gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Preventing, delaying and mitigating gene flow from crops - rice as an example. (2002)

The shifting agronomy to direct-seeded rice, necessitated by the unavailability of labor for transplanting, has exacerbated weed problems, such as Echinochloa spp., the sedges and red and weedy rices. Engineered herbicide resistance allows selective control of all these weeds in rice but is confounded by a higher rate of introgression of resistance genes into red rice than had been expected, severely limiting the utility of the technology. Gene flow can be prevented or delayed (in theory) by single generation transformation, terminator (GURT), or inducible-promoter technologies that provide transient transgene expression, or by plastome or chondriome transformations where there is maternal inheritance. In some cases (e.g. plastome transformation) it is known that the protection is incomplete. Mitigation technologies are suggested as an adjunct, where the transgene of choice is flanked by mitigating genes (e.g. anti shattering, anti dormancy, or dwarfing genes) deleterious to weedy types. These would result in uncompetitive progeny. Transgenic rice bearing properties that might have a fitness advantage for weeds should not be released unless it bears introgression-delaying and mitigating systems, preferably stacked to minimize the risks.
The loop region around amino acid residue 50, the N-terminal part of the alpha-helix, and the C-terminus of human retinol-binding protein are not located in or close to the transthyretin binding site. (1995)

Although the three-dimensional structures of both human retinol-binding protein (RBP) and transthyretin (TTR) are known, the binding sites have not been defined. In this study we have epitope-mapped a rabbit antiserum against human RBP using synthetic peptides corresponding to all potentially antigenic sites. Immunoreactivity was seen with peptides corresponding to amino acid residues 46-54, 137-146, 143-153, and 172-182 of RBP. Since previous studies have demonstrated that these antibodies bind equally well to free RBP and to the RBP-TTR complex, we conclude that neither the loop region around amino acid residue 50, the N-terminal part of the alpha-helix, nor the C-terminus of RBP is located in or close to the TTR binding site. Our results support the hypothesis that one of the entrance loops is involved in the TTR binding.
Binding of aggregated IgG in the presence of fresh serum by group A streptococci producing pharyngeal infection: possible connection with types frequently involved in acute nephritis. (1978)

109 streptococcal strains, belonging to diverse serological groups and types, were investigated as regards their capacity to bind IgG aggregates in the presence of fresh serum. Strains capable of such binding were not found in groups B, C, D, E, G, L, M or N. Such binding was restricted to a few types of group A streptococci: the potentially nephritogenic types 2, 6 and 12. and four strains belonging to types M 39. M 46 and M 22 or M 62, the nephritogenic capacity of which is unknown. Two of five strains isolated from patients with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (AGN) and 19/28 type T 12, SOR- strains, isolated during an epidemic in a kindergarten with associated cases of AGN, were found to hind aggregates. The findings suggest a possible association between capacity to bind aggregates in the presence of serum and the serological types of group A streptococci involved in acute nephritis following pharyngeal infection.
Self-signed executables: restricting replacement of program binaries by malware (2007)

We propose using digital signatures to protect binaries already on the system from modifications by malware. While applicable to any file which is not intended to be modified by an end user, we concentrate on protecting programs and libraries present on the system before infection. Our protection does not rely on a central trusted authority or PKI, and can be incrementally deployed. While presented in the context of the Linux environment, our approach applies to other operating systems such as Windows.
Assessing the clinical utility of cancer genomic and proteomic data across tumor types (2014)

Molecular profiling of tumors promises to advance the clinical management of cancer, but the benefits of integrating molecular data with traditional clinical variables have not been systematically studied. Here we retrospectively predict patient survival using diverse molecular data (somatic copy-number alteration, DNA methylation and mRNA, microRNA and protein expression) from 953 samples of four cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. We find that incorporating molecular data with clinical variables yields statistically significantly improved predictions (FDR < 0.05) for three cancers but those quantitative gains were limited (2.2-23.9%). Additional analyses revealed little predictive power across tumor types except for one case. In clinically relevant genes, we identified 10,281 somatic alterations across 12 cancer types in 2,928 of 3,277 patients (89.4%), many of which would not be revealed in single-tumor analyses. Our study provides a starting point and resources, including an open-access model evaluation platform, for building reliable prognostic and therapeutic strategies that incorporate molecular data.
Donor Dopamine Does Not Affect Liver Graft Survival: Evidence of Safety From a Randomized Controlled Trial (2018)

Treatment of donation after brain death (DBD) donors with low-dose dopamine improves the outcomes after kidney and heart transplantation. This study investigates the course of liver allografts from multiorgan donors enrolled in the randomized dopamine trial between 2004 and 2007 (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00115115). There were 264 hemodynamically stable DBDs who were randomly assigned to receive low-dose dopamine. Dopamine was infused at 4 μg/kg/minute for a median duration of 6.0 hours (interquartile range, 4.4-7.5 hours). We assessed the outcomes of 212 liver transplantations (LTs) performed at 32 European centers. Donors and recipients of both groups were very similar in baseline characteristics. Pretransplant laboratory Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was not different in recipients of a dopamine-treated versus untreated graft (18 ± 8 versus 20 ± 8; P = 0.12). Mean cold ischemia time was 10.6 ± 2.9 versus 10.1 ± 2.8 hours (P = 0.24). No differences occurred in biopsy-proven rejection episodes (14.4% versus 15.7%; P = 0.85), requirement of hemofiltration (27.9% versus 31.5%; P = 0.65), the need for early retransplantation (5.8% versus 6.5%; P > 0.99), the incidence of primary nonfunction (7.7% versus 8.3%; P > 0.99), and in-hospital mortality (15.4% versus 14.8%; P > 0.99). Graft survival was 71.2% versus 73.2% and 59.6% versus 62.0% at 2 and 3 years (log-rank P = 0.71). Patient survival was 76.0% versus 78.7% and 65.4% versus 69.4% at 1 and 3 years (log-rank P = 0.50). In conclusion, donor pretreatment with dopamine has no short-term or longterm effects on outcome after LT. Therefore, low-dose dopamine pretreatment can safely be implemented as the standard of care in hemodynamically stable DBDs.
Sulfonated Fluorovinylene Aromatic Ether Polymers for Proton Exchange Membranes2 (2007)

A new semi-fluorinated perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) aryl ether containing polymer was prepared in high yield via the condensation of a commercial 4,4'-((1,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluorocyclobutane-1,2-diyl)bis(oxy))bisphenol (bisphenol T) and bis(trifluorovinyloxyether)biphenyl producing transparent, flexible films. The polymer system was structurally characterized using 1H and 19F NMR and exhibited a high degree of thermal stability as determined by thermogravimetric analysis capacity. The sulfonated analogue showed the highest degree of sulfonation at 27% from ion-exchange chromatography, producing a conductivity of 0.011 S cm-1 at 100% relative humidity.
Experimental Quantum Cryptography With Classical Users (2019)

The exploit of quantum systems allows for insights that promise to revolutionise information processing, although a main challenge for practical implementations is technological complexity. Due to its feasibility, quantum cryptography, which allows for perfectly secure communication, has become the most prominent application of quantum technology. Nevertheless, this task still requires the users to be capable of performing quantum operations, such as state preparation or measurements in multiple bases. A natural question is whether the users' technological requirements can be further reduced. Here we demonstrate a novel quantum cryptography scheme, where users are fully classical. In our protocol, the quantum operations are performed by an untrusted third party acting as a server, which gives the users access to a superimposed single photon, and the key exchange is achieved via interaction-free measurements on the shared state. Our approach opens up new interesting possibilities for quantum cryptography networks.
Plasma inactive renin in diabetic patients with neuropathy: a role for the sympathetic nervous system in the conversion in vivo of inactive renin (1983)

Plasma levels of active and trypsin-activatable inactive renin and catecholamines were measured in 6 diabetic patients with neuropathy (group 1), 8 diabetic patients without neuropathy (group 2) and 8 age-matched normal subjects. The effect of insulin administration on plasma active and inactive renin and plasma catecholamine levels in diabetic patients was also investigated. The levels of inactive renin were calculated as the difference between the levels of total renin after trypsin activation and those of active renin. The levels of plasma catecholamines were determined by the trihydroxyindole method. The levels of active renin were significantly lower and inactive renin was increased slightly in group 1 when compared with controls. Group 1 showed a significant reduction in plasma norepinephrine levels. Group 2 showed slightly reduced active renin, normal inactive renin and normal norepinephrine values. There was no significant difference in the levels of epinephrine between the 3 groups. After insulin injection, active renin levels were increased in groups 1 and 2. The mean increment in active renin levels was less in group 1 than in group 2. Inactive renin levels were slightly decreased in both groups. Significant increases in epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were observed following insulin administration. The mean increment in norepinephrine levels was less in group 1 than in group 2. There was a positive correlation between the mean increment in active renin and in norepinephrine levels in diabetic patients. These results suggest that the impaired conversion of inactive renin into an active form is responsible in part for the low levels of active renin in diabetics with neuropathy.
Fluorescence polarization of a diatomic fragment following photodissociation of a triatomic precursor (1990)

Calculations are presented for the polarization anisotropy R = (I ‖ - I ⊥)/(I ‖ + 2I ⊥) of the fragment fluorescence (AB* → AB + hv) when a linear triatomic molecule (ABC) is photodissociated by a beam of linearly polarized radiation (ABC + hv → AB* + C). An expression is derived relating the polarization anisotropy R(τ) to the predissociation lifetime τ of the bent [ABC*] complex in the high-J limit. The time-averaged autocorrelation function of a prolate symmetric top, , is used to find R(τ) for the dissociation of an [ABC*] complex in a single (J, K) level.
Nanostructured surfaces described by atomistic simulation methods (2003)

Three separate simulation techniques have been applied to study different problems involving nanostructured surfaces. In the first investigation the bonding of fullerene molecules on silicon and Ag adatoms and dimers on graphite are investigated using the PLATO density functional code. It is shown that in the first case there are strong covalent bonds formed whereas in the latter there are relatively weak bonds with small energy barriers between adjacent sites. Classical MD is used to show how energetic Ag clusters can be pinned on or implanted into a graphite surface and that the pinning thresholds and implantation depths agree with experiment. Finally a Monte Carlo model for cluster motion over a surface is described and related to pattern formation in the early stages of thin film growth.
A literatura oral e tradicional na Escola (2012)

The study and dissemination in school context of Portuguese oral and traditional literary texts, as it is universally acknowledged, may contribute to the construction of a more pluralistic, democratic and stimulating social and cultural environment: it not only promotes liberty of being and thinking and an organized and informed knowledge of Portuguese but also deepens citizenship education and the implementation of new cognitive abilities.We assume such points of view but we also propose a revision. Through a new scientific, pedagogic and didactic approach, it is possible to give more visibility to this contents, already present in the curricula of primary and secondary schools, but not yet fully explored in their communicational, literary and cultural virtualities.
Caveolin-1 promotes the tumor suppressor properties of oncogene-induced cellular senescence (2017)

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is considered a powerful tumor suppressor mechanism. Caveolin-1 acts as a scaffolding protein to functionally regulate signaling molecules. We demonstrate that a lack of caveolin-1 expression inhibits oncogenic K-Ras (K-Ras<sup>G12V</sup>)-induced premature senescence in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and normal human bronchial epithelial cells. Oncogenic K-Ras induces senescence by limiting the detoxification function of MTH1. We found that K-Ras<sup>G12V</sup> promotes the interaction of caveolin-1 with MTH1, which results in inhibition of MTH1 activity. Lung cancer cells expressing oncogenic K-Ras have bypassed the senescence barrier. Interestingly, overexpression of caveolin-1 restores cellular senescence in both A549 and H460 lung cancer cells and inhibits their transformed phenotype. In support of these findings, our <i>in vivo</i> data demonstrate that overexpression of oncogenic K-Ras (K-Ras<sup>G12D</sup>) induces cellular senescence in the lung of wildtype but not caveolin-1-null mice. A lack of K-Ras<sup>G12D</sup>-induced premature senescence in caveolin-1-null mice results in the formation of more abundant lung tumors. Consistent with these data, caveolin-1-null mice overexpressing K-Ras<sup>G12D</sup> display accelerated mortality. Finally, our animal data were supported by human sample analysis in which we show that caveolin-1 expression is dramatically down-regulated in lung adenocarcinomas from lung cancer patients, both at the mRNA and protein levels, and that low caveolin-1 expression is associated with poor survival. Together, our data suggest that lung cancer cells escape oncogene-induced premature senescence through down-regulation of caveolin-1 expression to progress from premalignant lesions to cancer.
Association of a <b><i>PARK2</i></b> Germline Variant and Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in a Southern Brazilian Population (2016)

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the eighth most common cancer among women in Brazil and seventh in the world population. OC has a high mortality rate and is difficult to diagnose. Currently, OC detection most often occurs at an advanced stage of the disease due to its silent progression, which contributes to the high mortality rate. Available genetic markers are not considered specifically enough for an initial and definite diagnosis. The association with new genes involved with OC can provide a better understanding of this pathology as well as contribute to the development of a marker scenario, providing an improvement in the treatment and survival of patients. The aim of this study was to examine the potential association between the PARK2 gene and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Accordingly, we conducted a study for which 25 patients and 87 controls were recruited. Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that the four studied tag SNPs (rs2803073, rs6930532, rs1040079, and rs2276201) were independent. Our results using the multivariate analysis between the additive and dominant model demonstrated that tag SNP rs2803073 of PARK2 is associated with susceptibility to EOC (p = 0.018, OR = 0.42). These findings suggest that hereditary variation in the PARK2 gene could influence EOC development mechanisms.
Somatic embryogenesis in Asparagus officinalis L. cv. Argenteuil: interactions between genotype, explant type and growth regulators on callus induction, growth and embryogenic differentiation. (2001)

Callus induction, growth and embryogenic differentiation were studied in two selected genotypes of Asparagus officinalis L. cv. Argenteuil, to develop a protocol for somatic embryogenesis. Two experiments were carried out. In the first, four explant types (spear sections and lateral buds, both of in vivo and in vitro origin), and three levels of 2,4-D (1.5, 5 and 10 mg.l-1) and two of KIN (0 and 1 mg.l-1) added to MS basal medium, were tested during the three initial culture stages (90 d period). All factors were included in one factorial design to statistically analyze interaction effects. Interactions between genotype, explant type and time of culture initiation were significant for callus induction and growth during the two initial culture stages. The addition of kinetin enhanced callus induction and growth, and high levels of 2,4-D depressed callus growth. The average embryogenic differentiation was < 2% overall (11% with the best factor combination). In the second experiment, another explant type (bud clusters) was tested; the average embryogenic differentiation was 1.9% (best combination: 5.6%). For the two genotypes studied, the best factor combinations were the culture of in vivo lateral buds or bud clusters on MS basal medium with 1.5 mg.l-1 2,4-D and 1 mg.l-1 KIN.
ChemInform Abstract: DURCH POLYMERE GESCHUETZTE REAGENTIEN 2. MITT. VERESTERUNGEN MIT (P)‐ALCL3 (1973)

Abstract An ein Copolymeres aus Styrol und Divinylbenzol gebundenes Aluminium= Chlorid (I), dessen Herstellung früher beschrieben wurde, kann als Veresterungs katalysator eingesetzt werden.
Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(amide‐imide)s containing hexafluoroisopropylidene linkage (1999)

A series of novel soluble poly(amide-imide)s were prepared from the diimide-dicarboxylic acid, 2,2-bis[N-(4-carboxyphenyl)-phthalimidyl]hexafluoropropane, with various diamines by the direct polycondensation in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone containing CaCl2 using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. All the polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities of 0.78–1.63 dL g−1. The polymers were amorphous and readily soluble in aprotic polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide as well as in less polar solvents such as pyridine and γ-butyrolactone, and also in tetrahydrofuran. The polymer films had tensile strength of 84–129 MPa, an elongation at break range of 6–22%, and a tensile modulus range of 2.0–2.7 GPa. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were determined by DSC method and they were in the range of 240–282°C. These polymers were fairly stable up to a temperature around or above 400°C, and lose 10% weight in the range of 450–514°C and 440–506°C in nitrogen and air, respectively. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2629–2635, 1999
Oligomeric α-Synuclein induces skin degeneration in a reconstructed human epidermis model (2021)

Abstract Cell senescence may promote epidermal inflammation and degeneration, termed as inflammaging, which is accompanied by keratinocyte loss, resulting in fine lines of wrinkles. Recent findings showed that healthy elderly skin expresses age- and neuron-related amyloidogenic proteins, such as tau, β-Amyloid34, and α-synuclein (α-Syn), typically found in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. These proteins form toxic aggregates that trigger inflammatory signals. Herein, we investigated the impact of oligomeric α-Syn (Oα-Syn) on the neurosphere (NP) and the reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) 3D models. First, we found the expression of α-Syn, β-Amyloid, and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the RHE. Second, we challenged the RHE and NP with Oα-Syn, which decreased RHE regeneration, measured by the percentage of cell proliferation and thickness of the stratum basale, but did not affect NP neurite outgrowth. Oα-Syn did not decrease the number of human neonatal epidermal keratinocytes (HEKn) but, as seen for the RHE, it also decreased the proliferation of HEKn. We confirmed that the oligomeric, and not the monomeric α-Syn species, accounted for the proliferation-decreasing effect. Oα-Syn also increased the NF-kB nuclear translocation in HEKn analyzed by nucleus/cytoplasm NF-κB fluorescence intensity. In addition, Oα-Syn triggered inflammation in the RHE, by increasing the mRNA levels of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the release of TNF-α in a time-dependent manner. These findings show that Oα-Syn does not affect neurite outgrowth but induces a decrease in keratinocyte proliferation along with epidermal inflammation. With our tridimensional models, we demonstrated that the neurodegenerative protein Oα-Syn also degenerates the epidermis, drawing attention to the need of target-based screening to prevent and treat the effects of skin aging.
Alzheimer disease: depiction of increased cerebral myo-inositol with proton MR spectroscopy. (1993)

To define altered metabolites in the brain of patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) of two brain regions, localized in vivo hydrogen-1 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy was performed with a short echo time (30 msec) in 11 elderly patients and 10 healthy age-matched subjects. The patients had mild to moderate dementia, assessed with standard neuropsychological tests. Two abnormalities in the patients' cerebral cortex were defined: When compared with healthy subjects, the patients showed a 22% increase (P = .005) (approximately equal to 1.5 mmol/kg) in myo-inositol (MI) and an 11% decrease (P = .005) in residues of N-acetyl (NA), a putative neuronal marker. The elevation of MI in patients with mild to moderate AD suggests that abnormalities in the inositol polyphosphate messenger pathway occur early in the natural history of AD. The combination of high MI and low NA at examination with H-1 MR spectroscopy shows promise as an early diagnostic test for AD.
Cover Picture: Rhodium‐Complex‐Linked Hybrid Biocatalyst: Stereo‐Controlled Phenylacetylene Polymerization within an Engineered Protein Cavity (ChemCatChem 5/2014) (2014)

Fancy a game of mutajenga? The cover picture represents the reengineering of a hybrid biocatalyst containg a rhodium complex within a β-barrel scaffold by computationally guided design and mutagesis as playing with building blocks to shape the circular wall. In their Full Paper on p. 1229 ff., K. Fukumoto et al. report how the hybrid biocatalyst with a covalently linked rhodium complex inside the cavity of nitrobindin promotes the polymerization of phenylacetylene. The appropriate structural optimization of the cavity by mutagenesis is found to provide polyphenylacetylene with a trans content of 82 % at 25 °C, pH 8.0. The X-ray crystal structure of the hybrid biocatalyst reveals that the rhodium complex is located in the -barrel cavity without any perturbation of the whole protein structure. The crystal structure and molecular modelling support the fact that the stereoselectivity is enhanced by effective control of monomer access to the rhodium complex within the limited space of the protein cavity.