julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Acetabular bone reconstruction in revision arthroplasty
2008-08-31

Deficiencies of acetabular bone stock at revision hip replacement were reconstructed with two different types of allograft using impaction bone grafting and a Burch-Schneider reinforcement ring. We compared a standard frozen non-irradiated bone bank allograft (group A) with a freeze-dried irradiated bone allograft, vitalised with autologous marrow (group B). We studied 78 patients (79 hips), of whom 87% (69 hips) had type III acetabular defects according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons classification at a mean of 31.4 months (14 to 51) after surgery. At the latest follow-up, the mean Harris hip score was 69.9 points (13.5 to 97.1) in group A and 71.0 points (11.5 to 96.5) in group B. Each hip showed evidence of trabeculation and incorporation of the allograft with no acetabular loosening. These results suggest that the use of an acetabular reinforcement ring and a living composite of sterile allograft and autologous marrow appears to be a method of reconstructing acetabular deficiencies which gives comparable results to current forms of treatment.
Soluble products of connected subgroups
2008-08-31

The main result in the paper states the following: For a finite group G=AB , which is the product of the soluble subgroups A and B , if \\langle a,b \\rangle is a metanilpotent group for all a\\in A and b\\in B , then the factor groups \\langle a,b \\rangle F(G)/F(G) are nilpotent, F(G) denoting the Fitting subgroup of G . A particular generalization of this result and some consequences are also obtained. For instance, such a group G is proved to be soluble of nilpotent length at most l+1 , assuming that the factors A and B have nilpotent length at most l . Also for any finite soluble group G and k\\geq 1 , an element g\\in G is contained in the preimage of the hypercenter of G/F_{k-1}(G) , where F_{k-1}(G) denotes the ( k-1 )th term of the Fitting series of G , if and only if the subgroups \\langle g,h\\rangle have nilpotent length at most k for all h\\in G .
Evolving Strategies for the Management of Hand–Foot Skin Reaction Associated with the Multitargeted Kinase Inhibitors Sorafenib and Sunitinib
2008-09-01

Abstract The multitargeted kinase inhibitors (MKIs) sorafenib and sunitinib have shown benefit in patients with renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (sorafenib), and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (sunitinib). Their efficacy in other malignancies is currently being investigated because of their broad range of activity. The effectiveness of these drugs is somewhat diminished by the development of a variety of toxicities, most notably hand–foot skin reaction (HFSR). Although HFSR does not appear to directly affect survival, it can impact quality of life and lead to MKI dose modification or interruption, potentially limiting the antitumor effect. Currently, no standard guidelines exist for the prevention and management of MKI-associated HFSR. To address this issue, an international, interdisciplinary panel of experts gathered in January 2008 to discuss and evaluate the best-practice management of these reactions. Based on these proceedings, recommendations for the management of HFSR have been provided to offer patients the best possible quality of life while taking these drugs and to optimize the patient benefit associated with MKI therapy.
The Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in Human Skin and in Skin Infectious Diseases
2008-09-01

Antimicrobial peptides or proteins (AMPs) represent an ancient and efficient innate defense mechanism which protects interfaces from infection with pathogenic microorganisms. In human skin AMPs are produced mainly by keratinocytes, neutrophils, sebocytes or sweat glands and are either expressed constitutively or after an inflammatory stimulus. In several human skin diseases there is an inverse correlation between severity of the disease and the level of AMP production. Skin lesions of patients with atopic dermatitis show a diminished expression of the beta-defensins and the cathelicidin LL-37. Furthermore, these patients have a reduced amount of the AMP dermcidin in their sweat which correlates with an impaired innate defense of human skin in vivo. In addition, decreased levels of AMPs are associated with burns and chronic wounds. In contrast, overexpression of AMPs can lead to increased protection against skin infections as seen in patients with psoriasis and rosacea, inflammatory skin-diseases which rarely result in superinfection. In other skin diseases, e.g. in patients with acne vulgaris, increased levels of AMPs are often found in inflamed or infected skin areas indicating a role of these peptides in the protection from infection. These data indicate that AMPs have a therapeutical potential as topical anti-infectives in several skin diseases. The broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, the low incidence of bacterial resistance and their function as immunomodulatory agents are attractive features of AMPs for their clinical use.
Matrilysin(MMP-7) Is a Novel Broadly Expressed Tumor Antigen Recognized by Antigen-Specific T Cells
2008-09-01

Abstract Purpose: A prerequisite for the development of vaccination strategies is the identification and characterization of relevant tumor-associated antigen. Using microarray and reverse transcription-PCR analysis, we found matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 to be extensively up-regulated in renal cell carcinomas and expressed in a broad variety of malignant cells. MMP-7 can promote cancer invasion and angiogenesis by proteolytic cleavage of extracellular matrix and basement membrane proteins, thus making it a promising target in the context of immunotherapies. Experimental Design: To analyze the possible use of MMP-7 as a tumor-associated antigen, specific CTLs were induced using monocyte-derived dendritic cells electroporated with MMP-7-mRNA. In addition, to better characterize the fine specificity of these CTLs, MMP-7 MHC class I ligands were isolated and characterized in renal cell carcinoma tissue, which overexpressed MMP-7, by mass spectrometry–based peptide sequencing. Using this approach, we identified a novel HLA-A3–binding antigenic MMP-7 peptide. CTLs generated from healthy donors by in vitro priming with dendritic cells, pulsed with the novel peptide, were used as effectors in 51Cr-release assays. Results: The induced CTLs elicited an antigen-specific and HLA-restricted cytolytic activity against tumor cells endogenously expressing the MMP-7 protein. Furthermore, we were able to induce MMP-7–specific CTLs using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia capable of recognizing the autologous leukemic blasts while sparing nonmalignant cells. Conclusions: Our study describes the identification of a novel broadly expressed T-cell epitope derived from the MMP-7 protein that represents an interesting candidate to be applied in immunotherapies of human malignancies targeting both tumor cells and neovascularization.
New constraints on the timing of sea level fluctuations during early to middle marine isotope stage 3
2008-09-01

To settle debate on the timing of sea level fluctuations during marine isotope stage (MIS) 3, we present records of δ 18 O ruber (sea level proxy) and magnetic susceptibility from the same samples within the single sediment archive (i.e., “coregistered”) of central Red Sea core GeoTü‐KL11. Core‐scanning X‐ray fluorescence and environmental magnetic data establish the suitability of magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for eolian dust content in Red Sea sediments. The eolian dust data record similar variability as Greenland δ 18 O ice during early to middle MIS 3, in agreement with previous observations that regional Arabian Sea climate fluctuated with a timing similar to that of Greenland climate variations. In contrast, the sea level record fluctuates with a timing similar to that of Antarctic‐style climate variations. The coregistered nature of the two records in core KL11 unambiguously reveals a distinct offset in the phase relationship between sea level and eolian dust fluctuations. The results confirm that sea level rises, indicated by shifts in Red Sea δ 18 O ruber to lighter values, occurred during cold episodes in Greenland during early to middle MIS 3. This indicates that the amplitudes of the reconstructed MIS 3 sea level fluctuations would not be reduced by inclusion of regional climate fluctuations in the Red Sea sea level method. Our analysis comprehensively supports our earlier conclusions of large‐amplitude sea level variations during MIS 3 with a timing that is strongly similar to Antarctic‐style climate variations.
Dual inhibition of proteasomal and lysosomal proteolysis ameliorates autoimmune central nervous system inflammation
2008-09-01

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a detrimental disease of the central nervous system (CNS) leading to long‐term disability. In the course of animal models of multiple sclerosis (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis), we find enhanced activity of proteasome subunits b1i, b2, b2i and b5 in the CNS. We demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of the proteasome by bortezomib ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice and rats in prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with reduced numbers of T‐cells secreting proinflammatory cytokines. The anti‐inflammatory effect of proteasome inhibition was accompanied by reduced NF‐jB activity in the CNS and lymphoid organs. The combined inhibition of proteasomes and lysosomal proteases involved in major histocompatibility complex II antigen presentation further improved therapeutic efficacy. We suggest proteasome inhibition alone or in combination with inhibition of lysosomal proteases as a novel therapeutic strategy against inflammation‐induced neurodegeneration in the CNS. We demonstrate the impact of the proteasome and lysosomal proteases on development of autoimmunity.
Four-way TOA and software-based trilateration of IEEE 802.11 devices
2008-09-01

In this paper we present an algorithm that measures the round trip times of IEEE 802.11 MAC packets in order to trilaterate WLAN nodes.We show that if we use packet sequences (e.g., RTS, CTS, DATA and ACK) instead of packet pairs (e.g., DATA and ACK), the TOA measurements can be implemented more easily and a higher observation rate can be achieved. In addition, the receiver and any listening third node can measure the round trip times. We present the open source software ldquoGoodtryrdquo that implements this algorithm and overcomes the low clock resolution and other implementation constraints of off-the-shelf IEEE 802.11 cards. Experimental results show that our software-based trilateration has an accuracy of about four meters.
Pericontinental Crustal Growth of the Southwestern Abitibi Subprovince, Canada--U-Pb, Hf, and Nd Isotope Evidence
2008-09-01

The Abitibi subprovince is widely regarded as a classic example of Neoarchean continental crust formed in an ensimatic setting. However, sialic crust as old as 2.93 Ga occurs in the adjacent Wawa subprovince, and the two subprovinces are thought to have formed a contiguous block since the initiation of Abitibi magmatic activity at 2.75 Ga. A detailed geochemical, U-Pb geochronological, and Nd-Hf isotope study of plutonic and volcanic rocks from the southwestern Abitibi provides evidence for the involvement of older crust during magma genesis near the Abitibi-Wawa boundary (Kapuskasing structural zone). Inherited zircons dated at ca. 2.85 Ga occur both in 2747 Ma tonalite and 2700 Ma granodiorite of the Rice Lake batholith, part of the larger Kenogamissi plutonic complex. Igneous zircons from this batholith display large intrasample variations in 176 Hf/ 177 Hf, which we attribute to mixing of magmas derived from mantle ± juvenile crust and older crustal sources. Nd isotope data for felsic volcanic and plutonic rocks in this region indicate a dominantly juvenile source; however, two older felsic volcanic units (2739 and 2729 Ma) show Nd isotope evidence of significant crustal contamination. Post-tectonic plutonic units that were emplaced at 2676 and 2662 Ma also contain inherited zircons, but none are older than 2.76 Ga. In contrast, tonalitic units dated at 2744 and 2715 Ma from the Round Lake plutonic complex, located 150 km east of the Kapuskasing structural zone, lack zircon inheritance and display less intrasample Hf isotope variability in zircons. Our data suggest that the influence of older sialic crust during Abitibi volcanic and plutonic activity is restricted both in space and time. Similar evidence for an older crustal influence occurs elsewhere in the southwestern Abitibi near the Kapuskasing structural zone. The data collectively suggest that an approximately 75-km-wide belt of Abitibi crust adjacent to this structure was underlain by older Wawa crust from 2.75 Ga onward. This crustal geometry is consistent with development of the Abitibi sub-province at the edge of a Wawa protocraton, perhaps as the result of rifting of this older continental block.
A combination of vision- and vibration-based terrain classification
2008-09-01

For safe navigation in outdoor environments, a mobile robot should be able to estimate the type of the current and forthcoming terrain. Based on this estimation, the robot can decide if the terrain is safe and may be traversed securely, or if the terrain is potentially dangerous and must be avoided or traversed carefully. This paper presents a terrain classification approach which fuses terrain predictions based on image data with predictions made by a vibration-based method. Using color images, the robot classifies terrain in front of it. When the robot later traverses the classified area, it uses vibration data to verify its former prediction. Our experiments on 14 different terrain types show that by fusing both predictions, the classification rates are significantly larger than predictions based on data from a single sensor alone.
Self-Localization with RFID snapshots in densely tagged environments
2008-09-01

In this paper we show that, despite some disadvantageous properties of radio frequency identification (RFID), it is possible to localize a mobile robot quite accurately in environments which are densely tagged. We therefore employ a recently presented probabilistic fingerprinting technique called RFID snapshots. This method interprets short series of RFID measurements as feature vectors and is able to position a mobile robot after a training phase. It requires no explicit sensor model and is capable of exploiting given tag infrastructures, e.g., provided by supermarket shelves containing labeled products.
Can we still afford bladder cancer?
2008-09-01

Further cost reductions can be achieved with a centralization of patients undergoing cystectomy by shifting these patients to high-volume surgeons in high-volume hospitals, thereby reducing complications and length of hospital stay. In advanced stages predictive markers may identify suitable subgroups for molecular therapies and, therefore, avoid costs of inappropriate treatments.
Molecular dynamics simulations for drug dosage form development: thermal and solubility characteristics for hot-melt extrusion
2008-09-01

Abstract\\n Properties of pharmaceutical drug polymer mixtures like miscibility, stability and drug release are determined by the interactions of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients (e.g. plasticizers) with functional polymers. Molecular dynamics simulations (Materials Studio, compass force field) are used to predict the principal behaviour of such drug products, especially miscibility and glass transition temperature (Tg). Different mixtures containing APIs (theophylline or ibuprofen) and water soluble (triethyl citrate) or water insoluble plasticizer (acetyltributyl citrate or dibutyl sebacate) dissolved/dispersed in a cationic polymethacrylate (Eudragit? RS) were studied. Force field based calculations of the cohesive energy densities of single constituents led to a qualitative approach according to Hanson describing the solid state of the mixture while further calculations on the basis of the theory of free energy of mixing facilitated a semi quantitative prediction. In case of miscibility also calculation of Tg was possible via modelling specific volumes of amorphous cells at various temperatures. The simulated data correlated well with the experimental data obtained from differential scanning calorimetry of drug products processed via hotmelt extrusion. Accordingly, the described method facilitates a good estimate of pharmaceutical polymer drug mixtures thus decreasing product development time as well as the consumption of active ingredients.
Behavior and classification of NAT devices and implications for NAT traversal
2008-09-01

For a long time, traditional client-server communication was the predominant communication paradigm of the Internet. Network address translation devices emerged to help with the limited availability of IP addresses and were designed with the hypothesis of asymmetric connection establishment in mind. But with the growing success of peer-to-peer applications, this assumption is no longer true. Consequently network address translation traversal became a field of intensive research and standardization for enabling efficient operation of new services. This article provides a comprehensive overview of NAT and introduces established NAT traversal techniques. A new categorization of applications into four NAT traversal service categories helps to determine applicable techniques for NAT traversal. The interactive connectivity establishment framework is categorized, and a new framework is introduced that addresses scenarios that are not supported by ICE. Current results from a field test on NAT behavior and the success ratio of NAT traversal techniques support the feasibility of this classification.
Myelin-Reactive Type B T Cells and T Cells Specific for Low-Affinity MHC-Binding Myelin Peptides Escape Tolerance in HLA-DR Transgenic Mice
2008-09-01

Abstract Genes of the MHC show the strongest genetic association with multiple sclerosis (MS), but the underlying mechanisms have remained unresolved. In this study, we asked whether the MS-associated MHC class II molecules, HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DRB5*0101, and HLA-DRB1*0401, contribute to autoimmune CNS demyelination by promoting pathogenic T cell responses to human myelin basic protein (hMBP), using three transgenic (Tg) mouse lines expressing these MHC molecules. Unexpectedly, profound T cell tolerance to the high-affinity MHC-binding hMBP82-100 epitope was observed in all Tg mouse lines. T cell tolerance to hMBP82-100 was abolished upon back-crossing the HLA-DR Tg mice to MBP-deficient mice. In contrast, T cell tolerance was incomplete for low-affinity MHC-binding hMBP epitopes. Furthermore, hMBP82-100-specific type B T cells escaped tolerance in HLA-DRB5*0101 Tg mice. Importantly, T cells specific for low-affinity MHC-binding hMBP epitopes and hMBP82-100-specific type B T cells were highly encephalitogenic. Collectively, the results show that MS-associated MHC class II molecules are highly efficient at inducing T cell tolerance to high-affinity MHC-binding epitope, whereas autoreactive T cells specific for the low-affinity MHC-binding epitopes and type B T cells can escape the induction of T cell tolerance and may promote MS.
A model-predictive approach to formation control of omnidirectional mobile robots
2008-09-01

This paper presents a solution to the problem of steering a group of real omnidirectional mobile robots along a given path, while maintaining a desired formation pattern. This problem can be divided into a leader agent subproblem and a follower agent subproblem such that a leader agent follows a given path and each follower agent tracks a trajectory, estimated by using the leaderpsilas information. In this paper, we exploit nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) as a local control law for real-world experiments due to its advantages of taking the robot constraints and future information into account. To solve the path following problem for the leader agent, we propose to integrate the rate of progression of a virtual vehicle to be followed along that path into the local cost function of NMPC. After the open-loop optimization problem is solved, the optimal rate of progression at each time step in the future is obtained. This information and the leaderpsilas current state are broadcasted to all follower agents. With respect to a desired formation configuration and a reference path, each follower agent can estimate its own reference trajectory by using the leaderpsilas information and its time stamp. NMPC is also employed as a local control law to steer the follower agent to track that reference trajectory. Our approach was validated by experiments using three omnidirectional mobile robots.
Sea urchin development: An alternative model for mechanistic understanding of neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity
2008-09-01

Abstract Echinoderm early developmental stages might supply a good tool for toxicity testing in different fields, ranging from environment to food contamination, and in full respect of the 3Rs objectives (reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal experiments) that will eventually lead to the replacement of high vertebrate animal testing in toxicology. Sea urchin is one of the few organismic models considered by the European Agency for Alternative models. Actually, sea urchin embryonic development has been studied for over a century, and the complex nets of intercellular communications leading to the different events are well known, as well the possibility for environmental molecules and their residuals to interfere with such communications, causing developmental anomalies. In particular, the main goal of toxicologists since several years has been to establish a correlation between the cell‐to‐cell communications occurring during different developmental events and the signals occurring during neurogenesis, with the aim to pursue a mechanistic understanding of these processes and their deviations caused by stressors from different sources. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 84:188–203, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apatite fission track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology of the Rochovce granite (Slovakia) – implications for the thermal evolution of the Western Carpathian-Pannonian region
2008-09-01

The thermal evolution of the only known Alpine (Cretaceous) granite in the Western Carpathians (Rochovce granite) is studied by low-temperature thermochronological methods. Our apatite fission track and apatite (U-Th)/He ages range from 17.5 +/- 1.1 to 12.9 +/- 0.9 Ma, and 12.9 +/- 1.8 to 11.3 +/- 0.8 Ma. respectively. The data thus show that the Rochovce granite records a thermal event in the Middle to early Late Miocene, which was likely related to mantle upwelling, volcanic activity, and increased heat flow. During the thermal maximum between similar to 17 and 8 Ma, the granite was heated to temperatures equal to or greater than 60 degrees C. Increase of cooling rates at similar to 12 Ma recorded by the apatic fission track and (U-Th)/He data is primarily related to the cessation of the heating event and relaxation of the isotherms associated with the termination of the Neogene volcanic activity. This contradicts the accepted concept, which stipulates that the internal parts of the Western Carpathians were not thermally affected during the Cenozoic period. The Miocene thermal event was not restricted to the investigated part of the Western Carpathians, but had regional character and affected several basement areas in the Western Carpathians, the Pannonian basin and the margin of the Eastern Alps.