julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
A cerebral network model of speech prosody comprehension
2009-01-01

Comprehension of information conveyed by the tone of voice is highly important for successful social interactions (Grandjean et al., 2006). Based on lesion data, a superiority of the right hemisphere for cerebral processing of speech prosody has been assumed. According to an early neuroanatomical model, prosodic information is encoded within distinct right-sided perisylvian regions which are organized in complete analogy to the left-sided language areas (Ross, 1981). While the majority of lesion studies are in line with the assumption that the right temporal cortex is highly important for the comprehension of speech melody (Adolphs et al., 2001; Borod et al., 2002; Heilman et al., 1984), some studies indicate a widespread network of partially bilateral cerebral regions to contribute to prosody processing including the frontal cortex (Adolphs et al., 2002; Hornak et al., 2003; Rolls, 1999) and the basal ganglia (Cancellieve & Kertesz, 1990; Pell & Leonard, 2003). More recently, functional imaging experiments have helped to differentiate specific functions of distinct brain areas contributing to recognition of speech prosody (Ackermann et al., 2004; Schirmer & Kotz, 2006; Wildgruber et al., 2006). Observations in healthy subjects indicate a strong association of cerebral responses and acoustic voice properties in some regions (stimulus-driven effects), whereas other areas show modulation of activation linked to the focusing of attention to specific task components (task-dependent effects). Here we present a refined model of prosody processing and cross-modal integration of emotional signals from face and voice which differentiates successive steps of cerebral processing involving auditory analysis and multimodal integration of communicative signals within the temporal cortex and evaluative judgements within the frontal lobes.
Formation of pentacyclic structures by a domino sequence on cyclic enamides
2009-01-01

Novel spiropentacyclic compounds were obtained from cyclic enamides of type , featuring a (2-bromophenyl)propyl substituent in the 5-position, through a Pd-mediated domino sequence taking place via Heck insertion and C-H activation.
Vision tests in the mouse: Functional phenotyping with electroretinography
2009-01-01

Electroretinography (ERG) is an established diagnostic technique in clinical ophthalmology and provides objective information about retinal function. This technique is also applied in basic research, where animal models of hereditary retinopathies have significantly contributed to our understanding of the composition of ERG responses in general and how retinal degenerative pathologies alter retinal function specifically. Indeed, electrophysiologic assessment of transgenic mice, which are genetically engineered to mimic human mutations that lead to retinal diseases, can be well compared with clinical data. Furthermore, limitations on examinations (e.g. length of measurement, range of light intensity) are much less of a concern when assessing mice compared to human patients. In order to measure and analyze retinal responses properly, several important aspects have to be considered. This paper focuses on these aspects, and shows exemplary ERG data which were obtained from normal wild-type mice and from transgenic mice with specific functional properties, namely Rho-/- (rod opsin knockout, cone function only), and Cnga3-/- (cone CNG channel deficient, rod function only) to illustrate rod and cone system contributions to ERG responses.
Medical education in Germany
2009-01-01

Following the changes made to the medical licensing regulations of 2002, medical education in Germany has been subject to radical modification, especially at undergraduate level. The implementation of the Bologna Process is still a matter of intense political debate, whilst positive movement has occurred in developing the professionalisation of teaching staff through a Masters Degree in Medical Education. In the area of postgraduate medical education, major restructuring of programmes is occurring, whilst the debate in continuing medical education is related to the amount of practical clinical education that is required.
Ergonomic deficiencies in the operating room: Examples from minimally invasive surgery
2009-01-01

The importance of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has constantly increased in the last 20 years. Laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder has become the gold standard with advantages for patients. However, in laparoscopy, the surgeon loses direct contact with the surgical site. Rather than seeing the entire surgical field including adjacent organs, the surgeon's vision is restricted by an optic and camera system. Pictures of the surgical site in the abdomen are presented on a monitor. Hand eye coordination is decreasing because the operating team is not able to position the monitor at an ergonomically preferable position given that operation tables, constructed for open surgery where surgeons use short instruments, are too high for laparoscopic procedures where surgeons use long-shafted instruments. Additionally the degrees of freedom for camera movements and the instruments are limited, tactile feedback given in open surgery is lost. The typical design of instrument handles leads to pressure areas and nerve lesions. All these aspects force the surgeon into unnatural and uncomfortable body postures that can affect the outcome of the operation. An ideal posture for laparoscopic surgeons is described and ergonomic requirements for an optimal height of operation tables, monitor positions and man-machine interfaces are discussed.
Experimental Analysis of Sample-Based Maps for Long-Term SLAM
2009-01-01

This paper presents a system for long-term SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) by mobile service robots and its experimental evaluation in a real dynamic environment. To deal with the stability-plasticity dilemma (the trade-off between adaptation to new patterns and preservation of old patterns), the environment is represented by multiple timescales simultaneously (five in our experiments). A sample-based representation is proposed, where older memories fade at different rates depending on the timescale and robust statistics are used to interpret the samples. The dynamics of this representation are analyzed in a five-week experiment, measuring the relative influence of short- and long-term memories over time and further demonstrating the robustness of the approach.
Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Amitriptyline in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
2009-01-01

Amitriptyline, a blocker of acid sphingomyelinase and acid ceramidase, significantly reduces Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) mice with concurrent increase of survival. Our aim was to establish whether amitriptyline is safe and effective in the treatment of CF patients. In a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study, 4 adult CF patients received 37.5 mg of amitriptyline or placebo twice daily for 14 days. Subsequently in a phase II study 19 adult CF patients were randomly allocated to three treatment groups receiving amitriptyline once daily for 28 days at doses of 25 mg (n=7), 50 mg (n=8), or 75 mg (n=8) or placebo (n=13). The primary outcome was the difference of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) at day 14 between amitriptyline and placebo. Primary endpoint measures improved significantly in three of four patients in the pilot study after amitriptyline treatment vs placebo (relative FEV1: 14.7±5%; p = 0.006) and in the 25 mg treatment group of the phase II study (relative FEV1: 4.0±7%; p = 0.048). Amitriptyline was well tolerated in both studies and 96% of the patients completed the studies. Amitriptyline as a novel therapeutic option in patients with CF is safe and seems to be efficacious.
Water soluble SERS labels comprising a SAM with dual spacers for controlled bioconjugation
2009-01-01

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of Raman reporter molecules adsorbed to the surface of metal nanoparticles are labelling agents for the selective detection of biomolecules by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Advantages of SAM-based SERS labels include maximum coverage with Raman reporter molecules combined with their uniform molecular orientation within the SAM as well as minimal co-adsorption of other molecules from the surrounding. Water solubility and stability together with the option for controlled bioconjugation are desired properties of SERS labels. We present an approach to synthesize hydrophilic SERS labels in which the colloidal particle is stabilized by two different ethylene glycols attached to the SAM. This guarantees water solubility, independent of the type of a particular Raman reporter molecule and its properties at the SAM/solvent interface. Our dual SAM design is based on two different ethylene glycol spacers covalently bound to the same type of reporter molecule: a short monoethylene glycol (MEG-OH) and a longer triethylene glycol (TEG-COOH) moiety. The terminal carboxy group of the TEG spacer allows subsequent conjugation to biomolecules such as antibodies. Controlled bioconjugation is possible by varying the stoichiometric ratio of both spacers. Finally, dual SAM SERS labels are used in immuno-SERS microscopy for selective imaging of prostate-specific antigen in the epithelium of biopsies from patients with prostate cancer.
Regulation of the Glutamate Transporter EAAT2 by PIKfyve
2009-01-01

The Na(+),glutamate cotransporter EAAT2 is expressed in astrocytes and clears glutamate from the synaptic cleft. EAAT2 dependent currrent is stimulated by the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1. Phosphorylation targets of SGK1 include the human phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-5-kinase PIKfyve (PIP5K3). Nothing is known, however, on the role of PIKfyve in the regulation of EAAT2. The present experiments thus explored, whether PIKfyve expression modifies EAAT2 dependent currrent and protein abundance in the cell membrane. In Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT2 but not in water injected oocytes application of glutamate (2 mM) induced an inward current (I(glu)). Coexpression of either, SGK1 or PIKfyve, significantly enhanced I(glu) in EAAT2 expressing oocytes. I(glu) was significantly higher in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing EAAT2, SGK1 and PIKfyve than in Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT2 and either, SGK1 or PIKfyve, alone. Additional coexpression of the inactive mutant of the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase (K127N)SGK1 did not significantly alter I(glu) in EAAT2 expressing oocytes and significantly decreased I(glu) in oocytes coexpressing EAAT2 together with PIKfyve. The stimulating effect of PIKfyve on I(glu) was abrogated by replacement of the serine in the SGK consensus sequence by alanine ((S318A)PIKfyve). Furthermore, additional coexpression of (S318A)PIKfyve virtually abolished I(glu) in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing SGK1 and EAAT2. Confocal microscopy reveals that PIKfyve enhances the EAAT2 protein abundance in the cell membrane. The observations disclose that PIKfyve indeed participates in the regulation of EAAT2.
Family History, Genetic Testing, and Clinical Risk Prediction: Pooled Analysis of CHEK2*1100delC in 1,828 Bilateral Breast Cancers and 7,030 Controls
2009-01-01

Abstract If breast cancers arise independently in each breast the odds ratio (OR) for bilateral breast cancer for carriers of CHEK2*1100delC should be ∼5.5, the square of the reported OR for a first primary (OR, 2.34). In the subset of bilateral cases with one or more affected relatives, the predicted carrier OR should be ∼9. We have tested these predictions in a pooled set of 1,828 cases with 2 primaries and 7,030 controls from 8 studies. The second primary OR for CHEK2*1100delC carriers was 6.43 (95% confidence interval, 4.33-9.56; P &amp;lt; 0.0001), significantly greater than the published estimate for a first primary (P &amp;lt; 0.001) but consistent with its square. The predicted increase in carrier OR with increasing numbers of affected relatives was seen using bilateral cases from the UK (Ptrend = 0.0003) and Finland (Ptrend = 0.37), although not using those from the Netherlands and Russia (P = 0.001 for heterogeneity between countries). Based on a standard genetic model, we predict lifetime risks for CHEK2*1100delC carrier and noncarrier daughters of bilateral breast cancer cases of 37% and 18%, respectively. Our results imply that clinical management of the daughter of a woman with bilateral breast cancer should depend on her CHEK2*1100delC carrier status. This and other moderate penetrance breast cancer susceptibility alleles, together with family history data, will thus identify increasing numbers of women at potentially very high risk. Before such predictions are accepted by clinical geneticists, however, further population-based evidence is needed on the effect of CHEK2*1100delC and other moderate penetrance alleles in women with a family history of breast cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(1):230–4)
BCI Applications for People with Disabilities: Defining User Needs and User Requirements
2009-01-01

The EU-project &amp;ldquo;Tools for Brain-Computer Interaction&amp;rdquo; (TOBI) aims at developing practical technology for brain-computer interaction. To elucidate the most urgent needs and requirements of potential users, 77 persons with disabilities from Austria, Italy, and Germany were assessed with a newly developed questionnaire. Participants had a high degree of experience in using assistive technology (AT). Despite high satisfaction ratings with current AT solutions there was still a need for better or alternative AT solutions in the areas of manipulation, communication, computer access/entertainment, and environmental control. The results also confirm the relevance of the set of applications the TOBI project is pursuing to develop. Main end-user requirements of new AT were &amp;ldquo;functionality&amp;rdquo;, &amp;ldquo;possibility of independent use&amp;rdquo;, and &amp;ldquo;easiness of use&amp;rdquo;.
The source of execution-related dual-task interference: Motor bottleneck or response monitoring?
2009-01-01

The present study assessed the underlying mechanism of execution-related dual-task interference in the psychological refractory period (PRP) paradigm. The motor bottleneck hypothesis attributes this interference to a processing limitation at the motor level. By contrast, the response monitoring hypothesis attributes it to a bottleneck process that not only selects the appropriate response but also monitors its execution. In two experiments, participants performed ballistic movements of different distances in Task 1 and a choice reaction time task in Task 2. In each experiment, a propagation effect of movement distance on reaction time in Task 2 indicated substantial execution-related interference. To determine the locus of this effect, we manipulated stimulus-response compatibility in Task 2. In line with the motor bottleneck hypothesis, the compatibility effect was partially absorbed during movement execution of Task 1. The results support a motor bottleneck mechanism rather than response monitoring as the source of execution-related dual-task interference.
Intestinal Expression of TFF and Related Genes During Postnatal Development in a Piglet Probiotic Trial
2009-01-01

Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides provide protective and reparative effects by enhancing epithelial integrity and promoting mucosal restitution. TFF peptide expression is induced after mucosal damage. These processes are of central physiological relevance during the postnatal intestinal development and are strongly influenced during the weaning period. In piglets, weaning at early maturation stages frequently causes mucosal inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate postnatal intestinal TFF expression in a piglet probiotic trial. Low intestinal TFF2 expression was measured at early maturation stages. Weaning, however, was associated with a distinct response of increased TFF2 expression, indicating an important role in enhancing mucosal integrity. In the distal jejunum and ileum weaning could as well be associated with increased TFF3 mRNA levels. Differential TFF1 expression was not detected. Furthermore, TFF2 localization studies in different intestinal loci were performed by means of immunohistochemistry. Expression of selected genes (TGFA, EGFR, Cox-2) known to promote TFF signaling showed differential expression pattern as well, thereby providing further functional background. Furthermore, the expression patterns of EGFR observed in this study contribute to an advanced view of previous findings of EGFR regulation mainly obtained in rodents. An upregulated EGFR expression during early postnatal development suggests a local relevance to porcine intestinal maturation. However, a feed supplementation with the probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium did not influence TFF expression.
Rituximab for the treatment of refractory pediatric autoimmune diseases: a case series
2009-01-01

INTRODUCTION: To report on efficacy, tolerability and safety of rituximab in children with refractory autoimmune diseases. CASE PRESENTATION: Five patients (juvenile dermatomyositis, Wegener's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis with systemic lupus erythematosus) were treated with rituximab and followed for a median time of 2.5 years. Two patients achieved remission (systemic lupus erythematosus, Wegener's granulomatosis). Three patients had a refractory disease course and underwent autologous stem cell transplantation. Of those, two achieved remission (juvenile dermatomyositis, myasthenia gravis), one died of complications after transplantation (multiple sclerosis/systemic lupus erythematosus). No severe adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Efficacy of rituximab was variable ranging from complete remission to inefficacy. Treatment was safe.
Cell death in sepsis: a matter of how, when, and where
2009-01-01

Dysregulated cell death in several tissues is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis and contributes to multiple organ failure. Whether cell death during sepsis occurs by necrosis or apoptosis may depend on the cell type as well as the disease stage and is therefore a matter of intense debate. While lymphocyte apoptosis contributes to immunosuppression in sepsis, recent evidence suggests that necrosis of hepatocytes predominates in septic patients with liver dysfunction and correlates with poor survival. These distinct modes of cell death might have different consequences for the inflammatory response but are also critical for therapeutic interventions and the disease outcome. Understanding the complexity of death processes employing recently available serum biomarkers of cell death could lead to novel therapeutic approaches and assist in the steering of sepsis treatment.
Single-grain detrital muscovite Rb-Sr isotopic composition as an indicator of provenance for the Carboniferous sedimentary rocks in northern Dabie, China
2009-01-01

Low-grade metamorphic Paleozoic sedimentary rocks are exposed along the northern margin of the Qinling-Dabie orogenic belt that formed by the collision of the North and South China blocks during the Early Mesozoic. Geological provenance and tectonic setting of these low-grade sedimentary rocks are strongly debated. Recent studies have shown that they contain Paleozoic, Late Proterozoic and Late Archean detrital zircons, which points to an origin from different sources including rocks from the South and North China blocks. This study presents single-grain mineral Rb-Sr results for detrital muscovites and biotites from Carboniferous sedimentary sequences of the Beihuaiyang low-grade metamorphic zone exposed along the northern margin of the Dabie Mountains. About 15% of detrital muscovite grains are phengitic in composition with high Si/Al ratios of >3.3. Single grain Rb-Sr isotopic analyses show that both muscovites and phengites give a pooled age of about 420 Ma, implying Middle Paleozoic thermal and high-pressure metamorphic events in the source area(s). Rb-Sr isotopic evidence from detrital biotites suggests at least two different sedimentary sources of old crustal rocks and juvenile material. The latter probably comprised magmatic rocks related to the Paleozoic convergence along the southern margin of the North China block. Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotopic composition of the sedimentary rocks also demonstrates a mixture of sedimentary sources of different ages that confirm conclusions proposed previously from evidence of detrital zircon ages. We conclude that the Paleozoic detrital phengites originate from Paleozoic subduction and subsequent collision proposed for the North Qinling terrane. Our study shows that, single-grain detrital mica Rb-Sr isotopic characteristics can be a potential indicator for the provenance of geological complex terranes.
Field calibration of polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers for PBDEs
2009-01-01

A field study was performed to derive uptake rates of airborne polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to polyurethane foam (PUF) disk passive air samplers (PAS) and to investigate the influence of deployment location and device design. Data are presented on the gas-particle partitioning of PBDEs, since atmospheric phase distribution was considered to be a variable which could affect sampler performance. Uptake rates for these compounds were similar to those derived previously for other classes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (approximately 2-6 m(3)/day), with rates higher for the higher brominated species. Whilst other compound classes (e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls) are predominantly present in the air in the gas phase, heavier PBDEs have an association with particulates in the atmosphere at ambient temperatures. In this study, the PUF disk PAS therefore sampled PBDEs present in the gas phase and on fine aerosols with a similar sampling efficiency to those which are predominantly gas phase compounds. Compounds which are exclusively on particles are sampled less efficiently. A comparison of the three most commonly used PUF deployment configurations, used by different research groups, indicated little difference in uptake rates. The ranges of derived air concentrations for BDE-47, -99, and -183 between three sampler designs were 7.5-9.8, 7.4-12.4, and 4.7-6.6 pg/m(3), respectively. This suggests the robustness of this sampler in comparisons between regional and global campaigns where these three designs are employed.
Ca<sup>2&plus;</sup>-dependent Functions in Peptidoglycan-stimulated Mouse Dendritic Cells
2009-01-01

Peptidoglycans (PGN) from bacterial cell walls may modify the course of an infection with bacterial pathogens. The present study explored the effect of PGN on cytosolic Ca2+ activity, cytokine production and phagocytosis of mouse dendritic cells (DCs), essential cells in the initiation and direction of antigen-specific T cell responses. Exposure of DCs to PGN was followed by a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), which was due to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and influx of extracellular Ca2+ across the cell membrane. In DCs isolated from Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) deficient mice the effect of PGN on [Ca2+]i was dramatically impaired. The PGN-induced increase of [Ca2+]i was dependent on voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channel activity. PGN-induced increase of [Ca2+]i was significantly blunted by margatoxin (MgTx) and perhexiline maleate (PM), inhibitors of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5, respectively. PGN further stimulated the release of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), an effect significantly blunted by PM and the specific blocker of store-operated Ca2+ channels SKF-96365. Moreover, phagocytic capacity was dramatically increased in PGN-stimulated DCs in the presence of either Kv channel inhibitors or SKF-96365. The observations disclose Ca2+ and Kv channel-dependent cytokine production and phagocytosis in PGN-stimulated DCs.