gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Phospholipase A2 augments contraction and intracellular calcium mobilization through thromboxane A2 in bovine tracheal smooth muscle (1999)

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) induces hyper-sensitivity to muscarinic agonists in airway smooth muscle in vitro. The precise mechanism of this is unknown, but might involve altered calcium homeostasis. In order to elucidate the effects of PLA2, on bovine tracheal smooth muscle contraction, isometric tension and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were simultaneously measured in fura 2-loaded muscle strips. A high concentration of PLA2 (0.5 microg x mL(-1)) caused the muscle strips to contract, and this contractile response was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with indomethacin (IND; 10 microM), but not by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA; 10 microM). A low concentration of PLA2 (0.02 microg x mL(-1)) did not directly contract muscle strips. However a low concentration PLA2 significantly enhanced the threshold of the contractile response and that of the [Ca2+]i response to acetylcholine (ACh), but not that of the response to a high K+ concentration. These augmented responses to ACh returned to control levels after pretreatment with IND, a thromboxane (TX) synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046; 10 microM) or a TXA2 receptor antagonist (ONO-3708; 10 microM), but not after NDGA pretreatment. These results suggest that a low concentration of phospholipase A2 enhances smooth muscle responsiveness to acetylcholine by agonist-mediated Ca2+ mobilization facilitated by thromboxane A2. It is concluded that phospholipase A2 plays an important role in bronchial hypersensitivity involving thromboxane A2. It remains to be examined whether similar abnormalities in calcium homeostasis and muscarinic receptor function or coupling are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Preterm birth (2020)

This chapter discusses the epidemiology, prediction, prevention, and management of spontaneous preterm birth. Preterm birth is usually defined as delivery at any gestation before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy (<37<sup>+0</sup> weeks, <259 days). The lower limit of preterm birth and upper limit of late spontaneous miscarriage are blurred as the limit of viability varies with differences in healthcare settings. This condition remains one of the biggest challenges facing obstetricians globally as a result of continuing high rates of morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous preterm birth is caused by a complex collection of pathophysiology with overlapping environmental interactions and behavioural influences that contribute to individual risk. Much debate exists regarding best prevention therapies and there remains a huge need for novel therapies and interventions for both prediction and prevention
<i>Silybum marianum</i> cell cultures stably transformed with <i>Vitis vinifera</i> stilbene synthase accumulate <i>t</i>‐resveratrol in the extracellular medium after elicitation with methyl jasmonate or methylated β‐cyclodextrins (2017)

The growing demand for <i>t</i>-resveratrol for industrial uses has generated considerable interest in its production. Heterologous resveratrol production in plant cell suspensions, apart from requiring the introduction of only one or two genes, has the advantage of high biomass yield and a short cultivation time, and thus could be an option for large-scale production. <i>Silybum marianum</i> is the source of the flavonolignan silymarin. Phenylpropanoid synthesis in cultures of this species can be activated by elicitation with methyl jasmonate and methylated β-cyclodextrins, with products of the pathway (coniferyl alcohol and some isomers of the silymarin complex) being released into the medium. Given that stilbene synthase shares the same key precursors involved in flavonoid and /or monolignol biosynthesis, we explored the potential of metabolically engineered <i>S. marianum</i> cultures for <i>t</i>-resveratrol production. Cell suspensions were stably transformed with <i>Vitis vinifera</i> stilbene synthase 3 and the expression of the transgene led to extracellular <i>t</i>-resveratrol accumulation at the level of milligrams per litre under elicitation. Resveratrol synthesis occurred at the expense of coniferyl alcohol. Production of silymarin was less affected in the transgenic cultures, since the flavonoid pathway is limiting for its synthesis, due to the preferred supply of precursors for the monolignol branch. The fact that the expressed STS gene took excessively produced precursors of non-bioactive compounds (coniferyl alcohol), while keeping the metabolic flow for target secondary compounds (i.e. silymarin) unaltered, opens a way to extend the applications of plant cell cultures for the simultaneous production of both constitutive and foreign valuable metabolites.
The Settling of Small Particles in a Fluid (1924)

Settling of small particles in a fluid; mathematical theory.---Small particles immersed in a liquid experience a motion which is the combination of a steady gravitational drift and a Brownian movement. If there are space variations in the density of distribution of particles, the Brownian movement produces a diffusion which tends to equalize the density. In the steady state the density $n$ of particles is an exponential function of $x$, the distance below the surface of the liquid. This paper investigates the manner in which the steady state is established. A consideration of the combined effect of fall and diffusion leads to a partial differential equation for the number density of particles as a function of depth and time. A set of special solutions is obtained in terms of which a solution satisfying initial and boundary conditions can be expressed. (1) Liquid of finite depth. The solution is obtained for a liquid of finite depth with an arbitrary initial distribution ${n}_{0}=f(x)$. For the case of uniform initial distribution a reduced form of the solution is obtained which contains a single parameter. This one parameter family of curves is plotted, and from these curves, either directly or by interpolation, may be obtained the density distribution at any time for a solution of any depth, density, and viscosity, and for particles of any size and density. For small values of $t$, since the solution obtained converges slowly, an image method is used to obtain an integral formula for the density. (2) Liquid of semi-infinite or infinite depth. In the case of a liquid of infinite depth the solution for an arbitrary initial distribution is expressed by the Fourier integral identity. The case of zero initial density for negative $x$, and constant initial density for positive $x$ is calculated, as is also the case of particles initially uniformly distributed over a layer of depth $h$. In the case of a liquid extending from $x=0$ to $x=\ensuremath{\infty}$, the boundary conditions are satisfied by assuming a suitable fictitious initial distribution over the range from $x=\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\infty}$ to $x=0$. The cases of uniform initial distribution, and initial distribution over a layer, are calculated. The latter case, while derived for a liquid of semi-infinite depth, gives approximately the distribution of density during the settling of a layer of particles initially distributed uniformly over a depth $h$ at the upper end of a very long column of liquid.
Low expression of γ-glutamyl hydrolase mRNA in primary colorectal cancer with the CpG island methylator phenotype (2008)

The CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP+) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is defined as concomitant and frequent hypermethylation of CpG islands within gene promoter regions. We previously demonstrated that CIMP+ was associated with elevated concentrations of folate intermediates in tumour tissues. In the present study, we investigated whether CIMP+ was associated with a specific mRNA expression pattern for folate- and nucleotide-metabolising enzymes. An exploratory study was conducted on 114 CRC samples from Australia. mRNA levels for 17 genes involved in folate and nucleotide metabolism were measured by real-time RT-PCR. CIMP+ was determined by real-time methylation-specific PCR and compared to mRNA expression. Candidate genes showing association with CIMP+ were further investigated in a replication cohort of 150 CRC samples from Japan. In the exploratory study, low expression of γ-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) was strongly associated with CIMP+ and CIMP+-related clinicopathological and molecular features. Trends for inverse association between GGH expression and the concentration of folate intermediates were also observed. Analysis of the replication cohort confirmed that GGH expression was significantly lower in CIMP+ CRC. Promoter hypermethylation of GGH was observed in only 5.6% (1 out of 18) CIMP+ tumours and could not account for the low expression level of this gene. CIMP+ CRC is associated with low expression of GGH, suggesting involvement of the folate pathway in the development and/or progression of this phenotype. Further studies of folate metabolism in CIMP+ CRC may help to elucidate the aetiology of these tumours and to predict their response to anti-folates and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin.
Targeted Inactivation of<i>Francisella tularensis</i>Genes by Group II Introns (2008)

Studies of the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, have been hampered by a lack of genetic techniques for rapid targeted gene disruption in the most virulent subspecies. Here we describe efficient targeted gene disruption in F. tularensis utilizing mobile group II introns (targetrons) specifically optimized for F. tularensis. Utilizing a targetron targeted to blaB, which encodes ampicillin resistance, we showed that the system works at high efficiency in three different subspecies: F. tularensis subsp. tularensis, F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, and "F. tularensis subsp. novicida." A targetron was also utilized to inactivate F. tularensis subsp. holarctica iglC, a gene required for virulence. The iglC gene is located within the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI), which has been duplicated in the most virulent subspecies. Importantly, the iglC targetron targeted both copies simultaneously, resulting in a strain mutated in both iglC genes in a single step. This system will help illuminate the contributions of specific genes, and especially those within the FPI, to the pathogenesis of this poorly studied organism.
Characterisation of a novel amylosucrase from <i>Deinococcus radiodurans</i> (2005)

The BLAST search for amylosucrases has yielded several gene sequences of putative amylosucrases, however, with various questionable annotations. The putative encoded proteins share 32-48% identity with Neisseria polysaccharea amylosucrase (AS) and contain several amino acid residues proposed to be involved in AS specificity. First, the B-domains of the putative proteins and AS are highly similar. In addition, they also reveal additional residues between putative beta-strand 7 and alpha-helix 7 which could correspond to the AS B'-domain, which turns the active site into a deep pocket. Finally, conserved Asp and Arg residues could form a salt bridge similar to that found in AS, which is responsible for the glucosyl unit transfer specificity. Among these found genes, locus NP_294657.1 (dras) identified in the Deinococcus radiodurans genome was initially annotated as an alpha-amylase encoding gene. The putative encoded protein (DRAS) shares 42% identity with N. polysaccharea AS. To investigate the activity of this protein, gene NP_294657.1 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. When acting on sucrose, the pure recombinant enzyme was shown to catalyse insoluble amylose polymer synthesis accompanied by side-reactions (sucrose hydrolysis, sucrose isomer and soluble maltooligosaccharide formation). Kinetic analyses further showed that DRAS follows a non-Michaelian behaviour toward sucrose substrate and is activated by glycogen, as is AS. This demonstrates that gene NP_294657.1 encodes an amylosucrase.
Catalysts for selective hydrogenation of soybean oil. III. Hydrogenation catalysts prepared on molecular sieves and other supports (1964)

Abstract A survey of nickel, platinum and palladium catalysts prepared on silicas, aluminas and mo‐lecular sieves indicated that the nature of such supports contributed importantly to selective hydrogenation of soybean oil. Nickel‐molecular sieve catalysts provided both high hydrogenation selectivity and low trans‐ isomer formation. Some kind of spatial hindrance may be postulated in explanation of the results.
In vitro association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity with the activated insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. (1992)

We previously have shown that insulin treatment of cells greatly increases the activity of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in immunoprecipitates made with an antibody to phosphotyrosine. However, the association of PI 3-kinase activity with the activated insulin receptor is not significant under these conditions. In the present study, we have attempted to reconstitute the association of PI 3-kinase activity with the activated insulin receptor in vitro. PI 3-kinase activity does indeed associate with the autophosphorylated insulin receptor in our in vitro system. The autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor and/or its associated conformational change appear to be necessary for the association of PI 3-kinase activity with the receptor, since kinase negative receptor failed to bind PI 3-kinase activity. After binding, PI 3-kinase or its associated protein seems to be released from the activated receptor after the completion of its tyrosine phosphorylation by the receptor. Tyr960 in the juxtamembrane region of the insulin receptor beta-subunit seems to be involved in the association of PI 3-kinase activity with the receptor, but not C terminus region of the beta-subunit including two tyrosine autophosphorylation sites (Tyr1316 and Tyr1322). The in vitro assay system for the association of PI 3-kinase activity with the insulin receptor can be utilized to study the mechanism of interaction of these molecules and will be an useful method to detect other associated molecules with the insulin receptor.
A P-glycoprotein homologue of Plasmodium falciparum is localized on the digestive vacuole. (1991)

Resistance to chloroquine in Plasmodium falciparum bears a striking similarity to the multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotype of mammalian tumor cells which is mediated by overexpression of P-glycoprotein. We show here that the P. falciparum homologue of the P-glycoprotein (Pgh1) is a 160,000-D protein that is expressed throughout the asexual erythrocytic life cycle of the parasite. Quantitative immunoblotting analysis has shown that the protein is expressed at approximately equal levels in chloroquine resistant and sensitive isolates suggesting that overexpression of Pgh1 is not essential for chloroquine resistance. The chloroquine-resistant cloned line FAC8 however, does express approximately threefold more Pgh1 protein than other isolates which is most likely because of the increased pfmdr1 gene copy number present in this isolate. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy has demonstrated that Pgh1 is localized on the membrane of the digestive vacuole of mature parasites. This subcellular localization suggests that Pgh1 may modulate intracellular chloroquine concentrations and has important implications for the normal physiological function of this protein.
Super-Resolution for Synthetic Zooming (2006)

Optical zooming is an important feature of imaging systems. In this paper, we investigate a low-cost signal processing alternative to optical zooming—synthetic zooming by super-resolution (SR) techniques. Synthetic zooming is achieved by registering a sequence of low-resolution (LR) images acquired at varying focal lengths and reconstructing the SR image at a larger focal length or increased spatial resolution. Under the assumptions of constant scene depth and zooming speed, we argue that the motion trajectories of all physical points are related to each other by a unique vanishing point and present a robust technique for estimating its D coordinate. Such a line-geometry-based registration is the foundation of SR for synthetic zooming. We address the issue of data inconsistency arising from the varying focal length of optical lens during the zooming process. To overcome the difficulty of data inconsistency, we propose a two-stage Delaunay-triangulation-based interpolation for fusing the LR image data. We also present a PDE-based nonlinear deblurring to accommodate the blindness and variation of sensor point spread functions. Simulation results with real-world images have verified the effectiveness of the proposed SR techniques for synthetic zooming.
Adherence issues in children and adolescents receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (2003)

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) for the treatment of paediatric HIV infection poses additional adherence challenges for children and families living with HIV A preliminary survey of 18 parents of children receiving HAART in Australia showed that although parents report high level of child adherence to HAART, specific features of the medication regimen, such as taste and number of medications made administration of HAART extremely difficult.Moreover, interaction between the treatment regimen and the day-to-day lives of families increases the adherence challenge. While some agreement exists in relation to the concerns families have about negative aspects of HAART; the diversity of issues suggests the need for ongoing and individualized support and information to families.
Modeling, Control, and Flight Testing of a Small-Ducted Fan Aircraft (2006)

Small ducted fan autonomous vehicles have potential for several applications, especially for mi ssions in urban environments. This paper discusses the use of dynamic inversion with neural network adaptation to provide an adaptive controller for the GTSpy, a small ducted fan autonomous vehicle based on the Micro Autonomous Systems’ Helispy. This app roach allows utilization of the entire low speed flight envelope with a relatively poorly understood vehicle. A simulator model is constructed from a force and moment analysis of the vehicle, allowing for a validation of the controller in preparation for flight testing. Data from flight testing of the system is provided. Nomenclature B A A 2 1 ˆ , ˆ , ˆ = linearized vehicle dynamics a
Vascular endothelial growth factor: its effects on perineonates (2004)

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important angiogenic factor, which mainly produced by vascular endothelial cells. It plays potent roles in angiogenesis and maintenance of integrity and permeability of blood vessels. So the growth of embryo and fetus depends upon VEGF. The abnormal secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor greatly affects the perineonates.
Mobilization of heavy metals from historical smelting slag dumps, north Queensland, Australia (2002)

Abstract Slag dumps occur at several historical smelting sites in north Queensland, Australia. The microcrystalline slags contain primary slag phases, relict flux, ore and furnace materials and secondary weathering related minerals. Common primary slag phases are glass, Zn-rich fayalite (± Zn-rich kirschsteinite) and Zn-rich hedenbergite. Other minor minerals include wollastonite, Zn-rich melilite, Zn-rich iscorite (Fe 7 SiO 10 ), magnetite as well as a number of sulphides (pyrrhotite, galena, bornite, sphalerite, wurtzite), metallic phases (Ag, Cu, Pb, Sb), alloys (Cu 3 Sn), and unknown metal compounds. The slag materials contain wt.% concentrations of Zn and elevated levels of Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and W. Glass, hedenbergite and fayalite/kirschsteinite are the main repositories of Zn, whereas much of the Cu and Pb is hosted by glass, sulphides, Cu 3 Sn alloys, metallic Cu and Pb, and unknown CuSb, AsSnPb and FeAsCu compounds. The slags are undergoing contemporaneous reaction with air and rainwater. The weathering results in the release of metals and metalloids from primary slag phases, particularly from glass, and the partial immobilization of these metals in secondary soluble and insoluble minerals in the slag heaps. Zinc exhibits pronounced chemical mobility and reports together with elevated Ca and sulphate into surface seepages (up to 10.2 mg l −1 Zn at pH 6.97). The slag dumps represent long-term sources of metal pollutants, particularly of Zn, to local ground and surface waters.
Construction and Characterization of <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i> Strains That Accumulate and Excrete α- and β- Isopropylmalate (1980)

Two Salmonella typhimurium strains, which could be used as sources for the leucine biosynthetic intermediates alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate were constructed by a series of P22-mediated transductions. One strain, JK527 [flr-19 leuA2010 Delta(leuD-ara)798 fol-162], accumulated and excreted alpha-isopropylmalate, whereas the second strain, JK553 (flr-19 leuA2010 leuB698), accumulated and excreted alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate. The yield of alpha-isopropylmalate isolated from the culture medium of JK527 was more than five times the amount obtained from a comparable volume of medium in which Neurospora crassa strain FLR(92)-1-216 (normally used as the source for alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate) was grown. Not only was the yield greater, but S. typhimurium strains are much easier to handle and grow to saturation much faster than N. crassa strains. The combination of the two regulatory mutations flr-19, which results in constitutive expression of the leucine operon, and leuA2010, which renders the first leucine-specific biosynthetic enzyme insensitive to feedback inhibition by leucine, generated limitations in the production of valine and pantothenic acid. The efficient, irreversible, and unregulated conversion of alpha-ketoisovaleric acid into alpha-isopropylmalate (alpha-isopropylmalate synthetase K(m) for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, 6 x 10(-5) M) severely restricted the amount of alpha-ketoisovaleric acid available for conversion into valine and pantothenic acid (ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase K(m) for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, 1.1 x 10(-3) M; transaminase B K(m) for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, 2 x 10(-3) M).
Combining matching scores in identification model (2005)

The paper discusses a problem of combining recognition scores for different classes produced by one recognizer during one recognition attempt. This problem arises in identification problems which we define as 1:N classification problems with big or variable N. By using artificial example we show that intuitive solution of making identification decision based solely on the best matching score is frequently suboptimal. Paper presents reasons for such behavior, and draws parallels with score normalization technique used in speaker identification. Two examples of real life applications illustrate the possible benefits of properly combining recognition scores.
Oral ‘hydrogen water’ induces neuroprotective ghrelin secretion in mice (2013)

The therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen (H₂) is emerging in a number of human diseases and in their animal models, including in particular Parkinson's disease (PD). H₂ supplementation of drinking water has been shown to exert disease-modifying effects in PD patients and neuroprotective effects in experimental PD model mice. However, H₂ supplementation does not result in detectable changes in striatal H₂ levels, indicating an indirect effect. Here we show that H₂ supplementation increases gastric expression of mRNA encoding ghrelin, a growth hormone secretagogue, and ghrelin secretion, which are antagonized by the β1-adrenoceptor blocker, atenolol. Strikingly, the neuroprotective effect of H₂ water was abolished by either administration of the ghrelin receptor-antagonist, D-Lys(3) GHRP-6, or atenolol. Thus, the neuroprotective effect of H₂ in PD is mediated by enhanced production of ghrelin. Our findings point to potential, novel strategies for ameliorating pathophysiology in which a protective effect of H₂ supplementation has been demonstrated.