julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Unbounding the mental number line—new evidence on children's spatial representation of numbers
2014-01-01

Number line estimation (i.e., indicating the position of a given number on a physical line) is a standard assessment of children's spatial representation of number magnitude. Importantly, there is an ongoing debate on the question in how far the bounded task version with start and endpoint given (e.g., 0 and 100) might induce specific estimation strategies and thus may not allow for unbiased inferences on the underlying representation. Recently, a new unbounded version of the task was suggested with only the start point and a unit fixed (e.g., the distance from 0 to 1). In adults this task provided a less biased index of the spatial representation of number magnitude. Yet, so far there are no children data available for the unbounded number line estimation task. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study on primary school children performing both, the bounded and the unbounded version of the task. We observed clear evidence for systematic strategic influences (i.e., the consideration of reference points) in the bounded number line estimation task for children older than grade two whereas there were no such indications for the unbounded version for any one of the age groups. In summary, the current data corroborate the unbounded number line estimation task to be a valuable tool for assessing children's spatial representation of number magnitude in a systematic and unbiased manner. Yet, similar results for the bounded and the unbounded version of the task for first- and second-graders may indicate that both versions of the task might assess the same underlying representation for relatively younger children-at least in number ranges familiar to the children assessed. This is of particular importance for inferences about the nature and development of children's magnitude representation.
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Probe State- and Trait-Like Conditions in Chronic Tinnitus: A Proof-of-Principle Study
2014-01-01

Objective . Several neuroscience tools showed the involvement of auditory cortex in chronic tinnitus. In this proof-of-principle study we probed the capability of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for the measurement of brain oxygenation in auditory cortex in dependence from chronic tinnitus and from intervention with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Methods . Twenty-three patients received continuous theta burst stimulation over the left primary auditory cortex in a randomized sham-controlled neuronavigated trial (verum = 12; placebo = 11). Before and after treatment, sound-evoked brain oxygenation in temporal areas was measured with fNIRS. Brain oxygenation was measured once in healthy controls<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mo stretchy="false">(</mml:mo><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>12</mml:mn><mml:mo stretchy="false">)</mml:mo></mml:math>. Results . Sound-evoked activity in right temporal areas was increased in the patients in contrast to healthy controls. Left-sided temporal activity under the stimulated area changed over the course of the trial; high baseline oxygenation was reduced and vice versa. Conclusions . By demonstrating that rTMS interacts with auditory evoked brain activity, our results confirm earlier electrophysiological findings and indicate the sensitivity of fNIRS for detecting rTMS induced changes in brain activity. Moreover, our findings of trait- and state-related oxygenation changes indicate the potential of fNIRS for the investigation of tinnitus pathophysiology and treatment response.
Radiocarbon Evidence for the Early Bronze Age Levant: The Site of Tell Fadous-Kfarabida (Lebanon) and the End of the Early Bronze III Period
2014-01-01

Absolute dates for the end of the Early Bronze Age ancient Near East are of crucial importance for assessing the nature and extent of mid- to late 3rd millennium BC transitions in the Near East and their alleged link to the 4.2ka BP climatic event. This article presents a radiocarbon sequence for the Early Bronze Age site of Tell Fadous-Kfarabida (Lebanon) and argues that the end of the Early Bronze III period has to be dated considerably higher than previously estimated. There is no reason to assume that the 4.2ka BP event might have contributed to or even triggered the collapse of the first urban cities in the southern and central Levant.
Upregulation of the Creatine Transporter Slc6A8 by Klotho
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;The transmembrane Klotho protein contributes to inhibition of 1,25(OH)&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;D&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; formation. The extracellular domain of Klotho protein could function as an enzyme with e.g. β-glucuronidase activity, be cleaved off and be released into blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Klotho regulates several cellular transporters. Klotho protein deficiency accelerates the appearance of age related disorders including neurodegeneration and muscle wasting and eventually leads to premature death. The main site of Klotho protein expression is the kidney. Klotho protein is also appreciably expressed in other tissues including chorioid plexus. The present study explored the effect of Klotho protein on the creatine transporter CreaT (Slc6A8), which participates in the maintenance of neuronal function and survival. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;To this end cRNA encoding Slc6A8 was injected into &lt;i&gt;Xenopus&lt;/i&gt; oocytes with and without additional injection of cRNA encoding Klotho protein. Creatine transporter CreaT (Slc6A8) activity was estimated from creatine induced current determined by two-electrode voltage-clamp. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Coexpression of Klotho protein significantly increased creatine-induced current in Slc6A8 expressing &lt;i&gt;Xenopus&lt;/i&gt; oocytes. Coexpression of Klotho protein delayed the decline of creatine induced current following inhibition of carrier insertion into the cell membrane by brefeldin A (5 μM). The increase of creatine induced current by coexpression of Klotho protein in Slc6A8 expressing &lt;i&gt;Xenopus&lt;/i&gt; oocytes was reversed by β-glucuronidase inhibitor (DSAL). Similarly, treatment of Slc6A8 expressing &lt;i&gt;Xenopus&lt;/i&gt; oocytes with recombinant human alpha Klotho protein significantly increased creatine induced current. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Klotho protein up-regulates the activity of creatine transporter CreaT (Slc6A8) by stabilizing the carrier protein in the cell membrane, an effect requiring β-glucuronidase activity of Klotho protein.
Negative Regulation of the Creatine Transporter SLC6A8 by SPAK and OSR1
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Transport regulation involves several kinases including SPAK (SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and OSR1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1), which are under control of WNK (with-no-K[Lys]) kinases. The present study explored whether SPAK and/or OSR1 participate in the regulation of the creatine transporter CreaT (SLC6A8), which accomplishes Na&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; coupled cellular uptake of creatine in several tissues including kidney, intestine, heart, skeletal muscle and brain. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;cRNA encoding SLC6A8 was injected into &lt;i&gt;Xenopus laevis&lt;/i&gt; oocytes with or without additional injection of cRNA encoding wild-type SPAK, constitutively active &lt;sup&gt;T233E&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, WNK insensitive &lt;sup&gt;T233A&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, catalytically inactive &lt;sup&gt;D212A&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, wild-type OSR1, constitutively active &lt;sup&gt;T185E&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1, WNK insensitive &lt;sup&gt;T185A&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1 and catalytically inactive &lt;sup&gt;D164A&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1. Transporter activity was determined from creatine (1 mM) induced current utilizing dual electrode voltage clamp. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Coexpression of wild-type SPAK and of &lt;sup&gt;T233E&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, but not of &lt;sup&gt;T233A&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK or of &lt;sup&gt;D212A&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK was followed by a significant decrease of creatine induced current in SLC6A8 expressing oocytes. Coexpression of SPAK significantly decreased maximal transport rate. Coexpression of wild-type OSR1, &lt;sup&gt;T185E&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1 and &lt;sup&gt;T185A&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1 but not of &lt;sup&gt;D164A&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1 significantly negatively regulated SLC6A8 activity. OSR1 again decreased significantly maximal transport rate. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Both, SPAK and OSR1, are negative regulators of the creatine transporter SLC6A8.
SPAK and OSR1 Dependent Down-Regulation of Murine Renal Outer Medullary K<sup>+</sup> Channel ROMK1
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;The kinases SPAK (SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and OSR1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1) participate in the regulation of the NaCl cotransporter NCC and the Na&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;,K&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;,2Cl&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; cotransporter NKCC2. The kinases are regulated by WNK (with-no-K[Lys]) kinases. Mutations of genes encoding WNK kinases underly Gordon's syndrome, a monogenic disease leading to hypertension and hyperkalemia. WNK kinases further regulate the renal outer medullary K&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; channel ROMK1. The present study explored, whether SPAK and/or OSR1 have similarly the potential to modify the activity of ROMK1. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;ROMK1 was expressed in &lt;i&gt;Xenopus&lt;/i&gt; oocytes with or without additional expression of wild-type SPAK, constitutively active &lt;sup&gt;T233E&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, catalytically inactive &lt;sup&gt;D212A&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, wild-type OSR1, constitutively active &lt;sup&gt;T185E&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1 and catalytically inactive &lt;sup&gt;D164A&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1. Channel activity was determined utilizing dual electrode voltage clamp and ROMK1 protein abundance in the cell membrane utilizing chemiluminescence of ROMK1 containing an extracellular hemagglutinin epitope (ROMK1-HA). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;ROMK1 activity and ROMK1-HA protein abundance were significantly down-regulated by wild-type SPAK and &lt;sup&gt;T233E&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK, but not by &lt;sup&gt;D212A&lt;/sup&gt;SPAK. Similarly, ROMK1 activity and ROMK1-HA protein abundance were significantly down-regulated by wild-type OSR1 and &lt;sup&gt;T185E&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1, but not by &lt;sup&gt;D164A&lt;/sup&gt;OSR1. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;ROMK1 protein abundance and activity are down-regulated by SPAK and OSR1.
Re(de)fining grammaticalization from a usage-based perspective Discursive ambiguity in innovation scenarios
2014-01-01

Abstract The article explores the possibilities of re(de)fining grammaticalization from a usage-based perspective. Since definitions of grammaticalization remain controversial and current approaches differ in various important respects, some terminological clarification seems necessary. I will show that in spite of their close relation to usage-based approaches to language and language change, current approaches to grammaticalization and related phenomena do not consistently follow a usagebased perspective when defining the basic theoretical concepts and analyzing individual changes. I argue that a usage-based approach may propose new answers to controversial issues in grammaticalization research and suggest new pathways of analysis, focusing on the micro-steps of evolution. Finally, I present a case study of the French indefinite pronoun on which shows that innovations may occur and be diffused in distinct pragmatic settings. The notion of discursive ambiguity provides a detailed description of these potential innovation scenarios. In this sense, the study illustrates the potential of fine-grained analyses of the micro-events within grammaticalization from a usage-based perspective.
Hydrogen abstraction from organotin di- and trihydrides by N-heterocyclic carbenes: a new method for the preparation of NHC adducts to tin(ii) species and observation of an isomer of a hexastannabenzene derivative [R6Sn6]
2014-01-01

<italic>N</italic>-Heterocyclic carbenes are shown to cleanly abstract dihydrogen from organotin di- and trihydrides to intermediately form the reactive stannylene species [R<sub>2</sub>Sn] and [R′SnH], respectively, which undergo further reactions.
Medial prefrontal cortex stimulation modulates the processing of conditioned fear
2014-01-01

The extinction of conditioned fear depends on an efficient interplay between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In rats, high-frequency electrical mPFC stimulation has been shown to improve extinction by means of a reduction of amygdala activity. However, so far it is unclear whether stimulation of homologues regions in humans might have similar beneficial effects. Healthy volunteers received one session of either active or sham repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) covering the mPFC while undergoing a 2-day fear conditioning and extinction paradigm. Repetitive TMS was applied offline after fear acquisition in which one of two faces (CS+ but not CS-) was associated with an aversive scream (UCS). Immediate extinction learning (day 1) and extinction recall (day 2) were conducted without UCS delivery. Conditioned responses (CR) were assessed in a multimodal approach using fear-potentiated startle (FPS), skin conductance responses (SCR), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and self-report scales. Consistent with the hypothesis of a modulated processing of conditioned fear after high-frequency rTMS, the active group showed a reduced CS+/CS- discrimination during extinction learning as evident in FPS as well as in SCR and arousal ratings. FPS responses to CS+ further showed a linear decrement throughout both extinction sessions. This study describes the first experimental approach of influencing conditioned fear by using rTMS and can thus be a basis for future studies investigating a complementation of mPFC stimulation to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Association of cancer metabolism-related proteins with oral carcinogenesis – indications for chemoprevention and metabolic sensitizing of oral squamous cell carcinoma?
2014-01-01

This study provides the first evidence of the expression of IGF-R1, glycolysis-related proteins GLUT-1, HK 2, PFK-1, LDHA, and TKTL1, as well as mitochondrial enzymes SDHA, SDHB, and ATP synthase in the multi-step carcinogenesis of OSCC. Both, hypoxia-related glucose metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation characteristics are associated with the carcinogenesis of OSCC. Acidosis and OXPHOS may drive a metabolic shift towards the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Therefore, inhibition of the PPP, glycolysis, and targeted anti-mitochondrial therapies (ROS generation) by natural compounds or synthetic vitamin derivatives may act as sensitizer for apoptosis in cancer cells mediated by adjuvant therapies in OSCC.
Bacterially synthesized ferrite nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia applications
2014-01-01

Ferrite nanoparticles extracellularly synthesized by the bacteria <italic>Geobacter sulfurreducens</italic> show great potential for nanomedicine. These nanoparticles may allow both diagnostics and controlled hyperthermia in the biological environment.
From Pathways to Targets: Understanding the Mechanisms behind Polyglutamine Disease
2014-01-01

The history of polyglutamine diseases dates back approximately 20 years to the discovery of a polyglutamine repeat in the androgen receptor of SBMA followed by the identification of similar expansion mutations in Huntington’s disease, SCA1, DRPLA, and the other spinocerebellar ataxias. This common molecular feature of polyglutamine diseases suggests shared mechanisms in disease pathology and neurodegeneration of disease specific brain regions. In this review, we discuss the main pathogenic pathways including proteolytic processing, nuclear shuttling and aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and clearance of misfolded polyglutamine proteins and point out possible targets for treatment.
Can Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation as Add-On to Psychotherapy Improve Nicotine Abstinence? Results from a Pilot Study
2014-01-01

Smoking is among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Discontinuing smoking can increase life expectancy to the presmoking level. Unaided attempts are often ineffective, strengthening the necessity of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), nicotine replacement or pharmacotherapy. Still, relapse rates are high. Recently, a modulation of nicotine craving, which predicts relapse, through transcranial magnetic stimulation to the prefrontal cortex was shown. In a pilot study, we investigated whether 4 sessions of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) as add-on treatment to CBT reduces nicotine craving and improves long-term abstinence (at 3, 6 and 12 months). Smokers were randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 38) or a sham group (n = 36). Although we did not find reduced craving, we could show higher abstinence rates in the treatment group at 3 months. At 6 and 12 months abstinence rates did not differ significantly. Results at 12 months, however, have to be interpreted cautiously due to significant differences in the dropout rates between the two groups at this time point. We provide first evidence for a beneficial effect of additional iTBS on intermediate nicotine abstinence; however, the low number of iTBS sessions might have prevented longer effects. More lasting effects might be achieved by iTBS maintenance sessions in analogy to the treatment of depression.
Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency and Fetal Programming - Lessons Learned from Humans and Mice
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Cardiovascular disease partially originates from poor environmental and nutritional conditions in early life. Lack of micronutrients like 25 hydroxy vitamin D&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; (25OHD) during pregnancy may be an important treatable causal factor. The present study explored the effect of maternal 25OHD deficiency on the offspring. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;We performed a prospective observational study analyzing the association of maternal 25OHD deficiency during pregnancy with birth outcomes considering confounding. To show that vitamin D deficiency may be causally involved in the observed associations, mice were set on either 25OHD sufficient or insufficient diets before and during pregnancy. Growth, glucose tolerance and mortality was analyzed in the F1 generation. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;The clinical study showed that severe 25OHD deficiency was associated with low birth weight and low gestational age. ANCOVA models indicated that established confounding factors such as offspring sex, smoking during pregnancy and maternal BMI did not influence the impact of 25OHD on birth weight. However, there was a significant interaction between 25OHD and gestational age. Maternal 25OHD deficiency was also independently associated with low APGAR scores 5 minutes postpartum. The offspring of 25OHD deficient mice grew slower after birth, had an impaired glucose tolerance shortly after birth and an increased mortality during follow-up. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Our study demonstrates an association between maternal 25OHD and offspring birth weight. The effect of 25OHD on birth weight seems to be mediated by vitamin D controlling gestational age. Results from an animal experiment suggest that gestational 25OHD insufficiency is causally linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Since birth weight and prematurity are associated with an adverse cardiovascular outcome in later life, this study emphasizes the need for novel monitoring and treatment guidelines of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy.
Molecular phenotypes of human parvovirus B19 in patients with myocarditis
2014-01-01

The finding of significantly increased B19V loads in patients with histologically proven cardiac inflammation suggests a crucial role of B19V-genotypes and reactivation of B19V-infection by HHV6-coinfection in B19V-associated iCMP. Our findings suggest that B19V-infection of the human heart can be a causative event for the development of an endothelial cell-mediated inflammatory disease and that this is related to both viral load and genotype.
Assessing the relative reading level of sentence pairs for text simplification
2014-01-01

While the automatic analysis of the readability of texts has a long history, the use of readability assessment for text simplification has received only little attention so far.In this paper, we explore readability models for identifying differences in the reading levels of simplified and unsimplified versions of sentences.Our experiments show that a relative ranking is preferable to an absolute binary one and that the accuracy of identifying relative simplification depends on the initial reading level of the unsimplified version.The approach is particularly successful in classifying the relative reading level of harder sentences.In terms of practical relevance, the approach promises to be useful for identifying particularly relevant targets for simplification and to evaluate simplifications given specific readability constraints.
Processing of Laminin α Chains Generates Peptides Involved in Wound Healing and Host Defense
2014-01-01

Laminins play a fundamental role in basement membrane architecture and function in human skin. The C-terminal laminin G domain-like (LG) modules of laminin α chains are modified by proteolysis to generate LG1-3 and secreted LG4-5 tandem modules. In this study, we provide evidence that skin-derived cells process and secrete biologically active peptides from the LG4-5 module of the laminin α3, α4 and α5 chain in vitro and in vivo. We show enhanced expression and processing of the LG4-5 module of laminin α3 in keratinocytes after infection and in chronic wounds in which the level of expression and further processing of the LG4-5 module correlated with the speed of wound healing. Furthermore, bacterial or host-derived proteases promote processing of laminin α3 LG4-5. On a functional level, we show that LG4-5-derived peptides play a role in wound healing. Moreover, we demonstrate that LG4-derived peptides from the α3, α4 and α5 chains have broad antimicrobial activity and possess strong chemotactic activity to mononuclear cells. Thus, the data strongly suggest a novel multifunctional role for laminin LG4-5-derived peptides in human skin and its involvement in physiological processes and pathological conditions such as inflammation, chronic wounds and skin infection.
Phylogenetic Inference from Word Lists Using Weighted Alignment with Empirically Determined Weights
2014-01-01

The paper investigates the task of inferring a phylogenetic tree of languages from the collection of word lists made available by the Automated Similarity Judgment Project. This task involves three steps: (1) computing pairwise word distances, (2) aggregating word distances to a distance measure between languages and inferring a phylogenetic tree from these distances, and (3) evaluating the result by comparing it to expert classifications. For the first task, weighted alignment will be used, and a method to determine weights empirically will be presented. For the second task, a novel method will be developed that attempts to minimize the bias resulting from missing data. For the third task, several methods from the literature will be applied to a large collection of language samples to enable statistical testing. It will be shown that the language distance measure proposed here leads to substantially more accurate phylogenies than a method relying on unweighted Levenshtein distances between words.
Boron–nitrogen substituted perylene obtained through photocyclisation
2014-01-01

A BN substituted hexabenzotriphenylene (B<sub>3</sub>N<sub>3</sub>) closes one C–C-bond upon irradiation in the presence of iodine to yield a phenanthrene annelated B<sub>3</sub>N<sub>3</sub> tribenzoperylene. Upon hydrolysis a B<sub>2</sub>N<sub>2</sub> dibenzoperylene is obtained.