julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Tackling Drought Stress: RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASES Present New Approaches
2012-06-01

Global climate change and a growing population require tackling the reduction in arable land and improving biomass production and seed yield per area under varying conditions. One of these conditions is suboptimal water availability. Here, we review some of the classical approaches to dealing with plant response to drought stress and we evaluate how research on RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASES (RLKs) can contribute to improving plant performance under drought stress. RLKs are considered as key regulators of plant architecture and growth behavior, but they also function in defense and stress responses. The available literature and analyses of available transcript profiling data indeed suggest that RLKs can play an important role in optimizing plant responses to drought stress. In addition, RLK pathways are ideal targets for nontransgenic approaches, such as synthetic molecules, providing a novel strategy to manipulate their activity and supporting translational studies from model species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, to economically useful crops.
Pulmonary Lesion Assessment: Comparison of Whole-Body Hybrid MR/PET and PET/CT Imaging—Pilot Study
2012-06-01

MR/PET imaging of the lung is feasible and provides diagnostic image quality in the assessment of pulmonary masses. Similar lesion characterization and tumor stage were found in comparing PET/CT and MR/PET images in most patients.
Degradation of Arabidopsis CRY2 Is Regulated by SPA Proteins and Phytochrome A
2012-06-01

The UV-A/blue light photoreceptor crytochrome2 (cry2) plays a fundamental role in the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase in the facultative long-day plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The cry2 protein level strongly decreases when etiolated seedlings are exposed to blue light; cry2 is first phosphorylated, polyubiquitinated, and then degraded by the 26S proteasome. COP1 is involved in cry2 degradation, but several cop1 mutants show only reduced but not abolished cry2 degradation. SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 (SPA) proteins are known to work in concert with COP1, and recently direct physical interaction between cry2 and SPA1 was demonstrated. Thus, we hypothesized that SPA proteins could also play a role in cry2 degradation. To this end, we analyzed cry2 protein levels in spa mutants. In all spa mutants analyzed, cry2 degradation under continuous blue light was alleviated in a fluence rate-dependent manner. Consistent with a role of SPA proteins in phytochrome A (phyA) signaling, a phyA mutant had enhanced cry2 levels, particularly under low fluence rate blue light. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy studies showed a robust physical interaction of cry2 with SPA1 in nuclei of living cells. Our results suggest that cry2 stability is controlled by SPA and phyA, thus providing more information on the molecular mechanisms of interaction between cryptochrome and phytochrome photoreceptors.
Antimicrobial effectiveness of intracanal medicaments on Enterococcus faecalis: chlorhexidine versus octenidine
2012-06-01

Abstract Aim To determine the viability of E nterococcus faecalis in infected human root dentine in vitro after exposure to root canal medicaments based on chlorhexidine and octenidine. Methodology Human root segments ( n = 40) were infected with E . faecalis for 8 weeks. Root dentine samples (rd) collected at week 4 served as individual baseline values. At week 8, the root segments were randomly divided into four test groups ( n = 10 each) for the placement of one of the following medicaments in the root canals: calcium hydroxide paste ( CH ), chlorhexidine gel ( CHX ‐gel) (5.0%), chlorhexidine/gutta‐percha points ( CHX ‐ GP ) (active points ® ; Roeko, Langenau, Germany) and octenidine gel ( OCT ‐gel) (5.0%) followed by incubation for 4 weeks. The effect on E . faecalis viability was assessed by two fluorescent dyes (syto 9/propidium iodide) to determine the ‘proportion of viable bacteria’ ( PVB %) and number of ‘colony‐forming units’ ( CFU ). Mean values and 95% confidence intervals ( CI ) were calculated for PVB % and log CFU , and the difference between groups was established. Results Viable and dead bacterial cells were detected in all ‘rd’ samples at weeks 4 and 8. The treatment with CHX ‐gel, CHX ‐ GP and OCT ‐gel resulted in significantly lower PVB % values with 15.4%, 3.5% and 0%, respectively. No growth ( CFU ) was recorded for these samples at week 12. When medicated by CH , the PVB % was increased without a corresponding change in CFU s. Conclusions In contrast to calcium hydroxide, both CHX – and octenidine‐based intracanal medicaments were effective in decreasing the viability of E . faecalis . OCT showed the most favourable results and may have potential as an endodontic medicament.
A New Technique for Treating Posttraumatic Aniridia With Aphakia
2012-06-01

We describe a new surgical technique for treating traumatic aniridia with aphakia and its results in a small consecutive case series. We attached a 3-piece acrylic intraocular lens through the haptics to a customized silicone iris prosthesis. The combined implant was inserted through a 5-mm incision and fixated with a transscleral suture in the ciliary sulcus using a knotless technique (Z suture). In all patients, the combined implant stayed firmly fixed within the sulcus and showed a stable and centered position without any tilt or torque during follow-up. Thus, managing posttraumatic aniridia with aphakia by means of haptic fixation of a foldable intraocular lens on a custom-tailored iris prosthesis is a promising approach for visual rehabilitation and cosmetic improvement.
Temporal Bone Arrangements in Turtles: An Overview
2012-06-01

ABSTRACT The temporal region of turtles is characterized by significant anatomical diversity. Turtles show a pure anapsid morphotype that exhibits various different marginal reductions known as emarginations. As a result of this diversity, turtles can be taken as a model by which to understand the processes that may have resulted in the highly debated anatomy of the amniote temporal region in general. In this review on almost forgotten literature, I summarize ten potential factors that may act on the skull to shape the temporal region of turtles. These are: (1) phylogenetic constraints, (2) skull weights, (3) type of food, (4) skull dimensions, (5) muscle bulging, (6) ear anatomy and jaw muscle bending mechanisms, (7) extent and nature of muscle attachment sites, (8) internal forces within the jaw adductor chamber, (9) environmental pressure, and (10) neck bending mechanisms. Particular focus is laid on the interrelationship of the jaw musculature and the dermatocranial armour, which were assumed to influence each other to a certain degree. In the literature, cranial dimensions were assumed to influence temporal bone formation within major tetrapod groups. Among these, turtles seem to represent a kind of intermixture, a phenomenon that may be reflected in their specific anatomy. The references presented should be understood as product of the scientific environment in which they developed and the older literature does not always insist current empirical demands. However, the intuitive and creative ideas and the comprehensive anatomical considerations of these authors may inspire future studies in several fields related to this topic. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 318:235–249, 2012 . © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Second-line systemic therapy for the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer
2012-06-01

The discovery of molecular mechanisms driving the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has led to the development of drugs that target RCC at the molecular level. Inhibition of VEGF-targeting pathways is successful as a front-line treatment in patients with metastatic RCC. In addition, bevacizumab/IFN-α, sunitinib and pazopanib are recommended for first-line use in good- or intermediate-risk patients, whereas temsirolimus is approved for poor-risk patients. Second-line options are valuable as these patients eventually progress. The present review addresses which drug is best in this second-line setting. Options for sequential therapy include tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-mTOR inhibitor or TKI-TKI sequences. We also address the question of whether sequential therapy with TKIs or the combination of VEGF followed by mTOR inhibition is the best choice for specific patients, and which sequence of TKIs is most beneficial.
Combining instruction set simulation and WCET analysis for embedded software performance estimation
2012-06-01

Simulation-based approaches to evaluate the functional and non-functional properties of embedded software are in widespread industrial use for design space exploration and virtual prototyping. As simulation performance is usually the main concern for these tools, they often lack an accurate timing model of the underlying processor. On the other hand, tools aimed at the worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis of embedded software contain accurate models for the timing behavior of embedded processors. Yet, these accurate processor models are only used to determine the worst-case path through the analyzed program. This paper proposes the combination of existing tools from both domains. The combination of an a priori analysis of machine code with a dynamic selection of basic block timing estimates during the execution of the program in a high-speed instruction set simulator (ISS) reduces the simulation overhead for cycle-accurate timing estimation. By keeping track of the execution history during execution of the analyzed software, the full accuracy of the offline performance model can be used without introducing pessimism to the simulation-based performance estimates. As most of the timing estimation is done before the simulation, only a slight decrease in simulation performance of the high-speed ISS can be expected.
Low temperature light yield measurements in NaI and NaI(Tl)
2012-06-01

\\n The scintillation light output of a pure and a Thallium doped Sodium Iodide (NaI) crystal under irradiation with 5.486 MeV α particles has been measured over a temperature range from 1.7 K to 300 K. Estimates of the decay time constant at three selected temperatures are given. For pure NaI an increase in light yield towards low temperatures could be confirmed and measured at higher precision. For NaI(Tl) below 60 K an increase in light output has been found.\\n
Reduced Neural Error Signaling in Left Inferior Prefrontal Cortex in Young Adults With ADHD
2012-06-01

Objective: The neural network involved in inhibition of inappropriate response tendencies shares commonalities with the error-processing network, signaling failure of inhibition. Most studies on error processing in ADHD have been conducted in children using electrophysiological methods. Method: Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, the authors studied 14 adults with ADHD and 12 group-matched healthy control participants while performing a modified version of a combined Eriksen Flanker-Go/NoGo-task. Results: Patients with ADHD demonstrated significantly reduced error signaling in the left inferior frontal gyrus bordering the anterior insular cortex (BA 47), computed from the contrast of unsuccessful minus successful inhibition trials. Conclusion: Hypoactivation of the left inferior frontal cortex during error signaling might represent a neurofunctional marker of a crucial prerequisite for error processing in adults with ADHD. This possibly indicates a dysfunction of the neural system that operates task-set related representations and monitoring of erroneous performances in service of ensuing posterror processing.
The Global Status of Economic History
2012-06-01

ABSTRACT How many economic historians are there? In which countries or regions are they concentrated? What can we learn from the number of economic historians participating in world congresses, and which determinants encourage or limit participation? Using an e-mail questionnaire, we analyse the discipline's global status. Overall 59 countries were surveyed in this overview. Although the majority of economic historians are concentrated in rich countries, developing regions do have a substantial number of practitioners. Cross fertilisation between development studies, development economics and economic history is bearing increasing fruit. It is therefore important to strengthen the discipline of economic history in those regions where development is the core issue.
Involvement of claudins in zebrafish brain ventricle morphogenesis
2012-06-01

Zebrafish brain ventricle morphogenesis involves an initial circulation‐independent opening followed by a blood flow– and circulation‐dependent expansion process. Zebrafish claudin‐5a is required for the establishment of a neuroepithelial–ventricular barrier, which maintains the hydrostatic pressure within the ventricular cavity, thereby contributing to brain ventricle opening and expansion. In mammalia, several claudin family members, including claudin‐3 and claudin‐5, are expressed within microvessel endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier. Whether zebrafish brain ventricle morphogenesis provides a model for studying these claudins during early embryonic development was unknown. This review focuses on the expression and function of these zebrafish claudins during brain ventricle morphogenesis.
Incorporating environmental knowledge into Bayesian filtering using attractor functions
2012-06-01

Many automotive systems use linear approaches to track and predict other traffic participants. While this may be appropriate on highways, linear predictions do not work properly on curved roads or lane crossings. This contribution introduces a generic way for including environmental knowledge - such as the lane trajectory ahead - to anticipate yaw rate and acceleration of other traffic participants. The anticipatory knowledge is used to improve prediction in filtering tasks. It is embedded in a Bayesian framework by introducing attractors, which modify the probabilistic propagation of state estimations. The attractors model how traffic participants typically behave, given environmental knowledge such as lane information, traffic lights, or indicator lights. We demonstrate the potential of this approach by modeling the fact that vehicles usually stay in their lane. We show that given correct context information and nonlinear traffic situations, the tracking error is considerably lower compared to conventional tracking methods. In addition, we also show that the intentions of other traffic participants may be inferred by comparing actual sensory data with anticipated probability distributions, which were generated dependent on alternative attractors.
Beating thy Neighbor: Derby Effects in German Professional Soccer
2012-06-01

Summary It is widely acknowledged that derbies between two teams from the same city or region catch more public attention than “normal” soccer matches. Terms such as “Old Firm” (Rangers vs. Celtic), “Merseyside” (Liverpool FC vs. Everton FC), “Superclásico” (Boca Juniors vs. River Plate), and “Revierderby” (Dortmund vs. Schalke) are well-known even to people outside their respective countries of origin. Using data from the German Bundesliga from 1999 to 2009, we test whether derbies differ from other soccer matches with respect to the number of goals scored by each team, match results, and referee evaluations. The results are very surprising given the enormous amount of public attention that derbies with their special character attract: we find that there are no significant differences between derbies and “normal” matches. Despite the importance of derbies for fans and the public, they turn out to be “normal” soccer matches in all other respects.
Construction and interpretation of self-related function and dysfunction in Intercultural Psychiatry
2012-06-01

In several psychiatric disorders, key symptoms are associated with aspects of an individual, which are usually referred to as the "self". For example in schizophrenia, it has been suggested that the activity of the self and the distinction between self and others are impaired. However, such models of the self and its dysfunction have been developed among Western societies and may not easily be transferred into different cultural settings, which can be characterized by alternative concepts of a person's self. This study compares traditional Western concepts of the self and its dysfunction with self-concepts developed in Caribbean, African and South-East-Asian societies. This review demonstrates that "the self" is a fluid concept. Social function and dysfunction of such a self-concepts depend on a given cultural context. We argue that the cursive concept of the self is culturally constructed around cursive experiences which are shared by all human beings. Such universal experiences may include the prereflective access to individual thoughts and feelings, an automatic knowledge that (at least in non-pathological states) these emotions and cognitions belong to my self. Conscious self-reflection and its narrative articulation, on the other hand, is necessarily imbued with social and cultural norms, images and events, often of conflicting nature.
Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose-Degrading and Xylanolytic Bacteria from the Short-Nosed Fruit BatCynopterus sphinx
2012-06-01

Cynopterus sphinx is a frugivorous bat also known to feed regularly on leaves. This raises the question whether microorganisms capable of digesting such a diet are present in the gut. In the present study cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria were isolated from the intestine of C. sphinx on Berg's agar medium containing carboxymethyl cellulose and xylan. The isolated cultivable cellulose and xylan degrading bacteria were characterized biochemically and identified to be Bacillus sp., Clostridium sp., Streptococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. Among the cultivable bacteria from the intestine of the insectivorous Hipposideros fulvus, which was used as a control, no cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria could be isolated. We hypothesize that leaves could be a carbohydrate source for bats. By isolating polysaccharide-degrading bacteria from the intestine of C. sphinx, we infer that they help in digestion of xylan and soluble cellulose in their diet.
Non-definability of Languages by Generalized First-order Formulas over (N,+)
2012-06-01

We consider first-order logic with monoidal quantifiers over words. We show that all languages with a neutral letter, definable using the addition predicate are also definable with the order predicate as the only numerical predicate. Let S be a subset of monoids. Let L be the logic closed under quantification over the monoids in S. Then we prove that L[<;,+] and L[<;] define the same neutral letter languages. Our result can be interpreted as the Crane Beach conjecture to hold for the logic L[<;,+]. As a consequence we get the result of Roy and Straubing that FO+MOD[<;,+] collapses to FO+MOD[<;]. For cyclic groups, we answer an open question of Roy and Straubing, proving that MOD[<;,+] collapses to MOD[<;]. Our result also shows that multiplication as a numerical predicate is necessary for Barrington's theorem to hold and also to simulate majority quantifiers. All these results can be viewed as separation results for highly uniform circuit classes. For example we separate FO[<;,+]-uniform CC0 from FO[<;,+]-uniform ACC0.
Semiclassical approximations for adiabatic slow-fast systems
2012-06-01

In this letter we give a systematic derivation and justification of the\\nsemiclassical model for the slow degrees of freedom in adiabatic slow-fast\\nsystems first found by Littlejohn and Flynn [5]. The classical Hamiltonian\\nobtains a correction due to the variation of the adiabatic subspaces and the\\nsymplectic form is modified by the curvature of the Berry connection. We show\\nthat this classical system can be used to approximate quantum mechanical\\nexpectations and the time-evolution of operators also in sub-leading order in\\nthe combined adiabatic and semiclassical limit. In solid state physics the\\ncorresponding semiclassical description of Bloch electrons has led to\\nsubstantial progress during the recent years, see [1]. Here, as an\\nillustration, we show how to compute the Piezo-current arising from a slow\\ndeformation of a crystal in the presence of a constant magnetic field.\\n
[Clinical, microbiological and immunological findings in peri-implantitis patients with bar-retained lower removable partial dentures, compared to a healthy control group (12-month-follow-up)].
2012-06-01

Cause, treatment strategies and prognosis of peri-implantitis is not well understood. The aim of this study was to followup clinical, microbiological and immunological findings in individuals wearing bar-retained lower partial dentures with and without peri-implantitis, pre and post treatment. From the Tuebingen Implant Registry recall program 16 peri-implantitis patients were compared to 16 healthy individuals in a prospective, unblinded study. Peri-implantitis was treated with a single anti-inflammatory therapy according to the CIST protocol while the controls received professional implant cleaning. The following findings were recorded at four time points before treatment (T1) and 30, 90, 360 days post treatment (T2-T4): sulcular fluid flow rate, probing depth, plaque and bleeding index, implant stability (Periotest); sulcular concentrations of interleukin-1 beta, plasminogen activator inhibitor 2, prostaglandin E2, and the sum score of five periodonto-pathogenic bacteria species by PCR (Hain Microldent test). Statistically significant differences between healthy and diseased implants were found for probing depth, bleeding on probing, bacterial load, and implant stability. For the first three, a significant decrease in severity was observed after treatment, but reached initial pre-treatment values within one year. No changes could be observed in the individuals without peri-implantitis. The results of the present study confirm marked differences in peri-implant findings between healthy and diseased sites. They demonstrate that a single anti-inflammatory intervention can initially--but not sustained--reduce probing depth, bleeding on probing, and the total bacterial load as evident from PCR diagnostics. Further immunological diagnostic measures do not seem to provide more information in the patients investigated.