DI-multicomputer can achieve up to four times speedup when compared to existing architectures.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
The use of synthetic peptides in the diagnosis of HIV infections. (1990)

The antigenic structure of HIV proteins was analyzed semiempirically. Peptides mimicking fragments of the main structural HIV-1 proteins (p17, p24, gp41, and gp120) were selected and synthesized, with account taken of the level of conservation of various HIV genome fragments. The synthesized peptides were then subjected to immunological study with human sera in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peptides from two regions were found to be particularly immunoreactive with sera from HIV-1 infected persons: the C-terminal end of gp120 and a sequence approximately sixty to eighty amino acids in from the N-terminus of gp41. In fact, more than 96% of HIV-1 positive sera reacted with peptide 495-516 of gp120 (SP-III), peptide 584-602 of gp41 (LS-19), and peptide 601-616 of gp41 (SP-15). Additionally, twelve out of twelve serum samples from Ugandans infected with HIV-1 reacted with both SP-III (from HTLV-III) and SP-29 (gp41, 598-609; from the LAV-ELI isolate), suggesting that these immunodominant sites are useful diagnostically irrespective of the infecting isolates. HIV-2 peptides were also synthesized, and immunoreactivity and cross-reactivity examined. Only two peptides (581-603 of gp32 and 592-605 of gp32) reacted with all of the six HIV-2 positive sera tested. These peptides did not react with HIV-1 positive sera or control sera from healthy blood donors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Particle swarm optimization based algorithm for machining parameter optimization (2004)

Selection of machining parameters is an important step in process planning. In view of this problem, a new methodology based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) is developed to optimize machining conditions. First, by introducing the concept of history constraint satisfaction, constraint handling strategy suit for PSO optimization mechanism is presented. Furthermore, improvement is made by using direct search to intensify the local search ability of PSO algorithm. In addition, mathematical model for milling operation is established with respect to maximum production rate, subject to a set of practical machining constraints. The simulation results show that compared with genetic algorithm and simulated annealing, the proposed algorithm can improve the quality of the solution while speeding up the convergence process.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: From Gimmick to Gold Standard (1994)

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was first performed in 1987, and within 2 years had become widespread. Its rapid growth was due in part to a perceived reduction in postoperative morbidity and shorter convalescence than with open cholecystectomy. Although these perceptions were shared both by surgeons and the lay public, no controlled study has documented them conclusively, but now, because of its popularity, it is unlikely that such a study will ever be undertaken. Nevertheless, a wealth of information has been accumulated on open cholecystectomy, and a large body of data is being generated regarding laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We examine selected reports of both laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy in terms of incidence and outcome. Our review supports the notion that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and effective, has an acceptable complication rate, and a considerably shorter convalescence. Thus, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is now the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis, and is becoming the new gold standard against which other procedures should be judged.