julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions from the Sin Quyen Formation: the Precambrian crustal evolution of northwest Vietnam
2011-12-23

The location of the suture zone between the South China and Indochina blocks in northwest Vietnam has been under debate for decades. Generally, the boundary between these blocks has been placed along (1) the Ailaoshan–Red River zone or (2) the Song Ma zone. The Sin Quyen Formation, lying between these zones, was previously regarded as a Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoic sequence. It comprises its provenance and tectonic affinity. We analysed detrital zircons from two paragneisses and one migmatite of the Sin Quyen Formation employing laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb dating techniques. U–Pb ages of these zircons show three main periods of zircon formation: ∼2.7–3.0, ∼2.2–2.5, and ∼1.8 Ga, suggesting that Sin Quyen rocks were mainly derived from Palaeoproterozoic and Archaean basement units. Inasmuch as the South China basement comprises rocks of similar ages, we conclude that the Sin Quyen Formation belongs to that block. Our new data strengthen the view that the suture between the South China and Indochina blocks is located within the Song Ma zone. In addition, zircons with U–Pb ages >3.0 thousand million years represent the oldest minerals reported in northwest Vietnam so far, indicating the existence of Mesoarchaean crustal remnants in this region.
Efficient Synthesis of Isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones (Phthalides) and Selected Biological Evaluations
2011-12-23

The studies presented here deal with the convenient and efficient one-step conversion of o-alkylbenzoic acids into their corresponding isobenzofuran-1 (3H)-ones (phthalides) using NaBrO3/NaHSO3 in a two-phase system. A range of o-alkylbenzoic acids was used with the object of getting a variety of phthalide derivatives as multipurpose biologically active compounds. Seventeen phthalides have been synthesized and tested for cytotoxicity, antibacterial and antifungal activities. Some of these compounds showed promising cytotoxic effects against Artemia salina. Compounds 4j-4p were highly active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria among all tested compounds. In the fungicidal assay, the compounds showed a broad spectrum of activity against six fungi. All compounds were characterized via elemental analysis, UV, IR, mass and-NMR spectroscopy.
Blood Glucose Profiles in Diabetic Rodents Using Different Insulin Preparations
2011-12-24

The aim of the present study was to evaluate several long-acting insulin preparations for their ability to normalize the blood glucose profile of rats and mice with streptozocin-induced diabetes mellitus. The single injection of a long-acting zinc insulin (CAS 8049-62-5) suspension or insulin glargine (CAS 160337-95-1) in both species induced a steep to moderate fall in blood glucose concentration. Blood glucose was then normalized for 2-3 h, until 3 h after insulin injection blood glucose concentration tended towards levels before insulin application. In contrast, implants produced with a mixture of human insulin and palmitic acid micro-crystals normalized blood glucose profile over 24 h in both species at least 30 days after implantation. Therefore, these implants with a sustained release of insulin are suitable to control the blood glucose in diabetic rats and mice.
JSBML: a flexible and entirely Java-based library for working with SBML
2011-12-24

The XML-based Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) is the de facto standard file format for the storage and exchange of biochemical network models, and is supported by more than 180 software packages to date. Much of this success is due to its clearly defined specifications and the availability of libSBML, a portable, robust, and easy-to-use library.LibSBML provides many methods for manipulating and validating SBML files through its Application Programming Interface (API). Originally written in C and C++, libSBML also provides automatically-generated language bindings for Java, MATLAB, Perl, and many more. However, the platform independence of Java is compromised in libSBML due to the fact that the language binding is a wrapper around the C/C++ core. The real-world experiences of many software developers has been that the deployment of portable libSBML-based Java applications is difficult. Further, the libSBML API and type hierarchy are not sufficiently intuitive from a Java programmer's perspective just because they were not designed directly for Java. For these reasons, several groups in the SBML community have mounted an open-source effort to develop a pure Java library for SBML. Here we present the JSBML project, whose products are freely available at the web site http://sourceforge.net/projects/jsbml.
Determinants for substrate specificity of the bacterial PP2C protein phosphatase tPphA from Thermosynechococcus elongatus
2011-12-25

Members of the Mg(2+)- or Mn(2+)-dependent protein phosphatases/PP2C-like serine/threonine phosphatases (PPM/PP2C) are abundant and widely distributed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, where they regulate diverse signal transduction pathways. Despite low sequence conservation, the structure of their catalytic core is highly conserved except for a flexible loop termed the flap subdomain. Bacterial PPM/PP2C members without C- or N-terminal regulatory domains still recognize their substrates. Based on the crystal structure of tPphA (a PPM/PP2C member from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus), variants of tPphA were generated by site-directed mutagenesis to identify substrate specificity determinants. Furthermore, a PPM/PP2C chimera containing the tPphA catalytic core and the flap subdomain of human PP2Cα was also generated. tPphA variants and the chimera were tested towards different artificial substrates and native phosphorylated P(II). A binding assay combining chemical crosslinking and pull-down was designed to analyze the binding of the various phosphatase variants to phosphoprotein P(II) . Together, these data showed that the metal 1-metal 2 cluster in the catalytic center, but not the catalytically active metal 3, is required for the binding of phosphorylated substrate. Residues outside the catalytic center are pivotal for the recognition and turnover of phosphorylated protein substrate. In particular, a histidine residue (His39) of tPphA was identified to play a specific role in protein substrate dephosphorylation. Furthermore, mutations in the variable flap subdomain can affect enzyme activity as well as substrate specificity.
Isolation and Quantification of Chitin-binding Mistletoe Lectin from Mistletoe Extracts and Validation of this Method
2011-12-25

A method was established to isolate and quantify small amounts of chitin-binding mistletoe lectin (cbML) from extracts of the mistletoe (Viscum album L.) by affinity and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. A validation, according to ICH guidelines, of this analytical method was carried out and showed that specificity, robustness and precision are guaranteed. In addition, linearity is ensured for a content between 0.6 and 4.1 microg/ml of cbML in the extracts and recovery was calculated to be in the range of 94 to 100%. So, accuracy of the method is guaranteed as well. As far as the range of the analytical method is concerned, a minimum of 1.2 microg and a maximum of 8.2 microg cbML can be incubated with the affinity material. Detection and quantitation limits were calculated to be 0.13 and 0.46 microg/ml cbML, respectively.
Pharmacokinetics of Two Oral Prednisolone Tablet Formulations in Healthy Volunteers
2011-12-26

Two prednisolone (CAS 50-24-8) formulations (Prednisolone 50 mg Ferring tablets as the test preparation and tablets of a reference preparation) were investigated in 13 healthy volunteers in order to prove bioequivalence between these preparations. A single oral dose of 50 mg was given using a randomized, two-way cross-over design with a wash-out period of one week. Blood samples for determination of prednisolone plasma concentrations were collected up to 15 h following drug administration. Additionally, in vitro tests were performed with tablets from the same lots to determine dissolution characteristics. Prednisolone concentrations were measured by means of validated HPLC with UV-detection. Maximum concentrations (Cmax) of 1020.9 +/- 57.8 and 1053.3 +/- 55.7 ng/ml were achieved for the test and the reference preparation, respectively. The AUC0-infinity was 212.2 +/- 13.2 micrograms.min/ml (test preparation) and 222.2 +/- 14.3 micrograms.min/ml (reference preparation). The 90% confidence intervals of the test to reference ratios were within the range of 80-125% with 97.8-101.3% for Cmax and 98.1-100.4% for AUC0-infinity. The time to reach maximum plasma concentration (tmax) tended to be lower (-25%) in the test (39.6 +/- 6.4 min) as compared to the reference preparation (52.8 +/- 9.0 min). Interestingly, this difference correlated well with the observation of a more rapid dissolution rate of the test preparation by some 10 min. Both prednisolone formulations were well tolerated. Based on the results obtained in this study, (1) bioequivalence between the test and the reference preparation was clearly demonstrated and (2) a positive correlation between dissolution rate observed in vitro and tmax as measured in vivo was found.
Syntheses, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic and Antifungal Effects of New 3-Carboxy-1-phenacylpyridinium Salts
2011-12-26

Thirteen pyridine-3-carboxylic acid salt derivatives with various substituted phenacyl residues were prepared and their cytotoxicity, antibacterial and antifungal activities tested. Compounds 5 and 11 proved to be active in the brine shrimp bioassay, compounds 7, 9-12 and 14 showed promising antibacterial activities, whereas none of the compounds tested against 15 fungal cultures proved to be active. Extensive spectroscopic techniques were employed to confirm the structure of the synthetic products.
Protein Kinase C Delta (PKCδ) Affects Proliferation of Insulin-Secreting Cells by Promoting Nuclear Extrusion of the Cell Cycle Inhibitor p21Cip1/WAF1
2011-12-27

These observations disclose PKCδ as negative regulator of p21(Cip1/WAF1), which facilitates proliferation of insulin secreting cells under stress-free conditions and suggest that additional stress-induced changes push PKCδ into its known pro-apoptotic role.
Effect of Long-term Application of Crataegus oxyacantha on Ischemia and Reperfusion Induced Arrhythmias in Rats
2011-12-27

The effect of long-term application of Crataegus oxyacantha on ischemia and reperfusion induced arrhythmias was investigated in Wistar rats on the heart in situ and on Langendorff preparations. Seventeen rats were fed for 8 weeks with 0.5 g/kg b.w. Crataegus extract per day, standardised to 2.2% flavonoids. Twenty age-matched untreated rats served as controls. In the hearts in situ as well as in the Langendorff preparations the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was ligated for 20 min and subsequently reperfused for 30 min. ECG was continuously recorded and the time spent between start of ischemia and onset of arrhythmias was measured. In addition, during ischemia and reperfusion the number of ventricular premature beats and bigemini and the duration of salvos and ventricular flutter and fibrillation were determined. The ischemic area was evaluated in all experiments and coronary flow was measured in Langendorff preparations. In the present experiments, no cardioprotective effects of Crataegus oxyacantha could be detected, neither in the heart in situ nor in the Langendorff preparations. Although the ischemic areas were identical, arrhythmias occurred even earlier in the Crataegus collectives than in the controls. Also the number and duration of ischemia and reperfusion induced arrhythmias tended to occur longer and more frequently in the Crataegus collectives, whilst coronary flow remained unchanged. The phenomenon that Crataegus rather aggravates than prevents arrhythmias may be reduced to a Crataegus induced increase in intracellular Ca(2+)-concentration proven true for the positive inotropic effects of Crataegus.
Variability in Isopter Position and Fatigue during Semi-Automated Kinetic Perimetry
2011-12-28

&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt; Assessment of factors influencing response variability to repeat presentations of III4e stimuli and the fatigue effect during semi-automated kinetic perimetry (SKP). &lt;i&gt;Design:&lt;/i&gt; Prospective case series; setting: university hospital. &lt;i&gt;Participants:&lt;/i&gt; 58 patients with severe visual field loss: 21 with glaucoma, 18 with retinitis pigmentosa, and 19 with postchiasmal visual pathway lesions. &lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;Following initial testing with three isopters (I2e or V4e, I4e and III4e), presentations of the III4e stimulus were repeated four times during the same session along identical vectors. &lt;i&gt;Main Outcome Measures:&lt;/i&gt; Variability in III4e-isopter position (scatter of kinetic threshold) and the difference of isopter area between the first and four subsequent sessions (fatigue effect) of SKP were analyzed by diagnosis, age, visual acuity and reaction time (RT). &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; The mean scatter of the kinetic threshold was 2.5 degrees (deg) in the glaucoma group, 1.5 deg in the group with retinitis pigmentosa, and 1.7 deg in the group of patients with postchiasmal lesions. The difference in the isopter area between a single examination and four times repeated examination was 656 square degrees (deg&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) in the glaucoma group, 104 deg&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; in the retinitis pigmentosa group and 227 deg&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; in the group of patients with postchiasmal lesions. Post-hoc regression analysis revealed that the variability of isopter position increased as the RT increased. &lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt; The variability of III4e-isopter positionand fatiguewere most pronounced among glaucoma patients. RT is the most important factor influencing the variability of responses and fatigue during SKP, thus we propose that it can be used as a reliability indicator of SKP.
A new box turtle from the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (latest Hemphillian) of Oklahoma and a refined chronology of box turtle diversification
2011-12-28

A near complete shell from the Hemphillian 4 (Miocene/Pliocene boundary) Buis Ranch local fauna of Beaver County, Oklahoma, represents a fossil box turtle. An anterior contact of neural III and neural V with costal III and costal V only, respectively, presence of a small contact between the suprapygal and eleventh peripherals, development of a thin peripheral lip for articulation with the posterior plastral lobe, placement of the vertebral III/IV sulcus on neural VII, presence of two anterior musk duct glands, a rounded posterior plastral lobe, an elongate shell outline, and a complete neural series diagnose the fossil as a new species, Terrapene parornata n. sp. A phylogenetic analysis of fossil box turtles places T. parornata along the phylogenetic stem of the extant taxon T. ornata . The holotype of ‘ Terrapene longinsulae ’ cannot be distinguished from Terrapene ornata and is therefore synonymized. Finally, ‘ Terrapene ’ corneri lacks characters of crown group Terrapene and may therefore represent a stem box turtle. The provenance of the holotype of ‘ Terrapene longinsulae ’ is more poorly known than previously recognized and this specimen may originate from Kansas or Nebraska and be early Miocene to late Pleistocene in age. Terrapene parornata is therefore the oldest demonstrable representative of crown group Terrapene (ca. 5.3–4.6 Ma). ‘ Terrapene ’ corneri from the late Barstovian of Nebraska and fragmentary material from the middle Barstovian of Nebraska by contrast are the oldest representative of the Terrapene lineage (ca. 14.5–11.5 Ma). A review of morphological characters related to shell kinesis reveals that most are highly correlated. The results of the phylogenetic analysis converge upon those of molecular data when these correlated characters are omitted from the analysis.
1,10-Phenanthroline Analogue Pyridazine-Based N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands
2011-12-29

Synthesis of a planar, π-conjugated pyridazine-based biscarbene is reported. Starting from 3,6-dimethylpyridazine, the bisimidazolium salt 1*2HPF6 was prepared in a four-step synthesis by chlorination, amination, formylation, and cyclization. The free carbene 1 can be generated in situ by addition of base. Despite the rigid annelated tricycle, the carbene ligand turns out to be highly flexible upon coordination of transition-metal complexes. With silver(I) oxide or copper(I) oxide binuclear carbene complexes with a bridging coordination mode of the ligand are obtained. Transmetalation of both complexes to the respective gold complex is described. The bridging coordination mode of the carbene ligand is similar to that of 2,2′-bipyridine. Reaction of the bisimidazolium salt 1*2HPF6 with potassium acetate and [RhCl(COD)]2 leads to a mononuclear rhodium complex with the chelating binding mode of 1, resembling strongly the coordination properties of 1,10-phenanthroline.
Should children dive with self‐contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)?
2011-12-30

Abstract Diving with self‐contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) has become a popular recreational activity in children and adolescents. This article provides an extensive review of the current literature. Conclusions: Medical contraindications to SCUBA diving for adults apply to children and adolescents, too, but must be adapted. Additional restrictions to the fitness to dive must apply to both, children and adolescents. Children should always be accompanied by a trained adult when diving.
X-ray bursting neutron star atmosphere models
2011-12-30

We present an extended set of model atmospheres and emergent spectra of X-ray bursting neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries.Compton scattering is taken into account.The models were computed in LTE approximation for six different chemical compositions: pure hydrogen, pure helium, and solar mix of hydrogen and helium and various heavy elements abundances: Z = 1, 0.3, 0.1, and 0.01 Z ⊙ .For each chemical composition the models are computed for three values of gravity, log g =14.0, 14.3, and 14.6, and for 20 values of relative luminosity l = L/L Edd in the range 0.001-0.98.The emergent spectra of all models are fitted by the diluted blackbody in the redshifted RXTE/PCA band 3-20 keV and the corresponding values of color correction factors f c as function of l are presented.We also show how to use these dependencies to estimate the basic parameters of neutron stars.Fast X-ray timing and spectroscopy at extreme count rates
Persistent, intermittent, and undetected accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsations from neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binary systems
2011-12-30

Accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsations have been detected in only 13 of more than 130 known neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binary systems (LMXBs).Pulsations have been detected only intermittently in three of these accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsars.We show that the failure to detect accretion-powered pulsations from most neutron-star LMXBs, and the intermittent detection of pulsations in a few, can both be explained if the emitting regions of accreting neutron stars with millisecond spin periods are typically close to their spin poles and move in response to changes in the accretion flow.This nearly-aligned moving spot model is consistent with the small observed amplitudes and nearly sinusoidal waveforms of most accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars, and the large, rapid phase variations of several.Fast X-ray timing and spectroscopy at extreme count rates
Phase lags and cyclotron lines in 4U 0115+63
2011-12-30

We study the energy dependent pulse profiles and phase resolved spectra of the high-mass X-ray binary pulsar 4U 0115+63 to investigate the role of cyclotron resonant scattering in the pulse profile formation.For this purpose, we exploit archival BeppoSAX and RXTE data taken during the bright phase of the giant outburst occurred in 1999.We find that the pulse profiles are significantly shifted and distorted at the energies corresponding to the cyclotron scattering absorption features.We develop a geometrical model of the column emission and pulse profile formation that explains this newly discovered phenomenon, finding that it can be modeled as an energy dependent angular beaming of the radiation emitted by the column.Data with higher S/N and more sophisticated theoretical models will contribute significantly to the comprehension of the X-ray emission in the strong gravitational and radiative fields of accreting neutron stars.
Magnetized neutron star atmosphere:beyond the cold plasma approximation
2011-12-30

All magnetized neutron star model atmospheres hitherto computed use opacities calculated in the cold plasma approximation.Here we present models of hydrogen neutron star atmospheres with the thermal cyclotron opacities taken into account.The parameters of the atmospheres are typical for the so-called central compact objects in supernova remnants, such as 1E 1207.4-5209 in PKS 1209-51/52.We show that the Doppler cores of the first three cyclotron harmonics can be significant for the interpretation of observable absorption features, in addition to the quantum oscillations in magnetic free-free opacity.The absorptions due to the quantum oscillations determine the total equivalent widths, but the relative contributions of the Doppler cores grow with increasing quantization parameter b eff ≡ E c,e /kT eff and harmonic number.The total equivalent widths of the features can reach ∼ 100-250 eV; they increase with growing b eff and are smaller for higher harmonics.Fast X-ray timing and spectroscopy at extreme count rates
Review of the BCI Competition IV
2012-01-01

The BCI competition IV stands in the tradition of prior BCI competitions that aim to provide high quality neuroscientific data for open access to the scientific community. As experienced already in prior competitions not only scientists from the narrow field of BCI compete, but scholars with a broad variety of backgrounds and nationalities. They include high specialists as well as students. The goals of all BCI competitions have always been to challenge with respect to novel paradigms and complex data. We report on the following challenges: (1) asynchronous data, (2) synthetic, (3) multi-class continuous data, (4) session-to-session transfer, (5) directionally modulated MEG, (6) finger movements recorded by ECoG. As after past competitions, our hope is that winning entries may enhance the analysis methods of future BCIs.