gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Mannose-Binding Activity of <i>Escherichia coli:</i> a Determinant of Attachment and Ingestion of the Bacteria by Macrophages (1980)

Recently, it was suggested that a mannose-specific lectin on the bacterial cell surface is responsible for the recognition by phagocytic cells of certain nonopsonized Escherichia coli strains. In this study we assessed the interaction of two strains of E. coli at different phases of growth with a monolayer of mouse peritoneal macrophages and developed a direct method with [(14)C]mannan to quantitate the bacterial mannose-binding activity. Normal-sized bacteria were obtained from logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. Nonseptated filamentous cells were formed by growing the organisms in the presence of cephalexin or at a restrictive temperature. Attachment to macrophages of all bacterial forms was inhibited by methyl alpha-d-mannoside and mannan but not by other sugars tested. The attachment of stationary phase and filamentous bacteria to macrophages, as well as their mannose-binding activity, was similar, whereas in the exponential-phase bacteria they were markedly reduced. The results show a linear relation between the two parameters (R = 0.98, P < 0.001). The internalization of the filamentous cells attached to macrophages during 45 min of incubation was much less efficient (20%) compared to that of exponential-phase, stationary-phase, or antibody-coated filamentous bacteria (90%). The results indicate that the mannose-binding activity of E. coli determines the recognition of the organisms by phagocytes. They further suggest that administration of beta-lactam antibiotics may impair elimination of certain pathogenic bacteria by inducing the formation of filaments which are inefficiently internalized by the host's phagocytic cells.
chiro-inositol deficiency and insulin resistance: a comparison of the chiro-inositol- and the myo-inositol-containing insulin mediators isolated from urine, hemodialysate, and muscle of control and type II diabetic subjects. (1993)

chiro- and myo-Inositols are major components of the two inositol phosphoglycan mediators of insulin action. Previous work in this laboratory has shown hypo-chiro-inositoluria in type II diabetic subjects and decreased chiro-inositol in mediator prepared from skeletal-muscle biopsies of Pima Indian diabetic subjects together with increased myo-inositol concentrations. Because mediator bioactivity was not previously examined, we decided to isolate the two types of insulin mediator from hemodialysate, urine, and autopsy muscle to investigate their bioactivity in control and type II diabetic subjects. Human mediator fractions were isolated at pH 2.0 and pH 1.3 from hemodialysate, urine, and autopsy muscle of type II diabetic subjects and nondiabetic control subjects. Mediators were assayed for bioactivity, and the relative chiro-inositol/myo-inositol concentration ratio was determined for the mediator pH 2.0 samples by using HPLC or GC/MS. Regardless of source, the chiro-inositol-containing mediator pH 2.0 fractions from type II diabetic subjects were markedly less active than those from controls (50% or less) (P < 0.05). In addition, the chiro-inositol/myo-inositol ratio in samples from type II subjects was significantly reduced (1/3-1/9) compared with controls (P < 0.05 for hemodialysate and P < 0.01 for muscle samples). In contrast, no difference in bioactivity was seen in myo-inositol-containing mediator pH 1.3 samples isolated from the same type II diabetic and control subjects. In type II diabetes there is a generalized deficiency of chiro-inositol mediator in the body in terms of both decreased chiro-inositol mediator (pH 2.0) bioactivity and chiro-inositol content.
Hydration Kinetics and Microstructure Development of Normal and CaCl<sub>2</sub>-Accelerated Tricalcium Silicate Pastes (2009)

Microstructure development and the kinetics of hydration of pure tricalcium silicate (C3S) and CaCl2-accelerated C3S pastes were investigated by performing isothermal calorimetry and in situ small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements on parallel specimens during the first few days of hydration, as well as on 28-day old specimens hydrated under the same curing conditions (water/cement ratio = 0.5, 20 °C). Calorimetry experiments were also performed over a range of hydration temperatures from 10 to 40 °C. The calorimetry data were analyzed by applying a previously described boundary nucleation and growth model. The model indicates that CaCl2 significantly increases the rate of nucleation of hydration product on the surface of the C3S particles but has relatively little effect on the product growth rate. The SANS measurements indicate that the composition and density of the calcium−silicate−hydrate (C−S−H) nanoparticles is unchanged by the addition of CaCl2. However, in the CaCl2-accelerated paste the surface fractal scattering associated with the deposition of hydration product onto the initially smooth surfaces of the C3S particles rapidly declines in intensity and essentially disappears by the age of 1 day, while in the pure C3S paste the surface fractal scattering remains prominent throughout the hydration process. The key observations from both the calorimetry and SANS analysis can be explained if in a pure C3S paste the C−S−H hydration product forms initially with a low packing density and then densifies at later times.
Microtubule-associated proteins and neuronal morphogenesis (1991)

ABSTRACT The microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are a set of structural proteins that bind to microtubules in vitro. Several of them occur at high levels in neurons where their expression is under strong developmental regulation, suggesting that they are involved in neuronal morphogenesis. Recently cDNAs for several of them have been cloned and sequenced revealing their primary structures and opening the way for genetic manipulation experiments aimed at determining their functions. Such experiments have shown that there are at least two classes of MAPs that are distinguished by the amino acid sequence motifs by which they bind to tubulin. One of these classes contains three known genes, two of which have been expressed in non-neuronal cells where the proteins cause bundling of microtubules and their rearrangement within the cytoplasm. The mechanism of this rearrangement is at present controversial. Another significant feature of these proteins is that several of them are differentially distributed within the neuronal cytoplasm; for example, some forms of MAP2 are selectively located in dendrites while in many situations MAP tau is limited to axons. In the case of MAP2, the mRNA that encodes the protein is also located in dendrites. This suggests that synthesis of MAP2 may be regulated locally in the dendritic cytoplasm. The molecular mechanism underlying the sorting of these proteins within neurons is unknown at present.
Time‐resolved, high‐resolution contrast‐enhanced MR angiography of dialysis shunts using the CENTRA keyhole technique with parallel imaging (2007)

We have successfully implemented a fast, dynamic, CE-MRA technique with CE timing robust angiography (CENTRA) keyhole and SENSE in clinical routine. High spatial and temporal resolution improve the diagnostics of dialysis shunts and allow the assessment of detailed, dynamic, four-dimensional (4D) information.
A Novel Method for the Generation of Nitrile Oxides on Solid Phase:  Application to the Synthesis of Substituted Benzopyranoisoxazoles (2002)

A solid-phase synthesis of substituted benzopyranoisoxazoles is described. The six-step synthesis features a novel method of generating nitrile oxides on a polymer support followed by an intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with a tethered alkyne for assembly of the benzopyranoisoxazole scaffold. Furthermore, the utilization of single-bead attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-IR) microspectroscopy as an essential analytical tool for reaction optimization is highlighted.
Hepatocyte proliferation induced by a single dose of a peroxisome proliferator. (1996)

In compensatory hyperplasia after partial hepatectomy or liver cell injury, hepatocyte proliferation is triggered by coordinated actions of growth factor such as hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha and -beta. Initiation of hepatocyte DNA synthesis is preceded by the activation of the set of early growth response genes mediated by enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B binding to DNA. Using an experimental model to induce hepatocyte DNA synthesis in vivo by a single dose of a peroxisome proliferator, which does not induce liver cell necrosis (direct hyperplasia), we investigated whether peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocyte proliferation involved an induction of known growth factors, an activation of early growth response genes, and nuclear factor-kappa B. A single intragastric administration of 250 mg/kg BR931 (4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)-2-pyrimidinylthio-(N-beta-hydroxyethyl) acetamide) to male wistar rats induced a wave of hepatocyte DNA synthesis starting after 12 hours and peaking at approximately 24 to 36 hours. The response was dose dependent. The treatment also induced the expression of the mRNA for the peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme, one of the peroxisome-related fatty acid beta-oxidation enzymes. Pretreatment of rats with dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) inhibited both hepatocyte DNA synthesis and the induction of the peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme gene. Northern blot analyses of liver RNA during a period preceding the onset of DNA synthesis revealed no induction of hepatocyte growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNAs. No induction of early growth response genes, liver regeneration factor-1, or c-myc was detected. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assays showed no enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B binding to its DNA consensus sequence after BR931 treatment, whereas control studies demonstrated a distinct increase in binding after partial hepatectomy or lead nitrate treatment. The results suggest that peroxisome-proliferator-induced hepatocyte proliferation may be triggered by signal transduction pathways different from those after partial hepatectomy and that the binding of peroxisome proliferators to their nuclear receptors may play a role in stimulation of DNA synthesis and peroxisome proliferation.
Effects of glucocorticoids on the TPA-induced monocytic differentiation (1992)

The human monocytic cell line U937 was used as a model system to investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on monocytic differentiation. Upon incubation with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (5 x 10(-9) M) for 48 to 72 h, the immature U937 cells ceased to proliferate and became morphologically and functionally macrophage-like. Preincubation of the cells with glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and prednisolone, 10(-7) and 10(-6) M) but not progesterone (10(-6) M) had marked effects: The cells remained in suspension and developed very little cell-cell interaction. This correlated with decreased expression of the surface molecules ICAM-1 and CD18 as determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. The TPA-induced ability of the cells to release lysozyme or to generate reactive oxygen radicals (determined as reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium) was markedly reduced. The induction of cyclooxygenase activity and thus the ability to release prostanoids was almost completely abolished. Inhibition of prostanoid synthesis was also observed when the glucocorticoids were administered 24 or 48 h after TPA. The primary step of TPA induction, the activation and translocation of protein kinase C, however, was not affected by glucocorticoids as determined by activity measurements and Western blot analysis. There was no change in the subsequent TPA-induced induction of c-fos. The down-regulation of the differentiation-related oncogenes c-myc and c-myb was the same in cells treated with TPA in the presence or absence of glucocorticoids. Furthermore, no significant effect of glucocorticoids on the TPA-induced growth arrest was observed. Glucocorticoids thus interfere with TPA-induced functions, which are typical for activated macrophages; however, they do not impair the differentiation process and concomitant growth inhibition.
Pulsed field actuation of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloy single crystal (2003)

Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy Ni-Mn-Ga has twin boundaries in the martensitic phase that move when a suitable magnetic field is applied. In this fashion strains of up to 6% have been observed for static fields in single crystals [1]. Recently 2.5% strain has been demonstrated [2] in Ni-Mn-Ga single crystals for oscillating fields up to frequencies of 75Hz (150Hz actuation). This work studies the actuation of single crystals when pulsed fields are applied. Fields in the 0.4-1.5MA/m-range were generated in an air coil with rise times of the order of 1ms and below. The elongation of the samples is measured with a light beam reflected off the tip of the crystal. Single twin boundaries have been observed to advance 0.16mm during 600μsec-long pulses. Actuation has been shown to be possible at least up to frequencies of 1700Hz.
Streptococcus mutans and cardiovascular diseases (2008)

Streptococcus mutans, a pathogen of dental caries, is known to be associated with bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE). The bacterium has been classified into four serotypes, c, e, f, and k, based on the chemical composition of the serotype-specific rhamnose-glucose polymers. Serotype k, recently designated and initially found in blood isolates, features a drastic reduction of glucose side chains attached to the rhamnose backbone. Glucosyltransferases (GTFs), protein antigen (PA), and glucan-binding proteins (Gbps) are major surface protein antigens of S. mutans, and in vitro analyses using isogenic mutants without those cell surface proteins showed that a PA-defective mutant had the least susceptibility to phagocytosis. Further, rat experiments demonstrated that infection with such defective mutants resulted in a longer duration of bacteremia, while S. mutans strains without GTFs were isolated from the extirpated heart valve of an IE patient. These results imply that some variation of cell surface components is correlated to the virulence of IE caused by S. mutans. In addition, S. mutans DNA has been frequently identified in cardiovascular specimens at a higher ratio than other periodontal bacteria, indicating its possible involvement in various types of cardiovascular diseases beside bacteremia and IE.
Analysis of the Results of Accelerated Aging Tests in Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (2015)

The introduction of fully electric vehicles (FEVs) into the mainstream has raised concerns about the reliability of their electronic components such as IGBT. The great variability in IGBT failure times caused by the very different operating conditions experienced and the stochasticity of their degradation processes suggests the adoption of condition-based maintenance approaches. Thus, the development of methods for assessing their healthy state and predicting their remaining useful life (RUL) is of key importance. In this paper, we investigate the results of performing accelerated aging tests. Our objective is to discuss the design and the results of accelerated aging tests performed on three different IGBT types within the electrical powertrain health monitoring for increased safety (HEMIS) of FEVs European Community project. During the tests, several electric signals were measured in different operating conditions. The results show that the case temperature (TC), the collector current (IC), and the collector-emitter voltage (VCE) are the failure precursor parameters that can be used for the development of a prognostic and health monitoring (PHM) system for FEV IGBTs and other medium-power switching supplies.
Synthesis of photoreactive -4-azidobenzoyl--methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)s and their end-on photo-grafting onto polysulfone ultrafiltration membranes (1998)

Covalent end-on grafting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) onto a polysulfone (PSf) surface using α-4-azidobenzoyl-ω-methoxy-PEG (ABMPEG) is described. Photoreactive ABMPEG was synthesized by reacting monomethoxy-PEG (MPEG) with 4-azidobenzoyl chloride, yielding complete substitution of the hydroxyl groups. After adsorption from aqueous solutions, ABMPEG was photo-grafted under wet conditions onto PSf ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. Contact angle (CA) measurements showed the increased hydrophilicity of modified membranes and the irreversibility of the modification. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption decreased by 70% and the permeability decay after protein adsorption became less severe for the modified membranes compared to unmodified reference membranes.
Display methods for adjustable grayscale and luminance depth (2008)

We explore the calibration of a high luminance range, dual-layer, liquid crystal display (LCD) prototype. The operation of the prototype is done by splitting a high luminance resolution image (graylevel > 2<sup>8</sup>) into two 8-bit depth components and sending these images to the two liquid crystal panels stacked over the backlight module. By interpolation of a small set of luminance data gathered using a specialized luminance probe, the look-up table of graylevel pairs of front/back layer LCD and the corresponding luminance values can be generated. To display images, we fit an extended DICOM model to the interpolated luminance table which is adjustable for graylevel and luminance depth. A dynamic look up table is generated in which for each luminance there are several graylevel pair candidates. We show results for one possible calibration strategy involving the pair selection criterion. By selecting the pair that maximizes back-layer smoothness, the images with arbitrary graylevel and luminance depth can be then displayed with equal perceptual distance between luminance levels, while minimizing parallax effects. Other possible strategies that minimize glare and noise are also described. The results can be used for high luminance range display performance characterization and for the evaluation of its clinical significance.
Structure and Function Analysis of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies against Dengue Virus Type 2 (2010)

ABSTRACT Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent insect-transmitted viral disease in humans globally, and currently no specific therapy or vaccine is available. Protection against DENV and other related flaviviruses is associated with the development of antibodies against the viral envelope (E) protein. Although prior studies have characterized the neutralizing activity of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against DENV type 2 (DENV-2), none have compared simultaneously the inhibitory activity against a genetically diverse range of strains in vitro , the protective capacity in animals, and the localization of epitopes. Here, with the goal of identifying MAbs that can serve as postexposure therapy, we investigated in detail the functional activity of a large panel of new anti-DENV-2 mouse MAbs. Binding sites were mapped by yeast surface display and neutralization escape, cell culture inhibition assays were performed with homologous and heterologous strains, and prophylactic and therapeutic activity was evaluated with two mouse models. Protective MAbs localized to epitopes on the lateral ridge of domain I (DI), the dimer interface, lateral ridge, and fusion loop of DII, and the lateral ridge, C-C′ loop, and A strand of DIII. Several MAbs inefficiently inhibited at least one DENV-2 strain of a distinct genotype, suggesting that recognition of neutralizing epitopes varies with strain diversity. Moreover, antibody potency generally correlated with a narrowed genotype and serotype specificity. Five MAbs functioned efficiently as postexposure therapy when administered as a single dose, even 3 days after intracranial infection of BALB/c mice. Overall, these studies define the structural and functional complexity of antibodies against DENV-2 with protective potential.
Influence of the Structure on the Electrochemical Performance of Lithium Transition Metal Phosphates as Cathodic Materials in Rechargeable Lithium Batteries:  A New High-Pressure Form of LiMPO<sub>4</sub> (M = Fe and Ni) (2001)

Materials built from MO6 octahedra linked to XO4 tetrahedra are good candidates for studying the different factors that determine the electrode potential. Among them, olivine-like LiMPO4 (M = transition metal) phosphates are especially interesting. When pressure is applied to LiMPO4 (M = Ni and Fe), a phase transition is induced. However, instead of the well-known olivine ⇔ spinel transformation, a transition to a new phase is observed (β‘). The arrangements of the metal ions (including phosphorus) in the two structures are very similar; thus, the main difference between them is due to the oxygen arrangement in a similar matrix. Raman spectroscopy has confirmed the structural model proposed for the high-pressure phase, in particular the modification in the lithium coordination from 6- to 4-fold upon synthesis under pressure. Among the olivines LiMPO4 (M = Mn, Ni, and Fe), the iron-containing one is only active up to 5.1 V. On the other hand, none of the high-pressure materials is electrochemically active; this can be explained by the change in the electrostatic field at the transition metal position.
Real-time stereo-based vehicle occupant posture determination for intelligent airbag deployment (2004)

From 1990 to April 2002, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), airbag deployment has been responsible for 208 deaths in low-severity crashes. Of these deaths, 107 were children between the ages of 1 and 11, 22 were infants, and 32 were women under the height of five feet two inches. In addition to deaths, airbags are responsible for many more incidental injuries and broken bones. These injuries could be avoided if the system had an accurate model of the actual pose of the occupant. This paper discusses a system we are developing to accurately determine the position of the head, torso, and arms of the front-seat occupant of a vehicle.
Fs-laser-induced Fabrication of Polymeric Optical and Fluidic Microstructures (2006)

In this paper first experimental results are presented on the fabrication of integrated-optical microstructures by femtosecond-laser irradiation at the surface or in the volume of a polymeric substrate. Thereby the refractive index or the optical absorption coefficient of the polymer material is locally modified in a controllable way due to nonlinear optical effects like multi-photon absorption. By this way surface relief grating structures, volume grating structures and linear waveguiding structures are generated. The surface relief gratings have diffraction efficiencies about 0.2 (first diffraction order), the diffraction efficiencies of the volume gratings are approximately smaller by one order of magnitude. Besides experiments have been performed on the modification of the polymeric surface by fs-laser irradiation followed by subsequent development of the irradiated area by an etching liquid generating linear groove structures. By this way simple linear microstructures are generated into the polymer substrate. The results of these experiments are relevant for the fabrication of three-dimensional structures in the polymeric substrate in the future. All the gratings and the linear microstructures can be considered as basic components for the fabrication of complex micro-optical and fluidic systems in a polymeric substrate (photonic lab-on-the-chip).
Assembly and calibration of a density balance for liquid hydrocarbons (1945)

The a ssembly and calibration are described of a density balance for rapidly measuring the densities of liquid hydrocarbons on samples a s small as 9 milliliters in volume. The reproducibility of the measurements is 0.00002 to 0.00003 gram p er milliliter and the over-all uncert ainty is estimated to be about 0.00005 gram per milliliter. I. II. III. IV.