gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Tie2/TEK Modulates the Interaction of Glioma and Brain Tumor Stem Cells with Endothelial Cells and Promotes an Invasive Phenotype (2010)

Malignant gliomas are the prototype of highly infiltrative tumors and this characteristic is the main factor for the inevitable tumor recurrence and short survival after most aggressive therapies. The aberrant communication between glioma cells and tumor microenvironment represents one of the major factors regulating brain tumor dispersal. Our group has previously reported that the tyrosine kinase receptor Tie2/TEK is expressed in glioma cells and brain tumor stem cells and is associated with the malignant progression of these tumors. In this study, we sought to determine whether the angiopoietin 1 (Ang1)/Tie2 axis regulates crosstalk between glioma cells and endothelial cells. We found that Ang1 enhanced the adhesion of Tie2-expressing glioma and brain tumor stem cells to endothelial cells. Conversely, specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of Tie2 expression inhibited the adhesion capability of glioma cells. Tie2 activation induced integrin β1 and N-cadherin upregulation, and neutralizing antibodies against these molecules inhibited the adhesion of Tie2-positive glioma cells to endothelial cells. In 2D and 3D cultures, we observed that Ang1/Tie2 axis activation was related to increased glioma cell invasion, which was inhibited by using Tie2 siRNA. Importantly, intracranial co-implantation of Tie2-positive glioma cells and endothelial cells in a mouse model resulted in diffusely invasive tumors with cell clusters surrounding glomeruloid vessels mimicking a tumoral niche distribution. Collectively, our results provide new information about the Tie2 signaling in glioma cells that regulates the cross-talk between glioma cells and tumor microenvironment, envisioning Tie2 as a multi-compartmental target for glioma therapy.
Novel Atomic Force Microscope Probes with Integrated Electrostatic Actuation and Optical Detection (2007)

In this work, a new class of atomic force microscope (AFM) probe, called force-sensing integrated readout and active tip (FIRAT), is developed. It combines several micromechanical devices (MEMS) techniques, diffraction based optical sensing and electrostatic actuation, to improve the speed and sensitivity of AFM systems for imaging and force measurement applications both in air and in liquid media.
Supplements of Cod Liver Oil to Lactating Sows. Influence on Milk Fatty Acid Composition and Growth Performance of Piglets (1993)

Twelve sows received a supplement of 50 ml cod liver oil, without vitamin A and D, daily from day 107 of gestation until weaning. Eight sows served as control. A milk sample was obtained from each sow at parturition and on day 14 of lactation. The piglets were weighed at birth, on days 7, 14 and on the day of weaning. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, n-3) (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n-3) (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid; (22:5, n-3) (DPA) were found in milk fat from all sows. At parturition the contents of EPA, DPA and DHA were significantly higher in the group given cod liver oil supplement. After 2 weeks of lactation only EPA and DHA were elevated compared with the non-supplemented group. No effect on weight gain or on the overall morbidity of the piglets was found. The animal health in this farm was very good, and the growth rate faster than the average for Norwegian pigs.
Distribution and Characterization of Regulatory Elements in the Human Genome (2002)

The regulation of transcription and subsequent gene splicing are crucial to correct gene expression. Although a number of regulatory sequences involved in both processes are known, it is not clear how general their functions are in the genomic context, nor how the regulatory regions are distributed throughout the genome. Here we study the distribution of known mutagenic elements within human introns and exons to deduce the properties of regions essential for splicing and transcription. We show that intronic splicing regulators are generally found close to the splice sites, but may be found as far as 200 nucleotides away from the splice junctions. Similarly, sequences important for splicing may be located as far as 125 nucleotides away from the junctions, within exons. We characterize several types of simple repetitive sequences and low-complexity regions that are overrepresented close to both intron ends and are likely to play important roles in the splicing process. We show that the first introns within most genes play a particularly important regulatory role that is most likely, however, to be involved in transcription control. We also study the distribution of two known regulatory motifs, the GGG trinucleotide and the CpG dinucleotide, and deduce their respective importance to splicing and transcription regulation.
The impact of groundwater quality on the removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) using advanced oxidation technology (2009)

In this study, the removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) from contaminated groundwater using advanced oxidation technology was investigated. The UV/H(2)O(2) treatment process was applied to remove MTBE from two Saudi groundwater sources that have different quality characteristics with regard to their contents of inorganic species such as chloride, bromide, sulfates and alkalinity. MTBE was spiked into water samples collected from the two sources to a concentration level of about 250 microg/L. A 500 mL bench-scale forced-liquid circulation photoreactor was used to conduct the experiments. Two different UV lamps were utilized: 15 Watt low pressure (LP) and 150 Watt medium pressure (MP). Results of the study showed that the UV/H(2)O(2) process removed more than 90% of MTBE in 20 minutes when the MP lamp was used at an MTBE/H(2)O(2) molar ratio of 1:200. The results also showed that groundwater sources with higher levels of radical scavengers such as alkalinity, bromide, nitrate and sulfate showed lower rate of MTBE removal.
Xenotransplantation – State of the Art (2004)

Rejections caused by xenotransplantation Transplantation between two different species may give rise to two types of graft rejection. Between so-called discordant species a hyperacute rejection (HAR) occurs within minutes or hours. In so-called concordant species this type of rejection does not occur, but over days a delayed xenograft rejection (DXG) (6) will occur. In all transplanted organs, xenoas well as allotransplanted, chronic graft rejection (CRG) will occur after years. Man is concordant with old world primates, but due to several reasons, such as breeding difficulties, risk of retroviral epidemics, concerns for the use of endangered species, etc., the discordant pig is considered the donor of choice. HAR is primarily caused by initiation of the complement cascade. The antigen known to be activating the classical pathway is the alpha-gal epitope (10) (Figure 1); the epitope alternative to the primate AB0 blood group system in most non-primate mammals. In species, in which the antigen is absent, circulating antibodies are present. In humans IgG against the alpha-gal epitope counts for up to a total of 1% of circulating IgG (11). These antibodies probably derive from a reaction to members of the intestinal flora, especially Enterobacteriaceae spp., but also other types of infectious agents possess the alpha-gal epitope as a structural element in their cell walls (10).
Drug-Resistant Aurora A Mutants for Cellular Target Validation of the Small Molecule Kinase Inhibitors MLN8054 and MLN8237 (2010)

The Aurora kinases regulate multiple aspects of mitotic progression, and their overexpression in diverse tumor types makes them appealing oncology targets. An intensive research effort over the past decade has led to the discovery of chemically distinct families of small molecule Aurora kinase inhibitors, many of which have demonstrated therapeutic potential in model systems. These agents are also important tools to help dissect signaling pathways that are orchestrated by Aurora kinases, and the antiproliferative target of pan-Aurora inhibitors such as VX-680 has been validated using chemical genetic techniques. In many cases the nonspecific nature of Aurora inhibitors toward unrelated kinases is well established, potentially broadening the spectrum of cancers to which these compounds might be applied. However, unambiguously demonstrating the molecular target(s) for clinical kinase inhibitors is an important challenge, one that is absolutely critical for deciphering the molecular basis of compound specificity, resistance, and efficacy. In this paper, we have investigated amino acid requirements for Aurora A sensitivity to the benzazepine-based Aurora inhibitor MLN8054 and the close analogue MLN8237, a second-generation compound that is in phase II clinical trials. A crystallographic analysis facilitated the design and biochemical investigation of a panel of resistant Aurora A mutants, a subset of which were then selected as candidate drug-resistance targets for further evaluation. Using inducible human cell lines, we show that cells expressing near-physiological levels of a functional but partially drug-resistant Aurora A T217D mutant survive in the presence of MLN8054 or MLN8237, authenticating Aurora A as a critical antiproliferative target of these compounds.
Assembly of Hybrid Bacteriophage Qβ Virus-like Particles (2009)

Bacteriophage Qbeta coat protein forms uniform virus-like particles when expressed recombinantly in a variety of organisms. We have inserted the IgG-binding Z domain at the carboxy terminus of the coat protein and coexpressed this chimeric subunit with native coat protein to create hybrid, IgG-binding virus-like particles. Extracellular osmolytes were found to have an effect on the efficiency of incorporation of fusion proteins into VLPs in Escherichia coli when a carbenicillin, but not a kanamycin, selection marker was used. The addition of sucrose to the growth medium decreased the incorporation efficiency; the osmoprotectant glycine betaine eliminated this effect. The decrease in efficiency was not observed when carbenicillin was omitted from the final expression culture. The addition of sodium chloride instead of sucrose gave rise to particles with a larger number of fusion proteins than the standard conditions. These results illustrate that cellular conditions should be taken into account even in apparently simple systems when natural or engineered protein nanoparticles are made.
Synthesis and properties of starch‐graft‐acrylic acid/Na‐montmorillonite superabsorbent nanocomposite hydrogels (2008)

Abstract The graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto starch was carried out with monomer/starch weight ratio = 1.5. Cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and N,N′‐methylenebis acrylamide (NMBA) were used as initiator and crosslink agent, respectively. Na‐montmorillonite was used as nanoparticles. Starch‐ graft ‐acrylic acid/Na‐MMT ( S ‐g‐AA/MMT) nanocomposite hydrogels were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR analysis. The effect of Na‐MMT content in nanocomposite hydrogels on the swelling behavior was investigated. Increasing the Na‐MMT/monomers ratio up to 1% causes an increment in water absorbency, which indicates that Na‐MMT can improve the ability of water absorbency but further increase of Na‐MMT causes a decrease in water absorbency. In addition, we describe the removal of safranine T from aqueous solutions using S ‐g‐AA/MMT nanocomposite hydrogels. Effects of various parameters such as treatment time, initial dye concentration, and amount of the Na‐MMT were investigated. The Freundlich equations were used to fit the equilibrium isotherms. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Identification of an Extracellular Polysaccharide Network Essential for Cytochrome Anchoring and Biofilm Formation in <i>Geobacter sulfurreducens</i> (2010)

Transposon insertions in Geobacter sulfurreducens GSU1501, part of an ATP-dependent exporter within an operon of polysaccharide biosynthesis genes, were previously shown to eliminate insoluble Fe(III) reduction and use of an electrode as an electron acceptor. Replacement of GSU1501 with a kanamycin resistance cassette produced a similarly defective mutant, which could be partially complemented by expression of GSU1500 to GSU1505 in trans. The Δ1501 mutant demonstrated limited cell-cell agglutination, enhanced attachment to negatively charged surfaces, and poor attachment to positively charged poly-d-lysine- or Fe(III)-coated surfaces. Wild-type and mutant cells attached to graphite electrodes, but when electrodes were poised at an oxidizing potential inducing a positive surface charge (+0.24 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode [SHE]), Δ1501 mutant cells detached. Scanning electron microscopy revealed fibrils surrounding wild-type G. sulfurreducens which were absent from the Δ1501 mutant. Similar amounts of type IV pili and pilus-associated cytochromes were detected on both cell types, but shearing released a stable matrix of c-type cytochromes and other proteins bound to polysaccharides. The matrix from the mutant contained 60% less sugar and was nearly devoid of c-type cytochromes such as OmcZ. The addition of wild-type extracellular matrix to Δ1501 cultures restored agglutination and Fe(III) reduction. The polysaccharide binding dye Congo red preferentially bound wild-type cells and extracellular matrix material over mutant cells, and Congo red inhibited agglutination and Fe(III) reduction by wild-type cells. These results demonstrate a crucial role for the xap (extracellular anchoring polysaccharide) locus in metal oxide attachment, cell-cell agglutination, and localization of essential cytochromes beyond the Geobacter outer membrane.
Evaluation of Topological Defects in Tetra-PEG Gels (2009)

We have investigated the topological defects in the Tetra-PEG gel formed from two symmetrical tetra-arm polymers. The concentration of the elastically effective chains (EEC) was estimated from the elastic moduli and the reaction efficiency using the tree-like Miller-Macosko model. The concentration of EEC was in the range between the estimations of the affine and phantom theory. Furthermore, the formation of topological defects, especially entanglements and loops, was found to be negligible in the Tetra-PEG gel, which differs from other conventional model networks. This extremely homogeneous structure was formed due to the unique impenetrable sphere-like behavior of the tetra-arm star polymer in the semidilute solution and the unique symmetrical A−B type cross-end-coupling.
Summer osmoregulatory capacity of the world's northernmost living salmonid (1997)

Anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) were caught on their way to and from the sea with the use of a fish trap placed in the Dieset watercourse located on the Spitsbergen Island (79 degrees 10' Northern latitude) within the high-Arctic Svalbard archipelago. When subjected to a seawater challenge test (34 parts/thousand at 4-5 degrees C), charr on their way to the sea showed only minor and temporary changes in blood plasma osmolality and Na+ and Mg2+ concentrations. The seawater tests also revealed good hypoosmoregulatory capacity for Arctic charr returning from the marine environment 4 wk later. A progressive decrease in seawater tolerance was first documented 7-11 days after their return to the freshwater habitat. Thus the Svalbard charr, being the northernmost anadromous salmonid and probably a direct descendant from the first Salvelinus immigrants to freshwater systems, undergoes a preparatory increase of hypoosmoregulatory capacity (smoltification) before entering the oceanic water bodies. Furthermore, the termination of their short annual seawater stay is probably elicited by factors controlling body systems other than osmoregulation.
Clinical Experience With An Alloplastic Stoma Prosthesis (Biocarbon®) For Urinary Conduits And Cutaneous Ureterostomy (1988)

An alloplastic stoma prosthesis, Biocarbon, composed of 99.9% pure carbon in vitreous form, was used in six patients with conduit urinary diversion and in seven with cutaneous ureterostomy. The patients were thereafter observed for 2-86 months. Complications were subcutaneous infection, urinary fistula and ureteral stenosis, which necessitated removal of the prosthesis in most cases. The permanent stoma, without need for adhesive collecting device, was appreciated by the patients. Problems relating to biocompatibility remain to be solved before the place of the stoma prosthesis in urinary diversion can be determined.
Biodegradable Self-Reinforced Polyglycolic Acid Spiral Stent in Prevention of Postoperative Urinary Retention After Visual Laser Ablation of the Prostate-Laser Prostatectomy (1995)

The self-reinforced polyglycolic acid spiral stent can effectively and safely prevent postoperative urinary retention after visual laser ablation of the prostate.
Synthesis and characterization of new chiral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers (1999)

PNAs are DNA analogues in which the nucleic acid's backbone is replaced by a chiral or achiral pseudopeptide backbone and nucleobases are attached to the backbone by methylene carbonyl linkers. The easy to modify PNA structure gives the possibility to obtain monomers, and subsequently oligomers, with improved properties. We have synthesised several new PNA monomers, starting from a series of 2'-substituted methyl N-(2-Boc-aminoethyl)glycinates. The pseudodipeptides were obtained using modified Kosynkina's method, based on the reductive amination of N-Boc-protected alpha-amino aldehydes [glycinal, isoleucinal, valinal, tryptophanal, serinal(Bzl), prolinal] with methyl glycinate. The compounds were then acylated with nucleic acid base derivatives by simplified procedure, and the purification was limited to the last step of the synthesis. The applied procedure is useful in synthesis of various chiral PNA monomers.
Epidemic models with nonlinear infection forces (2006)

Epidemic models with behavior changes are studied to consider effects of protection measures and intervention policies. It is found that intervention strategies decrease endemic levels and tend to make the dynamical behavior of a disease evolution simpler. For a saturated infection force, the model may admit a stable disease-free equilibrium and a stable endemic equilibrium at the same time. If we vary a recovery rate, numerical simulations show that the boundaries of the region for the persistence of the disease undergo the changes from the separatrix of a saddle to an unstable limit cycle. If the inhibition effect from behavior changes is weak, we find two limit cycles and obtain bifurcations of the model as the population size changes. We also find that the disease may die out although there are two endemic equilibria.
Structural Studies of the Vulcanization of Rubber under Stretch (1940)

Abstract Just one hundred years have passed since the changes were discovered which rubber undergoes when mixed with sulfur and heated. Although “vulcanization”, as this reaction and the changes subsequent thereto have been termed, must be considered the most important development in the rubber industry, we are still far from being in a position to offer a fully satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon. Nevertheless we have been able to improve our concept of these changes by the application of such modern methods of research as x-ray diffraction, and recent attempts to shed more light on the phenomenon from a strictly chemical point of view also have been successful. The outstanding results of the latter work are the definite proof that the changes in physical properties, which become noticeable during vulcanization, show no correlation with the amount of combined sulfur or with the total loss in unsaturation. The experiments offered no direct experimental evidence as to the existence of specific chemical bonds or linkages in vulcanized rubber. However, it could be definitely ascertained that chemical reactions involving the double bonds of the hydrocarbon and its combination with the vulcanizing agent, in one way or another, are necessary to produce a vulcanized structure responsible for the observed changes in properties.
Frequency estimation performance of several weighted Burg algorithms (1993)

The frequency estimation performance of a set of weighted Burg algorithms is investigated for single complex and real sinusoids in noise. It is demonstrated that in the complex case, an extension of Ibrahim's (1987, 1989) modification of Kaveh and Lipert's (1983) optimum tapered Burg algorithm meets the Cramer-Rao lower bound for a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio and a sufficiently large model order. This is in contrast with the original Burg method. In the case of a real sinusoid, the same algorithm most closely approaches this bound, making it the technique of choice for both applications. Spectral resolution is addressed briefly.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Inhibition of<i>Streptococcus mutans</i>polysaccharide synthesis by molecules targeting glycosyltransferase activity (2016)

Glycosyltransferase (Gtf) is one of the crucial virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans, a major etiological pathogen of dental caries. All the available evidence indicates that extracellular polysaccharide, particularly glucans produced by S. mutans Gtfs, contribute to the cariogenicity of dental biofilms. Therefore, inhibition of Gtf activity and the consequential polysaccharide synthesis may impair the virulence of cariogenic biofilms, which could be an alternative strategy to prevent the biofilm-related disease. Up to now, many Gtf inhibitors have been recognized in natural products, which remain the major and largely unexplored source of Gtf inhibitors. These include catechin-based polyphenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidin oligomers, polymeric polyphenols, and some other plant-derived compounds. Metal ions, oxidizing agents, and some other synthetic compounds represent another source of Gtf inhibitors, with some novel molecules either discovered by structure-based virtual screening or synthesized based on key structures of known inhibitors as templates. Antibodies that inhibit one or more Gtfs have also been developed as topical agents. Although many agents have been shown to possess potent inhibitory activity against glucan synthesis by Gtfs, bacterial cell adherence, and caries development in animal models, much research remains to be performed to find out their mechanism of action, biological safety, cariostatic efficacies, and overall influence on the entire oral community. As a strategy to inhibit the virulence of cariogenic microbes rather than eradicate them from the microbial community, Gtf inhibition represents an approach of great potential to prevent dental caries.
Bearing failures diagnosis in three-phase induction motors by extended Park's vector approach (2005)

This paper introduces a new approach, based on the spectral analysis of the motor current Park's vector modulus, for diagnosing the occurrence of bearing faults in three-phase induction motors. The major theoretical principles of the extended Park's vector approach are described. Experimental tests with artificial bearing damages were conducted by applying the conventional vibration and motor current spectral analyses as well as the extended Park's vector approach. The sensitivity of these methods was compared in order to evaluate the usefulness of the new approach for the development of reliable and convincing unified condition monitoring systems. Additionally, this paper presents a new technique for artificially introducing bearing damages regarding the experimental simulation of several failure types, such as pitting, fluting or false brinelling.
Titration study of MUSE (Medicated Urethral System for Erection) in erectile dysfunction. (2000)

MUSE was effective and safe in most patients with erectile dysfunction in this study. For patients not satisfied with the extent of penile rigidity achieved with MUSE, the use of a modified soft rubber band for erectile assistance, as well as a program for improved patient education, may help to achieve a better erectile response and facilitate compliance with treatment regimens at home.