gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Oat β-Glucan on Postprandial Blood Glucose and Insulin Responses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2021)

The efficacy of oat beta-glucan (OBG), a viscous soluble fibre, on postprandial glycemic outcomes may depend on the nature of the control and the dose and molecular weight (MW) utilized. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of acute clinical trials to determine whether these features mediate the glycemic and insulinaemic responses to OBG. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched through October 27, 2020. We included acute, single-meal feeding, controlled trials investigating the effect of OBG (concentrate or oat bran) added to a carbohydrate-containing meal compared to a comparable meal (matched control) or a different carbohydrate-containing meal (unmatched control). Two reviewers extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias and certainty of evidence (GRADE). The primary outcome was incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for blood glucose. Data were pooled using the generic-inverse variance method with random effects model and expressed as ratio of means with [95% Cis]. One hundred and three trial comparisons (N = 538) were included. OBG reduced glucose iAUC and iPeak by 23% (0.77 [0.74, 0.81]) and 28% (0.72 [0.64, 0.76]) and insulin by 22% (0.78 [0.72, 0.85]) and 24% (0.76 [0.65, 0.88]), respectively. Dose, molecular-weight and comparator were significant effect modifiers of glucose iAUC and iPeak. Significant linear dose-response relationships were observed for all outcomes. OBG molecular-weight > 300 kg/mol significantly reduced glucose iAUC and iPeak, whereas, molecular-weight < 300 kg/mol did not. Reductions in glucose iAUC (27 vs 20%, p = 0.03) and iPeak (39 vs 25%, p < 0.01) were significantly larger with different vs comparable control-meals. Outcomes were similar in participants with and without diabetes. All outcomes had high certainty-of-evidence. Current evidence indicates that the addition of OBG to carbohydrate-containing meals reduces the postprandial glycemic and insulinaemic responses. However, the magnitude of glucose reduction depends on OBG dose, molecular-weight and the comparator. INQUIS Clinical Research Ltd. (formerly GI Labs), and PepsiCo Global R&D
Reconsidering custom memory allocation (2002)

Programmers hoping to achieve performance improvements often use custom memory allocators. This in-depth study examines eight applications that use custom allocators. Surprisingly, for six of these applications, a state-of-the-art general-purpose allocator (the Lea allocator) performs as well as or better than the custom allocators. The two exceptions use regions, which deliver higher performance (improvements of up to 44%). Regions also reduce programmer burden and eliminate a source of memory leaks. However, we show that the inability of programmers to free individual objects within regions can lead to a substantial increase in memory consumption. Worse, this limitation precludes the use of regions for common programming idioms, reducing their usefulness.We present a generalization of general-purpose and region-based allocators that we call reaps . Reaps are a combination of regions and heaps, providing a full range of region semantics with the addition of individual object deletion. We show that our implementation of reaps provides high performance, outperforming other allocators with region-like semantics. We then use a case study to demonstrate the space advantages and software engineering benefits of reaps in practice. Our results indicate that programmers needing fast regions should use reaps, and that most programmers considering custom allocators should instead use the Lea allocator.
Second‐Sphere Coordination–a Novel Rǒle for Molecular Receptors (1986)

Abstract Although it has been appreciated for most of this century that the coordinating influence of many transition metal complexes extends beyond their covalently‐bonded first‐sphere ligands to non‐covalently bound chemical species in the so‐called second‐sphere, it is only recently that the fundamental importance of the phenomenon has been recognized and researched in its most general context. Rapid progress has been possible in this relatively new area of supramolecular chemistry by appealing to the symbiotic relationship that exists between X‐ray crystallographic investigations and synthetic work. The gamut of non‐covalent bonds, including electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, charge transfer, and van der Waals interactions are available for exploitation in choosing or designing suitable molecular receptors for particular transition metal complexes. Crown ethers are the synthetic macrocycles par excellence for forming adducts with neutral and cationic complexes carrying protic ligands (NH 3 , H 2 O, CH 3 CN, etc.) in their first coordination spheres. Anionic complexes with electron‐rich first‐sphere ligands (e.g. CN ⊖ ) form adducts with polyammonium macrocyclic receptors. In both situations, hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions provide the dominant sources of supramolecular stabilization. Spectroscopic studies (UV, IR, and NMR) reveal that the structural integrity of the adducts is usually maintained in solution. The transition metal complexes can be organometallic as well as inorganic. In complexes supporting organic ligands, such as 1,5‐cyclooctadiene, norbornadiene, cyclopentadiene, 2,2′‐bipyridine, and trimethylphosphane, the opportunity exists to match their steric and electronic characteristics with appropriate binding sites in the molecular receptor. With these ligands, the weaker categories of non‐covalent bonding, e.g. charge transfer and van der Waals interactions, assume considerable importance. The phenomenon is also observable with naturally‐occurring receptors such as the cyclodextrins and polyether antibiotics. Moreover, it extends beyond the territory of transition metal complexes to main group complexes such as ammonia‐borane. As far as applications are concerned, it finds expression in areas as diverse as separation science and drug delivery systems.
Preparation of Dendritic Multisulfides and Their Assembly on Air/Water Interfaces and Gold Surfaces (2002)

Poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimers of generations 1−5 have been derivatized with dialkyl sulfide chains. On water, these dendrimers form stable LB films with densely packed alkyl chains pointing to the air and cores exposed to the aqueous solution. Self-assembly of the same dendrimers from solution onto a gold surface leads to a flattened orientation of the molecules on the surface, as shown by high contact angle hystereses, high electrochemical capacitances, and low charge transfer resistances. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data indicate that the formation of the flattened structure can be attributed to adsorption to the gold surface of not only part of the sulfide moieties in the alkyl chains, but also part of the tertiary amines in the core. The electrochemically determined surface coverages of ferrocene-modified dendritic wedges (with similar molecular structures as those of the dialkyl sulfide PPI dendrimers) confirm the proposed flattened, surface-spread dendritic structure. In contrast, LB films of the sulfide PPI dendrimers that were transferred onto gold appear to largely remain their original, densely packed state, as for these films smaller contact angle hystereses and higher charge transfer resistances are measured than those observed for the monolayers prepared by self-assembly from solution. Additionally, the electrochemical capacitances of the transferred LB films point to a layer thickness comparable to the thickness of a densely packed didecylsulfide monolayer. The results in this study demonstrate that different surface architectures can be prepared of the same compounds by solely varying the preparation procedure.
Impact of Membrane Voltage on Formation and Stability of Human Renal Proximal Tubules in Vitro (2022)

More than 15% of adults in the United States suffer from some form of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Current strategies for CKD consist of dialysis or kidney transplant, which, however, can take several years. In this light, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches are the key to improving people's living conditions by advancing previous tissue engineering approaches and seeking new targets as intervention methods for kidney repair or replacement. The membrane voltage (<i>V</i><sub>m</sub>) dynamics of a cell have been associated with cell migration, cell cycle progression, differentiation, and pattern formation. Furthermore, bioelectrical stimuli have been used as a means in the treatment of diseases and wound healing. Here, we investigated the role of <i>V</i><sub>m</sub> as a novel target to guide and manipulate <i>in vitro</i> renal tissue models. Human-immortalized renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTECs-TERT1) were cultured on Matrigel to support the formation of 3D proximal tubular-like structures with the incorporation of a voltage-sensitive dye indicator─bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid)timethine oxonol (DiBAC). The results demonstrated a correlation between the depolarization and the reorganization of human renal proximal tubule cells, indicating <i>V</i><sub>m</sub> as a candidate variable to control these events. Accordingly, <i>V</i><sub>m</sub> was pharmacologically manipulated using glibenclamide and pinacidil, K<sub>ATP</sub> channel modulators, and proximal tubule formation and tubule stability over 21 days were assessed. Chronic manipulation of K<sub>ATP</sub> channels induced changes in the tubular network topology without affecting lumen formation. Thus, a relationship was found between the preluminal tubulogenesis phase and K<sub>ATP</sub> channels. This relationship may provide future options as a control point during kidney tissue development, treatment, and regeneration goals.
Mitochondria Permeabilization by a Novel Polycation Peptide BTM-P1 (2005)

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. medellin is known to produce the Cry11Bb protein of 94 kDa, which is toxic for mosquito larvae due to permeabilization of the plasma membrane of midgut epithelial cells. Earlier we found that a 2.8-kDa novel peptide BTM-P1, which was artificially synthesized taking into account the primary structure of Cry11Bb endotoxin, is active against several species of bacteria. In this work we show that BTM-P1 induces cyclosporin A-insensitive swelling of rat liver mitochondria in various salt solutions but not in the sucrose medium. Inorganic phosphate and Ca(2+) significantly increased this effect of the peptide. The uncoupling action of BTM-P1 on oxidative phosphorylation was stronger in the potassium-containing media and correlated with a decrease of the inner membrane potential of mitochondria. In isotonic KNO(3), KCl, or NH(4)NO(3) media, a complete drop of the inner membrane potential was observed at 1-2 microg/ml of the peptide. The peptide-induced swelling was increased by energization of mitochondria in the potassium-containing media, but it was inhibited in the NaNO(3), NH(4)NO(3), and Tris-NO(3) media. All mitochondrial effects of the peptide were completely prevented by adding a single N-terminal tryptophan residue to the peptide sequence. We suggest a mechanism of membrane permeabilization that includes a transmembrane- and surface potential-dependent insertion of the polycation peptide into the lipid bilayer and its oligomerization leading to formation of ion channels and also to the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in a cyclosporin A-insensitive manner.
clusters with rare T symmetry and an S = 22 ground state (2007)

The amalgamation of azide ðN 3 � Þ and 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (hmpH) ligands in Mn cluster chemistry has been further investigated. The reactions of hmpH, NaN3 and Et3N with Mn(NO3)2 AE H2O or Mn(ClO4)2 AE 6H2O in MeCN/MeOH affords ½Mn II Mn III O4ðN3Þ 4 ðhmpÞ 12 � X2 ½X ¼ N 3 � ð1Þ; ClO 4 � ð2Þ� . The Mn10 cation has a tetra-face-capped octahedral topology. The central octahedron comprises six Mn 3+ ions, and the eight faces are bridged by four l3-N3 � ions and four l4-O 2� ions. The twelve bridging
A pilot study of the antiviral activity of anionic and cationic polyamidoamine dendrimers against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (2020)

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that causes infection with a potentially fatal outcome. Dendrimers are highly branched molecules that can be added to antiviral preparations to improve their delivery, as well as their intrinsic antiviral activity. Studies on identifying anti-MERS-CoV agents are few. Three types of polyanionic dendrimers comprising the terminal groups sodium carboxylate (generations 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5), hydroxyl (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5), and succinamic acid (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) and polycationic dendrimers containing primary amine (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) were used to assess their antiviral activity with the MERS-CoV plaque inhibition assay. The hydroxyl polyanionic set showed a 17.36% to 29.75% decrease in MERS-CoV plaque formation. The most potent inhibition of MERS-CoV plaque formation was seen by G(1.5)-16COONa (40.5% inhibition), followed by G(5)-128SA (39.77% inhibition). In contrast, the cationic dendrimers were cytotoxic to Vero cells. Polyanionic dendrimers can be added to antiviral preparations to improve the delivery of antivirals, as well as the intrinsic antiviral activity.
A Smart Controllable SMA-Based Tourniquet (2021)

Abstract Textile-based compression devices are widely used in fields such as healthcare, astronautics, cosmetics, defense, and more. While traditional compression garments are only able to apply passive pressure on the body, there have been some efforts to integrate smart materials such as shape memory alloys (SMAs) to make compression garments active and controllable. However, despite the advances in this field, accurate control of applied pressure on the body due remains a challenge due to vast population-scale anthropometric variability and intra-subjects variability in tissue softness, even if the actuators themselves are fully characterized. In this study, we begin to address these challenges by developing a novel size-adjustable SMA-based smart tourniquet capable of producing a controllable pressure for circumferential applications. The developed prototype was tested on an inflatable pressure cuff wrapped around a rigid cylinder. The thermal activation of SMA coils was achieved through Joule heating, and a microcontroller and a programmable power supply are used to provide the input signal. To control the compression force, a closed-loop PID controller was implemented, and the performance of the system was evaluated in 5 different testing conditions for variable and cyclic compression levels. The experiments showed that the controlled system could follow the desired control pressure reference with a steady-state of 1 mmHg. The compression tourniquet is able to produce more than 33 mmHg with an average actuation rate of 0.19 mmHg/s. This is the first demonstration of accurate closed-loop control of an SMA-incorporated compression technology to the best of our knowledge. This paper enables new, dynamic systems with controllable activation and low-effort donning and doffing, with applications ranging from healthcare solutions to advanced spacesuit design.
Strawberry extract causes endothelial dependent relaxation in rabbit aorta (2007)

Polyphenolic compounds are vasodilators and help to lower blood pressure. Strawberry is rich in polyphenolic compounds (1.15 mmol/gallic acid equivalents in 1 mg/ml crude solution). We hypothesized that a crude strawberry extract will cause endothelium dependent relaxation (EDR) in rings of rabbit aorta. The extract was prepared by freeze drying a homogenate of ripe California strawberry fruit. New Zealand White rabbits were sacrificed and the aorta harvested for measuring EDR. Aortic rings were suspended in organ baths containing oxygenated Krebs buffer at 37oC. EDR evoked by acetylcholine (Ac 10–5 M) and the strawberry extract (1mg/ml) was measured after pre‐contracting the rings with 10–5 M noradrenalin. We also tested the EDR evoked by strawberry in endothelium denuded tissues, tissue incubated with L‐NAME, Watmannin and LY294002 (PI3 kinase inhibitors).The percentage % relaxation (± SEM) caused by different treatments was: Ac (10 ‐5 M)= 64.2 ± 1.5; Strawberry extract (1 mg/ml) = 73.2 ± 1.5; L‐NAME (10–3 M) followed by Strawberry extract = 5.7 ± 1.4; Watmannin (10–4 M) followed by Strawberry extract = 3.0 ± 1.1; LY 294002 (10–4 M) followed by Strawberry extract = 19.0 ± 4.7. Denuding the rings of endothelium abolished the strawberry induced relaxation. Prior incubation of rings with L‐NAME also abolished the response. After abolition of EDR, sodium nitroprusside (10–5M) caused relaxation of the rings (85%). The mechanism for EDR evoked by strawberry is inhibited by PI3 kinase inhibitors. It is concluded that California strawberry extract potently stimulates vasorelaxation, the mechanism of relaxation is endothelium dependent; and, e‐NOS is activated through AKT dependent PI3 kinase pathway.
RAILROAD TUNNEL MODIFICATION AND REHABILITATION IN NORTH AMERICA --TUNNELLING 88. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 5TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM, TUNNELLING 88, ORGAINZED BY THE INSTITUTION OF MINING AND METALLURGY, WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE BRITISH TUNNELLING SOCIETY, THE INSTITUTION OF MINING ENGINEERS AND TRRL, LONDON, APRIL 18-21, 1988 (1988)

The majority of railway tunnels in use today in North America were constructed between 50 and 100 years ago; many of them are in excellent condition and have required minimal maintenance in this time. Where work has been carried out, it has been either for safety reasons, or for modifications required as a result of changes in usage or equipment. This paper describes the inspection and construction methods for the modification and rehabilitation of existing railway tunnels. Modification work has included the conversion of a single track railway freight tunnel into a double-track transit tunnel, and stripping of existing tunnels for improved clearance. Stabilization work has involved replacement of timber sets with steel sets, or rock bolts and shotcrete, and in one case, the daylighting of a tunnel after the collapse of one portal. Successful completion of this work requires understanding of the original construction methods and then planning the remedial programme to suit the particular conditions of the site. In the case of operational tunnels, the most important consideration is the need to cause minimal disruptions to traffic by using mobile, off-track equipment and carrying out small units of work.(a) for the covering abstract of the symposium see IRRD 812521.
Long-term potentiation and dual-component quantal signaling in the dentate gyrus (1998)

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory transmission is an important candidate cellular mechanism for the storage of memories in the mammalian brain. The subcellular phenomena that underlie the persistent increase in synaptic strength, however, are incompletely understood. A potentially powerful method to detect a presynaptic increase in glutamate release is to examine the effect of LTP induction on the rate at which the use-dependent blocker MK-801 attenuates successive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic signals. This method, however, has given apparently contradictory results when applied in hippocampal CA1. The inconsistency could be explained if NMDA receptors were opened by glutamate not only released from local presynaptic terminals, but also diffusing from synapses on neighboring cells where LTP was not induced. Here we examine the effect of pairing-induced LTP on the MK-801 blocking rate in two afferent inputs to dentate granule cells. LTP in the medial perforant path is associated with a significant increase in the MK-801 blocking rate, implying a presynaptic increase in glutamate release probability. An enhanced MK-801 blocking rate is not seen, however, in the lateral perforant path. This result still could be compatible with a presynaptic contribution to LTP in the lateral perforant path if intersynaptic cross-talk occurred. In support of this hypothesis, we show that NMDA receptors consistently sense more quanta of glutamate than do alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors. In the medial perforant path, in contrast, there is no significant difference in the number of quanta mediated by the two receptors. These results support a presynaptic contribution to LTP and imply that differences in intersynaptic cross-talk can complicate the interpretation of experiments designed to detect changes in transmitter release.
Einfluss der unmittelbaren Wettkampfvorbereitung auf echokardiographische Parameter der kardialen Morphe und Funktion bei Nachwuchsruderern (2017)

Diese Dissertation berichtet über das belastungsinduzierte kardiale Remodelling (BIKR) bei adoleszenten Eliteruderern sowie über die echokardiographischen Veränderungen der kardialen Morphe und Funktion innerhalb eines 30-tägigen hochintensiven Trainingslagers zur Vorbereitung auf die U19 Weltmeisterschaft 2014. Das Studienkollektiv bestand aus den 52 Ruderern der Jugendrudernationalmannschaft (17,7 ± 0,6 Jahre, 28 Männer, 24 Frauen), welche zu Beginn (PRE) und am Ende (POST) des Trainingslagers im Rahmen der klinischen Routinediagnostik zur Beurteilung der Sporttauglichkeit echokardiographisch untersucht wurden. Anhand der Querschnittsanalyse der PRE-Daten konnte gezeigt werden, dass bereits bei jugendlichen Ruderern ein BIKR vorliegen kann, wobei sich große interindividuelle Schwankungen fanden. Im Mittel wiesen die Ruderer eine leichte links- bzw. rechtsatriale Vergrößerung, eine leichte linksventrikuläre Hypertrophie und Dilatation sowie eine Vergrößerung des rechten Ventrikels im Vergleich zur Normalbevölkerung auf. Die diastolischen und systolischen Funktionsparameter lagen dabei im normalen bis hochnormalen Bereich. Die meisten Parameter der kardialen Morphe zeigten nach Indizierung auf die Körperoberfläche keinen signifikanten zwischengeschlechtlichen Unterschied mehr. In der Längsschnittanalyse der Daten aus PRE und POST konnten ebenfalls große interindividuelle Unterschiede bei den prozentualen Veränderungen der Messwerte festgestellt werden. Im Mittel zeigten sich bei den Frauen keine Veränderungen im Laufe des Trainingslagers, während es bei den männlichen Athleten im Mittel zu einer leichten (ca. 10 - 20 %) Vergrößerung aller einzelnen Herzhöhlen sowie des totalen Herzvolumens kam. Bei beiden Geschlechtern korrelierten die prozentualen Veränderungen der Herzparameter, mit Ausnahme des links- und rechtsatrialen Volumenindexes und des linksatrialen Flächenindexes, deutlich negativ mit dem Ausmaß des präexistenten BIKRs. Zusammenfassend ergab die Analyse unserer Daten, dass ein BIKR bei jugendlichen Ruderern beiderlei Geschlechts vorhanden sein kann. Die relativ kurze, intensive Trainingsperiode stellt einen adäquaten Reiz dar, um das BIKR weiter zu verstärken, wobei das Ausmaß des weiteren BIKR während des Trainingslagers sowohl bei den weiblichen als auch bei den männlichen Athleten abhängig von der individuellen Ausprägung des vorbestehenden BIKR war. Schlussfolgernd sollten die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit nach kurzem hochintensiven Training in weiteren Studien an Sportlern unterschiedlichen Alters und unterschiedlicher Sportdisziplinen bestätigt werden, um weitere Einblicke in den Zeitverlauf des belastungsinduzierten kardialen Remodellings zu bekommen.
Electroluminescence of β-FeSi2 Light Emitting Devices (2001)

Ion beam synthesised β-FeSi 2 light emitting devices have been fabricated by ion implantation of iron into pre-grown abrupt silicon p–n junctions. Several samples were fabricated by varying the implant conditions and the junction characteristics (layer thickness and doping concentration). Light emission at ∼1.5 µm was obtained from all devices but the intensity decreased with increasing temperature. The electroluminescence quenching was found to depend on both the iron implant conditions and the characteristics of the p–n junction.