Challenges for the representation of morphology in ontology lexicons

Recent years have experienced a growing trend in the publication of language resources as Linguistic Linked Data (LLD) to enhance their discovery, reuse and the interoperability of tools that consume language data. To this aim, the OntoLex-lemon model has emerged as a de facto standard to represent lexical data on the Web. However, traditional dictionaries contain a considerable amount of morphological information which is not straightforwardly representable as LLD within the current model. In order to fill this gap a new Morphology Module of OntoLex-lemon is currently being developed. This paper presents the results of this model as on-going work as well as the underlying challenges that emerged during the module development. Based on the MMoOn Core ontology, it aims to account for a wide range of morphological information, ranging from endings to derive whole paradigms to the decomposition and generation of lexical entries which is in compliance to other OntoLex-lemon modules and facilitates the encoding of complex morphological data in ontology lexicons

High prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in two metropolitan emergency departments in Germany : a prospective screening analysis of 28,809 patients

Background and Aims: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies in Germany has been estimated to be in the range of 0.4–0.63%. Screening for HCV is recommended in patients with elevated ALT levels or significant risk factors for HCV transmission only. However, 15–30% of patients report no risk factors and ALT levels can be normal in up to 20–30% of patients with chronic HCV infection. The aim of this study was to assess the HCV seroprevalence in patients visiting two tertiary care emergency departments in Berlin and Frankfurt, respectively. Methods: Between May 2008 and March 2010, a total of 28,809 consecutive patients were screened for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. Anti-HCV positive sera were subsequently tested for HCV-RNA. Results: The overall HCV seroprevalence was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.4–2.8; 2.4% in Berlin and 3.5% in Frankfurt). HCV-RNA was detectable in 68% of anti-HCV positive cases. Thus, the prevalence of chronic HCV infection in the overall study population was 1.6% (95% CI 1.5–1.8). The most commonly reported risk factor was former/current injection drug use (IDU; 31.2%) and those with IDU as the main risk factor were significantly younger than patients without IDU (p<0.001) and the male-to-female ratio was 72% (121 vs. 46 patients; p<0.001). Finally, 18.8% of contacted HCV-RNA positive patients had not been diagnosed previously. Conclusions: The HCV seroprevalence was more than four times higher compared to current estimates and almost one fifth of contacted HCV-RNA positive patients had not been diagnosed previously

Counting on chemistry : laboratory evaluation of seed-material-dependent detection efficiencies of ultrafine condensation particle counters

Condensation particle counters (CPCs) are crucial instruments for detecting sub-10 nm aerosol particles. Understanding the detection performance of a CPC requires thorough characterization under well-controlled laboratory conditions. Besides the size of the seed particles, chemical interactions between the working fluid and the seed particles also influence the activation efficiencies. However, common seed particle materials used for CPC characterizations are not chosen with respect to chemical interactions with vapor molecules of the working fluid by default. Here, we present experiments on the influence of the seed particle material on the detection efficiencies and the 50% cutoff diameters of commonly used CPCs for the detection of sub-10 nm particles. A remarkable set consisting of six different and commercially available particle detectors, including the newly developed TSI V-WCPC 3789 and a tuned TSI 3776, was tested. The corresponding working fluids of the instruments are n-butanol, diethylene glycol and water. Among other materials we were able to measure detection efficiencies with nanometer-sized organic seed particles reproducibly generated by the oxidation of beta-caryophyllene vapor in a flow tube. Theoretical simulations of supersaturation profiles in the condensers were successfully related to measured detection efficiencies. Our results demonstrate the importance of chemical similarities between seed particles and the working fluids used when CPCs are characterized. We anticipate our study to contribute to a deeper understanding of chemical interactions during heterogeneous nucleation processes.Peer reviewe

Rapid Downregulation of H3K4me3 Binding to Immunoregulatory Genes in Altered Gravity in Primary Human M1 Macrophages

The sensitivity of human immune system cells to gravity changes has been investigated in numerous studies. Human macrophages mediate innate and thus rapid immune defense on the one hand and activate T- and B-cell-based adaptive immune response on the other hand. In this process they finally act as immunoeffector cells, and are essential for tissue regeneration and remodeling. Recently, we demonstrated in the human Jurkat T cell line that genes are differentially regulated in cluster structures under altered gravity. In order to study an in vivo near system of immunologically relevant human cells under physically real microgravity, we performed parabolic flight experiments with primary human M1 macrophages under highly standardized conditions and performed chromatin immunoprecipitation DNA sequencing (ChIP-Seq) for whole-genome epigenetic detection of the DNA-binding loci of the main transcription complex RNA polymerase II and the transcription-associated epigenetic chromatin modification H3K4me3. We identified an overall downregulation of H3K4me3 binding loci in altered gravity, which were unequally distributed inter- and intrachromosomally throughout the genome. Three-quarters of all affected loci were located on the p arm of the chromosomes chr5, chr6, chr9, and chr19. The genomic distribution of the downregulated H3K4me3 loci corresponds to a substantial extent to immunoregulatory genes. In microgravity, analysis of RNA polymerase II binding showed increased binding to multiple loci at coding sequences but decreased binding to central noncoding regions. Detection of altered DNA binding of RNA polymerase II provided direct evidence that gravity changes can lead to altered transcription. Based on this study, we hypothesize that the rapid transcriptional response to changing gravitational forces is specifically encoded in the epigenetic organization of chromatin

Long‐term indoor gunshot exposure of special police forces induces bronchitic reactions and elevated blood lead levels—The Berlin shooting range study

Background Gunshot emissions contain toxic elements that can harm those frequently exposed, such as police officers. Several years ago, police indoor firing ranges were closed by the Berlin municipality in response to police officer health complaints, and an investigation was launched into the possible respiratory health risks of frequent gunshot emission exposure. We, therefore, conducted an exploratory cross-sectional study to investigate clinical and functional parameters of respiratory health as well as the burden of trace elements in policemen with long-term high exposure to indoor gunshot emissions, compared to low-exposure and control groups. Methods We conducted lung function tests and collected blood and urine samples from Berlin police officers and government employees who were divided into three subject groups based on exposure to gunshot emissions: high exposure (n = 53), low exposure (n = 94) and no exposure (n = 76). Lung function was examined using body plethysmography. Blood and urine samples were tested via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the presence of common gunshot powder elements (antimony, lead and manganese). Exposure and symptoms were assessed using records as well as questionnaires. Results Higher exposure was associated with more respiratory symptoms during gun shooting practice (64% vs. 21%, P < 0.001) compared to the low-exposure group. Headache, cough, discoloured mucous and shortness of breath were also more common as were some other symptoms. The cough symptomatology of the high-exposure group also persisted significantly longer (median: 0.67 vs. 0.01 days, range: 0 to 5 days, P = 0.029) compared to the low-exposure group. They also showed a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity quotient (Tiffeneau index), P = 0.018 between the three groups and P = 0.005 for the high-exposure group, a possible marker of early, subclinical bronchial obstruction. We observed increased blood lead concentrations depending on subject's age (+1.2% per year, 95% confidence interval: 0.5–1.9%, P < 0.001) and cumulative gunshot exposure (+0.34% per 100 000 shots, 0.02–0.66%, P = 0.037). Conclusions These first results suggest that long-term exposure to indoor gunshot emissions induces bronchitic reactions due to repeated irritation of the airways. Higher levels of exposure lead to more negatively impacted lung function and higher blood lead levels with the possible reason that more frequent exposure may mean shorter regeneration phases for the respiratory mucous membrane. We recommend a reduction of exposure to gunshot emissions in order to decrease symptoms and avoid any—even small—deterioration in spirometry

In vivo study of experimental pneumococcal meningitis using magnetic resonance imaging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods were evaluated as a tool for the study of experimental meningitis. The identification and characterisation of pathophysiological parameters that vary during the course of the disease could be used as markers for future studies of new treatment strategies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Rats infected intracisternally with <it>S. pneumoniae </it>(n = 29) or saline (n = 13) were randomized for imaging at 6, 12, 24, 30, 36, 42 or 48 hours after infection. T1W, T2W, quantitative diffusion, and post contrast T1W images were acquired at 4.7 T. Dynamic MRI (dMRI) was used to evaluate blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability and to obtain a measure of cerebral and muscle perfusion. Clinical- and motor scores, bacterial counts in CSF and blood, and WBC counts in CSF were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MR images and dMRI revealed the development of a highly significant increase in BBB permeability (P < 0.002) and ventricle size (P < 0.0001) among infected rats. Clinical disease severity was closely related to ventricle expansion (P = 0.024).</p> <p>Changes in brain water distribution, assessed by ADC, and categorization of brain 'perfusion' by cortex ΔSI_(bolus)were subject to increased inter-rat variation as the disease progressed, but without overall differences compared to uninfected rats (P > 0.05). Areas of well-'perfused' muscle decreased with the progression of infection indicative of septicaemia (P = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The evolution of bacterial meningitis was successfully followed <it>in-vivo </it>with MRI. Increasing BBB-breakdown and ventricle size was observed in rats with meningitis whereas changes in brain water distribution were heterogeneous. MRI will be a valuable technique for future studies aiming at evaluating or optimizing adjunctive treatments</p

Effects of crystalline glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide on cultered human supraspinatus tendon cells

Background Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and impairment. Subacromial glucocorticoid injections are widely used for treatment of epiphenomenons of chronic impingement syndrome with the possible side effects of tendon rupture and impaired tendon healing

Molecular characterization of ultrafine particles using extractive electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s).Aerosol particles negatively affect human health while also having climatic relevance due to, for example, their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei. Ultrafine particles (diameter Dp < 100 nm) typically comprise the largest fraction of the total number concentration, however, their chemical characterization is difficult because of their low mass. Using an extractive electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EESI-TOF), we characterize the molecular composition of freshly nucleated particles from naphthalene and b-caryophyllene oxidation products at the CLOUD chamber at CERN. We perform a detailed intercomparison of the organic aerosol chemical composition measured by the EESI-TOF and an iodide adduct chemical ionization mass spectrometer equipped with a filter inlet for gases and aerosols (FIGAERO-I-CIMS). We also use an aerosol growth model based on the condensation of organic vapors to show that the chemical composition measured by the EESI-TOF is consistent with the expected condensed oxidation products. This agreement could be further improved by constraining the EESI-TOF compound-specific sensitivity or considering condensed-phase processes. Our results show that the EESI-TOF can obtain the chemical composition of particles as small as 20 nm in diameter with mass loadings as low as hundreds of ng m_3 in real time. This was until now difficult to achieve, as other online instruments are often limited by size cutoffs, ionization/thermal fragmentation and/or semicontinuous sampling. Using real-time simultaneous gas- and particle-phase data, we discuss the condensation of naphthalene oxidation products on a molecular level.Peer reviewe