julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Singlet exciton fission via an intermolecular charge transfer state in coevaporated pentacene-perfluoropentacene thin films
2019-10-28

Singlet exciton fission is a spin-allowed process in organic semiconductors by which one absorbed photon generates two triplet excitons. Theory predicts that singlet fission is mediated by intermolecular charge-transfer states in solid-state materials with appropriate singlet-triplet energy spacing, but direct evidence for the involvement of such states in the process has not been provided yet. Here, we report on the observation of subpicosecond singlet fission in mixed films of pentacene and perfluoropentacene. By combining transient spectroscopy measurements to nonadiabatic quantum-dynamics simulations, we show that direct excitation in the charge-transfer absorption band of the mixed films leads to the formation of triplet excitons, unambiguously proving that they act as intermediate states in the fission process.
Incidence and risk factors for gangrene in patients with systemic sclerosis from the EUSTAR cohort
2019-10-28

Abstract Objective In patients with SSc, peripheral vasculopathy can promote critical ischaemia and gangrene. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for gangrene in the EUSTAR cohort. Methods We included patients from the EUSTAR database fulfilling the ACR 1980 or the ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria for SSc, with at least one visit recording data on gangrene. Centres were asked for supplementary data on traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We analysed the cross-sectional relationship between gangrene and its potential risk factors by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Longitudinal data were analysed by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results 1757 patients were analysed (age 55.9 [14.5] years, disease duration 7.9 [10.3] years, male sex 16.7%, 24.6% diffuse cutaneous subset [dcSSc]). At inclusion, 8.9% of patients had current or previous digital gangrene, 16.1% had current digital ulcers (DUs) and 42.7% had ever had DUs (current or previous). Older age, DUs ever and dcSSc were statistically significant risk factors for gangrene in the cross-sectional multivariable model. During a median follow-up of 13.1 months, 16/771 (0.9%) patients developed gangrene. All 16 patients who developed gangrene had previously had DUs and gangrene. Further risk factors for incident gangrene were the dcSSc subset and longer disease duration. Conclusion In unselected SSc patients, gangrene occurs in about 9% of SSc patients. DUs ever and, to a lesser extent, the dcSSc subset are strongly and independently associated with gangrene, while traditional cardiovascular risk factors could not be identified as risk factors.
Resolving the Crab pulsar wind nebula at teraelectronvolt energies
2019-10-28

The Crab nebula is one of the most-studied cosmic particle accelerators, shining brightly across the entire electromagnetic spectrum up to very-high-energy gamma rays1,2. It is known from observations in the radio to gamma-ray part of the spectrum that the nebula is powered by a pulsar, which converts most of its rotational energy losses into a highly relativistic outflow. This outflow powers a pulsar wind nebula, a region of up to ten light-years across, filled with relativistic electrons and positrons. These particles emit synchrotron photons in the ambient magnetic field and produce very-high-energy gamma rays by Compton up-scattering of ambient low-energy photons. Although the synchrotron morphology of the nebula is well established, it has not been known from which region the very-high-energy gamma rays are emitted3,4,5,6,7,8. Here we report that the Crab nebula has an angular extension at gamma-ray energies of 52 arcseconds (assuming a Gaussian source width), much larger than at X-ray energies. This result closes a gap in the multi-wavelength coverage of the nebula, revealing the emission region of the highest-energy gamma rays. These gamma rays enable us to probe a previously inaccessible electron and positron energy range. We find that simulations of the electromagnetic emission reproduce our measurement, prov
Carbohydrate-Based Chiral Iodoarene Catalysts: A Survey through the Development of an Improved Catalyst Design
2019-10-28

Iodoarene catalysts can be applied in versatile reactions, for instance in the construction of complex chiral molecules via dearomatization of simple aromatic compounds. Recently, we reported the synthesis of the first carbohydrate-based chiral iodoarene catalysts and their application in asymmetric catalysis. Here we describe the synthesis of some new and improved catalysts. An account on how we got to the improved catalyst design, as well as the X-ray structure of one of the carbohydrate-based iodoarenes, is given.
An Active Genomic Data Recovery Attack
2019-10-28

With the decreasing cost and availability of human genome sequencing, genomic privacy becomes an important issue. Several methods have been proposed in the literature to overcome these problems including cryptographic and privacy preserving data mining methods: homomorphic encryption, cryptographic hardware. In a recent work, Barman et. al studied privacy threats and practical solutions considering an SNP based scenario. The authors introduced a new protocol where a malicious medical center processes an active attack in order to retrieve genomic data of a given patient. The authors have mentioned that this protocol provides a trade-off between privacy and practicality. In this paper, we first give an overview of the system for SNP based risk calculation. We provide the definitions of privacy threats and briefly Barman et al.’s protocol and their solution. The authors proposed to use a weighted sum method of SNP coefficients for calculating disease tendency. They argue that the specific choice of the bases would prevent unique identification of SNPs. Our main observation is that this is not true. Contrary to the security claim, SNP combinations can be identified uniquely in many different scenarios. Our method exploits a pre-computed look-up table for retrieving SNPs’ values from the test result. An attacker can obtain all SNP values of a given patient by using the pre-computed look-up table. We provide practical examples of weights and pre-computed tables. We also mention that even in the case where the table is large and the attacker can not handle at one time, he can still gather information using multi queries. Our work shows that more realistic attack scenarios must be considered in the design of genetic security systems.
Midline Suboccipital Subtonsillar Approach with C1 Laminectomy for Resection of Foramen Magnum Meningioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
2019-10-28

Abstract We present a case of a medium-sized foramen magnum meningioma that was resected through a midline suboccipital subtonsillar approach with C1 laminectomy in prone (Concorde) position. The patient is a 77-year-old woman with a 6-month history of intermittent vertigo, moderate gait instability, and slight decline of memory. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) an extra-axial intradural lesion was discovered that originated from the right epicondylar region just inferior to the jugular tubercle and occupied the anterolateral aspect of the foramen magnum. There was moderate transposition and compression of the medulla at the level of the cerebellar tonsils. On physical examination the patient was ambulatory independently without motor weakness but exhibited some gait instability. The function of the lower cranial nerves was preserved. A gross-total resection was achieved, histopathology confirmed a WHO grade-I meningothelial meningioma with a low-proliferation index. The patient was discharged home 5 days after surgery, her gait instability improved significantly immediately after surgery and had resolved completely after 2 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. There was no other neurological deficit. At 3-month follow-up MRI, there was no indication of meningioma residual or recurrence. In summary, the midline suboccipital subtonsillar approach is a powerful tool with limited morbidity in the armamentarium for the microsurgical management of a variety of pathologies residing in the posterior cranial fossa and the craniocervical junction. Oftentimes the space created by the pathology opens up corridors that can be exploited for microsurgical access to avoid more extensive surgical approaches. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/0uUxs13ze7w.
Does Increased Teacher Accountability Decrease Leniency in Grading
2019-10-28

Because accountability may improve the comparability that is compromised by lenient grading, we compare exit exam outcomes in the same schools before and after a policy change that increased teacher accountability by anchoring grading scales. In particular, using a large administrative dataset of 364,445 exit exam outcomes for 72,889 students, we assess the effect of introducing centralized scoring standards into schools with higher and lower quality peer groups. We find that implementation of these standards increases scoring differences between the two school types by about 25 percent.
The Genetic Architecture of Parkinson Disease in Spain: Characterizing Population‐Specific Risk, Differential Haplotype Structures, and Providing Etiologic Insight
2019-10-29

Abstract Background The Iberian Peninsula stands out as having variable levels of population admixture and isolation, making Spain an interesting setting for studying the genetic architecture of neurodegenerative diseases. Objectives To perform the largest PD genome‐wide association study restricted to a single country. Methods We performed a GWAS for both risk of PD and age at onset in 7,849 Spanish individuals. Further analyses included population‐specific risk haplotype assessments, polygenic risk scoring through machine learning, Mendelian randomization of expression, and methylation data to gain insight into disease‐associated loci, heritability estimates, genetic correlations, and burden analyses. Results We identified a novel population‐specific genome‐wide association study signal at PARK2 associated with age at onset, which was likely dependent on the c.155delA mutation. We replicated four genome‐wide independent signals associated with PD risk, including SNCA , LRRK2 , KANSL1/MAPT , and HLA‐DQB1 . A significant trend for smaller risk haplotypes at known loci was found compared to similar studies of non‐Spanish origin. Seventeen PD‐related genes showed functional consequence by two‐sample Mendelian randomization in expression and methylation data sets. Long runs of homozygosity at 28 known genes/loci were found to be enriched in cases versus controls. Conclusions Our data demonstrate the utility of the Spanish risk haplotype substructure for future fine‐mapping efforts, showing how leveraging unique and diverse population histories can benefit genetic studies of complex diseases. The present study points to PARK2 as a major hallmark of PD etiology in Spain. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Growth Rate of Plasmodium falciparum: Analysis of Parasite Growth Data from Malaria Volunteer Infection Studies
2019-10-29

Abstract Background Growth rate of malaria parasites in the blood of infected subjects is an important measure of efficacy of drugs and vaccines. Methods We used log-linear and sine-wave models to estimate the parasite growth rate of the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum using data from 177 subjects from 14 induced blood stage malaria (IBSM) studies conducted at QIMR Berghofer. We estimated parasite multiplication rate per 48 hour (PMR48), PMR per life-cycle (PMRLC), and parasite life-cycle duration. We compared these parameters to those from studies conducted elsewhere with infections induced by IBSM (n=66), sporozoites via mosquito bite (n=336) or injection (n=51). Results The parasite growth rate of 3D7 in QIMR Berghofer studies was 0.75/day (95% CI: 0.73–0.77/day), PMR48 was 31.9 (95% CI: 28.7–35.4), PMRLC was 16.4 (95% CI: 15.1–17.8) and parasite life-cycle was 38.8 hour (95% CI: 38.3–39.2 hour). These parameters were similar to estimates from IBSM studies elsewhere (0.71/day, 95% CI: 0.67–0.75/day; PMR48 26.6, 95% CI: 22.2–31.8), but significantly higher (P &lt; 0.001) than in sporozoite studies (0.47/day, 95% CI: 0.43–0.50/day; PMR48 8.6, 95% CI: 7.3–10.1). Conclusion Parasite growth rates were similar across different IBSM studies and higher than infections induced by sporozoite.
Divergent excitation two photon microscopy for 3D random access mesoscale imaging at single cell resolution
2019-10-29

ABSTACT In neuroscience, diffraction limited two-photon (2P) microscopy is a cornerstone technique that permits minimally invasive optical monitoring of neuronal activity. However, most conventional 2P microscopes impose significant constraints on the size of the imaging field-of-view and the specific shape of the effective excitation volume, thus limiting the scope of biological questions that can be addressed and the information obtainable. Here, employing ‘divergent beam optics’ (DBO), we present an ultra-low-cost, easily implemented and flexible solution to address these limitations, offering a several-fold expanded three-dimensional field of view that also maintains single-cell resolution. We show that this implementation increases both the space-bandwidth product and effective excitation power, and allows for straight-forward tailoring of the point-spread-function. Moreover, rapid laser-focus control via an electrically tunable lens now allows near-simultaneous imaging of remote regions separated in three dimensions and permits the bending of imaging planes to follow natural curvatures in biological structures. Crucially, our core design is readily implemented (and reversed) within a matter of hours, and fully compatible with a wide range of existing 2P customizations, making it highly suitable as a base platform for further development. We demonstrate the application of our system for imaging neuronal activity in a variety of examples in mice, zebrafish and fruit flies.
Interventions to Mitigate Cognitive Biases in the Decision Making of Eye Care Professionals: A Systematic Review
2019-10-29

SIGNIFICANCE Cognitive biases, systematic errors in thinking that impact a person's choices and judgments, can influence decision making at various points during patient care provision. These biases can potentially result in misdiagnoses, delayed clinical care, and/or patient mismanagement. A range of interventions exists to mitigate cognitive biases. There is a need to understand the relative efficacy of these interventions within the context of eye care practice. PURPOSE The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence relating to interventions for mitigating cognitive biases associated with clinical decision making by eye care professionals. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases (including Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO) were searched from inception to October 2017 for studies investigating interventions intended to mitigate cognitive biases in the clinical decision making of eye care professionals. This review was undertaken in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA To ensure inclusion of all relevant literature, a wide range of study designs was eligible for inclusion, such as randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized trials, interrupted time series and repeated measures, controlled before-after studies, and qualitative studies that were a component of any of these quantitative study designs. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS Two review authors independently screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles in duplicate, applying a priori eligibility criteria. RESULTS After screening 2759 nonduplicate records, including full-text screening of 201 articles, no relevant studies were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF FINDINGS Given that cognitive biases can significantly impact the accuracy of clinical decision making and thus can have major effects on clinical care and patient health outcomes, the lack of studies identified in this systematic review indicates a critical need for research within the area of cognitive bias mitigation for decision making within eye care practice.
On the Relation of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate and the Macromechanical Properties of Sea Urchin Spines
2019-10-29

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) plays a crucial role in the formation of biogenic carbonates. It is widely accepted that ACC and organic macromolecules alter the fracture properties of Echinoderm calcite from the well‐defined cleavage planes of the raw material to conchoidal. However, the influence of ACC on the outstanding macromechanical properties of Echinoderm calcite is unknown. To address this question, full‐grown spines of the slate pencil urchin are shortly heated to 250 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry indicates that all ACC is crystallized at this temperature. Heated spines are compared with an untreated control group and no significant differences in compressive strength, bending strength, damage tolerance, and Young's modulus are detected. This highlights the weak influence of ≈6 wt% ACC on the macromechanical properties of Echinoderm calcite, which are likely established by its intricate and damage tolerant microstructure. When heating Echinoderm calcite, organics decompose, Mg calcite transforms, water is lost, and cracks and micropores form. All these processes are analyzed to exclude their influence on the mechanical properties, and it is imperative to consider them all. Only this way meaningful results can be achieved as these processes are temperature and dwelling time dependent and may even occur below 250 °C.
Validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry immunopeptidomics assay for the identification of HLA class I ligands suitable for pharmaceutical therapies
2019-10-29

Abstract For more than two decades naturally presented, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted peptides (immunopeptidome) have been eluted and sequenced using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Since, identified disease-associated HLA ligands have been characterized and evaluated as potential active substances. Treatments based on HLA-presented peptides have shown promising results in clinical application as personalized T cell-based immunotherapy. Peptide vaccination cocktails are produced as investigational medicinal products under GMP conditions. In order to support clinical trials based on HLA-presented tumor-associated antigens, in this study the sensitive LC-MS/MS HLA class I antigen identification pipeline was fully validated for our technical equipment according to the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines. The immunopeptidomes of JY cells with or without spiked-in, isotope labeled peptides, of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy volunteers as well as a chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a bladder cancer sample were reliably identified using a data-dependent acquisition method. As the LC-MS/MS pipeline is used for identification purposes, the validation parameters include accuracy, precision, specificity, limit of detection and robustness.
Unilateral discectomy: outcomes, postoperative pain, complications
2019-10-29

In low back pain management surgery is currently commonly used with a new technique called minimally invasive discectomy, while open discectomy is still preferable in many cases. In this regard, the efficacy of tubular discectomy (TD) were compared with conventional standard lumbar disc procedure (conventional microdiscectomy). This study was performed as a clinical trial conducted on patients who were under TD and conventional microdiscectomy using unilateral retractor at Bou Ali, Mehrad, Laleh Hospitals during the years 2001 to 2017. The pain score was determined based on the use of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaires (RMQ) and mean Oswestry disability index (ODI) were also calculated. Our findings revealed that the two groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, etc.) (p&gt; 0.05). The findings indicated the superiority of TD over the classic approach. The mean scores of ODI in conventional microdiscectomy and TD groups were reported as 12.53 ± 7.09 and 9.51 ± 7.83, respectively. ODI revealed that patients with TD surgery had less disability in lifting objects, sitting, standing, and traveling. In the conventional microdiscectomy group, 12 (20%) patients were affected by complications of surgery, but no complication was reported in any patient with TD (p = 0.000). The mean index of Roland Morris disability in the conventional microdiscectomy and TD groups were estimated to be 6.033 ± 2.98 and 3.73 ± 3.25 (p = 0.000). However, both groups did not differ in terms of visual scores for pain and relapse (p &gt; 0.05). Our study demonstrates that disease relapse within 6 months after the surgery, the RMQ and the ODI values were significantly better in TD than the other group.
Glucagon Regulation of Energy Expenditure
2019-10-30

Glucagon’s ability to increase energy expenditure has been known for more than 60 years, yet the mechanisms underlining glucagon’s thermogenic effect still remain largely elusive. Over the last years, significant efforts were directed to unravel the physiological and cellular underpinnings of how glucagon regulates energy expenditure. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on how glucagon regulates systems metabolism with a special emphasis on its acute and chronic thermogenic effects.
Earth observation tools and services to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance
2019-10-30

Humanitarian action has rapidly adopted Earth observation (EO) and geospatial Technologies shaping them according to their needs. Protracted crises and large-scale population displacements require up-to-date information in many facets of humanitarian action support, from mission planning, resource deployment and monitoring, to nutrition and vaccination campaigns, camp plotting, damage assessment, etc. Even though nearly all assets of remote&#13;\\nsensing apply in such demanding scenarios, it remains a challenge to fully implement and sustain a trustful and reliable information service. This paper discusses achievements and open issues in the use and uptake of EO technology, from a technical and organisational point of view, motivated by an information service for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and its Extension to other NGO’s information needs in the humanitarian sector. With a focus on EO-based population estimation based on (semi-)automated dwelling counting from very high-resolution optical satellite imagery as well as the exploitation of data integration (including Radar sensors), the paper also covers potential service elements with respect to environmental and ground- or surface water monitoring. It investigates workflow elements in relation to information extraction and delivery by illustrating a broad range of application scenarios, and discusses first operational solutions of a customized service portfolio.