julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Stress tolerance abilities and competitive responses in a watering and fertilization field experiment
2005-02-24

Abstract Question: Do water gradients produce patterns of responses to stress and competition similar to those induced by nutrient gradients? Location: French Alps. Methods: We established a split‐plot design in a calcareous grassland, with watering and fertilization as main plot treatments and competition as subplot treatment. We followed individual and competitive responses of transplants of the three potential dominant grass species: Bromus erectus, Brachypodium rupestre and Arrhenatherum elatius , in all plots during two growing seasons. Changes in natural relative abundances of the three grass species were also monitored. Results: The growth and the relative abundance of A. elatius were primarily stimulated by nutrient addition and those of B. rupestre by water addition, whereas B. erectus decreased in abundance and had a very low flexibility with enhanced resource supply. Competition intensity increased for all species with both watering and fertilization and the ranking in competitive responses did not change with treatments: A. elatius &gt; B. rupestre &gt; B. erectus. Conclusions: Patterns of dominance were efficiently explained by stress tolerance abilities and competitive responses for dry and poor sites, and wet and rich sites for B. erectus and A. elatius respectively, whereas competitive responses were poor predictors of dominance for B. rupestre in wet and nutrient‐poor sites. Further studies are needed to assess the potential role of other processes, such as increasing competitive effect on light with increasing age as well as interference, to explain the dominance of this conservative competitor type of species in wet and nutrient‐poor sites.
Design of π-Conjugated Organic Materials for One-Dimensional Energy Transport in Nanochannels
2005-02-24

Various end-substituted distyrylbenzenes have been synthesized to serve as guest molecules in inclusion compounds to promote efficient energy transport along one-dimensional channels. Their optical and photophysical properties have been characterized at both experimental and theoretical levels. All molecules display a large transition dipole moment between the ground state and lowest excited state and hence a short radiative lifetime (on the order of 1-2 ns). They also exhibit a large spectral overlap between the emission and absorption spectra, which enables efficient energy transport between molecules arranged in a head-to-tail configuration in nanochannels. Hopping rates on the order of 10(12) s(-1) are calculated at a full quantum-chemical level; this is much larger than the radiative lifetimes and opens the way for energy migration over large distances. Changes in the nature of the terminal substituents are found to modulate the optical properties weakly but to impact significantly the energy transfer rates.
Proteomic Identification of the Involvement of the Mitochondrial Rieske Protein in Epilepsy
2005-02-24

Summary: Purpose: Kindled seizures are widely used to model epileptogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the attainment of kindling status are largely unknown. Recently we showed that achievement of kindling status in the Sprague–Dawley rat is associated with a critical developmental interval of 25 ± 1 days; the identification of this long, well‐defined developmental interval for inducing kindling status makes possible a dissection of the cellular and genetic events underlying this phenomenon and its relation to normal and pathologic brain function. Methods: By using proteomics on cerebral tissue from our new rat kindling model, we undertook a global analysis of protein expression in kindled animals. Some of the identified proteins were further investigated by using immunohistochemistry. Results: We report the identification of a modified variant of the Rieske iron‐sulfur protein, a component of the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex, whose isoelectric point is shifted toward more alkaline values in the hippocampus of kindled rats. By immunohistochemistry, the Rieske protein is well expressed in the hippocampus, except in the CA1 subfield, an area of selective vulnerability to seizures in humans and animal models. We also noted an asymmetric, selective expression of the Rieske protein in the subgranular neurons of the dorsal dentate gyrus, a region implicated in neurogenesis. Conclusions: These results indicate that the Rieske protein may play a role in the response of neurons to seizure activity and could give important new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of epilepsy.
Differentiation and development of human female germ cells during prenatal gonadogenesis: an immunohistochemical study
2005-02-25

Immunohistochemically, two groups of germ cells can be distinguished. Germ cells that are predominantly found in the cortical region of the ovary before weeks 22-24 of gestation, showing an immature phenotype, are mitotically active, and express OCT3/4, a marker of pluripotency. On the other hand, germ cells undergoing folliculogenesis have lost their pluripotent potential and no longer proliferate.
Determinants of Life Satisfaction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
2005-02-25

To improve GLS and HRLS in inflammatory bowel disease, both the treatment of bowel disease and medical and psychiatric comorbidity are necessary. Strengthening of social support is an additional way to promote GLS.
Evidence for major structural changes in subunit C of the vacuolar ATPase due to nucleotide binding
2005-02-25

The ability of subunit C of eukaryotic V‐ATPases to bind ADP and ATP is demonstrated by photoaffinity labeling and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Quantitation of the photoaffinity and the FCS data indicate that the ATP‐analogues bind more weakly to subunit C than the ADP‐analogues. Site‐directed mutagenesis and N‐terminal sequencing of subunit C from Arabidopsis (VHA‐C) and yeast (Vma5p) have been used to map the C‐terminal region of subunit C as the nucleotide‐binding site. Tryptophan fluorescence quenching and decreased susceptibility to tryptic digestion of subunit C after binding of different nucleotides provides evidence for structural changes in this subunit caused by nucleotide‐binding.
Cytotoxic minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1–specific CD8+ effector memory T cells: artificial APCs pave the way for clinical application by potent primary in vitro induction
2005-02-25

Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for treatment of relapsed leukemia after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation is hindered by the laborious and time-consuming procedure of generating dendritic cells for antigen presentation. Artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) offer the advantage of being readily available in sufficient numbers, thus allowing for a highly standardized in vitro induction of CTLs. We generated aAPCs coated with anti-CD28 antibody (Ab) and either high-density (HD) or low-density (LD) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules loaded with HA-1H, a nonapeptide derived from the hematopoiesis-restricted minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1. HD- and LD-aAPCs potently induced HA-1H–specific CD8+ CTLs from untouched CD8+ T cells of healthy donors. CTLs were subsequently purified by magnetic-activated cell sorting. HD- as well as LD-aAPC–induced CTLs exerted high HA-1H–specific cytotoxicity, resembled Tc1 effector memory cells, survived a long time in vitro, and were expanded by a factor varying between 8.2 × 104 and 51 × 104. The T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of HA-1H tetramer–positive CTLs was oligoclonal with a prominent usage of Vβ6. The TCR repertoire of tetramer-positive CTLs was distinct from and more restricted than that of tetramer-negative cells. These findings indicate that aAPCs are attractive tools for the ex vivo generation of HA-1H–specific CTLs suitable for immunotherapy of relapsed leukemia.
Electron-positron annihilation into hadron-antihadron pairs
2005-02-25

The reactions of electron-positron to nucleon-antinucleon pairs are studied in a non-perturbative quark model. The work suggests that the two-step process, in which the primary quark-antiquark pair forms first a vector meson which in turn decays into a hadron pair, is dominant over the one-step process in which the primary quark-antiquark pair is directly dressed by additional quark-antiquark pairs to form a hadron pair. To reproduce the experimental data of the reactions of electron-positron to proton-antiproton and electron-positron to neutron-antineutron a D-wave omega-like vector meson with a mass of around 2 GeV has to be introduced.
Time needed for data collection in clinical studies on fixed prosthodontics.
2005-02-25

The overall time for collection and documentation of retrievable data is considerable (about 30 minutes, up to 1 hour). The data provide an empirical base for sound managing and budgeting of follow-up periods in clinical investigations, which is of major importance for the quality of clinical data, and thus for the success and value of clinical investigations.
Spontaneous Formation of Nucleic Acid-based Nanoparticles Is Responsible for High Interferon-α Induction by CpG-A in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
2005-02-26

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) represent a highly specialized immune cell subset that produces large quantities of the anti-viral cytokines type I interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) upon viral infection. PDC employ a member of the family of toll-like receptors, TLR9, to detect CpG motifs (unmethylated CG dinucleotides in certain base context) present in viral DNA. A certain group of CpG motif-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN), CpG-A, was the first synthetic stimulus available that induced large amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in PDC. However, the mechanism responsible for this activity remained elusive. CpG-A is characterized by a central palindrome and poly(G) at the 5' and 3' end. Here we demonstrate that CpG-A self-assembles to higher order tertiary structures via G-tetrad formation of their poly(G) motifs. Spontaneous G-tetrad formation of CpG-A required the palindrome sequence allowing structure formation in a physiological environment. Once formed, G-tetrad-linked structures were stable even under denaturing conditions. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the tertiary structures formed by CpG-A represent nucleic acid-based nanoparticles in the size range of viruses. Similarly sized preformed polystyrene nanoparticles loaded with a CpG ODN that is otherwise weak at inducing IFN-alpha (CpG-B) gained the potency of CpG-A to induce IFN-alpha. Higher ODN uptake in PDC was not responsible for the higher IFN-alpha-inducing activity of CpG-A or of CpG-B-coated nanoparticles as compared with CpG-B. Based on these results we propose a model in which the spatial configuration of CpG motifs as particle is responsible for the virus-like potency of CpG-A to induce IFN-alpha in PDC.
A Meta-analytic Review of the Efficacy of Drug Treatment in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
2005-02-28

A meta-analytic review of the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in generalized anxiety disorder was conducted. The main substance classes were compared: benzodiazepines and azapirones. The impact of methodological variables was investigated such as sample size and use of a placebo run-in. After a comprehensive literature search to May 2002 (via databases, hand search, secondary sources, internet, contact of researchers, and pharmaceutical companies), the results of 48 studies were integrated. Weighted Hedges g was computed and a random-effects analysis was done. Effect sizes were computed for anxiety, depression, and clinical significance. Sensitivity analyses were conducted. Pharmacotherapy was superior to placebo in all symptom categories. Azapirones and benzodiazepines were equally effective. Compliance (as measured by dropout rate) was higher for benzodiazepines. Only sample size was significantly associated with effect size. Pharmacotherapy, especially benzodiazepines and azapirones, is effective in the short-term treatment of patients with generalized anxiety disorder. There was no superiority of 1 drug class in reducing symptomatology.
Combined endostatin/sFlt‐1 antiangiogenic gene therapy is highly effective in a rat model of HCC†
2005-02-28

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as a suitable target for antiangiogenic strategies. However, antiangiogenic agents aimed at single targets can be neutralized by upregulation of other proangiogenic factors. Therefore, combined approaches addressing at least two angiogenic targets should be more effective. Employing an appropriate rat hepatoma model, we examined the effects of sFlt-1 (soluble vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptor 1 as an indirect inhibitor of angiogenesis) and endostatin (a direct inhibitor of angiogenesis) in both single-agent as well as combined approaches under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Similar to human HCC, rat Morris hepatoma (MH) cells secreted high levels of VEGF, but no endogenous sFlt-1. Parental MH or MHES(r) cells, stably expressing rat endostatin, were adenovirally transduced either with AdsFlt-1 (encoding sFlt-1) or control vector Adnull (containing no transgene), followed by subcutaneous inoculation into syngeneic ACI rats. Compared with MH/Adnull cells, expressing no antiangiogenic factors at all, tumor weights were reduced fourfold in the MHES(r)/Adnull group, 19-fold in the MH/AdsFlt-1-group, and 77-fold in the MHES(r)/AdsFlt-1 combination therapy group. Analysis of variance did not show a significant interaction between the effects of the two factors ES(r) and sFlt-1; their effects multiplied. In conclusion, combined expression of sFlt-1 and endostatin effectively suppresses HCC growth under in vivo conditions. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html). (HEPATOLOGY 2005.)
Organization of tectopontine terminals within the pontine nuclei of the rat and their spatial relationship to terminals from the visual and somatosensory cortex
2005-02-28

We investigated the spatial relationship of axonal and dendritic structures in the rat pontine nuclei (PN), which transfer visual signals from the superior colliculus (SC) and visual cortex (A17) to the cerebellum. Double anterograde tracing (DiI and DiAsp) from different sites in the SC showed that the tectal retinotopy of visual signals is largely lost in the PN. Whereas axon terminals from lateral sites in the SC were confined to a single terminal field close to the cerebral peduncle, medial sites in the SC projected to an additional dorsolateral one. On the other hand, axon terminals originating from the two structures occupy close but, nevertheless, totally nonoverlapping terminal fields within the PN. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of the dendritic trees of intracellularly filled identified pontine projection neurons showed that the dendritic fields were confined to either the SC or the A17 terminal fields and never extended into both. We also investigated the projections carrying cortical somatosensory inputs to the PN as these signals are known to converge with tectal ones in the cerebellum. However, terminals originating in the whisker representation of the primary somatosensory cortex and in the SC were located in segregated pontine compartments as well. Our results, therefore, point to a possible pontocerebellar mapping rule: Functionally related signals, commonly destined for common cerebellar target zones but residing in different afferent locations, may be kept segregated on the level of the PN and converge only later at specific sites in the granular layer of cerebellar cortex.
Collision Detection for Deformable Objects
2005-03-01

Abstract Interactive environments for dynamically deforming objects play an important role in surgery simulation and entertainment technology. These environments require fast deformable models and very efficient collision handling techniques. While collision detection for rigid bodies is well investigated, collision detection for deformable objects introduces additional challenging problems. This paper focuses on these aspects and summarizes recent research in the area of deformable collision detection. Various approaches based on bounding volume hierarchies, distance fields and spatial partitioning are discussed. In addition, image‐space techniques and stochastic methods are considered. Applications in cloth modeling and surgical simulation are presented.
Concurrent detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia by flow cytometry and real‐time PCR
2005-03-01

Summary Minimal (i.e. submicroscopic) residual disease (MRD) predicts outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). To be used clinically, MRD assays must be reliable and accurate. Two well‐established techniques, flow cytometry (FC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), can detect leukaemic cells with a sensitivity of 0·01% (10 −4 ). We analysed diagnostic samples of 45 ALL‐patients (37 B‐lineage ALL, eight T‐lineage ALL) by four‐colour FC and real‐time PCR. Leukaemia‐associated immunophenotypes, at a sensitivity of MRD detection by FC at the 0·01% level, were identified in 41 cases (91%); antigen‐receptor gene rearrangements suitable for MRD detection with a sensitivity of 0·01% or better by PCR were identified in 38 cases (84%). The combined use of FC and PCR allowed MRD monitoring in all 45 patients. In 105 follow‐up samples, MRD estimates by both methods were highly concordant, with a deviation factor of &lt;5 by Bland–Altman analysis. Importantly, the concordance between FC and PCR was also observed in regenerating bone marrow samples containing high proportions of CD19 + cells, and in samples studied 24 h after collection. We conclude that both MRD assays yield generally concordant results. Their combined use should enable MRD monitoring in virtually all patients and prevent false‐negative results due to clonal evolution or phenotypic shifts.
Religion, Civilization, and Civil War: 1945 Through the New Millennium
2005-03-01

Religion, Civilization, and Civil War: 1945 Through the New Millennium. By Jonathan Fox. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2004. 312p. $75.00. Jonathan Fox's book makes a very important contribution to the ongoing debate on the impact of religion on domestic conflict. On the one hand, the author takes issue with Samuel Huntington's clash-of-civilizations thesis. As many others before him, Fox does not find much quantitative support for Huntington's bold expectations: We neither experience a major reorganization of international relations along civilizationally defined fault lines nor observe a significant increase in the number of violent disputes involving parties from different civilizations. On the other hand, he objects to those recent studies according to which the onset of civil wars is determined by political and economic factors, while religion is found to be largely irrelevant (see, for instance, James Fearon and David Laitin, “Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War,” American Political Science Review 97 [no. 1, 2003]: 75–90, or Errol Henderson and David J. Singer, “Civil War in the Post-Colonial World, 1946–92,” Journal of Peace Research 37 [no. 3, 2000]: 275–99). By using data both from the Minorities at Risk Project (MAR) and the State Failure Project (SF), Religion, Civilization, and Civil War provides strong evidence that religious identity—whether the conflict involves two groups who belong to different religions or to different denominations—and, even more so, religious grievances do influence conflict escalation. This can be best studied when the crude distinctions of Huntington are questioned and religious diversity within civilizations is recognized.
Cutting Edge: Priming of CTL by Transcutaneous Peptide Immunization with Imiquimod
2005-03-01

Abstract CTL are important in combating cancer and viruses. Therefore, triggering the complete potential of CTL effector functions by new vaccination strategies will not only improve prophylaxis of tumor or virus-related diseases, but also open opportunities for effective therapeutic immunizations. Using transcutaneous immunization, we show that epicutaneous (e.c.)4 application of an ointment containing a CTL epitope and the TLR7 ligand imiquimod is highly effective in activating T cells in mice using TCR-transgenic CTL or in wild-type mice. Transcutaneous immunization-activated CTL mount a full-blown immune response against the target epitope characterized by proliferation, cytolytic activity, and the production of IFN-γ that is completely restricted to the epitope used for vaccination. Our results obtained by simple e.c. application of an ointment, without further skin irritating procedures, provide the basis for the development of new, easy to use vaccines against cancer or virus-associated diseases.
The silver‐releasing foam dressing, Contreet Foam, promotes faster healing of critically colonised venous leg ulcers: a randomised, controlled trial
2005-03-01

Abstract The study compared the effect of a sustained silver‐release foam dressing (Contreet Foam) with a foam dressing (Allevyn Hydrocellular) without added silver in critically colonised venous leg ulcers with delayed healing. The study was a multicentre, open, randomised, controlled study lasting for 4 weeks. Ulcer area and healing were assessed weekly. Odour, maceration, absorption capacity and leakage were evaluated at dressing changes. All adverse events were recorded. One hundred and twenty‐nine patients were included (Contreet Foam: 65, Allevyn Hydrocellular: 64). The two groups were comparable in all respects. After 4 weeks, there was a significantly greater reduction in ulcer area in the Contreet Foam group (45%) than in the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (25%). After 1 and 4 weeks, odour was present in significantly less of the ulcers in the Contreet Foam group (17% and 19%, respectively) compared with the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (47% and 39%, respectively) and at the final visit there were significantly fewer leakages in the Contreet Foam group (19%) compared with the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (49%). Also, less maceration was observed after 1 and 4 weeks in the Contreet Foam group (34% and 37%, respectively) compared with the Allevyn Hydrocellular group (55% and 48%, respectively). The occurrence and cause of adverse events were equally distributed between the study groups. The present study provides evidence of the superior performance of the silver‐releasing dressing, Contreet Foam, compared with a traditional moist foam wound healing dressing in the treatment of critically colonised, chronic venous leg ulcers. The results of this randomised, controlled study suggest an important role of sustained silver‐releasing dressings in the treatment of critically colonised chronic wounds.