julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
11-Keto-β-Boswellic Acids Prevent Development of Autoimmune Reactions, Insulitis and Reduce Hyperglycemia During Induction of Multiple Low-Dose Streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) Diabetes in Mice
2015-05-07

The aim of the work was to study whether or not 11-keto-β-boswellic acids prevent induction of autoimmune reactions, insulitis, and hyperglycemia in the model of multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ) diabetes. Using male mice (n = 6) diabetes was induced by daily i.p. injections of 40 mg/kg STZ for 5 days. In a second series together with STZ, daily i. p. injections of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) and O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) (7.5 and 15.0 mg/kg) were applied for 10 days. Thereafter, pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood, histochemistry of pancreatic islets, and blood glucose levels were assayed. Five days after the last injection of STZ, a significant burst of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood, infiltration of lymphocytes (CD3) into pancreatic islets, and appearance of peri-insular apoptotic cells were observed. Plasma glucose increased significantly (124.4 ± 6.65 vs. 240.2 ± 27.36 mg/dl, p <0.05). Simultaneous treatment with KBA and AKBA significantly reduced pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ p < 0.01, p < 0.01; IL-1A p < 0.001, p < 0.001; IL-1B p < 0.001, p < 0.001; IL-2 p < 0.001, p < 0.001; IL-6 p < 0.01, p < 0.001; TNF-α p < 0.05, p < 0.001; IL-4 p < 0.01, p < 0.001; IL-10 p < 0.001, p < 0.001) in the blood. No infiltration of lymphocytes into pancreatic islets and appearance of peri-insular cells were detected. Moreover, KBA and AKBA reduced STZ-mediated increase of blood glucose on day 10 to 163.25 ± 16.6 (p < 0.05) and 187.6 ± 19.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05), respectively. In the model of MLD-STZ induced diabetes KBA and AKBA prevent cytokine burst, development of insulitis and reduce increase of blood glucose through "silencing" a forced-up immune reaction.
Molecular Diagnosis of Abdominal Armillifer grandis Pentastomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo
2015-05-07

ABSTRACT Pentastomiasis is an emerging snake-borne parasitic zoonosis in the tropics. We describe a molecular and morphological study to diagnose a cluster of asymptomatic abdominal human infections caused by Armillifer grandis. The findings may indicate a silent epidemic in a rural area where severe symptomatic ocular cases with the same parasite species have recently surfaced. Molecular diagnostics are of increasing importance when patient material from remote areas cannot be thoroughly examined locally for logistic reasons.
Doing Fieldwork in Eastern Europe: Introduction
2015-05-07

Anthropological research in the formerly socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe is still widely equated with witnessing change and reconfiguring the mental map of Europe. Since the late 1980s the terra incognita that lay behind the former Iron Curtain has become a Promised Land that ‘created new opportunities both for established scholars and for a new generation of fieldworkers’ (Hann 2002:2, see also Sideri this issue). However, many of the questions concerning the relationship between political change, socio-economic upheaval and cultural transformation following the collapse of socialism are left unanswered or have become obsolete during the past decade.
Chemical Safety Assessment Using Read-Across: Assessing the Use of Novel Testing Methods to Strengthen the Evidence Base for Decision Making
2015-05-08

We agreed to carry out the complete read-across exercise for at least one chemical category per read-across scenario in the context of SEURAT-1, and the results of this exercise will be completed and presented by the end of the research initiative in December 2015.
Identifying the Active Oxygen Species in SnO2 Based Gas Sensing Materials: An Operando IR Spectrsocopy Study
2015-05-08

This work demonstrates that it is possible to follow the surface chemistry of oxygen on SnO2 based gas sensing materials using operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The inherent difficulties, due to the intrinsic properties of the studied oxide and the limitations of the method, were overcome by comparing the results obtained for two different materials and by use of isotopically labeled gases together with the simultaneous measurement of the sensor signals. In spite of the differences in the surface composition and reactivity between the different materials, the experimental results show that the reactive oxygen species are similar in nature and the gas recognition takes place by the interplay of surface reduction and (re)oxidation.
Ovarian reserve alterations in premenopausal women with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases: impact of rheumatoid arthritis, Behçet’s disease and spondyloarthritis on anti-Müllerian hormone levels: Fig. 1
2015-05-08

This is the first study to show a reduced ovarian reserve in patients with RA, SpA or BD. Together with our findings in SLE, we conclude a negative influence of chronic rheumatic diseases on ovarian reserve.
Latent semantic analysis cosines as a cognitive similarity measure: Evidence from priming studies
2015-05-08

In distributional semantics models (DSMs) such as latent semantic analysis (LSA), words are represented as vectors in a high-dimensional vector space. This allows for computing word similarities as the cosine of the angle between two such vectors. In two experiments, we investigated whether LSA cosine similarities predict priming effects, in that higher cosine similarities are associated with shorter reaction times (RTs). Critically, we applied a pseudo-random procedure in generating the item material to ensure that we directly manipulated LSA cosines as an independent variable. We employed two lexical priming experiments with lexical decision tasks (LDTs). In Experiment 1 we presented participants with 200 different prime words, each paired with one unique target. We found a significant effect of cosine similarities on RTs. The same was true for Experiment 2, where we reversed the prime-target order (primes of Experiment 1 were targets in Experiment 2, and vice versa). The results of these experiments confirm that LSA cosine similarities can predict priming effects, supporting the view that they are psychologically relevant. The present study thereby provides evidence for qualifying LSA cosine similarities not only as a linguistic measure, but also as a cognitive similarity measure. However, it is also shown that other DSMs can outperform LSA as a predictor of priming effects.
ACTH after 15 min distinguishes between Cushing's disease and ectopic Cushing's syndrome: a proposal for a short and simple CRH test
2015-05-08

Objective The aim of the present study was to validate criteria of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation and 8 mg dexamethasone suppression (high-dose dexamethasone suppression, HDDS) to distinguish the etiology of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Subjects and methods We retrospectively analyzed cortisol and ACTH after the injection of 100 μg human CRH in confirmed Cushing's disease (CD, n =78) and confirmed ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS, n =18). Cortisol and ACTH increase (in percentage above basal (% B )) at each time point, maximal increase (Δmax % B ), and area under the curve (AUC % B ) were analyzed using receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve analyses. Cortisol suppression (% B ) after 8 mg of dexamethasone was evaluated as a supplementary criterion. Results An increase in ACTH of ≥43% B at 15 min after CRH was the strongest predictor of CD, with a positive likelihood ratio of 14.0, a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 98% and a negative predictive value of 58%. All of the other criteria of stimulated ACTH and cortisol levels were not superior in predicting CD in response to CRH injection. The addition of cortisol suppression by dexamethasone did not increase the discriminatory power. However, the combination of a positive ACTH response at 15 min and a positive HDDS test excluded ECS in all cases. Conclusion The present findings support the use of plasma ACTH levels 15 min after the injection of human CRH as a response criterion for distinguishing between CD and ECS. The addition of the HDDS test is helpful for excluding ECS when both tests are positive.
A Fresh Look on T-Box Factor Action in Early Embryogenesis (T-Box Factors in Early Development)
2015-05-08

T-Box transcription factors are expressed throughout the gestational period and coordinate a variety of embryonic events that enable proper development, from the first differentiation of embryonic and extraembryonic tissues until final organogenesis. Although the T-Box gene family comprises essential roles in early cellular differentiation, in adult tissues it has also been associated with cancer development. In spite of their common T-Box regulatory binding domain, T-Box family members utilize different cofactors and different spatiotemporal expression patterns to confer their specificity in diverse developmental processes. The earliest expression note of T-Box factors can be observed even before fertilization in primordial germ cells and just after zygotic gene activation (around the eight-cell blastomere stage). Thus, particularly the early stages of development are highly influenced by these key regulators in line with the notion that T-Box mutations lead to developmental disorders and even lethality. In this review, we summarize recently acquired findings on T-Box factors to provide a comprehensive overview on their role during early embryogenesis.
Induction of Suicidal Erythrocyte Death by Nelfinavir
2015-05-08

The HIV protease inhibitor, nelfinavir, primarily used for the treatment of HIV infections, has later been shown to be effective in various infectious diseases including malaria. Nelfinavir may trigger mitochondria-independent cell death. Erythrocytes may undergo eryptosis, a mitochondria-independent suicidal cell death characterized by cell shrinkage and phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Triggers of eryptosis include oxidative stress and increase of cytosolic Ca2+-activity ([Ca2+]i). During malaria, accelerated death of infected erythrocytes may decrease parasitemia and thus favorably influence the clinical course of the disease. In the present study, phosphatidylserine abundance at the cell surface was estimated from annexin V binding, cell volume from forward scatter, reactive oxidant species (ROS) from 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) fluorescence, and [Ca2+]i from Fluo3-fluorescence. A 48 h treatment of human erythrocytes with nelfinavir significantly increased the percentage of annexin-V-binding cells (≥5μg/mL), significantly decreased forward scatter (≥2.5μg/mL), significantly increased ROS abundance (10 μg/mL), and significantly increased [Ca2+]i (≥5 μg/mL). The up-regulation of annexin-V-binding following nelfinavir treatment was significantly blunted, but not abolished by either addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (1 mM) or removal of extracellular Ca2+. In conclusion, exposure of erythrocytes to nelfinavir induces oxidative stress and Ca2+ entry, thus leading to suicidal erythrocyte death characterized by erythrocyte shrinkage and erythrocyte membrane scrambling.
Properties and observability of glitches and anti-glitches in accreting pulsars
2015-05-09

Several glitches have been observed in young, isolated radio pulsars, while a\\nclear detection in accretion-powered X-ray pulsars is still lacking. We use the\\nPizzochero snowplow model for pulsar glitches as well as starquake models to\\ndetermine for the first time the expected properties of glitches in accreting\\npulsars and their observability. Since some accreting pulsars show\\naccretion-induced long-term spin-up, we also investigate the possibility that\\nanti-glitches occur in these stars. We find that glitches caused by quakes in a\\nslow accreting neutron star are very rare and their detection extremely\\nunlikely. On the contrary, glitches and anti-glitches caused by a transfer of\\nangular momentum between the superfluid neutron vortices and the non-superfluid\\ncomponent may take place in accreting pulsars more often. We calculate the\\nmaximum jump in angular velocity of an anti-glitch and we find that it is\\nexpected to be about 1E-5 - 1E-4 rad/s. We also note that since accreting\\npulsars usually have rotational angular velocities lower than those of isolated\\nglitching pulsars, both glitches and anti-glitches are expected to have long\\nrise and recovery timescales compared to isolated glitching pulsars, with\\nglitches and anti-glitches appearing as a simple step in angular velocity.\\nAmong accreting pulsars, we find that GX 1+4 is the best candidate for the\\ndetection of glitches with currently operating X-ray instruments and future\\nmissions such as the proposed Large Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT).\\n
Generation of TCR-Engineered T Cells and Their Use To Control the Performance of T Cell Assays
2015-05-09

Abstract The systematic assessment of the human immune system bears huge potential to guide rational development of novel immunotherapies and clinical decision making. Multiple assays to monitor the quantity, phenotype, and function of Ag-specific T cells are commonly used to unravel patients’ immune signatures in various disease settings and during therapeutic interventions. When compared with tests measuring soluble analytes, cellular immune assays have a higher variation, which is a major technical factor limiting their broad adoption in clinical immunology. The key solution may arise from continuous control of assay performance using TCR-engineered reference samples. We developed a simple, stable, robust, and scalable technology to generate reference samples that contain defined numbers of functional Ag-specific T cells. First, we show that RNA-engineered lymphocytes, equipped with selected TCRs, can repetitively deliver functional readouts of a controlled size across multiple assay platforms. We further describe a concept for the application of TCR-engineered reference samples to keep assay performance within or across institutions under tight control. Finally, we provide evidence that these novel control reagents can sensitively detect assay variation resulting from typical sources of error, such as low cell quality, loss of reagent stability, suboptimal hardware settings, or inaccurate gating.
Taraxastane-type triterpene saponins isolated from Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd.
2015-05-09

Abstract Two new taraxastane-type triterpene saponins, named pittangretosides L ( 1 ) and C 1 ( 2 ), were isolated from the leaves of Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. Their structures were established by NMR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and chemical means. The in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated against four cell lines. The compounds exhibited no cytotoxic activity up to a concentration of 130 μ m .
Observing electron spin resonance between 0.1 and 67 GHz at temperatures between 50 mK and 300 K using broadband metallic coplanar waveguides
2015-05-11

We describe a fully broadband approach for electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments, where it is possible to tune not only the magnetic field but also the frequency continuously over wide ranges. Here, a metallic coplanar transmission line acts as compact and versatile microwave probe that can easily be implemented in different cryogenic setups. We perform ESR measurements at frequencies between 0.1 and 67 GHz and at temperatures between 50 mK and room temperature. Three different types of samples (Cr3+ ions in ruby, organic radicals of the nitronyl-nitroxide family, and the doped semiconductor Si:P) represent different possible fields of application for the technique. We demonstrate that an extremely large phase space in temperature, magnetic field, and frequency for ESR measurements, substantially exceeding the range of conventional ESR setups, is accessible with metallic coplanar lines.
Do Himalayan treelines respond to recent climate change? An evaluation of sensitivity indicators
2015-05-12

Abstract. Climate warming is expected to induce treelines to advance to higher elevations. Empirical studies in diverse mountain ranges, however, give evidence of both advancing alpine treelines and rather insignificant responses. The inconsistency of findings suggests distinct differences in the sensitivity of global treelines to recent climate change. It is still unclear where Himalayan treeline ecotones are located along the response gradient from rapid dynamics to apparently complete inertia. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding sensitivity and response of Himalayan treelines to climate warming, based on extensive field observations, published results in the widely scattered literature, and novel data from ongoing research of the present authors. Several sensitivity indicators such as treeline type, treeline form, seed-based regeneration, and growth patterns are evaluated. Since most Himalayan treelines are anthropogenically depressed, observed advances are largely the result of land use change. Near-natural treelines are usually krummholz treelines, which are relatively unresponsive to climate change. Nevertheless, intense recruitment of treeline trees suggests a great potential for future treeline advance. Competitive abilities of seedlings within krummholz thickets and dwarf scrub heaths will be a major source of variation in treeline dynamics. Tree growth–climate relationships show mature treeline trees to be responsive to temperature change, in particular in winter and pre-monsoon seasons. High pre-monsoon temperature trends will most likely drive tree growth performance in the western and central Himalaya. Ecological niche modelling suggests that bioclimatic conditions for a range expansion of treeline trees will be created during coming decades.
Planctomycetes do possess a peptidoglycan cell wall
2015-05-12

Abstract Most bacteria contain a peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall, which is critical for maintenance of shape and important for cell division. In contrast, Planctomycetes have been proposed to produce a proteinaceous cell wall devoid of PG. The apparent absence of PG has been used as an argument for the putative planctomycetal ancestry of all bacterial lineages. Here we show, employing multiple bioinformatic methods, that planctomycetal genomes encode proteins required for PG synthesis. Furthermore, we biochemically demonstrate the presence of the sugar and the peptide components of PG in Planctomycetes. In addition, light and electron microscopic experiments reveal planctomycetal PG sacculi that are susceptible to lysozyme treatment. Finally, cryo-electron tomography demonstrates that Planctomycetes possess a typical PG cell wall and that their cellular architecture is thus more similar to that of other Gram-negative bacteria. Our findings shed new light on the cellular architecture and cell division of the maverick Planctomycetes.
The Prognostic and Predictive Value of Melanoma-related MicroRNAs Using Tissue and Serum: A MicroRNA Expression Analysis
2015-05-12

The overall 5-year survival for melanoma is 91%. However, if distant metastasis occurs (stage IV), cure rates are < 15%. Hence, melanoma detection in earlier stages (stages I-III) maximises the chances of patient survival. We measured the expression of a panel of 17 microRNAs (miRNAs) (MELmiR-17) in melanoma tissues (stage III; n = 76 and IV; n = 10) and serum samples (collected from controls with no melanoma, n = 130; and patients with melanoma (stages I/II, n = 86; III, n = 50; and IV, n = 119)) obtained from biobanks in Australia and Germany. In melanoma tissues, members of the 'MELmiR-17' panel were found to be predictors of stage, recurrence, and survival. Additionally, in a minimally-invasive blood test, a seven-miRNA panel (MELmiR-7) detected the presence of melanoma (relative to controls) with high sensitivity (93%) and specificity (≥ 82%) when ≥ 4 miRNAs were expressed. Moreover, the 'MELmiR-7' panel characterised overall survival of melanoma patients better than both serum LDH and S100B (delta log likelihood = 11, p < 0.001). This panel was found to be superior to currently used serological markers for melanoma progression, recurrence, and survival; and would be ideally suited to monitor tumour progression in patients diagnosed with early metastatic disease (stages IIIa-c/IV M1a-b) to detect relapse following surgical or adjuvant treatment.
The Brain Response to Peripheral Insulin Declines with Age: A Contribution of the Blood-Brain Barrier?
2015-05-12

This study discloses age-dependent changes in insulin CSF/serum ratios in humans. In the elderly, cerebral insulin resistance might be partially attributed to an impaired transport of insulin into the central nervous system.
Live imaging of endogenous protein dynamics in zebrafish using chromobodies
2015-05-12

Chromobodies are intracellular nanoprobes that combine the specificity of antibodies with the convenience of live fluorescence imaging in a flexible, DNA-encoded reagent. Here, we present the first application of this technique to an intact living vertebrate organism. We generated zebrafish lines expressing chromobodies that trace the major cytoskeletal component actin and the cell cycle marker PCNA with spatial and temporal specificity. Using these chromobodies, we captured full localization dynamics of the endogenous antigens in different cell types and at different stages of development. For the first time, the chromobody technology enables live imaging of endogenous subcellular structures in an animal, with the remarkable advantage of avoiding target protein overexpression or tagging. In combination with improved chromobody selection systems, we anticipate a rapid adaptation of this technique to new intracellular antigens and model organisms, allowing the faithful description of cellular and molecular processes in their dynamic state.
Sleep smartâ€”optimizing sleep for declarative learning and memory
2015-05-12

The last decade has witnessed a spurt of new publications documenting sleep's essential contribution to the brains ability to form lasting memories. For the declarative memory domain, slow wave sleep (the deepest sleep stage) has the greatest beneficial effect on the consolidation of memories acquired during preceding wakefulness. The finding that newly encoded memories become reactivated during subsequent sleep fostered the idea that reactivation leads to the strengthening and transformation of the memory trace. According to the active system consolidation account, trace reactivation leads to the redistribution of the transient memory representations from the hippocampus to the long-lasting knowledge networks of the cortex. Apart from consolidating previously learned information, sleep also facilitates the encoding of new memories after sleep, which probably relies on the renormalization of synaptic weights during sleep as suggested by the synaptic homeostasis theory. During wakefulness overshooting potentiation causes an imbalance in synaptic weights that is countered by synaptic downscaling during subsequent sleep. This review briefly introduces the basic concepts and central findings of the research on sleep and memory, and discusses implications of this lab-based work for everyday applications to make the best possible use of sleep's beneficial effect on learning and memory.