julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Recent mass balance of the Purogangri Ice Cap, central Tibetan Plateau, by means of differential X-band SAR interferometry
2013-10-24

Abstract. Due to their remoteness, altitude and harsh climatic conditions, little is known about the glaciological parameters of ice caps on the Tibetan Plateau. This study presents a geodetic mass balance estimate of the Purogangri Ice Cap, Tibet's largest ice field between 2000 and 2012. We utilized data from the actual TerraSAR-X mission and its add-on for digital elevation measurements and compared it with elevation data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. The employed data sets are ideal for this approach as both data sets were acquired at X-band at nearly the same time of the year and are available at a fine grid spacing. In order to derive surface elevation changes we employed two different methods. The first method is based on differential synthetic radar interferometry while the second method uses common DEM differencing. Both approaches revealed a slightly negative mass budget of −44 ± 15 and −38 ± 23 mm w.eq. a−1 (millimeter water equivalent) respectively. A slightly negative trend of −0.15 ± 0.01 km2 a−1 in glacier extent was found for the same time period employing a time series of Landsat data. Overall, our results show an almost balanced mass budget for the studied time period. Additionally, we detected one continuously advancing glacier tongue in the eastern part of the ice cap.
Gender differences in emotion recognition: Impact of sensory modality and emotional category
2013-10-24

Results from studies on gender differences in emotion recognition vary, depending on the types of emotion and the sensory modalities used for stimulus presentation. This makes comparability between different studies problematic. This study investigated emotion recognition of healthy participants (N = 84; 40 males; ages 20 to 70 years), using dynamic stimuli, displayed by two genders in three different sensory modalities (auditory, visual, audio-visual) and five emotional categories. The participants were asked to categorise the stimuli on the basis of their nonverbal emotional content (happy, alluring, neutral, angry, and disgusted). Hit rates and category selection biases were analysed. Women were found to be more accurate in recognition of emotional prosody. This effect was partially mediated by hearing loss for the frequency of 8,000 Hz. Moreover, there was a gender-specific selection bias for alluring stimuli: Men, as compared to women, chose "alluring" more often when a stimulus was presented by a woman as compared to a man.
Functional TLR5 Genetic Variants Affect Human Colorectal Cancer Survival
2013-10-24

Abstract Toll-like receptors (TLR) are overexpressed on many types of cancer cells, including colorectal cancer cells, but little is known about the functional relevance of these immune regulatory molecules in malignant settings. Here, we report frequent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the flagellin receptor TLR5 and the TLR downstream effector molecules MyD88 and TIRAP that are associated with altered survival in a large cohort of Caucasian patients with colorectal cancer (n = 613). MYD88 rs4988453, a SNP that maps to a promoter region shared with the acetyl coenzyme-A acyl-transferase-1 (ACAA1), was associated with decreased survival of patients with colorectal cancer and altered transcriptional activity of the proximal genes. In the TLR5 gene, rs5744174/F616L was associated with increased survival, whereas rs2072493/N592S was associated with decreased survival. Both rs2072493/N592S and rs5744174/F616L modulated TLR5 signaling in response to flagellin or to different commensal and pathogenic intestinal bacteria. Notably, we observed a reduction in flagellin-induced p38 phosphorylation, CD62L shedding, and elevated expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β mRNA in human primary immune cells from TLR5 616LL homozygote carriers, as compared with 616FF carriers. This finding suggested that the well-documented effect of cytokines like IL-6 on colorectal cancer progression might be mediated by TLR5 genotype-dependent flagellin sensing. Our results establish an important link between TLR signaling and human colorectal cancer with relevance for biomarker and therapy development. Cancer Res; 73(24); 7232–42. ©2013 AACR.
Solid State Complex Chemistry: Formation, Structure, and Properties of Homoleptic Tetracyanamidogermanates RbRE[Ge(CN2)4] (RE = La, Pr, Nd, Gd)
2013-10-24

Tetracyanamidometallates with the general formula RbRE[T(CN2)4] (RE = La, Pr, Nd, Gd; T = Si, Ge) were prepared by solid state metathesis reactions starting from stoichiometric mixtures of RECl3, A2[TF6], and Li2(CN2). Reactions were studied by differential thermal analysis that showed ignition temperatures between 360 and 390 °C for the formation of RbGd[T(CN2)4] with T = Si and Ge. The powder diffraction patterns of RbRE[Ge(CN2)4] were indexed isotypically to the already known RbRE[Si(CN2)4] compound. IR spectra of RbLa[Ge(CN2)4] were measured and compared with those of RbLa[Si(CN2)4]. (73)Ge, (87)Rb, and (139)La solid state NMR measurements and density functional theory calculations were used to verify the novel homoleptic [Ge(CN2)4](4-) ion. Luminescence properties of Eu(3+), Ce(3+), and Tb(3+) doped samples are reported.
Sexual Life and Sexual Wellness in Individuals with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome (MRKHS)
2013-10-25

Abstract Introduction Sexual wellness depends on a person's physical and psychological constitution. Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome (MRKHS) can compromise sexual well-being. Aims To compare sexual well-being in CAIS and MRKHS using multiple measures: To assess sexual problems and perceived distress. To gain insight into participants' feelings of inadequacy in social and sexual situations, level of self-esteem and depression. To determine how these psychological factors relate to sexual (dys)function. To uncover what participants see as the source of their sexual problems. Methods Data were collected using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. Eleven individuals with CAIS and 49 with MRKHS with/without neovagina treatment were included. Rates of sexual dysfunctions, overall sexual function, feelings of inadequacy in social and sexual situations, self-esteem and depression scores were calculated. Categorizations were used to identify critical cases. Correlations between psychological variables and sexual function were computed. Sexually active subjects were compared with sexually not active participants. A qualitative content analysis was carried out to explore causes of sexual problems. Main Outcome Measures An extended list of sexual problems based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., text revision, by the American Psychiatric Association and related distress. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), German Questionnaire on Feelings of Inadequacy in Social and Sexual Situations (FUSS social scale, FUSS sexual scale), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) subscale depression. Open question on alleged causes of sexual problems. Results The results point to a far-reaching lack of sexual confidence and sexual satisfaction in CAIS. In MRKHS apprehension in sexual situations is a source of distress, but sexual problems seem to be more focused on issues of vaginal functioning. MRKHS women report being satisfied with their sex life. Conclusion Different conditions can affect individuals in diagnosis-specific ways despite some shared clinical features. Professionals should adopt an interdisciplinary approach and provide custom-made care in order to promote sexual well-being in patients.
Integrative Pathway-Based Approach for Genome-Wide Association Studies: Identification of New Pathways for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes
2013-10-25

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) led to the identification of numerous novel loci for a number of complex diseases. Pathway-based approaches using genotypic data provide tangible leads which cannot be identified by single marker approaches as implemented in GWAS. The available pathway analysis approaches mainly differ in the employed databases and in the applied statistics for determining the significance of the associated disease markers. So far, pathway-based approaches using GWAS data failed to consider the overlapping of genes among different pathways or the influence of protein-interactions. We performed a multistage integrative pathway (MIP) analysis on three common diseases--Crohn's disease (CD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and type 1 diabetes (T1D)--incorporating genotypic, pathway, protein- and domain-interaction data to identify novel associations between these diseases and pathways. Additionally, we assessed the sensitivity of our method by studying the influence of the most significant SNPs on the pathway analysis by removing those and comparing the corresponding pathway analysis results. Apart from confirming many previously published associations between pathways and RA, CD and T1D, our MIP approach was able to identify three new associations between disease phenotypes and pathways. This includes a relation between the influenza-A pathway and RA, as well as a relation between T1D and the phagosome and toxoplasmosis pathways. These results provide new leads to understand the molecular underpinnings of these diseases. The developed software herein used is available at http://www.cogsys.cs.uni-tuebingen.de/software/GWASPathwayIdentifier/index.htm.
Comparison of Swollen and Dextran Deswollen Organ-Cultured Corneas for Descemet Membrane Dissection Preparation: Histological and Ultrastructural Findings
2013-10-25

DM-endothelium grafts for transplantation in DMEK procedures can be surgically prepared from organ-cultured corneal rims in swollen and deswollen conditions. Both separation methods seem to be equivalent in regard to the preparation characteristics of the obtained DM. Nevertheless, clinical studies are still necessary in order to confirm these findings.
Eigenvalues and stability properties of multiplication operators and multiplication semigroups
2013-10-25

We investigate uniform, strong, weak and almost weak stability of multiplication semigroups on Banach space‐valued ‐spaces. We show that, under certain conditions, these properties can be characterised by analogous ones of the pointwise semigroups. We prove a spectral mapping theorem for the point spectra of the pointwise and global semigroups and apply this as a major tool for determining almost weak stability.
Stimulation of Suicidal Erythrocyte Death by Ribavirin
2013-10-26

Abstract Ribavirin is widely used in the treatment for viral disease such as chronic viral hepatitis. Side effects limiting the use of the drug include haemolytic anaemia. If challenged by stimulators of haemolysis, erythrocytes may enter suicidal death or eryptosis, thus preventing the release of haemoglobin into circulating blood. Eryptosis is characterized by cell shrinkage and by cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Eryptosis may be triggered by increase in cytosolic Ca 2+ activity ([Ca 2+ ] i ). This study explored whether ribavirin modifies [Ca 2+ ] i and elicits eryptosis. Cell volume has been estimated from forward scatter, phosphatidylserine abundance at the erythrocyte surface from annexin V binding, haemolysis from haemoglobin release and [Ca 2+ ] i from Fluo‐3 fluorescence. A 48‐hr exposure to ribavirin (≥8 μg/ml) was followed by a significant increase in [Ca 2+ ] i , a significant decrease in forward scatter and a significant increase in annexin V binding. The annexin V binding after ribavirin treatment was significantly blunted but not abolished in the nominal absence of extracellular Ca 2+ . In conclusion, ribaverin stimulates eryptosis, an effect at least in part due to entry of extracellular Ca 2+ .
Insights into the activation of the helicase Prp43 by biochemical studies and structural mass spectrometry
2013-10-26

Splicing of precursor messenger RNA is a hallmark of eukaryotic cells, which is carried out by the spliceosome, a multi-megadalton ribonucleoprotein machinery. The splicing reaction removes non-coding regions (introns) and ligates coding regions (exons). The spliceosome is a highly dynamic ribonucleoprotein complex that undergoes dramatic structural changes during its assembly, the catalysis and its disassembly. The transitions between the different steps during the splicing cycle are promoted by eight conserved DExD/H box ATPases. The DEAH-box protein Prp43 is responsible for the disassembly of the intron-lariat spliceosome and its helicase activity is activated by the G-patch protein Ntr1. Here, we investigate the activation of Prp43 by Ntr1 in the presence and absence of RNA substrate by functional assays and structural proteomics. Residues 51-110 of Ntr1 were identified to be the minimal fragment that induces full activation. We found protein-protein cross-links that indicate that Prp43 interacts with the G-patch motif of Ntr1 through its C-terminal domains. Additionally, we report on functionally important RNA binding residues in both proteins and propose a model for the activation of the helicase.
Alternative Fixation of an Active Middle Ear Implant at the Short Incus Process
2013-10-26

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Introduction:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Since 1996, the preferred approach for positioning the active middle-ear implant Vibrant Soundbridge© is a mastoidectomy and a posterior tympanotomy. With this device, placement of the floating mass transducer (FMT) on the long incus process is the standard method for treatment of mild-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss in the case of normal middle-ear anatomy. The aim of this study was to determine the vibrational effectiveness of FMT placement at the short incus process. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; An extended antrotomy and a posterior tympanotomy were performed in 5 fresh human temporal bones. As a control for normal middle-ear function, the tympanic membrane was stimulated acoustically and the vibration of the stapes footplate and the round-window (RW) membrane were (sequentially) measured by laser Doppler vibrometry. Vibration responses for coupling of an FMT to the long incus process (standard coupling) were compared to those for coupling to the short incus process. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Apart from narrow frequency bands near 3 and 9 kHz for the stapes footplate and RW membrane, respectively, the velocity responses presented no significant differences between standard coupling of the FMT and coupling to the short incus process. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Coupling the FMT to the short incus process may be a viable alternative in cases where the surgical approach is limited to an extended antrotomy. A reliable technique for attachment to the short incus process has yet to be developed.
Mosaic synaptopathy and functional defects in Cav1.4 heterozygous mice and human carriers of CSNB2
2013-10-26

Mutations in CACNA1F encoding the α1-subunit of the retinal Cav1.4 L-type calcium channel have been linked to Cav1.4 channelopathies including incomplete congenital stationary night blindness type 2A (CSNB2), Åland Island eye disease (AIED) and cone-rod dystrophy type 3 (CORDX3). Since CACNA1F is located on the X chromosome, Cav1.4 channelopathies are typically affecting male patients via X-chromosomal recessive inheritance. Occasionally, clinical symptoms have been observed in female carriers, too. It is currently unknown how these mutations lead to symptoms in carriers and how the retinal network in these females is affected. To investigate these clinically important issues, we compared retinal phenotypes in Cav1.4-deficient and Cav1.4 heterozygous mice and in human female carrier patients. Heterozygous Cacna1f carrier mice have a retinal mosaic consistent with differential X-chromosomal inactivation, characterized by adjacent vertical columns of affected and non-affected wild-type-like retinal network. Vertical columns in heterozygous mice are well comparable to either the wild-type retinal network of normal mice or to the retina of homozygous mice. Affected retinal columns display pronounced rod and cone photoreceptor synaptopathy and cone degeneration. These changes lead to vastly impaired vision-guided navigation under dark and normal light conditions and reduced retinal electroretinography (ERG) responses in Cacna1f carrier mice. Similar abnormal ERG responses were found in five human CACNA1F carriers, four of which had novel mutations. In conclusion, our data on Cav1.4 deficient mice and human female carriers of mutations in CACNA1F are consistent with a phenotype of mosaic CSNB2.
„Weil-V2“-Sätze und (k)ein Ende? Anmerkungen zur Analyse von Antomo & Steinbach (2010)
2013-10-28

Abstract In this paper I take issue with Antomo &amp; Steinbach’s (2010) analysis of so-called weil -V2 clauses, by which the syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic properties distinguishing them from integrated verb-final weil -clauses are claimed to all follow from two central factors: (i) parataxis triggering prosodic desintegration, (ii) V2-order triggering assertional force potential. Support for this analysis is sought in a close comparison of weil -V2 clauses with V2 complement and relative clauses, which is claimed to reveal pertinent functional and structural parallels. – In arguing against this analysis, I show, first, that the assertional status of the weil -V2 clause is triggered solely by the semantics of weil in combination with true main clause status, hence V2 as such plays no role; second, that the argument from subordinate V2-cases fails as well; third, that the broader interpretational range of weil -V2 clauses is completely shared by unintegrated verb-final weil -clauses; hence this difference to integrated verb-final weil -clauses cannot be due to ±parataxis and/or ±V2, but only to ±syntactic desintegration and/or ±root status. In concluding, I summarize the central factors an alternative compositional analysis of weil -V2 clauses could be based on, and sketch two problems remaining for either analysis.
Role of acid sphingomyelinase in the regulation of mast cell function
2013-10-28

Summary Background Degranulation of mast cells is stimulated by store‐operated C a 2+ ‐entry ( SOCE ). In other cell types, C a 2+ ‐entry is modified by ceramide. Exogenously added ceramide has been shown to trigger mast cell apoptosis. Effects of endogenously produced ceramide in mast cells remained, however, elusive. Ceramide may be produced from sphingomyelin by acid sphingomyelinase ( A sm). Objective This study explored the impact of A sm on mast cell functions. Methods Mast cells were isolated from bone marrow ( BMMC s) or peritoneal lavage of gene‐targeted mice lacking A sm ( asm −/− ) and their wild‐type littermates ( asm +/+ ). BMMC maturation and apoptosis‐associated annexin V binding were determined by flow cytometry. Asm activity was assessed enzymatically, cytosolic C a 2+ activity ([ C a 2+ ] i ) utilizing F ura‐2 fluorescence, current across the cell membrane by whole‐cell patch clamp, degranulation from hexosaminidase‐release and migration utilizing a transwell chamber. In vivo anaphylaxis was derived from decrease in body temperature. Results Peritoneal mast cell number, BMMC phenotype, spontaneous BMMC apoptosis as well as BMMC CD 117, CD 34 and F cε RI expression were similar in both genotypes. In asm +/+ BMMC s, stimulation with antigen resulted in a fast ~2.5‐fold increase in A sm activity. Release of C a 2+ from internal stores and hence several C a 2+ ‐dependent functions were strongly impaired in asm −/− BMMCs. Thus, antigen‐induced increase in [ C a 2+ ] i in IgE‐sensitized cells, antigen‐ but not ionomycin‐induced currents through C a 2+ ‐activated K + ‐channels ( K Ca 3.1), I g E /antigen‐triggered β‐hexosaminidase release, and antigen‐induced migration were all lower in asm −/− BMMC s than in asm +/+ BMMC s. Pharmacological inhibition of A sm by amitriptyline (500 n m , 3 h) in asm +/+ BMMC s similarly decreased antigen‐induced increase in [ C a 2+ ] i , K Ca 3.1 currents, ß‐hexosaminidase release and migration. The decrease in body temperature upon the induction of systemic anaphylaxis was significantly less pronounced in asm −/− mice than in asm +/+ mice, an observation pointing to in vivo significance of A sm. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Asm is a novel, powerful regulator of mast cell function and thus a potential target in the treatment of allergic reactions.
Im Spannungsfeld von Semantik und Pragmatik: Zur Bedeutungskonstitution von Einstellungsadverbialen
2013-10-28

Abstract Mental attitude adverbials ( absichtlich ‚intentionally‘, freiwillig ‚voluntarily‘, etc.) are generally considered to be a homogeneous class of adverbials, the interpretation of which is regulated via the principle of compositionality. I challenge this view, proposing instead that the class of mental attitude adverbials is systematically divided into two subtypes, which I call Assimilative Adverbials ( A-Adverbials ) and Intentional Adverbials ( I-Adverbials ). In support of this proposal I present evidence that they differ in two ways: (i) They select different arguments: A-Adverbials require an agent, I-Adverbials require an initiator. I discuss additional restrictions on their interpretation and formulate lexical entries for each subtype. (ii) The two types provide different interpretation options: While A-Adverbials adhere strictly to the principle of compositionality, I-Adverbials allow pragmatically driven coercion. On the basis of this case study of mental attitude adverbials, I take a close look at the capabilities of and constraints on coercion. With this in mind, I examine the relation between the semantics and pragmatics of mental attitude adverbials in more detail. I show that particular grammatical restrictions on them also hold true under coercion, so that they continue to regulate and to restrict interpretation in these cases. Here admittedly, in contrast to compositional interpretation, the grammatical restrictions can be implemented more flexibly, i.e., they can be fulfilled at the conceptual level. This explains why coercion is limited to I-Adverbials : In the case of coercion, the conceptual structures of A-Adverbials do not satisfy these grammatical restrictions on their interpretation.