julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Geochemical and Sr-Nd Isotopic Characteristics of Post-Collisional Calc-Alkaline Volcanics in the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey)
2011-01-01

Major, trace element, K-Ar age and Sr-Nd isotopic data are presented for the Eocene Torul volcanics in the eastern Pontide orogenic belt (NE Turkey). The studied rocks are composed of basaltic andesitic, andesitic, trachyandesitic, and minor trachydacitic lavas associated with their pyroclastics. These rocks contain plagioclase (An2-44), hornblende (Mg#= 0.78-0.98), clinopyroxene (Wo43-46 En41-43 Fs10-15), biotite, quartz, and minor sanidine phenocrysts. K-Ar ages on hornblendes ages range from 43.99 (±2.59) to 33.45 (±2.32) Ma, within the Middle to Late Eocene. The volcanic rocks show calc-alkaline affinities and have medium to high K contents. They are enriched in large ion lithophile (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), with pronounced depletion of high field strength elements (HFSE). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns (Lacn/Lucn= 4.0-9.8) show low to medium enrichment, indicating similar sources for the rock suite. Initial 87Sr/86Sr values vary between 0.70457 and 0.70511 and initial 143Nd/144Nd values between 0.51264 and 0.51278. The main solidification processes involved in the evolution of the volcanics consist of fractional crystallization with minor amounts of crustal contamination ± magma mixing. All evidence supports the conclusion that the parental magma(s) of the rocks probably derived from an enriched upper mantle, previously modified by subduction- induced metasomatism in a post-collisional geodynamic setting.
Quercetin Protects Primary Human Osteoblasts Exposed to Cigarette Smoke through Activation of the Antioxidative Enzymes HO-1 and SOD-1
2011-01-01

Smokers frequently suffer from impaired fracture healing often due to poor bone quality and stability. Cigarette smoking harms bone cells and their homeostasis by increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether Quercetin, a naturally occurring antioxidant, can protect osteoblasts from the toxic effects of smoking. Human osteoblasts exposed to cigarette smoke medium (CSM) rapidly produced ROS and their viability decreased concentration- and time-dependently. Co-, pre- and postincubation with Quercetin dose-dependently improved their viability. Quercetin increased the expression of the anti-oxidative enzymes heme-oxygenase- (HO-) 1 and superoxide-dismutase- (SOD-) 1. Inhibiting HO-1 activity abolished the protective effect of Quercetin. Our results demonstrate that CSM damages human osteoblasts by accumulation of ROS. Quercetin can diminish this damage by scavenging the radicals and by upregulating the expression of HO-1 and SOD-1. Thus, a dietary supplementation with Quercetin could improve bone matter, stability and even fracture healing in smokers.
Metamorphic evolution of the Tethyan Himalayan flysch in SE Tibet
2011-01-01

Abstract The metamorphic conditions and the age of thermal overprint were determined in metapelites, metaarenites and metabasites of the Tethyan Himalayan Sequence (THS) in SE Tibet using Kübler Index and vitrinite reflectance data and applying thermobarometrical (Thermocalc and PERPLEX) and geochronological methods (illite/muscovite K–Ar and zircon and apatite (U–Th)/He chronology). The multiple folded thrust pile experienced a thermal overprint reaching locally peak conditions between the diagenetic stage ( c . 170 °C) and the amphibolite facies ( c . 600 °C at 10 kbar). Burial diagenesis and heating due to Early Cretaceous dyke emplacement triggered the growth of illite in the metapelites. Eocene collision-related peak metamorphic conditions have been reached at c . 44 Ma. During collision the different tectonic blocks of the THS were tectonically buried to different structural levels so that they experienced maximum greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism. Later, during Oligocene to Miocene times the entire THS underwent anchi- to epizonal metamorphic conditions, probably associated to continuous deformation in the flysch fold-thrust-system. This period terminated at c . 24–22 Ma. Adjacent to the north Himalayan metamorphic domes, the base of the THS was metamorphosed during Miocene times ( c . 13 Ma). Post-metamorphic cooling below c . 180 °C lasted until Late Miocene and took place at different times.
A combination of transcriptome and methylation analyses reveals embryologically-relevant candidate genes in MRKH patients
2011-01-01

Our study used, for the first time, a combined whole-genome expression and methylation approach to reveal the etiology of the MRKH syndrome. The findings suggest that either deficient estrogen receptors or the ectopic expression of certain HOXA genes might lead to abnormal development of the female reproductive tract. In utero exposure to endocrine disruptors or abnormally high maternal hormone levels might cause ectopic expression or anterior transformation of HOXA genes. It is, however, also possible that different factors influence the anti-Mullerian hormone promoter activity during embryological development causing regression of the Müllerian ducts. Thus, our data stimulate new research directions to decipher the pathogenic basis of MRKH syndrome.
The Antimicrobial Skin Barrier in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
2011-01-01

Keratinocytes represent the major cell population in the epithelial skin barrier and actively participate in innate immune responses by recognizing pathogenic microorganisms, followed by a fine-tuned production of cytokines, chemokines and antimicrobial peptides or proteins (AMPs). Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) suffer from a defective permeability barrier which favors pathogen infection indicating that the permeability and antimicrobial barrier functions are interdependent. Several early studies showed that the inducible AMPs LL-37, HBD-2 and HBD-3 are expressed at lower levels in atopic skin compared to psoriatic skin. However, recent data indicate that AMP induction is not compromised in AD patients and that several AMPs are expressed at significantly higher amounts in AD compared to healthy skin. AD patients have an increased susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus skin infection suggesting that AMP levels expressed by keratinocytes of AD patients might not be sufficient to combat pathogenic skin infection or that AMP function is disturbed. Increasing AMP expression in AD skin and repairing the skin barrier defect might have a therapeutic effect in AD patients enabling the skin to mount an enhanced response to pathogens.
Mapping spikes to sensations
2011-01-01

Single-unit recordings conducted during perceptual decision-making tasks have yielded tremendous insights into the neural coding of sensory stimuli. In such experiments, detection or discrimination behavior (the psychometric data) is observed in parallel with spike trains in sensory neurons (the neurometric data). Frequently, candidate neural codes for information read-out are pitted against each other by transforming the neurometric data in some way and asking which code's performance most closely approximates the psychometric performance. The code that matches the psychometric performance best is retained as a viable candidate and the others are rejected. In following this strategy, psychometric data is often considered to provide an unbiased measure of perceptual sensitivity. It is rarely acknowledged that psychometric data result from a complex interplay of sensory and non-sensory processes and that neglect of these processes may result in misestimating psychophysical sensitivity. This again may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the adequacy of candidate neural codes. In this review, we first discuss requirements on the neural data for a subsequent neurometric-psychometric comparison. We then focus on different psychophysical tasks for the assessment of detection and discrimination performance and the cognitive processes that may underlie their execution. We discuss further factors that may compromise psychometric performance and how they can be detected or avoided. We believe that these considerations point to shortcomings in our understanding of the processes underlying perceptual decisions, and therefore offer potential for future research.
A multicentre RCT on community occupational therapy in Alzheimer's disease: 10 sessions are not better than one consultation
2011-01-01

Objective To compare the benefits and harms of a Dutch 10-session Community Occupational Therapy programme for patients with Alzheimer's disease with the impact of a one session consultation at home in German routine healthcare. Design A seven-centre, parallel group, active controlled randomised controlled trial. Patients and carers were not masked. Assessors were fully blind for treatment allocation for one of two primary-outcome measurements. Setting Patients' homes. Participants Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (Mini-Mental State Examination 14–24), living in the community with primary carer available and without severe depression or behavioural symptoms, were eligible. Interventions Experimental 10 home visits within 5 weeks by an occupational therapist, educating patients in the performance of simplified daily activities and in the use of aids to compensate for cognitive decline; and educating carers in coping with behaviour of the patient and in giving supervision to the patient. Control one home visit including individual counselling of patient and carer and explanation of a leaflet on coping with dementia in daily life. Outcome measures The primary outcome was the patient's daily functioning measured with the Interview of Deterioration in Daily activities in Dementia and the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform System of Task Analysis. Assessments were at baseline, 6, 16 and 26 weeks, with a postal assessment at 52 weeks. Results 141 patients were 1:1 randomised to the experimental (N=71) and control group (N=70). Data for 54 and 50 participants were analysed. Patients' daily functioning did not differ significantly between the experimental and control group at week 6, 16, 26 or 52 and remained stable over 26 weeks in both groups. No adverse events were associated with the interventions. Conclusions In German healthcare, a Dutch 10-session community occupational therapy was not better than a one-session consultation for the daily functioning of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Further research on the transfer of complex psychosocial is needed. International Clinical Trials Registry Platform DRKS00000053; Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health.
Reconstructing Stimuli from the Spike Times of Leaky Integrate and Fire Neurons
2011-01-01

Reconstructing stimuli from the spike trains of neurons is an important approach for understanding the neural code. One of the difficulties associated with this task is that signals which are varying continuously in time are encoded into sequences of discrete events or spikes. An important problem is to determine how much information about the continuously varying stimulus can be extracted from the time-points at which spikes were observed, especially if these time-points are subject to some sort of randomness. For the special case of spike trains generated by leaky integrate and fire neurons, noise can be introduced by allowing variations in the threshold every time a spike is released. A simple decoding algorithm previously derived for the noiseless case can be extended to the stochastic case, but turns out to be biased. Here, we review a solution to this problem, by presenting a simple yet efficient algorithm which greatly reduces the bias, and therefore leads to better decoding performance in the stochastic case.
Observed and Predicted Total Pubertal Growth during Treatment with Growth Hormone in Adolescents with Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency, Turner Syndrome, Short Stature, Born Small for Gestational Age and Idiopathic Short Stature: KIGS Analysis and Review
2011-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Background/Aims:&lt;/i&gt; The aim was to describe the factors determining total pubertal growth (TPG) in adolescents with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Turner syndrome (TS), who were small for gestational age (SGA) or had idiopathic short stature (ISS). &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; The patients were documented within KIGS (Pfizer International Growth Database). TPG was defined as growth from puberty onset – spontaneous (&gt;B1 or testes &gt;3 ml) or induced with sex steroids to adult height in idiopathic GHD (n = 639; males 399), TS (n = 463), SGA (n = 59; males 35), and ISS (n = 130; males 87). Algorithms to predict TPG at puberty onset were developed by multiple linear regression analysis. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; In GHD (males, females) and TS TPG could be explained with the same four predictors: (1) age (years) at puberty onset (neg.), (2) age – bone age at puberty onset (pos.), (3) height – midparental height (SDS) at puberty onset (neg.), and (4) mean dose of growth hormone (GH) during puberty (pos.). The algorithms explained 66, 65 and 68%, respectively, of the variability with total errors of 4.5, 3.8 and 2.9 cm, in spontaneous and induced TPG. &lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt; TPG is determined by the same factors at puberty onset in adolescents with GHD, TS, SGA or ISS treated with GH. Thus, TPG depends mostly on the outcomes achieved at the end of prepubertal growth and less so on the dose of GH.
Bounce Rock—A shergottite‐like basalt encountered at Meridiani Planum, Mars
2011-01-01

Abstract– The Opportunity rover of the Mars Exploration Rover mission encountered an isolated rock fragment with textural, mineralogical, and chemical properties similar to basaltic shergottites. This finding was confirmed by all rover instruments, and a comprehensive study of these results is reported here. Spectra from the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and the Panoramic Camera reveal a pyroxene‐rich mineralogy, which is also evident in Mössbauer spectra and in normative mineralogy derived from bulk chemistry measured by the alpha particle X‐ray spectrometer. The correspondence of Bounce Rock’s chemical composition with the composition of certain basaltic shergottites, especially Elephant Moraine (EET) 79001 lithology B and Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94201, is very close, with only Cl, Fe, and Ti exhibiting deviations. Chemical analyses further demonstrate characteristics typical of Mars such as the Fe/Mn ratio and P concentrations. Possible shock features support the idea that Bounce Rock was ejected from an impact crater, most likely in the Meridiani Planum region. Bopolu crater, 19.3 km in diameter, located 75 km to the southwest could be the source crater. To date, no other rocks of this composition have been encountered by any of the rovers on Mars. The finding of Bounce Rock by the Opportunity rover provides further direct evidence for an origin of basaltic shergottite meteorites from Mars.
Aggregation behavior and UV-vis spectra of tetra- and octaglycosylated zinc phthalocyanines
2011-01-01

Several tetra- and octaglycosylated PcZn 's 1a, 2a–2d, 3a-b and 4 were investigated for their aggregation behavior using different concentrations of the PcZn -species in pure DMSO, water and in various DMSO/water mixtures by comparing their UV-vis spectra. The PcZn 's 1–4 are independent of the concentration in pure DMSO and in up to 25 vol.% water/DMSO mixtures are non aggregated. Increasing amounts of water leads to higher aggregation ratios. The aggregation behavior is influenced by the nature and the position of the sugar substituents on the Pc-ring. PcZn 4 was found the least aggregated compound even in pure water.
Transverse spin structure of the nucleon through target single-spin asymmetry in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic (e, e’ $ \\pi^{\\pm}_{}$ ) reaction at Jefferson Lab
2011-01-01

Jefferson Lab (JLab) 12 GeV energy upgrade provides a golden opportunity to perform precision studies of the transverse spin and transverse-momentum-dependent structure in the valence quark region for both the proton and the neutron. In this paper, we focus our discussion on a recently approved experiment on the neutron as an example of the precision studies planned at JLab. The new experiment will perform precision measurements of target Single-Spin Asymmetries (SSA) from semi-inclusive electro-production of charged pions from a 40 cm long transversely polarized ^3He target in deep-inelastic-scattering kinematics using 11 and 8.8 GeV electron beams. This new coincidence experiment in Hall A will employ a newly proposed solenoid spectrometer (SoLID). The large acceptance spectrometer and the high polarized luminosity will provide precise 4D (x , z , PT and Q^2) data on the Collins, Sivers, and pretzelosity asymmetries for the neutron through the azimuthal angular dependence. The full 2π azimuthal angular coverage in the lab is essential in controlling the systematic uncertainties. The results from this experiment, when combined with the proton Collins asymmetry measurement and the Collins fragmentation function determined from the e^+e^- collision data, will allow for a quark flavor separation in order to achieve a determination of the tensor charge of the d quark to a 10% accuracy. The extracted Sivers and pretzelosity asymmetries will provide important information to understand the correlations between the quark orbital angular momentum and the nucleon spin and between the quark spin and nucleon spin.
Perception-motivated interpolation of image sequences
2011-01-01

We present a method for image interpolation that is able to create high-quality, perceptually convincing transitions between recorded images. By implementing concepts derived from human vision, the problem of a physically correct image interpolation is relaxed to that of image interpolation which is perceived as visually correct by human observers. We find that it suffices to focus on exact edge correspondences, homogeneous regions and coherent motion to compute convincing results. A user study confirms the visual quality of the proposed image interpolation approach. We show how each aspect of our approach increases perceived quality of the result. We compare the results to other methods and assess achievable quality for different types of scenes.
Methods Employed for Induction and Analysis of Experimental Myocardial Infarction in Mice
2011-01-01

Myocardial ischemia und subsequent reperfusion is followed by a complex sequence of pathophysiological responses involving inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine release as well as postinfarction wound healing and myocardial tissue remodeling. With the development of gene targeted mice the contribution of individual gene products to the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion can be defined leading to an increasing interest in the widely-used mouse model of myocardial infarction. This methological paper describes in detail the required equipment, surgical instruments, drugs and additional material, the methods of anesthesia and analgesia, the procedures involved in preparation of the animal, tracheotomy, intubation, thoracotomy, occlusion of the left descending artery, removal of the heart, determination of infarct size, analysis of cardiac functional parameters with echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as determination of the morphological consequences utilizing gelatin zymography, histology and immunohistochemistry.
Exploring the Neural Basis of Real-Life Joint Action: Measuring Brain Activation during Joint Table Setting with Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
2011-01-01

Many every-day life situations require two or more individuals to execute actions together. Assessing brain activation during naturalistic tasks to uncover relevant processes underlying such real-life joint action situations has remained a methodological challenge. In the present study, we introduce a novel joint action paradigm that enables the assessment of brain activation during real-life joint action tasks using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). We monitored brain activation of participants who coordinated complex actions with a partner sitting opposite them. Participants performed table setting tasks, either alone (solo action) or in cooperation with a partner (joint action), or they observed the partner performing the task (action observation). Comparing joint action and solo action revealed stronger activation (higher [oxy-Hb]-concentration) during joint action in a number of areas. Among these were areas in the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) that additionally showed an overlap of activation during action observation and solo action. Areas with such a close link between action observation and action execution have been associated with action simulation processes. The magnitude of activation in these IPL areas also varied according to joint action type and its respective demand on action simulation. The results validate fNIRS as an imaging technique for exploring the functional correlates of interindividual action coordination in real-life settings and suggest that coordinating actions in real-life situations requires simulating the actions of the partner.
Acteoside and related phenylethanoid glycosides in Byblis liniflora Salisb. plants propagated in vitro and its systematic significance
2011-01-01

From plantlets of &lt;em&gt;Byblis liniflora &lt;/em&gt;Salisb. (Byblidaceae), propagated by in vitro culture, four phenylethanoid glycosides - acteoside, isoacteoside, desrhamnosylacteoside and desrhamnosylisoacteoside were isolated. The presence of acteoside substantially supports a placement of the family Byblidaceae in order Scrophulariales and subclass Asteridae. Moreover, the genera containing acteoside are listed; almost all of them appear to belong to the order Scrophulariales.
Hydrogen sensors on the basis of SnO2-TiO2 systems
2011-01-01

In this study we compare sensor responses to H2 in air using two types of sensing materials: SnO2 bulk doped with TiO2 and mechanical mixtures of SnO2 and TiO2. The materials were analyzed in the broad range of working temperatures and H2 concentrations. Thermal stability of SnO2 bulk doped with TiO2 was studied by in-situ XRD at 700 °C.
Subcutaneous Immunotherapy with a Depigmented Polymerized Birch Pollen Extract – A New Therapeutic Option for Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
2011-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt; Birch pollen is an important outdoor allergen able to aggravate symptoms in atopic dermatitis (AD). Specific immunotherapy (SIT), an established procedure for allergic airway diseases, might also represent an attractive therapeutic option for the causal treatment of allergen-triggered cutaneous symptoms in these patients. Studies with house dust mite SIT have already shown beneficial effects in AD patients, whereas the safety and efficacy of SIT with birch pollen extract in AD patients have not been studied so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time the safety and efficacy of SIT with a depigmented polymerized birch pollen extract in AD patients. &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; Fifty-five adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD and clinically relevant sensitization to birch pollen received SIT for 12 weeks. SIT was continued during birch pollen season. The assessment of safety, the total SCORAD value, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were evaluated. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; The median total SCORAD value was reduced by 34% (p &lt; 0.001) during the course of treatment and the mean DLQI improved by 49% (p &lt; 0.001) despite strong simultaneous birch pollen exposure. Eight patients (14.5%) developed systemic reactions and 19 patients (34.5%) developed local reactions which were of mild intensity in most cases. No patient discontinued the study prematurely due to adverse drug reactions. Coseasonal treatment was well tolerated. &lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt; SIT with a depigmented polymerized birch pollen extract leads to significant improvement of the SCORAD value and the DLQI in patients suffering from moderate-to-severe AD sensitized to birch pollen.