julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Localization of the calcium channel subunits Cav1.2 (alpha1C) and Cav2.3 (alpha1E) in the mouse organ of Corti.
2003-10-01

Voltage-activated Ca2+ channels play an important role in synaptic transmission, signal processing and development. The immunohistochemical localization of Cav1.2 (alpha1C) and Cav2.3 (alpha1E) Ca2+ channels was studied in the developing and adult mouse organ of Corti using subunit-specific antibodies and fluorescent secondary antibodies with cochlear cryosections. Cav1.2 immunoreactivity has been detected from postnatal day 14 (P14) onwards at the synapses between cholinergic medial efferents and outer hair cells as revealed by co-staining with anti-synaptophysin and anti-choline acetyltransferase. Most likely the Cav1.2 immunoreactivity was located presynaptically at the site of contact of the efferent bouton with the outer hair cell which suggests a role for class C L-type Ca2+ channels in synaptic transmission of the medial efferent system. The localization of the second Ca2+ channel tested, Cav2.3, showed a pronounced change during cochlear development. From P2 until P10, Cav2.3 immunoreactivity was found in the outer spiral bundle followed by the inner spiral bundle, efferent endings and by medial efferent fibers. Around P14, Cav2.3 immunoreactivity disappeared from these structures and from P19 onwards it was observed in the basal poles of the outer hair cell membranes.
Simultaneous analysis of interleukin-10 gene microsatellites and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in parallel with tumour necrosis factor and interferon-gamma short tandem repeats by fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction
2003-10-01

Different cytokine genotypes exist in the population, for example, as a result of selective pressure of infectious diseases. It may be that specific cytokine genotypes that are beneficial by creating a 'proinflammatory' phenotype predispose to severe inflammatory disease with worse clinical outcome. There is individual variation in the production of certain cytokines in relation to their genotypes. IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha are key components in the regulation of immune responses and the balance of their expression levels is predictive in certain diseases. To describe cytokine genotypes, a one-tube PCR reaction was developed to analyse simultaneously DNA sequence variations of cytokine genes IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF. This multiplex PCR approach was used to provide genotypic data for two geographically independent donor groups from Germany and Gabon. Significant differences were obtained for the majority of sequence variations comparing both populations. However, the SNPs within the 5'-flanking region of the IL-10 gene at position -1087 and -6208 are comparable in their genic and genotypic behaviour. Comparing allelic and genotypic disequilibrium between pairs of loci revealed different association patterns for both populations according to the geographical polymorphism. This assay may improve immunogenetic studies in disease, characterized by disbalanced IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha expression.
Goal-Directed Hand Movements Are Not Affected by the Biased Space Representation in Spatial Neglect
2003-10-01

Abstract Patients with spatial neglect exhibit a severe shift of spontaneous explorative movements to the right side, indicating a bias of long-living representations of space. Whether or not goal-directed movements likewise are affected by this rightward bias has been controversially discussed throughout the last decade. Unfortunately, substantial differences regarding patient selection and data analysis prevented a direct comparison of these results. We thus studied pointing movements in a new sample of subjects covering all different patient groups previously investigated on this issue. We analyzed all the different measures of hand path curvature used so far and, in addition, suggest a new measure that avoids the disadvantages of the previously used parameters. Despite their severe bias for exploratory movements, we did not find systematic, direction-specific deviations of goal-directed hand movements that were specific for the patients with spatial neglect. The results strongly suggest that the disturbance of long-living spatial representations underlying the bias of exploratory behavior in patients with neglect does not influence the performance of goal-directed movements. The data support the view of a dual mode of space representation in the posterior parietal and the superior temporal cortex.
Bowman–Birk protease inhibitor activates DNA‐dependent protein kinase and reduces formation of radiation‐induced dicentric chromosomes
2003-10-01

It was observed that BBI exerts its radioprotective effect by a reduction of incorrect DNA repair, resulting in a reduced amount of dicentric chromosomes. This effect on the fidelity of DNA repair is TP53 dependent and correlated with induction of DNA-PK activity.
Regulation of nitrogen monoxide production in human malaria
2003-10-01

The production of nitrogen monoxide (NO(*)) contributes to defence mechanisms of the immune system to fight infectious agents like bacteria and protozoa. The respective gene producing the NO(*) has to be carefully regulated so that an overwhelming response kills the pathogen but does not harm the host. A strong increase in the NO(*) production for efficient anti-microbial activity is achieved by the transcriptional up-regulation of the nitric oxide synthase 2 gene (NOS2 or inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNOS), which is regulated by a number of transcription factors that are vital in the regulation of many genes involved in the immune response. Binding sites for members of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP1) families have been detected and seem to fulfil their function in vitro. Genetic variants of the iNOS genes have been identified that are linked to NO(*) production and to the outcome of malaria in humans.
Controller estimation for FPGA target architectures during high-level synthesis
2003-10-01

In existing synthesis systems, the influence of the area and delay of the controller is not or not sufficiently taken into account. But the controller can have a big influence, especially, if a certain data-path realization requires a huge number of states and/or con trol signals. This paper presents a new approach on controller estimation during high-level synthesis for FPGA-based target architectures. The estimator, presented in this paper can be invoked after or during every synthesis-step, i.e. allocation, scheduling and binding, respectively. By considering the control ler influence on the overall area of a design, design space explo ration can be made more accurate and less error prone. We present an approach for estimating area of the controller based on information which are easily accessible during each step of high-level synthesis, so no explicit description of the controller, which usually will be generated after the binding, is necessary. This is particularly valuable in the allocation phase, where intensive design space explorations have to be done, based on fast and accurate estimates.
Checking temporal properties in SystemC specifications
2003-10-01

Today's system designs consist of multiple architectural components, software as well as hardware. The ability to specify and verify these systems at a high level of abstraction is a key competence to cope with the increasing design complexity. C/C++ based approaches on system specification and design are becoming more and more important. They provide a common platform for system designers, hardware and software engineers, and allow a high-performant simulation of system's behavior during the whole design process. The leading approach for C++ based system specification is SystemC which is on the step of becoming a de facto standard in industrial system-level design. Generally, within SystemC the testbench of a design will also be specified in SystemC, which results in a tight coupling of the design and the corresponding test environment. On the other hand, only rudimentary testbench support is given in SystemC and sophisticated features of today's testbench environments are missing. The checking of temporal properties is one of the core requirements in the area of functional verification and is not supported by the standard SystemC language. This paper addresses that important problem. It shows strategies for checking temporal properties in a SystemC design in terms of an easy-to-understand application, a traffic light controller.
Estimation of Dynamic Bivariate Mixture Models
2003-10-01

This note compares a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approach implemented by Watanabe with a maximum likelihood ML approach based on an efficient importance sampling procedure to estimate dynamic bivariate mixture models. In these models, stock price volatility and trading volume are jointly directed by the unobservable number of price-relevant information arrivals, which is specified as a serially correlated random variable. It is shown that the efficient importance sampling technique is extremely accurate and that it produces results that differ significantly from those reported by Watanabe.
Confocal device and application strategies for endoluminal optical coherence microscopy
2003-10-01

While endoscopic optical coherence tomography has been established successfully in vivo ,implementation of endoluminal optical coherence microscopy remains demanding,s suitable confocal probe is lacking. A miniaturized confocal laser scanning microscope is presented,which fulfills the requirements for endoluminal optical coherence microscopy. First,imaging experience gained for optical coherence microscopy of nimal gastrointestinal tissue samples is described. For this purpose,laboratory scale optical coherence microscope with an image acquisition time of 1min 30 s was employed. Cellular membranes can be identified throughout the gastrointestinal organs. Frequency domain image analysis can be used to distinguish columnar from squamous epithelium. Profilometric information on sample surfaces can be obtained directly as isophase lines. Second, the miniaturized confocal laser scanning microscope is characterized. Having an effective diameter of 25 mm, it houses single-mode optical fiber,scanning mirror and an objective lens. The micro-electro-mechanical mirror with gimballed suspension allows two dimensional scanning without introducing an optical path difference. The sinusoidal movement of both axes has to be considered to approximate cartesian image coordinates. Field geometry is illustrated s function of excitation amplitude and frequency. Acceptable image quality is chieved for frame rate of 0.5 Hz. A strategy to position the focal plane axially within the sample volume is discussed.
A visual approach to validating system level designs
2003-10-01

This paper proposes a simulation-based methodology for validation of a system under design in an early phase of development. The key element of this approach is the visual specification, as Live Sequence Charts (LSCs), of the properties to be checked. The LSCs are automatically translated into the input format for the SystemC-based checker engine, which indicates during simulation, if the property is fulfilled or produces a counter-example, if the property is violated. The entire process from the visual property specification to the checking is largely automated, which makes our approach accessible even for users which have not been trained in formal methods.
Finding apparent horizons and other 2-surfaces of constant expansion
2003-10-03

Apparent horizons are structures of spacelike hypersurfaces that can be determined locally in time. Closed surfaces of constant expansion (CE surfaces) are a generalisation of apparent horizons. I present an efficient method for locating CE surfaces. This method uses an explicit representation of the surface, allowing for arbitrary resolutions and, in principle, shapes. The CE surface equation is then solved as a nonlinear elliptic equation. It is reasonable to assume that CE surfaces foliate a spacelike hypersurface outside of some interior region, thus defining an invariant (but still slicing-dependent) radial coordinate. This can be used to determine gauge modes and to compare time evolutions with different gauge conditions. CE surfaces also provide an efficient way to find new apparent horizons as they appear e.g. in binary black hole simulations.
Alterations of ΔTA‐p 73 splice transcripts during melanoma development and progression
2003-10-07

Abstract In the last 2 years, it has become apparent that the p53‐family members p53 and p73 play fundamentally different roles in human malignancies. In contrast to p53, many studies on cancer patients failed to detect mutational inactivation of p73 and reported overexpression of wild‐type p73 instead. A possible explanation was provided by the recent discovery of N‐terminal truncated isoforms of p73 (ΔTA‐p73) that act as dominant‐negative inhibitors of wild‐type p53 and TA‐p73 and result in tumor growth in nude mice. We investigated the role of ΔTA‐p73 in the development and progression of human melanomas, which lack p53 mutations. We analyzed 8 benign melanocytic nevi, 8 primary melanomas and 19 melanoma metastases for alterations of TA‐p73 and ΔTA‐p73 expression using isoform‐specific real‐time RT‐PCR. Based on our results, p73Δex2 and Δex2/3 spliced transcripts derived from the first promoter were significantly up‐regulated in melanoma metastases, whereas ΔN‐p73 generated from the second promoter was the predominant isoform in benign nevi. Moreover, increased expression of p73Δex2 and p73Δex2/3 correlated with high‐levels of both TA‐p73 and E2F1. Our data suggest a potential function of ΔTA‐p73 splice isoforms in melanoma progression. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural Evaluation of Systematically Enumerated Hypothetical Uninodal Zeolites
2003-10-08

In the Communication “Structural Evaluation of Systematically Enumerated Hypothetical Uninodal Zeolites” by R. G. Bell, J. Klinowski, and co-workers (1), identical diagrams were published as parts c) and d) of Figure 5. The corrected version of Figure 5 is reproduced below: a) Structure 11 consists of cages connected by 4- and 8-membered rings; b) structure 14 contains two systems of elongated channels outlined by 12-membered rings (5.3×9.3 Å) running along the a and b directions of the unit cell; c) structure 71 consists of layers of 12-membered rings (7.2×7.2 Å) connected by 4- and 6-membered rings; d) structure 73 contains large channels of 12-membered rings, and narrower channels of 4- and 6-membered rings. When viewed along the c axis, the structure is similar to that of AFI, although the rings are connected in a different fashion along the a and b axes.
Structural Evaluation of Systematically Enumerated Hypothetical Uninodal Zeolites
2003-10-08

In der Zuschrift „Structural Evaluation of Systematically Enumerated Hypothetical Uninodal Zeolites“ von R. G. Bell, J. Klinowski et al. (1) wurden als Abbildung 5 c und d identische Diagramme veröffentlicht. Die korrigierte Version von Abbildung 5 ist hier wiedergegeben.5 a) Structure 11 consists of cages connected by 4- and 8-membered rings; b) structure 14 contains two systems of elongated channels outlined by 12-membered rings (5.3×9.3 Å) running along the a and b directions of the unit cell; c) structure 71 consists of layers of 12-membered rings (7.2×7.2 Å) connected by 4- and 6-membered rings; d) structure 73 contains large channels of 12-membered rings, and narrower channels of 4- and 6-membered rings. When viewed along the c axis, the structure is similar to that of AFI, although the rings are connected in a different fashion along the a and b axes.
Polycrystalline Well-Shaped Blocks of Indium Oxide Obtained by the Sol−Gel Method and Their Gas-Sensing Properties
2003-10-11

Aging-induced aggregation of the nanoparticles in the colloidal solution of indium hydroxide leads to the formation of micrometer particles in the form of well-shaped blocks. As shown by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction, the well-shaped blocks have a polycrystalline nature composed of small nanounits. After calcination at 400 °C, they consist of cubic and hexagonal In2O3. Semiconducting sensors, composed of well-shaped blocks of cubic and hexagonal In2O3, show high sensitivity to low levels of ozone in the air.
A laser-scanning endoscope based on polysilicon micromachined mirrors with enhanced attributes
2003-10-11

A miniaturized laser scanning endoscope is presented which makes use of three lasers to illuminate a sample with a red, a green and a blue wavelength simultaneously. Scattered light from the sample is descanned and chromatically separated into the three channels for detection and postprocessing to compose a color image. The scanning subsystem consists of two micro-electro-mechanical mirrors suitable for mass production. The endoscope head can be assembled fast and at low cost. A resolution of the order of 16 lines per mm is achieved for a working distance common in endoscopy. Considerations of the system design include the operation of the mico mirrors, the filtering of reflected light by using polarization effects and a strategy to cope with color metamery. An expert system based on a neural network was found able to analyze endoscopic images to identify suspicious lesions.
Context-dependent catalepsy intensification is due to classical conditioning and sensitization
2003-10-13

Haloperidol-induced catalepsy represents a model of neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism. Daily administration of haloperidol, followed by testing for catalepsy on a bar and grid, results in a day-to-day increase in catalepsy that is completely context dependent, resulting in a strong placebo effect and in a failure of expression after a change in context. The aim of this study was to analyse the associative learning process that underlies context dependency. Catalepsy intensification was induced by a daily threshold dose of 0.25 mg/kg haloperidol. Extinction training and retesting under haloperidol revealed that sensitization was composed of two components: a context-conditioning component, which can be extinguished, and a context-dependent sensitization component, which cannot be extinguished. Context dependency of catalepsy thus follows precisely the same rules as context dependency of psychostimulant-induced sensitization. Catalepsy sensitization is therefore due to conditioning and sensitization.
Competing Roles of Reductases in the Detoxification of the Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine Ketone NNK
2003-10-13

Smoking is linked to lung cancer, yet only a small fraction of smokers develop this disease. Identification of genetic, environmental and nutritional factors that affect lung-cancer risk might explain why some smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer than others. The balance between metabolic activation and detoxification is critical in determining the susceptibility to lung cancer upon exposure to the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). In man, activation of NNK occurs by cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-mediated monooxygenation, whereas detoxification is initiated by carbonyl reduction of NNK to its corresponding alcohol 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) which is glucuronosylated and excreted. Because carbonyl reduction of NNK is essential for glucuronosylation, producing the detoxified metabolite NNAL-Gluc, the equilibrium between NNK and NNAL is suspected to play a key role in the carcinogenicity of NNK and its organospecificity. Our studies are focused on the identification, expression and activity of NNK carbonyl reductases. Five different NNK carbonyl reductases have been identified in man: Two are members of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases, namely 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and cytosolic carbonyl reductase and three are members of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily, namely AKR1C1, AKR1C2, and AKR1C4. All enzymes have been purified to homogeneity from human liver and characterized with respect to NNK carbonyl reduction. Since (S)-NNAL is a more potent murine tumorigen than (R)-NNAL, the enantioselectivity of the purified human enzymes was determined. We propose that the extent of expression and activity of NNK reductases strongly influences the tissue selectivity of and interindividual susceptibility to NNK-mediated cancer.
2MASS J0516288+260738: Discovery of the first eclipsing late K + Brown dwarf binary system?
2003-10-14

We report the discovery of a new eclipsing system less than one arcminute south of the pulsating DB white dwarf KUV 05134+2605. The object could be identified with the point source 2MASS J0516288+260738 published by the Two Micron All Sky Survey. We present and discuss the first light curves as well as some additional colour and spectral information. The eclipse period of the system is 1.29 d, and, assuming this to be identical to the orbital period, the best light curve solution yields a mass ratio of m(2)/m(1) = 0.11, a radius ratio of r(2)/r(1) approximate to 1 and an inclination of 74degrees. The spectral anaylsis results in a T-eff = 4200 K for the primary. On this basis, we suggest that the new system probably consists of a late K + Brown dwarf (which would imply a system considerably younger than approximate to 0.01 Gyr to have r(2)/r(1) approximate to 1), and outline possible future observations.
Molecular Architecture of the Regulatory Locus sae of Staphylococcus aureus and Its Impact on Expression of Virulence Factors
2003-10-15

ABSTRACT We characterized the sae operon, a global regulator for virulence gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus . A Tn 917 sae mutant was obtained by screening a Tn 917 library of the agr mutant ISP479Mu for clones with altered hemolytic activity. Sequence analysis of the sae operon revealed two additional open reading frames (ORFs) (ORF3 and ORF4) upstream of the two-component regulatory genes saeR and saeS . Four overlapping sae -specific transcripts (T1 to T4) were detected by Northern blot analysis, and the transcriptional initiation points were mapped by primer extension analysis. The T1, T2, and T3 mRNAs are probably terminated at the same stem-loop sequence downstream of saeS . The T1 message (3.1 kb) initiates upstream of ORF4, T2 (2.4 kb) initiates upstream of ORF3, and T3 (2.0 kb) initiates in front of saeR . T4 (0.7 kb) represents a monocistronic mRNA encompassing ORF4 only. sae -specific transcripts were detectable in all of the 40 different clinical S. aureus isolates investigated. Transcript levels were at maximum during the post-exponential growth phase. The sae mutant showed a significantly reduced rate of invasion of human endothelial cells, consistent with diminished transcription and expression of fnbA . The expression of type 5 capsular polysaccharide is activated in the sae mutant of strain Newman, as shown by immunofluorescence and promoter-reporter fusion experiments. In summary, the sae operon constitutes a four-component regulator system which acts on virulence gene expression in S. aureus .