julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
TIN ISOTOPY—A NEW METHOD FOR SOLVING OLD QUESTIONS
2010-02-22

Tin was a vital commodity in times past. In central Europe, the earliest finds of tin‐bronze date to about 2200 bc , while in Greece they are c. 400–500 years earlier. While there is evidence for prehistoric copper mining—for example, in the Alps or mainland Greece, among other places—the provenance of the contemporary tin is still an unsolved problem. This work deals with a new approach for tracing the ancient tin via tin isotope signatures. The tin isotope ratios of 50 tin ores from the Erzgebirge region (D) and 30 tin ores from Cornwall (GB) were measured by MC–ICP–MS. Most ore deposits were found to be quite homogeneous regarding their tin isotope composition, but significant differences were observed between several deposits. This fact may be used to distinguish different tin deposits and thus form the basis for the investigation of the provenance of ancient tin that has been sought for more than a century. Furthermore, the tin‐isotope ratio of the ‘Himmelsscheibe von Nebra’ will be presented: the value fits well with the bulk of investigated tin ores from Cornwall.
Direct Measurement of Intermediate-Range Casimir-Polder Potentials
2010-02-22

We present the first direct measurements of Casimir-Polder forces between solid surfaces and atomic gases in the transition regime between the electrostatic short-distance and the retarded long-distance limit. The experimental method is based on ultracold ground-state Rb atoms that are reflected from evanescent wave barriers at the surface of a dielectric glass prism. Our novel approach does not require assumptions about the potential shape. The experimental data are compared to the theoretical predictions valid in the different regimes. They agree best with a full QED calculation.
Convergent finite element discretizations of the Navier-Stokes-Nernst-Planck-Poisson system
2010-02-22

We propose and analyse two convergent fully discrete schemes to solve the incompressible Navier-Stokes-Nernst-Planck-Poisson system. The first scheme converges to weak solutions satisfying an energy and an entropy dissipation law. The second scheme uses Chorin's projection method to obtain an efficient approximation that converges to strong solutions at optimal rates.
An error analysis of the multi-configuration time-dependent Hartree method of quantum dynamics
2010-02-22

\\n \\nThis paper gives an error analysis of the\\nmulti-configuration time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH)\\nmethod for the approximation of multi-particle time-dependent Schrödinger equations. The MCTDH method approximates the multivariate wave function by a linear combination of products of univariate functions and replaces the high-dimensional linear Schrödinger equation by a coupled system of ordinary differential equations and low-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations. The main result of this paper yields an L2 error bound of the MCTDH approximation in terms of a best-approximation error bound in a stronger norm and of lower bounds of singular values of matrix unfoldings of the coefficient tensor. This result permits us to establish convergence of the MCTDH method to the exact wave function under appropriate conditions on the approximability of the wave function, and it points to reasons for possible failure in other cases.\\n\\n
Early Miocene post-collisional magmatism in NW Turkey: geochemical and geochronological constraints
2010-02-22

The Alaçam region of NW Turkey lies within the Alpine collision zone between the Sakarya continent and the Menderes platform. Four different tectonic zones of these two continents form imbricated nappe packages (including the Afyon zone), intruded by the Alaçam granite. Newly determined U-Pb zircon ages of this granite are 20.0 ± 1.4 and 20.3 ± 3.3 Ma, indicating early Miocene emplacement. Rb-Sr biotite ages of the granite are 20.01 ± 0.20 and 20.17 ± 0.20 Ma, suggesting fast cooling at a shallow crustal level. Geochemical characteristics show that the Alaçam granite is similar to numerous EW-trending plutons in NW Anatolia.
The human G93A SOD1 phenotype closely resembles sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
2010-02-22

Transgenic mouse models of human SOD1 mutations have opened up an area of intense investigation into the pathogenesis of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the human phenotype of the G93A SOD1 mutation-the most commonly studied mutation in rodent models-has remained essentially unknown. This complicates the interpretation and transfer of results from animal models. Here clinical, electrophysiological and genealogical data are presented from a large German pedigree with a G93A mutation in the SOD1 gene. This pedigree shows a highly homogenous phenotype which closely resembles the typical phenotype of sporadic ALS, thus implicating comparable disease pathology of G93A SOD1 ALS and sporadic ALS.
Cortical processing of near-threshold tactile stimuli: An MEG study
2010-02-22

In the present study we tested the applicability of a paired-stimulus paradigm for the investigation of near-threshold (NT) stimulus processing in the somatosensory system using magnetoencephalography. Cortical processing of the NT stimuli was studied indirectly by investigating the impact of NT stimuli on the source activity of succeeding suprathreshold test stimuli. We hypothesized that cortical responses evoked by test stimuli are reduced due to the preactivation of the same finger representation by the preceding NT stimulus. We observed attenuation of the magnetic responses in the secondary somatosensory (SII) cortex, with stronger decreases for perceived than for missed NT stimuli. Our data suggest that processing in the primary somatosensory cortex including recovery lasts for <200 ms. Conversely, the occupancy of SII lasts >/=500 ms, which points to its role in temporal integration and conscious perception of sensory input.
Prenatal diagnosis of a recombinant chromosome 7 resulting in trisomy 7q11.22 → qter
2010-02-22

Abstract Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 7 is complex due to only a few reported cases. We report here on a stillborn boy with very large duplication of 7q11.22 → qter, encompassing almost the entire long arm of chromosome 7. Ultrasound, fetal and parental chromosome banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analyses were performed. Sonographic findings included growth retardation, micrognathia, ventricular septal defect (VSD), aortic coarctation, bradyarrhythmia, pericardial effusion, bilateral hydronephrosis, infravesical obstruction, and cerebellar hypoplasia. Chromosome analysis after cordocentesis at 23 weeks of gestation revealed an abnormal male karyotype with 46 chromosomes and a derivative chromosome 7 with a very large duplication of the long arm, 46,XY,der(7)(qter → q11.2::p22 → qter). The mother was found to carry an apparently balanced pericentric inversion, 46,XX,inv(7)(p22q11.2). Thus, the recombinant chromosome 7 [rec(7)dup(7q)inv(7)(p22.3q11.22)mat] of the fetus must have arisen through meiotic crossing‐over between the inverted chromosome and the normal chromosome 7 in the maternal germline. FISH and array CGH results confirmed the recombinant chromosome 7 in the fetus and indicated a loss of 1.9 Mb at chromosome 7pter → p22.3 (pter to 1,948,072 bp), and a gain of 87.04 Mb at chromosome 7q11.22 → qter (71,760,154 bp to qter). The rare syndrome of almost complete trisomy 7q may be suspected in cases of growth retardation, cerebellar hypoplasia, micrognathia, aortic coarctation and VSD and hydronephrosis. Invasive prenatal diagnosis must be offered to the parents. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genome mining inAmycolatopsis balhimycinafor ferredoxins capable of supporting cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis
2010-02-22

Ferredoxins are required to supply electrons to the cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in cross-linking reactions during the biosynthesis of the glycopeptide antibiotics balhimycin and vancomycin. However, the biosynthetic gene clusters for these antibiotics contain no ferredoxin- or ferredoxin reductase-like genes. In a search for potential ferredoxin partners for these P450s, here, we report an in silico analysis of the draft genome sequence of the balhimycin producer Amycolatopsis balhimycina, which revealed 11 putative Fe-S-containing ferredoxin genes. We show that two members (balFd-V and balFd-VII), produced as native-like holo-[3Fe-4S] ferredoxins in Escherichia coli, could supply electrons to the P450 OxyB (CYP165B) from both A. balhimycina and the vancomycin producer Amycolatopsis orientalis, and support in vitro turnover of peptidyl carrier protein-bound peptide substrates into monocyclic cross-linked products. These results show that ferredoxins encoded in the antibiotic-producing strain can act in a degenerate manner in supporting the catalytic functions of glycopeptide biosynthetic P450 enzymes from the same as well as heterologous gene clusters.
Cardiac Output Monitoring Using Indicator-Dilution Techniques: Basics, Limits, and Perspectives
2010-02-23

The ability to monitor cardiac output is one of the important cornerstones of hemodynamic assessment for managing critically ill patients at increased risk for developing cardiac complications, and in particular in patients with preexisting cardiovascular comorbidities. For >30 years, single-bolus thermodilution measurement through a pulmonary artery catheter for assessment of cardiac output has been widely accepted as the "clinical standard" for advanced hemodynamic monitoring. In this article, we review this clinical standard, along with current alternatives also based on the indicator-dilution technique, such as the transcardiopulmonary thermodilution and lithium dilution techniques. In this review, not only the underlying technical principles and the unique features but also the limitations of each application of indicator dilution are outlined.
Rehabilitation for Visual Disorders
2010-02-23

Rehabilitation for visual disorders demands thorough assessment of many components of vision and a tailored strategy of maximizing residual function. Magnification with optical or electronic aids and the use of eccentric fixation and specific reading training exercises are helpful techniques in patients with central scotomas. Visual exploration training is beneficial in patients with homonymous hemianopias.
Convergence of a split-step Hermite method for the Gross-Pitaevskii equation
2010-02-23

An error analysis is given for a discretization of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation by Strang splitting in time and Hermite collocation in space. A second-order error bound in L2 for the semidiscretization error of the Strang splitting in time is proven under suitable regularity assumptions on the exact solution. For the semidiscretization in space, high-order convergence is shown, depending on the regularity of the exact solution. The analyses of the semidiscretizations in time and space are finally combined into an error analysis of the fully discrete method.
Type I collagen biomarkers in the diagnosis of bone metastases in breast cancer, lung cancer, urinary bladder cancer and prostate cancer. Comparison to CEA, CA 15-3, PSA and bone scintigraphy.
2010-02-23

ICTP and CA 15-3 are the most reliable markers for early diagnosis of bone metastases in BC patients. PICP could be useful for diagnosing early bone metastases of PC and combined with PSA and bone scan can be an additional tool in the follow-up of PC patients. For LC patients, ICTP showed a significant difference in the discrimination of patients with and without bone metastases. In UBC patients, PICP showed a significant difference in the discrimination of patients with and without bone metastases.
5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors: a review of recent developments and patents
2010-02-24

Despite the increasing therapeutic indications of anti-LT therapy, the progress in the development of novel 5-LO inhibitors is moderate. However, novel molecular concepts in the intervention with LT biosynthesis seem promising.
An Oral Appliance with Velar Extension for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Infants with Pierre Robin Sequence
2010-02-24

Objective A new oral appliance to treat obstructive sleep apnea in infants with Pierre Robin sequence has recently been shown to be superior to a sham procedure. We now investigate safety and long-term effects of this appliance on obstructive sleep apnea in infants with Pierre Robin sequence. Design Case series with repetitive follow-up examinations. Setting Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit at the University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, Germany. Patients Fifteen infants (11 girls and four boys; median age, 5 days) with Pierre Robin sequence and obstructive sleep apnea (i.e., mixed-obstructive-apnea index &gt; 3). Intervention A custom-made intraoral appliance with velar extension was used continuously in situ from admission until 3 months after hospital discharge. Main Outcome Measure The mixed-obstructive-apnea index was determined prior to the intervention at admission, at discharge, and 3 months later using polygraphic sleep studies. The geometric mean of the mixed-obstructive-apnea index and its 95% confidence interval were calculated. Results Compared with admission (mean, 17.2; 95% confidence interval, 11.1–26.7), there was a significant decrease in the mixed-obstructive-apnea index to discharge (mean, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.2–6.6) and 3 months later (mean, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.7–2.2; p value &lt; .001). No severe adverse events occurred. Conclusions This oral appliance was safe and appears to treat obstructive sleep apnea effectively in infants with Pierre Robin sequence.
Effect of deviation from the mid‐sagittal plane on the measurement of fetal nuchal translucency
2010-02-24

Abstract Objective Screening for trisomy 21 by fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation requires an appropriate examination of the NT. Errors in the assessment of NT may lead to an under‐ or overestimation of the NT and to incorrect patient‐specific risks. In this study we aimed to examine the importance of the mid‐sagittal section and whether the acquired plane of the head and face influences the measurement of the fetal NT thickness. Methods Sixty three‐dimensional volumes of the fetal head and face in a mid‐sagittal plane were acquired. NT thickness was firstly measured in the mid‐sagittal plane according to the guidelines of The Fetal Medicine Foundation. The head was then rotated by steps of 5° up to 25° around the mid‐point of the biparietal diameter and occipitofrontal diameter and NT was measured again. All six NT measurements were taken by the same operator, Operator A, who on completion of the assessment of the 60 volumes repeated all the measurements. The whole process was then repeated by Operator B. Both operators were blinded to each others' measurements. Results In the true mid‐sagittal plane, the mean NT was 1.9 mm and it was above the expected median in 72.5% of the measurements. At a deviation of 15°, mean NT was 1.5 mm, and 36.3% of the measurements were above the expected median. At a deviation of 25°, mean NT was reduced to 1.3 mm and 17.9% of the measurements were above the expected median. Conclusion Fetal NT thickness is greatest in the mid‐sagittal plane. Increasing deviation away from the mid‐sagittal plane results in progressive underestimation of the fetal NT thickness and so to a corresponding underestimation of the patient‐specific risk. Copyright © 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.
The m74 Gene Product of Murine Cytomegalovirus (MCMV) Is a Functional Homolog of Human CMV gO and Determines the Entry Pathway of MCMV
2010-02-25

ABSTRACT The glycoprotein gO (UL74) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) forms a complex with gH/gL. Virus mutants with a deletion of gO show a defect in secondary envelopment with the consequence that virus spread is restricted to a cell-associated pathway. Here we report that the positional homolog of HCMV gO, m74 of mouse CMV (MCMV), codes for a glycosylated protein which also forms a complex with gH (M75). m74 knockout mutants of MCMV show the same spread phenotype as gO knockout mutants of HCMV, namely, a shift from supernatant-driven to cell-associated spread. We could show that this phenotype is due to a reduction of infectious virus particles in cell culture supernatants. m74 knockout mutants enter fibroblasts via an energy-dependent and pH-sensitive pathway, whereas in the presence of an intact m74 gene product, entry is neither energy dependent nor pH sensitive. This entry phenotype is shared by HCMV expressing or lacking gO. Our data indicate that the m74 and UL74 gene products both codetermine CMV spread and CMV entry into cells. We postulate that MCMV, like HCMV, expresses alternative gH/gL complexes which govern cell-to-cell spread of the virus.
Gastrointestinal: Hepatic portal venous gas after cardiogenic shock and intraaortic ballon pulsation therapy
2010-02-25

Entrapment of gas in the portal veins has been first described in 1955 by Wolfe and Evens in infants suffering from necrotizing enterocolitis. It generally heralds an abdominal catastrophe requiring urgent surgical intervention. Pathogenetically, portal venous gas results from a breakdown of the mucosal barrier usually following ischemic necrosis of the intestinal wall. We report on a 49-year-old Caucasian patient with primary systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis lambda and severe systolic and diastolic heart failure who developed cardiogenic shock requiring intraarotic balloon pump therapy (IABP). Treatment was complicated by upper mesenteric ischemia leading to paralytic ileus (Figure 1) and mucosal injury of the stomach. CT scan showed entrapment of gas in the gastric wall, splenic vein, and the left portal venous system as a consequence of bacterial translocation and gas production (Figure 1). Emergency exploratory laparotomy was not amenable due to poor general status and conservative treatment consisting of antimicrobial therapy (metronidazol, piperacillin/tazobactam and fluconazol) and stimulation of bowel function using enema and neostigmine was commenced. After 2 days, complete recovery of bowel function was achieved and oral diet was well tolerated. Ultrasound revealed the disappearance of the portal venous gas (PVG) and the patient survived without any further need for surgery. Left: Plain abdominal film showing hugely dilated meteoristic bowel loops without signs of free air. Right: CT scan shows entrapment of gas (arrows) in the gastric wall, lienal vein and left portal venous system. The differential diagnosis for portal venous gas includes necrotizing enteritis, arterial and venous mesenteric occlusions, bowel obstruction, perforated gastric ulcer, hemorrhagic pancreatitis, sigmoid diverticulitis, and various iatrogenic causes. Portal venous gas is diagnosed usually by CT scan showing tubular lucencies branching from the porta hepatis to the peripheral liver margin. The appearance arises from the accumulation of gas in the distal portal system, which is carried in a hepatopedal direction by the flow in the portal vein. Portal venous gas must be differentiated from pneumobilia, which tends to accumulate in the large central bile ducts near the liver hilus, due to the hepatofugal biliary flow. This case presents an unusual complication of cardiogenic shock with severe intestinal ischemia possibly related to impairment of splanchnic perfusion caused by IABP therapy and hypotension. Without surgery, mortality rates for PVG have been reported to be as high as 75 %, in particular in those cases of PVG due to intestinal ischemia. In the case of inoperable patients, however, conservative management remains the only option.
Mesons and glueballs in chiral approach and AdS/QCD
2010-02-25

Phenomenology of mesons and glueballs is considered in two frameworks -chiral approach lightfront holographic approach proposed by Brodsky and Teramond, which is based on the correspondence of string theory in Anti-de Sitter and conformal field theory in physical space-time.
Glycosylation of Wall Teichoic Acid in Staphylococcus aureus by TarM
2010-02-26

Wall teichoic acid (WTA) glycopolymers are major constituents of cell envelopes in Staphylococcus aureus and related gram-positive bacteria with important roles in cell wall maintenance, susceptibility to antimicrobial molecules, biofilm formation, and host interaction. Most S. aureus strains express polyribitol phosphate WTA substituted with D-alanine and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). WTA sugar modifications are highly variable and have been implicated in bacteriophage susceptibility and immunogenicity, but the pathway and enzymes of staphylococcal WTA glycosylation have remained unknown. Revisiting the structure of S. aureus RN4220 WTA by NMR analysis revealed the presence of canonical polyribitol phosphate WTA bearing only alpha-linked GlcNAc substituents. A RN4220 transposon mutant resistant to WTA-dependent phages was identified and shown to produce altered WTA, which exhibited faster electrophoretic migration and lacked completely the WTA alpha-GlcNAc residues. Disruption of a gene of unknown function, renamed tarM, was responsible for this phenotype. Recombinant TarM was capable of glycosylating WTA in vitro in a UDP-GlcNAc-dependent manner, thereby confirming its WTA GlcNAc-transferase activity. Deletion of the last seven amino acids from the C terminus abolished the activity of TarM. tarM-related genes were found in the genomes of several WTA-producing bacteria, suggesting that TarM-mediated WTA glycosylation is a general pathway in gram-positive bacteria. Our study represents a basis for dissecting the biosynthesis and function of glycosylated WTA in S. aureus and other bacteria.
Electrophysiological and Histologic Assessment of Retinal Ganglion Cell Fate in a Mouse Model forOPA1-Associated Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy
2010-02-26

This is the first electrophysiological demonstration of a visual function deficit in aged Opa1 mice. VEP measurements and retrograde labeling experiments show that the number of RGCs is reduced whereas the remaining RGCs and axons function normally. Taken together, these findings support an ascending progress of degeneration from the soma toward the axon.
Cuscuta reflexa invasion induces Ca2+ release in its host
2010-02-26

Abstract Cuscuta reflexa induces a variety of reaction in its hosts. Some of these are visual reactions, and it is clear that these morphological changes are preceded by events at the molecular level, where signal transduction is one of the early processes. Calcium (Ca 2+ ) release is the major second messenger during signal transduction, and we therefore studied Ca 2+ spiking in tomato during infection with C. reflexa . Bioluminescence in aequorin‐expressing tomato was monitored for 48 h after the onset of Cuscuta infestation. Signals at the attachment sites were observed from 30 to 48 h. Treatment of aequorin‐expressing tomato leaf disks with Cuscuta plant extracts suggested that the substance that induced Ca 2+ release from the host was closely linked to parasite haustoria.
Propositional proof compressions and DNF logic
2010-02-26

This paper is a continuation of dag-like proof compression research initiated in [9]. We investigate proof compression phenomenon in a particular, most transparent case of propositional DNF Logic. We define and analyze a very efficient semi-analytic sequent calculus SEQ*0 for propositional DNF. The efficiency is achieved by adding two special rules CQ and CS; the latter rule is a variant of the weakened substitution rule WS from [9], while the former one being specially designed for DNF sequents. We show that dag-like SEQ*0 has good deterministic proof search strategy. Furthermore, we expose six (first two modulo canonical DNF interpretation) examples showing that dag-like deducibility in SEQ*0 admits exponential-size proof compression, as compared to familiar proof systems like cutfree sequent calculi, resolution and cutting plane proof systems.