julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Activity Patterns in the Prefrontal Cortex and Hippocampus during and after Awakening from Etomidate Anesthesia
2010-05-27

Background The anesthetic properties of etomidate are largely mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. There is evidence for the existence of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subtypes in the brain, which respond to small concentrations of etomidate. After awakening from anesthesia, these subtypes are expected to cause cognitive dysfunction for a yet unknown period of time. The corresponding patterns of brain electrical activity and the molecular identity of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors contributing to these actions remain to be elucidated. Methods Anesthesia was induced in wild-type and beta3(N265M) knock-in mice by intravenous injection of 10 mg/kg etomidate. Local field potentials were recorded simultaneously in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus using chronically implanted electrode arrays. Local field potentials were sampled before, during, and after anesthesia. Results In the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of wild-type mice, intravenous bolus injection of etomidate evoked isoelectric baselines and subsequent burst suppression. These effects were largely attenuated by the beta3(N265M) mutation. During emergence from anesthesia, power density in the theta band (5-15 Hz) transiently increased in the hippocampus of wild types, but not in the mutants, indicating that this action was caused by the receptors harboring beta3 subunits. In both genotypes, etomidate produced a long-lasting (&gt; 1 h after recovery of righting reflexes) decrease in theta-peak frequency. Significant slowing of theta activity was apparent in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Conclusions Etomidate-induced patterns of brain activity during deep anesthesia mostly involve actions at beta3 containing gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. During the postanesthesia period, altered theta-band activity indicates ongoing anesthetic action.
Specialization and interaction strength in a tropical plant–frugivore network differ among forest strata
2010-05-28

The degree of interdependence and potential for shared coevolutionary history of frugivorous animals and fleshy-fruited plants are contentious topics. Recently, network analyses revealed that mutualistic relationships between fleshy-fruited plants and frugivores are mostly built upon generalized associations. However, little is known about the determinants of network structure, especially from tropical forests where plants' dependence on animal seed dispersal is particularly high. Here, we present an in-depth analysis of specialization and interaction strength in a plant-frugivore network from a Kenyan rain forest. We recorded fruit removal from 33 plant species in different forest strata (canopy, midstory, understory) and habitats (primary and secondary forest) with a standardized sampling design (3447 interactions in 924 observation hours). We classified the 88 frugivore species into guilds according to dietary specialization (14 obligate, 28 partial, 46 opportunistic frugivores) and forest dependence (50 forest species, 38 visitors). Overall, complementary specialization was similar to that in other plant-frugivore networks. However, the plant-frugivore interactions in the canopy stratum were less specialized than in the mid- and understory, whereas primary and secondary forest did not differ. Plant specialization on frugivores decreased with plant height, and obligate and partial frugivores were less specialized than opportunistic frugivores. The overall impact of a frugivore increased with the number of visits and the specialization on specific plants. Moreover, interaction strength of frugivores differed among forest strata. Obligate frugivores foraged in the canopy where fruit resources were abundant, whereas partial and opportunistic frugivores were more common on mid- and understory plants, respectively. We conclude that the vertical stratification of the frugivore community into obligate and opportunistic feeding guilds structures this plant-frugivore network. The canopy stratum comprises stronger links and generalized associations, whereas the lower strata are composed of weaker links and more specialized interactions. Our results suggest that seed-dispersal relationships of plants in lower forest strata are more prone to disruption than those of canopy trees.
X-ray variation statistics and wind clumping in Vela X-1
2010-05-28

We investigate the structure of the wind in the neutron star X-ray binary system Vela X-1 by analyzing its flaring behavior. Vela X-1 shows constant flaring, with some flares reaching fluxes of more than 3.0 Crab between 20-60 keV for several 100 s, while the average flux is around 250 mCrab. We analyzed all archival INTEGRAL data, calculating the brightness distribution in the 20-60 keV band, which, as we show, closely follows a log-normal distribution. Orbital resolved analysis shows that the structure is strongly variable, explainable by shocks and a fluctuating accretion wake. Analysis of RXTE ASM data suggests a strong orbital change of NH. Accreted clump masses derived from the INTEGRAL data are on the order of 5 x 1019 - 1021 g. We show that the lightcurve can be described with a model of multiplicative random numbers. In the course of the simulation we calculate the power spectral density of the system in the 20-100 keV energy band and show that it follows a red-noise power law. We suggest that a mixture of a clumpy wind, shocks, and turbulence can explain the measured mass distribution. As the recently discovered class of supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXT) seems to show the same parameters for the wind, the link between persistent HMXB like Vela X-1 and SFXT is further strengthened.
Peptide microarrays for the profiling of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity using minimum numbers of cells
2010-05-28

The identification of epitopes that elicit cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity is a prerequisite for the development of cancer-specific immunotherapies. However, especially the parallel characterization of several epitopes is limited by the availability of T cells. Microarrays have enabled an unprecedented miniaturization and parallelization in biological assays. Here, we developed peptide microarrays for the detection of CTL activity. MHC class I-binding peptide epitopes were pipetted onto polymer-coated glass slides. Target cells, loaded with the cell-impermeant dye calcein, were incubated on these arrays, followed by incubation with antigen-expanded CTLs. Cytotoxic activity was detected by release of calcein and detachment of target cells. With only 200,000 cells per microarray, CTLs could be detected at a frequency of 0.5% corresponding to 1,000 antigen-specific T cells. Target cells and CTLs only settled on peptide spots enabling a clear separation of individual epitopes. Even though no physical boundaries were present between the individual spots, peptide loading only occurred locally and cytolytic activity was confined to the spots carrying the specific epitope. The peptide microarrays provide a robust platform that implements the whole process from antigen presentation to the detection of CTL activity in a miniaturized format. The method surpasses all established methods in the minimum numbers of cells required. With antigen uptake occurring on the microarray, further applications are foreseen in the testing of antigen precursors that require uptake and processing prior to presentation.
Comparison of distinctive gait variables using two different biomechanical models for ankle joint kinematics
2010-05-28

Gait analysis is an important instrument to investigate foot and ankle biomechanics in the field of footwear design. Results of this method should be objective and comparable. The purpose of this study was to compare two different approaches to quantify ankle joint kinematics: Functionally determined joint centres/axes (FA) versus a predictive model (PA). A single comprehensive marker set was defined. Twenty-two subjects were analysed, and distinctive gait variables were averaged across five trials. Agreement between methods was quantified according to Bland & Altman (Bland and Altman 1986 Bland, JM and Altman, DG. 1986. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet, i(8476): 307–310. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. Lancet, i (8476), 307). Outcome variables differed remarkably between FA and PA at the talocrural (2–9°) and subtalar joints (1–6°). Considerable differences between variables describing motion of the ankle joint complex were primarily related to the use of different rotational axes and definitions of foot segments. This should be considered when studies using different foot models are compared.
Disturbed expression of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex and associated signaling molecules in CD30+ T-cell lymphoproliferations
2010-05-29

Severely altered expression of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex, T-cell receptor-associated transcription factors and signal transduction molecules is a common characteristic of systemic and cutaneous CD30(+) lymphoproliferations, although the clinical behavior of these entities is very different. Since peripheral T-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified retain the full expression program required for functioning T-cell receptor signaling, the differential expression of a subset of these markers might be of diagnostic utility in distinguishing peripheral T-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified from the entire group of CD30(+) lymphoproliferations.
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (M-CSF) in Plasma and CSF of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimers Disease
2010-05-30

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor that activates microglial cells, involved in phagocytosis of amyloid-beta (Abeta) in the brain. In the present study, we found in 50 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) significantly increased M-CSF plasma levels compared to 22 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 35 age-matched healthy controls. In contrast, MCI patients showed significantly decreased M-CSF levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compared to AD patients and 20 patients with other non-inflammatory neurological disease (NIND). Analyzing the impact of Beta-amyloid 1-42 (Abeta 1-42), tau protein and M-CSF for differentiation between the groups we found that M-CSF, but not Abeta 1-42 and tau-protein is a significant parameter for distinction between MCI and NIND patients with 68.8% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity. M-CSF CSF levels < or = 357.8 pg/ml yielded 73.7% sensitivity and 75.0% specificity for diagnosing MCI patients in comparison with control subjects. In conclusion, our data indicate that M-CSF in CSF could be a putative biomarker for MCI.
ERG Rearrangement as a Clonal Expansion Marker for Prostate Cancer
2010-05-30

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasia and the second most frequent cause of cancer specific death in men in the western civilization.The recent discovery and subsequent characterization of recurrent gene rearrangements of ETS genes -most frequently ERG -in the majority of prostate cancers is a milestone in translational prostate cancer research.In this review we summarize the latest findings on the ERG rearrangement in prostate cancer.In particular, we focused on the relevance of the ERG rearrangement as a marker to elucidate the heterogeneity of prostate cancer, a finding which until recently has been difficult to study.Furthermore, since prostate cancer is a multifocal disease in the majority of cases and it is still poorly understood which tumor focus is responsible for metastasis, we explicate the application of the ERG rearrangement as a prostate cancer specific clonal expansion marker.
An early improvement threshold to predict response and remission in first-episode schizophrenia
2010-05-31

Background Early improvement with treatment is thought to be important in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, yet a valid definition is still outstanding. Aims To develop a valid definition of early improvement and test its predictive validity regarding response and remission. Method We examined 188 in-patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Early improvement was defined as improvement in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score at week 2, response as a 40% PANSS total score improvement at end-point, and remission according to consensus criteria. Results Reasonable predictive validity of early improvement was found for a 46% PANSS total score improvement at week 2 and a 50% improvement for remission (area under the curve: response 0.707, remission 0.692). Estimated confidence intervals ranged from 26 to 62% PANSS reduction for response and remission. Conclusions Patients with a first episode of schizophrenia should improve by at least 30% in PANSS total score at week 2 to achieve response and remission.
Community assembly during secondary forest succession in a Chinese subtropical forest
2010-06-01

Subtropical broad-leaved forests in southeastern China support a high diversity of woody plants. Using a comparative study design with 30×30 m plots (n1/427) from five successional stages (&lt;20, &lt;40, &lt;60, &lt;80,≤80 yr), we investigated how the gradient in species composition reflects underlying processes of community assembly. In particular, we tested whether species richness of adult trees and shrubs decreased or increased and assessed to which degree this pattern was caused by negative density dependence or continuous immigration over time. Furthermore, we tested whether rare species were increasingly enriched and the species composition of adult trees and shrubs became more similar to species composition of seedlings during the course of succession. We counted the individuals of all adult species and shrubs &gt;1 m in height in each plot and counted all woody recruits (bank of all seedlings ≤1 m in height) in each central 10×10 m quadrant of each plot. In addition, we measured a number of environmental variables (elevation, slope, aspect, soil moisture, <sup>p</sup>H, C, N, and C/N ratio) and biotic structural variables (height and cover of layers). Adult species richness varied from 25 to 69 species per plot, and in total 148 woody species from 46 families were recorded. There was a clear successional gradient in species composition as revealed by nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), but only a poor differentiation of different successional stages with respect to particular species. Adult richness per 100 individuals (rarefaction method) increased with successional stage. None of the measured abiotic variables were significantly correlated with adult species richness. We found no evidence that rare species were responsible for the increasing adult species richness, as richness of rare species among both adults and recruits was independent of the successional stage. Furthermore, the similarity between established adults and recruits did not increase with successional stage. There was a constant number of recruit species and also of exclusive recruit species, i.e., those that had not been present as adult individuals, across all successional stages, suggesting a continuous random immigration over time.
Potential role of immunosenescence in cancer development
2010-06-01

The incidence and prevalence of most cancers increase with age. The reasons for this may include tumor escape mechanisms and decreased immunosurveillance, but most are caused by the time required for carcinogenesis, according to most scientists. The immune system is a unique mechanism of defense against pathogens and possibly cancers; however, there is a body of evidence that the immune system of the aged is eroded, a phenomenon termed immunosenescence. There is a growing interest in immunosenescence and how it may contribute to the increased number of cancers with aging. Each arm of the immune system, innate and adaptive, is altered with aging, contributing to increased tumorigenesis. Understanding the contribution of immunosenescence to cancer development and progression may lead to better interventions for the elderly.
Zur Grammatik (vor allem) konditionaler V1-Gefüge im Deutschen
2010-06-01

Abstract Standardly, verb-first (V1) conditionals are considered to be mere variants of wenn -conditionals; accordingly, left-peripheral V1-clauses are analyzed as embedded into the prefields of declarative apodosis clauses, just like their V-end counterparts. We challenge this view, proposing instead that dependent V1-clauses are syntactically unembedded/unintegrated, and, consequently, that postposed declarative apodosis clauses are either V2-declaratives with prefield ellipsis or V1-declaratives. We argue our case by presenting evidence that (i) wenn -clauses differ considerably from V1-clauses in semantic distribution, (ii) unlike wenn -clauses, V1-clauses do not meet the criteria for syntactic embedding, (iii) the alternatives entailed by (ii) for the structural analysis of a postposed apodosis both have empirical support. As for a syntactic analysis of V1-structures suited to these findings, we argue that a CP adjunction analysis is currently the best option available. We also point out connections between the semantic restrictions on V1-conditionals and the semantics of V1-interrogatives that are suggestive of a common semantic core, which raises hope that our background vision (ultimately, all dependent V-to-C clauses are semantically licensed substitutes for genuine subordinates) may also be true for V1-clauses.
The Deubiquitinating Enzyme AMSH3 Is Required for Intracellular Trafficking and Vacuole Biogenesis inArabidopsis thaliana
2010-06-01

Abstract Ubiquitination, deubiquitination, and the formation of specific ubiquitin chain topologies have been implicated in various cellular processes. Little is known, however, about the role of ubiquitin in the development of cellular organelles. Here, we identify and characterize the deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH3 from Arabidopsis thaliana. AMSH3 hydrolyzes K48- and K63-linked ubiquitin chains in vitro and accumulates both ubiquitin chain types in vivo. amsh3 mutants fail to form a central lytic vacuole, accumulate autophagosomes, and mis-sort vacuolar protein cargo to the intercellular space. Furthermore, AMSH3 is required for efficient endocytosis of the styryl dye FM4-64 and the auxin efflux facilitator PIN2. We thus present evidence for a role of deubiquitination in intracellular trafficking and vacuole biogenesis.
Echolocation signals of a beaked whale at Palmyra Atoll
2010-06-01

Acoustic recordings from Palmyra Atoll, northern Line Islands, central Pacific, showed upsweep frequency modulated pulses reminiscent of those produced by beaked whales. These signals had higher frequencies, broader bandwidths, longer pulse durations and shorter inter-pulse intervals than previously described pulses of Blainville’s, Cuvier’s and Gervais’ beaked whales [Zimmer et al. (2005). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 117, 3919–3927; Johnson et al. (2006). J. Exp. Biol. 209, 5038–5050; Gillespie et al. (2009). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 125, 3428–3433]. They were distinctly different temporally and spectrally from the unknown beaked whale at Cross Seamount, HI [McDonald et al. (2009). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 125, 624–627]. Genetics on beaked whale specimens found at Palmyra Atoll suggest the presence of a poorly known beaked whale species. Mesoplodon sp. might be the source of the FM pulses described in this paper. The Palmyra Atoll FM pulse peak frequency was at 44 kHz with a −10 dB bandwidth of 26 kHz. Mean pulse duration was 355 μs and inter-pulse interval was 225 ms, with a bimodal distribution. Buzz sequences were detected with inter-pulse intervals below 20 ms and unmodulated spectra, with about 20 dB lower amplitude than prior FM pulses. These clicks had a 39 kHz bandwidth (−10 dB), peak frequency at 37 kHz, click duration 155 μs, and inter-click interval between 4 and 10 ms.
Predictive value of routine transcutaneous tissue oxygen tension (tcpO2) measurement for the risk of non-healing and amputation in diabetic foot ulcer patients with non-palpable pedal pulses.
2010-06-01

Routine assessment of tcpO2 is suitable as a clinical screening tool for estimating the risk of non-healing in diabetic foot ulcer patients without palpable pedal pulses. However, its predictive value for the risk of amputation remains unclear.
Anisotropic scaling of tectonic stylolites: A fossilized signature of the stress field?
2010-06-01

Vertical stylolites are pressure solution features, which are considered to be caused by horizontal tectonic loading, with the largest principal compressive stress being (sub‐)parallel to the Earth's surface. In the present study we analyze the roughness of such tectonic stylolites from two tectonic settings in southern Germany and northeastern Spain, aiming to investigate their scaling properties with respect to the stress during formation. High‐resolution laser profilometry was carried out on opened stylolite surfaces of nine samples. These data sets were then analyzed using one‐ and two‐dimensional Fourier power spectral approaches. We found that tectonic stylolites show two self‐affine scaling regimes separated by a distinct crossover length ( L ), as known for bedding parallel stylolites. In addition, tectonic stylolites exhibit a clear in‐plane scaling anisotropy that modifies L . Since the largest and smallest crossover lengths are oriented with the sample vertical and horizontal directions (i.e., σ 2 and σ 3 ) and L is a function of the stress field during formation as analytically predicted, we conclude that the scaling anisotropy of tectonic stylolites is possibly a function of the stress field. Knowledge of this crossover‐length anisotropy would enable the reconstruction of the full three‐dimensional stress tensor if independent constraints of the depth of formation can be obtained.
Multi-wavelength observations of H 2356–309
2010-06-01

AIMS: The properties of the broad-band emission from the high-frequency\\npeaked BL Lac H 2356-309 (z=0.165) are investigated. METHODS: Very High Energy\\n(VHE; E &gt; 100 GeV) observations of H 2356-309 were performed with the High\\nEnergy Stereoscopic System (HESS) from 2004 through 2007. Simultaneous\\noptical/UV and X-ray observations were made with the XMM-Newton satellite on\\nJune 12/13 and June 14/15, 2005. NRT radio observations were also\\ncontemporaneously performed in 2005. ATOM optical monitoring observations were\\nalso made in 2007. RESULTS: A strong VHE signal, ~13 sigma total, was detected\\nby HESS after the four years HESS observations (116.8 hrs live time). The\\nintegral flux above 240 GeV is I(&gt;240 GeV) = (3.06 +- 0.26 {stat} +- 0.61\\n{syst}) x 10^{-12} cm^{-2} s^{-1}, corresponding to ~1.6% of the flux observed\\nfrom the Crab Nebula. A time-averaged energy spectrum is measured from 200 GeV\\nto 2 TeV and is characterized by a power law (photon index of Gamma = 3.06 +-\\n0.15 {stat} +- 0.10 {syst}). Significant small-amplitude variations in the VHE\\nflux from H 2356-309 are seen on time scales of months and years, but not on\\nshorter time scales. No evidence for any variations in the VHE spectral slope\\nare found within these data. The XMM-Newton X-ray measurements show a\\nhistorically low X-ray state, characterized by a hard, broken-power-law\\nspectrum on both nights. CONCLUSIONS: The broad-band spectral energy\\ndistribution (SED) of the blazar can be adequately fit using a simple one-zone\\nsynchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model. In the SSC scenario, higher VHE fluxes\\ncould be expected in the future since the observed X-ray flux is at a\\nhistorically low level.\\n