gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Natural and Nature-Derived Products Targeting Human Coronaviruses (2021)

The ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 human coronavirus (HCoV), has brought the international scientific community before a state of emergency that needs to be addressed with intensive research for the discovery of pharmacological agents with antiviral activity. Potential antiviral natural products (NPs) have been discovered from plants of the global biodiversity, including extracts, compounds and categories of compounds with activity against several viruses of the respiratory tract such as HCoVs. However, the scarcity of natural products (NPs) and small-molecules (SMs) used as antiviral agents, especially for HCoVs, is notable. This is a review of 203 publications, which were selected using PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, evaluates the available literature since the discovery of the first human coronavirus in the 1960s; it summarizes important aspects of structure, function, and therapeutic targeting of HCoVs as well as NPs (19 total plant extracts and 204 isolated or semi-synthesized pure compounds) with anti-HCoV activity targeting viral and non-viral proteins, while focusing on the advances on the discovery of NPs with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity, and providing a critical perspective.
Regulation of apoptosis induced by the retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide and effect of deregulated bcl-2 (1995)

The cancer chemopreventive retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-all-trans retinamide (HPR) was recently shown by us to have antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on human leukemic cell lines, including those unresponsive to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). We have now characterized further the process of HPR-induced cell death. We report that inhibitors of RNA transcription and of protein synthesis, activators of protein kinase C (PKC), inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, Zn++, and the antioxidants acetylcysteine, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and deferoxamine suppressed HPR-induced apoptosis. HL60 cells induced toward monocytic differentiation by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin-D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], but not those induced toward the granulocytic differentiation by ATRA, showed reduced responses to HPR. The transport of HPR by cells with different sensitivity to the retinoid, however, was similar, even after treatment with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which induces unresponsiveness to HPR. The expression of the apoptosis-related genes bcl-2, p53, and c-myc was examined to determine their role in HPR-triggered cell death. The levels of bcl-2 mRNA were markedly diminished by 24 hours of HPR treatment in all cell lines except in the relatively HPR-insensitive line K422. However, probably because of its long half-life, bcl-2 protein levels were either unchanged or only slightly decreased. Downregulation of p53 mRNA was also observed within 24 hours of HPR exposure in NB4 but not K422 cells, but no changes in the amount of p53 protein were found. Suppression of c-myc transcription was observed in all cells except K422. The protective role of bcl-2 on cell death by HPR was investigated in HL60 as well as 697 pre-B leukemia and Jurkat T-acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) cells constitutively expressing high levels of bcl-2 proteins due to gene transfer manipulation. Compared with control cells, the onset of apoptosis in these cells with deregulated bcl-2 production was delayed by at least 24 hours. These findings establish that cell death by HPR requires RNA transcription and protein synthesis and is regulated by the activation of PKC. Although changes in bcl-2, p53, and c-myc expression are found in cells treated with HPR, the time-course of these events suggests that HPR-triggered apoptosis is not directly controlled by these genes. Finally, while ectopic overexpression of bcl-2 does not protect cells from death by HPR, it markedly delays its onset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
ChemInform Abstract: Research at the Interface Between Chemistry and Virology: Development of a Molecular Flashlight (1996)

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Poly(alkoxyphenylene−thienylene) Langmuir−Schäfer Thin Films for Advanced Performance Transistors (2005)

Solution processed Langmuir−Schäfer and cast thin films of regioregular poly(2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-phenylene-alt-2,5-thienylene) are investigated as transistor active layers. The study of their field-effect properties evidences that no transistor behavior can be seen with a cast film channel material. This was not surprising considering the twisted conformation of the polymer backbone predicted by various theoretical studies. Strikingly, the Langmuir−Schäfer (LS) thin films exhibit a field-effect mobility of 5 × 10-4 cm2/V·s, the highest attained so far with an alkoxy-substituted conjugated polymer. Extensive optical, morphological, and structural thin-film characterization supports the attribution of the effect to the longer conjugation length achieved in the Langmuir−Schäfer deposited film, likely due to an improved backbone planarity. This study shows that a technologically appealing deposition procedure, such as the LS one, can be exploited to significantly improve the inherently poor field-effect properties of twisted conjugated backbones. This achievement could promote the exploitation for electronic, and possibly sensing, applications of the wealth of opportunities offered by the alkoxy substitution on the phenylene units for convenient tailoring of the phenylene−thienylene backbone with molecules of chemical and biological interest.
Specific alterations in keratin biosynthesis in mouse epidermis in vivo and in explant culture following a single exposure to the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. (1987)

Treatment of mouse skin with a single dose of the phorbol ester tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) causes dramatic alterations in the biosynthesis of specific epidermal keratins. TPA was applied either topically to the skin of mice or added to the culture medium of skin explants maintained in vitro. Twenty-four h after exposure, skin samples were pulse labeled with [35S]methionine, and epidermal proteins were extracted and resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In whole animals, TPA caused a marked decrease in the biosynthesis of the Mr 67,000 (basic) and 59,000 (acidic) keratins, specific markers for suprabasal differentiation in the epidermis. In addition, the synthesis of an acidic keratin of Mr 48,000 and a basic keratin of Mr 62,000 was also decreased. Concomitantly, TPA caused an increase in the synthesis of a basic keratin of Mr 60,000 and acidic keratins of Mr 52,000 and 49,000, markers for proliferating cells and primary epidermal cell cultures. The normal pattern of keratin synthesis observed in explants from normal skin was similar to that observed in skin samples from animals treated with TPA, except that synthesis of the Mr 67,000 basic keratin subunit was maintained. The addition of TPA to culture medium containing the skin explants resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the synthesis of this keratin. Furthermore, resulting patterns of keratinization were identical to epidermis treated with TPA in vivo. These results suggest that a single acute exposure to TPA alters normal differentiation of mouse epidermal cells in vivo while causing a pronounced basal cell hyperproliferation. This response can be reproduced following TPA exposure to skin explants in culture, suggesting that the changes in keratinization observed are independent of the animal. Specific keratins modulated during TPA-induced hyperplasia may serve as marker proteins for aberrant epidermal cell growth and differentiation leading to the development of neoplasia.
Exploration of mandelic<scp>acid‐based</scp>polymethacrylates: Synthesis, properties, and stereochemical effects (2020)

Abstract Mandelic acid (MA) was utilized as a chiral biomass‐based precursor to synthesize methacrylic monomers suitable for radical polymerization. A series of polymers were made that incorporated varying feeds of monomer stereopurity and the properties of these materials were investigated. High molar masses (&gt;90 kg/mol) were achieved and the chirality in each polymer closely reflected the stereopurity of the monomer feeds. It was discovered that stereochemical effects had very little influence on the thermal and viscoelastic properties of the polymers produced, however, the steric bulk of the chiral pendants resulted in glassy, amorphous, and thermally stable materials with very low degrees of entanglement. The synthesis, thermal, and viscoelastic properties are discussed.
Bipolar depression: the importance of being on remission Depressão bipolar: a importância da remissão (2006)

Objective: The aim of the present study is to compare quality of life among currently depressed, subsyndromal and remitted patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and to assess whether the level of depression correlates with the scores of quality of life in BD patients. Method: Sixty bipolar outpatients diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV who met criteria for diagnosis of BD type I, II or not otherwise specified (BD-NOS), and who were not currently on a manic or mixed episode were included. The main variables of interest were quality of life (QOL) assessed using the 26-item World Health Organization QOL instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) and depression assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Results: A linear trend test showed a dose response association between patients’ current mood state and all domains of quality of life. Higher quality of life scores were found among remitted patients, followed by subsyndromal patients; depressed patients presented lower scores of quality of life, except for the social domain. The four domains of the WHOQOL scale correlated negatively with the HDRS. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that bipolar depression and residual symptoms of depression are negatively correlated with QOL in BD patients.
Isolation and Unambiguous Synthesis of Cryptolepinone:  An Oxidation Artifact of Cryptolepine (1998)

Cryptolepinone (3) was isolated as an artifact of extraction from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. Previously, this compound had been identified as the natural products hydroxycryptolepine (2) and 3. Synthesis via an unambiguous pathway has confirmed the structure of cryptolepinone. Spectroscopic studies in various solvents have shown that the natural product artifact or its synthetic equivalent can exist in the keto (cryptolepinone) or enol (hydroxycryptolepine) form.
News Beyond Our Pages (2018)

A mainstay in the pharmacologic treatment of asthma is stepwise escalation from short-acting β2-agonist monotherapy to additional therapy with long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and inhaled glucocorticoids. The importance of long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) has been accepted by guidelines, such as the Global Initiative for Asthma. Sobieraj et al have performed 2 systematic reviews and meta-analyses regarding the management of asthma. The first review (JAMA 2018;319:1473-84; https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.2757) focused on the efficacy of LAMAs as an add-on therapy to inhaled glucocorticoids in adolescent and adult patients with uncontrolled asthma.
Optical range image acquisition for the navigation of a mobile robot (2002)

A very compact optical range sensor is described which is to be used for the acquisition of the range information for the navigation of a mobile platform. A short review of the techniques currently used to acquire range data for a mobile vehicle is included. Some advantages and disadvantages of the different methods are presented. Emphasis is placed on a possible short-to-medium-term solution of the problem of robot navigation. A short description of the optical principle of the range sensor BIRIS, its real-time implementation on a commercially available image processing system, and its performance are presented. The high immunity of the sensor to ambient illumination and external perturbations is also demonstrated. Experimental results and a technique for the detection of the free space surrounding the vehicle using the range data are given.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>
On the Absolute Configuration of Penlanfuran and Related Sesquiterpenoids of the Sponge <i>Dysidea fragilis</i> from the North‐Brittany Sea (1990)

Abstract The 1,4‐addition of vinylmagnesium bromide/CuBr‐SMe 2 to (+)‐(4 s )‐cryptone ((+)‐ 6 ) in THF in the presence of Me 3 SiCI gives the silylenol ether 7 which partly undergoes hydrolysis to ketone 8 on aqueous workup; residual 7 is hydrolyzed with pyridinium p ‐toluenesulfonate (PyT s OH) to give 8 which is protected in situ with ethylene glycol and then ozonolized to give aldehyde ()‐ 10. The latter, on addition of 3‐lithiofuran followed by dehydration and deprotection with Py T s OH, gives the unnatural (4 S )‐enantiomer (+)‐ 2 of noroxopenlanfuran. All processes, except 11 → (+)‐ 2 , are of good yield. On the basis of previous chemical transformations, this also establishes the (4 R )‐configuration for penlanfuran ((−)‐ 1 ) and other sesquiterpenoids of the sponge Dysidea fragilis from the North‐Brittany sea. Non viable routes to (±)‐noroxoperlanfuran ((±)‐2) are also discussed.
High Beta-Palmitate Formula and Bone Strength in Term Infants: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial (2012)

We aimed to compare the effect of 12-week feeding of commercially available infant formulas with different percentages of palmitic acid at sn-2 (beta-palmitate) on anthropometric measures and bone strength of term infants. It was hypothesized that feeding infants with high beta-palmitate (HBP) formula will enhance their bone speed of sound (SOS). Eighty-three infants appropriate for gestational age participated in the study; of these, 58 were formula-fed and 25 breast-fed infants, serving as a reference group. The formula-fed infants were randomly assigned to receive HBP formula (43 % of the palmitic acid is esterified to the middle position of the glycerol backbone, study group; n = 30) or regular formula with low-beta palmitate (LBP, 14 % of the palmitic acid is esterified to the middle position of the glycerol backbone, n = 28). Sixty-six infants completed the 12-week study. Anthropometric and quantitative ultrasound measurements of bone SOS for assessment of bone strength were performed at randomization and at 6 and 12 weeks postnatal age. At randomization, gestational age, birth weight, and bone SOS were comparable between the three groups. At 12 weeks postnatal age, the mean bone SOS of the HBP group was significantly higher than that of the LBP group (2,896 ± 133 vs. 2,825 ± 79 m/s respectively, P = 0.049) and comparable with that of the breast-fed group (2,875 ± 85 m/s). We concluded that infants consuming HBP formula had changes in bone SOS that were comparable to those of infants consuming breast milk and favorable compared to infants consuming LBP formula.
A Progressively Advancing Curriculum for Robotics Education – The Case of Toin University of Yokohama – (2006)

We detail an educational program implemented at Toin University of Yokohama in which lab and workshop courses on automated mechanics, from basics to applications, are offered consecutively during the first three undergraduate years. Engineering is a discipline concerned with practical real-world problems, but students rarely have the chance to gain enough practical experience to effectively understanding engineering. At our department, first- to third-year students may take several hands-on courses for fabricating machines – first-year students build an automatic mobile machine, second-year students write computer programs to control the position of a robot, and some third-year students design and fabricate an entire robot from the bottom up. An elective course on robot fabrication enables students to choose individual theme. Students experience failures and discover better ways by trial and error through these processes.
New fracturing technique for Dean sand (1977)

A new hydraulic fracturing technique is being applied to stimulate the Dean sand of the Spraberry trend area. Results show improvment in production, effective fracture length and lower treatment costs. Production history of several wells was reviewed, and results of this study were used to select certain design parameters. These were rate, type fluid, sand size, etc. New computer programs were used to correlate this data for selected volumes. The theory and application of the new technique is discussed, and a description of the Dean sand is presented in detail. Production results using the new method are compared with the wells' response to conventional treatments and considerations are presented for applications for other formations.
A multiparametric approach combining T2-corrected IVIM, MR-DCE imaging and fat volume fraction quantification to evaluate chronic liver diseases at 3.0T (2013)

International audience
High Ion Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite Electrolytes Using Hybrid Nanofillers (2012)

There is a growing shift from liquid electrolytes toward solid polymer electrolytes, in energy storage devices, due to the many advantages of the latter such as enhanced safety, flexibility, and manufacturability. The main issue with polymer electrolytes is their lower ionic conductivity compared to that of liquid electrolytes. Nanoscale fillers such as silica and alumina nanoparticles are known to enhance the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes. Although carbon nanotubes have been used as fillers for polymers in various applications, they have not yet been used in polymer electrolytes as they are conductive and can pose the risk of electrical shorting. In this study, we show that nanotubes can be packaged within insulating clay layers to form effective 3D nanofillers. We show that such hybrid nanofillers increase the lithium ion conductivity of PEO electrolyte by almost 2 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, significant improvement in mechanical properties were observed where only 5 wt % addition of the filler led to 160% increase in the tensile strength of the polymer. This new approach of embedding conducting-insulating hybrid nanofillers could lead to the development of a new generation of polymer nanocomposite electrolytes with high ion conductivity and improved mechanical properties.
Impact of Size and Thermal Gradient on Supercooling of Phase Change\n Materials for Thermal Energy Storage (2020)

Phase change material based thermal energy storage has many current and\npotential applications in the heating and cooling of buildings, battery and\nelectronics thermal management, thermal textiles, and dry cooling of power\nplants. However, connecting lab scale thermal data obtained on DSC to the\nperformance of large-scale practical systems has been a major challenge\nprimarily due to the dependence of supercooling on the size and temperature\ngradient of the system. In this work we show how a phase change material's\nsupercooling behavior can be characterized experimentally using common lab\nscale thermal analysis techniques. We then develop a statistics based\ntheoretical model that uses the lab scale data on small samples to\nquantitatively predict the supercooling performance for a general thermal\nenergy storage application of any size with temperature gradients. Finally, we\nvalidate the modeling methodology by comparing to experimental results for\nsolid-solid phase change in neopentyl glycol, which shows how the model\nsuccessfully predicts the changes in supercooling temperature across a large\nrange of cooling rates (2 orders of magnitude) and volumes (3 orders of\nmagnitude). By accounting for thermal gradients, the model avoids ~2x error\nincurred by lumped approximations.\n
PROPERLY TIMED FOLIAR FERTILIZATION CAN AND SHOULD RESULT IN A YIELD BENEFIT AND NET INCREASE IN GROWER INCOME (2010)

Foliar fertilization reduces nutrient accumulation in soil, run-off and groundwater, where they contribute to salinity, eutrophication or nitrate contamination, with negative consequences to humans and the environment. Soil-applied fertilizers should be replaced in part with foliar-applied fertilizers. Foliar fertilizers can meet the crop's nutrient demand when soil temperature, moisture, pH, or salinity renders soil-applied fertilizers ineffective. Applying nutrients directly to leaves ensures that the plant's photosynthetic machinery is not compromised by low availability of an essential nutrient. Foliar-applied phloem-mobile nutrients are translocated to all plant parts, even feeder roots. However, not all nutrients are taken up through leaves and, even if taken up, some nutrients are not phloem mobile. Foliar fertilizer rates are typically lower than soil fertilizer rates, but application can be more costly. The goal of our research is to properly time the application of foliar fertilizers at specific stages of tree phenology, when nutrient demand is likely high, to increase yield, fruit size or quality, such that foliar fertilization results in a net increase in grower income even when the tree is not nutrient deficient by standard leaf analysis. A single foliar application of zinc sulphate to Citrus sinensis, 'Washington' navel orange, at 10% anthesis significantly increased fruit set through harvest in January, without impact on fruit size or quality. Later applications reduced fruit set. Winter (December) prebloom foliar application of low-biuret urea to C. reticulata, 'Nules' Clementine mandarin, increased 2-year cumulative yield of commercially valuable fruit (transverse diameter 63.51-69.85 mm) as both kg and number of fruit per tree with no effect on total yield or fruit quality. Earlier or later applications were without effect. Foliar application of potassium phosphite to Persea americana, 'Hass', at the cauliflower stage of inflorescence development significantly increased 3-year cumulative yield (kg and number of fruit per tree) of commercially valuable fruit (178-325 g per fruit) compared to trees receiving foliar- or soil-applied potassium phosphate. All cases resulted in a net increase in grower income.
Real-Time DC-dynamic Biasing Method for Switching Time Improvement in Severely Underdamped Fringing-field Electrostatic MEMS Actuators (2014)

Mechanically underdamped electrostatic fringing-field MEMS actuators are well known for their fast switching operation in response to a unit step input bias voltage. However, the tradeoff for the improved switching performance is a relatively long settling time to reach each gap height in response to various applied voltages. Transient applied bias waveforms are employed to facilitate reduced switching times for electrostatic fringing-field MEMS actuators with high mechanical quality factors. Removing the underlying substrate of the fringing-field actuator creates the low mechanical damping environment necessary to effectively test the concept. The removal of the underlying substrate also a has substantial improvement on the reliability performance of the device in regards to failure due to stiction. Although DC-dynamic biasing is useful in improving settling time, the required slew rates for typical MEMS devices may place aggressive requirements on the charge pumps for fully-integrated on-chip designs. Additionally, there may be challenges integrating the substrate removal step into the back-end-of-line commercial CMOS processing steps. Experimental validation of fabricated actuators demonstrates an improvement of 50x in switching time when compared to conventional step biasing results. Compared to theoretical calculations, the experimental results are in good agreement.