gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Influence of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-α on <i>in vitro</i> maturation of cumulus cell-enclosed bovine oocytes in a defined medium (1994)

This study was carried out to determine the effects of growth factors (epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factors-alpha and -beta 1, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin), gonadotrophins (LH, FSH), and fetal bovine serum added to TCM199 medium on cumulus expansion and fertilization during in vitro maturation, and on subsequent embryonic development of bovine cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes. Epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, LH and FSH enhanced cumulus expansion and oocyte fertilizability. No significant effect was achieved with transforming growth factor-beta 1 nor with basic fibroblast growth factor. No additive stimulation on cumulus expansion and oocyte fertilizability was observed when epidermal growth factor was combined with LH or FSH. The addition of either epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor-alpha to the maturation medium increased the number of fertilized ova that developed to the blastocyst stage. These results demonstrate the potential use of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha in obtaining high quality mature bovine oocytes for in vitro fertilization.
Comparative Analysis of Discharge Modes of Liquid Effluent from an Inland Riverfront Nuclear Power Plant (2015)

The environmental impact of liquid effluent discharge is one of the important problems to be focused on regarding the construction of inland nuclear power plants. In this paper,with respect to three modes of effluent discharge from a typical inland riverfront nuclear power plant, i.e., multiport-diffuser discharge, submerged single port discharge and surface discharge,the comparative analysis and optimization calculation of the environmental impacts of the effluent discharges were performed by using three main modules(CORMIX1/2/3) of the CORMIX. The result of the study showed that given the unique screening condition as area of the relative dilution ratio S=20 contour envelope,the first priority of the three kinds of discharge modes was multiport-diffuser discharge,then submerged single port discharge;while surface discharge was undesirable. The results will provide the reference for optimization design and screening of effluents discharge mode for inland nuclear power plants.
Mitochondrial DNA and Disease (1997)

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of disorders characterized by morphological or functional defects of the mitochondria, the organelles producing most of our cellular energy. As the only extranuclear site carrying genetic information, the mitochondria add an important chapter into the inheritance patterns of genetic diseases. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is exclusively maternally inherited in humans, but a mitochondrial disorder may follow either maternal or Mendelian inheritance, depending on the site of the primary gene defect. After the initial finding of mtDNA mutations in rare ocular myopathies in 1988, an explosion in the amount of information on mitochondrial diseases has occurred. Because the mitochondria produce energy in all the tissues, symptoms resulting from mtDNA mutations may originate from any organ system, and the clinical spectrum of mitochondrial diseases has expanded to virtually all branches of medicine. Subgroups of several common diseases, such as diabetes, deafness and inherited cardiomyopathies, have been found to be caused by mtDNA mutations, and some mtDNA defects have been suggested to modify the outcome of diseases primarily caused by other factors, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. Although no breakthroughs in the therapeutic trials on the devastating mitochondrial diseases have so far been achieved, detection of mtDNA mutations offers an accurate diagnosis and is a prerequisite for genetic counselling, being now accessible to most clinicians.
Role of Cytokine Signaling Molecules in Erythroid Differentiation of Mouse Fetal Liver Hematopoietic Cells: Functional Analysis of Signaling Molecules by Retrovirus-Mediated Expression (1999)

Erythropoietin (EPO) and its cell surface receptor (EPOR) play a central role in proliferation, differentiation, and survival of erythroid progenitors. Signals induced by EPO have been studied extensively by using erythroid as well as nonerythroid cell lines, and various controversial results have been reported as to the role of signaling molecules in erythroid differentiation. Here we describe a novel approach to analyze the EPO signaling by using primary mouse fetal liver hematopoietic cells to avoid possible artifacts due to established cell lines. Our strategy is based on high-titer retrovirus vectors with a bicistronic expression system consisting of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). By placing the cDNA for a signaling molecule in front of IRES-GFP, virus-infected cells can be viably sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorter, and the effect of expression of the signaling molecule can be assessed. By using this system, expression of cell-survival genes such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL was found to enhance erythroid colony formation from colony-forming unit–erythroid (CFU-E) in response to EPO. However, their expression was not sufficient for erythroid colony formation from CFU-E alone, indicating that EPO induces signals for erythroid differentiation. To examine the role of EPOR tyrosine residues in erythroid differentiation, we introduced a chimeric EGFR-EPOR receptor, which has the extracellular domain of the EGF receptor and the intracellular domain of the EPOR, as well as a mutant EGFR-EPOR in which all the cytoplasmic tyrosine residues are replaced with phenylalanine, and found that tyrosine residues of EPOR are essential for erythroid colony formation from CFU-E. We further analyzed the function of the downstream signaling molecules by expressing modified signaling molecules and found that both JAK2/STAT5 and Ras, two major signaling pathways activated by EPOR, are involved in full erythroid differentiation.
Molecular Doping Enhances Photoconductivity in Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells (2013)

Addition of low concentrations (<1:100, dopant:donor) of a fluorinated p-type dopant, F4-TCNQ leads to a considerable enhancement of the photocurrent in PCDTBT:PC70 BM bulk heterojunction solar cells. As a result, the power conversion efficiency increases from 6.41% to 7.94 %.
The Quorum Sensing Volatile Molecule 2-Amino Acetophenon Modulates Host Immune Responses in a Manner that Promotes Life with Unwanted Guests (2012)

Increasing evidence indicates that bacterial quorum sensing (QS) signals are important mediators of immunomodulation. However, whether microbes utilize these immunomodulatory signals to maintain infection remain unclear. Here, we show that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa QS-regulated molecule 2-amino acetophenone (2-AA) modulates host immune responses in a manner that increases host ability to cope with this pathogen. Mice treated with 2-AA prior to infection had a 90% survival compared to 10% survival rate observed in the non-pretreated infected mice. Whilst 2-AA stimulation activates key innate immune response pathways involving mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, it attenuates immune response activation upon pretreatment, most likely by upregulating anti-inflammatory cytokines. 2-AA host pretreatment is characterized by a transcriptionally regulated block of c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB activation, with relatively preserved activation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. These kinase changes lead to CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β (c/EBPβ) activation and formation of the c/EBPβ-p65 complex that prevents NF-κB activation. 2-AA's aptitude for dampening the inflammatory processes while increasing host survival and pathogen persistence concurs with its ability to signal bacteria to switch to a chronic infection mode. Our results reveal a QS immunomodulatory signal that promotes original aspects of interkingdom communication. We propose that this communication facilitates pathogen persistence, while enabling host tolerance to infection.
Conformationally Rigid Peptides as Models for Selective Herbicides (1987)

Synthetic peptide analogs derived from the phytotoxin tentoxin, have been examined for their phototoxicity and herbicidal potential to a variety of plants and agronomically significant weeds. Structurally modified analogs included both cyclic and acyclic derivatives. Acyclic tripeptides were modified from the synthetic intermediate tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Leucyl-N(methyl) dehydrophenylalanyl-glycine methyl ester. Modifications at the leucine side chain and dehydrophenylalanine nitrogen were introduced by substituting different alkyl groups. Selective alkylation at the amide bond nitrogen of dehydrophenylalanine provided analogs which showed herbicidal potential. The cyclic peptides induced chlorosis in both barnyardgrass and morningglory. The tripeptide analog tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Valyl-N(ethyl) dehydrophenylalanyl-glycine methyl ester exhibited root growth inhibition in barnyardgrass and inhibited bolting in mustard seed. Similar analogs containing an N-ethylated amide nitrogen and dehydrophenylalanine exhibited some growth regulating activity in wheat coleoptiles. The effects of stereochemical and rigid conformation on biological activity are discussed.
Novel bifunctional polymer with reactivity and temperature sensitivity (2000)

To introduce reactive groups into temperature-responsive polymeric chains of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm), IPAAm is copolymerized with other monomer such as acrylic acid (AAc). IPAAm homopolymer exhibited temperature-responsive properties and phase transition at 32 degrees C, however, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the IPAAm-AAc copolymer shifts to a higher temperature and the phase transition becomes insensitive with increasing AAc content. To achieve a useful bifunctional copolymer containing both reactivity and temperature-sensitivity, we assumed that the homopolymer-like structure in the polymer chain would be required to maintain a sensitive temperature response with functional groups. Therefore, we designed a reactive monomer, 2-carboxyisopropylacrylamide (CIPAAm), and investigated its copolymerization with IPAAm. The important characteristic of the poly(IPAAm-co-CIPAAm) structure is that it was composed of the same polymer backbone and isopropylamide groups and some additional carboxyl groups. The transmittance measurement of the polymer aqueous solution revealed that phase transition of IPAAm-co-CIPAAm random copolymer occurred within a very narrow temperature range in pH 6.4, 7.4, and also even 9.0 phosphate buffered solution. These profiles were almost same as that of IPAAm homopolymer. While, under the same conditions, phase transition properties of poly(IPAAm-co-AAc)s solution were considerably influenced by small AAc content. We succeeded with the preparation of bifunctional polymer that possessed reactive functional groups and very sensitive response to temperature change.
Preparation and characterization of hyaluronan/chitosan scaffold cross‐ linked by 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (2007)

Abstract A novel biocompatible scaffold was prepared by cross‐linking hyaluronan (HA) and chitosan (CS). The carboxyl groups of HA were activated by 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and then cross‐linked with amino groups of CS by forming amide bonds. The HA/CS scaffold thus prepared was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry. FTIR spectra showed that the absorbance of the amide (1550 cm −1 ) and carbonyl (1633 cm −1 ) bond in the cross‐linked scaffold was stronger than that in HA or CS. SEM micrographs showed that the cross‐linked scaffold produced at low EDC concentration had an intertwisted ribbon‐like microstructure, while the product prepared at higher EDC concentration had a porous structure. The concentration of EDC in the reaction system greatly affected the structure and properties of the HA/CS scaffold. The prepared scaffold could strongly resist degradation by hyaluronidase, free radicals in vitro and stress. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
A Novel 6LoWPAN-ND Extension to Enhance Privacy in IEEE 802.15.4 Networks (2016)

With the increasing use of Wireless Sensor Networks, the privacy of the user is of main concern. The sensors maintain a layer 2 address that lasts for the node lifetime. As a consequence, an eavesdropper can easy trace the user and his activities, even in case the nodes send ciphered traffic.We propose a 6LoWPAN-ND extension to improve privacy and overcome the traceability of the user. With our method all the nodes change periodically all their addresses, both at layer 2 and 3. The method requires a small overhead and leverages on existing 6LoWPAN messages. The security is analyzed to show the effectiveness of our work and its energy requirements.
Early Fatigue Damage Detection in Composite Materials (1975)

Detection of early fatigue damage in composite materials by nondestructive inspection (NDI) techniques has been demonstrated for ±45° Glass/Epoxy, and ±45°/0° Graphite/Glass/Epoxy. Dynamic axial modulus and temperature were monitored continuously with a correlation between temperature rise and modulus decrease observed. The modulus decrease and temperature rise are indicative of irreversible damage in these materials. Torsional modulus measurements and coin tap tests were performed at 0, 10 6 , 5 × 10 6 , and 10 7 cycles, on all fatigue specimens. Other NDI procedures including holographic interferometry, ultrasonics, penetrant, and X-Ray radiography were performed on two specimens of each material to evaluate their effectiveness in detecting fatigue damage. Ultrasonics and holography proved to be effective; however, at this time, no clear quantitative correlation beween structural properties and NDI measurements has been determined.
Management der lebensbedrohlichen Bronchialobstruktion (2011)

Bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis (COPD) are two frequent disorders. They may be complicated by potentially life threatening exacerbations. This article reviews the management of these two conditions.
<p>Epidemiology Of Vestibular Schwannomas – Prospective 40-Year Data From An Unselected National Cohort</p> (2019)

Over the past 40 years, the incidence rate of vestibular schwannomas has increased steadily from 3 VS/million/year to 34 VS/million/year, primarily due to easier access to improved diagnostics and the finding of more tumors in older people. Concurrently, the diagnostic tumor size has decreased from 26mm to 7mm, and the age at diagnosis has increased from 49 to 60 years.
Purification and Characterization of a Substrate Protein for Mitochondrial ATP-Dependent Protease in Bovine Adrenal Cortex (1994)

We have purified SP-22, a substrate protein for mitochondrial ATP-dependent protease in bovine adrenal cortex. Native SP-22 showed an M(r) of 350,000 +/- 20,000, and was composed of more than 10 molecules of an M(r) 21,600 subunit. Subcellular and submitochondrial fractionation of adrenocortical tissues revealed that SP-22 was localized in the mitochondrial matrix, suggesting that SP-22 is a natural substrate for ATP-dependent protease, a matrix enzyme. The concentration of SP-22 in adrenocortical mitochondrial fractions was 16 +/- 3 micrograms/mg proteins (mean +/- SD, n = 6) as determined by radioimmunoassay using specific anti-SP-22 antibody. Adrenal cortex showed the highest concentration among the 15 bovine tissues tested, followed by liver, renal cortex, adrenal medulla, heart, and renal medulla. We determined the amino acid sequence of SP-22, which is composed of 195 amino acids. Amino acid 47 was not identified by the sequencer. FAB-mass spectrometry of AA47-AA55 fragment revealed that AA47 was cysteine-sulfinic acid (Cys-SO2H). By a homology search in the NBRF-PIR data base, SP-22 was found to be 91% homologous to murine erythroleukemia cell MER-5 protein, which may have an important role in the induction of differentiation. SP-22 was also homologous to the C22 component of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase in Salmonella typhimurium, thiol-specific antioxidant in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and some other proteins. Since a segment around AA47 was highly conserved, this residue may be important for the biochemical functions of SP-22.
Architecture Of A Identity Based Firewall System (2011)

Classic firewall systems are built to filter traffic based on IP addresses, source and destination ports and protocol types. The modern networks have grown to a level where the possibility for users' mobility is a must. In such networks, modern firewalls may introduce such complexity where administration can become very frustrating since it needs the intervention of a firewall administrator. The solution for this problem is an identity based firewall system. In this paper we will present a new design of a firewall system that uses the user's identity to filter the traffic. In the design phase we will define key points which have to be satisfied as a crucial milestone for the functioning of the whole Identity based firewall system.
Expression and regulation of parathyroid hormone-related peptide in normal and malignant melanocytes (2000)

We examined parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) production and regulation in both normal human melanocytes and in a human amelanotic melanoma cell line (A375). Northern blot and immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that both cultured A375 cells and normal human melanocytes express PTHrP, but A375 cells expressed much higher levels of the peptide. PTHrP secretory rate increased at least 10-fold after treatment with 10% fetal bovine serum (100.2 +/- 2.8 pmol/10(6) cells vs. basal <15 pmol/10(6) cells) in proliferating A375 cells but only twofold in confluent cells. Treatment of A375 cells with increasing concentrations of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)] or its low-calcemic analog EB-1089 revealed that EB-1089 was 10-fold more potent than 1, 25-(OH)(2)D(3) on inhibition of both cell proliferation and PTHrP expression. Furthermore, inoculation of A375 cells into the mammary fat pad of female severe combined immunodeficiency mice resulted in the development of hypercalcemia and elevated concentrations of plasma immunoreactive PTHrP in the absence of detectable skeletal metastases. Our study, therefore, demonstrates a stepwise increase in PTHrP expression when cells progress from normal to malignant phenotype and suggests that EB-1089 should be further evaluated as a therapeutic agent in human melanoma.
Development of an ion trap / linear time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization for micro‐column liquid chromatography detection (1995)

Abstract A linear time‐of‐flight (TOF) mass spectrometer equipped with a quadrupole ion trap for ion storage was developed for mass analysis of ions generated by electrospray ionization (ESI). With this technique, the continuous ion beam from the ESI source is collimated by a set of focusing lenses into the ion trap where the ions are accumulated for a predetermined period of time. Extraction of the ions into the flight tube of the TOF mass spectrometer is achieved by applying a short duration voltage pulse to the exit endcap of the ion trap. The extraction frequency is variable, but is typically set at 10 Hz. It was shown that with a linear TOF mass spectrometer, mass resolution in the range of 600–950 can be routinely obtained. It was also demonstrated that a complete mass spectrum of bradykinin can be obtained with a direct injection of 75 fmol, or 0.5 μL of 150 nM of sample solution. Buffer gas pressure and the energy of the ions entering the ion trap, were found to be the key parameters in obtaining this sensitivity and resolution. In addition, the ESI ion trap/TOF system was developed and applied for microcolumn liquid chromatography detection of a simple protein mixture. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cre recombinase-mediated inversion using lox66 and lox71: method to introduce conditional point mutations into the CREB-binding protein (2002)

CREB-binding protein (CBP) is a multifunctional cofactor implicated in many intracellular signal transduction pathways. We aimed to investigate the involvement of CBP in the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-mediated pathway. The point mutation Tyr658Ala in the CREB-binding domain (CBD) was shown to abolish the binding activity of CBP to phospho-CREB, the activated form of CREB. By using a mutant Cre/loxP recombination system, this point mutation was aimed to be generated in the mouse genome in a tissue- and time-specific manner. A targeting construct in which CBD exon 5 and inverted exon 5* containing the point mutation flanked by two mutant loxP sites (lox66 and lox71) oriented in a head-to-head position was generated. When Cre recombinase is present, the DNA flanked by the two mutant loxP sites is inverted, forming one loxP and one double mutated loxP site. As the double mutated loxP site shows low affinity for Cre recombinase, the favorable reaction leads to a product where the mutated exon 5* is placed into the position to be correctly transcribed and spliced. Inversion was observed to be complete in both bacteria and mouse embryonic stem cells. Our results indicate that this Cre- mediated inversion method is a valuable tool to introduce point mutations in the mouse genome in a regulatable manner.
In Vivo Analysis of Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling Domains and Their Associated Transcripts (2004)

The growth hormone receptor (GHR) is a critical regulator of postnatal growth and metabolism. However, the GHR signaling domains and pathways that regulate these processes in vivo are not defined. We report the first knock-in mouse models with deletions of specific domains of the receptor that are required for its in vivo actions. Mice expressing truncations at residue m569 (plus Y539/545-F) and at residue m391 displayed a progressive impairment of postnatal growth with receptor truncation. Moreover, after 4 months of age, marked male obesity was observed in both mutant 569 and mutant 391 and was associated with hyperglycemia. Both mutants activated hepatic JAK2 and ERK2, whereas STAT5 phosphorylation was substantially decreased for mutant 569 and absent from mutant 391, correlating with loss of IGF-1 expression and reduction in growth. Microarray analysis of these and GHR(-/-) mice demonstrated that particular signaling domains are responsible for the regulation of different target genes and revealed novel actions of growth hormone. These mice represent the first step in delineating the domains of the GHR regulating body growth and composition and the transcripts associated with these domains.
Conservation of Binding Epitopes for Monoclonal Antibodies on the Rabies Virus Glycoprotein (2013)

This study aims to determine the effect of Kaletra on functional and metabolic health in older mice with pre-existing over-weighted. Selected experiments were conducted in young mice for comparison. This research complied with the NIH guidelines on laboratory animal care and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) of Boston University approved the protocol. Mice of two age groups were used. The older ones were at 20 month and over-weighted (~30% body fat mass at baseline) and the younger ones were at 6 month (15% body fat). Both were given a high fat food of 30% fat calorie. Detailed methods on diet, drug administration, and serum drug measurement, functional and molecular measurements are presented in the supplemental information section.