julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Genetics of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias
2011-11-01

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are clinically and genetically highly heterogeneous. The key symptom of spastic paraparesis of lower limbs can be complicated by a variety of signs and symptoms including cognitive impairment, optic atrophy, cerebellar ataxia, peripheral nerve involvement, or seizures. At least 48 loci have been identified, termed SPG1-SPG48. Ten genes for autosomal dominant HSP are currently known, SPG4 being by far the most common subtype accounting for ∼50% of cases. SPG3 is especially common in young-onset cases. Autosomal recessive HSP seems to be even more heterogeneous. The known 12 autosomal recessive HSP genes collectively explain about one third of cases only. The most common causes for pure autosomal recessive HSP are SPG7 and SPG5. Mental retardation and thin corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging point toward SPG11 and SPG15. The authors provide an overview on clinical, neurophysiologic, and neuroradiologic characteristics of the more common HSP subtypes. More details are given in the tables for quick reference, and a genetic testing strategy is proposed.
Symptomatic bone marrow involvement in breast cancer--clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis: a single institution review of 22 cases.
2011-11-01

Bone marrow involvement has to be considered in breast cancer patients, in particular in those with bone metastases and otherwise unexplained cytopenia. The peripheral blood smear can serve as a simple diagnostic tool, but the extent of erythroblastosis is not correlated with survival. Even with severe BMC-associated cytopenia, aggressive combination treatment regimens are indicated, since most patients show improved marrow function after chemotherapy and long-lasting survival is possible.
Hypoxic Conditions during Expansion Culture Prime Human Mesenchymal Stromal Precursor Cells for Chondrogenic Differentiation in Three-Dimensional Cultures
2011-11-01

Cell-based approaches using mesenchymal stromal precursor cells (MSCs) for the regeneration of intervertebral discs are attracting increased interest, even though the intervertebral disc is a very demanding environment. Implanted cells eventually face acidic pH, hypoxia, and a lack of nutrients. While the regenerative potential of MSCs for skeletal tissues has been well described, it is still questionable whether human MSCs can be prepared for prolonged survival and proper functioning and whether they can differentiate under the adverse conditions encountered in the disc. Here we examined the influence of hypoxia during expansion and differentiation on the chondrogenesis of MSCs. Chondrogenic differentiation was performed in in situ solidifying gelatin hydrogels, which represent a suitable matrix for delivering and anchoring cells within the disc tissue. To consider limitations in nutrition in the intervertebral disc, differentiation was performed at low cell concentrations in the gelatin hydrogels. Standard high-density micromass cultures served as reference controls. To determine the quality of chondrogenesis we analyzed typical marker molecules such as collagen types I, II, X, Sox-9, MIA, and aggrecan mRNA using RT-qPCR and determined protein deposition by histological stainings and biochemical methods. We could demonstrate that in gelatin-based hydrogels chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs is possible at low cell concentrations. The quality of chondrogenic differentiation could be improved by hypoxia. Best results were obtained when the entire in vitro process, including MSC expansion and subsequent differentiation, was done under hypoxic conditions. MSCs that were expanded under reduced oxygen tension were primed for a chondrogenic differentiation.
Control of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal stress axis activity by the intermediate conductance calcium‐activated potassium channel, SK4
2011-11-01

Non‐technical summary Our ability to respond to stress is critically dependent upon the release of the stress hormone adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from corticotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland. ACTH release is controlled by the electrical properties of corticotrophs that are determined by the movement of ions through channel pores in the plasma membrane. We show that a calcium‐activated potassium ion channel called SK4 is expressed in corticotrophs and regulates ACTH release. We provide evidence of how SK4 channels control corticotroph function, which is essential for understanding homeostasis and for treating stress‐related disorders.
Real-time plane extraction from depth images with the Randomized Hough Transform
2011-11-01

Depth cameras, like the Microsoft Kinect system, are valuable sensors for mobile robotics since their data enables a highly detailed perception of the environmental structure. Certainly, their amount of data is often too high to be processed in real-time by the limited resources of mobile robots. One way of using these sensors is to reduce the amount of data by extracting features like planes from the raw depth images. In this work we present a method to extract planes from depth images based on the Randomized Hough Transformation, which is specially adapted to the properties of the Kinect sensor. Therefore we use a noise model of the sensor to solve the task of finding proper parameter metrics for the Randomized Hough Transform. As a result, our approach extracts the planes from a depth image in less than one millisecond on the platform of a mobile robot and is therefore real-time capable.
High resolution visual terrain classification for outdoor robots
2011-11-01

In this paper we investigate SURF features for visual terrain classification for outdoor mobile robots. The image is divided into a grid and SURF features are calculated on the intersections of this grid. These features are then used to train a classifier that can differentiate between different terrain classes. Images of five different terrain types are taken using a single camera mounted on a mobile outdoor robot. We further introduce another descriptor, which is a modified form of the dense Daisy descriptor. Random forests are used for classification on each descriptor. Classification results of SURF and Daisy descriptors are compared with the results from traditional texture descriptors like LBP, LTP and LATP. It is shown that SURF features perform better than other descriptors at higher resolutions. Daisy features, although not better than SURF features, also perform better than the three texture descriptors at high resolution.
Low-Cost TMR for Fault-Tolerance on Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Architectures
2011-11-01

Hardware redundancy is a common method for improving the reliability of a system. The disadvantage of this approach is the hardware overhead and the additional power consumption. This contribution proposes a strategy for implementing low-cost triple modular redundancy (TMR) on coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures (CGRAs). Low-cost TMR is achieved by utilizing unused functional units (FUs) for the redundant computation of results. This is realized by combining the FUs of three processing elements in a fault-tolerant data path. Experimental results show that the proposed approach reduces area in a 8-bit architecture by 12.8% and average power consumption is decreased between 1.6 and 18.6% when compared with a fault-tolerant CGRA implemented by conventional TMR.
Molecular structure and conformational preferences of 1-chloro-1-silacyclohexane, CH2(CH2CH2)2SiH-Cl, as studies by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemistry
2011-11-01

The molecular structure of axial and equatorial conformer of the 1-chloro-1-silacyclohexane molecule, CH2(CH2CH2)2SiH-Cl, as well as thermodynamic equilibrium between these species were investigated by means of gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemistry on the MP2(full)/AUG-cc-PVTZ level of theory. According to electron diffraction data, the compound exists in the gas-phase as a mixture of conformers possessing the chair conformation of the six-membered ring and Cs symmetry and differing in the axial and equatorial position of the Si-Cl bond at 352 K. NBO analysis revealed that axial conformer of 1-chloro-1-silacyclohexane molecule is an example of the stabilization of the form that is unfavorable from the point of view steric effects and effects of conjugations and that stabilization is achieved due to electrostatic interactions.
Exponentially localized Wannier functions in periodic zero flux magnetic fields
2011-11-01

In this work, we investigate conditions which ensure the existence of an exponentially localized Wannier basis for a given periodic hamiltonian. We extend previous results [Panati, G., Ann. Henri Poincare 8, 995–1011 (2007)10.1007/s00023-007-0326-8] to include periodic zero flux magnetic fields which is the setting also investigated by Kuchment [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 42, 025203 (2009)10.1088/1751-8113/42/2/025203]. The new notion of magnetic symmetry plays a crucial rôle; to a large class of symmetries for a non-magnetic system, one can associate “magnetic” symmetries of the related magnetic system. Observing that the existence of an exponentially localized Wannier basis is equivalent to the triviality of the so-called Bloch bundle, a rank m hermitian vector bundle over the Brillouin zone, we prove that magnetic time-reversal symmetry is sufficient to ensure the triviality of the Bloch bundle in spatial dimension d = 1, 2, 3. For d = 4, an exponentially localized Wannier basis exists provided that the trace per unit volume of a suitable function of the Fermi projection vanishes. For d &amp;gt; 4 and d ⩽ 2m (stable rank regime) only the exponential localization of a subset of Wannier functions is shown; this improves part of the analysis of Kuchment [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 42, 025203 (2009)10.1088/1751-8113/42/2/025203]. Finally, for d &amp;gt; 4 and d &amp;gt; 2m (unstable rank regime) we show that the mere analysis of Chern classes does not suffice in order to prove triviality and thus exponential localization.
Giant Gouty Tophi of the Hand and Wrist
2011-11-01

Gout is an inflammatory-rheumatic disease characterized by an elevated serum urate concentration and recurrent flares, including painful, hot, red, and swollen joints and surrounding tissue. Untreated gout often develops into a chronic disease with tophi and destruction of joint surfaces. Giant tophi are often resistant to medication and change in diet. This article presents a case of a 44-year-old man with giant gouty tophi at his hand and wrist. The last acute gout flare in his left wrist was approximately 3 years prior. For 2 years he had refused adequate nutrition, such as a low-purine diet, and had refused to take any preventive medication. Blood urate level was elevated to 8.7 mg/dL (normal range, 3.4–7.0 mg/dL). In time, the tophi led to a massive limitation of motion and use of especially the left wrist and thumb. Under the condition that the patient changed his diet and took the medication for his underlying disease, we surgically removed the almost skin-perforating tophi. Surgical debulking significantly improved joint function and cosmetic appearance. The best treatment for gouty tophi is prevention by ensuring adequate nutrition, treating the underlying causes, and taking effective medication. In the case of massive limitation of joint motion, skin breakdown with risk of infection, and compression of neurovascular structures, surgical debulking of the tophi should be considered.
On the Strangeness of Pop Art Picturebooks: Pictures, Texts, Paratexts
2011-11-01

As a species of picturebook emerging around 1970, some Pop Art picturebooks were quite successful in their time, but appear strange from today's point of view. This strangeness has to do with multiple transgressions of traditional conventions restricting the notion of a “good” picturebook: transgressions regarding artistic style (influenced by the Pop Art movement), transgressions regarding the stories' content (with their emphasis on weird characters, surprising twists in narration and plot, and a fanciful combination of sceneries), and transgressions regarding the idea that politics and economic and social problems should be banned from picturebooks (displaying an anti-capitalist or anti-authoritarian attitude). While portraying five Pop Art picturebooks in more detail, the article aims at establishing the notion of strangeness as a descriptive term in picturebook analysis. It is pointed out that strange picturebooks not only erect boundaries for their understanding, but also invite to transgress these boundaries.
Differential Akt signalling in non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumors.
2011-11-01

Both, the absence of overexpression of p-Akt and of negative correlations to PTEN and p27(Kip1) suggest that signalling of these parameters in NST might include additional mechanisms such as crosstalk to other pathways rather than classical Akt activation.
Source level reduction and sonar beam aiming in landing big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus)
2011-11-01

Reduction of echolocation call source levels in bats has previously been studied using set-ups with one microphone. By using a 16 microphone array, sound pressure level (SPL) variations, possibly caused by the scanning movements of the bat, can be excluded and the sonar beam aiming can be studied. During the last two meters of approach flights to a landing platform in a large flight room, five big brown bats aimed sonar beams at the landing site and reduced the source level on average by 7 dB per halving of distance. Considerable variation was found among the five individuals in the amount of source level reduction ranging from 4 to 9 dB per halving of distance. These results are discussed with respect to automatic gain control and intensity compensation and the combination of the two effects. It is argued that the two effects together do not lead to a stable echo level at the cochlea. This excludes a tightly coupled closed loop feed back control system as an explanation for the observed reduction of signal SPL in landing big brown bats.
Path following for indoor robots with RFID received signal strength
2011-11-01

Abstract: We propose a novel method for robot path following in an RFID-equipped corridor using received signal strength (RSS). RSS measurements are recorded as reference fingerprints during the exploration phase. Then, these data are used to guide the robot through the corridor in the navigation phase. Distance and orientation that the robot derivates from the expected path are approximated through the RSS differences and the index differences of two antennas. Finally, a P-controller is used for the navigation of the robot. This enables the robot to follow a certain path, which may be defined in the first phase of our method. The extensive experiments with a SCITOS G5 service robot confirm the validity and robustness of our approach. 1.
Physical activity in German adults: Types, settings, and patterns of association by cardiovascular risk status
2011-11-01

Abstract Little is known about physical activity in adults at differing risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Here, we describe and compare the physical activity and patterns of association with physical activity by CVD risk status based on data from computer‐assisted telephone interviews of 2002 men and women aged 50–70 years in Germany. Physical activity preferences, settings, and health‐related attitudes were assessed and groups were compared using chi‐square and non‐parametric tests. Stratified multi‐variable regression models identified factors associated with regular physical activity (at least once a week for 6 months). The proportion of respondents engaging in regular physical activity ranged from 53.8% to 60.6% across the groups ( P= 0.08). Respondents with and without CVD/CVD risk factors varied modestly regarding the type and settings for physical activity. However, models stratified by CVD risk demonstrated different patterns of association with regular physical activity. Socioeconomic status, for example, was important for respondents with CVD‐related risk factors (odds ratio=2.30; 95%CI: 1.38 to 3.85 for high vs. low socioeconomic status), while internal health locus of control and other attitudes towards physical activity were important for respondents with CVD (odds ratio=1.20; 95%CI: 1.06 to 1.35 per unit increase at subscale score). Our data provide opportunities for developing physical activity interventions targeted at individuals with differing cardiovascular risk.
Influence of surface patterning on bacterial growth behavior
2011-11-01

Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Reprints and Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Peter Nill, Dieter P. Kern, Nadine Goehring, Andreas Peschel; Influence of surface patterning on bacterial growth behavior. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B 1 November 2011; 29 (6): 06FA03. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.3662084 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAVS: Science & Technology of Materials Interfaces and ProcessingJournal of Vacuum Science & Technology B Search Advanced Search |Citation Search
Immediate Changes of Bone Density Caused by the Implantation of a Femoral Stem - A Dexa Study
2011-11-01

Considerable immediate periprosthetic bone density changes after implantation of femoral stems have been observed comparing DEXA measurements taken pre- and post-operatively. This is important in relation to the interpretation of DEXA studies. We analysed these density changes under standardised experimental conditions. Five human femora were implanted with a custom made femoral stem and ten femora with a standard cementless prosthesis. Densitometry was performed at various stages of implantation. Following rasping only slight density changes were noted (–2.7% to +0.7%). Comparing post-implantation and pre-operative measurements, all custom made stems with a proximal press-fit demonstrated clear increases in proximal periprosthetic bone density of +11% and +14%. In contrast, the standard prosthesis with a distal press-fit showed a loss of –5% and –2% in the proximal zones. Measurements following removal of the implants demonstrated hardly any density changes (0% to –4%) compared to the pre-operative measurements. We concluded that compacting of trabecular bone or bone loss due to rasping are not the main causes of density changes. Substantial measuring errors exist. For examination of periprosthetic bone density changes, pre-operative initial measurements should not be used as a baseline for comparison. Studies should commence with an immediate postoperative measurement.
Integrating Plant Gas Exchange, Soil, and Hydrological Parameters in an Analytical Model: Potential Use and Limitations
2011-11-01

During photosynthesis, plants inevitably lose water that has to be continuously replaced by soil water absorbed by the roots. Hydrological status of the soil, root absorption, plant water transport, gas exchange and atmosphere are therefore intricately coupled within the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (SPAC). It appears therefore straightforward to derive information on hydrology or plant ecophysiology from models that include as many components of the SPAC as possible. For example, plant related parameters might indicate the state of soil parameters. In this contribution, a basic model system is introduced that describes soil related parameters as dependent on plant parameters that are species‐specific or have to be measured on‐site: transpiration rate, leaf area index, root area index, ground area that is covered by the plant canopy, xylem conductivity, and leaf water potential. Test of the model indicates that plant subsurface parameters have no great influence on the model behavior. It appears feasible to obtain basic information on soil parameters by plant physiological parameters that can be readily measured above ground. In this case the approach has to be applied to at least three species of a site.
A blueprint for functional engineering: Single point mutations reconstitute phosphatidylinositol presentation in a pseudo-Sec14 protein
2011-11-01

Phosphoinositides, phosphorylated species of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), are critical regulatory lipids in all eukaryotic cells. The molecular mechanisms that lead to the phosphorylation of an individual PtdIns- or phosphoinositide molecule remain largely unkown even though lipid kinases and phosphatases involved in these processes have been studied in detail. The observation by us and others that liposomal PtdIns (and phosphoinositide) molecules are poor in vitro substrates for kinases and phosphatases raises the question of how these enzymes execute their function in living cells. Recent work indicates that Sec14, the founding member of a large superfamily of eukaryotic proteins, is crucial for the process of PtdIns phosphorylation. The collective data suggest that Sec14 mediates a heterotypic phospholipid exchange reaction of PtdIns with phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) during which PtdIns becomes vulnerable for kinase attack and thereby promotes the generation of phosphoinositides.1,2 In a recent paper we address the molecular mechanism of this phospholipid (PL) exchange reaction in a pseudo-Sec14 protein (Sfh1) that we rendered functional by a directed evolution approach. We find that enhanced PL-cycling into and out of the hydrophobic pocket of these activated Sfh1 mutants depends on the reconfiguration of interactions between a C-terminal string motif and the floor of the hydrophobic pocket that results in increased oscillations in a helical gate that controls pocket access. Here we further discuss our findings and propose molecular dynamics simulations as a tool to approach energetically unfavorable transition states and to identify novel protein-ligand interactions invisible to X-ray crystallography.
Synthesis of Some 1,3-Dimethyl-6-substituted-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazin-5(4H)-ones
2011-11-01

A series of new 6-substituted-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyrazin-5(4H)-ones (13a - e) and 1,3-dimethyl-5a,6a,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazin-5(4H)-one (15) have been synthesized. The synthetic strategy involves direct interaction of D,L-α-amino acids with 5- chloro-1,3-dimethyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole (10) to produce the respective N-(1,3-dimethyl-4-nitro-1Hpyrazol- 5-yl) D,L-α-amino acids 11a - e and 14. The latter compounds underwent reductive lactamization to deliver the corresponding target heterocyclic systems 13a - e and 15
CarpeDIEM – Dermatological Indications for Electron Microscopy: Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
2011-11-01

ejd.2011.1607 Auteur(s) : Emmanuella Guenova1, Martin Schaller1 1 Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University Tubingen, 72076 Tubingen, Germany Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a group of rare inherited connective tissue disorders, comprising six major and several minor types of the disease. Common clinical symptoms of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome include easy bruising, excessive scarring, and poor wound healing. Furthermore, pathologically increased mobility of the joints, joint dislocation, and [...]
sQUIZ your knowledge! A holiday souvenir
2011-11-01

ejd.2011.1606 Auteur(s) : Nicolas Leitz1, Khawaja Zarqa2 1 Department of Dermatology, University of Tuebingen, Liebermeisterstrasse 25, 72076 Tubingen, Germany 2 Department of Dermatology, Hospital Bad Cannstatt, 70374 Stuttgart, Germany A 40-year-old male presented to our practice with a lump on the lateral aspect of his right leg that had developed over the past week after returning from a holiday in Belize. On examination the patient had a prominent 3 × 2 hard swelling over his left leg [...]