julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Intersex and the Rhetorics of Healing
2006-06-06

Intersex children are born into a state of liminality, a state wherein their “deviation” from physiological norms is understood, in social, legal, religio-ethical, and medical terms, as “illness.” The naturalized assumption of an exclusively binary sex system (male/female), informed in the West by a biblically derived view of heterosexual marriage as God-ordained in creation, continues to play itself out in other institutions. Western legal systems, with their roots in property and family law, deny the legal status of intersex by requiring the individual to be identified either as male or female according to chromosomal gender. Christian moral responses to intersex are framed within context of sexual ethics that views intersexuality as a result of the “fallen” state of humankind; such responses often discuss intersexuality in relation to moral issues concerning homosexuality. Even counter-culture critics such as feminists and queer theorists have responded to the liminal state of intersex by shoring up their own agendas: Feminists like Germain Greer respond with a reactionary rejection of intersex people as “not real women”; transgender and gender theorists respond by subsuming intersex to another political agenda. To be neither clearly male nor clearly female is to elicit a profoundly powerful reaction from our society that does not know what to do with sexed “deviations” that undermine fundamental assumptions upon which major social, legal and moral systems have been based. Intersex people begin their lives in liminality, and are threatened with social and legal sanction if they do not conform to the gender binary of the dominant society. Accordingly, the dominant values of the community take supremacy in medical
Intersections of remanence small circles: new tools to improve data processing and interpretation in palaeomagnetism
2006-06-06

Intersections of remanence small circles are increasingly used in palaeomagnetism to determine the palaeofield direction from synfolding remanences. The approach [‘small circle intersection (SCI) method’] presupposes that remanence small circles from sites tilted to different directions intersect in a common point, which is assumed to represent the palaeofield direction. The SCI method is not restricted to synfolding remanences. It can be applied also to derive the palaeofield direction from pre-folding remanences, in addition to tilt correction and as a cross-check for fold tests. However, the SCI method has specific requirements and does not work in all cases. The suitability of data sets and reliability of palaeofield estimates have to be assessed carefully and always against the background of local geology. This paper examines the occurrence and distribution of SCI as a tool of judgement: first, a data set is most suitable and a palaeofield estimate by SCI most reliable, when most of the theoretically possible intersections are realized and, in addition, clearly grouping in a narrow region. Second, the small circles that greatly determine the result of SCI, are identified by the highest number of intersections they have with the others. These criteria allow a systematic investigation of SCI estimates upon stability and dependencies. Moreover, SCIs can be an indicator of irregular, unexpected tectonic settings. When the intersections disperse strongly although significant bedding strike differences are given, relative rotations or other unexpected displacements are likely to have occurred. If so, the SCI estimate will be invalid and probably biased, however, also Fisher mean calculation and most fold tests will be affected. In this case, the SCIs can help to separate the data into subsets valid for Fisher statistics and SCI methods. The other possibility is to use tentative reconstructions to infer the true sequence of tilts and rotations and correct the data adequately.
The Neural Basis of Imitation is Body Part Specific
2006-06-07

Imitation is an important constituent of the behavioral repertoire of human beings. We use imitation for learning motor skills, for facilitating comprehension of other persons' actions and mental states, and as a communicative reference to actions or people. Although some non-human species display imitative behaviors, none of them equals the versatility and perfection of human imitation. The versatility and apparent ease of human imitation is, however, not at all self-evident when one considers the neural and cognitive transformations that must be accomplished for successful imitation. Imitation of meaningless gestures poses a particular challenge for our brain, because similarity between the body of the model and one's own body must bridge fundamental differences between the perspective and modalities of perceiving and controlling one's own and other bodies. We analyzed the locations of left-hemisphere lesions disturbing imitation of meaningless gestures and found a clear-cut body part specificity. Disturbed imitation of finger postures was associated with anterior lesions including the opercular portion of the inferior frontal gyrus, whereas disturbed imitation of hand postures was associated with posterior lesions affecting the inferior parietal lobule and temporo-parieto-occipital junction. These locations do not correspond with known somatotopic maps of motor representations. Rather, they argue for an intermediate step of processing interpolated between perception and execution of gestures as has been suggested by the mirror neuron and the body part coding hypotheses.
Disk–planet interaction and migration
2006-06-08

Directly after the discovery of the very first extrasolar planets around main-sequence stars it has become obvious that the new planetary systems differ substantially from our own Solar System. Amongst other properties one distinguishing feature is the close proximity of several planets to their host stars (hot Jupiters). As it is difficult to imagine scenarios to form planets so close to their parent star it is generally assumed that massive, Jupiter-like planets form further away, and then migrate inwards towards the star due to disk–planet tidal interactions. Hence, the mere existence of hot Jupiters can be taken as clear evidence of the occurence of migration. Interestingly, theoretically the possibility of migrating planets has long been predicted from the early 1980s.
Characterization of nano hydroxyapatite/collagen surfaces and cellular behaviors
2006-06-08

Abstract Osseointegration at the bone–implant interface is a prerequisite for endosseous implants to succeed in achieving and maintaining their long‐term stability in bone tissue. The achievement of osseointegration is significantly affected by surface nature of implants. To optimize osseointegration, this study presents the characterization of synthesized nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nano HA) and in vitro studies on nano HA, nano‐HA/collagen, and titanium surfaces. Voids were found within the grain of nano HA, which consisted of the shell and the core. The finding assists the clarification of microstructures of nano HA. By low‐temperature mixing nano‐HA sol with collagen gel (nano‐HA/collagen 80:20), nano HA, and nano‐HA/collagen coated on pure titanium or porous anodic titanium oxides resulted in higher wettability and lower roughness. The i n vitro studies showed that porous structures produced by anodic oxides on titanium served as positive anchorage sites for cell filopodia to connect, and nano HA decreased cell attachment of osteoblasts and induced well‐developed long filopodia and broad lamellipodia, thereby enhancing cellular motility. Collagen involvement enhanced cell adhesion to nano HA. Cell reactions to nano HA, nano‐HA/collagen, native, and porous titanium surfaces provide some guidance for an optimal osseointegration by their application in surface modifications for implants. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Comparison of monolithic approaches for enantioselective capillary electrochromatography involving cyclodextrins
2006-06-08

Abstract The access to CD‐modified monoliths for enantiomeric separation by CEC can be divided into two main approaches. (i) Silica‐based monoliths, prepared by either a sol–gel process or by sintering of silica particles, are modified after fabrication by coating with a CD selector. Alternatively the fusion of CD functionalized silica particle via gluing is feasible. (ii) Rigid or homogeneous organic polymer‐based monoliths, prepared by polymerization of organic monomers in the presence of a porogen, are modified with the CD selector either by copolymerization or by physical incorporation into the continuous bed.
TheXMM-Newtonview of the Crab
2006-06-09

We discuss the current X-ray view of the Crab Nebula and Pulsar, summarising our analysis of observations of the source with the EPIC-pn camera on board the XMM-Newton observatory. Different modes of EPIC-pn were combined in order to yield a complete scenario of the spectral properties of the Crab resolved in space and time (pulse phase). In addition we give a description of the special EPIC-pn Burst mode and guidance for data reduction in that mode. We analysed spectra for the nebula and pulsar separately in the 0.6-12.0 keV energy band. All data were processed with the SAS 6.0.0 XMM-Newton Scientific Analysis System package; models were fitted to the data with XSPEC 11. The high time resolution of EPIC-pn in its Burst mode (7 micros) was used for a phase resolved analysis of the pulsar spectrum, after determination of the period with epoch folding techniques. Data from the Small Window mode were processed and corrected for pile-up allowing for spectroscopy simultaneously resolved in space and time. The spatial variation of the spectrum over the entire region of the Crab shows a gradual spectral softening from the inner pulsar region to the outer nebula region with a variation in photon index, Gamma, from 2.0 to 2.4. Pulse phase resolved spectroscopy of the Crab Pulsar reveals a phase dependent modulation of the photon index in form of a significant hardening of the spectrum in the inter-peak phase from Gamma =1.7 during the pulse peak to Gamma =1.5.
Data Reconstruction and Visualization Techniques for Forensic Pathology
2006-06-09

Forensic pathology is largely concerned with the determination of the cause and manner of deaths after accidents, or other circumstances in criminal investigations. A major task in that process is the documentation of surface injuries, which is traditionally done by drawing sketches, photography, or more recently by photogrammetry to generate a three-dimensional digital lesion cartography of the body surface. In this paper, we describe a semi-automatic processing pipeline how data from 3D photogrammetry is combined and used to generate a visual surface representation of accident victims. In that course, a number of steps are performed to provide a high-quality interactive, point-based visualization of the acquired data, which can be used in a more routine way than previous forensic surface methods.
SCUBE1 — A new scoop in vascular biology?
2006-06-11

See article by Tu et al. [6] (pages 486–495) in this issue. Platelets represent an important link between inflammation, thrombosis, and vascular and tissue repair mechanisms. Once activated, platelets generate and release an arsenal of potent inflammatory, proliferative, and mitogenic substances into the local microenvironment of vascular lesions [1]. Thereby, platelets control and effect multiple mechanisms of cellular function involved in vascular and tissue repair. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) superfamily is a group of growth factors, cytokine-like mediators, and extracellular matrix proteins. A new gene of an EGF-related protein was isolated 6 years ago in developing mice [2]. This new mammalian gene encodes a protein with a signal peptide at the amino-terminus followed by several EGF-like repeats and one CUB-domain at the carboxyl terminus. This gene family was termed SCUBE for s ignal-peptide- CUB - E GF-like domain-containing proteins. ... * Corresponding authors. Tel.: +49 7071 29 83688; fax: +49 7071 29 5749. Email address: stephan.lindemann{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de meinrad.gawaz{at}med.uni-tuebingen.de
Testing two accounts of pain underestimation
2006-06-12

Two important influences on pain underestimation by health care professionals were investigated by varying specific cues with reference to underestimation of patients' pain: when observers are not allowed to talk to patients and when observers expect social cheating. One hundred and twenty health care professionals watched videotaped facial expressions of pain patients and estimated their pain. The first group only saw the faces, the second group was given patients' self-reports in addition and the last group was given a context cue priming them to expect cheating in addition to faces and patients' ratings. Health care professionals generally underestimated patients' pain, but this varied depending on the cues given. Those viewing the face without patients' ratings underestimated pain to a greater extent than health care professionals provided with patients' ratings. Health care professionals primed to expect cheating underestimated pain as much as those seeing only patients' faces. Therefore, both accounts, verbal report as important but missing cue as well as an alerted cheating detection device, could account for underestimation.
Dose‐dependent attenuation of auditory phantom perception (tinnitus) by PET‐guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
2006-06-13

Abstract Recent data suggest that chronic tinnitus is a “phantom auditory perception” caused by maladaptive neuroplasticity and subsequent hyperactivity in an extended neuronal network including the primary auditory cortex, higher‐order association areas, and parts of the limbic system. It was suggested that attenuation of this tinnitus‐associated hyperactivity may offer a rational option for lasting tinnitus reduction. Here, we tested the hypothesis that tinnitus loudness can be attenuated by low‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) individually navigated to cortical areas with excessive tinnitus‐related activity as assessed by [ 15 O]H 2 O positron‐emission tomography (PET). Nine patients with chronic tinnitus underwent this combined functional imaging and rTMS‐study. Group analysis of the PET data showed tinnitus‐related increases of regional cerebral blood flow in the left middle and inferior temporal as well as right temporoparietal cortex and posterior cingulum. Repetitive TMS was performed at 1 Hz and 120% of the motor threshold for 5, 15, and 30 min, navigated to the individual maximum of tinnitus‐related cortical hyperactivity. A noncortical stimulation site with the same distance to the ear served as sham control. Tinnitus loudness was reduced after temporoparietal, PET‐guided low‐frequency rTMS. This reduction, lasting up to 30 min, was dependent on the number of stimuli applied, differed from sham stimulation, and was negatively correlated with the length of the medical history of tinnitus in our patients. These data show the feasibility and effectiveness of rTMS guided by individual functional imaging to induce a lasting, dose‐dependent attenuation of tinnitus. Of note, these effects were related to stimulation of cortical association areas, not primary auditory cortex, emphasizing the crucial role of higher‐order sensory processing in the pathophysiology of chronic tinnitus. Hum Brain Mapp, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combining the Enantioselectivities of l-Valine Diamide and Permethylated β-Cyclodextrin in One Gas Chromatographic Chiral Stationary Phase
2006-06-13

An L-valine diamide chiral selector was attached to a polysiloxane through a long hydrocarbon spacer giving rise to a chiral stationary phase (CSP), Chirasil-Val-C11. The enantioselective properties of this readily accessible diamide CSP under gas chromatographic conditions were found to be similar to that of the commercially available Chirasil-Val CSP prepared by a polymer-analogous route. A new binary CSP, Chirasil-DexVal-C11, was synthesized by means of simultaneous attachment of both the L-valine diamide and permethylated beta-cyclodextrin selectors to a polysiloxane using platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation, thereby overcoming the immiscibility problem known for Chirasil-Val and Chirasil-Dex. This binary CSP retained both the enantioselectivity of Chirasil-Val-C11 toward alpha-amino acid derivatives and the unsurpassed enantioselectivity of Chirasil-Dex toward underivatized chiral alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons. Furthermore, it was shown that the presence of the cyclodextrin selector in Chirasil-Val-C11 significantly improved the enantioseparation of proline, which represented a problematic amino acid on diamide CSPs.
Isotropic High Spatial Resolution Magnetic Resonance Angiography of the Supra-Aortic Arteries Using Two-Dimensional Parallel Imaging (iPAT2) at 3 Tesla
2006-06-13

This study shows that contrast-enhanced MRA, applying parallel-imaging in both phase- and slice-encoding direction (iPAT), is feasible at 3.0 T. Coverage of the carotid and vertebro-basilar circulation was achieved.
Binomial thinning models for integer time series
2006-06-14

This article considers some simple observation-driven time series models for counts. We provide a brief description of the class of integer-valued autoregressive (INAR) and integer-valued moving average (INMA) processes. These classes of models may be attractive when the data exhibit a significant serial dependence structure. We, therefore, briefly review various testing procedures useful for assessing the serial correlation in the data. Once it is established that the data are not serially independent, suitable INAR or INMA processes may be employed to model the data. In the important first order INAR model, we discuss various methods of estimating the structural parameters of the process. We also give a short account of the extension of some of these estimation procedures to second order INAR models. Moving average counterparts of both models are also entertained. Throughout, the models and methods are illustrated in the context of a famous data set from the branching process literature that turns out to be surprisingly difficult to model satisfactorily.
Design and Synthesis of Novel 2-Amino-5-hydroxyindole Derivatives That Inhibit Human 5-Lipoxygenase
2006-06-14

Compounds that inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes (LTs), possess potential for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases as well as of atherosclerosis and cancer. Here we present the design and the synthesis of a series of novel 2-amino-5-hydroxyindoles that potently inhibit isolated human recombinant 5-LO as well as 5-LO in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, exemplified by ethyl 2-[(3-chlorophenyl)amino]-5-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-carboxylate (3n, IC(50) value congruent with 300 nM). Introduction of an aryl/arylethylamino group or 4-arylpiperazin-1-yl residues into position 2 of the 5-hydroxyindoles was essential for biological activity. Whereas the 4-arylpiperazin-1-yl derivatives were more potent in cell-free assays as compared to intact cell test systems, aryl/arylethylamino derivatives inhibited 5-LO activity in intact cells and cell-free assays almost equally well. On the basis of their 5-LO inhibitory properties, these novel 2-amino-5-hydroxyindoles represent potential candidates for the pharmacological intervention with LT-associated diseases.
Monte Carlo simulations of stacked x-ray detectors as designed for SIMBOL-X
2006-06-14

Simbol-X is a next generation X-ray telescope with spectro-imaging capabilities over the 0.5 to 80 keV energy range. The combination of a formation flying mirror and detector spacecraft allows to extend the focal length to 20 m, resulting in a so far unrivaled angular resolution and sensitivity in the hard X-ray range. The focal plane detector system for Simbol-X is planned to consist of an array of so-called Macro Pixel Detectors (MPD) on top of a 2 mm thick CdZnTe pixellated detector array. Photons of energy less than about 17 keV will be primarily absorbed in the MPDs, whereas higher energy photons will be detected in the CdZnTe array below. A computer model of such stacked detectors and its interaction with the radiation environment encountered by the spacecraft in orbit is currently being developed by our group using the Monte Carlo toolkit GEANT4. We present results of the simulation and an outlook for possible optimizations of future detector geometry and shielding.
Fast timing with XEUS: evaluation of different detector concepts
2006-06-14

With its large collecting area XEUS will be ideally suited to probe strong gravity fields around collapsed objects and to constrain the equation of state of dense matter in neutron stars. For these studies, detectors are needed which can measure 10<sup>6</sup> events/sec with high time resolution (10 &#956;sec) and good energy resolution (&#916;E = 200 - 300 eV FWHM) combined with an energy and flux independent dead time. The current baseline for a dedicated fast timing detector on XEUS is an array of 19 silicon drift detectors (SDD) operated as single photon detectors. Optionally we have studied an array of 40 x 20 SDD/DEPFET macro pixel detectors read out at a constant frame rate of 10<sup>5</sup>/sec. Alternatively to these two dedicated detectors, a high time resolution mode of the Wide Field Imager (1024 x 1024 DEPFET array with 78&#956;m x 78&#956;m pixels) is considered here. We have simulated the expected timing performance of these detector options based on results from laboratory measurements. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations using the latest available XEUS mirror response files for Crab like sources and intensities ranging from 10<sup>2</sup> up to 4x10<sup>6</sup> events/sec. Our results are discussed in the light of the scientific requirements for fast timing as expressed in the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 plan.
Unique conjugation mechanism in mycelial streptomycetes: a DNA‐binding ATPase translocates unprocessed plasmid DNA at the hyphal tip
2006-06-15

Summary A single plasmid‐encoded protein, the septal DNA translocator TraB, is sufficient to promote conjugal plasmid transfer in mycelial streptomycetes. To analyse the molecular mechanism of conjugation the closely related TraB proteins from plasmids pSG5 of Streptomyces ghanaensis and pSVH1 of Streptomyces venezuelae were characterized. TraB of pSG5 was expressed as a fusion protein with eGFP and found to be localized at the hyphal tips of Streptomyces lividans by fluorescence microscopy, which strongly indicates that conjugation takes place at the tips of the mating mycelium. The TraB protein of pSVH1 was heterologously expressed in S. lividans with an N‐terminal strep‐tagII and purified as a soluble protein to near homogeneity. The purified protein was shown to hydrolyse ATP and to bind to a 50 bp non‐coding pSVH1 sequence containing a 14 bp direct repeat. The protein–DNA complex was too large to enter an agarose gel, indicating that multimers of TraB were bound to the DNA. Denaturation of the protein–DNA complex released unprocessed plasmid DNA demonstrating that the TraB protein does not possess nicking activity. Our experimental data provide evidence that conjugal DNA transfer in streptomycetes is mediated by the septal DNA translocator TraB, an plasmid‐encoded ATPase that interacts non‐covalently with DNA and translocates an unprocessed double‐stranded DNA molecule at the hyphal tip into the recipient.