julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Efficiently performing consistency checks for multi-dimensional preference trade-offs
2008-06-01

Skyline queries have recently received a lot of attention due to their intuitive query capabilities. Following the concept of Pareto optimality all dasiabestpsila database objects are returned to the user. However, this often results in unmanageable large result set sizes hampering the success of this innovative paradigm. As an effective remedy for this problem, trade-offs provide a natural concept for dealing with incomparable choices. Such trade-offs, however, are not reflected by the Pareto paradigm. Thus, incorporating them into the userspsila preference orders and adjusting skyline results accordingly needs special algorithms beyond traditional skylining. For the actual integration of trade-offs into skylines, the problem of ensuring the consistency of arbitrary trade-off sets poses a demanding challenge. Consistency is a crucial aspect when dealing with multi-dimensional trade-offs spanning over several attributes. If the consistency should be violated, cyclic preferences may occur in the result set. But such cyclic preferences cannot be resolved by information systems in a sensible way. Often, this problem is circumvented by restricting the trade-offspsila expressiveness, e.g. by altogether ignoring some classes of possibly inconsistent trade-offs. In this paper, we will present a new algorithm capable of efficiently verifying the consistency of any arbitrary set of trade-offs. After motivating its basic concepts and introducing the algorithm itself, we will also show that it exhibits superior average-case performance. The benefits of our approach promise to pave the way towards personalized and cooperative information systems.
Beyond mechanism and constructivism
2008-06-01

Abstract Neuroconstructivism is a hybrid of two incompatible philosophical traditions: a radical idealism insisting upon the free activity of the Subject; and a radical materialistic anthropomorphism, which ascribes inherent properties of humans (e.g., the ability to construct) to nonhuman objects or body parts (e.g., the brain). The two traditions can be combined only by obscuring or confusing the basic notions.
Factorizing Complementation in a TT-MCTAG for German
2008-06-01

TT-MCTAG lets one abstract away from the relative order of co-complements in the final derived tree, which is more appropri-ate than classic TAG when dealing with flexible word order in German. In this pa-per, we present the analyses for senten-tial complements, i.e., wh-extraction, that-complementation and bridging, and we work out the crucial differences between these and respective accounts in XTAG (for English) and V-TAG (for German). 1
A neural model of demyelination of the mouse spinal cord
2008-06-01

This paper presents a neural network model of demyelination of the mouse motor pathways, coupled to a central pattern generation (CPG) model for quadruped walking. Demyelination is the degradation of the myelin layer covering the axons which can be caused by several neurodegenerative autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. We use this model - to our knowledge first of its kind - to investigate the locomotion deficits that appear following demyelination of axons in the spinal cord. Our model meets several physiological and behavioral results and predicts that whereas locomotion can still occur at high percentages of demyelination damage, the distribution and location of the lesion are the most critical factors for the locomotor performance.
On Residual Vector Quantization for texture mapping
2008-06-01

This paper present a software system for fast rendering from extremely large textures. The textures are compressed using residual vector quantization to a rate of 1 bpp, and are loaded along with the codebooks into video memory. All decompression is done on-the-fly by fast software on the graphics accelerator. A novel two-pass rendering method allows sophisticated texture filtering methods to be used for high image quality.
FIR-based classifiers for animal behavior classification
2008-06-01

In this paper, we implement a new method for classification of biological signals in general, and use it in the animal behavior classification as an example. The forced swimming test of rats or mice is a frequently used behavioral test to evaluate the efficacy of drugs in rats or mice. Frequently used features for that evaluation are obtained through observing three states: immobility, struggling/climbing and swimming in activity profiles. We consider that those activity profiles (signals) inherently contain undesired and interference noise that should be removed before feature extraction and classification. We use a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter to filter out that additive noise from the activity profile. The parameters of the FIR filter are obtained via maximizing the accuracy of a classifier that tries to make a discrimination between two classes of the activity profiles (e.g. drug vs. control). We use the kernel Fisher discriminant criterion as a criterion for the discrimination, the DIviding RECTangles (DIRECT) search method for solving the optimization problem and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) for the classification task. We show that Autoregressive (AR) coefficients are suitable features for the extraction of the dynamic behavior of rats and also the classification of activity profiles. Our proposed behavior classification method provides a reliable discrimination of different classes of antidepressant drugs (imipramine and desipramine) administered to rats versus a vehicle-treated group.
A Data Fusion Approach in Protein Homology Detection
2008-06-01

The discriminative framework for protein remote homology detection based on support vector machines (SVMs) is reconstructed by the fusion of sequence based features. In this respect, n-peptide compositions are partitioned and fed into separate SVMs. The SVM outputs are evaluated with different techniques and tested to discern their ability for SCOP protein super family classification on a common benchmarking set. It reveals that the fusion approach leads to an improvement in prediction accuracy with a remarkable gain on computer memory usage.
NOREPINEPHRINE AND CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW REGULATION IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS
2008-06-01

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that the sympathetic nervous system plays a role in cerebral blood flow regulation in patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVM). METHODS Cortical interstitial norepinephrine was measured by means of microdialysis, regional cerebral blood flow was measured by a thermal diffusion technique, and regional oxygen saturation (SO2) was measured by microspectrophotometry in 12 patients harboring cerebral AVMs (AVM group) and in 15 patients with deep-seated nonvascular lesions (control group) before and after resection. Measurements were compared according to groups and times of measurements. All values are given as means ± standard deviation. RESULTS Cortical regional SO2 increased significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups after surgery (AVM group: presurgery 52.4 ± 12.5% SO2, postsurgery 71.4 ± 7.4% SO2; control group: presurgery 57.1 ± 8.4% SO2, postsurgery 69.9 ± 8.7% SO2), whereas regional cerebral blood flow increased only in the AVM group (AVM group: presurgery 18.9 ± 6.6 ml/100 g/min, postsurgery 26.2 ± 6.9 ml/100 g/min; control group: presurgery 20.1 ± 7.6 ml/100 g/min, postsurgery 19.4 ± 7.8 ml/100 g/min). Norepinephrine concentrations were significantly lower in the AVM group as compared with the control group before surgery. Although there was no significant difference between pre- and postsurgery conditions in the AVM group, the norepinephrine level of the control group was significantly lower after surgery (AVM group: presurgery 3.3 ± 1.2 nmol/L, postsurgery 2.9 ± 1.7 nmol/L; control group: presurgery 5.4 ± 1.4 nmol/L, postsurgery 4.2 ± 1.1 nmol/L). CONCLUSION Chronically lowered perfusion pressure seems to induce the hypothesized adaptive down-regulation of sympathetic nervous system activity, yet protective up-regulation after a sudden elevation of cerebral perfusion pressure after AVM excision could not be shown in this study.
Local Anesthetics Time‐Dependently Inhibit Staphylococcus aureus Phagocytosis, Oxidative Burst and CD11b Expression by Human Neutrophils
2008-06-01

Background and Objectives: Local anesthetics have been shown to modulate neutrophil functions in a time-dependent manner, which might help to prevent inflammatory injury to the organism. However, if host defense mechanisms are affected similarly, the ability to eliminate bacteria might be reduced. We hypothesized that local anesthetics have time-dependent effects on phagocytosis of S. aureus , oxidative burst, and CD11b expression by human neutrophils. To test this hypothesis, we reanalyzed data from a previous study. Methods: Blood samples from 11 healthy volunteers were incubated with lidocaine (1,846 μmol/L), bupivacaine (770 μmol/L) or ropivacaine (801 μmol/L) for 30 minutes. Thereafter, bacteria were added, either fluorescently labeled for determination of phagocytosis, or unstained for determination of oxidative burst and CD11b expression. After an additional incubation for 0, 10, 30, or 60 minutes, phagocytosis was stopped and neutrophils were stained with monoclonal antibodies for flow cytometric analysis. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance for repeated measurements. Results: Lidocaine and bupivacaine inhibited neutrophil functions in a time-dependent manner ( P &lt; .05). Prolonged local anesthetic exposure reduced the fraction of ingesting neutrophils by 20% ± 12% (mean ± SD) and 7% ± 7%, bacterial uptake by 19% ± 16% and 14% ± 12%, oxidative burst by 29% ± 23% and 28% ± 25%, and CD11b expression by 66% ± 24% and 25% ± 21% for lidocaine and bupivacaine, respectively. Ropivacaine exerted a time-dependent effect on CD11b expression only (24% ± 34%; P &lt; .05). Conclusions: Our results indicate that in a whole blood model, time-dependent effects of local anesthetics affect key neutrophil functions necessary for bacterial elimination. However, these effects only occur at concentrations that are unlikely to be routinely attained in the clinical setting, and concern about interfering with the host defense is likely unwarranted.
Predicting the global distribution of planktonic foraminifera using a dynamic ecosystem model
2008-06-02

Abstract. We present a new planktonic foraminifera model developed for the global ocean mixed-layer. The main purpose of the model is to explore the response of planktonic foraminifera to different boundary conditions in the geological past, and to quantify the seasonal bias in foraminifera-based paleoceanographic proxy records. This model is forced with hydrographic data and with biological information taken from an ecosystem model to predict monthly concentrations of the most common planktonic foraminifera species used in paleoceanography: N. pachyderma (sinistral and dextral varieties), G. bulloides, G. ruber (white variety) and G. sacculifer. The sensitivity of each species with respect to temperature (optimal temperature and range of tolerance) is derived from previous sediment-trap studies. Overall, the spatial distribution patterns of most of the species are in agreement with core-top data. N. pachyderma (sin.) is limited to polar regions, N. pachyderma (dex.) and G. bulloides are the most common species in high productivity zones, while G. ruber and G. sacculifer are more abundant in tropical and subtropical oligotrophic waters. For N. pachyderma (sin) and N. pachyderma (dex.), the season of maximum production coincides with that observed in sediment-trap records. Model and sediment-trap data for G. ruber and G. sacculifer show, in general, lower concentrations and less seasonal variability at all sites. A sensitivity experiment suggest that, within the temperature-tolerance range of a species, food availability may be the main parameter controlling its abundance.
Frontomaxillary facial angle in screening for trisomy 21 at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks
2008-06-02

Abstract Objective Trisomy 21 is associated with a flat face, which can now be quantified by measurement of the frontomaxillary facial (FMF) angle. The aim of this study was to examine whether in trisomy 21 fetuses fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness and maternal serum free ß‐human chorionic gonadotropin (ß‐hCG) and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) are independent of the FMF angle, and to estimate the performance of a first‐trimester screening test for trisomy 21 that includes measurement of the FMF angle. Methods This was a prospective study in singleton pregnancies at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation in which three‐dimensional volumes of the fetal head were obtained and measurement of the FMF angle performed immediately before fetal karyotyping by chorionic villus sampling (CVS). The women chose to have CVS after risk assessment by a combination of maternal age, fetal NT thickness and maternal serum free ß‐hCG and PAPP‐A. Regression analysis was used to examine the significance of the association within the euploid and within the trisomy 21 fetuses between the deviation from the normal median in FMF angle and the deviation in NT, free ß‐hCG and PAPP‐A. We estimated the detection rate (DR) and false positive rate (FPR) of first‐trimester screening for trisomy 21 by measuring the FMF angle in all cases and of an alternative policy in which first‐stage screening is by fetal NT and maternal serum biochemistry in all patients, followed by second‐stage assessment of FMF angle only in those with an intermediate risk (1 in 51 to 1 in 1000) after the first stage. Results The FMF angle was measured in 782 euploid and 108 trisomy 21 fetuses. In the euploid fetuses the mean FMF angle decreased linearly with CRL from 83.5° at a crown–rump length (CRL) of 45 mm to 76.4° at a CRL of 84 mm. In the euploid fetuses the mean delta FMF angle was 0.0 (SD, 4.264)° and the respective values in the trisomy 21 fetuses were 7.172 (SD, 4.092)°. Incorporating the FMF angle in first‐trimester combined screening increased the estimated DR from 90 to 94% at an FPR of 5% and from 85 to 92% at an FPR of 3%. In two‐stage screening it would be necessary to measure the FMF angle in 12% of cases and the DRs would be 93 and 91% at FPRs of 5 and 3%, respectively. Conclusions Measurement of the FMF angle improves the performance of first‐trimester screening for trisomy 21. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DYT1 DYSTONIA IN EUROPEAN PATIENTS IS MODIFIED BY THE D216H POLYMORPHISM
2008-06-02

Early-onset generalized dystonia is a rare, but frequently physically severely disabling movement disorder. The majority of cases in both the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) and non-Jewish (NJ) population are caused by a unique mutation, a deletion of three basepairs (GAG) in the DYT1/TOR1A gene on chromosome 9q34.1 This mutation results in the loss of one of a pair of glutamic acid residues (ΔE 302/303) at the C-terminus of the encoded protein, torsinA. Symptoms of DYT1 dystonia are highly variable, ranging from mild focal dystonia, e.g., writer’s cramp, to severe generalized dystonia, even within families.2 For reasons which have remained largely obscure, penetrance for overt signs of dystonia is reduced to approximately 30–40% in both the AJ and NJ populations.3,4 Recently, the functional significance of a nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 4 of the DYT1 gene (rs1801968, D216H) has been demonstrated in a cell culture model system. This SNP encodes either aspartic acid (D) in 88% or histidine (H) in 12% of alleles in the general population at position 216 of the torsinA protein. Cells overexpressing the torsinA-216H variant develop inclusions similar to those induced by the GAG deletion, but introducing 216H into mutant ΔE-torsinA reduces the mutant’s tendency to form inclusions.5 These data suggest that ...
Interactive physically-based shape editing
2008-06-02

We present an alternative approach to standard geometric shape editing using physically-based simulation. With our technique, the user can deform complex objects in real-time. The basis of our method is formed by a fast and accurate finite element implementation of an elasto-plastic material model, specifically designed for interactive shape manipulation. Using quadratic shape functions, we reduce approximation errors inherent to methods based on linear finite elements. The physical simulation uses a volume mesh comprised of quadratic tetrahedra, which are constructed from a coarser approximation of the detailed surface. In order to guarantee stability and real-time frame rates during the simulation, we cast the elasto-plastic problem into a linear formulation. For this purpose, we present a corotational formulation for quadratic finite elements. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach in interactive manipulation sessions and show that our animation system can be coupled with further physics-based animations like, e.g. fluids and cloth, in a bi-directional way.
ChemInform Abstract: Efficient Synthesis of Glycosylated Asparaginic Acid Building Blocks via Click Chemistry.
2008-06-02

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Influence of Systematic Variations of Molecular Geometries of Small Hydrocarbons on ab initio HF/6-31G* and 6-311G* GIAO Calculated 1H and 13C NMR Chemical Shifts
2008-06-03

GIAO HF calculations with symmetry retaining variations of selected CH or CC distances in a large range but constant retention of other geometric parameters have been performed for 10 molecules using the 6-31G* basis set (set A) and for a larger set of 18 molecules 1 to 18 in the 6-311G* basis set (set B).The graphical representations for calculated 1 H NMR shifts in dependence on CH or CC bond lengths variations are mostly linear or slightly curved and show no extreme values in the range studied.The slopes are generally positive, i. e. an elongation of distances leads to low field shifts because of reduction of the density of shielding electrons in the varied bonds.The slopes of regression lines may be classified for CH bonds according to hybridization and with the kind of substitution.Calculated 13 C NMR chemical shifts are dependent for connected C atoms on variations of CC as well as on CH bond distances.The graphs are mostly curved, also positive and in magnitude dependent on the types of bonds.Two dimensional plots of simultaneous variations of CH and CC bonds show for 1 H NMR independent behavior of these parameters.The effect of variations of angles on 1 H and 13 C shifts was studied only for a few molecules and shows curved graphs with rather small slopes.The determined slopes of linear regressions may be used to estimate zero-point vibrational corrections in close agreement to directly calculated values.
Induction of stearoyl-CoA desaturase protects human arterial endothelial cells against lipotoxicity
2008-06-04

Endothelial lipotoxicity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple stages of cardiovascular disease from early endothelial dysfunction to manifest atherosclerosis and its complications. Saturated free fatty acids are the major inducers of endothelial cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines. In humans, the enzyme human stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (hSCD-1) is the limiting step of the desaturation of saturated to monounsaturated fatty acids. Since we could demonstrate the expression of SCD-1 in primary human arterial endothelial cells (HAECs), we aimed to prove a beneficial role of upregulated hSCD-1 expression. In contrast to other cells that are less susceptible to lipotoxicity, hSCD-1 was not upregulated in HAECs upon palmitate treatment. Following that, we could show that upregulation of hSCD-1 using the LXR activator TO-901317 in HAECs protects the cells against palmitate-induced lipotoxicity, cell apoptosis, and expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Increased hSCD-1 activity was determined as increased C16:1/16:0 ratio and enhanced triglyceride storage in palmitate treated cells. The beneficial effect was clearly attributed to enhanced hSCD-1 activity. Overexpression of hSCD-1 blocked palmitate-induced cytotoxicity, and knockdown of hSCD-1 using siRNA abolished the protective effect of TO-901317 in HEK-293 cells. Additionally, inhibition of hSCD-1 with 10/12 CLA blocked the effect of TO-901317 on palmitate-induced lipotoxicity, cell apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokine induction in HAECs. We conclude that upregulation of hSCD-1 leads to a desaturation of saturated fatty acids and facilitates their esterification and storage, thereby preventing downstream effects of lipotoxicity in HAECs. These findings add a novel aspect to the atheroprotective actions of LXR activators in cardiovascular disease.
Overconstrained estimates of neutrinoless double beta decay within the QRPA
2008-06-04

Estimates of nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double beta decay (0nu2beta) based on the quasiparticle random phase approximations (QRPA) are affected by theoretical uncertainties, which can be substantially reduced by fixing the unknown strength parameter g_pp of the residual particle-particle interaction through one experimental constraint - most notably through the two-neutrino double beta decay (2nu2beta) lifetime. However, it has been noted that the g_pp adjustment via 2\\nu2\\beta data may bring QRPA models in disagreement with independent data on electron capture (EC) and single beta decay (beta^-) lifetimes. Actually, in two nuclei of interest for 0nu2beta decay (Mo-100 and Cd-116), for which all such data are available, we show that the disagreement vanishes, provided that the axial vector coupling g_A is treated as a free parameter, with allowance for g_A<1 (``strong quenching''). Three independent lifetime data (2nu2beta, EC, \\beta^-) are then accurately reproduced by means of two free parameters (g_pp, g_A), resulting in an overconstrained parameter space. In addition, the sign of the 2nu2beta matrix element M^2nu is unambiguously selected (M^2nu>0) by the combination of all data. We discuss quantitatively, in each of the two nuclei, these phenomenological constraints and their consequences for QRPA estimates of the 0nu2beta matrix elements and of their uncertainties.
Chandra and HESS observations of the supernova remnant CTB 37B
2008-06-04

The &gt;100 GeV gamma-ray source, HESS J1713-381, apparently associated with the shell-type supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 37B, was discovered using H.E.S.S. in 2006. X-ray follow-up observations with Chandra were performed in 2007 with the aim of identifying a synchrotron counterpart to the TeV source and/or thermal emission from the SNR shell. These new Chandra data, together with additional TeV data, allow us to investigate the nature of this object in much greater detail than was previously possible. The new X-ray data reveal thermal emission from a ~4' region in close proximity to the radio shell of CTB 37B. The temperature of this emission implies an age for the remnant of ~5000 years (assuming a spherical Sedov expansion), disfavouring a suggested association with the supernova of AD 373. A bright (approx 7 x10^-13erg cm^-2 s^-1) and unresolved (&lt;1'') source (CXOU J171405.7-381031) with a soft (Gamma ~ 3.3) non -thermal spectrum is also detected in coincidence with the radio shell. Absorption indicates a column density consistent with the thermal emission from the shell suggesting a genuine association rather than a chance alignment. The observed TeV morphology is consistent with an origin in the complete shell of CTB 37B. The relatively high apparent gas density of the CTB 37B environment (n &lt; 1 cm^-3) and the lack of diffuse non-thermal X-ray emission, are suggestive of an origin of the gamma-ray emission via the decay of neutral pions produced in interactions of protons and nuclei rather than inverse Compton (IC) emission from relativistic electrons.