julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Global well-being since 1820
2014-10-02

This chapter provides an introduction to, and summary of, the contents of this book. It outlines the aim of the project and provides an overview of the indicators covered, comparing them with those used in the OECD Better Life Initiative. The chapter also presents the criteria used throughout the report to assess the quality of the indicators used, and discusses practical issues concerning country and period coverage and calculation of regional trends. Finally, the chapter summarises the content of each chapter and their main highlights.
Vibro-EAS
2014-10-02

Intracochlear combined electrical and mechanical stimulation may be a viable technique for electroacoustic stimulation. A reliable technique for attachment or integration of the FMT to the cochlea electrode array has yet to be developed.
Diagnostic performance study of an antigen microarray for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies in human serum
2014-10-02

Abstract The parallelization of clinically relevant antigens in a microarray format is of growing importance due to the ability to measure multiple antigen-antibody interactions. With the development of a microarray for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies we focussed on one important autoimmune disease that is still diagnostically challenging. Reasons are the heterogeneity of the autoantibodies and the unspecific clinical symptoms. For the covalent immobilization of antigenic structures, glass transducers were coated with 11-aminoundecyltrimethoxysilane (11-AUTMS). In total 35 antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients, six patients with lupus erythematosus and 24 healthy controls were investigated on a microarray format using polarized imaging reflectometric interference spectroscopy. The novel surface modification based on the short derivative 11-AUTMS resulted in a selective biosensor allowing a clear differentiation of patient and control samples. It combined proteinogenic as well as phospholipid-derived antigens, namely β Multiplexed determination of serological parameters has a great potential. We have shown that our biosensor is capable of detecting four different APS relevant antibodies in parallel exhibiting a sensitivity and specificity comparable to existing ELISA methods.
Applications of immunochemistry in human health: advances in vaccinology and antibody design (IUPAC Technical Report)
2014-10-02

Abstract This report discusses the history and mechanisms of vaccination of humans as well as the engineering of therapeutic antibodies. Deeper understanding of the molecular interactions involved in both acquired and innate immunity is allowing sophistication in design of modified and even synthetic vaccines. Recombinant DNA technologies are facilitating development of DNA-based vaccines, for example, with the recognition that unmethylated CpG sequences in plasmid DNA will target Toll-like receptors on antigen-presenting cells. Formulations of DNA vaccines with increased immunogenicity include engineering into plasmids with “genetic adjuvant” capability, incorporation into polymeric or magnetic nanoparticles, and formulation with cationic polymers and other polymeric and non-polymeric coatings. Newer methods of delivery, such as particle bombardment, DNA tattooing, electroporation, and magnetic delivery, are also improving the effectiveness of DNA vaccines. RNA-based vaccines and reverse vaccinology based on gene sequencing and bioinformatic approaches are also considered. Structural vaccinology is an approach in which the detailed molecular structure of viral epitopes is used to design synthetic antigenic peptides. Virus-like particles are being designed for vaccine deliveries that are based on structures of viral capsid proteins and other synthetic lipopeptide building blocks. A new generation of adjuvants is being developed to further enhance immunogenicity, based on squalene and other oil–water emulsions, saponins, muramyl dipeptide, immunostimulatory oligonucleotides, Toll-like receptor ligands, and lymphotoxins. Finally, current trends in engineering of therapeutic antibodies including improvements of antigen-binding properties, pharmacokinetic and pharmaceutical properties, and reduction of immunogenicity are discussed. Taken together, understanding the chemistry of vaccine design, delivery and immunostimulation, and knowledge of the techniques of antibody design are allowing targeted development for the treatment of chronic disorders characterized by continuing activation of the immune system, such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, or allergies that have long been refractory to conventional approaches.
Three encounters with W. G. Sebald (February 1992–July 2013)
2014-10-02

In November 1999, when W. G. Sebald’s reputation was growing, and at the same time as he was labouring under increasing pressures, he was interviewed by Toby Green. The interview is one of Sebald’s most interesting and sombre, dealing with the personal cost of his literary success as a writer, and first appeared on-line. As it is relatively unknown, the Journal of European Studies prints it here for the first time. Although Sebald’s attraction to Susan Sontag’s essays on photography began around 1982, and Sontag’s reciprocal admiration for his prose fiction began in mid-1996, they first met at a combined reading evening on 15 October 2001 in New York: their contributions are reprinted here. Sebald first met Professor Jürgen Wertheimer in January 1992 at a conference in Tübingen on post- Wende Europe. Sebald’s lecture provoked heated discussion and is one of his few explicitly political statements. Wertheimer subsequently kept in contact with Sebald until his death and hoped to entice him to Tübingen as a guest professor. On 3 July 2013 Wertheimer gave a spirited lecture in German which discussed the reception of Sebald’s work and raised difficult questions about the function of literature and criticism under late capitalism. An authorized English translation is published here.
Preface
2014-10-02

In 2011, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published the report How's Life? Measuring Well-Being. This was the flagship publication of its Better Life Initiative, which aims to develop a new approach to the measurement of well-being, stressing its multi-dimensional character. The report was "a first attempt at the international level to go beyond the conceptual stage and to present a large set of comparable well-being indicators for OECD countries and, to the extent possible, other major economies". It was an important contribution to the "GDP and beyond" debate, which in recent years received new impetus from the Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi report in 2009.
Anatomic-Functional (Perfusion-Based) Magnetic Resonance Imaging Follow-up in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With Anti–Interleukin 6 Antibodies
2014-10-03

Considering the temporal change of perfusion-derived MRI parameters (transfer constant, blood plasma volume fraction, relative enhancement, and rate of early enhancement) as well as morphologic MRI parameters (synovial volume measurements), a quantifiable assessment of response to TCZ therapy in rheumatoid arthritis seems possible at an even earlier time point compared with clinical assessment scores, whereas serologic biomarkers proved nonspecific in this respect.
Anti-Inflammatory Macrolides to Manage Chronic Neutrophilic Inflammation
2014-10-03

Macrolide antibiotics, notably azithromycin, have clinically useful effects in a range of inflammatory diseases and especially those of the lung. Effects include a reduction of inflammatory cytokines, reductions in neutrophil infiltration and potentially a polarisation of infiltrating cells to a pro-resolution phenotype. The mode of action behind this effect is unlikely to be a single interaction and may involve reductions in prostaglandin synthesis via phospholipase inhibition, modulation of NFκB translocation, reduction in IL-8 production and reduction in reflux aspiration to the airways. While some of the clinical effects can be rationalised through antibacterial actions leading to changes in normal flora and reducing Pseudomonads in particular, there is also evidence for effects unrelated to antibacterial actions that appear to relate to reductions in neutrophil activation, potentially related to high accumulation in neutrophil lysosomes. Concerted efforts to improve on these effects have focused on either generating non-antibacterial analogues, or in conjugating anti-inflammatory drugs to the macrolide backbone. Both approaches have provided strong pre-clinical data suggesting that the selective disposition of macrolides to inflamed tissue, as well as their pleiotropic effects on immune cells, contribute to their broad anti-inflammatory effects. The more recent observations of stronger macrolide effects in the context of neutrophil-mediated disease and corresponding effects on IL-17 positive cells in tissue suggest that it may be possible to select patients likely to respond to macrolide therapy. The discovery of non-antibacterial macrolides that preserve this anti-inflammatory effect provides a means to bring these effects more broadly to the clinic without selecting for large-scale resistance to antibacterial macrolides or to other anti-infectives via cross-resistance.
Casimir energy of frequency dependent interactions
2014-10-03

Vacuum polarization (or Casimir) energies can be straightforwardly computed from scattering data for static field configurations whose interactions with the fluctuating field are frequency independent. In effective theories, however,such interactions are typically frequency dependent. As a consequence, the relationship between scattering data and the Green's function is modified, which may or may not induce additional contributions to the vacuum polarization energy. We discuss several examples that naturally include frequency dependent interactions: (i) scalar electrodynamics with a static background potential, (ii) an effective theory that emerges from integrating out a heavy degree of freedom, and (iii) quantum electrodynamics coupled to a frequency dependent dielectric material. In the latter case, we argue that introducing dissipation as required by the Kramers-Kronig relations requires the consideration of the Casimir energy within a statistical mechanics formalism, while in the absence of dissipation we can work entirely within field theory, using an alternative formulation of the energy density.
Prostaglandin E2 differentially modulates the central control of eupnoea, sighs and gasping in mice
2014-10-04

Key points Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) augments distinct inspiratory motor patterns, generated within the preBötzinger complex (preBötC), in a dose‐dependent way. The frequency of sighs and gasping are stimulated at low concentrations, while the frequency of eupnoea increases only at high concentrations. We used in vivo microinjections into the preBötC and in vitro isolated brainstem slice preparations to investigate the dose‐dependent effects of PGE 2 on the preBötC activity. Synaptic measurements in whole cell voltage clamp recordings of inspiratory neurons revealed no changes in inhibitory or excitatory synaptic transmission in response to PGE 2 exposure. In current clamp recordings obtained from inspiratory neurons of the preBötC, we found an increase in the frequency and amplitude of bursting activity in neurons with intrinsic bursting properties after exposure to PGE 2 . Riluzole, a blocker of the persistent sodium current, abolished the effect of PGE 2 on sigh activity, while flufenamic acid, a blocker of the calcium‐activated non‐selective cation conductance, abolished the effect on eupnoeic activity caused by PGE 2 . Abstract Prostaglandins are important regulators of autonomic functions in the mammalian organism. Here we demonstrate in vivo that prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) can differentially increase the frequency of eupnoea (normal breathing) and sighs (augmented breaths) when injected into the preBötzinger complex (preBötC), a medullary area that is critical for breathing. Low concentrations of PGE 2 (100–300 n m ) increased the sigh frequency, while higher concentrations (1–2 μ m ) were required to increase the eupnoeic frequency. The concentration‐dependent effects were similarly observed in the isolated preBötC. This in vitro preparation also revealed that riluzole, a blocker of the persistent sodium current ( I Nap ), abolished the modulatory effect on sighs, while flufenamic acid, an antagonist for the calcium‐activated non‐selective cation conductance ( I CAN ) abolished the effect of PGE 2 on fictive eupnoea at higher concentrations. At the cellular level PGE 2 significantly increased the amplitude and frequency of intrinsic bursting in inspiratory neurons. By contrast PGE 2 affected neither excitatory nor inhibitory synaptic transmission. We conclude that PGE 2 differentially modulates sigh, gasping and eupnoeic activity by differentially increasing I Nap and I CAN currents in preBötC neurons.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa
2014-10-05

Debate over what to do about previous gross and systematic violations of human rights often arise during times of transition, when societies are moving away from an autocratic regime toward more democratic forms of government. In the criminological literature, many of these acts are considered "political crimes," meaning crimes committed by people against the state, designed to protest, change, or oust the existing establishment, as well as crimes committed by the state against people to sanction the acts that threaten that same establishment (Parmentier, 2001). The problem is one of "dealing with the past" (Boraine, Levy, & Scheffer, 1997), "transitional justice" (Kritz, 1995), or "post-conflict justice" (Bassiouni, 2002). Over the last decades various transitional justice mechanisms have been developed to deal with the legacy of a dark past: (1) in many cases the violations or crimes were not dealt with at all, thus resulting in a situation of impunity or the incapacity of the judicial system to prosecute; (2) the violations and crimes have become the object of criminal prosecutions, by national courts, courts in a third country, hybrid courts, or international tribunals and courts; or (3) other mechanisms such as amnesty, lustration (i.e., government policies of limiting the participation in public office of civil servants and security personnel attached to the former regime) and truth commissions. Each of these may be used independently or as complementary mechanisms operating alongside others. The truth commission process has been described as a "third way," in other words, as a mechanism that lies between impunity and formal prosecution.
A receptor-like protein mediates the response to pectin modification by activating brassinosteroid signaling
2014-10-06

Significance Plant growth and development depend on the biosynthesis and remodeling of the cell wall. To coordinate these two processes, surveillance mechanisms have evolved to monitor the state of the cell wall. The brassinosteroid (BR) hormone signaling pathway plays an essential role in growth control and regulates the expression of a plethora of cell wall-related genes. We have previously shown that feedback signaling from the wall can modulate the outputs of the BR pathway, ensuring cell wall homeostasis and integrity. Here, we identified a receptor-like protein (RLP44), which mediates the activation of BR signaling through direct interaction with the BR coreceptor BAK1. Thus, RLP44 integrates cell wall surveillance with hormone signaling to control cell wall integrity and growth.
The neutron star in HESS J1731−347: Central compact objects as laboratories to study the equation of state of superdense matter
2014-10-06

Context: Central Compact Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants are isolated\\nthermally emitting neutron stars (NSs). They are most probably characterized by\\na magnetic field strength that is roughly two orders of magnitude lower than\\nthat of most of the radio and accreting pulsars. The thermal emission of CCOs\\ncan be modeled to obtain constraints on the physical parameters of the star\\nsuch as its mass, radius, effective temperature, and chemical composition.\\nAims: The CCO in HESS, J1731-347 is one of the brightest objects of this class.\\nWe present our analysis of two new XMM-Newton observations of the source which\\nincrease the total exposure time of the by a factor of five compared to the\\nanalyses presented before. Methods: We use our numerical spectral models for\\ncarbon and hydrogen atmospheres to fit the spectrum of the CCO. From our fits,\\nwe derive constraints on the physical parameters of the emitting star. We also\\nuse the new data to derive new upper limits on pulsations and to confirm the\\nabsence of a long-term variability. Results: The analysis shows that atmosphere\\nspectral models are clearly preferred by the fit over the blackbody function.\\nUnder the assumption that the X-ray emission is uniformly produced by the\\nentire star surface, hydrogen atmosphere models lead to uncomfortably large\\ndistances of the CCO, above 7-8 kpc. On the other hand, the carbon atmosphere\\nmodel formally excludes distances above 5-6 kpc and is compatible with the\\nsource located in the Scutum-Crux (3 kpc) or Norma-Cygnus (4.5 kpc) Galactic\\nspiral arm. We provide and discuss the corresponding confidence contours in the\\nNS mass-radius plane. The measured effective temperature indicates that the NS\\nis exceptionally hot for the estimated age of 30 kyr. We discuss possible\\ncooling scenarios to explain this property, as well as possible additional\\nconstraints on the star mass and radius from cooling theory.\\n
Quantification of Left Ventricular Torsion and Diastolic Recoil Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Myocardial Feature Tracking
2014-10-06

CMR-FT based derivation of myocardial torsion and recoil rate is feasible and reproducible at rest and with dobutamine stress. Using an optimal anatomical approach measuring rotation at 25% and 75% apical and basal LV locations allows effective quantification of torsion and recoil dynamics. Application of these new measures of deformation by CMR-FT should next be explored in disease states.
Correction to “Merochlorins A–D, Cyclic Meroterpenoid Antibiotics Biosynthesized in Divergent Pathways with Vanadium-Dependent Chloroperoxidases”
2014-10-06

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVAddition/CorrectionORIGINAL ARTICLEThis notice is a correctionCorrection to "Merochlorins A–D, Cyclic Meroterpenoid Antibiotics Biosynthesized in Divergent Pathways with Vanadium-Dependent Chloroperoxidases"Leonard Kaysser, Peter Bernhardt, Sang-Jip Nam, Sandra Loesgen, J. Graham Ruby, Peter Skewes-Cox, Paul R. Jensen, William Fenical*, and Bradley S. Moore*Cite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 41, 14626Publication Date (Web):October 6, 2014Publication History Published online6 October 2014Published inissue 15 October 2014https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja509209dhttps://doi.org/10.1021/ja509209dcorrectionACS PublicationsCopyright © 2014 American Chemical Society. This publication is available under these Terms of Use. Request reuse permissions This publication is free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views1602Altmetric-Citations6LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail PDF (140 KB) Get e-AlertscloseSupporting Info (1)»Supporting Information Supporting Information Get e-Alerts
The Heisenberg–Euler Lagrangian as an example of an effective field theory
2014-10-07

We review the beginning of the effective Lagrangian in QED that was first introduced in the literature by W. Heisenberg and H. Euler in 1936. Deviating from their way of calculating the one-loop effective correction to the classical Maxwell Lagrangian, we use Green's functions and adopt the Fock–Schwinger proper-time method. The important role of the Heisenberg–Euler effective Lagrangian is explicitly demonstrated for low-energy photon–photon processes.
Paired box gene 8 (PAX8) expression is associated with sonic hedgehog (SHH)/wingless int (WNT) subtypes, desmoplastic histology and patient survival in human medulloblastomas
2014-10-07

Aims The paired box gene 8 ( PAX 8) plays crucial roles in organ patterning and cellular differentiation during development and tumorigenesis. Although its function is partly understood in vertebrate development, there is poor data concerning human central nervous system ( CNS ) development and brain tumours. Methods We investigated developing human ( n = 19) and mouse ( n = 3) brains as well as medulloblastomas ( MB s) ( n = 113) for PAX 8 expression by immunohistochemistry. Human MB cell lines were assessed for PAX 8 expression using polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting and analysed for growth and migration following PAX 8 knock‐down by small interfering ribonucleic acid (si RNA ). Results PAX 8 protein expression was associated with germinal layers in human and murine forebrain and hindbrain development. PAX 8 expression significantly decreased over time in the external granule cell layer but increased in the internal granule cell layer. In MB subtypes, we observed an association of PAX 8 expression with sonic hedgehog ( SHH ) and wingless int subtypes but not with group 3 and 4 MB s. Beyond that, we detected high PAX 8 levels in desmoplastic MB subtypes. Univariate analyses revealed high PAX 8 levels as a prognostic factor associated with a significantly better patient prognosis in human MB (overall survival: L og‐ R ank P = 0.0404, Wilcoxon P = 0.0280; progression‐free survival: L og‐ R ank P = 0.0225; W ilcoxon P = 0.0136). In vitro assays revealed increased proliferation and migration of MB cell lines after PAX 8 si RNA knock‐down. Conclusion In summary, high PAX 8 expression is linked to better prognosis in MB s potentially by suppressing both proliferative and migratory properties of MB cells. The distinct spatio‐temporal expression pattern of PAX 8 during brain development might contribute to the understanding of distinct MB subtype histogenesis.