gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Dioxin-like contaminants are no longer a risk to the American eel (<i>Anguilla rostrata</i>) in Lake Ontario (2017)

The embryotoxicity of extracts of American eels (Anguilla rostrata) was measured to determine whether maternally derived contaminants contribute to the declining recruitment of eels to Lake Ontario. Sexually maturing, large yellow and silver eels were sampled in 2007 and 2008 from 5 locations in eastern Canada, including Lake Ontario; positive controls included eels from the Hudson River, United States, and Canal Dessel-Schoten, Belgium (European eel, Anguilla anguilla). Japanese medaka eggs were injected immediately after fertilization with 1 or 10 nL of eel extract and, after 12 d, scored for signs of toxicity. Eel extracts did not cause dioxin-like embryotoxicity, reflecting the low concentrations of total dioxin equivalents measured chemically in these same extracts. Embryo mortality and reduced hatching success at high doses of eel extracts may reflect the bioaccumulation of legacy or emerging chemicals of concern. The results were consistent with long-term trends of declining concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in tissues of eels and other fish species from Lake Ontario, trends of declining embryotoxicity of eel tissue extracts, and recent increases of recruitment of juvenile eels to Lake Ontario. If dioxin-like compounds contributed in the past to the decline of recruitment and abundance of American eels in Lake Ontario, these data suggest that recruitment should recover, following the same trends as the recovery of lake trout reproduction in Lake Ontario. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1061-1070. © 2017 SETAC.
Design of Double-Deck Household Vertical-Axis Wind Generator (2011)

Wind power has been recognized as one of the important green energy resources in Taiwan. However, installing large-capacity wind generators needs to meet many environmental regulations, limiting the penetration of wind power to households/communities. In this paper, the design of a novel double-deck vertical-axis wind generator for households is presented, hoping “many a little makes a mickle” and making better use of green energy to reduce carbon emission. The proposed wind generator is an axial-flux permanent-magnet (PM) synchronous generator, which design is different from other existing wind generators in several aspects: (1) double decks for double wind turbines vs. single turbine, (2) silicon-steel-lamination-cored vs. air-cored for armature coils, and (3) axial-flux PM generator vs. conventional PM generator. The performance of the proposed design is simulated with the aid of a finite element software package. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation. The prototype of the proposed wind generator is also compared with a commercial mini wind generator on the market. The proposed wind generator produces satisfactory results.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine DangguiBuxue Tang Sensitizes Colorectal Cancer Cells to Chemoradiotherapy (2016)

Chemotherapy is an important treatment modality for colon cancer, and concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) is the preferred treatment route for patients with stage II and III rectal cancer. We examined whether DangguiBuxue Tang (DBT), a traditional Chinese herbal extract, sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to anticancer treatments. The polysaccharide-depleted fraction of DBT (DBT-PD) contains greater amounts of astragaloside IV (312.626 µg/g) and ferulic acid (1.404 µg/g) than does the original formula. Treatment of the murine colon carcinoma cell line (CT26) with DBT-PD inhibits growth, whereas treatment with comparable amounts of purified astragaloside IV and ferulic acid showed no significant effect. Concurrent treatment with DBT-PD increases the growth inhibitory effect of 5-fluorouracil up to 4.39-fold. DBT-PD enhances the effect of radiation therapy (RT) with a sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of up to 1.3. It also increases the therapeutic effect of CCRT on CT26 cells. Cells treated with DBP-PD showed ultrastructural changes characteristic of autophagy, including multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles with double-layered membranes, vacuoles containing remnants of degraded organelles, marked swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria, and autolysosome-like vacuoles. We conclude that DBT-PD induces autophagy-associated cell death in CT26 cells, and may have potential as a chemotherapy or radiotherapy sensitizer in colorectal cancer treatment.
Linear magnetohydrodynamic waves in a finely stratified plasma (2000)

In a number of astrophysical systems, the magnetic field, instead of varying over a scale comparable with the ``natural'' scale of the object (e.g., tens of thousands of kilometers in the case of the solar convective zone), varies over lengths that are orders of magnitude less than this (e.g., over distances down to 100 km in the case of the magnetic filaments detected in the upper part of the solar convective zone and probably present in much deeper layers). Therefore, the study of the propagation of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in plasmas with fine magnetic nonuniformities is of considerable general importance for astrophysics. We have developed a general formalism that allows one to treat the propagation of large-scale MHD waves in a finely stratified medium. We demonstrate that the presence of a fine structure of the plasma may produce considerable modifications of the modes existing in a uniform plasma, with a number of propagation modes that may even increase. We also show that the slow MHD mode may experience a collisionless damping, which causes the wave energy to be converted into the energy of the peristaltic modes of the plasma ``resonant'' layers.
Dynamic Model for the Accumulation of Cadmium and Zinc from Water and Sediment by the Aquatic Oligochaete,<i>Tubifex tubifex</i> (2004)

In aquatic environments, organisms are exposed to and accumulate metals via waterborne and dietary routes including ingested sediment. A key element in understanding metal uptake and accumulation is information concerning the relative importance of the routes of uptake and the kinetics of the processes. In this work the bioaccumulation of the essential element zinc and the nonessential element cadmium were studied from the aqueous and sediment phase, in the cosmopolitan oligochaete Tubifex tubifex, using the radiotracers 109Cd and 65Zn. A compartmental kinetic model was constructed and parametrized by fitting the model to metal body concentrations. Using the pharmacokinetic modeling approach and taking into account the distribution of the metal between water and sediment, the different routes were quantitatively separated. Under the experimental conditions, the sediment phase accounted for 9.8% of the cadmium and 52% of the zinc uptake. These values are based on the uptake of the radiotracers spiked sediments and therefore likely represent maximal values since it was shown that under the specific conditions this was the most mobile metal fraction. This difference was largely explained by the large difference in assimilation efficiency between cadmium and zinc. Simulations of different conditions showed that both dissolved and sediment-associated metal can be important sources of metal exposure for the worms and that the relative importance strongly depends on the metal and exposure conditions including the lability of the metals in the sediment phase.
CD4+ T Cells Specific for C. difficile Toxins are a Marker of Patients with Active Relapsing Disease (2017)

Abstract Background The bacterial pathogen Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea. Although C. difficile infection (CDI) can be treated with antibiotics, approximately 25% of patients relapse after treatment. The pathogenicity of CDI requires the activities of its toxins, TcdA and TcdB, but T cell-mediated responses to these toxins remain uncharacterized. Methods We enrolled two cohorts of patients, one with newly acquired CDI (n = 14) and the other with relapsing CDI (n = 25); and healthy volunteers with no history of CDI (n = 12). We measured peripheral blood CD4+ T cell responses to the toxins using a whole blood flow cytometry assay that identifies antigen-specific CD4+ T cells by co-expression of CD25 and OX40 following 44h incubation with antigen (Fig 1). Results We found that in patients with recurring CDI, T cell responses to TcdB were significantly higher than in healthy controls (median 1.04% vs. 0.18%; P = 0.003, Fig 2). In contrast, TcdA T cell responses and anti-TcdA/TcdB IgG titres were not different between recurring patients and controls. TcdB, but not TcdA, T cell responses were significantly higher in recurring CDI compared with newly acquired CDI (median 1.04% vs. 0.44%; P = 0.032). In both patient cohorts TcdB-specific CD4+ T cells were functionally heterogeneous, on average: 25% expressed the gut homing marker integrin β7; there was a 1:1 ratio of Tregs to T effectors; and T effectors contained Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells at a 1.5:1:3 ratio. The proportion of Th1 and Th17 cells within TcdB-specific CD4+ T cells was also significantly reduced in recurring, compared with newly acquired, CDI (Fig 3). Analysis of sorted TcdB-specific CD25+OX40+ cells confirmed specificity for TcdB and polarization towards Th17 cells, which are important for intestinal anti-pathogen immunity. Conclusion This is the first investigation of T cell immunity to C. difficile toxins. Our data show that anti-TcdB CD4+ T cell responses are a more specific marker of disease than IgG titres. Tracking how toxin-specific CD4+ T cell responses change following treatment and/or vaccination not only has the potential to predict relapse, but also to deliver insight into how CD4+ T cell memory develops in response to this prevalent pathogen. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.
Combination Therapy with Pulse Cyclophosphamide plus Pulse Methylprednisolone Improves Long-Term Renal Outcome without Adding Toxicity in Patients with Lupus Nephritis (2001)

With extended follow-up, pulse cyclophosphamide continued to show superior efficacy over pulse methylprednisolone alone for treatment of lupus nephritis. The combination of pulse cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone appears to provide additional benefit over pulse cyclophosphamide alone and does not confer additional risk for adverse events.
Age-dependent Responses to Nerve Injury– induced Mechanical Allodynia (2006)

These data suggest that resolution of sensitization to A-fiber input occurs more rapidly in young animals. In addition, distal injury has less of a sensitizing effect on A-fiber input than proximal injury in the younger animals. The authors speculate that neuroimmune responses, especially at the site of injury, are developmentally regulated and less likely to produce chronic pain when injury occurs at a young age.
Soft Error Improvement in MOS RAM's by the Use of Epitaxial Substrate (1981)

The soft error improvement is discussed for 64 K-bit dynamic MOS RAM with epitaxial substrate, compared with the normal substrates with uniform resistivity. The total charge collected along α particle track is calculated with simplified model. The collection efficiencies which are obtained by comparing the total collected charges for various substrates are well related to the measured soft error rates. The results show that the use of epitaxial substrate for 64 K-bit dynamic MOS RAM is very effective to reduce soft errors due to α particles from radio-active elements.
Neutrale, kationische und anionische, an eine Calix[4]aren-Oxo-Oberfläche gebundene Wolframalkylderivate (1999)

Die chemisch reversible Reduktion von [(Me)2W(calix)] zum diamagnetischen [(Me)2W(calix)Na2] [Gl. (1)] ohne größere Änderungen der Konnektivität des Moleküls verdeutlicht die Flexibilität des Calixarenliganden und betont dessen Potential als molekulares funktionelles Modell für heterogene Oxo-Oberflächen.
Structure of a Histidine-X4-Histidine Zinc Finger Domain: Insights into ADR1-UAS1 Protein-DNA Recognition (1994)

The solution structure for a mutant zinc finger peptide based on the sequence of the C-terminal ADR1 finger has been determined by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The mutant peptide, called PAPA, has both proline residues from the wild-type sequence replaced with alanines. A nonessential cysteine was also replaced with alanine. The behavior of PAPA in solution implicates the prolines in the conformational heterogeneity reported earlier for the wild-type peptide [Xu, R. X., Horvath, S. J., & Klevit, R. E. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 3365-3371]. The solution structure of PAPA reveals several interesting features of the zinc finger motif. The residue immediately following the second cysteine ligand adopts a positive phi angle, which we propose is a common feature of this class of zinc fingers, regardless of whether this residue is a glycine. The NMR spectrum and resulting solution structure of PAPA suggest that a side-chain to side-chain hydrogen bond involving an arginine and an aspartic acid analogous to one observed in the Zif268 protein-DNA cocrystal structure exists in solution in the absence of DNA [Pavletich, N. P., & Pabo, C. O. (1991) Science 252, 809-817]. A model for the interaction between the two ADR1 zinc fingers and their DNA binding sites was built by superpositioning the refined solution structures of PAPA and ADR1b onto the Zif268 structure. This model offers structural explanations for a variety of mutations to the ADR1 zinc finger domains that have been shown to affect DNA-binding affinity or specificity.
HUMAN SKELETAL MUSCLE-DERIVED STEM CELLS FOR MYOCAR-DIAL REGENERATION (2004)

Skeletal muscular derived stem cells(SkmSC) may hold the potential for cellular cardiomyoplasty: however, most of the studies have been performed in animals and the phenotypic properties of human SkmSC are still not clearly defined. Brachioradialis muscle specimens(150 mg) were harvested from patients undergoing coronary surgery with the radial artery. The tissue samples were digested with trypsine and the resulting cells were cultured in collagen coated flasks in presence of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor and in absence of fetal calf serum. Afterwards, induction of cell differentiation was obtained by addition of fetal calf serum, ECF, bFCF and PDCF. After muscular samples dissociation, the cells adhering to the flasks showed the typical spindle morphology of satellite cells; additionally, we observed an increasing number of rounded floating cells(stem-like morphology) that could be maintained in vitro for more than six months. Once differentiation was induced, immunohystochemistry revealed that both the spindle and rounded cells were positive to muscular markers(striatum muscle actine, desmin). Moreover, we also obtained differentiated cells showing a neurogenic lineage phenotype(CFAP, Nestin). In conclusion, our technique allows the isolation and the rapid expansion of human SkmSC from small tissutal specimens. Isolated SkmSC showed phenotypic and morphologic heterogenicity with a capability to differentiate into different cell lineages under appropriate cultural conditions.
Changes in the non-linear dynamics of heart rate variability due to foot based vibration while in the seated position (2003)

The objective of this study was to determine if a mechanical vibration, applied at the feet with the subject in the seated position, would influence blood flow. Ten female volunteers in the age group of 22 to 59 were tested for 20 minutes with and without vibration (37 Hz, 0.2 g). Blood pressure and continuous heart rate were recorded. Frequency analysis by FFT was used to evaluate heart rate variability (HRV). Analysis of the power spectrum over the range of 0.005-0.5 Hz showed a significant decrease in the slope with age. Vibration resulted in a significant reduction in slope, consistent with having a "younger" HRV. These results are interpreted as the vibration "improving" lower limb circulation.
Vitronectin : Growth Factor Complexes Hold Potential as a Wound Therapy Approach. Commentary (2008)

Topical administration of growth factors has displayed some potential in wound healing, but variable efficacy, high doses, and costs have hampered their implementation. Moreover, this approach ignores the fact that wound repair is driven by interactions between multiple growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We report herein that complexes comprising IGF and IGF-binding proteins bound to the ECM protein vitronectin (VN) significantly enhance cellular functions relevant to wound repair in human skin keratinocytes in two- and three-dimensional in vitro cell models and are active, even in the presence of wound fluid. Moreover, these responses require activation of both the IGF receptor and the VN-binding α v integrins. Further, we assessed the complexes as a topical agent in the treatment of deep dermal partial thickness burns in a porcine model. This pilot study revealed that the complexes may hold promise as a wound healing therapy. Critically, the significant responses observed in vitro and the encouraging preliminary data in vivo were obtained with nanogram doses of growth factors. This suggests that coupling delivery of growth factors to ECM proteins such as VN may ultimately prove to be a more effective strategy for developing a wound healing therapy.
Lethal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type II (2006)

Griscelli syndrome (GS) was diagnosed in a 2-year-old patient with oculocutaneous albinism and immunodeficiency, but sequencing of RAB27a revealed only a heterozygous mutation. Due to impaired natural killer (NK) and T-cell cytotoxicity implying a high risk of developing hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), he was prepared for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Unexpectedly, a severe bleeding episode occurred that led to the demonstration of disturbed platelet aggregation, reduced plateletdense granules, and impaired platelet degranulation. In combination with neutropenia, this suggested the diagnosis of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type II (HPSII) and a novel homozygous mutation in AP3B1 was detected. None of the 3 reported HPSII patients had developed HLH, and our patient seroconverted to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) without clinical symptoms. HSCT was therefore withheld, and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy was initiated and prevented further bacterial infections. At 3 years of age, however, the patient developed, without an obvious trigger, fulminant HLH that was resistant to therapy. This patient shows that careful clinical and molecular diagnosis is essential to differentiate the complex disorders of lysosomal trafficking. HPSII belongs to the group of familial hemophagocytic syndromes and may represent an indication for HSCT.
Palliative Embolisation of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations Presenting with Progressive Neurological Deficit (2000)

Large arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in eloquent areas of the brain are generally considered incurable because of the high morbidity and mortality associated with their treatment. When these patients develop a progressive neurological deficit they in time often become severely disabled. This report presents the results of palliative embolisation in this subgroup of patients. Analysis of our data-base of 714 patients with known brain AVMs revealed 17 patients who presented with progressive neurological deficit and who underwent palliative embolisation as the therapeutic modality of choice for management of their AVM. One patient was excluded due to lack of follow-up and two were excluded because they later received radiation therapy. Following embolisation 43% had improvement of their neurological deficit, 50% stabilized and 7% continued to deteriorate and these clinical results persisted for an average of more than 2 years follow-up. Transient neurological morbidity associated with embolisation treatment was 7% and there was no permanent morbidity and no mortality. Palliative embolisation of brain AVMs presenting with progressive neurological deficits arrested deterioration in more than 90% of patients and was associated with low morbidity and no mortality.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in experimental herpesvirus retinopathy: association with inflammation and viral infection. (2001)

Experimental herpesvirus retinopathy presents a unique model of a transient inflammatory response in the virus-injected eye and subsequent acute retinal necrosis and chronic inflammation in the contralateral eye. For 6 days after infection, VEGF, TGFbeta1, and TGFbeta2 were associated only with inflammatory cells in the injected eye. By 6 days (after viral antigens were no longer detected), VEGF and TGFbeta2 were upregulated in retinas of injected eyes until 8-10 days. In contralateral eyes, VEGF was first demonstrated in the retina at 6-7 days (prior to the appearance of viral antigens) and TGFbeta2 at 7-8 days. Staining for these factors was also evident around areas of necrosis. The VEGF receptor, flt-1, was associated with ganglion cells and the inner nuclear layer of normal and experimental mice and it was also demonstrated around areas of necrosis. Another VEGF receptor, flk-1, was localized to Muller cell processes and the outer plexiform layer in normal and experimental mice. Coincident with VEGF upregulation in the retinas of herpesvirus-1 injected mice, there was increased flk-1 in ganglion cells and the inner and outer nuclear layers. IL-6 was associated with Muller cell endfeet in normal mice. Following unilateral intraocular inoculation, IL-6 spread along the MUller cell processes and some astrocytes demonstrated IL-6 in both eyes at 6-8 days. The present study demonstrates that intraocular inoculation of herpesvirus is sufficient to induce VEGF, flk-1, TGFbeta2, and IL-6 in the retinas of injected and contralateral eyes. Further investigation of common signaling pathways for these factors during responses to viral infection and the development of acute retinal necrosis could provide information useful for therapeutic intervention in human herpesvirus retinopathy.
The NOMAD experiment at the CERN SPS (1998)

The NOMAD experiment is a short base-line search for νμ − ντ oscillations in the CERN neutrino beam. The ντ's are searched for through their charged current interactions followed by the observation of the resulting τ− through its electronic, muonic or hadronic decays. These decays are recognized using kinematical criteria necessitating the use of a light target which enables the reconstruction of individual particles produced in the neutrino interactions. This paper describes the various components of the NOMAD detector: the target and muon drift chambers, the electromagnetic and hadronic calorimeters, the preshower and transition radiation detectors and the veto and trigger scintillation counters. The beam and data acquisition system are also described. The quality of the reconstruction and individual particles is demonstrated through the ability of NOMAD to observe Ks0's, Λ0's and π0's. Finally, the observation of τ− through its electronic decay being one of the most promising channels in the search, the identification of electrons in NOMAD is discussed.