julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Quality‐of‐life in wasp venom allergy – validation of the German version of the “Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire” (VQLQ‐d)
2011-03-10

Summary Background: Little is known about the quality of life of patients who are allergic to insect venom. This fact is due to the lack of specific instruments assessing the interaction of type 1 allergy and its psychological burden. Patients and methods: The only established questionnaire on health‐related quality‐of‐life in patients with wasp venom allergies is the “Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire” (VQLQ). This questionnaire was translated from Dutch into German and validated with 79 patients with wasp venom allergy, including the use of the well‐established general quality‐of‐life questionnaire WHOQOL‐BREF. Results: In the German version VQLQ‐d we could reproduce the validity and reliability of the original Dutch version. Cronbach's alpha of the VQLQ‐d was α= 0.95. The results of the VQLQ‐d corresponded to the total score of the WHOQOL‐BREF. Conclusion: The VQLQ‐d enables measurement of quality‐of‐life in patients with wasp venom allergy in the German‐speaking population. This economic tool makes it possible to better describe and treat affected patients. Furthermore, it can be used to advance research in this field.
Impact of bias in serum free beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A multiples of the median levels on first‐trimester screening for trisomy 21
2011-03-11

Abstract Objective To examine the effect of bias in median multiples of the median (MoM) levels of pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A) and free beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) on first‐trimester combined screening for trisomy 21. Methods The effects of deviations in the MoM levels of free β‐hCG and PAPP‐A were investigated by simulating nuchal translucency (NT) at 12 weeks and MoM values for PAPP‐A and free β‐hCG for 500 000 euploid and 500 000 trisomy 21 pregnancies at 9 and at 12 weeks of gestation. Likelihoods were calculated using the mixture model for NT and the standard Gaussian model for log MoM PAPP‐A and free β‐hCG values. Deviations in MoM marker levels were simulated by applying percentage changes of 5% to 20% to MoM values. Detection and false‐positive rates were calculated with and without adjustments of the maternal serum marker levels by taking the proportion of euploid and aneuploid cases above given thresholds for each maternal age and then taking a weighted average with respect to the maternal age distribution. Results With median MoM levels on target, the modeled detection and false‐positive rates in combined screening for trisomy 21 at 12 weeks of gestation with a fixed risk cut‐off of 1 in 100 were 85% and 2.5%, respectively. For median MoM levels of free β‐hCG and PAPP‐A between 0.8 and 1.2 MoM, detection rates ranged from 77% to 91%, with corresponding false‐positive rates ranging from 1.0% to 6.1%. Conclusion In first‐trimester screening for trisomy 21, biases in the serum marker MoM levels of 10% can increase false‐positive rates by over 50%, whilst biases of 20% can more than double false‐positive rates. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.
Stable Charged Cosmic Strings
2011-03-11

We study the quantum stabilization of a cosmic string by a heavy fermion doublet in a reduced version of the standard model. We show that charged strings, obtained by populating fermionic bound state levels, become stable if the electroweak bosons are coupled to a fermion that is less than twice as heavy as the top quark. This result suggests that extraordinarily large fermion masses or unrealistic couplings are not required to bind a cosmic string in the standard model. Numerically we find the most favorable string profile to be a simple trough in the Higgs vacuum expectation value of radius ≈10(-18) m. The vacuum remains stable in our model, because neutral strings are not energetically favored.
Species richness and seasonality of bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in a restinga area in Santa Catarina, southern Brazil
2011-03-13

Species richness and seasonality of a bee community were studied in a restinga area in Palhoça, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Twice a month during a year, from September 2004 to September 2005, bees were collected on flowers, in flight and with trap-nests. A total of 784 individuals belonging to 64 species of the families Apidae, Colletidae, Halictidae and Megachilidae were collected. Halictidae was the most rich and abundant family, followed by Apidae. Species richness peaks in summer whereas only a few species of Apidae and mainly Halictidae were active in the coldest months of the year. This clear seasonal pattern of activity appears to be a general characteristic of subtropical bee communities in Brazil. Comparison with others studies in restinga of Santa Catarina was made, as also the total apifauna of restinga in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná are presented.
Effects of 4-week very-high-fructose/glucose diets on insulin sensitivity, visceral fat and intrahepatic lipids: an exploratory trial
2011-03-14

An increasing amount of fructose in the diet is suggested to play a causal role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver. Our aim was to investigate and compare the effects of very high fructose and very high glucose in hyperenergetic diets on glucose and lipid metabolism and on fat depots in healthy humans. We conducted an exploratory, prospective, randomised, single-blinded, intervention trial. Participants in addition to a balanced weight-maintaining diet received 150 g of fructose or glucose/d for 4 weeks. Insulin sensitivity was estimated from oral glucose tolerance tests. Visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat was determined with MRI. Liver fat and intramyocellular lipids of the tibialis anterior muscle were measured with 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A total of twenty healthy subjects (fructose group n 10 and glucose group n 10; twelve males and eight females) completed the study. They had a mean age of 30·5 ( sem 2·0) years and a mean BMI of 25·9 ( sem 0·5) kg/m 2 . Insulin sensitivity appeared to decrease both in the fructose and glucose groups. TAG markedly increased in the fructose group. No strong alterations or treatment effects were found for liver fat, visceral fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat and intramyocellular lipids of the tibialis anterior muscle. In conclusion, the effects of very high fructose and very high glucose in hyperenergetic diets on glucose metabolism and body fat composition were not different in the healthy participants of the present study. However, elevation of plasma TAG seemed to be fructose-specific.
Gold Nanocone Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Probes
2011-03-14

Near-field scanning optical microscopy enables the simultaneous topographical and subdiffraction limited optical imaging of surfaces. A process is presented for the implementation of single individually engineered gold cones at the tips of atomic force microscopy cantilevers. These cantilevers act as novel high-performance optical near-field probes. In the fabrication, thin-film metallization, electron beam induced deposition of etch masks, and Ar ion milling are combined. The cone constitutes a well-defined highly efficient optical antenna with a tip radius on the order of 10 nm and an adjustable plasmon resonance frequency. The sharp tip enables high resolution topographical imaging. By controllably varying the cone size, the resonance frequency can be adapted to the application of choice. Structural properties of these sharp-tipped probes are presented together with topographical images recorded with a cone probe. The antenna functionality is demonstrated by gathering the near-field enhanced Raman signature of individual carbon nanotubes with a gold cone scanning probe.
Streptomyces cocklensis sp. nov., a dioxamycin-producing actinomycete
2011-03-14

The taxonomic position of a streptomycete isolated from soil collected from Cockle Park Experimental Farm, Northumberland, UK, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemical and morphological features consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis supported classification of the strain in the genus Streptomyces and showed that it formed a distinct phyletic line loosely associated with members of the Streptomyces yeochonensis clade. It was related most closely to Streptomyces paucisporeus 1413 T (98.6 %16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), but could be distinguished from the latter based on the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness (40 %). It was readily distinguished from the type strains of all species assigned to the S. yeochonensis clade based on a combination of phenotypic properties. Strain BK168 T ( = KACC 20908 T = NCIMB 14704 T ) should therefore be classified as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces cocklensis sp. nov. is proposed. The organism produces the antibiotic dioxamycin.
The phosphopantetheinyl transferase KirP activates the ACP and PCP domains of the kirromycin NRPS/PKS of Streptomyces collinus Tü 365
2011-03-14

The main steps in the biosynthesis of complex secondary metabolites such as the antibiotic kirromycin are catalyzed by modular polyketide synthases (PKS) and/or nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS). During antibiotic assembly, the biosynthetic intermediates are attached to carrier protein domains of these megaenzymes via a phosphopantetheinyl arm. This functional group of the carrier proteins is attached post-translationally by a phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase). No experimental evidence exists about how such an activation of the carrier proteins of the kirromycin PKS/NRPS is accomplished. Here we report on the characterization of the PPTase KirP, which is encoded by a gene located in the kirromycin biosynthetic gene cluster. An inactivation of the kirP gene resulted in a 90% decrease in kirromycin production, indicating a substantial role for KirP in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic. In enzymatic assays, KirP was able to activate both acyl carrier protein and petidyl carrier domains of the kirromycin PKS/NRPS. In addition to coenzyme A (CoA), which is the natural substrate of KirP, the enzyme was able to transfer acyl-phosphopantetheinyl groups to the apo forms of the carrier proteins. Thus, KirP is very flexible in terms of both CoA substrate and carrier protein specificity. Our results indicate that KirP is the main PPTases that activates the carrier proteins in kirromycin biosynthesis.
Enhanced Sorption of PAHs in Natural-Fire-Impacted Sediments from Oriole Lake, California
2011-03-15

Surface sediment cores from Oriole Lake (CA) were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), black carbon (BC), and their δ(13)C isotope ratios. Sediments displayed high OC (20-25%) and increasing BC concentrations from ∼0.40% (in 1800 C.E.) to ∼0.60% dry weight (in 2000 C.E.). Petrographic analysis confirmed the presence of fire-derived carbonaceous particles/BC at ∼2% of total OC. Natural fires were the most likely cause of both elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and enhanced sorption in Oriole Lake sediments prior to 1850, consistent with their tree-ring-based fire history. In contrast to other PAHs, retene and perylene displayed decreasing concentrations during periods with natural fires, questioning their use as fire tracers. The occurrence of natural fires, however, did not result in elevated concentrations of black carbon or chars in the sediments. Only the 1912-2007 sediment layer contained anthropogenic particles, such as soot BC. In this layer, combining OC absorption with adsorption to soot BC (using a Freundlich coefficient n = 0.7) explained the observed sorption well. In the older layers, n needed to be 0.3 and 0.5 to explain the enhanced sorption to the sediments, indicating the importance of natural chars/inertinites in sorbing PAHs. For phenanthrene, values of n differed significantly between sorption to natural chars (0.1-0.4) and sorption to anthropogenic black carbon (>0.5), suggesting it could serve as an in situ probe of sorbents.
Probing the Radiative Transition of Single Molecules with a Tunable Microresonator
2011-03-16

Using a tunable optical microresonator with subwavelength spacing, we demonstrate controlled modulation of the radiative transition rate of a single molecule, which is measured by monitoring its fluorescence lifetime. Variation of the cavity length changes the local mode structure of the electromagnetic field, which modifies the radiative coupling of an emitting molecule to that field. By comparing the experimental data with a theoretical model, we extract both the pure radiative transition rate as well as the quantum yield of individual molecules. We observe a broad scattering of quantum yield values from molecule to molecule, which reflects the strong variation of the local interaction of the observed molecules with their host environment.
New Paleocene–Eocene paleomagnetic results from the foreland of the Southern Alps confirm decoupling of stable Adria from the African plate
2011-03-16

From the "undeformed" foreland of the Southern Alps Paleocene through Early Miocene rocks, mostly biostratigraphically well-dated sediments with sub-horizontal bed attitude were collected for a paleomagnetic study from 23 geographically distributed localities. The samples were subjected to standard paleomagnetic measurements and evaluation. While the Miocene samples are unstable, most of the older localities yielded statistically well-defined paleomagnetic directions. These are interpreted as primary for the compact marls, supported by positive between-locality tilt and reversal tests. This large group of localities is characterized by CCW rotated declinations with respect to the present north. Combined with paleomagnetic directions of corresponding age from stable Istria, these allow definition of the APW for stable Adria for the 61.6-33.9 Ma interval, which is significantly displaced from the coeval segment of the African APW due to the decoupling of the former to the latter by a moderate CCW rotation. This post-Eocene final separation (exact age is not constrained directly, but estimated as end-of-Miocene) was preceded by a small CW rotation of Adria with respect to Africa, suggested by unchanged orientation of the former across the Cretaceous Paleocene boundary, while the latter continued its CCW rotation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Decrease in Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Activity is Linked to the Efficacy of Differentiating Compounds in Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Lines
2011-03-16

Metastasized differentiated thyroid carcinoma is treated by surgery followed by radioiodine remnant ablation. The application of differentiating agents is a possibility of increasing the efficacy of radioiodine therapy. We evaluated DPP IV and aminopeptidase N, both linked to malignancy in thyroid carcinoma, and dipeptidyl peptidase II activities in human follicular thyroid carcinoma cell lines upon treatment with retinol, apicidine, and lovastatin as differentiating agents. Decrease of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) activity may play a role in the differentiating action. In the human cancer cell lines FTC 138 and 238, high DPP IV and low aminopeptidase N activities were recorded. Retinol treatment induced increases in thyroid-specific protein expression [thyroglobulin and sodium-iodide symporter (NIS)], increase in iodide uptake, and decrease in thymidine uptake accompanied by decrease in DPP IV activity. Decreases in DPP IV activities were also seen upon apicidine and lovastatin treatment, which also increased differentiation of the transformed thyrocytes. Our results demonstrate a link between decrease in DPP IV activity and increase in iodide uptake upon stimulation with differentiating agents.
Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of (−)-9-Deoxy-englerin A
2011-03-17

An effective total synthesis of (-)-9-deoxy-englerin (4), an analogue of the natural guaiane sesquiterpene englerin A (1), has been achieved. The synthesis features a transannular epoxide opening to construct the 5,7-fused ring system followed by transannular ether formation with mercury(II) trifluoroacetate.
High shear flow induces migration of adherent human platelets
2011-03-17

Shear forces are generated in all parts of the vascular system and contribute directly and indirectly to vascular disease progression. Endothelial cells are able to adapt to flow conditions, and are known to polarize and migrate in response to shear forces. Platelets exposed to shear stress are activated and release bioactive molecules from their alpha granules. So far, platelets have been considered to be static cells that do not leave the site of tight adhesion. However, we have recently been able to demonstrate the capacity of platelets to migrate in response to stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1). In this project, we have demonstrated that platelets accumulate in areas with a high concentration of SDF-1 under flow conditions and respond to high shear stress by cellular polarization, cytoskeletal reorganisation, and flow-directed migration. In this context, we have shown increased Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP) phosphorylation and intracellular redistribution of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) under high-shear stress conditions. The effect of flow-induced platelet migration has not previously been recognized and offers a new role for platelets as mobile cells. Their migratory potential may enable platelets to cover intimal lesions and contribute to vascular repair.
DETECTION OF X-RAYS FROM THE SYMBIOTIC STAR V1329 Cyg
2011-03-17

We report the detection of X-ray emission from the symbiotic star V1329 Cyg with XMM-Newton. The spectrum from the EPIC pn, MOS1 and MOS2 instruments consists of a two-temperature plasma with k T = 0.11 keV and k T = 0.93 keV. Unlike the vast majority of symbiotic stars detected in X-rays, the soft component of the spectrum seems to be absorbed only by interstellar material. The shock velocities corresponding to the observed temperatures are about 300 km/s and about 900 km/s. We did not find either periodic or aperiodic X-ray variability, with upper limits on the amplitudes of such variations being 46 % and 16 % (rms), respectively. We also did not find any ultraviolet variability with an rms amplitude of more than approximately 1 %. The derived velocities and the unabsorbed nature of the soft component of the X-ray spectrum suggest that some portion of the high energy emission could originate in shocks within a jet and beyond the symbiotic nebula. The lower velocity is consistent with the expansion velocity of the extended structure present in HST observations. The higher velocity could be associated with an internal shock at the base of the jet or with shocks in the accretion region.
Acute Leriche syndrome following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
2011-03-17

aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nephrology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen bDepartment of Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany Received 7 December, 2010 Revised 19 January, 2011 Accepted 28 January, 2011 Correspondence to Christian S. Haas, MD, Department of Medicine I, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany Tel: +49 451 500 5060; fax: +49 451 500 5066; e-mail: [email protected]
Persistence of Disseminated Tumor Cells in the Bone Marrow of Breast Cancer Patients Predicts Increased Risk for Relapse—A European Pooled Analysis
2011-03-18

Abstract Background: The prognostic significance of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow (BM) of breast cancer patients at the time of primary diagnosis has been confirmed by a large pooled analysis. In view of the lack of early indicators for secondary adjuvant treatment, we here evaluated whether the persistence of DTCs after adjuvant therapy increases the risk of subsequent relapse and death. Patients and Methods: Individual patient data from 676 women with primary diagnosis of early breast cancer stages I–III from 3 follow-up studies were pooled. During clinical follow-up, patients underwent BM aspiration (BMA) to determine the presence of DTC. Tumor cells were detected by the standardized immunoassays. Univariate and multivariable proportional hazards models were estimated to assess the prognostic significance of DTC for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Patients were followed for a median of 89 months. BMA was performed at median 37 months after diagnosis of breast cancer. At follow-up BMA, 15.5% of patients had DTCs. The presence of DTC was an independent indicator of poor prognosis for DFS, distant DFS (DDFS), cancer-specific survival, and OS during the first 5 years following cancer diagnosis (log-rank test P &amp;lt; 0.001 values for all investigated endpoints). Conclusion: Among breast cancer patients, persistent DTCs during follow-up significantly predicted the increased risk for subsequent relapse and death. Analysis of DTC might serve as a clinically useful monitoring tool and should be tested as an indicator for secondary adjuvant treatment intervention within clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res; 17(9); 2967–76. ©2011 AACR.
Circulating Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1–3 Isoform Increases Renal Fibrosis
2011-03-18

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) participate in organ regeneration through autocrine and paracrine actions, but the existence and effects of these proteins in the systemic circulation is unknown. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we identified BMP6, GDF15, and the BMP1-3 isoform of the Bmp1 gene in plasma samples from healthy volunteers and patients with CKD. We isolated the endogenous BMP1-3 protein and demonstrated that it circulates as an active enzyme, evidenced by its ability to cleave dentin matrix protein-1 in vitro. In rats with CKD, administration of recombinant BMP1-3 increased renal fibrosis and reduced survival. In contrast, administration of a BMP1-3-neutralizing antibody reduced renal fibrosis, preserved renal function, and increased survival. In addition, treating with the neutralizing antibody was associated with low plasma levels of TGFβ1 and connective tissue growth factor. In HEK293 cells and remnant kidneys, BMP1-3 increased the transcription of collagen type I, TGFβ1, β-catenin, and BMP7 via a BMP- and Wnt-independent mechanism that involved signaling through an integrin β1 subunit. The profibrotic effect of BMP1-3 may, in part, be a result of the accompanied decrease in decorin (DCN) expression. Taken together, inhibition of circulating BMP1-3 reduces renal fibrosis, suggesting that this pathway may be a therapeutic target for CKD.
Effects of Zwitterionic Buffers on Sorption of Ferrous Iron at Goethite and Its Oxidation by CCl4
2011-03-18

A major factor which controls sorption and oxidation of Fe(II) at the mineral-water interface is pH, hence buffers are commonly used to control pH in experimental studies. Here, we examined the effects of widely used organic buffers (3-morpholinopropane-1-sulfonic acid (MOPS) and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)) on Fe(II) uptake and oxidation by CCl(4) in aqueous suspensions of goethite. Significant sorption of these zwitterionic buffers occurred only at Fe(II)-loaded goethite but not at native goethite. The addition of MOPS and HEPES caused substantial release of Fe(II) from goethite, retarded the oxidation of surface-bound Fe(II) by CCl(4) and changed the reaction pathway as indicated by lower yields of CHCl(3). To explore electrostatic and steric contributions of MOPS and HEPES to the observed phenomena we studied sorption and competitive effects of model sorbates (Ca(2+), sulfonates) which suggest the formation of a complex between surface-bound Fe(II) and MOPS or HEPES. Our study shows for the first time that these frequently used zwitterionic organic buffers may interfere significantly with the surface chemistry and thus with redox reactions of Fe(II) at goethite. Hence, kinetic or mechanistic information obtained in such systems requires careful interpretation.