julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Wanderer between the Worlds - Self-Organized Network Stability in Attack and Random Failure Scenarios
2008-10-01

Many real-world networks show a scale-free degree distribution, a structure that is known to be very stable in case of random failures. Unfortunately, the very same structure makes the network very sensitive against targeted attacks on their high-degree vertices. Under attack it is instead preferable to have a Poisson- or normal degree distribution. The paper addresses the question of whether it is possible to design a network protocol that enables the vertices of a decentralized network to switch its topology according to whether it is attacked or just suffers of random failures. We further require that this protocol is oblivious of the kind of removal scenario, i.e., that is does not contain any kind of attack detection. In this article we show how to design such a protocol that is oblivious, needs only local information, and that is capable of switching between the two structures reasonably fast. The protocol is easy to implement and keeps the average degree in the graph constant. After an analytical and empirical evaluation of the result the paper is concluded by possible applications to internet-based communication networks.
Smart sensors for small rodent observation
2008-10-01

Working towards the observation of rats (and other small rodents) in the wild we have developed tools that will enable us to study their behavior using a wireless network of wearable sensor nodes. The space and weight constraints resulting from the size of the animals have led to simple but functional approaches for vocalization classification and position estimation. For the resulting data we have developed novel, delay-tolerant routing and collection strategies. These are expected to be used in a sparse, dynamic network resulting from various rats being tagged with our nodes and running around freely - an area that will eventually be too big to be covered solely by stationary data sinks. Furthermore, the system is designed to extract information on the social interactions between animals from the routing data. It currently works in an indoor environment and we are preparing it for tests in a controlled outdoor setup.
Cushing's Disease Associated with both Pituitary Microadenoma and Corticotroph Hyperplasia
2008-10-01

Herein, we present the case of a 63-year old female patient with initial symptoms of myopathy, hypokaliemia, glucosuria and psychotic symptoms. Laboratory analysis demonstrated elevated plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol. Additionally, urine cortisol excretion was increased approximately 60-fold. MRI imaging revealed a possible pituitary microadenoma. To confirm the diagnosis a bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling was performed presenting higher ACTH levels on the right side. However, after surgery cortisol levels did not return to normal range. Histological examination of the tumor revealed a microadenoma. Six days postoperatively, the patient developed several pneumonic infiltrations and fever therefore antibiotic and antifungal therapy was started immediately. In addition aspergillus antigen was elevated. During this septic condition, cortisol levels further increased. The patient died despite optimal intensive care under septical conditions 8 days after surgery. Microbiological analysis identified Aspergillus fumigatus in broncho-alveolar lavage and several organ systems including the heart and brain. Neuropathological autopsy revealed nodular proliferations of corticotropic cells in the pituitary gland that are assumed to be morphological entities between diffuse hyperplasias and adenomas, termed as tumorlets. In single reports, multiple pituitary lesions in patients with Cushing's disease have been demonstrated, but to our knowledge none of these cases presented the combination of an ACTH-producing microadenoma and corticotroph cell hyperplasia in the same patient. Therefore, even after resection of a pituitary microadenoma one should be aware of the possibility of continuously elevated ACTH level being due to multifocal nodular corticotroph hyperplasia which is invisible by neuroradiological examination.
The Normative Dimensions of Extending the Human Lifespan by Age-Related Biomedical Innovations
2008-10-01

The current normative debate on age-related biomedical innovations and the extension of the human lifespan has important shortcomings. Mainly, the complexity of the different normative dimensions relevant for ethical and/or juridicial norms is not fully developed and the normative quality of teleological and deontological arguments is not properly distinguished. This article addresses some of these shortcomings and develops the outline of a more comprehensive normative framework covering all relevant dimensions. Such a frame necessarily has to include conceptions of a good life on the individual and societal levels. Furthermore, as a third dimension, a model for the access to and the just distribution of age-related biomedical innovations and technologies extending the human lifespan will be developed. It is argued that such a model has to include the different levels of the general philosophical theories of distributive justice, including social rights and theories of just health care. Furthermore, it has to show how these theories can be applied to the problem area of aging and extending the human lifespan.
Predicting school achievement from self-paced continuous performance: Examining the contributions of response speed, accuracy, and response speed variability
2008-10-01

Trial-to-trial fluctuations in self-paced performance have long been considered an important aspect of an individual’s performance. Whereas average response speed has been considered a cognitive factor indexing the speed of mental processing, response speed variability has been considered an energetic factor indexing an individual’s capability to sustain mental processes over prolonged time periods. Here we investigated whether there is an incremental contribution of response speed variability, compared to mental speed, in predicting school achievement. A sample of 89 individuals was tested with the Serial Mental Addition and Comparison Task (SMACT) twice within a retest-interval of three days. In addition to the conventional performance measures speed (MRT) and accuracy (error percentage, EP), we evaluated two intraindividual response speed variability measures, standard deviation (SDRT) and coefficient of variation (CVRT), with regard to their power to statistically predict secondary- and high-school achievement. In general, school performance was best predicted by MRT and not at all by EP. Response speed variability, especially CVRT, appeared to be a good predictor of school performance, especially mathematics performance. The combined intake of MRT and CVRT as predictors in a multiple linear regression model, however, did not yield additional predictive value compared to the single-predictor model that contained only MRT. A further interesting finding was that the performance measures were differentially predictive across genders. In sum, we suggest that response speed variability as indexed by CVRT is a candidate dimension for the assessment of sustained concentration performance. Before applying CVRT in practical assessment settings, however, additional research is required to elucidate effects of different task factors (e.g., task length, task complexity, content domain, etc.) on the predictive power of this performance measure.
Reconstructive Urology
2008-10-01

Surveya number 15 lancet.In group C the incision was not repaired but was left to secondary healing.In group G cyanoacrylic glue was only applied on the incision region and the tissue was compressed to become adhered for 2 to 3 minutes.In group P the incision was primarily repaired with 6-zero polydioxanone.In group PG cyanoacrylic glue was applied on the incision region following primary repair.The authors found that there was no inflammation and hyperemia-bleeding in only group G.In group PG only 1 rat had these histopathological features.Total healing was observed in all rats in the 2 groups.Slight fibrosis developed in the cavernous tissue in groups G and PG, similar to that in rats in group P, and the authors stated that this finding showed that cyanoacrylic glue has no effect on preventing fibrosis.The authors concluded that Glubran2 can be used in cavernous surgery due to its hemostatic, adhesive and anti-inflammatory properties, and that application of this material on the ruptured region of corpus cavernosum without suturing seems to be beneficial according to the primary repair method.The authors are to be commended for that elegant study and for providing a new option that would be used in the future for cavernous repair.Nevertheless, it is important to point out that "penile fracture" is defined as "a rupture of the corpus cavernosum due to a blunt trauma in an erect penis.Lesions on a flaccid penis or lesions in the suspensor ligament of the penis are not included in this definition".So, the mechanism of injury used in this experimental work is far different from a fracture.It would be better to name it as a "cavernous lesion".A lesion caused by a scalpel in the albuginea is much less traumatic than a lesion caused by a blunt trauma to an erect penis with a thin albuginea submitted to a high intracavernosal pressure.A typical penile fracture is followed by swelling, hematoma and penile deformity, which would cause greater inflammatory reaction.
Measuring Research Intensity from Anonymized Data: Does Multiplicative Noise with Factor Structure Save Results Regarding Quotients?
2008-10-01

Summary Economic researchers often consider quotients like R&amp;D investment divided by sales which could be used to measure "research intensity" of firms if available. However, data on research in particular are highly confidential and would not be released in original form. Therefore scientific use files have to be generated from anonymized micro data. The paper considers joint anonymization of all variables by multiplicative noise which stems from a bimodal mixture distribution and can be regarded as an error model with factor structure. It is shown that quotients such as research intensity are not modified considerably by this procedure. However, already quotients from original data can give quite misleading results which is illustrated by simulation results and an empirical example using the German Cost Structure Survey.
Synchrotron-based radioscopy with spatio-temporal micro-resolution using hard X-rays
2008-10-01

The use of highly intense synchrotron light sources allows the next step in the fast imaging development: the use of hard X-rays. Micro-radiography as an established method to image the internal structure of an object with micrometer resolution can be extended to study its temporal evolution as well. While direct converting pixel detectors are known which can acquire images with high frame rates here detectors are needed with higher spatial resolution which can stand the highly intense synchrotron photon flux. Our approach is based on indirect pixel detectors which are already known for micro-imaging at synchrotron light sources. We combine those with CMOS cameras in order to achieve frame rates of up to 40 000 images per second, thus progressing to micro-radioscopy. Potential applications are studies of living insects with moderate frame rates up to 250 images per second (4 ms exposure time), velocity fields within a semi-solid alloy during a thixo-casting process and ruptures of individual cell walls in a liquid metal foam imaged with up to 40 000 frames per second (25 μs exposure time).
An Adaptive On-Line Evolutionary Visual System
2008-10-01

In evolutionary computer vision, algorithms are usually evolved which address one particular computer vision problem. Quite often, a set of training images is used to evolve an algorithm. Another set of images is then used to evaluate the performance of those algorithms. In contrast of this standard form of algorithm evolution, it is proposed to develop a vision system which continuously evolves algorithms based on the task at hand. This adaptation of computer vision algorithms would happen on-line for every image which is presented to the system. Such a system would continuously adapt to new environmental conditions.
Modeling gene regulation and spatial organization of sequence based motifs
2008-10-01

Reconstructing and modeling regulatory networks is an active area of research in bioinformatics and systems biology. Hence, various computational methods have been published, often successfully modeling one aspect of regulatory control. Gene regulation, however, is a process that depends on many different components such as transcription factors (TFs), cis-regulatory motifs and their temporal and spatial coordination. Accordingly, a promising new direction for computational analysis is the incorporation of multiple data types to discover, for instance, cluster membership, the spatial organization of cis-regulatory motifs and TFs that bind to these motifs. Here, we present such a data-driven framework, comprising four stages, to infer gene regulatory networks (GRNs) by modeling: 1. motif presence in the promoter, 2. spatial motif arrangement in co-regulated genes, 3. TFs that bind the respective motifs, and 4. dynamic properties of the GRN. A novel method is presented in stage 2, where we optimize for the spatial motif properties: orientation, occurrence of multiple motifs, relative distance between two motifs and distance to the Transcription Start Site (TSS). To find optimal distance based properties in efficient time we describe a dynamic programming approach. To combine multiple motif properties that are shared by genes with similar expression profiles a Hill-climber is employed. Subsequently, in stage 3 and 4, we infer GRNs by assigning TFs to the derived motifs and model time-dependent regulatory relationships between them with the Inferelator approach. None of the stages require the user to manually adjust any parameter, and thus derived properties can be analyzed without the bias introduced by parametrization. We applied this approach to S. cerevisiae data and obtained insight into individual and general properties of the spatial assembly of regulatory elements and inferred the corresponding GRN.
Atypical type II silent corticotrophic adenoma developing into Cushing's disease upon second recurrence
2008-10-01

Herein, we report the case of a 73-year old male patient who presented with two recurrences of a pituitary adenoma within a period of 15 years. During the first operation 15 years ago, a clinically non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma was removed. 11 years later, the first recurrence of the tumor was reoperated. Throughout the early course of the disease, he suffered from secondary adrenal insufficiency and required replacement therapy with hydrocortisone. Currently, he presented with the second recurrence and clinical examination revealed signs of Cushing's disease. This was clearly confirmed by endocrinological evaluation. A retrospective analysis of all histological specimens showed an adenoma exhibiting chromophobia, ACTH-positivity and features of atypia with elevated p53 and Ki67 expression as well as nuclear polymorphism. According to the revised WHO classification it was classified as atypical type II silent corticotroph adenoma at the time of the first and second surgery. The specimen removed during the recent surgery displayed the same histological features and was classified as corticotroph adenoma. The combination of an atypical type II adenoma and the switch in the hormone status to an endocrinologically active adenoma makes this case exceedingly rare.
Topological susceptibility in SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in the Hamiltonian approach in Coulomb gauge
2008-10-02

The topological susceptibility is calculated within the Hamiltonian approach to Yang-Mills theory in Coulomb gauge, using the vacuum wave functional previously determined by a variational solution of the Yang-Mills Schroedinger equation. The numerical result agrees qualitatively with the predictions of lattice simulations.
A limited contribution of Ca2+ current facilitation to paired‐pulse facilitation of transmitter release at the rat calyx of Held
2008-10-03

Recent studies have suggested that transmitter release facilitation at synapses is largely mediated by presynaptic Ca 2+ current facilitation, but the exact contribution of Ca 2+ current facilitation has not been determined quantitatively. Here, we determine the contribution of Ca 2+ current facilitation, and of an increase in the residual free Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) in the nerve terminal, to paired‐pulse facilitation of transmitter release at the calyx of Held. Under conditions of low release probability imposed by brief presynaptic voltage‐clamp steps, transmitter release facilitation at short interstimulus intervals (4 ms) was 227 ± 31% of control, Ca 2+ current facilitation was 113 ± 4% of control, and the peak residual [Ca 2+ ] i was 252 ± 18 n m over baseline. By inferring the ‘local’[Ca 2+ ] i transients that drive transmitter release during these voltage‐clamp stimuli with the help of a kinetic release model, we estimate that Ca 2+ current facilitation contributes to ∼40% to paired‐pulse facilitation of transmitter release. The remaining component of facilitation strongly depends on the build‐up, and on the decay of the residual free [Ca 2+ ] i , but cannot be explained by linear summation of the residual free [Ca 2+ ] i , and the back‐calculated ‘local’[Ca 2+ ] i signal, which only accounts for ∼10% of the total release facilitation. Further voltage‐clamp experiments designed to compensate for Ca 2+ current facilitation demonstrated that about half of the observed transmitter release facilitation remains in the absence of Ca 2+ current facilitation. Our results indicate that paired‐pulse facilitation of transmitter release at the calyx of Held is driven by at least two distinct mechanisms: Ca 2+ current facilitation, and a mechanism independent of Ca 2+ current facilitation that closely tracks the time course of residual free [Ca 2+ ] i .
Characterization of Cytokinin and Adenine Transport in Arabidopsis Cell Cultures
2008-10-03

Cytokinins are distributed through the vascular system and trigger responses of target cells via receptor-mediated signal transduction. Perception and transduction of the signal can occur at the plasma membrane or in the cytosol. The signal is terminated by the action of extra- or intracellular cytokinin oxidases. While radiotracer studies have been used to study transport and metabolism of cytokinins in plants, little is known about the kinetic properties of cytokinin transport. To provide a reference dataset, radiolabeled trans-zeatin (tZ) was used for uptake studies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) cell culture. Uptake kinetics of tZ are multiphasic, indicating the presence of both low- and high-affinity transport systems. The protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone is an effective inhibitor of cytokinin uptake, consistent with H(+)-mediated uptake. Other physiological cytokinins, such as isopentenyl adenine and benzylaminopurine, are effective competitors of tZ uptake, whereas allantoin has no inhibitory effect. Adenine competes for zeatin uptake, indicating that the degradation product of cytokinin oxidases is transported by the same systems. Comparison of adenine and tZ uptake in Arabidopsis seedlings reveals similar uptake kinetics. Kinetic properties, as well as substrate specificity determined in cell cultures, are compatible with the hypothesis that members of the plant-specific purine permease family play a role in adenine transport for scavenging extracellular adenine and may, in addition, be involved in low-affinity cytokinin uptake.
Potential of chemically modified hydrophilic surface characteristics to support tissue integration of titanium dental implants
2008-10-06

Abstract In the past, several modifications of specific surface properties such as topography, structure, chemistry, surface charge, and wettability have been investigated to predictably improve the osseointegration of titanium implants. The aim of the present review was to evaluate, based on the currently available evidence, the impact of hydrophilic surface modifications of titanium for dental implants. A surface treatment was performed to produce hydroxylated/hydrated titanium surfaces with identical microstructure to either acid‐etched, or sand‐blasted, large grit and acid‐etched substrates, but with hydrophilic character. Preliminary in vitro studies have indicated that the specific properties noted for hydrophilic titanium surfaces have a significant influence on cell differentiation and growth factor production. Animal experiments have pointed out that hydrophilic surfaces improve early stages of soft tissue and hard tissue integration of either nonsubmerged or submerged titanium implants. This data was also corroborated by the results from preliminary clinical studies. In conclusion, the present review has pointed to a potential of hydrophilic surface modifications to support tissue integration of titanium dental implants. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
ANTHROPOMETRIC TRENDS IN SOUTHERN CHINA, 1830–1864
2008-10-06

Anthropometric indicators can shed light on the ‘Great Divergence’ debate on the timing of the welfare development in China and Europe. We mobilise two new datasets of some 13,000 Southern Chinese contract migrants who were sent to Suriname and Indonesia, and thus supplement the limited existing evidence on early to mid‐nineteenth century China. The Southern Chinese were about as tall as Southern Europeans during the early and mid‐nineteenth century, but notably shorter than Northwestern Europeans. Height development was stagnant or slightly downward over the period studied, which fits into the pattern of real wage developments at that time.
Implications of bevacizumab on vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in human choroidal neovascularisation
2008-10-06

Aim: To evaluate the implications of intravitreal bevacizumab on proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with regard to the endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin in human choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Retrospective review of an interventional case series of 48 patients who underwent full macular translocation surgery with removal of CNV. Twenty-five patients were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injection 1 to 154 days prior to surgery (bevacizumab CNV). Twenty-three CNV without any kind of previous treatment were used as controls (control CNV). CNV were stained for CD34, cytokeratin18, VEGF, endostatin and E-selectin. A “predominance score of VEGF over endostatin” (PS) was defined by the difference between VEGF and endostatin staining scores. Results: Bevacizumab CNV revealed a weaker VEGF expression in endothelial cells (p = 0.0245) but significantly more intense endostatin in retina pigment epithelium (RPE) (p = 0.0001) and stroma (p&lt;0.0001). Consequently, PS was significantly lower in RPE (p = 0.02), vessels (p = 0.03) and stroma (p = 0.0004) in bevacizumab CNV. The intensity of E-selectin expression in bevacizumab CNV was comparable with that in control CNV. Conclusions: A shift within the angiogenic balance in terms of decreased VEGF predominance over endostatin is detected in human CNV treated with bevacizumab.
Linearly approximatable functions
2008-10-06

The notion of uniform linear approximatability generalizes that of being continuously differentiable. It occurs, e.g., in viscosity solutions of some degenerate partial differential equations. We establish the Hölder continuity of uniformly linearly approximatable functions, and we show that functions which are nowhere linearly approximatable form a residual collection of the appropriate Hölder space. Finally, we prove an analog of the implicit function theorem applied to level sets.