julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The Contribution of Primary and Secondary Somatosensory Cortices to the Representation of Body Parts and Body Sides: An fMRI Adaptation Study
2012-07-31

Abstract Although the somatosensory homunculus is a classically used description of the way somatosensory inputs are processed in the brain, the actual contributions of primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory cortices to the spatial coding of touch remain poorly understood. We studied adaptation of the fMRI BOLD response in the somatosensory cortex by delivering pairs of vibrotactile stimuli to the finger tips of the index and middle fingers. The first stimulus (adaptor) was delivered either to the index or to the middle finger of the right or left hand, and the second stimulus (test) was always administered to the left index finger. The overall BOLD response evoked by the stimulation was primarily contralateral in SI and was more bilateral in SII. However, our fMRI adaptation approach also revealed that both somatosensory cortices were sensitive to ipsilateral as well as to contralateral inputs. SI and SII adapted more after subsequent stimulation of homologous as compared with nonhomologous fingers, showing a distinction between different fingers. Most importantly, for both somatosensory cortices, this finger-specific adaptation occurred irrespective of whether the tactile stimulus was delivered to the same or to different hands. This result implies integration of contralateral and ipsilateral somatosensory inputs in SI as well as in SII. Our findings suggest that SI is more than a simple relay for sensory information and that both SI and SII contribute to the spatial coding of touch by discriminating between body parts (fingers) and by integrating the somatosensory input from the two sides of the body (hands).
In Vitro Activity of Fluorescent Dyes against Asexual Blood Stages of Plasmodium falciparum
2012-07-31

ABSTRACT Many successful antimicrobial drugs originate from synthetic dyes. This paper reports the in vitro activity of 14 fluorescent dyes against Plasmodium falciparum . Five of these dyes (Hoechst 33342, MitoRed, DiOC 6 , SYTO 9, and rhodamine B) show activity at a low nanomolar concentration against two P. falciparum strains in the histidine-rich protein 2 drug sensitivity assay, while toxicity in HeLa cells is low. These dyes may be a starting point for developing new drugs against P. falciparum .
Constraints on the gamma-ray emission from the cluster-scale AGN outburst in the Hydra A galaxy cluster
2012-07-31

Context: In some galaxy clusters, powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN) have blown bubbles with cluster scale extent into the ambient medium. The main pressure support of these bubbles is not known to date, but cosmic rays are a viable possibility. For such a scenario copious gamma-ray emission is expected as a tracer of cosmic rays from these systems. Aims: Hydra A, the closest galaxy cluster hosting a cluster scale AGN outburst, located at a redshift of 0.0538, is investigated for being a gammaray emitter with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) array and the Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT). Methods: Data obtained in 20.2 h of dedicated H.E.S.S. observations and 38 months of Fermi-LAT data, gathered by its usual all-sky scanning mode, have been analyzed to search for a gamma-ray signal. Results: No signal has been found in either data set. Upper limits on the gamma-ray flux are derived and are compared to models. These are the first limits on gamma-ray emission ever presented for galaxy clusters hosting cluster scale AGN outbursts. Conclusions: The non-detection of Hydra A in gamma-rays has important implications on the particle populations and physical conditions inside the bubbles in this system. For the case of bubbles mainly supported by hadronic cosmic rays, the most favorable scenario, which involves full mixing between cosmic rays and embedding medium, can be excluded. However, hadronic cosmic rays still remain a viable pressure support agent to sustain the bubbles against the thermal pressure of the ambient medium. The largest population of highly-energetic electrons, which are relevant for inverse-Compton gamma-ray production is found in the youngest inner lobes of Hydra A. The limit on the inverse-Compton gamma-ray flux excludes a magnetic field below half of the equipartition value of 16 μG in the inner lobes.
Chapter 2. Proposing a pragmatic distinction for lexical Anglicisms
2012-07-31

While certain Anglicisms (e.g. Event and Kids in German) typically appear as marked lexical choices, such effects are absent in other Anglicisms (e.g. Film and PC in German). In order to investigate these different pragmatic interpretations, we consider the criterion of whether an Anglicism exists alongside a semantically-close equivalent in the recipient language or not. Based on this criterion, we introduce a distinction into two types of loans or, more generally, into two types of lexical innovation: catachrestic and non-catachrestic innovation. These are linked to two different types of implicatures as proposed in Levinson’s (2000) theory of presumptive meanings. The distinction between the two types of loans will be exemplified by data drawn from a corpus analysis of Anglicisms in German. The discussion will particularly focus on frequency effects and on the importance of specific discourse traditions, which both underline the dynamic pragmatic nature of Anglicisms.
4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine
2012-07-31

In the title compound, C(20)H(12)Cl(3)FN(4), the pyrazole ring forms dihedral angles of 47.51 (9), 47.37 (9) and 74.37 (9)° with the directly attached 4-fluoro-phenyl, pyridine and 2,4,6-trichloro-phenyl rings, respectively. Only one of the two amino H atoms is involved in hydrogen bonding. The crystal packing is characterized by N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, which result in infinite chains parallel to the c axis.
Zebrafish xenografts as a tool for in vivo studies on human cancer
2012-08-01

The zebrafish has become a powerful vertebrate model for genetic studies of embryonic development and organogenesis and increasingly for studies in cancer biology. Zebrafish facilitate the performance of reverse and forward genetic approaches, including mutagenesis and small molecule screens. Moreover, several studies report the feasibility of xenotransplanting human cells into zebrafish embryos and adult fish. This model provides a unique opportunity to monitor tumor‐induced angiogenesis, invasiveness, and response to a range of treatments in vivo and in real time. Despite the high conservation of gene function between fish and humans, concern remains that potential differences in zebrafish tissue niches and/or missing microenvironmental cues could limit the relevance and translational utility of data obtained from zebrafish human cancer cell xenograft models. Here, we summarize current data on xenotransplantation of human cells into zebrafish, highlighting the advantages and limitations of this model in comparison to classical murine models of xenotransplantation.
Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of human bone marrow– and amnion‐derived MSC subsets
2012-08-01

Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are nonhematopoietic cells that are able to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. In addition, they are known to participate in niche formation for hematopoietic stem cells and to display immunomodulatory properties. Conventionally, these cells are functionally isolated from tissue based on their capacity to adhere to the surface of culture flasks. This isolation procedure is hampered by the unpredictable influence of secreted molecules, the interactions between cocultured hematopoietic and other unrelated cells, and by the arbitrarily selected removal time of nonadherent cells before the expansion of MSCs. Finally, functionally isolated cells do not provide biological information about the starting population. To circumvent these limitations, several strategies have been developed to facilitate the prospective isolation of MSCs based on the selective expression, or absence, of surface markers. In this report, we summarize the most frequently used markers and introduce new targets for antibody‐based isolation procedures of primary bone marrow‐ and amnion‐derived MSCs.
Oxygen Transfer in a Fluctuating Capillary Fringe
2012-08-01

Dynamic fluctuations in water table elevation cause the entrapment of air, which affects the hydraulic properties of the porous medium in the capillary fringe as well as the biogeochemical status of the underlying, potentially O2–depleted groundwater. In this study, we conducted quasi two-dimensional flow-through experiments at the laboratory bench scale to investigate in detail the mass transfer of O2 in a fluctuating capillary fringe. We evaluated the effects of different boundary conditions such as single drainage and imbibition events as well as periodic fast and slow water table fluctuations. High-resolution vertical profiles of O2 concentration, measured at two distances in the horizontal groundwater flow direction, and mass fluxes, determined in the effluent of the flow-through chamber, were used to quantify O2 transfer under the different boundary conditions applied. The results show that the partitioning between the aqueous and the gaseous phases plays a significant role in the supply of O2 to groundwater at medium time scales. In the case of fast water table fluctuations, the specific yield has to be considered. The experiments with a periodically changing boundary condition demonstrate that highly dynamic fluctuations of the water table enhance the mass transfer of O2 from the atmosphere into the groundwater when compared with steady-state conditions. Moreover, the characteristics of the water table fluctuations determine a specific dynamic response of the system: we observed an approximately double amount of O2 transferred to the groundwater when applying slow fluctuations compared with the case of cyclic, abrupt changes in the water table elevation.
Preliminary experience on the use of the Adnatest® system for detection of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer patients.
2012-08-01

In this preliminary study, the Adnatest® detected CTCs in a considerable proportion of patients with castration-resistant PC. First data on certain markers (EGFR and aldehyd dehydrogenase 1) encourage future studies investigating transcripts predicting treatment response.
Contamination Risks in Work with Synthetic Peptides: flg22 as an Example of a Pirate in Commercial Peptide Preparations
2012-08-01

The pattern recognition receptor FLAGELLIN SENSING2 (FLS2) renders plant cells responsive to subnanomolar concentrations of flg22, the active epitope of bacterial flagellin. We recently observed that a preparation of the peptide IDL1, a signal known to regulate abscission processes via the receptor kinases HAESA and HAESA-like2, apparently triggered Arabidopsis thaliana cells in an FLS2-dependent manner. However, closer investigation revealed that this activity was due to contamination by a flg22-type peptide, and newly synthesized IDL1 peptide was completely inactive in FLS2 signaling. This raised alert over contamination events occurring in the process of synthesis or handling of peptides. Two recent reports have suggested that FLS2 has further specificities for structurally unrelated peptides derived from CLV3 and from Ax21. We thus scrutinized these peptides for activity in Arabidopsis cells as well. While responding to <1 nM flg22, Arabidopsis cells proved blind even to 100 μM concentrations of CLV3p and axY(s)22. Our results confirm the exquisite sensitivity and selectivity of FLS2 for flg22. They also show that inadvertent contaminations with flg22-type peptides do occur and can be detected even in trace amounts by FLS2.
Near-field scanning optical microscopy nanoprobes
2012-08-01

Abstract Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is a powerful method for the optical imaging of surfaces with a resolution down to the nanometer scale. By focusing an external electromagnetic field to the subwavelength aperture or apex of a sharp tip, the diffraction limit is avoided and a near-field spot with a size on the order of the aperture or tip diameter can be created. This point light source is used for scanning a sample surface and recording the signal emitted from the small surface area that interacts with the near field of the probe. In tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, such a tip configuration can be used as well to record a full spectrum at each image point, from which chemically specific spectral images of the surface can be extracted. In either case, the contrast and resolution of the images depend critically on the properties of the NSOM probe used in the experiment. In this review, an overview of eligible tip properties and different approaches for tailoring specifically engineered NSOM probes is given from a fabrication point of view.
Conductivity and Hydraulic Nonequilibrium across Drainage and Infiltration Fronts
2012-08-01

Recently, a new approach was introduced to directly measure unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in flux-controlled experiments—the multistep flux experiment. Thereby an overshoot in matric potential hm across drainage and infiltration fronts was observed. We extended this experimental approach to simultaneously measure the volumetric water content θ within the sample and applied the method to a sand and a clay loam soil. The detailed trajectories within the hm–θ space were obtained during a number of decreasing and increasing steps in infiltration rate. This clearly demonstrates the type and magnitude of hydraulic nonequilibrium under transient conditions where water content and matric potential deviate from a well-defined static relation. We also compared the directly measured hydraulic conductivities with those obtained from classical multistep outflow experiments and found that nonequilibrium dynamics might lead to an underestimation of hydraulic conductivity when obtained from an inverse solution of Richards' equation. We provide a qualitative explanation of nonequilibrium that depends on the structure of the material and the type and magnitude of external forcing. The new experimental setup is considered to be a valuable tool to actually quantify nonequilibrium effects. This will make it possible to represent this relevant phenomenon in future modeling concepts.
Hepatocellular carcinoma
2012-08-01

This retrospective study shows significantly higher tumour shrinkage in patients who underwent two TACE within 6 weeks compared with patients who underwent a single intervention in terms of the initial response rate after 12 weeks. It emphasizes the use of matched populations for the evaluation of tumour response in HCC after TACE.
Effect of buckminsterfullerenes on cells of the innate and adaptive immune system: an in vitro study with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
2012-08-01

C60 nanoparticles, the so-called buckminsterfullerenes, have attracted great attention for medical applications as carriers, enzyme inhibitors or radical scavengers. However, publications evaluating their immunological mechanisms are still rather limited. Therefore, we aimed to analyze systematically the in vitro influence of polyhydroxy-C60 (poly-C60) and N-ethyl-polyamino-C60 (nepo-C60) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy individuals, angling their effect on proliferation, expression of surface markers, and cytokine production. We isolated PBMC from 20 healthy subjects and incubated them in a first step only with poly-C60 or nepo-C60, and in a second step together with recall antigens (purified protein derivative, tetanus toxoid, bacillus Calmette-Guérin). Proliferation was determined by (3)H-thymidine incorporation, activation of PBMC-subpopulations by flow cytometry by measurement of the activation marker CD69, and secretion of T helper cell type 1 (TH1)- (interferon-gamma [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor beta [TNF-β]), TH2- (interleukin-5 [IL-5], -13, -10) and macrophage/monocyte-related cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α) into the supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both fullerenes did not influence T cell reactivity, with no enhanced expression of CD69 and production of T cell cytokines observed, the CD4/CD8 ratio remaining unaffected. In contrast, they significantly enhanced the release of IL-6 and CD69-expression by CD56 positive natural killer cells. PBMC, which had been cultured together with the three recall antigens were not affected by both fullerenes at all. These data indicate that fullerenes do not interact with T cell reactivity but may activate cells of the innate immune system. Furthermore, they seem to act only on 'naïve' cells, which have not been prestimulated with recall antigens, there are however, large inter individual differences.
G protein–coupled receptor crosstalk and signaling in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
2012-08-01

A variety of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) is expressed in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HPCs), including the chemokine receptor CXCR4, the leukotriene receptor CysLT1, the sphingosine 1‐phosphate receptor S1P1, the cannabinoid receptor CB2, and the complement receptor C3aR. While the role of CXCR4 in stem cell homing is largely established, the function of the other GPCRs expressed in HPCs is only partially understood. CXCR4 and CysLT1 inhibit their own activation after ligand binding (homologous desensitization). Stimulation of S1P1 or C3aR has been shown to activate CXCR4 in HPCs that may sensitize CXCR4‐dependent stem cell homing. In contrast, activation of CXCR4 results in a loss of CysLT1 function, which is most likely mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) signaling (heterologous desensitization) and could explain the ineffectiveness of CysLT1 antagonists to mobilize HPCs in vivo . Further characterization of GPCR crosstalk will allow a better understanding of HPC trafficking.
Surgery of Cavernous Hemangioma of the Optic Nerve: Case Report and Review
2012-08-01

A case of a cavernous hemangioma of the optic nerve is presented. Cavernous malformations of the cranial nerves are quite rare and have been reported to involve the third nerve, the seventh nerve in the temporal bone, the seventh and the eighth nerves in the internal auditory canal as well as the optic chiasm and optic nerve. We present a case of a patient with a cavernous hemangioma within the right optic nerve, which could be removed by microsurgery with preservation and improvement of vision. Literature on this rare location of cavernoma is reviewed.
Children&rsquo;s Sleep Comic: development of a new diagnostic tool for children with sleep disorders
2012-08-01

The Children's Sleep Comic is appropriate for screening sleep behavior and sleep problems in children. The interactive procedure can foster a good relationship between the investigator and the child, and thus establish the basis for successful intervention if necessary.
Caudal genes in blood development and leukemia
2012-08-01

Members of the caudal gene family (in mice and humans: Cdx1, Cdx2, and Cdx4) have been studied during early development as regulators of axial elongation and anteroposterior patterning. In the adult, Cdx1 and Cdx2, but not Cdx4, have been intensively explored for their function in intestinal tissue homeostasis and the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal cancers. Involvement in embryonic hematopoiesis was first demonstrated in zebrafish, where cdx genes render posterior lateral plate mesoderm competent to respond to genes specifying hematopoietic fate, and compound mutations in cdx genes thus result in a bloodless phenotype. Parallel studies performed in zebrafish embryos and murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) delineate conserved pathways between fish and mammals, corroborating a BMP/Wnt‐Cdx‐Hox axis during blood development that can be employed to augment derivation of blood progenitors from pluripotent stem cells in vitro . The molecular regulation of Cdx genes appears complex, as more recent data suggest involvement of non‐ Hox –related mechanisms and the existence of auto‐ and cross‐regulatory loops governed by morphogens. Here, we will review the role of Cdx genes during hematopoietic development by comparing effects in zebrafish and mice and discuss their participation in malignant blood diseases.
Late Cretaceous Tectonic Change of the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau – Results from Multisystem Thermochronology
2012-08-01

Abstract Partially due to lack of structural and sedimentary records to constrain the Jurassic-to-Cretaceous evolution, there was a missing process here in the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau as it changed from the Paleo-Tethyan to Neo-Tethyan regime. Based on the analysis of 125 thermochronology ages (U/Pb, 40Ar/39A, 87Rb/86Sr, FT, U-Th/He) of igneous rocks from the eastern margin of Tibet, we propose a multisystem thermochronology approach to restore the cooling and emplacement of granites and decipher the missing process. Our integrated study suggests that a key Late Cretaceous (about 100Ma) tectonic change from the Paleo-Tethyan to Neo-Tethyan regime took place there. In the Late Triassic period, the initial emplacement of granite in the Songpan-Ganzi Fold Belt (SGFB) was characterized by a decrease in emplacement age and depth from west to east, and from north to south. Subsequently, all were followed by a very long period of slow cooling, which was followed by a rapid emplacement of about 100Ma. The intensive granite emplacement took place all over except northeastern SGFB, with a decrease in emplacement depth from west to east, which was linked with the far-field effect of Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. After this episode, the cooling history of granite in SGFB had a rapid emplacement on the subsurface under the control of the Neo-Tethyan regime. This process has control of the post Late Cretaceous regional magmatic activity and tectonics, as well as the sedimentary response in Sichuan and Xichang basin.
Aging, nutrition and immunity – their relationship and interaction
2012-08-01

Demographic shifts worldwide are resulting in ever-increasing numbers of the elderly in both developed and developing countries. With aging come changes in physical and physiological integrity that are accompanied by a gradual decline in immunocompet
The Mitochondrial Protein OM45 Is Exposed to the Cytosol
2012-08-01

The Mitochondrial Protein OM45 Is Exposed to the Cytosol This letter concerns the article published recently by Lauffer et al. (1).OM45 is an abundant protein of the outer membrane (OM) of yeast mitochondria.Yaffe et al.(2) suggested that the protein is anchored to the OM via a single transmembrane segment located at the N terminus of the protein whereas the bulk of the protein is exposed to the cytosol.Later reports confirmed that the protein is exposed to externally added trypsin (3).Furthermore, we observed that OM45 shares its biogenesis pathway with other proteins with such a topology (4).In contrast, Lauffer et al. (1) reported that OM45 has an opposite orientation where the bulk of the protein faces the mitochondrial intermembrane space.The authors based their claim on the resistance of the protein to a very low concentration of externally added proteinase K.However, it is well known that resistance to one protease (especially with the low concentration used by Lauffer et al. (1)) does not exclude availability to other proteases.Thus, their conclusion is based on possibly inadequate experimental assay, and they are advised to repeat their assay with increasing amounts of both trypsin and proteinase K.Of note, Lauffer et al. (1) cited a report by Riezman et al. (5) as supporting their claim.However, Riezman et al. (5) used nonspecific antibodies against proteins of 45 kDa, and only one of the two identified proteins was resistant to trypsin.Taken together, the correct orientation of OM45 is such that the bulk of the protein is facing the cytosol, and the arguments presented by Lauffer et al. (1) are not convincing enough to claim otherwise.