julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Gestational Age-Specific Reference Ranges of Hepcidin in Cord Blood
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Iron deficiency (ID) contributes to anaemia of prematurity, and hence the reliable assessment of iron nutrition status appears to be mandatory. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; To establish gestational age (GA)-specific reference ranges for hepcidin concentrations in cord blood [Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt;] of preterm and term infants and to identify pre- and perinatal confounding factors. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; This is a prospective observational study including 221 infants (GA at birth: 24-42 weeks). Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; along with complete blood counts, ferritin and parameters of inflammation and clinical data were recorded. Data are presented as medians (IQR). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; of very preterm infants (GA &lt;30 weeks, n = 40) was 26.9 ng/ml (13.5-63.1), for moderately preterm infants (GA 30-36 weeks, n = 81) it was 45.9 ng/ml (24.7-74.5) and for term infants (GA ≥37 weeks, n = 100) it was 103.9 ng/ml (61.4-149.2). The Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; of infants with ID was lower [36.9 ng/ml (18.0-58.3)] than that of iron-replete infants [86.6 ng/ml (51.9-143.8)]. The Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; of infants delivered by elective caesarean section was lower [38.3 ng/ml (15.5-73.7)] than that of infants after spontaneous vaginal delivery or secondary caesarean section [80.3 ng/ml (48.5-137.6)]. Infants with a standard deviation score for birth weight (SDS&lt;sub&gt;BW&lt;/sub&gt;) &lt;-2 had a lower Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; [23.1 ng/ml (11.7-61.5)] compared to infants with SDS&lt;sub&gt;BW&lt;/sub&gt; ≥-2 [71.1 ng/ml (34.0-121.7)]. The highest Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; (437.6 ng/ml) was recorded in an infant with &lt;i&gt;Enterococcus faecalis&lt;/i&gt; sepsis. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed ferritin, GA and mode of delivery as important factors associated with Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt;. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; This is the first report on GA-specific reference ranges for Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt; in preterm infants. Whereas iron stores, GA and mode of delivery were associated with Hep&lt;sub&gt;(CB)&lt;/sub&gt;, the association with inflammation and intra-uterine growth retardation was less clear.
Measuring Foreign Accent Strength in English
2014-01-01

With an eye toward measuring the strength of foreign accents in American English, we evaluate the suitability of a modified version of the Levenshtein distance for comparing (the phonetic transcriptions of) accented pronunciations. Although this measure has been used successfully inter alia to study the differences among dialect pronunciations, it has not been applied to studying foreign accents. Here, we use it to compare the pronunciation of non-native English speakers to native American English speech. Our results indicate that the Levenshtein distance is a valid native-likeness measurement, as it correlates strongly ( r = -0.81) with the average “native-like” judgments given by more than 1000 native American English raters.
Computation of Pump-Leak Flux Balance in Animal Cells
2014-01-01

The presented approach can serve as an effective tool for analyzing monovalent ion transport in the whole cell, determination of the rate coefficients for ion transfer via major pathways and studying their alteration under various conditions.
Effects of Multiple Doses of Voriconazole on the Vision of Healthy Volunteers: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Purpose:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; To investigate the effects, and their reversibility, of multiple oral voriconazole doses on a variety of visual tests in healthy male volunteers. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in 36 volunteers who received voriconazole (n = 18, 400 mg every 12 h on day 1, then 300 mg every 12 h for 27.5 days) or matched placebo (n = 18). Electroretinograms (ERGs) and ophthalmological examinations were performed at screening, throughout the study and at follow-up. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Fifteen (83.3%) volunteers treated with voriconazole experienced ≥1 treatment-related visual adverse events (AEs); these included enhanced visual perceptions, blurred vision, color vision changes and photophobia. No serious AEs were reported. Voriconazole reduced from baseline scotopic maximal a- and b-wave amplitude, shortened implicit time and decreased oscillatory potential amplitude compared with placebo. Under photopic conditions, the 30-Hz flicker response amplitude was significantly reduced and was accompanied by a slight but nonsignificant prolongation of peak time. These effects did not progress in degree over the treatment period, and mean changes from baseline in ERG parameters were similar to placebo by day 43 (14 days after end of treatment). In the first week, color vision discrimination was impaired in the tritan axis, although this resolved by end of treatment and was similar to placebo by day 43. Mean deviation in the static visual field indicated increased sensitivity following voriconazole treatment, correlating with decreased amplitude in conjunction with shortened implicit time. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Effects of voriconazole on altered visual perception, ERG, color vision and static visual field thresholds are nonprogressive over a treatment period and reversible. It is hypothesized that voriconazole has a pharmacological effect on rod and cone pathways including a possible mechanism of disinhibition that reversibly puts the retina in a more light-adapted state and leads to increased relative contrast sensitivity.
Diet-Induced and Age-Related Changes in the Quadriceps Muscle: MRI and MRS in a Rat Model of Sarcopenia
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Knowledge about the molecular pathomechanisms of sarcopenia is still sparse, especially with regard to nutritional risk factors and the subtype of sarcopenic obesity. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The aim of this study was to characterize diet-induced and age-related changes on the quality and quantity of the quadriceps muscle in a rat model of sarcopenia by different magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A total of 36 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly subdivided into 2 groups and received either a high-fat diet (HFD) or a control diet (CD). At the age of 16 months, 15 HFD and 18 CD rats underwent MR at 1.5 T. T1-weighted images as well as T2 relaxation time maps were acquired perpendicular to the long axis of the quadriceps muscles. Maximum cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps muscle was measured on T1-weighted images, and T2 relaxation times of muscle were assessed in a region without visible intramuscular fat (T2&lt;sub&gt;lean muscle&lt;/sub&gt;) and across the complete CSA (T2&lt;sub&gt;muscle&lt;/sub&gt;). Furthermore, &lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;H-MR spectroscopy was performed to evaluate the relative lipid content of the quadriceps muscles. These measurements were repeated 5 months later in the surviving 8 HFD and 14 CD rats. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; HFD rats revealed significantly decreased CSA and CSA per body weight (BW) as well as prolonged T2 relaxation times of muscle. A higher weight gain (upper tertile during the first 6 months of diet in CD rats) resulted in a significant change of T2&lt;sub&gt;muscle&lt;/sub&gt;, but had no relevant impact on CSA. Advancing age up to 21 months led to significantly decreased BW, CSA and CSA/BW, significantly prolonged T2&lt;sub&gt;muscle&lt;/sub&gt; and T2&lt;sub&gt;lean muscle&lt;/sub&gt; and enlarged lipid content in the quadriceps muscle. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; In an experimental setting a chronically fat-enriched diet was shown to have a relevant and age-associated influence on both muscle quantity and quality. By translational means the employed MR techniques give rise to the possibility of an early detection and noninvasive quantification of sarcopenia in humans, which is highly relevant for the field of geriatrics.
Irony and Proverb Comprehension in Schizophrenia: Do Female Patients “Dislike” Ironic Remarks?
2014-01-01

Difficulties in understanding irony and sarcasm are part of the social cognition deficits in patients with schizophrenia. A number of studies have reported higher error rates during comprehension in patients with schizophrenia. However, the relationships of these impairments to schizotypal personality traits and other language deficits, such as the comprehension of proverbs, are unclear. We investigated irony and proverb comprehension in an all-female sample of 20 schizophrenia patients and 27 matched controls. Subjects indicated if a statement was intended to be ironic, literal, or meaningless and furthermore rated the meanness and funniness of the stimuli and certainty of their decision. Patients made significantly more errors than controls did. Globally, there were no overall differences in the ratings. However, patients rated the subgroup of stimuli with answers given incorrectly as having significantly less meanness and in case of an error indicated a significantly higher certainty than controls. Across all of the study participants, performances in irony (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mo>-</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.51</mml:mn></mml:math>) and proverb (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mi>r</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn fontstyle="italic">0.56</mml:mn></mml:math>) comprehension were significantly correlated with schizotypal personality traits, suggesting a continuum of nonliteral language understanding. Because irony is so frequent in everyday conversations, this makes irony an especially promising candidate for social cognition training in schizophrenia.
Mortality Prediction Using Modern Peptide Biomarkers in Hemodialysis Patients - A Comparative Analysis
2014-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Determination of peptide biomarkers such as troponins, natriuretic peptides or the recently reported FGF23 can be useful to identify hemodialysis patients with a high risk of mortality. However, it is desirable to focus on few robust parameters to warrant their routine application. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;In a prospective cohort study with 239 prevalent hemodialysis patients we studied the prognostic significance of 10 simultaneously determined modern peptide biomarkers (high sensitive troponin I and T, NT-pro-BNP, BNP, MR-pro-ANP, MR-pro-ADM, CT-pro-ET1, copeptin, FGF23 and a-Klotho) and compared them with parameters traditionally associated with mortality (PTH, Ca, Pi, albumin, CRP, cholesterol, AP). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; After a follow-up of 4 years, plasma concentration of troponins, natriuretic peptides, MR-pro-ADM, FGF23 as well as PTH, CRP, AP were significantly higher in deceased patients (n=95). Hazard ratios from cox regression on a continuous scale (doubling of plasma concentration) or relative in tertiles were highest for high sensitive troponins, followed by natriuretic peptides and MR-pro-ADM (1.6-2.0 and 2.3-5.5, resp.). C-indices were also highest for troponins (0.708-0.746), followed by natriuretic peptides (0.706-0.731). Traditional parameters had low c-indices (0.598-0.655). Stepwise cox regression revealed that among all parameters troponin I, NT-pro-BNP, PTH and CRP remained independent predictors of mortality and a composite score had the highest c-index (0.799 [0.740-0.849]). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;Among peptide biomarkers high sensitive troponins and to a lesser extent natriuretic peptides are strong predictors of mortality in asymptomatic hemodialysis patients, followed by markers of mineral-bone disease and inflammation.
Correlative intravital imaging of cGMP signals and vasodilation in mice
2014-01-01

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is an important signaling molecule and drug target in the cardiovascular system. It is well known that stimulation of the vascular nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathway results in vasodilation. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of cGMP signals themselves and the cGMP concentrations within specific cardiovascular cell types in health, disease, and during pharmacotherapy with cGMP-elevating drugs are largely unknown. To facilitate the analysis of cGMP signaling in vivo, we have generated transgenic mice that express fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cGMP sensor proteins. Here, we describe two models of intravital FRET/cGMP imaging in the vasculature of cGMP sensor mice: (1) epifluorescence-based ratio imaging in resistance-type vessels of the cremaster muscle and (2) ratio imaging by multiphoton microscopy within the walls of subcutaneous blood vessels accessed through a dorsal skinfold chamber. Both methods allow simultaneous monitoring of NO-induced cGMP transients and vasodilation in living mice. Detailed protocols of all steps necessary to perform and evaluate intravital imaging experiments of the vasculature of anesthetized mice including surgery, imaging, and data evaluation are provided. An image segmentation approach is described to estimate FRET/cGMP changes within moving structures such as the vessel wall during vasodilation. The methods presented herein should be useful to visualize cGMP or other biochemical signals that are detectable with FRET-based biosensors, such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate or Ca(2+), and to correlate them with respective vascular responses. With further refinement and combination of transgenic mouse models and intravital imaging technologies, we envision an exciting future, in which we are able to "watch" biochemistry, (patho-)physiology, and pharmacotherapy in the context of a living mammalian organism.
Poverty persistence and poverty dynamics
2014-01-01

A considerable part of the poverty that is measured in a single period is transitory rather than persistent. In most countries, only a portion of people who are currently poor are persistently poor. People who are persistently poor or who cycle into and out of poverty should be the main focus of anti-poverty policies. Understanding the characteristics of the persistently poor, and the circumstances and mechanisms associated with entry into and exit from poverty, can help to inform governments about options to reduce persistent poverty. Differences in poverty persistence across countries can shed additional light on possible sources of poverty persistence.
Paleo-Pacific Subduction in the Interior of Eastern China: Evidence from Adakitic Rocks in the Edong-Jiurui District
2014-01-01

The Edong-Jiurui district is located more than 1000 km from the current Pacific subduction zone. It is part of the well-known middle and lower Yangtze River Cu-Fe-Au belt in central eastern China. Cu mineralization in this area is spatially and temporally associated with Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks. These rocks exhibit geochemical features of adakites, but their origin is not yet fully understood. To explore the relationship between Cu mineralization and Mesozoic magmatism, we report geochemical, Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic, and zircon U-Pb age data from adakitic rocks in the Edong-Jiurui area. Zircon U-Pb ages point to a protracted period of magmatic activity from 151 to 139 Ma. This time span coincides with the Cu mineralization (146–137 Ma) in the middle and lower Yangtze River belt. Adakitic features of the rocks are displayed by high contents of SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, and Sr; enrichment of light rare earth elements (REEs) and large-ion lithophile elements; depletion of heavy REEs; positive Sr and negative Nb, Ta, and Ti anomalies; and high Sr/Y and La/Yb ratios. We favor a model of melt segregation from a plagioclase-free and garnet-bearing residue. Compared to non-Cu-bearing Mesozoic adakitic rocks in the Dabie terrane, adakitic rocks in the Edong-Jiurui area have higher initial εNd values (−3.4 to −6.3), Pb isotopic ratios, and Th contents and lower Pb/Ce values. Altogether, these features indicate that the melts were probably derived from subducted ocean mixed with marine sediment.
Analyses of the mouthpart kinematics in Periplaneta americana (Blattodea, Blattidae) by using Synchrotron-based X-ray cineradiography
2014-01-01

Abstract The kinematics of the biting and chewing mouthparts of insects is a complex interaction of various components forming multiple jointed chains. The novel technique of in vivo cineradiography by means of Synchrotron radiation was used to elucidate the motion cycles in the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Digital X-ray footage sequences were used in order to calculate pre-defined angles and distances, each representing characteristic aspects of the movement pattern. We were able to analyze the interactions of the mouthpart components and to generate a functional model of maxillary movement by integrating kinematic results, morphological dissections, and fluorescence microscopy. During the opening and closing cycles that take 450-500 ms on average, we found strong correlations between the measured maxillary and mandibular angles, indicating a strong neural coordination of these movements, as manifested by strong antiphasic courses of the maxillae and the mandibles and antiphasic patterns of the rotation of the cardo about its basic articulation at the head and by the deflection between the cardo and stipes. In our functional model of the maxilla, its movement pattern is explained by the antagonistic activity of five adductor / promotor muscles and one adductor / remotor muscle. However, beyond the observed intersegmental and bilateral stereotypy, certain amounts of variation across subsequent cycles within a sequence were observed with respect to the degree of correlation between the various mouthparts and the maximum, minimum, and time course of the angular movements. Although generally correlated with the movement pattern of the mandibles and the maxillary cardo-stipes complex, such plastic behavior was especially observed in the maxillary palpi and the labium.
Implications of glycoprotein VI for theranostics
2014-01-01

Summary Glycoprotein VI (GPVI), a membrane glycoprotein solely expressed in platelets and megakaryocytes, plays a critical role in thrombus formation due to collagen/GPVI-mediated platelet activation and adhesion. Recent studies have shown that surface expression of GPVI on circulating platelets is enhanced in acute cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke. Increased GPVI levels are associated with poor clinical outcome and are an early indicator for imminent myocardial infarction in patients with chest pain. The soluble form of the dimeric GPVI fusion protein (sGPVI-Fc) binds with high affinity to collagen and atherosclerotic plaque tissue. Non-invasive imaging studies with radiolabelled sGPVI-Fc show specific binding activity to vascular lesions in vivo. Further, sGPVI-Fc has been developed as a new therapeutic platelet-based strategy for lesion-directed antithrombotic therapy. This review summarises the potential of GPVI for diagnostic and therapeutic options based on novel non-invasive molecular imaging modalities to ameliorate care of patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Interruption of classic CD40L-CD40 signalling but not of the novel CD40L-Mac-1 interaction limits arterial neointima formation in mice
2014-01-01

Summary The co-stimulatory immune molecule CD40L figures prominently in a variety of inflammatory conditions including arterial disease. Recently, we made the surprising finding that CD40L mediates atherogenesis independently of its classic receptor CD40 via a novel interaction with the leukocyte integrin Mac-1. Here, we hypothesised that selective blockade of the CD40L-Mac-1 interaction may also retard restenosis. We induced neointima formation in C57/BL6 mice by ligation of the left carotid artery. Mice were randomised to daily intraperitoneal injections of either cM7, a small peptide selectively inhibiting the CD40L-Mac-1 interaction, scM7, a scrambled control peptide, or saline for 28 days. Interestingly, cM7-treated mice developed neointima of similar size compared with mice receiving the control peptide or saline as assessed by computer-assisted analysis of histological cross sections. These data demonstrate that the CD40L-Mac-1 interaction is not required for the development of restenosis. In contrast, CD40-deficient mice subjected to carotid ligation in parallel, developed significantly reduced neointimal lesions compared with respective wild-type controls (2872 ± 843 μm2 vs 35469 ± 11870 μm2). Flow cytometry in CD40-deficient mice revealed reduced formation of platelet-granulocyte and platelet-inflammatory monocyte-aggregates. In vitro, supernatants of CD40-deficient platelet-leukocyte aggregates attenuated proliferation and increased apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. Unlike in the setting of atherosclerosis, CD40L mediates neointima formation via its classic receptor CD40 rather than via its recently described novel interaction with Mac-1. Therefore, selective targeting of CD40L-Mac-1 binding does not appear to be a favorable strategy to fight restenosis.
Homozygosity mapping reveals new nonsense mutation in the FAM161A gene causing autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa in a Palestinian family.
2014-01-01

We identified an RP28-linked RP family in the Palestinian population caused by a novel nonsense mutation in FAM161A. RP in this family shows a typical disease onset with moderate to rapid progression into severe visual impairment including central vision in the index and overall milder symptoms in the younger brother and sister.
Excursions of excited random walks on integers
2014-01-01

Several phase transitions for excited random walks on the integers are known to be characterized by a certain drift parameter . For recurrence/transience the critical threshold is , for ballisticity it is and for diffusivity . In this paper we establish a phase transition at . We show that the expected return time of the walker to the starting point, conditioned on return, is finite iff . This result follows from an explicit description of the tail behaviour of the return time as a function of , which is achieved by diffusion approximation of related branching processes by squared Bessel processes.
Weathering of cobalt arsenides: Natural assemblages and calculated stability relations among secondary Ca-Mg-Co arsenates and carbonates
2014-01-01

The supergene alteration of cobalt arsenides produces various characteristic mineral assemblages including erythrite, pharmacolite, and other Ca±Mg±Co-bearing arsenates, which upon precipitation remove Co and As from natural waters. Their paragenetic relationships and stability conditions have not been investigated in detail. We present a detailed study on these assemblages, their successions and coexisting fluid compositions from the mining area of Wittichen, southwest Germany, where primary skutterudite and safflorite in granite-hosted barite-calcite veins are undergoing oxidation. Water analyses from the old mines, a semi-quantitative stability diagram and quantitative reaction path modeling are used to constrain their conditions of formation.