julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Clock Test Deficits Between Elderly Patients With Early and Late Onset Depression
2015-06-04

To compare clock test deficits in elderly patients with early onset depression (EOD) and late onset depression (LOD), we assessed 32 elderly healthy controls (HCs), 26 patients with EOD, and 27 patients with LOD with the clock drawing test (CDT), clock setting test, clock reading test, and the Tübingen Clock Questionnaire testing semantic memory about clock times. There was no significant difference in depression severity between patients with EOD and LOD. Patients with LOD had significantly lower scores on the CDT than patients with EOD and HCs. Semantic memory impairment concerning minute hand functionality was highly correlated with CDT performance and was significantly different between the EOD and the LOD groups. It can be suggested that significant differences in cognitive impairment severity between patients with EOD and LOD can be detected with CDT. Semantic memory impairment concerning minute hand functionality might affect CDT test results in elderly patients with depression.
Use of near-infrared spectroscopy to assess phosphorus fractions of different plant availability in forest soils
2015-06-05

Abstract. The analysis of soil phosphorus (P) in fractions of different plant availability is a common approach to characterize the P status of forest soils. However, quantification of organic and inorganic P fractions in different extracts is labor intensive and therefore rarely applied for large sample numbers. Therefore, we examined whether different P fractions can be predicted using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). We used the Hedley sequential extraction method (modified by Tiessen and Moir, 2008) with increasingly strong extractants to determine P in fractions of different plant availability and measured near-infrared (NIR) spectra for soil samples from sites of the German forest soil inventory and from a nature reserve in southeastern China. The R2 of NIRS calibrations to predict P in individual Hedley fractions ranged between 0.08 and 0.85. When these fractions were combined into labile, moderately labile and stable P pools, R2 of calibration models was between 0.38 and 0.88 (all significant). Model prediction quality was higher for organic than for inorganic P fractions and increased with the homogeneity of soil properties in soil sample sets. Useable models were obtained for samples originating from one soil type in subtropical China, whereas prediction models for sample sets from a range of soil types in Germany were only moderately useable or not useable. Our results indicate that prediction of Hedley P fractions with NIRS can be a promising approach to replace conventional analysis, if models are developed for sets of soil samples with similar physical and chemical properties, e.g., from the same soil type or study site.
Influence of Graphene on Charge Transfer between CoPc and Metals: The Role of Graphene–Substrate Coupling
2015-06-05

The electronic structure of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) on Pt(111), graphene/Pt(111), and Au-intercalated graphene/Ni(111) is investigated by photoexcited electron spectroscopies: photoemission (XPS and UPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS or NEXAFS). For CoPc on Pt(111), significant changes of the shape of XPS and XAS spectra indicate a charge transfer from the metal substrate to the Co ion of CoPc. The strong interaction between CoPc and Pt(111) can be completely prevented by the insertion of a graphene buffer layer. For CoPc on graphene/Ni(111), the charge transfer is only prevented if the graphene on Ni(111) is intercalated by gold. Therefore, the disturbance of the graphene electronic structure by the interaction with underlying substrate and the corresponding charge doping of graphene has been found to affect the electronic properties of adsorbed CoPc considerably.
A Phase II Study of the Central European Society of Anticancer-Drug Research (CESAR) Group: Results of an Open-Label Study of Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin with or without Concomitant or Sequential Gefitinib in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urothelium
2015-06-05

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Introduction:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, gefitinib, in combination with first-line chemotherapy in advanced urothelial cancer. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma were randomized 1:1:1 to receive six cycles of chemotherapy (gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; on days 1 and 8, and cisplatin 70 mg/m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; on day 1 of every cycle) concomitantly with gefitinib 250 mg/day (arm A); or with sequential gefitinib (arm B); or alone (arm C). The primary endpoint was the time to progression (TTP). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A total of 105 patients received study treatment. Median TTP for arms A, B, and C were 6.1, 6.3, and 7.8 months, respectively. There were no significant differences between treatment arms for any outcomes measured. The most common adverse events were nausea and vomiting. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Gefitinib in combination with chemotherapy did not improve efficacy in advanced urothelial cancer.
USP18 Sensitivity of Peptide Transporters PEPT1 and PEPT2
2015-06-05

USP18 (Ubiquitin-like specific protease 18) is an enzyme cleaving ubiquitin from target proteins. USP18 plays a pivotal role in antiviral and antibacterial immune responses. On the other hand, ubiquitination participates in the regulation of several ion channels and transporters. USP18 sensitivity of transporters has, however, never been reported. The present study thus explored, whether USP18 modifies the activity of the peptide transporters PEPT1 and PEPT2, and whether the peptide transporters are sensitive to the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2. To this end, cRNA encoding PEPT1 or PEPT2 was injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes without or with additional injection of cRNA encoding USP18. Electrogenic peptide (glycine-glycine) transport was determined by dual electrode voltage clamp. As a result, in Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with cRNA encoding PEPT1 or PEPT2, but not in oocytes injected with water or with USP18 alone, application of the dipeptide gly-gly (2 mM) was followed by the appearance of an inward current (Igly-gly). Coexpression of USP18 significantly increased Igly-gly in both PEPT1 and PEPT2 expressing oocytes. Kinetic analysis revealed that coexpression of USP18 increased maximal Igly-gly. Conversely, overexpression of the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 decreased Igly-gly. Coexpression of USP30 similarly increased Igly-gly in PEPT1 expressing oocytes. In conclusion, USP18 sensitive cellular functions include activity of the peptide transporters PEPT1 and PEPT2.
Deprivation and Recovery of Sleep in Succession Enhances Reflexive Motor Behavior
2015-06-05

Sleep deprivation impairs inhibitory control over reflexive behavior, and this impairment is commonly assumed to dissipate after recovery sleep. Contrary to this belief, here we show that fast reflexive behaviors, when practiced during sleep deprivation, is consolidated across recovery sleep and, thereby, becomes preserved. As a model for the study of sleep effects on prefrontal cortex-mediated inhibitory control in humans, we examined reflexive saccadic eye movements (express saccades), as well as speeded 2-choice finger motor responses. Different groups of subjects were trained on a standard prosaccade gap paradigm before periods of nocturnal sleep and sleep deprivation. Saccade performance was retested in the next morning and again 24 h later. The rate of express saccades was not affected by sleep after training, but slightly increased after sleep deprivation. Surprisingly, this increase augmented even further after recovery sleep and was still present 4 weeks later. Additional experiments revealed that the short testing after sleep deprivation was sufficient to increase express saccades across recovery sleep. An increase in speeded responses across recovery sleep was likewise found for finger motor responses. Our findings indicate that recovery sleep can consolidate motor disinhibition for behaviors practiced during prior sleep deprivation, thereby persistently enhancing response automatization.
In Search of Interreligious Competence: An Empirical Study in the Context of Training Caregivers Through Religious Education
2015-06-05

Given the increasingly diverse and multi-religious character of contemporary societies in Europe and beyond, interreligious education has come to attract more and more interest. This is especially true for the field of religious education. This article comes from a research project that has two aspects as its focus. The first aspect refers to the question of whether approaches to interreligious education really are effective. The other aspect concerns what is called the meaning of interreligious abilities or competence for professional qualification. The process of training future caregivers includes both of these aspects. Moreover, the project entailed an attempt to test a number of religious-education teaching units empirically for their effects on the trainees. In this article, an attempt is made to shed light on the structure of interreligious competence. The main focus is on finding a general factor of interreligious competence at the heart of more specific facets of competence.
Low MBL‐associated serine protease 2 (MASP‐2) levels correlate with urogenital schistosomiasis in Nigerian children
2015-06-05

Abstract Objectives The human mannose‐binding lectin ( MBL ) and ficolins ( FCN ) are involved in pathogen recognition in the first line of defence. They support activation of the complement lectin cascade in the presence of MBL ‐associated serine protease 2 ( MASP ‐2), a protein that cleaves the C4 and C2 complement components. Recent studies found that distinct MBL 2 and FCN 2 promoter variants and their corresponding serum levels are associated with relative protection from urogenital schistosomiasis. Methods We investigated the contribution of MASP ‐2 levels and MASP 2 polymorphisms in a Nigerian study group, of 163 individuals infected with Schistosoma haematobium and 183 healthy subjects. Results MASP ‐2 serum levels varied between younger children (≤12 years) and older children (&gt;12 years) and adults ( P = 0.0001). Younger children with a patent infection had significantly lower MASP ‐2 serum levels than uninfected children ( P = 0.0074). Older children and adults (&gt;12 years) with a current infection had higher serum MASP ‐2 levels than controls ( P = 0.032). MBL serum levels correlated positively with MASP ‐2 serum levels ( P = 0.01). MASP 2 secretor haplotypes were associated with MASP ‐2 serum levels in healthy subjects. The heterozygous MASP 2 p.P126L variant was associated with reduced serum MASP ‐2 levels ( P = 0.01). Conclusions The findings indicate that higher MASP ‐2 serum levels are associated with relative protection from urogenital schistosomiasis in Nigerian children.
Correspondence of DNA Methylation Between Blood and Brain Tissue and Its Application to Schizophrenia Research
2015-06-08

Given the difficulty of procuring human brain tissue, a key question in molecular psychiatry concerns the extent to which epigenetic signatures measured in more accessible tissues such as blood can serve as a surrogate marker for the brain. Here, we aimed (1) to investigate the blood-brain correspondence of DNA methylation using a within-subject design and (2) to identify changes in DNA methylation of brain-related biological pathways in schizophrenia.We obtained paired blood and temporal lobe biopsy samples simultaneously from 12 epilepsy patients during neurosurgical treatment. Using the Infinium 450K methylation array we calculated similarity of blood and brain DNA methylation for each individual separately. We applied our findings by performing gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) of peripheral blood DNA methylation data (Infinium 27K) of 111 schizophrenia patients and 122 healthy controls and included only Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) sites that were significantly correlated across tissues.Only 7.9% of CpG sites showed a statistically significant, large correlation between blood and brain tissue, a proportion that although small was significantly greater than predicted by chance. GSEA analysis of schizophrenia data revealed altered methylation profiles in pathways related to precursor metabolites and signaling peptides.Our findings indicate that most DNA methylation markers in peripheral blood do not reliably predict brain DNA methylation status. However, a subset of peripheral data may proxy methylation status of brain tissue. Restricting the analysis to these markers can identify meaningful epigenetic differences in schizophrenia and potentially other brain disorders.
Neurons selective to the number of visual items in the corvid songbird endbrain
2015-06-08

Significance Birds are known for their advanced numerical competence, although a six-layered neocortex that is thought to enable primates with the highest levels of cognition is lacking in birds. We recorded neuronal activity from an endbrain association area termed nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL) in crows that discriminated the number of items in displays. NCL neurons were tuned to preferred numerosities. Neuronal discharges were relevant for the crows’ correct performance. Both the neuronal and the behavioral tuning functions were best described on a logarithmic number line, just as predicted by the psychophysical Weber–Fecher Law. Our data suggests that this way of coding numerical information has evolved based on convergent evolution as a superior solution to a common computational problem.
Effect of Antihelminthic Treatment on Vaccine Immunogenicity to a Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Primary School Children in Gabon: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
2015-06-08

In our setting antihelminthic treatment had no significant effect on influenza vaccine immunogenicity. A trend towards better antiviral and vaccine immunogenicity in the antihelminthic treated group encourages studies to be conducted with alternative treatment schedules or in populations with a higher helminth burden.
Mitochondrial Genomes of Giant Deers Suggest their Late Survival in Central Europe
2015-06-08

Abstract The giant deer Megaloceros giganteus is among the most fascinating Late Pleistocene Eurasian megafauna that became extinct at the end of the last ice age. Important questions persist regarding its phylogenetic relationship to contemporary taxa and the reasons for its extinction. We analyzed two large ancient cervid bone fragments recovered from cave sites in the Swabian Jura (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) dated to 12,000 years ago. Using hybridization capture in combination with next generation sequencing, we were able to reconstruct nearly complete mitochondrial genomes from both specimens. Both mtDNAs cluster phylogenetically with fallow deer and show high similarity to previously studied partial Megaloceros giganteus DNA from Kamyshlov in western Siberia and Killavullen in Ireland. The unexpected presence of Megaloceros giganteus in Southern Germany after the Ice Age suggests a later survival in Central Europe than previously proposed. The complete mtDNAs provide strong phylogenetic support for a Dama-Megaloceros clade. Furthermore, isotope analyses support an increasing competition between giant deer, red deer and reindeer after the Last Glacial Maximum, which might have contributed to the extinction of Megaloceros in Central Europe.
German MedicalTeachingNetwork (MDN) implementing national standards for teacher training
2015-06-08

The report outlines the process of setting up the MDN and the national faculty development programme in Germany. Success factors, strengths and limitations are discussed from an institutional, individual and general perspective. Faculties engaged in similar developments might be encouraged to transfer the MDN concept to their countries.
Adaptive multi-layer techniques for increased system dependability
2015-06-08

Abstract Achieving system-level dependability is a demanding task. The manifold requirements and dependability threats can no longer be statically addressed at individual abstraction layers. Instead, all components of future multi-processor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs) have to contribute to this common goal in an adaptive manner. In this paper we target a generic heterogeneous MPSoC that combines general purpose processors along with dedicated application-specific hard-wired accelerators, fine-grained reconfigurable processors, and coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures. We present different reactive and proactive measures at the layers of the runtime system (online resource management), system architecture (global communication), micro architecture (individual tiles), and gate netlist (tile-internal circuits) to address dependability threats.
Emotion regulation of the affect‐modulated startle reflex during different picture categories
2015-06-09

Abstract Previous studies on emotion regulation of the startle reflex found an increase in startle amplitude from down‐, to non‐, to up‐regulation for pleasant and unpleasant stimuli. We wanted to clarify whether this regulation effect remains stable for different picture categories within pleasant and unpleasant picture sets. We assessed startle amplitude of 31 participants during down‐, non‐, or up‐regulation of feelings elicited by pleasant erotic and adventure and unpleasant victim and threat pictures. Startle amplitude was smaller during adventure and erotic compared to victim and threat pictures and increased from down‐, to non‐, to up‐regulation independently of the picture category. Results indicate that the motivational priming effect on startle modulation elicited by different picture categories is independent of emotion regulation instructions. In addition, the emotion regulation effect is independent of motivational priming effects.
Sensitivity to gaze-contingent contrast increments in naturalistic movies: An exploratory report and model comparison
2015-06-09

Sensitivity to luminance contrast is a prerequisite for all but the simplest visual systems. To examine contrast increment detection performance in a way that approximates the natural environmental input of the human visual system, we presented contrast increments gaze-contingently within naturalistic video freely viewed by observers. A band-limited contrast increment was applied to a local region of the video relative to the observer's current gaze point, and the observer made a forced-choice response to the location of the target (≈25,000 trials across five observers). We present exploratory analyses showing that performance improved as a function of the magnitude of the increment and depended on the direction of eye movements relative to the target location, the timing of eye movements relative to target presentation, and the spatiotemporal image structure at the target location. Contrast discrimination performance can be modeled by assuming that the underlying contrast response is an accelerating nonlinearity (arising from a nonlinear transducer or gain control). We implemented one such model and examined the posterior over model parameters, estimated using Markov-chain Monte Carlo methods. The parameters were poorly constrained by our data; parameters constrained using strong priors taken from previous research showed poor cross-validated prediction performance. Atheoretical logistic regression models were better constrained and provided similar prediction performance to the nonlinear transducer model. Finally, we explored the properties of an extended logistic regression that incorporates both eye movement and image content features. Models of contrast transduction may be better constrained by incorporating data from both artificial and natural contrast perception settings.
Vibrational modes and changing molecular conformation of perfluororubrene in thin films and solution
2015-06-09

We investigate the vibrational properties of perfluororubrene (PF-RUB) in thin films on silicon wafers with a native oxide layer as well as on silicon wafers covered with a self-assembled monolayer and in dichloromethane solution. In comparison with computed Raman and IR spectra, we can assign the molecular modes and identify two molecular conformations with twisted and planar tetracene backbones of the molecule. Moreover, we employ Raman imaging techniques to study the morphology and distribution of the molecular conformation in PF-RUB thin films.
Quantitative home-based assessment of Parkinson’s symptoms: The SENSE-PARK feasibility and usability study
2015-06-10

This 12 week controlled study demonstrates that the acceptance level of PD patients using the SENSE-PARK System as a home-based 24/7 assessment is very good. Particular emphasis should be given to a user-friendly design. Motivation to wear such a system can be increased by providing direct feedback about the individual health condition.
Strong and Coherent Coupling of a Plasmonic Nanoparticle to a Subwavelength Fabry–Pérot Resonator
2015-06-10

A major aim in experimental nano- and quantum optics is observing and controlling the interaction between light and matter on a microscopic scale. Coupling molecules or atoms to optical microresonators is a prominent method to alter their optical properties such as luminescence spectra or lifetimes. Until today strong coupling of optical resonators to such objects has only been observed with atom-like systems in high quality resonators. We demonstrate first experiments revealing strong coupling between individual plasmonic gold nanorods (GNR) and a tunable low quality resonator by observing cavity-length-dependent nonlinear dephasing and spectral shifts indicating spectral anticrossing of the luminescent coupled system. These phenomena and experimental results can be described by a model of two coupled oscillators representing the plasmon resonance of the GNR and the optical fields of the resonator. The presented reproducible and accurately tunable resonator allows us to precisely control the optical properties of individual particles.
Complete remission of metastatic melanoma upon BRAF inhibitor treatment – what happens after discontinuation?
2015-06-10

Treatment with BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) leads to complete remissions (CR) in 3-6% of patients with BRAF mutant metastatic melanoma. In cases of CR, it is unclear whether BRAFi therapy should be continued. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical course of patients with metastatic melanoma who discontinued BRAFi therapy after achieving a CR. In 12 patients, CR of metastatic melanoma was diagnosed after a median BRAFi treatment duration of 13 (range 0.3-32) months. Reasons for discontinuation were side effects in seven patients and patient demand in five patients. Six patients are still in CR after a median of 17 (range 2-26) months after discontinuation of BRAF inhibition. Six patients developed a melanoma recurrence after a median of 3 (range 2-17) months of discontinuation of BRAFi therapy. Subsequently, these patients were again treated with a BRAFi, which resulted in three CR, one stable disease, and one progressive disease; one patient could not be assessed. Melanoma patients achieving CR during BRAFi therapy represent a heterogeneous group. Discontinuation of BRAFi therapy after a CR has to be balanced carefully with the potential risk of nonresponding to BRAFi retreatment in the case of relapse.