julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Quality of parental homework involvement: Predictors and reciprocal relations with academic functioning in the reading domain.
2013-09-16

This study examined predictors of the quality of parental homework involvement and reciprocal relations between the quality of parental homework involvement and students’ reading achievement and academic functioning in a reading-intensive subject (German). Data from 2,830 students in nonacademic tracks and their parents who were surveyed in both Grades 5 and 7 were analyzed. The quality of parental homework involvement was assessed via student reports. It was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct and measured by 3 dimensions proposed by self-determination theory: parental control, parental responsiveness, and parental structure. Whereas students’ academic functioning in Grade 5 predicted the way parents became involved in the homework process in Grade 7, the quality of parents’ help with homework did not depend on their socioeconomic background. Reciprocal relations between the quality of parental homework involvement and children’s academic functioning were observed: Low academic functioning of students in Grade 5 resulted in more parental control in Grade 7, and more parental control in Grade 5 was associated with lower academic functioning in Grade 7. Similarly, high academic functioning in Grade 5 resulted in more parental responsiveness and structure in Grade 7, and more parental responsiveness and structure in Grade 5 were associated with better academic functioning in Grade 7.
A Vertex Model of Drosophila Ventral Furrow Formation
2013-09-16

&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ventral furrow formation in &lt;i&gt;Drosophila&lt;/i&gt; is an outstanding model system to study the mechanisms involved in large-scale tissue rearrangements. Ventral cells accumulate myosin at their apical sides and, while being tightly coupled to each other via apical adherens junctions, execute actomyosin contractions that lead to reduction of their apical cell surface. Thereby, a band of constricted cells along the ventral epithelium emerges which will form a tissue indentation along the ventral midline (the ventral furrow). Here we adopt a 2D vertex model to simulate ventral furrow formation in a surface view allowing easy comparison with confocal live-recordings. We show that in order to reproduce furrow morphology seen &lt;i&gt;in vivo&lt;/i&gt;, a gradient of contractility must be assumed in the ventral epithelium which renders cells more contractile the closer they lie to the ventral midline. The model predicts previous experimental findings, such as the gain of eccentric morphology of constricting cells and an incremental fashion of apical cell area reduction. Analysis of the model suggests that this incremental area reduction is caused by the dynamical interplay of cell elasticity and stochastic contractility as well as by the opposing forces from contracting neighbour cells. We underpin results from the model through &lt;i&gt;in vivo&lt;/i&gt; analysis of ventral furrow formation in wildtype and &lt;i&gt;twi&lt;/i&gt; mutant embryos. Our results show that ventral furrow formation can be accomplished as a “tug-of-war” between stochastically contracting, mechanically coupled cells and may require less rigorous regulation than previously thought.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Summary&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;For the developmental biologist it is a fascinating question how cells can coordinate major tissue movements during embryonic development. The so-called ventral furrow of the Drosophila embryo is a well-studied example of such a process when cells from a ventral band, spanning nearly the entire length of the embryo, undergo dramatic shape change by contracting their tips and then fold inwards into the interior of the embryo. Although numerous genes have been identified that are critical for ventral furrow formation, it is an open question how cells work together to elicit this tissue rearrangement. We use a computational model to mimic the physical properties of cells in the ventral epithelium and simulate the formation of the furrow. We find that the ventral furrow can form through stochastic self-organisation and that previous experimental observations can be readily explained in our model by considering forces that arise when cells execute contractions while being coupled to each other in a mechanically coherent epithelium. The model highlights the importance of a physical perspective when studying tissue morphogenesis and shows that only a minimal genetic regulation may be required to drive complex processes in embryonic development.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
TGF 1 and SGK1-sensitive store-operated Ca2+ entry and Orai1 expression in endometrial Ishikawa cells
2013-09-16

The serum-and-glucocorticoid-inducible-kinase-1 (SGK1) is ubiquitously expressed and under genomic control by cell stress, hormones and further mediators. A most powerful stimulator of SGK1 expression is transforming growth factor TGFβ1. SGK1 is activated by insulin and growth factors via phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and the 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase PDK1. As shown recently, SGK1 increases the store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE), which is accomplished by the pore-forming ion channel unit Orai. Most recent observations further revealed that SGK1 plays a critical role in the regulation of fertility. SGK1 is up-regulated in the luminal epithelium of women with unexplained infertility but down-regulated in decidualizing stromal cells of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. The present study explored whether Orai1 is expressed in endometrium and sensitive to regulation by SGK1 and/or TGFβ1. To this end, Orai1 protein abundance was determined by western blotting and SOCE by fura-2 fluorescence. As a result, Orai1 was expressed in human endometrium and in human endometrial Ishikawa cells. Orai1 expression and SOCE in Ishikawa cells were increased by transfection with constitutively active (S422D)SGK1 but not by transfection with inactive (K127N)SGK1. The difference of SOCE between (S422D)SGK1 and (K127N)SGK1-transfected cells was virtually abrogated in the presence of Orai1 inhibitor 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB, 50 μM). Similar to (S422D)SGK1 transfection TGFβ1 treatment up-regulated both Orai1 protein abundance and SOCE. In conclusion, Orai1 is expressed in the human endometrium and is up-regulated by SGK1 and TGFβ1. The present observations thus uncover a novel element in SGK1-sensitive regulation of endometrial cells.
Convenient Preparation of Ternary Carbidoaluminates – The Example MgAl2C2
2013-09-16

Abstract A new synthesis route for β‐MgAl 2 C 2 is presented. The synthesis of this carbide compound was based on a solid‐state metathesis reaction. The material was prepared at 900 °C from aluminium powder, MgCl 2 and Li 2 C 2 . The reaction product was inspected by X‐ray powder diffraction and 13 C NMR spectroscopy.
<em>In ovo</em> Expression of MicroRNA in Ventral Chick Midbrain
2013-09-16

Non-coding RNAs are additional players in regulating gene expression. Targeted in ovo electroporation of specific areas provides a unique tool for spatial and temporal control of ectopic microRNA expression. However, ventral brain structures like ventral midbrain are rather difficult to reach for any manipulations. Here, we demonstrate an efficient way to electroporate miRNA into ventral midbrain using thin platinum electrodes. This method offers a reliable way to transfect specific areas of the midbrain and a useful tool for in vivo studies.
Surface tension of airway aspirates withdrawn during neonatal resuscitation reflects lung maturity
2013-09-16

The indications for treatment of neonates with exogenous pulmonary surfactant are still discussed controversially. Some premature neonates are sufficiently treated by CPAP, others need conventional ventilation and/or surfactant. The available lung maturity tests have limitations. The captive bubble surfactometer (CBS) provides measurement of surface activity from rather small amounts of surfactant. This study aimed to determine surface activity from small volume aspirates of the upper airways of neonates by means of the CBS and to correlate the results with clinical data. Small upper airway aspirates from 159 neonates (gestational age 25-42 weeks) were withdrawn and concentrated 16.7-fold by ultracentrifugation and resuspension in saline. Surface activities after 5 min of adsorption were determined in the CBS and correlated to the perinatal data (e.g., gestational age, birth weight, gender), airway interventions (like CPAP, conventional ventilation) and surfactant treatment. Additionally, 27 samples were analyzed for surfactant specific phosphatidylcholine concentrations by using electrospray ionization tandem mass-spectroscopy. Surface activities show a significant correlation to gestational age, birth weight, and the need for airway interventions. Comparing the need for airway interventions versus surface activity, a receiver operating characteristic calculated a sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.72 at a "cut off" of 44 mN/m. Surface activity correlates significantly with the phosphatidylcholine concentrations and the latter one correlates with the gestational age. Determination of surface activity from upper airway aspirates is feasible. Further clinical studies are needed to prove the predictive value of the method.
Pseudoclefts in Hungarian
2013-09-16

Based on novel data from Hungarian, this paper makes the case that in at least some languages specificational pseudocleft sentences must receive a ‘what-you-see-is-what-you-get’ syntactic analysis. More specifically, it is argued that the clefted constituent is the subject of predication (underlyingly base-generated in Spec, Pr), whereas the cleft clause acts as a predicate in the structure. Alongside connectivity effects characteristic of specificational pseudoclefts, we also discuss a range of anti-connectivity effects, which we show to receive a straightforward explanation under the proposed analysis. It follows that attested connectivity effects, in turn, require a semantic, rather than a syntactic account, along the lines of Jacobson (1994) and Sharvit (1999).
Community-Acquired Bacterial Bloodstream Infections in HIV-Infected Patients: A Systematic Review
2013-09-17

Information on community-acquired bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is limited. We conducted a systematic literature review. The case fraction of community-acquired bacterial BSIs in hospitalized patients is 20% and 30% in adults and children, respectively, compared to 9% in HIV-negative adults and children. Worldwide, the main pathogens of community-acquired BSI are nontyphoid salmonellae (NTS), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, but regional differences are apparent, especially for S. pneumoniae. Compared to HIV-negative populations, HIV patients are particularly at risk to develop NTS bacteremia. Bacteremia incidence is related to immunosuppression, and antiretroviral therapy reduces the incidence of BSI in HIV patients (rate ratios, 0.63-0.02). Mortality rates varied between 7% and 46%. These results suggest that bacterial BSI is more likely to be found in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative patients upon hospitalization, and that causative pathogens vary by region.
Treatment and Outcome of Patients Suffering From Perineal/Perianal Rhabdomyosarcoma
2013-09-17

The outcome of these patients remains unsatisfactory. Prognostic factors for a favorable outcome are tumor size of smaller than 5 cm, negative locoregional lymph nodes, age less than 10 years, low IRS group, and embryonal histology. Fecal incontinence seems to be a problem.
Evaluation of peptide selection approaches for epitope‐based vaccine design
2013-09-17

Abstract A major challenge in epitope‐based vaccine (EV) design stems from the vast genomic variation of pathogens and the diversity of the host cellular immune system. Several computational approaches have been published to assist the selection of potential T cell epitopes for EV design. So far, no thorough comparison between the current methods has been realized. Using human immunodeficiency virus as test case, different EV selection algorithms were evaluated with respect to their ability to select small peptides sets with broad coverage of allelic and pathogenic diversity. The methods were compared in terms of in silico measurements simulating important vaccine properties like the ability of inducing protection against a multivariant pathogen in a population; the predicted immunogenicity; pathogen, allele, and population coverage; as well as the conservation of selected epitopes. Additionally, we evaluate the use of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) supertypes with regards to their applicability for population‐spanning vaccine design. The results showed that in terms of induced protection methods that simultaneously aim to optimize pathogen and HLA coverage significantly outperform methods focusing on pathogen coverage alone. Moreover, supertype‐based approaches for coverage of HLA diversity were showed to yield only satisfying results in populations in which the supertype representatives are prevalent.
Solving coupled Dyson–Schwinger equations on a compact manifold
2013-09-17

A generic numerical method to solve a coupled set of Dyson–Schwinger equations on a compact manifold is presented. It is exemplified employing a truncated, closed set of equations for the gluon and ghost propagators in SU(N) Yang–Mills theory on a four-torus at zero and nonzero temperatures. When compared to continuum solutions at zero temperature sizeable modifications due to the finite volume of the manifold, especially in the infrared, are found. Effects due to non-vanishing temperatures T, on the other hand, are minute for T &amp;lt; 250MeV. PACS Numbers: 11.10.Wx, 12.38.Aw, 14.70.Dj 1
The effects of gender, age, and body mass on dynamic foot shape and foot deformation inchildren and adolescents
2013-09-17

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to identify influences of gender, age, and body mass on the dynamic foot morphology and foot deformation of maturing feet. Only advancements in scanner technology enable recording of foot morphology during walking.Methods: Static and dynamic foot morphology of 2554 participants (6–16 years) were measured with DynaScan4D. Different foot measures corresponding to measures used in last construction were defined. Influences of gender, age, and body mass were calculated within the whole sample by multiple linear regression analysis and within matched groups by Student's t-test.Results: The results of multiple linear regression analysis show similar patterns in boys and girls. The explained variance (R2) of the differences between static and dynamic foot morphology is low. R2 is higher for the maximum dynamic foot measures where the respective static value mainly predicts the dynamic value. Relative maximum dynamic values of foot height, width, and girth are higher in overweight, younger, and male participants. The deformation of the instep height and the angle of the fifth toe differ between overweight and normal weight participants. Between boys and girls as well as children and adolescents there are differences in the deformation of the ball area.Conclusion: There are effects of gender, age, and body mass on dynamic foot morphology and deformation. The differences are small regarding the high variability. Thus, dynamic adjustments are applicable without customising to gender, age, and body mass. However, it is important to account for the high variability and for static and dynamic situations. This should be discussed with focus on use of resilient materials. These results can improve footwear design and thus contribute to healthy foot development.
Growth of Entamoeba invadens in sediments with metabolically repressed bacteria leads to multicellularity and redefinition of the amoebic cell system.
2013-09-17

Extracellular signaling and mechanisms of cell differentiation in Entamoeba are misunderstood. The main reason is the popular use of axenic media, which do not correspond to the natural habitats of Entamoeba. The axenic environment lacks the exogenous activators and repressors provided by natural habitats. Absent bacterial commensals understanding of the development of the amoebic cell system remains deficient. The present Aa(Sm) culture method using mixed sediments of antibiotically repressed Aerobacter aerogens and amoebae was developed to model in vitro extracellular signaling that induce multicellularity in cultures of E. invadens. Repressed oxygen consuming sediment bacteria supply E. invadens the hypoxic environment needed for differentiation and development. The amoebae themselves alter the environment by consuming the bacteria by phagocytosis thus reversing hypoxia. Exogenous activators are in this manner down regulated and suppressed. This feedback effect controls amoebic development and differentiation. Co-existing cell types and cell fractions with different life spans and cell cycle length could be identified. Aa(Sm) long term cultures contain continuous and non-continuous self renewing cell lines producing quiescent and terminally differentiated daughter cells (precysts) by asymmetric division. This culturing method helps to understand the intimate relationship between hypoxic environments and the multicellular behaviour of E. invadens and the interrelations existing between the distinct cell types.
The effectiveness of codetermination laws in cooperative and adversarial employment relations: When does regulation have bite?
2013-09-17

The German Codetermination Law grants workers of establishments with 200 or more employees the right to have a works councillor who is fully exempted from his or her regular job duties while still paid a regular salary. This article analyses theoretically and empirically how this de jure right to exemption translates into de facto practice, and explicitly takes into account the nature of the employment relations participation regime. It is found that the right of exemption has no effect in cooperative employment relations because exemptions are granted even in the absence of legal rights, but does make a difference in adversarial relations when exemptions are only granted above the threshold where legal rights force employers to do so, i.e. legal rights do make a decisive difference in exactly those situations where the legislators’ intent would not be realized without the right to legal enforcement.
π − p atom in ChPT: strong energy-level shift
2013-09-17

The general formula of the π − p atom strong energy-level shift in the 1s state is derived in the next-to-leading order in the isospin breaking, and in all orders in chiral expansion. Isospin-breaking corrections to the level shift are explicitly evaluated at order p 2 in ChPT. The results clearly demonstrate the necessity to critically reaccess the values of the πN scattering lengths, extracted from the energy-level shift measurement by means of the potential model-based theoretical analysis.
Plasma Ceramide and Glucosylceramide Metabolism Is Altered in Sporadic Parkinson's Disease and Associated with Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study
2013-09-18

These results suggest that plasma ceramide and monohexosylceramide metabolism is altered in PD non-GBA mutation carriers and that higher levels are associated with worse cognition. Additional studies with larger sample sizes, including cognitively normal controls, are needed to confirm these findings.
Glycoepitopes of Staphylococcal Wall Teichoic Acid Govern Complement-mediated Opsonophagocytosis via Human Serum Antibody and Mannose-binding Lectin
2013-09-18

Serum antibodies and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are important host defense factors for host adaptive and innate immunity, respectively. Antibodies and MBL also initiate the classical and lectin complement pathways, respectively, leading to opsonophagocytosis. We have shown previously that Staphylococcus aureus wall teichoic acid (WTA), a cell wall glycopolymer consisting of ribitol phosphate substituted with α- or β-O-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and d-alanine, is recognized by MBL and serum anti-WTA IgG. However, the exact antigenic determinants to which anti-WTA antibodies or MBL bind have not been determined. To answer this question, several S. aureus mutants, such as α-GlcNAc glycosyltransferase-deficient S. aureus ΔtarM, β-GlcNAc glycosyltransferase-deficient ΔtarS, and ΔtarMS double mutant cells, were prepared from a laboratory and a community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain. Here, we describe the unexpected finding that β-GlcNAc WTA-deficient ΔtarS mutant cells (which have intact α-GlcNAc) escape from anti-WTA antibody-mediated opsonophagocytosis, whereas α-GlcNAc WTA-deficient ΔtarM mutant cells (which have intact β-GlcNAc) are efficiently engulfed by human leukocytes via anti-WTA IgG. Likewise, MBL binding in S. aureus cells was lost in the ΔtarMS double mutant but not in either single mutant. When we determined the serum concentrations of the anti-α- or anti-β-GlcNAc-specific WTA IgGs, anti-β-GlcNAc WTA-IgG was dominant in pooled human IgG fractions and in the intact sera of healthy adults and infants. These data demonstrate the importance of the WTA sugar conformation for human innate and adaptive immunity against S. aureus infection.
Heavy Quark Solitons: Towards Realistic Masses
2013-09-18

A generalization of the e ective meson Lagrangian possessing the heavy quark symmetry to nite meson masses is employed to study the meson mass dependence of the spectrum of S{ and P wave baryons containing one heavy quark or anti-quark. These baryons are described as respectively heavy mesons or anti-mesons bound in the background of a soliton, which is constructed from light mesons. No further approximation is made to solve the bound state equation. For special cases it is shown that the boundary conditions, which have to be satis ed by the bound state wave{functions and stem from the interaction with the light mesons, may impose additional constraints on the existence of bound states when nite masses are assumed. Two types of models supporting soliton solutions for the light mesons are considered: the Skyrme model of pseudoscalars only as well as an extension containing also light vector mesons. It is shown that only the Skyrme model with vector mesons provides a reasonable description of both light and heavy baryons. Kinematical corrections to the bound state equations are included in the discussion. 1
Differential Role of Ethylene and Hydrogen Peroxide in Dark-induced Stomatal Closure
2013-09-18

Regulation of stomatal aperture is crucial in terrestrial plants for controlling water loss and gaseous exchange with environment. While much is known of signaling for stomatal opening induced by blue light and the role of hormones, little is known about the regulation of stomatal closing in darkness. The present study was aimed to verify their role in stomatal regulation in darkness. Epidermal peelings from the leaves of Commelina benghalensis were incubated in a defined medium in darkness for 1 h followed by a 1 h incubation in different test solutions [H2O2, propyl gallate, ethrel (ethylene), AgNO3, sodium orthovanadate, tetraethyl ammonium chloride, CaCl2, LaCl3, separately and in combination] before stomatal apertures were measured under the microscope. In the dark stomata remained closed under treatments with ethylene and propyl gallate but opened widely in the presence of H2O2 and AgNO3. The opening effect was largely unaffected by supplementing the treatment with Na-vanadate (PM H+ ATPase inhibitor) and tetraethyl ammonium chloride (K(+)-channel inhibitor) except that opening was significantly inhibited by the latter in presence of H2O2. On the other hand, H2O2 could not override the closing effect of ethylene at any concentrations while a marginal opening of stomata was found when Ag NO3 treatment was given together with propyl gallate. CaCl2 treatment opened stomata in the darkness while LaCl3 maintained stomata closed. A combination of LaCl3 and propyl gallate strongly promoted stomatal opening. A probable action of ethylene in closing stomata of Commelina benghalensis in dark has been proposed.