julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Bulk properties of nuclei and realistic NN interactions
2009-10-13

Nuclei close to the neutron drip line are described employing an interaction model which is based on the low-momentum interaction . This effective two-body interaction which is determined to reproduce the nucleon-nucleon (NN) scattering data at energies below the pion thresh-hold is supplemented by a density-dependent contact interaction fitted to reproduce the saturation properties of infinite nuclear matter within the Hartree-Fock approach. It is demonstrated that corresponding calculations for closed shell-nuclei using this interaction model reproduce the bulk properties of these nuclei, independent whether the wave functions are expanded in terms of harmonic oscillator waves or in a basis of plane waves discretized in a spherical box of appropriate size. This plane wave basis, however, is more appropriate to describe weakly bound nuclei and the transition from discrete nuclei to homogeneous matter which is supposed to occur e.g. in the crust of neutron stars. Properties of exotic nuclei are studied within a Hartree-Fock plus BCS approximation.
TGF-β Enhances the Integrin α2β1-Mediated Attachment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Type I Collagen
2009-10-14

The heterodimeric integrins are important receptors for the attachment of cells to their extracellular matrix. Here, we studied the attachment of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to type I collagen (col-1), which is part of the extracellular matrix in bone, skin, and connective tissues. Furthermore, we examined how TGF-beta influences the integrin expression and attachment of MSC. Using flow cytometry, immunoblot, and RT-PCR, we report that MSC express several integrin subunits, including the alpha(2)beta(1) integrin (VLA-2, CD49b/CD29). TGF-beta increases the expression of integrin subunits alpha(2), alpha(6), and beta(1) in MSC, thereby enhancing the attachment of MSC to col-1. The TGF-beta-mediated up-regulation of the expression of the integrin subunits alpha(2) and alpha(6) is mainly mediated in MSC by Smad2.
Regulation of proteins mediating neurodegeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis
2009-10-14

Abstract Multiple sclerosis is characterized by inflammatory demyelination and axonal loss as pathophysiological correlates of relapsing activity and progressive development of clinical disability. The molecular processes involved in this pathogenesis are still unclear as they are quite complex and heterogeneous. In this article we present protein expression analysis of brain and spinal cord tissues from different models of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used animal model for multiple sclerosis. We observed a number of EAE‐specific protein expression and PTM differences. Proteome analysis was extended to multiple sclerosis specimens in order to validate the EAE findings. Our findings suggest the regulation of a number of proteins that shed light on the molecular mechanisms of the disease processes taking place in EAE and multiple sclerosis. We found consistent modulation of proteins including serum amyloid P component, sirtuin 2, dihydropyrimidinase‐related protein family proteins, stathmin 1, creatine kinase B and chloride intracellular channel protein 1. Functional classification of the proteins by database and the literature mining reveals their association with neuronal development and myelinogenesis, suggesting possible disease processes that mediate neurodegeneration.
SC68896, a Novel Small Molecule Proteasome Inhibitor, Exerts Antiglioma Activity In vitro and In vivo
2009-10-14

Abstract Purpose: Glioblastomas are among the most lethal neoplasms, with a median survival of &amp;lt;1 year. Modulation of the proteasome function has emerged as a novel approach to cancer pharmacotherapy. Here, we characterized the antitumor properties of SC68896, a novel small molecule proteasome inhibitor. Experimental Design: Different tumor cell lines were tested by crystal violet staining for sensitivity to SC68896, given alone or in combination with death ligands. The molecular mechanisms mediating SC68896-induced cell death and changes in cell cycle progression were assessed by immunoblot and flow cytometry. An orthotopic human glioma xenograft model in nude mice was used to examine the in vivo activity of SC68896. Results: SC68896 inhibits the proliferation of cell lines of different types of cancer, including malignant glioma. Exposure of LNT-229 glioma cells to SC68896 results in a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of the proteasome, with a consequent accumulation of p21 and p27 proteins, cell cycle arrest, caspase cleavage, and induction of apoptosis. Using RNA interference, we show that the effect of SC68896 on glioma cells is facilitated by wild-type p53. SC68896 sensitizes glioma cells to tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis–inducing ligand and CD95 ligand and up-regulates the cell surface expression of the tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis–inducing ligand receptor cell death receptors 4 and 5, which may contribute to this sensitization. Intracerebral glioma–bearing nude mice treated either i.p. or intratumorally with SC68896 experience prolonged survival. Conclusions: SC68896 is the first proteasome inhibitor that exerts antiglioma activity in vivo. It may represent a novel prototype agent for the treatment of malignant gliomas and warrants clinical evaluation. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(21):6609–18)
Quantitative HBsAg and HDV-RNA levels in chronic delta hepatitis
2009-10-15

(i) HBsAg levels correlated with HDV viraemia in chronic HDV. (ii) Biochemical parameters did not accurately indicate the stage and grade of liver disease in chronic HDV and thus liver biopsy seems to remain the major tool for the evaluation of delta hepatitis patients.
UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs): from purification of Ah-receptor–inducible UGT1A6 to coordinate regulation of subsets of CYPs, UGTs, and ABC transporters by nuclear receptors
2009-10-15

Differential induction of rat-liver microsomal uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities by 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital provided the model to separate and purify the corresponding UGT enzymes, initially termed GT1 and GT2, respectively. Characterization of these enzymes helpful in the sequencing of the first inducible UGTs, now termed UGT1A6 and UGT2B1, may be considered the founding members of the current two evolutionarily conserved UGT families. Comparison of hepatic UGT1A6 induction by Ah-receptor (AhR) ligands in different species revealed low basal expression and high induction in rodents but high constitutive expression and moderate induction in humans. Induction of UGT1A6 by AhR was studied in the Caco-2 human colon carcinoma cell line. Similar to the induction of cytochrome-1 (CYP1) enzymes, the induction of human UGT1A6 was due to the binding of AhR to a common binding motif, a xenobiotic response element (XRE) in the promoter/enhancer region of the gene. Coordinate induction of CYPs and UGTs attenuates the generation of mutagenic benzo[a]pyrene metabolites, facilitating detoxification of the carcinogen. In addition and similar to observations with CYPs, UGTs may be responsible for homeostatic control of AhR ligands, such as bilirubin, a fruitful area to be studied in the future.
Situated learning in the mobile age: mobile devices on a field trip to the sea
2009-10-15

This study focuses on learning about fish biodiversity via mobile devices in a situated learning scenario. Mobile devices do not only facilitate relating the presented information to the real world in a direct way; they also allow the provision of dynamic representations on demand. This study asks whether mobile devices are suited to support knowledge acquisition in a situated learning scenario and whether providing dynamic content is an additional benefit of mobile devices in combination with a real-world experience. The study was conducted during a regular university course at the Mediterranean Sea. Students had to acquire knowledge on 18 Mediterranean fish species by using either static (n = 16) or dynamic learning materials (n = 17). An initial classroom activity was followed by a real-world experience with mobile devices (snorkelling activity). Learning outcomes were measured before and after snorkelling. A 2×2 mixed ANOVA revealed that students performed better after than before the mobile learning experience, whereas no main effect for learning material could be found. However, an interaction between both factors indicated that the knowledge gain in the dynamic group exceeded the knowledge gain in the static group. These results indicate that mobile devices are helpful to unfold the potential of dynamic visualisations for learning biodiversity in a situated learning scenario.Keywords: dynamic visualisations; mobile learning; situated learning; biodiversityDOI: 10.1080/09687760903247666
Accumulations of KIR+ T cells in the elderly
2009-10-15

Mechanisms controlling the age-associated gradual acquisition by CD8 T cells of natural killer cell receptors negatively regulating lymphocyte stimulation have remained obscure. Now, data from Li and colleagues 1 imply that a state of transcriptional activation and histone stoichiometry in CD8 but not CD4 T cells from elderly people results in epigenetic control of KIR genes by a mechanism involving displacement of DNA methyltransferase 1.
An alternative to the HPSG Raising Principle on the description-level
2009-10-15

I reconsider the HPSG Raising Principle which is introduced in Pollard &amp; Sag (1994) to constrain the way in which lexical entries describe the SUBCAT lists of the words they license. On the basis of whether a complement is assigned a semantic role in a lexical entry or not, this entry may not or must describe this complement as structure-shared with the unrealised subject of some other (non-subject) complement. The formal status of this principle is still unclear, as it is formulated as a 'meta principle' that does not talk about linguistic objects directly but rather about the lexical entries that license them. I show that, although its meaning cannot be expressed faithfully by the usual kind of constraints employed in HPSG, the Raising Principle can nevertheless be replaced by two such constraints which make largely the same predictions. Most importantly, these constraints interact with the output values of description-level lexical rules in the style of Meurers (2001) in a way that makes predictions available that Pollard &amp; Sag (1994) intended the Raising Principle to make but that it cannot possibly make if description-level lexical rules are employed.
Noninvasive, In Vivo Assessment of Mouse Retinal Structure Using Optical Coherence Tomography
2009-10-16

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel method of retinal in vivo imaging. In this study, we assessed the potential of OCT to yield histology-analogue sections in mouse models of retinal degeneration. We achieved to adapt a commercial 3(rd) generation OCT system to obtain and quantify high-resolution morphological sections of the mouse retina which so far required in vitro histology. OCT and histology were compared in models with developmental defects, light damage, and inherited retinal degenerations. In conditional knockout mice deficient in retinal retinoblastoma protein Rb, the gradient of Cre expression from center to periphery, leading to a gradual reduction of retinal thickness, was clearly visible and well topographically quantifiable. In Nrl knockout mice, the layer involvement in the formation of rosette-like structures was similarly clear as in histology. OCT examination of focal light damage, well demarcated by the autofluorescence pattern, revealed a practically complete loss of photoreceptors with preservation of inner retinal layers, but also more subtle changes like edema formation. In Crb1 knockout mice (a model for Leber's congenital amaurosis), retinal vessels slipping through the outer nuclear layer towards the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) due to the lack of adhesion in the subapical region of the photoreceptor inner segments could be well identified. We found that with the OCT we were able to detect and analyze a wide range of mouse retinal pathology, and the results compared well to histological sections. In addition, the technique allows to follow individual animals over time, thereby reducing the numbers of study animals needed, and to assess dynamic processes like edema formation. The results clearly indicate that OCT has the potential to revolutionize the future design of respective short- and long-term studies, as well as the preclinical assessment of therapeutic strategies.
Correlation of Fat Distribution in Whole Body MRI With Generally Used Anthropometric Data
2009-10-16

: We compared different body measures and body fat devices with the whole body fat distribution acquired by MRI. Generally, there were significant correlations of all modalities with body fat content (TAT) and mainly with SCAT. Correlations with VAT compartment were much weaker and an adequate estimation of VAT is, therefore, not possible. Only WHR revealed significant correlations with the fat in the body center, but only in women. If it is important to investigate especially the VAT which is responsible for a higher cardiovascular risk, risk for a metabolic syndrome and that is correlated with the course of different psychiatric diseases, cross sectional techniques such as MRI can not be substituted by simpler methods.
Comprehensive Assessment of Renal Function and Vessel Morphology in Potential Living Kidney Donors
2009-10-16

The study showed the feasibility of the comprehensive assessment of renal anatomy, function, and vascular morphology, using 1 single MR examination. The proposed protocol may find immediate clinical application in the preoperative assessment of potential kidney donors.
Structural Neuroimaging and the Antisocial Brain
2009-10-19

A series of neuroimaging studies have reported structural differences in several subcortical and frontal systems in individuals with stable antisocial behavior (sASB). Specifically, differences have been observed in the prefrontal and temporal cortices (e.g., amygdala and hippocampus). However, the sASB population is typically characterized by co-occurring hyperactivity— inattention symptoms and low cognitive ability. These nuisance variables are likely to complicate the interpretation of findings regarding structural differences associated with sASB. The way in which each study deals with these variables influences the conclusions that can be drawn about the brain structure and function of children and adults with sASB. This article briefly reviews the extant literature in this field before considering two approaches that may be used to deal with comorbidities conceptualized as nuisance variables--namely, the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and the matched-group design. Then, the authors illustrate, with their own data, checks that may be performed to ensure the validity of results using ANCOVA.
Neurological symptoms in patients with biopsy proven celiac disease
2009-10-20

Abstract In celiac disease (CD), the gut is the typical manifestation site but atypical neurological presentations are thought to occur in 6 to 10% with cerebellar ataxia being the most frequent symptom. Most studies in this field are focused on patients under primary neurological care. To exclude such an observation bias, patients with biopsy proven celiac disease were screened for neurological disease. A total of 72 patients with biopsy proven celiac disease (CD) (mean age 51 ± 15 years, mean disease duration 8 ± 11 years) were recruited through advertisements. All participants adhered to a gluten‐free diet. Patients were interviewed following a standard questionnaire and examined clinically for neurological symptoms. Medical history revealed neurological disorders such as migraine (28%), carpal tunnel syndrome (20%), vestibular dysfunction (8%), seizures (6%), and myelitis (3%). Interestingly, 35% of patients with CD reported of a history of psychiatric disease including depression, personality changes, or even psychosis. Physical examination yielded stance and gait problems in about one third of patients that could be attributed to afferent ataxia in 26%, vestibular dysfunction in 6%, and cerebellar ataxia in 6%. Other motor features such as basal ganglia symptoms, pyramidal tract signs, tics, and myoclonus were infrequent. 35% of patients with CD showed deep sensory loss and reduced ankle reflexes in 14%. Gait disturbances in CD do not only result from cerebellar ataxia but also from proprioceptive or vestibular impairment. Neurological problems may even develop despite strict adherence to a gluten‐free diet. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Phenotypical Characterization of Human Th17 Cells Unambiguously Identified by Surface IL-17A Expression
2009-10-20

Abstract Th17 cells are involved in the defense against bacteria and fungi and play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, but research on human Th17 cells is hindered due to the lack of a surface marker. In this study, we report that a subset of human and mouse CD4+ T cells as well as human Th17 T cell clones express IL-17A on their surface upon stimulation. Correlation of surface IL-17A expression with intracellular IL-17A production and with RORγt mRNA expression identified surface IL-17A as a specific marker for human and mouse Th17 cells. Phenotype characterization of ex vivo CD4+ IL-17A+ cells showed that the chemokines CCR6 and CCR4, costimulatory molecules, as well as CD2 and CD49d were more prominently expressed on these cells than in surface IL-17A− cells, supporting the concept of Th17 cells as a potent inflammatory effector subtype. In addition, we generated human Th1, Th1/17 (producing both IFN-γ and IL-17A), and Th17 T cell clones based on single cell sorting of surface IL-17A−, IL-17Aint, and IL-17Ahigh CD4+ T cells, respectively, and showed the plasticity of the double producing clones to the cytokine milieu. The identification of surface IL-17A as a marker for Th17 cells should facilitate research on this subset.
Water Diffusivity: Comparison of Primary CNS Lymphoma and Astrocytic Tumor Infiltrating the Corpus Callosum
2009-10-20

The water diffusivity and the ADC ratio of the tumor to normal-appearing corpus callosum of astrocytic tumor differ significantly from those of lymphoma infiltrating the corpus callosum, allowing reliable differentiation of the two types of tumor.
Ferromagnetic Josephson junctions with steplike interface transparency
2009-10-20

Within the framework of the quasiclassical Usadel equations we study the Josephson effect in superconductor-insulator-ferromagnet-superconductor (SIFS) and SIFNS (N is a normal metal) structures with a steplike transparency of the FS or NS interface. At certain parameters the steplike transparency leads to the formation of a region, where the critical current-density distribution along the junction exhibits a damped oscillation with a sign change. This results in the formation of a nanojunction with the characteristic length of 0 and regions of the order of the coherence length for SIFS and for SIFNS junctions, respectively. Using several transparency steps one can create an array of nanojunctions. Such structures exhibit an unusual behavior in an external magnetic field . The total critical current grows with increasing up to a certain value, which depends on the size of a single nanojunction, and has multiperiodic oscillations in the case of an array.
In Vitro Activity of Mirincamycin (U24729A) against Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Gabon
2009-10-20

ABSTRACT We assessed the in vitro activity of mirincamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic, against Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates from Gabon. Growth was determined by HRP2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using an adapted protocol with a prolonged incubation time (6 days) to account for antibiotic-induced delayed death. Mirincamycin's cis and trans isomers are more active (median 50% inhibitory concentrations [IC 50 s], 3.2 nM and 2.6 nM) than the comparator drugs clindamycin (IC 50 , 12 nM) and doxycycline (IC 50 , 720 nM), and therefore, further clinical development is promising.
Spectrum of Imaging Findings in Immunocompromised Patients With HHV-6 Infection
2009-10-20

The spectrum of HHV-6 associated disorders is broad, but radiologists are frequently not familiar with these disorders. In the clinical setting of acute infection in an immunocompromised patient, the presence of one of these findings (e.g., limbic encephalitis; atypical interstitial pneumonia; pericarditis or myocarditis; or, less commonly, gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary disorders) should raise the suspicion of a possible HHV-6 related complication.
Chiral Sensing Using a Complementary Metal−Oxide Semiconductor-Integrated Three-Transducer Microsensor System
2009-10-20

Different chiral cyclodextrin derivatives were dissolved in a polysiloxane matrix and have been used as sensitive coatings on a three-transducer microsystem including a calorimetric, a mass-sensitive, and a capacitive chemical sensor. Upon exposure to chiral analytes, such as methyl lactate and methyl-2-chloropropionate, all three transducers showed distinct chiral discrimination of these analytes. The signals were found to constitute a convolution of sorption thermodynamics and transducer-specific contributions, which included, in the case of the capacitive sensor, molecular orientation effects so that even opposite-sign signals for the two enantiomers resulted. The sensor response curves of all three transducers could be explained and fitted by applying a model that essentially implies the superposition of a Langmuir isotherm representing specific interactions, predominant at low concentrations, and a Henry isotherm for nonspecific physisorption. The results disclosed here show that, on the one hand, sensor techniques can be used to reveal details of enantioselective analyte-receptor or analyte-matrix interactions and that, on the other hand, sensors may provide an even more pronounced chiral discrimination ("discrimination enhancement") with respect to sorption-thermodynamics-determined gas chromatography as a consequence of the transducer-specific signal contributions.
Theory of fractional vortex escape in a long Josephson junction
2009-10-20

We consider a fractional Josephson vortex in an infinitely long 0-kappa Josephson junction. A uniform bias current applied to the junction exerts a Lorentz force acting on a vortex. When the bias current becomes equal to the critical (or depinning) current, the Lorentz force tears away an integer fluxon and the junction switches to the resistive state. In the presence of thermal and quantum fluctuations this escape process takes place with finite probability already at subcritical values of the bias current. We analyze the escape of a fractional vortex by mapping the Josephson phase dynamics to the dynamics of a single particle in a metastable potential and derive the effective parameters of this potential. This allows us to predict the behavior of the escape rate as a function of the topological charge of the vortex.
Neutron powder diffraction study and DFT calculations on the structure of Zr10Sc4O26
2009-10-20

Abstract Powder neutron diffraction was used to investigate Zr 10 Sc 4 O 26 , the so called γ -phase in the zirconia scandia system. This fluorite related anion deficient compound with composition MX 1.86 crystallizes in space group R -3 and lattice constants a = 952.7(3) pm and c = 1745.3(4) pm. Anion vacancies are inserted on the 6c sites in R -3. The neutron data as well as the periodic density-functional calculations performed count for a divacancy model. The paired defect is more stable by 29 kJ/mol than any model with unpaired vacancies including the model with the 1/2[111] F (index F = fluorite) vacancy separation along an empty anion cube.