julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Totally Implantable Active Middle Ear Implants: Ten Years' Experience at the University of Tübingen
2010-01-01

Active middle ear implants do not produce acoustic sounds but, rather, micromechanical vibrations. The stimulating signal does not leave the transducer as sound, but as a mechanical vibration, directly coupled to the auditory system and bypassing the normal route via air. In this paper, we review our experience with the TICA and the Carina middle ear implants. Both are totally implantable and are coupled to the ossicular chain or to perilymph. The design requirements for electronic hearing implants for patients with conductive hearing loss differ from those for sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss requires an implant that replaces impedance transformation and acts as an impedance transforming implant (ITI). In many respects, there are fewer demands on an ITI than on an electronic hearing aid for patients with sensorineural hearing loss.
Teachers of Poor Communities: The Tale of Instructional Media Use in Primary Schools of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia
2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of working conditions at school on teachers’ level of instructional media use in the primary school system of Gedeo Zone, southern Ethiopia. The survey was made on a sample of 139 (24.4 % female and male 75.6 %) teachers who were randomly drawn from 9 primary schools (four rural and five urban primary schools). The instruments used to generate data were self-reported questionnaires tapping the level of instructional media use and the associated school-level environmental factors. The findings based on Factor Analysis revealed three independent dimensions of school environment factors related to the use of instructional media by teachers. It is further disclosed that the level of use of instructional media is low with an average frequency of use swinging between once in two weeks to twice in three weeks during four weeks of instruction. The implications of the findings related to pre-service and in-service teacher training are also discussed.
INTERPRETING POST-SOCIALIST ICONS: FROM PRIDE AND HATE TOWARDS DISAPPEARANCE AND/OR ASSIMILATION
2010-01-01

Cultural landscape, as compilation of forms, functions and meanings, always reflexes the relationship of power and control out of which it has emerged. Major landscape transformations follow principal social revolutions. One of the recent major political transformations had been started in Central Europe in 1989 with the collapse of the communist regimes. Cultural landscape of Central and Eastern Europe has been carrying many communism related features, structures and procedures, represented by variety of landscape icons. The former symbols of the regimes and Soviet dominance had been undergoing liminal transformations since then. Some icons had been forgotten and disappeared, while some others have been incorporated into contemporary cultural landscape, usually thanks to transformed function and/or meaning. The former icons are left between oblivion and assimilation and can represent the application of the post-socialist memory policy, and readiness to accept or deny the traumatic past. The liminal societies of Central and Eastern Europe choose, sometimes unconsciously, what to remember and what to forget. Transformation of the former communist icons represents the cultural interaction of the place, time and society and can be seen as a litmus paper of the transformations.
Modeling Population Spike Trains with Specified Time-Varying Spike Rates, Trial-to-Trial Variability, and Pairwise Signal and Noise Correlations
2010-01-01

As multi-electrode and imaging technology begin to provide us with simultaneous recordings of large neuronal populations, new methods for modeling such data must also be developed. Here, we present a model for the type of data commonly recorded in early sensory pathways: responses to repeated trials of a sensory stimulus in which each neuron has it own time-varying spike rate (as described by its PSTH) and the dependencies between cells are characterized by both signal and noise correlations. This model is an extension of previous attempts to model population spike trains designed to control only the total correlation between cells. In our model, the response of each cell is represented as a binary vector given by the dichotomized sum of a deterministic "signal" that is repeated on each trial and a Gaussian random "noise" that is different on each trial. This model allows the simulation of population spike trains with PSTHs, trial-to-trial variability, and pairwise correlations that match those measured experimentally. Furthermore, the model also allows the noise correlations in the spike trains to be manipulated independently of the signal correlations and single-cell properties. To demonstrate the utility of the model, we use it to simulate and manipulate experimental responses from the mammalian auditory and visual systems. We also present a general form of the model in which both the signal and noise are Gaussian random processes, allowing the mean spike rate, trial-to-trial variability, and pairwise signal and noise correlations to be specified independently. Together, these methods for modeling spike trains comprise a potentially powerful set of tools for both theorists and experimentalists studying population responses in sensory systems.
The keto/enol tautomerism in acetoacetyl fluoride: properties, spectroscopy, and gas-phase and crystal structures of the enol form
2010-01-01

Tautomeric properties of acetoacetyl fluoride, CH(3)-C(O)-CH(2)-C(O)-F, were studied by IR (gas phase), Raman (liquid and solid), and NMR spectroscopy (neat liquid), gas electron diffraction (GED), X-ray crystallography, and quantum chemical calculations. The keto-enol tautomer possesses a much higher vapour pressure than the diketo form and therefore the keto-enol form strongly predominates in the gas phase. In the neat liquid state the thermally unstable compound tautomerizes at low temperatures slowly to yield the diketo form. Raman and NMR spectra show equilibrium with strong predominance of the diketo tautomer (>90%) in the liquid phase. Single crystals, grown at -90 °C from the gas phase, contain exclusively acetoacetyl fluoride in the keto-enol form and the molecules possess a planar skeleton with overall C(S) symmetry and with the O-H bond adjacent to the methyl group.
Regulation of Gastric Acid Secretion by PKB/Akt2
2010-01-01

Pharmacological inhibition of phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and partial deficiency of phosphoinositide dependent kinase PDK1 have previously been shown to enhance basal gastric acid secretion. PI3K/PDK1 dependent signaling involves activation of protein kinase B/Akt, which may thus be similarly involved in the regulation of gastric acid secretion. To test that hypothesis, gastric acid secretion was determined in isolated glands from gene targeted mice lacking functional Akt2 (akt2(-/-)) or from their wild type littermates (akt2(+/+)). According to BCECF-fluorescence cytosolic pH in isolated gastric glands was similar in akt2(-/-) and akt2(+/+) mice. Na(+)-independent pH recovery (DeltapH/min) following an ammonium pulse, a measure of H(+)/K(+) ATPase activity, was, however, significantly faster in akt2(-/-) than in akt2(+/+) mice. In both genotypes, DeltapH/min was virtually abolished by H(+)/K(+) ATPase inhibitor omeprazole (100 muM). Increase of extracellular K(+) concentrations to 35 mM (replacing Na(+)) increased DeltapH/min to a significantly larger extent in akt2(+/+) than in akt2(-/-) mice and dissipated the differences between the genotypes. Similarly, treatment with 5 muM forskolin enhanced DeltapH/min significantly only in akt2(+/+) mice and abolished the differences between the genotypes. Conversely, protein kinase A inhibitor H89 (50 nM) decreased DeltapH/min to similarly low values in both genotypes. In conclusion, Akt2 suppresses gastric acid secretion and contributes to or even accounts for the inhibition of gastric acid secretion by PI3K.
Association of three species of Strymon Hubner (Lycaenidae: Theclinae: Eumaeini) with bromeliads in southern Brazil
2010-01-01

As part of a project studying the species richness of bromeliad flower visitors and the diversity and nature of their animal-plant interactions, three species of the lycaenid butterfly genus Strymon were recorded as pests of bromeliad inflorescences.Strymon ziba fed on the fruits of Aechmea nudicaulis, S. oreaki on those of Ae. lindenii and Ae.caudata and S. serapio on the dry capsules of Vriesea friburgensis.The caterpillars of 5. zAfland S. oreala, pests t)f cultivated pineapple, were facultatively associated with ants.One S. ziba pupa was parasitized by a chalcidid wasp.One S. oreala pupa was parasitized by an ichneumonid wasp.BehaGoiir and life history data of the caterpillars are described and aspects of the host specificity of the lycaenids and potential pest control by parasitoid wasps are discussed.
The low-dose combination preparation Vertigoheel activates cyclic nucleotide pathways and stimulates vasorelaxation
2010-01-01

Vertigo of various and often unknown aetiologies has been associated with and attributed to impaired microvascular perfusion in the inner ear or the vertebrobasilar system. Vertigoheel is a low-dose combination preparation of proven value in the symptomatic treatment of vertigo. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that Vertigoheel's anti-vertiginous properties may in part be due to a vasodilatory effect exerted via stimulation of the adenylate and/or guanylate cyclase pathways. Thus, the influence of Vertigoheel or its single constituents on synthesis and degradation of cyclic nucleotides was measured. Furthermore, vessel myography was used to observe the effect of Vertigoheel on the vasoreactivity of rat carotid arteries. Vertigoheel and one of its constituents, Anamirta cocculus, stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, while another constituent, Conium maculatum, inhibited phosphodiesterase 5, suggesting that the individual constituents of Vertigoheel contribute differentially to a synergistic stimulation of cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways. In rat carotid artery rings, Vertigoheel counteracted phenylephrine-induced tonic vasoconstriction. The present data demonstrate a vasorelaxant effect of Vertigoheel that goes along with a synergistic stimulation of cyclic nucleotide pathways and may provide a mechanistic basis for the documented anti-vertiginous effects of this combination preparation.
Patterns of Relapse after Chemotherapy in Patients with High-Risk Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor
2010-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Objectives:&lt;/i&gt; We investigated the pattern of relapse after chemotherapy in patients with high-risk germ cell tumor (GCT) to critically review common follow-up procedures including close monitoring of serum tumor markers and radiologic procedures. &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; 645 patients received first-line (434 patients) or salvage platinum-based (211 patients) high-dose chemotherapy in three multicenter trials. Retrospective analysis comprised 77 patients after first-line and 61 after salvage chemotherapy, who had achieved at least a partial remission but progressed afterwards. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; At relapse, 24% of the patients presented with an isolated elevation in serum tumor markers, 26% with pathologic radiologic confirmation with negative tumor markers, and 42% with elevated tumor markers and radiologically confirmed progression. Relapse was detected by clinical symptoms in 8%. 46% relapsed within 3 months and 97% within 2 years. Relapse pattern did not correlate with tumor marker status or metastasis location prior to chemotherapy, line of chemotherapy, response status after chemotherapy or time point of relapse. &lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt; In high-risk GCT patients, relapse after chemotherapy is detected either by tumor marker elevation alone, radiologic imaging alone or both, in one third each. Close monitoring including serum tumor markers, radiologic imaging and clinical examination appears warranted within the first 2 years.
Chapter XXII. Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) In Paralysis
2010-01-01

A brain-computer-interface (BCI) or brain-machine-interface uses brain signals to drive external devices without participation of the spinal and peripheral motor system. In most BCIs the user's brain activity is acquired via amplifiers and filters and decoded using an on-line classification algorithm. In general, the algorithm for BCI applications is computationally simple and differences in classification accuracy between algorithms used for a particular purpose are small. The clinical target populations for BCI-treatment consist primarily of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and severe CNS damage including spinal cord injuries and stroke resulting in substantial deficits in communication and motor function. Motor disability resulting from chronic stroke represents the main cause of long-term disability among adults and has substantial social, financial and psychological impact on patients, families and society. Movement restoration in chronic stroke without residual movement capacity using non-invasive BCI is possible but generalisation of improvement to real life needs further experimentation. Keywords: Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI); brain-machine-interface; peripheral motor system; sclerosis
Standardized intensive care unit management in an anhepatic pig model: new standards for analyzing liver support systems
2010-01-01

Using standardized intensive care management after total hepatectomy, we were able to prolong anhepatic survival over 58 hours without the use of liver support systems. The survival benefit of liver support systems in previous animal studies should be reevaluated against our model.
Operando DRIFT Measurements on a tin dioxide based gas sensor
2010-01-01

Tin dioxide based gas sensors with 1% Pd doping were investigated by using DRIFT spectroscopy and DC resistance measurements in Operando conditions. The surface was characterized at 250 ∘C in synthetic air and the change of the surface species was monitored during the exposure to hydrogen and deuterium test gases. In this manner it was possible to follow which kind of hydrogen associated compounds are produced/consumed during the reaction with the test gas.
Massive haemoptysis in an intravenous drug user with infective tricuspid valve endocarditis
2010-01-01

Major causes of morbidity in intravenous drug users are infections. In infective endocarditis, the tricuspid valve is mainly involved. Masses can cause septic embolisms and, in rare cases, they are associated with mycotic aneurysms of pulmonary arteries that lead to severe haemorrhage. We report the case of a young woman with a history of intravenous drug abuse and prolonged infective tricuspid valve endocarditis. Initially, echocardiography showed large masses on the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve and severe tricuspid regurgitation; blood cultures revealed staphylococcus and streptococcus species. Eight months after initial diagnosis, she presented with severe haemoptysis and fever. CT revealed a ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the right pulmonary artery. Lobectomy was performed immediately. Postoperatively, the patient fully recovered. After continued antibiotic treatment, follow-up examinations showed negative echocardiographic findings and blood cultures results.
Tri And Rot Effects In Ternary Fission: What Can Be Learned?
2010-01-01

Inducing fission by polarized neutrons allows studying subtle effects of the dynamics of the process. In the present experiments ternary fission of 235U and 239Pu was investigated with cold neutrons in the (n,f) reaction at the Institut Laue‐Langevin, Grenoble. Asymmetries in the emission of ternary particles were discovered by making use of the neutron spin flipping. It was found that two effects are interfering. There is first an asymmetry in the total yields of ternary particles having been called the TRI‐effect. Second, it was observed that the angular distributions of ternary particles are shifted back and forth when flipping the neutron spin. This shift was named ROT effect. Guided by trajectory calculations of the three‐body decay, the signs and sizes of the ROT effect are interpreted in terms of the K‐numbers of the transition states at the saddle point of fission.
Different Methods for Testing Potential Cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors
2010-01-01

The need for the development of selective agents, which only inhibit the mainly "harmful" cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) while leaving physiological COX-1 mostly unaffected, still remains, especially after the recent issues related to cardiovascular toxicity caused by some COX-2 selective agents. Thus there is still a demand for sensitive and rapid methods to assay for COX-2 selective agents. Among several in vitro testing systems the whole blood assay (WBA) is a well-known method to examine non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in view of their potency to inhibit COX activity. This assay has some major advantages over enzyme-based or isolated cell assays. Emergence of artifacts due to cell separation steps is kept to a minimum and substances, even in disproportional high concentrations, can be examined outside the body in a physiological environment resembling most closely the in vivo conditions in living humans, i.e., 37 degrees C, homeostasis, presence of all blood compounds and cell-cell interactions remain intact. While COX-1 human whole blood assays are performed within less than 2 h, for established COX-2 assays one still has to allow for an overnight incubation step before gaining the desired plasma. The aim of the assay described in this chapter is to characterize an optimized human whole blood assay (hWBA). We present a simple, fast and reliable method to examine the capacity of NSAIDs at inhibiting COX-2 activity that can be applied for rapid and routine screening purposes.
ADP-receptor blockade: A case for personalised pharmacotherapy?
2010-01-01

Summary The dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of aspirin and the ADP-receptor blocker clopidogrel is the current standard medication after acute coronary events. However, clopidogrel is characterised by a high interindividual response variability, insufficient inhibition of platelet aggregation in a significant number of patients, relatively slow onset of efficacy and potential interaction with different co-medication via diverse hepatic cytochrome enzymes. In various trials, response variability of clopidogrel was translated into a higher rate of recurrent cardiovascular events. Different clinical and non-genetic factors contribute to the phenomenon of clopidogrel response variability. An individualised antithrombotic pharmacotherapy taking these factors into account, including the definition of status of response, verification of the efficacy by standardised platelet function testing, intensified or alternative platelet inhibition would be the ultimate goal for patients treated with clopidogrel. Currently, new drugs are on the way and promise a more consistent efficacy and smaller amount of response variability. However, the bleeding risk in subgroups of patients and further side effect profile remains to be clearly defined. Therefore, risk stratification models are warranted to identify patients who benefit from personalised pharmacotherapy in terms of improved clinical net benefit. In this review, we discuss treatment failure of clopidogrel based on platelet function testing, the mechanism of established and new ADP-blockers as well as new therapeutic principles.
Convergence Analysis for Incompressible Generalized Newtonian Fluid Flows with Nonstandard Anisotropic Growth Conditions
2010-01-01

We study equations to describe incompressible generalized Newtonian fluids, where the extra stress tensor satisfies a nonstandard anisotropic asymptotic growth condition. An implicit finite element discretization and a simple, fully practical fixed-point scheme with proper thresholding criterion are proposed, and convergence toward weak solutions of the limiting problem is shown. Computational experiments are included, which motivate nontrivial fluid flow behavior.
Chalcogen chemistry of group(iv) closo-dodecaborates, synthesis, theory and coordination chemistry
2010-01-01

Germa-closo-dodecaborate reacts with the elements sulfur, selenium and tellurium to give well defined products: [S-GeB(11)H(11)](2-), [Se-GeB(11)H(11)](2-) and [Te-GeB(11)H(11)](2-). The chalcogen adducts were characterized by single crystal structure analysis, NMR and IR spectroscopy. By using quantum chemical methods the nature of the germanium chalcogen bond was studied. Furthermore the first transition metal complexes of [S-GeB(11)H(11)](2-) and [S-SnB(11)H(11)](2-) with Pd and Pt were synthesized and characterized, showing that the dianionic chalcogen adducts can be used as new ligands in transition metal chemistry.
Hereditary Progressive Mucinous Histiocytosis: First Report in a Male Patient
2010-01-01

Progressive mucinous histiocytosis is a very rare, benign, non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis limited to the skin. In total ten patients (all women) in four families and three sporadic cases have been reported. We report here the first published case of a male patient with progressive mucinous histiocytosis. The multiple red papules on the scalp and forearms were asymptomatic and had slowly increased over approximately the past 20 years. The patient's mother had similar lesions. Histological examination revealed nodules in the dermis with histiocytes and mucin deposition. The histiocytes stained positively with CD31 and negative with CD34, CAM 5.2, PGM-1 and factor XIIIa. Ultrastructurally, the histiocytes showed numerous circular myelin bodies and zebra bodies reminiscent of those seen in lysosomal storage diseases. The genetic transmission of hereditary progressive mucinous histiocytosis remains unclear; we assume an autosomal dominant transmission with some hormonal factor that makes hereditary progressive mucinous histiocytosis more likely in women.
Influence of exhaustive exercise on the immune system in solid organ transplant recipients.
2010-01-01

Prolonged exhaustive exercise has a great impact on the immune system of athletes and leads to a transient weakening of the immune system. A host of studies has documented changes of immune parameters in peripheral blood following exercise. Concerning the effect of exhaustive exercise in transplant recipients there is little knowledge at present. We analysed peripheral blood in healthy athletes and transplant recipients who participated in the "Euregio cycling tour 2009" before and immediately after they performed 81 km of cycling that included ascending more than 1800 m in altitude. A full blood count and an automated differential count as well as microarray analysis were performed before, immediately after and one day after exercise in 10 male patients carrying a kidney transplant and in 10 controls matched in age and gender. Comparing the absolute increase in neutrophils in these two groups, we detected that the relative increase in neutrophils was significantly smaller in transplant recipients compared to their corresponding controls after exhaustive exercise. While both groups were comparable in performance, microarray analysis revealed a markedly different pattern of gene expression in transplant recipients compared to their controls. From the 130 genes that were significantly upregulated in controls immediately after exercise, only 12 genes were also upregulated in transplant recipients. 64 different genes were upregulated in transplant recipients only. Our findings may be related to the immunosuppressive medication that the transplant recipients took and therefore it should also be discussed that regular exercise might reduce the need for immunosuppressive medication in transplant recipients.