gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Vascular system of intramural leiomyomata revealed by corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy (2003)

During development of leiomyoma, the pre-existing blood vessels undergo regression and new vessels invade the tumour from the periphery, where intense angiogenesis, probably promoted by growth factors secreted by the tumour, leads to the formation of a 'vascular capsule' responsible for supply of blood to the growing tumour.
Taxonomy of payments: a repertory grid analysis (2017)

Purpose Recent innovations in payment instruments have fundamentally changed the ways we pay. These innovations, such as mobile/SMS payments and online banking, contain features that are likely to influence how people choose to pay. The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors that impact payers’ choice of payment instruments. Design/methodology/approach Through in-depth interviews using the repertory grid technique, the authors explored 15 payers’ perceptions of six payment instruments, including coins, banknotes, debit cards, credit cards, mobile payments, and online banking. The approach draws heavily on organizational systematics to better understand payers’ choice of payment instruments. Findings A four-category taxonomy of payments was developed. The authors refer to the taxonomy as the 4Ps: the purchase, the payer, the payment instrument, and the physical technology. The taxonomy comprises 16 payment characteristics consisting 76 payment features that influence payers’ instrument choice. One characteristic not known in prior research was identified – that is, “cancellation” – a characteristic more frequently associated with digital payment instruments than with cash or checks. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest that payers view payment instruments in a much broader sense, including context, control, or cultural beliefs. Consequently, the authors suggest that researchers try to understand the essence of an innovation before assuming any economic rationalism in human or organizational behavior. The authors also urge researchers to understand the underlying meaning behind constructs of interest; as this study has shown that concepts like context and convenience have many different interpretations. Practical implications According to McKinsey (2014) there are over 12,000 startups in the payment arena. For them, the taxonomy can function as a template for the design of payment instruments, as well as understanding the various factors that influence payer choice of payment instruments. Originality/value The main contribution of this paper is the 4Ps taxonomy of payments. The taxonomy builds on and extends the work by Hirschman (1982). Since this work, and despite recent trends in payments, there has not been a comprehensive investigation that takes into account more recent innovations in payment instruments.
Estrogen(s) and Analogs as a Non-Immunogenic Endogenous Ligand in Targeted Drug/DNA Delivery (2007)

The maximum therapeutic potentials of pharmacologically active molecules are generally not attained due to their non specific delivery. Ligands associated with drug or delivery system through which it is delivered provide navigation and direction to the carrier system(s) so as to reach and release bioactive(s) at the desired site of action in a optimum therapeutic concentration vis a vis minimizing the undesired side effects associated with non specific delivery. Many ligands employed and implicated in targeted drug delivery have been reportedly found to be mild to strong immunogenic. Hence, their potential utility is considered to be compromised in achieving concept of magic bullet. Therefore endogenous ligand (bio self molecules) based drug/DNA delivery may be a better alternative they being biocomponents so are non-immunogenic and biocompatible per se. Estrogens and their receptors are over expressed in the several pathophysiological conditions including cardiovascular, osteoarthritis and cancer of prostate and ovaries etc. The selective high density of such portal may be utilized for targeting such estrogen receptor rich sites. The several scientific communities from various fields of specialization of science have explored estrogen(s) and their analogs for the purpose of targeting of bioactive(s) either by preparing estrogen-drug conjugates of using estrogens as site-directing ligands attached with various carrier system(s). This review presents an exhaustive account of how hormones especially estrogens and their derivatives could be used for site-specific delivery of bioactive(s), as diagnostic agents and also the future prospects of these bioligands in controlled and targeted clinical pharmacology. Estrogen-drug conjugates and various carrier systems that utilized estrogens as ligands for site-specific delivery have been reviewed and are discussed in detail.
Macromol. Mater. Eng. 8/2007 (2007)

Cover: The two photo images of water droplets on the cover show the contact angles of SBR + PNIPA film at 25 and 45°C. As the graph shows, the surface wettability of the SBR + PNIPA film changes drastically at 41°C. Further details can be found in the article by N. Mori, * H. Horikawa, H. Furukawa, and T. Watanabe on page 917.
3′-Deoxy-3′-<sup>18</sup>F-Fluorothymidine PET Predicts Response to <sup>V600E</sup>BRAF-Targeted Therapy in Preclinical Models of Colorectal Cancer (2013)

We used preclinical models of CRC to demonstrate (18)F-FLT PET as a sensitive predictor of response to (V600E)BRAF inhibitors. Because (18)F-FLT PET predicted reduced proliferation associated with attenuation of BRAF downstream effectors, yet (18)F-FDG PET did not, these data suggest that (18)F-FLT PET may represent an alternative to (18)F-FDG PET for quantifying clinical responses to BRAF inhibitors.
Clinical application of a rapid method using agarose gel electrophoresis and Western blotting to evaluate von Willebrand factor protease activity (2001)

A method for evaluating the activity of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) protease is described, and a clinical application is illustrated. The procedure utilizes gel electrophoresis, Western blotting, and luminographic detection methods to evaluate the distribution of vWF multimers before and after incubation of clinical samples under conditions that favor proteolysis by this enzyme. Physiologically, the high-molecular-weight multimers of vWF are cleaved by the vWF protease under conditions of high shear stress in parts of the arterial circulation; cleavage of vWF multimers is also observed after exposure of vWF to denaturing agents in vitro and thus can serve as a laboratory test for the activity of the protease. vWF protease activity is decreased or absent in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura due to an inhibiting autoantibody, and this leads to high levels of noncleaved vWF and to life-threatening thrombosis, thrombocytopenia and anemia. The assay evaluates the activity of the protease by assessing the cleavage of vWF multimers after patient plasmas are incubated in vitro under denaturing conditions. With the use of these electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques, patient plasmas can be rapidly assessed for the activity of the vWF protease which may aid in the treatment strategy for these patients.
Translational reinitiation in the presence and absence of a Shine and Dalgarno sequence (1989)

The process of translational reinitiation in Escherichia coli was studied in a two cistron system where expression of the downstream reporter gene was dependent on translation of an upstream reading frame. The dependence was almost absolute. Upstream translation increased expression of the downstream gene by two to three orders of magnitude. This large difference allowed us to quantitate restarts in a meaningful manner. In the absence of a Shine and Dalgarno (SD) region reinitiation occurred but its efficiency was about 10% of that found in the SD carrying counterpart. We discuss three ways by which translational coupling between neighboring cistrons can be enforced.
Molecular evidence of synaptic pathology in the CA1 region in schizophrenia (2016)

Alterations of postsynaptic density (PSD)95-complex proteins in schizophrenia ostensibly induce deficits in synaptic plasticity, the molecular process underlying cognitive functions. Although some PSD95-complex proteins have been previously examined in the hippocampus in schizophrenia, the status of other equally important molecules is unclear. This is especially true in the cornu ammonis (CA)1 hippocampal subfield, a region that is critically involved in the pathophysiology of the illness. We thus performed a quantitative immunoblot experiment to examine PSD95 and several of its associated proteins in the CA1 region, using post mortem brain samples derived from schizophrenia subjects with age-, sex-, and post mortem interval-matched controls (n=20/group). Our results indicate a substantial reduction in PSD95 protein expression (-61.8%). Further analysis showed additional alterations to the scaffold protein Homer1 (Homer1a: +42.9%, Homer1b/c: -24.6%), with a twofold reduction in the ratio of Homer1b/c:Homer1a isoforms (P=0.011). Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) protein levels were significantly reduced (-32.7%), and Preso, a protein that supports interactions between Homer1 or PSD95 with mGluR1, was elevated (+83.3%). Significant reduction in synaptophysin (-27.8%) was also detected, which is a validated marker of synaptic density. These findings support the presence of extensive molecular abnormalities to PSD95 and several of its associated proteins in the CA1 region in schizophrenia, offering a small but significant step toward understanding how proteins in the PSD are altered in the schizophrenia brain, and their relevance to overall hippocampal and cognitive dysfunction in the illness.
Endothelial, Sympathetic, and Cardiac Function in Inherited (6 <i>R</i> )- <scp>l</scp> -Erythro-5,6,7,8-Tetrahydro- <scp>l</scp> -Biopterin Deficiency (2010)

Sympathetic, cardiac, and endothelial functions are preserved in patients with GCH1 mutations despite a neurological phenotype, reduced plasma biopterin, and norepinepherine and epinephrine concentrations. Lifelong endogenous BH4 deficiency may elicit developmental adaptation through mechanisms that are inaccessible during acquired BH4 deficiency in adulthood.
Semi-Automated, Occupationally Safe Immunofluorescence Microtip Sensor for Rapid Detection of Mycobacterium Cells in Sputum (2014)

An occupationally safe (biosafe) sputum liquefaction protocol was developed for use with a semi-automated antibody-based microtip immunofluorescence sensor. The protocol effectively liquefied sputum and inactivated microorganisms including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while preserving the antibody-binding activity of Mycobacterium cell surface antigens. Sputum was treated with a synergistic chemical-thermal protocol that included moderate concentrations of NaOH and detergent at 60°C for 5 to 10 min. Samples spiked with M. tuberculosis complex cells showed approximately 10(6)-fold inactivation of the pathogen after treatment. Antibody binding was retained post-treatment, as determined by analysis with a microtip immunosensor. The sensor correctly distinguished between Mycobacterium species and other cell types naturally present in biosafe-treated sputum, with a detection limit of 100 CFU/mL for M. tuberculosis, in a 30-minute sample-to-result process. The microtip device was also semi-automated and shown to be compatible with low-cost, LED-powered fluorescence microscopy. The device and biosafe sputum liquefaction method opens the door to rapid detection of tuberculosis in settings with limited laboratory infrastructure.
A Chemical Study of <i>Burley Tobacco</i> Flavour (<i>Nicotiana tabacum L.</i>). II. Medium‐Volatile, free Acidic Constituents (b.p. ∼84–114°/0.001 Torr) (1972)

Abstract The acidic part of a fraction b.p. 84–114°/0.001 Torr from Burley Tobacco condensate was investigated. Among the 22 compounds identified, 9 appeared to be new tobacco flavour components. This result increased to 208, the total number of Burley tobacco constituents so far isolated and identified in this laboratory.
Utilization of nanotechnology to enhance percutaneous absorption of acyclovir in the treatment of herpes simplex viral infections (2015)

This study aimed to formulate an optimized acyclovir (ACV) nanoemulsion hydrogel in order to provide a solution for the slow, variable, and incomplete oral drug absorption in patient suffering from herpes simplex viral infection. Solubility of ACV in different oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants was explored utilizing a cubic model mixture design to obtain a nanoemulsion with minimum globule size. Preparation of an optimized ACV nanoemulsion hydrogel using a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken statistical design was conducted. The molecular weight of chitosan (X1), percentage of chitosan (X2), and percentage of Eugenol as a skin permeation enhancer (X3) were selected to study their effects on hydrogel spreadability (Y1) and percent ACV permeated through rat skin after 2.5 hours (Y2). A pharmacokinetic study of the optimized ACV nanoemulsion hydrogel was conducted in rats. Mixtures of clove oil and castor oil (3:1 ratio), Tween 80 and Span 80 (3:1 ratio), and propylene glycol and Myo-6V (3:1 ratio) were selected as the oil, surfactant, and cosurfactant phases, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the molecular weight of chitosan has a significant antagonistic effect on spreadability, but has no significant effect on the percent ACV permeated. The percentage of chitosan also has a significant antagonistic effect on the spreadability and percent ACV permeated. On the other hand, the percentage of Eugenol has a significant synergistic effect on percent ACV permeated, with no effect on spreadability. The ex vivo study demonstrated that the optimized ACV nanoemulsion hydrogel showed a twofold and 1.5-fold higher permeation percentage than the control gel and marketed cream, respectively. The relative bioavailability of the optimized ACV nanoemulsion hydrogel improved to 535.2% and 244.6% with respect to the raw ACV hydrogel and marketed cream, respectively, confirming improvement of the relative bioavailability of ACV in the formulated nanoemulsion hydrogel.
Insights into genetic variants associated with NASH-fibrosis from metabolite profiling (2020)

Several genetic discoveries robustly implicate five single-nucleotide variants in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and fibrosis (NASH-fibrosis), including a recently identified variant in MTARC1. To better understand these variants as potential therapeutic targets, we aimed to characterize their impact on metabolism using comprehensive metabolomics data from two population-based studies. A total of 9135 participants from the Fenland study and 9902 participants from the EPIC-Norfolk cohort were included in the study. We identified individuals with risk alleles associated with NASH-fibrosis: rs738409C>G in PNPLA3, rs58542926C>T in TM6SF2, rs641738C>T near MBOAT7, rs72613567TA>T in HSD17B13 and rs2642438A>G in MTARC1. Circulating levels of 1449 metabolites were measured using targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Associations between NASH-fibrosis variants and metabolites were assessed using linear regression. The specificity of variant-metabolite associations were compared to metabolite associations with ultrasound-defined steatosis, gene variants linked to liver fat (in GCKR, PPP1R3B and LYPLAL1) and gene variants linked to cirrhosis (in HFE and SERPINA1). Each NASH-fibrosis variant demonstrated a specific metabolite profile with little overlap (8/97 metabolites) comprising diverse aspects of lipid metabolism. Risk alleles in PNPLA3 and HSD17B13 were both associated with higher 3-methylglutarylcarnitine and three variants were associated with lower lysophosphatidylcholine C14:0. The risk allele in MTARC1 was associated with higher levels of sphingomyelins. There was no overlap with metabolites that associated with HFE or SERPINA1 variants. Our results suggest a link between the NASH-protective variant in MTARC1 to the metabolism of sphingomyelins and identify distinct molecular patterns associated with each of the NASH-fibrosis variants under investigation.
Presence or absence of TrKA protein distinguishes subsets of small sensory neurons with unique cytochemical characteristics and dorsal horn projections (1995)

Abstract Investigations into the biological actions of nerve growth factor (NGF) have shown that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons subserving nociception require NGF for survival and maintenance of phenotype. This discovery suggests that the signaling NGF receptor, TrkA, can be used as a marker for nociceptive neurons. In this study, we have used antibodies to TrkA, in conjunction with cell biological markers that show a restricted distribution in the DRG, to further characterize subsets of DRG neurons that are dependent upon NGF. Staining for TrkA labeled small and medium‐sized neurons that composed 47% of all neurons in thoracic ganglia. Double‐labeling with antibodies to the high molecular weight neurofilament protein (NFH), a marker for neurons with myelinated axons, demonstrated that TrkA staining is found in only a small subset of myelinated neurons. Surprisingly, many DRG neurons were not labeled by either TrkA or NFH. These neurons had small soma areas, contained the intermediate filament protein peripherin, and were labeled by the lectin BSI, identifying them as neurons likely to have unmyelinated axons. In addition, small TrkA–negative neurons were extensively labeled by antibodies to the intermediate filament protein γ‐internexin, the delta isoform of protein kinase C, and by the BSI isolectin BSI‐B 4 . In order to assess the potential functions of TrkA–negative small neurons, we examined their projections to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. TrkA–immunoreactivity in the spinal cord was restricted to lamina I and the outer region of lamina II (II 0 ), similar to staining for calcitonin gene‐related peptide. In contrast, the central projections of TrkA–negative neurons, as visualized by BSI‐B 4 staining, were particularly dense in lamina II i . Our results suggest that TrkA‐expressing and non‐TrkA‐expressing small neurons compose functionally distinct populations of DRG neurons. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Novel Method of Assessment of Spurt and Filtrate Related Formation Damage Potential of Drilling and Drilling-in Fluids (2003)

Abstract Solids as well as the liquid phases of drilling muds invade and interact with reservoir formations that contain oil and gas. These invasion and interactions change the formation permeability and in extreme cases may stop the fluid flow from the reservoir to the wellbore. The damage caused by mud spurt and drilling mud filtrate can influence the log response significantly due to the change in near borehole permeability and displacement of formation fluids by the mud filtrate. This dictates the assessment of the spurt and filtrate related formation damage potential of drilling muds and drill-in fluids to screen and select the best fluid for drilling the reservoir section of the borehole. This paper describes a novel method to highlight the formation damage potential of drilling muds by assessing the erosional characteristics of mudcakes formed by different mud systems. A unique test procedure and a novel test facility have been developed for experimental determination of mud spurt and filtrate related formation damage potential of different muds and drill-in fluids. The test set up consists of a wooden bridge to fix the mud agitator, an erosion cell for closed loop circulation of eroding fluid, a mud agitator to simulate the hydrodynamic condition of the borehole-drill collar annular section, a lab jack to elevate the erosion cell to a desired height to maintain a constant clearance between the borehole wall (filter paper) and the extreme end of the rotating shaft. Experimental results indicate significant variations in the erosion coefficients of mudcakes for an identical hydrodynamic condition and clearance between the borehole wall and the end point of a rotating shaft. Cakes formed by several water-based muds were evaluated using the newly developed technique. The results indicate that the presence of electrolyte increases the erosion coefficient of bentonite mudcake and thus significantly increases the damaging potential of bentonite mud. Ionic fluid loss additives such as PAC and CMC reduced the erosion behaviour of salt water-based bentonite mudcake and thus indicate their ability to reduce the spurt and filtrate related formation damage. The presence of non-ionic fluid loss additive ‘modified starch’ shows little improvement of erosional behaviour of salt water-based mudcake and thus indicates severe formation damage potential if the reservoir section is drilled using this type of drilling muds.
Hemodynamic alterations in venous blood flow produced by external pneumatic compression. (1993)

Venous stasis associated with prolonged bed rest can enhance the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Pneumatic compression of the lower extremities can reduce this risk by preventing venous stasis. When selecting a method of leg compression for their patients, physicians must chose between two distinctly different types of compression devices. One device applies pressure with a single-chambered sleeve to the below knee region while the other applies pressure in a sequential gradient fashion from the ankle to the thigh. The current prospective study was designed to evaluated the ability of two such devices to increase blood flow in the profunda femoral vein. Venous blood flow velocity, compression time, and vein diameter were measured in nine normal experimental subjects using an Accuson duplex-Doppler before, during and after leg compression. Compression with the single-chambered device produced a significant rise in venous blood flow velocity; however, this could not be maintained and our results indicate a higher average velocity was achieved with the sequential gradient device. The sequential gradient device also moved a greater volume of blood and achieved a higher average blood flow rate. The time between deflation of the sleeve and return of a phasic respiratory signal was greater after compression with the sequential gradient device. These results suggest that sequential gradient compression produces the type of hemodynamic alterations needed to reduce the risk of DVT by achieving a sustained increase in venous blood flow and more completely emptying of the veins in the leg.