gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Effect of pH and oxygen on biofilm formation in acute otitis media associated NTHi clinical isolates (2015)

Objectives/Hypothesis Biofilms occur in animal models of acute otitis media (AOM) and in children with recurrent AOM (rAOM) and chronic otitis media with effusion (OME). We therefore studied the ability of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) strains from children to form biofilms in vitro under conditions we presumed occurred in the middle ear during AOM, rAOM, and OME. Study Design Evaluate NTHi isolates for biofilm formation across a pH range under aerobic, microaerophilic, and anaerobic conditions. Methods Using a crystal violet biofilm assay we studied 12 NTHi pediatric clinical isolates to investigate biofilm formation over a pH range of 4.5 to 10 under aerobic, microaerophilic, and anaerobic conditions. Results Our findings included: 1) not all clinical NTHi strains form biofilms (75% did); 2) the pH of middle ear fluid collected from AOM (n = 170; age range, 4–36 months), rAOM (n = 54; age range, 7–36 months), and OME (n = 30; age range, 9–60 months) subjects tested immediately after withdrawal was similar (mean = 8.0;range 7.0–9.0); 3) biofilms formed optimally at pH 8.0, a finding that is consistent with previous studies by other investigators; 4) biofilms did not form under aerobic conditions as likely occurs in AOM, whereas under microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions biofilm formation was observed as likely occurs during rAOM and OME. Conclusions We concluded that biofilm formation by NTHi does not occur in all strains, occurs best where the pH = 8.0 and in anaerobic conditions as likely occurs in children during rAOM and OME. However, biofilm formation is limited or absent under aerobic conditions as likely occurs during AOM. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope , 125:2204–2208, 2015
Cyclopentadienone Iridium Bipyridyl Complexes: Acid-Stable Transfer Hydrogenation Catalysts (2023)

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a series of cyclopentadienone and hydroxycyclopentadienyl 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dmbpy) iridium complexes, (C5Tol2Ph2O)(dmbpy)IrCl (1), [(C5Tol2Ph2OH)(dmbpy)IrCl][OTf] (2), (C5Tol2Ph2O)(dmbpy)IrH (3), and [(C5Tol2Ph2OH)(dmbpy)IrH][OTf] (4), are described. The Ir(I) complexes 1 and 3 are active catalyst precursors for the transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, and N-heterocycles with HCO2H/Et3N under mild conditions. Model studies implicate the cationic iridium hydride 4 as a key intermediate, as 4 reacts readily with acetone to generate isopropanol. Selectivity over hydrogenation of alkenes is enhanced compared to other Shvo-type catalysts, and only modest C═C hydrogenation is observed when adjacent to polarizing functional groups. Catalytic hydrogenation likely proceeds by a metal–ligand bifunctional mechanism similar to related cyclopentadienone complexes.
Diffuse-reflectance model for smooth dielectric surfaces (1994)

A reflectance model that accurately predicts diffuse reflection from smooth inhomogeneous dielectric surfaces as a function of both viewing angle and angle of incidence is proposed. Utilizing results of radiative-transfer theory for subsurface multiple scattering, this new model precisely accounts for how incident light and the distribution of subsurface scattered light are influenced by Fresnel attenuation and Snell refraction at a smooth air–dielectric surface boundary. Whereas similar assumptions about subsurface scattering and Fresnel attenuation have been made in previous research on diffuse-reflectance modeling, the proposed model combines these assumptions in a different way and yields a more accurate expression for diffuse reflection that is shown to account for a number of empirical observations not predicted by existing models. What is particularly new about this diffuse-reflectance model is the resulting significant dependence on the viewing angle with respect to the surface normal. This dependence on the viewing angle explains distinctive properties of the behavior of diffuse reflection from smooth dielectric objects, properties not accounted for by existing diffuse-reflection models. Among these properties are prominent diffuse-reflection maxima effects occurring on objects when incident point-source illumination is greater than 50° relative to viewing, including the range from 90° to 180°, where the light source is behind the object with respect to viewing. For this range of incident illumination there is significant deviation from Lambertian behavior over a large portion of most smooth dielectric object surfaces, which makes it important for the computer vision community to be aware of such effects during incorporation of reflectance models into implementation of algorithms such as shape-from-shading. A number of experimental results are presented that verify the proposed diffuse-reflectance model.
An improvement of multilateral control performance of a teleoperated robot using Kalman-filter-based state observer (2014)

This research focuses on the high bandwidth force sensation for haptic transmission with low noise disturbance. A Kalman-filter-based state observer (KFSO) has been designed to estimate action/reaction force of the master and slave robots. The stable control loop can be obtained when a KFSO is implemented as the feedforward control for a disturbance torque compensation loop. Moreover, this paper also deals with the construction of multilateral control with the use of modal space design provided by the calculation of Hadamard matrix. With such a robust force control scheme, significant high bandwidth haptic sensing in a multilateral control can be achieved. It is possible to provide high transparency and good perception of the environmental stiffness with multi-robot system. Under noisy conditions, a high performance of the position control and force control can be achieved by applying the Kalman filtering. The simulation results are provided to illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithms.
Electron-hole bilayer light-emitting device: Concept and operation (2019)

We report a novel switched-mode light-emitting device (LED) in an undoped ultra-thin-body (UTB) based on the electrostatically-induced electron-hole bilayer (EHB) concept. The proposed device works on the principle of formation of EHB channels by applying suitable gate biases during the charging-cycle, and their recombination during a discharging-cycle. Using TCAD simulations, we show that continuous switching of the gates in an indium arsenide (InAs) based EHB LED with a ~12 μs time period leads to radiative recombination of the induced charge carriers with a peak internal quantum efficiency (IQE) as high as ~92% and a time-averaged IQE of ~29%. The proposed concept obviates the need for chemically doped p-n junctions in the UTB device for light-emitting applications. However, when relying on the thermal generation alone as a source of charge carriers in a small undoped semiconductor volume, a narrow bandgap semiconductor (such as InAs) is required for the proposed LED which ultimately limits the switching speed. For wider bandgap materials, highly doped regions on either side of the intrinsic UTB layer in the form of a lateral PIN structure could be employed where switching speed is then not limited by thermal generation. TCAD simulations of a silicon (Si) EHB LED based on such a gated PIN structure shows switching capability in the GHz frequency range making it attractive for SOI based optocoupling applications.
A Soluble Factor Produced by Lamina Propria Mononuclear Cells Is Required for TNF-α Enhancement of IFN-γ Production by T Cells (1999)

Abstract The role of TNF-α in the mucosal inflammation of Crohn’s disease has been demonstrated by the prolonged clinical responses and/or remissions among patients receiving i.v. infusion of anti-TNF-α. A correlation between TNF-α and elevated IFN-γ production is suggested by the reduction in the number of IFN-γ producing lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) found in colonic biopsies from anti-TNF-α-treated patients. The aim of this study was to define the mechanism of TNF-α-augmented mucosal T cell IFN-γ production. In this paper we present evidence that cultured LPMC secrete a factor which acts on preactivated T cells in concert with TNF-α to augment IFN-γ production. This activity is independent of IL-12 and IL-18, the well-documented potentiators of IFN-γ expression, and is not produced by PBMC. Peripheral blood PHA-activated T cells incubated in supernatants from LPMC became responsive to TNF-α by increasing IFN-γ output upon stimulation. These results are consistent with a model in which LPMC, but not PBMC, release an unidentified substance when cultured in vitro with low dose IL-2. This substance can act on preactivated peripheral T cells, as well as on lamina propria T cells, conditioning them to respond to TNF-α by increased IFN-γ secretion upon stimulation. Expression of this factor in the gut mucosa could contribute to up-regulation of the Th1 response in the presence of TNF-α, and could be important for mucosal immunoregulation.
Graphene–Metal–Organic Framework Composite Sulfur Electrodes for Li–S Batteries with High Volumetric Capacity (2020)

In an age of rapid acceleration toward next-generation energy storage technologies, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries offer the desirable combination of low weight and high specific energy. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been recently studied as functionalizable platforms to improve Li-S battery performance. However, many MOF-enabled Li-S technologies are hindered by low capacity retention and poor long-term performance due to low electronic conductivity. In this work, we combine the advantages of a Zr-based MOF-808 loaded with sulfur as the active material with a graphene/ethyl cellulose additive, leading to a high-density nanocomposite electrode requiring minimal carbon. Our electrochemical results indicate that the nanocomposites deliver enhanced specific capacity over conventionally used carbon/binder mixtures, and postsynthetic modification of the MOF with lithium thiophosphate results in further improvement. Furthermore, the dense form factor of the sulfur-loaded MOF-graphene nanocomposite electrodes provides high volumetric capacity compared to other works with significantly more carbon additives. Overall, we have demonstrated a proof-of-concept paradigm where graphene nanosheets facilitate improved charge transport because of enhanced interfacial contact with the active material. This materials engineering approach can likely be extended to other MOF systems, contributing to an emerging class of two-dimensional nanomaterial-enabled Li-S batteries.
Biperiden and mepazine effectively inhibit MALT1 activity and tumor growth in pancreatic cancer (2019)

MALT1 is a key mediator of NF-κB signaling and a main driver of B-cell lymphomas. Remarkably, MALT1 is expressed in the majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) as well, but absent from normal exocrine pancreatic tissue. Following, MALT1 shows off to be a specific target in cancer cells of PDAC without affecting regular pancreatic cells. Therefore, we studied the impact of pharmacological MALT1 inhibition in pancreatic cancer and showed promising effects on tumor progression. Mepazine (Mep), a phenothiazine derivative, is a known potent MALT1 inhibitor. Newly, we described that biperiden (Bip) is a potent MALT1 inhibitor with even less pharmacological side effects. Thus, Bip is a promising drug leading to reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo. By compromising MALT1 activity, nuclear translocation of c-Rel is prevented. c-Rel is critical for NF-κB-dependent inhibition of apoptosis. Hence, off-label use of Bip or Mep represents a promising new therapeutic approach to PDAC treatment. Regularly, the Anticholinergicum Bip is used to treat neurological side effects of Phenothiazines, like extrapyramidal symptoms.
Abstract 6562: Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of trans-cinnamaldehyde and curcumin based scaffolds compounds (2020)

Abstract Cinnamaldehyde and curcumin scaffolds are known for their anticancer potential via reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cellular damage. Herein, we synthesized a set of heterocyclic compounds build on the naturally-occurring trans-cinnamaldehyde and curcumin scaffolds and assessed their antiproliferative/cytotoxic properties against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116). The general structure of the synthesized compounds comprised 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-imidazolone nucleus attached to a 2-phenylpropylidene moiety. The imidazolone's N1 diversity point was attached to a variety of groups that are different in steric as well as electronic properties. Compounds FC01, FC09, FC11, FC12, FC14, FC30 and FC37 (groups attached to N1 diversity point are phenyl, methyl, 4-methylpiperazinyl, n-propyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 2-furylmethyl, and 4-methoxyphenyl, respectively) showed considerable cytotoxicity with IC50 ranging from 0.1 to 11.9 µM against MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cells. Within one hour of exposure to the IC50's of compounds FC09, FC12 and FC31, total ROS was significantly increased to 143.3±1.2%, 158.2±8.6% and 138±9.3% of control. After 2 hours of exposure, compounds FC09, FC12, FC14, FC30 and FC31 significantly raised the total ROS by 148.3±2.1%, 144.2±5.9%, 112±3.1%, 134.8±10.3% and 140.7±5.7%, respectively. Interestingly, all compounds under investigation significantly raised the intracellular ROS within 1.5 h of exposure. After 24 h of exposure, only compounds FC01, FC07, FC30, and FC31 kept the intracellular level of ROS significantly higher than control cells (111.1±3.6, 113.8±4.3%, 110.4±2.2%, and 117.7±7.5%, respectively). On the other hand, the ROS level within cells treated with the IC50 of compounds FC09 and FC12 for 24 h was significantly lower than control cells (85.7±1.3 and 68.4±4.7, respectively). Apoptosis/necrosis differential assessment using annexin-V/FITC with PI as a counterstain coupled with flow cytometric analysis, showed that compounds FC01, FC09, and FC12 induced significant apoptosis as well as necrosis by 2-5 folds compared to control cells. Compound FC14 failed to induce any significant apoptosis or necrosis. In conclusion, trans-cinnamaldehyde and curcumin scaffold-based compounds under investigation, particularly FC01, FC09 and FC12 might represent promising candidates in anticancer molecules for further optimization. Citation Format: Abdel-Sattar M. Omar, Ahmed M. Al-Abd. Design, synthesis and anticancer properties of trans-cinnamaldehyde and curcumin based scaffolds compounds [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 6562.
Recent Advances in Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy: Comparative Study of Electrosurgical Snare Electrode and Ultrasound Dissection (1997)

Although technically feasible, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) using conventional instrumentation presents the intraoperative challenge of hemostasis, creating a flush (i.e., precise guillotine) incision, and closure of the collecting system. In an effort to resolve these technical problems, we used a unique electrosurgical snare electrode (ESE) in combination with an ERBE electrosurgical generator and compared its effectiveness with that of two ultrasonic dissectors (Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator [CUSA] and harmonic scalpel [HS]) in performing LPN. Twelve female minipigs underwent right lower-pole LPN using one of the aforementioned modalities. Six weeks later, in the same animals, a left lower-pole LPN was performed using the same device, thereby providing an acute and chronic renal remnant to examine. The animals were harvested, and transverse and perpendicular histologic sections were prepared of the cut surface of each specimen. The weights of the LPN specimens and the remaining kidney were also recorded. The time required for partial nephrectomy, degree of hemostasis (i.e., blood loss), ease of excising the targeted tissue, changes in renal function, tissue reactivity, and depth of damage to the surface of the remaining renal parenchyma were measured for each device. All 12 procedures were successful using the ultrasonic dissection, and 11 procedures were successful using the ESE. The ESE was significantly faster than the two forms of ultrasonic dissection (p < 0.0001) and produced less intraoperative bleeding (P = 0.002). Both forms of ultrasonic energy produced significantly deeper parenchymal injury in the acute surgical specimen (P = 0.03) and more parenchymal fibrosis and chronic inflammation in the chronic surgical specimens (P = 0.007) than the ESE. None of the animals exhibited any extravasation from the incised collecting system when studied by retrograde pyelography 6 weeks postoperatively at the time of left LPN and harvest. The function of the renal remnant was consistent with the size of the partial nephrectomy specimen. No hypertension developed in any of the study animals. Our results using a unique electrosurgical snare probe show it to have potential advantages as a rapid, hemostatic method for performing a partial nephrectomy. We believe that this instrument may represent an important tool for performing nephron-sparing surgery via an open or laparoscopic approach. Clinical trials are in progress.
Numerical Analysis of the Dynamic Flame Response in Alstom Reheat Combustion Systems (2015)

In the development process of all gas turbines, the thermoacoustic behavior of the combustion system is of crucial importance for the overall performance in terms of lifetime, emissions, and operational flexibility. An efficient design process requires a methodology which is able to analyze this behavior in an early phase. This method is at the same time expected to give insight into the underlying thermoacoustic mechanisms of relevant acoustic modes. Based on an example case for an Alstom reheat combustor relying on the auto-ignition principle, the paper describes such a method for low frequency modes, which is based on unsteady reactive CFD, flame transfer function analysis and acoustic network modeling. Results are validated against full-scale engine measurements. Moreover, physical insight of the coupling mechanisms responsible for the dynamic response of the flame is given.
Direct Detection of Dilute Solid Chemicals with Responsive Lateral Organic Diodes (2017)

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have emerged as promising sensors targeting chemical analytes in vapors and liquids. However, the direct detection of solid chemicals by OFETs has not been achieved. Here for the first time, we describe the direct detection of solid chemical analytes by organic electronics. An organic diode structure based on a horizontal side-by-side p-n junction was adopted and shown to be superior to OFETs for this purpose. The diodes showed more than 40% current decrease upon exposure to 1 ppm melamine powders. The estimated detection limit to melamine can potentially reach the ppb range. This is the first demonstration of an electronic signal from an interaction between a solid and an organic p-n junction directly, which suggests that our lateral organic diodes are excellent platforms for the development of future sensors when direct detection of solid chemicals is needed. The approach developed here is general and can be extended to chemical sensors targeting various analytes, opening unprecedented opportunities for the development of low-cost and high-performance solid chemical sensors.
Coordinated induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and inhibition of plasminogen activator gene expression by hypoxia promotes pulmonary vascular fibrin deposition. (1998)

Oxygen deprivation, as occurs during tissue ischemia, tips the natural anticoagulant/procoagulant balance of the endovascular wall to favor activation of coagulation. To investigate the effects of low ambient oxygen tension on the fibrinolytic system, mice were placed in a hypoxic environment with pO2 < 40 Torr. Plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen, detected by ELISA, increased in a time-dependent fashion after hypoxic exposure (increased as early as 4 h, P < 0.05 vs. normoxic controls), and were accompanied by an increase in plasma PAI-1 activity by 4 h (P < 0.05 vs. normoxic controls). Northern analysis of hypoxic murine lung demonstrated an increase in PAI-1 mRNA compared with normoxic controls; in contrast, transcripts for both tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) decreased under hypoxic conditions. Immunocolocalization studies identified macrophages as the predominant source of increased PAI-1 within hypoxic lung. Using a transformed murine macrophage line, striking induction of PAI-1 transcripts occurred under hypoxic conditions, due to both increased de novo transcription as well as increased mRNA stability. Consistent with an important role of the fibrinolytic system in hypoxia-induced fibrin accumulation, PAI-1 +/+ mice exposed to hypoxia exhibited increased pulmonary fibrin deposition based upon a fibrin immunoblot, intravascular fibrin identified by immunostaining, and increased accumulation of 125I-fibrinogen/fibrin in hypoxic tissue. In contrast, mice deficient for the PAI-1 gene (PAI-1 -/-) similarly exposed to hypoxic conditions did not display increased fibrin accumulation compared with normoxic PAI-1 +/+ controls. Furthermore, homozygous null uPA (uPA -/-) and tPA (tPA -/-) mice subjected to oxygen deprivation showed increased fibrin deposition compared with wild-type controls. These studies identify enhanced expression of PAI-1 as an important mechanism suppressing fibrinolysis under conditions of low oxygen tension, a response which may be further amplified by decreased expression of plasminogen activators. Taken together, these data provide insight into an important potential role of macrophages and the fibrinolytic system in ischemia-induced thrombosis.
Novel unsymmetrical squaraine-based small molecules for organic solar cells (2018)

New unsymmetrical squaraines for organic solar cells (OSCs) are synthesized without using highly toxic reagents. OSCs based on these squaraines exhibit an impressive open-circuit voltage of 0.92 V and power conversion efficiencies approaching 5%.
Identification of Meningeal Cell Released Neurite Promoting Activities for Embryonic Hippocampal Neurons (1991)

Primary cultures of meningeal cells from embryonic rat cerebra secrete neurite growth-inducing components into serum-free culture medium. This conditioned medium (CM) was analyzed by FPLC and immunochemical and enzymatic treatments and tested for neurite promoting activity (NPA) in a quantitative bioassay using hippocampal neurons from embryonic rat. By immunoprecipitation or specific adsorption we identified laminin (LN)-proteoglycan complexes and fibronectin (FN), respectively, as the major neurite promoting components within meningeal cell CM. The LN-proteoglycan complexes and their NPA were sensitive to chondroitinase (chondroitin ABC lyase, EC 4.2.2.4) and to a smaller extent to heparitinase (heparitin sulfate lyase, EC 4.2.2.8). Minor fractions of the total NPA in CM correlated with free LN and a putative but not yet characterized FN-proteoglycan complex.