julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Influence of Dichloroacetate (DCA) on Lactate Production and Oxygen Consumption in Neuroblastoma Cells: Is DCA a Suitable Drug for Neuroblastoma Therapy?
2012-01-01

Many cancer cells metabolize glucose preferentially via pyruvate to lactate instead to CO(2) and H(2)O (oxidative phosphorylation) even in the presence of oxygen (Warburg effect). Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a drug which is able to shift pyruvate metabolism from lactate to acetyl-CoA (tricarboxylic acid cycle) by indirect activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). This can subsequently lead to an increased flow of oxygen in the respiratory chain, associated with enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may cause apoptosis. In order to investigate if DCA may be suitable for neuroblastoma therapy, it was investigated on three human neuroblastoma cell lines whether DCA can reduce lactate production and enhance oxygen consumption. The data show, that DCA (in the low millimolar range) is able to reduce lactate production, but there was only a slight shift to increased oxygen consumption and almost no effect on cell vitality, proliferation and apoptosis of the three cell lines investigated. Therefore, DCA at low millimolar concentrations seems to be only of minor efficacy for neuroblastoma treatment.
Effect of MR contrast agents on quantitative accuracy of PET in combined whole-body PET/MR imaging
2012-01-01

Clinical PET/MR acquisition protocols entail the use of MR contrast agents (MRCA) that could potentially affect PET quantification following MR-based attenuation correction (AC). We assessed the effect of oral and intravenous (IV) MRCA on PET quantification in PET/MR imaging. We employed two MRCA: Lumirem® (oral) and Gadovist® (IV). First, we determined their reference PET attenuation values using a PET transmission scan (ECAT-EXACT HR+, Siemens) and a CT scan (PET/CT Biograph 16 HI-REZ, Siemens). Second, we evaluated the attenuation of PET signals in the presence of MRCA. Phantoms were filled with clinically relevant concentrations of MRCA in a background of water and 18F-fluoride, and imaged using a PET/CT scanner (Biograph 16 HI-REZ, Siemens) and a PET/MR scanner (Biograph mMR, Siemens). Third, we investigated the effect of clinically relevant volumes of MRCA on MR-based AC using human pilot data: a patient study employing Gadovist® (IV) and a volunteer study employing two different oral MRCA (Lumirem® and pineapple juice). MR-based attenuation maps were calculated following Dixon-based fat–water segmentation and an external atlas-based and pattern recognition (AT&PR) algorithm. IV and oral MRCA in clinically relevant concentrations were found to have PET attenuation values similar to those of water. The phantom experiments showed that under clinical conditions IV and oral MRCA did not yield additional attenuation of PET emission signals. Patient scans showed that PET attenuation maps are not biased after the administration of IV MRCA but may be biased, however, after ingestion of iron oxide-based oral MRCA when segmentation-based AC algorithms are used. Alternative AC algorithms, such as AT&PR, or alternative oral contrast agents, such as pineapple juice, can yield unbiased attenuation maps. In clinical PET/MR scenarios MRCA are not expected to lead to markedly increased attenuation of the PET emission signals. MR-based attenuation maps may be biased by oral iron oxide-based MRCA unless advanced AC algorithms are used.
Evaluating the meaning of answers to reading comprehension questions: A semantics-based approach
2012-01-01

Hahn, M. &amp;amp; D. Meurers (2012). Evaluating the meaning of answers to reading comprehension questions: A semantics-based approach. In Proceedings of the 7th Workshop on Innovative Use of NLP for Building Educational Applications (BEA-7) at NAACL-HLT 2012, 326–336. Montreal: Association for Computational Linguistics.
Volitional Control of Neuromagnetic Coherence
2012-01-01

Coherence of neural activity between circumscribed brain regions has been implicated as an indicator of intracerebral communication in various cognitive processes. While neural activity can be volitionally controlled with neurofeedback, the volitional control of coherence has not yet been explored. Learned volitional control of coherence could elucidate mechanisms of associations between cortical areas and its cognitive correlates and may have clinical implications. Neural coherence may also provide a signal for brain-computer interfaces (BCI). In the present study we used the Weighted Overlapping Segment Averaging method to assess coherence between bilateral magnetoencephalograph sensors during voluntary digit movement as a basis for BCI control. Participants controlled an onscreen cursor, with a success rate of 124 of 180 (68.9%, sign-test p < 0.001) and 84 out of 100 (84%, sign-test p < 0.001). The present findings suggest that neural coherence may be volitionally controlled and may have specific behavioral correlates.
Thymosin alpha‐1 with peginterferon alfa‐2a/ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C not responsive to IFN/ribavirin: an adjuvant role?
2012-01-01

Summary. This study was conducted to determine whether the adding thymosin alpha‐1 to standard of care for re‐treatment of nonresponding hepatitis C infections can improve sustained viral response (SVR) rates. Patients ( n = 552) with hepatitis C infections not responding to the combination of Peginterferon alfa‐2a or 2b with ribavirin (RBV)were randomized to receive peginterferon alfa‐2a 180 mg/week with RBV 800–1200 mg/daily plus either thymosin alpha‐1 1.6 mg SC twice weekly ( n = 275) or placebo ( n = 277) for 48 weeks. Eighty‐eight per cent of patients had HCV genotype 1, 6.6% type 4, 2.2% type 2 and 3.6% type 3. SVR rates in the intention to treat population were similar between thymosin alpha‐1 and placebo (12.7% vs 10.5%; P = 0.407). Among patients who completed all 48 weeks of therapy, the SVR rate was significantly higher in the thymosin alpha‐1 group at 41.0% (34/83) compared with 26.3% (26/99) in the placebo group ( P = 0.048). No significant difference was observed between treatment groups in the incidence of adverse events. The addition of thymosin alpha‐1 to the standard of care did not increase the on‐treatment HCV viral response. Thymosin alpha‐1 seems to play no role in the primary therapy of the disease. This study raises the hypothesis that thymosin alpha‐1 may have a secondary therapeutic role as an adjuvant in the prevention of relapses in patients achieving a virologic response during therapy.
An inorganic propellane with central B–B bond
2012-01-01

9,10-Dihydroanthracene-9,10-diyl-bridged B(2)(NMe(2))(2) readily adds [H(2)NMe(2)](+), HCl and F(3)CCOOH across its partial B=N double bond(s), thereby forming mono- or diadducts; treatment with 1-iso-propyl-2-mercaptoimidazole leads to a triply B-B-bridged propellane-like structure.
Reservoir properties and petrophysical modelling of carbonate sand bodies: outcrop analogue study in an epicontinental basin (Triassic, Germany)
2012-01-01

Abstract This paper represents the second part of an integrated study that is focussed on the development and distribution of reservoir bodies and properties in epeiric carbonate systems. It is based on outcrop analogue data from Triassic ‘layer-cake’ carbonates in the South German Basin, which were deposited along an epicontinental, very gently inclined carbonate ramp. The reservoir facies consists of skeletal and oolitic carbonate grainstones (Φ max 23%, K max 700 mD), which are organized in a pronounced hierarchy of stratigraphic cycles. Based on outcrops, cores, gamma ray (GR) logs and thin sections, a high-resolution, geocellular 3D facies model was generated, which covers the area of a Middle East giant gas field (25×36 km). The spatial distribution of reservoir properties was systematically investigated on different scales. The lateral distribution of reservoir properties remains in the same order of magnitude for hundreds of metres, within in the same stratigraphic position. However, on a kilometre scale, facies bodies, diagenetic trends and thus reservoir properties show gradual lateral changes. Vertically, in contrast, properties change commonly on a decimetre scale and are largely controlled by stratigraphic cycles. Petrophysical modelling enhanced the understanding of key factors and processes controlling both reservoir quality and quantity.
Pregnancy after Successful Cancer Treatment: What Needs to Be Considered?
2012-01-01

Over the last decade, advances in oncology led to improved treatment results and increasing numbers of long-term cancer survivors. Fulfilling the desire to have children is important for many patients after cancer treatment. Consequently, oncologists, gynecologists and obstetricians are seeing more patients who wish to conceive after treatment. The necessary prerequisites that should be considered when supporting a planned pregnancy after cancer treatment are discussed in this article. The possible consequences of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the course of pregnancy and the health of the offspring, as well as the interactions between cancer and pregnancy, are reviewed with the focus on childhood cancer, malignant lymphomas, and breast cancer. Despite chemo- or radiotherapy, neither the teratogenic risk nor the risk of adventitious cancers appears to be increased for the offspring of cancer survivors. However, there is a slightly higher risk of miscarriage after chemotherapy. In case of radiation to the uterus, there is a higher risk of premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation, and increased perinatal mortality. The effect is more pronounced after prepubertal radiation than for postpubertal radiation. The former cancer patient's desire to conceive can nevertheless be supported, given that pregnancy and birth are closely monitored.
Linagliptin–-A Novel Dipeptidyl Peptidase Inhibitor for Type 2 Diabetes Therapy
2012-01-01

Incretin based therapies have been introduced into the treatment options of type 2 diabetes a few years ago. Among them, the orally active DPP-4 inhibitors have established themselves as insulinotropic agents. Their advantage is the glucose-dependent insulinotropic action without an intrinsic risk for causing hypoglycemia. Additionally DPP-4 inhibitors have a glucose dependent glucagonostatic action contributing to improved glucose control. They are weight neutral and show a good safety and tolerability profile with comparable efficacy to sulfonylureas. Linagliptin is a novel DPP-4 inhibitor with a distinct pharmacological profile. In contrast to the other approved DPP-4 inhibitors it is eliminated by a hepatic/biliary route rather than a renal route. Therefore no dose adjustment is recommended in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment. In clinical studies, it has been shown to be non-inferior to sulfonylurea treatment regarding glycemic parameters, but to possess favourable safety advantages regarding hypoglycemia frequency, body weight development and effects on cardioavascular parameters. This article gives an overview on the pharmacology of linagliptin as well as on the clinical data available.
How Many Gods in Heaven? Young Children and Religious Plurality — Results of a Qualitative Study
2012-01-01

Abstract Multireligious contexts are considered a routine challenge for growing children today, yet very little is known empirically about how children deal with religious differences. Studies by developmentalists like David Elkind, fifty years ago, have not been followed up and more recent research on young children and religion has tended to centre on other questions. The article that follows is based on a study of 140 children (mean age 4.9 years) interviewed in the context of kindergartens in Germany. After describing their research procedures, the authors present results regarding knowledge, experience, attitudes, and linguistic skills in the context of different religions. Throughout the article, special emphasis is laid on the issue of God, or different Gods, as perceived by the children. The authors conclude by suggesting a number of educational consequences.
Experimentelle Psychologie
2012-01-01

Das psychologische Experiment ist die zentrale Methode der Datenerhebung der zeitgemäßen, naturwissenschaftlich orientierten Psychologie. Vor dem Hintergrund der engen wechselseitigen Bedingtheit von Experiment und Theorie erläutert der Autor die Grundlagen der Experimentellen Psychologie und vermittelt die Kompetenzen, die entscheidend für die Planung, Durchführung und Auswertung eigener psychologischer Experimente sind. Ausführlich beschriebene Beispiele aus verschiedenen Teilbereichen der Psychologie illustrieren die konkrete Anwendung der experimentellen Methodik und machen deutlich, dass die Erforschung mentaler Vorgänge ein enges Zusammenspiel von experimentellem Know-how und psychologischer Theorienbildung erfordert.
Evaluation of the rates of soil organic matter mineralization in forest ecosystems of temperate continental, mediterranean, and tropical monsoon climates
2012-01-01

The processes of the organic matter (OM) mineralization in forest soils developed under temperate continental (Moscow oblast, Russia), Mediterranean (the central and western parts of Spain), and tropical monsoon (southern Vietnam) climates were studied under laboratory conditions. The potential and specific rates of the OM mineralization (PR min and PR min/Corg, respectively), the ecophysiological parameters of the microbial communities status (Cmic, qCO2, and Cmic/Corg), and the sensitivity of the rate of the OM mineralization to the rise in temperature were evaluated by the temperature coefficients (Q 10) determined in the humus horizons (0–10 cm, without forest litter). The average values of PR min for the climatic zones decreased in the following order: Mediterranean (57.1 ± 10.6 mg C/kg per day) > temperate continental (23.8 ± 7.1 mg C/kg per day) > tropical monsoon (10.4 ± 1.6 mg C/kg per day). The lowest resistance of the soil OM to mineralization as evaluated by the PR min/Corg values was found in the Albeluvisol and Phaeozem of the temperate continental climate and in the Acrisol of the Mediterranean climate. The highest Q 10 coefficients were attributed to the OM mineralization in the forest soils of the temperate continental climate. This allowed us to conclude that the observed and expected climate changes with an increase in the mean annual air temperature should lead to the maximum intensification of the OM mineralization processes in the forest soils of northern regions.
Nanoscale assembly, morphology and screening effects in nanorods of newly synthesized substituted pentacenes
2012-01-01

We report our investigation on the nanorods of two newly synthesized substituted pentacenes, δ4-substituted (2,3-X2-9,10-Y2) pentacene with X = Y = methoxy group (MOP) and X = F, Y = methoxy (MOPF), by using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The nanorods were deposited on Au(111) single crystals. Energy dependent photoemission spectra show complex features, including a rich satellite structure that we have analyzed in detail by using a best-fit procedure applying constraints based on stoichiometry, electronegativity, and bond strength. This analysis reveals the presence of surface core level shifts due to the high electronegativity of the fluorine atoms. The distinctive features of growth and morphology of the nanorods are subjected to a template effect by the substrate lattice geometry, leading to morphological well-organized assemblies. Fluorine atoms play an important role not only in the electronic structure but also in the morphology of the nanorod assemblies.
Neurofeedback for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Investigation of Slow Cortical Potential Neurofeedback—Preliminary Results
2012-01-01

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.Compared to ADHD in children, only a few studies have investigated ADHD in an adult population, and even less have investigated new forms of treatment such as neurofeedback.Neurofeedback has been applied effectively in various areas, especially in the treatment of children with ADHD, and symptom improvements were associated with increased amplitude of the contingent negative variation (CNV).This study investigated if any behavioral and electrophysiological changes reflected in the CNV can be observed after 15 sessions of SCP neurofeedback training.Furthermore, a comparison of CNV amplitude in adults with ADHD and a healthy control group was conducted.Continuous 22-channel EEG was acquired from 10 adults who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and 8 matched healthy controls.EEG recordings were collected pre=midtreatment and included resting EEG, P300, and CNV tasks as well as ADHD behavioral questionnaires.The adult ADHD group received 15 sessions of SCP training at Cz (referenced to A1, ground A2).The control group only underwent the EEG recording.After 15 sessions of SCP-training a significant improvement in self-ratings of ADHD symptoms was reported.In addition, a trend in increasing CNV mean amplitude was observed after training.A significant difference in baseline CNV between the adult ADHD group and the healthy control group was observed.These results give a promising outlook to the outcome after the completion of 30 sessions of SCP training.The differences in CNV amplitude between the ADHD group and healthy controls are in line with other studies about adult ADHD and CNV.This supports the idea of impaired self-regulation in adult ADHD.The behavioral improvements and increase in CNV after SCP training suggests that SCP training has a positive effect on adult ADHD symptoms and their origin.
Functional near Infrared Spectroscopy in Psychiatry: A Critical Review
2012-01-01

This review deals with the utilisation of functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy for an in vivo assessment of activation changes in brain tissue, which has broadened the range of non-invasive functional imaging methods within the field of neuroscientific research. Due to its simple and quick applicability as well as the absence of side effects, fNIR spectroscopy is particularly well tolerated by psychiatric patients and can hence markedly contribute to the understanding of the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders. The optical, light-based method emits near infrared wavelengths of about 700–1000 nm, which are able to penetrate the scalp and skull, into the head. Because near infrared light is distinctively absorbed by the chromophores oxy-haemoglobin (O 2 Hb) and deoxy-haemoglobin (HHb), the measured relative amount of reflected NIR light can indicate regional oxygenation patterns in cortical brain tissue with a depth resolution of, on average, 1.5 cm and a spatial resolution of about 2–3 cm. Validity and reliability of fNIR spectroscopy measurements to assess task-related cognitive activation have been repeatedly confirmed among healthy subjects. Beyond that, the application of fNIR spectroscopy to detect altered cortical oxygenation in psychiatric patients during cognitive tasks has been greatly intensified over the last two decades. In this context, hypo-frontality, a decrease in frontal lobe activity that is associated with a number of clinical symptoms and psychiatric disorders, has been demonstrated in a wide range of fNIR spectroscopy studies with psychiatric patients. Despite its variety of beneficial properties, the most apparent disadvantages of NIR spectroscopy compared to other imaging techniques are its limited spatial as well as depth resolution and its restriction to cortical areas. Although multimodal approaches based on simultaneous application of NIR spectroscopy combined with other imaging techniques initially revealed promising results, further technical development and a broadened implementation of combined measurements are necessary in order to uncover distinct brain activity alterations in different psychiatric disorders. In addition to the need for further technical improvement of the method, broad and longitudinal applications of fNIR spectroscopy measurements in psychiatric research are required in order to identify robust diagnostic markers which are required to establish NIR spectroscopy as a valid inter-individual screening instrument in psychiatry.
Directional exciton transport in supramolecular nanostructured assemblies
2012-01-01

Supramolecular nanostructured host-guest compounds provide an intriguing strategy for improved materials in optoelectronic devices. Here, conjugated organic guest molecules are embedded in channel-forming organic or inorganic hosts, like perhydrotriphenylene (PHTP) and zeolites, leading to weakly coupled, highly ordered, and brightly emissive materials. In-depth material characterization allows for a full understanding of the exciton transport mechanism in the weak coupling regime through steady-state time-resolved fluorescence studies combined with quantum-chemical based Monte-Carlo simulations without adjustable parameters. Despite weak chromophore coupling and dilution by the host, the exciton diffusion length exceeds 50 nm similar to molecular crystals, and might be tuned to the μm range by the proper choice of host and guest materials.
Discrete acyltransferases involved in polyketide biosynthesis
2012-01-01

Polyketides (PKs) are a class of natural products with highly diverse structures and bioactivities. Important clinical antibiotics like tetracycline, erythromycin, mupirocin, and dalfopristin (a component of Synercid®) belong to this compound class. The diversity of PK structures depends on their assembly process, for which multifunctional enzymes, the modular polyketide synthases (PKSs), are required. These megasynthases are organized in modules, consisting of integrated enzymatic domains, which catalyze the individual reaction steps in PK biosynthesis. Here, we focus on a subset of PKSs, the trans-AT type modular PKSs and their discrete acyltransferases (ATs). In contrast to the classical cis-AT PKSs which have AT domains within the megasynthases, the trans-AT PKSs recruit discrete ATs, which are encoded by separate genes. ATs are required for the selection of precursors and their loading to acyl carrier protein (ACP) domains of the PKS. Although, the number of identified trans-AT PKS gene clusters increased over the last decade, the functional analysis of the discrete ATs in those pathways was carried out only for a few examples. In these cases – excluding ATs accepting ACP-linked extenders – transfer of malonyl-CoA was observed. This suggested a strict malonyl-CoA specificity of the in trans acting ATs. Only recently, a discrete AT, which selects freestanding ethylmalonyl-CoA and uses this substrate for the direct loading of a specific ACP domain of a kirromycin PKS, was described. Furthermore, this represents a novel mechanism of incorporation of branched structures into polyketides. The identification of the AT motifs responsible for the substrate recognition and ACP docking are of particular importance for understanding and modification of such systems. Here, we provide a summary of information gained from experimental studies on discrete ATs involved in polyketide biosynthesis until the end of 2011.