julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Serotonin (5-HT7) Receptor-Stimulated Activation of cAMP-PKA Pathway in Bovine Corneal Epithelial and Endothelial Cells
2012-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt; 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) is a major neurotransmitter, and its receptors are found throughout the whole body. The 5-HT7 receptor subtype was detected in human corneal epithelial and endothelial cells and found to be functionally active in a corneal epithelial cell line. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate that native bovine corneal epithelial and endothelial cells express a functional 5-HT7 receptor positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA) formation. &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; 5-HT7 receptors were studied using polyclonal antibodies. cAMP concentration after 5-HT7 receptor stimulation with 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT, a 5-HT7 agonist) was tested by enzyme immunoassay, PKA activity was estimated by kinase consumption of ATP. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence revealed the presence of 5-HT7 receptors in corneal epithelial and endothelial cells. Stimulation of corneal 5-HT7 receptors with 5-CT revealed a dose-dependent increase in intracellular cAMP concentration in corneal epithelium (0.01–0.34 pmol/ml) and endothelium (0.01–0.19 pmol/ml) between 10&lt;sup&gt;–10&lt;/sup&gt; and 10&lt;sup&gt;–7&lt;/sup&gt; mg/ml 5-CT (p = 0.001) with maximal stimulation from 10&lt;sup&gt;–7&lt;/sup&gt; to 10&lt;sup&gt;–3&lt;/sup&gt; mg/ml 5-CT (0.30 ± 0.03 and 0.18 ± 0.01 pmol/ml, respectively). Incubation with 10&lt;sup&gt;–6&lt;/sup&gt; mg/ml SB269970 (a selective 5-HT7 antagonist) blocked 5-CT-induced cAMP increase in corneal epithelial (0.03 pmol/ml) and endothelial cells (0.02 pmol/ml; p = 0.001). Stimulation of corneal 5-HT7 receptors with 5-CT revealed a dose-dependent increase in PKA activity between 10&lt;sup&gt;–10&lt;/sup&gt; and 10&lt;sup&gt;–8&lt;/sup&gt; mg/ml 5-CT in corneal epithelium and endothelium (&lt;1 to &gt;99%; p = 0.013 and p = 0.017, respectively) with maximal stimulation from 10&lt;sup&gt;–8&lt;/sup&gt; to 10&lt;sup&gt;–4&lt;/sup&gt; mg/ml (&gt;99%) 5-CT. &lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt; Our data demonstrate that native corneal epithelial and endothelial cells express a functional 5-HT7 receptor positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase and PKA formation. However, at the present time, the physiological role of 5-HT receptors and the cAMP-PKA pathway in the cornea remains a matter of speculation.
N-acetylcyteine and flavonoid rich diet: The protective effect of 15 different antioxidants on cigarette smoke-damaged primary human osteoblasts
2012-01-01

Cigarette consumption increases oxidative stress in many organs. Increased oxidative stress harms bone cells, which negatively affects bone-matter and -stability. This leads to an increased fracture risk and delayed fracture healing in smokers. A supporting therapy with antioxidants could be of great benefit for surgeons dealing with delayed fracture healing due to increased oxidative stress. In this article we complement and compare our published data with hitherto unpublished data and show the protective effect of 15 different antioxidants on cigarette smoke induced damage in primary human osteoblasts. Exposure to cigarette smoke medium (CSM) rapidly induces formation of ROS in osteoblasts in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Massive cell damage is seen already after 4 h (EC50 ≈ 0.75 OD320). Pre-, co- and post-incubation with the different antioxidants reduces the formation of ROS and consequently improves the viability of the CSM exposed osteoblasts. Small compounds, e.g. N-acetylcysteine, proved highly effective if pre- or co-incubated before exposure to the CSM. Thus, they are good candidates for acute therapy support as they can be administered in high doses. However, our data suggest that a balanced daily diet could lead to an accumulation of various natural antioxidants (flavonoids) that effectively protect osteoblasts from oxidative stress-induced damage in all three settings investigated. Together with their partly phytoestrogenic properties this may even abate alterations in bone and thus reduce fracture risk on the long run.
Utility of Routine Ultrasound after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Detect Early Postoperative Complication
2012-01-01

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Background and Aim:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; In up to 3% of laparoscopic cholecystectomies, procedure-related complications occur. Routine postoperative ultrasound is one means of screening for these complications. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of this practice after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A series of consecutive patients (n = 1,044) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy from January 2007 to January 2011 was analysed. Primary endpoint was the detection of procedure-related complications by routine ultrasound. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Routine ultrasound within the first 48 h after laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 967 of 1,044 patients. Overall, 25 (2.4%) of the 1,044 patients suffered from procedure-related complications, but only in 2 patients was the complication detected by routine ultrasound. Findings were false-positive in 103 patients. This corresponds to a sensitivity of 8% and a specificity of 89%. Hospital stay was prolonged in the false-positive group. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Routine postoperative ultrasound has a low sensitivity for the detection of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In almost all cases, the diagnosis is initiated by clinical findings. Therefore, routine ultrasound is of limited value in screening for postoperative complications after cholecystectomy.
Helmholtz's Theory of Space and its Significance for Schlick
2012-01-01

Helmholtz's theory of space had significant impact on Schlick's early ‘critical realist’ point of view. However, it will be argued in this paper that Schlick's appropriation of Helmholtz's ideas eventually lead to a rather radical transformation of the original Helmholtzian position.
Archaean Zircon U-Pb Age Paradox in Juvenile Neoproterozoic Granitoids, Central North Sudan, Saharan Metacraton
2012-01-01

It has long been shown that central North Sudan with its heterogeneous isotopic composition, unlike neighbouring Archaean cratons and the Neoproterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield, is part of the Saharan metacratonic crust that was remobilized in the Neoproterozoic. In this paper, we report an Archaean zircon U-Pb age in the Saharan Metacraton that paradoxically does not indicate the presence of an Archaean crust. The second paradox concerns geochemical data that show Archaean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) features and also post-Archaean granitoid features, yet the rocks are Neoproterozoic. The granitoids studied are from north of Delgo in the Halfa terrane. They are calc-alkaline and meta- to peraluminous and have negative Nb and Ti anomalies. Zircon morphology, cathodoluminescence (CL) and U-Pb age data define four magmatic zircon populations. The oldest is characterized by a 3025 Ma Archaean U-Pb age. The 728 to 702 Ma ages of the second zircon population suggest that the studied area was involved in the Neoproterozoic intraplate magmatism that was induced by the delamination of the thickened asthenospheric mantle due to the first collisional contact between East and West Gondwana. Zircons of the third group yield peak Pan-African orogeny Neoproterozoic ages (630 to 600 Ma) that are identical with titanite age data, and show that the studied rocks were intensely remobilized by the Pan-African tectono-metamorphic regional event. Lastly, the 554 Ma concordant zircon of the fourth population suggests that the area thereafter never again experienced such high temperature and pressure regional orogenic effects. Sr initial values (0.702389-0.704011) and eNd values (+5.05±8.66) indicate juvenile sources with insignificant crustal contribution. Nd TDM ages are Neoproterozoic (917-653 Ma) and identical within error and/or slightly older than the Neoproterozoic zircon ages, confirming the primitive nature of this magmatism. This sets a paradox with the Archaean zircon population in these rocks, implying that this zircon population is xenocrystic and has no bearing to the age of the tract of terrane investigated. These results show that combining zircon U-Pb ages and Nd isotope systematics is a very powerful tool in unequivocally defining the petrogenesis of rocks and geological terranes.
Food Deprivation Sensitizes Pain Perception
2012-01-01

While food deprivation has known effects on sympathovagal balance, little is known about hunger’s influence on the perception of pain. Since autonomic activities influence many cognitive and emotional processes, this suggests that food deprivation should interact with the perception of pain. This study analyzed the possible effects of short-term food deprivation on pain sensitivity in healthy female participants. This study was comprised of 32 healthy female participants who underwent a 48-hr inpatient hospital investigation. Prior to testing, heart rate and heart rate variability were assessed. After a standardized breakfast, day 1 measurements were taken. Food intake was then not allowed again until the following evening for 22 participants (experimental group), while 12 participants were served standard meals (control group). Pain threshold and tolerance were assessed at 10:00 a.m. on both days using a pressure algometer. Additionally pain experience was examined. Food deprivation significantly reduced pain thresholds and tolerance scores in the experimental group. Additionally, the sympathovagal balance changed, characterized by a decrease in parasympathetic activation. Higher vagal withdrawal after food deprivation was associated with higher pain sensitivity in the experimental group. Furthermore, perceived unpleasantness and pain intensity increased for threshold and tolerance stimuli in the experimental group. We conclude that short-term food deprivation sensitized pain perception in healthy females. An imbalance in sympathovagal activation evoked by food deprivation accounted for this effect. Our results might be a pathogenic mechanism for the development of emotional difficulties associated with disturbed eating behavior.
Determination of Antibody Glycosylation by Mass Spectrometry
2012-01-01

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G is formed by two antigen-binding moieties termed Fabs and a conserved Fc -portion, which interacts with components of the immune systems. Within the Fc, N-linked carbohydrates are attached to each conserved asparagine residue at position 297 within the CH2 domain. These oligosaccharide moieties introduce a higher degree of heterogeneity within the molecule, by influencing stability of the antibody and its mediated effector functions, such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). The carbohydrate moieties can vary strongly depending on the production host and can be manipulated by different fermentation conditions, thereby influencing the function of the antibody. Therefore it is necessary to carefully monitor changes in the carbohydrate composition during cell line development and production processes. This chapter describes two different mass spectrometry based methods used for analyses of the carbohydrate moieties attached to the Fc-part of human IgG1. In the first approach, the glycans are released from the antibody by endoglycosidase (Peptide N Glycosidase F) digestion and monitored by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS), whereas in the second method the carbohydrate structures, still attached to an enzymatically produced Fc-fragment, are analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
Biochar for smallholder farmers in East Africa: arguing for transdisciplinary research
2012-01-01

Pressing challenges of the 21st century need adequate response of science! This claim is not just a question of working on urgent and relevant questions. This claim calls for new approaches in science. According to the proverb ‘The world has problems, universities have faculties’ – we have to overcome traditional boundaries of disciplines. Moreover we have to transgress the confinement to the ivory tower and invite the persons affected and potential future multipliers into the process of research. This need for transdisciplinary research and both its opportunities and challenges will be highlighted by introducing a holistic biochar approach for smallholder farmers in East Africa. Two decades after the re-discovery and scientific description of the extremely fertile and long-term carbon storing Amazonian Dark Earths, there seems to be a ‘black gold rush’. Charcoal used as a soil amendment (biochar) might reproduce such soils. Small scale biochar production and its application to the soil offer opportunities for improvement of both human health and soil properties and for food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation especially in East Africa. But still these sound pre-conditions and even excellence in science do not guarantee success in terms of a benefit for farmers. A lot of work needs to be done to transform those multiple chances into a true solution. It will require a transdisciplinary and interactive form of development cooperation and research – a true cooperation between local farmers, organizations and willing researchers.
Detecting Posttranslational Modifications of Bacterial SSB Proteins
2012-01-01

Posttranslational modifications of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs), which are essential proteins in DNA metabolism, have been reported from prokaryotic to eukaryotic systems. While eukaryotic SSBs are regulated by phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues, bacterial SSB proteins are also phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. This was initially observed during a systematic search for global phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in Streptomyces, complex life cycle bacteria that support mycelial growth and spore formation. Tyrosine phosphorylation was further confirmed on SSB proteins from the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis and in the simpler prokaryote, Escherichia coli. However, a thorough study of this modification and its cognate kinase has been performed only on SSB proteins from Bacillus subtilis. It was shown that phosphorylation of B. subtilis SSB (SsbA) significantly increases binding affinity with single-stranded DNA in vitro. Mass spectrometry analysis of SsbA identified Tyr82 as the phosphorylation site. Analyses of the resolved and predicted crystal structures of SSB proteins from B. subtilis, E. coli, and S. coelicolor revealed that the Tyr phosphorylation site occupies similar positions in all three structures. Our results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of bacterial SSBs is a conserved modification in taxonomically distant bacteria.
Breast Cancer Surgery and Financial Reimbursement in Germany
2012-01-01

The reimbursement for breast cancer-specific operative interventions in Germany is regulated by the diagnosis-related group (DRG) system. The essential elements of the German DRG system, which was developed as a per-case lump-sum payment system, are presented, including the participating institutions. The actual treatment situation in breast cancer surgery is now aptly reflected in the introduction of the OPS (operation and treatment procedure classification) 2012. This is oriented on the classification model of Hoffmann and Wallwiener, with its complexity-based differentiation that reflects the basic idea of different resource usage. Despite the actual potential of the appropriately differentiated encryption of surgical procedures, which illustrates their differences in resource costs and consumption, appropriate reimbursement has still not been achieved. Hopefully, in the future the calculation of the DRGs in the field of breast cancer surgery will be based on data feedback from the hospitals and treatment institutions, and will be more suited to the main purpose of the DRG system, i.e. that reimbursement reflects resource expenditure. A necessary basic tool for differentiated, complexity-oriented encryption has been achieved with the OPS 2012, which mirrors our classification model for oncological, oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery.
Comparative Education in Late Modernity
2012-01-01

Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an interesting coincidence that the venue of the conference, the University of Uppsala, and the University of Tübingen, where I come from, have an equally long history: they were both founded in the same year, in 1477, at the very dawn of what historians refer to as modernity. In the many centuries that have elapsed since then, socio-cultural relations have, in an uneven process of acceleration and deceleration, become both more intensive and more extensive. Today, cooperation and exchange on all academic levels have greatly intensified, often under the umbrella of European programmes, such as Erasmus. When telling students at Tübingen that I was coming to Uppsala, I learned that many of them had already been here and had spent a most growth-conducive – in the Deweyan sense – and memorable time.
Comparing the Effects of Two Different Irrigation Solutions on an Isolated Perfused Vertebrate Retina
2012-01-01

&lt;i&gt;Purpose:&lt;/i&gt; To compare the effect of a taurine-containing intraocular irrigation solution (PuriProtectTM) to a standard irrigation solution (BSSTM) we evaluated the retinal function using an electroretinogram (ERG) and analyzed the survival of retinal ganglion cells on isolated whole mount retinas. &lt;i&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/i&gt; During ERG recordings, each irrigation solution was superfused for 45 min with the relevant irrigation solution. To investigate the effects on photoreceptor function, 1 m&lt;i&gt;M&lt;/i&gt; asparate was added to obtain a-waves. The recovery of the a- and b-wave was monitored after superfusing the retinas with standard medium again. To evaluate the percentage of dead ganglion cells, retinas were stored for 24 h at 4°C in darkness and after staining the retinas with ethidium homodimer-1 the retinas were analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; The application of standard medium supplemented with 2 m&lt;i&gt;M&lt;/i&gt; taurine resulted in a significant increase of the b-wave amplitude compared to standard medium alone. The a-wave amplitudes showed no significant changes under taurine supplementation. Compared to standard medium BSS showed no significant decrease in b-wave amplitudes, but a significant decrease in a-wave amplitudes. In contrast to BSS there were no significant changes in the a- or b-wave amplitudes detectable after the application of PuriProtect. At the end of the washout period no significant changes in a- or b-wave amplitudes were recorded for any tested irrigation solution. Retinas stored for 24 h in PuriProtect or in standard medium with taurine had a statistically significant smaller amount of dead cells than retinas stored in standard medium without taurine supplementation. &lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt; BSS does not seem to be an ideal irrigation solution, because it compromises the a-wave in the ERG. In contrast to BSS, PuriProtect showed no significant impact on the ERG and showed a better long-term effect on ganglion cell survival. Taurine supplementation, therefore, seems to be neuroprotective and its supplementation to an intraocular irrigation solution favorable for the retina.
Restoring Nitric Oxide Cytosolic Calcium Regulation by Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate Protein Kinase I Alpha Transfection in Coronary Endothelial Cells of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
2012-01-01

In microcoronary endothelial cells (RCEs) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-dependent proteinkinase I (cGKI) pathway cannot regulate the cytosolic calcium ([Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt;) dynamic as in RCEs from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). We investigated the altered downstream NO target in SHR cells and, since cGKI expression was low, whether the re-expression of cGKIα in SHR RCEs could restore NO calcium responsiveness. We measured [Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt; dynamic by fura-2 imaging analysis and the cGKI level by RT-PCR and Western blot in SHR and WKY RCEs. Plasmids encoding for enhanced green fluorescence protein or cGKIα-enhanced green fluorescence protein were transiently transfected in SHR RCEs, and [Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt; was evaluated. Angiotensin-II (AT-II) increased [Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt; in a concentration-dependent way in both strains. Whereas in WKY, endogenously produced NO and cyclic GMP analog decreased the AT-II-induced [Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt; transient, they were ineffective in SHR RCEs. The cGKI level was low in SHR cells. However, after cGKIα re-expression, endogenous NO decreased the AT-II-induced [Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt; transient, while endothelial NO synthase and cGKI inhibition prevented it. The low expression of cGKI in SHR accounts for the absent regulation of the agonist-induced [Ca&lt;sup&gt;2+&lt;/sup&gt;]&lt;sub&gt;i&lt;/sub&gt; transient by the NO/cyclic GMP pathway. Studies on cGKI in humans could contribute to a better understanding of cardiovascular pathologies.
FPGA-based architecture to speed-up scientific computation in seismic applications
2012-01-01

Hardware accelerators like GPGPUs and FPGAs have been used as an alternative to conventional CPU architectures in scientific computing applications and have shown considerable speed-ups on them. In this context, this work presents an FPGA-based solution that explores efficiently the data reuse and spatial and time domain parallelism for the first computational stage of the reverse time migration (RTM) algorithm, the seismic modelling. We also implemented the same algorithm for some CPUs and GPGPU architectures and our results showed that an FPGA-based approach can be a feasible solution to improve performance. Experimental results showed similar performance when compared to the GPGPU and up to 28.91 times speed-up when compared to CPUs. In terms of energy efficiency, the FPGA is almost 23 times and 1.75 times more efficient than the CPU and GPGPU, respectively. We also discuss some other features and possible optimisations that can be included in the proposed architecture that can make this performance even better.