bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial attention facilitates assembly of the briefest percepts: Electrophysiological evidence from color fusion
Authors: Akyürek Elkan G. , van Asselt E. Manon 
Published: September 2015

AbstractWhen two different color stimuli are presented in rapid succession, the resulting percept is sometimes that of a mixture of both colors, due to a perceptual process called color fusion. Although color fusion might seem to occur very early in the visual pathway, and only happens across the briefest of stimulus presentation intervals (< 50 ms), the present study showed that spatial attention can alter the fusion process. In a series of experiments, spatial cues were presented that either validly indicated the location of a pair of (different) color stimuli in successive stimulus arrays, or did not, pointing toward isoluminant gray distractors in the other visual hemifield. Increased color fusion was observed for valid cues across a range of stimulus durations, at the expense of individual color reports. By contrast, perception of repeated, same‐color stimulus pairs did not change, suggesting that the enhancement was specific to fusion, not color discrimination per se. Electrophysiological measures furthermore showed that the amplitude of the N1, N2pc, and P3 components of the ERP were differentially modulated during the perception of individual and fused colors, as a function of cueing and stimulus duration. Fusion itself, collapsed across cueing conditions, was reflected uniquely in N1 amplitude. Overall, the results suggest that spatial attention enhances color fusion and decreases competition between stimuli, constituting an adaptive slowdown in service of temporal integration.
Outcomes of rapid corticosteroid tapering in acute eosinophilic pneumonia patients with initial eosinophilia
Authors: Jhun Byung Woo , Kim Se Jin , Kim Kang , Lee Ji Eun 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveStudies have shown that patients with acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) and with initial eosinophilia have a milder disease than those with an initial normal peripheral eosinophil count (PEC). We investigated the effect of a rapid corticosteroid tapering strategy in AEP patients with initial eosinophilia.MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study in patients with AEP with initial eosinophilia (n = 14) who stopped corticosteroid treatment after achieving clinical stabilization compared with AEP patients with an initial normal PEC (n = 45) who received 2‐week treatment with corticosteroid.ResultsIn total, 59 AEP patients were identified. The median duration of corticosteroid treatment was 4 days (interquartile ranges (IQR), 3–4) in patients with initial eosinophilia and 14 (IQR, 14–14) days in patients with initial normal PEC. No treatment failure occurred in the group with initial eosinophilia; one treatment failure case occurred in the group with an initially normal PEC. The median time to overall clinical stabilization was 3 days, and time to complete resolution of all symptoms and clinical instabilities from diagnosis was 4 days in AEP patients with initial eosinophilia. Both were significantly shorter than those) in the initially normal PEC group, which were 5 and 7 days respectively (both P < 0.001). Adverse effects were lower in AEP patients with initial eosinophilia, and additional medications to relieve adverse effects were only needed in AEP patients with initially normal PEC.ConclusionsRapid corticosteroid tapering may be an acceptable treatment strategy for managing AEP patients with initial eosinophilia.
It is Time to Individualize the Dialysate Sodium Prescription
Authors: Basile Carlo , Lomonte Carlo 
Published: September 2015

AbstractSodium mass balance in hemodialysis patients is primarily dependent on dietary salt intake and sodium removal during dialysis. One of the most important goals of dialysis therapy is to fully remove the mass of sodium that has accumulated in the interdialytic period. It is currently the practice in dialysis centers all over the world to use a standardized dialysate sodium concentration (Na+D) for all patients. The aim of the present article was to summarize the current evidence for an individualized Na+D prescription. Three main points are discussed: (i) Na+D prescription, which must necessarily take into account the sodium setpoint and the sodium gradient; (ii) clinical experience with an individualized Na+D prescription, and (iii) guidelines for individualizing the Na+D prescription. To summarize, recent data suggest that tailoring Na+D to an individual's sodium setpoint has the potential for short‐ and long‐term benefits for patients. Prospective interventional studies are warranted to further understand its effects, stratified for patients with low or high serum sodium levels.
Fixing Descartes: Ethical Intellectualism in Spinoza's Early Writings
Authors: Sangiacomo Andrea 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTThis paper aims at reconstructing the ethical issues raised by Spinoza's earlyTreatise on the Emendation of the Intellect. Specifically, I argue that Spinoza takes issue with Descartes’ epistemology in order to support a form of “ethical intellectualism” in which knowledge is envisaged as both necessary and sufficient to reach the supreme good. First, I reconstruct how Descartes exploits the distinction between truth and certainty in hisDiscourse on the Method. On the one hand, this distinction acts as the basis for Descartes’ epistemological rules while, on the other hand, it implies a “morale par provision” in which adequate knowledge is not strictly necessary to practice virtue. Second, I show that Spinoza rejects the distinction between truth and certainty and thus the methodological doubt. This move leads Spinoza to substitute the Cartesian Cogito with the idea of God as the only adequate standard of knowledge, through which the mind can attain the rules to reach the supreme good. Third, I demonstrate that in theShort TreatiseSpinoza develops this view by equating intellect and will and thus maintaining that only adequate knowledge can help to contrast affects. However, I also insist that Spinoza's early epistemology is unable to explain why human beings drop conceive of the idea of God inadequately. Thus, I suggest that in his later writings Spinoza accounts for the insufficiency of adequate knowledge in opposing the power of the imagination and passions by reconnecting the nature of ideas with the mind's conatus.
Thinking in the Zone: The Expert Mind in Action
Authors: Montero Barbara Gail 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAthletes sometimes describe “being in the zone,” as a time when their actions flow effortlessly and flawlessly without the guidance of thought. But is it true that athletes don't think when performing at their best? Numerous studies (such as Beilock et al. 2004, 2007 Ford et al 2005, Baumeister 1984, Masters 1992, Wulf & Prinz 2001, Beilock & DeCaro, 2007). However, I aim to argue that because even highly‐practiced skills can remain in part under an expert athlete's conscious control, thinking does not hinder expert performance.
Extended Consciousness: an Interim Report
Authors: Wheeler Michael 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAdvocates of extended cognition hold that the physical machinery of mind sometimes extends beyond the skull and skin. In the first part of this paper, I explain why, and more specifically the precise sense in which, consciousness presents such theorists with an extra hurdle to be cleared. The key challenge is posed by phenomenal consciousness, the what‐it's‐like‐ness of experience. I consider two arguments for the claim that the physical machinery of phenomenal consciousness sometimes extends beyond the skull and skin. The first – the argument from sensory substitution – suggests that acceptance of extended phenomenal consciousness should follow from a careful analysis of the phenomenon in which technological augmentation enables one sensory modality, for instance touch, to support the kind of environmental access and interaction ordinarily supported by a different sensory modality, for instance vision. The second argument – the argument from the relational character of experience – suggests that acceptance of extended phenomenal consciousness should follow from a particular conception of conscious experience that is mandated by sensorimotor contingency theory. I conclude that neither argument is decisive.
Messinian events in the Black Sea
Authors: van Baak Christiaan G. C. , Radionova Eleanora P. , Golovina Larisa A. , Raffi Isabella , Kuiper Klaudia F. , Vasiliev Iuliana , Krijgsman Wout 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPast hydrological interactions between the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea are poorly resolved due to complications in establishing a high‐resolution time frame for the Black Sea. We present a new greigite‐based magnetostratigraphic age model for the Mio‐Pliocene deposits of DSDP Hole 380/380A, drilled in the southwestern Black Sea. This age model is complemented by40Ar/39Ar dating of a volcanic ash layer, allowing a direct correlation of Black Sea deposits to the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) interval of the Mediterranean Sea. Proxy records divide these DSDP deposits into four intervals: (i) Pre‐MSC marine conditions (6.1–6.0 Ma); (ii) highstand, fresh to brackish water conditions (~6.0–5.6 Ma); (iii) lowstand, fresh‐water environment (5.6–5.4 Ma) and (iv) highstand, fresh‐water conditions (5.4–post 5.0 Ma). Our results indicate the Black Sea was a major fresh‐water source during gypsum precipitation in the Mediterranean Sea. The introduction of Lago Mare fauna during the final stage of the MSC coincides with a sea‐level rise in the Black Sea. Across the Mio‐Pliocene boundary, sea‐level and salinity in the Black Sea did not change significantly.
Variable Trade Costs, Composition Effects and the Intensive Margin of Trade
Authors: Berthou Antoine , Fontagné Lionel 
Published: September 2015

AbstractWe estimate the elasticity of extra EU French firm‐level exports with respect to applied tariffs – a variable trade cost. We implement a method controlling for unobserved firm characteristics driving selection in exports market, and controlling for the multilateral resistance terms. Results confirm a significant negative impact of tariffs on firm‐level exports, with one fifth of this impact falling on the induced adjustment in the exporters' product mix. When controlling for this adjustment and focusing on the core exported products, the elasticity of the product‐destination firm‐level exports with respect to applied tariffs is estimated at about −2.5.
Weed suppression by cover crops: comparative on‐farm experiments under integrated and organic conservation tillage
Authors: Dorn B , Jossi W , van der Heijden M G A 
Published: September 2015

SummaryCover crops are increasingly being used for weed suppression and to enhance the sustainability of agro‐ecosystems. However, the suitability of cover crops for weed suppression in integrated and organic conservation tillage systems is still poorly investigated. Therefore, a 2‐year field study at eight sites was conducted to test the weed suppressive potential of six legume‐based cover crops, with the aim to reduce herbicide input or mechanical weed management interventions. In all experiments, cover crops were directly sown after cereals before next year's main crop (grain maize or sunflower). The presence of cover crops caused a 96% to 100% reduction of weed dry matter at the four sites managed under integrated production, while effects were lower at the four sited managed under organic production, ranging from 19% to 87%. Cover crops that covered soil quickly and which produced much dry matter had the best weed suppressive potential. However, their weed suppressing effect was difficult to predict, as it depended on the year of the investigation, experimental site, cover crop species, the speed of soil cover in autumn and the density of the resulting mulch layer in spring. The study demonstrated that cover crops are a useful tool to suppress weeds under integrated and organic conservation tillage practices. Our recommendation for supporting weed management in conservation tillage systems is to use locally adapted cover crops that have rapid establishment, good soil coverage and high dry matter production. However, additional weed management measures are required for reliable weed control under on‐farm conditions.
Early redox imbalance is associated with liver dysfunction at weaning in overfed rats
Authors: Conceição E. P. S. , Moura E. G. , Carvalho J. C. , Oliveira E. , Lisboa P. C. 
Published: September 2015

Key points
Childhood obesity is associated with precocious oxidative stress, which can contribute to future diseases.
Early overfed rats have increased oxidative stress in liver and plasma at weaning.
The model of litter size reduction causes adipocyte hypertrophy and lower PPARγ at weaning, suggesting a decrease in adipocyte proliferation.
AbstractNeonatal overfeeding induced by litter size reduction leads to further obesity and other metabolic disorders, such as liver oxidative stress and microsteatosis at adulthood. We hypothesized that overfeeding causes an early redox imbalance at weaning, which could programme the animals to future liver dysfunction. Thus, we studied lipogenesis, adipogenesis, catecholamine status and oxidative balance in weaned overfed pups. To induce early overfeeding, litters were adjusted to three pups at the 3rd day of lactation (SL group). The control group contained 10 pups per litter until weaning (NL group). Peripheral autonomic nerve function was determined in vivo at 21 days old. Thereafter, pups were killed for further analysis. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. The SL pups presented with a higher visceral adipocyte area, higher content of lipogenic enzymes (ACC, FAS) and with a lower content of adipogenic factors (CEBP, PPARγ) in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Although autonomic nerve activity and adrenal catecholamine production were not significantly altered, catecholamine receptor (β3ADR) content was lower in VAT. The SL pups also presented with higher triglyceride, PPARγ, PPARα and PGC1α contents in liver. In plasma and liver, the SL pups showed an oxidative imbalance, with higher lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. The SL group presented with a higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The early increase in lipogenesis in adipose tissue and liver in weaned overfed rats suggests that the higher oxidative stress and lower catecholamine content in VAT are associated with the early development of liver dysfunction and adipocyte hypertrophy.
Analysis of generalized rosette trajectory for compressed sensing MRI
Authors: Li Ya , Yang Ran , Zhang Cishen , Zhang Jingxin , Jia Sen , Zhou Zhiyang 
Published: August 2015

Purpose:The application of compressed sensing (CS) technology in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to accelerate the MRI scan speed by incoherent undersampling of k‐space data and nonlinear iterative reconstruction of MRI images. This paper generalizes the existing rosette trajectories to configure the sampling patterns for undersampled k‐space data acquisition in MRI scans. The arch and curvature characteristics of the generalized rosette trajectories are analyzed to explore their feasibility and advantages for CS reconstruction of MRI images.Methods:Two key properties crucial to the CS MRI application, the scan speed and sampling incoherence of the generalized rosette trajectories, are analyzed. The analysis on the scan speed of generalized rosette trajectories is based on the transversal time derived from the curvature of the trajectories, and the sampling incoherence is based on the evaluation of the point spread function for the measurement matrix. The results of analysis are supported by extensive simulations where the performances of rosette, spiral, and radial sampling patterns at different acceleration factors are compared.Results:It is shown that compared with spiral trajectories, the arch and curvature characteristics of the generalized rosette trajectories are more feasible to meet the physical requirements of undersampled k‐space data acquisition in terms of time shortness and scan area. It is further shown that the sampling pattern of the rosette trajectory has higher incoherence than that of the other trajectories and can thus achieve higher reconstruction performance. Reconstruction performances illustrate that the rosette trajectory can achieve about 10% higher peak signal‐to‐noise ratio than radial and spiral trajectories under the high acceleration factor R = 10.Conclusions:The generalized rosette trajectories can be a desirable candidate for CS reconstruction of MRI.
Development of the CRISPR/Cas9 System for Targeted Gene Disruption in Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Fuller Kevin K. , Chen Shan , Loros Jennifer J. , Dunlap Jay C. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Low rates of homologous recombination have broadly encumbered genetic studies in the fungal pathogen
Aspergillus fumigatus
. The CRISPR/Cas9 system of bacteria has recently been developed for targeted mutagenesis of eukaryotic genomes with high efficiency and, importantly, through a mechanism independent of homologous repair machinery. As this new technology has not been developed for use in
A. fumigatus
, we sought to test its feasibility for targeted gene disruption in this organism. As a proof of principle, we first demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 can indeed be used for high-efficiency (25 to 53%) targeting of the
A. fumigatus
polyketide synthase gene (
pksP
), as evidenced by the generation of colorless (albino) mutants harboring the expected genomic alteration. We further demonstrated that the constitutive expression of the Cas9 nuclease by itself is not deleterious to
A. fumigatus
growth or virulence, thus making the CRISPR system compatible with studies involved in pathogenesis. Taken together, these data demonstrate that CRISPR can be utilized for loss-of-function studies in
A. fumigatus
and has the potential to bolster the genetic toolbox for this important pathogen.
Nocardia thailandica Pulmonary Nocardiosis in a Post-Solid Organ Transplant Patient
Authors: Canterino Joseph , Paniz-Mondolfi Alberto , Brown-Elliott Barbara A. , Vientos Wilson , Vasireddy Ravikiran , Wallace Richard J. , Campbell Sheldon 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

Nocardia thailandica
is a rare pathogen related to
Nocardia asteroides
,
Nocardia neocaledoniensis
, and
Nocardia caishijiensis
that, since its original description in 2004, has only been reported to cause wound and ocular infections in humans. We report a case of pulmonary nocardiosis caused by
Nocardia thailandica
in a 66-year-old solid organ transplant patient from Connecticut, which was identified at the molecular taxonomic level by
secA1
analysis, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of
N. thailandica
in the United States and the first report of pulmonary infection by this pathogen in the literature.
Molecular Assay for Detection of Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates from Cultures and Clinical Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Specimens
Authors: Peterson S. W. , Martin I. , Demczuk W. , Bharat A. , Hoang L. , Wylie J. , Allen V. , Lefebvre B. , Tyrrell G. , Horsman G. , Haldane D. , Garceau R. , Wong T. , Mulvey M. R. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT
We developed a real-time PCR assay to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with ciprofloxacin resistance in specimens submitted for nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). All three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) targets produced high sensitivity and specificity values. The presence of ≥2 SNPs was sufficient to predict ciprofloxacin resistance in an organism.
Evaluation of the BD Max StaphSR Assay for Rapid Identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus in Positive Blood Culture Broths
Authors: Dalpke Alexander H. , Hofko Marjeta , Hamilton Fiona , Mackenzie Laura , Zimmermann Stefan , Templeton Kate 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the performance of the BD Max StaphSR assay for the direct detection of
Staphylococcus aureus
from blood culture medium. In a two-center trial, 155 blood cultures from the BD Bactec FX system and 212 from the bioMérieux BacT/Alert system were tested; 170 bottles yielded
S. aureus
, and all were identified correctly by the BD Max StaphSR assay. The assay required approximately 2.5 h, thus allowing rapid identification of blood cultures flagged positive.
In vitro experiments of cerebral blood flow during aspiration thrombectomy: potential effects on cerebral perfusion pressure and collateral flow
Authors: Lally Frank , Soorani Mitra , Woo Timothy , Nayak Sanjeev , Jadun Changez , Yang Ying , McCrudden John , Naire Shailesh , Grunwald Iris , Roffe Christine 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundMechanical thrombectomy with stent retriever devices is associated with significantly better outcomes than thrombolysis alone in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Thrombus aspiration achieves high patency rates, but clinical outcomes are variable. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different suction conditions on perfusate flow during aspiration thrombectomy.MethodsA computational fluid dynamics model of an aspiration device within a patent and occluded blood vessel was used to simulate flow characteristics using fluid flow solver software. A physical particulate flow model of a patent vessel and a vessel occluded by thrombus was then used to visualize flow direction and measure flow rates with the aspiration catheter placed 1–10 mm proximal of the thrombus, and recorded on video.ResultsThe mathematical model predicted that, in a patent vessel, perfusate is drawn from upstream of the catheter tip while, in an occluded system, perfusate is drawn from the vessel proximal to the device tip with no traction on the occlusion distal of the tip. The in vitro experiments confirmed the predictions of this model. In the occluded vessel aspiration had no effect on the thrombus unless the tip of the catheter was in direct contact with the thrombus.ConclusionsThese experiments suggest that aspiration is only effective if the catheter tip is in direct contact with the thrombus. If the catheter tip is not in contact with the thrombus, aspirate is drawn from the vessels proximal of the occlusion. This could affect collateral flow in vivo.